#*brings mic close to mouth* your honor i would give my life if it meant these two get the good ending they deserve

[forcefully-awoken]

This was a request you can find here. It was meant to be a shorter 1k drabble but it ran away from me since i liked the idea so much.

Rating: E

Hizashi x F! Reader

Word Count: 2.3K

Warnings for: audio exhibitionism, dubcon, slight regular exhibitionism, piercings galore, unprotected sex, oral sex (female receiving), as always if I missed something please let me know!

Hizashi always had such a way with words. 

Ever since you’d met him way back in high school- he was so smooth talking, so very confident in himself and what he was saying that it was almost too easy to find yourself wrapped up in whatever he was saying. It’s how you now found yourself naked on the small couch that resides in the recording studio inside his home. He’s got three long fingers inside of you already, assuring you that you’ll need to be this prepared to take his cock. 

He strips himself once he’s wrung two orgasms out of you already, and once you get an eyeful of how long his cock is, in all it’s pierced glory, you think two might still not be enough. He sits down on the couch, letting you straddle him with shaky legs. One of his hands holds you steady on your waist, the other lines himself up with your weeping slit. You can feel the head of him rub through your juices, nudge at your clit, causing you to jump. He rubs himself around it once, until you finally break and beg for him.

“‘Zashi, please, fuck me,” Your words trail off into a whine as he suddenly thrusts himself up into you. Your legs give out, but he doesn’t seem to mind. He uses the wiry muscles he keeps hidden in his hero outfit to manhandle you the way he wants. He bounces you up and down and you can feel the once cold mental of his piercing stimulating you. His noises are minimum, save for a couple of soft moans. You, on the other hand, can’t seem to shut up- haven’t been able to all night, not with the way Hizashi has been pleasuring you. 

“Oh god, oh god, please, right there,” You babble, hands gripping onto his shoulders tightly. “You feel so good, Hizashi!”

“Call me by my hero name, baby,” He says. It throws you for a loop for a brief moment but you continue on anyways. Some heroes like that, you figure, though you’re not quite sure why. 

“Present Mic!” His hero name leaves your mouth in nearly a scream, and you can see the smile on his face now. He grinds himself up into you, feeling larger than life in so many ways. You think the tip of his cock might brush your cervix, but his long, nimble fingers find your clit before you can spare too many thoughts. He rubs a circle around it one, two, three times, and then it’s all over for you. You’re cumming around him, pussy squeezing him so tightly it’s almost painful for the both of you. You keep moaning out his hero name though, just as he requested. 

His fingers stop moving around your clit, though they don’t leave it yet. He waits for a moment, still buried inside of you, for you to stop trembling in his arms. Once you seem well enough to continue you he does just that, moving you down underneath him and continuing to fuck you until you’re squirting around him. Only then does he finally, finally pull out and cum himself, all over you. 

Through it all you never notice the red light on the recording station.

Truth be told, you hadn’t really thought you’d hear from Hizashi again. 

It’s not as if he was the type to hit it and quit it, as some might say, but you had barely spoken to him in high school. You had only occasionally spoken after it. You figured the night you spent together was just him trying to get some sort of itch out of his system, perhaps a small crush he wanted to explore but didn’t really have the time for. 

It’s why his text message to you is so shocking. He’s having a party, he tells you, to celebrate the release of his new song (you hadn’t realized he had put one out recently). Not only are you invited, no he wants you to be the guest of honor! You’re not the type to look a gift horse in the mouth, especially not when it comes to an infamous Present Mic party. You dutifully clear your schedule for the next day at work even, having heard enough stories to make you realize you might need to sleep it off. 

The night rolls around, and you go all out when you doll yourself up for it. A nice, skin tight dress in your favorite color, heels to match. You take extra care with your makeup, though you know the lights will be too dim to truly appreciate it. Hizashi is even so nice to send a car for you, something that makes you feel truly like a celebrity. You get there with ease, grabbing a drink from the bar as soon as you arrive for some liquid courage. You don’t know a lot of the people there- or, well, anybody besides Hizashi, you realize as you look around the packed venue. 

There’s posters all around with the single’s cover art. Just a woman’s lips, painted red and open in the most obscene way, with Present Mic written in cursive script on the tongue. Not your usual sort of thing, but apparently it’s Hizashi’s. You awkwardly down your first drink and are halfway through the second when he finally finds you. 

“Sorry to keep you waiting little listener!” His arms wrap around you easily, like you two were the closest of friends. He pulls you close, pressing a kiss to your cheek, which you can feel heat up. “Come on, I wanted to give you a private listen first!” Something about it nagged in the back of your mind but you allowed yourself to be drug away, to the back of the venue. There’s a small private room there, what you thought at first glance might be a security booth. There was one glass wall, darkened so you couldn’t see into the room but you could easily see out. 

It was almost too lush in the room for you. Despite it being in the back of what was essentially a club, it looked like it was made for sin. There was an overly large couch pushed to the back, all dark red velvet and big enough for multiple people to lay down on. The room was barely lit, and there was a stripper pole on a raised platform in the middle of it. You shot a questioning glance back to Hizashi but he just ushered you in and closed the door behind him, locking it when your back was turned. 

“This is certainly fancier than the last room you had me in,” You blame the alcohol you’ve consumed for the poor phrasing of it all but if Hizashi notices anything weird he doesn’t mention it. He sits next to you on the couch, so close your bodies are pressed together- thigh to thigh, arm to arm. You can feel yourself heat up in other places when you feel his skin on yours. He’s pulling his phone out though, along with tugging a pair of little earbuds out. He offers them both to you, and without question you place them both into your ears. They block out the world immediately, until you can only hear your own breathing. 

Slowly the music starts to trickle in through them, first the low rumble of the bass before a voice breaks through it. It was a female voice, distorted but still recognizable to you. The woman was screaming Present Mic over and over, and there was just enough of noise in the background to let the listener know exactly why she was screaming it. 

It was your voice. 

Despite the embarrassment that slammed into you like a truck, you could feel yourself growing wet between your thighs. This was apparently what Hizashi had wanted from you- to hear you in your most intimate moments so he could use it for his music. Part of you felt violated, he hadn’t even asked if you would be okay with this! You yanked one ear bud out, hearing the music out of it still. Before you could open your mouth to argue his mouth was on yours, his hands pressing you back against the couch. 

Your hands come up to curl around his shoulders, trying hard to push him off of you, but his arms hold you close to him. His mouth leaves yours to kiss and suck down your neck. You can’t seem to twist away from him, not at this angle. He’s pressed you back all the way now, laying you down flat. 

“Stop, Hizashi!” Your words lack bite when he sucks a hickey onto your collarbone, drawing a moan out of you as well. “This is serious! You should have asked me!” Your words seem to have no effect on him, and how could they? Your body is reacting against you, writhing underneath him, legs spreading as much as they can to accommodate him. Your hands are pulling him closer rather than pushing him away. 

“Let me make it up to you, then,” He mumbles against your skin, and moves so quickly you miss what he does. He’s down between your legs in a flash, hiking your skirt up and yanking your underwear down. Your eyes dart nervously over to the glass wall but nobody seems to be looking at you. You bite your lip, lost in thought as Hizashi stares up at you. He waits, though you watch his tongue flash out to lick his lips. You push aside any of your doubts, knowing you can bring them up later. One deep inhale and you spread your legs for him. 

It’s all the consent he needs, diving into your cunt like a man starved. He used his fingers to spread you open for him, pressing his lips to your clit, his tongue rolling the sensitive nub around, letting you feel the piercing as you had before. Your legs kick out in pleasure, as it runs through you like a lightning bolt. It was hard to be mad at him when he was able to draw you to orgasm so quickly. The knot that you felt forming in your stomach was already beginning to fray. 

And, once he slid his tongue into you, pressing u p with that little metal ball right over your sweet spot, you’re gone. Your back arches, hands scrambling for purchase on the couch, in his hair, in your own, wherever you can grip. Distantly, you can still hear the one earbud still playing the music, but it’s unintelligible to you now. Your own moans are increasing in volume, as Hizashi doesn’t stop moving his tongue inside of you.  Your hand finds its way to cover your mouth, trying to hold it all in but Hizashi doesn’t let you. 

“Take your hand away from your mouth, now,” It’s a demand, and the coldest you’ve ever heard his voice. It’s intense, and sends a shiver down your spine. You hesitate to obey him, eyes flicking over again to the people just outside the room but he doesn’t back down, “Let me hear your noises. They’ll think it’s the song.” Once both your hands are tangled into his hair he returns to what he was doing, letting you grind down on his face. You feel his mouth move back up your clit, pulling it between his lips again and then there’s… a sensation of vibration. You feel the small piercing pressed up against you but it seems to be shaking, and all rational thought flees your head as it does. You can feel this orgasm rush out of you, juices covering his face, your thighs, the couch beneath you. He keeps it up until you beg for him to stop. 

He barely gives you a breather, pulling his cock out before crawling over you. He grabs the back of your knees, pushing your legs forward until they meet your chest. He’s able to slide into you with no resistance, your tight heat sucking him in as he does. He grunts when he bottoms out, holding himself there for a moment before pulling back out to slam into you. He keeps this pace up for longer than you thought, pulling out so just the tip is in before splitting you open once more. You think someone might try to find him, but nobody comes looking. He continues like this, ruining you for any other man like it’s just a casual night out for him. 

His fingers find your clit, his pace never faltering. As he rubs your clit you tighten impossibly more around him, finding your last orgasm of the night. He pushes himself all the way into you, feeling the way your walls squeeze and contract around him, milking his cock for everything. You cum with a screaming, hearing already how hoarse your voice has become. He moans loudly, filling you with cum. Both of you are panting by the end of it, your legs shaking in his arms.

Hizashi groans when he pulls out of you, setting your legs down gently on the couch. He goes so far as to help you into your underwear again, like that will stop the cum leaking out of you. You know you’re going to have to find some way to leave the party now, unsteady legs be damned. You push yourself up into a seated position, finally meeting his eyes to speak. 

“You know, you can’t just fuck your way out of this,” Your throat is raw and scratchy as you speak, and you take a sip of your now watered down drink. The burn of the alcohol hardly helps but it makes you feel better anyways. “Why didn’t you just ask me?”

“Didn’t want to put pressure on you,” He replies as he tucks himself away, “Wanted to hear your moans baby, alllll you.” You don’t want to admit that he has a point. Had you known he was recording you would have been quieter, more aware of how loud you were being. He takes your silence as agreement, leaning down to kiss you once more. 

“How about I take you back to my place and we work on another collaboration?”

#hizashi yamada x reader #present mic smut #tw exhibitionism #hizashi yamada #hizashi yamaha smut

[the-goddamn-queen]

The Girl I Thought You Were

Bucky Barnes x Readers

Warnings: swearing, brief death/torture mention, zero knowledge of the legal system

Word Count: 2058

Summary: Scoring a position working for the Avengers reveals a lot more about your past than you anticipated.

A/N: For @sunmoonandbucky​‘s 1.5k Constellations Challenge! My prompt was the Legally Blonde line “if you’re going to let one stupid prick ruin your life, you’re not the girl I thought you were.” Post-Endgame, but no one died.

You were lucky, you suppose, with the job you’d managed to find. The snap yanked you out of your senior year of college, and when it spit you back out, you didn’t have a degree or the money to finish it.

A non-descript assistant position wasn’t exactly ideal, but it was something, plus they were offering housing for people who’d been ‘blipped.’

You walk up to the shoddy office building, second guessing yourself at every step, but what other choice did you have? You reach the door and give it a firm tug, stumbling backwards when it doesn’t open as you expect it to. You try a few more times with the same result. Had you gotten the time wrong? The address? What this a set up? Your anxiety spikes, and you begin to back away when an Irish woman’s voice prompts you for your name and appointment time.

You manage your name through chattering teeth. “I-I’m just here for the assistant interview.”

“Ah, yes, Mr. Stark’s 3:00.”

Mr. Stark? As in Tony? It couldn’t be.

The door swings open of its own accord to reveal a completely normal office space.

Completely normal, that is, until you step through the hologram straight into a very high-tech elevator.

You barely have time to register the change before the door slams behind you and the elevator starts to drop.

A few moments later, you’re spit out the other side of the elevator into a surprisingly plush conference room.

“Six months away from graduating top honors in political science and intelligence from Columbia University. What happened?”

You snap from your daze to focus on the voice in front of you. The man who spoke was still covering his face with your file, but you’d recognize his voice anywhere. “You’re Ironman.”

“And you were on course to be recruited by the CIA. What. Happened?”

You cleared your throat in attempt to rid your voice of any nervousness. “The university wouldn’t reinstate my scholarship when I, uh, came back, and I didn’t exactly have the money to finish paying since my accounts had been closed for…five years.” It felt weird saying it out loud.

Tony dropped the file to look you over. “Well that’s shitty.” His blunt choice of words shocks you a bit. “I’ll have to have a word with board about that one.” Tony stands and flicks his wrist, opening up a holographic screen that he starts tapping on. “Don’t worry, kid, you’ll get your degree.”

“Mr. Stark, I don’t understand. Is this part of the interview?”

“Interview?” He shakes his head. “No interview. You have the job,” he says as he rounds the table, “this is more of an…” he gestures vaguely to the room, “orientation.”

“So, am I to be your assistant, Mr. Stark?” you question. You’re still pretty confused considering the situation.

Tony gives you a strange look. “Assistant? Is that what FRIDAY posted?” He huffed a laugh and went back to punching at the hologram. “And you can do away with the formalities, kid, ‘Tony’s fine.”

“I don’t…I don’t understand.”

Tony waved away the floating screen and faced you. “I had FRIDAY mockup an ad to attract you specifically,” he said pointing at you, “which is funny to me ‘cause your resume’s too damn good for an assistant.”

You stiffen. He was right, of course, but your field wanted a degree. “Who’s Friday?”

“My assistant.” He takes a step forward and claps a hand on your shoulder making you jump. “And you’re our new government liaison. Welcome to the Avengers.” He pulls away. “Let me show you to your room.”

 The fake office/bunker, it turned out, was temporary while the compound was rebuilt, and being the government liaison basically meant you were the face of the Avengers during negotiations. And no matter what you said, Tony insisted that you were the only person for the job.

You were pretty sure, though, that he was just desperate because the first assignment he gives you is the renegotiation of the Sokovia Accords.

You spend the next month pouring over the original documents and interviewing various Avengers for affidavits.

Steve and Natasha help you outline the full events of the Battle of New York, Wanda gives her own account of the battle with Ultron, and Bucky, poor Bucky, gives you every single detail of how Hydra tortured and brainwashed him.

Clearly, he liked talking to you, though, because after that, he started stopping in pretty regularly, bringing you food, coffee. One time he actually brought a pillow to your office because he caught you asleep on your desk.

A few days later, he brought a blanket.

 The day before the hearing, he brings you two takeout boxes and two forks.

“Am I supposed to double fist this orange chicken?” You’re surprised manage humor through your focus.

“Of course not.” He drags a chair from the corner and plops down across from you.

You glace up, brows furrowed. “I’m done with interviews, you know. You don’t have to hang out with me.” You weren’t trying to kick him out or anything, you just didn’t want him to feel obligated.

“Yeah, I know,” he replies with a mouth full of food.

You stab your fork into the chicken. “Why do you keep doing all this?”

“Why do you keep doing all this?” Bucky counters, gesturing to the plethora of notes you have laid out for tomorrow. You’d been studying them since daybreak to make sure it was perfect.

“It’s my job,” you say defensively, shuffling some of the papers out of his reach.

“A job that you’ve repeatedly claimed you’re not qualified for,” he points out.

“I’m just anxious, okay?” You sigh. “I’ve been going over old videos, and there’s this one fucking senator—”

“Who’s not there anymore.” You both know why. He was Hydra.

“Sure, but there’s always going to be more like him.”

“Look, if you’re going to let one stupid prick ruin your life, you’re not the girl I thought you were.”

You look up at him, shocked by his choice of words. “And who, exactly, do you think I am?”

“Why’d you take the job?” It wasn’t a question, really. He believed in you, they all did, he just wanted you to admit it.

“Well,” you have to word it right, “my parents were SHIELD—”

“You’re lying.”

Your eyes pop. He knows. Of course, he knows. Who else does? Tony, probably. Nat, definitely. Columbia, for sure. It was the real reason they took your scholarship, well before Thanos got to you. The history wipe, the name change. None of it could’ve lasted, anyway.

You take a deep breath, eyes down. You’re not sure you can look at him now.

“My parents were Hydra.” You steal a glance. Bucky’s eyes are sympathetic. You wonder if he knew them. “Hardly knew them, though.”

“You grew up in the Red Room.”

You nod. “I escaped when Hydra fell. I wanted to be better. I had to be better.” A tear drips onto the corner of one of your pages, but you can’t bring yourself to care. “But I’m a fucking pariah.”

You feel Bucky slide one of his hands into yours, and you squeeze down, using it as an anchor as you sob. “Me too.”

You stutter and look up at him. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean—” He shakes his head to cut you off. “I just tried to hide it but I couldn’t keep it up I got found out and kicked out –”

As you ramble, you don’t notice Bucky rounding the desk until he wraps his arms around you, effectively shutting you up.

You instinctively reach your arms around his neck, sobbing into his shoulder as you cling to him. “I just wanted to start over.” He lowers the two of you down until you’re practically sitting in his lap, your face still buried in his neck. Bucky smooths his hand over your back as the tears die down.

“You’re gonna get your second chance, doll,” he whispers into your hair, “that’s why you’re here.” Then he adds quietly, “that’s why we’re all here.”

 You could almost feel Secretary Ross’s eyes burning a hole into your head, but he’s not your problem at the moment. The panel of senators sitting in front of you were much more important. You’d given them everything, you just hope you can handle whatever they throw back at you.

A few of the committee members that had been convening finally pulled their heads away from each other. One of the women leaned into her mic.

“Miss, is it true you were once part of the Soviet training program ‘The Red Room?’”

Your heart clenched. “Yes, ma’am.”

“And how did you find yourself in this program?” she pressed.

“I don’t see how this is relevant—”

“Just answer the question.”

You take a deep breath and glace over to Bucky. He offers a warm smile, nodding at you to continue. He has faith in you, it’s all you need.

“My parents were members of the shadow organization, Hydra—”

“The Nazi organization—”

“If you would allow me to answer your question, senator,” you fire back, “and if I remember correctly, a number of your colleagues were involved in Hydra as well.”

“They are answering for their crimes—”

“And my parents died for theirs.” A stunned silence fell over the courtroom. “They threw me into the Red Room when I was three years old. Hell bent on turning their own daughter into a weapon.” You were half standing now, but still leaned in on your mic. “They ruined my life. I carry no allegiance to them or the organization that tried to brainwash me and countless others. I was lucky. I escaped and got to go after my second chance. Thanks to the Avengers, we all got a second chance.”

It starts with one person, but it doesn’t take for the entire gallery to erupt into applause. The committee head practically has to yell into his mic about reconvening the next morning. It wasn’t over, but you sure as hell made an impression.

 “Don’t you think this celebration is a little pre-mature?” you ask as Tony hands you the glass bottle.

“No way, kid,” he insists, “you earned that beer. You did us proud today.”

You smile and start to turn from the bar but stumble back when you smack straight into a pillar.

“Shit, sorry, you alright?” Oh, okay. Not a pillar. You look up.

“Yeah! Yeah, I’m fine,” you reply, not realizing you still had a hand on Bucky’s chest.

He smiles down at you. “Walk with me?” He offers an elbow.

“Sure.”

The two of you wander the hallways for a while before you stop him. “You knew me didn’t you? In Hydra?”

Bucky parts hips lips for a moment and then nods, and you see his eyes get glassy.

“Bucky, what is it?”

“Nothing, really,” he shakes his head and you can tell he’s fighting tears. “Yeah, I knew you.”

“I didn’t know you though. Bucky why are you crying?”

A tear escapes and he chokes on a sob. “Because I watched you die.”

You feel it then. The echo of the electricity weaving its way into your head, latching onto bits and pieces of memories and frying them into obscurity. The realization hits you, and you grasp at Bucky’s face, forcing him to look you in the eyes. You let the blue run over you until your own tears start to fall. “I didn’t die,” you reassure him, smoothing with wet cheeks with your thumbs.

“They let me think it killed you.”

You choke out a laugh. “You know it takes a hell of a lot more than that to kill me.”

He smiles at that and pulls you a little closer. “You really are the girl I thought you were.”

You take a deep breath and lean in just enough to press you lips to his. Bucky sighs into you and returns the kiss. The two of you stay that way for as long as possible, letting the connection work a balm over the charred parts of your brain until all that was left was the memories of him.

“They made you forget me,” he murmurs against your lips.

“I could never forget you.”

#bucky #bucky barnes #bucky barnes fanfic #bucky barnes x reader #bucky barnes imagine #the winter soldier #the winter soldier x reader #the winter soldier imagine #the winter soldier fanfic #avengers #avengers fanfic #avengers x reader #avengers imagine #1.5kconstellationswritingchallenge

[eerythingisshaka]

Will the Bell Ring? Pt. 6

[Erik Killmonger x Black!OC]

Word Count:  6.7K

A/N:  I am now inspired to write again because a tweet said that Disney+ had hella issues on the date it dropped and 10 million people still stuck around to watch it.  I’m taking that same energy with me.

“Mara, I won’t ask you again.”  Erik says sternly.  Kimara looks around casually, glad that they are at least located in a public place...though he still doesn’t seem to care.

“MARA!”  Erik barks.

“Don’t cause a scene!  Damn, you have absolutely no common sense!”  She hisses as an elderly white couple looks away and walks faster down the path.  A breeze starts to pick up in the air, causing the treetops to dance in the distance.

“Really?  All I got is common sense when I hear you tryna pull a fast one on me.  And to bring someone I respect in on this, that’s fuckin low!”

Kimara adjusts her seating on the bench as the metal digs into you thigh meat.  “Respect??  Oh please, you were just knocking him on some petty shit last week!  And I didn’t mean to!  Ok?  I’m sorry!”

“For what?  I need specifics, lay out the entire situation for all the other nosy white folks walkin round the park today.  They wanna see someone act a fool, I’ll give it to them if you keep pussy footin around.”  Erik leans back on the bench, spreading his chest wide with pride as he stares her down.  She can’t stand him.

Kimara lets out a sigh, laying one hand on his inner thigh for extra focus.  “I am sorry...for putting you through so much pain and agony.  I know how much the relationship means to and I shouldn’t have put it in danger by getting myself involved without talking to you first.  And even then, I should’ve known better.  I couldn’t even enjoy it without thinking about you and what you would think.  So...never again.  I promise.”

Erik scratches his chin, bouncing his leg before dipping his head down to look at Kimara over his fake gold rimmed eyeglasses with matronly contempt.  “Long as you learnt never to watch Euphoria without me, we good.”

Kimara squeezes his leg, letting out a huge sigh of relief.  “Thank God.  You really bout to cut me over Fez and Rue huh?”

Erik sits up, clapping his hands together.  “They are the true OTP if I ever seen one.  They ain’t even gotta be intimate or whatever, just the fact that someone been through her journey and is now doing everything to help clean her up while the forces of small white town bullshit enable her is...poetry dawg.”  Erik leans back shaking his head in awe.

“Babe, you are sappier than a maple tree in the summertime.”  Kimara shakes her head, the loveliness of their conversation filling her head like a delicious fog she didn’t want to ever see the end of, but Erik’s lunch break was almost up.

Erik kisses her softly, making Kimara wipe the transfer of her gloss off his lips.  

“Uh uh!  Don’t worry bout all that baby.  If that shit makes your lips as good as I like, I could use some too.”

“You so stupid!”  Kimara cackles as they both get off their bench and walk side by side: his hand on her hip, her arms locked around his waist with one ear to his chest.

“This was nice.”  Erik says distantly, more to himself than to her.

Kimara cranes her face toward his.  “Yeah?”

He nods.  “Yeah, just to not think about any of the bullshit we’ve had to deal with, enjoy God’s creations out here in the gentrified park.  I feel like a damn retiree with stock and bonds and 401K real fat.”

Kimara settles in step with him again.  “But you have all those things…”

“But I ain’t retired!  White America don’t want a nigga to retire.  Swear everything would go belly up if Black folks could live off of the fruits meant for them.  They’d burn the whole damn thing down before that would happen.”

Kimara rubs his back to settle him.  “Peaceful thoughts, remember?”

Erik’s chest expands and caves.  “Aight.  But real life is literally around the corner, so as much as I would like to have you in my office, I got shit to take care of.”  Erik takes her chin and lifts her face up to his.  “My Mara, My Mara…”

“...I’ll never be farther.”  Kimara says with only slight embarrassment beause their little saying is so damn cute.  Erik used to do cute rhymes with her name around the quad whenever she got down on herself or he thought he had her on the ropes to giving in to him.  Rarely worked, but constantly appreciated.   “I gotta go get some extra stuff for our dinner party later this week, so hopefully I won’t be too long at the studio.  We got a new artist laying down a demo that should be pretty fire.”

Erik puts a fist to his mouth excitedly.  “Oh worm?  Finally my lady finna be the new M-M-M-Maybach Music!”

Kimara rolls her eyes.  “I’ll be more than that!  I got about two songs on there I’m getting writing credit for.  I may wind up on the radio and you don’t even know it.  But you’ll know them checks!”

Erik couldn’t smile harder if he had hooks in his mouth.  “Your passion got you going off!  Nothing wrong with it either, you deserve it.   It’s been a long time coming.”

“It has.  So, go on so I can make this deal happen.”

They locked fingers until distance forced them to break their grip.  Erik waves  off Kimara as she saunters up the path to the main road.  His chest swelled with pride over his lady, she’s always been one of a kind.  Her happiness is his happiness, without question.  As he walked away, across the exquisitely decorated post modern/art deco lobby, to the elevator to the 33rd floor to his office, a cloud of dread weighed back on him that only got better with the help of Alaina.  If she wasn’t his partner on this revamp project with Boeing, he’d be shitting himself on a regular.

Erik walks by a conference room, stopping short of turning the corner of the glass walls.  He opens the door and peeks inside to see his friend hunched over a laptop, jumping slightly in her seat as he came across the room towards her.

“Damn, Erik!  Why do your big ass feet step so lightly?  Almost gave me a heart attack!”  She breathed out a ragged sigh of relief.

Erik pulls out a chair to sit down, chuckling at her expense.  “My bad,  I just had to come in when I seen you slaving away in here.  Figured you could use a distraction.”

Alaina smooths her hair back in her bun, her nude colored mouth in a tight, closed smile.

“I WISH you were a distraction for me, but unfortunately this involves the both of us.  While you were on break, Asshole and Son recommend we draft a final proposal for the FAA to approve.”

Erik sat shocked.  “What? Fuck, I mean that’s fucking crazy but kind of exciting too, right?”

She wags her finger.  “Don’t forget we are only the field niggas round here.  It sounds like an honor but in the end I am sure little Leave it to Beaver will be taking all the credit his daddy can send his way in order to keep the big wigs in good graces within the family.”

Erik taps his fingers on the deep wooden table, thinking.  Would they really double cross him that far?  Bringing him in on a project to mentor the bosses son only to pull the rug up under him and make him look like player two?

“That’s so damn white, sounds right.”  Erik sighs in somewhat disbelief.

Alaina shrugs.  “Told you.  And until I hear it from him otherwise, that’s what I’m going to assume.”  Alaina sighs and stretches her shoulders before going back in on the keyboard.  

Erik furrows his brow.  “If that’s it, then why are you still working on it?  Don’t you wanna pack up and move on?  You were brought here special for this, your time is wasted the most.”

Alaina’s eyes cast a ‘nigga please’ gaze on Erik.  “Mr. Future Baby Fava, I think our time has been equally wasted.  But guess what isn’t cut for my time here?  My pay: which is double what I make at my primary while I’m here so…”  She slowly leans over to grab Erik’s wrist.  “...until I hear the fat white man sing, we’re gonna work on this project for as long as we can to milk that cow til it lays a golden goose egg and rolls the tortoise to the finish line!”

Erik scoffs.  Alaina’s antics are half the reason Erik can’t quite distance himself from her.  She has a liveliness that he’s kind of missed lately.  “Man, you a trip and a fifth.  But I like your style. Might as well get it done then.”

“Oh fuck that, I’m done for the day.”   Alaina crisply closes her laptop, packin it under her arm and grabbing her case with the other.

“Whatchu mean?  I thought you said-”

“I worked through my lunch, like a boss ass bitch does.  You gotta work yours off, so Imma leave you to it.  Call me if you bleeding out your ears from stress: no less than that.”

Erik rolls his eyes as he gets up and watches her walk away.  The woman is working his last good nerve on purpose, but he likes it.  The job isn’t as boring or predictable with her around.  Now he just has to show her who the superstar has been all this time.  If he works hard at this, it won’t be for these fat cats, it’s gonna be a bonafide competition and he ain’t scared to fight a girl.

—

At the studio, Kimara finishes up a session with a local up and coming artist named Delilah.  Sweet girl, comes across very introverted until a mic is in front of her.  Kimara appreciated her vibes and talent, baby girl is on trend so long as she stays cute she is bound to be noticed.  Kimara ends their session a little early, wishing her well when it was time to wrap.  

Kimara felt like the studio was her second home most of the time but today she had to get to her real home REAL quick to get dinner prepared.  Tonight is the double dinner date with T’Challa and his boo of the moment.  She kept trying to get ahold of Erik for help with ingredients but he kept leaving her on read.

Rick, the studio owner caught Kimara before she was able to get out the door.

“Hey Rick  I know I cut things early, but I don’t have a lot of time unfortunately.  I have dinner to take care of tonight with some friends that is so damn important, you wouldn’t believe.”

Rick smiles a large proud papa smile.  “Oh I won’t keep you, but this news might.  Remember Peter Gafflin?  Legendary alternative rock/country artist extraordinaire who really love you last time y’all were in the booth together.”

Kimara couldn’t forget that man from their last session.  She hadn’t been exalted for her talent that highly since Petey Pablo came in that one time and promised her name would be on a Freek A Leek remix.

“Yeah, what about him?” She asks.

Rick could not help his smile to save his life.  “He called me up earlier today, saying he is planning to go on the road soon.”

“Yeah, yeah.  That happens often when you drop a new album.”  Kimara says impatiently.

“Right.  So he was thinking that you would hopefully be available to join him for some shows on his North American leg of the tour.”

Kimara stood there like the Men In Black just wiped her memory.  “Are-are you serious?  When?  How?  What would I do??”

“He wants you to SING for him like you did that day, background vocals and he thought a duet portion would be nice too.  You know the song ‘Boys Aren’t Born on Tuesdays?’”

Kimara clutches her chest.  “Oh my God, that song is so rich.  And he wants ME  to sing it with him?”

“Uh huh!’  Rick slaps her arm in congratulations, but Kimara could barely feel anymore.  

“In front of thousands.  Across America...oh my God!”

Rick and Kimara hug excitedly, so much so that Rick has to wipe his eyes a little.  “So is that a yes?”

Kimara stopped cheering to finally think a little.  “I mean, I don’t know.  If this was any other time I would say yes, but...I have some obligation here.  I’m deep into trying to start a family and settle a little.”

Rick makes a face of pity.  “I understand, I know.  And I hope you do get that.  Just…”

“Just…”   Kimara parrots.

“...it’s Peter Gafflin.”

“It is Peter Gafflin.”  Kimara says disheartened.  She had been waiting for years to get something off the ground with a top tier artist, but the universe had a funny way of timing.

“Did I mention how much pay is?”  Rick muses.

--

Kimara fans herself with a newspaper as she watches the rolls baking in the oven.  She is so thankful to have gotten dessert from the bakery, because she was over it with cooking.  She checks her phone for the time:  ten minutes til 7.  Her notifications show nothing from Erik yet, though she texted him twice today reminding his to not forget them hosting T’Challa and his girl.  Twice, Erik texted that he’s got her, but that was five hours ago, now who knows what the hell he is up to.  It would be perfect to bring up her good news with him in front of T’Challa and his date, while he smiles up at her with a hand inconspicuous and possessively on her behind...

But the light and fluffy feelings for the evening were quickly dwindling.  Before she could send a last threatening text to convince him to bring his ass, the doorbell sounds at the last sentence.  Kimara curses out loud, grabbing her oven mitt to take out the rolls that are a perfect golden brown.  She dabs her brow with a spare dinner napkin before clopping her way to the door.

Opening it with a flourish, Kimara opens her arms in excitement.  

“You made it!”  She says with a cheery song.

T’Challa looks at her fondly, his mouth slowly curling into a smile.  Kimara warms up to seeing her friend at her doorway.

“I was going to say it has been too long, but time moves backward for you.  You look beautiful.”

Kimara places a hand on her hip for emphasis, trying to withhold her joy in his compliment in the worst way.  “Oh please, it hasn’t been that long.  You cleaned up good too.”

Kimara always enjoyed the way T’Challa dresses like royalty without even meaning too, choosing pieces that elongate his lean body, squaring his wide shoulders to create a proud presence.

T’Challa places a hand to his date’s lower back.  “Iman has been looking forward to this night all week.”

A smiling Iman holds out a bottle of Proseco.  “T  has told me so much about you and your husband.  You all seem to be a pretty tight family.”

Kimara takes the chilled bottle and leads them inside.  “Oh yes.  We have all known each other for so long, I can’t imagine not having known them.”  

Placing the bottle on the table, Kimara claps her hands anxiously.  “So I have prepared us a nice little salad and a pork...uh...pasta ”  Kimara’s mind goes blank trying to remember what it’s called, she had only Googled the recipe that day.  Tapping her foot, fidgeting, Kimara gives up.  “Hell, some type of pork and spaghetti with peppers and shit.  It’s got cheese too, it’s good.  LEGGO!”

T’Challa and Iman chuckle as they head to the dining room.  “Well whatever it is it smells great!  I know your man must be fat and happy living with you.”  Iman gushes, pulling out her chair to sit at the table.

Kimara shakes her head humbly as the unwraps the foil on the proseco.  “Lucky for me, he is pretty active at the same time so it sticks in the right places.  If only he could actually BE in the right places when we schedule things that way.  Oh shit, lemme find a cork opener.”  

Kimara rushes into the kitchen slamming drawer after drawer looking for the elusive corkscrew.  She slams the bottle down a little too hard in frustration and hears the vibration of her phone on the counter next to her.

“Do you need assistance, Kimara?”  T’Challa’s steady, gentle voice says behind her.  She turns to see his concerned face looking down at her, hands firmly planted behind him respectfully.  

Kimara waves her hand in frustration.  “Aht aht!  It’s fine, don’t leave Iman alone in there!”

“She is fine.  Are you?”  He asks quietly while opening a cabinet above the sink.  

Kimara opens her phone to look at her notification.  “Been better.  Rather not talk while I’m supposed to be entertaining you guys.”

“But-”

Kimara puts her phone down hard.  “RAGU!  It was a pork ragu!  With basil fettuccine, ugh!  DUH!”  Kimara turns to see T’Challa holding the corkscrew in his hand.  

T’Challa continues, ignoring her topic change.  “You should let me know if he isn’t being good to you.”

Kimara takes the corkscrew in one hand, bottle in the other trying to maintain her blood from boiling.  “No I don’t.  I would discuss that with my husband.”  

“And he is where?”  T’Challa asks calmly as Kimara walks past him and back to the table.

“God, what a help your beau is, we can finally have a much needed sip sip, eh?”  Kimara exclaims a little too happily, sitting at the table as she drills the corkscrew in.

T’Challa opens the glass serving dish to examine dinner.  “This smells very good, I will fix a plate for you, Iman.”

“No!  I should serve you, Mr. King!  Move your hand from that spoon.”  Iman gets up, swinging her hips happily from side to side, digging the serving spoon into the delicious mix of sauce, noodles, and meat.  

T’Challa gives a shy smile.  “I appreciate it greatly, thank you.”  

Kimara jerks the corkscrew out of the bottle too hard, knocking the handle against the table, causing T’Challa and Iman to look at her with shock.

“Pop goes the weasel, right?”  Kimara giggles as she pours a third of the bottle into her glass, half an inch from the brim.  She takes ahold of her glass, taking  a few hearty gulps.

“So!  Tell me how are things with you all, still in the honeymoon phase?”

Iman finishes off her plate, settling in to eat.  “Well,  I wouldn’t say that.  Me and T are still kinda getting to know each other still, so I think honeymoon phase is a little too soon to call,”  she says as she nervously scratches the back of her head as T’Challa just keeps on eating.

Kimara starts to feel warm, keeping mental note that the fucking must’ve halted between them.  “Well there’s no need to rush at all.  Relationships are so much damn work, it must be nice to cuddle up to a stranger every so often.”

Iman offers some wine to T’Challa who declines.  “Have things been going well at the studio?  Recording?”

“Oh yeah, more than recording actually.  Sure, I just wish that I had the gumption to pull the trigger on doing some of my own shit.  I got a lot of praise from artist and even the owner of the studio; I’ve known him a long time.  But when it all comes down to it I just wonder what’s the point.  That’s all gonna change soon though, no worries about me!”

Iman pouts with sympathy.  “What do you mean?!  You are a damn good looking lady and to have talent enough that people brag about, you gotta do something with it while you’re young and able!”

“I know I’m young and able.  Well, I’m trying to start a family while I’m still young and able too.”  Kimara mumbles, slumping in her chair.

“Oh!  You are?  Congratulations!  From what little I remember from the night I met T, he seemed like a handsome guy with a good head on him.  If he hadn’t brought us home, we may not be seeing each other now.”  Iman’s hand disappear under the table to presumably T’Challa’s thigh, who looks over at her with kind eyes.  “And that reminds me of your story.  So T here got you and your husband together.  What are the details on that?”

Kimara is two sips from the bottom of her glass.  “Ohhh, that’s not dinner conversation unfortunately.”

Iman makes eyes at her.  “Oooh, that scandalous huh?  We all adults here, but I understand.  Me and T weren’t very biblical our first night meeting so, hey.”

T’Challa wags a finger.  “It’s not that, don’t be crass.”

Iman tuts at him.  “I’m just being friendly, what’s the issue.”

“It’s a personal story.  It should wait until Erik is here at least.”  T’Challa offers.

Kimara puts her glass down, plate still empty or any dinner.  “I don’t wanna bring that nigga up here anymore tonight, aight?”

Iman freezes mid bite as T’Challa sits up in his chair.  “Kimara, please-”

“Uh uh!  I’m in my house, I say what I want, I won’t be talked down to.  Iman?”

Iman is still frozen.

T’Challa speaks up.  “I’m just saying-”

“I’m talking!  Iman?  My husband and I have been trying to have a baby for months now, fucking like rabbits and I have yet to get pregnant.  It’s gotten so I think he;s getting tired of fucking with me and now he is out ‘working late’.  Now, he loves me because we have been through a lot to get to the point of being a married couple and he has had to prove himself loyal to me after...a lot of bullshit.  But I ain’t got it in me to discuss play the Newlywed Game with you cuz hell if I know what my husband is up to anymore.”

T’Challa gets up from his chair abruptly, scraping the chair across the floor, stomping towards the kitchen.

Kimara starts to laugh out loud.  “Oh shit, I think he’s pissed!  Ohh, let me see what this is about…”

Iman sits up anxiously.  “Do you need help?”

“No, no!  I got him, he’s very reserved with his frustrations, so I can deal.”  Kimara stomps into the kitchen.  “Now what is up with you??”

T’Challa takes a towel off of a rack, folding it twice.  “Did you need to unload on her like that?”

Kimara leans on the counter.  “Sure, woman to woman.  She seems to appreciate it.”

T’Challa opens the oven door, a plume of smoke billows out.

“Fuck!  Oh noooo, my rolls!”  Kimara exclaims, running to a window to open and fan out the smoke.  

T’Challa puts the baking sheet to the sink.  “I was trying to tell you I smell smoke.”  He tossed the towel down making the sheet clang.

Kimara fans her face, coughing.  “Oh, shit.  I just forgot.”

“Mhm.  You forgot your head this evening that’s certain.”

“What do you mean by that, T??”  Kimara asks mockingly.

T’Challa glares at her.  “If things weren’t going good, we could’ve rescheduled.”

“It’s funny you think I plan for my life to fall apart, cuz that is how it works right?”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“No, no one means to hurt my feelings or make me feel like shit until it happens.  You want me to be the perfect host.  Erik wants me to be a good wife and mother when I can’t even get a bun in the ov-”  Kimara stops short of the sentence.  T’Challa hangs onto silence waiting for her to finish.

“T’Challa, what if this is all a sign?  I burnt the rolls in the oven...because I can’t keep a bun in the oven?  Like pregnancy?  I can’t bake anything!!”  Kimara wails as she covers her mouth crying.  T’Challa goes over to her but stops short as Iman enters the kitchen.

“Hey, if everything is under control, I might head out.”

T’Challa looks back at Kimara then Iman.  “Well, let me call you a ride.”

“Already did.  Kimara, dinner really was good, I’m sorry to leave so soon.”

Kimara has her back turned, wiping her face before facing her.  “Thank you for coming.  You’re as nice as I heard.”

“I will walk you out then.”  T’Challa offers as they leave Kimara in the kitchen.  Her phone begins to ring, as she picks it up to find Erik’s name glowing on the screen.  All she can do is silence it, she was in no mood to talk, otherwise she might have to make a Lemonade album about it.  

Kimara goes back to her dining room table, sitting down to the bottle of wine.  T’Challa comes back in, closing the front door behind him.

“Eh, eh.  Put that down.  Eat something instead.”

Kimara groans as she swallows one more gulp from the bottle before getting it snatched from her hand.

“I’m not feeling your vibes T’Challa, honest.”  

“Vibes?  Do you hear yourself talking?”  

“Yeah I do.   That’s all I ever hear is my damn self.”

“You are not supposed to be drinking while planning a family, aren’t you?”  T’Challa asks softly, sitting next to her.

Kimara sighs deeply.  “I’ve done everything right.  All I’m supposed to do is carry, I can’t even get there.  God, I would kill for even a miscarriage, just to know that I didn’t completely fuck up my reproductive system!”

“STOP IT!”  T’Challa’s voice booms between them, reverberating off the walls.  Kimara sits upright, looking away from T’Challa’s face.  His energy calms as he leans a little further towards her.

“You do not deserve to beat yourself up like this.  Do you realize how far you’ve come in life from when I first met you to now?  There is no one as smart or witty or brilliant as you that I can also put faith in as a friend.”

Kimara fidgets with her fingers.  “Good thing Iman isn’t here to hear that.”

T’Challa sits back, taking a swallow of wine from the bottle himself.  “I won’t edit my statement, but she is a nice girl.”

“I still like Nakia better.”  Kimara says matter of factly.

T’Challa bristles at the name, looking into the distance.  “Yes, I guess she is my kryptonite, however too flighty.”

They sit in silence for a beat.

“What about that night?  What did it mean?”  Kimara asks.

T’Challa’s brow furrows.  “Which do you…”

“A few weeks ago?  My car?”  Kimara rubs her face roughly.  “Ughh, I hope it’s not the wine talking but I swear there was a moment that felt like...a thing.  Am I wrong?”

T’Challa does something he does not always do:  he begins to stutter.  It’s slow, without the skip, but a stutter nonetheless.

“I...Well...hmm,”  He says before his mouth motions wordlessly.

“...T?”  Kimara asks teasingly.  “It’s ok!”

He looks her in her eyes intensely, like she just cursed him out.  “Huh?”

Kimara shrugs.  “We didn’t do anything so it’s ok.  Don’t sweat.  That’s why I’m glad we are friends cuz I know nothing bad happens when you’re around.  No craziness, drama, you just bring me back down to earth with a good talk.  It was just a moment.  Gotta remember that.”  Kimara pats his knee and gets up.

“Wait, so were you thinking of me in a way that night?”  

Kimara sees a light flash across the curtains of her window.  “Well, look at this.  Daddy’s home.”  Kimara comes back to the table to pick up plates.  “T’Challa go ahead and have a good night.  You don’t wanna be here when I’m throwing dishes into the sink until Erik comes in and has the nerve to ask what the fuck is wrong with me.  When the whole nigga nerve of it all is that he would have the gall to think I’m wrong to begin with!”

T’Challa waves his hands heading for the door.  “I am already gone.”

--

The early morning sun is extra bright as erik drives himself and Kimara to see their regular fertility specialist Dr. Tracy.  

“I’m glad she was able to see us today.”  Erik says.

“Are you?”  Kimara asks while scrolling through her phone.

Erik scratches himself.  “Ion know, I just…”

“What?”

“I mean...if we do this it’s like cool, we finna get a baby off top-”

Kimara tuts at him.  “No!  She said that it still isn’t guaranteed.  We are good candidates but not to expect success right away.”

Erik lets out a groan.  “Right, right.  Can’t no shit come easy for me.”

Kimara looks at his profile as he drives, catching Erik looking out the corner of his eye.  “What you lookin at me like that for?”

Kimara crosses her arms.  “I’m just trying to figure out what to title your sob story in all of this.  ‘I do what I want and when it don’t go like I plan I pout?’  Or ‘Fuck everything and everyone, I’m going through it but don’t ask me what’s wrong?’”

“Damn Mara!  The fuck you gotta go there for?  The minute I try and share something with you, you bite my fucking head off!”

“Watch yourself cursing at me!  I ain’t in the mood for it, and I ain’t letting it fly like that today, ok?  I don’t need this much excitement before an appointment.”

“Then don’t go nuts on me like you some damn comedian, roasting my ass.  I’m here ain’t I?”

“Do you not wanna be?!”  Kimara shrieks.

Erik goes silent, turning on the click of his turn signal.  The tension in the car is sky high and although Erik doesn’t mind a fight, he knew not to act a fool in front of these doctors in this side of town.  

Kimara leads inside to check in with the receptionist.  As they sit in the lobby, Erik is glued to his phone the entire waiting period, fingers texting furiously.

“Why ain’t you holding my hand?”  Kimara asks.  “You always hold it while we wait.”

Erik looks over quickly and leans back offering out his hand.  “My bad.”  While the other continues to work double time on his screen.  

“Who is...Alan?”

Erik jerks his phone back.  “It’s not Alan.”

Kimara drops his hand.  “Than who is it?”

“Work.”  He says curtly, flipping to his Instagram instead.

“Is something wrong with the project you’re working on?  Is Alan the one helping you?”

“Yes and no.”  Erik says.

“Wait.  It is wrong and Alan isn’t helping?”

“It’s not Alan!”  Erik bellows before coughing to cover his outburst.

“Kimara?”  Dr. Tracy says brightly with a smile, waving them back.  Kimara smiles tightly back.

In her office, Dr. Tracy goes over the procedures and preparations for IVF, with all of the medical jargon, followed by some generous simplified explanation.  It all sounded complicated and expensive but Kimara was grateful to hear about everything that could make her miracle possible.

“And Erik, you can be an awesome support by making sure to watch your alcohol intake, exercise, eat healthy, and avoid any environmental pollutants.”

“I was bout to watch that Chernobyl show; is that off the table now?”  Erik asks.

“Erik, you ain’t got time for shit else, quit playing.”  Kimara says with a little bark in her voice.

Erik laughs in a menacing tone.  “Ok.”

Dr. Tracy looks between them nervously.  “...we also provide counseling to couples during the process, as it can be difficult.”

“I wouldn’t mind it, but he wouldn’t be able to make it.”  Kimara says.

“Oh you speak for me now?”

Kimara shrugs.  “If you ain’t there, how else can things go forward?”

Erik sputters in disbelief.  “I won’t be getting like this in front of the damn doctor.  Thanks, doc.  I got the prescription and shit, let’s go.”  Erik keeps talking under his breath as he leaves the office.  Kimara gets up to leave

“Is everything ok between you two?”  Dr. Tracy asks.

Kimara hesitates before saying it’s fine, nothing more than a couples spat.  Erik may have been right about needing to change doctors.  At least a new one wouldn’t know when things were wrong.  This would just look like a normal interaction to fresh eyes.

Back at their house, Erik is reading the instructions for her shots.

“Says this supposed to help in producing eggs for you.  Still gonna take a while though.”

Kimara sits silent watching her shows.

“Remember to mark down when you got your period last.  Supposed to start doing these on your next cycle.”

Silence.

Erik folds the instructions up, standing from the dining room table.  He comes up behind the couch, leaning next to Kimara’s ear.

“Nassau is this weekend, you know?”  SIlence.  “You picked us a real good spot to make our own magic down there.  I think we need it.”

“WE need a lot more than a trip to an island.  Erik, you still ain’t said sorry for a damn thing you said to me today.”

Erik scooches to one side of Kimara to face her.  “What should I apologize for?”

“Embarrassing me?  Not telling me about what’s going on with you and also not asking how things are with me?  Being secretive and mean to me?”  Kimara’s eyes begin to well up.  “You ain’t talked to me without walking off mad in so long, I don’t wanna get used to it Erik!  You didn’t used to do that!”  Erik hooks one leg followed by the other over the back of the couch to sit next to Kimara, holding her hands tight.

“It makes me think about before you left for that damn military out the blue.  You snapped on me back then too.  You tryna go somewhere else again?”

“Hell no!  That life is behind me, I got nothing but you and work to get through now.”

“So I’m a damn task?”  Kimara mopes.

“No!  Look:  I don’t mean to say anything to make you think you boring because you’re not.  You’re the most exciting thing in my life, and I love having you with me.  Every time I’m reminded you’re my wife, I’m thinking how we should be on our damn tenth wedding anniversary instead of third.  But I’m done and thankfully you’re not.”

“Then why are you doing me like this?”

“I-I don’t wanna force shit on you more than you can handle.  I got things happening at my job right now that could make you think the worst, but I promise it’s not.  And you don’t need that pressure right now.”

“Neither do you!”  

“I can handle it.  You focus on your dreams at the studio, and getting ready to host the biggest headed baby your womb will ever know.”

Kimara snorts thinking about this, looking down instinctively.  Erik takes one side of her face in his hand.

“I wanna be more open but I don’t wanna cost you anything too.  So until shit blows over, just know I got this.  Be patient with me, and I promise to be more patient too.”

Kimara pulls Erik to her for a longing kiss, rubbing his face for comfort.  She could feel he cares, but there was still so much gnawing in her mind, she just wasn’t ready to discuss.  But there was one thing.

“One more thing though, before I call it forgiven and get to packing for the trip.”

“You still ain’t packed?”

“I’m asking the questions!  Who is Alan?”

Erk sighs, dipping his head down before looking her in the face to answer.  “Alaina.

“He’s a what?”

“Huh?  No, Alaina.  The name was Alaina not Alan.”

Kimara’s face draws up inquisitively.  “And...she is?”

“My partner for the project I’m working on.  They recruited her from another region and-”

“That’s who you spent the night with instead of dinner with T’Challa and me and his girl?”  Kimara asks.

“I came home!  Don’t make it sound like that, it was a late night.  Ole dude I work for keeps piling shit on me and deadlines-”

Kimara waves her hands in front of him.  “It’s fine.”

“Huh?”

“It’s ok!”  Kimara smiles.  “Seriously, I trust you.  You said works been beating your ass, and I know you wouldn’t be looking all sour if you were getting some ass on the side, so I think I can trust you aren’t cheating.”

Erik stared at her speechless before nodding and agreeing.  

“Plus, we tryna have a baby and I know you wouldn’t mix shit up with her when all that seed is mine, like that would be wasteful.”

Erik growls in his chest, leaning over her, nose to nose.  “Say that again.”

Kimara holds back her smile, rubbing his chest.  “Your seeeed is miiiine.  Don’t waste it.”  Kimara bites his lip at the end of ‘it’, catching him of guard, but not enough to lay her out legs spread quicker than she could blink.

“Wait wait, Erik.  I can’t!”  Kimara says, half giggling.

“Whatchu mean??  You playing with a dog and get afraid when you get the bark?  Quit playing and get them draws off.”  Erik pulls at her bottoms.

“No!  Wait!  I mean it, I’m cramping and shit.  I don’t want nothing near my pussy right now.”

Erik moans out loud in frustration, plopping backwards on the couch, erection pushing at his sweatpants.

Kimara lowkey loved making him wait, period or not.  It’s nice to see he still wants her, and no one else has his attention to fix his rather big problem throbbing in his pants.

“Erik?  You never told me what you think about the tour.”

Erik exhales loudly.  “Good idea, that’s finna kill my hard on real quick.”

“Erik!”  

He sits up, pushing down on himself.  “Mara, I want you to get your hustle goin, I know you been singin since way way way back.”

“Hold up, it ain’t been that long, makin me feel old.”

Erik bops her with his shoulder.  “You know you been my Suga Mama.”

“Two months older Erik.  Dassit!”

Erik looks at the floor, rubbing her knee.  “I just don’t understand why you think it’s best to leave now.  What Imma do without you for two months?”

“Whatever you been doin get home late at night.”  Kimara says flatly.

“The project is almost finished, do I don’t know where that attitude came from.”  

Kimara sits silent, not up for a fight, especially in her hormonal state.

Erik stares at her, testing her.  He knows she wants to say more, she always does.  “I got two more weeks on this, and it’s done.  My workload is gonna be lighter, more boring, and I promise my time will be yours, but now you wanna leave, so.”

“But you understand why right?  It doesn’t sound like you do.  I don’t wanna leave you alone or stop trying, but...this is my dream!”

“Having a family is too right?  That’s why all our time and money been revolving around everything related to that for almost a whole damn year.  It’s fucking flaky.”  Erik shoots back.

“Erik, you got to do what you wanted, right?  This ain’t new with you!  When you want something, you go for it, fuck anybody that gives a shit, it’s yours.  I’m tired of being in the shadow of your shit, cleaning things up so you can have your peace.  This is mine.”

“The fuck is you talkin about??  Is your PMS going retrograde or some shit?”  Erik speaks over her in an agitated tone.  Nothing Kimara said made sense anymore to him.

Kimara gets up, waving him off.  “Eat my ass Erik,  I said what I fucking had to say and I mean that shit.”

Masterlist

Ragtag

@chaneajoyyy @sarcastic-sunshines @muse-of-mbaku@dameshaemonique  @fonville-designs@destinio1@bakarisange l@wakanda-inspired @klaine15689 @savageiz @nickidub718 @yoyolovesbucky @alexundefined @forbeautyandlife​ @bakarisangel

#shakafic #black panther fic

[littlemeowmeowschimmy]

I do [BTS Reactions]

Yeah of course :) and that means so much to me. I’m very pleased that people enjoy my content :). I’m going to do small drabbles of all seven so it’ll be a little long bare with me y’all

Requests are opened!

Genre: Cute, fluff

master list

~

Kim Namjoon

Namjoon looked in the crowd for you his hand above his eyes to shield the light. He locked eye contact with you and smiled a little as he then walked over towards you. He wanted to make sure you were close to the stage because the ring was burning in his pocket. Namjoon was extremely nervous because he didn’t know if you would do under pressure, however he was confident of your answer. 

The crowd was going wild as he moved himself further to you. He was surprised that ARMY took your relationship with him really well. All he wanted was them to accept you as you are and that’s exactly what they did. Namjoon jumped off stage and moved himself closer to you. The boys walked over because they knew exactly what he was going to do. Jungkook jumped off stage with Namjoon to help lift you over the gate. 

You didn’t really enjoy all the attention and was completely confused what the hell was going on. Namjoon’s mic was off because he didn’t want to broadcast it over the speakers because the cameras were surrounding both of you. The rest of the group eventually made their way over and watched as Namjoon moved close to you. 

The noise around was loud but he held your hands in his. What happened next was almost like a dream. The entire crowd went silent with the help of the other members asking them to quiet down for a little. Namjoon said in a clear voice to start his little speech. 

“[Y/N], we’ve been dating for almost five years now.” he says squeezing your hands slightly. “You’ve been there since the beginning and I couldn’t have asked for a better partner in life.” he pauses for second his heart beating hard in his chest as he moves himself down on one knee. “And I want you to be there for the rest of my life, will you marry me?” 

The crowd gasped at his question and waited in anticipation as you covered you hand with your mouth. You didn’t even have to say anything because you held your hand out as tears started to weld. You nodded your head and laughed a little as Namjoon slipped the ring on. The crowd and other members burst out in celebration as Namjoon got up and squeezed you close to him.

Kim Seokjin 

“Seokjin what are you doing?!” You asked as he took your hand squeezing it close as he tried to move you on stage. You were standing backstage watching them preform. One of you favorite spots on stage was watching in the background because you saw a different side of them that many didn’t. However today you weren’t really expecting Jin to convince you to go on stage. 

Well it wasn’t really convincing you, he was kind’ve dragging you on stage. It was on left stage your back facing the rest of the crew as he dragged you out as far as he deemed worthy. As the other members were trying to calm everyone else down so that Jin could do what he wanted to do.  The crowd grew silent as Jin wrapped his arm around you waist and pulled you close. 

“Jin what are you doing?” You ask to which the mic picked it up and he gave a bright smile towards you. 

“I’m bringing you on stage to ask you a few questions.” he says nodding his head the ring burning in his left pocket. How he danced with it and not falling out was a mystery to him. “How long have we been dating?” he starts locking eye contact with you. 

“Four or five years. Time flies by why?” you question tilting your head just a little to the side as he digs in his pocket. 

“Coz I wanna ask you to marry me.” he says instantly bringing the ring out and you took a step back shaking your head. He was a little sneak and dammit that was smooth. You first looked at him and then smacked his arm before giving him the answer he wanted to hear. The members were not only laughing, but they were clapping while the crowd went alive again in this small little moment you and Jin shared. 

Min Yoongi 

Yoongi wasn’t really much for doing big surprises. He wanted to propose to you somewhere nice and then get wasted afterwards to celebrate. But the guys convinced him to do something big and well he decided that maybe pulling you on stage would be the best option. But that didn’t mean he was nervous because he had seen bad reactions to being put on the spot in public. 

Yoongi brought a hand up to the back of his neck as he moved himself on stage looking out to the crowd. He knew that you were backstage but he had kindly asked Jimin to grab you. While he was on stage he brings the mic up and asks

“I’m bringing [Y/N] on stage to ask her something. I’m extremely nervous,” at this point Jimin had grabbed you but put some noise cancelling stuff on so you wouldn’t hear him just as Yoongi asked. 

The crowd cheered which made Yoongi shy a little while Jungkook walked over to him and wrapped his arm around his back and gave him a side hug. 

“You’ll do fine hyung” he says the crowd agreeing with him in their screams.

“Fighting!” he says laughing a little afterwards and patting his back while Yoongi turned his head a little bit to the side. He noticed Jimin pulling you on stage and his heart started to pound in his chest. Yoongi made his way over towards you while Namjoon asked the crowd to simmer down. 

“Is everything okay Yoonkie?” You asked after taking the plugs out and looking around. Yoongi reached out to take your hand in his as he brought you close to him. He brushed his thumbs against your knuckles and took in a deep breath then let it out afterwards. 

“I’m not good at these so I’m just going to get to the point.” he says bending down to grab the box from his pocket. “Will you marry me?” he asks opening it while you held his hand. You were a lost for words because you never expected him to ask you on stage but that didn’t matter to you. You instantly sad yes to him as he slipped the ring on your finger only to kiss you and hug you afterwards.

Jung Hoseok 

After the song ended Hoseok ran to where he saw you in the crowd. He wanted to get to you as soon as possible, even if that meant wiggling himself through the crowd. The other members were slightly concerned for him because he was being a little insane. 

“Hoseok what are you doing?!” You called moving towards the gate which was difficult because the entire scene was just chaos. You were apologizing to the other fans as you wiggled your way through, and many of them were just confused or trying to touch Hoseok. Namjoon even ran after Hoseok to try and hold him back so he wouldn’t do anything insane, but Hoseok was a little faster than him. 

Yoongi too moved after Hoseok and jumped off stage with him. He grabbed his shirt before jumping into the crowd to grab you. He looked at his younger brother and tried to talk some sense into him, but that wasn’t working the best. Instead you moved further and eventually caught up to him. Hoseok reached out to touch your face gently tears starting to weld in his eyes. The guys didn’t even have time to ask the crowd to calm down. 

Everyone was screaming and pushing against you while Hoseok took your hand in his. He looked around at everyone and then like magic everyone began to settle down. This wasn’t like Hoseok and you knew it wasn’t which was concerning. Whatever was going through his mind you wanted to know. 

Hoseok brought a hand up to his cheek and began to wipe some of his tears and spoke into his mic. “Seeing you in the crowd tonight made my heart race,” he start bringing your hand up to his lips. “I couldn’t contain myself any further because I want you to be my wife.” he says quickly grabbing the box from his pockets and fumbling it a little bit. 

“Hoseok you already know the answer.” You whispered helping him open the box as he slipped the ring on while the space around you guys erupted into applauds as both of you were laughing.

Park Jimin

Jimin watched as you slowly made your way on stage. He had asked for you to come out because he wanted the fans to see you. Although the real reason is what made Jimin start tearing up a little bit. His back was facing the crowd as you made your way towards him. You tilted your head just a little to the side as you were curious as to why Jimin was crying and he called you on stage.

“Jimine, what’s going on?” You asked completely confused moving a hand up to touch his cheek a little bit your thumb brushing his tears away. Jimin smiled at the nickname and leaned in to kiss your forehead. The crowd was cheering behind him although when Jin asked them to calm down they did. 

Jimin didn’t know how to start however he just wrapped his arm around your waist to pull you close to him. He said in a quite voice, even though he was aware that the mic was going to pick it up,”[Y/N] you know I love you right?” he asks pressing his forehead against yours. 

“Yes I’m aware that you love me and the same could be said for me.” You answer holding onto his shirt as you could feel him shaking. You forehead scrunched up a little as you were completely confused as to what was going on. But that wasn’t going to stop you from waiting for him to say what was on his mind. 

“That’s good because I would like to spend the rest of my life with you and it would be an honor if you would take my last name.” he says moving a shaky hand down to grab the ring and pull it out. You gave Jimin your answer by wrapping your arms around him and pulling him close. Because you were a little shorter than him, you had to get up on your tip toes and whisper your answer to which Jimin cheered. He wrapped his arm around your waist and twirled you on stage causing the crowd and the members to cheer loudly. 

Kim Taehyung 

“Jimin what are you doing?!” You called as he pushed your chair on stage where Taehyung was standing with the spotlight behind him. You were a little shocked by everything because the lights were low and curious as to what Taehyung was thinking about. Or what he was even planning. 

He almost looked like an angel as he made his way over towards you, music starting to play. Taehyung brought the mic up to his lips as he began to sing one of your favorites songs. Jungkook joined in with Jimin in pushing the chair close, the older members stepping aside as Tae took the stage. Once Taehyung was in front of you, Jungkook and Jimin stepped back as he was continuing his song. 

The crowd was waving their lights which made everything beautiful in the dark light. Cameras were panning around so everyone could see what was going on. Taehyung was extremely nervous because he wasn’t used to doing something this huge on stage. It was different when he didn’t know the future, especially with popping the question to you. Taehyung walked over towards you and bent down so he could look at your eyes. His voice always mesmerized you and in this moment you were completely taken away by him. 

He brought himself closer, his hand in his pocket as he looked so cool and handsome all at the same time. Taehyung messed with the box that was burning a hole in his pocket. His heart was beating in his chest as he brought himself close to you. He bent down so he could get in the same level as you and smiled a little bit. 

He ended by bringing the box out from his pocket and opened it. Taehyung didn’t even pop the question because you already knew just by the ring what he was insisting. You brought both of your hands up to your mouth as you instantly began to cry. You stuttered out “Y-Yes Tae!” instantly wrapping your arms around him as the song played in the background.

Jeon Jungkook

You looked over at Jungkook as he was standing looking at you. He was smiling as he shared eye contact with him as the boys were teasing him on stage. Jungkook brought a hand up to the back of his neck as he moved over to the edge. He sat down looking at you still while Jimin moved close and push up against him. 

“Whatcha looking for Kookie?” he teases sitting down with him as Jungkook brought a hand up to his heart. He was about to say something but Jin moved over and sat down on the other side of him. 

“He’s probably looking at [Y/N]. You know he can’t take his eyes off of her.” Jin teases waving in your general direction as you waved back to him. Jungkook got shy easily and looked away from them before hopping off stage to move closer to you. He wanted you as close to the stage so he wouldn’t move further into the crowd and causing a huge commotion. 

Jungkook put his hand in his pocket as he was trying to act all cool but he was extremely nervous. He laughs a little as you could only shake your head a little. For whatever he was doing, you were extremely surprised in Jungkook. Especially you noticed he didn’t like to draw unwanted attention towards himself.

He said into the mic,”I didn’t want to bring you on stage because I know you don’t like being the center of attention.” Jungkook said moving himself right up to the gate and wrapping his arms around you. 

“But I need to grab you and bring you up and over. You ready?” he asks which caused you to scrunch your eyebrows together but ended up nodding in the end. Those around you helped Jungkook lift you up and over and he thanked them a lot. 

Jungkook rubbed his hands up and down your arms as he continued where he left off. “I’m sorry for bringing this attention to you, but I love you a lot and I would really love to spend the rest of my life with you.” he says bringing the ring out as he continues. 

“I would love to start a family with you, do you want to continue on this roller coaster with me?” You took the hand he held the box in and brought it close to his heart as you answered him. Immediately a huge smile was drawn on his face as he wrapped his arms close to you and kissed you first before putting the ring on your finger. 

#littlemeowmeowschimmy #bts #bangtan #bts request #bangtan request #bts reactions #bangtan reactions #bts senarios #bangtan senarios #bts reader insert #bangtan reader insert #kim namjoon #kim seokjin #min yoongi #jung hoseok #park jimin #kim taehyung #jeon jungkook #kim namjoon x reader #kim seokjin x reader #min yoongi x reader #jung hoseok x reader #park jimin x reader #kim taehyung x reader #jeon jungkook x reader

[fellvasile-blog]

58th Hunger Games Reaping

It was always ladies first.

The boys and the girls had been split up in the yard at the front of Two's Justice Center, girls to the right of the stage, boys to the left. The center aisle was open, save for the occasional Peacekeeper, but the crowd of Tributes were eagerly anticipating the drawings. Waiting for their perfect moment to volunteer. It was a big moment for the kids coming out of the Academy, clambering to volunteer and bring honor to their District. Fell waited patiently, eyes focused on the stage. His sister had talked about volunteering for years, Larka often teasing about how she wouldn't even wait for the escort to get the Tribute's full name out.

"I'm just gonna say it," she would tell him with an excited glisten in her eyes.

Fell would scoff, "Of course you would."

"I will! I'm going in that Arena, and I'm gonna come home a Victor. You know I can do it."

"Never said you couldn't, Larka."

The escort slipped their hand into the Reaping Bowl, swirling their had around the different names to build the anticipation. As if it was even needed; one of the boys near Fell uttered under his breath to draw the fucking name already. The Capitol was all about their theatrics, though, had to have some sort of drama thrown in there for the extra flare. Finally, they picked one of the folded pieces of paper, walking to the microphone and unfolding the name in their hands. Before they could even get half of the Tribute's name out, he heard the all too familiar words.

"I volunteer as Tribute!"

Fell snorted softly. Larka lived up to her promise, hand held high in the air and a triumphant smirk on her face. The escort called her to the stage and Larka made her way up the steps with confidence. Fell looked up at his sister on the stage, knowing full well she would be the one coming home that year. The two of them sparred often in training, excelled in the Academy. She was quick, agile, and could pack a punch despite her smaller stature. They were evenly matched, having their own advantages in their sparring matches. Larka was smaller and relied on speed, while Fell relied on strength and brute force.

"What did you do wrong?" he asked.

Larka was on her back on the mat, eyes closed and brow furrowed. He could feel the frustration radiating off of her. "Moved left when I should have dodged right."

"You could have blocked and countered. Can't keep relying on dodging."

She sighed, opening her eyes to look up at her brother, "Block one of your punches? It's like hitting a brick wall."

He chuckled, reaching down to offer her his hand. "Then you gotta build up some muscle so I don't knock you on your ass again."

Larka took her spot stage right, hands behind her back and head held high. She found Fell in the crowd and the smile on her face grew a little wider. She was meant to be a Victor, he knew that since day one. It was why he didn't volunteer, let Larka have her year even if it was their last. Going into the Arena together had never crossed their mind; the year before, Larka had insisted Fell volunteer, to get in before she would and they could have been the sibling Victors of District Two. But another boy volunteered and got himself killed by Mare Darrow of District Ten.

"And now, the boys," the escort announced, returning back to the bowl to draw out another name. The impatient boy next to Fell let out a breath, shifting anxiously. Fell stood perfectly still, gaze focused on the stage. He wouldn't volunteer, Larka had her moment, this was her year to win. She was much more personable, easier t get along with and make friends with. Fell was more distant, not as big of a fan of the spotlight as she was. The life of a Victor was for her.

"Fell Vasile."

Not much took Fell by surprise, but when he heard his name called, he was still for a moment. Perhaps waiting for someone to eagerly volunteer, or for them to realize there was a mistake. But when he looked to Larka on the stage, the smile had dropped from her face, letting him know he heard right. They drew his name. Fell started to make his way t the stage, a quiet murmur settling over the crowd.

"That's a fight I gotta see," the impatient boy murmured with a satisfied smirk.

"My money's on Fell," another voice mused.

Fell made his way up the steps to the stage, standing by the mic next to the escort. "Let's have a round of applause for our Tributes for Ditrict Two-- twins Fell and Larka Vasile!"

Fell turned to face Larka, no smiles on either of the sibling's faces. The idea of going into the Arena together never crossed their minds until that moment. when Fell's name had been called and they faced each other on the stage. They had to fight in the Arena, they had to go into The Games and kill each other. It was how The Games were, there was no way out unless someone else volunteered. But no one spoke up for Fell, and Larka had already sealed her fate. Fell reached out his hand to Larka and she took it to shake, their gaze never averting from each other.

"We should be allies," Larka spoke as soon as they were alone on the train. "We could easily dominate the Career Pack and take them out when we need to together."

"And when it comes down to us, then what?" Fell asked.

Larka opened her mouth to speak, but then sighed and let her shoulders fall. "I don't know... but we'd stand a better chance to make it if we're together."

Fell shook his head.

"Why?" Larka's question was quick, her tone sharp and short.

"You know why."

"We trained for this all our lives, Fell. It's The Games, they need to have their Victor. It can't be both of us."

Fell knew that. There was no compromise; The Hunger Games only had one Victor emerge from the Arena. And he knw Larka would make a good Victor for District Two. She was strong, fast, she could talk to a crowd without breaking a sweat or getting nervous. She had quite a few friends back at The Academy. What would he do as a Victor? Not as much as he saw Larka could do. He knew she was right, if they paired up, they could easily take out the other Careers. But when it came down to the two of them...

She wouldn't have his blood on her hands, he would make sure of that.

"They'll get their Victor," he told her. "But we're not going to be allies in this, Larka. You and I both know if it comes down to the two of us, one of us is--"

"I know. I know." She dropped her gaze to her lap before standing up from her seat, "We'll have to give them one hell of a show, then."

Fell didn't argue, letting her head off to her room. It had been the last time they spoke to each other before going into the Arena.

#ttwtask #meaner than my demons ʰᵉᵃᵈᶜᵃⁿᵒⁿ #it always ends in a fight ᵈʳᵃᵇᵇˡᵉ

[haven-raven012591]

Part of Me! (The Last Chapter)

Edit done by @wrestling-edits-af

@soulofaravenheartofawolf​ @wrestlingxbalorxrollins @crayzeebizkit @wweromanticfanfics @loveroflive78 @devitts-brat @briqueenofthenorth @adriennegabriella @iwritewwe @empress-with-the-crown @2sweetqueen @scuzmunkie @meremaidqueen @dolphinpink310 @balorbj @alexnine @balordominion  @calwitch @kittysilver86

Chapter 12

It had been a few years since Finn had purposed to her and now as she stood in the sweet of the hotel that they had planned on getting married at she was nervous. Everything had been planned to a tee. She was in her long white gown with a flowing veil and she knew he was in a suit and tennis shoes. She had told him that his normal suit would do that a tux was so not necessary or wanted by her she didn’t even want to be in heals and he told her that if she wanted flats or no shoes at all he didn’t care all he cared about was that his best friend was going to be his wife. After years of not being together as a couple but loving each other they had decided to write their own vows to each other and she couldn’t wait to see how he was going to work in Bálor.

Her demon king had been quiet as of late and she was beginning to worry that he was mad that she had long since declined his offer to become like Finn. “(Y/N) you look so beautiful baby girl and I am so proud of you.” Mary said. “Mom I can’t believe I’m here.” (Y/N) said and sat down licking her lips. Her hair was down her back mostly, some of it had been wound into her tiara that Finn had insisted she wear. He had found it for her and she wasn’t sure the beautiful crown hadn’t come from Bálor himself. She stood up and licked her lips again. “I’m going to need few minutes ok mom please I’ll be right out.” (Y/N) said. She kissed her daughters cheek and walked out shutting the door. (Y/N) closed her eyes and called to him.

Bálor was there when she opened her eyes. “(Y/N) you look like and angel, Finn is a lucky man.” Bálor said. “Thank you for my tiara Mo rí Demon.” (Y/N) said. He touched it and looked at her with what looked like tears in his eyes. “I wanted you to have a piece of me and my kingdom (Y/N), to wear today and to have always.” Bálor said. He cleared his throat and she shook her head putting his hand on her neck. “I am wearing your gift to me Bálor, the protection talisman I wanted you to be with me today like I know you’re with Finn.” (Y/N) said. He licked his lips and she leaned up and kissed him softly. “I wish this would be for you both Bálor.” (Y/N) whispered.

He cupped her cheek and she let a few tears go. “If you wish it then why did you say no?” Bálor asked. “I don’t want your power Bálor I just want you, I don’t want to have all your strength inside me as he does he is stronger than I am.” (Y/N) said. Bálor brushed away her tears and she leaned into his hand. “It wasn’t a refusal of the offer to be my wife and Queen it was a refusal of my power you only wish him to have my power.” Bálor said. She nodded and took his hand kissing his palm softly. “I love you and if this one ceremony could be for both you and him then I’d be your queen I love you as I love Finn I can’t tell you that any more than I have at some point my Bálor you must believe me.” (Y/N) said. He blinked and vanished.

She sighed and sat down again licking her lips and trying hard not to cry. “(Y/N).” Finn called. She shot up and ran to the door holding it closed. “You can’t see me that’s the only tradition I care about ok I don’t want bad luck.” (Y/N) said. He chuckled and she giggled smiling. “I just wanted ta say tat we’ve worked someting into the vows and it will be up ta you ta catch it and answer wit a yes or however you want ta say it.” Finn said. She closed her eyes as tears ran down her cheeks. “He’s not mad at me then he just left because he understood what I meant.” (Y/N) said. “Of course love were ya scared you’d lost him?” Finn asked. “Yes I was he just vanished and I called him my Bálor.” (Y/N) said.

Finn laughed and put his forehead to the door allowing Bálor to come through. She felt him through the heavy wooden door and put her hand on his and sighed contently. “I am yours my Queen never doubt tat.” Bálor said. “I won’t my king I swear it, Bálor I love you so much and I am glad you two worked something in so it would marry us as well.” (Y/N) said. He laughed and she felt it through the door knowing he was happy again. It was still weird to her after all these years to be worried about his happiness he was after all a demon and he couldn’t even show up for today. “It’s not fair to you Bálor you have to stay hidden and you’re getting married too.” (Y/N) said. “I will show myself to you don’t worry I can be here but not be seen.” Bálor assured her. “I see well you should go before they try and find you.” (Y/N) said. “I will see you very soon beautiful.” Bálor said.

She listened to his footsteps walk away and then she nodded to herself. “You know them you can find it and answer.” (Y/N) said as she fixed her makeup and walked out. Her grandfather was there to walk her down the aisle and she smiled as he kissed her cheek. “You look beautiful (Y/N).” Her grandfather said. “I am so nervous I can hardly think.” (Y/N) said softly. “Then don’t think just feel you’re going to marry the love of your life today and I couldn’t be prouder of you.” Her grandfather said. She hugged him and he kissed her forehead softly. The wedding march started and she saw him standing there in the gazebo waiting with his brothers and his friends. Karl hugged him from behind his forearm around Finns neck and Finn laughed.

“I thought I told you to never get married.” Karl teased. “Ya did but I can’t not have her as my own I’ve been witout her enough.” Finn said. “I guess you have a point if it was any other girl I’d fight you on that.” Karl said. “(Y/N) is special and she always has been.” Finn said. “Took you long enough to finally admit it if you hadn’t marred shorty I’d have killed you.” Seth said. “I know man I was an idiot look at her.” Finn said. “We are.” Luke said. Finn laughed and (Y/N) licked her lips and stopped. “Oh lord.” Karl said. “I can’t do this.” (Y/N) whispered. She saw then how his eyes changed and she froze knowing they were both waiting for her.

Her grandfather smiled and they finished the walk to him. “Who gives this woman to be with this man?” Preacher asked. “We all do.” Everyone said. She laughed and grinned shaking her head. Her grandfather laughed and gave her to Finn. “She’s special son don’t break her heart.” Her grandfather warned. “I couldn’t if I tired.” Finn said. ‘I’d kill you for sure if you did now.’ Bálor said is his mind. Finn looked at her and she smiled at him as one of his eyes changed to black. “To show their love for each other they have written vows.” Preacher said. She nodded and he smiled taking out his cards. She giggled and he looked at her shaking some. She gripped his hand and he calmed.

He licked his lips and looked at her. “I’ve known for years tat I loved you, thought everyting good and bad you’ve been there for me. When I was hurt and went home I let someone come between us tat should’ve never been allowed ta have tat power over me. But now as I tink back to a certain night more tan ten years ago before I met you I’d do tat night all again because it brought me to you, (Y/N) what I did made me stronger and more powerful and I did it out of love for another but as I stand here and look inta yer eyes I know I really did it so I’d always be able to protect you.” Finn said. She dadded at her eyes under the veil and he took a deep breath. She licked her lips and ran her other hand down her dress. She had little lace gloves on because she just loved how they looked and it was her only wedding day. She had another pair she’d give to her daughter one day.

She looked up and smiled as his eyes flickered and she wanted to touch him so she took the glove off her hand and gave it back to him. His skin was warm and soft she loved touching him and she knew that night was going to be glorious even if they’d already consummated their love. “It seems as if I’ve known you all my life Finn, when we met backstage at NXT it was fate I knew then that this was how a new love story was going to start for us. When you got hurt it was…” (Y/N) stopped and he put his hand under her veil. “It wasn’t love.” Finn said softly. She nodded and kissed his palm making him shut his eyes. She looked up and smiled again. “I’ve always felt you getting hurt was my fault for saying things I shouldn’t have to you. Maybe you had to go home and we had to all but stop talking to each other to figure out that you and I are part of each other. That night you mention you did you did out of love and I know that if it had been I that you’d done it for this day would’ve happened sooner. I accept all of you Finn including the part of you that gets painted up and acts like a demon sometimes.” (Y/N) said.

He laughed and the Preacher came back. “I would like to ask if anyone has any reason these two should not be married then speak now.” Preacher said. A woman then another stood up and (Y/N) looked at Finn. “If anyone says anything I will personally beat the hell out of you.” Nia said into a mic. They sat down and the preacher nodded and (Y/N) smiled at Nia and mouthed ‘Thank you.’ “Then by the power vested in me in the State of Florida I Pronounce you man and wife you may kiss the bride.” Preacher said. Finn raised her veil and looked at her with tears in his eyes they were mirrored in hers. “I love you.” Finn said. “I love you too.” (Y/N) said.

He kissed her long and slow bringing her close as he held the back of her head. She shivered and pulled back brushing his tears away and he did the same as he laid his forehead to hers. They turned and his eyes went back to the Ocean blue everyone loved. “It is my honor to present to you for the first time Mr. and Mrs. Finn Devitt.” Preacher said. They walked up the aisle and she laughed as he pulled her into the corner shadows as he changed. “It’s my turn.” Bálor whispered and kissed her heatedly. Her hands found his hair he picked her up making her moan. “Stop my king, my husband for now just for now please.” (Y/N) whispered and rubbed his arms. “It worked my queen you and I are bound together as one all I have to do is make love to you without changing into Finn and it’s done.” Bálor whispered. She rubbed his chest and looked up at him. “How long do you have to do this?” (Y/N) asked. “It has to be tonight my queen.” Balor said.

She looked at him and he looked almost sad because of it. “Oh love you were going to give me and him tonight weren’t you?” (Y/N) asked. He nodded and she kissed him long and slow holding his biceps. “I love you for it and I’ll tell Finn remember that you and I are part of each other now I love you Bálor.” (Y/N) said. “Because of our pact.” Bálor whispered. She shook her head and made him look at her by framing his face. “I love you because when he threw me away you held me close, you saved me Mo ri demon, you made love to me first never forget that I have your mark…the bite make can’t you tell them you’ve claimed me already?” (Y/N) asked. He laughed and kissed her heatedly. “Cleaver as the devil and twice as beautiful.” Bálor said.

Finns eyes shined at her now instead of the Black that Balor had. He kissed her and picked her up as she gasped and gripped his hair. “Both of you want me this bad?” (Y/N) whispered. “I do and he does too I wish I could get you alone for a few minutes love I just want to be in your arms and to be alone with my wife.” Finn said. She patted his arms and he let her down slowly. She fixed his tie and then took it off unbuttoning the first buttons. “That’s so much better you looked so uncomfortable.” (Y/N) said. “I have to have it on in the pictures.” Finn said. “The pictures…I…How will we explain your eyes?” (Y/N) asked as she rebuttoned his shirt and put his tie back on. “It doesn’t matter my love.” Finn said.

“I don’t know how it wouldn’t no one knows but me.” (Y/N) said. “I know about him and his Demon.” Amber said. (Y/N) looked at her and moved to stand between them. “It’s nice to see you again, I’m glad you decided to come.” Finn said. “I was surprised to get the invitation, I am glad you remembered that I was a photographer.” Amber said. Finn went to her and kissed her cheek. “Tank you for makin me make the deal wit Bálor it led me ta the person tat would love both of us.” Finn said. (Y/N) moved to him and put out her hand and Amber took it. (Y/N) wobbled instantly and tears ran down her cheeks.

Finn took his hand away and (Y/N) looked up seeing Bálor’s eyes. “I…I didn’t need to know what she did.” (Y/N) whispered her voice husky with tears. Amber laughed and Finn took (Y/N)’s hand kissing it. “I tink ya should go talk ta my parents my love I can deal wit her.” Finn said. “I love you but it’s time the girls talk this out.” (Y/N) said kissing his neck. “I will not leave ya ta talk ta tis woman alone.” Finn said. “I can feel your claws my love.” (Y/N) said softly. He rubbed her hip and she looked at Amber. “I won’t hurt her.” (Y/N) promised. He stared at the blond and kissed (Y/N)’s forehead walking off. “Now I would like for you to leave I don’t know who invited you but I know it wasn’t me and I’m sure it wasn’t Finn.” (Y/N) said.

“It was him actually I guess you don’t know all you thought you did.” Amber said. “I know all I need to.” (Y/N) said sharply. “I want to say that I’m sorry you get him since clearly you don’t deserve him or Bálor.” Amber said her eyes going black. “You hypocritical little Bitch!” (Y/N) said. ‘Call to me I can make her think you have to just call me and I’ll make you look like Finn.’ Bálor said in her head. ‘How?”’ (Y/N) asked in her head. ‘Just call to me and close your eyes I promise only she will see.’ Bálor reassured her. She closed her eyes and called to him. She felt the warmth crash over her in waves and she smirked as she opened her eyes. “How’s that possible?” Amber asked. “I assure you I deserve my husband and everything that is within him.” (Y/N) said. Amber nodded and left. (Y/N) smirked and went into the hotel and to the restroom looking at herself in the mirror with black eyes. “Why didn’t you tell me she had made a deal with a demon?” (Y/N) asked softly. ‘I didn’t know but now that I do she will be revoked and nothing is so sweet as pissing someone off.’ Bálor said.

(Y/N) closed her eyes and reopened them looking at her normal reflection and smiling. “Ah well it was nice while it lasted.” (Y/N) whispered softly to herself. She went out and found him and they took pictures and smiled at the photographer. “How’d ya get rid of her so fast?” Finn asked as he held you close. Your hands where on his biceps and your head was on his chest. “I used a piece of my husband that apparently I can use when I want to.” (Y/N) said. “I’ll have ta tank tat demon one day.” Finn said. “I need to talk to you about something baby when we’re alone.” (Y/N) said softly.

The day turned to night and the party that was going on was amazing. She had changed into a little sundress that way she could be more comfortable and she was laughing when he looked at her this time. No one could tell her that the world or at least all she wanted of it wasn’t hers or wouldn’t be hers sometime within the next few years. She was dancing with Seth now and she leaned into him holding him close. “(Y/N) I know I’ve given you a lot of shit for liking Finn and wanting to be with him and only him but I am very glad that you are with him now.” Seth said. “Aww look at you mister softy.” (Y/N) teased. “I love you like an annoying little sister, shorty don’t forget that.” Seth said.

She kissed Finn softly he pulled her garter off her leg and she laughed when Seth caught it. When she threw the bouquet Nia caught it and everyone thought it was funny when Seth put it on Nia’s leg. (Y/N) was sound asleep now as they landed in Ireland for their honeymoon. His dad and mom along with his family was with them. She woke up when Finn kissed her forehead softly. “We’re here.” Finn whispered. (Y/N) looked out and smiled knowing the airport in Dublin by heart now. “I want to take you somewhere.” Finn said. She nodded and kissed him long and slow. “I’m all yours Finn.” (Y/N) said softly. He smirked and his eyes went black. “And yours too Bálor.” (Y/N) whispered.

He smirked and she cupped his cheek kissing him again. “I do not have to take you my queen they see my love bite as claiming you which is why I did it then because you are mine, but tonight you and he may make love and I shall enjoy the show.” Bálor whispered. “I wish for you tomorrow night my king then you may say you made love to me as well on our honeymoon.” (Y/N) whispered. He smiled and was gone. “I wish he’d give me warnings sometimes.” Finn murmured. “He had to tell me something my love and he will be gone for tonight after we get to be alone.” (Y/N) said. “I don’t have ta share you tonight?” Finn asked. She saw the happiness in his eyes and she smiled more.

“No my husband tonight when we go to bed he will let us make love until we can no longer move.” (Y/N) said softly as they got up. “I tink where I was goin ta take ya can wait ten.” Finn said. She laughed and he pulled her close as they made it to the car. “Finn, baby this is beautiful.” (Y/N) said as she looked at the limo. “I want ta take ya to our cabin in style and we have privacy as well.” Finn said. She giggled and kissed him long and slow as she got into the back seat. He got in and she gasped when he pulled her into his lap kissing her neck and part of her chest. “Easy baby we have all night and all week.” (Y/N) said. He laughed and rubbed her back and laid her down on the seat kissing her passionately. “I know but we haven’t been alone in months.” Finn said.

She laughed and smiled when he started tickling her and she pushed him back and kissed him long and slow undoing his tie and the first few buttons. “True but I want to know where you were going to take me tonight.” (Y/N) said. “To where I made the deal.” Finn said. “I want to see it Finn tonight I want to know where you’re journey to me started.” (Y/N) said. He told the driver and they stopped and got out. She shivered and he put his suit coat on her arms. “So this is where you and he met and made the deal.” (Y/N) said. She looked at the little stone wall and the tree that looked so old and so familiar to her it was eerie.

She touched the tree and felt something shot up her arm and take root in her soul. “(Y/N), are you alright love?” Finn asked and went to her. As soon as he touched her he transformed into Bálor. “You remember now my queen?” Bálor asked. “I was here once with you I was taken from you wasn’t I?” (Y/N) asked looking up at him. “Yes but now I’ve found you again and this time I will be able to protect you better because I have an ally.” Bálor said. She looked at him and turned around to face him. “Finn and I were destined to meet because he has you, but if not would I be alone?” (Y/N) asked softly. “No my love you’d still have Finn just not me.” Bálor said. “I need both of you to complete me I cannot live without either of you both of you are part of me.” (Y/N) said.

Balor smiled and kissed her passionately then when he pulled back she was looking at Finn and his beautiful eyes. “I know he allowed me to see to know what went on and I am happy he and I are ally’s so you will never be harmed in any way possible.” Finn said. They spent that week with his family and seeing the sites around Bray and the little country side that was all around them and at night they would make love in his bed in his cabin that he had. Every day she woke to him holding her and with fresh wild flowers on her nightstand. She would listen to him for hours every day talking about growing up and playing. As the days flew by she got closer to his mom and the rest of his family and she came to call Ireland her new second home.

She was lying in bed waiting for him to get out of the shower now. They had been together for four years now and it was amazing to think that the first date they had been on was in this city and now she had huge news to tell him as well here. “(Y/N) you look so beautiful and so relaxed.” Finn said bringing her out of her head. “I am and I want you to come here and lay with me baby I have some wonderful news to tell you.” (Y/N) said. He smiled and laid with her bringing her close to his chest. “What is it love, now you’re scaring me?” Finn said. She kissed him long and slow rubbing his chest. He rolled over and kissed down her neck slowly. “See you doing this is why I’m pregnant.” (Y/N) said softly.

His head shot up and she looked at him as one of his eyes went jet black. “I’m goin ta be a dad?” Finn asked. She smiled and nodded putting his hands on her stomach. “I am about two months along and I just found out about it.” (Y/N) said. He kissed her long and slow then lifted her shirt and kissed her tummy. “Hello.” Finn said. “Oh my god did you seriously just say hello to your child that’s about the size of a gain of sand?” (Y/N) laughed. He smiled and laughed. They talked about what was going to happen after she had the baby.

“I am so happy right now.” (Y/N) said and closed her eyes. “I can see that.” Nia said. She smiled and rubbed (Y/N)’s belly. “How far along are you?” Nia asked. “I’ll be about 6 months in a few weeks it was so easy and with him it’s effortless.” (Y/N) said. “I love that you actually got married before you had the baby.” Nia said. “It’s so old school.” Renee said. “Well you’ll be like that too.” (Y/N) said. They laughed and talked about the baby shower that (Y/N) wasn’t supposed to know about but did anyway it was hard to keep things from her. She was soon sent home and she was alone one day when she got a call from the doctor. “Is something wrong?” (Y/N) asked. “No just time to find what you’re having.” Doctor said.

(Y/N) set it up for the next day knowing that Finn would be home and she had planned a dinner for when he got into town.  She was taking it out of the oven when opened the door. “(Y/N).” Finn called. She went to him and he held her close to his chest. “I’m so happy you’re home.” (Y/N) said. “So am I love it smells so good in here.” Finn said. She smiled and he kissed her long and slow rubbing her back. “That feels so good baby, the doctor called and I set up an appointment for tomorrow so that we can find out what our little angel is.” (Y/N) said. Finn smiled and they sat down and ate then he rubbed her back and she did the same for him. She was up now lying in bed looking at the shadows move in the room and she wished Bálor was there it was odd how at times she would want him around and tonight was one of those times.

Finn moved and she didn’t feel hands but a set of short claws on her belly now. “It’s a boy.” Bálor said and kissed her forehead softly. “I called you here when I was thinking about you just now.” (Y/N) said. “Yes, but don’t worry the question you had isn’t stupid or hurtful my queen the baby in your belly is human, all of them will be.” Bálor said. She looked at him and kissed him softly smiling at him. “I still think it hurts you to know that you and I will never have a child.” (Y/N) said. He held her and she went back to sleep. They found out that Bálor had been right they were having a son.

The months passed and she was thankful that her mom and his parents were there when she went into labor. She was rushed to the hospital and her mom called Finn and he flew home as soon as he knew that she was in labor. He ran into the hospital and was taken up to the delivery room. She had the baby boy without any complications and was in her room when everyone came in. “I can’t believe how good ya did love he’s perfect.” Finn said and kissed her softly. The nurse brought the baby in and they all held him. “What are we going to name him?” (Y/N) asked. Finn looked at the little boy in his arms and smiled at him. “How about Brendan.” Finn said. “What’s it mean?” (Y/N) asked. “Prince.” Finn said. She smiled and Finn laid him in her arms. “Brendan Devitt.” (Y/N) whispered softly.

#Finn Balor #Nia Jax #renee young #seth rollins #Karl Anderson #luke gallows #The Demon King #Balor

[peeterparkr]

Burn (Pt.2)

Part 1/ Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4

moodboard

MASTERLIST

Summary: Peter and you were friends, that was just until Tony Stark passed away. (Don’t hate me for killing him off :( I’m preparing myself emotionally for Infinity War)

Word count:  2096 

Pairing: After College!Peter x Stark!Reader

Warning: angst, alcohol mention, cheating, eh mention of 

(This is literally the first fanfiction I write/post here)

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tagging people:  @fame-works-quicker @peterstrainingwheels @spideypnw @falalaholland @the-crime-fighting-spider @parkergrimes @thehollandcommittee  @writtenbypics @hollandluv @spiderboytotherescue @princessunicorn13  @angelicspiderboy @taylorjrs13 @cinnamon-roll-parker

“Oh,” you let Peter go, “Right, The thing, the speech, I remember that.” You didn’t. You had forgotten every single word of your speech, good job, you thought to yourself. “If you’ll excuse me, Pete,” you leaned over but backed away quickly, not knowing what the heck you intended by leaning over. What alcohol could do. Peter just cleared his throat and stepped back.

“Happy,” he greeted your bodyguard.You looked at Happy and he gave you a questioning look, you smiled at him.In what it seemed a blink you were already on stage, having everyone look at you, some of them still had their pity faces plastered all over. You suddenly felt conscious about every single aspect of your persona; this was after all these years, 

The first Stark Expo and your entrance hadn’t been exactly as memorable as any of your father’s. That was meant to be a complete disaster, you thought. Well, it wasn’t really the beginning of the Stark Expo, the Expo was actually going to begin the very next day but you had decided it’d be more classic this way. And besides, you had to do it your own way, even if that meant people were gonna criticize you. They were gonna do it, anyway. Y/N Stark did differently, or Y/N tried to do it the same way but failed miserably.

Any scenario was meant to go wrong.

“Ladies and Gentleman!” You dared to speak through the microphone, your eyes landing on Peter, who was currently snapping a picture. Just like everybody was.You didn’t receive the cheering response your father used to get. You knew every single person here was here just to judge you.“As many of you know, I decided to bring back the Stark Expo,” you started. “Though I’m making a complete twist this time. This year, we’re taking it a bit too far.” No response, every mic was pointed your way, every cellphone, every camera. “You see, I realized… Almost everything has been invented… and these days, these years have been hard for me.”Everyone watched you.

“When Tony Stark died,” you cleared your throat as you looked down, not knowing why all of sudden those words had decided to come out your mouth, but that did get everyone’s attention. “Everyone lost a hero, an inventor, the Iron Man, a mentor, but me? I lost a father,” you fought back the tears, this wasn’t exactly the type of subject you should be addressing, you were so vulnerable. “There were a lot of things I would have loved to do with him, I would have loved to tell him way too many more, but I couldn’t, because sometimes life just likes to slip in and be a bit-be horrible, but you see, I’m not the only person who’s lost a loved one,” your eyes landed on Peter’s. “And that’s why, this year, I want it back, I look back on my memories, on everyone’s memories, and I know that we all miss him, so this year… Ladies and gentleman, this year, the Stark Expo will continue with my father’s legacy, and we will honor him….”

The speech was flowing, and before you knew it people were clapping and cheering, you smiled and walked out of the stage, people receiving you, asking questions, filming you, snapping pictures but you just smiled and walked back to your table just to down the remains of your glass. You started unconsciously to look out for Peter, taking a glass from each waiter that bumped into your way. You tasted it, no, it wasn’t Chardonnay, now they were serving champagne, you took another sip, Veuve Cliquot. And you continued your search, your path turning blurry with each step.Someone asked for the suit, the Iron Man suit.

 That’s when you realized that this was your party so you might as well have fun.

You smirked, “Oh, you mean, this suit?”You pressed your bracelet and the suit started to form around your body, people clapping as the red suit lifted you up in the air. Pepper Potts, or mom, as she had asked you to call her a few years behind, watched with disappointment and in disapproval. At least in the air, you could find Peter easier. 

When you found him, you landed beside him, letting out a laugh. He just stared at you. You took off the face mask and poked his shoulder.You didn’t remember much of what happened next.

//

You woke up with a terrible headache and the bright sun hurting your eyes, the white sheets that you tried covering yourself with didn’t help much. You dug your head under your pillow. Somehow even the sound your head made against the sheets bothered you. 

You ordered MINTS to close the blinds and then sat up, you looked to your side and realized there was a glass of water, some pills, and a note. You quickly drank the pill and read the note: “drink this, I know hangovers suck-your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man”

You paused, Peter.  For Peter to write that note he would’ve had to be in your apartment. Why would he be in your apartment? You closed your eyes but then clicked stuff up…

You quickly looked down at your clothes, you were wearing your pj’s, but that hadn’t answered anything. You looked over at the floor, no, there weren’t any other clothes. You feared yourself. But no one could blame you, you were heartbroken and the alcohol they had offered the night before was exquisite.And inserting Peter Parker after that combination could make you untrustworthy.You plopped back into the bed for a few seconds but then heard some noise.

You jumped out of the bed, regretting instantly by your head’s reaction.

“Hey MINTS?” You whispered.

“Yes, Miss?”

“What was that?”

“I believe Mr. Parker is trying to make breakfast.”

So, Peter was still here, which made you feel guilty. You put on a sweatshirt and glanced at yourself in the mirror, it wasn’t that bad. But you couldn’t just come out like that, right? Why was Peter in your apartment? Had… that happened?

You were hoping that nothing of which was going through your mind had happened. But it couldn’t, could it?If it had, then, you had surpassed yourself. You hadn’t seen Peter in years and if this was the first thing that happened then you couldn’t just believe yourself. And if it had happened, then you were mad because you knew it probably was just a rebound defense to try and forget him.

You washed up your face before walking out, about to face the consequences of having way too many glasses of everything. You made your way to the kitchen, passing by the couch, here you saw your shoes in the middle of the living room, and a blanket on the couch.You knew you could technically ask MINTS what had happened but you wanted that question answered by, and only by Peter. You walked into the kitchen, Peter was there, wearing a white t-shirt and some shorts. Those weren’t his, those were your ex’s. Why was he wearing them?  You stared at him, he was facing backward, so keen trying to fix something. 

You looked at the side, there were two cups of coffee, the black one, you supposed, was his and yours was the one with milk and probably a bit of vanilla. You felt your stomach sink, if your guess was correct, then he had remembered how you liked your coffee.

You cleared your throat, causing him to stop completely and shiver. He turned around to see you, dark circles around his eyes but gave you a smile.

“Morning sunshine, how’s that hungover doing?” He teased with a smirk, giggling to himself.

“Terrible,” you answered, and looked around. “Um-”

“Made you some coffee, it’ll help,” he motioned to the coffee. “The one with milk is yours and I added some vanilla.”

Well, you were screwed.

“Thanks,” you picked up the coffee and sipped. “Eh, sorry Peter I don’t really remember what happened last night, but if something did happen… I just have to say that I just went through a really bad breakup and I’m not ready for-”

“Wow, you don’t even know what happened yet you are pushing me away, already” he clenched his jaw and licked his lips. “You really don’t like me, do you?”

“It’s not that, Peter,” you answered, but he just looked down. “Well, what happened?”

“Well,” he leaned against the counter, crossing his arms. “If you think that we had sex, no, we didn’t, you were really drunk last night at the party, you kept flying around with your iron suit, you asked me to forgive you, and since I knew there were a lot of cameras in there, I asked Happy to take you home but you insisted on me going with you, so I came and was about to leave when you started crying again and asked me to stay, yes, you tried to make a move on me, but gave up really easily, you fell asleep on me but woke up later to give me these clothes, you then tried a second time to make a move on me, then cried and went to sleep, ring a bell, now?”

You pinched the bridge of your nose, embarrassed. “I’m so sorry Peter, you don’t know how embarrassed I am, I-” you hugged yourself, feeling how every single organ on your body was falling down in embarrassment, your stomach started to ache and your legs shivered.

“Oh, don’t worry, I was flattered,” he shrugged. “Y/N Stark picked me out of everyone for a rebound night, that’s just amazing,” he threw his head back with a fake laugh.

You watched him quietly, you didn’t know what to answer.

“Look, Y/N, really, I don’t mind, I was really worried about you,” he finally cut the silence off. “And I know that we made it really clear that we weren’t even friends but-”

“No, Peter, I-” you sighed.

“No, no, please, let me finish, for once in your life, please let me finish,” he asked you causing you to nod. “I’ve missed you, we were… pretty iconic, and I still don’t get why all of sudden you decided to push me away, and I know, I know it was just around the time when your father died, you see, I thought you just wanted me away for a while, and then, maybe I was a fool, you know? For thinking you’d come back after you healed-”

“I never healed,” you muttered but let him continue.“Well, not healed, because I, better than anyone, know that you can’t heal, but I thought you’d find me again, and be, just friends at least, but no, you disappeared completely, but somehow found ways to come back into my life, like when you sent the letter that you’d pay for my studies, but when I actually saw you at MIT, you’d always turn around, ignore me, as if I wasn’t anyone important, I just thought that we would be that way, yet last night, you only came to find me because you felt guilty.”

“Peter, I’m-”

“No, you don’t have to apologize, Y/N,” he shook his head. “I just need an actual explanation, did I do anything wrong? Did you hate me?”

“I’ve never hated you,” you looked away, avoiding his gaze. Tears were just about to come out, but you braved up. “I really just am that way, I tend to push away the people I care about,” you laughed cynically. “I push them away before they can be able to hurt me, and you know, that’s the reason of why Gabriel cheated, or at least that was his reason he gave me,” you fiddled with the coffee, Peter didn’t answer. “I… look, life took away from me the two people I loved the most, so I apparently decided to push the people I care out of my life before life decides to take them out.”

“And how’s that working for you?” Peter asked.

“Oh, please, Peter, don’t you ever feel guilty?” You snapped.

“Guilty? For feeling? For caring?” He shook his head. “It’s better to cry up a little than to be an egocentric bitch just pushing everyone away.”

You stayed quiet. “You can leave,” you told him, and took a deep breath, as a single tear was running down your face.

“There’s your breakfast,” he muttered just before storming out, leaving you in tears. 

#burn #burn series #peter parker x reader #peter parker imagine #peter parker fanfiction #peter parker x you #spiderman homecoming #spiderman hoco #spiderman x reader #peter parker x stark!reader #angst #dont hate me #alksjdkajjda

[lonelypond]

MoonLight Becomes You, Chapter One

Howdy! This is my @lovelivesecretadmirer2018 gift for @nico-nasty.The prompt was “Your Favorite AU” so here we are. No spoilers, you’ll have to read it to see, although there might be some guesses. It got more involved than I expected so I’m posting the first half. I hope that’s okay and you enjoy this, @nico-nasty. I tried to make it more Eli-centric than usual for me.

Love Live, NozoEli, NicoMaki, 5.7K, 1/2

Things Take A Turn

Eli Ayase, tall, blonde, quarter Russian, smarter and smoother than whoever’s standing next to you, was used to being stronger and faster and taller and hotter than everyone else. Part of why she had started hanging out with her housemate, Nico Yazawa, small, sable haired, dynamic, impossibly cute, was that Nico refused to be impressed or awed by any of it. Eli would wander into their bungalow’s kitchen and instead of drooling or dropping a dish or delivery a cheesy pickup line, Nico would just chuck a towel at Eli’s head and say, “Hey, Blondie, your turn to dry”. It was refreshing.

They’d met at Northwestern, both dance minors, and in the time honored tradition of Making It Big™, had moved out to LA together after graduation. The most serious disagreement they’d ever had was when Eli had discovered pineapple pizza and used their weekly take out splurge money on it. Eli was no longer in charge of dinner, ever. All food choices had to be approved by Nico via text or hand written note. Besides their Monday night indulgence, they took turns cooking, which led to their brightest idea, the Popcorn and Pelmini Podcast, where they talked movies and food, reviewing movies and describing the foods they’d cater based on the movies. LA was a hungry town in many ways and movies were everywhere, so Popcorn and Pelmini took off. Takeout went from once a month to once a week.

Tonight, Eli had strict orders to stop on the way home and grab pho and spring rolls, for a light Spring dinner, so she was was enjoying the walk through their Silver Lake neighborhood, after the afternoon at her part time job writing grants. While she lived for her chances to perform as a dancer or an actor, the solid job with the local performance academy allowed her to take a break and just focus on paperwork and meeting deadlines. It was soothing.

The afternoon had been bright, but suddenly there was a change in the wind and a bank of clouds raced in, darkening the day as Eli felt the wind push against her. Suddenly, her scarf whirled away, twisting down an alley Eli wasn’t familiar with. Her scarf twisted around a bike rack in front of two tiny storefronts, one had a sign with Cyrillic letters promising Tasty Foods, the other a crystal ball that mostly looked like a disco ball, painted by someone who’d never seen either. It was somehow a charming muddle, especially as it came with a whiff of rye, garlic, horseradish and dill from next door. Eli’s mouth watered at the thought of borscht or zharkoye, but before she could step into the store, a woman came out of the crystal ball shop. Tall, voluptuous, dark hair with an intriguing purple tint -- that was the only word Eli could think of to describe the curves the flowing fabric of a floral dress hung on, with turquoise eyes that caught Eli staring.

“Oh.” The woman put her key back in her pocket, “Are you here for a reading. I was about to close up?”

Sure, Eli thought, a reading, I can read books, you’re pretty, then realized that her mouth hadn’t actually opened, which considering what her brain had fumbled to was probably a good thing. Just stop at the first word, “Sure.”

“I’m Nozomi.” Her laugh almost tinkled, the smile was a soft, warm breeze and every waft of spiced air made Eli think dinner was cooking in her grandmother’s kitchen. She wasn’t sure she hadn’t slipped into the best daydream ever.

“Cool. I’m Eli.” Eli followed Nozomi into the store. Bookshelves, filled with knick knacks, books, candles, fabrics that looked hand dyed, and boxes of Tarot cards. Ah, now the reading offer made sense.

Nozomi led the way to a small low, wooden table in the back, two pillows on the floor, Japanese style. Eli was having a day where all of her ancestors were visiting. She hoped it was a good omen.

Nozomi knelt, putting both hands on the table, “So what brings you in for a reading?”

Eli was still taking in all the small details, so she answered Nozomi while twisted around, trying to read the book titles closest to her, “The wind.” Eli turned back to the table and now, Nozomi was watching her curiously so Eli smiled, “I like your shop.”

“The wind.” Nozomi reached under the table and pulled out a deck, “This is my oldest deck, I don’t use it much, but the wind rarely blows in such a…” Nozomi paused, “distinctive face.”

Eli took the deck, unsure if Nozomi had complimented her.

“Shuffle and think about what you’d like some insight about. Do you have a question for the cards?”

“Can I have your owner’s number” was not a question the cards could answer, Eli suspected. She wondered if there was going to be a change in the ordinary, orderly progression of her days. “Just some general advice.”

Nozomi’s face gave very little away but Eli might have guessed she was puzzled. Eli shuffled the cards expertly, Nico’s insistence on a monthly poker night had sharpened her skills.

“Place the top 3 cards face down in a row.”

Eli followed instructions, putting the deck aside.

“Now turn them over.”

Eli had, of course, seen Tarot cards before, but never really paid attention to the details. The first card was a man with a staff, holding off a group. You could only see the ends of their weapons. Cute little leaves were growing out of the staves, Eli wondered if that meant anything. She glanced up at Nozomi, whose face was once again difficult to read. Nozomi tapped the middle card, “We need to see them all together.”

“Makes sense,” Eli flipped the next card, which had a red devil dog person laying across the top of a clock that made no sense, staring at her, upside down winged creatures scattered at the corners of the card. Not even looking to Nozomi, she turned over the third card, still trying to make sense of the muddle she’d uncovered in the middle. Third card was an open fellow with a flower in his hand, setting out to travel.

Eli felt a little nervous. She’d never met the cards or Nozomi before, but she suddenly felt as if she’d let a secret slip out. But she had no secrets...well, except the big one, but if that came out in a Tarot reading, Eli would think Nozomi was the FBI agent monitoring her smartphone mic. Nozomi was now touching the center card with the tips of fingers, her other tapping on the table, “Not an easy read, Eli.”

“Does that mean I’m going to fly away, carried by upside down angels?” Eli really had no frame of reference for any of this, but was driven by an urge to see if she draw another bright laugh from the woman across from her.

Nozomi snorted instead, “The card is upside down, not the creatures. They’re all out of various mythologies. There’s so many hints woven together in each card. This is the Wheel of Fortune and reversed, well,” Nozomi hesitated, then rested her hand gently on Eli’s. Eli jerked a little at the contact, but did not pull back, “you may be due for some unpleasant changes and challenges as you roll through the cycle, but the seven of wands indicates you’ve conquered difficulties before so remember your strengths.”

“That sounds sensible.” Nozomi was giving Eli advice that could cover anything, but with the connections she was making with the images on each of the cards, the reading seemed less fabricated than Eli had expected.

“Expecting me to say you’ll meet the love of your life tomorrow at 3 p.m. and she’ll have…”

Eli cut off Nozomi, “No, I’m not that silly. I know divination, whatever your mystical beliefs, is a tool to sort through the things a person may be worrying about.” Eli reran in her head Nozomi ‘s last sentence, surprised at the “she,” but maybe Eli being a complete pushover about the reading had giving Nozomi a cue about her gay weakness for curves and sensuous smiles. “Besides, I’d rather have meeting the “love of my life” be serendipitous.”

“A romantic?” Nozomi took her hand from Eli’s and shifted the last card slightly.

Eli shrugged, “Not really. I just” and Eli grinned, letting her eyes do what she hoped was twinkle in a friendly fashion, “have expert level planning and organizational skills, which are great for work, but dating, dating should be something different...surprising, startling...serendipitous.”

Nozomi laughed. “You also have a distinctive mind, Eli-chi. This last card suits you, but don’t take offense at the name. It’s The Fool. It’s the bold start of a new journey, confidently stepping out to deal with whatever comes your way.”

“I like that.” Eli leaned forward, taking another look at the card, “He’s enjoying the air.”

“Maybe it’s a nice breeze full of Russian spices.” Nozomi swept the cards back into the deck, shuffling.

Eli chuckled, “Ah, you noticed I wasn’t checking out your shop. My grandmother is Russian. I miss her kitchen.”

“Today’s special is zharkoye. You should take some home to…”

Eli shook her head, “My housemate doesn’t let me deviate from plans since the day I decided to try pineapples on pizza. She’s expecting pho.”

“She’ll be wanting zharkoye, you know she will. She won’t mind. Just give her a wink.”

“You haven’t met Nico. My charms have no effect on her.” Eli stood, “but well made zharkoye might. It is technically soup with beef, vegetables and spices, and I bet they have dumplings so dinner wouldn’t be so far off from pho and spring rolls.” Eli reached for her wallet, “How much do I owe you for the reading?”

Nozomi waved away Eli’s offer, “Consider it a trial run. Just stop by again. Wednesdays they make an excellent zelyoniye shchi and everyday there’s borscht, of course.”

“You really like your Russian foods.” Eli shoved her hands in her pocket as Nozomi stood.

“It’s a very distinctive cuisine that has attracted my attention.” Nozomi opened the door for Eli. “Stop by when you figure out what the wheel’s turned to.”

Eli almost said “looking forward to it” then remembered that Nozomi had said “unpleasant changes and challenges” so nodded her head with a “Thanks, Nozomi” as she planned a dinner menu that would make Nico not mind the change in plan.

Eli returned to their small bungalow with two bags of food, having been lured by childhood favorites into spending more money than budgeted. Nico would go ballistic, but then she’d taste the food and downgrade her disapproval to minor grumping.

“Hey Nico!” Eli kicked the door shut. She could see Nico moving around in the kitchen, and then caught something out of the corner of her eye. Slouched on the couch, laptop propped on one of Nico’s impossibly pink pillows was a woman, red hair contained by a gray baseball cap tilted to the side with Refuse To Conform in a circular logo, dressed in green and purple striped board shorts and a black muscle tee. She glanced up casually, gave Eli a slow once over with extremely disinterested lavender eyes and snorted.

Eli put the bags on the counter, pointing over her shoulder as Nico moved to see what Eli had been diverted by this week, “Your stray looks feral.”

Nico snort was an echo of the mystery woman’s on the couch, “You should talk. That’s Maki.”

Still no help. Eli didn’t really like random strangers staring holes through her back so she pressed for answers, “Nico.”

Nico watched as Eli unpacked things that weren’t from their usual Thai place, “What did you do, Eli?”

“First explain Maki.” Eli hoarded the foil containers, enjoying the rich scents and knocking Nico’s prying hands back.

“Fine. You remember Nico was giving an interview to the Rice and Ramen cuties?”

Another snort from the couch, a burst of typing and as Eli looked back, Maki was sliding headphones over one ear.

“Yeah.”

“Well Maki was there. Turns out she does all their awesome music.” Nico hopped up to lean over the counter and blow a kiss in the direction of the couch, “So Nico talked her into doing some pieces for ours. It’ll take us to the next level.”

“NICO!” Eli knew her next statement would sound hollow when she’d just overspent their takeout budget on a nostalgia fix, but she said it anyway. “We can’t afford that.”

“She’s not a horse or my teenage brother so we can afford to feed her a few meals.” Nico opened a container and sniffed, “What is this?”

“I got blown into a weird corner with a Russian restaurant and a Tarot reader next door. She said they had zharkoye today and I couldn’t resist.”

Nico pulled out a spoon for a tasting, “Wow. Really rich stock. Nice. Nico almost forgives you.”

Eli unwrapped the steaming package of varenyky, “First you try the cabbage and mushroom, then later, the cherry and you’ll love me.”

Nico brought a stack of plates to the counter, “Hey Maki, you care what I put on your plate?”

“No.” There was a pop as Maki achieved full headphones.

“Is she actually composing music for us?” Eli ladled soup into three bowls.

“Yeah, she’s sharp, smart and really talented. Nico’s impressed.” Nico rubbed the end of her nose, “Plus, truthfully, Nico doesn’t mind the scenery.”

“Ha!” Eli was salivating, impatient to dive into dinner, but since Nico had drifted to that conversational lane, she confessed, “I met someone impressive today too.”

“Is she a Russian cook, because color Nico surprised.” Nico’s sardonic nature was a refreshing splash of tonic water in a world full of people outsmiling each other.

“No, the Tarot reader.” Eli sat on the stool, and started with the soup, having sampled the varenky earlier, “Her name’s Nozomi. She seems about our age. Not what I expected. Practical.”

“Practical.” Nico popped a varenky in her mouth, taking a moment for a brief murmur of enjoyment. “So what kind of package is practical wrapped up in?”

“Curvy.” Eli admitted, slightly adorable when abashed, not that Nico would publicly concede that.

“See, this is why we will always be perfect roommates,” Nico picked up the tray she’d loaded with bowls, plates and silverware and headed around the end of the island, “You like curvy and Nico likes...:”

Hungry as she was, Eli couldn’t resist the cue, “I’ve always wondered what Nico likes.”

“An audience.” Nico winked. Eli half turned on the stool to watch as Nico slid into the couch next to Maki, tray on the table in front of them. Eli was surprised to catch the redhead smile shyly when Nico was too preoccupied with food placement to notice. Maybe they were getting free music after all.

Eli had left her futon in the couch position. Usually, she went through her ballet exercises in the morning, but she had an audition tomorrow. She never enjoyed auditions...too many nerves, too many memories. Tonight, Eli felt especially jittery, almost feverish. A long session at the barre would help exhaust her enough to sleep. She’d be losing enough sleep tomorrow night.

Eli swept her long hair up into a ponytail, met her own eyes in the mirrored wall. Fierce determination looked back, a hint of sadness in the blue. Yes, tonight’s dinner had been a warm reminder of a time in her life surrounded by love, but it was also a time in her life when she’d been through the harshest of wringers, struggling to keep up with other children, other dancers, pushing down the queasiness as she stepped out on stage in front of a judging panel, desperate not to disappoint. Reaching a hand out to the barre, Eli breathed in, centered her weight and prepared to do her first GRANDE PLIÉ.

Nico had been lying in bed, a little restless. Maki had fallen asleep over her laptop, after Eli disappeared into her room so Nico had covered the composer with a blanket, sipped tea until the snoring started and went into her own bedroom with the door open. Sleepwear for new, cute, nice, if mostly inarticulate potential friend crashing on the couch? Nico had decided on fun SHORT sleep shorts with cartoon bunnies and a pink camisole. Why not be prepared for late night chat and sharing about music or dreams or professional aspirations. Nico fell asleep wondering what else Maki had composed music for and if Nico had run across her work during a voice acting gig.

“AAAAHHHHHHHH….no….get away from me!” Nico woke up, fuddled, heart racing, hair falling in her eyes. That wasn’t Eli’s voice. Nico sprang out of bed, hitting the light switch in the living room as she raced toward the scream. Maki was sitting up on the couch, staring around her, one of the glass doors next to the kitchen island open.

“Maki? Are you all right?” Nico shut the door, listening for anyone else in the house. Where was Eli? No response from Maki, so Nico moved back to the living room, sat on the table in front of where her guest was still looking panicky on the couch, hands gentle on Maki’s shoulders to command the redhead’s attention. Nico’s voice was soft. “What happened?”

Maki almost shuddered, “I...I think something sniffed me.”

“Hell…” So much for calm and softness. Nico snapped around and made for Eli’s bedroom. Sheets on the floor, no Eli, bathroom door open showing an empty room.

Nico walked slowly back to Maki, who quickly averted her eyes when she realized she’d been staring at Nico’s shorts. “Did you see her?”

“Her, who?” Maki was more and more confused.

Nico put her hands together, in prayer position, dropping her head into them and blowing out her frustration. She spoke slowly, “Was it a dog?”

Maki couldn’t read Nico’s attitude, “Maybe…”

“About this high?” Nico held a hand out, halfway between waist and breast height.

“Not sure.” Maki rubbed her cheek, “Just felt something damp and cold press against me.”

“Oh, Eli.” Nico muttered, ignoring Maki and heading back to the kitchen. The trash had been knocked over and bags from tonight’s dinner had been scattered, “What happened to you?”

Maki was standing behind Nico, suddenly close, “What happened to who?”

Nico turned, lip downturned, her face close enough that she seemed to be searching Maki’s eyes and decided to shoot off a question. “What’s your stance on cryptids?”

“Cryptids?” Maki had absolutely no idea what this conversation was about or why Nico was so intense or why she couldn’t stop staring at the tiny tiny flecks of deeper ruby flicked across Nico’s irises.

Nico stepped back, rubbing her forehead, then counting things off with her fingers, “Vampires, Big Foot, Yeti, Jersey Devil, Loch Ness Monster...werewolves…”

Maki tentatively decided to try breaking the mood, “Nessie always takes good pictures.”

Wrong move. Nico threw up her hands, stormed to the glass doors and a rant slowly gained volume and speed, “Wakes Nico up by scaring the life out of her, doesn’t bother to notice who sniffed her, then decides to be funny right when Nico has to figure out what to do…” Nico leaned forward, her hands on the doors.

Maki was having even more trouble than usual processing thoughts, due to being startled awake, events that made no sense, Nico’s rant continuing sotto voce, a craving for donuts and/or coffee, and being unable not to stare at the muscles of Nico’s legs as the hem of her shorts brushed them. “I’m…sorry.”

Nico stopped muttering and turned around, “Huh?”

Maki twirled a strand of hair, managing to almost look Nico in the eye, “I’m still a little fuzzy, maybe still partly asleep. I can help more with coffee.”

“Nico doesn’t have time for that.” Nico grabbed a bag scrap off the floor, “Dawn’s only a couple of hours away.”

“Dawn?” Maki guessed that had something to do with the cryptid comment, but it was only a guess.

“Nico has to get dressed. And play detective.” Nico dodged around Maki, heading to her room, but Maki’s hands were suddenly on her waist, spinning her.

“Explain. Please.”

Once again, Nico’s face was so close that Maki nearly stopped breathing, caught in a fierce scrutiny.

Nico gently removed Maki’s hands. “How about Nico promises to explain later after she finds her roommate?”

Maki’s turn to take a moment to consider what she could read from Nico’s face. Mostly worry, determination, some concern that seemed directed at Maki. Maki decided to trust Nico. “If you let me help.”

Nico nodded, then shoved a torn off part of bag at Maki, “Do you know where that is?”

Maki read the address, “Oh yeah, it’s pretty close to a few clubs I know. I didn’t know anything new had opened there.”

Nico tilted her head, recalibrating, “And Nico thought you spent all your nights on other people’s couches. Not out dancing.”

Maki decided not to answer as she calculated the best way to get there.

“Nico will be back in two minutes. Grab a snack out of the cabinets next to the fridge. Sorry about the coffee, we’ll stop if we find a place.” Nico paused and glanced back, “Pull some raw meat out of the fridge, there’s chicken. Storage bags to the left of the sink.”

Food would help Maki makes sense out of this morning. Being woken up by some kind of animal -- who has a ‘cryptid’ crossing in their living room -- hadn’t been pleasant, but watching Nico crisis solve in her pajamas was kinda fascinating. Maki didn’t mind following along for the ride.

Nico was driving, telling Maki to look out for a fluffy greyhound type of dog, nearly three feet tall, very light fur. They parked a couple blocks off the restaurant's corner. Wind was starting to whip up a bit so Maki zipped her hoodie, chasing after a Nico who was moving nearly as fast as the car had been, head snapping from side to side. Maki found herself listening, but it was still predawn enough that the birds hadn’t hit yawning yet so the air was a mix of distant cars and rustling leaves, with the faint thump of a bass line amped somewhere to the west. Maki pulled out her Tascam and hit record as she walked. It might fit nicely into a set when she wanted to slow down the mood for the night.

Nico stopped, which Maki only realized when she nearly caused Nico to fall, drawing a hiss from the shorter woman.

“Sorry.” Maki pocketed the recorder, wondering what caught Nico’s attention. A moving white animal seemed to be rustling in a pile of trash.

“How did she do that…” Nico muttered, walking quickly, but careful to stay calm, “Hey, Eli...it’s Nico. We need to get you home. It’s almost dawn.” Nico opened the bag of raw chicken. “C’mon.”

Eli. Maki just stood there, watching Nico approach the……...dog? Cryptid? Creature? Quick inventory, four legs, tail, not hunched over and tearing a spine out of someone, wait what if it started tearing the spine out of....Maki found herself slow running to catch up to “NICO!”

Nico didn’t turned but waved Maki back, which Maki ignored. They were approaching the two storefront corner now and the...creature...paused, sniffing. Then a light went on in the storefront without weird partly Greek writing and Nico and the creature turned, the creature with a single bark.

“Can I help you?” A tall woman with purple tinted hair loose around her shoulders stepped out of the door.

Maki glanced to Nico, who sighed, “Hi, new person.” Nico pointed, “Nico needs to get her into my car.”

Maki, hand on Nico’s shoulder, watched as the creature slowly, skittishly sniffed the newcomer, who knelt and smiled, hand out “That’s a popular hair color on this block, recently.”

“No it’s not.” Nico zoomed in, bag under the nose as the creature whined and stuck her snout in and started chewing. “Come on, E…” Nico coughed, “come back to the car, you. Nico needs her beauty sleep.”

Hopping backwards, Nico seemed to be successful in her attempts to lure as they were getting closer to her car. Maki jumped ahead to open the back door, which they’d left unlocked for quick grabs, then stepped to the side. Nico tossed the bag into the back seat with an urgent, “You can do it, get the treat, c’mon, do it for Nico.” The creature stared at Nico for a moment, then climbed into the seat. Nico shut the door and leaned back against the car. No way the chicken and drool stain was coming out easily, but that would be Eli’s problem, not Nico’s.

“Thanks, person Nico does not know. Sorry to disturb you this early.” She stood, “C’mon, Maki.”

Maki was pretty sure she should be offended that Nico had used that same tone of voice on the creature, but she slid into the passenger side as Nico tried to get around the new person. The creature had settled into the back seat and was licking its paws so Maki rolled down her window a bit.

Nozomi held her arms akimbo, “It’s no problem, Nico, right? I’m Nozomi. I was just up to go to the temple I volunteer at. That’s a beautiful dog.”

“Thanks.” Nico grumped, “She always attracts attention. And now I really have to get her home.”

Nozomi was confused by Nico’s brusqueness, which didn’t slow Nico down at all. She was in the car, turning the key in the ignition and giving Maki orders before Nozomi managed to say “Have a nice day.”

“Grab the blanket out of that bag at your feet and toss it over Eli, please.” Nico hit the accelerator. If it had been a manual, she might have shredded the clutch.

Maki unzipped the bag, “Okay, why? And why were you so rude?”

Nico turned from the road to grit her teeth at Maki, “Nico is always charming. But Eli is going to be a naked blonde woman in another couple of minutes and I know she’d prefer we all spare ourselves that sight.”

Maki shrunk a little, suddenly reminded this wasn’t an ordinary lost dog hunt and Nico still had a lot to explain.

Nico reached out a hand and patted Maki on the knee. “Thanks for helping out, Maki. Nico has to solo too often. It’s nice to have company.”

“Yeah,” Maki yawned as she dropped the blanket over the seat. She was ready to fall asleep again, as uncomfortable as Nico’s couch had been.

Something thumped into the back of Maki’s seat with a whimper, followed by a brief howl whine. Nico was holding her breath, hand frozen on Maki’s leg, “Eli?”

“Nico?” Rustling noises now and maybe some crying, but Maki didn’t want to turn around. She sensed that that would not be a Nico approved choice.

“It’s all right, Eli. We found you. You had a Russian food craving.”

“Why did I…” Eli’’s voice shook, fearful…”was that Nozomi?”

Nico’s hands were now both on the steering wheel, knuckle white grip, while her voice spilled comfort. “Yeah, but she just thought you were a lost dog.”

“Nico…” Another cry.

“Don’t worry about it, Eli. We’ll figure it out after we get home. Is your head hurting?”

“Yes.”

“Nico brought some aspirin, Maki’ll get it out of the bag for you, please, Maki.”

Maki nodded and Nico smiled. The pill and water bottles were easy enough to find. Maki handed them over the seat to Eli, whose eyes were red and almost as runny as her nose.

“Here you go.” Maki cleared her throat. “You don’t have to worry about me. I don’t talk to people. It’s just...well, Nico obviously needed help.” Nico snorted.

Eli nodded, her voice a tired mutter. “Thanks. Nico does a lot. She’s pretty amazing.”

Maki grunted. Nico crowed, hands loosening on the wheel, “Nico has a fan club now. Let’s hear some cheers, pretty girls.” One hand flew up to her temple, “Nico Nico Ni.”

Silence greeted that initiative but Nico couldn’t throttle back her cheeky grin. Which Maki couldn’t resist echoing. Eli just moaned, curled up in the blanket, miserable, head throbbing from trying to run wolf senses through human circuits. Nozomi had sounded so kind.

Maki had settled back in on the couch, Eli had gone to shower and Nico was making coffee. She wasn’t getting any more sleep and she doubted Eli would. Maki had been silent when they hit the house, yawning and stretching out under the blanket, still in her hoodie. Nico wasn’t sure if she should be impressed or worried by how noncommittal the redhead was. But that wasn’t the immediate problem. The immediate problem was that Eli only ever turned one night a month and last night wasn’t it. Or else Maki would not have been on Nico’s couch. Tonight, tonight, Eli would have been prepared. Tonight, no one would be on the couch and Eli would be sedated and sleeping it off like a bad hangover.

Eli sat down at the island, hair still wet, blue striped dress shirt still not tucked into her pencil skirt; Nico pushed a mug of half hot chocolate, half coffee her way. Eli smiled at the smell, “Thanks for the treat, Nico.”

Nico shrugged, swigging from her own mug, half coffee, half home made vanilla bean coffee creamer, “You had a rough night.” Eli nodded. “Do you know what happened?”

Eli shook her head, then opened her mouth to wave off the heat from the hastily gulped drink. Her throat was now going to hurt as much as everything else today. Cheerful. “I was restless, I didn’t actually think I’d get to sleep…”

“Nervous about the audition?” Nico asked.

Eli closed her eyes with a sigh, “Always. Then…” Eli rubbed her forehead, aggressively, Nico almost considered pulling away her hands, “there were smells and I remembered...someone friendly...and you were there...and I was hungry and wanted to go home???” Eli preferred treating being a werewolf like a sick day spent recovering from outpatient surgery: plan around it, refuse to let it disrupt anything and stay in bed to aid recovery. Very Eli. Control the problem, organize the symptoms.

“Nozomi was there.” Nico mentioned casually.

“I know.”

“Do you think it was because of her? This all started at puberty right, maybe it’s hormones?”

“Oh, and I’m suddenly going to “alpha” and start jumping on anything in heat?” Eli’s voice was scornful and she finished her drink quickly, the better to storm off.

“Eli,” Nico grabbed Eli’s hands, trapping them around her mug, “I didn’t mean that. It’s just…” Nico’s hands were warm, “people act differently when they’re attracted to someone. It’s not rational. And this close to the full moon, it might have tipped you…”

“That’s ridiculous, Nico.” Eli’s voice raised, Nico glanced to the couch. “I am in control of my emotions.” Eli shook off Nico’s hands. “I don’t know why it happened, but I will be making sure it doesn’t happen again.”

“Okay, Eli.” Nico deliberately ignored all the screaming alarm flares that Eli did not actually have the situation under control, “Just tell Nico if you need any help. I’ll make sure Maki’s not around tonight.”

“Thanks Nico.” Eli stood, tucked her shirt in, ponytailed her hair, buttoned everything but the top button and became All Business Eli. Nico, a master of presentation herself, was always impressed by how Eli never cracked the polished, professional, emotionless facade. If Nico hadn’t caught Eli sobbing, drunk and vulnerable after a bad breakup, one night their freshman year, Nico might have never known the caring, emotionally clueless, mischievous, sometimes straight up silly person under all the imposed self control. Dancers always pushed their bodies, training their minds to overcome pain. Eli practiced that on her emotions as well. Nico’s job as a friend was to get Eli to ease back on herself, but it was a struggle.

“Are you going to wake her up?” Eli asked, gesturing over her shoulder at the snoring redhead.

Nico’s answer was no, she was going to sneak out quietly and leave a note for the too cute to disturb visitor, then hurry home after her meeting with her agent, but she knew Eli wouldn’t approve of that. So she hedged. “Nico will take care of it.”

“Good.”

It had been a quiet morning at the shrine. Nozomi was back home with a cup of tea, pondering the scene this morning. The small, dark haired woman had been behaving suspiciously with the taller redhead obviously half a step behind on whatever the plan was. They didn’t live in the neighborhood, so their dog must have wandered. Unless it was drawn by the smell of the Cafe next door. Perhaps it was one of those Russian wolfhounds, Nozomi thought, bolshoi, no borzoi. She, Nico had called her a she, had seemed quiet, shy. So not a boisterous borzoi, Nozomi giggled to herself. Perhaps it was drawn by the smell, this morning, there was strongly spiced tea in the air, probably with dense, sweet tea cakes ready to dust your fingers with sugar. Thinking of the menu next door brought back a memory of yesterday afternoon and the tall Russian food aficionado  with the twinkling blue eyes. She wondered if Eli liked sweets, maybe she should start keeping them around in case the Wheel of Fortune rolled Eli back into her shop. Ah, but Nozomi stopped herself there, it was no good wishing for tall, pretty, stacked blondes with smart cerulean eyes to return, the Universe didn’t work like that. Although, perhaps a trail of Prague cake slices would work if Eli really did have a sweet tooth.

Nozomi sighed. She obviously wasn’t getting Eli off her mind this morning. She reached for her deck, the same one she’d handed to Eli and dealt three cards. After a minute to center her feelings, she turned them over. Five of Swords. A problem card. Next. Death. Nozomi drew a breath. Change. Upheaval. She rarely drew that card for herself, settled into a routine that brought her satisfaction, if not joy. What would the Future bring. Nozomi stared at the Queen of Cups, blonde hair cascading to her shoulder as she sipped from the cup where her emotions and thoughts gathered. Nozomi tried not to see Eli there, on a throne, graceful hands bringing up the cup to her glistening mouth. Nozomi, startled by the vividness of the image, swept the three back into the deck, discomfited. What did the cards have in store?

A/N: Hi! This was a gift for @nico-nasty on Tumblr. The prompt was Eli, Kanan, Nico, Maki and "your favorite AU." Which I was forced by my wife to admit was werewolf so here we are, an Eli-centric Bibi werewolf AU. The plot got more complicated than I expected (color no one who follows my stories surprised) so this is the first half. I'll be working on the second half in the beginning of March (i have a Christmas fic to finish and Casual Lunacy to continue). Hope you enjoy!

Also, there’s a playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLko9fiFcKQ05lK_hHMrTy790lh4LIwDLp

#Love Live #Ayase Eli #Nishikino Maki #Yazawa Nico #Bibi #love live secret admirer 2018 #fanfic #tag and search test