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sadnightforus · 6 months

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YOU MIGHT BE SLEEPING (LJY)

biker boyfriend!juyeon x gn!reader

SYNOPSIS: In an attempt to surprise you for the 500 days anniversary, he took you on a ride to his favorite places that are far away from the city, after various complaints from you that you found nothing to do in Seoul.

WORD COUNT: 3.9K

WARNINGS: none… we reached this point guys (besides the mentioning of Eric being a super rich guy that’s all). too much fluff *insert the crying waterfall emoji because normal emoji does not cut it*

A/N: don’t know if y’all know this but I was inspired by that one particular fanmade video. the og concept was supposed to have a bad boy vibe but he looks too good in that middle pic so I have to comply with this one instead. so cute, I’m kicking my feet fr. also omg full on fluffy soft fic from me??? I Will Die. 😭😭😭

ALSO THIS IS THE FANMADE VID.

reblogs, comments and likes are appreciated!

You’re bored of Seoul.

Don’t get it wrong, you don’t hate the city at all. But Seoul always has something going on. The streets look amazing during the day and night and there’s modern technology everywhere. Everything seems so fancy and lavish. You’re proud of how far the world has come.

Even though it’s incredibly hard to earn a quiet time for yourself since it’s a really busy city and if you want complete silence, you have to block out their own voices. It’s hard to ignore the presence of others when there are loud noises and so many people at once.

However, for you, it’s also the city of love.

You met Juyeon when you both first enrolled into the same college and happened to closely share a semester together due to the duo group work your professor was making you do (and the deadline was well over 2 weeks). Those 2 weeks were blissful, you used to think he was a bit cold and even more so, a bit too full of himself, since he is immediately dubbed as ‘the dancing prince’ and he hangs out with the popular crowd. But your first impressions didn’t matter because he was incredibly nice and polite, and was so helpful when helping you with the project too, be it ideas or just offering to take places in completing the work. And you both ended up getting an A due to the outstanding efforts you put into your work, which you have to thank your amazing partner for.

And after the project ended, he still keeps in contact with you, insisting that you’re quite an interesting individual to know and hope to develop a further friendship. A total lie from him because he later admitted that when you both got into a relationship with the saying that by then, he already liked you and he just wanted to see if he has a chance with you.

Now back to the present.

It’s Saturday and you both are on a semester break. You live with your roommate/coworker and she’s off to work already, leaving you alone in this apartment as it’s your day off today. You were cleaning up your room and wiping off the dust off the furniture when suddenly you received a phone call. You look at your caller ID and you can’t help but smile when you see who it is.

So you pick up, pausing your cleaning process so you can talk to him just a little bit.

“Hi, my pretty baby.”

That name never fails to flatter you and make your heart jump out of your chest.

“Hey there, pretty boy.”

You think you do a pretty job concealing your flustered face and tone (rightfully, sue him for reducing you into a mushy lover). Otherwise, you would’ve been so embarrassed if he knew he had done irreversible damage to you.

“You don’t have any plans for anything today, right?”

“Why? You wanna take me to one of Eric’s father’s fancy restaurants?”

“Great idea, actually.” He laughs, humoring you along. It’s no secret that Juyeon loves spoiling you. He had a hard exterior, according to all of your friends and you yourself. But when you guys began dating, they were subjected to the PDA between you two and their opinions on him quickly changed because just who is this guy? And plus, he also likes to take you on a new adventure.

Somehow, it makes you feel like a naïve teenage girl who’s dating a bad boy and you always wanted to ask him if he is truly one (even if you know he works part-time as a barista for his parents’ café shop). It’s hard to believe that someone as perfect as him can possibly exist. It’s unbelievable.

“I was wondering if you’d like to join me for today's exploring.” He shyly explains and you can feel his shy smile tugs through his tone. What have you done in your past life to get a guy like him wrapped around your finger? Whatever you were doing, you’ve done it right.

“If it’s Seoul, I’ve practically walked through every shady alleyway. It’s no fun.” You whine, your wet cloth cleaning off the dust is long forgotten amidst the phone call between you and your lover.

“It’s not Seoul. I wanna take you somewhere else.” He keeps it vague and you suspect that he has a surprise for you.

“Okay, let me clean myself up a bit.” You exclaim, putting down the wet cloth and hanging it up to dry from your bedroom (in your defense, it’s not dirty at all. You have a habit of wiping off your dust often and you definitely don’t have enough time in your hand to clean it right now).

“Can you pick me up in an hour and a half?” You ask him, strutting around in your room to go to your bathroom to freshen yourself up.

“You can still show up in sweats and I’d still think you’re the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen.” He says, means every single word of it because he thinks you’re pretty. So goddamn pretty he loses his mind over you and he doesn’t believe that he’s the one who gets to have you all the time.

“Lee Juyeon, shut up. I think I stink. Do you honestly like it when I’m sweating like a dog?” You make a gagging face while you’re putting on your cleansing foam.

“The sweats can’t wipe away your beauty.” His reply makes you want to bang your head into the wall so bad.

God, he’s such a romantic.

“I’m showering. You can save that sappiness when you pick me up later.” You furiously blush, trying to get him to end the call so you can get ready to go wherever he leads you to.

“I’ll see you later then, baby.”

And the line is disconnected.

You sulk a bit before putting your device back as you snap back to reality. But you’re also beyond excited where he will take you to today.

So you divert your attention back onto getting ready and hoping that the new things you’ve been wanting to try out will work.

“You look absolutely breathtaking.” Is the first thing Juyeon says after he comes to pick you up.

You decide to wear a black big cozy jacket, combined with black jeans and white shirt, which goes with his similar casual wear that he chooses.

There’s a spark in his eyes as he scams your whole body. A boyish smile yet so much of a shyness ticks behind that expression. He hands you a helmet, to which you still remember that the particular item is a gift from his dad who bought motorcycle tools equipment as a present for his 19th birthday and that includes the helmet you’re holding in your hand. You check to see if it has been unlocked yet. Once you see that it does, you quickly put it on your head, adjusting it properly before locking it and you gently hop onto the vehicle, excited for the ride.

“Are you ready?” He asks, wanting to make sure that you’re seating yourself comfortably before the motorcycle takes off.

“I’m all done.”

And you hear the engine takes off, as the vehicle takes both of you far away from your place.

The air feels fresher than usual, the atmosphere and the feelings remind you of the old Hong Kong movies you used to watch with your friends as a teenager. You always dream of doing something wild and adventurous to feel the essence of the ‘neon & loneliness’— something that has been used to precisely describe those types of movies. And now it’s like you’re living your dreams out.

If it’s a dream then you don’t want to wake up from it.

His soft woody cologne that radiates from his body all makes you feel like everything is in a daze and you’re the main protagonist of those films that you always loved. How did you get so lucky?

The motor is being driven further away from the city and you’ve crossed numerous luxurious stores and fancy places as you hold on tight to your lover. You’ve seen different kinds of people today; the sad, the happy, the singles, the couples, the divorced, the kids, teenagers, adults and you think you might’ve driven past celebrities by accident too.

Your eyes are trained to watch the road and take your worries off the daily life you’re experiencing today. You think though, instead, it’s making you realize something very precious about life.

People can be in a state of anything, regardless of their age. And they’re diverse, they have something to tell. Behind every person, there’s a story that is waiting for a person to uncover those. Uncover the deepest, best and worst parts of themselves.

You think you’re lucky that your boyfriend is the most gentle and caring person who always brings out the best part of yourself. Never once had you ever felt as if you were held back or restricted from good opportunities. He always encourages you to chase after your dream, while he steadily works towards his goal.

The short breeze through the city now has long escaped. You both are going somewhere unfamiliar, although you’re not sure how exactly familiar he is with where he plans to take you. However, you know better than to doubt him when he is quite literally the very same person with a really great taste in everything.

Your thoughts do eventually come to a stop as he drives to a gas station and by that time, it’s around 3 and a half in the afternoon. The vehicle’s engine is no longer running after he shuts the power off and you know it’s time you get off the bike.

“I’d like to fill in the tank please.” Is what he says. His honey voice, ever so softly, makes you wonder how people aren’t falling for him already. The staff comes to him immediately and helps fill in the gas as per request.

“Do you want to buy something?” He turns to ask you. “Or do you need to use the bathroom?”

“Not really.” You respond as you shake your head.

You both stand while waiting for them to pump the gas and calculate the bill. And when you both are done, he gears up the vehicle to signal that the adventure is nowhere done. You hop on it, excited to see what will be waiting for you.

You both leave the place,

Your boyfriend’s scent soon lures you to sleep, with you being barely able to open your eyes. It hasn’t been that long that you fall asleep together with him, but you both are somehow always away with the college assignments and personal workloads that are being dumped on you. Having him really close for the first time in 3 weeks does nothing but really makes you want to rest up.

And you think to yourself, hmm, screw that. He’ll wake me up when we arrive at the place.

Then you lay your head and close eyes as you feel yourself drifting further away to the dreamland that has been long awaited for you.

You woke up once you felt like you were being carried.

You didn’t register it until you felt the abnormality of the said body pillow that you’ve been resting on start moving up and going even gradually higher. It’s only then that you open your eyes, consciousness not fully hitting you yet as your exhaustion keeps luring you to the dreamland. However, since you don’t have such a habit of sleeping when you are being moved around, you try your very best to open your eyes and pray that the sunlight will hit your eyes, although it’s unlikely as the sky beams with the color of soft orange and yellow, like a beautiful fire in flames.

“Ju-”

“Shh, baby. Just sleep.” He shushes you, continuing to give you a piggyback ride. You immediately protest and almost go feral and also, almost cause a disturbance to him too.

“I’m wide awake, you can put me down and I can walk.”

“Nice try, but no.” He chuckles and you can already imagine the most annoying yet such a beautifully crafted boyish grin plastered all over his face. He’s lovely– that’s just who he is.

“But where are you taking me?” You ask, eyes now can’t close on their own as your sleepiness already wears off from talking earlier.

“You’ll see.”

And several minutes later, you both reach a part of a town that you’re sure has never been here before. He seems to be lost, with the way he hesitates to take a step further as he walks.

“But Ju…” You whine. “Can’t you tell where you’re going?” You plead for him to give an answer, you so badly wanted to know what place he will show you this time.

“Nuh uh.” He shakes his head a bit, still insisting on being mysterious and vague with the direction you’re heading.

“But will you put me down? It’s uncomfortable being carried when I’m like, awake.” You complain and he finally gives in, sighing as he puts you down and you almost stumble forward and fall as the gravity feels new to you and if your boyfriend wasn’t there to catch you at all, you’d certainly slip by now.

“Thank you.” You mumble out.

“You good to go?” He asks, offering you his hand to hold as you busk in a new, unfamiliar place together. His eyes sparkle up, light of hope and love, so much adoration stores up in a gaze of his that belongs to a person that you’re proud to call him yours.

You’re losing track of yourself with the way you keep looking at him without a word, like a dumbfounded teenager that has no idea what they should do when they harbor romantic feelings towards their crush. But he lets you, until you gulp down to wet your throat and proceed with the next thing you’re going to say.

“Yes.” You have a dopey smile on your face. “I can’t wait.”

And you both take one step, two steps and more steps forward. Until you get inside the mysterious building.

Your boyfriend is not a man of many words, but his actions are always sincere. When he speaks, he always expresses his love for you.

You can even say that in almost two years of your relationship, you never have to doubt his feelings for you. That’s just how transparent he is. You don’t think you can find a greater love than him.

With more steps further, you make it past the door and you see many abstract arts and paintings being hung, scattered all across the wall. Each frame and piece, colorfully coming together to make a piece of stories that is waiting to be told. The lines that piece it together, asymmetrically perfect in a way that it never seems to be out of place, although if you separate it, it wouldn’t make much sense to the naked eyes that only saw the remaining pieces and never get the chance to witness the beauty of the completion and harmony that lies in the form of crafts that you see with your own eyes.

Similarly, that’s how you feel about your boyfriend.

Not many people know him and you always had the impression that he was rather cold and closed off. That’s how he appears to the outsiders. The description of him from fellow classmates and his friends are drastically different because they never get to fully see what he is like as a person.

A person who is full of love to give to others, the one who dotes on others and is full of adventures.

Life with him is never boring, he brings a new kind of joy in your life. The kind of excitement that is dangerous, but you’ll let him lead you to go anywhere, even if it’s a thousand miles away. You trust him to keep you safe because never once had you been harmed or run into dangers.

He instructs you to stand in front of him, you do so without a question. He pulls out a silky fabric and you already know what he wants to do– blindfolds you for the surprise. You let him as he carefully wraps the material around your eyes in a gentle manner to ensure that it doesn’t hurt you.

“Hold my hand and follow me.” He speaks to you softly and you nod your head. “I want to show you something.”

In a sight of darkness that is hard to break from, you let him guide you. He’s your light amongst all of this and you know he’ll never let you slip or stray away. With careful steps forwarding on the stairs and going up, further and further and then the floor feels smoother without the anxiety of reckoning, it only takes a bit to finally realize you’re past the staircase.

You feel like time freezes and you’re not sure how much time has passed by, although you think it’s not that much. It’s by far, the most anticipated thing for you.

Then you hold his hand tighter as he takes you in this unfamiliar place.

You’re not the only one with so much adoration for your significant other. Your boyfriend is no different from you.

For Juyeon, being with you makes him feel like he’s in heaven. There’s no greater feeling than your presence around.

You heal a broken part of him that he didn’t know existed until you become the most cherished and frequent presence in his life, which is no doubt, loneliness.

You’re calming, intelligent and intriguing. You’re an open book, but also, a mystery that he wants to keep uncover. He can lose himself in just studying about you and he wouldn’t care. You’re that someone to him who he trusts, with all of his life.

When he inherited a motorcycle as a present from his parents in 11th grade, he usually rode it everywhere alone, even when he had friends. He discovered many fascinating locations, hearing every kind of life story from strangers whom he met on the road when he did his little exploring and witnessed people going through many stages of life. He used to watch people flirting and he wished that he had someone else to share his perspective and sightseeing with.

You came along unexpectedly and stole his heart away. He can barely imagine a life without you now. The things you do to his heart is unhealthy. You’re the sole reason that his burning passion for life doesn’t become something he deeply despises.

The once cold seat of the motorcycle is now replaced by the warmth of you. And he wouldn’t want to have it in any other way.

He has seen many beautiful things that calm and heal his soul, but none of it were you.

He thought beauty lies in the empty roads of complete darkness, or constellations and stars in the sky. But it’s clearly you, who is a Venus personified.

He’s in love and he’s not hiding it.

Which is why he wants to show you this view.

By stopping in his track as he has reach the final destination, he reaches to slowly the blindfold off your eyes, all while tells you to still your eyes closed and only open under his command.

Both of you walk further and further away, with the help of Juyeon who guides you in the desired direction. Cold breeze hits you and you realize now that you’re most likely on the balcony and not in the secured walls of this building.

“Open your eyes, baby.”

You let the light penetrate your vision as the skin that covers your seeing splits apart.

The view is breathtaking.

The sky turns into a light beat of deep orange, pale blue, deep pink and purple. You see the simplicity, the complexity and something so lively.

You see how the sky slowly turns itself into a pitch black, as the colors start to beautifully blend themselves, creating an unforgettable view that spreads through all across the universe from your own eyes. The wind blows slowly, as if to celebrate the magic of your shared happiness with him, which makes the moment even more unreal.

The lights that hang from there only intensifies its beauty.

You see polaroids of you both together being decorated, some you weren’t aware that the pictures were being taken. There are books and a table for dining that are put together like high end restaurants and you have no doubt that it wasn’t just a one day of work at all.

“Happy 500 days anniversary.” He tells you, hand gently caressing you. “This house originally belonged to my grandpa. He has since passed it down to me.” He states so ever so softly and you’re shell shocked.

“He told me that if I find someone special, I should bring them here. Because this house witnesses how my grandma and grandpa love each other and everyday is always special to them. For a long time, I didn’t understand what he meant because the idea of a lover that exists in a lonely person’s story doesn’t make sense. But I met you, my special person. I want this house to witness our love, too.”

You have tears brimming in your eyes as you listen to him speak further, all while his gaze lovingly settles on you and his thumbs wipe your tears.

“I didn’t know what love was until I met you. When you’re away, I miss you. When you’re sleeping, I wish you’re awake so I can tell you some jokes that make you laugh.”

“Me too.” You lose yourself into the warm brown eyes of his. “When I think about you, all my sadness disappears. It’s cliché, I know. But.. I think I’m so lucky to have you.” You choke on your own silent sob as he presses light kisses onto your lips.

“I’m so lucky to have you too.” He says truthfully. “I never believe in destiny, but I think we’re destined to love each other.”

And under the now moonlight that slowly shines onto you both, he cups your face and kisses you with all his might, as fireworks go off in the sky, as if to be a witness of this beautiful love story.

You don’t care for any of that as he whispers ‘I love you’ and you whisper one back too.

COPYRIGHTED BY SADNIGHTFORUS, 2023

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scandinavianfairytale · 3 months

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Doubt

Pairing: Tony Stark x Millionare Reader

Warnings: A few mentions of sex, but no act itself and a small age gap (7 years) between the reader & Tony 😊

"I think you two would be great together. He works a lot, you work a lot, he's rich, you're rich, he's a nerd, you're a nerd-"

"I get it, Pepper." You stopped your friend who has been trying to set you up with her boss for a few weeks now. She has seen you go through so many boring men that you were rolling your eyes immediately after someone offered a date to you. Experience taught you it will be a dumpster fire.

The last one turned out to be homophobic, ignorant and went into detail how his Christian ex-girlfriend was into public sex. As you listened to him you wondered if it wouldn't have been easier for you to just stay single. So you deleted all the apps and decided that you won't be going on any more dates any time soon.

And now Pepper has been pestering you about her boss.

Tony Stark.

In all honesty, a date with him worried you. He was a billionare, while you just made your first million, and you came from a humble home, still feeling weird and queasy when attending anything remotely fancy. The thought of dating a rich old(er) man confused you. There was a 7 year age gap, which doesn't seem much, but you've been dating guys your own age your entire life. And none of them could've ever imagined being as rich as you. Let alone as Tony Stark.

"Just go out on a date. I'm not asking you to marry him." Pepper pressed. Tony has been driving her insane, working at all hours, meaning that she was also working insane hours. So she figured...maybe if Tony gets a girlfriend, he'll sleep once in a while. And who would be better suited for him than her sharp-tongued and a newly turned millionare friend who was into robots almost as much as he was.

She has been trying for weeks to get you to agree. She didn't worry that much about Tony. If she was to mention a woman, he was on that subject immediately, requesting a date.

You, on the other hand, with your string of very bad dates...you were the tough cookie.

"One date." You stated.

"One date. If you like him, more dates, but for now let's go with one." Pepper smiled.

And then Natasha got involved. The sensual, no holding back friend that also knew Tony was "tasked" with your make-over. Not like in the movies make-over, the kind where she went through your closet and told you what to wear. She pulled out the black dress that was reserved for fancy dinners. Not a first date.

"He's a man. Not like the boys that you have been going out with. You need to pique his interest and you're not going to achieve that wearing those disgusting jeans." Natasha commented as she glanced at the jeans that you were wearing at that moment.

"He's dubbed as the playboy." You conutered.

"That's because playman doesn't exsist. Now go change."

As it turned out, the first date was actually really good. You actually had a good time. Tony picked you up himself and you went to a new art exhibition at the Met, followed by a dinner and a ride home. As you were about to exit his car, Tony took your hand and kissed the back of it.

"Thank you for the lovely time." He said with a smirk.

"Thank you as well. But please, let me get the next one." You smiled back as he let go of your hand.

"Deal. I do hope you forget that you promised to pick the tab."

"I don't forget things, Tony." You smiled before wishing him a good night.

As the weeks went on, you met with him several times. It was always interesting and you spent hours talking and he even made you laugh. You could feel hope and contentment bloom in your chest. That little anticipation whenever he called or texted.

And then it all came crashing down. You noticing that he started getting cold. He was texting less, no face times were requested. It just died down.

"He's busy with work." Pepper told you over the phone. Tony has been holed up in his lab for days, barely getting out of that room.

It's not like you weren't busy as well. You also had a demanding job and a life outside of it. And you understood the fact that he gets sicked into work, you knew from experience, but this was different. It hurt, because you got your hopes up. That he'd be different. And he was, much different than all other guys, but this time around you might've gotten attached. Which has never happened and it made you mad. Mad at yourself for feeling this, mad at him for doing this to you, mad at everything.

"I don't care how busy he is." You responded.

"Just be patient, he has never taken this much time for a woman before."

"That's because he immediately sleeps with them." You rolled your eyes, pacing around your still empty apartment.

"You still haven't slept with him?" Pepper stopped walking.

"Of course not."

"What do you mean of course not?"

"We barely spent 18 hours all together." Saying that aloud made your blood boil. How the hell were you feeling this way after 18 hours.

"You talk everyday, what do you mean it's been 18 hours? And so what?"

"I don't sleep with men I don't know. And if this is how he acts in everyday life, I think it's better I stop seeing him altogether."

"If you gave him a reason to continue trying it'd be for the best."

"If he's not interested in me with what he already knows, sleeping with me is not going to pique his interest. I'm done, Pepper. I'm not the type to sit at home and wait for a man's text. I don't care what his profession or reason is. This isn't me, nor is this my style."

You hung up the phone and angrily stared at the blank walls and the pile of boxes waiting for you to unpack them.

I can't believe that I'm feeling bad because of a man. You groaned before taking off your jumper and started unpacking. You put your phone on silent and threw it in the bedroom, away from your reach. You noticed how much it put you in a bad mood when you saw 0 messages from Tony.

It must've been a couple of hours when the doorbell broke your concentration. You made significant progress as almost all the boxes have been unpacked. In all honesty, you were mildly annoyed that you were abruptly taken out of your flow state as only 2 boxes remained.

"Why are you ignoring me?" Tony asked as you opened your front door, getting startled as you saw him standing there.

"What are you doing here?"

"You were not taking my calls. Can I come in?" He didn't wait for your answer and entered your apartment.

"I've been unpacking. And also that's rich coming from the man that has been steadily ignoring me for the past two weeks." You rolled your eyes.

Tony started opening your kitchen cabinets, looking through them. "Do you have any coffee? I could use a cup about now."

"You're not staying that long. And my coffee would be wasted on you." You snatched your speciality coffee from his hands.

"Why are you angry?"

"Because you showed up at my door, entered my apartment without my permission, and are now snopping around my personal things."

"You were angry before that." Tony pointed out and leaned on the windowsill.

"I was annoyed. Now I'm angry and annoyed." You glared at him.

"Okay. Why were you annoyed?"

"Because I feel like you're playing games." You confronted him.

"Regarding?"

"Me."

"I'm not playing games. At least not that I know of. Do you want to play?" Tony smirked and winked at you, making you roll your eyes. "Can you tell me what's got you upset?" He crossed his arms.

"It's been two weeks since we spoke. And then you show up at my place, accusing me of ignoring you."

"I was busy at the lab."

"I understand. I get how quickly you can get sucked up in work, I've been there. But I've never ignored someone I was interested in. A clear deduction from that is that you're not interested in me. Which is fine, but then you don't get to show up at my place, demanding attention. You don't get to act hot and cold and expect me to go along with it. I have an ego too. And also you pride yourself with being direct however you love playing games. There are hundreds of women who would love to play games with you, but I'm not one of them. I take no pride in becoming one of the notches on your belt."

"Great speech, a couple of things, though, if I may correct you." Tony straightened and walked towards you slowly. "I am interested in you. That's a given. How could I not be? Secondly I am direct and as such I can tell you right now that the reason why I was holed up in the lab for two weeks with no contact was because I needed to finish something before focusing on you. I want to spend more time with you. Take a trip or two." He paused for a second. "And have sex with you."

You let out a snort, feeling your face heat up slightly.

"Lots of sex." He was standing right in front of you, staring into your eyes. It made you insanely nervous, making your skin crawl, but in a good way (?).

"You made your point." You found your voicebut you knew it sounded breathless.

"Did I?" Tony asked before tipping your chin up and kissing you.

It was such a good kiss. God, you haven't been kissed this good in such a long time. Your hands pulled at his collar, trying to bring him closer to you, and together, you stumbled backward until his hand extended behind you, slowly pushing you into the kitchen wall and preventing your head colliding with the hard surface.

As you separated to catch a breath, Tony stared at you. "Still doubting my interest?"

"No." You replied firmly before reaching for him again.

Thank you for reading 😊

The GIF doesn't belong to me, belongs to the amazing creator 😊

My first Tony story! 🙌

#robert downey jr #tony stark #tony stark x reader #iron man #iron man x reader #iron man imagine #tony stark imagine #short story #fanfic #doubt #marvel

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locallixie · 1 year

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it’s a sign! — jongho

> summary . an unexpected romance was still able to blossom despite the silence between you and him.

> genre . fluff, high-school au, mutual pining, deaf!reader, reader and wooyoung are siblings, gn!reader.

> warnings . none

(wc) > 3.6k

(sunny’s note) ☆ description of hand movements (signing) will be in korean sign language (ksl), i’ll try my best to be as general yet accurate as possible to not offend anyone. i felt exhausted these last few weeks, so i apologize for slow uploads.

Quiet, it has always been so quiet. Never heard the sounds of calm waves, or the voice of your loved ones. You didn't even know how your name was pronounced. However, you liked how quiet it was. Your ears naturally already tuned out everything, easier to sleep peacefully that way, easier to focus since there wasn't any loud sounds bothering you. It was a blessing in a curse, being deaf for you.

Your family predominantly used sign language to communicate, but speaking was still a big part between your parents and your older brother, they didn't want you to feel left out. Cochlear implants were put in consideration before, however, they were quite expensive and your parents were unsure if you were ready for it yet. So for now, you would stick with the pre-existing silence.

Of course, going to school was a struggle when you have a disability. You couldn't rely much on your peers, the pacing of each subject was different but all were equally difficult to keep up when you weren't able to listen in with the lecture. It was scary going into middle school as a deaf kid, yet, it was another kind of terror to go into high school.

"You okay?" Wooyoung asked verbally while signing at the same time. Though this was your third year already, the sound of your heart felt like it was the first day of school. Riddled with anxiety, you hesitated to leave your brother. But you nodded nonetheless, half not wanting to further bother him, half just wanting to get everything over with.

"Text me if you need anything." Your brother signed to you before bidding goodbye. There was a new homeroom teacher this year, and some of your classmates from last year were also changed around. Which meant you were back in the position of having to familiarize yourself with everyone, and having to inform people that you were deaf all over again.

Your friend changed homeroom this year, you wouldn't be able to see him too often then. You barely know anyone here, either because some of them were newcomers or you just haven't met them before. The new people looked oddly intimidating, maybe it was the anxiety talking? But there was something about them that made them seem unwelcoming.

Laying on your desk, tired from the night before since you didn't get a good night sleep. Too anxious to go to school, worried that you might overslept, or ruin your uniforms. All the worst case scenarios kept popping into your head, not letting you rest until you worn yourself out and fall asleep.

A subtle vibration sent across the surface of your desk, gently notifying you of something, a presence. You weren't expecting anyone to approach you, since everybody were occupied with their own businesses, you minded your own too. You saw his lips moving, but you could not make out anything he was saying. Terrible at reading lips, and the other person wasn't aware that you were deaf.

He was confused as well by how you were not responding, if you were intentionally ignoring him while maintaining eye-contact. You placed a single notebook on your desk, 'communicating book'—it said on the cover, written in black marker ink. This one was your fifth or seventh one, you have lost count after going through several during middle school up until recently.

'Hi, my name is Jung [Y/N], and I'm deaf so I apologize in advance if I don't response to you immediately. We can talk through this notebook!'—Holding up the notebook to him, the first page was written beforehand. You slid a pen over to him, implying that it was his turn to 'speak'. That was how most of your conversation usually begin, on very rare occasions, you might be lucky enough to meet someone who could speak sign language. But for the majority, you spoke through the pages in your notebook.

The other wrote down something on the next blank page, he then showed it to you, 'Sorry, I didn't know. I'm Choi Jongho by the way, I don't think we have met before.'

Jongho was a new student, he spent the last couple minutes at the assembly to meet the other classmates, he must have missed you back there. Though you did leave with Wooyoung right after the opening ceremony this morning, so you two wouldn't meet either way. You couldn't understand what they were saying, why would you stay there any longer?

You two seem to clicked well, he even invited you to join him for lunch already. It was a bother having to write out everything you wanted to say to him, there were just way too many topics you wanted to share. Yet, he sat there, writing down every single sentence, every thought he had on his mind to keep the conversation going until the bell would eventually break you apart.

"Mom made you lunch, be sure to eat it. Do you want to sit with me and my friends?" Wooyoung spoke along with his hands. Your brother could be quite protective at times, it made sense since you were a deaf kid running around school without one warning sign. If something were to happen to you, he might blow up.

You replied, "No need, I'm sitting with a friend." Taking out the lunch box from your bag, wrapped up delicately in a light blue plaid cloth. You could already smell the pleasant aroma of the grilled chicken your mother prepared.

"You made a friend? That's good. I'll see you later!" He pat you on the shoulder, before leaving your classroom. Jongho was sat at a table, waiting for you by the time you got down to the cafeteria. You spotted him easily by the warm brownish colour of his hair—which stood out from a majority of natural black. You sat down across from him, placing your items on the table. The lunch today didn't look all too bad. Normally you would eat the lunch provided at school, but home-cooked lunch box was a thing your mother did every first day of school, a good luck ritual of some sort.

'You brought your own lunch, what are you eating?' The words displayed on Jongho's phone screen. You shrugged, not knowing for sure. You smelt chicken, and eggs, and stir fried vegetables, that was all you could guess.

Gosh, she went all out with the presentation, you felt bad eating it now that the bear head was made out of brown rice. The vegetables were cut out like stars and hearts, decorative picks were included on top of fruits. You appreciated the effort, but a bit of embarrassment stuck in your stomach. Would the other kids make fun of you for still having your mother make you adorable lunch boxes? You wouldn't know, but you wouldn't enjoy the teasing nonetheless.

Jongho smiled, he even giggled at the sight of your lunch box. "Don't laugh!" Signing towards him, a bashful expression stood on your face.

'It's just so cute~!' He typed out on his phone, chuckling at your pouty face at his comment. At least he didn't make fun of your lunch, its childish appearance simply asking for talks. You got out your utensils that was wrapped with napkins, finally began to ease your empty stomach.

Mid-conversation, Wooyoung came by to disrupt your peace. His intentions were clearer than day, you knew him far too well to be suspicious. He came to check out your new friend, having to meet his approval to continued hanging out with you. As a compromise, he bought you the soda you liked. Though, Wooyoung could freely be as skeptical and disapproving of Jongho all he wanted. Because you, yourself, felt Jongho was genuine.

You let out a dragging sigh, 'Don't mind my brother, he acts up every time I befriend someone new.'—Explaining to the other person after you were sure your brother was a far enough distance from the table you two were sitting.

'You two seems close.'—To which you just nodded and returned to eating. Wether or not these were intrusive thoughts, unwilling to admit the fact that he found you cute when you are frustrated. All pouty and grumpy, your cheeks protruding as they were stuffed with meat, rice, and vegetables. An angry chipmunk was the only suitable comparison.

Though you established many good relationships with your peers, you mostly spent your time hanging out with Jongho. After Jongho's multiple requests of being seated next to you, your homeroom teacher finally agreed to arrange you two together. Would it be better anyways? He could assist you with academic matters when he is closer to you, win-win situation!

‘You’re learning fast!’ You excitedly complimented. Recently, he has been picking up sign language to less burden you with always having to write as your only source of communication. You were glad to help him since he was learning on his own. Again, you slowly signed each character of his name with your hand, getting him familiar with the alphabet.

“Like this?” He asked as he started moving his fingers to sign.

‘Did you just sign my name?’ Jongho only smiled after reading your text, admiring the stunned look on your face. He knew more than you had originally thought, at this pace, he would be fluent in no time!

Feeling a strong vibration ran through your forearm, his phone lit up in a split moment. It was Wednesday afternoon, which meant you had clubs to attend. Jongho held his fist under his mouth as if he was holding a microphone, he was off to practice his singing for the upcoming school festival that his band will be playing at. Before he went, he turned around to look at you one last time as good luck. You just gave him a gentle smile, while moving your opened hand in a circular motion above your fist.

You were contented with the never-ending silence you had been born into, even so, there were definitely times you wished you could hear. After you met Jongho, you have never stressed over your disability more than you were now. Every-time you passed by one of his rehearsals, seeing all the girls and guys cheering him on with so much amazement in their eyes, you couldn't help yourself from feeling left out from the crowd. You have never heard your best friend's voice, and you desperately wanted to.

"[Y/N]!" He couldn't hide his excitement when he spotted you at your desk, calling out your name as he began running towards you. Taken back by how your immediately turned your head to him, like you heard every syllable that he had just now produced.

Jongho leaned on your desk, "Did you hear what I said?" Actually, not quite. Sounds were all over the place, you have never heard your name be spoken up until recently. You took a good week to recover for your cochlear implants, during it, you had gotten a little more used with your family members' voices and the way words were pronounced. However, you would need a lot more time to learn how to talk, and learn to live with all the noises of life.

You have never knew how loud life could become, like how the sound of rain was strangely calming, but the summer of cicadas were annoying. The most pleasant sound to your ears was Jongho's voice, soft and mellow, and full of fondness. That was one of your many exceptions.

"I'm not used to this quite yet." You continued to speak with your hands. You wanted to take your hearing devices off but your mother insisted you keep it on during school, she didn't realize how much that overwhelmed you with all the new noises everyday.

Jongho brought his hand out towards you, opened and asking you for something. A bit stuck, hesitating in seconds before you took off both of your hearing devices and placed them on his palm. Instantly, every and all sounds cut off, washed out and silenced.

Solely his gentle aura remained, smiling at you with the same look as the first time you met. Though you were able to hear now, there was just this special type of noiselessness around Jongho, a comfortable silence where you didn't have to speak to keep things moving. You liked that, you liked that quiet atmosphere when you were with him. Not entirely quiet, your heart kept beating violently, making your whole chest vibrated in an inexplicable excitement. It was calling out his name, and you couldn't even talk.

You were fine with being deaf, but you adored his voice way too much to remain living like that. You would happily trade any and all other noises to only hear his in your ears. As it echoed in the depth of your heart, you wanted to push yourself more with your hearing devices just to listen to him talk and sing to you.

"Better?" He asked in signs.

"So so." Replying, fiddling with the two devices in your hands. There were so much you wanted to say to him, but you couldn't quite express them neither verbally or through signing, they were all too complicated to be accurately translated.

The day of the school festival finally came, and you were most looking forward to Jongho's performance with his band. You came with your brother at first, but then he dipped to go with his friends—which left you wandering alone around school grounds. There were many vendors in the courtyard, selling handmade goods and delicious food items—most of them were operated by clubs, and some were from sponsors that the school invited.

Seeing some of your seniors selling sandwiches, you decided to came by as support. Yeosang was one of your brother's friends who was on the working shift that hour, he immediately greeted you upon seeing your arrival at his food stand. "[Y/N], how are you?"

"I'm good. What kind of sandwich is this?" Yeosang understood sign language quite well, you didn't know how he did, but he did. He was the some of only seniors that you were friends with—though many knew you due to your connections with Wooyoung.

"Just a grilled ham sandwich with cheese and strawberry jam, do you want one? I'll make you a new one." Yeosang put on a pair of disposable plastic gloves. What an odd combo, but it could be one of those rare gems for all you know.

As you were digging into your wallet for money, Yeosang stopped you. "It's okay, it's my treat. Just don't tell anyone." Though you tried paying, Yeosang kept refusing to take any money from you.

Despite the weird mix of ingredients, it was surprisingly tasty. You might ask Yeosang for the recipe to make some at home, or some for Jongho since you couldn't leave him out from experiencing good food. And speaking about Jongho, you haven't seen him at all. You figured that he was caught up with practicing and final rehearsals since his band was the only other performers besides from the indie singer that was invited for a gig.

A song suddenly erupted from your pocket, pulling your phone out as you saw Wooyoung's name above his number, he was asking to face-time you. You placed the phone on a bench before answering, since you couldn't quite speak well and would definitely have to rely on your hands to communicate.

"[Y/N]! Where are you? I'm with Jongho if you want to talk to him!" Wooyoung's face was very close to the camera, almost shoving his nose to screen.

Hearing noises from phones like calls was still a difficulty, and sometimes those darn glitches occurred and messed up everything. You had to tell him to move the camera farther away because you couldn't quite listen in with his voice blasting in the mic, and he all-together looked stupid. "I'm sitting in the courtyard, you left me, asshole!"

"Sorry, sorry, but Seonghwa came to visit so I had to see him." Wooyoung pouted, signing an apology through the screen.

"I want to see Jongho, put him on." You told.

The camera shook violently as your brother ran to Jongho, putting the phone in front of the boy for you to see. There he was, sitting with his lyrics in hand and warming up his vocals. His chestnut hair was styled nicely, he was dressed equally more stylish than he usually was, was that really your best friend? "Jongho, say 'hi' to [Y/N]!"

"[Y/N], I'm glad you came! Are you going to see my performance later?" Enthusiasm obvious through the glints in his sweet doe eyes, under that bad boy exterior which he had on today, your Jongho still shone through.

"I'll be cheering you on in the crowd!" You assured him of your presence during his stage performance soon later. "Good luck!" Before ending the call, you moved your hand in a circular motion above your fist as something extra that you wanted to tell him. Then the call ended, as they could only see your contact flashed on the screen for a split second and fading away afterward.

Jongho turned to his senior, "What did [Y/N] sign at the end? I haven't learn that one."

Wooyoung let out a giggle, patting the younger's shoulders before dropping a bomb. "They said they love you." He gathered with his friends, "Anyways, good luck on your performance, I'll see you!"

Oh...Oh! Jongho was shaking, in a good way. The pressure wasn't about pleasing the crowd, it was about impressing you now—which was so much harder, he really wanted you to have the best of everything. Each step he took leading to the stage, you were the only thing on his mind. This performance have to be perfect, because the one he love was going to be there cheering for him. Though he couldn't spot you between the sea of people, and he was running out of time to do so. Yet, he knew you were there, somewhere. Wherever you were, please know that he felt the same.

"Everyone, let's show some support for our performers!" The crowd began sending applauses throughout the gymnasium, band members pouring out onto the grand stage with their instruments. Taking a few short minutes to get plugged in and in tuned, sound checking the microphone and amps on stage. For the first time in your life, you got to experience your first concert.

It was an original song, God, the lyrics was so him. Jongho did have quite a stage presence there, and oh did his voice sounded amazing. You hated to admit, that hearing him sing was worth all the waiting you did before you got your implants. The sound made your heart vibrated, and everything as well. Speaking metaphorically, it was love, tugging on your heartstrings as some might put it.

After the performance ended, the stage entertainment was on hold for the next ten to twenty minutes to get the other set ready. You used that free time to go find Jongho. When you found him backstage, he was already helping his other bandmates with packing their instruments and bringing amps and cables back to the music room. Not wanting to distract him since those things were heavy, you waited outside for him to finish up with post-performance stuff.

The bassist, a senior that you only have seen in school and have yet to talk to, she spotted you outside. "Are you waiting for Jongho?"

You nodded simply, a bit shy to communicate with new people today. Even though you two have never spoke to each other before, she knew that you were Jongho's friends, because of how often he brought you up in conversation during practices and rehearsal. About how he desperately wanted you to hear his songs, how he wanted to know what your voice sounded like and if you would be a good singer, and how in love he was with you.

"Jongho, hurry up, your lover is waiting for you outside!" No warning, none at all, she yelled out. Filled to the brim with embarrassment, praying that he didn't hear the last part, or wishing that your device was malfunctioning back then so you wouldn't be caught in this situation.

After a few minutes, your heart pacing in your chest, trying your best to remain calm and not lose your mind. Finally, Jongho walked out. You were on the floor, contemplating wether or not you should take off your hearing device after what happened earlier. How could someone caught you lacking like that?

"Hey, sorry for making you wait." Jongho spoke up, scaring you with the sudden emerge of sound after it was quiet for a long while.

"No! Not at all! Should we go check out the vendors together?" You awkwardly asked.

He looked a bit on edge, as if there was something he was concealing away. The smoothies didn't help out with easing him much, and you were unsure of how to bring it up to him. Did the performance not go as planned or something? The silence between the two of you was never uncomfortable like it was now.

"So...um...I love you too." He spilt out. Quietly, lacing his fingers with yours as both your hands hugged each other.

You wanted to sign in reply, but he wouldn't let go so you had to sign with an extra weight. "Who told you?!"

His pointer finger slightly curving against his middle finger which stood up straight, the others curled in. "Wooyoung?! How could he?!"

Jongho technically saved your brother from getting killed, pulling you into his embrace before you could burst and go beat up Wooyoung. He felt nice, like a cuddling bear—at least if you could ignore the studded leather jacket he was wearing. You were hinting him all this time, confessing all of your feelings through sign language. Was it obvious? Definitely. Did he know that it was a sign that you liked him romantically? Eh.

"I love you." He signed back to you.

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hazyspiderwebs · 1 year

Text

Backup plan

Everyone knew the day you and JJ met that he fell and he fell hard. But you were in a weird in between of adjusting to your newfound independence and also your friend setting you up with one of her friends from out of state. You weren’t even used to getting one guys attention so now that you had JJ’s and a mystery guy that was waiting to be set up with you everything felt odd. A tug of guilt would come up all along when you and JJ were hanging out. But you tried to block it out knowing you weren’t doing anything wrong. You had made it very clear to him friends and friends only. And you excitedly told him about your upcoming meeting with mystery man. Your friend had managed to send you a picture of him leading you to admire him in front of JJ without realizing it at first.

“Dang I know I’m not the best looking but you’re all over him.” JJ’s words caused another wave of guilt to hit you. You tried to ignore his comment and changed the subject. As you counted down the days everyone around you noticed you were getting more and more excited. Kie was listening intently as you went over more details of your itinerary. She tried to be happy for you but her smile faded some. “I’m happy for you y/n really but are you sure you really want to go all the way there on your own?” The way she worded the sentence reminded you of JJ’s concern which immediately sparked your suspicion.

“Did JJ tell you to talk me out of it?” You asked cutting right to the chase. Kie sighed “Yeah he’s really worried about you ya know. We all are but him more so than others.” “I don’t know what’s going to happen while I’m gone Kie. And that’s the exiting part. I may fall in love with my future husband. I may get my heart absolutely shattered. It might be something in between who knows. But I just want to see what happens is that so wrong?” Kie gave a half smile in response and decided to leave the subject alone.

Your stomach was full of butterflies the entire plane ride. You had planned on sleeping on the flight but your excitement and adrenaline weren’t going to let that happen. The entire time you were meeting the new guy all you could think about was JJ. As much as you tried to focus on the person in front of you JJ stayed in the back of your mind.

As you arrived back home JJ was naturally the first to welcome you back. “Sooo tell me all about your new boyfriend.” He tried to fake his excitement for your sake but you could see right through it. You sighed in response not sure how to answer him.

“I think he’s been in front of me all along.” You answered without realizing at first. Both yours and JJ’s eyes widened at your sudden confession. “Come again?” JJ asked dumbfounded. “It’s you jj its always been you I’ve just been to oblivious to see it.” After that day you and JJ were an unofficially official couple.

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athenadione · 11 months

Text

'overcoming the fear of you and something more'

(What started out as a tiny drabble turned into THIS monstrosity of a fic, and nope I couldn't leave it without adding a little bit of *angst*. I hope you all enjoy, and find that opening yourself up to love isn't always a bad thing ;)

Read on ao3 HERE

Words: 9286

Rated: M

Fear is a fickle thing.

It’s usually something Raven can never quite grasp. On the rare occasion that she does, by then it evolves into something different, something more.

Something that she doesn’t want to name.

And as much as she knows that it has a tendency to manifest in a way she never anticipates, she shoves down that feeling at the dinner table in favor of ignoring it. The less attention she can bring to herself the better.

Especially since the root of it all is sitting across from her.

If she could she would be able to rationalize that her conglomeration of emotions are natural — a testament to her humanity rather. It’s good that she’s able to feel things so freely for once, but she can’t think straight right now.

Not when Damian is helping Mar’i settle back into her high chair, taking extra care to buckle her in and wiping the corner of her mouth with his thumb.

Her heart pounds in a way that unsettles her deeply at the sight, and she can’t help when her power takes hold of a dish on the counter and slams it back down.

It’s a good thing it’s plastic. And that Mar’i is used to loud sounds.

Emerald eyes flash to her with immediate concern, along with similar looks from everyone else at the table.

“Raven, is everything alright?” Richard asks her as Kori takes advantage of a distracted Mar’i with a spoonful of mushy peas in one hand.

“Ah, yes. I’m sorry,” the scrape of Raven’s chair makes her wince even more apologetically when she scoots back, “let me go set that in the dishwasher.”

“Oh, just put it in the sink and we’ll get to it later,” Kori says without looking at her, “I have to wash some of Mar’i’s bottles anyway.”

“You’ve been having more slip ups lately, is something bothering you?” Richard presses further, ever the nosy older brother.

Knowing that Damian’s eyes are still on her, even as she lowers to her knees to grab the plate off the floor, she takes great care to keep her voice even.

“I’m fine, don’t worry about me. It’s probably just a cold or something, you know I’ve been sneezing more lately.” That much was true. The turn of the season to Spring left something to be desired — which was clear sinuses. Raven was as surprised as everyone else to find out that a half-demon could get allergies. So lame. With the attention focused solely on her, Raven feels her desperation rising to change the subject. She clears her throat after placing the plate into an already full sink,

“So have you both figured out if you’re able to make Gar’s wedding?”

Richard chews the side of his lip, casting a glance to Kori before answering, “We think we can make it, but we’re not completely sure. I heard Jamie is going with his new fiancée.”

Raven raises a brow, “I didn’t know he had one.”

“We just found out this week,” Kori tells her, still battling Mar’i over the peas, “she seems nice, but we haven’t met her yet. She’s from his hometown.”

“Hmm.” Raven slides back into her seat, both hands going straight for her cup of tea. The conversation continues with Richard and Kori talking back and forth about Gar’s wedding plans with Terra. Apparently they finally decided on a venue out on the Grand Canyon. Raven thinks it’s fitting.

By the time her nerves settle enough to pick up her fork to continue with her chicken alfredo, she sees that Mar’i’s attention is back on Damian. Her little fingers reach for the necklace around his shirt, grasping the chain she knows has two dog tags on them — both with written words in Arabic. Raven hadn’t gotten close enough to try to read them. Not that she’s fluent anyway.

The slight burrow of Damian’s brows is the only sign of his hesitancy towards the little girl. Raven watches as he drops his own fork, then attempts to gently pry Mar’i’s fingers from them. Instead of letting go completely, Mar’i decides to grab one of his fingers in all of her tiny ones.

There’s that funny feeling again, working its way up into a lump in the back of her throat as Damian looks down at their hands in a quiet wonder. Kori smothers a laugh while Richard watches, looking strangely proud.

“She loves her Uncle Dami,” Richard says, chuckling when Damian sends a bewildered look his way. He motions back down to Mar’i’s fingers.

“They’re so… small,” he says, looking back to their joined hands.

“I know right? It’s crazy. I still can’t believe that we have her sometimes, it’s so unreal. Being a parent is…”

“Unlike anything I could have ever imagined,” Kori finishes, a faraway smile on her face. Mar’i swings her head back over to her mother, babbling in confirmation. Richard chuckles at the noise.

“One-hundred percent.”

Raven swallows hard.

The rest of dinner goes as smoothly as she can expect with the growing storm of emotions threatening to spill over with every stolen glance to the pair across from her. She forces herself to eat, if just to stop anyone else from asking too many questions.

Her mind drifts as the conversation takes another turn. To her friends. To everyone that had scattered with the winds over the years. Gar to adventure with Terra wherever they wanted — and about to be married. Kori and Richard, now settled in Blüdhaven with Mar’i. Even Jamie, apparently finding love in his hometown.

Damian had stayed with her in Jump. As much as she wanted to ask why back then when the Titans officially disbanded years ago, she still hasn’t.

Mostly because she’s not sure she’s ready to hear his answer.

Dinner is over when Mar’i begins to fuss, and it heightens to the point that she can’t be consoled. She doesn’t want to listen to the Tameranean lullabies of her mother, or the soft rocking of her father. She doesn’t want the warm milk Richard heats up for her, or even the pacifier that Kori tries to stick in her mouth. As time goes on and her parents run out of options, nothing seems to quiet her down.

Raven’s eyes soften in understanding that sometimes you don’t know what you want or need.

Raven takes the time to clean up after everyone while the screaming ensues, waving Kori off when she thanks her profusely and apologizes all in the same breath. Richard walks away further into the house, most likely in search of something to help calm Mar’i down.

“No worries at all, truly. Thank you for inviting us over,” Raven responds in earnest.

The invites had started to climb since Mar’i was born. It’s easier to invite them because of her ability to create portals. And the boom tube of course, with one now built inside of their home for easy travel. Still, Raven figures that both Kori and Richard haven’t had a night out in months. It’s probably also easier to have Mar’i at home, and Raven doesn’t mind in the slightest.

Except for the little moments that throw her off balance until she’s teetering off the edge into something she doesn’t understand.

Which has inadvertently caused her current predicament.

So focused on her own thoughts and rinsing off plates, Raven nearly jumps out of her skin when she feels a hand at her lower back. She doesn’t have to look behind her to know it’s Damian.

His touch burns her through the silk shirt of her blouse.

“Let me help,” he says, rolling up the sleeves of his button-up and his arm brushes against hers. The grip on her sponge slackens as a familiar heat runs through her. She takes a step to the side.

“I’m okay, you can—”

“Take her, please. I don’t know what else to do.” Kori unceremoniously pushes Mar’i up against Damian’s chest, and he’s forced to put his arms around her to keep her from falling.

“Just hold her for a minute while I run her a bath, that usually helps calm her down.” Kori runs away just as fast as she came, yelling across her shoulder, “Thank you!”

Mar’i’s face is an angry red as hot tears roll down her face. Damian wraps a hand around the back of her head to keep her secure against his chest while the other settles against her bottom. For a minute or two all either of them can hear is her high-pitched screaming. Raven holds back a grimace.

Then Damian starts to hum a low, foreign tune, while patting her bottom gently.

Raven chokes back on a suggestion, enamored by the way Damian seems to immediately calm her.

Mar’i hiccups, tears still falling but not as frequent as Damian continues his hum in her ear. It’s some kind of lullaby, that much she can tell. Mar’i moves her head to stare up at him with big eyes, just as bright as her mother’s.

Damian gently nudges her to settle her back against his chest in a move that makes her sigh with another hiccup. As Raven continues to clean up the kitchen by finding the tupperware and putting up the leftovers, Damian continues to hum and pat in a rhythm that quickly puts Mar’i to sleep.

The room falls silent while Raven sets the dishwasher to start. She glances back over in time to watch Damian place the smallest of kisses against Mari’i’s head.

It’s such a small and intimate gesture that takes Raven by surprise. It’s genuine, and raw, and the open look on his face nearly undoes her. Seeing this side of Damian with Mar’i only further threatens the hold over her power. She yanks back on the transparent black that encases a cup she missed, hoping that Damian doesn’t notice.

One look behind her shoulder tells her that he does.

“Grayson’s right. You have been on edge lately, any reason why? And don’t tell me it’s allergies because we both know that you were lying earlier.”

Raven just barely holds back her wince. She doesn't know why she ever thought she’d get something past him. For all the years they’ve spent together at the tower, she knows he can now read her like a book.

In fact, he knows exactly how she takes her tea, what time she likes to meditate in the afternoons. He even knows when she’s starting to get a migraine by the extra gel ice pack she finds in the freezer.

A frown tugs at the corners of her mouth.

He knows her.

So why does that terrify her so much?

“Honestly there’s just been a lot on my mind…” her voice falters, not able to meet his eyes because she knows he’ll see the half-truth in that statement.

“Raven…”

The sounds of her name from his lips brings her eyes right back up to his.

She knows he won’t push her — that he’ll always defer to her choice when to speak her mind. She also knows that he allows her to hear the concern in his voice just as he can hear the uncertainty is hers.

She starts to chew the inside of her cheek, a habit she had picked up after gaining the freedom to express her emotions more. A nervous one that Damian knows from the way his brows knit further together. She sighs, opting to ignore the question altogether and focus the attention back on Mar’i.

“I’m impressed, and a little jealous that you’re so good with her,” she admits jokingly.

Damian sees through her blatant attempt at avoiding him, but thankfully he allows it.

“I’m not sure why all it took was me holding her,” he admits.

“Maybe because of your energy. You’re always calm and so sure of yourself.” It’s just a theory but Raven has a hunch Mar’i might already be stepping into some of her power.

“I imagine Mar’i might be able to sense that.”

Damian looks at her, his face now unreadable, and Raven can tell that he’s analyzing her words — trying to figure out what exactly they mean.

No doubt from years of back-handed compliments from not only the press but also the socialites of high society as a Wayne. She briefly remembers an encounter with a Calloway that left with the blonde man on the floor of the Wayne Manor ballroom clutching his nose and loudly cursing. If Raven was correct, Damian had simply rolled his sleeve back down and walked promptly outside to the balcony, ignoring the stares that followed.

But there was no ill intent to her words now.

“I’m serious. Mar’i seems to be a bit of an empath in my opinion.”

“Hmm, maybe.” Damian says, although still unconvinced. Raven shrugs, then resists the urge to bite her lip, looking for a reason to cut their conversation short. She doesn’t want them to circle back to talking about her just yet.

“I’ll go look for Kori, maybe since Mar’i is asleep they’ll want to put her down.”

Damian nods, still patting the little girl in his arms in fear that she may wake again. Raven tears her gaze from him, if a bit reluctantly, and goes in search of her friend.

Raven had always felt close with Kori, even as a younger teen when trust didn’t come easy. Kori tore down her walls just as quickly as Raven had tried to build them back up. She paved the bridge of friendship between them and after a while Raven stopped running from it.

Now, with a little care and communication, they had grown together in a way that Raven thinks fondly of.

Yet with the closeness that Raven feels with Kori now, she can’t quite bring herself to talk about what’s been bothering her. Not that she’s figured it out herself. To be fair she hasn’t really tried, and has been avoiding thinking about it more than anything. But dinner has suddenly brought it to the forefront, and the only thing that she now knows for certain is that Damian is at its centerfold.

Raven finds Kori in the guest bathroom, kneeling over the tub on her knees as it’s filling with water. She gives her back a soft smile, feeling the exhaustion in her aura weighing on her.

“Hey Kori,” Raven says gently to not startle her, “Mar’i fell asleep on Damian’s chest. I came to see if you wanted him to help you put her down in her crib.”

Kori’s relief from her words is immediate, “Oh yes that would be perfect. I’ll go get them, thank you Raven — and don’t think I didn’t hear you cleaning up in the kitchen. I hope you know we didn’t invite you over just to clean. Not that I’m not grateful of course, but you’re our guests.”

Raven waves off her concern, “You know I didn’t feel obligated in the slightest, now go ahead and get Mar’i. I’m sure you and Dick are ready to settle down for the night.”

“I’ve only slept five hours in the past three days. I. Am. Dying.”

The graying circles under her eyes are more prominent now that Raven gives a closer look, although with her tangerine colored skin it looks more purple than anything. Still, she can’t help but feel a little bad for her.

“Maybe you can get a night’s rest tonight.” Raven tells her with a hand on her shoulder in sympathy. It’s a fool’s hope really with a one-year old, but Raven still thinks it’s worth saying.

“A woman can dream,” Kori snorts, then covers Raven’s hand with her own. “Thank you.”

“Of course.”

As Kori leaves Raven cuts off the water and pulls the plug. She has a feeling Mar’i will be skipping bath night as long as she sleeps soundly — and if Damian has anything to do with putting her down for the night, she will.

The thought of him again disquiets her. With a quick flick of the bathroom light, she strays back towards the living room and decides to take a seat on the couch to wait for them. At this point she knows it’s better to just stay out the way. Cleaning was the best way she could think of to help.

After a moment Damian walks back in alone while running a hand through the dark curls in his hair.

“She’s down. Kori and Richard are already in bed too. I think it’s okay to leave now.”

Raven nods and stands. Wordlessly she creates a portal back to their home at Titan’s tower. Even though they did disband years ago, it’s the only place that feels welcoming enough to stay.

Slipping through a wormhole of her own power always raises gooseflesh on her arms. It pulses through her veins when they both step in and back out in the common room.

Tonight it’s empty, but in a few days all of their friends will be in to visit just before the wedding. Somehow Raven had been roped into teleporting them all to the Grand Canyon the day of. She has a sneaking suspicion it’s more of an excuse for them to all be together in one place again — not that she minds.

She admits that she misses it all. Wait —

“I thought Jason and Rose were supposed to be coming in early before everyone else, shouldn’t they be here by now?” Raven asks.

The thud against a wall in a room further down the hallway is her answer. Damian scowls while Raven suppresses a smirk. “Well it’s a good thing there’s a guest masterbath in the bedroom I think they're in. We won’t have any awkward run-ins with each other.”

Damian snorts, “I’m glad that you’re able to see the positive in this, because I can’t.”

Raven hums in amusement, “There’s no other way to look at it now that they’re here.” She steps into the kitchen, “Tea?”

“Sure, I could use some before I go out on patrol.”

Starting the kettle is easy work, and the habitual movements help to ease her mind. Setting it on the stove, she reaches for two cups and grabs a packet of black tea and chamomile. Damian doesn’t have to tell her that black is his favorite, she just knows.

Sometimes it surprises her by how easy it is to talk to Damian, and the irony of that thought is not lost on her when dinner was so… unexpected.

“I’m thinking about inviting Kori and Rose to a girl’s night before the wedding. I think Kori needs a night out, and since Rose is here now I don’t want to leave her out.”

“Oh?” Damian raises his brow when he takes a seat on the stool in front of the island. “That could be… interesting.”

The corners of her mouth quirk together as she turns the dial to turn the heat to high on the stovetop.

“I just want her to be able to relax for a bit, and maybe talk with her about a few things…” her voice trails as she traces the marble in the countertop. “After tonight, do you think you could offer to watch Mar’i? Or even just go over to the house with Richard to keep him company. I’m sure —”

"Yes I can do that, just let me know what day.”

His quick response to her surprises her, and she thinks of calling him out on it but decides not to in the end. She’s sure he has his own reasons for helping too.

“Thank you, hopefully Kori will be up for it. I’ll check in with her tomorrow after she’s had more sleep.”

“Good idea.”

After that she brews in silence as Damian reviews the routes on his communicator for the night. They tend to alternate a couple of different pattern types, and have had to make some changes to include the docks for the next couple of weeks. Receiving an anonymous tip that a ‘deal’ was about to go down in the next week or so kept them extra alert. The details of that deal? Well neither of them have a clue, which is just a little worrisome.

Raven pours Damian’s tea into a to-go tumblr when it’s finished, knowing that he’ll want to take it with him.

She meets his eyes at the hand off, the brush of his fingers against hers sending a sharp tingle up her arm.

“Thank you,” he says, already making his way to the boom tube off in the corner of the common room that had just been recently installed.

Raven hesitates for a moment, the thought of the docks heavy on her mind, before she calls after him.

“Damian.” she waits until he twists back to her. His domino mask is already covering his eyes.

“... be careful.”

He actually smirks. “No promises.”

The flash of the boom tube declares his departure before she can respond. She rolls her eyes at his absence anyway.

There goes the root of all my troubles, off to make even more trouble.

Her hands cup her tea, taking a small comfort in the warmth it provides her.

What am I going to do with you?

It turns out Kori had been itching for a night without Mar’i.

Making plans had been easy enough.

Rose had wanted to go bar-hopping, and Kori wanted to bring over her new crochet projects. Raven decided on a compromise — a night in the common room. With lots of alcohol. And pizza.

It had taken both Rose and Kori awhile to warm up to each other and find some common ground, but after an hour or two everyone’s now laughing at one another in good fun. Raven’s sure the alcohol has more to do with it than anything else.

“Okay, so maybe a night in isn’t so bad.” Rose says, bending forward for another slice. The three of them had ended up on the floor of the common room, pizza boxes and wine bottles alike spread out. The heated flush of Raven’s cheeks is the only indication of her intoxication. Well, that and the wobble walk back from the bathroom. She plops down next to Rose with a chuckle from her lack of grace, waving at Kori with encouragement to go for another glass.

“I’m so glad we have Mar’i on formula now,” Kori tells them when she takes a sip straight from the bottle of sangria, “I’ve missed wine.”

Rose makes a face, “What I’m hearing is don’t have babies.” She barks out a laugh when Kori reaches across the pizza boxes to smack her arm.

“Mar’i is the best thing that’s ever happened to me. We’re just struggling with getting her on a sleep schedule. Once we do that I swear babies aren’t difficult at all. It was really nice of Damian to babysit with Dick tonight so that I could come over.”

Rose gives Raven a knowing look, “Yes it was, wasn’t it? I heard about dinner the other night. Mar’i seems to love Wayne.”

“Yes definitely, he’s —”

“Speaking of Wayne!” Rose cuts Kori off in favor of turning directly to Raven, “What is this weird thing-not-thing going on between the two of you? It’s driving me crazy staying with you in this damn tower.”

In hindsight, Raven should have known that Rose would pick up on her sensitivity. At least some of it anyway. The interactions between her and Damian a few days after dinner had been amicable of course, but Damian had known she'd been acting strange here and there for a while. Raven responded in kind, retreating to what she knew best and avoiding him when she could. Solitude in the face of internal conflict will always be her greatest ally.

Raven frowns into her glass, deciding to take another gulp of her own wine. “What do you mean? Nothing’s going on between us. We’re just —”

“Don’t even say ‘we’re just friends’. That’s bullshit. Have you seen the way he looks at you Raven? He makes you tea in the morning. Tea! And it’s your favorite too, I noticed.”

“Oh that?” Kori says flippantly, “They’ve been doing that for years. I thought that finally they’d end up together when everyone else left the tower. Dick thinks it’ll be another year before Raven finally realizes that Damian’s completely in love with her.”

Even through the haze of her growing intoxication, Raven gives them a glare. “That’s not true. As close as you’re implying we are, wouldn't he have said something to me? And besides, I like our friendship. A lot. I don’t want to jeopardize that.”

“Damian’s been keeping it to himself for a reason Raven. Everyone knows how skittish you can be about feelings .” Kori bumps her shoulder with a laugh, then takes another swig from her bottle.

“It took us years for you to finally be comfortable even talking to me about things outside of Hero work or me and Dick.”

Raven knocks back the rest of her wine and decides that she needs another glass. “That’s different, you wrangled me into your friendship.”

Kori looks affronted, mouth poised to argue when Rose cuts her off again, “Yeah I can definitely see that happening. I can picture it now, Kori cornering a young teenage and timid Raven to try and convince her to be best friends.”

“It didn’t happen like that.”

Both Raven and Rose stare at her in disbelief at the same time. Kori holds up her hands in surrender. “Okay, okay, it kind of happened like that but look how it turned out? Better than what I thought.”

“Hmm, true.”

“So are you into him?” Rose directs the question to her.

Raven rolls her eyes. “If I tell you I think he’s hot will you stop asking more questions?”

“No, so you do think he’s hot.”

“I’m not blind Wilson.”

Hot is more of an understatement in her opinion, and the new suit that Damian had opted to start wearing out on patrol was doing him many favors. Not that she would ever admit that to either of them. That would just be adding more fuel to the fire.

“So have you fucked him yet?”

“Rose!” Kori yells at her.

“What? I’m just curious. Don’t tell me you guys have been living together, alone , for years and haven’t fucked.”

“No actually, we haven’t.” Raven’s brows knit together as her stomach tightens from something she’s not sure. Annoyance from Rose asking deeply personal questions so casually? Or jealousy at the sudden intrusive thought that maybe Damian has, but with someone else? If so, did he bring her to the tower?

“So you two haven’t even tried to just have a little fun. You know, do something casual? Like friends with benefits?” Rose asks her.

“Do you know me? I don’t do casual.”

“And neither does Damian,” Kori points out.

“So maybe he’s dating someone.”

Raven looks back at Rose with a dangerous look. The wine in her system doesn’t help hide her sudden disgust. She ignores the flip of her stomach that feels like nausea at the probability of Rose’s theory.

“I’m done talking about this.” She says, tone final. “Why don’t we talk about how you and Todd broke in the guest bedroom last night. We could hear you two from the common room.”

“Damn right, that shit was good too. We haven’t seen each other in months . Some of the best sex I’ve ever had.” Raven smirks while Kori chokes on her bottle.

Jason and Rose are like fire and air. Mix them together and they become a fire whirlwind, burning everything in its path. It’s passionate, sure, but unpredictable and something that would always keep Raven on edge.

“Dick and I have barely had sex since Mar’i’s been born,” Kori sighs, “It sucks.”

“No alcohol or sex? Yeah, I’m never having kids.”

Kori laughs, “Never say Never Rose, someone might come along and make you eat those words one day.”

“Gods I hope not.”

“Who knows, Jason might be working on that right now.”

The room erupts in laughter, and the conversation only further derails after that.

Raven wakes with a gentle hand on her shoulder.

With a groan, she blinks groggily as her head spins from the alcohol still thrumming in her body. Somehow she had made it to the couch with Rose at the other end, passed out.

Scattered pizza boxes litter the floor, one open and empty with the other with a couple pieces remaining. She doesn’t count but she does see a handful of empty wine bottles grouped together in the middle.

She doesn’t see Kori as she scans the room, but her eyes do land on the person that shook her awake.

Damian.

His quiet demeanor is a contrast from the clear amusement swimming in his eyes.

“Where’s Kori?” Raven asks, the sleepiness still evident in her voice.

“I helped her back home, Grayson has her.” Ah. That explains the fading light of the boom tube in the corner.

“Oh okay, how’d it go with Mar’i?” she asks, accepting his hand to help her sit up. A wave of vertigo hits her, and she leans heavily on the arm of the couch.

“It went well,” he takes another glance around the room, “how much did you drink?” he asks, taking note of the way she curls back into herself on the couch.

“Too much.”

Another voice speaks up behind Damian. “Yeah that checks out, by the wine bottles on the floor I’m sure you’re all still plastered.”

Jason.

She turns her attention to the end of the couch where he scoops up Rose effortlessly. She doesn’t even move in the slightest.

“You’re heavy as shit.” Jason talks down to her, but Raven can see the fondness in his eyes that betrays the truth. Rose isn’t heavy at all, and Jason’s enjoying having her around.

“See ya Wayne, Raven. Gonna take this one to bed.”

Damian spares him another glance, “Night.”

“Don’t you want to sleep in your bed too?” he asks her, leaning over a little closer that makes her heart jump.

The thought of getting up right now and walking anywhere is so unappealing that Raven burrows back further into the couch.

“It’s okay, just leave me here. I’m sure I’ll be fine in the morning.” Intoxication didn’t last as long for a half-demon.

She closes her eyes with a small yawn, sleep threatening to take back over, which is perfectly fine with her. That way she doesn’t have to dissect the way Damian is looking at her right now, another unreadable expression on his face. Reading him had never been easy, but now with her own emotions at war with themselves, they’ve gotten in the way of being able to determine his.

There’s another moment of silence between them when Raven realizes that Damian is actually weighing the pros and cons of a decision. She opens her mouth, is about to ask him what’s wrong, when he stoops down closer to her.

One of his arms weaves its way around her waist while the other settles under the back of her knees.

A small squeak of surprise escapes her when he lifts her, cuddling her body close to his chest. Her arms wrap around his neck instinctually to help stay balanced in his own.

“You’ll get a cramp in your neck if you sleep here,” he says simply, explaining away the question in her eyes.

“I can walk to my bedroom if I wanted to Damian,” she reasons with him, though not exactly resisting as he continues to carry her down the hallway.

“I know,” his breath is warm on her neck, “but you didn’t want to.”

Raven holds her tongue, only because she knows he’s right — and he does too from the small smirk on his face. Thankfully he doesn’t say anything else when they get to her bedroom, and the door scans her for entry.

It slides open and Damian steps inside. Raven suddenly feels uncomfortable with him seeing her room. It’s not like he hasn't seen it before.

But he hasn’t, at least not now that she doesn’t even know what to think of him anymore. Not when she feels so… vulnerable.

It’s cozy, and packed full of things but not messy. The shelves need dusting, and the books need to be re-stacked. It’s a show of her true nature — organized chaos. Damian doesn’t seem to mind. He only takes a short glance, probably out of her respect for privacy, and walks straight to her bed.

He helps her slide under the covers, and is careful not to touch her more than necessary. It makes her heart squeeze. This barrier that seems to be growing between them since dinner is unwanted, but she feels helpless to fix.

Damian hesitates as he leans over her, the closeness between them oddly intimate. She notices his dog tags have slipped out of his shirt, and she impulsively reaches for them. He watches quizzically as her fingers glide over the indentations.

She doesn’t know if it’s the alcohol, or the sudden change in tension between them, but she finally decides to indulge in her curiosity.

“What do they say?” she asks him.

“laā yuhimmu kam ʾanta baṭīʾ ṭaalamā ʾannaka lan tatawaqqaf. It means ‘It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.’”

The air feels heavy when Raven takes a breath, “and the other one?”

Damian gives her a look, one that holds too many emotions for her to understand.

“I’ll tell you what that one means another time.”

For the first time in a long time Titan’s Tower is full of heroes.

There’s an excited energy all around as the rooms fill with chatter as more and more people begin to show, dressed up for the wedding. Some people hadn’t seen each other in years.

Raven’s content to keep to herself in one corner of the common room, exchanging pleasantries with the people who approach her. Damian is somewhere in the chaos, but she doesn’t try to look for him yet. Not when just thinking about him is causing her stomach to tie into knots.

“Hey Raven, it’s good to see you!”

Raven turns with a smile. “It’s good to see you too Donna, you look great.” Her black dress covered in sequins accentuated her curves in a way that made many heads turn at her arrival. That and her charming personality can make anyone she wants to fall to their knees in front of her.

“Me? You look breathtaking, girl. Blue is such a good color on you.”

Raven accepts the compliment with grace, something she’s been working more on doing. She slides a hand over her satin dress. The ends of it reach her toes, with a long slit up one side that gives everyone a slight tease of a long leg. Her black heels only emphasize the swell of her calf, the ankle strap a final touch.

“Thank you. How are you?”

“Oh fantastic, work has been going well and crime is starting to slow down. Maybe because we’re finally getting some good weather and people want to enjoy it for a change. Who knows. How’s patrol in Jump going? I spoke with Wayne earlier and heard that there might be some kind of trade deal at the docks?”

“Yeah,” Raven sighs, walking Donna to the kitchen in search of something to drink, “Last night there was some movement, but not much else going on. I’m starting to think it’s all a hoax but I don't know. I guess we’ll find out soon.”

“Hmm, well there’s no need to worry about it right now. Wayne doesn’t seem too worried about it either so I’m sure it’ll be fine.”

Raven holds back the retort that she isn’t worried, and that Donna’s the one who brought it up in the first place.

“Yeah, punch?” Raven asks her, gesturing to the island in the middle of their kitchen. An assortment of light snacks filled the table, along with punch, tea, and water. Raven’s grateful that Kori came over earlier to help her and Damian put it all together.

“Oh nice, thanks. So…” Donna trails, smiling sheepishly when she accepts the glass Raven hands her, “is Damian seeing anyone by chance?”

Raven’s hold tightens on her own glass of water she poured for herself. “Not that I’m aware of.”

“Oh good, I was thinking about asking him out later after the wedding. It’d be nice to catch up in Jump again — see what all’s changed.”

“Go for it.” Raven clears her throat when Donna gives her an odd look at her curt tone, “I just mean I’m sure he’d… appreciate the company.”

“Are you sure? Because if you’re —”

Raven’s not exactly sure what Donna is about to say but she doesn’t let her say it at all. “I’m not. You should ask him.”

Donna blinks, then laughs, “It looks like some things haven’t changed after all. Don’t worry, I won’t.” She throws her a wink, “I’ll see if Roy is free tonight. I’ve always had a thing for red-heads anyway.”

Raven deigns not to answer, instead taking a long drink of her water. Not because she really needs it but to keep her from revealing anything that might give her away. That and she doesn’t need to explain anything to anyone, not even Donna.

A quick glance at the microwave tells her that it’s nearly time. She takes a breath, preparing to create a portal that will last long enough for everyone to get through. It will be tenuous at best, but it should work. Should.

The sound of an announcement in the common room distracts her from her thoughts, especially when a small group starts making their way over to the boom tube.

“They’re probably lining up for the boom tube since the wedding’s about to begin.” Donna says.

“Boom tube? I thought that everyone was going through my portal?”

“I’m not sure,” Donna looks as confused as she feels, “Damian’s been going around the room and assigning a specific time for everyone to go through. A lot of people are already gone.”

Raven’s eyes dart to the common room that now looks a lot emptier than it had been about five minutes ago.

“Looks like my time is in another minute,” Donna gives her a wave, “I’ll see you there.”

Raven tells her bye, and stands there as the rest begin to file out, one by one until there’s only her and Damian. Her eyes meet him across the room before he whips his head in a signal to come join him. She does just that, taking the time to appreciate his suit.

It’s Armani, of course, black and sleek, and it’s fitted to him perfectly. The pant legs do nothing to hide what’s beneath, and she feels her neck heat at the sight. One hand is tucked into his pocket while the other is holding the boom tube open for the both of them. As she walks closer she realizes that he’s wearing a darker navy blue tie — nearly identical to the color of her dress.

Only when she reaches him does she ask him why they weren’t going by portal.

“I didn’t want you to overexert yourself so I had a boom tube placed at the site of the wedding temporarily.”

His gesture hits her hard, and she doesn’t know what to think when he reaches out his hand for hers. She places it in his delicately as he helps her step up inside.

“I probably would’ve been fine, you know. I’m sure there wouldn’t have been much to worry about.”

Damian steps in after her, his chest brushing up against her back as the door slides shut behind them.

“Well now neither of us have to worry at all.”

She turns to face him and smiles.

“Thank you.”

“Anything for you Raven.”

Her eyes widen at his words and the blatant truth in his voice. Suddenly the air around them feels hot, and she leans back up against the wall, trying to put as much space in between them as possible. The proximity of him, the small space of the boom tube, his words — it all feels like too much. She feels the familiar tug of her body as they teleport — something that lasts only milliseconds.

By the time they’re on the other side she’s breathing hard, not feeling like she’s getting enough air. The boom tube isn’t opening fast enough and it’s still too hot. She’s getting lightheaded and the pounding beat of her heart is only getting faster. The door begins to slide open, but before she can slip away Damian has a hand on her wrist.

He pulls her back inside, shuts the door, and presses the button with the AC. The cool air helps a little, but there’s still a rising panic in her that she can’t tame. Raven has half a mind to slide down the wall to hug her knees but Damian grasps her shoulders, forcing her to face him.

“Hey Raven, look at me. Look at me.” Emerald eyes search hers imploringly and she chokes back a sob.

“I-I can’t do this, Damian, I don’t know what’s wrong with —”

“It’s okay. You’re okay,” he says. His words are gentle and soothing as his hands begin to rub her bare arms. Up and down, forcing her to stay tethered to the present. Not allowing her to retreat into her mind.

“Just breathe, Raven. We’re not going anywhere until you breathe.”

It takes a few minutes. He starts whispering to her in Arabic, much like the way he took care of Mar’i, and that thought puts a heavy weight on her chest. She breathes through it anyway knowing that the wedding will start at any moment, and she doesn’t want them to be late. When her breaths become more even Damian pulls her into his chest, wrapping her into a hug.

“Whatever is going on is okay. I’m not going anywhere and neither are any of our friends. You’re okay, and it’s okay that you don’t know what you’re feeling.”

Raven inhales a shuddering breath.

She doesn’t know that she needs to hear him say all of those things so desperately until they’re already spoken. She takes a moment to cling to him, to thank him, before pulling back. Whatever Damian sees in her face must be enough for him to deem her capable enough to go back outside because he opens the door. Then he takes her hand again.

“Watch your step,” he murmurs to her, helping her across the rocks to the venue. The sight of it is breathtaking. An archway is just a couple of feet away from a ledge that overlooks the entire Northern rim, and Raven sees that most of the chairs are already full of their friends. Garfield is already at the front, fidgeting with the cuff of his sleeve and trying not to bite a hole with his canines from worrying his lip in a nervous tic.

Raven smiles, because even though it’s clear that he’s nervous, she can also tell that he’s happy. It’s all she’s ever wanted for him, and he deserves it.

They find a seat in the back just before the ceremony begins. Damian puts his hand on the back of her chair, steadying her. For once she decides to lean into it, finding it to be a comfort.

Terra’s dress suits her perfectly. It’s whimsical with long sleeves that hang off of her shoulder, with the length of her dress flaring out with floral and vine lace covering the bodice. Her hair is braided down her back with a string of hair pulled out and curled around her face. She’s gorgeous, and she can tell that Gar thinks so too. The love and excitement is pure in both of their eyes solely focused on each other.

The ceremony doesn’t last long, but it is beautiful and genuine, and Raven stands and claps with everyone else as the newly weds are announced. Terra and Garfield practically race back down the aisle.

It’s a welcoming sight. Raven smiles softly the entirety of the reception, even when meeting Jamie’s fiancée. From the moment she sees them she knows it’s a good match.

“They look good together,” Damian says from beside her with two glasses of water in each hand. He gives one to her.

“Yes, they do. I’m sure we’ll be getting another invitation soon.”

“How are you feeling?” he asks her.

“I’m okay actually. Thank you… for earlier.” She runs a nervous hand down the length of her dress to smooth it out.

“You don’t ever have to thank me Raven.”

He stays with her the rest of the night, which more than a few people notice, Donna included. When she smirks in Raven’s direction she doesn’t even scowl back.

For some reason her mind is more at ease than it has been in weeks.

The trade at the docks happens the next night.

It’s around 3 o’clock in the morning whenever a small fishing boat slips up with the mooring line. Three people, dressed head to toe in black, get out with multiple coolers that look dubious. Mostly likely drugs . Then from the right, five more meet them on the dock, dressed the same.

Damian signals to her from the other side of the building, and she nods her understanding. She presses the button on her cloak silently, alerting the JCPD of their location.

They take them by surprise, but they recover quickly. A few of them barricade behind barrels while Damian starts to fight off the three that are scrambling back inside the boat.

It’s not until Raven hears the first gunshot when she realizes they all have weapons.

It takes her another moment to realize the gun had been aimed at her whenever the sharp pain flares at her side, and her hand presses it. When she brings it back up to her face shakily it’s covered in blood.

Then more start to ring out, and Raven drops to her knees. She remembers that Damian is on the other side of the group of thugs still fighting on the boat. He hadn’t seen her get shot, still hasn’t had the time to even look in her direction. She tosses up a quick shield just before bullets rain down in his direction. They bounce off her shields uselessly and Raven releases a breath she doesn’t realize she’s holding.

Another wave of her power throws everyone in the crossfire back. Some hit the water with a loud splash while others scrape up against concrete away from the docks. Damian takes advantage of the momentary distraction, apprehending everyone still on the ground with quick, practiced motions.

Raven attempts to stand, but stumbles back to her knees. She feels around the wound, her finger prodding for the bullet that’s still lodged inside. She bites back a cry at the pain, her teeth gritting. It will need to come out before she can heal herself, but she’s starting to lose more blood than she’s comfortable with. She takes off her cloak. The material is too strong to tear so she wraps the entire thing around her waist anyway. It will have to do.

As Damian pulls the last one out of water and throws him on the ground, black spots are beginning to dance in her vision.

She can hold on until he finishes the job. They’ve been looking into this lead for weeks, she won’t ruin it all by letting him know that she’s bleeding out. I can make it.

Squatting is no longer an option. Raven finds herself forced to lay down on the concrete, her hand tucked into her side to staunch as much of the blood as she can. The pain heightens to a point that makes the rest of her body feel numb.

She clings to consciousness as long as she can, until she’s sure that Damian has arrested them all. The police will be here at any moment and can take over.

By the time Damian finally looks up and is searching for her the adrenaline wears off. All she feels is pain, so whenever unconsciousness calls back out to her she answers.

He finds her as she’s losing the battle.

“Shit, shit. Raven!”

She’s fading rapidly when he reaches her. One hand cradles the back of her head while the other presses into her wound. She hisses weakly.

His voice sounds like it’s underwater.

“Hold on Raven, not yet,” he presses on her wound more insistently, the pain causing her to stay conscious. Then he’s pulling out gauze and hydrogen peroxide and medical scissors from his belt.

His words are rushed and thick with emotion, “I need you to stay awake, you’re losing too much blood. You have to portal us to the med-bay now. You won’t make it if you don’t.”

It sounds like too much, every breath is more agonizing and tiresome than the last.

“ Please habibti, you have to try.”

Her eyes open at the pleading in his voice.

With her remaining strength she does her best to meet his request, and portals them back to the tower.

The look in his eyes is the last thing that she sees before she drowns in a sea of darkness.

Fear.

There’s no noise when she wakes.

She’s in her healing trance, hovering above the hospital bed. By the familiarity of the metal walls she knows that they made it to the med-bay. A sweep of the room also tells her that she almost didn’t make it. Blood covered just about every instrument. The bullet lays in a tray beside her. She looks down at herself, noticing for the first time that she’s not wearing anything except for a pair of sweatpants. Her entire upper body is covered in gauze. Specks of blood dot where she had been shot. She won’t need to change it again fortunately, her healing trance had made sure of that.

Her eyes continue to scan the room until she sees Damian, hunched over in a chair right beside her. His head is in his hands, not yet knowing that she’s awake. His hair is askew. She imagines that he probably ran his hands through it over and over. He’s still wearing his uniform, covered in her blood. Guilt sweeps through her, knowing that she’s the cause of so much worry.

“Damian,” she whispers.

He jolts upright so fast that the metal chair falls backwards. He doesn’t care, his eyes are on hers as he grasps her hand.

“Raven, you made it,” he chokes on his words. “Do you need me to change your dressing?”

“No I don’t think so.” she tells him softly, then lowers herself on the bed to lay down. He helps her adjust. “I think I’ll be sore for a while, but I’m okay. Thank you for saving me.”

He sighs deeply, “You scared me Raven. Never do that again. Never wait to tell me if you’ve been hurt. You could have died. You almost did .”

“I know,” she whispers, squeezing his hand, “I’m sorry.”

They’re silent for a few minutes, with Damian stroking her hand with his fingers. She lets him, figuring that he needs the touch to remind himself that it was just a close call, nothing more.

“Did the JCPD get all the arrests?” she asks, breaking the silence.

“Yeah,” Damian says, pinching the bridge of his nose with his other hand, “They found fentanyl in the coolers. Enough to OD the entire city. Interrogations are going on right now. They think they’re just pawns in a much bigger drug deal.”

“That makes sense,” she says, chewing on his words, “Looks like almost dying was worth it.” She jokes darkly.

“No,” He shoots her a sharp glare, “Almost losing you was not worth it Raven. It will never be worth it. When will you realize that?”

The veracity in his words is like a slap in the face. She recoils at them. “I’m sorry Damian, I was just trying to do the right thing.”

He breathes deep, seemingly at war with himself on how to respond. He settles for acceptance. “I know you did, I’m not going to say that it was okay, because it wasn’t. But it happened, and at least you’re here. Just don’t do that again.”

She swallows the lump in the back of her throat. “Okay.”

“Get some rest, I’m glad you’re okay.”

“Thank you Damian, I am too.”

Damian isn’t there when she wakes, but this time she’s in her own bed. She smiles softly, knowing that Damian probably wanted her to be more comfortable, but also didn’t want to intrude in her space.

A familiar feeling blossoms in her chest that Raven wants to pull back down, but she doesn’t. She lets it stay, and the longer it does, the more she realizes it’s not as scary as she thinks it is.

It grows with each thought of the past few weeks. All the little moments that Raven had ignored, now resurfacing with a renewed vigor. It pumps through her veins, filling her completely.

It all hits her at once.

She doesn’t know how she could have been so oblivious to it all.

Maybe she did see it, but favored ignorance so that things wouldn’t have to change.

But change happens whether I like it or not.

She gets up, pushing past the aching muscles in her side to get dressed. Confronting her feelings is long overdue, and she can’t afford to put it off any longer. Not with the thought of dying without telling Damian about how she feels.

She finds him outside, looking out across the bay. Laps of water splash gently against the rocks. The wind whips her hair as she draws closer. If Damian notices her presence he doesn’t acknowledge it. She can see that he’s deep in thought with the far away look on his face, brows knitted together.

She sits down beside him.

He meets her stare when she looks at him. She takes a breath, it’s now or never.

“You love me,” she states, looking into his eyes for confirmation. His expression doesn’t change, he’s not surprised. He just stares right back.

“Yes,” he says simply.

Raven sucks in a breath, “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“You weren’t ready for me to tell you,” he says as his eyes soften, “It would have scared you.”

“That’s — true,” she admits with a frown, “I’m still scared, but, I love you too.”

He smiles, “I know.”

“You do?”

“Yes, but that’s okay. I didn't mind waiting for you to figure it out.”

She laughs then, bewildered by him. The wind reveals the dog tags underneath his shirt, and Raven decides to ask again.

“Will you tell me what the other one means now?”

He recites to her first in Arabic. A poem.

“في أيّام الصيف.. أَتمدّد على رمال الشاطئ وأمارس هوايةَ التفكير بكِ.. لو أنّني أقول للبحر.. ما أشعر به نحوكِ لترك شواطئَه.. وأصدافَه.. وأسماكَه.. وتبعني”

Then he holds her stare when he translates, “ In the summer I stretch out on the shore And think of you. Had I told the sea What I felt for you, It would have left its shores, Its shells, Its fish, And followed me.”

With tears in her eyes she reaches for him so that she can rest her forehead against his.

“I love you.”

He responds to her in kind, his mouth whispering against her lips for the first time.

“I love you too.”

#damirae #damian x raven #fanfic #damiraeweek23 #which prompt is this?....yes #it's kind of fluff and angst I guess?#Mostly just Raven trying to figure out what 'feelings' are #silly girl #damirae week 2023

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somebodytookmyusername · 2 years

Text

Just Us

Murray Bauman x Reader

a/n: THIS IS ANGST PLEASE HELP ME

warnings: self harm, suicide, death, swear words, etc.

word count: 661

Murray looked at the small box under the small rack he st made that served as a bookshelf for a long time. He tried to avert his gaze, push down his curiousness, and make sure he won't touch it again. But no matter how much he tried to ignore the small velvet box, the thoughts - memories flooded his heart with the sense of dread and anxiety.

He hasn't opened the box for 3 years. He won't be opening it now.

Absentmindedly, he glanced at his calendar. The flimsy pages hanging from a rusted nail beside a really chic painting. His heart hammered, he can't breath. Memories came flooding from every corner of his mind.

Damn it.

Without thinking further, he stood up. Heading to the kitchen. and hastily opening the freezer, taking his best vodka and took a large swig. The liquid burning his throat can't even quell his heart's aching today.

He hated it. Every single memory of her came in like a flood breaking the dam he's built over the years. How she smiled, walking around the house whistling the tune of whatever song she recently heard from the radio. How she would look at him with nothing but adoration and awe whenever he talks about how his leads on certain subjects are increasing. She had always made him feel smart, supported, and loved.

But after losing his job, he remembers how the tone of his voice changed when she's around. Brash, sarcastic, and irritated. But the never left. She never gave up on him. She suggested solutions, gave him news articles, and at every chance she'll ask whether these were true. He knows she missed how he talke news were about his passion. How in lively he was when he talks about something he loves.

Yet the longer he was down, the less cheerful she got. But this time it already took a toll on her, he had seen her downing three bottles of champagne in the bathtub almost drowning herself in the process.

He immediately ran to her in panic. Her face is red, her hair disheveled, and as he scans her body he saw the multiple wounds on her wrists. He didn't even notice the shattered bottle beside the bathtub.

The tears in his eyes threatened to fall when he remembered when and how he met her. She was suicidal, she was walking on the pedestrian lane when she suddenly stopped in the middle as soon as the stoplight went green. He made sure she was loved and taken care of. Everything he did to her came crashing to him like a truck. Then she suddenly opened her mouth.

“Did i do something wrong, my love? Why are you always avoiding me? You're always mad at me” she'd told him and smiled wide, but after a few seconds tears starting to fall from her eyes.

“I did everything i could, I- I begged Sun-Times to take you back. They threw me out. I just wanted my Murray back. I don't know this person anymore” and pointed at his chest.

He shook his head from the memory. It has always haunted him in ways imaginable. From the time he closes his eyes til he wakes up. He had wanted to marry her. He fixed himself after that day. He left their shared apartment and lived away for almost a month. Yet when he came back, ring in hand, he realizes he's too late. She already went along with her plan. Something he delayed not too long ago.

She killed herself.

Everyone blamed him and he wouldn't say it out loud but he knows its true. Everyone turned their backs on him. He has nothing left in Chicago. He went to Sesser, Illinois to start anew.

But fuck his luck, now he has to deal with an alternate dimensional monsters and damn fucking russians. Well, atleast it took his mind off his ex-girlfriend.

hmu is you want to request, you can check who i write for here!

#murray fics #murray bauman #murray x reader #murray bauman x reader #stranger things #stranger things 3

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compassionatereminders · 1 year

Note

Hey Kat, firstly I'd like to let you know I'm wishing all the best for you, and I'm always glad to see your posts on the dash. Secondly, I'd appreciate a chance to get something off my chest, because I feel like an asshole but I also don't.

So, ten years ago I hit it off with someone online - like, best friends within a couple weeks. Two years later, despite the distance (they live in another country), we decided to consider ourselves partners, because the distance actually appealed to us (at that point we were both antisocial & averse to physical contact, so eliminating presumed obligations towards touch that came with dating was a relief).

It was literally a few hours later that I started second guessing my response of 'yes' to them asking me to be their partner, but I pushed the apprehension down, chalking it up to being nervous as it was my first relationship (I was 17 at the time).

But that gut feeling that I should have said 'no' never went away.

Over time it got worse - there came a point where I decided I *did* want physical contact and affection, and I made sure to tell them that. They gave me approval to take a chance if one arose, but that's because I assured them that my emotional affection was all for them - and at the time, it sincerely was. I just wanted experiences that I couldn't get from them (I did visit three times, and we'd only ever held hands - which I'd always respected, and never would I dare ask for anything more than someone was willing to give).

i had a minor experience with someone else, immediately decided I didn't like it, and returned myself solely to the comfort of the distanced relationship I'd had for 7 years at this point.

But it was so unfulfilling. This person had BPD and appointed me 'their person'. I don't speak ill of mental illness, but what this did was put me in a position where any little thing I did dictated their mood to me that day. It was constant walking on eggshells. I had to carefully choose my words every time I spoke. I had to tend to their mental stability, while struggling through my own.

I overcame depression, thankfully, and I'm a much better person than I'd ever been, and I continue to grow - but they have been in the same rut for years, and gets volatile when I try to help them ; I don't make demands, I don't tell them what they have to do, but if I make suggestions towards improvement, they get snippy and cold to me. Some time later, we actually decided to refer to ourselves as 'queer platonic' partners, but I still felt this weird obligation I was expected to meet that went deeper.

Cut to last June. I was feeling exceptionally lonely, so I signed up for an app that would help me find local friends/partners. I was intending only for friends, because my circle has two people in it. I ended up meeting this guy who asked me on a date.

Kat, I fell in utter love with him.

I'm hopeless, he's like sunshine.

When I met him, I told my prior partner I was going on a date. A *date* . I told them when he asked if he could be my boyfriend, and I approved.

Around this time my work had picked up severely, and I told them so. We went from talking daily to under ten messages a day.

Two weeks ago, it was a message or four every other day, if even that. For the past week, I haven't sent anything, and my work has greatly slowed.

I ghosted, I guess. I used to think this person would be in my life forever, but I always knew a relationship would never last - we couldn't fulfill one another, not to mention neither of us were willing to move out of our countries. Additionally, we both outgrew the same interests we once shared and went in very different directions with our new fixations. As an aside, if ever I mentioned my boyfriend, who I am always keen to gush about, they would ignore it completely and change subjects. I tried to be respectful about that, but it stung that they didn't acknowledge my happiness.

I made a lot of promises that I feel bad I couldn't keep, but by god it felt like I was the only one trying. They'd give me apologies hours after snapping, but never change their behavior, and I would feel like shit again and again every time we spoke, because it would always turn into the same conversation.

I'm sad for them, for not knowing what I needed to do to help, or just not being strong enough, but. Like I said, I came a long way myself - I believe entirely that someone won't change until they decided they've had enough themselves, but I was really rooting for their recovery.

However I've moved on. I'm sitting with my boyfriend right now, overwrought with love for him. I dont think I intend to message this old friend, because I am in a good, safe, fulfilling place right now, and I want to progress towards further goodness with him.

I don't think you're in the wrong for letting go and moving on and I definitely don't think you're a bad person for doing so. But I have a desire to encourage you to say goodbye before cutting them off entirely. It doesn't have to be more than one short message. But I think it's a good and right thing to do after many years of being a primary person in someone's life

#chat with kat

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skylerscull1 · 2 years

Text

I remember around 2020 someone had asked if they could kiss me, and I felt immediate dread, very uncomfortable.This dude I had met in school btw and also talked with him on discord so we could keep in contact outside of school. It was on discord that he messaged me that question. I had pretty much gotten defensive and changed the subject. When we were both over a friends house a few days after that and I was playing the FNaF vr game with him and my other friend, the one who had asked me a few days earlier if he could kiss me snuck up to me when I had the vr headset on and whispered in my ear if he could kiss me then.

Of course, I ignored him and pretty much tuned him out and just continued playing the vr game because no way am I answering that question. Needless to say: I didn’t want to upset him by saying no outright, but I’m also Asexual and intimacy like that, even something as innocent as a kiss freaks me out, lets not forget that this guy was my friend, he had a girlfriend at the time, and he was pretty much legally an adult then in the eyes of the law (I think, I’m not entirely sure, at the very least he’s considered an adult now) and I was 15 at the time.

I just wanted to get this story out there because it came to mind out of nowhere. Despite him creeping me out, I’m actually still friends with him. I just never talk to him anymore. Part of me wishes I never met him, he was nice to me though and he didn’t mind me always asking for hugs (all my friends are used to my clingy huggyness), perhaps I should’ve noticed the signs that he wasn’t the best to hang out with earlier then I had. I think the only reason I haven’t blocked him on discord is because despite being uncomfy around him, I’m still slightly fond of him.

I’m realizing as I’m typing all of this that he’s ringing a lot more alarm bells then I thought he was. Thankfully he doesn’t really message me anymore so that portion of my life is over.

#reblog #storytime #aroace

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aftgsucks · 10 months

Text

One Solitary Fuck Found, More At Eleven

A NMFTG one-shot Allison's POV, takes place between NMFTG chs 19 and 20?!?

This is the Foxes deciding to call BEtsy and get Andrew sober

AO3: chapter below cut

Allison Reynold’s could occasionally admit when she was wrong. However she made a point to only do so once a year. Yes, it kept her humble, but at what cost? And she’d already used this years up apologizing to Neil for hounding him about his sexuality. So, she wasn’t going to admit that there was a chance, however slim, that she was maybe, just a little, wrong about Andrew Minyard.

But that didn’t mean she was going to do nothing either.

It was the faces, the devastation and understanding that swept over Matt and Seth after Neil dropped his bomb, “Because he’s drugged out of his mind. Are you actually that dense or just willfully stupid when it comes to Andrew? He laughs at everything because he’s on court ordered medication and cannot help himself.”

Matt changed the subject, Renee came back in from checking on Andrew and Neil took his leave. Leaving behind dead silence. Renee made a curious noise and started up the inquisition.

“Do you?” Matt started and then stopped. “I mean Nicky said it at the Halloween party, didn’t he?” He said.

“Andrew hasn’t been sober in years.” Seth repeated.

That had been a real party. Free shots, a look at the Monster off his meds, Neil in a costume--as dreadful as the sheet had been. Nicky had said that and everyone had moved on, throwing back drinks and Dust and getting ready to dance.

“Ah,” Renee said. “He really hasn’t.”

And that’s when Allison fully grasped how bad it was. Sure, yes, the way Andrew acted was bad. Knowing that his general disposition had something to do with his medication was one thing. Seeing him laugh maniacally in the face of his abuser, that was another. Even hearing Nicky or Neil spell it out was almost ignorable. But Renee, Renee “Angel” Walker, grimacing and commenting on Andrew’s drug use. Instead of being graceful and

That was a cause for concern.

“I never even think about that,” Matt said. “I always figured it was antidepressants or something.”

Renee fiddled with her cross and Allison remembered that Renee was a fox. That Renee had been picked up for drug use before she’d found god and exy. “It’s an experimental mood stabilizer. If it wasn’t tied up in a court order and prison time, I think Betsy would have had him on something else the second she met him.”

“He gets off of it in the summer, right?” Matt asked.

“Fuck that,” Seth said. “He should just stop taking it now and we’ll cover for him.”

“It’s not that simple,” Renee sighed. “Legally they can drug test him at any time and he already pushes the rules of his probation quite regularly.”

“We have to do something,” Matt said. “I mean, the way he went about it sucked astronomically but he got me sober.” Matt slapped a hand against his mouth. “Oh my god, Andrew got me sober.”

The Monster did, didn't he? And Allison had heard all the shit he gave Seth about his addictions second hand.

“What would he even be like off his meds?” Seth asked.

“We’ll find out next year,” Renee said. But she said in a resigned sad way that made Allison want to sue or tackle someone. It was the last straw. Besides, she’d already made her decision the second the words had left Neil’s mouth.

"Fuck the court, fuck the law,” Allison tossed her hair back over her shoulder. “Between me, Matt's mom, and Kevin, we have enough money to be god. Let's call Betsy and see what it will take to get Andrew sober as soon as possible.”

“Kevin thinks Andrew will suddenly give a shit if he gets sober, he’d probably do it,” Seth said immediately. “We might need to talk him down from an Exy panic and fist fight Riko but that’ll happen regardless.”

“Mom will help, she keeps trying to get me to bring the Monsters to New York so she can spoil them.” Matt said.

“I think getting Andrew to agree will be the toughest sell,” Renee said. It wasn’t an outright disagreement, which Allison was taking as a what a brilliant idea Allison you sexy beast.

“He likes Betsy,” Allison said, “if her word isn’t enough, then we can try Neil and Seth.” Allison had chalked Neil and Seth’s sway with the Monster up to him finding them both amusing. Amusing in the way that a child with a magnifying glass found ants amusing, but after today, she thought Andrew actually respected Neil’s opinions. Seth was probably still an ant to him, but as long as Minyard wasn’t stomping on Seth she didn’t care.

“What do you think I am?” Seth asked.

“Monster wrangler,” Allison booped him on the nose, mostly to irritate him.

“That isn’t even a little bit true.”

“At the end of the day it’ll be Andrew’s decision,” Renee said.

“Worst comes to worst at least we can say we tried,” Matt said.

Allison pulled out her phone, she had a nice nest egg tucked away from photoshoots and runways that she’d been planning to use for Spring Break. But there would always be more money. Affluence ran in her blood like being a dick ran in her team. This would be worth it. Andrew wouldn’t give a shit, he’d definitely never thank any of them. But it was necessary.

Allison was a plethora of things. Gorgeous, Bisexual, trendsetting, but the two most important things were always pragmatic and a defensive dealer for the Palmetto Foxes. To be happy she had to play exy, so she did. To survive on the team she had to make nice with Dan and Renee. And so they were her best friends. To keep that sad look off Renee’s face and that awful laugh out of Minyard’s mouth? Well, Allison would do whatever it took.

She looked up at Renee, Seth, and Matt, three of the most important people in her life. Three people who had drug problems in their pasts and steel in their eyes. They had all worked tooth and fucking nail for their sobriety and they deserved it. Andrew Minyard was one of the most difficult motherfuckers Allison had ever had to deal with. But he was a Fox.

Allison made the call.

#nmftg #no more fucks to give #aftg fanfic #fanfiction #allison reynolds

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czenzo · 2 years

Text

Seven Years – Chapter VI

[ao3] chapter links: [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ] [ 4 ] [ 5 ] [ 6 ] [ 7 ]

summary: Charlie swung the door open, and his world promptly came crashing down around him. It had been seven years since Charlie last saw Nick Nelson, but he had barely changed – aside from the extra inch or so of height, the beard, and the fact he’d put on a bit of weight and muscle. Charlie’s brain couldn’t process it quickly enough, and so he simply stood, slack-jawed, waiting for Nick to say something.

Seven years after they broke up, Nick suddenly shows up at Charlie’s door, changing the course of their adult lives.

words: 2015 rating: M

If there was one thing Charlie had learnt in his twenty-four years of life, it was that heartbreak always resulted in the best naps. Aside from the dried tear tracks down his cheeks and his half-bloodshot eyes, he woke up feeling refreshed, and one long, warm shower and a raid of his kitchen cupboards later, he felt like a new man entirely.

Opening his phone, he scrolled past the many messages Tao had sent him before he’d fallen asleep earlier – he wasn’t in the mood to think about anything relating to Nicholas Nelson at the moment, so Tao’s last texts were going to get swiftly ignored.

[Me] can i come round for a bit?

[Tao] oh you’re alive thank god

[Tao] yes !!

[Tao] stop moping and get over here

🍂

The second the door to Tao and Elle’s flat was opened, Charlie was pulled into an all-encompassing hug. It had happened so fast that the only way he could tell it was Elle was by the smell of her perfume – unless Tao had taken a recent liking to smelling like vanilla, which was unlikely.

“Charlie,” she said softly as she pulled away, keeping her hands firmly on his shoulders.

He simply smiled at her. It was incredible how infinitesimal his problems seemed when he was in the presence of a good friend. “Elle.”

Elle gently ushered him through the door, where Tao greeted Charlie not with another hug, but a firm whack to the arm. “Charlie! What on earth happened?”

“I told you. We drunkenly kissed, and now he doesn’t remember. Why aren’t you at work? It’s a Mond–”

“Who drunkenly kissed who?” a familiar voice called, the sound of which was soon followed by Tara emerging into the living room. As her eyes fell on Charlie, her mouth broke into a gleaming smile. “Charlie!”

“Tara! I didn’t know you were back already?” He grinned into her shoulder as she pulled him into a hug.

Darcy appeared behind her. “We landed this morning. Got called over here on a friend emergency” – she glanced at Tao, known sender of melodramatic, overly-urgent text messages – “What’s going on?”

Charlie took a second to shoot Tao a look before slowly shrugging. “It’s not that bad, he’s just being dramatic–”

“He reunited with Nick and they kissed,” Elle interrupted, immediately mouthing ‘sorry’ and covering her mouth with a manicured hand as if it would counteract the truth she’d just spoken aloud. There was a prolonged moment of silence whereupon Tara and Darcy simply gaped at him, and then there was a brief toss-up as to who would think of something to say first –

– Darcy won. “What? The fuck? That’s– That’s so–”

“Out of the blue,” Tara finished for her. “When did this happen?”

“The kissing? Last night. We met up for some drinks.”

“Like a date?”

“No,” Charlie sighed. “Just as friends. A casual catch-up.”

“Nothing about that scenario says ‘casual’.”

“We’ve already tried telling him this,” Tao murmured. Elle gently nudged him.

“How about,” Charlie said slowly, hands held in front of him, “we drop this subject for now, make some tea, and we can talk about your holiday?”

Darcy raised an eyebrow as she mulled it over. “Deal. But only because I have some cool pictures of the crabs there that I want to show you.”

Another thing Charlie had learnt in his twenty-four years of life was that making and drinking tea solved a lot of issues – or at least minimised them just long enough for you to breathe and think clearly while you took sips of it.

Elle, of course, was in charge of brewing up, and Tao was tasked with hunting down some biscuits. In the time it took for five mugs to be made and a plate of custard creams to be produced, Tara and Darcy had flipped through the majority of the holiday pictures that they hadn’t already posted online.

Darcy was right. The crab pictures were cool. One was even grasping a shell in its claw as it scuttled along the beach, and Darcy had taken a video of it. It was incredibly shaky thanks to the fact she was jogging – almost running – to keep up with it, and Tara could be faintly heard in the background calling after her.

Tao placed the biscuits on the coffee table. “We also have bourbons, if you get sick of these. And digestives.”

“You ate all the digestives, hun,” Elle reminded him as she placed the first of the mugs down. Darcy jumped up to help her carry the rest into the living room, and soon all five friends were nestled into the sofas, sipping their freshly brewed tea and arguing over the morality of dunking biscuits into hot drinks.

“It makes them go all soggy,” Elle frowned. Tara nodded enthusiastically.

Darcy scoffed. “That’s the whole point!”

“No,” Charlie intervened, “you let the biscuit soak just long enough for it to absorb the tea flavour, but take it out before it gets all floppy and sad.”

“You’re floppy and sad.” Tao stretched his leg over to kick him in the shin, and Charlie’s hands were full of tea and biscuits, so he had to fight back with his own leg. Socked foots battled against one another, until they ran the risk of spilling their drinks and Elle had to disperse the duel.

“So, back to the subject of Nick,” Tara eventually said, dragging her words out to gauge Charlie’s reaction. He did nothing but grimace. Being the centre of attention still wasn’t something he was fond of.

“He hit my car the other day – well, he didn’t know it was mine at the time – and came to my door to apologise, and we talked, hung out a bit, and one thing led to another and we met up for drinks. Got a bit drunk. Kissed. And when we woke up this morning he couldn’t remember a thing.”

“You missed out the part where you pined over him the whole weekend and overthought every single text message.”

Elle shot him a look. “Tao.”

“Sorry,” he said, incredibly insincerely.

“I thought we were just trying to rebuild our friendship. I didn’t want–” Charlie paused, and let out a resigned sigh. He was lying, and he damn well knew it. Deep down, he’d been wanting to kiss Nick again for years. “I didn’t expect it to go that way. I don’t think Nick did, either. But he doesn’t remember it, and I’m not going through the embarrassment of reminding him, and– besides, he goes back home today. He was only here for the weekend, for a work thing.”

Tara tilted her head. “Work thing?”

“Teacher conference.”

“He’s a teacher?”

“Primary.”

“I know we’re kind of meant to hate him, after, y’know,” Darcy said, “but that’s pretty cute.”

“It’s not. He’s a dick.” This time, Elle didn’t scold Tao for his words.

“He was eighteen. We were kids. Mistakes happen, yeah?”

“Charlie, you cried for months.”

“I was seventeen. I was a kid. It was my first proper relationship, I’d’ve cried for months no matter who broke up with me.”

“Before the drunken kissing,” Elle said, her soft voice a sharp contrast to the bluntness of Tao’s, “did you talk about the breakup?”

“Yeah. He said thought he was doing the right thing at the time.”

Tao scoffed, yet his, and everyone else’s gazes softened. Silence fell upon them, and, not daring to disturb it, they busied themselves with finishing off the drinks and biscuits. Soon, just one custard cream was left. Tao reached his foot over once again and nudged the plate it sat on towards Charlie, who took it with a small smile.

Tao waited for him to start munching on it before he spoke, as if the sound of Charlie’s chewing would distract from the fact he was becoming sentimental. “Nick–” he sighed and rubbed his eyes. “Nick fucked up, back then. But if he was being sincere when you spoke about it, and he’s been so eager to meet up and keep in touch with you this weekend, then there’s a good chance he’d want you to remind him of what happened last night.”

Charlie paused, mouth suddenly feeling very dry as he swallowed the remainder of the biscuit. “You think so?”

Tao narrowed his eyes. “That’s almost exactly what I said to you in my texts this morning. Did you not read them?” He took Charlie’s silence as an answer. “You little shit. I spent ages with Elle working out what to write.”

Tara knocked her knee against Charlie’s. “I think you should talk to him.”

“He’s probably either on his train back home by now, or not far from it.”

“Ooh, you should find out which station he’s going from and chase after him before he gets on the train like in one of those sappy romance films.” Darcy grinned and wiggled her eyebrows in such an odd way that Charlie couldn’t not laugh.

“I like those sappy romance films,” Tara said quietly.

“I know, babe. They’re awful, but I tolerate them just for you.”

“You’re so kind.”

Charlie politely turned away as they kissed, and took the opportunity to turn on his phone for the first time in hours. He wasn’t sure what he was expecting to see in his notifications once it started back up again, but nine missed calls from Nick were definitely not it.

“What the fuck,” he said, softly.

Tao and Elle, not distracted by being lovey-dovey like their other friends, perked up. “What?”

“He’s tried to call me. Nine times.”

Tao’s eyebrows almost hit the ceiling. “Fuck off. Really?”

“When?” Elle said.

“In the past hour.”

“Call him back!”

And so Charlie did. His phone’s dialling tone had never been so nausea-inducing in his entire life.

It dialled and dialled, and Charlie waited, and waited, and it felt like everyone was holding their breath as they watched him.

A click. He’d been put through.

“We’re sorry, but the number you have called isn’t available at the moment. To leave a message…”

He hung up and dropped the phone into his lap. “Answering machine.”

A series of groans filled the room.

“He’ll have checked out of his hotel by now, so I have no way of finding him if I can’t get ahold of him. Maybe I just forgot something in his room and he was trying to give it back before he left.”

“So he called you nine whole times?”

Charlie paused. He couldn’t really argue with that. “I don’t know what else I can do. Anyway, I have some work I need to catch up on after being off today–”

“Oh, god, don’t say that,” Tao groaned. “You just reminded me of my work responsibilities.”

“Did you actually take the day off just for this?”

“Of course. It was important. Not all of us can be self-employed and independent like Elle.”

“You’re impossible, Tao.”

“I’m the best friend you’ve ever had,” he replied, and was met with complete denial from the rest of the room.

Charlie hauled himself up from the depths of the sofa. “I’m gonna head back and get some work done, take my mind off things.”

“If there’s a single, minuscule update on the Nick-tuation, you tell the group chat straight away.”

“Sir, yes, sir.”

After multiple rounds of hugs and goodbyes, Charlie was eventually freed from their flat and on his way back to the comfort and quiet of his own. On the drive back, the heavens opened, and by the time Charlie pulled up in front of his building his windscreen wipers were working so fast it seemed like they’d fly off any second. He took care to park closer to the pavement than usual, lest another man from his past hit it and randomly show up at his home to apologise.

He clambered out of his car and began to make a run for the front door, but stopped dead in his tracks halfway down the path.

Because stood at the door, soaked to the bone and shivering, was Nick Nelson.

#heartstopper #heartstopper fic #charlie spring #tao xu #narlie #czenzo.fic #seven years

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dumbass-sisters · 2 years

Text

Knowledge Isn’t Always Power, Chapter 2

Author Notes:

Welcome back! Here's the next chapter as promised:) Enjoy.

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

I open the back door and make it to the common room, which also acts as my changing room. Most employees change in the work bathrooms but I'm always late so I just strip as soon as I get in and hope no one is in here. I'll probably get caught soon enough, but I'll deal with it when it comes.

I take out my extra shirt and lay it over my bag, heading towards a mirror. I unbutton my shirt, wetting some paper towels and wiping over the places where the coffee spilled on me. It doesn't look like I'm burned badly, I'll be fine. I put a fresh top on, tucking it into my pants, throwing away the ruined one. There's no way I'm getting that stain out of a white shirt. I fix my hair and wash my face so It doesn't look like I just ran 20 minutes to get to work on time.

Jess comes in, approaching me.

"You're late"

"Yes, but this time it's not my fault"

"How so?" She asks.

"It's a long story. Anywho, where do you need me" I say quickly, changing the subject.

"You're a real piece of work Luna, you know that? Iz is making orders and manning the till and Po is serving tables, so switch with him and he can help Iz or something. Just make sure things get done"

"On it" I leave immediately. I don't know how much longer I can push it with this job. Let's just say I'm not the best employee. But it pays well so I have to keep it. It's the only thing keeping me from having to get a second job. Tips are a lifesaver.

I head out to the front where I relieve Po from serving tables and get to work.

I put on my best smile, making sure to lighten my facial expressions. I've been told my resting face looks like I'm either taking a mugshot or I'm pissed, either one is not good to show customers. I make sure my hand is steady carrying out drinks. Spilling coffee twice in one day has gotta be some sort of bad luck.

I do my thing for a good couple hours before I take a break. I go to the common room collapsing on a chair. I close my eyes leaning back on it, relaxing a little. I hear shuffling but I ignore it.

"Rough day?" Now that, I can't ignore. I sigh, opening my eyes to see Iz getting ready to go home.

"Yup, short shift today?"

"Uh huh, I got plans" She says in a sing-song voice, a smile spread across her face. "A date with this girl I met a couple weeks ago"

"Oh well, Good luck" I used to care about the people she talked about, but that was until she talked about a new person every week. Today it's this girl, next week it'll be someone completely different. It's tiring keeping up, especially when I wouldn't exactly consider her a 'friend'.

"Thanks, I'm gonna head out now. See you later" As soon as she says that a notification pops up above her.

'Izabelle Rich, 11 months, Plane crash'

That's not long. I put on one of my fake smiles I use on customers in attempts to be genuine.

"Have fun, K Iz?" She looks at me confused, surprised with the sudden change in tone.

"I will" She smiles back, before leaving out the back door.

I sigh, she's one of the few coworkers I can actually stand.

Bummer.

I should feel something, I mean I have been working with her for a little over a year now, I should feel at least some emotions coursing through my body, but I don't.

Keeping people at a distance is making me a monster. But I'd rather be a monster than hurt.

I wonder if I should suggest hiring a new employee?

My alarm disrupts my thinking. I groan, peeling myself from the chair. They really need to make these breaks longer, I'm not some robot. I rub my eyes, yawning, once again lightening my face before stepping out.

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

"Luna" Po says, getting my attention.

"Yeah" I say, without taking my eyes off the coffee machine.

"Have you taken the order of that customer in the corner? They've been sitting there for a while" I turn around looking at the far corner of the café, the ghost table. No one ever sits there, it's in a very awkward spot in the café and the view is blocked off by a tree on the outside. I didn't even notice them sitting there.

"Shit, thanks you're a lifesaver. Also don't tell Jess, I have enough strikes already"

"Don't worry about it, my lips are sealed. Go, I'll take care of this" Po gestures to the coffee machine.

"You're a real one Po" People like him make me want to have friends. I head out to the far table, hoping this isn't a customer who will go out of their way to complain, although it is my fault I didn't see them.

I approach them with the biggest smile I can make. It's only one person and they're staring at their computer, typing away like their life depends on it.

"Hi, I'm so sorry for the wait. What would you like today?" The person doesn't look up, I'm not even sure they've noticed me.

"Sir?" He looks up from his computer. Once our eyes meet I flash back to this morning remembering exactly who this person is. It's the coffee guy, I couldn't even tell it was him without his hoodie on. It makes a big difference now that the structure of his body stands out. I completely forgot I told him I'd buy him back the coffee. Has he been waiting all this time? Just for coffee?

"I didn't even recognize it was you. Have you been waiting long?"

"I wouldn't, say so. I've been in and out since I had a few things to do " I sigh deeply.

"I'm so sorry. I can get you the coffee now-"

"It's okay. The place seems busy. I can wait."

"Well the place probably won't calm down for a while and my shift is almost over"

"I really have no big plans for the rest of the day" This guy is really willing to wait that long for coffee? Some people take this coffee thing too far.

"Well then, what're you going to do in the meantime?"

"I have plenty of things to do" He gestures to his computer and a book he has laid on the table in front of him.

"Well I see you've come prepared" I chuckle.

"Always" He flashes me a smile.

"I'll be back later with your...?"

"Hot Chocolate" He finishes my sentence.

"So it wasn't coffee"

"Nope. I can't focus when I have coffee in the morning. That's a later thing."

"Well good to know" I say our eyes lingering on each other a little longer than they should.

"Yeah, I'm gonna go back to work now" I break eye contact. "Wave me over if you change your mind and wanna have your hot chocolate sooner"

"Will do" He replies. And just like that he goes back to typing, faster than I can read.

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

For some reason I find myself looking at the clock, checking the time ever so often to see if my shift has ended. Normally that would be because I just want to go home after socializing with people all day but now, I think it might be because of the coffee guy, well hot chocolate guy. Or maybe I'm just tripping and it is because I just want to go home. Either way, both situations require my shift to end.

I keep looking over at him to see what he's doing but it's always the same thing. He types for a while and takes a break by reading a book. When he's on a role he'll type for what seems like nearly an hour straight before taking up his book. It's fascinating.

I've never seen someone so into something. I hate to admit it but he peaks my interest. Not many people can do that. Who knows, he could be famous and I'd never know. Or he could be a millionaire. Crossing my fingers.

A little Q&A couldn't hurt, right? Let's just hope his notification doesn't pop up. That's something I'd rather keep unknown, but most times I'm not that lucky.

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

I stare at the clock, waiting out my 5 minutes till my shift ends.

"You know, staring at the clock isn't going to make it go any faster" Jess says passing by me.

"Yes, but it does make me feel better" I turn around, returning my focus to the coffee I was supposed to be making.

"What's up with the guy sitting at the ghost table, he's been here all day" I look over to see hot chocolate guy, still typing. I sigh.

"He's with me, he'll be gone soon so don't worry about it" Jess looks at me shocked.

"With you? Didn't know you could pull a hottie like that Luna"

"I didn't pull him"

"He pulled you then?" She asks.

"What? No, we're not together" A smile spreads across her face.

"Even better. Do me a favor and give him my number will ya?"

"Sure" I say, sarcasm finding its way into my voice. Jess can be annoying sometimes, or maybe the word's desperate...probably both.

I hand out the last order and head to the common room. A groan leaving my mouth as soon as I'm alone. This job is so tiring.

I take off my work shirt and stuff it in my bag. Replacing it with a basic T- shirt with a hoodie over top. I take my shoes off, taking a moment to massage them, carefully avoiding the blisters. I throw on some sneakers, clock out and head out the back door. Just to re-enter through the front. I approach Po at the counter

"Aren't you supposed to be going home?"

"If only it were that easy. A medium hot chocolate please" I say, visibly exhausted.

"That's unusual for you" He turns around, making the drink.

"It's not for me" It's not long before he places the cup in front of me.

"Whatever you say. Anything else?" I stare at a pile of donuts stacked on a tray, then glance in my wallet. Never seen anything sadder in my life.

"Yup that's all" I reply.

"See you later Po" I say walking towards the ghost table, making sure my grip is tight before I get closer. I slip into the chair in front of him, placing the hot chocolate on the table. He doesn't take his eyes off his computer.

I wait patiently, looking at how focused he is. He looks like a college student , so it's probably an essay or assignment he has to do last minute. I remember those.

I study his expression for the minute or two it takes him to finish typing.

"Done!" He says, a smile spreads across his face. He stretches before addressing me.

"Sorry, I was on a roll. I didn't want to break the flow"

"Don't worry about it, 2 minutes top how long you've been here any day"

"I don't think it's been that long"

"Well I just finished my shift, so here" I push the cup towards him. "Your hot chocolate, as promised"

"Thanks" He looks me straight in the eyes, his smile genuine. Everything about him is genuine.

"No problem" I smile back. I can't tell the difference between a fake smile or a real one anymore, it all just blends together.

"What's that?" He asks, pointing to the white paper bag also on the table.

"That, is also for you" I push it towards him. He tilts his head looking at me confused. I nod. He opens the bag, then looks back at me.

"I don't recall you knocking donuts out of my hand with the hot chocolate earlier"

"The hot chocolate is for earlier, this is for making you wait"

"I wanted to wait"

"You still waited nonetheless" I insist. I might be broke but I'm not heartless, at least not completely. He pauses for a second.

"I'll only accept under one condition" I playfully roll my eyes, smiling.

"And what is that?"

"If I'm seeing correctly they're two. So you take one, I take the other"

"And that's the condition?" I ask.

"Yeah." I stare him down, to try and get a read on him but I get nothing.

"Fine" I sigh, giving in. He smiles, handing me the bag. I grab one and hand it back over to him. He does the same.

"Chocolate, good choice," He says.

"Thought it would go well with that" I gesture to the steaming cup beside him.

"Thinking ahead, smart" I chuckle at the comment. We take a bite of the donut simultaneously, really taking time to think about how it tastes.

"4/10 for sure" I say after finishing the first bite.

"You know you work here right?"

"Yes but my opinion isn't biased, I find it too sweet"

"Your tastes buds are broken this is definitely a 7/10"

"And somehow my taste buds are broken, how is this a 7?"

"I have a very big sweet tooth," He says with another bite.

"You're strange. This tastes like pure sugar" I follow, taking another bite.

"Says the person taking another bite"

"I'll be dead before I let money go to waste" I say.

"Can't argue with that one"

We talk and laugh while we finish our donuts, he ends up finishing his hot chocolate too.

"This place is perfect," He says.

"How so?"

"Well their drinks are amazing, as well as their pastries and the atmosphere is perfect for writing. I've never finished so many chapters in such a short amount of time"

Chapters?

"Is that what you've been doing this entire time? I thought you were doing assignments or something" I say.

"Nope I finish those ahead of time so I have time to write." More questions just keep popping up with this guy. "I write books in my spare time, but with school and my job I don't get to do it too often."

"That's impressive"

"Thanks, you should read some of my work sometime"

"I'll make sure to do that" I glance at the clock. My shift ended about an hour ago. I've been talking to this guy for an hour. A full hour I could've spent in the comfort of my home, watching movies.

Okay yeah, that's enough social time for today. I let my curiosity get the better me. I just about learnt everything I wanted to know about him anyway.

"I have to head home now, it was nice meeting you...?"

"Ace" He finishes my sentence. "And same to you...?"

"Luna" I do the same. I swing my backpack over my shoulder. Waving before I leave.

It's a bummer. He was actually interesting. But I have to look out for myself. I have to be careful who I allow around me. These notifications can be ruthless.

I hope Iz enjoys her 11 months.

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

Closing Author Notes:

Not a very eventful chapter I know, I know, but hear me out...Patience is key. Hope to see you next week for chapter 3

#Original Work #original #original character #romance #early twenties #love #fiction #fantasy

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buckyownsmylife · 3 years

Text

Mine - Steve Rogers smut

The one where Steve used to be your sugar daddy, and now you found out he was someone's actual daddy.

Warnings: ex!Steve, sugar daddy!Steve, single parent!Steve, mentions of a divorce, smut, mentions of infidelity (reader wasn’t the one being cheated on), daddy kink, ceo!Steve, slight size kink, anal play, fingering, p in v, name-calling, dirty talk, possessiveness, jealousy, slight degradation, subspace, unprotected risky sex, breeding kink

Word count: 4.6k

A/N: this idea came from a request and honestly, it was just lovely to write it. I really got into this universe and I’m having a hard time abandoning it, so as always if you have any scenarios you’d like me to write about it, send me your ideas and I’ll write them when I can!

Y/N’s P.O.V.

Shampoo, conditioner… Alright, next isle. What do I need from here?

I was so immersed in the domestic task of choosing my groceries that I barely saw where I was going. Really, it was only a matter of time until I hit someone and went down - which happened only five minutes later.

“Oh, I’m so sorry,” I scrambled to make it right, knowing how aggressive some people can be, even over something so stupid as this. “I didn’t see where I was going, it was my fault…”

But my words died out the second that I saw who it was that I had hit, the man still standing, offering me a firm hand to help me get up from the floor.

“Steve.” The name fell out of my lips instinctively, and it made the both of us flinch as I finally stood on my own two feet in front of him - not that it made that much of a difference. He always towered over almost everyone, anyway.

“Steve, hm… Hi,” I repeated his name, trying to make it sound normal, even though in the three years I’d been with him, I’d never addressed him as such. It was clear that he was thinking the same, his eyes darting between mine with a peculiar glint of reminiscence in them.

“Hi,” he greeted, voice softer than I expected it to be. He still hadn’t let go of my hand, and once my eyes fell on where we were both connected, he seemed to realize it, immediately letting it drop.

I tried to ignore the pang of sadness his reaction provoked in me.

“How have you been?” He tried to move past the awkward moment as I tried to wipe my sweaty hand as inconspicuously as possible. God, I hated this.

I’d never been a fan of small talk, but small talk with an ex that wasn’t really an ex because he used to pay you to be with him? Yeah, this wasn’t exactly top of my list of favorite things to do on a Friday night.

“I’ve been fine… Finished school, now I’m working for this little publishing house. Nothing major, but it makes me happy.” His eyes lit up at that, making a thousand little butterflies set flight in my stomach, and I averted my gaze as I cleared my throat to give me something else to focus on.

“That’s all I ever wanted for you.” I bit my lip to stop myself from doing something embarrassing, like bursting into tears in the middle of a supermarket. I didn’t know how to answer to that, so I decided to change the subject.

“You changed your hair.” Steve looked up as if he could see his own luscious strands, perfectly gelled back into the elegant look a CEO was expected to have. He seemed about to comment on the subject when a voice interrupted us.

“Daddy, daddy!” I saw the scene develop in slow motion, like a movie someone wanted me to pay particular attention to. The little boy - a perfect copy of Steve, or at least the Steve I met, with shorter, blonder hair, clean face - ran up to the man before me, who grimaced before he crouched to catch the boy in his arms.

“Hey, buddy.” He rubbed the boy’s back, but his eyes were fixed on me while my gaze was stuck on the kid. He had to be at least four years old. Which meant when Steve met me, he had already been born.

Another figure approached, this one tall enough to cast a shadow on our paused conversation. “Sorry, I couldn’t contain him anymore. He’s hyped on sugar.” The brunette man gave an apologetic smile to Steve, who sighed.

“You’re the one who fed him donuts all day.” But the guy only shrugged, no guilt in his features. “Huh, Y/N, this is Bucky, my childhood best friend.” But I knew who he was. I knew all about him because I knew all of Steve’s secrets - or so I thought.

Because I didn’t know this. I didn’t know he cheated on someone with me.

Bucky seemed to feel the weight of the tension between us because he looked from Steve to me before reaching to take the boy again. “Let’s go over here, bud. I think I saw a claw machine.”

I was still so shocked that as the two of them left, I could only blink at Steve, who seemed to be waiting some sort of reaction from me.

“After his mother left me, I didn’t really have the time to worry about things like getting a haircut,” he tried to joke when he got tired of waiting, maybe hoping to ease the mood.

“It’s fine.” I cleared my throat again, finally snapping out of it as I searched for my cart again. “Uh, you look great. I should go now.” I was about to turn around and go back in the direction I’d come from when his hand seized my wrist.

“Wait,” he asked, making me freeze. “I- God, let me just…”

“It’s fine,” I interrupted, giving him what I hoped would translate as a polite smile, trying to pass it off as if what I said was true. “You don’t owe me an explanation.” But even as I said it, I could feel my anxiety through the roof, my need to sit down and analyze this almost overbearing.

And still, Steve’s grip kept me in place, his tone serious as he asked me, “So why do I feel like I do?” I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding, a shaky, nervous breath. I tried to smile, brushing my hair out of my face while he continued, “Look, Y/N… You still affect me greatly.”

He didn’t need to say it, his look was enough to make me aware that he knew I could say the same about you. “I don’t want you to think less of me.” Weirdly, I didn’t.

But I never got the chance to say it. Out of the corner of our eyes, we caught the familiar figures of his friend and his son approaching, and so he let me go, a sigh as he buried his hands in his pockets and commented, “I wish we had more time to catch up.”

I watched him carefully as I thought about my next move. I could let this go. I could say ‘yeah, but it was nice seeing you’, turn around and go back to my ordinary life. But now that I was here, in front of him, I didn’t want to go back to missing his presence in my life.

“Alright, I’m not gonna lie.” My eyes narrowed but I kept a teasing smile on my lips so he knew I wasn’t actually against the idea. “This sounds like one of your lines to get me to meet you at a coffee shop.”

The half-smile he opened up was at the same time boyish and seductive. “How about a restaurant?”

Jokingly huffing, I rolled my eyes as I complained, “Steeeeve!”

We both paused. The tone sounded too much like the one I employed when I was being bratty. But back then, I had never addressed him as anything other than daddy. As his actual child approached with the nickname on his lips, I bit my lip while watching him once again lean down to pick the little boy up.

“I’ll call you.” The look he sent me had shivers running down my spine, making me aware that as much as it was a promise, it might offer me all of the consequences of a threat.

Steve’s P.O.V.

She didn’t leave my mind for a single second ever since that night. I was eager to see her again - desperate for it, even. I knew there was so much I needed to tell her, stuff she deserved to know but I couldn’t explain back then.

I also missed her terribly. There hadn’t been a single day since I broke it all off that I hadn’t wondered how she was, if she was okay. I was glad she had managed to graduate and get her life together, but selfishly, I found myself wishing for the days when she still depended on me.

To my relief, she didn’t change her mind when I actually called to settle on a date, taking advantage of Bucky’s visit to leave Luke with him. She didn’t sound particularly excited about it, but I guess that much was understandable. In many ways, I was sort of an ex, and we both knew there were too many uncomfortable questions hovering over our heads to be able to ignore it when we were alone together.

So I was grateful when she took the first step and asked me, her eyes settled on her glass of wine. “Was it because of me?” We hadn’t spoken about the divorce ever since I picked her up, admiring the way she looked in the dark green dress, her legs teasing me from the slit on the side, and still I knew exactly what she was referring to.

I took a sip of my own glass of wine to find the courage to face this conversation, not because the subject hurt me, but because I was so desperate for one particular outcome. So I knew I had to play this carefully.

“No,” I admitted, connecting my eyes to hers so she could see the honesty in them. “My relationship was damaged enough already. You weren’t the reason for my divorce.”

Her shoulders relaxed after my initial explanation. I watched her breathe deeply after it, taking it in, accepting the truth deep in her bones. It felt good to let it out. It made me hopeful for the both of us.

But if I truly wanted this to end up the way I hoped, I knew I had to keep being honest, even though it was hard. “She was the reason why I broke it off with you, though.”

Her eyes widened at my confession, but other than surprise, I couldn’t really tell what other emotions she was feeling at that moment. So I kept opening my heart to her, in the hopes it’d make her see how much I missed our time together.

“I regret it ever since.” Our gazes remained locked for a significant moment before it all felt too real and too heavy and she averted her eyes, looking away before settling on the wine in front of her once more.

I wish I could just lean over and kiss her, worship her body the way I was able to. For all the happiness Luke brought to my life, I’d never forgive Natalie for making me leave Y/N because even if I had decided to give my marriage another chance back then, I already knew it was doomed to fail.

I knew it because I knew I was in love with the girl sitting in front of me.

I wondered if she still tasted the same. My gaze traveled down her body, as far as I could see considering the table between us, taking advantage of the pause in the conversation to drink in every delicious inch of her.

I was desperate to know. And I was not a man used to feeling desperate. So I adjusted myself on my seat, trying to keep myself comfortable despite the quickly hardening member between my legs, licking my lips before commenting, “I have to say… I’m finding incredibly difficult to be near you right now.”

“Why?” She quickly questioned, seizing the opportunity I presented to escape the heavy moment we had inadvertently fallen into. But she didn’t realize it was a trap - not until I opened the smirk I was trying to hide.

“Because I can’t help but think of all the times I’ve had you naked underneath me.” It was a calculated move, even though there was some risk to it. As a business man, I knew there was risk behind every valuable action.

And no action was as valuable as getting her back to me. When she averted her gaze and giggled, clearly flustered by my comment, I knew I’d managed to hit the jackpot and the overwhelming feeling of relief had me inhaling deeply.

“You always enjoyed my teasing, huh?” I pressed on, leaning over the table so I could speak lower and still have her listen to what I was saying. “Don’t you want me to ravish you right here, right now, baby? Show everyone in this restaurant who owns you?”

She was breathing heavily now, eyes sparkling with excitement and lust - I had no doubt that I looked the same. The silence now was just as powerful, but much more exciting as I waited for her move now.

“Take me home.” It finally came. “Right now.” A victorious smile took over my face as I stood up and reached for her hand, throwing some money on the table to cover for whatever expenses we had made.

“I love that you’re still as impatient for me as I am for you, princess.”

Y/N’s P.O.V.

He brushed the hair away from my face as he cradled it with his huge palms, making me breathe hard just by the sheer reminder of how big everything about him was. “I need you to be sure,” he spoke against my lips, warm breath raising chills all over me. “I need to know that you truly want this.”

And I did. I truly, honestly, did. He made me feel things that I had never felt with anyone before or after I was with him and I wanted another taste - even if it was the last one I’d ever have.

“I want this,” I assured him, and that was all there was to it. He had to bend down to kiss me and I always found that endearing, but right then, after so many years without his taste on my lips, hunger was quickly taking control of the sweeter part of me. “I want you.”

His hands travels down my back until they reached my ass, but just palming it over my dress wasn’t enough for Steve. Quickly, they fell even lower, until he was able to hold the back of my thighs and pull me up to wrap my legs around his body.

It always amazed me how he was able to do this. Now that he had me in his arms, he held me by my ass, lips never separating from mine as he tried to make his way into my apartment without having to open his eyes.

“I think this would be easier if you let me walk,” I giggled, hiding my face in the crook of his neck as he groaned.

“All this effort to keep kissing you and you leave me hanging just to mock me?” More laughter escaped from me, a warm feeling in my chest at the realization that being with him was just as comfortable. We could still joke around while making out. In some ways, it was like nothing had changed at all.

When he deposited me on the floor again, we were by my bed now. For a second, Steve just stood there, looking me up and down, towering over me while I waited with bated breath.

“What do you call me, sweetheart?” I hadn’t heard that question in so long, it elicited shivers down my spine, my mouth falling open in a quiet gasp as he took my face in between his hands again.

“Daddy,” I was quick to answer, knowing Steve was not a patient manl. After all the time we spent apart, I could only imagine how little control he would have now that he was so close to fucking me again.

Steve nodded, tongue running over his lower lip before he leaned over me to kiss me once more. This time, he slipped his tongue inside of my mouth, taking control of our movements sensuously as I melted in his arms.

“Daddy wants to punish you, baby.” Those were the first words he spoke to me after we parted, in need of some oxygen despite our desires. Before I could ask for clarification, he provided it for me, “I know you didn’t do anything wrong, but I need this.”

“I promise I’ll make it feel good for the both of us.” It was a vow he didn’t need to voice. I believed it wholeheartedly. And I understood his request. He needed to release the angst of our separation, the overwhelming excitement of our encounter.

I could grant him that. With a nod, I stood on my tiptoes to deposit a kiss on his lips, sealing the deal. “Don’t let me hurt you, okay?” He pleaded, thumbs brushing over my cheekbones, but I could only smile.

“I want it to.” The most predatory smirk slowly spread over Steve’s lips, his eyes sparkling that dangerous dark glint that had me panting in anticipation.

“I’d forgotten how truly perfect for me you are.” The comment would have hurt if I had been granted any time to dwell on it, but Steve would never allow me that. No, he wanted to fuck me stupid, make me forget every single scar he’d ever given me.

And I was hungry for that.

In a quick move, with the ease of someone with years of practice, he got me rid of my dress and bent me over the bed, offering my ass to himself.

“God, you’re too sexy.” I was wet already, almost enough to drip down my thighs, so it wasn’t surprising that he shoved two fingers at once, setting a bruising pace right against my sweet spot.

I couldn’t believe after all this years he could still find it without any effort.

He pulled those digits off of me all of a sudden, leaving me empty, making me whine. His next comment explained me why. “So fucking sweet,” he moaned around his fingers and just the thought of it had me clenching around nothing, desperate to be stretched again.

He seemed to read my mind because he quickly returned to my pussy - with just one finger this time, his longest one, and it was in and out quickly.

The second I felt that same digit push against my puckered hole, I knew why. He also slipped his cock into me, penetrating me twice at the same time and it was all so debauched it had me moaning loudly to my empty room.

“You won’t be able to walk when I’m done with you,” Steve warned once he was knuckle deep and bottomed out inside of me, free hand pulling me by my neck so he could whisper against the shell of my ear. “And you know why?”

He waited for me to answer, but all I could do was nod, heart beating madly against my chest, breath coming out of my open mouth. All of my senses seemed reduced to one thing and one thing only: the feeling of Steve’s cock stretching me out, filling me up.

“Because I want you to depend on me again.” The words had me gasping, especially since he paired them with his first thrust - a harsh thrust - and started to fuck me nice and deep and hard. “I want you to depend on me for everything.”

This shouldn’t make me so wet, should it? I prided myself on being self-sufficient, in the sense that I was able to work for everything I wanted in life - even when I needed to become a sugar baby to put myself through college. That was my decision. I could have stopped at any time and chosen another way to do that, and once Steve left my life, that’s precisely what I did.

But there was something to be said about the idea of not having to worry about anything. I didn’t feel guilty that I relished in it, in knowing this strong, handsome man wanted to provide me with everything I needed in life and make every decision for me, taking away all of the difficulties I could ever face.

It was a nice fantasy, and I could allow the both of us that reprieve.

Steve’s P.O.V.

“I want to own you,” I growled, possessiveness getting even more out of hand at her answering moan. It was obvious that the idea got her off and although we’d need to talk about how much truth there was in what I was saying, for the moment this was more than enough. Just knowing that the idea didn’t repulse her - that in some degree, she still wanted to be completely mine - was all I needed to feel the ambers of desire grow inside of me.

“Tell me, princess…” I panted over her, slowing my movements to hear her whine and witness the way she tried to fuck herself back against me, like she was truly desperate for my cock. “Did anyone touch what was mine?”

She didn’t answer me, and that was really everything I needed to know. Of course, I didn’t blame her for dating after spending so much time apart, but I also couldn’t help the pang of jealousy, my mind racing as images of her underneath someone else threatened to break me.

“Pathetic little slut,” I snarled, covering her throat with my hand as I resumed my forceful thrusts. “Spreading your legs to whomever can fill you… You just need to cum, don’t you? It doesn’t even matter if the person is any good at it, you just can’t help yourself.”

Her thighs trembled on each side of my body, denouncing her orgasm. I pulled her back to cover her mouth with mine, swallowing her screams so I could feed on them as we shared a kiss.

“No one can fuck you this good, baby.” It was a statement born more out of insecurity than the need to remind her of that, so the fact that she immediately began to nod, small little sounds of praise falling from her lips helped me find my confidence again. “No one understand what you need, isn’t that right?”

“Just you, daddy,” she was quick to answer. “Only you can make me cum. Please make me cum again, I want to drench your dick in my cum, daddy.”

“Holy fuck,” I cursed, having forgotten how nasty she could get when she fell deep into subspace, right when her cunt began clenching around me again. “No one feels this good, fuck,” I realized, hips stuttering for a second as I tried to control myself. “You’re always so good and tight.”

Her moans were driving me fucking insane. I gripped the meat of her ass to pull her back to me, knowing I was so fucking close to drive us both over that edge.

“Yes, princess,” I groaned when her moans became more high-pitched. “Scream for me, c’mon.” She came with a desperate cry that had me tempting to spill inside of her, but before I could do that, I had to ask, “Can I cum inside of you?”

Her pause warned me of what I already anticipated. She wasn’t on any birth control and the knowledge had me throbbing inside of her, frenzied in my desire to fill her up.

“Do it.” Her words were barely over a whisper, but there wasn’t any hesitancy on them. “Cum inside me.” A groan escaped my chest upon hearing her say that, so I had to hear it again.

Y/N’s P.O.V.

“Beg me for it,” he ordered, massaging my ass with those huge palms of his. He’d never done this before - we had never done this before. Risky sex wasn’t a part of the deal, and now I knew why.

“P-put a baby in me,” I voiced my deepest desire, the one I had hidden in the safe box where I kept our memories for so long. “Make me a mom, daddy. Please.”

The growl he let out at my addition was barely even human, as was the way he fucked me like this was his last hour on Earth and the last pussy he’d ever get to fuck

“Thank me for it, baby,” was his last command, right before his hips lost their rhythm and he gave me what I’d been asking for.

“Yes, thank you, daddy!” I screamed, the feeling of his warmth eliciting another small high for me, leaving me breathless. “Thank you,” I repeated, fingers at last relaxing to let go of the duvet I’d been gripping.

Sleep was welcoming me into its familiar arms with surprising speed, right as another pair set their grip around my body, pulling me into a hard yet gentle chest.

I guess you never really stop loving someone, do you?

Steve’s P.O.V.

I woke up startled after what felt like merely minutes, the absence of her weight resting over me heavy in all of the emptiness it left behind.

“Princess?” My hands reached over the spot by my side. She wasn’t there. I sat up on the bed in an instant, eager to find her near me. She couldn’t have left me alone in her apartment, could she? She knows better than that. She knows I’d wait for her to get back, however long that might be.

I found her in the kitchen, sitting in one of the counters with a glass of water in her hands and I wouldn’t have found the image so terrifying if it weren’t for two things.

She wasn’t wearing my shirt, which meant she had consciously decided to choose something to wear and didn’t want that something to be mine.

And her eyes were very clearly red when she raised her gaze to meet mine.

And still, I asked, “Why did you leave?”, standing by the threshold as I stared back at her, terrified of taking a step closer and scaring her away. When she averted her gaze, I already knew I wouldn’t like her answer.

“I can’t be the one being left again.” My heart shattered into a million pieces at her confession, much like it had done that evening so many moons ago when I closed the door behind me and walked out of her life, knowing I’d never be able to keep her off my mind.

My legs acted on their own accord, taking me closer to her so I could cradle her face, offer her some comfort. “Oh, sweetheart, no,” I whispered, running my thumb over her cheekbone before kissing her for an instant, hoping in that instant she’d come to understand how much she meant to me. “I don’t want to leave you again. I’m not going to,” I assured her before adding quietly, “not unless you ask me to.”

She accepted my proximity for a little bit before gently pushing me away. The second her skin wasn’t near mine, I felt cold and alone, despite her being right there.

“We don’t even know each other anymore, Steve.” She continued to avoid my eyes. “It’s been years.” It was the truth, even though it hurt me to admit it. But…

“I don’t care,” I stated, crossing the distance she had placed between us. “Please, let me make this right,” I begged, reaching out for her once more. “Let’s go on another date, whatever you need.”

Pressing kisses to her shoulder, I hugged her to me, unwilling to part from her warmth. “I promise this time will be different,” I assured her. “It’ll be so much better.”

Her fingers ran down my chest before she accepted my hug, making me shiver in excitement. “I want to date you, baby,” I repeated, voice a bit mumbled from keeping my lips pressed against her skin. “Just… come back to bed, okay? Let me wake up with you in my arms tomorrow, and from then on, we can figure it out.”

I pulled away to look into her eyes and she stared back into mine. I held my breath in anticipation, nervously waiting for any reaction until finally, she nodded.

“Okay.”

#my fics #steve rogers smut #steve roger #smut #sugar daddy au #single father au #ceo au #ex au #my requests #steve rogers request #steve rogers x reader #steve rogers reader insert #steve rogers reader inserts

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smallheathgangsters · 3 years

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Bloody Pretty Nurse | J.S.

A/N: since I want to get back into writing, but i don't have much free time, i have to keep my fics short for the moment. i still hope they are just as enjoyable! :)

Pairing: John Shelby x Reader

Word Count: 848

Type: pure fluff, even though i am so bad at it lol.

Summary: Field hospitals are not all about suffering and healing. Every now and then, there's space for a little fun.

Tag List: @livingforbarnes @shelbyreilly @multi-fandom-iimagines @lovemissyhoneybee @peakyblindersengland @lucillethings @callmesunshinexx @simonsbluee @anyasthoughts @sophieshelby

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In the beginning, the war was loud. Making you cover your ears every other minute. Shieling them from the awful sounds the men, the bombs, the guns, the horses made. But it wasn’t the yelling and gunshots and neighing that were haunting you at night. The worst was the screaming of wounded men. The agony, sending chills down your spine, making you want to close your eyes and run. Run for safety, run for silence. Run for anything else than the horrible noises war created.

But after weeks and weeks of hearing the crying and wailing and everything else that was going on outside the tents, you had gotten used to it. Not in a way that made you less affected by it. But in a way that made you able to cope with it. And do your job. Successfully and precisely.

You were carefully stitching up a large cut on a young, overall not so badly wounded man. He hissed and clenched his jaw, trying to be as brave as possible.

“Almost done,” you announce, sending the needle through his skin one last time and pulling at the thread, closing the opening completely. “Voilà.”

Just as he opened his mouth, most likely to thank you, two men barged into the tent, supporting a third on their shoulders.

Immediately, you jerked up, waving them over to you. “Over here!”

You pointed to bed at the end of the tent. “You can lay him down on there.”

After they placed him on the squeaky bed, they quickly informed you about what had happened, before leaving you alone with the soldier.

Every single time, you were in awe at how devoted those men were. Returning to the chaos right away, not using the time in the tent to take a short rest or maybe even clear their head for a second. Right back into it, without any sign of hesitation.

You moved your focus back on the wounded soldier. “Gunshot in the leg?”

He nodded, eyebrows knitted together to a frown and looked down at his blood-soaked trouser leg. “Obviously, yes.”

“Well, at least your still alive,” you said with a shrug. “And you’ll be able to take a break from duty until you’re back in shape again. I’d say that’s a plus.”

Even though he was in obvious pain, he sent you a stupid grin, amused by your remark. “You’re one of those nurses who make you forget all about the pain.”

“You’re clearly suffering,” you stated, a chuckle escaping your mouth, before leaving to get your equipment.

When you returned to the man with the wounded leg, who was audibly cursing to himself, you announced, that the first step would be taking out the bullet.

“First time in a medical tent?”

“Unfortunately, yes,” he answered, his breath going fast. You could see little droplets of sweat on his forehead.

You tilted your head, confused. “Unfortunately, because …?”

He lifted his shaky arm and gestured at his surroundings. “Bloody pretty nurses.”

Instantly and without being able to control it, your eyes rolled in their sockets and you let out a deep sigh. Then, you picked up a pair of anatomical tweezers and held them in front of his face. “Another stupid word and this will be painful.”

“Excuse me?” he exclaimed, his expression panic-stricken.

You laughed. “That was a joke.”

“God, woman. That’s not something to joke about,” he exhaled while closing his eyes for a moment.

He was pretty. Despite his leg being ruined, his face was perfectly intact. Besides the dirt and the sweat, you could not spot a single scratch or scar. And you spotted freckles. Beautiful, messy freckles.

“Let us share each other’s names, so you don’t have to call me woman and I don’t have to call you idiot.”

He huffed, trying to act annoyed, but failing completely when the corners of his mouth started twitching. “John.”

“I’m –”

“No wait, let me guess!” he interrupted.

You cocked an eyebrow. “Why?”

“My senses are telling me your parents named you … Y/N.”

You mouth unwillingly fell agape.

John snickered childishly. “I’m surprised my reading-skills were able to impress you that much.”

“Reading …?” you questioned, before it dawned on you.

The name tag. You had completely forgotten about always being labelled.

You quickly closed your mouth and pointed the tweezers at him. “You’re an idiot.”

“I though you weren’t going to call me that?” he protested, but you ignored him and sat yourself down on a nearby stool to finally start the procedure.

When you touched his leg to cut open the trouser leg, he flinched. Reflexively, you took a hold of his clenched fist. When his eyes met yours, you gave it a little squeeze. “I’m not going to hurt you, relax.”

He gulped. “I know.”

You gave him another reassuring squeeze and felt him loosen up. He sent you a weak smile. “You know I lied to you before.”

“You did? About what?” you asked, confused about his change of subject.

“You were the only bloody pretty nurse I was talking about.”

#peaky blinders #peaky blinder fanfic #john shelby #john shelby x reader #john shelby fanfic #peaky blinders fanfiction #tommy shelby #arthur shelby #michael gray #finn shelby #isaiah jesus #thomas shelby #john shelby fanfiction #tommy shelby x reader #thomas shelby x reader #arthur shelby x reader #michael gray x reader #finn shelby x reader #isaiah jesus x reader

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tchallasbabymama · 3 years

Text

Don't Forget About Us

Hello, my lovelies. Here’s my contribution to @nahimjustfeelingit-writes smut challenge (the prompt is in bold!) Let’s see what Erik’s up to now, shall we?

Don’t forget to check out my masterlist to read my other stories and oneshots. Your comments and reblogs mean the world to me, so make sure to let me know what you think! And let me know if you want to be tagged in any of my writing. Enjoy😘

Word count: 5,595

CW: smut...duh.

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“So, what do you do for a living?”

Kayla sighed internally at the question and took a sip of her Pinot Grigio. She hated first dates with a burning passion, but unfortunately, that was the only way to find a man around here. She went through the motions of politely answering his questions, barely asking any of her own. She didn’t care. Even just fifteen minutes in, Kayla could tell he didn’t excite her, and she lamented the waste of a good outfit as she listened to him drone on about his life. Every now and then, he’d stop and ask a question about her, but she could tell he was only asking so he could talk more about himself.

How many siblings do you have?

What’s your sign?

Why did your last relationship end?

Her mind traveled to her ex-boyfriend, Erik Stevens. They had spent six blissful years together, and Kayla thought he was the one. She wanted them to get married and start a family, and she thought he did, too, but every time she brought it up, he’d find some excuse to change the subject. At thirty years old, Kayla wasn’t getting any younger, so she grew tired of his avoidance and eventually cut him loose. She needed more out of life, but the guy currently sitting across from her certainly wasn’t it.

“We wanted different things,” she answered vaguely and took another sip. It would be a long night with what’s-his-name. David? Devon? Whatever. At least he had money and took her to a nice restaurant.

Darryl took the opportunity to bore her with the details of his job, which Kayla already knew. He was a colleague of her best friend, Carina’s husband. They worked at the same law firm, and Carina decided to hook them up after tiring of hearing Kayla complain about dating apps. As much as Kayla hated Tinder, she would’ve much rather been at home on her couch swiping left on the cesspool of single men Oakland had to offer. Every few dozen swipes or so, she’d find a cutie, but his bio would be abysmal, or his conversation skills would fall flat.

Despite the fact that their relationship just couldn’t make it, Kayla still thought of Erik as the gold standard. Just thinking about his dimples and his struggle beard made her smile dreamily. His big, strong arms would wrap around her and hold her tight at night, and she’d trace her fingers over the intentionally placed keloid scars that held his darkest secrets. She missed retwisting his locs and the way he always smelled like sandalwood and warm vanilla. Kayla didn’t want to admit it, but she still loved him. No man could compare to her Erik.

“Hello? Kayla?”

“Huh? Oh, sorry. Can you repeat that last part?”

“Uh, yeah, sure. What’s got you so distracted, babygirl?”

Kayla fought the bile rising in her throat. She wasn’t his babygirl. It didn’t even sound right coming from his mouth. Maybe it was the thinness of his lips. They weren’t “white man” thin, but they couldn’t hold a candle to the juicy pussy pleasers she had grown accustomed to.

“Nothing, just thought I saw somebody I know. You were saying?”

“Just that you look beautiful tonight,” Damon attempted to flirt with her.

Kayla wanted to roll her eyes but thanked him instead and smiled politely again. Of course she looked beautiful; she had pulled out all the stops for what she had hoped would be a good night out. Kayla had squeezed her thickness into a lavender satin dress. The way the dress’s skirt cinched on the side kept it snug around her plush waist, but the high slit that traveled up her thigh was the main attraction. The strappy silver heels on her feet showed off her matching pedicure that contrasted beautifully with her glistening brown skin, and her makeup was flawless. Her outerwear for the night, a cropped fur jacket that had found its way to the coat check when they arrived, was the icing on the cake. Her outfit deserved the appreciation, just not from Deshawn.

The waiter saved her from having to focus on her date when she brought out the food they had ordered. Since Kayla knew Derek had money, she had ordered the whole lobster, and she fought her mouth from drooling too much as the waiter set it down in front of her. It laid on a bed of forbidden rice, and the side of roasted brussels sprouts and cremini mushrooms looked heavenly. The ramekin of drawn butter off to the side tempted her as it sat next to the minuscule seafood fork. She may not enjoy her company for the evening, but Kayla damn sure was going to enjoy her meal.

“Looks good,” Dominic called from the other side of the table, breaking Kayla from her trance as he cut into his wagyu beef.

“Sure does.” Kayla wasted no time before digging into her meal. Not only was it the perfect excuse to avoid conversation, but it was perfect, period.

A slight chill permeated the air as the door swung open and the crisp January air entered the small restaurant. Kayla shivered as she complained internally about being forced to sit near the door, but that shiver intensified as she heard a voice. His voice.

“Reservation for Stevens, please.”

Kayla stilled.

“Of course. Right this way, sir,” the maitre d’ responded, and Kayla heard three sets of footsteps coming her way.

--------

“Babe, let’s go!”

“Yell at me one more time, woman,” Erik warned as he came around the corner into the living room, fastening his watch.

“I swear, you take more time getting ready than I do.”

“Whatever, Mo. You ready?”

“Nigga, I been ready!”

Erik rolled his eyes and grabbed his keys. It would be a rough night, and things were already starting off on a bad foot. He and Monique had been seeing each other for the better part of a year, and he’d finally reached his limit. She was overbearing, rude, and just after him for his money, but he hated being alone, so he put up with her bullshit. His cousin, T’Challa, had tried to hook him up with a few ladies back in Wakanda when he went to visit after his breakup, but nothing stuck. Almost immediately after coming back to the states, Erik met Monique at a charity event for the Outreach Center. She had the singing voice of an angel and had been booked as the entertainment for the evening. Erik was drawn to her like a sailor to a siren, and she immediately sank her teeth into him. Past her vocal talents, Monique wasn’t really anything special. Her personality left a lot to be desired, she wasn’t the sharpest crayon in the box, and she just wasn’t her.

The moment Kayla ended their relationship a year ago, Erik’s whole world shattered. He had lived a life full of pain and loss, but Kayla had been his lifeline. She pulled him out of the dark and made him revel in the sunshine. Hell, she was the sunshine, but now he had settled for a UV lamp at best. Kayla had wanted a life that Erik was too scared to give her, but that fear became his downfall. He still missed her most nights. He was lonely, and Monique was there to keep him company, but that wasn’t enough for him anymore. Erik craved a connection that Monique just couldn’t provide. So he decided he had to break it off and figured that doing so in a public place would probably be best. She had a tendency to throw things when she got angry.

The car ride to Chez Martine was tense. Monique had been angry all day because Erik had taken back his credit card even though she wanted to buy a new dress for their date. Her lousy mood almost made him dump her back at his condo, but Erik kept a cool head and stayed focused on the plan. He ignored the way Monique complained the entire time she got ready, reluctantly putting on a dress he had seen her wear before. It didn’t matter to him; he knew what the night held.

When they walked into the restaurant, Erik’s heart dropped into his stomach. He’d recognize that shoulder blade tattoo anywhere. She had cut off all her hair and lost a few pounds, but he knew for sure that he was looking at Kayla. His Kayla. He forced himself to look straight ahead as they passed her table and prayed that the maitre d’ didn’t sit them where she could see him. Unfortunately, he had no such luck because the only open table for two was directly within her line of sight. He prayed again that Monique would sit on the far side of the table, but Bast ignored his pleas once more. He had to sit facing her, and as soon as he got comfortable in his chair, her gaze slyly trailed over to him. They locked eyes across the room, and Erik’s heart stopped. She was just as beautiful as the last time he saw her all those months ago, but who the fuck was that sitting across from her?

“What are you looking at?” Monique’s abrasive voice cut through his eardrums.

“Nothing. Just thought I saw someone I know, that’s all.”

She cut her eyes at him and turned around to look as he buried his face in the menu.

“Quit being nosy,” he complained.

“I just wanna see who’s got your attention, that’s all.” Monique turned back around with a sour look on her face. “It’s probably that fat girl with her cleavage all out.”

“Mo, just look at the fucking menu and act like you got some sense.”

“Fine.”

Monique pouted until the waiter showed up, but she plastered a fake smile on her face as he took their order. As usual, she ordered the most expensive thing on the menu, and it bothered him to no end that she was hellbent on spending all of his money. Of course, he had plenty, but she felt entitled to it. Kayla never cared about him being rich. Hell, when they got together, she didn’t even know he was a prince, but he loved to spoil her nonetheless. He loved the look on her face when he’d buy her things or take her on the expensive trips that she more than deserved. Kayla appreciated everything he did for her with all her heart, but she’d say the same thing every time.

“Thank you, baby, but you’re all I need.”

Erik smiled fondly at the memory of when he bought her a diamond tennis bracelet from Wakanda for their second anniversary. She was so excited to have diamonds that weren’t marred by exploited labor that she damn near dropped the box when she saw what was inside. It had been a rough year for them, what with him disappearing for a couple of months to seize the Wakandan throne and all. She certainly had plenty of colorful words for him when he came back. He’ll never forget the look on her face when he showed up at her door. He had brought T’Challa for backup just in case, but she looked right past the king as tears welled up in her eyes at seeing her Erik, alive and well.

Erik’s eyes started to get misty as he thought about the way she kissed him with so much emotion...then slapped him across the face for leaving. His gaze wandered back over to Kayla and he noticed the light bounce off of something on her arm. She was wearing the bracelet.

As if she felt his glare, Kayla shifted uncomfortably in her seat, so he averted his eyes back to Monique, who had caught him staring again.

“Why don’t you go say hi?” she asked sarcastically, making him roll his eyes so hard they almost got stuck.

--------

Erik Stevens. Here, of all places. He just had to be here.

Kayla noticed that he didn’t seem to be enjoying his modelesque date’s company any more than she was enjoying Darwin’s, and the pang of jealousy she felt at seeing him with another woman went away. She knew she had no right to feel any kind of way about it, especially since she was the one that broke things off. That didn’t make it any easier, though.

Dylan was too wrapped up in his steak to notice her wandering eye, but it seemed that Erik’s food was as uninteresting as the woman across from him. Kayla watched as he half-heartedly pushed it around his plate, but he certainly kept his favorite whiskey coming. She wanted to chuckle but didn’t want Daniel to think he had anything to do with her levity. They were both drowning their dissatisfactions in their alcohols of choice, and Kayla got a phantom taste of Uncle Nearest 1856 on her lips as she watched him take a sip. When he set the glass down and licked his lips, Kayla felt flush. She missed those lips…

“So, how about dessert?” Damien asked as he leaned back in his chair and rubbed his stomach. “I hear their creme brulee is amazing.”

“Uh, sure, why not?”

“You know,” he began as he leaned in and reached for her hands. She allowed him to take them, but the softness of his hands disgusted her. No callouses, no roughness, not even a firm grip. “I’ve had a great night. I’d love to see you again.”

Kayla chuckled nervously, unsure of how to proceed.

“What are you doing next-”

“Are you fucking kidding me?!”

A shrill voice pierced the air as Erik’s date bolted up from her seat. Desmond, and the whole restaurant, turned around to see what was going on, and Kayla took the opportunity to remove her hands from his.

“Keep your voice down,” Erik sneered through his teeth. “We’re in public.”

“So?! You bring me out here just to dump me? To dump this?!” she gestured at her slim figure, and he rolled his eyes.

“You ain’t even all that,” he waved her off. He was tired of playing nice, and Kayla could see the exasperation written all over his face.

“Excuse me, miss-” the waiter attempted to calm her down, but the crazed woman cut him off.

“Stay out of this!”

“I’m so sorry,” Erik mouthed to the poor man who would absolutely be getting a monstrous tip later.

“Oh, you’re sorry for him, but not for me?”

“Mo, just sit down. We can finish our meal like adults-”

“Fuck you, Erik.” She threw her dirty martini at him, soaking the front of his all-black ensemble.

Kayla could damn near see the steam coming out of his ears as his apparent ex stormed out of the restaurant. Erik locked eyes with her across the room, and when he saw the concern written all over her face, his softened.

“Whew, poor fella,” Dexter commented as he turned back around. “Where was I? Oh-”

“Excuse me, where’s your restroom?” Kayla interrupted him as their waiter walked by.

“Right down there.” She pointed at a set of stairs off to the side, and Kayla thanked her as she slid out of her seat.

“I’ll be back, Darius.”

“It’s Denzel.” He deflated.

“Fuck,” she froze. She had been sure it was Darius. “Still, I’ll be back.”

“I’ll be here,” he responded, obviously upset by her slip-up.

Kayla hurried off down the stairs and leaned against the wall as she waited for either of the single-use restrooms to open up. She took a deep breath and opened her clutch, reaching in to pull out her phone with a shaky hand and typing in his number. It was one of the few she had memorized, just in case.

“You ok?”

Her thumb hovered over the send button, but she couldn’t press it. Her heart nearly thumped out of her chest at the thought of starting a conversation with him, but something within her said that she should. It would be weird not to say anything after all that, right?

“Hey-”

“Shit!” Kayla dropped her phone when his silky baritone graced her ears.

“My fault, ma.” Erik leaned over and picked the phone off the floor, checking it for cracks. He saw she had typed a message out to him and smirked before handing it back to her.

“T-thanks.”

“No problem. And, yeah, I’m ok.”

“Huh?”

Erik pointed at her phone screen.

“Oh! Right. Um, well, that’s good to hear.” Kayla attempted to push her hair behind her ear out of habit, forgetting she had just cut it all off a week ago.

“What about you?”

“What about me?”

“You ok? You don’t seem to into ole dude out there.”

Kayla sighed and rolled her eyes, “Oh, him.”

“Damn, it’s like that?” Erik laughed, and she slapped his arm. That slight contact was enough to spark a flame in them both, and Erik’s face turned serious. “For real, though, not going well?”

“Better than you, it seems,” she quipped as she eyed his wet shirt. That was a bad idea because his first three buttons were undone, and she caught a peek of the raised scars that she missed so much. And that broad chest, and the chain with his father’s ring that he always wore. He’d let her wear it from time to time, and she always felt like it was such an honor. He trusted her enough to let her wear it. He loved her enough to-

Kayla pried her eyes away and made yet another mistake: she looked up at him. Those eyes still looked like sweet, sweet molasses, and even though his locs were braided back, she could tell he was letting them grow out. She momentarily wondered who was retwisting them nowadays, but her train of thought was cut short by the scent of sandalwood and vanilla. Kayla’s mind went blank as she inhaled slowly.

“Heh, yeah. That was...that was pretty embarrassing. Not even gonna lie.” Erik looked away shyly, unable to hold her gaze.

“I guess you’ll need to find a new date spot, huh?”

“Nah, I think I’m good on dating for a while.”

“Same,” Kayla sighed. “Dating sucks.”

“Yeah…”

One of the bathroom doors unlocked, and a middle-aged white man stepped out and passed them on the way up the stairs.

“Well, I should-”

“Yeah, go ahead.”

Kayla walked towards the bathroom, but before she could reach the door, she felt a light tug on her wrist. His touch still gave her goosebumps, and he noticed her raised skin as she turned to face him.

“I just, uh...it was nice seeing you, Kay-kay.” Erik smiled at her, and she nearly melted. She missed when he called her that, too. “You look good.”

“Thanks, E.” She smiled back. “So do you.”

He let her go, and Kayla disappeared into the bathroom. When she closed the door behind her, she took a deep breath to center herself. After all these months, Erik still took her breath away. He clouded her senses and scrambled her mind. Even as she took care of business, her brain replayed their short interaction on a loop.

Kayla locked eyes with her reflection as she dried her hands. How could she go back up there to- what’s his name? Oh, yeah, Da- Denzel. That’s it, Denzel. How could she go back up there to his mediocre company when the man she still loved had made her feel so alive with just one touch. That was the magic of Erik, his magnetism. When they were together, she couldn’t help but be drawn to him, even when she wanted to slap him across his beautiful face. Those were some of the best times, though. If she was angry at him, he knew exactly what to do to calm her down. To put her in her place. To remind her-

Kayla’s daydreaming was cut short by a knock at the door.

“Occupied!”

It came again.

“I’ll be out in a minute!”

She reached for another paper towel to dab off the sweat that had started to pool on her skin at the thought of Erik’s dominance when the door opened.

“What the f- Erik?!”

He pushed inside the bathroom and locked the door behind him.

“You need to start locking doors, Kay.”

“I- what do you want?”

“I want to talk to you,” he spoke as he moved closer to her.

“Here?!”

“Yeah, here,” he chuckled.

Kayla rolled her eyes and tried to push past him.

“Now is not the time or place-”

“When is?” he blocked her exit, and she crossed her arms in defeat, looking up at him through her lashes as she leaned against the sink. “Look, I just need to say something real quick.”

“Fine,” Kayla sighed and gestured for him to continue. She knew there was no use fighting him. She wasn’t leaving that bathroom until he was good and ready.

“Kay,” his voice softened, and she looked away only to have her face pulled back in his direction. “Kay-kay, look at me.”

She made the mistake of doing just that, getting lost in his eyes again.

“I miss you,” Erik murmured.

“Erik-”

“Look, I know, ok? I know. And I’m sorry, Kay. I really am- no, look at me. I’m sorry I wasn’t enough for you...but I miss you, girl.”

Kayla’s eyes welled up with tears that she tried her hardest to blink away, but one had the nerve to fall. Erik wiped it away, and the next one, and the next one. A sob wracked Kayla’s body, and he wrapped his arms around her body.

“Don’t cry, babygirl. I know you worked hard on your makeup.”

Kayla laughed through her tears, but the emotions washed back over her, and she buried her face into his chest. It was already soaked with gin, so what harm would a few tears do?

He held her and rocked her softly from side to side as she cried, and after a couple of minutes, she found the will to look up at him again. His cheeks were wet, so she reached up and swiped her thumbs over them as she held his face in her small hands. He nuzzled into them and kissed her wrists.

“I miss you, too, E,” she croaked.

“I know, babygirl.”

He leaned in to kiss her forehead, and she closed her eyes as his soft lips caressed her skin. They stayed intertwined for who knows how long until Erik felt Kayla begin to pull back. He looked down at her, and the two of them locked eyes. Before they knew it, their lips had met in the middle in a passionate embrace. They got lost in each other for a moment until common sense returned to Kayla, and she pushed him off.

“We can’t-”

“Why not?”

“Because…”

“Because what, Kay?” Erik’s voice rumbled as he closed what little gap was between their bodies. He left soft kisses on her temples before working down to her cheeks, then her jawline, and eventually the column of her neck. She let out a soft whimper when his teeth grazed the crook of her neck but pushed him back again before he could continue any further.

“Erik, I...I still love you, and-”

He attacked her lips with his, hands feverishly gripping her waist as he pushed her further into the sink. She had nowhere to go, and she was ok with that.

“I...love you...too...babygirl,” he whispered between kisses.

Kayla’s mind went blank as he lifted her up on the counter and pressed himself between her legs. She could feel him, all of him, and damn did she miss that monster between his legs.

“Erik,” she moaned as he nipped at her earlobe. He still knew how to play her body like a violin.

“Mmm, say it again.”

“Erik!” she squeaked as she felt his strong hands grip her thighs.

“Just like that,” he groaned, and she flooded her already wet panties.

“Baby-”

He connected his forehead to hers and stared deep into her eyes. “You miss me?”

“Mhm,” Kayla nodded with her lip between her teeth.

“I miss you, too, baby. I think about you all the time. Every day,” he pecked her lips, “every night. I miss everything about you, Kay-kay. Your off-key singing, your horrible cooking-”

“Shut up,” Kayla giggled as his hands traveled up her dress.

“Your body…fuck I miss this body. I miss how you smell, how you taste...how that tight little pussy feels wrapped around my dick.”

Kayla widened her legs for him as his fingers found their way to the seat of her panties, stroking up and down her slit. Erik kissed his way back down her face and over to her ear, his warm breath sending chills down her spine.

“Do you think about me when you touch yourself? Because I do. You’re all I see when I stroke my dick...wishing it was your hand...your lips...this fucking pussy.”

Erik pushed her panties to the side, and his nimble fingers circled her clit. Kayla let out a small moan that was music to his ears, making fingers move faster and her breath grow shallower with each rotation.

“Answer me.”

“Mhm.”

“Come on, babygirl, you can do better than that. You think about me when you play in your pussy? This pussy right here?” he asked as he slapped her vulva, her wetness sticking to his hand.

“Y-yes, baby-”

“Uh-uh, you know who I am. Say it,” Erik commanded as he snuck three fingers inside her wetness, making her moan loudly in his ear. “Shhh, you gotta be quiet, babygirl. You don’t want people out there knowing how much of a slut you are, right?”

Kayla shook her head no.

“That’s what I thought. Now, I asked you a question, Kayla,” he reminded her. His gruff voice made her weak, and the fingers that were steadily speeding up inside her certainly didn’t help. “Answer me. Who am I, babygirl?”

Kayla tried to hold out as much as she could. She didn’t want to say it, too proud to give in, but the way he was currently stretching out her pussy and curling his fingers inside her made her cling to his shoulders. The bastard knew what he was doing, and she didn’t want to let him win. But then, he played dirty and bit down on her neck. She cried out, and when he pulled back to look at her, the ferocity in his eyes drove her up the wall.

“I said, who the fuck am I, Kayla?” Erik growled. His hand sped up, making her weak with every thrust. She couldn’t hold it anymore and came undone around him, her mouth betraying her as his name fell from her lips.

“Daddy!” she gasped as her pussy spasmed, and he chuckled darkly.

“Damn right I am,” he kissed her lips, “now gimme that pussy. Daddy missed his pussy.”

Kayla heard a rip and felt the cool air between her legs as he tore through her panties to get to her treasure trove. She reached down between them and grabbed his clothed erection in her hand, making him groan as he bit down on his luscious bottom lip. She undid his belt buckle and slowly unzipped his pants before reaching in and pulling out his throbbing dick.

The longing in her eyes told him everything he needed to know, so he pushed her legs back and tapped his head on her clit.

“You want daddy’s dick in you?”

“Mhm,” she whimpered.

“Good.”

He pushed in and groaned at the feeling of her pussy walls gripping him as he sheathed himself inside her.

“Fuck, you feel like home.”

Kayla moaned into his neck in response and wound her hips against him, meeting him thrust for thrust as he stroked into her slow and deep. She couldn’t form words. He felt so damn good inside her that Kayla’s brain had short-circuited. Erik’s dick hit spots that she could never find herself no matter how hard she tried. Even in her dreams, he drove her body wild. She had spent the last year trying to find somebody, anybody who could make her feel that way, but nobody could compare to Erik Stevens.

Erik and Kayla panted heavily into each others’ mouths as he made love to her body, and as soon as Kayla started to tense up, his thrusts grew harder.

“I-I-”

“I know, babygirl. Daddy feels it,” he groaned as he nipped at her bottom lip. “Cum on my dick like a good girl.”

His words sent Kayla into overdrive, and her body shook as she spilled over him. Her spasming walls hugged him tight, and she wrapped her legs around his waist, begging him with her eyes.

“You feel amazing,” she moaned.

“Mhm. I know them other niggas wasn’t hitting it like this. I just know it. Look at you, cumming all over daddy’s dick. Look at it!” He grabbed her chin and made her look down at her throbbing pussy as his dick slid in and out of her.

“We look so good, daddy!”

Erik slammed into her, and she bit into his shoulder to keep from screaming. He gave her his all over and over, rocking the countertop in the process.

“We’ll look even better if you let me cum in this pussy. Mix my cum with yours-”

“Yes!”

“Yes?” He chuckled. “You want it that bad, huh? Nasty ass, in here getting fucked while that bum ass nigga’s waiting for you upstairs.”

“Mmm, I want it.”

��Want what, babygirl?” Erik teased as he brought his thumb to her clit, strumming it slowly as he thrust into her.

“You. I want you to cum deep in me.”

“Shit,” Erik groaned. “You want it deep in there?”

“Mhm. Put it where it belongs, daddy.” Kayla licked up the side of his neck, making his knees buckle. “Cum in your pussy.”

Erik lost all sense of control and pounded into her tight pussy, somehow getting even deeper in preparation for his release. Kayla held on tight as she felt him begin to spasm inside her, and she released around him again as his deep moans tickled her ear. Erik thrust extra deep and held his dick in place as he emptied his balls into her warmth, whimpering lightly as she rubbed his back to soothe him and bring him back down.

“I missed you, babygirl.”

“I missed you, too, daddy.”

They stayed like that, wrapped up in each other until their breathing slowed. Erik was the first to move, slowly pulling himself out of Kayla as she whined at the loss of contact. He kissed all over her face before planting a slow, sweet kiss on her lips.

“I can’t let you go again, Kay-kay,” his voice cracked as tears threatened to fall from his eyes again.

Kayla pulled him back in and kissed him so deeply that she nearly lost herself in him again, but he pulled away and looked her in her eyes.

“I’m serious, girl. I’ll do anything. I’ll marry you, give you as many big-headed babies as you want. Just, please, Kay-” she cut him off with another kiss to shut him up.

“We should go back to my place and talk,” she whispered, and Erik’s face lit up. Something about the way she said it, the way she kissed him, the way her body still responded to his...it gave him hope. Kayla smiled at him and pecked his lips once more before hopping off of the sink. He had to catch her because her legs were wobbly, and she stumbled a little in her heels.

“You aight?” he laughed.

“No, nigga,” she slapped his chest, and the two of them got caught in a laughing fit. They had really just fucked in the bathroom at Chez Martine. Kayla was on cloud nine until a thought occurred to her, and her face fell flat. “Oh, shit.”

“What?” Erik’s face turned serious, and his eyes scanned over her body, looking for whatever the problem was.

Kayla started giggling again, and he looked confused.

“What is it?” he asked, barely able to keep a straight face. Her laugh was always so infectious…

“Demetrius.”

“Who?!”

“My date.”

“Girl, don’t worry about him. He probably thinks you dipped out anyway.”

Kayla shrugged and fixed her dress as Erik stuffed his shirt back in his pants. They checked their reflections in the mirror, and Kayla was pleasantly surprised that her makeup was still intact thanks to that setting spray she had splurged on the other day.

“Ready?” Erik asked as he admired her beauty. Kayla nodded, and he unlocked the door, opening it to find Duncan leaning against the wall with a sour look on his face. Kayla’s eyes blew wide as she tried to figure out what to say to her date for the evening.

“Heyyy, um…”

“Denzel,” he seethed.

“Yeah, sorry. So, um, we’re-”

“Sorry, bruh,” Erik clapped him on the shoulder, “but we heading out. Bathroom’s all yours, though.”

Erik pulled Kayla along, and she sent Deion an apologetic glance before following Erik up the stairs. It seemed the whole restaurant knew what had occurred, but neither one of them cared. They were just happy to be around each other again. It had been entirely too long.

Taglist: @ladymac82, @kitesatforestp, @harleycativy, @raysunshine78, @maddeningmayhem, @theblulife, @motheroffae, @love-mesome-me,@toni9, @bribrisback, @impremenior, @blacklytical, @uzumaki-rebellion, @honeyandpeaches, @cecereads209, @wakandama2,

#smutchallenge #cecewritessometimes #oneshot #erik killmonger x oc #black!oc #smut #Youtube

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