#I wonder what kind of mood she will be in back at camp

[juniper-clan]

MOON 18: Oh Shit She’s Feeling It (pt. 1)

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#warrior cats #clangen #clangen warrior cats #warriors oc #wc #wc oc #jcmoons #oh man that’s embarrassing #I dedicate this to all the angry / embarrassed cries out there………. #I also dedicate this to MC Ride from Death Grips because of course I listen to them #I wonder what kind of mood she will be in back at camp #oh shit I’m feeling it #takyon #hell yeah fuck yeah I feel like killing it #takyonnnn #shout out to everyone who reads my tags to further understand me and are only more confused

[g1rld1ary]

you never disappointed me ; luke castellan x aphrodite!reader

part one part two part three part four

➻ synopsis: charles beckendorf wants to go out with silena beauregard more than anything. one problem: she's not allowed to date until her shrewish older sister does, so he and percy come up with a plan. (10 things I about you AU)

➻ word count: 2783

➻ warnings: swearing ooc/kind of loser!luke, ooc silena, she/her pronouns used for reader

➻ this'll be a few chapter so this is p1!!!

════ ⋆★⋆ ════

Charles Beckendorf arrived at Camp Half-Blood when he was fifteen years old. It was a wonder he’d lasted out in the mortal world so long with his significant stature, height enough to attract monsters, but Percy — his tour guide — guessed it was probably his more reserved nature which had kept him under the radar.

“Thank God it’s you showing me around,” Was one of the first things he’d said, “When you start things like this it’s usually all the kiss-asses that greet me.” With six schools under his belt, Percy knew what he meant all too well.

“Nah man, we’re chill. And if we get this done quick then you can meet my friends, we know how to have the real fun here.”

And so they embarked on their tour, Percy dutifully pointing out all the most important places around camp. First was the Dining Pavilion, where they met Grover as he chewed on some of the tin-can remains of lunch. Then came Thalia’s Tree, under which Annabeth was drawing out a map that Charles didn’t understand in the slightest but Percy explained was a strategy for capture the flag. After that they walked past the sword fighting arena, where they caught a glimpse of Luke in the middle of a fierce duel. They both passed quickly, and Charles got the distinct impression that you weren’t supposed to interrupt Luke when he was fighting.

As the two got to the lake, Percy explaining it was where most people hung out when they had the time, Charles faltered in his steps. Percy looked back to where he was frozen and followed his sightline to Silena Beauregard and rolled his eyes.

“Who is that?” He breathed.

“Don’t even bother, bro,” Percy replied. “She’s off limits. It’s a well known fact that the Beauregard sisters aren’t allowed to date — they’re only here over the summers and their dad is crazy strict about it for some reason.”

“But she’s so—”

“Self-centred? Shallow? Silena is all looks no substance, dude. You can do better.” Percy ushered him away but Charles was still daydreaming about the beautiful Aphrodite girl.

The tour was just finishing up by the Climbing Wall when they first saw you. You held the camp record for it, and so had been delegated the responsibility of teaching the younger kids. Today though you’d had to rescue a cocky bastard from getting obliterated by lava, singeing the fabric of your camp shirt all over your left shoulder, and you were not in a good mood.

Just wanting to get back to your cabin for a change of clothes and some ambrosia, you were certainly not in the state of mind to stop and chat with a new camper. So when Percy and Charles came along blocking the whole fucking path, you didn’t hesitate to yell “Move!” Pushing past them in a huff. You wouldn’t usually be so rude, but you were pretty sure your shirt was fusing into your skin which was so not what you needed. Plus, they were in the way. Beckendorf’s bicep was warm from where you’d shoulder-checked him with your injury.

“That’s your dream girl’s older sister,” Percy snorted, used to your disagreeable personality.

“That’s Silena’s sister?” Charles asked incredulously, “But she’s…”

“A shrew? Yeah. I’d watch out for her, and kiss your dreams of going out with Silena goodbye. Now c’mon, I’ll show you to your cabin.” Charles followed mindlessly, still thinking about the two Beauregard sisters.

When people thought of you, the consensus was pretty much this: Silena Beauregard’s older sister, and the most heinous bitch at Camp Half-Blood, a title you were extremely proud of. Whilst you really didn’t think you were that bad — in fact, you considered your actions quite reasonable — younger campers cowered away when you marched through camp and the older ones rolled their eyes when you spoke. Just the way you liked it. It wasn’t exactly unusual, camp had all sorts of kids living there, not everyone was going to get along, but it was pretty unexpected for you as a daughter of Aphrodite.

You didn’t get along with most of your siblings, despite all your efforts as one of the elder campers. You thought it was ridiculous that they wouldn’t participate in camp activities, regardless of the reason. What good was having all that beauty if it was wiped off the face of the earth by a monster? There were a hundred rumours flying about to explain you and your attitude, the most popular being that you were the secret lovechild of Aphrodite and Ares, which explained your affinity for fighting and permanent bitch face. You knew better. For one you shared too many of your dad’s traits not to be his child. Plus, Aphrodite had a long history of being associated with war in Ancient Greece which everyone at camp just conveniently forgot in favour of writing her children off as useless and vain. You hated it, and you refused to be who they wanted.

Even your favourite sibling was the polar opposite to you. Silena was a few years younger than you, and by all accounts was the model of a perfect Aphrodite child. Gorgeous, of course, and usually kind and patient. In your opinion, she was kind of annoying and self-absorbed, but you chose to believe she meant well so you could keep tolerating her. You didn’t know how the only two blood-related siblings in your cabin could be so different from one another, but it had been that way since you were fourteen and she was twelve.

You had made it back to your cabin, and your shoulder was all bandaged up after your shower. You were just flipping through The Bell Jar, your latest novel, when Silena came stomping into the cabin, waving a letter frantically through the air. You could assume what it was about.

“This is so unfair!” Silena whined, “Daddy doesn’t even know Ethan!” Ethan was the new boy Silena had been obsessed with recently, writing incessantly to your father in an attempt to get him to take back the no dating rule.

“What, can’t go swap spit with the vermin of the earth?” You exaggerated a pout. She sneered at you in the mirror.

“Worse. Now he’s saying I can’t date until you do, so now I’m going to die a stupid old virgin because of you!” You rolled your eyes and sighed.

“Have you ever considered there’s more to life than finding a boyfriend? Or, big shock I know, maybe I’m just not interested in the sweaty, uninspired pigs that are supplied here?”

“You suck!” She huffed, turning on a kitten heel and barging out of the cabin.

“You suck!” You mocked, turning back to your book. You knew Silena was really pissed at you for being so stubborn, but you hated the thought of changing your opinions over a man of all things.

Silena, in her frustration, was wandering around Camp Half-Blood to let off some steam. Charles, fresh from a kayaking lesson, spotted her across the beach and scrambled to catch up to her. Remembering what Percy told him about her not participating in many of the camp’s activities, he came up with the idea to offer his help to finish a project in the forges to get Chiron off her back. Silena seemed surprised but happy enough to agree, and Charles was ecstatic.

“She’s agreed to go to the forges with me!” He told Percy excitedly, and Percy raised an eyebrow.

“Do you even know how to weld?”

“Well, no, but I will!” As much as Percy liked the new kid, he was definitely a handful.

Charles’ first session with Silena didn’t go exactly as he’d hoped. She showed up already looking bored, and not keen to start off with a simple sword as he’d proposed. Soon he gave up with any welding, choosing instead to try and get her know better.

“If you’re not really into this we could try something else? I saw someone welding some metal flowers, you know, for like a date?” That caught her attention.

“Are you asking me on a date?” At his shy nod Silena couldn’t contain her slight laugh. “That is so cute! What’s your name again?” Charles told her quietly.

“Well, my Dad’s just changed our family rule — I can date when my sister does.”

“That’s great! So all you’ve gotta do is find someone who’ll date her!”

“One problem, Cameron-”

“Charles.”

“My sister is, like, totally antisocial?”

“Yeah, but people jump out of planes and stuff all the time! It could be, like, extreme dating!”

They both looked across the forge where you were working, fixing up your favourite sword after an Ares kid had done quite a number on it. You had on both your signature outfit and expression — long, practical jorts with your camp shirt tied in a knot and a dangerous bitch face.

“The oversized look is out, Beauregard, didn’t you read last month’s Vogue?” Ethan was hovering around you, trying his hardest to get a rise out of you in front of his friends.

“Run along, dickwad.” You refused to blow up at him, knowing it would only be used to make you look hysterical and unbalanced later. Plus, Ethan would get bored sooner or later and find someone else to taunt.

As Charles recounted this story to Percy later that night at the bonfire, all Percy could do was groan.

“Charles — Charlie — I really wanna like you, man, but this is probably the most stupid thing you could have done. I know they’re hot, but it’s not even worth getting involved with one Beauregard sister, and you’ve just gotten yourself tangled with both — and not in the way that most guys dream about.” Charles flushed at the innuendo.

“I think you’re wrong about Silena, I think she’s worth it. I just have to figure out how I can set her sister up with another guy.”

“Yeah, good luck with that,” Percy laughed, hitting Charles’ knee twice before turning away to talk to Annabeth. Charles spent the rest of the night trying to hatch a plan.

Early the next morning he got Percy on board, albeit very reluctantly. Percy brought Charles over to every single guy he could think of in your age range, begging them to take you out. The responses varied from a nervous shake of the head to Travis Stoll laughing in both boys’ faces.

“Why would I go looking for a kick in the balls?” He asked, still wheezing from his initial outburst.

They found themselves once again at the bonfire, both disheartened. Percy at having wasted a day all for this new guy he barely knew, and Charles that he was no closer to getting a date with Silena. Finally, somewhat eager to get this distraction over with, Percy came up with an idea.

“What about you just pay someone to go out with her?” He asked, and Charles considered the idea for a minute, it wasn’t half bad.

“I have literally no money,” He settled on finally, and Percy rolled his eyes.

“So you get someone else to do it for you,” He suggested, and Annabeth joined the conversation with suspicious interest.

“Like a backer?” She asked, at Percy’s nod she bit her lip, “I don’t know if that’s a good idea, guys, it seems like it could really backfire on you. I mean, what if she finds out? I heard she once tied a camper to the lava wall just for looking at her wrong.”

“She won’t find out! I mean she only has to date so Silena can, it doesn’t have to be a long term thing. She goes on enough dates for it to qualify, then they break up while it’s still casual and I can go out with Silena!” Charles explained excitedly, but Annabeth still looked skeptical.

“Plus, if we have a backer, none of the blame will go to my man Charlie here,” Percy added helpfully, which swayed Annabeth a little.

“Okay, well be careful,” She said, leaving for the dining hall to be distanced from the plot.

Percy thought the answer to who the backer would be was pretty obvious. Whilst most of the boys at Camp Half-Blood wanted to sleep with Silena, Ethan White was both rich and desperate enough to agree to it. Plus when Percy Jackson was telling you you’d look great with a girl, you generally listened.

All that was left was to find someone to set you up with. The boys used the bonfire to scope out their options, but it wasn’t looking good. For one, you didn’t even show up to bonfires if you could help it, and it was anyone’s guess what you did instead. Rumours said blood sacrifices but Percy was almost completely sure that was a lie. Truthfully you were sitting up on the roof of the Aphrodite cabin, enjoying the peace and quiet of the camp when no one else was around.

They were about to give up, Percy trying to find the right words to let Beckendorf down easy, when they saw Luke. Luke, with his brooding eyes and his cigarette, sitting on his own at the bonfire with headphones connected to a mortal mp3 player. Luke, who had never quite been the same since he returned from his quest — rumours swirling about the horrors he’d faced that he refused to speak on.

“I think we’ve found our man.”

It was easy to convince Ethan to get on board, he was so overconfident in himself and his looks he would never suspect that Percy or Beckendorf had any ulterior motives. It was equally enjoyable to watch Ethan try and approach Luke to get the plan in motion. Percy and Beckendorf were sitting with Percy’s friends on the beach the very first time Ethan spoke to Luke. He was all macho confidence, still trying to play the tough guy. Luke looked up at him from his place sitting on a rock, barely moving his head to give him any attention. The moment of eye contact meant Ethan knew Luke had seen him speaking, and the abrupt walking away communicated his absolute lack of interest. It took a gargantuan effort from Percy not to burst out laughing then and there.

The second conversation went a bit smoother. Ethan had a metaphorical tail between his legs, temporarily giving up his ego to be the smaller person in the conversation. That got Luke’s attention, having known Ethan and his antics for years at that point. And then Ethan explained his plan. Luke couldn’t contain his laughter — a sound Camp Half-Blood was rarely graced with anymore.

“Yeah sure, Sparky,” He laughed, almost wheezing in an uncharacteristic show of emotion.

“Look,” Ethan stressed, “I can’t take out Silena until her sister starts dating — their Dad is super strict and has this rule—”

“Touching story, not my problem.” Luke moved to put his earbud back in when Ethan stopped him.

“Could it be your problem if I provided generous compensation?” Luke had forgotten Ethan’s mother was filthy rich. He looked him dead in the eye.

“You’re going to pay me to take out some chick? How much?” He asked, entirely disbelieving.

“Twenty bucks” They both looked down at you on the volleyball courts, spiking a ball into a girl’s stomach with so much force she keeled over on the ground. You had the decency to look mildly apologetic while the opposing team glared at you.

“Fine. Thirty.”

“Let’s see,” Luke smiled something devious. “If I’m taking her out it means leaving camp. That’s a lot of risk I’m pursuing for you, plus the costs of taking to her somewhere — the movies maybe. And you know inflation lately, let’s say seventy-five bucks.”

“This isn’t a negotiation, burnout.”

“Fifty bucks and we’ve got a deal, Fabio,” Luke countered, knowing he had the upper hand. He had nothing to lose. Reluctantly, Ethan forked out a fifty. All that was left was for Luke to get you to go out with him, how hard could that be?

#giasfics˚ ༘♡ ⋆｡˚ ❀ #love #luke castellan #pjo tv show #percy jackon and the olympians #percy series #pjo series #percy jackson show #luke castellan x reader #luke castellan x you #luke castellan imagine #luke castellan pjo #luke castellan fanfiction #luke castellan imagines #percy jackson #percy jackson tv show #pjo tv series

[forever-rogue]

Hi, I love your blog so much it's amazing.

I was wondering if you could write some Joel Miller being jealous? Like they're in some kind of relationship but Joel doesn't want to put a word to it and arrive to some camp and a guy from there is trying to flirt with reader but she just has eyes for Joel, could be the first I love you confession from him, to make things official between them? Fluff because my heart can't handle anything else :').

AN | Jealous!Joel? Okay, okay, I see you!

Pairing | Joel Miller x Fem!Reader

Warnings | Language

Word Count | 2.5k

Masterlist | Joel, Main

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Joel Miller wasn’t a relationship type of guy; he hadn’t been for a long time and it seemed pointless to start now. And that’s exactly how you found yourself in a sort of relationship with him…a situationship if you will. 

He also wasn’t the jealous type either. You weren’t his girlfriend, or his partner, or what have you. You happened to be another person living in Jackson that he spent an inordinate amount of time with and had sex with. Lots of sex…he liked to think of it as stress relief. Yeah. That’s it - stress relief. Everyone could use some of that given the current state of the world. 

But, in conclusion, you weren’t anything more to him than anyone else. 

So why did he experience a definitely-not-jealous-feeling deep in the pit of his stomach when he saw you talking to one of Jackson’s newcomers?

He wasn’t jealous. No. Nope. Definitely not. 

He just wanted to strangle any man that talked to you, or looked in your direction. It was a totally normal reaction…or at least that’s what he tried to convince himself. 

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

“Joel?” you found him stalking through downtown and had rushed to catch up with him. You hadn’t seen him in the last couple of days and when you had he’d barely spoken a word or even graced you with a look. 

You could see his shoulders stiffen for a moment but he slowed his stride so you could catch up with him. You quickly fell into stride, but you could sense that he was in a mood. You nudged your arm against his and he grunted in response, “what?”

“What?” you parroted back at him, frowning in response, “or like what’s been up with you lately?”

“I have no clue what you’re talking about,” the man was stubborn beyond measure sometimes. You huffed and waited for him to expand but he refused to give in to you, “been busy.”

“Busy,” he refused to look at you, but he could feel you glowering at him, “we’re all busy, Miller. That doesn’t mean we don’t make time for each other.”

“You expect me to make time for you?” his twang came out as he stopped suddenly and you almost tripped over your own feet as you stopped as well. He crossed his arms over his broad chest, head cocked to the side. Your expression clearly said duh, “and just why would I do, sweetheart?”

“You’re being a jerk,” you pushed his shoulder, gently, although you doubted you could really do much damage to him, even if you wanted to, “last time I checked I thought we enjoyed spending time together. But over the past few days you’ve had such a-a bee in your bonnet.”

“Last time I checked I didn’t owe you anything,” and oh. Those words definitely stung, “we aren’t anything.”

“Oh wow,” you were hurt, but you weren’t about to let him know how much, “that’s rich coming from you. I don’t know what your problem suddenly is, but if you’re going to be a jerk, you can fuck off. And next time you need something, don’t bother knocking at my door. But if you decide to get over whatever this is, or want to talk to me like a grown man, you know where to find me.”

Your reaction had left him stunned; he knew you could hold your own when you needed to, but you’d never talked to him like that before. In that moment you definitely weren’t that soft, sweet girl he’d grown to love. Love. But he’d never admit it; truthfully he might not have even come to that realization just yet.

You stomped away, leaving him standing there and staring after you, a dismal expression on his face. He might have been a quiet man, but he wasn’t often left speechless. You’d just managed to do so.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

You made it a point to avoid him over the next couple of days, figuring that if he really wanted to make things right he would come to you. You missed him, admittedly, but decided to throw yourself into doing things around town to keep your mind occupied. 

That’s how you’d gotten to know the newcomers to Jackson. There were a few women and teenagers, along with some men. For the most past, they were all kind and wanted to keep out wherever they could. 

One of the duties you least liked was being put in charge of one of the community gardens. You had a green-thumb adjacent at best, and didn’t want to be the only one responsible for any bad vegetables or fruits, so you had recruited Max, one of the newbies, to assist you. If you were going down, he was coming right along with you.

You liked Max, so far. He was around your age, handsome in a tall, dark, and roguish way, with a nice smile and good sense of humor. And, unlike men had done since the dawn of time, he didn’t make you feel uncomfortable. So, you had decided, he was going to be your friend. 

“You’re horrible at this,” Max laughed as you fumbled around with some tomato vines, trying to get the ripe fruit without destroying anything else, “how are you making this so difficult?”

“Shut up,” you groaned but it quickly turned into a laugh as you fell onto your bottom from how you were teetering and crouching. You managed to knock the whole plant down (sorry tomatoes), “oops.”

Max had dropped the small shovel he had been working with, head thrown back as he laughed, “and you’re clumsy on top of it. I’ll remember that for the future.”

You grabbed a small handful of soil and threw it over at him, “bold of you to assume that we’re ever hanging out again after this. You’re bullying me!”

“So dramatic,” he snorted in amusement as he brushed off the dirt and came over to you, offering you his hand to help you to your feet, “come on, I’ll let you bully me in return.”

You took his hand and he gently hoisted you to your feet. You almost stumbled into him, but caught yourself by putting your hands on his shoulders as his found purchase on your waist. You looked at him in surprise and he smiled softly, causing you to relax. He was so close, and pretty, and nice, and you could just lean in and kiss him. Max must have been thinking the same thing because he started to lean in too. A shiver of excitement ran down your spine, until-

“Get your hands off of her,” the two of you jumped apart at the sound of his very angry voice. Your face flushed with warmth, a combination of being caught red-handed and annoyance because you weren’t technically doing anything wrong. Max’s glance shifted over to Joel and then back to you, “now take a step back.”

“What the hell are you doing here?” you hissed at him, “why are you here, Joel?”

“Are you two…?”

“No.”

“Yes.”

At the sound of Joel’s answer your eyes widened in surprise as your jaw almost dropped to the ground. Max held up his hands in a sign of surrender as he started to slowly back away, “hey man, I didn’t know she was your girl.”

“Don’t worry Max,” you offered him an apologetic look, “I didn’t know that either.”

“I gotta go, but I’ll see you around,” he said sheepishly, “bye!”

He almost ran off, leaving the two of you there, the tension so thick. After a moment you turned towards him and shook your head. You weren’t quite sure what to say so you decided to just walk past him, but not before giving him a full glare, “you’re such a dick sometimes. First you shove me away like I’m nothing and now you act like I’m yours. How about I make the final decision? We, you and I, are done. Whatever you want to call it, it’s over. Maybe then you can figure out your own feelings.”

But the man wasn’t about to just let you go. No, that was not his style. 

His fingers wrapped around your wrist and his strong grip kept you from walking away. 

“Stay,” he insisted gruffly, causing you to pout in that way that always made his knees weak. 

“Why? Are you going to apologize?”

He remained silent and you could see that the answer to that was clearly no. You huffed as you pulled your hand out of his and started to walk away. He remained silent as he watched you go. He could have just said everything he wanted to and gotten it all out there but…he’d chickened out. 

“Fuck,” he groaned, “fuck.”

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

You didn’t run into Joel again for almost a week. You wondered if it was partly him avoiding you or you just didn’t happen to cross paths. Jackson was only so big; you knew the truth. 

But as your feelings would have it, you really, really missed the man. He’d become such an important and vital part of your life and not having him around felt like you were missing a huge part of your heart.

When you decided that you couldn’t take it anymore, you made a plan to take matters into your own hands. You left your place and made the short trek over to his, knocking on the door loudly. He was home; you could see the light and if he had sort of sense, he would open the door. 

After a few long moments of buzzy anticipation, you heard his familiar footsteps come towards the door. He opened it slowly and his brown eyes widened when he saw that it was you. He was a mixture of confused and happy.

“What are you…?” he didn’t get the opportunity to finish his question, instead watching as you made your way inside, brushing past him and causing sparks to shoot down his spine. 

“Can we just talk?” you were already in the kitchen, leaning against the counter as you looked at him softly. You couldn’t help it; you were a sucker for this man.

“Yes,” he agreed, coming in and mirroring your position on the other side of the counter. You wanted to be made, or at the very least annoyed, but you couldn’t find it in your heart, “I’m sorry for what I said.”

“Which part?” if he thought you were letting him off easily, he was so wrong, “the part where you said we were nothing, or the part where you changed your mind - unilaterally I might add - and decided we were something?”

“Both,” he pinched the bridge of his nose and let out a long sigh, “I was an idiot.”

“Yeah,” you agreed, “you were. What changed your mind?”

“That kid,” you could see the tick in his jaw as he frowned deeply. Ahhh. Yes, you knew exactly what was going on; Joel Miller was jealous. He just wasn’t going to admit it in those terms. 

“His name is Max,” okay, maybe now you were just doing it to get a rouse out of him, “and he’s perfectly nice. He was just helping me.”

“He wanted to do a little more than help,” the man tore his gaze from you and huffed. 

“Joel Miller, you’re jealous,” your smile was practically stretching from ear to ear as you beamed at him, “just admit it! That’s what all this has been about?”

“I’m a grown ass man,” he sounded anything but, “I don’t get jealous.” 

“Okay, so you weren’t jealous just…something incredibly like it?” you asked. He shrugged dismissively in response but gave away no emotions or anything, “huh, that’s interesting.”

“It’s not, no. I’m not the-”

“I get jealous too sometimes,” you admitted sheepishly, hiding your face in your hands, embarrassed to admit it out loud, “when those women practically throw themselves at you. Makes me want to…I don’t know, show them you’re mine.”

“What are you-”

“You’re such a man,” you flopped your head to the side, “those women - and men - love you. You’re sexy, and smart, and lots of other things, but apparently so oblivious. But I guess that doesn’t matter though.”

“What do you mean?” he was leaning closer now and you could smell his familiar scent; it made you want to curl up with him and let him swallow you whole.

“You said we weren’t anything so,” ugh. You wished you didn’t get so emotional over this, “it doesn’t matter what I think or want. I shouldn’t have assumed anything.”

“I lied,” and it was oh so hard for him to admit that, “that day. I was just…mad - not at you. I just thought, when I saw you with all the new people, that you liked them and they were all over you, especially that one kid-”

“Max.”

“Max,” he didn’t like the taste of the name in his mouth, “I just figured you’d want someone like that and not me.”

“You’re a fool,” you shook your head in disbelief, “I’ve never wanted anyone but you.”

“I never…putting labels on things seems trivial,” he whispered, “how can what you mean to me be summed up with one word? I just never thought about it; it never meant you didn’t mean everything to me.”

"I…" you felt a prickling at the back of your eyes that caused you to try and blink it away, "do you mean that?"

"Yes," he reached over, hesitantly at first before settling his hand on your face  brushing your tears away with his thumb, "I mean it. You're very…important to me."

"You're important to me too," you put your hand on top of his and gave it a gentle, tender squeeze, "we don't have to put labels on anything. Just as long as we're on the same page about everything."

"You're mine," he promised and you felt yourself practically glowing. His words made you feel all warm and fuzzy, butterflies fluttering in your tummy. You nodded happily, "I know I'm not great with a lot of things but I do love you. I hope you know that."

"Hmm," you hummed as you closed your eyes contentedly, "I love you, even if you're a stubborn, tough man."

"Enough to accept my apology?" he had his answer already but needed to hear you say it. You rolled your eyes playfully.

"I suppose," you leaned in closer and smiled softly.

"Enough to let me kiss you?"

"Definitely."

#joel miller #joel miller x reader #joel miller x fem!reader #joel miller x you #joel miller imagine #joel miller one shot #pedro pascal #tlou #tlou hbo

[katebishopshands]

But I’m a Cheerleader ! ! Pt. 2

(Cheerleader!Kate Bishop/reader)

Pt. 1 here!!

»»-------------¤-------------««

Cheer camp continues, and the pursuit of the coveted Spirit Stick is on.

First impressions are everything, with it being the firsts official day of camp it is crucial that your team makes a good impression on the camp coaches and higher ups. And it appears that you’re not the only ones who want to make a good impression, the Archers are hot on your tail…

Maybe you’ll make some impressions you didn’t intend on when you came to camp this year?

(18+ CONTENT IN THIS PART)

»»-------------¤-------------««

“She HAS to sit her team right next to ours?” You growled into your oatmeal. It was a sad attempt at something nutritious. A brown banana covered in brown sugar and cinnamon frowned up at you.

You needed your strength today. First official day of camp meant back to basics. Perfecting benches, extensions, jumps and starting to learn the dance that you’d perform at the end of the week. The team needed to start out on a good foot so you could impress the camps coaches.

“ I mean it IS the dining hall..there’s not a ton of places to sit” Yelena looks up from her cereal to look at you and then in the direction where you were shooting lasers.

Kate Bishop sat her perfect self and her perfect team at the table across from your own. You could hear her loud mouth talking to America from where you sat.

Shoving a spoon of oatmeal in your mouth you muttered to yourself, “god does she ever shut up”

“Someone’s in a cranky mood…” Yelena sips on her coffee while side eyeing you.

You felt your eye twitch. Yes, you were in a cranky mood. Even after you had told Kate after your awkward confrontation yesterday to please be quiet at night, she hadn’t listened. Music was playing , loudly, in her room till at least two in the morning.

You couldn’t help but wonder last night in your sleep depraved state as you stared up at the dusty popcorn ceilings of your dorm, what Kate bishop wore to bed?

Was she a matching set girl? Or maybe a tank top and boxers type? Does she sleep with her hair up or maybe down?

You had never seen her with her hair down, maybe you’d get that chance this week. Static fuzz hit your stomach at the thought of taking Kate’s hair out of her tight ponytail.

“Yes, Yelena..I am cranky because my OTHER neighbor couldn’t shut the fu-“

“Ahem”, someone clears their throat above you. You both stop your conversation, looking up to see the last people you wanted to converse with at 7:45 in the morning. Kate Bishop and America Chavez.

Kate quirks a full eyebrow at you in your frazzled state. She looked utterly perfect to say the least. Full lips, dark brows and thick lashes. A spattering if beauty marks across her face Big blue eyes staring down at you. Part of you wanted to feel her gaze like this more often.

As quickly as the thought entered your head, you shoved it out. You had no time to be crushing on Kate Bishop.

Long black hair pulled into a ponytail, a matching purple and black workout set on. The sports bra exposing her muscular arms.

You salivated a little bit.

“We just wanted to say good luck this week!” America smiles at you. It’s honestly welcomed in comparison to the way Kate was eye fucking you.

You swallowed nervously and gave America a half pleasant smile.

“We don’t need your luck” Yelena spits at the other two captains. Kate looks unphased at the blonde, but America looks a bit shaken. She was a little younger than you guys, so it was obvious Yelenas little outburst had spooked her.

Kate puts her hand on Americas shoulder.

“Listen we just came here to wish you guys luck this week, we mean no hostility” Kate puts her hands up in a defensive manner,

“Just because we’re rivals doesn’t mean we can’t be friendly”.

She smiles at you, and America nods her head .

“Well…that’s very kind of you”, you say through grit teeth, your hand white knuckling the spoon you were holding.

You catch Coach Nat out of the corner of you eye. She’s watching the exchange unfold in front of her. First impressions start now, so if you want that spirit stick, it’s time to be the better captain. A team player if you will.

You smile at the two girls in front of you, your demeanor shifting from guarded to a sickly sweet confidence.

Sticking your hand out, and Kate meets you in the middle. You touch each other for the very first time, and you could’ve sworn you felt sparks between your hands.

“May the best team win this week”,

Kate shakes your hand, returning the smile. Once you let go, America turns to go back to her breakfast table,

“See you around..” Kate looks at you one last time, taking you in before she heads back to her table. Something mischievous glints in her eyes.

Goosebumps prick up on your arms.

Turning to Yelena, you look at her, bewildered at the exchange that had just occurred.

“God what the fuck “

»»-------------¤-------------««

“You look like shit” someone whispered behind you as you reached down towards your left leg while you stretched. Swiveling your head towards the voice and flipping your ponytail over your shoulder you were greeted to Kate Bishop standing to your right. Hands on her hips and head tilted. She smiled slightly at you.

“I don’t need you here right now, Bishop” you said standing up. You crossed your right arm across your chest, grabbing it with your left and stretching.

“I’m just pointing it out, looks like you could use some better sleep. Aren’t captains supposed to be the most prepared on the team?” She tilts her head to the opposite side, batting her dark lashes at you.

“I would’ve slept fine, but someone decided to have a party in their room” you deadpanned. Not believing she had the audacity to say shit to you, especially when she knew the reason you didn’t sleep well. If you didn’t know better, you’d say she did it on purpose.

“Damn, there was a party and I wasn’t invited? Lame” she laughs at herself before her eyes meet yours. You switch the arm you’re stretching. You’d hate to pull something during the first rotation of the day.

Kate had never paid this much attention to you before. A couple snotty words to each other, and dirty glances towards the other, sure. That was normal, but the level of taunting she was doing to you was unnatural for your usual dynamic.

You held her gaze, not wanting to back down.

“You look cold…I’d hate for you to pull something” you pout at her, crossing your arms in front of you. You wanted to give her a taste of her own medicine. She was the most insufferably cocky person you had met in your life. Girl thought she could talk your ear off for the entire warm up session before jumping into an hour and a half of choreography.

“Yknow..I am a little..”, she trails off, eyes locking on a stray piece of hair hanging in front of your face.

Kate goes to move the hair from your face, but you catch it before she can. Tucking the hair behind your ear, you glare at her. She leans into your ear,

“Maybe you can show me uh…some of your favorite ways to warm up?”

Kate backs up,searching your face. What she had said was, in theory, completely innocent. But it ignited something in your stomach. Your hands felt more clammy, your heartbeat raced. The heat in your face rose to your cheeks and ears. You KNEW Kate had a double meaning to her words.

Your fists clenched, suddenly you felt like you had a stick shoved up your ass with how upright and pissed off she made you feel.

You glanced around, checking to see if anyone had seen this whole interaction occur. Yelena, Coach Nat…hell even America or Clint Barton. You’d take anyone at this point.

No one seemed to pay attention to the rival captions standing at the front of the mat. Music played quietly, and teammates chattered as they stretched and warmed up. It was almost as if the two of you were in your own world. Where the only concerning thing was your bickering and how much you could piss each other off.

Kate smirks at you before she opens her mouth to speak again.

“I’m serious though, you’re good. I’d love to know how you got to be that good.”

Her shoulder brushes yours as she passes you, knocking you back a bit. She turns back towards your direction but continues walking.

“You know where to find me if you’re open to some private lessons..”

She turns. Black ponytail swinging behind her. Your eyes lingered in her figure. Purple leggings clinging to her fit frame. Back muscles exposed in her sports bra.

Your mouth felt dry. You needed water.

The rotation hadn’t even started and you felt like you had run a marathon.

Walking as quickly as possible, you made it to the bleachers where your water bottle sat. You sat down on one of the steps, raising the bottle to your lips. You started to chug almost as if you hadn’t had water in weeks.

What the fuck is Kate’s deal. Her confidence was intoxicating. Something about being around her made all will to be defensive die inside of you. She was able to run circles around you and you could do nothing about it.

“Whoa whoa, slow down. You’re gonna be sick!”

You look up, it’s Yelena. She’s taking a seat next to you, her brows furrowed in concern.

“ you look flushed? We haven’t even started??” She searches your face for an answer.

Her question makes you flush harder. She absolutely could not know Kate Bishop was the cause of this.

“Oh my god, are you sick? I can go get Natasha. She knows how the food here can just absolutely fu-“

“Lena I’m fine”

“Oh..”

She gives a skeptical look your way. Green eyes flashing with concern. You pull your water bottle away from your mouth, setting it back on the bench.

“I’m just hot, it’s really hot in here”

You stand, wiping your sweaty hands on your own leggings.

“It’s not that bad..

“Yelena.”

You cut her off, not sure if you’d be able to handle any more questioning from her. The blonde stands with you.

You adjust the bow sat in your hair, attempting to wipe Kate bishop from your head for the next hour and a half. You could analyze your interactions during passing time, but you needed to be focused.

“Now, let’s dance”

You started down the bleachers, Yelena in tow.

If you wanted to get that spirit stick, Kate Bishop couldn’t be distracting you. She never has distracted you, and she wasn’t going to start now, no matter how sweaty she made your palms.

»»-------------¤-------------««

The rest of the day was brutal. Existing on a college campus, with minimal AC in the middle of summer was quite honestly the worst thing ever. Well, next to seeing your team crumble under the pressure right in front of you.

Every you could’ve sworn you got worse. Dance was fine, and the tumbling portion was alright. But stunting was the worst you’ve ever seen it.

The amount of times you had to catch your flyer from falling just during the hour and a half rotation was insane.

You could’ve sworn coach Nat had never been so mad in her life.

Of course this was all under the every watchful eyes of The Archers and captain Kate Bishop herself.

You could feel her eyes on you all day, burning into the back of your skull.

“I think tomorrow will be our day, I have a good feeling.”

Yelena converses with you outside of your dorms. She’s trying to lift your spirits like the good friend that she is, but it’s not working.

“I’m just really worried…today was the worst I’ve seen us perform”

You bite your lip, anxiously playing with the hangnails that were around your nail beds.

“It’s only the first day, and the pressure is on this year, we’ll come back”. Yelena puts a hand on your shoulder, her green nail polish glinting in the dull lights of the hallway. She squeezes a little, smiling reassuringly at you.

Yelena was a little intense at times but she always knew how to make you feel better. After debriefing with Yelena, a shower was well needed.

You looked at your sad dorm room, your tie blanket on the flimsy mattress. Box fan tucked into the window, blowing a warm breeze into the room. Setting down your backpack, you begin to take your shoes off, socks leaving a sweat print on the linoleum flooring.

“Gross” you grimace looking down at it. Through the silence in your room, the sound of a bass filled beat caught your ear. You groaned, beginning to take your hair out of your ponytail.

You knew exactly where it was coming from. Kate Bishops stupid room. You gave a couple hard bangs on the wall, signaling to Kate that you wanted her to keep it down.

The music didn’t turn down. Taking a deep breath you continued to get ready for your shower, giving her another hour of music time before you went over there and bitched her out.

Truthfully, you didn’t want to see her again tonight. You had dealt with enough of her for the day and another ounce of Kate Bishop for the day might actually kill you.

Getting out of the shower you did your usual bedtime junk, brushing your hair, motioning your body up. The whole 9 yards. You needed it so bad after the day you had.

Kates music still blared as you got dressed, putting on a ratty competition T-shirt and some boxer shorts with little hearts on them.

You were too tired to bitch her out, deciding to get in bed instead of going next door to tell her to shut up.

Turning the lights off, you padded your way over to your bed, ready to let sleep overcome you.

You waited. And waited. Turning to your left. Turning to your right. Rinse and repeat. You even tried flipping the end of the bed your head was. Nothing.

The bass continued to shake the wall the bed was up against. You tried banging on the wall again. Nothing. Again, another bang to the wall and you were greeted to nothing in response.

You shoved your blankets down, sitting upright in bed and angrily standing up. Kate bishop was not ruining another night of sleep because she wanted to play her music. Hadn’t she ever heard of headphones??

You crossed the room, opening up your door and slamming it behind you. It was a quick turn over to Kate’s room, and before you knew it you were banging on her door.

The hall was quiet, as it should be. It was well past lights out. Most of the girls would probably be asleep by now. Except for Kate Bishop.

Your fist continued to meet Kates metal door. The beat of your pounds echoing in the otherwise silent hall. You were getting annoyed now, she had ignored your pounds on the wall and now she was ignoring your knocks on her door. All you wanted to do was go to sleep.

“Nice jammies” you hadn’t even noticed that the door had opened, you had been too caught up in your train of thought.

Kate stood infront of you. She was leaning against the door frame. Her hair was still up, but gone was her workout set.

A pair of loose black shorts hung low on her hips. The shorts were topped off with a matching tight black tank.

You scolded yourself for looking, Kate wasn’t wearing a bra. Pervert

You swallowed, hard.

“Shut up”

“Woah what did I do?”

Kate looked at you. She was annoyed, and you were too.

“You know exactly what you’re doing”

You took a step towards her, crossing your arms over your chest. It was cold in the hallway surprisingly. Your bare legs covering themselves in goosebumps.

“Listen, if you’re going to show up to my room at this hour of the night, I at least deserve some sort of explanation “ Kate tilted her head to the side, lightly poking her cheek with her tongue. You said nothing.

She had to know what she was doing. Her music didn’t pause when she opened the door. You could still hear the beat from where you stood.

“Turn your music off” you said flatly.

“I’m tired and I want to go to bed, turn it off” you were beyond pissed right now.

“Okay then go to bed” Kate snaps back at you. Her voice raised ever so slightly.

“I can’t with your fucking music this loud”. You jabbed your finger into her chest.

She stumbles backwards a little. “Oh my god will you calm down? It’s just music, it’s not that big of a deal” Kate looked just as pissed as you now. Her blue eyes staring daggers into you, her breathing a little elevated .

“Just some music? I couldn’t sleep last night because of you. “ you’re nearly yelling now

“My team, fell apart today because I felt like shit, and you kept fucking staring at me”

Fists balled into your sides, You began to blow up on the dark haired girl opposite of you.

Kate shakes her head a little, popping her jaw in annoyance.

“So I need you to shut the fuck up and just-“

“Jesus fucking Christ”

Kate rolls her eyes and grabs your wrist forcefully. You fight her a bit, trying to pull free of her grip. She quickly pulls you into her room, letting you stumble forward once she releases you. She slams the door behind her and then turns to face you.

“Could you be any louder? Both of our teams are trying to sleep and you’re out there yelling about some stupid music”

Once again, the audacity of this girl.

“Y’know, I was actually starting to like you today, but you’re nothing but a dick”

“The same goes for you” Kate crossed her arms, malice laced in her tone.

You’re standing chest to chest with her now. You’re able to smell her lavender chai perfume. Her chest rises and falls with the heavy breaths she’s taking.

“I actually think you’re a really good captain. You care about your team, and you and Yelena make a great duo.” Kate starts out. She’s got a different energy about her that you can’t put your finger on. That same static fuzz feeling you had from the first moment you saw each other yesterday invaded your stomach. She made you shiver.

“But dear god do you need to get the stick out of your ass. Maybe then your team would be halfway decent”

You saw red. You came over here to be civil, ask her to turn down her music. But now you’re stood in Kates room and she’s insulting your team.

You could’ve sworn your brain was short circuiting .So you did what was logical.

You kissed her.

You kissed Kate Bishop hard as fuck.

Your lips collided with hers, grabbing at the front of her tank top and pushing her back against the door. As soon as Kate’s back hit the door it was like something clicked in you.

You pulled away panting.

And Kate chased you. Kate Bishop chased your mouth to continue kissing you.

You pushed that thought away from your mind.

“I’m sorry I just..i don’t know what happened” your fists were still clutching the front of Kate’s shirt. She looks at you. Pupils blown, lips parted.

“Shut up” Kate gushes before diving back into you.

Her hands envelop your face. Callouses from stunting brushing your cheeks.

Kate kisses you like she needs you to breathe. Holding you impossibly close.

“I-“ you gasp in between kisses. You’re fighting for dominance in the kiss. Slowly but surely traveling down the small hallway that lead to the main room.

“Fucking hate you” you bite at Kate’s lip. Pulling her bottom lip a little you grin at her. She snorts, pushing you up against the nearest wall.

“You sure about that?” Kate leans into your ear. Her hands find your breasts. She squeezes them.

It feels so good. It feels so good and relieves a bit of the ache that had started growing in your shorts. You couldn’t take the cocky grin Kate had plastered on her pretty face.

You bit your lip, fighting the moans that are attempting to escape your throat.

“Such a tough team captain” Kate laughs as she continues to feel up your tits.

“Shut it” you grab her hands in an attempt to stop her movements.

“So tough all the time, don’t you want to let go?”

You do. You do want to let go. Especially when Kates fingers are reaching towards the bottom of your shirt.

“I can’t “ you shake your head as you feel her fingers lightly brush against your stomach.

“I think you can, pretty girl”

Kate thrusts her knee up into you. It meets your drenched core and you break. You break so easily under her influence.

“There we go” she pulls your shirt over your head, tossing it behind her shoulder.

“Fucking hell Kate”

“Tell me about it” she ogles you. Staring at your tits. She can help it, a finger goes in to tweak one of your nipples. Another moan from you.

Kate removes her knee from your cunt and urges you towards her bed. You move your mouth to her neck, latching on and plastering kisses down it. She reaches for her phone on the bed, and turns her music up.

“Can’t have anyone knowing we’re doing this, can we?” You moan at her words. Thinking about Yelena knowing Kate was groping at your tits right now was a little too arousing.

In a Kate drunk haze, you eagerly shove your hands down her shorts. Your fingers being met by a lack of underwear and her warmth.

“Holy shit” you whisper to yourself. She was soaked. Bickering with you had turned her on beyond belief.

Kate gives a whine and leans forward as your fingers meet her cunt. She rests her head on your shoulder.

“God don’t stop” she meets your eyes. Big blue eyes pleading for something, anything.

“Oh Katie …” you pout at her. A guttural moan comes from Kate as the nickname slips off your tongue. You’re able to manhandle Kate up against the creaky dorm bed.

Eagerly, you tear her shorts down, letting them pool around her ankles. And she lets you. She submits so easily to you.

“Where’s your ego now,huh?”

You kiss her cheek as your fingers find her clit. She has no words, the only noise leaving her mouth being a few airy moans. Rubbing circles on her clit, you return to her mouth.

She’s licking into your mouth, craving any attention she can get from you. Kates hips begin to buck into your hand as you begin to tease her hole with your fingers.

Kates hips begin to buck into your hand as you begin to tease her hole with your fingers.

“I’ve wanted this-“ she pants out

“Since our first cheer camp together” she locks eyes with you. Her knees are shaking as you’re able to put two fingers inside of her, thumb still lazily playing with her clit.

“When I..I.. accidentally did my full into you”

She smiles a little bit before she goes back in for a kiss. You kiss her back for a bit before pulling away again.

“You left me with a black eye for a week” you laugh at her as you increase the speed of your fingers. Kates eyebrows kit together.

She’s close. You can tell by the way she squeezes you and the sweat that forms around her hairline.

“What a bad girl” you whisper in her ear. And that’s what it takes. Kates knees give out a little as she finishes. A string of curses and your name leaving her lips. You continue to finger her throughout her aftershocks.

Once your fingers are pulled out, you put them into your mouth, sucking her release off of them. Kate catches her breath as she watches you.

“Fuck” she pants, sitting down on her bed. You bat your lashes at her a little, crawling towards her.

Kate kicks off her shorts and pulls her tank top off of her sweaty body. You were right for being such a pervert earlier. She’s gorgeous.

Abs on full display, perky tits right there for you to grab.

“I need you to ride me..like right now”

You’re pulling your own boxers off before she can finish her sentence. Once you’re hovering above her thigh, Kate’s strong hands grip your hips, forcefully shoving you down onto it.

She rocks with you, helping you set a brutal pace.

With all the teasing of the night, it’s going to be sooner or later before you bust.

Kate sits up as you grind your sticky cunt against her toned thigh. Her lips attaching themselves to one of your nipples.

You moan, throwing your head back in pleasure. Your hands planting themselves in her hair, yanking on the black locks.

You’re tired of the ponytail. You need to see her hair down. With a final pull to the actual hair tie, her hair is freed.

Her dark hair falls to her mid back in loose curls. She’s so gorgeous it’s annoying.

Kate delivers a bite to your nipple, pulling your attention from her hair.

“Doesn’t it feel nice?” She smirks up at you, aggressively guiding your hips against her. The friction is delicious. Her thigh rubs perfectly against your swollen clit.

“Hm?” You respond. Too horny and caught up in the hopes of your release to register what she’s saying to you.

Kates sucks a hickey on the side of your tit.

“Fucking the rival captan? Getting the stick out of your ass?”

The dorm bed is hitting the wall, you can hear it and see it. The shaky wooden frame making a rhythmic beat out of your fucking. You pray to whatever god is listening that Kate’s music is loud enough to cover up the noise.

Before you know it that static fuzz feeling is taking over your whole body. Like you’re a child standing too close to an old TV.

“Kate shit..I’m close” you frantically rock your hips into her. You want your release so bad.

“I’ve got you, I’ve got you” she punctuates her words with a squeeze to your hips.

“Jesus Christ.. “ you’re gushing all over her. You can feel your cum dripping down her thigh and your own .

Kate falls backwards, letting her head hit her pillow.

You’re sweaty and tired, and you smell like sex. You think about how you regret showering before you came over. But then again…you didn’t come over thinking you were going to fuck your rival in the first place.

Kate looks up at you, gently helping you remove yourselves from her thigh before she gently pats the limited space next to her. You unsurely lay down next to her, not sure if you should walk of shame your way back next door or stay.

You get your answer when Kate pulls her naked body flush against yours,arm wrapped around your waist.

Neither of you say anything, just listening to the other breathe.

You should be worried about your alarm set for 7 am in the room next door, or how you’re going to get out of the room in the morning without being caught, but you’re not.

The only thing in your head in the moment being “I just fucked Kate Bishop”.

»»-------------¤-------------««

Check out the playlist!! And stay tuned for more!!

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[your-honor-im-zesty]

Stuck in the Boiler Room with You and Your Stupid Blue Eyes

Leo was straight, okay? He was straight. With a capital S. Just your Typical Straight Heterosexual Guy Who Is Very Much Attracted To Girls But Not Guys.

Yeah, that was him. To a T.

Which was why he was absolutely infuriated by Jason's eyes.

He hated them. They were blue- electric blue, piercing and clear. They crinkled and narrowed and fluttered and squinted all while remaining that frustrating shade of blue. Which he hated.

It was distracting, for one. He can hardly get any work done whenever Jason's around, because Jason was his best friend, and everyone talked to their best friends. And when Leo talked to people, he looked at them, right in the face- and inevitably, right into those frustratingly blue eyes.

Like right now, for instance.

"So," said Jason, leaning to peer at the Argo ll blueprints. He points to the room they're in right now- the boiler room. "Here's where we are." His fingers drags across the paper to pause at the hallway of rooms. "And that's where everyone else is."

"Congratulations, Grace- you can see!" Leo keeps his voice cheery and sarcastic, trying to focus his gaze on the blueprints and not those damn blue peepers.

Jason snorted. "You're very happy for someone who's locked in a boiler room for the next 3 hours."

That pretty much killed the mood.

Leo wasn't even sure how or why the boiler room was locked; he had double checked the mechanics back at Camp Half-Blood, and it had been adequate enough. So there was no reason for them to be stuck in here without any means of leaving- but hey, maybe the universe hated him. It certainly seemed to be holding a grudge against him lately. He wondered if he'd done something wrong in his past life and this was his penance.

"Relax, Superman- 3 hours you'll be blessed with my gracious presence!" he said brightly. "It's a great honor, really. If either of us should be bursting with happiness right now, it's you."

Jason huffed. "Piper'll have my ass for this in the morning," he muttered.

Ah yes. Piper. The girlfriend. Of his best friend. That also kind of killed the mood, though he wasn't sure how. Piper was also his best friend, and it wasn't like he hated her or anything. She was a pleasant person (when she wasn't raving about Drew Tanaka or making googly eyes at Jason)

Eyes. Jason. That was a no-no combination. He really had to stop thinking about it.

He clasped his hands together. "Never fear, Jason! Your very smart, very handsome, very heroic best friend can think himself out of every problem." He winked. "We'll be out of here before the clock strikes twelve, Cinderella."

"Cinderella?" Jason looked at him blankly.

"Dude. Don't tell me you don't know Cinderella."

Jason shrugged.

"Come on!" Leo was appalled. "What did you read growing up? What were your bedtime stories?"

"Lupa once told me the story of a boy who got eaten," Jason mused. "He talked too much, apparently. She told me the same thing would happen to me if I didn't shut my mouth."

O-kay. Leo made a mental note to schedule a therapy appointment for his best friend. That boy had some serious trauma.

"Alright, Plan A," he announced. "Unlocking the door."

"You already tried that. Multiple times."

Leo wrinkled his nose at him. "Man, at least be my cheerleader if you're not gonna help. Put those pretty boy looks to use."

It was a joke, obviously- even if Leo did think Jason was the living embodiment of pretty boy. But Jason looked more flustered than amused by the joke.

"Sure," he coughed, taking a sudden interest in the floor. "Go Leo. L-E-O. For Leo."

"You're pathetic," Leo told him. He walked away, making a bee-line for the boiler door. Jason trailed after him. "Seriously, Piper would be disappointed."

At the mention of Piper, Jason clammed up.

Leo knelt, taking a screwdriver from his pocket and began to work. Often, when Leo switched to what he liked to call his "Magic Mindset", his fingers suddenly had a mind of their own. He didn't even know the kinks of half the things he fixed, but in situations like this, the answers came naturally, like they'd been sitting in the back of his mind as excess knowledge. Thanks, Hephaestus.

But Magic Mindset seemed to be out of order today; a few minutes had passed and the door remained firmly locked.

Leo grunted, rising to his feet. "Damn door," he grumbled, pocketing his screwdriver.

Jason looked smug, all earlier bashfulness gone. "Told you so."

"Shut up, Grace. Onto Plan B."

"Which is...?"

Leo pointed at him. "Your job, not mine. It's not fair for me to do all the work, is it?"

Jason narrowed his eyes- shit, his eyes. "Fucker," he groused, which was surprising. You would think The Golden Boy Jason Grace, Son of Jupiter and New Rome's Grandest Hero, would know better than to curse.

Jason peered around; his eyes- Leo cursed at himself, what was it about those eyes?- caught on the ceiling. "There."

"What?" Leo followed his gaze. "That's a ceiling, dude."

"Look closer."

Leo did and- oh. Oh.

Hell no.

"That's ridiculous," he said. "I'm not climbing into an air vent. I have too much dignity for that."

Jason looked unfazed. "Have fun in the boiling room alone, then."

"Wha- HEY! GRACE GET BACK HERE!"

Jason had launched himself into the air, and was now hovering a few feet above. A rare, mischievous grin unfurled across his face- Leo didn't even know Jason had the ability to be mischievous. "Coming or not?"

"You're a menace to society," Leo told him. "And I'm speaking as the person who gets frequently shamed for putting pineapple on his pizza."

"I was raised by wolves- forgive me if my ettiquette isn't very decent," said Jason dryly. He reached a hand below, and Leo accepted it.

Shit. Was his hand greasy? He never really washed it after using his tools...and now he wished he had. Curse his lazy ass.

His hand was definitely warm. Double shit. Jason was probably grossed out. Was he grossed out? Leo craned his neck to check; Jason was staring back at him, brows furrowed. He didn't look disgusted, per se, but his expression was definitely odd.

"What? Admiring my good looks?" Leo teased.

Jason's cheeks blotched red. "Can't admire something nonexistent," he retorted, yanking Leo from the ground. His free hand grabbed Leo's elbow, adjusting him so that they were eye level in the air.

Damn blue eyes. They would be the death of him.

"Alright, Tinkerbell," Leo said. "Get me up there- I'll unscrew the vent for you, be your Peter Pan."

"What the hell is a Tinkerbell?" Jason muttered as he floated them both higher, until the air vent was within reach. Leo reached for his screwdriver once again, making a mental note to buy Jason a storybook once they returned from their quest. If they returned from their quest.

"Your lack of childhood upsets me," he said mildly as he unscrewed the vent open. Jason grunted and gently pushed him in; Leo crawled in.

"You coming?"

Jason grunted in reply, crawling inside. Leo couldn't see him, but his voice sounded distinctly disgruntled. "I hate small spaces."

"Genius idea, then, to use one to escape," Leo said sardonically.

"They're too small."

"Once again, proving your eyesight to be exceptional, Mr. Grace."

Jason let out a growl reminiscent to a wolf's. "Valdez, you better start crawling."

---------------

i had way too much fun writing this fic. (in my defense, i'm on a writing spree rn)

#percy jackson #pjo fandom #heroes of olympus #leo valdez #jason grace #jason x leo #valgrace #valgrace fic #dumbasses in love #very stupid boys #i kind of like writing stupid boys in love idk why #should i make a part 2? #not really sure lmao

[pipi-un-kaki-in-pipi-land]

beneath the stars

summary: you and your classmates go on a camping trip but there werent enough tents so you had to sleep with someone on particular

“y/n, y/n!” A cheery voice squealed outside your dorm door as you shrugged your body off the bed to go see who was disturbing your needed solitary time. You swung the door open following a loud creak, and a familiar blonde girl stood right in front of you. “Oh, it’s you,” you widened your tired eyes in surprise, as if you weren’t exhausted enough to willingly faint in front of her.

“This is for you, it’s a class camping trip!” It was her turn to widen her eyes, giggling as she handed you an invitation card. You hesitantly took it, your mood lightening up ever so slightly. You couldn’t help but be grateful for this spontaneous invitation, as you finally obtained a chance to escape the sickening reality of extra classes that you had been attending as a result of skipping lessons due to totally unforeseen reasons.

“Thanks,” you mumbled before closing the door and examining the printed letter carefully. The venue was a forest which you had been to before with your roommate to hunt some venison (for fun). As you lay on your bed, you could not help but wonder if Wednesday was going to be there. Knowing her, she would never give in to these kinds of unnecessary events, but if Enid was the organizer, then surely, she should tag along somehow.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

By the time twilight came, you were already there, dressed in your vintage sweatshirt and trackpants as the weather was unusually chilly today. You could already see people preparing a huge campfire with tents surrounding it.

“y/n?” A deep voice sounded in your ears, and you turned around and saw Xavier standing there. “Hey, Xavier. You came too?” you asked, not failing to notice the big bag of marshmallows and sticks beside him. “Yeah, I’m surprised to see you here, I thought you’d never come like Enid said you would,” he replied, slicking his hair back before it fell again. “I just needed to attend some extra classes,” you blatantly lied; instead, you were too lazy to get up so you just hung out around the library the entire day.

“Well, since we didn’t anticipate your arrival, we didn’t prepare a tent for you. I mean, each of us are supposed to sleep in pairs, so you have to go find yours. But I wouldn’t mind if you slept in my tent,” Xavier chuckled, his eyes breaking free from yours.

“She can stay in mine,” a familiar monotone voice interjected. The both of you turned your heads to see Wednesday standing there, relentlessly stabbing a few marshmallows onto a stick as her contagious gaze met yours. “But if I stay with you then what about Eni-” you asked, but was cut off. “She has her own partner. Now, do I need to elaborate further?” Wednesday said bluntly, pulling your hand towards her as she walked towards the raging campfire.

“Here,” she said as she placed the stick of marshmallows in your hand. Whether Wednesday cared or not, you were loving this assertive behavior of hers. The two of you were inseparable before, but ever since extra classes got into your way, your relationship with her was nothing but shattered glass.

As you and Wednesday toasted the marshmallows over the fire, you took a glance at her usual gloomy face. “Sorry, Addams. I haven’t been able to talk to you lately. It’s just- I’ve been really busy,” you blurted, but no response came from the ravenette. She looked at you briefly then took bit a chunk out of her roasted marshmallow. “I didn’t expect you to come here,” was the only she said before taking another bite. “Your marshmallow’s getting burnt, y/n.”

You had never seen Wednesday so fragile before. You’d think that she wouldn’t be bothered with your absence, but turns out she was more than buggered about it.

And vowed to make it up to her later on.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

The bitter taste of burnt marshmallows burned down your throat as you and Wednesday listened to lame stories told by your classmates. By the time everyone had said goodnight, you were already lying in her tent, staring at nothing but the orange fabric. You shared an awkward glance at her, before looking back at the top of the tent again. You wanted to console her somehow, but you had no clue how.

Taking a gulp, you slowly placed your arm around her side, feeling a sense of nostalgia as you did so. Wednesday turned her body to look at you, adjusting your arm on her waist. “We’ve done this before. Why are you nervous?” she asked curiously, your arms trembling at the touch of her waist.

“I just need to get the hang of it again,” you smiled, your arm extending down to her back before you pulled her even closer to you (w rizz). “I would give you the world if I could, cara mia,” Wednesday said as she turned to lie on her back, causing your hand to lay flat on her stomach. You could feel her heart pound through every inch of her body as you inched closer to her, wrapping your other arm around her shoulder.

“Gracias, Addams,” you gratefully muttered under your breath as light snores came from the ravenette.  

You embraced her snugly, not ever letting go.

#wednesday series #wednesday netflix #wednesday addams x reader #wednesday x you #wednesday x y/n #pipi un kaki in pipi caca land #w rizz

[faghubby]

Camp Happy part 3

please read 1 and 2 first

"Mom" Ms Stephanie called out as we walked in the house.

"Mom, we're home" she called out again.

"I guess she not here" Stephanie said. "Come I want to show you" as She grabbed my hand and led me to our room. She then turned and looked at me. "Paulie sit down" her giddy mood changed to one of concern.

"I want you to know somethings. I didn't know, maybe that's not quite it. I sent you to camp because I thought it would help you understand me better. We could get along better." Her hand patted my knee.

"I didn't know you had this inside you, I found your domme porn. After I sent you. And when I read your survey that had you fill out when you arrived. Some things I knew, others I kinds guessed but other things I would of never thought." She ran her hand thru my hair.

"What I am trying to say is, I love you. And you can tell me anything" Ms Stephanie told me.

"I um didn't know myself" I wimpered

"Tell me what you like about,, I don't know anything" she motioned her hand up and down.

"Panties" I said "I feel submissive they remind me it's okay to be submissive" I confessed.

"Did I push to hard when I had you get the tattoo?" Stephanie asked.

"Yes, and No" I replied. "I dyed my hair pink so people would see me for what I am. You helped me close the door from hiding again' I told her. Ms Stephanie hand now massaged my thigh.

"You know I have to ask about the gay thing" She said.

"At times I feel so submissive to everyone" I replied.

"So you would suck cock if I asked you too" Ms Stephanie said

"I guess, yeah I would" I confessed.

"Come with me" she asked. "We need to shave you" Stephanie grabbed a key off her dresser. She had me strip and filled the tub. Ms Stephanie was meticulous shaving every inch of me. Including my arms. It took awhile when she was satisfied. I grabbed my lotion and rubbed it from my feet to my neck.

"You smelll wonderful" Ms Stephanie borrowed my lotion. I helped her apply it. She just took off her shirt so I could rub it on her back. I was not yet chages and had my first erection in over two weeks. Stephanie had me do her legs. She stripped so I could finish.

"Paulie do you want me?" She asked.

"Yes" I moaned.

"But you won't" she teased she stroked me ever so gently.

"If you like me to I can" I told her.

"And if I just wanted to lock you back up?" She asked.

"It is your choice" I remind her. She grabbed a cold washcloth and held it to my balls. She reattached the cage.

"You loved my strapon?" Ms Stephanie asked me.

"Yes," I moaned.

"If you want sex, that is what you will ask for. I don't want a game. You will come to me and say Ms Stephanie would you please fuck my girlie ass" Ms Stephanie told me.

"Ms Stephanie will you please fuck my girlie ass" I begged.

"Not right now but very good "she kissed me. " I want to show you what I got you" she opened my dresser drawer my underwear had been replaced with pastel lace sexy panties. She had also thrown out most of my socks again replaced with bright colors.

The closet was also filled with low rise girlie jeans and leggings. Tight shorts, soft or bright colored shirts. My closet looked more femine then masculine for sure. I even had pink sneakers now. Stephanie then showed me one of her drawers in the closet.

"I wasn't sure about this, but maybe sometimes" she said. She opened the drawer inside was sexy nighties like I had worn the other night, but also a few bras. She moved the nightie alittle. There was butt plugs, her strapon, fuzzy handcuffs, and a dildo with a suction cup bottom. She rubbed my nipples. We where both still naked. Stephanie started to pick out my clothes.

I put on a pink thong, low ride woman's jeans and a belly shirt. That said pink across it.

"You look hot, but I don't expect you to wear woman's cloths all the time. More of a mix and match. But obviously panties all the time" she was still naked she rubbed my nipples. She led me to bed. She laid in the middle and spread her legs.

"In the top drawer of my nightstand the big black one" I opened the drawer and pulled out a huge black dildo. I had never seen it before. I got between her legs and rubbed it across her pussy lips.

"Don't tease, fuck me" she moaned. I pushed her dildo in her pussy seemed to swallow it whole.

"Lick my clit while he fucks me" she moaned. Her juices flowed out of her as she moaned and bucked. After ten minutes

"Stop, stop" she moaned trying to catch her breath. I removed the toy and without hesitating I licked her juices off her ass. My tounge danced across her asshole.

"Wow" she said not stopping me my tounge pushed into her hole. I licked and sucked her ass. Until we heard the door open.

"Mom" Stephanie said pushing me off. Stephanie threw on a dress. And panties.

"You will be doing that alot more" Mrs Stephanie whispered in my ear. "I had no idea I like that as much" Ms Stephanie took my hand and led me out to greet her mother

"Mom?" Stephanie said as we walked into the kitchen.

"OH wow you weren't kidding look at the fucking little faggot" Francis laughed.

"Mom, you two have to learn to get along" Stephanie complained.

"I know mom, your hips been acting up, Paulie has been taking massage classes." Stephanie said Francis eyes lit up.

"Paulie go show mom" Ms Stephanie told me. I followed Francis to her new room. The basement had been completely redon from a man's cave to a private apartment. With a little kitchenette where the wet bar had been. Francis went to lay down on her bed.

"Ms Francis it would be better if you removed your pants" I said shyly. stephanie had followed us down.

"Mom, it's okay trust him" she said. Francis dropped her pants staring me down she wore white granny panties. As she stared at me she took off her shirt as well. I just waited

As if challenging me she removed her bra as well. Then laid down I laid a towel across her ass. I started at her foot and worked my way up.

"Oh that feels amazing" she told me as I reached her thigh. I had her roll on her side.

"Ms Francis would you like me to continue?" I asked after I finished her hip.

"Would it be better if I took off my panties?" She asked.

"It would allow me to use lotion. Ms Stephanie." I replied she stood and removed her panties. Stephanie still watching gasped at her mothers behavior. She grabbed the waistband of my panties that was showing and yanked them up high.

"My daughter tells me you took classes in how to please a woman as well" Ms Francis said. Stephanie came over kissed my ear and left with a swat to my ass. I massaged Francis other leg as I reached her thigh she grabbed my hand and pulled it to her hairy crotch.

"Use your fingers" she moaned. I fingered my mother in law. She spread her legs further. I made Francis cum. She smiled and I left her laying on her bed.

"That is not going to be a regular thing" Ms Stephanie told me. With a giggle. Not wanting to hear details. I went and started to make dinner. My panties still pulled uo high. Francis came upstairs and her and Stephanie was having a conversation that didn't want me to hear falling silent when I bought them each a glass of wine.

"Paulie, I would like to thank you for letting me move in" Francis said.

"Of course Ms Francis. It is our pleasure to have you here with us" I responded.

"Paulie, you can say no. But mom would like to see the cage" Ms Stephanie asked. I looked at her. She was trusting not to embarrasse me by asking.

"If you like" I stood in front of Stephanie she smiled and unbuttoned my pants and pulled them down along with my panties. Allowing her mother to see.

"And you can't get it off?" Ms Francis asked.

"Not with out Ms Stephanie's key" I told her. Stephanie motioned I could fix my pants and I went back to the kitchen. I served them dinner. Then cleared and washed the dishes. They both raved about my cooking.

"If you have a recipe you like me to make just let me know." I told them.

"Speaking of that. I got you a new phone. Don't get excited it has absolute G rated security." Stephanie handed me a new phone. It was pre programed with only family numbers. She gave me a pink case with butterflies on it for the phone as well.

"If you like to download an app. You have to ask" Ms Stephanie told me.

"I understand. Thank you Ms Stephanie" I told her. I kissed her cheek.

"Could Paulie clean my bathroom tomarrow " Francis asked.

"You don't have to worry about that mom, Paulie will take over all of the cleaning" Ms Stephanie told her. "If you like something done a specific way just let him know" as Stephanie and Francis settled in to watch TV. I started to reorganize the kitchen. After an hour or so Ms Stephanie came into the kitchen.

"It's okay if you like to come sit down" she told me.

"Just trying to get a jump on all this" I told her.

"You are earning yourself a good long fucking" Ms Stephanie said as she gropped my ass.

"Okay another 30 minutes then you better be wearing something pretty waiting for me" she told me and went back to sit with her mom. I watched the clock and at exactly 30 minutes I washed my hands and headed for the bedroom. Put on a pink satin nightie that came down past my knees. I wore no panties and sat on the bed waiting for Stephanie.

I waited patiently. Ms Stephanie came in about 15 minutes later. She came straight to me kissed me.

"You like being denied, so I changed my mind" She laughed.

She went thru her night ritual before she came to bed naked. She crawled into bed. And spooned me. She teased my nipples thru the smooth material. Till she fell asleep.

I woke before her and made her breakfast. I served it to her in bed.

"Sweety this is lovely but I don't have time, how about you work out a breakfast I can take with me." She told me as she went to jump in the shower. I took breakfast down to Francis instead. She was grateful after I explained that Stephanie didn't have time. I packed Ms Stephanie breakfast to go she could heat up at the office.

"Ms Stephanie. I don't have any money. And was thinking we needed a few things from the store." I said.

"Right, well make a list and text it to me, we can talk about spending tonight" she told me. "You don't need anything for today do you?"

"It can wait" I said.

"Don't be silly ask mom to pick it up for you" she kissed me and headed off to work.

I cleaned up after breakfast then got dressed for the day. I even did my makeup. It wasn't much but made me feel better, I was feeling a bit rejected from Stephanie last night. I went back to scrubbing and organizing the whole house. Francis came upstairs a few hours later i asked her if she could pick up a few ingredients from the store for dinner. And pantyliners. After a brief discussion on why and which ones she agreed. Then went and cleaned her apartment. When she returned she was very impressed. She did show me how she liked her laundry folded. Bit other then that very content.

Things settled into a routine. I no longer had a car, or a valid license since the name change. Stephanie had given my car to her mother. She didn't want me driving. Francis agreed to take me shopping when I needed . I was given a credit card that Stephanie monitor closely. I had to submit a list of things we needed at least a day before shopping for Stephanie to approve.

Once a week I would give Francis a massage. She always insisted on a happy ending. She promised not to tell Stephanie. But I told her and she just let it continue.

Stephanie started fucking one of her distributors who the company bought boxes from, I knew him he was a funny guy played football or rugby something in college. And stayed in great shape. Stephanie showed me a pic of his thick cock. The first time she had me lick his seed from her. She also bought a dildo as close to his cock as she could find and taught ne how to deep throat it before she fucked me to with it,

Stephanie had invited every member of our families over pretty much one at a time. To introduce Pauie. To them. My mother and sister in law came after my Dad and brother refused. They didn't understand but as long as we where happy.

Meanwhile Francis planned every detail of our wedding. With Stephanie signing off of course. I was not asked nr permitted to offer any suggestions. It wasn't going to be anything crazy was all I was told.

To be continued

[redheadspark]

hiii, i’d like to request from the fluff prompt list :)

can i have azriel from acotar with #17? where reader is person A, if that would be possible!

have a wonderful day <3

A/N - GAH! I find this adorable for our bat boy! Thanks for the request, anon!

Satin

Summary - You hated your bed for being so comfortable. Azriel never minded anyhow

Warnings - Just some good ol' fashion fluff

You blamed Cassian instantly. He knew what he was doing.

On the evening of your engagement party, you were showered with love and congratulations from your "family", the Inner Circle, all of whom were beyond glad you and Azriel were finally engaged. Even High Lord Rhysand joked with the Spymaster that he was having cold feet in popping the question to you, to which you blushed and Azriel gave him a playful glare.

"I wanted to wait for the perfect time, Rhys. Not like you who likes to jump the gun, when it comes to life changing decisions,"

"Easy there, Az,"

But they were still kind and beyond supportive to you two, bringing you gifts even before the actual wedding. It was decided the wedding was going to be private and intimate, with just a handful of witnesses and the priest in attendance along the riverbed near River House. So to get gifts at your engagement party was fairly common, and the gift you got from Cassian was a bit unusual coming from him.

Satin bedsheets.

You were a bit shocked to receive the gift from the Illyrian commander, his mate and your good friend Nesta simply have her mate a playful glare as she gifted you two a trunk filled with ancient first-edition novels and books that you and Azriel both would love to read together.

"Pardon my mate, he thinks having satin sheets will be a success in a marriage," She explained to you lightly as she patted your arm.

"It worked for us, didn't it, sweetheart?" Cassian asked coyly to her, which he ducked from her hand that was aimed to smack his head.

Now, a couple of years after your wedding day, you both were in love with the satin sheets.

There was something about falling asleep in the cool and inviting touch of the sheets against your skin after a long day working in Velaris and working for the High Lord and High Lady. Azriel was working to the bone at the Illyrian training camp, passing out almost 5 times a week when he would take a shower and then fall into bed, falling asleep within seconds.

You were no better, being the Head of the Community Center and Homeless shelter and spending plenty of hours aiding the citizens of Velaris and expanding the center for more space. You were asleep within seconds too when you fell into bed, the book you were gifted from Nesta not being used for some time.

Of course in the very beginning of your marriage, you both were very much occupied in that bed in more ways than one. Ariel was entranced with you, loving on you within the sheet and never giving you a chance to catch your breath. He was always a wildcard from the moment you two met, and it was still the same in your sex life.

But your sex life evolved to domestic life with him, yet neither of your cared.

Now deep in a spring evening, you both dragged your feet back to your home after having a meeting at the River House with the Inner Circle. There were whispers about a potential threat coming from Spring Court, High Lord Tamlin was in one of his moods were mostly grumblings but nothing to take lightly.

Elaine's mate Lucien was mostly concerned since he was still connected to Tamlin after being friends and comrades in the past, and he was worried something would happen to both Night Court and Autumn Court. So it was all hands on deck at the meetings, going over scenarios and potential delegations that may need to happen. Rhysand wanted to make sure every detail was in place, so that meant it was going to be a long night.

Finally, after hours of talking and planning, Feyre sent you all home.

"Finally," Azriel groaned out as he was tripping out of his leathers and ruffled his hair. You hummed in agreement, taking off your own outfit to slip into some pajamas that were itching for you to wear.

"I thought that would never end," You commented as you threw your hair up in a messy bun and rubbed your eyes with fatigue evident in your orbs, "I think Rhsyand is a bit more paranoid these days when it comes to Velaris' safety,"

"He has the best intentions for our city and for Night Court," Azriel reasoned as he pulled down the comforter and the top sheet of the bed, running his fingers along the top of the material before he slipped in. A content sigh was on his lips from contact with the satin sheets, you chuckling as you saw him curl into the bed like a cat ready to take a nap. He eyed you with an amused look, reaching his hand out as a clear invitation for you to join him. How could you say no to him? You walked over to the side of the bed, still in your pajamas and your bare feet touching the light rug under you.

"What's on your mind, dear?" Azriel asked as you laced your fingers with his outstretched ones. He gently tugged you over to him, you kneeling on the bed and then falling into bed on your side to face him. The coolness of his dark hair in the bedroom light glow, the tan skin that was illuminated from a small amount of sweat on the surface, and his bright yet cool eyes were watching you with love and affection.

"I was thinking about how we never told them our news," You explained, Azriel briefly looking away from your eyes and down to your lower stomach, a small smirk was on his face as you went on, "I was planning on telling them tonight, but the meeting seemed a bit more important than telling them all they were going to be Aunts and Uncles in a few months,"

"Although I would have loved to see their faces with the news," Azrield commented in agreement, you then felt him wrap you in his arm and to feel him pull you down to rest your head on his chest, "Maybe Cassian would have passed out to know he was going to be an Uncle."

"But he's already an Uncle to Nyx, why should this be different?" You questioned as he was running his fingers up and down your spine with ease.

"Maybe it's because it's me," Azriel answered, "The thought of me reproducing might have scared him,"

You smacked his arm that was around you, hearing him chuckle under you with yoru ear agaisnt his heart beat. It was constant and strong, something that Azriel always was with you. He was the guiding compass when you needed it the most, and it was something that will never change when it came to his love for you.

And in a few months, a new little one will be in the mix for you two to love and guide.

"We'll tell them tomorrow at lunch," Azriel reassured you as you kissed his chest and felt sleep coming over you, you yawned and nodded at his statement, "Once we deal with this situation with Autumn and Spring Court, and then we can focus on our little one coming,"

"Deal," Youe replied, and you two were falling asleep in each other's arms with the hopes of a bright future in your dreams. You remembered turning at one moment in your sleep, on your side in front of Azriel and with his arm around you protectively with his hand on your lower belly with ease.

The End.

Spring Prompt Session

#azriel shadowsinger #azriel x oc #azriel x reader #azriel x female reader #azriel x you #azriel x y/n #acotar fluff #azriel acotar #acotar fanfiction #acotar fandom

[tripleyeeet]

40 SHADES OF CHOKE

SUMMARY: Astarion's grumpy, Bea's a brat... I'm sure you can figure out what happens next.

PAIRING: Astarion & Original Female Character (Bea belongs to @tatterings!)

WORD COUNT: 2,475

WARNINGS: 18+ sexual content, brat taming, face fucking, knife play, a little bit of degradation/dirty talk (but not a ton), overall just two rogues getting nasty in the woods.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: What started out as a mere art trade has become one of my favourite smut pieces, so I'm posting with permission because y'all deserve to be exposed to the beautiful little gremlin that is Bea!

MASTERLIST

-

It doesn’t take much to get on Astarion’s nerves. With the patience of an already lit fuse, a lot of the camp has learned to tiptoe around him. Surveying certain behaviours through a cautious scope, by now it’s a well-known fact that it’s best to just leave him alone when he’s in one of his moods. 

Having experienced their own individual moments of his wrath, even Lae’zel who’s often known to lack the care of offending others has found it’s just easier to avoid the conflict altogether. To distance oneself from the brooding vampire as he wanders around camp, muttering angrily under his breath. Sometimes tossing a knife or two at whatever tree enters his vision first.

Coincidentally, today is a knife-tossing day. As he strides past the back of Bea’s tent late into the night, she can hear the repeated thunk of his blade making contact. The aggressive sound repeating over and over until she can’t help but scrunch up her face in annoyance, wondering what the hell he’s doing. 

Or more so, why he’s doing it. Especially this late at night when everyone’s trying to relax. 

Poking her head out of her tent, she immediately notices that no one’s around. Most likely having already called it a night, all that’s left is her and him, prompting a sigh to slip through her lips as she crawls around to find her boots. Slipping them on with a soft groan before she inevitably steps through the canvas and makes her way over. 

“I can’t believe you didn’t ask me to play,” she says, pouting at the back of his head as he flicks his wrist in front of him, the blade shooting out in a precise line that, unsurprisingly, sticks the landing.

“Are you offended?” 

After he speaks, he turns to flash her a sly grin. The kind that makes her own lips twist in amusement as she steps into his space; her hands lingering for a moment at her sides before they creep towards his torso. “Terribly, actually,” she tells him. Allowing her fingers to slip across the fabric of his shirt, her dominant hand moving down while the other goes up.

Almost immediately, it piques the vampire’s interest. As her fingers trail soft, distractive patterns, he can’t help but watch. Staring at the ends of her nails threatening to dig further in as they eventually brush against the exposed part of his chest. 

“And why’s that?”

“Because I thought we were friends.” This time, her pout is more pronounced. As she pushes her lower lip out, she begins to dramatically bat her eyes up at him, watching the way he turns away, shaking his head. 

“Friends.”

The word sounds foreign on his tongue. Despite having heard her refer to him as such a multitude of times, he still finds himself questioning whether it’s true. Considering their relationship has been… well, mostly physical for a good portion of their time together, it’s rather hard to imagine them as friends. Lovers? Sure. Enjoyers of the world and all its endless debauchery? Absolutely. But friends?

  Slowly, his palm moves to cup her cheek. The contrast of their skin tones melding together as he brushes his thumb across the markings that line her under eyes. “Is there a reason you’re feeling so sentimental tonight? Have I not given you enough attention, darling?”

His tone, despite probably sounding sweet and soft to the average ear, feels like a threat in Bea’s. A series of words phrased as a cautionary tale that she’ll inevitably ignore the warnings of, knowing deep down he enjoys it. These subtle moments of defiance. The ones where she pokes and prods for no other reason but to selfishly push him to the brink of madness. 

A madness both of them can feel slowly building. Based on the way he bites through his words, revealing teeth so sharp it has Bea gulping with excitement, trying not to move too quickly lest she forget to savour it.

“It has been a while since we’ve had a little fun.” 

In response, Astarion clicks his tongue and lowers his hand. Slowly slipping it down the edge of her face, it eventually rests against her neck —his thumb lingering at the base of her throat as she swallows hard. Pushing down ever so slightly with a low hum that has her thighs clenching together. 

“You’re allowed to ask, you know.” 

All she does is scrunch up her face in annoyance, using the lower of her two hands to grab his belt loop and pull him close, causing him to huff. “That’s no fun though.”

  “Neither is being manhandled by some brat.”

Opening her mouth in false offence, she roughly pats his shoulder and scoffs. “How dare you! I’m a good girl.” 

Once again, Astarion huffs —this time more humorously. As if subtly mocking her as he tightens the hold he has on her throat. Testing the waters ever so slightly before lowering his head to brush his nose against hers. 

“Good girls ask.”

As soon as he says it, she’s a goner. Lost to the perpetual bliss of what’s to come, all she can do is laugh. An almost malicious giggle erupting from her lips as he violently maneuvers her to the ground. Forcing her down to her knees with enough force to already feel the bruises forming. 

“You never learn, do you?”

Suddenly gripping the base of her hair, she feels her neck quickly rip backwards. The subtle outburst of pain in her scalp causing her previous grin to shift even wider as she groans. A sound she knows he hates —or rather, hates to love based on the way he chucks her aside, cursing under his breath. All while pulling out the blade attached to his hip before he dives back in, pressing her further into the grass. 

“Ooh, what are you gonna do with that? Slice me open or something?”

While wiggling her brows, she can’t help but reach up to wrap her arms around his waist, attempting to press herself against him, already expecting him to be hard. Instead, though, he works just as hard to defy her attempts in the form of more aggression; his hands forcing her to fully lie against the grass.

At which point her breath is scarce. A mixture of fear and excitement wrapping around her lungs as she watches him undo his trousers, mumbling profusely about her lack of manners. 

“Perhaps I should take a page out of your book,” he practically growls. His voice low and full of irritation. His eyes narrowed and staring —refusing to divert even for the briefest of moments as he haphazardly works to free himself. “I’m sure you’d enjoy that.” 

“I would, yeah.” 

“I bet you’d love to be stuffed full of me —to feel me burrowed in your holes.” 

Already imagining it, she bites her bottom lip and nods. “I bet you’d fuck me so good.” 

Ignoring her response, he immediately works his palm across his aching cock once it’s out. Using his fingers to pull the foreskin back, Bea can already feel her mouth-watering. The edges of her tongue slipping down to coat her lower lip in moisture. Happily repping herself for the delicious snack that lingers above. 

“I bet you’d love to be stuffed full of me —to feel me burrowed in your holes.” 

At first, his movements are slow and steady. Bordering on painful in the way he holds back, she can feel the inside of his thighs tighten around her own. Every muscle begging to be touched, prompting her to reach out only to be driven away by a simple tut. His tongue clicking as he shakes his head and lowers the knife to the side of her neck. 

“Whores like you don’t get to touch,” he tells her then. Practically breathing into her mouth as he presses his forehead against hers before ultimately pulling away to readjust his position. 

It makes her angry almost immediately. A new-found rage welling up inside her chest as she pushes back the temptation to defy further, knowing that there will be other opportunities. Ones where he’ll be too distracted to care about the caress of her hands or the desperation swelling inside her cunt, feeling him shift further up her torso. Eventually situating himself so that his cock is just slightly out of reach of her mouth. 

That cheeky bastard.

Sensing her stress, Astarion then doubles on the relentlessness. Returning to his previous pace, he allows her to watch and nothing else. Regardless of how much she quietly whimpers beneath him, parting her lips like a hungry beggar. 

“You look pathetic,” he barks. Suddenly twirling the knife so that the blade faces down as he moves the hilt to her face. Digging the end into the hollow of her cheek while he slowly fucks his hand, deliberately twitching forward so that her tongue makes contact. 

In response, she lets out a moan, savouring what little taste she’s been offered before her hands move up to grab the backs of his thighs. Giving them a rough pinch that has him grinding his teeth and moving the handle of the blade into her mouth —roughly pressing the pommel against her tongue. 

“Do you lack hearing or are you fucking stupid?” 

She wants to respond with the latter. To smack his ass and laugh right into the head of his cock but thanks to the knife slowly slipping further into her mouth all she can do is mumble out a streamline of distorted sounds full of disobedience, hoping he understands.

“Gods, I swear you’re the most infuriating brat I’ve ever met.”  

As he continues to chastise —speaking in that familiar bite, he continues to move his hand. In long, slow motions, his palm deliciously drags against his pale skin, lingering at the tip so that he can swipe the pre-come away with a swish of his thumb, making Bea narrow her eyes, annoyed that it isn’t her tongue that’s doing it. Frustrated that instead of feeling the taste of his arousal prodding the back of her throat she’s left to taste his blade.

Unfortunately though, despite the anger, all it does is further fuel her defiance. Prompting her hands to shift where they shouldn’t, one moves to wrap around the hand that’s on his cock while the other grips his opposite wrist, latching on for dear life as, all at once, she feels the shock of her actions tensing beneath the surface. 

Against her sternum, the tightness of his thighs immediately make her breathless; against her hands both tendons and fingers flex with discomfort, forcing her eyes to move to his, noticing how enraged they are. His stark white scleras acting as the perfect backdrop for his blood-red eyes that dilate in arousal. 

An arousal that’s full of temptation. The urge to give in so obviously heavy on his mind as the hand holding the knife falters long enough for her to toss it aside before grabbing his wrist again, panting at the presence of air despite longing for something else to fill her up. 

“I can’t… I—I can’t believe you shoved your dirty knife down my fucking throat,” she snaps. “Do you have any idea how many—“

Before she can finish, he’s silencing her with the head of his cock. Forcibly shaking her hands away so that he can grab her chin for support, he fucks her tongue immediately. Moving his hips back and forth far quicker than the pace of his hand, she feels herself gag at the impact. Pools of saliva forming against his skin —drowning them both in pleasure. 

“Be a good girl and just shut the fuck up, please,” Astarion says, and for the first time, she listens. Not because she’s full of him, but because he’s earned it by giving her what she truly wants —what she knows he wants. 

Which is to be fucked into oblivion by her mouth. To prod her throat with his full length, brutalizing her esophagus in the process so long as he comes. 

Gods, just the idea fills her with delight. Her head completely emptying, causing her body to move on its own accord as she bobs her head in time with his hips, splaying her palms across the plushest parts of his thighs. 

Digging her nails into his skin, she suctions her lips to his base and sucks obscenely, hearing him groan above her. Feeling his other hand run through her messy hair with an uncharacteristic softness that has her going the extra mile. 

“See? Not so hard, is it, love?” 

Her eyes shift towards his, half closing in response to his honeyed words. Unable to form a response on account of her empty brain and her overflowing mouth working against her. Something she’s sure Astarion loves based on the genuine smile that creeps across his lips, showcasing his sharp fangs. 

“That’s my girl, keep it up. You’re doing so well.”

Out of habit, she hums around him. The vibrations causing him to shudder ever so lightly, tightening the hold he has on her hair to push himself further in. Resulting in both of them working together, moving in tandem as Bea continues to suck whatever part of him isn’t jabbed down her throat. Which at this point, isn’t much. Having basically opened her gullet up for him to fuck, if it weren’t for her nose she’d be dead by now. Suffocating around his girth —past the point of no return thanks to the increasingly fast pace he presents. 

For the average fuck, it’d be hard to deal with. Borderline impossible. But thanks to Bea’s determination and Astarion’s words of affirmation, he’s able to continue to fucking her. Jutting his hips back and forth, all while twitching against her tongue in a way that has her reaching down to the waistband of her trousers and— 

“Don’t even think about it.” 

Pausing almost immediately, her brows furrow in response, but ultimately she relents, knowing the reward of forgoing a few moments of her own pleasure will be worth it. It always is. 

So, instead of being selfish like she wants to, she focuses her attention on him, relaxing her jaw as much as she can. Using her tongue to further aid in his eventual release while her hands move to stroke his stomach and his thighs. Alternating between the two as he begins to violently twitch, the movement of his hips staggering to a halt as he lets out another moan and empties himself into her mouth. The delicious taste of his arousal gathering on the back of her tongue as he slowly breaths and pulls out. Allowing her to once again breathe as he cups her cheek and cleans the spit off the edges of her lips. 

“That’s my good girl.” 

-

TAGLIST:

@poohxlove @gaiasmight @sassy-stupid @novarex @v-gremlin @sapphiccloud @lipstickghoulie @kuroitsukyo @jjfchk @idiotsatan @bluestuesday @bloopthebat @art-by-greenie @heneralmoon @sukunababe @dreamingaboutyousworld @ranfithegood @haniscrying @liadamerondjarin @the-lake-is-calling @marina-and-the-memes @rookieoftheyear @zraloci-cpr @kaetmo @snickerdoodle-daydream @wowowwild @d1anna @raswiet @conniesbbymama @venus-wrts @demonicthorns @kihten @sanscas @spammypasta @leighsartworks216 @rose-gold-blue @p1ssmagg0t @hellish-writes @ghostinvenus @otayz @sexysquatch @sleepyeclair @colorful-anxieties @alina-exe @lillifer @girlwiththepapatattoo @acelin-ginsberg @pinkuranium @catrad0rable @scarletrosesposts @qwnamidala @itsrosebabe @bunnyperi @queenofcarrotflowers-s @tatumadams20 @spkyxszn @chlort @f3v3rs @awkwardwookie @joy-the-reader @warm-milk-with-honey-blog @vertigocrime @iyis @wildpiper @pebblethestone @tillywasneverhere @bex-03 @revemiya @staticspouse @itzagothamcitysiren

(taglist continued in reblogs)

#40 shades of choke #astarion fan fic #astarion x original female character #astarion x fem oc #astarion x bea #tagging them together because... i might write more of them tbh #summer writes

[unmaskthewriter]

O’Death {Arthur Morgan x GN!Reader}

Summary: Arthur always said revenge was a fool’s game. You believed him, that is until the end

A/N: I am in a bad mood so expect angsty stuff, lol. Also heavily and obviously inspired by the Jen Titus cover of O’Death. It’s kind of Arthur Morgan but not really, it’s very lightly mentioned they were more than friends. Pretty sure I made this gender neutral as possible, if you spot a mistake let me know so I may fix it!

Word Count: 1053

Warnings: major canon character death, angst

O’Death…

O’Death…

O’Death…

Won't you spare me over til another year?

Arthur is gone.

That fact kept ringing in your head repeatedly as if you needed any reminder. After escorting Sadie and Abigail to Copperhead Landing to reunite with Tilly and Jack, you returned to Beaver Hollow for Arthur. The camp was lifeless and deserted, a stark contrast to months ago when it would be filled with lively music and laughter. Mrs. Grimshaw lay beside her wagon, loosely holding her shotgun. You knelt down beside her, frowning at the bullet wound. She wasn’t the nicest woman, but she held the camp together.

But what is this that I can't see

With ice cold hands takin' hold of me

“Fuck.” You whisper before standing up and looking around. ‘It wasn’t Pinkertons who shot her,’ You come to the realization, almost reliving the chaos that occurred while you were gone. You followed tracks through the caves and up along the ridge behind camp.

Arthur’s cold, lifeless body lay on the ridge, facing the rising sun.

You couldn’t recall how long you were sitting there, only that it had been some time since the sun had risen over the horizon, gracing the mountain ranges and plains with warmth and light.

You wished you could feel that warmth, that light but you only felt empty and numb. For a while, you just held his hand, occasionally brushing the mud-caked and bloody strands of hair from his face. With a free hand, you traced every cut and bruise on his cold, pale face. His beautiful eyes you so admired were open, but had been replaced with a lifeless gaze. His lips that once would breathe life into you were cold to touch, turning a faint pink.

When God is gone and the Devil takes hold

Who will have mercy on your soul?

You wonder what life could have been if Arthur had said to hell with Dutch and his loyalty, and left with you. Arthur deserved to live in a cabin on a quiet property filled with beautiful scenery and vast wildlife for him to draw until his dying days. In another life, without sickness and death, perhaps the two of you would have made official the love you had for another, and filled the homestead with children. Instead, he is here, laying propped up against the cold, stony mountain ridge, having been alone in his death. Was he afraid in his final moments? Did he wish you had come for him sooner?

Light footsteps could be heard, but you didn’t care to move.

O’Death…

O’Death…

O’Death…

O’Death…

Arthur is gone, what else is there to lose?

“I came as soon as I could…” A familiar voice breaks the bittersweet, peaceful silence between you and Arthur. You don’t bother to look and see who it is, “Oh.” He finishes quietly. You only sniffle and shrug your shoulders, gently squeezing Arthur’s hand. You hear their footsteps approach slowly before kneeling down beside you. For a moment, Charles gazes at Arthur as his hand rests on Arthur’s arm.

“Have you seen the others?” Charles spoke softly and calmly. You shake your head, letting out a defeated, quivering breath.

“G-Grimshaw… she’s back at camp, dead.” You almost choke on your words, to which Charles sighs.

“We have to bury him… it won’t be long before…” Charles trails off, a small frown on his face. You nod quietly.

“I know a spot… facing the setting sun in the west… like he wanted.” You whisper, leaning closer and placing a gentle kiss between Arthur’s brows before forcing yourself to your feet. You never felt so heavy, yet so empty.

No wealth, no ruin, no silver, no gold

Nothing satisfies me but your soul

Charles carefully carried Arthur to the spot you suggested. He dug the grave while you collected flowers. Off in the distance, Taima stood alongside your horse hitched to a tree. After carefully placing Arthur in the grave, a moment passes you.

“Arthur loved you.” He spoke softly, placing a gentle hand to your shoulder. Your heart ached for a love that no longer existed.

“I know.” As the western sun had set over you both, you planted the flowers as Charles placed an engraved cross at the head of the grave. You wanted to feel at peace, but you could feel nothing but anger for Dutch, for Micah, for all those who had treated Arthur like a traitor in the end.

O’Death…

Arthur Morgan - Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness

It was fitting, for Arthur, but not something you could agree with. If notions such as justice and righteousness existed, Arthur would still be alive. As you stand and look over the grave, Charles comes to stand alongside you.

“Let me take you somewhere safe,” He offers, looking at you with pleading eyes, “a hotel or even a saloon. I just can’t let you be alone out here…”

“Nowhere is safe with men like Dutch Van Der Linde and Micah Bell alive.” You whisper, refusing to tear your eyes away from the grave.

Well I am Death, none can excel

I'll open the door to heaven or hell

“Arthur was sick, you knew that. You don’t know what exactly happened-“ He explains, placing a hand on your shoulder that you shrug off quickly as if it were a disease.

“What about Sean? Kieran? Hosea and Lenny? All dead because of Dutch’s foolish plans… and where is Dutch now?” You cry, clenching your eyes shut for a moment, “where is loyalty now… when the man who was like a son to Dutch is dead?” Your voice falters. Perhaps if you wished strong enough, you’d wake up and none of this would be real. Unfortunately, you open your eyes and Arthur’s grave remains. Small hands ball into tiny fists as tears escape your eyes.

O’Death…

O’Death…

“I know what you plan, do not-“ Charles attempts to negotiate.

“I must.” You tell him, at last meeting his gaze with bloodshot eyes and cheeks burning with tears. You swiftly turn on your heel, whistling for your horse. She gallops forward, and you mount her.

“Goodbye, Charles.”

My name is Death and the end is here...

#red dead redemption 2 #rdr2 #arthur morgan #dutch van der linde #kieran duffy #rdr2 spoilers #red dead redemption #sean macguire #arthur morgan x reader #kind of #angst #character death #charles smith #van der linde gang #john marston #jack marston #abigail marston

[11queensupreme11]

this percy and piper situationship is so funny lol. i feel like percy is willfully ignorant about a lot of things so when piper begins getting territorial she may be like huh wonder she's in a mood and go back to dueling with jason. piper would def call her like a whore or something but like no one in camp would agree with her. piper and octavian are shittalkers fr.

like i don't think it would register to percy that this random piper girl is into a boy she just met or that there is a problem with percy and jason's friendship.

also like i lowkey do want to see percy and jason butt heads more. just like with earlier scenes with thalia, jason is also the one of the very few demigods that are able to even compete with percy. like we obvi knows who wins, but their almost-battles have sm tension!!

i also think piper would have a insecurity complex against percy bc she beats the whole pretty feminine girly that's evil and weak trope. like piper's quirky haircut and natural beauty can't compare to percy's effortless bombshell looks (like come on, girl's a victoria secret angel). percy's waters trumps charmspeak anyday and even her mom likes percy waaay more. also, like piper is not very nice and rude a lot of the time but percy is kind, sarcastic, and adorable. percy's also the pretty but doesn't know/acknowledge it which i'm sure infuriates piper bc it's her thing. percy's more well-loved, experienced, and like the greatest swordsmen of her time so piper can't just fight for victory or intimidate her either.

in all, piper can't compete. she also can't do much to percy either except being a bitch. (i also loved ur characterization of drew in the essie book and i'm looking forward to meeting her in act 4).

percy would totally be like "omg what's her damage" every time piper acts cuckoo, but eventually she'd start to see the red flags due to her experience with.... you know.... her yanderes.

THANKFULLY, piper's not god-level crazy like her yanderes, but percy would genuinely start to worry about jason because of her own experience which is why i don't think i can go with the percy vs jason butting heads route 😔

but yes ur definitely right about insecurity piper will feel. if percy was a dude, piper wouldn't care much about him at all because jason's cooler to her, but piper's internalized misogyny is gonna get triggered so bad since percy's a girl in my fic 😭😭😭

"even her mom likes percy waaay more" LMAO THIS KILLED ME 💀 (but ur right tho 🤭)

(also, just to add a little correction, percy DEFINITELY knows she's hot lmao 😭😭 she's grateful for the massive glow-up 🙏 it almost makes up for the constant trauma she's forced to go through)

#👸🏻| asks #👸🏻| arsenic blues

[quietblueriver]

Somehow turned a drabble about Iffodola's charm into more than 6k words of Southern Gothic fluff.

In which Imogen can't sleep and finds herself thinking about the Raito charm and her own convictions. Well, one conviction, related to the woman who's humming and sewing in the bedroll next to her.

Read on AO3 or below.

-

Imogen should be sleeping, but her mind won’t let her. Not all that unusual—she’s always been prone to overthinking, ruminating and holding tight to problems she knows she can’t solve. Add in the red storm and everything she knows now about her mother and, well. It’s no surprise she sometimes has trouble falling asleep, even when the Hells run themselves ragged. 

Laudna’s still awake next to her, shifting to reach for something from her pack before settling back against the low limb behind them, ankle resting on top of Imogen’s. 

Unlike Imogen, she’s awake by intention. She likes to take time to wind down when the rest of the group is quiet, did the same when it was just the two of them.

It was one on a long list of things that Imogen wondered about early into their time together, because she was always awake when Imogen fell asleep and up before her: Might not need sleep? Eats things other than food? Ears covered? Delilah?

Imogen wanted to ask, but in those first days, she was terrified of sounding like one of the awful people Laudna had to deal with so often, wanted so badly to be the safe place that Laudna was for her. 

Eventually, though, they became comfortable, eased into each other in big and little ways. Laudna told her, bedroll close enough for whispers to carry, about her ears, silent tears rolling down Imogen’s cheeks. She’d moved closer, opening her blanket in offer, and even in the dark, Imogen could see the shock on Laudna’s face, the sharp lines of her cheekbones and jaw shifting, already wide eyes growing inhumanly wider. She pulled the blanket higher, whispered, “Only if you want. I just thought…” 

A cold body pressed to hers and she sighed, settled in, fell asleep to Laudna’s humming and the accompanying music of her mind. 

She learned that Laudna’s body processed food and keratin and other things differently, that she herself wasn’t entirely clear on how any of it worked but often let her instincts guide her. 

She’d added, absently, as she sat gingerly in a half-broken chair and prestidigitated some dust from the table in the little hut where they had decided to make camp, “And of course spending so much time alone made it easy to do things that I wouldn’t have with company. Pate never minded when I ate a fingernail so it became habit. And now…” 

Imogen could almost see her mood turn, the frown and the duck of her head that hid her face behind a dark curtain, shocking white breaking so that her profile was just visible. 

“I’m sorry, Imogen. I know I’m already off-putting, even without…”

Her head shook, a tiny motion, and the thoughts of self-loathing and shame and embarrassment came on as a wall, the force of them so strong in Imogen’s mind that she was moving on instinct, on her knees in front of Laudna, hand brushing away black strands to meet her eyes, ichor pooling more than usual and beginning to drip slowly down her cheeks. 

“I know what you are, Laud. You’re kind, even when you have every reason not to be. You’re funny. You’re real good at mending and making and taking things no one wants and turning them into something beautiful.” 

Imogen pulled her hand back to remove her glove, watched Laudna’s eyes get wider, ichor spilling, as she took in the scars. She’d seen them before, of course, but never for long and never like this. 

Imogen offered her hands and Laudna took them, cold fingers feather-light against her skin until she nodded at Laudna, answered the unasked question. She explored in earnest then, taking one of Imogen’s hands between her own and tracing scars. 

“Y’know, I’ve always been ashamed of them.”

Laudna’s neck snapped up with too much speed, the crack of bone familiar enough now that Imogen barely reacted, just pressed out a sound of concern between her teeth and let her unoccupied hand land briefly on the space below Laudna’s ear. 

“Imogen, they’re beautiful. You're beautiful.” 

And that thought hit her just as hard as the shame had earlier—earnest and fervent and tinged with an affection Imogen couldn’t quite believe. 

“They made a lot of people at home scared. They make other people stare.”

Laudna’s face softened as she realized what Imogen was doing, thoughts drifting back into a familiar music, though the affection remained. 

“I like you , Laud. As you are, okay?” She thumbed away a bit of ichor, wiped it on the back of her wrist just between where Laudna’s fingers wrapped around her hand, black on purple. “You’re the best friend I’ve ever had. You’re my favorite person.” 

The words were true, even if they were scary. They hadn’t been together that long, in the scheme of things, but Imogen could’ve said those words, and meant them, after maybe two weeks. Granted, she wasn’t the best at making or keeping friends, but Laudna was the first person in a long, long time she wanted to spend more time around, and she counted herself lucky, for once, that Laudna seemed to want to be around her. 

“Imogen.” Her cheeks were dark, and Imogen felt a dangerous sort of pride at having done that. “You’re mine, too.” 

Finally, one morning when she woke before the sunrise to find Laudna already bustling, she rasped, concern and affection mingling, “Laud, do you ever sleep? Do you need to?” 

Laudna startled and offered, amused, “Well, good morning, dearest.” 

“Good morning.”

Her voice was a little clearer now, but her tongue was still heavy, words slow. Laudna came back to the bed, a surprise in their hut-of-the-week that they had prestidigitated to within an inch of its life, and sat next to Imogen, brushing a strand of hair from her face.

“Is that a serious question?” 

She didn’t lie to Laudna, and she was in it now, so, “Yes.” 

“I see.” Her lips turned up at the corners, one canine sneaking out to press into the fragile skin, careful enough to avoid breaking it. That wasn’t always the case, but even when it turned Laudna’s lips black with ichor, this was a smile Imogen loved particularly because she was almost sure it meant Laudna thought she was doing something endearing. “And how long have you been wondering this, exactly?”

Fondness in her words and her thoughts, growing as Imogen admitted sheepishly, “You remember when we stayed in that farmhouse with the daffodils out front?”

Laudna’s eyebrows rose. “That was our second week together.”

“Yeah. I, uh, I noticed you were always up when I fell asleep and when I woke up and I wondered…well…” A shrug. 

“So, months.”

“I guess. Yeah.”

Laudna laughed then, loud and unselfconscious. “Darling. Why did you wait so long? And why do you…I know you’ve seen me sleep. I was asleep last week in the back of that wagon.”

Imogen’s chest warmed at the term of endearment, something relatively new that she couldn’t let herself spend too much time thinking about, and her brow furrowed as she thought about their time in the wagon. Laudna had been quiet sure, but her eyes had been wide open, staring into the fields and forest.

“Your eyes were wide open.”

Laudna’s lips pursed. “Were they? That’s odd.” She closed her eyes, as if testing that she could, and then opened them again and shrugged. “You know my body. It does as it pleases sometimes.” Her hand squeezed at Imogen’s knee where it lay under the covers. “I’m sorry. I’m sure it’s quite disturbing. You’re free to close them, of course, or maybe I could wear a blindfold at night…but then if we’re outside I don’t want…” 

She drifted off into conversation with herself, gaze lost in the middle distance, and Imogen wasn’t sure how they’d gotten here, to Laudna apologizing for something entirely out of her control and pondering increasingly bizarre ways (she was certain she’d heard “clothespin”) to solve a problem Imogen didn’t actually think was a problem unless it hurt Laudna somehow. 

She needed to take the reins back in this conversation, so she covered Laudna’s hand with her own and squeezed, which brought Laudna back to her. 

“Laud, you’re not puttin’ a clothespin on your eyelids. It doesn’t bother me unless it hurts you. Like if your eyes get dry or whatever. I don’t know, point is, don’t worry about it. I was just curious because it seems like you’re always up later and earlier than I am and I…” Her cheeks heated as she admitted what now sounded a little ridiculous. “I thought maybe you didn’t need to sleep.”

Laudna’s head tilted as her lips pulled up again, a small drip of black starting where the point of her tooth hadn’t been so effectively managed this time. 

Imogen wanted to wipe it away herself but knew it would make Laudna self-conscious, so she didn’t, folded her hands in her lap to keep them busy. 

She was determined to work her way into that kind of closeness, to make Laudna feel as comfortable as she could. She had already made great progress and they hadn’t even been together half a year yet, even if it felt sometimes like they’d been together for much longer than that. 

It made sense—they spent all their time together and were both a little desperate for the other after so many years without a real friend. But it was more than proximity and some rare kindness. That crooked head and crooked smile made Imogen feel like she was home, and she wanted Laudna to feel the same. She was willing to work for it. 

As she kept her hands to herself, Laudna licked away at the ichor, a habit so ingrained she didn’t even think to be self-conscious, and then she took a deep breath (“is it habit or does she need to breathe? how often?” also featured on her list of eventual questions) and began to talk. 

“I don’t know how much sleep I need, but I do need it, yes. When I was alone, it wasn’t always safe, you know, to leave myself vulnerable that way. Now that I know my eyelids don’t always stay closed…that would’ve been handy, I think.” 

She smoothed the cover over Imogen’s knee and let her eyes settle there as she said, “In any case, it wasn’t smart to sleep for long periods, then. I experimented and found that I could do with very little if I was willing to suffer some unpleasant but manageable consequences. In the balance of things, a few headaches and a few more joints out of place were small prices to pay for my life.”

A familiar fury crackled through Imogen, power sparking in her hands and building behind her eyes. She tried to keep it to herself, because this was about Laudna and she wanted to keep it about Laudna, but of course she’d already noticed, black eyes tracking and reflecting the flashes of light moving from her wrists to her fingertips. 

She was smiling, though, really smiling, as she looked up to meet Imogen’s eyes. 

“It’s different now.” She squeezed at Imogen’s knee again, emotions so loud Laudna must have been sending them on purpose. Gratitude and affection and admiration, and that heat was back in Imogen’s cheeks. Laudna’s expression was delighted as she moved her hand to Imogen’s face, cooling her blush. “I’m not alone anymore and,” her gaze turned pointedly to Imogen’s hands, “you’re quite capable.”

Imogen brought her thumb and pointer finger together and pulled a little bolt between them, fiddled with it for a moment before closing her fist. 

“You know I’ll do everythin’ I can to protect you, right? I want you to be safe. I want you to feel safe.”

“I do.”

“If there’s anythin’ I can be doin’ to make it easier for you to sleep, I want to. Seriously, Laudna. Lemme help if I can.”

“You do. More than you know. I sleep more now than I have in a long time. It’s just that…well. Part of it is habit, the staying up, and part of it is…I was always odd, even before.” A hand moved to her neck, fingers tracing what Imogen knew now to be a phantom noose. “I often played alone as a child, and I enjoyed my own company, even if I sometimes wished for others to play with me. 

“But after I came back, I learned very quickly that being alone was dangerous, a reminder that nobody…I had to be careful everywhere—in the markets and on the road, near fishing spots and around any group, no matter how small. Because one might run from me, but there was always a chance that three wouldn’t. And so my solitude wasn’t a choice or a brief interlude. It was my whole life.”

“Laudna.” It was the kind of honesty that Laudna usually saved for the darkness, and it made Imogen ache for her, stomach tight as she thought of the first time she’d seen a cleric come at Laudna, the look of resignation on her face as he began to chant at her.

Imogen wanted to touch, to soothe, and she let herself this time, running a hand down Laudna’s arm, stopping to wrap fingers around her wrist before tangling their fingers together and pulling them into her own lap. The look Laudna gave her was full of affection, and Imogen squeezed her fingers as gently as she could, just enough pressure that Laudna could feel it. 

“That’s how Pate was born, as you know.” Her free hand hovered at her belt and Imogen worried for a moment that she was going to bring him out, but she dropped it to her lap instead, gathering and smoothing a stretch of fabric in her skirt. “And I suppose, I wasn’t totally alone when…” Her hand moved to her temple, two fingers tapping. And this Imogen didn’t quite understand still, but based on what she did know, she hated the woman in Laudna’s head something fierce. 

“Anyway, I set up homes and sewed and saw beautiful things in the forests and on the road. But it was sometimes difficult not to think about how alone I was. And why. What exactly I had become, on waking up in Whitestone after…”

The currents of shame and disgust rose to the surface and drifted into Imogen’s mind, and she squeezed at Laudna’s hand again. She hesitated a moment before saying, careful, “You don’t have to talk to me about it, y’know. I wanna hear everything you wanna tell me, but I never wanna make you feel like you have to.”

She took a moment to consider, something Imogen appreciated as she was almost certain Laudna often made choices based on what she thought Imogen might want. With a tilt of her head, she continued, “Thank you. It feels good to tell you about it. As long as you don’t mind, that is. I know it’s…”

“I want to hear.” I want to hear.

The mental echo was instinct and emphasis, and it was becoming such an easy thing, to talk to Laudna over their mental connection. For the first time in her life, Imogen wasn’t scared or ashamed to use her powers that way. 

“Sorry for interruptin’, I just…I really like knowin’ about you. You’re not too much for me. Okay?”

Imogen heard it, though she wasn’t trying to, Laudna’s reassurance to herself. I am not too much for her. She hasn’t left yet. She’s telling the truth. She wants to know. 

She knew that if she pressed deeper, she’d find the thoughts Laudna was pushing back against, Laudna’s  own and whatever that spiteful woman who shared her head fed to her. 

I am tellin’ the truth. I promise, Laud.

A pause. 

Sorry. I heard on accident and I just…

Laudna interrupted this time. Don’t apologize. It’s helpful, to have someone reassuring me here, too. 

She heard then a chorus of needy, disgusting, too much, she’ll leave but felt Laudna press it down. It’s not always the kindest place, my mind. 

I think it might be, for everyone but you. You deserve what you give to everyone else, you know. 

Black eyes blinked at her, almost an evaluation, and Imogen held steady. I mean it. All of it. I don’t lie to you. 

She answered aloud, a move back to their earlier conversation that Imogen followed, and her voice was warm, her face opening as she smiled again. 

“We’ve reached the best part of the story anyway. The part where I meet you.

“And I wasn’t alone any longer. It took me some time, nothing to do with you, of course, dearest, you’re very wonderful and trustworthy but you see…”

“I get it, Laud. Promise.” 

“Of course you do.” 

There was pride in her tone. Imogen wasn’t quite sure what to do with Laudna’s ability to turn nearly anything into an opportunity to give Imogen a compliment. It was such a foreign experience to her, to be praised at all, much less with such frequency, that she was sometimes shocked into silence. She shook her head just a little but thankfully Laudna moved on quickly. 

“Once I realized that I wasn’t…that you weren’t…that I was safe, I found it suddenly easier to sleep. Still not as often as I once did, but more than I had been. And the times when I couldn’t sleep, after you’d drifted off, and when I’d wake up in the morning, I realized I didn’t mind being with myself in those moments. 

“I even enjoyed it, quiet time to focus on my crafts or…again, darling, nothing to do with you, you’re excellent company…”

Laud. 

Right. 

“Right. Yes. Well. Now I find that I even look forward to taking those moments with myself. It’s something I’m…taking back, I suppose. The peace of solitude. 

“And it’s nice to remember that I’m still who I used to be, mostly, where it counts. I’ve grown in some quite positive ways, actually. I’ve been changed by what happened to me, of course,” she waved her free hand in the air and then up and down, gesturing at herself, her nails growing longer, “but it’s not all that I am. And not all of those changes are bad.

“I suppose that’s a very long way of saying yes, I do sleep, but I like being alone in the dark sometimes as well.”

She dropped her hand and raised her shoulders, a sort of what can you do that Imogen found painfully endearing. 

“Can I give you a hug?”

It was the first thing she thought so it was first thing she said, because her filter didn’t always function correctly around Laudna, but she couldn’t regret it, especially in the face of the pleased surprise in Laudna’s eyes as she nodded, separating their hands and leaning forward and into Imogen. She was cold and small, the press of her shoulder blades against Imogen’s forearms disconcertingly sharp. 

She pulled back and said, hands coming to rest on Laudna’s biceps, or what remained of them, “You’re very brave, you know? Stronger than anyone I’ve ever met. And kinder, too. I’m real lucky to know you.”

“I don’t know about that, dearest.” 

“Well. I do. And if I recall correctly, you were just tellin’ me about how capable I am, so I think you should trust me on this.” 

“That’s very clever and very unfair.” 

“Capable, I think you mean.” 

“Oh, hush. Look, I found some blackberry bushes not far into the forest. There are brambles but I thought you might be able to get around them with a little telekinesis.”

She sometimes closed Laudna’s eyes after that, if she was sure she was asleep and the weather was too much one way or another or their fire was burning particularly hot. They often popped right back open again, but it was always worth trying. 

Anything was worth trying to protect Laudna. 

Over their two years together, she grew used to falling asleep to Laudna’s quiet rituals—stitching or crafting or making tea, cleaning Pate, reading—usually accompanied by humming and occasional quiet words to herself. 

In those days where she lay still and quiet, colder than normal and eyelids frustratingly cooperative, Imogen hardly slept. She pressed her warmth into the chill of Laudna’s body and tried to recreate her rituals, hoping it would comfort them both until she was able to bring her back. She hummed to herself, cleaned Pate, read some of Laudna’s favorites aloud, murmuring into the darkness.

And after they got her back, it seemed like Laudna had forgotten, too, how to comfort herself in those ways. So Imogen had done it for her in that short time before they were separated, making tea and cleaning Pate and pulling a book while Laudna lay quietly in bed. 

That night back in the Windowed Wall, after their reunion and the market, she came up from helping clean the kitchen to find Laudna bustling, pulling sewing materials from her bag and humming to herself. Not healed, but healing. Caring for herself. Imogen had nearly cried. She kissed her instead–somehow, impossibly, able to do that now–and Laudna had blushed and kissed her right back.

Now, Laudna’s working on a cross stitch of bright little mushrooms and forest creatures, a gift for Fearne that she uses to help herself wind down. The colors are always a bit of a surprise, because she uses her darkvision as often as not. The threads are drawn randomly from a small bag at night, sometimes gathered on a theme and other times an assortment of what she had leftover from other projects. For this, she’d chosen flashy purples and bright blues and greens, shocks of orange and yellow that she was planning to enchant to glow. Things right at home in the fey wild and in this realm, on particular kinds of dangerous creatures and plants. It’s perfect for Fearne and perfectly Laudna. 

The needle moves rhythmically back and forth through the fabric, the soft swish swish pleasant and familiar. Laudna’s elbow occasionally brushes Imogen’s arm and their legs are pressed tightly together now, Laudna's ankle having shifted, a little mismatched with the height difference and Laudna’s position. She always appreciates this kind of closeness, a reminder that she’s here.

She hums lowly under her breath, something she’d always done but that Imogen appreciates especially now that she wears the circlet. Tonight it’s upbeat, Laudna’s finger tapping her small hoop where the song calls for percussion. 

The tempo is disarmingly cheery but she knows the lyrics Laudna’s not singing; they’d learned it together in traveling with a group of artists who let them hitch a ride for a few days in the back of their wagon, largely unbothered by Laudna’s presence and kind and upfront enough not to activate Imogen’s headaches too terribly. At night they sat around a fire, Imogen and Laudna prestidigitating paint-splattered clothes as the small crew sang and taught them songs, fed them roasted vegetables and begged Laudna to bring out Pate. 

This was a favorite of theirs, the lament of a man whose spouse was lost at sea. Verses of mourning and missed chances, a list of all the things they’d left behind.

As Laudna taps twice agains the hoop, her mind turns to Iffodola and the Raito charm. Their convictions and their fate in that cave. 

She wonders if their family knows what happened or if they’re still waiting, trapped in the hope that Iffodola will come home. It will be good, to get the charm back to them if they can, to give them closure and something from the person they loved, something that shows how close Iffodola kept them to their heart. 

Hopefully it’s less complicated than her own locket, for those Iffodola left behind. At least it seems more honest. 

My love of my children. My guilt over my father. 

There were so many pieces of a life, etched into that stone. Beautiful and difficult things sharing space. It’s not something she’s used to, seeing the hard things admitted openly, given space next to the bright, expected emotions that strangers can understand. It makes it easier for Imogen to believe they meant all of it, seeing guilt and love and commitment and fear there together. A whole person, not a set of platitudes. 

And anyway, from what she’d seen, trying to ignore those more complicated feelings only wore away at the others. 

The better halves make a better whole.  

Maybe her mother and father had believed what they engraved on that locket, once. But her mama left, stayed gone and didn’t have any interest in coming back. Gave her life to something that seemed more and more like it wanted to suck the life from Imogen for its own power. To someone who was trying to make that happen. 

And Imogen certainly didn’t grow up thinking her daddy thought she was anything other than broken—not whole, not good, and definitely not better . She’d never felt like enough for him, and when her powers first started flaring and she would hear his deeper thoughts on accident, couldn’t control anything yet, what she heard about herself nearly broke her. 

She wonders what would have been different, if they’d talked about what was going on—her mama feeling trapped, her daddy feeling overwhelmed, Imogen being the reminder of all the ways they were failing. If they’d stopped pretending long enough to be honest with each other, things might’ve…

Well. People don’t often tell the truth, even, maybe especially, when it matters. She knows that more intimately than she wants to and has for a long time. The locket is the rule, the stone a beautiful exception. 

Her thoughts move to Laudna, as they often do. 

A beautiful exception. 

She’s suddenly overcome with the strength of one of her own convictions, has to be sure Laudna knows, so she brings herself up slightly, just enough to press the rest of their bodies together as they lean against the same sturdy branch. 

She casts dancing lights, close and dim with an eye to the others. When she’s sure they’re asleep, she turns back to find Laudna smiling at her even as she tilts her head in confusion, raising an eyebrow as Imogen catches the purple of the lights dancing back at her from black mirrors. 

Hello, darling. Am I keeping you up with the humming? The hoop? 

The smile turns to a frown, and she begins to tuck away her hoop before Imogen catches her wrist, running a thumb along the fragile bone. 

No, not at all. It’s nice. 

The frown remains, so Imogen carefully places the hoop in Laudna’s lap and brings the wrist to her mouth, pressing a kiss against the spot where her sluggish pulse raises her skin a few times a minute. 

Promise. I just wanted to…to talk real quick. I’m sorry to interrupt. 

Laudna leans closer at that, tucking a strand of Imogen’s hair behind her ear and squeezing her bicep before tangling their fingers between them. 

Don’t be sorry. There’s nothing I’d rather be doing than talking to you. A beat. Well… She stops short and there’s darkening of her cheeks in the low light. Imogen can’t help but raise her eyebrow and smirk. It’s still new, this part of them, and they haven’t had much opportunity to explore, really, what with everything happening, but they’ve been able to have some fun. She’s eager for more and she’s a little proud and a little smug that Laudna feels the same. 

Laudna rolls her eyes fondly. Yes, yes. I find you to be unbearably attractive. 

Imogen kisses her quickly, Laudna humming against her lips, and as she pulls back, she’s even more determined to have this conversation. She isn’t sure of much, anymore, but she’s sure of this. Of her. 

Two years of learning each other on the road and now their months with the Hells and all she wants is more time with her. 

She thinks of the ring, of the blood pendant, of the shell in her pack. Of the gaping chasm in her heart after Otohan brought that sword down, the fear and panic after the solstice. 

It comes out in a rush, less eloquent than she’d hoped, but Laudna won’t mind. She’s better at untangling Imogen’s thoughts than anyone. 

I was just thinking about, well about you, first. About travelin’ before we met the Hells. You remember how I thought maybe you didn’t sleep? Anyway, I was thinkin’ about how much I cared about you, right from the start, and how you always felt like home and how I want you to feel safe with me and home with me, too. 

And then the song, it made me think about Iffodola. About whether their family knew what had happened and the children and the promises and how nice it was, how powerful and…and rare it was that they wrote down more than just the easy things, how much it mattered that they were honest. How my parents weren’t but you always are and I want to be, too. With the world maybe but always with you. How I want you. 

She takes a breath, closes her eyes, is grateful that Laudna seems to know she isn’t quite done. When she opens them again, she reaches forward to trace her thumb over glass-sharp cheekbones and wades into the black pools of her eyes. 

Laud, you know you’d be on my stone, right? Front and center. She takes another deep breath, steady, and dips her head under the water, happily lost in the black. My love for Laudna. 

Imogen. Something lights up in her at the breathlessness of it. Can I kiss you? 

Always. Please.

It’s hungry, when Laudna leans into her, kisses her as fiercely as she can while they’re trying to keep quiet. A hand buries itself in her hair and tugs with enough force to make Imogen gasp into the mouth pressed to hers. It’s muffled but Imogen has no faith in her ability to stay quiet if Laudna does that again, if she keeps touching her and kissing her like this.

Sure enough, another tug, this time with the sharp points of Laudna’s shifted nails against her scalp, and a whimper breaks free as Laudna’s lips move to her neck, teeth just grazing skin before a cool tongue soothes. 

Baby. The others. 

Can you be quiet for me, darling? 

I’m not… Laudna reaches her collarbone, sucks and then sinks her teeth in enough to bruise, but when Imogen opens her mouth to cry out, she feels the cold, smooth skin of Laudna’s palm come to rest against her lips, pressing intently. Then, and Imogen genuinely might die, the hand folds in offering, two fingers resting gently against Imogen's bottom lip. 

What if I help?

Laudna looks up at her then, a brow raised in question, and Imogen nods and then takes them into her mouth and sucks, tastes bitter, perfect ichor and Laudna’s skin, fallen leaves and home.

Turns out, though, the fingers do not have the intended effect, because as soon as Laudna presses down, her lips busy at her pulse point, Imogen moans so loudly that she’s certain she’s alerted not just the Hells but every creature within a mile as to what they’re doing.

Laudna pulls away and looks at her with heat that makes Imogen’s stomach tight and then, rudely, with amusement. 

Well, then. She sounds not unlike Imogen’s grade school teacher, chiding them for getting too muddy or failing to complete their work. She chooses not to engage with why that feels the way it does. I guess that’s a no on being quiet. 

Imogen blushes furiously and, eyes squinting and intent on revenge, bites gently and licks at Laudna’s fingers as she takes them back. Laudna’s face moves from smug to pleading in a moment, and she whimpers. 

See? Not so easy, is it?

Laudna rolls her eyes but kisses her again—gentle and perfect. When she pulls back, they both take a look around the room, and miraculously, it looks like everyone is still sleeping, or in the case of Orym, might just be polite enough to be pretending. They can deal with it later, if they need to. 

Their eyes meet again, and Laudna presses her lips to Imogen’s forehead, to her cheeks, her chin. Her palm cups Imogen’s cheek as she puts some space between them. 

Imogen. 

She takes Laudna’s hand, kisses her finger over the ring she put there back before she understood exactly what the depth of her feelings for Laudna meant. 

Sorry I couldn’t keep quiet. 

Don’t be. I’m frankly quite proud. 

Imogen huffs a laugh, already-warm face getting hotter. You should be. 

Laudna looks for a moment like she might press Imogen back against the bedroll, and Imogen has already decided she won’t object when Laudna clears her throat and shakes her head lightly. I’m sorry, darling. You were saying such lovely things and I turned us in, well, another direction. 

She lets her eyes drift down Laudna’s body shamelessly. Hopin’ to go that direction again real soon. 

Imogen. 

Right. Yeah. Sorry, darlin.’ 

Laudna raises a brow at her, tiny smirk escaping to lessen the force of what Imogen is sure is meant to be a stern expression. She thinks yet again of Ms. Billing and fuck, guess that’s something she’ll be thinking more. But for now: You’re right. I’m not sorry. But I will stop.

They settle back against each other, tucking Laudna’s hoop back into her pack, not too disturbed by their shuffling. Laudna is tucked into Imogen’s body as she leans against the branch, and Imogen’s fingers run across Laudna’s shoulder, her other hand clasped in Laudna’s against her stomach. 

I know I was ramblin’, before. I just wanted to…I was thinking about the charm. Laudna nods against her chest. It’s been real hard to keep any convictions, these last few months. But this one’s easy. A deep breath. Laudna knows, of course, but Imogen’s stomach still flips, her heart still beats faster, to say it like this. I love you. 

Darling. She breaks away to press up and into another kiss, over too quickly. At Imogen’s pout, Laudna’s thumb comes to rest on her bottom lip, and Imogen, because she has no self-control,  kisses it, tastes ichor and fights a moan. Laudna pulls it back, replaces it with her lips once more. I love you, too. 

She scoots them both back down into the bed rolls, and they shift, turning so that Imogen holds Laudna tight against her, their hands together over her stomach, Imogen’s head pressed to the cool skin of her neck. Her lips graze the skin left uncovered by her sleep shirt, aimless and wandering for a moment before she settles, squeezing gently at the fingers between her own.  

Laudna’s voice echoes in her head as she closes her eyes. Sleep well, darling.  

She drifts off without any trouble this time. 

-

The Chetney figurine is beautifully crafted and absolutely horrifying, which feels right. The curve of his nose presses into the pad of her finger as she traces it absently, thinking about her own convictions, which she tries to scribble quickly on a piece of paper Laudna hands her from her journal. 

She starts with what’s easy. 

My love for Laudna. 

But she thinks of Iffodola and doesn’t stop there. She has so many complicated feelings–about trust and commitment and guilt and power. She writes some fraught and some inspiring words about herself and her friends and her family. Convictions and priorities. Goals and regrets. As many weights as buoys. But she’s confident. It’s real. It’s honest. 

She looks up to find black eyes already on her, one side of her mouth tilted up, pen poised above a familiar journal. She moves closer to bump her shoulder into Laudna’s. 

Nervous, darlin’? 

The expression expands into a real smile, full and beautiful and hauntingly wide, her teeth gone a little sharp the way they do sometimes when she expects trouble or is feeling particularly protective. Imogen wants to kiss her, so she does, presses her lips to Laudna’s shoulder. Surprise quickly melts into affection, and she smiles that smile she saves for Imogen. Her tooth pierces the skin of her lip and draws black fluid to the surface. 

Imogen tucks the lead into her pocket and then wipes it away. She does not suck her thumb clean, though she wants to. Instead, she presses it to the paper, examines the whorls of her fingerprint. Laudna tucks her hair, fallen around her face as she looks down, behind her ear. 

Never nervous with you, my love. You’re very capable.

Imogen lifts her head with a smile and folds the paper into her pocket, holds Laudna’s hand as she gets ready to jump. 

#critical role #imogen temult #laudna #imodna #imodna fic

[heheimazing1]

um, i don’t really know how to write these but here’s my first mini fic! percy jackson x daughter of apollo! fem reader is the implied relationship. i hope you enjoy this and lmk if you’d like to read more of my writing.

can’t catch me now

by Olivia Rodrigo

The children of Apollo always liked music, it usually depended on their mood of what kind they wanted to hear, but they mostly wanted soft music. It was always calming for them to listen to, 𝘢𝘭𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 making them feel like a kid again, but those moments were short-lived. The younger campers of Camp Half-Blood only 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 liked when Cassandra played or sang music, claiming that she always knew how to cheer them up or calm them down. Cassandra was basically the older sister of the younger campers, only happy when they were happy. On a special night one of the younger girls asked, “Can you sing a sad song Cass?” Cassandra was surprised, to say the least by her request, but once she saw the girls pleading doe eyes, she couldn’t say no. Maybe that’s why everyone liked Cassandra, because the word ‘no’ is not in her vocabulary. “Sure thing, honey.” Cassandra replied with a warm smile, leading her to the campfire. She looked over to Charles Beckendorf, asking him to light the campfire to signal a meeting. Once the fire was lit, campers walked in and sat around the campfire. Cassandra pulled out her acoustic guitar, the wood freshly stained as a gift from her father. “Andrea here asked for a sad song tonight, but it won’t be as sad as it is calming. Is that okay?” Cassandra asks as she gestures towards the girl, her face reddening once the spotlight is on her. A chorus of yes’s spread around the campfire, a majority of them cuddling up and sharing snacks or drinks. As Cassandra puts her guitar on her lap, she makes eye-contact with Percy, a smile growing on his face once he sees her. She grins back, running her fingers along the strings, relishing in the sweet sound of it. She starts to strum the strings gently, a soft, calming tune playing out. She keeps a gentle strum, taking a deep breath before she begins to sing. “There’s blood on the side of the mountain, there’s writing all over the walls.” Her soft voice, along with the fire crackling is the only thing you hear. The campers sit around the campfire entranced by her sweet melody she plays and sings. “Shadows of us are still dancin’, in every room and every hall. There’s snow fallin’ over the city, you thought you could wash it away.” Andrea sits right beside Cassandra, staring up at her with wonder as she sings, despite the four year olds hyper nature, she always can sit and relax when Cassandra is near. “The bitter taste of my fury, and all of the messes you made. Yeah, you think that you got away. But i’m in the trees, i’m in the breeze. My footsteps on the ground. You’ll see my face in every place, but you can’t catch me now.” As Cassandra continues to sing, the younger campers eyes begin to droop at her calm tone, almost as if a 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘭𝘭 was put on them. “Through wading grass, the months will pass, you’ll feel it all around. I’m here, i’m there, i’m everywhere, but you can’t catch me now. No you can’t catch me now.” She makes eye-contact with Percy as she sings, shared secrets between their gazes. “Bet you thought i’d never do it, thought it’d go over my head. I bet you figured i’d pass with the winter be something easy to forget.” She smirks slyly at him as he blushes, looking away to prevent himself from further embarrassment. “Oh, you think i’m gone cause Ieft.” She sings the verse again, watching as Andrea hums along and bops her head to the beat. Cassandra strums slower, her voice hushed as she sings quieter. “There’s blood on the side of the mountain, It’s turning a new shade of red. Yeah, sometimes the fire you founded, don’t burn the way you’d expect. Yeah, you thought that this was end.” She finishes the song with a few soft notes, everyone cheering at her beautiful music, 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯. Later at the bonfire when the joyful campers settle down, many compliment Cassandra on her song, going back to their conversations. Eventually everyone goes back to the resided cabins, her music offering them a peaceful, nightmare-less sleep.

#percy jackson x you #percy pjo #pjo tv show #percy jackson and the olympians #daughter of apollo #music is life #percy is flustered #pjo series #percy jackson #rick riordan #the lightning thief #walker scobell #disney

[lirotation]

I Hail from Silverymoon: The Confession

Pov my little fanfic: Astarion x Amaara (my wizard Tav). Fellow Tavs gave me feedback on how mean my Astarion was. hahaha. Well, in this part he became pretty pathetic. These stories were drafted during my first playthrough so the mood of it really reflected how I perceived the game. And damn my first playthrough was rough.

_________________________

Astarion's gaze followed Amaara as she bid goodnight to Lae'zel, having finished another evening listening to the fighter reading legends from a githyanki plate. As she walked past his tent, she didn't even glance his way.

Stung, Astarion melted into the shadows and trailed her unseen as she made her rounds about camp. His eyes tracked her every movement - the enthusiastic hug she gave Karlach, the warm smiles exchanged with Shadowheart. She crossed to the far side of camp, placing a gentle hand on Wyll's shoulder as she reported the day's findings to Halsin.

A bitter seed lodged in Astarion's throat as she then approached Gale's tent. Scowling, he watched the two wizards leaned in close and started an intense, hushed conversation. Astarion strained to hear. He made out "dreamscape" and “future” amidst arcane terms beyond his understanding. Amaara's eyes were wide with concern as she confided in the wizard.

She grasped Gale's hand urgently, her obvious distress rousing an unwanted pang of concern in Astarion's chest. What plagued her so? Gale enveloped her hand between both of his, murmuring reassurances. For a moment it seemed Amaara was ready to collapse into his embrace.

Jealousy flared in Astarion. Driven by an impulse he could not name, he stepped out of the shadows, interrupting them.

Amaara whirled around, surprise flashing across her features before shifting to weariness at the sight of him.

Gale raised an eyebrow. "Did you need something?" Though polite, his tone held an edge.

"Just...passing by," Astarion muttered lamely. In truth he had no reason to intrude.

With a resigned sigh, Amaara turned back to Gale. "I should rest. Please do consider what I said." She left them with an inscrutable glance at Astarion.

In the uneasy silence, Astarion swallowed his pride. "How do you do it?" he asked Gale grudgingly. "Get her to...be so at ease around you?"

Astarion's question was met with stony silence. Gale's eyes bored into him, jaw set sternly.

When it was clear Astarion expected a response, Gale let out an irritated sigh. "Why should I help you worm your way back into her good graces?"

Astarion bristled at the hostility. "I merely thought you might...offer some insight," he muttered, "after last time we talked."

"My insight tells me to let you reap the consequences of your vile behavior," Gale snapped.

But seeing Astarion's crestfallen expression, his rigid posture softened slightly.

"However...Amaara would wish me to take the high road." He pinched the bridge of his nose tiredly. "I treat her with the same empathy she offers me - with kindness, respect, and honest counsel." 

Gale's gaze became thoughtful. "Lae'zel gives her the unguarded companionship she shows no one else. Karlach offers easy friendship. Shadowheart provides healing and care." Gesturing around the camp, Gale asked pointedly, "So what do you give in return for her compassion and devotion?"

The question rang in Astarion's mind as Gale left him alone with his thoughts. What could he possibly provide this mage who had treated him with such tenderness and love?

The others gave their best selves to Amaara. But he had offered only manipulation. For the first time, he wondered if becoming someone worthy of care was possible, or if his soul was too poisoned by cruelty. Perhaps if he dared to open himself to sincerity, he might find some fragment of goodness to share. But it would require relinquishing all control. A daunting prospect.

Like a dog rolling over and exposing its soft underbelly in a desperate plea for affection.

And in that moment, he realized that he was willing to do just that. He was willing to roll over and expose his own vulnerabilities, to show the parts of himself that he had kept hidden for so long.

Because he knew, deep down, he would do anything to have her. To have her genuine affection, to be worthy of her care. He wanted to be more than a manipulator, more than a predator. He wanted to be someone who could love and be loved in return.

Astarion mustered the courage to approach Amaara. But this time, his presence didn't elicit the warm smile and adoring gaze that had once been his reward. Instead, he was met with a tension that radiated from her very being. Her stance was poised and alert, legs positioned for stability, fingers flexing almost imperceptibly as if eager to close around the grip of her staff. He could practically hear the gears of her mind turning, calculating, assessing.

It was the battle stance he had stood beside countless times. But now, it seemed directed at him. He had become the source of her wariness.

Astarion's heart sank as he realized the depth of the chasm he created between them. The connection they had once shared had been replaced with caution and defensiveness. He was no longer the recipient of her trust and affection; He is entirely unsure if this could be remedied, but he had to try.

"Do you have a moment? I think we need to talk," Astarion's voice trembled with anxiety, his vulnerability exposed in the slight quiver of his words.

Amaara paused, She could sense the unease radiating from him and couldn't help but feel a twinge of concern. Her posture relaxed as she questioned, "Are you alright?"

A nervous laugh escaped Astarion as he shifted uncomfortably. Bracing himself for what was to come, he began his confession, "Oh yes, I'm fine. I just...feel awful." His gaze met hers, a mixture of apprehension and sincerity. "Look, I had a plan. A nice, simple plan - seduce you, sleep with you, manipulate your feelings so you'd never oppose me." He chuckled nervously, a self-deprecating edge to his amusement. "It was easy, instinctive. Habits from two hundred years of charming people kicked in. All you had to do was fall for it. And all I had to do was not fall for you...which is where my nice, simple plan fell apart."

Before he could gauge her reaction and say more, Amaara's voice cut through, laced with anger and hurt, "That's quite enough!" Her eyes opened wide as she regarded him. "What is this, more of your theatricals? I'm not blind. Last time we were intimate, I sensed your disgust and loathing. I now understand why you see me as your leash, you hated the fact that you couldn't fully control me! Fall for me? Truly?" She shook her head, her frustration evident. "What is it that you wish to accomplish with these lies?"

Astarion’s eye widened. He had been so overconfident in his "skills" that he had completely overlooked how insightful Amaara could be. He scrambled to explain himself, to lay bare his wounds and scars as he had intended. "No, wait, Amaara, let me explain! Being close to someone - any kind of intimacy - was something I performed to lure people back for...him." He paused, his gaze filled with the weight of his past, "Even though I know things between us are different, being with someone still feels...tainted. Still brings up those feelings of disgust and loathing. What you perceived as revulsion was truly my own self-hatred."

He closed his eyes, "I don't know how else to be with someone. No matter how much I'd like to."

Amaara's scholarly mind processed this newfound insight. Understanding flickered across her features, followed by a tinge of embarrassment. She had never been adept at the matters of the heart, but honesty had always been a principle she held dear. If she had spoken up, voiced her doubts, this misunderstanding might have been avoided.

But their problem was more than that, wasn't it? She lowered her voice, "So much for my prided intellect - you thoroughly used me from the start. Our late night conversations, those tender words, my first night...none were real. I must have been very entertaining."

Amaara's blunt words hung in the air like a verdict. Panic began to claw at Astarion as he gazed into Amaara's eyes. There were no tears, no fiery anger, just a calm and piercing gaze that seemed to lay bare every deception, every manipulation he had woven into their tangled web of emotions. He’d have preferred for her to shoot another magic missile at his gut.

Astarion knew he had to tread carefully now, choose his words with utmost precision, or risk losing her forever. Instinctively, he turned to his silver tongue, the very tool that had ensnared her heart in the first place. It would be so easy to deny her accusations, to profess his undying love and devotion, but deep down, he understood that if he uttered those words now, she would turn and walk away.

He scrambled for the right words, some way to undo the damage. But without his seductive façade, he was stripped bare. How could he articulate something so unfamiliar as real affection? Romance had only ever been a gambit, passion a parody.

Taking a deep breath, he turned to blunt honesty. "Amaara," he began, his voice softer, stripped of its usual veneer of charm and guile, "I won't insult you by denying the truth. For centuries I was but a means to an end, and I would treat everyone as tools, you included.”

"But the more time we spent together, the more I found myself caring, though I didn't understand it. I was such an idiot. So caught up in familiar habits I couldn't see the truth.”

"I know I don't deserve your trust," he confessed. "But I swear, it stopped being a ruse long ago. What we shared meant everything to me. For centuries I existed only to serve my old master's thirst, and I had nothing to call my own. But then I had you. For the first time, I had something just for myself. Someone who saw me as a person, not a tool or monster. I tried to bend your will in my favor…merely a pathetic way to gain reassurance that you cared about me. The truth is...you terrify me."

Amaara's eyes widened in surprise. "I terrify you?" she asked incredulously. "Why? Have I ever given you cause to fear me?"

Astarion gave a shaky laugh, raking a hand through his hair. "I know, it's madness. The brilliant, compassionate woman who tended my heart with such care somehow became a threat in my mind.” His voice grew fervent. "Because you had such power over me, power to hurt me like no blade ever could. It reminded me of Cazador's control, and it terrified me. The more you gave, the more I cared, the more terrified I became. I handled it wretchedly. The venomous words I spewed your way originated from fear. Fear that you were too good to be true, that the vulnerability I felt around you would be my ruin."

Astarion's voice trembled with emotion. “So I tried to manipulate you, stoke your physical desire to secure your lust, use your body for my own reassurance and gain an illusion of control. I told myself that if I could make you want me carnally, you would never leave."

Astarion's confession left Amaara reeling. She struggled to comprehend the logic behind his words.

"I offered you my heart, yet you treated it like dust," she said, bewildered and hurt. "After everything I did to get through to you, you thought I was no different than Cazador?” The absurdity of this made her realize the extent of the trauma that had corroded Astarion, her tone softened,” My heart saw someone worthy of care, but you chose to see a master to appease. It never occurred to you that I wanted you for you?"

Astarion looked down, the self-loathing in his eyes palpable, "I couldn't fathom why anyone would want me, as I am, for anything but use. And you are not just anyone. You...you're incredible. Why would someone like you care for someone like me? I was certain you'd turn cruel if I lost my grip.”

Amaara folded her arm, “I see. You didn’t trust me. You know, what you are saying is really not helping your case.”

Astarion realized how horrible this all sounded, but it’s the painful truth. He lowered his head, “Trusting another goes against every instinct I have. I betrayed your trust, sneered at the depth of our connection, and inflicted pain upon you out of fear and confusion." His voice trembled with sincerity. "I... I am truly sorry."

He looked up at her eyes again, “I may have started with my usual tricks, and it took forever for me to realize that I can trust you, that what I felt for you was real. But when I finally realized it, you cannot know how profound that was."

As he peered into her steady gaze, he found no immediate forgiveness there, only a quiet understanding. Closing his eyes, his heart sank. Desperation slowly gave way to acceptance. "You cannot know how profound that was." he repeated, voice thick with emotion, "I will always treasure the feeling. It's foolish to think I can win your forgiveness. I suppose it is for the best. I don’t have anything to offer you, only more burden to share."

Despite the complexity of her emotions, Amaara found herself compelled to offer comfort, even if it was just as a friend, as a companion. She spoke gently, her words carrying a sincerity that surprised even her, "I care about you. Deeply."

Astarion's shoulders slumped, her continued rejection weighing heavily on his mind. He was trapped in a cycle of self-doubt and uncertainty. He sensed her response was out of sympathy rather than genuine affection, and he couldn't help but feel dejected. "Really?" he asked, his voice low, as if he couldn't quite fathom that someone might truly care for him.

Amaara looked at his pained expression. Her own anger and frustration faded. Sune preserve her! she could never resist him when he acted like this! How did she get herself into this mess? Sure it hadn't been a meaningful connection from the very start; no, it was something far more superficial. Amaara’s mother was a cleric of Sune, so she was influenced by Sune's teaching at a young age. Astarion's beauty called to be loved. His palpable loneliness begged for companionship. Then there was his undeniable skill in the arts of passion, as if he had been taught by Lady Firehair herself. She was captivated after denying herself such pleasure for years. To her, it was as though their connection was fated, meant to be explored and experienced.

Right at this moment, when the ugly truth of his manipulation had come to light, when he had revealed his deceitful and self-serving nature to the world, any true follower of Sune would have walked away without hesitation. But for Amaara, it was an impossible feat.

Deep within her, a resilient fire burned, a fire inherited from her resolute father who despised fickleness in all its forms. Stubbornly, she clung to the belief that beneath Astarion's cruel façade, beyond the layers of deception, there still existed a lonely, beautiful soul yearning for understanding. Her heart, loyal to a fault, refused to let go. 

Standing in front of Astarion, Amaara knew clearly - it was no longer a matter of doctrine or stubbornness. It had transcended such excuses long ago. She loved him with a depth that defied reason, a love that outshone every flaw and failing.

She recognized that his manipulations stemmed from deep wounds no one should have to endure. She should never judge him by conventional standards.

The scholarly part of Amaara yearned to dive into books on the illness of the hearts, to understand and help heal his scars. But she knew intuitively that Astarion required more than just academic insight - he needed patience, care, and light on his darkest days.

She was weary of burdens already, but she would find strength to bear his too. The horrific future she had glimpsed in her nightmare, where Astarion had lost himself and emerged as a monster, still haunted her. That chilling vision fueled her conviction to guide him down the path of healing, even when he struggled against it.

There would be times she needed respite. Times his volatility left her shaken. But she would return with warmth, not judgment. His faults were not flaws of character, but corrosions of trauma. She hoped to slowly dissolve the hurt that led him astray. 

With emotions overflowing, yet mind resolved, Amaara took a trembling step toward her damaged love.

She sensed the surprise and uncertainty as she embraced him. His arms hesitated before slowly wrapping around her, returning the embrace. They held onto each other, a mixture of comfort and understanding passing between them in that simple touch. He looked down at her, a genuine smile forming on his lips, the tension from before replaced with a sense of ease.

"You are full of surprises," he remarked, his voice filled with fondness. In that embrace, he could feel the familiar warmth of her affection for him, a balm to the doubts that had plagued him.

"Honestly, I have no idea what we are doing. Or what comes next," he confessed, his gaze meeting hers with a mixture of vulnerability and hope. He extended his hand towards her, his palm upturned, a silent invitation. Amaara's hand found its place in his, and he enveloped her hand with both of his own. "But I know this… this is nice," he said softly, his voice carrying a sincerity that resonated deep within both of them.

#Only know you love her when you let her go #bg3 fanart #astarion #astarion fanart #astarion fanfic #baldur's gate 3 #baldurs gate 3 fanart #bg3 fanfiction #astarion x mc #I Hail from Silverymoon #bg3 #balders gate 3 #amaara ashvale #procreate #my oc stuff

[fallout4-reacts]

How about Companions react to a sole who cries in their sleep? Thx for doing the lords work

Hooo how cute! It will be with pleasure, I really hope you'll like it!

And Felicitations! You're the first!

Cait :  They set up a rudimentary camp under a pillar of the old highway. The road was long; barely the fire lit and the area safe, Sole fell asleep. Cait prefers to lengthen the evening with a good crooked brobov. That’s how she becomes aware, barely an hour later, of a strange sound. It’s like a muffled squeak. Really not usual of this kind of sound, Cait gets up slowly, wondering what creature can produce something so strange. She then realizes that the sound comes from the Sole’s sleeping bag and worries about what might be attacking them. She grabs a stick dragging near the fire and lines up to hit swift and hard… when she realizes that its Sole themselves that seems… cry? Like a child? Cait has a vague memory of having already cried, a long time ago. In fact, while crouching near Sole, she remembers too well a distant time when she was crying, curled up in the bottom of her bed, a habit she soon lost because the slightest weakness was deadly when she became a combat slave. She hesitates for a long time, then advances an uncertain hand towards her friend’s shoulder. “Eh?” Sole wakes up, shocked, and quickly wipes they cheeks covered with tears. “Sorry. I guess I was dreaming of… finally… before.” Cait makes a grimace, uncertain of how to react, but she decides to pat (awkwardly) Sole’s shoulder as a sign of comfort. “It’s going to be okay. We have all our moments… I guess.” Sole grips her and leads her in a hug to break the back of a bear and Cait immediately regrets having wanted to comfort the other. Finally, after a few seconds, she hugs them back.

Codsworth : The poor butler walks back and forth in Sanctuary’s kitchen. He heard Sole crying there, at the end of the hall, but even though he knew how to develop his small personality during the 200 years he spent waiting, he wonders where the line between servant and companion is. He cuts himself off from the only thing he can do: make tea. He actually prepares three kinds: one to calm the nerves, one to improve the mood, and one to help them regain sleep. After reflection, he mixes the three, then takes the cup and finally decides to enter the main chamber.  "Madam/Sir?" Sole shakes, surprised to feel they cried. "Hm. Codsworth. What time is it?" "3am. But since you seemed to have a disturbed sleep, I made tea to help you." "That’s nice, Codsworth. You’re a real friend." Codsworth feels excitement when Sole makes this statement. A friend? A friend. He gives the cup to Sole and then goes back to the kitchen to clean.

Curie (synth) : Curie has read much research on human emotion and knows that sleep disturbed by negative feelings means a repression of emotions. She decides to sit on the edge of Sole’s bed, gently shaking her friend to wake them up. Sole quickly wipes away their tears, embarrassed to be surprised in such a situation.

"Don’t worry, it’s perfectly normal in your situation to have these moments. According to Freud— "Curie, it’s okay. I’m going to skip an essay on human psychology at 3 a.m." "So, do you want a hug?" Sole hesitates, embarrassed, then reaches out. The synth is rather good for giving comforting hugs, and soon, Sole finds a calmer sleep. If romanticized, Curie and Sole would snuggle in each other’s arms to end the night, with Curie sliding her fingers into Sole’s hair while they fell asleep.

Danse : (PreBB) Danse knew a lot of soldiers sobbing at night for miles and a reason in barracks. But none was really his friend. He knows that the best procedure to follow is to wake the subject up, give them water to drink, and get them to talk about what’s upsetting them. But with Sole, he feels a bit embarrassed. He doesn’t know why. He feels that he himself feels something strange in the presence of his friend, but he has trouble understanding why he is so moved to hear them cry. However, he has to react. He shakes Sole’s shoulder and addresses them perhaps a little too abruptly without looking at them. "Soldier, you’re crying." "Shit, Danse, I’m sorry." "Want to talk about it?" "Not really, no. But thank you. It was horrible." Danse awkwardly holds a bottle, always without looking at them. "Drink, go back to sleep. But if ever… if you ever feel the need to talk about it, know that I... I am here. We are mission companions, and I would not want to know you are indisposed." "In your personal language, I understand you’re worried, Danse?" "Hrm. Drink, sleep." "Thank you, friend, good night." "Good night, and… sweet dreams. Danse (PostBB if romanced) : Danse turns into a half-sleep and surrounds Sole with his protective arms, attracting them in a bear hug. Sole immediately feels good and safe, finding a more peaceful sleep. The next morning, Danse tries to make Sole talk, and he opens slowly on what disturbed them. Over the course of the day and even the following days, Danse helps Sole make peace with their repressed emotions by using all the tricks he knows from his experience gained in the Brotherhoods.

Deacon : Deacon observes Sole sleeping over the campfire, and his face is irritated, but not because of Sole. He is irritated because he feels powerless to assist his companion. What would he say to them? Lies? Trying to help people to confront their problems at the risk of bringing up his own demons? No, let them sleep and hope that all will be forgotten the next day. If romanced, Deacon slowly awakens Sole. "Eh. I'm not sure who you were dreaming about, but you know the rules: you can only beg me, and only during sex." Sole laughs, a little surprised and taken aback. They see that their cheeks are swollen with weeping. They cried once more. The dream returns to them. Their spouse was murdered, and they lost their son. It's almost become a nighttime classic. They sadly sigh. "Come on, uh, everything will be okay." "Liar." They both bust out chuckling and Deacon moves Sole little to create room in the sleeping bag. "Come here, sleep, and keep an eye on you." "Thank you." "I'll always be there for you."

Dogmeat : Lick the face of Sole until they wake up. Whines a little before sinking into his master's arms. Sole buries their face in the dog's fur and sighs, pleased to have such a loyal companion. They return to sleep, and this time their sleep is more peaceful.

Elder Maxson : When the Elder is on duty in the barracks, he overhears a soldier whimpering in his sleep. He approaches a dormitory and discovers that it belongs to Sole. He is feeling a little uneasy. Sole did not appear to be the type of person to have struggles, but it appears that they suppress their feelings deep within. Maxson walks up to their bed and shakes them. "You have a disturbed sleep, Knight." When they see the Elder next to them, Sole misses falling out of bed... They are really humiliated to have been discovered crying, by the Elder in top of that. They rise slowly, embarrassed. "Don't be ashamed; it's normal, and I believe we all go through it. Life is difficult, and the life of a soldier is even more difficult. Tomorrow morning, you will consult Knight-Captain Cade, who will be able to recommend sleep options." "T-t-thank you very much, Elder." "Now go back to bed. Make an effort to have a better night." "T-t-thank you very much. You as well." If he's romanced, Maxson gets up from his office, where he spent the day reading reports, and moves closer to his bed. "Hey, honey." "Arthur?" Sole is perplexed and struggling to recuperate. "You were sobbing. Is there anything you'd like to talk about?" "No, but I'd like to be hugged." Maxson can't keep a grim smile on his face. When they want to, Sole can be a big baby. But he cheerfully submits to the comfort session and then tucks his beloved in. When he finishes his tasks, he slides against them in the bed and hugs them tightly, keeping them all against him while he falls asleep.

Hancock : Hancock slipped behind Sole and took them in his arms, romance or not. He softly awakens them up by playing with their hair.

"Look like you had yourself a real nasty nightmare there, brother." "Hancock? It was awful." "Want to chat about it?" "No, not at all. It's just too much...it's just too much..." "Sh. Don't sweat it too much, we all have our demons and you ain't no different. Take a swig of jet and let yourself drift back into dreamland, everything gonna be copacetic."

Hancock stays exactly where he is for the balance of the night, affectionately caressing his friend/lover.

Gage : Panic Pledge. Worse than Cait. An overboss crying is an overboss showing weakness. An overboss who shows weakness is a dead overboss. And how he compromised for this Overboss in particular, Gage believes he’s going to die if it’s discovered. He’s going around the Fizztop Grille to make sure no one’s sneaking around, and then he comes back to Sole’s room. "Hey boss, waking up." "Gage? What time is it?" "It’s time to take you for a pussy, it seems. Get your act together. It’s unworthy of an overboss to chew like a chick." Sole feels shame and quickly wipes their tears. "Sorry I…" "Don’t make it worse, don’t apologize any more. Damn it, you’re the big guy, drop the sentimentality stuff." "Yeah, it’s okay, I get it." "Here, a nuka-cola. Think of the conquests we’ll make before you fall asleep, it will save you from doing something stupid again." If romanced, Gage turns into his half-sleep and… panics for a moment while waking up completely. Then, finding nothing better, he takes Sole in his arms, if only to hide them in the face of a possible witness. He must protect them, no matter what. But he sincerely hopes that in the morning, they will not say a word about this story and that it will never happen again.

MacCready : MacCready was lying on his bedroll, staring at the night sky, when he became aware of Sole crying on the other side of the campfire. He sat back up, a worried expression on his face, and returned his gaze to the spot where they were resting. Their sleep expression was one of intense sorrow, and tears streamed down their cheeks.

He gave them a little shoulder shake. "Wake up, boss. You're having a terrible dream."

When Sole's eyes eventually opened, they were filled with confusion and fear as they looked up at MacCready. “Mac?" They were crying so hard that their voices were raspy when they asked, "What... what's going on?" Sole knows that with Mac, there's very little chance of a threat appearing too close, so they're perplexed as to why the mercenary wakes them awake.

"You were crying in your sleep," Mac replied, before asking, "Do you want to talk about it?"

Sole hesitated for a second, but after looking at the compassionate ratface who had recently shared his own concerns with them, they decided to start talking. "It was... just a nightmare," they stated. "Concerning the Institute and Shaun," their voice shaking as they mention their kid.

"I'm very sorry. That must have hurt a lot. I'm not sure how I'd react if Duncan were taken away from me," Mac mumbled through clinched teeth, his voice trembling with the intensity of his own emotions.

If romanced, MacCready would continue to console them, embracing them tightly and vowing to stay up and talk until they felt better. He'd then go a step further, bending in to offer them a delicate kiss.

"I love you." He said it while looking at them, tears welling up in his eyes. "You're worth more to me than any cap, and I only want to see you happy. You know what? We'll get your son back, it's a promise."

Sole smiled weakly as they reached up to softly pat MacCready's cheek. “Okay. Thank you very much, Mac. You are the most amazing everything that has ever happened in my life, since the bomb, and possibly before."

MacCready's heart was overflowing with feelings of love and pride. He was aware that being with the Sole Survivor meant taking on all of their suffering and fears, as well as their triumphs and happiness, but he was convinced that as long as they had each other, they would be able to face any obstacle.

Nick Valentine : When Nick hears weeping, he is working on a file. He's not surprised; there's no picture. Sole is already strong enough not to cry at every turn for someone who came from a perfect little existence and was launched into a post-apocalyptic world where terrible tribulations always multiply. Nick rises from his chair and walks down the passage to the back bedroom. He walks up to the bed and places his good hand on his friend's shoulder. "Wake up, doll/kid." "Nick? Can you tell me what time it is?" "It doesn't matter if it's late. You were sobbing. Wanna talk about it?" "No, not at all..." "Come on doll/kid," he says as he sits on the bed's corner, "it's not good to keep everything inside. It treats you at night, at the very least. The more that can be said, the better. And then we can move on." "Thank you, Nick. Maybe... someday." “Meanwhile, know that you can always count on me to be here for you. Right around the corner and down the hall. Would you like a bottle of water?" "Thank you, Nick; that would be nice." "It really is nothing. Nothing, in all honesty." If Nick is romanced: Nick leaves his workplace since, romanced or not, he doesn't need to sleep and only does so when Sole asks him to sleep with them. Sole went to bed alone that night, but Nick feels they shouldn't have after hearing their sobs. He walks up to them and, slipping close to them on the mattress, takes them in his arms, softly waking them. "Hey, you seem to be having a nightmare." "Oh, Nick, that was awful!" "Would you like to talk about it?" "No, but please keep me close." "Don't worry, I've got this." And that's exactly what he does. Through the night, he holds Sole in his arms and caresses them tenderly with his good hand.

Piper : Piper had always been a light sleeper, so when she heard faint sobbing coming from the other bed in the room, she awoke. She sat up and looked over to Sole, who was moaning loudly in their sleep.

"Hey, hey, it's okay," she said quietly as she crawled up to their side. "Blue. You're having a bad dream."

Sole straightens up in their nappy and reaches for their weapon, but Piper runs ahead of them and takes the gun away from them.

"Wow! There is no danger in sight!"

"Piper? What exactly is going on?"

"You were crying in your sleep," she said at them. "Honestly, given everything you've been through, I don't find it surprising, but I couldn't let you mope in either... whatever it was you were rehashing."

"Hm. It was simply a nightmare. Sorry for waking you up."

"Come on, isn't that what friends are for?" For better and worse, I guess. Would you like to talk about it?"

Sole examines her for a long time, perhaps hesitantly, before shaking their heads. "No. I don't want it to be on the front page of the newspaper tomorrow morning."

The reporter has been hurt but she chuckles nervously to alleviate her suffering. "Come on, I know I'm a little... intense, but I'd never expose your privacy to the four winds!"

"You've already done it. Remember? It was the interview."

"It was entirely voluntary!" Piper is fuming with annoyance now, and she reaches into her pockets for a cigarette. She understands that her relationship with Sole is built from above and below, but she just wants to help and is upset by her friend's insinuations. Sole sighs deeply, nervously rubbing their neck.

"I'm sorry. I didn't intend to be that cruel. I… I guess I'm still a little drowsy to speak well."

Piper puffs on her cigarette.

"I was dreaming about Shaun,” they finally confess. “I was dreaming about Kellogg taking him away."

The wide smile that spills over Piper's lips without her being able to contain it tells a lot about her happiness that her friend open to her. She puts down her smoke and wraps her arms around her pal, squeezing them hard against her. "Here you go.” Then she realizes what he said. “Oh… Oh my goodness! I’m sorry. It's awful. I'm very sorry."

“Oh no, only one of us can be sorry at a time,” Sole laughs.

"Ah, Blue, poor Blue." She continues to rock her pal till they are completely relaxed. Piper's nerves are completely spent from not crying in front of her friend's distress, so when Sole eventually falls asleep, she moves away a little, crouches on the ground, and cries for a solid half hour.

If they were romanced, Piper and Sole would have shared the same bed. Piper will then hold them tightly and keep them against her during their conversation, perhaps placing a kiss on their face or in their neck as proof of her love for them.

"Blue, I love you. I'm here for you," she murmured, her eyes welling up. "We'll get through this together, okay?"

The Sole Survivor smiled softly, reaching up to wipe a strand of Piper's hair away from her face. "Okay. Thank you very much, Piper. I'm not sure what I'd do without you."

Piper tucks herself into Sole's chest, and the two fall back to sleep together, providing profound solace to one another.

Preston : Preston is startled awake by Sole's sobs. He gets out of bed and quickly fixes his sight on the General's. Preston understands how a troubled mind feels at night. He walks up to his companion's backpack and searches for a bottle of water before gently shaking their shoulder. "General, eh?" "What? Is there a settlement that requires our assistance? What exactly is going on?" Preston softly shakes his head, unable to resist smiling. He may be exploiting the pleas for aid, and he should be aware of this in the future. "You were crying, General." "I…" Sole touches their cheek and notices that they are still wet. Their dream resurfaces in their minds. "Indeed, yes. I'm sorry for waking you up, Garvey." The Colonel sits on the edge of his superior's bed. "There's no need to apologies. Actually, I get it. Would you like to talk about it?" "No, not at all." "I understand that as well. Drink here." Sole takes the bottle and downs it. "How frequently do you do that?" they inquire. "Crying in your sleep?" "The question is, do I ever sleep without crying? Understand, I don't consider it a flaw. I've witnessed the devastation of so many men and women, children, and lives. If it didn't come for me, I'd say I'd lost my humanity." Sole pauses before returning the bottle to Preston. "You... you're right. I was dreaming about that day when I watched Kellogg murder my wife and kidnap my child. I felt so helpless. I still have nightmares about this moment, and each time it tears me apart." Preston places a compassionate hand on the shoulder of his General. "I see what you're saying. Believe me, I get it. But the most important thing to remember is that if it had been possible for you, I'm sure you would have done everything in your power to prevent it. I seen you, and I know you're capable of anything. Kellogg would already be rotting in hell if you hadn't been locked up without a way out, and your spouse and son would still be by your side. It wasn't your fault at all." "T...thank you very much, Preston. I believe...I believe I needed to hear it." "Please don't thank me; I'm simply telling the truth. It's time to go back to sleep. We'll have a lot of work to do tomorrow to get the Castle back in working order." "Yeah... but thank you." "I'll see you later, General." If they are romanced, it is all in the same waters, but Preston will take Sole in his arms and reassure them by softly cuddling them. He kisses them on the forehead as they fall asleep, assuring them that he will be by their side for a very long time.

Strong : Strong hears sobbing and walks over to Sole's bed. He takes the mattress with both hands and flips it over, sending Sole flying. "What? What?! What is— "Puny human weeps like a child. Puny human must be strengthened." "Thank you from the board, Strong. I'll try to remember..." "Strong always there for puny human." "Yeah, we'll discuss it in the morning. I might have an assignment just for you in a settlement." "Strong is powerful, and Strong guards weak little humans." "Please go to sleep." "Human sleep, Strong watch." "No! No, that's OK. Go to sleep, I'll keep an eye on you." "Good, but no more weeps." "No, trust me, never again."

X6-88 : "You're crying, Ma'am/Sir." Sole struggles to drive the clouds of sleep away, only to find the Courser leaning over them, hand on their shoulder. "X6? Can you tell me what time it is?" "The sun hasn't risen yet, but you were crying in your sleep." Sole looks around, a little perplexed. Then they recall. They had just left a raider camp the day before, and one of them was dressed in a set that vaguely resembled Kellogg's. Probably what made them dream about this fateful day... "I'm sorry for worrying you, X6, but everything is fine." "If there is something that disturbs your sleep and prevents you from getting a good night's rest, I'm confident a scientist at the Institute will be able to operate on a— "No, X6. It's natural for humans to experience extreme emotions during the sleep period, yet everything is well with me. I don't require treatment." "If you say so, ma'am/sir, but if it happens again, I cannot urge you enough to say— "Good night, X6." "Good night, ma'am/sir." Sole turns in their bed and goes back to sleep, while the Courser resumes his monitoring place, his piercing stare not leaving Sole for the remainder of the night. If romanced, X6 awakens Sole. "You're crying, Ma'am/Sir." "Yes, X6, I had a nightmare." "Is this another of those emotions you were describing to me?" "Yes, X6, it does happen." The Courser pauses. "What can I...do to assist you?" "Hold me close." X6 crushing Sole against his chest. "Is that correct?" "Yes, it's absolutely perfect." "Is that adequate?" "It's just perfect." Sole barely finished their sentence before falling asleep again, and X6 dares not to move a single hair.

#cait #curie #codsworth #danse #deacon #elder maxson #gage #hancock #nick valentine #preston garvey #strong #x6 88 #fallout 4 #fallout 4 companions #fallout 4 react #fallout 4 reactions #fallout #fallout companions #sole survivor

[0nlythrowharrybeaux]

Wonderful World - Part 17

Next part is here! This part has a lot of mom + daughter bonding! It's very Celeste heavy:)

Series Masterlist

Warnings: mentions of underage drinking/drug use, mentions of all sex practices, mentions of homophobia

WC: 13K

Celeste had been having the most magical summer and she was sad to see it coming to an end. Just two more days and it was back to the city. She did miss things like good wifi connection, but she had made plenty of friends and also gotten closer with those from her school who had been able to go. And well, also with Ben. He had been nothing short of incredible with her the entire time and after the year she’d had, it just felt really good to have someone being so considerate of her. She had liked people before, but not like this. They had spent so much time together and had not only grown closer, but their time at camp only further solidified the feelings they had for each other. 

She learned about his family and he about hers, and turns out they had a lot of things in common apart from just playing in the band. She liked that he wasn’t confusing in any way. He was pretty straight forward and always seemed to be in a good mood. He was thoughtful and sentimental from what she had experienced and he always seemed to be looking out for her. She appreciated his helpful and kind nature because it made her friends like him too. She hadn’t yet experiences something about him that made her question her attraction towards him. And if he could have any red flag it would be being too wonderful. 

They had just finished up dinner and now they were heading over to one of the campfire’s, she had her arms linked with his on one side and Geri on the other side since Ozzy had trailed behind with his summer camp crush.

“Ooh the big log is open! I’m gonna go claim it!” Geri said as she slipped away from Celeste and rushed off to save their spot.

“Hey, so around midnight a few of us are going to go down to the dock.”

“Like sneak out?” She asked with wide eyes and he smiled.

“Yeah, there will be sneaking.” He confirmed and she bit her lip.

“I want to, but I don’t know…” she said nervously, “I’ve never snuck out of any place.” She said and he shrugged.

“It’s alright if you don’t want to. We just hang out really and talk you wouldn’t be missing out on much.” He assured, “But if you’d like to…we’re gonna meet behind the mess hall. And maybe wear a bathing suit in case we decide on a swim.”

“Have you done it before?”

“Yeah, the summer before I became a sophomore. So ummm.. last summer basically.” He said with a chuckle and she nodded.

“Did you guys get caught?”

“No. But people have before and they don’t really get in trouble, just have like extra chores and stuff depending on who they got caught by. Or that’s what I’ve heard.”

“Well, I’ll see if Geri would want to join. I would be nervous to go alone.”

“Well, Ozzy said he would do it, if that helps.” He smiled and she giggled.

“Alright, I’ll ask Geri just in case.” She said again, “And I’ll let you know.” She added and he nodded.

“OK. Again, no pressure though.” He assured her.

“Thank you.” she smiled.

Celeste tried so hard to convince Geri and she was not budging, as much as she begged. But she wanted to go so badly and thankfully tonight was their camp counselor’s night off and so after someone else came and did their “lights out” check at 10pm they were left all alone. It was around 11:45 when she texted Ben that she would just go by herself and so a few minutes later, she had her shoes on and was quietly sneaking out of the cabin and heading to the mess hall. When she went around back she saw about five other people there whispering quietly. She spotted Ben and Ozzy and beelined straight to them.

“Hi guys.” She smiled.

“Hey, glad you could join us!” Ozzy greeted her with a grin as she nestled herself into Ben’s side, who had opened up his arms the second he saw her approaching.

“Glad I could make it.” She smiled at him. 

Just two more people walked up after her before they all quietly snuck around the buildings until they made it into the woods and from there they could just walk down the empty trail to the lake. She knew a few of the other people who had joined as well and as they sat along the sandy shore they mostly talked and looked up at the sky. Some of the older kids in the group actually split off after a bit and Ben explained that they usually went off to drink or get stoned. But they were having a good time chatting on the dock now that there was more space. They had dipped their feet for a bit and decided to sit properly when some of their friends kept trying to pull them into the lake. They’d been out for nearly an hour when Ben got a text message and immediately stood after reading it.

“Guys, we need to go!” He said in a slightly panicked tone and Celeste shot up and her heart started pounding, “Guys, get out of the water!” He shouted to their friends in the lake and as much as he wanted to wait for them he tutted, “Every man for himself!” He shouted at them and grabbed Celeste’s hand and they bolted for the woods.

“What about Ozzy!” Celeste panted as they rushed up the rocky shore.

“He’s fast, he’ll be fine.” He called back and she giggled. She gasped when she saw some flashlights in the distance and he groaned.

“Shit! Ummm…this way!” He said and pulled her along in the opposite direction of the camp. Her heart was beating wildly with fear and excitement as they ran through the tree line parallel to the shore. They heard in the distance as some of the counselors called after the people who hadn’t been quick enough. They started slowing down when they got to this giant rock formation. “We can hid in here. C’mon.” He said as he stepped up onto a boulder and then pulled her up. He found a big enough crevice between two of the bigger boulders and they squished themselves into it.

Celeste surprisingly wasn’t feeling afraid. She was feeling all of the adrenaline running through her veins and there was no time to think of consequences. She had, had a fun time with her friends and with Ben, so even if she got in trouble she didn’t think she’d regret it. They were listening to everyone else screaming and running around causing mayhem as they tried not to get caught.

“How long are we stuck here for?” She whispered and he chuckled.

“I have no idea. I’m so sorry about this by the way. People hardly ever get caught.” He whispered back and she giggled.

“It’s alright, it was very exciting.” She assured with a bright smile.

“Yeah?” He asked her and she glanced up into his eyes and nodded.

“Yeah, I’ve never done anything like this before. It was fun!” She said quietly with a bright smile and Ben chuckled.

“I’m glad it’s been fun.” He chuckled and he just smiled as he looked at her for a few seconds, “I’m glad you were able to come to the camp.”

“Me too.” She assured, “I’ve had a ton of fun this summer.”

“Good.” He said and the chuckled nervously. They fell quiet for a few minutes until they say the lights diminish and the sounds fade into the distance, though there was clearly a chase happening. They came out of the tight hiding spot and just stood near the opening of the crevice.

“Ummm…Celeste?” Ben spoke up.

“Yeah?” She asked with a thumping heart and butterflies swirling all throughout her stomach.

“I know we haven’t gone on like a proper date yet, but I’ve had the best time getting to know you more this summer and I just think you’re such a cool and sweet person and I…I really like you and I was wondering if you ummm… if you w-would maybe want to be my…umm, my girlfriend?” He asked her nervously and her eyes widened in shock and she was so elated that she was speechless. Her silence was making him nervously, but she soon just started to nod because the words weren’t forming, “Really?” He asked with a bright smile and she inhaled sharply as she finally felt like she could breathe again.

“Y-yeah. Of course! Yes!” She accepted ecstatically, fumbling over her words as she giggled happily and he bit his lip to suppress his excitement.

“I was planning to wait until I got to meet your mom, but ummm… I kinda of don’t want to wait any more.” He said with a shy smile and she shook her head.

“That’s fine.” She assured him through a giggle and then turned around to hug him tight and he hugged her back tight; they leisurely swayed throw bodies back and forth. She wanted to kiss him so bad and it felt like the perfect moment under the starry, night sky and he’d just asked her to be his girlfriend…emotions were high, adrenaline pumping from the risky situation they were in, there was no better time. She raised her head off of his shoulder and pulled back a bit to look at him, but he was already looking down at her.

“I can’t get over how beautiful you are.” He whispered and she felt the goosebumps pimple at her skin at his compliment. She shook her head bashfully, “You are.” He insisted, “And I’ll tell you every day until you believe it for yourself.” He whispered and her little heart just about melted upon hearing this. He started to lean closer and now her stomach was flipping again, but more with nerves than with butterflies. This was uncharted territory for her.

“Ummm…I’ve never kissed anyone before.” She confessed just before he leaned down to reach her lips.

“That’s alright, we don’t have to-”

“No, I want to. Like…a lot.” She admitted and he grinned, “I’m just warning you in case I like suck at it or something.” She explained nervously.

“Honestly, I don’t have all that much experience either.” He confessed to her and she sighed in relief and he chuckled and then swallowed thickly as he placed his hands around her waist and she glanced down at them and them back up at him.

“What do I do with my hands?” She asked.

“Ummm, you can hug me or put them on my chest or over my shoulders? Whatever feels better for you.” He guided her and she went for the hands on the chest, it seemed the most safe for her.

“Is this okay?”

“Yeah.” He confirmed with an encouraging smile. She could feel his heart thumping under her palm. It made her feel better that he was just as nervous and excited as she was. When her eyes met his again he started to lean in again and her breath hitched when their lips were hovering over each others, “Ready?”

“Mhmm.” She confirmed and her eyes fluttered closed as his soft lips pressed into her own. Once she felt them pressed against each other she relaxed a bit more and then smiled, which also made him smile, which made the kiss end rather quickly. “Sorry, I got nervous.” She giggled breathily. She could feel that her face had gone hot all over.

“S’alright.” He hummed through his own smile.

“For real this time.” She said and he chuckled and instead grabbed her face gently and kissed her again. 

This time she felt like she had been shot up to the moon. A wonderful tingle struck her body, it felt like lightening, and she relaxed in his hold and hugged around his torso. This kiss was definitely a lot more intense than the first one and it had her feeling like she was levitating. Everything felt warm and calm and right with the world. She wondered if it would always feel this way, she hoped it would. Their lips parted for a few seconds and they looked at each other before she leaned back in and he followed her lead. After their lips pressed together a few more times he just hugged her tight as he chuckled happily.

“Was that alright?” He asked her.

“Yeah, it was perfect.” She assured him and that made Ben feel over the moon.

“Ummm…I failed to mention this and maybe it’s not too short notice. But a few days after we get back, it’s my birthday, my dad promised to take my brother and I to Universal Studios for the day. Maybe you could come with your mom?”

“Oh, sure! If it’s OK with your dad.”

“Yeah, he’d be fine with it I’m sure. I’ve ummm…told him about you before so he would like to meet you.” He said and Celeste beamed.

“OK then.” She agreed.

They were hiding out for another 15 minutes before one of Ben’s friends let him know that the people who had been caught were taken to the administration office for a scolding, so a couple of them were able to regroup and sneak back into their cabins without a hiccup. Celeste grinned when she saw Ben’s text that Ozzy had escaped and with that she was off to bed.

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

After seeing Harry, Diana felt better. She wasn’t over him, but she felt closure to some extent. She had said what she had wanted to say and she had been able to just be affectionate with him for a few minutes before they parted ways again. She was excited for Celeste’s return; she would be coming home in a few days. She missed her and she wanted so badly to hold her not-so-little girl again after basically being gone for a month during the summer.

She was also starting to revise her fall course syllabi so that she could submit them in the next few days. She wanted to spent the next few weeks making up for lost time with Celeste and hearing about all of the stuff she got to do at the camp. She was quite literally camping down the days. She’d bought her favorite foods and snacks and was doing anything she could to make her feel excited to be home. Diana had never been away from Celeste for this long, it was one of the reasons why she was feeling so depressed, apart from Harry. She understood that she was growing up and trying to have fun as well, but she would always be her baby and being away from her made Diana feel like part of her heart was missing.

The next two days flew by quickly and she was soon chatting with Geri and Ozzy’s moms in the parking lot, waiting for the bus to roll in. They were chatting about how their kids had all been MIA after the first few days, Ozzy’s mom was in the PTA and she was also spilling some gossip about some of the other parent drama in the PTA, and that made the 15 minutes they were waiting zoom by. Maybe it was dorky of her to wave when the bus pulled in, surely Celeste wasn’t even paying attention, but Diana was excited. It took a few minutes before everyone started unloading. They were all in a group and while she saw her get down, she kind of lost her in the huddle of kids until she saw her approaching and Celeste gave her this look that begged her to please not scream or anything. So Diana just hurried over with the excuse of helping her with her bag and she soon hugged her tight.

“Ay mamita, I missed you so much!” Diana said softly and Celeste giggled and hugged her back just as tight.

“I missed you too.” She hummed.

“Did you really or are you just saying that?” Diana asked as she squeezed her tight.

“I did miss you!” Celeste said through a giggle and Diana smiled as she pulled back.

“You look taller.”

“Do I?” She asked and Diana hummed with a smile.

“And more beautiful somehow?”

“Oh my gosh, mom…” Celeste huffed and Diana chuckled. Geri came up and then Ozzy did and they all said goodbye to each other before landing up their cars.

“So do you want to go home and relax or do you maybe want to get a pedi after all the hiking and activities you probably did? Or are you hungry?” She asked as Celeste buckled up.

“Honestly, a pedi sounds pretty nice. I ate a lot of junk on the bus.” She confessed.

“OK, perfect!” Diana smiled. On the way to the nail salon Diana stopped to get herself a smoothie since she had counted on Celeste being hungry upon her arrival and she ended up skipping lunch. But after waiting a couple minutes they had selected their polish colors and were being seated in the big massage chairs and soaking a bit.

“So how did it go? And don’t just give me a “it was fun” because you didn’t call me the entire time.” Diana said and Celeste turned to her.

“It was fun.” She said with a smirk and Diana rolled her eyes.

“I saw that coming a mile off…” she smiled, “Now please, tell me about it! I’ve been bored and sad without you, mamita.” Diana said and Celeste smiled. “Hello.” She smiled at the ladies that had now rolled over to their stations and they just confirmed the services they wanted before encouraging them to relax and carry on with their conversation. “OK, so what new stuff did you learn?” Diana asked.

“Well I learned a lot of new songs and some new techniques. My camp counselor, she’s a music major in college, I didn’t know you could do that.” She said with a smile.

“Oh yeah, that’s a thing! Is that something that might interest you?” Diana asked. Sure, she had just finished freshman year, but high school flies by so quickly, it’s good to think about those things.

“I think so? I think I need to learn more about it, but it did sound cool from what she was telling me.” She smiled and Diana nodded.

“Alright, what else then?” She asked eagerly.

“I made a lot of new friends…got a bit closer with the kids from my school too which was nice.” Celeste shrugged.

“Oh, that’s good. Was there anyone you were already friends with, apart from Geri and Ozzy?” She asked and Celeste nodded.

“Ummm yeah, Ben…my…friend.” She said a bit awkwardly and Diana turned to her.

“I’ve never heard you mention him.” She said with curiosity.

“Oh, we’ve just started talking more at the end of school.” 

“Oh okay, that’s good.”

“Speaking of Ben… his birthday is next Tuesday and he’s invited me, well us…to universal studios for his birthday?” She said with a smile and pleading eyes.

“Us?”

“Yeah, his dad is taking him and his brother and his brother’s girlfriend and like…he was saying that he doesn’t want his dad to third wheel them, you know?” She explained what they had been discussing on the bus ride home. Diana’s eyebrows creased.

“Are you trying to set me up with your friend’s dad?” She asked with a concerned expression and Celeste’s eyes widened before she grimaced.

“No, mom! Ew…” she scoffed and the ladies doing their toes also giggled along with Diana at Celeste’s response.

“Well you’re making it sound like that.” Diana giggled and Celeste shook her head.

“Ugh, no way, mom! I would never set you up with Ben’s dad!” Celeste said yet again.

“And why not?” She asked, now with a slight pout.

“Because… just no.” she said and looked away and Diana smiled slightly.

“D-do you like Ben?” She asked her and Celeste immediately started going red in the face as she tried to deny it with her sounds, “It's alright, we don’t have to talk about it here.” Diana assured.

“Or we don’t have to talk about it ever.” Celeste said with slight embarrassment.

“Well who are you gonna talk to about liking him? Dr. Styles?” She asked with a playful scoff and then Celeste’s brows furrowed a bit as she thought about it. And how it might be strange to talk to Dr. Styles about Ben, well he was technically her boyfriend…she didn’t know why she was so nervous to tell her mom, but she was.

“You’re right…I don’t want to talk about boys with Dr. Styles…” she mumbled and the flinched a bit when the pedicurist started to scrub her feet.

“Well let me just say this. I know that it might be strange to talk about those things to me, but I’m not trying to hear them to get you in trouble or anything. I just want to make sure that…if you like someone that they’re treating you well and that you’re being…careful if, you know anything physical happens and-”

“Got it. I got it.” Celeste cut in and Diana chuckled.

“I had a mother who was not at all nice about these things, I mean, you got to meet her…”

“Yeah, grandma is… well, she’s scary.” Celeste confirmed through a giggle.

“Yeah, she can be. And so it was really hard to actually get anything out of her other than a punishment for doing something I “wasn’t supposed to be doing” or whatever she thought.” She explained, “Like…you’re bound to feel a lot of big things and will want to experience a lot of big moments at this age and I just don’t want you to feel ashamed about it with me, OK? I want you to be happy and I want you to experience as many seminal moments as you want to, it’s part of growing up. And as your mom, it’s not my job to judge you, it’s my job to guide you and to help you make the best choices for yourself and to love you, especially if or when you make mistakes.” She said to her with a smile and Celeste smiled back. “Obviously, take your time opening up to me, but ummm, just know that I love you and I’d be more than happy to make time to listen when you need it, OK?”

“OK.” She responded, “Thank you.” She said after a beat of silence and Diana just nodded and smiled at her lovely daughter. “And for the record I do like Ben. A lot. So please, nothing with his dad.” She said and Diana nodded.

“Got it.” She assured.

Celeste definitely wanted to tell her mom everything after their little heart-to-heart, especially since she knew now that Geri didn’t necessarily relate to what she was experiencing. She couldn’t give her advice or input like that…and maybe she just needed more girl friends as well. Geri would always be her best friend, but when it came to her blossoming love life, Celeste knew those weren’t the kinds of things that Geri felt all that comfortable talking about. And well, as much as she would want to talk to Dr. Styles about it, he was a guy, he could probably help with some stuff, but she felt that it would be like trying to talk to her uncle Damian about boys. He was protective and had too many strange questions. And well, given his reaction last time, when she thought Ben had been stringing her along, well she was worried that he’d think she was dumb for now being his girlfriend. Whichever way she put it, for now her mom was her best bet.

They had a good rest of the day, after their pedicures they shopped around a bit for some back to school stuff before the rush and had soon made it home for dinner. While she went up to shower Diana got all her laundry in the washer and got to making dinner. It was nice to faintly hear her music playing from up the stairs. She was just starting to layer the lasagne when her doorbell rang and she hurried over, wiping her hands on the apron she had on. The last person she expected to see at the door was Harry.

“Oh hi, Harry.” Diana smiled upon seeing him.

“Hey, sorry to just drop in like this. Celeste got in today if I recall correctly and I brought her these.” He said raising a small container packed with brownies.

“As if she didn’t consume enough sugar at camp.” Diana said as he handed it over.

“Right…” he chuckled. “Ummm, yeah that was all. Just a little welcome home for her.”

“That’s really sweet of you, thank you.”

“Of course. Well ummm, I’ll uh let you get back to it.” He smiled at her and she nodded.

“Right. See you around.”

“See ya’.” He smiled before walking off and she closed the door. She was just standing there for a few seconds before Celeste rushed down in her robe.

“Who was that?” She questioned.

“Dr. Styles just dropped off some brownies for you.” She informed, still kind of shocked that he remembered and well, he was just so sweet.

“Awww.” She cooed as she hurried down and opened up the container, “He’s such a good baker.” She sighed happily as she inhaled the delicious scent. Obviously they were fresh since the container was warm.

“Yeah.” She chuckled.

“Do you think he’d be down to stay for dinner?” Celeste asked and Diana felt her stomach sink.

“I don’t know, mamita.”

“Well, we’ll find out! I’m gonna call him!” She said excitedly and rushed back up the stairs before Diana could stop her. 

When she opened the front door again to check if he was still out there, he was and she waved at him and caught his attention. He looked confused, but she made a motion for him to look at his phone and he did and saw Celeste calling. He answered and spoke a bit before turning back to Diana and she just shrugged at him. She was clutching to the container of brownies for dear life. Simultaneously excited and nervous at the prospect of him staying over. She would love to have him be there, she would always have him around if she could. She saw him speaking on the phone and the way he slightly frowned made her own smile start to fall. He turned to her as he continued speaking on the phone and then pulled it away from his ear and hung up the call. He glanced back up to her and gave her a half-hearted smile and then a wave before he started his car up and took off.

Diana felt a huge lump form in her throat and her eyes immediately welled up. That disappointment slowly transformed into a slightly annoyed feeling, because now Celeste was probably feeling rejected by him and it had nothing to do with Celeste. This was all on her. She stepped back inside and quietly shut the door before heading into the kitchen, putting the container of brownies down and sucking it up as she hear Celeste coming down the stairs. She glanced up from the counter, where she was back to layering the lasagna.

“He said no.” she said in a small voice. She sounded and looked disappointed as she shared this, it made Diana feel like shit. This was all her fault.

“I’m sorry, sweetheart…I’m sure he has a good reason.” Diana said and Celeste rolled her eyes.

“I don’t think so…he just said that it wasn’t a good idea.” She explained as she came around to Diana’s side and she put down her ladle and hugged Celeste into her side. 

“I mean, we’ve talked about this before though. About the boundaries we should have.”

“Well he’s the one that broke the boundary!” She scoffed as she pulled back with a pout. “He brought the brownies to our house.” She said as she crossed her arms in irritation and Diana sighed.

“Well yeah, but ummm…I don’t know, maybe he realized it was a mistake?” She said sadly as Celeste’s eyes started to gloss over with tears. “Hey, don’t cry, mamita.” She said and hugged Celeste again who started to sniffle. “It could really be that he realized that it was a bit too personal, you know?”

“It’s not like he hasn’t been here before…” Celeste whimpered.

“I mean, very briefly…” Diana fibbed. He had definitely been here before… “And he was with Grace and Henry.”

“So? He was still here…” She mumbled as she pulled away. “I mean…I like having him around. He’s funny and like…I don’t know, it just feels like we all get along really well and just have a nice time when we’re together.” She said through her tears.

“I know, mamita. But if you want him around more in that way then that means he couldn’t be your therapist.” She explained and Celeste frowned. “I mean, I’m sure he would still be there for you and help you, but just more in a friendly way than in a professional way. I mean, he cares about you, a lot.” She said with a smile.

“Doesn’t seem like it.” She mumbled.

“It’s just because of work, mamita. If he was just like a family friend I’m sure we wouldn’t never get rid of him.” She said and Celeste smiled a bit. “He likes being around and he really cares about you, he’s told me himself!” She said and Celeste sniffled and nodded.

“If you two were friends do you think he’d…want to be around more?”

“Well, the thing is that the off-limits thing kind of extends to me too. Since you’re still a minor everything kind of runs by me and I mean…if we had a friendship it could still impact the way he works with you.”

“But you…like him right? Like, would you want him to be your friend?”

“I would.” Diana confirmed, “I think he’s a lovely guy.” Diana confirmed with a smile.

“W-what if I don’t need therapy anymore?” She asked and Diana’s eyes widened, “Or if I still need one…we can find another one?”

“I know you’re upset, but that’s a serious move you’re talking about making. We can’t be rash about those kinds of things.” Diana said and Celeste sighed.

“I know, it’s just a thought.” She said and Diana hummed. “I think we should make an appointment for before school. I feel really good now.” She said and Diana smiled.

“I’m glad you do. And I’m so proud of you, you’ve worked so hard.” She said with a proud smile on her face.

“Thank you. I feel proud of myself too.” She assured and Diana smiled.

“Good. Now, do you want to help me finish this up or are you going to head back up.”

“You know, I’m just so tired-”

“Sure, sure…” Diana rolled her eyes and Celeste giggled as she hugged Diana again. “I love you so much, mom.” She said softly and Diana had no idea why she felt her words so intensely this time, but she swore they made her world pause and she hugged Celeste back and kissed her forehead.

“I love you too. With my whole heart.” She hummed, trying to keep her tears at bay. “I’ll call you when the food’s ready.”

“OK.” Celeste hummed and headed back up the stairs. 

**********

Harry felt like a total prick as he told Celeste that it probably wasn’t a good idea that he join her and Diana for dinner. He wanted to, so fucking badly, but it was hard on him emotionally. He hated disappointing her, so as he sat at home, trying to figure out what he would have for dinner he decided to just shoot her a quick text.

Harry smiled as he confirmed those plans with Celeste. She was a great kid and he just wanted her to be happy. He was happy that she was interested in keeping him around in this capacity, so he would be giving it his best but solely as therapist-client. After that night that Diana came over and just told him how she truly felt, it validated why his feelings were just so strong. It wasn’t anything that the had imagined up in his head. But it also helped him realize that if he wanted to be there for Celeste and be a great therapist, he needed to take a step back from that. It was almost an unspoken agreement between them that the barrier was back up. He had even talked to Henry about it the next few days and asked him to please not overlap things as much as possible. He then explained to Harry, that Diana and Grace had a similar conversation a few days before as well. If there was anything they could both get behind is was making sure that Celeste came first. Of course he loved Diana, he ached for her, but Celeste didn’t deserve to be in the crossfires of their complications. This was for the best.

*********

Diana noticed that Celeste seemed to be in a much better mood over dinner and she shared with her what her and Dr. Styles had agreed on a lunch appointment. Diana thought it was sweet that he was trying to make up for the rejection. She would schedule something for the next couple of weeks or so. After dinner, they bought their tickets for the theme park and then decided to lounge around and watch a movie, something about loving boys on Netflix. It was a cute movie, but at the very end of it Celeste turned to her and let out a deep breath.

“Ben is… my boyfriend.” Celeste confessed timidly, her eyes were full of anxiety as she waited for her reaction. Diana just smiled at her and her eyebrows arched up in surprise.

“Oh wow! When did that happen?” She asked her and she licked over her lips.

“Just a few days ago. He ummm…he wanted to meet you first and then ask, but we just got really close this summer and we’ve liked each other for a while now…and he was a bit impatient and I was too.” she explained.

“OK, well this is your first boyfriend…what are you expecting out of this dating relationship, if anything at all?” She asked her and Celeste shrugged.

“I have no idea.” She confessed through a giggle, “I just like being around him and we have a nice time together and we obviously like each other so we just decided to date. Do you think I should expect anything out of it?” She asked her.

“Not necessarily, some people date just because they like each other or because they want companionship. I mean, as long as you both have a clear idea of what you being his girlfriend and him being your boyfriend means to you both then I’d say that’s alright. Obviously, it doesn’t have to be super serious right away, you can take your time. But you just need to make sure that you are feeling respected as a person and him too.” 

“OK…” she said pensively. “Well, we ummm…kissed. At camp.” She admitted, but she wasn’t making eye contact with her now.

“Was this your first kiss?” Diana asked and Celeste nodded, refusing to look at her and she chuckled. “Mamita, it’s OK. You don’t need to be embarrassed.” She assured.

“I know…it’s just weird talking about this with you.” She said with some embarrassment before reluctantly looking up at her now.

“I mean, it’s weird for me too…” she confessed and Celeste chuckled, “I mean, obviously, spare me all the details, please.” She said and Celeste groaned a bit, “But ummm…was it what you expected or was it not? Was it OK?” She asked and Celeste shrugged.

“I think it was OK. It was nothing crazy. I like…got nervous when he first tried and kind of ruined it because I started to laugh a little bit. And then he tried again and that was…pretty good I think?” She said quizzically and Diana smiled. “I was nervous that I would like…suck at it.” She said bashfully.

“Well, to be honest everyone kisses a little differently. Obviously, the…mechanics of it is pretty much the same, but there are different types of kisses?” She said with a slight hint of nerves to her tone, “And like, I guess the longer you are with your partner the more you’ll kind of learn what they like and they’ll learn what you like. So don’t worry about that, the awkwardness will definitely fade. And when in doubt you can ask if something you did was OK.” She said and Celeste nodded in understanding.

“Yeah, that makes sense…” she responded and Diana smiled.

“And well…considering you have a boyfriend now…we might need to have that talk that you are dreading so much-”

“Mom…I’m only 15!” She groaned and threw a cushion over her face and Diana chuckled.

“I know that! But like…when you have a partner things can…just move along sometimes. And it doesn’t necessarily have to be…sex-”

“Moooom stooooop!” Celeste was cringing now and Diana was too a bit, but this was important. “This is why I didn’t want to say anything…” she mumbled.

“I don’t love this either, but I just need to make sure that I have one real and honest conversation about this with you because I love you and your safety and wellbeing matter to me. And I mean, I’m sure Ben’s safety and wellbeing matter to you as well, right?” She asked and Celeste nodded with the pillow still over her head. “Where do I begin…” she sighed, trying to recall all of the videos and articles she had read about talking to your teen child about sex. She’d had the consent talk ever since Celeste had been a child, but now this was going more into well…the pleasure aspect of things and well, it was as bit awkward to talk about it with your child, but it was the best thing to do. “How about we start with any…questions you have?” She asked and Celeste groaned.

“Alright umm…well we can start with the basics. Consent. I know you know about that.” She said and Celeste nodded, “The thing to keep in mind is that consent can be revoked at anytime, both for you and for him.” She said, “I mean…things can evolve a bit the more comfortable you get with each other and it’s totally normal to be curious and to feel…desire for…intimacy with someone you care about, but ummm, if you feel like you’re going too fast or are not comfortable with something anymore you can shut it down. If you feel like your partner is kind of…pressuring you or pushing you to move things along, that’s not the person for you. And the same goes for you as well, if your partner doesn’t want something or feels uncomfortable you should stop whatever you’re doing.”

“How do I know if someone’s uncomfortable?” She asked, voice muffled through the pillow.

“Well, just look at the way you are now.” She explained, “Well, maybe this particular situation is not exactly the best example because we need to have this talk, but ummm…maybe your partner will be tense or seem more nervous than usual, or make excuses to try and stop any advances. Sometimes it’s hard to say no to someone you care about, you know? Like you might feel like you need show your partner that you trust them or whatever, but if you’re not ready for something, you’re not ready and that’s OK. Someone who cares for you and respects you will listen to you and never make you feel obligated to do something that it not in your best interest.” Diana explained. “And well…it’s equally important to understand that arousal doesn’t equate desire…” she said, “I mean, your body does what it needs to do when it thinks you’re preparing to have a sexual experience, but again, that doesn’t mean that you want it, OK? And some goes for him. I mean, it’s more obvious to know when men are aroused, but again that doesn’t mean they want anything sexual or are even enjoying something in a sexual way, OK?”

“OK.” She confirmed.

“And umm…just in terms of…actually doing things, just if you’re anywhere near your vagina or his-”

“Please don’t say it.” Celeste begged.

“OK, well you know, just make sure your hands or any other…areas or things are clean to prevent any infections or STI’s and anything yucky. It can be very painful and uncomfortable…I’d assume, I don’t know firsthand.” She said, but she’d heard it from people she knew. “Also, there are other ways to have sex than just vaginal intercourse. There’s oral sex and anal sex-”

“Moooom…” she whined.

“Well, you have a boyfriend now so you need to know that you can still get an STI or and STD from either of those. Sure, you can’t get pregnant, but there’s just as much risk so you still need to be safe in that capacity. And it’s important that you know that for a lot of young people who aren’t ready to have vaginal sex, or who are not straight, those are the kind of sexual experiences they might have first, so it’s a lot more common than you think in your age group. That’s all I’m going to tell you about that, OK? ”

“Yes…” Celeste huffed.

“And well last, but not least there’s sex-sex.” She said, “So literally, biologically our bodies are made t-to bond to the people we have sex with. And I think the biggest thing apart from making sure you’re being safe is that you make sure you feel ready for sharing that experience with another person. It can be an incredibly pleasurable, wonderful, and intimate thing, but it can also be very emotionally taxing and hurtful if you jump into it without being ready for it. And well, I trust you to make good choices for yourself because you’re a smart girl and I mean, I can’t control what you do, but you know, it’s something to really give some thought to when things start escalating to that point.” She said and Celeste pulled the pillow away from her face now.

“I don’t think I’ll be having sex any time soon though…”

“I know you’re not planning on it at this moment, but I read, in a peer-reviewed scientific journal that nearly 50% of adolescents have intercourse by the time they’re in the 10th grade. I mean, it was from Canada, but tomato-tomahto. Also, something tells me the statistics are somehow higher in the U.S., but I digress…” she mumbled. “I don’t say this to freak you out, but just so that you know that…it’s normal to want that with someone you care for and might even grow to love. It’s a part of human nature.” Diana explained, “And…I want you to know that I won’t love you any less if you have sex tomorrow or ten years from now. That’s part of your journey and your choice, you know?” She asked and Celeste nodded, “As women we’re made to feel ashamed for acting upon our sexual desires, but are expected to at the same time and it can be confusing and cause a lot of pressure for you when you’re young. But at the end of the day, the person who needs to be OK with the decisions you make is you. Not me, not your friends, not Ben…just you. You do what you think is best for you, OK?” 

“OK.” She whispered.

“And well, if you’re considering it or aren’t sure. Or if…you ever feel unsafe in any relationship, I’m here for you, always, with open arms. OK?” Diana asked, her eyes tearing a bit because, well it was emotional to think of Celeste growing old enough to a point where they needed to have this conversation. She just wanted everything that Celeste experienced to be perfect, but there was no such thing and it was scary to know that as a parent. “Not so bad, was it?”

“Not as bad as I imagined.” she confessed with a shy smile. 

“Right. I mean, I don’t want to scare you out of anything, but I just want you to be aware of all of it. Do you have any questions for me?” She asked and Celeste sighed.

“Umm…well, clearly I was an accident.” She said and Diana shook her head with a scowl.

“Unplanned. You are not here by accident or by some mistake.” She clarified and Celeste playfully rolled her eyes.

“Sure.” She smirked, “But ummm…what happened?” She asked and Diana shrugged.

“We just…thought that one time without protection couldn’t hurt. I mean, your dad and I weren’t planning on having sex the night that it happened. He always made sure to have condoms whenever we…planned on it.” She explained, “But that night we were at a party and totally unprepared and ummm we were just too turned on and…yeah, we just did it. I think he…thought he had pulled out in time or something.” She said honestly and Celeste grimaced a bit, “You asked!”

“I’m sorry I did…” she said with a slight frown.

“Well, just to let you know, it doesn’t always work, OK?” Diana said with a sassy grin.

“Noted.” Celeste said with a disgusted look on her face.

“Did your first time hurt?” She asked nervously.

“For me it did…but also, I grew up with a not very open family so I had no idea what to expect. I was…terrified, because I had never even…explored anything for myself at the time. Wes was really careful whenever we did anything though. Again, I didn’t really…know what anything was and I struggled a bit with everything, But I really wanted to do things with him because I loved, Wes.” She explained, “But ummm, I mean, I didn’t like bleed or anything like that, how some people say. And intercourse doesn’t really hurt for a lot of people, it just might feel more like a pinch or little sting, nothing insane. But I ummm…I struggled a lot in that department after Wes died. I just couldn’t get aroused on my own, it was a bit painful physically as well because I would get so nervous and tense up. Like it just wouldn’t feel good for me. And I talked to my therapist about it and one thing that helped me was to remember that, that part of your body is quite stretchy and it’s meant to open up like that. It helped me be less afraid when I would try to…be with someone in that way.” She explained and Celeste nodded in understanding.

“Ummm…what if something doesn’t feel good?”

“Well if it’s on your own, just stop, don’t push yourself. And if it’s with a partner just let them know that you’re hurting. Nothing should ever continue to be painful beyond what you can endure. Maybe the first few times you’ll experience some discomfort, but that should fade rather fast.” She explained. “Any other questions?”

“I think that’s all.” She said bashfully and Diana nodded.

“OK, well if anything else comes up, I’m here for you.”

“I know.” She smiled.

“Good. I’m really excited to meet Ben. Can you tell me a bit more about him?” She asked and Celeste nodded.

She talked about him to Diana for nearly two hours. Diana could tell that she was absolutely smitten over this boy and from what she was telling her, he seemed like a good kid. As a parent, Diana was more afraid of Celeste having her heart broken or of being disillusioned or abused in any form. But those weren’t things that she could really protect her from, all she could do was educate her on what a healthy relationship looked like. Ideally, she’d be able to model that for her too. To show her what it was like to openly communicate and to compromise and to forgive and to grow with someone…show her the kind of work it took to love and care for another person romantically. She couldn’t help but let her mind drift to Harry in that moment. Therapists aren’t perfect by any means or immune to problems, but they had tools and knowledge that facilitated healthy interactions with others. She wondered how he would react to Celeste telling him that she had a boyfriend. He would obviously be very protective, but would he be upset by it? Or do something similar to her and make sure that she understood what this meant and that she ready for it? Would it cause an argument between her and him about it, or would they both be supportive parents to Celeste? There were so many parts of him that she wanted to explore and learn to love along with everything she already did.

***********

The rest of the week flew by for Harry. He had an uptick in referrals and he soon learned from one of them that the other psychiatrist that was commonly referred to patients had a full client roster now. It was good that people were referring their patients to him, but it left less time to take on more talk therapy clients. If he were to continue working with Celeste, he wanted to be sure that he could accommodate her and Diana’s schedule and he emailed Diana to confirm Celeste’s next appointment and also let her know the situation and she assured him that she intended on bringing by both of their fall schedules to the next appointment. He loved that Diana was always somehow anticipating others’ needs. It wasn’t just a mum thing, it was a her thing. But…he shouldn’t be thinking about her…no, he had a date on this lovely Friday night.

In a desperate attempt to distract himself, he decided to indulge his neighbors and agreed on being set up with their daughter in law’s sister. They were to meet up at some bar and as much as he would’ve loved to go home and freshen up, his Friday had been completely booked, he didn’t even get his full lunch hour. So he spritzed on some cologne and looked over himself in the mirror before scooping some more food out for Misty, he would have to come back for her after the date. Despite the traffic, he made it on time to the bar. The reservation had been made under her name and when he’d arrived, she hadn’t arrived yet according to the host. He decided to wait up front for her…he was getting nervous because the grace period was 15 minutes and it was 13 minutes after their intended seating time. He was just about to call it a night when a woman rushed in through the doors. 

“Harry?” She asked, looking from person to person in the waiting area. He had half a mind of not responding, but she looked so stressed that he just waved at her with a small smile. “Hi, I’m so sorry I’m late. Should we ummm, go up?” She asked with an apologetic look in her friendly eyes and he nodded and followed her up to the podium, “Two for Kimberly. Sorry, there was a fender bender on the highway and being a nurse, I just had to pull over and check on the person.” She explained to him, but loud enough that the host heard and glanced up at her. Harry, being the humanitarian he was, smiled upon hearing this.

“No problem, that’s really kind of you.” He assured.

“You can follow me back.” The host said and they soon were trailing off behind him. She was really pretty and decently tall. She had dark curly hair that cascaded down to the middle of her back. And well, she was dressed nicely as well, she seemed like she would be a fun person to be out with. Soon they were being dropped off at their table, which was overlooking the beautiful city-scape.

“Your server will be with you shortly.” The man said before hurrying off and they settled into their seats.

“OK, so you’re Harry?”

“Yes. And you’re Kim.” He said and she nodded, “Nice to meet you.”

“You too.” She smiled, “Again, so sorry about being late, the 10 was a shit show. There’s always more traffic than what the GPS says.” She said.

“Well, I’m sure stopping by to help an injured person added a bit more to your travel time.” He added with a smile and she bit her lip for a second.

“Ummm…I just said that so that they wouldn’t give us any trouble for cutting it so close.” She said lowly and Harry’s eyebrows arched up.

“Oh…so what do you do for work then?”

“Right now I’m doing some nannying and PA’ing for this famous family. Well…they’re actually just YouTubers, so like D-list celebs at best, but I mean, they’re chill and they pay really well. Can’t complain.” She shrugged and he nodded, trying not to make too many horrified expressions with his face at her incredible ability to just lie. “What about you?” She asked him as she rested her chin against her palm.

“I’m a psychiatrist.” He explained and she looked shocked.

“Oh cool…so what do you do? Like work in a psych ward or something with all the crazies and crack heads?” She asked and he wanted to scream at her complete lack of care at her politically incorrect phrasing. She wasn’t from California, he could tell by her accent, but wherever she was from, he never wanted to go there.

“Not exactly. I have my own practice-”

“Oh…so you’re rich-rich?” She grinned and he furrowed his eyebrows.

“Ummm, not really…I mean, most of what I make goes back into the practice.” He explained and she hummed.

“I mean, you’re not from here, so how did you end up here?”

“I applied to USC for my MD, got in and ummm, I think I was doing a good enough job that my previous employer decided to sponsor me for a visa. I was doing my licensing hours through them while I went through med school and umm, it took a while, but I liked it here and decided to stay. Nothing crazy.” He smiled. “What about you? Did you go to college or are you studying anything?”

“I did go to college, studied Comm…it was kind of pointless to be honest.” She huffed, “It wasn’t what I thought it would be out in the workforce, you know? But ummm…I did really well, I guess I was just undecided and it felt like all of the undecided people went into this or into Digital Media and Graphic Design…I took a class for it but I was so bad at it.” She giggled and he chuckled.

“Yeah, it’s quite hard actually.” He said and she nodded. 

She went on a tangent about that and how the professor teaching that had been extremely unhelpful. Overall it seemed like Kim was stuck in the past a bit and lacked some direction. Sure, she was near Harry’s age, but she was nowhere near the stage of life he was at. He was ready to have more with someone who wanted more from him. He couldn’t judge Kim because we’re all at different stages of life, but he wanted to know if he had done anything to his neighbors to prompt them to set him up with her. This was a match made in hell…even the way she chewed annoyed him. And maybe he was just nitpicking because Diana was everything he’d ever dreamed of in a partner…but this was an absolute nightmare. She was tipsy enough that they had to go for a proper meal in order for him to feel comfortable letting her get behind the wheel. And as they walked down the street to find something that wasn’t too full she suddenly pushed him up against a wall and started to make out with him.

“Kim…” he chuckled as he tried to pry her off of him, she was freakishly strong. “Oh god…” he whispered to himself as she tried to get her tongue in his mouth and he turned away. “Hey, hey, hey, you’ve had a bit to drink, I think you should stop before you do anything you don’t meant t’do.” He explained as he finally just grabbed her head and held her still. His eyes bore into hers and he watched as she just started to cry.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” She whimpered and soon she was sobbing into his shirt on the sidewalk. He was awkwardly comforting her as people walked by, looking at them oddly. After a few minutes he managed to calm her down and assured her he would get her some water and some food in her belly. After another few minutes of walking they ended up in a Mexican restaurant and he got them some food. “Sorry, I totally inhaled these…” she apologized about the empty chip basket and he chuckled.

“That’s alright, think you need these more than I do.” He assured and she groaned.

“God…I’m such a wreck. I’m really sorry, Harry…I’ve just been through a lot in the last few months.” She excuse. But there was this look in her eyes that screamed: You’re a bloody therapist, please ask me! But he was off duty and didn’t want to play therapist right now. He had hoped for a good date and hopefully a hookup to get his mind off of things for a bit.

“S’alright, shit happens to the best of us.” He assured her. A nice neutral response.

“I mean yeah, but…it’s been unbelievable. Like…my whole life has been undone in a way.” She said, trying to bait him into asking her about it again.

“Well, I mean you’re here now, so you’ve survived. You must have some resilience left in you and hopefully you’re getting stronger because of it, yeah?” He asked and she shrugged.

“I hope so…I mean…as a therapist…like you can like…read people right?” She asked and he chuckled.

“I’m not a psychic.” He said and she shrugged.

“I know, but like…you guys have like tricks to like, understand people and just see right through them. Like…what would you think I’ve been through?” She asked and he would run out if he could.

“That’s not really something we do, we can just go off of the things our patient’s tell us, you know? So they typically tell us what’s bothering them and we just help them out with it. Give them tools to take care of themselves, that kind of thing.” He smiled.

“Maybe I should see a therapist…” she said and he wanted to say that she definitely should.

“I think we all need a therapist at times. Specially if you’re going through a lot and having a hard time dealing or coming to terms with whatever life’s throwing at you, you know?” He said and she hummed.

“Well, I’m gonna tell you what’s been going on and you tell me if you think I need to see one or not.” She said and just went off. 

He did feel for this girl, she had been engaged but her fiancé called off the wedding because he was still in love with his ex. She then went to find the ex and vandalized her car, this got her into some debt because she had to pay for everything in lieu of them not pressing charges, and she really had been through so much. All Harry could tell her was that she should consider finding some help, but he didn’t want to get involved any further. At the end of the night, she tried to kiss him again, but he told her that it wasn’t a good idea to try and rebound while she was still healing from her past, which seemed to melt her heart because she cried again and thanked him for being such a good person. She was so caught up in the moment that thankfully, she forgot to ask for his number. Harry felt completely drained when he got back to his office to pick up Misty before he made the drive home. And as he laid in bed, chuckling to himself over the chaotic turn his night had taken, he wondered how he was ever going to face his neighbors again.

*********** 

Celeste had literally begged Diana to not be weird or awkward when she met Ben. She assured Celeste she wouldn’t be awkward about it and thankfully was able to prove that as they met up an agreed upon McDonald’s to get some breakfast before heading to Universal Studios for his birthday funday. He had been waiting outside for them to arrive and well, he was a cute boy. He was on the taller side and had friendly features as well. Celeste blushed as soon as she saw him, so Diana figured it was him. She was extremely shy when she greeted him, Diana presumed it had everything to do with her being around. But she hugged him and wished him a happy birthday and handed over the card that they had both signed for him.

“Ummm…this is my mom, Diana Beltran.” She said as she pulled back from their embrace.

“Hi Miss Beltran, I’m Ben.” He said extending a hand.

“Hi Ben, it’s great to finally meet you.” She smiled as she shook his hand.

“You too, I’ve heard a lot about you.” He stated with a bright smile as their handshake ended.

“Likewise, all good things! I promise.” She assured and he chuckled.

“Thank you for the card as well, you guys didn’t have to get me anything.” He said timidly.

“It’s no problem at all, we all deserve something nice for our birthdays.” She assured him, “Should we head on in?” She suggested, assuming she didn’t really have anything else to say to a 16 year old boy.

“Yeah, everyone’s waiting inside.” He said and guided them up. He was very polite, held the door open for them and even waited for them to order before guiding them back to the table his family had set apart. They were still waiting for their food, so she was glad they hadn’t been late. “Hey everyone, this is Celeste, my ummm…girlfriend.” He said with a shy smile and glanced to Diana quickly to ensure she was aware and she just smiled at him. “That’s my brother, Ruben, and his girlfriend, Heather.” He said to Diana and she extended her hands to them and Celeste just waved, as she knew them from school. “And this is my dad, Josue.” He said and Celeste was quick to greet him politely.

“It’s nice to meet you.” She smiled politely, “This is my mom, Diana.” Ben’s father stood and smiled as he extended his hand.

“It’s great to meet you, Diana. You guys can just call me Josh.” He said with a warm smile.

“Great to meet you, Josh.” She responded as she shook his hand.

“Please ladies, have a seat.” He said as he scooted back into the booth and well Diana let Celeste and Ben sit together and then just sat across from them with Ruben and Heather. Soon enough, their orders were brought over to them and they all started to eat. 

Diana noticed that the boys were very polite, sweet, and attentive to their girlfriends. It was clear that their parents had raised them well and that made Diana feel better about the time they would be spending together. Ben opted to go in Diana’s car on the way over and soon they had met up in the parking structure and were making their way through City Walk.  She and Josh were trailing behind them a bit, giving them some space to just be with each other. It did warm Diana’s heart to see Celeste being so fond over Ben. She was a bit more timid, now that she was around, she even spared a glance back at her when Ben wanted to hold her hand as they walked to the entrance of the park. 

“Your daughter seems sweet.” Josh spoke up and she glanced up at him from beside him.

“I mean, I’d like to think she is…” she smiled him, “Your boys also seem really sweet, very attentive of their partners.” She said.

“Ben has always been a big softy, but I think Ruben has really been a goof example for him. He was a bit more aloof until he met Heather, she brought out a side to him we had never seen before.”

“And they’ll be seniors now?”

“Yeah.” Josh confirmed with a smile, “Ben will be a junior.”

“I’m glad they get along being so close in age.” 

“Oh yeah, I mean when they were kids it was complete chaos, but they’ve gotten closer with age.” He confirmed, “Is Celeste your only child?”

“Yep! S’just her.” She confirmed, “What about you? Are these your only two?” 

“Yeah, just the two for me.” He chuckled, “Not to pry, but is it just you two?” He asked.

“We’re gonna go look in the gift shop!” Ruben called from ahead of them and Josh just shot them a thumbs up as the four kids hurried into one of the stores and they just sat along some planters outside.

“To answer your question it is just me and Celeste. I had her really young.” She explained, “And her dad passed away before I even knew I was pregnant, so it’s just been us all this time.” She explained.

“Sorry to hear that.”

“It’s alright, it was a long time ago. I mean, at least it didn’t happen when she already knew him or something. That would be a lot for her to get through. What about you? Are you still with the boys’ mother?”

“No, we’re not. Ummm, I’m actually gay.” He explained and she nodded, “Since you got deep I’m going to get deep.” He said and she nodded.

“Yeah, sure!” She assured and he smiled.

“Well, I grew up in a really traditional latino family and I mean, I knew I wasn’t straight from a young age.” He explained, “But I kind of…taught myself to "like women” at least in a convincing enough way to fit in with my family. They’re very openly against homosexuals, so I never tried to have any experiences with men. I met the boys’ mom, Elena, in college, I was there doing my EMT stuff and so was she. We became fast friends and started going on. I did love her genuinely, I think…but we were getting to that age where my family was expecting me to settle down and like, we’d been dating so I just…stuck with her. By then she…knew my predicament and well, she loved me as well and we’re best friends, to this day, so we decided to just do this together. We were just long term partners and I don’t regret what we had, I was very happy with her. The boys were maybe around 5 or 6 when I met my current partner and we fell in love. I still haven’t come out to my family so we haven’t taken any steps towards marriage or anything, he’s kind of in the same boat with his family. But again we’ve been pretty good as long term partners.” He explained with a smile.

“Wow, I mean I think it’s great that their mom was so understanding. And that you have a partner who gets it and is patient with you.” She said.

“I think their mom was kind of waiting for it to happen.” He chuckled and she giggled. “But yeah, my partner, Vincent, he’s really great.”

“Do the boys know him?”

“Yeah, they get along with him too. He wasn’t able to get the day off s’why he’s not here, otherwise he would be.”

“Explains why I was asked to come along so you wouldn’t “third wheel”, that’s literally what I was told.” She giggled and he chuckled.

“Sorry about your family though. My family is also pretty old fashioned and they’ve wanted nothing to do with me or Celeste, especially since she’s mixed race.” She explained and he frowned.

“God, families can be so fucked up.”

“Tell me about it.” She hummed. “I do have an older brother though and we are close and he looks out for us, takes care of us, but just my parents are…interesting people.” She said with a chuckle and he nodded in understanding.

“Yeah, I get that. So what do you do for work?” “I’m a professor, mostly Spanish classes and cultural stuff. So are you an EMT?”

“I’m a firefighter actually.” He chuckled.

“Oh wow, I’ve actually never met a firefighter before! Thank you for keeping us safe.” She added and he nodded with a grin.

“Of course. And hey, at least they respect us more than the cops.” He said and she giggled.

“Yeah, that’s true…do you guys have a dog in your station or area?”

“Yeah, LAFD has a couple K9 units. We can’t fuck them up, so they’re rather close to their handlers. We do have an emotional support dog though, Willow.” He said and she smiled, “She’s good for cuddles when we’ve just seen some more gruesome or challenging things.” He explained.

“Yeah, I can imagine it’s not an easy job.” She said and he nodded. 

“I mean, neither is teaching.” He said and she hummed.

“That’s…very true actually.” She giggled.

Considering their similar strict upbringing and cultural commonalities, Josh and Diana were getting along really well. It was nice for Diana to get to know the man who was raising the kid that her daughter had a strong liking to and it really made her feel much more at ease about them starting a different type of relationship. The day had gone by so quickly because they were all having fun. It was nearing 10:30pm when they found themselves at the In-n-Out down the road. Diana wasn’t a huge fan, so she was just sipping on a chocolate shake. She was lightly smiling just from listening to all of the chatter around the table, and as she looked around she searched for Harry’s eyes and her smile faltered a bit when reality brought her back down from her daydream. They would’ve had fun today.

“Hey, would you want to grab a coffee sometime?” Josh asked and Diana smiled at him.

“Oh sure! I know a good spot.” She grinned and he smiled.

“Great. Here, put your number in.” He said as he handed over his phone. “Sick, I’ll text you.” He said when he got it back and she nodded.When everyone was done eating they all reconvened outside to say their goodbyes and soon they were driving off in their separate directions.

“Today was fun.” Diana said as she looked at Celeste through the rearview mirror and Celeste nodded with a smile.

“Yeah it was.” She agreed.

“I made friends with Josh. We might go out for coffee soon.” She smiled.

“Mom, he’s gay.” Celeste said and Diana laughed.

“I know! I’m just saying we made friends. We actually have a lot in common I think. And now that Grace has a boyfriend, she’s always busy…I could use another friend to keep me busy.”

“OK. Just making sure you don’t do something embarrassing.” Celeste said and Diana rolled her eyes.

“How often do I embarrass you? Huh?” She asked and Celeste hummed pensively and said nothing, “Exactly.” Diana said smugly.

“Well what did you think?” Celeste asked.

“I like Ben. I liked everyone, they’re all great!” Diana concluded.

“Good.” She smiled happily and Diana smiled back at her, “Thank you for agreeing to come.”

“Of course, mamita. I had a lot of fun.” She assured, “I’m really happy for you and Ben.”

“Thanks, mom. That means a lot to me.” Celeste said softly. 

“Claro, cariño.” Diana smiled.

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