#i didn’t want to white wash her but i liked the brighter filter that i posted earlier

[arendclles]

trust the process

#i didn’t want to white wash her but i liked the brighter filter that i posted earlier #watercolor #and copic markers #traditional art #art process #art tutorial #the little mermaid #princess ariel #disney fanart #snvwflake

[suzyq31]

Maybe Tomorrow Chapter 1: Preview

Just wanted to drop a snippet from Chapter 1! It will be posted by November 2nd in full on archive.

Somehow in a blink it was the day before Christmas Eve. Harry looked over at Hermione, her sleeves rolled up and wand shoved in a messy bun as she surveyed her progress on removing the dated wallpaper in the master bedroom. 

Hermione had pointed out with excitement all the lovely features of the room that had gone over his head; all he had seen was a large room with a fairly impressive four poster bed and matching wood furniture. She saw so many more details, the crystal light fixture, the bay window seat overlooking the garden, crown moulding and hardwood floors “with lots of potential.”

There was also a master bath with a deep clawfoot tub that Hermione eyed longingly. He made a note that it would be the next room to return to its former glory.

The bedding was in the ancient washing contraption that had clearly once been run by tiny house elves. Hermione’s eyebrows had furrowed when they found the headquarters but she had said nothing. He already knew he wouldn’t be employing a house elf himself. 

“Do you want to sleep up here tonight?” he asked, eyeing the stripped but now clean bed. 

He turned to face her again when she didn’t reply.

“Together?” she finally answered. Eyebrows drawn in confusion.

His stomach dropped, not realising what that had sounded like, and he felt his cheeks heat. “Er—no…I meant…would you want to stay up here? It’s got er—a proper bed and I just thought—”

Her smile widened as he fumbled awkwardly.  He sighed, and rubbed the back of his head.

“I was trying to be a gentleman.”

“An excellent attempt.”

He rolled his eyes, but a grin tugged at his lips. “I try.”

“Honestly, I’d rather sleep downstairs—I don’t fancy being up here on my own,” she told him, pushing a curl behind her ear before her eyes met his. “Unless…of course, if you want to be up here. I’ll be absolutely fine on my own in the living room or—”

He shook his head. “No. No. I get it. I…I prefer that to.”

Her lips pressed together knowingly. “It will get easier, right?”

“Yeah. It’s bound to.”

She gave him a small smile before she focused back on the wallpaper. 

Hours passed and the room was already brighter, the afternoon light filtering through the now white curtains. Cool air came through, carrying the smell of winter and pine. 

Hermione sat with her reheated tea cradled in her hands on the cushion of the window seat. She’d told him she’d grown up with one in her childhood bedroom and had always loved reading there. Harry thought if he was to assign rooms to his friends, this one would be hers. Although he knew she would refuse and insist it was his. 

Harry did love the room. A warmth seemed to enter his chest whenever he crossed the threshold. 

He leaned against the solid four poster bed. “Anything interesting out there?”

She tore her eyes away from the back garden and smiled. “I think I may have seen a fox disappear into the trees. Hard to tell at this distance and with the sun.” She glanced back at the window. “It’s spectacular, you can see nothing but trees for miles.”

Harry hummed in agreement. There was a nearby village and a few other estates tucked away, but she was right, they were surrounded by so much wildness. It reminded him a bit of Hogwarts which was a comfort. He appreciated that it was nothing like the overlapping houses of Privet Drive.  

The contented silence was disrupted by a loud growl coming from his best friend.

“Was that a fox?” he teased.

Her cheeks went pink as one of her hands went to her stomach.

“No. I suppose I’ve worked up an appetite.”

“Pizza or Indian?” he asked, straightening and heading towards the door.

“I think pizza tonight. I want something with cheese—and olives.”

Harry reached for the door handle. A twist, nothing, even when he applied more force, nothing.

He groaned. “It’s happening again.”

Hermione sighed and muttered something under her breath. She came to stand next to him, arm brushing against his as she pulled out her wand.

“Alohomara,” she murmured.

After a long, tense minute, there was a soft click.

“Has that been happening all month?” she asked, brow furrowed.

“No. Just the last few days.”

It was the third time the two of them had found themselves locked in a room with one another. Another reason they had begun carrying their wands even to the toilet. Luckily the one time they’d been wandless, he’d crawled through the window of the living room and grabbed his wand.

“That’s so odd,” she replied, with a shake of her head.

“I mean…worse than having staircases that move on you?”

A snort of laughter escaped her and she reached for the door, opening it easily. 

#Harry/Hermione #Harmonie #harmony fanfic #harry x hermione #potter manor

[bunsblr]

Tu... torial? Pt. 5.

Final part of my tutorial! This is a little all over the place, because that’s how I am in this stage of editing. Also I didn’t proofread this...

Open this in dashboard for best view of the screenshots.

Disclaimer: I have no formal training for any kind of graphics stuff, I work in an office as a receptionist - I serve coffee for a living. I am absolutely self taught and while I consider myself pretty comfortable with photoshop, that doesn’t mean that there isn’t about a gazillion of other things that can be done that I have no idea about. There are people far superior than me in the Sims community. This is just how I do it, with techniques I have picked up through the years. Some things I go over in these will be pretty basic, some things a little more unorthodox. Disclaimer 2: My edits take time. This is what I do to relax, one edit takes several hours for me. Sometimes days :))) Disclaimer 3: My photoshop is in Swedish, which is my first language. I tried my best to find the English translations for every step that I do.

Tools used: The Sims 4, Adobe Photoshop 2020, One by Wacom Pen Tablet (very basic and unfancy).

It´s hair time baby! I very much enjoy drawing hair on sims. I make a new empty layer on top of my base Sim layer.

This is where having a drawing tablet makes a huge difference. We need the brush to be sensitive to pressure to get the effect of hair strands. I chose a hard brush, small small size (how small depends on the picture size of course, but I usually land somewhere 6-9 px)

I pick up a color from the hair, I usually starts with a medium light color.

I start by drawing strands around any tips of the hair so they don't look quite so solid. I do this part with both short and long hairs. Hot lazy tip: straight unlayered hairs is the absolute easiest. This is a layered hair so I start with the bottom and work my way up. I pick up different colors from the hair as I go along, to add dept.

Continuing up in the hair and add strands to the pointy bits.

When I feel like the pointy bits have been softened I select one of my hair brushes. I use these ones by Para Vine.

I start painting "around" the hair with one of the lighter colors picked up from the hair, changing the direction of the brush every once in a while for a more natural result.

After this the hair is looking a little fuzzy, so I'm going to go back with my small harder brush to fill these parts out.

I don't add a lot of them, just small bits here and there for filling.

This is a little overkill but... now we have some of that "squary" thing going on in the hair as well that are still showing through our painted layer. Now we could paint over these, but painting can actually be overdone and I wan't to keep the hair recognizeable because the creator put a lot of work into it! So I go into liquify and smooth over any wonky lines still showing, just slightly.

A comparison of before and after hair. Still recognizeable, but softer.

This is our result so far. We've come a long way, but we're not done.

At this point (or actually sometimes sooner) I add an adjustment Curves layer, this will not end up in the finished image, this is just to give me an idea of what the image might look like with more contrast (which we will add later). I keep this at the very top of the layer panel and turn this on and off as I go. Very important to have it turned off if we are going to eyedrop a color and use that to paint, since it would pick up the wrong hue if we have it turned on.

Now I still want the front of my sim to be a little darker to fit my lighting, but I don't want to go over with any more shadow. So I duplicate my Sim layer, and go to Layer -> Adjustments -> Curves. This will only change the active layer, as opposed to creating an adjustment layer down in the Layer panel that will change all layers below it. I drag the curve down a bit to make my new Sim layer darker.

I add a layer mask to my new Sim layer, and bucket fill it with black color so the new layer gets hidden.

I chose an absolutely HUGE soft brush, with medium opacity, and starts painting white on the areas where I want the new darker layer to be showing. And blend by going back with black where the line is to harsh.

Time to add some highlights. I create a new empty layer between my two Sim layers, and add a clipping mask by holding Alt and hovering on the line between the new layer and my bottom sim layer, until the little square with the arrow symbol comes up and then click. This will make whatever I do on my new highlight layer, only show up on the areas where the layer underneath is filled.

 Time to paint. I disable the curve adjustment layer for this. I choose a bright color, in this case a light pink because I didn't want a contrasting color for this picture. I go with a big soft brush around the edges where I want my highlight to hit. In this case, the arm, the hand, the arch of the back and the calf. I didn't add anything to the face in this picture because I didn't like the way it looked, but usually a little highlight to one of the cheeks is just *chef's kiss*

And somewhere around here I got really stuck and really struggled to follow with this tutorial. I felt the picture was lacking something and I tried several different things. I added light rays, tried creating different light sources, there was a moon at some point. But I ended up with just a simple additional gradient shadow down in the right corner (on a new layer down in the Background layer group). Life changing…

And then I didn't like the pink highlight on the skin (sigh, this is how I work, but it’s not recommended to be this indecisive) so I removed that and added a more beige-yellowee highlight instead. And forgot to take a picture after the highlight was added....

And now I go into nitpicking mode. I add a new empty layer on top of my Sim layer, I add it under the highlight layer so it automatically takes on the clipping mask of the Sim layer, I name it Clean-up Crew and go in to refine anything slightly wonky. Picking up colors with the eyedrop tool and going over flaws with a tiny brush.

When I fixed this little light area on the back of her head I left the Clean-up Crew layer and went to my Hair layer instead, because I still have that separate and it's above all the other layers.

I thought my sim was a little too far down in the picture so I moved her up by selecting my whole Sim layer group and the layer on which I have her ground shadow, chosing the move tool and pushing them up. This will move all the layers in the Sim layer group as well as the ground shadow layer equally.

I'm telling y'all, nitpicking mode could go on forever. Added more strands to the bangs.

Noticed a little pointy part on the calf, so I wen't into Liquify on the base Sim layer and smoothed that out. Since the highlight layer has a Clipping Mask corresponding to the Sim layer, the highlight stayed in place.

I duplicate my Sim layer group once more, and merge the layers within this group. So now the Hair, Highlight and Clean-up Crew is all merged onto the Sim layer. I hide the previous Sim groups.

With my new Sim layer selected, I go to Image -> Adjustments -> Hue/Saturation. I want to make my Sim a little less bright so it will match the background a bit better.

I drag down the Saturation and Brightness slider a bit until I like what I see. After this I save my whole image as a PNG-file because from now on I want to edit the whole picture but still want to keep this psd-file as it is for anxiety purposes. Important: I disable my curves layer before saving this as a picture, I don’t want that brought with me into the next steps because I will be adding new curves there.

I open my new saved PNG-file. I go to Filter -> Convert for Smart filters. This will allow us to go back and change any filters we add to this layer. I go to Filter -> Camera Raw Filter and for some reason this window opens up humongus. I start by dragging down the temperature. How much depends on the picture, usually more if it's nighttime.

I pull up the Whites a bit for a cleaner look.

Now I add a Curve Adjustment Layer. Now you can add Contrast in the Camera Raw Filter as well, but I prefer the curve layer because I like to control the different levels. This way I can make my darkest parts a little brighter, giving just a little washed out flair to it all.

I select my background layer again and go to Filter -> Noise -> Add Noise and choose a level that I think looks good. This just brings the picture together a bit more. Also vintage vibes :)))

I add my frame (because it´s my aestethic and I think it looks cool on tumblr) by resizing my workspace and adding a filled white layer underneath the background layer.

I resize my picture (Image -> Image Size) because we don't need it to be huge.

And they I just fine tune the Filters and Curves until the end of time :’)))

And that is that my friends! That’s the end of the tutorial! I hope you could follow somewheat and that someone found it useful. Thank you for reading and never be afraid of contacting me if you have any questions :) I’m very friendly.

#ts4 edit #tutorial

[whatislove-bambi]

Oops... (I Love You)!

Snow White AU

Summary: Taehyung is the fairest of them all in the Land of Fairytales. He’s tall, handsome and his features make even the Goddess of Love swoon. His best friend (his mirror), tells him day in and out just how he is the most beautiful in all the Lands… until today.

+++

Or how Seokjin has had enough of Taehyung’s vain ass and decides to tell a - in hindsight - terrible lie. How then Jin realizes he effed up because Taehyung is going to murder an innocent person for their beauty…

_______________________________________________

Pairing: Taehyung/Reader

Genre: angst, fantasy, fluff, crack?, smut

Contents/Warnings: smut!, strangers to lovers, enemies(?) to lovers, magic gone wrong, Big Dick Tae, evil!Tae, lowkey possessive!Tae, impregnation kink, soft!Tae, cunnilingus, fingering, breath play, dry humping, unprotected sex, creampie, cum play (tiny), underwear kink, huge amounts of cum, fairytale happenings

Words: 19k. 

_______________________________________________

We begin our story in the Land of Fairytales.

The land is rich with green and wealth, the inhabitants healthy and happy. Their ruler is a beautiful one. Tall, handsome, features chiseled so well that even the Gods and Goddess’ swoon when they see him.

His name is Kim Taehyung, the sole heir to the throne by his passing parents, the previous King and Queen of the land. You see, before they passed, they had urged him to find a suitable lover to marry, but Taehyung was stubborn. No one could meet his expectations - no one could rival his beauty. And so, his parents eventually gave up the notion of their son ever marrying, leaving him the only ruler and heir of the kingdom.

Taehyung didn’t have many friends either, always looking down on them and barking orders when neighbouring princes or princesses tried to make his cold heart melt.

Nonetheless, this did not faze Taehyung. All he needed was himself, his beauty, and his magic mirror.

But like every fairytale, we begin happily only to come upon a conflict for our handsome ruler.

+++

The room was white: walls, ceiling, even the stained glass only filtered in light that made the room brighter — whiter.

Taehyung walked up the steps leading him to his most prized and loved object of all.

Seeing his face reflected back at him, he smirked cockily before speaking, “oh mirror of great wisdom and insight, I summon thee!”

Alright, here we go.

Jin wasn’t sure how long it’s been since he’s been cursed. Cursed to be a stupid mirror… or stuck inside one. Anyways.  

Sighing, his face appeared in the reflective surface, meeting the gaze of his only companion in all the years he’s been isolated - until precisely some years ago, when Taehyung was exploring a cave and found Jin’s mirror hidden away with other jewels and gold. But the young heir only had eyes for him, so he plucked him up and now here he hangs, alone and covered in bright light until he is needed or summoned for the King’s daily dose of narcissism.

“Yes, O’ Great One, to what do I owe the pleasure?” Jin asks, sarcasm heavily lacing his tone.

Taehyung lifts a thick eyebrow, but makes no remarks. “How is that nearby Prince doing?”

“You mean Prince Jimin?”

“Yes, that prick.”

Jin scoffs. “He isn’t a prick. He’s a real nice guy, gave a bunch of money to a poor village down by the Island of the Mere.”

Taehyung wasn’t even listening - this brat!

Said King, was examining his nails, a bored expression on his handsome face. God, how Jin could stare all day at it and still want to claw his eyes out at the same time.

“Ahem,” Jin hisses, narrowing his eyes at the younger man.

Taehyung flicked his gaze upward disinterestedly. Running a hand through his newly permed, black locks, he rotated his shoulder blades back to release tension in his muscles. “Right. So… mirror, mirror, on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all?”

Jin crossed his arms, his patience thinning. Okay, so he was cursed like lifetimes ago and was trapped inside a mirror. He only had his own thoughts to keep him company until someone found his mirror and someone always found it. But once Jin appeared to greet them, they all freaked out and threw his mirror back in the trash. Until Taehyung. Which is why he tries to have never-ending patience and tolerance for this punk.

Taehyung had found him before the previous Royal rulers’ passing. He was still young, still cocky, but there was something sad and melancholic to him. He was exploring and upon finding the mirror, Taehyung fell in love and decided to keep it. When Jin appeared to him, Taehyung didn’t scream or run or throw the mirror out, instead, he sat down and talked with him. The first person to speak to Jin in years - lifetimes.

So while Jin finds certain personality quirks of the present King to be irritating, he is also fond of the poor man. After all, it must be pretty awful to be trapped within the castle walls, refusing to let down both his, figurative and actual walls and live life; only believing himself to be the most wonderful of them all.

“Are you deaf? I asked you a question,” Taehyung snaps.

Jin’s smile slips and he feels annoyance bubble.

Okay, screw it, fucking Kim Taehyung.

“What was your question again—“

“Who is the fairest of them all?” Taehyung cuts off bluntly.

Jin takes a deep breath, unable to hide his growing frustration. Technically there is no one who is fairest of them all. Sure, fair there are plenty, but the only one? That’s crazy talk! And Jin is stuck in a goddamn’ mirror! How he wishes to be able to make said man’s facade break - even for a moment…

An idea flashes into his mind and he grins deviously.

Clearing his throat, he puts on his best theatric voice. “Famed is thy beauty, King. But hold, a lovely maid I see. Rags cannot hide her gentle grace. Alas,” Jin searches until finally, finally he finds the perfect one for his perfect plan. “she is more fair than thee.”

It is so satisfying to see Taehyung’s stoic face crack. Something flickers in his eyes, his lips curling downwards in distaste and he crosses his arms like a petulant child.

Jin brings a hand over his mouth to cover the smile from forming. This is the best prank yet!

“Alas for her,” Taehyung all but growls, his deep voice suddenly deeper. “Reveal her name.”

Jin clears his throat, putting forth the act once more. “Lips red as rose. Hair black as ebony. Skin white as snow. Her name is Y/N.”

Taehyung’s gaze hardens if possible. “Who is she?”

Jin waves his hand nonchalantly and the image appears before the King.

Okay, her lips are not red as rose, in fact, they’re kinda chapped from how she keeps biting them in frustration, trying to scrub a stain off a dirtied plate. Her dark hair is pulled up and her skin is glistening with sweat and washing water, nowhere near as white as snow. But she’ll do - at least until Jin can tell Taehyung it’s just a silly joke and that she’s a peasant who doesn’t mean much.

She’s young, likely around Taehyung’s age, but unlike the royal highness’ luxurious beauty, she’s got her arms, elbow-deep, inside a wash basin, cleaning up dirty plates, the dirty water splashing onto her soiled apron.

Really, if Taehyung was smart, he’d notice she’s nothing like what Jin had said. But Taehyung is blinded by rage, something that Jin misses.

A moment of tense silence passes before —

“T-this wench is the fairest of them all?!” Taehyung roars.

Jin jumps. Oh wait, shit, why is he so mad?

“I will have her murdered.”

Jin’s jaw drops, unable to hold his horror. “W-wait, Your Majesty - I - this —“

But Taehyung has already turned, his deep blue robes swirling around him as he angrily marches out of the room, the heavy doors slamming shut behind him.

Jin stares, unable to understand what truly just happened. “Oh… what have I done?”

***

Sighing, you place the last of the clean dishes back on their shelves, taking off the disgusting apron and throwing it in the dirty hamper.

“You off for the night, Y/N?” your coworker asks, untying her apron hurriedly.

“Mhm, too tired to do anything else.”

“Wish I could say the same. I have to get home to the kids - the husband will want some quality time together after dinner.”

You chuckle, helping her untie and toss the soiled piece into the hamper as well.

“That sounds like fun.”

“Which is why you, my dear, should get yourself a husband already! The oven doesn’t stay hot forever you know! Get the buns in there while it’s still fresh.”

Your face burns at the comment and you swat at her arm. “Stop it,” you whine.

“Come, let’s walk home together.”

Despite still being embarrassed, you let her drag you from the tiny tavern, bidding your boss goodnight.

***

Stepping out of the tub, you run a towel through your damp hair, your other hand reaching up to swipe a line through the steam in your mirror.

“Which is why you, my dear, should find yourself a husband already!”

You make a face, grabbing a nearby hairbrush to get the knots out. “Who needs a husband,” you mumble. “Men are all trouble…”

“Amen to that, my dear.”

Suddenly, a face appears in your mirror. A handsome face. With eyes that glisten and a smile that should get a million hearts fluttering, but you - you are terrified.

“Holy shit!” you scream, shooting backwards, as far away as you can from the cursed object. You throw your brush at it, watching it bounce off the glass, before searching for something heavier.

“W-WAIT! Wait!” the man shouts, from your mirror. “I come in peace!”

You grip the towel around you tightly, staring at the face before you, your heart thundering.

“Let me not be so in your face,” he chuckles at his own joke, before suddenly, it’s like camera lens, his face is now zoomed out and you see the rest of him. He’s wearing clothes that look royal, a white button-up tucked into dark slacks. “Much better. My name is Seokjin, but you can call me Jin. I am here to protect you—“

“Who the hell are you,” you continue to scream, grabbing the dropped hairbrush as your defensive weapon. “What are you doing in my mirror!?”

Jin frowns at you, clearly annoyed at you interrupting him. “First of all - I said my name is Jin. Jeez, youngsters these days just don’t listen,” he mumbles annoyedly. “Secondly, I can explain that if you just calm down… okay? Just put down the hair tool… there, you go, now take a few deep breaths…”

You do as you’re told before you step cautiously towards the mirror.

“I am here to help you - kind of like a guardian angel. You see, the King of this Land, he’s enraged with you.”

You tilt your head, frowning. “Why? I’ve never even met the guy. Ever since his parent’s passing, he’s been cooped up inside his luxurious castle. He doesn’t even show his face at the annual festivals - how could I have enraged him?”

“The King is very… adamant on being the most fairest of them all. And someone,” Jin clears his throat. “Let it slip that it’s you. So he’s going to murder you now.”

Your eyes widen and Jin paces in his space, a pensive look on his face. “But I searched throughout the Land and there’s a cabin not too far from here, uninhabited and spacious enough for you. You could farm the nearby crops, survive there until the King’s delusions are set aside and then—“

A sound cuts Jin off, making his head snap to the side.

Your head is bent forward, face hidden from view. Your shoulders shake and tiny chokes leave you.

Were you crying? Panic seized his heart suddenly.

“L-Listen — I know it looks bad, but I assure you, I will keep you safe—“

Until the noise turned into a snort and then a full on guffaw.

“Oh by the gods,” you gasp, breathlessly. “I’m so tired, I’m imagining things. A talking mirror, the King wanting to murder me - for being the most beautiful in the Land? Ha! This is — it’s crazy! Come on, Y/N, you are so tired that you’re making all this stuff up. Just crazy.”

Jin stares in bewilderment as you leave your bathroom, the door slamming shut behind you, shrouding him in darkness. “Wait! Y/N! Y/N! This isn’t a joke - you’re going to die! He’s got a huntsman coming to kill you!”

You huff, quickly drying your damp hair and drowning out your delusions. “Don’t you worry, Y/N, after a good night’s sleep, you’ll be back to normal.”

And with that thought, you jumped into bed and slept soundly soon after.

+++

You arrived at work a little earlier since you were opening the tavern. Slipping into your uniform easily, you start unstacking the chairs, before grabbing a rag to wipe down any uncleanly surfaces.

First the counter, then polishing overnight glasses, pairing cutlery and napkins, all the while, humming around the room. Your last task is to wipe down the mirrors in the diner’s restroom, catching a glimpse of your reflection now that you were almost done your morning tasks.

You hadn’t thought about last night’s events at all, at least not until now. Your reflection shoots back a smile and you chuckle. Who knew you had such an imagination?

“He’s got a huntsman coming to kill you!” Jin’s voice echoed in your head, freezing your smile in its place.

Snapping out of your reverie, you shake your head, giving yourself a reassuring nod. “Don’t be silly, Y/N. The King would want nothing with a peasant…” You sigh forlornly, your reflection no longer beaming back at you. You wanted more from this life - more than just a measly wage from wiping down tables and serving drunk pirates or hidden princes and princesses who thought their disguises were actually stealthy.  

Sighing, you turn around, ready to leave the restroom. Not everyone got a fairytale ending, you think bitterly.

However, you fail to notice a pair of eyes watching you.

***

It’s not long after that, that your colleague of the morning shows up, waving you a tired hand as they go to start filling up the alcohol.

Shortly after turning over the sign to “OPEN,” people start entering. It’s a bustling morning, like it usually is.

“Y/N, drinks for the miner!”

“More meat over here!”

“How’ya doin’ doll?”  

“Refills, Y/N!”

The day never stopped. You groaned as you handed out your umpteenth food plate of the morning and poured your millionth cup of stale beer. Sparing a glance at the clock, your eyes lit up. It was break time.

Waving three fingers in the air at the barkeeper, the woman nodded in acknowledgement, before you grabbed something to drink and eat, taking a table closest to the back of the tavern. Here it was less crowded and more quiet, letting you have some alone time.

You take a seat and watch the people around.

Your life was rarely different, always the same things. You wake up, go to work, come home, make dinner, clean, go to sleep. Repeat.

Unconsciously frowning, you stir the straw in your drink. Life was, for a lack of better word, mundane. You didn’t have many friends, just a select few and all from work. They were either much older or younger and no one really near or around your age.

I need some adventure, you think, propping your chin on your hand as you look out the window at the bustling streets.

Suddenly, someone slides into the seat across from you. You stop slurping and stare, eyes wide with surprise.

“Hello,” the newcomer grins, brown hair tousled ever-so-slightly over large, doe-like eyes. He’s grinning at you, looking boyish and handsome.

You blink owlishly, pointing at yourself. “Are you talking to me?”

“Who else would I be talking to?” he laughs.

“Oh - if you’re looking for a waitress, I’m on a break. But the other girls can help you,” you supply. You already regretting talking to him. You only have fifteen minutes every three hours and you didn’t want to waste it on this, no matter how good looking he is.

“Actually,” he begins, his grin faltering as he rubs the back of his neck. “I wanted to talk to you, personally. My name’s JK and I think you’re really pretty… do you, um, maybe want to go out sometime?”

Now, you’ve been asked out a couple times before - but certainly never from someone so attractive. Definitely not someone this polite and gentle in courting you. Your mind is reeling at the confession and you just stare at him, speechless.

“M-me?” you ask again, your voice coming out in a whisper.

He laughs, this time showing his teeth and you like his smile. “Yes. I mean, don’t feel pressured to. I just… you’re really pretty and I’m insanely shy so…”

“Sure!” You blurt, before you begin to second-guess and doubt yourself. Your heart flips at the way JK’s smile lights up even more.  

“When’s a good time for you?”

“I, uh, well… I don’t get off until tonight. Actually, I’m working all week,” you frown, rattling off the schedule in your head.

“How ‘bout tonight?”

That catches you by surprise. “Tonight?”

“Yeah! If it’s not too forward…”

Well… it is. But weren’t you just complaining about adventure earlier? I mean - come on, this guy’s cute! And he likes you!!

Taking a leap of faith, you give in. “Sure! I’m closing the tavern tonight,” you nervously fiddle with your fingers. “Would you be alright to meet me at the back?”

JK chuckles, leaning back and tossing you another boyish smile. “Are you kidding? A girl like you just said yes - of course, I’m not going to care.”

Now, if you were smart and cautious, you would know it doesn’t make sense that a random stranger just came up to you and asked you out abruptly. But you’ve been alone your whole life and no one to teach you about the evils in this world - naivety rolled off of you in waves. You wanted adventure - damn’t! And adventure you were going to get!

“I will see you when the sun sets!”

JK grins, his doe eyes flashing almost predatorily. “Of course, Y/N.”

You beam, going back to your drink with a bright smile while JK waves at you as he leaves the tavern.

You miss two things: one, he never even ordered anything on his way in or out.

Two, you never told him your name to begin with.

***

Stepping out of the empty tavern, you lock up and tuck the keys away into your worn-out bag. Turning around, you face the emptied backlot, confusion on your face. Where’s JK?

“Aren’t you eager.” The voice startles you and you whip around, facing the handsome man with the boyish face and the large, doe-like eyes.

He has a knack of taking you by surprise!

“Ha… you scared me!” JK doesn’t react, only continues to smile at you and you shiver…  from the cold?

“So… where would you like to go?”

Again, JK doesn’t respond. In fact, he merely stands where he is, continually smiling at you.

As naive as you are, you begin to feel uneasy. A moment passes, then another and another. Still, JK doesn’t move from his spot.

“Y/N, you really are quite beautiful.”

You swallow. “O-oh? Is that so? Thank—“

“It’s a shame the King wants you dead.”

Your eyes widen and in that moment, the situation clicks. How stupid you are.

Spinning on your heels, you turn to run, but pain erupts in your skull as you realize JK has grabbed a handful of your hair and is now tugging you back towards him.

“Uh, uh,” he tuts, like he’s talking to a disobedient child. “Stay still. This will be painless if you don’t fight it.”

Adrenaline courses through your veins and you hear your blood pumping loudly. Without thinking, you spin around and bring your leg up, kicking JK in the crotch, catching him off guard. He groans, loosening his grip on you ever so slightly. That’s all you need - you pull free from him and bringing your hand up, punch him in the throat with all your might. A splutter from said man and then you’re sprinting into the woods - hoping to put as much distance between you and him as possible.  

Your soles hit the ground and tree branches blur past you. Your breath is coming out in huffs, it’s getting dark and you’re alone. Footsteps are heard behind you and sparing a glance, your eyes widen at seeing JK’s looming figure catching speed with you. He’s absolutely terrifying in this moment.

Diving sideways, you manage to roll down a hill, groaning as you hit the flat surface of dirt. Sitting up, you gaze up to see JK glaring down at you from the ledge you fell. It’s too slippery for him to slide down without hurting himself, and he knows this. His gaze lands on a trail just off to the side. You watch in horror as he sprints towards it. Staggering up on wobbly legs, you gaze around — exit — I need an exit!

“Y/N! Y/N! I can help!” You look down and notice your bag on the ground, the contents spilled out. One of them is your compact mirror - which has Jin staring back at you! Feeling a wave of slight relief, you grab the mirror and despite the pain and your forgotten items, you race through the thicket of bushes and trees.

“Jin - tell me I’m dreaming, because right now I’m being chased by a serial killer,” you hiss, trying to keep your voice low as you duck just beneath a protruding branch.

“I would love to tell you that - but unfortunately it’s the truth. The King hired a trained huntsman to track you down to kill.”

“How are you so calm about all this?”

“I’m trying to figure out a way to save you,” Jin huffs.

“Please think faster - I don’t think I can continue like this anymore,” you hiss, noticing you are now deeper into the woods than you were before. Deeper and even more lost.

“I have an idea,” Jin pipes up.

You quickly and quietly crouch behind a few shrubs, hiding yourself and holding the mirror close to you. It’s terrifyingly quiet and you’re afraid to look up in fear that JK is looming over you, ready to strike. But you’re certain he’s nowhere near you yet, he had to round the ledge that you rolled down and that would’ve given you enough time to hide.

“Shh! I hear him,” you whisper, quietly placing the mirror on the dirt floor as you press yourself closer and closer into the shrub.

With bated breath, you hear him. Your heart is hammering loudly in your chest, so loud that you’re fearful he can hear and find you. The sound of his footsteps coming closer as he crunches nearby twigs and leaves.

“Y/N, if you come out now, I’ll make it painless and quick. I’m sorry for your fate, but the King has ordered it. You have nowhere else you can run.” It’s said matter-of-factly, but you notice how JK has the decency to sound… guilty?

Jin looks just as terrified as you. Though for him, it’s because he’s the whole reason this situation is unfolding and guilt is killing him slowly. He can’t let you just die - not because of Taehyung’s reckless and impulsive decision!

Due to his self berating, he misses you grabbing a nearby tree branch. You just needed one, clear shot and JK would go down - just enough for you to run to safety.

You slowly stand, holding the branch tightly like a baseball bat. One, two, one, two, one, two… you chant inwardly, as JK nears closer and closer to your spot.

Peeking out, you notice that the huntsman has his back turned to your hiding spot. It’s now or never.

Creeping out, you lift the branch up high and bring it down hard onto the back of his head.

You hear the dull thud of the branch meeting his skull and you think you’ve done it, but JK whips around and your eyes widen in fear. JK is stunned from the surprise attack and he clumsily moves back, putting distance between the two of you.

The impact has dizzied his senses and the next thing he knows, he’s slipping on something wet and then down, down he goes…

“Did you kill him!?” Jin’s voice comes from the ground, horrified and freaking out. You quickly drop the branch and look at the crumpled form on the forest floor. Shivering, you press the toe of your shoe into his side - he doesn’t respond.

“I-I don’t know! I didn’t mean to kill him,” you begin to ramble, fear bubbling in a whole new form. “Shit, shit,” you hiss, dropping to your knees as you reach a hand out, trembling fingers resting just centimetres between his philtrum and nostrils.

A shaky moment passes and slowly the tension bleeds from your heart as you feel faint air on your fingertips.

“He’s not dead - knocked out cold, but not dead,” you breathe, relief flooding your entire body. You miss how Jin visibly relaxes from your words.

“C’mon, I know a cabin not too far from here. You can rest there - tomorrow we’ll figure out another plan before the King knows you’ve gotten away,” Jin’s voice sounds so far in your head. He’s talking survival tactics, but all you can do is feel tears fill your eyes.

What have you gotten yourself into?

Pushing the bubbling fear and anxiety down, you go around JK’s unconscious form, hooking your arms around and under his armpits.

“What are you doing?” Jin deadpans.

“Dragging JK to that cabin you’re talking about. We can’t just leave him out here. He’ll definitely die from the cold if we do,” you huff, realizing just how heavy the huntsman is.

“Good luck, he’s built like a rock,” Jin mumbles with an eye roll.

Despite the side comments, Jin directs you to the cabin while you haul JK through the woods. You feel bad for his clothes, they’re smeared with dirt and leaves, but at least you can aid that wound on the back of his head once you get inside.

“Are you sure no one lives here,” you ask, feeling anxious after you’re done settling JK onto the spare bed and treating his wound. Your entire body is sore and your bones are weak due to the exertion.

Jin makes a noncommittal noise, his back turned to you in the mirror as if he’s actually looking around the place.

“Get some rest,” he advises instead, trying to sound calm.

He’s praying that Taehyung will forget.

If Taehyung doesn’t, he will find out and when he does, all hell will break loose.

+++

Now that we’re caught up with the present situation, on with the story.

King Taehyung is pissed to say the least. His mirror hasn’t responded to him since that day, which was well over a week ago. And on top of it all, his huntsman, is nowhere to be found. No news, no pigeon messengers, nothing.

Cursing his bad luck, Taehyung paces back and forth in front of Jin’s mirror, waiting impatiently.

“Jin, show yourself before I break the damn’ thing,” Taehyung hisses.

Rolling his eyes at the bossiness, Jin appears, doing his elegant bow. “Your Majesty.”

“Find me JK.”

Jin tenses immediately.

You see, after the whole JK-trying-to-murder-you incident, he was pretty much blacked out for a couple of days. You treated him as best you could with Jin’s help, but nothing seemed to work.

To make matters worse… the cabin was inhabited.

A druid, ancient and almost like a wood nymph owned the tiny place. The druid looked human, he was very tall and had startlingly blue eyes.

Surprise on everyone’s expressions when he opened the door to his room to find you kneeling by JK’s bed, bandages in one hand and scissors in the other. You were fearful at first, but the druid, who told you his name is Namjoon, helped you and JK, healing him.

He didn’t take lightly to having strangers in his cabin, but knew Jin from a lifetime before and had reluctantly allowed you and JK to stay until he was fully healed.

JK was a different story.

Number one, his name is Jungkook.

Two, he’s an orphan that grew up working as a guard for the former King and Queen before their passing. Afterwards, Taehyung recruited him as a special huntsman for secret tasks. This you all found out once you managed to cuff Jungkook to the bed and get him to spill everything. It wasn’t that hard, once Jungkook saw Jin, he was pretty much willing to explain everything, no detail left out.

Now, back to the problem at hand. Jin had hoped you would be safe and sound. Taehyung would’ve and should’ve forgotten about you after nearly two weeks of silence, but instead, it was like the King’s fury had risen with each passing day.

Looking at him now, Jin could see just how each day had ruined the powerful man bit by bit. His hair was ragged and messy, almost like the King had constantly ran his fingers through it in frustration. His robes were askew, no longer pristine and in place immaculately. His eyes had dark circles and his skin looked a little less than brilliant.

“Must I repeat myself, every single time,” Taehyung’s voice sounds, cold and hollow, shaking Jin from his thoughts. “Where is Jungkook.”

“Don’t you think you’re going about this wrong, Your Grace? Look at it this way - she’s just a peasant. Common, filthy, plain. You are a King - highest of the land—“

“I will not ask again - show me where Jungkook is or I will smash you to pieces.”

Jin’s eyes widen. Never, in all the years of bickering and fighting and constant cat/mouse games, has Taehyung ever threatened him like this.

“No.”

It’s Taehyung’s turn to stare in shock. “No?” he echoes, the bright walls suddenly dimmer around him.

“You can’t just murder someone because you feel inferior to them. What would your mother say?”  

“Silence!” Taehyung roars, angry filling his features darkly. “Do you know who I am?! I am the King - the Fairest of them all - and you dare to tell me, this pathetic, low, peasant girl has upped me? Regardless of your lies, I will see to it that her head is served on a silver platter for you. This will teach you to never lie to your King again.” A mad look takes over his handsome features and Jin feels real fear creep up his spine.

“I won’t let you harm her. She’s done nothing of the sort to deserve it. As your friend—“

A harsh, empty laugh cuts through the room and Jin stops. Taehyung looks like the portrait of crazy at this point.

“Friend? You think that you and I are friends?” The King questions, walking up slowly to the mirror, his blue robes swishing almost predatorily behind him. “You think… a damned soul such as yourself would ever be a friend of mine? No. No, absolutely not. I tolerated you - kept you by my side because you were useful. You showed me what I wanted to see - but you were never and will never be more than an ugly piece of decoration in this kingdom.”

Jin stares, mouth agape in horror and shock and sadness. He wants to tell Taehyung to take it back, to admit that they’re friends, that somewhere in that cold, darkened heart of his, he truly does care about Jin and all that they’ve been through. Jin, who was there for him when Taehyung was a young boy, reckless and immature, selfish and alone.

But no. Alas, Taehyung is resolute in his words. His eyes are hard, mouth set into a firm, grim line. It is time for Jin to face the music.

His hands coil into fists by his side and Jin tries to recompose himself as best he can. To hell with Kim Taehyung. After everything, he’s still a selfish, immature brat. With as much venom as he can muster, Jin sarcastically states his goodbye, trying to ignore the stab of heartbreak in his chest. “Very well, Your Majesty… I shall take my leave. All hail the King.”

Taehyung watches as the mirror dims and then Jin is gone. In his place is his own reflection, a shell of a man staring back at him, hollowed - unhappy. With a roar of anger, Taehyung spins from the throne room, heading straight for the library.

This common peasant has done it again!

Taken his closest confidant away from him. He’ll teach her.

He’ll show her just what happens when you mess with the King.  

Throwing open the doors to his personal library, he pulls books upon books out from their spots. No, no - Taehyung is almost insane. His fingers are trembling and his heart feels tight. He hates this feeling - he hasn’t felt like this since his parents — no.

You must not think of that, he tells himself. It’s weak and sad and he hates that feeling. Finally, his fingers feel the velvet. Pulling the book from its spot, he grins almost maniacally once he sees the cover. An ancient spell book that had been passed down from a witch to his father as a gift many, many years ago. His father had warned him to never use it, to keep it and know its contents, but to never use it, for Magic Always Came with A Price.

Ignoring the blatant warning bells in his mind and the echoes of his father’s words, Taehyung flips the book open, fingers leafing through the pages with speed. He’ll show them all - how he’s not lonely or weak. Kim Taehyung deserves to be king - more than anyone in this forsaken land! He grins, just a tad bit insane.

He finds three spells.

The first is a spell that will create a poison with a very rare antidote, which he creates successfully and dips a few apples inside.

The second is a tracking spell. He’ll find her one way or another.

Lastly, the third is an illusion. He needs something that will garner her attention, something that will probably appeal to her heart. Grinning, he settles for the disguise of an old, frail woman.

After all, horror comes in threes.

“Watch out, Y/N. I’m coming for you,” he cackles.

He recites the spell with some difficulty even after reading it over a dozen times.  

A gust of wind beats violently against the castle walls, the candles flickering. Taehyung closes his eyes, feeling the magic surrounding him, filling him up and stretching him to be what he wants.

Even with his eyes closed, he can picture the young woman that Jin had showed him not too long ago. She’s smiling at a group of children as she handles a brand new pie, straight from the oven in the mirrored image. Taehyung feels emotions boil inside him. Emotions he doesn’t want to think about.

Then the magic is gone.

Opening his eyes, he grins, only to falter when he realizes how tall everything looks. Wait.

He starts to walk towards the mirror again, but instead of moving smoothly, he stumbles and then falls, landing on his face. What the hell?

Pushing himself back up, or at least trying to, Taehyung stares in horror at what he finds.

His arms are short and furry!!

Trembling, he stands, looking down at himself.

Oh no… no, no, no…

Running towards the mirror, he stares and the image that stares back at him is horrifying.

He’s a dog!

A two-toned brown dog, small and furry and cute.

Taehyung groans, the sound coming out in a whimper.

Running back to the spell book, he realizes he mispronounced a word. The pesky Latin!

Well.

Closing his eyes, he tries to steady the anger boiling inside him. Fine. This is fine - he’s fine. He’ll go, find Y/N, get her to eat an apple, poison her, and then he’ll force Jin to transform him back. Jin will have to - especially if he wants the antidote to save his precious Y/N.

Stamping his paw down with as much might as he can, Taehyung grabs onto the stem of one apple, already heading towards the door.

He’ll show them.

He’ll show them all!

***

Jin is tense.

You’re in the garden tending to the vegetables, which means you’re safe. For the time being.

Taehyung is on a crazy spree. Which means, he’s after you and will not let you go until he manages to kill you.

“You know, this is kinda your fault,” Jungkook murmurs, pulling apart some bread and tossing a bite into his mouth. “If you didn’t mess with him, we wouldn’t be in this situation.”

“Eat with your mouth closed,” Jin scolds from his spot on the dining table. Namjoon is pretending to not hear them, continually tweaking away at his mini bonsai plant.

Jungkook rolls his eyes and takes another bite of the bread. He’s almost healed now, but he’s decided to stay behind and watch over you. You did save his life after all, even though it was his fault in the first place.

After waking up and finding himself in an unfamiliar place and in immense pain, Jungkook knew it was time to reevaluate his life choices. Thus, here he was, swearing his loyalty to you.

“Seokjin, why do you keep pacing?” Namjoon wonders, standing straight and towering over the small mirror. The compact was left for travelling and now, Jin resided in a medium sized mirror that was toted around the small cabin wherever one of the three habitants would be.

“I keep pacing because I’m worried. You didn’t see him - Taehyung looked mad. Worse than the Mad Hatter!”

“Heh. Hasn’t he always been, though? Ever since the funeral, he’s been spiralling… not to mention, he keeps talking about absorbing more magic and whatnot,” Jungkook talks absently, reaching for another piece of bread.

Jin stops pacing, head whipping to face the younger male. “What - magic? You mean, Taehyung was looking into getting more magic?”

The huntsman nods. “Mm. He was constantly mumbling to himself about a magical book that could grant him whatever he wanted and keep him youthful forever. You know, typical evil talk.”

At this point, Namjoon looks up from his plant, furrowed eyebrows in the huntsman’s direction. “How are you not more… alarmed?”

“I was. I think I still am. It’s just my defence mechanism. You know, dealing with the whole, I-could’ve-died thing.”

Namjoon nods understandingly.

“If he found the book though, that means he’s been using it. Reading it at the very least. Which means he’s on his way here if he’s found the tracking spell,” Jin mutters, more to himself. “But he can’t just leave the castle as is. He’s the King - everyone knows his face.”

“A disguise,” Namjoon supplies.

Jungkook sits straight up. “Yeah, that definitely sounds like Taehyung. He would definitely get a disguise and probably cooked up a whole new murder plan.”

“Y/N!” Jin practically shouts. “Bring me to her! She’s in mortal danger!”

***

Outside, you straighten your back with a satisfying groan. Most of the vegetables were harvested and now you had a nice, filled basket of goodies for the coming days. Carrots, tomatoes, and some potatoes, too.

You’ve almost forgotten about the whole ‘the King of Land of Fairytales wanting me dead’ ordeal.

Humming softly, you go to water the plants by the front of the cabin. Namjoon has been so kind to let you stay, along with JK - now Jungkook. The huntsman had sworn loyalty to you after waking to find you tending to his wounds. Though… he was the one who inflicted them upon himself.

A sudden sound off to the side gets your attention.

You stand up straight, clutching the watering pot close to you.

“Hello?” You wince at the sound of your voice. Haven’t you learned from past tales that you never call out loud to impending danger.

Still, your dumbass is curious and so, you move closer and closer towards the sound.

It’s from a large bush near the front of the cabin. The leaves are ruffling and you’re sure whatever is in there won’t get close, not when you have a magical mirror, huntsman and a druid all nearby.

Pushing the leaves apart, you notice more movement. “What the—“

“Y/N, STEP AWAY!” Jin shouts and you hear Jungkook’s thundering footsteps. A hand lands on your upper arm and you’re steered around. Jin is ready - ready to face his former best friend, the monster of all monsters. How dare he come after you like this?!

However, what greets him isn’t a frail, old woman or an ominous child or demon spawned from hell, but rather… a dog. An almost puppy-sized Pomeranian, brown and yipping in your arms.

“Uh, Jin,” Jungkook murmurs, also noticing the fluff ball that’s cradled in your arm.

You’re the first one to break the silence, the small ball of adorableness staring up at you. “Oh by the gods,” you gush, unable to help yourself. “You’re so freaking cute!!”

The dog has short legs, a body of brown fur and it’s trying to move, but you don’t notice the way the dog practically growls at Jungkook threateningly. The huntsman backs off, immediately sensing something is way off.

“Jungkook, give me some space. You’re freaking out the poor pup,” you chide softly, too enraptured by the adorable fluff ball to notice the way it’s practically hissing at Jungkook with hatred.

Said man backs off, quickly going back to Namjoon’s side.

“Call me crazy, but I think that’s Taehyung,” Jungkook whispers, his eyes never leaving the yapping dog. He can’t quite understand it, but he’s sure Taehyung is cursing him to the moon and back.

Jin watches from the mirror, calculating his next move. Taehyung isn’t an expert at magic, that much is true. He also managed to turn himself into a dog and found them.

Well.

“Y/N,” Jin calls out and you walk over, carrying your newfound friend with you. “Why don’t you keep it? I think it’s a stray.”

The dog stops barking - well, Taehyung stops shouting - immediately. His eyes hone in on Jin and suddenly the wheels click in his head. Sonofab—

“That sounds like a great idea. We could teach it some tricks. We usually sees wolves, not a stray puppy,” you coo, smiling brightly. “It’s so cute too!”

“Check to see the gender,” Jin supplies, further adding salt to the injury. Taehyung will murder him once he returns back to his normal form.

Without shame, you tilt the dog gently and peek.

“It’s a boy,” you smile without a care, not noticing how Taehyung practically went stiff in your arms, unable to do anything but let out a soft, embarrassed whimper. Jin is smirking at him, almost victoriously.

“Check, mate,” he mouths, smirk widening when he sees Taehyung ready to jump out of your arms and run at the mirror. Unfortunately, you’re far more stronger than him now that he’s a dog.

Thus, Taehyung has lost this round.

+++

The next days are splendid.

You wake up, make breakfast while Namjoon and Jungkook hunt, clean and chat with Jin and of course, spend all your time with your new puppy. You hadn’t been sure what to name him, but ‘Caramel’ seemed fitting since he was a duo brownish colour, darker brown on top and much lighter along his belly.

He constantly ignored his dog food, preferring to eat the human food you had cooked for the others. At first you were worried he’d get sick, but as time went on, you realized Caramel was just special. Even in this short time span, you knew you loved him.

On the other hand, Taehyung has been plotting your murder since day one. But alas, he hasn’t been able to execute it probably. Each and every single time, Jungkook, Jin or even the druid, Namjoon, have managed to foil his plans.

One time, he saw you leaning over the edge of the river bank, trying to fish. He had ran at full speed, hoping to push you into the water. Last minute, Namjoon had pulled you to safety and Taehyung had yipped in fear as he dove headfirst into the wet surface. He wasn’t used to walking, so swimming was far out of the picture. The shock soon wore off and fear gripped him as he felt himself sinking.

A splash was heard and arms grabbed him, pulling him up into safety. He spluttered, as much as he could in this form, ready to thank Jungkook for helping him… only to find it was, well, you.

You were soaked, hair sticking to your face as you watched him with worrisome eyes. “Caramel, be careful!” You scolded, keeping him bundled close.

The pomeranian didn’t know what else to do, shivering from cold, fright, or something else. Without thinking, Taehyung all but snuggled into you and your warmth. Just this once, he tells himself inwardly. Tomorrow he would try to kill you again.

Of course, the days that spanned soon turned into weeks. Each day, Taehyung spent with you, he forgot about wanting to kill you. Ever since the riverbank incident, you’ve kept your eye on the pomeranian, not wanting anymore accidents. Despite all the attention (much to Jin’s chagrin), Taehyung was beginning to warm up to you, whether or not he realized it.

In fact… he dare say, he was beginning to like you.

That is - if Taehyung had emotional understanding, he would realize it. But he didn’t. So he continued to be rather dense.

One night in particular, after dinner, Namjoon had offered to wash the dishes with Jungkook, deciding you should have free time after rushing around all day doing this and that. Jin had hummed in agreement, though he seemed distracted with something. The mirror bid you all goodnight, leaving only the two cleaners, you and Caramel.

Not wanting to go to sleep just yet, you wrapped yourself in a shawl that Namjoon had given to you a few days prior (“For the colder nights,” he had smiled warmly, dimples showing).

“Caramel,” you whisper, crouching next to the dog almost falling asleep on the armchair. “Do you want to see the stars with me?”

Taehyung perks at that, turning to face you. The last time he’s seen the stars was when his parents were still alive and well. The three of them had gone to the highest tower in the castle and gazed out, while having a nightly picnic of treats. He makes a low noise of agreement and you scoop him up, heading towards the back of the cabin.

The air is a little chilly, but you wrap the shawl tightly around your shoulders. Taking a seat on the wooden porch of the cabin, you bring your knees to your chest, head tipped upwards. Taehyung looks up, too, eyes widening at the sight before him.

“Wow,” you breathe amazedly. Taehyung mirrors you in agreement.

The moon is full and bright, high in the night sky. Around it are a million sparkling stars, some larger than others. It’s like the entire world has faded away, leaving only the two of you to see this swirling sea of endless beauty.

“You know, that big star right there,” you point out, getting the dog’s attention. “That’s Sirius. In other words, it’s known as the ‘dog star,’” you grin, “like you.”

Taehyung scoffs - you’ve got jokes.

You giggle feeling the sassy response from your companion. “It’s the brightest star in the entire galaxy, Caramel. Which means you’re one pretty special doggie.”

He doesn’t know why, but he turns to look at you and your side profile makes something in him feel… warm. Blaming the night chill, he presses his smaller form against you. Noticing, you lift and place him in your lap, wrapping the shawl around the both of you, while letting his head peek out to watch the stars.

“You want to know the funniest thing? I’m a common peasant… no family, no money, nothing to my name but my person. I work at a tavern, serving brutes and drunks all day long. All I wanted was my own fairytale ending… like those princesses I see strolling the street markets day after day,” you sigh. “Turns out the King wants me dead… I don’t even know why. Then there’s a magic mirror, a huntsman and a druid. I was all alone before they came to me… did you know that?”

Taehyung watches you, unable to look away. Something akin to guilt grips at his heart. He too, knows the feeling of loneliness. Ever since his parents’ death, he’s been alone. No friends truly cared, no family members wanted to take him in - all he had were servants and those that wanted the throne.

These past days that he’s been with you, he’s seen how you are. You’re hardworking, kind, always looking out for others. Always got a warm smile on your face, even when you’re sad. You try to hide the pain to not be a burden. And himself? He’s nothing but a spoilt brat sitting on the throne, complaining and whining when things don’t go his way.

“And the thing is… I’m scared they’ll all leave me. So while I hate the King for putting me in this situation, I’m also grateful because of him, I met some really, really wonderful friends.” You smile, looking down at the pomeranian.

Your eyes shine with unshed tears.

Taehyung whimpers, leaning up to lick the tears away before he can second guess his actions.

“But most of all, I’m glad I have you, Caramel. You’re… special to me. I don’t know how to explain it, but it’s like you get me. You understand what I’m saying and how I feel. …even though you’re a huge troublemaker,” you tease, voice soft.

Taehyung’s heart doubles in speed.

Even though you didn’t have lips as red as rose, hair as dark as ebony, skin as white as snow… Taehyung finds you, in a puzzling way, perfect. Especially with the way the moonlight shines down on you, basking you in a white, ethereal glow.

“I love you, Caramel. I hope I never lose you,” you admit, squeezing him a little tighter in your embrace.

Taehyung finds he doesn’t care. He hugs you back as much as he can in this form, nuzzling closer to your soothing heartbeat.

He hasn’t felt like this in a long time. No longer lonely and isolated. He feels… happy.

Is Taehyung — the cold, hollow, ice King — falling in love?

You pet him, cuddle him, read stories to him - you even teach him tricks (which he hates, but he does because you smile when he successfully accomplishes one and it makes his tiny heart flutter). Heck, you even talk to him! It’s something Taehyung has missed ever since his parents’ passing and while he tries to push the thought away, he can’t pretend that his little (doggie) heart isn’t thumping for you. Because damn’, it is.

He’s gotten belly rubs and pets; warm, good, homestyle cooking made just for him with love and care. You give him forehead kisses and tell him your deepest wishes and desires, all the while just enjoying his presence even though he doesn’t/can’t say anything back! Yet, you never become frustrated or upset with him. Even when he’s being a ‘bad doggie’.

You genuinely care for him.

He sees the way Jin smirks at him when you get up to fetch another nighttime story and Taehyung growls lowly under his breath. The mirror chuckles and goes back to doing whatever he was doing before being a nosy-eavesdropper.

Taehyung is happy. He hasn’t felt this free in years and he doesn’t want to quite give up the doggy lifestyle just yet.

After all, he still needed to murder you and since that wasn’t really on his agenda anymore, he decided that he would stay just a little bit longer.

At least… until he could figure out why he couldn’t bear to leave you behind as he returned to his kingly duties.

+++

But of course, life is filled with trials and tribulations.

One fateful day, there is a knock at the door. Taehyung is busy sitting in your lap, eating the omelette you’ve cooked for him. Jungkook gets the door and lo and behold, it is Prince Jimin from the neighbouring castle.

Prince Jimin, with his coiffed silvery hair, smoky eyes and pouting, full lips.

The door widens some more and Taehyung is able to make out that there are two other men behind the Prince.

“Hello,” Jimin smiles, all princely and kind. Taehyung would roll his eyes if he could. The snob. “Would it be alright if I come in?”

“Oh - yes, please,” You start, already standing and gently placing Taehyung on the ground. He pouts. How dare you put him down because of this other, snivelling male. He watches as you walk over to Jimin, curtsying as best you can. He also doesn’t miss the way Jimin can’t seem to take his eyes off of you - the way there’s a shade of light pink dusting the Prince’s cheeks. A growl starts in Taehyung’s throat.

“Welcome to our humble abode, Your Highness,” Namjoon greets, bowing. “To what do we owe this pleasure?”

Jimin smiles still as he enters the small cabin, the two men following close behind. “I was just coming to visit you. I have some questions about my garden and was hoping you would be able to give me some advice… though, I dare say, I’ve come upon an even more beautiful treasure.”

Your eyes widen when you notice how the Prince looks at you, his eyes sparkling.

Jungkook clears his throat from beside you and Jimin notices how he’s eyeing the two men behind him. “Ah - yes! This is Yoongi, he is my Royal Advisor.” Said man is roughly around Jimin’s height, dressed in black, but his blazer is covered in an intricate pattern that is similar to the Prince’s. Black hair falls over cat-like eyes and Taehyung feels the bark in him die down, especially when the advisor turns his gaze onto him. It’s as if Yoongi can see right through his disguise.

“This here is Hoseok, my royal guard,” the man on his left, slightly taller, dark hair sweeping across his forehead. His eyes are focused on Jungkook, almost assessing the situation if anything were to break out.

“Would you two cut it out,” Jimin whines after a moment of tense silence. “This is why I didn’t want you accompanying me. It feels like a funeral with you two!”

You blink in surprise. Prince Jimin is handsome, but when he breaks from his serious face, he’s got a pouty, almost childlike glee to him. You chuckle, catching the Prince’s attention. A small smile lights up his face.

“Well, since you’ve come all this way, I suppose I’ll go back to take a look at the gardens,” Namjoon states, already walking towards the carriage waiting outside.

“Would your… friends care to join us,” Jimin wonders, gaze still fixed on yours.

“Sure!”

“Bark!”

Both you and Taehyung speak at the same time and it grabs Jimin’s attention. You watch in alarm at the way Caramel is poised, tense and ready to attack the Prince, despite the size difference.

Bending down, you quickly scoop the pomeranian into your arms. “As long as he can come. He gets fussy when I leave him alone for a long period,” you try to reason, struggling to keep your hold because it looks like he’s about to maul Jimin to pieces.

The Prince chuckles nervously, and while his two companions say nothing more, you notice how Yoongi’s eyes have amusement dancing in them as he watches the dog.

Soon you all set off, Jin, the magic mirror in tow as well.

Jimin’s castle is beautiful, tall, bright and filled with colourful people and decorations. There’s always music and laughter and you find yourself loving the atmosphere.

Namjoon tends to his gardens, while Jungkook and Jin go off to browse the castle grounds and the places outside. You keep Caramel close to your side, worried that he’ll get into even more trouble if you leave him alone.

All seems well. And all would be. You found a handsome, charming Prince; you have a group of wonderful, newfound friends - even Yoongi and Hoseok are quite nice, once you get past the whole serious facade they put up to guard their leader.

It should be a Happy Ever After.

But.

It’s not.

You see, this isn’t what Taehyung wanted. He doesn’t want to see you and Jimin getting along just swell. Laughing over shared jokes, talking and exchanging ideas, likes, dislikes, becoming closer each growing day. Soon, what was supposed to only be a visit almost becomes permanent.

Namjoon grows to love the garden and postpones leaving, despite Taehyung’s constant barking and ankle nipping to get the druid to understand he wants to leave. But Namjoon is far denser than the King and he doesn’t even spare a glance as he starts to avoid the small pomeranian.

Then an idea hits.

A devilish, perfect, evil idea.

Taehyung treks the journey back to the cabin - not that far when you have four legs. He finds the poisonous apple he had hidden behind the shrubs… a little gross looking, but nonetheless edible if he could clean it with some water. Holding the stem in his teeth, he treks back to the castle quickly.

New Plan: Poison Prince Jimin.

Y/N no longer loves him because he’s dead.

Y/N chooses to return home to the cabin in the woods with him.

You and Taehyung live happily ever after.  

The End.

“You’re jealous,” Jin’s teases when he sees Taehyung in his doggy form pacing around your empty bedroom.

You had went to have dinner with the others earlier. Taehyung had feigned sleepiness, so you had tucked him into your bed, pressing a sweet kiss to his head as you left. The moment you were gone, Taehyung had sprung up and tried to get to the poisoned apple underneath your mattress. He didn’t expect Jin to show up, but here he was, watching Taehyung through your new, vanity mirror.

A bark.

“That’s a foul word, even for you, My King,” Jin drawls, arms crossed. They haven’t really spoken that much - not since the Big Fight.

But Jin has a big, soft heart and he can’t stand to watch Taehyung fall apart. So while they haven’t spoken, the older has kept an eye on him to make sure he never went too far with his shenanigans. Now seemed like one of those times.

“What are you going to do - poison Jimin? Y/N won’t like that,” Jin tries to reason, missing the way Taehyung struggles with getting the stem of the apple into his teeth and out from under the bed.

Another bark.

“That’s not a good idea. You’ve already attempted murder, what, a handful of times and each one has ended up badly. Don’t you think this means you, oh, I don’t know - not murder anymore??”

Another bark and a string of growls.

“Pfft. Right back at you,” Jin scoffs. “Taehyung - look. If you love her, like I know you do, just talk to her - I can help you find a spell to turn back into yourself. She’ll love you for you. All you have to do is make a few personality changes, you know - less moody, less bossy, less—“ Jin stops.

As he turned to face the dog, he realized two things: Taehyung is not there. The room is empty.

***

You and Jimin are in the dining room, alone - how fitting.

The Prince is trying to teach you a magic trick involving a string. He’s demonstrating it once more and you’re enraptured by the neat trick. Taehyung hates how his heart is squeezing and running forward, he drops the apple by Jimin’s ankle. Barking once to gather the Prince’s attention.

Jimin looks down, surprise on his face to see your pomeranian beaming up at him, sitting on his hind legs and tail wagging.

“Oh, for me?”

Taehyung’s eyes widen.

It’s your hand that reaches towards the granny smith apple.

That beautiful smile on your face and he can’t — you can’t die!

Without thinking and clearly freaking out, he growls hoping to scare you.

Instead, you frown at the dog, hand closed around the apple and bringing it towards your face. “Caramel, what are you—“

Taehyung does what he can only do in this situation.

He eats the apple.

You watch in shock as your dog begins to whimper as he stares up at you, suddenly brown eyes looking like they were… crying?

Panic squeezes your chest and you drop to your knees, pulling the pomeranian close. “H-hey, what’s wrong?”

Taehyung feels immense pain course through him.

“Get help! Someone get help!” You shout in alarm, acidic tears pricking at your eyes.

Jimin is on his feet, quickly calling for Namjoon and Yoongi.

The doors to the dining room fly open, several people running towards the Prince and you.

Before they can get near you, a bright, blinding flash of light fills the room.

You close your eyes shut tight, keeping the dog securely in your arms.

Just as quick as the light was there, it’s gone.

And in its place, in your arms, is no longer Caramel, your adorable pomeranian - but a man.

Naked, caramel-coloured skin, eyes closed and definitely unconscious.

You stare in shock.

Everyone in the room is deathly quiet, until Jimin breaks the silence.

“Oh my gods… is that — Taehyung?!” All eyes turn to Jimin, including yours.

Wait, as in King Taehyung - the man who ordered Huntsman Jungkook to murder you almost a month ago?!

Jin and Jungkook are standing there, watching in horror because no one was supposed to find out about Taehyung’s disguise and also - why isn’t he moving?!

“He ate the apple,” you choke out, suddenly aware and connecting all the dots. “He ate the apple and now he’s not moving!”

Yoongi swiftly kneels beside you, placing a gentle hand on your shoulder. “Let me see him.” You want to refuse, want to argue that they can’t touch him - not when you don’t even know what to do yourself. But the advisor gives you a reassuring squeeze and you hesitantly let Caramel — Taehyung go.

***

A wave of exhaustion hits you as you wait impatiently outside the royal infirmary.

Yoongi is also a trained physician, especially in ancient magic, much like Namjoon, and the two have not left the room since they took Taehyung into it.

You feel your nerves going as you sit there, waiting for something.

“Y/N.” Looking up, you see Jungkook looking worriedly at you.

Hoseok has been leaning against the wall to the infirmary, stationary and quiet ever since Jimin went in with Jin. Jungkook had offered to stay behind to comfort you, worried about how you were reacting to the sudden events.

“He’s - he’s really the King? The same King who hired you to kill me,” you ask, voice surprisingly clear.

Jungkook winces. “Yes… he, well, I grew up with him. His parents took me in from the orphanage. Hoped they could have me as Taehyung’s friend, but after their deaths, Taehyung pushed me away. Trained me to become his personal assassin - he was always paranoid everyone was against him,” Jungkook explains.

Groaning, you bury your face into your hands. “Why is my life so messed up?” You mumble. You miss the way Hoseok and Jungkook exchange an empathetic glance.

The door to the infirmary opens and you immediately look up. Jimin’s half-standing out of the door, handing something to Hoseok as he exchanges words quietly with his guard. The Prince turns to you, a somber expression on his face before he apologetically closes the door once more, shutting you out.

“My Lady,” Hoseok begins, treading lightly as he turns towards you.

You sit up. Beside you, Jungkook is tensed, worried about what Hoseok might do.

“His Majesty says the warlock would like to exchange some words with you.”

Hoseok hands you the small compact mirror and you thank him. Nodding, he goes back to his post, back turned to you as he waits silently.

Jin’s face appears in the mirror and he looks just as exhausted as you. “Y/N, I think… you have a lot of questions. Please, I’ll try to answer whatever you ask me.”

“Jin - just what the hell is going on,” you hiss, tears pricking at your eyes. “You better not lie to me anymore or I swear I’ll throw you into the dumpster!”

The man in the mirror feels immense guilt at seeing you so sad.

He finally tells you.

Jin tells you how from the beginning he was a renowned warlock, powerful and ancient. He grew cocky and as a punishment, a group of supernatural beings got together and cast a curse over him. He was to be locked inside the mirror that hung in Taehyung’s castle until true love came along to set him free. Even Namjoon, who was almost as old as Jin, couldn’t set him free with his magic. From there, years passed and Taehyung came along. The two became like brothers and soon, Jungkook joined the warlock’s world.

When Taehyung’s family passed, everything changed. Taehyung changed. He shut everyone out, closed his heart and became an ice cold King. Jin wanted to break through the mask, wanted to have the goofy, immature Prince back that he once knew. So he told a lie which spiralled out of control and brought them to where they are now.

You tear your eyes away from the image Jin has created in the mirror for you. The castle — Taehyung’s castle — is nothing like Jimin’s.

It’s gloomy, the servants in the image look monotonous and dreary, even the castle is sparse and filled with only decorations for the sake of filling empty spaces. Nothing is homey about Taehyung’s kingdom. You can’t help but feel bad for him… even after everything Jin has told you.

“I-is there a cure? To wake him up,” you ask.

“There is, but I don’t think Taehyung will ever wake up,” Jin answers sadly, his head hanging.

“What is it? Maybe I can help.”

“It’s True Love’s Kiss,” the warlock responds, frowning. “Y/N, no one has ever loved Taehyung that way; no one but his parents. How can you possibly wake him up? Even I - his longtime companion feel anger when I think of all the mess he’s caused.”

You quickly stand, startling Jungkook. “Even if we feel anger, it doesn’t mean we don’t love him. I mean - you, you love him. So why don’t we try? I’m sure after all this time, you or Jungkook must feel something for the King.”

The huntsman makes a face. “I definitely am not kissing him. I know for a fact I don’t love him like that.”

“…could you?” Your eyes widen at Jin’s request. “He - he’s spent so much time with you as Caramel! Even if his name was never known to you, you must’ve felt something for all the time you spent together. Even if it’s just warmth. He clearly feels something for you - I mean,” Jin babbles.

You hate Taehyung.

He made you go on the run, almost get murdered by Jungkook, live in a cabin for fear of him finding out you were still alive - and it turns out, he disguised himself as your adorable pomeranian and tried to kill Jimin with a poisoned apple after he got jealous of your divided attention! Logically, it made sense why you hated the man. He was selfish and cruel and a narcissistic psychopath, you reasoned with yourself.

Even if he listened to you when you spoke and read to him, nuzzled into your side when you were sad that you could never return to normalcy.

Followed you no matter where you went, even if it was dangerous. Fought off stray wolves during your treks to find more food regardless of the size difference…

Played and did all the tricks you taught him - even though you now know he wasn’t a regular dog but the King of the Land! He still went out of his way to make you happy, when all he had to do was walk back to his castle and go back to his life.

He did whatever he could to make you smile.

Sighing, you give in.

Even if you are angry and you have every right to be, Taehyung is a straight up asshole - you want to save him. You want to save him because it just felt like the right thing to do and you couldn’t bear to see Taehyung die alone…

Pushing open the door to the infirmary, you enter to find Yoongi and Namjoon conversing over a large book. Jimin is sitting by Taehyung’s side, watching the King with a fond expression.

“Y/N,” Jimin greets, immediately standing when he sees you. “Is everything alright?”

“I know what will wake up,” you begin, exchanging a look with Jin. The older man nods gratefully. “It’s True Love’s Kiss.”

Jimin blanches visibly. “Y-you’re going to kiss him?”

“One of us has to,” you grumble, feeling your cheeks grow hot. “Are you?”

Jimin quickly shakes his head.

Huffing, you push him aside as you walk up to Taehyung’s bed. The male looks… peaceful. Almost. His eyes are closed and you can see just how long his eyelashes are. You also notice the moles that decorate his caramel skin. One on his nose and one on his bottom lip.

“Are you sure, Y/N? You don’t have to do this,” Jimin begins, thinking you’re second guessing your actions.

“N-no, it’s fine. I’m just. You’re all watching me work a miracle, it’s unnerving.”

“Take your time,” Namjoon offers, a kind smile on his face.

Nodding, you take a deep breath. Here goes something.

Leaning over, you squeeze your eyes shut and kiss Taehyung - a quick peck on the lips.

Pulling back quickly, you watch, waiting for the man to sit up.

Nothing happens.

Behind you, you hear Hoseok clear his throat. “…maybe it takes a moment,” he shrugs, scratching the back of his neck.

A moment passes and still nothing. Your eyes widen. It didn’t work! Maybe you aren’t Taehyung’s true love after all!

You turn, facing Jin with panic. “It should work, you’re the only one that should be able to wake him,” Jin states, more to himself before quickly disappearing after his words.

Great. Jin just left.

“Maybe you’re not kissing him hard enough?” Jimin wonders.

You like Jimin. Really, you do - but his comment irks you more than you let on. “Why don’t you trying kissing him then,” you hiss.

Jimin makes a disgusted face, crossing his arms. “No, no, I rather not. He’s a real drag.”

“You know, I saw something like this once. It was in a tale,” Yoongi begins almost conspiratorially.

Namjoon nods sagely. “Yes, I believe I do know that tale. The Princess needed a scale from a mere folk’s fin to wake her lover up.”

Jimin and Hoseok are now going to where Jungkook is standing by the window, all three conversing quietly.

You look around, noticing how everyone is muttering amongst themselves, trying to find a solution now that you clearly didn’t work.

The conversation around you begins to get on your nerves. They’re talking as if you were some trial that wasn’t successful in a laboratory!

Turning back to face Taehyung with a sense of newfound gusto, you lean down again. “You want true love’s kiss, fine.”

Grabbing Taehyung’s face, you press your lips to his more insistently now.

You try to ignore how soft his lips feel even though he’s clearly not had moisturizer or lip ointment during his time as a dog. That and he smells heavenly. Seriously, was it just a royalty thing??

Then — something just clicks.

It’s like time has stopped and you’re flying because suddenly, you feel hands on your face and the lips on yours begin to move, deepening the kiss. You groan, unable to stop yourself. The taste is addicting, making you yearn and want more.

Your fingers find their way into soft hair and you’re tugging enough to earn a hiss from the man below. He licks at your lips, asking for entrance and you almost grant it - until your mind reels you back to the present and where you are.

You pull away, mortified at what has happened.

“Y-you’re up?” you ask, unable to hide the breathlessness to your voice.

Taehyung is definitely and visibly up. His dark eyes are fixed on you, lips swollen and thoroughly kissed and his hair is a mess thanks to your wandering hands.

Remembering where you both are, he clears his throat, turning his gaze upwards to face the ceiling. “Uh, yeah. You - you kissed me?”

You nod. “To you know, break the spell of your poison apple!”

“Right,” Taehyung immediately replies, red dusting his cheeks. “Right. T-thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

The entire room is quiet. Awkward silence filters the atmosphere.

“I should go,” you swallow, feeling embarrassed at how the situation has unfolded.

Taehyung doesn’t ask you to stay and you don’t miss the way your heart squeezes at that. You notice the rest of the room just watching you two interact with bated breath - even Jin is back from wherever he disappeared off to.

“Excuse me,” you quickly curtsy to Jimin, before you’re fleeing from the room.

…unfortunately this is how our two lover’s story ends.

King Taehyung and Y/N go their separate ways. Taehyung goes back to his castle with Jungkook and Jin after thanking Prince Jimin for letting him stay. Namjoon chooses to accompany Taehyung back, especially after the King offers the druid position as a royal advisor. Jimin and Taehyung shake on it, promising to meet outside of royal affairs to become better acquainted again - after all, they were the best of friends when they were both just young boys. Yoongi and Hoseok continue on with their lives, though Taehyung can’t help but flush every time Yoongi meets his gaze. It’s like the advisor knows something Taehyung doesn’t (or doesn’t want to acknowledge anyways).

You go back home, declining Jimin’s request to stay by his side. You like the Prince, he’s handsome, charming, funny and he’s what every singleton in the Land of Fairytales is after - but he’s not for you. You thank him for everything he’s done and wish him the best in finding a better lover. Jimin doesn’t pressure you and you think it’s because he too realizes your heart never belonged to him in the first place.

Days pass and you’re back on track again for normalcy and the mundane. Though, you don’t complain as much as you used to. You quit the tavern upon returning, deciding to try your hand at a different occupation. You just know there’s something out there waiting for you - something great and wonderful and you’re going to find it on your own.

In his castle, Taehyung is miserable. Not because of his lifestyle. No, he’s changed things around a bit - new decorations, new guidelines, he even smiles a bit more to his workers and servants than he had previously. The magic spell book is placed back in its storage spot and he’s managed to recover as best he can the friendships with Jungkook and Jin.

But he’s unhappy. He doesn’t ask Jin who’s the fairest of them all anymore - it no longer fancies him to know and he honestly doesn’t even care anymore about that.

“You look awful,” Jin voices one afternoon on a sunny day. Both, he and Taehyung are watching as Namjoon teaches Jungkook basic, forestry magic. It’s endearing to see how the younger quickly fawns over the druid, almost heart-eyed.

“I haven’t slept well,” Taehyung lies.

“Because you miss her?”

A grunt is all the warlock gets in response. “You should find her. She’s waiting for you, too, you know.”

“What, you’ve been stalking her?”

“No. We still talk, even if you no longer bother to reach out. She’s a good one… pure and kind-hearted. Tougher than you think,” Jin chuckles.

“I know she’s tough, I just don’t want her feeling pressured to be with me because of what we went through. Trauma isn’t meant to create happiness.”

Not for the first time since their return, Jin is impressed. Taehyung has definitely matured quite a bit.

“I don’t think it’s trauma. She would’ve run for the hills if she hated you. Clearly - she doesn’t.”

Taehyung is quiet, mulling over the elder’s words.

“Do you love her?”

“Yes,” Taehyung responds without hesitation. “So much that it hurts without her here. I just…” Taehyung sighs. “I just want to be with her.”

“Then go!” Jin practically shouts. “What are you waiting for?! No one is going to just drop her into your lap because you want her - you have to go get her yourself! Stop being a coward and go to her,” Jin wants to shake the foolish King.

Looking out at the land before him, Taehyung realizes he really doesn’t care about all of this. If you’re not by his side, he doesn’t want any of it - none of the riches or the fame. He wants your kindness and your smiles. He wants you reading him bedtime stories, expressing your wishes and deepest thoughts with him. Side by side, watching the stars like you had back at the cabin. Just the two of you.

“But I cannot do that to her,” he murmurs at last, shoulders drooping. “She wants a life for herself. If I profess my love to her and keep her here in the kingdom, she’ll never have the adventures and journeys she’s craving.”

Jin scoffs. Of all the time to be a good man, King Taehyung chooses now.

Suddenly, a wickedly good idea sparks into Jin’s mind!

Why didn’t he think of it before? This way, both the King and Y/N get their wishes to come true!

Grinning gleefully, he turns to face Taehyung - the younger looking at Jin skeptically.

“Why are you smiling like that? It is rather… unsettling,” he murmurs, feeling the hair on the back of his neck stand.

“Oh, Your Majesty - I have just the thing for you.”

+++

You sigh for the umpteenth time that day.

You had quit your job at the tavern. Which means, no more money coming into your pockets, despite how little the wage already was. Now you have nothing coming in anymore, period.

Your supposed home is a tiny, broom closet. You’ve lost contact with all your former friends, minus Jin. The warlock still pops in from time to time to check on things. You’re grateful for the bond you two have, even though you’re certain it’s because Jin is still guilty of how he practically ruined your life.

When you returned back ‘home,’ you were certain you were going to take your life into your own hands. Adventures! Journeys! You wanted to visit the Isle of the Mere, see the North Kingdom — maybe take a yearlong cruise!

Taehyung had given you a hefty sum of money and shiny treasures for his gratitude to you for saving him countless times. Not that you wanted or needed it. If anything, it hurt you more knowing the King rewarded you with things for The Kiss.

Ah. The kiss… you couldn’t lie and say it didn’t affect you at all. Because, oh boy, it did.

After countless nights of tossing and turning, of having the man invade every single one of your thoughts throughout the day, you couldn’t help but finally take some serious self-reflection. You love(?) Kim Taehyung.

Even though he’s cocky, insane and a tad murderous — you miss him. You miss him listening to you when you told him your thoughts and feelings. You miss how comfortable you felt watching the stars in Namjoon’s backyard. You miss the way he went out of his way to make you happy, even in the form of a small pomeranian dog.

You’re so lost in your thoughts that you don’t realize you’ve stopped walking now, having arrived back at the cabin in the woods once more. Namjoon no longer lives here, having moved to Taehyung’s castle. You frown, it is truly uninhabited now.

Moving past the gate, you approach the front door, memories rushing back to you. Another sigh leaves you. You miss everyone. You miss the times you spent with them. No matter how trivial it might seem to them, it meant something special to you.

Suddenly, the neigh of a horse grabs your attention. Twirling around, you stare in shock at seeing a figure cloaked in deep blue robes on a magnificent stallion.

It’s Taehyung. You recognize that face a mile away. His hair is different, no longer the curly black, but now a bright, startling blue that matches his robes. He’s eyes widen when he notices you, quickly pulling his horse to a stop.

“Y-Y/N?” he asks, almost like he’s afraid he’s hallucinating.

“Hi,” you greet, soft and unsure.

“What are you doing here,” he wonders. “N-not that you’re not allowed here! You’re always allowed here - whenever you want…” he begins to trail off, tips of his ears turning red.

Your lips twitch. How cute.

“I was daydreaming and ended up back here,” you admit.

“You were,” he asks, surprised.

You nod. “May I ask what his Majesty is doing here? There are no royal guards… no druid, definitely no huntsman.” You can’t help the teasing lilt from lacing your tone.

Catching the sarcastic tint, Taehyung chuckles lowly, getting off his horse and walking closer to the front gate. “Well… I’m not stalking you if that’s what you’re worried about. I don’t… I don’t want you dead anymore — like, at all.”

You bite your bottom lip, unable to keep the smile at bay.

Taking your silence as discomfort, he starts rambling. “Jin told me to come visit the cabin. He said there was something I needed to pick up here - clearly, he was putting me up to something. Not that I’m not happy to see you, because I am! After all, you’re my saviour and I don’t - I don’t mean to make you uncomfortable at all…”

You walk towards him, stopping just shortly in front of him, the small gate dividing you two.

“I’m not uncomfortable, Your Grace. In fact,” you give him a small, but genuine smile. “I’m really happy to see you again. Even if you know, you’re not Caramel anymore.”

The blunette looks at you, unable to stop himself as he reaches out, hesitantly letting his fingers hover over your cheek. Noticing how unsure he is, you reach up, enveloping his large hand with yours, pressing the feel of his fingertips against the smooth expanse of your cheek. Your eyelids flutter at the touch, a content sigh leaving you.

“I’ll always be Caramel to you,” he whispers, like he’s afraid the moment will be ruined.

You watch him, gaze resting on his soft lips before moving up to his startling, electric gaze. By the gods. Jin was definitely right about Taehyung being the fairest of them all. Your heart skips a beat at the way he’s watching you. How you crave to taste him again.

As if sensing your inner thoughts, His Majesty moves closer to you, his free hand resting shyly on your upper arm and drawing you closer. “I’ve missed you,” he admits, a breath away from your lips.

Your heart thunders in your chest, loud and erratically. “I’ve missed you, too,” you murmur, eyes half-lidded as you look back at him.

“Can I…?”

You nod, tilting your head and enjoying just how warm his body heat is against yours.

A few strands of blue locks tickle your forehead and your cheek, but you don’t care - all that matters is the feel of Taehyung’s lips against your own.

So close… so cl—

“Ahem!”

The sound springs both you and Taehyung apart, effectively ruining the mood.

“Sorry, was I interrupting?” Jin’s voice echoes from between you two.

You watch as Taehyung shoots you an apologetic smile, stuffing his hands into his robes, rummaging around before pulling out a small, compact mirror.

“Hi, Y/N,” Jin chirps, as if he didn’t just ruin a beautiful moment between you and the King. You wave, unable to keep the smile from your face. It’s nice to see Jin again - even though the warlock calls you daily.

“So,” Jin sing-songs, “I come bearing good news! I’ve spoken with Taehyung - er, His Majesty, and he has agreed to have you as his royal noblewoman. You are his Saviour, after all!”

“Me?” You question, taken aback.

“I did?” Taehyung blurts out.

You turn to face the blue-haired man, but he looks just as surprised as you. Jin shoots Taehyung a dirty look and you watch as the the King hastily excuses himself, spinning and exchanging, quiet, angry grunts with the mirror warlock.

“You didn’t tell me—“

“Because you would’ve backed out!”

“I’m your King…!”

“King, my ass—“

“Excuse me, I’m sorry to interrupt, but it’s alright. I don’t want or need to be a noblewoman. I’m sure Jin is just being helpful, but really, it puts unnecessary burden on His Majesty and I couldn’t do that,” you bow, quickly apologizing.

“Y/N, please don’t. No need to address me so formally. I… I would love for you to be a noblewoman of my court. In fact,” Taehyung blushes. “I would love it if you would consider being my right hand, alongside Namjoon as royal advisor. You have… eye-opening insight into things that I don’t understand. I value that - and you, in my life.”

You stare, eyes wide as saucers.

“I-if you want!” Taehyung quickly tacks on, hoping he doesn’t sound desperate. “It’s entirely your choice. Don’t feel forced to do anything!”

Bringing your hand to your mouth, you bite back a laugh. He’s too cute for his own good.

“Well… I love to, Your Majesty.”

A look of loving awe is on his face. “Really?”

“Really.”

Taehyung can’t keep the grin from adorning his handsome features as you two ride back to his castle.

+++

Life with Taehyung is beautiful.

The two of you danced around another for a few more months. He never brought up the kiss and neither did you. You both shared knowing glances and shy smiles, the sexual tension impalpable, but neither of you acted on it. It grew to a point that even Jin was beginning to complain about you two making lovey-dovey eyes at one another while having breakfast.

Still, no one could say that they didn’t notice the way Taehyung’s eyes lit up when you entered the room. Or how your smile was so bright and genuine when you saw him in passing or when you two finally sat down for dinner together.

It was an unspoken bond you two shared, a bubble that only you two lived together in.

Gone were the rags and now you dressed in riches each day. Sometimes you found it stuffy: the corset, the bellowing dresses - they just weren’t for you.

Of course, Taehyung noticed. And when he did, he went out of his way to have custom tailored pieces of clothing for you. Some were pants, others were dresses that didn’t have as many layers and poofiness to it.

Even though he wasn’t your Caramel anymore, he remained as by your side as ever.

You two went on adventures and journeys together, sometimes to other royal functions and others to more common events. Nonetheless, you two were well known throughout the land as inseparable - constantly glued to one another.

After dancing around one another for what felt like centuries, you and Taehyung were together in the library one special afternoon — very much alone and very much aware of that.

It was rather quiet at first. You trying to read a book, while Taehyung browsed through numerous legal documents Namjoon and Jungkook gathered from Jimin’s latest visit.

A frustrated groan and the book you were reading was forgotten. “Need some help, Tae?”

Ever since you two became closer, Taehyung no longer wanted to hear ‘His Majesty’ falling from your lips. He treated you as an equal to him and here you were, even giving him a personal nickname that you only used in private.

“Please. These documents are going to be the death of me,” he grumbles, his sleeves rolled up to his elbows.

Hiding your smile, you pull up a seat beside him, leafing through the many aged scrolls. “Wow, Yoongi wasn’t kidding when he said we would be busy…”

“Not the kind of busy, I want to be,” you hear the blue-haired man complain under his breath.

You two work in silence despite the ever growing tension. Hours pass by and you two are still nowhere near done. You notice the stars are beginning to light the sky outside the window, the lantern dimming with the wax melting.

Moaning, you stretch, arms lifted above your head, your body taunt for just a split moment. You miss the way Taehyung’s mouth waters at the sight of slightly exposed skin - your navel. He draws his gaze away quickly, leaning forward to reach another document.

Unfortunately (read, fortunately), you’re also reaching for the same scroll. You tug, just as he pulls.

You go flying forward from the unexpected strength and Taehyung drops the scroll, immediately wrapping his arms around you to keep you from falling.

This close, you’re able to see just how long his lashes are. Wow. You blush.

“S-sorry,” you murmur, leaning up, your hands resting on his firm (has he been working out?) chest. You draw your gaze away from what may lay beneath the silken robes, eyes meeting his.

It’s quiet, save for the occasional drip of melting candle wax and the quiet creaks of the castle walls.

Taehyung can’t help the way his heart beats. You look breathtakingly beautiful in the dim lighting, similar to how you looked on the cabin porch all those months ago.

It’s now or never, he thinks. Fuck it—

“I want you.” Taehyung whispers, worried he’ll scare you away.

You draw back just slightly, drinking in his gaze. There’s not a single sign of hesitation or lie in his warm, brown eyes.  

“As do I,” you smile, sliding your hand up to gently cup his cheek.

He hums, tension bleeding out of his body at your response. He melts into your touch much in the same way his dog counterpart had many moons ago. “I love you, Y/N,” he breathes.

“I love you,” you confess, saying it out loud for the first time in your life. Taehyung’s eyes twinkle in the most beautiful way and it makes you feel like you’re floating on air.

“Let’s make a deal then,” you begin, leaning forward to press your forehead against his. “I’ll call a truce. Let you be known as the fairest of them all, as long as you promise to never try to murder me again.” You’re teasing him, playfully giggling.

You no longer hold any grudges and you’ve done nothing but let Taehyung know this ever since you’ve agreed to stay and live with him. Now, though, you know he finally hears and believes you.

Taehyung can’t help the smile that takes over. It’s boxy and youthful, lighting up his face in a boyish way and you love this expression on him more than anything. “Sure. And…” he wraps an arm tightly around your waist, pulling you flush against him. “If you still love me in one year, we’ll get married.”

You scoff, but there isn’t any heat to your words. “What makes you think I’ll agree to that?”

“Because I love you and you love me, if I remember correctly,” he teases cheekily. You chuckle, melting into his embrace.

“Okay,” you whisper, agreeing to so much more.

“Okay?” he asks, just to make sure.

“Okay — yes. I’ll marry you, if you still love me in one year,” you giggle, agreeing.

Taehyung laughs and it is the single, most beautiful sound you’ve heard in all your life. You want to hear more of it and you want to be the reason for it even more.

“Now… before you let me officially court you, we need to finish these dreadful documents. And find out how to undo the curse on Jin. After all, we won’t hear the end of it if he’s not physically at the wedding!”

You nod, beaming, but you can’t help the way your heart flutters with how close Taehyung is beside you. “If you turn into a dog again, fair warning, I’m keeping you that way. Far cuter,” you tease.

Taehyung chuckles, “but then I can’t do this.”

Blinking, you draw back slightly. “Do what?”

He gives you a moment to reconsider, but you tilt your face and Taehyung leans in and presses a chaste kiss to your lips.

“Do it again,” you whisper breathlessly, grip tightening on him.

Smiling, your lover leans down again. “As you wish, My Lady.”

You meet him halfway, your lips molding perfectly against his.

And so, as they say, in the Land of Fairytales…

Y/N and Taehyung lived Happily Ever After.

_______________________________________________

***Epilogue***

“Now that we’re married, we need to have an heir,” your husband logically reasons.

You laugh, turning to face him. You two have been recently wed and are now on your honeymoon.

All was well within the Land of Fairytales.

Jin was now a physical warlock again, no longer trapped inside the mirror. Said mirror was still in the throne room, though it now was kept as decoration and nostalgic memory more than anything else. He had decided to stay with you and Taehyung after he was set free, working alongside your husband as his close confidante and as Jin puts it, your personal ‘civilian consultant’. This meant that Jin would come and go as he pleases from the castle walls, blending in with everyone to get the latest details in case anything were to go awry for Taehyung or Jimin. How he got out of the mirror though… that is a tale for another time.

Now, onto the others: Jimin is happily running both Kingdoms while you and Taehyung are away. There’s a rumour floating around that he has eyes set on someone who’s just as stunning and kind-hearted as he. Jungkook and Hoseok remain the ever loyal, royal bodyguards. Though Hoseok smiles a lot more now that he’s got a brother in arms that he can trust to watch his back. Yoongi and Namjoon continue their royal advisor duties. In their spare time, along with Jin, the trio are browsing through ancient texts, learning more about the world of Magic and their endless properties.

Thus it leaves you and your husband. Married after a year of kisses, tears (good and bad), stargazing, browsing through magic texts, adventuring together to neighbouring kingdoms and worlds, and so much more. Together you’ve done it all and together you’ll continue to do it.

“Right now?” you tease, rubbing scented body oil onto your skin.

Taehyung watches you from his spot on your shared bed. He’s leaning down on his side and facing you, his eyes transfixed on you like a predator.

“All is well in the Kingdoms… we should have an heir,” Taehyung shrugs, trying to appear nonchalant.

“I dare say, you are just a horny dog,” you laugh, standing and knowing Taehyung is watching the way your silk robes fall around you, accentuating your curves for his eyes to feast upon.

“Is that new,” he wonders, sitting up to move towards the edge of the bed and reaching for you.

You hum, letting him pull you close so that his face rests happily against your chest.

“I bought it during our visit to the Fae Queen.”

Your husband makes a face and you laugh softly at that. “I didn’t like her.”

“Oh? She certainly took a liking to you. Heard all about how beautiful you are,” you continue to tease.

Taehyung huffs, wrapping his arms around your waist and pulling you flush against him. “Don’t care,” he mumbles, listening to your heartbeat in your chest. “You are far more beautiful.”

“I love you,” you murmur, running your fingers through his hair gently.

“And I,” he begins, drawing back and pulling you down onto the bed. You gasp, falling forward. Catching yourself, you caging him between you, your arms and legs on either side of him. “I absolutely love you,” he purrs, eyes flashing.

You lean down and he meets you halfway. You both kiss, softly at first, but soon it becomes more passionate and heated with every second that passed.

His fingers are tugging at the silken knot of your robe, undoing it quickly and you draw back just enough, lips never leaving his. You slide the robe off of you, letting it pool around your waist. Taehyung tugs it off, the cloth discarded somewhere in the room.

His tongue licks at your lips for entrance and you more than eagerly grant him access. He sighs into your mouth, one hand cradling your back while the other is gripping at your exposed thigh.

“So beautiful,” he murmurs, voice thick with lust.

“As are you, my Love,” you purr, pleasure seeping through you. You grind down ever so gently and he hisses, grip tightening on you. He’s hard now and you feel wetness pool into your centre at the stimulation.

The next moment, you’re pinned onto the bed, his lithe form above yours. “Fuck,” he grunts, eyes zeroing in on the lacy underwear you had chosen to wear to bed. “For me?” he wonders in awe.

You nod, biting on your bottom lip to hold back the whimper as his index finger drags down your cloth covered slit.

Smirking, he leans down and presses a quick kiss to your lips. “Use your words, sweetheart. You know how I enjoy our chats.”

Seeing you roll your eyes, he laughs.

Reaching a hand down, he cups your breast as you had forgone a bra tonight, rolling the nipple beneath his thumb and groaning when you gasp. Bringing his face closer, his lips wrap around your nipple, sucking it into his mouth greedily. His tongue is hot and wet, fingers coming up to pinch the other one.

You gasp, head thrown back, fingers threading through his hair in delight. Taehyung has a very talented mouth.

He moves away, bringing his lips to your exposed throat, sucking and pressing wet, open kisses against your skin. “Tell me what you want,” he whispers hungrily.

Not one to let your husband have the reigns just yet, you lean back onto your elbows, spreading your legs a bit more. You watch the way Taehyung’s eyes darken and practically salivate when he notices how soaked your panties are.

“I want your tongue in my pussy,” you taunt. “Fucking me with it until I cum.”

“Yes,” he growls.

His hand immediately flies forward, one to keep your thigh apart and the other slipping underneath the red lace. You hiss when you feel his nail scrape slightly, just enough to tease you. Watching your reaction, he smirks before he sinks one finger into you. You gasp loudly, body arching in delight at the way he stretches you. Hell — he’s good at this too.

The sight is delicious. Taehyung’s whole hand inside your panties, stretching the fabric and bulging it while he fingers your wet, clenching hole.

He finger fucks you until your grinding down, a gasp leaving your lips, eyes squeezed shut. You look so beautiful, your own fingers gripping the bedsheets to hold onto something as Taehyung makes you fall apart.

“Tae - I asked for you mouth,” you whimper, eyes half-lidded as you gaze back at him, pleasure coursing through you.

“Is that so,” he teases, a lazy smirk on his handsome face.

God, how you hate and love that smirk all at the same time.

“Taehyung,” you beg.

It’s on deaf ears because he presses two fingers next, the burn making your head spin with want. He knows just how you like that stretch, the burn that soon turns to immense pleasure.

Without warning, he removes his fingers and spreads your thighs with ease. You gasp as he dives in like a starved man. The lace underwear is lifted to the side as his mouth is on you within a moment, sucking your folds. The lewd sounds that echo in the room are embarrassing and you bring an arm up to cover your face. Your husband is enjoying himself a little too much, groaning at your taste. He watches you, watches the way you writhe in pleasure.

“Look at me,” he warns authoritatively, eyes flashing, one hand slapping your thigh. You quickly pull your arm away, eyes meeting his. They’re like molten lava, burning you to the very core.

You watch him, watch the way he devours you like you are his last meal. You can’t help yourself, the gasps and whimpers of pleasure leaving you as you ever so gently grind down on his face, rubbing your pussy deliciously against his nose and mouth. Your juices are soaking his chin and yet, you want so much more. Sensing it’s not enough, he brings his fingers back to your core, teasing your clit before sinking them inside you along with his talented tongue. The sounds you make are making him harder than he’d like to admit, gingerly rutting himself into the bed for some relief.

“T-Tae,” you gasp, fingers finding his hair and tugging. “Ah — I’m c-cum—,” you gasp, eyes squeezed shut. The words aren’t even fully out of your mouth before you’re pushed off the edge, coming hard. Taehyung’s efforts doubling as he keeps you against his tongue, working you through your intense orgasm.

Your husband keeps his rhythm up, until your fingers begin to gently nudge him off of you. Finally pulling away, he smirks at you, bringing his soiled fingers to his lips and popping them into his mouth. You feel your stomach stir in delight at the way his eyes roll to the back of his head, sucking your juices off, the lewd scene making you groan in pleasure at the sight.

“You pervert,” you grumble, no bite to your words as you wrap a hand on the back of his neck, pulling him in for a kiss. The kiss is anything but innocent, tongues battling for dominance as you taste yourself on him.

“Want you,” you pout, pulling away. There’s a string of saliva connecting the two of you and you bite back a giggle at the way his eyes darken. Not waiting another moment, you tug his pants down, eyes feasting on the delicious sight before you.

Taehyung is hard.

His cock is big and when you reach out to wrap your hand around him, he’s hard and heavy in your grip. You moan at the sight of precum on his tip. Bending, you bring your mouth to him. You lick at the slit, earning a hiss from your lover, his eyes half-lidded as he watches you press kittenish licks here and there, before sticking your tongue out and sliding from tip to top. You envelope your mouth around one of his balls, sucking obscenely and using your hand to jerk off his hard cock simultaneously.  His taste is something you can’t live without, you realize not for the first time.

You release him, popping off lewdly as you continue to suck on his cock, eyes fluttering close at the salty taste. You want to take him fully into your mouth — have him hold you down as you deepthroat and choke on his cock — have him facefuck you until you’re crying, but his fingers find their way into your hair, curling into a fist and tugging you up and off of him.

“Next time,” he growls, voice hard. “Right now, I need to be inside you.”

You gaze up at him, unable to believe this is the same man that once hated you and in turn, accidentally turned into your adorable pomeranian stray. Now he’s your most beloved, your cherished half to the very end.

“I love you,” you murmur, unable to stop the words from leaving you.

His gaze softens and he brings you close, pressing a warm, soft kiss to your lips. “I love you more,” he hums, lips leaving yours to trail down your throat. “Lay back,” he groans, leaning back on his heels as he languidly strokes his hardened length. You’re entranced by the sight, but his words have you scrambling to obey.

Not wasting another moment, you lay back against the pillows, easily and lewdly spreading your legs for your husband after slipping your panties off and dropping them to the side. His gaze is sinful as he watches you, dark fringe hanging over his eyes.

You can see the way he’s straining to hold himself back. A faint smirk ghosts your lips, purposely tilting your head back, your free hand trailing your index finger over your inner thigh, inching closer to your swollen core. You are completely naked before him and Taehyung feels his breath hitch.

“You brat,” he chuckles breathlessly.

He moves towards you and you grab at his arms, pulling him against you. Using your hand, you take his cock into your grasp, moving it closer towards your centre. You both watch as you push his head into your entrance. Moans leave both of you as he sinks into you completely, filling you so fucking perfectly.

“Teach me a lesson,” you purr, licking a strip along his exposed neck, trailing your lips upwards until you’re enveloping his ear in a teasing suck.

Taehyung hisses and before you know it, he’s pulled out of you with you suddenly flipped onto your front — hands and knees.

A thrill shoots up your spine at the dominating aura rolling off your lover. Despite his rough manhandling, you smile to yourself when you feel his breath ghost behind your ear, one hand smoothing down your spine lovingly. “Is this alright, sweetheart?”

“Yes,” you breathe, arching your back into his touch.

Taehyung moans and you feel him enter you in this position, hitting a whole new level of ecstasy. Your eyes flutter shut as you grip at the bedsheets, arching and pressing yourself until he’s fully seated inside you.

He chuckles at the way you give in to him, pulling back and making you writhe in pleasure at the way his thick cock hits your deepest parts. Each push and pull against your walls making you gasp in pleasure.

Your husband draws back just enough to spread your ass cheeks, watching the way his length sinks back into you and he groans — the perv, you think, unable to keep yourself from clenching at the thought. The fact that he’s getting off to this as much as you are — by the gods, you love this man.

Taehyung grabs a fistful of your hair, tugging you up so that your back is arched and pressed firmly against his chest. He smirks against your ear, pounding into you with a harsher rhythm now. “Fuck, look at you,” he teases, but his voice is breathless and he’s having trouble trying to keep himself together with how good you feel.

He’s panting into your ear like an animal in heat, one hand now wrapped securely around your throat, the other on your hip in a bruising grip. You laugh breathlessly, head thrown back and eyes closed — you just know the marks will be beautiful tomorrow morning.

“Tae—,” you whimper, moving in tandem with him. You feel just how much he throbs inside you, his cock wants release — you know his end is near, too. You chase your own high, your hips undulating and moans leaving your throat — fuck, you feel so good right now.

Noticing the lacy red underwear that you had discarded aside earlier, you reach for them and beam in triumph when your fingers enclose around the soft material. Balling it in your hand, you tilt your head back to see him biting on his bottom lip, thrusts becoming sloppier as he gets closer to his end.

Smirking, you shove the lacy material into his mouth, keeping your hand enclosed so that he can’t spit your panties out.

Taehyung’s eyes widen at the sudden onslaught, dark orbs watching you with unrestrained lust. He hisses something, it’s garbled but you can make out an expletive and your name.

His hand leaves your hip, finding your clit and begins rubbing furiously with two, slender digits. You gasp at the sudden onslaught of sensations, one hand still wrapped tightly around your throat, keeping your face tipped upwards.

You open your eyes, meeting his dark orbs. So fucking beautiful.

“I-inside,” you gasp, “cum inside, T-Tae—!“

It’s all you manage to get out, his fingers abusing your swollen clit, the rub so deliciously hot — you scream his name, body arching tightly as the cord unexpectedly snaps. Your hands fly up, one gripping at his sweaty, firm shoulder, the other on his round ass; anchoring you as you reach another euphoric orgasm.

Taehyung groans, spit soaking and dripping from his mouth onto your ruined panties. Still, he keeps it as a makeshift gag, dark eyes watching you tauntingly. He’s surrounded by your scent right now, inhaling you deeply. He begins to fuck you like a raged animal and you take it because it feels so good.

Even though your body is sore and used, you let him continue his assault. It won’t feel satisfying until he cums deep inside you. Impregnating you with his seed — claiming you for his own.

A deep, warning groan leaves his throat.

You tilt your face to watch as Taehyung uses your body like the good cumslut you are to reach his end. His eyes are dark, brows furrowed. His gaze falls upon you and you muster a tired smirk.

“Cum,” you weakly order, a whimper leaving you at the way he’s fucking your tired, oversensitive pussy.

That moment is all he needs —

you feel his body tighten and then he drops down onto you, sloppily thrusting into your sweet cunt as he holds you down.

“F-fuck—,” he hisses through your underwear, pulling you tight against him as he buries his face in your neck — an animalistic growl echoing from his throat — bucking up into you desperately now.

It’s so filthy and dirty and you love it.

You gasp in pleasure, feeling the now drenched panties fall from his mouth and onto your back.

His mouth presses open, wet kisses wherever he can reach — your neck, shoulder blade, ear, your cheek.

Taehyung cums and he fills your sweet cunt with his thick, hot seed. You reach your hand back, grabbing at his side to anchor yourself as he uses your body a few more thrusts, riding out his orgasm, both your juices making a squelching sound each time he fucks into your swollen pussy again.

Despite the angle of your arm, you manage to pull him closer, gasping silently. He pumps you full of his hot cum, so much that you’re certain without his cock the ropes of jizz would leak out of you. Your breathing is harsh, body twitching ever so slightly at the feeling of being filled with Taehyung’s thick load.

Said man isn’t much better off either, he’s panting in delight, peppering your exposed skin with kisses as he rides his orgasm out, rope after rope of thick white filling you just like what he wants. Even when he stills, you can’t help the way your pussy clenches around him, an added spurt leaving his softening cock to fill you up even more.

“Mmm,” you giggle breathlessly, one hand reaching up to entangle your fingers into his soft hair. “Think I’m pregnant yet?”

Taehyung laughs, the happy sound making your heart stir. “We can always do it again,” he winks, slowly and carefully pulling himself from you. Your body is turned until your on your back, meeting warm, brown eyes. “You alright, sweetheart?” he wonders, wet fringe sticking to his forehead.

“Absolutely,” you smile softly, fingers quickly tugging him down for a deep kiss.

Taehyung kisses back, making sure he doesn’t crush you with his weight. You wince when he pulls away and worrisome eyes fall on you. “Y/N…”

Your gaze falls to your thighs and you flush at seeing just how wet they are, Taehyung’s cum seeping out of your swollen centre and soaking the bedsheets mixed with your own arousal. “My goodness, you came a lot, Your Majesty,” you coyly tease.

Said King groans, dropping his face into your neck, one arm sliding around your waist and pulling you against his chest. “Don’t tease me, my Love, I think I can go again.”

Your eyes widen a fraction and you feel heat stir inside you at the thought of being fucked like that again. “In a moment, I’m going to ride you,” you promise, pressing a kiss to his jaw. “I will only stop after you’ve filled me with another load of your seed.”

He laughs, the voice deep and soothing to your soul. “I truly, truly love you, Y/N.”

Tilting your face up, you meet his warm, loving gaze. There’s a bright smile on his handsome features, dark fringe hanging over his almond-shaped eyes and it makes your heart stir. Not just his beauty, but his soul and the feelings that fill you from the bottom of your heart because it’s him.

“And I,” you lean in closer; Taehyung meeting you halfway. “I truly love you, Taehyung.”

His arms feel like home and his lips… they’re just the icing on the cake of your happily ever after.

The End.

#bts smut #taehyung smut #bts scenarios #taehyung scenarios #bts imagines #bts reactions #taehyung imagines #taehyung reactions #v smut #v imagines #v scenarios #taehyung fanfic #v fanfic #bts fanfic #taehyung x reader #v x reader

[sleepdeprivedheretic]

Heart of the Wild (Final)

Notes: Final Chapter! I??? Just wanted to post smut, originally, and so here it is. It’s been a doozy of writing this, but I hope you all enjoy :3

Warnings: Ruts, consensual smut, but like, kinky consensual smut, and possessive behavior

 He couldn’t help himself, really. It was inevitable. Life was basically throwing a cute little rabbit at him, but he could wait until she reciprocated his feelings. For now, he was content in the never ending loop of waking up next to a pillow wall, seeing the smaller hybrid’s arms wrapped around one of them, her face muffled into the downy fluff of white. He was content with washing dishes in the cool stream, talking nonsense as he flicked some droplets at her. Happy of small things, such as she laid peacefully next to him, unafraid and just relaxed as wishful thinking and stories passed her lips.

Yeah, it was really inevitable, for he swore that his heart quickened at her witty remarks, the soft, worried gazes that she gave him, and of course, the sheer feeling of stability and trust was beginning to eat at his heart.

He wasn’t dumb, he could tell the way her heartbeat quickened, tail wiggling excitedly, and the bloom of warmth spread across her face as she stared at him, giving quick little peeks when she thought that he wasn’t looking. He couldn’t help but inquire her some days, stretching lazily as his back muscles were taunt, pants slipping more loosely around his hips as his tail swished with mirth and at the pleasantness of eyes searing into him. Once a while, he’d give a subtle wink, lips curling in a smug grin as she stammered and flushed brilliantly.

 He was hopeless.

…………..

 He had to leave for a couple of days, carrying some blankets, wool, and other goods that Izuku had lent him. It was three months in, and already, you’ve gotten acquainted with Eijirou, Izuku, the shy Tamaki, and Mirio, the ever smiling husky mix who was adamant in following Tamaki around, claiming that they’ve known each other since they were small.

 The boys and you had decided to build a chicken coop, while Taishiro decided to trek the long journey to the village, opting to trade some supplies for some hens and roosters. He promised Izuku and Eijirou that he’d pay off the supplies they’d given him, with chicks and eggs, in the future, as he left the coop building plan to Mirio, the husky being had been around villagers and carpentry, more.

 The coop wasn’t long to build, especially when tools from the village were used. You liked the boy’s company, despite the short amount of time was between the five of you. Izuku and Eijirou were sweetly chattering among themselves, giggling cutely as one surprised the other with a peck on the lips, and of course, Mirio’s tail excitedly wagging as Tamaki listened in on his ramblings, his ears flickering with interest as a small, genuine smile graced his lips.

You ignored your own thoughts, as you hammered a pole into the soft, earthy soil, opting to chatter along when the opportunity rose. It took a day for the pen and coop to be built, and you knew that he would arrive home sometime tomorrow. Home. Right now, it was dusk, you were laying in the shared bed, feeling a sense of loneliness without the usual comforting aurora or scent of Tai. It was scarily amazing on how fast that you’ve missed him, already, and him being gone, made you feel a tug of needing him to be there.  

 As you were about to drift off to sleep, a soft clucking jolted you awake from the other side of the door. Realizing that it was Tai coming home early with the fowls, relief pooled within your stomach as you imagined his scent, yet, oddly enough, the one wafting towards you, was slightly different. It was his scent, yes, but-

The door flew open, cutting you off from your thoughts as a brown package was thrown your way. Opening your mouth to speak, you stilled. His ears were pinned back, pupils widened, fluffed tail swishing wildly, as the obvious smell of pure ‘rut’ filtered through the room. Staring at you with hunger, he let out a frustrated growl, as he slammed the door, running off to who knows where.

His pheromones preened yours, and you knew that you couldn’t let him suffer like this, nor ignore your feelings, anymore. Ruts could be more feral than a heat, since they happen once a year, heats being two. It didn’t help matters that he was probably pent up from smelling yours, and detaining himself several strong instinctive urges.

You ran after him, blinded into the night, following the more sharp scent of the earthy tone that was overlaying the pure desperation of the sweeter one. He was hurting, you knew, and his body might be biting back at him with full vengeance from the neglect of finding a bond mate. The moonlight, had shone brighter than the sun, letting more light filter through the snowy, yet grassy woodland as you followed his scent, carefully avoiding fallen branches and twigs as you made your way towards him.  

“Please s-stay back, Sugar.” You stopped meters away from him, him leaning against a tree, roughly palming the large bulge within his pants as he left soft short growling huffs. Your inner omega couldn’t help but whine, begging you to submit, and for once, you wanted to be on the same page. He was more coherent, for his rut had freshly hit him, yet, he was on a thin line, waiting for one of you two to breach it or run.

“Do you love me?” You couldn’t help but ask, and he stilled, eyes darting to focus on yours. Despite the wild crawl within, amber pools had softened, as he let out something akin to a mewl, gripping the tree harshly.

“F-fuck, yeah. I do love you, seems forever, now, and I don’t wanna- hurt ya.” He broke out the sentence in pauses. You let your own soothing pheromones wash over his, calming the wild look in his eyes from a distance as you bit your bottom lip. His breathing slowed, staring at you with a curious manner, as if silently asking you why you weren’t walking slowly away.

“I love you, too. After first meeting you, it seems as if I always had.” You admitted, feeling the weight fall off of your chest, as heat enveloped your cheeks and chest. As if a switch, the sweet scent of his seemed to overlap the earthy tone as he shyly covered his face with the back of his hand.

“Ya…ya have a penchant for timing, don’tcha?” He murmured. “Couldn’t jus’ told me earlier, when I’m more calm.” He huffed as he stared, watching you intently through blonde lashes.

“You’re in pain.” Was all you simply said, and he groaned, knowing that you were right.  

“Ya want this?” There was no sense in beating around the bush, you knew. He breathed in your scent with greed, panting as his pupils were now slanted within the moonlight, giving him a more feral, hungry glow.

“Yes.” You didn’t hesitate.

“Run.” He then whispered, and you didn’t have to say anything, knowing the ancient customs of a chase. It didn’t take long for you to bolt, him heavy at your heels. This is a chase that the two of you had wanted, the one that you’ve always dreamed of when dealing with all of your previous heats alone. You knew that he was stalling time on purpose, taking time to mark the trees with the scent glands within his wrists, warning everything and everybody that he was in a serious rut, and not to be trifled with during this time.

 You knew where you wanted to go. Leaping over bushes, running your own glands against anything and everything, and dodging and weaving between trees, you’ve made your way past the slow-moving moonlit stream, across the beaten path, and straight towards the door of his hut, shoving it open as you all but fell onto the bed. Not a second too late, the door had slammed shut, and he was on top of you, pinning your chest flush against the downy pillows and soft furs.

His chest was laying heavy and warm against your still clothed back, him breathing hotly into your twitching ear as you felt his length through his pants, lay fat up against your bare thighs that the tunic wasn’t long enough to cover.  

“Ya’re really wantin’ this?” His voice drew into a rumbled growl, and you nodded. His rut was singing for to you to submit, as you felt yourself secrete more slick onto your tunic, feeling the ache of emptiness clench desperately at nothing. You’ve never felt this way outside of your own heats, before, and you were almost ashamed to acknowledge that you were desperate. Accepting your consent, he all but ripped off your tunic, you squeaking in surprise as the cool air hit your sensitive breasts, the furs rubbing against your most sensitive areas.  

“Nice view there, Darlin’.” He rumbled, admiring your flushed back, ears downward, and chest flat against the bed that the two of you had shared. Wasting no time, he buried his face into the back of the crook of your neck, inhaling the area where your scent was the strongest. You let out a surprise squeak as he wrapped his arms around you, thumbing your areolas and buds, as he lightly nibbled at your scent gland, rumbling out a mantra of pleased purrs and growls.

“Been wantin’ this fer a while. Look at ya, bet ya’re soaked down there.” He let out a teasing breath at your ear, nibbling the appendage, giving it a light suck, and chuckled at your mewled squeak. Your breath had caught in your throat, feeling chilled as he broke away for a small second, his trousers being thrown into the pile of dirty blankets, and he resumed his position. Inches above your form, he didn’t crush you whilst he gave you bouts of affection, smoothing down your ears, chuckling as he cupped your wiggling tail, drinking in your pleased sounds as he left butterfly kisses along your back, opting to bite and suck certain parts of your skin.

“T-Tai-! Please!” You couldn’t help but hiccup at the sudden burst of attention and affection, feeling your limbs and heart seem to melt. He chuckled, rubbing your sensitive tail and brushing a stray hair away from your face. Leaning in to your face, he kissed your cheek gingerly, the guttural rumbling of his purring enveloped your entire being as he sighed with content.

“What is it that ya want, Sugar?” He kissed your cheek.

“Sweet-pea?” A peck on the side of your forehead.

“Darlin’?” A soft hum against the column of the back of your throat. You knew that you weren’t in heat, but the newly found attention, made your heart flutter wildly and skin feeling hot, as he clasped your fingers between his.

“I want to see you.” You admitted, and he purred, excitedly.

“Alright, Honey. Be warned, my…uh, thing, might be a lil’ different than other breeds.” He sat up, letting you sit up with him. Shyly biting your bottom lip, you realized that his fingers were still intertwined with yours.

“I wouldn’t know. I-” You blurted out honestly, blushing furiously at your forwardness, but he only hummed, bringing a hand to lift your chin up to meet his endearing gaze.

“Ya’re the dumbass who wanted to be chased by an almost feral adult in his rut.” He chuckled at your pout, but then leaned in.

“I love ya, anyways.” He broke the distance, surprising you with a wet, slow kiss as he guided you to lay down on your back. You hummed, squeezing your eyes shut as he spread your thighs apart, trusting him as he deepened the physical contact. You let out another squeak of surprise as he wrangled with your tongue, sucking slightly on it, eating up your noises as he let out victorious purrs that rumbled into your throat. Smoothing a rough hand down your leg, he palmed your stomach, thumbing your belly button, as if teasing you on what was yet to come, as your own curious fingers explored him. Rough muscles, soft fat, downy hair, and twitching, fuzzy ears met your exploring hands as you mentally savored each touch.

Breaking away from the kiss, the two of you were flushed, sweaty, and panting for air as you opened your eyes, staring at one another while drinking the other in.

“I love you, too.” You said honestly, not breaking eye contact. He purred, kissing you again, then he winced.

“Ugh, rut’s gettin’ a lil’ too hard to handle, right now, Chickadee. Ya sure? My…baser instinct might not treat ya as sweetly as I want too.”

   “It’s alright, I trust you.” You admitted truthfully. He sighed, brushing your hair out of your face, cupping your jaw gently.

“I’m gonna fuck ya roughly, breed ya, and say things that I might not even be wary of. To be honest, ya might even become pregnant after the whole spiel. There’s no way in hell that I’m gonna pressure ya if ya don’t want this. Tell me no, and I’ll leave, but’ll be back when the rut’s over.” He admitted, cheeks flushed and eyes hungry at the whole prospect, yet, he awaited your decision. If you were being honest, the prospect didn’t sound bad at all.

Cupping his hand, you kissed lightly on the inside of his wrist, causing a surprise purr.

“Are you going to claim me?”

“Yes.” He didn’t hesitate, and you nodded.

“Then it’s alright.”

“Positive?”

“Absolutely.” You confirmed, and then he pounced.

You let out a surprised mewl mixed in with a squeak as he sucked harshly at the scent gland in your neck, a definite promise for what was about to happen, before he nipped at your bottom lip, licking a stripe against it, before kissing you deeply, again. Hot, it was a little more hot than the earlier one. Yes, your mouth had burned slightly from the rush heat, but right now, melting would be an understatement.

He broke away, pulling you up to take a good look at him. It was lengthy, thick, and heavily dripping clear fluid in which you were curious about, as well as covered in odd hooks. You gave him a heated, yet questioning look, and he gripped your hand.

“They’re soft, they won’t hurt. Feel’em.” He gestured towards the fleshy barbs, and you did as he asked.

  He let out a groan, head thrown back as your inquisitive fingers rubbed at the small barbs of soft flesh, to the angry, red crown of his dick. Your eyes widened with surprise at the vulnerability of his state, him licking his bottom lip, hissing as he bucked within your touch. One of his hands gripped your hand which was holding him.

“Up and down, Sugar. Don’t forget to rub the hea-oooh, that’s right, feel free to grab a lil’ roughly.” He groaned in a rough, yet desperate tone of voice as he guided you. It felt hot and heavy within your hand, yet soft to the touch, the little barbs not hurting as he had promised, the clear liquid of his opening, smeared onto your hand as you absentmindedly licked your lip. He let out a needy little growl, placing both hands on the sheets, clenching them rather roughly.

“Ya don’t hafta do anythin’ that ya don’t wanna do, but I’m tellin’ ya, my patience with this rut is wearin’ thin, Darlin’. I wouldn’t do it, if I were ya.” He tried to say calmly, yet his voice shook slightly at the prospect. His amber irises stared at you, pupils blown wide and almost nearing feral, and you understood that he wasn’t in the best situation of control, right now.  

 Hesitantly, you let go of your grip, and he sighed, yet his focus was pinned onto your curious look as you looked your wet fingers. He let out a groan mixed into a whimper when you popped one into your mouth, tasting what was oozing out of him, and he snapped.

 You gave out a startled yelp, as he swiftly apprehended you, positioning you in the classic presentation of an omega; your face was buried into the pillows, as you sat on your knees, back curved for easy access in mounting. You whimpered, the chill air hitting your bare thighs and center as he chuckled, widened your legs and propping your mid-drift up.

“Ya’re wet.” He let out a darker purr, thumbing your folds apart as you bit the pillow. You awaited anxiously, curious on what was about to happen next. It didn’t take him long to deliver, you squeaking in utter surprise as a hot, wet tongue began licking at your center and clit.

“T-Taishiro!” You let out a squeak, gripping the pillows more harshly as he hummed, eagerly licking up your sopping fluids in a hurried frenzy. You had to bite the back of your hand in surprise, as his tongue prodded at the tight muscle of your clenching opening, his palm sliding up your thigh, as his other hand gripped your wiggling tail. You couldn’t help but let out a mantra of whimpers and squeaks, him chuckling now and then, breaking away to kiss the back of your thigh.

“’M gonna open ya up, Sweetheart. Get ya ready.” He purred into your center, and you nodded. He had an extreme amount of patience, you couldn’t help but think through fogged thoughts. Three fingers had breached into your opening, and you couldn’t help but feel relief of something finally entering you.

“Takin’ em so eagerly, huh? So slutty.” He chuckled darkly at your clench of surprise of his sudden change of behavior.

“I’m not a-Mm!” You couldn’t finish the sentence as he crooked them, pumping them slowly within you as he stretched you.

“I know, but remember what I said, earlier?” He taunted, and you nodded. Pleased with your nod, he slipped his fingers out, bringing them to his mouth to suck on them. You watched as you looked behind you, him moaning with the flavor of you as his irises looked dark and intimidating.

“Now, you’re mine.” His eyes flashed, as he pressed a palm against your back, your face was back into the pillows as he wasted no time. Your tail wiggled eagerly as the head prodded your loose and wet entrance, catching the rim of your muscle and you whined. Taking your own initiative, you thumbed your clit, rubbing the juices against it, made you feel more relaxed as he struggled to sheath himself inside.

“S-so fuckin’ tight! Guess I gotta stuff ya, by the looks of it.” He growled dangerously, and you let out a desperate whine, feeling him stretch you. Although the stretch was a little painful, it was more of a delicious friction, especially with the soft barbs stirring your walls, and the curved fat crown of his head spearing you.

Finally, he stilled, huffing as you keened.

“Are ya alright, Darlin’?” He asked softly, palming your back smoothly as he maneuvered himself to cover your back with his chest, once again, keeping himself from crushing you as he leaned down to kiss the corner of your mouth.

“I’m alright, Tai. Feels good.” You added, and he hummed, bucking his hips a little, enjoying your whimpered moan.

“Good, ‘m glad. Ya know what these barbs are for?” He then asked, purring against your cheek, ears flickering as you shook your head.

“To keep seed within the womb. Would ya like that?” He let out a darker purr, his hips moving on their own accord, and you cried, biting the back of your hand as the curved head prodded at something deeper within you.

“Y-yes!” You answered as he bit the column of the back of the side of your neck, and your brain had stopped working, as apparently his did, too, for his hips snapped desperately, finally chasing his rut.

Your mind went blank as you couldn’t help but pant out whimpers, groans, and whines to his demanding growls, feeling him work himself into you as he bit your neck, gripping your side and breast harshly as the sound of his hips slapping against yours, and the squelching sounds, echoed with the crackling of the fire, making you clench desperately as you laid there and took it.

He loosened his jaw, breaking away his grip as he panted harshly into your ear. Bringing his hand underneath you, he cupped your stomach as he continued his near brutal pace.

“’M gonna fuck you full of cubs and kits, keep ya fat, carryin’ my offspring year round, if I could.” He let out a dangerous growl, and you clenched considerably at the idea.  

 Tears pooled at the corners of your eyes at the prospect, the harsh yet delicious ache in the climb to your edge, had you begging his name in a mantra, and he purred yours in return.

“’M boughta cum, Sweetheart.” Affection oozed into his hoarse voice as he grunted out, giving sharper thrusts, silently demanding for you to cum first.

It didn’t take long for you to comply, mind going blank, as the tight bowstring within you snapped into sharp pieces of relief. Your channel clenched viciously around him as you throbbed around him, causing him to curse and stutter as he fought against the tightened walls of your grip. Within your haze, you felt the sharp needles of his teeth clamp into your neck, feeling him clutch your sides harshly as he stilled, shooting his seed deep within you as he let out a victorious growl into your claiming bite.

Time seemed to still, as the exhaustion and euphoria washed over you, and him still slowly pumping his hips, releasing the excess cum into you as he smoothed over your bite with licks and kisses.

“Ya took me so well, Sweetheart. Darlin’. Love of my life.” He drew himself out gingerly, leaving you oddly empty, but you didn’t contemplate on it for long, for he turned you to face him, opting to douse you in affection with kisses and soft purrs.

“You treated me so well.” You hummed, kissing him in turn, letting your own affections breach him as you smoothed away sweaty locks, cupping his cheek. He leaned in your touch with contentment.

“Next round, we’ll take it slower. I wanna bite of my own, too.”

….………….. (just bonus stuff)

  It didn’t take you long to find out. When the news hit, he was ecstatic, eagerly chirping the news to the boys, immediately wasting no time in dragging the excited Eijirou, Izuku, Mirio, and a shy Tamaki to help build an extra room for a nursery.

Whenever he could, he found time to nestle his face into your growing stomach, dousing you with his affections, and prowl the forest; his natural instinct of fatherhood had came to play, as he warded off any potential intruders with heavy, threatening smells within his scent glands.

Izuku, being over the moon with excitement, visited you regularly with homemade gifts and excited talk about him being an uncle. Being a rabbit, it took only five moons for your unborn children to mature and be ready for birth. During that time, you’ve bonded more with Tai, nesting and decorating the nursery with him.

When that time had come, Izuku helped you deliver in the dark safety of your shared bed, your proud mate pacing eagerly outside, awaiting to hear the small squeaks and yips of the both of your brood.

It didn’t take you long to hold one cub and one kit gingerly in your arms as your proud, teary-eyed mate held the other kit as he laid next to your weary form. Kissing your forehead, he praised you for your hard work, and how much he loved you.

…………….

Alright, I’m done. The rest is up to your imaginations, haha. I’ve been working on the fic for three days in a row, just about, and I’m quite happy with it :3

#Taishiro Toyomitsu #Fatgum #Fatgum x reader #Smut #ABO #Kinda #It's pretty heavy #And sappy #Like imo I think I wrote it super sweet #I know tigers can't purr but let me have this

[ontheoddoccasioniwritestuff]

To Ourselves (Emily Prentiss x Reader) Smut

Summary: Living the life in London with Emily Prentiss, it’s so much sweeter when we both have the day off.

AN: This was part of a fic swap, for Lauren over at @metwatron!  The reader is named Lauren and it’s part of the plot. As a result I’ve kept it in.

I might start writing for Emily Prentiss after this, but this is an exception in terms of the reader’s gender. I write for gender neutral and male readers. Requests are open!

Masterlist

Emily kissing little Sergio goodbye was often one of the sweetest things of my day. She always scooped him up into her arms, kissed his little head then stroked that spot a few times before letting him jump daintily down to the floor.

Then she would usher me through the front door like she’d been waiting on me to leave. I never minded and I didn’t mind today.

The journey was brief, but we still held hands as we walked. Swinging them between us, catching in the gentle breeze, I revelled in her company and the fact that I would get it for the whole damn day. She was looking so pretty with her raven hair loose on her shoulders, darker against the crimson of her tank top beneath the leather jacket. She was just effortlessly cool in the heat of the day. Long strides across the pavement created a beat to a song that was all Emily.

Through security, we were amongst a small crowd filtering into the museum. She had visited before, and so had I. But Emily could never get enough of looking at those exhibits. And I could never get enough of looking at her looking at those exhibits. So, there was no need for a map to get to where we wanted.

“Slow down, babe,” I laughed at Emily’s pace growing faster in eagerness. I almost had to skip to keep up.

Through a narrow corridor and a doorway at the end, we entered the chamber of the stars. Long wide walls stretched far above our heads. Stars and the constellations they constructed were all labelled in a light font that lit up against the navy backdrop. Echoes bounced off walls with other museum patrons exploring the exhibits along the floor, all in awe of the museum’s offerings. The back wall exposed the staircases and landings of each level that led to more rooms, more treasures.

“Babe, we’re blocking the entrance,” Emily nudged me out of my trance.

Quickly we moved aside for a family of five to enter the cavern, and Emily kissed my cheek underneath the enormous metal model of the Earth.

A marble carving of Medusa as she screamed silently for eternity, her snakes coiled around one another, some reaching out and hissing with her. There was a little girl, no older than five, staring up at Medusa. She rose onto her tiptoes and her mouth hung open.

“I bet you were like that when you found out who she was,” Emily teased

“Oh. you know me,” I tilted my head against her shoulder, “Misunderstood and powerful women? That’s my kryptonite.”

In the space travel wing, we found the new model of a craft that had gone to the moon. Emily moved a little quicker and leant on the railing that trapped the model.

“Is it worth never coming back to risk getting inside that thing?” She asked me quietly.

“Hmm, that’s up for you to decide.”

But then she returned her stare to the hatch, peering in to see the seats and all those buttons with a bitten bottom lip and a mischievous glint in her eye

“No, actually, I’m in charge now. Come on, darling,” and I grabbed her hand, tugging her away before temptation got us both thrown out before the big event.

“Right, you’re in charge.”

“Yep, and I say we go onto the next room if we wanna get good seats.”

I had no idea if there were any bad seats in a planetarium. But we sure as hell didn’t get them if there were; our seats were at the perfect angle for us to see the bubble above us.

Emily held my hand from the moment we settled in. She squeezed when the lights dimmed and the planetarium presenter’s voice played over the surround speakers. The whole room spun when the stars began to travel across the screen, mimicking the rotation of the planet.

“I’m dizzy,” I whispered.

Emily’s head leant against mine as she replied, “I feel the same way looking at you.”

My face immediately felt hot. Thank god I was dark.

The narrator’s calm voice walked us through the stories of the stars and their namesakes. Lines joined up to form the constellations we’d seen in the cavern before. We shared laughter with the rest of the crowd at the mention of Orion’s small head representing his lack of brain - Emily’s just that little bit louder than the rest. As it faded, I watched the light reflected cross over the contours her utterly radiant face.

The glow in the room raised to help us adjust to the outside world again. Pinks and oranges like a sunset, it grew brighter at the edges of the dome. Emily and I stayed in our seats a little longer, while everyone else filed out.

Emily’s head rolled around against the seat’s neck rest and she smiled at me, “That was brilliant.”

Our late lunch that we had made together just that morning went down a treat on the only bench left inside the museum. The homemade bread could not control the jam oozing out over the sides when I bit into our sandwiches. We ended up caught in a loop of laughter whenever I looked at her - she made me feel so light.

It was with a gut-wrenching punch that Emily’s phone started to ring. Her face hardened before she answered, “Prentiss.”

I sighed, my hands pushing deep into my pockets as if to hide from the fact that our day off together was not meant to be. But at least we’d been to the planetarium.

“Oh cool, let me just get a pen and paper,” and then, to my surprise, Emily hung up. She put her phone away in her bag before looking up at my bemused expression, “Cold caller.”

“Thank fuck for that,” I embraced her.

Too many times her job had stolen her from our dates. Of course, I respected her work, and her for doing it. But I’m allowed to be a little selfish when it comes to my girlfriend.

Her strong arms wrapped around me, swaying us on our bench. With the smell of her perfume fresh with the jam, I never wanted to let her go.

But I had to. We visited some of the other exhibits. While they all had some level of intrigue, it was hard to stay focused on them when I had Emily besides me. She caught me staring every time. I liked it when she caught me. When we first started dating, I got embarrassed a lot. Emily would always tease me for hiding my sheepish smile away from her.

Now I just kept on looking as long as I wanted.

“You know, I’m not an exhibit,” Emily said the sixth, seventh, maybe eighth time she caught me (I’d lost count).

Now it was my turn to nudge her playfully, “Good thing too; that means I can touch you.”

“You’re such a romantic,” and she wrapped her arms around my waist, our heads together as we looked at the exhibit of raw rubies that matched Emily’s tank top.

Mid-afternoon rolled around on our walk home. The sun had already begun crawling back towards the horizon, basking us in its rays still. Our hands were reunited and swinging just as carefree as before.

Upon entering our flat, Sergio trotted over. His meows bounced with every step, then they made one continuous purr as he twisted around my ankles.

“Hey, buddy,” I lifted him against my shoulder and kissed his fur as he rubbed his head against my cheek.

When I let him go, he did the same to Emily before returning to a patch of sunlight on the sitting room’s carpet. Taking off my shoes at the door, I made my way to our kitchen. It was better to put a dent in the washing up now, than when we would both be so caught up with work that chores were considered a break.

“Is it too early to go to bed?” Emily entered on her tiptoes, her hands linked and stretched far above her head.

I held back the comment on how she was really channelling Sergio’s behaviour right now, “It’s not even four, baby.” And I unpacked the Tupperware from my bag.

Two hands spun me around by my waist and Emily’s lips landed on mine. She groped my thighs, lifting me up onto the draining board. Somewhere to our left, the Tupperware I had been holding clattered on the floor.

I hadn’t even realised how the tap became white noise until Emily turned it off. But my attention was snatched away from our surroundings again when her hand began massaging my scalp, pulling at my hair to keep my head tilted back as she kissed down my neck.

“Baby.” That came out a little less coherent that I intended. I tried again, with little success, “Babe.”

With a lingering kiss on what was almost definitely going to be a hickey, Emily pulled away and looked me up and down, “Have I convinced you?”

“Yes, bed sounds good,” I said quick, breathless.

Before Emily could lift me again, I pulled at that damned red tank top and ripped it over her head. Her hands took off my glasses then grabbed my thighs, carrying me to our bedroom. Emily made sure to kick the door closed; the click in the mechanism confirmed that Sergio could not disturb by simply pushing. I cupped her face to bring it back in for a kiss.

Dropping me onto the bed was part of the routine; there was never really time to waste on formality. So I prepared for the drop in my stomach, ready to hold in the squeal.

But it never came.

Instead, Emily gently lay me down, her body rolling over mine. Just above me, her hair fell and tickled my bare shoulders. I took off my own shirt but arched my back so she could snap my bra off, reaching around for hers at the same time. My hands flattened against her skin as I took the bra off. They dragged over those glorious arms of hers, enjoying each groove of muscle that I found.

When Emily pulled away, that whine I was preparing to hide earlier made a resurgence in my throat. She knelt up between my legs, a hairband suddenly between her teeth as she scooped at her hair. Then she plucked the hairband between her fingers and twisted it around her imperfect ponytail. All this, while she watched me wriggle off my trousers.

I wasn’t sure when, but my hand reached out to cup her breast. Her warm skin grew warmer as I thumbed across her nipple. The sight of her chest releasing a long breath at my touch, god this had to be what she felt like touching me. Sharing that pleasure with her, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Soon she was back to kissing me, our hands pawing at each other’s chests with practised tenderness. We were lost in sighs more often than actually kissing. But that brush of her lips over mine was enticing me to touch her more, and my thoughts weren’t organised enough to think of what else I could do.

Suddenly Emily’s hand was on my neck and squeezing. My lungs instinctively drew in a breath, held it close to my heart where it burned brighter the fire Emily stoked. Her lips on my chest, exhales over the cold spots she’d kissed breathing life into my pleasure. My legs keened into her before spreading wider, dithering between puller her closer or welcoming more of her in. A whinge of indecision fell from my lips.

Emily rubbed her thumb over the hollow of my throat, “You alright there, Lauren?”

All the air was gone. The use of my name, it was so personal, so close yet unexpected, I was utterly thrown and unable to find an answer to her question.

Emily waited patiently for me to gather myself again. In the meantime, she traced a finger up my inner thigh, stopping just before she made it to my sex. With that same finger, she touched around my face, along my jaw, leaning over me to catch my hazy gaze. And I remembered what she was offering me.

My tongue parted my lips, wetting them, “Baby, please.”

And Emily bent down to bite my lip, plucking it between her teeth like a string before she grinned down at me, “Seeing as you asked so nicely…”

She disappeared from my sight but not my body. Her tongue made the first appearance, followed swiftly by her hands parting me open for her availability. She explored each part of me with such loving dexterity, lapping up and down, taking the tip between my lips, sweeping around my clit before curling it up in her mouth. God, that woman knew exactly what made me tick. Her hand was back around my neck to hold me in place, and my hand came on top of hers to keep it there. Those fingertips tingled against my skin. When they applied pressure, they

Whenever I thought I could handle it I would look down at Emily. And she would look at me. Her eyes would crease and I would feel her smile against me before shaking her head as she sucked on my clit. The combination of what I saw and what I felt, it was too much and I would look away again, my head thrown back into the pillow. Then she would kiss my thighs to continue her teasing and drag me away from an orgasm.

The cycle continued, edging me further and further each time.

Even if I tried, I couldn’t count how many times she nearly let me orgasm. As she pulled away from me again, I saw that she was still wearing her jeans, and I finally found my words and grappled with them.

“Those can’t be comfortable for you,” I mumbled, my thighs pressing together in her absence.

It seemed that Emily had forgotten she was wearing them because she stood up quick from the bed, her head tilted as she continued her streak of eye contact. I helplessly watched her tug them down her gorgeous legs with ease, her underwear off simultaneously. She tossed them aside, not even looking to see where they landed.

The moment she was back at my side, cradling my face and looking at me like I was an oasis at the end of her desert trek, I reached between her legs, straight for what she wanted. She was so wet, her time between my legs working her into a frenzy as much as it had for me.

Emily had taken those stars from the planetarium, they danced around in her umber eyes as I touched her like she did me, copying our moves and staring at each other until we couldn’t any more. Her pace was unrelenting, no longer caring about edging.

At last we reached our climaxes together.

It was a burst of pleasure all at once, exploding like a supernova. We rubbed and writhed together to grab at every instance of ecstasy that we gave to each other. The sound from Emily’s mouth as she orgasmed brought me to completion. My body twitched, flinching away from Emily’s fingers then jerking back, an addict for what we brought to each other. I chased that high for as long as I could, not letting the aching of an impending cramp in my hand stop me from getting my girlfriend off.

As she finished on my fingers, Emily fell close beside me. She licked her fingers then undid her ponytail. Her hair fell all curly around her head like a halo on her pillow. Rolling into her warm body, I rested my head on her chest and kissed the side of her breast. Emily shivered. I kissed the spot again. After sucking my fingers clean, they traced down the centre of her chest.  

“We left the curtains open.”

Emily looked over to her left. Sure enough, our curtains were parted and the window was ajar. A fresh breeze, bringing the sunset into the room, brushed over us.

“We’re one below the top floor, I think we’re fine,” and Emily kissed the crown of my head.

I closed my eyes, content to stay here for the rest of the day. Then my mind drew attention back to what Emily had said when tempting me with her touch.

“You called me Lauren.”

“That is your name, baby.”

“I know,” I lifted my head up and smiled at her. Emily knew what I was alluding to. My fingers had just reached the scar at the centre of her chest; they fanned out across it, not covering but worshipping the mark.

Trying to keep our bodies together, I moved up and kissed her mouth, pouring every ounce of love I could into the gesture. And I felt it again. That gorgeous smile of hers, it pressed itself against mine and she hummed deliciously. When we parted, I bumped our noses together – just to keep that smile on her face.

“You changed the meaning of the name for me forever, Lauren,” She said softly, pinching a section of my hair and pulling it away from the rest, “Are you ok?”

“Yeah, I’m really good. Are you?”

“Hmm,” She nodded. Her voice caught a little in her throat.

“I’ll be back in a sec,” I pecked her on the cheek before sliding off the bed.

Before she could protest, I stole Emily’s red tank top for my own. Although she had let me know before that me borrowing her clothes couldn’t be farther away from annoying.

I brought her a glass of water from our en-suite. Emily looked so dreamy just laying there on the bed, now wearing her sleep shirt from last night.

“Thanks, baby,” She sat up to receive her drink and returned the kiss on the cheek.

A few sips in, and Emily was back to cuddling me. My arms reached around to her back and I stroked imaginary constellations onto her skin. She asked what I thought about the rubies from the museum, if I preferred them raw like we’d seen or cut like the engagement rings we’d seen on a shopping trip a few weeks ago. I told her I liked both.

Once again, the passage of time became lost to me. At least until my stomach rumbled and I remarked, “As much as I would love to stay and cuddle forever, we should probably make dinner.”

After Emily had tied her hair up again, we kicked the bed sheets into some form of neatness before leaving. Sergio was still basking in the sunlight, moving with it across the carpet. He only left it when he decided to see we were doing in the kitchen – which was following a recipe that one of her old co-workers had sent to her.

The hands that had crushed the garlic beneath her knife brushed my hips as I stirred the pot of homemade pasta.

A gift to our cat, I gave Sergio a nibble of a pasta strand. Then I stuck one end of the spaghetti between my teeth and offered Emily the other with a cheeky grin. It wasn’t really a surprise that, once Emily began eating that strand of pasta, we ended up kissing very quickly.

#emily prentiss #emily prentiss x reader #emily prentiss imagine #emily prentiss fanfiction #criminal minds #emily prentiss smut #criminal minds imagine #criminal minds x reader #criminal minds smut #criminal minds fanfic #my writing #wc: 3k+ #r: female #smut

[daydreaming-jessi]

Day seven: free day

The final beetlelands week piece, made it just in time. Here’s to many more!

It was a bit of an atypical day. Sandy had, for homesickness related reasons, brought a metric ton of Saturn sand to the backyard of the Deetz-Maitland home. Lydia wanted to keep it, because it was sand from Saturn, but the sand had to be taken care of lest it ruin their hard worked upon garden. Adam volunteered to help clean it up while Barbara and Beetlejuice elected to stay in and do some spring cleaning in the attic. Well, Barbara was doing spring cleaning.

Beetlejuice, however, seemed to be determined to distract Barbara from said cleaning. “Babs. Hey. Hey Barbara. Ba-arb, look!”

Barbara blew a distracting strand of hair out of her face, carefully wiping dust off the coffee table while Beetlejuice continuously tried to vocally prod her from the couch. She smiled triumphantly at the pock marks being successfully wiped away. It’s taken her quite a few tries to successfully put proper pressure on the cleaning cloth, but with some practice, it was getting much easier to do.

Suddenly arms wrapped around her hips, startling Barbara into dropping the cloth. She hadn’t even heard Beetlejuice get off the couch. “Bee, I’m trying to clean here. If you’re gonna distract me, then go do something else,” she huffed, twisting her head to glare at the demon grinning up at her.

“But Barbara, I wanna cuddle,” Beetlejuice crowed, yanking them both side to side. He batted his eyes adorably, in the way he knew that Barbara had a hard time resisting.

“We could cuddle sooner if you helped me clean up in here,” Barbara replied steadily, raising an unimpressed eyebrow.

“You and Adam are such neat freaks. What’s wrong with a few decorative cobwebs? Makes it feel homey in here,” Beetlejuice finally let her go to float backwards into a corner of the attic where a home of spiderwebs lay.

Barbara jolted at the sight of the webs. “Because it shows other people we don’t care about our home!” She said, coming over with a new dust cloth to clean the silk up. Beetlejuice stayed stubbornly in place, forcing Barbara to try and reach around his body. She was quickly stopped by a second pair of arms sprouting out from Beetlejuice, grabbing her hands and spinning her.

“A, who is gonna come see our attic, and dos, who cares what other people think? All that matters is that we look creepy and have an excellent aesthetic,” Beetlejuice said, moving to spin Barbara around the attic. She couldn’t help but giggle at the impromptu dance, partially glad for the distraction.

Cleaning the attic wasn’t exactly necessary, Barbara and Adam usually kept it well maintained, and even Beetlejuice kept from tossing things wherever he pleased for them, but Barbara had been drilled by her parents to always keep her home spotless. She didn’t keep to the part that the task was only a woman’s job, she and Adam shared the work equally, as one should, but it was hard to shake off the rest of the teachings.

The two finally stopped their spin in front of the couch, where Beetlejuice swayed back and forth, his eyeballs actually rolling in his eye sockets. Barbara snickered at his antics, but took a step back. “Alright, enough distracting me, you. I still need to sweep under the furniture,” she said.

Beetlejuice leaned backwards with a groan onto the couch, making it creak and sag dangerously. “You literally sweep up here every two days, Babs. There’s not gonna be anything there to sweep,” he pointed out.

Barbara shrugged self consciously. “It’s important to do, in case there is any dust buildup,” she argued.

“Literally, who cares? It’s under furniture, we don’t ever have to deal with it. You know normal people don’t clean attics, right? Chuck and D aren’t, like, expecting you to clean up here, and Adam has sawdust all over his workstation all the time, he ain’t some kind of neatfreak. You’re literally just doing this for nothing,” he pointed out, shooting Barbara a pout.

She tried to think of a counter, but found she had nothing that would satisfy Beetlejuice. “It’s just something I’m gonna do, alright?” She finally said, turning to grab the broom.

Beetlejuice frowned and crossed his arms and legs, looking like a sulking child. “Fi-ine, whatever floats your boat, Barbie.”

Barbara froze, before slowly turning back to Beetlejuice. “What did you just call me?” She asked, her voice strained.

Beetlejuice shot her a strange look, before answering, “Uh, Barbie..?” Barbara’s shoulders rose up, and realization lit up Beetlejuice’s radiation green eyes, and a grin began to stretch across his face. “What, you don’t like it?”

“It’s awful,” Barbara replied flatly, crossing her arms.

“You don’t wanna be called Barbie?” Beetlejuice cooed.

“Why would I wanna be called that dumb dress up doll brand?” Barbara replied, her cheeks blazing red.

“Holy shit, you hate it! That’s hilarious!” Beetlejuice cackled, falling onto his back.

“What’s so funny? I don’t even look like that doll! It doesn’t make sense,” Barbara huffed.

“Oh my god, I am so using this, this is fantastic! You’re so mad!”

Barbara gasped. “Don’t you dare!”

Beetlejuice paused his laughter and shot her an evil grin. “Oh really? Whatcha you gonna do?”

Barbara pointed a finger at him warningly. “I will not hesitate, Lawrie.”

Upon hearing her nickname for him, Beetlejuice’s grin impossibly widened, cracking his jawbones. It was a strange name the ghost couple had come up with, but he loved how warm it made him feel. Beetlejuice raised his hands reassuringly, looking away innocently. “Ok, ok, I’ll be good. No more of that nickname from me,” he said.

Barbara shot him a suspicious look, slowly turning back to her previous task. “Alright…”

“Yup. Not even gonna think of the word, trust me Barbi-“

“That’s it!”

Barbara tackled Beetlejuice on the couch, tucking his legs firmly between her thighs as she sat upon his lap and the air filled with his crackling laughter. She began to dig her fingers into his sides, making the demon jump from the sudden, tickling sensation.

“Weh-! No! No fair, I can’t actually feel your ghost fingers, no!” He wheezed, trying to shove her away.

“I told you, this is just what you get for not listening!” Barbara grinned, using one hand to clamp the demon’s hands above him, her dancing fingers moving from Beetlejuice's expansive belly to his armpits.

“No, stop! Oh my god, stop!” Beetlejuice howled. He managed to wriggle onto his stomach, but found it didn’t help, as she had more access to his neck, and began to kiss it as she dug into his sides, knowing it was just as ticklish as any other spot. “Knock it off, you wraith!” Beetlejuice wheezed, rolling back to his previous position and shoved his feet to press against Barbara’s chest. She giggled, and lurched forward again, her fingers wiggling threateningly towards his sides.

Beetlejuice pushed her back and Barbara found herself hanging against Beetlejuice’s feet above the demon. “Aw, c’mon, that’s not fair!” Barbara laughed, wriggling against Beetlejuice’s surprisingly strong calves.

“I don’t care if it’s fair, I never play fair, Barbie!” Beetlejuice grinned.

Barbara squawked in mock outrage, making grabbing motions at Beetlejuice. “I will get you back for that dumb nickname, you jerk!” She threatened, her smile wider still.

Beetlejuice laughed at how futile her attacks were, watching her for a moment.

Her blond hair was flying around wildly, roughed up from the play fighting, her face was red and she was huffing, slightly out of breath, and her eyes. They were crinkled up with laugh lines, shining brighter than the surface of UY Scuti, bluer than the depths of the ocean, and filled to the brim with care, and they were directed to him. She was laughing so beautifully, filled with adorable snorts and chortles, it made his long dead heart quiver like it was struck with heart attack inducing arrhythmia. He loved these moments, loved how easy and warm they were. Loved that he was never afraid of her and Adam, never had to hide himself from them. He could just lose himself, freely tease them and just enjoy his afterlife. He loved Barbara and Adam so much…

Wait.

Beetlejuice froze, his face falling into one of shock, and Barbara paused upon seeing this. “Lawrie? What’s wrong?” She asked.

Beetlejuice stared at her for a long moment, his hair starting to darken to a gorgeous magenta she’d never seen before. His eyes traced her face, the demon unnerving,h silent, before blinking out of his stupor.

“I love you,” he said, voice breathless.

Barbara froze, staring back at him in shock. He… he said that. He actually said that.

The door opened, causing the two to look up. “You would not believe how much sand a sandworm can carry from Saturn, I’m more dust than ghost right now,” Adam huffed, patting his clothes down as he came in. He looked up and paused upon seeing the scene, before smiling a fond grin.

“What are you two doing now?” He asked, leaning back and crossing his arms. His hair was highlighted with a warm copper tone, dusted a gray-yellow from the Saturn sands, his body framed by the golden sun filtering through the attic windows. His green eyes were twinkling, so fond and happy of the sight before him.

“And I love you,” Beetlejuice said, his voice in awe at the long known realization finally washing over him.

Barbara whipped her head back around to stare wide eyed at a Beetlejuice again, and Adam nearly choked on the sand still built up in his throat.

Beetlejuice seemed to have realized that the room was now silent. His hair became a flustered pink, white and blue. “I-“ he gulped, pale. He’d ruined it, he ruined everything. He went too fast, veered too far off course, he fucked it all up like he always did-

Suddenly Beetlejuice was almost knocked off the couch with an arm full of Barbara. She had his cheeks squished together and was pressing hundreds of kisses to his face. “Love you too, god, I love you too!” She whispered between kisses, reassuring and happy.

They were both enveloped in Adam’s arms as he scrunched into the couch behind Beetlejuice’s back. He pressed a warm, long kiss to Beetlejuice’s ear, grinning widely. “Love you too,” he added, resting his forehead against Beetlejuice’s hair. Barbara chuckled at his long gesture, before looking back to make sure the other colors were gone from Beetlejuice’s hair.

The magenta was back, and the tension was gone. He looked dazed, but there was a huge, drunk grin on Beetlejuice’s face, looking like he’d just been told that hallucinogens were reintroduced to modern medical treatment. “Cool,” he rasped, his voice somehow even more gravelly than before, and his body was lax. He didn’t need to hold onto the Maitlands tight, they were right here, they weren’t leaving. He had all the time in the world to just soak in their softness.

#jessi doodles #beetlejuice #beetlejuice the broadway musical #beetlejuice broadway #beetlejuice the musical #adam maitland #barbara maitland #lawrence beetlejuice shoggoth #beetlelandsweek2020 #beetlelands #goldenbeetle

[holycatsandrabbits]

#ButterOmens submission!

ButterOmens explained

For future works: no max word count, all types of fanwork welcome! 

Snow Angel

Crowley knew the angel was gone. He knew it outside on the street. He knew it inside the burning bookshop. He would know it forever. But it wasn’t just the sense of loss that made him sob there, on the floor, in the flames. It was the thought of what Aziraphale had faced at the end. Had he been scared? Had it hurt? Had he wished for Crowley to save him, the way Crowley always had before? Imagining Aziraphale being alone at that moment was worse than Crowley being alone now himself.

It was hot in the burning shop, and the smoke made it hard to breathe. It was hot—and then slowly, in a oddly soft, sort of breezy way, it wasn’t. Crowley looked up and a falling snowflake lighted on his eyelash. Crowley had lost his sunglasses a while ago, and he wasn’t sure how long it had been since he’d had them off in a snowfall and had caught a snowflake just there. Another snowflake landed on his nose, and he watched them fall, filtering through the smoke, down over the flames of the shop. They should have melted. Everything was burning, books, tables, chairs, wine, everything except the snowflakes. They fell gently, and where they came to rest, they doused the flames.

They weren’t made of holy water—they were as harmless against Crowley’s skin as regular snow—but they were obviously angelic in origin. Crowley could feel that, he could see it in the way the clearing smoke revealed a soft white glow in the air, an ethereal aura. It grew brighter, until Crowley knew what was coming. He wasn’t surprised to see Aziraphale walking through the burning shop, glowing brightly, and so very, blessedly cold in the middle of the fire. The last of the flames winked out as he passed, his bare feet taking measured steps across the floor, white robe trailing behind him, swishing in the gathering snow. His wings had a glittering look to them, like they might be made of ice crystals.

Crowley pulled up his legs and rested his head on his knees, looking at the angel sideways. Even with the new perspective, Aziraphale remained.

“Did I crack finally?” Crowley asked. “My nightmares can’t even hold together anymore? Guess I don’t care, if you’re in this dream now.”

Aziraphale looked worried and compassionate and sad. “Let’s not stay here, my dear,” he said softly, holding out his hand. “Care for a walk in the park?”

Crowley shrugged, but he stood up and took Aziraphale’s hand. The angel’s skin felt soft and cold against Crowley’s heated fingers. Their next steps were on the path at St. James Park, and the snow fell down around them even faster now.

“Oh, you look better already,” Aziraphale said with a pleased smile. “Here, darling, let me see to you.” He waved a hand and Crowley found himself in clean clothes with no holes burned in them, light fabric that hardly protected him from the welcome cold of the snow. He still had no sunglasses, and snowflakes landed on his eyelashes again. Aziraphale twined their fingers together more tightly and leaned his head on Crowley’s shoulder. His left wing curled around Crowley, a physical representation of the angelic aura that was completely surrounding him.

They walked for a few minutes, and Crowley felt himself gradually calm. His breathing slowed and his steps grew more sure, black boots on the snowy path beside Aziraphale’s bare feet. Crowley’s heart kept racing, of course, but what else could it possibly do when Aziraphale was holding his hand?

All was well until Aziraphale gave him an adorably hopeful look and said, “Darling, do you think you’re ready to wake up now?”

Crowley missed a step and stumbled, nearly tramping on Aziraphale’s foot. He tightened his grip on the angel’s hand. “I’m not leaving,” Crowley said forcefully. “If you’re here, I’m not leaving. I’m going to sleep for the next century.”

Aziraphale looked amused. “Oh, I’d rather you didn’t, my dear. I’d miss you terribly.”

Crowley wavered a little, and Aziraphale reached out his other hand to steady him. “Aziraphale?” Crowley breathed. “Are you actually here? In my dream?”

“For the moment, yes. But I’m afraid that I need to open the shop shortly, so—”

Blackness washed over Crowley’s eyes. “Don’t leave.”

Aziraphale frowned in concern, but he also looked determined, and as strong as Crowley had ever seen him. “Let’s try something,” Aziraphale said. “Can you feel me holding your hand?”

Crowley looked down at where their fingers were clasped together. “Yeah.”

“All right. Now do something for me, dear. Let go.” To say that Crowley didn’t want to do that was a terrible understatement, but it was difficult for him to deny Aziraphale when he—well, it was difficult for him to deny Aziraphale anything ever, really. It was clear which one of them was the better tempter. Reluctantly, Crowley let the angel pull away.

“Now,” Aziraphale said softly, “can you still feel me there?”

“I—” Crowley looked down at his empty hand. Somehow, he didn’t feel the wind against his skin, and the falling snow diverted around his fingers as if something was in its way. There was the faintest feeling of Aziraphale’s hand still caught up with his.

“I’m holding your hand in the waking world,” Aziraphale told him. Crowley met his eyes in confusion and Aziraphale smiled at him. “I know you only trust one person, Crowley, but it’s me. I won’t lead you astray. Wake up into my arms, darling. Please.”

Despite his terror, Crowley closed his eyes and felt himself jump, throwing away the dream, the vision of Aziraphale as a sparkling creature of blessed cold and ice, leaping into the unknown and not sure if he’d be caught.

When he opened his eyes, Aziraphale was still there. Crowley’s entire body was folded up on the angel’s lap, with Aziraphale’s arms and wings wrapped around him.

“Welcome back,” Aziraphale said, with a very relieved smile. 

Crowley took a couple of shuddering breaths, and Aziraphale soothed him through them, rubbing a hand against his back. 

“Guess I was the one to leave this time,” Crowley whispered, weary and almost ashamed.

Aziraphale kissed him softly, on the lips and then on the forehead. “Doesn’t matter, darling. Wherever you are, I’ll come to you.”

*******************************

*Crosses her fingers and hopes someone will draw Snow-angel!Aziraphale in the burning bookshop*

Thanks to @n0nb1narydemon and @acuteangleaziraphale for coming up with ButterOmens!

Find this work on Ao3

#ButterOmens #ButterOmensHolyCatsAndRabbits #Good Omens #Dannye writes #Good Omens ficlet

[modern-vellichor]

Grief, is a Beautiful Thing

Stage 5: Acceptance

Series Masterlist

Acceptance; a person's assent to the reality of a situation, recognizing a process or condition (often a negative or uncomfortable situation) without attempting to change it or protest it.

He's what you need. He's always been there for you, and now you see it. Now, as you stand on the roof, sun washing you of your sins, of the weeks and weeks of nothing but silence and sorrow, after the months of constant turmoil and grief. This is freedom. He's been there through it all.

When your relationship with Steve fell apart the first time, he was there to pick up the pieces. Then when he fell apart, Bucky was there to hold you up, he was there so that you could fix Steve. And when he left, and you broke and scattered across all ends of the earth, he picked you up, and put you back together.

You were there for him, but you always knew this. When Tony was trying to kill him, you took his side. When he tossed and turned during the night, you woke him, and cooed, and held him until he dreamed of sweet things, honey and sugar and you. When he was so spent from putting all his energy into you, you put on a smile and fixed him up.

This was love. Of course you loved Steve, but he was gone, and he fell in love with you for all the wrong reasons.

You fell in love with Steve, you saw last the captain, into the deepest parts of his soul. You fell in love with his smile and the way he paced when he was nervous. You fell in love with the way he held you, and his beautiful laugh.

He fell in love with Peggy, and saw her in you. The way you held yourself, the courage, the glimmer in your eyes, it was all a reminder of Peggy, his Peggy, the girl he loved so dearly.

There were aspects of you that he loved too, but he never fell in love with the full you. He never saw it.

You deserved the kind of love that Bucky gave you, pure and unfiltered and raw. It was harsh and violent but it was sweet and addicting, he couldn't get enough of you. He wanted to hold you and breathe you, until you were engraved in his soul, until you had weaved yourself into the very fabric of his being.

You needed him. He was the only thing keeping you together.

"Y/N?", his voice, that honey sweet call of home, pulled you from your violent reel of self deprecating thoughts.

You didn't deserve to be left. You deserved to be cherished.

You didn't respond, not with words. Instead, you pressed your lips to his, gentle and soft, intimate, terribly so.

His response was to cup your cheeks, to trace his fingers down your spine, across your arms, up your neck, right back to your cheeks. Tears still spilled from your eyes, but they had changed, in context. It was no longer sad and desperate, now, it was happy, it was lovely.

"I'm sorry", he whispered, mumbling into your hair as he pressed kisses to your forehead, and then your cheeks, peppering your face and neck and leaving you warm.

"I'm sorry", again. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry", he repeated it like a mantra. He was begging for forgiveness, maybe from you, maybe for you, maybe from Steve. You never really found out. But all you could whisper back was;

"in me, burns the most catholic of desires: to devour the divine"

And he stopped. His mouth shut, he simply breathed. That was his forgiveness. That was his penance, you were his vocation, his divine god that needed worship, he was on his knees, begging, screaming, and you uttered those honey sweet words, thick and sticky, and he was washed of his sins all over again.

"I love you", he was no longer begging. You were heaven on earth, this was peace, this was love. This was his declaration of his faith, his everlasting devotion to you, in all your comforting and broken glory. "I love you, I love you, I love you", uttered between desperate kisses and soft gasps.

"I love you too, Buck"

You did. You loved him. Even more than Steve.

He was always sheltered, always hiding you away,your love was soft and gentle and filtered, but not this. This was raw, gnashing teeth and criminal tongue, grazing your bare soul, flying like Icarus to the sun, hoping that Ares will catch you. This? This was criminal, near psychotic, this was manic and dangerous, but you two were safe, you were happy. This was unconventional and painful, but all the best things are. For the longest time, this was forbidden fruit. But it tastes so much better when you can't have it. Now you do, it's in the palm of your hand, sweet and addictive, and you dont ever plan on quitting.

He holds you hand. He likes to come up from behind, wrap his arms around your waist, place sweet kisses on the nape of your neck. He likes to hold you close, tangle your legs together under satin sheets and cool moonlight. He learns poems to whisper to you in the deep dark of the night. He presses his forehead to yours, he smiles at you when  you're not looking, he laughs when you do, he cries when you do. He watches all your favourite movies, listens to your favourite songs, reads your favourite books. You take him to your favourite places. He loves it, he loves you. "Hey, Steve", you chirp, leaving against the cool marble of the headstone, roses littered all over the grave. He's loved even in death. "long time no see". It had been almost three years. You like talking to Steve, he never argues back, no sarcastic comments or judgy looks. You like to think hes listening, that he smiles at your stories. People leave roses and bouquets of white, red and blue for the captain. But you leave wild daisies and lilies, agapanthus and hyacinths, for Steve. He always liked lilies, you did too, The Funeral Flowers. "Buck's doing a lot better nowadays, hes sleeping through the night again. I am too, for the most part, I wake up in the middle of the night sometimes, just missing you. It sucks", you sigh and let out a breathy laugh. Bucky left you to get coffee, so you popped in for a visit. "Theres way more photos around the compound now, of you and the team, Morgan too. She's getting so big, Steve, you should see her. She's exactly like Tony, same eyes, same brain, same stupid decisions. I keep telling her she has to be at least 16 to be an avenger, because that's how old Peter was when he became one" A vase falls over next to you, you sigh, picking it up, "manners, Steve. Anyway, I'm in love" "Yeah, crazy. He's not as soft as you are, not as sheltered, Sam loves it, constantly making fun of you, how your ex and your best friend got together. I think I wanna marry him, Stevie" A cup of steaming coffee is shoved in your direction, Bucky smiles down at you. "Look at this, Rogers. The bastard finally cut his hair, would you believe it?" Bucky shoved your shoulder as he sat down next to you, leaning against your shoulder, nuzzling into your neck. "shut up", me mumbles. You laugh. Song like and wonderful. You wanted to marry Steve, once upon a time. You still feel guilty, but Steve's gone. He got his happy ending, you deserve yours. This is your happy endings, overpriced coffee and sunny afternoons, 2ams spent in your car, driving to God knows where, secret poems exchanged in the dark. You still talk to the moon, your saviour, your keeper. But you no longer beg for the sweet relief of death, or numbness, you no longer cry about love lost in the dark. Now, you chant, you sing, you dance, you're in love. You're yourself again, everyone notices. "Lady moon", you whisper. You're on the roof, hot mug in your hands. "tell me he loves me as much as I love him. This is heaven on earth", you smile to the sky, to the star that shines brighter than the others, to the lost souls floating up there. "He does", you jump a little as Bucky wraps his arms around you. "he loves you more than you could ever imagine" A single tear rolls down your cheek, it gets lost between your lips as you press a chaste kiss to his neck.

Eternity. You wish, you hope.

You don't know it, but Steve would be happy for you. He remembers how broken you were when he found you, when Tony found you. He remembers saving you, even in death he loved to see you smile. He remembers how Bucky never slept through a night, he remembers walking into the gym at 6am only to find that Bucky had been there for hours already. He remembers the tears he had shed in secrecy, the pleas for peace and freedom. He knows that you give him peace, he dreams of sweet things with you in his bed. He knows his heart warms with your touch, and he smiles at the twinkle in your eyes. Steve wouldn't have left if it meant leaving you, or Bucky, but you had each other. Steve left because he knew you would piece each other back together. You meant everything to him, so did Bucky. Steve got his happy ending, and you got yours.

#bucky barnes fanfiction #bucky barnes x reader #bucky fanfic #bucky x reader #bucky x y/n #bucky x you #captain america x reader #bucky barnes #marvel fic #bucky barnes x you #bucky barnes x y/n #bucky fic

[crystalwillow]

Rookie’s Nail Salon

Paring: Ethan Ramsey x Casey Valentine (f!mc)

A/N: Just jumping in here to let you know this is a very sweet fanfiction. No NSFW content here this time. Just pure cute moments and friendship! <3

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

“... yeah I think you have a real talent Case!”

“Could you do mine for me later?”

“I.. yeah of cour-“

“Scatter. Dr. Ramsey’s coming!”

The group of friends who were gathered in the atrium scattered, heading off to do there jobs. Leaving Casey to stand there alone, with a face like a deer trapped in headlights as her boss and secret lover strode towards her, trademark scowl on his face. He stopped in front of her, arms crossing over his chest as he acknowledged her.

“Valentine.”

“Dr. Ramsey! Hi! What’re you doing here?”

Ethan sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose.

“..we’re in the hospital Rook- Dr. Valentine. My place of work, in case you hadn’t noticed.”

“Ha ha, of course! Just... testing you.”

She laughed awkwardly before turning and making an effort to run off.

“Not so fast.”

Her shoulders sagged as she held in a sigh and grumble.

“Is there something I can do for you, Dr. Ramsey?” she asked, putting on her best polite smile.

“Yes. You can tell me what your group was doing congesting the walkway down here.”

“You mean like you are now?” she retorted cheekily, raising a brow. A light blush spread onto Ethan’s face as he stumbled over his words, moving out of the way.

“No.” he grinned. Casey rolled her eyes but couldn’t help smiling at his child-like action. She shook her head, looking at her shoes before looking back at her boss with a serious look.

“Honestly. If that’s all you need, I need to get going now. I have rounds to get ready for.”

“Oh. Yeah.. of course.”

Ethan smiled and gestured for her to leave, she turned and walked away happily to get ready for her rounds.

--- Late That Night ---

Casey had just finished setting up her station at the dining table when a knock sounded at the door. She raced to answer it and smiled back at a happy looking Bryce.

“Hey!”

“Hey Casey. How are you?”

“I’m okay. How was work?”

“Grueling.”

They shared a chuckle and hug before Bryce come in and shut the door behind him.

“So.... Rookie’s Nail Salon huh?”

“Yup. Are you a potential client?”

“oooo. I don’t know, how much do you charge?”

“$75, but for you I can do the friends & family discount and ask for $60.”

“$60?! That’s a little expensive isn’t it?”

They shared a look and then burst into a fit of giggles as they headed to the table. Casey passing Bryce a binder with a smile.

“Take a look at the designs. Take your time and then let me know what you want.”

Casey sat back in her chair and played a game absent-mindedly whilst she waited. Bryce looked through the pictures, finding it hard to make a decision. All of the designs were so nice. But in the end, he decided on a white, blush tone design with golden lettering.

“This one.” he said, pointing to the picture. Casey locked her phone and put it to the side. Sitting up and to attention.

“Sorry, I wasn’t looking. Which one?”

Bryce points again with a smile and places his hands on the table. Casey gets to work, starting up an entirely new conversation.

“Ramsey was not pleased with our congregation this morning.”

“When is he ever pleased with stuff our group does?”

“That’s true. We do get up to some pretty ridiculous shenanigans for almost 30 year olds.”

“Speak for yourself Cass.”

They chuckled as Casey done his cuticles before selecting out the polishes and the brushes she would need.

“What am I writing on your nails anyway?”

“On my left hand fingers, sexy and on that thumb draw a heart. On my right hand, write bitch. Please.”

Casey giggled. “I think the whole world knows you’re a sexy bitch Bryce. Hell. You may as well be a Greek God.”

“Are you admitting you think I’m sexy?”

“Bryce, I know you’re sexy.”

“Why thank you. Nice of you to state that so boldly.”

They laugh again before Casey’s face settles in concentration. She’s halfway done when Bryce shifts ever so slightly. She looks up at him as the brush slides off his nail.

“Are you okay?”

“No... I uh.. I need to pee.”

“Bryce! I told you not to guzzle that drink!”

He grins at her sheepishly, blushing lightly as he shifts in his seat.

“Would you hel-“

“It’s the first and last time I’m holding you whilst you do your business.”

“Thank you! You’re a life saver!”

He pushed himself up with the palms of his hands and jogged to the bathroom, Casey following behind him. She closed the door but didn’t lock it, Bryce smiled awkwardly as he gestured to his jeans. Casey crouched down and unzipped them, lifting the toilet seat with the other hand when an idea popped into her head. She left the toilet seat as of she was going to the toilet and undone Bryce’s jeans completely, closing her eyes and pulling them and his boxers so they pooled at his feet.

“Uh Case?”

“Just sit down and pee.”

She covered her ears and shut her eyes tight. Once he was done, Bryce gently tapped her with his foot, she turned and opened one eye to see he was still sitting on the toilet.

“What?”

“I uh... I need you to um...”

“oh god no. I’m not...”

They stared at each other, awkward energy hanging in the air between them.

“Could you not just wiggle?”

“Wiggle?” Bryce laughed

“Yeah. You know. Wiggle.” Casey demonstrated, seriousness on her face.

Bryce pressed his lips together trying to suppressed the laughter bubbling at the back of his throat, but he couldn’t fight it. He shook his head as it came out. The sound rich and full, making Casey pout.

“I- I’m so-sorry but. Wiggle.” Bryce said as the laughter overtook him and he leaned forwards, holding his hands in front of him.

”Bryyyyycccceeee.” Casey whined and he looked at her adorable pouting face.

“Okay. Okay. I’ll sto-o-op.” He said but couldn’t stop laughing for about five minutes. Casey sat on the floor in a huff.

Once he had calmed down, he looked at Casey seriously.

“Alright. Serious talk now. I really need you to clean the remaining piss from my...”

“I suppose if I have to.” Casey huffed before cleaning him and pulling up his clothes. She washed her hands and they headed back to the dining table to finish his nails. Once they were done and dried Bryce sat back and admired them with awe. Casey watched him from the corner of her eye as she cleared things away before turning to face him.

“Are they okay?”

“Casey... they’re gorgeous. Everyone at the hospital is going to be jealous of these.”

“Just don’t tell them I done it. Rookie’s Nail Salon is for friends only.”

“Okay. Message received. Loud and clear. Ethan’s rookie.” He smirked as he said his last words and a blush creeped up Casey’s neck and across her cheeks, she tried to hide it by looking away, but Bryce had already seen it and started teasing her.

“You’re in love with your boss. You’re in love with your boss.” Bryce sang teasingly, Casey’s blush getting brighter with each tease.

“You should get home, Ethan’s scalpel jockey.” She retorted with a smirk of her own. As Bryce blushed a little himself. “Oh that’s right. I went there.”

“I can see why you want to.” Bryce commented, clearing his throat as they reached the door

“Why I want to what?”

“You know. ... Get in his pants.”

Casey instantly turned as red as a tomato, choking on the air she was breathing.

“Hey, it’s okay.” Bryce reassured as he placed a hand on her shoulder. “I’d be trying too if I were you.” He smirked with a pat to her shoulder and left out the door. His face changing to a sweet smile as he turned round, shutting the door behind him.

--- The Next Day ---

When Casey awoke the next day, the light was filtering in through the gaps in her curtains. As she stretched out with a groan, her eyes widened in alarm as she noticed the time on the clock that sat on her bedside table. Though the panic disappeared from her chest as quickly as it arose when she realized today was a day off for her. She walked out into the main part of the apartment to find it completely empty. Smiling she grabbed some cookies and a can of her favourite soda, settling on the couch to put on one of her favourite shows to binge. After getting herself super comfy with her blankets, favourite stuffed toy and plenty of refreshments to indulge herself with, she pressed play. It was well into the afternoon before her phone even so made as much as a sound. She paused her show when it dinged, signaling she had a new text message. She picked it up and smiled softly when she saw it was Bryce.

Bryce: Hey! How are you today?

Casey: I’m doing okay. Or I was until someone interrupted my binging...

Bryce: Sorry not sorry babes. Guess what though!!?

Casey: Somehow the whole hospital knows I helped you go to the toilet? -_-

Bryce: Ha. Funny. No. Ethan Ramsey... THE ETHAN RAMSEY. A.k.a, your boss. LIKES MY NAILS! :O

Casey: haha! Good one Bryce, you’re funny xD

Bryce: No. Casey I’m dead serious. He JUST complimented them. He’s still standing next to me if you want me to call you and ask him to verbally verify it.

Casey: Go on then. Dare you :P

She placed her phone back on the table with a smirk as she looked at her messaged challenge, but the smirk morphed into shock as her phone rang with Bryce’s number. She picked up with a chuckle.

“So Lahela. You actually called me.”

“I did. And Dr. Ramsey will now tell you what he told me.”

She giggled as she heard Ethan sigh on the other end of the line. She could practically feel his eyeroll as he spoke up.

“Hello Dr. Valentine. I’m going on the record to say that you done a very good job with Dr. Lahela’s nails.”

“Thank you Dr. Ramsey. I know how much you hate taking time from your day to talk about non-work related things during work hours.”

“Pleasure. Can I get back to work now?”

“I’m not going to stop you. I have a binge session to get back to.”

“Looks like I’m not the only one Dr. Lahela is distracting then.”

Casey stifled a giggle, Bryce wouldn’t know because he wasn’t as close with Ethan as she was, but that comment was dripping with sarcasm and again, she could feel the suppressed smirk he was hiding as he walked away, his footsteps retreating. On the other end of the line Bryce whispered, sounding awestruck.

“He’s. so. COOL.”

Casey laughed. “What was that Bryce?”

Bryce cleared his throat. “Hm? Oh nothing! I just said, what a douche.”

“Mhm. Sure you did.”

“Whatever. I’m not the one with a crush on my boss. Today must be kinda sad for you huh?”

“One more word Lahela and I’ll come to the hospital in my 6 inch heels, baseball bat in hand. Just to look cool whilst I beat your ass.”

“You’re cute when you try to sound tough you know. Like Sienna. Only... she’s actually scary.

“I have a show to watch Bryce and you have work to do. Call me back later yeah?”

“hff. Fineee. Bye, I guess.”

“Goodbye Bryce.”

She hung up with a chuckle, the home screen reappearing and a red bubble on her messaging app. She opened it and smiled when she saw who it was from.

Ethan: I was being truthful, Rookie. His nails are really good.

Casey: Aw. Thanks Ethan.

Ethan: Could you come over and do mine? I get off work in 3 hours.

Casey: Are you being serious?

Ethan: Yeah. What man wouldn’t want his nails done by his beautiful girlfriend?

Ethan: BEST FRIEND! Darn autocorrect. How do you turn it off?

Casey: heh. I’ll be there. Just let me know when you’re home.

Ethan: Awesome! :D

Later on Casey had finished binge watching her show and was showering, getting ready to head to Ethan’s with her nail supplies in tow. She could leave the apartment easily without raising suspicion with her roommates, as they were all at Donahue’s after their shifts. She left and caught the bus across town to Ethan’s apartment complex, pressing the buzzer for his apartment number, saying their secret word through the intercom to get in. A minute or two later she knocked on Ethan’s door. He answered with a smile, wearing some light blue basketball shorts, his cheeks flushed and hair dripping wet. It was clear he’d just got out the shower, but Casey couldn’t say anything back. Her heart was hammering in her chest, her own cheeks were turning a shade of light pink. She knew he could do the ‘hot stud’ look very well, but she had never seen the ‘hey baby. I need cuddles’ side of him before. If she wasn’t sure before, she definitely was now. Yup, she was in love with this man.

“Uh... Casey? Are you... going to come inside?”

Upon hearing his voice, she snapped back to reality with a small shake of her head. A soft smile taking over her features. “Yeah. Sorry, I just thought I’d left my straightening iron on.”

He gave a soft smile back, stepping out of the way so she could come inside. He knew that wasn’t the reason she’d zoned out, but he chose not to push the subject. She walked into the living room and looked around.

“Where can I set up?”

“Coffee table will be fine.”

She set up her little station as Ethan sat on the couch beside her with a smile, that turned into a light and amused chuckle as she put up her little light up sign.

“What’s funny?”

“You’re too adorable. That’s what.” He responded with a shake of his head, adoration etched on his every facial feature as their eyes met. She smiled and just like she had with Bryce, she handed Ethan her little design book. He flipped through it to be a polite client but then placed it on the table.

“Decided already?”

“I decided when I saw Dr. Lahela and complimented him earlier.”

“Really?”

“yep. But first.. could I get a cuddle? Please?”

Casey’s heart ached in her chest as she took in his outstretched arms, pouty bottom lip, and the puppy dog look in his eyes. “Long day?” she asked, and he nodded. She chuckled lightly and slid closer to him, leaning back against the couch. He pulled his legs up and rested his head on her chest, wrapping his arms around Casey’s waist. Her hand going to his now damp hair and playing with it absent mindedly.

“You know. I like this side of you.”

“What side?”

“The cuddly teddy bear side. I understand you don’t want to be like this with everyone, and that’s totally fine. You’ve been through a lot in your 37 years of life so far. From what you’ve told me, it sounds rougher than having to wipe your ass with newspaper. No-one’s parent should walk out on their child like your mother did. And the anger you have towards her, I feel it. You aren’t alone there. And I’m glad you made peace with your father too. But those walls you put up because of that. When it’s just us, and you put them down, stop trying to prove how big your muscles are by holding them up 24/7. When you let things go and become just Ethan. I like that. Because Ethan is kind, caring, still a little bit of an ass at times... but overall, Ethan is amazing. He’s....” she trailed off, scared to finish her thought for fear of losing him by saying something too soon.

“He’s what?” Ethan asked as he sat up, looking at Casey.

“He’s a man that I admire very much and proceeds all of the outstanding expectations I had of him from reading his book.” She smiled though it was guarded and didn’t quite reach her eyes.

“You know. I figured out I signed that snake’s copy of your book. The one who almost lost you your job.”

“Dr. Olsen? Yeah. I regret that action every day. I got you to sign his book and then he betrays me because I helped a woman live out her dream. That and the fact we grew close and he was jealous. He wanted to be in my position. He wanted to be the one impressing you and sharing longing glances with you and-”

“Casey. I’m going to stop you right there.”

“Huh?”

“I don’t give a damn about that snake. I care about you. And you deserve to have a signed copy. So.. I got you one. Wait here.”

“Ethan...”

Casey watched as he walked to his bedroom, returning with a smile on his face and a book shaped gift in his hand.

“Yes. I went to the trouble of wrapping it, but that’s because I had slight cover adjustments made, and well.. here.” He sat back down and blushed bashfully as he handed over the book. Casey took it with a smile, breaking her gaze away from him to unwrap it, gasping quietly as she looked at it.

“Ethan. You. But I’ve never...”

“You can tell a lot about someone in how they carry themselves and how they personalize things. And from the times I’ve been in your room. I concluded you like blush pink tones and golden trim. But go ahead. Open it and read what I’ve written aloud.”

She gave him a skeptical look as she opened the cover before looking down inside. Her jaw dropping at the long note inside.

“Go on. Read it for me.” He encouraged.

She took a deep breath and started reading. Saying the first word with a smile.

“Rookie. If I’d seen you at a book signing I would have written something short that seemed encouraging but most likely wasn’t. I would have been brief and aloof in acknowledging you back as you spoke to me. But I’ve known you for over a year now and I have so much more to say. When I saw you as an intern I swore to the God’s, begged for you not to be like the many others that had walked through those doors. And it seems my prayer was answered. You’re mistakes were... creative, to say the least, and the trouble you brought with you made me chuckle in private as I replayed situations over, seeing the other staffs reactions play over in my mind. It reminded me of the trouble I’d cause as a teenager. I still have no idea what I would’ve said to you back then, if I’d found you hiding, and you needed motivation. I’ve never been good at that. As you know I’m not really an optimist. Or well... I wasn’t much of one. But if you needed me to help you through something now. I’d say that you’ve got this, you’re smart, intelligent, funny... cute. I’d tell you that you’ve got this because you’re Casey flipping Valentine and you can conquer anything you set your mind to. You’re future both as a doctor and in medicine is bright, and who knows, maybe one day you’ll be doing this for me. Yours, Dr. Ethan Ramsey.”

It took her a few minutes to read it all, and at the end she teared up as she looked at him. He was smiling back at her, anticipation dancing in his eyes.

“Ethan, I...” she sighed happily, she was speechless. And she always had something to say. Yet Ethan Ramsey, the guy who a year ago would have just shouted at her to shut up and go back to work, had made such a kind gesture and rendered her speechless.

“Don’t tell me that I have the privilege in being the first person to actually shut you up for longer than 10 seconds.”

But she couldn’t answer that either. Tears pricked her eyes and her throat felt dry as her heart swelled in her chest. She closed the book and hugged it to her chest. Ethan smiled at her and let out a small breathy chuckle.

“You know. You could hug the actual man and not his book.”

She was rendered even more speechless. She must be dreaming. That was a joke. Ethan Ramsey doesn’t crack jokes. He gently slid the book from her grasp, laying it on the table and wrapped his arms around her smaller frame. They stayed like that for a while before Casey could talk again.

“Thank you, Ethan. That um.. that really moved me. Um...”

He smiled as she reached for a tissue, dabbing away her tears. “It’s okay.”

After things settled, she smiled at him again. “So were you going to tell me what colour nails you want?”

He let out a rich laughter. There she was. His Casey. The sassy little brunette with ombre dyed pink ends to her hair.

“Of course. I would like a bright red. With... little white flower details.”

Casey smiled brightly at him. “You got it. Dr. Ramsey.”

“Thank you. Dr. Valentine.”

Casey stayed at Ethan’s that night and they shared stories from their times in med school, with wine. Ethan told Casey about some of the mischief he would get up to, seeing how much he could shock her with each story, before they called it a night and they headed to bed.

The next day as Ethan collected the charts for his own patients after the team had finished their group rounds, fellow attending, senior staff and nurses passed comment on his nails. He passed Casey at a nurses station, writing on charts of her own, catching her gaze as she looked in his direction, almost as if she could sense him. They shared a secret smile and he winked subtly with a wave before continuing on his way. He went to seek her out that lunchtime and found her outside, playing basketball with her friends. He walked over and stopped on the side of the court.

“Who’s the rookie’s opposing team?” he asked, clearing his throat as a small smirk tugged at his lips.

“That would be us Dr. Ramsey. Non-shirts.” Bryce grinned. “You wanna join? We could use the extra member.”

He looked at Casey briefly, who gave him a challenging gaze. Almost as if daring him to break his own professional protocol.

“What do you say boss? You joining their team?”

His smirk was one only she could see before he discarded his white coat, tie and shirt on the side of the pitch, holding his hand out towards Bryce.

“Gimme the ball.”

“Alrighttttt!” Bryce exclaimed as he handed off the ball and the game resumed. It went on for way longer than any of their lunchtimes, but for some reason that day nobody seemed to care about that too much. It was sunny and they were having fun. Casey smiled at Ethan as he scored for his team a bunch of times, each time celebrating in a new way.

#playchoices #pixelberry studios #choices stories you play #ethan ramsey fanfiction #dr ethan ramsey #dr ethan ramsey x mc #ethan x casey #dr casey valentine #open heart fanfiction

[pastelwitchling]

Part one. Part two.

This is the song Alex starts off listening to.

***

“And when you say my name,

Like white horses on the waves,

I think it feels the same,

As an ocean in my veins. . . .”

Alex’s eyes opened to the wide blue sky, spotted here and there with white clouds. The breeze blew softly in the trees, the leaves rustling, the birds chirping.

Alex inhaled deeply, thinking of the last time he’d seen Michael, that morning. It had been so cold then, but the chill in Alex’s bones had melted away at the mere sight of the cowboy. Now, even the warmth of the kind spring afternoon couldn’t compare.

Still, the radio’s music played on, and Alex let the soft melody and even softer voice wash over him.

I don’t remember any of it, he’d told Michael. He shut his eyes as he slumped further down in his seat, his legs lay completely flat on the table before him, his fingers intertwined over his stomach. There was no point worrying about that dream now. He was awake, it was over.

Michael seemed to certainly agree as he’d left that morning and Alex had yet to hear from him. Good, he thought, despite the slight clench of his heart. He’d done the right thing by sending Michael away, and while he certainly understood the cowboy’s concern for him, Alex was glad not to have to explain why or how he could break down like that, even in a fantasy.

How would he begin to tell Michael how he’d felt when he’d woken up? As if his deepest desires and feelings, everything he’d hidden away his entire life, everything he knew better than to confess, had been tapped into? How could he say that he’d woken up feeling drained and numb, because the Alex in his dreams wasn’t entirely him? It was Alex without self-control, without a filter, without understanding or loyalty for those in his life. He knew what he’d wanted, and he’d been willing to take it without care as to who he might be hurting. And, more than anything, he wanted Michael.

He had to admit, though, he never thought Michael would sit through telling Alex his entire dream all over again. He expected a shrug, a hollow smirk, some teasing retort about sex, but Michael had seemed adamant on telling Alex everything that had happened.

Well, Alex thought, unable to help but blush. Save for a few details.

He covered his face with his hands. Shut up, he urged his brain. None of it mattered now.

Alex’s phone rang suddenly, and he looked down to find Kyle’s name flashing brightly. He sighed, putting Michael to the back of his mind. It was time to get back to work.

He swiped on the screen and held the phone to his ear. “Yeah, Kyle?”

*

Michael tapped his finger against his beer bottle.

“I don’t remember any of it.” He smirked. What a liar. Michael knew Alex, and he knew when the airman wasn’t being honest. He remembered everything just fine, Michael was sure of it. And yet he’d asked Michael if he knew what had happened. Why? Had he expected Michael not to tell? And then they’d have to avoid talking about it altogether?

He thought of the way Alex’s expression had fallen when Michael had talked about his family, as if he’d been giving Michael an out, and was begging him to use it. Michael had been relentless though, desperate to understand for himself how Alex could fall to such a low point. How Michael had allowed him to fall like that. The Alex he’d seen in that dream, Michael knew, was not the Alex he knew.

That Alex was open and innocent, yes, but also frightened. Michael wasn’t an idiot to think Alex was never scared, but his airman had always seemed so able to push that fear aside and keep moving. So then . . . who had he been with in that fantasy?

Michael tilted his head back, downing the rest of his drink. Did it matter anymore? Alex had pulled away from him, had told him to leave. Alex had kissed Michael’s cheek in goodbye. And why? Because he actually thought that Michael could ever love anyone else.

Michael kept his eyes on the ceiling, even as someone slammed a glass on the bar. He could feel his girlfriend glaring.

“I’ve been calling you since last night,” she said. “Do you have any idea how worried I’ve been?”

Michael slowly brought his gaze down, taking in Maria’s angry expression.

“You have to understand . . . that I’ve always felt that way.”

“Why are we dating?” he asked bluntly, and Maria looked startled at the question. Michael couldn’t find it in him to feel guilt or fear at losing Maria. He knew what real fear felt like; real fear was when Isobel had vanished, when he thought he’d lost Max for good, when he thought Alex would never wake up again. Real fear was Alex walking away from him and Michael thinking he might never see him again.

Maria raised a brow, as if she was on her final nerve tonight, and Michael was about to snap it. He didn’t care. “What?”

“Why are we dating?” Michael repeated with a shrug. “We’re both clearly just passing the time. Aren’t we?” Maria’s expression hardened, but Michael persisted. “Aren’t we?”

She stared a moment longer, then said, “If this is your attempt to break up with me, Michael –”

“Is it a breakup if we were never actually together?” Michael asked. He’d been running the visit to Alex’s house over and over in his head. The way his airman had come out to sit with him, had firmly told Michael – even with the fear and distress evident in his own eyes and the way his fingers curled to fists on his lap ever so subtly – that he wasn’t to blame.

               Alex was never the kind to sugarcoat anything, never the one you went to if you wanted good news, but always the one to turn to when you wanted the truth. Alex didn’t make reassurances, he made promises.

               “Is this about Alex?”

               Michael sighed, getting to his feet. “Yeah. And no.”

               Maria looked around her bar with pursed lips, nodding to herself as she made a show of cleaning out the glass she was holding, though Michael thought it was as clean as it was ever going to get.

               “That’s where you were last night? And this morning? With Alex?”

               Michael sighed. “Nothing happened,” he said softly, and Maria scoffed.

               “I know, Michael,” she said with an edge in her voice. “I trust him.”

               Him, she said. Not you, him.

               Michael thought that was fair enough. He also trusted Alex more than he did himself anyway. Without another word or look at Maria, Michael pushed his hat onto his head, and turned to leave.

               *

               Alex had fallen asleep in his living room, again. He was bent over his coffee table, the table itself, as well as the floor, strewn with files and documents and journal entries. He sat up, rubbing the fatigue from his eyes, his face stinging where the corners of the files had dug into his skin.

               It took him a moment to realize that he hadn’t woken up on his own, but to the sound of knocking at his front door. With the thought that it must be Kyle who’d come to see him, Alex forced himself up to his feet with a groan, his leg aching all the more after having improperly fallen asleep on it.

               He limped to the door and opened it to find Michael on his porch. Alex blinked.

               “Guerin, hey – uh – what’re you doing here?”

               The sky had turned pitch black, but as usual, Michael seemed luminescent, his curls and honey eyes glowing all the brighter, as if determined to make up for the darkness surrounding him. Alex, as usual, just barely resisted the urge to reach out and touch.

               Michael walked into the cabin past Alex, in lieu of greeting him back. He looked around, taking in the small living room before he turned back to Alex, nudging his chin at the airman’s leg. “Your limp was worse this morning.”

               “I – what?”

               “And your car was making a weird noise on the drive back.”

               Alex’s brows furrowed. “Are you drunk?” Michael shook his head, looking everywhere but Alex’s eyes. Alex stared a moment, then his shoulders sagged. Oh no. “What happened?”

               “That entire time, I thought we’d been stuck in my fantasy,” Michael said. “That’s what happened.”

               Alex stilled. Michael’s words were rushed, as if desperate to get them out before they refused to come out at all.

               “I woke up in that bed, and I . . .” Michael shook his head, “I kissed you, and . . . I didn’t want to be anywhere else.” He scoffed, his smirk miserable. “Hell, even when I knew something was wrong, I didn’t care. I thought . . . just a little longer with him . . .  and then, I’ll figure it out. I didn’t know it was your dream until the very last second.”

               Alex stared, his eyes burning. Michael’s own breathing seemed shallow and faster than normal.

               “So,” Michael finally met his gaze, and huffed, “so, I’m coming back tomorrow to fix your stupid engine, okay? You’re not going to the base, you’re not going to the bunker – you’re staying here, and for once in your life, you’re going to rest, because I said so. You got that, Private?”

               Alex said nothing, even as Michael closed the distance between them. From here, Alex could catch his scent, and was only half-surprised to note that the cowboy didn’t reek the least bit of alcohol.

               Michael’s eyes bore into him, his hands twitching at his sides as if he ached just as badly as Alex did to reach up and touch the man before him.

               Alex looked away, but nodded. Michael moved past him to the door, but before he was too far away, Alex reached out and took his wrist. He didn’t turn to the look at the cowboy as he felt him go still behind him.

               Alex slid his hand from Michael’s wrist down to his hand, gripping his fingers tightly. He wasn’t dreaming, he knew he wasn’t, and yet. . . . If he let go of Michael now, would the cowboy disappear? Or would he really come back?

               As if hearing his thoughts, perhaps carrying the same fears, Michael gripped his hand back just as tightly. A tear rolled down Alex’s cheek despite himself, and slowly, letting his thumb gently caress the back of Michael’s hand, Alex let go.

               Michael left immediately, but Alex did not dare move until he heard the front door close. Alex all but fell onto his couch, his hand over his racing heart.

#alex manes #michael guerin #malex #malex fanfic #malex fic #malex fanfiction #roswell new mexico #roswell nm #malex angst #malex fluff #tyler blackburn #michael vlamis

[heychangbin]

The Camping Trip ║ Part Three

Summary: You hike through the gorge trail and catch lunch, have some heart-to-heart with billy before packing everything up and returning to the city.

Wordcount: 6239

Warnings: smut towards the end.

A/N: Last part of this trip!! thanks for coming along for the ride. 

You woke in increments, a low indistinct murmuring filtering through the haze of sleep, you hum at the feel of lips brushing feather light against the shell of your ear, the drag of a beard against the apple of your cheek, fingertips being ghosting up and down your arm, and a pleasant weight on your back. 

 "Billy…" the word laced with want and need, shifting your hips backwards to grind against him turning his murmuring to a groan as strong hands grip and still your movement. 

 “As much as I wanna tire you out first thing in the morning, I dont think it’s such a good idea.”

 “Whaddaya mean?” your brows furrow in confusion as you continue to try and grid against him. 

 Billy rarely ever turned down morning sex, even when he was overseas on a contract, if he had time to squeeze in a quick jerk while you two were on the phone, he’d take it.

 “It’s a ten minute walk to the showers,”

 That made you stop and turn to look over your shoulder, the foggy image of him tying up a condom coming to your mind's eye. 

 “That why you—”

 “Didn’t think it’d be a fun way to wake up”

 You turn to face him, the sheet pulling down and tight against your body with the movement and see that he’s dressed in fresh clothes, face washed and hair slicked back away from his face. Knowing him, he’s probably already been on his morning run 

 “You brought more than one, right?.” 

 He shifts and props himself on his elbows, body hovering over yours, lowering his head and pressing his lips to yours, his tongue coaxing your mouth open, your arms coming up to circle his neck as you kick your leg out of the sheet, hooking over his hip. Before the kiss could get too heated he pulls away, resting his forehead to yours, 

 “No more group trips after this.” he murmurs, his breath fanning across your face, "At least not the kind where we don't have solid ten inch walls between us and the rest of the world" he continues, making you chuckle as he lowers himself beside you, arms reaching out and bringing you close, hugging you to his chest for a moment, the gentle notes of sandalwood and spices from his cologne fill your nose while his fingers trace idle patterns on your arm. You feel your eyelids get heavier, your breathing evening out with every inhale

 "Breakfast is getting cold."

 His words pull you from the cusps of sleep and make you groan, bury your face further into the crook of his neck making him chuckle and squeeze your shoulder before pulling away and saying, 

 “C’mon, I’ll save you a cup.” before climbing out the bed and stepping out of the tent, leaving you alone.

 You roll onto your back and starfish across the blown up mattress for a moment, wiping and blinking your eyes exaggeratedly to dispel the last remaining dredges of sleep from them and climb out, stretching until your back gives a satisfying pop and reach for your clothes, changing into them quickly and slip into the flip flops that Billy insisted you bring. You reach for your phone bringing the screen to life and wince at the time, cursing under your breath as you put it to sleep and slip it into the pocket of your jeans. 

 Stepping out of the tent you rear your head back, bringing your hand up to shield your eyes, the morning is brighter than what you expected, making you squint and blink your eyes rapidly to help them adjust while you make your way to where Billy is standing, blue white speckled cup in his hand, talking with Frank, who looked like a lumberjack with his red plaid shirt, distressed washed out jeans, and dark worn boots, sans the mustache and beard. 

 Ten minute walk to the showers and everyone’s awake. You resist the urge to roll your eyes, knowing these guys, you’re pretty sure Billy, Frank, and Curt had gone on a morning jog together, maybe even a race. 

 “Where’s everyone?” you ask, when you come to a stop next to Billy, reaching for the cup in his hand and cradling it in your own, bringing it to your lips and blowing on it a few times, the palms of your hands soaking in the warmth that seeps from the aluminum cup before taking a generous gulp of the sweetened coffee.

 “Karen’s in our tent gettin’ her stuff to head to the showers.” Frank said, handing you a plate with toast and a couple of sunny side up eggs. 

 “Curt? Matt ‘nd Foggy?” you ask, setting down your cup and taking the plate form Frank, quickly breaking off a piece of bread and dipping it into the runny yellow center of an egg, half expecting to at least find Curt with Billy and Frank.

 You noticed the change in their faces instantly, their eyes hardening and the corners of their mouths turning down in a slight frown. You had seen that look on Billy's face before and it had a knot forming in the pit of your stomach, making you forget about the food in your hands. 

 After a beat Billy cleared his throat, his words somber as he spoke,  

 “Guy we served with reached out, ((seems to have run into some trouble)),” your eyes scanned the area, expecting to see Curt pacing along the treeline as he spoke into his phone. You’ve heard about some of the men Billy and Frank had served with, even met a few of them, knew that they weren't the type to come knocking on their door for a backyard BBQ, but the space was empty...emptier than it had been before you stepped into your tent last night. 

 “Curt headed out a couple hours ago, couldn’t get in touch with Reyes or Romano, Nelson offered to make a few calls to get Jameson out but was told that,” Billy paused, his face scrunching up in distaste before he continued, “that due to the severity of the crime and Jameson’s….particular skill set, the judge was….he’s withholding bail.”

 Your eyes widened, the piece of toast falling from your limp fingers onto your plate, you had met Jameson a couple of times before back when Anvil was in the stages of its infancy, he had been one of the few trainers Billy had hired alongside Frank, a mountain of a man, with an intense presence and few words, most of them used to give an insight of the devotion he had towards his little girl. 

 “What did he—”

 “He didn’t do it,” Frank interrupted, voice hard leaving no room for argument, “Whatever it is that they’re accusing him of, he didn’t do it. Jameson, he wouldn’t do that to his family, he’d—” he cut himself off, letting out a long huff, closing his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose, fingertips digging into the cartilage that never set right.

 People change Frankie, thought you’d understand that better than most, after Maria and the kids….your eyes jumped from Billy to Frank and back to Billy, who shook his head. 

 “Curt and Frank know the guy and they say he ain’t the type,” Billy says, hand reaching for the back pocket of his jeans and pulling out his phone, giving the screen a few quick taps and flicks. Dark eyes scanning the screen as a smile pulled at the corner of his lips followed by a few more taps, “and they’ve never steered me wrong” he continued, pressing the power button, making the screen go dark and returning it to the back pocket of his jeans.

 “Just put the boys on retainer, don’t worry Frankie, Jameson is gonna be in the best of hands.”

 Boys? You looked over at Billy, brow arched in question as you set your plate down. You knew of the lawyers that Curt had on hand for anything and everything to do with his veterans group, had spent a few afternoons helping him do some paperwork with them, and none of them were boys

 “Nelson and Murdock. ”

 “Still no Mick and Linda?” asked Karen as she made her way to where you were standing, hair pulled into a messy ponytail at the crown of her head, a soft looking green towel over her shoulder, and a blue mesh shower caddy in her hand. 

 “Curt hasn’t been able to get a hold of them yet, and it’s been a few hours since Jameson called” he said shrugging, picking a piece of toast from your plate and popping it into his mouth, chewing and swallowing it quickly, “from the looks of it, it ain’t a vet thing, but if they need to be brought on later we’ll give them a call.”

 That mean… “We should get going if we wanna get through a couple of these trails and catch lunch.”

 You groaned internally as you throw back the last of your coffee, setting down the tin cup on the table and turning to head back to your tent.

 “Want me to wait for you?” you heard Karen call, but you waved her off, throwing a quick, “i’ll catch up with you” over your shoulder. 

 *****

 The trek through the gorge alone was worth the four hour drive to the state park. You’d never expected such a place to be so near the city. 

 Stepping out of the entrance tunnel and onto the bridge was something else, the shades of green and yellow in the trees, the sun light streaming in overhead and the glistening walls of rock, you had been able to hear the roaring of the waterfall, had been fully expecting it, but seeing it, framed between two walls of rock, with scattered leafs and vines was breathtaking. 

 You leaned your hands on the top of the bridge wall, the stone cool and damp under your palms, the sound of the rushing water drowning out the noise of the passersby around you as you watched the water break at the bottom, joining the stream that continued gently down its course.

 Billy's hand a warm weight on your back as he said, 

 “Frank and Karen went on head, but we can’t fall too far behind if we wanna catch lunch.

 You turned to look at him, brown raised in question, “You made reservations? What kind of place takes reservations but is okay with you walking in in jeans, t-shirt and sneakers? Is it a local hotspot that's always full?”

 The corner of his lips pulled up into a smile, a mischievous glint in his eyes that would’ve gone unnoticed to someone that didn’t know him like you did. 

 “C’mon, we better get going if you’re gonna stop at every fall like this.”

 Every fall? “How many are there?” you ask turning to him fully

 “Nineteen.” The smile on his lips grew, crinkling the corner of his eyes as yours widened in disbelief.

 Better get movin’ then. You took his hand and tugged, continuing on at a leisurely pace, always mindful of the slick stone at your feet and the water that fell like soft raindrops, stopping for a moment to admire the cavern on the side of the rock wall, taking in the dozens upon dozens of erosion lines that littered its surface and the cascade in front of it before continuing on to the next set of stair that took you further into the gorge. At the top, nestled between two walls of eroded rock was fall number three, the water a brilliant white as it fell off the edge towards the bottom, beyond it a cluster of trees in shades of greens and light yellows, the sunlight streaming in making everything seem like it had an otherworldly glow. You reach for your phone, pressing and flicking the screen to bring up your camera, taking a couple of pictures, focusing on the white frothy water. 

 “Can’t get any better than this.” you murmur as you take one last shot of the fall before pocketing your phone, you catch the ends of a smile on Billy’s lips before he turns and continues to guide you through the trail. 

 You’re reaching the next set of steps when you feel your eyes widen and understand why Billy had chuckled, you had thought that the trail led you past the waterfall, not behind it, as you got closer the water got louder and the spray of the water grew, littering your skin in tiny drops that helped cool it, and when you walked directly behind it, you couldn't help but reach out and touch it, pulling it back almost immediately due to it being so cold.  

 You continued on to the next set of steps that lead you through a short tunnel, through it a wall littered with vines and tree branches that ranged from greens, to yellows and browns, and when you turned to continue down the trail it was made even more majestic by the stone walkway and the brilliant sun that shined down on the scene, reaching for your phone again to take a few more pictures.

 After a few steps you caught sight of the next fall up ahead and quickened your pace, taking out your phone and took a short video of the multiple small falls that cascade into the peaceful stream. When your finished you pocket your phone and come to stand beside Billy, ((whose)) fingers are tapping about the screen of his phone. 

 “Got your shot Warhol?” Billy asks as he pockets his device, making you roll your eyes at him. 

 “Yeah, I did.”

 You continue down the narrow walkway looking between the calm stream, the looming trees overhead and the mossy rock walls before turning onto the next set of steps that lead you higher above the gorge.

 The next stop was Glen Cathedral, and it was even more beautiful than the last stop you had made. The trees were high above the rock walls, the sunlight shining on a smattering of greens, yellows, browns, reds, and oranges. 

 You made it to the central cascade and the rainbow falls both of them breathtaking in their beauty, but your favorite had to be the view from mile point bridge, where you reunited with Frank and Karen, looping back together. 

 *****

 When Frank and Billy had said “catch lunch” you had expected to go off the trail into town, to a small secluded bistro with patio tables that served iced drinks in little mason jars and plating was worth a picture to add to your personal social media, you hadn’t thought that they had meant it literally. Which if you were being honest, was on you. 

 You’ve known Frank for a while now, knew that that wasn’t his style. 

 That’s how you found yourself in a charter boat, a spinning rod in your hands, line casted a few feet from the rear end of the boat, the round red and white marker attached to it bobbing with the minute waves.  

 If you were being honest, you didn't mind it, it felt nice to hold a fishing rod in your hands again, even if it wasn’t the one you had back home and it didn’t have your lucky lure, had you had it you were sure that you would’ve caught a fish by now.

 It was getting close to the 20 minute mark and all you felt on your line were tentative nibbles, while Frank and Billy had already caught several fish between them and Karen had had the bad luck of reeling too soon before the fish was properly hooked on her line.

 You know it’s a game of patience and tamp down the urge to reel your line back in and cast it again, especially when you see the tug on Karen's fishing line, Frank coaching her on how to feel if the fish is properly hooked to be reeled in. 

 Dave, the guy that took you out into the lake, checks his watch and mentions that your time with the boat is almost up. You hear Frank and Billy say that you’ve caught enough to make lunch for the four of you, to start heading back to shore. 

 You start reeling in your line when you feel a tug that makes you stop, when there is no pull you begin to crank the lever again, giving it a few full turns when there is a tug on the line again. 

 A nibbler, Instead of continuing to reel the line back in, you tug the rod back a few times, hoping that it entices the fish to actually bite the lure. After a few quick tugs, you feel the sudden pull, you plant your feet, pull the rod straight up and start to reel in earnest, ignoring the commotion behind you.

 It isn't long before the fish breaks the surface of the water, and when it does you feel your eyes widen in a mixture of shock and awe. It’s big, with silvery scares,  muddy yellow fins and light spots along it’s back and sides, you ((offhandedly)) register Frank leaning over the edge of the rear, holding out the fishing net to catch the large fish when it’s close enough, Karen’s hand fisted in the back of his shirt, holding him so he wouldn't fall, Billy coming up behind you and helping you hold the rod as you cranked the lever.

 Everyone gave a satisfied cheer when Frank slid the net under it and pulled it onboard, opening its mouth and pulling the hook out from the corner of its mouth. 

 “This is a whole lotta fish” he says holding it up and he’s right, the fish easily clears the foot long mark and is wider than Franks arms. You idly wonder how the sheer size and weight if it didn’t snap your fishing line as Frank sets it in the cooler with the other fish that had been caught while Billy gives the go ahead to Dave to head back to shore. 

 ************

 You reach the campsite, after making a quick stop at a store on the way back, Billy made quick work of cutting and cleaning the large fish you had caught, putting away the smaller ones in a ziplock bag, saying a quick,

 “Lunch tomorrow”  as he tossed the bag into the cooler

 “I thought we were packing up after breakfast?”

 “You really wanna drive 4 hours back to the city with fish in a cooler?” Billy arched a brow, managing to make it look questioning and judging at the same time.

 “He’s got a point there.” Piped up Frank from where he was crouched over, cleaning the burned out remnants of the fire form the morning and got to work starting a new one, Billy dunking the fish in a large bowl of water, running the edge of a knife along its’ body, scraping off the scales, while you and Karen were put on vegetable duty, cleaning and chopping carrots and potatoes, packing them in foil.

 It wasn't long before Frank had a fire going under the grill rack, moving and spacing out the flaming chunks of wood and turning it into a low flame.

 You, Karen, and Frank were sitting in your chairs, enjoying a beer as the veggie packs cooked on the rack, the skillet heating up beside them, when Billy made his way over with the prepped fish, placing two fillets at a time on the skillet, the pink meat sizzling as it was laid down. It only took a few moments for the aroma of herbs, spices, and a hint of lemon to waft into the air, making your mouth water.

 After a few minutes Billy flipped the fish, the top a nicely toasted brown, after a few more minutes and Karen was handing Billy the plates, Billy loading each one with a pack of veggies and a golden fish fillet. 

 Hints of spices engulfed your tongue after the first bite, forcing you to suppress a moan as you chewed,

 “This is amazing!” you say after swallowing your first bite, fork working on breaking off another piece.

 “You sound surprised, what? Didya think we were gonna have you eating beans out off a can?” 

 Your enthusiastic chewing stopped as you threw a sidelong look at Karen, who was also avoiding looking at Frank and Billy, her fork picking aimlessly at the food on her plate.

 “You really thought I’d feed you canned beans? I’ve made you dinner before!”

 “You’ve plated takeout Billy, that doesn’t count." You deadpan, before shoving another bite into your mouth, Billy’s eyebrows quirk in question while your words send Karen into a fit of laughter. 

 You ate the remainder of your meal and shared various stories until the sky began to turn and the air got chilly, making quick work of the clean up while the fire, that was fed every so often, was put out. After checking that everything was put away and the trash bag was out of reach from any potential midnight thieves (Frank, Billy and Curt had woken up to Matt chasing away a couple of raccoons), you say your goodnights and head to your tent with Billy at your side.

You go through your nightly routine, stripping your clothes, tossing them in the hamper and pulling your Anvil shirt on, then move to one of the small tables and pick up the things to brush your teeth before climbing into bed, Billy settling behind you a few minutes later, his arm going around your waist and pulling you back against him, his hand snaking its way under your shirt and resting on the skin of your stomach, thumb swiping across the skin under your sternum. 

 As you lay in bed, the faint sounds of crickets and the gentle sound of Billy’s breathing filling the empty space, you thought over the past couple days, the satisfaction you felt helping pitch up your tent, victory when you found your way back to your campsite, wonderment as you walked through the gorge, exhilaration when you reeled in the large trout, most of all amazed at the fact that despite the amount of years you had known Billy, there are still things to learn about him. 

 Your mind wandered to things you wished you had had time to do, like swim in a lake, chop down a tree, take a shot at building a fire yourself, sleep under the stars….

 “Bill?” you whispered into the dark, taking his wrists and squeezing, repeating his name a little louder. 

 “what is it?” he mumbles into your hair half asleep.

 “Didya mean it? What you said this morning,” you shift and turn in the circle of his arms until you're on your side facing him. “About next time, it just being us.”

 A slow smile spread across his face, his hand coming up to cup your face,

 ‘Yeah, I meant it, just us," he pauses for a beat, as if deep in thought before continuing, "or investing in multiple packs or earplugs."

 You snort, smacking him in the middle of his chest with the back of your hand,

 “Didn’t mean that,”

 “What did you mean then?”

 “Being out here, unplugged, it was fun, relaxing, and I wouldn’t mind doing it again sometime.”

 The corners of his lips pull up in a gentle smile, pushing the apple of his cheeks up and crinkling the corners of his eyes, 

 “I wouldn’t mind doing it again either.” he murmurs, leaning forward and brushing his lips against yours, humming when his tongue pushes past your lips and delves into your mouth, your hand snakes between your bodies, cupping him through the thin material of his boxer briefs, feeling him grow stiff as you squeezed and stroke his length, groaning into your mouth before sinking his teeth into your bottom lip and tugging as his hips move in counterpoint with your hand. 

 “Please tell me you brought more than the one condom.” 

 “Y-yeah, they’re—” a groan rumbles in his chest as you drag your hand along his length, your grip twisting as you neared the tip, “fuck, they’re in my….in my….if you keep”

 You slowed and slackened your hold on him, while seeing how long you could make Billy hold off releasing in your hand was your favorite game; it wasn’t what you had in mind for tonight. You pull your hand away and Billy throws the sheets off his body, climbing off the bed in the same motion, long legs carrying him to the hanging organizers in a handful of strides; hands reach in and riffle through one of the compartments, returning to the bed just as quickly and tossing the foil packet onto his pillow.

 He made his way between your legs, holding himself over your body, your arms going around his neck, hand threading themselves in the longer strands of his hair as he lowered himself and kissed you. His lips moved against yours with purpose as you dragged your nails against the back of his head, his hand slid over to your breast, long fingers cupping and squeezing the pliable mound, his thumb sweeping across the peaking bud, before he pinched and rolled it between his thumb and index finger, making you moan into his mouth. 

 His hand gripped and squeezed as it made its way down your chest, gripping the edge of your shirt and pulling on it insistently, pulling away from you and pushing it up and over your head, returning his lips to your overheating skin, kissing a trail along the column of your neck. You hissed in pain, back arching off the bed slightly, when you felt his teeth sink into the delicate skin of your collarbone, before moving on to the top of your breast, sucking it into his mouth. 

 He presses opened mouth kisses to every inch of skin as he continues downward, licking and nipping the inside of your legs as he settles himself between your thighs, making you hum when you feel his lips press against the apex of your mound and down along the folds.

 He teases you relentlessly, a long dexterous finger joining his ministrations, running up and down your lips, spreading the wetness that he’s working out of you while his tongue lightly flicks and circles  your clit. His tongue working you over harder when he adds a second finger, pushing them past your folds and pumping them into you, the pads of his fingers brushing against your soft walls, eliciting moans and groans from you, your skin turning feverish as you grip and guide his head over to where you need him, your hips undulating of their own accord. 

 You're a writhing mess when he works a third finger into you, pumping, curling, and massaging your walls, that coupled with the way his mouth is insistently working your clit has you hurtling towards your orgasm. Your hands fly to cover your mouth, muffling the long dragged out moan, your legs clamping around Billy’s head as you curl in on yourself. 

 You flop back down in a heap, feeling boneless and high, body jolting as Billy’s gives you a few final licks, and begins to lazily kiss his way back up.

 “Been wantin’ to do that since this mornin’” he murmurs, lips ghosting against the base of your neck before he nips the skin over your pulse point. 

 You wrap your arms around his shoulder, dragging  your fingernails across his shoulder blades, fueling the quiet rumble in his chest, 

 “Been wantin’ to do something since this mornin’ too.” you say against his temple, you drag your hand back and over his shoulder, laying your palm on his chest and give a hard shove, flipping him over and onto his back, and quickly climb over on top of him, a little too quickly. You let out a surprised yelp when your knee slips over the edge of the bed, the rest of your body following the momentum. You would have landed on your face had it not been for the strong arms that circle your waist and roll you back to the middle of the bed.

 “That usually works and is infinitely more sexy when we do it at home.” you say between heaving breaths. 

 Billy lets out a rumbling laugh, kissing the top of your head and saying,

 “Might be because our bed at home takes up half our bedroom.” he rubs the length  of your arms a few times before pulling back to look at your face, “You alright?”

 “Yeah, didn’t hurt anything, just my pride”

 He lets out another small chuckle, fingers brushing back a few strands of damp hair you can feel sticking to the side of your face “if you wanna try again, I’m all for it.”

 “Can’t imagine being sexy after that.”

 “Hey,” he pulls back, pushing your chin up to raise your head so you meet his eyes, “there’s nothing sexier than making someone laugh in the middle of sex.”

 His eyes are intense and you know he means what he just said, it makes your chest bloom in warmth, you stretch and press your lips against his, flicking your tongue against the seam of his lips as your hand reaches for the edge of his boxers. You can tell his erection has flagged a bit, most likely due to the scare of you falling, so you forgo the elastic and palm him through the fabric, pumping and  squeezing the shaft while deepening the kiss. 

 It isn't long before his hips are grinding into your hand, dick hard and dampening the front of his boxers. You pull away from him and with hurried hands push the underwear down, scooting down the bed to pull them off his legs and tossing them somewhere over the edge as you hear the crinkling and tearing of the condom packet, when you look back up, Billy is rolling the condom onto himself. You make your way back up and settle over his waist, lowering yourself onto him, running your wet sex over his harden length, his hands reach out and grip your waist, fingertips digging hard into the soft skin as his legs come up behind you. 

 There's a flush that spreads over his chest as you continue to roll your hips, his hands helping to guide the speed in which you move, when he starts tossing his head back and his hips begging to give aborted buck you lift yourself onto your knees, reach for his length and guide it to your entrance and slowly sink down. His eyes roll back and a low groan rumbles in his throat, while you bite your lower lip to stifle the moan that’s threatening to push past your lips. 

 Once he’s fully inside you, you pause for a moment, breathing deep and slow to fully adjust, you give a tentative roll of your hips making him hiss and grip your thighs, then another, and another and soon his hands are urging you faster, his own hips pushing off the bed and thrusting into you, his hands reaching up to squeeze and push at the swell of your breasts, leaving pink prints behind as it continues up to your neck. 

 You lean forward, palms splayed and fingernails digging into his chest as you continue to ride him, you're close to your second release, and you tell him as much between labored breaths. The hand that's gripping your neck brings you down, angling your head to the side and slotting his lips over yours, tongue pushing past your lips and turning it deep and filthy as he shifts your position, rolling you both onto your side, grabbing the back of your knee and hooking it over his hip and pistons into you with reckless abandon, making you reach your climax with a silent scream. Billy follows soon after, his thrusts becoming disjointed before stilling against yours a few moments later with a bitten off moan. 

 He props himself up on his elbows, his breathing was ragged as he held himself over you for a beat before dipping his head dragging his lips against yours slowly in a final kiss and pulling out of you, letting himself fall beside you on the bed.

 You struggle to keep your eyes open long enough for Billy to get rid of the condom and hug yourself to him but you tried anyway, forcing your eyes open until you felt the bed dip again when he climbs back on, settling behind you, pulling you against his chest and murmuring something that sounded like a goodnight against the back of your ear, only then did you let your eyes to slip close and allow yourself to drift into unconsciousness.

 -May 24 2015-

 Morning comes too soon for your liking, making you groan when you feel Billy pull away from you, he chuckles and presses a quick kiss to your temple and saying,

 "C'mon lazy bones, we got a busy mornin' ahead of us."

 "Or" you said, rolling over onto your back the bedsheet pooling around your waist, exposing your bare breasts, "we could lay here and just forget the world."

 "As tempting as that notion is, and believe me, it is very tempting, we both have morning meetings tomorrow that can't be rescheduled."

 You roll your eyes and groan, "thanks for the reminder."

 You love your job, you really do, Mr. Fitzgerald is one of the few decent men you had come to work for in New York, but that didn't mean the people he worked with were the same. You thanked your lucky stars that you only had to deal with the board members once every few months. 

 "And before you start with your Anvil pitch, I'll think about it when Mr. Fitzgerald retires.”

 Billy climbs on the bed again, arms braced on either side of your head holding himself over you. 

 "I’m just sayin’, I run a pretty tight ship at Anvil, you wouldn’t have to deal with ((half)) the bullshit you deal with working for Mr. whatever-his-name-is.”

 You chuckle, running your hand over his chest, “Mr. Fitzgerald and you know why I’m not jumping to work at Anvil”

 Billy’s head rolls along with his eyes and lets himself flop next to you, lifting his hand and gesticulating as he spoke,

 “It wouldn't be the same thing and you wouldn’t have to be my secretary, there’s always positions for trainers, HR, Jenson is still looking for a capable accounting assistant.

 “And before you go on your “i dont wanna ride anyones coattails” or whatever speech, I’m not involved with the hiring process, that’s all HR. and we have a strict unbiased policy.

 “So if you manage to get a position at Anvil, it’ll be all on your own merit. Nothing else, not cuz you’re sleeping with the CEO, not because you have nice legs, a great rack, or have a peach of an ass, it’ll be because you are more than capable for the position.”

 “I’ll think about it.” you say, meaning it more than you ever have.

 You shift to roll out of bed but stop when Billy doesn't move, you look up at him and arch your brows in question. 

 “While I have you here,” he pauses and you knew exactly where this was going,

 “Billy, it’s too early to have that conversation again,”

 He reaches for your hand, twining your fingers together and bringing it to his lips to place a soft kiss to the back of your hand, “I just wanna take care of you.”

 “You already do Billy, so much”

 “Right now, sure, but...this would be for the future, whatever it is, if somethin’...somethin’ happens and I’m—” you press two fingers to his lips, silencing him. you wouldn’t let his thoughts go there. 

 “I’ll think about it.” you say, reaching up and pressing your lips to the bridge of his nose, climbing over him and out of bed, reaching for your clothes and getting dressed. 

 *******

 Billy had been right to say you had a busy morning ahead of you. After a light breakfast of coffee and granola power bars and a quick trip to the showers, everyone got to work, picking up trash and putting away the nonessentials, packing them away in the back of the SUV.

 It was about midday when Billy started to work on getting lunch ready, laying down fish fillets on the skillet and letting them cook for a few minutes before turning them over, taking them off the pan and letting them rest while he repeated the process with the next batch. A few minutes later, he was handing out plates with fish tacos on them. And wondered, not for the first time, where Billy had gotten his culinary skills and why he had hid them for this long.

 You and Karen were coming back from tossing out the trash and washing the inside of the cooler, plates and the pan Billy had used a few sites over to find Billy and Frank had taken down and were meticulously folding the tents.

 A few minutes later, you were all piling into the SUV, Billy pulling out of the site and heading back up the dirt road you had taken back to the city.

---------

Gen: @juguitos @something-tofightfor @its-my-little-dumpster-fire @the-blind-assassin-12 @suchatinyinfinity​ @bts-smolarmy @elanor-of-imladris 

Billy Russo: @nananananananananananabatman @shinebrightlikeafanbase  @emyyjemyy

Wanna know what other adventures you and Co. are in for? inbox, dm me or add yourself here!

#billy russo #billy russo x reader #billy russo x you #billy russo imagine #billy russo fanfiction #billy russo fic #the punisher fic #the punisher reader insert #the punisher au #the punisher billy russo

[aubergineanathema]

Secrets behind stone walls

Part 1 - The ruin in the clearing: Preface Part 2 - Whispers in darkness Part 3 - Käsdorf and Wulvosburg ---- Part 4. The full moon shone over Wulvosburg, filling the halls with an eerie luminescence through the various windows, light of various colors filtering through the stained glass. The windows in every hall had been commissioned to be crafted with luxury, although in the darkness of night their splendor was muted. Heavy velvet curtains, bolted to the wall high above, were pulled back on either side of each tall, narrow, window, punctuating the gray walls with deep red lengths of color, and every dozen feet or so, a painting or some other finely-wrought object was on display.

Brighter than the moonlight within the walls was a warm candle flame, flickering as it hovered down the corridor. Carrying this flame was a young woman, her bound brown hair drooping with the weight of a long day. She wore a simple red woolen gown, overlaid with a worn apron, dusty and stained from the events of the day. She was hesitant in her step, as though she were trying to remember exactly where this corridor led. She glanced at the walls and the ornate displays her lord had devised over the years, pausing every so often, and clearly fascinated by objects collected here. Small figures of exotic animals with strange exaggerated features sat on a wooden cabinet, their names unknown to her, carved of some gleaming white stone. A strange sword, curved and sharpened on one side, not straight like the ones she had seen men wield before, hung from the wall with a hilt of gold and intricate spirals curving along the blade.

She stopped briefly to stared at a portrait. It was of a beautiful woman, the paint creating a facsimile of lusciously folded red garments and carefully twisted golden hair. Her framed face was pale and angular, her gaze sharp and stoic. There was something in the expression that was a mystery to the servant, something guarded and opaque, and compellingly sad. Something about the face of a long-dead noble, staring possessively out into a world that was no longer hers. One could not help but get lost in such a face, at least for a moment. “You’re papa’s new servant.” A knowing voice declared from the darkness.

The servant gasped and fumbled, startled by the sudden knowledge that she was not alone. She dropped the candle that lit her way, hastily snatching it up again to prevent the flame from going out, realizing a second later that liquid tallow had splattered across a beautiful red and gold rug. “I’m so sorry!” She stammered, staring at the mess she had made. “I’ll clean it up once the wax cools! It shouldn’t be--” She stopped at the shrill sound of giggling, and looked toward the source of the voice. Stepping out from the shadows, without a candle of her own was a beautiful young woman. She wore a bright emerald evening gown of silken material, the edges of which were intricately embroidered with gold thread. The elaborate pattern was mesmerizing, as were her piercing blue eyes. The servant stared as she approached, an uncanny feeling of familiarity washing over her as she saw the sharp angular face and rich blonde curls, done up with such exact perfection so late at night. She glanced again at the portrait on the wall, and it was as though it had come to life. The young woman in the green gown noticed this association and sighed. “Mama was so beautiful, wasn’t she? She’s gone now, but this is only one of the portraits Papa had commissioned.” She stopped just beside the servant, closer than anticipated, and stared up at the portrait for a moment, too. The servant grew uncomfortable as the delicate satin brushed against her coarse woolen sleeve, but did not know if it would be appropriate to step away. She could not even think to give condolences for the woman in the portrait.

But then it was over. The young woman stepped back with a laugh and twirled  so that the green gown unfurled around her. “Maid, you may call me Angelika, daughter of Lord Alastair of Vorsfelde. And what is your name?” The servant was still reeling my the suddenness off the conversation that it took her a moment to reply. “It’s Helga, Lady Angelika.” Helga bowed quickly in response to the introduction. She was not yet well-versed in the etiquette of a noble household, and seemed anxious not to displease. “Helga? Hm.” Angelika seemed to ponder the name for a moment. “And you are from the village?”

Helga nodded. “Yes, it is an honor to be here. And, it is an honor to for my family to serve yours!”

Angelika waved a hand and scoffed, as though she cared not to talk about such things. In fact, she seemed a bit annoyed with the pleasantries altogether.

“And what are you doing wandering the halls so late at night!″ Angelika changed the subject, her eyes flashing with curiosity.

“Oh! I was looking for the servants’ quarters. The cooks had me working in the kitchen all day doing inventory, and when I finished, everyone else was gone.” Helga replied sheepishly. She had been wondering if she had worked too slowly. “And, I’m afraid I still get lost in this place. It’s so large compared to the village.”

“I can show you where that is, I suppose.”  Angelika gave a polite smile. “But first, let me show you something much more fun.”

Helga, who had been on her feet since dawn, felt weary at the idea of doing anything but sleep, but weakly she nodded anyway. She did not think she could reject the offer of the daughter of a lord even if she wanted to. “Wonderful!”

Angelika lunged forward and took Helga’s hand before Helga could even blink and began to pull her along. She stumbled after her, nearly dropping her candle again as she regained her balance. She noticed with faint surprise that Angelika’s hands were gloved in soft white leather, and yet again wondered why that might be. Why was this woman dressed as though she were entertaining royalty on a quiet night like this? Perhaps, she reasoned tiredly, this was just how nobles were.  

“Oh, and don’t worry about the rug. They don’t mean much to Papa.” She explained nonchalantly as she led the servant away. “They were... inherited, not sought out.” Helga looked down at the beautiful rugs that seemed to line each corridor. She didn’t understand how such beautiful things could be so disregarded, but did not dare to say anything about it. She resolved in her head to return the next day to clean the mess she had made, if only for her own peace of mind.

They traveled in silence for awhile, Angelika keeping a firm grip on the servant’s hand as they walked. Helga did not think it was proper to necessarily speak if not spoken to, and so she looked at the various paintings and decorations instead, and tried to use these as points of reference to gather her bearings. They went down a flight of stairs, and then another, and Helga recognized the corridor that would lead to her quarters. But then they continued down another stairwell, and the burning question of what this woman wanted to show her was threatening on the tip of Helga’s tongue. 

“Sister! Shouldn’t you be in bed?” Came a voice from behind them. 

Helga gasped again, as Angelika used her grip on her hand to essentially fling the servant behind herself as she turned on a dime to face a young man, strolling towards them from the darkness. Helga caught herself from falling and looked back, mute with confusion.

The man who approached them wore an easy smile of bright white teeth. He had the same angular face, and blond hair. His hair, however, was less perfectly coiffed, and pulled into a knot at the back of his head, only allowing a few strands to fall around his face in ringlets. The clothes he wore, too, were not nearly as luxurious. He wore a dark brown tunic and pants, with only the slightest hint of gold embroidery along the cuffs and collar.  “Don’t act so startled, sister. It’s unbecoming. I just wanted to introduce myself to the new help.” He nodded in Helga’s direction. “I’m Lucian, son and heir to Lord Alastair of Vorsfelde. And you?” “H-Helga of Kasdorf.” Helga managed, unsure of the situation. She hesitated and then bowed again awkwardly. “I just didn’t expect you back so soon from your gallivanting.” Angelika grimaced in his direction and returned to Helga’s side. “And anyway, go away. You’re bothering us.” 

“Bothering you, my dear and noble sister? Under this roof? I wouldn’t dare!” “You just want to steal this servant away from me. Go and play with one of the toys father gifted you. Go on.”

When Lucian simply smiled and continued to follow them, Angelika grabbed an ornate censer from a nearby cabinet and lobbed it directly at Lucian’s head with force and clear intent to hit. Helga stood frozen, shocked at the sudden violent outburst, but Lucian dodged it easily and laughed. It clattered dully across the rug and crashed against the wall.

“Come on, sister. I only want to accompany you.” Lucian continued, undeterred. “You’re going to show her our most esteemed guest, aren’t you? Father’s newest import from Spain? I’m coming with you, or I’ll tell our father you’re tormenting the help again.”   “Fine.” Angelika growled with exasperation, dramatically latching on to Helga’s arm and leading her away. “Just keep your distance, Lucian.” “Where are we going?” Helga finally managed to ask, her voice wavering. The grip Angelika had upon her was even tighter than before, and it was clear to her that she had no choice but to follow.

“Don’t worry your little head. We’re almost there.” Angelika replied.

Another flight of stairs, and they were underground now. The only light came from slits in the stone walls far out of reach, near the ceiling, and of course from Helga’s candle. She saw that they were passing by cells with bars on either side. It was too dark for her to tell if there were poor souls sequestered inside. The shadows seemed to stretch in odd ways down here, playing tricks on the eyes. Helga felt the grip of cold and dampness in the air.

Ahead of them, there was movement and the sounds of grunting, but they were not close enough for the candlelight to reach. At her back Helga felt Angelika nudging her closer, so as to illuminate the cell further with the candle. “Hey, wait!” Helga did not want to get any closer to the cell than she already had to be. She shuffled backwards as much as she could against Angelika’s firm grip.

Within, there was a brief moment of silence. Then, the sounds of labored breathing and sniffing. Something massive churned behind the bars, and it knew they were there.  “Well, this is boring.” Lucian stepped forward and shoved Helga at the bars.

Helga yelped and fell to her knees, too shocked to feel the stone scrape her skin. The candle was dropped and rolled away from her. Her eyes could only stare as it as it rolled, slowly, off to the right, illuminating a small part of the cell before her. She heard growling and unable to breathe she lifted her gaze slowly.  A huge snarling beast loomed over her, just beyond the bars. It was all matted fur and limbs and glinting fangs as large as kitchen knives. Spittle smelling of blood and dirt and death dripped down from quivering jaws. Rabid eyes fixed upon her.

She screamed.

The beast howled in response. ----

This has been Part 4. For more, see my Fiction Updates post.

---- If you like this or my other original work, please feel free to share with your friends (with credit of course). I would really like feedback, so don’t be shy to talk to me about it!

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[hoodoo12]

A Feather Touch (a Ménage continuation)

Read Ménage here, if you are so inclined. NSFW, Beetlejuice/Angel Dewey Finn, oral, massage, the properties of celestial feathers, false accusations, forgiveness

@thewolfisapartofmysoul @beetlewise-and-pennyjuice @janitor-boy @ironmansuucks @beejiesbitch @dilfyjuice

“Oh god, Dewey baby that feels so good, that feels so good--”

His hips jerked erratically and his hand had to have tightened too painfully in his lover’s hair, but he couldn’t help himself; the angel had a wicked mouth and when his wingtips came up and brushed along his body from nipples to thighs, Beetlejuice howled and came in his throat.

He drifted in a sea of pleasure and couldn’t control some residual spasms, until Dewey pulled off him. Lazily he looked down his torso to see the angel wipe away a string of semen-opaque spit with the back of his hand from his lower lip. The angel’s eyes were blown dark with arousal. His lips were shiny and slightly swollen, and there was a flush high on his cheeks.

Instantly the lazy, post-orgasm haze was replaced with a predatory resurgence of lust.

Quick as a thought, he hauled Dewey atop him, holding him close, asking in a dirty whisper, “What do you want, baby? How do you want it? I’ll suck you off, you can fuck me--Dewey I wanna make you see stars, baby--”

The angel’s wings fluttered and stroked down his naked body again, and Beetlejuice moaned, clutching his lover even more tightly. When Dewey held his eyes and whispered huskily exactly what he wanted and how he wanted it, the demon managed to smile though his jaw was loose from the decidedly non-holy words that graced his ears.

Afterward, sated and pleasantly achy, Beetlejuice idly dragged his fingers through Dewey’s wings. The angel liked to cuddle and was snug against his side; his heat was welcome but even more so were the silky feathers under his hands. Dewey twitched like it was bothersome.

If he wasn’t so blissed out, he might have continued to do it because he liked it. As it were, he apologized and stilled his hand. “Sorry, baby.”

Dewey shook his head slightly. “No, no--Beej . . . it doesn’t hurt. It tickles a little, but  . . . I like it.”

It had been hard for Dewey to open up about what he liked and preferred instead of simply allowing whatever happened to him to happen. Molly called it growth and encouraged it; Beetlejuice called it “finally giving in to the Dark Side” and “admitting he was a pervert, like the rest of us”. Out of earshot of course. He was routinely admonished by Molly about it.

With her words ringing in his ears that they needed to be supportive, but mostly because he wanted to continue, Beej said,

“You like it, huh? Like this?”

He dragged his palm flat against the white wings.

“Or this?”

Here he was more delicate, slipping his fingers gently between the individual feathers to stroke.

Dewey shuddered at each. “I like them both,” he admitted shyly.

Beetlejuice ran his hand down them some more, and each time the angel wiggled. He narrowed his eyes and noted that the area he petted had smoothed down a bit. He shrugged his shoulder, bouncing Dewey’s head, to get his attention.

“Hey. Do angels preen their wings? You know, like birds?”

Sure this was a set up for some kind of prickish comment, Dewey frowned and shook his head half-grumpily. “What are you talking about? We’re not birds. Do you have to routinely wet down those tentacles of yours, like some kind of sea creature?”

Immediately he regretted snapping. They’d been having a nice time, laying here; he’d liked the demon’s hands on him, and now he’d gone and ruined the mood. Guilt flooded him. Before he could apologize or throw himself off the bed and go hide so he didn’t have to face Molly’s disappointment in him being so rudely horrible, Beetlejuice gave a snort of a laugh.

“You’re gettin’ better at that, Dew,” he praised lightly, then mused a bit. “Prob’ly more accurate to call them arms than tentacles, though . . .”

He gave himself a bit of a shake and refocused on the angel beside him. He pressed a kiss into the shock of dark hair, ran his hands over his feathers again, and continued softly,

“I know you’re not birds. But you have feathered wings, and I wondered if you did any kind of grooming or something with them.”

That made Dewey feel even guiltier, Beetlejuice being patient with him. He apologized in a whisper, still fully expecting to be huffed at or for the soft atmosphere that had surrounded them to be fractured. The continued gentle strokes along his wings told him otherwise, though, and made him settle in closer again to the cool body that never seemed to warm beside him. He sighed and closed his eyes.

“Not really? I mean, I never have,” he admitted. “Why do you ask?”

Beetlejuice shrugged. “They just look smoother after I was running my hand down them. And I don’t know if this is normal, but one looks loose.”

Dewey’s eyes popped open and he twisted to look down his back as best he could. “What?!”

“This one. It’s loose. Hanging by a thread, so to speak.”

As Dewey continued to try and see what the demon was talking about, with only the slightest of tugs the feather came off in his fingers. It wasn’t a big one, just one that was medium-sized and moderately soft. Beetlejuice brought his hand forward and showed Dewey, whose eyes widened even more.

“Am I bleeding? Is there a gap where it was?!” he asked, horrified.

Now he had to calm a panicking angel back down.

“No. No! Dewey, baby, it’s all okay. Let me look again--” He made a show of gently lifting the wing and examining it underneath, then he got up on his knees so he could look at the back. “--there’s no blood. There’s no gap in the other feathers. I can’t even tell where it came from, baby.

“Okay? It all looks fine. Does it hurt?”

Dewey stretched his wing tentatively, as though he expected it to catch or ache, but when it didn’t, when he’d extended it fully and twisted it lightly, he had to admit that it did not. Sitting back on his heels, Beetlejuice watched this display. It was hard to keep his hands to himself, and when the wing was at its full extension over his head, he lifted his arm so his fingertips brushed against the canopy it’d made. Dewey shuddered again and kept the appendage outstretched like an umbrella.

With sunlight filtering through the feathers, the entire mussed bed was washed in muted white. Beetlejuice couldn’t help but smile and once again stroked along the feathers above.

“Beej . . .” Dewey breathed out.

The demon cocked an eyebrow at his bedmate. “I’m not looking for round two, baby. I just like the way they feel, and they’re laying more nicely after I pet them.”

Dewey glanced at the spot that had gotten the most attention. It was true; instead of looking disheveled, the feathers there were straight and smooth.

“Do you mind . . . eh, nevermind. Forget it.”

The angel’s brow wrinkled. “Do I mind what?”

“Nothing.”

“Come on, Beej. Tell me. It’s okay.”

For a moment the demon looked torn as to whether or not to clam up or continue, then he sighed. “Do you mind if I . . . continue to pet them? They feel nice, and if it smooths them out . . .?”

Dewey considered this. As long as he’d been adored with wings, he’d never given any real thought to them. He could move them and he could feel touch to them, which he’d discovered after sharing a bed with Beetlejuice and Molly was absolutely delicious, but he’d never thought about petting them for the sake of petting. Grooming, really. If that feather had been loose, maybe it needed to shed and he’d never known? He had to admit the area that Beej had stroked did look more tidy.

Finally he shrugged. “Okay. Sure.”

Beetlejuice perked up that his suggestion wasn’t immediately shot down. After some further discussion, they decided Dewey should lay on his stomach, like receiving a back massage, and that would give full access to at least the back of his wings. As he settled onto the mattress, he had to consciously remind himself to relax.

After the demon started, however, at first gently applying long sweeping strokes over the tops of the feathers as a group, Dewey didn’t have to tell himself to relax. It felt sublime to have them stroked, and when Beetlejuice began even more gently separating the feathers individually and straightening them, he moaned lightly. That earned him a soft pinch on his bare ass, which made him jump and chuckle self-consciously, but the return of fingers threading through his wings made him sink back onto the mattress and had him drift in the sensation of it all.

To his end, Beetlejuice worked on Dewey’s wings for over an hour. It was warm in the block of sunlight on Molly’s bed and quiet, with only his lover’s occasional moans to fill the air. He learned the feel of the different types of feathers that made up the impressive wings, from downy to stiff depending on their placement. Although he never pulled, a few others were loose enough to come off in his hands. He made a little pile of them and hoped Dewey wouldn’t be upset they were gone.

His hands were tingling by the time he had done most of both of them. There was no longer sunlight streaming through the bedroom window, and Molly would be home soon. Maybe she’d appreciate having both of them relaxed in bed waiting for her, but maybe she’d be upset they’d spent the afternoon lazing away!

Beetlejuice leaned over and pressed a kiss to the nape of Dewey’s neck.

“I’m done for now, baby. Feel okay?”

Dewey stretched both his shoulders and then his wings gently. They felt lighter, somehow. More airy. He twisted to look at the wing, and although it hadn’t been dusty, per se, it did seem to be brighter. Sitting up and giving them a final shake ruffled the feathers, and they all fell back into place easily.

“I feel amazing. Thank you, sweetie.”

Beetlejuice looked smugly proud as Dewey kissed his mouth, but the angel couldn’t help but smile too. He announced he was going to shake them out one more time in the garden.

Beetlejuice watched him go, and gathered the shed feathers into his fist. He secreted them up to the warm spot in the attic he liked to lay, where Molly and Dewey rarely went.

⁂

He didn’t do anything with them. He just liked to hold them when he fell asleep on the dusty pillows that Molly had stored away. It was quiet up here, and the musty smell was comforting to him. That, plus the fact that it was oppressively warm made it one of his favorite places in the house when he wanted to be alone, or if he thought it might be a good idea to lay low after he and Dewey squabbled.

Beetlejuice discovered that the feathers retained warmth too, and never got dirty, despite the dustiness of the attic. They smelled like the angel too: a faint whiff of honeysuckle and ozone. It was comforting to run his fingers along the soft edges of them, or feel their minor warmth through his shirt.

In fact, he had most of them pressed to his neck and one to his cheek while he lay on his side, feeling logy in the warmth that surrounded him, when Molly entered the attic and found him.

He’d half heard her approach through the haze he drifted in. Her gasp startled him more awake.

“Beej! What have you done?!” she demanded sharply.

He jumped and looked around, confused and guilty. “Wh-what?”

“What have you done?!” she repeated.

It wasn’t like Molly to be snappish or angry, unless she had to reprimand him about something. He wracked his semi-sleepy brain as to what he might have done recently to deserve her ire, but nothing came to mind. He pushed himself up to a seated position, although he was still cowed. Laying down felt too vulnerable.

“Molly, baby, I don’t understand--” he pleaded.

“Where did you get those feathers?! Have you been pulling them out of Dewey’s wings? Have you been picking on Dewey?!” she interrupted.

Even as he looked down at the white feathers clutched in his hands he remained confused. “What? No, no I haven’t! Molly--”

She ignored him and shouted for Dewey.

He should be angry. He was a demon and he didn’t deserve to be treated this way; he hadn’t done anything wrong! This time! He should put her in her place and rain down holy terror for daring to raise her voice to him--but he was still muddled from being woken so abruptly and he didn’t want to throw his weight around with Molly; he liked her too much and he liked being her with her and Dewey and if he got too defensive it could ruin everything he had and then where would he be--

Dewey’s head popped up at the entrance to the attic. Being shouted for, to "get up here right now!", bewildered him. His expression became deeper befuddlement as he saw Molly with her hands on her hips glowering at the demon sitting in front of her on the faded cushions under the dusty window. Beetlejuice was in a tucked, defensive position with curled shoulders and a ducked head.

“Molly? Beej? What’s going on?” he asked as he came completely into the attic. He kept his wings tight to his back in the cramped space.

“Beetlejuice has feathers! From your wings!” Molly explained loudly.

Dewey didn’t miss the flinch the demon gave at the use of his full name, and he hurried to his side, brushing past the woman to sink down and hold him.  

Molly scowled at what she thought was manipulated protection spurred by Beetlejuice. “Don’t do that! Don't coddle him! Are you hurt? Did he hurt you? Are your wings okay? You’ve crossed a line this time Beetlejuice--this is unacceptable--”

Dewey could feel the second wince at the fully spoken name and now a steady tremble in the demon. He didn’t know if it was due to holding himself back from retaliating or if it was fear; the wide eyes and slightly opened mouth let him to believe it was the latter. He did see that Beetlejuice had several of his wing feathers now crushed in his fists and held to his chest. It dawned on him they must have come from when he was groomed. He hadn’t known they were missing, but it didn’t bother him. Very gently he opened a wing and folded the demon into it to reinforce the hug.

“Molly. Molly!” he said, increasing his voice with the repetition so she would stop and listen. She paused for a breath, her own fists tight at her sides. “Beej didn’t do anything! They were old feathers--they fell out! I didn’t know he took them, but it’s okay!”

Beetlejuice was used to being yelled at. Usually he was the one fighting! But this was different, this was out of the blue. He’d been startled and confused, and Molly was so angry she’d said his name twice, but Dewey was explaining, Dewey was holding him. He was sheltered under the angel’s wing and Dewey was standing up for him. He resisted the urge to duck his head further against Dewey; that’d only make his reputation crumble even more!

“Tell me the truth, Dewey!” Molly demanded.

“Molly goddamnit, listen to me,” Dewey retorted.

When her angel swore, when he blasphemed, it pulled her up short.

“Beej didn’t do anything wrong,” Dewey repeated, emphasizing each word. “He helped me groom my wings--you noticed that, you told me they looked nice!--and some feathers fell out on their own! It didn’t hurt. I didn’t even notice it. It’s not a problem to me that he’s got them up here. I understand why you were confused seeing them here, but you jumped to a very wrong conclusion!”

Molly opened her mouth, then shut it again. Dewey looked fierce, as a true guardian angel should, even if it was slightly odd that the one he was protecting at the moment was a demon. Said demon looked odd too, all small and cowed. As if he was afraid of her gaze on him and more accusations, he opened his fists and the feathers he’d been clutching drifted into his lap.

She wilted, seeing that. What had she done? Dewey said she’d jumped to a very wrong conclusion, but it was worse than that: she’d simply expected that Beetlejuice had done something mean and wrong, and her accusations showed that her trust in him was still low. Maybe he thought her trust was provisional! And she’d even said his full name twice! It wasn’t in a row, but she’d demonstrated she wouldn’t hesitate to use the ultimate power in her favor if she needed to.

Tears sprang to her eyes and she sank to the floor with them. Beetlejuice watched her with wary eyes.

“Oh fuck, Beej, I’m so sorry! I’m so sorry!” Her apology was babbled. “Dewey’s right, I didn’t think, I just assumed and that was horrible. Horrible! I shouldn’t have done that, I’m so sorry, honey--”

Dewey reached for her, which was nice, but what was nicer was when Beetlejuice held out a trembling hand as well, although he did it slowly, like maybe she’d bite. Molly took both gratefully and scooted closer. The angel’s other wing came up to surround her too, as was typical.

“I was so wrong. I’m sorry, baby,” she continued to repeat, and stroked Beetlejuice’s cheek.

He nodded, a little. The loose feathers scattered in his lap were still warm, but he hesitated to pick them up again. Dewey must have sensed his reluctance, and did it for him. He straightened them and made them as neat as he could. It was obvious they meant a lot to the demon, to keep them up here when he was alone.

“There you go, baby,” he said softly, handing them back to Beetlejuice like a bouquet of flowers. “If any more come out, you can have them too, okay?”

The demon took the feathers with an involuntary glance at Molly. Her heart broke, and she dared to reach out and close her hand around his. It did make her feel better that he didn’t jerk away from her.

“I’m sorry,” she repeated again. Then she was at a loss. She wanted to hug him, wanted to hug them both, but thought after what she’d done giving Beetlejuice some time was a better idea. Carefully she got to her feet. “I’ll give you some time, okay? I’m sorry I interrupted your nap. I’ll be . . . be out in the garden. Just so you know.”

She gave them a smile. Dewey returned it, and Beetlejuice tried, at least. She left the two of them in the warm attic, a demon with a handful of celestial feathers held tight in his fist, comforted by an angel, with dust motes swirling lazily around them.

⁂

Molly stayed outside through dinner, until dusk turned colors cool and fireflies started taking flight into the sky. She’d sequestered herself near her small gazebo, which hurt a little because of the memories of the three of them out here together, versus being by herself. Her eyes had dried but still felt hot.

“Molly? Baby?”

Dewey’s voice carried across the yard. She looked up to see him silhouetted against her backdoor, the light from the kitchen making a corona around him that was remarkably how he looked before he’d forsaken the other angels.

“It’s getting cold,” he continued. “Please come in.”

She had half a mind not to, but she had no one to blame but herself for her actions that afternoon, and it was getting chilly. Time to face the music. Time to find out if Beetlejuice was going to leave, and maybe Dewey was going to leave too of his own volition, since she showed she was unpredictable and potentially willing to banish without just cause.

Standing up and feeling stiff from sitting so long on a wooden bench, Molly sighed, hugged herself around her waist, and trudged in.

Dewey was still waiting for her when she got to the door. Nodding to the sink, he told her, “I started the water running so it’d be warm for your hands.”

Thoughtful. It gave her a pang to recall it was Beetlejuice who’d taught him that little nicety, since her water heater took some time to kick into gear. The angel stood by while she washed her hands of dirt.

“I’ll make you something to eat,” he said. “Beej is waiting to talk to you.”

New tears pricked her eyes, but she held her breath and held it together. It was only fair she talk to him and give him the courtesy of hearing him want to leave. Nodding, she turned and walked out of the kitchen.

She found Beetlejuice not in the living room as expected, but in her bedroom, sitting on the edge of her bed with his hands clasped in his lap, looking as nervous as she felt. She realized she hated seeing him reduced to something less than his loud, boisterous self, and it was even worse that she’d put him in that state.

He stood up awkwardly when he saw her in the doorway.

“Molly! I, uh . . .” He fumbled to a stop, like he expected her to be upset he’d even said her name.

Molly stepped into the room. Taking a breath to steel herself, she said exactly what she’d said earlier, and what she’d screamed internally the entire time she’d spent outside alone.

“Beej, honey, I am so very sorry. I was wrong, and I shouldn’t have yelled, and I don’t have any excuse for what I said to you! I feel awful, and I deserve to feel awful! I am so sorry.”

He didn’t say anything for a moment, and she chanced to look up at him. Apparently he’d waited until she was looking before holding out his hand. Biting her lip, Molly moved to him and carefully took it. Beetlejuice sat back down then, and pulled her down beside him. It was less than what he would typically do--he liked to pull her into his lap at inappropriate times, just to hear her laugh--but at least it was something.

She worried at her lower lip, an old habit that had become less now that she had two housemates, while she watched him struggle with what he wanted to say. It was on the tip of her tongue to tell him that she understood he’d want to go, that she understood he couldn’t trust her, but before she opened her mouth, he blurted,

“It’s okay. I forgive you.”

Instead of words, a sob left her. It’s what she wanted, right? For him to understand? But did she deserve it?

“B-b-beej, I accused you and said your name twice--”

He shook his head and spoke over her. “I understand why you thought I’d done something nasty. I would’ve. Before. But I wouldn’t now! Why would I ruin the best thing that’s ever happened to me? And you said my name twice, but not in a row, so it didn’t count, really.”

She wanted to agree, she wanted him to understand that she understood that now too. She wanted to apologize again about his name, but he continued on.

“It was a mistake. Everybody makes mistakes, Dewey said. And when you l-l . . . like someone, you can forgive them. Dewey said that. He’s the expert on forgiveness,” he joked weakly. “So  I wanted to . . . well . . .”

From his back pocket he pulled out a feather. One of Dewey’s of course. The shaft near at the quill end was slightly crushed, but the vanes had been smoothed together and its shape was intact.

“This is the biggest one that fell out,” he explained, twirling it slowly in his fingertips. “The best one. See how it kind of glows? They all do that. And it’s warm too. Here.”

It did seem to reflect more white light than expected, she saw. Molly expected him to draw the edge of it along her arm, which he did, before putting it in her hand and closing her fingers around it. The warmth he mentioned was real. It was the faintest sensation of heat in her palm, and it felt nice to hold it.

“You can have it.”

She looked up at him, startled. It occurred to her that her expression was probably the exact same that he’d had when she’d barked at him earlier. “What? Beej, no--Dewey said it was yours--”

“And I’m giving it to you. It’s comforting to hold, and I want you to have it. That’s okay, isn’t it, Dewey?”

For the first time Molly realized that the angel was standing in the doorway with a plate of food. She had no idea how long he’d been there.

“Yes, it’s okay,” he agreed easily, stepping closer to the two of them. “I don’t mind either of you having them.”

Forgiveness and a gift? Molly didn’t know what to say and her throat was too tight to allow words out anyway. She leaned into Beetlejuice, who slipped an arm low on her waist. Dewey was next to her then as well, with dinner. He planted a kiss first on the top of Beetlejuice’s head, then hers.

Forgiveness, a gift, food, and most importantly, the three of them together. Although maybe her heart had broken earlier, it was repaired and new tears fell, but of happiness.

 fin!

#writing #fanfiction #Beetlejuice #Dewey Finn #Beetlejuice x Dewey Finn #AU

[oxhaven]

Better Than One / hybrid!au - Seokjin

1. | Jungkook | Taehyung | Hoseok | Yoongi | Jimin

Sunlight filtered into the bedroom, shining on the two bodies wrapped in the bedsheets. One was neatly underneath with the rise and fall of her back as she breathed, two feline ears perched back as the sun began to wake her. The other was a bodily mess with the bedsheet tangled between her limbs as two of them hung hazardly off the bed. 

Sky was the first to raise her head, a yawn escaping her gaping lips as soft gray-black ears fluttered atop of her head. She looked about with a smack of her lips before eventually sitting up with a stretch. She glanced to the side at the catastrophic body beside her on the bed that was still sleeping soundly, giving one last stretch before carefully getting off the mattress to not wake her. She set off to ready herself for the morning, first stopping in the bathroom to wash up and brush her teeth before going into the kitchen. She set to work in preparing coffee and toasted bagels for two, nothing too heavy or smell-worthy so she didn’t wake the sleeping kitten still in bed. 

A gray mug and a large sized glass cup with a cartoon animation colored over it was sat on the countertop next to one another before nimble hands catched the sliced bagels popping out of the toaster and placed them on a waiting napkin. Sky reached for a butter knife in the silverware cabinet before scooping a hefty amount of cream cheese to spread onto one of the plain bagels. She did the same to the other side before placing them together and setting it aside on another napkin as she listened to the purr of the coffee maker. She set to work on the next bagel quickly after, easing up on the cream cheese spread before adding a layer of strawberry jam she retrieved from the fridge. She swallowed the saliva that built up in her mouth thickly, placing the two sliced pieces of bread together before resting it on the napkin and cleaning up the mess of crumbs. She placed the condiments back into the fridge before heading towards the now hot and ready coffee, using a towel to hold onto the handle before rushing over to pour the steaming liquid into the waiting mug.  

She set the coffee back onto the burner before going to the fridge again, taking out another pot of coffee that had been chilling in there. She poured it into the cartoon glass cup before putting the pot back into the fridge. 

Heavy cream was split evenly to both cups of coffee and sugar was added a bit heavier into the cartoon cup. She stirred both cups together expertly, admiring her work with a smile before going into the top cabinet and taking out a bottle of caramel to drizzle into the cartoon glass cup. 

She placed everything on a tray before heading back into the bedroom, her gray and black tail swishing lazily behind her. The widespace room was filled with more light from the rising sun greeting through the windows. She placed the tray on the nightstand before sitting beside the body that was now laying on her stomach. 

Sky took the heavy cream cheese bagel into her hand before reaching for the buttered-eared kitten’s mess of hair to wake her with a tender scratch. 

“Astrid. It’s morning.” 

Sky watched the body stretch underneath the thin sheet as she realized a strained moan and breathed heavily. Astrid turned her body to face the other kitten on the edge of the bed, her arms wrapping around her waist as she pulled her back into her embrace. Sky yelped in surprise that she had that much strength upon wakening, the bagel that was in her hand disappeared as she noticed in the mouth of the tired kitten. 

“Let’s go back to sleep.” her stuffed mouth responded, humming at the taste of cream cheese in her mouth. Sky giggled in her hold before shifting around into a more comfortable position before snuggling against Astrid’s cheek. Their morning’s usually went like this; with her making breakfast and trying to coax Astrid awake. It didn’t go as smoothly as this if they had an appointment to get to in the morning. 

Both feline-ears perked up at the sound of the melody of the front door opening, their minds in sync with a single person coming to their minds. Sky yelped out as she was flung to the side, Astrid scrambling to her feet as she pounced off the end of the bed and rushed to the front door. Sky scoffed to herself in annoyance but couldn’t wipe off her own excited smile as she followed behind, hearing the excited voice of the other kitten in the living room. 

“Jinnie!” 

Sky made it to the doorway of the living room, her gray-black slim tail swishing excitedly as she eyed the man she had been waiting for. He stood tall in the middle of the room with his bag and suit jacket on the ground with a half-dressed kitten in his arms. His hands clasped onto her tan thighs appreciatively as she snuggled her face against his cheek with endless purrs of delight. 

Jin laughed amusedly as she wrapped her arms around his neck tighter, his face scrunching up as he felt the softness of her ears tickle against his skin. He moved his arms to hold her tighter as he brought a hand up to grib her chin to get a good look at her. He stared into her jade eyes that blinked at his tired ones, a smile adorning his face as he placed a sweet kiss on her nose. “My Astrid. My baby girl.”

He noticed the other kitten move towards him silently, greeting her with a bright smile as well as he switched arms to reach his hand out for her to take. “Sky baby.”

Her cheeks dusted with a brighter shade of pink as she went into his embrace, gray-black ears flattening back as a purr rumbled in her throat. She lifted her head back and tipped up on her toes, grabbing Jin’s face to bring his lips down upon hers. She meant for it to be a sweet kiss but she couldn’t help but want more, tilting her head to the side and earning an appreciative groan from the male before she was pulling back shyly. 

“Welcome home.” Sky greeted softly, light blue eyes staring into his hooded brown ones, getting lost enough to lean in for another kiss.  

“Me too, me too...” the other kitten that was still in Jin’s arms whined, grabbing his face with her impatient hands and pressing her lips onto his. Sky watched him chuckle into her mouth as Astrid’s buttered ears flattened back, her eyes closing as she kissed him passionately. Jin watched her with a glint in his hooded gaze, her lips taking his own as her tongue swiped over his bottom lip before letting her teeth sink gently into the flesh. 

Astrid pulled away with eyes glazed over, licking her lips before they turned up into a stirring smile. Jin let her down onto her feet before reaching for Sky with an arm around her neck and pulled his two kittens into his arms. 

“Seems like you two missed me a lot.” he said over the fit of giggles between them before he went to retrieve his almost forgotten jacket and bag. Sky got a better look at him in his suit with his white shirt unbuttoned at the top. His black slacks hugged his thighs deliciously but she shook her head off the impure thoughts to focus on helping him get relaxed. 

“Your business trips are always too long.” Astrid moaned, already following her master behind his heel. Jin deposited his jacket into the closet before setting his bag on the kitchen countertop, going back and forth with Astrid on how long he should stay away from home.  

“I made coffee, I’ll get you your mug.” Sky announced, not all too loudly since the two were still going at it as she went into the kitchen to prepare a cup of the brewed coffee for Jin. 

“Thank you, Sky. I think i’m jet-lagging.” 

She smiled to herself, thankful that he was listening to her as she quickly got out his favorite blue mug. She stared at the animated character on the cup that smiled back at her with a cheesy smile and a thumbs up as she poured the warm coffee halfway before going to the fridge for the cream. 

“Shall we go back to sleep?” Astrid asked, fingers playing with the clear buttons on his shirt as Jin checked his phone and swiped his thumb over it to answer the waiting messages. 

“That doesn’t sound like a bad idea. Sky?”

The smile on her face drooped down a bit as her head tilted to the side with her eyes remaining on the task in front of her. “I’m not really that tired. I’ll clean up a bit while you two nap.” 

She sprinkled a teaspoon of sugar into the liquid and stirred before turning around to present the coffee to her master. She didn’t get very far, with said person standing in front of her with a curious look in his eyes. 

“Do you want to go out?” 

“No, I’m fine we can stay inside and-” Sky stuttered on her words, as Jin inched closer, his eyes changing into that of a knowing stare, his lips turning up into a smirk as he nodded his head. He trapped her between his arms as he leaned on the counter with his faces a few inches away from hers. 

“Where do you want to go, my love?”

Sky was never a competing match for Jin. She always lost to his eyes that knew her better than she knew herself which had her crumbling underneath his gaze as she sighed out and looked down. “I was hoping to go grocery shopping today, but since you got back in early we can go another time. I would like to stay close to you while you’re here.”

She glanced back up after a moment of silence, seeing him adorn that same knowing smirk as her face dusted over with pink. He smacked a tender kiss onto her lips making her blue eyes widen as she watched him pull back. 

“Let’s go shopping and pick up a few things, get something to eat, and we can come back for a nap and movies. Sounds good?”

She blinked at him, relishing for a moment on how easy it was for him to fix things in an instant. She noticed the other kitten peek from behind his back, wearing an apologetic grin as her buttered ears flattened back. “Mian, Sky. Let’s go shopping! I want some new skirts from that place you took us to last time.” Astrid purred against Jin before slipping her hand into his and swung it gently. Sky looked at them both, a warm feeling settling into her chest that showed through her eyes before nodding in appreciation. 

“Sounds perfect.”

#bts hybrid #bts hybrid au #bts series #bts!hybridau #hybrid!au jin #hybrid!au seokjin #bts seokjin #jin #bts jin #jin hybrid au #hybrid!jin #oxhaven