#and the way I’ve been following her for years and I’m feeling territorial

[luxaofhesperides]

“You know, I’ve spent years looking at the stars and yet, you still manage to outshine them all.” + fluff, established relationship ; requested by @xysidhequeen!

The Signal didn’t often go out at night. He sticks to working during the day as often as he can, a visible figure of safety that the people of Gotham could rely on. He mostly works alone during the day, with only his husband’s voice in his ear (and sometimes flying by his side), and spends the night recovering so he can do it all over again.

But tonight, he’s grappling through the streets, working with Batgirl and Red Hood to bust a trafficking operation. The rest of the Bats are either working cases in other parts of the world, or too injured to go out despite their best efforts to say otherwise. He’s already feeling tired, not as young as he used to be and lacking the energy he had in high school to do so much each day. 

They need the help, which is why he agreed to help out, but Danny had managed to switch him from being one of the heavy hitters to being backup and rescue, so he can whisk away any victims he finds through shadows to deliver them to Gordon, who waits on standby a few streets away with emergency medical services with him. Not a perk he was expecting from marrying someone else in the hero business, but definitely one he appreciates. 

He wishes Danny were still in his ears, humming softly on comms as Duke fits himself into the shadow of the warehouse the traffickers are hiding in. Batgirl and Red Hood take to the roofs as Duke slips inside, stepping out of the shadows onto the catwalk, crouching down so no one spots him. The shadows drape over him, a comforting weight, as he reaches out and rips away the weak lights on in the warehouse.

The added darkness allows Batgirl and Red Hood to slip inside, positioning themselves on the crossbeams, watching the people below them move about. 

They speak in hushed voices, eyes flickering nervously from the windows to the door. Guns are held in white-knuckled grips; they all know they shouldn’t step into Bat territory, but the call of powerful criminal families like the Falcones is too much for them to resist. 

“Victims should be held in freight boxes at the other end of the warehouse,” Red Hood says, voice low as he shifts his weight, ready to drop down and make the traffickers beg for mercy. 

“Try to draw everyone to this end, then, and I’ll get the victims out of here.”

“You got it. Ready, Batgirl?”

Batgirl lifts her cowl to tuck her blond bangs out of her face, then grins. “Ready.”

They drop from the ceiling at the same moment, landing on two traffickers and taking them out instantly. The warehouse is filled with shouts and gunfire as the vigilantes weave their way around the space, hitting hard and kicking away guns as soon as they can.

Duke grabs onto a shadow and follows it along the wall, letting it carry him down to the floor. No one guards the freight boxes, making it all the easier to wrench them open. The movement makes his left shoulder twinge, and Duke winces, knowing it’ll be a pain in the morning. 

The people huddled inside the freight box cry out, alarmed and frightened, when he steps inside. 

“Hey, it’s alright, I’m here to get you guys to safety,” he soothes, hands raised in front of him.

The youngest of them are the first to run to him, whispering fervent thanks as he pulls the shadows over them, hiding them from sight, then taking them to Gordon. He makes the trip multiple times, the other victims eager to be free from the hell they’ve experienced. 

There are tears and panic attacks and people clutching to each other, relieved that their nightmare is over. 

Thankfully, there weren’t that many victims. It’s the smallest silver lining, but after all these years, Duke knows to take what he can get. It’s all to easy to let despair take over. If he wants to save people, he has to keep fighting for the smallest hopes of a better future.

“All victims have been rescued,” he announces, standing outside the warehouse. “Need any help in there?”

“Nah, we’re good,” Batgirl says. Her words are followed by a grunt, a swear, and then her manic laughter. From the sound of it, someone got a lucky shot in and Batgirl repaid it with a particularly nasty nerve strike.

“We got it covered from here. Just need to interrogate a few guys, then we’ll let the pigs clean up this mess,” Red Hood adds. 

“Alright, I’m gonna head in, then.”

Batgirl sends him off with a cheerful “Sleep tight, don’t let the lovebugs bite too much!” It’s been years since he accidentally went on patrol with a fully visible hickey and she still refuses to let it go.

Duke sighs, then turns off his comm. He grapples up to the roof and begins making his way back towards the apartment, far too tired to bother with going to the Hatch. He’s got plenty of hidden storage space to hide away his suit for a day, and the Hatch doesn’t have Danny, so of course he’s not going to go there.

All he wants to do after such a long day is go home, where Danny should be.

Should be, because not even five minutes into crossing the city, Duke catches sight of the white star-glow of Danny up on a rooftop. 

He changes course immediately, turning towards Danny before he fully processes what he’s seeing, as if he’s being pulled into his orbit. 

Danny’s sitting on the edge of a building as Phantom, his gas mask hanging loose around his neck. 

He beams as Duke lands on the building, reaching up for him as Duke takes off his helmet and crouches down to kiss him. 

“You know,” Danny murmurs against his lips, “I’ve spent years looking at the stars, and yet you still manage to outshine them all.”

Six years of marriage and Danny still manages to fluster him. Duke laughs, dropping his head onto Danny’s shoulder. “Well, hello to you too, you flirt. What was that for?”

“I saw you saving those people tonight. They looked at you like you were the sun. I’m glad other people are seeing how wonderful you are.”

“You flatter me too much. What brought you out here so late? I thought you were sleeping.”

Danny shrugs, looking down at the street. “I tried, but a ghost insisted I follow them out here. I didn’t realize how close I was to you until I got here, and then I just couldn’t resist watching you in action.”

“And you wanted to make sure I was fine.”

“That too,” Danny admits. They’ve long since settled any arguments about trust and believing each other to be able to handle the fights they throw themselves into. Danny’s need to protect and self sacrifice because he’s ‘already dead, what’s another thirty bullets going to do?’ and Duke’s determination to do things his way, working off visions of the future he doesn’t have time to communicate meant they fought often and loudly in the early stages of their relationship. Time has tempered those feelings, and now it’s clear to see that Danny simply wants him safe, and Duke doesn’t mind using his status as a hero or his powers to give Danny some special treatment.

Danny checking up on him in fights doesn’t make him think Danny sees him as weak and in need of help. It just makes him feel loved, grateful to know his husband would always be there for him, even if it’s in the sidelines, ready to fly them home.

“What did the ghost need?” he asks, lifting his head from Danny’s shoulder. 

“Well…” Danny trails off. “How do you feel about pets?”

“Sweetheart, did a ghost ask you to adopt their dog?”

Danny’s expression falls, and Duke’s heart twists. He pulls Danny into his arms without second thought, offering him what comfort he could. 

“Not a dog,” he says. “And it wasn’t a human ghost. It was a cat. A cat that had kittens and died because there wasn’t enough food for her on the streets.”

“Oh, sweetheart,” Duke says. Animal deaths have always hit Danny hard, and it’s this that made Damian accept Danny as part of the family, insisting on helping ghost animals with him.

“I’ve already texted Dami about the kittens. He’s going to swing by our place tomorrow to pick them up, but there are two that attached themselves to me and I don’t want to let them go.”

“Let’s go get them and take them home. And then we can start thinking of names for them.”

Danny peeks up at him shyly, then breaks out into a relieved smile. “Really? Thank you! I love you so much.” He jumps to his feet and kisses Duke quickly, then is flying down to get the kittens before Duke can do anything.

He flies back up with a cardboard box full of tiny little ‘meows’ that are already melting Duke’s heart from cuteness.

“I buried mama cat already, so I think we’re good to go.”

Duke aims his grapple again, and with Danny by his side, soars above the city. Neither of them are going as fast as they usually do, carefully aware of the kittens in the box. When they get to their apartment, Duke lands on the balcony and opens the door so Danny can fly in without risking intangible kittens escaping. He sets the box down gently on the floor of the living room, then grabs his wallet and flies out again, tossing a quick explanation of buying food for them over his shoulder.

Left alone with the kittens, Duke peeks into the box to coo at them before heading to the bedroom to change into sweatpants. His gear is left tucked into the back of the closet, hidden by some heavy winter coats. 

The kittens are crying when he gets back to the living room. Their little cries are too hard to resist, so Duke uses the shadows to create a small playpen for them, keeping them contained in a small area in front of the couch. He sits on the ground and carefully pulls each kitten out, freeing them from their cardboard confines. 

Within seconds, the kittens are toddling around unsteadily, so small and scraggly, with eyes that have only just opened peering around curiously. Duke pets them with a single finger, terrified of hurting their fragile bodies. 

He’s covered in kittens climbing over his lap when Danny returns.

His husband takes a moment by the door, in human form, to give him a sappy smile, so visibly in love it makes Duke blush. “You’re the best thing I’ve ever seen,” he says, breathlessly, and carelessly drops his bag of kitten supplies on the ground to cross the distance between them and kiss Duke sweetly. 

“Such a sweet talker today,” Duke comments as he pulls away.

“Can you really blame me? I have the best husband in the world who saves people and kittens and has the best smile and reminds me how much good is still left in the world.”

Duke’s mind short circuits at Danny’s words. Instead of saying how much he loves Danny, with his need to protect, his big heart, the way he always puts his cold hands on Duke’s temples before Duke himself realizes how bad his migraine is, what he says is, “Can we name one of the kittens Polaris?”

“Best husband in the world,” Danny says again, his voice soft. “I love that name. Yes, let’s name one Polaris.”

Sitting there at almost four in the morning, just coming in from saving victims of human trafficking, should be exhausting and painful and lead to a long night of wondering how long he can keep fighting when there’s no end to human cruelty. But his heart is light, leaning into his husband with kittens crawling over them.

There is good in the world. So much good.

The best is sitting besides him in their dark living room, and Duke knows that as long as Danny is by his side, he’ll keep fighting for all the good still out there. The world could be so much better, and he��s determined to make it better for Danny.

A world where kittens are safe even in the streets. 

That’s the world he’ll make for Danny.

#ghostlights #dc x dp #dp x dc #dcxdp #dpxdc #dc x dp fic #dp x dc fanfic #prompt fill #my writing #a little look into their lives years in the future where theyre married and still being heroes #duke remains the daytime hero and phantom is a rarely seen hero who only comes out for huge emergencies. or to be with the signal. #theres a rhythm to their lives but they still manage to make everything feel new and lovely together #literally goals. who does it like them!!! #thank you for the prompt!!

[raya-hunter01]

Lights, Camera, Action! Pt.1

Lights, Camera, Action!

Jey Uso x Black Female OC! (Shantell)

Roman x Black Female OC! (Tangela)

Solo x Black Female OC! (Sofia)

Jimmy x Trin

Rating: 18+

Warning: Smut; oral, sex, spankings,fluff, handjobs, masturbation

Words: 11,212

It’s the night before the MITB PPV and the bloodline Civil War match is vastly approaching. How do you keep it together as Smackdown’s production director and navigate your life as the girlfriend of Mr. Main Event Jey Uso?  Follow Shantell as she navigates her life as a girlfriend, sister, and confidant to the bloodline. Follow her on her journey to self-discovery of love and happiness.

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

Camera ten pan over, Camera eight get ready! I want that final shot of Jey and Joe before the brawl! Then we are going to pace it going back and forth between camera five and eleven. Stu it’s about to get wild stay safe, and rock it like the rent is due! “I said into my headset.

 “I got you Shan, let’s go to work.” Stu responded.

“Let’s make it count guys in 5,4,3,2,1.” I say looking at the monitor feeling antsy not wanting to miss a moment.

We’re all on pins and needles as Roman walks up to Jey. “You gon step up now, you a big tough guy now, huh. “What you gon do?” he shouts as Jey begins looking down and around with an expression of apprehension.   

 “You ain’t never done nothin, you understand me? “You are nothing without me!” Roman continuously yells at his cousin who he has spent the last three years being abused by the Tribal Chief.

“Alright camera five we are coming your way.” I say as the action seems about to pop off.

“I got you Shan let’s do this.” Scott said as a familiar voice rang out in our ears through our headsets “The civil war has begun!” stated Michael Cole as the brawl breaks down between the bloodline as Jey pie-faced roman right into a superkick from Jimmy.

“Cameras eleven and five let’s take it home guys.  Hard cameras keep your eye on the ring, you got five seconds before it goes to you, then back to camera five. Camera eleven I need my shot!”  I shout into my headset feeling myself in the zone.

“Jey Uso! Takes out the bloodline, the civil war continues tomorrow at “Money In the Bank! “Michael Cole screams as camera five take us home with a final shot on Roman writhing on the floor.

The show was done, and we made it through, the atmosphere in London is so magical and overwhelming at times but we had a great time directing the show. My name is Shantell, but everyone calls me Shan for short. I’m not one to toot my own horn but I’m the first woman to run WWE Smackdown production ever and a black woman at that. I take pride in my job being that I’ve been a fan of wrestling all my life.

 I have been employed by World Wrestling Entertainment for almost three years now. “Jesus!” I scream as I feel someone grab me around my waist from behind and kiss my neck. “Hey baby” the sweaty figure whispers into my neck before dropping a kiss on the sensitive area. A chill ran down my spine because I know that deep sexy drawl anywhere.

 “Jey, you scared the shit outta me!” I exclaimed as he let out a little laugh and turned me around in his arms to face him as I wrap my arms around his neck.

“Well, you know it had to be me, who else would steal a kiss?” he questions with a sly smirk.

 “It could have been anybody, you know how some of these men been trying to get at me all of a sudden since we been dating.” I smirk watching his facial expression turn territorial, almost challenging.

“Ma, ain’t nobody crazy enough to try to take what’s mine.” He says scrunching up his face a little bit before stealing a quick kiss.

“Well, that would be hot if it didn’t sound so ……You Tarzan me jane- ish.” I whispered against his lips before stealing a kiss myself. We both held it together for a few seconds before we fell out laughing.

Yep, as you can guess Joshua Fatu is my boyfriend he is best known to the world as Jey Uso.  We’ve been together almost four months even though we’ve known each other for five years.  Everything is still fairly new to us, and we are navigating the waters from being friends to being in a relationship.

“Hey Uce.” said Jon aka Jimmy Uso walking up to us and giving me a hug and a kiss on the cheek. “Hey big guy! Great job out there.” I said as Joe and Solo came up and I hugged them as well.  “How did we do baby girl?” Joe asks as I embrace him. “You all were awesome I had fun directing you guys tonight. “I said excitedly.  

“Fun my ass! It was a blast; we might need to do a behind the scenes video of you guys directing a segment. Pure passion and at times comedy gold,” said the COO of the company Paul Levesque said as a few of us from production began laughing.

I wrapped up my final work of the night and met the guys at the bus. I saw Jimmy off to the side, ending his phone call looking very upset. “Hey everything ok?” I asked as I saw the longing in his face.

“Yea just missing Trin, it’s a big day tomorrow and I’m so use to having her here.” He says rubbing his hand across his tired face.

“Hey, it will be ok, I know it is hard but if anyone can do this it’s you and Trin.” I say as he nods his head in hopefulness.  

“Guys let’s roll!” shouts Joe from the bus. I give him a hug before we got on the bus to go to our next location in England for a last-minute appearance at a house show not very far from the 02 arena for those that couldn’t get smackdown tickets.

The show was still going on and the bloodline was double booked for both shows with smackdown being filmed earlier in the afternoon.

“Baby, I’m going to call my mom right quick then I will be in” I say as I see them getting ready to get off the bus for the house show main event.

“Ok baby, see you in there,” Jey says as he’s the last one off the bus.  

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

Tampa, Fl

Trin POV

Ring…Ring.Ring…

“Hey Shan, how are you?” Trinity asks with a smile. It was great to hear from my friend, she hated not being on the road with them but in the end, she made her choice. She couldn’t be happier with the new opportunities she was receiving, but she was missing her husband and her friends.

“I’m good I just wanted to run an idea by you. When do you have to go back to work?” Shan asks.

 “Well Tommy thought I was going to England with Jimmy, so he gave me off until next Thursday. I wish he had told me before I reported to work because I could have gone with you guys. Then a fan tweeted me a video from an interview the guys did yesterday, and I just felt so bad.  I miss him so much, and I miss being there, but I had to take a stand on what’s right.” I say brokenly as all I wanted to do at this moment was hold my husband and take is pain away.

“That’s why I’m calling Trin, the company Jet is in route back to the states to pick up a few more talent that is going to do house shows this upcoming Monday and I asked Paul if you could come, and he said yes!” Shan says excitedly.

My tears began to fall I had to take a moment to comprehend what my friend was saying. “Are you serious?”  “Yes, I’m serious Paul understands what went down, why do you think he had no problem with you being at Wrestlemania to support Jon, he adores you.  The Plane will land in about three hours at the airport also, Tangela and Sofia are coming,” she adds.

 Tangela and Sofia are also my girls and Roman and Solo’s wives respectively. It’s hard in this business being married but we all find a way to make it work.

“Shan, I can’t thank you enough,” I say trying to stop my tears from flowing.

“Girl, stop crying, tomorrow is going to be special for them, and it wouldn’t be complete if the most important women in their lives weren’t here to share in that. Now get packed and come see your hubby.” she says confidently.

“See that’s why you my sister, you keep me grounded,” I whisper in gratitude.

“See you tomorrow sis, call me when y’all land,” she says as we finish our goodbyes.

Shantell’s POV

“I was getting worried bae,” Jey said as I came and sat on his lap.

“I’m ok baby.” I said giving him a chaste kiss on the lips.

“Get a room ya’ll! I’m already missing my wife, “Solo says with a laugh as I got up and pretended to square up against him.

“Now sis, you know damn well, “he starts with a belly laugh as I cut him off.

"Hey! Don’t sleep on us quiet ones, we’ll put them paws on dat ass!” I exclaim, smiling and swinging my fists in a windmill motion as the guys start laughing.

“I’ll remember that.” he says rubbing the top of my head with a smile as I stick out my tongue at him.

“Bro, leave my girl alone,” Jey says grabbing me by the waist pulling me into his lap laughing at the antics of his brother and I.

We all continued to joke around with each other before Paul Heyman made his presence felt, “Gentleman this angle has been amazing, all the hard work you have put in is paying off. I couldn’t be prouder; you deserve this, and so much more so enjoy this moment.” he said with tears in his eyes.

The moment of clarity for the four men was resounding as they seemed to be in trance still trying to comprehend all that is happening to them and just taking the moment in. Tomorrow they would make history with each other.

 “I’ll be back guys,” Jimmy says as he stands and proceeds to go deep into the arena.

“He misses Trin.” Jey says as he looks at his brother retreating form.

I look at Jey and then turned to Joe as I heard him speaking. “That is a major part of it, but he also thinks with everything that has happened in the past he’s not deserving of this moment. That interview really threw him for a loop yesterday,” he says taking a deep breathe looking in the direction his cousin went.

“I’m going to talk to him,” I said practically running to find Jimmy before Jey could stop me.

I found him in a deserted part of the arena with his head between his hands. I sat down beside him. “Wanna talk?” I ask. “I’m gonna fuck this up,” he says in a whisper. Unbeknownst to them someone is listening in the shadows.

“What do you mean you’re gonna fuck it up?” I ask.

“I don’t belong here Uce,” he says as I look at him with sympathetic eyes.

“I don’t know who you’ve been listening to, but I am telling you that you belong here. You belong here with your brothers, and your family. You all play a part in this, not just one person. I’m sorry but the guy l directed a couple weeks ago that cut that badass promo with his brothers and cousin was ready,” I say as he hangs his head taking a deep breath.

“Jonathon!” I yell as he turns to look at me in disbelief.

 “My government name…. Really sis?" he whines as I shake my head yes at him.

“Yes, government name because I’m talking to Jonathon Fatu now not Jimmy Uso. Look we all make mistakes. Do you know what matters?” I ask as he stares at me intently and shakes his head no.

“It’s how you handle your mistakes that makes you the person you are. You messed up big deal, you owned it, and you worked your way back. You brothers loves you, so does Trinity, Joe, we all do, and you know mama and daddy Kishi don’t play bout they babies,” I say finally getting a smile out of him as I nudge his shoulder.

“We are all with you every step of the way because that what family do,” I say reassuring him. He sadly smiles at me as a few silent tears slips from his eyes.

“I’m glad my brother has someone like you in his life Shan,” he says as we embrace.

“I know right!” I say smartly as we both laugh. “But seriously I’m blessed to have your brother in my life, he treats me like a queen. And I’m glad Joshua is blessed to have brothers like you and Solo,” I say as we sit in silence for a minute.

‘Now can we go back and enjoy the moment with your family,” I ask as he nods, helps me up, and we walk back towards the group.

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

Jey’s POV

Jey wipes the tears he didn’t even know had fallen from his eyes as he watched his girlfriend walk off with his brother to rejoin the group. He felt his brother’s pain as he himself had made a few bad choices, but the media always focused on my brothers’ problems. I didn’t know he felt this way and that bothers me. We both deserve to be here.

We gon have a talk when we get home away from the prying eyes of work. Behind every corner someone sees something. Case in point my ass hiding in the shadows listening on a conversation not meant for me, but I’m glad I did.

“There you are baby,” Shan says as I walk up trying to mask all the emotions inside of me from the conversation I overheard.

“I was going to find you guys, but I had to go to the bathroom” I said sitting beside her.

She looks at me and nods in understanding. “We’re on soon guys, then we can go on to the hotel to get some rest.” Joe states taking a seat beside Solo and Jimmy.

“Good because I need to call Sofia, “Solo says looking at a picture of his wife and son on his phone.

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

Shantell’s POV

“Night guys,” I say as Jey, and I step off the elevator for him to walk me to my room.

“Night Uce,” Jimmy says with a smile and a side nod trying to push his bro to shoot his shot. Jey shook his head no while signaling to his twin brother to shut up.

“No fooling around guys, you know what Mickey said in Rocky. Women weaken them legs,” Solo says as Joe hits him on the back of his head as we all laughed.

“We all know Shantell is a good girl, she going to make Uce earn it, they may cuddle at best, so he won’t have weak legs tomorrow Solo, I assure you, “Joe snickers.

I blush and put my head down as Jey laughs, “Aye, aye, get outta me and my lady business,” he says as the elevator door closes. We began the walk to my room finally reaching our destination, I turn to say goodnight and I’m met with an earth-shattering kiss from Jey, it was slow, deliberate, and powerful.

Getting lost in the moment my arms automatically go to around his neck as he pulls me in close. I feel his tongue begging to be inside my mouth as he pulls me even closer to him.

I gasp at the sensations he is causing me to have all at once as our tongues finally meet in a sensual dance as his hands begin to roam all over my body.

“Ahem!” A familiar voice says as we turn to see Paul Heyman with smile on his face.

“Maybe you two would like to take that inside one of your rooms maybe?” He says as I blush and put my head on Jey’s shoulder as he snickers rubbing his hands up and down my arms.

“Sorry OG, I lost myself for a second.” Jey says trying to not laugh.

“No problem, I know what it was like to be young and in love” he says smiling walking into his room beside mine.

“So are you coming in mister right hand man?” I ask as his gaze intensifies as he invades my space once again. “I wanna do some thangs to you with this right hand, he says touching my breasts through my shirt as I moan. “I don’t wanna rush you, I’m trying to be a good dude here,” he whispers before taking me again in a gentle kiss as we both moan from pleasure. I can feel his chest muscles tighten as I rake my nails up and down his back trying to feel him anyway I could.

Breaking away from the intense kiss to catch my breath, I finds my voice, “I’m not ready to say goodnight yet, I whisper still holding on to him as he smiles. I was content in his arms yet struggling to find the courage to say what I know we both wanted.

“Shit you look so fuckin sexy right now, you makin it hard for me to go to my room Shan,” he groans as I gaze up at him with bashful, lust filled eyes. “Can I stay wit ya baby. I just wanna hold you.” Jey whispers to me as he sensually attacks my neck with kisses as I nod and let out a small moan as he finds my sensitive spot behind my ear.

 “Mmhmm, I found a spot didn’t I baby,” he moans near my ear as I groan, and nod appreciatively barely holding it together. “Can I stay baby?” he moans kissing and sucking on my neck as if he’s trying to drain my dry of my senses. I nod again unable to speak as he’s enjoying feasting on my neck.

“Nah, let me hear you say I can baby”, he demands as he pulls back to look into my eyes.  “Do you want me to stay beautiful?” he asks again more clearly as he gently caresses my face looking at me with so much love and admiration. I pray this feeling never ends; I’m so gone over this man if he wanted to take me right now in this hall up against the wall, I would let him.

“Yes,” I moan breathlessly without hesitation as he gently kisses me. “I promise I’ll be good,” he whispers against my lips in between kisses “I trust you baby,” I say gazing into his eyes before turning away to open the door.  He wraps his arms around my waist slowly pulling me to him gingerly brushing my hair to one side while sensually attacking the other side of my neck with butterfly kisses as we go inside.

“Bout time Uce!” Paul says to himself smiling happy that the relationship between the two was flourishing. He didn’t mean to listen to their intimate conversation, but they weren’t exactly being quite either. Paul shook his head went to call his own wife before he took a shower to settle down for the night.

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

Sofia’s POV

“Baby… I miss you so much,” Sofia says as she talks to her husband Solo on the phone.

“I miss you more babe, tomorrow is on my mind, and you calm me down when I’m overthinking,” he says glancing around is lonely hotel room.

“Baby, I want you to breathe, I hate the connection was so bad that our facetime call dropped earlier,” Sofia mumbles as Trinity and Tangela shoot her a look from the other side of the plane. She holds up a finger at them.

“Baby, can I call you back? I’m going to check on the Cameron,” she says as Solo voice perks up at the mention of his son. He knows how hard it is for a newborn sometimes to sleep and their son was no different. He knows I’ve been struggling to adjust to Cameron’s sleep patterns.

“Sure baby, give Cameron my love. I love you Sofie,” he says as I smiles “I love you too big guy.”

“What was that about?” Tangela says as I disconnect the call shaking my head.

“Oh, he’s nervous about tomorrow and wishes I was there,” I say with a look of longing, this was harder than I thought it would be.

“Aww, he is going to be so surprised tomorrow,” Trinity says as Tangela smiles.

“Joe text me talking about keep the home fires burning, we are going on a trip when he gets done with smackdown next week. I hate I could never get into wrestling like you guys, sometimes I feel outta place” Tangela says with a small frown on her face.

“Girl, even if you don’t like it, I bet when you feel the atmosphere tomorrow you will enjoy the show and will be cheering him on. You support and love him, so he doesn’t mind if you don’t come to shows but I know it’s important to him and his face is going to tell the story when he sees you tomorrow.” Sofia reassures her.

---------

Jimmy’s Hotel Room

“Damn,” Jimmy mutters as he tries to reach his wife but gets her voicemail.

“Good night beautiful…. I had you on my mind, and Josh is probably staying the night with Shan, so I was hoping for a little facetime fun. I can’t wait to get home to see you.  I Love you.” He ended the call and went about his nightly routine to get ready for bed.

Shantell's Hotel room

Jey’s POV

“I’m going to grab a shower baby, “Shan says heading into the bathroom. As Jey makes himself comfortable on the bed. “Need any help baby?” I ask with a smirk. “You are so silly,” she says shutting the bathroom door.

“She gon to be the death of me,” I whisper to myself as I hear the shower in the next room. I pulled my clothes off and strip down to my underwear, having showered at the building paid off because I probably would have taken my clothes off and joined her in the shower and took her right then and there with how hot she got me from our makeout session outside of her hotel room.

“Jey, hold it together ….Damn,” I say to myself while channel surfing. Next thing you know the thought of the water cascading down Shan’s body is too much and I’m sliding my underwear down a little to release my throbbing dick.  

“Shit! That feels better,” I mutter as I glance back at the door then back down at my throbbing dick, I needed to take care of it before Shan gets out of the shower. I slowly grabbed my dick and began to stroke it to further erection. I needed to get relief quick and fast.

 My breath hitches as I pictured Shan in the shower as I began to stroke faster, my gasps faintly heard throughout the room as I struggle to be quiet to not alert her as to what I was doing.  I begin to stroke even faster, as the thought of her going down on her knees looking up at me with those beautiful bedroom eyes as she takes me in her mouth.

 “Fuck!” I mutter as my eyes closes, it feels so fucking good. I stroke myself harder as I feel my thighs start to tighten, it’s almost like I could feel Shan’s mouth on my dick sucking me hard and fast. My body begins to shiver as I cum hard shaking and cursing below my breath gasping Shantell’s name.

“Damn, I’m whipped,” I say to myself as I clean myself up quickly and climbed back into bed feeling more relaxed and ready for bed.

Shantell’s POV

As I was finishing up my shower my thoughts began to wander to Jey. We have been dating for a few months, few kisses here, and caresses there. I want so much more; I’m ready to give Jey every inch of me.  I never really dated as I was always concerned with school and sports so it left little time for dating.

After high school, I started college but two years in I left due to my grandmother being diagnosed with cancer. I put school on the back burner until she went into remission. Then when I returned, I did my internship with WWE and finished my last two years of college.

Sadly after my one-year anniversary with the WWE my grandmother's cancer returned and after a long-fought battle, she passed away last year.

Now I stand here as a thirty-two-year-old virgin. I remember the battle we had about our ages since he’s almost thirty-eight and I thought people would talk about our six-year age difference.

I’ll never forget him storming into gorilla while I was working, telling me how we both grown ass folk, and it was nobody’s business but ours what we do. He also decided to yell about how over half of the people that work in the WWE are married and cheating on their spouses. Not how I wanted it to be known we were together, but hey he was passionate about it.

Laughing and shaking my head at the memory, I steps out the shower, I could hear his light snores. I dried off and changed into my right-hand man t shirt that he gave me on one of our many late-night movie marathons in his room. As I open the door, I see my he is out like a light. I climb in bed beside him.

Jey’s POV I moan as I feel Shan next to me and as I roll over to scoop her up in my arms.  I can get use to this. Man, she making an Uce feel a certain type of way, real talk.

“Night baby,” I whisper her against her ear kissing her neck, wrapping my arms around her pulling her closer to me.  “Goodnight my right-hand man, “I hear her faintly whisper as we drift off to sleep.

London Airport

“Trinity…. Tangela, hurry up!” Sofia says as they are rushing to get off the plane. The show has already started, and she wanted to see Solo before his match.

“I’m coming!” Trinity yells having changed into her new Day One-ish shirt. Following close behind her was Tangela in her husband’s shirt.

The women hopped in the limo waiting for them excitement taking over as they were on the way to their husbands finally.

O2 Arena  MITB PPV

Shantell’s POV

You could cut the excitement with a knife as the guys were off talking about last minute plans for their match.

 “Where are they?” Shan mutters as she looks at her watch. The women’s MIB match was going on. She was hoping the girls got there in time to share a few minutes with their husbands before the match.

Lost in her thoughts her phone beeped to alert her of an incoming message.

“Outside by the bus, is the coast clear to come in?” Trin’s text read.

“Girl, yes get in here quick, they’ve gone down to the spare ring in the building to run over some stuff, they don’t want me to know the outcome.” I text back.

Shan took off towards the bloodline dressing room thanking her lucky stars that the guys still shared a dressing room together.

Ok roses, fruit, champagne for after the match I say to myself scanning the room making sure everything was right.

Knock, knock

“Thank god,” I whisper as I open the door and let the ladies in as we share a quick hug.

“Thank you so much Shan, even though y’all know I’m so confused by this whole wrestling thing, “Tangela says honestly.

You’re welcome, Tangela. The night wouldn’t be complete without you all here,” I told her.

“I owe you,” Trinity says tearing up.

“No ma’am, no tears go freshen up,” Tangela says as Sofia nods in agreement.

“I’m going to go find them and be right back.” I say leaving out of the dressing room.

Paul knew I would want to be at ring side tonight to Support Jey, so I have the night off. Thankfully I won’t be out there alone because Trin is going to sit with me.

Tangela and Sofia weren’t comfortable being out in front of the crowds, so they were going to watch the match from the dressing room.

I changed into my new Day-One-ish shirt as I fumbled around the arena to find the guys.

45 minutes before the Main Event.

Solo’s POV

“The crowd is gon lose they shit Uce!” Jimmy says excitedly as we all hug and go silent as we see Shan approaching us.

“Does she know Uce?” Joe whispers to Jey as he shakes his head.

“No, I want her to be surprised with the ending,” Jey says as he smiles at his girlfriend coming closer to them in the spare ring.

“You know that can go one of two ways, she kisses you, or cuss yo ass out.” I laugh as Jey rolls his eyes at me.

“Ok boys you got about forty-five minutes before showtime,” she says smiling as she can see how excited and nervous, we are. “How about we go back to the dressing room for a second, I think you guys need a moment to soak in the moment from prying eyes.” She offers as we all agree with the suggestion.

Tonight, was big, I’m competing in the main event as a competitor going against my brothers. Holy Shit.  Yea, I need to call Sofia to get my damn nerves together I think to myself as we walk back to our dressing room.

Shantell's POV

I texted Trin that we were headed their way as Jimmy led the way.

“Ma, you just cheesing,” Jey says taking my hand in his smiling himself.

“Hey, I got the night off so I can watch my man compete in peace, I ain’t gotta be shouting orders about camera shots or nothing just let me enjoy this moment mister main event,” I say excitedly as he shakes his head.

Jimmy’s excited voice could be heard from the dressing room, and it made Joe and Solo pick-up pace to get there to see what the commotion was. I smiled and looked at my boyfriend.  

“What did you do?” he asks.

“Nothing… I swear baby,” I say as he rolls his eyes at me.

“Yessss Sir!!!!” Roman yells as I smile wider as Jey looks at me shaking his head.

“You did something, come on here sneaky,” he said leading the way as we walked in the dressing room to see what was going on. I feel Jey’s eyes staring intently at me.

“What?” I ask as he pulls me closer and kisses me long and deep.

“Thank you, baby,” he whispers as I shake my head.

 “Don’t thank me baby, it’s no need.” I say as I kiss him this time.

“Baby you had me fooled,” solo says as he kisses his wife.

“I was so scared you would pick up on my facetime lie about the bad signal,” Sofia says rubbing her hands through his short mohawk.

“Babygirl you at an event I’m shocked but so damn happy,” Joe says picking his wife up and spinning her around.

“I’m glad baby, I missed you.” Tangela says kissing her husband.

Jey’s POV

A few sniffles could be heard from across the room as I saw Trin and Jon locked in an embrace as if they let go one of them would disappear.

“You did this Uce?” Jimmy says finally looking up at Shan when they finally pulled away from each other. Shan smiled.

“Hell, yea she did,” Trin interjects with a smile.

“Thank you,” Jimmy says as she gives him a nod.

“Tonight, is such a big night for you all and I knew who you would love to share it with, so I asked Paul, he agreed, and he helped me make it happen no need to thank me ya’ll.” she says shrugging her shoulders. Man, I love this woman so damn much it ain’t funny.  She is always giving to others, showing love.

“This means so much Shan…. Thank you, sis. “Solo says going over to hug her.

“Hell, everybody group hug!” Jimmy yells as we all smush together for a group hug.

Shan’s POV

As we all chatted for a bit a knock came at the door, "Guys your needed at gorilla," a stage hand said poking his head in the door.

I looked up and my eyes met Jimmy’s, I gave him a small wink, he nodded his head in understanding as a bright smile appear upon his face.

“Go kill it ya’ll,” Trin says as they began to gather their things.

“We got you sis,” Solo says with a smile.

“I’m going to watch from Gorilla along with Trin while Tangela and Sofia are going to watch from the dressing room,” Shan says as the guys nod in agreement.

“Walk us to Gorilla.” Jey says looking intently at me.

“Nah, you need to get in the zone I don’t want to mess you up. I’ll head to Gorilla before Roman and Solo go out. Good luck, and be safe baby,” I say kissing him before they left. It felt like an eternity before they finally did leave, I think it was the excitement in me.

“Trin you ready?” I say smiling, putting on my Usos hat. Got to be a little incognito out there.

“Hell, yea girl let me put my hat on too.” She says heading to her bag.  

“Have fun!” Tangela says as Sofia nods her head in agreement.

“I think you guys will get use to this and before you know it will be cheering your heads off in the crowds with us, “I declare as Trin and I leave to head to our seats for the main event.

Gorilla Area

“Guys I got a second hard camera on the side of the ring by Barrett and Cole. Go there and do your pose during your entrance since Joe and Solo are going to pose in the middle during their entrance,” Paul says as the Jimmy and Jey nodded in understanding.

“Have fun, live in the moment and I’m proud of you guys.” COO Paul Levesque says as he slaps them on the back and walks back to his headset.

“Thanks boss,” they say and began jumping around in place getting amped up.

“Let’s bring the house down boys!” Joe encourages as Solo starts to get a little nervous.

“Aye, lil bro, we got you,” Jimmy says looking at his brother with a warm smile. All four men hugged each other.  WWE’s photographers along with a camera man were taking pictures and documenting this amazing moment that was about to take place.

Ringside

“Girl, I’m out of shape,” Shan says as they finally make it to their seat during the ending of the Seth Rollins vs. Finn Balor match. Finally getting a chance to sit down and catch her breath.

“Girl, please I’m tired, and I know I’m in shape. This running for the birds almost made me break a sweat.” Trin said as we both laughed and settled in for the main event.

UUUUUSSSSOOOOO!!!!

Trinity and I both jumped to our feet and began screaming as the beat dropped and our men began their walk to the ring.

Down since

Day one ish

Down since

Day one ish

Day one ish

Line 'em all up

Knock 'em down like this!

Jey’s POV

Whoo! This crowd is live Jey thinks to himself as he hits the steps with his hand and steps up on the apron bouncing around heading to the corner for the hard camera shot.

Wait is that Shan Jey says to himself with a smile as he sees his girlfriend on her feet with his sister-in law jamming out screaming their theme music with the fans dressed in their merchandise.

 Jimmy was pointing walking towards the ropes smiling having just spotted his wife. I climbed the turnbuckle, as we take in the atmosphere of the crowd as we bounce to the music. Looking down at the women in our lives who smiles were so bright it could outshine the sun as they sing our theme song.

Down since

Day one ish

Down since

Day one ish

We been down since

“I’m gonna marry that woman,” I whisper to my brother as he looks down at Shantell who is so carefree singing her heart out dancing. Jimmy nodding his head as he can’t take his eyes off his wife himself as the girls are dancing and singing with the crowd.

Day one ish

Line 'em all up

Knock 'em down like this

“Let’s go Uce,“I say to my brother, tapping his shoulder as we head to the center of the ring to amp the crowd up even more than what they were.

“We got’em!” Trin yelled as we high five each other, sat down and got ready for the main event.

Backstage

Bullshit! Bullshit! The hostile crowd chants as Roman is laying over both Usos going for the pin to end the match.

“Come on Joe!” Tangela screams as Sofia looks over at her with a smile.” Yep, she’s hooked,” Sofia says to herself as she turns back to the monitor.

“Accept they didn’t win, the Usos kicked out!” Michael Cole screams as both women clap their hands at the awesome match that was happening.

“Get’em baby!” Sofia yells as Solo snaps Roman out of his daze and begins pounding on Jey.

Ringside

“My fucking nerves are shot!” Shan exclaims as Solo is currently perched on the barrier in front of them. He looks back at the women for a second, winks at them, turns back around pose for a second and misses the table dive on Jimmy.

“Fuck Solo,” Trin whispers with wide eyes as her brother-in law is laying in the midst of the table carnage.

“Get up Jey! “I yell as Roman covers him.

1!

2! 

"Jey kicks out!" I could hear Cole screaming as the crown is going insane

“I know that hurt!” Trin says as Jey low blowed Joe while kicking out of the pin.

Backstage

“What the hell Josh!” Tangela screams, as Sofia is worried as the camera hasn’t gone back to her husband to see how he is doing after the table spot just replays. Out of the corner of her eye finally she sees him climbing on the apron being met with double superkicks from Jimmy and Jey as he falls back down to the floor.

“Fuck, that looked brutal,” Sofia says shaking her head.

Ringside

“Tag! Go baby!!” Shantell shouts as Jey goes to the top rope and hits the splash from the top rope onto Roman.

“Pin him!” Trin yells as Jey covers Roman.

1!

2!

3!

 The crowd explodes as Trin and I jump practically almost over the barricade cheering for all of them. Jey had just pinned Roman it was the first time in 3 ½ years since he had been pinned and they gave Josh the honor of doing it.

Jimmy is overwhelmed in the corner as Trin wipes away her tears. We hugged each other as we were so happy in this moment for all of them.

Backstage

“That was amazing!” Tangela says watching the replay of the pin and catches her husband whispering “I love you” to his cousin as he pins him. “Aww Joe,” She whispers to herself.

“Great match!” Sofia stands up clapping.

 “Ok y’all got me hooked,” says Tangela as she heads to the door with Sofia to meet their husbands at the curtain.

Ringside Celebration

Watching these two brothers have their moment in the ring brings tears to our eyes as they join hands and hold up the ones. Jey and Jimmy came back to our corner and celebrated.

 “Jimmy points at Trinity and she yells” I love you Jurdy!” He smiles at her as Jey winks at me as I blow him a kiss.

 We quickly grabbed our stuff and started to head towards the back as we didn’t want to bring attention to ourselves with Trin being under contract to TNA and WWE didn’t need a lawsuit about having TNA talent on WWE television.

The crowd continues to sing and dance as Jey and Jimmy celebrate.

Shantell's POV

“Gril that was crazy!” Sofia exclaims as Trin and I come through the side curtain.

“It was amazing,” I say feeling a little emotional as we all hugged waiting for the guys to come through the curtain.

Joe and Solo slowly make their way through the curtain as a round of applause breaks out as Sofia and Tangela stand off to the side as their coworkers are giving them pats on the back and praise.

 Joe and Solo tell them thank you as Jey and Jimmy come through the curtain and the applause starts up again. Fellow wrestlers move over to the Usos as Joe and Solo come further down the gorilla area as Sofia and Tangela run to their husbands.

“That was the craziest thing I ever seen,” Tangela says kissing her husband gingerly on the lips.

“Thanks, babygirl so does this mean I can get you to come to more shows now,” Joe laughs hopefully.  

“Hell yea, I had fun.  Are you ok?” She asks as they stare into each other’s eyes.

“Never been better baby,” he assures her as he kisses her again.

“You scared me!” Sofia exclaims as she is holding on to solo extra tight. “Woman all this cushion I was ok,” he laughs as he rubs his wife’s back.

“Jurdy!!!” Trin screams as she jumps in Jimmy’s arms and as Jey walks past them smiling down at me out of breath, body glistening and engulfs me in a tight hug.

“I’m so proud of you Josh.” I whisper in his neck as we embrace.

“Thank you for everything baby,” he says pulling back taking me by surprise with a tender kiss caressing my face. I can’t hide my smile, I’m so proud of him.

“Yo!! We did that shit!!” Jimmy shouts as we laugh but agree.

“Thanks for tonight, Paul.” I say going over to give him a hug.” No problem munchkin, I can say it made for a great tv moment of their natural reaction seeing you guys at ringside,” he laughs. “I bet you got footage of us acting a damn fool don’t you,” I say as he nods.

“You bet kiddo, you two had a whole damn concert going on down there with the crowd, ya’ll totally belonged out there,” he laughs.

“Oh no!” I laugh as I give him another hug and go back over to Jey who was looking at me with a longing and fire. Yea, this man can get it…. Virtue is all out the damn door if this man keeps them looks up, I think to myself.

Shantell’s Hotel

So, I finally get the man alone that pinned the Tribal Chief Roman Reigns tonight, a man who hadn’t been pinned in almost four years. How does this man want to celebrate, he wants to eat pizza, wings, candy, and drink Ginger ale out of his red solo cup pretending he’s drinking alcohol. I will say this though, Canada Dry will drain your soul it’s so strong.” I say laughing as we bump our cups together in a toast.

“Hey, it’s a vibe ma, and plus the candy is for my breath because I’m planning on stealing some kisses tonight and I don’t want Stank breath.” we both laugh as he grabs another slice of pizza.

I really enjoy moments like this with him where we shut out the world and we can just be us no matter how goofy we get. His deep voice penetrated my ears.

“You know I heard you yesterday with my brother,” he says snapping me out of taking a bite of my pizza.

“Oh that,” I say putting my slice down giving him my full attention.

“Yea that. I know you don’t like to hear people make a big deal out of stuff that you do but that interview we did Thursday really hit him hard with them asking about Trin and his DUI’s.  It had him overthinking and doubting himself,” he says putting his food down.

“I thought as much but I saw him on the phone after smackdown, how sad he was, and how he missed Trin.” I said as he moved the pizza off the couch and put it on the table. I grabbed some gummies off the table and put a few in my mouth as he held his hand out for some.

“So, I asked Paul for a favor since he was sending the jet back to get talent. So, I asked if the girls could come along for the show and the rest is history, “I say as he nods his head in understanding.

“Well thank you for helping with one of the biggest moments in my career and for being there supporting me baby,” he says leaning over to kiss me.  “Always baby,” I moan against his lips, as the kiss became intense, I pulled away.

“What’s wrong baby,” he asks as he rubs my legs looking apprehensive.

“I need to tell you something,” I say as I take a deep breath staring at him with a small smile.

“What. I know you ain’t married,” he says looking at me with wide eyes…. “Is you,” he asked nervously as I shook my head no fast as lightning.

“Now you know damn well!” I said raising my voice before he cut me off holding his hands up in the air laughing.

 “Easy tiger… I was kidding baby, you know you can tell ya man anything,” he says smiling at me.

“I just feel bad that I never told you why I wanted to take things slow, and I know this is probably hard for you,” I say rabbling as he cuts me off.

“I respect it baby, I thought maybe somebody hurt you so you’re taking your time before giving your heart and body again to someone. I enjoy being with you and I’m willing to wait until you’re ready.” He states with a charming smile that could light up any room.

“Jey, nobody hurt me, I just” … I hesitate and take a deep breath as he grabs my hands and I look into his eyes and see nothing but love.

Chile, stop being dramatic and tell the man so, we can move on my mind screams at me.

“Nobody hurt me Jey, I’ve just never given my heart or my body to anyone…. Ever.” As the words “ever” left my mouth in a whisper his eyes got almost wide as saucers.

"Wh..what," He stutters as I nod my head.

"I’m a virgin," I say a little stronger feeling good to have finally told him. I look at him and he is still stoic and just staring at me.

“Say something Jey,” I say as tears start to build in my eyes. That seemed to bring him out of the daze he was in.

“Nah, don’t cry baby….  You just caught me off guard,” he says wiping my tears.

“This is so fucking embarrassing,” I say looking away from him as he turns my head back towards him and urgently kisses me.

“No, it ain’t woman, I’m so fucking turned on right now you have no idea,” he moans as he pulls away and his intense eyes feel like they are piercing my soul.

“Huh,” I stutter unsure of what he’s trying to say.

“I have wanted you so badly from the first day I met you five years ago, but I was going through a divorce and a lot of other shit, so I let you be.  I just settled for us being friends, my Uce,” he said smirking as I looked at him dumbfounded.

 “You made me want to be better, always encouraging me and my brother. Then you and Trin got closer, so we got to hang out more and I fell even harder for you. It’s not about sex Shantell what we have is real. You had me five years ago baby and you didn’t even know it.” He says intently as his eyes never leave mine.

Taking a deep breath, I can see he is struggling with something himself and I feel a weight come off him as I hear the words, “I have a secret too,” he whispers as I listen closely.  

“I love you Shantell,” he says looking at me with much love and admiration I could melt to the floor right here and combust.

I feel the tears building up in my eyes again. He loves me, tell him you love him too idiot my mind screams as I see him drop his head.

I leaned over and caressed his face as he has done to me many times. He lifts his head and sees fresh tears threatening to fall.

“Baby,” …he starts as I cut him off placing my hand on his lips.

“I love you, Joshua Fatu. “I confess as I feel him exhale a deep breath, I didn’t even know he was holding. I lean forward and kiss him with all my might.

“Shan,” Jey gasps out as I climb on his lap with my legs on either side of him never breaking our kiss which was growing hungrier by the second as I began grinding on his lap. I gasp against his lips as I feel his hardness pressing against me.

You've got me (You've got me)

You've got me (You've got me)

Oh

You've got me (You've got me)

You've got me speechless

My mind was in a whirl, and I couldn’t think, he never missed a beat scooting us to the end of the couch, as he lifted me up with ease, my legs still wrapped around his waist never once breaking our kiss, he balances one hand on the bed sliding us to the headboard.

I gasp as I feel him rocking against my wet covered center. His hands gripping and rubbing my thighs as our tongues battle for control as he caresses my face. We both stop for a second to catch our breath.

Finally finding his voice “I’m not going to take you tonight, Shan,” he states breathlessly as I whine before being cut off by a powerful kiss.

“I want it to be special, tonight, just let me take care of you baby” he whispers.

Laying so closely

I feel your skin rubbing and touching me

Only sweat between us

Nuzzling my neck, he slowly undresses me “God you are so beautiful,” he says making me blush. Jey caressing and kissing my body has my mind is in a whirl as he moves from my neck down to my breasts. “Josh!” I exclaimed as he took one of my nipples into his mouth swirling his tongue around it as I gasped arching my body closer to him.

God, my body was on fire and only Jey could put out the flames.

“Baby…. Please,” I moaned as he continued his torture on my breasts.

“I need to feel you baby please,” I beg as I help him take off his shirt. I touch his chest running my fingers around to his back lightly scratching him as I kiss his neck. His moans cheering me on to be bolder.

Feeling you kissing and pleasing me

I rub your back

I kiss your neck

I know that you love when we touch like that

As he rains down kisses across my body, my hand automatically go to his hair as he kisses my navel, my breath hitches as he goes lower licking and kissing my skin while never looking away from me. His gaze is so intense, and his mouth feels so good on my body. I lay back as he parts my legs and kisses my inner thigh.

I try to close my legs, but he stops me, pushing them further apart as I brace myself on my elbows trying to see what he’s about to do to me. “Don’t hide from me Shan, I’m gonna make you feel good baby,” he says boldly as he begins licking my pussy sending an electric jolt through my whole body.

“Oh my god” I gasp as I began writhing on the bed as his tongue licks my clit. Before I knew it, his whole mouth starts to devour my pussy like it was dessert, sucking, licking, nibbling, and pushing his tongue inside my pussy in perfect sync driving me into a frenzy.

I can feel you need me

Feels so good to me

Feels so good to me

Going outta my head, I think I'm losing all my mind

Jey’s POV

“Mmm… Look at me baby,” I moan never breaking eye contact with her as I needed to see how beautiful she is as she comes undone.  I insert a finger inside of her and she rewards me with a throaty moan, then two as I began moving and attacking her clit with my tongue at the same time.  Taking her to new heights it seems as each second passes. “Are you gonna give it to daddy baby?” I ask groaning at how good she tastes, and how breathtakingly beautiful she looks as I’m take her to ecstasy.

“Yes, daddy I am,” she moans as her hands go to the sides of my face holding on for dear life as I’m pushing my tongue deeper and deeper inside her.  

“Oh! Jey…Baby I can’t take it!” She gasps as her eyes close, head and back perfectly arched writhing on the bed. I may have to keep her this way.

“Yes, you can and you will,” I growls as I pick up pace with my tongue as she tried to scoot back, I snatched her possessively back on my mouth.

“Don’t run from daddy baby,” I whispers as I attack her pussy even deeper with my tongue. Her resolve is crumbling as she’s moaning and at times her words are incoherent. She’s telling me how she feels differently, and I can tell she’s afraid of what’s happening to her body.

“What’s happening,” she moans out as her grip tightens on the sides of my face gripping my hair in the process moving her hip vigorously fucking my face. I moan briefly finally closing my eyes savoring the taste of her.

“Mmhumm,” I moan into her pussy making it vibrate as it is quivering in my mouth sending a new sensation through her already sensitive body as she is now griding even harder on my face searching for her nut. Her mouth open as her back arched in ecstasy. Fuck yes, that’s what I wanted to see, she’s close as fuck. I softly grab her hips and start to pull her back slightly and began thrusting her pussy back on my mouth as I push my tongue as far as I could inside her pussy.

“Jey!” She screams as I smirk admiring my work thus far.  After a few minutes, I’m back to my slow methodical pace holding her thighs in my hands as I go back to devouring her pussy not allowing her to move. She was gon learn tonight, this my pussy.

Drive me crazy, burning candles, making love all night

Feels so strange, it feels so crazy to be in your world

In your arms lost for words

You've got me (You've got me)

You've got me (You've got me)

You got me speechless

Shantell’s POV

“Look at me Shantell, “Jey demands almost with a primal growl as his eyes never leave mine, as he takes my hands from the sides of his head, lacing our hands together. Gasping I look down at him with heavy lids as the man I love was giving his complete self to please me. I felt a new and startling spark start as he continued to devour my pussy with his mouth. Our gazes getting more intense as each second passes as I’m losing control fast.

“Oh! God!” I pant as I feel like I’m on fire and about to explode.

“Mmmmhmm. That’s it, give it to me beautiful,” he moans as his eyes turn even darker, he’s on a mission. “Josh,” I moan staring at him as I feel my eyes start to roll back into my head. He has stirred up so many things within me I can’t hold it any longer.

Yes, yes, yes

Speechless, all I can say

Yes, yes, yes

All I can say is

Yes, yes, yes, yes

“Just let it come.” he mutters as almost he’s reading my mind never missing a beat in that sexy drawl.

“Joshua!” I exclaimed as I came with a harsh cry as he welcomed my juices into his mouth.  His moans of gratitude as he’s swirling his tongue around sucking, slurping, and tasting my essence made my legs shake. He continued until his thirst was quenched.

“Mmmm, you taste better than I ever imagined baby,” he says continuing to suck on my clit as I’m coming down from my high. Through heavy lids I see him kissing his way up my body slowly as almost as if he was making mental note for himself. As he finally reaches my lips, we share sensual kiss as our tongues caress each other. I could taste my essence on his tongue and see ruminates of it glistening on his beard as he looked down at me.

“Fuck! My dessert was so good baby,” he says in his distinct drawl with a sexy smirk as he leans down moving his kisses to my neck as he’s grinding against my naked sensitive center caressing my legs gently as I tighten them around him. Our moans of pleasure filled the room.  My hands began to travel between us to the top of his sweatpants his pants, but he gently grabbed my hands kissing each one and put them on his chest before kissing me again.

“What about you,” I ask against his lips trying to catch my breath. “Tonight, was about you baby I’m good,” he says as I look down at his throbbing dick with wide innocent eyes as it has grown in size laying to the side of his sweatpants making the perfect outline print.

 “Give him a couple minutes and it will go down,” he says reading my expression with a smile as he kisses me again before pulling me close, as I gingerly rub circles all over his chest.

“I love you Shantell,” he says trying to catch his breath as he looks down at me with love and admiration.

“I love you too Joshua,” I says as I try to steady my own heartbeat as we share a chaste kiss and settle off to sleep.

Kiss me

Hold me

You've got me

Speechless

Tangela POV

“Fuck!” I scream at my current situation as I’m here naked in the shower with my legs and arms wrapped around my husband hanging on for dear life as Joe’s primal growls almost overtake the sounds of the waster cascading down on us both drowning out my cries of pleasure.

“Shit! Baby I missed being inside you,” he moans as he attacked my mouth with desperate kisses as he continues to thrust hard and fast.

“Fuck me baby!” I moan as his pace begins to quicken even more as I begin meeting his thrusts, tightening my muscles around him. The sensation is causing my vision to go blurry.

“Yea, baby girl you about to cum.  I feel it, cum on your dick baby so daddy can cum in his pussy, “he groans in my ear as I fall apart at the sound of his deep voice and start meeting his thrusts even harder trying to take control, a hard smack on my ass brings me back to reality as he kisses me nibbling hard on my bottom lip. He begins to shiver against me with his thrusts becoming more frantic and wilder.

Looking into my eyes he knows I’m so close and so is he as we hold each other’s gaze. I gasp the three words I know will be his undoing. “My Tribal Chief! I moan as his eyes take on a wild dark primal appearance as he growls pushing me up against the shower thrusting me up and down on his thick long dick.

“Say it again,” he growls looking at me as I’m falling apart in his arms as I toss my head back, he grabs my neck in gentle, sensual squeeze pushing my head back up to meet his gaze. “Who am I” he growls before taking me into an aggressive kiss never breaking his thrusts.  

“My Tribal Chief!” I scream as I began squirting on his dick.

“Oh fuck yea, give it to your Tribal Chief Tang,” he moans out as he cums as I’m continuing to ride out my orgasm.

“That was insane,” I say embracing him as the water cascades on us as he sets me down to actually shower this time. “You’re telling me,” he smiles stealing a quick kiss as he helps me shower.

Solo & Sofia Hotel Room

Solo’s POV

“Baby I know we can’t have sex Cameron isn’t even 5 weeks old. I’m not that impatient. I can wait eight weeks like the doctor said,” I says as Sofia kisses my neck.

 “It’s other things we can do,” she whispers as she licks and sucks on my neck.

“Baby you had a C-Section and still feeling pain.” I groan as she looks at me smiling as she chose to ignore my words and continued to nip at my neck.

I moan as she grabbed my throbbing dick and began to stroke me.

 I know we can’t do what we want, but I want you to get some release baby, “I won’t hurt myself I promise baby,” she says shyly.

Laying back on the bed I felt her tiny hands continue to stroke me. She knows I’m trying to keep my composure.

“I want you to let go baby. Do you get yourself off thinking about me at night when we’re apart?” she whispers in my ear as she nips at it before sucking on my ear lobe.

“Y..you know I do baby… fuck!” I exclaim bringing her to closer to me for a scorching kiss.

“Can you imagine me on my knees, looking up at you as you fuck my mouth baby,” she purred as she continues to attack all my senses driving me wild.

“Fuck yes!” I mutter as the sweat is starting to run down my face, my wife was on it tonight, and the image she was painting was driving me insane. I needed release.

“Mmmm.. I’m gaggin real good on that dick now .. you like me gagging on that dick baby,” she moans against my lips. I’m so close all I can do nod my head not trusting my words. The images are so vivid in mind I can’t think straight.

“Shit it feels so good Sof,” I whisper as her hand movements pick up as she sucks and licks on my neck, my breathing starts to pick up as I know I’m close and Sofia knows it too.

“Mmmmm, “she moans closing her hand a little tighter and began stroking faster. “Now I’m on top riding my dick baby, it feels so fucking good. Can you feel it? Can you feel my pussy dripping and gripping your dick?” she shivers against me letting out a moan letting me know she’s turned on as hell herself.

I nod my head as she kisses me.  “Can you feel how tight your pussy is baby,” She purrs as she strokes me harder and faster.

“Sofia, I’m close baby,” I say as I looks at her tiny hand swallowing my dick.

“Cum inside your pussy then baby,” she whimpers as I grabs her face our lips meet in a demanding kiss as I thrusts myself upward into her hand as she milks my dick as I cum all over her hand and my stomach.

“Fuck baby! I shout as I collapsed back on my pillow. She smirks as she looks shly at me as I’m desperately trying to catch my breath.

“That was so fucking hot” I confess as she puts her head on my shoulder settling further into bed. “Mmm.. Yes, it was baby “she smiled catching her own breath.

“Four more weeks to go baby” she says as I nod in agreement.

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

Jon & Trin’s Hotel Room

Trin’s POV

“Jurdy!!!” I scream as my husband is fucking me with long, hard and deep thrusts as I’m on all fours trying not to rip these folks sheets as he is thrusting and talking shit with every lethal deep thrust.

“Yea…uhhhuh.. Yea what was all that shit you was talking the other night,” he groans out. “Sayin you was gon squirt on your dick. Well, I’m waiting ma,” he taunts grunting as he’s trusting away inside me.

“Jurdy!  I don’t wanna cum yet” I whine as I try to crawl up the bed, but I feel his hands grip my hips pushing me back harder on his dick making it throb deeper inside me.  

“Nah, take this dick baby, you know we missed you,” he pants as I look back at him as he wipes the sweat from his brow. I began to throw it back on his ass as he grabs my hair continuously pounding away as I meet his trusts bouncing my ass hard on his dick.

 “Yea………. Throw that shit…… All the way back,” he grunts as he smacks my ass.

“Uh huh give it to me, I feel it coming,” he moans as he slaps my ass again never slowing down his movements.

“Jon!” I shouts as my hands grip the sheets even tighter as I feels him getting even harder as I explode all over his dick.

“Yesssss! Fuuuuuckkk! Squirt on this dick baby… Ah..Fuck yea that pussy so fucking tight, ”he praises me as he continues to pound into my pussy hard.

“I’m bout to cum baby,” he says as his knees almost buckle at the new sensation of my pussy clinching him light a tight vice as he finally let’s go.

 “Here it come Trin, “he moans as he pulls out quickly and cums on my ass. We collapsed on the bed totally spent.

“Damn, did you miss me Jurdy? My ears are ringing,” I laugh breathlessly as we collapse on the bed side by side as he pulls one of my legs across his waist as he’s trying to regain his composure.

“Girl, hell yea I missed you, you’re my life,” he says kissing her.

#jey uso fanfiction #jey uso smut #jey uso fic #jey uso x reader #jey uso imagine #jey uso x oc #jey uso x fem reader #jey uso fanfic #jimmy uso smut #jimmy Uso Fanfiction #Roamn reigns Smut #roman reigins fanfiction #solo sikoa smut #solo sikoa fanfiction #solo sikoa imagine #solo sikoa fic #solo sikoa x reader #the usos #the bloodline

[dap11]

MY WIFE

Chapter three

As we exited our house my mother locked the door to our house and I waited for her as I looked around the forest we live in.

We lived somewhere around the forest. I haven't been able to know the exact location due to her using a teleportation scroll to go from places to places.

“Thara let’s go”

I hear her walk up to me from behind, I turn around and grab her hand as she holds the scroll in the other, she rips the scroll in half and before I know it we are standing by the entrance of the town we usually go to.

We walk toward the entrance and as always there’s a guard standing.

“Good afternoon miss Flair”

“Good afternoon to you too sir”

“Here for your monthly shopping I presume?” “Yes we are”

The guard nodded his head and signaled to the other guards to open the gate, my mother nodded her head and thanked them.

When we entered, my mother and I decided to walk around for a bit to see if there is anything new around the town. So far nothing has changed, it's still the same as before.

The merchant selling their things and the business owner standing outside their shop encouraging people to take a look around their shop.

I hold onto my mother's skirt tightly so that we won't be separated in the busy street. I look around to see if there is any fruit we can buy since we’re almost out of it.

I spot a fruit vendor and tug on my mother 's skirt to get her attention.

"Mother look" I pointed at the vendor, we made our way across the street until I heard the sound of galloping.

I looked to my left and saw a carriage. It was designed beautifully but what catches my attention is the symbol.

A golden turtle.

From what I remember this place is the territory of the Henituse family. A wealthy family from what my mother told me.

Out of curiosity I let go of my mother's skirt and followed the carriage. It went straight ahead to the mansion, stopping at the side of the street across the mansion. I saw an old man approach the carriage and open the door.

First to come out is a man with brown hair, he must be the head of their family, and after is a woman, I couldn't see the side of her face due to her red hair blocking it. Soon after is a child with the same color of hair as the woman.

Wanting to know more about the family of this territory she watches as they talk and smile to each other when all of the sudden I heard my mother call out to me. Looking back I saw her worried face and ran toward her. As I reach her she carries in her arms.

“Where have you been?! I was just buying some fruit and you immediate vanish”

“Sorry my mother something just catches my attention so I went to see it”

She signed and hug me “Never do that again”

“Yes mother”

As she turned around to walk back to the market with me in her arms, I failed to notice a red hair kid looking at me.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

4 years later

It has been 8 years since I was sent to this world still waiting for the sign of me being tested to become a shadow monarch and a sign of my husband transmigrating into this world.

I’ve grown a little taller compared to before and the surroundings around me started to change. No, I'm not just talking about the physical surroundings, I’m talking about the energy. It's starting to get cold for me even though it's summer. I asked my mother if she felt cold but she said it felt hot. So I disregard it for sometime, but things change when my mother hugs me and she suddenly pulls away asking why am I cold.

She wrapped me in a blanket that day to help bring my temperature down but I told her to ignore it since I’m not feeling anything wrong. It took me a while to convince her that I’m fine but she did stop in the end.

After that day I started thinking that the test to become a shadow monarch is slowly coming. It's just a matter of time when, after all, to be the ruler of the dead you will have to be one yourself.

Since when you're dying, your body temperature drops, and your skin may feel cold to the touch.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

hi guys so... my phone died and.... everything I've written for "My wife" is now gone so I might disappear for a while trying to rewrite/remember everything....byeee PREVIOUS CHAPTER - NEXT CHAPTER(HAITUS)

#cale henituse x reader #cale henituse #trash of the count's family #tcf

[autisticlenaluthor]

Vigilante

thank you thank you to @2-the-moon-and-2-saturnfor betaing <3

“Kara Zor-El, what the fuck were you thinking?” 

The sound of Lena’s roar is quickly followed by heels snapping against the linoleum floor. Alex and Kara both shoot each other looks, like two kids about to get caught screwing around by the principal. 

Within the second, Alex has hopped off of Kara’s bed and is carefully backing away.

The med-bay door slides open and Lena enters, her arms folded across her chest and brow raised. For a moment, she remains quiet as she takes in the scene. Kara’s lying in her suit on a stretcher, surrounded by red sun lamps, and connected to an IV drip. 

Lena nods to herself and draws in a breath, shooting Alex a look before turning back to Kara.

“Two days,” she remarks and holds up two fingers. “You couldn’t wait two days for the kryptonite suit to be finished?” 

Kara goes to respond, getting out a meek ‘I know, I-’ before realizing the question must’ve been rhetorical because Lena’s already cut her off. 

“You promised you were going to lay low until it was done.” 

“I didn’t know he’d have kryptonite!” Kara exclaims. (She regrets it as soon as she does.) 

“Well, I don’t think that’s something criminals like to advertise.”

“Look, she took a calculated risk,” Alex interjects. “Maybe not the smartest one. But this is what she does– there’s always a chance of this happening, it just comes with the territory.” 

Lena raises an eyebrow. “The territory? Kara’s life is not collateral, Director. It’s not worth the risk.” 

“I’m not saying it is.” 

“Then stop treating her like she’s indestructible. You know, I’m getting really tired of this vigilante shit and the DEO acting like–”

“Woah, this is not vigilante shit, Supergirl is a nationally recognized hero. She’s basically a member of law enforcement!” Alex argues. 

“NCPD officers always have back-up. If Supergirl is a cop, then where the hell is her team?” 

“Right here! The entire DEO is behind her, she–”

“Alex–” Kara cuts in. “Both of you, just stop.” 

Lena retracts. She rubs her palms together and looks down at the floor. 

“Could we just have a minute?” Kara asks, looking over at her sister. “Alone?” 

Alex hesitates. She looks from Kara, to Lena, then back at Kara. 

“We’ll be fine,” Kara adds and tilts her head towards Lena. “I’m okay.” 

“Okay.” Alex exhales. “I’ll be in the conference room.” 

Kara nods. She folds her hands together and scrapes the dried blood from beneath her fingernails as she waits for Lena’s rant to pick back up. After all, it isn’t like she doesn’t deserve it. She made a promise and she broke it. Broke Lena’s trust after years of building it up. 

But the spiral never comes. Lena’s silent as her eyes graze the med bay again, watching the monitors on the wall, and the cuts on Kara’s chin. 

“I… I’m sorry,” Kara speaks up eventually. She looks up with round, worried eyes, trying to feel out a response before she continues. “I didn’t want to make you mad.” 

“I’m not mad,” Lena responds. She drops her arms by her side and then picks them back up again so she can tap her thumbs together. She needs something to do with her hands so the pent-energy circling inside won’t start to seep out again. “I know, with the yelling, but…” 

She pauses and approaches the bed, sitting on the edge beside her girlfriend. 

“I’m not mad.” 

“I’d understand if you were,” Kara says. “I told you I’d wait and I didn’t.”

Lena nods. She gestures with her hand, her expression softening. When she goes to speak, all that comes out is a sigh. 

She looks down and folds her hands together. They’re shaking– it’s practically imperceivable but they are. Kara reaches out to gently cover them with her own. 

“You know, for three years I’ve been Supergirl without an anti-Kryptonite suit and I’ve always made it out okay,” she says. “And today was bad, I- I know how bad it was. But I’ll bounce back. I’ll be safer.” 

Again, Lena nods and her eyes gloss over. 

“I know.”

She smiles as she says it, the way she always does when she’s fighting back tears. 

“But you’re…” Sniffing, Lena reaches out to trace the area by Kara’s scrape with her thumb. “You’re all cut up. You’re– you’re bleeding. You never bleed.” 

“I’m okay,” Kara whispers. 

But Lena doesn’t believe her. She shakes her head and sets her hand down, beginning to fidget with her fingers once more. 

“You’re hurt.” 

“I am… a little.”

“I don’t like seeing you hurt.” 

“You’ve seen it before.” 

“And I didn’t like it then either.” 

Kara sighs. She reaches out to take Lena’s hand in hers, giving it a squeeze. 

“I’ll be okay,” she says again. “I promise.” 

“Yeah… you better be,” Lena says, her voice shaky. “Because I’m really fond of my girlfriend and I’d hate to lose her to some anti-Kryptonian creep.” 

“You’re not gonna lose me.” 

“Sure.” 

“You’re not.” 

Lena looks up and meets Kara’s eyes. 

“How am I supposed to believe that?” She asks. “All I asked for was two days to finish your suit… and you went out anyway.” 

Kara averts her gaze, drawing her bottom lip between her teeth. 

“And I know you’ll be fine this time. But what if next time is different? I don’t…” 

The words get caught in Lena’s throat. They’re heavy in her mouth, she wishes she could swallow them. 

“I can’t do this without you.” 

She isn’t sure what this is referring to. These relationships, these friendships, this job.

All Lena knows is she’s gotten used to her life and for the first time in as long as she can remember, she really fucking likes it. She likes that she gets to come home from work to her best friend and the penthouse they made a home together. She likes that there are two toothbrushes in the holder on her bathroom sink, and a pair of sneakers next to her heels by the front door. She likes that when Kara showers, she can hear her singing in the other room, and that they have Fast Food Fridays because, at the end of the week, neither of them ever wants to cook. 

So maybe it’s all of it. Lena likes her life– loves it, even. Kara is the one person she can’t imagine doing it without. 

“You won’t have to,” Kara breathes. “I promise.” 

Lena doesn’t say anything. She soaks in the silence until Kara feels ready to continue. 

“Today, when I fell and the wind got knocked out of me… I felt this… this rush. Like… you know how people talk about their life flashing before their eyes?” 

Lena nods. 

“It was like that except it wasn’t my life, it was like, I was seeing what I’d miss if… if something really did happen. It was all of these moments a- and all I could think was, I can’t miss this… I can’t not live it.” 

“What did you see?” Lena asks, her voice hardly above a whisper. 

“So much.” Kara smiles and sits up, leaning her weight on her hands. “It was me and you in this big house. And we had pets– a dog and a cat. And we were so happy.” 

Lena draws her bottom lip between her teeth, the corners of her mouth curling into a smile. She’d be lying if she said she hadn’t had similar fantasies. 

“That sounds nice.” 

“Yeah,” Kara agrees. “And then I… I hit the ground and I knew I’d messed up. And I- I regretted it so much– I still do.”

Lena looks over at her. She wants to ask what that means, what all of it means. The flash forward and the regret, what it really is to mess up. But again, she’s quiet. 

“I want that life with you,” Kara continues. “And I was so stupid to risk it today when all you’d needed was two more days.”

“You’re not stupid.” 

“I know. But the choice I made was.” 

Lena nods. 

“I want the big house and the dogs and all of those moments with you. Supergirl is… I love Supergirl but you are my family. She’s just a job.” 

“Kara… what are you saying?” 

Kara smiles. Her heart’s beating so fast it could burst right out of her chest, but this feels right. It feels good.

And before she knows it, two more words have slipped out. “Marry me?” 

#supercorptober2023 #supercorp fanfiction #kara danvers #lena luthor

[tayrcse]

Your Love is a Drug

✎ series summary: Rafe never intended to fall in love with you. I mean, you were just his client/fuck-buddy, right? What happens when he realizes you’re more than that?

✎ chapter summary: When (Y/N) shows up at Rafe’s door looking to buy drugs, neither of them thought the night would lead to her in his bed.

✎ warnings: swearing, allusions to sex, drugs

✎ characters: Rafe Cameron

✎ word count: 545

✎ author’s note: I’ve been obsessed with this idea for two days now, so I really hope this is well-received. Hoping to making this a series, but we’ll see. I also don’t know anything about drugs, so I apologize for the inevitable mistakes.

series masterlist

‘I really shouldn’t be here,’ you think as you raise your hand to knock on the door. You are a pogue in kook territory. A zebra walking into the lion’s den. ‘Too late to back out now,’ you think.

It felt like years that you were standing there, your hands getting clammy. Finally, the door swings open, and you come face to face with the man you came to see. His hair is cut short, and the sleeves of his shirt are rolled up to reveal his muscular arms. He’s tall, much taller than you. But what really catches your attention are his eyes. A beautiful blue that you can imagine getting lost in.

“Can I help you?” The man asks gruffly.

“I- uh- I,” you stutter, nervous. Taking a deep breath, you continue, “I heard you sell.”

The man in front of you crosses his arms, leaning against the door frame. “And you’re looking to buy?” He asks nonchalantly. You nod. The man stands aside, allowing you entry into his massive house.

You tentatively walk in, shifting nervously on your feet. He walks ahead of you and gestures for you to follow.

“The name’s Rafe, by the way. Rafe Cameron.” he says as he leads you to his living room.

“(Y/N),” you reply.

“I know who you are,” Rafe says, turning around to face you again. “Have a seat,” he commands before you’re able to ask him how he knew your name. You sit down on his lavish couch as he walks into a different room. You take the time to look around his house. A glittering chandelier shines above you, illuminating the spacious room.

“This your first time?” Rafe asks, startling you as he walks back into the room. You nod as he takes a seat next to you, holding a clear bag containing white powder. He doesn’t acknowledge your response as he pours the powder onto the table. You watch as he meticulously uses his credit card to divide the powder into lines.

When he finally turns to you again, he says, “Need me to hold your hand?”

You roll your eyes at his mocking tone and say, “In your dreams, Cameron.” Rafe chuckles as he hands you a rolled up dollar bill. You take it and lean down, closing your eyes as you breathe in the white powder. You relish the burning in your nostril as you inhale the drugs for the first time. You feel Rafe prying the dollar bill from your hand before you hear sniffing and look down to see him copying your earlier motions.

“How do you feel?” He asks, leaning back on the couch.

“Fine,” you reply, not quite feeling the effects of the drug yet. Rafe chuckles at your answer but doesn’t say anything else.

You’re not sure how long it takes before you’re feeling the effects of the drug, and you’re definitely not sure at which point the two of you moved to his bedroom. You’re not sure who made the first move, but all of a sudden your lips are on his, and his arms are wrapped around you. Not much is going through your head while you’re wrapped up in him, but one coherent thought is able to form: ‘I’m fucked.’

#outer banks #rafe cameron #rafe cameron x reader #tayrcse

[edwinadaily]

COSMOPOLITAN UK | A few weeks ago, Charithra Chandran was having a dinner party with some of her oldest friends. A few of them work in advertising and marketing, another is a doctor, one is a lawyer. None work in ‘the industry’. ‘Have I changed?’ Chandran asked them, as plates were cleared and wine glasses topped up. Their answer was unanimous. ‘No way.’ ‘In fact,’ one joked, ‘it’s actually sad how little character development there’s been.’ They all laughed. ‘Sometimes dickish things come out of your mouth like, “I’ve got a fitting with Dior next week!” Look, your life might have changed, but you certainly haven’t.’

Their words reassured Chandran of something she already knew. In just two life-changing years, she had gone from being a philosophy, politics and economics graduate preparing to start a job in management consultancy, to playing a lead in one of the biggest TV shows of the past decade. In the year since she appeared in Bridgerton’s second series, caught in a love triangle with Jonathan Bailey’s Anthony Bridgerton and Simone Ashley’s Kate Sharma, her trajectory has shown no signs of slowing down. This year, she stars in a handful of films including Good Intentions, a short with Micheal Ward (who you’ll know from the Oscar-nominated Empire Of Light), as well as playing the lead in teen rom-com How To Date Billy Walsh. And just a few weeks ago, she was in India with Ashley for the Dior pre-fall show (hence the fitting), which she describes as ‘special and incredible’. But while 26-year-old Chandran may be sitting front row, booking lead roles and appearing on magazine covers, she still feels like that same wide-eyed graduate, the one with no idea what would come next.

‘My life just feels so... normal?’ says Chandran, over a builder’s tea in one of her favourite central London cafes, her hair slicked back in a silk headscarf. 'That is the number one thing that has left me feeling sane. I worry that if my personal life was fully in this world, these crazy experiences would start to feel normal. I need to be surrounded by people not involved in the craziness.'

Most of her friends – like the ones at the dinner party – are from school and university, and the industry friendships she has tend to be with older women, including her Bridgerton cast mates Golda Rosheuvel (Queen Charlotte) and Shelley Conn, who played her mother in the series. ‘We hang out all the time. We go see shows; we grab tea or dinner. Golda’s so cool, sometimes I wonder why she wants to hang out with me. Shelley is literally like my older sister; I’m super close with her family. They both give me advice constantly about how to hold yourself in the industry. They provide perspective as well; they’ve been in it for so long, and they’re both women of colour; they remind me how far we’ve come and how far we have to go. Everything that I go through, they’ve been through it tenfold. I really rely on their counsel.’

The road to Bridgerton

Chandran auditioned for the show in 2020 before the first series had aired. At the time, her career as an actor was precarious. She’d loved performing for as long as she could remember (‘I was that annoying kid who always wanted to be the centre of attention’), acting throughout school and university, even performing in the West End with youth theatre companies, but she’d never really considered it as a viable career. ‘I never even talked about wanting to act because I felt embarrassed. Saying you wanted to be a professional actor felt like saying you wanted to be prime minister or an astronaut.’ Her reasons were twofold. The first was a lack of South Asian representation on screen and stage, – ‘For a long time I didn’t really have any inspiration to look towards,’ she says – and the second was familial expectation. ‘I’m the literal opposite of a nepo baby. My parents are doctors; we didn’t know any actors or journalists. Anyone who’s not a medic was foreign territory for us.’

Though her parents hoped Chandran would follow them into the profession, she credits their progressive attitudes with giving her the courage to follow her dreams. ‘They always expected academic excellence, but they gave me so much freedom and trust. I don’t know if that was an active choice or [if] it was because they were immigrants, junior doctors and single parents who didn’t have time to be focused on me 24/7. Either way, they really let me be me.’

Being herself meant giving acting a serious shot before starting the management consultancy job. She deferred the start date for a year and, in between working as a tutor and running a food bank, spent time crafting a CV and a showreel to try to get professional representation. Her graft paid off, and she signed to an agent who began to get her auditions for film and TV roles. Her first was a Bollywood dancer in the star-studded Marvel film Eternals, which Chandran landed after finding an advert on Instagram, helmed by the likes of Angelina Jolie, Richard Madden and Salma Hayek. On set, it was Kumail Nanjiani who really stood out for Chandran. ‘Being on a proper movie set with this fellow brown actor looking buff felt amazing. He treated us with so much kindness and grace.’

Shortly after, Chandran landed a role in Amazon Prime’s Alex Rider series, and then came her even bigger break: Bridgerton. The process was turbulent. The world had gone into lockdown and after a handful of virtual auditions for Ashley’s role (Kate), Chandran was told she looked too young for the part. Months later, out of the blue, she was approached again, and by that point, season one was already out and the show was a breakout hit that became the most-viewed English-language series onNetflix at the time. ‘While they continued looking for Kate, they had me on the back burner. I’d got a part in another show, so I was like, you know, okay, I love the sound of Bridgerton, butI have [other] work so, whatever. And then season one came out and I was like, “Oh, man! It’s such a good show. I would have loved to get that!”’ This time, the team wanted her to audition for the role of Kate’s younger sister, Edwina Sharma. ‘I desperately wanted to be in the show, but I didn’t want to do it solely for that – which is such an ego trip! I only had one credit at the time. But I was fully being like, “Okay, tell me more about the role...’ So I read for it, and then I didn’t hear about anything for months. I was like, “Okay, well, clearly it’s over!”’

Then, one afternoon, while helping out in her mum’s allotment, she received a call asking her to audition with Bailey and Ashley. ‘I didn’t even realise I was still in the running. But the chemistry read was so special. I remember they looked so beautiful on Zoom. The lighting was amazing, and I was in my dingy dining room in the dark. I thought, “Okay, I need to step up my game.”’ Clearly she was already bringing her A-game because she landed the part.

Surviving the spotlight

Bridgerton has a habit of launching the stellar careers of its leads. Almost overnight, season one’s Phoebe Dynevor and Regé-Jean Page went from emerging actors to household names. ‘So many of the cast members who’d been through it were like, Charithra, get a therapist because this is crazy,’ she remembers. She took their advice, and while therapy has been invaluable, nothing could truly prepare her for such a life-altering experience. She cites events in particular as ‘anxiety-inducing’, explaining, ‘There’s an impostor syndrome there. I leave and I want to cry every time!’ It sounds intense, and the internet’s opinions only exacerbated it. ‘I think when anyone is first exposed to this [fame] on the level that I was, they read the comments, they google themselves. And when you read the really aggressive ones – I know this sounds dramatic – but you feel really vulnerable. I’m a normal person – I’m taking the bus, I’m taking the Tube. You’re thinking all it takes is one person being slightly too deranged and trying to hunt you down... It took me like a solid four months to [get] through that.’

When it comes to social media generally, and whether she feels any pressure with what she posts and the persona she presents, Chandran is typically low-key. ‘I’m not famous enough for people to care about me enough to feel that now! I’m not thinking to myself at any point, “I wonder how the public will receive it.” Maybe I should! But even if – fingers crossed – I continue to do really cool things, and I do get more famous, I’m a very open person. I’m not trying to hide anything. I’m very active on social media and I share loads of parts of my life. But that’s what I’d be doing anyway, even if I wasn’t doing this. I don’t do things differently because I have a platform.’

One thing she is clear on: she doesn’t read negative comments any more and focuses her attention on what a powerful impact the series has had, particularly for young women of colour. ‘I get so much energy and enrichment when I meet someone who’s watched it and tells me how much seeing Simone and me on the show means to them.’ She adds, ‘She is so beautiful. We both went through a baptism of fire together, so we really bonded for life over this very seismic experience that we had. We’re connected by something so big.’

Chandran is clearly proud of the show, however not all responses to Bridgerton have been positive. While the Shonda Rhimes Regency-era romance has largely been praised for the diversity of its stars, some critics have questioned the casting, suggesting it’s tokenistic and that the characters of colour aren’t afforded sufficient context or cultural recognition and could just as easily have been played by a white actor. ‘It’s not a perfect show,’ says Chandran. ‘No one’s out here saying this is a perfect representation of anything. If we were to do it again, I’m sure we’d make certain different decisions, but it’s a damn good try. And it’s a really bold try. Let’s enjoy the fact that we have this and continue striving for more.’

Chandran says some of the commentary that bothered her the most were ‘the comments that said I only got to where I am because I’m Eurocentric or I’m white-passing. That really bugged me because all my life I’ve had to face prejudice for not being those things. I have a quintessentially Tamil face, not even Indian, people can place me as a Tamil. You open books, you go to a temple, you see the pictures and paintings; they look like this. So it’s like, bro, I didn’t go through prejudice and discrimination for you to now belittle my identity. When the show was coming out, that’s all I could focus on.’

From Regency to romance

As she gears up for the release of her next project, How To Date Billy Walsh, this time around, her feeling is one of excitement. She plays Amelia, a precocious teenager who, much like her Bridgerton character, finds herself caught up in an unlikely love triangle with her best friend Archie (played by Heartstopper’s Sebastian Croft) and an elusive new student (Cobra Kai’s Tanner Buchanan). The film brims with all the fun, campness and nostalgia of a classic romcom. ‘We wanted to make something that was really timeless,’ says Chandran. ‘My cousins who are 12 and 13 are still watching Clueless, The Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. We wanted to do something fun and heart-warming that harked back to the 90s.’

While classic teen romances are praised for their charm, they’re less celebrated for their diversity. As a woman of colour, did it feel like a big deal to be at the helm of a high school romcom? ‘I think it’s so interesting because what I really loved and appreciated was how not a big deal it felt, and I think that’s a real testament to all the people that have come before me, all the directors, producers, actors who have paved the way. I love representing my culture, and I love playing characters who are culturally specific to me,’ she says, ‘but on the flipside, I also enjoy playing a normal person where the story isn’t just about her being Indian. That is what I want for my career as well. I want to do things about race that start important conversations, and things about love and friendship. I don't want to be a one-trick pony.' When choosing roles, she says her approach is simply to find characters who feel truthful. 'The times I've said no are if it perpetuates bad or lazy stereotypes, if it's a character I've already seen before.'

As a romantic lead, her performance is effortless. Amelia is a plucky teenager who reels through the full spectrum of emotions when she develops a crush on the titular character, faces off against bullies and navigates some complicated feelings towards her best friend. Her portrayal of a girl caught in the full throes of an all-consuming crush is vibrant and hilarious, but she also imbues Amelia with a real sense of vulnerability.

Chandran shares some of Amelia's confidence and her thirst for new experiences, but her own memories of dating as a teenager were quite different. rowing up in Oxford, she went to an all-girls school. Most weekends involved house parties with boys from the neighbouring schools, where she would be the only one to get, ‘no attention from the guys,’ she remembers. ‘I thought, "Maybe they’re just not attracted to brown girls." I’m curvy; Indian women tend to have curves and fat in different places. All my friends were white and skinny. It was confusing, but I never took it personally. I used to wonder, is it because they see a brown girl and think, “Oh, she probably can't drink, she’s probably really prudish” – what assumptions were they making just from the colour of my skin?’

While she was at university, one of the boys who had been on the same teen house-party circuit messaged her on Facebook. 'This is a guy I’d seen every weekend for almost two years. He said I was cute and asked me how we knew each other. What’s mad is that I didn’t go to uni and have some glow-up. I looked exactly the same at 19 as I had at 15.’ She believes his sudden interest reflected a broader cultural shift towards diversity. ‘By that time, there were more Black and brown women in magazines and in lead roles on TV. I realised, "Oh, I'm trendy. So now you see there’s an attractiveness there. Because I objectively know I don't look different." That kind of shit happened quite a few times.’

Needless to say, Chandan ghosted the message. ‘I’m not a trend,' she says with a playful eye-roll. In life after Bridgerton, she admits dating can be difficult to navigate. She doesn’t use apps because ‘even before the show, people would see me on Instagram or google me. Which we all do, it's fine... but it started to get weird. So it is harder to meet people, but I don't think I'm famous or successful enough to ever have to worry that someone’s dating me for clout’. Plus, she knows what's important in a potential partner. ‘If I think about what kind of person I want to date, the number one thing I'll say is that they need to be a feminist. I'm a feminist, I'm an advocate for women. I went to a girls school, my family is a matriarchy.’

Dating aside, the fact that Chandran’s life hasn’t changed all that much is a testament to her ability to keep both feet on the ground. There’s also perhaps the knowledge that, should she ever find herself changed by fame, her best friends will absolutely be there to bring her back to reality at the next dinner party. ‘They're the most important people to me’ she says. ‘I love to be surrounded by women. I love the men in my life, but I just prefer women. Women made me feel safe, they make me feel heard.'

#charithra chandran #charithrachandranedit #cchandranedit #bridgerton cast #bridgertoncastedit #interview

[a-man-for-hire-and-his-archives]

‘It’s the relationship I knew I wanted’: Scrublands star on learning to commit

Luke Arnold is an actor and writer who is best known for playing Michael Hutchence in Never Tear Us Apart. The 39-year-old discusses the endearing nickname he called his little sister as a child, a silly but romantic Christmas gesture and what he is most proud of in his current relationship.

“It’s interesting to reflect on the actresses I admired before I got into the acting industry who later became colleagues, like Heather Graham.”

My maternal great-great-grandmother thought her name was Jean, but when she was 70 she found her birth certificate, which said Jane. Her mother died when she was young, so I’m not sure what went wrong there, but she was still Jean to us all.

Some of my first memories are getting handwritten and recorded poems on cassettes from her. Looking at them recently, I can see the influence their form and patterns have had on my own writing.

When I was young, my maternal granny, Valerie, lived on a sailing boat with my step granddad. They also travelled around Australia on a motorbike. They were a great example of the freewheeling, bohemian lifestyle that was definitely passed down to me.

My parents, Nola and Colin, met while picking fruit. Mum is not the tallest lady and trained to become a jockey. It was her passion from a young age, but in the late 1970s she found the male-dominant culture of the racing industry too tough to realise her dream.

Mum is an enthusiastic and bubbly person. Before my younger sister, Ashley, and my brother, George, were born, I had her full attention for two years. It was great, as it meant that when I started school, I was on my way to reading and writing.

When I was just a baby myself, I used to call my sister “my little darling”, as we were so close. In the teen years we grew apart a bit, but since 2019 we’ve become close again. Ashley’s a web designer and is living the life of a digital nomad.

My first celebrity crush was Amy Jo Johnson, the actress who played the Pink Power Ranger on Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.

It’s interesting to reflect on the actresses I admired before I got into the acting industry who later became colleagues, like Heather Graham, star of Boogie Nights, which is one of my favourite films. When Heather enlisted me to act opposite her on her 2018 film Half Magic, it was a “pinch-me” moment. One minute I would be talking to her as a colleague, then the next I’d think, “You’re HEATHER GRAHAM!”

My first serious relationship was with Hayley at Sunshine Beach High School in Queensland. We bonded over acting and performing. It was nice to meet a girl after my teenage years in Sydney, where I’d worked as a clown, doing parties and magic, mostly around dudes.

While at drama school [WAAPA in Perth], I picked up a girlfriend from the airport dressed in wrapping paper. I’d asked her what she wanted for Christmas and she’d replied, “Just you.” I took that literally. It was a silly, ridiculous, romantic gesture. I’m glad camera phones weren’t a big thing back then.

In the 2022 NITV SBS series True Colours, Rarriwuy Hick and I both played detectives. Filming that was a huge education for me. My touchstones on the Northern Territory set were the women – Rurriway and Arrernte/Warlpiri woman Marie Ellis, with whom we consulted daily to follow cultural protocol.

It was nerve-racking to be the white fella who was ignorant of so many things. But the First Nations people had such generosity teaching me about that part of the country, and about the practices that impacted storylines, like men’s business, kinship and payback. There was overwhelming care for us outsiders coming in.

I’ve been with my current partner, Laura, for a year. We met while making a film 16 years ago and I was completely and madly infatuated with her. We were both young and at that time I was ill-equipped to handle such strong feelings.

We had a couple of false starts that left us both feeling tender, but we kept returning to the flame. Something I’m proud of is that we kept showing up, as it would have been easy to just turn it into a story of heartbreak and not deal with it.

We’ve always been great friends throughout it all. Laura is the person I want to call with good news, with a question, or if I’m anxious about something. It’s the relationship I knew I wanted, and I’m very grateful to be in it now.

Luke Arnold stars in Scrublands, premiering November 16 on Stan.

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald

#black sails #luke arnold #scrublands #stan australia #interview #the sydney morning herald #news

[rebelrebelwrites]

Fic Friday! ❤️ Rebel’s Weekly Fic Recs

As always, this week's recs are...

As always, please mind the tags on any recommended story for your own personal preferences.

+++

The Classic You’ve Heard Of But Somehow Haven’t Read Yet: i cannot heave my heart into my mouth by @fallofrainblog

What you need to know going in:

It’s a Sauron POV fic! Also something I read early on in my fandom days, back when I was still lurking and delaying the inevitable development of a true hyper-fixation. 😆 This one-shot follows Sauron throughout RoP S1 as he encounters Galadriel, steadily following more in love with her despite his stubborn desire not to do so — at first. Spoiler alert: he falls fast. What I love about this fic is how intentional it feels; it breathes, if that makes sense, as Sauron, by his own estimation, is drawn to Galadriel and her light, "betrayed" by his human body and heart for wanting her as badly as he does; wanting to bask in her light and strength of will. And, don’t get me wrong — she wants him back, at least while she still knows him as Halbrand — but the intensity of his feelings, however mercurial, bursts onto the page and draws you in, too. The moments of tenderness, the blaze of lust and burgeoning love, then the angst, betrayal and desperate longing… it really runs the gamut of great. This fic may traverse familiar territory in the way of post-S1 plot, but every moment feels… dare I say? Precious.

Complete, Mature

Read the story.

Follow the author on Tumblr and AO3.

+++

The AU You Need to Immerse Yourself In Because, Well, Wow: The Venus of Valinor by @thecoziestbean

What you need to know going in:

When I saw this fic pop up (I think on Tumblr? I can’t recall) and read the summary, it was an immediate read + subscribe. This modern AU features Galadriel as art world royalty trying to protect a family secret — that many of the works in her family’s storied collection are straight-up fakes. (A shitty Feanor strikes again, friends.) How? By enlisting the help of the wily, way-too-sexy art thief Halbrand. A riff on the 60’s film How to Steal a Million (which I admittedly have not seen), this fic is in early days but already endlessly entertaining — and, not to mention, sexy. Get ready for deliciously flirty banter, a determined but slightly desperate Galadriel, and as always, a definitely morally dubious Halbrand. Where we go from here, I don’t know, but I’m very intrigued to find out.

WIP, Explicit

Read the story.

Follow the author on Tumblr, Twitter, and AO3.

+++

The Complete But Never Forgotten Masterpiece: It Will Come Back by @nocaptainonthisship

What you need to know going in:

Oh man, this fic. It broke me a little, but in the best way. It’s a modern AU that can also be described as a coffee shop AU, but that doesn’t encompass all this fic is and does. The premise is simple: Galadriel falls for her coworker/neighbor, Halbrand, and they begin a casual, toxic relationship that feels so achingly well-realized the angst and hurt will have a knot forming in your chest. The relationship bends and breaks in so many ways over the course of years, and delves into some dark places (so as always, mind the tags) but in an effort to not spoil anything, I’ll just say that it comes with an explosive, blisteringly satisfying ending that will haunt me. Immediate bookmark? Hell. Yes.

Complete, Explicit

Read the story.

Follow the author on Tumblr and AO3.

+++

The WIP That Will Wreck You (In the Best Way): i'm a sinking ship that's burning, so let go of my hand by @orcas86

What you need to know going in:

Can you tell I’ve been delving into more and more AUs lately (and loving it)? 🤣 Another gnawingly good entry from @orcas86, this modern AU sees Galadriel as a principal ballerina, subject to the meticulous and often mean eye (I’m so sorry, had to do it) of Halbrand, her company’s creative director. The two bite back and forth at each other in this twisted, intoxicating way, all while Galadriel is spiraling all on her own to feel something in the stifling world she’s stuck in (of her own making). This fic delivers on all the drama, jealousy, possessiveness and angst you could ask for — plus, scorching smut as always. 🔥

WIP, Explicit

Read the story.

Follow the author on Tumblr, Twitter, and AO3.

+++

The Can't Stop Consuming No Matter What Time It Is Fic: cause i'm mistaking honey for the bees by @alicuntisms

What you need to know going in:

Aaaand another modern AU that’s got me in a dirty, dark chokehold (which is why it’s impossible to not inhale upon reading, but again, mind those tags). This fic has Galadriel and Halbrand in college; her younger and admittedly more vulnerable, and him, a graduate student who becomes enraptured and unhealthily obsessed with her at a frat party and in the resulting aftermath — to the point that she gets caught in the maelstrom of his feelings for her: possessive, heady, and definitely boasting a mean, unpredictable edge. The toying with each other; the fickle, ceaseless push and pull between the two of them is seriously edge-of-your-seat, 👀👀👀 reading. And, again, the smut? Sinfully hot. 👌👌👌

WIP, Explicit

Read the story.

Follow the author on Tumblr and AO3.

+++

🤩🤩🤩

Me at all these fics:

Don’t see your story on this list yet? Keyword: yet. Please don’t fret! I can only recommend so many each week, but I am always looking for more stuff to read, share, and generally shower with love, so please feel free to reply with your own fics or your personal faves. I have plenty more to recommend… ❤️

Until next week!

#saurondriel #haladriel #saurondriel fic #saurondriel fanfic #haladriel fic #haladriel fanfic #galadriel x sauron #sauron x galadriel #halbrand x galadriel #galadriel x halbrand #galadriel x mairon #mairon x galadriel #saurgal #sauriel #galadriel #sauron #halbrand #mairon #artanis #trop fanfiction #rings of power #rings of power fanfiction #rings of power fanfic #fanfic recs #fic recs #fic rec #positivity towards trop fan creators only please

[theshotsheardacrossworlds]

Confess

In which Anais Wildheart (half-elf!Agi) confesses her feelings to Halsin. Mostly SFW.

He’s actually joining us.

Anais Wildheart could not believe what she heard the morning after the tiefling celebration. Halsin’s joining us.

A month later, and she still could not believe it.

Halsin was a calming influence on everyone in camp whether it was him telling stories, giving advice, and offering a sympathetic ear to anyone. He also helped in camp with any task. Except cooking. Gale is like Mum in the kitchen---territorial and not wanting to be bothered.

Anais needed advice right now, but she could not go to him.

Because it’s about him. Gods, I wish Mum were here. Or my friends from home. Maybe I could talk to Karlach, but make sure she’s not too loud so no one will hear. She was taken out of her thoughts by the man himself.

“Are you alright, Annie? You seem far away.” Halsin asked gently, his arms across his chest.

Oh shit. Oh fuck. Be normal, Annie. BE. NORMAL. She fidgeted, raising an eyebrow. “Oh, me? Fine. Just thinking too much.” Thinking about how I need to tell you that I like you far more than a friend should. “I was wondering if you’d like to go somewhere to talk, erm…privately.” She offers a sheepish grin, hands on her hips.

Thankfully, he took no note of her nervousness. I hope. “Of course. With so many companions, it’s hard to find a moment or two of privacy. Please, lead the way.” He followed her to a small stream north of camp, and Anais sat on a large rock. Halsin sat and looked at her expectantly.

Here goes nothing. “It’s been really lovely to get to know you, Halsin. Truly. You’re a fine addition to our little family.” More like “very strange little family” but just “little family” will do. Smiling warmly, her brown eyes met his hazel ones. “And I was hoping that perhaps we get to know each other…other than as comrades.”

To her surprise, Halsin’s expression was one of amusement. “I would hope we already know each other as friends. Unless you meant to know each other as enemies?” He joked, chuckling softly. “I jest. I do wonder though what exactly you mean. If not as friends, then as…” His eyes widened slightly, and his lips quirked into a smile. “Lovers?”

Swallowing, Anais nodded. “Well, yes lovers but also…I suppose…romantic partners?” She could feel her cheeks burning. Why do I make things so awkward? Why am I so awkward? Why is this so awkward? Fucking hells. “Because I care for you. Very much.”

“And I care for you very much,” he rumbled, reaching for one of her hands and giving it a squeeze. “I’m three hundred fifty years old, Annie. I’ve had many lovers, but my heart has not stirred for some time.” Oh gods here it comes. Another rejection. Not beautiful enough. Not good enough. Just a friend. “It does now. For you.” He brought her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles.

Though Anais was tall (one might say too tall), she always felt so small next to Halsin. One of my hands is completely…well, dwarfed next to his. He’s so warm… She stared at him, eyes wide. “Really?”

Halsin chuckled. “Yes, really. Is the notion that I love you truly so outlandish?”

The past decade flashed through Anais’s mind---other noble dwarven houses refusing to let their sons court her because of her heritage; her mother reaching out to elven, human, and half-elven noble houses for interest in her hand and promising a large dowry; Gregor, a human, courting her briefly and wanting to propose; and then Gregor breaking her heart, telling her no man would ever choose to be with “an ugly fat half-breed cow” like her. She blinked back a few tears. “I know you love my heart, but the rest of me…” Trailing off, Anais glanced downward. Don’t cry. Don’t cry.

“Anais, you not only stir my heart,” Halsin whispered to her in elvish. She remembered mentioning to him one evening that her parents hired a tutor specifically to teach her the language of her birth father’s people. “You also stir my loins. Nature outdid itself when it created you, my love.”

A broken sob escaped her as she touched his face and slowly kissed him. It’s not like when I kissed Astarion. There wasn’t any feeling behind it…from either of us. This…oh gods, I feel like I’m going to burn up. The kiss got heated quickly with Halsin’s hands now gripping her hips while her arms went around his neck. Anais was left gasping when the kiss broke. “Gods, I…I’ve been wanting to do that for a while now.”

“How long, dear one?” He murmured against her lips. “Because for me, when I saw you in those worg pens taking care of those goblins, how I wished to take you.”

OH?!??! “I, well…if I’m being honest, seeing you going out of wildshape after we did in the goblins.” A pink blush painted her cheeks. “You know, it’s funny…Rath said you turned into a bear. ‘You won’t mistake the First Druid for anyone.’ One look at the bear, and I knew it was you we were looking for.” She giggled, caressing his cheek.

“Friend of nature.” Kiss. “Lunatic.” Kiss.

Smiling wryly, Anais kissed him before speaking. “Or perhaps a secret third thing.”

“Heh. What’s that, my heart?”

Her nose touching his, she grinned. “I just fucking knew, love.”

Suddenly, they heard a rustling of leaves along with muffled voices. Wyll and Karlach. Probably worried about us. Oh dear.

Halsin gave her a quick kiss before standing and offering his hand. “Later, my love, come and find me. I would know how you taste this night.”

Nodding, Anais took his hand and stood. “Only taste?” She teased.

He kissed her soundly and to her pleasant surprise, he grabbed a generous handful of her behind. “I’ll not leave you wanting. It will take everything I have to not devour you, my heart.” He said in almost a growl, his hazel eyes twinkling. “Unless that is what you want, of course.”

Swallowing, she nodded quickly. “O-oh yes, that sounds amazing. Definitely want that.” YES PLEASE.

He smiled warmly at her, giving her behind one more squeeze. “Later then, dearest one.” Taking his hand off her, he waved to Wyll and Karlach. “Hello friends!”

“So, when’s the hot date, soldier?” Karlach said, elbowing Anais in the side. “Gale is the only one who thinks it’s when we get out of this place and hit a town. And you see, me and Astarion think it’ll be tonight because…” She gestured at Halsin with one hand and wrapped her other arm around Anais’s shoulders. “If you two don’t do something, then Annie here is going to die of overwhelming sexual tension.”

Die of embarrassment, more accurately.

“Come now, let’s return to camp and get things going. After all, we still have much to do.” Halsin chucked and then met Anais’s gaze.

He’s making sure I’m alright. He’s so sweet. A giant sweet bear elf man. She nodded and offered a soft smile. Her parasite connected with Karlach’s.

SERIOUSLY?!?!?

Annie, I’m not wrong!

BUT DID YOU HAVE TO SAY IT?!?!?

Okay, but the face you made was hilarious.

KARLACH!!

What?! I honestly didn’t mean to embarrass you, but good gods, you’ve been longing AND lusting after him since he joined camp.

There was a pause.

Right?

I mean, technically yes sort of…

Oh, I fucking knew you got the hots for him as the bear.

KARLACH!!!!!!!!!!!

#anais wildheart #half-elf!agi #annie wildheart #annie and halsin sitting in a tree #halsin x tav #with appearances by wyll and karlach #plus size tav #love confessions #soft fluffy goodness #agi “i like to fuck dragons” please meet annie “oh he's a hot bear” #annie x halsin

[foxgloveprincess]

Seem Like Someone Else

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Natasha Romanoff x GN!Shapeshifter Reader [First Person Narrator]

Word Count: 3,060

Summary: Pain has been the only thing you’ve felt for so long. Until Bucky and Natasha teach you to feel something different.

Warnings: Emotionally Constipated Reader, Plus-Size Reader, Body Horror (shapeshifting that backfires—disfigurement, no blood, inability to talk, pain), Undefined/Poorly Defined Relationship, Mentions of Abusive/Traumatic Past, Inconsiderate Behavior, Pet Names (sweetheart). Minors do not interact (18+).

A/N: This just sorta started spilling out of me one day while I was eating breakfast. Based on quite a few uQuizzes I’ve taken which have told me I change myself for other people. It’s an experiment in a way. And I don’t really know how to define it. All I know is that I want to share it with all of you. Bucky edit in the banner by nixakimbo (on Instagram). The picture in the banner is not indicative of the reader’s skin color (there is no description of appearance in the fic, except to allude to plus size).

I love feedback, so go ahead and reblog/comment if you want. No permission given to copy, translate, rewrite or post my work, at all. I cross-post to my own AO3 account.

I don’t do tag lists, so follow @foxglovefics to sign up for notifications on my fics.

This is not Beta’d, so all mistakes are my own.

Please DO NOT click ‘Keep Reading’ if you are not 18+ years of age or if you are uncomfortable with the pairing themes/dynamics/warnings, thank you!

I go through about 25 transformations a day. Comes with the territory of being a shapeshifter. But it’s bled into my personality, too. Changing the smallest aspects of myself in everyday interactions, hoping to smooth the conversations into something palatable for whoever I’m talking to. 

Sometimes I wonder if the face I return to at the end of the day is really even my face at all—if the person I am is truly myself. 

It’s stopped being a strain—practically organic at this point. Just like the shifting of bones, cartilage, and flesh to form me into a different look. Easy as breathing. 

The transformations used to hurt. I remember that. When it started in middle school, I would scream out in my room at night when my flesh turned against me and morphed me into some other person. Lady B always cradled me to her chest and hummed a solemn tune until I calmed and made the painful transition back to myself. 

Now I change like water flowing from the pitcher to the glass. Know the exact angles. Contorting myself until the change mutes to a small pop. No longer a cacophony of crackles and popping joints. I’ve perfected the art form, transforming in a singular moment from one person to the next.

For most people, it’s a party trick. Entertainment. For my job, it’s a clever evolution of espionage. It’s helped me go far, climbing my way into the Avengers organization and solidifying my skills as indispensable. A way I can support and protect myself. Not everyone accepts a freak in their neighborhoods. 

“Make me into a woman,” Tony requests, lounging back on his sofa with a tumbler of amber liquid in his hand. 

Like I said, entertainment. 

My body bends and twists—rather, the body I’m wearing—until I picture it clearly in my head. Tony Stark, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist, woman. A deep breath fills my lungs and—Pop! 

It takes a moment to orient myself before my audience. Party goers still milling about the Tower, lingering until the very last moment. I breathe once, ensuring the use of lungs in my body and the beat of my heart—learning from experience to never underestimate the importance of internal organs. 

But there I am, Tony Stark’s spitting image in female form. 

I wait for the next request as comments circle about the voyeurs. Words of intrigue and disbelief whispered from ear to ear. I can’t let them know I’m tired. Most missions do not exhaust me as much as this. Face after face for people to peer at and dissect. I touch my nose, drawing back my hand to check for blood—none yet, a good sign.

“That’s enough,” a voice calls out. “Leave them alone.”

Turning over my shoulder, Bucky glares at the group surrounding me. Perched on the sofa with Natasha at his side, they make the most threatening couple in the room. Lovely, by all means, but deadly—like twining sprigs of belladonna. 

“Come here,” Natasha beckons from her place under her partner’s arm. She gestures to an empty seat beside them. 

Unable to resist the call, I follow and sit. My favorite drink sits upon a coaster, ready and waiting. Though I refuse to let surprise color my expression.

The group disperses, off to look for the next spectacle. I sigh in relief and let my body sink into the cushions, cells buzzing from exertion.

“You were at your limit,” Bucky comments, a hint of disappointment in his tone, “you should have told them to fuck off.”

“I know my limit,” I reply, releasing the tension keeping me in Tony’s face. No longer intent on performance, I let my body shift in gradual motions. My bones clicking back into place, figure softening and rounding, until I sit before them as myself.

“You’re not here for their amusement,” Bucky insists, fists clenching together as he leans toward me. “Why do you let them do that to you?”

“Why not?” I answer, tilting my head to the side. “They like it.”

“But do you?” Natasha gazes at me with her piercing green eyes. 

And I cannot meet them. Because I know the answer, so does she. It doesn’t need to be said, but to meet her gaze would be to admit it. 

“You don’t need to—”

“I know,” I interrupt, face scrunching at the force of my statement. 

They say no more on the subject, keeping me company throughout the rest of the evening. Their presence surrounding me in a protective barrier that no one dare penetrate. Even when curious gazes drift in my direction, the assassins at my side dissuade them of any notions to approach.

“Thank you,” I relent when the party comes to its full close, the remaining attendees escorted out of the building. “It was nice to be myself for most of the night, as disappointing as it may be.”

“Who said you were disappointing?” Natasha asks, her fingers tipping my chin down to see her curious expression.

My shoulders shrug and I step away from her touch. “Thanks again, anyway.” A hasty retreat proves wise as final rounds of farewell take place, whispers following after me toward the elevator. 

“You know,” Natasha says a few weeks later, approaching me at the table while I eat my lunch, “it’s in our blood.”

At the cryptic comment, I raise a brow, pausing with my sandwich halfway to my lips.

“They forced it into us so hard that we can hardly tell how long it’s been there, melding with us, shaping us.” She sits across from me, arms folded on the wooden tabletop and leaning closer to me. “That involuntary notion to always fit. To break yourself a thousand different ways until you can be whoever they want you to be.”

I swallow and push away my plate, no longer feeling the pang of hunger when my stomach turns. “Why are you saying this?” My mouth dries, bile climbing up my throat.

“Because I see you,” she replies, simple as that. As if there can’t be any other explanation in the world. Her hand reaches out to my arm, squeezing the flesh in a comforting grip. “I know what it’s like.”

My eyes meet hers, emotion swelling deep within me and threatening tears. I grit my teeth, fighting against them to say, “What difference does that make?”

“Maybe not a big one. We’re spies, it’s what we do,” she says with a shrug, hand still resting on my arm. “But it doesn’t mean it’s who we have to be.” She pats my arm, standing from the seat. She steps closer, standing over me until I look up. “Or that we have to be alone.”

She walks off and I watch her leave. Each step she takes flaming the desire to rush after her and feel whatever it was that she inspired within me. That swelling rush of clarity that struck me at her concern. Something that felt strikingly like peace. 

Bucky doesn’t approach me as directly. He doesn’t say as much either. He simply finds me after a mission one day and hands me a bottle of my favorite juice. No comments or inquiries about how the mission went. Scaring off anyone who even thinks to approach.

He stays nearby—not hovering, but close and quiet, like a shadow.

He sits beside me while I write up my report. Trying to recall every detail of the mission. Every face I had to don and how many files I was able to copy and scrub. And he doesn’t leave until I drift asleep on my couch, watching my favorite movie and wrapped in a warm blanket. 

The next morning, I wake to him preparing me breakfast in my kitchen. Surprise doesn’t cover the jolt that spikes through my blood, body changing on instinct for an attack. 

“Hey,” he says, turning with his hands held up in placation, “you’re alright. I’m not here to hurt you.”

“Then why are you here?” I ask, incredulous at his presence. Surely Natasha would need him more. Or at least expect him so early in the morning.

“I wanted to make sure you’re okay.” 

My mouth gapes open, his reasons incomprehensible. Am I some sort of pet project to them? Another amusement to occupy their time? A new way to treat the freak, to toy with me until I’m left shattered by their true intentions.

“You need to leave,” I utter, not understanding the words I say until they’re already hanging in the air between us. “Now.”

Bucky’s brow pinches in concern. He walks forward, skirting around my table and reaches out. I step back. 

“I don’t want to leave you alone,” he confesses, fidgeting with his metal arm and pulling his sleeve over the vibranium. 

“I’m always alone,” I reply with a shrug. “Don’t worry about it.”

He doesn’t move a muscle, staring at me. 

Shoulders tense, that nigh impossible to sense strain on my cells plucks in discomfort. Still wearing someone else’s face, then. Casting a glance to the mirror across the room, I swallow hard. Never worn a team member’s face before—especially not one like Natasha’s. Entranced by her features, I can’t bear to look away for a moment, wondering what it’s like to live in this skin. Everyday, a masterpiece. Fingers touch her cheek, feeling the softness and bone structure beneath.

“Friday?” Bucky calls out, the A.I. replying immediately. “Could you get Natasha in here, please?”

“No,” I cough in alarm, mind unfocused and flickering with images of people. Only one misplaced thought and—Pop!

It takes a moment to realize that the voice screaming in agony is my own. Body an indiscernible monstrosity of misshapen limbs and skin. I choke on air, ill-formed inside as I am out.

“Shit, sweetheart,” Bucky curses, hands hovering over this body I’ve created. “You gotta calm down, shift back.”

A gurgle is the only reply this throat can make, pain lancing through each cell of my being. Yet tears still form in my eyes, dripping down contorted cheeks, hands unable to wipe them away. So much pain, it blinds and burns. Legs unable to collapse from the intensity of it all, the bones fused at awkward angles and supporting me with nothing more than the inability to bend.

“What happened?” Natasha exclaims, rushing into the room in a panic. 

Bucky explains, hands raking through his long hair, pulling at the strands, fear rolling off him in waves. “What do we do?” he asks, looking between the two of us.

Natasha says my name softly, approaching on cautious feet. “Can you shift back?”

An almost imperceptible shake moves my head back and forth, unsure I can focus on anything with this pain consuming every thought. 

Her eyes dart around the room, getting closer and closer. Inhaling deeply, she begins to hum a song. Familiar and melancholy. Her arms wrap around me—as best they can with the disfigurement of my body. Her hands stroke over my twisted spine, a tilt of her head beckoning Bucky to join us.

His warmth ensconces me from behind, surrounding me. My eyes close, fighting back against the onslaught of pain and concentrating. The tension releases slowly, organs shifting and reforming properly before my bones crack and I collapse for the rest of the transformation. 

A gasp punches from my chest, body flooded with endorphins. 

“Are you okay?” Bucky asks, kneeling beside me and wiping the sweat from my brow.

I nod, delirious. 

Natasha settles beside her partner, resting a hand on his shoulder. They both look to each other, concern flashing in their eyes. They begin to rise, a slow trepidatious movement.

“Stay,” I whimper, reaching blindly to clutch at their legs, “Please.”

“Of course,” Bucky soothes, the tension in the air easing. He bends low and with the gentlest touch he can manage, lifts me from the floor. “We’re not leaving you.”

It happens on the next mission. My arm taking a life of its own. Refusing to turn back to my true form once the quinjet takes off from its landing pad. I stare at the foreign limb—veiny and grizzled. The tension of my transformation melts away. But it does not leave. 

“What’s wrong?” Natasha asks, taking the seat beside me. 

Without words to convey my confusion, I raise the unfamiliar digits of this hand for her to see. She takes it in her own, the touch light and careful.

“How do we fix this?”

“Lady B used to break it when I was younger,” I reply with a furrowed brow. “Something about the pain kickstarted the transformation back.”

“We’re not doing that,” she refuses, sitting back but keeping my hand in hers. “We’ll figure out another way.”

But nothing comes to mind on the journey back to the Tower. I’m left with the strange limb as I grab my gear and exit the jet, disturbed by this turn of events. My feet tread a curious path, seeking the one person I can think of to help.

“Bucky,” I greet, hiding my arm behind me. 

He smiles, standing from the couch and setting aside a thick book scrawled with some foreign language along the spine.

Still in my combat suit and not in the slightest prepared to change until my body gets back to normal—or at least the same figure all over—my attention settles upon the place where his metal arm should hang. It’s missing. 

He fidgets under my scrutiny, reaching up to his shoulder as if trying to conceal the sight of his empty sleeve. A faint thought tickles at the back of my mind, but I shake it away. No time for innocuous matters. 

“I need you to break my arm,” I announce, meeting his eye. “Please.”

His veneer cracks at my nonchalance, smile dropping from his lips. “Come again?”

I sigh, bringing the unsightly limb out from behind my back. “It won’t turn back.” The fist clenches.  “I need you to break it, so I can make it.”

Bucky’s lips open, wide eyes shining in confusion and the barest hint of betrayal. But I can think of no other way and—

“He’s not doing that,” Natasha bites from behind, shouldering past to wrap her arms around her partner and peck a kiss to his lips before turning back to me. “Why would you suggest something like that? After everything?” Hurt shines in her eyes, too, and I swallow around the lump that forms in my throat. 

We stand in silence for a long moment. I know the reason why I’m asking him. Why I told her on the jet. Why I’m coming to them out of every person inhabiting the Tower.

“I trust you more than anyone,” I reply in a wavering whisper. “There’s no one else.” My eyes squeeze shut, head turning away at the confession. Vulnerability more foreign and unsettling than the limb that refuses to reform to my true shape.

A soft sound of realization echoes from the pair. They stand still for a moment before approaching on wary, hopeful steps. 

It takes all night, but we find another way.

“You’re certainly quiet tonight,” Tony says, sidling up beside me and nudging his elbow into my side. “Don’t want to be center spotlight?”

“No,” I reply. A sip of my drink burns and tickles at the back of my throat. Scanning the crowd, I turn away from the man, but he’s not done with me quite yet. 

“Your besties not here yet?” he asks, leaning a smidge too far into my personal space. 

I sigh and move away, hoping he’ll get the hint. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Another sip burns, but satisfies the ire bubbling in my belly. Keeping it from climbing up my throat. 

He hums and drinks from his own glass, stepping aside to give me some space. His brow quirks, examining me like a specimen in a petrie dish. A sensation to which I’ve grown accustomed—with my upbringing and all. 

At least his eyes don’t sparkle with the expectation for amusement tonight, like I’m the main attraction. 

“Can I help you with something?” I inquire with the tilt of my head. 

“Maybe,” he says, smacking his lips. “I’ve been trying to puzzle it out, but can’t quite get the big picture.”

My teeth clench, jaw ticking, waiting for the deep dive into my past that always seems to come hand-in-hand with a scientific mind like his.

“Are you, Nat, and Bucky a thing?” He sets his empty glass down and gestures to me. “And if you are, what kind of thing are you?”

I remain silent, taken aback by his thought, but unable to answer. I couldn’t define it if given the chance. Natasha and Bucky might be able to, though. Yet none of it reveals itself upon my face, a mask of indifference holding strong.

“She’s our partner,” Bucky responds walking up with Natasha on his arm. Looking as elegant and deadly as they are. 

“Partner?” Tony looks between the couple and I, running a hand over his mouth.

“Yes,” Natasha replies.

The billionaire keeps looking, as if the truth will reveal itself without another word spoken. But in the end, he asks, “Romantic or vocational?”

“Yes,” she purrs, wrapping her arm through mine and leading me away without another glance back. When the temptation to gauge Tony’s reaction creeps up my spine, she senses it and soothes, “Don’t worry about him.” Her path guides us over toward a bench and sits us down, taking her place to my side and setting the super soldier on my other. “He means well, but always tries to place labels on things he doesn’t understand.”

Bucky’s fingers weave through mine on the bench, pressing his warm palm to my knuckles. Distracting me from Natasha.

“You look lovely,” he whispers in my ear. 

“Perfect, even,” Natasha adds, resting her head on my shoulder. Though I don’t know how she hears him. 

I don’t question it. Don’t need to. It just makes sense. In this loud and chaotic world, where everyone tries to drag me in every direction, where I must reform myself again and again for the pleasure of others, where they ask only for me—they just make sense. 

And I feel at peace.

#bucky barnes x natasha romanoff x reader #gender neutral reader #shapeshifter reader #avengers tower au #body horror #tw body horror #experimental fanfic #18+ #minors dni

[sequinsmile-x]

Happy birthday in advance you wonderful human! I would love #26 from list 2 please and thank you 🥰💛

Of course friend <3

The prompt is "Is that...a dog?"

-x- Look...we all know I get carried away, and that I just can't help myself. Can we all just pretend that is it totally rational of me to turn this prompt into a 5k angst/hurt comfort fest? Ok? Thanks xo

-x-

Reversible

Words: 5.3k

Warnings: Heart attack/recovery, Aaron Hotchner whump, hospitalisation, big feelings.

Read over on A03, or below the cut

“Are you ok?” 

Emily looks up from where she is making a drink, grimacing at the smell of the cheap coffee in the precinct they were in, and she sees JJ is now standing next to her, a concerned look on her face. 

They’d been called to New York for a case, a serial killer running rampant in the city. The profile was ready, and she was making herself a drink whilst the team set up and the officers gathered to be briefed. 

“Yeah,” she answers, giving JJ a tight smile, “I’m fine.” 

JJ raises an eyebrow at her, a half smile taking over her face. “Em, come on.” 

Emily sighs as she puts the coffee pot back down. “It’s Alice’s fourth birthday tomorrow,” she says unnecessarily, aware that her friend kept track of such things, that she like had a present for the little girl at home, “and we won’t be back in time for it,” she sighs sadly, “I’ve never missed her birthday before.” 

She knew it was luck more than anything that meant she hadn’t missed her daughter’s birthday in previous years. She’d tried to take leave this year and was due to have the day off, but the case was urgent, her work once again taking precedence over anything else. She was grateful that Aaron was at least at home, his promotion into Section Chief simultaneous with hers into Unit Chief when Alice was just less than a year old. 

He’d tried to convince her to stay behind, a smile and a joke thrown her way about how she was the Section Cheif’s favourite, that she could do what she wanted. She loved him for it, his attempt to cheer her up, to give her the chance to stay behind, but she couldn’t. They were already watched so closely, and she never wanted any of the other Unit Chiefs to have something to hold over her. 

JJ smiles sympathetically at her, placing a hand on Emily’s arm. “I’m sorry, I know it’s hard.” 

“Comes with the territory I guess,” Emily replies, taking a sip of her coffee, the burn in her throat easing some of the tension she felt. 

“It doesn’t make it any easier though,” JJ says, a knowing look on her face. Emily places her hand over JJ’s on her arm and squeezes.

“No, it doesn’t.” Emily agrees, and her phone rings in her pocket. “I should answer that,” she says, reaching for the phone.

“I’ll go make sure Dave doesn’t piss off any more of the locals.”

Emily chuckles as she grabs her cell. “You’re a lifesaver, JJ.” She looks down at her phone and everything stops.

Dread floods her, her heart dropping to her stomach at Jack’s name appearing on her screen. It was his first phone, the 12-year-old told it was for emergencies only when she and Aaron gave it to him. He was good at following the rules. Accepting his parent's concerns about unlimited access to the internet without argument. Even at his age, he knew they’d seen too much.

She looks at Dave, getting his attention as she points at her phone, indicating she needed to take the call. She leaves the room, letting the team take over presenting the profile. She answers when she’s just far enough away that her conversation won’t be heard. 

“Jack, honey, is everything ok?” 

“Emily,” he chokes out, his voice tight, a clear attempt to cover his emotions. She can hear Alice crying in the background, the sound twisting her stomach even further, “it’s Dad, he collapsed, I called an ambulance,” he rushes out, his words almost merging into one, “the paramedic said they think it’s a heart attack.” 

“Oh my God,” Emily exclaims, her hand covering her mouth, her eyes scrunched closed as she tries to gather herself, “where are you now?”

“On the way to the hospital.”

“Did they say which hospital?” She asks, looking back at the team and getting Dave’s attention, waving him over with her hand, grateful when he walks over with no comment, the rest of the team curious, but continuing on with the profile. She hears a murmuring on the other side of the phone, Jack repeating the question back to the paramedics before he puts the phone back to his ear. 

“George Washington.” 

“Honey, I’m going to leave as soon as I can, ok? And I’ll meet you there.” She swallows thickly and shakes Dave’s hand off when he places it on her shoulder, sure she would fall apart if anyone was too kind. “How’s your sister?” 

“She’s scared,” he says, “she wants to talk to you.” 

“Ok, pass her the phone?” She asks, biting the inside of her lip as she hears Jack talking softly to his sister, some shuffling as the phone is passed over. 

“Momma?” 

It almost breaks her, the devastated sound of her little girl’s voice, but she holds it together, knows her time to be afraid would be after all of this, once Aaron was ok. 

“Hi sweet girl,” she replies, hoping her voice sounds more even on the other side of the phone, “are you ok?”

“Daddy fell, wouldn’t wake up.” 

She clenches her teeth and this time when Dave reaches out for her, a look on his face that said he at least understood something was very wrong, she doesn’t shake him off. Alice had seen whatever had happened, she’d been there when Aaron collapsed. The thought of it makes bile rise up her throat. 

“I know, baby. I’ll be there soon, just make sure you listen to Jack. Don’t let go of his hand, ok?” 

“Ok,” she sniffs, “Love you.” 

Emily blows out a breath. “Love you too, can you pass the phone back to your brother?” 

She hears the phone exchanging hands again, and the steady beeping in the background, a machine no doubt hooked up to her husband as he was transported to hospital. 

“Jack,” she replies when the says her name again, “I’m going to leave now, it’s about a four hour drive but hopefully less. I’ll call when I’m close.”

“Ok,” he replies, “Love you, Emily.” 

She chokes out a sound, and she doesn’t really know if it’s a sob or a laugh, maybe something in between the two.

“Love you too, honey, keep an eye on your sister.” 

After she hangs up she looks at Dave, a sympathetic look on his face that she hates and she chokes out the words, the taste bitter in her mouth. 

“Aaron had a heart attack.”

___

The journey is a blur. 

Despite Dave’s insistence that someone came with her, she drives back to DC alone. She wasn’t sure she could have taken the entire journey full of platitudes, sure she would have snapped at one of her friends if they’d come along. 

When she makes it to the hospital she barely makes sure the car is parked before she climbs out, rushing towards the entrance of the Emergency Room. By the time she makes it to the desk she’s already talking, the nurse sitting behind it not even looking at her when she starts. 

“My name is Emily Prentiss, my husband was brought here. My kids-”

“Mommy!” 

She turns just in time, Alice running into her legs at full force, her arms wrapped tightly around her. She looks up to see Jack and Jessica walking towards them, the pre-teen with his hands buried deep in his pockets, his eyes fixed on the ground. Emily leans down and picks Alice up, the familiar weight of her little girl in her arms slightly easing the tightness in her chest. 

“Hi baby,” she says, kissing the side of her head, not missing the desperate way in which her daughter clings at her, all but trying to crawl under her skin, “Mommy’s here.”

When Jack makes it to her side he wraps his arms around her, and she makes sure Alice is secure on her hip before she puts an arm around him too, holding him as close as she can.

“Hi honey,” she says, leaning down to kiss the top of his head. He was only a few inches shorter than her now, bound to overtake her at some point, she looks up at Jessica and exchanges a tight smile with the other woman, “Jess, thank you so much for staying with them, how…”

She drifts off, having to clear her throat to force the emotion down. 

“Jack called,” Jessica answers for her, smiling at her nephew, “I got here only about 20 minutes after they did, a nurse sat with them until then.” 

It gives her a sense of relief, knowing her children hadn’t been alone as they waited for her. 

“Have there been any updates?” She asks, holding Jack and Alice impossibly closer. 

“A doctor came by about 30 minutes ago, said things were looking good,” Jessica says, guiding the family over to some seats, “they should come by again soon.” 

Emily nods as she sits down, Jack detaching from her but sticking close by, choosing the seat right next to her. Alice clutches her so tightly Emily has no choice but to place her on her lap, kissing the top of her head again as they settle. 

Alice was usually chatty, a trait neither of her parents was sure where it came from. She’d talk to anyone, talk their ear off about anything, but she was quiet, her fists tight in the neckline of Emily’s shirt, her face buried in her neck. She shifts the little girl slightly, just enough to be able to see her face, her own dark eyes shining up at her. 

“You ok, sweet girl?”

Alice shrugs, her eyes filling with more tears, before she presses her face back into Emily’s neck, her tears burning against her skin. She looks up at Jessica who smiles sympathetically, her lips set in a firm line. Emily opens her mouth to try again, to do anything to hear her daughter’s voice, but she’s cut off.

“Family of Aaron Hotchner?”

___

She notices the moment he wakes up, his hand tightening ever so slightly around hers. Emily shifts forward on her seat, careful not to wake Alice, the little girl finally asleep in her lap. She squeezes Aaron’s hand in hers, and watches as his eyelashes flutter as he opens his eyes. 

“Hey honey,” she says, smiling softly at him as he looks at her, his eyes slightly glazed over, the medication the doctors had given him clearly working. 

“Em?” He asks, shaking his head slightly as if it would clear it. “What happened?”

“You had a heart attack,” she replies, “the doctors said you should be ok though.” 

He nods, before frowning again, his eyes flitting down to Alice. “The kids?” 

She sets her lips in a firm line and shifts her hold on his hand so their fingers link together, pre-empting the way he would inevitably blame himself for what happened. 

“They saw it happen,” she squeezes his hand when she sees the grief flash through his eyes, the turmoil settling over his face, making him look somehow more drawn than he already did, “Jack called the ambulance, he went home with Jess a little while ago,” she nods down to the sleeping little girl in her lap, “Allie is a little quieter than usual, I don’t think she understands. When I tried to hand her over to Jess she almost screamed the place down,” she smiles weakly, “thought it was best to keep her with me.” 

“God, I’m so sorry.”

She squeezes his hand again, wishing she could hug him, that he could hug her, but this was the best they could do for now.

“You have nothing to apologise for, love,” she replies, lifting their joint hands to press her lips to his knuckles, “nothing at all.” She clears her throat and looks at her watch. “I technically shouldn’t be here, I think the nurse took pity on me because of Alice, said we could stay until you woke up. As soon as they come in here we’ll be kicked out.” 

He nods in understanding. “Are you ok?” 

She chuckles humourlessly, “As ok as someone who got a call saying their husband had a heart attack can be.” 

“Em-”

“I’m just so glad you’re ok,” she says, swallowing to dislodge the lump in her throat, the shake in her voice, “god knows I wouldn’t have been able to pick out a puppy for this one's birthday by myself.” 

He smiles at her, a look in his eyes that lets her know he understands what she was doing, that this wasn’t the place for them to have this conversation. They’d spent far too much time sitting by each other’s bedside in hospital, had far too many rushed conversations when they thought it was their last chance to do so. They had a life together now, things were different. 

They had time. 

“She can have all the puppies she wants after this.” He says in response, and it makes her laugh, a little more tension in her chest easing. 

Alice had wanted a puppy almost as long as she could tell them so, one of her first words being “dog.” At first, they had been hesitant, their lives chaotic enough, but Jack made it clear he wanted one too and their minds were made up. A joint decision that they would wait, Alice’s birthday seeming like the perfect time. 

“I think we’ll start with the one, Aaron,” she replies, “see what the cat makes of it first.” 

She felt Sergio simply wouldn’t care, just like he hadn’t cared when they brought Alice home for the first time. Barely casting the little girl a look until she was old enough to chase him around the house. 

“Sounds like a deal.”

___

She sighs as she makes it to the top of the stairs, readjusting Alice on her hip as she does so. Jessica had just headed home, a tight hug and a promise of any help Emily needed left in her wake. Emily pops her head into Jack's room and sees he is fast asleep, she leaves the door slightly open, something she hopes he will take as a sign he can seek her out in the night if he needs to. 

She goes into Alice’s room first, settling the half asleep girl onto her bed as she digs out pyjamas for her. She helps her into them, the usual insistence that she could dress herself nowhere to be found. Emily is just about to pull the covers back, tuck her daughter in when Alice grasps at her sleeve, strength Emily wasn’t expecting at this time of night. 

“Momma’s bed.” 

Emily cups her daughter’s cheek, pushing some stray strands of her wild hair behind her ear. 

“You want to come sleep in Mommy and Daddy’s bed?” She asks softly, her voice a whisper in the hope they didn’t wake Jack up in the room next door. Usually, she didn’t encourage this, only letting Alice sneak into their room first thing in the morning, pulling the little girl under the covers with them sometimes the only way to get more sleep on a Sunday. But as Alice nods at her, her eyes shining, Emily knows she can’t deny her anything. “Come on then.” 

She picks her up again and carries her to the master bedroom. Emily finds herself tensing slightly at the sight of the room, her husband's things strewn everywhere from where he’d been alone that morning. She settles Alice onto the bed and tells her to get comfortable, and she heads into the bathroom to change. She does a quick version of her nighttime routine, her exhaustion taking over, and climbs into bed alongside her daughter within minutes. 

Alice is mostly asleep, snuggled up to her mother, her hand tangled in her pyjama shirt. Emily breathes her in and looks over to her husband’s empty side of the bed. Her eyes focus on the alarm clock he keeps on his nightstand, her eyes welling up as she sees the time, the clock switching to midnight. 

She kisses the top of Alice’s head, her fingers trailing through the little girl's hair.

“Happy birthday, sweet girl.” 

___

One Month Later 

He was a terrible patient. 

Emily already knew that was true, anytime he’d been sick over the years evidence enough, somehow worse than their children were. 

This, however, was the worse she’d seen him.

At first, he’d seemed happy to follow the doctor's orders. He was slowly introducing his exercise back into his schedule now the cardiologist said it was ok, and he initially was receptive to the recommended dietary changes. 

Emily was being as supportive as she could be. Replacing all the coffee with decaf, and donating any processed food they had in the house. She’d even dug out the blender Penelope had got them as a moving in gift when they bought their house, used only once for frozen margaritas before it went to live in the back of the pantry, to make smoothies. 

As the weeks passed, he started to become more resistant to it. Never saying anything, but rolling his eyes if she made a comment about something he was eating, or watched as he put salt on his dinner. It made things tense sometimes, but she was working through it, never letting her emotions get the best of her. 

Alice was still refusing to sleep in her own room, crying and screaming if they tried to settle her down in there, so afraid that something would happen to one of them. Jack kept a close eye on Aaron whenever they were in the same room, as if he was waiting for him to collapse again. Between holding them all together, Emily hadn’t had time to address her own feeling about it, to recognise how close she had come to losing the love of her life. 

She had gone back to work a week ago, grounding herself for now so she was still around if necessary, since Aaron still tired relatively easily. He was due to go back to work in a few days, something that made her nervous, the thought of adding the stress of the FBI back into his life enough to leave her breathless. 

She doesn’t say that though, doesn’t tell him that she has nightmares of walking into his office at work to find him unconscious on the floor. She smiles instead, nodding when he suggests having the BAU over for a few drinks before he goes back. She finds herself enjoying the evening, keeping a close eye on what Aaron is drinking, but still laughing at her friend's jokes. 

The evening is winding down as she shows JJ and Will out, hugging her friends on the porch as they leave, and she sighs happily as she closes the door behind them. The house felt quiet without the team, only Dave left to go home, and she smiles to herself as she walks through the house to find him and her husband.  

The smile fades off of her face as she steps into the backyard, assaulted by the smell of smoke almost immediately. She feels like she’s been kicked in the gut when she sees Aaron and Dave standing there smoking, cigars that Dave always brought out for big occasions. It had happened at her and Aaron’s wedding, given away when her new husband kissed her, the taste on his tongue making her turn her nose up at him. 

It happened when Alice was born too. Aaron snuck back into the house after showing the team out, their first time meeting the newest Hotchner, the smell of smoke lingering on his skin. She’d made him shower before he could hold the baby again, her eyebrow raised as she dipped away from a kiss, Alice tiny and secure against her chest. 

This was different, instead of an eye roll and mild admonishment she felt anger rising in her chest. All the sadness and grief she had forced down since Jack had called her coming to the forefront, spilling out of her in a way she couldn’t control.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” She asks, and she gains their attention immediately, both looking at her wide-eyed and caught out. 

“Em-” Aaron starts, dropping the cigar and putting it out, but she cuts him off.

“Don’t Emily me.” She seethes, her finger raised to point at him, she turns to Dave, her eyes hard as she fixes them on him. “You need to go.”

“Bella-”

“Dave shut the fuck up, and get out of my house.”

He mercifully doesn’t argue with her any further, shooting Aaron a look that could only mean good luck before he puts out his own cigar, walking back through their house. She turns to look back at her husband, who at least had the decency to look regretful, and she swallows thickly, shaking her head at him.

“What is your problem, Aaron?” She asks, not missing how her voice shakes, the anger and sadness inside of her waging a battle to come out on top.

“Emily,” he says calmly, taking a step towards her, stopping when she takes a step back, her arms tight across her chest, “I’m sorry, it was stupid. But it’s just one-”

“It’s not just one cigar though, is it?” She asks shrugging her shoulders at him, her eyes boring into his. “It’s the coffee we both pretend you aren’t drinking even though I quit drinking it too to support you.” She laughs mirthlessly when he looks down at the ground, averting his gaze from hers, “oh yeah Aaron, I found the receipts from Starbucks in your jeans when I did your laundry,” she shakes her head, “at least I know you’d be useless at cheating on me if this is anything to go by.” 

His head snaps up at that, his eyebrows knitting together as he scoffs. “Em.”

Any guilt she’d usually feel for the baseless implication is washed away by her other emotions, a mere drop of water in the wave she was being carried by, wiped away like the tear on her cheek. 

“I know it’s a lot. I know it’s a big change in everything, but I am trying to keep you alive,” she says, no longer trying to hide her fear, the heartache she had felt for a month. Something that now felt like it was a part of her, of their family, an unwelcome guest in their home. “You nearly died, Aaron,” she points back at the house, knowing Jack would be entertaining Alice somewhere, both of them hopefully none the wiser about what was happening in the backyard, “in front of our kids for fuck sake, and you are acting like that’s nothing.” 

For the first time since she’d walked outside, she sees a flash of anger across his face, his jaw tensing as he clenches his teeth. 

“Now wait a minute-”

“No,” she cuts him off, “Jack has signed up for a CPR class at school, did you know that?” She asks, and she watches as he shakes his head, frozen to the spot, “and our 4-year-old refuses to sleep in her own bed anymore because she’s so scared about what happened, and I…” she drifts off, her words cut off by a sob, he takes a step towards her and she puts her hand up, stopping him in his tracks, knowing a single touch from him at this point would be her undoing, “and I thought I was going to lose you, Aaron. I drove home all the way from New York mentally planning what my life would look like without you and I hated it.” She swallows thickly, no longer bothering to wipe the tears from her cheeks. “So get your fucking act together, because we need you to care as much as we do.” 

She goes to turn, ready to walk away and leave him to it, but she stops herself, her eyes meeting his again.

“I love you, Aaron,” she says, none of the usual joy or lightness in her words, tasting bitter for the first time ever, “and right now, that is hurting me. You are hurting me,” she sees how he recoils, almost as if from a physical blow, and she gets a sick sense of satisfaction from it, “and I am done trying to fix this by myself.”  

She turns and walks away without saying anything else, ignoring him shouting her name as she walks into the house.

___

She ignores him when he eventually comes to bed, her back to the door, Alice asleep and snuggled up next to her. She squeezes her eyes shut, pretends to be asleep even though she knows he won’t fall for it. He tries to talk to her once, her name whispered in the darkness of their bedroom, but she doesn’t react. He sighs and kisses her temple as he climbs into bed next to her.

The next morning she leaves early, her chest still aching with everything from the night before. When she gets to work Dave is standing at her office door, his hands in his pockets and regret all over his face, but she storms past him, successfully ignoring him all day unless it was something work related. She was so angry at him still, so furious he hadn’t even thought about it, that she didn’t trust herself not to say something that could put permanent cracks in their friendship. 

Aaron texts her throughout the day, and she replies, her anger not making her cruel. She smiles at the photos he sends her of Alice and Jack, the latter pushing his little sister on the swing in the park. 

The day does quickly, almost too quickly for her liking, and she finds herself at home before she has been able to plan what she wants to say to him. She blows out a steady breath as she gets out of her car, her briefcase over her shoulder. She’s about to unlock the door when she hears what sounds like barking coming from the inside of the house, followed by Alice’s laughter. She frowns to herself as she opens the door, her suspicions confirmed when she is met with the sight of Alice and Jack on the floor, an excitable white ball of fluff between them that she assumes is a puppy. 

“Hi, sweetheart.”

She looks up to see Aaron standing behind the kids, an unsure smile on his face, and what’s clearly a homemade smoothie in his hand.

“Is that…a dog?” She asks, placing her bag down by the door, squatting down by her children, and putting her hand out for the tiny creature, unable to suppress a smile as it licks her before returning its attention to Alice. 

“We got him from the rescue centre, Alice picked him out, right sweetie?”

Alice nods enthusiastically, looking up at her mother. “His name is Marshmallow.” 

“Marshmallow?” She asks, creasing her brow, looking up at her husband with a disbelieving look. 

“She originally wanted to call him Mommy, so let's call this a win,” Aaron remarks, a smirk on his face that she can’t help but briefly return. He clears his throat, tilting his head over his shoulder towards the kitchen. “Shall we talk?” 

She nods, kissing the top of Alice’s head before she stands back to her full height, ruffling Jack’s hair as she passes him. “You two be gentle with him ok?”

“Yes, Emily.”

“Ok, Mommy.” They say in unison, not even looking up from the newest addition to the family. 

Emily blows out a steady breath as she joins her husband in the kitchen, sighing as she leans against the kitchen counter, her eyes briefly landing on the dirty blender in the sink before she looks back at him.

“A puppy, Aaron? Really?” She asks, crossing her arms over her chest. 

“We promised Allie we would get one, now seemed like the right time,” he says, smiling when Alice’s laughter travels out from the living room. “Listen to her, Em. She hasn’t laughed like that in weeks.” 

Emily shakes her head and looks down at the floor. “We’re not done talking about you getting a dog without talking to me about it,” she says, and she looks back up at him, a soft smile on her face, “but I know your heart was in the right place.”

He places his glass down and reaches out for her, and unlike the night before she doesn’t flinch away from him, allows him to wrap an arm around her waist, pulling her closer. 

“Em, sweetheart, I am so sorry,” he says sincerely. His words instantly, and unexpectedly, make tears spring to her eyes, “you all deserve better than I’ve been acting.” 

“Honey,” she says, her hands clasping at the back of his polo shirt, “I know it hasn't been easy for you, and that the loss of control is making you try to find it where you can’t-” she smiles through her tears as he mumbles something about profiling under his breath, “but I need you to take this seriously. We all do.”  Her chin trembles with the force of her emotion, and despite her efforts to suppress it she sobs, leaning forward to bury her face in his chest, “I can’t lose you.” 

He holds her tightly, his hand rubbing wide circles on her back as he kisses the top of her head. 

“I know, baby,” he says, kissing her head again, “I know. And I am so sorry.” 

They stand in their embrace, minutes passing by around them as she calms, her hitching breathes slowing back to normal as he infiltrates every one of her senses. She pulls back eventually, giving him a shaky smile as he wipes tears from her cheeks.

“No more cigars.” She says, her voice shaking, and he nods in response. 

“No more cigars,” he agrees, “or secret coffees.” He leans down to kiss her, a silent promise against her lips, and she grimaces when she pulls back, making him laugh. “Those smoothies do taste terrible though.”

“God,” she frowns, “they really do.” 

He kisses her cheek, still holding her close. “Dave texted me today,” he says carefully, “says you’re punishing him with the cold shoulder.”

She scoffs. “If he thinks that is his punishment he really doesn’t know me,” she says offhandedly. Aaron looks down at her, a curious look in his eyes. “I may have partnered him with Spencer for the foreseeable.” 

“And?” 

She frowns at her husband, “And what?” 

“That’s not all you’re going to have done love, I’ve never seen you that angry,” he quips, quickly clearing his throat at the way she raises her eyebrow at him, “not that it wasn’t deserved.” 

She hums in her throat, “Good recovery,” she deadpans, hoping she has got around explaining anything further to him, groaning when he digs his fingers into her ribs, “I…may have also told Spencer that Dave believes the Earth is flat.”

Aaron bursts out laughing and shakes his head at her. “I love you.” 

She smiles in response. “I love you too.” 

“Mommy, Daddy, Marshmallow got on the couch!” Alice calls from the living room, her excitement not filtering through to her parents. They both sigh simultaneously and Emily looks at her husband.

“You’re the one who got the dog.” She says, raising a brow at him. 

He nods and kisses her one more time before turning and leaving the kitchen.

“Jack, Alice, what was my first rule about the puppy?” He asks, already walking towards the living room. 

Emily gives herself a moment alone before she joins the rest of her family, the sense of dread that had settled in their home easing for the first time in weeks. 

Things were going to be ok.  

-x-

Tag list:

@ssa-sparks, @lukeclvez, @lyds102, @glockleveledatyourcrotch, @hotchnissenthusiast, @danadeservesadrink, @ssamorganhotchner, @emilyprentissisgod, @notagentprentiss, @freesiasandfics, @emilyshotchniss, @thecharmingart, @paulitalblond, @hancydrewfan, @camille093, @whitecrossgirl, @moonlight-2-6, @rawr-jess, @florenceremingtonthethird, @jareauswife, @ms-black-a, @sneetchestoo, @aubreyprc, @zipzapboingg, @psychopath-at-heart, @criminalmindsgonewrong, @fionaloover, @kinqslcys, @prentissinred, @ccmattis22

Join my tag list here!

#hotchniss #hotchniss fanfiction #hotchniss fanfic #emily prentiss fanfiction #aaron hotchner #aaron hotchner fanfiction #emily prentiss #hotchniss fan fic #aaron hotchner x emily prentiss

[nikibogwater]

Niki Blethers: Daniel Spellbound first impressions:

I’ve only watched the first episode, so I’m not considering anything I talk about here as Spoiler Territory, but if you want to go in to this show absolutely 100% blind, maybe skip this post.

The short version: Color me intrigued. 

Followers of mine already know that I am a huuuuuuuge fan of the Tales of Arcadia series on Netflix (sans the movie–we don’t talk about the movie), so when I first heard the premise for Daniel Spellbound, it immediately struck me as being in a similar vein as that series.

It’s an urban fantasy following the magical misadventures of a teenager and a talking pig. What’s interesting about this premise to me is the fact that our main characters start the series already fully aware of and participating in the magical underground that exists beneath New York City. Daniel isn’t some normal kid who discovers this magical world by accident, he’s been living and working in it for years by the time of the first episode. 

Speaking of Daniel, I like him as our main protagonist so far. He’s a quick-thinking, fast-talking, maybe-sorta-rule-breaking kid who has obviously been alone for way too long. He works as a Tracker–someone who hunts down magical artifacts and ingredients for wizards to use in their spells–but he doesn’t take any pride in his work, and even describes magic as “a scam.” Right out of the gate he’s shown to have no qualms about taking even the lowest, most disgusting jobs if it means getting paid (our introduction to him is literally him sticking his arm in a mound of troll crap to retrieve the mushrooms growing inside). But there’s also a quiet warmth to him, which comes out most prominently in his interactions with Hoagie the magical talking pig.

I’m gonna be up front here, when I first saw Hoagie’s design in a promo image, I was SO ready to hate him. Like, I know it’s not fair to hold him to the same standard as Archie the Cat-Dragon from ToA: Wizards, but I couldn’t help it. So I was pleasantly surprised to find that Hoagie….is actually very tolerable. And there is an in-universe reason for the eyepatch, a very dark and traumatic reason that hasn’t been outright stated, but heavily implied. 

Hoagie himself is actually very similar to Daniel, being a little self-centered and extremely sarcastic. I really like the dynamic between the two of them as a result. They butt heads more often than not (Hoagie’s best character moments are when he is just aggressively sassing the ever-living daylights out of Daniel), but their back and forth can be very fun, and it’s really satisfying to see them come out of the first episode as a newly-formed team. 

I can see Hoagie’s character being obnoxious to some (especially since he spends the majority of the first episode being a pain in Daniel’s neck), but I ended up tentatively liking him, and I really like the potential for friendship that has formed between him and Daniel. 

This show’s portrayal of magic is very fun and creative. From a hotdog vendor making duplicates of himself to expand his business reach, to a half-pint witch known for her highly dangerous magical pies and her propensity for holding intense grudges, it really feels like magic in this world is full of infinite possibilities, and not just limited to flashing lights and floating books. 

The magical environments reflect this as well, creating a very cool contrast with the drab and mundane New York City. I especially love the creature design of the trolls in the first part of the episode.

The animation is serviceable. It’s pretty obvious that they were on a tight budget, but that’s not something I hold against them. In fact, I have to commend the animators and directors for their clever management of limited resources. As I said above, the magical environments are extremely creative and even downright breathtaking in some shots. Character animation can be a little weightless from time to time, especially during an action sequences, but if that’s the show’s biggest flaw in terms of visuals, they’re doing pretty good. 

The dialogue can feel a little weird and choppy here and there, but it’s definitely nowhere near as bad as some other shows/movies I’ve seen. 

Overall, I’m interested to see where this series goes. I want to see more of the magical underworld, I want to learn more about Daniel, and I’m eager to see more of him and Hoagie bonding (or just Hoagie sassing him some more, honestly both are good). I don’t want to jump the gun and say it’s great, but from the first episode, I can safely say that it’s got a lot of great potential, enough that I’m going to keep watching and see where they go with that. Depending on how it turns out, I may do a longer and more comprehensive post about the series as a whole, but for now, I can at least say that it is worth checking out and seeing for yourself. 

#niki blethers #semi-review #daniel spellbound #netflix

[blueiight]

wheel inside of a wheel — continued (lighting out for the territories<3)

ingrid and annerose both having nightmares…..

Blindly, Ingrid’s hand found Annerose’s, curled up in a fist on the side of the bed. Ingrid uncurled her fingers gently, then linked their hands together. Her palm was sweaty, but Annerose didn’t mind. Ingrid didn’t answer the question for a moment, and when she did, her voice was almost desperate. “Because it was good there,” she said. “We say it’s a perfect place, and we believe it, because we don’t have to think about it. It’s good to have something like that to hold on to, to push out everything else. It’s mindless. It’s heaven. Don’t you understand, Fraulein von Müsel?”

“Annerose,” she said. “Call me Annerose.”

“That’s a beautiful name,” Ingrid said. When Annerose said nothing, Ingrid said, “It’s this place where time just passes. And you don’t have to be afraid of anything, because you know that everyone feels the same way as you. There’s no schemes. There’s no one who’s going to hit you. And they say, ‘You’re home! A home you never have to leave! Even when you die, you get to return to Mother Earth, and live forever in Her arms.’ You don’t have to think about the future. There’s just this… now… that takes up all the space in your head. I thought it would last forever. I really did.” She squeezed Annerose’s hand tightly. “Don’t you understand?”

“No,” Annerose said. “I don’t.”

….💔💔💔💔💔💔 oh wow this just confirms my sotp suspicions..

“You would do the same,” Ingrid said, but Annerose had to wonder if that was true. Despite being a member of the Rosenritter, and the fleet, Annerose had never killed anyone. She had never been tested like that. And she had always thought—

“I don’t know,” Annerose said. “Someone once told me that I’ve always been a little too good at enduring.”

Ingrid nodded. “You’re stronger than I am, then.”

“No,” Annerose said, emphatic. “Don’t say that.”

SHE HAS A CAPACITY FOR ENDURING… YK WHO ELSE HAS A CAPACITY FOR ENDURING???😭😭😭😭😢😢😢

the trouble finds u on heinessen as always girl😭😭and that FUCKING BISHOP.. id kill for ingrid’s POV on this situation and situation alone ik that girl is in love (cant even understand the alliance language just sees a pretty girl soldiering behind her) . the parallels of maggie and ingrid both having things for str8 girls😢maggie & ingrid once being an item … wow

i need some thyoxin ngl

“I’m just trying to protect her,” Annerose said. “There’s no point in bringing her through all of this if she’s going to be in just as much danger on Heinessen as she was on Odin, or Earth, or Phezzan, for that matter. She’s spent the last five years or however long having every independent thought poisoned out of her!” Annerose shook her head, frowning. Ingrid glanced over at her, concerned, and Annerose smiled, a little grimly.

They were pulling into the parking lot of the medical center now. “I won’t say anything against it,” Schenkopp said. He shrugged. “But let’s keep it professional, Müsel.”

She had no idea what he meant by that.

schonkopf dont be jealous ya girl is 1 of 2 ppl in space dat is undeniably het…

“And if I was her, mom? Would you say the same thing, if this was all happening to me? Would you tell me that this is all for my own good?”

Her mother’s face pinched a little, the professional facade broken for the first time. “I protected you.”

I Protected You!! why wont u play the long game & let ingrid be a useful tool .. being in an environmentalist cult that drugs its followers is just like the army if u think abt it… ur brother has fantasies of riding on odin in a conqueror’s ship.. and in canon lotgh he got that. wiaw will make his ass work for it tho lol

ice cream right after curry? human stomachs have evolved to be strong af

trunicht might actually be just as bad if not a bit worse than an earth cultist dropping on in😭😭 wiaw annerose getting all kind of (subtextual) gay allegations im obsessed… straight girl shoehorned in a political &!/ homosexual rigmarole

“I hope that Erwin is as sweet as your boy is.” Well hes giving some poor maidservant HELL in the empire 😭😭😭

annerose coming to this.. understanding of sorts after it being a lingering . conflict? issue? pre conflict but a line of dissonance btwn rein& anne in loob to now understanding reinhard’/ protectiveness over her situation a tad bit in dealing with ingrid & julian is rly nice. its rly nice. in a way, canon annerose kinda ended up losing both + was propped up as a political raison d’etre for reinhard (even deemed as space’s mother & responsible for reinhard’s own decision making) so its interesting that shes watching those parallel situations in julian+ ingrid n being so upset abt it like GIRL THAT WAS U.. IT WAS..😢😢

omg. ur brother’s an econ bro right? ask him to riddle me this. gotta love schonkopf😭😭

empire:alliance::noble families:elite corporations. forgot how the proper analogy format worked but ygwim.. reading about a heat planet while living under historical heat levels… nat rome u told the future big bro signed I.F. (he dont even know nat rome in this case hes just a bozo)

schonkopf’s tone being slightly disappointed when he heard julian cooks& not annerose…he came back down 3-0 with the flowers respectful manly man-ness & clocking ingrid’s tea tho LOL. getting confirmation that annerose is the only straight girl on this side of space is heartbreaking but annerose seeing ingrid as this sad wet pitiful baby cat is somehow.. idk..its even funnier to me.

Almost on a whim, Reinhard spent an afternoon putting together a fake resume and submitting it to companies on his shortlist who did have offices on Phezzan. He made up a degree for himself in structural engineering from PNU, gave himself a reasonable GPA and a scattering of skills, a fake year of experience at a local building firm as an intern, and a cover letter detailing his passion for challenging work in tough environments. He got one call back about it after a few days, and Reinhard showed up to his scheduled interview wearing a tie and a large pair of non-prescription glasses, his fake Phezzani ID card that he had borrowed from the High Commissioner’s office in hand.

reinhard canonly being unusually attractive (read: white bishie) tryna put on average joe disguises but being so bad at it is the funniest thing to me. u cant use ur boyfriend’s name to pretend at being both a prospective cultist AND a prospective engineer man!!!! if only frederica was here shed do reinhard’s face so he could at least try to blend in LOL. remember how she put makeup on a corpse? rly love how reinhard is sneaking around & pretending to be ppl throughout.… + obligatory nat rome engineering mention. sorry I.F popped out (except hed never be sympathetic to rvl he hates rvl cuz hes a tryhard extremist & a nat rome fanboy.)

A DUEL? these dumb nobles need to leave my yang out this mess (but itd be a boring story if he wasnt in the mix LOL)

Im actually crine at reinhard being bossy & demanding toward his foe in espionage😂😂😂well he did it ONCE he can do it AGAIN !! He The Blonde brat indeed

Muller scowled. “Salesmen always come when you’re eating dinner, because you’ll do anything to make them go away so you can enjoy your meal in peace.”

this line made me chortle. and the following dialogue is even funnier. unlike his beloved sister tho reinhard is NOT beating the gay allegations. what would rvl’s drag name be? he didnt get what he want exa-ctly. cuz miss muller dont put out easy but he got something~now will this intel make sis in time?

“I think you and your brother have the same kind of crazy,” he said. “You just haven’t had much of an opportunity to let it out.”

“What kind is that, Captain Schenkopp?” she asked, turning towards him. As he opened his mouth to answer, she reached up and grabbed his flyaway scarf, pulling him towards herself with it.

“The kind that I appreciate, Lieutenant Commander,” he said. woooo go straight people!

#wiaw read #wiaw

[bubblegeon]

Hennexxi, who broke a 7-year hiatus, "I have to let go of the regret of Madtown activities" [Interview] 02.2023

“I haven’t had a chance to stand on stage for nearly 7 years. I want to quench my thirst while working as a solo singer.”

Singer HENNEXXI (real name Kim Seoul, former name Buffy) from the boy group Madtown overcomes the pain and runs again. Hennexxi, who left the music industry for a long time after the team disbanded, returned to the fans with a stronger appearance than before and released his solo debut song 'RATM' on the 28th.

As long as the blank period was long, his determination to be active is different. In an interview with E-Daily at a cafe in Hapjeong-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul ahead of his solo sortie, Hennexxi said, "It's been 7 years since Madtown released their last album in 2016, and it's my first time releasing a solo song, so I'm nervous. However, I am also looking forward to it because I completed a satisfactory result with good people,” he said with a smile.

Seven years is a long time for a generation to change in the music industry. Hennexxi started military service after Madtown disbanded, and after being discharged, he had time to build up his music skills alone while working part-time. Hennexxi looked back saying, it was a time when he seriously considered whether or not to continue with music.

The wounds in his heart made him ponder whether to walk the path of music. Hennexxi confessed, "I received treatment for depression and panic disorder until last year."

Hennexxi was selected as an idol trainee while attending Seoul Performing Arts High School. In 2013, when he was 20 years old, Hennexxi entered the music industry as a member of the duo ProC, and then started working as a member of Madtown the following year. However, Madtown disbanded in 2017 after being unable to fully expand its activities due to the issue of transfer of the agency and termination of the exclusive contract.

Hennexxi said, "I've been 'all-in' for a long time since I was young, but after the team disbanded, thinking that I hadn't achieved anything made me feel anxious," he said.

While preparing for her solo debut, Hennexxi, who said he has made up his mind again, is trying to loosen up the lump in his heart little by little in the future. He is determined to build his own territory by promoting rap metal music, a genre that is still unfamiliar to domestic listeners. 'RATM' is a song at the starting point, and the lyrics contain the message that you will go your own way without being swept away by the evaluations or reactions around you.

'RATM' also draws attention in that it is a song featuring Haengzoo of hip-hop trio Rhythm Power, winner of Mnet's 'Show Me the Money 6'. Hennexxi said, “When I felt that the song needed a featuring artist, the first thing that came to my mind was Hangju-hyung."

In addition, regarding the reason for mentioning the late singer Iron's song 'ROCK BOTTOM' through the lyrics, he said, "I don't have a personal relationship, but I liked it because it was an artist who tried rap metal music early.” he explained.

Hennexxi, who has played the bass guitar since middle school, said, “I respect the American band ‘Rage Against The Machine’ (RATM), whose song was named after them.” “My goal is to become an artist who contributes to the popularization of rap metal music.” he said forcefully.

He also commented on his thirst for the stage, saying, “I want to become a shining singer in the concert hall where I can most definitely feel the pleasure of the band’s sound.” In addition, they picked Kim Tae-won of Resurrection and Kim Do-gyun of Mt. Baekdu as the artists they want to collaborate with, and Jay Park as their role model.

The last words he said were thanks to the fans. Hennexxi said, “There are fans who have been waiting for a singer who hasn’t released a single song, let alone an album, in 7 years. Even these days, they send messages of support through social media,” he said, promising, “I will do my best in my music activities to repay them.” [Google trans]

#hennexxi #kim juhyeon #buffy #madtown #article #the way that Madtown's disbandment hurt him 🥺 #I always had the nagging feeling buffy was hurt deeply by their disbandment that he had to get away from it even physically thus the #somewhat sudden sign up for MS #but to actually read in this interview about all that he went thru 🥺 #their agencies are flat out losers for treating MBLAQ and Madtown the way they did #just imagine juhyeon's dedication to music that he didn't give up for the seven years after Madtown disbanded and managed to come back #THATS what J Tune Camp and GNI lost. #they barely gave a chance to Two X before it disbanded too (ok i'll end my rant here) #anyways im celebrating Juhyeon's comeback ❤️