#I saw it ages ago and haven't really stopped thinking about it | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

lovebugism · 1 year

Note

Some blurb with grumpy fem reader and sunshine eddie?

He's constantly flirting with her and she only teases him or talking him down.

One time some cheerleader trying to flirt with Eddie and reader is so possesive, taking his hand and walking away. Eddie is wide-eyed, big smirk on his face and going after her with jumpy steps full of joy.

✶ ┄ SHE'S SO UNUSUAL !

summary: eddie's pretty sure he's loved you since the day he met you. you're pretty sure love is a neurochemical con job pairing: eddie munson / f!reader word count: 2.8k warnings: none? maybe just the faintest hint of angst? a/n: let's play a game of spot the steven universe reference because a clip popped on my tiktok fyp a couple days ago and even though i've never seen it, i simply haven't been able to stop thinking about it <3 anyways thanks so much for your request! hope you enjoy!

( BLURB SLEEPOVER ) | ( MASTERLIST )

Eddie’s pretty sure he’s loved you since before he understood what the word really meant. He didn’t know a lot of things, really, especially not as a lanky-limbed teenager trying hopelessly to navigate puberty in a world filled with assholes and uncertainty.

The only thing he could be certain of was all the love he had for you.

He’s seventeen and hopelessly stupid and you’re beautiful and eons out of his league. He concludes that having the majority of your gen-ed classes has to be fate and that making fun of you is the easiest way to talk to you without feeling like he needs to throw up.

So he takes to bothering you every day before class and sitting at the table beside you — despite the fact that it had been assigned to someone else at the beginning of the school year — until the teacher ultimately gives up and lets him sit next to you. He pokes fun at your Blondiemerch and how the same She’s So Unusual Cyndie Lauper cassette has been in your walkman for a week straight and the way you dot your eyes with pretty little hearts.

Every joke is sprinkled with the faintest hint of truth, though.

He tells you that he hates Blondie but that the shirt looks good on you, because everything you wear looks good on you. He says it’s hilarious that you can’t seem to listen to anything other than Cyndie Lauper but that he understands because he’s been obsessed with Metallica lately — and that he’d love to show you some of their music sometime. He says only children put hearts over their i’s, but that it's real cute when you do it, when you do anything.

“You’re so annoying,” you inevitably tell him with the roll of your eyes when he tells you exactly that. He can’t tell if the way the corner of your lip quirks up is from a half-concealed smile or a look of disgust.

“Sorry, sweetheart,” he shrugs and knocks his leather-clad shoulder with yours. “It’s not my fault that I’ve been in love with you since the moment I saw you. Actually, now that I think about it, it’s kinda your fault.”

He says it all with a playful lilt to hide how much he means each word. That he’s in love with you and has been since you were in middle school, when he had a godawful buzz cut and loving Rocky Horror Picture Show was your entire personality — at twelve.

“Love at first sight doesn’t exist,” you argue while you mindlessly jot down notes from the textbook spread open between you, dotting every i with a practiced heart. “Love takes time and work. At the bare minimum, you should at least probably know the other person — and you don’t have a single clue who I am.”

He’s momentarily knocked asunder at your words, at how profound they are. It’s like a century-old philosopher is using a pretty highschool aged girl as a mouthpiece, and it only makes him love you more.

“Well, I could get to know you,” he retorts with a frown. “You just won’t let me.”

“Did you hear anything I just said?” you squint over at him.

“Yeah. That love takes time,” he echoes and a grin pulls slow at his lips. “Good thing we’ve got all the time in the world, sweetheart.”

When two years fly by, and you’re finally a senior (and Eddie’s repeating his last year of high school over again because the one before it knocked him on his ass), you realize that he wasn’t kidding around. He still tries hopelessly to get to know you and jokes that he’s a second-year senior only because he “didn’t want to leave you behind.”

“Couldn’t just leave you by yourself, sweetheart,” he says with a defiant shake of his head. “No way. Not with Jason Carver and all the other freaks roaming around here.”

“Yeah, I don’t think they’re the freaks here, Eds,” you monotone as you put in the combination for your locker.

He immediately notices the use of the nickname. It took you a year to call him anything other than Munson, and now he’s moving into Eds territory? It feels like his heart might burst. But you don’t seem to notice it so Eddie decides to keep it to himself, like sunshine in his pocket, lest he brings it up and he never gets to hear it again.

He presses a hand to his chest and leans in next to you. “Ouch, babe. I’m wounded. Truly. Sorry for wanting to protect a sweet little thing like you.”

You scrunch your nose and swat his hand away when he tries to squeeze your cheek.

“Some would say I actually need protecting from you.”

“I am capable of pretty dangerous things, sweetheart.”

“Like what?” you scoff.

Eddie only grins. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

You ignore the chill that his words shoot down your spine and pretend to be unbothered by the way they make your heart race. You choose to roll your eyes at him and stuff your arms with textbooks. “You better have a massive dick to back up that attitude, Munson, or people are gonna be real disappointed.”

“And by people you mean you, right?”

“Obviously not,” you monotone.

“Well, joke's on you, I’ve already disappointed everyone I know.”

“That’s not true, Eds—” you shoot back but then swallow the words when you realize you were about to say something too sweet. “There are billions of people in the world you haven’t met yet. There’s still plenty left to disappoint.”

“You’re real sweet, you know that?” he jokes with a smile. “Besides, if you’re really worried about the size of my dick, we can always break out a ruler and, you know, test your theory.”

“Ooh, sorry,” you wince. “I left my magnifying glass at home. Maybe some other time?”

“How about tomorrow?” he answers quickly and easily falls into step with you when you shut your locker and head towards your next class.

“I have a date tomorrow, actually. No can do.”

His heart stops and his throat swells and he forgets what words are for a moment or two. He can only blink at you for a few seconds. “A— A date?”

“Uh-huh. Jason Carver. He asked me out this morning.”

“You’re kidding,” he retorts bitterly with a scowl on his face. Then you start laughing at him and the world starts spinning again. He starts laughing too, but it’s more of a sigh of relief than anything else. “You— You are kidding?”

“Obviously I’m kidding,” you shove him. “Hell will freeze over before I am willingly anywhere around that guy.”

Eddie’s freshly beating heart starts to swell. It feels like more of an honor than it already has been, for you to want to willingly be around him.

“Oh, so you were just trying to make me jealous, then?” he squints over at you.

This time, you’re the stuttering mess as you try to figure out what to say.

He chuckles at you. “Because it worked, sweetheart.”

A couple of months or more go by and graduation nears — well, for you. Eddie’s still hellbent that he’s going to have to repeat another year, but you’ve made it your mission to get him to pass English.

He doesn’t even mind that it means he actually has to do the homework, as long he gets to spend time with you in the Hellfire room after school or share a snack with you at the picnic tables at Forest Hill.

It’s got him living in a state of grandeur. He’s hopelessly deluded, not only that he’s in love with you, but that you’re in love with him. And, for obvious reasons, you know that can’t be true.

Neither of you can be in love because you’re kids and you’re stupid and you don’t know a single damn thing about anything, let alone something as trivial and philosophical as love. It’s a neurochemical con job, everyone knows it. It’s not real.

Everyone thought Nancy and Steve were in love at one point, and then she called him bullshit at a party before fucking off with Jonathan Byers.

Everyone thought Jason and Chrissy were in love, too — that they would be everything Steve and Nancy couldn’t — and then she dumped him in front of the entire school after catching him being an asshole to a bunch of Hellfire club freshmen.

So, obviously, no one knows what love is.

And by that logic, they can’t know when they’re in it either.

So you chalk up the butterflies and burning cheeks you always get around Eddie to being a dumb teenager who’s lonely and touch starved. Because it’s not love. It just can’t be.

Eddie begs to differ, though, and he swears he’s got the test to prove it.

It’s the spring assembly at Hawkins High, which means everyone’s gathered in the gymnasium on bleachers that are not nearly big enough to accommodate everyone, doing fuck all and grateful for not having to do any actual work.

The cheerleaders do a couple of dances, the basketball team prances around the court — it’s all hopelessly pedestrian as far as you’re concerned.

You and the rest of Hellfire are located at the very top of the bleachers, as far away as you possibly can be from whatever the hell is going on below you. It checks out, though, because everyone else opts to keep their distance from the lot of you, too.

And you’re not exactly sure how the conversation started, but somehow you end up talking about crushes, and Eddie makes the too bold proclamation that you’ve got the fattest crush on him of all people.

“Leave her alone!” Dustin scolds him over the band, the only one actually trying to stick up for you. “Maybe this is something you should discuss, I don’t know, in private?”

You roll your eyes. “There’s no need. Because I don’t have a crush on you, Eddie Munson,” you tell him, stern and unwavering, as you squint over at him. Your glare follows the boy as he paces up and down the bleachers, two levels below you. “Sorry to bruise your ego.”

“Oh, so you won’t care if I tell Chrissy that I wanna take her on a date?” he asks you with a knowing grin.

“Why would I care?” you retort, then grumble. “It’s not like she would say yes anyway.”

“Well, she did ask me first.”

That quietens you instantly “…You’re lying.”

“Wanna bet?” he teases and leans down, resting his weight on the seating in front of him, until his face is level with yours. You can smell the nicotine on his breath and the mint gum he smacks between his teeth.

If you were alone — and in some godawful teenage drama — you might’ve pulled him in for a kiss right there. At least, that’s what your brain tells you to do because your lips have started to tingle just thinking about it.

You hope Eddie hasn’t noticed the way your gaze falls on his own pink, plump, and very kissable ones. But the grin that paints his features then tells you that he has.

You play it off with a stoic expression and crossed arms. “Chrissy going from dating the captain of the basketball team to the town’s local freak would be an unprecedented low.”

“I’ll be sure to tell you all about our trip to Lover’s Lake tomorrow morning, sweetheart, don’t worry your pretty little head,” he promises before rising and spinning on his heels. He makes the trek to the lower level of the bleachers — a feat made more difficult by the crowd and the distance between it and him.

He makes sure to turn and look back at you every now and again, to make sure that you’re still watching him. You are. Of course, you are. And you hope the seething anger in your chest doesn’t show on your face.

“He’s not actually gonna ask her out, right?” Mike wonders.

“No way,” Dustin denies with the shake of his head. “The president of Hellfire can’t date a cheerleader… Right?”

Gareth shrugs. “He’s obviously bluffing.”

“Yeah, he wouldn’t do that,” Jeff agrees. He turns to look over at you. “He’s been in love with you since middle school. He just wants to upset you.”

“Well, it’s fucking working,” you grumble under your breath. Your heart races and your vision swims as you watch him near the group of cheerleaders sitting on the floor of the gym.

You want to believe that he’s bluffing, you really do, but you don’t doubt that Chrissy’s asked him out.

After she dumped Jason, she’d gotten strangely protective over the Hellfire club — constantly making an effort to talk to them all, ensuring that the rest of the school wasn’t acting total assholes around them. Hell, she’s even started being nice to you and you weren't even in the damn club.

She’s been hanging around with Eddie a lot more lately, catching up in the library and ranting about tests between classes. Everyone’s seen it. You’ve seen it. And it’s made you unbelievably jealous.

Maybe you never noticed it before now because you used to be the only girl interested in talking to Eddie. But now he’s got the head cheerleader around to keep him company, to ask him out on fucking dates, and it leaves you seething in your rage.

And if love is anger, then you’re head over heels for Eddie Munson.

You rise suddenly from your seat and shove your way through the bleachers, muttering lackluster excuse me’s under your breath as you go and elbowing those who refuse to get out of your way.

You reach Eddie just before he’s about to tap on Chrissy's shoulder. You take that hand and nearly jerk it from its socket the way you pull at him. Eddie is stunned, for all of half a second, thinking it must’ve been a fuming Jason Carver at the force of the grip around him.

But it’s just you, all but dragging him out of the gymnasium with the strength of ten men in one angry teenage girl, and it makes him smile so hard it hurts.

He traps the grin between his teeth and locks eyes with the rest of Hellfire from across the room. He brings two fingers to his forehead in salute before he’s pulled out of the gym entirely.

“What’s wrong, sweetheart?” he teases as you lead him down a long hallway. “Thought you didn’t give a shit if I asked her out?”

You don’t respond to his teasing. You just keep tugging him by his wrist through the empty school. He’s not even sure if you’re even breathing just now, or if you’re moving strictly on autopilot and rage.

You shove him into Mr. Kamisnky’s vacant classroom and lock the door behind you.

Eddie’s chest rises and falls with the heavy breath he exhales. “Well, shit, sweetheart... If I knew making you jealous was all I needed to do to get you alone, I would’ve done it a long time ago—”

“Say you didn’t mean it,” you interject, less than amused at his teasing.

“…What?”

“That you wanted to take Chrissy on a date,” you elaborate with arms crossed over your chest, protecting yourself, your heart. “Say you didn’t mean it.”

And Eddie laughs. He fucking laughs. Like everything’s a joke to him, like the mere thought of you being heartbroken over him liking Chrissy is funny to him.

It’s not. Well, at least not that bit. It’s laughable to him that you would even think he wanted anybody but you after he’s spent so many years fawning over you.

“Of course, I didn’t mean it,” Eddie scoffs. He tries to take a few steps closer to you, but you back away, not believing him. He softens. “I just wanted to make you jealous, sweetheart. I didn’t wanna… hurt your feelings.”

“Well, you did,” you monotone.

The boy’s brows furrow. “Hurt your feelings or make you jealous?”

“…Yes.”

A smile pulls slow at his lips. He tries to hide it but fails miserably. “Well, if it’s any consolation, I just wanted to see how you would react. And I am very pleased by this reaction… Even though my wrist feels like it’s broken.”

“Sorry,” you murmur to yourself, already embarrassed at how angry you’d gotten.

“Don’t be sorry,” Eddie declines with the shake of his head. This time when he walks toward you, you don’t back away from him. You even let him take your elbows in his hands and rub his thumbs over your warmed and jealousy-prickled skin.

“Actually, you know what, do be sorry,” he corrects playfully. “And make it up to me by taking me out. Somewhere fancy.”

You purse your lips to the side in attempts to hide your smile.

“Benny’s Burgers?” you offer after a moment.

“Ooh. Burgers, fries, a milkshake, and a hot date?" he lists with a nod of approval. "You really know how to get a guy to swoon, don't ya sweetheart?”

#published by bug #stranger things x reader #eddie munson x reader #eddie munson imagine #stranger things imagine #eddie munson fic #eddie munson #stranger things #eddie spaghetti drabble #st drabbles #bug's blurb sleepover

2K notes · View notes

ravencincaide · 2 months

Text

This was supposed to be a good day

Summary: You haven't seen Chuuya in almost a decade. The humiliation of his break up with you still burned fresh, still hateful. No you never wanted to see his stuck up “I am better than everyone” attitude ever again. Unfortunately for you fate had other plans. And this time it was unlikely that he would leave you alone, even with your threats.

Pairing: Fem!reader x (ex) Chuuya Nakahara

Inspired by Not today fic by @chuuyaswifeandhoe. So all cred for this thing goes to her. Please check her amazing works out if you're into really painful angst!

Warnings: Cursing, angst, parents

“ Get back here you little rascals!”

Children's laughter filled the empty playground as you chased the twins around the slide. Past the climbing net, and all the back to the steps which lead up into the wooden playpen. You were just shy of catching your daughter, your fingers brushed against her ginger ponytail. A little more and– she ducked inside the round playtube with a giggle- just out of your gasp. You could hear her small hands slam against it as she shuffled through to the other side and out of your reach. Before you could follow after; you gasped, stopped and spun around as yet another snowball hit your back.

You scanned the play area until you caught sight of a head of messy ginger locks belonging to your son. Your little boy full of mischief who was in the process of throwing yet another snowball at you.

“ Hey don’t even think about it Daiki-” your playful voice was cut off as the snowball made contact with the front of your jacket. You narrowed your eyes at him, watched the way he froze mid motion with a slightly guilty look on his face. Then as you took a step in his direction, the boy audibly yelped before he started running.

You were not going to let him escape you.

You ducked, narrowly avoided hitting your head on the monkey bars and ran just a little bit faster. “ Gotcha!” you laughed as you circled your arms around the little boy. You lifted him up and spun him once, twice your joint laughter filled the silence until you heard your daughter’s cute yell; “ Me next, mama, me next!” as she ran straight into you with full force.

If she was older and heavier she might have successfully tackled you to the ground. But being the tender age of seven she was barely strong enough to make you shift weight. Still you acted along and pretended to be brought down to one knee, still holding her twin to your chest. “ Ahh Fumiko you got me” you groaned out as your daughter jumped up and down in glee. Then the two ganged up on you; with giggles small hands tried to drag you down further into the snow while the same small hands tried to tickle you through the thick coat. Your joint laughter filled the empty playground in the otherwise calm park.

The day was beautiful; chilly but perfect in the sense that you had the entire play area to yourself. Just you and your two precious twins with whom you made heartwarming memories together. Another perfect day, another perfectly sweet–

“ Y/N?” That voice sent shivers up and down your spine. The pleasant shivers of longing which made your heart shred itself in your chest mixed together with painful memories of humiliation. The condescending degrading way he had tossed you aside. The icy blue of his eyes- the twisted smirk- imagines that you had desperately hid in the very back of your mind behind lock and key were slowly coming back. Flashed one by one right before your eyes.

His words from years ago and the way you cried and begged for him, the way he brought you to your knees and then kept tearing you to shreds.

Completely humiliated.

That humiliation was twisted and turned into a tight knit ball of anger in the pit of your stomach. Filled your lungs with air; a suffocating rage. At that moment you did not know what you were going to do if you turned around and actually saw Chuuya. Were you going to yell? Hit him? Demand an explanation for his cruelty? Rub in his face that he had lost years with his children and that this one chance encounter would be the only time he would ever get to be in their presence?

“ Mama are we done playing already?” you were brought out of your trail of thoughts by Fumiko. Her expression was sad; huge blue eyes stared into yours not understanding what happened but being old enough to realize it was not something good. Daiki clung to you tightly, clearly afraid. The anger inside you subsided enough that you could plaster a pleasant albeit forced smile onto your lips. “ Yes but if we go now you can play some video games when we get home.” before the words could leave your lips, the twins were out of your embrace and running throughout the playground to collect their things.

Their childish innocence warmed your heart.

The smile on your lips faded the second you saw a gloved hand stretch towards you out of the corner of your eyes, a silent offer to help you off the ground. You ignored it, used your anger as sufficient fuel to stand up in one swift motion. You shook off the snow before you turned to face Chuuya, arms crossed over your chest.

He looked more stunning than when you last saw him. More of a man; sophisticated suit, a brand new coat and his usual hat now adored with additional accessories. He wore cologne; a musky scent which just barely hid the smell of cigarettes off of him. “ Oj Doll,Why the fuck did you not fuckin’ let m’know?” his tone was accusing, hurt and angry. His blue eyes bore holes into you so clearly demanding an explanation.

You gave him none. You did not have to; you did not need to. A part of you wanted to deny that the twins were his- but you bit your tongue to prevent that. You knew that even a blind bastard would see the similarities. Still you relished in the idea that this hurt him. You hoped this hurt was even a fraction of the hurt he caused you.

“ It’s none of your business” you stated icily, out of the corner of your eyes you kept track of Fumiko and Daiki; made sure none of his goons for hire would even attempt to approach the two.

“ None of my– the fuck?! You sold the goddamn fuckin apartment, kept this from me and just–”

“-the apartment and all its content which you left to me for wasting my time, effort and looks on you” you cut him off, old hurt surfaced like a steel knife. But no, as much as you wanted to yell and accuse him, to tell him exactly what you thought of him you decided against it. You were not going to stoop down to his level. You were better than that- better than him. And especially not in front of your twins who waited nervously for you at the edge of the playground “ We’re done here.”

“ Oj Y/N don’t you even–”

Chuuya reached out for you and you sidestepped his touch. His action made you lose a sliver of your self control in the process;“ Touch me and I will call the police; it won’t lead to anything but we both know the mafia doesn’t want to flash in front of the government.” your voice was icy as you watched him drop his hand back to his side.

His face took on a surprised expression, clearly not expecting the threat.

You took this moment to continue “ I have never been happier than in these seven years without you. Seeing you today just ruined my day and time with my babies. We don’t need or want you, so make yourself scarce.” You fixed him with a pointed look and made sure he understood each syllable that left your lips. Then you turned on your heel and left the playground. You held your head high, proudly, as you left the playground with your twins safely in your arms.

You meant every word you uttered to him, every syllable past your lips. You hated him, detested him for everything he had done to you. And yet why did your heart ache so pitifully?

Author note: This fic was written today and thus hasn't had a lot of editing. Once again it's all thanks to @chuuyaswifeandhoe. Think of it as an early next-week update ;)

All fics are unique works by ©ravencincaide 2024. Do not copy/repost/translate or spread my work(s) without my explicit permission. If you see any of my work(s) reposted/copied anywhere else without my consent, please inform me!

#bsd chuuya #chuuya x reader #chuuya nakahara x reader #chuuya x yn #chuuya x you #chuuya x y/n #chuuya angst #Chuuya parent #bsd parents #raven cincade's works

172 notes · View notes

darlingshane · 4 months

Text

Salt of the Earth ~ Part 3 (Final)

Pairing: Michael Berzatto x OFC

Summary: She was Carmy's best friend growing up, and Michael never looked at her as anything other than that until years later when she comes back to Chicago to start over. In the process, she turns his sorry excuse of a life upside down.

Content/Warnings: 18+. Explicit, Friends to lovers, Fluff, Heavy Angst, Smut, Shower Sex, BJ's, P in V, Family Drama, Dysfunctional relationships, Addiction, Alcohol, Pets, Pet names, Dialogue heavy, Undisclosed age gap.

Word Count: 12.3k // Chapters 8-10 // AO3 Link.

— Part 1 (Chapters 1-4) // Part 2 (Chapters 5-7)

A/N: This part includes my version of the infamous 'Fishes' episode. Though having Maya in it changed a few things, most of it is pretty faithful to the actual script. I also borrowed some of the dialogue to keep it as close as possible.

Chapter 8: As warm as toast

Maya is hugging Michael’s back when the warm breath of her dog is pressed against her ear. She tells the dog to go back to sleep, but Coco, ignoring her request, whines a couple of times until Maya has no choice but to get up. Though it's still terribly early, she takes Coco out to the park down the street from Michael’s building. It's freezing outside, but that doesn’t stop Coco from zooming across the park a hundred times until she’s spent while Maya paces along the fence, wrapped in thick layers of hat, scarf, mittens and a bulky coat.

Upon their return, Maya fills Coco’s bowl and makes some coffee.

They’ve fallen into a nice routine with Michael. He’s made room in his life for them, as much as they’ve welcomed him open into theirs. Half a week they spent in his apartment, and the other half at Maya’s house.

While she sips on her coffee, she tries to guess what's inside the big wrapped box that has been sitting in Michael’s living room for a week. Curiosity has been killing her since she saw it the other day. Her fingers tap on one of the sides and lightly pull on the edge of the red and white paper, trying to sneak a peek of the box.

“I told you to leave that alone, Maybird. That’s not for you.” Michael catches her red-handed as he comes out of the bedroom.

“C’mon, Bear, let me open it already. It’s Christmas.”

“Uh-uh, it’s Christmas Eve.”

“Is it a sex swing? It feels like a sex swing.” She keeps tapping on the box.

“It's not a sex swing. Keep guessing.” Michael snorts, leaning over to kiss her good morning. “Your face is cold, did you go out?”

“Uh-huh.” She glances at Coco, who’s currently devouring her food by the kitchen. “She woke me up and dragged me outside.”

“At least she knows how to hold it and ask for the head.” Michael goes around the breakfast bar to fill a mug with coffee. “Remember that yorkie that Francie had that couldn’t stop peeing everywhere.”

“Well, training goes a long way.”

“That's what everyone kept telling her, but her parents ended up leaving a poor thing in the kennel.”

“I mean it's Francie. I'm not surprised. She really can't be trusted to take care of anything. How's she? I haven't seen her in ages.”

“She's around. I think. Last time I saw her was probably a couple of years ago. She’s banned from our house.”

“Why?”

“Beats me. It's a Sugar thing. I think Francie tried to hit on Pete or something. You'll have to ask Sug.”

“Really? Just when I thought she couldn’t sink lower.”

“Tell me about it.” He pulls up his sweats as he takes a seat on the couch next to her.

“Okay, stop trying to distract me. So, if it’s not a sex swing, or a pizza oven, which I really wanted by the way…”

“The sex swing?” He lifts a brow at her and takes a sip of his mug.

“The pizza oven, smartass. How about… a weighted blanket?”

“First, you don’t need any of those. You can cook pizza already in your oven, and why do you need a weighted blanket or a sex swing when you have me?”

“That’s true.”

“You know what? Go ahead and open it, but you’re gonna need Coco, cause like I told you, that’s not for you. C’mere Coco Girl.”

Coco’s floppy ears perk up at Michael’s call. The dog turns her head to look at Michael for a second before continuing chewing her food.

“She’s too busy to open presents right now.”

“Figures.”

They wait till she’s done, and Maya beams in delight, quickly tearing apart the flashy wrapping paper. That delight turns into a mocking frown when she finds out it’s a big, fluffy dog bed for Coco.

“Oh, you weren’t kidding. It’s not for me.”

“Aw, don’t be jealous, sweetheart. You know I have something else for you. She needed a bed here. This couch is so uncomfortable, no even a dog wants to lay here. She’s always either hoarding the bed or sleeping on the rug.”

“Yeah, I know.” Her lips curve up, watching Coco inspect her present before attempting to curl inside. “That’s it, baby, lay down. Good girl.”

“Are we still up for tomorrow?”

Maya sighs, “yeah, I think so. Did you tell them I was coming?”

“I said you might. Just in case you change your mind.”

“Do you want me to change my mind?”

“No,” he strokes her hair with his free hand. “I really want you there.”

“What are we going to tell, y’know… everyone?”

Everyone – meaning Carmy. Though their relationship is practically nonexistent, the last thing she wants to do is show up holding hands with Michael and flaunt it on anyone’s face without a warning.

“Well, Richie is the only one who knows.” Cause he caught them last week making out at their usual bar. “I guess Tiff knows too. Does it freak you out? Do you wanna back out now?”

“No, no. I just… I guess I’m not ready to announce it on a day like this. Is that okay?”

“Yeah, that’s okay, baby. I get it. It’s driving me crazy, too.”

“If they find out, that’s great, but I don’t just wanna put it out there right away.”

“We’ll just have to keep a low profile, then. How hard can it be?”

“I’ve never had a secret relationship before. It could be fun pretending, even if it’s just for a few hours.”

“We just have to hope Richie doesn’t blow our cover.”

“Oh, we’re screwed.”

“I don’t know about that. But I can tell someone is about to get screwed. Shower?” His brow playfully arches.

“Hmm, you’ve read my mind.”

It’s that rush of excitement of being with someone new that leads them quickly to the bathroom. He undresses her just as fast as she pulls his sweats and underwear off him. He hasn’t finished taking off her bra and his lips automatically invite themselves into her neck as she fumbles to get the water going so it warms up before stepping inside.

Under the warm spray of the water, their bodies fuse together. Lips against lips share a vicious amount of kisses and laughs. Their arms tangle around the other, her hands become his, and vice versa. The steam filling the room boils hotter when Michael turns Maya around and presses himself on her ass while one of his hands slides between her legs. Her palms brace the tiled wall, as his mouth bites the flesh at the curve of her neck. Her moans and curses sound like heaven when the blunt tip of his cock slides into her opening. His hips push painfully slow as her walls stretch inch after inch. Once he’s fully sheathed in her tender pussy, his eyes squeeze shut, he lets his desire guide the pacing of his thrusts. Maya waves her hips at the same time, countering his moves until both find the same rhythm. One of his hands clutches the curve of her ass, keeping her secured, as the other stays right on her pussy, rubbing her swollen clit with passion.

His back turns red as the hot water keeps pouring over him. The fiery pressure rising up in his core makes his cock throb inside her. He looks down to see his length disappear inside her fast with each push. At the same time, his mind dissipates somewhere up, above the mist of the bathroom, somewhere above clouds. It’s like he’s traded one addiction for another. As long as he’s with her, he’s safe. It’s not the healthiest way to deal with it, but right now he doesn’t give a shit. The climb to that high is way faster, it feels better, it’s less toxic, but it lasts shorter. That’s the only downside.

“Michael… please,” her breathing swallows, as she inches close to the finish line.

“I know, sweetheart, shh…. Come for me. C’mon…”

Following her plea, he pushes a little harder, rubs a little faster until her body seizes up. She lets out a strained moan that bounces off the steamed walls, as her opening contracts around him harder than he’s ever felt. Maybe it’s the position. It feels like pure bliss to have her squeezing every last drop of him.

Catching his own breath, he hangs his head down to rest on her nape for a moment. While still riding that high, he slowly slips out of her and drops to his knees on the shower floor. His hands handle her body around so she's facing him. As her abdomen lines up with his face, he glances up to capture her glowing aura, stunning as ever. Maya’s still floating in that same sea of ecstasy he floats on. It makes her look like a goddess from his position. Her dark hair cascades over her shoulders, sticks to her skin as it touches the curves of her chest. Water trails down her body as if she was standing under a waterfall. And like the Goddess she is, he aims to devout himself only to her.

He gently holds one of her legs up, letting his lips glide across the surface of her thigh as he drapes her leg over his shoulder. His mouth waters as it gets closer to her center. Licking his lips, his eager tongue just to taste the heaven between her legs. It's slicked and tender, ready to consume. His mouth fits perfectly against it. Wide open. Desperate to please her with the flick of his tongue and ease his own affliction.

Maya leans her back on the wall, anchors her only feet hard to the floor, and grips at his soaked hair as his tongue works restlessly all over her sex. He sucks her clit between his lips, licks her folds, circles her dripping opening, and revels in tasting both, him and her. In a wild frenzy, he devours it all. It consumes his need and desperation for more. Her moans are exquisite. Her body writhes in his hold as she rises up gracefully to a higher plane.

Chapter 9: Bigger fishes to fry

“Are you really going to wear that?” Asks Maya as soon as she sees the outfit Michael has chosen for Christmas dinner.

“What’s wrong with this?” He gazes at his blue Under Armour shirt and jeans ensemble.

“Workout shirt, jeans and kicks, really? Why don’t you put on a nice sweater at least?”

“Baby, it’s just dinner at my house with the same fucking people I see every year. It's not like the Queen of England is gonna show up to have tea and biscuits.”

“C’mon, Bear, do it for me?” Maya pulls out her big adorable eyes and disarming smile.

“Ugh, alright, only for you.” Unable to resist her power, he easily yields and goes into his bedroom. From a drawer, he collects a dark blue fisherman sweater. Then he sticks his hand into the closet to pick up the vintage jacket she bought him for his birthday. To finish his new getup, he trades his sneakers for ankle boots.

Maya is taking out a dessert from the fridge that she bought this morning to take to The Berzattos.

“Wow,” her head turns when hearing his footfalls. “See, you look so much better now.”

“Yeah? You clean up pretty nice too,” he picks up her hand and makes her spin under his arm, capturing the stunning shape of her body hugged in a cream knitted dress that almost touches her knees. Right below, black leather boots cover the rest of her legs.

“Thanks, handsome bear.” After her spin, her head tilts to the side, capturing a chaste kiss from his lips.

“What’s that?” Michael points at the dish covered in tin foil on the breakfast bar.

“It's a strawberry tart.”

“You made a tart?” He lifts part of the foil to uncover the well-crafted pastry.

“What? Surprised that this tart made a tart?”

“Well, yeah. You almost poisoned me the last time you cooked.”

“You got me. I didn't make it. I bought it this morning when I took Coco out.”

Michael softly chuckles. “I don’t think it’s a good idea to bring that. Have you forgotten about pudding-gate? Donna's going to eat you alive if you show up with food.”

“Oh, I think that night was the first time I got drunk. I don't remember the details. But I do remember the pudding and eating a bowl with Carmy in the garage. Who brought it?”

“Uncle Jimmy's first wife.”

“That's right. She was never seen again after that. Okay, I guess I could bring a bottle of wine.”

“You're gonna make me look bad if I show up with nothing.”

“You could bring the tart, and say that you made it. I bet Donna will be delighted if it comes from the golden child.”

“That's a great idea, baby. It'll be a great distraction when she starts strangling me that people won't even notice this other tart.” His hand boldly squeezes her ass.

“Hey!” she swats his shoulder with the back of her hand. “I thought we agreed to keep our hands off each other.”

“I meant later. Here, I can still get a piece if I want.” He links his arms around her waist and peppers the curve of her neck with kisses, making her laugh with the coarse tickle of his beard.

“Oh, this is gonna be harder than I thought,” she whines when his lips nibble her earlobe.

“Yeah, tell me about it.” He laughs against her ear, gripping tightly at her hips. “I’m not sure how long I can make it without touching you like this.”

“Well, we better think of something…”

Ready to go, they hop in the car and drop Coco first at Maya’s house. While Michael waits in the car she collects a bottle of wine to bring for dinner.

It’s then that she gets jittery about the whole ordeal. It’s been years since she attended one of their functions. Christmas at the Berzattos was never a walk in the park, and as she has heard recently, they still aren’t. But she’s not the one to talk cause the Silvas have always had their own issues, proof of that is her desertion from her own family dinner.

“Okay, kiss me one more time,” she requests after parking at the end of the street. They both lean in to meet in the middle over the center console for a chaste kiss. “One more.”

Michael delves into her mouth a little deeper, hoping it’d ease her up.

As they walk up to the house, they pass Maya’s empty childhood home, and Michael just wraps an arm around her and kisses her hair.

“Their loss,” he mumbles. “Don’t think about them, Maybird.”

“I won’t.”

His arm unfurls away from her body as they get closer to the Berzattos’ house. When they reach the door, they stay there for a minute, filling their lungs with cold air as they muster the courage to cross the threshold.

The house is loud with people talking and laughing when they step inside.

Maya can see Michael's face changing as the door closes behind them. That raw vulnerability, his bashful expression he's not afraid to show her slips once again behind that mask he's fought so hard to get rid of. She can't hold it against him. Everyone has their coping mechanisms and this is Michael's.

She becomes suddenly the new sensation, everyone openly welcomes her as if they hadn't seen her in ages. Which is actually the case. She's bombarded with questions she doesn't really want to answer like — How are your parents? How does it feel being back? Are you seeing someone?

Mirroring Michael's, she just draws her best smile and tries to satisfy their curiosity while Michael takes a smoke break with Sugar leaving her to be eaten by wolves before she can protest.

To Maya’s disbelief, after the third degree, she’s welcomed with open arms by Donna Berzatto, who is just as intense as she remembers. Hair on point, makeup on point, fresh manicure softly scratches Maya’s jaw when she briefly holds her face.

“We've missed you, Mayhem Maya.” Donna actually coined that nickname after that incident when she broke one of her figurines when she was a kid. And she'd never live that down. It makes her feel like a child every time she calls her that or the way she manages to compliment her and patronize her at the same time.

“Hey,” she hears the familiar voice as Donna disappears into the kitchen.

Maya turns around to see Carmy climbing down the stairs.

“Hey, you made it,” she says a little hesitant, trying to decide whether to hug him or just shake his hand as he reaches the last step.

“You too.”

Hug. She goes for it and tucks her arms around his shoulders for no more than two seconds. It feels a little awkward and cold given their history but understandable. They're not as close anymore, and it doesn't come as natural as it used to. She tries to internalize that as best as she can, but there’s still something that doesn’t feel right. Maybe this wasn’t the best moment to show up back again into his life. Being Michael’s girlfriend, no less. Perhaps deciding to hide that wasn’t the best choice after all. It sounded reasonable when she chose that, but right now, it feels like she’s betraying him.

“How's Copenhagen?”

“Cold. How is being back?”

“Weird.”

“Tell me about it… Never thought I'd see you again in one of these functions.”

“Yeah, Michael insisted. You knew I was coming, right?”

He nods. “Sugar told me.”

They shoot back and forth meaningless questions without really diving into anything substantial. For the first time, she looks at his cold blue eyes and realizes they're not best friends anymore. She might have known everything about him once upon a time, but now it feels like talking to a stranger, and it breaks her heart not being able to pass that invisible wall between them.

Maya stares at him one last time as they are interrupted by the rest of the party. He’s dragged to a mindless conversation with Neil and Ted Fak, while Michelle brings Maya a drink and settles with her on the couch to catch up.

Carmy manages to escape the Faks and asks for some help from his siblings that were hiding outside.

Michael does another quick round before disappearing again somewhere with Richie.

“I thought you weren’t serious about bringing her.” Richie takes him to the garage where they open a couple of beers.

“I was dead serious. And please, don’t say anything. Tonight, we’re just friends, alright?” he gives him a menacing look.

“You’re dead for sure when Carmy finds out. Don’t get me wrong I love Maya, but is she all that? Is she worth the trouble, Cousin?”

“She’s all that and a basket of biscuits.”

Soon, Michael thinks. Soon everyone will know how much he loves her but for now, this is for the best. This is what she wants and he respects that.

When they go back into the house, Michael goes checking if she needs a break from socializing. Figures, she probably does as much as he does. She's not in the living room anymore, or anywhere on the first floor. He climbs upstairs and from the cracked door to his room, he finds her snooping around the bedroom with a glass of wine in her hand.

“Hey. What are you doing up here?”

“The bathroom downstairs was occupied, so I came up here, and I realized I never really saw your room. Was it always like this?”

“Kinda. It’s cleaner for starters. The walls used to be covered in Red Sox merchandise and movie posters. It’s all in the basement at The Beef now.”

“Traitor,” Maya mockingly squints her eyes before taking a sip of her glass.

“Why do you care, you don’t even watch baseball?”

“Yeah, but if I had to pick I wouldn’t even dream of going against my own home team,” she says, scanning a pile of CD’s on the corner of the desk and picking one from the middle. “Marky Mark, really? Who are you?”

“That’s Sugar’s.”

“Sure it is,” she laughs.

“This is why you came up here, to make fun of me?”

“Nope, I just like snooping.” She turns around and keeps flicking through those albums while Michael shuts the door to seize that as an opportunity to kiss her again.

“Hey, c’mere.” Quickly wetting his lips, he cups her face as it turns to the side and gently captures the flavor of her mouth soaked in white wine.

“Hmm, we’re a lost cause,” she says as his lips bounce a few times against her.

“I know.” Michael hums, unable to stop himself from going deeper into her mouth.

As she places her glass on the desk, his tongue swipes past her lips.

Michael moves his hands to her hips, as Maya links her arms around his neck, letting her tongue slowly play with his.

His mouth grows hungrier and desperate for more. She can feel it at the eager tip of his tongue demanding more action. He blindly guides Maya to the bed, and almost without breaking from the other, as she settles on her back, he pushes all the coats people left on his bed to the side. Michael lies on top of her, nestling between her legs, claiming ferociously another kiss from her mouth.

From zero to sixty, his hand slips beneath the hem of her dress and hikes the skirt up to her waist to grab her ass. He digs his fingers on her skin over her tights. He could rip the fabric apart in a second if he pressed a little harder.

Maya hums in his mouth, struggling to keep up with the burning passion he's pouring into her lips as the coarse texture of his beard scratches her face.

The setting is a little off-putting for her right now no matter how much she wants him and as his bulge hardens between her legs, she promptly puts a halt on.

“Michael, baby, shh. We can’t do this here.”

“We’re just making out. The door is closed.”

“We’re not just making out. You’re already hard. What if someone comes in?”

“There’s a lock on the door. I closed it.”

“The lock is not the problem. It's this place. This house.”

“The house is cock-blocking you?”

“Pretty much. Yeah. Let’s just take a breath and go back down. We’ll finish this later at home. See, this is why we can’t be left alone.”

“Okay,” he begrudgingly rolls to the side with a sigh, feeling a little disappointed to be honest and stares at the ceiling. “Is it the house or is it Carmy being here?”

“I don't know. Maybe both.” She leans on her elbow to look at him.

“I see.”

“It’s not like I don’t want to. I do. More than you know, Bear. I just feel weird about doing this right here. We said the other day that we should be honest with each other to make this work. And this is me being honest.”

“I know, baby. I get it. I just… All I wanna do is be with you right now. Can't stop thinking about you. That’s why this happens…” he gestures vaguely as his crotch.

“Now, I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to give you blue balls. I know how much that hurts.”

“I don’t think you do,” he snorts.

“I’m sorry,” her palm covers her smile. “I really am. But I… I guess I could do something about it. Don’t move.”

Maya’s fingers glide over his crotch to undo his fly.

“Wait, are you changing your mind?”

“No, but I don’t wanna leave you like that either. Just trust me.” She shifts on the bed as her hand slides under the fabric to feel the pressure of his straining erection.

Biting her lip, she locks eyes with him as her fist curls around his shaft as Michael’s hand wraps around hers.

“You don’t have to do this.”

“I wanna. Just because I can’t, doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t. Let me do this for you. Please.”

“You’re fucking amazing, you know that?” he sighs, letting her hand move up and down his hardness.

“I know. Just relax for me. I'll make it quick.”

Maya leans closer to his face to lock her lips with his. His low grunts echo in her mouth while her fist prompts him to spill his early drops of arousal. They help her pump more swiftly. He has to bury his sounds deep in his throat when she parts from his mouth and moves her head down his torso so he can finish him with a blow.

“Fuck, Maybird,” he moans as her lips wrap tightly around his swollen gland. Her hand keeps a nice pressure at the base as her head bobs quickly to have him climaxing all over her tongue.

She cleans him up, licks her lips and makes sure nothing was spilled on their clothes before taking a long swig of the glass of wine on the desk to get rid of the aftertaste of his cum.

“God, sweetheart, that was…” he stands up and pulls his clothes together while she finishes her drink. “I’ll make it up to you later.”

“You better.” She collects a pocket mirror from her purse to check her makeup. As she moves Michael's jacket out of the way, something falls from its pocket — a round pill container lands at her feet.

She means to bend down and pick up, but she freezes. It's Michael the one to reach and grab it. Maya stiffens, stares at him as he quickly tucks in his pocket. Unable to process any thought at all, she pins that in her head to revise later. As she intended to do, she fixes her hair and makeup.

Michael should have left those at home. He didn’t even mean to grab them. It was just exactly that– a habit he can’t break yet. Especially on a night like this.

“Hey,” he says softly, holding her chin under his finger and tilts her head up so he can capture her eyes. “We'll talk about it later, okay?”

“Okay.”

She checks her face in the mirror a second time to make sure there’s no visual signs of her just going down on Michael before leaving the room.

Their hands are still linked together when they step into the hallway, and it isn't until they spot Natalie coming from another room that they quickly pull them apart.

So much for being sneaky… There's no way she didn't see that. The shock flashing across her face is telling.

“Michael, can I talk to you?”

“We should go downstairs before… Carmy can't handle all those people.”

“This won't take a minute,” she says firmly.

He glances at Maya, and they nod at the other.

As Maya returns to the party, Sugar can't help but question Michael about it.

“I don't know what you saw, but it's not what you think, Sug.”

“You came out of your room holding hands. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to put two and two together. Are you dating her?”

“Would you have a problem with that?”

“I don't know… It's just… She's Maya. She practically grew up here. In this house. She and Carmy were… you haven't told him, have you?”

“Nobody knows yet. Well, just Richie. But it hasn't been going on for long, and we just thought it'd be best to wait.”

“And you brought her here tonight?”

“I didn't want her to spend the night alone. Do you think it's weird, me and her?”

“I don’t think it’s weird. I… I guess it's a little unexpected. It just caught me off guard. If you had given me a warning…”

“You wouldn't be so shocked. I'm sorry. I wanna tell everyone, but it's all so new, and she's…”

“Maya.”

“Yeah.”

“Look, it's an adjustment, but if you're happy with her, then I'm happy, Bear. Does she make you happy?”

“She does,” he smiles bashfully.

When Michael and Natalie join the rest, Cicero and his wife arrive. Uncle Lee follows.

The delicious smell of food cooking fills every nook with the house and Maya's stomach rumbles under layers of wine. She desperately needs to soak all that alcohol before it's too late.

She goes into the kitchen to find Michael casually leaning on the counter bantering with his mother as she works against the clock, cooking those seven fishes that’s the staple dish of her house.

“You doing good?” He gives Maya a look as she props her hands on the breakfast bar.

“Hm-hm.”

“You hungry too?” He guesses and Maya only nods at his question as Donna points at the meatball casserole on the counter.

“Here,” Michael grabs one meatball from the casserole, dabs the sauce on the edge so it drips as he lifts it up to her mouth. His eyes light up as she carefully bites half of it directly from his fingers. Then he shoves the other half into his mouth. Smiling at the other, both thinking about what they did earlier as they fight the urge of eating each other's mouths again.

A beat after, Maya looks to the side to see Carmy standing by the door as Donna barks something at him. She swallows, watching people come and go out of the kitchen. The timer goes off as voices get louder all around. Maya helps herself to another drink in the middle of the whirlwind of chaos of the heart of the house while Carmy takes him upon himself to organize the mess of the kitchen against Donna's wishes.

“Ma, why don't you let him help you? It's all he fucking does.” Michael picks up another meatball and offers it again to Maya, but she declines this time.

“What was that?” Carmy glances annoyed at Michael. “Like uh, that was a shot or…”

“Wasn’t a fucking shot.”

“Mikey, he’s helping me. Back off.”

“Yeah, that was a shot.” Carmen states more sternly this time. “I'm the guy that does food. You're the guy that what? You-you, uh… You start 100 different businesses and have zero follow-through.”

“You’re the one to talk,” Maya rolls her eyes, taking a long sip of her wine.

“Yeah, what are you doing here? Thought you had a husband.”

“Wow. Leave her out of this, Carm. She’s here cause I asked her to.”

“It’s fine, Michael. Let Annie Oakley take her shots at me.”

“Okay, this is why I didn't wanna come home. This is why.”

“Fuck you!” Donna shouts.

“What the fuck? Why the fuck would you say that?” Michael raises his voice. “It's fuckin' Christmas. Why would you say something like that?”

“Whatever, okay? Whatever.”

“Maya, sweetie, can you bring some ice from the freezer in the garage?” Asks Donna in the middle of the argument, and she just silently agrees.

All their voices ebb as Maya disappears into the hallway that leads to the garage to grab some ice and pull herself together. She stays there for longer than she should, collecting her thoughts and checking her phone for all her friends and co-workers messages and sending some of her own. Her eyes pull away from the screen when the door swings open.

She tucks her phone in her pocket as Carmy climbs down the two steps into the room.

“What are you doing here?”

“Grabbing some ice.” She glances at the freezer where her ass is propped.

“No. I mean, why did you come here at all?”

She shrugs, folding her arms against her stomach.

“Michael invited me.”

“It’s pretty fucking weird, don’t you think?”

“Why? I used to come here all the time when we were kids. Hell, the first time I got drunk was right in this garage with you.”

“Yeah, that’s my point. You and I aren’t friends anymore, Maya. It doesn’t make sense that you’d come anymore.”

“You've made that clear but hey, you’re the one who stopped talking to me in the first place.”

“Why do you think that is?”

“I don’t know. You tell me. I’m not psychic, Carmen.”

“Doesn’t really matter anymore.”

“No? It matters to me.”

“Guess I got tired of waiting for you.”

“Waiting for me? You’re completely delusional, you know that?”

“Am I? I thought you were different, but you’re just…”

“Just what? Are you going to call me a slut or something? You better watch your mouth.”

“No. You’re… reckless.”

“I'm reckless? For what? Living my life? Growing up? Marrying another guy?”

“Yeah.”

“I’d rather be reckless than be anything like you, Carmen. You think you're better than me, than anyone in here, but you're not. You're conceited. You've always looked at everyone down from your ivory tower like you've never made a mistake in your life. You said you were waiting for me? You had many opportunities to say what you felt, and you never did, why is that? Because you’re a fuckin’ coward. I’ve watched string along girls you weren’t into for longer than you should have. Anytime anyone has shown you an ounce of love, you’ve run the other way. You've shut down me and everyone out cause you don’t know how to love anyone but your self-righteous, narcissistic ass.”

“That’s rich coming for someone who’s fucking my brother.” His voice comes out deeply loud as Maya swallows. “You think I’m dumb? It’s written all over your face.”

Her posture stiffens all of a sudden. She opens her mouth to contradict his words, but she can't. It's pointless. He's chosen to attack, and she's going to stand and take blow after blow without throwing some of her own.

“You had your chance, Carmen, and you never took it. And the worst part is that you expected me to do something about it, but it really wasn’t up to me. I’m sorry I never felt anything for you… but I don’t think you ever loved me like you wanted either. You only thought you did cause I was there all the time. It was easy, right? We were friends. Best friends. And you ruined that.”

“So did you.”

“Yeah, we can agree on that.”

“It’s fucked-up, y’know?”

“What is?”

“You and my brother.”

“You know what’s fucked up?” She pegs him with a harsh twisted brow. “You. Coming here judging everyone and pretending you know anything about me or him. Say, when was the last time you said I love you just cause you wanted to and not because someone said it first? When was the last time you were in a relationship that lasted more than two dates? When was the last time you woke up next to someone and the thought of leaving them ripped your heart apart? I'd rather take risks and be called reckless than feel nothing, do nothing, say nothing at all, and turn into a bitter asshole like you.”

Maya walks past him and heads out the door without giving him the opportunity to respond.

As tears threaten to come out, she stops in her tracks and draws a fortifying breath to keep herself from falling apart. Though she knew sooner or later she’d have to deal with Carmy, that conversation was truly more difficult to deal with than she expected. She couldn't handle that better if he wasn't acting like an asshole.

Disheartened… Maya feels just at home. It really is no different from being with her own family. Next year, she swears she's going to take a trip or just stay at home with Coco, which sounds like something she should've done today. Coming here tonight was a mistake. If she could turn back time to earlier in the day and convince herself to stay at home she would.

In the never-ending night of riffs, she overhears Donna yelling at Natalie in the kitchen as she crosses the hallway. In the living room, Michael has everyone's attention while telling one of his stories. Every one seems entertained except for Uncle Lee that has to poke the bear as usual.

It feels like an eternity until dinner is finally served it doesn't get better once everyone is sitting at the table. No. Because, of course, there can't be a moment of peace, everything escalates from that point.

Maya’s taking a swallow of her glass when Lee starts telling the story about the seven fishes and the Dutch oven when Michael makes a buzzing sound and throws a fork at him. It hits his shoulder.

“Wrong answer.”

“Did you just throw a fork at me?” Lee's high-pitched tone breaks.

“I did,” Michael snorts.

They both start bitching back and forth. The tension strains harder after every word, every sentence interrupted, every thought unfinished.

She places her glass down as the animated conversation grows more heated by the second. The voices get louder. There's a countdown hovering over the table showing how many seconds are left for the bomb to go off. Maya hears the ticking in her head, or maybe that's just the sound of her own heart racing.

In the heat of the moment, Michael borrows a second fork from Fak and repeats the same action. This time he misses Lee's head by an inch.

Everyone tries to put off the fire before it rises, but Michael is too far gone into his own head, nobody can talk sense into him.

“Cousin, you're scaring the normals.” Richie nervously laughs.

“This is fine. It's nothing.”

“Mikey, can you hear me, buddy?”

“Not now, Stevie.”

“Cut it out.”

“Hey, look, here's the thing.” He leans back on his chair ignoring everyone. “You see, I can throw forks cause this is our father's house. My father's house.”

“Okay you have everyone's attention so go ahead, tell us a story we've all heard a million times already.”

“That's good Lee.” He laughs manically while Lee goes on a rant about him living off his mom and borrowing money from everyone.

“… I don't know what the fuck you're on, but if you can hear me through the fog, throw another fork at me, you're gonna get fuckin’ rocked!”

There's a long moment of silence. Michael scratches his beard and gazes to his side, where Maya is sitting trying to process the whole thing happening before her eyes.

“Hey, Maybird.” He says softly, and waits until she looks at him. “I just… You think I could just borrow that for one second…” he points at her fork.

“Michael don't,” she tries to say, but the rest of the table speaks louder over her voice.

“It's okay, baby.” It slips out as he picks up her fork. “This is fine. I’m fine.”

“Michael. Please don't do this!” It's Natalie's words that stand out over the others. “Hey!” She calls his attention and when Michael glances at the opposite side of the table and Sugar lowers her voice. “I love you. Okay?”

“I love you, too, Sug.”

“I'm begging you. Don't do it.”

He vaguely nods. But he's dead set on making everyone shift in their chairs as the ridiculous dispute picks up again.

The flames touch the ceiling, and there's nothing she can do to smother the fire.

Maya nudges his thigh under the table with her knee, and says his name softly, hoping it'd be enough to calm him down. But it's too late, he's already so riled up that not even her can't stop him from rising from his chair, fork in hand taunting Lee non-stop.

Petrified, she stares at the man she loves, the one who looked like a dreamboat when she woke up next to him this morning, turning into something completely different. The cracks of his mask can't hold any longer. Behind it, it all slips out. His haunted expression taking over the rough edges of his face, the sorrow in his eyes, and his tired voice, makes her heart hurt.

“Bear.” She resorts to a term of endearment, but there is no use. He's on a different plane now, guided by his addiction.

Her eyes well up as Lee keeps repeating that he’s nothing. She can see his gears spinning in a different direction and for a moment everyone stays still watching everything unfold until Donna comes into the room.

That only puts a temporary patch on the wound. It's only a matter of time before someone takes it away to let blood spill all over the table. Michael sits back down, pushing his hair back before clutching the fork again in his fist as Donna lights up a cigarette and takes a seat.

“What did I miss?”

“Nothing.”

“I missed something.”

“Uh, Stevie, Stevie's about to say grace, Ma.”

“Ooh, good, yes.”

“Go ahead and take it away there, Stevie.”

“I uh… I don't think…”

“Just say the fucking thing, Stevie.”

The tension eases up for those couple of minutes while Steve improvises grace. It all seems perfect for a moment, they all nod and smile a Steve’s kind words, but that countdown is still ticking down every last fucking second.

Everything afterward is a tableau of surreal events tangled together that would play in Maya’s head for years to come… Donna’s meltdown, Michael throwing the last fork, flipping the table and taking a more physical approach against uncle Lee, Donna losing her hinges and crashing the car into the house, the police attending the disturbance…

Out of all the memorable dinners she's had in this house, this one really takes the cake.

It's the shitshow of a lifetime that nobody will ever forget.

Chapter 10: Basket of biscuits

It’s past the witching hour when all the voices, all the noise, all the sirens, and rumblings of his own thoughts quiet down in his head when he closes the door as he settles on the driver's seat. And at once, the only voice he wanted to hear the most echoes in his head with one simple word — his name. The fear in her tone haunts him. He probably scared the shit out of her after what went down. Staring at the ruins of the front of his childhood home, Michael turns on the engine and takes a final look before steering Maya’s car out of that place.

Maya left earlier, after the police took everyone’s statement. Though she wasn’t as drunk as he was, he begged her to take a cab back home. While Donna refused to leave the house, everyone eventually left as well. Michael stayed all the way through while they boarded up the hole in the wall as a temporary measure.

Sobering down, the road gets clearer the closer he gets to Maya. He can't stand the thought of her being witness to his frantic meltdown. All he can see now, clear as day, the utter disbelief and fright in her eyes when she was pleading him to stop. He should have listened. He should have held himself better in that situation. Drugs or not, there's nothing or no one to blame but himself. That was… Embarrassing. Even for him. He swore he'd never sink that low, that he'd never let anyone see that part of him. It was bound to happen. He lost control and everyone saw. And if he wasn't for Donna interrupting his act, he's not sure how far he'd have gone.

For a split moment, he blames it on something else taking over his actions, like being possessed by one of his demons. But it doesn't last long. He can’t continue denying the fact that he’s the only one responsible for his actions. Claiming otherwise would only delay the inevitable.

They say all roads lead to Rome, and if keeps driving in the same direction, he’d surely find the only possible outcome to this. It’s time to veer off the path and find that there’s more world to see besides Rome.

He has to find a new way, and she is the only thing that could save him from this right now. However, after tonight, it wouldn't surprise him if she was already thinking about kicking him to the curve. He would blame her.

Christmas lights and empty streets quickly take him to her house. He can even imagine what’s going through her head right now… but it’s time to find out.

He parks on the driveway and takes measured steps toward the front door as the weight of the world perches on his shoulders. He feels like shit and the biggest asshole in the world for breaking his promise.

The glow of the TV and tree lights shine faintly behind the curtains when he knocks on the door. He should have called before, he realizes on that spot. Or even just text her to say he was coming so she would know what to expect. But there’s not going back now.

She takes her time to open the door and when she does, he’s met with the reflection of all his fears coming true. It flashes across her face the disappointment and disgust and utter terror of what happened at the table.

“I brought your car.” He reaches out to hand her the keys.

Hesitantly, she collects them, and makes room for him to enter before closing the door behind him.

“I… You shouldn't be driving.”

“It's fine. Sobered out pretty soon after… Where's Coco?”

“Upstairs. Hoarding the bed.” Maya puts the keys on the console table as they stand by the staircase railing. “Is everyone okay?”

“Yeah, Carm and Sug stayed with her at the house for the night. Everyone else left. ”

“She wouldn't leave?”

“No, she locked herself in her room.”

“That's crazy.”

“Yeah, another Christmas at The Berzattos. Hey, but at least none of us got locked up.”

“That's not funny, Michael.”

“It wasn't meant to be funny.”

“I think you should go… You should've stayed with them.”

“I wanted to check on you.”

“I'm fine.” Her tone says otherwise.

“Are you?”

“I was about to go to sleep.” She’s already slipped into her pj’s and was just watching TV cause she couldn’t fall asleep.

“That doesn't answer my question.”

“What do you want me to say? Of course, I'm not okay. You lied to me.”

“What… When did I lie to you?”

She fights the urge of rolling her eyes and instead, crosses her arms against her midsection to keep herself together.

“You said you weren't using when you were with me, but tonight you did. Instead of coming to me and saying — hey I'm dealing with this and that, you straight up hid it, and then you just… went off. I thought we were being honest with each other.”

He hangs his head down as she tiredly leans her back against the wall.

“I don't know how to help you if you don’t tell me what’s going on, Michael.”

“There's nothing you could've done.”

“Maybe not but you didn't even give me the chance to. I'm really concerned about you and after tonight… I don't know… I'm out of my depth here. I knew it was bad, but it's worse than I thought… If you're not seeing that, if you're not willing to admit that… Then maybe we should take a step back and consider our options before going further.”

“Consider our options? You're getting cold feet now?”

“No, that’s not what I’m saying. I just…” she sighs in exhaustion. “You should go. It's been a long night. And I'm not in the mood for this.”

“If you're gonna break up with me, just say it. Don't wait till tomorrow.” Though it’d be the right decision for her to do, he can’t stand the thought of not being with her now that he’s seen what it is to have her in her life. It would rip his soul and heart apart to hear her say those words.

“I don't wanna break up with you, but I can see that you're going through something right now, and I think it’d be best to talk about this tomorrow or the day after with clear heads.”

“Okay, okay…” he says under a heavy breath, as he shortens the distance between them.

Michael cups her jaw, and places his lips gently on her forehead.

“Can I stay here tonight?” He tries to not sound desperate but it fails so badly.

“Michael…” He grabs his wrist and takes a step back to detach herself from his hold.

“Please, Maybird, I don't wanna go. I… I can’t be alone right now. I’d… I don’t know what I’d do…” There’s something brewing inside him and if tonight wasn’t bad enough, not being able to be with her would send him down to that hole of despair he’s dug himself.

“You're scaring me, Michael.”

“Fuck, I know… I know I’m an asshole. I just…” He frantically runs a palm over his beard as he keeps pleading. “I need you. Don’t make me leave. I'm begging you.”

Those words put her between the sword and the wall. As much as he loves him, as much as she’d want him to stay, she’s still shaken and would rather be alone right now. But she wouldn’t be able to live with herself if something happened to him because she sent him away.

Before she has the chance to reply, while she gathers her thoughts he dramatically drops to his knees on the verge of tears.

“Please. I’d do anything for you, but don’t ask me to go.”

“Michael…”

“Shh, shh, shh,” he grabs her waist, pulls her close, and links his arms around her hips, planting his full face on her abdomen. He swallows his sobs in his relentless ramble. “Please, baby, I need you… I’m sorry I lied to you… I’m so sorry that I'm scaring you… I swear I’d never hurt you…”

Her eyes brim with tears and unable to pull away she just holds his head protectively in her hands, threading her fingers in her hair to calm him down.

“You’re everything to me, Maybird. I know I’m a pathetic loser and that I don’t deserve you, but I’m fucking ready… just tell me what to do… I don’t know how to fix this… please just… let me stay…”

“Shh, it’s okay, Bear.” She’s so overcome by the love she has for him, she doesn’t have the strength to kick him out. So, she just gives up to his implore. “We’ll figure it out.”

Michael’s breaking point came like the most unexpected Christmas gift he didn't ask for. He can't return it or exchange it for something else. It's only up to him to either throw it away and pretend it didn't happen or use that as the catalyst to his recovery. They say that sometimes you have to break down to break through. And he went down so many levels, that there’s only one option but to go up from there. No because he feels like he has to, but he'd do anything to stay with Maya, and he knows the only way to do it is to climb out of the dirt.

After falling asleep in Maya’s arms, he wakes up in her bed alone the next morning. The clock says it is 10am when he looks up to her night stand and from the feet of the bed is only Coco, keeping a close watch of him. Her tail starts wagging when he gazes at her and extends his hand to scratch her head.

“Hey, Coco girl.” His voice rasps as she climbs up closer to lick his face relentlessly, slobbering all over his beard. “Okay, okay, that's enough, sweetheart.”

He holds her close and scratches her neck to calm her down, as Maya’s measured footfalls make the stairs creak when she climbs up. He looks to the door and watches her as she enters the room. She's fully dressed and by the amount of layers she's clad in, it looks like she's been outside.

“Morning.” She smiles softly as she proceeds to take off her hat and scarf.

“Morning.” He props himself on his elbow while Coco jumps suddenly out of the bed and circles around Maya’s legs before leaving the room at once. “Went out?”

“Yeah, just went for a drive and grabbed some breakfast. You two looked so cozy together, I thought I should let you sleep a bit longer. You're not opening today, right?”

“No. C’mere, sweetheart.” He finds her hand and gently tugs on it so she would sit down next to him. “I'm sorry about last night, I shouldn't have come here like that. I thought I was…”

“Sh, it's okay. You already apologized, hon.”

“No. That wasn't me. That was fucking embarrassing.”

“Is this you now?” She tenderly moves his straightened hair away from his forehead and combs it softly.

“Think so.”

“You look better.” Her fingers keep gently peppering him with caresses all over his head and neck.

“I feel like shit.” He gets a hold of her hand and kisses her knuckles. “You’re not mad at me anymore?”

“No. I can’t really stay mad at you for long. You know that. And the good thing about all this is that since last night, I haven't really thought about being ditched for Christmas by my family.”

“Fuck, I'm such an asshole… I had all these plans with you after dinner… and I totally ruined everything. We didn't even get to open our presents.”

“It's okay. I promise. We'll try again next year. Maybe just the two of us.”

“You still think we'll be together next year?”

“I have no idea. But I'm hoping so… I want to.”

“God, you’re a fucking angel.”

“I’m not,” she laughs softly.

“Yeah, heaven-sent. You took care of me last night when you had your own thing going on. Not many people would’ve done that.”

Maya leans in and kisses his temple before wrapping her arms around his neck. She bathes him with love cause she’s not sure what else to do than to show him that she needs him just as much.

“How about we get some food in you?” She smooches his head and as she attempts to stand up, he curls his arms around her, pulling her down with him.

“Not yet, baby. Let's stay here for a minute. I'm not hungry.”

She relaxes in his hold and cuddles with him until his phone goes off.

“It's Sugar.” Maya sees on the screen. “Are you gonna pick it up?”

He vacillates, but he ends up taking the call while Maya dislodges herself from his embrace. She collects a tray and some food from the kitchen while Natalie tells Michael that they finally got their mother out of the house. She'll be at Nat's for a few days until they fix the front of the house.

“Yeah… I'll take care of it. See you later.” Maya overhears as she returns to the bedroom with his breakfast.

“Everything alright?” She sits down on the mattress, placing the tray in the middle.

“Yeah. She asked me to go talk to uncle Jimmy's friend. You know, the contractor? He said he could get it done fast.”

“That's good, yeah?”

“Yeah, I guess.”

“What's wrong?”

“I don't know… I just… how can I look at these people in the face after what I did.”

“Because you're Michael fucking Berzatto. And you don't take shit from no one.” She tries cheering him up. “Uncle Lee was an asshole. Nobody cares that you threw a couple of forks at him. They're worried about you. And I don't think anyone remembers what you did. Donna upstaged the two of you, I'm afraid.”

“How do you manage to put a positive spin on everything?”

“Someone has to.”

As much as he loves hearing her talk like that is time for a reality check. Besides Maya being the brightest light in his life from the past few months, the rest have been hell. The restaurant has been struggling for way longer than he’d like to admit and has become the biggest failure of his life. His dependency has only been exacerbated by the pressure he’s put on himself to try to fix all by himself. All the lies, the high expectations, and the way his family look up to him for answers and comfort have become a lead weight on him.

The Beef was an inherited mess that was passed down to him when his father died. He took it upon himself to carry the family business to keep the family afloat, especially since Carmen and Natalie were merely teens, and there was nobody else but him to provide for all of them. He always thought he’d had his own restaurant and part of that pipe dream was bringing Carmy along. That dream faded as soon as he got hit with the hard cold truth that managing a restaurant, even a sandwich shop wasn’t as easy as his father made it look. But to be fair the late Berzatto didn’t have the best system either. It was all back door deals and handshakes and fucking agreements with this guy and this other guy. It made him wonder if the old trio had some shady business going on. Even Maya’s uncle was involved at some point, he recalls seeing his name a couple of times in one of the accounting books.

To sum it all up, he was set up with a business that was already failing before got it. His optimism and passion could only keep him trying for so long. The last couple of years have been hell, and at this point he’s not sure if he wants to run it anymore. He’s toyed with the idea of burning it to the ground and starting over, or just selling it and walking away. But there are a lot of factors in play that are stopping him from doing that. Like disappointing his family or the people who work for him. And let's not forget the big question of what Michael would do if he didn’t have The Beef.

With a heavy heart he finally pours everything out to Maya. If someone can understand, it’s her. She knew when her life needed a turn and took it. He’s at the same crossroads right now, but unlike her, he doesn’t feel brave enough to do what needs to be done.

Maya draws a breath, absorbing every single thing Michael has laid out. It’s a lot to process, but her mind is already spinning ideas and questions that could potentially help him.

“You could sell and start over. The Beef is not your failure. It wasn’t even your dream to begin with. And I don’t think anyone will hold it against you if you give it away.”

“I guess I’m not ready to give up, you know? I don’t know what I’d do if I walked away now.” He shifts in the bed, laying on his side, placing his head on her lap while she plays with his hair.

“What about the restaurant you wanted to open with Carmy? It was all you talked about once upon a time. ”

“I can't bring him into this. He's better off without me.”

“He's not. Your brother is fucking miserable.”

“How do you know that? Did he tell you that?”

“No… but we shared some words last night, I don't want to get into the whole thing right now, but I could tell that he's not happy either.”

“Last night… He gave me this thing. It was a sketch he did about that restaurant… I just don't know how to make you both understand that I have no idea how to make it true. He's worked so hard to be where he is now…. I won’t be the one to keep it away from all that.”

“Have you ever thought that maybe you could learn something from him and that teaming up would solve all your problems?”

“Yeah, maybe. But I don’t want to take that chance. I won’t ruin his career. He’s where he’s supposed to be.”

“You know, you’ve talked a lot about not wanting to let everyone down and keeping everyone happy. But when are you gonna start taking care of yourself, Bear? All those people you’re caring for, they’re pretty much grown up. They don’t need you to keep holding their hand. Not Natalie, nor Carmy, nor your mother. And don’t get me wrong, the way you care for them is part of the reason I care for you… but at some point you’re going to have to care for yourself too. Cause I can’t keep an eye on you 24/7.”

“Did you go to shrink school or something?” He scoffs, glancing up at her eyes from his comfortable spot.

“No, I wish! It’s hard to put yourself above anyone else… I get it. But you’re going to have to, Michael. If you don’t, it’ll eventually catch up with you. The pressure, the pills, the need to please everyone…”

“What if it’s too late?”

“It’s not. I promise it’s not. I know it seems that way, but you, asking the right questions… That tells me it’s not too late. And the thing is that you don't have to decide anything right now. But hypothetically speaking, if you didn't have The Beef to take care of, and could do anything in the world, what would you do?”

“Well, If I could do anything, I'd stay in this bed, day, and night with you for a year.”

“Okay, let's say you've done that now. You wake up, get out of bed and where do you go?”

“I've always….” he pauses as the corner of his mouth pulls up.

“What? Tell me.” Her hand fists his hair without pulling.

“I've always wanted to buy a bike and drive across every state.”

“I could see you doing that.”

“Yeah, right.”

“Stop doing that. It's not an unattainable dream, Bear. You can do whatever you want.”

“Would you come with me if I asked you?”

“Hm, I don’t know… I’m not a huge fan of bikes. But I guess if I could follow along with my car and bring Coco with us, I’d go.”

“How about next summer?”

“Bring it on.”

“You know I’m joking, right?” He scoffs.

“I’m not. If you really wanna do that. Do it. What’s that thing you always say… Let one rip?”

“Let it rip,” he snorts and shakes his head, utterly amused by her way of messing up his motto.

“So, let it rip!”

“How? How do you walk away from everything?”

“You put one foot in front of the other and repeat.”

“Well, thank you for just describing walking, baby.”

“I’m serious, Michael. You take enough small steps and one day you’ll look back and won’t be able to see what you left behind.”

She holds his face firmly and dips to leave a small peck on his lips, then plants her forehead on top of his.

“I’d go anywhere with you. Would you?”

“Yeah, always.”

Michael’s palm slides along her jaw as his lips capture her mouth one more time. In this room, on this bed, he feels more safe and loved than ever before.

In the evening, Maya takes Michael to meet the contractor who comes into the house to survey the damage. After that, they swing by Natalie’s to check how Donna is doing.

Maya stays in the car. Her choice. She’s not ready to have another Berzatto reunion so soon.

She’s listening to the radio when all of a sudden a tap on the glass startles her. She glances to the side and finds Carmy motioning with his hand to roll down the window.

Sighting, she turns off the radio, as the glass slides down.

“Hey, can we talk?” His breath manifests in the air.

“I'm not in the mood for you to keep jabbing at me.”

“I wasn’t going to… I just…” he props his forearm on the roof of the car. “I wanted to say I’m sorry. You were right about… well, about almost everything. I have no right to tell you how to live your life and shouldn’t have talked to you that way. I still think it’s pretty weird that you’re dating my brother… but I guess I’ll have to get over it.”

Maya swallows, staring at her hands curling around the steering wheel. It feels forced to hear him say that so soon, but not completely dishonest. He’s making an effort, and she appreciates that.

“Thank you for saying that. I’m sorry that you had to find that way and that I called you a self-serving asshole that doesn’t care about anyone but himself. I know you cared about me… I just…”

“Hey, I get it. We both said a lot of things we didn’t mean.”

“What made you change your mind?”

“I don’t know… I couldn’t sleep last night and Sugar and I started talking, we were up for hours… I guess she knocked some sense into me.”

“Do you think we could ever be friends again?”

“I don’t know.”

“Could we pretend that we are just for five minutes? I need to ask you something.”

“I… I suppose we could. Can I get in? It's freezing out here.”

“Yeah, sure.”

Carmy goes around the car and hops into the passenger seat as Maya closes the window.

“What is it?”

“How's Copenhagen? Are you liking it there? Is it everything you ever dreamed of?”

“It's one of the best jobs I've ever had.”

“That's not what I asked.”

“I… I don't know what you want me to say… I guess I always thought I'd end up here with Michael… But I don't think he even wants me here anymore. Why are you asking me this?”

“God, he's going to kill me for telling you this… But hypothetically, what if he was in trouble and was too prideful to ask for help? What if he wanted to build that restaurant you dreamed of but wouldn't want you to give up your career for him? What if he was thinking of selling the shop but was too afraid of disappointing all of you?”

“Fuck, that's a lot of what ifs, Maya. Is that all true?”

“I can't tell you that, but if that were all true would you consider coming back?”

“You know better than anybody that all I wanted to do is work with him. If he asked, I'd be here in a second. But he's not going to ask, is he?”

“I don't think he's ready yet. I'm trying to help him as best as I can, but I feel like I'm not enough.”

“What do you think I could do if he doesn't want anyone's help… ”

“I don't know… he's too stubborn to ask for help. I'm just running out of ideas here… and he's looking at me like I have all the answers…”

“You think if I came back that'll change?”

“Maybe not, but if there's just a small chance that you were considering doing what you always wanted to do… if he saw that you weren't going anywhere, perhaps it’d point him in the right direction.”

“It takes guts to ask for help like that. And I'm not talking about him. I know you wouldn't be asking if it wasn't serious.”

“Yeah, like I said, if he knew I was telling you this…”

“I won't tell, if you don't.” He smiles softly.

“Thank you.”

“I'll think about it though.”

“Yeah? I'll keep trying too.”

As Carmy leaves the car, Michael comes out of the front door. They meet in the middle and Maya watches them quickly sharing some words before saying goodbye.

“Everything good here?” Asks Michael once he's taken his seat and closes the door.

“Yeah, we were just straightening some things up. I didn't want to tell you earlier, but we had an argument last night. It's all good now…” and she feels like an asshole for going behind his back, but if Michael is too proud or ashamed to ask for help, someone has to. She'd love to have all the answers laid out for him, but she has no idea what she's doing half of the time.

“He knows about us, does he?”

“Yeah, we weren't as careful as we wanted. Even Sugar saw. I mean… you even called me baby at the table. Don’t think anyone really noticed but… I guess it’s out now.”

“Does it freak you out that they know?”

“No. It was never about that. I just wanted to keep it just between us for a little longer.”

As they drive back home they toy with the idea of recreating the Christmas dinner they never go to have the previous night. They make a quick stop at a couple of places to gather some ingredients and scramble something together.

Michael has a lot of faults, but he's a natural in the kitchen. He feels right in his element when he's crafting a meal, especially when it’s for her. There’s no pressure laying on the counter, no bills to worry about, but the need to impress her makes him rise to the occasion.

After dinner, they exchange those gifts they put under the tree in her living room a couple of days ago. There’s a gift basket for Coco with toys, her favorite snacks, a blanket, and bathing products. While the dog is distracted with a chew on the rug, they sit on the couch to open theirs.

Maya’s gift to Michael is considerably bigger than what he got for her, which is a thin flat box as long as her palm.

“You want me to go first?” Asks Maya.

“Yeah, sure. Go on, baby.”

She’s kneeled by his side on the cushion, and he closely watches her hand unwrap the jewelry box that contains a dainty gold necklace with two twin pendants. Two small discs share an M etched on one side but are different on the back. One of them has the outline of a bear, and the other a dog paw.

“Do you like it?”

“I love it, Mikey Bear.” Her free palm slides at his nape. “Thank you.”

“Thought you could wear this one,” he points at the one with the bear, “and I could take the other.”

“Yeah, that’d be perfect.” She inspects the pendants for a bit longer before sliding the one with the paw on it out the chain. “We’re kind of an institution now, like M&Ms.”

“Or Eminem.”

“For sure,” she laughs at the same time she clasps the chain around her neck. “Are you gonna open yours?”

Michael nods and extends his hand to open the big wrapped box waiting on the coffee table. In it there's a record player set with speakers and a couple of Otis Redding albums.

“You’re the best, you know that?” He holds his chin on top of his fist for a second, mesmerized by how much he adores her.

“Hm, I’ve been told.” She smugly slings her arm around his lower back as he inspects his new gift and starts setting all the components on. “Wasn’t sure if you liked Otis, but it’s one of my favorites.”

“Yeah, I dig it. Everyone loves the king of soul.”

Tucking her palm under the hem of his shirt, she kisses his shoulder, as he carefully slides one of the vinyls out of its sleeve before placing it on the platter.

“I haven’t used one of these in a while, let’s see if I remember…” he thinks for a beat, staring at the levels and buttons as he figures out how to set it up.

“You know, there are instructions on the box, right?” She playfully scratches his back.

“Don’t need instructions.”

“Typical male response,” she scoffs.

“Look, it’s done.” After settling the needle in position he hits the on button and stares at the record as it starts spinning. It rotates a couple of times before the first track comes out of the speakers.

Michael curls his arm around her, pulling her flush against his chest as they lean back on the couch. Maya drapes her legs on his lap, pillowing her head on his shoulder as the ever so beautiful melody of These Arms Of Mine plays on the speakers.

“Oh, I almost forgot.” Maya tucks her hand in her jean's pocket to collect a keychain of a miniature motorcycle she got at the gas station earlier. “I also got you this when we stopped for gas. I didn't have time to get you a real bike in time but– what do you say, you wanna go on a road trip with me and Coco?”

“A Harley-Davidson? I don't think the three of us can fit here.” He dangles the keychain between his fingers. “But we'll see.”

Maya smiles against his shoulder as he kisses her head.

“Hey, can I tell you a secret?” His voice changes to a softer tone.

“Uh-huh.”

He knows this is far from perfect and that he's probably going to screw everything up at some point, but whether it's perfect or not, right here, in her arms, everything is like it's supposed to be.

“I love you, Maybird.”

She tilts her chin up so he can capture the glint of eyes. She doesn't say it right away, it takes her a couple of beats to build up the courage to say back…

“I love you too, Bear.”

The End.

#jon bernthal #michael berzatto #michael berzatto x ofc #michael berzatto x reader #the bear #the bear fanfiction #jon bernthal fanfiction #carmy berzatto #natalie berzatto #richie jerimovich #fanfiction #angst #smut #fluff #darlingwrites #salt of the earth

142 notes · View notes

roosterbruiser · 1 year

Note

ok i just read your jake x reader get caught by their teenage son. and it had me thinking about their teenage son has friends over and one of them is clearly crushing on seresin son’s mom (aka reader). jake would be protective and youd tease him bc hes just a kid. and then your son would notice his friends constant looks at you and be like “if you dont stop that youre never coming over again” and jake would be all smug like “thats my boy” 💀

𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐚 𝐁𝐨𝐲

𝐚 𝐉𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐧

Jake is a wise enough man to know that you're the hot mom.

I mean, really, anyone should know just from looking at you.

But he especially knows because he's been your partner for a long time; he knows the kind of attention you get from both sexes, the kind of looks you never really see but he achingly does.

So he isn't surprised necessarily whenever August brings his friends over for a pool day and finds all of those pimple-faced boys practically drooling over you.

Not that they can help themselves really--they're jacked up on hormones and probably just discovered porn, like, recently.

Honestly, it's kind of endearing at first.

All the boys are stuttering out yes ma'am's and gaping at you and stealing long-lasting glances whenever they can.

Not that you even notice--no, you're just preoccupied trying to be a good host. You've done the whole mom-thing today by cutting up about a billion fruits, buying sub sandwiches for everyone, getting the bluetooth speaker out, setting out towels, the whole ordeal. It's important to you that all of August's friends feel comfortable in your home.

This surprises Jake because most of the boys haven't discovered the wonders of deodorant yet, but he understands that you're softer by nature.

Jake's right there next to you, making sure everything runs smoothly. But dammit if he finds himself unable to take his eyes off you, too--you look undeniably sexy today. You look sexy every single day, no matter the time (hence getting caught so early in the morning that one fateful day).

You're wearing a black one-piece, your most conservative swimsuit, that comes up high on the hips and kisses your curves just right. Your hair is in a clip and your cheeks are sun kissed and your chest is glowing with sunscreen--God, you just look effortlessly beautiful today.

Honestly, you look like you could be in a swimsuit catalog. Like one of the ones Jake would've stolen from his mother's bathroom when he was August's age. So he kind of gets the boggling.

It doesn't help that you're prancing all around, making sure there are enough napkins and running back into the house whenever you remember that you bought the makings for virgin margaritas.

He sees all the boys drooling over you when you sit on your knees at the edge of the pool and bend forward to dole out the glasses.

He also sees August punch a few of his friends arms with an incredulous look--one Jake found himself on the receiving end of not long ago.

The first time Jake steps in is when one of the boys, named something dumb like Braydenleigh or something like that, spills his drink all down your front. He frames it like an accident, his cheeks going bright red and his voice thin as he blurts apologies. But Jake saw it happen--he saw Braydenleigh nudge one of the other boys with a smirk, saw him get into position and let the glass slip out of his hands and all over your plush chest and lap as you sat on the edge of the pool.

You're too nice--you are forgiving him instantly, assuring him that the cool drink is honestly for the best since it's so hot! Plus you're wearing black, so no need to worry about a stain!

But you're running your fingers along your breasts now, your hands getting sticky with lime and salt, and instead of dirtying the pool water that your husband religiously tries to keep clean, you start to carefully lick your hands free of the margarita.

And every single boy in the pool is oggling, their eyes practically bulging out of their heads as they move to cross their hands over their crotches.

"Hey, baby, c'mere," Jake says as he approaches, discarding his shirt so the bird-chested boys can see what a real man's chest looks like. "Use this."

Jake hands you his shirt and you grin up at him, taking it softly and beginning to dab at your chest with it.

"Thanks, baby!"

"Why don't you boys run along and find a jet to hump or something?" Jake says to the boys, a grin plastered to his lips.

Then they're all blushing again, fleeing, as August snickers softly to himself.

But then Jake looks down at you and sees that you're gaping at him now, your eyes narrowed.

"What was that?" You hiss.

"What was what?" Jake says innocently, definitely not flexing his biceps as he stretches nonchalantly.

"Oh, I get it," you grin, holding your hips and letting his shirt sit in your lap. "You're jealous, huh?"

Jake scoffs. As if.

"Not jealous of a bunch of little boys," Jake says as he sits decide you, making sure your thighs are pressed together.

"Mmhmm, so I guess you took your shirt off because you're hot, then?"

Jake laughs, shrugging.

"My wife needed my help," he says. "I am a gentleman after all."

"Wow," you sigh, leaning on his shoulder. "If only there were some sort of item that could soak up liquids--you know, like a towel. And if only we were somewhere that have towels in abundance--you know, like a pool."

Jake just grins.

"Wishful thinking, sweetie."

And even though you don't really believe that the boys think you're hot and you're specifically looking away from them when you know that their glances have fallen on you once more, you love your husband for protecting you.

"Hey, uh, Mrs. Seresin?" One of the boys calls out as the other boys flock around him giggling.

"Yes, honey?" You ask sweetly.

August is staring at the boy from the other side of the pool, absolutely fed up with all of his friends antics today.

The boy clears his throat and gives you a nauseating grin.

"We have an odd number for chicken," he explains pathetically. "Wanna partner up and get on my shoulders?"

Before you can even respond, too shocked to do anything but laugh at first, August is trudging through the water to stand in between you and the boy. Jake has stiffened beside you, putting an arm around you protectively.

"Bro, if you don't stop coming onto my mom, then I'll be forced to tell everyone here that you wet the bed a couple weeks ago!" August says.

The boy goes absolutely pale as the rest of their friends break out in laughter.

Honestly, you want to reprimand him. He can be a brutal little thing, something he gets from his father, and you can't help but feel a little sorry for the little pervert that wets his bed.

But then August gestures to you and very fiercely says, "Apologize to her, bro. Now!"

And the boy meekly apologizes, barely able to meet your gaze. The other boys are hitting his arms now, unable to control their roaring laughter.

"I've told you before, Hayden," August says incredulously, crossing his arms and tutting. "You're never gonna get anywhere in life if you don't respect women."

And suddenly you've never been more proud of your little man. You've always known that he's got a good head on his shoulders. He's truly wise beyond his years, something he gets from you. And you know that you brought him up to respect women, especially with the aid of your husband who practically worships the dirt you walk on, but seeing it in action just makes your heart soar.

If you didn't know any better, you'd hop into the pool and kiss his sweet little face. But you know that would just take all the attention off Piss Pervert and you want him to burn a little bit.

"Atta boy," Jake whispers, choking on his own pride for your son.

"We should get him a dog or something," you whisper, smiling fondly at August as he initiates a group-wide game of Marco-Polo.

"A car, maybe?"

"Something," you whisper back to Jake, leaning on his shoulder. "He's a good boy."

"He's got a good mama," Jake whispers, squeezing your hip and pressing a chaste kiss to your hair. "Raised him right."

"Don't worry," you tease, "I'm sure there's still time to mess him up."

here is my tag list!!

if you liked this, consider checking out my Jake x You story!

1K notes · View notes

sammy-halpert · 4 months

Text

"That's just cute now"

Author note: I just haven't seen a new fanfic for ages, so here you go!

Warnings: some cursing, rest is pure fluff <3

You and Wilbur are friends since around four years and have moved in together a year ago. It was very common for Wilbur to be either by his computer all day or with his band, but he still uses every break he has to spend it with you, but obviously he doesn't tell you that and makes you belive he has some breaks alone.

You've had a crush on him the day you saw him. His tlal figure towering over you, his soft presence, his little dirty jokes and the British accent were really something for you. The crush had become so big, you noitice everything. You noitice if he has a new piece of clothing, if there is a new picture in his phone case, even if he gets the smallest paper cut you find out.

But again it felt like he just sees you as a close friend. One time you and him had been watching a movie and he had held you, cuddling you. Of course, he was tired and everything. The next few days it felt like he was ignoring you, avoiding eye contact... blushing?

Wilbur left to record a new sorry boys video, till 7pm, currently it's 6:21pm. Cuddled up in your bed, wearing a t-shirt as you are scrolling on your phone, back faced to the bedroom door. Lovejoy is playing in your headphones and the sound of some videos as you scroll by.

After a little but you come across an edit of a certain someone... (I'll add the video you saw because I am very fucking delusional and I need as much detail in everything possible :D)

'Oh fuck' You thought. Being attracted to him and then seeing these videos made you want to kick your legs and giggle like a high-school girl. You really love this man more than you thought. The next thing you know, you find yourself on a rabbit hole on Tik tok and watching the edits of him, saving them one by one and putting them into an photo album of him.

You've been collecting pictures of him since years, taking some yourself and others from the Internet. It feels to weird have so many pictures of your best friend and admiring them every time you couldn't sleep, but you couldn't help it.

After a while of collecting the videos you take your time and start to look at every single video or photo in the album, zoning out a couple times to think of how to confess to him. You know it's the best thing to just tell him straight up, but you had five worries.

What if he says that he doesn't like you back ? That will be the most awkward friendship ever.

Courage. You don't have it when it comes to Wilbur and confessing.

The 'Oh no I'm gonna fuck this up so bad' feeling the second you try to talk to him about it.

He misunderstands you. What if he thinks you said something else? You already had mustered up all your courage and he didn't understand it. No thank you, another time.

What if he immediately ends the friendship? What if he doesn't want to live with someone who has a huge crush on him? Yeah no, not taking that risk.

You are so lost in a trance you don't hear the front door open. The pictures of him just make you feel like you're on a cloud and turn your eyes into hearts. You are indeed hear over heels for him.

"(Name) I'm back!" Wilbur shouted from the front door as he take soft his shoes and jaket. He stops as you don't answer. "(Name)?" He shouted and looked into the direction of your room. He frowns as worry swarms over him. Did something bad happen to you. He hurries and throws his shoes into the corner instead of carefully putting them there.

Headphones still in use and you are still lost in the pictures. You can't get enough of his looks. The pictures really had something and you didn't noitice his steps or shouts of your name.

Wilbur opens your bedroom door without even knocking, too worried. "(Name)?" He sees you on the bed and mentally sighs relifed. You haven't noiticed him yet, and he knows. An idea gets into his mind and he silently sneaks to your bed, your bsck still facing him and the door. He was about to give you a tickle attack before he saw what you are doing. You are... Looking at images of him, and edits? He watches you swipe in the galleries and they never seemed to stop.

A smile creeps up on his face. You like him back?! He couldn't belive it. He was glad he doesn't have to isolate himself anymore after they cuddle because he needs to recharge the act of not liking you that way. But he won't need the act anymore.

Instead of tickling you, he lays down by your side and spoons you, arms wrapping around your waist and a face nuzzled into your neck, a familiar scent entering your nose.

You quickly turn your phone off in hopes he didn't see anything and take off your headphones. "Oh- hi Will. I didn't hear you" You mumble, blushing. Usually you never cuddle expect for when watching movies. "Mmh... I know" He hummed into your neck.

Spooning isn't your favourite cuddling position so you turn around and nuzzle onto him, head resting on his chest. He pulls you closer and caresses your hair.

What is going on? He is never that affectionate. Like never. Not even while watching movies. Did something happen?

"I see you've spent your time missing me?" You could hear the smile in his voice as clear as day, his hand now resting on your arm, thumb strocking you. "What?" It came out of your mouth without thinking any further and a chuckle moves his chest.

"I mean, you must have missed me a lot that you didn't even hear me come home, because you were too busy staring at my photos." HE SAW THAT?! Now that's where embarrassment becomes cringing. Oh please just make him think you are playing a prank on him, but he knows you're not that big of a prankster. The furthest you go is make him say 'Ben Dover.'

"I was cleaning up my gallery" You mumble and bury your face into his chest. This is so embarrassing. It seems he's catching into that crush of yours, but he seems very cool with it.

"That's just cute now" He mumbles under his breath with a soft chuckle. "(Name). I know that if you have more than eighr pictures of the same guy in a row in your gallery, you are simpinggg" He says in a teasing tone but he was dead serious. "You wanna say I have a crush on you?" You scoff, trying your best to make it seem like you find it funny that he's apperantly so wrong.

Wilbur sighs. "You won't say it so I will." A soft hand comes up from your arm and gently pushes you s bit away so you can look at him without breaking your neck and then comes to your chin, tilting it up to look at him. Then he comes up close, his nose only an inch from you." I love you. Not bestie way. The romantic way." He leans in but centimeters befor your lips he stops. Puppy eyes look into yours and you feel his breath again your lips as he asks in a whisper. "May I? Please"

You know Wilbur is a huge gentle man, so it wasn't a big suprise he asked for concent and to be honest, you liked it a lot. A nod from you was all it took and his lips are now pressed against yours. The hand on your chin moves up to your cheek as the other tone is tucked under you and on your back.

Butterflies fill both of your stomach's as your lips move rhythmically against each other. After a moment or two he pulls away and looks at you with this familiar look in his eyes. Before this you always saw those eyes as his normal rest look, but now you realise, it was a look of love. He had looked at you so many times with this look you thought it was his rest look, but his actual resting face was around his other friends. Around you, he's the softest softie you'll ever know.

An adorable smile curls his lips and you couldn't help but smile back. He holds you close and you wrap your ams around him aswell, cuddling onto his warm and soft presence.

"You're mine now, (Name)"

"Gladly"

><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><

Taglist:

@ogelizasoot

If anyone wants to join the taglist, let me know!

#wilbur soot #wilbur soot oneshots #wilbur soot fluff #wilbur soot x reader #wilbur soot x y/n #wilbur soot x you #wilbur #wilbur soot fanfiction #wilbur mcyt #lovejoy wilbur

130 notes · View notes

punkshort · 9 months

Text

Chapter warnings: language, violence, angst

A/N: I have very little knowledge of the NYC subway system, or the NYC landscape, really (I've only been there once). Just use your imagination lol it's fiction!

Chapter Nine

Pairing: Joel x F!Reader, pre-outbreak and post outbreak

AU (the only thing I kept was the outbreak, Joel, and Tommy's characters. Joel's backstory is different, and the way he finds Jackson is different. I may include Ellie one day, I just haven't planned that far)

Fic Summary: You worked for Joel and Tommy a few months before the outbreak. The outbreak happens, and you and Joel get stuck traveling the country and keeping each other safe. Neither of you spoke about the feelings you had for one another pre-outbreak, and in a post-apocalyptic world, it seems like survival should be your only focus. But feelings can't be ignored forever.

Fic tags: Explicit Smut (18+ MDNI), Smut, Language, Canon-Typical Violence, Alcohol Use, Age Difference (Reader is 10 years younger than Joel), slow burn, mutual pining, angst, trauma, SA referencing later but I will put a big warning on those chapters

You sat perched on a couch in the living room while Joel tended to the body in the kitchen, but only after he confirmed you were alone. You felt numb, like there was an aching hole in your chest about to destroy you. Staring at the ground with your jaw slack, you rocked back and forth with your knees pressed to your chest, reliving the murder you just committed. His blood was warm and sticky over your face and chest as you drove the heavy statue into his skull repeatedly, brain matter spattering out on the floor. You remembered slipping in the blood when you had to shift your weight and get better leverage. You remembered the helpless moans and gurgles the man made in the beginning, before the fourth or fifth strike put an end to him. But you had kept going, kept crushing his face until he was unrecognizable. You had no idea you could do something so savage, so brutally unhinged, and you were terrified. The only other time you could recall feeling that type of rage was in Joel’s office a week ago. But even then, you were just mad. This was different. This was violent and sick. You felt your stomach churn and you glanced around frantically under the light of a lantern to find a receptacle. You spotted a garbage can under a desk at the side of the room, and you made it just in time, kneeling on the floor and heaving into the basket.

Hearing the noises from the kitchen, Joel reappeared in the living room, quickly wiping his hands of blood before you saw. Once you had stopped and leaned back, Joel took a few tentative steps forward. “You alright?” he asked, fully aware how ridiculous the question was, but he didn’t know what else to say.

All you could do was shake your head, then you buried your face in your hands, trying to hold back the next wave of tears. Joel picked up your canteen from the side of the couch and brought it over. You took a small sip before screwing the lid back on. You couldn’t bring yourself to look at him.

“I’m going to jail,” you whispered, your voice shaky. “What am I going to do, Joel?”

He shook his head, sitting down on the floor next to you. “You ain’t goin’ to jail. I don’t think that’s the world we live in anymore.” He finally got a good look at you for the first time. You were covered in blood, your clothes were ruined, your face only clean where your tears washed away the carnage. He stood up and headed back to the pantry, which now was home to two dead bodies shoved against the far wall under a sheet. He reached down to the packs of unopened water bottles and grabbed as many as he could carry. Joel stood up and was about to exit when he remembered the gun. He put the water bottles on the kitchen island and dug the gun out from under the groceries on the floor. He opened the chamber and confirmed it was fully loaded before tucking it into the back of his pants.

He returned to you with the bottles of water in his arms. "Why don't you go wash up and change your clothes? I got some water here, and I'll get you some towels, then you should really try to get some sleep."

You didn't feel like moving, but Joel was right. Smelling the coppery blood and feeling how tight it made your skin as it dried was a sensory nightmare. You stood up wordlessly and headed back towards his bedroom, while Joel followed behind you with the water. You walked into the bathroom and stood in the middle of the huge room you once envied, but now you were struggling to feel anything at all. Joel brought the lanterns in for you and opened the shower door, setting the water bottles down on a bench. He turned around and opened the linen closet, pulling out a few towels, wash cloths and a basin. He set all the supplies on the counter and faced you, still standing and staring.

"Do you," he cleared his throat, "do you need help, or...?" He trailed off, unsure what to do for you. He just hoped getting clean and some sleep will help.

You shook your head, but before he left you asked quietly, "Can you bring my pack in here? My clothes-"

"Right, 'course, yeah, hold on," he hurried out to the bedroom and brought your pack to you. "Holler if you need anythin'." And he shut the door behind him.

You sighed, dragging your weakened form over to the basin, grabbing it along with the washcloths and putting them alongside the water in the walk-in shower. You peeled your shirt off, soaked in so much blood that it made a wet noise as it lifted from your skin. You weren't sure where to put your clothes, so you balled them up and put them in one of the two sinks. You stepped into the shower and filled the basin with a few bottles of water, deciding to dip your hair in first to scrub the dried blood out. You reached up and grabbed Joel's shampoo that smelled clean and fresh, like oranges. The scent lifted your spirits a small fraction until you moved one of the lanterns over to the basin of dirty water and saw just how red it was. You felt your stomach roll again, but this time you held it together and moved the light away, dumping the water down the drain and refilled it to rinse your hair.

You completed this process as you made your way down, scrubbing your face and ears until you felt raw, then your arms, chest and hands. Your lower half wasn't in bad shape, but your fingernails were the worst part. You did your best, but there was still a little bit of blood stuck under them when you had finished.

You wrapped your hair up in one of the big towels Joel gave you and wrapped the other around your body. You stood there for a few moments, staring at yourself in the mirror under the light of the lanterns, feeling numb and tired. You didn't think you would be able to sleep earlier, but it turned out your body was exhausted. You felt weak as you picked some clothes out of your pack and pulled them on, quickly drying your hair and hanging the towels up before opening the bathroom door.

Joel was waiting at attention on the other side of the door the entire time you cleaned up, in case you needed something. He stood when you opened the door, pleased to see you had scrubbed all the blood off and looked more like yourself, but when his eyes met yours, he didn't see the light in them anymore. His chest tightened, hating himself for putting you through this. You stood before him, unsure of yourself, glancing around the room.

"Let's sleep in the living room, would that make you feel better?" he asked you. You nodded, and he grabbed the pillows and blankets off the bed before heading down the hall back to the couches. He made a makeshift bed on a couch for each of you, and you eagerly buried yourself under the blanket, your eyelids getting heavy. Before you fell asleep, you remembered your clothes in the bathroom.

"Joel?" you whispered, your voice crackling from disuse. He immediately sat up from the couch across from you.

"What d'you need?" he asked.

"My clothes, they're in your sink, I wasn't sure what to do with them."

"Oh, right, I'll get rid of 'em, you go to sleep I'll be right back."

You didn't have to be told twice, sliding your eyes shut as a restless sleep overtook you. Joel got a trash bag and a few more bottles of water from the pantry. He got to work bagging up the empty bottles of water and your bloodied clothes, then did his best to wash the shower and sink of any remaining blood so you didn't have to see it in the morning. When he returned, after throwing the bag of garbage in the pantry with the dead bodies, you were fast asleep.

He laid on his couch, berating himself over and over for letting this happen. Had he not been so goddamn distracted with thoughts of fucking you, he would have heard the intruders and maybe got the jump on them before you even woke up. Or maybe his distracted thoughts keeping him awake was what saved you both. He would never know, but what he did know was you were put in that position because he wasn't careful. He should have been quieter, he should have grabbed the gun, he should have expected a second intruder. When he inspected the apartment after he calmed you down, he saw they had jimmied open the lock on his door. He had no idea how they did it so quietly. Maybe had he gone right to bed, he wouldn't have heard anything, and you would both be dead.

He rubbed his hands up and down his face roughly, agitated, feeling helpless and riddled with guilt. These feelings for you had to stop. Tonight was a close call, and he wasn't going to risk anything happening again. His sole focus had to be just on your safety and survival going forward.

He shut his eyes, desperately trying to get a few hours of sleep before another long day tomorrow.

Both of you woke up a little later than you had intended, but given the events from last night, Joel figured you both could have used the sleep. You still weren't saying much, but your face looked like it had a little bit more color to it, and he hoped that meant you were coming around. Joel grabbed another armful of water bottles from the pantry, the smell of the bodies beginning to fester in the closed room, and used them to refill your canteens and wash up once more before your long journey. He unpacked the clothes he had stolen from your neighbors and repacked clothes that he picked out of his closet, in the process also grabbing a few smaller t-shirts that didn't quite fit him anymore to offer to you, since you had to get rid of one of your own. When he walked back into his living room, he saw you leaning over and examining some framed photos on a sofa table against the wall, running your finger over the frames and faces in the photos.

Joel cleared his throat to announce his presence, and you jumped back guiltily, spinning around to face him.

"Those are all old pictures, like I said before, I'm terrible at changing 'em out," Joel said, trying to draw you out more. You gave him a weak smile.

"You and Tommy looked so young in some of these."

He smiled, pleased that you were warming up a bit, and walked over to look at the pictures. He frowned slightly when he saw the same picture from the rodeo that he had hanging in his office, completely forgetting he still had it out. But you pointed to an older portrait instead.

"Are these your parents?"

Joel nodded and picked the picture up to look at it more closely. It was his parents on their wedding day. The picture was faded but he could still see the warmth and happiness in their eyes.

"They passed some years ago," he said, placing the picture down gently, "heart attack and lung cancer. Within a year of each other," Joel said softly.

You hummed apologetically, your eyes glancing over the rest of the frames before landing on the one at the rodeo. You opened your mouth to ask but remembered what Colleen had mentioned about an ex-fiancée, so you stopped yourself, but Joel saw where your gaze landed. He picked up the picture and looked at it wistfully.

"That was a fun night, rodeo up in Dallas. Tommy got so drunk we had to keep him from goin' down in the ring and jumpin' on one of those bulls himself," Joel chuckled.

You smiled, and still avoided bringing up the third person in the picture, but he answered the question for you anyway.

"That's Amy," he began, smile faded from his face, "we, uh, we were engaged. Didn't work out. Caught her cheatin' on me." He placed the picture back on the table.

"I'm sorry, Joel," you whispered, genuinely apologetic for feeling like he had to share that with you. He shook his head and turned back to the kitchen.

"Let me get you somethin' to eat before we head out, I'll bring out different things to pick from," he said.

Joel headed towards the kitchen, not realizing you were on his heels. He did his best to clean up the blood from the night before, but it was dark, and his resources were limited. There were still some stains in the grout of the tile and on the oak cabinet. You balked when you entered the room, somehow momentarily forgetting you killed a person less than 12 hours ago.

"I'm sorry, I did the best I could. Go back in the living room, I'll bring you somethin' to eat." Joel said, turning you away by the shoulders and giving you a gentle push in the opposite direction.

"Don't be sorry, Joel. You saved us last night," you said over your shoulder.

He paused, not sure how to approach the topic with you for the first time, worried he would upset you further.

"No, you saved us, and you shouldn't've had to do that," he said firmly.

You turned back around to face him, this time unphased by the blood stains he had tried to hide, looked him right in the eye.

"Us or them, remember?"

The two of you stared at each other for a minute, something shifting. There was a mutual understanding before, but now it had been solidified with your actions. It was one thing to say the words, but another to follow through. You had both killed somebody yesterday in order to save the other.

You each ate handfuls of trail mix, peanut butter crackers, and dry cereal before Joel restocked your packs with whatever food could fit, making sure to jam in a couple cans of Beefaroni in his own pack. Before hitting the road, he went to the spare closet where he kept his gun safe. You hadn't noticed it in the dark when you arrived the night before. He unlocked the safe, and pulled out a rifle, a shotgun, and a small handgun, the latter of which he handed to you. You offered to hold one of the long guns as well, not wanting Joel to be burdened, and he reluctantly agreed, handing you the rifle. When he leaned forward into the safe you saw he already had a revolver tucked into the back of his pants. You almost asked him about it but figured it out on your own: the men you killed must have been armed.

"I didn't realize you were a hunter," you said, shouldering the rifle on your back.

"I'm not. Well, not really. Some of the clients Tommy signed tended to be more the "outdoorsy" type, so we would take 'em on hunting trips or shoot skeet," Joel explained, pulling the shotgun over his shoulder before adding, "Didn't bother me much, I'd rather shoot than play golf."

Joel didn't have much ammo, but he packed whatever he had into both of your packs, which were now filled to the brim. Grateful he was able to trade out his borrowed sneakers for his own boots, he laced them up as you slid your hiking boots back on and headed out towards the stairwell on your journey.

The pair of you made your way back down into the subway without any issue, feeling a bit more confident now that you were armed. You stopped for just a few minutes to check in with Josie and Peter's group. They were happy to see you had made it. Neither of you mentioned the events that took place the night before, both eager to put it behind you.

It took you a few hours to walk all the way to the end of the subway, as far as it would take you this time so that when you emerged, you wouldn't be on the streets for too long. You didn't speak much, and Joel was becoming a little worried, but he wasn't sure if there was anything he could do to fix it. He just kept trying to pull you out of your thoughts, asking you a question here or there, but your replies were quiet and short.

You decided to take a break before emerging from the tunnel and sat to eat on the last platform. You kept your eyes glued to the grimy subway tile floor as you munched slowly on a protein bar and some dried fruit. Joel sat next to you watching your unwavering gaze and mechanical movements while you ate, and he couldn't take it anymore. He dusted his hands on the side of his pants and sighed, getting your attention briefly before you returned to your food.

"I think we should talk about it," Joel said, and you paused your chewing, considering a response before ultimately deciding to ignore him.

"Listen," he sighed, leaning forward with his elbows resting on his knees. "I'm not gonna sugarcoat this for you. Once we get out there, it's only gonna get worse. I can't promise somethin' like that won't happen again, but I'll do my best to keep you safe and get you to your parents."

You weren't sure why that angered you so much. It was probably all the pent-up emotions from the past several hours that boiled over, but you didn't care, so you shot your eyes up to glare at him.

"You think I don't know it's going to be worse, Joel? I'm not stupid," you snapped, furrowing your brow. "It doesn't mean I'm going to be okay with killing people."

"And you think I'm feelin' good about it?" he shouted, making you jump. "This ain't exactly what I had in mind a week ago."

He stood, his jaw clenched and his hands combing roughly through his hair as he paced around the platform. You stood up now, too. You realized the anger coursing through you had replaced the sadness, and in an effort to keep it at bay, chose to keep spurring Joel on.

"Don't put words in my mouth, that's not what I said!" you yelled back at him, finally feeling a spark breaking through the numbness inside, like ice being cracked. "No one appointed you to be my guardian, I can take care of myself. You think I don't know you're just helping me because you feel bad? I don't need your fucking pity, Joel, I can do this myself!"

You could feel your heart pounding in your chest and your hands began to shake, but most importantly the numbness inside was breaking up. Your face felt hot with anger, and you trained your gaze onto his when he whipped around to glare at you as you continued to shout.

"You have no obligation to me; we hardly even know each other!" Your breathing was picking up and you watched him flinch at your words, then his eyes flashed with fury, and he scowled at you.

"Oh, I think we know each other a little better than that," he shot back heatedly, nostrils flared. You gasped in shock, glaring at him, trying to come up with a good response to his vague reference to your kiss a week ago. You didn't think he would ever bring it up again.

He looked at you smugly now, crossing his arms over his chest. He was still pissed, but he was pleased to see you were at a loss for words. He was about to put an end to the argument and suggest you get moving when you charged right up to him and gave him a hard shove against his shoulders, making him stumble backwards.

"What the fuck?!" Joel uttered in surprise, swinging his arms out to his sides to regain his balance. You ignored him and shoved him again, this time only causing him to stumble back a little bit. He was about to reach out and grab your arms to stop you when it dawned on him. You needed this. You needed to yell and scream and push. He could see in your eyes that you were less distant, even though they were still filled with anger, you were looking more like yourself again. So, when you leaned forward to shove him a third time, he let you, standing strong and tall with his arms resting at his sides as you shoved him again and again. He would stumble back a little each time, but he kept his gaze pinned on your eyes, watching how they would soften and clear with each push to his chest.

You finally grew tired of shoving him, so you stood there, trying to catch your breath. You could feel your body again, the numbness that overtook your body last night finally was floating away, like taking your anger out on Joel was what made it crack and melt, like thick ice over a pond on the first warm day of sprng. You tilted your head back and sighed, wondering why Joel was the only person who managed to bring out this side of you. Last week in his office, you told him off without shedding a tear. That was so unlike you, you had never acted like that before. Then last night you had killed somebody to save him, and not just killed him but savagely and relentlessly bashed his skull in. And now today, he figured out how to draw you out and heal you. He was safe, he made you feel safe.

You brought your head forward to look at him, seeing the heat and intensity behind his eyes. He didn’t look mad anymore, but he regarded you questioningly, desperately trying to see underneath the veil, imploring you to take what you needed from him so you would be yourself again.

You felt this inexplicable surge of warmth and desire, your gaze darkened, and you licked your lips. You didn't know why, but you felt like he would do anything for you at that moment, so long as it made you forget the horrors you went through. You took one step forward hesitantly, keeping your eyes locked on his, and you reached out to run your hand up and down his arm, feeling his muscles jump under your gentle touch.

“I’m sorry, Joel,” you murmured, taking another small step forward. “I didn’t mean any of that, I’m sorry.”

He gulped and let his gaze flick down to your hand rubbing his arm. When you stepped forward, he saw the look in your eyes, and his breath hitched. What were you doing? He shook his head and stepped back.

"It’s alright. We should get a move on, we gotta find somewhere safe for the night," he said, clearing his throat.

“Why don’t we just stay here?” you asked.

It was an innocent enough question, but the way you said it and the way you were looking at him said otherwise. He was struggling to keep up with your mood swings. "We got a lotta ground to cover, and there’s still daylight left, we shouldn’t waste it.”

He told himself his feelings for you were done, and he meant it. He had to focus, he had to keep you both safe. You clearly were still processing all your emotions and he couldn’t trust anything you were implying. So, he stepped away from your touch and headed for the stairs that led up to the street. You halfheartedly followed behind him, feeling more like yourself again, but also feeling something different, like this world was beginning to change you. You weren’t sure if it was for better or worse, but you knew you had at least come around to adapting to your environment. You killed somebody to save Joel’s life. You rose to the occasion, and you did what you had to do, and you didn't hesitate. You no longer felt like you were useless, and as fucked up as that sounded, it made you feel good.

You spent the rest of the afternoon trapsing through fields and forests on the outskirts of the city, trying to stay out of sight and quiet, taking very few breaks. Joel wanted to cover as much ground as possible and get far away from the city. You were still reeling from your argument, or whatever it was, in the subway. You weren’t sure what would have happened if he had leaned into your advances, but as more time passed, you knew it was for the best that he rebuffed you. You couldn’t remember if you were about to get your period, or maybe this was a normal reaction to murdering someone, but your emotions were all over the place. The longer you walked, the more at peace you felt with what happened. Joel was right – things were not going to get better, you had to toughen up, or else.

The sun was getting low, and Joel still hadn’t found a good place to set up camp. You kept walking as the evening turned to dusk, your eyes squinting in the small forest when Joel let out a frustrated groan. You looked up at him curiously.

“This is a good spot, there’s a stream nearby and it’s quiet but there’s not enough coverage. I don’t like how thin these trees are,” he explained, motioning to the young, skinny oak trees surrounding you. You sighed and sat down against one of the trees to take a break, opening your canteen as Joel remained standing and looking around as he considered building up some fallen tree limbs into a makeshift shelter.

You tipped your head back to drink, and that’s when you saw it: a treehouse, at least 40 feet above the ground, right above you. You stopped drinking and stood quickly to grab Joel’s arm, pointing up towards the top of the tree. He chuckled when he saw it, a smile spilling across his face.

“Yeah, that’ll do,” he said, turning to look at you happily.

You smiled at him, then looked back up at the treehouse above you. It wasn’t very big, but it was enough for the two of you and it had a roof. It was better than the alternative.

You went around the other side of the trunk where the ladder had been nailed into the wood and climbed up. Once you got to the top, Joel did a full sweep of the area surrounding you, confirming that no infected or people were nearby. He could see the stream from about 20 yards away. He couldn’t contain his smile again; this was perfect.

The contactor in him reviewed the construction of the treehouse to make sure that it would be sturdy enough to sustain two adults. He walked around to each corner, hunched over because the roof was maybe 5 feet from the floor, and gave the walls a firm shake to test their strength. There were three small windows sawed into each wall, the door being on the last wall, which meant Joel had a full view of your surroundings. The windows and door did not have any coverings, so it would be cold, but the waterproof sleeping bags you had should be able to keep you warm. He turned back to you, satisfied you'd be safe for the night.

"I think this used to be a hunting stand, then some kids turned it into a treehouse. See how the wood looks older in this part, and some of the roof is made from different material?" he said, pointing around to the spots in the shelter. "They added the walls themselves, matches the rest of the wood on the floor," he mused out loud. You had stopped rolling out your bag to listen to him and found it kind of amusing he was discussing construction with you after the last few days you've had, as if the world wasn't ending and it was just another day.

"Do you think we'll be safe here?" you asked, sliding your boots off and setting them next to your bed. Joel unrolled his bag on the other side of the treehouse, the side closest to the door. Without looking up at you, he nodded.

"As safe as we can get, yeah."

You couldn't shake the guilt for the way you treated him earlier. What you said was exactly right: he had no obligation to you, but he stayed by your side anyway, and saved you a handful of times. You had already apologized, but the way you went about it didn't come across as sincere. You had nearly thrown yourself at him, completely confusing you both, so you wanted to try again.

"Hey, listen, about earlier," you began, making him pause from rooting around in his pack, but still didn't look up at you. "I really am sorry. I didn't mean it. Any of it. I think I was still in shock; I don't know what came over me." You took a moment to let your words settle before continuing. "I'm really grateful for everything you're doing, I would already be dead if it wasn't for you." You held your breath, hoping you came across as genuine as you felt.

Joel tried to hide his disappointment. It was hard to hear you didn't mean any of it. He knew you didn't mean what you said, but he couldn't help but wish you had meant the way you looked at him in the subway, with a heat behind your gaze he never expected to see again after the way he treated you. But maybe that was what he needed to hear so it would help put a stop to the overwhelming feelings he was struggling to contain on his own.

He brought his gaze up to finally meet yours, trying to hide the sadness as he gave you a warm smile.

"I know, you don't got to apologize, it's alright," he said quietly.

You looked at his face closely. You didn't fully believe it, you could tell something still bothered him, but you chose to let it go.

After you had settled in for the night, each of you tucked into your sleeping bags, you whispered out into the darkness.

"Us or them, right?"

You thought maybe he had already fallen asleep since you were met with silence, until you heard his voice, thick with emotion, reply.

"Us or them."

Chapter Ten

Taglist: @chiogarza

#joel miller fanfiction #joel miller #joel miller smut #joel miller x reader #joel miller x you #joel miller fic #joel the last of us #tlou hbo #the last of us hbo #joel miller x f!reader #joel miller x female reader #joel miller series #joel x reader #joel x reader smut #joel miller angst #joel miller fluff #the last of us fanfiction #the last of us game #the way we were joel miller fic

229 notes · View notes

lqvesoph · 1 year

Text

her ex - pablo gavi

gif by @gavidaily

Summary: Your boyfriend is playing extra agressive today and maybe it has something to do with a certain player from the opposite team, your ex boyfriend Pierre

masterlist taglist

"He's playing quite agressive, isn't he?", Aurora asked, nodding towards her brother. "It's Pablo, he always plays aggressive", you chuckled, playing it down but you had noticed it as well.

Your boyfriend was extra agressive today, especially towards one particular member of the opposite team. Your ex boyfriend Pierre had transferred to Sevilla during the winter transfer window.

And to your displeasure you had the chance to talk to him already...

"Y/n? Is that you?", you heard a voice behind you. You turned away from Ferran and Alejandro but when you saw who had called your name, you wanted to turn away again.

"Pierre", you said, looking at him.

Your ex-boyfriend had a smile on his face and went in for a hug but you stepped back. The two Barça players gave you a questioning look.

"What do you want?", you asked, crossing your arms over your chest. "Just wanted to say hello, we haven't seen each other in ages", the blond boy grinned with a strong french accent. "Hmm, maybe just a thought for your tiny little brain. Could it be because you cheated on me?", you said, your voice dripping with sarcasm.

Pierre shook his head with a smirk.

"C'mon, you're still mad about it", he laughed. You snorted and shook your head in disbelief.

Then you turned back to the two boys, but Pierre grabbed your wrist and pulled you towards him. You hastily snatched it from him.

"Let me go!", you said, raising your voice.

"Hey!", someone called behind you and shortly afterwards you felt Alejandro pulling you behind him. "And who are you?", Pierre asked bit-approvingly and looked down at Alejandro, who was least half a head smaller.

"I could ask you the same thing", he said and looked at the Sevilla player. "Ale, leave it", you muttered and pulled on his arm.

"I'm her boyfriend", Pierre grinned.

You frowned and shook your head.

"You lost every privilege to ever say that again", you cut in before Alejandro could say anything, you really didn't want Pierre to know details about your private life with Gavi. "Pierre, I told you 6 months ago and my mind hasn't changed. I don't want you in my life and I never want to see you again. Bye", you said with a sharp voice.

You took Alejandro's arm and pulled him back to Ferran.

"Y/n, je t'aime I love you", he called. "Bien, je ne le fais pas! Je te deteste! Well, I don't. I hate you", you called back and turned around again. "On peut en parler? Can we talk?", he asked, sounding almost desperate, but you knew it was all just for show.

You were tired of hearing his false excuses.

"Je n'ai rien à te dire, arrête, ne me dérange plus I have nothing to say to you, stop, don't bother me anymore", were your last words before you turned to the two Barcelona players.

"What was that all about?", Ferran asked, nodding in the direction of Pierre. "He's my ex boyfriend, Pierre Dubois. He cheated on me but apparently still thinks I'm his property", you explained, rolling your eyes.

"You speak French?", Alejandro then asked. You nodded. "I lived in France and had French in school", you replied. "We dated for about a year but 6 months of that he was cheating on me", you kept going.

"Dick", Ferran mumbled and continued doing his warm-up.

---

Your boyfriend had received a yellow card in the first half, for a more than nasty tackle against none other than your ex boyfriend Pierre. Your brother Pedri had hissed besides you, saying he'll get at least a yellow card for this.

At half time, you went down to the players tunnel. Being Pedris sister granted you VIP access and even though he's told you that no one likes to have intruders in this area during the game, you needed to see your boyfriend.

"Pablito?", you asked, lifting your brow. Gavi rolled his eyes, knowing exactly what you were talking about.

"He was bothering you before the game, so I slightly pushed him", he explained, wrapping an arm around you as soon as the cameras couldn't catch you anymore. "I know him", you replied, your voice sounding muffled as your face was pressed to his chest.

"Oh, sorry", your boyfriend replied, pausing in his tracks in front of the dressing room. "He's my ex boyfriend." Gavi slightly pulled back from you. "I'll take the "sorry" back", he said with a stern look. You chuckled and went in for an actual hug this time.

"Still you shouldn't have fouled him", you murmured. "It wasn't even a yellow", Gavi said, rolling his eyes. "It was at least yellow, Pedri was worried you'll be send off", you told him, pulling back to look at the boy.

His cheeks were still flushed from the cold air outside, so you put your warm fingers against his freezing skin.

"It was a tackle", he tried to talk himself out of it but wasn't looking at you, telling you that he was lying. "A pretty nasty one", you chuckled, placing your lips on his.

Gavi's fingers digged deeper in your puffy jacket and pulled you a little closer. He tried to deepen the kiss but you pulled back, quickly putting a finger on his lips to prevent him from going in for another kiss.

"You have to go inside, your team is waiting", you chuckled. "They can wait", he whispered, pulling your finger down and pressing his lips to yours.

"Uh-uh", you mumbled, pushing him back by the shoulders. "Plenty of time for this later", you giggled, turning him around and pushing him toward the door.

"See you later", he laughed.

You shook your head with a smirk and turned around to go back outside but stopped in your tracks when your eyes met the brown ones of none other than Pierre.

He huffed and turned around. You rolled your eyes. He has no right in hell to act jealous right now.

So that's how you ended up here. The second half started and Gavi played at least as agressive as in the first half.

Before you could think about it any further, Gavi had been passed the ball by Ferran, giving him a great opportunity to run towards the goal but just before he had the chance to shoot, an opponent slided right into him, which brought him to the grass.

But Gavi was quick up on his feet again, pushing the Sevilla player back. You stood up from your seat to get a better view of what was happening.

You groaned when you figured out who the Sevilla player was your boyfriend was fighting with.

Pierre and Gavi had grabbed each others collar, pushing each other back before grabbing the other again.

Sergio tried to get Gavi away from the fight but he wasn't having it. The ref's constant whistle didn't help either.

Most of their teammate were around them by now, trying to pull them off each other.

You saw how they were yelling at each other, before Pierre lifted his hand, slapping Gavi across his face. Aurora and you gasped in unison and the stadium erupted in loud screams of protest.

The short pause of shock gave Busquets the opportunity to pull Gavi back by his shoulders. The boy was holding his nose, still looking back at Pierre who received a straight red card from the referee.

Pierre shock his head, getting guided away by two of his teammates.

The referee turned around to find Gavi, showing him his second yellow card of the day, it being followed by a red card.

Busquets brought him to the sidelines, talking to him in a calming matter. He guided him to the medical staff of Barcelona who followed Gavi down the tunnel, inside the changing rooms.

"I'll go see him", you mumbled, hectically standing up from your seat.

You walked through the empty halls of the stadium, knocking on the dressing rooms door before opening it.

Gavi sat on one of the benches, pressing a tissue to his bleeding nose. José stood next to him, inspecting his nose from the side. "It doesn't seem to be broken. Does it hurt?", he asked.

Pablo caught sight of you standing in the door. You closed it behind you, making José look towards you as well.

"No", Gavi snapped.

"I'll leave him to you", José said before leaving the room, leaving you alone with your boyfriend.

You nodded and took a few steps closer to Pablo. "You okay?", you asked. Your voice barely louder than a whisper.

Gavi looked down, not answering. You moved to sit next to him, placing your hand on top of his thigh.

It gave you a little confidence when he didn't shrug your hand off, so you moved your hand further up.

"Hey", you mumbled, putting your hand to his cheek and turning his head so he'd look at you. "He's an ass, he's always been", you spoke, making Gavi chuckle humorless.

"Bebe, what's wrong?", you asked, letting your hand fall from his cheek. "He made me get a red card", Gavi spoke.

You leaned your head on his shoulder. "And?"

"All these injuries are freaking me out. Pedri, Ansu, Lewy, Ous. We're playing Real on Thursday for God's sake. And then the media... I- he was just there, provoking me and Ferran mentioned something about him cheating on you, so I- just... I don't know", Gavi started rambling.

"Shhh, it's okay, it's okay", you whispered, stroking the back of his hand with your thumb.

"Did he really- you know, cheat on you?", Gavi spoke up after a few minutes of silence. You nodded. "Yeah, with my best friend", you chuckled humorless.

Gavi lifted his head. "Seriously?", he called. "What a prick!!"

"Found them in bed together after coming home from college", you elaborated further. "Maybe I should've pushed him harder", Pablo mumbled.

You couldn't help but grin.

"How's your nose?", you changed the topic, seeing that he wasn't holding the tissue up to his nose anymore.

"The bleeding stopped", he said, showing you the blook soaked tissue. You nodded stood up. "Then let's get you cleaned up", you smiled, holding out a hand for him to grab.

taglist

@im-an-overthinker @buendiabebeta @hungryhungariann @eve-eh @ohthemisssery @kenopsiababe @starlightoctavia @sawendel @lechefian @teamspideyman @enjoymyloves @alireads27 @ricsaigaslec @ravenqueen27 @whatever-comes-to-me @squidwardsluverxx @temqr1 @leclerc16s @lavinyx @dudelovesstuff @theamazingsimplethings-blog @coldmuffinbanditshoe @hotchnisscm97 @bellasummer @andtheworldiscrashingdownonme @moneymasnn @justme2042 @organasith @idkiwantchocolatee @amulhermaisfelizdomundo @pleasantducktimetravel @anthonykatebridgerton @juno-1610 @lisannehus @hannahholland1811 @marvelousmendess @lighttsoutlewis @mydutchproblem @dan3avocado @alwaysclassyeagle @cocomira @hopiiex @allthisfortommy @soleilgrec @cheeryara-blog @person234 @aquamariene-me @judespoision @klouise12345 @sbgal @teti-menchon0604

when i first made my taglist i forgot to sort them, so i added everyone who wanted me to, to my overall taglist. if you want to be changed to a specific taglist, please let me know.

also if your tag is not working, I'm sorry but I don't know why

#pablo gavi #pablo gavi masterlist #pablo gavi x reader #pablo gavi imagine #pablo gavi gif #pablo gavi x you #pablo gavi x y/n #gavi imagine #gavi x reader #football imagine #fc barcelona imagine #fc barcelona

823 notes · View notes

nvoirs · 2 months

Text

Hello lipgloss, I'm sorry this took so long it was put of for a while :/ I really do appreciate you taking time to send in stuff because I don't think I'm going to get a lot of Ada asks but it's alright.

Anyways, I wrote a little drabble about that incident you asked about 🤭

Pairing: Stepmom!ada x female reader.

Disclaimers: stepcest, cussing, fingering.

:¨ ·.· ¨: `· . ꔫ

She's pretty. She's got the type of figure to die for. She's charming and has the persona of an angel according to your dad. Ada was in fact exactly what your dad described her, like the brightest star that shone in the dim sky.

She had moved in months ago, your life felt more vibrant. She filled the gap your mother left all those years ago, her motherly instincts kicking in when she knew something was wrong. But she also felt like a friend. Ada was rather young, a lot younger than your dad she was only about five years older than you. So it felt quite comforting to have someone close to your age in the house to chat to.

But that all changed one evening. Your dad was working a late shift, he had left a sticky note reminding you Ada was still home if you needed anything. He still uses sticky notes instead of just texting you, you really needed to teach him how to use messages.

You wouldn't realise you'd have seen your stepmom naked, dripping wet from the shower. “Oh my god, I'm so sorry!” You ducked your head down and quickly scurried from the bathroom. You didn't hear anything from Ada but you also couldn't see the grin spread across her face.

Later that night, you couldn't stop thinking about how you had walked in on her. Her skin was smooth and unblemished, she had great breasts and they sat just right perky nipples erected. And that's all you could capture before you were fleeing from the bathroom.

A knock sounded at your door, and you jumped from the noise. “Can I come in.” You heard Ada's mellow voice on the other end of the door.

Smoothing your hair down you cleared your thoughts before replying “sure, come on in.” She opened the door before shutting it behind her. “Hi.” She said approaching your bed and sitting down beside you.

“Hey” you nodded biting your lip, had you really just ruined your relationship with a woman who could possibly become your mother figure by seeing her naked?

Before she could speak you interrupted. “I'm so sorry about earlier, I had no idea y-”

“Its fine. It was my fault for not locking the door please don't blame yourself and besides we're both girls.” She winked at you.

That was odd, Ada felt a little of tonight. You didn't really want to think about it but she felt flirty. “So you got a boyfriend?” Alarmed by her question you just went along with her. "I do, but we're probably going to break up things haven't been going so well."

“I see.. would you like me to make it up to you?” Confused by her offer you denied her request. “It's ok Ada, I really don't need anything.”

“I insist It won't take up your whole night.” You caved in at that point “sure then I guess” Still confused you watched her slide of her silk dressing robe. You gasped as she was yet again completely naked. “Ada what are y-” She cut you off. “I saw the way you looked at me in the bathroom, I can make you feel a lot better then your small dick of a boyfriend.” She chuckled crawling over to you. “But my dad-”

“He doesn't need to know sweetheart”

“So can I help you out? Pretty.”

“Please.” You barely whispered, feeling your panties drooling arousal beginning to soil your underwear. “I can help you. She licked the tip of your ear, before giving it a playful tug.

She pulled down your sleeping shorts, pressing her palm against your clothed pussy. Earning a yelp from you as the pressure quickly brought a clouded sense of pleasure to your sleepy brain. Pushing your t-shirt up so your breasts we're exposed to the cool air, she played with one nipple rolling and tugging between her slender fingers before slapping the air. You whimpered, cunt beginning to ache, ache for her fingers to stretch you out.

It had been so long since you had someone penetrate you, weeks since you and your boyfriend had had sex that you were so desperate you were allowing your sexy stepmom to help you out. She yanked your underwear of completely leaving your bottom half exposed. Her eyes we're set on your glistening cunt.

“This all for me pretty? ” you nodded unable to form a coherent sentence your pussy aching to be relieved. Her crimson lips turned up into a smile. “How cute.”

A blush seared across your cheeks as she slid one slender finger into your opening. A stinging pain from being stretched after a while hurt and you hissed in pain, your fingernails digging into your palms. “Look at me.” Ada steered your face towards her own with one manicured hand. “it's ok your going to be ok, sweetheart.”

:¨ ·.· ¨: `· . ꔫ

who actually wants Ada content because..

#resident evil #resident evil smut #resident evil x reader #ada wong fanfic #ada wong resident evil #ada resident evil #ada wong smut #ada wong x reader #ada wong x female reader #ada wong #ada wong re4 #re4 ada #nvoirs

58 notes · View notes

lokisprettygirl · 5 months

Text

Close Ties (Daemon Targaryen x Female Reader) (Modern AU) (Non canon) (18+)

Read Chapter 14 // Series Masterlist

Chapter 15

Summary : Your relationship with Daemon changes.

Warning: 18+ dad's best friend trope, canon (we don't know her..don't like don't read), feeling of hopelessness, uncle Daemon kink (you don't have to squint), familial uncle niece sort of relationship but he's not really her uncle, there will be more smut later, masturbation, significant age gap but reader is in her mid twenties, mention of infidelity, miscarriage , divorce, smoking and alcohol drinking, physical violence implied

A burning rage stirred within you as your eyes met hers, the last thing you wanted to do was smile at her. How dare she enter your home after all the pain and hurt she had caused not just to Daemon but your family as well?

“Y/n how are you?” Her screechy voice made you wince so you just crossed your arms and glared at Daemon but he was just staring at her. You couldn't really figure out what he was thinking.

“Get out of my house Stella” you said to her and just walked past her to go upstairs, swear to god if he was planning to get back to her you'd never ever even look at him again.

“Her house? The audacity is strange, her father owns it, does she not remember?” Stella chuckled as she turned to Daemon and she was about to hug him again but he put his hand out in front of her to stop her. He was too stunned with her presence to do anything about it when she hugged him the last time and you saw that and he figured you were going to take it the wrong way.

“Did he call you here?” He asked her with a clenched jaw and scowl evident on his face, your father had been making all the wrong decisions since he was diagnosed so he didn't put this behavior past him.

“No ..I came because I missed you dae” she gave him her typical sweet smile and it only infuriated him further.

“Don't call me that” he grabbed her arm and dragged her towards the door “Get out and don't come back.. I don't want you to come back here ever again”

He said to her with anger in his voice so she pulled her arms out of his grasp and glared at him.

“What the fuck is wrong with you Daemon, i know our marriage fell apart but you're acting as if we haven't spent 13 good years together” she told him nonchalantly and he could only let out a chuckle because he was so frustrated.

“Good years? Are you fucking kidding me? Or maybe they were good for you because you got to fuck every other guy out there”

Her eyes teared up as he said that.

“You know that's not true..it happened just a few times and it only happened when there was a trouble in our marriage” he chuckled again as she said that,

“And cheating on our marriage was the sure shot way to fix that right?”

“Daemon–”

“Get the fuck out…you heard her right, this is her home and she doesn't want you here..I don't want you here and now that everyone knows the truth about you and him.. nobody wants to see your face”

“What do you mean they know?’ There was a look of shock on her face as she heard that. Daemon had sworn to never reveal what his best friend and his wife had done to him and your mother but now that the truth was out in the open he had nothing to fear or be afraid of.

“Get the fucking hell out of here before I call the security”

He warned her one more time, she was his ex wife and as much as he despised her she was still his ex wife, someone he considered family once and he didn't want to harm her in any ways.

As you stepped into your room you threw your bag at the bed and your heels flung into the corner of the room, you had never felt so angry the way you did in that moment. She was the reason your family was ruined all those years ago, if it wasn't for Daemon protecting your mother from the truth perhaps your parents would have been divorced by now, sure your father was equally responsible for this but you couldn't even bring yourself to be upset with him.

Everytime you looked at him he just seemed worse and your heart broke for him more and more everyday. You just wanted him to get better even though it didn't seem feasible.

You wanted to go check on Daemon but you felt resentment towards him as well, she hugged him and he didn't pull her away from him and he was staring at her, didn't even look at you when you spoke, what if he'd fall for her again and they would get married again? What if he'd decide to just move on and they give their broken marriage another chance?

You felt your heart shattering in tiny little pieces as you thought of the possibility.

That night as you looked at Daemon you didn't say a word because in anger you'd have only misspoken, your relationship wasn't anything like before, sure he was there for you every time you needed him but you felt that bond breaking slowly everyday.

As the next few days passed there was an itch in you that wanted to find out more about Daemon and Stella because you knew she was still in London and Daemon wasn't at home most of the evenings. Was he seeing her? Perhaps they were going on dates with each other to reconcile?

When you asked Rhaneyra about it she had no clue about their current situation so she asked Daemon about Stella but he refused to talk about her.

Two weeks later as your dad's birthday arrived he threw a party for himself but it wasn't lavish like all those years before, he just invited people he was close with, that included his brother and his family and some of his close friends over the years.

As you saw Daemon in his simple black tee and blue jeans you just wanted to hold him and feel his touch in return, his hair had gotten slightly longer since he had arrived, not that long but long enough to indicate he hadn't cut it in a while.

Sometimes you looked at him and wondered if you gave up on him too easily? Perhaps you could have made your father see why he was so perfect for you and why you'd never ever be able to move on from him but you didn't even try, you just gave up because your father was sick. He had never asked anything from you in all your life so when he asked you for that one thing that would keep him at peace you just wanted to give it to him but that didn't mean that you wanted to give up Daemon, you never wanted to let him go..

“Just kiss and make up already” you heard Rhaenyra's voice and snapped out of your daydreaming, as she hugged you, your eyes welled up, in all of these ordeal you were glad to have a friend like her, you didn't know how you'd have survived this situation without her support.

“You know I can't and now I'm afraid he's seeing her again”

She turned around to look at him suspiciously as you said that, when his eyes met with her he gave her a small smile but he didn't even look at you, he hardly ever looked at you outside of work these days.

As the guests began to leave, and you saw Stella approach with a box of presents, you felt your blood boil immediately. You saw your mother greeting her like an old friend, as if she didn't know that Stella had betrayed her by sleeping with her husband, almost breaking up their marriage. The fact that your mother could still be so friendly with Stella despite knowing the truth hurt you more than words could express.

When your dad opened his mouth and told everyone to bury the hatches and burn the bridge you just wanted to scream at him, sick or not you felt really frustrated and upset by his behavior.

You looked at Daemon to gauge his reactions towards her and you saw that he had turned around to leave for his room and your father gestured to Stella to go talk to him.

Did he think you had moved on from him and it was barely an infatuation on your part? Why was he doing this to you knowing how you felt for him and worst of all how could he invite her here after everything that had transpired amongst all of them?

Or maybe Daemon knew about it and maybe your doubts were right regarding him and Stella wanting to reconcile.

“Are you guys insane?” You asked your parents as it was just you and them now after she had left to go see him upstairs.

“Be mindful of your words sweetheart” your mum glared at you so you glared back at her in response

“She fucked him do you not remember that or you're suffering from amnesia?” You asked her and she just sighed in response and ignored your worries altogether. She was just doing everything your father asked her to do.

“It's time for your meds honey” she told your dad so he nodded and they both made their way to their bedroom. Your eyes welled up at their dismissive behavior towards you, were you overreacting or they were just not reacting as they should. She didn't come here on her own, your father must have invited her right? You understood his need to make everything right but this wasn't the way.

He didn't expect his best friend to get back together with his cheating ex wife right?

As you passed by Daemon’s room you heard their faint voices and you wanted to just ignore the situation and go to your room to sleep the pain away but you couldn't, you won't watch him ruin his life this way, not again, you were just a child the last time he got married but you won't let him make the same mistake twice..

You built up the courage and knocked on his door, it took him a few seconds to open but as he looked at you he was slightly taken aback, he wasn't expecting to see you on his door.

“Can we talk…please” you looked him right in the eye so he nodded and closed the door behind him

“Not here” he grabbed your arm and your breath hitched at the sudden touch, god you really missed him with every fiber of your being.

He took you to the next room and as you both entered he let go of your hand and maintained a distance from you,

“Are you alright?” He asked you and you had no idea what to tell him because you surely weren't alright.

“Yeah I'm just…what's going on..i mean with Stella”

You looked at him once before you couldn't take the heat of his gaze and looked down, he could see your fingers fiddling with each other. He never wanted your relationship with him to change, perhaps if you both had not taken that romantic turn things would have been different between you two but then did he regret taking one step closer to you and crossing that line he never should have crossed? No he didn't really regret that, it didn't last but it was beautiful. He loved his life when you belonged to him, he loved the way you used to love him.

When he didn't say anything you just felt even worse, you couldn't even talk to him in private without it turning weird between you two, silence became uncomfortable between you two and that's when you knew things had changed for the worse and you'd probably not get the old Daemon back..

“I should..go..I'm sorry I wasted your time” your eyes welled with tears as you walked past him but you didn't make it far as he had grabbed your arm and pulled you closer to him.

As the tears rolled down you felt him cupping your cheeks and wiping your tears with his thumbs..

“You never waste my time, I'm sorry i have been distant but it's necessary”

His voice was soft as a feather as he spoke and it only hurt you further, you felt as if you were losing him more and more everyday, sooner or later he'd move on and find someone else. The thought of finding him again and him being yours and then allowing him to slip so easily from you was something you'd always regret “Stop crying pixie” he mumbled as he pressed his forehead down on yours, his arms wrapped around your waist.

“i miss you…I miss you so much” as your broken words spilled his eyes teared up too, he had been trying to abide by the wishes your father had imposed on you two but watching you like this was heartbreaking, all he wanted to do was scoop you up in his arms and show you how much he had missed you as well.

“I miss you too darling, but I'm right here”

You took a step back as he said that, sure he was right there, he was close, very close but he was unreachable now. You couldn't get back to treating him the way you used to before.

“You're not…I'm losing you everyday and I can feel it” you mumbled with a trembling voice and he quickly wiped his tears before you'd see them. “Please promise me that no matter what happens you won't get back with her, promise me” you pleaded him as you grabbed his hand in yours, even if he wasn't meant to be yours he deserved someone who'd love him the way he deserved to be loved. He didn't deserve a woman like Stella in his life, he never did.

You looked at him with a hopeful eyes so he smiled between his tears

“You are worried about that huh?” He asked you softly as he grabbed onto your little fingers and brushed it with the back of his thumb, the touch ignited a fire within you. The farther you stayed from him the more you feared losing his attraction and affection towards you but moments like this made you believe that he was still into you as much as you were into him

“You didn't promise..i want you to promise”

You looked up at him so he chuckled, it was nice to see him smile even if it was from mere amusement of the situation.

“I wasn't planning to but if it would help make you feel better then i promise that I'd never ever get back to her”

“Really? So there were..no dates or anything?”

“Jesus no..who gave you that load of bollocks”

“Nobody..i was just.. worried” you mumbled meekly and all he wanted to do was to lean in and kiss you but he controlled himself,

“Got nothing to worry of, my heart still belongs to the prettiest girl I know”

His words made your heart flutter but then the fear kicked in. How long would he feel that way? Someday he'd move on in his life and perhaps you would too. The future where he was just your dad's best friend that you also worked with scared you, you feared losing the bond you shared with him.

“And mine belongs to the sweetest man I know and that man deserves the best in the world..so remember that” you hugged him for a moment and then you left before you'd do something stupid and betray the promise you had given to your dad. The last thing you wanted was to hurt him and stress him more in his condition.

The next day you were called into your dad's home office and he told you that you'd have to go to NYC for a presentation, the thing was that you weren't supposed to take Daemon with you and you had to deal with the presentation on your own which you didn't feel equipped for. You felt Daemon's eyes on you as you stepped out of his office to go prepare for this presentation, even Daemon didn't agree with your dad's decision, you were still learning and you already had plenty of responsibilities on your shoulders, he saw firsthand how anxious you got before every board meeting but at least he was there to calm you down,

“Don't you think you're being overly tough on her..she's not ready for this” Daemon told his old friend and only received an exaggerated sigh in response for a while

“I'm only preparing her for the world that is not going to pamper her or be kind to her, she needs a bit of awakening” he said to Daemon calmly,

“And whose fault is that? She has been sheltered all her life and suddenly you want her to do everything at once. Just stop for a second and think about her mental health–” your father stood up in anger and interrupted him mid sentence as he was surely offended by the accusation.

“Do you have a child of your own Daemon?” He asked Daemon a rhetorical question which he knew was asked just to put him down. “Don't teach me how I'm supposed to take care of my daughter. I know what I'm doing, i learned to be who I am when responsibilities weighed on me, she'd learn too, she's not a child”

Daemon's jaw clenched as he said that but he didn't respond because he didn't want to argue with him.

“Perhaps you'd give her the tough loving she requires when you'd stop lusting after my daughter and would start to see her as your own kin”

Her dad walked out after he said that and if it wasn't for you perhaps Daemon wouldn't have tolerated such a behavior. When he came back he was met with his old friend but of course since his disease had progressed and after learning the truth of your relationship with him your father had gotten extremely paranoid and he was always scared of dying any moment which made him snap at every person around him, people who were trying to take care of him were taking the brunt of it.

Next day he received a message from you and his heart rendered for you, he wished he was there to calm your nerves but it wasn't possible.

As promised Daemon was in your ears, not saying anything to distract you but offering words of affirmation every time you lost your confidence in the conference room.

It was indeed daunting being amongst the bunch of middle aged men who looked down upon you because you had suddenly taken over your father merely because he was sick. They came prepared to undermine your authority and your ideas but you did your best.

As soon as the presentation ended you made your way to the bathroom, hurled your guts out and then you cried for what felt like hours. There was this sickly feeling in your chest that made you believe that you had just put the company through a multi million loss because you didn't think your pitch was that strong. When you went home your fear was proven right because your father was really upset and disappointed with you and you felt like an absolute failure.

Especially because he had never treated you this way before, he was always so supportive even when you failed and now when you needed that support the most in your life he had shunned you out.

Not just that but he also wanted you to move back to your own place so you won't be around Daemon anymore.

When Daemon didn't see you step down for dinner he began to worry more and more about you, he was angry, pissed off at the way your father was choosing to do this with you..

He knocked on his office and he found your dad just drinking all alone which he shouldn't have been doing at such hours.

“Don't do this to her, don't be so harsh with her because you're trying to push her away from you”

Your father looked at him but there was a blank look on his face.

“I'm not pushing her away”

“I know what you're doing alright..we have been friends for years. Don't think you'll get away with lying and pretending for long” Daemon told him sternly and earned a sigh in response.

“She needs this, when the world will be cruel to her I want her to stand her ground and not crumble under the pressure” Daemon groaned as your father said that, he was at the end of his wits with him now. It wasn't you that needed toughness, it was your father instead.

“She'll learn that on her own time the way you did. What you're doing with her now is only breaking her confidence. She learned your ugly truth and in the same breath she found out that she was losing one of her parents, you made her break her own heart and then you put her on a pedestal, not to forget the stunt you pulled by inviting Stella knowing too well that it would bother her and now you want her to go live all alone with no one around her to support her?” He raised his voice and he could tell that his words were affecting your father,

“These are the memories you want to leave behind with her? Do you really think your death would hurt her less if you're a jerk to her? No it would only hurt her more because when you're gone she'd spend lifetime thinking about how she wasn't a capable daughter and how she wasn't able to make you proud you fucking arse”

Daemon walked out of his office after that because he didn't even want to look at him at the moment, he knew he'd start to feel pity for him and won't be able to say anything after that. He wished your father didn't have to leave so soon and he was cured miraculously but the treatment he was getting done was only borrowing him more time and after the upbringing your parents had given you he didn't want your father to ruin it all before his death, he didn't want him to take your innocence away from you.

As you heard a knock on your door you wiped your tears and got off the bed to open the door, it was Daemon on the other side and as soon as he saw your swollen red face he immediately stepped closer to you pulled you in his arms to hug you. He closed the door behind him even though deep down he didn't care what your parents would think about this now. He was done with their judgment for now when he knew you needed someone to tell you how proud he was of you.

You sobbed and sobbed until the tears went dry and headache began to set in. You didn't want to hurt your father but he was hurting you and you didn't think you'd be able to take more..

“i knew I'd fuck up…im not made for this” as he heard your broken sobs his eyes welled up as well, he wanted to protect you and he was going to do that whether your parents liked it or not.

“Shhhh puppy you did great, I was there, I heard you, you did nothing wrong, every experience is going to teach you something, it's not all gains in business, you lose at time and that's okay, your father failed plenty of times and he was much older than you when he did”

You looked up at him as he wiped your tears and cooed gently in your ears, as his sweet words infiltrated your ears you were finally able to register the close proximity you were sharing with him at the moment.

“It's okay to fail?”

“It's better to fail than not to try at all. And you tried my sweet girl..I'm so proud of you for that” You cupped his cheeks and leaned up to kiss his cheeks one by one before you kissed his forehead, his words were exactly what you needed at the moment, then you pulled away from him because you knew you'd kiss him if you'd continue to stay close to him and you had promised your dad to not do so.

“Ummmm i haven't showered in two days” he chuckled as you said that.

“Better get to that then and I need you to go downstairs for dinner after that alright?” He told you firmly so you nodded.

“Thank you..i love you” his brows furrowed as you mumbled that as if it was the most natural thing for you to say to him.

“I love you ..don't forget..no matter how distant I seem I'd always love you”

Things changed between you two once again that night, he was distant still but closer to you. He'd hold your hand when he found you shivering due to anxiety, he'd hug you everytime you panicked, he made jokes with you like before and he even flirted with you at times.

Your relationship that had changed for worse was starting to change for better this time, you had lost him as a lover but you didn't want to lose him as your man, as your family, whatever that meant. You needed him close and you needed him as yours, and he was there for you, he was willing to be there for you selflessly even though you barely gave him anything in return.

Weeks later Rhaenyra invited you to a family get together she held for her birthday, Daemon was there too of course and he looked sexier than ever, all black attire made him look devastatingly handsome and it was just your bad luck that you weren't able to get a taste of his sweetness.

That didn't last though, as the drinks went around between you two you got bolder and bolder and you didn't know why but he didn't resist your advances either, well not really, perhaps he was starving for your touch as well.

You knew both of you would regret it in the wake of daylight but that night you needed him in every possible way and you were going to get him.

👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀

Taglist

@serving-targaryen-realness @annoyingsweetsstranger @anukulee @mcufan72 @insertsomethingsillyhereple-blog @silentf @ajthefujoshi @stupidthoughtsinwriting @ammo23 @shuichiakainx @daddylokisqueen @ipostwhtifeel @anehkael @madlyinlovewmattmurd0ck @dixie-elocin @urmomsgirlfriend1

@sweatyroadcowboyjudge

#daemon targaryen #daemon targaryen x female reader #daemon x reader fluff #daemon x reader smut #daemon x reader angst #age gap relationship #non canon au #modern daemon targaryen

125 notes · View notes

akwolfgrl · 2 months

Text

LFT PART 40

Nami was walking through the town, a huge sack of clothes tossed over her shoulder, Usopp with his own sack walked beside her. Nami could feel a shift in the air around her, she was fascinated with the shift in weather patterns, which at first had been necessary for navigation and had become something of a hobby.

“Hey Usopp, we need to head back to the ship right now.”

“Huh? How come I thought you wanted to look around more? Maybe stop for lunch,” Usopp asked, confused.

“The air pressure is dropping rapidly at a rather abnormal rate, there is a Storm coming and fast, unless you and your bag of goodies want to get soaked,” Nami pointed out, changing direction towards the pier.

“All right you have a good point,” Usopp followed behind her. “Hey look, it's Sanji and Zoro, hey guys!” Usopp called out, waving in their direction. Nami stopped walking and they all gathered together. Zoro had the same shirt on from last night and two new swords, where he got the money is what Nami wanted to know. Sanji on the other hand was wearing a bright colored fish shirt that she had made him buy yesterday, he also had a few shopping bags on his arm and his other was linked with Zoro's. The date must have gone well.

“Nami-swan and Usopp, funny running into you two here,” Sanji called out to them.

“Anyone know where Luffy is?” Zoro asked not to bother with any greetings. Although he did have a point, they should find their captain.

“Is he still looking for the platform?” Usopp asked from beside her. “I believe it's right here in Town Square.”

“Shit, I think he found it,” Sanji pointed out. There was Luffy atop the executioner's platform, a large piece of wood with a hole on top with his head and hands secured, a man sitting atop of it with Buggy the annoying clown next to him. It felt like ages ago that she had stolen from him, and met Luffy and Zoro.

“Why is he on the platform about to be executed?!” Nami wasn't wasn't sure who said it or if it was everyone.

“Sanji give me your bags so you and Zoro can go save our captain, meet you back at the ship,” Nami offered, holding out her hand. “No argument, just give it here,” She told him as he opened his mouth to protest. He reluctantly handed over before following after Zoro who had already taken off. She turned around and began to head towards the docks where she was originally intending to go.

“Um Nami, shouldn't we try to help them save Luffy?” Usopp asked, walking beside her.

“Usopp what would we do that they can't do? Do you really think you can get a good shot with all those people running around? Beside Buggy the clown has a devil fruit,” Nami shook her head pointing out the facts. She didn't have her staff on her, she had come here to shop not to fight.

“Hey! I'll have you know I took down a fishmen all by myself and proved myself to Daddy the parent!” Usopp argued with her, he was lucky he was her gossip buddy and that her hands were full. “We could provide back up at least,” He must still be riding the high of serving his duel.

“Well even if that's the case we have a more important task,” her voice was sharp as ever almost as if it was the crack of lightning.

“like what?”

“Like the Storm I mentioned earlier, the air pressure and temperature have been dropping rapidly for the past while. Plus I saw cumulus clouds heading from the east. That's a sure sign of a Storm rolling in, a big one to boot. What with the ruckus going on in town Square the marines are bound to be out, I really don't want to run into Captain Smoker I've heard terrible things about him,” The lady who owned the boutique she had visited had told her all about the new captain with a devil fruit who had put this town on lockdown, there haven't been any pirates making it out of here. Their business had been surfing from his influence. “What would we do if Merry was washed away when we needed a quick get away? This way we can get her ready to sail away as soon as those three make it back,” She was just glad Sanji was there, she didn't trust Luffy and Zoro to make it back in one piece.

“Holy crap you're right! That absolutely more important Sanji and Zoro will be fine on their own!” Usopp rushed ahead of her. Lucky bastard only had one bag to carry and it had straps.

“Hey wait for me!”

#one piece #fanfic #lust filled thoughts #zoro #vinsmoke sanji #sanji #roronoa zoro #black leg sanji #zoro x sanji #zosan #sanzo #cat burglar nami #nami #god usopp #ussop #loguetown

57 notes · View notes

luvangelbreak · 3 months

Text

Deprived | Ten

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 11 Part 12 Part 13 Part 14 Part 15 Part 16 Part 17 Part 18 Part 19 Part 20 Part 21 Part 22 Part 23 matthew sturniolo x layla venita (female!oc) summary: everyone knows the story of the bad boy and the good girl but what happens when the school's most popular boy, Matthew Sturniolo, and the girl who notoriously is never there, Layla Venita, cross paths. warnings: swearing word count: 3.6k a/n: i feel like this one is just very cutesy and fun. things are abt to get wild tho y'all strap in !!

pov: matt

I walked into the kitchen, getting myself a bottle of water and gulping it down like it was the last thing I was going to do. After my incident in the shower, I hadn't stopped thinking about Layla. I wanted to be near her always, I wanted to touch her in any way I could. I wanted her to sit in front of me, I wanted to play with her hair and I kept my thoughts at bay, not daring to tug on it once just to see her reaction.

I shook my head getting rid of my thoughts as I heard the bathroom door open. Layla went to walk by the kitchen but paused when she saw me leaning against the counter.

"You okay?" she asked, noticing the slightly stressed look on my face and I nodded, plastering a smile on my face.

"Yeah. Don't stress," I shook my head and she frowned walking into the kitchen fully before she stood in front of me, "What time you think you'll go home?"

I tried to change the subject and she shrugged, "I'm not going home so I don't know what time I'll leave."

"Where are you going?" I asked, my nosiness showing itself before I tried to gain my composure again.

"Uh..." she trailed off, looking at her feet as she chewed on her lip, "I don't know. I just can't go home."

"Why not?" I asked, genuinely confused as to why she couldn't go home.

"My dad said not to," she shrugged and my eyebrows furrowed, "I usually just go to the park or something."

"Wait, what?" I pushed off of the bench, letting my hands fall to my sides, "You don't have anywhere to sleep overnight if you can't go home?"

She shrugged, keeping her eyes trained on the ground in embarassment as she mumbled, "Yeah. Park benches aren't as uncomfortable as they seem."

"Fuck that," I shook my head, sliding my phone out of my pocket, "You're staying here."

"Mattew it's fi-"

"I'm not letting you sleep on a park bench, Layls," I sternly stated as I opened my mother's contact before clicking the call button. After a few rings, she picked up.

"Hello?" she said, her professional voice ringing through the speaker, letting me know she hadn't checked who called before she answered.

"Hi Ma, it's Matt," I told her and she hummed, clearly still busy with something at work, "I'm just letting you know our friend Layla is gonna stay the night if that's okay?"

"Who's that, honey?" she asked, her attention being drawn by the unfamilar name and I pursed my lips.

"It's one of our friends from school. She doesn't have a place to stay tonight so I said it was okay for her to stay here," my eyes glanced to Layla whose head was still hung lowly, making my shoulders drop in sadness, "Please Ma."

"Fine but don't be up late," she answered and I let out a sigh of relief.

"Thank you. I'll see you when you get home," I quickly said and she mumbled a goodbye before I hung up, "She said it's fine for you to stay.”

"It's really fine. It's nothing I haven't done before," she shrugged before lifting her head and I noticed a spot of blood on her lip. I instinctively leaned forward, swiping her bottom lip to get the blood off before I froze.

"Sorry," I pulled my hand away and she just looked at me in confusion, "You had blood on your lip."

"Fuck," her hand flew to her lip where my thumb was placed seconds ago. She quickly jogged back into the bathroom before returning with a piece of toilet paper covering her lip.

"You okay?" I asked and she nodded with a sigh.

"I just bit my lip too much," she mumbled and I let my eyebrows furrow again out of worry.

"What's wrong?" I asked, leaning my palms against the counter behind me and she looked at me in confusion, "You only bite your lip when your nervous or stressed so, what's bothering you?"

She took a moment to stare at me with an unreadable expression before she said, "I don't want you to feel like I have to stay here because you feel bad for me. I'm okay with staying somewhere else."

"I want you to stay here regardless," I told her honestly and she let her head hang again. With a sigh, I reached forward and grabbed her elbow to pull her into my chest. She planted her feet inbetween mine as I wrapped my arms around her shoulders.

She tensed against me for a moment, being frozen in place before she relaxed into me, wrapping her arm around me that wasn't holding the toilet paper against her lip.

"Thank you," she whispered, her voice softer and shakier than I had ever heard and it made my heart break inside my chest, "Are you sure it's okay?"

"Stop worrying, pretty girl," I mumbled as I turned my head, placing my cheek on top of her head and she sighed, pulling against me tighter.

We stood like that for a moment in comfortable silence until I heard someone clear their throat loudly. I lifted my head and Layla instantly pulled away from me, moving to stand beside me. I looked over to see Mia standing in the doorway, an unimpressed look on her face while Allie stood next to her with a beaming smile, looking between Layla and I.

"Nate's going and my dad is like around the corner," Allie spoke first and I nodded, pursing my lips as I looked everywhere but their faces.

"Is it 6:30 already?" Layla asked Allie and she shook her head.

"Nah he just finished work so he's picking us up on the way home," Allie explained and Layla nodded. I coughed into my fist before I pushed off of the table. Mia and Allie walked back down the hallway and Layla quickly followed after them, not bothering to look at me while she did so. I trailed behind her to see Nate dapping up Chris in the hallway before he reached forward and I followed the same motion.

"See you tomorrow bro," I nodded to him.

He opened the door, jogging down the front step of my house as he called out, "See y'all at school!"

"Bye guys," Allie hugged Layla before she wrapped her arms around me, leaning up to whisper in my ear, "Don't be a dick to her."

I rolled my eyes as she pulled away from me, giving me a serious look but neither of us spoke further. Mia slid past Allie and hugged me as I wrapped one arm around her shoulders.

"See ya," I mumbled as the two girls exited the house and walked down our driveway, Allie's dad pulling up in his Mercedes just in time. I closed the door behind me, locking it quickly before I turned to Nick and Chris, "By the way, Layla's staying here tonight."

"What?" Chris looked at me, confusion clear on his face and Nick raised his eyebrows.

"She just needs a place to crash. Mom already said it's fine and she'll let Dad know," I explained with a shrug and Nick shook his head, returning his gaze back to his phone from where he sat on the couch.

"Where's she gonna sleep?" Chris asked as he walked back into the living room, plopping himself on the couch and Layla walked past me, sitting on the opposite end of the same couch.

"She can sleep in my room," I state, leaning against the doorframe and all of their heads snapped to look at me, "Don't look at me like that. I'm sleeping on the couch."

"I'm not letting you sleep on the couch in your own house," Layla's eyebrows furrowed and I shrugged in response. Before I could respond further, the front door swung open revealing my Dad.

"Hey!" he said with a tired smile and I smiled back at him. His eyes travelled to the living room, his eyes landing on Layla, "You must be Layla, I'm Jimmy. Nice to put a face to the name."

"Dad," I mumbled through gritted teeth and he glanced back at me as he closed the door.

"What? I'm just saying it's good to know your description of her is accurate," he answered with a smile and I groaned, running a hand over my face in embarrassment, "When's Mom gonna be home?"

"She said at 7 so we need to figure out dinner," Nick responded, still looking at his phone and my dad nodded before walking past me to go towards his room upstairs.

"I'm gonna go shower. You kids figure out what you want to do for dinner," he called as he trudged up the stairs. With a sigh, I pushed away from the wall and walked into the kitchen, scouring the cupboards for something to make dinner with.

"You good bro?" I heard Chris's voice appear behind me making me jump before I turned around to see he was leaning against the counter with a confused frown, "What's up?"

"Nothing," I brushed him off as I turned around to continue looking through the cupboards.

"Dude, don't do that shit," Chris groaned and in my peripheral vision I saw him round the counter, standing next to me. I straightened up, turning to face him with my eyebrows raised.

"What shit?" I asked and he crossed his arms over his chest, looking at me with an unimpressed.

"Don't shut down on us. Something's off with you," he blandly stated and I let out a heavy breath before I pulled pasta out of the pantry, deciding we would have to concoct some form of sauce with the ingredients we had already.

"Nothing's off. You're trippin'," I shrugged him off and I walked around him, opening up the fridge to look through its contents.

"Matt," Chris said sharply and I sighed, closing my eyes as I leaned my head on the open fridge door, "Just talk to me, man."

"I just-"

"Ooo, are we making pasta?" I heard Nick's voice interrupt me, both he and Layla standing in the kitchen doorway.

I coughed, shaking off the heavy feeling in my chest as I closed the kitchen fridge, "Yeah. We will have to make a sauce but I don’t know how we’re gonna do that."

"Where's Mom when you need her?" Nick groaned, sliding out one of the barstools on the island and plopping himself into it.

"I can help," Layla mumbled, picking at her nails as she glanced between us all before she shrugged, "I make meals out of nothing all the time."

"You don't have to do that," I shook my head and she dismissed me with a wave of her hand, sliding past me to open the fridge. She pulled out a block of cheese, milk and butter.

She opened the pantry, glancing around before she pulled out a bag of flour I didn't even know we had. She placed that next to the ingredients she already placed on the table before she said, "You guys good with a cheese sauce?"

Nick nodded his head vigorously and Chris hummed a yes in response. I watched as she made her way to the stove, picking up the large pot that we kept on the stove before she walked over to the sink, filling it up with hot water before placing it on the now-lit stove.

"How many people?" she asked as she pulled out another smaller pot from the cupboard to her left.

"Six," Chris responded and I continued to watch her as Nick scrolled on his phone.

"Oh great. Don't even have to change the recipe," she mumbled to herself as she started placing ingredients into the smaller pot before she poured the pasta into the now boiling bigger pot.

I felt something kick my leg and I looked over to see Nick glaring at me before he mouthed 'help her dickhead'. I cleared my throat, rounding the counter before I stood beside her.

"Anything you want help with?" I asked and she hummed, her teeth chewing on her lip as she measured the ingredients by eye.

"Once I put all this stuff in you can whisk it. It has to be whisked nonstop for like 5 minutes," she explained before she opened the drawers to her left, pulling out a whisk and handing it to me, "Thanks."

I grabbed the whisk as she smiled up at me before she walked around me, placing the flour, milk and butter back but keeping the cheese out since she hadn't used it yet.

"How do you know this?" Chris asked her and she moved to stand next to me, watching me as I slowly stirred the concoction in the pot.

"A little faster," she mumbled to me and I pursed my lips, resisting the urge to make a joke as she turned to look at Chris, "Google is a wonderful place."

"Yeah, but how do you remember this stuff?" he asked as he leaned his head on his hand, tilting his head to the side.

Layla shrugged as she picked up the pasta stirrer that I hadn't even noticed she placed on the bench, stirring the softening pasta in the bigger pot, "Good memory I guess."

"What are we making?" my dad suddenly appeared in the hallway of the kitchen with a smile in his pyjama pants and white t-shirt.

"Layla's making us pasta with cheese sauce," Nick answered and my dad raised his eyebrows.

"Hey, I'm still stirring the sauce," I frowned, pointing to the pot in front of me that my hand was still making small circles over, "More than what both of you are doing."

"Do you really want them cooking anything?" Layla asked me quietly with a smirk on her face that only I could see since she was facing away from the rest of my family. With a smile, I shook my head and she turned back around to look at my dad.

"It's the least I can do for you. You're letting me stay here," she said and I felt her nervousness radiate off of her but she still spoke clearly, masking the anxiety to anyone else.

"Please! Any of my boy's friends are always welcome here," my dad brushed her off and she chewed on her lip before giving him a small thankful smile, "Don't burn the sauce, Matt. You're mother will have your head on a spike if you waste anything."

+++

pov: layla

As I finished serving up the last of the pasta into bowls, I heard the front door of the house open and in walked what I assumed was Matt's Mom. I placed the dirty dishes in the sink and spun around to give her a smile.

"You must be Layla!" she beamed, immediately grabbing my shoulders and pulling me into a hug. I tensed against her, the unexpected affection catching me off guard but in order to be polite, I tried to relax a bit and hugged her back.

"Nice to meet you," I said, plastering on my best smile as she pulled away from me.

"Did you make this?" she asked, directing her attention to the pasta that was sitting on the bench and I nodded, pursing my lips.

"Yeah. It's the least I could do," I repeated what I told their dad before and she shook her head.

"Ma!" Chris ran into the kitchen, wrapped his arms around her shoulders from behind and I just watched as she patted his forearms lovingly.

I was slightly confused, seeing how Chris acted at school was a complete contrast to who he was at home. I never would've guessed he was so close with his parents and this openly affectionate.

"Chris, help Layla with the pasta," she tapped her son on the side and he rolled his eyes, pulling away from her before he grabbed two of the bowls and made his way to the living room.

"Can you let the boys know I'm just showering and then I'll have dinner?" she turned to me and I nodded with a smile.

"Of course, Mrs Sturniolo," I said politely and she dismissed me with a wave of her hand as she smiled.

"No need for that. Call me Mary-Lou," she smiled as she started walking out of the kitchen and I smiled to myself, her motherly nature radiating off of her.

I grabbed the last three bowls of pasta, balancing one on my forearm between my bicep and wrist as I held the other two in my hands. I walked into the living room and saw Jimmy and Chris holding two of the bowls already. I handed one to Nick and then Matt, both of them giving me a thankful smile. I kept one for myself, leaving Mary-Lou's on the kitchen bench for her.

Nick was sitting in his usual armchair while Jimmy sat on the couch in the same place Mia had been hours before. Matt sat in the middle of the couch and there was a seat next to him, Chris sitting on the floor in front of the empty seat.

"Mary-Lou said that she's having a shower then she'll come eat," I told them as I sat on the floor next to Chris, leaving the couch open for their Mom. I realised they had their seats in everything. In class, in the car and in the living room.

I happily ate my pasta with my legs crossed, all that was heard were forks clanking against porcelain bowls and the quiet murmurs of a show on the TV.

"This is so fucking good," Chris mumbled with a mouth full of pasta, making me look at him with a smile, "Like actually, you need to write down the recipe because I'm not gonna remember if you tell me."

"Chris, when are you ever gonna make dinner?" Nick asked with genuine curiosity in his words.

"I will if it tastes like this," Chris raised his eyebrows, holding his bowl out in front of him that was now empty.

"Or," Matt stated from behind me and I turned around to look at him as he swallowed a mouthful of his pasta, "She can just come over and cook it for us."

"I'm not a personal chef, Matthew," I rolled my eyes, a smile peaking through my lips as I turned around.

"You could be," I could hear the smirk in his voice making me turn around to see I was correct, "Stay here whenever you want as long as I get fed."

"Matt!" Jimmy hit his son's arm making me laugh, "You know better than to talk to a woman like that."

"I'm kidding, Dad," Matt replied with a chuckle before returning his gaze to mine. He sent me a sly wink and I pursed my lips, spinning back around as my face heated up.

"What did I miss?" Mary-Lou entered the living room with her bowl of pasta, placing herself on the couch behind Chris before Chris leaned back onto his mother's legs.

"Matt having no game," Chris mumbled before a hand smacked the back of his head and I noticed that Matt was leaning forward with his arm extended towards Chris.

"Shut the fuck up, Chris," Matt grumbled before he flopped back into the couch and I bit my lip trying to suppress my laugh as Chris pursed his lips, holding in a giggle of his own.

"Enough," Mary-Lou spoke somewhat sternly as she began eating her pasta, "Thank you again for making us dinner, sweetheart. This is lovely."

"It's really no problem," I turned around and gave her a polite smile before I looked at Matt, "Besides, I'm not the one that stirred the sauce."

"Oh fuck off," he leaned forward, shoving my shoulder slightly and I smiled at him sweetly while he shook his head.

"Matt," his mother said sternly and I pursed my lips, turning around once again as I snickered to myself.

The room fell silent as all of our attention was diverted to the TV and I felt Matt's hands fall onto my shoulders, pulling me back to resume my position between his legs. I sighed, leaning my head on his right knee while he began playing with the ends of my hair again.

After a few minutes, he leaned forward so his mouth was beside my ear, his warm breath fanning the side of my face as he whispered, "You want dessert?"

Goosebumps rose on my skin and I nodded my head, my face heating up from our close proximity before he tapped the side of my arm, indicating for me to get up. I grabbed my bowl and phone, hopped up from the floor and walked towards the entrance to the kitchen as Matt followed.

I placed my bowl in the sink and spun around to see Matt in front of me, wrapping his arm around me and placing the bowl in the sink that was now behind my back.

"Couldn't have waited till I moved?" I asked, a smirk tugging at my lips as I glanced around his face.

"Why do that when I get the excuse to be close to you?" he asked, a smirk still on his face. He moved away as my face heated up and I shook away the warm feeling in my stomach. He opened the freezer, pulling out a small tub of strawberry ice cream and two spoons.

"Not gonna put it in bowls?" I asked, walking over towards him as he held out a spoon for me before shaking his head. He made his way back to the living room before he stopped, standing in the doorway.

"We're gonna go watch a movie in my room but I'll sleep on the couch when you guys are done," Matt told his family before making his way up the stairs to his bedroom and I followed shortly behind, not realising we weren't going back to the living room.

"Don't eat all the ice cream!" Nick yelled out and Matt didn't bother turning around.

"No promises!" he called back and once we reached the top of the stairs, he opened a door to the right. He stepped in flicking on the light as I trailed behind him.

I shut the door behind me as he walked over to the bed in the corner of the room, jumping onto it before he patted the place in front of him so I could sit with my back against the headboard.

He cracked open the ice cream and we both sat in silence for a moment before he said, "Wanna play a game?"

tags:

@ilovechrissturniolo1 @leprechaunbirthdaygirl @sturnfix @lilsstvrn

#matt sturniolo #matthew sturniolo #matthew bernard sturniolo #matt sturniolo fanfic #sturniolo triplets #sturniolo #the sturniolo triplets #sturniolo imagine #sturniolo edit #sturniolo fanfic #sturniolo smut #christopher sturniolo #chris sturniolo #nicolas sturniolo #nick sturniolo #christopher owen sturniolo

58 notes · View notes