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#I didn’t even do a warm up I cannot believe how good this came out

nerdieforpedro · 2 days

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Weekend Update 05/19/2024

Three weeks in a row. I should play the lottery, I might hit for some big money!

Nerdie, please. We think it’s fine that you play the lottery, but have you done much this week?

I will have you know, that I worked three 12 hour shifts in a row, one of which I was the charge nurse. Something I’ve never done before and only had a 4 hour class once. The person that was supposed to be training me was not there so I just did trial by fire. I also worked this weekend.

Though the highlight of the week was Friday night!

What? You had a hot date? Good for you!

Huh? This is Nerdie you’re talking about, no. Not at all what happened. I got to see Hozier live in a concert! It was wonderful! I might still be singing all the songs, have played them for my coworkers and that one guy whose room I was in for 30 minutes getting him cleaned up and bed changed should know a fair bit of “Almost (Sweet Music)” and “Something New.” I think I also had a brunch with my family this week somewhere in there.

We have so many questions…did that man even know what you were singing? Is he now a fan? How was brunch? How did you even find out about the concert? Why wasn’t that the first thing you said?

Sometimes you gotta bury the lead. Brunch was with mama Nerdie and two of Nerdie’s brothers. I have three total. I’m the only girl. The concert was magical, I’m trying to figure out something for September but it’s likely sold out. I think I really lucked out last Friday.

Nerdie, do you have anything fanfic related? We’re happy to know you’re doing well. We wonder sometimes, but you know, this is Tumblr.

This week will be a bit different. I did a lot of reading last week but this week, I didn’t read much of anything except beta reading for a couple people. So Nerdie will highlight some series she thinks you should peek at:

Symphony by @maggiemayhemnj (A wonderful series featuring Joel - who is having a moment with his new hair by the way. I did notice, how could one not? Has Joel and a female OFC in post outbreak Jackson.) Fun fact - one of my patients called me symphony so it’s going to be one of my many aliases now.

If Wishes Came True by @schnarfer (A Dieter Bravo trilogy. Our beloved trash panda is many things and has many expressions, some not so great. Can it turn into something worthwhile?)

Headshots by @secretelephanttattoo (Marcus Pike - being the sweet man that he is. The OFC is a photographer. Love blooms. It will give you warm fuzzies and you’ll sniffle. It’s totally fine to do so.)

Bloody Kisses by @perotovar (Shane Morrissey and Tim rockford are the combo I was not aware I needed and now I think about them. The longing, the realization, the understanding, the build up, and the growing pains. Just read it and you’ll get it.)

IRL by @grogusmum (A sweet Javi G fic. You and Javi have been chatting about your shared interest in movies and sparks fly. So much so that you fly to see him in person. How does that go? Read and find out.)

These are five series I’ve read, loved and will read again because I enjoy them. I hope you all do too.

I believe I did post a Dieter one shot for the Dieter Bravo Brain Rot May challenge about aliens.

Also @fhatbhabiee back! 💖💖

I was tagged by people for WIP Wednesday through Saturday so I’ll do something from my not titled Pero x Dragon fic (look - it was a thought I had and it morphed into this but it’s dialogue):

Darkness is beginning to take him as is the cold. Pero cannot feel his limbs nor tell if he’s moving them. “Hmmpf, you care nothing of your life? Just to let it slip away like this. You appeared to be a warrior of some sort. Do all human warriors lay on their belly and wait for their final breath? Such a pity.” This voice, such torture before death to be mocked like this, couldn’t he have died in battle? “I’m already in hell only hearing this voice before I die. Goddammit.” The mercenary laments. “Are all humans fools like this? Why will you not heed my words? I am not trying to reach you for simple vexation.” “Stop with your flowery words then. Say what you actually need. I’m not going to listen to you the entire time before I leave this earth.”

Pero is the type to curse and argue with demons, angels, monsters and Gods if it means he has the last word. I stand by this. Contrary to what this conversation reads like, Pero does not die. His fate could be worse than death, we’ll have to see. 👀

The Peeps who maybe tagged me? @tinytinymenace @connectioneverywhere @magpiepills @604to647 @djarinmuse

@megamindsecretlair and @for-a-longlongtime There are either people I missed or people who didn't tag me. My bad either way. 🤣

I’ve also been toying with which series between my Marcus therapy series and my sweet Javi P series to start posting on Tumblr. I’m not sure which one. Everyone one’s welcome to ask me questions about any of these WIPs, just know I may not stop talking about them like most fic writers.

I think I do dialogue well in my fics, and wacky ideas, but I could use work on world building, smut, descriptions and other things. I think. Who knows, I'm just going to keep wiring and we'll see what happens.

Stay safe and hydrated everyone!

Love Nerdie!

#weekend update #fanfiction #pedro pascal fanfiction #pedro pascal characters #dieter bravo #joel miller #pero tovar #marcus pike #javier pena narcos #javier gutierrez #tim rockford #shane morrissey

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hellfire--cult · 10 months

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Edit of Eddie: Sofiiel

Stripper!Eddie x Shy!Fem!Reader

Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4 - Part 5 - Part 6 - Part 7 - Part 8 (end)

WC: 22.4k (please take your time while reading this)

⚠️ +18 MDNI, Stripper!Eddie, nervousness, fluff, self doubt, flirting, soft touches, mentions of vomit, drinking, skin on skin contact, kissing, kissing with tongue, pining, sexual tension, smut, a lot of it (i won't spoil it)

Plot: You thought you were cursed with your shyness, but after one embarrassing night, you decide it's time to change, and you believe someone might be able to help with that.

Summary: You realize what you're feeling for Eddie, and your relationship finally shifts, as you finally let go. You finally let yourself go.

A/N: This chapter... took it's time... Its long, but IT'S WORTH IT I PROMISE. I hope you all take your time to read it, and enjoy it. I enjoyed writing it so and I hope the feelings I tried to put into words can be felt through the screen.

You can always support me by hitting the reblog button with tags, and I always enjoy reading your comments!

Taglist is closed - Follow me for updates and put notifications on!

PART 6

You felt like you were floating on air.

Your limbs were completely relaxed, your muscles felt as if they were gelatin on your body, and you were warm. Slowly gaining back your consciousness as you stirred slightly in bed, groaning as you stretched your arm forward, over the comforters that were hugging your body tightly, providing you with their heat.

Slowly, your senses started coming back, touch first, feeling the soft texture of the comforter, hugging it tightly against you. But then, your sense of smell came back, picking up a sweet scent. A sweet yet manly scent. And that’s when your hearing came back, soft snores that were very close to you, extremely. So your eyes shot open.

And your sense of sight came back.

Eddie’s face was facing yours, but he was still asleep, comforter over his body as well and your heart and breathing stopped. The tension came back to your muscles in an instant, as you felt your stomach begin to contract in itself, and your fingertips became cold from the nervousness, from the overwhelming realization of what happened yesterday.

Oh god, yesterday.

He caressed you, and you let him. He kissed you, and you let him. He touched you, and you let him. He made you feel good, and you let him. You let your friend touch you. You let a friend touch you in a way that only happens intimately, only because you were curious. You took a sharp intake of breath to forbid yourself from screaming as nausea invaded your stomach.

You needed to get out. How can you face him? How can you possibly face him after he– Your head began to spiral, maniacally. Your legs shifted and your eyes widened when you felt your wetness still there, having not changed or cleaned yourself from what happened last night. Another wave of embarrassment washed over you remembering you fell asleep on him.

You didn’t even return the favor.

You felt your body heat up at the thought because you didn’t even know if you should have. He did it by his own accord, didn’t he? He just wanted to help you, that’s it, that was it. But, oh god, you moaned. You let your voice out, he heard you moan, without any restraint and– Your blood immediately left your system as you kept remembering the night before.

You moaned his name.

You had to immediately leave. Your body and your heart cannot take it. You ruined it, everything is ruined, there is no turning back from this. There is no way you can see him eye to eye any longer, because friends don’t do this. No matter how much you are burning at the moment, you can’t take a friend’s help as an advantage. You are despicable, you are horrible, and there’s no way Eddie would forgive you for it.

You looked at Eddie’s face again and you stopped your movements and thoughts. You focused on his steady breaths as soft snores came out from his mouth, which was just partially open. His eyelashes are long, and some strands of his hair were on his face. You could feel your heart pounding in your chest again as you stared at him. His arm was draped over his head, and you could see the tattoos all over his skin.

Your hand unconsciously reached out and your fingertips touched his bicep, finding the part of the tattoo sleeve where a dragon lays. You were entranced by his art as you looked all over it, mentally taking screenshots of every single trace. You looked back at his face and your hand immediately shifted towards him, your nails gracing his cheek, gently, and you took one of the strands of his hair out of his face.

You felt your face heat up watching him. You won’t deny, ever, that he is gorgeous, probably the most beautiful man you’ve ever seen, and not once in your life you thought you would be able to touch someone like him in this way. Not even in your wildest dreams. Yet, it was so easy with him, talking to him, touching him, even kissing him.

Your fingertips suddenly went to his bottom lip, softly gracing it with your index finger, feeling his hot breath hitting your skin, and you licked your lips not really noticing your movements. You just felt like touching him, and the burning started happening once more. Why was it happening? Why is the heat there?

But your brain was not cooperating with your body right now. There was a growing need as your fingertip felt the plushness of his lip, a need to taste him again, a need to get closer again, get his arms around you, tightly, holding you and feel yourself tremble against him once more. You wanted more. It seems that’s the only word that is persistent in your head when you’re with Eddie.

More. More. More.

Why wasn’t it enough? Why wasn’t it ever enough? What more can you want? He is your friend, what else could be there that you wanted? And why just him? Why didn’t you feel this heat with Steve or Billy? Why didn’t you feel it with Austin? Why haven’t you been feeling it for every man you crossed paths with since you met Eddie? You had talked to men, be it at the grocery shop, or at a cafe, men working there, or simply greeting you.

But it’s only with Eddie that you feel this unbearable heat, these flames that just spread like wildfire everytime he touches you, even with just a brush of hands. You can’t remember a time you felt this way for someone else, this hunger that you can’t satiate no matter how much you wait for it to go away.

Your eyes darted downwards, where his pelvic area would be and you gulped heavily as you remembered the night before again. You felt him, and you had enjoyed rubbing yourself on him, even if he didn’t know you were doing it consciously. Your breath picked up as you felt an impulse in your chest, wanting it to move your hand, wanting to explore. Not just his lips, but his shoulders, his bare chest, his back, his legs, and then–

You felt a sharp small pain in your fingertip, making you wince, completely taking you out of your trance and thoughts, out of the cloud that was in your mind, and your eyes darted up again as your hand moved away by instinct only to see brown eyes staring right back at you, and your blood drained once again, as the heat immediately was dampened with a cold bucket of ice water.

“Was I drooling or something?” He questioned with a hoarse morning voice that instantly went to your belly, knotting it up, and your hairs stood on end, embarrassment filling your chest and your brain immediately triggered the flight mode. You immediately threw the comforter off your body, moving away from him, and sitting up quickly.

Your breathing quickened as you shot up from the bed, only for your limbs to feel like jelly, and you tumbled slightly, Eddie’s eyes widening as he saw the panic setting in your body. He really wished he was the first one to wake up today, because he knew you would probably have a lot of thoughts in your head, just racing uncontrollably. He sat up as you started stammering in your words, looking for your jacket, not realizing in your haze of a panic that it was downstairs.

“I-I should– I should go! I– what– yesterday–” Eddie got up from the bed, wearing the same clothes as last night. After you fell asleep on him, he had moved you so he could lay you on his bed, pulling the comforter over you. He had thought of dressing himself for sleep, but he was afraid you would feel even weirder with him having changed into comfortable clothes when you didn’t have the chance.

He opted to go to the bathroom real quick to wash his hands and relieve himself, to then come back to his room and then he nestled inside of the bed as well, seeing you sleeping peacefully next to him, and just like you did to him this morning, he had traced your face with his fingers, softly and gently, remembering every twitch your face did.

Last night does feel like a lucid dream to him, and he really cannot believe you had let him touch you like that. He couldn’t believe you had let him touch you in a way he’s been craving for a month now. At first he tried to dismiss it, but now he really can’t deny that everything with you is different, so different. He was changing too, not that you knew about it, nobody knew this change in him.

Now, he knew that a line had been crossed, and that you realize that too, and you’re freaking out about it. He doesn’t want the relationship to be different, but he feared that maybe it was too straightforward to do that to you last night. But he just needed to touch you, he absolutely needed to, and he can’t lie to himself and say he doesn’t want more, because hell, he wants so much more.

But right now,

“Angel, look at me.” He rushed to your side as you kept your gaze down, your panicked eyes trying to look anywhere but him. You shouldn’t have let last night happen, because what if he felt obliged to do that with you? What if he pitied you so badly that he felt like doing it? You can’t bear that embarrassment, not with Eddie.

“I-I’m sorry– I’m your friend and–” You stutter out, feeling the air in your lungs slowly fading as you feel your heart beating in your throat. How were you going to look at him? What does this all mean? Friends don’t do the thing you did yesterday, did they? Your head is a mess, and you just want to run away.

“Yes, you’re my friend, and sweetheart, yesterday was–” He clenched his eyes tightly, the words in his mouth stinging like a thousand needles on it. “I wanted to let you know that there is nothing wrong with you. You can feel good with someone.”

He was in front of you now as you stood in the middle of his bedroom, still staring at the ground, blinking at his words. Did he read your mind yesterday? How easy are you to read? But what you are failing to notice is that it’s just Eddie the one who can read you like this. He loves that fact. Just as he knows how you’re feeling right now, knowing you need reassurance that everything is okay, even if inside of him there was a storm, wanting to yell that he wanted to actually touch you. He wanted to feel you, hear you, hold you and kiss you, all of it.

“I– Is…” The lump in your throat made you sound so little, so weak, but you had to make sure, because losing Eddie felt like losing a part of yourself now. The thought felt like a punch to the gut, and you didn’t want it to happen, but how does everything go back to how it was?

“Darling, breathe.” His arms were reaching out to you but not touching you, which you didn’t know if you appreciated or not. Your body was burning with anticipation, but anticipation for what? What exactly were you anticipating? Your head doesn’t know, but when you see his hands, the memory of last night comes back again, but not in a way that makes you want to run away. It is rather making you want to lean closer, let him touch you, graze his skin on yours.

You took a few deep breaths, closing your eyes as you put your palms over your face, completely ashamed for what had transpired last night, but you also felt guilty. Guilty for liking it. Guilty for not regretting it. Guilty for desiring. Guilty for wanting more. Why does this hunger and this fire not satiate? Why is it lingering there? Why doesn’t it go away?

But Eddie didn’t seem like he wanted to run away. He wasn’t kicking you out, and in fact he wanted to talk to you, which made your brain slow down, even for a second, trying to register that he wasn’t going anywhere, and that he didn’t want you to go away either.

“I… Eddie– Yesterday–”

“It’s okay, look at me…” Could you even do that? Your stomach was twirling, almost in nausea as you even imagined the look in his eyes. Suddenly, you felt your wrists being grabbed, gently, very carefully, and it made you jump slightly. The skin where he was touching was burning, but your heart was so grateful for it, and everything became steady, after feeling like the room was spinning on its axis.

He gulped nervously, taking a step closer to you. The only thing in his mind right now, is for you to be okay. He only wants you to be okay, and for you to be able to look at him. He needed you to look at him again, his heart was aching for it, and his gut was contracting in itself each second you didn’t look up.

So, he was greedy again, guiding you to slowly pull your hands down, uncovering your face, and he cursed at himself for wanting to pull you in, wanting to hold you in his arms but he has to be patient. He wants you, but he has to do it right. You’re not just anybody.

Not anymore.

“Look at me Angel… It’s just me.” Your bottom lip shook slightly out of nervousness, but you complied, slowly driving your eyes up. First on his black shirt, then his collar and neck, to then finally land on his brown eyes which were looking at you intensely, with worry, same as yours. You had expected your body to flinch away, to run away even more so than before, but it did the entire opposite. Your body relaxed, your gut turned but it was not nauseating as before, and your brain went blank as he gazed down at you.

You got lost in his eyes, trying to find the regret of what happened last night, trying to find the slight bit of discomfort, but there was none. There was just reassurance, looking at you like he always did, talking to you like he always did, and that made your body lose some of its tension, Eddie noticing it instantly.

“I– I don’t want everything to be weird– I really don’t want to…” Your eyes were teary now, making Eddie’s heart clench as his grip on your wrists tightened slightly from the emotions he was feeling at seeing you like this. His lips curved up in a soft smile, and he shook his head once.

“It isn’t going to be weird… I wanted to show you that there was nothing wrong with you, and I just– I just wanted to help you learn about yourself, help you trust in your body and sensations.” He wanted to chop his tongue off. He helped you, yes, but he wanted to tell you that he liked it too, even if untouched, he loved it, and if you asked, he would do it again.

“I–” You felt yourself heat up as embarrassment and shame invaded your mind. “I didn’t… I didn’t do…” You gazed down again, not wanting to look at his face. You didn’t even reciprocate anything to him, you just fell asleep right on his shoulder after he made you feel so blissful, after he made you see stars, after he made you tremble for the first time in the hands of someone else.

Eddie’s heart soared as he listened to you, as he saw that you cared, that you indeed thought about him and how he was feeling. He didn’t even expect you to think about giving something back to him, and his body relaxed as he melted towards you, one of his hands letting go of your wrist to slowly rise up towards your cheek. You didn’t even flinch, but you actually pressed your face slightly onto his fingers, at his touch.

“I didn’t expect it. I didn’t want anything back Angel… I was just caring for you last night, okay?” He did want, but he wasn’t going to say that to you. At least not now, because that is not what you needed. Yet, in your head, there was a question that fell at the tip of your tongue at his words. You looked up at him, locking eyes with him again, but your mouth didn’t open to voice out what you wanted to ask.

Did he not want anything back because he really didn’t expect it from you, or because he didn’t actually want YOU to give anything back to him?

The thought made your skin grow goosebumps, mind whirling at the thought of some type of rejection. Why did you feel like that? Why did you feel like he just said something hurtful to you? Why did you suddenly feel unwanted? Undesired?

“And… And us? Does this… make everything–” His palm was now resting on your cheek as he stared down at you, the smile still on his lips, very small, subtle, but yet so emotional and caring, that it made your heart jump at the sight.

“It doesn’t make it awkward… I promise… Which reminds me–” He put his hand down and your other wrist was let go of, making you almost sigh at the loss of contact, wanting to gravitate towards him again. “I don’t think our private dances from yesterday should go unpaid, and as I recall, you make the best fucking pancakes ever, and I’m dying for a chocolate chip one.”

The tension left your shoulders as he talked, a small smile spreading on your lips, watching him straight up with his arms over his chest. You copied his stance, squinting up at him in defiance which made him raise his eyebrows up, hiding behind some of his messy fringe.

“I believe I never actually ASKED for those dances. You guys were very greedy for just one dollar.” You say and he glared down at you before shooting his arm up, poking you on the side, causing you to flinch and giggle, the butterflies exploding in your stomach, and again, they were not on the nauseating side.

“You make some pancakes or…” You raised a questioning eyebrow at his words.

“Or?”

“I’ll start saying mistaken facts about Harry Potter. Like, for example, Harry Potter and the prisoner of alcatraz was a masterpiece.” You winced at the mistaken title, but you knew he was doing it on purpose. He had let you rant talking about Harry Potter for one whole evening through a video call. He just started asking questions to you, and you didn’t even know that he did that just to hear you talk.

He loved hearing you talk when you were excited, when you were confident in the topic, when you were passionate and loving about it, but he also loved the fact that you cared for his interests too. So one day was Harry Potter, and the next day was Dungeons and Dragons. He had explained to you as easily as possible but you were learning pretty quickly and you retained information like a champ.

And as he liked to hear you talk, you liked to hear him.

“Okay, I’ll make the pancakes, so shut up.” You say to him with a shake of your head and he grinned widely at you, knowing he got away with what he wanted, which weren’t the pancakes. He got you to loosen up again, and when you turned around to open the door, a sigh of relief escaped his lips, soft and you weren’t able to hear it.

You tiptoed out of the room, followed by Eddie and you immediately heard the loud snoring from the living room. You giggled while looking back at him and he was just smiling, shaking his head. You walked down the stairs, as quietly as you could, and you saw Robin, now looking up, splayed on the floor over the fluffy carpet as Steve used her tummy as a pillow, in the position of a starfish.

You covered your mouth as you approached them, trying to hold in the laughter. Eddie was next to you after a second, having retrieved his phone from the kitchen counter, and he pulled up the camera to take a picture of the two people on the floor. He was going to keep this and show his brother, because the little shit idolized Steve for a reason, and he never knew why.

He wanted to break that enchantment.

“I bet they’ll wake up at the smell of food.” You whisper and he smirks, shaking his head.

“Steve needs a bucket of ice water to wake up from a hangover.” You grinned and turned your head to look at him, biting your bottom lip. Eddie had to hold back from swallowing, the blood rushing south immediately.

“Wanna bet?”

“A dollar.” He put his hand inside his front pocket and took out the wrinkled dollar you stuffed in there last night. The memory came back like a flash, making you flush all over as the butterflies turned into hungry wolves.

“Deal.” You immediately turned around, trying to hide away from him, but he had already seen your reaction. His chest puffed with hope as he followed you towards the kitchen, and he was next to you in a second, helping you get everything for the pancakes.

Then, the scene turned quite domestic, and normal. Way too normal, and easy, as if it were a puzzle just putting itself together in a perfect match. You beat the eggs, he preheated the pan, he poured the flour in, then mixed for you to start making your batch of pancakes, sprinkling the chocolate chips on top.

“You had to put the chocolate chips inside the batter.” Eddie growled as you shook your head at his whine. You flipped your pancake and looked to your side and up at him.

“Last time I prepared them like this and you didn’t complain.” You say to him, and you remember that afternoon almost everyday. You came with Robin because Steve invited her over, and said that if you wanted to join, that it was okay. You didn’t have any other plans, and the thought of probably seeing Eddie urged you to come over.

Twenty minutes after your arrival, Eddie and Billy stumbled inside the apartment, groaning as they complained they hadn’t eaten anything for the past 3 hours, and dancing was not helping them. So Robin, sweet Robin, thought it was a great idea to tell them that you prepared killer pancakes.

You cooked 22 pancakes that afternoon.

“It’s because I didn’t see you making them. I was showering and getting myself pretty and presentable.” He says with a teasing smile on his face and you shake your head, putting one of the last pancakes on the plate.

“Steve, get the fuck up, I smell pancakes.” You grinned widely at Robin’s voice, looking back over your shoulder, Eddie following your motion, putting his fist over his mouth to hold in his laughter as Robin pushed Steve off her and the poor man groaned almost in pain as he sat up. His hair was completely messed up, and Robin’s wasn’t far behind. They had two bird’s nests on their heads.

“Morning.” Eddie says and you look at him, putting your hand out. He raised an eyebrow up at you.

“Pay up.” You say and he scoffs, shaking his head at you.

“I don’t think so. Robin woke up, then made Steve wake– Oh.” You smirked up at him and he bit his bottom lip, yet a smile was on his face as he looked down at you. He definitely felt the change. The bantering before was light hearted, but now, there was this hidden elastic band that was stretching out, slowly, further and further.

“Exactly.” You drifted your eyes towards his lips, just for a second, and then back at his eyes. You were feeling it still, that pooling heat at the bottom of your belly, trying to tell you something which you weren’t sure of. He put his hand into his front pocket again, and slapped the bill on top of your hand.

“This seems rigged, sweetheart.” He whispered towards you as he put his face closer to yours, glaring at you in a playful manner. Something took over you, something that snapped in your gut, in your mind, a sense of confidence that you never felt before, leaning towards him as well, your face closer to his.

His eyes went wide as you got closer, the tension suddenly rising in between the both of you, not expecting you to mimic his movements at all, but his heartbeat was on his ears, his throat going dry as your breath mixed with his, and he felt the palms on his hands sweating, almost heavily.

“I just outsmarted you.” You leaned back, putting batter onto the pan again, looking as if you hadn’t just turned Eddie into a mess, his mind reeling at how close you got by your own accord, his blood burning into his veins as he kept staring at you, completely dazed.

Did you even know you did that?

“I need a fucking Advil, or something to end my suffering.” You hear Steve grumpily say with a huff. Eddie snapped out, looking over at his friend, who was now sitting on the couch with an arm over his eyes, probably to avoid the intense light from pouring through his eyelids. He sighed, passing behind you but his greediness got the best of him, and he decided to test the waters.

He put his hands in the small of your back and hips, gently, to push you forward so he could walk between you and the counter, even if he had enough space to do so, but he just needed to touch you. You stiffened slightly, shivers being sent to the tip of your toes, a wave of flames engulfing your entire body as he passed behind you.

And you didn’t see it, but a smirk formed on his lips as he walked away from you.

You took a sharp intake of breath, looking at his broad back, going into the bathroom to probably look for some Advil at Steve’s request. You knew your breath had quickened and that your heart was tugging at your chest, trying to move you towards him, but your thoughts were cut off by Robin who rested her chin onto your right shoulder, looking down at the pan.

“It’s burning.” Your eyes widened, looking at the pancake and flipping it over quickly, and Robin had been right. It was almost black on the other side. You groaned as you heard some steps coming down the stairs.

“Morning.” You heard Billy say, Robin lifting her head up to look at him, giving him a nod and hoarse ‘morning’ only for her eyes to turn at Eddie’s return and hearing the pill bottle in his hand and a glass of water on the other. He walked towards Steve and Robin followed right behind, trying to snatch the pill bottle from Eddie.

You tipped the last pancake onto the plate, grimacing at it with disgust at the failure as Billy stood next to you, getting hold of it, taking a rough bite making your eyes widen at him.

“Billy, it’s hot!” You say to him with worried eyes and he blows the smoke out up at the ceiling. He swallowed after three bites and shook his head with a wince.

“I just needed food, my stomach is a fucking mess.” You sighed, turning off the heat and putting all the utensils you used in the sink to wash. You grabbed the sponge as you began cleaning, Billy still next to you as he kept eating the burnt pancake. “At least I don’t have a headache like those two.”

You turned your head to see Eddie sighing heavily as he rubbed Steve’s back while sitting next to him, Robin slumped on the arm chair, staring at the ceiling, and Eddie probably trying to make him swallow his vomit, making you wince in disgust again and turn your attention back to the dishes. If Steve barfed, you didn’t really want to see it.

“That’s what you all get for drinking too much.” You say to Billy, which made him chuckle, finishing the pancake that was in his hands.

“Did you have fun last night?”

You almost dropped the bowl onto the sink at the words that came out of his mouth. Your body went stiff, feeling a cold sweat all over, as your belly turned with nervousness and embarrassment. Did he know? Did he hear?

“I– Uh…”

“I mean, did you forget about your awful date? You were laughing so I assumed you did.” You gave a sigh out of relief, returning to clean the bowl in your hand. He was talking generally, making your shoulders lose the stiffness once more.

“Yeah, I had fun. Thank you.” You gave him a smile as he took the last piece of pancake into his mouth, and nodded at you, grabbing the plate with a stack of those delicious chocolate chip pancakes you made, heading over towards the group.

You continued cleaning the utensils which weren’t a lot, to then dry your hands, walking towards them, catching Eddie as he stuffed his face with the third pancake in a row. Steve was looking at him with disgust but Billy was trying to coarse a piece into his mouth. Robin was pitifully eating one, groaning at each bite.

You grabbed one of your pancakes, and even if the space between the armrest and him was little, you walked towards it, sitting in between. Eddie scooched a little bit, fighting back the grin that wanted to spread on his lips. You, once again, came to him. He bumped his knee against yours as he munched on his pancake, and you reciprocated, bumping it back.

You giggled as Steve kept trying to push Billy’s pancake away, and the blonde finally gave up, eating the pancake himself, flipping Steve off as he walked to get some water for himself in the kitchen. You finished your breakfast and looked at Robin who was still groaning, her hangover taking all over her body and you sighed.

“We should go. Robin might vomit all over if we stay here a minute longer.” You say, trying to not let your voice sound desperate to stay. Desperate to be here a little bit longer. Desperate to stay with him, just one more minute. You look at Eddie and he sighs, giving you a nod.

“Yeah, Stevie here is not looking good either… Seriously, what did you guys drink last night? Poison?”

“Definitely.” Steve says and he regrets it the minute he does, because opening his mouth made the breath intake swirl in his stomach, and he immediately shot up from his place, rushing towards the bathroom to finally hurl everything out of his system. Eddie, Billy and you shared a look and then at Robin.

“Please, take me home.” Robin says and you nod, getting up from the couch and heading over to put on your heels, and your jacket. Eddie got up as well, holding in a breath at the sight of your legs in the morning light that's shining through the blinds.

Legs that trembled under his touch last night.

“Come on Robs.” You walked over to her, both of your purses on one hand while the other stretched towards her. She groaned but grabbed it either way and you pulled her up, and she almost knocked you over as she stumbled forward. Eddie was behind you in a heartbeat, pressing his front on your back, as you pushed Robin on steady feet.

“Whoa, the last thing I need is a trip to the hospital today.” You hear him say behind you, and his hands were pressing on your arms, holding you, and your belly wanted to scream, tell him to keep holding you, or yell at him to move his hands, to satiate the hunger.

More.

You pulled away from him when you saw Robin almost falling again and you rushed to her side, pulling her arm over your shoulder. All the heat was gone in an instant as worry flashed in your face, Steve’s vomiting echoing in the room and you felt Robin’s body tense as she gagged and you gasped, looking at Eddie alarmingly.

“We need to go, I will babysit Robin all day.” You say to him and he nods, rushing towards the door to hold it open for you.

“I’ll push the button for the lobby, go before she paints the walls green Angel.” You give him a nod as Robin lurches forward, another gag rushing through her body and you winced, walking towards the door. The ache in your belly reappeared as you looked at him again. Your lips were tingling, and you cursed the fact that you had to hold Robin up because you just wanted to hug him goodbye, or kiss his cheek.

“I’ll– I’ll talk to you later, okay?” You say but don’t move from your place, almost as if waiting for something. His features softened as he gulped a nervous lump in his throat, leaning down to press a kiss on your forehead, very fast, soft, yet burning as if he lingered there for a while.

“Yeah, I’ll talk to you later sweetheart.” You were stuck to the ground, your heart not wanting to move as you looked at him, and the only thing that made you return to your senses, was Robin’s gagging once more. You groaned as you walked out and headed towards the elevator, which was gladly already at your floor.

Eddie gave you a small wave and you returned it with a smile, finally disappearing into the elevator, the doors closing as Eddie closed the one of his apartment. He heard Steve again, and he wondered how much more he had in his stomach, because it felt never ending.

With a sigh, he walked towards the fridge, getting the water out to fill a glass for himself, and one for Steve. Billy was eating a pancake next to him, his hip resting against the counter, and Eddie froze, putting the water bottle on the counter, his head slowly turning to look at Billy.

“Weren’t you sleeping on the couch last night?” Billy nodded and then shrugged, looking at the pancake in his hand.

“Got up in the middle of the night, wanted to sleep on my bed.” His blue eyes finally looked up at Eddie’s, a pair of shocked brown orbs staring at his friend’s face as if he were a ghost. Billy smirked, taking a bite out of his pancake again, grabbing the glass of water for Steve, walking behind Eddie to head to the toilet, but not before he whispered into his ear the same question he asked you before.

“Did you have fun last night?”

You took off your work headphones, finally finishing the meeting and work for the day. You sighed heavily, looking up at the ceiling. It had been some heavy days of work, but gladly you had asked for two days off, one being tomorrow, Thursday, and then Friday, giving you an extended weekend.

You stood up from your chair, turning the laptop off, shutting the top, and finally taking a deep breath. You smiled as you walked towards your kitchen, getting a glass and your bottle of wine. It was already opened, so you just took the cork off and poured yourself until it was halfway full.

Austin talked to you this afternoon, asking for a second date. You didn’t even hesitate when you declined it politely. It was hard to do so, asking Robin for advice on how to do it, but being honest was the best option. You told him you just didn’t feel it that way, and he kindly understood or that’s what you could read from the texts on the work chat.

If he was mad, he didn’t show it.

You took a sip out of your glass as your phone vibrated and you looked down at it to see Eddie sending you a direct message on Instagram. Probably a meme. You smiled slightly at it, but then it immediately fell and you took a large sip out of your glass this time, as you felt the knots in your belly turning at his message, but there was also some sort of frustration behind it.

At first you didn’t know why you felt it. Sunday he had messaged you about his lunch and what he was going to wear for work that night. Monday, he video called you to tell you that he bought a new expansion for his DnD game, while he wore a tight turtleneck. Tuesday, he was excitedly telling you about his uncle Wayne coming to visit soon, and how Eddie wants you to meet him. And now, today, he’s been sending you memes all day, as if nothing ever happened between you two.

And that was what was driving you insane.

You had almost ripped your brain cells trying to figure out what was happening or why you felt this way, wanting to tell Robin but for some reason you just wanted to keep this to yourself. This is a very confusing feeling, not knowing what is happening, and much less towards a friend.

But you also wondered why Eddie had been so nonchalant about all of this, about everything, and you couldn’t help but want that shift that you felt on Sunday morning. The soft touches that weren’t always there, the small playful bantering, and the closeness. God, the closeness. You shivered every time you remembered his skin on yours, his lips on yours, on your neck, which you noticed as soon as you left Robin at her apartment that you had a few marks on there, very subtle, but still there.

They were now gone, and you found yourself mourning those marks. Did he want to mark you again? Would he touch you again? Kiss you again? Make you feel good again? And even so, you didn’t feel embarrassed or nervous about that situation anymore, because it was replaced with an anxious feeling, with a feeling of anticipation, with a feeling of ‘What will happen next? Will there be a next time like this?’.

And after your night with Eddie, you found the burning even more unbearable than before, and electric shocks were added into it too. You tried, you really tried to make yourself feel good just like he showed you, but every time you closed your eyes, the memory of his fingers came back, as well as the kissing on your neck, and not even a vibrator could compare.

Your thoughts were cut off when your phone started vibrating wildly, and you looked over to see Eddie calling you through video. Butterflies exploded in your belly, nervousness filling you up and you cursed at yourself for not putting on a single gram of make up today. You glanced at your reflection in your toaster, wincing as you fixed your hair a bit, putting some strands in front of your face. It was all you could do.

You grabbed your phone and slid on the screen to answer Eddie’s call. His head popped up, his curls tight on a bun on top of his head and you could only see from the bridge of his nose, and up, as he wiggled his eyebrows up and down onto the camera, making you snort, looking away from the screen. You heard him laugh as he pulled the phone away from him, showing his entire face to you.

“Hello there Angel.” You heard his voice and your eyes immediately found his through the communication device, seeking him out again as your pet name was said.

“Hi Eddie. What are you doing?” You asked and he shrugged, giving you an offended fake look.

“I can’t call my favorite girl in the whole world just cause I feel like it?” His favorite girl in the world. His girl. You knew you blushed at those words, giving a huff as you looked towards the glass on your counter and distract yourself from the aching heat that was already beginning to spread. You held onto the glass and took a sip of it, putting it down to look back at him.

“I bet you could have texted me about it.” You didn’t deny his advance at you. In fact, you didn’t deny any of the advances he did on you this week. Showing you what he was going to wear for the night at the club? Putting on a tight turtleneck that would surely show off his pecs to you? Tell you he wanted you to meet his Uncle? He knew it was selfish, and he knew it was risky, but you had actually shown reciprocation that made him smile in victory. You were very brief with his work clothes selection, making small ‘hms’ and ‘that’s good’ as if you were not liking what you were seeing. You complimented him on his black turtleneck, telling him it looked great on him and that he should wear it more often. And then, you told him you couldn’t wait to meet his uncle, so that’s why today, Eddie, has reached a boiling point.

“I thought a call would be quicker, sorry for interrupting your lonely drinking session.” He jokingly replied to you which made you roll your eyes. He licked his lips as he took a deep breath in, his throat closing in on him as he looked at the screen. He stripped for a living, almost completely naked, and talking to you made him more nervous than he’d ever been before.

“Right, so, what is it? I got a glass of wine and some Kirby to play.” You say to him, and his chest warmed at the thought of you, just playing on your switch, while he played on his, both on the couch. He would be resting against the back of the couch while you rested your head on his lap, showing him your accomplishments on your game. And that thought, that small little image in his head, made him finally talk.

“I got the day off tomorrow as well actually.” You raised your head to look at him again, and Eddie sucked in another breath, feeling the palm holding the phone tensing and sweating up, but he can try to play it cool. He always did. “So, I was wondering if you wanted to go to that bar near your apartment, I am missing how they prepare the Negroni there–”

“Yes.”

Silence. Both of you were stunned at how quick you responded. You didn’t even process it, you didn’t even think about it, you didn’t even hesitate. Your whole body had a sudden cold sweat, and you almost dropped to the floor in embarrassment but Eddie finally recovered himself, straightening up as if you hadn’t just accepted going out on a date with him so casually. Well, he didn’t tell you it was a date, but he kind of hoped it was.

“Okay then! Someone’s excited to keep drinking it seems.” He had to lighten up the mood, he had to make you laugh again, lose the tension on your shoulders, and that he did. You giggled through your burning cheeks, your heart beating into your ears, but happiness was replacing your embarrassment, followed by excitement. Was it a date? Or was this just two friends getting together to have a drink? Or maybe you weren’t even going to be alone, maybe he invites Billy if he has his day off or something.

“I just– I don’t have plans for tomorrow, okay?” You say to him hiding your face behind the big glass of wine, and he couldn’t help but smile at you, dimples and all, making your stomach explode with so many things that you couldn’t even name them all.

“Okay, alright, fine. I’ll just park near your apartment and we can go walking from there.” Your heart soared at that. Austin had told you to simply meet him there, when Eddie wasn’t, not only picking you up, but offered to go walking, and you hoped that it was because he wanted to spend more time with you. And you were right.

“Alright. Can I go play Kirby now?” You needed to hang up, you needed to yell, you needed to jump around with excitement, not being able to contain yourself for much longer. He was feeling the burning sensation on his face now too, so he clenched his other hand on the bed, tightly to hold his emotions in.

“Go play your stupid Kirby, I’ll see you tomorrow Angel.” You gave him a nod, putting your glass down to be able to send him a soft smile, and his eyes almost bulged out of his sockets when you bit your bottom lip, very subtly.

“See you tomorrow Eds.” You hung up and Eddie was staring blankly at the screen. You had accepted his invitation, rapidly, no doubt there, sure you were embarrassed and he could see it, but it meant… God, it meant you were letting go. A wide smile spread on his lips, teeth showing as he threw the phone on his bed, his arms raising towards the ceiling as he plopped backwards, falling onto his mattress with a laugh.

You weren’t far behind on his excitement, putting the phone on the counter before you did small little jumps in the same place you stood, a wide grin spreading on your cheeks. You weren’t this excited when Austin asked you out, and even if you didn’t know if Eddie meant it that way, you realized that if it was indeed a date, you didn’t mind.

You didn’t mind. Oh my god… You didn’t mind.

Realization hits you like a brick to the face. It couldn’t be that, could it? He is your friend, someone who helped you all along this journey to find yourself, it’s impossible to feel– feel this for someone you consider a friend right? Well not impossible, but it shouldn’t happen, because he obviously doesn’t see you like that. He is just inviting you out to a bar to drink with his friend.

You were just excited to see Eddie, nothing more. But the anticipation was there again. What were you anticipating to happen? Your feelings were not cooperating with what your brain knows, so you cannot even describe what was going on inside of you. When did this shift happen with Eddie? This didn’t happen before, did it? You can’t remember now, because the present was just blurring everything from the past month.

You grabbed your glass of wine again, taking another sip, and the heat was all over your body again. You were going insane not knowing what was happening to you, and that leads you to stomp towards your living room, and take your Switch out of its charging dock, and plopping onto your couch, the glass on the coffee table.

You just needed to distract yourself. Eddie is a friend, and you are going to the bar as friends.

You walked out of the bathroom with the towel wrapped around your body, with a shocked expression on your face.

You just wanted to be tidy, that’s all, feel clean. So, you shaved again, even if you shaved last week, you did it again. But it was all to feel clean, you liked that soothing feeling, your smooth legs and everywhere else. You looked at your full length mirror, scanning your body and the back of your legs if they were properly shaved. It isn’t the first time you shaved when seeing Eddie, but it is the first time you shaved your private parts.

You shook your head, trying not to think too much about it, as well as the building heat in your belly. You double tapped your phone that was on your night table to look at the time. 5 PM. You had time, okay. You walked over to your closet and opened the underwear drawer, looking through your panties and bras to finally land on something you hadn’t opened yet.

The black laced lingerie set.

Why were you even considering it? Why were you even thinking about putting that on? It was Eddie, just Eddie… Sweet Eddie. You can’t put that on, because it wasn’t what this was. It wasn’t that at all. You grabbed your white set, the cotton pair and you sighed heavily with a nod, pushing the drawer closed.

You stepped away to throw the set onto the bed but you stopped midway. You looked towards the drawer again. There was something inside of you that was tugging you towards it again, your mind wanting to go against it, but it felt as if it were an impulse, not being able to control it.

Why can't you control it? You’ve always been able to control your feelings, so what was this? Why is it always frustratingly there? Why doesn’t it ever go away and why is it always there with Eddie? Your body moved to the drawer again, taking the black lace set out and immediately throwing your towel away, stepping onto the thong first, which you almost never used, and then putting on the bra, with embroidery stitched onto it, the edges of it a nice thin lace that stuck to your skin.

You walked towards the mirror again to stare at yourself, the burning sensation returning to your body as a thought appeared in your head. Your eyes widened, slowly, walking towards your reflection to touch the crystal with your fingertips.

You wanted him to see it.

You didn’t think of wearing this set with Austin, and in fact you were saving it for a serious relationship, when you had spent months building the trust and the confidence between one another… Yet, with Eddie you already had all of that. It was always there. It had always been there, and you realized at this very moment, just what was happening.

It had occurred to you many times, that the feeling inside of you was something you never felt before. Something Eddie mentioned that night, and that you didn’t know how to describe it to him. Something that shouldn't happen with friends, and you knew that, that’s why you had been denying it all along, because admitting it would only lead to pain.

You were attracted to Eddie. Painfully so.

Oh fuck… You sat on the bed, looking towards the floor as the butterflies exploded in your belly, your heart beating into your ears, a buzzing noise filling your brain as you tried to think, tried to put your feelings back together, but all you could think about was him. His touch, his scent, his eyes, his lips, his voice, his tattoos, and–

You wanted to see more. So much more.

You weren’t hiding yourself at the thought of seeing more, not like you did before, not like the nervous and anxious panicked self you were before, because the difference from those times is that you weren’t sure of what you wanted. You weren’t sure if you could do some stuff. You weren’t sure if you would look nice. You weren’t sure if he would enjoy himself with you…

But you remembered that night, and you couldn’t help but hope, wish that he in fact felt the same way, the same attraction you felt for him. You covered your face as flames invaded your cheeks and towards your ears. You were desperate, and it was the first time you were experiencing it. You wanted him to the point of not being sure if you could control yourself with him. Not anymore.

What are you going to do now with this realization? You want his friendship yet you don’t. You want this to not be a date, yet you want it to. You aren’t anticipating anything, yet you are. And there it was, the anticipation of wanting him to do something. The need for him to not act like nothing happened last weekend. The need for him to show you he wants you as much as you want him.

But what if your mind is creating this idealization of him that is not true? What if he doesn’t really want you? What if it is just your brain creating that fantasy that he does just so you could feel good about yourself? It can happen, right? But, fuck, he was hard that night, but men get hard with everything and anything, and you knew that much.

“Oh god…” You took a few deep breaths in, feeling your chest just palpitating and you were sure you were going into a cardiac arrest. You got up from the bed and shook your hands as you paced back and forth in your room, breathing deeply and exhaling, trying to calm your nerves as they started settling in your body.

Stop thinking. Stop thinking. Stop thinking.

He even taught you this. You think too much, you dwell too much on the infinite possibilities on how something might go, when the only thing you have to do is let yourself go, just like you did that night with him, as well as when you let him kiss you almost a month ago.

You looked at yourself in the mirror again, stopping on your tracks. Just act like you normally do, don’t let it show, but it was impossible. What if he put an innocent hand on the small of your back just like he did when you were cooking pancakes? That touch, that simple and soft touch almost made you lose your mind. How can you possibly do this? How are you going to act now that you know? Should you tell Robin? No, there’s no time, she doesn’t even know you and Eddie kissed, she would absolutely flip and you need to get ready.

The weather was still warm but chilly when the wind blew, so laid out on the bed was a nice long sleeved black dress that reached your mid thigh, there was no cleavage, but your collarbones showed on the collar of it. It was a casual dress, but it wasn’t. You groaned now that you realize you had been anticipating everything about going out with Eddie tonight.

The shaving, the dress, the lingerie, the excitement of him inviting you to a bar, the perfume you were going to use, the makeup you were going to do on yourself, the hairstyle you looked a tutorial for, the accessories you were going to use and the small heels you were going to wear. Was it all too much? What if he is casual, in some jeans and a band T-Shirt and you make him feel bad about it?

Okay, maybe change the heels for some sneakers and don’t overdo the makeup. You can do that, you have to be more casual. What if he sees through you? What if he thinks you got attracted to him right after he touched you? Will he think you are delusional? That just because he kissed you and touched you meant he wanted more with you?

What did more mean?

You jumped on the spot when your alarm rang, making your eyes go wide. You had set the alarm to go off at 5:30 PM and you realized you had been walking all around and thinking for half an hour. Precious time you needed to get ready. You rushed to your vanity desk to start pulling out everything you needed for your makeup and hair.

The time went on as you got ready, your nervousness building more and more as each minute passed. You were nervous, but it was a good nervous, as well as excited but terrified. You slid on your sneakers and looked at yourself in the mirror again. Your hair was down, but neat, a little bit styled, more than usual, but not overdoing it. Your makeup was kept simple, neutral eyeshadows with a tinge of black, with your eyeliner and mascara. Your lips were a natural red tone, a lip tint.

You looked at your phone and it marked it was 6:42 PM. Your hands started sweating as you began to pace around the room again. It was almost time, and you were trying to regulate your breathing. This wasn’t a stranger, it was Eddie, but the turn of your belly was way worse than any other time you were with another man.

Just act normal. Like always. It’s just a night out, with your friend, no funny business. But fuck, if there is no funny business, why did you get dressed like this? Your phone vibrated and you rushed towards it to see Eddie’s message.

‘Arrived a little early 😅’

A smile spread on your lips, long gone was the fear you felt seconds ago, replaced by adrenaline as you sprayed more perfume on the back of your ears, grabbing onto your purse and sliding the phone inside as well as the small tube of gloss just in case you want to reapply.

You grabbed your keys and rushed out of your house, locking after you left and you slipped into the elevator as fast as you could, pressing onto the bottom floor quickly until the doors closed. You looked at yourself in the mirrors of the wall of the elevator and fixed your hair again, giving one small nod as you waited for the doors to open again. Once they did, you walked out and out of the glass doors of the lobby, you could already see him.

Shit.

He was wearing that tight turtleneck black t-shirt you saw on him the other day, his black leather jacket on top, ripped black jeans, with his handcuff belt on his waist. He was looking to the side as he rested on the street lamp waiting for you. His hair was up in a bun, small strands falling around his face, and you felt your knees wobble slightly.

He dressed up, in the same manner you did.

You gulped and punched the nervous lumps down your throat, walking towards the door and finally opening it. His head immediately snapped at the sound, and he had a smile on his face, ready to greet you, only for his breath to be knocked out of his lungs as if someone had kicked him on his chest cavity.

He was absolutely stunned as he scanned your outfit, and he was sure that you were trying to kill him. He didn’t expect you to put on a dress for him, and he didn’t expect you to come out as quickly as you did. He also didn’t expect the perfume you were using, and he just was not prepared to see you like this. You were always beautiful, but now that you made yourself look good for this outing with him had his heart in his throat.

Do you even realize what you do to him or are you completely unaware of it?

“Hi Eds!” Your cheery voice broke him out of his trance, finally feeling a cold sweat invade his feet, all blood leaving them to rush north, making him curse inwardly at himself.

“Hey Angel.” He leaned away from the lamp post, and your heart soared when he reached out to you to pull you into a hug, face planting on his chest. You were afraid he could feel your heart against him, but you could definitely hear his. It was rather quick for its normal pace, but you guessed that maybe he walked to get to your door, having parked around the corner or something.

Your arms wrapped around his waist and god he wanted to push you into your complex again, just go to your apartment and spend alone time with you instead of going into a bar with other people. But that would be too dangerous, being alone with you was not good for his own heart, nor his body, not when he had already heard you, tasted you, touched you.

He pulled away from you after taking a deep breath from your perfume, keeping his arm around your shoulders as he guided you to start walking the three blocks towards the bar. He was more nervous than he thought he’d be, but he had to stay calm, try to not show you how his hands were slightly trembling with the need to pull you into a kiss, or an even deeper hug.

You didn’t expect the arm to rest there, setting your body on fire as you started taking the first steps towards the bar. Your voice for some reason was caught in your throat as you looked at the floor. Talk to him, say something, anything at all. You raised your head up to ask him about this day off but your eyes caught onto the dark clouds that were coming from the distance.

“Eds, do I go get my umbrella? Just in case.” You say while pointing at said clouds. He looked over and indeed saw them, but he shrugged with a shake of his head.

“Nah, it didn’t say it was going to rain. I bet it will just go around or it will be very little rain, we’ll be fine.” He says as if he were a meteorologist and you rolled your eyes at him, still staring at the clouds as you both walked.

“So those big black clouds it’s just a sprinkle of rain. That’s what you’re trying to tell me.” You say to him and he looks at you with a wide smile to his face, his arm falling from your shoulder, and your chest contracted in itself, missing the touch and the pressure that it had created.

“I am an expert with weather. If you take a sniff, there’s no rain smell! It’s common sense sweetheart.”

And that’s how you both arrived at the bar, bantering at Eddie’s poor sense of instinct but you still trusted him with not going back for an umbrella. It was the same bar you met Austin at, and when you both entered Eddie guided you to a similar booth, letting you both sit next to each other instead of in front of one another.

You gulped and took a deep breath in as you slid into the booth, him sitting right next to you. This… This looked like a date, didn’t it? It had to be, but he didn’t say it was, so maybe it isn’t, but you want it to be. Should you ask? But it’s too early, maybe ask that at the very end just in case you make everything awkward between the two of you. Maybe you’re just–

“You’re thinking again.” He says and you look to your side and at him, a nervous heat engulfing you from being caught red handed. You had to think of something, anything at all.

“It was just a very stressful three days at work. Had to leave everything completely tidy for these two days I’ll be gone.” It was actually the truth, you weren’t lying, but you did lie about this being the thing you were thinking about, and you felt slightly guilty about that.

“Wow, they really can’t go without you sweetheart.” You shrugged at that as the waitress came over to get your order which was a rum and coke for Eddie and a beer for you, with a side of fries.

“Yeah, I also had a nervous attack yesterday.” You didn’t even register what you said until it was out of your mouth. He raised an eyebrow at you, worry displayed on his face as he put a hand on your shoulder, making you look at him.

“Nervous? What happened?” Your eyes widened slightly and you cleared your throat, looking down at the table again, biting your bottom lip nervously. There it was again. You do not want to tell Eddie about another man. How stupid you were before for not realizing this.

“I uh– Austin asked to go on a second date.” You began and he immediately tensed up, his stomach dropping as his shoulders fell slightly. “But I panicked because I didn’t know how to say no… So I called Robin completely crazy, and she– You wanna know what she fucking suggested?” You turned to look at him and his mood immediately lifted up as he heard you rejected the other man. For a second there he thought you had said yes.

“What did she suggest?” He says, putting his elbow on the table, his head resting on his hand as he looks at you.

“She suggested that I tell him I am actually an undercover agent, trying to look into company secrets and that I was just using him.” Eddie snorted, followed by a chuckle and shaking his head while you giggled at Robin’s stupid suggestions, telling him one by one, making the laughter increase between you two, until Eddie’s laughter ceased but he kept a smile to his face.

“And what did you actually tell him?” He asked and you were just staring at him. He was absolutely beautiful, and your heart was trying to tug you into him, grab his face and pull him towards you, kiss him, wrap your arms around him. You sighed and shrugged at him.

“That I just felt like it was more of a friendship thing than something more.” At that Eddie’s heart soared, and the question was at the tip of the tongue. Did you feel that with him too? God, he really wanted to know. The waitress finally came back with your order and Eddie straightened up, thanking her as she placed the drinks and the food on the table.

You immediately launched to take a fry into your mouth and Eddie smiled as he watched you. Before, you would have waited until he got the first bite, because you didn’t want to seem desperate for food, and you were very tidy with it too. You took fries with your fork before, and now you’re dipping in with your hands.

He was just hoping you were like this with him. Just him.

The two of you fell into your natural talk, even if nervous, even if anxious, it was always so easy to talk. So easy, that you were already on your second drink, asking him if his uncle was coming soon or not.

“Actually, yeah, maybe in a week. I am so fucking excited, it’s been way too long since I’ve last seen him, Claudia and the little shit.” He says with a laugh as he takes another sip of his rum and coke. You giggled at how he referred to his little brother, but you knew he cared deeply for him, still calling him three times a week to know how he is, and sometimes to help Dustin write a campaign of his own. “Still want you to meet him.”

You blushed at that, but you felt yourself growing excited at the thought of meeting part of his family, and that he wants you to. He really wants to introduce you to his Uncle, his father figure. His eyes were on you, body fully turned to face you, your own in the same manner. You smiled up at him, moving your head in a small nod.

“Can’t wait to meet him.”

His arm was over the backrest of the booth, his hand resting right next to you. Your eyes locked with his and that need for him to wrap his arm around you came back. His fingers finally softly touched your shoulder, slow small circles being drawn with the tip of them and you shivered, feeling the goosebumps go all over your body at this small bit of touch from him.

Eddie’s eyes almost widened when he saw something different in the way you were looking at him. Did you even know what you were doing? Looking at him with your pupils a little bit wider than they were before, your fingers on the glass fidgeting, as if trying to do something with them but not having the strength to do it. Oh, everything changed. It definitely changed.

He moved one inch, just one towards you, but his cell phone started vibrating non stop, making him curse under his breath, pulling his arm away from the backrest to face the phone on the table. You didn’t realize that you weren’t breathing, releasing the air that was jailed up in your lungs. You almost reached for him. You almost leaned in, just out of impulse, out of craving. What have you become?

“Fucking christ.” He swipes the phone screen to reject the call and that makes you snap out and look at him with a confused look in your face.

“Who was it?”

“The little–” The phone began vibrating again, and Eddie groaned while throwing his head back, grabbing his phone and answering the video call.

“Eddie, what the fuck! This is important and you haven’t been answering my texts!” You hear the other voice say and you look at the screen, seeing it was Dustin, Eddie’s brother. He raised his head to look at the camera with an angry look on his face and his little brother simply rolled his eyes at him. “What are you doing so important you can’t answer me?”

“Does it look and sound like I’m home, you fucker?” You giggled, covering your mouth with your hand to stifle it but Dustin heard it, a smirk appearing in his face.

“Are you on a date?”

Oh that made Eddie blush, and your giggle ceased again. The thing you both didn’t ask or say, and now you wondered what Eddie was going to say. You gulped, looking up at him and his eyes were already on you. You were waiting for him to answer, you were giving him the option of letting this evening be a friendly one, or something more.

His heart was on his ears as he felt his gut turning with nervousness, but now, he felt hopeful that this feeling was not one sided. If you let him choose, it’s because you wondered if he had asked you out as a friend or not. He opened his mouth to answer but was cut off by Dustin, who gasped, making Eddie’s head turn back to him.

“Is it her?” Dustin suddenly says your name and your eyes widen slightly, while Eddie blushes with a roll of his eyes, followed by a nod of his head. “I wanna meet her!”

“What, no! I’m–”

“I just wanna ask her what house she is in!” And that caught your attention, making you sit up straight and snatch Eddie’s phone out of his hand. He groaned again, a little bit pissed that Dustin completely ruined the moment, and now he was butting in, on the date he didn’t say it was, but it definitely was.

“Hi! I’m Dustin!”

“Little shit.” Eddie corrects and again puts his elbow on the table, looking your way as he rests his head on his hand.

“Eddie told me you like Harry Potter!” Dustin says and you smile into the camera, widely as heat fills your cheeks. Eddie talked about you. He talked about you to his family.

“Yes! I am a potterhead, full fledged.” You say to the curly headed boy in front of you, and Eddie knew he had become non existent at this point, but seeing you smile widely while talking to his brother was making his heart beat faster and yearn for you even more than before.

“I am too! I mean, I am a fan of all nerdy things, but Harry Potter is one of my top 3!” He says with a smile which was super contagious to you, making you smile at him. “Okay so, I am a Hufflepuff, and my Patronus is a dog!” He says and your eyes widen at him, your mouth falling into a surprised one.

“Me too! I am a proud Hufflepuff, but my Patronus is actually a Hippogriff.” Dustin’s eyes widened.

“No fucking way! That one is fucking difficult to get!” Eddie was smiling as he heard you talk, completely entranced by you, excitedly moving your free hand as you talked to Dustin. He wondered if you would be this care free with Wayne and Claudia. God, he really wants to introduce you to them, and the thought scared him before, but seeing you right now he is simply growing impatient for it to happen already.

He used this time to go to the bathroom and relieve himself, looking at himself in the mirror, taking a deep breath in to calm his nerves. God, what is happening right now? You were talking normally, he knew that, but there was something else. It was as if you were expecting something, watching him, and you even scooted closer to him. He wasn’t going to complain, but… Should he make a move? Should he first talk to you?

He chuckles at himself, feeling like a complete hypocrite. He always talks to you about letting go, to stop thinking, to stop dwelling on things in your mind and here he was. But the difference was that he was risking so much if he decided on making the move. But weren’t the signs there? You waited for his answer if this was a date or not! So why is he hesitating so much?

He walks out of the bathroom, walking back towards the booth and he sees a smile line of people outside the bar, waiting to enter. He knew you two were going to get kicked out soon, and he groaned at the thought, sitting in the booth, sliding next to you again as you giggled at Dustin, Eddie’s heart warming again.

“Yeah, but I can’t ever beat him at Mario Kart. He sucks at everything else, but Mario Kart is a fucking pro isn’t he?” You tilted your head at that, and Eddie’s eyes widened at his brother, already cursing him as Dustin kept talking. “Yeah, he told me you couldn’t beat him either.”

Your mouth fell open in surprise, looking at Eddie with complete shock in your face. His eyes were panicked as he looked at you, an innocent small smile appearing in his lips and you bit your bottom lip with your eyebrows raised up and nodded at him, only to snap back at Dustin.

“So he told you he beat me? Cause I don’t remember it like that at all!” Dustin’s face fell, his turn to tilt his head in confusion and Eddie’s arm immediately wrapped around your shoulders, pushing you into him with his hand covering your mouth, rather harshly in order to shut you up as he snatched the phone out of your hands, putting his face on the camera again as your screams and mumbles were muffled into his palm.

“Okay, Dustin, talk to you tomorrow, if this is about the campaign we’ll talk later!”

“What did she mean–” Eddie hung up before Dustin could finish and he dropped the phone on the table with an exasperated sigh. You were wriggling in his grasp and he took the hand off your mouth but his arm was still holding you close. He looked down at you with a frown to his face as you laughed, your hands pressing onto his thigh for support.

“He beats me at every game, he is not going to let me live it down if he knows YOU beat me at Mario Kart!” You were still giggling as you looked up at him.

“But I did beat you at Mario Kart!” You now noticed how close his face was to yours, his arm still holding you close, with his hand now on your shoulder. Your whole body is turned, which was rather uncomfortable, but you didn’t care. You were just inches from touching his lips again, and the burning in your belly ignited, first like a spark, and it was expanding into flames, all over.

“Yeah… You did… But he doesn’t need to know Angel… Let’s keep that secret between us, okay?” His voice lowered, talking to you, privately, intimately and that made your legs clench slightly, already knowing why you were always fidgety with him. Why you were always uncomfortable in that area of yours.

You were aroused.

It was just you two in the bar right now, that’s how it felt like. No one around you. No clients, no waitresses, no barman, no cook… There was no one. You just needed him to close the distance, you were begging him with your eyes to close the distance between you two, but he wasn’t doing anything. Why isn’t he doing anything? You were growing desperate now, and you knew it, but what do you have to do for his lips to be on yours again?

“Can I handle your check?” Eddie wanted to curse at whoever was playing a joke on him from above. Probably his fucking father or something. He sighed as he pulled away from you, looking at the waitress before him. He nodded and you felt as if your breathing had picked up a pace now, feeling your heart hammering in your chest, as you sat straight once more.

You were… Irritated. Why isn’t he kissing you? He’s done it before, why isn’t he doing anything? Maybe he doesn’t want to? But he didn’t say it wasn’t a date, because if it weren’t then he should have said a simple no. You were too into your head that you didn’t notice Eddie paying the waitress until he tapped your shoulder.

“They are basically kicking us out.” He gave you a small smile and you looked at him, still with a lost look in your eyes and nodded, grabbing your things and getting out of the booth with him. You wanted to glare at the people that were in line, because thanks to them they had to start to clear up tables to fill them in.

“You didn’t even let me pay half…” You pouted at him as he walked next to you, but your steps were slow, not wanting the night to end. You didn’t realize that you’ve been sitting there with him for two hours, time passing by way too quickly for your liking.

“Next time is on you.” He says with a smile and your heart jumps at that, making you smile towards the floor trying to hide how flushed you just got. Next time. There will be a next time with just the two of you. You looked up at him, both of you still walking.

“Maybe next time you can help Dustin before so he doesn’t have to interrupt.” You said to him and he was baffled by your answer. You saw Dustin as an interruption when he was close to you. His heart hammered in his chest, and none of you were paying attention to the small concrete boulder on the ground, and when you stepped on it, you tumbled to the side, flailing your arms everywhere.

“Shit!” He grabbed your arms, pulling you into him to steady you as your heart felt like exploding. You felt your world tilting when you stepped on that, giving you a complete heart attack. His chest rumbled with laughter and you looked up at him with a frown and pout in your face.

“Don’t laugh at me! I didn’t see it!” You were embarrassed at your display, but seeing him laugh was making you want to get on the tip of your toes, and plant a kiss on him. God, you want to kiss him, really bad.

“I’m sorry, you just moved your arms everywhere and it was funny.” His laugh slowed down as his head turned to look at you and there was that look on your face again. You were blinking slowly at him, and his blood began rushing south because it almost looked as if you wanted to eat him alive.

Just like he wanted to do to you.

“Eds…?” You were dazed, eyes hazed while staring up at him and your mind was turning into gelatin, coherent thoughts no longer processing in your head, and your palms were splayed on his chest, and you just wanted to rise them up, glide them on his torso and to the back of his head.

“Yes, Angel?” His voice was low, your frame still in his arms as you two stood in the street, and he really was trying to keep himself under control here, but when you were looking at him like that… The only thought that was processed was… Fuck it.

But you flinched, your eyes blinking rapidly as you touched your cheek with your index finger, water covering it. You frowned at it and Eddie was about to ask what happened when he himself felt something on his cheek. He unhooked one arm from you to wipe his face, noticing the drop of water on his hand, and as soon as you both looked up, the sky decided it was time for a waterfall to happen.

The drops were heavy, soaking you both in the lapse of five seconds and you pulled away from Eddie with a squeal, followed by a glare towards him and he was taking off his jacket in a hurry, cursing under his breath to then flop it on your head to cover you from any more rain.

“I TOLD YOU SO!” You yelled at him and he grabbed your hand to start running towards your complex, and he couldn’t help but roar with laughter as he ran. You wanted to murder him and he was laughing at the situation. The streets had puddles already from how heavy was raining as thunder roared in the sky above you both.

“JUST RUN!” He yelled back through his laughter and you couldn’t help but laugh with him as you kept running under the rain, Eddie’s jacket over your head, keeping the rain out of your hair and face. Many people were running from the sudden downpour, some cursing, some laughing, and then some just accepted their fate and walked under the rain.

You two were just running like crazy, laughing hysterically as his hand squeezed yours, your sneakers already full of puddle water which was making you wince in disgust and made you keep whining at him, telling him off that you were right and that you should have gone inside for an umbrella. You took the keys out of your purse desperately as you both reached the complex and he let your hand go.

“Well, Angel, I should–”

“Nope, you’re getting inside and we’re gonna dry ourselves before we catch a fucking cold!” You yelled at him and he wasn’t going to say no, following you inside the lobby as you opened your door. You both rushed to the elevator as you kept laughing at how stupid Eddie had been about the weather.

In the elevator you took the jacket off your head and he grabbed it, trying to shake the water off it and you covered your face to then slap his arm to make him stop. He was laughing at the reflection of the two of you and you noticed that your makeup was running, making you gasp in embarrassment and fix it with your index fingers.

The doors opened at your floor and you grabbed his hand to walk the two of you out of the elevator, rushing towards the warmth of your apartment, your heart beating loudly in your chest, as you opened the door to finally head inside. Eddie closed the door behind him and you motioned for him to take off his boots as you took off your water filled sneakers.

“God, okay, I am not a weatherman, okay? I can make mistakes.” He says with a chuckle, taking off his boots and his socks that were completely drenched. You put your sneakers and socks aside as you looked at him.

“You said you were an expert–”

“Experts can make mistakes sweetheart.” He says to you with a smile, that dimpled smile that made your knees buckle. You studied him, his hair was stuck to his forehead and cheeks, some curls were wet bouncing off, but his bun was still in place. You felt your breathing picking up a pace again, and it wasn’t because of the running. His chest was going up and down, his shirt now completely stuck to his body, letting your eyes roam all over him, and the flames never extinguished. Even when you were running towards here you still felt them, in the hold of his hand, in his laughter, in that moment between the two of you.

You didn’t even turn on the lights of the apartment, but the streetlamps of the street were bright enough to bring some light into the place, and thunder every now and then flashed through the windows. He ran a hand over his face to take off the excess water, and even if you were drenched from head to toe, you were burning. You were really burning as if you had the worst fever ever.

Your consciousness was drifting away again, your body wanting to move as your belly and your need yelled at you. He hadn’t made a move on you all night. He didn’t kiss you, he had touched you but he did go farther than that. The anticipation of him doing something, the anticipation of fully crossing the line, the anticipation of something happening tonight. That’s what you were waiting for, but you were irritated already because of how desperate you were for him.

You want him.

You desire him.

You need him.

“Angel, we should get some towels.” He was oblivious to you, not realizing the desperate look on your face, the fast pace of your breathing, the twitching of your hands, and just because he was looking all over at himself and how incredibly drenched he got from some rain in just a minute.

Your body was trembling almost as you stared at him, your belly burning as you felt the heat right at your core. This, you never felt this before. This intense feeling of wanting someone, of craving someone, of wanting to touch them in every possible way. The thought of that scared you before, but now, you would do anything to see him in the light, bare before you, and you wanted to make him feel good, in the same way he made you feel that night.

Stop thinking.

Stop waiting.

Let go.

Let fucking go.

Eddie looked up only for his eyes to widen when he felt both of your hands reach up to his face, cradling him, and he didn’t even notice you had walked closer to him at all. He stared down at you, seeing that look again in your face as you pulled him down towards you, and you tipped toed upwards.

And you kissed him.

It was soft, yet with pressure, and he was in complete shock, his eyes still wide as you kissed him, in a long peck, your lips not moving, yet he could feel the desire in the kiss, because he could feel how hot your hands were, despite the heavy cold rain that poured on the two of you. You made the move on him. You kissed him. Out of your own accord, no help required, no favor asked.

Your hands trembled as you slowly pulled away, breathing heavily and taking a step back to scan his face. Your body was shaking slightly, not because of the wet clothes on you, but because you wanted to simply jump on him. This new feeling inside of you was making you feel like an animal, and you didn’t know how to control it, not anymore.

He was still looking at you with surprise in his face, his chest increasing its movement as his breathing picked up, and locked eyes with yours. The tension in the air was palpable, and the room grew hotter, and hotter as you two scanned one another. You didn’t think, you let go with him.

Fuck it.

He dropped the wet leather jacket to the floor with a thud, and gave a heavy step towards you, one hand flying towards your waist, wrapping his arm around you while he took the other towards the back of your head, pulling you towards him. You sighed of relief as your arms immediately wrapped around him as his lips clashed desperately against yours.

This kiss was different. It was needy, rough, and it was already burning your lips as you both moved with one another, your fingernails digging into his back as you pressed your body against his, feeling his hand grip onto the small of your back. His fingers went into your wet hair, pulling you deeper into his kiss.

There was no room for thoughts, no room for being conscious of what was going on. You just need this fire to be over, you need it extinguished, but it only grew its flame. You need more, so for the first time, you licked his bottom lip, wanting to feel more of him. He groaned into the kiss, his chest exploding at the thought of you making all the moves today.

You wanted him, you were experiencing desire for the first time ever, and he now understood. You were letting go, letting your instincts take over, letting your body move for you, and you were being consumed by those flames you were annoyed of for the past weeks.

He moved the both of you, your hips slamming against the counter behind you as your tongue danced with his, heavy breaths mixing with one another’s, his hands wanting to roam all over your body but there was still some control in him, even if it was a very thin line. So he kept his hands where he originally put them, while your fingernails were scratching on his scalp, wanting him closer onto your body, feeling his hip against yours and you couldn’t help but whine at the need for more, his blood rushing south in a fast pace as he heard that coming from you.

You had to have more, it’s not enough. God, it’s just not enough. He groaned into your mouth when one of your hands slid down from his head to grab onto his bicep, harshly and without breaking the kiss you pushed yourselves off the counter. You want to take what you desire, want to lose yourself in the feeling so you start taking steps, small steps, guiding him with you, your lips still attached as if your lives depended on it.

He was hesitant to follow you, wanting to pull away to ask if this is what you really wanted, but he didn’t want you to think he didn’t want this. It’s the only thing that’s been in his mind ever since he kissed you back at his apartment, maybe even before that. So the fact that you are the one, guiding him into your bedroom, was making that small control he had in himself slowly begin to snap.

The back of your knees hit the edge of your bed, and the kiss only broke for a second as you fell back, body hitting the mattress below you with a soft huff as you tried to get your breathing back to normal, to get oxygen into your brain so you could think, but Eddie was close behind you, following you as he got on top of you, each knee on the side of your thighs, right on the edge of the mattress, as he leaned down hungrily to take your lips again with his.

You moaned softly into the kiss, making him groan as you wrapped your arms around his shoulders again to pull him close. He wrapped one arm around you, going in between your body and the mattress to lift you slightly up so he can guide you up into the middle of the bed, your legs no longer dangling at the edge and he crawled with you in the movement, trying to never leave your lips.

You were both breathing heavily into each other, tongues mixing in a wild dance, battling for the prize, but it was still not enough. He was hovering over you, not pressing his body against you, and you needed that. You arched your back upwards, looking for him, not knowing yourself for a second there but you were just desperate for him, you needed him, terribly.

He felt your chest hit his and he groaned into the kiss, but he had to be first, and foremost, the good friend you met at that coffee shop. The good friend you trusted from the beginning to help you. The good friend you could be yourself with no matter what. So he slowly, painfully, broke the kiss, his lips still hovering over yours as he spoke, eyes searching for yours.

“Angel… Are you–” And you finally locked eyes with his, and he almost died right then and there. All your features and the wide dilated pupils in your eyes made all of his doubts wash away.

“E-Eds– I–” He knew that if you talked you would think and your mind would start working in search of words, so he immediately clashed his lips on yours again. He was so selfish, but he wasn’t going to miss this chance of you letting go with him. For whatever this evening takes you both, he wasn’t going to miss the chance of experiencing it.

His arm was still wrapped underneath you, so he kneeled up, making you sit up while the kiss never broke between the two of you. He pulled away once more, looking into your eyes to see if there were signs of regret, of panic, of uncertainty, but in your eyes the only thing you could see was him. Just him. The eye contact never broke, as his hands slowly started heading to the back of your dress, finding the zipper at the top of it.

You were both almost panting now as you stared at one another, and when he didn’t see you move away, when he didn’t see you look away, and when he didn’t see your gaze change on him, he held onto the zipper and began pulling it down, slowly. Your body shivered as your belly turned with an anxious feeling you didn’t know how to really describe, but it wasn’t bad, it was the complete opposite of it. You wanted him to take your dress off, and it made you nervous, you knew it by the way your hands trembled, but you still wanted him to take it off, let him touch your bare skin, skin that was burning you almost agonizingly at each soft teasing touch.

Once the zipper was down, and you still haven’t stopped him, he sucked a deep breath in to calm his heart as he grabbed onto the collar of the dress, and started pulling it down. He was going to save your breasts for the final show, first helping you get out of the long sleeves, which was hard to do because of how wet the fabric was, sticking onto your skin.

You took this time to glance at his arms, wanting to bite onto them, wanting him to wrap them around you again as he slowly took the top of your dress off. Fear finally struck you as he pulled the top part down to finally see you in your bra. Your body flushed, feeling bare before him, yet you still looked up to look at his reaction, and his eyes were almost wide, completely clouded at your sight.

When he pulled that part of cloth down, he didn’t expect you to have something like that underneath. That black lace fit you as if it was made specifically for you, and you… You picked that for him. You had chosen to wear this underneath that dress of yours, all night, while talking to him. He cursed under his breath when he felt his bulge twitch in his pants, wanting to break free.

He grabbed the back of your neck, and leaned down towards your face, making your eyelids drop as his breath hit your face. He gave your lips a small peck, yet longing as he slowly pushed you down onto the bed once again. He pulled away from the kiss as he hovered on top of you, both elbows holding himself up to not crush you, fighting his hips upwards so you wouldn’t feel his hard on against your thigh.

His lips found your cheek bone, and you sighed with almost relief, closing your eyes as his lips went further down, going towards your neck, leaving soft breathy kisses all over the skin. He gave a soft tentative nip on your skin, making you jerk upwards, your chest hitting his as he groaned against you.

“You’re so beautiful… God, you’re so fucking beautiful Angel…” You gasped as you held onto his biceps, swallowing the words he just said to you. His lips went even more south, kissing onto your collarbone and the flames just expanded with that. If he kept going you were sure you would combust from the intense burning that was all over your body. His kisses kept going, kissing all over your torso until he reached the top of your breasts. He looked up at you with a lost look in his eyes and you looked down at him, breathing heavily as you gave him a nod.

“Please…” You begged, almost whined, and he didn’t have to be told twice. He dipped his hand behind your back, and you lifted slightly so he could get access to the hook of your bra. He expertly snapped it open with one movement, and you dropped onto the mattress again. He could feel the heat that was radiating off your body, how flushed you were.

Your mind started moving its gears again when you felt him pull the first strap down. What if he didn’t like them? What if they are too bland? Too boring? Maybe little more than what he normally is used to? Not perfect and perky? What if he–

A kiss on your cheek stopped your mind from reeling any further, and you looked at Eddie who had a lust filled look in his features as he breathed a little heavily over you. He now decided to let you know how bad you had him in the palm of your hand, how incredibly turned on he was with you underneath him, so he pressed his hip against your thigh. Your eyes widened when you felt the bulge hitting on your skin, and your control left your mind once more.

“You’re perfect… So fucking perfect.” He whispered to you as he took the other strap down and your body relaxed as he took the constricting device off your body, the breeze hitting your wet skin, making your nipples stand up at it. Reality hit you, now being conscious that Eddie was seeing you half naked right now. You were going to start talking but his lips hungrily found yours again.

He took one glance, just one glance at your breasts and he was gone. He needed to feel you, he desperately needed you now, his heart tugging on him so intensely that he believes he is going to die on the spot. He threw the bra away, not caring where it landed as his hand pressed onto your waist, to let you know he was there. You breathed softly against his lips as his fingertips started trailing up on your body.

Your eyes widened when you felt his cold hand come in contact with your left nipple, sensitivity shooting a shockwave through your body, making your arch your back towards his touch. His tongue was in your mouth, swallowing your soft moan, making him hold a groan back as he greedily rubbed himself on your thigh once, to get some friction.

His index finger started circling your nipple, perking it up even more, and you couldn’t help but pull away from the kiss to throw your head back onto the pillow, a low moan escaping your lips. You never felt this when someone touched your breasts, but you felt this a hundred times more, even more than when you touch yourself there. Eddie was basically doing magic on you right now.

He was panting as he looked at your blissed out face, and he pinched your nipple once, gently to see you jerk up, another moan escaping you and he licked his lips as he hungrily stared down at you. He used your exposed neck, planting a kiss there, and then on the other side as his thumb and index finger kept pinching you, rolling your nipple in between his digits.

He was too hungry for you, trailing his kisses back down towards your collarbone, and you were too distracted into the bliss of his fingers, that you didn’t notice his kisses at the top of your right breast, kissing now all around the mound, and he looked at you one last time before he placed his mouth onto your nipple.

Your eyes snapped open at the feeling, looking down at him and your core burnt with the sight of him, groaning, almost moaning against your skin, enjoying every lick and bite he did to you. Your hands were gripping his shoulders, tightly as moans ripped from your mouth and your back arched at him.

Your taste was something he was never going to forget in his life, nor get tired of. He was in pure bliss as he gave you this pleasure you never experienced, and he hoped he was going to be the only one to give that to you. He sucked on your lip to then let go with a pop, letting his tongue flick onto the nub a couple of times, making you shiver under his touch, your eyes closed as your head was to the side, enjoying his ministrations.

He dragged his tongue to the center of your breasts to then land a kiss there. He then began trailing more kisses, going downwards and your breathing hitched when he grabbed onto the lower part of your dress. He gave you a look as he sat up, letting you choose again if he continued or not. Your answer, even if nervous, even if thoughts wanted to go off in your brain, your instincts and your body didn’t let it. Your hips raised up from the bed and he sucked in a sharp intake of breath as he began pulling the dress off you.

He dropped it somewhere in the room and he had a perfect view of your body now. You were almost naked, on your bed, giving yourself to him in a way he didn’t think was possible. His chest was going up and down rapidly, fingertips trembling. He wanted to devour you, take you, make you his, and ruin you, absolutely ruin you for anybody else. Ruin you to the point you wouldn’t be able to forget about him. Ruin you with the intent of branding himself on your skin and mind.

No one can have you, but him.

Your body burnt at his gaze, and you were about to cover yourself out of embarrassment and he shook his head at you, running his hands on your thighs.

“I am admiring you Angel… You– You don’t know what you’re doing to me.” You didn’t expect to hear that from him, but as your gaze looked downwards you could see how big the bulge underneath his pants were. You didn’t even touch him, and yet he was there, turned on by just touching you.

He leaned down again, crawling a little bit downwards as he placed a kiss on your stomach, and then at your waist. You covered your mouth as his kisses started going beyond the elastic band of your thong, kissing over your thigh, and then moving onto the other one. His fingers moved upwards and grabbed onto the edge of your thong.

Your eyes widened and you flinched away from him, fear striking you suddenly as the nerves took over you. He looked up at you to see if you were regretting it, if you wanted to stop, but your eyes were simply confused, nervous, and doubtful. He licked his lips as he kneeled up again, to lean over you so he could gaze at your eyes more closely.

“Do you want me to stop?” Did you? You definitely didn’t, but he was going to see you there, he was going to be able to see it. Last time he couldn’t and just touched you, but now he wanted to be face to face with your center. Yet, as you looked up at him, you could see some desperation in his eyes, almost a plea, a beg. You shook your head slowly at him and he gave you a small smile. “Trust me…”

You nodded gently at him, and he looked down again to hook his finger at the band of your thong. He sat back and lifted your legs so he could slowly slide it away from you. Your eyes clenched together and before you could move and hide yourself by clenching your legs shut, he placed himself in between them, your knees hitting his hips.

He crawled down again, looking down at your center like a starved man. He couldn’t just dive in, even if he were as hungry as ever, he couldn’t. You were nervous, and he knew that, so he looked up at you and saw your eyes just looking everywhere at the ceiling.

“Eds— I– No one has ever…–” And he knew what you meant, so he started his kissing again, trying to soothe your tensed up legs, bending your knees slightly as he kissed the top of your thighs first, soft kisses and tender bites to let your relax, to tell you in his own way that he is going to take care of you, that he is not there to judge you, and that you didn’t make him do anything. He is doing it out of his pure greediness, his own selfishness, his own hunger and his own fire.

“I’ll make you feel good love… It’s just me.” Those last words always relaxed you, always made your nerves slip away even if slightly, because he was right. It was just him. And you were glad it was always him, you were happy it was just him, you were excited that it was only him. His lips were now in your left inner thigh, kissing you gently, longingly, moving towards your center, and then repeating the actions on the right inner thigh, making you tremble with anticipation, your core clenching on nothing as you waited for what he could do to you.

And then he took a deep breath in, taking your scent in, seeing how wet you already were for him, and finally pressed a kiss over your clit, a gentle one, but it was enough to make you jerk at the sensation, your hands gripping onto the sheets below you. Your eyes were wide at this new sensation, and your belly turned from finally getting something to numb the burning ache. His arms were now under your thighs, and his hands gripped your hips to keep you in place as he finally gave in to his hunger and dove in.

A moan escaped your lips when he licked all along your slit, flicking your nub at the end, and repeating the motion again. Your mind turned into mush as he pressed himself into your center, licking and tasting you. You could feel his tongue flicking on your clit, and he started doing a motion you didn’t think it was possible to do with tongue. Your moans escalated as he moved his head up and down on you, gathering your slick as he groaned at the taste, the tip of his tongue sliding in between your folds repeatedly to feel your walls clenching on nothing.

He couldn’t believe how sweet you tasted. He could spend a lifetime here in between your legs if he could, if you’d let him, just taking orgasm after orgasm from you, never satiating his hunger for you. He was listening to your moans, to your panting as your back arched upwards and then it fell back down on the mattress. Your hips sway slightly against him.

He then pressed his face against your center, nose against your clit as his tongue went inside of you and your eyes widened as stars filled your eyes. You could feel him move inside of you, and it was different from his fingers, but still made you moan even louder than before as your belly was building up that tension, slowly, that needed to break.

“Ed-Eddie–” Oh god, his name is on your lips again. He pulled his mouth away from you to flick your clit with the tip of it. His arm let go of your thigh, to bring it in between your legs. He sucked on your clit, your back arching as he coated his fingers in your wetness, first pushing his middle finger in.

A whimper came out of your lips at the feeling of your clit being stimulated as he plunged inside. The room was definitely on fire right now, the heat of it all being too harsh, but yet feeling so good. This is what you wanted. You didn’t want it extinguished, you wanted it to burn you alive. His finger started thrusting in and out of you as he kept stimulating your clit with his tongue and mouth.

He looked up and he almost came in his pants at the sight. You were moaning with no restraints, some ‘god’ and ‘fuck’ came out here and there, and he couldn’t help but rub himself against the mattress for some friction, because he was going to explode if he didn’t. His eyes looked at your hand on the mattress, so with his other hand, he let go of your thigh to guide towards your hand, getting hold of it.

Your eyes opened and looked down at him. His eyes closed as he guided your hand to his head, dropping his own to wrap around your thigh again as he pulled you into him once more. You were seeing him devouring you, his finger still going in and out of you as your body rocked slightly against him. Your hand immediately closed onto the top of his head, nails going into his curls, a groan being pushed inside your center as you did so.

The elastic band was slowly growing wider and wider, ready to snap in your belly, as your body heated up at the orgasm that was building inside of you. He felt the clenching of your walls around his middle finger, so he decided to help even more with his index finger, now both fingers stretching out as he pumped them in and out. His mouth never leaves your sensitive and throbbing nub.

Your eyes widened again, your hand pulling his head into you and then your other hand found itself into his curls as well, your belly now burning as he kept eating you as if your substance was the elixir of the gods. And for Eddie, it definitely was. He was still rubbing himself against the mattress as he felt your walls clenching around his fingers and your body twitched several times.

“I– I– Eddie, I’m gonna–” You were stammering in your words, not being able to think straight at all as he kept mouthing at you, fingering you, even faster than before, curling his fingers inside of you so that he could hit that spongy part within you, that part no one but him has ever touched before.

He groaned in approval and moved his head up and down on you to move his tongue even faster, and he felt you moving your hips against him, trying to reach your climax and help him get to it faster. The coil finally snapped and your back arched all the way up as your walls clenched onto his fingers, tightly, and he could barely move them from how tight you were, groaning onto your clit as his eyes looked up to see you like this for him.

You were moaning his name, loudly, your hands still on his hair, gripping onto it as he helped you ride your orgasm out, tasting your fluids on his tongue. He slowly felt your walls unclench on his fingers, and he could take them out of you, but before he would completely detach himself from you, he licked a wide stripe of your slit to collect your juices, groaning in delight at the taste as you flinched away from the over sensitivity.

You were panting heavily, looking at the ceiling with half lidded eyes, and you thought the flames would be gone, that after that they would simply fade away… But they didn’t… And as you saw him crawling back up, his face over yours again, your slick being wiped off by his wrist, and that made you tremble slightly once again.

So, have you got the guts?

“We can stop here… There is no need to keep going if you don’t want to.” You looked up at him, searching to see if he wanted to stop, if he wanted to really end the night here, unlike yourself. You didn’t want to stop, you needed more, you wanted more, this wasn’t enough, because you wanted to make him feel good too, but overall… You wanted to feel him.

Your hands reached up to grab onto the hem of his shirt, and he immediately realized what you wanted. He sat back, and throwing his hand over his head, he grabbed the back of his shirt and pulled it off in one swift move. You slowly sat up, your breathing still heavy from the orgasm that exploded in you a minute ago, but for the first time, you could see him.

Tattoos lingered all over his body, a few patches of uncovered skin were there, but now you found yourself amazed by all the tattoos you had to trace. These new markings you wanted to mentally take a screenshot of to always remember them. Your hands lifted up, your mind filled with desire and lust, as you finally touched his abdominal area, making him throw his head back in a circle, a groan being restrained in his throat.

Been wondering if your heart's still open, and if so, I wanna know what time it shuts.

He’s been touched like this before, but this is the first time he felt cared for, as if you were making sure to touch every little piece of skin that there was so that he knew you desired him as much as he desired you. Remember every small part of you, every little twitch, every marking, every mole, freckle…

Your hands traveled upwards towards his pecs, running your hands over them and Eddie’s eyes widened when he felt your lips kiss over his belly button. He couldn’t wait anymore. He really couldn’t. He grabbed your shoulders and gently pulled you off him, so he could grab the back of your head, pulling it back so he could dive in and press a deep kiss on your lips.

You moaned into it, your hands still on his body as you ran your fingertips all over his waist, making his skin grow in goosebumps. With his free hand, he guided it towards his belt, the clinking of the buckle opening catching your attention, pulling away from him with a gasp. You were looking at how he took the leather strap off him, throwing it to the side, a clank being heard from the metal hitting the floor.

Simmer down and pucker up

He licked his lips in anticipation as he tried to keep his breathing under control, but fuck, he never felt this way when having sex before, and he was afraid of fucking it up. His eyes widened though, when he felt your trembling fingers touching the button of his jeans. He gulped audibly as he looked down at you, pulling the button off and then slowly gliding the zipper down, just like he did with the zipper of your dress.

He stood up from the bed, right next to you to be able to take his pants off, which were a still wet mess, and you just stared at him, standing in your room in his boxers only. Your eyes widened at the prominent bulge that were covered by the black fabric, and you felt your mouth salivate, for the first time in your life, while looking at someone’s hard on. It didn’t happen with the men you dated before, but with Eddie, everything was just pure craving, pure desire, pure and absolute want.

And you weren’t shying away from it.

He saw how you were watching him and he took a step closer to you so you could make the final move on him, the one that will determine how the rest of the night is going to go. You looked up at him, and the only person you saw was Eddie… Your sweet Eddie… And your hands moved by themselves as they grabbed onto the hem of his boxers, slowly dragging them down until you could finally see him, in all of his glory. It was large, and you really don’t remember enough to compare it to your exes, but this one, you knew you would remember. Before, you would have died to have complete darkness in the room, so you didn’t have to see them, but as the thunder struck against the sky and illuminated the room through the windows, it was like a camera flash to you, taking pictures of him, scanning him all over.

And you wanted him, you really wanted him.

You looked up at him, and he immediately knew what you were trying to tell him, with just one look into your eyes. He leaned down to grab onto your jaw with his thumb and index finger, leaning down to press a soft kiss on your lips. You moaned against the touch and he groaned as his dick twitched, not being able to handle the anticipation any longer. He pulled away from the kiss to mumble against your lips.

I'm sorry to interrupt, it's just I'm constantly on the cusp of trying to kiss you.

“Condoms are in my jacket–” You couldn’t afford the seconds it took for him to go get his jacket, so you opened the drawer on your night table to show him the box of condoms you had there. He raised an eyebrow at it and then directed it at you. Nervousness broke into your body as you looked down.

“I-I bought them after we– you started giving me advice…” He smirked at you and then grabbed onto the box, closing the drawer. An unopened box of condoms. He opened the pack and took a foil out, and then pushed you to lay back down onto the bed as he kneeled in between your legs again. Your breathing picked up again as you saw him rip the foil off with his teeth, taking the latex out of the package.

I don't know if you feel the same as I do.

He threw the rest somewhere on the floor, and you watched as he slowly rolled the condom on his shaft, your center clenching at nothing as he groaned at the friction of finally being able to touch himself. If he was this sensitive with just rolling the condom on himself, he was sure he wasn’t going to last with you. Your legs were bent and spread, him coming closer to you to finally cover your body with his, his elbows keeping him up in order to not crush you.

He leaned down to take your lips in his again, this time softer, tenderly, and your eyes closed into the feeling, wrapping your arms around his shoulders. Your lips moved with one another’s, feeling your heart beating into your throat as you lost yourself into his tongue, but then your eyes widened when you felt him line himself up against you.

He groaned into the kiss when he felt his tip going in, just his tip, and he was already moaning at the feeling of it. This was definitely different from any other times he had sex. This wasn’t just that, it was way more, because he felt his whole body being run over by electricity and fire included.

But we could be together... if you wanted to.

“Angel, you need to relax– Relax for me…” You didn’t notice how tense you were until he pulled away from you to tell you that. Your eyes locked with his and he was looking down at you with care, with so much care and worry that you sighed, feeling your heart warm at his thought, and your muscles relaxed on him. One of his elbows was keeping him up, while his other hand was pressed on your waist to have some leverage on reality.

He looked down to where you two were beginning to connect as he sunk further, holding in a groan in his throat again, closing his eyes at the feeling, and your mouth fell into a voiceless gasp, staring at the ceiling. It felt good, yet it was a big stretch, but god it felt good. It was painfully good. You could feel him going deeper, each second that passed, your hands all over his back, nails scratching onto his skin.

He leaned down into your exposed neck to make him think of something else as he pulled back slightly, to then thrust into you again, this time further, letting a choked moan escape your lips. He kissed your skin, as he groaned into it, feeling your chest heaving up and down from the intense pleasure you were starting to feel.

Do I wanna know, if this feeling flows both ways?

“Pl–Please Eddie–” He raised his head to look down at you, to look into your eyes when he finally made the final push, and he bottomed out inside of you, a gasp escaping your lips as a groan escaped his.

“Fuck…” He couldn’t help but curse at the extreme feeling he was experiencing with you. You were full of him, and you loved it, god you were loving it. Your heartbeat against your chest as your legs raised up against his hips to feel him even more into you. He looked at your eyes again and you nodded slowly, not wanting to wait any longer, the room already becoming hell from how hot it was, and he sucked a deep breath in as he threw his hips back, and slowly thrusted back inside of you.

Moans filled the room, volume increasing at each slow thrust of his, a pace that was driving him insane, but when looking down at your face, he knew you were loving. He leaned down to kiss your cheek as he kept moving his hips against yours, your hands gripping the back of his head as he moaned into your skin, his muscles flexing at the intensity of it all.

You needed more, more, more, you couldn’t stop chanting that word in your head, so your hips started moving, going against his rhythm to fasten the pace, to make him go deeper into you, because your belly was screaming for more, your heart was tugging for more, your body needed more of him, more of Eddie.

Sad to see you go, was sorta hoping that you'd stay.

“You don’t know– You have no idea how long I’ve wanted this… To have you like this– fuck.” He moaned into your ear and you whimpered at the words, tears prickling in your eyes as he caught your message and his pace quickened, now the slapping of skin being louder, causing your body to flush all over, and you wanted to tell him the same, you wanted to express to him that you wanted him, that you took some time to realize it, but it had always been there.

He pulled away from your skin to put both hands at the side of your head, staring down at you, as his hips started snapping against yours, the feeling of him inside of you deeper than before, the force of his thrusts sending you into a crazed state, into a place in your mind where you didn’t know who you were, or where you were at.

Your legs wrapped around his waist and he moaned a curse when he felt you pushing him into yourself, your nails scratching onto his arms now, your mouth open with moans coming out of it, eyes closed and lost in the pleasure. He gulped heavily as he looked down at your body, taking mental pictures of how you bounced, of how you moved, of how your body twitched and yearned for him.

Baby, we both know… That the nights were mainly made for saying things that you can't say tomorrow day.

“Eddie– Eddie, god–” You moaned loud, your senses all filled with him, your body marked by him, your insides being full of him, each hard thrust, every change of pace, every moan you heard from him. You couldn’t have enough, and your belly was already coiling again with that elastic band, wanting to break loose.

He was breathing heavily, sweat now prickling on his skin instead of the water rain from before. He felt himself getting close, how could he not? He had rubbed himself on you, on the mattress, and pleasuring you was almost enough to make him finish right then and there. He stopped his movements to wrap his arms around you, lifting your upper body off the mattress, as he sat back, making you sit on him in a straddling position.

“Ed-Eds, I don’t know, this position–” You breathed heavily as your mind tried to think again but he shook his head, holding onto your hips as he kissed your neck softly, mumbling onto your skin.

“I’ll guide you, I’ll help you—” And he started guiding you up and down on him, slowly, as your hands clenched on his shoulders, your mouth falling agape at how deeper he was than before. You never changed positions, and this was very new to you, but your embarrassment was completely overshadowed by the incredible lust you were feeling, by the desire of wanting to keep making him feel good.

Crawling back to you. Ever thought of calling when you've had a few? 'Cause I always do.

You followed his guidance, your hips moving up and down, almost bouncing on him, his thighs clenching at the feeling as his moans filled the room. His arms were wrapped around you, pulling you flushed into his own body. He just wanted you close, closer, wanting to feel your skin on his as you both tried to near your climax. Your hand creeped up onto his hair, and just like that first night you saw each other, you grabbed his ponytail, with no guidance, and pulled his hair off the bun he had, letting his curls fall down onto his shoulders. He smiled up at you, shaking his head as you leaned down to capture his lips with your own, licking onto his bottom lip as you kept your pace on him.

Your walls started clenching on him, and he knew he was going to lose it. He pulled away from you and then he leaned down to take a nipple of yours into his mouth, sucking on it, and that made you throw your head back with a loud moan escaping your lips, the coil in your belly about to break, about to make you see stars once more. Your nails were digging into his skin, and you needed more friction, you needed more.

“Eddie– Eddie–” You asked for him, you asked for help, and he nodded, pulling away from your chest to look up at you. He pushed your hips down, not letting you go up again, and started motioning you to go forward and back, rubbing yourself on him. Your eyes widened when you felt this new feeling. This position was letting you rub your spongy part on him, your g-spot, repeatedly, and that was making your mind lose complete control of your body.

Your hips started grinding against his, faster, and faster, trying to reach that climax, and he was almost whining underneath you, trying to hold in his own orgasm to be able to feel you around him first. He needed to feel you clench around him, he needed it. Your upper body was thrown back slightly as one hand was gripped onto his shoulder and the other on his arm that was still holding you.

“Fuck, Angel–” You looked like a goddess to him right now, using him for your own pleasure, grinding faster and faster until he felt your tense up, the elastic band in your belly breaking again, your vision going completely white as your walls clenched tightly around him, a new type of climax, one that would not compare to anything else in your entire life.

Maybe I'm too busy being yours to fall for somebody new, now, I've thought it through.

“Eddie–!” You screamed his name and he was moaning as he felt your walls sucking him in and he couldn’t hold it in anymore, your name falling off his lips in a chant, in a prayer as his own body stiffened, and he finally released himself inside of the condom, his heart exploding inside his chest as you both rode your orgasms with one another.

Heavy pants were heard all over the room, and Eddie held you up as your body felt a little wobbly from everything you just experienced. Your mind was almost gone, drifting away, slowly, your eyes heavy but there is so much you want to say, so much you want to do, but the fire was gone. For the first time, the fire was gone for a while.

“Angel–” He breathed out, and he felt you clench on him again, making him curse. “Don’t do that… Sweetheart, let’s get cleaned up…” He really didn’t want to move, but he knew you two were completely soaked in sweat, in rain, and that you needed to clean yourself. He helped you off him, pulling out of you earning a whimper from your part at the loss of him.

He got up from the bed and he noticed the hazy look in your eyes. You were drained, he knew that, so he guided you into the bathroom for you to clean yourself up as he took the wet comforter off your bed for the two of you to lay on dry sheets at least. His heart was wildly beating in his chest, taking the condom off him and tying it up. He looked at the tissues that were on the other night table, grabbing some to put the condom inside to hide it in a ball of paper, before cleaning himself with some tissues.

He heard the toilet flush, and he looked at the door to see you walking inside in still a dizzy state, and opening the sheets to finally get inside. He smiled at you, knowing how much energy was just drained from you. He pulled the sheets open to move towards you. You were looking at him, trying to keep your eyes open to talk to him, but only one thing came out.

“I want to kiss you…” He felt his whole body relax at that, leaning down to place a soft kiss on your lips. You gave a sigh out of relief as you immediately fell asleep. His heart was in his throat as he looked down at you, breathing evenly now, and he took a deep breath in as he laid down on the bed himself, and he looked at you again.

He never cuddled after sex. Cuddling after sex meant you cared for the other person, so he never felt the need to do such a thing, but now… He needs to keep you close. He needs to keep you with him at all times. He needs you to be in his arms at every time possible, because he can’t ever let go of you again. No, he can’t let you go.

He wrapped his arms around you, pulling you close to him as you mumbled something in your sleep, finally making you rest on top of his chest as he stared up at the ceiling. His heart was exploding, he knew that, but he wanted you. He really wanted you. He had wanted you for the past month. He got you, and it wasn’t enough, and he knew it wasn’t going to be enough.

With a smile to his face, he closed his eyes, succumbing to sleep, knowing that tomorrow everything will change between the two of you, and there was no escaping it, no way of avoiding it. Now, it was time to face it all, and Eddie was going head first because for you… Everything was worth it when it came to you.

Do you want me crawling back to you?

End of part 6

A/N: So... yeah. Here you saw the reason why this fic is called Do I wanna know... and if it wasn't specific enough, it is indeed Eddie's feelings towards Reader.

I hope you liked this chapter, i hope you stayed far enough and always reblog your artists!

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lace-coffin · 5 months

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Hii! I hope your having a good day/night so far, but I js now thought of this and I lowkey cannot stop having brain-rots over it… so yknow how like, men are sometimes called ‘bears’? I was wondering if you could write a fic abt Asa getting his hands on a so called ‘bear’ of a dude who’s much beefier and taller than him, but still submissive asf? 👀

How would Asa Emory feel about a gay bear s/o? (Nsfw)

Asa Emory x male!bear!reader

Tw for kidnapping, power exchange/power dynamics, general Asa Emory things

Requests are open!

I was literally about to go to bed when I saw this request and I was like I NEED TO DO THIS NOW OMG. Safe to say I absolutely love this idea and loved writing it💖 hope you enjoy!

Asa didn’t think he had a type until he met you..now he’s sure he couldn’t ever go back.

You were the lecturer in the classroom next door, sure Asa knew of you but he didn’t know you personally, never caring enough to go introduce himself to other lecturers like some kind of newly moved in house warming party, he was solely interested in teaching his classes, getting out, and tending to his collection, hopefully managing to cram a few hours sleep in until he has to wake up and repeat it again.

The class had finally began to pick up as all the students had settled and the lecture was underway, until a timid knock sounded on the door. Asa was pissed. If he has to sit through his students fussing again he’s going to lose it.

That was until he pulled open the heavy wood door and revealed you, looking professional but still boyishly handsome. Your tucked shirt pulling taught where the largest part of your belly settled, folding softly over your belt. Sleeves rolled up to reveal thick arms, spattered with an ample amount of dark hair, knuckles equally hairy to match. Asa’s face heats up and he curses in his head, only making matters worse as he drags his eyes over your ample chest subtly, well as subtly as you can when your practically eye fucking the bear of a lecturer that just interrupted your class.

“-came to ask if I can borrow some empty work books…excuse me..sir?” Asa’s head snaps back up to the stranger’s face, realising he hadn’t been listening to a word the man was saying, completely lost in eyeing him up. “Ah, my apologies, I’m a little out of it today, this way.” Asa tries to recover the interaction and guides him to the empty work books, picking up a load with a grunt and placing them in your hands, not missing the way your knuckles brush his during the exchange.

You take the books from him like it’s nothing, not even a strain or flinch, fuck, that was hotter than it should’ve been. You thank him and leave, presumably back to teach your class, whatever it is you actually teach, he’d been to caught off guard to ask anything of importance.

For the rest of the day Asa can’t forget the way “sir” sounded coming from your lips.

He wants to find out more about you and he does, under the guise of bumping into you in the teachers lounge or offering you a ride back to your house. he now knows you teach English, it’s not really what you wanted to do but it pays the bills. He knows you usually wear suits apart from on Fridays when you choose something more casual for the end of the week. He knows you live alone and your daily schedule, knows when the best time to strike is. He knows no one will look for you.

It’s Months later and everything has changed, Asa has more of a spring in his step as he returns home, the weight of the day not affecting him as harshly when he knows he’s coming home to his favourite pet.

It wasn’t hard to gain your trust, easy to believe in peoples kind words and actions, it was almost laughably easy to find out where and how you live, oblivious to the turtle neck clad figure trailing a few blocks behind. You hadn’t gone down easy into the box but that’s the way he likes it, likes a bit of a struggle.

Now Asa has you at his beck and call, only needing to snap his fingers or say one word to have you scrambling to follow, eager to impress. You would think due to your large structure that you would be in control, no questions asked but it was obvious to any onlooker that wasn’t the case. Asa had you wrapped around his finger, always following his heels like a well trained attack dog willing to do anything for his masters approval.

Now Asa had you where he wanted he wasted no time in admiring you, all soft curves and dark hair, masculine and sexy. Your daily wear now mostly consisted of leather harnesses, loving the way the straps wrapped around you, making your flesh spill over them but constricting you at the same time. He could stare at the way the harness pushed forward and presented your hairy tits to him for hours, now adorned with two shiny barbells to Asa’s liking. Tugging on your harness when he needed to move you was always a plus in the design, and always and excuse to run his hands over your warm skin.

Despite what anyone may presume you actually turned out to be naturally submissive once broken down, “the bigger they are the harder they fall” as they say, Asa’s not sure that applies to kidnapping grown men but he can’t find it in himself to care. Your doe eyes look to Asa for guidance in even the simplest things, loving the attention and not having to think for yourself. Just wanting to be a mutt for your master and nothing else.

Asa thought you were perfect, the way your eyes water as you drool dumbly behind the bone shaped gag tightly in your mouth. The way your hairy thighs wrap around him as he fucks into you obscenely. The way you sit at his feet obediently and keep his cock warm in the back of your throat as he works at his desk, only making small noises of complaint when you run out of air. Nothing asa can’t fix with a sharp slap on the cheek and a kiss on the forehead.

You take well to the cage, having just enough room to stretch out and sit up but that’s it. You crawl back in when ordered, letting sir lock you in with one last kiss on the lips and a request to be good and sleep well. You’re always excited to see him again in the morning, pressed against the cage needily and wiggling your behind in a cute imitation of a dogs wagging tail.

“Bark” you let out a sound similar to a woof, not completely the same as an actual dog but you’re not completely confident in it yet, still humiliated by the action. Asa’s lips thin out into a straight line, not completely satisfied with your effort.

“Again, put your voice into it” you let out a sigh of embarrassment and close your eyes, breathing in and letting out a more solid bark. Asa smiles this time, running his gloved hand over hair, abruptly grabbing a handful and wrenching your head back so you can meet his dark eyes. “Good boy, always so eager to please master, aren’t you my mutt?” You make a weak noise at being grabbed so harshly but reply “y-yes sir” Asa tugs your hair harder causing your scalp to sting in a way that makes your thighs rub together. “Again, louder.” He orders back, not making any room for excuses. “Yes sir! I love being a stupid mutt for you! Love following orders and making you proud!” You pant back, a lot louder and more desperate this time.

A satisfied smile slips onto Asa’s face as he releases your hair from his grasp, easing the pain in your scalp. Your master tugs the ring of your collar, pulling your chin up with it to look at him.

A moment passes and looks are exchanged, yours of need and Asa’s of smugness. Your lips meet in the middle for a searing kiss, lips and teeth clashing. “Good dog” Asa mutters in between kisses.

#slashers #slasher x reader #slasher headcanons #asa emory #asa emory x reader #the collection #writing #my writing

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ichijager13 · 1 year

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There’s no good in evil

Summary : In a city full of crimes and atrocity Dazai have found a shelter in you. He always ends up in your place when he needs to wash away his dark soul before leaving you again with souvenirs of your shared moments. This time was no different.

A/N: Happy new year !! Here’s a fic I wrote and published on AO3 last summer. The story takes place right before the movie dead apple.

I wrote this fic listening to Duvet by Bao.

Enjoy reading lovelies :*

Word count: 2,6k

You couldn’t believe this day was finally over. You have never felt this tired before. Opening your apartment door you were daydreaming about the bath you will sink in and that piece of ice cream cake you have in the freezer when you heard a voice humming a song. It was his voice, there was no doubt. It’s been almost two months since you last saw him. you quickly took off your shoes and put your coat on the hanger before heading to the kitchen.

“And you don’t seem the lying kind

A shame that I could read your mind

And all the things that I read there

Candle lit smile that we both share

And you know I don’t mean to hurt you”.

You leaned against the kitchen door frame admiring this strange man singing and swaying ridiculously. “That’s not your double suicide song, changed your mind?”. You taunted.

“Hello there, no I didn’t. I’m only waiting for you to accept to do it with me”. A silly smile crept across his lips. “Besides this one reminds me of you”.

“Really? How come?”. Your brows furrowed.

“I can read your mind easily and I never wanted to hurt you”. He answered still turning his back to you.

“And what are you making?”. You were now standing behind him.

“A ramen, it’s cold and you had to stay outside till this late. You need something warm”. Smiling you propped your head against his back.

“Thank you”.

You remained like this for a while before you broke the silence.

“How are you Dazai?”.

“As fresh as a daisy”. He turned and held your face in his hands. “But you, you don’t seem alright. Did you miss me that bad”. Blushing you look away. You always wondered how can he read you like in an open book. You could never hide anything from him.

“I’m here now”. He smiled sheepishly.

“For how long?”

Ignoring your question, he asked you to go change and prepare yourself for dinner.

It has always been like this; he shows up unannounced and then he disappears just as fast. You lost count of how many times you resolved to never let him in again, to change your door lock, and other unfulfilled decisions. You even screamed and kicked him out of your place before falling into his arms. Dazai wasn’t one to settle down, he is like the wind he once told you, you can never lock him in. he was so drunk that night he even apologized for what he was putting you through. He confessed that wherever he was and whatever he was doing he always finds his way back to you. like there was some sort of gravity always pulling him back to you.

“Where are you?”. he called in that annoying high-pitched sound he uses to taunt you. “Dinner is ready”.

You came out from your bathroom hair wrapped in a towel. “A person cannot take a shower after a long day at work anymore?” you snickered.

“Not allowed”. He shook his index finger. “Not without me”. He shot you a determined look making you giggle.

“I’ll try to remember next time”. You hummed loudly. “The smell is amazing”. He grinned before sitting across from you.

“You added a new bookshelf”. You nodded. “And you bought a new pan and changed the blinds of the living room”.

“Yes, mister detective”.

“And you cut your hair”. He paused. “It looks good on you”. reaching a hand to caress your hair.

“Thank you”. you took a sip from your beer. “What happened to your face?”

“A small accident during work”. He simply answered. “Do you mind if I spend the night here?”. He tilted his head.

“When did I mind such a thing”.

“Good! And would you play with my hair as well?” he pouted. “Pretty, pretty please”.

“Okay, okay”. You let out laughing.

*****

You were now laying on your bed while he was showering. You have always kept his items in case he ever appeared again. It wasn’t an easy thing to deal with but you couldn’t throw them away as well. You never knew what to do or think when it comes to him and it infuriates you.

Looking up you were met with his dark eyes. He was standing at the door drying himself and watching you.

“What are you thinking about?” how come he always decodes every move or facial expression you make while you were unable to understand the simplest thing about him. “By the way, thank you for keeping my stuff. Nothing compares to fresh and clean clothes”. He hung the towel before putting on sweats and crawling into the bed next to you.

You smiled at him and caressed his face. Closing his eyes, he leaned into your touch.

“I don’t deserve you, you’re too good for me”. he breathed. “I should have let you go a long time ago but I’m too selfish to do such a thing”. He placed a kiss on your wrist. “you’re everything I’m not”.

“But you always come back”. You whispered.

He nodded, “I do, I know I shouldn’t but I always do. I’m sorry”.

You vigorously shake your head, “Don’t be. I could’ve changed the door lock or simply moved to another place. But I never did”.

“Yeah, you never did”. He fell on the pillow. “You’re the only thing making me hold on to life, and believe that there are still people with pure hearts. What I can never understand is how come someone like me…”.

You placed your finger on his lips preventing him from saying more. “There is good in evil you know. And I believe that deep down inside you there is pureness”.

His gaze was on you as a lazy smile appeared on his face. “I missed you… and I need you. I need you to be able to keep doing good things, ‘cause there is no good in me”. He brought you closer to him. “I need your light to chase away the shadows that haunt my soul”. His breath was now all over your face and neck. “I need you to be able to continue living”. He rested his head on your chest and closed his eyes. “And now, can you please play with my hair as you promised earlier”. He said in a childish voice, it’s crazy how he can switch from dead serious and depressed to childish and filled with joy. Without a word you buried your hand in his hair and started scratching his skull. “Ah, like that”. He sighed happily.

“So, how’s work?” you inquired.

“Interesting, the new gifted I told you about the other time, Atsushi he is getting better and seems to manage his ability. Oh, and you won’t believe what I have done to kunikida last time”. A mischievous smirk appeared on his lips. “He nearly lost his mind”.

“Don’t you think you should give him a break?”. You said amused.

“Never”. He stood up. “Never ever ask me such a thing again”. He was completely on top of you now. “That’s the only thing that entertains me”. his face was inches away from yours, you don’t know for how much time he remained like this. You gave up counting and calculating with him because whether you like it or not, he always wins. He will kiss when he feels like it, not before not after. But that didn’t stop your body from anticipating and aching for his touch. Each time his hands or lips were placed on you, your body was set on fire. When Dazai was around everything you submit to him, you simply lose control of everything. Your eyes were closed when he finally connected his lips to yours and started kissing you. you let out a low moan when his tongue slipped between your parted lips. “I missed this as well”. He whispered against your mouth, before tucking at the waistband of your shorts. “Why do you wear this many clothes when I’m around huh?”. His finger was now pulling your panties down.

“Dazai”.

He stopped. “What is it?”. From the tone of his voice, you can tell he is frowning.

“Not tonight, please”. You propped yourself on your elbows. “I’m really exhausted. I won’t be able to keep up”. you smiled lazily. “Let’s leave it till tomorrow, deal?”

He pulled your panties back to their place whining, “That’s not fair”. He fell on the mattress and brought you against him. “Can I at least hug you?”.

You smiled softly, “Couldn’t ask for better”. You put your hand back in his hair and buried yourself in his embrace. “I missed this too”. You muttered before drifting into sleep.

It was still dark when you opened your eyes. You woke up to the feeling of someone watching you. feeling the warmth of his body and his hands inventing invisible schemes on your back you buried yourself in his embrace.

“You’re still here”. you whispered then you fell back asleep. He knows what he is doing is wrong but he is as helpless as you are. He knows he can’t be with you but each time he leaves something breaks inside of him. each time he comes back he tells himself it’s the last time he puts you through this but he always ends up at your door. And even then, he wishes you have changed the door lock or moved out. He even found himself hoping he’d find someone at your place. He knows he can never make you happy, not with the way he was living his life. He had even thought about committing suicide at your place but the sight of your sad pretty eyes made him change his mind.

Behind his goofiness and heartless attitude hide a broken and bruised soul and he didn’t want to get you stuck in the middle of this mess, his mess. Was it too late to do the right thing? Can he keep his promise this time and leave you alone? What if you both run away and settle down in a calm small town or even a farm? Lots of questions and ideas were going through his mind. He closed his eyes and tried to clear his thoughts and sleep, but it didn’t work. Giving up he picked up his book and started reading.

It was right before dawn when he felt you moving. With a sleepy smile plastered on your face, you hugged him. “It always feels good to have you near”.

He brought you closer for a kiss. “Good morning my angel”. You peppered kisses all over his face smiling at his words. Your lips traveled down his neck, and torso ‘til his lower abdomen.

Dazai half sit and asked, “What are you doing?”

“I tasted you in my dreams, now I know what I want for breakfast”. You smiled at him.

“Is that so?” a wicked smirk stretching his face.

You glanced once more at the dark-haired man before yanking both his sweats and underwear down freeing his shaft. You started caressing it softly, and as soon as it began to harden you started pumping it making him gasp. That was the only sound you managed to earn from his parted lips until you moved things to the next level. Locking your gaze, you dragged your tongue up and down his cock. It was when you sucked his tip that you made him groan deeply.

“If you keep doing this to me each time, ah, I believe I’m gonna end up forgetting about suicide”.

You had him now entirely in your mouth; moving your head up and down and changing the rhythm from time to time you were doing your best to pleasure him. when he finally came undone, he brought on his chest and caressed your hair for a few minutes silently.

“What time is it?” you asked.

He checked his phone, “4 am, feeling tired sweetheart?”. You nodded and he secured you in with his arms. “Then let’s go back to sleep shall we”.

When you woke up again it was 9 am, the place beside you was empty and the house was quiet. At first, you thought he was showering or in the kitchen making breakfast but while resting your back against your headboard you noticed a folded paper on your nightstand. With shaky hands, you took and unfold it. It was dazai’s handwriting.

“My lovely angel,

Months after I met you, Odasaku told me that you bring out the good in me. That day I laughed at his words and told him that there is no good in evil. And I was right, the three of us knew that I was. I have to go somewhere; I might even be gone by the time you wake up or at least I hope so. During the couple of years I spent with you when I left the port mafia, you made me realize that Odasaku was right about something. there is good, but not in me. There is good in this world. You, Odasaku, and Atsushi helped me understand it and I’m glad people like you do exist. I’ll keep helping people and doing good things but this will never change my nature. I’m just doing it for Odasaku and for you.

This, my angel, will be the last time I be seeing you. I figured leaving you alone is the best thing I could offer you. you deserve better than the suicidal manic and twisted man that I am. I hope you meet someone who will be able to give you all the things I couldn’t offer you. that you will live a long and happy life. I wish you all of this because even though I always play dumb and oblivious, I do realize that you mean a lot to me. In fact, I’m in love with you. I fell in love with you the first day you discovered me laying on the side of the road after my suicide attempt. And it bugs me to be unable to give you what you deserve. But what upsets me the most is that I always hurt you. so, I decided to put an end to this vicious cycle I have created years ago. I’m setting you free.

Please take good care of yourself and continue to be the cheerful young lady you have always been.

I’m sorry for all the pain I caused you. I hope one day you’ll be able to forgive me.

Goodbye.

Dazai Osamu”

You covered your mouth with both hands and let out a deep groan before falling onto his side of the bed sobbing. This time the pain was stronger and more violent. This time there was no hope he’d be back days, weeks, or months later. This time he was gone for good. You hugged his pillow and cried harder. You have always known that this day would inevitably come but that never kept you from hoping he’d just let you have a normal relationship. You were never prepared for this. You cursed your heart for loving such a man. You cursed him for always finding a way to hurt you. you cursed yourself for not running away when you first decided to, for always opening your arms and house for him, and for truly believing that you had a chance to be happy. You know what he did was the right thing but that didn’t ease the pain let alone make you feel better. You closed your eyes and tried to recall his face and voice one last time. You smiled bitterly at the memory and then fell asleep once more curled up in your bed with his pillow brought against your body.

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dreamalittledreamofcopia · 11 months

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rain -- cardinal copia x reader

the weather was gloomy, rainy, and cool today in northeastern illinois and it was the perfect condition to write about warm and cozy cuddles with copia ☺️

this takes place during his cardinal days because i cannot get enough of the sweet gentle careful copia // 2.7k words, slightly nsfw banter

The forecast called for days worths of showers after a time of relative drought. The abbey was shrouded in overcast skies and the windows reflected the rain drops on the marble walls. The consistent pitter patter of rain, the constant howl of the wind, and the occasional clap of thunder and flash of lightning dominated what could be heard in the totality of the ministry. Even the click of your heels against the tile floor was hidden within the sounds of the storm.

You made your way down the halls of the ministry, smiling and waving at some of your acquaintances as you passed by. You had your reasons for joining the ministry, for leaving your old religion behind and following the Dark One. You didn't know quite what you expected, but you certainly did not expect an interesting partnership to develop between you and the Cardinal. If people wanted to meet with the Cardinal, they knew they had to speak to you, which is why you were going to his office today. Sister Imperator had blessed you with the task of showing Copia how to access the ministry’s shared hard drive, both because she didn’t want to and because she knew he would receive the tutorial better if it came from you.

You gently knocked on the door to Copia’s office, not wanting to disturb him despite the task you were given. After a few beats, you heard his chair move and his boots tread across the floor beneath the rain before the door slowly creaked open. Copia looked out above your head before turning to look down at you, a way he loved to tease you about your height. Before a word was exchanged, you huffed and crossed your arms in front of your chest. Copia was validated in your response and smirked, his mismatched eyes shining down affectionately at you.

“Ah, sorella,” he almost cooed, his voice thick with relief, as if he was expecting someone else, “to what do I owe the pleasure?”

You blushed and bit the inside of your cheek to hide a smile, “Sister Imperator wants me to show you something on the ministry I Drive.” You knew your words meant nothing to him, this was confirmed by the gentle cock of his eyebrow and his confused expression. But he did enjoy listening to the sound of your voice. “Don’t worry,” you began to reassure him, “it’s easy computer stuff, you’ll get it.”

Copia let out a long sigh, as if he didn’t quite believe you, but stepped aside to let you into his office regardless. He was secretly happy to get to spend time with you, an observation you were able to glean from the rising blush on the shells of his ears. You smiled sweetly up at Copia as you walked past him into his office. He caught a whiff of your scent as you glided below him and he sighed softly, imaging what your hair looked like beneath your habit. He shut the door gently and turned towards you, “So this computer thing…?”

You nodded and began to walk towards his desk, beconing him to follow. He obliges, sitting down in his chair whilst looking up at you like he was a child waiting for his parent to do their math homework. You shook your head, amazed at how the Cardinal could be so technoligcally inept at his age. Maybe it was the years of seclusions in the Italian Alps, or his aversion form the general marketplace of ideas that kept him offline. Either way, in his new role he would have to learn how to work a computer. That was unavoidable, and you had spent hours attempting to convince Copia of this. At this point you were genuinely unsure if his ineptitude was real or if he was faking it just to have a reason to keep you around.

You leaned over his shoulder to watch his computer screen as he logged on. “Wow, Cardinal! Look how good you’re getting.” you teased, your voice dripping with sarcasm and fake praise.

“Grazie, mio cara.” Copia looked up at you with a smug look on his face. He laid his hand on your bicep and ran his thumb along your arm. “There’s better things we could be doing than fussing with a computer, eh?”

You rolled your eyes and grumbled at the growing blush on your cheeks. “No, Copia, I’m teaching you how to get to the goddamn I Drive.”

“Okie dokie,” he said, a huff in his voice as he moved his hand from your arm and turned back to his computer. You leaned over his shoulder and instructed him, your cheek radiating by his, and he found it difficult to follow your guide as your sweet smelling voice wofted across his face.

Your relationship with the Cardinal was funny, to say the least. You were the only one in the abbey who could keep him on track and focussed on the task at hand. Professionally, you complimented him well. His productivity had gone up since you two had gotten closer, and you certainly made his transition and settlement into the role of Cardinal easier. There was talk of appointing you as his official assistant, as of now you remained in your role as a Sister of Sin with no changes sanctioned by Sister Imperator or Papa Nihil. It didn’t quite matter to you as you resolved to stay faithful to the Cardinal no matter status or position in the ministry. You saw how much he needed you after your first few days of randomly helping him, and it was beyond you how anyone could do the job alone.

Personally, you complimented him well. He enjoyed being around you. You had quickly became his best friend and your presence always put him at ease. He didn’t know if it was your aura or your personality or what, but something drew him to you and he began to depend on you to get through his day. He thought about you at night, when the bathroom was steamed over him his shower and he leaned his flustered head against the wall, low groans mixing with the sound of water falling down the drain. Unbeknownst to you, the Ghouls had a bet going to see when Copia would crack and confess his all-consuming feelings for you.

The dynamic and banter you shared wasn’t just confined to his office, but people were beginning to take notice all across the abbey. The lost look in his eyes when he was without you, the gentle smile that came over him when you sought him out. You made him feel special, adequate, whole, and the adroation that was born out of that was evident in the air around him.

You noticed it. You basked in it, reveled in it. His reliance on you made you feel important. You nursed the fallacy in your head that the papacy would fall apart without you, but the truth was it very well could have. Imperator knew that, so she avoided discussing the potential romance with you completely. What she didn’t know wouldn’t hurt her, and she didn’t want to know what was going on until it became a problem. You assumed that Imperator was assuming that you and Copia were together and you never bothered to correct her. Nothing ever did happen though, despite a few close encounters, but it was nothing that a few cold showers couldn’t fix.

After a frustrating twenty minutes, Copia knew how to access files in the drive that was shared on all of the ministry computers. He could access anything he had to, and he promised you that he would review the documents Imperator wanted him to see in the first place. He tucked his nose into your hair and kissed your cheek in thanks, a gesture that always left him satisfied and left you flustered.

Today was no different. You rolled your eyes to act like that little kiss didn’t mean anything to you, but you knew Copia knew you well enough to tell it was an act.

“Sorella,” he spoke softly, turning in his swivel chair to face you, “the rain’s reflection in your eyes is absolutely captivating.”

“Thank you, Cardinal,” you blushed as he moved to hold both of your hands in his, “you’re far too kind.” That was your default response to his flirtation and compliments. It drove him quickly.

“Do you think the abbey is cold today?” Copia tilted his head to the side and kept smiling, soft and sweet. “I think it’s cold today.”

Copia’s office had a few giant windows on the same wall, all of them letting in a tender glow from the rain and allowing the cooler air seep in through the glass. The pseudo wind did chill you to your bones and you moved to sit on the Cardinal’s desk to gaze down into his pretty face.

“I think the rain is throwing off the heat, yes. Why?”

Copia wore a mischevious grin on his face as he lazily wrapped his arms around your waist. “You’ve helped me so much today, I should give you something in return, yes?”

“Cardinal, no, whatever it is no.”

“Oh, come on now. Trust me,” he cooed as he stood up, keeping his arms around you. He was considerably taller and he looked down at you affectionately, placing a gentle kiss on your forehead. “Fidati di me.”

Hearing him speak Italian always gave you butterflies and you couldn’t help the smile that lit up your face. You kicked your feet gently as they dangled off the desk, humming softly as you pretended to consider his offer. “Trust you with what?”

“Let me hold you,” he spoke softer, lower, as he leaned down to your level more. His voice and his breath fanned across the apple of your cheeks, causing your face to flush adorably. Copia smiled as he contineud to speak to you. “Let me wrap you up and hold you in my arms. Holding you is the only thought that puts me to sleep at night, and there’s nothing better than cuddles and a nap in the rain.”

“You’re very wise, Cardinal,” you smiled, tilting your chin up to meet his precious gaze.

He grinned, gently laying his hand on your cheek. You leaned into his touch and the movement melted his heart. “I’m the Cardinal for a reason, cara.”

“I suppose so,” you smiled and laid your hands on his arms.

“Let’s take this veil off, yeah? Cuddling wont be very comfortable in that.” He mused as he gently moved his hand beneath your veil and into your hair. You sighed softly and shut your eyes as he gave your scalp a gentle massage your with the pads of his fingers. After a moment he slipped the bobby pins out of your hair and laid your veil on his desk, smiling as he watched your hair settle around your face. He ran his fingers through it for a moment and you smiled sweetly up at him when he tucked it behind your ear. He was still too shy to kiss your lips but he wasn’t too shy to gaze down at yours longingly, causing your cheeks to burn.

Copia grinned wickedly and picked you up, holding onto your bottom as you squeaked and wrapped your legs around his waist. You felt his lips turn up into a smirk seconds before his hand squeezed and smacked your ass.

“Cardinal!” Your voice was somewhere between a shriek and a laugh as you started to wiggle, trying to break free of his grasp.

“Oh please, I’ve read your mass notes,” Copia smirks, nuzzling his nose into your cheek, “So che lo volevi, so che mi vuoi.”

You shuddered and held onto his shoulders as he carried you over to the couch in his office, sitting down with you still on his lap. The friction between your bodies was delicious but Copia’s goal right now wasn’t sex, it was cuddles, no matter how much his body betrayed his mind. He swivled your hips off of his as quickly as he could, covering his groin and his hips with a blanket, but the damage was already done. You knew what was happening and your cheeks burned at the thought.

His hands moved to your shoulders as he laid down on his back, turning his hips to kick his feet up on the couch, cradling you with him as he held you flush against his side. You were tucked between the Cardinal and the back of the couch, your head nestled between a throw pillow and his shoulder. He sighed, probably exagerating the relief he felt when he laid back.

You looked up at him shyly but smiled after a moment, watching the reflection of the rain on his face. His eyes met yours and they were rain soaked and beautiful, the palor of his skin turning blue in the light from the window.

Copia turned towards you gently, pressing a soft kiss to your forehead. “Oh, I’ve made a mark,” he chuckled absentmindedly as he swiped his thumb across your skin to pick up the black lipstick left behind. You giggled and rolled your eyes playfully, your brain a flustered mess of electicity and lust and affection and passion.

“What if Imperator finds us like this?” You asked softly, reaching to take your black heels off and dropping them behind the couch. When you thought it was safe, you intertwined your stockinged legs with his, and arm wrapped behind you and his hand subconsiously moved to rest on your thigh.

“She wont. And if she does she has nothing to complain about, yes?” He stroked your cheek with his other hand. Nothing yet, at least.

You just smiled and nodded, leaning into his touch. “Okay, I trust you. Even though I know I shouldn’t.”

Copia chuckled, a low rumble that complimented the thunder outside. In a quick moment of remembrance, he took off his hat and placed it haphazardly on your head before turning to look up at the ceiling. He kept his eyes on you and smiled as your cheeks changed color to match the fabric hue. “Sei così carino,” he cooed softly, thankful that you let him speak his mother tongue to you.

You just smiled like Mona Lisa and nudged your nose against his cheek before kissing it softly. The Cardinal hummed happily and shut his eyes, leaning his head towards yours as you settled in besides him.

The warmth that radiated from Copia was trapped in by the blanket, and your body relaxed as you soaked in it. His gentle hands never stopped moving completly, either he would be rubbing your back with his palm or dragging his thumb across your collar bone as his fingers rested on your shoulders. He would find tiny ways to remind himself that he was still holding you, a preoccupation that continued even as little snores rose up from both of your lips.

Loving him would be so easy, you thought.

A few hours later Copia was consious enough to return to sentience. His eyes darted around the room but he was careful to keep his body and his head still as not to wake you. His hat had fallen onto his stomach, and there were some new papers and files littering his desk, evidence that Imperator did stop by, but his hypothesis was correct. For the time being, as long as you kept the Cardinal on task and continually adjusting to his unfamilliar postition, she would maintain that she had no idea what was brewing (or more affectionately, blossoming) between the fresh Cardinal and the Sister of Sin.

Copia stroked your cheek softly and smiled at the way your cheek was jello beneath his touch. He leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss on the corner of your lips, close enough to feel your mouth against his but still far enough to leave the title of First Kiss open for the taking.

“Amore mio, sei il mio angelo,” he whispered before snuggling your sleeping form a little closer and tucking his face into the crook of your neck.

Outside, rain was still falling. The room was still cold and sounds of droplets hitting the abbey and thunder echoed off the walls. After one particularly loud boom, you stirred, clinging to the Cardinal for safety. He cooed your name into your ear, turning onto his side and pulling you closer. He brought the blanket closer to your heads, rubbing his cheek against yours as he protected you from the storm raging outside.

#cardinal copia #cardinal copia x reader #copia #copia my beloved #ghost #papa emeritus iv #the band ghost #papa emeritus iv x reader

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autisticlancemcclain · 2 years

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The first sensation is Keith’s voice: “Hey, Lance.”

The second sensation is much less pleasant, and comes milliseconds after the first: a bundled-up wad of something hitting him square in the face, the shock of it knocking him right over.

“Ow,” he says on reflex, even though it didn’t really hurt. Keith snorts.

“I didn’t throw it that hard.”

“You didn’t have to throw it at all,” Lance grumbles, reaching down to grab the projectile. When his hands make contact with worn canvas, he freezes. He glances down at the fabric with wide eyes.

His jacket.

Did Keith —

No. He couldn’t have.

Right?

“Hey,” Shiro says, nudging Lance gently. “You good, buddy? You’re looking kinda pale, all of a sudden.”

Lance swallows. He can’t tear his gaze away from Keith, who is looking at him in confused concern. So is everyone else. Shiro places a hand on Lance’s shoulder, asking him if he’s okay again, but it sounds faint and distorted, like everything’s far away.

“Excuse me,” Lance blurts, then runs out of the room. He doesn’t slow down until he gets to his bedroom, throwing himself on the bed and spreading out his jacket in front of him with careful hands. He runs his palms over the fabric, over and over again, until the texture of the pitted canvas ripples and changes into soft seal fur.

He bites his lip. He can’t believe — his pelt. He’s become careless. When they first came to space, Lance wouldn’t even take the pelt — disguised as his green army jacket — off his person. He even wore it to sleep. Partly for the comfort of home, but mostly because he was terrified. Terrified he’d lose it, somehow, in the vastness of space, and never be allowed to return home. Never see his mother, or his siblings, or feel the cold currents tickling his flippers as he chased around his nieces and nephews. Never listen to whale song again, never tease the dolphins, never poke and prod at octopuses. Never nap in the heat of the warm sun as he dries off.

Never be himself again.

But over time, he learned to trust his team. Not with his secret — not yet — but enough to admit bits and pieces, press fragments of his experiences into their hands. The exhilaration of swimming with sharks that swarmed near the island. The welcoming feeling of home in the ocean. The freedom of speeding through the waves. Small things, quiet things, but truths to him nonetheless. He eventually worked up the courage to even part with his pelt, briefly, in training, or eating, or simply bonding. Found the strength to set the jacket out of arm’s reach.

Perhaps the choice was foolish.

Because now his second greatest fear has come true — he may not have lost his pelt, true, but he is now bonded in eternity with another. When Keith handed Lance his coat, he unknowingly claimed Lance, as a prize and as a mate.

A feat of fate and magic that cannot be undone.

His grandmother whispered stories of this to him, when he was a child. As the sun set on the waves, lighting them aflame, she pressed stories of other selkies who’d been careless with their pelts into his skin — selkies who’d left their caps for sailors to steal, left their coats to dry where dangerous fishers lay waiting. Selkies who’d been tricked by corrupt kings or wooed by charming men, only for those men to steal their pelts and sell them to lands far away. Even now, the terror he’d felt as a child — of losing such a huge part of himself to a stranger — had never left. What would he do if some selfish human took his coat? Even if they returned it to him eventually — he’d always be bound to them. Should they move him away from the seas, he would have no choice in the matter. He would never truly be free again, should a human hand him his coat.

Sometimes, late at night, when he was already anxious and knew only how to make it worse, he’d imagine such a future. A future where he’d carelessly leave his coat unguarded for someone to pick up. To take it for themselves, or even just hand it back to him from where he left it. A future where he was a slave, then, to their whims. That future terrified him. The mere thought would make his heart pound and his blood race and his fingers clench together. Chained to another, he’d think. What a horrible fate.

But he was chained, now. He was Keith’s, in all forms. As a human and as a seal and as a selkie, he belonged to the other man. He belonged no longer to himself.

The notion didn’t scare him like he thought it would. Despite the bonds now tying him together, he did not feel trapped, like he expected.

“Lance?” A knock on the door startles him from his thoughts.

Speak of the devil.

“Are you okay, man? I didn’t mean to hurt you, with the jacket. Did you get a zipper to the eye, or something? I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine,” Lance says. “I’m fine.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah.”

“‘Cause you don’t sound fine, really.”

“I am.”

Lance holds his breath. If he strains his ears, he can hear Keith’s gentle breathing from behind the door, the quiet rustling of his clothes as he shifts slightly.

“…Can I come in?”

Can Lance even refuse him? For all the stories his grandmother told him, he doesn’t actually know the logistics. Is it possible for him to refuse a request from Keith? Does he have any autonomy, outside his own mind?

“No,” he says, to test it. He squeezes his eyes shut, prepared for — for anything, really. Excruciating pain. A burning sensation, perhaps for his pelt to shrivel into scraps.

But no pain is forthcoming. The only thing that happens is Keith’s simple ‘okay’ from behind the door.

“Could you come out, then? We’re all kind of worried about you. You were really pale.”

Now that Lance knows he’s allowed to refuse Keith, any fear left evaporates.

He’s safe. It’s okay.

“Actually, I changed my mind. You can come in. It’s open.”

Keith doesn’t hesitate before opening the door, but he steps in the room cautiously.

“What happened?”

Lance bites his lip. What did happen? What can he say, to make this make sense?

The truth?

“It’s…strange,” Lance says eventually. “The story.”

Keith steps closer. “I don’t mind strange.”

Lance looks closely at Keith’s face. He looks — determined. Brow furrowed, arms crossed, mouth set in a deep frown. Once, Lance thought this expression was judgemental. He’s since learned that Keith simply suffers from a resting bitch face.

“You know how you’re not human?”

Keith snorts, his frown smoothing into a look of fond amusement. “I do remember that, yes. Kind of hard to forget.”

Lance grins sheepishly. “Right.” His grin vanishes as he tries to figure out how he can even word this properly. “It’s — I’m not sure how to say this.”

“Hey,” Keith says, closing the distance and sitting next to Lance on the bed. Unknowingly, he sits in between Lance in his jacket, one hand on the hood, making himself into a metaphor of the situation Lance has found himself in.

His pelt, no longer attached to him, but to Keith.

“It’s going to be fine,” Keith continues, putting a hand on Lance’s thigh, just above his knee. The touch burns. “Whatever it is, you can tell me. We’ll figure it out. Lance and Keith, neck and neck, remember? I’m right with you.”

Lance smiles tightly. Keith has gotten much better at comforting people.

“I’m not human.”

He’s afraid to look at Keith. Afraid to see the expression, there, the potential rejection. After all, they’ve known Keith isn’t human since their first couple months in space.

Lance has hidden this from them for so long. How could anyone on the team be anything but angry with him?

“Well. I can say with certainty that I didn’t see that coming, somehow.”

Lance braves a look at Keith to see him looking shocked, certainly, but not — angry. Not betrayed.

“I’m a selkie.”

Keith’s eyebrows shoot up to his hairline.

“I was expecting that even less.”

Lance laughs, but it’s empty.

“That’s, um. That’s not the worst part.”

Keith’s eyebrows climb even higher. “What is the worst part?”

“What do you know about selkies?” Lance says instead of answering. To his credit, Keith rolls with the slight subject change.

“Uh, part seal, part human, right? Human unless you’re wearing your coat, wherein you become a seal?”

Lance nods. “Pretty much. What happens — do you know what happens if a selkie loses their coat?“

“Then you can’t become a seal, right?”

“And we’re exiled from the ocean and our families, yes.”

Keith grimaces. “Jesus. You still have your coat, though, right?”

Lance stares at Keith’s hand, still on his thigh.

“That’s the thing,” he says.

Keith looks at him in alarm. “You lost your coat?!”

“No, no, I didn’t lose it,” Lance rushes to reassure. He bites his lip. “Well, not exactly.”

“Lance, what happened?”

Lance takes a deep breath. He might as well come out and say it. “‘Losing’ our coats is a very loose term. It can really be anything from genuinely misplacing it, or briefly setting it down. It isn’t always a problem — obviously I can’t take my pelt everywhere — but if someone were to find my coat, or pick it up, then it would be lost to me. They would own it. And by extension, own me. Kind of, anyway.”

A look of dawning horror descends on Keith’s face. “Today. In the common room. I threw you your jacket.”

Lance takes a deep breath. “Yeah.”

“Lance, I’m so sorry.” Keith looks ashen. “Fuck, Lance, is there any way to undo it?”

“It’s not — it’s not that bad,” Lance says.

“It’s fucking horrible, Lance!” Keith grips his hair tightly, looking at Lance with wide, guilty eyes. “I didn’t — I took your pelt away from you!”

Something about Keith’s panic makes Lance calm. Suddenly, he feels completely at ease.

“You didn’t know, for starters. Besides, I actually… I think it might be okay. Really. You know the stories where sailors intentionally steal selkie’s caps so they’re forced to marry them?”

“Yeah, Lance, I do! And now I’m the jackass sailor!”

“No, you’re not,” Lance says firmly. He grabs Keith’s hand and grips it tightly. “Listen to me, okay? The sailors in the stories — they did it on purpose. They had the intent to hurt and control their wives. It’s the same in all my grandma’s stories, too — any selkie who has their pelt picked up by someone else is bound to their will, and it’s always a tragedy for them.”

“How is that helpful, Lance? How is that good?”

“Listen to me,” Lance repeats. “Did you try to trick me?”

“No.”

“Did you intentionally steal my coat so I was bound to you?”

“No.”

“Do you want to forbid me from seeing my family ever again so I am forced to stay with you?”

“What? Of course not!”

“Then I think we will be fine, Keith. You’ve already returned my pelt to me. As far as I can understand, the only thing is —” Lance blushes. “Um, the only thing that changes, I think, is that we’re married, by selkie standards. I am bound to you, fatefully and magically.”

Keith blushes, too. “Oh.”

“And I tried refusing your request, earlier, and it was fine. I’m not stripped of my free will, or anything.”

“Oh.”

The silence sits between them for several moments. Lance isn’t quite sure what to do next. He definitely didn’t plan this far ahead.

“Well, that settles it, then,” Keith says. He tugs Lance’s hand, which Lance realises right then is still very much entwined with Keith’s and has been for the last who-knows-how-long. “Let’s go.”

“Settles what? Go where?” Lance asks, even as he follows Keith. He grabs his coat with his free hand, following Keith out the door.

“Well, we should get human-married too,” Keith says matter-of-factly. His face is still red, but his eyes are set and stubborn, and he looks as determined as he does for every mission.

Lance makes an embarrassing squawking noise.

“What?”

“It’s not fair that we’re only married by your standards,” Keith insists. “If you’re going to be my husband, we’re doing things all the way. We’re going to get human married. Well, as human-married as we can be, in space. I’m pretty sure Shiro is ordained, and I’m positive Hunk could make us some rings —”

“Keith, hold on a damn second!”

Keith finally pauses, looking back at Lance and seeing his horribly red face and general air of mortification.

“We can’t just — we can’t just do that!”

“Why not?”

“That’s not —” Lance’s mouth snaps shut. Now that he’s actually thinking about it, for a second, it’s really not a horrible idea.

Except for one problem.

“I don’t want you to be stuck in a marriage with me because of a stupid magic spell outside of your control,” Lance admits quietly. “It’s not fair to you. What if you fall in love for real, someday? But you’re stuck with me?”

Keith softens immediately. He tugs Lance close to him, putting a gentle hand on his cheek.

“Lance,” he says. His eyes are soft — loving, even. “I don’t want to marry anyone else. Ever.”

Lance feels tears pricking at his eyes, but he’s not sure why. “You don’t — you don’t know that. I’m a mess, Keith. Why would you ever want to be tied to me?”

Keith’s thumb runs gentle lines over his cheekbone.

“I have been tied to you for as long as I can remember,” he whispers.

Lance swallows. “That can’t be true.”

“It is. For as long as I have known you, I have been drawn to you. Everything you do, I have wanted to be a part of. Lance —” he smiles wryly — “I followed you to space. My fate was entwined with yours the moment we argued in the Garrison detainment facility. There’s no getting rid of me.”

Lance laughs — a broken, teary thing, but a laugh just the same. “You really want to fall in love with me? Are you sure?”

“Baby,” Keith whispers, leaning so close Lance can feel the heat of his breath, “I’m already halfway there.”

There’s a certain finality Lance feels, when Keith finally closes the distance. Like a string finally joining two ripped pieces together.

Lance kisses him again, just to make sure the pieces stay.

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kirasenju · 9 months

Text

Nidaime-sama (Tobirama Senju x Fem! Anbu Reader)

Chapter V: Strict

Your shift ended just now, but he sees you still working.

“Y/n.”

“Yes, Hokage-sama?”

“Go home. We talked about this, you wont stay here more than necessary.”

“Ha… look who says. Sometimes you dont even go home!”

“I know you want to help, but you still need to get a proper rest.”

“Same for you.” You said while frowning, looking at him concernedly. “You are the Hokage, yes, but you’re still human. You are working hard for Konoha, i know you value your people. But it’s enough, i am tired of begging you to rest!”

“I have a stamina way stronger than yours. You don’t need to worry too much. But you need to worry about yourself.” He stands up, walks toward you. “You lost weight.”

“What? No.”

“Yes, you did!!” He said angrily. “You have such a fragile body that you can get sick easily in harsh weathers, and you still don’t eat properly?!”

You really lost few weights, but you thought no one will notice because it wasn’t so obvious, indeed no one did until now. You started skipping your meals when your nightmares came back. It's like you relive that day over and over again every night. Besides not being able to sleep, it also affected your appetite. It's like you're back to the beginning, right after you lost them.

“But i eat when i am hungry… it’s not like i am starving myself. I still eat well.”

He gets closer, suddenly grabbing you from your waist and lifting you in the air. You shock.

“W-what are you d-“

“How much do you weigh now? If you lie, i will know.” He said sternly, referring to the fact that he is holding you in the air now so he can understand if you lie.

“Just put me down!”

“Tell me.”

“…” You stay quiet, he will drop you eventually anyway.

“If you think you can get rid of this, I can do this all day.”

You look away, it’s like he read your mind.

“42 kilos…” You said quietly, almost cannot be heard.

“You what?!”

“…”

“It’s enough… you are coming with me!”

“W-where?!”

“My home, so i can keep an eye on you!”

You frown. “No.”

“Oh, yes!” He teleported you both with hiraishin ninjutsu, you find yourself at his home now.

“Hokage-sama! It’s not necessary!”

“Yes it is. You need to gain weight and stay warm, i will make sure you do.”

“Will you please let me go if I promise you that I will eat properly?”

“No.”

“Why not?!”

“Because i told you so. From now on, after your shift ends, i will send my clone with you to my house.”

“But-“

“No.”

“…”

“Just do as i say.”

“I-“ You sneeze. He looks at you. He seems mad now.

“You are sick already…” He sighs. “Follow me.”

“…” You follow him to his kitchen. You sit on a chair while he prepares some food.

~ “Hokage-sama, i am really full.”

��Eat.”

“…”

“Are you trying to make me angry? You didn’t even eat half of your plate.”

“Maybe it’s because the plate was too full at first?!”

“It doesn’t matter. Just finish it.”

“No.”

“Say it again?!”

“I said no!”

He grabs your upper arm tightly, leans closer and whispers. “Behave now…”

You look away, trying to ignore the pain on your arm. “You must know how i don’t like being disobeyed. Believe me… You don't want to see that side of me, girl.”

You knew he was an authoritarian, but you didn’t know he was that much. Your arm hurts so much that you want to scream, but you don’t. You just keep looking away with teary eyes. He lets your arm go, you let out the breath you didn't know you were holding back. You take the hashi back and start eating again.

“Good girl. Come upstairs after you finish your food.” He leaves you alone. As he left, you check your left hurt upper arm. He wouldn’t hurt you on purpose, you know he didn’t notice his power on his grip. You decide not to tell him about your injury because he will get mad when he finds out you didn’t tell him that it hurt when he was grabbing you.

After finishing the food, you felt so full but it wasn’t too uncomfortable. He was right, you needed to eat. You go upstairs, but you suddenly felt dizzy. Then you fell. Now it’s all dark.

You opened your eyes, found yourself laying on a futon. You sit, you are only wearing a kimono now. You can feel your underwears are still there but you have no bra underneath. The kimono is for men, probably it’s his. It reaches down to your thighs, your legs are exposed. Luckily the fabric is thick so you don’t need a bra. You feel wrapped bandage around your back and one breast too, and more bandages around your body. You got panic. What happened? Did he changed your clothes without permission?!

“You fell down from stairs…”

You look at him, sitting in front of the large window with a cigarette in his hand. There is no light except the moonlight in the room.

(Pic is not mine)

“…and don’t worry. I called for a female iryō-nin, she took care of you. You have a fever, so it’s better if you stay like this. It covers you enough anyway.” He said, referring to his kimono fits big on you that reaches your thighs. “I wouldn’t do something like that without your permission…”

“I-i know…”

“Do you feel any pain?”

“Not too bad…”

“Come here.” He pat his lap.

You hesitate, he notices and says again, more commanding:

“Come.”

You go there, nervous. As you sit on his legs, he pulls the kimono collar aside to expose your unbandaged upper arm besides your upper breast. Your arm has a bad bruise.

“She said she couldn’t use healing jutsu for here… because your bone is broken, it’s dangerous for taking any chakra. I sent her back to check myself… that if i really broke your arm. It seems i did…” He said with a gentle tone of him you’ve never heard. He put ointment on your arm and wrapped a bandage around it gently. The ointment is strong, even if your arm isn't in a cast, it will be fine as long as you don’t move it. He leans closer, resting his face on your exposed upper chest. “I’m sorry… i was too harsh.”

“It’s okay…” You said softly with your teary eyes. You didn’t get mad at him because it was an accident.

“No, it’s not okay. I broke your arm and I didn’t even notice. You shouldn’t forgive me so easily.”

“But i do.. I forgive you. I know it was an accident.”

“Y/n… dont do this to yourself.”

“What do you mean?”

“I know your feelings… i always knew.”

“H-huh?” You shocked.

“I dont deserve you. But at the same time, i want you for mine… but I have no right to be greedy. I swore to myself that I would protect you from everything, but I couldn't protect you from myself.“

“H-hokage-sama…”

“I love you.”

Tears start flowing down from your eyes. You look at him as he raised his head from your chest.

“I-i love you too…”

He caresses your hair. “Do you want to be mine, although who i am?”

You stay quiet for some seconds. “Y-yes…”

“What if i hurt you?”

“I know you wont.” You put his hand on your cheek and look into his eyes.

“Then… will you marry me?”

“Yes…”

He leans closer and kisses you from the lips. After minutes kissing each other, he breaks the kiss and gives a kiss on your teary eye. “Dont cry anymore…” He holds you tight. Being careful to not touch your hurt arm.

…

A/n: The art:

#tobirama senju #tobirama #tobirama x reader #naruto fanfiction #tobirama fanart #naruto shippuden #naruto #hashirama #hashirama senju #senju tobirama #madara uchiha

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aquarii-if · 2 months

Note

How would the ROs react when they learn that most humans believe that their are no life beyond the stars and the ones who do are called crazy conspiracy theorists

Thank you for your ask. ♥️

Oooh, this is a good question. I thought it would be fun to write this from the POV of an MC who believed this before they came to Aquarii.

Liviana- Liviana takes a minute to process your revelation before she nods. “I’m not surprised, humans haven’t even finished exploring their own galaxy yet, why worry about others?” The warm smile she gives you does little to hide her true feelings, you’ve known Liviana for far too long now to not be able to tell when she’s holding back her laughter.

“It’s not funny! I just didn’t believe it was possible to have another planet that could maintain other life forms. And even if there was, I didn’t believe any other lifeforms would have the same intelligence as humans.”

You scoff as you watch Liviana cover her mouth to hide a snort. “You didn’t believe another species could be as intelligent as humans? Truly?”

“It’s not like Earth has much to offer in competition.”

Liviana straightens herself as she calms down. “Well, I suppose I cannot fault humanity for that. I’m sure the early Mitans felt the same way before they discovered our neighboring galaxies. I’m sure humanity will come to the same realization someday. It’s a shame that I may not get to witness it, though.”

She then turns to you, a genuine, warm smile on her face. “But I’m glad to have seen just a glimpse of the connection mitans could have with humans.”

Amare- Amare can’t help himself, he bursts out laughing as soon as the words leave your mouth. You roll your eyes, slightly tapping him with the back of your hand, which only makes him laugh even harder. “I’m sorry, you thought-” Another wave of laughter interrupts him, and he takes a few minutes trying to regain his composure. He wipes the corners of his eyes as his laughter dies down. “You seriously thought humans were the only living beings in a universe as big as ours? And you’re genuinely telling me this a popular belief?”

“Can you blame us? We’ve never ventured that far into space to find any other life forms.” You argue.

“So wouldn’t the logical conclusion be that there is most likely more intelligent life out there? I can’t imagine looking up at the sky full of kajillions of stars and thinking to myself ‘Man, it’s great to be the only one in the universe that gets to see this!’” Amare runs a hand through his hair, clearly not able to comprehend this. “And wouldn’t that be terrifying? A universe as big as that and you’re the only thing in it?”

“I find the thought that there might be a species out there that’s even smarter and stronger than the both of us to be more terrifying than the thought of being completely alone.”

Amare shrugs. “Fair.” He winks at you. “But I still think you’re stupid.” You bump your shoulder into his as he laughs.

Estelle- Estelle simply raises an eyebrow, a small smirk on her lips. “A little narcissistic, don’t you think? Does humanity really think they’re that special?”

You shrug. “Well, it��s not like we’ve been given much evidence to believe otherwise.”

“Hmm… Well, now I’m curious, what evidence did these so-called ‘conspiracy theorists’ present to argue for other life forms outside of Earth?”

“Uh, I don’t know, UFO sightings are one example.”

“UFO?” Estelle tilts her head.

“Unidentified flying object”

Estelle’s eyebrows furrow. “Ah? So they say they saw spaceships? I thought Roux and Allele were the first virrians to go down to Earth…”

You shake your head. “There’s not much evidence to prove that the images were real, they could just be photoshopped, or AI.”

“Great. Another mystery involving the virrians. Well, I’ll leave this one for humans to figure out, it’s their planet.”

“I thought you wanted to protect all living beings?” You tease.

“How can something that doesn’t exist protect humans?” Estelle smirks as you go silent, she’s got you there.

Ellery- Ellery nods, looking at you with an amused but intrigued expression. “So you simply believed the universe was empty? Nothing at all except for humans?”

“Yeah, pretty much. I mean, we didn’t find any other species on the other planets of our galaxy, and no other species ever came to Earth, so…” You shrug, trailing off.

“Well, how can you be certain there isn’t any other species on the neighboring planets? Humanity has only been to the moon, right?” Ellery argues.

“Nah, we’ve got some rovers exploring Mars.” You refute.

Ellery tilts his head, a small smirk on his lips. “That’s only one planet.”

“There’s no way the other planets could support other life forms, they’re not liveable.”

“Not liveable for humans.”

“Okay, seriously, you’re freaking me out.” You scooch a few inches away from him, and Ellery laughs.

“I’m just saying! Don’t be surprised when humans land their spaceship in the middle of a town of weird-looking monsters! You never know.” Ellery laughs when you softly hit his arm, dodging out of the way as he continues trying to freak you out.

???- A dark smile crosses ???’s features. “I’ll bet Roux and Allele were a huge scare for you, then? I’ll have to give it to the crazies on this one, at least they’d probably know how to handle it.”

You scoff. “I handled it! I’m not dead, am I?”

“By the skin of your teeth, darling. Are gods also an unbeknownst concept to humans? Don’t tell me you all believe you’re also the most powerful species in the universe.” ??? laughs.

You laugh to yourself. Oh, they have no idea. “Religion is… a controversial subject on Earth.”

???’s smile only grows. “So there are humans who believe their species is practically the gods of the universe. Goodness, your species is just a mess, isn’t it?”

You bark a laugh. “Please, have you seen mitans? They’re in an even worse state, just better at hiding it.”

??? looks around the city. “They seem fine to me.”

“Of course they do, everything in the world always seems fine when you never step outside your house to see it.” ??? shoots you a glare as you smile to yourself.

#aquarii #asks #liviana #amare #estelle #ellery #mystery ro #basically they’d all think it’s silly #bit hypocritical though #if they never discovered earth most of the ros would thinks it’s just mitans and virrians #except amare he’d be a conspiracy theorist

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starsstuddedsky · 2 years

Text

Struck by You (literally) - bonus!

wc: 824

a/n: i cannot end things without ridiculous amounts of fluff so hehe enjoy

Struck by You (literally) - full story

full masterlist

You sit down at the booth, grinning at Jihoon. He smiles back, leaning forward over the table close enough so that your noses are almost brushing against each other. He raises his head up, reaching his hand to brush his fingers along your forehead.

“There’s still a mark,” he says, laughing when you push him back. You fight the urge to feel your forehead, knowing the mark from the ball has been gone for a long time. You wonder if the waiter that comes to the table and hands you menus is the same one you had when you came here for the first time. You wonder if it is, what he would think of you and Jihoon now, realizing just how much you have changed. He has changed. Both of you have.

“Do you even remember what you had last time?” He asks, frowning at the menu.

You know the answer is no because you spent too much time staring at him the first time you ate a meal together, but you’re not going to give that to him yet. “You’re just saying that because you forgot.”

“Hey!” He says. “This was my idea!”

You shrug. “I just don’t think we can recreate our first date if you don’t know what you ordered.”

“This was not our first date,” he says, an old argument. You agreed that your anniversary was the first meal you had together, but Jihoon insisted your first date was the first time he officially asked you out, which was only because he cooked (or rather he attempted to) and had a picnic which was “much more romantic.”

“Then what did you order?”

You study the menu, sure that you will remember it when you see it. You frown. “Maybe they changed the menu.”

“Just say you don’t know either,” he says but he’s smiling. You still haven’t left the honeymoon phase of arguments.

“Fine, I don’t know,” you say. “See how easy that is?”

The waiter stops him from answering and you both end up choosing something random. You don’t tell Jihoon that it’s the second time you’ve done that here.

“That’s why I love you,” he says. “Unlike some people, you can admit when you’re wrong.”

“I know you mean Soonyoung, and you really need to give it up because you are just as bad.” You pause. “Wait, what did you say?”

“I love you.” When he confessed for the first time, your brain had short circuited. You think that’s what’s happening again but a warm feeling is spreading through you, the same feeling that you always got when he brought you takeout at eleven at night, or called you after practice just to hear his voice, or let you be clingy even though he didn’t like hugs. You’ve known its name for a long time now, which is why it’s unfair that he has beaten you to it again.

“You’re not fair,” you say. He frowns, clearly not expecting the conversation to go this way.

“It’s not fair that I love you?”

“I was going to say it first!” you say. “I had a whole speech planned with an itemized list of why you are so loveable.”

“You can still say it,” he says.

“It’s not the same,” you say. “It’s not as romantic.”

“Well, I love you,” he says again. “So I’m sorry.”

You pick up his hand, lacing your fingers together. “I love you, too.”

“I’m not sure I believe you, I think I need a… what was it, an itemized list?”

“I regret telling you that,” you say, burying your face in your arm. His free hand pats you on the head.

“You are very cute,” he says. “But you need to sit up because our food is here.” You groan as he lets go of your hand, sitting up and thanking the waiter when he slides a plate of steaming food in front of you. You take your first bite and frown. You think maybe it was just the first bite but the second spoonful is just as bad.

“Is it just me or is this…” Jihoon pauses.

“Really terrible, right?” you say.

He nods quickly. “Yeah this is sort of awful.”

“I remember it tasting really good,” you say and he nods again. You stare at the food again, then back at Jihoon and can’t help but laugh.

You wonder how lucky you are to have this boy, frowning and attempting another spoonful. Since you started dating, you have learned a lot about him, good and bad. He could be stubborn, he liked to tease you, he was busy all the time, and his taste in music was exclusively limited to about four artists. But he was your Jihoon and he never let you forget it.

“I love you,” you say, grabbing his hand again. “But I cannot eat this.”

He drops his fork. “Yeah me neither, we should probably just go.”

#🌟 stars galaxy #seventeen #seventeen x reader #svt #svt reader #seventeen fanfic #seventeen fanfiction #seventeen fluff #woozi #lee jihoon #reader x woozi #reader x jihoon #woozi fluff

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accidentalmistress · 10 months

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Accidental Mistress - This Feeling

Apologies for being a day late, but the fic is finally here. This one follows directly after the events of Broken, so it might be a good idea to read that first if you haven't.

(For more Accidental Mistress content, check out the Master Post.)

Title: This Feeling

Word Count: 8,531

Content and Warnings: snz (F, N-B, mention of male snz), illness, caretaking

In which Oraion must learn to adapt to a situation he's never experienced in his long life - being responsible for a sick human.

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Even without looking, he could feel those golden eyes boring into him. He always hated that unnerving, probing gaze that seemed to strip him bare despite the layers of his robes, so he kept his gaze ahead as they walked and he tried to process the words being spoken to him.

"I am sorry. It brings me no pleasure to bear this news. I know how much you care for her."

He took a breath and attempted, with great effort, to keep his voice calm.

"There has to be another way."

"Oraion." The man placed a firm hand on his arm, stopping him, but his tone softened a moment later. "There is not. Believe me, I have done everything within my power to find another path, but… there is none. The process has already begun; her fate cannot be changed. Not even by me. One way or another, she will die—"

He shut his own eyes. "No—!"

"Nothing can change that now. The only thing we can do is to ensure that it happens while she is still herself." He sighed and his touch vanished from Oraion’s arm. “I… would like to offer you the opportunity. I understand if you cannot do it, but it seemed wrong not to ask you first.”

At last Oraion turned to the man beside him, the absurdity of those words drawing him to seek some hint of alternate meaning in the other’s face. He shuddered when those eyes met his, unable to suppress the motion. One look told him everything he needed to know.

"You want me to…? Are you seriously asking me to kill her?!"

"I am not going to force you. We will find another to—"

"No! I do not wish for her to die!"

The other man lifted his chin, those horrible eyes growing narrow and cold.

"I believe I made it clear that you do not have a say in the matter. The only reason you and I are even having this conversation is out of respect for your aeons of faithful service. Her sacrifice will forestall disaster and spare countless lives. Surely you understand that. I do not make this decision lightly, but the needs of the many must outweigh the needs of the few. Or do you intend to oppose the will of the gods?"

Oraion awoke.

Morning. He reached a hand up to his face and traced a lingering trail of wetness with his fingers.

"... a memory?"

It had been quite some time since he had dreamed of that day, and longer still back to the time it had occurred. Ages ago, literally.

As he sat up in bed and cast about with bleary eyes, the demon realized he was not in his own room, but Noelle’s. A moment later the events of the previous evening came rushing back to him in a fresh torrent of emotion and flashes of memory. Noelle coming home bloody and bruised, her breakdown in the front hall, the bath he had given her, tucking her into bed, brewing her the tea that lulled her to sleep, and then…

He couldn’t tell her what he’d done. She didn’t want him to seek retribution for her. Yet old habits died hard, it seemed. Besides, he hadn’t killed the young men who had beaten her—he only visited upon them the same level of pain they had inflicted upon his Mistress. An eye for an eye, as they say.

His gaze fell upon her next to him in the bed, still fast asleep. She moaned a little and turned over, her expression tense. Oraion knew well that her sleep was often plagued by nightmares, but this morning her face was unusually flush. A lock of hair was plastered to her forehead with sweat, and as Oraion went to gently brush the hair out of her face he was surprised at how warm her skin felt. Her eyelids fluttered open and she blinked up at him.

“Mmh… Oraion?”

“Ah, sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you. Are you all right? You feel oddly warm.”

“Do I?” As she sat up, her chest spasmed with several harsh coughs. “Ugh, I hope I don't have a cold.”

“What? Are you… cold?”

Her brown eyes flicked to the side, hesitant. “Oh… Um, i-it’s nothing. I’ll be fine.”

She tried to get up out of the bed, wincing, and Oraion was on his feet and by her side in an instant. She gave him a sheepish smile.

“I guess I am a bit sore in a few places.”

“Your ankle—are you certain you should be walking on it?”

“It actually feels much better today, thanks to that bath. As long as I’m careful it’ll be all right.”

“Mistress, perhaps you should stay in bed and rest…”

Noelle grimaced and shook her head. “I can’t just lie around all day; I’ll only feel like a bother, and I’ve had quite enough of that. Really, I’m fine, Oraion…”

A sort of distracted look came over her face before she suddenly put her hands over her nose and mouth as her eyes squeezed shut.

“Ishoo! Ishoo! Oh gosh…”

Despite his concern, Oraion couldn’t help but think how cute she was when she sneezed. Gods, she really was rubbing off on him, wasn’t she? Well, his only real experience with sneezing had thus far been in an almost entirely sexual context, so could anyone really blame him for the association?

“Bless you, dear. You were sneezing last night, too.”

She sniffled as her cheeks turned a bit pink. “I-I know. I, uh… It- It was so chilly out last night, y-you know? I, um, guess it got me a bit sniffly.”

Oraion pursed his lips. He had the distinct feeling that Noelle was hiding something, but what it could possibly be, he had no idea. After her ordeal last night, however, he was reluctant to press the issue. Surely she would open up to him when she was ready.

“Is there anything I can do for you, then?”

“Um… Would you make me some more tea? If you don’t mind. I think I’ll just go wash up a bit—I’m so sweaty.”

Oraion nodded, glad to have a clear task to focus on. He made his way down to the kitchen and set about preparing the tea. He was embarrassed to admit it, but it occurred that he should probably learn to make proper food. He’d never needed to, not before he was a Demon Lord, and certainly not since. It always felt beneath him, but whenever he watched Noelle do it there seemed to be a sort of simple joy in it that he’d never bothered to take notice of before. More memories of the previous night came back to him.

“You could always, um, stay here with me. We can just… live like this.”

Could he actually stay here with her? Live like a mortal with her until…

Until she died.

Death. It was what made mortals mortal. It would happen to her one day, hopefully many years from now, but it would happen all the same. So many years had already passed Oraion by; the span of a mortal life was but a fraction of his own. Was he really going to put himself through the pain of staying with her, only to lose her when her time ran out? What was he thinking? He wasn’t thinking, he was letting his emotions rule him, just as he had back then.

Oraion closed his eyes and sighed. How had he gotten in so deep in a single year? Was it this contract that bound him to her? Was it influencing his mind? Making him care for her? Or were these feelings real? Did he… love her? Gods, it had certainly felt like it the night before.

He could still feel the heat of rage that seethed just below the surface, even after giving those thugs the thrashing they deserved. He knew, though, that much of the rage that remained was self-directed. He had failed to protect her, ostensibly his most important duty as her Servant, a role he had come to accept, even enjoy. At first he only felt distaste towards the very idea of being anyone’s “servant”, but Noelle never treated him like an inferior, never enforced a typical Master/Servant relationship. She had always treated him as an equal, a partner…

How did she feel about him? Did she harbor similar feelings as he did?

The demon took both hands and rubbed them up and down his face with a groan.

“Ugh… fuck. I really need to get a grip on myself and make this damned tea instead of having an existential crisis in the kitchen.”

Once the drink was ready, he carried it carefully upstairs. Noelle wasn’t back in her room yet, so he set the tea down next to the bed. Should he check on her? Or was he being overprotective? Caring for her had felt so natural last night, but now he couldn’t help but second-guess his every move. He’d certainly done an excellent job of confusing himself, that was the only thing he was certain about at this point.

He approached the bathroom door and stood outside it for a moment, hesitating, before he steeled himself and rapped on the door.

“Mistress? Are you all right?”

No answer, only the sound of running water. He knocked again.

“… Mistress?”

When silence remained the only answer he grabbed the handle and opened the door, anxiety snaking through his stomach before it dropped as though it fell through the entire tower.

Noelle was lying on the floor, unmoving.

Oraion didn’t even remember crossing the distance before he was at her side, cradling her in his arms.

“Noelle?!”

He lifted her off the floor and carried her to the bedroom, placing her gently on the bed before checking her over. She was breathing and he could sense her heartbeat, but she remained senseless no matter how many times he called her name. Her body felt even hotter than it had before, like she was burning up.

Wait, was this what humans called a “fever”? Her odd behavior, the sneezing and coughing, it all clicked into place.

Noelle was sick.

Oraion racked his brain, trying to remember anything he knew about human illnesses. It had been so long since he’d needed to concern himself with such things, though—at least a thousand years, if not more. Sickness had not even occurred to him as a possibility. What was a simple fact of life for humans was a foreign concept to demons, who were no more familiar with getting sick than they were with growing old: it simply did not happen.

He vaguely recalled something about humans becoming ill if you left them cold and wet for too long. Noelle had been awfully cold when she’d arrived home, and her clothes were soaked through. Was that what she meant when she said she might “have a cold”? Another reason those hooligans deserved what they’d gotten. It was their fault his Mistress was now ill.

Let’s see, what do I know about fevers…? There was that one village back in Shinchuro Province, about three thousand years ago, I think. A fever swept through and they begged for a cure because so many were dying.

He looked back to Noelle with renewed alarm. Were fevers really so deadly to humans? He began to pace, his tail lashing. Had he his full power, he could cure her in an instant with but a touch, but now… His hands balled into fists, enraged at his own impotence. He was only just beginning to untangle his own feelings for her—would the gods really take her from him now? Hadn’t he suffered enough for them?

No, there had to be something he could do. She’d only just fallen ill, so perhaps there was a way to stop the disease from progressing before it was too late. How was he supposed to figure out what that was, though? Most of Oraion’s knowledge of healing herbs was related to their properties on wounds and other physical injuries, not illnesses. Was there anyone he could turn to for help?

His pacing came to an abrupt stop. There was one person he could think of…

* * *

“Hyah!”

Metal bit into wood with a thunk as sword struck training dummy, shaving a chunk off of what would have been an actual person’s shoulder. Quinns wiped a sleeve across their brow: even in the crisp air of an autumn morning they were working up quite a sweat. A number of other members of the Knights honed their skills on other wooden or straw opponents and sparred against each other. Quinns stepped back and shook their shoulders loose, lining up for another go. A shoulder shot wouldn’t take down a truly dangerous opponent. They needed to do better.

They tightened their grip on their sword, assumed a fighting stance, pushed off with their back foot, and—

“Quinns!”

“Hhhgk?!”

Their strike went wide, missing the training dummy altogether. They stumbled as their sword met nothing but empty air, their shoulder protesting as they bounced off the training dummy and fell backwards, landing on their backside.

“Whoa! You okay there, Shaw?”

They heard several snickers and felt everyone’s eyes on them as they climbed back to their feet. The guy who’d called out to them wore a grin they dearly wished they could wipe off his smug face. Instead they took a deep breath and kept their voice even as they wiped the dirt off their uniform.

“I’m fine. Just lost my footing. I’m taking a break.”

Without another word Quinns sheathed their sword and went off to the side of the training grounds before sitting on a low wall.

“What the hell was that? It almost sounded like—”

“Like Oraion? Yes, hello, it is me.”

Quinns blinked as their mouth dropped open, barely stopping themself from swearing aloud.

“What. The. Fuck. Are you seriously inside my fucking head?!”

“Mm, yes and no. I’m not in your head to the point where I can read your thoughts or anything, but I am speaking directly into your mind.”

“What?! Why? HOW?”

“With great effort, and it’s only working because you’re relatively close by. Now, I don’t have time for a lesson in psionics: I need your help.”

“... What did you do now?”

“Nothing! Why do you always—? Ugh, never mind. Listen: Noelle is sick, and… I don’t know what to do.”

“Sick? Sick how?”

“I, uh, I think she has a fever? Her body is very warm. She said it wasn’t anything serious, but then she fainted. That’s- That’s not normal, right? I mean, is she going to wake up? What if she doesn’t? I-I don’t know anything about caring for sick humans. What if I do something wrong and make things worse? Gods, I can't even cook! I—”

“Whoa, slow down. Does she have any other symptoms?”

“Er, she was sneezing and coughing a bit last night and this morning.”

“Okay. Yes, it is a little concerning that she fainted, but it might just be a cold.”

“Yes, yes, she said that as well, but I don’t know what that is!”

“Oh… Uh, a cold is a pretty minor disease that humans get. It usually affects the nose and throat—coughing, sneezing, runny nose, sore throat, that kind of thing. It’s kind of like if you had an allergy attack for a week straight, and you were also tired and achy. It’s not fun, but it usually resolves itself on its own, and it’s rarely serious.”

“Then… she’s not dying?”

Quinns did not exactly trust Noelle’s pet demon, but there was no mistaking the note of hope and relief that colored his pseudo-voice in Quinns’s head. Maybe he wasn’t all bad…

“I doubt it. If she’s got a fever and she’s sweating a lot, then she might be dehydrated on top of feeling sick, so that may be why she passed out. Make sure she gets some water when she wakes up. If she doesn’t wake up after a few minutes, though…” They chewed on their bottom lip as several trains of thought fought for dominance in their mind. “Give me some time to get ready, and then I’ll come over to help. I’ll bring some medicine and food.”

They heard Oraion sigh in their mind, which was thoroughly weird.

“Thank you, Quinns. I don’t—”

“I’m not doing this for you. I’m doing it for Noelle.”

“I know, but still… Thank you.”

“Yeah, yeah. Just get out of my head already, would you? I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

“Very well.”

Quinns waited for a few seconds but didn’t hear anything else in their head. Had the demon actually gone?

“... You still there?”

When no response came, there was a moment where Quinns wondered if they had just hallucinated the entire conversation. Noelle’s tower was several miles away—was Oraion actually able to find where Quinns was and speak to them over that distance?

They shook their head in an effort to clear it. If they dismissed Oraion’s message as a trick or hallucination, and Noelle really was in trouble, then they’d be abandoning their friend when she needed them most. If they showed up at her tower and nothing was amiss, then they could figure out what was actually going on after they knew Noelle was safe. They had to assume it was real, and that Noelle needed their help.

They made a stop at their personal quarters for the medicine—a trip to the infirmary could raise too many questions about what they needed the medicine for. Unlike the Order, the Knights of the Midnight Falcon recruited on a volunteer basis, which meant that the number of healers in their ranks was never consistent. Add to that the fact that most Knights were, like Quinns, knights errant, and the chances of a healer who could prepare medicines being at headquarters were middling at best. As such, medical supplies were carefully rationed and kept track of.

Food they could procure more easily and with fewer questions, so they went to the kitchen and started loading a basket with supplies for making soup. They may not be the best cook, but they could make some simple dishes. That was leagues better than Oraion, who even went so far as to admit he couldn't cook. Besides, how hard could soup be? You just threw a bunch of stuff into boiling water and let it sit for a while, right? Quinns grabbed some fresh meat and a bunch of different vegetables. Spices they could get from Noelle’s pantry—she always kept that well-stocked since she used the herbs for both cooking and magic.

“Oh, hey Quinns! What’re you up to?”

Quinns swore internally. There could not be a worse time for this. They blew out a breath and spoke without turning around as they tucked the last of the ingredients into the basket and covered it.

“Hey Ollie. Just grabbing a few things. I’ll be out of your way in a minute.”

“Oh, don’t worry, you’re not in my way. I was just gonna get something to eat.” He let out a warm chuckle. “I kinda overslept and, uh, missed breakfast with everyone.”

“I see. Well, I’ll leave you to it then. I have some things to take care of—”

Quinns picked up the basket and turned around to find Oliver standing right behind them. For being such a big klutz he sure moved as quietly as a cat sometimes. Quinns took a step back with a start.

“Oh, right, sorry.” Oliver rubbed the back of his neck with an apologetic smile and took a step back of his own. Oliver Dietrich had a fluffy, orange cat tail that swayed behind him, while the orange-furred ears that poked out of his light blonde hair flicked. “I forget you’re allergic to me sometimes.”

“N-no, it’s, uh, it’s fine… Well, I gotta go, so, uh…”

Even having taken a step back, Oliver was still blocking Quinns from leaving the kitchen. The younger Knight showed no indication of moving out of the way, either, and instead tilted his head to one side.

“What’s the basket for? Are you having a picnic?”

“What? No, I’m just… getting some ingredients for something.”

“For what?”

“Look, it’s nothing, okay? Can I please leave?”

Oliver crossed his arms and didn’t budge. “Well, is it something or nothing?”

“Nothing! It’s nothing. I don’t have time for this, Ollie!”

“If it’s nothing, then it shouldn’t be a problem for me to see, right? So show me what’s in the basket.”

“No.”

“Show me or I’ll hug you.”

Quinns physically recoiled. They were already starting to feel itchy just being this close to him.

“What?!”

“Kidding! I’m kidding! Sorry, it’s just- agh, I’m so curious! Can’t I see what you have? Or at least tell me what you’re making! Pleeease?”

With his pleading eyes and the way his tail lashed, Oliver gave Quinns the impression of an excitable golden retriever rather than a cat.

“Oh my gods, will you go away if I do?”

“Yes! On my honor as a Knight!”

Quinns sighed and opened the basket, showing Oliver the contents. “Fine. I’m making soup, okay?”

The time Oliver spent staring silently into the basket with his brow furrowed started to border on uncomfortable.

“Uh… Can I go now?”

“You said you’re making soup?”

“Yeah. You got a problem with that?”

“No, no, it’s just that…” He looked like he was struggling with some sort of internal dilemma. Or maybe he had indigestion. “Well, um, you’re not gonna be able to make a very good soup with this stuff.”

Quinns blinked. “Huh?”

“You’ve only got chicken breast meat: you should really have a whole carcass if you want to get a flavorful broth. You need the bones and stuff. And these beans should really be soaked overnight before you cook them. You’d do better with rice or pasta as a starch if you’re planning to make and serve the soup right away. You’ve got some good veggies, but if you put them all in at the same time you’re either gonna end up with half of them undercooked or half of them cooked into oblivion.”

For a few moments Quinns just stood there, stunned, but then they froze up for a different reason.

“Uh… Quinns?”

Damn it, this always happened. They couldn’t move or speak, they just had to wait until—

“Etchoo!”

“Oh no! I’m sorry! I got too close!” Oliver finally backed off to the other side of the kitchen with a guilty look. His tanned skin gained an embarrassed flush.

“Whatever. -snf- It’s fine… I, uh, I didn’t know you knew how to cook.”

“Oh, yeah. I have a bunch of younger brothers and sisters, and both my parents work a lot, so I often cooked for everybody. Soup is a great way to feed a crowd: it’s warm and comforting, and you can really stretch it with the right ingredients. And whenever somebody got sick, I always made ‘em chicken soup.”

Quinns frowned. Oliver was a little naive, impulsive, clumsy, dense, and irresponsible… but he wasn’t a bad guy. In fact, Oliver was quite possibly the kindest person Quinns knew in the Knights. For all of his faults, he was also loyal and surprisingly discreet, a fact that Quinns had recently discovered after Oliver had walked in on them in the shower.

“Hey, Ollie… Can I tell you something?”

* * *

It wasn’t long after Oraion finished speaking with Quinns that Noelle stirred. In all she'd been unconscious for perhaps a couple of minutes, but to the demon it felt like centuries may well have passed.

“Oh no… I fainted didn’t I?”

Oraion sat on the edge of the bed and took her hand in his as he softly brushed a lock of hair behind her ear.

“Yes. I came upstairs and found you lying on the floor of the bath.”

She grimaced. “I’m sorry. I must have worried you.”

“It did give me a bit of a fright, yes.”

“I-I’m not sure what happened. I was just running some hot water to wash up, but then I, um, started to feel dizzy. Maybe- Maybe it was the steam?”

Trying to hide it, even now? Oraion shook his head with a little sigh before looking Noelle in the eye. “Why didn’t you tell me you were ill?”

She gave a guilty start and looked away, her voice going quiet.

“I… I didn’t want you to worry even more than you already have… but I suppose it’s too late for that. I’m sorry.”

“Mistress…” Oraion leaned forward to kiss her forehead. “Taking care of you is never a bother for me, all right?”

“A-all right…”

When he leaned back, it was difficult to tell if the red in her face was from blushing or fever. A slight smirk graced his lips, then he lifted a hand and snapped his fingers. A cup with water appeared on the bedside table.

“Here. Quinns said you might be dehydrated, so you should drink some water now that you’re awake.”

She took the cup from his hand and propped herself up enough to take a few sips. “Oh, thank you… Wait, Quinns is here?”

“Ah, no, not yet. But they’ll be on their way soon.”

“Then… how did you talk to them already?”

“Oh, I spoke to them telepathically. When you collapsed, I…” He looked away and swallowed something harsh in his throat. “I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t understand what was happening. I don’t know how to care for a sick human. I-I didn’t even realize you were sick until that point. I’m sorry, I should have asked you to explain what was wrong, but after last night… I thought it best not to press you.” He took another shaky breath and cleared his throat. “Anyway, I knew that I needed help, and Quinns was the only person I could think of, so I reached out to them through their mind. Fortunately they were close enough for me to reach.”

“Telepathy… You can do that?”

He looked back at his Mistress—even in her sickbed, her eyes were sparkling with interest at the prospect of learning something new. Another smile tugged his lips, one that held more warmth than he’d felt all day.

“Not easily and not for long. Not as I am now, anyway. It takes a lot of energy to maintain, especially in the Mortal Realm.”

“Why is that?”

“Mm, because there’s less ambient mana around, I think. In the Demon Realm, damn near everything is magic to one degree or another. So if you need power, you simply snatch it out of the air or the ground or what have you and shape it to your will. Here, there is far less of that energy around, so I need to rely mostly on my own reserves and whatever I can find to supplement that. Of course, my power is not insignificant, so it is sufficient for most workings, but truthfully the lack of mana within the Mortal Realm puts me at a fraction of my power, even without this damned collar.”

“Can you teach me how to use telepathy?”

“Heh. Maybe.” He took the cup of water from her and picked up the tea he had brought up earlier. “How about this: if you’re a good girl and drink your tea, I’ll start teaching you about it.”

“Ooh, I like this bargain.” She sat up further, wincing, and put a hand to her forehead. “Ugh…”

He leaned in, as though a magnet drew him to her. “What is it? Does it hurt anywhere?”

“No, no. I’m only a bit dizzy. Just, um, give me a moment.”

Oraion reached out with his free hand and touched her arm to steady her.

“Take as much time as you need. I’m right here.”

“Thanks, Oraion. I—”

She was cut off by a series of hacking coughs, crackly and phlegmy things that made him wince to hear.

“Oh, I-I’m sorry- I- uh-oh… eh-hishoo! ehshoo! Ugh, oh gosh, I’m so sorry Oraion. -sniff- I-I don’t want to get you sick. Maybe- maybe you, um, shouldn’t stay in here.”

“Oh, nonsense. Demons don’t get sick.”

She looked doubtful. “Are you sure?”

He smiled and handed her the tea. “Mistress, I am very, very old, and I have never once in my life come down with an illness. I don’t think I’m going to start now.”

Noelle looked down into the teacup, concern still writ on her face. “But… you’d never had allergies before either. How do we know for certain that you can’t, um, can’t get s-sick now too? eh-hishiih!”

Her sneezes made her hair fall forward again, so Oraion reached out and tucked it behind her ear once more. “I think you’re worrying too much, my dear Mistress, though I appreciate your concern. I will be fine, I promise.”

“Okay…” Noelle sighed and took a sip of the tea, then made a face. “Oh, it’s so bitter!”

“Right, sorry,” Oraion chuckled, “I ought to have warned you first. This blend is a little more medicinal, I’m afraid. I may not know much about human illnesses, but I do know some herbs that fight inflammation and have astringent properties, so I thought that might help. The only thing is that they are rather bitter.”

“Blech, what is in it?”

“Well, the base is black tea, then I added witch hazel, turmeric, yarrow, and, uh, lavender.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I must have sneezed a dozen times while making it, I’ll have you know.”

Noelle’s cheeks reddened considerably as she lifted the cup to her lips like she was hiding behind it. “Oh, I, um… thank you.”

Gods, she was adorable when she blushed. Oraion leaned in towards her with a smirk.

“Bet you’re sad you missed that, eh?”

Her cheeks grew even redder. “Um, m-maybe.”

“Heh. Well, next time you’ll just have to come watch me.” He gave her another quick kiss on the forehead before sitting back up. “The black tea already has a bit of bitterness, and the witch hazel and yarrow are both bitter herbs as well. Don’t force yourself to finish it if you don’t want to.”

“But I have to! I want you to teach me about telepathy!”

Oraion barked a laugh. “I only said you had to drink it, I never said you had to finish it.”

“Oh… um, I still want to, though. You made it for me, so…” Suddenly she waved a hand in front of her face. “Uh, s-sorry, I need to- nx’kishiu! Ugh, ow…”

Concern drew his brows together. “That sounded like it hurt.”

Noelle nodded with a hand on her throat. “My throat is getting sore. Ugh, that’s always the thing I hate most about being sick.”

“Hmm. I’ll see if I can figure out a remedy that might help.”

“Thank you.” Noelle pulled the blankets closer around herself with a shiver. “My, it’s chilly, isn’t it?”

“Er, I honestly find it quite pleasant. Is this why you call it a ‘cold’? Because it makes you feel cold?”

Noelle laughed. “Ah, no, you don’t always feel cold when you have a cold. Sometimes it’s unbearably hot. Right now, though, I’m freezing…” She looked down shyly as her cheeks got red again. “Um… do you think… you could hold me?”

With a gentle smile Oraion took the teacup from her shaking hands and placed it on the bedside table, then he climbed into the bed behind her and pulled her in close. Her body still felt so warm, poor thing. She snuggled into him, her back spasming against his chest with more wet coughs followed by another painful-sounding sneeze. He rubbed her shoulder as she whimpered from the abuse to her raw throat.

Even so, before long she had fallen asleep. Being ill must be awfully tiring, Oraion surmised. Her slumber seemed more restful now, at least. The demon carefully slipped out of the bed and headed back down to the ground level to wait for Quinns.

He was not surprised that they did not knock when they arrived. Quinns was never in the habit of doing so when they visited. What did surprise Oraion, however, was that the Knight had brought a new face with them. Behind Noelle’s slim, androgynous friend came a taller, broader fellow with tanned skin and an innocent bearing, as well as the orange-furred ears and tail of a cat. Quinns knew that Noelle wanted to keep the location of her tower a secret, so why was this unknown person, who also wore the uniform of a Knight, here in the first place?

Wary indignation smoldered in Oraion’s chest as he crossed his arms and straightened to his full height. “Who is this?”

The cat boy looked at him with wide eyes, which Oraion noted were of different colors: one gold, one greenish-blue.

“Whoa. Is that the guy?”

“Yeah. Oraion, this is a friend of mine, Oliver. Oliver, this is Oraion, the demon I told you about.”

“Wow, he is really hot…”

Oraion raised an eyebrow as Quinns’s cheeks colored.

“I didn’t say—! Ugh, whatever. Look, he’s trustworthy, okay?”

“Are you saying that to me or to him?” Oraion asked, making no attempt to hide his sarcasm.

“Both. We’re all going to have to get along right now. I know it was risky to bring someone else here, but Oliver is a good guy and he knows how to keep a secret. Most importantly, he can cook.”

Oliver’s face lit up in an excited grin. “Quinns said their witch friend is sick, so I’m gonna make soup!” He strolled up to Oraion as though they were already fast friends and held out his hand. The cat boy was only shorter than he was by a few inches. “They already told me you’re not bad guys, so it’s nice to meet you! I’m Oliver Dietrich, First-Rank Knight of the Midnight Falcon.”

Oraion looked down at the young man’s hand for several seconds before slowly reaching out to take it in his own. “You do know it’s usually your job to hunt creatures like myself, right?”

“Well, yeah, but it’s not always so black and white, y’know? It’s one thing when a Devourer is terrorizing a trade route, but you’re just here trying to live your life, right? You’re not hurting anybody. Far as I’m concerned, no one back at headquarters needs to know about you guys.”

“How do you know we haven’t hurt anyone? You’ve only just met me, and you haven’t even met my Mistress.”

He beamed. “Because you’re Quinns’s friends, of course! I trust them, so I know I can trust you.”

“I see. How… refreshingly forthright.”

Despite his mistrust of the newcomer, Oraion felt a twinge of guilt. Would the young Knight still think the same if he knew what Oraion had done to those men from the village only the previous night? Even if they deserved it…

“Oh hey, you have a tail too! All right, welcome to the Tail Club! Man, yours is way bigger than mine.”

Quinns pinched the bridge of their nose, and Oraion heard them mutter. “Oh my gods…” They then raised their voice to full volume. “Okay, I think that’s enough with the pleasantries. Where’s Noelle? Did she wake up?”

“She did, fortunately. Now she's resting in her room.”

They nodded and lifted a basket they carried. “I brought some medicine, so I’ll go ahead and take that up to her.”

Oraion stepped in front of them and held out a hand. “Allow me. You can show our new friend here to the kitchen.”

“Uh, why don’t you show him the kitchen? You live here, you know where everything is.”

Oraion’s eyebrow twitched. “Oh, it’s not very difficult to figure out. Besides, I hardly touch the cooking equipment, so I can’t say I really know my way around.”

A scowl crossed Quinns’s face. “Yeah, well, I know more about administering medicine than you, since you outright admitted that you don’t know how to care for sick people, so I should be the one to take it to her.”

Oraion took a step closer to them. “You know, it occurs to me that Noelle had only just fallen asleep when I left the room. We should probably let her rest. So, why don’t you just tell me how to use the medicine and leave it with me, and I’ll make sure she gets it when she wakes up.”

Quinns stepped closer in turn. “Now listen: Oliver and I came all this way to—” They cut off suddenly mid-sentence and looked around the room with an expression of mild but increasing alarm. “Uh… Where’s Oliver?”

* * *

Elegant music swept through a pillared hall lit by glimmering crystal chandeliers. Dancers in splendid finery spun and twirled in time with the tune. Usually Noelle would feel out of place at such a lavish event, but now she was dressed in an exquisite gown of blush pink, the full skirt trailing behind her in a train embroidered with hundreds of flowers. The trailing sleeves hung off her bare shoulders, and, with the plunging neckline, created the perfect canvas for showing off her beautiful necklace of sparkling diamonds. Her hair was done up in perfect ringlets instead of her usual messy curls, set with a glittering hairpiece. She felt just like a princess, and lo: there, on the balcony that overlooked the dance floor, stood the Prince.

He gazed out over the hall of dancers with crimson eyes, his blood red hair pulled back in a high ponytail that trailed past his shoulders. He was just as she imagined him, dressed in a fine coat of burgundy and gold over a lovely silk shirt and vest in ivory. As though drawn by some unknown force, his alluring eyes turned to her, locking with her own, and widened in amazement at her beauty. His full lips turned up in a radiant smile, and he extended his hand, beckoning her to come to him.

Elation filled her breast as she lifted her skirt and crossed the hall of dancers, still spinning and twirling like so many clockwork dolls. She began to ascend the stairs to the balcony where the Prince awaited her, when her path was abruptly blocked by a large, orange cat. It regarded her with strange eyes of different colors, one a sort of teal and the other yellow, as it lashed its fluffy tail at her. The motion snared her attention. That tail looked awfully soft and fluffy…

She reached out and touched the cat’s tail, running her fingers through its fur, which to her delight was just as soft as she’d hoped. There was something she was supposed to be doing, wasn’t there? The cat was so soft and warm, though.

“Um, it’s nice to meet you and all, but could you let go of my tail?”

“Huh?”

Did the cat just talk to her?

“I-it’s just that it’s kind of, uh, sensitive…?”

Noelle blinked her sleep-gummed eyes as the vision of the ballroom faded away, to be replaced by the far more ordinary sight of her bedroom, bathed in the sunlight of early afternoon. What was not ordinary, however, was the strange young man in Knight attire standing next to her bed with a bright red blush on his cheeks. Indeed, he did have cat ears and a fluffy, orange tail attached to him as well, the latter of which was currently clutched in her hand.

She shrieked and dropped the man’s tail before crawling as far back as she could in the bed without falling on the floor.

“Wh-who are you?! Wh-what– What are you doing in my bedroom?!”

“Oliver!”

Quinns came bursting into the room with Oraion fast at their heels. The demon grabbed the cat-eared man by the shoulder and wrenched him away from the side of Noelle’s bed with a snarl before placing himself between them. He even went so far as to spread his wings.

“What the Hell do you think you’re doing, coming in here?”

“I-I’m sorry! I just- I wanted to- to check on her! That’s all, I swear!”

“Damn it, Ollie! Why did you go off on your own?” Quinns stepped in front of him, Oliver apparently, and guided him back another step a bit more gently than Oraion had. Their voice, though quieter, was no less irate, however. “I took a big risk bringing you here, and I vouched for you. Do you know how this makes me look?”

“I said I’m sorry! I-I promise I wasn’t gonna do anything bad! I was just…” He sighed. “I was really, really curious. I’ve never met a witch before, and… Well, then you two started arguing about who was gonna come up with the medicine, and I figured, y’know, somebody should go check on her. Besides, I… I didn’t wanna lose my chance.”

Quinns made an exasperated sound. “Lose your chance? What are you– Wait, do you mean to meet Noelle? Why would that even happen?”

“I-I don’t know… If you didn’t get to bring the medicine up, I guess I thought… maybe I wouldn’t get to come up either.” He looked down at the floor and scuffed it with the toe of his boot, cat ears drooping. “I’m so, so sorry. I know it was a stupid thing to do.”

“You certainly have the right of it there, Cat Boy,” Oraion snapped as his wings folded and vanished once more, “Now get out, before I throw you out.”

Quinns held up a hand. “All right, calm down. He didn’t mean anything by it.”

“Oh, really? And how do you know he isn’t simply playing dumb? How do you know he hasn’t been planning all along to sneak up here for the chance to take out a witch?”

Oliver looked like he wanted to sink into the floor. Noelle recalled his appearance when she had first woken up, with his blushing face and the way he had politely asked her to let go of his tail.

“It’s all right, Oraion. I don’t think he was going to hurt me.”

Her Servant turned to her with an incredulous look.

“You can’t be serious. You’re all right with a man barging into your bedroom like that?”

“Well, n-no, but he apologized, and, um, I believe he’s sincere. I would appreciate it, though, if someone could explain to me what he’s doing here.”

“I brought him, Noelle.” Quinns took a step towards her with an apologetic look. “I’m so sorry—I know you don’t want people to know where you live, but I swear, all of this nonsense aside, Oliver really is a good guy. He’s just… a little naive and impulsive sometimes. I brought him along because, um, I really wanted to bring you some soup, but… I-I don’t know how to make it, and… he does.”

With all of them crowded in her bedroom, and between Quinns looking chagrined, Oraion’s incensed protectiveness, and Oliver’s crestfallen, drooping cat ears and tail, Noelle couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity of it all. Of course that just led her to start coughing again.

“Oh, right, the medicine.” Quinns shoved the basket they were holding into Oliver’s arms. “Take this down to the ground floor and into the kitchen, okay? And wait for me there—don’t wander off again, please.”

The other Knight nodded. “Yeah, okay. I’ll see you down there. And, um, I’m sorry again, Miss Noelle. It was nice to meet you.”

“Er, likewise?” She gave him a little wave as Oliver left the room.

Quinns reached into their belt pouch and produced a little bundle wrapped in cloth, which they then handed to Oraion. The demon looked at the bundle in his hands as though he was not expecting to receive it.

“Here: these are the medicines. They were prepared by our own healers in the Knights, so they should be pretty effective. Go ahead and open it, and I’ll explain what each one is.”

“Ah. Right…”

As Oraion unwound the tie that held the wrappings in place, Quinns turned to Noelle.

“Noelle, you’ll probably want to listen to this too…” They squinted. “What happened to your lip?”

“Huh? Oh…” Her hand went to the split on her lip, which had scabbed over but was still rather swollen. “Um, I must have hurt it when I fell earlier.”

“Huh. I see…” They did not seem convinced, but they didn’t press the issue, to Noelle’s relief. They didn't need to know about the men who attacked her.

They instructed Oraion and Noelle on when and how each medicine was to be administered. There was a pill for fever that should be taken twice a day, morning and night; a tincture that would speed the healing process that could only be taken once per day or else it could cause unpleasant side effects as the body tried to heal itself too rapidly (the worst of which, Quinns explained with their usual grim decorum, was coughing up blood because your body produced too much). Lastly, there was an oil that could be applied to the neck and chest, which contained a number of pungent-smelling botanicals that worked to clear a stuffy head. One whiff immediately set Oraion sneezing, of course.

Once they had finished going over the medicines and ensured Noelle got her first doses, Quinns and Oraion both left her room and headed back down towards the first floor to meet up with Oliver.

“So…” Quinns spoke up from behind Oraion as they passed the library. “Do you want to tell me what happened to Noelle’s lip?”

Oraion’s hands briefly formed fists at his sides, the knuckles popping.

“Some loathsome bullies in town happened to her.”

Quinns voice rose in alarm. “What?”

Oraion sighed. “She went to town on her own. I know I should have accompanied her, but… I had something I needed to take care of here. When she returned, it was clear she’d been beaten, and she confirmed as much.”

“Did she say who it was? What they looked like?”

“No, but I…”

A moment of tense silence passed before Quinns spoke, their voice already turning accusatory. “You what?”

“I found them later.”

Quinns grabbed Oraion by the arm, stopping him.

“What do you mean you ‘found them’? What did you do?”

Oraion lifted his chin. “I didn’t kill them, if that’s what you’re asking. But I did ensure they would regret their actions.”

Quinns pressed their lips together and took a deep breath. “Look: I understand, and I don’t necessarily disagree with what you did, but please tell me that you did it in your human form and not looking like, well, a demon.”

Oraion wrenched his arm away. “I felt the message would be more effective if I used my true form. “

“Shit… Oraion, you…” They sighed. “I really, really hope that doesn’t come back to bite you in the ass, man. I truly do, because if the Inquisition gets wind of a demon around here, then there won’t be anything I, or anyone else, can do to stop them from coming looking for you.”

Oraion scoffed. “I think I can handle a few humans coming after us. Besides, you know how well-hidden this place is. They’ll be lucky to even find us here.”

“Yeah… Well. Let’s hope that’s true.”

They shook their head once and pushed past him on the stairs. With great effort, Oraion managed not to roll his eyes as he followed them down. Quinns worried overmuch at the best of times, and this was no exception. No mortal could stand against a Demon Lord. Let anyone try to harm his mistress again; they would be shown the error of their ways with swift and terrible judgment.

Once the soup had been prepared, Quinns had the good sense to escort themself and Oliver out, to the latter’s obvious disappointment. He was calling back to Oraion even as Quinns was pushing him out the door.

“Um, it was really nice to meet you! Thanks for having me over! A-and I really hope Miss Noelle feels better soon!”

The door closed behind them both with a heavy thud, and Oraion shook his head. Something was not right with that boy.

When he arrived back upstairs with a steaming bowl of soup, he found Noelle nodding off while sitting up in bed. Her head popped up with a start when she heard him enter, and Oraion couldn’t help but chuckle. She was too cute, with her flushed cheeks and slow, sleepy blinking.

“Oh, um, is that the soup?”

“It is.” Oraion placed the bowl down on the bedside table and flashed Noelle a smirk. “Shall I feed it to you?”

The deepening of her blush drew his smirk into a grin as she frantically waved her hands in front of her.

“Ah, n-no! No, no, no! That’s- that’s quite all right. I can, um, feed myself. Thank you.”

“Heh. As you wish.”

She must have been hungry, for though she started eating the soup slowly, she soon made short work of the rest. Oraion sat on the edge of the bed and watched her silently, resting his elbow on his knee and his chin on his hand. He must make time to study mortal diseases. Humans were such fragile creatures. This time it was a minor ailment, but what if one day she contracted a more serious affliction?

She finally noticed him looking and gave an awkward laugh.

“What, do I have something on my face?”

“No. I’m simply admiring how lovely you are.”

“Oh, stop it. I’m certain I look awful.”

“Never. You’re always lovely to me.”

She hid her face behind her hands with a sound that was part groan, part giggle.

“Stop! You’re making me blush!”

“I know. It’s delightful.”

“Ugh, you!”

Noelle gave him a little shove with another peal of laughter, which quickly turned into a fit of coughing. Oraion’s smug grin faltered, and he reached out to rub her back with an anxious touch.

“Oh, I’m sorry. Do you need anything? Is there anything I can do for you?”

“No- no, I- hh’kchiuh! htshhiuh! Ooh… I-I think I just need to rest.”

“Then… allow me to keep you company, at least.”

He climbed into bed next to her, enfolding her in his embrace and holding her tight against his chest. He buried his face in her hair and basked in her scent, in her closeness. Noelle Violette. His Mistress. He cared about her. He could admit that much. To himself, anyway. But whether that feeling was a result of their contract or genuine affection… He wasn’t certain, and he didn’t care. It didn’t matter. What mattered was that the woman in his arms made him happy, and he wanted to do everything in his power to do the same for her.

If that was love, well… perhaps that wouldn’t be so terrible, after all.

#accidental mistress #oraion the allergic incubus #noelle the awkward witch #knight errant quinns #cat boy ollie #snzblr #snz #snz kink #snz ocs #sneeze kink #snzfic #sickfic #snzfucker #snezblr

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rengokuswif3 · 2 years

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can u do a giyuu x reader where reader is a non demon slayer but a rich doctor and she decides to work in demon slayer corps after meeting giyuu . She was arranged married to giyuu by urokodaki but he fell in love with her the day they met and he introduced her to hashiras + uzui wives and they had different reactions( u decide the reactions ) and last night he got scolded by y/n bcoz he was reluctant to let her wear the uniform like of mitsuri but she didn't listen to his conservative and overprotective thinking and he agreed to and tried his best to change his thinking . One day he came very late from a dangerous mission injured and she was very worried . She took good care of him like washing his hair , feeding him the dinner and attending his injuries and cuddling him to sleep

A/N; I hope you don’t mind, but I kinda combined the first part and last part, since these were all kind of different prompts. So the reader is a doctor who works at the Butterfly Estate and nurses Tomioka back to health! Sorry this is pretty short

“Alright, do you have everything you need?” You asked your boyfriend as you handed him his sword and a small supply of food.

“I believe so.” He nodded as he shrugged his haori on, then took the sword and food from you and put them on his belt.

“I wish you didn’t have to go so far.” You sighed as you embraced him in a warm hug.

“Don’t worry, love, I won’t be long. 4 days at most.” He kissed you on the forehead and tucked some of your hair behind your ear as he pulled back slightly.

“Promise?”

“Promise.”

That was nearly a week ago. You tried to keep yourself busy with tending to patients at the Butterfly Estate and assisting Miss Shinobu, but you had this sinking feeling in your stomach that you couldn’t shake. Something was wrong, Giyu was always a quick worker. When he promised something he kept that promise to the best of his ability. You anxiously awaited a crow every night to tell you he had died, to tell you he wasn’t coming home, something. Shinobu noticed how worried you’d become, you’d even thrown up from nerves a few times. As a fellow Hashira, she knew Tomioka could take care of himself, but the amount of time he had been gone admittedly worried her as well.

But you had no time to dwell on it now as you heard a commotion downstairs, some of the girls yelling that they needed help with this patient. You ran downstairs along with Shinobu and a few of the workers. You heart felt like it shattered as soon as you stepped downstairs. Tomioka was unconscious with blood soaking his uniform and caked onto his skin, some workers holding him up to take him to get emergency care.

“GIYU!” You screamed and ran towards him, taking him from the workers grasp and holding him yourself. “Giyu?? Giyu wake up!” You shook him, adrenaline rushing through your veins as your heart pounded in your chest and tears streamed down your face.

“Y/N! Get out of here!” Shinobu pried you off of him.

“No! I need to help him!” You tried to shove her off you.

“You are in no condition to help! You cannot think rationally and critically right now! Girls! Take her somewhere else!”

“Yes Miss Shinobu!” Some workers and Aoi nodded.

“Aoi, wait, I have to help him!”

“You heard the lady, Y/N, she’s gonna take care of him and we’ll bring you to him once he’s stable.” Aoi said sternly, with far more maturity than any adult here.

They finally dragged you away, and you paced in your room as you waited for what seemed like hours. Your brain wouldn’t let you rest, it kept reminding you that your boyfriend was in critical condition and that he could be dead right now. You saw the sun set outside, and still no word on how Giyu was doing. Finally, you couldn’t take waiting anymore and ran out of your room, desperate to find your boyfriend. You saw the familiar butterfly haori, and quickly ran to her and grabbed her.

“WHERE IS HE? IS HE OKAY?” You yelled at her, angry that she didn’t let you help.

“He’s stable, I was just about to send for you.” She said calmly, not fazed at all by your outburst. She was used to people freaking out over their loved ones and she dealt with some crazy patients, so she understood why you were acting this way. “Follow me, alright?”

She led you down the hall, stopping at a room and opening the door for you, then shutting it to give you privacy. Giyu was fast asleep in one of the beds, hooked up to an IV, with bandages covering up nearly half his face, and his left arm in a cast. You slowly stepped towards him, as if the slightest sound would break him. He opened his eye that wasn’t covered by bandages, and felt relief wash over him when he saw it was you.

“Y/N…” he mumbled, still groggy from the fight.

“Giyu…what happened?” You stared at his beaten body. You had never seen him in this bad of shape before, even when he was just a trainee.

“The demon…was stronger than me.”

“I know that, how did it get this bad?” You asked as you sat beside him. He ignored your question, slowly holding your hand with his good arm.

“I’m sorry for breaking my promise.” He looked up at you, making you laugh. “What?”

“You’re worried about that right now?” You smiled at him, gently moving his hair out of his face. “Don’t apologize to me, I don’t need one. I’m just happy you’re alive.”

“Please forgive me. I won’t be able to rest easy if you don’t.” He insisted, gently squeezing your hand as hard as he could in this state.

“I forgive you.” You smiled, leaning down and pressing a soft kiss to his forehead. “Now, do you want any food or tea?”

“I just want you.” He mumbled sleepily. You smiled down at him before carefully lying down with him in the bed, making sure not to touch any of his injuries.

#also sorry I didn’t know how to end it😬#giyuu tomioka #giyu tomioka #giyuu tomioka x reader #giyu tomioka x reader #demon slayer x reader #demon slayer

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i-did-not-mean-to · 7 months

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Misty Mornings - Ori x OC

Ok, as this came a bit...fast...I've written something for my Calendar fic AU of last year :D

-> Calendar Fic 2022

-> Addition 1

-> Addition 2

Characters: Ori x OC

Words: 1 500

Warnings: sexual innuendo, transmasc Ori, social pressure, anxiety

Dotty shivered violently as a surge of cold air struck her naked skin mercilessly, and—with a disgruntled moan—she pried open one eye.

“Where do you think you’re going?” she hissed begrudgingly as she suddenly understood that it had been Ori’s attempt at slipping out of her bed unnoticed that had subjected her to the icy fingers of the misty morning air, blowing in through the half-open window. “And why is my window open?”

“I was just checking whether someone was in the courtyard,” Ori explained, giving her an indulgent smile and a fond pat on the cheek. “You and I, dearest Dotty, are not yet married. I cannot be seen sneaking out of your room.”

Another menacing growl escaped the sensual, pouty lips of his beloved.

“Dotty, darling,” he pleaded, and—drawn in by the flicker of hurt in her flashing eyes—he committed the grave mistake of sitting down on the edge of her bed once more.

Instantly, her soft arms wrapped around his waist and her warm mouth slid along the side of his throat beguilingly.

“Dotty, please,” he whispered as sticky heat started gathering between his thighs. “Do you so yearn to ruin your name?”

Had Ori been even just a tiny bit less honourable, he would have let himself be dragged back into the comfortable, secret heat of Dotty’s blankets. Nothing he had hitherto experienced compared to the feeling of having her crouch over his body, her fingers parting his flesh and her lips closing around his sensitive nipples, but he didn’t even want to think about that now, lest he be swayed after all.

He loved her. There was no doubt about that—indeed, it was because he loved her so much that he admittedly delayed approaching her father to beg for the right to court her.

Truth be told, Ori was still afraid that Dortha’s father would refuse—he didn’t know what he’d do if he were officially told that his most precious, painfully fragile hope was dead.

At the same time, he did not want to start his courtship with a lie.

“I do not understand why you are hesitating,” she mumbled into his hair, and his heart broke as he caught a sliver of that suffering she consistently and stubbornly tried to hide from him.

Of course, he thought, he was being despicably selfish, and she deserved so much better.

“I shall…” Ori fell silent again—he had made that promise once too often for her to believe him anymore, and he felt terrible about his own insecurities that kept him from claiming what mattered most to him in this life.

“I have something for you,” she then admitted softly. “Meet me at the ramparts after lunch?”

He nodded, gave her another deep kiss, and hoped that she could feel how desperately he loved her just by the way he always melted into her clutching embrace.

The hours went by slowly, and—more than once—he forgot where he had put down a specific tome or had to ask one of his colleagues to repeat what they had said because he had not been paying attention.

He wondered what it was that Dotty wanted to show him. A part of him was afraid that it was a letter, explaining that she had waited long enough for him to make a formal request for her hand, and he berated himself sharply for doubting the devotion and love of a woman who had clung to him so affectionately only this morning.

Another voice, sweet and tender, whispered of gifts and tokens that would force him to admit to the world that he and Dotty were more than just faithful friends.

Surely, the good people of Erebor must have noticed that they were seen together more often than was seemly or easily explainable, but—if they had doubts or misgivings—they never brought them up with either one of them.

When it was finally time for lunch, Ori had to admit that he had fallen behind on his work so much that he had to skip the meal if he wanted to meet Dotty without having too much of a bad conscience.

Thus it came to pass that he was wobbling, feeling faint and dizzy, to the ramparts to find her standing there, wreathed in a cloak of stubborn autumnal mist—his heart nearly stopped.

Dotty, for all her sunny, cheery words, was a creature made for foggy afternoons; she looked positively regal in her long, dark purple dress, overlooking the vast lands surrounding the Lonely Mountain, and Ori’s head started spinning even faster and more violently than before.

Before he could hail her, though, she caught sight of him and rushed into his arms.

“You look so very pale, my love,” she crooned, a worried hand pressing against his clammy brow. "Did you eat? I should have brought a sandwich.”

She bit her lip and returned to her previous spot—there, on the smooth stone, lay a wooden box which she eyed uncertainly now.

“Please do forgive me,” she whispered and sought his gaze with a pleading expression on her soft, gentle face. “I might have given away our plans by purchasing this.”

Cold sweat beaded along Ori’s spine, but he took the expertly made container willingly when she picked it up and handed it over.

If his fingers trembled on the latch, it was due to the lack of sustenance and not his all-consuming fear of unexpectedly losing Dotty, he told himself, but he had never been a very convincing liar.

Finally, he had fumbled open the lid and swung it back in a brusque, decisive movement.

On a shrine of dark velvet lay the most beautiful reproduction of a phallus he had ever seen—he gasped softly while she stared at him expectantly.

“Dotty,” he gasped incredulously even as his fingertips brushed reverently against the precious metal and the finely crafted leather straps. “What…”

“I thought,” she admitted in a hushed croak, “that if we were to get married, we’d want to try this as well. We don’t have to, of course, but I thought it would be worth a consideration.”

“You had this made to measure,” Ori mumbled, recognising the stamp of a renowned craftsman who had only recently arrived in Erebor from the Blue Mountains. “Is it for you or me?”

Shrugging, Dotty slung her arms around his waist and pressed a winning kiss onto his bearded cheek. “Either, the straps are adjustable. Do you like it?”

He was overwhelmed and exceedingly shocked by her brazen valour, but Ori could not deny that the mere sight of the implement made his heart clench with longing and his stomach roil with desire.

She wanted him. She wanted him so much that the thought of growing tired of his limitations had never even crossed her mind—no, Dotty had instead made provisions so they could explore, grow, and conquer together.

“Does your family know that you’ve commissioned this?” he asked, suddenly remembering her initial warning with a shudder of apprehension.

“Of course not,” she laughed. “But the craftsman does…I am afraid that you shall have to ask my dear father now, lest I really become the subject of vicious rumours.”

“Ask me what?” A burly dwarf came around the corner, carrying a cloak in the same rich colour as Dotty’s dress. “You’ve forgotten your coat—it’s too misty and cold for you to stand outside without it.”

Visibly taken aback, Dotty sauntered over and took it from him with a grateful kiss. Over her father’s shoulder, though, she sent Ori a flaming look of encouragement.

“Sir,” Ori said hastily, his voice breaking as he stumbled over that single word already. “I wanted to humbly ask whether I could be granted the immense honour of courting your daughter.”

“This here daughter? Dotty, The Menace?” the dwarf chuckled, clapping a broad, heavy hand onto the young dam’s shoulder. “I was afraid you’d never ask. She’s just silly enough to go let herself starve to death because of a broken heart.”

Snorting derisively, Dotty punched him in the ribs none too gently which didn’t seem to faze her parent in the least.

“Sir,” Ori said with a sigh. “There is something you need to know about me, however.”

“No,” Dotty’s father contradicted calmly. “There isn’t. Dot, do you want to be courted by this dwarf? Can you imagine entering a sacred bond with him and staying by his side for the rest of your life?”

“Yes,” Dotty said, her gaze flitting to and fro between her father and Ori. These were the two men who meant the most to her, and she was overjoyed to bathe in the light of their pride and affection.

“My daughter has accepted your suit,” the old dwarf declared and nodded at the open box Ori was still holding in his hands like a sacrificial offering. “Everything else is for you to settle between the two of you.”

Thank you so much for reading <3

-> Masterlist for November (prompts by @cilil)

#og post #IDNMT writes #fanfiction #writing #tolkien writing #jrrt #November #Nanowrimo2023 #Ori #Ori x OC #transmasc Ori #Misty Mornings

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buckyismybicycle · 2 years

Text

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Sam Wilson Rating: GA/Teen Tags: Fluff and only fluff! Getting Together, Unintended Pet Requisition, Bucky takes in scrawny strays Summary: “I… cannot believe you just adopted a cat,” Sam says, but there’s no teasing tone to it. If anything, he admires the care Bucky’s taking with this fragile creature, proving everything he’s known all along. That Bucky Barnes is just a big softie.

For @winterfalconevents Bingo U5: "Alpine" [AO3 Link here]

Bucky doesn’t know what he’s doing. He’s never owned a pet, and he’s pretty sure feeding the strays in the neighborhood back in the 30’s didn’t count.

But he looks down at the shivering ball of fur in his hand and doesn’t know how he could’ve done anything but bundle her against his chest, and zip up his jacket. He’s grateful that his hearing, enhanced, had let him hear her soft meows from under his bike before he had started the engine.

His bike roars to life against the soft pitter-patter of the rain, and he runs a gloved finger over her head. “Hang on, princess.”

He doesn’t know why he had texted Sam for help. It hardly seems like something Captain America has time to tend to, which is why he's so surprised when Sam texts back almost immediately.

He can’t stop holding her, yet she shivers anyways. In a lot of ways, it reminds him of Steve. A scrawny little fighter that he found in an alleyway. Steve used to shiver like this too, when the winters came around. It’d taken almost every blanket in their apartment to keep him warm, after Bucky wrapped them all around—

The idea strikes him and he brings the towel-wrapped kitten to his bedroom. Surely, he has something small enough to wrap her in tightly?

“Buck?” Sam lets himself in, figuring Bucky was already expecting him.

“In here!”

Sam makes his way further into the apartment and stops just as he reaches Bucky, sitting sideways on his couch. Towels lay all over the furniture, but Sam can’t take his eyes off of Bucky’s hands. Specifically, what is possibly the smallest kitten in the world in his hands, with –

“Is that… a sock?”

Bucky looks up at him, a little sheepish. “I couldn’t think of anything else small enough. But… She’s still cold, I think.”

Sam watches as Bucky’s face adorably turns into a pout. “Well she’s only been inside a few minutes, right?” He moves to sit in front of Bucky and the stray cat. Slowly, he reaches out a finger to pet under her chin.

The kitten lets out a soft, high-pitched miao, and Bucky places the small hand towel around her too, his large hands looking comical as he rubs up and down, trying to warm her up.

“I… cannot believe you just adopted a cat,” Sam says, but there’s no teasing tone to it. If anything, he admires the care Bucky’s taking with this fragile creature, proving everything he’s known all along. That Bucky Barnes is just a big softie.

“I… Couldn’t just leave her, not…” Bucky trails off, his face closing off as it does when he’s not really ready to discuss.

“You did a good thing,” Sam adds, hoping Bucky hadn’t misunderstood him. “Doesn’t seem like this poor thing had anyone.”

“Yeah, well…” Bucky swallows a little thickly, eyes trained on the kitten so he doesn’t have to feel Sam’s eyes on him. “Kinda know what that’s like.”

Sam’s breath catches quietly at Bucky’s voice, sad and soft, just like the smile he wears while petting his newfound cat.

“You have me,” Sam replies evenly. Firmly. It’s a promise more than a statement.

Bucky’s mouth twitches, his eyes flicking up for just the briefest second before looking down again. “Do I, though?”

Sam’s brow furrows, reading the situation. The way Bucky can’t look him in the eye, the way Bucky’s angled himself toward the back of the couch as if protecting himself. His heart starts to race, thinking – hoping – that maybe he hasn’t just been imagining things. He leans in, just an inch or so, his hand wrapping around Bucky’s.

He can’t tell if the trembles are from the kitten or from Bucky. Hell, they might even be from him. But with all the conviction he can muster, he looks Bucky right in the eye and solemnly swears.

“Yeah, Buck. You do.”

Bucky’s eyes widen, and for a moment he just looks at Sam, like he's processing. It’s a terrifying moment for Sam, as he starts to pray that he hadn’t fucked up their growing friendship just because he’d read into things wrong.

Bucky smiles at him though, slowly but genuine, and Sam can feel it before Bucky even says anything. He runs his thumb across the back of Bucky’s hand, in a silent promise.

Bucky opens his mouth to say something, when he’s interrupted.

“Meow.”

#onlysambucky #sambucky #winterfalcon #winterfalconbingo2022 #winterfalcon bingo #bucky barnes x sam wilson #FLUFF #alpine

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parcequecestnotreprojeeeet · 1 year

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Hi, it’s me, again, Fanfic Anon #2. I’m glad you all liked my last piece. Honestly, I really appreciate all your warm feedback, everyone. You all are just the sweetest. As always, if there’s something specific you want to see, don’t hesitate to ask me.

I think you will all figure out what this one is based on. Hope you enjoy.

He was so happy: the G7 was going off without a hitch, no one had pulled any surprises, he had managed to keep both Donald and Boris under control (a fact that had led Brigitte to joke after the group dinner last night "if that isn’t worthy of a Nobel Peace Price, I don’t know what is!"), and, according to his wife, the spouses were having fun. He felt a little bit like he was on top of the world.

So of course, he should have expected the bubble to pop.

He knew it was not good when an aide pulled him aside before his next meeting, grabbing his arm and yanking him quickly into the nearest vacant room, seeing this cool as a cucumber man looking as angry as he’s ever seen him.

"What happened?" He asked, his stomach suddenly filling with dread.

"I think you’re going to want to see this," he replied gently, passing the phone to Emmanuel.

He didn’t know he could get this angry. He could get heated, frustrated, mad. But anger like this? Even during his worst fight with his worst enemy, even when Le Pen came after his family, he didn’t feel like this; didn’t feel this rage, this anger, down to the very last cell of his body as he stared at the screen.

"Please tell me this is a joke," Emmanuel finally said after several minutes of silence when he finally felt he had enough control to speak, when he finally stopped vibrating from controlling his rage.

"I’m afraid not. I’m afraid the President of Brazil really posted that."

"That bastard -" Emmanuel raged.

"You cannot do something -"

"The hell I can’t!"

"The whole point of this was to hurt you. To make you act like this. You can’t let him win."

"He went after my wife! I don’t care about the optics, I don’t care about the implications of how weak I’m going to look or whatever -"

"It’s not just the optics here. You can’t start a war with another country because he calls your wife ugly."

"What kind of husband would I be if I stand here and let him get a way with this huh?"

"A husband who is also President of a country with a nuclear arsenal -"

"He hurt her because of me! Don’t you get that? They all hurt her because of me. Well, I’m sick of it! I’m not taking this one lying down!" He yelled, the anguish clear in his voice.

He took a second to calm down, knowing he needed to get to his wife, and the last thing she needed was to take care of him, which he knows she would feel obligated to do if he was angry, his selfless wife, always putting others before herself. With finality, before running to their suite as fast as humanly possible, he ordered, "figure out what the least damaging thing here is, and then we’re going to do it. Because he is not getting away with this. Now. I need to go find Brigitte."

"But you have -"

"Boris can piss off. And if doesn’t understand why I’m blowing him off after he sees this - because the whole world is going to see this - he can piss off all the way back to England."

"Yes, sir," his aide replied, barely heard as Emmanuel booked it up to the suite.

His heart sank when he could hear her crying all the way out in the hallway. "Oh, Brigitte," he whispered to himself as he approached her loyal bodyguard.

"Sir," he acknowledged, stepping away to give them their privacy.

"Who told her?" Emmanuel asked, needing to know what to expect when he walked in there.

"Tristan, I believe, sir."

"At least it was someone kind," he mumbled to himself, before thanking the man, and walking inside.

"Brigitte?" He called out to announce himself, not wanting to startle her. Hearing no answer, he continued until her got to the bedroom. "Oh, mon cœur," he said as he saw her balled into herself in the fetal position. He quickly toed off his shoes, and climbed into bed, wrapping himself, tightly, protectively around her, hoping to shield her from any more pain.

"Emmanuel?" She asked, weakly, sniffling heavily when she finally registered his presence.

"I’m right here, chérie," he promised, pressing kisses to every part of her he could reach. "I’m so sorry. I am so, so sorry," he kept whispering as he rocked her, gently trying to calm her down.

He noticed that at some point as she was calming down she had fallen asleep, her breathing had evened out and she relaxed slowly out of the rigid position he had found her in. Carefully, as not to wake her, he disentangled himself so he could grab one of his cell phones. Quickly, he typed to Alexis, "we’re in for the night. Do whatever you have to do. I’m not leaving her."

He waited for the "yes, sir," reply before he crawled back in bed, taking her once again in his arms. "I’m going to make him pay for this, Brigitte. I swear it," he vowed before he too fell into a fitful sleep.

Hellooo fanfic Anon! ❤️

Ugh. Ducking Bolsonaro 😤

What a mixed of emotions! It was infuriating and sad but also sweet at the same time. Emmanuel having enough of people hurting his wife just to get to him 🥺

“You can’t start a war with another country because he calls your wife ugly.” - my mind went, oh yes the hell he can!!! And the part about Boris piss off back to England made me chuckle 🤭 hahaha

But everything gets better when they are in others arms ❤️

Thank you so much, fanfic Anon #2! ❤️❤️❤️

#fanfic #fanfic anon 2

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shipwreck-letters · 1 year

Text

Happy Birthday! 🎂🍰🎇✨

For my amazing friend @bennytotting Happy birthday!! I hope I did Althea justice, and I hope you have a fun, happy and wonderful birthday!

Word Count: 1,161

Everything was almost complete. It would just be a matter of minutes, now. It was Althea’s birthday, and the two monsters of the House had already planned long before to make it a memorable birthday.

As best as they could, anyway. Neither of them had actually celebrated their own birthday, but Althea was special to them. They were determined to try their best.

Casimir followed the smell of baked goods--Sweet and airy, and the warmth of the oven opened, just as he suspected before peeking around the kitchen door.

He wasn't quite prepared for the feast set out across the kitchen island; Tiered cakes, roasts, ranging from tooth-aching sweet and delectably savory, all aesthetically pleasing to the nines.

"Nom de Dieu. When you said you would handle the food, I didn’t expect you to go this far.”

“Is it too much?” Rainier’s eyes widened. Casimir quickly shook his head before Rainier’s spirit could be dampened.

“Not at all! I’m just surprised, is all. The dining room is all decorated, everything is ready.” Although Casimir feared he would need to set up even more tables than the four he had already arranged. He walked around the kitchen island, peering at the multi-tiered birthday cake.

"It seems like you're almost finished?"

"Not even close!"

Casimir's eyebrows raised; Rainier was focused more on working, but the shock in his voice was clear.

"Humans always have huge feasts, right? And birthdays are important? And I like to cook! Win-win."

"I suppose. I cannot remember the last time I celebrated my own birthday… Is there something I can do?"

He wasn't sure what exactly he could do, as all that seemed left was the guest of honor to be celebrated.

Before Rainier could answer, Casimir's stomach growled instead, and Rainier's ear twitched, a grin blooming on his lips.

"If you want to, I'll handle everything here. You can find Althea, and bring her here. Oh, but keep it a surprise! Is that alright? Are you hungry now? I can hurry if you're hungry!"

"Non, that's alright!" Casimir quickly interluded, shaking his head. "I, ah- I'll let you finish in peace. It looks fantastic, Rainier."

Tail thumping against the counter, Rainier's grin stretched even more. Casimir took his leave, ignoring his stomach growling again, to duck out of the kitchen and wander the House once more.

Quiet sounds of paper filled the room, as Althea carefully removed faded wallpaper from the empty room, lost in her thoughts and the task at hand.

She jumped slightly when Casimir knocked softly on the doorframe, relaxing her shoulders when she realized who it was.

"Good evening, Casimir." She smiled, setting tools aside to rise. "What's got you looking like that?"

"Like what, mon cher?" Casimir asked, although he was failing to hide the soft smile on his lips as he watched Althea's face warm. "Seeing you simply makes me happier than ever."

He leaned over, lacing his fingers with theirs and planting a kiss on their cheek, then the other. Althea squeaked, covering her face with her elbow to hide her flustered state.

"Casimir!"

She squeezed his hand, taking a moment to come back down before facing her love. "You're up to something."

"Me? How so?" Casimir hummed, and Althea poked his chest. "I only came to remind you that dinner is almost ready."

"Is Rainier cooking?" Althea parted from Casimir to tidy up their workspace, listening to Casimir as she did so.

"He is. It's quite significant this time, he says. A spring festival, I believe."

"That's the only occasion?"

"Hm...I believe so." Casimir cleared his throat. He waited patiently for Althea to clean up, before extending his hand once more in invitation.

"You've been working all day. Let us take a break tonight, and celebrate something special."

Althea gently took his hand, smiling at their fingers intertwined. "That sounds lovely, Casimir. I'm excited."

Casimir smiled. He felt a little bad about dodging the real purpose of the dinner, but he remembered Rainier's request to keep it a secret.

Together, they headed back through the halls of the House towards the dining room.

Althea could smell Rainier's cooking from a mile away. Always delicious, but there was an air of difference--She glanced at Casimir, tilting her head. She passingly remembered it was her birthday, but as long as she could spend time with Casimir and Rainier, she was content and satisfied.

Casimir stopped at the doors, knocking first. Althea tilted her head.

"Is it a surprise?"

"You could say that." Casimir said, before the doors flung open inward, and Rainier scooped up both Althea and Casimir in his arms.

"You made it!!"

Althea peeked over Rainier's shoulder and her eyes widened.

'Happy Birthday!' banners fluttered, strung up across the room with balloons in her favorite colors, hanging decorations and galore, including the mind-boggling food set out across multiple tables.

"Wha...?" Althea blinked as she was set on her feet again, one hand in Rainier's and the other in Casimir's.

"It's your birthday, right?" Rainier said. "Casimir and I made this for you!"

Althea's face exploded in blush, and even Casimir's face reddened as he cleared his throat.

"We, ah- We wanted to give you a proper celebration. You deserve it, after all."

"I don't know what to say..." Althea felt her chest flutter with so many emotions, all hard to contain, but she smiled, hoping she could show it through her shyness. "Thank you both, so much."

Rainier's tail waved with glee. "Did you see the cake? Do you like it? Do you want to eat? I hope I made enough for everyone."

Althea glanced between Casimir and Rainier, laughing quietly. "I love it so much. Are we ready to eat?"

"Yes, please." Casimir's stomach growled again. "I'm starving."

“You light the candles on the cake. Every year you add another candle to wish upon, and one more for the next year.” Althea explained, gently pushing colorful candles into the cake.

Rainier watched with awe, and Casimir hummed as he helped Althea.

“Now…” Althea stepped back. “We light it. Ah…Would you like to do the honors, Rainier?”

“Please be careful.” Casimir warned, not wanting to see the table be set aflame. Rainier puffed out his chest.

“I was made for this! Watch!”

Althea could see Casimir tense as flames billowed out, lighting all of the candles in one breath (And melting some of the candle wax, and the icing…). She laughed, winding her arm around Casimir’s, her other hand embracing Rainier’s.

“It’s perfect. Um…” She took a deep breath, looking at the both of them. “I can’t thank you both enough. This is…This has been really special to me. I don’t usually celebrate my birthday but…I’ll definitely remember this forever.”

Althea closed her eyes, her chest warm and fuzzy. “I wish…”

For all the things she could ask for, she couldn’t think of much that hadn’t already come true.

She took a deep breath, and made her wish.

#abzu's writing #fictif monster manor #monster manor #fictif #whoo birthday writing!!#I actually loved writing this it was super fun and so sweet #I think you mentioned Althea's LI being Casimir so I tried to incorporate that but not go like overboard #while also including Rainier b/c he's super sweet

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