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sannirio · 9 months

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Safe and Sound

part. 2 part. 3

wc: 2530

dom san x amab sub reader (good boy/prince)

18+ MINORS DNI 「im serious」

cw - non!idol au, werewolf san, size kink, swearing praise, mentions of death, slight dumbification? use of puppy.

syn: you got lost in the wood, very lost. just as you were about to give up a tall creature picks you up and brings you to safety.

it was dark. too dark. the trees surrounding you felt like they were suffocating you. the dense forest was claustrophobic especially with only the moon being your source of light. it was midnight, cold and dark. this weekend was supposed to be a fun camping trip with your friends, long weekends don’t happen often. “where is that damn path” you said gritting your teeth in the cold. you enjoyed hikes, this time however was not one of those times. you were lost, incredibly lost with no trace of civilization for what seemed like kilometers. no service not even a bar. “this is hopeless” you thought as a shiver ran down your back. the cold was getting to you now, camping in autumn is a great idea.

you’ve been walking for what feels like hours and still no sign of the path or even a glimpse of light in the distance. “FUCK” you yelled “WHERE AM I.” speaking out loud for comfort you said “i have to keep moving or i’ll freeze.” that was true, what looked like frost was starting to paint the ground. though you couldn’t see it your breath was creating beautiful clouds of fog right in front of you. it was so damn cold, “i’m going to die” you thought. you started to cry, the tears stinging your skin as they cooled down with the air. “i’m going to die” you whispered again, falling to the ground in defeat. you fingers were freezing and your body was tired, so incredibly tired. it felt like your body was going give up. the jacket you were wearing hadn’t done much to help to keep you warm with your state deteriorating quickly. as you lay there a bush rustled to your right. then again, this time a twig snapped. with what little strength you had left you opened your frozen eyes, standing in front of you was a tall creature, covered in fur huge sharp claws big paws and dark red eyes. before you could do anything to escape (which was unlikely considering the state you’re currently in) you passed out from the cold.

a warm glow was dancing across your face. waking up felt impossible, were you dead? dreaming perhaps? as you opened your eyelids the sting of smoke hit them immediately forcing you to close them again before you could properly take in your surroundings. so you were alive, just where were you. a moment ago you were lying in the ground ready to die, the next in a new place with a source of warmth near you. you opened your eyes again, the smoke no longer burning your eyes. was this a cave? the walls beside you were made of rock, so was the ceiling. even your sleeping area was. “where the hell am i?” your mind was racing, then you remembered that creature you saw right before you passed out. was this where it lived maybe?

sitting up, a little too quickly you scanned the room you were in. it was quite large, the ceilings were a lot taller than you had previously thought. there was indeed a fire burning quite close to you surrounded by uniform looking rocks with jagged edges on some spots. your gaze moved upwards slowly to see..

you let out a gasp, over on the other side of the cave standing there was a tall muscular man. all you could see was his black hair and muscular arms, until he turned around in what seemed to be a reaction to your gasp. he was just as buff facing you as he was with his back to you, his eyes were piercing yet soft somehow, his lips looked soft his skin was sun kissed and smooth. this wasn’t the creature who you saw in the forest a while ago… who was this.

“you’re awake” he said smirking, taking a big stride in your direction, he didn’t have a shirt on, pants though they were present. “w…who are you” you breathed backing against the wall of the cave. “i won’t hurt you, i won’t hurt you” the man whispered a tone of worry in his voice. “i found you last night passed out in the cold.” “what? no, some random dog looking thing stood over me last night.”

the man laughed, “that was me hun.” you sat there dumbfounded, more confused though to be honest. “forget about it for right now” he said softly “are you feeling all right?” the way he spoke was comforting, he seemed genuinely concerned for you’re well-being, the look on his face pretty much confirmed it. “i think so” you said shivering. the man looked worried when you did that, he walked over to you in maybe two or three steps, “his strides were so long” you thought. sitting down beside you he turned to face you, the worried expression still plastering his face.

“You’re cold” he whispered, with that he wrapped a spare blanket he had beside him around you. You looked up at him, he was so tall, even sitting down he towered over you. “Here, come sit on my lap” the man said. You did as he asked, not only to get warmer but something about him was comforting… he made you feel safe. Still looking up at him you managed to get a few words out, “who are you?” “im san” the man replied smiling, “like i said earlier, i was the one who found you on the ground.” a look of confusion crosses your face again, ‘how” you asked a little annoyed “you’re a human not a big dog creature.” san laughed, “no sweetheart, im a werewolf.” “hes a what??” you thought “thats not possible, those dont exist, they’re just a myth.” as if he had read you mind he said “yes they’re really real.” “is that why you live in a cave.” you asked sitting up a bit straighter to look at him in his eyes or as close as you could to do so. He laughed again and cupped the side of your face in his hand, “yes it is sweetheart.” “oh…” quickly changing the subject he pulled you back down into his chest. ‘Why were you out in the forest so late little one?” “i got lost” you said, now remembering what happened the previous night. “Why did you save me?” san looked at you again, he looked sad but there was a hint of softness in his eyes. “Because you were dying, i couldnt leave you there.” you sat there in silence for a minute or two, then you spoke up “why?” still looking down at you san opened his mouth then closed it again, probably thinking about what he wanted to say. after a moment he spoke softley, “because you were to precious to leave out there, from the day you stepped foot in this forest i kept an eye on you and when you got hurt i had to do something.”

“hes been watching me” you thought, usually youd be creeped out by something like this but for some reason right now you werent. “Im sorry” he whispered looking away from you, he seemed more upest with himself for having done so than for telling you what he did. You sat there for second before speaking “it’s ok.” he turned his head to face, he looked surprised at your response. “but i watched you without you knowing.” “i know, but something in me tells me too trust you.” san looked even more surprised than before, but only for a second, just as quickly as he’d reacted surprised his expression changed to relife. “Thank god, i was worried you would be scared.” he pulled you into a hug, his body was warm and soft, it felt like he could completely wrap around you like a blanket, it was comforting, safe. “Why did you watch me though” you heard yourself say, again san hesitated than said “i wanted to protect you.” this phrase cemented your feeling of safety, he was almost like a guardian angel, but a werewolf. “you’re so small and fragile, everything about you, i felt the need to protect you.” san spoke under his breath. a weird feeling filled your abdomen, butterflies maybe? You felt your cheeks flush, your ears were warming up. embarrassed you pulled the blanket up to your nose, trying to cover your quickly redning face. “Are you hungry” san asked. he placed you on the ground and proceeded too stand up. You’d forgotten just how tall he was. “yes” “ok i’ll make you some food.”

The sun was setting now, the warm orange the sun painted the walls of the cave with was quickly disappearing. The small fire and a few candles scattered around the cave were the only sources of consistent light. You had a bowl of soup in your hands, the wooden bowl it was in was warm, keeping the cold from nipping at your fingers. san sat opposite of you across the fire, watching you eat. He sat there intently, his head tilted slightly. “Is the soup ok?” you nodded, your mouth too full to speak. “Good, im glad.” he got up and walked over to you. sitting down beside you, he crossed his legs and put his weight on his hand which were stretched out behind him. this pose was kind of cocky but not in a bad way, it was kind of hot you thought. You finished your soup and put the bowl down. “how are you not cold?” san smiled, being a werewolf has its perks.” you smiled back. “Its getting late,” he said standing up and looking out the cave entrance. by now the sun was all but gone, not a single ray of light was visible. “We should sleep,” san said walking over to a raised part of the cave, the spot where you had woken up on. “You can sleep here like last night.” “where will you sleep?” “on the ground.” “but it's hard and cold.” “i know but ill manage.” reluctantly you crawled onto the “bed’ made of moss and cedar, pulling the two blankets you had over your body as you did so.

the minutes passed. 15, 30, an hour. you couldn't tell, sleeping at this point was completely out of the question. It was too cold and your thoughts were racing. what are my friends thinking? are they worried? do they think im dead? yeah, you definitely weren't sleeping tonight. you rolled over to see san fast asleep on the ground close to the dwindling fire. he looked so cute… and warm. “i can't wake him up,” you thought “that isn't fair to him.” but the cold, and your mind, you couldn't sleep. With a lot of hesitation, you stood up and walked over to san as quietly as you could. kneeling down you gave him a poke on the shoulder, he groaned and rolled onto his side. you poked him again, this time getting the reaction you wanted. “what is it sweetheart?” he uttered rubbing his eyes. “i can't sleep… can you maybe…” “do you want me to come to sleep with you?” he asked. you nodded your head sheepishly. san stood up taking your hand. the two of you made your way back to the “bed” with what little light the smoldering ashes were giving off.

“lay down,” he said. you did as you were told. san then lay down right next to you. you subconsciously snuggled into his chest, facing him. you felt his arms wrap around your waist, the sensation made you gasp a little. you were tiny compared to him, he was like a shield protecting you from the cold. looking down san whispered “awwww? did you like it when i wrapped my arms around your waist?” he wasn't hiding the amusement in his voice. embarrassing. as quietly as you could you whimpered “yes” into his chest hoping he didn't hear you. he did, he pulled you closer to his body and tightened his grip on your waist. what was happening? oh my god! the racing thoughts from earlier were completely replaced with lust now. was him grabbing your waist really that intoxicating? “what’s wrong?” san whispered, very close to your ear. his breath brushed your skin making you tense up. “is someone… enjoying themselves?” “FUCK, am i hard? this is so embarrassing” somehow you hadn't notice yourself getting hard the entire time he was beside you. you pulled your lower-half away from his thigh trying, no praying he hadn't noticed. you were wrong once again. one of his large hands reached down to your butt and pushed your hips back to where they were before. he 100% noticed. His hand slowly started to grope you, the sensation sending shivers up your spine. “how adorable, look at how cute my good boy is being.” you melted, completely. good boy? He was driving you crazy. san whispered again “do you need help with that?” you nodded. your face was hot, red hot. You'd never felt like this before, so vulnerable and open to him yet so safe. “be a good boy and grind against my thigh for me, ok?” he cooed. you did as he asked, slowly moving your hips, pushing your hard dick into his thigh. “good boy” he muttered, planting a kiss on the top of your head. you kept grinding against his thigh. it felt so good, you'd never felt this good in your life. your dick was starting to leak covering both his thigh and your pants in precum. every time you pushed against him, a wave of electricity surged through your little body. You started shaking, not from the cold though, the feeling that was spreading out from your dick to the rest of your body was overwhelming. “keep going my little prince” san whispered in your ear, he was clearly enjoying seeing you fall apart beside him. seeing you like this made him feel amazing. he was making you like this, a pathetic needy mess doing your best to get off on his thigh. you kept your pace against his thigh it getting harder to hold it in with every stroke you made. whimpers that you tried to conceal were now escaping your lips. “puppy” san whispered, he said it like you were a cute little animal. one last stroke and you were sent over the edge, cum spilling out of your cock like a river. never in your life have you come this much. san held you close through your high, giving you praise the whole time. you were a sticky dizzy mess, cum soaked and numb. all you could do was lay there shaking, still not completely over the overstimulation. san sat up, and took your cum soaked pants off, “here wear this” he spoke softly, like an angel. he helped you put on a pair of oversized pants. he then laid down beside you pulling you on top of him. “You did so good puppy,” san said petting your head. he planted a kiss on your forehead, continuing to brush your hair with his hand until you fell asleep.

[ part 2. coming soon :) ]

sannirio©

#san x reader #choi san x reader #ateez angst #san #san ateez #san x male reader #san x amab reader #ateez smut #ateez smutt fic #san smut #choi san #choi san smut

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mynameismckenziemae · 3 months

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When the Stars Align

Robert ‘Bob’ Floyd x Reader

This is my submission for the International Bob Floyd Fucks Month (hosted by @attapullman).

Summary: You (call sign: Stealth) find out your boyfriend’s been cheating on you for months the night before you’re leaving for a camping trip with friends. Will you act on the feelings you’ve been trying to ignore? The answer is yes.

WC: 3.1K

Warnings: 18+, MDNI, smut, oral (both m and f receiving), p in v, unprotected sex (wrap it before you tap it), being called good girl 🤤, one bed kinda trope, mutual masturbation, etc.

“What’s up with Stealth?” Bob asks, nodding in your direction as you walk up the driveway. Your eyes are puffy like you haven’t slept in weeks.

“She broke up with Tyler last night. He’s been cheating on her for months,” Nat sighs, “I hurt for her, but I’m glad he’s gone. He was such an asshole.”

Bob’s heart races but he places it cool as he murmurs his agreement. It’s too soon, but his hope soars as he realizes he might be able to take his chance after years of silently pining after you.

“Hey guys! Sorry, I’m late. But I brought coffee!” You smile, juggling the tray of drinks, your sleeping bag, and duffle.

Bob takes your stuff, packing it into the van as you hand out the coffees.

“Thanks, Stealth,” Nat says, squeezing your shoulder. “You okay?”

You give a small smile and nod. “Yeah, actually. I’m tired, but I just feel relieved now.”

“Good. Maybe you can act on that little crush on Bob you’ve been harboring this weekend…” she replies, wiggling her eyebrows.

“Shhhh! I’ve only been single for like 12 hours, so it’s too soon….right?”

Jake interrupts before she can reply. “Alright, let’s get this show on the road. Campsite is 3 hours away, we’re burning daylight-hey!”

Bradley comes up behind him and slaps his ass. “Calm your tits, it’s barely 7. We can’t even check in until 11.”

“Well we have to account for traffic and bathroom breaks and…” Jake trails off as Bradley pushes him to the driver's seat as the rest of you pile into the van.

Javy and Natasha take the bucket seats, which leaves the back bench seat for you and Bob.

Bradley does a final check, making sure the tents and kayaks are strapped down before hitting the tailgate button and getting in the front seat before it closes.

No one notices that your sleeping bag fell out as Jake drives away.

•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_

It was a fight to stay awake not even 15 minutes into the ride; you were exhausted. Your now ex-boyfriend had been blowing your phone all night and you’d only gotten about 3 hours of sleep.

You drift off and soon your head lolls onto his shoulder.

Someone’s running their fingers through your hair. Bob, you think as you get a hint of his comforting clean-laundry scent.

“Hey, we’re here,” Bob murmurs, rubbing your shoulder.

You startle, quickly sitting up. “Sorry! God, I’m so tired. Did I sleep on you the whole time?”

“Yeah,” he chuckles. “It’s alright, I don’t mind. You don’t snore like Bradley.”

“Hey! I do not!” Bradley turns back, offended.

“Yes, you do,” everyone replies in unison.

“It’s okay babe, it’s cute,” Jake says, pressing a kiss to his cheek before opening his door and getting out.

“It’s not cute,” Javy mutters under his breath, following suit.

•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_

It’s late afternoon by the time everyone gets back to the campsite after your hike and it’s nearing dark by the time the tents are finally set up.

“So uh…we really didn’t think this through, did we?” Jake says, scratching the back of his neck as he looks at the 3 tents in front of them.

“It’s fine, you and Bradley can sleep in one, I’ll sleep with Stealth, and Bob and Javy can take the other,” Natasha offers.

“No, I know you and Javy hardly ever get to sleep by each other. Bob and I can share one. We’re adults and we each have our own sleeping bag. As long as you’re okay with that?” You ask, turning to Bob.

“Fine by me,” he answers, thankful it’s dusk so no one can see his flush.

“Perfect. Now, let’s have some drinks!” You say, opening the cooler.

“Are you sure?” Nat asks as you hand her a beer.

“I’m sure. It’ll be fine.”

•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_

It wasn’t fine.

“What's wrong?” Bob asks as he rolls his sleeping bag out on the queen-sized air mattress.

“I can’t find my sleeping bag,” you sigh, zipping the door closed. “It’s not in the van, Bradley’s snoring and it sounds like Javy and Nat are…preoccupied. It’s okay though, I can just use the blanket I brought to put under it.”

“Won’t you be cold?”

Yes. “No, I think I’ll be okay.”

“You sure? You can take mine and I’ll use the blanket.”

“Yeah, I’m sure. Thanks though,” you smile up at him as you cover up.

He turns to set his glasses down and your mouth waters when his lean, muscular back is revealed as he takes off his shirt.

You look away, hoping he doesn’t notice your blush when he turns. He flicks the lantern off and climbs in, and you accidentally roll right into him. Damn air mattresses.

“Oof, sorry!” You stammer, scrambling away.

“It’s okay, my fault,” he replies, chuckling nervously. ‘G’night Stealth.”

“Night.”

•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_

You. Were. Cold.

Shivering, teeth chattering cold. It was only in the low 60s, but you’d never handled being cold well.

Bob unzips his sleeping bag with a sigh and stands. “Hand me your blanket.”

“What? W-w-why?”

“Because you’re shivering. I’m going to put mine over us both and then we’ll put yours over it.”

“O-o-okay,” you agree, gasping when the cold air hits you. But it’s only for a second before the fleece-lined inside of his blanket covers you. He drapes your thin one over it and then gets under them both, drawing your back against his front.

“Just until you warm up, okay?” He murmurs near your ear, causing a different kind of shiver to roll through you.

“Mhmm,” you answer.

After a few minutes you’re finally getting warm, but you’re too comfortable to move and you drift off wrapped in his arms.

•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_

You wake up to his quiet, breathy gasps and a sizable hard-on pressing into your ass.

Your nipples tighten as arousal shoots through you, settling between your legs at the sounds leaving him. He mumbles your name and continues to rut. He’s still asleep.

As much as you want to stay right where you are and see if he finishes, you wiggle from under his arm and stretch with a yawn.

You smile as he sleepily opens his eyes, a flush creeps in when he realizes what’s going on under the blanket but you act none the wiser. “Morning, I’m going to shower before it gets too busy. Wanna come?”

His eyes flutter close at your unintentional innuendo but he catches himself. “Yeah, sure. Uhhh…let me get my stuff and I’ll meet you out there.”

“Sounds good.” You reply, turning your back to get your clothes and shower bag together before unzipping the tent.

To your disappointment, he put his tee shirt back on. But to your amusement, he’s got his towel strategically placed in front of him.

•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_

It’s thankfully a short walk to the bathrooms.

“I wonder if you’ll hear me sing,” you say, giggling at his expression. “I like to sing in the shower. Look, the bathrooms are connected.” You point to the 12-inch gap at the top of the wall between the bathrooms.

You wink and step into to the women’s side.

•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_

Bob barely gets the shower curtain closed before he’s fisting his cock, biting his lip to keep from groaning. He jerks himself quickly, so worked up and trying to hurry so you’re not waiting but he freezes when he hears your soft, feminine moan. Was…was that you?

“Oh fuck,” he grunts quietly, gripping the base to stave off his orgasm when he hears you again.

•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_

On the other side of the wall, you’re already getting close, so turned after months of mediocre orgasms from your own hand while watching mediocre porn; you hadn’t allowed yourself to think about Bob while masturbating when dating another man. Not to mention that the other man hadn’t ‘finished the job’ in over a year. But now you were single.

You grind the heel of your palm against your clit, and your core tightens as you teeter on the edge. You hear his soft curse and that’s all it takes for you to fall over the edge. A soft whimper escapes as the pleasure flows through you.

His answering groan has you clenching again but you sigh in disappointment when hear footsteps approaching the bathroom.

“You’re up early,” Nat calls from the shower beside yours.

“Yeah, I got cold. Hey, have you seen my sleeping bag?”

•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_

You give Bob a nonchalant smile as you greet him outside the bathroom. “Nat hasn’t seen my sleeping bag. I’ll check with Jake and Bradley get too, but I’m guessing it got left behind somehow.”

“Gotcha. Hey, so-“ he starts but is interrupted by Bradley cooking breakfast.

“How do you guys want your eggs?”

•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_

The morning was spent hiking and finished the afternoon kayaking on the lake. You caught Bob checking you in your bikini out more than once, but you were just as guilty, it was just easier to hide under your sunglasses.

You realize you hadn’t felt this light in years as you laugh around the bonfire later, listening to Jake telling a story about when he was a kid.

“I feel gross, I’m gonna hit the showers,” Jake says, slapping his knees and rising.

“Me too, I’ve got sand everywhere,” Bradley agrees.

Javy yawns, “I think I’m gonna hit the hay, Nat?”

She doesn’t respond as she’s already fast asleep with her hat pulled over her eyes.

A few minutes later it’s just you and Bob and the crackling of the fire under the stars.

“I never get to see the stars like this in the city, it’s so beautiful out here,” you murmur, eyes on the sky.

“Sure is,” he replies, eyes on you.

•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_

It’s cold your tent. Again.

You fail to suppress your shivers as Bob slides under the blankets.

“Jesus Stealth, your feet are like ice!” He gasps as he brushes them with his own.

“Sorry. I don’t handle cold w-w-well,” your teeth chatter.

“I can tell. C’mere,” he chuckles, drawing you to him.

“Bob?” You murmur against his bare chest a few minutes later as his fingers trace along your spine.

“Yeah?”

“I like you…and I’ve liked you for a long time. I was already planning on breaking things off with Tyler in person next month when he was going to visit, but he made everything easier when I found out he cheated. I wasn’t even angry or upset. I was relieved…and kind of excited actually because that I could finally tell you how I feel about you and see if you feel the same way about-“

Bob cuts off your rambling by pressing a kiss to your lips. “I like you too, Stealth. I have for years.”

You smile and bring your lips back to his. He kisses you slowly and meticulously, memorizing every reaction he pulls from you.

Ever the gentleman, his hands don’t leave their position from the curve of your waist and the hinge of your jaw.

Time to literally take matters into your own hands.

He pulls from your lips with a gasp when you reach down and palm him.

“Oh my God, Bob. You’re huge,” you moan as you slip your hand down the front of his pants and grasp him.

You push gently at him and once he’s on his back, you trail kisses from his neck to his chest, smirking at the way he jolts when your teeth graze his nipples and continue your way south.

Your eyes widen at the size of his cock as it’s revealed when you tug his pants down.

That’s not gonna fit.

“Yes it will,” he chuckles breathlessly. You’re thankfully it’s dark as you blush, not realizing you said it out loud.

You bend forward and flick your tongue over the precum beading, moaning at the salty taste before licking him from base to tip, finally sucking his head into your mouth when he breathes, “Please?”

You get a little over half of him in your mouth before you’re fighting your gag reflex and have to let up.

You take a deep breath and suck him sloppily a few times, letting the excess saliva as lubricant for your hand to stroke what you can’t fit in your mouth. He sighs when you finally get into a good rhythm and pulls your hair into a makeshift ponytail to watch you in the dim moonlight.

“Ah! Wa-wait, wait, Stealth! I’m gonna cum,” he pants, tugging gently on your hair.

But you shake your head as you continue, tears leaking as you resist the urge to gag when his tip kisses the back of your throat. His body starts to tense and your teary gaze meets his as your free hand cups his sac and gently tugs.

His eyes squeeze close and he scrambles for your pillow, holding it over his face to muffle his deep groan as cums.

Your arousal coats your thighs and you rub them together to get some sort of relief as swallow it greedily with a quiet moan of your own.

•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_

You give him a shy smile as he sets the pillow aside and the next thing you know you’re pinned under him with your shirt rucked up to your chin. He’s working you into a frenzy by alternating between your breasts, his fingers pinching and pulling at your nipple while he laves and sucks the other.

You need more. “Bob? I’m ready,” you pant, fingers combing through his hair, gently tugging to bring him back up to you.

“You really think I’m gonna let you blow my mind and not return the favor?” He chuckles lowly before pressing a kiss between your breasts then lifting himself to tug your pajama shorts off.

He settles back between your thighs, but you stop him. “Wait! You don’t have to do…that. I-I mean I’m ready to go.”

“Do you not want me to?” He asks, causing you to shiver as his warm breath caresses you.

“I don’t…know? Do you want to? Tyler only did it a few times when we first started dating but could never get me off, then he kind of just stopped and said guys don’t actually like doing it. Gave me a complex,” you laugh awkwardly.

“Another reason he’s a fucking idiot. Yes, I want to. If you’ll let me?” He asks, pressing a kiss to your inner thigh.

You nod, hesitant, but any nervousness is forgotten with the first pass of his tongue. Your head falls back against the pillow as he licks into you with his tongue. “Fuck you taste good,” he murmurs against your clit, flicking it gently with his tongue before he grips your ass and pulls you closer.

He doesn’t hold back as he devours you; the perfect variation of sucking, licking, and nipping. A strangled cry is ripped from your throat when he presses his fingers in and curls them against your g-spot.

“Stealth? You okay?” Nat calls sleepily from their tent 15 feet away.

You clench around his fingers, trying to still them as you try to reply steadily. “All good, j-just a dream.”

“Mmkay, G’night.”

“Night,” you answer just as an intense orgasm hits you. You taste the coppery hint of blood as you bite your lip to keep from making noise.

“Mmm,” Bob hums quietly as he works you through it, slowly only when you start to twitch from overstimulation. You whimper when he places a light kiss on your clit before moving back up your body.

“I’m going to lay you on my bed and do that for hours when we get back,” he murmurs against your lips before pecking a kiss to your lips.

“I can’t wait,” you whisper, reaching down to rub the head of his cock between your legs and lining him up.

“Shit, I didn’t bring any condoms,” he sighs, his head dropping to your shoulder in frustration.

“I didn’t either. I do have an IUD though, and I was clean at my physical a few weeks ago before we deployed. I haven’t slept with Tyler in over 5 months and we always used a condom. We could go without if you’re okay with it?”

“I’m clean too, are you sure though?” He asks, arms shaking as he holds himself back.

“I’m sure, I want you to fuck me bare,” you whisper in his ear with a nip to his lobe.

A strangled noise leaves him at your words and he presses forward.

“You’re so fuckin’ tight,” he grits out, pausing to let you adjust halfway In.

You force yourself to relax, take a few deep breaths, and nod, “I’m okay, keep going.”

He groans in your ear when his hips finally meet yours; you whimper in his as he withdraws to push back in.

“Good girl, taking all of me,” he pants, groaning as you clench around him. “Yeah? You like when I call you a good girl?”

You mewl and nod, unable to form words as he angles his hips so your clit gets friction with each thrust.

You sink your teeth into his shoulder when your orgasm takes you by surprise. His jaw clenches and his rhythm falters but he manages to fuck you through it, not giving into his own release.

“You still cold?” He asks when you come back down, still thrusting into you lazily.

“Huh? Uh, no I’m good,” you reply, trying to catch your breath.

“Good.”

He kneels on the ground and pulls you to the edge of the mattress, flipping you onto your stomach. The air is pushed from your lungs when he presses back in; the new angle allows deeper thrusts right over your g-spot.

“Fuc-mmph!” You start, but Bob’s hand over your mouth cuts you off.

“Shhh,” he chuckles quietly. His other hand leaves your hip to dip between your legs, gathering your wetness and coming back up to circle your clit. “Be a good girl and get there again for me?”

Your eyes roll back and you can’t control the moan that leaves you as your orgasm slams into you, thankfully somewhat muffled by his hand.

He chokes as you clench rhythmically and follows you over the edge. He bites his lip to stay quiet and drapes himself over your back while he pumps you full.

He helps get your pajamas on and holds your hand as you walk to the bathroom on unsteady legs.

“I’ll wait for you out here,” he says, pressing a kiss to your forehead.

“Mmkay,” you smile.

•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_

Natasha walks in with a knowing smirk as you’re drying your hands.

“Must’ve been a good dream, eh?”

•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_

Tagging:

@its-the-pilot

@dizzybee03

@sweetwhispersofchaos

@shanimallina87

@blindedbythelightt

@getmyprettynameoutofyourmouth

@lexixstewart

@phoenix-rising-starbird-one

@mrsrobertfloyd5

@charmedkim

@k-k0129

@bellaireland1981

@ingoaliesitrust

@hookslove1592

@amiets2

@nero4te

@eli2447

@atarmychick007

@vixenobrian

#robert bob floyd #top gun maverick #robert bob floyd x reader #bob floyd #ibffm #one bed trope

173 notes · View notes

seat-safety-switch · 5 months

Text

There is a secret war happening in the heart of our world, friends. Combatants strive for absolute supremacy, a way to force their onerous new rules on regular human beings just like you and me. You only need to go to the cereal aisle at your local grocery store to see it for yourself.

When I was a kid, there were thousands of breakfast cereals. It was big business: fill kids with sugar laced corn byproducts. Quick breakfast, get them out the door. That was before the Carb Panic, which is not related in any way to carburetors, which remain a perfectly valid form of fuel metering and injection. Suddenly, breakfast cereal wasn't "cool" anymore. Sales dropped. MBAs freaked out. And a huge portion of our shared cultural history evaporated, just like that.

Even now, people of a certain age still have these brands woven into their sense of identity. You will lumber through the rest of your life, sleeper-like, until abruptly activated by a series of names that industrialists tattooed onto your prefrontal cortex. Post Oat Flakes, your brain will screech, we remember the titan it once was. A gentle frisson of nostalgia, followed by a haunting void and an awareness of the irreversible march of time.

Reduced competition means an easier time making money, right? Not so: as our civilization slowly looks down, Wile E. Coyote-like, and realizes that we actually stopped doing anything at all a couple decades ago in favour of moving some numbers around in Excel, people are cutting out things like Fruit Loops in favour of "eating actual food" and "paying my rent." This time, though, the cereal pushers learned their lesson. If the grocery stores don't want to stock their cereal because of low demand, they can simply hike the prices so that everyone gets their respective beaks wet. Seven bucks a box! Sir Grapefellow would have been ashamed.

Don't worry, though. I've got a plan. You see, the Canadian government stocked a bunch of anti-nuke bunkers with food and water and other supplies way back in the 50s, 60s, and 70s. In the 80s, they had kind of gotten used to the whole idea of being obliterated in a millisecond and largely stopped caring as much. All that cereal is still perfectly good. If you bring your dad's old bolt cutters, we can probably sneak out a couple boxes before the Mounties figure out we're there. Might be a little stale, but that's better than living under the whip hand of Bob Kellogg's. I swear to whatever deity is listening that I will once again sup of Count Chocula.

220 notes · View notes

hamsterclaw · 1 year

Text

Replay

Taehyung's your roommate - you get along fine, you do your own thing and stay out of each others' way. Your relationship works perfectly the way it is, you don't want or need anything more out of it.

Pairing: Taehyung x F! reader, Yoongi x F! reader

Word count: 11k

Genre: College AU, smut

Rating: 18+

Warnings: Smut, swearing

You’re standing in a corner of the kitchen of the house party you’re at with your roommate Taehyung.

You’re aware of the looks you’re attracting. Taehyung’s hot when he’s lounging around half-dressed in your living room, but fully dressed? When he’s made an effort?

He’s devastating.

Dark hair, dark brows often drawn together when he’s looking at someone, like they’re a puzzle he’s dying to work out, lips curled in a smirk.

He dresses carefully, even for hastily thrown together house parties, but even the loosest of shirts don’t hide his broad shoulders, the lines of his torso tapering to hips that he knows how to move.

Your roommate’s a sexy man.

You’re pretty easy on the eyes yourself, especially today, when your hair’s doing what you want it to and your eyeliner’s sharp enough to cut glass.

Together, you draw attention, and you’ve taken full advantage of it in the past.

Your shared apartment with Taehyung has two bedrooms, set on opposite ends of a hallway with your living room in between, which is just as well. You’ve got no desire to hear your sexy roommate’s pillow talk, nor for him to hear you getting off with your man of choice.

Taehyung sips his drink and tilts his head at you.

‘I might go early,’ he tells you. ‘I haven’t even started Monday’s assignment.’

‘You’ve got the weekend,’ you say, easy.

‘I don’t want to lose tomorrow too,’ he says, shrugging. ‘You don’t need me, anyway.’

You’re distracted by the arrival of the basketball team. ‘Hmm?’

Taehyung dips close enough for his breath to tickle your ear. You lean back, startled. You rarely touch each other, you know some friends do but you’re not a touchy person and you didn’t think Taehyung was either.

‘Now that I have your attention,’ he says pointedly, rolling his eyes, ‘I’m gonna go. Say ‘hi’ to Yoongi for me. Don’t fuck in communal spaces.’

‘Stay for a bit,’ you plead, grabbing his shirt as he turns away.

Taehyung looks down at your hand. ‘Pick up brunch for us tomorrow and I’ll wing you.’

‘Deal,’ you say.

You both turn as you’re approached by Kim Namjoon, basketball captain and the most promiscuous man you know.

‘Hey,’ he says, leaning against the counter, dimpling at you.

‘Hi Namjoon,’ you say.

Taehyung raises a brow as Namjoon acts like he’s interested in your drink.

You’re about to offer Namjoon a sip when there’s a huff of breath, then a gravelly voice.

‘Y/N, Tae,’ Min Yoongi says, nodding to both of you in greeting.

‘Hi Yoongi,’ you say. You smile at him, and he gives you a long look that makes you feel flushed, warm.

Kim Namjoon captains the basketball team, but Yoongi’s the only person you ever watch on the rare occasion you find yourself at a game.

He’s ethereal, with his beautiful skin and dark eyes, and his hands and forearms have featured in all your nastiest fantasies.

You have needs, and tonight, you want Yoongi to see to them.

Taehyung’s already hustling Namjoon away, throwing you a smirk over his shoulder as he leaves you with Yoongi.

Yoongi watches you take a sip of your drink.

‘Want some?’ you ask, tipping your plastic cup towards him.

Yoongi says, cool, so confident you can already feel yourself melting at his feet, ‘yeah.’

He downs what's in your cup and sets it down on the counter.

‘Let me get you a better drink,’ he says, hanging his head, looking up at you, lips curled in a smirk.

You wonder what his lips might feel like on you.

‘I have wine at mine,’ you say, bold.

He keeps looking at you, smile playing on his lips.

‘Yeah?’

‘Yeah,’ you say.

Yoongi tilts his head. ‘Lead the way.’

***

Yoongi’s got your skirt hiked up, panties by your ankles, and his mouth on your cunt.

He licks another stripe along your folds, slow, deliberate.

You reach up, grasp his forearm.

He snickers, following it up with another long slow lick.

‘You want my fingers?’ he asks.

‘Yeah,’ you plead. ‘Want you.’

You’re arched back against your headboard, trying not to scream when there’s a knock at your door.

‘Hey,’ Taehyung calls through the door. ‘You ok?’

Yoongi looks up from where he’s poised over your cunt, sees your hands covering your own mouth.

‘We’re good, bro,’ he answers, sliding his fingers into you.

Your mouth opens to moan, and Yoongi’s other hand comes up to cover your mouth.

Taehyung knocks again, more insistent this time.

‘I want to hear you, Y/N. Are you all right?’

Yoongi’s fingers start moving in and out of you as he shrugs and uncovers your mouth.

‘Yeah,’ you say, trying not to moan again. ‘I’m good, Tae, thanks for checking.’

Taehyung says, ‘Yeah. I’m in my room if you need anything.’

‘Damn,’ Yoongi murmurs as you hear Taehyung walking away. ‘You guys look out for each other like that a lot?’

You whimper as Yoongi shoves his jeans down, moves on top of you.

‘Can’t be too careful,’ you say, breathless.

Yoongi’s unrolling a condom on his pretty dick, nudging into you slowly.

He groans as he eases into you, letting out a breath when he’s all the way in.

You clench around him helplessly, the stretch of him’s so damn good you could come from this alone.

Yoongi rolls his hips, grinding, hitting you so deep you see stars behind your eyelids every time he thrusts.

‘You good?’ he asks. He’s genuinely waiting for an answer, and your heart flutters a little when you realise.

‘Yeah,’ you affirm, smiling up at him.

Yoongi stares at you for a moment, mutters something that sounds like ‘so fucking pretty’, that you would ask him to repeat if he wasn’t fucking you so well.

You cry his name as you come, tightening around his cock.

‘Good girl,’ praises Yoongi, the gravel in his voice somehow both sexy and soothing.

His thrusts slow, his rhythm changes, and he groans ‘baby, fuck, fuck!’ as he comes.

He pulls out, ties off the condom and tosses it with a careless flick into your bin.

‘All in the wrist,’ you comment.

Yoongi, now flat on his back on your bed, arm over his face, chuckles.

‘You’re an idiot.’

Then, he sits up, scanning your face like he’s worried he’s upset you.

‘I’m just teasing you,’ he tells you.

You’re already getting up to use the bathroom.

‘I know, Yoongi,’ you reply. ‘Want some water?’

‘I should get going,’ he says.

You shrug. ‘You can stay if you want.’

‘I’ve got basketball in the morning,’ he replies.

‘Sure,’ you say.

You walk him out, bid him goodbye at the door.

There’s crockery rattling in the kitchen, Taehyung’s smoky tenor caressing the notes of a jazz classic.

You stop in the doorway to listen.

Taehyung’s got a stunning voice, the first time you came back early from classes and heard him, you’d thought it was a recording.

He turns his head, spots you, doesn’t miss a beat.

You pour yourself a glass of water and take a seat at the kitchen counter.

Without asking, Taehyung lays a bowl in front of you, chopsticks together angled at a skew.

‘Thanks,’ you say, gratefully.

You eat quietly as Taehyung sings. The song segues into another, words crooned low over the tinkling of an accompanying piano.

He joins you at the counter eventually with his own bowl.

‘You good?’ he asks.

You have a sudden flashback to Yoongi buried inside you, asking the same.

You give Taehyung a half-smile.

‘Yeah good.’

‘How come Yoongi didn’t stay?’ Taehyung asks.

‘He said he had basketball in the morning,’ you reply.

You don’t want it to sting but it does.

Taehyung shrugs. ‘Maybe you’re just not that interesting out of bed,’ he says, deadpan.

‘Yeah,’ you agree, just as deadpan.

‘It’s probably more that he’s an idiot,’ Taehyung continues.

You shrug.

‘Wanna watch TV, Tae?’

‘Yeah. Go set it up and I’ll bring us ice cream.’

You’re curled up in your corner of the couch, blanket pulled over you, when Taehyung enters.

He hands you a tub and a spoon and settles in his corner.

‘Are you really ok?’ he asks, not looking at you.

‘Yeah.’

You wait for him to say something else, but he just hums.

Predictably, he’s asleep before the opening credits have even finished, but his presence is comforting all the same.

***

You’re at the diner with Taehyung the next morning when he says, ‘don’t look now, your fuckboi’s here with his teammates.’

You grimace. ‘Think they might not see us?’

Taehyung says, ‘he’s heading over here.’

You don’t have time to ask who before Min Yoongi’s standing by your booth.

‘Hey,’ he says, tilting his head at you.

You smile at him, grateful you’d at least taken the time to do your skincare this morning before coming out.

‘Hey Yoongi.’

‘Can I get your number?’ he asks.

You reel off your digits, voice steady even though your heart’s beating triple speed.

‘Ok,’ Yoongi says. The tip of his tongue pokes through his lips briefly, and your phone vibrates in your pocket.

‘Can I call you later?’ Yoongi asks.

‘Sure,’ you say, light, casual.

Yoongi nods at Taehyung, and then he’s off.

You pick up a forkful of pancakes to give your hands something to do.

‘Guess you’re not that uninteresting after all,’ Taehyung teases.

‘Yeah, and guess he’s not that much of an idiot,’ you agree.

Taehyung laughs. ‘At least now you can stop sulking.’

You’d deny you were ever sulking but Taehyung knows you too well.

***

It’s another Friday night, and you have a date with Yoongi. It’s only a movie, but he’s picking you up and you’re excited and there’s that.

You’re pouring yourself a glass of water in the kitchen when Taehyung walks in.

‘Wow,’ you say, impressed.

Your roommate’s sharply styled tonight, his hair away from his face, shirt falling perfectly against his lean frame. The chain around his neck glints in the light as he moves. He smells good, fresh.

‘Wow yourself,’ he replies. ‘Date with Yoongi?’

‘Going to the movies,’ you tell him. ‘You?’

‘I’ve got a dinner date,’ he says. ‘We’ll probably come back here after.’

‘I’ll be out late,’ you say. ‘No sex in communal spaces.’

Taehyung laughs at the mantra you’ve got into the habit of tossing at each other instead of a goodbye, and waves as he leaves.

When the doorbell rings you hurry to open it.

Yoongi’s standing in your doorway, all longish dark hair and silver earrings, smile crooked.

‘Hey pretty girl,’ he says, like he practised it, and butterflies flutter in your stomach anyway, because you’ve always been a sucker for a compliment from a gorgeous guy.

‘Hey,’ you say. You grab your keys off the hall table and step out. He doesn’t move back like you expected him to, so you end up pressed against him as you shut the door behind you.

You look at him and raise an eyebrow.

He smirks at you.

‘I’d like popcorn,’ you say.

Yoongi slips his arm around your shoulders.

‘Yeah? I’ll get you some,’ he promises.

You lean into his chest as you head for the lifts.

‘I heard the movie’s scary,’ he says, as you get into the lift. ‘Are you gonna hold my hand?’

‘I like horror movies,’ you tell him.

‘But what about me? I might get scared,’ he says.

‘Don’t worry, I can hold your hand at the scary parts.’

Yoongi says, ‘yeah?’

‘Promise,’ you say.

Yoongi grins at you. ‘We’d better practice holding hands now.’

You have to laugh at his expression. You push at his chest lightly, but when his hand comes up to grasp yours, you don’t pull away.

***

By the time you and Yoongi get back from the movie, the living room is dark but the kitchen light’s on.

‘Want a drink?’ you offer. ‘I have beer.’

You enter the kitchen and are confronted with your roommate’s bare chest, sweats slung low around his hips.

He mumbles a greeting, turns to grab a cup, revealing scratch marks all over his back.

‘Fuck, are you ok? Your back.’

Taehyung’s grin is boxy, wide, reminding you why he has the reputation he has around campus.

He passes you a couple beers, cracks one open for himself.

‘Gigi’s still here,’ he says. ‘I’ll see you in the morning. Brunch?’

‘Brunch,’ you agree.

He tilts his beer at you in a toast, and saunters out.

You can hear him greeting Yoongi as he heads back to his room.

Yoongi raises a brow at you. ‘Is he high?’

‘Possibly,’ you reply. ‘Are you still scared from the movie? Do I need to hold your hand again?’

Yoongi nods so seriously you’re almost fooled.

He takes your hand and tugs you into your room, onto your bed.

‘What should we do now?’ you ask, feigning innocence.

Yoongi laughs, tugs gently at the strap of your dress with his teeth.

He pulls down, letting the strap fall off your shoulder, exposing the top of your left breast.

He brushes his lips over your rounded flesh, tongue flicking between to lick, and you shiver.

‘Cold?’ Yoongi asks, watching you intently as he blows over your exposed nipple.

You can’t stop the moan from spilling out as he flicks your nipple with his tongue.

Yoongi’s breath is warm on your skin, like his palm as he slides it over your bare thigh, under your skirt.

The tips of his long fingers brush between your legs, and you let out an involuntary hum.

‘Yeah, you’re cold,’ Yoongi says, confident, decisive.

He leans over you, pushing you down on the bed under him. ‘Come on, I’ll warm you up.’

Fuck, he does.

***

You and Taehyung are halfway through your breakfast plates at the diner before you even speak to each other.

‘If this place ever closes we’ll be fucked,’ Taehyung says, mouth full.

‘You’ll be fucking regardless,’ you say, unable to resist. ‘But yeah, we need this place to stay open.’

‘Why does fucking make me so hungry?’ wonders Taehyung. ‘I don’t feel this hungry after the gym.’

You snort. ‘When do you ever go to the gym?’

‘Jungkook’s been dragging me there.’

Taehyung flexes his arm. ‘See? This definition isn’t just my natural shape.’

You pretend to squint. ‘What? You mean being a noodle-armed weakling isn’t natural to you?’

Taehyung looks at you, mouth in a straight line. ‘You mean being a short ass isn’t natural to you?’

‘Ha ha ha ha,’ you scowl.

‘Gigi says she likes your style,’ Taehyung says, shoving another forkful of sausage into his mouth, chewing open-mouthed.

‘Yeah? I like hers too, apart from her taste in fuckbuddies,’ you retort.

‘She says you have a great ass.’

‘Oh my god, can you shut up and let me eat in peace,’ you grumble.

‘Does Yoongi say anything about me?’ Taehyung asks.

‘Yeah, he’s always asking if you’re high.’

Taehyung snorts. ‘Rich coming from a scrappy athlete with a bad reputation.’

‘He doesn’t have a bad reputation.’

‘Please. If he wasn’t the biggest fuckboy around you wouldn’t even be interested.’

‘What? I don’t just date fuckboys,’ you protest, weakly, trying to remember the last boy you actually dated.

‘You live with me,’ Taehyung reminds you, rolling his eyes.

‘You don’t have a bad reputa –’

You cut yourself off midsentence. ‘Yeah ok. And?’

‘And nothing. I like living with you. You’re easy.’

Your eyebrows lift and you toss a napkin at him.

‘Easy to live with,’ Taehyung amends.

He laughs. ‘Can you get the waitress’ attention, we’re gonna need more potato waffles.’

‘Get her yourself,’ you say.

‘Don’t be mad,’ Taehyung coaxes. ‘I’m easy too.’

You look at the way he’s sitting, leaning back, legs spread wide in his grey sweats, the neck of his t-shirt so wide you can see all of his collarbones, and your fit of pique fades.

‘I like living with you too,’ you say.

You tip your juice towards him, and he brings his own drink forward to toast.

‘To cheap breakfasts,’ he says.

‘And easy lays,’ you reply.

Taehyung’s grin flashes at you, the wide boxy grin he reserves for when he’s genuinely amused, and you can’t help but smile back.

***

The thud that comes from the living room is muffled, like whoever made it is trying to be quiet.

You’re only half awake, and falling back asleep again when you hear another sound, the thump of a knee against the edge of the sofa.

You pick up your phone, squinting at the time.

3am.

You sit up.

‘What are you doing, Tae?’ you mutter to yourself, getting up.

You stumble to the living room, eyes trying to adjust to the dark.

You can see him standing in the middle of the living room, and have a sense of unreality when you can hear a key in the front door.

Realisation pierces through you, and you turn back to the intruder in your living room.

Your mouth opens, and the intruder flees, heading straight for your balcony doors, which you’ve just noticed, are ajar.

Taehyung walks in, startled to see you.

‘Tae! There’s a man in our apartment!’ you blurt out.

Taehyung and you rush for the balcony but by the time you get there there’s no trace of the man.

‘Shit, the lock’s broken,’ Taehyung says.

‘I’m gonna call the police,’ you tell him.

‘Are you ok? What happened?’

Taehyung takes your arm.

‘Shit Tae, you smell like —’

Taehyung grimaces. ‘Yeah, sorry. The guys were going hard tonight.’

By the time you’ve made your report, Taehyung’s showered and made you both tea.

‘I don’t think anything’s missing, all our stuff’s still here,’ you say.

‘Yeah,’ Taehyung agrees. He shivers. ‘Sorry I wasn’t here.’

‘Fuck, that was scary,’ you say. Now that the adrenaline’s wearing off, you’re starting to feel sleepy.

You glance at the balcony door. ‘What are we going to do about that?’

‘We should set a trap,’ Taehyung says, authoritatively.

You glare at him. ‘Are you still high?’

‘Shit, not when you look at me like that,’ Taehyung replies.

You sigh. ‘Go to bed, Tae.’

‘No, I can fix it,’ Taehyung insists. He goes to his room, and is gone for so long you’re about to go and check on him when he returns.

‘What the fuck, Tae?’

Taehyung just raises an eyebrow at you.

He walks over to the balcony doors, snaps them closed, and ties the handles together with the red silk ties he came out with, deftly.

He tests the knots with an expertise you’re almost afraid to ask how he acquired.

You find yourself smiling, reluctantly, for the first time since you woke up.

‘Fucking hell, Kim Taehyung.’

Taehyung turns to you, completely straight-faced, apart from a tell-tale quiver of his lips.

‘I have some left over,’ he tells you, feigning innocence.

‘Fucking hell, Kim Taehyung.’

‘If you’re not feeling safe, I can sleep in your room with you, for tonight,’ he offers.

‘Get the fuck out, Tae.’

‘I don’t have to bring my ropes.’

‘Shibari.’

‘Actually, it’s Kinbaku.’

Taehyung drops the ties on the couch and walks carefully around it.

He puts a hand on your back. ‘Come on. I’ll walk you to your room, ok?’

Against your better judgement, you let him lead you to your bedroom.

Taehyung pulls the covers back, helps you get settled in and rearranges them over you.

Fully dressed, he lies on top of the covers next to you.

‘Go to sleep,’ he says, rolling on his back, closing his eyes.

His quiet, easy breathing fills the silence, and before you know it, you’re asleep.

***

The sun’s setting, so you go out on your balcony to watch. It’s chilly still but more spring than winter.

Your heels rattle against the grate as you make your way to one of the garden chairs you and Tae picked up at the flea market when you first moved in together.

Yoongi’s coming to pick you up in a half hour, a proper date you think, you’re going to pick up food together before a house party.

The front door to the apartment opens, you can hear Taehyung humming to himself.

A moment later he’s peering out the balcony doors at you.

‘You look nice,’ he tells you.

You’re surprised by his compliment. ‘Thanks Tae Tae.’

‘Hot date with a fuckboy?’ Taehyung asks. He takes the seat across the balcony from you, long legs stretching out in between. He tilts his face up to the setting sun, and for a moment you admire the beauty of his profile, cast in rosy golds and brilliant orange.

Your roommate is genuinely one of the most beautiful men you’ve ever met.

You realise he’s looking at you like he’s waiting for you to say something.

‘Sorry,’ you say, smiling. ‘I got distracted by how pretty you look.’

Taehyung snorts. ‘You look pretty too. Your legs look as long as mine in those heels.’

You scoff. ‘Yeah, I’m as tall as you.’

You stand, and Taehyung stands too.

For a moment you look up at his face.

Your hand reaches up to touch his shoulder but you veer off at the last minute.

You never touch him, really, but for some reason you want to, now.

Taehyung’s standing with his hands behind his back, face tilted down to yours.

His voice, when he says your name, is that low baritone you hear rumbling though the walls sometimes when he has someone in the bedroom with him.

More vibration than words.

Taehyung’s gaze is intent on you.

The doorbell buzzes, and you step back, spell broken.

‘It’s probably Yoongi. Have a good night, Tae Tae.’

He’s already turning away.

***

Your friend Dahyun nudges you at the house party you ended up at.

‘How are things with Yoongi?’

You shrug. ‘We’re still seeing each other. We just went to dinner before this.’

‘He took you to dinner? Good Christ, you’re practically married,’ Dahyun teases.

‘Got me dessert and everything,’ you deadpan.

She laughs.

‘How’s Hobi?’ you ask.

‘He’s good,’ Dahyun replies.

Dahyun’s been dating Hoseok on and off since first year. Personally, you’ve always liked him, he’s always treated her well and he’s always seemed kind hearted to you.

Speak of the devil.

Hoseok walks up to Dahyun and slides his arm around her waist with a possessiveness that makes you feel a pang of envy.

You can’t imagine Yoongi ever doing that to you.

It’s not that you don’t think he’d be proud to be seen with you, but he’s just not the kind of guy who’d want people to know his business.

You sip your drink as Hobi and Dahyun excuse themselves, probably to go make out in a dark corner.

It’s only when you get to the last mouthful that you realise how strong your drink is.

Shit. Why did you decide to wear these heels?

You teeter your way to the kitchen and nearly trip on a step.

There’s a warm hand on your arm, steadying you, Yoongi’s voice in your ear.

‘You ok?’

‘Yeah,’ you reply.

‘I’m gonna go grab some food with Jimin and Namjoon, Jimin’s going through some shit.’

It takes you a moment to understand.

‘Oh, ok. Sure.’

‘Can you get back home ok?’

‘Yeah,’ you say. ‘Sure.’

Yoongi looks at you a moment longer.

‘I saw Taehyung here earlier, want me to see if I can find him for you?’

You straighten up. ‘Nah, I’m fine.’

Yoongi’s still got his eyes on your face. You’re glad it’s dark enough to hide how warm your face is.

You wave a hand, careless. ‘Don’t baby me, Yoongi.’

Yoongi snorts, but he leaves, casting a final glance at you before he exits with Jimin.

You wait a beat, then decide to look around for your friends.

You wander through the living room, spotting Hoseok and Dahyun cuddled up on one of the couches.

Near the stairs you spot Taehyung, leaning against the wall with a very tall girl with gorgeous hair draped over him.

He sees you, tilts his chin, his dark brows in a straight line, his expression unreadable.

You’re heading over to him when the girl undrapes herself and slinks towards the bathroom.

You stumble a little, and Taehyung reaches out to steady you.

‘Tipsy?’ he teases.

‘A bit,’ you confess. You slump against the wall next to him, trying to ignore the way the room’s spinning lazily.

‘I’m going home,’ you tell Taehyung.

‘Sure. Who’s taking you?’ Taehyung asks.

‘Taxi,’ you reply, waving your phone.

Taehyung rolls his eyes. ‘You can barely stand. Here, wait a bit, Tina and I will go with you.’

He pushes off the wall. ‘Stay here.’

‘Nah, I’m ok,’ you reply.

Taehyung just gives you a look.

‘I’m getting Tina, wait here.’

As soon as he disappears you look down at your phone. The screen’s all blurry. You swipe at it and give up, deciding it’s not your fault the screen’s wavy and swirly.

Shit.

You press back against the wall as some tall guy walks past.

You vaguely recognise him as one of Yoongi’s teammates. Wonho?

He stops next to you.

‘Hey, you’re Y/N, right?’

His voice is deep, not as deep as Yoongi’s or even Taehyung’s, but it’s got a pleasing mellow tone to it you like.

‘Yep,’ you say. You wish you could see his face better, but your eyes don’t seem to be working that well right now.

‘I like your dress,’ he says.

‘I don’t think it comes in your size,’ you tell him.

He laughs. ‘Can I get you a drink?’

‘Nah, I’m good,’ you say.

‘Want to sit with me for a bit?’ he asks, leaning so close you can smell his shampoo. He smells good, but you think you’ve had enough.

Time to go home.

‘I can’t sit in this dress,’ you inform him. ‘It’s too short.’

‘Shit, come and sit with me, I won’t look.’

He sounds like he’s flirting but you’re not really interested right now.

‘My roommate’s here. I need to find him,’ you say, apologetic.

You push off the wall and go off to search for Taehyung.

You just catch sight of him being dragged upstairs.

Damn.

Sighing, you try and pull out your phone, only to not be able to find it.

Double damn.

You find yourself at the door of the house, and decide there’s nothing for it.

You’re going to have to walk home.

***

It’s still dark by the time you trudge the last few blocks home.

You’ve sobered up some from walking around in the early morning chill, at least the pavement isn’t wavy anymore.

You pull your key out of your bag with cold hands, and are trying to get your fingers to work enough to unlock the door, when it opens on its own.

‘What the fuck!’ Taehyung says. He grabs your arm and drags you inside.

You stare at him, uncomprehending.

‘Where the fuck were you?’ Taehyung asks.

You realise he’s angry.

‘Uh?’ you mumble unintelligently.

You lean down to undo your heels and nearly tip over.

Taehyung catches you, helps you straighten up.

‘You walked home like this? Are you stupid?’

You’re hurt at his tone.

‘What do you want, Tae?’ you ask tiredly.

You sit on the floor and start unbuckling your heels.

God, you’re sure they weren’t this difficult to get on.

Taehyung makes an impatient sound and pushes your hands away.

You sit as he undoes your heels and pulls them off.

‘I told you to wait for me,’ he scolds.

You glare at him, hoping the feeling returns to your feet soon so you can get up.

‘It’s dangerous to walk alone —- wait! Where the fuck are you going?’

You turn your head to look at him as you crawl away.

‘Stop scolding me, my head hurts,’ you complain.

Taehyung sighs.

Then he holds out a hand. ‘Come on, I’ll help you into bed.’

You give him your hand and nearly fall onto your face again.

Taehyung swears, then pulls you up.

He’s stronger than he looks. Maybe he wasn’t lying about going to the gym with JK.

You mull this over as he helps you to your bedroom.

Taehyung deposits you on the bed. ‘Stay here.’

‘Ugh, get out,’ you complain as he heads for your dresser.

Taehyung rummages through your top drawer and turns to you, holding out a soft tee.

As he walks towards you there’s a soft thud on the carpet.

You give him your best innocent look as your purple bullet vibrator rolls on the floor towards you, stopping at the foot of your bed.

Taehyung ignores it and hands you the tee. ‘Can you get changed on your own?’

You shrug.

He rolls his eyes. ‘Get changed. I’m gonna bring you some water.’

You decide it’s not worth the energy arguing with him.

By the time Taehyung comes back with a glass of water, you’re in bed.

He sits on the covers next to you and hands you your phone.

‘Where did you get this?’ you ask.

‘Some dude, Wonho had it,’ Taehyung says. He runs a hand over his face. ‘Fuck! I nearly got into a fight with him, I thought he’d done something to you.’

This is news to you.

You frown at Taehyung. ‘I saw you going upstairs with Tina.’

‘Fuck that, you’re drunk as fuck, you should have waited for me,’ Taehyung scolds. ‘I was only a few minutes.’

‘Two minute man?’ you ask. For some reason this strikes you as hilarious.

‘Obviously,’ Taehyung says, like he’s reaching the end of his patience, ‘Tina and I didn’t fuck because I l knew you were waiting for me.’

You’re still giggling.

Taehyung stares at you, then he scoffs. ‘Are you hungry? I can fix us ramdon.’

You fall asleep considering his offer.

***

You’re looking up train times when there’s a knock on your door.

Taehyung pokes his head in.

‘Going somewhere?’ he asks, raising a brow at your overnight bag.

‘It’s my dad,’ you tell him. ‘My mom called, he’s in the hospital.’

‘Shit,’ Taehyung says. ‘Is he ok?’

Concern’s written all over his face as he steps further into your room.

‘He’s had a heart attack,’ you say.

You’re trying to stay calm but it’s hard, your nerves have been shot since your mom called.

‘Can you drive me to the train station?’ you ask.

‘Yeah, sure,’ Taehyung says instantly. ‘Give me five and I’ll take you.’

Taehyung loads your bag into the trunk along with his and gets into the car.

‘What’s the hospital address?’ he asks.

You stare at him blankly. ‘Tae, it’s hours away.’

‘So I’ll drive you, you shouldn’t be alone,’ Taehyung tells you. He looks oddly serious.

‘Thanks,’ you say finally.

Taehyung just nods. ‘Get your belt on.’

You lean back in your chair as he pulls out of the space.

Outside, a light rain starts to fall.

***

It’s still raining when you get back home after seeing your dad at the hospital.

Your mom fusses over you and Taehyung, probably because of how incredibly kind he’d been at the hospital.

Your roommate’s showing a side to him you’ve never seen before.

You’ve seen glimpses of him being nice, of course, in the months you’ve been living with him, but you’ve never thought about him as anything more than a casual friend.

And here he is being so supportive you could cry.

Your mum’s gone up to her room when he catches you looking at him over your food.

He raises an eyebrow at you but doesn’t stop eating.

‘Thanks,’ you say, feeling like you need to say something. ‘Thanks for driving me here, and being so nice.’

Your throat closes on the last word, and you take a sip of water, trying to hide the prickle of tears behind your eyelids.

‘You’re my friend, I’m just doing the same as you’ve done for me,’ Taehyung says.

His voice is so warm, quiet, that it’s getting harder to hold the tears back.

‘Yeah?’ you ask, voice trembling as you try valiantly to pull humour in. ‘I don’t even have a car, and you don’t fit on the back of my bike.’

You cast a glance at him, but he’s not looking at you either.

‘You made me soup when I was unwell earlier in the year. You always cook extra for me.’

Taehyung’s big hand reaches out, plays with his glass. ‘You don’t mind washing some of my clothes when they accidentally get in your wash.’

You snort. ‘I knew it wasn’t an accident.’

‘They’re always so much softer when you wash them,’ Taehyung says, on a pout.

Your eyes meet.

‘It goes both ways,’ Taehyung says.

‘Like your dick?’

‘Shut up, your mom’s upstairs,’ Taehyung retorts.

‘She knows about the birds and the bees,’ you say.

You both laugh, and for the first time since you found out about your dad, the tightness in your chest eases a little.

The tears that threatened to fall are long gone, which is just as well.

You feel like you’re on the edge of a precipice, like you’re barely a step from big feelings about Taehyung that you don’t have the headspace to unpack right now.

You glance at Taehyung, and realise he’s looking back at you.

‘It’s a lot,’ you say.

‘Yeah. We’re tired.’

He seems to understand.

***

When you wake, Taehyung’s buried under the covers, the second duvet you’d grabbed from the linen closet wrapped snuggly around him.

You’d known he was a blanket hog. You’d called it.

You don’t have an excuse for the way you’re looking at him right now whilst he’s asleep, and you know you should stop.

But his face, like this, is so beautiful it makes your heart flutter. His eyelashes are so long you wonder why you never noticed them before.

He stirs, and you avert your gaze as he opens his eyes.

He’s the first to speak.

‘I like –’

You wonder how he’s going to finish his sentence.

He clears his throat.

‘I like your bed.’

‘Yeah?’ you ask. ‘You hog all the blankets.’

Taehyung turns over, onto his back, so he’s no longer facing you.

‘I’m not wearing a shirt,’ he announces.

You stare at the ceiling whilst you process this.

‘I’ve seen you shirtless before,’ you point out.

‘I’m not —’

He stops.

‘Christ, Taehyung, you’re not naked under there are you?’

Taehyung starts humming as he uncovers himself, and it takes you a moment to realise he’s parodying a striptease.

You burst out laughing.

‘Stop, stop. I’m not drunk enough for this.’

Taehyung stops with his hand over the sheet covering his waist and waggles his eyebrows at you.

You roll your eyes. ‘What do you want for breakfast? We’ll go and pick up something for my mom.’

You end up at the bakery near your house.

The woman behind the counter, Mrs Jeong, is a friend of your parents’. She presses a box of fresh pastries on you, waving you off when you offer to pay.

‘I put extra in there for your man,’ Mrs Jeong says, nodding to Taehyung.

‘He’s not my man,’ you reply, automatically.

‘Thank you, auntie,’ Taehyung says, beaming as he takes the box.

‘You’re such a slut for a bun,’ you complain, as soon as you’re out of the shop.

Taehyung shrugs as he sips his coffee. ‘I drove you here, I’m looking after you and your mom. I’m your man.’

You sip your own coffee and adjust your sunglasses on your face. ‘Ugh. Come on, we should pick up some fruit too.’

By the time you get home, your mother’s up and preparing breakfast.

It’s weird seeing your roommate like this, fully dressed and sitting up straight on a Saturday morning instead of shovelling pancakes into his mouth, slumped and hungover.

You wonder if it’s weird for Taehyung to see you like this too.

After breakfast, your mother heads to the hospital whilst you see Taehyung off.

You pack him some pastries for the drive back and watch as he loads his overnight bag into the car.

‘Hey, drive safe, ok?’ you say.

He snorts. ‘I’ll definitely be safe, unlike you stumbling home drunk the other day.’

‘I didn’t want to cockblock you,’ you say, shrugging.

Taehyung opens his car door, turns to face you.

‘I can get laid anytime. It’s not everyday I find a roommate who has the same taste in food and shit TV as me.’

You furrow your brow. ‘You’d better wait until I get back to watch the next episode.’

Taehyung pretends to consider it. ‘Yeah we’ll see.’

He smiles at you. ‘Are you gonna be ok?’

‘Yeah,’ you promise. You almost feel like hugging him, but you never touch.

It would be weird, right?

Taehyung’s turning back to his car, anyway. He gets in, rolls down the window.

‘See you in a couple weeks?’

‘Yeah. Don’t fuck in —’

‘Communal spaces,’ he finishes. He laughs softly, and then he’s rolling up the window.

You watch him drive down your road, until he turns the corner and you can’t see him anymore.

***

You nudge the front door of your apartment open with your foot. Your mother had insisted on packing food for you and Taehyung when you left the house. You’d had to convince her you couldn’t possibly carry any more on the train with you.

Your father’s back home and on the mend.

You’ve got finals coming up soon, and although you’ve been keeping up to date with assignments whilst you’ve been at home, it’s good to be back.

The apartment’s dark, you’re not sure if Taehyung’s home.

You put your food down in the kitchen and head to your room.

It’s exactly the way you left it.

You pull off your coat and head to the bathroom to take a shower.

You’re back in the kitchen, heating up food, when you hear a key in the door.

You step out to greet Taehyung, and realise he’s not alone.

A pretty brunette in a green dress is standing next to him in your entryway, holding on to his arm as she slips her shoes off.

‘Hey,’ Taehyung says, warmth in his voice.

You smile, not sure why your heart feels like it’s in your mouth.

‘Hey.’

You share your smile with the girl, and Taehyung says, belatedly, ‘This is Kira.’

‘Hey, nice to meet you,’ Kira says. She grins at you, and dimples pop in her cheeks.

Damn, she’s cute.

‘My mom made food for us. You guys should help yourselves,’ you say.

You head back to the kitchen.

Taehyung wanders in behind you with Kira.

‘You want to eat something, babe?’ he asks, and there’s a pang in your chest at the endearment, a feeling you can’t name.

You need to change the subject.

‘You kept the place clean whilst I was away, I’m impressed,’ you say lightly.

Taehyung looks pleased. ‘I’m glad you noticed. I even did some of your laundry.’

You feign shock.

Kira giggles.

Taehyung hands you a plate, and you sit to eat.

‘How’s your mom and dad?’ he asks, quietly.

‘They’re good. My dad’s back home. My mom’s feeling better about it all,’ you tell him.

‘What happened?’ Kira asks.

You explain as Taehyung heats up food for him and Kira.

Your phone lights up on the kitchen counter.

Taehyung glances at it.

‘Yoongi was asking after you,’ he says, ‘last weekend. I told him about your dad.’

‘Yeah. He texted me a couple times.’

‘You gonna meet up with him?’ Taehyung asks. He’s looking at you now, an unreadable expression on his face.

You shrug. ‘Maybe?’

Taehyung changes the subject.

‘I was thinking we should have a party here next month,’ he says, sitting down opposite you at the kitchen table, next to Kira.

‘Yeah. Right after finals?’

‘Yeah.’

‘Sounds great, Tae.’

Your phone lights up again. Taehyung raises an eyebrow at it.

‘Looks like Wonho’s really trying to get in touch with you.’

You roll your eyes. ‘I don’t even know how he got my number, honestly.’

‘Probably from that time he found your phone at that party,’ Taehyung says.

‘He’s cute,’ Kira says.

‘I don’t like guys with muscles,’ you say, dismissive.

You flick your eyes at Taehyung. ‘Just noodle arms.’

Taehyung laughs so hard he snorts broth through his nose.

‘I’ve missed you,’ he says.

‘I’ve missed you too, Tae.’

It’s the truest thing you’ve said today.

There’s a fizz of something in the air between you as you lock eyes with Taehyung.

Kira’s looking at you and Taehyung thoughtfully.

You get up. ‘I’m gonna go to bed. Nice to meet you, Kira.’

***

You’ve been busy the last few weeks, with finals and year end assignments.

Taehyung and you have organised a schedule between you, there’s always food and you know when each other’s exams are so you can make sure you wake up on time.

You haven’t seen Yoongi since you got back, which is just as well.

Once the semester ends you’re moving to another city, joining a publishing firm.

It’s the end of an era.

Honestly, you’re more than a little apprehensive about moving out of your place with Taehyung, moving on with your life, but it’s starting to feel like it’s the right time.

If you never go to another club night in some dive with sticky floors, you think you can live with that.

You’re sitting in someone’s backyard at some house party, ass on the grass, with Taehyung sprawled out next to you.

Taehyung reaches out, flicks your bare thigh.

You ‘ouch’ exaggeratedly, move your leg away.

‘What are we gonna do when we’re not doing this every Friday?’ Taehyung asks.

You sip your drink, look up at the stars.

You realise he’s waiting for an answer.

‘Not sure, Tae. We can do this on Friday nights if you want.’

‘Yeah I’ll come to your new place and we can drink together.’

He pokes your leg again, and you nudge his hand with your thigh.

You glance over and catch him looking at the hem of your short skirt.

‘You horny, Tae Tae?’

You expect him to make a joke of it, but he asks, voice low, ‘have you ever wondered what it might be like if we slept together?’

Your eyes meet, and he still seems completely sober.

‘I know you have fantasies about me,’ you say carefully, giving him another chance to make a joke of it, to stop before he crosses that invisible line between you that you both have always toed.

Your roommate traces his finger along the line of your thigh, and your cunt tightens.

You let out a breath.

‘I do think about you,’ he says. He turns on his side on the grass, facing you, turned away from everyone else.

His finger strokes another line down your thigh, then travels up, over the front of your thigh, stopping at the hem of your skirt.

You look straight at him as you let your thighs fall apart slightly.

Taehyung moves his hand, off the taut hem of your skirt. He bites his lip, and then reaches under, sliding between your legs with a confidence that makes your cunt tighten again.

The tips of his long fingers brush the fabric of your panties.

‘Are these those pretty purple panties?’ he asks.

‘You like those?’ you ask.

He moves a little closer, pulls your thigh closer to him to make room for his hand.

It’s dark in this backyard, you doubt anyone can see anything.

As long as you can keep quiet.

Taehyung dips his head, brushing his lips against your bare thigh. You have the barest instant of warning, a flash of teeth, before he nips at your flesh.

‘Fuck, Tae,’ you breathe.

His hand between your legs has moved up so that his thumb can slide along your slit, his fingers braced on your upper thigh.

His face is so close to your cunt you can feel his breath on your thigh.

‘Not here,’ you say, grabbing his arm.

Fuck are you really doing this?

With Taehyung?

Taehyung gets up, adjusts himself and takes your hand.

When he looks at you, his eyes are dark with intent.

Unlike you, he seems pretty sure he wants this.

When your roommate commits to anything, he goes all in.

You guess you’re in too.

You follow Taehyung around the side of the house.

He stops by the wall, backs up against it, pulls you to him.

‘Should I kiss you?’ he asks.

It’s enough to snap you out of the lust and booze fuelled haze you’re in.

The words come out before you can stop them.

‘Don’t you want to, Tae?’

Even you can hear the hurt in your voice.

It’s wrong, it’s too much.

Sadly, it’s not nearly enough.

Taehyung holds out his hand, says your name, but you’re too drunk and too raw to even look at him.

You stumble away, and Taehyung doesn’t go after you.

***

You wake in stages.

Blink.

There’s bright sun shining through the crack in the curtains, so it’s daytime.

Blink.

There’s the silky dress you wore last night draped over the chair, your tiny underthings laid carefully across it, so you got undressed yourself.

Blink.

Your head is full, your mouth dry, your stomach already growling its discontent, so you’re hungover.

You groan and sit up.

Blink.

Taehyung and the events of last night come back to you.

You nearly fucked your roommate, would have fucked him, if he hadn’t made it so obvious that you were just another body to him.

The only girl on campus he hasn’t fucked.

Blink.

Wincing, you swing your legs onto the floor and get up.

Your head throbs.

You pick up the glass of water by your bed and down it.

By the time you’ve showered and done your skincare, your stomach is making it impossible to concentrate on anything.

You step out your room and are startled by Taehyung standing just outside your door.

‘Shit,’ you say.

Taehyung says, ‘let’s go to brunch.’

***

It’s weird, to think that this is one of the last times you and Taehyung will do this.

You use your hunger as an excuse to avoid talking, and Taehyung doesn’t seem like he’s in a rush to say anything either.

‘It’s not that I don’t want to kiss you,’ he says, muffled over a mouthful of pancakes.

You grimace and spear a bite of sausage.

‘It’s fine, Tae, I was drunk and emotional.’

‘Don’t hide behind it, you weren’t that drunk.’

His voice rings out, clear as a bell.

You look at each other. There’s frustration in his face, in the way his brows are drawn together, in the way his lips are in a straight line.

‘What are you saying, Tae?’

Your voice is soft, a vulnerability in it that you tend not to show.

You think Taehyung notices, because when he speaks again, his voice is soft too.

He sounds like when he speaks to you sometimes, when you wake up in the middle of the night still on the couch, the TV still on and he tells you to go to bed.

He sounds like when you’re out on the balcony some evenings after a tough day when only nicotine and talking shit will ease the tightness in your chest.

You’re so fucking fond of Taehyung, you realise now.

He lives his own life, separate to you, but he’s always been there when you’ve needed him.

You don’t spend that much time talking, but you know him intimately all the same.

You know he likes when you look after him a little, putting out food for him.

You know he hates leaving washing up for the next day and that he’s got a secret love for sports films and anything where the underdog triumphs.

You know that although you never see him go to the gym, he loves a team game.

You know he plays jazz when he’s sad and that his eyes look like wet velvet when he cries.

Taehyung’s opening his mouth to speak, but he stops when you get up and slide into the booth beside him.

You have no words left, so you kiss him instead.

It’s chaste, the way your lips touch, but then his arm slides around you and he tilts his head, and a thin line of heat unfurls inside you.

You never touch, and now he’s lighting little fires under your skin wherever he touches you.

Taehyung says your name on a breath, like smoke.

When you finally pull away, he dips his head, steals another kiss, before he’ll let you go.

‘I’ve been thinking about this for a while,’ he says, face still inches from yours.

‘Me too,’ you admit.

‘Yeah?’

‘Yeah.’

‘Fuck, I’m embarassingly hard,’ he tells you, shifting his hips.

‘Let’s go do something about it,’ you say.

***

When you and Taehyung reach your apartment, there’s half a basketball team waiting outside.

Yoongi steps forward. ‘We thought you might need a hand carrying things for the party later.’

You’re surprised, but you rally quickly.

‘Yeah, we need muscles,’ you say, glancing at Taehyung, wondering if he’s organised this.

Taehyung looks as surprised as you do. ‘Yeah ok, let’s go pick some stuff up.’

He adjusts himself again, and for a moment the outline of his erection in his sweats is so clear you have the sudden strong urge to drop to your knees and worship his cock.

Yoongi’s got his head tilted, he’s looking at you, and you wonder how much of your filthy imaginings show on your face.

Then he gives you a half smile.

‘Y/N, you can ride with me.’

***

You end up alone in the car with Yoongi.

You watch idly as he drives, forearms flexing, big hands hooked over the wheel.

‘You look good, Yoongi,’ you say.

He casts a glance at you. ‘Yeah, you too, pretty girl.’

He raises an eyebrow at you. ‘So you and Taehyung?’

‘Would’ve fucked if you hadn’t turned up today,’ you confess.

Yoongi looks amused. ‘Shit, yeah?’

‘I don’t know how I feel about it,’ you tell him, looking out the window at the buildings flashing past.

Yoongi shrugs. ‘You’re hot, he’s hot, you’re moving out soon. Sometimes sex is just sex.’

‘Like us?’

Yoongi says, teasing, ‘when did you get so needy? You barely even say hello when I see you these days.’

He signals, turns into the store car park. ‘Anyway, you know that’s not true, I take you out all the time.’

You climb out the car, wait for him to walk to the store together.

‘Wanna hold hands?’ you ask.

Yoongi laughs. ‘I want to turn around and take you back to bed right now.’

You lean into his side. ‘Might take you up on that.’

‘Yeah,’ Yoongi agrees. ‘Wear those silk panties for me tonight.’

‘And Tae?’

Yoongi looks down at you, that familiar smirk on his face. ‘He can join in if he wants.’

You consider this.

‘Shit, you dirty girl,’ Yoongi says, but he doesn’t sound mad about it.

He squeezes you into his side as you walk into the store.

***

You catch Taehyung in the living room before the party.

He looks stunning tonight, his hair styled, his skin glowing.

His beautiful face is as perfect as it ever was.

‘Like my shirt?’ he asks.

He stops in front of you, closer than he usually stands.

You wonder how many other norms are going out the window tonight.

You’re wearing the silk panties Yoongi requested, a silky dress that barely covers you.

‘Like my dress?’ you ask.

‘You’re perfect,’ Taehyung tells you. He smiles at you affectionately.

You say, ‘wait, I have something for you.’

You go to your room, pull out the record you picked out for him.

It’s a jazz piano piece that had played a lot in the coffee shop you spent a lot of time in when you were back home for your dad.

It’s sad, the notes drawn out and stark. It’d reminded you of the many nights you’d spent, on your balcony with Taehyung.

Taehyung puts the record on.

He doesn’t ask you to dance, not verbally anyway, but he holds out his arms and you step into them and he holds you close as he sways.

You lean your head against his chest, and his breathing stays slow, even.

He feels warm, and safe.

He feels an awful lot like someone you’re meant to be with.

You wonder why it’s taken you the whole year to realise.

Next week, you’re moving to another city.

It’s too late for regrets now.

Taehyung’s body moves with yours. He presses his cheek to your head.

The notes surround you, plaintive and wistful.

You wish there was more to say.

Taehyung holds you until the record plays out.

***

Your and Taehyung’s party is teeming with people, half of whom you don't even know.

Jimin and Jungkook have done something to your sound system, the music’s playing loud enough to raise complaints from half the city.

You don’t give a fuck, not today, when the bass fills the void of longing inside you.

Yoongi’s leaning against the railing of your balcony, facing out.

You’re facing the opposite direction, pressed close to his side.

Taehyung’s against the wall across your living room, looking straight at you as Yoongi drapes an arm around you and pulls you between him and the railing.

He kisses you. He tastes sweet, you wonder what he’s been drinking.

He murmurs, close to your ear. ‘Did you get dressed for me, pretty girl?’

‘Yeah,’ you tell him. ‘You gonna undress me?’

‘I’ll undress you,’ Yoongi promises. There’s a glint of something in his eyes. ‘Is your roommate going to watch?’

You say, ‘ask him yourself, he’s coming over here.’

Taehyung approaches you and Yoongi. He takes his time, a deliberate languidness to his movements that reminds you of a panther stalking its prey.

Yoongi doesn’t move as Taehyung slots himself in next to you.

‘Hyung,’ Taehyung says. ‘Can you give me and Y/N a minute.’

Yoongi eyes him. ‘Don’t 'hyung' me now. You can say what you need to say with me here.’

‘Come with me,’ Taehyung says to you. ‘If this is the last chance we have then I want to take it.’

Both men look at you.

Your heart’s beating, fit to burst, in your chest.

You take both men by the arm and lead them to your room.

***

The lights are low, the thumping bass vibrating through the wall.

In contrast to the rest of the apartment, your room is cool, the hallway leading to it long enough to put distance between you three and the crowd in your living room.

Yoongi, with the easy confidence of a man who knows exactly how this goes, takes your mouth. His kisses are designed to tease both you and the man watching, open-mouthed, tongue openly licking into your mouth.

‘Want to watch how I please her?’ Yoongi asks, directed at Taehyung. He slides his hands over your bare back.

‘She’s beautiful, isn’t she?’

Yoongi’s speaking to Taehyung, but he’s looking at you.

He turns you so your back is to Taehyung, who’s sitting in your chair.

He lifts the hem of your slip dress, the silken fabric rustling against the silk of your panties.

He cups your ass as he kisses you, long fingers tracing the cleft of your ass.

He’s lifting your dress higher and higher.

‘Arms up,’ he tells you, and you comply.

Yoongi tosses your dress onto the floor.

He admires your bare tits with a flattering intensity.

He wraps an arm around you, cupping your breast as he turns you around to face Taehyung.

You cast a glance at Taehyung, and you’re transfixed.

His eyes travel from Yoongi’s arm across your chest to your face.

He says, quietly and with feeling, ‘you’re so fucking pretty.’

His voice is hushed, reverent.

Yoongi’s thumb flicks over your nipple, and Taehyung bites his lip as Yoongi lets go of your breast to cup the other.

His other hand kneads your ass until you’ve moving your hips against him.

You’re wet, and as Yoongi slides his hand between your legs to cup you, he grunts his approval.

‘You like that, pretty girl? You like how we’re both so hard for you? My dick hurts, and I’m sure Taehyung’s does too. Look at how he’s touching himself.’

Your gaze flies to Taehyung. He’s stroking over the clear outline of his erection, grinding against his own palm as he watches Yoongi touching you.

Yoongi hooks his fingers into your panties.

‘Wore these for me, didn’t you?’

He tugs them down, and you step out of them.

‘Go give them to Taehyung, baby.’

You turn your head to look back at Yoongi.

He’s looking back at you, cool, expressionless.

‘I’ll give these to Tae, then can I come back and suck your dick?’

Yoongi grins at you. ‘All yours, baby.’

You walk over to Taehyung, his eyes following your every move.

He takes your panties, then asks, ‘can you kiss me?’

Your thoughts flash back to when he asked if he should kiss you.

Taehyung doesn’t wait for a response this time.

He tugs your face down to his, and he kisses you, warm and sweet.

It’s the first time you’ve kissed, and as first times go, it’s perfect.

Taehyung’s lips mould to yours like he was made to fit against you.

You forget that you’re completely nude, that Yoongi’s watching, and you kiss him back.

You drown in him.

By the time you pull away, you’re both breathless.

‘Why did we wait so long?’ he murmurs, face pressed to yours still.

‘You’re an idiot,’ you say, but you feel so much affection for him you’re giddy with it. ‘I’m an idiot.’

Taehyung tweaks your breast, and you cover yourself with a squeal.

He sneaks a hand around your hip to pinch your ass.

‘Show me how you suck dick,’ he says. ‘I’ve been fantasizing about it.’

You can’t stop your smile as you turn back to Yoongi.

Yoongi gives you a cocky half-smile. ‘Come get comfortable, baby.’

He’s manspreading on your bed, hand curled around himself. He strokes his cock as you position yourself, even though he already looks plenty hard.

He pats your hip. ‘Ass up, let’s give Taehyung a show.’

You kiss the head of his cock and take him in. He grunts his approval as you suckle him. He’s thick, hard like velvet over stone, and as he glides into your throat he moans.

You tug at his balls, and his hips move.

‘Fuck, you’re good at this,’ he groans, voice a rasp, muscles in his thighs taut under your hands.

You press your tongue firmly to the underside of him, and Yoongi groans again.

‘Come ride me,’ he says.

He curls his hands around your hips, helping you balance on top of him.

You slide his cock along your cunt. You’re so slick with arousal now the slide is easy.

Yoongi says, ‘want to give us a hand?’

Taehyung climbs onto the bed behind you. He must have taken his clothes off along the way, because all you can feel is his bare chest pressed against your back as he curls an arm under your breasts, his bare cock nudging the curve of your ass.

Yoongi’s flat on his back but somehow he still has complete control.

‘You’re a dirty girl aren’t you? So greedy.’

He grunts as you grind against him. ‘Go on, pretty girl, put it on me.’

You unroll a condom onto his length and line him up.

Taehyung’s nibbling along your shoulder, touching your breasts as Yoongi’s cock fills you.

You moan when he’s in all the way.

‘Fuck, you feel so fucking good,’ Yoongi tells you. There’s a sheen of sweat on his brow now as he helps you grind on him.

His cock’s angled so beautifully you gasp with each thrust of his hips.

Taehyung’s stroking his thumbs over your nipples, moaning as he rocks his cock against your ass.

You don’t realise you have your eyes closed until Yoongi says, voice strained, ‘open your eyes, baby, look how well you take me.’

You’re panting now, every movement sending waves of pleasure through your core.

‘Fuck fuck fuck fuck,’ Yoongi chants.

He bucks his pelvis under you, squeezing your hips hard as he comes.

His deep groan pulls you over the edge with him.

You’re coming, fuck, and it’s so good you’re blinded.

Behind you, Taehyung’s moaning, grinding into your ass.

Someone says your name, but you have no idea who.

***

Yoongi’s murmuring your name into your ear.

The lights in your room are low now, the music fading out.

You don’t know how much time’s passed since you fell asleep between Yoongi and Taehyung.

Yoongi says, ‘I gotta go, baby. Taehyung’s getting people to leave.’

You try to sit up, but he stops you. ‘Just rest a bit. Everything’s handled.’

He passes you a glass of water.

‘Heard you were moving out next week,’ he says, watching you drink.

‘Yeah,’ you say.

There’s a sort of wistfulness in his tone. ‘I guess I’ll text you if I’m ever in your area.’

You put your hand over his. ‘You know how to get hold of me,’ you remind him.

His half-smile makes your heart burn bright in your chest.

‘Answer your phone,’ he says.

‘You answer yours,’ you retort.

You both laugh. He pulls you into a half hug, and too soon, he’s pulling away.

‘See you around, pretty girl.’

He gives you one last smile, then he’s leaving your room, closing the door quietly behind him.

You lie back down, but the urge to speak to Taehyung’s too strong.

You don’t want to wait.

You slip on clothes and step through your now empty apartment.

Taehyung’s standing on the balcony, looking out.

‘Hey,’ you say.

His smile is brilliant, beautiful, perfect.

He’s everything you want, and you’re sad it’s taken you this long to realise.

‘Hey,’ Taehyung says.

He reaches for you, and you slide into his arms, like a key sliding into a lock.

It feels right.

Taehyung buries his face in your hair.

‘Feels like a lot,’ he says.

‘Too fucking much,’ you agree instantly.

He’s looking at you so intently you feel shy.

‘Let’s not talk about it,’ you say, tipping your face to his, putting your finger across his lips like you’re shushing him even though he hasn’t said anything.

Taehyung dips his head to kiss you. It’s even better than the first time.

***

This time, Taehyung and you take your time.

You’re in his bed, lying on your back, giggling as he blows raspberries on your belly.

He hooks a finger in the waistband of your panties, tugs playfully.

‘I once used these to jerk off,’ he informs you.

You stare at him incredulously. ‘These? They’re not even a sexy pair.’

‘It was when you wore these with those low waisted jeans,’ he reminds you. ‘I spent the whole day staring at them.’

You put your hand on his cheek, rubbing against the stubble on his jaw.

‘You didn’t,’ you whisper.

Taehyung nudges closer, lips against yours.

‘Did. Came so hard thinking about you wearing these with my cum in them,’ he tells you. His voice is so low it makes you shiver.

He’s kissing down your neck now, making small rumbling noises as you press yourself to him. You can’t get close enough, his skin’s so warm.

He pushes closer, hand under your thigh, making you open up for him so he can fit in between.

His cock, deliciously hard, nudges between your legs.

‘Take these off?’ you ask, and he nods.

You slip your panties down past the curve of your ass, but when you try to move your leg off his hip, his grip tightens.

‘Stay,’ he says.

He nudges forward, and the head of his cock pushes into you.

He feels so good you’re biting your lip, trying to move, to take more of him in.

He clutches your thigh, tight, and you both stop as your panties rip at the seam.

‘Shit, Tae,’ you gasp, giggling.

He’s already pushing into you, stretching you on his cock.

‘Ah, fuck,’ he groan, voice thick, slurred with want.

He grasps your hip, and pulls you under him. Sinks in all the way.

He fits between your thighs so beautifully you’re halfway to coming even before he starts rocking into you.

‘Taehyung,’ you gasp.

He’s still holding your hip, holding you down so he can slide his cock into you.

He’s so hard and heavy you’re lost, opening yourself up to him.

There’s nothing but the sounds of your breathing, jagged and irregular, the slap of skin against skin, the weight of him on you, the smell of his shampoo.

His hair’s so soft, why have you never touched it before?

Taehyung’s dragging his mouth over your skin, holding you tight, and he groans, deep in his chest, as you come.

He circles his hips, grinding against you, grunting.

He says your name, a shout, and then he’s pulling you closer, arms around you, face in your neck.

It’s a while before either of you can let go.

***

When you stir, wriggle a bit, Taehyung’s big hand tightens on your ass.

‘I’m kind of hungry,’ you confess.

‘What time is it?’

You roll over, grab your phone and tell him.

‘The diner’s probably open, we can get breakfast,’ Taehyung suggests.

You look at each other.

‘For old times sake,’ he continues.

You’re distracted by the flex of his arm as he puts it behind his head, props himself up.

You think you have enough memories of you and Taehyung getting hungover brunch in the diner on your road.

You think it’s time to make some new ones.

‘Or we could just fuck instead.’

Taehyung laughs, slaps your hip.

‘Come ride me then.’

You don’t make him ask twice.

***

Your things are packed up, every physical trace of you removed from this apartment that you’ve shared with Taehyung for the last year.

Taehyung’s loaded the last of his things into his car, and in an hour your parents will be here to help you move too.

You’re on the balcony, watching Taehyung as he shuts the trunk, locks his car. He looks up at you, then he disappears into your building.

Then he’s back in the apartment, standing in the doorway, head tilted as he looks at you and the empty space between.

You’ve said a lot of things to each other in the last week, and now all that’s left is an odd kind of longing for what might have been.

You don’t want to romanticise it just because it’s ending, but fuck, you’re going to miss him.

Taehyung’s holding you now, you have no idea when he closed the gap between you.

There’s sadness in his eyes, but a smile on his lips and it’s enough for you.

‘Don’t fuck,’ he says.

‘In communal spaces,’ you finish.

Neither of you laugh, but you can feel his lips curving against yours.

It’s still the sweetest kiss you’ve ever had.

***

A year later

You’re frowning at an email you’ve just received when your colleague stops by your desk.

You look up.

Jihyo says, ‘these are the new members of the design team who have just been hired.’

You smile automatically as you greet the three people standing in front of your desk.

You make eye contact with each person in turn, and when your gaze falls on the last person, a fluttery heat starts in the middle of your chest.

Dark brows drawn together like he’s trying to work you out, a husky low voice that you know as well as your own.

Kim Taehyung steps forward, hand out.

‘I’m Kim Taehyung,’ he says.

Your smile is brilliant, a match for his.

‘Y/N L/N,’ you reply, clasping his hand.

‘Are you free for dinner tonight?’ he asks. ‘I’ve just moved to this city and would love for someone to show me around.’

‘I think I can help you with that,’ you reply.

He still hasn’t let go of your hand.

‘Yeah?’

‘Yeah,’ you say.

You’re aware the others are staring, but you can’t find it in yourself to care.

Taehyung smiles at you, lazy, devastating. Perfect.

‘Ok,’ he says. ‘Let’s try this again.’

©hamsterclaw 2023

#kim taehyung smut #kim taehyung fic #taehyung x reader #yoongi smut #bts fic #bts smut

867 notes · View notes

chrollohearttags · 1 year

Text

cake • a. artlert

“I got a sweet tooth and it’s only for you..”

content warning and themes: blackfem!reader, florist reader, sexual content/smut, finger sucking, food play, friends with benefits, tongue kissing, fluff, creampie

📝: another cute and horknee drabble with baker armin because he’s in my head again.

wc: 693

.･*:｡.･*:｡.･*:｡.･*:｡.･*:｡.･*:｡.･*:｡.･*:｡.･*:｡.･*:｡.･*:.･*:｡.･*:｡.･

“I swear this is the last time I’ll come over and help you. You always get me in trouble.”

“You sure? The way you’re squeezing me right now says otherwise.”

the snarky response from your friend and fellow small business owner elicited a laugh from between your quivering lips. Biting down on the lower one in hopes to stifle your moans, all in hopes to keep quiet. But that just wouldn’t do for him as there was no need for either of you to hold back those feelings and desires. The ones you were forced to conceal during the work day. Having thoughts of one another while serving customers at your respective shops. (Y/N), preparing beautiful bouquets of flowers for everything from last minute anniversaries, impromptu date nights, graduations and the frequent wedding arrangements. And Armin, serving up his creative confectionery in the forms of pastries, delectable desserts and his signature cakes that had gone viral a plethora of times. Mainly due in part to his looks but you weren’t mad at it..watching these girls in the comments fawn and swoon over the baby faced baker, knowing that at that exact moment, he had your leg hiked up on his desk as he pounded your little pussy; keeping it exposed to the cool air with this finger hooked around your panties. How he had managed to lure you over there? Under the guise of helping organize some inventory once you closed up for the evening. But rather, the only getting rearranged were your guts. This was a common occurrence for you and Mr. Artlert. A secret love affair between two popular shopkeepers in the exact same neighborhood, all starting when he first invited you over to his place to learn how he created his sweet treats. Granted, the night ended in the two of you doing some less than professional activities. Needless to say, the frosting wasn’t the only thing getting piped! Now here you were..legs in his grasp, ass clapping against him in a thunderous haze and fingers scaling your mouth as he prompted you to drool. Licking them clean of the frosting he used to incite some foreplay. Spreading them on your sensitive nipples, stomach and even your back, which he all slurped up before dicking you down.

“Shit!…Armin—that’s my fucking spot, right there, baby!”

and you didn’t have to tell him twice. That much was apparent by the way that milky white cream began coating his cock. The sounds of squelching reminiscent of when he stirred his sticky batters together. With his head tossed back on his shoulders, the blonde rutted his hips into you, clutching your throat to keep you in his grasp. Voice cracking under pressure as he pulsated deep between those walls.

“Yeah? Well I guess I should put my claim on it then, huh? I just want to nut inside of you..so bad. Please..can I?” Obviously knowing he’d get whatever he wanted when he cooed you like that! And naturally, you’d cave and nod, as your mouth would be too preoccupied still housing his digits. Which was all he needed..before you’d feel his thrusts get rough for a moment and then halt altogether; followed by a loud grunt and his seed spilling inside of you. You had never heard such pretty moans from a man before and with you, he didn’t mind crying out as he came because you felt that damn good! “C’mere..” spinning your head around to shove you into a kiss. The slow, sloppy tongue pecks and suckling, followed by him showering you in sweet nothings. Telling you how pretty you were and how you’d always done so good for him.

“That’s my girl..you never tell me no. That’s why I can’t get enough of you.”

knowing that with (y/n), he’d always have his cake and be able to eat it too.

454 notes · View notes

from-the-clouds · 1 year

Text

texas sun - joel miller x f!reader - vol. vii

series masterlist | series playlist | writing masterlist | previous chapter |

chapter summary: Reader and Joel try (poorly) to keep their budding relationship hidden from Sarah. pairing: pre-outbreak!joel miller x f!reader words: 6.3k chapter warnings: SMUT, 18+ ONLY. Angst, PTSD (though not explicitly stated). References to abusive parents. A bit of a drunken brawl. Men being generally shitty and misogynistic. Alcohol and marijuana mention. Fluff. As always please dm if you have questions. a/n: Strap in, ya'll. This chapter is pretty heavy at times but I promise, it'll be worth it. Things have been going well so we needed to bring some drama! Also, some of my links are breaking and I try to update them but as of right now the masterlist should have links to all the chapters ! Also special shoutout to @str84pedro for reminding me to close out the 'Joel getting his wallet back' storyline. And @ay0nha for the Hank Williams joke. tysm my friends.

-June 27th, 2003-

“Joel.”

Pleasure swirls low in your belly, his name comes out as a throaty moan.

“Aren’t you-oh, fuck,” you manage. “-worried y-your neighbors might see?”

You’re splayed open on one of the patio chairs in his backyard, fingers curled in his hair. The dress you’d worn is hiked over your hips, thong pushed to the side. Joel has long since pulled your legs apart, one of them hooked over the cool metal arm of the chair, the other pressed against his cheek, his beard rubbing your skin raw.

“No.” His lips pull away from the suction they have on your clit, but the two fingers he’s got inside you continue to work diligently, scissoring and curling against a spot deep within you that serves as the cause for all your stuttering. “They shouldn’t be lookin’ over the fence,” he murmurs, voice surprisingly clear and steady considering what he’s doing to you. “And if you stay quiet, you won’t give them a reason to.”

Joel hums contentedly as he latches his mouth back against the sensitive bud, sucking furiously, and you do as you’re told, panting into your palm to keep your whimpers to yourself. It’s Joel who seems to be struggling the most to stay quiet, especially when you arch your back to press your hips into his face, and he moans against you. He loves going down on you – you’ve learned through lots of experience. As if to prove it, you look down to where he’s knelt between your legs and see that his free hand is squeezing himself over his jeans.

It’s only been ten minutes since you walked through his front door. Currently, you can’t remember what your plans had been for the night. Seeing a movie? Going to dinner? For a walk? Your brain is mush. But Joel had suggested you have a quick drink on his back patio before leaving and, well…here you are.

You can’t get enough of Joel, and yet, you never have to ask for him. When you have plans, they’re often abandoned, and you end up tangled in bedsheets together. Whether it’s his place or yours, he’s taken you everywhere and every way you can think of, but you still want more. He is just as insatiable.

Sarah has been away at camp for two weeks now, which means you’d actually gotten to spend an entire weekend together. This past Saturday, Joel had made good on a promise to spend an entire day in bed with you, and then Sunday was spent the same way after he’d revealed to you he had never had sex stoned. Well, we need to fix that, you’d said. It felt like a huge accomplishment when you were able to drag yourselves out of bed and clean up for long enough to grab a meal at a 24-hour diner that wasn’t far down the road. Such a short drive, even, that when you’d tried to suck him off in the car on the way home Joel had said there ‘wasn’t enough time.’

Of course, most of your flings started off with this phase, but Joel still found ways to surprise you at every turn. You didn’t know it was possible to be with someone who was so thoughtful, so sincere. It was easy to trust him, to be yourself with him, even if you were still learning how.

Tonight is your last night alone before Sarah returns from camp, and Joel’s determined to use it to his full advantage.

After you’ve come on his fingers, against his tongue – and he talks you through it – Joel pulls you onto his lap. He’s still on his knees, crushing you against him, and you can feel him straining through his jeans.

“We’re not gonna make it to the movie, are we?” It’s more of an observation than it is anything else, pulling back from one of his greedy kisses.

“You wouldn’t be upset if we didn’t go, would you?” There’s some sincerity in his expression, like he almost feels bad.

“Stay here with you, or go see a terrible action movie?” you say, shaking your head, steadying your breathing. “That’s a tough one.”

Joel rolls his eyes, but doesn’t hide his smile. “Want to go upstairs?”

“Sure.”

─── ･｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

At this point you’ve been in Joel’s room more than once. But you notice new things each time. There’s photos of him and Sarah he has framed on his dresser, one from when she’s just a toddler, and he looks not much older than a kid himself. He has a stack of books there too, but they’re collecting dust, one of them is some sort of thick construction manual, and the other is titled Everything You Need To Know About Creating a Startup. You would sooner crack those open than you would your old law textbooks. There’s always a pile of clothes on the floor, and you don’t think the chair in the corner has ever not had a couple pairs of his work jeans strewn over the back.

Joel lays back on the bed, stretches out like a cat, his arms above his head, flannel and t-shirt combo lifting to reveal the swathe of hair that trails down and disappears into his jeans. You’re well accustomed to his body at this point, but it still doesn’t stop your stomach from flipping every time any inch of his skin is revealed to you. The muscles in his biceps flex as he props his head back on his forearm, looks over at you, pausing in the threshold. “Why are you bein’ shy all the sudden?”

“Can’t I just look at you?”

Joel’s face gets flushed, or at least, it sort of looks like it does, and he holds a hand towards you. “Get over here.”

You step forward to take his hand, and he tugs you onto him, shifting his weight so the line of his body is pressed against yours. Since he’s already gotten you off, and you had a few moments apart while walking upstairs, you’ve both calmed down a little, and the kisses he gives you are lazy, exploratory.

Outside, all the light has nearly left the sky. A cool breeze filters through his open windows, the sheer curtains billowing out. When you shiver, Joel pulls you closer, one broad, warm palm raking up your arm, brushing over pebbled skin.

Joel makes love to you slowly, languidly, hovering over you. This isn’t new, it’s how he always seems to like it. Before, it had never been your favorite. You used to think it meant there was a lack of enthusiasm, but you must have been with the wrong people. With Joel, it just makes sense. You’re still able to taste the desperation dripping off of him when you trace your tongue along his collarbone, and can feel how badly he wants you in the unhurried drag of his fingertips. The way he touches you, so confident, but also so tenderly, makes you feel insane. All you want to do is take and take. And he’s so eager to give it to you.

When you wake the next morning, your cheek is resting on his sternum, and his palm in the dip of your spine. Window still open from the night before, you can hear the morning doves calling – probably what woke you to begin with. Something you’ve learned is that when given the chance, Joel loves to sleep. You do too, obviously, but it doesn’t seem to come as easily. So when you tilt your head back to look up at him, you’re surprised to find him already awake. Sunlight glitters off the amber in his eyes, and there’s such a warmth to his gaze that your first instinct is to turn away.

But you don’t. You let him kiss you, let his beard tickle your neck.

“I love waking up next to you,” Joel whispers.

Even though you’re too afraid to say anything in return, he doesn’t hold it against you.

─── ･｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

-July 5, 2003-

Sarah answers the door to her house before your knuckles can even make contact with the wood. She all-but pounces on you as you step over the threshold, wrapping you in a hug that’s so tight you barely can breath, and pulling back before you can return it. “How are you? Where have you been?”

“I’m good, just busy,” She’s been back for a week and you still haven't had a chance to see her. Work has been hectic, and you’d even had to work during the holiday yesterday to meet a deadline for a new client. “I’ve missed you.”

“I missed you too,” she gives you another quick hug.

You wait for her to pull back before she speaks again. “How was camp?”

“So much fun,” she nods. “But I got eaten alive by mosquitos so I’m kind of happy to be home.”

“Yeah,” you say. “I don’t know how well I’d do out in the wilderness for so long.”

“Oh yeah,” Sarah raises her eyebrows. “The New Yawk-er,” she says with an unconvincing accent, but grimaces. “Sorry, that was bad.”

“We’ll work on it,” you pat her shoulder.

There’s a fresh smattering of freckles across her nose from the days she’s spent outside under the Texan sun, which is unrelenting this time of year. It also seems she’s grown another inch since the last time you’d seen her, but you can’t be certain. “My dad is upstairs. Running late as usual,” she says, rolling her eyes. “You can come in. I have so much to tell you.”

You act tentative, because as far as she knows, this is your first time in her home. When you sit on the couch, she plops next to you, leaning against the cushions. “What’s this?” you reach for one of the many photos strewn out across the coffee table.

“Oh, that’s my dad and his brother when they were kids.” The photo is of the two young boys seated in a red wagon. Tommy’s got a half-eaten strawberry in his hand, his lips and cheeks stained red. And he’s leaning back against Joel, who's wearing a cowboy hat that’s far too big for him, his plump cheek resting on the top of his brother’s dark curls. You are ashamed by the twinge of bitter longing that twists in your gut when you see their carefree smiles, despite it being one of the sweetest one of the sweetest things you’ve ever seen. But you’re even more ashamed that for one quick second, you wonder what Joel would look like with a son that age. Would he be just as adorable? “My dad was going through a bunch of old family photos the other day,” Sarah says.

“Cute,” you observe.

But Sarah doesn’t seem as interested in them as you do, so to avoid any suspicion, you put the photo down. You let her recount her trip, starting with day one, and moving on. Sarah explains what it was like to live in a cabin for a week, to sleep for a night under the stars. She learned archery, and swam, and rode horses, and hiked, and wove friendship bracelets with the other girls there. She shows you one of the multicolored woven bracelets on her wrist, and pulls an identical one out of her pocket to fasten around your own. It’s so thoughtful you aren’t quite sure how to thank her, and you’re hit with a fresh wave of guilt over the secret you’ve been keeping. It had been easier to ignore when she wasn’t around.

You hear Joel shuffling down the stairs before he comes into view. “You ready, babygirl?”

“Yeah,” Sarah answers. “We’re waiting.”

“Hey,” Joel says when he reaches the landing. He pauses, looks between you and Sarah, huddled on the couch together, and then nods at you once. “Nice to see you.”

“You too,” you say, rather rigidly. “Thanks for letting me tag along.”

“Of course,” he says over his shoulder as he heads into the kitchen. He’s trying so hard to be nonchalant, you almost buy it. Almost.

The county fair only lasts a week, and tonight is the last night you’re able to go. Sarah had called you at work a few days earlier to invite you. She seemed adamant that although it was a yearly tradition to go with Joel, she wanted you there. I asked my dad already and he said it was fine. It had been awhile since you’d gone to a carnival, and you weren’t one to turn down the opportunity to eat a funnel cake and drink some fresh-squeezed lemonade.

“Alright,” Joel returns from the kitchen with his car keys, all business. “Let’s head out.”

He holds the door open as Sarah filters outside, followed by you. But you stop yourself in the threshold, turning to Joel. “Did you remember your wallet?” You ask him out of habit, because historically speaking, he’s always leaving it behind.

Joel pats his pockets, groans, throwing his head back. “Shit.” and then disappears back inside. Briefly, you worry that Sarah might have picked up on the implications of the question – maybe you know him a little too well – but she doesn’t even seem to be paying attention, and you scold yourself for being so paranoid.

“Good catch,” Joel says as he exits the house, stuffing his wallet into his back pocket. He grins at you and Sarah.

You bite back a teasing remark. Are you sure you’re the oldest child in your family? Sometimes he seems just a tad too frazzled, forgetful. That might’ve drawn a laugh from him, or a pointed ‘Shut Up’. But you’ve got to keep that sort of thing to yourself, if you can.

You pile into the car, Sarah in the back and you on the passengers side, but it doesn’t stop her from leaning forward to stay in the conversation while Joel puts his elbow over the bench seat and looks over his shoulder to back out of the driveway. It’s a hot night, so he’s only got on a fitted t-shirt that’s a tad too tight through his chest and upper body. You do everything in your power not to let your gaze linger on him. It’s hard to believe someone could make putting a car in reverse sexy, but if anyone could do it, it’s Joel.

“Do you like The Chicks?” Sarah asks from behind you, once you’re on the road.

“I don’t listen to much country music,” you’re honest.

“You live in Texas,” Joel interjects.

“Yeah, you live in Texas,” Sarah echoes. “I think you’ll like them. Dad, will you play my favorite song?” She nudges you to get your attention. “He finally fixed his radio.”

“Is your seatbelt on?” Joel does a double-take when he notices how far up she’s sitting.

“Yes, I actually can get a pretty good range of motion with this thing.”

“Well it needs to go across your shoulders,” Joel adjusts his rearview mirror so he can see Sarah better.

“It is, Dad,” she chastises. “Can you please play the song?”

You smirk. Joel puts one of the discs sitting in his center console into the CD player, and then skips forward two tracks.

“Turn it up,” Sarah says immediately as the first few bars of quiet guitar kick in.

“I should’ve never bought you this album,” Joel grumbles, but reaches out and obeys.

I said I wanna touch the earth, I wanna break it in my hands, I wanna grow something wild and unruly….

“Are you going to learn to play this on guitar like I asked?” she questions Joel, who is focused on the road.

“No,” he deadpans.

Oh, you play guitar? You’re tempted to ask, like he doesn’t put on a show for you every time you decide to get stoned on your back porch – which has been often, lately. But it seems a little too risky, so you keep your mouth shut. It’s better right now to be an observer.

“Why not?” Sarah asks.

“Not my style.”

“It might be good to expand your catalog outside of Hank Williams and Johnny Cash,” Sarah encourages.

“I play more than just them,” Joel defends himself.

“Whatever you say,” Sarah says, but looks over at you as though she’s skeptical. You grin and roll down your window.

I said, cowboy take me away, fly this girl as high as you can into the wild blue…

“Turn it up,” Sarah prompts again.

Joel pretends like he doesn’t hear her, so when she requests again, you reach out to do it. Instantly, you’re met with a firm, smack on the back of your hand. “It’s loud enough,” he says.

“Dad!” Sarah exclaims, and seems almost shocked that he would do such a thing, offended on your behalf.

Joel doesn’t turn from the road. “She’s fine.”

“Ouch,” you dramatize, shaking out your hand, egged on by Sarah.

“Oh, come on, I barely touched you,” Joel reaches out, squeezing your hand gently in response. A force of habit. For a second, you’ve both forgotten where you are, who you are with. Joel pulls away, clears his throat and looks back at the road. “You’re fine.”

You know if you look for Sarah’s reaction, you’ll give yourself away. So instead you continue to antagonize. “What if I was turning it up for myself?”

“Yeah, dad. It’s a really good song.”

“It is,” you nod. “I’m enjoying it.”

“Stop that. Don’t encourage her,” Joel warns you.

You reach back out to turn up the radio.

“Oh, come on,” Joel rolls his eyes, realizing he’s outnumbered, but he sort of laughs as he does it, running his hand through his hair.

I wanna be the only one for miles and miles, except for maybe you and your simple smile…

You look over your shoulder to wink at Sarah, who is beaming. Satisfied now that the music is blaring from the truck’s speakers, she settles back against her seat and looks out the window, the wind tousling her hair, her sweet voice singing along faintly to the rest of the song. Joel gives you a sidelong glance when she’s not looking, the same unidentifiable warmth in his eyes that you had seen last weekend, and you let your eyes remain on him for another moment, before forcing yourself to turn away.

─── ･｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

The sun is down, and the lights of the carnival glitter and twinkle as you weave through the crowd. Sarah’s arm linked through your own, the other around a giant stuffed teddy bear you’d somehow managed to win at the shooting gallery booth. All those summers of your brother forcing you to play ‘target practice’ with his BB gun when you were supposed to be honing your serve finally paid off. There’s a band playing swing music somewhere, but there are so many people around, and you’ve sort of lost your spatial awareness. Joel and Sarah both seem to know where they are going, so you stick with them.

Every now and then, in the fleeting moments when Sarah runs up ahead of you, or turns her back to look at something, Joel will take her place. You had been a little worried that your teasing in the car may have gone too far, but he doesn’t seem upset. It’s quite the opposite, really. He’ll wind an arm around your waist, put his lips to your temple, squeeze your hand. He seems completely at ease despite the relative chaos around you, and always manages to pull himself away just in time.

“Should we go into the funhouse?” Sarah asks, after your little group has pulled off to the side.

“Eh,” you wrinkle your nose. “I’ll pass.”

“What?” she’s incredulous. “No! You have to, come on.”

“I don’t really want to,” you shake your head.

“Why not?”

“Sarah,” Joel interjects. “She said no.”

“They make me claustrophobic,” you say, tone much softer than her father’s. You were pretty sure you’d be fine, but it seems dumb to traumatize yourself doing something that’s quite literally supposed to be fun.

Surprisingly, Sarah doesn’t continue to press, and instead turns to her father. “I think I’ll stay back,” Joel says. “But you go ahead. We’ll wait.”

“Ugh, lame,” Sarah rolls her eyes, but doesn’t protest, pushing the giant stuffed teddy bear towards it. Joel tucks it under his arm – he’s already holding a bag of popcorn, and she bounds off.

“I didn’t know you were claustrophobic,” Joel says, his eyes locked on Sarah until he sees her disappear into the attraction. Then he turns to you.

“Only in specific situations,” you explain. “Plus, did you know that funhouses were originally invented to give people panic attacks?”

“What? Really?”

“No,” you say. “I just made that up.”

Joel shakes his head. “I guess if I’m thinking about movies I’ve seen, nothing good ever comes from a funhouse.”

“Yeah,” you say. “Carnivals in general don’t usually great media representation.”

“Well, I hope you’re having fun at this one.”

“I am,” you smile at Joel. The crowd is just tipsy enough to be pleasant, and it’s not late enough in the evening for any children to be having the tired-hungry-overstimulated meltdown yet. Plus, you’re in good company. “Are you?”

“I would be havin’ more fun if I didn’t have to watch you walk in front of me in that little dress all night.”

You look down at the floral sundress you’re wearing. It’s very flattering and feminine, and felt right for the hot summer evening. “You don’t like it?”

“No,” Joel says. “I like it a little too much.”

“Oh,” you nod. “I mean….I did sort of wear it because I figured you would.”

“Darlin’,” Joel puts his head back and groans dramatically. “Please don’t tell me that.”

“What’s the issue?”

“Because I can’t touch you. I could now, but instead I’ve gotta carry all her shit.”

You snort, amused, crossing your arms. “You’re in the trenches, huh?”

“Exactly. At least you understand,” Joel smirks. You’re unable to resist the urge to lean close enough to wrap your arms around his torso and kiss him, despite being rather out in the open. Joel lets out a noise that sounds like relief, hand on your waist, keeping you from pulling back.

“How long do you think she’ll be gone?” His eyes flick behind you towards the funhouse. “Think we could sneak off, pay off a carnie to keep watch so we could- what’s that face?”

“Nothing,” you shake your head. “You’ve clearly thought this through…”

“Well, I’ve been third wheeling all night so I had time to get creative,” Joel drops his hand from you and turns you both around so you can see in between two booth games. “You see over there, between those two tents…there’s a dumpster-”

“Sounds hot…”

“Right?”

“...And also kind of like the beginning of an episode of Law & Order.”

Joel loses it, and you steal a bite of popcorn from the bag in his hand to hide how satisfied you are at making him laugh so hard. You nudge him in the ribs with your elbow when his hand goes to cover his eyes.

“What’s so funny?”

The smile doesn’t leave your face as quickly as Joel’s does when you both pivot to find Sarah standing behind you. “Hey babygirl,” he offers a weak grin. “That was quick.”

“Yeah,” she says, smiling. “There wasn’t a line.”

You try not to act suspicious, but you’re wondering how much she heard. Apparently, not enough to be skeptical, because she continues on. “And you’re right,” she looks at you. “It wasn’t very fun.”

“Yeah,” you nod, reaching to take some more popcorn out of the bag in Joel’s hand, hoping it just seems like a nonchalant, platonic thing. “They’re kind of a lot right?”

She nods, shrugs, and then reaches for the popcorn herself. You might be in the clear, and make a pointed effort to keep more distance between you and Joel for the rest of the night.

─── ･｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

“Do you think we should stop for another snack?” Sarah asks, like you haven’t already eaten your weight in junk this evening. But you’ve arrived at a little picnic area surrounded by food trucks and vendors. “Maybe we can sit down for a little.”

“That sounds nice,” Joel says. “Why don’t you two get in line, I’m gonna run to put this in the car.” He lifts the prize you’d given to Sarah up with a grimace. Somehow, he ended up carrying the plush bear all night.

“Is it too heavy for you?” Sarah teases. Joel doesn’t even answer, just rolls his eyes and turns around.

“I’ll be back,” he calls over his shoulder.

Sarah’s giggles subside and Joel disappears into the crowd.

“Where do you wanna go?” you ask her, putting your hands on your hips and taking in the area. At this point in the night, many people attending appear to be fairly plastered. At this point in the evening, most of the families with younger children have cleared out, and it’s well past dinner time, so there aren’t a ton of people hanging in the area. “I probably owe you dinner. And your dad a beer, since he’s paid for everything.”

“He’d like that,” Sarah says. “I’m glad you two are friends.”

“Oh?” you glance over at her. “Yeah, me too.” Sarah just stares at you, doesn’t say anything. “You have a nice family. You, your dad, your Uncle Tommy…”

Sarah just keeps studying you.

“What?”

Her eyes narrow, just a touch. You recall what Joel had told you about her picking up your mannerisms, but you never realized how horrible it was to be on the other side. Still, it was you, who had taught her this, so you do your best to appear confused. What do you want from me? It works, and she smiles, shakes her head, then looks at the ground. “Nothin’,” when she looks back up, there’s something melancholy about her expression, and she kicks the toe of her Converse into the gravel. “Can we get a funnel cake?”

“Lead the way.”

As you follow her to the food truck, her petite form gets jostled by some of the patrons waiting in line near a drink stand. You have to squeeze through them to get by. There’s a picnic table near the walkway where a bunch of men sit – hunched over, listening to a man on the end of the bench tell a very animated story. Several empty draft cups and beer bottles are stacked or lined up on their table, and the sickeningly sweet smell of the tipped cigarillos they’re smoking makes your nostrils burn.

Just as Sarah’s about to pass them, the man talking stretches his arms wide, and the hand that just so happens to be clutching a solo cup filled to the brim reaches out directly into Sarah’s path.

It’s too late. She collides with his arm, and the beer is knocked from his hand, landing on the picnic table and spraying everyone in the vicinity with liquid and sticky foam.

“Oh, I’m so sorry!” Sarah says, putting her hand over her mouth, genuinely apologetic.

And that’s where it should’ve ended.

“What the fuck?” the man, who looks to be about your age, maybe a little older, gives her a once over.

You reach Sarah. “Are you alright?” you ask, stepping between her and the man, turning her away from his nasty glare. Before she can answer, he speaks up again.

“You better learn to watch where you’re fucking going, girl!”

Sarah’s jaw drops, even though she’s staring at the gravel. You turn to face the man. “Hey,” you keep your voice light. “Calm down, dude, it was an accident.”

“Oh, it was an accident?” The man looks down at his shirt, soaked through, then back up at you, his hand landing on the table. “Seems like a pretty big fuckin’ accident.”

“She said sorry,” you shrug. And if you really want to get down to brass tacks, asshole, it was totally your fault, you think, but you keep your cool.

The man drags himself to his feet. Your head tilts back to look at him, notice how he hulks over you, and you ignore the feeling of your heart rate picking up. But you stand your ground, pushing Sarah backwards without looking, hoping to put some space between her and what is becoming an increasingly ridiculous situation. Who the fuck picks a fight with a middle school girl?

“Are you at least gonna pay for another round?”

“Oh, yeah, sure,” you pretend to reach for your purse, even though you have no intention of giving him any money. Prick. You can’t help yourself. “You’re at a county fair in Texas, what do you want, like, two dollars?”

The man flicks the plastic tip of his cigar onto the ground. For a brief moment, your eyes float towards the men at the table behind him. Some of them are watching, seemingly amused, while others stare at the table. Like they know they should be doing something about this, but they aren’t. They won’t. Typical.

The truth is, you’re scared. You’ve been here before. Helpless, praying that some adult would intervene - and being let down every time. Surely, someone had to know. Surely, someone could’ve helped you. In the end, you had to do what you were doing now. Look out for yourself.

“Shut the fuck up, you fuckin’ cunt.” He says it like it’s supposed to end the conversation. But being a woman who's been on her own most of her adult life, and regularly seen as a threat to men’s fragile egos, you give him zero points for creativity.

Your fatal flaw is your mouth. It can get you into trouble, it can get you out of trouble, but one thing is certain; when you’re angry, you always have shit to say.

“Is that all you got?” you ask.

Any bit of bravery that remains vanishes entirely when the man’s hand rises. You take a step backward but know it’s too late, flinching in anticipation. Sarah, who's huddled behind you, clings to your waist, and you nearly topple over her but luckily, you don’t lose your footing.

The impact never comes.

Well, not for you, at least.

Joel has materialized, seemingly out of nowhere, and his hands are fisted in the collar of the man’s shirt. He’s yelling something unintelligible, and it doesn’t really register because you are too focused on the fact that he looks like a wild fucking animal – teeth bared into a nasty snarl, his voice gravelly. Your Joel, the sweet and gentle man who you’ve come to care so much about looks positively feral.

Of course, it’s only then that the other men at the table decide to intervene. It takes three of them to pull Joel off before he can do any significant damage, and they all scatter, heading out in the opposite direction.

You can’t move. It could’ve been worse, you think. There wasn’t even a punch thrown. But it caught enough attention from the crowd that you can hear people murmuring amongst themselves now, like they deserved to have an opinion as bystanders.

Sarah releases her grip from you as Joel makes his way back towards you both, looking shockingly calm after what you’d just seen him do. His daughter tucks herself against his chest, he murmurs something into her hair. You’re still frozen in place, but you manage to turn your head away from the scene, sniff, and straighten up.

“Hey, are you okay?” Joel’s voice is in your ear, his hand is on your shoulder, his face coming into view. For one split second, you’re struck by the impulse to pitch forward, to bury your face into his chest and allow yourself to be comforted. That’s until you see Sarah under his opposite arm and you remember where you are. You’re not a child.

“I’m fine.”

“Are you sure?” Like he doesn’t believe you. You nod, step away enough that his hand drops off of you, and you cross your arms. “I saw what he-”

“I’m fine,” you put every bit of venom that you can into your voice without letting it crack, and you see the change in his face. Whiplash. Oops. That’s too far in the opposite direction. “Really, I’m good,” you say, much more gently this time. Then you force a smile, before realizing that even if you are okay, it’s not really appropriate to smile in this type of situation so you abandon that strategy.

Breathe. Reset.

Reaching out, you squeeze Sarah’s arm. Her eyes are red-rimmed, her cheeks wet, but she doesn’t appear to be crying anymore. “Are you alright?” you ask her.

Sarah nods, relaxing slightly. “Thanks for sticking up for me.”

“Of course,” you answer, and now that you’ve shoved every emotion that came bubbling up back to their rightful place, you’re able to offer: “Guess I’m not too great at deescalating.”

“Well, he wasn’t very nice.”

“He was a fucking asshole,” Joel rubs her back, but doesn’t release her. It’s only then you can see he’s still on high alert. “But I think that’s our cue to get out of here.”

─── ･｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Keeping control of your emotions, as you have gotten older, does not work as well as it used to. And this…event….feels like you’ve gone to pull a loose thread off a sweater, only to realize it was the one that held the whole damned thing together. You don’t realize until it’s too late, and the next thing you know, you’re on the floor of your closet, scraps of fabric all over the floor, and no idea what to do with them. Oh, and it’s cold outside, so now you have nothing to wear.

In the car on the way home. Sarah and Joel chat a bit. They go over everything that happened in detail, starting with the spilled beer. You don’t speak. You can feel your heartbeat thrumming in your body, your jaw clenched so tightly it’s begun to ache. It’s hard to tell if you want to scream or cry – maybe both, but as the whole situation solidifies itself in your memory, you’re starting to feel like it might be more of the latter. And you just want to get home, so when it happens, you can be alone.

It’s not great to know that you have fucked up the whole vibe. Unfortunately, you cannot give anything else right now. Joel keeps looking over at you, and you imagine he thinks you’re acting pretty pathetic.

Joel pulls into his driveway, puts the car in park, and you can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. Until he speaks up.

“Sarah, can you give us a minute?” he asks, and you hear his car keys jingle. Elbow on the window frame, fist pressed against your nose, you stare at the dashboard. “I’ll be inside in a little bit.”

“Yeah…” Sarah answers, though she sounds timid. There’s the click of a seatbelt, and she slides out of the car on your side. As she passes your open window, she pats your shoulder gently, and you nod. You watch her walk up the path to her front door and ignore the feeling of Joel’s eyes on you.

He says your name, and you give in, turn to look at him, just for a second. “Thank you for looking out for her,” So earnestly. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there earlier.”

“Yeah, well….it wasn’t your fault.”

“It wasn’t yours, either.”

“Yeah.”

The front door slams closed. Sarah’s inside, and Joel reaches out, moves a bit closer to you. He lays his hand on the side of your face, guiding you to look at him. You can’t meet his eyes, or he might see right through you. “Can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“Has something like that-?”

You know what he’s getting at. You don’t need to hear the rest of the question. “No.”

"Please," Joel takes a deep breath, dropping his eyes. “You can tell me the truth.”

You hate that he knows you’re not. And you hate yourself for hurting him, for being so cruel and dismissive when he’s only trying to help. But what is going to happen if he knows you? If he really knows who you are? “Joel,” you shake your head. “I can’t get into it.”

“Okay,” he says, nods.

“But….” you raise your hand, let it clasp around his wrist, over his watch. “Thank you. For everything.”

“Why don’t you come inside for a little, huh?” He asks. “Watch a movie with Sarah and I?”

“I don’t know, I-” You’re not sure how much longer you can keep the tears to yourself. You’d been planning on letting them out the second you walk inside, and bottling them up for more time sounds excruciating. So what are your valid excuses? “She might figure out that-”

Joel shakes his head. “I don’t care about that right now.”

“It’s late.” You say, as if you’re actually going to sleep tonight.

“You just spent the whole night with us. What’s another hour or two?”

Those were your two best shots. Joel finally asks. He’s pleading with you, you can see in his face. This is for him. It’s not even about you. Well, it is. But it’s sincere. He’s not just pitying you. “Alright.”

Sarah seems just as relieved to see you walk through the front door as Joel had been when you agreed. She sits between you on the couch while you watch some shitty action movie Joel picked out, and falls asleep curled up against his side. Once her measured breathing fills the room, Joel reaches over to clasp your hand, thumb rubbing over the back of your palm, and he doesn’t let go.

Your plans to end the night crying yourself to sleep are long forgotten by the time you get home.

-----

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onekindredspirit · 5 months

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This photo is the last remaining evidence that I once stood before the mystic portal of the O.K. Corral. Everything else except memory has been taken with time, and so I deposit this remnant here in salt and light and code. The O.K. Corral was a crumbling, condemned 5 bedroom Victorian villa that featured in my life when I was young. I rented it with a friend for, initially, $40 per week. That price was later negotiated down to 'rent free'. Mr. Fox, our landlord, was seen only once more, and on that occasion he tried to sell the place to us for $10,000. The current market value is around $1.5 million ... but money isn't everything. The O.K. Corral was a 'Dude Ranch' and the definition of that is "... an all-inclusive immersive vacation that includes lodgings, meals, horseback riding, fishing and hiking and more." Okay, there was no horseback riding, fishing or hiking but there were other things going on ... and more. Interestingly, the word 'dude' has changed meaning over the last 140 years. Today 'dude' means something like 'bro' but back in the 1880's, when 'Dude Ranches' first began, it was slang for an urbanite. As I write, things continue to fall into place.

I had known my friend since I was 6 years old. I don't think I liked him much back then. He was an extrovert and pushy when getting the painting resources at school. I didn't sit with him anyway because I was a 'foreigner' and I had to sit next to the only other foreigner in the class, Elizabeth Federinko, a Ukrainian girl who couldn't speak English and drew horses all day. I think it was the horse drawing that eventually drove me crazy or maybe it was something else ... possibly bad blood. Anyway, I'll call my friend 'Bukowski'. By the time we were 20 years old I quite liked the guy. Sure there were other arenas of male competition but I found myself better equipped to deal with those. The cool thing about pushy people is that they make thing happen and 'Bukowski' was no exception. For example, he could cook. We had a litany of weirdos and 'freaks' pass through the O.K. Corral. A note to the sensitive - to be called a freak back then was the highest form of compliment in our subculture. It was all a little crazy and you would be disappointed in me if I told you about life at the O.K. Corral, so I won't. Let's talk about something else. One day 'Bukowski' decided to move to another region of New Zealand, some place warmer that would better suit a boho gentleman with alcohol thinned blood. I have rarely lived alone but for a week I did until one morning I was woken at 1am by someone sitting on the end of my bed and talking to me. I wasn't clear as to what she was saying but I wasn't at all concerned as this was probably 'normal' when you don't lock your doors. Realising I was now awake she turned on the light.

I didn't know her but I knew who she was. I'd seen her riding around the city on a Norton Commando motorcycle which had impressed me because of her small size and once she had smiled at me as we passed each other on a city street. I remember that smile, it was powerful enough to stop and turn me around. It was a beautiful smile. The following morning she returned with her possessions and we shared my bed. I feel I had been looking for this person most of my life but when you dream someone into your life there's a danger that the results may be "... reductive and diminutive and I think basically misogynistic ..." as the writer Zoe Kazan once said in an interview when discussing the 'Manic Pixie Dream Girl' trope. Clementine, in the movie 'The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind' warns Joel - "Too many guys think I'm a concept, or I complete them or I'm gonna make them alive. But I'm just a fucked-up girl who's looking for my own peace of mind. Don't assign me yours". One thing though, I was never quite sure if she was my projection or if I was, in fact, the projection of her own desires. But I'm comfortable with that. We lived together. She taught me a lot. I gave her love in return. 'Clementine' eventually moved to Australia, a place better suited to her large personality. Years later I was sitting having an espresso at Fidel's Cafe on Cuba Street when 'Clementine' walked past the large plate-glass window. I had only a glimpse of her face but from that brief moment I sensed that she was not happy and that her health was not good. I didn't get up and rush out to catch up with her. I didn't run after her seeking some meaningful reunion. I let her go and watched as she disappeared into the crowd. Sometime in the not too distant past I had discovered that the person I had been looking for all through my youth and into later life was myself. I let 'Clementine' go. But the night I wrote this I dreamed of 'Clementine' and it was a beautiful dream.

- One Kindred Spirit

#original writing #photographers on tumblr #original photography #subculture

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imaginebeautifulworlds · 2 years

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Loved By Seven | Chapter 1

Genre: Hybrid!AU, Poly!AU, Mate!AU, romance, fluff

Pairing: OT7 x Reader

Characters: Human!Reader, Peacock!Seokjin, Serpent!Yoongi, Hawk!Hoseok, White Tiger!Namjoon, Merman!Jimin, Leopard!Taehyung, Wolf!Jungkook

Summary: Hiking was just an activity to get you out of the apartment, the last thing you imagined was ending in a whole different world by touching a jewel. That not being enough you end up meeting seven hybrids, and they all claim you shared the Connection with each of them making you their partner for life.

Notes: Hi! This is my first time posting my writing, it may not be perfect but please give it a try :). Help, likes, reblogs, comments are always appreciated. English is not my first language so pardon me if anything is misspelled or grammatically incorrect. Also the main idea came from a webtoon but I can’t remember it’s name. Enjoy!

"Don't fall behind girl!" Your smile is so big and beautiful, you can't say the same about your sweaty face though. You're so excited that you decided to leave behind the path marked on the map the employees from the walking trail gave you.

"You shouldn't…go there…N/N" Jiwoo, who's out of breath and drenched in sweat, is holding the rope so tight you're concerned that by the end of this she's going to have her hands full of sores.

"Come on Jiwoo, didn't we come here to explore the unknown?" you look down where your best friend is, as you move your eyebrows and smirk at her. Jiwoo rolls her eyes and moves her hand to reach a higher spot to continue climbing, wishing she had the same physical ability you have just to punch you and shutting you up.

"We came here…because…you're always at work…or at home" at this point you're afraid Jiwoo's going to faint from the way she keeps talking between breaths. You can't blame her though, after all that statement is 100% true. It's not your fault of course, you just happen to be a very young and responsible lady who doesn't like to go outside except for work and groceries.

"You are making me sound like a workaholic, which I'm not" now you're frowning, she may be telling the truth, but is not cool making you feel a little conscious about your social habits, or lack of them "After all I'm not the one who's out of breath" You've never seen Jiwoo this sweaty and out of breath, not even in the hottest days of summer.

"Well it's not…everyday that…we choose…to climb a mountain…in the middle of nowhere" in all honesty Jiwoo thought this would be a great thing to get you out of your shared apartment, after all both of you haven't gone out in so many months she was getting tired of the couch and Netflix was feeling drier by the day.

"One, it was your plan and second, there are people waiting for us down there so we are somewhere" You know your best friend is about to punch out that smirk of yours, well that would happen if it weren't for the meters separating the two of you.

"Shut…up" She wheezes.

Jiwoo's plan was simple: Knowing you only go to two places every work day, and spend every weekend on the couch, she thought you would be out of breath first and would be more active after this, now ridiculous to her, activity. That's why she decided to enroll both of you to an excursion to the Mountain…who cares about the name now, of course she didn't expect you to be so athletic, even with all the junk food you eat when you're in front of the tv. And that after this you would want to explore what's outside your apartment and socialize; and why not get a nice, cute boyfriend.

In your defense, you are just not a very open person and it's difficult for you to make friends. Jiwoo doesn't count she's like your sister, you two met at the orphanage and didn't separate after that. At work you are very sociable and you like to be around people but when your coworkers invite you for drinks it just makes you feel uncomfortable, so you just go home to the safety of your apartment.

Following your own path you get to the entrance of a cave, and sit down on the corner waiting for Jiwoo. After a few minutes you finally see her hand grabbing the border next to where you are, she gives you puppy eyes while making grabby hands with the other asking for your help. You can't say no to those eyes and she knows it, so you help her climb up. Jiwoo sits down and chugs down what was left of one of her waters, the bottle was half empty, surprising you by not choking like she would usually do. Looking down you two were really high up and very far away from the ground, but the view was awesome: there was green everywhere you look and if you close your eyes and concentrate enough you could hear the flow of a river nearby. It was beautiful and breathtaking.

"It's beautiful here, thanks for doing this Jiwoo" your best friend smiles at you, giving herself a pat in the back for bringing that look of admiration and big smile you're giving to the landscape.

"Come on, let's go explore" you stand up and extend your hand to her, she takes it and stands up. Cleaning your clothes from dirt, you start walking towards the cave, it's like it's calling you and you can't take your eyes away from the black inside.

"Don't go there, let's just continue, we have a long way ahead of us" Jiwoo says looking up, to the top of the mountain. "Come on, I just want to see what's inside. I feel like it's calling me" you do a dorky move pointing the cave, but seriously you can't take away your eyes from it; it's scary but you just want to explore today and then continue with your boring but comfortable, to you, life.

"I don't know N/N, I do feel like it is calling me but that just scares me and is making me wanna run" ignoring what she's saying, you take Jiwoo's hand and drag her to the entrance of the cave. Pulling your flashlight out of your backpack and turning it on, you see something glowing at, what it looks like, the end of the cave, Jiwoo gasps at this "Please tell me you're seeing this too" You just nod, hypnotized by it. Without knowing both of you start walking towards it and extending your hand you touch it, and the light starts to glow more and more until you're blinded by it.

"What the hell is going on?!" You scream and take Jiwoo's hand so hard it hurts, you're so afraid now that you want to be close to, what you consider, the only family you have. Jiwoo returns the hard grip, and before you know it the light swallows both of you.

"Okay, F/N let's get out of here before we get blind" Jiwoo lets go off your hand and goes out of the cave. You follow her after taking a look to the, now dim light, jewel. "Hey, what time is it?" she turns around to ask you. "I don't know, it looked like it was 12" you exit the cave "Wow…why does it look like it's 5pm?" you start looking around at the sunset. "I don't know…the ropes are gone too…and the mountain doesn't look the same either" Jiwoo is looking around with a worried look. Paying more attention to your surroundings, you can see that the ropes aren't where you left them and the top of the mountain isn't flat, to welcome the climbers, but is pointy instead. Now you're starting to worry even more when you look down and don't see the employees anywhere where they're supposed to be. You take out your phone to call the security number they gave you in case anything happens, but when you're dialing the call doesn't go out and then you see if you have signal but it doesn't have any bars. You turn around to ask Jiwoo if she has any signal but when you meet her face, that you're pretty sure is the same as yours, you know she had the same luck as you. "What are we going to do, if we don't have service…" she starts to panic and goes to the border to look down "Hey, hey…we have to calm down and stay here. I don't know anything about this environment but it's getting late and we should find shelter. At least here we have a roof, down there…we don't " you hesitate after thinking what can happen down there.

"Yeah you're right…but what if something comes in" Jiwoo has worried written all over her face. "I don't think so…I didn't smell anything inside, it seems like nobody…" "More like anything" "Okay anything lives here, though I think we should be careful when we eat" you're just hoping you're right and that there are no animals that can smell your food and climb. "I think we should look what's in our backpacks that can help us here" when Jiwoo swallows down her nerves she's very calm and thinks things through. "Thank God you're a mom and pack many things" you look at her offended "Hey…thanks to me being a mom and you wanting to spend the night in the woods we brought plenty of stuff" yes, you can be a mom when you go out, but right now you're really thanking both of you, Jiwoo because of this plan and you for not wanting to miss anything you might have need.

You two pour everything out on the cave floor: Two sleep bags with a blanket for each one, hopefully it would be enough and won't be too cold; two packs of 10 sanitary towels, in all honesty you prefer the cup but none of you are on your period, and you never know when these can come in handy; the lunch, that now is going to be dinner; snacks, right now you don't know when you two are going to eat properly after tonight; two pair of underwear for each, you wish you had more since you don't know long is going to take both of you to go home; swimsuits, the brochure said the lake nearby could be used to wash yourself; pajamas, at least you can sleep comfortable with them; toothbrushes; toothpaste; a comb; clothes for outdoors, two shirts, two shorts and two pair of socks; flashlights; matches; bottles of water; and sunscreen.

"We have certain commodities…though we need food…and know where the hell we are" Jiwoo's mind is running to what is going to happen tomorrow. "Do you think that jewel and the blinding light had anything to do with this Jiwoo?" you're trying to figure it out what happened, why did you two come here. "I don't know…maybe…I mean, it was weird all that blinding light and why that jewel would be in that cave and no one noticed before?" This is so bizarre, because Jiwoo's totally right you are not the first ones climbing up that mountain and for sure you weren't the first to go through that path, you saw the floor a little eroded; and a jewel like that drags attention. Before your thoughts consume all your mind, your stomach rumbles and Jiwoo looks at you with a little smile "It surprises me how, even with our current conditions, your love for food is the main thing in your life" "Well…I'm sorry!...we haven't had anything since breakfast" "And snacks!" You smile sheepishly at her, but you can't do anything, you love food. Jiwoo laughs "Let's eat our lunch", you smile like a child in Christmas morning.

While you two eat, you start to think the reasons why that jewel could have shine so much, and therefore why everything's so different outside; but the only reason that comes to your mind is ridiculous right?...that only happens in movies and sci-fi books: teleportation. What are the chances of that actually happening in the real world? Was it some kind of punishment the place has for those who don't follow the path? Karma? At this point you can't even enjoy the food you're eating thanks to these thoughts. You frown while you take the spoon to your mouth. "What are you thinking N/N?" Jiwoo startles you when she speaks, but not wanting to worry her you say with a bit of a forced smile "What makes you think I'm thinking about something?" she gives you her look of I don't believe you and decides to add "I know you since we were ten and you never frown to food, except when you don't like what you're eating, which I know you like this since you made it, or when you're thinking and your thoughts are not nice soooo tell me" Damn she knows you too well, sometimes you wish you could keep things from her "I'm just thinking reasons of why are we here and the only logical illogical thing that comes to my mind is teleportation…but we're not in a movie so it's impossible right?" She looks at you and stays silent for a few seconds before she opens her mouth "Honestly, I don't know what to think…I mean outside looks pretty different from this morning so…what you say could be a good explanation even if our brains can't comprehend it" the way she says it doesn't make you feel comfortable, it sounds as a fact and not just a crazy possibility "But this kind of things don't just happen…this is not one of my books… I mean don't get me wrong I always dreamed about going to places instantly but I never thought it was going to happen…It must be karma or a prank right? for following a different path…ugh this is all my fault, I'm so sorry Ji" you touch your face in regret while bringing your knees to your chest. "Hey hey" Jiwoo approaches you "It's not your fault okay?" she takes your hands to look at your eyes "we don't know what actually happened and we could be wrong about this theory, and we won't know for sure what happened until morning" her calm voice helps tranquilize you and you offer her a small thank you smile "Let's finish eating and then we go to sleep" you nod at her and start eating again this time sitting next to each other, as a way to comfort each other.

After finishing your meal you take out your sleeping bags, after all you two are drained from all the events that happened today. "Do you think we can sleep next to each other" you ask your best friend, she looks at you with a smile "Stop reading my mind" she laughs slightly "Yes, I would like that", you say with a tiny voice "I just thought it would be better for keeping us warm if midnight is cold". With that arrangement you put your sleeping bags at the end of the cave and next to each other, after entering in it you say to each other "Night Jiwoo" "Night N/N". Thankfully both of you were so tired and fell asleep pretty quickly without knowing the things you were going to live starting the very next morning.

The next day you wake up because you can't feel total darkness around you, instead you feel a dim light coming from the entrance of the cave. While you're stretching you can hear some of your bones cracking, sleeping bags make sleep a little bit better but they don't make cave floor softer. Being a little more awake now, you remember that you have to go down the mountain to find out what happened thus you turn around and see Jiwoo still sleeping "Aww what a pity" while saying that you start to moving her shoulder as a way to wake her up. After a few more seconds, her eyes start to open and with raspy voice she says "Why are you waking me up so early?" "Because we need to go downhill to know where we are remember?" With her eyes more open you know she is now realizing where you are "Yeah…right" she shakes her head as if that would dissipate her sleepiness. You get up and start packing the sleeping bag back to your backpack "Come on, get up Ji I'm sleepy too but we have to do this" you grab her hands and try to pull her up "I'm coming I'm coming" she finally stands up with half closed eyes and, finally, with the pace of a snail she packs her bag while you put out a few snacks thinking you don't know when you will be able to eat properly again. "Here you go Ji, I know it's not much but we have to save up until we get a proper source of food" "Wow you saving up for food, something new" she smiles a bit more awake now "Ha ha you're so funny in the morning aren't you" sarcasm drips out of your mouth. After eating, you two stand up and grab your backpacks to start walking towards the entrance "Should we take the jewel with us? If we find someone we can explain our situation and they'll probably believe us with it" You tell Jiwoo while you pass next to it "Yes, you're probably right and even it can light up again like last night" you nod at her statement.

When you're finally outside the suns blinds you "Wow yesterday the sun wasn't this bright" Jiwoo says while putting her hand in front of her face, covering her eyes. "I know" you say covering your eyes as well, looking for a way down was becoming a hard task without ropes but you two couldn't stay up there without investigating what happened and the reason you're now here, whatever here is. "Okay, look over there" She says pointing at the right side of the cave "and I'll look over here" pointing at the left side; looking at the right you don't see much except some kind of trail but is somewhat thin and any misstep could lead to a nasty fall, while you're searching for another way down you hear the unmistakable call of a hawk and looking up you see a quite large bird that because of the bright sun you can't make up their shape but by the looks of it it's really big almost impossible for it to be a normal hawk. "Hey, I couldn't find anything on my side…what are you looking at?" Jiwoo startles you and looks up to see what you're seeing "Hey…I think I saw a hawk but it was way too big to be one" you say confused "Weird…anyway did you find anything?" "Well, I found a thin trail which I think leads to the bottom…we have to be very careful though" you say looking at the bottom of the mountain "Okay, since there are no more ways to go down I say we use that trail" You nod at Jiwoo's words.

Grabbing your backpacks you both start to descend down the trail that at some points it gets thinner, at one point your foot slips but thanks to Jiwoo's quick reflexes she gets a hold of your hand and steadies you. After that quick scare you pay more attention to where you're stepping. It feels like you're sweating more going down than going up, but taking into account that you're risking your life here without ropes plus the scorching sun you can understand the sweat. After hours, and scaring life-threatening missteps, you finally get to the bottom "Finally…I thought I would never see you grass" Jiwoo says while kissing the grass "Ewww…come on Ji really? Kissing the grass?" you say looking at her with disgust on your face "We could've died coming down that thing so I'm sorry if I'm grateful for the fact that I'm alive and by the way we're never doing hiking again" "Fine by me" you say laughing at her squinted eyes.

"Okay, coming down is checked now we should find potable water so we can fill our bottles" You say trying to listen for a source of water near you "Well if this place is anything like where we were yesterday there should be a near river" Jiwoo says, walking towards the density of the trees. After a couple of minutes of walking very slowly in case you're disturbing some animal, it's obvious there are no other people around, you hear the flow of a current of water; you look at each other and smile walking a little faster towards it. When you arrive, you two find the clearest river you have ever saw, not caring how you look you bring your hands together to cup some water and drink it "Ha ha ha" Jiwoo was laughing at you "What? I'm parched" water's dripping from your jaw because of you talking "I know but you could've wait" she's taking her empty bottles from her backpack and starts filling them, after drinking enough water with your hands you do the same with your own empty bottles. You two sit there since it was really hot and warm, and you just want to rest for a little bit before you had to start walking again, Jiwoo's very comfortable laying down on the grass with her head on top of her bag and you have your back against a nearby tree, you take out of your bag snacks and hand some to Jiwoo "Ji, where do you think we should go next? We still have no idea where we are" "Let's not worry about that now, just enjoy the sun N/N" at the same time she's saying that you hear rumbling from a bush a bit away from you, and suddenly a pack of wolves came from the bush "Ji, Ji, Ji get up, get up NOW" you say in shushed tone looking at the wolves "Wha…" she starts saying in a loud manner and you quickly cover her mouth, so she looks at where you're looking and starts to panic; luckily the wolves hadn't noticed you yet so both of you stand up and start to walk backwards but your foot snap a branch and it's that the thing that make the wolves look at you. Jiwoo and you, holding hands, start to run after the wolves get closer.

You two run, as fast as you could, for what feels like hours but probably where just a few seconds and those wolves aren't slowing down. And, in like your everyday life, your clumsiness just has to appear in the form of a rock that makes you trip tripping Jiwoo too; as the wolves are getting closer Jiwoo gets up and you try to get up but a pain in your ankle makes it impossible "Jiwoo, run…I can't get up, save yourself please" wincing you stare at her and start to crawl backwards "No, I'm not leaving you… we just need something that helps you walk or distract them" she says looking frantically everywhere "I know! A large stick can help you getting up" Jiwoo runs towards the forest leaving you with the wolves. You're practically surrounded by now, you know you're going to be eaten thus you close your eyes waiting for the inevitable; and suddenly something or rather someone lands in front of you, thinking it was Jiwoo putting herself in danger you open your eyes but what you see isn't Jiwoo it's someone? something? else, you can't tell because the sun's in your eyes. The only thing you see is that thing? a leopard? fighting with the wolves, the interesting thing is that it isn't trying to kill them, looks like is the other way around, it's trying to not wound them too badly. The wolves notice they aren't going to win this fight and run away.

Sitting against a tree you now could see the thing that saved you and to your surprise it's a damn leopard, now you know it saved so you could be its meal. Jiwoo comes running from the trees and steps in front of you with large stick not noticing the animal behind her "F/N I found a stick now you can run!" "Ji there's a leopard behind you" you whisper "What?!" turning around she looks behind her and what you see isn't a leopard but a man? You can't describe what you're seeing, it's man with normal clothes but it has two animal ears on the top of its head with a leopard pattern and from behind it has swinging tail with a leopard pattern too. Where the hell were you? Jiwoo walks backwards trying to take your hand but the man-animal growls at her making you two whimper with fear. The man-animal starts walking towards the tree, specially towards you saying something that surprise you "Mine…You're mine…I finally found you" "What're you saying?" Those words come out fearfully from your mouth "You're my partner, beautiful" he says while bending in front of you "What?...Partner? What are you?" you're talking to him but looking at Jiwoo who has her eyes wide open watching the exchange between you and the man-animal "I'm Taehyung, a leopard hybrid" he says with a beautiful boxy smile "and what's your name, not that I mind calling you Beautiful" you feel like you're in a trance just by looking at that smile that without caring you answer him "I'm F/N and that's Jiwoo" you don't know how it's possible but his smile grows "F/N" he says in a low tone like tasting your name on his lips.

The next thing you know he's carrying you bridal style "Hey hey hey…what do you think you are doing with my friend" apparently Jiwoo finally finds her voice when she sees that "I saw how she fell and her ankle is swelling" he says looking at her in a sad tone, like he's at fault for your injury "I'm so sorry you fell and I wasn't there to prevent it" he talks to you almost crying "hey hey it wasn't your fault instead I should be thanking you for saving me from those wolves" you grab his face so he could look you in the eye and knowing you're telling the truth "But from the moment I smelled you I should have come running, but I got distracted by some pretty flowers I wanted to give you in a way to court you and that's why you got chased by wolves and then fell…It's my fault" he looks so sorrowful "Wait…we smell?!" Jiwoo smells her armpits and talks at the same time, but those words made Taehyung lift his head "No…I mean yes…but you know I'm not talking about that, I'm talking about the smell that comes from the Connection" the hybrid? looks at you and Jiwoo like you're the crazy ones and not him by talking about some connection?, which appears to be something important and smelly "Is it something common from where you're from?" you ask him "What do you mean by where you're from? this is something that happens globally" he says with an eyebrow raised looking at you "Well we're from Bastion and that's not a thing" Jiwoo says to him with an eyebrow raised too "There's no Bastion as far as I know" you look at Jiwoo with a worried face "Then where are we going?" you ask him with wide eyes "Well we're going to the Capital of the World, Bangtanimal City" he says with a smile addressed to you "Well we have never heard of it either" you say, and start to see buildings in the distance wondering for how long has he been carrying you "Taehyung" "you said my name" his smile is really something else "mmm yes? Mmm you can put me down you know? I can walk with the stick Ji found" you say with a small smile "NO" he growls "I want to have you in my arms" "Okay" your voice quiver a little bit "I'm sorry I didn't mean to growl at you but I've waited for you for a long time and I don't want to let you go" "Oh hey it's the city…Great because I'm tired and hungry" Jiwoo stops for a moment massaging her feet "Uuuuu I'm hungry too" You grab your belly and Jiwoo deadpans at you "Wait until we get home, Beautiful, I'm gonna cook for you" Taehyung brings his face closer to yours caressing your cheek with his nose making you blush, in your defense this is the first time a boy is so close to you, noticing the red on your cheeks he says "I love the color red on your cheeks" finishing the sentence with that damn boxy smile.

Chapter 2

#kpop #kpop stories #kpop scenarios #bts #bts series #bts scenarios #bts hybrid series #bts hybrid au #hybrid!au #hybrid bts #hybrid au #bts hybrid x reader #bts x reader #hybrid x reader #ot7 x reader

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anaslair · 3 months

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Hiii, I wanted to give the match ups a try cause why not. I go by she/her and prefer to be matched with a male character, I’m also underaged. Oh and I’d prefer to be a demigod, personally I think I’d be the daughter of Hestia or maybeee Hephaestus or Apollo, idrk 😭. Anywaysss, about me. I loveee music/art/film, really anything creative, like I have a deep appreciation for them and artists. I actually used to go to a performing arts school. I also love nature and appreciate that as well. Like, I love going on hikes when I can and even just looking at the beauty of the nature wherever I am. I’m not really much of a sports person, like I love playing but I wouldn’t do anything professionally. I do martial arts though, which is definitely a biggg passion of mine. As a person, although it doesn’t necessarily feel like it to me, sometimes I’m pretty sure I’m fairly outgoing, at least more than other people I know. But I’m also the type of person to really open up and become more social and talkative the more you get to know me. Oh and final thing, I think I’m pretty books smart but not very streets smart, if you know what I mean. 😀 Anywayssss thanks for reading all of this if you did, it’d be really cool to hear back from you!! 🫶🫶

OKAY HEAR ME OUT!! HEAR ME OUT ON THIS ONE!!!!!!!!!!!

So, it’s not that well known, but Hestia is actually one of the virgin godesses of Olympus (like Artemis and Athena). But!!! We COULD pretend she has kids like Athena does 👀 ✨just because she wants to✨

Like, Athena’s kids come from her mind… maybe Hestia’s could come from her heart? Like figuratively maybe? She’s the goddess of hearth & home so it could kind of make sense? Pls bear with me this will go rlly well with who I’m matching you with so let’s just go with it 🤓

Also the nature thing UGHHH, I always had this head cannon that Percy became a bit of a nature activist after witnessing Pan’s death 😩😩😩 Anyway let’s get to it, I really hope you like this 🫶

Tysm for requesting!!! Have a great day <3

I match you with…

Percy Jackson!!

-Disclaimer-

The requester is a minor and so is Percy at this stage of the books!!

After the second titan war ended, Percy started to value some things way more than he did before it all went down

Not to say he was an ungrateful person, far from it. Percy really did have a heart of gold and often put his loved ones above his own personal needs. Loyalty was his fatal flaw after all

But there was just some things he felt he didn’t pay much attention to before the war, like Hestia for example. The goddess practically lived on camp grounds and he barely even acknowledged her before she saved him when he needed it the most, reminding him what was most important when everything was falling apart during the war

Or Pan. the god of the wild had practically died in front of him, telling him and his friends that the future of nature, of the world they lived in was actually in their hands. Everyone had to do their part for it to survive

He had to pay them back somehow, honor them

So that’s why he was THRILLED when the first Hestia kid arrived on camp after he made the gods promise they would claim all of their kids and send them to camp Half Blood, where all of the gods would have cabins for their descendants

This was his chance to pay back Hestia for her help!! So he promptly asked Chiron to mentor the new girl and teach her what she needed to know about self defense and sword fighting, since she was practically his age and had to survive until now with the mortals without proper training

In fact, how did you manage to do that anyway?

He didn’t really know, but he felt he was the best man for the job. His sword fighting skills were unmatched, only bested by Luke’s

So, not gonna lie. He was kind of waiting to show off his skills on your first lesson and help you with whatever you needed

He told you he would first show you some hand to hand combat moves before y’all could move on to sword fighting, to which you shrugged it out, being cool with it

Too cool even, you seemed super comfortable with it 🧐

“Okay. First, I’ll come at you slowly and you can try and stop the blow however you feel is right. This will be kind of a warm up to start things off. But don’t worry, I won’t actually hurt you, if you feel uncomfortable in any way, please let me know okay?” He said, smiling kindly at you while taking an offensive stance

You nodded, waiting for him to start

He slowly swung at you, being careful to not scare you out

Imagine how completely and utterly bamboozled he was when he found himself lying on the ground, the arm he swung at you now twisted and pressed on to his back, just enough to keep him on the ground

He was like 🧍‍♂️

And you were like 😄 so what’s next?

Bro what the fuck

That was honestly so impressive that when you offered a hand to help him get back to his feet, his cheeks where slightly flushed

He cleaned his throat, fixing his camp Half Blood necklace back into place

“Okay so I guess you’ve got that part covered” He said, giving you his signature sarcastic smirk

You let out a small laugh in response, explaining to him that you actually loved martial arts and that stuff came easy to you

He was completely fascinated, asking you to help him better his hand to hand combat skills after you guys finished

That was the start of a kind of chaotic friendship between the two of you. You helped him better himself in your area while he gave you sword fighting lessons

You weren’t really a fan of it but Percy was so talented and so patient while teaching you that you were winning sparring duels in no time

Y’all were a power duo in capture the flag for sure. You knocked people out and Percy wouldn’t let anyone get even slightly near you with riptide

You knew some strategies in theory from some books you had read and Percy knew how to put them into action

Iconic

You quickly developed a strong bond, getting closer and closer to each other every day

You always ranted to him about art in general, he didn’t really understand most of the things you told him but he always listened attentively, even memorizing some of your favorite artists to get you stuff related to them when he went home for the school year

You often hanged out by the lake, you absolutely loved how it looked when the sun hit it just right, with the trees reflected on it

One time, Percy took you to the bottom of it, putting an air bubble around you both so you could see how beautiful it was underwater

Your eyes shone bright at the view, but you frowned as soon as you saw a couple of plastic wrappers at the bottom

You asked Percy to lower the bubble so you could collect them and properly throw them out at the surface

That made Percy stare at you with such intensity and admiration that you wondered just what the hell you had done to get him looking at you like that

You avoided his eyes, ears tinted red

It was no secret that you had developed feelings for him, he was so sweet and kind

You wondered if he felt the same

Suddenly, his warm hand met yours as he slowly interlaced your fingers together

You looked at him, eyes wide

The smile on his face made his intentions pretty clear

#percy jackson and the olympians #percy jackson x reader #percy jackson imagine #percy jackson fanfiction #luke castellan imagine #luke castellan x reader #clarisse la rue x reader #clarisse la rue #chalice of the gods #percy jackson books #pjo hoo toa #the heroes of olympus #annabeth chase #piper mclean #leo valdez x reader #jason grace imagine #matchups #fanfiction #fanfic

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whotfletamothhyperfx · 3 months

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During the winter does Tails get a winter coat? I think he does and most of his friends give him extra long hugs.

I THINK ABOUT THIS SO MUCH PREPARE CAUSE YOU’RE ABOUT TO GET SUCH A LENGTHY RANT BECAUSE IVE WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THIS SO MUCH, So have a few of my favourite scenarios I came up with a while ago cause I adore the idea of Tails getting his winter coat

To answer the questions about cuddles yes he does get lots everyone absolutely adores when he’s getting his winter coat because it means he’s much more amazing to hug. There as times where tails will be doing work and people will just drop by to hug because he’s so warm and it’s cold outside sonic gets to use tails winter coat to his advantage though because he lives with tails so he can use tails fur to heat himself up whenever he likes

Anyway back to the angst I’ve always have this idea of my head of in the middle of winter they have to go to some sunny and hot place to find a chaos emeralds and of course since tails is the only one who really gets their winter coat they forget to take that into account when going to humid places in the middle of winter.

So yeah I just like to picture these lot hiking through some roasting forest and they’re starting to notice that ‘huh tails is getting weirdly tired and he’s drenched in sweat and is needed more water than usual that’s weird usually he handles the heat so much better’

But they keep going because of tails insistence and tails at this point is just having heatstroke but is trying to hide it so he isn’t some sort of inconvenience (which he isn’t if they knew then they would have had someone stay behind with him so he could rest up until they left, it wouldn’t have been problem) they also don’t notice the way he getting more irritable and confused and is clutching his head. And if they do notice then they just think it’s a bad day

after a while they notice that tails is starting to fall behind until they hear a massive thump on the ground and they all turn around to see at this point the kid has passed out from the heat. So of course they run over to him because in their heads the kids passed out for no reason.

And the second tails comes too he starts to throw up and clutch his head and can barely tell what’s happening because of the confusion. Everytime he tries to speak as well he’s slurring his words and stuttering.

So the groups starting to come to the horrifying realisation that the kid is going through intense heatstroke and they need to get him away from this heat now. They’re also poring their cold water on him while forcing him to drink some of it. Usually tails would protest all of this but at this point he’s too delirious to fight back against them.

At that point by the entire could agreement sonic just gently picks tails up and starts to rush him to the nearest village so he can he someone more cool.

Anyway after that all gets sorted he gets a very lengthy lecture about telling them when he gets too hot

#sonic the hedgehog #sonic #sth #miles tails prower #tails miles prower #tails the fox

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34saveme34 · 3 months

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SMG34: The Rot (a fic by yours truly)

image semi related

summary: 3 gets told to come and investigate this thing called "The Rot" in a forest, so him, 4, Meggy, Mario and Boopkins (surprisingly) set out to check it out, although things get a little odd as the Rot's influence gets to our favourite man. Sure wonder what'll happen to him!

word count: 5722

3 wasn’t happy he got roped into this. However he owed this one… he owed this one to Meggy. He hated how the closer he became to 4’s crew they only seemed to able to collect more firt on him. Although he didn't know how she could get her hands on his online activity on such forums, he thought he was better this time at covering his tracks…At least he wasn’t alone, a few others came along, like 4, Boopkins and Mario.

It was… a hike. Through the forest. Meggy had seen strange sightings and wanted to bring along others as well. This worried 3 because he really really didn’t want to break his streaming streak. He had been doing so well, having a schedule and everything and of course as soons as he got on track, someone had to come in and ruin it. This always happened so it didn’t surprise him too much but he was mad about it either way.”

However, Meggy agreed with him that he could stream this, it would be especially cool if they were to find something interesting, as if they were ghost hunters. At least something 3 can look forward to. Things that could make his streaming careers more successful always had an easier time persuading him. And he knew that, he wasn’t happy about it, but it was just a fact of life. Just like how he knew how close he grew to 4. It was hard to deny, he really cared about him. Though sometimes, scratch that, just about all the time, he made it really hard to do so. He didn’t remember a prolonged peaceful time with him. Something always has to happen, with the tension they developed over the years. But honestly, who could blame them for that?

Something that Meggy forgot to do among all things she should’ve done, was ask the others if they’re okay with the livestream. It’s really not the greatest thing to argue about on live.

“I don’t wanna have the pressure of invisible eyes on me while I don’t even know what I’m facing!” 4 whined, he looked a bit scared.

“Finally, I can add more to my smg4 fail compilation, you better not disappoint” 3 giggled, making 4 groan.

“It’s not funny, you know! Also I'm just as capable to embarrass you as well! I know what you are”

“Oh, you bastard? Are you threatening me? Right in front of my viewers?? I’ll get you cancelled on Twitter for this one!”

“Not Twitter, god no, though I bet they would like some things I have a hold of myself, like that search query you did concerning-” 4 smirked at 3, seemingly the 2 were just about to fight before Meggy pulled them apart.

“Okay, guys, that’s enough! Let’s get going”

“Oooooh” Mario pouted, putting down the popcorn he pulled out of nowhere. He loved to watch his guardians fight for such low stakes. There was something special about the ones making him dance like a clown dance for him on their own volition.

“So what are we looking at anyways?” Boopkins asked, looking scared.

“I… can’t say. I think you have to see it yourself to believe it. Although I just like to call it the rot.”

“Th… The rot?” my guy was shaking. Boopkins, what the hell, you just got here.

“Why are you here anyways? No naptime for you?” Mario teased him.

“Umm no… I just wanna try and get braver! So I can be there for my friends even more!”

“Aww, yea yea now let’s get going!” Meggy truly had enough with the banter. But would it be a real live stream if it started smoothly?

They started walking, with Mario and Meggy in the lead, with Boopkins not too far behind them. However 3 and 4 were at the back, not much further but they definitely weren’t as close to Boopkins as he was to Mario and Meggy.

3 turned his camera at 4 which made him frown.

“What, am I that interesting? Am I getting views for you?” 4 whined sarcastically, he didn’t feel like being on a stream right now. Especially since this expedition pulled him away from meme creation. As in his one and true love!

“Well, you might! Just do something embarrassing, that’d definitely work!”

“Like what, tell them about when we were younger I busted you in the toilets with-” 4 got slapped before he could answer.

3 wasn’t having any of it.

“Very mature of you to bring up the past, really, classic SMG4”

“At least I didn’t like, I don’t know, try to kill people”

“Don’t you have a body count higher than zero?”

“You… can’t prove that. Besides I bet you killed more!”

“And that’s in the past, you know? Besides, being an ex villain makes me hotter, just ask my fans”

4 looked so done with 3, especially after he showed his chat filled with overflowing thirsty support for his post villain self. 3 loved the reaction, it was like warming him up from the inside. Although he would like it better if his charisma was more appreciated by his guardian partner.

“Aaah yes, so hot twitch streamer, Super Meme Guardian 3, I could never compare”

3 laughed and looked at his chat then frowned. This surprised 4 a bit, especially since 3 decided to face his camera ahead again, to record where they’re actually walking. 3 sighed, which held 4’s attention longer than it should have.

“What’s up?” 4 asked quietly.

“Not much… just a cringe comment I didn’t like” 3 basically brushed him off. It seemed he didn’t want to go into it so 4 left him to it. It had been hard, but 4 had been trying to pay attention to when he needed to stop. He had been getting to a point where he could tell that he shouldn’t bother 3 further. It became mildly easy as he noticed how much of an open book 3 is. Just push the correct buttons and you get him all wrapped within your grasp. Like to do your bidding and stuff. 4 considered 3 a great ally and he used him a lot as well. Although he still cared about him a lot. Sometimes he wondered if 3 realised that. He just didn’t really know how to be affectionate towards 3. Whenever he tried to be serious about it, it kind of fell apart. Wanting to be kind towards him in hard situations, like when they were stuck in the elevator, yet he was met with hostility. The whole situation reminded him of a cold, snowy day as well. He shook his head hard, he didn’t need that thought right now. 3 looked at him confused, then saw how 4 was looking in the distance, and sadness he forgot to hide still showing. 3 passed his camera to Boopkins for a bit.

“Can you hold this for me for a bit?” 3 reached to Boopkins who took the camera gently with a smile. Since he helped him out with the date with M… Mi… Micheal? What was it again? He felt a bit more tolerable. Not by much though.

“Sure thing!”

Although the camera looked a little funny in his hands, considering how the camera was like third his size.

4 paid attention to this, a bit confused at what 3 was doing. He did find Boopkins struggling to carry the camera a bit funny though.

“So” 3 pulled 4 close by his back, wrapping his arm around him, continuing in a hushed tone “What’s the gloom for? It’s super obvious and it bothers me so that’s why I’m bothering you about it”

4 chuckled.

“I’m glad you care. That’s all I needed actually” 4 showed a genuine smile to 3 which left him speechless. 4 could see he made 3 a bit flustered, maybe a bit more than just a bit…

It’s like he was buffering or something.

“Ugh” 3 pulled away “Your sweetness makes me sick, god damn it… baka”

Slowly Mario turned around, pulling out a tiny rainbow flag.

“This you?” he pointed at the 2.

3 was too shocked to react, 4 threw a loose branch at him which got into his eye. Mario started screaming in his iconic way. Meggy slapped him into a new shape.

“Shhh!!! Don't disturb the wildlife, idiot!”

Mario whined quietly, removing the tiny branch from his eye. Just as he removed it, he basically forgot it was there, as he continued frolicking.

3 finally took his camera back from Boopkins.

“Finally, my arms were starting to get tired!” Boopkins sighed with relief.

Meggy turned to him although still walking.

“I could coach you to get stronger”

The relief quickly flew out of Boopkins, rather replaced with a pale expression.

“I hope I don’t hurt you with this, but I’d rather not if it’s okay”

“Your loss” Meggy shrugged.

As they continued, they started to find traces of the so-called Rot.

“This energy feels familiar” 3 exclaimed.

“Same here…” 4 added, as he exchanged a glance with 3.

“That’s a good thing! Any idea what we could be dealing with then?”

“So…” 4 started “It could be a new meme. Although I… don’t remember ever seeing it before”

“The name rot does fit it though” 3 continued “You think it could do with all the memes people used to make about bogs?”

“That’s a nice thought! Or maybe one of those nature allegory memes that sometimes pop up… most of the time from Tumblr”

“Ah right, Tumblr, this could be one of their creations”

“I thought Tumblr was dead” Meggy looked behind at the 2 as they continued on, seeing more rot on the trees and in the ground. It seemed they were getting closer and closer to the core of it.

“That’s what they all think” 3 and 4 said at the same time, then laughed at how in sync they were.

“What is tumblr?” Mario asked. The others looked at him with a knowing look. He deflated, seeing no one wanted to elaborate.

While the lighthearted banter they got into was nice, 3 couldn't shake off the tension he was feeling. Probably thanks to 4. He didn't like how his mind went for the worst when it came to him. He tried to concentrate on the task on hand, the sooner it was over, the sooner he could escape.

As they continued on, 3 was starting to feel a headache get to him. It was starting to be a bit difficult holding the camera. He tried so hard to be there but it felt like slowly everything was slowing down around him. He looked ahead… then he found himself staring at 4, getting even slower, blurrier, slowly things becoming less and less comprehensive, yet he could still feel in his heart just how worried 4 was. It felt… nice. He was glad 4 cared about him. Then everything went black. At least mostly. He was stuck in a weird state, still lightly aware of his surroundings, as he could feel himself falling over, then being grabbed and held close… Held close…? What for?

He lightly managed to open his eyes and tried to perceive the world around him, although it hurt him. It was difficult, but he figured out he was stuck in 4’s arms. Not exactly somewhere he wished to be while in a state like this. He kind of imagined feeling this sick while being cared for in his bed. Thinking about it… he wouldn’t mind 4 being there then. But this is just… embarrassing… He really hoped the stream wasn’t getting any of this… He already saw that one comment referring to 4 and him in weird ways and he didn’t like that. He felt uncomfortable on 4’s behalf as well. Who knows how hard his fans would tear him apart if they knew that he and 4 need to hold hands to use their meme guardian powers. It made him think about how he would even handle having a relationship like this. Either he would have to hide this person even if he was proud of pulling a bad bitch or have them be on display but risk the parasocial freaks coming in and ruining his dating life. He wasn’t new to the parasocial rodeo at this point, he knew about the sexyman allegations. Though it’s not like he wanted a relationship right now anyways. He liked to joke about getting bitches but he really just did that because he felt humiliated at the thought that he couldn’t pull anyone. He closed his eyes, trying to close out the sight that was 4 carrying him. That’s not to say he was fully against it but he won’t admit that so soon. But as he closed the sight out, he could hear words better.

“Homo…” he could hear Mario start then if he was guessing right, he got slapped since he stopped speaking.

“Well I’m not just gonna drag him by the foot, that would be cruel” he could hear 4 retort at the homosexual allegations.

“Is he gonna be okay?” Meggy asked, concern in her voice. 3 was kind of glad he had friends that cared for him. He wished he could say that without getting embarrassed. He hoped that they knew about it at least a little bit, as much as he could hint. But not too much, their annoying asses didn't deserve to see THAT much of him.

“I think so” 4 said “But he’s definitely not streaming like this, can we turn it off?”

“Well if you insis-” Meggy started.

“Nnnn…nnooooo… ss… stream…” 3 tried to get it out, the words small and weird. But they were heard. He didn’t like ending streams so suddenly. He’d rather die on camera than suddenly end a stream.

He heard 4 chuckle.

“Look at him, even in this state, he cares about his fans”

“How nice of him” Boopkins spoke up.

“I can see said fans are feeling the same way!” Meggy chuckled “It seems a lot of people are interested in what’s up here anyways so… for 3!”

“For 3!” both 4 and Boopkins cheered.

If 3 was fully there, he would be so embarrassed. He’d hate it. He’s starting to like this… as if he’s looking in from the outside, not subject to the actual affection of his friends yet still being the subject of it. Unbeknownst to him, he was smiling about this in 4’s arms, who noticed so. But didn’t dare comment on it. Who knows how his insane fans would treat it. Although he couldn’t just go without letting 3 know, if he could hear him.

“If you only looked this cute while conscious” 4 chuckled into 3’s ear. It sent a jolt through 3’s body, but still not enough to get him out of his state. So it was all still energy, so much, as if continuously zapping his mind. What the FUCK did 4 just say?? HIM??? CUTE??? Well, he was handsome but CUTE??? HIM??? No way, 4 didn’t know what he’s talking about. Yet the words rang in his mind, foreverly so, not leaving him. Like a forever moment. Feeling obsessed with it, even if he didn’t want to be. It made him feel so warm. Like he could feel it physically now. He heard 4 chuckle, unsure where to put it, it only made him feel weirder. It was like 4 had his fingers wrapped around him in a mental sense as well, whatever he would say, he wouldn’t be able to escape. It was… weird feeling this vulnerable.

Slowly he stirred more in 4’s arms. Still remaining as calm as he could manage, to not disturb 4 too much. He was actually kind of comfortable. Not like he’ll say that out loud. Maybe he’ll write it down in his notebook later. It had been a great source of coping for him. Writing about the things that made him feel feelings usually made them easier to digest. He looked up at 4 with half lidded eyes, he seemed so… focused. He noticed then 4 looking down, which surprised him a bit. 4 smiled, then looked to the side.

“It seems he looks a bit better now”

“That’s good! Makes me feel less bad about how we keep on going”

“We should stop for a bit though… my arms are standing to get tired… he isn’t exactly light”

“...Bitch” 3 muttered, first coherent thing he said since falling over like a log.

Everyone kind of laughed about it.

“Mario agrees!” Mario stopped and immediately whipped out his pocket spaghetti. Who knows how long that’s been there. He seemed to be happy to eat it either ways.

They all laid down for a bit, 4 laying 3 down as well then sat beside him. He really just decided to sit beside him. Maybe he really did care.

3 reached up, as best as he could as he regained his strength, reaching to 4. 4 looked at his hand a bit confused, then decided to hold it, not really understanding what 3 wanted.

“Pfft… sure whatever”

“What?” 4 asked but 3 only rolled his eyes in response.

“Guess you don’t need it then”

4 took his hand away. 3’s smile lightly faded away but not too much. He didn’t want it to be too obvious that he was disappointed about that. He wasn’t even sure how to explain that he was disappointed. He just knew that it meant a lot to him that 4 did that. He never imagined he would get so weak about him. Weak about whatever 4 directed his way.

Let it be his insults or the looks he could give him when he showed he cared. He wanted to have him whole, with all those silly little intricacies that made him who he was, even his cringe memes. Never did he care so much for someone in his life… What… What did he mean by this? Oh… OH… no… not here… not now… why couldn’t this happen at like- a more appropriate place- somewhere without 4 preferably- Well, the world is cruel to him so now he had to keep himself together in this damned situation.

He slowly sat up, not really looking at anything. He slowly breathed in, then out, slowly calming the nerves that scream about what’s boiling underneath his skin, his mind. His feelings were. Restless.

“Are you okay, 3?” Meggy turned to him, with a soft, understanding smile.

“So-so… could be better” 3 smiled back, which surprised Meggy a little.

“Do you remember what happened?”

“Not much… But��” 3 took all the strength in himself, all his emotional strength “I think the rot feeds on… frustration? I think, or anger.. I remember feeling sort of angry before… since a certain someone here can be such a piece of ass here” 3 said as he directly looked at 4.

“Did you hear what I say to you? If so, right now I’m really meaning it”

“Asshole…”

“What did you say to him?” Meggy asked, a bit suspiciously.

“That’s between us” 4 said, as he got up “We gotta keep moving anyways, I can feel how close we are”

“Yeah… let’s” 3 slowly got up, stretching his back, being held for a bit there made his back feel like a quirky little snake. The slightly loud pop from his back made Boopkins jump.

Mario looked at the 2, a big big grin that kept getting bigger.

“Hmmmmmmmmmmmm” he teased the 2, just even with his menacing Mario gaze.

3 and 4 exchanged glances.

“Home of sexual” Mario claimed, with the same big grin. 4 was ready to throw hands but 3 just got up and started walking. This shocked both but especially Meggy.

“I have no power or need to feel angry right now let’s just go, I’ll feed him bombs when we get back”

“Feeding time?” Mario looked on with great interest, his selective hearing deciding to focus right on the word ‘feed’ “Does Mario get his spaghetti?”

“Later, red, we have a mission on our hands right now”

As Meggy spoke, 3 realised his camera was in Meggy’s hand. He quickly took it back, Meggy barely realising it was taken from her.

“What’s up, chat! I live! I could never leave a stream interrupted, all of you know I’m stronger than that so I’m here again!” he marched on, with a big smile on his face. This surprised the others, especially 4 and Meggy as they looked at each other then followed after him, with Boopkins hurrying after them with his short legs. Mario shrugged, quickly forgetting about food as he followed behind them a bit delayed.

“Oh thanks for the bits! As for your question, we’re looking into something geniusly named the rot!.... ‘Is it really named the rot?’ It wasn’t named by me, I would’ve given it a better name, like forest meme fungus parasite or something like that”

“That’s actually kind of lame” 4 said.

“I agree actually” Meggy added.

Boopkins looked too concerned to end up on either sides.

“Whatever… ‘How far is it? We’ve been here for a while’ I think we’re getting closer! As you can see the trees look much different here” he put his hand against a tree, which leaked weird residue “AAAAH EWW EWW WHAT THE HELL”

4, Meggy and Mario laugh at him.

“Stuuu-piiiid” Mario keeps laughing.

3’s eyes twitched, but he was keeping his cool.

“And I think this isn’t even the stupidest thing I’ve ever seen him do!” 4 said.

Oh 4. His sweet prince. He’s done it. Truly. 3 slowly looked at him, 4 started to look scared. 3 ran at him, camera still in his hand, getting the weird liquid on him as well.

4 looked offended to hell, heaven and purgatory, he was NOT letting this go so easily. He grabbed a bit of rot as well and threw it at 3.

Mario clapped, the clowns are dancing again. Boopkins hid behind Meggy, who didn’t look very satisfied with Mario.

But, oh, if she didn’t pay attention to him, she would have realised that the ground was moving, but she only noticed when it was already pulling 3 and 4 down, and fast at that.

“4!!! 3!!!” Meggy cried out, trying to reach into the rot to no avail. It seemed she couldn’t get into it like those 2 managed to.

“Oh nooo” Mario genuinely got sad as he got down beside Meggy.

“What do we do now?” Boopkins went there last, although just as concerned as the other 2.

“I don’t know… the best we can do is… I think we should go back and get some tools! Maybe we can dig them out. Hopefully before the sun sets” Meggy proposed her idea, the other 2 nodded as they got up and started to run back, although not too fast to preserve stamina. They’re gonna NEED it.

3 and 4 laid there, underneath for a bit. It took a while until one woke up, which was 4. They were on top of each other, which he wasn’t too thrilled about. Though, to his horror, he couldn’t get up. He was stuck to him like this. At least it was just by their waists mainly… Who was he kidding, that’s probably the worst place to get stuck at, hands were way better, he’d rather have a week of that than this! He looked around, seeing that the place wasn’t big anyways. It was kind of dark, only illuminated by the rot’s faint blueish-green glow. What a weird way for a meme to manifest. At this point he was pretty sure it was a meme, although a powerful one. It seemed it had a strong staying power, one he hadn’t seen in a while. Another sign that it could be from Tumblr. He never liked Tumblr memes, they were always weird and hard to deal with. Since 3 was still not awake, 4 couldn’t channel the meme away either, 3 had to be at least awake for that. At least it was calm. He decided to pay attention to 3’s face. Just like before, he looked so peaceful. Although he could appreciate the energy he brought, he sometimes wished 3 could direct energy like this at him. He smiled, glad that he could get something like this to happen, although he’s still not very happy about the situation. As 4 looked around again, he noticed the lightly damaged camera, directed at them, still on.

“Ah” was all that was left in his mouth, as he went a bit pale, knowing what they were doing was broadcasted to many people. He got on 4s, in an uncomfortable way, considering he was still stuck to 3 and reached for the camera.

“Ummm… Hello, SMG3 viewers” 4 started awkwardly “I’d like to say thank you for all of you being here. Especially thank you for motivating us to go forward. I think I know what we will have to do with this so-called rot… But I will end stream here, it’s been a good run, thank you all for coming” 4 smiled at the camera and waved before turning the broadcast off.

That was when 3 stirred.

“Nggghh…” 3 looked up, having to blink a few times to see what the fuck is going on, kind of not believing his eyes, as he could feel his ears and face heat up.

“OI WHAT THE FUCK DUDE” 3 flipped, literally flipped, thinking they could separate but instead they fell over together, now with 3 on top, and their faces getting a bit too close from the velocity. 3 got distracted for a second. 4 took a bit before he returned the favour, as 3’s careless outburst only served to make him angrier. And so they got into a cycle of throwing each other but the bond on them still not budging.

“Why must you be such a bitch,,” 4 whined as 3 tried his best pulling 4 off of his waist, but he only bounced back, their foreheads meeting. which made both yelp in pain.

“FUCKING CHRIST” 3 cried out.

“DUMBASS” 4 cried back at him.

3 tried to calm himself down as he looked around, seeing his camera which was turned off.

“Did… the camera break?”

“No… I” 4 realised he might not live “turned off the stream” his words were small.

3 slowly turned to him, his face the reckoning, judgement upon him, all in a pair of eyes that belong to his meme guardian partner.

“You… did… what?” 3 leaned closer to him, it would’ve been an understatement to call his vibes menacing.

“I-I” 4 trembled under 3’s gaze.

“You don’t SIMPLY end my stream”

“I said goodbye!!”

“And?”

“I thanked them for being here!!”

“...”

4 looked scared as hell, his puppy eyes coming out, begging for forgiveness. Those eyes hit 3 square in the heart.

“Shit.. whatever I guess, I’ll let you be about it”

“Oh, thank you thank you” 4 hugged him, 3 could only roll his eyes.

3 tried to get up again, and maybe stand up right if everything goes well. And as he did, it seemed to be really hard for their faces to not be close. It was starting to frustrate both of them. Slowly, they both stood on their feet, although still stuck to each other. That’s when 4 remembered.

“Hey, wait, we can channel the rot away! You can feel its meme energy too, right?”

3 looked up, then nodded. 4 grabbed both of 3’s hands. 3 was sort of distracted by the whole thing. He didn’t like being so close so soon. He wanted to have at least a little bit of time to process his feelings. 4 noticed that, as they weren’t as efficient as they were supposed to be.

“3!! What’s with you??”

That seemed to snap 3 out of it, who looked to the side, a powerless sigh escaping his lips.

“I can’t explain”

“WHAT do you mean you can’t explain?? Let’s just get out here!! Don’t you want to get out??”

“I-... of course I do, you think I’m stupid?”

“Well, you’re looking very stupid right now, not channeling yourself!”

“Don’t you… don’t you see…? We’re just… a bit too close for my taste” 3 looked down, feeling ashamed. He didn’t want it to be true but it was, tears welling up in his eyes.

“What do you-”

“IT- IT WOULD BE SO MUCH EASIER IF YOU WEREN’T RIGHT IN MY FACE” 3 cried, tears rolling down his face “YOU think I WANT TO BE HERE?? I’D RATHER BE ETERNITIES AWAY FROM YOU RIGHT NOW” those tears just wouldn’t stop.

“THEN FUCKING CHANNEL, YOU BITCH, THEN YOU CAN GO”

“FUCK YOU”

“WHAT”

4 let go of 3’s hands, now pissed himself, both of them pissed in fact.

“BITCH” 3 added.

“WHY YOU-”

And they started throwing hands, fighting again. Which fell to an abrupt end, as 4 held 3 against a wall of rot.

“WHY CAN’T YOU JUST CHANNEL”

“I FEEL STUPID WITH YOU”

“YOU’RE CALLING ME STUPID?” 4 leaned closer to 3, who seemed to feel more ashamed than ever, as if he said something sacred, as if he sinned.

“Ju… just sh-.. shut up already, fuck..” 3 could feel his heart twist. 3 looked at 4 slowly, cautiously sadness pouring out from his eyes. He couldn’t hide it. He felt ashamed but he knew no other way out.

“3… 3 I’m…” 4 returned to a softer gaze.

“Are you stupid? I said…” once again, 3’s heart, it couldn’t take it “I feel stupid WITH you”

“Wh… What?”

“You really are stupid…”

4 didn’t look amused.

“So you called me stupid anyways”

“YOU-” 3 clenched his fists, trying his best to hold back from screaming at 4 again “You just… don’t seem to understand. And… I don’t know if I’m… shameless enough to just tell you everything…”

4 could feel something in his heart now as well. He didn’t understand what was going on.

“I’m… sorry”

“Oh? What did you say?”

“I said that I’m sorry…”

“Can you say it again?” 3 looked at him with a little evil grin, although still strained from the emotions he was feeling. It was obvious to 4. He gave him the stink eye then moved one of his hands to pet 3’s head.

“Can a man not be sorry?” 4 joked, which kind of worked, although the head pat flustered 3 a bit.

“Shut the fuck up”

“Sheesh”

3 giggled, seemingly calming down a bit.

“Let’s just get this over with, 3? You did say you wanted to be gone from me” although 4 would usually hide his feelings better, he sounded more sad than he should have.

3 couldn’t help but smile.

“So you DO care, huh?”

“I- of course I do, you’re one of my bestest friends!! I wouldn’t wanna stay away from you”

“Right right…friends… “ 3 looked down, he couldn’t bring himself to be angry anymore. He was tired.

“Wait you- you don’t mean…” 4 stared at 3, who wouldn’t dare look back. Although, it was hard avoiding him when they’re stuck by the waist.

Suddenly a lot of things started to make sense to 4. Memories flashing by him, as he looked at 3, looking back at everything. The things he would feel with him. More than just the meme energy they could channel together, there was way more there, more than he ever realised. They way he just… my god… The realisation hit him like a car crash.

“I’m in love with you??” 4 spoke confused, 3 looked at him confused.

3 couldn’t bring himself to words, he could only look back at 4. 3 knew his heart was flying sky high though, with his face feeling god awfully warm too. After the confusion wore off, 4 smiled, kind of coming to peace with it. Skipping a few stages of grief there, huh?

“Let’s get out of here, 3” he grabbed his hands, once again, although softly.

The 2 look at each other for quite a long moment, as they slowly channel the meme energy, yet they can’t help thinking: this is not enough. It’s kind of weird how they both leaned in at the same time, sharing a power shattering kiss that vaporized all the rot out of existence, even the thin layer that made them stuck. Although they were still stuck in the hole that the rot dug out. They looked up, finally seeing the outside world. It was a sight they didn’t think they’d miss so much. Ironically to what 3 was saying before, he didn’t seem to want to let go of 4. 4 didn’t mind that.

“Hey” 3 spoke awkwardly “Just saying if you’d like to kiss me again, you’re totally allowed to”

4 smiled brightly as he took on the request, melting into 3’s touch in the process. Nothing was perfect and wonderful sunshine forever rainbow though so…

“Guys, we’re- oooooooh” Meggy stopped as she noticed the 2.

“We’re here we’re- OOOOOOOOOH” Mario piped up even louder.

“What’s with the- WOAAAH” Boopkins seemed to be the most surprised. He didn’t even see it coming.

The 2 idiots finally noticed the outrage their homosexual activity made happen.

“SHUT THE FUCK UP” 3 yelled at them.

“Yeah you tell them!!” 4 cheered him on.

The 3 other idiots, who patiently pulled them out of the hole could barely wait to ask about everything. What happened in there? Are they Homo Sex now? (A Mario original question) Most importantly: are they okay?

“None of you speak of what you saw” 3 pointed at Meggy, Mario and Boopkins. Boopkins and Meggy nodded, while Mario had different intentions. He was going into his usual devious Mario smile.

“Mario” 3 looked at him with violent intent.

“Hee hee hee”

“Mario, he’s serious” 4 added, also ready to throw hands.

Mario took a few seconds then suddenly took off.

“MARIOOO”

“GET BACK HERE”

“MARIO MUST SHARE WORD OF THE GAY”

And so they couldn’t catch him, now everyone knew that his guardian partners were also romantic partners now. A beautiful ending <3.

---

Hope this was enjoyable! It is my first fic with this series so obviously it's not perfect. Fun fact! I wrote this in one night.

I may possibly have more ideas but nothing too concrete yet oopsie

#smg34 #my writing

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