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criminalamnesia · 3 months

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ok this is the end of the little tolerate it series— BUT I’m writing two different endings!! so here’s ending 1 :)

part one here and part two here

ending version 2 here

when he saw you that day on the street and tried to stop you, you had kept walking. hadn’t even turned your head, as if you knew it was him speaking.

of course you’d known it was him. he couldn’t blame you for ignoring him, honestly— he had been awful to you. he fully recognized that now, after years of being alone and mandated therapy and an honorable discharge.

he recognized how he let the one good thing in his life slip through his fingers, all because he was too damn wrapped up in himself. but he had a right to be.

he had a right to not want to celebrate coming home. had a right to want peace and quiet once escaping from the sounds of war and death. he just should’ve communicated that with you instead of pulling away.

he’s grown. he understands now. and he knows you don’t owe him anything— hell, he wouldn’t be surprised if you slapped him across the face for this, but he needed to try.

he knew it was selfish of him. you’d moved on, surely. years had passed and you’d grown. he’s sure that naivety he once found charming is long gone, most likely from his doing.

he takes a deep breath, fist raised to knock on the door to your house. it’s small and quaint. something he definitely could’ve seen you picking out when the two of you had still been together. maybe not all of you had changed.

he’d gotten the address through Laswell as a parting gift. and he didn’t know why it was the one thing that came to mind— but it was, and now he’s here. standing on your porch with his fist in the air like a fucking creep.

he pushes out an exhale and knocks. all is silent inside the house, and he knocks again, the second one easier than the first.

“coming!” he hears you call from inside. he steels himself. readies himself for attack, for battle. it was something he couldn’t quite shake, even if he’d been retired for a year now. those instincts really never leave you.

the door swings open, and the smile you were sporting instantly drops.

“what are you doing here?” there’s venom in your tone. he doesn’t shy away.

“love—” he begins, but you scoff and start to shut the door.

“actually, I don’t want to know. get off my porch before I call the cops—”

before the door can click shut, he reaches a hand out and blocks you from fully shutting it. you look down at his hand, bewildered.

“move your hand.” you speak through gritted teeth. he stands his ground.

“love,” he starts again, pushing the words out quickly to avoid getting cut off again. “y’don’t owe me anythin’ and I know that. but can I at least apologize? please?”

you stare at him. he keeps his hand in the door, watching your face intently. he can’t tell what’s going on behind your eyes.

you take a beat. two. three. then you shut your eyes tightly as you inhale, open them as you release the breath, and open the door wider.

“you’ve got five minutes to speak your piece, and I hope you know I’m doing this for you, not me. I got over you a long time ago, and because I see myself as a halfway decent person, I’m going to let you do this. then you can leave and never come back. understand?”

he gives a small nod. “understood.”

you step aside and he enters your house, eyes already scanning his surroundings. it’s cute and airy, comfortable and full of you.

pictures of you and friends on the walls. lamps that look a hundred years old on end tables. big windows letting the sun shine in and onto a plethora of plants. colorful artwork and pillows and fabrics. it’s a house full of you, of life, and he finds himself envying it.

he doesn’t know why. maybe because it’s something so normal, and something he’s never experienced. he didn’t get that before he left home, and he certainly didn’t get it in the military. he still doesn’t have it now. he’s still struggling to figure out who he is without a gun in his hand.

“nice place,” he says, and he means it.

you roll your eyes as you walk towards the blue, comfortable looking couch situated to the right. he follows dutifully.

you gesture towards the couch, and he takes the hint. he sits down, sinking into the cushion, and watches as you move to stand across from him. he knows you’re putting distance between the two of you. he doesn’t blame you.

you were never the problem.

he was.

“five minutes, starting now. best believe I’m timing your ass,” you mutter out, pulling your phone from your pocket and tapping the screen. setting a timer, most likely.

best to get on with it, then.

“I owe you an apology, and I ‘ave since y’left. before tha’, actually. I was an ass, and I know tha’ now. you had every right to leave, and you have every right to hate me—”

you gave a mirthless, hollow laugh and crossed your arms over your chest. you were putting up your walls, protecting yourself.

“you put me in therapy, did you know that? years of it. broke me down and crushed me into tiny pieces. made me think I was the problem, that I deserved to be treated that way. ruined my trust and my confidence.”

your tone was bitter. your nails dug into the skin of your arms.

“you were never the problem,” he says, his words firm. he stand then, hands hanging loosely at his sides. “I was. I know tha’ now. I pulled away when I should’ve communicated, or hell— broke things off sooner.”

“so that’s why you’re here then? to tell me you wished you would’ve broken up with me before I broke up with you?”

god, that was not what he meant, and he struggled to find the way to put his thoughts into words.

“no, f’course not, love. I’m tryin’ to say I strung y’along, made things worse, and—”

“and what?” you interrupted.

“an’ im sorry, love. I know it probably doesn’t mean anythin’ anymore. but i am. deeply.”

you didn’t speak for a minute. your eyes studied his face. he knew you were probably taking in the obvious signs of age, of battles he came back from when you were no longer there.

“you going on a suicide mission? is that why you’re here? making amends before you die so you can face the afterlife with a clear conscience?”

he shook his head, taking a small step forward. “no. I— I was discharged. a bit ago, actually.”

“congrats,” you deadpanned.

“tha’s not tha’ point,” he sighed. “they made me go to therapy for a while. unpack all tha’ shit they put me through. and the shrink brought up you once, and it got me thinkin’—”

“so you’re here because your shrink told you to say sorry?”

“bloody hell, love, let me finish,” exasperation was clear in his tone, but he tried to reel it in. he reminded himself that you didn’t owe him shit. you could kick him out right now. he was here because of your allowance, and the second you stopped tolerating him, he’d be back on the porch.

you raised your eyebrows but kept your mouth clamped shut.

“I was an ass when I was with you, and tha’s on me, not you. I was dealin’ with my own shit, and havin’ you celebrate me and boastin’ about my bravery and shit— it didn’t— I couldn’t stand it. you don’t understand, love, and you never will— and tha’s not your fault. s’mine, and I’m still comin’ to terms with all tha’ shit. and I should’ve communicated tha’ with you instead of pullin’ away.”

silence filled the air between the two of you. he could hear the tick of a clock nearby. two ticks. three ticks. four. five.

“what do you want from me, then?” you spoke, and your voice was soft. he could hear the tremble in it— that old you slipping back in, and god he wanted to hold you.

he remembered loving you. he still knew what that felt like, even if was so long ago. and that love was creeping back in, that need to protect you coming back like a tidal wave.

“nothin’.” he said.

“nothing.” you repeated. he nodded.

the timer on your phone went off. five minutes, on the dot.

you clicked it off and looked at him. he was already moving towards the door.

“wait—” you called out to him, and as he turned back to face you, he could tell you hadn’t meant to. it had slipped out subconsciously, and he could see you fighting yourself on what your next words would be.

“I— I don’t forgive you,” you told him. “I don’t know if I ever will. but I— you don’t deserve to be alone. not after all you’ve done.”

he looked at you, the fingers of his hands twitching as he waited for you to speak again.

you took a deep breath and turned your attention to your feet. “I’m here. if you need someone to talk to about whatever. um— I—”

“it’s alrigh’, love. y’dont have to say anythin’ you don’t mean.”

you shook your head. “I do mean it. I admired you when we were together, y’know? you were everything to me— and that’s not something that ever fully goes away. I kinda hate you for everything you did,” you gave a small laugh. “but I don’t want you to suffer, okay? maybe we can— can get coffee or something next week. yeah?”

your eyes were glassy. he resisted the urge to reach for you. he was a protector, it was in his nature. he’d been too wound up in himself back then to realize that the trait he’d showcased on the battlefield should’ve applied to his home life, too. applied to his relationship. to you.

“yeah.” he nodded, his voice soft. he gave you a small smile. “tha’ would be nice.”

you nodded. he looked at you for a moment longer, taking in everything that had changed. but there was still the hint of that naive, youthful you, and that made him smile a little wider.

he turned and walked out the door.

————

author’s note:

muahahahaha ambiguous ending. do they get back together?? no?? do they ever get coffee?? it’s up to you!

this is ending one, keep a look out for ending 2 :)

2K notes · View notes

letorip · 3 days

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i heard your name [ii]

“i want you so, i can hardly let you go, please be mine for a time, now and forever”

===+++===

pairing: cairo sweet x reader

summary: after several weeks of trying to run in the opposite direction, you find you can no longer evade the magnetic pull yanking you towards her

warnings: explicit but gender neutral sexual content, being used both physically and emotionally, 'lover boy' is used ironic and is still considered gender neutral, implied teacher-student relationships

word count: 6.4k

A/N: definitely making another already because it’s kind of getting juicy. again inspired by pale fire and hot summer nights.

===+++===

You had always heard that people looked like their pets, but it had never occurred to you that someone could look like their house. Standing in front of Lovell Hill, it was impossible anyone else but Cairo Sweet lived there.

The building stood tall, with white towering ionic columns that reached to hold up the dark clay tile roofing like soft angelic hands lifted to the sky. Everything about the house was big, with a giant, wide cedar porch and a towering balcony that looked out over the small garden in front of its door.

You had figured Cairo was well off from her clothes and general overabundance of education, but this screamed a wealth so extreme it almost wasn’t computing in your brain. Not with your own tawdry house that had only been built two years ago and was about the size of Cairo’s home if you sliced it by a quarter.

You had seen homes like these in movies or on the home improvement channels. Most motels had the home improvement channels on the TV, and you had watched with a sense of awe, sitting on the mouldy carpet late at night with your mom asleep behind you, looking at the muted tours of the homes with a private envy.

Such grandeur was incomprehensible and didn’t exist beyond the screen and TV magic. Or, that’s what you thought until you stood at the end of her garden, with all its greenery and a few lines of flowers, looking up at the front door.

It was quite the dilemma, to knock or not to knock. You could turn around right now, save yourself a whole bunch of sleepless nights and half a brain if you just told her you felt sick and had to cancel. She’d be annoyed, sure, but maybe Cairo being angry was better than Cairo being hungry.

You weren’t all too sure you wouldn’t try to satiate her hunger, and that was a dangerous game to play. Since she had sat down beside you in class, fleeting had been slowly drifting away, and you found yourself clutching onto what little of it you had left, rebuking the witchcraft that seemed to tug you to her.

You were about to do that, walk away, but then the door to the balcony swung open, and out Cairo came, leaning over the railing with a smile, and you felt your own heart clutch to your ribs. She propped her head up on her palm, peering down at you.

“Are you coming in?” She asked, laughing. “You’ve been standing there for ten minutes.”

“I’m just looking. At the landscaping,” you called up to her, and it was mostly true, though Cairo laughed like you were being funny. You felt a blush rising to your cheeks. Fleeting, you idiot.

“It’s my parents’ house. I know it’s a bit much,” said Cairo, standing up straighter.

“A bit?” you said, the sarcasm worming its way into your voice. It was a lot much.

“Yeah,” she replied, smiling at you again all bright. “A bit.” You smiled back, holding a hand up to cover your eyes so you could continue to stare at her on the balcony in the sun, like your own Juliet.

“Can I come inside?” You asked, taking a few steps forward into the shadow the roof of her house casted over the ground. Cairo seemed to find a playfulness with the question, and you were left there like a moron, wondering why she was laughing again.

“No, actually,” she said. “I invited you here to make you walk over here and then walk home.”

“Did you."

“I did,” she nodded, having fun. “I’ll be down in a minute when I’m done with something; the front door is unlocked."

"That seems unsafe," you said.

She raised her eyebrows at you. "Why, are you worried for my safety?"

You shrugged, deciding neutrality was the best policy. There wasn't anything wrong with saying you were worried about her as a friend, but you knew she would draw some strange entendre. "I would worry about random people wandering in, to be honest."

Cairo shook her head. "Not here in Tennessee. Now go inside. The longer you stall me the longer it takes me to finish what I'm doing." With that, she disappeared back inside, leaving you on her porch. You swallowed the lump in your throat and went inside.

Cairo Sweet's house was much like her soul, in grandeur and in wealth. Even in the foyer, which was where you found yourself, the walls seemed to reach up much like the pillars, raised towards the covered sky. A grand staircase led up to the second floor, and with the soft closing of the door behind you, Cairo called out from up the stairs.

"You can go into the kitchen, I left some wine out on the counter."

You blinked. "Wine?" You said back, making sure you were hearing correctly. Cairo's laugh floated down from the second floor.

"Yes, 'wine.'" You had never had anything like wine before, though the way she threw it out so casually made you think she was no stranger to the concept.

The kitchen was the room right off to the left of the foyer, with a large bay window and some checkered ceramic tiling on the floor. In the centre sat an old gas range stove, a similar shade of green as the walls. The brass handle curved down to the drawer on the bottom, and it looked like a droll little mouth underneath the knobs.

On the white marbled countertop that boxed the stove in was a set of two glasses and a bottle of reddish wine that was three quarters full. The entire room was immaculately clean, with the perfectly angled chairs sitting around the nook table in the corner and the utterly spotless surfaces, both floor and table.

It looked just like those staged houses on the home improvement channels, and you wandered over to peer into the glass hutch, which was piled up with books in stacks around it. The top cabinet held an array of glassware, some of them gathering dust. They were pretty, and you leaned in to the ceramic ones with antique designs etched into the sides. You wanted to own dishes like those, someday.

"The plates are pretty, aren't they? It’s a real shame about the led.” You spun around to find Cairo behind you. Your heart immediately started doing a backflip in your chest. Cairo was no longer in the soft shirt and shorts she had been wearing on her balcony— no. Instead, she was now in a silky cream-coloured dress, one that clung to the curves of her body and hung elegantly from her shoulders in a way that made the tips of your ears warm.

She walked right up to you as if there was no difference, staring at the plate you had been looking at with what couldn't possibly be a genuine curiosity. Up close it was clear she had put on some makeup, her lips glossy and pink and her eyes dark. She had to know she was playing you like a fiddle.

You watched her in laser focus as she nodded at the plate. "My parents bought that one from a village in the Swiss Alps."

"What?" you mumbled, clever as always.

"The plate," she said, like it was obvious. "Most of the plates in there are from Switzerland or China."

"Oh...cool."

Cairo brushed past it, gesturing back to the bottle that sat on the counter. "Would you like some?" she asked, clasping her hands behind her back.

"But what would your parents say?" you asked. Mostly you were looking for any excuse not to, but you were also filled with curiosity. Cairo Sweet hadn't just fallen out of a coconut tree— she was the product of whatever her parents were like and you desired to put two and two together, and for that to make it make sense.

"They're not here right now," she replied, walking right over to the bottle and pulling the cork straight out. You swallowed but followed her over, and Cairo grabbed a glass to pour it into.

"So you live here?" It was a genuine question, and part of you was still struggling to understand that this was just someone's everyday lifestyle. Cairo nodded.

"That's what Winnie asked me too, when she first saw it. People say my house is haunted."

"They do?"

"Yeah," she said. "Lovell Hill. It's famous, or at least around here it is."

"Well... is it true?"

Cairo shook her head. "Sorry to disappoint. Only thing that lives here is me."

"And your parents?"

Her mouth thinned into a line at the question, but she spoke quickly. "Yes, them too." Then Cairo held up a glass. "Would you like some?"

"Uh, no thanks. We should probably start on the assignment...," you trailed off. Cairo was staring you down with a certain glint in her eye. “What?”

"You've never drank before," she said. It wasn't a question, and you could feel heat going back to your face. To any other person, you'd have no problem saying no, but to her you felt your breath catch in your throat.

"Uh, I have, I just don't want any right now," you lied. And Cairo knew you were lying, judging from the smile she watched you with. But she only shrugged.

"You can have some of mine later, then," she said, straightening up and walking out of the kitchen. You followed her like a proper guest, like she was a tour guide helping you through the jungle. You warily tailed her out of there and up the stairs.

On the landing there were even more books, in large, towering stacks near the railing, ended on each side by potted plants and small floor decorations. You stopped, taking a thick paperback from off the top of one stack and turning it over to read the back. “Have you really read all of these?” You asked. Cairo turned.

“Not all of them, no. Most of them belong to my parents, so they’re cheesy spy thrillers and soapy romances.”

You nodded. “My mom reads those ones too.”

“Anyways, what do you read?” Cairo asked, walking over to you and taking the book from your hands to look at it herself. You shrugged.

“For a while there, anything I could get my hands on.”

She tilted her head. "What do you mean?"

"Uh, just that my mother didn't take me to bookstores a lot," you said, having gotten comfortable with lying. In reality, you had mostly read travel books and magazines from gas stations, since those were really the only places you and your mother stopped often. You didn't start actually reading book-books until you were about ten, and your mom bought you a kindle for your birthday.

But giving Cairo the truth would mean telling her you were on the road a lot, which would mean telling her about why it was you moved so often, which would mean telling her you would probably be leaving soon, so you lied. It was typically a better idea to vanish without warning one day, off to another state like you had been one giant bad dream.

"Mm," she hummed it agreement, putting the book back down and leading the way into a door that stood at the far end of the hall. "My parents didn't either, when they realised I bought like ten or twelve at a time," she said, tugging you into her bedroom.

It was exactly like you could have imagined it, with a darker shade of green and ebony wainscoting that matched the grand bed in the middle of the room with fluffy, lush bedding and a near mountain of pillows in the centre.

"Well then," Cairo drawled. "Shall we?"

The smirk she was staring at you with sent a shiver down your spine. You gave her a cautious nod and pulled your backpack off of your back.

===+++===

You had your paper almost completely done within an hour of laying down on Cairo's bed to write it, though in the corner where Cairo sat typing hers, she seemed incredibly frustrated. You had only been observing her a little, watching her type what could've maybe been a few words and then immediately holding down the delete key until they were all gone.

You understood to a certain extent— windows were so unbelievably symbolic it was possible to go in millions of directions when writing your story. But you were almost done, and inspiration had hit you from the moment you knew what your symbol was meant to be.

You put the final finishing sentences in where they were meant to go, and put down your pen, sitting up to crack your fingers and stretch your back. Cairo looked up at you, eyes glaring.

"You're finished?" Her tone was sharp, and you looked around the room in surprise.

"Yeah?" You replied. Cairo narrowed her eyes at you.

"How," she demanded sitting up in her chair and slamming her laptop shut.

You shrugged. "I don't know, I kind of rushed it anyhow."

"Let me read it, (Y/n)," Cairo said, holding her hand out. You leaned forwards and tossed the paper to her, rolling over onto your back to stare up at the ceiling while she read it. She had one of those popcorn roofs, with bumps all over it, and you found yourself tracing a little path in your mind.

"This is..." she said after a few minutes. You turned your head to look at her sideways. "This is really good," said Cairo, but in a way that made your eyebrows furrow.

"Why'd you say it like that?" you asked, sitting up from where you had been laying.

"Like what?" She asked standing up from her chair and walking towards you, to lean on one of the bedposts. You swallowed.

"I... don't know," you muttered.

"Hm," she hummed. "I have a question."

"Yeah?"

"The astronaut. The one who goes crazy in outer space from looking out the window on his solo mission. Is that supposed to be you?"

"Oh. No, he isn't. He's just a character I thought of," you shook your head. Cairo raised an eyebrow at you.

"But he is a lot like you, isn't he? Alone, I mean. That's why you lied to Winnie about lunch." She got you with that line. You stared at her, frowning. Your mind screamed LIE over and over, but you knew there was no point. Not when she was reading you like a book. She took another step towards you, until she was standing in between your legs where you sat. You hadn't realised there was any connection with the astronaut when you thought of him, but maybe he was?

"Are you lonely, (Y/n)?"

"No? I mean, I don't think I am." It came out in a whisper; you didn't need to speak loudly when Cairo was so close. You could feel her hot breath on your cheeks like a fan.

"I've been thinking of you, since you arrived," Cairo murmured. Her fingers crawled up your knee slowly, the pads of her fingers brushing the hem of your shorts. She looked down at the small space between you.

"Yeah?" You asked.

"You're captivating," she said. "It's annoying. Shrouded in mystery and answering to no one."

"Yeah?" Pink was flushing towards your cheeks.

She smiled, looking up at your face again. "Yeah. It would be less distracting if you didn't come with such nice eyes."

You swallowed. It felt like everywhere her fingers went she left behind a trail of pure fire, churning up your insides. Your mind was screaming at you to not be an idiot. You'd probably regret this in a month or two when your mom told you you would be leaving again. Stop, right now and save yourself so much sleep, you idiot. That would've been the smart thing to do.

Her hands came up slowly, skimming gently up your neck until they landed at the nape, and you were reminded of the lollipop she had plucked from your lips to place in her own for a moment.

"Cairo, what're we doing?" you managed. Cairo shrugged.

"You ask me that but I'm not entirely sure. I just know it feels nice," she whispered to you. "So shut up and let me feel nice," she said with a smile.

Within an instant, her lips pressed hard into your own. You pulled your head back in surprise but Cairo's soft palms held you firmly where you sat, and you found yourself melting at the feeling. It was messy and it wasn't graceful, but it spoke of the passion that bubbled under Cairo's removed exterior. She started to move against you then, and you against her.

You found yourself entranced at the sensation, and pulled away just to get a look at her face. She was breathing heavily, lips red and eyes wild, and you only came back wanting more, reconnecting the both of you, your hands moving to her waist and then up her back.

"Cairo..." you mumbled, her lips moving to your jaw and then hastily to your ear.

"Mm," she hummed.

"Cairo, I can't," you managed, trying to pull away but finding her still on you. Your mind was yelling at you horrible, horrible things, not only about yourself but about what you wanted to do to her.

"Mm," she sounded again, moving down your neck in a way that left you tingly.

"Really, I just—"

"Take my hands off of you, then," she challenged, in between peppering kisses and sucking on a spot directly over your pulse. You shivered.

"I can't."

"Well, I guess we're at a crossroads," she said. Her right hand slid down your chest to the hem of your shirt, sliding gently underneath and laying itself flat against your stomach. She smirked when she reconnected your lips, knowing she was winning.

"This is a really bad idea."

"You talk too much."

"No, because this is really a conflict of interest. We're supposed to uh..." you stammered, getting distracted by he hand on your stomach slowly getting lower and lower, creeping towards the top of your shorts. "We're supposed read each other's stuff and be honest."

Cairo stopped, pulling away, raising her eyebrows at you. "Are you serious? You don't want to have sex with me —when you've been practically eye-fucking me since we met— so that you can be an honest peer grader???"

"Well, when you say it like that, it sounds stupid."

"That's because it is stupid."

"I— I just can't do that with someone."

She scoffed. "Are you waiting until marriage or something?"

"No."

"Are you asexual?"

"No."

"Is it Winnie?"

"No."

"Do you like boys?"

"No!"

"Then why? I mean, come on. We both knew this would end one of two ways."

"We're better off as just classmates, trust me."

Cairo blinked at you for a moment, like you were the most confusing person she had ever met. Then she got up off of you. Your lap felt lighter, but also emptier, and you wanted to scream up at the stars for not being able to just indulge this one little desire.

"Fine," she said, and her tone caught you off guard. Most people would probably be upset or angry, but it just seemed like Cairo was challenged and endeared. Like she was going to work out your problem and get right back to this situation, only this time she'd get exactly as she wanted.

She wouldn't, you promised yourself. Never ever. The heartbreak wasn't worth it. Cairo checked her watch. "Could you come over tomorrow too? I'm not done with my story yet, and I want you to read it."

"Uh," you thought out loud. You didn't see why not. Maybe you wouldn't be lovers, but just innocent friends? You weren't so much a monster that you wouldn't be able to stop yourself if you hung out with her. Innocent friends were much easier to forget anyways. "Sure," you said, unknowingly giving her exactly what she wanted.

===+++===

You had gone to her house almost every night for the past week, laying on her bed while she sat in the corner in the same familiar chair, typing the same bloody story that she refused to be satisfied with. It was becoming a pattern, even an unconscious one. The next day had been entirely as awkward as expected, with you trying to act as unbothered as possible.

The friendship was going better than you had anticipated, and you were very pleased with your own self restraint. Winnie had come over too, once or twice, and you enjoyed existing within the context but still on the periphery of a friendship.

Cairo Sweet would hunt you down as her friend or as her whatever-you-were, so you figured giving into one would be the path of least resistance anyhow.

She must have been an insanely picky writer. She wrote every word with an overabundant caution, like she was trying so hard to craft perfection. It was like she wanted her keyboard to drip liquid gold onto the page, and the critics to all collectively clap when she finished a sentence.

"You're like George R. R. Martin with how slow you finish a story," you had said once, out of the blue. Cairo looked up at you, offended, and thrown a pillow in your direction that connected with your face.

"I'm trying to cultivate perfection of the written word," she said, and you rolled your eyes.

"God, writers are so pretentious," you wrinkled your nose. "The only people who like to read annoying writers' books are annoying people."

Cairo scoffed. "Yeah, what, you want to be surrounded by James Bond fans? Stephen King fanboys?"

"That's cool, though," you shrugged. "Gets the point across, isn't badly written, and makes a sometimes beautiful passage along the way."

"Oh, so your writing," she joked, smiling at you. It was an innocent smile, and one that so starkly contrasted the lustful one she had looked at you with only a few days ago. Even in memory, her eyes sent a shiver up your spine.

"Yeah, well, people seem to like it. I guess I’m doing something right," you said. Cairo frowned.

"I don't get it," she shook her head. "And you still won't let me read that first one you wrote."

"It's not exactly something I want to talk about to you."

"Why? Is it bad?" she asked, sitting up straight. You knew she meant 'tell me your dirty secrets' by that.

"I just don't want to."

"Hm," she grumbled, laying back in the chair. "And anyways, if what you say about that thing is true, I don't know why Miller liked it. His book is full of the flowery stuff you complain about."

"He wrote a book???" You were incredulous.

Cairo nodded. "A while ago. Apostrophes and Ampersands."

"Never heard of it."

Cairo shrugged. "It didn't exactly make massive waves. It was ingenious though. Grand and tragic."

"You read it then?" You asked, sitting up and turning towards her.

"Yes, I did," she replied nonchalantly. "I enjoyed it."

You looked out the window for a moment, then back to her. Friends should be friends. "Can I borrow your copy?"

===+++===

"God," you groaned, reading Mr. Miller's book with it held over your head, laying on your back. Cairo had given it to you two days ago and now you were slogging through it, waiting for it to get interesting. "'Human ruins of a madman's love,'" you mocked.

"It's gorgeous," Cairo said. She wasn't in her usual chair, she was sitting by the window with it cracked open, a cigarette in her hand.

"It's not— wait, are you smoking?" You asked, sitting up. Cairo rolled her eyes, grinning at you.

"No, I'm just sitting here with a cigarette lit in my fingers."

"God. Wine and a cigarette, what are you, thirty-four."

"Shut up," she said, putting the cigarette in between her lips and puffing out the window. "And anyways that quote is beautiful."

"Maybe," you challenged. "But what is it actually saying?"

"She means everything to him and he's going crazy for her," Cairo said, like it was obvious. You nodded.

"That's the thought and THAT'S what's good there. That's universal. He's losing the plot— getting lost in the sauce— of trying to sound like he's saying something, to the point where he's losing the entire meat of the message."

"Maybe," said Cairo. "But you said one of your books was If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. Not exactly the height of literature."

"And I stand by that," You said. "That's actually enjoyable. You don't enjoy reading this, you enjoy being clever enough to read this, when it's saying something you've heard a million times in a million more decipherable ways. And those ways end up being more beautiful, too.”

"Perhaps," she said. "Or maybe I think the writing is beautiful."

"Well then, I think you're crazy."

"You're welcome to do that," Cairo replied, smile still wide. "You probably will."

===+++===

You managed not to cave until a warmer day, about a week after that. Cairo Sweet had previously been a sweet exterior with absolutely nothing on the inside for you to feel a deep pull towards. Only now, after slowly becoming comfortable, was the magnetic pull becoming physically painful.

Winnie had been absolutely beside herself, miffed at Cairo coming down and swiping you for herself. For a friend or for something more, it didn't matter. You were indisputably hers. And after a life of belonging to no one, you thought maybe Cairo took some sort of glee over making you belong to her.

Class was boring, Mr. Miller was fine, your mom seemed to be doing better, and school seemed to drone on. So when you came back to Cairo's house like normal, you were entirely unaware of how quickly you would fail your mission.

You were barely in door before she was running down the stairs, and the look of worry and surprise in your face only worsened when she got so up close to you, just for a second, and then just as hungry and hurriedly as before, kissed you with a brutal ferocity.

You were taken aback. Something was off. You pulled your head away and Cairo's palms pressed to your cheeks, thumbs brushing against the side of your face. She pulled you back and you had to turn your head away. "Cairo, what—"

"Shut up for once, please. Just kiss me the way a girl wants to be kissed."

You could feel every neuron telling you to get away from her. This was exactly what you had said you didn't want. And then there was the other side of you. The one that wanted to take her right then and then. You swallowed.

"I can't do these kinds of connections, Cairo. I told you."

"That's fine," Cairo rushed, her hand resting on your shoulder blade now. "I need one thing from you, and that's it. I don't ask for much, but I really need this."

Your eyebrows furrowed at her. "What are you talking about?"

"You've said you don't want anything, and okay, that’s fine. At least give me your body for the night. No strings attached.”

You blinked. “What?”

“I don’t owe you anything, you don’t owe me. We just do whatever this is. You make me feel good, and that’s it.” Her fingers had slithered back up to your hair, scratching gently at your scalp in a way that pulled your focus.

It just took a final glance at her face, for the dam to break. Her cheeks were a dusty red, eyes dilated and staring at you, and though you cursed yourself and your idiot Cro-Magnon mind, your palms went to her legs, tugging her up harshly and wrapping her legs around your waist.

“Shit,” you muttered, highly aware this was probably a bad idea. Cairo wrapped her arms around your neck, kissing you with a smile, and then once that broke, a passionate fervour. It was so much but it was so good. You carried her like that, up the stairs to her room, throwing her down on the bed.

She flipped you over, sitting on your lap like she had been back when the both of you first tried this, and it was all too intoxicating. Cairo’s hands went to your shoulders, pushing you back against the mattress before she leaned over, kissing you softly for a moment until it grew into more.

“Wait—” You said, and Cairo sat up, glaring at you.

“You did not get me all the way up here just to back out now,” said Cairo, annoyed beyond belief. You shook your head, tugging her back onto you. Her hair fell around you like a shield to your little private moment.

“I’m not backing out,” you promised, whispering because you felt like you didn’t want to be too loud. “I mean I’ve never … before.”

Cairo smiled at you, looking into your eyes for a moment. “Me neither,” she whispered back.

“Really?” you asked. Cairo raised her eyebrows.

“Fuck you.”

“No,” you shook your head, hand reaching up to move some of her hair out of her face. That wasn’t how you meant it. “…Really?”

She paused, eyes boring into yours. Then she gently nodded, and lowered herself down onto you, placing her lips on yours for another divine moment. It was all too hot in there. She let out a gasp when you tugged down her skirt.

===+++===

It was about five weeks after you had arrived, and you had gone to Cairo's house almost every week day, to continue exactly what had latched around your throat and tugged you harshly towards her.

There, in the milky white lighting of Cairo's table lamp, with her body snugly laying back against you and her book out in front of her, you fell in love for the first time. Really, fell in love.

Not the kind of "love" that swirls around your head as a child and wraps around the leg of the pretty girl in your class who has shiny hair. That kind of “love” where you can't get out a real sentence while talking to her. In comparison to the heavy feeling growing in your chest like a tumour, that was a mild liking.

No, this was the real thing. Adults had always said cryptic things about love, like "when you know, you'll know," and it hadn't ever really made sense, until it did.

As you looked down to watch her nose scrunch from the Nabokov, those three little words took on a whole new meaning. Her dark hair tickled the bare skin of your chest where she laid. Unlike her you still hadn't put your shirt back on, and you shivered a bit, even from under her blanket and her body heat. Her eyes, dark and focused, scanned across the paper, before elegantly flipping past the page with her thumb.

It was one of those renaissance paintings people cried for, in the Louvre, only it was playing out right in front of your eyes. And with that sudden rush of messy emotion, came the dastardly realisation that you were truly fucked.

"You're staring," she said, pulling you from your thoughts. She looked up at you, curious eyes focusing on your own. "What're you staring for?"

You shrugged, the movement shaking her against you. "What's the book you're reading?" You asked. "You seem mad at it."

She hummed, leaving her finger as a bookmark and flipping the cover towards you. The cover read Pale Fire. "That's because it's mostly incoherent rambling," she said. "Makes no sense."

You raised your eyebrows at her. "You don't understand Pale Fire?"

She tilted her head back, challenging you. “And you do?" You nodded. You had written a report during the two months you were in Maine. "Of course you do,” Cairo groaned, rolling her eyes.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” You asked.

Cairo shook her head, patting the side of your leg with her free hand. “Nothing.”

You sat up. “No, seriously. What do you mean?”

She sighed, closing the book around her index finger to hold her page. Cairo shut her eyes for a second, choosing her words carefully. “I mean... you’re annoyingly clever at something you don’t really care about.”

You laughed. "Careful, Sweet. If I didn't know any better I'd say you're jealous."

"Well, I am," said Cairo. "I care about writing so much, and here you come along with literally no passion for it, and you're out-writing me."

"Uh, sorry?" You said with a smile. But the frown you saw on her face told you she wasn't really joking. Cairo scoffed, sitting up and turning towards you.

"No, I'm serious. You barely even try and you spill some amazing few paragraphs, and Mr. Miller loves you like you're his favourite student," she lamented, throwing her hands up in frustration.

"I promise," you sighed, "that I really don't mean to. I don't get it either, so—"

"—See, but that's what's so frustrating!" She cut you off. "You don't mean to. You don't mean to get in my way, but you do because you're so unbelievably perfect at everything, and Mr. Miller loves you so much."

"Okay, wait a minute," you said. "That's not fair."

"What's 'not fair' is me working my ass off until senior year to get to do what I've ALWAYS wanted to do, WRITE, and then you come along and pull all the praise and probably the recommendation letter too!"

You sat there for a moment, taking her words in, your mouth open in surprise. There had always been an inkling that Cairo was unhappy with having you in her class, but you had drowned the thought out with her lips on yours and treasuring every moment you made her smile with something stupid you said.

You cleared your throat and Cairo was already apologising. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean that," she said, reaching towards you. "It's just so important to me, I get really worked up..."

"It's fine," you rushed. You knew people screamed and said nasty stuff when they were mad. It's just how people were, and it made sense to you. Your mom was like that too, with the yelling and stuff. "Do you..." you mumbled, trying to figure out how to solve her problem. "Do you want me to stop trying?" You asked.

Cairo's eyes lit up within an instant at the idea. "That would be amazing," she breathed. "Thank you so much." She reached across the space between you, kissing with a softness that hadn't previously been there. It was sweet, just like she was, and you breathed a sigh of relief, with the confrontation being over.

You nodded. "Sure." Then your gaze went out the window, realising the sun was starting to set and rain clouds were starting to form. Your hand flew to your leg, having forgotten you were only in your underwear.

"You left it downstairs, remember?" Cairo said, almost playful. When the two of you had gotten to her house, her lips had been so firmly ravaging your neck that your pants hadn't even made it up the stairs before she tugged them off and flung them to the marble bust that stood nearby. You sighed.

"Do you know what time it is?" You asked, getting up from the bed and around to the other side to pick your shirt up off the floor. Cairo also got up, throwing the sheets off herself and walking right over to her closet.

"No, I left my phone at school on accident," she replied, opening the door and flicking through the hangers. You pulled the shirt on over your head and fixed the soft collar. On the opposite side of the room, Cairo pulled out the same cream-coloured dress she had been wearing when you first came to study with her. You paused.

"You're getting all fancy?" You asked, turning to her floor mirror and attempting to fix your absolutely messy hair in a way that it wouldn't be clear Cairo had run her hands through it and gripped on tight.

"Mhm," Cairo said. "Having a guest over tonight."

"Oh. They work with your parents or something?" You said, turning to watch her with curiosity over her answer. Cairo pulled off her shirt so that she was now completely naked. She turned back to you with a smile.

"Do you like what you see?" said Cairo, and it made you blush a bit. You nodded.

"You're absolutely beautiful," you said. If you weren't worried about getting home before dinner, you would have walked right over to her and tugged her back into her bed. Cairo waved you off.

"You're too kind," she said. "Now run on home, lover boy." Cairo disappeared into the bathroom with the dress in her hand, and you heard her rustling around with the sink, probably doing her makeup.

"I... I guess I'll see you, then," you said, left alone in the room.

"Mhm," she called from the bathroom. You frowned, but did a final scan for anything you needed to take before heading out her bedroom door and down the stairs, to where your jeans were clumsily thrown over the Roman statue's head. You tugged your phone and keys from the pocket.

"Fuck," you cursed. Only around thirty minutes to get the whole way across town to your house before your mom started worrying. You walked right over to the door... only to find it was also pouring down rain, now. Dammit. You tugged on your jacket from where it had been hanging on a steel coatrack by the door, pulling the hood up.

You walked out onto the porch, shut the door behind you, and took off running, going as fast as you could down the garden and then up the street into the woods. You got about a hundred metres from her house, that was, until you stopped.

Driving right past you, barely able to see him in the storm, was Mr. Miller. Driving right to Cairo's house in his little sedan. You froze, stopping dead in the rain to watch him go. Even after his license plate retreated in the distance, you felt a sickening sense of dread begin to pool in your gut, one that was already tarnishing your prior bliss.

===+++===

part three perhaps? i also have a tara carpenter one in the works and a lorraine day that's mostly done so hopefully i'll be updating more frequently

#jenna ortega #jenna ortega x reader #cairo sweet x reader #cairo sweet #miller's girl #letorip #jenna #jenna ortega imagine

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astrxq · 7 months

Text

a new morning routine

ethan landry x fem!reader

words: 4.6k

notes: this took me sooo long to write and i don't even know if i like it, but finally an ethan fic!! who cheered? :)

Ethan knew that Chad jogged every morning when the sun was barely out. Chad was a very loud roommate, and Ethan had become all too familiar with his daily routine. It began with the blaring of Chad's alarm at the crack of dawn, a noise that could wake the dead.

Ethan would groan and bury his head under the pillow, futilely attempting to block out the sound. But it didn't stop there. As if the alarm wasn’t enough, Chad would often sing softly to himself as he tied his running shoes and stretched on the porch, a tune that Ethan couldn't help but find annoying at such an ungodly hour. The creaking of the front door followed as Chad made his way out, trying not to wake Ethan and failing miserably.

Ethan grew curious to know who Chad ran with. He knew he didn't go by himself; he'd heard Chad talk to someone before closing the door and going on with his routine many times.

One morning, Ethan was awoken by Chad's coughing fit rather than his annoyingly loud alarm. Chad's raspy coughs echoed through the apartment, and Ethan sat up in bed, rubbing his eyes and listening intently as he tiredly made his way to the small living room, where he saw Chad sitting on the couch, clutching a tissue in one hand and a cup of tea in the other.

"Are you okay?"

Chad looked up, his face pale and sweaty. "Yeah, just a little under the weather," he replied, his voice hoarse. "I think I caught a cold.” Ethan fetched a blanket from the closet and draped it over Chad's shoulders as he plopped down on the couch. "You really shouldn't be going for a run like this,"

Ethan would be lying if he said he wasn't jealous of Chad, the boy who had been near death twice and survived. Chad refused to move from his bed weeks after being healed from the stab wounds, thinking he would not be able to return to his older, much less butchered, body. He’d watched Chad get carried away by an ambulance, breaths away from death, just a few months before.

During one of their many one-nighters together, Chad confessed that he envied Ethan’s body, with no scars and a much more healthy disposition. And Ethan secretly shared the thought, Chad's resilience and determination to continue jogging even after everything he'd been through.

And still, looking at Chad's frail and sickly state now, Ethan couldn't help but feel sympathy for him. Chad had faced death head-on, and now, he was battling a simple cold, but it was clear that he was still pushing himself too hard.

“Want some soup?” he asked, and Chad gave him a small smile and a soft nod, eyes grateful.

Ethan wasn’t a very good cook, so when he saw that they’d run out of canned soup, he saw no other option than going to buy some more, hoping that some store was open so early. He checked on his friend again, seeing that he was fast asleep on the couch, cuddled up to the blanket. The sound of the blaring alarm hit Ethan's ears and he rushed into Chad's room to turn it off before it woke him up. Ethan quickly silenced it before changing into one of his hoodies and moving to head out.

When he opened the door, though, he locked eyes with you. Ethan froze in the doorway, surprised to find you standing there, he knew you were a neighbor, one that he’d been crushing on for a while. In the dim light of the hallway, you looked equally startled.

Your presence was unexpected, but it also presented a chance for Ethan to make a good impression. He cleared his throat and managed a friendly smile.

"Hey," you said, breaking the silence. "I'm sorry if I startled you. I usually come over to meet Chad for our morning run." Ethan nodded, still a bit taken aback.

"I'm Ethan, Chad's roommate." he admitted, his voice tinged with curiosity.

You extended a hand, and he shook it awkwardly, not really knowing how to speak to you yet. "Nice to finally meet you, Ethan. I'm Y/N."

Ethan noticed that you were dressed in running gear and holding a water bottle. It was clear you had come prepared for your morning jog with Chad. “Uh… Chad’s sick.”

Your concern was evident as you furrowed your brow. "Sick? That's not like him. Is it serious?" Ethan shrugged, still not entirely sure of the extent of Chad's illness. "I'm not sure, but he's got a pretty bad cough. I convinced him to stay in today."

You nodded understandingly. "Well, I hope he gets better soon. Tell him I stopped by and that I hope to see him back on his feet soon."

"I will," You gave him a warm smile, making Ethan's heart skip a beat. "No problem, Ethan. If you ever want to join us for a run, feel free to tag along. We usually meet here in the mornings." Ethan felt a surge of excitement at the invitation, but he tried to play it cool.

"I might take you up on that sometime."

You gave him a nod, and he mirrored your silence as both of you thought of how to continue the conversation. Ethan couldn't help but feel a rush of nervousness wash through him. Here was the neighbor he had been secretly admiring for a while, standing right in front of him, offering an invitation to join her and Chad for a morning run. He had seen you from a distance many times but never had a chance to strike up a conversation.

As you both stood there, trying to find something to say, Ethan's mind raced with questions and topics to discuss. He finally broke the silence, realizing that this was his opportunity to get to know you better. "I was gonna… go get some soup for him, so…" he pulled at his ear lobe.

“Right, I won’t hold you up then.” you grinned, giving him a small wave before beginning to walk away, hands undoing your tangled earbuds. He watched you walk away, and waited a few seconds to put himself together. Quickly, he locked the door behind him and rushed to the nearest store to buy some soup for Chad.

When he returned to the apartment, Chad was still asleep on the couch, the blanket had moved off of him. Ethan quietly set the bag of soup on the kitchen counter and tiptoed over to Chad. He gently covered him with the blanket. Chad stirred in his sleep but didn't wake up.

The next day, Ethan was woken up by that horrifying alarm once again, and he heard Chad’s singing again. He quickly stumbled off of his bed, walking through the dark, and when he reached Chad, he said “Hey man, can I join you today?”

His request caught Chad by surprise as he laced up his running shoes. He knew Ethan wasn’t a runner. He turned to face Ethan with a grin, his earlier sickness seemingly forgotten. "Sure, but are you sure you can keep up with me?"

Ethan chuckled nervously, “I’ll try.”

He followed Chad to the door, and there you were. You were leaning against the wall, water bottle in hand once again. “Oh, Ethan!” you exclaimed when you saw his distinct curls. "Joining us?"

Ethan felt a mix of excitement and nerves as he stood there, realizing he was about to go on a morning jog with both you and Chad. "Yeah, I thought I'd give it a shot," he replied, trying to sound way more confident than he felt.

You smiled warmly at him, and Chad chimed in with a smirk, "Great! The more, the merrier, right?"

Ethan was a few steps behind you and Chad, trying so hard to focus on keeping up with you two. He could feel his ears get cold because of the breeze, and he could hear you and Chad talking. You glanced back a few times, checking on Ethan, and he kept grinning and giving you a thumbs up, pretending not to be running out of breath.

He felt his heart drop to the pit of his stomach when he heard you laugh, you threw your head back in a giggle and Chad joined you. Ethan had to slow down his pace, and he wondered if it was possible for you to like Chad.

Ethan couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy as he listened to your laughter. He came to a full stop, needing to catch his breath before trying to keep up with you and Chad. Just a few feet ahead, you turned to check on the curly haired boy once again, seeing that he had stopped, you did too.

“You okay, Ethan?”

“Huh?” he looked up, hands on his knees as he panted, “Yeah, yeah. Just out of practice.” he chuckled.

Ethan's chest heaved as he regained his breath, feeling slightly embarrassed about his sudden stop. You moved a couple steps towards him, handing him your water bottle with a smile “Do you wanna stop for a bit?”

He nodded and as he took a sip, he couldn't help but feel grateful for your consideration. Chad, standing nearby, gave Ethan an encouraging pat on the back.

"You're doing great, man," Chad said as he shot him a supportive smile. Ethan forced himself to regain his composure, determined not to let his jealousy get the best of him. He took a deep breath and handed the water bottle back to you with a grateful nod.

"Thanks, Y/N. I just needed a moment," he replied, wiping sweat from his forehead. The few curls that stuck on his forehead now slightly pushed back. “Let’s just keep going.” he insisted.

You hesitated, seeing that Ethan’s face was flushed red, and that his chest was still heaving from breathing so hard. Chad got ahead, and once you caught up to him, he slowed to meet Ethan’s pace, “You’re so red, dude.”

“What?”

“Your face, are you sure you wanna keep going?”

Ethan reached to touch his cheek, feeling it cold under his touch, “Oh, I’m fine.” Chad smirked and looked at you as you changed the song playing in your ears, “You sure it’s not because of her?”

His cheeks turned an even deeper shade of red, this time because of embarrassement, and he stammered, "N-no, it's not because of her. I just need to catch my breath, that's all." Chad chuckled knowingly, and patted his friend’s back.

You glanced back at Ethan with concern in your eyes but decided not to press the issue either. Instead, you offered a smile. He was grateful he had Chad next to him to follow his pace, because if he had been on his own, he was sure he’d fainted because of you.

Once back at the apartment, you bid your goodbyes from the boys, and the second the door was closed, Chad jumped to make fun of Ethan. “You looked like you were going to explode! Don’t even try to convince me it was because of the running.”

“Shut up, shut up, shut up!” Ethan plopped down on the couch, face covered by his hands as Chad laughed. “Come on! I’m not stupid, you were practically blushing the entire time." he teased, nudging him playfully.

Ethan peeked through his fingers, his cheeks still rosy. "Okay, maybe," he admitted with a sheepish grin. "But can you blame me?"

Chad's laughter subsided, and he nodded in agreement and leaned back on the couch, a thoughtful expression on his face. "You know," he began, "I've been friends with Y/N for a while now. We've been jogging together for months, and we've become pretty close. I think you two would get along really well."

Ethan's curiosity piqued. "Really? You think so?"

Chad grinned, his eyes glinting mischievously. "Oh, absolutely.”

The teasing didn't stop, of course. Whenever you would come over for a morning run or to check on Chad, he would nudge Ethan and raise an eyebrow, prompting a fresh wave of embarrassment for his friend.

He would sometimes pretend to be tying his shoes, or needing a water break, and urged the two of you to keep going without him. Ethan made sure to always shoot him a glare while you weren’t looking, getting a toothy grin in response.

You noticed that Ethan didn’t really talk. He would glance at you, trying to think of what to say, and then crumbled back into his little shy boy bubble. He silently cursed at himself every time he saw you look up at him, almost as if you were waiting for him to talk. It took Chad three times leaving you two alone before you broke the silence,

“Chad talks a lot about you,”

“He does?” Ethan seemed surprised, keeping in mind to thank his roommate once they were alone for kind of pushing his ‘matchmaking’ agenda. “Oh, yeah. All the time.”

“Good things, I hope?” he pulled at his ear lobe like he did when he was nervous, you chuckled, finding Ethan's nervousness endearing.

"Oh, absolutely. He thinks the world of you." You slowed your pace a bit so you could walk alongside him, and Ethan's heart did a little somersault in his chest.

"That's nice to hear," he replied, a small smile playing on his lips. You hummed, looking back to see Chad smirking at you, winking before fixing the headphones that covered his ears.

“Uhm,” you started, “To be honest, I thought you’d be more like Chad?”

Ethan raised his brows in confusion. How on earth could he be intimidating? You stopped running, moving to sit on a nearby bench to fix your shoelaces, and he joined you. “What do you mean?”

Chad caught up to you guys before you could answer, his panting joining yours. You exchanged a quick glance with Chad, and he grinned knowingly, clearly enjoying leaving you two on your own.

You and Ethan exchanged a slightly awkward yet amused look, and then you turned back to Chad, smirking. "Well, Chad, you didn't mention how different you two are. I was expecting another chatty, outgoing roommate." you joked.

Chad laughed heartily. "Yeah, Ethan's the quiet one, but he's got his own charm. Trust me."

Ethan blushed at the compliment and tried to hide his smile behind his hand. You chuckled, a soft and melodic sound that made Ethan's heart flutter in his chest.

Eventually, it became a routine for Ethan to join you and Chad in the mornings. Ethan found himself growing more comfortable with each passing day, thanks in part to Chad's relentless teasing and encouragement. As the days turned into weeks, he found himself looking forward to those early morning jogs, not just for the exercise but for the chance to spend time with you.

One day, as you all returned to the apartment after a particularly invigorating run, Ethan couldn't help but muster the courage to ask you a question that had been on his mind for a while.

"I've been meaning to ask you something." he began, trying to keep his voice steady. You slowed your pace and looked at him with a friendly smile as Chad walked ahead, getting his keys out.

"Well," he started, feeling a bit nervous, "I was wondering if you'd like to grab coffee or breakfast with me."

You cracked a smile, and Ethan felt a surge of hope. The fact that you were sweaty and panting suddenly dawned on you, and you felt a wave of embarrassement go through you as Ethan stared at you, waiting for a response.

You chuckled softly at the unexpected request, brushing a strand of hair from your face as you considered his proposition. "I'd love to," you replied with a warm smile. "But maybe we should both clean up first before we grab breakfast. Running gear and coffee shops don't really mix."

Ethan felt a mix of relief and excitement wash over him. "Yeah, that's probably a good idea," he agreed, feeling a bit self-conscious about his own disheveled appearance. "How about I come by later, and we can figure out a time?"

"Sounds perfect," you said as you reached the front door. Chad had already disappeared into their apartment, leaving the two of you alone to give you some privacy. As he watched you head into your own apartment, Ethan couldn't help but feel a sense of triumph.

He had finally mustered the courage to ask you out, and you had said yes.

The second he stepped into his own apartment, he was met with a smirky Chad. He was leaning against the kitchen counter, a knowing grin on his face as he watched Ethan’s cheeks grow a pink-ish tint.

"Well, well, well, look who's finally making a move," he teased.

Ethan couldn't help but roll his eyes, "Yeah, yeah, laugh it up," he replied, his embarrassment turning into a playful smile. "You can say you played matchmaker successfully." Chad chuckled, walking over to give Ethan a friendly pat on the back.

"I knew you had it in you, buddy," Chad said with a wink, “But you took so long, this month has been so painful to me as your official wing-man.”

Ethan couldn't help but laugh at Chad's dramatics. “Whatever.” He rushed back to his room, getting freshly showered and dressed.

He kept touching up his curls, ignoring the fact that Chad was staring at him from the couch, trying to hold in his laugh.

"What's so funny?" Ethan groaned.

Chad finally burst into laughter. "You, man. You're acting like it's your first date ever. Relax, it's just breakfast."

"Easy for you to say, Mr. Charismatic. Some of us need a bit more prep."

Before Chad could tease him some more, a quiet knock on the door made both of their heads turn. “She’s picking you up?”

Ethan rolled his eyes and hurriedly checked himself in the mirror one last time, making sure his hair was in place before heading to the door. Chad simply grinned and gave him a thumbs-up as he answered the door.

There you stood, looking refreshed and ready, no trace of the earlier sweat and fatigue. Your hair was down, and Ethan couldn't help but stare.

He greeted you with a warm smile, feeling a surge of excitement mixed with a hint of nervousness.

"Hey," you said, "Ready for breakfast?"

You returned his smile with one of your own, and Ethan felt a sense of ease wash over him. "Absolutely," he replied. "Lead the way."

Reaching for his wrist, you gently pulled him closer to you, and Ethan could feel his breath get caught up in this throat. You gave Chad a smile and pulled at Ethan again, making him stumble a little as you lead the way.

The two of you entered a cozy little cafe, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee greeting you as you stepped inside. You chose a corner table by the window, and as you settled into your seats, Ethan couldn’t help but smile.

“This place is nice," Ethan commented, taking in the warm ambiance of the café. He couldn't help but feel grateful for Chad's persistence in pushing him to ask you out.

You nodded, looking around the café. "It's one of my favorites," you replied. "Their pastries are amazing."

As you began to recommend some of your favorite items on the menu, Ethan found himself hanging on to your every word, captivated not just by the food suggestions, but by you. A hair strand fell onto your face as you spoke excitedly, and Ethan stared at it as he thought of what you would do if he tucked it behind your ear, held your face and kissed you like he’s been wishing to do for the past month.

“I think I’ll get the apple turnover…” you said, eyeing the small menu paper in your hands. Ethan hummed, still staring at you. “What about you?”

He cleared his throat, “Uhm… me too, yeah. That sounds nice.”

The second the pastries got to your table, Ethan couldn't help but notice the twinkle in your eyes as you took that first bite of your apple turnover. "You have to try it." you held the pastry towards him. He stared at your hand for a second and reached to gently grab your wrist to hold it still while he bit down on the treat. The taste was even better than he had expected, and he couldn't help but let out a satisfied "Mmm"

You giggled at his reaction, and it was like music to Ethan's ears. "I told you," you said with a playful grin. "Their pastries are amazing."

He nodded and he looked down at his plate, feeling giddy by the small interaction you’d just had. You smiled at him, “So, what took you so long to ask me out?" you asked, resting your head on your hand and looking at him with a closed-mouth smile.

Ethan felt his cheeks flush slightly at the question, "Well," he began, “Uhm…”

“Hmm?” “I just wasn’t sure if you’d want to come.”

You chuckled softly, your eyes locking onto his as you leaned in a bit closer. "Ethan," you said in a gentle tone, "I've been hoping you'd ask me out for a while now."

"Really?" Ethan replied, a hint of disbelief in his voice.

Your smile widened. "Yes, really."

Reaching across the table you placed your hand on top of his, sending a warm and reassuring squeeze. He leaned in a little closer to you, his voice filled with a newfound confidence.

"I've been wanting to get to know you better for a long time." he admitted, his eyes locked onto yours.

Your cheeks took on a faint rosy hue, and you didn't break eye contact. "Well, I'm here now, aren't I?" you replied softly. "And I'm looking forward to getting to know you too, Ethan."

Ethan gulped, fixing his hair with his free hand as he tried not to focus on the fact that you hadn’t moved your hand yet. “Chad’s always talking non-stop about you,” you said.

Ethan couldn't help but chuckle. "He’s been trying to get me to ask you out for so long."

"He kept telling me how great you are, and I can definitely see why."

Ethan's heart swelled with happiness, making a mental note to thank Chad the second he got home. "I'm glad he didn't scare you away with the constant praise," he said, his thumb gently caressing the back of your hand.

"Not at all. In fact, he made me even more curious to meet you," Ethan’s lips ticked up slightly, trying to hide the fact that he was close to grinning like a middle-schooler. “He insisted that you weren’t a runner, I was surprised when you agreed to join us.”

He cleared his throat and let out a short laugh, “I’m not. I hate it.”

You gave him a look, furrowing your brows in confusion. “I… I kinda joined because you asked.”

Ethan's confession made your heart skip a beat. "You joined just for me?" you asked, a warm smile spreading across your face. The fact that he had pushed himself out of his comfort zone for you was both surprising and endearing to you.

Ethan nodded, his cheeks slightly pink. "I wanted to spend more time with you." he let go of your hand to brush it over his cheeks, trying to calm himself down by his sudden forwardness.

Your smile grew even brighter, and he reached across the table to hold your hand again shyly. "I'm really glad you did," you said sincerely. You moved your hand to the tips of his fingers and Ethan made a move to hold it again, but you ran your nails over his skin slightly.

Ethan shivered at the sensation, a pleasant tingling running down his spine. "I am too," he admitted softly, "And I hope we can spend more time together."

You leaned in a little closer, eyes never leaving his. "I'd like that," you replied, your voice low and filled with warmth. "A lot."

Ethan couldn't help but feel a shiver of excitement at your touch. Your fingers entwined with his, and he realized just how much he had been craving this connection with you.

Time seemed to fly by, and before he knew it, the two of you had spent hours together, lost in conversation and laughter. It felt like no time had passed at all when you finally glanced at your watch and realized how late it had gotten.

"Oh wow, I didn't realize it was so late," you said with a hint of regret in your voice.

Ethan nodded in agreement, feeling a sense of disappointment that your time together was coming to an end. "Yeah, time really flew by."

You reached for your wallet, ready to pay the bill, but Ethan gently stopped you. "Let me take care of it," he insisted.

He gave you a smile as he grabbed his wallet, a small Grogu sticker on its corner. You bit down on your bottom lip, holding back a smile as Ethan paid for both of you. He blushed when you called him adorable.

You and Ethan strolled down the sidewalk, hands linked together and a comfortable silence between the two of you. Ethan couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment. He had finally taken the leap and asked you out, and it had turned into a wonderful morning.

Reluctantly, you walked Ethan back to his apartment building. You stood at the entrance, facing each other. Ethan finally broke the silence, his voice soft but sincere. "I'm so glad I finally asked you out."

“Yeah, me too.” you grinned, “I never thought you’d get past staring at me when I was getting my mail.” you teased him. Ethan choked up, "I, uh, guess I was pretty obvious, huh?"

You chuckled, reaching out to gently brush a strand of hair away from his forehead. "It's cute, Ethan." You leaned in, your lips brushing against his cheek in a soft, sweet kiss. Not knowing where to put his hands, he moved them to your waist, pulling at the hem of your shirt to get you closer to him. You pulled away, and you gave him a smile that made his heart race.

Your fingers rested against his cheek. "I had a really great time today, Ethan," you said softly, your eyes locked onto his. He nodded, feeling a sense of warmth wash over him.

"Me too," he replied, his voice filled with genuine affection. "I can't wait to do it again."

"I'll hold you to that."

Ethan squeezed your waist before letting go, giving you a smile. He reached for your hand, and mimicked the gesture you had done to him hours before, playing with the tips of your fingers before bringing them up to his lips and kissing them gently. “I’ll see you tomorrow? We could do this again after the run?”

You nodded, your eyes sparkling with happiness. "Definitely."Ethan leaned down, pressing his lips against your forehead once, before pulling back with a grin. You let go of his hands, shying away as he reached for his keys, mentally preparing himself for a whole bunch of ‘matchmaker Chad’ jokes.

#ethan landry oneshot #ethan landry #ethan landry x reader #ethan landry smut #ethan landry x you #jack champion x reader #jack champion #ghostface #scream movie #scream 6 #ghostface x reader

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djarindroid · 2 months

Text

Marry Me

Pairing: Daryl Dixon x Reader

Summary: Daryl proposes to you under the stars (Established relationship. Setting- Alexandria)

Word Count: 712

Comments: I just wanna write endless fluffy fics for Daryl 💕

The evening breeze carried a feeling of peacefulness as you and Daryl sat outside. This had become routine for the two of you, after a long run or a day's hunt, you’d enjoy a quiet breath of fresh air together. The light from the porch lantern cast a soft glow over the both of you as Daryl meticulously cleaned his crossbow, each movement practised and methodical.

You, perched up on the porch railing, stared at the clear night sky. You’d always found solace in the stars, sparkling way above you, not affected by any of the horrors down here on earth. You almost envied them, so removed from everything, but if you hadn’t faced the uncertainty of this world you wouldn’t be here, with the man you love.

The amount of times Daryl had cleaned his crossbow allowed him to keep his eyes on you as he worked. His gaze was filled with nothing short of adoration as he watched the starlight dance across your skin. To be truthful, if he could spend eternity watching you gaze at the stars he’d be a very happy man. Deciding this was the perfect moment to break the comforting silence, he uttered two of the most important words he’d ever said. ‘Marry me.’

Instantly bringing your attention away from the sky you looked to Daryl, finding him watching you with a soft smile. His request settled around you, making the night air warmer as you felt a grin gradually spreading across your face. You hopped down from the railing and crossed the short distance of the porch to stand in front of Daryl. His eyes never leaving your face, he looked at you as if you were his whole world. You were sure the look on your own face was a mirror of his.

You’d face everything you'd been through all over again if it meant you’d end up here, in this moment. You knew you’d do anything for the man in front of you, and couldn’t fathom a life without him.

You gently cupped his face with your hand, ‘You sure you wanna marry me D?’ You couldn’t help but ask, though you were sure of the certainty behind his words.

‘Yeah,’ he responded without a second thought. The corners of his mouth lifted even higher as he added, ‘never been more sure of somethin’.’ He cupped one of your hands in his and tilted his head to place a delicate kiss on your palm.

You always knew you’d spend the rest of your life with Daryl but hearing him so sure and eager to do so caused happiness to overwhelm every fibre of your being. It was so overwhelming that you couldn’t stop the tears that slowly rolled down your face.

Daryl, ever the man of few words, spoke through his actions. Putting his crossbow to the side he stood up, his eyes stayed glued to yours. He brought his calloused hands up to tenderly cradle your cheeks, using his thumbs to delicately wipe your tears away.

‘Marrying me that bad huh? Didn’t think ya’d cry,’ he jested quietly as he rested his forehead against your own. You laughed quietly with him.

Saying yes to Daryl was as easy as breathing, ‘I’m just so happy and being Mrs Dixon is everything I could ever want,’ you confessed whilst lovingly wrapping your arms around his neck. Fireflies had circled around the two of you, as if the stars themselves had fallen to witness this moment of love that had survived the apocalypse.

‘Good, because I dunno what I would’ve done with this if you’d of said no.’ He pulled out a simple silver ring from his pocket. It was perfect, not too flashy, just a perfect reminder of the connection between the two of you.

Time seemed to stretch around you as he carefully slipped the ring onto your finger, the weight of its significance settled into your heart. Life was no longer about surviving, it was about building a future together. As you gazed into Daryl’s eyes, gratitude washed over you, thinking about how lucky you were. You knew the stars you loved to stare at didn’t contain all the answers, but in Daryl’s eyes you saw a galaxy shining just for you.

#just another short lil fluffy piece for Daryl #🥰#like this is just how I pictured him proposing to someone #simple and loving #daryl dixon x reader #daryl dixon x you #daryl dixon fluff #daryl dixon fanfiction #daryl dixon imagine #daryl dixon drabble #daryl dixon #TWD #the walking dead

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rafescurtainbangz · 2 months

Note

Frat Rafe heartbroken. Wanna see him suffering a little hehe 🤏

Heartbroken - Rafe Cameron Blurb

1k Fluff

Frat!Rafe x Female Best Friend

Ahhhh thank you for your ask. Poor baby 🥺🥺🥺🥺

Tags: @voyeurmunson @babyyraven @babyyraven @drewstarkeyslut @humanvampire13 @akashababy @dckweed @ashamedtobewhitemanswhore27 @joannamuns9n @marahgubler @h34rtsformilli @romaescapes @jayla @randymeeksistheloml @waywardsoul113 @redhead1180 @beautifuldisaster88 @rafedrewandjjs @xo-billy-hargrove-ox @cutielando

+18 content if you squint

She's perfect. Fuck… Everything about her is too good to be true. She's funny, intelligent, stunning, puts up with my shit, doesn't try to change me. She just likes me for me.

I watch as she lifts her red SOLO cup to her lips, taking a sip. Her beautiful eyes pinch shut, nose scrunched as she tries her best not to gag. “What-” She chokes out the word through a gasp. “What the hell is this?”

“Uhh… Everclear, Hawaiian Punch, and like gin?” I chuckle.

“It's so bad,” she laughs weakly, brushing her hand across her liquor-laced lips. I look down at her chest, catching a little dribble of booze, watching as it disappears between her tits, wondering for the nth time what it would be like to be with her finally.

Tonight. I need to make my move. We've been friends all semester, it's almost over… I've never waited this long for anything in my life. But this is so special I don't wanna rush. She's everything. And tonight, she's mine.

I step a little closer, resting my hand on her lower back pulling her in tighter to me. “Cig?”

She smiles and nods. I wrap my arms around her shoulder, leading her through the packed frat house, snaking through the mess. I catch the eyes of some of my frat brothers, the boys looking back at me with envy. How could they not?

We step through the doors onto the porch. I reach into my back pocket, snagging out a dart for her and me, watching as she pops it between her lips, following my fingers, catching the flame of my BIC. “I'm glad we could get outta there,” I smile.

“That was insane…” She chuckles as she looks at the sea of people littered on the lawn.

Just do it, Rafe.

I take a deep breath, working up the courage to ask her out. I've done this countless times. Why is this so fuckin’ hard? Just do it, Cameron. The fuck is wrong with you? I exhale a cloud of smoke before tossing my White Claw back, finishing it to ease my nerves.

RING. RING.

Her face brightens, causing mine to do the same, returning a little grin just seeing her smile. “Baby?” She asks. The rug gets pulled out from underneath me; my heart shattering as I hear that word on her mouth. She bites her lip excitedly, looking toward the road. “Yeah, we're at 119 Maple Street. We can just toss your bags in Rafe’s room.” My muscles tighten as I fight back the emotion brewing in me. “Oh, Rafe. He's just a friend. Sorry,” she laughs in my direction, slapping my chest playfully. “He's my best friend,” she corrects herself. My gaze falls to my feet as I nod in agreement. “You're a block away?” She squeals delightedly as she looks toward the 4-way for the Uber. “Love you too. See you in a sec!”

I stare ahead, physically unable to look at her, knowing that if I do, I won't be able to hold it together. She has a boyfriend? She has a boyfriend that she loves? Loves… How? I reach up, brushing the tears from my eyes before she can see.

She can barely contain her excitement, running down the steps toward the car. Her boyfriend opens the cab; stepping out, his smile matches hers, the other man equally as excited to see her as she is him. The sight of all of this makes me sick.

His lips lock with hers, piercing me like a knife to the gut. Her boyfriend's hands work down her perfect body, twisting that knife further. He's a handsome guy… I can't even deny it. They look good together. I've never seen her this happy. She's fucking glowing: her smile, the twinkle in her eye. I've never seen this side of her… I wasn't even close.

He rolls his luggage toward the frat house as the two chat and laugh. I catch the little emblem on his quarter-zip: Boston College Hockey. An athlete. He walks up the stairs, eyes locked on mine. A smirk spreads on his lips. He's just meeting me, but he recognizes it… I'm surprised. He can see this is not how I was expecting my night to go.

“Uh, hi,” I breathe as I extend my hand, shaking his. “I'm Rafe.”

“Nice to meet you,” he responds, not even half-focused on me as he looks down at her with a smile.

“You in town for the game tomorrow?”

“Yeah. Well, to see her mostly,” he cheeses, eyeing her with the same pride I had mere minutes before as I was parading her through the house.

“Can we set his luggage in your room for now?” She asks me.

“‘Course,” I assure. Her boyfried’s hand snakes around her lower back as he leans in, whispering in her ear, making her blush. Holy shit. My chest constricts as I put the pieces together, just knowing what’ll happen behind closed doors. I'm no idiot. Those two haven't seen each other in god knows how long… They're gonna fuck on my bed.

“Shittt,” he groans. “I forgot my backpack.” He looks down at his phone, opening his UBER app; toggling to the chat. “Be right back,” he whispers, kissing her on the temple before walking back to the road. I look up and out into the distance, trying my best to keep my tears at bay.

I feel her hand on my arm, giving me a little squeeze. “Rafe? Is everything alright?” She asks as she looks up at me. I nod fast, contradicting my own words with my rash response.

“I didn't know you had a boyfriend,” I press the words out, hearing my voice crack with emotion. Heat rises in my cheeks with embarrassment as well.

“Yeah. We just got back together like a week ago,” she breathes.

“I just… fuck. I,” I start, but the words are hard. “I thought there was something between you and I.” I feel my bottom lip wobble. I quickly fish out another cigarette, pinching it between my lips, flicking my lighter, struggling to get it to take.

‘Course there is…” She coos. “We’re best friends.”

Holy shit… I dig my heel into the ground, looking up into the night. Don't fuckin’ cry. Don't fuckin’ cry. Don't you dare fuckin’ cry.

Her boyfriend walks up the stairs, readily pulling her attention away from me. “We’ll find you later,” she ensures, tapping me on the chest before walking away. I watch as the two disappear into the mess of people, leaving me alone. Without her.

Masterlist

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lunajay33 · 2 months

Text

Not Enough?💔

Summary: you and Carl try and make friends and Ron gets jealous and says cruel things about you, will Carl protect you?

•Masterlist•

You’ve been friends with Carl since well forever, you were Shane’s daughter and when the apocalypse hit he took care of you Lori and Carl, and you’ve been inseparable from Carl since everything went awry

When your dad died you went into a deep depression but Carl was there he brought you back from that ache black pit of despair, and you did the same for him when he had to kill his mom

But now you were all finally in a safe place, well as safe as things could get in a world where there were brain dead people trying to rip your flesh to shreds

Everyone had stayed in two houses next door to eachother, you chose to stay with Daryl, Rick michonne Judith and Carl in the first house you all stayed in as the others moved over to the other house

You were sitting in your room, which was right next to carls when there was a knock

“Come in”

The door opened and it was Carl

“Hey wanna go talk to some of the kids of the town, try and fit in a bit” he asked leaning against the frame

“Sure” you said as you got up and you both left the house

You were walking around town when you saw a few of them you learned to be Ron, Enid and some others

“Hey guys, mind if we join?” Carl asked as we approached

“Sure we were just talking about our first kisses” Enid said laughing

You sat down with them as they continued around the small circle until it got to you

“Well aren’t you gonna tell us?” Ron asked kinda pushy

“Ummm” you looked at Carl nervous so he spoke for you

“We were each others first kiss, I mean we’ve known eachother since birth it was bound to happen” he said laughing off the jitters

You and Carl weren’t offical, you guys never discussed anything but you both knew there were feelings, strong feelings between eachother that ran deep

You both looked at Ron as he scoffed he looked disgusted but honestly kinda jealous for some reason

“Really? You kissed her, even in the apocalypse that’s pretty desperate” your chest felt tight at his words

“What the hell do you mean?” Carl asked you could hear in his tone he was fuming

“Dude come on, she’s not easy to look at, Enid is way prettier” Ron said laughing right at you

You got up and ran back to the house sitting on the porch, that heavy feeling weighing on your chest as you felt that burning in your throat rising as you tried to hold back the tears that inevitably fell down your checks……and they kept coming

You had never really been insecure, growing up with Carl and his reassuring words and the sweet people you grew up around made you feel good, made you feel like you were enough but that all changed when you came to Alexandria

You saw the way Enid looked at Carl and that’s how you started to compare yourself to her, the way she looked, her nose, her body it all came like a blow to you since you never really experienced envy before

As you were deep in that mind numbing toxic state Carl came up to you on the porch stairs as sat beside you as he rubbed your back soothingly

“He’s an ass, don’t listen to him, he’s just jealous”

“Jealous? Jealous of what, he’s right Enid is way better why waste your time with me” you sighed as you looked up at Carl

His heart broke seeing your red puffy face

“Y/n what are you talking about you’re beautiful, you know you’re the only one for me, with your h/c, and your gorgeous e/c eyes, and how you’ve always been my number one supporter through everything”

“Really?”

“Of course I…..I love you y/n, more than anything so stop worrying no one can compare to you” he said brushing you hair back behind your ear

Your heart speed up feeling like it was gonna burst

“I love you too Carl, always”

After that you slowly realized you’re beautiful in your own way and stopped comparing yourself to Enid, and Carl made sure to show you how beautiful you really are

—///—///—///—///—///—

How did you guys like this story, I’m new to doing stories for Carl for lmk!!:)

#carl grimes x y/n #carl grimes fluff #carl grimes x reader #carl grimes fic #carl grimes imagine #carl grimes fanfiction #twd carl #carl grimes #twd fanfiction #twd fic #twd #the walking dead series #the walking dead #carl grimes x you

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tarjapearce · 9 months

Note

i second the ranchero miguel agenda!!! I WANNA RIDEEEEEE

He passes by on his workhorse, a fine black stallion just as he is — greeting you and your friends strolling the estate.

They squeal as he flashes you a wink as he moves ahead.

"He must be delicious." Your friend groans, and fans herself, his tight shirt doing no favors to hide his well-defined back.

And you can proudly say "He is." with the smuggest grin.

Your friends squeal again wanting to know every detail about your little affair with the farm boy!! 🧎‍♀️

You are tempting me to draw him 🥴🥴. Good God.

-----

Your group of belles sat around in the porch, you in the middle. You'd talk about the latest trends, new bakeries and gushed for the next gala that would be held up within a week, a fundraising event hosted by the church.

The galloping of Joaquín, the black stallion approaching made everyone to hush and giggles.

"Oh my god, just look at him."

The friend on your left spoke as Miguel was training your dad's horse, the fence and a small pebbled path separated you both. Miguel turned Joaquín to face you all and made a commanding clicking sound to the stallion, that gracefully bowed his head to you all.

You couldn't help but giggle and clap. He then tipped his hat to you all with a polite smile. His eyes focused on you, and winked your way.

Your heart skipped a beat.

"Forgive me, father, but that man is just... ugh. Delicious."

You sipped your lemonade and smirked with a sense of pride.

"Oh, he is."

Your friends gawked at you before the ladies to erupt in a squealing and riled up 'oh my lord! "

Of course they wanted to know, envy burned in the hearts of some, but not that they blamed you though. With someone like Miguel to not sin, was impossible.

#miguel o'hara #t writes✨#miguel o'hara x reader #miguel o'hara x you #Miguel Ranchero #atsv miguel #asks and replies

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cozycottagelife · 1 year

Text

#home & lifestyle #cottage #cozy aesthetic #exterior #cottage aesthetic #porch envy #front porch #cottage living #curb appeal #charming home

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tokkiwrites · 3 months

Text

┈─ 𖧷 Harvey Wallbanger ⸝⸝ 🥃◞

ㅡㅡㅡ in which you're curious about how a classic harvey wallbanger tastes so you ask Joel, your dad's best friend, for a sip of his. he lets you try itㅡ in a not so conventional way.

★ ͘ dbf!joel miller, age gap, fem!reader, afab reader, no use of y/n, hair pulling, spit kink, p in v sex (unprotected), creampie, kind of voyeurism, lots of pet names, lmk if i missed anything.

The sun dipped low on the horizon, casting a warm, golden glow over the backyard where the family gathering unfolded. The scent of barbecue lingered in the air, intermingling with the fragrant aroma of magnolia blossoms that adorned the edges of the patio. Strings of fairy lights twinkled overhead, adding a touch of magic to the evening. Mismatched lawn chairs and a weathered porch swing created a cozy seating area, where laughter and chatter filled the air. The wooden table, adorned with an array of homemade dishes, bore witness to the love poured into the get-together.

but that wasn't something you cared about right now.

Joel Miller, a man weathered by years and life's challenges, guarded his emotions behind a rough exteriorㅡㅡ at least that's what it seemed like.

You couldn't help but stare, unknowingly drawn towards him, as he conversed with your aunt. Family gatherings were a bittersweet affair; you resented his constant presence yet yearned for it, more than you cared to admit.

With a sip of the overly sweet virgin mojito, you suppressed a sigh, wondering if your dad had momentarily forgotten your age, given the drink he made for you. attention fixated on Joel, you observed the way your aunt touched his bicep; it sent a pang of jealousy through you. The effect he had on you was undeniable. You hated to admit it.

"Everything's alright, sweetheart?" Your dad's voice interrupted your envy-induced trance. "Huh?" You furrowed your brows, snapping back to reality. "Oh, uh... yeah, Dad. I'm just trying to get this drink down," you laughed nervously, swirling the cold glass around.

A knot tightened in your stomach. What if your dad sensed the unspoken tension between you and his best friend? you couldn't help but wonder how he would react if he knew the truth.

"What, you don't like my mojitos?"

"Dad, this is in no way a mojito." you laughed, settling the glass down onto the table next to you. "Well, you're still my little girl. I can't have you drinking alcohol now, can I?"

As you laughed off your dad's questionable mixology skills, your eyes inadvertently found Joel. His rugged silhouette stood against the backdrop of the setting sun. Why does he have to be so...him?

You didn't know much about the man, even though you grew up with him around all the timeㅡ you didn't know much. just knew how much you wanted him and how wrong it was.

On so many levels so wrong, yet you couldn't help but tremble as a wave of unspeakable thoughts had drowned your mind. Pressing your thighs together, you breathe heavily and decide to save yourself while you can, swiftly making your way inside the house.

No one seemed to notice.

Almost.

"Now why'd you run off like that? the ping-pong game just started." His voice, a gravelly drawl, cut through the air.

fuck. he knows. he saw you stare at him the whole night, of course he knows.

turning around, you meet his gaze. he towered over the kitchen entrance, a small glass in his rough hands. Jesus christ. You force out a smile, voice hitching.

"Hi, Mr. Miller! we didn't get to talk tonight, huh?" You slowly back up towards the kitchen island. "Why are you inside?"

"Don't change the subject, darlin'. i saw you tonight..."

oh, fuck.

"sneaking in to steal some of your dad's alcohol." he laughs, pointing towards you. "now, i told your dad you ain't one to drink those kiddie things."

thank god.

you laugh in relief, throwing your hands up. "you got me!"

"yeah, all grown up now. need a grown up drink, no?" His eyes lock onto yours and you gulp down the lump in your throat. nodding your head, you reach to play with the hem of your dress. "what are you drinking?"

"oh, this? 's a Harvey, don't think you'll like it much. old man drink." the corners of his mouth lift up into a smile. "can i have some?" you pip. "i bet its better than what dad made me drink." laughing, you try and stare out the window, as to avert Joel's gaze.

"that so?" he hoarsed. oh my god, this motherfu-

he circled around you and made his way to the cabinet that housed your dad's most cherished whiskey. Joel settled his glass down, the amber liquid catching the warm glow of the kitchen lights.

"C'mere, girl." He motioned you over, a command that sent shivers down your spine, and you obeyed. There was a magnetic force in his presence, an unspoken poison in his voice that drew you closer. As you approached, you caught a hint of his cologne, a rugged scent that added to the intoxicating atmosphere. He could ask anything of you right now...you'd do it.

Joel poured a generous amount into a glass filled with ice, the sound of the liquid gliding against the crystal and echoing in the quiet kitchen. The air thickened with anticipation as he handed you the drink, the warmth of his rough fingers grazing yours.

"i-i'm kind of scared to try it now, honestly." you divert his gaze. "come on, now." he pushed closer to you, his scent enveloping you. joel grabs the glass from your hands, his fingers lingering just a moment longer than necessary. His other hand cupped your cheek, thumb pressing against your chin.

"open up." your eyes widened. did you hear that right? are you drunk? maybe that mojito wasn't virgin at all. "don't make me repeat myself, girl. "

you complied, uncertainty and excitement blending in the air. Joel tilted the glass, and the rich, hard whiskey slipped past his lips. Leaning down, palm still around your jaw, your breath caught as he slowly spat the liquid into your mouth.

his eyes never leave yours, and your heart feels like it could rip through your chest right now. Joel withdrew, the warmth of his touch lingering on your skinㅡ the taste of that forbidden sip plastered on your tongue.

The air crackled with an unspoken tension, and for a moment, time seemed suspended. As you caught your breath, Joel's expression remained unreadable.

"really think i couldn't see you starin' at me, angel?"

"I'm - so sorry, mr. Millerㅡㅡ"

"sweet girl. been dyin to know what's inside that pretty head of yours when you look at me like that." His fingers brushed a loose strand of hair from your face. "you know how much i had to hold back? wanted to ravage you, toㅡ" he trails "to destroy you. make you beg for me to stop..." joel leans down, his rough beard tickling your neck, drawing a soft moan from between your lips.

"dirty girl." a dark chuckle evades his throat "wonderin' how soaked that pussy is right now, hm?"

"mr. Miller, p-please..."

"so fuckin needy, i ain't even touched you yet." His voice, a husky murmur, resonated with a mixture of amusement and a raw need. his hot breath against you belied the intensity of the moment, leaving you yearning for more.

Desire hung thick in the air as Joel's hands lingered, teasing and exploring. Each touch ignited a fire within you, and the temptation between you two pulsed like a heartbeat faster than your own.

"sure you want this, darlin'?" nipping at your bottom lip, he waits for your signal. "so sure." this is it, the moment you had only dreamed of. that's when his lips crashed against yours, his mustache pricking your skin. you kissed back, hungry, so hungry like you've never felt before.

at any moment someone could walk through that doorㅡ but you didn't care, couldn't care. not whilst joels tongue clashed against yours. your arms wrapped around his neck, his slipped down to your ass, squeezing it, prompting you to yelp into the kiss.

"wanna fuck you over this counter, baby. want that pretty pussy wrapped around my cock." you moaned at his dirty words.

dirty. dirty like his touch that left your skin tainted, dirty like how you know you'll feel after all of this is over.

but you like dirty. you love dirty.

you were too deep into it, maybe it was the booze or his voice digging at your core. you barely realized when he turned you around, bending you over the kitchen counterㅡ the cold surface almost sizzled against your skin.

joel pressed himself against you, still clothed. fuck, he was huge. pulling your dress up and panties down, he traced his finger agains your dripping folds.

"fuckin hell, baby, all this for me? c'mon, let me hear you say it."

"'s all for y-ou, mr. Miller ㅡ" you choked back a moan, pushing yourself back onto his bulge. he laughs, tilting his head to the side slightly. " a fuckin dream 's what you are, girl. didn't know what i was missin all this time."

joel unbuckled his pants in a hurry, pulling them to the ground and positioning himself better behind you. he drags the pulsing tip up and down, up and down as if he didn't make you wait long enough.

after he thinks its sufficient, he starts to push inside, causing you to bite onto your forearm and shut your eyes as tears welled up in them. "atta girlㅡ you can take it. you're a big girl, ain't ya?" he teased.

by the time he was fully inside, you were a mess, tears stained your cheeks, drool at the corners of your mouth covered in smudged lipstick ㅡ a dream.

joel moves, at first slowly as to let you adjust. he's patient. praises trail onto you as he kisses little pecks on the small of your back. "That's it, darlin'. take it all like a big girl." your body trembles from every breath and touch of his.

his pace picks up, skin hitting yours roughly, fingers tangled in your hair and his other palm flush against your belly. "feel me there, sweet girl?"

"I- yes, yes, please, p-please ㅡ " you were hanging on that counter for dear life, your brain foggy. nothing made sense but this. Joel buried deep inside of you.

he fucked you hard, and deep, your stomach churning at every hit. his calloused hands gripped tightly at you ass, his moves now more ragged.

"f-uck, baby ㅡ i gotta come. where, tell me where?"

"inㅡinside-"

"god, fuckin dammitㅡ" with that white ropes painted your velvet walls, causing you to reach your high also, squeezing joel in.

and for a moment there was silence. this really just happened. joel pulled out, letting his seed drip down your thighs. "shit, babyㅡ look at that. so pretty." he smiles kissing your shoulders, "so pretty like this, f' me."

you sigh, of relief you didn't get caughtㅡㅡ or maybe of sadness because it was all over.

"let's get you cleaned up, huh? we're lucky your family takes ping-pong games so seriously." joel laughed, helping you up.

"mr. Miller?" you chirp.

"yeah, angel?"

"I really didn't like the Harvey."

⏜⃞♡⠀⠀🐰 guess whos baaack???? sorry for the extremely long time i was gone. uni drains me of all my powers. but i wrote this short 2k word story as an apology. dont forget to leave requests guys!!!! muahh i hope you like it.

#pedro pascal #pedro pascal characters #pedro pascal smut #pedro pascal x reader #joel miller #joel tlou #joel miller x reader #joel miller smut #joel miller x you

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ownedbyfictionalwomen · 1 year

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abby anderson x fem!reader

abby wanted what was best for lev, always. so when they come across a house, she sees her opportunity. thank god the owner is a total sweetheart. a little angsty + super fluffy! 2.9kwords.

!timeline wrong, not canon whatsoever, fluff, cuddles, a dog with a stupid name and Lev being funny and cute, a little angsty. divider by @firefly-graphics !

They had spotted the house a few days ago, perched on a little hill and surrounded by dense woodland, perfectly hidden and protected by the natural environment. Lev had wanted to run right up to the front door the second they saw it, his usual fearlessness overpowering any logical thought, reminding Abby about a time she would rather forget… involving heights and bridges.

After a few minutes of bargaining, Abby had convinced Lev that they needed to wait a few days, scope the place out and keep close by. The two set up camp just out of sight and earshot of the house, envy growing every time they peeked at the puffing chimney and the warmth lining the window panes. What Abby wouldn’t do to get inside that house.

It would’ve been a whole lot easier if it was unoccupied, if they could just waltz right in and make themselves at home, take off their boots and hang up their coats. But close observation had pummelled that dream into the ground when they spotted you, bundled up in a brown coat and wool hat, walking a German Sheppard along little desire paths that you had carved into the earth.

You would return to the house with a smile on your face and the sweet dog trailing behind you, reminding Abby of Alice and pulling at her heartstrings. I miss her so much.

The chill of November had started to settle a few nights ago, with days getting shorter and the air getting colder. Lev felt a mild kind of jealousy working its way around him at the sight of you passing in front of the windows with only a t-shirt on, whilst he wrapped himself in every layer he owned. It must be so warm in there.

When a few suns had set and risen, Abby thought the situation had been assessed enough, thought she had gathered enough information and thought she was ready to march up to that front door and bust it open… and then kindly beg for mercy.

If Lev wasn’t with her, she probably wouldn’t even have paid the house a second look, she would’ve walked right past and kept on her way to nowhere. But her little companion had begged, literally pulled on her jacket sleeve and dug his heels in, when he spotted the house.

“We can just… I dunno… walk up and knock on the door.” He whispered, looking down at his fingers, already knowing the reaction he was going to get wasn’t going to be the one that he wanted.

“You’re kidding, right?”

“She seems nice.”

“Oh yeah, and you’ve talked to her?” Abby asked with a chuckle, placing her strong hands on her hips and turning around to look at you as you busied yourself in what appeared to be your kitchen.

Lev stayed silent, watching you too with his arms crossed over his chest in quiet defiance, “I can just tell.”

“You can just tell… right. And what about that massive dog on the porch, huh? What about him?”

“Hey! You’re the one who told me that dogs are nice.” His face crumpled in annoyance, brow furrowing and lip curling up in minute anger as he pointed a finger at her. He knew Abby was trying to scare him.

“No, I told you Alice was nice.”

“Look, we overheard her calling it Taco. No dog called Taco can be that bad.” He argued, waving his arms around manically in hopes it would force his point across.

Abby’s face turned fiercely serious, “you know what a taco is, right Lev? It’s not something to joke about. It’s a strain of infected that rips the limbs off people and-”

“Shut up, I know what a taco is. I already told you I’m thirteen, not eight. And don’t you dare say it.”

“You’re the size of an eight-year-old.”

Abby ended up promising to make a move the next time you came outside, just to make it all up to Lev. She didn’t expect the next time you ventured out to be when you were chopping firewood with an axe so big it almost made you topple over.

But she gathered her composure and climbed the hill slowly, keeping her eye on Taco who sat in his usual spot on the porch steps, panting with his pink tongue hanging out of his mouth. Abby wasn’t going to let his current adorable doe-eyed expression trick her, she knew he could turn at any moment and come bounding at her with red eyes.

Instead, his head lolled to the side at the sight of her and he trotted up to her before flopping onto his back with a cute doggy smile on his face. She bent down and gave him a gentle pat on the head, which was met with a happy whine.

“I was wondering when you were gonna come up here,” you said, turning around and greeting Abby with a pleasant smile. “You took your time. How long were you out there? A week?”

Her mouth felt like it was wired shut, put in a near-permanent state of shock at your fearlessness (and embarrassment based on the fact that she wasn’t as sneaky as she thought she was).

“Tell your little friend to come out too.”

Taco yapped angrily at the loss of Abby’s hand, chasing it with his head. You propped the axe up against a block of wood and made your way towards the house, giving Lev a little wave as he made his way out from behind the treeline from where Abby had come from.

“I’m guessing you guys want showers, and beds, and food. I’ve got everything you need in here.” You smiled as Lev picked up his pace towards you, only for his hood to be grabbed by Abby as they shared some hushed words.

You didn’t need to hear the conversation to know what was being said, you knew your unusual generosity was screaming alarm bells at the pair, but the decision to welcome them into your home (even if they just wanted it for one night) was one that was made quickly and easily.

The reason: loneliness.

Having spoken to no one but your father, who only came once a week to deliver supplies, it was no wonder you were feeling a little alone. You missed having someone to love on, someone to touch, someone to cuddle. One look at Abby and you decided that she was the only one you would give that to.

After about thirty seconds, Lev shook Abby off and followed you, rushing up the stairs and through the door, finding you in the kitchen, at the fridge. He gawked at the stocked shelves, and you stood there giggling at him, “help yourself, hun.”

Leaving him to his own devices, you wandered into the living room to find Abby checking the locks on all your windows and pulling the curtains closed. Her powerful frame took up a good chunk of space, filling the room with a sense of security even though there was a feeling far from it painted across her face.

“Hey,” you said quietly, grabbing her attention, “you can leave if you want, or only stay for a few hours, it’s completely up to you.”

Abby couldn’t help but be taken aback by your kindness. She couldn’t remember the last time anyone other than Lev had smiled at her, and here you were opening up your home to her. But she nodded her head as you spoke, trying to show a little appreciation before she started her interrogation.

“What’s in it for you?”

Pursing your lips, you thought it over. The answer was easy enough to come up with, it had spawned in your mind the moment you even thought about the prospect of having someone, other than Taco, to talk to.

“Company?”

“Okay… and that’s it? You don’t want anything in return?”

“I guess it depends on how long you’re planning on staying.” You answered as Abby took a seat on your battered couch, shrugging her jacket off and relishing the heated air. You followed her lead and took yours off too, laying it over the arm of the chair and sitting down next to her, slowly. “Firewood doesn’t chop itself.”

Abby laughed at that, just a quiet one under her breath that made a grin break out across your face. Maybe you were getting a little ahead of yourself, and maybe it was a little too ambitious… but you really hoped she would stay.

“So, Lev, here you go,” you said. “Here are three blankets just in case you get a little cold, and a pillow, and just letting you know that Taco might crush your feet if you don’t move them because that’s his favourite place to sleep.”

You looked down at him sprawled out on your couch, his head now propped up on cotton and feathers, making a content sigh burst out of him, “thank you so much.”

“No problem, hun. You get some rest and I’ll make you pancakes in the mornin’, okay?”

“What are pancakes?”

You giggled, “I guess you’ll see.”

The walk from Lev to your bedroom was short, directly down the hall and behind a chipped door. Your bed was pushed right up in the corner of the room, with a solid white comforter pulled over a soft mattress, topped with cushions and more blankets you had found.

The sounds of water hitting the floor drifted under your bathroom door, along with the steam, as you sat down and waited for Abby to finish showering. You had already laid out some clean underwear and an longsleeve men’s shirt you had found at the bottom of one of your drawers, thinking that it would suit her (and fit her) better than anything you owned.

The two of you had chatted deeply over dinner, her sharing details of the explorations with Lev, how they met, her time at WLF, her friends… more than you thought you deserved to know, but there was something about the compassion in your eyes that made Abby pour her heart out. She felt safer than she ever had when she looked at you, safe in a way no one had ever made her feel. And it was overwhelming.

She used her time in the shower to release the tension, letting the scalding water work over her tired muscles. The tears managed to keep themselves at bay as she stepped out, whimpering at the softness of your bathmat and the warmth of the towel you had left out for her. She dried off and wrapped it around herself, padding over to the door and cracking it open, seeing your face move to her as you jumped up off the corner of the bed.

“Hey…” you started, feeling Abby’s reserved nature, the one she had had when you met earlier, pop back up between you, “I have some pjs here for you… it’s just a shirt and underwear but it’s better than nothing. I can see if I can find some bottoms for you if you’d like, but I-”

“No, no. That’s more than enough, thank you.”

You nodded, smiling so tenderly at her that she had to avert her gaze to the ground. She was terrified of crying, letting the tears fall and the strength fall with them. Too much attention spent on hiding her emotions, she didn’t notice you in front of her until your hands were on her bare shoulders.

“You’re okay now, Abby. Both of you are safe here.” You whispered, feeling her muscles bunch up underneath your fingers and her shoulders slowly start to shake with tears, “oh, honey.”

You didn’t think twice before wrapping your arms around her the best you could, squeezing her to you fiercely, trying to ground her to you. She had a few inches on you, so you cuddled her around her upper-waist, palms flat in the centre of her back. You considered pulling away when you felt no response from her, scared you had pushed it a little too far, but her own arms wound their way around your shoulders, their weight tying you to her.

“Thank you.”

Kissing the side of her neck, your pulled back and took her face in your hands, “it’s my pleasure, baby. And I know we agreed that you would sleep on the floor but, how do you feel about sharing with me? Yeah? I just wanna cuddle.”

Her lips were pouted adorably as she nodded at you, placing her hands on top of yours and winding your fingers together, pulling your right hand to her lips and giving your knuckles a sweet kiss.

Once she had released you, you turned towards your window, letting her get dressed in subtle privacy as you checked and double checked the lock before pulling the blind down, the only light now being your bedside lamp. You then shuffled out of your pyjama pants before laying them over the chair in the corner of the room, only turning around when you heard the quiet rustle of sheets and the familiar creek of your bedframe.

Abby took a deep breath at the sight of you, awaiting the feeling of your skin again, imagining what your thighs would feel like pressed into the back of hers as you spooned her. She pulled the duvet up to her chin, willing the cold cotton to warm up as you climbed up to your side, slinking under the blanket as to not pull any from Abby.

When you reached over her to shut off the light, you paused, staring down at her in barely-contained awe, entranced by her beauty, “you’re gonna stay, right?”

“I’m staying. We’re staying.” She whispered finitely, watching your eyes dance across her face, drinking her in before you dropped a warm kiss on the corner of her mouth. You smiled and let the room fall into darkness.

Instead of fleeing back over to your side of the bed like Abby thought you might do, you wrapped a leg around her waist, your thigh pressing over her hips and warming her tummy. An arm wrapped around you almost naturally, pulling you closer as you laid a palm on her chest, along with your head.

Abby fell asleep faster than she ever had.

#abby anderson fluff #abby anderson tlou2 #abby anderson x female reader #abby anderson x reader #abby anderson angst #lev tlou

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