#you’re tired you haven’t done makeup in weeks and you can’t even imagine doing any kind of self-care | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

sukirichi · 3 years

Text

sweet angel

With a heart of gold, sweet lips, and white lace all over your body — he’s pretty sure you’re his sweet angel.

REQUEST. lingerie under his white button up shirt for gojo + somnophilia + established relationship + oblivious reader

CONTENT/WARNINGS. smut, somnophilia, mentions of insecurity, very slight angst, creampie, cockwarming, body marking, UNEDITED

NOTES. I haven’t written Gojo for a while but I sure do missed it! We’re gonna have more Gojo content this week too! if i finish my wips anyway lmao

The clock blinks back a painful three am to you, the time way past what Gojo’s promised. You don’t stop the sigh leaving your cherry red lips as you stare at the mirror, jaw clenching at the sight. Today’s supposed to be your second anniversary with Gojo, and instead of spending it on a skyscraper dinner like last year’s, you both insisted on staying at home for a more romantic date instead.

Him being the strongest sorcerer, it’s only a given that he’ll be busy, even to this day. He’s unable to take a day off, but he promised to come home on time.

The dinner’s gone cold, the candles melted and aroma of roses sticking hard to the walls. You’re wearing his favourite black dress paired with ankle boots, wrists clinking from the bangles and makeup done to perfection. Today’s supposed to be simple, quiet, and romantic – especially with your surprise for him – but he’s still not home.

Washing your face in the sink and covering the dishes, you blow out the candles, heading back to your shared room to call it a day. You swipe your dress with Gojo’s white button, wanting to feel that he’s still with you even with just his scent.

A blaring red that reads three forty-five is the last thing you see as you burrow deep into the covers, trying your best to ignore the panging in your heart.

He promised he’d be home soon.

“Honey! I’m ho—” Gojo blinks at the darkness of your penthouse, hands patting the walls before flicking on the lights. He’s not surprised to see that it’s neat as usual, but then his gaze lands on the dining table, and that’s when he realizes he’s fucked up.

The candles are already melted halfway, one wine glass still and the other already washed in the sink. You must’ve taken a few sips as you waited for him; an image he can imagine already. He’s admired you long before dating you that Gojo’s used to your habits, like how you’d rotate the drink in your glass three times before you drink, tongue darting out to taste the wine mixing in with your lips.

He knows all this, mostly because it always drives him crazy when you do that, and he’s lost count of the times he’s pushed you up against the counter, shoving his tongue between your lips to find out what it is about wine and flavoured lipsticks you liked so much.

It’s a little hellish to him the more he thinks about it, even more so because you’re completely unaware of your effect on him.

But he’s not the only one, since no matter how perceptive Gojo could be, he’s scatterbrained more often than he likes to admit. And of fucking course he forgot tonight was your anniversary. He never set dates on his calendars, waving his hand and confidently stating he had an ultra memory and didn’t need reminders.

Well, now that ultra memory is reminding him of the last time he’s forgot to attend your work event, a time you needed him more than anything else, and you didn’t talk to him for a week straight.

He wishes you would shout at him, push or shove him even, call him names and tell him he’s horrible, but you’ve always been a sweet, little thing – you’re timid even in your frustration. You never glared at him, never scolded him, and it’s even more terrifying because you’re still so sweet to him – preparing him meals, giving him a kiss before he leaves for work – but Gojo isn’t entirely dumb. He notices how you turn away from him in your sleep, your arms that would usually be wrapped around his torso now hugging yourself in an attempt to make yourself small and invisible.

That’s how you felt every time Gojo doesn’t keep to his word.

Unseen. Unloved. Unheard. Unimportant. He’s no mind reader, but it’d be pushing it if he can’t even turn to your thoughts like that.

And even in your slumber, it’s written all over your face, evident in the way tears are staining your cheeks under the sheets. Gojo sighs upon seeing your crumpled form on the bed, your dress hanging neatly from the closet and your heels placed beneath it. He crouches down in front of the shoe, his hands crumpled into fists. This wasn’t just any shoe – it’s the one he made you get during that time you were debating whether you could pull it off, but he encouraged you that you looked gorgeous in anything. Despite having bought it a long time ago, you never wore it, only on this day because you trust your comfort and safety around him; one he’s so effortlessly crushed.

Gojo quickly changes into his pyjamas not long afterwards, sliding himself next to your body in slow, careful movements to not wake you up. Aside from a slight stir, you remain deep asleep, the frown permanent and deep on your face.

It breaks his heart to see you like this, especially because he knows he’s the one who caused it.

Gojo runs his hand across the apple of your cheeks, caressing your precious face on his palm before leaning forward to kiss your head. You smell amazing too, and yet, you’re uncomfortable with whatever’s playing in your head. He could take a good guess and assume it’s him.

“I’m sorry,” he murmurs into your skin, sliding his arm over your body to pull you close to him. “I didn’t mean to forget, I’m so sorry. I’ll make it up to you somehow.”

He knows he should apologize when you’re awake, but he wants to say it now before his guilt eats up at him. Gojo’s eyes flutter close when his hands come into contact with something...lacey, and he pauses, lifting the sheets to inspect the material. He doesn’t really know what he’s expecting, but his breath stutters anyway, his aquamarine eyes zeroed in on his shirt draped over your form, the top three buttons left open and you’re not wearing shorts.

Gojo curses under his breath. His reaction is immediate; blood rushing to his groin and legs nudging yours apart. He doesn’t bother hiding under the sheets not anymore as he runs his hand over your body, his touch suddenly so cold in contrast to your warmth.

He’s fucked you a lot of times in different places and angles, so he shouldn’t be so nervous, yet he is, and his hands are fucking shaking.

His head snaps to your one more time, revelling in the way you open your legs just as he pries them apart. Even in your sleep, you’re still so trusting, so wanting – so perfect for him. Gojo situates himself between your thighs as he unbuttons your shirt one by one, his teeth clenched so hard it wouldn’t be anything surprising if he actually cracked his jaw.

You’re nothing short of looking like an angel; the thigh straps squeezing the flesh of your thighs and exuding such heavenly beauty he’s stunned.

You let out a sigh at his erection rubbing you through his boxers, completely unaware that Gojo’s fallen back on his thighs, eyes wide at the white lingerie set clad in your body. He licks at his lips, debating which land he should trudge on first.

The thigh straps he wants to rip with his fingers, the white lace panty that’s already nearly transparent with your arousal, or the frilly cups holding your breasts in place?

This is the first time Gojo’s gotten close to losing his mind, and lose his mind he did. Thoughts of making it up to you flies out the window, his emotions running turbulent with anger and regret in place. If he’d just gotten home, if he’d just killed the curses faster, he could’ve kissed you and heard you beg for him in your awakened state; he’d have the pleasure of seeing you squirm under him while he rips this pretty set apart.

His dick throbs harder at the fact you wore this for him, but you must’ve been so tired and sad to wear proper pyjamas. Should he be thankful? Angry at himself for making you feel this way?

He doesn’t fucking now, his mind is nothing but a mess as he sucks a wet spot into the juncture of your neck, large hands groping your breast. You mewl a little at the contact, neck arching to the side while you sigh, that slight dip in your brow a telltale you must be still in a sleepy daze.

“Fuck, baby,” he mutters through pants as he cups your mound, only to be met with such astounding wetness. You look so innocent right now in comparison to your soft moans that it ruins him. You’re a good girl, such a sweet lover for him that you’re always letting him take in charge under the trust he’ll make you feel good. This trust is extended even in your wildest dreams, but you don’t need to worry about that. He’ll soon make it a reality.

Gojo is too needy that he doesn’t bother pulling your thong off anymore, pulling it to the side with two fingers before his thumb flicks at your clit. He’s rewarded with a sharp inhale, cheeks planted to the pillows and you look so pretty, so hauntingly oblivious that the only thing able to pull the strongest sorcerer limb by limb apart is through your needy wet cunt.

He aligns himself with your entrance, groaning when his tip is coated with your slick, the warmth of your pussy radiating off of him. It’s fucking stupid that Gojo shivers, and he knows it’s pathetic because he chuckles, lifting both your legs up before he hugs them to his chest.

You’re so wet that Gojo no longer finds the need to prepare you, his eyes falling down to where your bodies connect, breath taken away at how your lips eagerly spread apart to take him in. He’s a little too big for your tiny, sweet pussy that your lips pinch into a flat line, chest rasping up and down.

He wants to apologize, wants to caress your face and look you in the eyes as usual to tell you that you’re doing good, just breathe and the pain will be gone soon.

The situation deprives him of that privilege, so he’s left with no choice but to kiss your ankles affectionately before thrusting all the way in. A loud moan echoes around the room the moment he’s seated in, dick throbbing inside your heated pussy that’s so tight it’s nearly suffocating.

“Oh, my baby,” he thrusts in slowly, not wanting to completely wake you up despite the fact you’re unconsciously grabbing the sheets already. “My sweet, pretty angel – I’m so sorry daddy couldn’t fuck you tonight but look at you, you’re so wet,” he bites your calf at the last word to muffle his groans, the tight sucking in of your pussy to his length making his cock throb. “Did you touch yourself when I was gone, hm? You must be so unsatisfied, but I’m here now, I’ll take care of you.”

Gojo’s unable to keep his promise to you before, but he’ll definitely keep this promise now. He leaves little love marks at your skin, reaching forward to tug the cups of your bra down. He’s rewarded with the intoxicating luxury of watching your breasts bounce at his pace, your nipples the only thing stopping the material from completely falling.

You mewl at the pleasure he’s giving you, the constant friction of your hardened buds against the cups must be so heavenly by now, and you’re tightening around him, walls clamped down over his dick that Gojo never wants to let go.

He thrusts harder this time in response to your greedy sucking, his tip kissing your cervix. You throw your head back deeper into the pillows, hands patting every spot beside you. He knows that look all too well – mouth falling open, eyes shut tight, brows pinched together and that angelic little pant – it’s the face you always wear when you’re about to cum and Gojo wants to make it up to you, pushing your legs to the side before heaving his weight forward.

“Aw, baby,” he coos, “Coming already?”

The sudden stretch in your body only has your walls sucking him harder, his hips stuttering in its pace. Gojo kisses you flat on the lips as his hands thread to yours, squeezing it momentarily just as pleasure washes over him too. You come first, the spasms of your cunt similar to that one time you’ve accidentally gripped him too hard in your hand that Gojo’s cum suddenly landed on your eye. It’s tight, too fucking tight, that Gojo actually loses the ability to breathe.

His hips snap harder, dick driving deeper into your hole that’s already leaking out with cum. Your precious lingerie set is ruined, guaranteed to get him another pout that Gojo shakes his head, gripping hard at your hips while he chases his own high.

“I’ll get you another one, angel, I’ll buy you – fuck! – all the sets you need if it means dressing pretty for me like this,” he stutters in one breath, mouth latching around your nipple. He tugs at it in his need to reach his breaking point, no longer caring that you’ll wake up anytime soon, not when he’s so close and the squelching of your pussy sounds like heavenly music to his ears. Gojo thrusts in one last time hard enough that his balls make a loud slapping sound against your ass, but he doesn’t slide out, keeping himself right deep into your cunt in his orgasm.

Breathing heavily, Gojo falls on top of you, thankfully still strong enough to not crush you with his weight. He’s leaving fluttering kisses all over your face, your sweat slicking his skin.

He wants to pull out from the sensitivity, but you feel so warm and comfortable that Gojo plops down to the side, hugging your back and kissing your shoulder with panted breaths. You’re still recovering from the tremors of your orgasm that’s most likely still a dream to you, body trembling in his arms. Gojo does you a favour by throwing your bra to the side, his hands acting as a replacement for the missing piece.

He sighs onto your neck, barely managing to properly cover the both of your bodies in his exhaustion after a long day. He holds you close and tight in his arms, an I love you merely audible from his lips, followed by a regretful I’m sorry.

Gojo dreads tomorrow morning, in all honesty. There’s no easy way to explain that he “simply forgot” after all your efforts, his heart already darkening with the fear of seeing you pull away like you did the last time. His eyes droop down as he makes a mental note to just do whatever he can, but you’re stirring in his arms, lips puckered at the edge of his jaw.

“Satoru,” you whisper, hands tracing patterns on his chest. “You’re home. I’m glad.”

Soft snores follow after that, but Satoru is wide awake just as you’ve fallen asleep once more. He’s left speechless, and he doesn’t hold back in hugging you closer to his chest as a silent promise of never leaving you alone again. Even now, you’re still such a sweet angel, and how lucky is he to find someone like that?

10K notes · View notes

harryspet · 4 years

Text

plaything | sebastian stan

[Warnings] dark sebastian stan x reader, dark chris evans x reader, lots of dub con bordering on non con, spanking (aftercare?), dub con sex/oral sex, humiliation, seb wants you to call him daddy, impregnation, over/stimulation, abusive relationship, seb domesticating reader, manipulation, seb being a jerk and chris being creepy

A/N: This is for @sherrybaby14 ‘s Prompt Challenge! If you’re not already following her, please do! The original prompt was “ Bucky fic where the relationship is already well known to be dark. Maybe he views her as a plaything and likes to do things that set her up for failure so that he can punish her. Maybe some gas/lighting too”. I’ve been watching a lot of Sebastian interviews lately so this fic was inspired by that. I know both Sebastian and Chris a super nice guys in real life but I had a lot of fun imagining them as bad guys!

In which you can’t seem to escape Sebastian’s punishments.

Please like, reblog and let me know what you think!

word count: 3.1k

You watched Sebastian on the TV in your kitchen, licking a spoon covered in fudge batter. He was being interviewed by Jimmy Kimmel and he was as captivating as ever. You chuckled a bit as he made a joke and the crowd erupted in laughter.

“Y/N, it’s not lady-like to lick the spoon,” Delilah, Sebastian’s chef, said to you. You were in the middle of yet another cooking lesson. You just could never get your food tasting the way Seb liked, “At this rate, I don’t think I’ll be getting fired anytime soon.”

The dessert was in the oven and now the older woman was placing the finishing garnishes on their steak, “He likes his steak medium-well, remember that,” Delilah went on but you couldn’t concentrate.

You know you should’ve paid attention but you knew deep down you’d never be a good cook. At least, not in the way Seb wanted you to be, “You don’t think he’ll notice it’s microwaved?” You asked Delilah who had previously agreed to your scamming. You’d pretend that you made what she had.

“He shouldn’t notice because my food is delicious either way. But, it may taste a little different and you can blame that on the fact that you made it,” You nodded nervously.

“Thank you, Delilah,” The older woman only smiled as she began to gather her things. Everything was laid out and now you could put everything in Tupperware and microwave it tomorrow before Seb arrived.

You put your oven mitts on and walked over to the oven. You lifted the pan of brownies out of the oven and set it on the stove. The interview on the TV was ending now and you watched as Jimmy told the audience the opening date for Seb’s new movie.

Seb hadn’t been back to your million dollar apartment in two weeks because he was doing press all day and night.

You almost didn’t hear Delilah say from the foyer, “Mr. Stan, you’re home early,” Your heart dropped.

“Delilah,” You were sure they were hugging now, “I thought I wouldn’t be seeing you for a while. You look as beautiful as ever.”

You quickly put away all the spices and cutting boards, just throwing them in a random cabinet. And then the plates of food … you stacked them and threw them into the garbage can. You panicked, he couldn’t know that Delilah had made the food after you promised you’d do better.

“Well … I- oh look, my husband is calling me,” Delilah rushed out, “Have a good evening, Mr. Stan!”

When Sebastian entered the kitchen, you were smiling wide, a dash of flour on your cheek and apron that you had just put there, “I thought you were going to be in L.A. for the rest of the night,” You said to him, kissing his cheek as he approached you. He didn’t return the affection, his eyes tired from his flight. He was wearing a plain black t-shirt and a pair of grey sweatpants, “I just watched you on TV … you did great.”

“I finished up earlier than I thought. I wanted to see you,” He looked down at you, his eyes burning holes into you. He knew something was up.

“You look exhausted but I know what will wake you up. Your favorite midnight brownies! Because, you know, we usually eat them at midnight-” He took one look at the brownies and turned back to you.

“Why was Delilah here?” He interrupted, reaching a hand to wipe away the flour on your cheek.

Your smile fell, “S-She came to give me the recipe for the brownies,” He didn’t believe it and you bit down nervously on your bottom lip nervously, “I asked Delilah to make dinner and I was gonna pretend that I had made it myself.”

Seb sighed, a smirk tugging at his lips, “And where’s dinner now?”

You pointed towards the trash can, “And you wasted the food too?”

“I panicked,” You tried to explain yourself, “But I’m gonna make dinner for real tomorrow. I watched Delilah do everything so-”

You yelped as he suddenly grabbed the back of your neck and pulled you closer to him. His breath fanned over your face and then he leaned down to your ear, “You haven’t cleaned either, there’s dust on the painting in the foyer.”

“I-I was going to do it tomorrow before you got home,” You whispered, your heart pounding.

“Do I ask for too much, Y/N? I’m not sure why you like frustrating me.”

“I-I don’t like frustrating you, Seb.”

“You do,” He insisted, “Why else would you throw schemes like this together?”

“I-” He shushed you and you swallowed your words. The look in his eyes was crazy and you weren’t sure what kind of beast you had awoken this time. You tried to remember a time when things weren’t like this. When he chased you and you thought you might be more than his plaything.

You met Sebastian at one of his interviews. Of course, you didn’t expect him to spare you a second glance because he was the celebrity and you were the girl running to get everyone's coffee. You were practically an assistant to the assistants. You only did the job because it paid slightly more than minimum wage and you were late on your rent.

You carried three different trays of coffee into the dressing room. It was a smaller production company then he was probably used to. There were at least three other Avengers in the room getting their makeup touched up. You handed the coffees to each of their assistants and then to your boss.

You would’ve walked away but you saw him take a sip, his eyes still narrowed on you, “This is four sugars …”

“Yes,” You said quickly, looking over the receipt. Your face visibly fell as you read it, “Well, it’s three but I can find you some sugar, sir. It’ll only take a moment.”

“You can’t seem to get anything right on the first try, can you? I order this drink a million times a week. The other coffee girls can get it right. Why can’t you?”

You took a deep breath, “I’m sorry, it won’t happen again.”

“You’re right because you’re-” You closed your eyes and waited for him to say you were fired. A tall figure emerged behind you and you slowly opened your eyes.

“I’m sure one sugar isn’t the end of the world, sir,” Seb had said, a hand pressed to your lower back, “If you’re going to treat your staff so poorly, in front of everyone I have to had, then maybe Marvel shouldn’t be giving you their business.”

Your boss was practically jumping out of his skin, “I-I apologize, Mr. Stan,”

As your boss scurried off like a mouse, he stepped in front of you, “I’m Sebastian.”

“I work such long hours, I have to fly around the world, but I take care of you, don’t I?” You nodded vigorously, “I just … don’t like to be lied to. You know what this means, don’t you, pet?”

Pet.

He loved to call you that when his temper got the best of him. Yes, of course, you knew, “Sebastian, not tonight, please-”

He forced you to look into his eyes, “But I know you like it, Y/N,” With his other hand he gripped your waist, pulling up your skirt. You never seemed to avoid it. There was always something you did wrong that led to this.

He pressed his lips to yours and you were surprised how gentle he was. Your lips moved in sync with each other as he pressed you against the kitchen island. He was untying your apron and it fell to the ground. Then he was reaching into your panties, easily finding how wet you were, “That’s my girl,” He smirked against your lips, starting to rub circles over your sensitive bulb.

You ground against his fingers, wanting more friction between you. He kissed the side of your mouth, then your chin and down to your neck, “Ah,” you moaned as he played you like a piano, a song that he had spent the last year memorizing, “Seb, Seb …”

“Call me Daddy,” He demanded and you moaned as you neared your climax.

“Oh my god, Daddy,” You were about to tilt your head back when he suddenly removed his fingers. Not in a teasing way and your eyes widened you realized he wasn’t in a playing mood. He grabbed your hips roughly and turned you around. He pressed on your back until your chest was against the marble, “Only good girls get to cum, Y/N,” You felt him walk away and you didn’t dare look back at him, You heard a drawer open and slam shut.

He lifted your skirt and as he pulled down your underwear, you closed your eyes shut. The impact didn’t come as you expected. You thought it stung much more than when he used his hand. You whimpered, your hands balled into a fist, “You remember what to say, don’t you, pet? I’m giving you twenty and I’m sure you don’t want any extra.”

“Thank you, Daddy!”

He’d rub a circle and then hit your bottom with the wooden spoon again. You thanked him for each one. As the spanks increased, you squirmed around and Sebastian decided to pin your arms behind your back to hold you in place.

When he was done, tears were streaming down your face, “Good girl, Y/N. Very good,” Sebastian let go of your wrist, gently helping you up before lifting you into his arms. You wrapped your arms around his neck as he carried you out of the kitchen.

You cried as he set you on the bed you shared and as he rubbed aloe vera over your bruises. Sebastian held you, placing a kiss on your forehead, as you cried yourself to sleep.

You thought your punishment was over but as you exited the shower the next morning, you found a surprise waiting for you on the bed. A “surprise” was probably the wrong word to use. You picked up the pair of black stilettos and set them by your feet before picking up the note.

Wear this. No panties. Finish cleaning the house and then come meet me in my office. My bookshelves need dusting. - Your one and only love, Sebastian

You balled up the note, tossing it to the side, as you took a deep breath. You decided that he wasn’t going to break you down this time. You dressed in the black, satin, mini dress and your mouth dropped open as you realized it ended an inch after your bottom. The top was basically a corset that pushes your chest up and the clear straps that held them up were flimsy. A matching white apron accompanied everything but even that seemed to be mini-sized. You could barely get on the heels without your whole bottom showing.

You gritted your teeth, pacing the room, as you tried to get used to the heels. You reminded yourself again that you’d do this with a smile on your face. You pulled your hair back with a tie and left the master bedroom.

You cleaned almost the entire house with those heels on. Your feet ached and every random draft of wind sent you shivering. If you moved in a certain way, you could feel the satin rubbing against the bruises on your bottom, a reminder of the punishment you suffered the day before.

You wiped a drop of sweat from your forehead as you finished wiping down the kitchen counters. After you carried the duster to Seb’s office and as you knocked you heard, “Come in, pet,” And you spotted Seb leaning against the front of his desk.

His eyes were dark and as you met Captain America’s blue-green eyes, your heart dropped to your stomach, “Seb-”

“You know Chris, right, Y/N? You met at that wedding a few months ago?” Sebastian asked, gesturing over the muscular man perched on Seb’s leather couch.

You remained silent, not wanting to meet the other man’s eyes. You shifted uncomfortably in your dress, pulling at the sides, “Y/N looked very different then … but I have to say that I prefer this look much more,” You could feel his eyes taking in your body.

You had promised yourself you’d get through this unscathed but you hadn’t planned for this. You wanted to die of embarrassment and it was only as Seb said, “Don’t mind us, pet. We’re just talking business. You have a job to do.”

Your mouth was dry and you felt frozen, “Sebastian, please-”

You cut yourself off because the glare he gave you was deadly. It took you a moment to get the courage to take a step. Your heels clicked against the hardwood floor as you paced over the tall bookshelves that were placed opposite the couch Chris Evans was sitting on.

You began to dust his collection of books and you cursed the fact that man loved reading about space so much.

Both of their eyes were raked in your body. They muttered a few sentences talking about some director but you knew they were just trying to fill the air. Their focus was you and only you.

You reached the lower levels but as you had to reach the top one, your dress rode up. You quickly pulled it down but it happened a few more times, “I don’t think you’ll do a very good job if you’re pulling at your dress the whole time, pet,” You almost shot an accusing glance towards him.

Instead, you stopped holding onto your dress before politely saying, “I don’t think I’m tall enough to reach the top shelves,” You spoke through gritted teeth.

Seb glared at you sharply but Chris only smirked, “You might’ve hit the lottery with this one, Stan.”

In any other context, you might’ve appreciated the compliment.

“The coffee table is a little dusty too,” Sebastian lied and you tried to scowl. You walked over to the coffee table, bending down to dust the table. You were close to Chris now and you saw him lean forward, elbows resting on his knees.

“Look at me, Y/N,” Chris had told you and you did, keeping eye contact as you dusted all the knick-knacks that Seb kept on the coffee table. Yours were on him but he was trailing down to your chest. You guessed he had seen enough of your bottom while you were dusting.

You stood up straight then looked at Seb, “Did he tell you to stop looking at him?” And you winced as you turned your head back to Chris.

Seb moved behind you but you couldn’t take your eyes off of Chris. Seb pressed himself against your back, lifted up the skirt of your mini dress. He roughly stuck his fingers between your fold and his fingers were wet as he pulled them away. How? How could that happen when you felt sick with embarrassment.

Your face was probably bright red by that point, “And I thought you couldn’t upset me further. Now you’re getting turned on by another man. Right in front of me, I should add.”

“S-Seb I-I-” He grabbed you by the front of your neck, pulling you further into him, “I-I’m not, I promise!”

“Don’t lie to me, Y/N. You love the attention. Does Daddy not give you enough?” He spoke huskily into your ear, “Now you have to show Daddy’s friend who you belong to. Bend over, hands on the table.”

As you bent over, you couldn’t help but wonder how things had become so drastically different. You placed your hands flat on the table and it wasn’t long before you heard Sebastian’s belt come off. You thought he might spank you at first but you felt the hard tip of his length press against your entrance.

He grabbed your hair, forcing you to tilt your head up and look at Chris. He was leaning back now, his hand over his crotch. You could see the hard on beginning to form underneath his jeans, “Only Daddy gets this hole, understand?” And before you could answer, he entered you all the way.

You gasped, unable to find the words as you screamed out. “Right, pet?” He slammed into you deeply.

You nodded, “Y-Yes, Daddy. Only you.” Seb pounded into you, animalistic growls in his throat as you squeezed around him.

Soon, you had both fallen to your knees but he only went harder, “Seb, Seb!” You moaned his name, already nearing your climax. The angle you were at let him hit your most sensitive area with every thrust. And as he bent over your body, his fingers rubbing your sensitive bulb, it wasn’t long before that wave of pleasure ripped through you.

Your body shook and you tried to run away from the full force of it, Sebastian pulled you back onto him. He wasn’t done yet. Chris had pulled his hard member from his jeans and was stroking it as he watched you react to the over/stimulation. Seb had even pulled down your dress so your breasts were fully out.

Seb didn’t let up on stroking you and, as your second climax came, you thought you might fall apart. “You like it when he watches, don’t you?” Seb groaned in your ear, “You want him to see me put a baby in you.” Seb’s stroke slowed but they were still deep as his song neared its crescendo.

Seb knew that you were in the middle of switching your birth control methods.

“Beg me to put a baby into you,” He said, pulling your hair tighter.

“Ah,” you moaned, “Please give me a baby, Daddy! Please!”

With that, Seb’s hips tightened as he released into you. You felt the warmth deep inside you and you were still shaking as he pulled out, “Good girl,” He said, out of breath.

You looked at Chris who was thrusting into his own hand. Seb smacked your bottom loudly, “Finish him off, Y/N,” You turned to Seb with wide eyes. As if he hadn’t humiliated you enough. He hit your bottom again, “Now.”

You hesitated before crawling around the table. You felt your own fluids and Seb’s running down your leg. You perched yourself between the older man’s legs and he responded by grabbing your face, pulling you up to his member.

You closed your eyes as you took him into your mouth. Chris groaned, leaning back as you took him in deeper. You remembered how Seb liked it. Whatever your mouth couldn’t cover, you used hand, twisting around his length, “That’s it, such a good girl,” You gagged as you took him in further. Sebastian loved when you gagged and now you knew Chris did too. As Chris finished, he forced your head down, and you thought you might run out of air as he released into your throat.

You fell back, gasping after you were forced to swallow it all, “I think I’m going to come to New York more often,” Chris gave you a tired smile.

You looked to Sebastian who was already up, buttoning his slacks, “Straighten yourself up, Y/N, don’t be rude to our guest.”

Hope you enjoyed! Check out my dark peter parker fics and my new Bucky fic called Obedience!

#sebastian stan #sebastian stan x reader #dark bucky barnes #bucky barnes #steve rogers x reader #marvel #mcu #mcu fanfiction #dark marvel #dark!bucky #dark!bucky x reader #dark!bucky x y/n #dark fic #dark steve rogers #dark steve x reader #dark sebastian stan x reader #mcu smut #marvel smut

2K notes · View notes

fantasydaydreamers · 4 years

Text

“Behind Brothel Doors Pt. 2″ Dabi x Reader

Summary: ✨Part 1✨•✨Part 3✨•✨Part 4 ✨

Words: 4.431

Warnings: Smut

Author’s Note: *maniacal laughter* to my fellow horny daydreamers....WE RISE!!!! Also, quick reminder but Dabi does NOT have his scars and staples on his face. Instead he has piercings on his face and tattoos cover his body...I describe him in part 1 is you need a better picture~

There wasn't a day gone by you didn't think of the brothel. After coming home and telling your best friend ever dirty detail down to a T, that particular night haunted you in the best way possible. Only, it wasn't the bright scarlet eyes that filled your head late at night, it was the striking blue ones that captured your attention the moment you walked in the door.

It wasn't like you regretted your night with Bakugou, but the ghost of Dabi's grip on your chin had you imagining what could've been if you spent the night with him instead. The thoughts got so overwhelming to the point where you called during the middle of the week to make a reservation to see him. The man who answered the phone had a tired drawl to his voice which made you slightly disappointed it wasn't the familiar low teasing tone of Dabi.

"Okay, just so I have everything correct, you're purchasing one full night with Dabi this Saturday beginning at 9 pm?" The man spoke into the phone as you heard the faint typing in the background from a keyboard.

"Yes...um...is any chance he won't see my name? I want to surprise him." As soon as the question left your mouth, you facepalmed. (Y/n), you idiot. The tapping of the keyboard halted on the other end and you held your breath.

A low hum broke the silence and you winced, hoping he would just give you a straight answer. "Oh? What a naughty girl you are, (Y/n). I must tell you though, Dabi likes knowing who's coming to see him and might not like it if your name is hidden." The sudden teasing had you reeling until you remembered just where the fuck you were calling.

"That's fine." You mumble into the receiver, absently playing with the hem of your shirt as a blush rose to your face thinking about what Dabi would say when he saw it was you.

"Interesting...yes we can hide your name for confidential purposes. Don't say I didn't warn you though. However, you are going to the Sinners anyway so maybe you know just what you're signing up for." With that remark, the man completed your reservation, and you were set for the weekend.

Overall, it felt silly. Making the reservation made you feel silly. However, the thought of walking in, unannounced, and finding out he's unavailable would be beyond embarrassing and that was a risk you weren't willing to take.

At this point, a month has passed since your first experience there and you kept thinking the worst and having doubts that he might've forgotten about you. Hell, you only met the man once so what kind of lasting impression could've you made to make yourself be remembered?

There's no doubt he gets a lot of customers so even if he sees you, the most you'll get is a brief recognition. Right? Well, there's no going back now since I already reserved a night with him. Days leading up to your weekend with Dabi had you recalling his page in the menu he offered you before and tried to imagine how more 'intense' he could actually be. Am I jumping to him too fast?

Despite all this, you didn't bother telling your best friend about scheduling a night at the brothel because with the additional shame you already felt with needing to feel Dabis' hands on your skin again, you didn't think you could handle the teasing from her. She was still perfectly content with her boyfriend as you continued to third-wheel, all while thinking of the brothel. Every time you spaced out she would ask what's wrong and you brushed it off, but if she found out you were going back, she would connect the dots immediately.

The night of your reservation came quickly and you performed the same routine as before but knowing who you were going to see made it more rousing. You felt like dressing up for him. The pit of your stomach ached for his approval, those piercing blue eyes trailing over your body as praised growls would fall from his lips.

The thought had you adjusting the white satin lingerie piece under your clothes, anxious to get going. A little makeup this time didn't feel like it would hurt, along with fixing your hair. The length you were going for him to want you, admire you, praise you was ridiculous, but knowing you were going to see him soon, it didn't matter.

Biting your lip, you grabbed your bag and walked out the door.

~*~*~*~*

Returning to the brothel set shivers up your spine in anticipation, even knowing what to expect when walking in. This time a few people were loitering around the lobby, their small murmurs filling the intimidating atmosphere. Glancing around briefly at the same lavish foyer, your eyes land on the far wall where the same white neon sign glowed between two large pillars. 'Sinners' shone brightly back at you while enhancing the dark red door that stood beneath it. Not knowing what was behind that door, except for Dabi, was uncharted territory soon to be discovered.

With one last longing look at the door, you walk up to the desk where a man with two-toned hair sat. The red and white split combination was different and nothing like you've seen before. As soon as you stopped in front of him, heterochromatic eyes met yours and you almost gasped at his unearthly beauty. Oh...his hair matches his eyes. Wait, I think I read about him before. "Hi," you start, shifting your feet nervously as you leaned on the counter. His intense gaze held yours as you felt a strange sense déjà vu creep up your spine.

"Hello, beautiful. How may I help you?" His voice poured out like honey with an undertone of familiarity that had a flush fanning across your cheeks. He noticed and a sly smirk graced his lips as he leaned forward too, lowering his eyelids.

"I have a reservation?" The response leaves your lips in a question as you couldn't find the strength to pull yourself away from him. He chuckles and reaches up to brush against a strand of your hair, his cold thumb grazing your cheek lightly.

"Do you now?" His words were teasing and sensual, his magnetic gaze pulling you further onto the counter as if wanting to be held by him. This is not good...if I come here every time and find someone new at the desk who does this to me, I'm going to become addicted! You opened your mouth to respond only for it to fall shut again. His thumb grazes your cheek again before leading down to your chin, tilting your head up.

Allowing him to caress your face, your eyes gently traced the outline of the scar around his eye the feature only adding to his beauty and elegance. He looked so refined and dangerous at the same time making your heart skip a beat as his gaze never wavered. He quirked an eyebrow, amused, and it was then you realized you had yet to respond. "Y-yes my name is (Y/n) (L/n)."

He didn't pull away, only tilting his head in acknowledgment. "I'm jealous you know someone here to make a reservation. You should change your mind right now and say, 'Todoroki...be mine tonight' and I'll get someone right here right now," Todoroki pauses and leans in closer, his cool breath fanning over your lips as he whispers along your jawline and to your ear, "to cover my shift and we can go back to my room."

Shivers racked your body at his seductive words, the seriousness in his voice making you consider his offer. A small sigh escapes your lips making Todoroki pull back and look at your expression. Feeling the heat radiant off your cheeks, you're sure you looked a mess but he only smiled softly. Holding your gaze for a second longer, he pulls his hand away from your face, the coolness leaving with him.

"Who's the lucky guy to get such an alluring girl like yourself?" Reaching for the computer, Todoroki begins to type and you take this moment to admire his beauty some more, his long lashes fluttering whenever he looked on the screen. Your gaze drifted down to his slim fingers gliding across the keyboard and your mind starts racing on just how good his fingers would be if-

"Dabi?" The name falls out of his mouth suddenly as his hand's freeze, reading your reservation he pulled up. At the mention of Dabis' name, you jerk up quickly, remembering why you're here, a blush immediately covering your face. Todoroki turns back to you, a curious yet cold look in his eyes.

The sudden change in his attitude made you pull back a little bit, confused. He stares at you a while longer before quirking side one of his lips mockingly and turns his attention back to the screen. "Now what could my brother have done to have you coming back to him?"

"B-brother?!" Your mouth falls open in disbelief until you notice that one of his eyes did resemble the striking blue ones you're going to see soon. Clearing your throat you shift awkwardly and avert your gaze. "Actually, I haven't visited him before...I just met him last time I was here. He was-uh-sitting right where you are and I just wanted to see him again."

The more you tried to explain yourself, the more intense his gaze got. He had turned his attention to you and leaned back over the counter, coming further into your space. This time he boldly gripped your chin and tilted your head towards his own, the softness gone. "Can't say I don't blame him when someone as tempting as you walks in here. I'm afraid to admit I'm jealous after all."

His sincere confession has your knees weak, the longing in his eyes raking over your body. "Since you already reserved your night with him, we don't have to call to his room. He's already expecting you. Floor -3." Todoroki turns around to grab a keycard on a shelf and hands it over to you. As you go to pull it from his hand, he doesn't let go and instead pulls you closer, your torso now leaning over the counter.

"Are you sure you don't want to come back to my room? I promise to treat you how a princess deserves to be treated. Worshipped." Todoroki's gaze seemed almost puppy-like pouting and hopeful you'd say yes. Just as you were about to answer, the phone behind the desk started ringing and Todoroki's facial expression dropped again.

Passively, he picked up the phone. "Hello?"

You see his forehead crease slightly and he held his hand over the receiver and turned his attention back to you. "I have to take this call...come back to see me next time, (Y/n)." Gulping, you nod as he turns his attention back to the caller, clicking away at the computer.

Turning around, your eyes fixate on the red door as you take a deep breath and walk towards it, your legs feeling like jelly from Todoroki's promise. His honied voice faded as you neared the entrance fingers gripping the handles like a vice. This is it. I'm actually doing it.

Taking a deep breath, you opened the doors to a long hallway, a single elevator at the very end. The difference compared from the lavish foyer was shocking as chills broke out over your arms at the view. Before you was a darkened hallway, only lit up by the red neon lights along the bottom half of the floor. In the middle of the room was a life-sized statue of Himeros, the hallway splitting around it before connecting again on the other side.

Water channels lined ether side of the hallway, the water still and inky black from the lighting. Walking further into the room, you pass the statue and head towards the elevators, the sound of a deep bass coming from below. Reaching the elevator and with a shaky hand, you press the button, your only option being 'down.'

Stepping into the normal bright elevator and glancing back into the red room, the doors closed silently, descending you to your fate.

~*~*~*~*

The low bumping of the bass wasn't as loud as you thought it was when you arrived on Dabi's floor. When the doors opened to -3, you were surprised to see a blue-haired boy waiting for the elevator alone. Not expecting another person to be there, he mirrored your surprised expression before moving aside to let you off. He kept your gaze as he backed up in the elevator, a crazed grin forming on his face as if he recognized you.

It was almost sadistic the way he stared at you, the feeling of being analyzed suddenly making the hairs on your neck stand up in alarm. His red eyes glinted dangerously as he stuck his tongue out to lick his lips, the doors beginning to close. The last thing you saw was the way he tilted his head back slightly, the sadistic grin forming into a handsome smirk as he winked.

This place is going to kill me.

Finally turning around to head to your destination, your jaw drops in awe once again at seeing the underground design. Traces of neon blue ran throughout the halls and lounge areas, more specifically, different sized neon blue roses were spotted along the entirety of one side of the wall, fake vines filling in the empty spaces connecting them. It was beautiful.

Walking down the hall to find Dabi's room, you make a mental note to take a picture in front of that wall later. Finding his door, you toy with the edge of the room key, your brief discovery of the underground portion of the brothel ending too quickly. It scared you how much you wanted to learn about his place, not just the sex that awaited behind these rooms, but who the men were personally.

Despite your rapidly increasing heart rate, you take a deep breath and put the card in, opening the door gently. The faint smell of cigarettes hit you first followed by noticing the normally designed interior, much like Bakugou's room. Closing the door behind you, you walk further down the hall, hands sweating once the bed comes into view.

Your eyes instantly connect to the striking blue ones who had looked up hearing you come in. He was propped up against the headboard, his phone in his hand, dressed in nothing but a pair of black sweatpants. Your mouth falls open seeing his tattoos on display, his facial piercings glinting low in the light but your gaze also catches on the flashes on his chest, two silver studs surrounded by black ink. Your mouth dried up instantly.

Dabi's eyes widened before grinning widely, pushing himself off the bed. "Dollface..." Breathing out your nickname in awe, Dabi strode over to you, cupping your face in his hands, before moving one hand to the back of your neck supporting it. His touch was warm on your skin making you sigh and close your eyes, something you longed to feel again for the past month.

You dropped your bag on the floor and reached up to place your hand over his own, leaning into him. The hand on your neck began to massage your skin in gentle circles, another breathy sigh leaving your lips. Fluttering your eyes open, the way Dabi was staring at you had you biting your lip, his eyes immediately being drawn to the movement.

"You haven't changed have you," he muses, thumbing the skin under your lip. "I was wondering why I couldn't see who requested me tonight, and I must say (Y/n), I don't like secrets." The mention of your name falling from his lips made your head spin realizing he hasn't forgotten about you.

"I wanted to surprise you...if you still remembered me of course." The way you looked up at Dabi was complete innocence and you could see the faintest pink hue dusting over his cheeks making his expression soften.

"Remember you? How could I forget? Knowing you were upstairs the whole night with someone else was so hard to imagine, dollface," Dabi pauses, leaning down to kiss your forehead. "So what is it? Did Bakugou not do it for you? You need something a little more after all."

He pulls away with a smirk, stepping further into your space forcing you to take a step back. Being backed up against the wall had a heat building between your legs as Dabi blocked you with his arms. "What's it going to be, (Y/n)? Want to use a safe word with me?" His fingers brushed along the bottom of your shirt, slipping underneath to caress your stomach.

Your back arched slightly making Dabi's hand slide up more, his eyebrows furrowing feeling the satin brush along his fingertips. "Strip." Pulling his hand back completely, he goes back to blocking you while giving you space to move.

Pulling your top over your head, you toss it over the side and hear a low moan fall from his lips. You're quick to rid of your pants too, the white satin piece on full display. "Maybe I shouldn't punish you too hard for keeping your name from me if you're going to dress like this." His breath fans across your lips and you moan as he finally kisses you. The kiss was nothing but deep and sinful. Dabi stepped forward to place a leg between yours, your hips stuttering at the sudden contact.

Your moan had his tongue entering your mouth, your senses being overloaded by his presence. "White," Dabi pulled back briefly, murmuring against your lips before continuing to glide his lips against yours. "Is such..." He pulled back again, pecking your lips softly in repetitive motions before reattaching the kiss, his tongue piercing flicking against the roof of your mouth. "An innocent color." He growled out the final words, hands tracing along your body while occasionally teasing the skin under lingerie.

You gripped the back of his head for dear life, your hips rolling against his thigh as he pulled your bottom lip between his teeth to bite down. "White is your word," he mumbles against your lips before pulling back to analyze your blissed-out expression. "You will call me sir and the only time I'll allow you to use my name is when you're cumming for me. You got that, dollface?"

You nod and he narrows his eyes in a warning. "Ah-yes sir," you confirm, a shameful blush appearing from saying the words out loud.

"Get on your knees."

The command had you shuddering as you dropped to your knees, Dabi's hands toying with the tie of his sweatpants. "I was going to punish you for hiding yourself from me, but seeing that you dressed up for me, I suppose I shouldn't spank you. Instead, I was thinking of fucking that pretty little throat of yours."

You had been watching the bulge in Dabi's sweatpants as he talked, his fingers teasing over himself as your mouth watered. "Please, sir," you agree, finally looking up at him.

Dabi hums appreciatively and pulls the string on his sweatpants, putting on a show as he lowered them down. His cock springs free and hits his stomach making you gasp at seeing the piercings revealed. Dabi guides his cock to your mouth, tapping the small prince albert stud against your lip. Opening your mouth obediently, you moan around his head, sucking gently on the tip.

Not wasting time, Dabi pushes further, groaning while feeling your hot wet mouth around him. Your eyes water as he breaches the back of your throat, his cock still not fully inside. Looking up at him through your blurry vision, Dabi is panting as he moves one hand into your hair to hold you still. He begins with small rolls of his hips, your saliva building up making you swallow. The feeling of your mouth constricting has Dabi's hips faltering before picking up the pace.

"Fuck dollface...you really know how to suck a cock." The raspy praise has you working even harder, tongue rolling over the piercings in deliberate swirls making sure to get the tip when he pulls back. Soon, Dabi is thrusting into your throat making you gag as drool escapes one corner of your mouth, the fast pace preventing you from swallowing it all.

Dabi pants harder, gripping your hair as he pauses the movement of his hips and moves your head so you’re down to the base of his cock. Your gag reflex is stuck as Dabi chokes you with his cock, tears falling down your face in pleasure. Just when your vision started to blacken, he pulls out of your mouth and you take a deep breath, lungs shakey when you inhale. "Good girl," Dabi purrs, stroking your hair.

"C'mon...I want to cum down that tight throat." You moan and open your mouth back up to Dabi as he guides his cock back in, picking up the same rough pace as before. The last thing you felt was his cock pulse as a low growl filled the room, cum flooding your mouth. "Don't swallow yet."

Whimpering softly at him, Dabi finally pulls back and you stare up at him a mess. Tear stains littered your face with drool covering your chin. "Stand up."

You wobble to your feet as Dabi presses you back against the wall for support. "Open"

Sticking your tongue out, Dabi hums and prods a finger in your mouth, rubbing it over your cum-covered tongue. Pulling his hand back, he wraps it gently around your throat.

"Swallow."

Keeping your mouth open, you swallow despite the constricting hand as Dabi watches, pupils blown. When you were finished he pulled his hand away and grabbed a towel off a nearby table. Closing your eyes, you let Dabi wipe your face off as he murmurs praises to you, your pussy throbbing violently from the lack of attention. "Such a good girl for me, dollface. I'm going to reward you so well, (Y/n)."

"Y-yes, sir." Your voice comes out broken and scratchy as you try to swallow a few times trying to soothe the ache in your throat.

Putting the towel aside, Dabi pulls you to him, placing gentle kisses along your neck before finding your pulse and sucking the skin into his mouth. Sobbing, you tilt your head to give him better access as his fingers undo the babydoll piece. When he was finished, he pulled back from your neck and you stepped out of the garment, his eyes raking over your body hungrily.

He picks you up and you wrap your legs around him in shock. Walking towards the bed, Dabi kisses along your collarbone, while talking low. "Now I'm really jealous I wasn't your first here. I should've ditched that night and convinced you to come with me back to my room."

You giggle lightly as he looks at you confused, laying you on the bed. "Wow, you sound like your brother."

At your comment, Dabi freezes and his face hardens making you regret your words. "I mean he was at the desk when I checked in! That's all." You hurry and try to cover your tracks, feeling small under his gaze. What's the story between those two?

The sudden feeling of fingers teasing along your pussy has you mewling, legs jumping apart. Dabi leans down right in front of your face, eyes lowered seductively as he thumbs your clit. "I'll show you I can fuck you better than he ever will. I'll make your pussy remember my cock even if you decide to visit him, you'll feel my piercings and how you came screaming my name."

You're about to respond, but Dabi thrusts one finger inside you, kissing you when you cry out. "You're so fucking wet for me...did my cock taste that good? Or did you like my hand wrapped around your throat?" Dabi purrs into your ear, pulling the lobe back and biting gently.

"Yes~ sir...please...please fuck me." It's not enough. Tears sprung to your eyes from the constant drag of his finger. Dabi smirks and pulls his finger out.

"Hands and knees."

Groaning, you force yourself over and pull yourself into position. In one smooth motion, Dabi's cock pushes in, your breath leaving your body as your pussy stretches to fit him. His groan rumbled through your body, his cock being massaged by your walls. "Holy shit you're so fucking tight, dollface...pulling me deeper like that."

Dabi begins a furious pace, making broken sounds escape your lips as you scramble for leverage on the bed. Just then, Dabi hit a spot inside of you that had you screaming, his thrusts getting more aggressive as he chuckled darkly.

A sudden hand wraps around your throat, pulling up against his chest, his thrusts never faltering. "Mine. This pussy is going to be mine tonight and you're going to remember it next time you get fucked. That piercing hit a good spot inside of you, didn't it? C'mon (Y/n), cum for me."

With his hand tightening with every word he said and the piercings rubbing inside you repeatedly, you clamp down on his cock, his name leaving you mouth in a scream your body shuddering violently. "Dabi~!"

"Fuck!" Dabi's own hips faltered from your milking, a string of curses leaving his mouth as he cums too, a warm liquid exploding deep inside your pussy. He eases his hold off your neck and pulls out, turning your back to the bed. The two of you try to catch your breath and as Dabi holds you close, brushing your hair back in a soothing motion.

"I didn't use the safe word." You point out, leaning your forehead against his solid chest. Dabi's chuckle vibrates against you making you smile.

"Our night's just getting started. I said I'd make you remember and I intend to fulfill that promise"

Going back to the brothel may have been the best mistake of your life. Not only have you spent the night there twice already, but you've managed to capture two more residents' attention. What you have yet to find out is that all the boys are close. Some...closer than others, but they do work together so that means they share stories.

And you are the most intriguing one of all that everyone is dying to meet.

1K notes · View notes

bevioletskies · 3 years

Text

meet me halfway (across the sky)

summary: Video calls back home were a rare treat for Apollo, considering how busy his life in Khura’in could be. Catching up with Trucy, Athena, and Phoenix was one thing. Getting a sudden call from Klavier was another. And talking to Klavier every day for hours about everything they never knew about each other was possibly the most unexpected thing of all.

word count: 12k | read on ao3

a/n: For @klapollo-week, day five of seven (prompt: "parallels"). All seven of my fics take place in the same continuity! However, each can be read as a stand-alone, with the exception of day seven being a sequel to day five.

Mild spoiler warning for Spirit of Justice, along with implied spoilers for Dual Destinies. Fic title is from the song Meet Me Half Way by Kenny Loggins.

“Uh, Mr. Wright, you’re way too close to the screen. Can you sit back a little?”

“Oops - sorry, Apollo! Still not used to this kind of technology, heh.”

“Sheesh, Daddy, you make yourself sound ancient - ”

“Ah! Did you guys start already? Attendez-moi!”

Chuckling, Apollo leaned back in his seat and waited while the three of them rearranged themselves in front of their webcam. He’d missed this, this camaraderie that he didn’t quite have with his current companions in Khura’in. There was something immensely comforting about it, about every time he managed to schedule a video call with everyone back home. It didn’t happen as often as they would’ve liked, given how busy they all were, how tricky the time difference could be, but when it did, it was the best part of Apollo’s week.

“Hey, guys,” Apollo said, waving sleepily. “What’s been going on?” He leaned closer, peering at his screen. “...Athena, why do you have a banana sticker on your forehead?”

“Why don’t you have a banana sticker on your forehead?” Athena retorted, peeling hers off with a flourish. “Anyway, everything’s been sehr gut! We’ve had, hm...I think four clients since we last talked? All acquitted, of course!”

“Anything interesting?” Apollo asked. “I’ve had twelve clients, myself.”

Phoenix frowned. “I’m...not so sure that’s a good thing. Are you getting enough sleep? I can’t imagine you having that many cases and not mixing them up. Keeping track of evidence alone must be a nightmare!”

“It’s been...a process,” Apollo said diplomatically, trying not to think about the dozens of folders he had on both his desktop and his actual desk that needed to be sorted in a way that made some semblance of sense. “Don’t worry about me, Mr. Wright, I-I’m fine!”

“Famous last words,” Trucy huffed. “Polly, you need rest! We want you back home in one piece, after all.”

“At least I’m not accepting odd jobs anymore,” Apollo chuckled. “I don’t mind helping someone set up their internet or move their couch every now and then, but I can’t do everything.” He startled suddenly at the sound of his phone going off. “Oh - sorry, one sec.” His brows knitted together when he read the call display: Klavier Gavin.

“Apollo? Is something wrong?” Athena asked, concerned.

“I - uh…” Apollo hesitated, unsure of what to do. “I’m gonna mute myself for a second, hang on.” He did just that, then answered his phone. “Gavin? Are you...wait. Did you call me by accident?”

There was a long, lingering silence. Then, “Ach, I only just realized what time it is where you are. I should’ve texted first, ja?”

“Yeah, probably,” Apollo said, laughing awkwardly. “Is this, uh, urgent? It’s just - I’m in the middle of a video call, so…”

“Nein, nein, not all!” Klavier’s voice was too loud, too sharp. Apollo didn’t need to see his face to know what that meant. “You know what? Forget I called, it’s nothing.”

“Hey, no, don’t do that,” Apollo protested, frowning. “If you wanna talk for whatever reason, we can - ”

“I have somewhere I need to be, anyway, so, er - Auf Wiedersehen, Herr Forehead.” Klavier quickly hung up before Apollo could get a word in edgewise. He stared at his phone, perplexed, before unmuting himself. The others looked as confused as he was.

“What happened?” Phoenix asked.

“...Prosecutor Gavin called me?” Apollo shook himself a little. “I’ll get back to him later, so - anyway, what were we talking about?”

_____

Three days passed before Klavier responded to the inquiring text message Apollo had sent him after he’d finished talking to the others. He still didn’t seem ready to talk about it - whatever it was - but he did suggest they do a video call of their own, to which Apollo agreed. Something about Klavier’s behavior was bothering him, and he was more curious about it than he expected to be.

“Forehead? You’re staring, achtung. I know I’m handsome, but you should really keep those eyes of yours under control. They’re going to get you in trouble someday, I’m sure of it.”

“I - ” Apollo’s eyes narrowed. “Really, Gavin? That’s how we’re starting this?”

“It was you who started it,” Klavier said petulantly, his tone not unlike a five-year-old’s. But really, Apollo couldn’t stop staring - not because of Klavier’s looks; he’d long made peace with how attractive he thought Klavier was and how much he didn’t want Klavier to know, but because of how tired Klavier seemed. Apollo had expected him to be in his usual “uniform”, his silver jewelry and perfect makeup and impeccably styled hair. Instead, Klavier was wearing an oversized sweater, his hair up in a loose topknot, his face completely bare. He still had that lazy, slightly flirtatious smile on his face, but he was slouching quite a bit, his arms loosely wrapped around his propped-up knee. With his cracked lips, acne scars, and hunched shoulders, he looked more human than Apollo had ever thought possible.

“How’ve you been?” Apollo asked, ignoring him. “I’m surprised you called. I haven’t heard from you in, like. Three months? Four? I swear, I’m losing all sense of time here.”

“Well, it’s not like we had a habit of talking in the first place, ja?” Klavier pointed out. “But...to borrow a phrase, I’m fine, though the courts have been so boring without you here. I almost miss the ringing ears I got after every single one of our trials.”

“Har, har,” Apollo drawled. “Congratulations, you and everyone else have broken me down into exactly two personality traits: sarcastic and loud. Are you proud of yourself?”

“You forgot ‘oblivious’,” Klavier supplied helpfully.

Apollo blinked. “...to what?” He blinked again. “Wait - ”

“Too late,” Klavier interrupted gleefully, beaming. “You’ve proven my point beautifully.” Apollo glared; not five minutes in, and he was already prepared to hang up. “Anyway, I’ve been sehr gut, for the most part. Work has been keeping me busy. You?”

“I’m pretty settled here by now,” Apollo said, shrugging. “It’s rough, y’know, trying to rebuild an entire legal system as the only defense attorney in the country, but, uh...at least I’m not completely alone. And as nerdy as it sounds, I’m actually really liking the work. Not the stress - that, I could do without - but the fact that I get to be a part of this big...thing. It’s exciting, I guess.”

“It’s not that nerdy,” Klavier reasoned. “Nerdy is reading law textbooks at night, under the covers. As a child.”

“...is it weird that I actually did that?” Apollo asked, wincing.

Now it was Klavier’s turn to blink, stunned. “Wait, really? I was talking about me.”

“Oh.” Apollo shifted in his seat, surprised. “Never would’ve guessed. I mean, obviously, I know you became a prosecutor at seventeen, but I just assumed you were a musical child prodigy and...I dunno, switched career paths at some point.”

Klavier let out a soft laugh. “Again, you flatter me, Herr Forehead, but I’m not a prodigy of any kind. Just some good old-fashioned hard work, you know?” He then frowned very slightly. “Though...I’ll admit, I’m not sure how much of my standing at the prosecutor’s office also came down to good old-fashioned nepotism. After all, Kristoph…” He trailed off, unwilling to say more.

Apollo shuddered. Even after all this time, he couldn’t get his former boss’s maniacal laughter out of his head. “Right, um...oh, have you had any interesting cases lately? Athena was telling me she had a literal gravedigger as a client - no prizes for guessing where the victim’s body was discovered…”

The next hour seemed to fly by surprisingly quickly, with the two of them exchanging light-hearted anecdotes about work. As it turned out, they’d both had many interesting cases since the last time they spoke. It wasn’t until Apollo could barely keep his eyes open that he realized what time it was.

“Ach, don’t let me keep you,” Klavier said when Apollo yawned for what seemed like the hundredth time in a row. “You have work in the morning, I’m sure.”

“Wait, but - ” Apollo yawned yet again “ - but we never got around to...whatever it was you were calling about the first time. Your so-called ‘nothing’.”

Klavier’s expression sobered instantly, his mouth pulling back into a hard line. “I’m not going to bother lying to you, Apollo. But I’m not interested in telling you, either. So let’s leave it at that, ja?”

“I...oh.” Apollo nodded, feeling somewhat chastised. “Fine. Fine, we don’t have to - but if you wanna, y’know, catch up again sometime, let me know, okay? I’ve got time to talk. Er, I think.”

Klavier laughed, surprised, though his eyes were still wary. “Do you actually...miss me, Forehead?”

“You really know how to ruin a moment, Gavin,” Apollo sighed, shaking his head. “Anyway, talk to you later...maybe. Haven’t decided on whether I actually want to anymore, jerk.”

Klavier continued to grin. “Auf Wiedersehen, baby.” Apollo tried not to think about how the last word had made him shiver.

Weeks went by before Apollo heard from Klavier again, a few days after he’d had a two-hour long call with Trucy. Apollo’s voice was a bit hoarse from all the talking he’d done - not to mention how angry he’d gotten in court just yesterday after a particularly smug witness tried to take over the entire trial - but nevertheless, he was surprised at how happy he was to see Klavier, a feeling he was mostly unfamiliar with.

“Do you have a cold?” Klavier asked. “Your voice sounds a bit strained and raspy.”

“My brain feels strained and raspy,” Apollo groaned. He then paused; for some reason, the exchange sounded familiar, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on why. “It’s nothing, I just got pissed and yelled at someone in court yesterday. Not my finest moment, I’ll admit.”

“But isn’t yelling your default?” Klavier smirked. He looked more relaxed than last time, the tension in his face less noticeable. “I hope the rest of the trial went well, at least.”

“Oh, it didn’t,” Apollo said, snorting. “But...past’s in the past. I have too many cases to deal with to bother worrying about one crappy witness. My client was acquitted, I got the real culprit, you know the deal. It’s all starting to blur together, to be honest.”

“It sounds like you need to get out more,” Klavier suggested, not unkindly. “Is there any sort of...nightlife in Khura’in? Recreational activities, maybe? Don’t make me bother Fräulein Detective and get her to drag you to a bar every now and then.”

“We go out to eat or drink sometimes,” Apollo replied, shrugging. “But...I dunno. I don’t really have the time to take up a new hobby or whatever. My free time is for eating, sleeping, and catching up with people back home.”

“Fair enough, though you really should lighten your workload,” Klavier said sagely. “It’s not like you took cases every day when you were here, ja? I know Khura’in needs your help, but what good are you to them if you’re burnt out?”

Apollo’s eyes widened slightly, stupefied. Then, he tried - and failed - to stifle a laugh. “Okay, Dad. Sheesh, you sound like Mr. Wright trying to give me a pep talk.” He sat back in his seat, loosely running his fingers through his hair. “Fine, then, question for you - when’s the last time you took a day off?”

“I went to visit my parents last Saturday,” Klavier answered after taking a moment to think. “They needed help cleaning and packing away some of...some of his things.” He visibly swallowed, though he tried to hide it with a sharp cough. After some consideration, Apollo decided not to comment on it.

“That’s hardly a day off,” Apollo retorted instead. “I mean, it’s technically not work, but - wait. Do you usually work on weekends, too?”

“Natürlich,” Klavier replied, confused. “Do you mean to say you don’t?”

“No, I - I work on weekends more than I should,” Apollo admitted. “But it’s kinda hypocritical of you to tell me to get out more when you don’t have much of a life, either, y’know. Also, are you seriously telling me you don’t have, like. Other things to do? People to see, places to be? Not that spending time with your parents is a bad thing, I-I mean, it’s cool that you do, it’s just...well.”

Klavier averted his eyes, reaching across his desk to pick up his mug of tea. He took his time with it, drinking at a leisurely pace, before finally speaking again. “Do you actually care to know, Forehead? Or are you just asking to ask?” he said evenly.

“I…” Apollo found himself caught off-guard by both the question and his own answer. “No, I actually wanna know. ‘Cos it’s just - it’s not what I imagined. I’ve seen all the headlines and photos and stuff, so…”

“Ah.” Klavier smiled ruefully. “From the early Gavinners days, I take it? Back when I had Daryan around to be my bad influence? Nein, that’s not exactly my style anymore. I already feel too old for that kind of scheisse. Now, I do these things out of obligation, you know? Work parties, family events...nothing too wild. Not when I’ve been involved in too many scandals. Better to lay low than to put myself out there again, ja?”

“I...I see.” Apollo went quiet for a moment, ruminating. He couldn’t help but notice Klavier had neatly avoided the word “friend”; he was starting to wonder how many he actually had. Honestly, he couldn’t remember the last time Klavier had ever mentioned anyone outside of people that Apollo himself already knew.

“You’re staring again, Forehead.” Klavier leaned closer, resting his chin in his hands, a wicked grin plastered across his face. “There’s no one nearly as pretty as me in Khura’in, I take it? Don’t worry, I’d be surprised if there was.” Apollo said nothing, instead lifting a hand from his own mug of honey lemon tea to flip him off. Klavier merely laughed in response, delighted.

_____

After that, the gap between video calls went down from a few weeks to a few days. Neither of them knew why, but somehow, they’d come to a silent agreement that they were going to talk once or twice a week about nothing in particular. However, Apollo still hadn’t quite figured out why Klavier had called him the first time. Initially, he suspected it had something to do with Kristoph, given that the Gavins were finally starting to pack up his things. Maybe Klavier had visited him recently, or maybe he’d reminisced a little too long about their shared childhood, whatever that looked like. But when Apollo had asked, Klavier had simply shrugged it off.

“It’s no secret that even thinking about thinking about Kristoph puts me in a foul mood,” Klavier had replied. “But I haven’t seen him lately, nein. I’m done, I’m - I just want to move on with my life, without his shadow lurking in the darkness.”

Not all their conversations were so heavy, though; once they’d finally caught up on everything they’d missed out on over the last several months, their topics turned mundane, even silly. Apollo never expected to spend one of his precious free Saturday mornings arguing with Klavier, of all people, about breakfast, of all things, but here he was.

“Yes, I’ve had instant ramen for breakfast, what of it?!” Apollo had exclaimed defensively. “Add an egg, some bacon bits...what’s your problem?”

“My problem is your sodium intake,” Klavier had protested. “Bitte, tell me you eat actual fruits and vegetables from time to time. Tell me you have some semblance of a balanced diet and your stomach hasn’t just turned into a toxic wasteland.”

Apollo wasn’t sure why he was talking to Klavier so often, so suddenly, in all honesty. Part of him supposed it was because Klavier just happened to be there - after all, he seemed freer to talk than Phoenix, Trucy, or Athena, and he wasn’t bad company when he wasn’t not-so-stealthily insulting Apollo in court. But another part of him, the part he desperately wanted to ignore, felt oddly comforted by Klavier’s probably-fake accent and his too-wide smile. Klavier’s presence in his small, chilly Khura’inese bedroom almost made him feel like he was back home.

“Have you seen the others lately?” Apollo asked one evening, bundled up in the thickest blanket he could find. There was a draft coming in from somewhere that he had yet to take care of, and neither Datz nor Ahlbi were too interested in checking it out, either. “Or...I dunno. Watched any of Trucy’s shows?”

“I’ve only seen them around at crime scenes and the courthouse,” Klavier replied. Apollo couldn’t stop himself from sneaking a peek over Klavier’s shoulders at his surroundings in curiosity. For once, Klavier was sitting on his bed instead of at his desk or in what was presumably his home office. Unsurprisingly, he seemed to have a huge, ostentatious-looking bedroom that was probably bigger than Apollo’s office. “Things have been...busy at the Gavin estate. I don't have much time to socialize with colleagues.”

“Busy?” Apollo echoed, sitting up. “More cleaning, you mean?”

“My parents aren’t retired, but sometimes, they act like they are,” Klavier said wryly. “They want to remodel so many rooms - the kitchen, the conservatory, my old playroom...so I’ve been going home quite a bit these days, helping them with the little things. It was nostalgic, seeing all the toys I used to play with. Feels like a lifetime ago, achtung.”

“What was your thing?” Apollo asked. “Beanie Babies? Barbie Dreamhouses? Legos? Wait, let me guess - you had one of those Fisher-Price piano playmats, didn’t you? Don’t even lie to me.”

“I would never own something so tacky,” Klavier protested; he almost seemed offended. “Nein, Mama was all about wooden toys - blocks, cars, dollhouses, kitchen sets - it’s very aesthetically pleasing. With the occasional soft toy, ja, but we never had plastic.”

“Interesting,” Apollo said, humming. “Same here, no plastic for us. Only, uh - not for the same reasons. More out of...necessity.”

“Oh.” Klavier’s expression softened. “Ja, I suppose in your...situation, you wouldn’t be able to get new things easily.” He then smirked. “Now I’m trying to imagine you and Herr Sahdmadhi as children. I can’t picture either of you with dolls or teddy bears.”

“Try actual frogs and actual bunnies,” Apollo said, sinking down further into his chair. “We were outdoorsy kids, believe it or not. Scraped knees and sunburns and all. But now, uh, good luck dragging me away from air conditioning and indoor plumbing. You couldn’t pay me to abandon my weighted blanket.”

“Picky, picky,” Klavier teased, grinning. “I don’t blame you, though. I’m too comfortable with being comfortable to like change. Though...I suppose that’s not really up to us, is it? Changing?”

“How philosophical of you,” Apollo drawled, rolling his eyes. “It’s not that deep, Gavin, I’m just saying I’m not interested in sleeping outdoors again anytime soon. One instance of me waking up with ants in places that you definitely don’t want ants was enough.” He then chewed his bottom lip thoughtfully. “And honestly, who does like change? It’s like when I get a new client, right, and every time, something changes on me. Evidence, circumstances, logic...hell, it’s your fault sometimes!”

“When did this become about me?” Klavier chuckled, still smiling.

“Isn’t everything?” Apollo shot back. “It’s like you have this...this uncanny ability to turn any normal conversation into an opportunity for you to wax poetic, just so you can sound cool. If you ask me, it’s more dorky than anything else.”

Klavier’s mouth dropped open. “...Apollo Justice, are you calling me a dork?”

“Maybe I am, Klavier Gavin. What are we, Prosecutor von Karma?” Apollo snorted. “Sorry, Gavin, but between you and her, I think I know which one of you is actually German.”

“I’ll have you know that I’m very German,” Klavier protested, wagging an accusing finger at his screen. “Both of my parents grew up in Germany; they only came to the States so they could get their master’s. They had me learn German by watching Janoschs Traumstunde and Die Sendung mit der Maus, and Mama taught me how to make spätzle and schupfnudeln and reibekuchen - ah, and my favorite dessert? Bienenstich.”

Apollo held his hands up in surrender. “Okay, okay, I believe you. I just think your accent’s a little...questionable. You sound like someone who got too overconfident in their dedication to Duolingo.”

“Ach,” Klavier said, laughing. “Anyway, do you mean it? Am I really...dorky?”

“Wow, you’re even more hung up on that than I thought,” Apollo teased, biting his lip to stop himself from laughing as well. “Though I guess I shouldn’t be too surprised. Image is a big deal to you, after all. Yes, Gavin, you’re a huge dork. How can you not be when you say shit like - like ‘tell me you share my angst, Herr Forehead’ - ”

“And you think my accent is terrible,” Klavier mused, sighing. “So sue me, I like to embellish. I like a little romance in my language - it makes life more interesting, you know? Though I suppose you wouldn’t understand, being the kind of person that you are. You wouldn’t know romance if it asked you to dinner.”

“Ugh, that reminds me.” An involuntary shudder went through Apollo’s entire body. “I had a client ask me out a few weeks ago. Like, seconds after I got him acquitted. As if that was all he was thinking about while the judge declared him not guilty.”

Klavier went still. “...really? What happened? What did you say?”

“I said no, obviously!” Apollo exclaimed, loud enough that he briefly wondered if he’d accidentally woken up his neighbors. “He wasn’t a murderer, but he was still a shitty person. Besides, shitty or not, it’s kind of an unspoken thing to not date clients and co-workers, isn’t it?”

“Ja, of course,” Klavier said, waving a hand aimlessly. “I’m just...surprised.”

“That someone was interested in me? Thanks, Gavin,” Apollo drawled, rolling his eyes.

“That someone thought it was a good idea,” Klavier corrected, mouth twisting into a slight frown. “You’re perfect...ly acceptable, Forehead. As a, ah, person to go on a date with, I mean.” He cleared his throat; it seemed to get stuck quite often these days. “Anyway - surely, he didn’t think you would agree!”

“I dunno what he was thinking, if he was thinking at all in the first place,” Apollo sighed, shivering once more. “At least Ema got a good laugh out of it.”

Klavier straightened up, his expression quickly returning to normal. “How is she, by the way? I can only imagine that Khura’in is completely covered in luminol by now.”

“She’s adjusted pretty well, though she’s used to living overseas,” Apollo shrugged. “Her Khura’inese needs some work, though. Er, not that mine’s much better, I’ve been gone for too long. It’s coming back to me...slowly. Very slowly.”

“Sometimes I forget that you speak another language, too,” Klavier remarked. “Considering your grasp of English…”

“My English is fine, thanks,” Apollo huffed; it seemed like he couldn’t go one conversation without wanting to stick his tongue out at Klavier like they were unruly children on a school playground. Or, alternatively, flipping him off like they were fighting over the last parking spot. “Just ‘cos I don’t get all fancy with it - ”

“Here we go again,” Klavier sighed, dropping his chin into his hands. “And you say I make everything about me, hm?”

“Two-way street, Gavin. Two-way street,” Apollo said, leaning back in his chair with a smirk. “Besides, that’s...it’s kind of our thing, isn’t it? Poking at each other until someone gets legitimately pissed? Usually me, but still.”

“I didn’t know we had a ‘thing’,” Klavier said, cocking his head in curiosity. “Tell me more about this ‘thing’ of ours, bitte.”

“See? There you go again!” Now Apollo’s neighbors were definitely awake; he didn’t have to look out the window to know that their lights were coming back on. “You can’t go two seconds without being...smarmy about something. It’s like a bad habit of yours, and I know a thing or two about bad habits.”

“What’s yours?”

Apollo blinked. Klavier had asked so suddenly, so immediately, that he’d barely heard what he’d said. “Huh? What do you mean?”

“Your bad habit,” Klavier elaborated. “I know you were talking about spotting other people’s tells, but I’m more curious about yours. You’d think that, since I get on your nerves so easily, I’d be able to see it myself, but…” He shrugged, still smiling. It was one of those indiscernible expressions of his that frustrated Apollo so much, the kind of bland, indifferent smile that seemed to mean anything and nothing at the same time. The kind of smile Klavier had in court as he reviewed the facts of the case, or when he ran into Apollo at a crime scene, or even when he talked about not talking about his brother.

“I...I, uh, never really thought about it.” Apollo hummed, thinking it over. “Messing with my hair, I guess? I’ve definitely, literally pulled my hair out before whenever I’m, like. Nervous. Stressed. Worried. Or, y’know, all of the above. I even had a crooked hairline in high school ‘cos I used to do it all the time.”

Klavier lifted his head from his hands, looking at Apollo in awe. He was quiet for so long that Apollo almost asked him if his internet connection had cut out, only to watch Klavier fuss with his bangs, then push them back completely, exposing his hairline, near-identical to what Apollo’s used to look like. It was only then that Apollo realized he’d never seen Klavier with his hair completely up. Of course, he’d seen Klavier do ponytails, braids, even space buns if he was feeling particularly stylish, but his bangs were always swept over his left eye. Now, he could see why.

“...oh.” Apollo wasn’t sure what to say. “I...I see. Is that, uh, recent?”

Klavier nodded shortly, then briefly turned away to grab a hair tie from his bedside table. He held the hair tie between his teeth while he gathered up his hair and twisted it into a neat knot; Apollo tried not to stare at the fullness of Klavier’s bottom lip, sticking out in a perfect pout, as he did. “Can I tell you a secret, Herr Forehead?”

“Oh - er - okay, abrupt change of topic there,” Apollo muttered, more to himself than to Klavier. “I guess so. What’s up?”

“I...haven’t decided how I feel yet about my parents remodeling our family estate.” Klavier’s tone was casual, but Apollo knew by now that it meant nothing. “I know why they’re doing it, I just don’t know why they’re doing it now. Nothing has changed, you know? They’re still working, I’m still working...Kristoph is still in prison.”

“Well, I don’t...know your parents or anything,” Apollo said carefully. “But i-it could be, like, a healing process thing. Starting fresh and all that, you know? But maybe it’s really not that deep. Maybe they literally just felt like, hey, now’s the right time to renovate. You could ask ‘em.”

“Ah - nein, I couldn’t inconvenience them like that,” Klavier said, chuckling awkwardly. He was already starting to mess with his hair once more. “If I expressed anything other than my complete support, they would stop immediately. And they’ve already sacrificed so much for me, I would never...I can’t…”

“Gavin,” Apollo said softly.

“It’s just a few rooms.” Klavier inhaled sharply. “What does it matter? It’s not like I live there. If Mama wants to turn our playroom into a crafting room, it...it makes sense.”

Their conversation, understandably, didn’t last too long after that. Apollo crawled into bed, still wrapped up in his blankets, with over a dozen trains of thought trekking through his mind, more of them about Klavier than he wanted to admit. He’d never thought of Klavier as an inherently private person - at times, he seemed almost too open to speaking his mind - but now, he could see that in some ways, he had been completely wrong.

_____

Unlike before, a few weeks passed before they had another video call. Klavier was wearing a muscle tank this time, his hair scraped back into a messy bun, his bangs perfectly placed. Apollo found himself more than a little distracted by the broadness of Klavier’s shoulders, by the length of Klavier’s neck. “Entschuldigung for last time,” Klavier said smoothly, by way of greeting. “Let’s not have me treat our conversations like my therapy sessions, ja?”

“It’s fine, Gavin,” Apollo reassured him. “One comment about how you’re feeling is no big deal. If you wanna talk, then...talk. Honestly, I’m a huge law nerd, and I could talk about Khura’inese legal practices all day, but, uh, I could definitely use a conversation or two that’s about something completely different.”

Klavier nodded, seemingly thinking it over. “...I like your hair.”

Apollo raised an eyebrow. “...and I like your shirt. What, are we on a shitty speed date? C’mon, you can do better than that!”

“Ach, you didn’t let me finish,” Klavier protested, chuckling. “I just meant...I like your hair like this. It looks...soft. Less severe. Something that would be nice to touch, you know?”

“I...oh.” A pleasant tingle went up Apollo’s spine. Klavier’s voice was low, warm, especially through his headphones. He brushed his hair back behind his ears, ducking his head slightly so Klavier wouldn’t notice the heat rising in his cheeks. “Trucy introduced me to some new hair products a while back. Said it was stuff she uses to make her hair look extra shiny under the stage lights. Er, n-not that that’s why I’m using it, just...it’s nice to treat myself every now and then.”

Klavier suddenly perked up. “Speaking of treating yourself, that reminds me - you know the best way to help you with all that stress and tension you’re dealing with? A gut massage. Surely, there are some facilities like that in Khura’in, ja?”

Apollo fixed Klavier with a withering look. “...Gavin, we just had a revolution here, like, six months ago. Getting a massage and a facial is hardly anyone’s priority right now, believe me. It’s not like the legal system is off in its own little world, y’know? The economy, the sociopolitical order…everyone considers themselves lucky that they can go about their day-to-day lives, but luxury goods and services? Not here, not yet.”

“Shame, though I can’t fault Khura’in for having its priorities in order,” Klavier said, frowning slightly. “Well, if I ever get bored enough and feel like hopping on a plane, maybe I’ll come visit and give you a massage myself.”

“I’m not paying for your ticket,” Apollo retorted, his cheeks reddening once more. “And are you even qualified?”

“I always massage Papa’s shoulders whenever I go to my parents’ house,” Klavier mused thoughtfully. “He gets sore from all the gardening he does. You should see our estate garden; it’s like something out of a fairytale.”

Apollo’s nose twitched. “I’m, uh, I’m sure it does. Hey, so - tell me about your parents. You’ve mentioned them a bunch of times, but I don’t actually know that much about them.”

“High school sweethearts,” Klavier said with an almost dreamy smile on his face. “The old-school kind, slipping love letters into each other’s bags between classes and all that. Now, they’re both college professors at the same school. They both act like practical, no-nonsense people, but the truth is, they're both romantisch at heart.”

“And then passed that on to you,” Apollo nodded. “Makes sense. They sound adorable, actually.”

“I never had a high school sweetheart of my own,” Klavier sighed wistfully. “I can’t imagine how...all-consuming that must feel. To be so young, to be so sure that this one person, the only person you’ve ever loved, will be the only person you’ll ever love.”

“I guess that’s where we differ,” Apollo said quietly, shifting uncomfortably in his seat, surprised at himself. He wasn’t sure where his comment had come from, why he’d blurted it out loud without a second thought. “I, uh, I had...something like that. Someone like that.”

“...oh.” Klavier furrowed his eyebrows, confused. “What happened?”

Apollo ducked his head, unable to look Klavier in the eye. “...you know what happened to him.”

Klavier’s eyes widened in realization. “Ach - Apollo, I’m so - ”

“Don’t, I - don’t,” Apollo insisted, a lump forming in his throat. “It’s not, uh. It’s not something I really wanna talk about.”

Klavier seemed unable to speak for a moment, his eyes shining with pity. Apollo hated it, hated how genuinely sorry Klavier looked, as if he had anything to do with it at all. Klavier opened his mouth, then closed it, then opened it again. “...I’ve written songs about my parents, actually. Not that you’ll find them on any Gavinners’ albums, just little love ballads that I played at their anniversary parties and vow renewal. They were big hits with my extended family - the one I wrote when I was ten years old is an absolute classic.”

“I’m sure it was,” Apollo chuckled, shaking himself out of his thoughts. “How about now, you write anything recently?”

“Barely a tune since the Gavinners disbanded,” Klavier admitted. “I haven’t felt all that inspired lately. Maybe someday it’ll come back to me, but right now...nothing. Nichts.”

“Good luck, I guess,” Apollo offered. “By the way, what’s with the tank top? Is it that hot over there already?”

“I’ve always been hot, Forehead, I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Klavier said, grinning victoriously at the almost too obvious bait.

Apollo groaned, dropping his head into his hands. “I will hang up on you someday, Gavin, don’t think I won’t.”

_____

The gap between video calls quickly dwindled down from a few days to no days at all. Text messages were constant, to the point where Apollo had to sheepishly ask Nahyuta how to upgrade his phone plan. Even phone calls started to increase in frequency; Apollo was starting to think he heard Klavier’s voice more often than he heard Ema’s, and they often spent entire days in each other’s presence.

“How do you feel about peaches?” Apollo asked, his phone carefully sandwiched between his ear and his shoulder as he deftly navigated his way through the farmer’s market, nearly tripping over a stray dog as he did so.

“Great emoji,” Klavier replied semi-seriously, though Apollo could tell he was trying not to laugh. “Although...Forehead, if this is your subtle way of asking me for my opinion on Call Me By Your Name, I’ll have you know I never learned how to play Capriccio sopra la lontananza del suo fratello dilettissimo. Now, Zion Hört Die Wächter Singen, on the other hand - ”

“Need I remind you, I only speak English, Khura’inese, and college-level Spanish?” Apollo interrupted, shaking his head. “Anyway, peaches are basically a delicacy here. Sucks for me, since I’m allergic to stone fruit.”

“Same, I can only eat them cooked. I love a good cherry pie,” Klavier hummed. “Did you remember to get kale this time?”

“Yeah, I got a huge bundle of it right here,” Apollo said, jostling his wicker basket loudly enough so Klavier could hear. A few market patrons turned to look at him strangely. “Thanks again for the tip, by the way. I’m still getting used to cooking stuff that’s not instant or frozen, so roasting vegetables is a total game-changer.”

“Glad to hear you’re eating actual fruits and vegetables now,” Klavier replied, chuckling. “So, I had a case go kaput today. Thought you might want to hear about it.”

“Obviously!” Apollo said, lighting up. “What did you do?”

“Achtung, why do you think it was my fault?” Klavier protested, his laughter warm in Apollo’s ear.

“Isn’t everything?” Apollo shot back, laughing as well. “Seriously, what happened? Can’t be as bad as...literally anything that’s happened to me.”

“Nein, not quite,” Klavier agreed. “Don’t worry, I wasn’t up against Athena or Herr Wright. Some rookie, I think; I was going to go easy on them. That is, until the defendant, apparently overcome with guilt, decided to bring their own decisive evidence to prove that they did, in fact, kill the victim.”

“No!” Apollo exclaimed. More market patrons turned in his direction, glaringly so. He shot them apologetic grimaces, then ducked behind a watermelon display. “Really? Like, are we talking fingerprints, photographs…”

“Everything, Forehead, everything. I couldn’t have convicted them better myself,” Klavier remarked. “Obviously, I take no joy in celebrating crime, especially murder, but ach, I consider that one of the highlights of my career. The only thing that would’ve made it better was if you were there. I can picture your dumbfounded expression now.”

“You’re terrible,” Apollo informed him, with no real bite behind his words. “But...not gonna lie, that’s kind of incredible. I feel bad for the defense, though. I’ve been screwed over by clients before, but usually not that badly.” He then heard a sharp wuff somewhere by his feet; he glanced down to see the dog he’d nearly tripped over before was now sitting on top of his toes, looking up at him with literal puppy-dog eyes. “...uh, hello. Did you need something?”

“What’s that?” Klavier asked.

“Oh - sorry, not you, Gavin. A stray dog just came over to say hi, I guess.” Apollo crouched down, taking care not to tip his basket. “Hey, buddy. I’m not the one to beg for food, if that’s what you’re looking for. All I can offer is, like, a belly rub.”

“Wait, switch to video, I want to see this,” Klavier pleaded, laughing again. Sighing, Apollo turned on his camera, then aimed his phone at the dog, who was now rolling over onto its back, its tail thumping enthusiastically against the cobblestone. “Ah, what an adorable hündchen! Go on, Forehead, don’t make him wait.” Sighing yet again - at Klavier, naturally, not the dog; he could never begrudge the dog - Apollo carefully set his basket down, then began rubbing the dog’s belly, smiling at the adorably goofy look the dog gave him in return, his tongue lolling out of his mouth, his eyes closing in utter bliss. “Hold still for a moment, bitte? I want to make this my contact photo for you.”

“Gavin, I swear - ”

“Uh, Apollo? What are you doing?”

Apollo startled at the sound of a new voice; his eyes widened when he looked up and realized who it belonged to. “Ema! He-e-ey, wh-what are you doing here?”

“I could ask you the same thing,” Ema replied, raising an eyebrow. “Why are you petting a dog while video-calling Gavin at the farmer’s market?”

“...because I can?” Apollo offered meekly, straightening up. He quickly hung up on Klavier before Ema could attempt to talk to him, silently noting the need to send him an apology text later. “Hey, um - th-there’s a discount on tangyuan today, you wanna go all out and split the cost with me?”

Ema continued to eye him suspiciously. “Sure. But please don’t insult my intelligence - you can’t just distract me with snacks, you know.”

“I know, I know,” Apollo sighed, giving the dog one last pat on the head before leading Ema across the market, towards the aforementioned snack stall. “We just...we talk sometimes. What’s the big deal?”

“Nothing, if you guys just do video calls every now and then,” Ema said. “But here you are, shopping for produce and chatting with Gavin at the same time. It’s...a little domestic, don’t you think?”

“D...domestic?” Apollo echoed, scratching the back of his neck.

“I just didn’t think you and Gavin had that kind of relationship, that’s all,” Ema continued, shrugging as she popped a grape from her own basket into her mouth. “Listen, I couldn’t care less about that guy. But you’re my friend, so...I have to ask. Is something, y’know...going on there?”

“Wh - no, no, no, o-of course not!” Apollo ducked behind Ema the second he felt the glares of the market patrons turn to face him, again. He was starting to think he wasn’t going to be welcome back for a couple of weeks, at least. “I - he - we’re friends! It’s kinda new, b-but we’re friends. Just friends. He’s, like...pretty decent when he’s not being obnoxious in court. Or at a crime scene...or just in general.”

Ema snorted, reaching over to steal a strawberry from Apollo’s basket next. “I think it’s time you hop off that bicycle of yours, Apollo, because you’re obviously backpedaling.”

“Tortured metaphor, but okay,” Apollo muttered, glowering at her.

“How’d you guys end up talking in the first place, anyway?” Ema asked, chewing noisily. “I can’t imagine you were the one to initiate it.”

“It...I’m not sure, actually,” Apollo admitted, slapping her hand away before she could steal his entire carton of freshly-picked strawberries. They were probably more expensive than all the vegetables he’d purchased, combined. “Gavin called me a while back, seemed embarrassed about it, and then hung up. I asked him later what was going on, we started doing video calls and stuff, and then it turned into a thing, but…I never figured out why he called the first time. And I don’t think there’s any point in asking.”

“Fair enough, though I gotta admit, I’m still curious. For scientific purposes, of course,” Ema added, humming to herself. “Maybe he...no, there’s no way.”

“You know something I don’t?” Apollo asked, nudging her. “What happened to ‘I couldn’t care less’?”

“Believe me, I really couldn’t,” Ema retorted, elbowing him back. “Surprises me that you have enough to talk about, though. I mean, it’s Gavin.”

“Hey,” Apollo protested; suddenly, he felt weirdly defensive of Klavier. Again, it wasn’t a feeling he was too familiar with. “We have more in common than you think. It’s not all just - just guitar riffs and hair tosses with him.”

“If you say so,” Ema sighed, clearly uninterested in pursuing the topic any further. “C’mon, let’s pick our flavors already. And if you short me on black sesame, I will be taking those strawberries of yours.”

Later that evening, Apollo was cocooned in his usual plethora of blankets, poring over the evidence for three separate cases - honestly, the autopsy reports were starting to blur together, which explained why, for a moment, he thought one of the victims had somehow ended up with a bullet hole in their stomach from being stabbed with a blunt object - when his phone went off. He immediately perked up when he read the call display. “Gavin, hey. Sorry again about earlier, you know how Ema is.”

“Keine Sorge, you already apologized,” Klavier replied. “That’s not why I was calling, in any case.”

Apollo frowned slightly, putting Klavier on speakerphone and nestling his phone among his files. “Oh? I, uh, I thought you were just calling to chat.”

“Ja, we can talk about whatever we feel like after, it’s just - I had a question for you.” The deep breath Klavier took before speaking again made Apollo nervous. “Are you homesick?”

“...huh?” Apollo wasn’t sure what he’d been expecting, but it certainly hadn’t been that. “Well, I mean. Yeah. Yeah, obviously. Khura’in was my home once, so it’s not like I’m in a completely new place, but it’s...yeah, I miss being back home, traffic jams and heatwaves and all. Why do you ask?”

“No reason,” Klavier said innocently, in that sort of tone of voice that made Apollo want to reach through the phone and strangle him. “You’ll find out soon enough.”

“There’s either no reason, or a reason that I’ll learn soon enough. Pick one, Gavin,” Apollo drawled, rolling his eyes good-naturedly. All he got in response was warm, throaty laughter that sent pleasant tingles down his spine. “Fine, don’t tell me. So, what’re you up to?”

“Just got back from my morning run.” There was a rustling of sound on Klavier’s end that suggested he was still walking around somewhere, presumably inside his apartment. Apollo could only imagine how sweaty he still was, how his skin glistened in the mid-morning sun - and now, he realized belatedly, he wasn’t sure if it was something he should be thinking about at all. “You know, after all this time - I still hate it. Running, I mean.”

“Then why do you do it?” Apollo said, trying not to laugh. “Though to be fair, I feel the same way. Athena used to make me run laps around the agency’s neighborhood sometimes ‘cos I need to ‘improve my cardiovascular health’ or whatever. Never got any good at it.”

“I do it because it’s good for me, but achtung, I wish I actually liked it,” Klavier sighed. “The fresh air, the endorphins, it’s all gut and well, but you know what I can’t stand? Sweat-soaked hair. Sore ankles and stiff knees. Don’t get me started on the sunburns, ach.”

“Okay, old man,” Apollo chuckled. “You sound like a guy twice your age, you know that?”

“I’m not the one who once said they were starting to prefer blander foods over spicy foods - calling me an old man, mein Gott, the disrespect - ”

A few hours later, Apollo was fully curled up beneath his duvet, head resting on his pillow, eyes closed, with his phone tucked under his ear. Neither of them had spoken in a little while, though Apollo could hear Klavier humming under his breath while he worked on clearing out his email inbox. “...you really should take a day off, Gavin.”

“You first,” Klavier said without missing a beat. “Don’t trick yourself into thinking you have to take every case in the country, ja?”

“Same to you,” Apollo mumbled; he was starting to drift in and out of consciousness. “You’re working, like...stupidly long hours. It’s not like you’re the only prosecutor in the district.”

There was a long pause. “Mama said that to me the other day. She told me I should live a little.”

“And she’s right,” Apollo yawned. “Anyway, I’m not gonna get into this again. And it’s not like you have to do anything major, just...take a day off. Go get a massage or whatever. Hang out with friends, go on a date, I dunno.”

“Go on a date, right,” Klavier drawled sarcastically. “Easier said than done, ja?”

“What, is it the fame thing?” Apollo asked, eyes snapping open in curiosity.

“It’s the, ah. ‘Trusting people’ thing.” Klavier let out a quiet laugh. “After convicting mein Bruder, after convicting someone I thought was my best friend...who’s to say any future romantic partner of mine wouldn’t end up facing that same fate?”

“...oh.” Apollo’s face softened; part of him wanted to see Klavier’s expression, while another part of him had the feeling it was better this way, to only hear the slight rasp, the slight crack in Klavier’s voice as he spoke. He could only imagine the noticeable twitch in Klavier’s eyes, the forced smile on his lips, that he’d seen a surprising amount of times over the past few months. “I see. I-I get it. Not like I’m any good at trusting people, either.”

Klavier went quiet again. “Apollo?”

“I...oh. Yeah?” He couldn’t remember the last time Klavier had called him by his actual name.

“Be honest with me, ja?” Klavier murmured. “When we talk every day, when we text and chat and send each other silly things...is it something you actually like doing, or...or are you just bored?”

Apollo snorted. “Oh please, you know my schedule. I couldn’t be bored if I tried.” He nestled deeper into his pillow, yawning. “Nah, you’re...we’re friends. Talking to you is like...part of my routine now.”

“You mean it?” Klavier asked. He sounded so uncertain that it made Apollo’s heart ache.

“I don’t send stupid memes to just anybody, you know,” Apollo teased. “And look, I’m not pretending like this isn’t weird. If you asked me a year ago if I could see myself talking to you on a daily basis, I would’ve said, y’know, ‘never in a million years’. But things are different now, so...yeah. You’re not so bad, Gavin.”

“Ah, danke. What high praise, coming from you,” Klavier drawled, laughing. “But really, I’m glad to hear it. I...wasn’t sure if I was bothering you. When I called that first time, I suppose I had my answer. Then after that, I never really knew for sure.”

“Now you do,” Apollo affirmed, biting his bottom lip to stop himself from smiling too much.

“Now I do,” Klavier echoed, satisfied. “So, how about you, Forehead? Any clients ask you out again recently?”

“No, thank god,” Apollo said, shuddering. “Besides, I’m, uh. I’m not exactly looking to date right now, either. I’m...I’m pretty good with how things are going at the moment. Maybe after I get back. Thinking about thinking about dating, I mean.”

“Smart.” Klavier’s voice was so clear, so warm, that it almost sounded as if he were in Apollo’s bedroom, too. Apollo briefly wondered what it would be like to have Klavier visit, to wander the farmer’s market with him, to take evening walks along the river and watch the fireflies together, to go through an endless number of cases with him by his side. He had to admit, it didn’t sound half-bad. Better than half-bad, really, not that he was going to say so out loud. “Long-distance is never easy. The time zones, the uncertainty, the inability to truly be together...I can only imagine.”

“Right,” Apollo hummed, his eyes drifting closed once more. “I can only imagine.” When he woke up the next morning, he found a text message waiting for him - a screenshot of Klavier’s home screen; its background was a photo of Apollo and the friendly dog. sehr süß, Klavier had texted, and the hündchen isn’t so bad, either. It was too early, in Apollo’s opinion, for his heart to be racing this quickly.

_____

Almost four months to the day since they started talking, Apollo arrived at the post office with a delivery slip in hand, visibly confused by its earlier presence on his front door. “Was this really meant for me?” he managed to ask in his steadily improving Khura’inese. “I never ordered anything from the United States. Just paying customs would make me broke!”

“It really is for you, Mr. Justice,” the receptionist replied. Apollo watched, stunned, as she dragged a crate-sized package out from behind her desk. “You must have people who really love you back home, sir.”

“I...w-wow.” Apollo didn’t know what to say. “Er, do you have someone who can help me bring this back to my office?”

Twenty minutes later, Apollo was sitting on the floor of Justice Law Offices, embarrassingly sweaty and sore from how much effort it had taken him and one of the post office employees to haul his delivery here. Groaning, he reached for his pocket knife, then carefully sliced through the tape, unwrapping the enormous package layer by layer. When he finally reached its actual contents, he sat back on his haunches, stunned by the sheer amount of items inside.

The package consisted of two sturdy boxes; one was labeled with Ema’s name, so Apollo took it out and set it aside. He then opened the one that bore his name, only to find it was packed surprisingly tight. Boxes and boxes of his favorite snacks that were too expensive to import to Khura’in, well-loved copies of his favorite manga that had clearly been taken from his apartment back home, thick stacks of the most obnoxious California-themed postcards known to humankind with handwritten notes on their backs - before Apollo knew it, his eyes started to well up with emotion. Finally, at the bottom of the box, cushioning the other items nicely, were a few of his sweaters and hoodies, some of which still had a few stray Mikeko hairs on it.

“Oh,” Apollo said faintly, wiping his eyes hastily despite being completely alone. Then, he frowned. “Wait, what is…” He pulled out the only item of clothing he didn’t recognize, an unusually large hoodie in a familiar shade of purple with an embroidered rose on its breast pocket. Stuck to its left sleeve cuff was a sticky note; Apollo peeled it off and began to read what was on it.

herr forehead,

wear this the next time you go out, just in case you run into that hündchen again. It smells just a little bit like my parents’ dog - and like me, if you’re into that sort of thing.

alles liebe, klavier

Later that day - well into the evening, really - Apollo was eating dinner at his desk, rummaging through a hefty stack of police reports, when his laptop pinged, reminding him he had a scheduled video call that was about to start. Grinning, Apollo turned on his webcam, his heart pounding in anticipation. “Hey, Gavin. So, what do you think?”

“What do I think about - oh.” Klavier’s mouth fell open. “You’re...I didn’t think you were actually going to wear it.”

“Is, uh...is that a bad thing?” Apollo asked, suddenly nervous.

“Nein, nein, not at all! You look...achtung, you look good,” Klavier said hoarsely, swallowing. He then cleared his throat; his cheeks were flushed pink, much to Apollo’s delight. “Bitte, stand up for me? I want to see how long it is on you; it’s amazing you haven’t completely disappeared inside of it.”

“Asshole,” Apollo said affectionately, getting out of his chair and taking a few steps back so Klavier could see. He smoothed out the front of the hoodie, realizing belatedly that its hem only just grazed the tops of his bare thighs. “Er, don’t mind my legs. I-I’m wearing shorts underneath, I swear!”

“I don’t mind at all,” Klavier replied, cocking his head. His eyes were darkening, shining with something that Apollo couldn’t quite identify. “Have you worn it outside yet?”

“Nah, not yet. I was actually planning on wearing it to bed since it’s kinda cold, and this thing’s the biggest thing I have,” Apollo admitted, sitting back down. At Klavier’s exaggerated eyebrow raise, he groaned. “Shut up. Don’t make it weird.”

“I said nothing,” Klavier teased, dropping his chin into his hands. “So, did you like our care package? Trucy reached out to me on the same day you ran into that hündchen and asked if I had anything to contribute. I also sent Ema some old Gavinners’ merchandise, in case you didn’t know.”

“Oh, I heard about it from her, alright,” Apollo chuckled, brushing his hair out of his eyes. “Amazing how you manage to continue torturing her from several continents away. Maybe that’s your real talent.”

“To be fair, I was also the one who got her the beaker shot glasses and the glow-in-the-dark periodic table blanket,” Klavier pointed out, laughing as well. “I think all would be forgiven if she knew that was me.”

“So she gets new stuff and I get hand-me-downs, huh? I see how it is,” Apollo said, tucking his knees into his chest and yawning. “Seriously, though, thanks. This thing smells like that cologne of yours I don’t like.”

“And the backhanded compliments continue,” Klavier said, amused. “I hope you feel a little less homesick, at least.”

“Oh, I’m more homesick than ever,” Apollo snorted. “But I appreciate the care package, really! Having all this stuff here is amazing. It’s just...well. Stuff isn’t, uh...it’s not exactly a substitute for people, y’know?”

Klavier nodded thoughtfully, his smile sympathetic. Apollo took a moment to look at Klavier, to really look at him, and see how he was doing. He looked good; his skin had a glow to it, and his eyes and hair seemed to shine a little brighter than they had the very first time they’d talked. Klavier was bare-faced more often than not - aside from his tattooed eyebrows and eyelash extensions - though he seemed to be experimenting with his hair here and there, occasionally sporting different styles of ponytails, braids, and updos. It almost made Apollo forget how sullen he’d looked four months ago.

“Is that why you’re staring again?” Klavier asked, smirking. “Are you finally ready to admit you miss me, Forehead? That you miss my charming personality and my devastatingly good looks?”

“So what if I do?” Apollo huffed. He then frowned at Klavier’s wide eyes. “...what?”

“Nichts, it’s just - you do realize you just said you actually miss me, ja?” Klavier said disbelievingly. “Do you really mean it, or...or are you just saying that?”

“I-I...well.” Apollo shot him a small smile. “Yeah, Gavin, I miss you. Thought that was, uh. Kinda obvious by now.”

Klavier grinned victoriously; he looked seconds away from pumping his fist into the air. “Achtung, I knew it!”

“And the dorkiness continues,” Apollo said mockingly, rolling his eyes. “I mean it, how did you convince an entire generation of teenagers that you were cool? You go around saying crap like ‘let’s rock with these documents’ and ‘you have to get on up in order to get on down to prosecuting’ - are you an internationally-renowned rockstar, or an awkward dad trying to connect with his teenager through the power of classic rock? What’s next, Gavin, you gonna go buy a lawnmower and some cargo shorts? Fire up the grill and wear a kitschy apron?”

“Mein Gott, you’re vicious sometimes,” Klavier sighed, his eyes sparkling with mirth. “Ich vermisse dich auch, by the way. I think I've been...a little more obvious than you.”

“Maybe,” Apollo hummed. “But hey, I’ll take it. It’s nice to feel appreciated for once.”

“When do you think you’ll be coming home?” Klavier asked.

“I’m, er...I’m not sure,” Apollo said hesitantly, leaning back in his chair. “I didn’t think I was gonna be sticking around for this long to begin with, and now it’s...it’s gonna be the rest of the year, at least. Maybe even another year on top of that.”

“You...you think so?” Klavier’s voice was small. Nothing about his expression seemed remotely cheerful now.

“It’s not like I can leave whenever I want to,” Apollo shrugged, sighing. “Khura’in needs more defense attorneys before I could even begin to consider it, and that’s not gonna happen overnight. Not with their deeply ingrained feelings towards ‘em.”

“Wait - you’re not still in danger, are you?” Klavier asked worriedly, his voice suddenly filling with urgency. “No threats, no death sentences - ”

“I-I’m fine, Gavin, don’t worry,” Apollo reassured him. “It was a little touch-and-go there for a minute, back at the beginning, but everything’s fine now. Trust me, if something was going on, you would’ve heard about it earlier.”

“Gut,” Klavier said, satisfied. “After all, if something were to happen to you…” An odd expression flitted across his face, too quickly for Apollo to catch, though he had his suspicions. “Well. Trucy would be devastated, natürlich.”

“Right...just Trucy, huh?” Apollo murmured, chewing his bottom lip thoughtfully. “What about...oh, I dunno. Athena would be upset for sure. Can’t forget Mr. Wright, either.”

“Nein, definitely not,” Klavier said, clearing his throat. He paused before speaking again. “Forehead, do you ever wonder what Herr Wright really thinks of you?”

“Sure, all the time,” Apollo admitted. “We didn’t, uh...well, let’s just say we didn’t start off on the best foot, you know that. Why?”

“Because I do, too,” Klavier confessed. “Ach, I want to go the rest of my life not thinking about mein Bruder and all the lives he ruined, all the lives I helped him ruin, but - ”

“Gavin, that’s not what happened and you know it,” Apollo said gently. “And I’m not exactly sure how Mr. Wright feels about you, but I seriously doubt he still has a problem with you. He probably just feels a little, y’know, awkward. You guys went seven years without knowing the whole truth, after all.”

“Ich weiß, ich weiß, it’s just…” Klavier laughed bitterly. “...I’d like to go at least one day without worrying about what someone else thinks of me. Just one.”

Apollo suddenly found himself wishing he could reach through the screen and pull Klavier into his arms; it wasn’t the first time, and he knew it wasn’t going to be the last. “Well, you don’t have to worry about me. You already know what I think about you.”

“Do I really?” Klavier teased, though he still looked somewhat worried.

“Yeah, sure,” Apollo replied, smirking. “You’re the most insufferable person I’ve ever met. And, uh...I wouldn't have it any other way. I think.”

Klavier laughed, shaking his head in amusement. “You have a way with words, Forehead, you really do.”

“Thanks,” Apollo drawled, chuckling. “So, today’s case went about as well as expected - meaning it didn’t go well at all…”

_____

Khura’in was beautiful year-round, Apollo mused as he walked alongside the riverbank, but it was especially picturesque in the height of spring, during the month of May. He’d woken up unusually early today, especially given it was one of his very rare days off, not to mention the fact that he’d stayed up late last night, talking to Trucy, Athena, and Phoenix. For whatever reason, he had felt like taking his breakfast - anpan and a warm thermos of green tea - outside, while the sun was still rising. It was a peaceful backdrop for the start of what he hoped would be a peaceful day.

Yawning and stretching, Apollo dropped down to sit in the long grass, the worn-out toes of his boots grazing the water’s edge. He lifted his saddlebag off his shoulders and set it aside, raking his fingers through his hair. It was getting quite long in the back, he noted, but he didn’t care enough to cut it. Before he could take his first bite of his anpan, his phone started to ring. “...Gavin? What’s up, aren’t you going to bed soon?”

“I just wrote a song for the first time in ages, so I’m too alert to sleep at the moment,” Klavier admitted, his voice deeper and raspier than usual, sending shivers up Apollo’s spine. “I’m surprised you’re awake, too. It was only when I started calling you that I realized you were probably still in bed.”

“Felt like catching the sunrise for once.” Apollo turned on his phone camera, then switched it to the rear-facing one so Klavier could see what he was seeing. The entirety of Khura’in, it seemed, was momentarily bathed in a warm, yellow-orange glow. “Nice, isn’t it?”

“It’s wunderschön,” Klavier remarked, awed. “Almost makes me wish I was in Khura’in.”

“I wish you were here, too,” Apollo said quietly. His eyes then widened. “Er, I-I mean - ”

“...Apollo?” Groaning internally, Apollo fumbled with his phone, reluctantly switching to his front-facing camera so he could shoot Klavier a nervous smile. He could see now that Klavier had turned on his camera, too; he appeared to be sitting on his bedroom floor, leaning up against a window, his face illuminated by moonlight. Somehow, his blue eyes were even brighter in the darkness, the angles of his jaw and cheekbones sharpened by the shadows. Apollo’s breath hitched as he was momentarily rendered speechless. “Achtung, you still manage to surprise me after all this time.”

“I-I said nothing!” Apollo said hastily. “You’re - I - i-it’s early, I don’t know what I’m saying!”

“If you’re planning on staying for even longer, I really should come and visit, ja?” Klavier continued, his grin equal parts sleepy and teasing. “For one thing, I can finally make good on that massage I promised you, get all that stress and tension out of your body. I could also bring you more of my clothes, since you seem to really like that hoodie of mine.”

“What would you even do here, anyway?” Apollo asked, momentarily looking away so Klavier wouldn’t see how red his cheeks had gotten. “There’s no nightlife, barely any recreational activities...not to mention the wi-fi kinda sucks. Besides, it’s not like you’re allowed to prosecute in Khura’in.”

“Let me be your co-counsel,” Klavier offered. “After all, if Herr Blackquill can help Athena, why can’t I help you?”

“That...would be kinda interesting, actually,” Apollo admitted. “And where would you stay?”

“WIth you, natürlich,” Klavier replied like it was the most obvious thing in the world. “After all, if you want me there, I should be as close as possible. I’d make the perfekt roommate, you know. I can cook for you, clean for you...it’d be domestic, nein? Like I’m your stay-at-home husband or something.”

Apollo shivered again. Despite his distaste for his lyrics, Klavier certainly had a way with words. “You wouldn’t be...I dunno, bored out of your mind? Things are definitely slower here compared to California, you know.”

“The change of pace would be nice,” Klavier said diplomatically. “And I certainly wouldn’t complain about the company.”

“Well, uh, sorry to break up your super-specific fantasy, but I think I’m actually pretty close to getting out of here,” Apollo said, trying not to linger too much on his own mental picture of what Klavier had described. “Another few months, maybe? Six, at most. And since it’s sorta unknown, I wouldn’t recommend booking plane tickets anytime soon.”

“Really?” Klavier perked up. “You’re coming home? Have you told the others?”

“Yeah, I talked to ‘em last night,” Apollo said, setting his phone down by his bag so he could finally take his first bite of anpan. “It’ll be weird once I return, that’s for sure. I’ve been in Khura’in for exactly one year, right down to the day, but...well. It’s definitely grown on me, even with all my...my mixed feelings about it. Though I, um...I guess those mixed feelings are more about a person than a place, and he’s...he’s, well...you know.” He swallowed thickly, reaching for his thermos and taking a generous gulp of his tea.

“Any regrets?” Klavier asked softly.

“About Khura’in, or d’you mean in general?” Apollo asked, his sarcastic tone betrayed by his nervous laugh.

“However you’d like to interpret it,” Klavier said, gesturing aimlessly. “I can be generous sometimes.”

“Yeah, real philanthropist, you are,” Apollo retorted, chuckling. “Well, you know I’ve had days where, like. I feel like I shouldn’t have stayed behind, after all. Like I’m way in over my head, and..like I’m not...not good enough. Like I’m just winging this whole thing, which is scary, ‘cos it’s like the entire country’s future is in my hands, and I can’t just - I can’t improvise. I can’t make it up as I go along, I-I have to know it. Do it, be about it. Make it my whole life, you know?” He stopped to take a breath; the sympathetic crinkle of Klavier’s brow was more welcome this time. “But no, I don’t regret sticking around. I just wish I’d gotten some closure.”

“Closure?” Klavier echoed.

“Yeah, there’s...I’ve got stuff I wish I’d been able to do or, or say before I ended up living here for twelve months,” Apollo confessed. “It’s not like I knew I was moving here when I did, so...it’ll be nice to head back home and settle in and...and get all of that out of the way.” He took a few more bites of his anpan as they ruminated in their shared silence. “How about you? Any regrets about, well, anything?”

“Me?” Then, to Apollo’s surprise - though maybe not to his surprise, given all that had been said and done between the two of them, just the two of them - Klavier let out a bitter laugh. “Always.”

Apollo’s face softened. “Wanna talk about it?”

“Not particularly, nein,” Klavier said, visibly shuddering. “Just once, I’d like to not drag our conversation down. Ach, and I used to think you were the buzzkill. Now look at me, ja?”

“Don’t worry about it, Gavin,” Apollo insisted. “I get it, you - you feel things really intensely. I know that now, and, uh. Well, I do it, too. And we hold it all in and we don’t say anything ‘cos there’s bigger things to worry about, a-and then it’s like...like a dam breaks. Like everything just comes rushing at you all at once. There’s no way of stopping it, as much as you want to, and when it’s finally over...you never know how to feel about it. Because it’s not cut and dry, i-it’s not black-and-white, it’s just...it just is. So you move on, ‘cos there’s nothing else you can do about it, and you keep going. And then it starts all over again.” He let out an awkward laugh. “Or, uh, or maybe I’m just describing what a trial feels like.” Apollo glanced back at his phone, only to see Klavier staring at him in wonderment. “...er, too much?”

“Not at all, it’s just...you’re always full of surprises,” Klavier murmured; he almost sounded impressed. “That was incredibly astute, especially for you.”

Apollo wilted. “...thanks. Glad to know you think so highly of my intellect.” Still, Klavier’s warm laughter managed to get him to crack a smile. “So, you said something about writing a new song? How’d that go?”

“I had a burst of inspiration, you might say,” Klavier said, nodding. “Like my muse sat beside me on the piano bench and hummed a melody in my ear.”

“That sounds more creepy than anything else, but okay,” Apollo snorted. “Can I hear it?”

“Nein, not yet,” Klavier replied mysteriously. “When the time is right, ja? Besides, it’s...it’s a bit personal.”

Apollo shifted slightly in his spot. “Personal, huh?”

“It’s about...someone who means a lot to me, and something I’ve been meaning to say to them,” Klavier said carefully. “Because...I’ve been looking for closure, too. And possibly, if I do it right, I might also get a new beginning. Does that make sense?”

“It’s a little cheesy, but, uh, yeah. Makes sense.” Apollo pulled his knees into his chest, resting his chin on top of them with a quiet exhale. “Do I know this someone of yours?”

“Ja, definitely,” Klavier murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. “And they’re not mine, but...I want them to be.”

“I...I see.” Apollo felt his own pulse pounding in his ears, so loudly that he could barely hear his own voice. “Hey, Gavin, I - I wanted to - there’s something I’ve been wanting to say, and...and I…”

“What is it?” Klavier asked, sitting up, hopeful.

“Well, I...no, n-never mind.” Apollo cleared his throat. “Probably should, um. I should probably save it for when we see each other in person.” Klavier leaned back, disappointed. “Anyway, you, uh, you should probably sleep now if you wanna be awake enough for work. Unless you take the day off like I did.”

“I might actually consider it,” Klavier chuckled. “And we’ll talk tomorrow, ja? Or later today for you, I suppose.”

“Definitely,” Apollo confirmed, nodding.

Something in Klavier’s eyes seemed to shift then, something Apollo couldn’t quite understand. It happened more and more with each passing day, with every conversation, and Apollo wasn’t sure if he was ready to figure out what it meant, if it meant something other than what he hoped it meant. “Du siehst wunderschön aus in diesem licht.”

Apollo blinked. “Sorry?”

“Never mind,” Klavier said, a sleepy grin stretching across his face. “Guten Morgen to you, Herr Forehead.”

“And goodnight to you, Gavin,” Apollo replied, waving briefly before ending the call. He sat in silence for a few minutes, finishing his tea and enjoying the sun’s warmth. Then, he stood, stretching his arms over his head, and smoothed out the creases in his pants and what was now his oversized purple hoodie. “Someday,” he mumbled to himself, slinging his bag over his shoulder and turning back in the direction of the bazaar. “Just...not yet.”

_____

a/n: Welcome to my fifth entry for Klapollo Week 2021! Continuity-wise, this is the second of seven fics, but again, there is no need to read the others to follow each fic on its own. However, as I mentioned in the top notes, day seven is a sequel to this one, so look out for it! This is the second-longest fic of all my Klapollo Week fics, and for good reason - I could've easily included an endless number of random conversations and made this fic twice as long if it weren't for the posting deadline. One of my favorite things about writing Klapollo is their back-and-forth, so I love writing fics where they simply just...talk, and hang out. And I know it's definitely a concept that's been done before, but someday, I wanna write my own version of "Klavier visits Apollo in Khura'in and they fall (more) in love". That might end up being my longest Klapollo fic yet 😜

Thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed! Likes and reblogs would be much appreciated. Hoping you’re all safe and healthy and doing well ❤️

#KlapolloWeek2021 #klapollo #kyodoroki #klapollo fic #ace attorney #ace attorney fic #myfic #long post #not sure if this one or day seven is my favorite #i definitely wanna write an extended version of this in the future

27 notes · View notes

jxmieoleksiaks · 3 years

Text

Tell me you love me. T. Seguin

This is for @hockeynetwork ‘s winter gift exchange.

Word count: 2.4K

I was given the amazing @danglesnipecelly and..let me tell you. Nothing I’m going to write is going to be like hers. She is an amazing talent, and her fics, are pretty freaking amazing. I re did this about 4 times, changing players in between, and trying to go with themes you liked. I really hope this is okay for you, and from one K to another, I hope this is something you’ll enjoy

💚 🐧

It was a warmer than normal December Saturday night. You had the windows open, and wanted to get out in the fresh air. Your boyfriend was still dealing with an injury, but he was moving better than he was, even if you guys drove around the neighborhood, and grabbed some ice cream it would have been a good date. That sounded nice, but Tyler was once again on his new PS5, playing Call Of Duty with the guys.

You didn’t mind that he was playing, he wasn’t that much of a gamer until an entertainment store in Canada sent him and other players the PS5. Now he was playing all the time. It took his mind off the injury, and everything surrounding it, but he didn’t pay that much attention to you anymore, and it wasn’t due to the game.

After the terrible loss of Tampa Bay, you stayed with him in bed for days. He wasn’t the type to mope about a big loss, but being so close, and wanting to win it for the city that he called home, the city that made him feel beloved, and the city where you resided, hurt more than you could have ever imagined. A month and a half later, he went to New York for his hip surgery, and with the help of you and his mom, you both were nursing him back to health.

Now, a couple weeks until the season was to start again, he was down that he couldn’t join the team just yet. Him and Ben were in the same boat about having a recovery until April, but the fact he wasn’t ever out this long, stung for him too.

You were more than understanding, you knew that was a lot for one person to go through in the last 5 months, but you felt more like a caregiver, or just a helper instead of his girlfriend.

“Are you gonna tell daddy I want some attention?” You asked Cash, who was laying on the couch next to you as you flipped through the channels, not in the mood to watch College Football. You sighed to yourself, feeling kind of dumb that you wanted attention, but even the cuddling at night felt different. Were you not doing it for him anymore?

You got off the couch, Cash not moving from his spot, and you headed upstairs, passing the entertainment room before heading to the bedroom.

“Need anything?” You asked, being too nice for your damn good.

There was no response, all you could hear was him trash talking Stephen.

You walked into the bedroom and slammed the door, before crawling into the king size bed, covers up to your face.You were running out of options, of getting him to listen to you. You had called your Mom asking for advice, and well, she didn’t know either, she told you to be patient, as he’s too good of a guy to do something like that. You had watched him grow mature in the last couple years, especially being shit on by the powers that be of the team, you knew he could prove everyone wrong, and just hoped that you would also be proved wrong.

The sound of hobbling footsteps were coming down the hall, closer to the bedroom. You wanted to act like you were asleep, but it was only 4:30 in the afternoon. Sure, you were tired, but it wasn’t the type of tired that sleep would fix.

“Baby? What’s up?” Tyler asked, adjusting the snapback on his head, his gaze focusing on you under the blankets in the bed.

“Like you would know.” You lashed out. It didn’t mean to come out that way, but there was no way you could hide how you were feeling.

“What the hell are you talking about?!” He asked, sounding confused.

“Shouldn’t you be going back to the game? I’m sure they’re doing more than I am for you.”

Tyler stood still, his head cocking to the side.

“Is it because I’m on the game?” He questioned, never thinking you were the type that would get annoyed with the game.

“I mean, that doesn’t help, but I get it, not much else to do, but…” You said, pulling the covers off of you and sitting up on the bed, him still in the same position.

“Then what is it? Talk to me.” He went to sit on the bed.

“I’ve been trying to! You won’t listen to me!” You sounded almost desperate, but things had to be said. “I know that since you came home, thing’s have sucked and have been tough, I’m understanding of that, but you don’t look at me the way you used to…” You felt defeated.

“What?” Tyler spoke, not sounding rude, but more confused than anything.

“I’ve taken care of you since coming home, mentally and physically, and now all I feel like is a caretaker, like..I’ve been hired to make sure you’re okay. When we’re cuddling it feels different, I know we haven’t had a date night since before you went, and it makes sense, but not even something to show that I still mean a lot to you.”

“Seriously…what’s going on…” He said, his tone was more annoyed.

“Do you not love me anymore? Do you think I’m just someone to help you whoever you need it, and when you don’t you just go talk to the guys? Have you even noticed I’ve stopped caring what I’ve looked like because I can’t remember the last time you told me I was amazing, and that you loved me. I can’t remember the last fucking time you told me you loved me. We’ve had sex once since you came home from the bubble, and yeah the surgery was the big reason, but you won’t even hold me like you used to.”

“So you don’t think I love you because I haven’t fucked you?” He spat out.

“Oh my Fucking God, you don’t even listen to me.” You huffed and got out of the bed.

“You make no sense!” He yelled back.

“I said, you haven’t told me you loved me since August. You haven’t asked anything about me, how I felt, made any notations towards me since you got home. You paid more attention to your mom the week she was here, than you have the two months you’ve been home! I…I don’t know what I’ve done…but if you don’t love me anymore..just tell me…and I’ll leave.” You could feel the tears pool behind your eyes.

You didn’t give him a chance to speak, as you stormed out of the bedroom and down the stairs, not able to look at him in the eyes. You ended up on the back patio, feet dangling in the water of the pool.

Tyler thought for a moment. He had been dealing with a lot, but he never did really say anything that wasn’t about him lately. Sure, the pain killers he was on for the hip didn’t help any, or the physical therapy, being in pain almost for the 4 months, slowly getting better. But you had done so much for him. You even took the week off he came home, as you already were going to in case of the win, to stay home with him. You went to the pharmacy for him, got him almost everything he wanted, and took you for granted.

He felt like a dumbass. He felt like the worst boyfriend in the world, hell, he was the worst. He didn’t think, and yeah, he wasn’t the smartest guy half the time, but he knew how amazing you were, and didn’t want to lose you, in any sense of the word.

He hobbled down the stairs, and looked around the downstairs area for you. Tyler walked outside and saw you looking down at the water in the pool. He could still hear your last sentence in his head. The way your voice cracked, tore his heart in half. He had to make this right, and he had to make sure that you knew you were the most amazing person in his life.

Tyler sat down slowly next to you, looking at you with a softened look.

“Can I talk?” He asked quietly, not wanting you to blow him off.

You didn’t say a word, you didn’t know if you wanted to hear the next words that were about to come out of his mouth.

“Well, I want to, so I’m gonna talk…” He said before taking a deep breath. “I can’t tell you how sorry I am. You’re right, I was oblivious on how much you did for me, how much you gave up for me…”

You looked up at the house, before looking back down at the water.

“I was so focused on what I was feeling, because everything was a lot, but I couldn’t think of anyone else. You were always there for me the last few months, and I just fucking blew you off. I know the pain meds don’t help, but I’ve never been more thankful for you, I’ve never been so in awe of someone before. You’ve done everything you can to take care of me. I’m finally on the mend, but you took care of me emotionally, and physically, and I can’t even begin to tell you how much that meant to me…” He said to you, hoping you would look up at him,

“The game helps, because I can bond with the guys, and it’s hard knowing I can’t go into training camp right now, playing’s all I’ve known for years, and it’s hard knowing I can’t do it. That’s no excuse, I know. But I love you…you may not believe it, but I do, more than you know.”

You finally looked up at Tyler, you could see the hurt and the sorry in his eyes.

“Really?” You said quietly, not wanting to say much, but still wanting to make sure his words were sure.

“Of course, I wouldn’t want anyone with me but you. I know I’ve been a dick in not taking you for granted, but everything you’ve done for me, meant everything to me. You’re someone I can’t imagine my life without. I’m sorry I made you feel unloved, and un-beautiful. You are the most beautiful person in the world, a face of makeup, or bare faced. “

You were about to cry again, but because of his words this time. You felt embarrassed for asking him to say things to you, but you were someone that needed validation. You needed words of love, admiration.

“I know our sex life kind of died, but don’t think I haven’t thought about it all the time. I..I haven’t treated you the way you deserve, and I don’t know how to make it up to you. I’m so, so sorry you felt like this.”

You leaned your face into his shoulder, and he pulled you in close. Your head was in his chest, and you couldn’t help but sob.

“I know you care, and lo…” He shushed you before you could go on.

“No, you had every right to bring this up. I’m not this kind of guy, and the situations haven’t been ideal, but I’m a man of words to you, and I haven’t been showing that. I know I have a lot to make up for, and I promise I will. You just tell me the word, and I’ll do whatever I can for you….within reason.” He said, which coughed you to chuckle lightly.

“I’ll make a list…there’s months to make up for Seguin, but…” You said, you didn’t want to ask for sex right now, could he? But you just missed his touch, you missed in the way he would hold you in those intimate moments.

“But what?” He asked, pushing some hair out of your face.

“I don’t know what the doctor said about sex but…nothing major?” You felt your face get red, as you removed your face from this chest and wiped the remaining tears off your cheeks.

“Ah..well..I don’t know how much I can do, but I’m not letting my lady down.” He smiled before kissing you softly, but with more passion than you had felt in months. “I’d carry you..but I don’t wanna wobble and shit…” He said, feeling bad.

“No I get it, let’s go.” You nodded before he grabbed your hand and held it tightly before walking back into the house, and back up the stairs.

You two re-entered the bedroom and he shut the door.

“I..think to be safe, you need to be on top. And it’s not me wanting to see those tits in my face, it’s…injury reason.” He said, knowing he probably asked the doctors way too much about getting back into sex.

“Mhm…” you playfully rolled your eyes as you removed your clothes, knowing there was a time and place for foreplay, and this wasn’t it.

“I asked, he probably things I’m a freak or something…” He laughed before he was able to slide off his clothes, slower than you did.

You hovered over him, and he pushed the stray piece of hair again back behind your ear. “You really are the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen.” He said before his lips landed on yours.

The way you too connected, felt like the first time. It was something that the both of you had forgotten what it felt like. You went slow, which wasn’t the speed for the two of you, but it was needed, needed more than anything. His hands rested on your hips as you thrusted, and rode him. The moans filled the air, and it felt passionate and raw.

You both came, after not lasting very long. Usually if it didn’t last long, one of you would feel embarrassed, but the face you didn't have sex for quite a long time, made it perfectly fine. You leaned down and rested on his chest, him still inside of you.

“I love you…” You said, placing a kiss on the bare space on his upper chest.

“I love you too, more than anything in this entire world baby girl. I promise.” He kissed the top of your head, finally feeling that the two of you, were slowly on the way up back to your relationship.

#Tyler Seguin #tyler seguin fic #winter gift exchange #hockeynetwork #hockey fic #give me headphones and 90 mins and i can write anything #this is my gif !

63 notes · View notes

fanficflaneuse · 4 years

Text

One Day - Part 5

A/N: Hello magical tumblr friends! I hope you’re all doing alright. So...we’ve reached the middle of this series! I can’t believe I work four chapters in a week. Goodness! I feel on fire right now. I hope you like it. What’s about to come is just plain, simple, absolute drama.

For this chapter, I drew a bit of inspiration of a series called The Arrangement by @fandomsfeelsandfanfics. It’s not plagiarism or anything, but I did have it in mind as I wrote. All of this to say you should check it out if you haven’t, it’s an amazing series and I’m waiting for an update lol.

Finally, thanks for all your love and support

Here we go:

Draco x reader (she/her pronouns) Word count: 2607 (oops...I did it again! (lol) I’m sorry it’s so long. I think this will be the longest chapter of the series). Summary: One day AU. Post-war. Since The Battle of Hogwarts, Draco and y/n meet one day a year.

Masterlist

3 May, 2002

“(Y/N), you cannot lock yourself in your library forever.”

“That’s rich coming from you, Hermione,” she said, her voice hoarse.

The brown-haired Gryffindor rolled her eyes, trying to be playful, but there was a hint of concern she couldn’t hide. (Y/N) had been working nonstop. Headmistress McGonagall had offered her a position at Hogwarts. Without a second thought, she quitted at the Ministry and now spent a lot of time in her library, revising every book on DADA and making her best to create a study plan that was challenging and fun. She was also writing again. (Y/N) felt her life was heading in an interesting direction.

“Listen, (Y/N/N), I love you. We all do,” Ginny said as she dragged (Y/N) to her room, Hermione trailing behind them, “And we support every single one of your choices. But you cannot keep waiting for Malfoy to appear at your doorway and magically revive what you had.”

“Besides, he’s bad news, (Y/N). You’ve seen what they write about him in the papers. Not someone a respectable Hogwarts professor, like yourself, should be associated with,” Hermione pointed out, using what they now called her ‘ministry voice’.

“He is a good –“

“We know, we know, love. We know he can be a good person. He is – or was? – our friend as well. Not as close as he was to you,” Ginny raised an eyebrow playfully at this, warranting an annoyed eyeroll from (Y/N), “But we did help save him from Azkaban, didn’t we? So yes, we know he can actually be a good person. You just can’t go around saving him forever, dear. Don’t you realize most of his friends have stopped talking to him because of his behaviour? Merlin! Even Parkinson and Zabini are friendlier to us now than he is.”

“He’s chosen a path, (Y/N/N). He’s not trying to change. And even if he was, he’s not here. It’s time for you to move on,” Hermione reasoned.

(Y/N) sighed. She missed Draco way too much. Sometimes she wondered if he missed her. He hadn’t contacted her in a while. No owls, no visits, no cuddles. It had started out small, a bit of extra drinking during the week, an increasing amount of partying. Then every time she saw him, Draco was nursing a drink. Then the visits started to spread out. He’d always have a party to attend, an invitation somewhere and some sort of alcohol running in his veins. His letters stopped coming shortly after. As she got busier, (Y/N) ceased reaching out for him, tired of his excuses and self-destructive behaviours. She started mourning their friendship and her love for him.

At that point, the infamous articles were already a thing. Draco’s drunken antics had warranted him the moniker of “enfant terrible” and his misadventures were fuel for Rita Skeeter’s sensationalist quill. He always made the front page for the worst of reasons. Everyone had tried to talk some sense into him, to no avail.

“I can’t move on from something that never happened,” she declared in defeat.

“Well, more reasons for you to put this gorgeous dress on and enjoy your date with Ernie,” Ginny pressed on as she threw a blue dress over her shoulder.

“We’ll be waiting for your every detail,” Hermione added as she started working on your hair.

Ernie McMillan asked (Y/N) out at least five times before she accepted. In the end, she did because of her friends’ insistence. Everyone agreed she needed to go out. (Y/N) hadn’t been on a date for such a long time, even she admitted to herself the idea sounded tempting. She wasn’t particularly attracted to Ernie (she wasn’t particularly attracted to anyone whose name wasn’t Draco Malfoy), but she found him very sweet and patient. As the day approached, (Y/N) was getting excited about it.

Then, just the day before her date, she was invited for tea at Malfoy Manor. The affair had been so nerve-wrecking that (Y/N) came back home and cried her eyes out. She spent all night in her library, curled up in a ball. That’s where Ginny and Hermione found her. She had puffy eyes and seemed tired. They didn’t need to think too hard to guess what was the reason for her sorrow. It had been the same for a couple of months now. That’s what made them push harder for her to go out.

As Ginny helped her with her makeup, (Y/N) could only think about her visit to Narcissa and Lucius Malfoy. The only time she had been in their lavish mansion, she had been tortured and put in a cellar with her friends. As she stood in front of the gates, she felt her hands clammy and her whole body shaking. Every fibre of her being was begging her to turn around and run. She felt the tentacles of her fear and trauma engulfing her again, trying to drag her down, reduce her to tears and panic.

“Are you alright?” said a voice she’d recognize anywhere: Lucius Malfoy himself had come to greet her. She saw a lot of Draco in his father. The striking grey eyes were almost too painful to look at. Lucius’ eyes didn’t hold for her the same affection Draco’s did, but she could recognize a mixture of respect and also a bit of fear. Was he afraid of her? Or was that concern? Did she look that frightened?

“Yes, sir. I was just…”

“Remembering?” he offered, an apologetic expression settling on his aristocratic features.

(Y/N) nodded in response. She tried to smile at him.

“I am glad you could come, Miss (Y/L/N). My wife and I have not had the pleasure of your company since the trials. We never got the chance to thank you for everything you did for us,” he said, motioning her to walk with him.

They strolled through some beautiful gardens. The flowers were blooming and the peacocks showed their beautiful feathers. As they entered the house, (Y/N) felt shivers down her spine. She had to stop for a second and take a deep breath. Lucius waited for her patiently. The walked up the stairs and move through different halls.

“We well be having tea at our living quarters. Narcissa is recovering from that hippogriff virus. Fortunately, it is under control, but my wife is still very delicate and needs her rest,” he explained as he opened the door to the room.

Narcissa Malfoy greeted them. She was seating up on the bed, her back pressed to a mountain of fluffy pillows. She wore an embroidered nightgown and her silky bedspread covered her up to her waist. She was a vision; even in the comfort of her bed, Narcissa looked like a queen. Her whole demeanour, even her seemingly informal attire, made (Y/N) feel underdressed.

As soon as (Y/N) was close to the bed, Narcissa grabbed both of her hands affectionately. It took (Y/N) less than five minutes in front of that majestic woman to decide that even if Draco was physically a copy of Lucius, everything else was absolutely Narcissa: his mannerisms, his smile, his way with words.

“I am so happy to see you, (Y/N),” she said, offering her a smile so wide that reminded her of Draco.

As Lucius brought her a chair and left to fetch the tea, (Y/N) felt really out of place. It was not only the looming idea that she was intruding, but also the way in which such domesticity seemed so strange to her. Draco had told her about his life growing up, how he had a seemingly happy childhood, even if his parents were – to an extent – emotionally distant. The Manor was huge for him alone, but his parents dotted on him and cared for him. (Y/N) imagined that this scene, three people sitting close by in the middle of a huge room, was a constant in Draco’s childhood.

As minutes went by and both women engaged in small talk, (Y/N) let go the idea that Draco would barge through the door at any moment. She then concentrated in her current situation, trying to figure out why would they, of all people, invite her over for tea. Narcissa noticed this and pursed her lips.

“I am going to be direct with you, (Y/N). I know it must be very strange, our invitation, I mean. I do wish we had done it sooner, for I have a lot to thank you. The matter at hand, though, is not a joyous one,” she explained, carefully, “we are very worried for our son”.

(Y/N) gulped. She was about to respond when Lucius came back, balancing three cups and a teapot. As he made his way to them. He served the three cups with effortless elegance.

“I hope you like jasmine tea, Miss (Y/L/N) ,” he said as he offered her a cup.

“Yes, it is excellent,” she answered, trying to adopt a posher inflection in her voice.

Lucius and Narcissa shared a meaningful look. “I was just telling (Y/N) how we are worried about Draco,” she explained, almost as a though it was a nuisance.

“Worried?” Lucius scoffed dramatically, “I am not worried. If anything, I am mad and disappointed. He is tarnishing the family name with his stupidity.”

“He is worried,” Narcissa decided. Lucius sighed and nodded in response.

They talked for a while about how he had gotten into drinking. It had started with a glass of firewhiskey every other day, then he was drinking every night, going to bars and partying until very odd hours. The conversation flowed between Narcissa and (Y/N), with Lucius adding his somewhat scathing remarks. They talked about the articles in the Daily Prophet and the stupid moniker.

“I have not talked to him in a long time, Mrs. And Mr. Malfoy,” she said at some point. Her vision got a bit blurry with tears, but she was determined not to cry in front of them. She tried to blink them away to no avail. She looked away. Lucius took her cup from her trembling hands and Narcissa enveloped her in a hug. (Y/N) started crying on her shoulder.

“I wish there was something I could do. I tried. I really tried,” she sobbed.

(Y/N) felt really stupid for how she was behaving. But both Narcissa and Lucius were surprisingly nice about it.

“Dear, we did not invite you here to ask you to do something. We know if anyone has tried to help our son, it has been you. I was really sick, you know? As a matter of fact, I almost died. If you ever get that hippogriff virus, please do take it seriously. When I was delirious, only two things truly worried me, (Y/N): one was leaving Lucius behind and the other one was Draco. My son’s life is an utter chaos as it is. And I know my husband and I have a very big responsibility and a lot of blame for his bad decisions, but I also know the kind of person I gave birth to. And he is a good person. I know you saw something in him. Something good. And as I started getting a little better, my heart was suddenly set on one thing. I needed to know you. I needed to know that someone out there genuinely cares for my son and sees him for who he is, (Y/N).”

(Y/N) felt her heart heavy with longing. She took Narcissa’s hands. “I love your son,” she said and immediately felt her face getting hot, “a –as a friend, I mean. It’s no secret we haven’t talked much in the last year…but I still care for him. I think I will always care for him.”

Narcissa squeezed her hands and smiled at her. “Thank you, (Y/N).”

As Lucius was escorting (Y/N) out of the manor, they bumped into Draco himself. He could barely stand on his own. He reeked of alcohol. His eyes were glossy and an easy smile was set on his face. Lucius frowned. The sight, however, broke (Y/N)’s heart.

“Hellooooo, father,” he slurred.

“Draco, where were you?” Lucius countered, trying to be as patient as possible.

“Around,” Draco said.

“You have been around for three days now. Your mother was very worried.”

(Y/N) winced. Draco took notice of her. At first, he didn’t recognize her (or maybe he didn’t want to recognize her), once he was sure it was her, he tried to stand up a little straighter. He gave her what he thought was a charming smile, but his mind was so hazy it was actually pitiful.

“Hello, Dray,” (Y/N) whispered, trying to keep her emotions in check. As she said this, though, Draco lunged forward clumsily and gave her a hug that felt almost like he was slumping onto her. (Y/N) held him in place, almost collapsing under his weight.

“I’ve missed you so so so so so so so so so much, (Y/N/N). I promise I’ll write more. I miss you,” he said, covering her face with kisses. His breath also stank of alcohol. Although his words were a consolation, his deplorable state made her very sad.

“Behave, boy. I thought I had raised you better,” said Lucius in annoyance.

He grabbed Draco by his shirt and pushed him away from (Y/N). Uncoordinated as he was, he fell on his bum. He searched for (Y/N)’s face, teary eyed. As they made eye contact, (Y/N) was reminded of a very small child. She wanted to cradle him in her arms again and reassure him that everything was going to be alright. (Y/N) knew that wasn’t the best idea. Her thoughts were echoed by Lucius, who, as kindly as possible, asked her to leave.

(Y/N) kneeled in front of Draco, who looked at her with a bit of sorrow and a great deal of confusion. She kissed his cheek and he smiled.

“Take care, Draco,” she said very softly.

Just thinking about that now, as Ginny blended her eyeshadow, gave her enough reasons to want to apparate in Malfoy Manor. She knew her friends were right; she couldn’t save Draco forever. She couldn’t change him either.

As Hermione and Ginny pushed her in front of her mirror, (Y/N)’s heart was shattered. She looked beautiful. The dress fit perfectly. Her makeup was incredible and her hair was twisted in a delicate braid. Somehow, even like that, she felt like hiding herself under her bedspread. Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of her doorbell.

Ernie had arrived.

…

“I can’t believe I’m going out with a published author,” Ernie said with a cheeky smile.

“Oh, it’s just a couple of short stories in The Hogsmeade Review. It’s not a big deal,” she answered before taking a sip of her wine.

“The Hogsmeade Review is a big deal, (Y/N/N),” he countered, “it’s where most big shot writers started. I believe Newt Scammander published his first essays there as well. Can you imagine your novels becoming standard Hogwarts readings?”

Ernie had a very articulated opinion on everything. At times during the date, (Y/N) would let him talk and talk and talk, until he seemed to exhaust his information on whatever they were now discussing. Did it bore her? To infinity and beyond. She couldn’t deny, though, that his enthusiasm was a bit infectious as well and she needed something like that at the moment. And, surprisingly, she wasn’t having a bad time.

So, when he asked her out for a second date, she bit the inside of her cheek and accepted.

tags: @naomi02hook @okaydraco @fandomscombine @iliketoast23

107 notes · View notes

chasingthepoguelife · 4 years

Text

The friendly Kook

Author’s Note: I’ve been thinking about this all day so I decided to write it myself. I haven’t written in years and the smut will most likely make you cringe but please bear with me and be nice 😊 Also let’s pretend Rafe hasn’t killed anyone in this scenario. Don’t kill me but I also think Rafe would be the type of guy to just do whatever he wants no matter what his girl says. Also I mean nothing by this story, I am just writing from experience. Do not let anyone pressure you, having sex at a certain age doesn’t mean anything. Be safe and happy. SORRY if I change a lot between I and you, I suck. (The gif is NOT mine!)

Summary: You’re a pogue, John B’s cousin (just turned 18) figuring life on the island as a pogue but also interested in the kooks, and get invited to a kook party at the end of the summer before heading off to college. You don’t want to start off as a virgin so it’s bothering you the whole time until Rafe notices and gets you to tell him what’s wrong so he offers to help you out.

Warnings: smut, underage partying, JIARA

You hadn’t seen your cousin John B since you were 10 and your dads forced you to get along. Before moving to Kildare, you had no idea what a kook or a pogue was, you were just kind of in between. You learned quickly you had to choose a side when you and your dad had to move down to live with John B after your uncle disappeared at sea. It was a no brainer in all the madness as the two sides of the island fought as you were loyal to John B and his friends, but you always wondered about the kooks. You had never said anything to the pogues about your lingering thoughts about your enemies until John B started dating Sarah Cameron. It seemed ok to say that you were team pogue and kook because Sarah and John B made it work. After months of long nights of illegal activities with the pogues, their union seemed to make things better between Figure Eight and the Cut. It had been months since any kooks and pogues got into any fights. That just meant there was more time for John B, Sarah, and Kie and JJ to fit in more quickies at the chateau, thinking Pope and I didn’t notice. Every teenager you hung out, kook or pogue, you knew for sure was having sex, except you. It always made you uneasy every time you’d see Kie fixing her hair or Sarah pulling up her top after being in John Bs and JJs rooms. It seemed so casual and easy, even though they’re with people they love. You’d be leaving the island for the first time in the last year in a few weeks to start college at the University of North Carolina. Instead of being excited for everything to come, you’d hoped that by the time you stepped off the island, you wouldn’t be a virgin.

“Hey y/n, if you drink too much tonight just stay at Sarah’s,” John B insisted. “Yes dad,” you responded sarcastically. Sarah and her kook friends were having a party tonight while the boys were going on a fishing trip. “Or if she takes too many lines of coke,” JJ chimed in while eating a sandwich. “She’s a big girl, boys. Now if you’d excuse us, our night away from boys begins now!” Sarah said as she pulled you towards her car. You waved to your cousin and the boys that have been like family this passed year as you drove towards figure eight. “After we pick up Kie, I need to outfit check you. This hot lacrosse player from UNC will be around tonight and god knows you need to mess up your dress a little.” You laughed off Sarah’s comment while you stared out the window, secretly nervous on the inside.

You didn’t want to be in the center of the party at the Cameron’s living room as people started to pile up with the sunset. It was better for you to slip downstairs when the house was full to be unnoticed, especially by Sarah and Kie. They were so rooting for you to hookup tonight making sure your boobs looked right and your makeup was perfect. You could never mention to them that you were nowhere near as experienced as they are. It always seemed that Sarah and Kie could be the ones to get you through a time like this in your life, but how could you talk to your friend about her sex life with your cousin and your other friend whose boyfriend is like your brother? You shrugged as you noticed only an hour had gone by. Topper and Kelce tried to keep you company but you were never fully there. You’d become good friends with the two kooks, but weren’t interested in their company tonight. The lemonade vodkas kept pouring down your throat by the hour. Every time you saw a couple that looked like they’d be heading upstairs soon, you poured another one feeling sorry for yourself. All things considering, you had so many things going for you, but you could only focus on one thing. An empty lounge chair finally became available, as you sat there, slumping in the chair, spilling your drink all over your tank top. A couple sat down a few feet away from you, already on top of each other. “This is not that kind of party!” you yelled, spitting your drink on the couple. Yeah you were a bit drunk already, but your aim was still good.

“Are you going to pay for those couch stains pogue?” you heard a deep voice behind you. “If I did, it would be to your daddy and not to you Rafe,” you replied quickly.

Rafe Cameron, Sarah’s brother, the rudest most obnoxious Figure Eight resident, is the only kook you couldn’t crack. He was a douche 24/7, does whatever he wants, and still hates pogues. He will tolerate a few, but never fails to get in a word. This would make him the worst person ever; had he not been built so beautifully. I wasn’t one to get carried away, but the drunker I got, the bluer his eyes got.

“I thought you were supposed to the quiet one? Y/n, what the hell is wrong with you tonight?”

“You have never literally ever asked me or anyone what is wrong.”

“You hang around my sister a lot, maybe I’m just interested.”

Sick and tired of Rafe’s usual shit, you grabbed your drink and got up, heading for the door until your drink dropped all over the floor.

“Hey y/n, we’re not done talking,” he said as Rafe pulled on your wrist.

“Either you leave me alone or get me another drink after you made me spill t,” you demanded

Rafe got close to your ear and whispered, “I noticed something was off with you from this afternoon with Sarah and Kiara. Tell me what’s wrong and I’ll let you go.”

Rafe was definitely drunk and high. Chances are he won’t remember shit about tonight. You let out a big sigh and opened your mouth.

“I’m worried,” you said looking at Rafe.

“Well no shit princess, worried about what?”

“It’s embarrassing. Knowing you, you’re going to make fun of me.”

“Well I can’t promise I won’t, but I’ll try not to.”

“It’s just that, I’m leaving for college in a few weeks and everyone else, even younger kids are way beyond me. It’s not like I haven’t tried or had offers before.”

Rafe wasn’t sure if it was the drugs or something else because he had no clue what y/n was talking about.

“John B, Sarah, Kie and JJ, hell even pope do it at least once a week and I’m over here pretending like I don’t notice shit waiting for it to happen for me.”

“What the hell are you saying?” Rafe asked until he noticed you watching that couple with their legs wrapped around each other.

“You got to be shitting me y/n?” Rafe laughed. “How are you in that pogue group and you haven’t popped your cherry yet, didn’t you just turn 18? Isn’t that half of what you Pogues do since they have no money for other shit?”

“See, I knew you’d be an asshole,” you said pushing your feet to the ground ready to leave until Rafe pulled you by the shoulder.

“Alright, alright. All I meant was that I find it hard to be believe that you haven’t had sex yet when you look like that,” Rafe said looking you up and down, emphasis on the that.

Rafe sure knew how to make you blush, sober or not. He had promised to leave you alone if you told him but now, you’re hoping he won’t. Asshole or not, he was still someone you had your eye on since day 1 on the island.

“Ok so what do I do about it?” you asked seriously. “It’s not that I haven’t had many chances, I just don’t want it to be with some random guy.”

You watched the party more as Rafe stared at you for a few minutes until he finally spoke up.

“Well, I can do it,” he said with confidence. “At least It wouldn’t be with a Pogue.”

“Come again?” your eyes said bulging out.

“I’m serious. I’m not some random, right? We’re in my house. Clearly you look good and I know you think I look good too,” he winked.

As much as you hated it, he was right about all those things. You didn’t want to lose the opportunity; it was now or never. His asshole meter didn’t matter. As long as he knew what to do, and the word around Kildare is that he knows everything and more.

“Ok,” you said quick enough. “In your room. But pay attention, I will not do anything I don’t like, you will wear a condom, and you will be gentle,” y/n demanded.

“Well in that case, you can’t tell Sarah, or your little poguies,” Rafe demanded.

“This is the last thing I will ever tell them. Or anyone,. Ever. ” you said.

Rafe rolled his eyes and took your hand, leading you to his bedroom.

Rafe when inside first, fixing some things off his bed. You were taking in his room when you heard the door lock and all of a sudden Rafe was towering behind you, breathing on your neck.

“You smell as good as I’ve always imagined,” he huffed.

Just the plain fact that Rafe was over 6 feet always got you going and now you know that he’s thought about you like this the way you thought about him. Now he was towering over you with his hands on your body. With his hands on your waist, he started kissing your neck and nibbling your ear.

‘You’ve always been the prettiest pogue y/n,” he said making you moan.

“If you don’t like it I’ll do something different, but I think you’ll like it,” he said tugging on your ponytail.

He stared deep into y/e/c, until he finally placed his lips onto yours. The kiss was deep and fast, harder than you thought but expected because of Rafe. His hands were roaming your body non stop until he heard you giggle.

“Yeah I’m sure it’s very funny that I’m already hard, but you won’t be laughing in a few minutes y/n.”

Rafe pulled you over to edge of his bed and he sat down motioning for you to come over.

“Start with my upper baby and work your way down, I’ll guide you,” Rafe instructed.

You wrapped your legs around Rafe’s torso and started kissing him until your hands found the hem of his polo and your tore it off him like your life depended on it which made him laugh. You pushed him down and began kissing him from his neck, to his nipples, to his groin area, causing him to shiver.”

“It’s a relief that you know how to do something y/n.”

Unbuckling his shorts, he was left only in his black boxers, his boner clearly visible and big, which made you a little nervous. You tugged them off until they were thrown to the other side of the room. You just watched him until he noticed what you were doing. Yeah you’d seem them before but only on videos, and Rafe’s was beyond any expectations you had. Just as you were about to grab his dick, he shooed your hand away.”

“Sweetheart, that’s level 2 stuff. You can play with me later,” he said winking.

Lifting you off your knees, he brought you onto the bed on your back. He wasted no time getting your shirt off, revealing you in your silk bra, boobs bulging out.

“I’m actually relieved no pogue has gotten to you yet. They’re not deserving of all you have to offer,” he whispered in your ears.

Before you knew it, not a single piece of clothing was seen on either of you. Rafe tried to grab all of your boobs into his hand, but they wouldn’t fit. He went right for the left nipple in his mouth as he massed the right with his hand. He continued to show you attention up there when he finally grabbed your lower region.

“That’s a real good sign baby, if you’re already this I’m going to fit inside you just fine.”

Your fingers rested in his hair as he started kissing down your stomach, earning more groans from you. Even by yourself you could never feel this way, and there was Rafe Cameron raising your heartbeat with this tongue. He made his way to your bottom all exposed, right in front of his face. With just one lick he made you moan so loud you could be heard over the music. He kept licking your spot that made you go so loud; you could feel him smiling into you. He had slurred some things here and there, but you were so high on his tongue you couldn’t focus on anything else. As you felt your breathing get heavier, you were yelling Rafe’s name louder and louder.

“Hold on a little more sweetheart, you’re about to cum for me.”

Too late. At the mention of the word cum you felt all the pleasure rushing through your body, legs shaking with Rafe’s head still in between your legs. Still in the moment, Rafe got up to watch you still shaking from what he did to you.

“It’s not over yet,” he said running over to his night stand. You were still so shocked at how Rafe made you cum, you weren’t even worried about him fitting inside you.

If there was a medal for putting on condoms, Rafe would win hands down. Before you knew it, he was on top of you again, holding your hand.

“I guess it’s different for every girl, but if you want me to stop just say so. You shook your head as he moved lower on your body. You could feel his tip hitting all parts of your core until he was right at your entrance. You felt him push in slowly and it was like nothing you never felt before. He had been gentle, but he was still tearing through you. He started to move faster as the scratching of his back made him think to move more.

“You promise this is alright,” Rafe said in between breaths.

“Just don’t stop until it’s over,” you managed to get out. Rafe wasn’t hurting you like you thought he would. Some people wouldn’t shut up about how painful it would be. It seemed extreme, but you also weren’t believing the 16-year-old who said her boyfriend rocked her world their first time.

In the crook of your neck Rafe whispered, “there’s not much left y/n. I’m sorry if you’re not going to cum but I sure as hell will.”

Out character you looked Rafe and in the eyes and said, “ cum all over me Rafe.”

Rafe completely lost it and you can tell he was done by all the swearing and the amount of times your name spilled from him mouth. Once his rhythm slowed down, he got up and got rid of the condom, collapsing next to you.

“You know that’s the first time I ever fucked a pogue,” he said smiling.

“Care to share any critiques Mr. Cameron?”

“Let’s just say I can find the time to come visit you at UNC in the fall.”

#rafe cameron #obx #Outer Banks #rafe cameron imagine #drew starkey

74 notes · View notes

fanfictionaries · 4 years

Text

Better Than the Movies Pt. 2

Pairing: Bucky Barnes X female reader

Summary: After Bucky essentially rocks your world, he decides that the best way to continue your introduction into the world of seduction is by making you wait. WAIT. When you finally decide that you just can’t take it anymore, you decide to give Bucky a bit of his own medicine only for it to backfire in the most amazing way.

Words: 5k

Warnings: Swearing, smut, NSFW/18+ only

Author’s Note: This is the longest, smuttiest thing I have ever written. I really hope you guys enjoy it! Let me know what you think!

***

It had been a full week since your encounter on the couch. A long, grueling, entirely frustrating week and it was all James Buchanan Barnes’ fault. You shouldn’t have been surprised honestly, after his long speech about passion, it would make sense that he had decided to torture you. Boy did he know torture. After your little tryst in the compound’s living room, he had stopped you from going any further. In the moment, you had wanted nothing more than to rip every last stitch of clothing from the god-like man, but he had other things in mind. He had decided to make you wait. WAIT. If he hadn’t absolutely rocked your world the first time, you would have washed your hands of him by now, but alas he had and so here you were going absolutely mad.

Of course, the week of waiting wouldn’t have been so bad if he hadn’t spent the whole time teasing you. Slowly. Methodically.

It had started lightly. A brush of the hand here. A palm to your lower back as he passed you in the hallway and the kitchen. A touch of his knee to yours as he sat next to you on the couch and at the dining room table.

Then it progressed.

A gentle tug of your hair at the nape of your neck when no one was looking. A whispered “You’re so fucking sexy” during your mission briefs. A casual quip of “Your ass is driving me crazy” as you dipped low into a squat in the gym.

And then to top it all off, there were the texts.

The man had never texted you before now. You were halfway convinced that he didn’t even know how. Apparently, you were very wrong. Early morning, late at night, middle of the day. It didn’t matter. Your phone was constantly buzzing, each message dirtier and raunchier than the last. The man grew up in the 40s, where on earth did, he learn how to talk like that? Did people secretly talk like this back then? You had certainly never been spoken to like this.

Your phone buzzed in your pocket as you walked swiftly down the hall. You had just come out of a meeting with Fury about some upcoming missions and were headed towards your room to change before a training session with Natasha.

Bucky:

Can’t stop thinkin’ about that hot little body of yours baby doll.

You felt your cheeks warm and shook your head at the pet name he had decided was yours, before entering your room.

Buzz.

Bucky:

I bet your little pussy is just soaked for me. Isn’t it?

That was it. He couldn’t keep doing this to you! If he was going to continue teasing you all the while refusing to touch you, you were going to give him a dose of his own medicine. Marching into the bathroom, you quickly stripped down to your bra and panties. Taking a moment to fuss with your hair and makeup, you opened the camera on your phone and snapped a few pictures in the full-length mirror. After assessing the array of pictures, you finally decided on the most risqué of the lot. You were on your knees on the bathroom rug, length spread apart and hip cocked to the side. Your (Y/E/C) eyes stared sultrily into the camera as you bit firmly onto your lower lip. Your hair, falling slightly over your face and pushed over one shoulder, revealed the slipping bra strap on the other. The mix of black lace and white cotton that made up your lingerie set, gave you a nice combination of sexy and innocent that you hoped would drive Bucky absolutely crazy. However, it wouldn’t drive him nearly as crazy as the most important aspect of the picture – your left hand dipping into your panties just so.

With a smirk, you hit send and put your phone down, dressing quickly for the training session you were now late for. When you’d managed to make it all the way down to the gym without hearing anything back, you felt a sense of pride fill your chest. That certainly managed to shut him up.

“Took you long enough!” Natasha called from across the gym.

“Sorry! My meeting with Fury ran late and then I had something I needed to take care of really quick,” you apologized, setting your things down on a nearby bench.

“You know this means I’m going to have to take it hard on you today,” said Natasha, crossing her arms.

You laughed, “You were planning on going easy on me?”

“Well…no. But now, it’s double time. I want to see you sweat!” Natasha clapped her hands, and you got into gear, beginning the first part of your training circuit.

An hour later, your head was locked between Nat’s thighs, face pink and fighting for breath. Reluctantly you hit your hand twice on one of her thighs, tapping out.

“Damnit!” you exclaimed, sitting up as Natasha released her hold on you, swiftly standing to her feet to go again.

“Don’t beat yourself up too bad (Y/N),” said Nat, “You’re actually doing really well.”

“Sure doesn’t feel like it when you’re kicking my ass every time.”

“Well that’s not your fault. I’m just better than you.”

You looked up at the red head with contempt, making her chuckle and raise an eyebrow at you.

“Come on (Y/N). Get your ass up and let’s go again. I’m getting a little tired, so maybe if you take some of that sexual frustration out on me, you’ll win.”

Your blood ran cold at the comment. No one knew about you and Bucky, “What sexual frustration?”

“Well you haven’t been on another date since you got stood up last week, so I’m assuming you haven’t found anyone to rock your world like some hunky movie star,” Natasha quipped.

“Hey, (Y/N),” you heard the voice of Sam call from across the room, “your phone is buzzing like crazy over here! Who is texting you this much?”

You looked over at him in confusion and then horror as you watched Sam reach down and pick up your phone from its spot on the bench, “Wait! Sam don’t!” you called, standing quickly. But it was too late.

“Whoa!” Sam yelled, dropping your phone in surprise, “Penis! That was a penis on your screen (Y/N)!”

You groaned and started to run towards your phone before anyone else could look at it, but it was all in vain. Nat was across the room, with your phone in hand before you had even made it halfway.

“Well done (Y/N). Apparently, you have found yourself a man,” said Nat scrolling through the messages, “and he’s hung like a horse and has quite the imagination.”

“Nasty. You are nasty (Y/N). You too Natasha,” said Sam, shaking his head and the both of you.

You finally reached Nat’s side and attempted to pull the phone from her hands but she was too quick, “How do you know the password to my phone Nat?”

“I know everyone’s password,” she responded casually.

“Wait, what?” said Sam, turning to her.

“Not important right now Sam,” said Nat, “What is important is who this mystery dick belongs to.”

“Nat, please don’t,” you tried once more to grab your phone as dread filled you.

“Oh. My. God.”

“Nat.”

“Bucky?!”

“Hold on,” said Sam attempting to look at the phone in Natasha’s hand now, “Did you just say Bucky? Robocop? Metal man? No, that can’t be. It’s bigger than my—”

“Enough!” you exclaimed, finally snatching the phone away and grabbing the rest of your things, “I have to go.” You ran from the room as fast as you could, the faint sound of Natasha telling you to have fun and Sam’s outrage disappearing as you distanced yourself. You entered the closest bathroom you could find and locked yourself in a stall to catch your breath before opening your phone.

Sure enough, there in all its glory was Bucky’s member standing proud. And proud it should be. If the length alone didn’t intimidate you, then the girth certainly did. He was easily thicker than your wrist, prominent veins running down the sides from the base to the thick tip. Fuck, the head alone looked like it would barely fit inside you.

Tearing your eyes away from the picture, you saw the string of messages that followed it.

Bucky:

Okay baby doll, you wanna’ play?

Bucky:

You want this cock?

Bucky:

Come and get it.

Bucky:

My room. Thirty minutes.

Bucky:

I want you naked in the middle of my bed on your knees by the time I get there. Friday will let you in.

Holy shit. It was happening. It was happening and…you only had 20 minutes left. Fuck. You all but sprinted from the bathroom and towards your room. Like lightning you threw off your clothes and stepped into the shower, not even waiting for the water to warm up as you washed away the sweat and grime from your workout. Once you were freshened up enough, you threw on a fluffy robe, not bothering with real clothes as Bucky’s room was only two doors down from yours. Like Bucky said, the door opened for you when you tried the handle and then you were there. You were in Bucky’s room. The faint sound of a shower running told you exactly where he was. For a second you contemplated joining him, but then you remembered his instructions. You shivered, crisp air brushing your skin as you took off your robe and walked towards the large bed. It wasn’t until you were on your knees in the middle of the bed, that you fully grasped the situation you were in. You were really going to sleep with Bucky. Your best friend. The man that had been the center of all your thoughts and dreams for the past week. The man that had already brought you more pleasure than you had ever experienced before. You closed your eyes and took a few deep, calming breaths.

“Now that is quite the sight,” the deep timbre of Bucky’s voice sent electricity coursing through your body and you opened your eyes to see him standing near the bathroom door. You watched as he sauntered into the door, slowly and casually, with nothing but a white towel wrapped around his waist. Small rivulets of water traveled down his sculpted chest, some catching in the patch of dark brown hair that speckled his chest and others traveling all the way down to his waist where the towel sat. You licked your lips involuntarily, wanting so desperately to lick those drops of water up.

“Like what you see?” asked Bucky, catching your eye and bringing you out of your thoughts, “I certainly like what I see.” He approached you like a wolf stalks its prey. Predatory. Powerful. Frightening. You watched as he got closer, extending a hand to ghost over the skin of your ribcage before coming up to cup one of your breasts.

“Look at how turned on you are baby doll. Your nipples are rock hard,” his thumb lifted and grazed the tip of your nipple causing a small whimper to escape your throat. He smirked at your reaction, swiping his thumb again, this time firmer before bringing it between his thumb and forefinger to pinch lightly. You bit your lower lip, attempting to keep your composure instead of melting into a giant puddle of goo so early into the night.

“Now, now,” Bucky released your nipple and reached up to pull the lip from between your teeth. “The only thing I wanna’ see in this pretty little mouth of yours is either my fingers or my cock.”

You gasped, recalling the picture he had sent you earlier and wondering if it would even fit in your mouth. Maybe. Definitely not all the way, but that didn’t stop you from wanting to try.

“Oh, you like that? You wanna’ wrap these pretty pink lips around my cock baby doll?” asked Bucky, gripping your chin and tilting your face up to look him in the eye.

You nodded desperately as you stared into his beautiful blue eyes. If you weren’t careful, you could get lost in those eyes and never come back. He laughed softly, taking a moment to scan your face. He seemed…pleased.

“Maybe next time. Right now, I want to take my sweet time making you cum over and over again. Does that sound okay with you?” Bucky raised his eyebrows, the way he asked the question so casual you would have thought he’d just asked you if pizza was alright for dinner.

“Yes. Please,” your voice was faint and needy, but you didn’t care. You would let this man do anything with your body at this point. Just as long as he actually did something.

“Good girl,” Bucky whispered huskily before leaning down and connecting his lips to yours gently. He took his time seducing your lips with his, coaxing them into a slow and languid dance as he climbed onto the bed as well.

His hands were like fire and ice as they caressed your shivering body. You reached out, finding stability on his bare shoulders. Your right hand traveled over the expanse of cold metal to gently trace where metal met flesh. Bucky gasped into your mouth, his body going rigid. At first you thought you’d done something wrong, overstepped a boundary. But then he was reaching up with the same metal hand and grabbing a fistful of your hair.

“You trying to drive me crazy baby doll?” he asked, pulling your head back.

“Maybe,” you answered coyly, hissing at the delightful mixture of pain and pleasure his hand in your hair was giving you.

“Too late. I’m already gone,” Bucky confessed, his left hand traveling down your sternum, ribcage, stomach, “I haven’t stopped thinking about you all week. It’s like your everywhere. Your eyes. Your pretty little smile. Your breasts. I’ve been hard all week thinking about you. You know how difficult that’s been for me?”

“I have some idea.”

“Let me be the judge of that,” he quipped, his fingers delving into your folds. He let out a low groan when he felt the sheer amount of arousal. “Fuck. You are soaked baby doll.”

“Bucky. Please,” you pleaded. You didn’t have to explain any further. He knew exactly what you needed. His hand began to lovingly caress your folds, spreading your wetness around before inserting a single digit into your tight passage. You both moaned at the sensation, you in pleasure, him in surprise by how tightly you gripped him. He claimed your mouth again as he fingered you, making sure to curve his finger to rub along your front wall. He continued to rub, changing angles and positions as if he were searching for something. You quickly learned exactly what he was searching for when his finger made contact with a spot that made you see stars.

“Yes!” you cried, reaching down to grip his wrist, hoping to god he never stopped.

“That the spot baby doll?” Bucky slowly slid his finger out before adding a second and finding that special spot again, this time making contact with both fingers. You cried out again, gasping at the sheer pleasure of the act. This went on for a little while. Him slowly stroking your walls while he kissed you into oblivion. Then his fingers did something you’d never experienced before. Quickly he pulsed the pads of his fingers against that spot deep inside you, almost in a come-hither motion. The act caused a pressure to begin to form deep in the pit of your stomach and panic started to form in your chest. It was almost as if you had to…

“Bucky. Stop. I—”

“It’s okay doll.”

“No. I need—I think I need—” You were going to pee. You were sure of it.

“Trust me doll. I got you.”

You gripped his shoulders tightly, feeling the pressure build in a sweet yet foreign way. You clenched your abdominal muscles, trying to fight the urge. It was like your body needed a release, but you weren’t about to embarrass yourself by wetting his bed.

“Stop fighting it doll. I can feel you fighting it. Relax. Give into it. I got you,” said Bucky through gritted teeth, his fingers picking up speed, thrusting against your walls at an almost inhuman speed. So fast and rough that you had no choice but to give into him and then, you were lost. The pressure building in your abdomen reached its peak and you were cumming. Cumming harder than you’d ever cum before in your life.

“Fuuuuuck, yes. Yes, baby doll. That’s it,” growled Bucky, trusting his fingers in and out of you as your vision began to go white and then black. Your body went limp, falling backwards only to be caught by Bucky’s left arm. Softly, he lowered you to the bed as his right hand continued to stroke you down from your high.

You came to in time to see Bucky extract his fingers from you and bring his soaked hand up to his face. Wrapping his lips around his fingers, he tasted you on them with a low moan. It was around that time that you became fully conscious of what had just happened. Sitting up in a panic, you looked between your legs to see a large wet stain on the center of the bed.

“Oh my god. I—”

“Squirted. Fuck baby doll. I thought maybe I could get you there eventually tonight, but I barely even had to touch you and you were gushing. That was the sexiest thing I have ever seen. I mean, I haven’t even touched your clit yet. I—” Bucky was rambling as he looked at you in awe, “I have to taste you.”

You let out a yelp of surprise as he pushed you onto your back and dove between your legs. His hands gripped your thighs tightly and you were about to protest about your inability to cum again when his tongue made contact with your clit. You cried out, your hips raising and your hands threading into his long hair. It was…oh my god it was…indescribable the way his tongue flicked and swirled around your swollen bud. You gripped his hair tightly in your hands as you moaned and yelled in ecstasy. It felt inhumanly amazing, but there was no way you could cum a second time, right? You’d never been able to cum more than once before. Wrong. Before you knew it, the familiar coil was beginning to form in the pit of your stomach and your breathing picked up speed.

“You gonna’ cum again already?” asked Bucky, his hot breath on your pussy sending shivers up and down your spine, “I think you are. You have no idea how deliciously sweet this pussy is. Can’t believe I wasted so much time teasing you when I could have been feasting on this tasty little kitty day in and day out.”

You moaned at his filthy words, your hips grinding against his tongue, searching for purpose. Then his lips were around your clit and he was sucking. The suction sent you past the brink and over the edge in seconds as you came for the second time that night. The endorphins coursed through your body. While your first orgasm seemed to suck the life out of you, your second was like touching live wire. Every nerve in your body was alive. You sat up, pulling Bucky away from your center and on top of you. You kissed him feverishly, desperately. Tasting a mixture of yourself and him. You couldn’t get enough as you nipped and licked and sucked his full lips. Reaching down, you pulled the towel from his waist and found what you had been craving this past week. He hissed as your hand wrapped around his hard member, your fingertips not quite meeting around his thick girth. You stroked slowly, up and down.

“I swear to god Bucky, if you aren’t inside of me in the next two seconds, I am going to lose my mind,” you said desperately, your voice gravelly and hoarse.

“Fuck baby doll, okay. Let me grab a condom.”

“I’m clean and I’m on birth control. If you’re clean, then I’d much prefer to feel you.”

“Shit—Fuck—Yea. I mean, yes I’m clean,” Bucky finally said, laying over you fully before lining himself up with your center. He ran the tip of his cock up and down your folds, gathering your wetness before pushing his head past your entrance. You both groaned at the sensation. The sweet sting of the stretch was euphoric as he filled you in a way, you’d never thought possible. It felt like an eternity as he slowly worked himself inside you. It was like he went on forever. Just when you thought there couldn’t possibly be any more of him to fill you, he kept going. When he was fully seated within you, it felt like he took up every square inch inside of your body. It was all encompassing. Overwhelming in the most delicious way. You breathed heavily looking between Bucky’s face and where the two of your joined. The sight alone lightyears beyond pornographic.

“God baby doll, you are so fucking tight,” Bucky panted, his lips parted as he too stared at the place where you connected. Bringing his gaze back up to you, he locked eyes with you. The emotion that you found swirling behind the light blue pools made your heart catch in your chest. He looked at you like you hung the fucking moon. Like you were the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.

“Let me know if I hurt you at all. Okay? I want this to be good for you.”

You stared back, feeling something deep in your gut that felt like…no that was ridiculous. Was it? You’d never felt more beautiful than you did right now, caged within Bucky’s strong arms as his large member pulsed inside of you and he looked at you like he’d give his life for you.

“Okay. I will,” you responded, only able to find the few simple words in the swirl of everything you wanted to say to him. But you liked to imagine that he could hear the weight of everything you hadn’t said hanging in the air.

“Okay.”

Bucky lowered his head to kiss you, delicately and lovingly as he withdrew until only his head remained seated inside of you. Then, firmly, he thrust back into you. The sensation of his bare cock inside your pussy, stretching you, caressing your walls was almost more than you could handle. His thrust began to pick up speed. The sweet push and pull combined with the sound of skin on skin filled your senses. Everything was pleasure and euphoria and Bucky. So much Bucky. Inside of you. Around you. On your skin. In your mind.

It wasn’t long before his hips were swirling and dipping in faster and erratic patterns. Your hands clung to his back, nails digging in deep as you felt the pressure and coil begin to build and tighten in your core for the third time that night. Impossible, you thought. Your mouth was everywhere, kissing his lips, his jaw, his neck. You sucked and nipped the delicate skin, absolutely positive that he’d be covered in dark, purple bruises by the next day. Switching his weight over to his left arm, he reached down and started to circle your sensitive clit.

“I need you to cum again baby doll,” he said, his voice husky and needy.

“I can’t.”

“Yes, you can. Now be a good girl and cum all over my cock baby. I know you want to. I’m so close baby. I wanna’ feel you cum all over my big hard cock as I cum inside you. You want that baby? You want me to cum inside you?”

The combination of his voice, his words, and his fingers on your clit was the tipping point for you. You came, pulsing around Bucky as your body convulsed in pleasure. Your hips moving on their own accord. You chanted his name over and over like a prayer, wanting the feeling to go on forever. In the midst of your ecstasy, your heard Bucky growl out your name as he pumped into you harshly, his warm seed filling your channel.

You both laid there, breathing heavily as you came down from your highs. In the moment, you couldn’t help but let a little giggle slip past your lips. Giddy with pleasure. You were literally giddy with pleasure. After a moment, Bucky followed, laughing softly with you as you looked at each other. He placed a peck to your lips before sitting up and pulling out of you. You gasped at the sensation, surprised by just how empty you felt without him inside of you. Watching Bucky stand from the bed, a skip in his step as he disappeared into the bathroom, you contemplated all that had just happened. However, the only thing you could come up with was the fact that you were happy and incredibly satisfied. Bucky returned a few seconds later with a wet washcloth. He took the cloth and reached between your thighs, cleaning you gently as you exchanged shy smiles. The intimate act was so sweet and caring, it made your heart clench once again. Once he was finished, he tossed the cloth aside and laid down beside you, pulling you into his arms and kissing the top of your head. You lay there in comfortable silence until you finally spoke up.

“So, I take it you liked the picture I sent you?”

Bucky laughed, “I think that’s an understatement. Although I’d have to assume that you also liked the picture, I sent you.”

“I think that’s an understatement,” you repeated his words back to him cheekily, and then you remembered, “Ummm, speaking of pictures. There’s something I have to tell you.”

“What baby doll?” Bucky asked sleepily, pulling you in even tighter.

“Well, someone may have gotten to my phone before I could and they may have seen the picture,” you cringed as you waited for his response. It was silent for a moment before he responded.

“And who might this someone be?”

“Nat.”

“Okay, that’s not too bad.”

“And, Sam.”

“What?!” Bucky sat up a little to look down at you, his eyes wide.

“If it makes you feel he was really jealous when he found out it was yours. Apparently, you’re bigger,” you scrambled, hoping he wasn’t too mad. Bucky stared at you for a moment before bursting out into laughter once again. He laid back down, his chest shaking as he continued to chuckle to himself.

“You’re not mad?”

“Nah baby doll. I couldn’t possibly be mad at you after that,” said Bucky kissing the top of your head again, “Now let’s get some sleep. You’ll need to recharge, because when you wake up, we’re going again and this time I’m not going easy on you.”

“That was easy?!”

“Hey, you were the one that said I was better than the movies.”

Taglist:

@ladifreakingda

#betterthanthemovies #fanfic #fanfiction #smut #bucky #bucky barnes #bucky x you #bucky x y/n #marvel #avengers

177 notes · View notes

lilacyams · 4 years

Text

Under these lights, with you

Wayhaven Week 2020, Day 7 - Shatter / Mend

@otomefandomevents

Pairings: F!Detective/Ava Du Mortain

Summary: It’s the night of the ball: nothing better than a fun time to drink and forget problems, for Unit Bravo and the town of Wayhaven. As yet another argument shatters the harmony between Kassandra Remender and Ava Du Mortain, their strange relationship grows to be too complicated for the Detective to bear. But in a night like this, the most unexpected things can happen…

Word count: 6,506

Rating: Teen and up audiences

AO3 link: click here

“Let’s just get this over with.”

I swing my legs out of the car, paying particular attention to how steadily I place my feet on the ground before standing up. High heels are something I’m familiar with, but it’s been a while since I’ve worn a pair this tall.

Tina is busy changing the flat shoes she used for driving into a fancier, more event-appropriate pair of heels; once she’s done, she swings around to face me and glowers at my less than enthusiastic groan.

“Don’t be a party pooper,” Tina reprimands me with an exaggerated eye roll, “We haven’t partied in a while. It will be just like the good ol’ times!”

The mayor organized a formal event to celebrate the Somethingth anniversary of Wayhaven’s Police Department. The whole town has been invited, including my mother and her unit. I can predict that the mysterious and rather attractive government agents will turn heads tonight. One in particular will definitely turn mine.

“This is not that kind of party, Tina,” I chuckle. “Tell you the truth, I just wanna go to sleep. Tomorrow it’ll be a working day, and I’m definitely not looking forward to that early alarm.”

“Oh, quit it already!” She stands up and gives my shoulder a light swat as we make our way to the venue’s entrance side by side. It’s none other than the town’s only five star hotel: its adorned, golden interiors, as well as its large conference hall and ballroom, will prove themselves worthy of such an event. I’ve heard the outdoor area looks quite cozy, too. “It’ll be fun. And you’ll be able to spend some quality time with your hot agents.”

She throws me a knowing glance, a beaming smile spreading across her rosy lips. “Or should I say... Your hot agent. That one.”

I let out a yelp as I almost trip over the steps. “Tina!”

“I said what I said.”

“Is that why you insisted on helping me get ready for the night?” I glare at her with suspicion, but I can’t stop an amused smile from tugging at the corners of my lips. It was adorable of her and I really appreciate it.

Tina’s eyes slowly trail over my mid-length burgundy dress beneath long, mascara enhanced lashes and rise up, until she can fix them on my face to further admire the results of her hard work.

“Maybe so.” And with a long, Cheshire cat-like smile, my friend opens the door for me. I nod in appreciation at her chivalrous gesture and step inside, but she doesn’t follow.

“You’re not coming with me?”

My confused question seems to intensify her mirth.

“Huh? I don’t know what you’re talking about, I have a date tonight. See you later! Have fun in there with your pretty girl!”

I sigh as I let the jacket slide off my shoulders before handing it to the steward who greets me at the entrance. There’s a full-sized mirror on the wall and I take the chance to check my makeup one last time before going in. Tina did an amazing job, I have to admit it.

My fingers fumble with my formal updo, doing their best to fix the pins and hoping they will hold the weight of my very long hair until the end of the night.

“You took your sweet time, Detective. We’ve been waiting for you,” a familiar voice calls out from a short distance.

The quip makes me smile. “Hey,” I protest with my gaze still fixed on the glass surface as I fix the Bardot neckline of my dress, “A lady needs the time she nee-“

I turn around and the witty remark instantly dies on my tongue at the sight of Ava. She’s wearing a dark blue full-length dress; its thin straps, as well as the slit cutting down the side of her left thigh, make my breath hitch. Her hair is tied in a soft updo and although the heels she’s wearing are shorter than mine, she stands taller by several inches just as any other day. Seeing her in such an attire is unusual to say the least, and I can’t contain my shock... Nor the aggressive blush that spreads across my cheeks like wildfire.

She notices my reaction and loses some of her bite, shifting on her feet under my scrutiny. “Is there something wrong, Detective?”

“No, I’m... I...” I’m a stuttering, wide-eyed mess. What’s happening to me?

Much like a superhero coming in to save the day, Nat emerges from the corner with the rest of Unit Bravo, followed by my mother.

“Kass!” She beams, placing a hand on my shoulder. The forest green of her long dress is very flattering on her tawny skin. “It’s good to see you.”

“Really good, I’d say,” Farah adds as she takes in my figure with an appreciative smirk. Her pink dress is as bright as I would’ve imagined.

Morgan nods at me in greeting, a wolfish grin forming on her lips as she looks me up and down in a similar way to her friend’s. With those tight pants, her black suit will surely attract a lot of attention tonight.

Finally, Rebecca strides towards me, eyes gleaming with pride. “And here’s my daughter, the detective of this town. The speech is about to start. Let’s head to the conference hall.”

Just as my mother starts to make way further into the venue, I can’t help but throw a quick glance at Ava. Finding her green eyes already fixed on me, I could swear there’s a mischievous glint in them; but I have no way to confirm it, as she promptly turns around to follow close behind Rebecca.

The speech is tedious and predictable, just as expected. Still, I make sure to put on my best “interested face”, as well as the most charming smile I can muster when it’s time for me to step on the stage to give my personal contribution. The mayor had someone else preparing me a speech , not forgetting to have them include an exaggerated amount of praise for him and his “generous support”, though I’m sure he would’ve never shown such kindness if it wasn’t for Douglas joining the police force.

I take my round of applause and walk back to my seat next to Rebecca. Turning around, I can spot Tina sitting next to her date. She sends me a kiss; I catch it and offer her a wink.

About half an hour later all the talking is finally over, and I'm free to go. I stand up, stretching my legs with an inconspicuous gesture, and Rebecca places a hand on my back to call for my attention.

"I'll be back," she excuses herself before marching off towards the crowd that's gathering around the doorway leading to the ballroom. Unit Bravo doesn't follow her, preferring to wait for me in a cleared up corner, away from people – though they still don’t go unnoticed in the slightest, judging by the amount of amazed stares they’re getting from men and women alike.

"Detective!" A voice calls out from behind me. I whip around to spot Verda and his family striding closer. Cara waves her tiny hand at me; Eric, who is carrying their younger daughter in his arms, briefly extends a hand in greeting before wrapping it safely around Lacy again.

I greet them with a genuine smile. "Hey. Going home?"

Verda releases a heavy sigh. "Of course. The girls have daycare tomorrow, and we have work to attend to. One last thing, before we go," the tired look on his face disappears for a moment to be replaced by a warm smile. "I'm proud of you, Kass. You did great up there."

The candor in those words takes me by surprise, and I let out a nervous chuckle. "I didn't write that speech..." Then I inhale, my chest swelling with newfound resolve and my voice steadier as I speak again. "Though I totally agree with the part about defending the town at all costs. It's what I'm here for."

Verda nods, each of his words bubbling with sincere trust. "As long as you're in charge, I believe that Wayhaven will be safe."

"Through good and bad times." I raise a hand to trace absentmindedly over the almost invisible scar on my neck, with the slightest touch of my fingertips. As my gaze trails off into the distance, I spot Ava focusing on the gesture with particular attention.

“Have a good night, Kassandra.”

"So..." I wrap an arm around Farah's shoulders amicably as we all move to the ballroom. "How are my friends enjoying the evening?" My finger points at each of them in turn. "Because you're enjoying it, right? Mayor’s going to be offended if you’re not."

The younger vampire laughs and spreads her hands out in mock innocence. “Offending people? Us? We would never!”

The ballroom is broad and festive looking. Fancy golden curtains with intricate looking patterns hang from high ceilings, half draped over tall windows and the wide glass doors leading to the gardens. A brilliant chandelier hangs from the ceiling and provides the room with the ideal amount of light, powerful enough to brighten up the place down to its farthest corners but as discreet as it takes not to overload your senses.

From the corner of my sight I see Ava shoving her phone back in her purse. “Agent Remender is asking for us, Nat,” she says as we all turn to her. “We’ll be back, you go ahead.”

The pair leaves together. Farah and Morgan proceed farther into the ballroom, and I go with them without missing a beat.

The mood in the hall is more laid back than I predicted, with townsfolk scattered around the place chatting up one another cheerfully; and as soon as music starts playing, the center of the room clears up to make space for dancing pairs.

We settle into a spot near the beverage table, not before having grabbed a glass of wine each, and we watch over the activity into the room with our backs leaning against the wall.

“I was expecting something livelier than this,” Farah pouts. “This kind of music is not my thing. Unless Morgan wants to invite me to dance, that is.” She side eyes the quiet vampire, who scoffs loudly in response; then she turns to me. “Alas, we can’t all be as lucky as Kass, having a partner to slow dance with and stuff.” A suggestive smile spreads over her lips.

I don’t have enough time to elaborate a reply: the young vampire takes the glass from my hand and nods toward a spot on my right side. Turning around to look at whatever she’s pointing at, I spot Ava and Nat coming back to us.

Then, as soon as the leader steps closer to me, I hear Farah chirp “Thank me later” gleefully; and immediately after, a hand pushes on my back without any courtesy.

With no way of stopping it, I bite back a yelp as I stumble forward, high heels throwing me off balance. I almost tumble to the ground, but two strong arms wrap around me, catching me in time.

I look up to find Ava glancing down at me with a concerned frown. Being so close to her for the first time this evening, I take the chance to have a better look at her attire. My eyes dance over her body, focusing on the thin straps of her dress and the swell of her arm muscles flexing as she keeps me from falling; desire to get closer takes over, and I grab her shoulders.

The instant I touch her, Ava jolts up straight and pulls me back on my feet, interrupting the contact. I don’t let go, and this causes her frown to deepen – and her breath to quicken.

Deciding not to let this chance go to waste, I slide one hand free only to offer it right back to her as an invitation. “I hope you’re not too shy to dance.”

Her expression doesn’t change one bit; if anything, it darkens. The vampire looks around her stiffly, noticing the dancing couples. As the realization slowly kicks in, her eyes flicker with something that looks like actual, badly concealed panic. I can only see it for a moment, then it washes away to be replaced with a cold mask.

“No.” She doesn’t even bother to look at me.

Though I was expecting this kind of reaction, it doesn’t sting any less. “It’s just a dance, Ava. It won’t kill you.”

Her jaw tightens. “I can’t do this. Sorry.”

The vampire storms out of the room through the open glass doors, leaving me with the rest of Unit Bravo – who just witnessed everything. As I face them I make sure to wipe the disappointment off my face and turn it into a semi convincing smile.

Can’t say it worked: Nat is full-on “sympathy mode” and Farah gives me a puppy look; even Morgan is eyeing me carefully, one thick brow arched up. I get my glass back from Farah’s hand and take a long sip of the beverage inside.

“Don’t look at me like that. It’s nothing,” I scold them.

Nat offers me a warm, reassuring smile. “Of course, Kass.”

By the way she purses her lips I can tell she knows what I’m really thinking, yet she’s kind enough to drop the subject and doesn’t pick it up again – a quality of hers I very much appreciate.

Farah’s blunt and no-bullshit self, on the other hand, looks like she still has something to say; and so she does, while rubbing a hand over my back in circular motions, perhaps in an attempt to bring me some comfort. “There, there. It’s not your fault, she was in a good mood before. Something set her off…” She pauses and raises her glass to her lips, taking a sip of its contents as she mulls over the possibilities going through her head.

Meanwhile, the laid back atmosphere around us goes through a radical change: as the music switches to modern and its pace quickens, the volume is turned up and more people join in to the center of the ballroom to dance with whoever they can grab.

Morgan winces and pushes her back further against the wall; the next thing she does is letting out a quite colorful string of curses. I notice a pack of young women striding towards our little group with the obvious purpose of approaching the quiet vampire, but they’re forced to stumble to a stop and turn around in retreat as annoyance – to use an euphemism – rapidly creases her forehead and the bridge of her nose, and makes her look like a wolf ready to pounce in a rather uncanny way.

The young vampire pulls me in by the forearm and speaks directly into my ear, maybe in order to avoid having to scream to be heard over the louder music, maybe – a more likely possibility – to give me some kind of privacy. Given it’s Farah, I have my doubts that she would mind having to raise her voice.

Her loose, fluffy hair tickles my cheek as she speaks. “I think she saw you rubbing your neck earlier… Were you touching the scar again?”

My eyebrows shoot up in surprise. Now that I think about it, I saw her too. Could it be…? That was the gesture that set her off? But why? Is she still feeling guilty over it?

I scramble to conceal my shock and quickly cover it up with the most smug, blinding grin I can muster. “Shit, that was what she was looking at?” I exclaim with a snicker, so loudly that Morgan and Nat look at me with curiosity. “I thought she was staring at my tits!”

Farah nearly chokes on her wine, belting out a deafening laughter; Morgan chuckles deeply, her shoulders trembling as my crass quip manages to mitigate even her awful mood; Nat shakes her head in defeat, though a corner of her mouth curls up in amusement.

“I mean… could’ve been both, who knows?” Farah replies, as soon as her laughter cools down.

“Well, I hope her assessment was a positive one at least,” I jest with wink.

The young vampire raises her glass. “I’ll drink to that, my friend.”

Once Morgan’s chortle slows to a stop, surliness falls back onto her features like a curtain. She throws a lingering glance toward the glass doors, as if registering the existence of the bright, green outdoor area for the first time since her arrival.

“Alright, I’m outta here. Shit’s getting too loud and I need to smoke,” Morgan announces with a flick of her wrist before heading out.

A pleasant air settles between the remaining three of us. At the end of the song I excuse myself to go have a chat with Tina, whose curly head I recognize immediately among the crowd; and given my position, I should try to have a conversation with as many people as possible in there. Wayhaven needs to know more of their detective, unspoken duties and all that jazz.

Yet, as I take a step forward, a hand wraps itself around my forearm, stopping me from advancing.

“Nice one, Kassie,” Farah says, her amber eyes piercing through me with unexpected gravity. “But remember, I know what’s going on. Shit, we all do. Take it as my humble advice, but I just think that the two of you would do much better without secrets getting in the way.” Then she releases my arm and shrugs lazily. “But hey, do as you wish.”

Almost two hours and an impossible amount of small talking later, I can finally say I’ve fulfilled my social duties for the night. I’ve engaged with the mayor, Douglas, some of the hospital staff, the firefighters and needless to say, several people from the town. They know me – though they don’t “know” me – but sometimes I still wonder what do they see when they look at me. Do they see the rebellious, untrustworthy teenager I used to be, behind the detective with the fame of having saved the town from a psychopathic murderer? Have they forgotten about my past?

I’m just glad I haven’t seen Bobby yet. Thinking about it, I wonder when she’ll come harass me tonight.

This evenings’ happenings replay in my mind.

I can’t help but think of Ava and her reaction. What’s her deal? The woman is a walking conundrum, the toughest one I’ve ever seen at that. A living enigma surrounded by a formidable fortress. Sometimes it feels like I’m so close to finally solve it, then she kicks me out, her gates slam shut and it’s as if I made no progress at all. It almost feels like dying in a video game, only to be brought back to the starting point each time. Why does it have to be so complicated?

Suddenly my legs feel heavier, my heels taller, and my chest tighter. I need to go out and get some fresh air.

The outdoor area is extensive and, I’d say, rather mesmerizing. The wood-look decking paves the way to four different paths: one starting from the left, one from the right, and two taking off from straight ahead only to separate into opposite directions later on. Each path extends way past my eyes and disappears into rows of flowery bushes and trees, making it impossible to predict where it’ll bring you without walking the trail yourself.

Light strings hang by each tree and garden lamps stand almost shyly from their spots in the corners, illuminating the entire area with a cozy, festive vibe.

Few people sit by the aluminum chairs and tables arranged by the pool, faces brightened by the twinkling lights above and their own vivid enthusiasm as they engage in conversations I don’t pay attention to. Underneath their voices I can hear the chirp of crickets, singing night songs from the safety of their bushes.

I take a deep breath of the cool air surrounding me. I’m close enough to the pool to smell chlorine, but I don’t mind. The way it mixes with the scent of leaves is sufficient to clear my mind a bit.

I walk across the length of the entire patio, ignoring the sound my heels make as they hit the wooden flooring, and stride past the people sitting by the pool. I take the path to my right without thinking twice.

It was a random choice, really. All I want is to lose myself for a bit, before heading back to the others.

I let the path guide me further into the garden, and I follow without any haste. It’s a beautiful night: the sky is clear, stars shimmer above and peek through branches of the trees lining each side of the trail. I can’t help but think it’d be rather romantic to walk in here with a special someone. Whoever designed this place knew what were they doing, no doubt about it.

“Came to find your girlfriend?”

“Eek!” I flinch in fright at the sudden voice and whip my head in its direction, only to find Morgan standing in a scarcely illuminated corner, cigarette in hand. As I approach her, I notice a lazy smile tugging at her lips. It’s good to see that my plight is a source of amusement for her, I guess.

“What the fuck!” I grab my chest and puff out a relieved sigh. “Did you really have to hide in the dark like that?”

“I’m not hiding, and I’m not standing in the dark. I’m in plain sight. You’re the one who couldn’t see me,” she counters in a flat tone, bracing herself with her jacket. The tight, tailored lines of her suit hug the soft curves of her body rather appealingly, but it’s not my place to indulge in that.

“Whatever you say, shadow creature,” I reply with a roll my eyes, but I let the trivial disagreement die. Her cigarette attracts my attention, and I point at it with a nod of my head. “You know, I’ve gotta say I’m surprised you didn’t just light that up in there.”

Morgan shrugs. “Agent Remender told me to behave.”

A sly grin appears on my lips. “And you always do what you’re told to, don’t you?”

The vampire turns her head to the side and slowly blows out a long trail of smoke, intense grey eyes trained on me. She examines my face with interest, and smirks.

“You’re a stubborn one, huh? I can respect that.”

I look at her in confusion.

Morgan points to her left with a casual flick of the wrist. “She’s over there. Go.”

I don’t even know why I’m doing this, she might be still in a mood and I’m really not looking forward to another argument. It’d be stupid and unnecessary. And yet, here I am.

Morgan’s directions lead me to a clearing: it must be the heart of the garden. I approach slowly, trying to spot her before I make my presence known, so that I can have an idea of how grim her current mood could be – and brace myself for it.

My eyes scan the area from left to right, looking for the familiar vampire.

And there she is.

Ava sits on a wooden bench, shoulders sagged and eyes fixed on the ground. Vases of hyacinths frame the clearing, before the trees behind take over. Her expression is difficult to decipher: her lips are shut tight, her jaw clenched. That also happens to be her standard guise, and that’s what makes it particularly hard to read.

The clack of my heels drags her out of her trance as I step forward. She sets her eyes on me, and I freeze on the spot.

Wondering if I made a mistake coming here at all, and too tired for the eventuality of a spat, I hold up a hand in apology and make to turn around on my steps. “Sorry, I didn’t know you were here,” I lie. “I’ll peace out now.”

“Wait.” It comes off as an order, but her commanding tone softens as she speaks again. “Stay.” That single word has a sweet sound to it, like the one of a plead.

I stride towards Ava cautiously until I’m standing in front of her. My gaze focuses on her face, still trying to study her expression; but it ends up studying her everything else instead.

The light makeup enhancing her beautiful features without overwhelming them, the silver jewelry wrapped around her neck, her blonde hair shining gold under the artificial lighting, the dress hugging her figure, the slit… I’d better look away from the slit.

Deciding to break the awkward silence, I nod at her heels. “I would’ve never imagined to see you like this. Those don’t look very… practical.”

Ava arches a brow.

“Uh… I mean, I’m not complaining about that or anything,” I blurt out defensively. “Actually, I was thinking that you look really good.”

The woman looks at me for the longest time. Eventually, a small smile finds its way across her pink lips. “Are you making fun of me, Detective?”

Relieved to see her relax, I smirk and place a hand on my hip. “I would never.”

Ava lets out a lenghty sigh and leans back in her seat, rolling her shoulders as if she just got rid of something heavy weighing on them.

“Farah talked my ear off about dress code and I couldn’t hear the end of it. I gave it a chance, though it’s clear my choice was far more practical than yours.” She throws a disapproving glance at my five inch heels.

A chuckle escapes my lips. “Point taken.”

Confident in the harmony that has settled between us, I take the spot next to her on the bench. Neither of us say a word for the following minutes; we just enjoy the peace together, as we usually do.

I look up at the sky, lulled by the tunes of crickets and the muffled music coming from a distance, and lose myself in the pleasant moment, apart from everything save for the one woman whose presence can only improve it all.

The corner of my right eye spots a movement, and I tilt my head to follow it. Ava is fumbling with her updo: she frees her hair from it and lets it fall loosely over her shoulders. The silky golden waves cascading about her face make me want to reach out and touch them, feel their softness.

Instead, I open my mouth to speak. “Sorry if I insisted, earlier.”

Ava tucks the loose strands behind her ears and turns to look at me. As much as I wouldn’t like to ruin this moment, I need to tackle this topic before I lose my mind over it.

“I don’t want to push you, but at the same time… I get mixed signals from you and I don’t know what to do. You show interest, then you don’t. You enjoy my presence, then you act like you want nothing to do with me.” My eyes have fallen to the ground, unable to face her as I nervously fidget with my fingers – a gesture that’s quite unlike me, and this speaks volumes on how much this whole ordeal has been bothering me. “The others told me to keep going and pursue you, and I believed them since they’ve known you for so long. I thought they were acting in your best interest. Were they wrong about it?”

“The others told you what?” The astonishment in her voice is evident.

I hold my hands up. “If you want me to stop for good, just tell me and I will. Please. I need some kind of closure to move on from.”

I turn to look at her straight in the eye, waiting for a reply.

Ava opens her mouth only to snap it shut a moment later, eyebrows pinched together. Then she looks away from me, brings her hands together and fidgets with uncertainty, seemingly deep in thought as if she’s pondering whether or not to answer. I watch over the side of her face I can see, studying every brief movement.

After long, drawn out moments, Ava returns my gaze. “You misunderstand me.” The green in her eyes deepens, warm and vulnerable. “I don’t want you to stop. It’s all new for me, and it’s difficult. I’m learning day by day, and sometimes I’m just… afraid.”

I could swear my heart just stopped beating. I didn’t expect her to be so straightforward, not like this.

“Afraid of what?” I ask in a stunned whisper.

Her lips tremble as she closes her eyes, the frown long gone though replaced by apprehension.

It’s one of the rare times when the impenetrable fortress that is her mind opens the gates and lets me in, and I intend on making the most of it before she can shut down once more.

“Afraid of losing you. I’ve been alive for centuries, and the existence of someone like me…” It’s almost as if she’s censoring herself from uttering the word “vampire”, “It’s vastly different from a human’s. Feelings complicate everything. I’ve been on my own for a long time, and now… I feel like this for the first time, for a human nonetheless, and I’m afraid.” Her voice cracks as her eyes meet mine, unshed tears pooling along the waterlines. “You do not understand how scared I am, Kassandra.”

The sincere intensity of her words astounds me, and I find myself unable to speak.

One thing is for certain: I believe her.

Standing up from my seat, I adjust the dress over my knees and kneel in front of the vampire. I rest a hand on hers as the other moves up to cup her face. She bites her lower lip, but doesn’t shy away from my touch.

Ava looks incredibly vulnerable, and the sight is even more jarring when compared to her usual self. She’s showing me this side of hers as an act of trust, and I’ll ensure that it will be safe in my care.

My voice finally finds its way out of my lips, each word stressed with gentle determination as I look up at her. “You can’t let fear dictate your life. I’m afraid to lose my mother and my friends… But pushing them away would only make it worse. This is true for me as it is for you. You might not be human anymore, but you are still alive.”

Her expression slowly goes from fear to concern, then confusion; and finally, a hint of reluctant understanding spreads over her features.

“Alive…” she mumbles, as if dumbfounded by the concept.

I smile at her with fondness, and it reaches my eyes. “Stop pushing people away, Ava. Allow yourself some happiness. You’re alive.” My tone is patient, gentle. I’m grateful for her choice to open up to me, and I want to make sure she knows I’m willing to help.

She inhales sharply and nestles her cheek further into the palm of my hand, as if she wishes nothing more than to disappear in my touch. Breath catches in my throat at the sensation of her skin brushing against my fingertips, her warmth seeping through.

I clear my throat and go on.

“Plus, even if you quit on me, I won’t stop being in danger. It’s my line of work, Ava. I’m a detective, now even tied to the Agency. Whether or not we date, I’ll be in danger regardless. It’s just the way it is. It’s my job.”

My gaze holds on to hers with perseverance: it’s not an easy truth to accept, but it’s a necessary one, and I want to make sure she really understands it.

Ava clenches her fists until her knuckles turn white, muscles taut; however, as the seconds go by, the woman appears to lose any will to put up a fight, and her internal turmoil ends with a grave, resigned sigh. I’ve never seen her so defeated.

Yet, as she wraps her hands around mine and holds it firmly, I can tell that acceptance has found its way within her heart. She can finally see my point. We won’t have this argument again.

“I’m new to this.”

“Me too, blondie. Me too.”

The vampire pulls her hands away politely, then makes use of their newfound freedom to smooth over the creases in the skirt of her dress.

I watch as she stands upright and extends a hand towards me.

“Does your offer still stand?”

Her serious tone confounds me at first, but realization swiftly kicks in and widens my eyes with genuine surprise. I’m not used to see her so… open. But after this night, maybe, just maybe, this won’t be unusual anymore. This might be the fresh beginning I was looking forward to, with the one woman I’d share it with.

I smile up at her and reach out. “Of course.”

The muffled sounds of music from inside of the ballroom slip through the open windows, mixed with chatter and infectious thrill. Though coming from a distance, the night’s quiet makes it so that the wind carries the notes with ease until they reverb across the clearing.

Ava’s arms hold me tight, snug around my waist, as we slow dance in the clear, dimly lit space. We don’t pay attention to the music, we don’t care about the rest of the world: that’ll have to wait. Right now it’s just the two of us, in our own dimension where time has stopped.

I hold her back, hands clutching her shoulders as if she might disappear the moment I let go. Every little movement, every clenching and unclenching of her muscles is rapidly registered by my fingertips.

Leaning forward, I rest my head on her chest. The sound of her heartbeat steadies my nerves, and her heady scent surrounds me comfortingly. It feels like home.

We move at our own rhythm, forgetting about the mismatching upbeat song coming from the ballroom. Every step is fully coordinated, like a choreography. It’s as though we’re one body swaying on its own accord, rather than two separate individuals having an unprompted dance.

“You know, I’ve been waiting for you…” My voice is nothing more than a whisper as it comes out, words trailing off.

When Ava replies, I can picture the smile on her lips even without looking at her face. “I hope I didn’t make you wait for too long, then.”

Unable to resist the urge to see it, I tilt my head up. Just as I thought, she’s smiling. But it’s different from all the smiles she’s shown me so far, however mirthful or sweet they were.

It’s a radiant smile, the happiest I’ve ever seen her wear. Impossible not to feel weak in the knees at the sight of her face, all lit up by joy and tenderness and something else I can’t quite put my finger on. Dimples poke into her cheeks; eyes crinkle with sincere glee. The light strings hanging from above draw attention to her gorgeous bone structure and project their almost magical glow into the warm green orbs I can’t look away from.

I think I’ve lost my mind, and in all truth, I don’t want it back. “I love you.”

Her pupils widen. Ava takes two, three, four breaths. So close to her, I can feel her heart rate going through the roof.

“Is this it?”, I think. “Is this the part where she pushes me back and leaves? I’ve fucked up, haven’t I?”

Then, the woman rushes forward. She grabs my face, her strong hands cup the wholeness of my cheeks. Next thing I know, her lips are crashing into mine. For so long I’ve dreamed of this moment; my imagination built and rebuilt this scenario each time I’ve wanted to kiss her. I’ve wondered about the softness of her lips, the strength of her arms pulling me in, the spark in her eyes as she regards me before diving in again and again.

Yet, even my wildest dreams couldn’t compete with reality. Never did they predict the eagerness of her touch, nor the intensity of her kiss. Our lips move together with desperation, intensified by months of crucifying longing. Ava holds me, and I hold her. Nothing else matters.

We only reluctantly pull away once there’s no air left in our lungs; but Ava doesn’t let me go, the heat of her body keeps on covering me like a blanket. With fingers tangled in my hair, holding me firmly in place, she presses her forehead against mine and draws in a shaky breath.

“I love you.”

The words I thought I would never hear ring in my ears, the best sound I’ve ever heard. They come out so easily, as if she practiced for this moment. There’s no hesitation, no uncertainty in her voice. She says it like it’s a fact, as natural as air.

“Say it again,” I whisper, fingers sinking deep into blonde waves.

Her nose brushes against mine. “I love you.”

I kiss her again, and again, and again. And her mouth chases mine tirelessly, with an intensity that leaves me breathless.

Our kisses become less urgent as we go. They get slower, intimate, as deep as the ocean; and we can’t help but drown in them.

Now I know for certain what was it, the gleam in her eyes I saw earlier: love. Pure, unadulterated love.

Searching in the brown of my eyes, Ava recognizes the same unconditional feeling.

No more words are needed.

We are alive.

I’m not sure of how long have we been here. To me, it feels like days.

Somewhere along the line the music stopped playing, and I cannot hear the laughs and voices anymore. Yet no one came to find us, something I’m grateful for. I can’t help but wonder if the others played a part in this; the thought makes me smile.

“Ava?” I call, my head resting comfortably in her lap. She runs a hand back and forth through the length of my loose hair with the gentlest touch – all that kissing messed up my updo, so we undid it for good.

“What is it?”

“Do you believe in fate?”

She groans, but doesn’t stop caressing me. “You ask many charged questions. In any case, I don’t.”

I let out a content sigh at her ministrations. “Well, you see… Fate brought us here. It brought you here, with me.”

“I don’t believe in such things.”

A smile curls my lips. “You could’ve been somewhere else now, but you’re on this bench, in this town, in this part of the world. And you met me. How do you explain it?”

Ava remains silent, likely frowning in thought.

I don’t get an answer.

I don’t need one.

#wayhaven week 2020 #ava du mortain #the wayhaven chronicles #twc #twc detective #ava x detective #ava du mortain x detective #my writing #kassandra remender #twc fic

28 notes · View notes

allfandomxreader · 4 years

Text

A Eulogy for Billy Hargrove

Pairings: Billy Hargrove x Reader

Words: 2.9k

Summary: It’s one week after Billy’s death and Max asked you to speak at his funeral.

Warnings: Definitely cussing but I think that’s it

A/N: Hi I’m back from the dead and have been thinking about Billy a lot lately and thought of this :) let me know what you think! Not my gif!

Masterlist

In the first flashback you were the one talking to Billy, not El whenever he died.

Billy’s weight presses against you. His hands no longer feel soft and gentle, the way they felt in the months prior. His body no longer belongs to him. His eyes see right through you, almost as if you aren’t beneath him. You still see him as the man you loved --love.

Your body aches. Your head reels from the impact it made against the tile. Your limbs sore from running, your throat still burning from where Billy grabbed you. But none of this matters. You want to reach Billy, you want him to come back to you, for everything to be over and life to carry on.

“Seven feet,” You blurt. His eyes lock with yours for the first time, his body jolting at your words. “You told her the wave was seven feet.” His breathing deepens, his grip relaxes. “You ran to her on the beach. There were seagulls,” Tears escape your eyes as Billy begins to slowly come back. “She wore a hat with a blue ribbon. A long dress with a blue and red flower.”

Billy looks away, his eyes scanning something you can’t see. Something he always does when he’s concentrating. “Yellow sandals, covered in sand.” You choke, “She was pretty,” Billy’s lips curl into something like a smile, the closest he could get in a time like this. “She was really pretty.” You nod and he follows your actions, curls bouncing beside him. “And you, you were happy.”

Tears cascade down his cheeks. You reach for him, slowly, as if asking permission to touch. “Do you remember telling me this?” He nods again, eyes fluttering closed. “Do you know who I am?” Another nod. “I love you,” You sob, “I love you so much.” You want to hold him, to feel his skin against yours.

The sound of the Mind Flayer’s screeches pull Billy away. Just when you finally had him back, he was taken once more. He stands slowly, squaring his shoulders like he does to seem threatening.

The Mind Flayer screams but Billy doesn’t flinch. From where you lie, you can see the terror spreading through Billy’s eyes. You already know what’s coming, the monster will reach for you. There will be pain. You don’t want to die, you’re not ready. But Billy came back, and right now, to you, that’s all that matters.

Instinctively, you kick yourself back. Using the last bit of your strength to scoot away from the Mind Flayer, but there’s no use. You can already see the hand shooting from his mouth. You raise your arms to block your sight, accepting pain, accepting death.

And then nothing.

When your eyes open you only see Billy. His hands push against the Mind Flayer, running at it, trying to save you. He’s screaming, you can almost feel his agony through his cries.

You see the other hands too late. It’s too late to scream, too late to warn Billy. The Mind Flayer tears into Billy’s side. Billy doesn’t stop screaming. Another hand into his body. Billy’s grip weakens, his limbs fall back to his sides but the hands don’t stop coming.

With one final scream from the Mind Flayer. Dark liquid leaks from Billy’s mouth, you can’t tell if it’s blood or whatever’s left from the Mind Flayer’s possession, maybe both. He hasn’t stopped screaming.

The Mind Flayer shoots one last hand, this time into Billy’s chest. Billy falls silent, his body limp in the monster’s many hands. The monster retracts, Billy’s body dropping to the floor.

It was your turn to scream, a sudden burst of strength pulsing through your body, just enough for you to reach him. He’s gasping, choking on the darkness that’s pooling in his mouth. “Billy?” You sob, hovering over him. Your hands brace his shoulders that are slick with sweat. “Billy, Billy please.” You shake him, trying your best to keep him awake, to keep him alive.

“I love--” Another choke, “You too.” His voice is hoarse, but nevertheless, it’s him. You can tell by the twitches in his lips that he wants to smile, he wants to speak, to say how everything will be okay like he normally does when life gets shitty. You reach for his hand, squeezing it gently, careful to not add to the pain he’s already in. He squeezes back.

The blue in his eyes fade, his lips in a line, his body perfectly still. Just like that, in a span of a few agonizing moments, the Mind Flayer took everything from you.

Billy Hargrove died six days ago.

You stare at your reflection in the mirror, the young woman staring back is almost unrecognizable. Your eyes swollen, the circles beneath them so dark even makeup couldn’t hide them.

You should be getting ready for college, packing up last minute things for your dorm, bidding goodbye to your parents, eager to get the hell out of Hawkins. Instead, you’re preparing to say goodbye to a man that was taken too soon.

You clutch the crinkled eulogy in your hands, folding it gently and tucking it into your pocket. With a final deep breath, you carry yourself through the house and out the door and into your car.

The four doors and cushioned seats used to be comforting, but now it just reminds you of Billy. Even his scent still lingers, or maybe you’re just imagining it.

“I hate when you drive, you know? You always take turns too fast and hit every single pot hole on the road.” Billy scoffs, dipping some fries into ketchup that’s smeared onto a napkin.

“Oh, so suddenly I’m the bad driver?” You laugh, “That’s rich coming from you Mr. 60 miles per hour in a 35” as if on cue, your tires glide over broken pavement jolting you and the complaining passenger.

“You just proved my point!” Billy laughs, flailing his hands dramatically. His outburst sends the napkin from the console and onto the seat and his jeans. “Shit.” He grumbles, peeling back the flimsy paper and rubbing it with clean napkins.

“Don’t rub it, shithead! That’ll make it worse!” You screech, trying to stay focused on the winding stretch of road ahead of you.

“How else am I supposed to clean this shit off then?” He only rubs the condiment into the seat’s fabric further.

“You blot it... I think?” You chuckle, watching your boyfriend struggle beside you with ketchup covering his fingers. “I swear to god if that stains my seat you’re never going to hear the end of it, Hargrove.”

You stare at the dark, lopsided stain that still adorns the passenger seat. You can faintly make out his sincere apologies through his laughter. You almost laugh at the amount of chemicals the two of you scrubbed the seat with. You’ll never wash it off, or even try to. Not now.

Billy’s burial is tucked away near the edge of the cemetery. Knowing Neil, it was probably the cheapest plot of land he could find. Even in death, he couldn’t honor his son. It makes you sick.

Today, the air is warm, the sky is clear, not a single cloud in sight. The sun beats down on your black clothes, you feel as if you’re being burned alive. As if you haven’t endured enough pain to last you a lifetime.

You walk leisurely along the path not ready to face the closed casket. You weren’t ready to face a lot of things that this day will bring. The looks of solemn faces, the look of concern. Your mother has worn that look every single day. People will ask the inevitable: “Are you okay?” and of course, you’d have to say yes.

You aren’t okay. You don’t know if you ever will be. Billy left a gaping hole that will never be filled. He was your other half. Everyone will tell you “It’ll get better with time.” but it won’t. You could live seven lifetimes and the pain of Billy’s death will never get any easier.

You hear voices behind you. The annoying shrill of Carol and Tommy’s voice linger behind you. “Should we say something?” Carol says in an attempt to whisper, she’s never been very good at it.

“Be my guest.” Tommy hisses. They fall silent as they approach, their footsteps even slow. Carol doesn’t say a word, neither does Tommy, and soon they pass. You meet Carol’s eye, the look of sympathy written across her features. You can’t tell if she’s faking it or not, either way it disgusts you.

Carol’s claws for nails drag along Billy’s bicep, he doesn’t bat it away. “Billy,” She sings, bringing the red cup to her lips, staining the plastic with expensive lipstick. “Come on, just this once. Forget about the little bitch for just tonight. I promise I’ll make it worth your while.” She purrs.

Billy rolls his eyes but looks at her nevertheless. He opens his mouth to say something but is cut short when locking eyes with you.

Your hands shake, rage pulsing through your veins more than the alcohol. You throw the half empty cup against the wall, trudging out of Tina’s grand house and into the cold autumn air.

“Y/N!” He calls after you, pushing through the crowd of teenagers. “Hey! Would you just stop walking for two fucking seconds?”

“Fuck off, Hargrove.” Your feet don’t stop moving. You don’t know where you’re going or even where the sidewalk leads, but anywhere is better than that house.

“I didn’t even do anything.” He jogs to catch up.

“Exactly. You didn’t do anything. You could’ve told her to piss off or push her hand away but you did nothing!” Billy watches your arms move in wild motions as your anger got the best of you. “For fucks sake, is everything you said a lie? Everything that we’ve done and talked about, was it all just some sick game to you?”

“What? No! I--”

“Because it looks like you’re still the same power hungry horn dog that you were when you first stepped into town. Fuck, I should’ve listened to Nancy or Steve, or literally anybody with a working brain to not get involved with you.”

“What are you talking about? Carol means nothing to me.” He’s frantic, you can tell he’s being truthful. You almost feel bad for making a scene. You stand silent for a moment, crossing your arms over your chest to keep warm.

“Then why didn’t you defend me?” Your voice is almost lost in the wind but Billy catches every word.

“You stormed out before I could even say anything.” He sighs, taking slow steps towards you. “I’ve never lied to you, everything has been nothing but the truth. I’m sorry I was a piece of shit when we met but I promise I’m not that guy anymore.” He folds you into his chest, the scent of tobacco and alcohol invades your senses.

“You promise?” You whisper. He pulls away, taking his warmth with him.

“Fuck Carol, or any other girl. I want you, I love you. I’ll love you until my heart stops. I’m going to be yours forever.”

“Jesus Christ,” You chuckle, “Are you proposing to me right now?”

“No, but one day, I’d like to.”

There was a lot of truth in what Billy said that night at Tina’s party. He loved you until the very last second of his life. But you didn’t think forever would just be memories and old ketchup stains. You thought forever would entail a marriage, maybe kids, if not at least a dog. Forever should’ve ended sixty years from now, not six days ago.

A sea of black greets you when you finally make it to the burial. People are milling around, some talking to one another, other’s munching on refreshments you’re surprised Neil even arranged. People stop talking as you pass them.

You see Max, her tear stained cheeks, tissue balled in her hand. Lucas holds her free one, El rubs soothing circles along her shoulders. The rest of the teenagers are beside her, nobody says anything, each of them staring at the closed mahogany casket just a few feet in front of them.

The funeral begins, a minister takes the podium and rambles about the afterlife. Neil even talks, he says bullshit about being a proud father and how Billy meant the world to him. You can’t help but roll your eyes. Susan blots her tears and gives Max a soothing pat on the leg as her daughter emerges, brushing past Neil as she messes with the microphone.

“Billy--” She begins, words caught in her throat. “Billy was my brother,” She opens her mouth to say more but her voice fails. Her sobs are amplified from being so close to the mic. Through blurry vision, her eyes meet yours, a silent plea to help her.

You stand, gaining attention and murmurs from the audience. When you reach Max, you pull her into a hug, stroking her hair as she cries into your shoulder. “It’s okay, I got you.” You rock her back and forth, ignoring the uncomfortable shifts from people in their chairs.

Max finally stands, still sniffling. She squeezes your hand before taking her seat between Lucas and El.

You lean close to the microphone, shifting it slightly so you could stand straight. “Um, a few days ago, Max asked me to speak today,” You start to pull the wrinkled paper from your pocket, ignoring the smeared ink and tear stains before balling it up and tossing it to the side. He didn’t deserve something rehearsed, that’s not how either of you did things. You refuse to start today.

“Billy Hargrove was a lot of things. He was a student, an athlete, a brother,” You pause, giving a weak smile towards Max that she attempts to return, “A friend, and probably the love of my life. I know a lot about Billy, I know him better than anyone sitting here today. So, I thought I’d share with you who the real Billy Hargove is.” You breathe, swallowing the lump in your throat.

“If Billy ever told you that his favorite color was red, you shouldn’t have believed him. It’s actually blue. More specifically, he told me it was the color of the sky on a clear day.” You look towards the sky, the sun blinding you only for a moment. “Billy would’ve loved today. He’d look up at the sky, he’d close his eyes, and stand in silence. After a few moments he’d beckon for me, and I too would face the sky with my eyes closed. He’d ask if I could hear it, the waves, the seagulls. Truthbetold, I’d never be able to. I’ve never heard the ocean. But I’d always say yes.” You smile fondly at the numerous occasions where that exact scenario occurred.

“Billy was smart, he was one A away from a 4.0. He always took pride in having a higher GPA than me. Billy was also strong, and not just because he worked out everyday. No, Billy was strong because he had to be.” You glare at Neil for a brief moment, making him move awkwardly in his seat.

“Billy deserved so much more than what was given to him. I wish he could’ve seen California one last time. I wish he had the chance to leave this town, to start over, to never look back. He deserved that more than anyone else I know.” You take another breath, mind racing for something else to say, something to make people know Billy wasn’t the monster they believed him to be.

“California was his happy place. He told me many times that wherever I was, he was happy. But I always knew his happy was in California. Billy would tell me all kinds of stories about him and his mom. There was this one story where he caught a wave that was seven feet. He ran and told his mom who was on the shore. He never forgot to emphasize how pretty she was. How happy she was, how happy he was.” Tears prick your eyes, threatening to spill as you retell the story for the second time this week. This time, Billy wasn’t your audience. “He always talked about how one day he’d see her again. I wish he got that chance.”

“Billy died a hero, in many ways most of you could never understand. He died a hero to me,” Your eyes travel to find Nancy, Steve, and Johnathon. Each of them give a knowing, proud smile. You look at the young teens in the front row, the boys stare at their shoes, kicking their toe into the earth below. El wipes away tears, Max grins at you through hers, clinging to every word you speak. “To all of us. Even if you don’t know it.” With a final deep breath, you open your mouth one last time to finish your speech.

“Billy didn’t know peace for most of his life. I hope that he does now. And I hope wherever he is, the sky is forever clear, that he can see the ocean waves and hear the seagulls.”

Most people have left by now. Nancy and Johnathon made sure to give you hugs, Nancy reminded never hesitate to call. You said you would, but both of you know you’d probably never pick up the phone.

You sit alone staring ahead at the grey tombstone. “In loving memory of William Hargove. A loved brother and son.” You trace the words with your eyes over and over, unable to look away.

“I’m sorry,” You say quietly, “I know you would’ve wanted it this way. But it should’ve been me.” You stand, taking a final look at the empty cemetery. “I’ll love you until my heart stops, Billy Hargrove. I’m going to be yours forever, I promise.”

Forever Tags: @superfrankie111 // @rueinn // @lemonadeorange73 // @simplechicwithacrazedheart // @youshutthefuckupville // @captainpeggy40

344 notes · View notes

fairmoephelia · 4 years

Text

All My Love’s Wrapped in Shades of Red

im late but this is my writing for beauyasha week day five!! the prompt was healing, please enjoy yasha healing beau and beau doing a little healing for yasha too, though less literally.

slight warning: both beau and yasha admit to getting into fights and getting hurt to make themselves feel better. it’s acknlowedged as an unhealthy coping mechanism but if that bothers you please be careful reading

fic below the cut!

By the time Beau returned to the Xhorhaus, the sky had long since darkened in the slight way it did in Rosohna to indicate nighttime. Everyone was no doubt asleep, she had told them she would be out late and even answered a message from Caleb saying she was fine. No reason to stay up and worry, and thank Ioun for that.

She didn’t need any of them seeing her right now, her right eye throbbed with a forming bruise and blossoms of red and pink pain bloomed across her torso. There were no dark colors yet but she was sure that would change by morning. Maybe she could force herself to wake up early and find Caduceus, spare herself a lecture from the others. He would most likely give her one of his own, but at least it would just be one. Her head ached from being punched so much and couldn’t handle listening to a scolding.

She closed the door to the Xhorhaus slowly behind her. careful not to let it creak and—

“Beau?”

She turned on her heel, squinting in the dark to see the shadowed outline of Yasha. Shit.

She was dressed in what counted as pajamas for her but Beau could tell by the slight darkness surrounding her eyes, normally covered by smokey makeup, she hadn’t slept much that night. “I know you said you would be out late but…” she trailed off, approaching Beau. “Are you hurt?” She asked, though Beau hardly needed to answer as she got close enough to see the damage. She raised her hand and rested it against Beau’s forehead, the sting of the cut there, still sluggishly bleeding, vanished into magic warmth. “I’m sorry, my healing isn’t much. We should get Jester or Caduceus,”

“No!” Beau protested, before lowering her voice. “Don’t wake anyone up. I’m good, none of the injuries are even that bad,” she insisted.

Yasha’s brow furrowed and she looked like she wanted to argue but decided against it, “Okay,” she said reluctantly, “at least let me help you clean up,”

Beau nodded, too tired to properly argue against anything else, following Yasha to sit in the living area of the Xhorhaus. She leaned back on the couch, fighting to keep awake with only the ebb and flow of her pain to concentrate on. She knew what she had done wasn’t smart, but seeing her father had made it difficult not to fall back into old habits. It was far too easy to imagine all those faces she was smashing in were his. But he was living comfortably at the estate with her mother, who still couldn’t muster an opinion to save her life, and her baby brother, who was what they’d wanted all along. She couldn’t bring herself to be mad at the kid even if she wanted to though, she wasn’t that shitty a person.

Yasha returned, having left to get a washcloth and a small basin of water, along with some pink, bottled shit that looked right out of Caduceus or Jester’s healer’s kit. “Caduceus gave me this, he said it would help with cuts and bruises, keep them from getting infected.” She kneeled by the side of the couch, wetting the cloth with both water and the pink paste, “Is starting with your face okay?”

Beau just nodded and Yasha set to work, hands that Beau knew could be delicate but was still surprised to feel cleaning away the blood and grime from her fights. She worked in silence, the only interruption being Beau’s occasional hisses of pain that she couldn’t suppress, after which Yasha would always look at her with those concerned eyes, until she reached Beau’s torso. “Did you go to a fight club?” She asked suddenly.

Beau gave a noncommittal grunt and Yasha sighed, shaking her head. “You should have brought one of us with you, Jester or Fjord” her voice dropped slightly, “…me. You let yourself get hurt,”

Beau felt a flash of anger pulse at the base of her skull, pulling back from Yasha’s careful touch. “You’re one to talk. I only did the same thing you did,”

“That was completely different, I wasn’t—“

“You let her win, we all saw it happen. Do you think we’re stupid? You let her win, you let her hurt you!” She paused, sucking in a shaky breath. She didn’t want to wake the rest of the group, “Why would you do that? Why would you let someone hurt you?” Truthfully, Beau thought she knew the answer to that but she couldn’t help the way her voice came out, questioning and desperate.

Yasha stared at her with wide eyes, breath heavy like Beau’s words and physically hurt her. “I have to do something,” she said, quietly, like she was afraid of hearing her own words. Or maybe just afraid of Beau hearing them, “I know it wasn’t me. That I didn’t— I didn’t have control, but it was still my body, my hands. And there’s so much I don’t remember, from before. Maybe I wasn’t under his control, maybe I did all that willingly.”

“That was before, you can’t judge yourself on your past. Especially one you can’t remember,” Beau said.

“All those people…” Yasha whispered and Beau could hear the pain in her voice, choking her like it wanted to kill her and she might let it. “I can’t just not take responsibility,”

“This isn’t taking responsibility, this is torturing yourself, Yasha. I get it,” she said, leaning closer to her, able to meet her at eye level thanks to Yasha kneeling next to the couch. “I haven’t been through what you have but I know the feeling of hurting and wanting to get it out. Have something physical to show for it, but you can’t do that. It’s not healthy.” She knew she was being hypocritical, she was the one covered in bruises, after all. But she couldn’t bring herself to care as she thought of Yasha throwing herself in the path of something strong enough to actually take her down.

“I don’t know how you can forgive me like this,” Yasha said, her voice clouded with disbelief, “every Cobalt Soul member I struck reminded me of you and then I hurt you, Beau. I almost killed you and I don’t know what I would’ve done if I had.” There were tears in her eyes, beginning to slide over her cheeks. “I’ve lost too many people who are important to be to lose you too, please,”

Beau leaned forward, ignoring the way it pulled at her bruises and wrapped her arms around Yasha’s broad shoulders, wiping her tears away gently with the pads of her fingers.

“I won’t do it again,” she promised, how could she not? With Yasha laying her heart out in front of her, “But, it’s not just you, okay? Who worries about people. I can’t lose you either. I care about you, I love you.”

“Beau, I didn’t know you felt—“

Beau cut her off, now wasn’t the time, not with her bruised and Yasha in tears. Though, she supposed, there was hardly a better way to describe their relationship than that. “We’ll stay safe for each other. Can you do that?”

“If you can do it, I definitely can.” Yasha said, lightening the mood and reminding Beau of how they used to interact and spar together.

She let out a surprised noise, “Oh, you wanna get competitive?”

Yasha laughed, genuinely laughed, and Beau felt that maybe they would be alright.

#beauyashaweek2020 #beauyasha #critical role #critrole #beauregard lionett #cr beau #yasha nydoorin #cr yasha #fic #fanfiction #critical role fic

45 notes · View notes

overheardatthecontinental · 4 years

Link

Part of the Endlessly collection that describes the endless possible meetings of Helen and John Wick. Can be read as a standalone.

When Helen realizes she'll have to drop out of med school after spending all her life's savings on her sick mother, she reaches a new level of desperate. With the help of her roommate, Helen creates an online account to get set up with a sugar daddy. Enter John Wick.

AKA the sugar baby! Helen / sugar daddy! John au that absolutely nobody asked for

Helen Kingston stared into the mirror. She was wearing enough makeup to hide the fact she hadn’t slept the night before and a little black dress she hadn’t touched since college. She had to admit, she didn’t look terrible. Even fifteen years later, the dress still clung to her curves and made her feel attractive.

But there were laugh lines around her eyes when she smiled and her skin didn’t look as tight as it had once been.

“Don’t men want younger women? Clear-skinned undergraduates or twenty-somethings with huge tits?”

“You’d be surprised .” Mac, her best friend had said after suggesting it. “It’s not about sex.”

Helen had snorted at that. It was always about sex.

“I’m serious! Some of these guys are just lonely. Some of them are gay and looking for a beard. And some just want to make it look like they have their lives together without actually having to have a relationship. ”

Helen wondered, not for the first time if this was not still a form of prostitution. Selling herself, her time and, for appearances' sake, her body.

But she was going to lose her apartment if she couldn’t pay rent. She would have to drop out of med school and go back to working full-time in a pharmacy. It had taken her years to save enough money to go to graduate school and all of it had been lost in the space of six months.

MacKenzie had interfered, as she so often did, insisting that she couldn’t handle three more years of med school without her friend.

Then Mac had said, “I know about this service. It pairs women with rich men and it pays ridiculously well. It’s how I managed to pay for undergrad.”

“I’m not going to fuck someone to stay in school. It isn’t worth it to me.”

Mac had rolled her eyes, “The fucking is optional. Most of the time, it’s not even on the table.”

She had continued to insist that she wasn’t interested until Mac pulled up the site and showed Helen the listings. “You get a grand for a single date, Hel.”

“Fuck me.” Helen had sat down at the computer, “ You’re kidding me?”

“Nope. And that’s just the initial meeting. Technically, you only get $900. The site gets a 10% commission off of whatever you make. And there’s no contract at the first meeting. If you don’t like the guy, you still get 9-hundos for two hours of your time.”

And for a woman who hadn’t had a full meal in weeks… that was ridiculously appealing.

So she let Mac set her up a profile and was shocked at the requests for meetings that came in.

“If I just took five initial meetings, I could make $4,500.”

“Possibly more, depending on the guy. I’m telling you, I had this regular guy in college who paid me extra for exclusive rights. I got two grand a week on top of money for individual dates.”

Helen exhales in the mirror. She looks as good as she is going to, she thinks, before grabbing her purse and slipping on her high heels shoes. Grabbing the keys to her POS car, she heads out.

It’s an hour drive into the city and to the restaurant he had picked.

His name was John.

There was no picture posted but his age was listed as early-forties.

If his description were honest, which she doubted, he had black medium length hair, brown eyes, and a beard. He selected ‘average’ for build and his height was listed at 6’1. His employment is listed as ‘contractor’, whatever the hell that meant.

He had sent her a polite request for a meeting.

Unlike so many of the other requests she had received, he did not wax poetic about her looks nor did he include any torrid ideas about what he wanted to do to her.

It was simple, respectful, and to the point. He proposed a time and a place and offered to send a car, which she declined. She still wasn’t sure that she trusted the service and, despite the cost of gas, she had just enough to get her there. And, once at the restaurant, $900 would be wired to her account.

She arrived early enough to park in a lot that stopped charging after six pm and Helen walked the rest of the way to the restaurant.

Maybe, she thinks as her anxiety builds with every step, that this was a bad idea.

Mac knew where she was so, hopefully, she wouldn't be murdered but...

Oh god… she could get murdered.

Well, at least that would take care of her debt.

She took her phone as she walked and shot off a text to Mac. "If I die, I'm haunting you."

She started to slip it back in her purse but it began ringing.

It's Mac.

"What?"

"You're not going to die."

"It's a possibility." The restaurant was in sight. "I'm strangely not that concerned. Either I die or I don't."

"That's the spirit."

"That said, if I end the night in someone's trunk, I blame you for getting me into this."

"Are you alive when you're put in this dude's trunk?"

"That's an interesting game you pose. Schroedinger's' Helen. Dead and alive in the trunk."

She heard a snort and glanced up. A man stood by the front of the restaurant with a smirk on his face.

He was tall and handsome and that smirk should be illegal. In a three-piece black suit, he looked like he just stepped off the cover of GQ.

"I don't get it."

"Well, I'm sorry it went over your head, but I assure you, I'm very funny."

The man's smirk transformed into a full grin and… fuck.

Helen looked away so as not to flush under his gaze. She reminded herself that she is there to meet someone who is paying very well for her time.

"You're really not." Mac told her but she barely listening.

Mister Tall-dark-and-handsome was making his way over.

"Helen Kingston?" He asked.

And...fuck.

"John?" She replied, hoping she was wrong. Hoping that the attractive man she just talked about being murdered and thrown into someone's trunk in front of is not the man she is going on a date with.

But he nodded and Helen decided she is, indeed, fucked.

"Ohmigod is that him?"

"If it would bring you and your friend comfort, I can assure you that you won't end up in my trunk."

Her goal to not flush in front of the attractive man was lost. Her face was red as she murmured a quick goodbye to Mac and stuffed her phone away.

"Hi," She said, lost and unsure of how to proceed.

He looked younger than his forties but it appeared as though he was mostly honest.

He had shoulder-length black hair and a neatly trimmed beard. His eyes were brown and soft. In fact, the only argument she could think of was that he was anything but average. Even under layers, she could make out a trim and toned body.

This wasn't an ugly rich man who struggled to meet women.

Her first thought goes to beard. Is he hiding the fact he's gay and looking to keep his secret covered?

She can't think of another reason that he couldn't get a date. Unless he was a tremendous ass but her gut said that wasn't the case.

"Hello." He greeted back.

“Any chance you’d be willing to start over?” Helen asked hopefully.

“We could, but I think it would be a shame to not speak about Shrodinger’s Helen.”

Helen ran a hand through her hair. It was a fair blow but she still finds herself turning pink yet again.

John offered his arm, “Let me get you a drink.”

Helen takes it, “Yes. Please.”

They walk inside and John gives his name. Immediately, they are brought to a private corner of the dining room, far away from prying ears.

John held out the chair for her and Helen wondered if she wasn't in over her head with the kind of lifestyle that includes candlelit dinners and wine lists.

The waiter recited the specials and John ordered a bottle of wine which could not come fast enough.

Helen could still feel the burn in her cheeks as she glanced through the menu. She had never been to a restaurant before that didn’t include their prices next to the item in question. That, along with thorough descriptions of each item, made her think that the restaurant was far bougie-r than she had initially thought.

It was a good thing John was paying.

The waiter came back and poured them each a glass and she itched to down in a single gulp. But she didn’t, allowing the waiter to take their orders and leave before reaching for the glass.

Helen took a large sip and was aware that she was under the scrutiny of her date. He gazed at her with something akin to wonder or curiosity. It was far more intimidating than she had imagined, sitting at her computer.

“Relax.” John said, picking up his own wine glass, “You have the control here.”

Helen exhaled. Damn right.

“I think it’s obvious I haven’t done this before.”

“It’s okay. Neither have I.”

That surprised her. “Really?”

He nodded his head, once. “This is a first for me.”

“Can I ask… why now?”

“You can ask whatever you like. And to be honest, I don’t date. It’s never been a priority for me, but my work often requires attending social and formal events. I usually don’t mind attending alone but I’m getting tired of colleagues trying to set me up.”

And… it’s excessive to be sure, but practical. Helen knew she wasn’t in any place to judge but she had still been expecting someone… older, unattractive, and unpleasant.

“So you’re looking for someone to attend events with?”

“More or less. Were you interested, I would want to spend some time and get to know you beforehand.”

Again, practical.

What she did not understand was why he had reached out to her . There were plenty of other women on the site, Mac for instance, who had experience in that world. Mac knew how to waltz and curtsy and be proper. A practiced set of niceties that came from growing up with money.

Helen did not have those skills. Or any skills that seemed applicable to the world of wealthy men.

“I admit that I don’t have much experience with formalities.”

“I saw on your profile.” He said, appearing largely unaffected.

“Then why me? There are plenty of other women who specialize in that kind of world.”

“Anyone can figure out which fork to use. But not everyone has read Camus and Kierkegaard and Sartre. Not everyone can make jokes about being locked in a trunk and compare it to Shrodinger.”

Helen blinked, her lips twitching in a small grin, “You picked me because I like existentialism?”

“Because I thought that anyone who lists Camus as their favorite author would be able to hold a decent conversation.”

“I wouldn’t say that’s a guarantee.” Helen fired back. “Perhaps I’m just a narcissist. I am in med school, after all.”

John grinned widely, “Well, then, at least this will be interesting. What year are you in?”

“My second. Two and a half more to go before residency.”

“And what did you do before?”

“I was, and am, a pharmacy tech. It paid well and it gave me some medical experience while I saved for med school. Unfortunately, I ran into some financial issues and I really don’t have another ten years to save before I start over.”

John nodded, “May I ask about what happened?”

There was no reason, she decided, to not put everything out on the table. “My mother got sick just after I started med school. Cancer. I supported her the best I could but after paying for treatments out of pocket, I had blown through my savings within a couple months. Between that and school payments, I quickly ended up in over my head.”

“I’m sorry you had to go through that. It must have been very frightening to have your life altered so drastically, so quickly.”

“It was.” Helen agreed, “I’ve always known that anything can happen at any time but it was the first time I really felt my entire life slip from my control.”

“Is that how you ended up here?”

On the site. At the restaurant. Not a judgment, just an assessment.

“Yes. I’m a bit short on school payments and Mac, my roommate, suggested this as a solution.”

He nodded and Helen reached for her wine again.

Thankfully, John turned the subject to simpler things and she exhaled in relief. “Have you always wanted to be a doctor?”

“Yes. Ever since I was a kid, I knew I wanted to be a doctor.”

“Area of specialty?”

“Honestly, I’d like to work in a trauma ward or an emergency room.”

And for whatever reason, that made him smile. “Fast-paced.”

“I’ve waited a long time to make it to med school. I don’t want to waste any more time.” She offered a small smile in return, “What do you do?”

“I’m an independent contractor,” John told her.

“Doing what?”

“Whatever needs to be done.”

Helen inclined her head, “Are you always so elusive or is this just a first meeting kind of thing?”

“My work is… complicated,” John said, thoughtfully.

“Is that a polite way of saying illegal?”

His lips twitched and his eyes seemed to shine.

Helen flushed, "I'm sorry. That was inappropriate. Sometimes, when I'm sleep deprived, I don't think before I speak."

"That was delightful," John argued, "please don't feel like you need to hold back, however, you said you're sleep deprived?"

She shrugged her shoulders, "usually. Work, school, and homework tend to take more hours than there is time in the day. But don't think I haven't noticed that you still have not answered my question."

John continued to stare at her, assessing. And then, just when she thought he would elude her again, he answered with a simple, "Yes."

Helen gave him a nod but remained silent as the waiter returned with their salads.

"How do you feel about that?" John asked as the waiter left them in their private corner again.

"It requires less effort to condemn than to think.

And John grinned a full, true smile that made her heart skip a beat.

"Emma Goldman."

"I think I butchered her words, but I believe it just the same."

"Tell me, sweet Helen, are you an anarchist?"

It was unfair, she decided, the way he could make her cheeks burn.

"I am not sure I fully align with any political thought. I'll admit that anarchy has its merits, but laws have their place."

"Laws can be confining."

"They can but, since we have yet to find a system that works, majority rule is the best we have."

"Unless you take into account the collective stupidity of mankind, in which case, majority rule can be just as harmful as anything."

"But what would you have to replace it? Rules are necessary, a contract is required."

"Rules or consequences?" He seemed genuinely interested in her opinion and it completely threw her from the small talk she had anticipated.

By the time their dinner had arrived, Helen had forgotten that it wasn't a real date. That their meeting was not chance but an arrangement.

She was more than full after her meal, feeling as though she would burst. She ordered dessert only for the sake of lengthening their conversation, which stemmed from politics to philosophy to art.

John was… brilliant. Utterly brilliant and completely captivating and… not what she had planned for.

He walked her to her car, even though she warned him it was blocks away. He carried her leftovers in one hand while the other rested at her lower back.

Anyone who saw them might think they were an actual couple.

It made her heartstrings ache because… they weren't a couple. This wasn't a real date.

As if she had time for such luxuries.

All too soon, they reached her car and Helen put the leftovers in the front seat before turning back to John.

"I had a wonderful time with you tonight."

Helen swallowed, noting his proximity. "I had a great time too."

"And I would like to see you again. My only concern," John said after a moment, "is timing. You already have work, school, and obligations that come from your studies. I worry that time spent with me would be subtracted from your sleep."

Helen flushed and tried to not let the disappointment show on her face.

He was wonderful. Smart and funny and a perfect gentleman. Perhaps the most handsome man she had ever gone out with.

But she understood.

She came with too much baggage.

He needed someone with fewer commitments, someone better suited to his needs.

"I understand." She said, looking down. "Thank you for a lovely evening."

"I think you misunderstand," and John stepped closer and caught her chin in his hand and angled her face upward, his dark eyes staring into hers. "I have a proposal for you and I hope, in offering such, that I do not come across as if I'm trying to manipulate you or your life. You still hold all the cards and still have the opportunity to walk away if you desire."

It was hard to breathe with him so close. He smelled like whiskey and cologne and it made her salivate.

"What's your proposal?"

God, he stood so close to her now.

“I know that my situation is less than ideal. What I do,” which he still had not told her, “is highly illegal. Many of my associates are criminals, even if they are widely respected. Between the time constraints and the subpar company, I know I ask a lot. In return, I would like you to consider allowing me to play for the rest of your schooling.”

Her lips parted in shock.

“And expenses. So you don’t have to work instead of sleep.”

Her head felt light because… this wasn’t real. It couldn’t be real.

She feels his cool hand touch jaw before cupping her cheek.

“I know it’s a lot to consider.” John says softly, “And I don’t want you to answer now. I want you to think about it. If possible, sleep on it.”

Her lips twitch in a smile.

“I would like to kiss you.”

Fuck. Me. She thinks and then nods, “Then you should kiss me.”

John bends down, obliging her, and presses his lips to hers.

And she can’t describe it. It’s not fireworks because that would be too distracting. Music doesn’t start playing somewhere in the background but it doesn’t need to.

His mouth is warm and soft and… claiming. God, it feels like she is being branded by his lips.

And her heart is racing as if it suddenly understands why kissing other people had never felt right. Because this was right. Kissing John was right.

All too soon, it’s over. And when her eyes open, they are staring into his.

She thinks although she isn’t sure, that he doesn’t want to leave it at this either. But he moves back slightly.

“You know how to reach me,” John says, pressing a final kiss to her forehead. “Drive safe, sweet Helen.”

And he walks away, heading back down the street towards the restaurant.

Her hand rises and she brushes her lips with her fingers.

She is in far over her head.

#john wick #helen wick #john wick fanfiction #john wick fanfic #fanfic #helen x john wick #john x helen wick #endlessly yours #endlessly series #overheard at the continental #incorrect john wick #helen wick fanclub #helen wick deserved better #sugar daddy! John Wick

12 notes · View notes

lovemesomesurveys · 4 years

Text

“how the hell does a broken heart learn to mend itself?”

Would you ever like to own your own gym? No.

Do you listen to Christina Perri? If so, do you like her music? Jar of Hearts and A Thousand Years are a few of my favorites of hers. Oh, and Human. <<< Yeah, I liked those as well. I think those are the only ones I’m familiar with of hers. I haven’t listened to her music in a long time.

When was the last time you went to Wal-Mart? Back in March before the quarantine/lockdown and shit really hit the fan.

Which is worse: Runny nose or stuffy nose? Both are very annoying, but feeling like you can’t breathe is definitely the worst.

Do you hate how people are quick to judge? i think we all have that tendency, some more than others. It can be an issue when you let that judgment form your whole opinion about a person without even knowing them. Except in extreme cases of course when it a quick judgment could be useful, like if you’re feeling uncomfortable or someone appears to be sketchy.

Has anyone ever made you feel small? Yes.

Would you rather give your food to a homeless shelter or money to charity? Food to a homeless shelter would be more direct and immediate. When you donate money to a charity you don’t really know when or how it gets used, exactly. And it can take time to be sorted out and distributed. That being said, of course donating to charities is good and important and will help in the long run. I’m just saying, donating food to a homeless shelter would be something they could use immediately and benefit them directly. Does any of this make sense?

Can you tell when your best friend is lying? I think I’m typically pretty good at that.

Would you pay extra money for make up just to make you look prettier? Ha, all the makeup in the world didn’t make a difference for me. Still ugly. I stopped even bothering with it.

Do you like to look at license plates to see where people are from? I don’t pay much attention to that.

Are you more hungry or tired right now? I’m both. My sleep schedule continues to be weird. I fell asleep around 230AM until about 4AM and then fell asleep again shortly after that until like 7:45AM. Now it’s 8:46AM and here I am. Like wtf? And lately I’ve been having a bit more of an appetite, so I’ve been feeling hungrier earlier than usual and actually eating more than just dinner and my late bowl of ramen. My body is such a mess.

Do you follow your head or heart more? It’s a battle.

On a scale 1-10 how much do you like my surveys? I’m assuming the same person has made the last few I’ve done with this same kind of format, in which case they’ve been fine.

Do you think you deserve more than what you have? I don’t think I deserve anything.

Would you ever spend $2,000 on a dress? I can’t imagine ever spending that much on a dress. I don’t plan on getting married, but even if I did I’d find something a lot less expensive.

“Reach out to you, touch my hand”

Have you ever made fresh dough? No.

When you were little, did you used to make cookies with your mom? Yeah.

Has anyone ever said "Say it, don't spray it" to you? lol yeah, when I was a kid.

What is your least favorite type of person? Arrogant, cocky, close minded people.

True or False : Superman is your favorite super hero. False.

Have you ever drank Silk milk? Yeah. Well, I don’t drink it directly (or any kind of milk for that matter, ew), but I use soy in coffee drinks, cereal, or to dunk cookies or brownies or something. I tend to use vanilla almond milk more often, though.

What color is your camera? I use the camera on my phone, which is a coral iPhone XR.

When you create a survey, do you usually make the title lyrics? I don’t create surveys.

Do you play Cityville, Farmville or Frontierville on Facebook? Nope. Never got into any of those.

Do you tend to complain when its to hot out? Ugh, yes. I’m miserable when it’s hot and everyone knows it lol.

Flip flops or tennis shoes? Tennis shoes. I never wear flip flops or any kind of sandal or open toed shoe.

Do you like your fingernails long or short? They’re always barely there cause I’ve had this horrible habit all my life. Well, with the exception of the very few times I managed to stop and let them grow a decent length. Never lasted long, though.

Have you made anyone laugh today? I haven’t interacted with anyone yet today.

Would you like to go to South America? Sure.

Have you ever read Time magazine? I think so.

“Tonight we’re going to dance on the edge of the Hollywood sign”

Do you use the gel, spray or powdered deodorant? I think it’s called a solid.

Do you own a pearl necklace? No. I used to, but it broke.

Do you know anyone named Julie? No.

What's your favorite candle scent? I love the autumn scented ones.

Does anyone you know own a motorcycle? Yes.

How many different languages can you say “hello” in? Just a few. I don’t feel like thinking about how many different ones right now.

Do you like Train’s music? Yeah.

Have you ever accidentally clicked on an ad on the side of your screen? Yeah, back in the day when ads were annoying and popped up all the time. I haven’t had that issue in years.

Do you like dark or light pop/soda better? My favorite sodas are Coke and Dr. Pepper, which happen to be dark.

Have you ever been told you were a good dance? No.

Do you own one of those small, battery powered fans? I do.

When you sleep, do you like it complete silence or do you like sound? I need some sound and light, hence why I sleep with the TV on. I have it completely quiet or dark.

Was it cloudy today or clear sky? It’s supposed to be clear skies. Do you like the show Seinfiled or Friends? I never got into either one.

Would you rather have bad breath or body odor? Ew.

“I’m gonna sleep in my Snuggie tonight.”

Have you ever ridden in a hot air balloon? Noooo. I never would.

Do you hate it when people get obsessed with their boyfriend/girlfriend? I had friends who obsessively talked about their significant others and it did get quite annoying, not gonna lie.

Have you ever been to Nevada? Yes.

Are you dating the boy/girl of your dreams? I’m single.

Do you watch Glee? No, I never got into it.

Do you like coffee? I love coffee. Duh.

Do you like applesauce? Yeah. Wow, I don’t recall the last time I had any, though.

When was the last time you had a nightmare? It’s been awhile, thankfully.

Have you ever had a manicure? Once. It was for my 8th grade promotion.

Do you like graphic tees? Ha, my whole wardrobe is graphic tees. And leggings.

Are you the type of person who is always yelling? Not at all.

Do you like Willow or Jaden Smith better? I don’t have any feelings about either one.

Is anything making you mad right now? No.

Name one thing you've NEVER done but want to: Go to Hawaii.

Ever seen the movie Shark Tale? I know of it, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen it.

“No matter what, I’ll never stop loving you”

Do you like Italian food? I love it.

Which would you rather have: drama or no friends? I have no friends now and I’m honestly okay with it.

Do you own a black necklace? No.

Would you rather have white & crooked teeth or straight teeth that are yellow? How ‘bout straight and white teeth.

How many notifications do you have on Facebook right now? Zero.

Do you smile or laugh more? Uhh I don’t know.

Have you ever tried Nutella? Yes, and I don’t like it. <<< Saaame. I don’t get the hype.

What age did you stop watching Spongebob? I was never really into it, I just caught some episodes because my younger brother loved it as a kid.

Have you ever seen the show Boy Meets World? Yeah, I’ve seen the entire series numerous times. It’ll always be a favorite.

Have you received bad news within the past week? No.

What's your favorite color of highlighter? Yellow or orange is fine.

Do you celebrate the 4th of July? I mean, we go outside to my front yard and watch fireworks lol that’s about it.

Are you better at Math or Social Studies? Social studies. Math and I were always enemies.

Do you like the name Lindsey? Sure.

Do you have a teacher that your close to? Not anymore, but yeah I had a couple.

“We’ll go down just like Titanic”

When you eat, do you always use a napkin? Yes.

On a scale 1-10 how much do you like hot dogs? It’s one of those weird things that I have to be in the mood for, which is very, very rare. It’s not something I ever crave. I haven’t even had one in years. Although, a Costco hotdog is pretty delicious.

Have you ever been on a cruise ship? Nope.

Is your phone a flip, sliding or touch? It’s a touch-screen - most phones are nowadays. <<<

Are you okay right now? I don’t feel well.

Do you own a blue dress? No.

When you look at the person you like, does it seem like its only you two? I don’t currently like anyone in that way.

Do you like pizza crust with cheese in it? It’s good, but it’s not something I tend to get.

Do you like copy paper or lined paper better? Lined paper.

Are you listening to music? Nope.

Have you ever gone swimming in the moonlight? Nope.

Is it AM or PM right now? It’s AM.

Who is your cell phone carrier? Verizon.

Do you hate public speaking? Haaaaaate. So glad I don’t have to do speeches or presentations for school anymore. It never got any easier, it was always super anxiety inducing and dreadful for me.

Have you ever been in a band? No.

“We can go to the alligator sky”

Are you more of a follower or leader? I definitely don’t see myself as a leader.

Would you rather: write a 10 page short story or do public speaking? The 10 page paper.

Did you eat any type of fruit today? No. It’s been awhile since I’ve had any fruit. :X

Do you enjoy bowling? Nah.

Do you like the smell of rain? Yesss.

Have you ever seen or been in quicksand? No.

Do you want to get married in a church or somewhere else? I don’t want to get married.

Have you ever played hard to get? No. I’m just hard to want.

Do you go to the fair during the summer? No.

Are more mean or nice? I’m not a mean person.

Do you go tanning? I don’t ever “go” tanning, but it happens when I go to the beach.

Can you speak Spanish? Not fluently, but yes.

Is it hard for your to compliment people? Only because I’m just shy and awkward.

Are you a goodie goodie or a bad person? I was always the goodie-goodie.

Would you rather visit Chicago or New York City? New York City.

#personal #text #survey #surveys

6 notes · View notes

skylarmoon71 · 4 years

Text

Harry Wells x Reader Imagine-(Extra 4)

Disclaimer: I don’t own the show, song or lyrics.

“We’re safe, you’re safe Jesse.” You watched as Harry hugged his daughter like the world was ending. Zoom was finally defeated. Both worlds were free of his wrath. It came at a price though. Even so, everything was actually going to be alright. When Harry was done having his moment he turned in your direction.

“Jesse, I’d like you to meet someone.” your back straightened as you walked towards them. “This is (Y/N). A dignified member of Team Flash, and someone who is very important to me.” you smiled, holding out your hand to shake hers. She took it happily, her face lighting up. You were shocked when she yanked you forward into a hug. “It’s really nice to meet you.” You patted her back.

“Y-Yeah you too. “ When you pulled away you stared at her. “You’re really beautiful.” you complimented. You could see her cheeks brightened as she played with her hair. “Thank you.”

Your eyes drifted from her to Harry. As much as you knew about him, he never really told you anything of his late wife. You assumed it was because he cared about her deeply, her dying must have shattered his world. Then soon after his daughter was taken. Harry experienced so much in his life.

Something else that dawned on you was that Harry would be going back home. The threat was gone, his daughter safe. He really had no reason to stay.

You weren’t sure if maybe he was thinking the same thing. Because he was now wearing a pretty solemn expression.

Joe and Barry came by your side and you got swept away when the dark skinned man hugged you to his chest. Barry wrapped his arms around Joe and you laughed as they kept you in a bear hug. You caught a glance of Harry who was wearing a smile, but his eyes looked so sad.

~~~

When the short celebrations were over, you finally got to spend a minute with Harry. You walked up, brushing a hand on his shoulder.

“Hey stranger. “ he took your hand, running his thumb over your knuckles.

“Hey to you.” you stepped closer, walking into his arms. He welcomed you, holding you closely. You inhaled deeply, loving his scent, the feel of his big arms covering you like a blanket. You always felt safe when you were with Harry. Which was funny since you were the one with superpowers. “It’s over.” Harry nodded. “Yes it is.” you grinned, lifting your head.

“How does it feel?”

“Not to have a psycho speedster trying to kill me? Very good I would say. “

“Always with the sarcasm, why did I expect any different.” you retorted.

He looked at you for a few seconds. “(Y/N).” you gulped, from his tone you knew where this was going. You buried your face into his clothing.

“I know, you don’t have to say it. When are you going back?” His hands ran through your hair.

“At the end of the week. I need to go back. There is so much I have to make up for, so much that needs to be fixed. It’s my responsibility to help. Too many people suffered because of me.” you understood. Right now Earth 2 needed Harrison Wells more than you. You couldn’t be selfish.

“I know Harry.” you held unto him tighter, enjoying what little time you could with him. Who knows how long it would take before he came back, if he came back. All you could do was hope.

“Hey dad, I’m going to hang out with Wally.” Harry grumbled under his breath. Jesse just wore a smile. Her father was so overprotective, especially with what she’d just gone through. You watched their little interaction from your seat.

“Quit being a grump, tomorrow is Valentine’s Day. If you’re nice I may even think about getting you a rose. “

“That’s right!” you almost forgot. With all that was going on the last thing on your mind was celebrating. This was it. You were going to give Harry a Valentine’s Day he wouldn’t forget.

“Hey Jesse, can you come and help me with this thing I’ve been working on. Barry told me you have five majors, so I think you’re just the person for this job.” She looked more than happy.

“Sure I got a little time.” you walked over leading her out. Harry watched a bit suspiciously.

“Why didn’t she just ask me?” He continued looking down the hall, wondering what exactly it was you were working on that you couldn’t enlist him.

When you were out of earshot you took Jesse’s hand, causing her to turn back at you quizzically. “I was kind of lying about that whole project thing, I do need your help though. “

“Sure, what do you need?”

“Well, I know you and Harry are leaving soon, so I wanted to get Harry a really good gift for Valentine’s Day. But short of big belly burgers and expensive weapons, I have no idea what he likes. Do you have any ideas? “ You were looking at her expectantly. A soft look overtook her face.

“You really love him don’t you.” you stammered, face flaming up.

“W-What I-I never said that. W-We’ve only been dating for a few months I just-”

“It’s okay, I won’t say anything. “ Her reassurance made you relax a little. You looked down at your feet a bit self consciously. “I-I haven’t said it yet. He hasn’t either. And if i’m being honest I don’t really expect it this soon. I know how much he loved your mother, I-I can tell. I just..I want him to be happy. I want to make him happy.” you conveyed.

“Listen to me, my dad feels the same way about you trust me. He..he loved my mom and still does. But I can tell that he loves you too. I’ve been with him for years, through all that time I’ve never seen him smile so much. And I think that has something to do with you. All you have to do is tell him how you feel. That’ll be the best gift you could get him. “ your eyes felt like they were about to well up. You wiped at them with a laugh. “Gosh you Wells really know how to tug at my heartstrings. She gave a cute giggle. “What can I say, it’s in my blood.” She pulled you in for a hug.

“But really, thank you for opening his heart again.”

~The Next Day~

Iris walked in with a coffee in one hand and a small teddy bear in the other. When she caught sight of the scarlet speedster she almost sprinted over to him in excitement. She contained herself, watching the way his face glowed when he saw her.

“Hey Iris what brings you-Oh!” She wrapped her hands around his neck, pulling him down for a kiss. He was clearly surprised. When she pulled back she was smiling so wide her cheeks hurt.

“Happy Valentine’s Day Barry.” He looked down at the beautiful women in front of him, wondering how he’d gotten so lucky. “Happy Valentine’s Day Iris. “ when she pulled back she handed him the teddy bear that read “Be mine.” on its stomach. He took it gratefully. His smile matching her own. Caitlin and Cisco watched the scene from their seats.

“All right all right break it up! Some of us aren’t as fortunate.” he huffed munching down on chocolate.

“We could have a movie night Cisco. Just so you won’t feel as lonely. “ Caitlin offered.

“Sure, what’s more pathetic than two single scientists watching reruns as happy couples enjoy this beautiful day.” he commented. She gave him a comforting pat, going back to her work. Harry walked in, moving to his work space. Barry looked over when he saw the red wrapping poking out of his bag. “What you got there Harry?” he asked. Harry looked back, shoving the wrapping deeper into his bag as he tucked the bag under his desk.

“Nothing. “ he answered flatly. Barry smirked.

“Hey, where is (Y/N)?” Iris inquired. Harry pulled out his phone, checking to see if you left a text on your whereabouts. He didn’t see any.

“Maybe she got tired of Harry and ran away.” Cisco joked. Harry’s eyes hardened and Cisco could feel a chill run up his spine and the cold look.

“Does anyone feel cold, I feel cold. I-I’ll go and check the- y-yeah I’ll do that.” he rushed out the room and Caitlin shot Harry a disapproving look.

“He was asking for it Snow. “

“Still, be nice. It’s Valentine’s Day.”

“No promises.” he added. His eyes drifted to his computer, tapping his fingers against the table a bit impatiently. Iris noticed, nudging Barry.

“Maybe you should give (Y/N) a call. Do you think she forgot about today.” she whispered. He shook his head. “I don’t think so, she couldn’t stop talking about it yesterday.” he spoke just as softly. Barry’s head turned forward when the very person he was talking about walked in. Everyone stopped what they were doing when they saw you.

Harry looked pleasantly shocked at your attire.

Barry whistled with a laugh. Iris had to press a hand to her mouth to stop the shout of glee she almost released. You were decked down in a tuxedo, perfectly tailor for your body. Your hair was pulled down in a ponytail, wearing just a touch of makeup. You had a rose in your hand, a smirk on your lips. You walked over to the object of your affections. You stopped when you were standing directly in front of him.

“Harrison Wells, I would be honored if you would be my Valentine. “ you gave a deep bow. Cisco was at the back snapping pictures. Harry finally stood, he still looked at a complete loss for words. You raised, handing him the rose. He took it. “Today, don’t worry about a thing. I’ve taken care of everything. I have reserved dinner for both of us at precisely, 9 pm. The venue, my beautiful apartment of course. For the rest of your day, I’m at your service.”

Harrison was sure of it now, you were unlike any human being he’d ever met in his entire life. You took his hand, placing a kiss on the top of his hand. You looked back up at him.

“Come here often handsome.” you flirted. Cisco broke. He leaned over the desk laughing so hard tears came to his eyes. Caitlin was trying her hardest not to join in.

“Don’t mind him, he’s jealous.” you said. Harrison couldn’t remember ever feeling so damn blessed. Kissing you that day was the best thing he ever did, aside from having Jesse that is.

He played along. “I usually hang out here, but we should find somewhere a bit more private. I think my girlfriend would get a bit jealous if she saw you flirting with me. “ you giggled.

“We can’t have that. What girlfriend would leave such a delicious snack all alone.” Your eyes roved over his tall frame for good measure and he did the same to you. Enjoying the way the suit hugged your body. Even in such an outfit he could see your beautiful curves.

“Shall we?” you offered, stepping to the side as you gestured to the door.

“We shall.” he took your hand as the both of you walked out.

“Just when I thought I’d seen everything. I’m definitely using this as blackmail.” Cisco said tagging the photos he took.

For the rest of the day you and Harry just enjoyed each others company. You walked through the park, watched a movie, even visited a museum. You knew how curious Harry was about the subtle differences on your earth, so you were more than happy to educate him on all that your earth had to offer. The sun had gone down a while ago. You checked your watch, realizing you had about an hour to get everything back at your house ready for Harry. You dropped him back off at Star Labs since he said he needed to get his bag.

“Hey, I just have a few things to take care of before nine, when I’m done I’ll give you a call and you can meet me at the apartment okay. “ He nodded. “That sounds great.” you gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.

“See you there!” you said rushing off.

When you got to your apartment you basically threw off your waistcoat. You started rummaging, setting up your table for the dinner you planned.

“Candles, food, music, wine! “ you were checking off your list. Your hands dug through the fridge, picking up the bottle of wine. You placed it on the table, satisfied with your layout.

“Kay, got ten minutes to change, need to hurry.” you ranted to yourself. You just wanted everything to be perfect.

~~~

A knock on your door alerted you that your guest was here. “It’s open!”

Harry twisted the knob, walking in. “You should be more careful. It could have been anyone at the door and..” his lecture stopped short when he saw you standing before him. He dropped the bag in his hand.

The room was dimly lit, the table set up so meticulously. You were now wearing a red dress that stopped just above your knees. It was dipped at the front, giving him a view of your cleavage. Your hair was in a loose bun, a few strands laying delicately on your face. You were wearing heels too. Black ones that complimented your dress. Your hands were tucked behind your back.

“Hi.” you said a bit nervously.

“(Y/N), you look...absolutely breathtaking.” you giggled.

“You don’t look too bad yourself. “

Harry was just admiring you, he couldn’t take his eyes off of you.

“Harry.” That snapped him from his daze. He looked you in the eye, giving you his full attention.

“I wanted today to be special. I’ve been meaning to say this to you for a while, but I never seem to work up the nerve. So, instead of saying how I feel, I thought I’d just..sing it for you.”

Your hand moved to your stereo and you twisted it in a motion, making the knob turn. A soft song filled the air and Harry just stood there as you started to sing.

Love

It's a special day

We should celebrate and appreciate

That you and me found something pretty neat

And I know some say this day is arbitrary

But it's a good excuse

That I love to use baby I know what to do baby I,

I will love you, I'll love you, I'll love you

Harry’s eyes wavered at the words that left your mouth. You continued, swaying a little.

Love

I don't need those things

I don't need no ring

I don't need anything

But you with me 'cause in your company

I feel happy oh so happy and complete

And it's a good excuse

That I love to use baby I know what to do baby I,

I will love you, I'll love you, I'll love you

Yeah it's a good excuse

That I love to use baby I know what to do baby I,

I will love you, I'll love you, I'll love you

He walked closer, and you were finding it a bit difficult to continue. You could see the tears forming in his eyes. Despite that he gave you the most heart warming smile.

So won't you be my honey bee giving me sweet kisses all the time

Be mine, be my

Valentine

So won't you be my honey bee giving me sweet kisses all the time

Be mine, be my

Valentine

Be my Valentine

The melody faded out as you finished. He took off his glasses, wiping at his eyes with the heel of his palm. He placed the spectacles right behind you on the table, bringing his attention back to you.

“Harry, I love you so much. These past few months you’ve made me feel so special, so loved. I know we all got off to a rough start, but I’m so thankful I met you. You’re the most amazing man I’ve ever met and I love you. So much.” you confessed. You finally said it. You stood there, heart pounding against your rib cage. He took your face in your hands, looking at you with so much raw emotion.

“Words can’t describe how much you mean to me (Y/N). If anyone should be grateful, it’s me. I love you with every fiber of my being. “ you chuckled, tears running down your cheeks.

“T-That’s good. This would have been awkward if you didn’t.” you joked. Harry laughed, kissing you. When he pulled away, he just looked at you.

“I’m coming back (Y/N). When I’m done with everything, I’ll come for you.” you sniffled. “Y-You promise.”

“I promise.” you smiled. That was it. You would wait for him. Even if it took years, you’d be right here when Harry got back. You found the one you wanted to spend your life with, and you would never let him go. Harry was everything you wanted, and you finally had it. You couldn’t have been happier.

#harrywellsxreader #jessequick #flash #barry #allen #zoom #earth 2 #valentines #love #confession #cuteness #imagine #extra

23 notes · View notes

kileyrose-2003 · 4 years

Text

Dan Torrance x Fem! Reader Pt. 4

A/N: Hello lovelies, this is Pt.4 of my Dan fic with it revolving around Rose. Bare with me while I write Pt.5. I have a couple of new request coming out through out the course of this week and the next week. Pt. 5 will be picking up with Rose’s perspective on things so be prepared for an emotional roller coaster. I sincerely hope you all are doing well and I love you all. Link to intro is here, Pt.1, Pt.2, and Pt.3

Enjoy!

You spent the rest of the night in yours and Danny's bedroom, never falling asleep and simply staring at the ceiling. "How could she?" Was a recurring question you found your asking over and over as images of the poor baseball boy entered your mind.

He had a family that was never going to see him again. That was always going to wonder where he was and if he was safe. There would never be any closure for them and you found your lip trembling and eyes watering at the very thought of it.

Danny didn't fall back asleep either. Constantly pacing back and forth from the guest bedroom to the kitchen in some sort of attempt to try and release some of his worry about you. He yearned to hold you in his arm and to just make all the pain go away even though he knew he couldn't do that for you. No one could.

He was scared too. Scared that one of the members of The True Knot was going to come after you and hurt you. Or worse, they'd take you from him and all he'd be left with for a clue would be a rummaged through purse and a shoe that had no matching pair. Though he tried his hardest not to think of that. He didn't want to lose you. He feared losing his control that you helped him craft to control his power to not hit the end of the bottle. Because he knew if he didn't have you, he would go back to the end of the bottle.

Around 9:30 you heard a knock on your bedroom and rolled over in bed although you were awake. "You can come in!" You called out. Danny peaked his head through and smiled. "Hey..I didn't know if you were hungry but I made coffee and breakfast. I don't know if it's as good as your cooking but I figured I try."

Despite how dead you felt inside you managed to smile. "Thanks honey...just give me a minute to wash my face and stuff, please?"

"Sure. I'll see you in the kitchen." He blew you a kiss. "I'll be there." You clambered out of bed once he walked away and walked into the bathroom connected to your bedroom and turned the light on.

You turned the water on and stared at your reflection in the mirror, taking note of how puffy your eyes looked and how tired you felt. You hadn't felt that way since you were working in that bar back when you met Danny. "God, I'm a fucking mess."

You lowered your head and threw some water on your face. The coolness alleviating some of the pain from your puffy eyes. You reached out for your face wash to wash some of the smudged makeup from the previous day but something didn't feel right. You were cold and you felt your heart racing. Almost like you were anxious. You set your hands down on the counter and gripped the sink. Trying to get rid of some of the anxiety. You noticed your ring was glimmering from the light shining down on it from your vanity and you found your lips twitching to form a smile.

(That's a nice ring you got there, Y/n. Danny spend his entire paycheck on that or did he inherit it?)

You felt the hairs on your arms standing straight up and you moved your hands away from the sink to see a set of glowing blue eyes staring back at you in the mirror. 'Rose.'

(Well, hi there darlin.)

"Shit!" You tripped over the mat in your bathroom and fell back into the wall, squeezing your eyes shut. "You're not real, you're not real. You can't hurt me here or anymore. Go away!"

(Oh sweetie, I'm very much real.)

"Stop!"

(We've always been connected, you and I. Even all that time we didn't see or speak, I always knew where you were. I just never bothered to reach out. Until now. Now that I know what special people you have in your life now that you hold so dear to you, I feel obliged too.)

"Don't you even think about getting near them or I'll-"

(You'll what? Kill me? Please, you and I both know you don't have guts to come back home and look me in the eye and admit you were wrong. Let alone kill me. You've always been the baby in the group.)

"I'm a lot stronger now, than you think I am."

(We'll see about that when the time come for it. There's no escaping me, Y/n. Or your fate. You were always meant to be with us. One of us. The sooner you accept that, the easier that process will be for you.)

Despite Rose's still face you could see the psychoticness glinting in her eyes. "I could never be like you! I'm nothing like you! Especially after what you did to that little boy."

(Oh yes you are. You're my spitting image. In more ways than one, honeybunch.)

You could feel Rose inside your head, peaking at all your thoughts and memories and you gripped at your hair.

"Stop it! Stop it!"

(My! Aren't you a busy girl?)

"Get out! Get out of my head!" The mirror began to shake and you let out a scream. "GET OUT!"

"Y/n?! Y/n! What's happening?" You could practically feel Rose laughing with malicious glee at the panic she was causing. "Stay away from me, Danny! Stay away!"

(No, come closer Danny Boy. I still haven't gotten the pleasure of seeing your face.)

"Stop! Stop! This has nothing to do with him." As much as you swore to yourself you wouldn't cave in to give her any satisfaction, you couldn't do it anymore and tears started flowing down your cheeks.

"But it does." Her voice. It shouldn't be that close to you. You felt soft hair brush up against your shoulder and the smell of strong musky incenses and flowers enter your nostrils. Her breath was so close to your ear, you could practically feel the moisture from it sitting on your skin. "I'd imagine even after all those years in AA, he still would taste like whiskey."

You started swinging your arms and kicking your legs. "DON'T YOU FUCKING TOUCH HIM! GET AWAY! GET AWAY!"

"Y/n!" Dan went running down the hallway. "What's wrong?!" You could see his feet from the crack of the door. "Don't come in! I-i can handle it."

"Bullshit, you can." You could hear him grabbing the skeleton key and you freaked out. "No! No! No!" You didn't Rose in the mirror or standing next to you anymore but if she was right on you being connected, you didn't know if she could hear or see what you were either.

The knob on the bathroom door began to jiggle and Dan opened the door. "Y/n." You shook your head. "Stay back."

"Y/n-" You pointed a finger up at the bathroom mirror. "She-she was looking at me!

"Who?" He shut the water off and helped you off the ground and held your hands in his to try and stop you from trembling. "Rose, that woman who killed that little boy!" You started sobbing.

"Okay..okay." He pulled you into hug and ran a hand through your hair, looking at the bathroom mirror with contempt. "It's alright, honey. She's gone."

"She knows your name, Danny. I don't like it." He kissed your hair. "If that's all she knows, that's the least of our worries." You tried to interrupt him but he shushed you. "It's all going to be alright, I promise." He wiped a tear from your cheek and held your face in his hands. "Okay?"

"Okay." He let go of you and held your hand. "Come on, let's get out of here." You nodded and flicked the switch in the bathroom, following Danny out to the kitchen.

You sat down at the island and he set your coffee and breakfast of you. "Thank you." He gave a slight nod and you looked him up and down. "Why are you jeans so early?"

"I'm covering Teenytown for Billy this morning, helping out with the train." You giggled and shook your head, taking a sip of your coffee. "You're such a man child."

"True, but I'm your man child." You smiled briefly and Dan's face changed as he watched you for a moment. "Look, about last night...we're good, right?" You were quick to nod. "Yeah..what made you think we weren't?" You asked. "I don't know.. it just made me a little nervous that you wanted to sleep alone last night." You let out a sigh and Dan held your face. "I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable or upset you last night because I was acting like an asshole but look..I love you, okay? I just worry about you."

"I know, but I'm okay. I promise." Your eyes interlocked and Dan's lip hinted at a smile. "Alright." You stood up and he kissed you gently on the lips. "I love you."

"Love you too. You'll be home for dinner?" He shook his head. "AA meet tonight then work. I stop vacation today, remember?"

"Damn it. I totally forgot. It's okay though. No big deal." You smiled. "So I'll probably be home around eight tomorrow morning. I can stop at that cafe you like on the way back. Get some coffee and bagels. How's that sound?" You looped your arms around his neck. "Sounds great. You spoil me. You know that? More than I deserve."

"With all you've done for me over the years, I wouldn't call it spoiling. It's my showing of appreciation." He booped your nose and you giggled. You released him from your hold and leaned your body against the fridge as you watched Dan slip his shoes on. "See you later, sweetheart."

"See ya." You looked out the window to watch him leave. "Promise me you'll be alright?" Dan yelled from outside and you let out a sigh. "I'll be fine. Love you!"

"Love you more!" Dan got in his car, giving you a slight wave before pulling out the driveway. You breathed inwardly and turned away from the window, looking at the huge REDRUM on the wall and felt chills run up your spine. "You'll be okay, Y/n..you'll be fine."

"You're not really okay though, are you?" You were thrown off guard and looked behind you. There was a man standing in the corner wearing a navy blue suit. "You must be Dick."

"Indeed I am. It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Miss Y/n." His energy felt warm and it brought a smile to your face. "It's nice to meet you too."

"When Danny was a boy he'd talk to me a lot about you. It feels like a second ago but I imagine it's not. This world is a dream of a dream to me now." You nodded. "He's doing okay now? Last time I seen Dan, he was down the gutter bad."

"Yeah, he's okay now. He's been sober 8 years," You hummed. "Good." You stood away from the fridge. "Why are you here?"

"I'm here because it all comes run. Ka is a wheel, Miss Y/n. Though something tells me you know that already." You didn't respond for a moment and Dick sighed.

"He doesn't want to help her. He says it's too dangerous for me." Dick chuckled heartily. "Yeah well, he doesn't have much of a choice in the matter. Does he? He owes a debt. Now he needs to pay it."

"Is it going to hurt him though? To repay it?" You rubbed your face. "Either way, it's out of our control. Over 30 years later I'm still on the hook. Same thing with your mother too. Your debt is partially paid though."

"Partially?" Dick smiled. "I know where you come from, Miss Y/n. I knew since the moment Danny first talked to me about you and I knew you were two of a kind. While the two hollow souls that raised you keep at hurting children while their shine dies and their addiction grows, yours shines bright and you ended the cycle for someone else. Fighting for the separation of identity from that upbringing. I can say only that much."

He turned away. "It seems to me despite all odds, you grew up mighty fine Miss Y/n. You keep at whatever you're doing with Dan because it's working. I'll see him later on but after that, neither of you will see me anymore. You still owe a small sum of debt though: pay it."

Before you could say anymore, Dick was gone and you started crying. "Fuck! I-i can't face them. I'm not strong enough to face them." You sunk down to the floor and started rocking yourself back and forth, glancing up at the REDRUM occasionally. "I should of never of dragged him into this. I'm going to get him killed!"

You desperately wanted Danny to come home. To have him hold you in his arms and tell you it all was a bad dream. The worst nightmare you ever had but you knew that wasn't true.

You looked at your reflection on the metallic surface of the fridge and hated what you seen. You didn't see yourself. You seen that girl. That girl who was so scared of the world because no matter how she got told she was loved and safe, she never felt. Because even when she was in a better place, the pains she buried deep inside would open themselves. Bleeding into her happiness and when people would ask her if she was okay she would smile, giving them a show they always believed because even though she could see the truth she never wanted to face it. You weren't that girl anymore. You were strong and you were true. So why did you see that girl now?

"Because I'm afraid," You answered aloud. You didn't want to go back to Colorado and see Crow and Rose but you knew you had to and you could do it. You weren't a child anymore and they had no control over you. You were in charge of your life now and you were free to make your own decisions. For the time in a while, you felt like you were loved. You loved Danny and he loved you and you weren't about to let go of that so easily. "I won't let them hurt him. Him or that little girl." There was a soft knock at the door and wiped your face. "Just a second, please!"

"Okay!" You knew that voice. Just where from, you didn't know. You looker out the peep hole before unlocking the door. "Hi, Aunt Y/n!"

The nickname sunk deep in your mind and everything clicked together like a puzzle and you stared at child in front you before speaking. "A-abra?!" A pair of small arms wrapped themselves around your waist and hugged you tight. "Yeah. It's nice to finally meet you." You returned the hug back confusedly and eventually let go. "H-honey what are you doing here? Not that I'm not happy not to see you but it's 12. Shouldn't you be at school?" You knew the kid standing in front of you couldn't of been over 13.

"I went for my first three classes but then I skipped because I wanted to see you after everything last night." She noticed your puffy eyes. "You okay?"

"Yeah..I'm fine. I'm just glad you're okay." Abra smiled. "Can I come in?" She gestured to the inside of your house. "Yeah. Did you have lunch yet?"

The young girl stepped inside and shook her head. "I'll make you lunch then. You cool with grilled cheese?"

"Yeah, I'm cool with it."

...

Being a pediatric nurse meant you had met many different children, all of them with their own unique personalities and traits but by far Abra Stone had to be the most fascinating you knew now. Not only was she steamy but she was highly intelligent for her age. Comprehending things on a level you couldn't even picture yourself doing at her age.

The two of you sat next to each other at the island in your kitchen as the two of you talked. You had her go over the weird radios thing on how she found this boy in the first. "..You have it too, you know. Yours is a little different there because yours is more like a tracker thing. Almost like a GPS." You thought about for a moment. "Yeah..I guess you're right." Abra giggled and took a moment to regain her composure. "So..what exactly is what do called? Magic?"

"Dan always called it the Shining, so now that's what I call it." You shrugged and took a sip of water. "We shine..I like that." You nodded. "Me too. It's better than being called special. That's what my mother used to call me. Though I don't think she meant it in a good way." You rolled your eyes and forced a smile.

"There's not a lot of people like us out there?" You nodded. "And many of the people that are out there and like us, are dangerous."

"Like those people?" You breathed in sharply. "Yes." You paused for a moment. "How are you feeling after everything last night?" Abra sighed. "Okay, I guess. Still a little spooked though. Those people..who are they?"

"Empty devils of a sort. Who I don't want you interacting with. At all." Abra raised a brow. "You've seen them before?" You gave a slight cynical smile. "I guess you can say that." You could tell Abra was trying to dissect the meaning of the sentence but let it go. "What does Uncle Dan think about all this?"

"He won't say it to me but it scares him. He's afraid, for me and you. The hat woman, Rose is her name, she's always known who I am. She doesn't who you are though and I want to keep it that way."

"I hate her..I hate her for what she did to that little boy." You frowned. "I know..me too. When she comes back though, because knowing her the way I do, I know she will; I'm going to help you. Because it won't be a few days from now it will be weeks or months later at a time you least expect it."

"What about Uncle Dan?" You made a face. "He doesn't want to help. Yet. He's married to me though so when the time comes, he's going to help. Whether he likes it or not because I already made it clear to him he has no choice in this." Abra chuckled.

"Anyways, back on topic. With that being said, do not chase after these people. Understand? Or even think about them. Because like how we have weird radios that can find people like us, they have it too. A few of them might have it even stronger than we do and the last thing we need is one of them finding who you are."

"Do they know who Uncle Dan is?" You rubbed your face. "They know his name but not who he is and I'm trying to keep that the same too for as long as I can."

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't of dragged you both into this. I just panicked and-" You interrupted her. "You don't need to apologize for something you have no control over. I was your age once. I know how it feels to be scared."

"What happens when they find out who we are?" You sighed. "That a mountain we'll conquer when the times but either way, I'm not going to let them hurt you. Got it?"

"Got it." Abra slid off the chairs and gave you a hug. "Thank you for being there for me and believing me." You hugged her back. "Of course."

"I got to go. The bus ride back to my house is about an hour and neither of my parents know I skipped." You nodded and Abra grabbed her bookbag. "Take care of yourself, kiddo. And stay safe please?"

"I will. Bye, Aunt Y/n!" You smiled and waved to her. "Bye honey." As Abra left, you looked at the REDRUM and your posture stiffened. Thinking about how Rose made you seen that girl after you swore to never see her again. You gave her the satisfaction of getting to you but getting Abra, you refused to let that happen. Even if it cost your life.

"I think the fuck not, Rose. I think the fuck not..."

#dr sleep #doctor sleep #rose the hat #the true knot #The Shining #stephen king #danny torrance #dan torrance #imagine #imagines #x fem reader #x female reader

31 notes · View notes