#mild citrus | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

chlorinecake · 3 months

Note

A non con fanfiction? On sunghoon or jake

Btw love you're fanfics! Lots of lovee!🤍

cross my heart and hope to die

syn. Basically while your university hosts a school event, Jake convinces you to help him break into an abandoned frat house before fucking the living daylights out of you

pair. star student!fratboy!jake x gullible!fem!reader

warnings. swearing, guided f. masturbation, cum eating (?), tit play, hickey, petnames (angel, doll face), cnc themes, mild degrading and exhibition kink, light choking/slapping/hair pulling, unprotected sex (stay safe guys), creampie, not proofread

word count. 2.1k

Today marked the day of your university’s annual student and staff celebration, and as promised in the lengthy event criterion, would offer free refreshments, entertainment, awards, and most importantly, a place for everyone on campus to fit in.

Or at least… mostly everyone.

You and your university’s proudly dubbed star student and “spoiled brat,” Sim Jake, occupied yourselves with other plans for the evening.

To most people, Jake in a nutshell was someone who’s brain matched their pockets.

Not that you were particularly interested in Jake’s money or brilliance… you just simply found him attractive. Very attractive.

His strikingly sharp smile, almond brown eyes, perfect cupid's bow, olive skin, strong hands... you could go on for days about how beautiful he was to you.

Gosh, looking at him alone was like a wet dream.

So much so that you'd do basically anything just to be in his presence, despite your own impending bashfulness getting in the way.

And he noticed it. All of your fangirl tendencies...

Despite that, your relationship with Jake wasn't necessarily ideal: you basically just did whatever he asked of you, leading to the partial friendship you two now share.

Though, the only boundary Jake’s favors hadn’t passed yet was anything sexual, all the while one way or another, he planned to change that.

Now, you wish you could say this particular night was all his idea, but you knew deep down in your heart that you had every intent within your own gullible will to join him in his folly.

To give in.

“Hey, you almost done in there, doll face?,” Jake whispered from behind the halfway opened door to the dean’s office, extending his head to take a look down the hallways as if preparing to cross the street.

You two couldn’t risk getting caught.

Not in here, and not over this.

“Yeah, I.... I’m locking the drawer back now, just gimme a few more seconds,” you replied while focused on the task at hand, locking the dean’s desk drawer back and doing a quick check to make sure everything was in the same place you’d found it initially before leaving.

Everything except the key to your university’s former frat house, which had since five or so years ago become a vacant property of forgotten memories and potential.

Of course Jake thought to seek your help with getting the key, hoping that someday, he and his friends would be able to reoccupy the place.

“Alright, we’re good to go,” you said, meeting him at the door as you both ran down the left hall, a flight of stairs, along a few sidewalks, and onto the football field.

“The house should be a few more minutes from here,” Jake added, taking your hand in his to guide you, his touch practically sending electric waves to your heart.

It was starting to get dark quickly, and you weren't sure if the event was coming to an end or not, given how quiet everything suddenly became... but still, you were more focused on exploring anyways.

For better or worse, you were just too curious, too desperate for Jake’s attention.

Click.

You finally unlocked the door upon trying the three other keys you stole from the office, taking in the view of the place that looked as if it’d been kept clean over all these years, with an audacity to smell of pleasant florals, citrus, and pine.

“Hey, where’d you get that?,” you asked Jake, noticing the can of soda he sipped from, and the way his lips glimmered under the faint lighting.

“From the party… I must've been thirsty earlier and forgot I brought this with me,” he said, puppy eyes looking around before meeting you, “want some?”

“Uh, sure, thanks,” you said shyly, taking the soda can to sip, even though the fizz was a bit faded for some reason.

“Oh! Sorry, ____!,” he suddenly yelped, having nudged your hand to take the drink away and accidentally spilling some of the sparkling liquid all over the top you wore.

“Ahh,” you sighed quietly, feeling the cold and sugary drink stick to your skin, “it’s fine, Jake... there’s gotta be towels in here somewhere anyway.”

“Hey, maybe check upstairs, if there's a main bedroom, there should be some cloths in there,” Jake offered, going to discard the can as you did just as he said.

You found a room eventually, where hand towels with dainty cross embroidery at each corner laid on the bed. They stood out like a sore thumb considering the erotic playboy magazine covers hung up on either end of the headboard in gold picture frames.

Jake came back quickly, watching as you plopped yourself on the bed, your chest jiggling a bit with you’re movements as you wiped up your shirt.

He laid down beside you with a groan, yawning out of boredom more than tiredness, “Wonder what kind of shit went down in this room,” he though to himself before glancing back at you. “That’s not gonna work, you know? You’re gonna need to change your entire shirt at this point.”

“But… I don’t wanna risk getting caught by taking anything else, seeing how I’ve already messed up this nice towel,” you rationalized with him.

“Take off your shirt, angel,” Jake said in a husky voice, sitting up now on the bed to look at you better, his gaze practically undressing you itself, “you just look so uncomfortable with it on…”

Your nipples were hard thanks to the cold drink, so they poked through your outfit, just enough for him to get a good sneak peek.

There was something about the tone of his voice that made you feel different this time, though. Nervous.

“I’m fine… really,” you replied before continuing, “So what do you think about the frat house," you asked, still patting the wet spot of your shirt with the towel, ignoring his previous comment.

"Hmm… It's pretty nice... spacious... the condition isn’t too bad, so that means less work for me and the boys,” he answered, shamelessly staring at you, “plus, it already has everything we need in it.”

The place really was like a hidden resort house.

“Yeah… now that you mention it, I wouldn’t doubt they still have some soap in here, too. I really need to wash this stain out, anyway—”

Jake’s hands found your shoulder first, pushing you back first against the bed before straddling you, hooking the lower seam of your top with his fingers and pulling it up over your head.

“W-what’re you doing, Jake?” You stuttered, nervous as you laid half naked beneath him.

“What you obviously couldn’t do yourself,” he slithered, lips already meeting your sweet breasts, thanks to his little soda accident earlier.

You regretfully moaned, already feeling your core warm up at his actions. The effect he had on you was honestly a bit embarrassing.

“M-maybe we should go back downstairs-”

“But you don’t want to…” he whispered against your skin as he left a trail of kisses all over your chest.

“J-Jake, this isn’t why I came here with you-”

“You know how much I like it when you do as I say, angel... now I just need you to keep being a good girl for me, okay?”

“Jake, stop-” you whined, feeling as his hands toyed with your panties.

“Why? It’s not like you haven’t been dying for me to touch you like this,” he grinned, looking up at you with the sluttiest eyes as his hand sat just above the wet spot of your core.

He snickered to himself, “You want this, don't you?”

His hand harshly smacked the tender skin of your inner thigh, a loud sound filling the room as your body flinched.

“Yes,” you yelped in discomfort, biting your lip to hold back any tears.

“So why are you telling me to stop?”

“I was… I don’t…,” your mind was getting fuzzy, chest starting to heave as you struggled to think with his finger circling your clothed clit.

What had gotten into him?

“You were cold because I spilled my drink on you, and now I’m helping you warm up again,” he smiled, mouth connecting with your neck as he continued to suck relentlessly, skillfully teasing your heat as he marked you, “Right, ____?”

“Jake,” you whined, arching your back once you felt his fingers apply pressure.

“Shhh,” he cooed, pulling down your bottoms the rest of the way and spreading your legs.

Leaning back, he finally spoke, “Touch yourself for me… and use two fingers so I can see how your pathetic little pussy struggles to take it.”

And of course, you did just that, already slick enough to put on a nice show for him.

He slapped your face when you closed your eyes, telling you to look at him the entire time.

You continued to pleasure yourself before him, a bit of moisture seeping from your aching hole when he slapped your tit this time, “Oh, you like the pain, don’t you slut? Can’t come without it, can you?”

“Nngh, no,” you answered for reasons you don’t understand, fucking yourself faster as you circled your hips, just as he snatched your wrist, licking the juices from your fingers.

“Up,” was all he said before taking you to the window, bending you over the sill.

“It’s getting stuffy in here, I say we let some air out, yeah?”

All you did was nod dumbly as his words, his belt buckle hitting the ground with a clink as his dick found your entrance, shoving past your slimy tightness with his lips kissing down your back.

His grunts sounded animalistic as he picked up the pace, his accent thick and strong with each curse that slipped from his mouth.

Jake’s hands found your neck, gripping tightly as his thrusts sped up, fucking you back and forth with you your head resting at the window.

“Look up slut, so everyone can see your cute little face tear up while I fuck you from behind… fuck you like my good little cock whore. Taking all of me so well— mmm.”

He pulled your hair by the roots, causing a loud moan to slip past your mouth as he stretched you out. “You’re such a slut for pain,” he grunted, “am I wrong, angel?”

You whimpered at his words, barely even present with how dizzy you felt, “you’re always righ— mghh, yes, right there...”

He pulled you from the window sill, shoving your face against the ground as he continued to thrust from behind, your tits shaking with his aggressive thrusts.

Picking you back up by the elbows, he pistoled into you, fluids trickling down your thighs and glistening against his pelvis as your poor thighs shook from all the pleasure, your weak moans dancing off the walls.

He thrusted in and out of you, fucking you into overstim as he chased him own high, taking pleasure in the way you squirmed whenever you felt his tongue against your skin.

His hands slid up your ribs before cupping your tits again, gripping at them relentlessly as his moans grew louder, breathier.

Needier.

Your hips bounced against his as you helped by fucking yourself on his cock, throwing your head back against his chest as you both came at the same time.

“Aww, fuck,” he groaned loudly, loosening his grip as you felt him paint your walls with his warm release.

Despite how out of breath both of you were, Jake picked you up and brought you to the bed, taking the same towels from earlier to clean you up before joining the empty spot beside you.

The three keys you borrowed from the dean's office were as good as misplaced by now, you and Jake both too tired to give a shut about looking for 'em now.

“You can’t tell anyone about this…," he started with a rasp voice, "nothing about tonight… not your friends, and especially not mine,” he said, pulling you close to him as you laid in only his jacket and your panties, Jake himself wearing just a t-shirt and jeans.

You looked into his face, that was unbelievably more striking with a post-sex glow.

“Cross my heart and hope to die,” you answered softly, as both of you stared at the ceiling, hearing nothing more than your hearts beating and a few faint sounds from outside.

Still, the fact remained that you’d do anything for Jake… even sexual favors now.

“Thank you,” he whispered back, but you were already fast asleep, the final thought on his own mind being that the abandoned frat house would be a place just for the two of you now.

❊ Thank you all so much for reading this quick fic !! I honestly think it's kinda garbage, but I hope someone out there finds it enjoyable at least (probably gonna make a revised version of this for another member tho, we'll see...) !! Also, make sure to check out my masterlist for more reads like this ~

❊ [Perm] Taglist: @squoxle @ashgonedash @nikisdubblchococake @yourmomscuntis2tighy @watamotee33

741 notes · View notes

smoothlikealikeasnake · 6 days

Text

Strawberry Princess - Chapter Three "So Similar"

Pairing - BTS OT7 x reader, Hybrid BTS x Reader, Hybrid BTS x Hybrid Reader

Genre - Hybrid!AU , Hybrid BTS , Hybrid Reader, fluff, angst, smut, alternative reality , strangers to lovers , strangers to friends, friends to lovers

Warnings - So much fluff, teasing, slightly suggestive, slightly possessive behaviour, reader anxiety , tiniest bit of angst, lmk if I missed any!

Summary - When a certain hybrid starts to appear whenever Jungkook is at the gym, an immediate pull is felt between the two and their eventual friendship soon is spread to the rest of his pack.

Previous Next Overview

New footsteps were quickly followed with a strong scent filling the room, warm mild citrus with slight leather, tobacco and whiskey underneath, Yoongis scent was always one that had all of his mates melting, his complex scent being unique and easy to find even in a room packed of people, it fit him perfectly.

With all of the scents already slightly overwhelming Y/n the strength of Yoongis’ even when he was feeling neutral was making her inner feline draw closer to the surface than she had done the entirety of the day. Yoongi quickly noticed Y/n at the sweet strawberrys emitting around the home, it only took him a moment before Jungkook introduced him. Jungkook couldn’t hold back his thoughts about confirming the resemblance in Y/n and Yoongi’s personality and behaviour and found himself wanting to push them to interact more, hoping that maybe he will see more about Y/n than he already has.

“Yoongi-ah, Y/n is staying for dinner, come sit down im sure Hobi and Tae will be on their way soon” - Jin spoke lovingly as he got up to take Yoongis coat and give him a quick kiss which Y/n couldn’t deny, made her a bit shy at witnessing.

“Ah, nice to finally meet you Y/n, I’ll go change before I sit down Jin-hyung” - Yoongi said as he began to find the Jeans and shirt he was wearing irritating, being tainted with the scent of people from outside and his customers, his nose crinkled up slightly and he moved towards his bedroom almost awkwardly, distracted by the idea to get out of the clothes.

Y/n didn’t know why she almost felt upset that he hadn’t acknowledged her more, being told she was so similar to him she felt connected, perhaps also through him being a feline hybrid too but no matter why, she couldn’t stop the slight sadness in her scent and the staring in his direction for a second too long before she quickly tried to cover it up, distracting herself with the people she already had surrounding her,

They all knew what she was thinking, what she was feeling, especially when her ears had tilted back, tail wrapping around her waist and hands rapidly kneading into the blanket she’d grown quite an attachment too since she’d been here. Her scent had gone back to its normal sweet strawberry but the others in the room knew she had purposefully tried to cover it up.

Focusing on anything possible, Y/n felt herself noticing all of the packs outfits, all seeming quite comfortable, Namjoon in a large white r-shirt and black seemingly comfortable loose trousers, Jungkook in all black, sweatshirt and joggers, Jimin and Jin had somehow managed to change without her realising, Jimin in a black hoodie that looked all too comfortable and matching joggers and Jin in a soft knit sweater and trousers. What Y/n especially noticed is she seemed incredibly overdressed, she loved her outfit but worried she stood out compared to the comfort in the room, clearly her distraction hasn’t worked the way she wanted it too because the stability of her scent wavered again at the new thoughts, slightly insecure at her outfit, one hand still kneading the blanket while the other began stroking her own tail across her waist.

Before anyone could say anything to ease Y/n’s clearly overwhelmed state, Yoongi came back in, in much closer proximity this time and the strength of all the scents in room in combination with Y/n’s thoughts had her struggling to stay still and prevent her feline counterpart from being more prominent. As Yoongi went to sit down without so much as a word, Y/n’s pupils dilated, slowly losing control at the entire situation, she quickly pulled the blanket she had been kneading and scenting all day onto her lap to be able to use both hands to knead, she hadn’t moved it before that, just moving her hand to reach it but it was clear she was struggling to hold on at her actions.

Jin shared a knowing look with the rest of the pack before standing up and tapping Namjoon and giving Yoongi a look that couldn’t quite be deciphered. It was only then that Yoongi noticed Y/n holding his blanket on her thighs, rubbing the scent glands on her wrists all over it at every movement, his own pupils dilated as his tail started to swing behind him, a combination of curiosity and pride coming over him.

“Jimin and Jungkook come help me with dinner, it’ll be about time to eat when Tae and Hobi get back” - Jin said as he directed the three out to the kitchen, leaving Namjoon indulging in his book, Yoongi who couldn’t focus on the tv and Y/n who wasn’t even trying to hide the push and pull of her hands, scent sweetening and pushing around the entire house. It wasn’t uncommon for this to happen, Hybrids could fall deeper into their hybrid instincts when overwhelmed in any way though it’s only ideal in comfortable situations which, Y/n realised, she was now in. She had grown comfortable in just a few hours but her worry clouding her mind prevented her from enjoying the instinctual nature she’d started to feel. Her sharp little claws coming out and canines biting into her tongue, tail wrapping tighter around her and ears frantically moving around. As concerned as Namjoon was, he knew the sole reason for this push into her state was Yoongi, he was the only one who could really make it better in that moment.

Yoongi was still watching her intensely, tail swinging as he stood up from his seat and felt pulled to sit down next to Y/n on the couch, her eyes snapping to him as he does and suddenly instead of her face, Yoongi found her drawn to something else. She followed every movement of his tail, scent booming around her as she subconsciously leant in, clearly fascinated but what amused Yoongi most is that it seemed the worry left her eyes, she wasn’t just watching, her arms slowed kneading, instead carefully positioning themselves as her pupils dilated and her own tail started to swing. What Yoongi realised is his feline qualities had left her hybrid to want to play, she was getting ready to pounce for his tail and he decided to play around a bit himself, stopping his tail before moving it swiftly into random positions.

Namjoon looked up and shook his head smiling softly as he watched Yoongi tease Y/n. She was creeping forward more and more until she finally took her shot, only getting a few inches forward and landing just before Yoongis face, stopped by his hand grabbing both of her reaching hands into his own, wrapped tight around her wrists holding them together and stopping her movement.

He took a second to acknowledge how small her hands were in his own, easily wrapping his veiny hand around both of her wrists and observing her pretty pink nail polish on her claws but what he couldn’t get over is just how tiny her claws were, it was amusing and adorable. He looked back up at her stunned and still playful expression, wide eyes looking up at him in slight shock at how he had just snatched her out of her pounce.

“Too slow kitten, best time try before I notice” - His blunt words didnt discourage her, just flustering her already playful state and she could feel herself about to purr at his endearment, wrists still trapped between his hand as her fluffy tail swings rapidly and repeatedly hit his thigh. Y/n quickly nodded with flushed cheeks when she noticed he was waiting for an answer before feeling a silky sensation on her own tail, she hadn’t even realised it was hitting his thigh until his own black tail moved her own away and the contact it had made Y/n shudder.

Y/n fell straight back onto her legs that had made their way onto the couch without her realising and settled under her, she just sat dumbfounded for a second, knees under her body cushioning her fall as Yoongi let go of her wrists, her scent glands had been pushed together for so long that the pressure had her haze from before washing over her the second he let go, body slumping and naturally getting comfortable, trying to find the best position as she grabbed the blanket again and looked away from the panther.

She found she was never quite fulfilled with her position, moving constantly to try to find the best way to sit, the blanket moving with her as she continued her kneading. Yoongi never stopped watching her from the second he let go and was nearly as entranced by her as she was by him in that moment, those flush cheeks and plump lips, soft hair and tiny hands, sweet scent and soft body she was perfect, he had never seen someone so pretty,

He couldn’t watch her struggle any more and somehow knew exactly what to do, picking up his blanket as her small hands chased it and her eyes snapped.

“You know, it’s so much better around your shoulders, so soft isn’t it?” - Y/n could only hum in agreement as Yoongis scent flooded her senses when he leaned in to wrap the blanket around her, not even clocking the insinuation that it was his blanket, just revelling in the way her body felt warm and light, finally comfortable. She couldn’t help but chase the light feeling of his hands, purring loudly and leaning into his body as soon as he pulled away.

Namjoon gave Yoongi a pointed look as to let him know he shouldn’t let Y/n get any deeper but he already knew that, he already had everything purrfectly in control, a little bit of teasing and comfort would only assure her that he liked her, his acknowledgement of her game would make her look up to him, connecting them on a level no one had experienced with her yet. He would gladly lead her deeper into that state but that would have to wait for another time, when she was ready, when they were all ready.

“How does some hot cocoa sound? It’s getting even colder” - Namjoons smooth voice danced through the air as Y/n lazily looked at him with a dazy grin and nodded at the idea excitedly. She hadn’t even felt the cold, she had since forgotten her dilemma with herself about everyone’s clothes as Yoongis warmth and blanket made her feel like she was wearing pajamas around a fire on a cold evening, the perfect balance.

Namjoon happily stood up, slowly walking to the kitchen leaving the two felines, not without noticing Y/n’s hands kneading the side of Yoongi’s thigh, happily resting against him. Yoongi couldn’t help but want to let you, that was too far for today he worried so he instead let his long tail slide around her waist and under the hem of her shirt to hold just a small bit of her skin, she hadn’t minded, relaxing even more as their combination of scents clouded the room, any of the pack who walked into it would probably be trapped in a similar haze if they stay too long. Perhaps that’s why Namjoon left Yoongi wondered, he always was one of the touchiest mates and would definitely love to be in his position in that moment.

In The Kitchen

“She’s a lot more playful than I thought she would be Kook, it’s cute” - Namjoon said, a cheeky smile on his face as everyone turned to look at him.

“I thought she was-“ - Jungkook starts

“She was, Yoongi teased her out of it to where they are now” - Namjoon spoke fondly, looking off as his mind filled with the memory over and over. His mates looked at him curiously silently asking for him to say more.

“What happened?” - Jin asked, almost worried because he knew how intense Yoongis ‘teasing’ could be. Namjoon explained how everything happened with

“She really likes him” - Jungkook spoke, almost jealous at the realisation but he knew that everyone here wanted to be in Yoongis position in that moment. Instead of dwelling on it he just sped up his chopping - the only job he had to do. He figured if he was done then he could go join a Yoongi and Y/n

“I think it’s to be with them both being feline, maybe also Yoongi being a bigger cat than her, Y/n’s hybrid might know there’s a type of hierarchy and it drew her to like him, they seem so similar already” - Namjoon spoke intelligently curious about

“We could all be in that position soon” - Jimin said with a dreamy smile, wishing it was him in that moment but willing to wait for his own, somehow knowing she would be

“Do you think Y/n will like dessert?” - Jin said, his love language was feeding and he felt a strong need to impress Y/n, he couldn’t tell why but he just knew it had to be perfect. Even without knowing her preferences he got an idea that was perfect, all he had to think about was her scent and it came to him.

Not only was this dessert perfectly suited to her, it was also simple and all of his mates would love it too, it took him a split second to begin to gather all the ingredients after asking his question.

“She’ll love it if your the one making it Hyung” - Jimin said lovingly with a quick peck on Jin’s plump lips before they smiled at eachother, Jin nodded and his idea was set in stone in his mind. Strawberry cheesecake, the perfect dessert that compliments her and her scent and will also drive the boys crazy; he had realised that not only will it be delicious but his pack are definitely all wanting to taste her sweet scent and this could be the perfect fix to that craving, for now.

“Hyung I finished, I’m going to go check on Yoongi and Y/n” - Jungkook quickly said as he practically ran to the living room without looking back, the three watched as he ran straight into the thick air of the living room, almost immediately being drawn into a haze similar to the two felines’. His movement slowed and eyes dazed as he approached the two.

Y/n instantly looked up and smiled lazily at him, stopping her kneading on Yoongis thigh to grab Jungkooks hand to try to pull him in, in doing so putting pressure on his scent gland and forcing out his fresh aroma. In her haze, Y/n couldn’t resist bringing the source closer, holding his wrist close and taking in the scent he was letting out, he couldn’t help but flush at the action before turning to look at Yoongi.

“Yoongi Hyung your hogging Y/nie” - Jungkook said accusingly, he couldn’t stop the slight slur in his words and watched as Yoongi smirked up at him, amused to find his Kookie so jealous.

“Poor Jungkookie, you’ll give him some attention, won’t you Y/n?” - Y/n gave him a happy bid before holding Jungkooks wrists more and pulling him so fast he nearly lost his footing as he landed laying down, body on the other side of Y/n with his head on her thick thighs, he immediately felt himself flush at his position especially when he realised just how soft her thighs really were, his head nearly bounced up when he landed with how full they were. Her scent encased him in this position and it sent him into a very similar haze to Y/n, her tail not helping as it moved onto his neck, pressing onto his scent gland. Yoongi didn’t help his stunned state as he moved his hands to Jungkooks silky ears, rubbing the base softly.

The situation combined had Jungkooks eyes screwed shut and mouth slightly open in bliss, turning his head in towards Y/n’s soft stomach and not realising the affectionate eyes on him.

Y/n stared down at him, butterfly’s all over as her scent was impossibly sweet, he was many things to her but in that moment, she realised he might be someone that she loves and not as a friend. While that thought scared her, she knew she should take advantage of this moment and pushed her thoughts aside to enjoy the moment, her purring the loudest noise in the room.

The three on the couch were too deep into a scent haze to hear the new voices in the kitchen, they didn’t really need too because all threes eyes shot open from their lazy position when two new feline scents flooded the room. Both of the hybrids tails immediately flickered fast as they were told to introduce themselves. Y/n felt stunned by the two infront of her, both in drastically different outfits but equally attractive. She could guess who each hybrid was by their ears.

Taehyung was dressed in a striking brown faux fur coat with his white hair combed over messily, black turtleneck and black trousers, he was intimidating and ridiculously attractive just like the rest of this pack. His blue eyes bore into hers with such intensity that she knew he could feel her intimidating and also her butterflies from the sight of him. He was clearly dressed to impress but Y/n had a feeling he dressed this extravagant every day, especially as he owned a fashion company. She could hear the low rumble in his chest but it was somehow inviting, her hybrid counterpart subconsciously creating a similar rumble in her own chest, just a much softer and higher pitch than his.

He wasn’t the only intimidating figure however, next to him was a leopard, Hoseok, dressed drastically different but equally as fitting and attractive. Baggy blue jeans with a beige top under a black hoodie and avirex leather jacket, messy dark hair with his little highlights, it all fit so well into everything she’d heard about him. He was looking at her, head slightly tilted, naturally intimidating but incredibly inviting and breathtakingly handsome, he was the first to make any move.

“ you must be Y/n ?” Hoseok beamed brightly at her as he walked forward to greet her, his beauty took her breath away and she met his kind eyes with more confidence than she had with everyone else, feeling like they’d already met from how she’d met all of their mates.

“And you must be Hoseok?” It was slightly bold of her to reply like that, out of character for her but it felt natural and Y/n could tell Hoseok was also slightly surprised but it was quickly replaced by his bright smile, shining through as he observed the scene around him, Yoongi looking at him with a knowing expression. His tail started to swing faster as the scents around him started to make his eyes flicker and dilate. He moved closer to begin rubbing at the base of Yoongis ears, his purring getting louder as he leant into the touch. y/n watched carefully as his hands moved and she didn’t know she could be so attracted to a man’s hands before realising how all of these men’s hands were absolutely beautiful and equally quite sexy to her.

Her staring was cut off but a louder grumble in the white tigers chest as he stalked towards the group, never letting Y/n cut eye contact, almost making her worry slightly until she felt Jungkook rubbing at her thigh from her lap. His striking appearance had her silent, waiting for his move before making her own.

“Jungkook hasn’t stopped talking about you since he met you, you know; I can see why” - Taehyungs voice was incredibly deep, smooth and enchanting, it had Y/n’s ears fully turned in his direction, tail moving off of Jungkooks neck much to his protest and slightly waving behind her, the fur so fluffy it brushed over Hoseok hand with every move. Taehyungs own tail was thick and breathtaking, she really wanted to catch it and it was that urge that broke their eye contact, he still watched her carefully but her attention fell to his tail, moving so elegantly behind him, her claws had suddenly appeared as she kept watching but Taehyungs deep chuckle snapped her out of it, she felt like reverting back to the shy kitty she was before but not in a bad way, he made her shy in the best way.

“It’s nice to meet you” - she let out, voice quiet and eyes wide as she looked up at him, he knew she wanted to play but also knew they’d have to wait as right on that queue, Jin came into the room.

“Dinners ready now, Tae, Hobi, go change and we will be waiting for you when you get back, come to the table everyone” - He said sweetly as everyone began to move, all around the couch quite reluctant to move out of their current space but moving nonetheless. The Three originally on the couch were still slightly dazed but a bit of food would bring them right back.

Y/n had been lead hand in hand by Jungkook to the dining room which was equally as stunning as the rest of the home, achievements decorated the walls and it had various plants and other decorations adorning every corner. The fresh breeze passed through an open window as they each gathered around the food filled table. Jungkook lead Y/n to sit between him and Jimin, the two she had known longest as Tae and Hoseok joined the rest around the large table.

Everyone settled down and drinks were poured, Y/n had a selection of water, juice and wine and chose Wine as Hoseok poured her a generous glass, she thanked him appreciatively and took a sip, everyone else had opted for wine as it was a special occasion but no one minded one bit at her choice, she was more than happy with the sweet orange juice, freshly squeezed just before dinner started, it danced on her tongue and had her tail hitting the two mates on either side of her at the delicious taste.

“I wasn’t too sure what you would like Y/n, so I hope you enjoy” - Jin said as he too settled down and announced that everyone should start to dish up. Everyone moved quickly, Y/n moved herself to try to dish her own food up but Jimin and Jungkook beat her too it, filling her plate with lots of things to try. Once everyone started to eat, Y/n did too and that first bite was truly heaven. Her eyes widened, mouth salivated, cheeks puffed up and taste buds danced to the taste of Jins cooking, a muffled hum left her as she stared at the cook with admiration. Y/n was usually quite reserved but she couldn’t hold back her spew of compliments. Jin was left blushing, red from his neck to his ears as she told him how amazing he was, it was everything he wanted and everyone agreed with her compliments, from the drink to every last dish she told him how incredible it was, she couldn’t help it, appreciation had to be shown and he bathed in glory at that.

Dinner was A complete success, everyone grew more comfortable, food was shared, compliments were flying around, laughter was in every corner and it felt like they were a family, Y/n included, she felt part of them and they felt she was part of them too, it was the thing everyone tried to deny, there wasn’t just friendship that was inevitable here, it was romance, love, laughter and eternal happiness. Harmony that makes this pack home.

The atmosphere was perfect when Jin brought out the dessert, his incredible strawberry cheesecake that had everyone watering at the mouth to get a slice, which Jin took it upon himself to cut up. He cut slice by slice and gave Y/n the largest one, praying she’d love it and by the stars in her eyes he was hopeful that she would. The smell was perfect, it was beautifully constructed with the best proportion, everything was perfect.

Jin waited, watching secretly as Y/n took her first bite, observing the boys around him quickly devouring their own slices as they ooed and ahed at the delicate dessert he had created with so much love. The widening of Y/n’s eyes, tail flicking fast into the boys besides her and ears twitching as her body relaxed gave everything Jin needed but it didn’t end there, just a few words had him melting into himself, sitting there like a lovesick little bear.

“This is the best cheesecake I’ve ever had.” - It’s all Y/n had to say to have the polar bear wanting to stand up and sweep her up in a hug but he refrained to let her eat, until every last bit was gone.

Once everyone had finished, they talked for a while, Y/n getting involved as they included her in every conversation, the most random topics and the most relevant, all of them clicked. It was late now but everyone had more than enough energy, unfortunately everyone had work in the morning so Y/n made the decision to let Jungkook know she’d call a cab.

That didn’t go down smoothly as he heavily protested and insisted on driving her home even when she tried to deny his request. She finally gave in as everyone else agreed that she had to get driven home, protective over her and not wanting anyone else to be with her but them. That lead to Jin packing up two slices of the cheesecake for Y/n to take home, sad to see her go but happy that she’ll go with something to keep thinking of him by and to enjoy. Jungkook quickly realised how cold it was and quickly ran to his room to get something for Y/n.

She felt something soft and warm touching her shoulders and looked back as Jungkook told her to hold back her arms, sliding on an incredibly oversized black hoodie that juxtaposed her overall appearance entirely but somehow fit, maybe because it was his.

“I can’t have you getting cold on the way home, you could even use it as a blanket in the car” - he rambled, confidently moving around to zip up it up and she looked at him with so much love before thanking him with a shy smile.

Each of the pack waited at the door as they were about to leave, Jimin came forward first, crashing her into a warm embrace where he rocked them back and forth and told her how they needed to all see eachother again so soon. Then came Hoseok, even if he was one of the last to meet her, he still gave her a warm hug and held her tight as he talked about how nice it was to meet her. Yoongi came in next, lightly wrapping his arms around her waist and whispering in her ear

“Practice your speed for next time kitten” teasing her before letting her go, leaving her with a laughing smile. Namjoon knew that since everyone else was hugging her, he probably could too and came in with a gentle embrace, wrapping her small body in his and rubbing her back as he said his goodbyes. The second to last was Taehyung, despite their evident tension he came forward, wrapped her up in a tighter embrace than the rest and decided to tease , wrapping his tail around one of her arms for a moment

“We can play next time kitty” - It was all Y/n needed to know he did infact like her and would like to see her again, she was excited for the next time they would all meet. Finally was Jin who handed her the box and wrapped her in his arms, sneaking in a very light kiss on the head that had her blushing and smiling brightly against his chest. When all goodbyes had ended, the two left the home and made their way to the car, Y/n holding the cheesecake box tightly but they all noticed the immediate drop in theirs chests at the separation, they just all wanted to be back together again but Y/n was covered in their scent and so was Jungkooks hoodie and the pack home was heavily scented by Y/n too.

The walk back to the car was calm, cold but Y/n was shielded from the wrath of the oncoming winter by the hoodie she knew she’d treasure for as long as Jungkook let her, they stayed hand in hand until Jungkook had to let her go for her to get into the same Mercedes from before, he waited until she was fully inside to close the door before moving round and getting in himself. After checking their seatbelts were okay he started the car and knew he had a few minutes maximum to speak to her.

“I’m sorry you had to meet them all today, I hope you didn’t feel pressured to stay” - Jungkook said as it slipped his mind how overwhelming it may have become.

“Kookie it was lovely, it may have been unexpected but your mates are so amazing and live up to everything you said about them, of course I didn’t feel pressured to stay, I just hope we could do this again soon” - The last part was mumbled as she worried about his own opinion.

“They were all telling me the same things, we will do this again sooner rather than later yeah? They all love you, Jin even sent you home with his cheesecake that says enough” - He said the last part with a slight laugh but after finishing the conversation and getting Y/n’s address he settled in to the smooth journey, letting Y/n fall asleep, cuddled into his hoodie while he listening to ‘What You Need’ by the Weeknd on a low volume, the drive was blissful, the low lights in the car and soft purrs from Y/n, his favourite songs, it was perfect.

The drive felt like it lasted a long time and Jungkook savoured every second before pulling into the car park, taking a second to take in the sleeping princess next to him, her scent thick as he pushed his own out to coat the hoodie once again, hoping it’d stay forever. He did the same thing of getting out before waking her up with pressure to her scent glands, leading her out of the car with her cheesecake and letting her guide him to her door. She leant her head on his shoulder on the ride up the elevator, heart beating steadily and relaxing into him as she was still tired, he was disappointed when the ride ended but walked her to her door nonetheless.

“Thank you for an amazing day Kookie, your mates are amazing and your amazing, text me okay?” - Y/n started off, shy at her final words, she looked up at him as he stared back lovingly.

“Thank you, for being so patient and such a good guest, sleep well Y/nie” - Jungkook leant down slightly to wrap his arms tightly around her waist and take the leap he’s wanted to take before, he lifted her off the ground to hold her better, even if only for a few seconds the both of them more than enjoyed it and it pulled a few giggles out of Y/n who, when placed back down, still had her arms around his neck and pulled him down to place a peck to his cheek. She smiled meekly and immediately said goodbye after, leaving into her apartment as he stood dumbfounded and held his cheek.

She’d kissed his cheek, he almost couldn’t believe it as he remained dumbfounded his whole journey home, he couldn’t stop the flustered cheeks and cheeky smile the entire ride home, even when he got back into the house, he felt like the happiest bun in the world. Of course he didn’t forget to text her as she requested and slightly tease her for the kiss as he arrived home but he had to take a moment as he walked through the door, scent beaming.

‘I think I might be in love with her’

Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoy again, I’ll update whenever - feel free to ask questions or request drabbles! Excuse any errors or spelling mistakes x

ཐི♡ཋྀ

161 notes · View notes

stinalotte · 9 months

Text

Happy 19th Birthday, Stargate Atlantis!

On July 16th, 2004, the pilot aired. Here's a handy little primer for anyone who doesn't know what the heckity heck this show is about. Everything is totally accurate, 100% true and very, very serious.

So.

This is the lost city of the Ancients, Atlantis, in the Pegasus galaxy, about 3 million light years from Earth. (The Ancients can go fuck themselves. Long story.) Atlantis is a city/spaceship approximately the size of Manhattan. She's semi-sentient, but not really, except actually yes, maybe, sometimes, totally. The whole city can go underwater or into hyperspace. Loves her humans. Home. Declaration of independence imminent.

The Atlantis expedition consists of civilians and military from at least 34 countries (in later seasons, the original expedition was just over a dozen). In no particular order:

Dr. Elizabeth Weir. The first leader of the expedition. The only adult. Sometimes. Okay, not very often. Is not above a little war crime for the good of the galaxy—or at least, for the good of Atlantis. Left a boyfriend and a dog on Earth, but we all miss the dog more than the boyfriend. Eats UN representatives for breakfast. Is terribly awkward on dates and really good at solitaire. Loves her chaos children. Which are:

Lt. Colonel Suicide Mission John Sheppard. Walked through the Gate and Atlantis said, "dibs". Thinks people who don't want to fly are crazy. Not good with emotional stuff. (He's getting better.) Loves his found space family and would die for them, often literally. Stop that. Also loves Ferris wheels, things that go fast, and Rodney McKay. And no, we don't know how he gets his hair to go like that.

Dr. Meredith Rodney McKay. Four degrees, two of which are PhDs, none of which are in social skills. Smartest man in two galaxies. Used to be an asshole, but got himself some friends who loved him such a stupid amount that he had no choice but to change. Still a work in progress. We love to see it. Blew up three quarters five sixths of a solar system. (It was uninhabited.) (Mostly.) Deathly allergic to citrus. Loves fully charged ZPMs, arguing with Dr. Zelenka, MREs, and John Sheppard.

Lieutenant Aiden Ford. Went ass first through the Gate with a grin and a whoop on his very first trip. One of the youngest members of the expedition. Is not allowed to name anything, ever. Mild case of hero worship when it comes to his commanding officer, which is totally understandable. A cautionary tale of how addiction messes up not only you, but the people around you.

Ronon Dex. Used to be hunted by the Wraith, lost his people in a terrible war, and is now a member of Sheppard's team where he gets to shoot things and beat up bad guys. Doesn't talk much, but when he does, he has something to say. Good friend. Excellent hugs, but have Carson check you out for any cracked ribs after. Is one bottle of Athosian wine away from staging an intervention regarding the Sheppard/McKay situation.

Teyla Emmagan. In possession of the team's one brain cell. Leader of the Athosian people. Will rock a baby to sleep and then go outside where a Wraith is dangling from the highest tower of the city and stomp on his hands until he falls 800 feet. Can either beat you up in the gym or force you to meditate on your problem, your choice. Has the aforementioned bottle of wine ready and loaded.

Dr. Radek Zelenka. Keeps the science team sane because Rodney sure as hell doesn't. Loves pigeons, cursing in Czech, and overseeing the thriving black market underground economy that has developed in the city. (Thanks @shaddyr for that lovely headcanon). Zachránil všechny naše zadky víc než jednou.

Chuck the Technician. Aggressively Canadian. Doesn't have a last name, doesn't need one. Is ALWAYS in the control room, seriously man, when do you sleep? Reads trashy sci fi novels on night shifts and organized a betting pool in 5 different currencies when Ronon was fighting Teal'c. Needs to share his eyelash routine because we're jealous.

Dr. Carson Beckett. The most Scottish Scot to ever Scot. Brilliant medical doctor who is not above the occasional unethical unorthodox treatment method. Sweet cinnamon roll of a man. Beloved by all. Loves his mom and wee baby turtles. Someone should take him fishing soon. 🥹

Colonel Samantha Carter. Member of SG-1. Legend. Awesome. Boss. Absolute BAMF. Punched a Goa'uld system lord in the face once. We all have a crush on her.

Dr. Jennifer Keller. Is very doctor-y, for better and for worse. Was all of us when she freaked out being on an alien planet for the first time, like a normal person would. Should totally have gone on a date with Captain Vega in that one deleted scene. [WE COULD HAVE HAD IT AAAAALL]

Jeannie Miller. Rodney's sister. Gave up a career in science to be a mom. Solved Rodney's math problem in her spare time, with finger paints. Loves her brother even when he's being an idiot. Fanfic canon says: her house is always open for him and certain Air Force Colonels to crash in. Don't you dare get a hotel room. Yes, the guest room has Only One Bed, Mer, what's your point?

Major Evan Lorne. If you are a moron and get yourself captured and imprisoned off world, he will swing by real quick with a couple Marines and bust you out. Co-parents Atlantis with Dr. Weir. Is actually a really talented painter. Needs a raise, a holiday, and a drink.

Colonel Steven Caldwell. Grumpy. Has to deal with Elizabeth's chaos children on a regular basis. Will make the enemy ship go away with a big boom and save your sorry ass in space. AGAIN.

Richard Woolsey. Used to be a New York City lawyer, one of the most ruthless creatures in the universe. His wife got the Yorkie in the divorce. Broke his heart. Is actually pretty cool if you let him do his thing (like get you out of an intergalactic war crimes trial by bribing the judges).

I know some characters and all the villains are missing, but this post is already longer than a trip on the Daedalus, so there you have it.

Stargate Atlantis. A show about wormholes, life-sucking aliens, ancient civilisations, space battles—and family, friendship, allowing yourself to love and be loved, and what it means to be home.

Happy birthday, fam.

#stargate atlantis #happy birthday #sga #found space family #elizabeth weir #john sheppard #rodney mckay #teyla emmagan #ronon dex #aiden ford #samantha carter #look I can't name them all

506 notes · View notes

storeecbrcod · 5 months

Text

Orange Peel Theory

Ghost x Reader fic

“Give the damn thing to me, Lt. Thought you wanted an orange, not orange juice.” He glared back at you, an action most people would have stopped in their tracks from seeing. Instead, you plucked the fruit from his hands, easily sliding your thumbs into the hole he had made and peeling back the skin. He huffed at how easily you’d peeled it, fingers deft and graceful compared to his own.

“There,” you said with a smirk, holding out the fruit. “Now I don’t have to watch you fumble.” He scoffed, moving to grab it from you. You managed to steal a segment of orange, popping it into your mouth with a grin before moving away. He stared at your retreating form, the sting of citrus in cuts on his fingers oddly similar to the sting in his chest.

It was odd how you were always there to offer help with such mundane things. You were simply the FNG when that had happened, a bright force among such dire circumstances. A sergeant who, despite seeing more than enough acts of war and sacrifice, had managed to hold on to what humanity you had left.

Humanity that came as small actions no one expected or demanded, ones you just took to because you could. At first, Ghost found it annoying; always offering help, always checking in on him, always stepping in with his duties to try and make them go faster so he could rest earlier. It infuriated him. He’d never do things like that, it opened up way too many opportunities to be taken advantage of.

At least, that’s what he told himself.

A light rap on his door. Hesitant, shy.

“Lt?”

He sighed, getting up from his bunk and trudging over to the door. Irritability shifted under his skin, like he wore too many layers and they were bunched up under each other, not moving no matter how much he tossed and turned and pulled at them.

He swung the door open, a huffed, “What?” leaving him. He froze nearly instantly, seeing your face look back at him.

Dark undereyes, red capillaries pulling at the corners of dull white sclera like a mirror. An exhausted, yet worried pinch ghosting your features.

“Sergeant,” he started slowly, frozen in place. The irritability swelled, but he couldn’t find it in himself to take it out on you. “What do you need?”

A glance sideways, a shaky breath poorly concealed. Regretable, shameful.

“I’m sorry for waking you,” you mutter. “Just- just can’t seem to settle. Soap’s out field, of course, and Gaz is working with Price on recon-”

“Inside,” he said gruffly, leaving you at the threshold. He stopped halfway to his bunk before turning, looking at your surprised form with a raised brow. “Move your feet, sergeant.”

Eventually, it all evolved into a back and forth game. You’d find little things to do for him, little ways to make his day better. You’d visit his office during your rounds, picking up piles of paperwork or files he was about to deliver to someone else in the base, somehow always tricking him into telling you who they were intended for.

You’d find little bits and pieces he’d misplaced and put them somewhere he knew to look, smiling to yourself when you heard him huff in mild irritation when he eventually found something somewhere he’d ‘fucking looked before’.

You’d bring him a tea, or a snack when he had spent entirely too long in his room or hunched over paperwork.

You’d fill his water bottle when he was training in the gym.

You’d peel his oranges.

You never noticed how he’d lead on your conversations, watching your cheeky smile as he gave you the name of the intended recipients of his work.

You never noticed how loud your smile was, even if you weren’t facing him in the same room.

You never notice how sometimes he’d purposely avoided being seen by you outside his office so that you’d assume he had been there all day and bring him treats.

You never noticed how he left his water bottle out for easy access.

You never noticed how Soap or Gaz would throw him a confused or knowing look when he grabbed yet another orange, days in a row when he didn’t even really like them that much.

It soon divulged into a game of hide-and-seek tag, really. You’d always do something for him, something small, and he’d always do so in return. He was a lot sneakier about it, managing to turn a lot of your own tricks back on you and never being caught.

“I know what you’re doing.”

He looked up, his face neutral as the pen in his hand stilled. He raised a brow. “And just what am I doing, sergeant?”

A small huff, a cross of your arms. Defiant, playful.

“You’re taking my stuff just so you can say you found it when you return it,” you accuse.

He doesn’t know how he managed to keep a smile off of his face, even if his mask was able to hide it somewhat. He doesn’t know how his voice remains even, either, as he turns to you properly with a long sigh. “Why would I do that?”

“Well-” you splutter, suddenly falling short for a moment. “I wouldn’t know. Seems like you’re going soft.”

“Soft?”

“Yes.”

“In what way?”

Another silence. This time, he can’t keep a smirk from tugging at his lips, his eyes sparkling with mirth. He waited for your response, watching as you shifted uncomfortably. For an amazing and competent soldier out field, you sure were pretty awful at concealing your thoughts and feelings around him.

A shake in your resolve, a sideways glance. Flustered, cute.

Cute?

He couldn’t help but think of all the things you’d done for him over time. At some point, it had become the norm for you and him; helping each other out in tiny ways while never acknowledging them. Small boosts of morale and easiness provided that was eagerly accepted.

Like when he helped you get back to sleep after a particularly restless night filled with waking night terrors and the silent tears that he had learnt to not mention, rather swiping them away without another word. Like when either of you were sure you wouldn’t make it another day, either one of your heads resting on the other’s chest.

There were times where you would text him, his contact given to you purely for basic communication or emergency that quickly descended into the occasional conversation.

03/9/20-- 11:47 Heard you got caught in cross fire. What, bullets don’t phase through ghosts? I’m the one with the jokes love, not you Quit your bitching, old man You picking on the injured now, huh? New low And here I was about to offer to bring you some real food, not hospital food. But I guess I have a new reputation to uphold Not a reputation if only one person knows about it. I can keep secrets I’ll be there in 10 minutes Thanks, love

04/11/20-- 05:23 You up? No Yeah, good one. Slick Glad you think so, sarge. What do you need? Need a fucking coffee, wanted to know if you wanted a tea Are there sticks in the woods? Dunno, would have thought one was up your arse with your sunny attitude yesterday. Milk and sugar, like usual? Yes please

29/11/20-- 18:03 I’m glad you’re going home this time Why, need a break from me? Now that you mention it… But no, just think you deserve some actual time off instead of lurking around here like you always do I lurk. Yes, you lurk. You take your call sign too seriously sometimes I’ll keep that in mind

29/11/20-- 18:07 Did I do something wrong?

He struggled being away from you, he found. He hadn’t realised how much he enjoyed being around you, how much he took the little game for granted. Now, when he lost something, he found himself wishing you were there with him until his keys magically appeared. He missed waiting for the small knock on his door as you walked in with cups in your hands, maybe a paper bag with a muffin or such.

He hadn’t eaten an orange since he went on leave for the holidays.

24/12/20-- 22:58 Happy holidays, Sarge I should have said it earlier, but todays been hectic Not that you really care anymore

24/12/20-- 23:01 I wanted to invite you over for a drink or two, maybe a nice dinner, but thought it would be better for you to spend it with your family Why didn’t you tell me you didn’t have family? I would have spent my holiday with you if you asked I should have asked

24/12/20-- 23:17 I’m sorry

24/12/20-- 23:23 I miss you

24/12/20-- 23:39 What a day to lose your humanity I would have helped you

25/12/20-- 00:01 Merry Christmas, love I miss you I love you, too A Christmas miracle, I guess

Thumbs plunge into tough skin, ripping and tearing. Yet, nothing leaks from the cavity. No, it comes away easily.

A chuckle, the burn of citrus in cuts on his fingers and in his chest. Ire, melancholy.

25/12/20-- 00:06 A Christmas miracle I peeled my own orange

#call of duty #call of duty modern warfare #cod mw ghost #cod fanfic #cod x reader #ghost x reader #reader x ghost

207 notes · View notes

letsquestjess · 3 months

Text

Rinse and Repeat (Hunter x GN!Reader)

Summary: When Hunter gets injured and needs a little assistance, you help him dry his hair and make him his favourite soup to cheer him up.

Word count: 1.2K

Warnings: Going to put an 18+ and MDNI for the slightly suggestive themes.

-- -- -- -- --

The patter of cascading water came to a stop and the natural hum of the apartment took over again. Movement bustled behind the refresher door in the moments before Hunter emerged, bringing with him a rolling cloud of steam and the citrus scent of your body wash. With a towel snugly tied around his waist, he traipsed onto warm carpet, droplets catching in the hair on his chest and trickling down his abdomen.

He grunted to himself as he swept his curls over his shoulder and forcefully attempted to dry the straggled mess. The more he moved and adjusted his only working arm, the wider the gap between the dripping strands grew, making it impossible for him to grasp the main bulk with just one hand.

“Come here,” you coaxed, guiding him to the edge of the bed and settling his frustration with a kiss to his damp brow. Gently, you took the towel from him and squeezed the excess water from his hair, draping it over the radiator once it was beyond use and retrieving the hairdryer from the bottom drawer of the dresser.

“Shuffle back a little,” you said as you perched yourself behind him. Adjusting the controls, the machine whirred out a warm stream of air and you encouraged it through Hunter’s curls. With each delicate touch, your fingers glided through the dark waves, creating a calming, rhythmic motion that offered him a serene moment of ease.

It was evident from his restless movements that he longed to be free from the medical cage enclosing his left wrist. Weeks of silent management had taken its toll on him, and it was starting to show. Occasionally, you heard a mild grunt as he strove to balance items in one arm or took a few extra minutes to organise them. The surgeon had promised that the cast would come off soon, but with every day his limb remained encased, Hunter’s frustration mounted.

With a final few waves of air, you shut off the hairdryer and set it aside to cool. You combed through his hair with a deft precision, and once free of tangles and knots, tied it up and wriggled his bandana back in place. “There. All clean, dry, and out of the way of that handsome face of yours.”

As you made to stand, Hunter’s hand met your waist in a delicate brush of coarse fingertips to draw you closer. Hazel-speckled eyes found yours in a glistening show of gratitude and reverence. “Thank you, love,” he said.

“I was hardly going to let you struggle and leave you with damp hair,” you replied. “Especially when it’s so cold out.”

“Snuggle weather,” Hunter cooed, roping his arms around your middle and pulling you in to bury his face against your stomach. With his skillful touch, he lulled you into a sense of tranquillity before his fingers began to explore under your shirt, sweeping at the spots he knew were ticklish until he had you laughing and tottering backwards.

“No fair!” you huffed through enduring chuckles. “You tricked me into that.”

Hunter offered you a guilty shrug and rose from the bed. “I did.”

“Menace.”

“That I am, but I’m your menace.”

He passed you to grab a few items of clothing from the dresser, and as you helped him into them, you kept a watchful eye on his hands. Your vigilance amused him, and his lips quirked.

Ignoring his mischief, you straightened his oversized top and made sure the sleeve draped comfortably over his cast. “Do you need your meds?” you asked.

He shook his head. “I’m not in any pain,” he assured you. “Although, now I can smell whatever you’re cooking, I am getting quite hungry.”

Eager to show him what you had been making, you led him into the kitchen and spread your arms to the preparations. You dimmed the lights and the candles on the table extended their light onto the darkened wood, the closed glass globe full of crystalline petals reflecting their colours in the flickering glow. On the cooker, dinner simmered, and the steam distributed a delightful mixture of herbs and vegetables.

“I asked Wrecker about some of your favourite foods,” you said, ladling two bowls of piping hot soup and setting them onto the placemats. “He gave me recipes for the ones he used to make you whenever you were injured. If it tastes terrible, I have takeout menus ready and waiting.”

Settling into his seat, Hunter lifted a soup-laden spoon to his mouth and blew away the steaming tendrils, sipping to taste it and slurping the rest. The moment the unique combination tantalised his tastebuds, he released a satisfied murmur and quickly scooped up another spoonful. “It’s perfect,” he hummed, relaxing into the nostalgic flavour. “I think Wrecker has competition.”

You weren’t sure whether it was his compliment or the heat from the stovetop, but your cheeks flushed. Sampling the finished product for yourself, you had to admit it was good. You had followed Wrecker’s recipe to the letter, picked out every fresh piece yourself, dawdled in the kitchen to stir it and add each ingredient at the perfect moment, wondering if you were cooking it right. It was all worth it to see the endearing smile on Hunter’s face.

“Thank you,” he said, eyes meeting yours. “You’ve done a lot to help me over these past few weeks while I heal, and I will find a way to repay you.”

Your spoon stopped short of your lips. You knew he had struggled to adjust to a life where he didn’t need to prove himself every day, where his worth wasn’t based on how many enemies he had taken down or how successful his squad was in battle. “Hunter, you don’t have to do that,” you said softly, reaching across the table. He met you half-way, scarred fingers entwining with yours beside the sphere of petals. “I made you this because I love you and I wanted to cheer you up.”

Exhaling an understanding breath, he tenderly squeezed your hand. He wished he could express how lucky he felt. How your presence relieved even the most painful of scars, how your smile bore the promise of a better future. In the darkest shadows of his doubt, he couldn’t shake the sense of unworthiness, as if he didn’t deserve you or the love and care you offered. But each fresh day when he woke up next to you, nestled in blankets and kissed by pure daylight, he made a silent vow. No more battles. No more risky situations and never knowing if he would see you again. Those days were behind him and new ones, hopeful ones, lay ahead.

“I love you too,” he said in an earnest whisper, kissing your knuckles and holding your palm to his chest. “I would do anything to ensure your happiness. You know that, right?”

“Course I do,” you replied. “It was one of the first promises you made me.”

With warm cheeks and beams you could both neither squash nor contain, you returned to the soup, chatting and making jokes until you were full of good food and laughter.

“I thought tonight we could snuggle up in front of the fire and watch that holo-movie that’s been on our list for ages,” you suggested. “I got some snacks from the store this morning.”

Hunter’s face lit up with a mischievous smile as he reclined in his chair, and a contented hum purred in his throat. “Oh, my love, now you’re just spoiling me.”

You shrugged. “You deserve it. If you’re lucky, we can do this again tomorrow.”

TAGLIST (Message if you’d like to be added, 18+ only)

@skellymom @freesia-writes @the-hexfiles @theeyesofasoldier @multi-fan-dom-madness @savebytheodoresnonjosestuff @tech-aficionado @techsriduur @dangraccoon @starrylothcat @jediknightjana @mssbridgerton @trixie2023

129 notes · View notes

psychedelic-ink · 1 year

Text

𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 - 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐈𝐧 𝐁𝐞𝐝

pairing: pre outbreak!joel miller x f!reader, one sided tommy miller x f!reader

genre: angst, smut, romance, slow burn, mutual pining, secret relationship

series summary: After your grandfather’s passing, you find yourself moving into his home in Texas. You meet the Millers; Tommy, his older brother Joel and his daughter Sarah. With time, you and Tommy become close friends and Sarah visits you often. But Joel…Joel keeps his distance. The reason for this is due to one crucial fact you don’t know but he does; Tommy has a crush on you. Which means you’re off limits no matter what. But as your own feelings for Joel grow, things start to get more and more complicated.

word count: 6.7k (🤡🤡🤡)

chapter summary: You go on a date with Tommy Miller.

warnings: angst (mild?? a lot happens this chapter), tension, joel being joel, both brother's being on edge, misunderstandings

Chapter Six || Chapter Eight

It’s 5 AM when you tiptoe into the kitchen, hesitantly flicking the lights on .

The quiet of the early morning is broken as the kitchen buzzes alive. Picing up a glass from the cupboard. You pour yourself a glass of orange juice. You hate orange juice. Always have. You despise the aftertaste, but you risk the nausea you’ll get and drink it with large, loud gulps.

You need to talk to Joel.

Tommy's voice lingers in your mind, haunting and distant. He sounded so out of it, almost like he was afraid of something. You wanted to ask him what was going on, ask him if he was in any kind of trouble. But you answered him with silence. Normally, you would’ve pried for more information but the weight of his question stunned you.

You couldn’t say anything to Tommy. How could you?

This…thing with Joel. There’s something there. You can’t be making it all up.

The mere thought of Joel sends shivers down your spine, a sensation that creeps along your skin like a ghostly caress. You can't deny the reality of it all, the stolen glances, the gentle touches that linger just a second too long. It's a feeling you've only ever encountered in the pages of a novel or the strokes of a painting, a visceral need to be close to him that consumes your thoughts.

And that’s why you need to have everything out in the open.

Your stomach twists into knots as you fill your glass with water. What if you have been imagining things? Perhaps your own grief and loneliness have turned a harmless connection into something more, something that isn't real. You don’t know. It wouldn't be the first time; you thinking there was something else when in truth it was nothing but friendship or less than that.

The uncertainty gnaws at you, chipping away at your confidence and leaving you questioning everything.

You take a sip of water. The taste of citrus lingers on your tongue. With a grimace, you spit into the sink and wipe the sweat from your brow. Sweat clings to your skin. You feel sick. It’s 5 AM. When does Joel wake up again? Seven? Eight?

Should you go to his room?

Placing the glass in the sink, you head back upstairs. You'll just have to bide your time until you hear the sound of his footsteps, and then you'll make your move. Shouldn’t be hard with how wound up you are.

You inhale the heady scent of coffee. But no matter how many inhales you take, you can’t concentrate. Every time you’re finished with an order, you don’t miss the disappointed looks of the customers as they look down to their cups and see the latte art you made. It’s definitely not your best work; your swans are misshapen, and your tulips look more like blobs than delicate flowers.

Of course, you overslept.

You saw none of the Millers that morning. No Sarah, no Tommy, and, most importantly, no Joel.

He did leave you a blueberry muffin on the kitchen counter though, and coffee. Which you ate on the way to work, a goofy smile on your lips.

“What the hell is wrong with you today?” Olivia chides, taking a piece of apple pie to serve.

“Just tired.”

“Well, that’s an obvious lie.”

The conversation grinds to a halt. Olivia serves an older woman her slice of pie and you hand her a cup of black coffee. She turns to you as the customer leaves, a scowl deeply etched into her otherwise round features.

“Tell me what’s bothering you. Nightmares again?”

“No…nothing like that,” you pick up your stashed latte and bring it to your lips. You take two quick sips before hiding it away again. “Tommy asked me out.”

“Oh?” she gasps, clearly excited on your behalf. Which is the opposite of what you’re feeling. “The younger Miller? He’s cute. What did you say?”

“Nothing.”

“What do you mean nothing?”

You grind the heel of your palm against your forehead, the heat already prickling at your skin. The words overwhelm you, yet all you want to do is express yourself. Olivia shakes her head. With a breathless laugh, she reaches over to squeeze your hand.

“Please don’t tell me you just hung up on him?”

“Oh god no!” you answer with a huff. Funnily enough the accusation calms your racing mind. “I just said I’d think about it. He said he understood.”

“Well…I guess that’s better than hanging up on him—I think. Why the hesitation? Is it Joel?”

“That obvious?”

“Not really. Just the best friend privilege.” she grins. “So what are you gonna do?”

“I wanted to talk to Joel this morning but the entire family was gone before I could see him.” your shoulders drop. “Maybe it’s better I don’t say anything. What good will it do anyway? He has a girlfriend.”

“That’s true, but you did say their relationship wasn’t all that serious. So who knows.” she taps her forefinger against the corner of her jaw. “My question is…do you actually like Tommy? If Joel wasn’t a thing, would you want to date him? Because if your answer is still no, I don’t think you really need to think about it.”

She's right. If you have no interest in dating Tommy, regardless of Joel, then entertaining the thought is pointless.

You spend the rest of the day pondering the question. You continue to serve the incoming rush, your hand becoming more steady with every pour. The rich hue of the dark roast coffee reminds you of Tommy - a kind, dependable person who's been there for you through thick and thin. He has a way of making you laugh, and when he gets too close, your heart skips a beat. He always knows how to make you feel better, no matter what.

If Joel wasn’t his brother—if you felt nothing for Joel—would you want to date him?

Yes. Your answer would be yes.

Your eyes flit to the glass doors in panic. Gray clouds hover aimlessly in the sky, lighting strikes, the sound of thunder following. Normally you’d smile, turn to Olivia, and say how happy you are to see rain. Your muses always seem to dance aimlessly under the heavy pour.

But today. Today it feels ominous.

Heavy drops start to strike the windows, more people seek shelter in the small coffee shop. Orders come pouring in; Mochas, Lattes, Espressos. You welcome the workload, your fingers working faster than your mind. It’s a pleasant shift in energy.

During your lunch break, you sneak a peek at your phone.

> TOMMY:

> Sorry about calling you so late last night.

You stand frozen, eyes glued to the screen. Another message pops up before you can answer the first.

> TOMMY:

> But my question still stands. I meant it (just saying in case you thought I was drunk or soemthing I wasn’t.)

You smile at the typo. You think about making a joke, a weak attempt to lighten the tension you can feel cracking through the screen. You decide against it. And briefly, you think about not answering at all. With a frown, you shake your head. That would be just mean.

Some fucked up part of you wonders if Tommy told Joel. Would the older Miller brother be jealous? Would he see it as a missed opportunity? It's an irrational train of thought, but you can't bring yourself to believe that the tension between you and Joel is just in your head.

You never thought of yourself as desirable. Hell, you barely had a proper boyfriend before all of this. A sick sense of power twists in your gut. It’s nice to be wanted.

You start to type.

> YOU:

> It’s okay. I was awake anyway… It’s a busy day at the coffee shop. I’ll let you know tonight.

Staring at the unsent message, you begin to think not answering at all might’ve been better. You should be honest with him. Tell him that there’s someone else. Even if you misread Joel, that still doesn’t give you the right to date Tommy as a consolation prize.

You delete the text and write something more honest instead.

> YOU:

> It’s okay. I was awake anyway… I don’t think I can Tommy sor

Your fingers hover aimlessly over the keyboard. Saying no via text just seems like a shitty thing to do. You look up at Olivia, who checks her nails and adjusts her apron with a small pout. Boredom never sat well with her, and with all the customers happily sipping their coffees and biting into their pastries, there isn't much to do.

Your gaze drops back to the screen. You don’t want to string him along, but you also don’t want to reject him with a shitty text.

So you decide to mix the two answers together.

> YOU:

> How about we talk tomorrow face to face? I think I can explain myself better that way

You let out a frustrated groan. This was just a no in disguise.

Fuck it.

You delete your answer and shove the phone back into your bag. You’ll just get back to him later. He knows you’re working today. He knows that you’re stressed about the power still not being back on in your house.

You fidget with the hem of your apron. You hope he doesn’t take it the wrong way. The last thing you want is to hurt him.

Joel side-eyes his younger brother as he drops the phone onto his lap. His leg bobs nervously, his knuckles white from where he holds the steering wheel. Tommy’s been on edge all day. He’s been particularly snappy towards Joel and nearly cut his entire damn hand off. Joel’s not the best at addressing his worries. He’s definitely not good at it like his brother, who seems to have a natural capability to make people feel better.

He’s seen it play out god knows how many times. He’s seen the way the tension would drain away from your body at something Tommy would say. Joel hates the toxicity rolling in his gut. He really needs to talk to you—about Tommy, about himself, about everything.

The truck rounds the corner and Asha’s apartment comes into view.

The inside of Joel’s mouth is like sandpaper. He wants to ask Tommy what's been bothering him all day, but the words seem to stick in his mouth like glue. Tommy's eyes dart from the road to his phone, checking it for the umpteenth time today.

“You waitin’ for a call or somethin’?” Joel forces a weak smile, he’s highly aware that it probably doesn’t look as smooth as it does in his head. Tommy raises an eyebrow and stuffs the phone into his pocket. He drums his thumbs against the steering wheel.

“Nah, it’s nothin’ important. Don’t worry about it.” the truck comes to a slow halt, the tires squeaking under the weight of the vehicle. “I couldn’t sleep last night that’s why I’m a bit all over the place.”

“A’right then.”

Joel knows Tommy’s lying, but he also knows that if he presses for more information it’ll backfire. He looks up to Asha’s apartment instead. He doesn’t want to leave the comfort of the truck.

“What are you waitin’ for, get out old man.” Tommy teases, a small grin playing on his lips. Joel feels like he can breathe again, the playful tone of his brother a gentle shove for him to go on with his plan. He takes a deep breath and opens the door.

“See you t’morrow, Tommy.”

“See ya. Take it easy.”

With that, he’s off. Joel stares until the truck turns the corner. His heart is restless, beating too fast and straining his breath. The apartment complex looms over him. He doesn’t want to do this. He doesn’t want to have the “talk”. He wants to go home, have a cup of coffee, and, preferably, talk to you.

He does manage to take a step forward seconds later. Joel didn’t raise himself to be a coward. Asha would understand, they had some great moments together but both of them knew that this relationship didn’t have a solid enough ground for them to keep walking on.

Asha buzzes him in and Joel climbs the stairs, every step heavier then the last. When he arrives, the door to Asha’s apartment is already open, light pouring out into the dark hall.

“Hey there,” Asha greets him, leaning against the door frame with her arms crossed over her chest. “Looks like you had a shit day.”

“Uh…somethin’ like that.”

He’s not a fan of the way she’s staring him down. Her gaze is piercing, slowly moving up his body and remaining glued to his face. A small smile touches her red lips.

“You want to come inside or do this here?”

“Asha,” Joel warns, his tone dropping. She hugs herself tighter, averting his gaze.

“Sorry, I know you hate me being a know it all.” she shakes her head, arms dropping to her sides. “I don’t mean to get defensive. I knew it was going to happen, I just…I don’t really know what I was expecting.”

Joel closes the distance, and he reaches up, cradling her face with two hands. Asha’s smile never wavers as she leans into his touch. Her lips find the curve of his thumb, pressing a kiss into his skin.

“We had fun didn’t we?” she asks, voice barely above a whisper.

Joel smiles. “That we did,” his mouth finds the crown of her head, his lips move against her skin. “I’m happy we met. If you ever need anythin’ don’t hesitate to call.”

Her sudden burst of laughter makes him feel lightheaded. Joel pulls away, hands dropping to her hips. She playfully smacks his shoulder, rolling her big eyes at him.

“Yeah, you better believe I’ll give you a call if my table breaks down.” Before he can come up with a quip of his own, her lips touch his cheek. She smells like cherries. “See you around, Joel Miller.”

The sky now clear but the pavement still wet, your boots make a squishing sound with each step, echoing through the silence of the afternoon. You love the wide street, trees on each side, leaves rustling with the wind. The rain clouds had cleared up, leaving a lovely crispness in the air. Gray clouds now a muted white, you look up. You take in the rainbow of the sky, orange hues mix with the pinks. A beautiful harmony of color.

Your heart thrums loudly in your chest. Every step brings you closer to him.

To Joel.

Finally, after a day of hoping and dreaming, you’ll finally see what reality has to offer. In the distance you see Joel working on the garden. His shirt stretches taut over the expanse of his broad shoulders, the fabric damp with sweat where it clings to the curve of his spine. The muscles in his arms flex as he tends to the plants, the veins visible beneath his skin.

The closer you get, the louder the grunts and huffs become. Your cheeks warm at the sound; your imagination taking you places that it shouldn’t go. Not yet, at least.

“Hey, there neighbor,” you call out, opening the gate. “Lovely to see you actually giving the flowers the attention they deserve.”

You stand next to him and he stills, planting the sharp end of the small shovel into the dirt. Your hold your breath at the sight of him slowly lifting his gaze. The corners of his lips turn up in a small smile, his gaze soft. Your pulse quickens. You have his full, undivided attention.

Pulling away your gaze, you fall next to him, crossing your legs as you stare at the flowers ready to go into the ground.

“They ain’t the only ones I’ve failed to give attention to,” he mutters, his eyes dropping to your lips. You don’t see it, not clearly, but you feel it. A scorching hot iron against the sensitive skin. You hear him swallow. “How’s your day been?”

“Uh…busy. I—”

Suddenly, you turn to him, slightly taken aback when you catch Joel’s gaze already fixed on you. You breathe heavily through your nose, your nostrils flare. Every muscle is taut over your bone, begging you to stretch and release the tension.

Joel, on the other hand, looks relaxed, like he’s finally let the world drop away from his shoulders.

As if on cue, you both begin to speak simultaneously, each blurting out, "I need to tell you something."

You both burst into giggles, unable to contain the nervous energy that crackles between you. Joel offers a gentle smile and a slight nod of his head. "You go first," he says, gesturing with his hand.

The warm afternoon sun casts a soft glow on the colorful flowers Joel had been planting in the garden beds just moments before. Their sweet fragrance fills the air, mingling with the fresh scent of the earth. You take a deep breath.

"Okay," you say, smile wavering. Your mouth goes dry when he stares at you with wide, expectant eyes. Your stomach clenching, you shake your head, trying to calm your fried nerves. “Okay, okay— The thing is…well…Tommy asked me out.”

“He…” Joel blinks, eyes dropping to where the small shovel is buried. “He asked you out?”

“Yes but–”

“I’m happy for you two, that’s good.”

You watch him wide-eyed as he speaks, his words tumbling out in a rush. Your eyes flicker to the frantic rise and fall of his chest, the sharp movements of his hands. There's something unsteady about him now, something off-kilter. It sends shivers down your spine, makes your heart race in your chest.

“No, wait.” you attempt to place a hand to slow him down but he jerks away. Like he’s been burned. “That’s not what I meant. I didn’t…I didn’t say yes.”

He huffs, refusing to look at you. “Did you say no?”

“I didn’t…I didn’t really give him an answer yet—I actually wanted to talk to you first.”

“Why? You want my blessin’ or somethin’?”

“Joel!” you finally snap, your chest heaving. “Can you just—fuck. Can you just listen?”

Your sudden outburst seems to do the trick but he’s still not looking at you. The afternoon wind blows cold between you. The flowers softly moving with the breeze. His knuckles turn white around the handle of the shovel. You’ve seen him mad before, but that anger was never directed at you. It makes you fumble with your words, not really knowing how to defuse the situation. Even if you frequently entertained the thought of something unspoken lingering between the two of you, he has Asha. You’re not even sure what you’re expecting now. This was a mistake, you shouldn’t have said anything in the first place.

“I just wanted to say that…I think,” you let out a sigh. “I know this might seem sudden, or maybe even a bit unwanted, but I have—”

Joel cuts you off with a sharp turn of his head. You were right. He’s angry.

“You should go out with him.”

“Excuse me?”

“My brother…” he shakes his head, finally dropping the darned shovel. With a furrow, he stares into the hole he made. Both figuratively and literally. “He’s a good man, tries to be one, at least. He’ll take care of you. Help you. You’ll never find anyone like him, someone that will love you with every fiber of his being. You deserve that. You deserve to be happy and supported.”

“But–”

“Nothing else matters.” he leans forward. Fingers touching your chin, Joel forces you to look at him. Really look at him. You only see your frightened expression reflecting back at you in his eyes. His voice cracks when he speaks again. “He’s my brother, sweet tea.”

You part your lips and he interrupts again, shaking his head.

“You’ll be happy. You’ll be close.”

It almost sounds like he’s trying to convince himself rather than you. As if this is the only way. The right way. Tears flood your lashline and as they threaten to spill, you quickly turn away. If he noticed, he doesn’t say anything.

Waves of emotions come crashing through, cresting like a tide, it swallows you whole. Your mind is screaming—screeching—at you to head inside, pack everything and return to your lightless home. Fuck. You’re a joke. He doesn’t care about you, not in the way that you’ve been hoping for. Your stomach churns, and your chest caves in. Lungs having trouble breathing. You shouldn’t be here. You shouldn’t be on the verge of confessing your feelings to him. He doesn’t want your burden. He doesn’t want you.

You’ll be close—what the fuck does that even mean?

"Fine," you answer through gritted teeth, forcing yourself to stand up despite the dizziness and disorientation that overwhelms you. You try to ignore the sickening feeling in the pit of your stomach as you choke out, "Thanks for your blessing."

Bitterness seeps through every word, dripping with venom and resentment. The taste of bile rises in your throat as you turn away from him, leaving him there among his unplanted flowers. The colors seem to fade and dim, robbed of their vibrancy and life. Even the sky above seems to lose its luster, the once-beautiful colors now muted and tasteless.

A butterfly follows you into the house.

It’s the next day, and by some miracle, you managed to steer clear away from Joel in his own goddamn house. It’s been easy actually. When Sarah asked why you weren’t joining them for lunch, you simply said you had a breakthrough and had to paint. Which was a big fat lie but what else could you have said? In all honesty, your muses have never been more asleep.

The clock on your bedside table clicks menacingly. It’s about 7 PM, meaning that you have to get ready soon for your date with Tommy.

Honestly, you have half the mind to call and cancel but you can’t do that to him. Besides, there’s no harm in going out. Perhaps some alone time together is just what you need to ignite the spark that’s missing.

You try not to be petty, but you're still angry with Joel. Maybe it's irrational, but you can't help the hot flush of resentment that prickles beneath your skin. As you enter the bathroom, you purposefully leave the door open, relishing in the small act of rebellion. You turn on the music, scrolling through the radio channels until you find the perfect song to fit your mood. "Take On Me" by A-ha begins to flood through the cheap speakers, a classic '80s hit that you can't resist.

Whenever he passes the doorway, you feel his eyes on you, even though you don't turn to look. You can sense the weight of his gaze, the tension between you thick and charged with unspoken words. You adjust your skirt, tugging it down a bit, but you know it's a futile effort. The material slides up again as soon as you start walking, baring more of your legs than you intended.

You can't help but feel a small sense of satisfaction at his obvious discomfort.

“Wow, you look amazing.”

You jerk away from the mirror, your fingers barely an inch away from your hair where you were trying to fix it. You see Sarah standing at the door, a playful smile tugging at her lips.

“You going on a date?” she wiggles her eyebrows, which prompts the playful roll of your eyes.

“Something like that,” you answer, smiling. She’s holding a sketchbook. “Did you want to show me something?”

“Uh, yeah but I can show it to you later if you’re busy.”

“I’m never busy for you,” you answer, grinning. “Come on, show me.”

Before she does, Sarah calls out for her father, which makes your blood bubble underneath you nails. Your breath catches in your throat, and in an attempt to distract yourself, you reach for Sarah's sketchbook, flipping through the pages.

Despite Joel's overwhelming presence by your side, you find solace in the fluid dance of Sarah's art on the pages before you, momentarily forgetting the weight on your shoulders.

Your eyes are immediately drawn to the intricate details of her drawings. The lines are delicate and precise, each stroke carefully placed to capture the essence of the natural world. You can see the subtle variations in the shading, the way the light falls on the leaves of the trees, the way the petals of the flowers seem to dance in the breeze.

You lean in closer, unable to tear your eyes away from the page. The texture of the paper under your fingertips is rough, but the drawings are so precise and detailed that it feels like you could reach out and touch the leaves, feel the rough bark of the trees.

Joel leans closer and your elbows touch, he’s just as stunned as you are.

“Holy shit,” Joel mutters, eyes moving to Sarah. “Baby, these are amazing. Is there anythin’ you can’t do?”

“Nope!” she grins, taking the sketchbook back. Your hands feel naked without the inked paper, a sudden chill washing over you. “But I can’t take all the credit. I had a great teacher.”

It takes you a moment to realize that Sarah’s talking about you. Both Millers' gazes fall upon you, waiting for you to respond. You shift from one lef to another. A nervous laughter bubbles in the back of your throat and you shake your head.

“This is all you. I simply gave you a couple of tips, you’re a natural.”

“If you two inflate my ego any further I think I might float away,” she answers, laughing at her own joke. “Anyway, I’m off. The Adlers insisted I come over.”

Joel gives Sarah’s head a gentle pat before she leaves, the teen leans into her father’s touch, smiling to the widest. She waves you off, “Have fun on your date.”

Joel's jaw tightens, grinding with tension after she leaves and he fixes you a stern look. You expect him to leave, but against his better judgment, he decides to stay. He watches you, his darkened gaze taking in your short skirt and low-cut blouse. It’s his form of self-inflicted torture.

Joel moves right behind you, observing as you put on your lipstick. You see his reflection in the mirror. His eyes a heavyweight lingering on your skin, a tingle running down your spine. You push the thoughts away. He’d made himself perfectly clear yesterday.

You can't help but think about how unfair it all is. He had no right to be mad, especially when he's the one who told you to go out with Tommy. And yet, here he is, scowling at you through the mirror.

Your gaze meets his, and you can see the wheels turning in his head.

"You look great," he grunts, his voice low.

You watch his reflection getting closer, your heart racing in your chest. Your breath catches in your throat, body aching for his touch. His eyes are on your lips.

"You think so?" you ask, trying to keep your voice steady.

He nods, his gaze moving from your lips to your eyes. "Yeah, I do."

Joel watches you like a hawk through the reflection, his hands hovering an inch away from your waist. You’re abundantly aware that this might be a breaking point for him. He’s not touching you, but he’s not exactly not touching you either.

He takes a deep inhale, and on the exhale, his hot breath fans your neck. “You smell good too.”

A shiver runs down your spine as his warmth lingers. Your body responds to his presence. An itch that you just can’t seem to reach. You want to lean in, feel the firmness of his chest against your own. You want him to touch you, feel those calloused hands you admire so much trailing down your skin, finding purchase above your sex—

His arms drop to his sides, and he takes a slow step back. Every movement strained.

Another shudder overwhelms you. You’ll be close, is what he’d said the day before. Now that your frustrations have dwindled, you’re starting to think maybe what he’s doing is more sacrificial rather than an attempt to get rid of you, or to push you away. You swallow thickly, the knot in your throat making it impossible to say anything.

From his reflection, it almost looks like he’s about to say something. Maybe he was going to take back what he said. Maybe he was going to let you admit what you’ve been feeling all this time. Maybe he’s going to allow you to tell him; It’s you Joel. It’s always been you.

But he doesn’t say a word. He chews the inside of his bottom lip and just on cue, a loud honk echoes into the night. Tommy. Both of you turn to stare out the window. Both of you seeing the little headlights of the familiar truck.

Joel’s eyes drop to the granite floor, face contorting with regret and shame.

“Have fun.” he says, disappearing into the hall.

The drive to the 360 Overlook is a silent one. The truck winds its way up the narrow road that leads to the top of the hill. The headlights cut through the darkness, illuminating the trees and the occasional glimpse of the view beyond.

When you reach the top of the hill, Tommy parks the truck and you both step out, taking in the chilly night air. The night sky stretches out before you like a vast canvas, illuminated by the shimmering stars above. The air is cool and crisp. You pull your jacket a little tighter around you, a subtle shiver overtaking you. But Tommy seems unfazed by the chill, and he lays out a soft blanket on the ground.

Taking in the view, you feel as though you're standing at the edge of the world. The lights of Austin stretch out before you. Like a galaxy of stars come to life. The cityscape glimmers and shimmers in the darkness, the buildings, and landmarks standing out against the inky blackness of the night.

The Colorado River winds its way through the heart of the city, its surface reflecting the dazzling lights. You can see the cars moving like tiny dots on the highways, their headlights glowing like fireflies in the distance. The downtown skyline rises up like a glittering jewel, its sharp edges cutting through the sky.

Beyond the city, the rolling hills and forests of Texas stretch out as far as the eye can see. The stars above seem to twinkle brighter here, free from the light pollution of the city. The sky is a deep, velvety black, and you can make out constellations you never knew existed.

“You never been to the Overlook before?” Tommy grins, taking his place next to you. You both lean back against the front of the truck, your shoulders brushing as you settle down.

“How’d you know?”

He points at you, gently tapping your nose. In a surprise, you blink twice, a tad too fast, and smile. “From the way you’re lookin’ at the view, sweetheart.”

“It is a very pretty view.” you smile, turning your gaze back to the horizon. “I always loved staring at the city lights. It’s always so bright.”

Tommy opens the bottle of wine with a pop, and answers between clenched teeth. “I assumed you’d be a more nature-lovin’ type of gal.”

“I am. Which is why I love them. They look like stars but on earth. Like stars casted away from the sky.”

“Like fallen angels?”

You nod, your mind scattered. Your body still tingles from where Joel almost touched you, and now you’re with his younger brother. Drinking wine and talking about fallen stars.

“I guess this is a bit awkward for both of us,” he mutters, taking a sip. “Sorry about that.”

You feel his fingers on your chin, slowly turning your gaze to meet his own. A small smile blossoms on his lips, slightly red from the wine. “But let me say that you look gorgeous tonight.”

“Y-You too.”

“Me too?” he barks out a laugh as he throws his arm around your shoulder, pulling you close. “I couldn’t be half as gorgeous as you. You’re shining brighter than the stars above.”

“Very smooth,” you tease, welcoming the normalcy of the banter with open arms. “I bet you say that to all your dates.”

“No, I don’t. And I usually take them to bars.”

“This answers a lot of questions.”

“Does it now?” he cocks an eyebrow, eyes tinged with amusement. “And what questions might those be?”

You grin and playfully shove him in the shoulder. “Why you’re still single, for starters.”

You don’t expect the following silence. You part your lips, an apology already forming in your head but he beats you to it.

“It’s hard to let people in,” he sighs, voice almost drowned out by the rustling of leaves. “Ever since I came back…you’re the only person that makes me comfortable in me bein’ me. If that makes sense. I feel broken. And well,” he swallows, your feel the twitch of his fingers above your shoulder. “I’m gonna sound a bit of an asshole but you also bein’–”

“Broken?” you absent-mindedly complete his train of thought, and he nods.

“It made me want to know you. It made it easier. And after knowing you, it made me want to pull you between my arms and never let go.” a smile ghosts over his lips. “I enjoyed bein’ the one you came to when you needed someone.”

You look at him baffled, furrowing your brows. “Why the past tense?”

“Well, I’m not really the one you come to anymore now am I?” he’s still smiling, but now it only unnerves you. You suck in a breath. “You go to Joel.”

“Tommy…” panic flares underneath the surface. Does he know?

“I understand why. He’s a natural caretaker, has been takin’ care of my ass ever since.” a breathy chuckle escapes him. “He’s good at it. And to be fair, I haven’t really been returnin’ the trust you’ve given me. Haven’t been exactly openin’ up. It’s just hard for me to talk.”

“You don’t owe me an explanation.”

“Good, because that’s not what I’m tryin’ to give,” his gaze meets yours, a crease deep between his brows. He looks like Joel when he’s like this. “I don’t want to explain myself. I want to tell you about myself. I want you to know me. I want you to see the fucked up parts of me.”

You’re speechless, your lips parting and closing in a daze. Tommy’s not looking at you. It’s almost like he’s afraid. You never thought of him as fucked up. How could you when he was the one constantly lifting you up? Making you laugh whenever you were drowning in your head. He’s been a light ever since he made himself an essential part of your life. Your cheeks burn as you realize you never actually realized he was having troubles of his own. You’ve been a bad friend.

An image of Joel gazing at you through the mirror’s reflection flashes before your eyes, shortening your breath.

You’ve been a really bad friend.

“Tommy,” you say, placing a hand over his knee. He turns to you and you squeeze, encouraging him. “I’ve never seen you as a fuck up. You’re not a fuck up. I’m sorry I haven’t realized you’ve been struggling, but I’m here now. I’m here to listen.”

He’s staring at you with hope. Your heart breaks when confronted with the emotion, your hand feeling like fire above his knee. You exhale a shaky breath. Tommy’s lips part, a faint curl at the edges as the words flood all the way to the tip of his tongue.

You both jump when your phone buzzes.

“Fuck, sorry,” you murmur, pulling it out. You try not to think how relieved you are at the distraction. Cold sweat clings to your skin, but when you see who the text is from, a contrasting warmth spreads in your chest.

> JOEL:

> Electricity is fixed. Thought you might wanna know.

“Who is it?” Tommy asks, nuzzling closer. You mention it’s Joel and you don’t miss the way he grimaces, a subtle roll to his eyes. “Of course it is,” he grumbles, covering your phone with his palm, he pushes it down to your lap. “What does he want?”

“He’s letting me know the lights are back on,” you answer, smiling. “Finally.”

But before you can say anything else, he pulls you into his arms, his lips crashing onto yours in a searing kiss. Tommy sucks the air from your lungs, licking your bottom lip and sinking his teeth into the soft flesh. You’re stunned. Your one hand still lingers on his knee, and the other instinctively dives into his soft curls.

The kiss is desperate and urgent as if he’s trying to convey everything he’s feeling through it. Your body stills when you feel it. It’s good, very good, and it feels like you’re walking on air, but it’s not the same for him. It’s more to him than it is to you. It’s him letting you know that he’s not here to play games. He wants you. Every fucked up part of it.

You’re the one to pull away. His lips leaving a bittersweet taste on your skin. Tommy rests his forehead against yours, his breath coming in ragged gasps. “I was going to kiss you that day,” he rasps, taking you by surprise.

It takes you a moment to remember what he’s talking about; the moment in the kitchen, him leaning in seemingly for an intimate kiss but kissing your cheek instead. You don’t say a word, the only noise coming from you the gasp that parts your lips. His gaze drops to them, his tongue swiping over his own.

“I was—but…but you looked so fuckin’ scared I couldn’t. I hated seeing you like that.” he meets your gaze, looking almost frustrated. “And here it is again. You lookin’ like a fuckin’ dear in headlights. Scared. Just tell me if you don’t want me. Tell me you just want to be friends. I’m okay with that as long as you’re honest with me.”

This is it. He’s giving you an out. After everything, he’s still looking after you and your well-being. Joel was right, you would be happy with Tommy. Perhaps even happier than you would be with Joel.

But you just can’t.

Even if Joel never becomes an option, your heart isn’t in the right place for you to date Tommy.

“I’m sorry,” you answer, voice shaking and tears blurring your vision. You can’t breathe. “I care for you. I really do, and I meant every word that I said but I just—I can’t. I don’t feel the same.”

The first tear slips and you find yourself being pulled into his chest, strong arms caging you in. Without thinking you bury your face into him, taking deep breaths. He smells like pine trees with a hint of sweetness. Your fingers dig into his shirt, stretching the fabric as you pull him closer. His hands stroke your back, the warmth of them calming your raging heart.

“Hey, hey,” he whispers and you feel the soft press of his chin above your head. “It’s okay. I’m not…I’m not mad at you, sweetheart. You don’t need to feel the same as me. I only want you to be happy, and if us staying friends does the trick, I’ll happily fulfill that role.”

You look up, tear streaks glistening under the city lights.

“You still want to be friends?” you ask, your voice shaking more than you preferred.

“Fuck, ‘course, I do.” his arms tighten around you. “I’m a big boy you know, I’m not gonna throw a tantrum just because you don’t wanna date me.”

He smiles at your soft chuckle. Tommy cradles your face with both hands and kisses your eyes, thumbs moving in circles.

“Thank you,” you answer, your voice low.

Tommy pulls away from you slightly, his hands still resting on your cheeks as he studies your face. You can feel the warmth of his breath against your skin, and it's both comforting and unsettling at the same time. But all that disappears when he smiles.

“You’re welcome, sunshine.”

You close your eyes, breathing in the scent of his cologne, and for a moment, everything feels okay.

#joel miller x reader #joel miller x f!reader #joel miller x you #joel miller #tommy miller x you #tommy miller x f!reader #tommy miller x reader #tlou fanfiction #the last of us fanfiction #pedro pascal character #pedro pascal character fanfiction #pedro pascal characters #stay in bed

1K notes · View notes