#so people can friend each other if y'all want to keep in touch

[milkyst4rs]

BF headcannons

Diluc, Kaeya, Scaramouche, Xiao, Zhongli x GN reader

Fluffy floof☁️

Diluc

Though some might think otherwise, dating Diluc is SO FUN.

I feel like Diluc would like to tease his s/o a little? He wants to see you all smitten and flustered ya know?

Will get you tiny trinkets that reminds him of you. Bro doesn't care about the price ofc, he loves your reactions to his tiny gifts.

Diluc prefers to be the big spoon but won't mind if you wanna hug him too.

When y'all are in bed, he is the type to sling his large leg over yours so you can't go anywhere while y'all sleep.

Gets SOOOO happy when you come visit him at the tavern (he doesn't show his excitement tho cause he though like that💯🔥)

Is the biggest softie for you behind closed doors. He's just a little shy outside, don't worry.

Kaeya

SUCH a tease oml. He always does his "oh?~😏" whenever you speak.

He doesn't care if you both are in public or not, he will always try to make you flustered somehow.

Loves kissing you. Your soft lips on his just makes his heart go KDNDHDKWKHDISOW

Like Diluc, he also prefers to hold you while you both are sleeping. But he won't argue if you want to be the big spoon.

I feel like Kaeya is a light sleeper, so if he has trouble falling asleep he'll just admire your pretty face till he does close his eyes.

He loves tracing your features leaving small pecks afterward.

He knows he can trust you so he seeks you out for comfort when he is feeling down :(

Immediately feels 100% better after being in your embrace tho.

Scaramouche

Mega-tsundere 1000. Boss level.

Absolutely loves holding your hand. (Secretly though ofc)

Scaramouche is a big mean guy so he doesn't have time for romance!😡 (Except, he is extremely touch-starved so please PLEASE hug him)

Both of you are honestly shocked that you are still in the relationship and are loyal to him.

He slowly realises that you genuinely love him and are not trying to betray him or hurt him in anyway, so he warms up to you.

Likes kissing your forehead. Whenever he sees you, you are going to have a peck on the forehead 100%.

He finally can feel some form of happiness with you.

Xiao

Mega-tsundere 1000 boss level #2.

MY MAN IS SOOOO SHY

He probably has never gotten intimate with anyone ever before so he is a nervous wreck. Which leads to him panicking and resorting to throwing insults at you.

Obviously he doesn't mean it, he just doesn't know what to say when you kiss his cheek! You know he means well, so the "you have no respect for the adepti" insult goes in one ear and out the other.

Eventually warms up to you and tries to be romantic by bringing you flowers and such,(with the help of hu tao and friends^^).

Likes to watch the sunset with you on the roof of Wangshu Inn. His hand always finds its way to intertwine with yours.

He probably doesn't sleep so he keeps watch and makes sure you are safe irl and in dreamland.

Zhongli

Zhongli...what a gentleman.

Boyfriend material ON PAPER‼️

Helps carry your bags, showers with you, reads with you. He just loves being by your side.

He can sense that you truly love him so he lets himself go and his walls crumble for you.

Most people would be bored of Zhonglis constant talking, but not you no sir. He appreciates that you genuinely listen and add in your own sentences in his story telling.

Loves to pamper you!!!!! Making you delicious tea, date nights, skin care routines, you name it.

Both of you are probably named 'Liyue's #1 power couple' by locals who often see the two of you hand in hand walking by the pier.

His kisses are always soft and gentle, each one reminding you of how much he adores you and loves you <3

#diluc x reader #genshin fluff #genshin impact x reader #zhongli x reader #xiao x reader #scaramouche x reader #kaeya x reader #scaramouche #xiao fluff #zhongli #diluc x gender neutral reader #kaeya headcanons #genshin x reader

[puranami]

✿ It's The Little Things - 3 ✿

A/N: @leafyturtle come get y'all Franky and Robin fluff! I'm excited for this one, lotsa faves in here >:3c

Summary: Little relationship things with (currently) anime/manga exclusives ✿

Characters: Franky, Robin, Law, Kid, Killer

Content: SFW, G/N reader, language in Kid's (bc it's Kid lol) bottomless fluff ✿

(Part 1 - Luffy, Zoro, Nami, Usopp, Sanji) (Part 2 - Buggy, Shanks, Mihawk) (Part 4 - Crocodile, Rosinante, Doflamingo)

Franky

✿ Multiply his self-aggrandizing by 100, and that's how he sees you; he is your personal hype man! Every single insecurity, no matter how big or small, will be kissed away, because you are perfect, and you should definitely tell people as such. Wait, you're too shy and don't want to? No worries, Franky's got you, and he'll tell everyone himself. Loudly. No, he won't stop or tone it down; "The world needs to know how super you are!" He loves when you hype him up in turn, and uses it to show you how great self confidence is; and it will rub off on you. He's so proud when you declare how amazing you are, even if it's just to him! "AOW! That's right, babe, you are amazing!" He'll pick you up in those huge, strong arms of his, practically crushing you in a bear hug.

✿ Franky loves to make you any and all gadgets he thinks you'd like, or need. Just as he is constantly upgrading his body, he develops and re-develops things that make your life easier, or that bit cooler! While he likes to surprise you with them, seeing how your eyes light up in wonder as he shows you how it works, he loves it even more when you're involved in the building process; brainstorming ideas, designing, picking out the colour palette, he'll even let you use a blowtorch, just, please be careful, wait what was that twinkle of mischief in your eyes? Okay, no more blowtorch - leave it to the pro! It would kill him if you got hurt on his watch, he's meant to protect you!

✿ He's made up a comfy little alcove in his workshop so you can keep him company while he's working. Soft cushions, blankets, lights so can work on your own hobbies, it's perfect! Even when you were just friends, you were always welcome there, and it's become your little safe space. It's comfy enough to fall asleep there when Franky works late, and he even modified it so that there is room for him to sleep there too. While hanging out, you'll talk about everything, and nothing, what you're both working on, or you'll simply listen to music and enjoy each others presence, and that often leads to loud singing, especially on Franky's part. He'll share his cola with you too, you just bring the snacks - can't work on an empty stomach after all!

Robin

✿ Robin is very calm and reserved, especially compared to the rest of the crew, so her way of showing affection follows the same pattern. She'll put a gentle hand on your arm, and touch your foreheads together, but her favourite thing to do is to grow an arm out of your own, reaching down to hold your hand, all while on the other side of the room, smiling to herself. If your eyes are sharp, you'll catch the delicate blush on her cheeks when you bring your arm up to kiss her hand, or gently hold it to your cheek. She'll also make a pair of arms to wrap around your waist, or shoulders if you're sat down. She'll hold you personally too, but that is saved for your private quarters or the library.

✿ Part of her flirting is making dark comments and jokes; "I know the best way to your heart, dear." - "Through my stomach?" - "Oh no, that's not very efficient! It's anywhere between the 2nd and 4th ribs." She'll say it with such a loving gaze and gentle smile, and if you didn't know Robin better, you'd be worried she was plotting your murder, but that's just how she is, and you love her for it. She will also tell you all the gruesome details she finds in her books and research. Part of you suspects that she's purposefully trying to spook you so she can comfort you, but really she just finds these thing fascinating. Robin will be ecstatic if you can match her gallows humour, or if you have morbid facts of your own you can share with her.

✿ She takes great comfort in the fact that you love her unconditionally, and that you have always accepted her as she is, morbid interests, and former associations included, and she makes sure that you know she loves you all the same, no matter your quirks, flaws, and mistakes, for that is the beauty of love! You are each others port in the unrelenting storm of life.

Law

✿ Law is so used to losing the people he loves most, so for him to open up, it will take a lot of time, patience, and understanding. You can't push him on things, and will have to wait for him to come to you - he needs to feel like he has some control over the situation so he can make better judgement calls, and do something if it all goes wrong. It's nothing personal, he just doesn't want to helplessly watch his world fall apart again; he's older, smarter, and much stronger now, he will keep those he cares about safe. Once he's at that point where he feels like he's ready to be open and honest, he is completely dedicated and doggedly loyal, though he isn't very expressive with it.

✿ He shows his love through acts of service; making sure you are eating and sleeping well, tending any injuries you get in day to day life, moving you if you've fallen asleep in a weird place or position so you don't get any aches and pains, or catch a cold. Law hopes that you can feel the love he has for you in each action. He just wants to know you are healthy and well so he doesn't need to worry about you. Well, he says that, but he still worries, he can't help it. You'll need to use his own tactics against him to make sure he actually sleeps and eats instead of just working. It won't always work, sometimes he's working on things that are far too important, but he will relent otherwise.

✿ PDA is not a thing for him. At all. It's almost like he doesn't want to jinx things with the world seeing he has entrusted his heart with another again. On the Polar Tang, when it's just you and the crew, he'll be a little more open, placing a hand on your head or shoulder, matching your pace as he walks beside you, slightly gentler eyes, and the hint of a smile; so subtle, yet the crew sees right through him, and they like to tease you both. Nothing serious, but it still gets them the worst chores in response. In private, when you are alone is the only time will he allow himself to be vulnerable.

Kid

✿ Given how intense and aggressive he is, you have the patience of a goddamn saint, and guts to back you up. He refuses to lessen himself for anyone; he is who he is, and you can either accept it and embrace him fully, or you can, in his words, "Fuck right off!" It will take a lot to break through the immense barriers he has - he will shout, argue, insult, and to get through, you have to be able to withstand that without crumbling. Shout back! Show him you're not gonna let anyone walk all over you, not even him, earn his respect, then you can build up from there. Once you've wormed your way into that exclusive club of 'We aren't Killer, but Kid still cares about us," he will be ride or die with you, and when he realises he genuinely likes you, or hell, even loves you, he would burn down the world for you if you asked him to.

✿ Out in public, you get no special treatment. It's just safer that way. He can't afford to be looking over his shoulder every other minute to make sure no one is trying to get to him through you. He'll still keep an eye on you of course, but it's indistinguishable from him watching over the rest of the crew. On the Victoria Punk he will be possessive, but not affectionate. Kid will keep you by his side, or drag you onto his lap, just generally manhandling you really, there will be no mistaking who you belong to. Once you're alone he will actually soften up; he knows he's a lot, and he cares deep down, but he's still in charge, he is your captain after all. You should take advantage of this time to get all the affection out of him that you can!

✿ You're one of the few that are actually allowed to hang in his workshop, as long as you don't bother him. He'll entertain some conversation if he's just setting up, or having a break, but once he's in the zone, zip it. He's fine with you watching him work - he's good at what he does and he knows it, but seeing the admiration in your eyes is a nice ego boost. He'll make you things if the mood hits him, particularly bits of jewellery, as it makes it easier to manhandle you from the other side of the room. He's a busy man, he doesn't want to wait for you to look his way and walk over, he wants your attention now!

Killer

✿ Like Kid, Killer has a tendency to manhandle, but it's not nearly as aggressive; he's a big guy with big, strong muscles, and he just enjoys hauling you around like a sack of potatoes. It gives him the opportunity to hold you close, 'accidentally' touch your butt, and your laughter through it all is just so sweet. He greatly enjoys your presence when he's going about his day, and deeply appreciates any assistance you can offer, such as in the kitchen, and certainly when trying to manage his idiot best friend and crew, as he's essentially the de facto caretaker on board. Often you'll end up sat on his shoulders, acting as an extra pair of eyes and hands - no shenanigans go unnoticed!

✿ You have become an expert at reading Killer's moods and expressions through his mask, every slight shift of his body, and the angle of his head has a very specific meaning. It doesn't help that he's a quiet man in general; balancing Kid's incessant ranting and raving with his well thought out, straight to the point statements. He much prefers to listen to you talk, only talking when he has something to add to the mostly one-sided conversation. He loves having these 'chats' with you sat in his lap, head resting against his broad chest. Sometimes his goatee will tickle the top of your head, and he lives for those giggles.

✿ It will take a long time for him to feel comfortable enough to remove his mask, and you can bet he refuses to laugh around you for the longest time. Just be patient with him, and let him do things when he's ready, and don't make a big deal out of it if something slips; he'll be pretty mortified, so just giving him a loving smile and a gentle touch will reassure him that maybe the things he's insecure about, or straight up hates, aren't as big an issue as he believes them to be. Telling him he is perfect is appreciated, but not effective in building him up, since nothing is perfect really, but seeing you love him unconditionally certainly will give him a boost.

#one piece imagine #one piece x reader #one piece x you #cyborg franky #nico robin #trafalgar law #trafalgar d water law #eustass kid #massacre soldier killer #franky x reader #franky x you #cyborg franky x reader #cyborg franky x you #nico robin x reader #nico robin x you #robin x reader #robin x you #trafalgar d law x reader #trafalgar law x you #law x reader #law x you #eustass kid x reader #eustass kid x you #killer x reader #killer x you

[serxinns]

Mocha bunny reader Headcanons!

A yandere class 1a (plus maybe some teachers) x reader

This fic was inspired by my beloved friend and mom @lady-ashfade and her strawberry bunny reader here

Info: Your quirk was a bunny but you were a mocha bunny your ability was speed, Strength in both arms and legs , amazing sense of smell and have super hearing and sharp claws you have 3 forms your normal form (basically a human form) your rabbit form when ur basically a whole rabbit and a gremlin form when ur half rabbit half bun but is smol

•Your classmates are obsessed and abored with everything you do they instantly fell in love with the 1st sight of you

•They would fight over about who would pet your ears or touch your fur or even your little tail (you bite denki hard for pulling it)

• Izuku would research about bunnies and you and would ask you millions of questions about you and the bunnies Ochako and mina would pinch your cheeks too hard which u had to told them off about but dismissed cause you were too cute at times but if you actually wanted them to back off they'll pout whenever you did something cute in front of bakugo he will either call you carrot muncher or cotton bitch and blushes to look away

•You and kota and also kota's bunny are bestie in when nobody is around you and kotas bunny will talk about EVERYTHING even bunny related stuff how hard it is and what delicious food are there

Kota's rabbit: *Speaks,

Reader in the bunny form: THATS WHAT IM SAYING these people have no respect for bunnies

Kotas rabbit: squeak

Reader: Woah woah that's some strong language you have

there dude don't let your owner hear that

•Kota is like your mom's friend since he knows EVERYTHING about rabbits he makes sure you eat the food you need and make sure to slow you down on treats he even makes izukus job easier don't be surprise if these two team up

•Sato will still make sweets for pastries for you but puts ingredients and stuff you like or ur tolerable with and out bunny like puns on there

•Aizawa is the only person you can trust to be in your bunny form he would invite you to cuddle in his sleeping bag or create a best by him so y'all can sleep and cuddle with each other whenever your classmates are overwhelming you Aizawa will lecture the students whenever they give you a hard time

•Mic will make sure to lower his voice because of your sensitive hearing he will make funny bunny puns at you which you'll groan at but he doesn't care he'll spoil you with gifts and hugs and he's VERY overprotective if anyone talk to you in a mean way their eardrums are about to be broken beyond repair

• Mirko is just in AWE she's so glad there's another person with a rabbit-like quirk so it's easier for her to teach you her skills she'll always give you tips about your abilities and encourage you to use every one of them she also give you tips about being a bunny hybrid

Bonus headcanons

•When your Classmates discover you make little squeaks in your sleep the class was holding their selves BACK from either squealing or screaming they all whisper and yelled at themselves to be quiet some tried pulling out their phone but Iida warned them not to since the flash were alert you awake

•Mirko LOVES to talk about you everywhere from her fans to her coworkers even to the number 1 hero Shes always mentions you she even imagines you working at her agency when you grow up you in a copy of her hero costume she's just dying of cuteness

•Denki and Seek love using cheesy bunny flirts to tease you which makes them giggle every time it gets annoying when they spam text over it (denki)

•You and Tsuyu are besties you both chat about your favorite foods and facts about your quirks y'all exchange baby photos of each other and Tsuyu is just dying when she sees you in a cute outfit ur little ears perk up your cute smiling face showing your little tail she keeps these photos to her self tho

•tokoyami is also a great person to hang out as well the two of you would often hang out at a park he would always get nervous about asking you questions that are bunny related afraid that he'll might say something offensive (poor bb) he even let's you sleep in his dorm room whenever you wanted to et sway from your classmates overbearing nature he would even bring snacks for you

•The bakusquad and dekusquad fight over who gets to baby you more which turns into a war when the other students join in Shoji says he wants a turn with you Momo offers to go shopping with her while Hakagure tries to steal you away and attempts to run off it was chaos in the end Aizawa heard and they all got detention while Aizawa was comforting you putting you in your bunny form while having a proud smirk on his face

#yandere bnha #tw yandere #yandere ua #tw obsessive behavior #yandere x reader #yandere class 1a #yandere mha #platonic yandere #yandere mirko #yandere aizawa #yandere present mic

[donutz]

Dogday x reader fluff alphabet[2/8]

—☆You are a smiling critter in this, if u want to know which one(but don't know what animal or insect to pick) you could start out as a sheep!

Affection(How affectionate are they? How do they show affection?)

— VERY. One hug per day keeps the sadness away, he says.

— A hug, a kiss, hand holding, pats, scratches, laying on each other, slight brushes against each other, anything that has to do with touch he will love ^_^

— Loves showing any kind of affection, as long as you like it, he’ll do it

— His long language is definitely physical touch

— Plus he’s a dog! Dog’s love touch, most of the time!

Best friend(How would they be as a best friend? How would the friendship start?)

— THE BEST FRIEND.

— He would cheer you up on your worst days!

— But if he can’t, he would try to communicate with you verbally or not

— “You don’t wanna talk?”

— You nod

— “That’s okay. Do you mean like speak out or..?”

— You nod

— “Oh ok! Uh, would it be okay if you talked on paper or do you just wanna be left alone?”

— And then it would go from there

— It would start with him talking to you first!

— He’d try to interact with you in many ways

— Wanna help with the kids? You wanna carry these boxes? Put away the toys? Anything to include you in it!

Cuddles(Do they cuddle? How would they cuddle?)

— Cuddle master

— Almost always cuddling, or some type of touch

— Especially if you're sad

— When you both are sleeping, you guys are always right next to each other

— If there are times that you don't want to, that's fine!

— But if it goes on for long he'll get a little sad :(

— And then he becomes touch starved

Domestic(Do they want to settle down? How are they at cooking and cleaning?)

— Dogday doesn't mind settling down, but he really likes playing around

— Like going ‘outside’

— He's wanted to see the outside for a long time.

— I'd think he'd be really good at cooking!

— Baking, not so much

— He's so quick with cleaning, I swear he can mop the floor of a mansion in 5 minutes 

— He also loves cleaning!!

Ending(If they had to break up with their partner, how would they do it?)

— Uhhhh

— Uhhhhhhh😅😅

— 100% wouldn't do it himself

— It has to be for a really good reason

— His ears would be down, tail sunk to the floor, and have the saddest look on his face

— “... Angel, I need space.”

— And then he speeds away

Fiance(How do they feel about commitment? How quick would they want to get married?)

— Idk about commitment..

— I have no idea what Dogday's age is

— But if he's minor, like I said for the Catnap fluff alphabet, in the kiddy way, he wouldn't mind what time you'd want to get ‘married

— It's up to you!

Gentle(How gentle are they, both physically and emotionally?)

— He's very gentle!

— Very extroverted, but gentle

— When it comes to giving hugs, he squeezes but never too hard!

— He is also very gentle when it comes to emotions

— You're sad? He'll listen or be with you, you're angry? He'd listen too! If you want, you just wanna be mad at him? That's fine! He'll only take action if you start hurting him or people(or toys)

Hugs(Do they like hugs? How often do they do it? What are their hugs like?)

— Y'all already KNOW!!!

— Hugs, at least one per day

— They are sooo comforting, especially since he has his vanilla scent

— Whenever you hug him first, he gets SOOO HAPPY.

— Tail wagging, widest smile, he's loving every second of it

I love you(How fast do they say the L-word?)

— “I love you Angel!” Out of nowhere

— It catches you off guard, a lot

— One time all the critters were playing truth or dare

— And KickinChicken said, “Dogday! I dare you to say I love you to our lovely sheep!!”

— “I LOVE YOU.”

— Everybody went silent and then Dogday started up the game again

Jealousy(How jealous do they get? What do they do when they're jealous?)

— He rarely gets jealous, it's barely ever happens

— The only way he could if someone's getting WAYYY too touchy

— “Hello! Could you give us a sec?”

— Then he takes you and goes wherever that's not near the person

Kisses(What are their kisses like? Where do they like to kiss you? Where do they like to be kissed?)

— Very loving and lovely

— You can tell he puts so much love into his kisses

— He likes kissing you on the forehead and cheek

— He tells(asks) you to close your eyes when he gives you forehead kisses

— He doesn't want you to be terrified at the darkness you'll see

— Would love receiving kisses anywhere

— Secretly would love getting kisses on his ears

Little ones(How are they around children?)

— Not in the making kids way, by the way I'm going to make fluff alphabets of all the critters

— And for the little ones section it will never be about having kids with the critters

— But as he does, taking care of the orphans, he is fantastic at taking care of them!

— He’s the one to cheer them up! The one who’d play games with them! The one who’d give them bandaids whenever they got hurt!

— 10/10 babysitter

Morning(How are mornings spent with them?)

— “Good morning Angel!”

— Every day.

— He usually asks if you slept well or if you had any dreams, or (hopefully not) nightmares

Night(How are nights spent with them?)

— Absolute cuddle bug

— If someone were to see you two he’d get pretty embarrassed

— If you’re not sleeping on top of each other, you’re holding hands at least

— He also says, “Goodnight Angel! Have sweet dreams!”

— And yes, it’s every time you two have to go to bed

Open(When would they start revealing things about themselves? Do they say everything all at once or wait a while to reveal things slowly?)

— He would, only if you asked him to

— Sometimes he brings up personal stuff without realizing it

— Then he goes, “Anyways!” or, “Nevermind!”

— It’s really concerning

— He’d reveal things slowly but surely

— He’d be really nervous talking about it though

Patience(How easily angered are they?)

— He barely gets angry at you!

— Most likely will never get mad at you

— He has never gotten mad at you.

— He will never get mad at you ^_^

Quizzes(How much would they remember about you? Do they remember every little detail you mention in passing, or do they kind of forget everything?)

— Remembers almost everything

— Sometimes he can forget

— But he always remembers the important things(in his words)

— He does remember the smaller details too!

— But he sometimes forgets

— He makes notes just in case so he doesn’t forget

Remember(What is their favorite moment in the relationship?)

— His favorite moment was when you gave him a big hug after he got his legs back

Security(How protective are they? How would they protect you? How would they like to be protected?)

— He isn’t scary protective but he can be protective

— Like hero protective

— “Don’t worry Angel! I got this!” head ahh

— He’d protect you in any way he could! But if it gets physical he tries to calm down the situation

— He’d use his body and hold his arms out, like how a little kid does it when protecting their friend or something

Try(How much efforts would they put into dates, anniversaries, gifts, everyday tasks?)

— Too much effort

— Jk jk!!

— He puts in as much effort as he can

— ‘Dates’ go however you want them to go!

— It’s your choice! Unless you really can’t or don’t want to then he’ll do it himself! No worries!

— “It’s our anniversary!”

— “:O”

— “I know right?! I’m so happy!”

— Puts so much effort and love into his gifts, it’s usually your favorite things

— On Valentines day he gave you a box of chocolates

— Obviously, he’d put a lot of effort into everyday tasks

Ugly(What would be some bad habits of theirs?)

— Honestly it depends on how you think, because if you find it annoying when someones happy all the time, or you can tell when someone is trying to constantly trying to cheer you up and you find it annoying then yeah

— It’s not an ugly habit but it depends on how you think

Vanity(How concerned are they with their looks?)

— I do not give one fuck, two fuck, red fuck, blue fuck, yellow fuck ^_^

Whole(Would they feel incomplete without you?)

— Yes.

Xtra(A random headcanon for them.)

— Whenever he sees you he gets very happy

— His tail starts wagging and his eyes light up

Yuck(What are some things they wouldn't like, either in general or in a partner?)

— Nothing! He loves you!

— As long as you’re not truly negative, as in you mean what you say if you insult him or something

Zzz(What is a sleep habit of there's?)

— Probably snores, very loud, every time.

— But you always wake up with him on you or right next to you so I guess that defeats his snoring

#gender neutral #gender neutral reader #poppy playtime #dogday #gn reader #poppy platime fanfic #poppy playtime x reader #dogday x reader #poppy playtime 3 #smiling critters #x reader

[silvershiningtarot]

💣💋❗💡Pac 18+ How Will Your FS Pursue You and What Is Your Karmic Contract with Them? ❓👋🏽

Take the time to inhale and exhale. I hope this reading gives you clarity about your FS. Remember this is a general reading. Only 3 piles I'm only doing. This is for 18 and up. I've made some new decks I want to share with you guys. I hope you enjoy this reading. There is more to come very soon.

Pile 1: The way how your FS will pursue is intense. For a few of you, it seems like your husband gets bullied by their friends. They make fun of them. They'll treat you like their close friends or family member. I can see them inviting you to places with them. Showering you with their compliments and giving you gifts. Oh, no wonder their friends bully them. Ugh, which sucks. But I can see that they want to hang out with you only. JUST YOU!. Holy, snap They'll be straight up asking you out. They don't play no games with you. Once they got their eyes on you. They got it. That's why they wanna hang out with you only. Your FS will be a bit clingy, jealous, and possessive. Maybe, some of you like that about your husband or not. But I sure do. The way they pursue is straight up they'll show it to you. So they'll take good care of you. Whenever you are sick or having a bad day or whatever it is. They'll be right there standing. They are your number one support. Shit, you might put them as your emergency call. I feel like you are going to like how they make you laugh. They are going to be making jokes. Anything to make you smile. So whatever they can do to impress you. then they'll do it. I told you that possessive and jealous come in. They would be the type to interrupt your date. Pretend like they didn't know you weren't there at the restaurant. I can see where the jealousy kicking in for them. They might be a Scorpio or they are just jealous. Haha, They might use business to interrupt your date. I can see them walking over to you while you are talking to your date. Just keep interrupting. Oh, I can feel their eyes watching you. I just had a vision that you guys are on your date. Their eyes are looking at you. I can feel their eyes watching you. They probably got intense eyes. I don't think a lot of people like to at your FS in the eye. Maybe, they got Scorpio placements in their chart if not. Their eyes are super intense. Hahaha. Your FS is a blunt man/woman. They'll flirt and touch you in front of company. They don't care if they are in front of you or their mother. You two have beautiful chemistry together. I can see them really being next to you all the time. Aw, They are going to love giving you nicknames. You are going to like that. "Who is my little kitty cat" I can see you blushing every time they say that. They'll yell that shit across the room where you are at. Cuddling next to you aw. They really do enjoy your company. They love being around your presence. Your aura lights them up.

Your Karmic Contract with Them is going to be intense. Let's delve in deeper. I'm gagging right now. I can see that you'll be the one that will help them with their career. Maybe. their company is going downhill and you help them. See! I feel like a major of you are meant to be wealthy with them. Some of you are meant to be wealthy on your own. I do see some of you have partners but major of you, is with your FS. So I think that some of you are business partners ONLY! You and your FS are each other's, soul families. They are coming in. I have a sense that once you meet your FS then the rest of your other, Soul families come in too. Yay, you two will be breaking family traditions. It won't be the same as how you two grew up with y'all families. This contract means friendship with them. I sense that with some of you, it's friendship. Or you are going to have a lot of friends through this karmic contract with them. Both of you got a big task to complete together. I don't know what that is. But only you two will know. A lot of you, I sense that you had found your one or you are going to find your one through them. But major of you, you had definitely found your one. Whether you know them or you know of them. You had found them. You should be proud of y'all yourself. I felt this that some of you might be in a relationship with them but it won't last long. it's a short-term relationship. I told you that some of you will find your husband through them. In my opinion, don't be disappointed because it's short-term. Again, there is always a happy ending throughout this journey with them. Pay attention to your dreams. These are messages from the universe and signs from your husband/wife don't ignore them. Ahhh. In this karmic contract, you both are meant to be famous. For a lot of you, this is your high-vibe soulmate romantically. They are craving your energy. Every time they are around someone they are constantly feeling your energy. Again, some of you might meet your twin flame and think it's romantic but it isn't they are just your mentor. but through your twin flames, you'll meet your soulmate. Aww, yes it is a marriage you'll have with them. In the beginning, it's love at first sight. Again for some of you, you might feel that way about your Twin flame now but they were supposed to guide you to your true husband. Most of you met your husband and you will be married to them. Did you see how bold they were when they pursue you? Haha, again this is your High-vibe Mate! again if most of you don't know what that means. High-vibe soulmate. don't get it twisted you got a karmic lesson with this high-vibe soulmate as well. I can't say it's forever because that's practically up to you and them to make it work. It is a private connection between you and them. I don't think anyone else isn't to suppose to know about y'all. Both of you will be playing pranks on each other. See! "There's A Clear Path In Your Way. Welcome it in." Welcome this clear path. Wooo your connection is here! you two have a 4D connection with them. It is manifesting. That shit is close to me. You guys need to believe it. A lot of you repeated the same karma in y'all past life. Both of you are meant to end in this life. If you don't you'll repeat again in the next life. Regardless of who is it. A tin flame or a soulmate. You gotta put in that work with them. In this contract, I am sorry for most of you. But there is a lot of interference from inside than outside people. some of you it can be outside people but most of you it's the ones you at least expected to be. The insides one who knows y'all business. Again, a lot of you need to pay attention to your dreams ~vivid dreams~. You guys have to pay close attention, I don't care what the dream is about you've better right them write it down in your journal or if you guys have a dream journal. Either way, write it down.

Pile 2: The way I see how your Fs pursue is very cute. They would want to be next to you ONLY!. I can feel that this pile will be a bit similar to Pile 1. Aw, They are going to like holding your hand. OMG! They would always wanna talk to you about their problems, situations, and things about their future with you. They always wanna talk to you. Remember that okay, ALWAYS! Haha, I fucking said it. They trust you with their issues. The second theirs an issue they are going to call you or text you about it. Before they tell their friends or family about it. I don't care how this shit sounds but you are their first priority. In my opinion, so the fuck what. you deserve it so fucking take that shit. They privately like you a lot. They will let their friends know about it. They will tell their friends to back off from you. Friendly touching you. you'll get a little touch here and there. you'll see them touching you. Even if they are laughing they'll just be touching you. Showering you with compliments. I can see them looking at you with their dreamy eyes. They have dreamy eyes. You'll be fallen for them. Because of their eyes. I told you it's a bit similar to Pile 1. They'll be popping up on your dates. I feel like this time it like random. Maybe, it's a favorite place they like to go eat or shop or whatever the case may be. but seriously, you two just magically end up being there. They'll be making up excuses to let you stay at their house. I can see them being very close to you and you being close to them. Inviting you places with them. I don't sense much of jealous for this Pile. But I do sense of clinginess from their friends that they told to back off. they'll straight up ask you out. No more waiting. I heard them say "No more waiting" Aww, they would want to cuddle next to you and be near you all the time. I heard this is instant trust. You both have a beautiful chemistry. This pile makes me wanna cry right now. They way how they pursue you such gentleman like.

It seems that in this contract with them. I can tell that they'll be the ones to invest in your career. I hear that's part of the prophecy. I think that this might be your last life with them. After this, you might ascend somewhere else. Or you might have more Karmic debt with someone else after them. Basically, you meant to help them with their career too. Both of you are meant to help each other. I told you it's a bit similar to Pile 1. You must pay close attention to y'all dreams. Especially, the vivid ones. Pay Attention. Most of you are meant to have a long-term relationship with them. I think that some of you, are probably an old soul. Not like old soul music or anything. It means that your soul has been down plenty of times. probably from behind time or British times. That is what I'm getting. I sense that you probably were married to your FS in a past life but you guys got divorced and stayed their friend. Or it might just happen in this life with them. I feel like you two will rebirth into your soul family. You meant to transform with them. You two have a big task to complete. This must be a very important task. Maybe, your dreams are trying to tell you something about this task. You got to pay attention. Most Of you will stay together with your FS in this lifetime. Maybe, in those other lives before you guys didn't stay together. I don't know for what reason but it is also part of your mission. You two will be highly intelligent and intuitive or some of you already are. Yes! I think that some of you maybe have found the one! your forever person. Again, I'll explain it in this pile. It is up to you and your FS to stay together. not me or anyone else but you and them. You both have an individual path and you need to focus on your path. That is part of your path. I believe that this will be your romantic Partner only. Nothing else. I do see you and they have an important mission but you two have y'all own individuals. I feel like you and they are protecting each other from dreams like harmless dreams. You and your FS union are close or getting close. Both of you like to have heart-to-heart conversations. I think that your FS doesn't mind protecting you. They'll check their fans. Whether or not they are famous as a celebrity or not. Ahh, you two went through a similar situation together or you both will go through it together. Oh! snap, 4D connection this is confirmation, you guys. Very much so. I think some of you should read Pile 1. This union is close and I don't know if you guys are manifesting it or calling it in but whatever you guys are doing. Keep doing it. Both of you will be emotionally supportive of each other. You two will tell each other everything. This is your High-Vibe Soulmate romantically. I think that you two just meant to love each other and that is all. Again, I am not saying you two won't grow from each other but be there for one another no matter what. They came down to be your husband again. They are meant to be your husband AGAIN!!!. See you two are meant to be on an individual path. Again, you two are meant to love each other. Aww honeymoon vibes. This was your first husband in a past life but now they came down to be your husband again. So you might be married in this life. You two are Intertwined with each other. You're next romantic lover is coming in very soon. Your next lover is your husband. But remember even now focus on your path.

Pile 3: The way how your husband pursues you. I think that they'll be messing up at your job. They'll be low-key stalking you. I am getting Obsessive vibes. Yeah, they would want to be next to you only. They would grit their teeth if anyone or their friends touches you. They would wanna be taking care of you and making sure that you are. They will be helping you with your career. Y'all have beautiful chemistry. OMG, they love your aura and you just bring them good vibes around them. They trust you with their issues. They'll lean in and kiss you first. They'll be buying you expensive clothes and jewelry. I think that their friends bully them. They will treat you like a close friend and family. I see why they would want to be close to you. I think that they don't like to be around their friends like that. I sense that this might be a close friend of theirs. I don't know but I sense it. I noticed that they'll be popping up on your dates. I sense it on this Pile they are doing it on purpose. Just to get you alone. Oh woah, they will pursue by giving you nicknames. you'll think it is cute. They will be touching you in front of company. I said it they just wanna hang out with you Only! They are praying that your date doesn't go well so they can rescue you.

Your karmic contract with them is Marriage. But I believe it will be short term for some of you. Again, I think some of you should read Pile 1. you have a solo mission that you are meant to do on your own. Messages from your ancestor is trying to help you. Either you or them is paying attention. You will be having a lot of vivid dream on this ourney with them and before them. You have a Karmic debt finished up with your family. I think you or them is meant to lead. but in my opinion, you meant to lead your own path. Your own journey. Nobody else can't tell you anything about your journey or your path beside you. This is a Karmic marriage. Through this marriage you have some Karmic debt to deal with them in this marriage. Both of you are spiritually connected. Most of you are meant to be stay with them in this life. Ahh... I see now. Past life enemy to lovers. So maybe, you and your FS were enemies and I think that you two fell in love with each other in a past life that were forbidden. I think that you two kept your love a secret. I am sending something very private. You two were sneaking around in a past life. You guys are repeated the same karma , ended in this life. YThey cam down to be your husband again. This contract is very important and this journey. I keep hearing you need to focus on your on your path. Again, High-vibe soulmate romantically. it seems like a lot of you, are meeting your soulmate regardless of the label. Again, Emotioncally support each other. Very balanced you to will be. It seems like all of these Piles got the 4D connection. I am deadass, you two need to focus. Everything is in align. So this is divine timing. You two have to be patient. OMG, you two might get a farmhouse or a beach house together. This is incredible. Again, this sound all beautiful. See! Individual path mission. This is fucking important. Dreaming About you! Woah, they are dreaming about you. Marriage AGAIN!!!!! this is love at first sight. Yes! you are going to grow. OH, I see that their friends is going to like you and look how will they pursue. That's why they will tell them to back the fuck off. High Vibirational souls. Everything was meant to happen like it was suppose to. You two will have a Private Connection. Again, you guys are going to be private again. Regal connection. very classy you two will have and I think that's y'all dynamic. See! This connection is very important than you think. Not only pay attention to your dream but pay attention to you journey. You have a lot of healing to do.

#pac reading #tarot reading #fs pick a pile #free tarot reading #tarot cards #divination readings #pac reblog #pick a pile #intuitive readings #love reading #paidpromotion #paid readings #free readings #free tarot #tarot #tarotoftheday #tarot witch #tarotcommunity #divination #connection #karmic debt #karmic relationships #soulmates #twin flames #karmic astrology

[hermitadaymay]

-Removed double name tagging. This year, all submissions for each day's Hermit will only be tagged with the shorter version of their name (where applicable). For example, fanworks for Stress will be tagged "#stress," not "#stressmonster101, #stress." Notably, fanworks featuring Joel SmallishBeans will be tagged #joel.

=Updated desktop blog theme. (please look at it I did actual coding for this)

=Changed Bonus Days to Sundays.

=Time of rollover between dates will now be 12:00am US Central time (6:00am GMT).

+Added credits page.

+Added people to credit! HADM24 comes to you with the help of boatloads of my friends both online and irl and even some names you might know (keep reading).

+THE BIG ONE: Added a secondary goal for the Hermit-a-Day May event: a complete fundraiser for Gamers Outreach.

The way this community comes together to celebrate the Hermits and each other is incredible. There are something like 1,800 fanworks on this blog from last May and early June! And that's not counting what was posted on other social media platforms as the prompt calendar spread.

I wanted to do something with that momentum - something with a little more substance behind it than last year's spontaneous "hey we should all donate $14!" So I've partnered with two amazing fandom artists you may remember from their daily posts last year - @belmarzi and @rendiggitydog - so that as a community, we could make even more awesomeness come from this event.

I have created a Tiltify campaign so that donations can be made directly to GO - I will never touch the money - and tracked for our incentives:

GRAND TOTAL INCENTIVE: For every $150 we raise for Gamers Outreach (to a minimum of $300, and a maximum that is yet to be determined, but we currently have support for up to $2,100), belmarzi will make 10 seconds' worth of animatic, featuring as many Hermits as she can fit into the time frame. You can expect to see the animatic published in early July.

INDIVIDUAL DONATION INCENTIVE: For every $65 you personally donate to the fundraiser, Rae rendiggitydog will draw you a shaded flats commission of a Hermit of your choice. These will be finished in the order in which the donations are received, and may be sent to you in May or early June.

I've put a lot of work into making this happen, and I cannot tell you how excited I am for May to arrive! The campaign will be opened in mid to late April together with the posting of this year's prompt calendar.

We've got some great stuff cooking up for y'all this year, between the whole month of fanart and the fundraising incentives! Thank you all for being a part of it! The askbox is open for questions, if you have them.

Next time: the official release of the prompt calendar!

-Mod Luna

#hermitcraft #hermitaday #hermitaday ref

[twsted-kinks]

Biology Nerd (Malleus X Yuu/Reader)

>minors and ageless dni<

MC/Reader goes by Yuu and gender neutral and fat (I don't really mention that but this is self indulgent and I'm fat so reader is fat)

Something kinda fluffy for once with a bit of spice and a dash of angst

Content Warning: cultural and biological differences, Yuu not knowing about cultural differences and doing romantic and sexual things with others, Malleus letting Yuu touch him inappropriately but Yuu doesn't understand that touching him like that is very intimate and/or sexual for fae/dragons, Malleus being absolutely smitten, some slight Malleus angst about him being lonely, Grim being scared, dragon cuddles

(I'm probably gonna write more spec biology stuff with twst but idk)

Yuu will be the first to say that suddenly being ripped from your home and put into a completely different world where everything you know no longer exists or applies to reality fucking sucks. But, Yuu will also admit that they love having a whole new world to learn about. Learning the basics of a whole knew evolutionary and sociological history with multiple sapient species that are both human and non human while having access to a full college library? Sign them the FUCK up! Crowley was thankful for Yuu's enthusiasm. Simply allowing full access to the library appeased them. Grim did not have fun at first, but having a human look at him in awe helped. Yuu was so curious about his ability to speak and his connection to fire magic. They would not stop asking him so many questions!

Yuu went around learning with wide eyes like a toddler. They at least knew not to just randomly touch people and that it's inappropriate to ask in the first place, but still, they would not stop staring. Leona, Ruggie, and Jack can constantly feel Yuu's eyes on their ears and tails. Leona gets annoyed and snaps at Yuu usually while Ruggie will let Yuu touch then in exchange for either money or food. Jack doesn't comment on it while Yuu does nothing to try to touch him, and Jack is happy to keep it that way.

Floyd and Jade find Yuu's reactions to them to be greatly entertaining. During their first interaction, all of Yuu's friends immediately ran, but Yuu stayed, just staring up at the twins.

"I like y'all's teeth." And with a few simple words, the tweels were glued to Yuu. Yuu is always excited to see their mer form, but will gladly settle on hanging out with the tweels when they got legs. Yuu also enjoys being on teeth cleaning duty. They get to look at cool sharp teeth and a second jaw. They also get free food from the twins, and all they got to do is clean some teeth? Hell yeah! Azul could inform Yuu about what Floyd and Jade opening their mouths means for eel mer culture, but this little arrangement keeps the two out of trouble. Plus, Azul is afraid Yuu will go on a question asking tangent and will ask about Azul's mer form, and he does not want to deal with that.

The species and cultures Yuu knows the least about is the fae. Yuu honestly didn't even notice that fae were a thing until Ace pointed out the ppinty ears, and Yuu just went :o "Holy shit" :D "That's so cool!" Then there was Yuu's first time meeting Malleus. Should Yuu be more concerned about a stranger just wandering around outside their dorm? Yes, but he has HORNS! The first words spoken between the dragon fae and little magicless human were:

"Wow, your horns are pretty."

Malleus was taken aback by this human, just talking to him casually, complimenting his horns, and smiling at him with so much wonder. Even though Malleus never gave his name, his friendship with the human grew fast. Yuu came up with a multitude of names for Malleus, having a new one each time they met. Horton, Sir Hornington, Goth Babe, Briar Boy, Fae Bae, and more, but a few reoccurring ones Malleus adores. Malmal is the most recent iteration of his name that has stuck around the longest. But,, whenever Malleus visits Yuu upset, Yuu always calls him sweetie and tries to comfort him. It's gotten to a point that the Yuu always keeps a tub of ice cream in their freezer specifically for when Malleus is upset.

Malleus always knew Yuu had an interest in the different cultures and species of the Twisted Wonderland, but he didn't understand just how fascinated you were until the time for Halloween came and Yuu saw Malleus's tail for the first time. Malleus remembers it clearly. Yuu stopped a couple feet away from him, gasped, and then screamed "CHONKY TAIL!!!" The human immediately went behind Malleus, started admiring his tail, and asked so many questions. One of them being if they can touch it, and he let you, much to the dismay of Sebek who was trying to get Yuu to be more respectful. Lilia was the only one to pick up on the blush on Malleus's ears. Yuu did mistake Malleus's tail as a part of the costume, not realising it was actually a part of him at first, and apologized, but Malleus assured you it was alright and that the can keep touching his tail. He didn't mind at all.

Now, Malleus almost abuses the admiration Yuu has for his tail. Lilia, Sebek, and Silver absolutely notice his tendency to approach them and, if they were focusing on something that isn't him, Malleus will fwip out his tail and Yuu would become entranced. Yuu just adores Malleus's tail and, whenever given the chance, will touch it, pet it, even just hold it. Malleus finds it endearing and adorable.

And well, Yuu already has permission to touch his tail, why not ask Malleus if they can learn more about his anatomy? Yuu asks to touch Malleus's horns one day. Yuu’s already stepped over the line with touching his tail, so why not let Yuu touch his horns? Malleus has now turned into Yuu's personal lapcat much to Grim’s dismay. Malleus has gifted the human with a kit for horn cleaning and visits Ramshackle regularly so he can rest his head in Yuu’s lap and have them clean his horns. Yuu is pretty sure Malleus dirties his horns on purpose just so they wil clean them, but they don't mind.

One day though, during the weekend, Yuu invites Malleus over for a full-blown sleepover. Malleus is ecstatic and quickly informs his entourage. Sebek is fully against it while Lilia and Silver think this wil be good for Malleus, though Silver wants the three of them to tag along as well. It takes some convincing, but Lilia convinces the other to let Malleus have his alone time with the child of man. Malleus packs his essentials and teleports to Ramshackle to find the prefect and Grim gathering pillows and blankets, getting materials ready to build a pillow fort.

Malleus has an absolute blast. Such simple games and activities he’s never experienced before, Malleus enjoys it all. Everything is going smoothly, Malleus is relaxing, face cuddled into Yuu’s chest. A moving picture plays on the human’s little screen device while Grim snores as he sleeps on a pillow twice his size. Yuu is petting Malleus's hair, running their fingers through it when they pause at his bangs. They shift the hair covering his forehead and gasps.

“You got scales there?” Yuu says in astonishment as they study the black scales on Malleus's forehead.

“Hm? Have you not seen them before now?” Malleus asks.

“I guess I haven't.” Yuu runs their fingers across the scales. “They're pretty. I'm surprised you don't have more scattered around.”

“Oh, I do, but I find others are less intimidated when they're hidden. My clothing preferences hide a majority, but I also utilize magic to hide some of the more obvious ones.”

“But they're so pretty!” Yuu whines but then backpedals. “I mean- If you feel more comfortable hiding them then go ahead, but I bet they're very pretty.”

“Glamor is common among the fae. Changing my skin takes little effort and is of little consequence.”

“You mean your makeup?”

“It is similar to that, yes.”

“Huh, well it's your face.” Yuu shrugs. “You can do want you want, but I bet you look cute with your scales out.”

And with that, the fae leans up and parts of his face shift, revealing small scales around his outer eyes, below and behind his ears, and along the back and sides of his neck. Yuu stares at Malleus, making the fae worry for a moment, until, suddenly, the human’s hands are on Malleus's cheeks.

“Holy shit!” Yuu squees as they look over Malleus's face. “How the fuck did you make yourself prettier!”

The dragon fae’s eyes are wide for a moment, the tips of his ears a light pink, and then he chuckles. “You are truly unique, child of man.”

“Me?” Yuu laughs. “You're the one with scales here! Just- look at how the light refracts off of them! They look black, but then the light bounces off and parts of them look purple!”

“Oh?” Malleus has never noticed that before.

“You even got little ones here too!” One of Yuu’s hands moves to Malleus's ear, fingers tracing the shell.

Malleus freezes then gulps. Yuu’s fingers run up the edge of his ear, pauses at the top, then runs back down to his lobe. Malleus buries his face back into Yuu’s chest. The tips of Malleus's ears burn red, he hopes Yuu doesn't notice.

“Ah, shit.” Yuu pulls their hand away. “Do you have sensitive ears? I should've asked.”

“It’s alright.” Malleus pulls away slightly and murmurs. “It felt nice. I do not mind you touching my ears.”

“You sure?”

“I would like for you to continue.” Malleus says with a thump coming after when his tail hits the floor.

“What? Want me to massage your ears and tail?” Yuu asks with a chuckle. “Need me to get your back too?”

“Yes, that should be adequate.”

Yuu laughs, brings both of their hands to Malleus's ears, and begins to rub them. Malleus lets out a deep sigh as he practically melts under the human’s touch. Yuu continues rubbing the dragon falls ears and and coos "If you want me to get your back, you're gonna need to move."

"No." Malleus hums into Yuu's chest. "Ears now. Focus on my ears."

"Alright, alright." Yuu chuckles. What Yuu doesn't know is just how intimate this is for fae. Touching a fae's ears is considered a very intimate activity done between mates because their ears are a major erogenous zone. At this point, Malleus isn't sure about his relationship with Yuu, but Yuu touching his ears feels right to him. The fae's eyes dilate as his breathing becomes heavier the more Yuu touches his ears. The end of Malleus's tails lightly thumps onto the floor again and again.

"I don't get it." Yuu moves one of their hands into Malleus's hair and runs their fingers down to feel the scales on his neck. "I don't get how people can be so scared of you when you're basically an oversized puppy but reptilian."

A deep vibration grumbles from Malleus's chest and he lifts himself up, facing Yuu. The whites of his eyes have turned a glowing green and more scales have appeared encasing most of his neck and shoulders. The thin tips of a forked tongue poke out from and slip back into his mouth.

Yuu cups both of Malleus's cheeks in their hands and smiles. "Just a big adorable boy."

The sound of ripping fabric startles Yuu for a moment as black wings begin to tear their way from the back of Malleus's night shirt and spread open. Yuu looks at them, eyes wide, as they reach out and touch the leathery skin.

"You are truly extraordinary, child of man."

"Says the man who just sprouted wings in front of me."

"But you do not look at me with fear. You do not look at me with an otherworldly reverence. When you look at me you..." Malleus rests his hand over the one against his cheek.

"Malmal." Yuu's face shifts to a look of worry. "You okay? You can talk to me if you want."

Malleus gazes at Yuu. There' so much he wants to say, but he hesitates.

"But-" Yuu adds. "If you don't feel like talking now, we can just keep cuddling, or do you want me to massage your tail? Or maybe your wings?"

Malleus smiles. "I would enjoy that."

~~Meanwhile~~

"Hornton is gonna kill my henchman!" Grim runs on all four into the Diasomnia dorm, screaming at the top of his lungs. He quickly gains the attention of some dorm members including Sebek and Lilia (who drags a sleeping Silver behind him).

"How dare you use such a name for the Young Master!" Sebek is screaming back. Silver finally wakes up from all of the screaming, so him and Lilia get Grim and Sebek to stop screaming and have Grim finally explain why he's there.

"I heard a ripping sound and woke up to see big wings and a pair of glowing eyes on top of my henchman. That prince of yours is going to eat them!"

"Oh?" Lilia coos with a smirk. "I don't think that will be happening, at least not the type you're thinking. Still, I have not had the talk yet with that boy, so maybe we should drop by before we're stuck with a political crisis."

With a quick teleportation spell, all four are just outside the Ramshackle Dorm. The door is slammed open to reveal a dragon (that is way too big to be in the common area) curled up, sleeping like a cat, with a little human laying across his snout and forehead, passed out with a smile on their face.

#twst writings #twst x reader #twst malleus #malleus x reader #malleus x yuu

[builtbykittie]

Electrified

S.F.K x f!reader

Summary: Escaping an uncomfortable situation at a party, you frantically look for your best friend, just to find he was also searching for you.

Warnings: 18+ per usual, alcohol consumption, SMUT, semi public sex, unprotected sex (y'all know better), this is literally just porn... nothing too crazy.

Words: nearly 4.5k

A/N: Ugh another Sam friends to lovers? Yes. This is a Taylor Swift inspired fic🥰. Every time I hear this song, I think of Sammy (despite the fact he hates pop music) So I finally wrote about it, enjoy! (Disclaimer I literally didn't edit this much at all & I'm so sorry)

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"Who are you trying to impress," Sam's eyes trace the shape of your body before looking back to the road. "Nobody," you fix the length of your dress in the passenger seat. "Why? You worried someone might try to take me home?" you smirk.

"Pfft, no," he rolls his eyes, thumbs drumming to the beat of the rock song piercing through your ears. "Then why do you care," you bicker with him as if you're siblings, trying to get each other as annoyed and worked up as possible.

The truth is, you couldn't care less if anyone else saw you. You only wanted Sam to see you, for some stupid reason. Sam is your best friend, and has been for years, so why would you even try to impress him? For the same reason everybody else tries to impress their person of choice, of course.

"Oh thank god. I'm saved!" Sam snickers as he pulls into his brother's crowded driveway. You giggle and roll your eyes "Sam you know I don't like parties, you're gonna have to deal with me eventually tonight."

"Yeah, well, I'm saved for now," he playfully grabs your knee and gives it a shake before pulling his seatbelt away from his body. "Oh shut up, you know you would gladly argue with me for hours," you unbuckle your own seatbelt, pushing the door open with your heel.

Sam helps you down from the passenger's seat, his large hand hovering over the small of your back, then gently grabbing your waist as you slip out of the seat until your heels touch the ground. "You got me," he grins. It's simple touches like these that keep you on your toes, a wave of electricity flowing through your body every. single. time.

You look around at the countless cars lined up in front of Josh's house, starting to grow anxious. "I'll be in there the whole time. If anything happens, just find me," Sam pats your back and gestures for you to follow him into his brother's house.

All you really want is to stay in and watch movies, but Sam wouldn't dare to miss his big brother's party, and you don't blame him.

Sam parts ways with you within just minutes of being in the house, instantly going to mingle with any person who catches his attention. You grow a little jealous, not just of the other people getting his attention but also of his social skills. You wish you could make conversation with people as effortlessly as he could, but instead, you hunt for any person you're relatively close with.

"Y/N!" You hear your name being called by a voice you could recognize from miles away. "Jake?" You locate him in just seconds, walking over and pulling him into a side hug. "You here with Sam?" Jake looks around for any sight of his younger brother.

"Yeah. He left me as soon as we got through the door," you smile, swinging your arm through the air as if to swat away a pesky fly. "Yeah.. Sam's an asshole," he laughs, but he can't seem to mask the look of concern playing on his features.

The unbearable sounds of Sam shouting with others only seem to make you more upset. You should be happy that your best friend can have fun and be himself, but it all just gets caught up in a fit of jealousy. "You don't need to worry about me. Do you know where Josh is?" You look around, having not seen Josh once at his own party.

"Hm, downstairs maybe. You know how Josh is, he's just trying to converse with everyone," you nod your head, giggling as you picture his adorable self going around to every single person here and making them feel welcome.

"Well, I'm gonna go look for him. I'll see you later," you wave, squeezing through and dodging everyone till you reach the stairs. There he is, his slim figure facing away from you as he talks to someone at the bottom of the stairs. You wait there only for a few seconds until Josh discovers you himself, swiftly making his way up the stairs "Y/N! When did you get here? Where's Sam?"

"There he is! We didn't show up too long ago. And Sam's gotta be around here somewhere." Josh pulls you into an embrace, stepping back and complimenting your dress. "Thanks, Sam didn't like it," you giggle "I gotta say, you always have the best parties. You truly are a man of many talents."

You and Josh are rudely interrupted by a woman's voice shouting your name, followed by a cold hand wrapping around your arm. Your brows furrow, giving Josh a puzzled look before turning around to meet eyes with a girl you knew, but not well enough.

She's obviously wasted, her eyes bloodshot, her skin a deep shade of crimson, not to mention the fact you can hardly understand her "I haven't seen you in forever!" You avoid any physical contact, lest she spills her drink on your brand new dress you'd spent all afternoon staring at yourself in. "Hey, Jen. Been a while, huh?" There's no doubt in your mind that this conversation would be 100% less painful if you had something in your system, but you were completely sober.

"Let me get you a drink," she pats your shoulder and gestures toward the counter that is littered with countless alcohol bottles, empty and full. It's as if she read your mind. You let out a sigh of relief, turning back to Josh but he's not there, and now you're surrounded by people you'd rather not be around.

Normally you wouldn't take a drink made by someone else, but these are Josh's friends, and Jen was 100% a girls girl. "Thank you," you take the drink from her hand, awkwardly sipping off the red solo cup filled with what tastes like a mix of vodka and cherry juice.

"We're playing games in the living room, you should come join," Jen grabs you, pulling you in the direction of the living room before you can even say anything.

"Oh no, I'm so bad at games, I'll just embarrass myself," you whine, but letting her drag you into the room of people nonetheless. "Not skill games, silly!" She points at everyone sitting in a circle, familiar faces looking up and insisting you to sit. It all feels so childish, like a bunch of high schoolers that got ahold of their parent's alcohol, playing games to get a rise out of each other.

You find Jake in the circle as well, a defeated smile on his face as he shrugs in your direction. "Fine," everyone cheers, scooting over to make room for you and the dark-haired girl next to you. Jake is sitting straight across from you, his sweet brown eyes calming you down and silently telling you to relax, to have fun.

You're not sure when, but at some point, the questions being asked have taken a sharp turn from being embarrassing yet harmless, to being strictly about the sex lives of everyone in the circle.

All color drains from your face as the bottle slows down, pointing straight at you. You already know the question is gonna be about you and Sam, it always is.

"Have you hooked up with Sammy yet? What's he like in bed?"

"I haven't... which is a surprise considering he'll take any girl home," you fail to hide the venom and jealousy that has laced your voice, everyone giggling and "ooh" ing like little children. "Just spin the damn bottle. I don't wanna hear about Sam's sex life anymore," Jake saves you from any more invasive questions, sending a wink in your direction.

You sit miserably through a couple more rounds and a few more drinks, the constant discussion of sex reminding you that you haven't gotten off in a while. You've been so busy for the past few days, you'd completely forgotten how long you've gone without a good orgasm.

Wetness in your panties becomes evident to you as you adjust your position. For every minute you sit there, the anticipation grows, your heart pounding and your hands trembling as you absent-mindedly search for Sam every other second. Your mind sifts through every possible affair, unsure of how to fix your problem. Do you relieve yourself in Josh's bathroom? Look for someone to go home with?

Finally, you stand up, your legs beginning to carry you away from the circle before your brain can even make a decision. "Excuse me," you ignore everyone's stares and questions, moving through the house as if you're on autopilot mode.

You still don't know where you're going, but when you find yourself subconsciously searching for Sam's face, it becomes apparent what you truly want. Now you're frantic, plowing through people and shamelessly calling his name. You're in a daze as you search every corner of Josh's house, not paying any care to how beside yourself you may look or how desperate you may sound to lingering guests.

Turning the corner to yet another crowded room, you run into someone's chest, exhilaration coursing through your veins and what's left of your inhibitions melting away as you realize it's Sam.

"Sam! I was looking everywhere for you!" you basically throw yourself onto him, smoothing your palms over his chest. "I was looking for you," his tone is sexy, hypnotizing sultry brown eyes stare into yours. You don't know if it's just the drinks, but there's a specific energy radiating off of Sam's warm body. If you stand there for long enough, breathing him in, you're sure that it will get you high.

An overwhelming feeling takes complete control over you, lifting yourself slightly to whisper in his ear "I need you, Sam." You shock yourself, unsure where your sudden bluntness came from.

You watch Sam's eyes widen and feel his chest rise and fall underneath your hands, his body growing unbelievably hot.

Sam's breath significantly picks up as you cup his face, rubbing your thumb across the warm surface. You back him into a dark part of the room, starting to press kisses against his neck.

He looks around in a panic, but luckily no one is looking "Y/N, we're leaving. Now." His lanky fingers wrap around your wrist, and he begins to pull you through the house, nearly running.

You both are far too turned on to say goodbye to anyone or pay attention to comments people make as you pass by. But to your misfortune, Josh stops you.

"Hey! Are you two leaving already?" Josh quirks an eyebrow as he notices something on Sam's neck, a smirk playing on his lips after connecting the dots. "Uh, yeah," Sam searches for an excuse "You know how she is with parties." Sam lifts your arm as you awkwardly smile beside him.

"Okay, well, it was really nice to see you. Enjoy yourselves," Josh doesn't pull you in for a hug like he normally would, instead just sending you on your way. His smug tone and grin would normally send you into a panic, but right now you couldn't care less about anything other than Sam.

You hope to make a beeline straight out the door, but you're stopped by yet another Kiszka brother and Daniel by his side.

"There you are. Leaving?" Jake's eyes flick down to the same spot Josh noticed, now you're curious. Sam nods "She's not feeling great and I'm her ride." Jake snickers and taps Danny with his elbow, a crooked smile growing on his face "I'm sure you are."

"Oh fuck off. Are you gonna let us leave?" Sam doesn't even try to act calm, the more you stand the more the anticipation builds. "You can't stay just a little longer?" Danny smirks, Jake bringing his hands up to rest on his hips.

"No," now you're incredibly impatient and unable to stand still as your arousal soaks your panties "I really don't feel good." "Awh... Well.. you heard the girl," Jake laughs through his words, sending a jab to Danny's side with his elbow. Danny slings his arm over Jake's shoulder as they begin to take steps backward "see ya!"

"Fuck. Finally," Sam breathes, and you look over to him, your lipstick painted all over his neck. "Sam," you whisper, but he's too distracted to hear it, or anything anyone is saying. Suddenly, the room erupts with hollers as Sam shoves you through the door.

"Sam, they all know," you whine, reaching a hand up to massage his scalp as he pulls you into his side. "Good," he pulls his keys from his pocket, unlocking the car and practically running to it. Sam walks around to the driver's side, and that's when you realize you can't wait any longer.

"Sam," you drop your head, fully aware of how desperate you've become. "What baby?" He opens the door, a smug grin pulling on his cheeks. "Sam I- I can't... I need you."

"I thought you'd say that," he snickers, slamming the door shut and pulling the door to the back seat open. You waste no time sending the door flying open and crawling in, locking the door behind you.

Your lips instantly find his, your teeth clashing into each other's as you smash your lips together. "What were you thinking?" Sam sucks in a breath as he backs you toward the door and hovers over you. Before you can respond he starts again "I mean seriously. Wearing this tiny fucking dress. Kissing me in front of those people. Getting me all worked up."

A whiney moan escapes your mouth as he lifts the hem of your dress, his cold fingertips grazing the skin of your upper thigh. "I knew you'd like it," you confess in a moan, lifting your hands and tangling them in his hair, pulling him into you.

Suddenly, he violently pulls the silk black fabric above your head. Your words obviously sparked a fire in him, a vicious one nobody could put out. Sam's fingers rake over your thighs then up to your unclothed breasts, groaning at the sight "You knew full well what you were doing dressed like this."

Sam takes your nipple in his mouth before releasing it with a pop and sucking a bruise to the swell of your breast. "So what if I did, Sammy?" You moan, arching your back into him. You reach down and cup his bulge, palming him as a devilish grin grows on your face.

"Then I'll just have to fuck you until you can't see straight." With that, he begins to trail kisses down your breasts to your navel, his finger drawing lines across your skin so close to where you desperately need his touch.

"Sam, please," you whine, back arching up into his touch as he kisses along the band of your panties. Your pleads are met with a sick laughter against your tummy "you're so needy, you know that?"

You couldn't roll your eyes back further in your head, trying your very hardest to not reach down and pull your panties off yourself. "You can't act like you don't need it just as bad, Sam. I know how bad you want to fuck me," you moan, knowing it'd set off something in him.

You were right, because without warning he swiftly pulls the tiny piece of lace fabric down your legs, leaving you completely naked. "Jesus, you're eager, huh?" Sam hums and brings his lips to your tummy, sucking the skin into his mouth before lapping at the raw skin with his tongue.

"You just can't admit it huh Sammy? You can't admit that I'm right?" You try to get him as worked up as you possibly can, your body rolling into his touch. "Wow. You're right, Y/N. I'm just dying to feel you," he rolls his eyes dramatically, but he's far from lying.

Slowly and painfully, Sam makes a line of kisses down from your navel to the very top of your heat. "Please.." is all you can muster up and your eyes clamp shut in anticipation, just waiting for him to do something, anything.

"Now you're being nice? What happened to the bratty girl who was here just a second ago?" Your breath hitches in your throat as you feel his hot breath against your core. "Sam, stop. Plea-" you're unable to finish your sentence when he suddenly points his tongue, dragging it through your arousal drenched folds.

You suck in a choked gasp, involuntarily pushing yourself against Sam's face, earning a hum against your heat. The vibration sends a shock through your body, your hands mindlessly flying to his hair "oh Sam..."

His tongue quickly warmed up to you, it was as if he already knew your body. Without warning, Sam shoves a finger in you, hitting a sweet spot as he does so. "Sam.. I can- I'm almost-" you're interrupted by your own moan as he pushes another finger in, instantly curling up.

Sam lifts his head to look you in the eye, stopping his movement causing you to whine at the loss of contact "can you do one more?" You're a bit taken back by the question "I- I don't know... Nobody's ever..."

"I know you can," he presses a peck to your clit and slowly slides in a third, stretching you out in a way you've never experienced before. "Oh- oh my god.. Sam,"

"Good girl... You're so tight around my fingers, baby. Are you close?" All you can muster up is a weak nod and a hum, pushing yourself down onto his fingers further. You find yourself holding your breath, a moan ripping through your chest as he presses the flat of his tongue against your clit.

You take the opportunity to grind against his tongue, your hips beginning to shake and your thighs burn when you feel your orgasm approach. Your movements significantly quicken, relentlessly grinding and pushing yourself against Sam's tongue as he viciously rams his fingers into you.

Within a matter of seconds, the burning pleasure flows through your entire body, your eyes shut so tightly you might need to pry them open as you mutter his name over and over.

"Fuck, Y/N," Sam breathlessly snickers, slowly pulling his fingers from you and rubbing the slick all around your core. He returns to hover over you, bringing his face down to your ear "you know... A couple girls tried to take me home.. but I was looking for you, Y/N."

Your eyes widen in confusion and you nod your head, silently telling him to continue. "I couldn't stop thinking about you.. that dress.. your body. I needed you. Only you," he takes the shell of your ear in between his teeth, gently biting down.

The confession sends a shiver down your spine and your mouth falls open once he finds a sensitive spot behind your ear. You reach up and push his head against your neck, you can basically hear your heartbeat in your ears as he continues to nip at and place open mouth kisses to your neck.

"I thought you didn't like the dress," you smirk, your other arm reaches down, desperately trying to find what you need so bad. "So greedy... you're not satisfied with just these?" Sam teases, dragging his fingers through your heat.

"Sam, stop," you moan, your body jolting at the touch. Another wicked snicker leaves his lips as he presses his clothed bulge to your core "that attitude isn't gonna get you anywhere, doll. Ask nicely."

As much as you hate it, you're ready to accept defeat. "Please, Sam. I need you. Please... give it to me," you whine, grinding up against his bulge. An animalistic groan bubbles up from from his chest as he props himself up with one hand, the other fumbling with his button.

"Need help with that?" You giggle, watching as he fails to swiftly undo his jeans. You don't let him respond, his head dips down to rest in the crook of your neck as you reach to finish the task yourself.

Within just seconds you get his button undone and his zipper down, pushing them to his knees and instantly cupping his erection. Suddenly, you start to process just exactly what is happening.

He lifts his head and you look into his gorgeous brown eyes, yours widening as you take in every feature of his face lit by the moonlight. "What is it baby? You nervous?" He smiles at you, his hands running down your body, squeezing painfully at your thighs.

"Well I'd be lying if I said I wasn't, Sammy," you confess, and his face softens, the devious smile that played on his lips visually turning into a fond grin.

"Oh, Y/N. There's no need to be nervous, I promise," he brings his head back down to softly kiss your lips, but you had something else in mind. You take the opportunity to palm him through his boxers, eliciting a desperate groan from him. You can tell he's been holding back, and it's painful.

You bite his lip as he pulls back, every ounce of doubt or anxiety draining from your body. "Tell me, pretty," he pushes his boxers past his hips, his unbelievably hard cock springing free. "You knew I'd like that dress?"

If you're being honest, you completely forgot you had even said that, but it's obvious he'd been working himself into a frenzy over it. "Sammy.. I wore it for you," you drag your fingers over his body, his breath hitching in his throat as you draw a line down his length with your fingertip.

"I wore it because I thought.. I don't know.. it'd turn you on..." You trail off, looking away from him and suddenly hyper-aware of your naked body. "Well it worked, didn't it?" He giggles, grabbing your face and forcing you to look at him "does this mean you've wanted to fuck me before tonight?"

"Well... I mean yeah," you reach down, grasping the base of his cock "are we just gonna lay here and have a conversation or do you want to fuck me, Sam?" A shocked look plays on his face which quickly morphs into a sinister smile "you're feisty."

You grasp the back of his neck, bringing him close to you and sucking on the skin behind his ear as you slowly stroke his cock. "God- damnit Y/N," Sam groans as he involuntarily fucks himself into your hand.

Just as he juts his hips to fuck himself into your hand, you move it, and push him down to be lined up with your dripping entrance. "Fuck me until I can't see straight, Sam," you whisper lowly into his ear, granting him permission to enter you.

"Oh fuck," he groans, your own noises mirroring his as he stretches you out so slow that the sting could become almost too much for you. You arm instinctively flies over his back, pushing him down closer to you "oh my god."

Within just a matter of seconds he begins to roll his hips, snapping them into the meat of your thigh and hitting a sweet spot just right. The moan that tumbles past your lips could disturb the entire first floor of the party still very alive and just feet away from you and Sam.

"Yeah you like that?" He punctuates his words with another sharp thrust, followed by a slow, languid thrust. "Mhm.." your eyebrows knit together, unable to form words as he keeps up this intoxicating pattern.

Your mind grows foggy, your only thoughts consisting strictly of Sam. "M- more," you whine and reach down to unbutton his shirt, desperate to feel his skin on yours.

"More? Are you sure you want that?" Sam struggles to form his own sentence as you clench and quiver around him. You nod your head frantically, pulling his chest down onto yours and arching your back up into him.

The slight change in position allowed Sam to go even deeper, the new leverage giving you everything you needed. "Oh Sam.. right there.. oh," you cry, clawing his back.

He feels too good

He hits an especially sensitive spot with a particularly rough thrust, a shocking wave of electricity flowing through your body. "Holy- holy shit..." you all but shriek, and you violently throw your head back, crashing into the door behind you.

"Woah- you okay?" Sam's movements never falter, keeping that same pattern. "Yes, Sam. Just keep- keep fucking me," you finally get the full sentence out after what feels like forever, and you know you're not going to last much longer.

You try to warn him, but your pathetic attempts to form words fail miserably. "Shit Y/N... you're so-" he interrupts himself with a guttural groan as his own orgasm to approaches.

Just as you requested and he promised, what was left of your vision completely fades away and you no longer fight to keep your eyes open.

Suddenly, fiery white pleasure viciously burns through your body and you're sure you've never felt anything like this before as you cry out his name over and over and over. "Shit. Shit shit shit," Sam's pleasure takes over his mind and you feel his hot release spurt inside you.

You're unsure just how much time has passed, but it's enough to bring you back down to earth. "Sam? You still with me?" You giggle, rubbing his back as you half expect him to be asleep.

"I'm here," he breathes, a wave of melancholy taking over your mind as you realize it's over. "I'm gonna pull out love, you ready?" All you can do is nod, clamping your eyes shut and preparing yourself. You bite back a whimper as he pulls from you, a mix of your juices dripping down your leg.

The last thing you'd expect is Sam going down and licking the mess up. A sharp, yet intoxicating feeling shocking your body as he licks through your folds and over you overstimulated clit.

"Think you could go another round?" You whisper, untangling his sweaty hair. His head shoots up to meet your eyes, a sinister grin playing over his features "go get in the front... We're going home."

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#greta van fleet #gvf fanfiction #greta van fleet imagine #greta van fleet smut #greta van smut #gvf smut #sam kiszka fanfiction #sam kiszka smut #sam kiszka #sam gvf #greta van fleet fan fiction #gvf

[aethelwyneleigh27]

Ghostface! Ellie Williams and Ghostface! Abby Anderson with a chubby fem s/o

+ featuring some slight yandere and explicit themes (these are dating headcanons to specify)

A/n: Hi again lovelies! I didn't expect the last one to blow up so quickly so I'm back to writing, honestly every note, like and reblog encourages me to do more and do better so thank you for that. I honestly didn't expect to write something a bit gory after writing mostly fluff so this'll be interesting. Reminder English is not my first language and I'm trying my best, I hope you enjoy:)

I'll possibly add more in the future if I have ideas :3

Meet my cousin y'all: @rabblebite

Disclaimers/Warnings: Slight yandere like behavior???, violence, gore, knife kink, gun kink, stalking, suggestive themes and language. Characters may be a bit OOC (but you already know this, it's ghostface)(the chubby part is just a little add on so there's actually not that many headcanons regarding that)

If you wish to be tagged, please comment that you want to be or follow so that you'll be updated also: Rules for requests

If you don't want to send requests through Tumblr, my Instagram is always an option.

Ellie Williams dating inspired playlist made by me

Ellie Williams

The first time you met Ellie was a bit of a blur. Let me elaborate...

You were new at the school, first day and all that cliche shit. Bell rings, you run to class. You found yourself in a seat next to a girl, auburn hair and freckles. A few times throughout the class you made eye contact and smiled a few times.

What you didn't know was that Ellie was already freaking out, can you really blame her? A pretty girl sits next to her and smiles at her, not only that but you even offered her a mechanical pencil because hers was flimsy and the led kept breaking on her. She thought you completely forgot about the pencil but did you really?

This was the start of her obsession over you.

After that day she stalked you non-stop, she knew everything. She even kept a small journal, writing down what you did and how she felt about it after.

Her sketchbooks were filled with you, aside from a few other things it was mostly you. There's at least 2-3 doodles on each page of either you or your name on her sketchbook.

May or may not have carved your initials on her guitar before you even started dating.

That mechanical pencil you gave her, she kept it, barely even used it after that so she can keep something of yours.

When she managed to get enough courage to talk to you again, she tried giving you the pencil back in guilt but you refused. You told her to keep it and did that woman worship that pencil.

You got invited to her friend group, which are Dina and Jesse and out of all of them, she hang out with you the most.

After a while, Ellie felt confident enough to ask you out and a sigh of relief for her when you said yes.

She has polaroid of you lying around everywhere in her room, you even stuck some on the edge of your mirror and locker so she'd see it.

Your pet names including: princess, bunny, sweet thing and pretty girl.

The night you found out Ellie was Ghostface was the time you were walking at the street just minding your business when you were pulled in an alleyway but some creepy 50 something year old hobo.

You kicked him off of you and tried to run and the man tried to chase after you. Only to have his mouth covered by a white cloth and stabbed in the back. Hastily running, you got pulled back by the black cloaked stranger and before you could scream, she took off her mask.

"Ellie?" You whisper in fear, you saw her drop her knife and hug you.

You were still in shock, after all you just found out your girlfriend killed someone, rather a lot of people.

"[Name]? Are you alright? He didn't touch you anywhere did he?" She asked, seemingly forgetting she was still wearing her ghostface get up. Lucky for you that you kicked him off before anything else happened.

You two talked it out and you understand her motive behind all of the killings however that doesn't take away from the fact that you're terrified of what consequences await her if she was ever to get caught.

Ellie is aware of what might happen when she gets caught so she does everything she can to make sure you are not in any way, shape or form involved if she was caught.

Even if it means for her to forever rot in prison, she'd rather keep you away than endanger you for being a witness or even a suspect.

She heard about you being flirted with and inappropriately touched by some Chad. After a few days he was spotted, gutted open at the school tree hanging by his clothes.

She'd definitely think it's adorable to see you with the ghostface get up, it's specifically tailored to her size so seeing it on you with the trim dragging on the ground makes her thing of like the ghost costumes with just a white blanket and she just thinks you're such an angel, too pure even.

I just can't stop imagining her with a knife kink, though she doesn't actually cut you with it. She loves the way you whimper and squirm when she presses the cold blade on your plush skin.

She gets off on blood, that being said once she's with you and you already know about the killings, she can't just let it slide.

Someone else's blood on your skin makes her feel all sorts of things. (You may or may have engaged in sexual things after her gutting people up)

Clean up after that is a bit of work so there's that.

Seeing you in lingerie and blood would make her lose all self control.

If you were to accidentally kill someone, she would not only help you clean up but she'll also take responsibility for the kill. She made it look like ghostface did it.

If you were to decide to join in the killings, she'd let you but with moderation.

For example she'll let you make the decision on who to kill or strategize the killings. Before you could even suggest someone who wronged you, they're already 6ft under believe me. Ellie easily picks up on how you feel about someone and it's not like you don't tell her.

She'd also let you watch the killings, either hidden or disguised but that's just how far she'll go. She doesn't want you to actually be the one to do the killing cause she's too paranoid you'll do something that'll cause you to get caught.

Abby Anderson

You met at the basketball court while you were sitting at the bleachers because let's be real here, Abby is a total jock and athlete, she seems like she'd be a gym rat too. (Without the red flags of one though)

You were sitting with your friends Dina and Jesse while you guys just catched up since the past week has been hectic, you even went so far as to gossip and think of conspiracies on who has been responsible for the reported killings by the killer they named ghostface. You looked at your phone, looking at the messages when you flinched, almost getting hit by a ball.

You open your eyes shortly to see Abby Anderson, the school's lesbian jock, who by the way is holding the ball that almost hit you. Anderson muttered an apology on behalf of her teammate who mistakenly threw the ball at your direction.

You told her it was fine and that it was and honest mistake when you know damn well you would've been far more upset if that ball actually hit you.

Abby just couldn't stop staring at you, I mean could you blame her? She felt like a knight and shinning armour when she just saved a pretty girl from a potential head injury.

She snapped back to reality when she heard her teammate say "Hey Anderson! Stop flirting with pretty girls and pass that ball back will you" Abby was a bit flustered by that comment because all and all she agreed to it.

On Abby's desk is carved your name and initials, she has gotten detention over it though I don't think the school is aware of how many desks have your name carved on them.

It took a while but Abby finally did ask you out, she approached you while you were taking a few things out of your locker. "So uhh, do you want to go out with me? On a date I mean..." She asked with her hand rubbing her neck, Abby was bracing herself for rejection.

You had to do a bit of a double take because the Abby Anderson is asking you out? You said yes obviously.

May or may not have stalked you before asking you out to find out everything you like to set up the perfect date.

Abby definitely has a polaroid of you both is her locker and gym locker. (There's one in her wallet too 🥺)

Your nicknames are: my cheerleader (because she knows damn well you've been to all her games and was there to cheer her on), baby, babe and pretty girl

You only found out that she's ghostface because she couldn't take it anymore and told you after seeing that you're scared of ghostface potentially threatening your life.

Poor baby was so worried you'd think insane if her after, let's just say she ended up loving you more for accepting the fact and understanding the reason behind the killings. (let's be real here any normal person would but not you)

When you first asked to play a part in the killings, Abby disagreed, no way in hell was she letting her girl be in danger both of the police and whatever else is out there.

She hates the idea of you going to jail more than she hates the idea of getting caught and facing the consequences.

But if you really want to then like Ellie she'd let you but with limitations. You're only ever allowed to watch when you are disguised and she'll let you stab a few every now and then.

Abby with a gun kink, Abby with a gun kink, Abby with a gun kink. Watch her get turn on when you flinch from the clicks whenever she pulls the trigger.

Despite Abby hating horror movies, she sure made a hell of a good killer.

#ellie williams x reader #abby anderson x reader #fluff #x reader #x you #ellie williams headcanons #abby anderson headcanons #tlou abby #tlou ellie #tlou #the last of us fanfiction #ellie williams x chubby reader #abby anderson x plus size reader #lesbian #wlw #ellie williams x plus size reader #ghostface #ghostface au #Aethelwyne Lia writes

[ghostofthemost141]

Serene

Ch.1. Ch.2. Ch.3. Ch.4. Ch.5. Ch.6. Ch.7.

Pairing: Johnny 'Soap' MacTavish x F!Reader

First POV & Third POV

Word Count: 1,707

Themes: Some Fluff

!Warnings!: Near Death Experience

About: You're on vacation to the beach and you think you're about to die when you're caught in a riptide until an unlikely hero comes to your rescue. Precisely a Scottish man that bores a tail.

Notes: Something different for this one! May turn this into a fanfic series who knows 👀 Hope y'all enjoy! Name for you here is Dove and you got two friends named Gem and Pixie with limited descriptions so you can imagine them however you want to imagine them! Italics = Third POV

The waves were crashing against the shore, the seagulls were lively, and the sand was warm. The weather was perfect for the beach and you couldn’t wait to dip your toes in. 

“Dove, them waves look rough.” Gem, one of my  best friends, told me with concern. 

“I know how to swim, girl, you don’t have to worry about me.” I  reassure her, as waves crash onto my legs. 

Gem looked at you with her bright colored eyes full of concern. She knew that you were a great swimmer but the way the waves were going about, it worried her deeply. It also worried your other friend Pixie as well. 

“Just stay in the shallow. Neither of us are great swimmers like you are, Dove.” Pixie mentioned. 

“There’s a lifeguard on duty.” I joke, knowing they won’t have to do their job today with me. 

Both girls looked at each other with concern, but non verbally agreed to keep an eye on you for your sake. Gem and Pixie laid down their blankets and chairs and chilled on the sand while you were knee deep in the water. The water was at perfect temperature to accompany the hot weather that was out today. But the waves were indeed getting rougher, but that didn’t deter you away. No, it only made you want to go further. You felt a sense of not only pride, but a burst of your ego. 

“You can do it.” I mumbled to myself, feeling the waves get stronger. 

Gem and Pixie, though promising themselves to keep an eye on you, were distracted by some attractive people and doing everything that they could to grab their attention. From a distance you noticed a sandbar but it was some distance away. 

“Pfft. Can’t be that far.” 

It was maybe a walk or so away. Granted I won’t be able to touch the farther I get but I’m a good swimmer. I’ve got nothing to worry about. 

You pushed forward, suddenly feeling the drop off of how deep it got. It scared you but only for a second as you began to doggy paddle towards the sand bar. It was when your heart dropped when you realized that the sandbar was indeed farther than it looked. It was too late to back out now. For a second you think you hear Gem and Pixie calling for you, but you were too far out to tell. Your heart started racing, but for some reason your own ego took over and you kept pushing forward. The waves were getting harsher and rougher that you decided that now, maybe, you should turn back around. Yes, that’s a good idea, you thought. You swam around and started making your way back to shore. Your arms burned and you felt a cramp start to form in your lower region. 

“Why, oh why?” I grumbled to myself, immediately regretting my decision. 

This was stupid. Stupid, stupid. 

Your arms burned more and more, to the point that you realized you were going further away from shore. 

“Sh-Shit.” 

The cramp got worse, stinging your insides and taking over. You tried to float, but then you started to panic, feeling the cramp get worse and worse and you were getting further and further from shore. 

“No, no, no, please God-” 

You were cut off by a big wave crashing onto you, sucking you under water. You inhaled way too much water than your lungs could handle, causing you to choke and try to swim up the surface, but you were sucked in too deep. You fought with every bit of strength you had left to get to the surface. You could feel the sweet relief of air the closer you got to the surface. You were nearly there. 

Nearly there. 

Nearly. There. 

Nearly…there. 

Nearly…

… 

You went limp just as you reached the surface, the cramps and intense burning taking over your body and making you succumb to drowning. Pixie and Gem had noticed your disappearance and were already calling for help, even though they wouldn’t be able to locate you. Your body floated further and further down from the surface. You felt as if you were floating, but in a weird way and you were asleep. You were consciously fighting to stay awake, even though your body was limply floating in the deep water. You sunk down more and more and the lifeguards were just now getting on to finding your body, but by the time they get to the deep end, you’ll be long gone. 

Long, long gone. 

A pair of bright blue eyes spotted you from the deep waters. The eyes watched you as you limply started sinking down and down to the deep waters ever so slowly. He knew you were in trouble. He knew he had to rescue you even if he couldn’t be spotted. The creature slowly started making his way towards you. The two of you were in deep enough water that no one would be able to spot you from the surface. You didn’t react or even twitch when he swam up close to you. 

“Poor lass.” He mumbled, holding onto your body. 

The creature wrapped your body around him and started swimming to the very far side of where the people are at. He knew you had just passed out so he still had time to save you. He couldn’t risk being seen by people, but he would do it for you. He couldn’t help but notice your distinct features. The way your hair flowed in the water, your vibrant skin, and your bright colored lips. He shouldn’t have noticed these features of you in this situation but he couldn’t help it. You were that pretty to him. Once he got far enough from everyone else, he brought you onto shore, laying you gently on your back. He looked back and forth to make sure there were no people around. There wasn’t. Good, he thought. The creature leaned down and immediately started giving you mouth to mouth. Opening up your mouth and breathing his air into yours, while pumping your heart with his hands in unison. As quick as he started, you were back. 

Shit, shit what happened? What the hell happened? My head hurts, my chest hurts, everything hurts. 

The creature backed up away from you a little as you came to. He has never wanted a human to see him like this until he saw you. Creatures like him never believed in love at first sight, but that’s very much what he was doing. 

Who saved me? I forced my eyes open, to find a pair of bright blue eyes looking down at me. Oh my god, he was gorgeous. A gorgeous man. 

“Are you my savior?” I asked, feeling slightly delusional after coming back from the dead. 

The creature chuckled, hoping you wouldn’t notice his unique features. 

“Maybe, doll.” 

Oh, he has an accent. A thick accent. 

“Where are you from?” I ask. 

I could tell the man was nervous for whatever reason. 

“Uh..” The man paused. 

I felt an eerie silence beckon over us as I glanced down, feeling my heart race. It wasn’t the gills on his side that I noticed, but the fact that he doesn’t have legs. He has a tail. A fucking tail. 

“W-What? I must be dead.” I slightly joked, not believing what I was seeing. 

I could tell the man, or merman, was a bit unnerved by my comment. His deep, dark blue tail flopped onto the wet sand, making a loud ‘plat’ sound. 

“Sorry, it just feels like a childhood liking of mine is a reality.” I say, to try and uplift the mood.

He smiled at me, his beautiful eyes beaming down at me. I glanced down, seeing how fit he was. How on Earth is he this fit for a mermaid? There ain’t no way. 

“Well can I know the name of my savoir? Considering I was being stupid.” I admit. 

The man smiled at me once again. I couldn’t help but stare at his tail. It was so pretty. The prettiest shade of blue I have ever seen, besides the shade of his eye color. 

“Johnny.” He said. 

“Johnny, I’m Dove, the dumbass you had to save.” I said, joking. 

Johnny chuckled. 

“How long have you had a tail?” 

“For as long as I can ‘member.” Johnny answered. 

You smiled at that, feeling your heart race the longer you stare at Johnny. He was so drop dead handsome, despite being a mermaid, which you could hardly believe he even was one. 

“DOVE!!” A familiar voice screamed out. 

Before you could even react, Johnny was immediately gone. You felt sad, seeing your savior disappear like that but you didn’t know his relationship with humans, despite him getting that close to you and letting you see him. 

“Holy shit! Are you okay?!” Gem frantically asked me, getting into my space. 

“Y-Yeah. I am. I think.” I said, reeling in from who I just met. 

But if he immediately swam away upon hearing Pixie’s voice, that tells me he doesn’t want to be seen or known. 

“How did you get back to shore?” Gem asked. 

“I just..swam.” I lied through my teeth. 

I could tell they didn’t believe me, but they were more concerned about me being alive versus how I got back to shore. 

Gem and Pixie helped you to your feet, commenting about how you keep looking out into the ocean. You lied and told them it was you being proud of yourself for getting yourself back to shore. When really you were searching for Johnny. You felt special, in an odd way. The fact that he let you see him, but fled when Gem and Pixie were coming means you were indeed special. You wanted to see him again. You just didn’t know how to expect to come back to the beach. As Pixie and Gem dragged you away, you could see a familiar pair of bright blue eyes staring at you. This confirmed everything. You wanted to see him again. But until then, he was your secret. And you are thankful you’re still alive to this day. 

TO BE CONTINUED? 

#cod #callofduty #call of duty #cod modern warfare #ghostofthemost141 #cod x reader #modern warfare x reader #john mactavish x reader #john mactavish #john soap mctavish x reader #johnny soap mctavish x reader #john soap mactavish #soap x reader #soap mw2 #soap cod #johnny soap mactavish #soap call of duty #johnny mactavish

[angel-of-the-moons]

Hey can I request a pavitr Prabhakar x reader where it's both the reader av Pavitrs first time.

Just some smut with a fluff ending

Thanks for your time. Have a good day:)

*cracks knuckles* I was waiting for someone to ask about the P-Man! (I love him so much ty nonnie)

Novices

(Aged Up)Pavitr Prabhakar x Fem!Reader

MINORS DNI: I am not responsible for the content you consume.

All characters featured in this fic are aged up. There are no minors.

TW/CW: Smut, NSFW, PIV sex, oral sex (Fem! receiving) mutual consent, fingering, prep, y'all are both virgins, Fluff as fluffy as Pavitr's luxurious hair, protected sex, condom usage (our man may be a goober but he's not dumb!), Pavitr Prabhakar is the king of oral, (you can't tell me with this face he's NOT, that's the face of a man who knows how good he is), slight overstimulation, Awkwardness, You lil' cutie patooties, some pet names(?)

None of this is beta read, we die like those younglings that Anakin snuffed out in the Jedi Temple

(Translation: Sundari = beautiful)

🪷🪷🪷🪷🪷🪷🪷🪷🪷🪷

You and Pavitr had been dating for at least two years at this point. As cheesy as it is, the two of you were long-time, childhood best friends. You were there for each other through the worst of it, all the ups and downs growing humans could go through.

He couldn't even keep his Spider-Man alter ego a secret from you; because hey! You were best pals!

And then highschool came and at some point you realized, that, hell. You had a crush on your best friend. You sat in your little pining box (ha! A pun!) Up until a few months before graduation. It was there where you had finally confessed to Pavitr in which he loudly blurted "I love you, too!" In the middle of the ceremony, earning more than a few stares from people.

Your parents included and his Aunty Maya. Your mother was overjoyed that Pavitr was the man you had set your sights on, because she loved that boy. Your father was... Protective, a bit on the cliché side. But he wanted you happy, so he accepted that you grew up and this was what you wanted.

Now, the two of you had gotten close to being intimate a few times. Nothing beyond kissing, some light touching, and maybe just a hickey or two (totally on accident and you definitely did not get weird looks at the breakfast table by your parents)...

But after a long talk... The two of you decided to finally go all the way, and break past that last awkward barrier in your relationship.

Yeah. Easier said than done.

That was how you got here. In your house. Your parents gone for the weekend to leave you in charge of the place. Perfect opportunity, ample time and privacy...

Way easier said than done.

You both had gotten a little too into the kissing, but when Pavitr pulled you into his lap to kiss at your neck is when you felt him. And how excited he was getting. That popped your little bubble and reality set in for the both of you.

Here you were, sitting cross-legged on your bed, shoulders touching, Pavitr giving you nervous glances and shuffling awkwardly in place, your hands firmly placed in your lap. The both of you were both too nervous and stumped to figure out what to do.

You were also squirming, because you yourself had been getting excited until your brain turned back on, the awkward heat and dampness in your panties not unknown to you... But you still felt awkward with it because Pavitr was right there, and you could see he was trying to not make it obvious the bulge in his pants.

"So... What do we... Do?" You ask, looking down at your lap, chewing the nail on your index finger.

"Uh..." Pavitr swallowed nervously. "I... I mean... Uh..."

"Yeah."

"Mhmm..."

You both sat there, red in the face for another long, quiet minute.

Pavitr is the one who broke the silence this time, "I... I know a bit... But uh... Not much... Outside of..." He just couldn't bring himself to say it; even now he just couldn't say out loud the stuff he saw on the internet. If he did he felt like his hair would catch on fire.

"Yeah..." You say, rubbing the back of your neck.

"We could... Start again... Take it slow and see what comes naturally..?" Pavitr said, his brows pinching upwards as he smiles crookedly, running a hand through his dark brown locks, attempting his trademark smirk; but failing at it so hard he almost looks like he's in pain.

"I... Well, yeah... We... We can." You say, finally making shy eye contact with him, your lips curving up slightly.

Pavitr shifts so he's on his knees in front of you, holding his hands up as if he's trying to pacify a scared animal. "So... I'm going to kiss you now--can I? Kiss you, I mean? To start off--" He started to blabber.

"Yeah, Pav... You... You can kiss me." You chuckle quietly.

"Good! Good!" He said, his hands reaching for your cheeks as he takes hold of you. He maintains eye contact as his thumbs trace the hollows of your cheeks, and then your cheekbones before leaning in.

Pavitr places a gentle kiss on each side of your face, close to your mouth, before finally putting his lips to yours as your hands encircle his wrists and you lean into it.

It was soft and sweet, as he always was with you.

Pavitr let a small sigh through his nostrils as one of his hands reached behind your head to hold the base of your skull; careful not to snag or tug any of your hair as he leaned into you further, pressing for a deeper kiss.

You let him lead, your lips chasing his as your mouths kept dancing. He dared to dart his tongue out and split the seam of your soft lips so your tongue could caress his.

Your hands moved up his arms, feeling the slope and stiffness of the muscles in his limbs until you spread your palms over his shoulders, eyelids fluttering closed. You wished you could keep staring at him, but a part of you also wanted to imagine how you two must have looked in this moment.

The kiss got more heated, more passionate as he tipped your head a bit more so he could slip his tongue deeper into your mouth, running across your teeth, mapping out everything he could as though he was trying to commit the layout of your mouth to his memory.

His other hand went from your cheek, to your waist, where he tugged you a bit closer to him so that now you were almost between his parted knees on the bed.

You both finally remembered that you needed to breathe, and your mouths broke apart, a slack trail of saliva connecting your tongues together until it snapped. Pavitr leaned forward and placed some more chaste, sweet kisses to the corner of your mouth before diving back in, earning a soft giggle from you.

This time, you felt a surge of boldness bubble up within you, and you leaned in to take his bottom lip between your teeth, applying gentle pressure as you nipped him.

"Ha... Bad girl." Pavitr breathed hotly, before leaning forward and placing a kiss to your jaw; trailing his mouth down a bit to place hot, open mouthed kisses to your neck, his tongue tracing the excited pulse that danced just beneath your skin.

Your hands climbed their way upwards, your fingers tangling in the headband he wore before slowly pulling it off, his curly hair bouncing free as you drop it to the mattress, your fingers slipping into the impossibly soft, dark waves, earning a soft groan from him when your nails softly scraped at his scalp.

Pavitr latched on as his mouth moved down; down to that spot in your neck he knew made you weak, before sucking hard, earning a small gasp from you and a brief stilling of your hands in his hair as his tongue laved over the patch of skin that was already blossoming into a soft bruise.

"P-Pav..." You try to sound firm, scolding. But it failed, you were too breathy. "If my Baba sees that..."

"Oh, right." He muttered against your skin, placing a soft kiss over the hickey in a hasty apology.

Pavitr's hand on your waist shifted, so it was barely beneath the hem of your shirt, his thumb caressing the soft skin beneath. "Hey, sundari, is this okay? Can I do this?"

"Y-yeah." You say, trying to even put your breathing as he keeps kissing at your neck.

"You sure?" He hums, his mouth trailing to the other side of your throat.

"Yes..."

He hums again as his hand slowly drifts higher, his eyes rolling closed at how good your skin felt beneath his fingers; calloused from swinging from building to building for so long, from fighting bad guys.

But now... Now he had you. And this moment. No crooked villain was gonna snatch this moment from him. He wished he could pause this moment in time, or at least pause the world outside your room; so the two of you could take all the time in eternity to explore each other's bodies. He wished he could just--

His thoughts stopped when he realized your hands had bunched the fabric of his shirt and your fingers started tugging it upwards.

Pavitr lifted his head to look at you and you blushed again, averting your gaze a bit as you tugged once more.

"Pav... Can you..?" You start to ask.

Pavitr's eagerness almost made you laugh out loud with how fast he reached up and yanked his shirt off, throwing it to the floor, his big, gorgeous dark chocolate brown eyes looking at you with excitement and joy.

You bit your lip to stifle a giggle that slipped out of you.

"What? What?" Pavitr asked, tilting his head.

"You did that so fast..." You snort, biting on your knuckle.

"I--! I can't help it! I'm excited, okay?!" He said, a bit more shrill than he intended.

Your eyes flick downwards at his lap for a fraction of a second. "I can tell..."

Pavitr blushes profusely and makes a face.

"That's not what I meant! That's not what I--okay so it's a little bit of what I meant--or I... You... Oh you're making this so much harder!"

"....I can tell." You snicker louder, hinting at an inappropriate joke.

"Bad girl!" Pavitr stammered, reaching out to squish your cheeks in between his fingers. "Bad!"

You giggle, squirming to get away from him as his hands find their way to your sides, and he begins tickling you mercilessly as payback.

"Pavitr! Pavitr, okay I'm sorry! I'm sorr-ahaha!" You squeal, pulling him back with you onto the blankets, your head falling to be cushioned in your plush pillows.

Only when your faces were an inch or so apart did he stop, supporting himself on his elbows as he looked down at you.

"I know." He breathed quietly, his voice almost shaking. "Couldn't help it."

His knee was between your legs, his chest heaving just barely as he tried to rein himself in.

"Do you... Do you still wanna keep going?" You ask him.

"I do. I really do." He says to you, leaning down to kiss you hungrily once again.

You make a soft noise against the invasion of his tongue, and your hands moved to flatten on his chest, before moving down ever so slowly as you gently scraped your nails down the muscles in his abdomen; earning a sharp hiss from him, as if your touch burned him.

You snatch your hands away and pull back from the kiss. "I--I'm sorry, I didn't mean to--"

"No, no... Ah..." Pavitr leaned in again, his forehead pressed against yours as he closed his eyes. His hand grabbed one of yours and put it back on his chest.

"Do that again."

You smiled against his lips and repeated the motion, earning a quiet groan from his throat as you do.

You felt the length running down the inside of his pants twitch against the outside of your thigh at the sensation. The knowledge that you were doing this, that you were the one who got to touch him like this for the first time, sent a fresh rush of heat straight through your core.

Pavitr reached out and slipped his hand up your stomach, spreading his hand out so his fingers were splayed across the soft skin there.

"Can I... Or... Can you... Can we..?" He floundered.

You kiss the curve of his jaw and lean forwards, gently urging him back until you were sitting up again, giving him the freedom to pull your shirt up and over your head. His hands gently palmed at the fabric before he dropped it to join his on the floor, staring at you in an awestruck manner the moment his eyes fell to your bra.

You felt a fresh rush of heat flood your face and you chewed the inside of your cheek, resisting the urge to cover yourself.

You really weren't given the opportunity to do so, as Pavitr practically tackled you back against the bed, burying his face in the crook of your neck as his hands grabbed you again; breathing in the soft, citrusy smell of your perfume that still barely clung to your skin.

"Pavitr!" You squeaked.

"Sorry." He said tersely. He lifted his head and looked down at you.

"I was just possessed by your sheer beauty! I could not help myself!" He said, putting in his dramatic flair. "It was as though my mind were not my own!"

"Goober!" You laugh, smacking his arm playfully.

"Sundari." Pavitr said, his voice low as he placed a kiss right at the valley between your breasts. He could feel your heart fluttering like a frightened bird inside of your ribcage, the soft beat echoing out through your soft skin.

He waited for your reaction as he placed another kiss there; and seeing that you squirmed but didn't voice discomfort... He did it again, this time, moving a bit closer to one of your breasts, kissing the swell of flesh.

"Hey, love." Pavitr mumbled against your skin as he nipped you playfully.

"I... Ah... Yeah?" You swallowed, dropping your head onto your pillows as your hands twined in his hair again.

"I can't leave marks on your skin, right? Like your neck?"

"Yeah..."

"So what if..." He kissed your chest again, moving down just slightly, the fabric of your bra pressing against his chin. "...I left some..." His teeth nipped at your skin, sending goosebumps up your body, a sharp inhale coming from you.

"Here?" His mouth closed over the skin; his teeth scraping and sucking until he left another bruise on your breast, earning a shudder from you, your fingers catching in his hair a bit as you took your bottom lip between your teeth.

Damn him, he shouldn't get to look so beautiful and so pleased with himself!

His hands slid around your back, his fingers brushing the band and clasps of your bra. You lifted yourself up enough to let him grasp at it...

But he just couldn't.

"Crap." He groaned against your skin. "How do I..."

You snorted a laugh and slipped your around around your back with practiced ease, and unhooked the clasps for him, and laid back down.

"Oh... I guess you have a lot more practice at that than I would, huh?" He laughed awkwardly.

"Yeah." You giggle.

You looked at each other a moment, lost in each other's eyes.

"May I finish taking it off of you?" Pavitr said, his voice so quiet you could barely hear it over the beating of your heart that thundered in your ears.

You nod, lifting your arms so he could pull the straps down, kissing at the swell of your breasts, his tongue giving small licks as he went, pulling the restricting garment off of you. He frowned a little when he saw the marks it left in your skin, and started kissing them, too. Easing them with his tongue, smoothing them out, earning a small whimper from you.

He really likes that sound. He needed to hear you do it again.

Pavitr spoke your name like a holy prayer. "My beautiful girl." He said, looking down at you, his gaze trailing slowly down until his eyes settled on your breasts, your nipples already pebbling at the cool air of your bedroom. "I love you."

"I love you, too." You breathe, your breath hitching when he leaned down with almost no warning, his tongue darting out to sweep across one of your pert nipples, his hand giving a similar treatment to the other one, pinching and rolling it between the pads of his fingers.

He closed his mouth around it like he'd seen in several videos online, and closed his teeth around it.

"Oh! Ow! Pavitr--gentle!" You whine. "Too hard..."

"Sorry." He panted, popping off of you to apologize, before diving back in, this time taking care to gently pull your flesh with his teeth, rolling his tongue around as he did so, until he found a rhythm that got the best reaction out of you; switching over to give the other nipple the same treatment.

"P-Pav--" You whimper, feeling the sparks his tongue and teeth left on your chest shoot straight to the throbbing heat growing between your legs, soaking your panties and--you're quite certain--your leggings.

"Yes?" His voice muses, dripping with something you've never heard from him before.

"Uh--" You try, your chest shaking as you try to even out your breathing again.

"Um..."

Pavitr pressed his forehead against yours again, locking his gaze to yours.

"We can stop if you wanna."

"I... I don't want to stop I'm just..." You say, pursing your lips to try and find the right words.

"Yeah...." He says quietly to you.

Pavitr's hand moves down to the waistband of your leggings, hooking his thumb around the thick elastic. "Can I?"

You bite your lip and nod, your hands going up to clench and unclench at your sides, pushing your breasts together (which ultimately distracts Pavitr for a moment, before he returns to his task).

He slowly begins sliding the stretchy fabric off your hips, down your thighs... Revealing the black and pink striped panties beneath. He gives you plenty of opportunity to change your mind, to tell him to stop. But when you don't, Pavitr licks his bottom lip as he finally slips your garments off your ankles, tossing them to join your shirts and bra on the floor.

His hand rests on the curve of your hip, "You're so gorgeous." He leans to plant a soft kiss just below your navel. "My beautiful girlfriend." Pavitr coos.

His fingers hesitate to grab the elastic of your underwear, but you let out a shaky breath and nod, your eyes connecting with his briefly.

Pavitr swallows at the lump in his throat, and pulls your panties down, his breath catching in his throat as you lift your hips and he's able to pull the fabric free from your body.

You instinctively squirm, to try and close your legs as the cool air hits your wet folds, your slick glistening.

"I... I know... Can I... Do something? Please? To... To help you." Pavitr said, his voice excited and a little impatient.

"I... Uh. Yeah." You said, blinking down at him, already you had a feeling you knew where this was headed.

Your thoughts were confirmed when Pavitr eased himself until he was practically on his belly, lowering his mouth to your aching core, sending a puff of air across you that sent a shiver up your spine.

Okay. Okay. He knew what to do. He'd seen it plenty of times, he'd read about it plenty of times... He could do this. You were his girlfriend, couples did this sort of thing all the time. Men did this to women all the time. He was a man. You were a woman. He could do this. He could do this.

'Just remember what you learned...'

Pavitr kissed your slick lips with reverent gentleness as his arms wrapped around your thighs, his fingers digging into the plushest parts of them as he gently eased your legs just a bit more apart.

His tongue hesitantly traced the edges of your puffy lips, and he closed his eyes as the taste.

Sweet, with a slight bitter edge. Maybe it had something to do with those fruit juices you liked so much? He read somewhere that that sort of thing could affect your taste, and--

The moment his tongue flattened out on your clit, it was like a lightning bolt struck you, and your toes curled.

"Pavitr." You whimpered.

"Was that okay?" He asked, his chin glistening ever so slightly with your wetness, his eyes full of concern.

"Yes. God, yes." You sigh, moving your legs in an attempt to urge him to do it again.

Pavitr grinned, feeling confident in this new task as he started licking you, gently grazing your folds with his teeth as he teased you. He moved back up again, sucking at you and closing his mouth around your clit, rolling the bundle of nerves with his tongue to see what might get the best reactions, noises, and breathy little words out of that gorgeous mouth of yours.

He curled his tongue around you, and sucked hard, making you gasp and arch your back at the harsh, throbbing pleasure that coursed through you as he applied gentle suction, before easing up and applying it back again.

Pavitr's eyes rolled back a bit when your fingers tugged at his hair, rolling your hips up to meet his eager mouth.

You dared sneak a glance down at him between your legs and the sight alone made your whole body weak.

His eyes were closed, his feathery lashes brushing his cheeks as he looked positively blissed in what he was doing to you with his mouth, his fingers squishing the plush of your thighs as he moved again, this time moving his tongue around until he found your entrance.

Your head dropped back into the pillows again, one of your hands gripping Pavitr's hair like your life depended on it, your other hand balling in the sheets as his tongue slipped inside you, writhing, gliding, writing love letters against and inside your body as he worked at you feverishly.

His hand moved until his thumb pressed firmly against your clit, rolling it like he did with his tongue before.

"Pavitr!" You moaned, grinding yourself against his mouth and hand with a desperate whimper.

You felt that familiar coiling of heat building in the pit of your stomach, pins and needles at the edges of your fingertips. Normally, it was a sensation you had only given yourself with your fingers on lonely, longing nights, but it felt almost new. Especially with a handsome guy between your legs, eating you out like a man starved, like you were the only thing he would ever want or need to taste.

Pavitr honestly felt like he could die happy between your thighs as they squished him in. Hell of a way to go, but totally and utterly worth it to him, seeing you like this, writhing and gasping out his name on short puffy breaths.

He grinned against your slick mound and wrapped his lips around your clit again, sucking feverishly as he dared to press a finger inside you; earning a sharp, ragged gasp from you and your eyes screwing tightly shut. The stinging of his scalp was almost forgotten as he hummed against you, sending the vibrations straight through to your brain, numbing you to everything else except him.

Pavitr pressed and curled his finger inside you, testing the waters before adding in a second. He curved his fingers slightly, like someone rubbing the chin of a small animal.

"Oh god." He heard you rasp out, biting your lip as a tiny mewl crawled out of your throat.

He gave a broad swipe of his tongue before latching onto your bundle of nerves again, this time, adding a third finger, gently thrusting them in and out of you, all the way to his knuckles as he pushed you closer and closer to your peak.

The stretch was different, his fingers were thicker and longer than your own, and he could reach a place inside of you that you never could. Your thighs flexed and squeezed his head as you bit your knuckle, a pleasured sob bubbling up within you as you felt your orgasm start to crest.

"P-Pavitr, please I'm--" You moan out, cutting yourself off. "'m so close, so so so so so close!"

Your voice babbled out almost mindlessly, and god, did it sound like an angel singing in his ears the way you said his name like that. He could feel a fresh gush of that sweet nectar of yours around his fingers as he felt your muscles tightening around his fingers.

Pavitr gave one long, hard, throbbing suck to your clit, curling his fingers at that perfect spot inside of you; and felt a big boost to his ego when you loudly moaned his name as you came, your hips twitching and legs practically crushing his head as every nerve in your body lit up, endorphins flooding you as your muscles clamped around him.

You dragged your eyes open as you felt him still scissoring his fingers inside you, stretching you open and drawing out your orgasm to the point it was almost painful, his mouth and tongue still assaulting you.

"P-P-Pavitr--" You whimper pitifully. "Yuh-you... You can st-stop... Oh, please stop I can't--"

He heard your plea, and mercifully lifted his mouth off of you, licking his lips happily as he gently pulled his fingers out of your aching walls.

He watched you while you draped your forearm over your face and heaved, your lungs burning for oxygen you didn't know you were withholding from yourself. Pavitr brought his fingers to his mouth and licked them clean; wiping his chin with his palm before licking that spotless, too.

"I... refuse... to believe... you've never... done that before." You breathe shakily, eyes still closed as your body struggled to calm down.

"Was I that good?" He grinned, rising up, pressing his hands to your knees, playfully moving them back and forth.

"Why do you sound so smug!" You pout up at him, your face flushed and pupils blown wide.

"Becaaaaaause..." Pavitr grinned, leaning over you a little bit again. "I made my girl scream my name like it was all she knew how to say?"

"Ohhh! You--" You sputter up at him. "You..! Brat!"

Pavitr tipped his head back and laughed, the sound rich and heavy and sending another spiral of arousal curling through you. "Awww... Don't look so embarrassed, sundari."

"D-don't sundari me!" You retort.

Pavitr leaned forward and kissed you, hungry and desperate. All teeth and tongue as you melted into him, your annoyance quickly giving way to desperation as you gripped his hair and pulled him down on you, your tongues battling roughly for dominance as you let the last of your inhibitions fly the coop.

You moan when you feel him grind the bulge in his pants against your aching core, and he gritted his teeth.

"Can we... Keep going?" Pavitr hissed out, resting his forehead against your shoulder.

"Fuck yes." You breathe out, dragging your nails up his back almost torturously slow; earning a soft moan from him as the muscles in his back twitch beneath your fingers.

Pavitr lets out a sigh and straightened back up, looking down at you with hooded, glazed eyes, a warm and loving smile on his face. You sat up a bit and your fingers gingerly reached for the button and fly to his pants.

His thumbs hook the edges of his pants and he pulls them down slightly, just to his thighs and sighs at the ease of the pressure on his aching and angry erection, tipping his head back slightly.

You nibble your lip a bit and reach out, palming him through his boxers.

He groans at this and leans into your touch, his hands clasping your shoulders as he clenches his eyes shut.

Your hand felt him twitch under your touch, the heat radiating off of him and spreading through your fingertips. Already, there was a small dark spot bleeding through his boxers.

You gave a hesitant stroke, and his cock jumped almost in unison with your throbbing and swollen clit again.

He wrapped his hand around your wrist, and he breathed sharply.

"If... If you keep that up, I..."

"Sorry, I was... Curious." You mumble, releasing him. You lift your face to meet his gaze, and lick your lips.

"Um... Pavitr... Did you bring any, um... Y'know. Condoms..?" You peep.

"Oh!" His eyes get wide. "Yeah! I, uh, I almost forgot, here." He pulls away from you and leans over the bed, rummaging through his satchel bag until he pulled out a small box.

Figuring out how to size himself with condoms was both a slightly confusing and mortifying adventure. Especially when he actually had to go to a drugstore and buy the things he needed to do this with you. Yeah. He would never be able to show his face in that store for a long while.

In his other hand was a small bottle. Some lubricant. The sites he read up on said that it was always good to have, especially if your partner was inexperienced. It'd help ease any discomfort. He hoped there wasn't much left with how he worked you open with his fingers and tongue, but, it was better to have it and not need it, right?

Pavitr awkwardly fumbled with the box, pulling it open and taking out one of the foil wrappers.

Before he can try to open it, you look up at him from under your lashes. "Can... Can I do it?"

The way your voice sounded almost broke his heart, the octane sending a fresh throb straight down between his legs.

"Yes." He told you, letting your soft fingers slip the packaging from his grip.

Pavitr was almost frantic at this point as he hastily dragged down his boxers and pants, letting out a deep groan as he momentarily relished in the freedom as his cock bobbed slightly, the tip beading droplets of precum already. He kicked what remained of his clothes off of him and leaned down to give you a messy, desperate kiss.

When he pulled away, you tore the condom packaging open with shaky fingers as you figured out which way to roll it onto him.

Pavitr held in a tight breath when your fingers closed around the tip of his cock, carefully rolling down the ribbed latex along his length until it snugly fit around the base.

"Ah..." He sighed with ease when you released him.

"Is it okay if I..." Pavitr asked, cupping your cheek with his hand as he nudged his nose to yours.

"Please." You mutter against his mouth; your lips connecting softly as he lays you back down.

When he was sure you were comfortable, he popped the cap on the small bottle of lube and squeezed some out onto your aching core.

The coldness of the liquid made you squeak sharply and try to jerk your legs closed on reflex.

"What? What's wrong?" Pavitr said, sounding almost panicked.

"It's cooooooold!" You whine, your lip trembling.

"I'm sorry!" Pavitr apologized, a nervous laugh escaping him. "I forgot to... Ah... Here."

He squeezed some more onto his hand, before dropping the now-mostly empty bottle onto the bed, and palming your twitching and puffy mound, easing the lubricant, mixing it with your own slick and cream, earning a small shudder from you when he purposefully rolled his thumb over your clit again.

"Better?" He asked you.

"Yeah." You sigh, relaxing a bit as he pulled his hand away, wrapping it around his cock as he spread the lube and slick down the length of the condom.

"Are you ready?" He asked gently. "It's not too late if you want to stop?"

"Pavitr, I'm ready." You assure him, grabbing his face with your hands and bringing him down for a kiss.

You felt him groan into your mouth as his tip probed your hole, your muscles already twitching and trying to drag him into your welcoming heat.

He resisted the urge to snap his hips into yours as he eased himself in, reminding himself to go slow, for you. To make sure you enjoyed it, too.

"Ah..." He whimpered, looking down at you for any signs of discomfort.

"Talk to me, beautiful." He said to you, pressing his forehead against you with another deep groan at how you flexed and clenched around him.

"It... It feels... Different. Not bad, but..." You breathe heavily, trying to find the words.

"Tight." Pavitr moans, kissing you, far less coordinated than before. "Can you... Try to relax for me, sundari? It... feels like you're strangling me."

You whimpered, but dropped back and eased yourself into your mattress, your hands gliding up Pavitr's chest, to slide over his shoulders and hold there as you willed yourself to relax. You could feel some tension finally leave him, too.

"Ah... Better. I don't think I could last long if you stayed that tight." Pavitr groaned.

"I don't think I'm gonna last long, already." You sigh. "Thanks to you."

"All in a day's work for the P-Man." Pavitr grinned mischievously as he kissed at your neck.

"Ohhhh don't call yourself that right now!" You groaned. "Not while we're in bed!"

Pavitr laughed and rolled his hips into yours softly, a pleasured sigh escaping him as your body welcomed him deeper.

What he didn't have in length, he made up for in delicious girth that dragged the best spots inside you, sending small electric jolts through the deepest part of your body as he buried himself snugly inside you; claiming your swollen lips in another heated kiss.

"Ugh, c-can I move?" He groaned as your tongues parted ways.

"Please, Pav." You moan, grinding your hips a bit, making you both inhale sharply and shudder.

"My girl gets what she wants." Pavitr laughed weakly, pulling out halfway before thrusting his hips languidly into yours.

"You spoil me..." You mewl, the stretch and drag of him sending a fresh throb through your sex as any lingering discomfort melts away with every roll of his hips. The condom having those ribs and nubs certainly added to the sensations, too.

"A good boyfriend... Should... Spoil his girl." He gasped. "Damn. Can I..."

"Faster." You whine, your nails digging into his shoulders as you cling to him.

Pavitr's eyes rolled backwards into his head happily, as he buried his nose in your hair, breathing in the flowery scent of your conditioner.

He supported himself with his palm by your head, gripping the pillow like a vice as he grabbed another pillow, hastily shoving it under you to angle yourself better; his hand clutching at your hip as he looked down for one final confirmation; which you gave with a feverish nod.

And with that last little bit of approval from you, Pavitr was more than glad to pick up his pace, snapping his hips languidly but carefully into yours.

The only sounds in your room were hot, breathy moans, short gasps, names uttered on sharp tongues. Skin slapping on skin filled the air around you, sweat mingling and dripping.

The way his pubic bone braced your clit sent new sparks shooting through you, remnants from your earlier orgasm breathing life onto the embers.

You weren't gonna last long. God, you knew you weren't gonna last long. Not with how good of a job he did on prepping you before.

"Pavitr." You mewled, trying to pull him down onto you.

He leaned down, kissing you hotly, as if you were his only source of oxygen in the whole world as his hips started jaggedly thrusting into yours.

Your nails dragged down his back when the tip of his cock hit that perfect spot inside of you.

"Th-there?" Pavitr gasped.

"Yes!" You squealed.

He leaned down and bit down on the skin on your neck, damning what your parents might think later. Pavitr's sole focus right now was angling his hips and hitting your sweet spot over and over with methodical precision, dragging you closer and closer to another orgasm, desperate to make to cum once more before he did.

"Oh!" You whine, wrapping your legs around him tightly, your nails digging into the muscles of his back as he thrust into you, riding the waves of your orgasm as you moaned and blabbered out his name mindlessly.

Pavitr groaned deeply, the sound reverberating through his chest as he pressed into you tightly, his thrusts less coordinated.

"Almost--" He panted, wrapping his arms around you as he crashed his hips into your sore hole, moaning when you sobbed at the assault of sensations.

He snapped his hips into yours once, twice. You could feel him jerk and twitch inside of you as his spend filled the condom wrapped around him; rolling his hips lazily into yours as he rode out his orgasm.

Pavitr shuddered once, slowly pulling out of you and rolling onto his side. You both laid on your backs, breathing heavily at the ceiling.

You scooted closer to him, resting your head on his shoulder as he draped his arm around you.

"Why... Did we wait so long to do that?" Pavitr sighed once his breathing leveled out.

"Because we're the dumbest smart people on the planet?" You joke weakly.

Pavitr snickered and kissed the top of your head, before rolling to curl around you, his hand resting across your belly as he looked at you with those beautiful, lovesick puppy dog eyes that you loved so much, a big dopey grin on his face.

"Probably." He said..

You sigh, snuggling into him. Your eyes open again after a few moments, however, when you feel something poke at your thigh.

"Pavitr...?"

"Hmm?"

You hated the fact he could still make himself sound so innocent as he toyed with your hair.

"Pavitr." You hiss softly.

"Ohhh! That's what you're trying to get my attention for!" He giggled.

"You--!" You deflate against him.

"Well... We do have two days until your parents get back..." Pavitr hummed into your hair, still sounding deceptively innocent, even as he grinds himself against you. "And we still have the rest of those condoms..."

"You're going to kill me." You pout.

"Hey! You'll die happy!" He said, pulling back to grin down at you.

You giggled and kissed his jaw. "You're such a goober. Goober."

"Ha! You're the one dating me! What does that make you?" He snorted.

"The luckiest girl in the world."

A/N this meant to be a drabble but my ass got sucked into it 😭 I wrote this even though I have an early shift tomorrow but my god I had to do it!

#pavitr prabhakar x reader #pavitr prabhakar #spiderverse pavitr #atsv pavitr #pavitr prabhakar x you #pavitr x you #spiderverse smut #smut #across the spiderverse #spiderverse #indian spiderman #my writing #answered

[folatefangirl]

On The Darkest Corner of the Heart

A comment on how Booktwt, Booklr, and Booktok media reactivity has lost the plot

Or, I think y'all need to log off and touch some grass and think about your actions for a hot minute. Note: This rant is a tad long, because I'm fucking pissed.

Disclaimer 1: I don't personally know the author of this book or anyone screenshotted in the drama. We aren't friends. I have no reason to either defend nor criticize these people, except for the fact that I've been a primary reader of self-pub and indie books for almost a decade now, and yes, including romances that some people don't consider worthy of civility. I'm also a queer healthcare worker.

Disclaimer 2: I don't want anyone mentioned/screenshotted here to be spammed with hate. Please do NOT contact them, including any authors mentioned. I included the primary actors for the current drama primarily so people don't claim I'm talking out of my ass.

Book blurb:

Forbidden. That's what they are to each other. Maddie Stevens has never felt good enough. Not good enough to keep her parents’ love. Not good enough to be independent and stop being her brother’s problem. Not good enough to build the future she wants. When she injures her ankle before a ballet audition that could change her career forever, she’s convinced her life is over at twenty-one. What’s the point of having dreams when they can go down the drain at any moment? And because the universe has a cruel sense of humor, her physical therapist turns out to be a tank-shaped grouch who doesn’t even seem to like her that much. It’s totally unfair that, for six weeks, she’s forced to look at that handsome beard and listen to that deep voice that makes her head all dizzy. Top that with the fact that he’s ten years her senior, and falling for James Simmons is a recipe for disaster. But when their forced proximity makes the lines start blurring, the forbidden temptation becomes impossible to resist.

The Timeline:

Events preceding 2023: Lisina Coney, author of The Darkest Corner of the Heart, was born in 1999 in northern Spain. She worked as a translator prior to publishing books.

Initially I thought these books were only self-published, but in fact are published under the formerly indie publisher Page & Vine, founded by romance novelist Meredith Wild.

January 27th, 2023: The Brightest Light of Sunshine is published by nearly 24-year-old Lisina Coney. On Goodreads, it currently sits at 3.87 stars as of today, February 10th, 2024, with 27,727 ratings and 3,592 reviews. Note: For a small-time author, especially for a debut novel, these numbers are huge.

May 2023, Page & Vine announced that Big 5 publisher Simon & Schuster would distribute their books as an imprint beginning in summer 2023.

In mid-to-late 2023, Lisina's website and socials announced The Darkest Corner of the Heart, her second novel to be published with Page & Vine on February 20th, 2024. Note: This means the events below occurred BEFORE the book's publication.

February 5th, 2024: anaborbareads on Twitter/X posts the cover and other art of Darkest Corner with the text, "a forbidden romance between ballerina and physical therapist???? pls i need this book now 🥺✨💗🫶🏻"

February 6th, 2024: h0mmelette on Twitter/X responds to anaborareads with "the booktok genre of forbidden romance is hilarious. theyre straight… whats forbidden"

February 6th, 2024: a tumblr user reposts the twitter thread from above to tumblr. Other tumblr users reblog and add on, and it quickly goes viral.

February 7th, 2024: From what I can tell via reverse image searching, the first iteration of the fake ARC page that's going around appears to be from Twitter/X user queef1ng. About 4 hours later, the same fake ARC page was reposted on the tumblr post mentioned above. And from here, this story takes a turn from people wanting to feel like they're above a romance novel writer to potential legal territory.

Of the 122 ratings on Goodreads for Darkest Corner to date, 9 appear to be 1-star reviews and from what I can tell, most/all of them were only published since the events began on 06Feb2024. 71 are 5-stars and while some of those are ARC readers, many newer ones appear to be trying to counteract the review bombing from the fake ARC page.

As of today, February 10th, 2024, it looks like the book will still be published on February 20th as planned, but we'll see.

Wait, so how do you know the page is fake?

I can't believe people have been so gullible but fine, here's my analysis:

Lisina's real ARC readers have stated that it isn't from the book (not gonna document all of them in the screenshots but you can easily go to the book's GR page and see the ARC reviews there).

As other folks pointed out on the tumblr repost, no real ARC page does a weird review watermark like that. Speaking from my own experience in reviewing ARCs or beta-reading, I agree.

The font tipped me off because it looked like it had literally been written on a Fanfiction.Net page. Not that Verdana, font size 10, is unique to FFN, but it looks like fanfiction typed font. Which brings me to:

Literally how could you believe this author writes like this? You can read her website or preview her first book or just have the bare minimum common sense to understand what satire looks like. If you don't believe me (because I know framing a post like this will put a lot of people on the defensive), I've also included screenshots below. The prose and dialogue are COMPLETELY different from the alleged screenshot. The only thing that is similar is that both characters are ballerinas.

But wait, all of this doesn't explain why YOU, Cinnia, are so pissed about this?

You're completely right! It really doesn't. All of the above is mostly documentation so the naysayers can't say I'm just some silly fangirl of the author.

The initial premise of the drama is that you can't have "forbidden love" in an m/f relationship. First of all, William Shakespeare would like to have a word with you regarding Romeo and Juliet. Second of all, yes you fucking can. See also: Religious and cultural differences and human history for a starting point. I know it may be hard to touch grass and look at media that is not tumblr queer media-centric and understand that people who are NOT you might enjoy it very much. Note that I'm a queer person saying this and I do read or watch m/f media at times because I don't like limiting myself. Go watch Bajirao Mastani and enjoy one of the most beautiful movies about forbidden love ever produced.

The book itself falls into the medical romance subgenre. For those not familiar, these are romances (usually m/f) that often involve a healthcare worker and their patient. In the real world, where people touch grass, a healthcare worker like me having a relationship with their patient is such a huge ethical violation that it will get you fired. In Darkest Corner, James is Maddie's physical therapist because she's a ballerina with a sports injury and he is treating her. Ergo, it is forbidden for them to get together and the initial premise for mocking this book is on very shaky ground.

In fact, I'd go as far as to say that the folks mocking it seem to very likely not be familiar with romance novels and their subgenres at all, or else they'd be well aware of the concept of straight romances marketed as a "forbidden romance" because they're fucking everywhere on any place that sells romance books. I have a personal collection of over 14,500 kindle ebooks. While not all of those are romances, a good chunk of them are, so I think I can count myself as a bit of a source here, you know?

The fake screenshot and social media drama has spread to at least Twitter, Tumblr, and BookTok, which all have huge reader hobbyists. For a small-time author barely past her debut novel's publication, allegations of this sort tied to your author name and book titles can last on the internet and in web searches for a long, long time, hurting an author's career. Maybe you're like "boohoo, who cares about their careers, I pirate all my fiction books anyway" and well, a post like this was probably never going to convince you of anything. I'm talking to the folks who might still have a sense of shame and self-reflection. Authors, even authors tied to a Big 5's imprint, earn peanuts. This sort of manufactured "scandal" is not ideal when the book is weeks away from being published. In fact, if the book has fewer sales than the first book in the series, Simon & Schuster may have legal grounds to go after the person who made the fake screenshot. A smarter person would have kept that to the groupchat or posted it as a clearly marked fanfic on AO3.

As a reader, this also sucks because when shit like this happens, the reviews of a book are permanently biased by both the bombers and the fans of the author, no matter how good or bad the book ends up being. Do I know if this book will be a 1-star or 5-star now, based on the reviews? Nope. Will I read it? No, because I don't read medical romances as it's a squick for me. But I may read her first book, which has mercifully escaped most of the social media nonsense.

This isn't the first time booktwt/booktok/booklr has engaged in a similar mob mentality towards books they don't like and I doubt it'll be the last. See Blood Heir by Amélie Wen Zhao and the allegations that turned out to be false then, too. However, I would like to ask y'all to please check your sources and not blindly accept what someone says on social media as truth. Get used to doing the research because manufactured misinformation is everywhere, and it's not gonna get better. (And for fuck's sake, not everyone is gonna like the same books and fandoms you like! It's not illegal to enjoy reading different things!)

Screenshots/Evidence (click for better resolution):

#lisina coney #booklr #booktok #booktwt #book rants #cinnia says stuff #long post #very long post #screenshot included at the bottom of the post #darkest corner of the heart #the darkest corner of the heart #misinformation #edited to fix title

[the-dumpster-fire-of-life]

How about bill x male reader and the reader protecting him from bullies hen they were young and still in school and then childhood friends to bfs? I love your works!!! Keep it up

(Hello! Sure I can and thanks for requesting and reading! Here ya go!)

Male!Childhood!Friend to Boyfriend

You guys were friends for a long time

Grew up together and I think he hid the bullying from you for a bit

He didn't want to disturb you or cause you any trouble but shit was affecting him

You could obviously tell something was wrong with your friend but he kept saying not to worry about it

Until you found some kids picking on him

You got pissed off and got them away

Bill was pretty embarrassed you found out he was being bullied

But you vowed that day to never let someone touch him or bully him ever again

And you succeeded, man!

You guys grew up and wherever someone tried messing with Bill your ass was right behind them

You got into a couple fights with bullies but Bill was always there to help patch you up

I think those are when his feelings started to develop for you

At first he thought it was different, that he loved you as a friend until he started learning about boyfriends, people coming out as gay and I think Bill started questioning himself

He would look at two happy men in love and sometimes think that's what he wanted with you but he thought that wasn't something that was possible

Or that you've done enough for him already and you didn't like him like that

And he also didn't want people to look at him or you differently if you were to date and for people to be homophobic to y'all

And plus, if you weren't gay or thought of him like that and he confessed

He thought he would ruin your friendship

So for years Bill kept that inside, but people always questioned his sexuality and your friendship because you guys sometimes we're too close then two friends should be

And obviously, there was homophobia directed from media to you two and Bill didn't want to make it worse

He felt bad you still protected him from that and didn't want to tell you even more

Until one day, you confessed because you didn't want to hide it and Bill was shocked

You thought he didn't like you, and Bill was just surprised and he had to blurt out he liked you too

You guys stared at each other for a moment before Bill fucking kissed you!

He waited for years for that moment and he just wanted to let go and fucking kiss you!

And the smile on his face and your face was absolutely fucking worth the years!

He may still be hesitant to come out to the public, but that's okay

You guys together was all that really mattered

#tokio hotel #tokio hotel imagine #tokio hotel x reader #bill kaulitz #bill kaulitz imagines #bill kaulitz x reader #bill kaulitz x male reader #x male reader #male reader #tokio hotel x male reader

[my-soupy-brain]

can i request ted coming to the rescue after a night out when he notices your friends haven't been very nice? i feel fucking alone, man

OK, first off -- you don't deserve that. If that happened to you, I'm so sorry. And Ted would ABSOLUTELY rescue you and show you a wonderful time. Let me write something up for ya. Let's goooo!

---

Relationship: Ted Lasso x reader

Warnings: Hurt, comfort

---

Your friends invited you out to the pub for a get-together. Life had been busy so you were hoping for a fun night out, catching up, and laughing.

But instead, you felt like an outsider.

Jokes and stories between your friends who had seen more of each other than you had.

"Oh, sorry, inside joke," one of them said, not explaining it further as you tried to keep up.

Asking people about their lives was uncomfortable. You tried to make conversation but every time you inserted yourself, you got ignored. Even standing in a circle by the bar, you could feel yourself slowly getting pushed out.

Your phone chimes with a text from Ted:

Hope you're having fun, honeybunch! Making biscuits at home and saving a few for you! xoxo

You bit back tears that gathered. He wanted you to have a good night. You wanted to have a good night.

"God, why do you look so sad?" your friend asked with a tinge of irritation.

You shrugged and tried to pass it off. "I'm OK, I've just been really tired."

"Go home then," she answered. It felt like a stab in the heart.

Not once had they asked how you were doing. Or how they could support you. Or even that they missed you.

You turn around to text Ted back:

Not going so well. I don't think they like me anymore. It feels really...lonely...

You saw three dots light up, Ted responding.

And then they disappeared.

Alone. Again. You take a deep breath and turn back around to the group, and they're chattering on, barely noticed you returned to the circle.

You order another cocktail to help you feel like your hands had something to do. Halfway through it, you felt a familiar touch on your hip from a large, warm hand.

"Hey there, sugar," Ted said, kissing the side of your head. Your friends gawked at you and at Ted, as if he was an outsider breaking up the party.

But instead he was rescuing you.

"Hi there, Ted Lasso," he says with a wide smile, holding out his hand to shake everyone's hands. "Nice to meet y'all."

One of your friends stifled a laugh, finding Ted a bit too folksy for her liking. You could've punched her.

But if Ted noticed, it changed nothing of his demeanor.

A song came on over the speakers in the pub, and Ted lit up.

"Hey, there, darlin'? May I have this dance?"

Your eyes turned into hearts. Like a damn walking heart emoji. You nodded enthusiastically and took his hand as he led you to the dance floor where a couple of other people were dancing.

Ted loved to dance. You weren't any good, but that didn't faze him or you. You just cut loose.

Ted smiled, holding your hand, twirling you around the floor, his arms around you, kissing your cheek, smiling with you.

Your friends watched in awe.

And a little jealousy.

All night they'd gone on and on about their dating life. How hot someone was, even though they'd been ghosted. How they were hanging on to a relationship where they were getting crumbs of attention.

You couldn't relate, because Ted was...well, Ted.

He was attentive and helpful. Comforting and kind. Sexy and passionate. You fit each other like puzzle pieces. You rescued him a little, too.

He outstretched his arm to you, holding your hand, twirling you around. Your smile was infectious for him, seeing you happy.

He'll be damned if he's gonna hear you're not having a good night out, after working so hard. So he'll be the man to change that.

People are watching the two of you dance. Your friends are looking on with a little envy, even.

But you weren't thinking about them. You were just watching Ted's hazel eyes twinkle in the lights of the pub, his smile, his adorable laugh. The feel of his warm hands with yours, his arms around you...

When the song ended, people around you clapped and you both took a comical bow.

Keeley and Roy waltzed in the door shortly after, joining you and Ted with a smile. Keeley gave you a hug, Roy said hello. And your friends stared with their mouths agape.

THE Roy Kent. Here. In the pub. And he's your...friend?

Keeley buys a drink and chats you up about things. She laughs with you, and before you know it, you're in your own unit with Roy, Keeley, and Ted, your arm around Ted's waist.

When the night ends and you all say your goodbyes, Ted holds your hand as you walk back to his flat.

"Thank you," you offer quietly next to him.

"For what, sugarbutt?" he asks with a smile.

"For being there. It felt so...weird tonight. Like they didn't like me. Or like life has moved on without me."

Ted stops and looks you in the eyes.

"We're all changin' all the time, darlin'. They are, you are. But you don't deserve to be treated with anything less than respect."

You nod, tears in the corner of your eyes.

"And it's OK if the road is a little bumpy. The right ones will stick around. People come and go all the time. Keep the folks close that mean the most to you, that bring you more joy than conflict."

Ted doesn't realize how wise he is when he talks, but you're rapt with his advice.

"You're amazing, and anyone is lucky to call you their friend."

You don't wait another second, throwing your arms around Ted and hugging him close. You don't say a word, just showing your thank-you with this hug.

Ted pulls away and kisses your lips gently.

"C'mon, sugar. Let's get you home. Those biscuits need a taste tester," he smiles, kissing your cheek.

---

First off, I'm sorry this happened. Second, you are a wonderful unicorn and you deserve love and respect. And even though we're just here on the interwebs, know you have friends here, too. Be good to yourself - you're a beautiful magical creature!

#ted lasso x reader #ted lasso fanfiction #ted lasso fanfic #ted lasso fluff #ted lasso x you

[snootlestheangel]

The Gaz/Soap Bromance

Y'all, I am 100% convinced that these two have like the best bromance in history.

Part of it is I believe Soap is super physically affectionate with the people he's closest to, and Gaz is one of them, as well as the one willing to put up with the most affection. Gaz just knows he's a target when he's laying on the couch. Price jokingly tells him to get a blanket with a target on it so Soap would know where to lay. Gaz is just chilling, talking to someone? Soap is there, leaning against him, sitting too close, etc. etc. I keep seeing a thing going around with Soap (platonically) kissing the 141 members and friends (if y'all know where/who started this please let me know), and I'm just thinking about Soap and Gaz being Like That. Just constantly "flirting" with each other, just lil smooches here and there, so many hugs that last a little longer than deemed appropriate.

Gaz knows how to comfort Soap when he's experiencing ~issues~ with the ADHD (I don't have it, but I am autistic and I've seen many things that ADHD people struggle with that I can relate to). Gaz just knows how to help him with boredom, how to help him with overstimulation, how to make sure he takes care of himself when he's having bad days, etc. They almost always do their workouts together, spotting for the other, and keeping each other company. They're almost never apart, even doing the most mundane tasks. Gaz can be cleaning his rifle and Soap is sitting on the table, rambling about something his mom told him the last time he called her.

It gets to the point that people think they're a couple, and Gaz panics when he hears that. Ghost and Soap are together, and it's not like they are trying to hide it, it's just Ghost is emotionally constipated and doesn't know how to show affection, especially in the presence of people he's not familiar with (aka the recruits). Soap, Gaz, and Price all know when he's being affectionate towards Soap because they know he doesn't show it the same way. Yeah, Soap is still physically affectionate towards him, but he also understands that Ghost has boundaries and doesn't like being touched that much (he does, just not in public if you catch my drift ;) teehee). He suddenly distances himself from Soap, who has a breakdown over it. I mean, that's his best friend! What did he do wrong? Ghost has to convince him it's not his fault, blah blah blah, and when Soap finally calms down enough to fall asleep, Ghost is hunting Gaz down.

Not because he suddenly became distant towards Soap. At least, not in the way you might think. He is going to berate Gaz for this, but not because "That's not how you should react to the rumors about you and Soap. You really hurt Soap, how could you do that?". NO, that's not AT ALL how Ghost reacts. Ghost is instead so distraught, not for Soap, but for Gaz. He knows how important Gaz's friendship is to Soap, and vice versa. He and Gaz have never really talked about Ghost and Soap being together, and Ghost is scared that Gaz has always been expecting Ghost to try and cut Gaz out of Soap's life.

But instead, Ghost apologizes. He apologizes on behalf of the dumb recruits that started the rumor. He apologizes on behalf of himself and Price for not putting a stop to it sooner. But most importantly, he apologizes as Soap's lover. He's sorry that Gaz felt Ghost would want him gone, but it can't be further from the truth.

"I need you in my life as much as Soap does. You have been there for him when I can't be, you match his energy when no one else can. You keep him grounded without making him feel like a burden. He needs you despite having me. I can't replace what the two of you have, that's not my relationship with him. I'm there as his lover, you're there as his brother. And I need you because I can walk away from base to go on mission without him and not be scared. Not be afraid that something's going to happen to my Johnny while I'm gone. I can feel safe leaving him behind because I know he's safe with you. I know he's got someone that loves him and will lay down their life for him. Johnny is not just for me to love, his heart's too big for just me." -Ghost when he finally catches Gaz.

Gaz and Ghost being fiercely protective of Soap after that. Gaz and Soap continue being themselves, safe and comfortable, while Ghost watches with a smile behind his mask. Gaz shuts down every accusation that he and Soap are together, fiercely defending the idea that men can be vulnerable with someone and not have to be sleeping with them. He defends their friendship by pointing out all the shit they've been through together, how they're a family Gaz has never had.

And maybe, yeah, Ghost gets a bit more possessive of his Johnny, and maybe it's encouraged by Gaz. And maybe, just maybe, Soap feels so incredibly safe to hug and love on the people in his life for the first time in a really long time.

And Soap is content. He's got the greatest friend a man could ask for, the most incredible lover anyone could desire, and a good family.

And Gaz is happy. He only wants the best for Soap at all costs, and seeing him being joyful because of Ghost gives him so much satisfaction, like he's finally done something right with his life.

And Ghost is at peace. He has someone to hold when it's dark out and the demons in his head are getting to be too much. He's got this radiant bolt of energy at his side. But he also can rest easy knowing that Johnny, his Johnny, is safe and happy. He's safe with or without Ghost on base because he's got Gaz. Ghost has another person he'd give his life for if that meant he could guarantee Soap's safety.

And Price? Price is just happy his boys are getting along. That is, until Soap and Gaz drag Ghost into their shenanigans and leave Price graying faster than he should.

#soapghost #ghostsoap #simon ghost riley #john soap mactavish #john soap mactavish x simon ghost riley #ghost call of duty #soap call of duty #soap and gaz bromance for the win #kyle gaz garrick #gaz modern warfare #gaz is a good friend #gaz and ghost bonding over their love of soap #john price #cod mw2 #john price is a dad

[suguwu]

lover be good to me: part two

You meet Kita Shinsuke on a rainy summer day, with a sea of hydrangeas swirling at your feet. You know him instantly, as only a soulmate can. He seems like a good man. Like a good soulmate.

But it’s your wedding day.

minors and ageless blogs do not interact.

<- part one - part three ->

pairings: kita shinsuke x f!reader, oc x f!reader

notes: and part two is here! i am once again so excited to be able to share this fic with y'all. thank you again to everyone who has sat thru me yelling at them about this fic—it means the world! and a special thank you to my beta for getting through this beast and getting it into tip-top shape <3

title and part title are from hozier’s “be” and “nfwmb”

tags for this part (contains spoilers for fic): soulmate au (first words), this is a very reader-centric story, slow burn, pining, hurt/comfort, reader and kita are implied to be around their 30s, non-graphic partner death (not kita), anxiety, borderline panic attack, food consumption, love as a choice.

wc: 16k

Shinsuke almost catches you.

You’re still whirling around to run, a jewelry box ballerina wobbling in place desperate to stay on her feet, when his fingers graze your wrist. They’re warm. Callused. They trace along the delicate skin there, sending sparks skittering beneath your skin.

His fingers flex, start to close around your wrist.

But they don’t.

They fall away, until there’s only the ghost of him lingering on your skin. He speaks too, his steady voice almost pleading, but your thrumming heartbeat is filling your ears and echoing inside you, a wild hymn of instinct.

His touch falls away and you’re through the shoji before you realize where you’ve gone. You whip past your friends, their shocked expressions blurring at the edges like watercolors, and into the hallway. 

It hurts to breathe.

You dart into one of the shrine’s empty tea rooms, chest heaving. You slam the shoji shut behind you and sink to the floor, your shiromuku pooling around you, gleaming like moonlight in the dim. You knot your fingers in the fabric. Your fingertips brush over the heavy embroidery, over the graceful sweep of a crane’s wing, and your grip tightens. 

Your chest aches, a bruise of a thing; the red string of fate wound fast around you, your ribs its spindle, cinching tighter with each passing moment. The world wavers. 

You come back to yourself on the other side of the room. You’ve shed your shiromuku; it’s in the middle of the room, an empty husk; a cocoon broken open too early. Your next breath is shaky.

Faintly, you can hear people rushing through the hallway. Their voices wash over you like waves on a distant shore. You bury your face in your hands.

You don’t look up when the door opens. Abe and Yoshikawa have always been able to find you, no matter where you hide.

The door shuts, and then—

“Hi,” Takao says.

You go stiff.

“Hi,” you say, refusing to look up. 

You feel Takao settle next to you; the fabric of his kimono is soft against you. He sets his hand on your knee. He’s warm, as always. It’s the soft heat of freshly washed sheets, of the spring sun’s tender touch. You curl into him. 

It feels like home.

Quiet falls. It settles between the two of you like the night, a shroud of your own making. Takao leans back. He sighs; it sounds like it comes from between the gaps in his ribs, from the very depths of him. 

It sounds like saying goodbye.

“Please don’t leave me,” you say, and you sound small even to yourself.

“I think that’s my line.”

You wonder if the words taste as bitter as they sound. If they linger sour on his tongue. Takao seems to realize it at the same moment, but he doesn’t apologize, and you don’t ask him to.

“I’m not going to leave you,” you say. 

He hums skeptically, low and resonant, and it chips away at your bones, scrapes you down to your very marrow.

“I’m not,” you insist, low and desperate. You barely recognize yourself. But you want to keep Takao, to keep this man you’ve spent years learning, spent years loving. Leaving him would carve you open and Kita may be your soulmate, but even the most careful stitches can’t always keep a wound shut. “We said it didn’t matter.” 

“We did,” he says. “But I think it might.”

“He’s a stranger, Aoshi,” you say. “I don’t know him, not the way I know you. Not the way I love you.”

“It’s different, though, isn’t it?” he asks. “With soulmates.”

“It doesn’t have to be.” 

“But it is.”

You swallow down the sob.

He shifts next to you, giving you more space to curl into him. You take it, burrowing into his side and pressing your face against the soft fabric of his haori. He sighs.

“Do you feel—” he starts. You can feel the way the words rumble in his chest. He stops and runs a hand through his hair; he blows out a big breath. “Do you feel connected to him?”

You bite at your bottom lip. You remember Shinsuke in the sea of silken hydrangeas, the deep blue of them eddying around his legs like the tide as he moved through them. You think of how your eyes had caught on him then. How his companion had faded into the background. 

How well you’d known the taste of his name on your tongue.

“I don’t know,” you say. 

“Yes, then.”

“I don’t know, Aoshi,” you snap. “I don’t know anything except that we were supposed to get married today and now it’s all—”

“Fucked,” he says when you trail off. “It’s all fucked.”

You nod, sniffling miserably. 

“I think we need some space,” he says.

“From?”

“Each other.” 

You pull away from him.

“What?”

“I think we need some space from each other,” he repeats. He’s not looking at you, his dark eyes focused straight ahead, as if he can see through the shoji and find all the answers right there. 

You want to shake him.

“I don’t need space from you,” you bite out. “I need you.”

He runs a hand through his hair. “Fine,” he says. “I need space from you.”

“Aoshi, what? Please, I don’t understand.”

He blinks. His eyelashes are wet; they’re clumping together. There’s a stray one caught on his cheek like a dandelion seed. You catch yourself before you reach for it.

“You have a choice to make,” he says. “And I don’t think I can watch you do it.”

“My choice is you!”

He looks at you, then. He looks at you, his eyes night-sky dark, and there is something terribly tender to him when he says, “I don’t think you know that yet.” 

You sob. 

It’s pulled from somewhere deep inside you, an animal sound that you didn’t know you were capable of making, something that lives behind your bones. It guts you, that sob, flays you open from neck to navel. 

Takao sucks in a sharp breath. His hand flexes by his side. You sob again, softer this time, but no less wounded for it. 

“You’re not being fair,” you tell him. 

“Neither are you.”

You grit your teeth, wondering if there’s such a thing as fairness, in a moment like this. You think it’s unlikely. 

“You don’t get to make my choice for me,” you snap.

“There are no choices being made today,” says a new voice, and you close your eyes as your mother’s perfume wafts around you. She smells of summer irises and the honeyed earth of saffron, and you breathe her in as she gathers you into her arms.

You curl up into her, a child once more, and start to cry in earnest.

“Go,” she says to Takao. If she says anything else, you can’t hear it over your own sobs, over the great, gasping breaths wracking your body. 

You feel Takao leave, the warmth of him fading away, and it takes everything you have to not reach out to him. You sob again, choking on his name.

“Oh, tadpole,” your mother says. She presses a kiss to your temple. “Let him go for now.”

“I’m supposed to be getting married,” you tell her.

“I know, tadpole.”

“Why is this happening?”

She cradles you close. “I wish I knew.”

“You said—”

“I know.”

“Mama,” you murmur. “Mama, what do I do?”

“I don’t know, tadpole,” she says, and you feel one of her hands shift to press against her stomach, to cradle her own soulmark’s blackened kanji. “I don’t know.”

You turn your face into the crook of her neck and cry all over again.

She hums to you, soft and soothing, but lets you cry your fill. She pets at your back, her strong hand firm, keeping you grounded in your own skin. 

Your sobs have just started to abate when the phone rings.

It cuts through the heavy air of the tearoom like a knife. Both of you jolt with it, and you furrow your brow. It’s a classic ringtone, the one all phones come with, and you immediately know whose phone it is.

You push yourself up and out of your mother’s arms glancing to where your shiromuku still lays, a collapsed chrysalis. You chew on your lower lip but go to it, kneeling in front of the beautiful fabric and picking it up carefully until you can see Shinsuke’s utilitarian flip phone. It jingles, the ringtone continuing, and you reach for it with trembling fingers.

Miya Osamu, the lit screen reads. 

You sit with the phone cupped softly in your hands, your pulse thrumming. You trace a finger over the edge of it. 

You flip it open before you can convince yourself otherwise.

“Hello?” you ask.

“You picked up,” Shinsuke says.

You suck in a sharp breath. You had known, but it’s so different hearing his voice. The steadiness of it, even though the edges of it sound worn down. 

“I did.”

“I wasn’t sure you would.”

“Me neither,” you confess. 

“Are you alright?”

 You close your eyes. This would all be so much easier if he wasn’t good. But you know he is—you can hear it in his voice, in how earnestly he asks.

“Not really,” you say. The least you can do is give him the truth. “I assume you need your phone back?”

He goes quiet. You listen to him breathe and something in you aches, like a healing bruise being pressed. You wish you were better, that you were kinder, that you could handle this with grace instead of inelegantly side-stepping it. 

“Yes,” he says. “And I’d like to talk.”

You bite your lip. “Yeah,” you say. “We probably should.”

The two of you agree to meet in the tearoom in thirty minutes which is good, because even with your shiromuku shed, the kimono you wear is clearly wedding garb. It’s beautiful in its simplicity, stark white and painstakingly stitched, and you desperately need to be out of it.

It’s your mother who helps you disrobe, her fingers careful as she unwraps the pristine obi, the gossamer fabric as delicate as a spider’s web gleaming in the low light of the room. You stare out the window as the attendant takes it and folds it up for storage. She’s glancing at you occasionally, her dark eyes wide, and you wonder what she’ll tell the people she knows. How she’ll spin the story of your misfortune. If she will tell it as a blessing instead.

The obi is followed by the kimono itself slipping from your shoulders like water, and your mother brushes a hand against your cheek before she hands you your street clothing. She and the attendant leave you to remove the rest yourself. You leave the nagajuban pooled on the floor as you dress. 

Once you’re dressed you wander over to your kimono, carefully hung next to your shiromuku. The attendant has smoothed most of the wrinkles from the silk, and you trace a finger over the long lines of it. 

You wonder if you’ll ever get to wear it again.

By the time the attendant returns to retrieve the garments you’re sitting by the window, staring out into the pouring rain. The lush plants of the courtyard—heavy, ruffled ferns with massive fronds and vining shrubs with blossoms like little stars dotted between verdant leaves—sway under its touch, dancing to a tune that only nature knows. 

Behind you, the shoji clicks open and shut.

You turn around.

Shinsuke gives you a soft smile. It’s wan, but there’s still a sweetness to it somehow. His hat is gone; his gray hair gleams silver in the light, the black tips all the darker for it, and you think again of thunderclouds. 

“You’ve been crying,” he says, his brow furrowed, and that almost sends you into a fresh wave of tears. 

You let out a watery laugh. “A bit,” you admit. “It’s fine, though.”

He watches you, those vulpine eyes shining. He clearly doesn’t agree. 

“Here,” you say, reaching out. “Your phone.”

He moves closer and takes it from you with quiet thanks. He lingers there and you bite your bottom lip, trying to figure out what to even say to him. 

“I’m sorry for running,” you say.

He smiles, soft and sad. “I understand.”

“I just—I don’t even know where to start.”

“That’s alright,” he says calmly. “We have time.”

We. He says it so easily. Your stomach roils.

“I can’t,” you say. “I can’t do this.”

Shinsuke’s expression doesn’t change, but he’s different suddenly, like a guttering flame finally blowing out. You swallow down a sob. 

“I understand if you need space,” he says. It’s barely there, a wisp of a thing, but there’s pain in his voice. “I know this isn’t easy.”

Your laugh is wild at the edges, an unraveling stitch. “If we’d met an hour later, I would have been married.” 

His fingers flex. 

“I just—” you catch yourself as your voice cracks. Your lips are tingling; you bite down on the bottom one to make it stop. “I can’t do this right now. Please. Shinsuke, please.”

The tilt of his lips is edged with sorrow. “It’s fine,” he tells you. “We’ll trade phone numbers for now.” 

“Thank you,” you whisper. “Thank you.”

He nods. You trade phones, his fingers sweeping over your palm. They’re callused, rough against your skin, and you feel the ghost of them long after he’s drawn back. When you take your phone back, you’re careful to keep from touching him. 

Kita Shinsuke, his contact reads, and you can’t help saying it aloud, letting your tongue roll over each inch of his full name now that you know it. 

Shinsuke—no, you think, he’s Kita, stranger that he is to you—smiles. He says your name too, his voice soft like the spring sun. Your stomach churns. 

“Thanks,” you say, drawing back into yourself, curling up like a fern frond. “We’ll—we’ll talk soon.”

He looks like he wants to say something else, but he must see something in your face because he simply nods. There’s something you can’t quite understand tucked up secret in the corner of his mouth. 

“Alright,” he says. “Soon.” 

He glances back at you once, just before he disappears into the hallway. 

The shoji has barely clicked shut behind him when it’s opened again and Abe and Yoshikawa tumble into the room. They sweep you into their arms without a word and your knees give out. They cradle you as they lower you to the floor, and Yoshikawa hums quietly as you knot your fingers in their kimonos. 

“C’mon,” Abe says, the gentlest you’ve ever heard her. “Let’s get you home.” 

“Aoshi’s not there,” you sob. 

Yoshikawa’s grip tightens. 

“That’s fine,” she says, as steady as the sun’s rise, “because we will be.” 

***

You wake to sunlight streaming in through your window. It cradles you like a lover, plays gently over your face, and you wrinkle your nose. 

“Aoshi,” you grumble, “you forgot to close the curtains last night.”

There’s no response.

You crack an eye open, peering to the other side of the bed only to find it empty. When you press your hand against the worn cotton sheet, it’s cold. 

It all comes pouring back in, a riptide of memories washing over you like a stormy sea. 

“Oh,” you say quietly, curling up so that your knees are pressed against your chest. You blink back the tears. “Right.” 

The sunlight thickens, pools like molten gold around you, and you turn your face up to it, a winter flower searching for warmth. You don’t know how long you stay like that; you’re only roused by the faint sound of clattering in the kitchen followed by the purr of your coffee maker. The scent of it fills the house, and you put on your house slippers.

When you enter the kitchen your father is snipping away at your neglected bonsai, trimming the needles back with careful, sure hands. He glances up at you. 

“Hi,” you say.

“Hi,” he says. “You’re terrible at taking care of this.” 

“Thanks.”

“You’re welcome,” he says, putting down the pruning shears. “Did you sleep?”

“Yeah, I did.”

“Good.” 

“Yeah,” you say, and quiet falls. 

His lips have a faint downward tilt as he watches you, like a waning moon. He sighs, thumbing at the soil of the bonsai. There’s a flash of his soulmark, blackened into a charcoal smear, a gravestone all its own. Your eyes catch on it.

“Did you love your soulmate more?” you ask. “Was it better with her?”

“Oh, tadpole,” your father says. He comes over and takes your hand, squeezing it lightly. “It was different. Not better, not worse. Just different.” 

“But did you love her more?”

“I loved her differently.”

“You keep saying that, but what does it mean?” you ask, pulling away from him. “Either you loved her more or you didn’t!” 

He sighs. “It isn’t that easy,” he tells you.

“It is!” 

“It isn’t, tadpole.”

“It has to be.”

“It’s not black and white when it comes to soulmates,” he says gently. “You know that.”

“I want it to be,” you whisper. “It’d be easier.” 

“It would be,” he agrees. “It would be.” 

“I don’t know what to do.”

He sighs. “You don’t have to know, not right this minute.”

“What if I never know?”

He hums, picking up the pruning shears again. He brushes a soft hand over the bonsai tree, tracing over a winding branch, his fingers reverent against the old bark. A few blue-green needles come loose, pattering down to the counter. He sets the pruning shears against a branch and the blades flash, catching the light as they come together. He catches the little branch as it falls. 

When he looks up, he looks right past you. You think of early morning mist, how it swallows a person down.

“You will,” he says.

You let out a breath you hadn’t realized you were holding. His gaze flickers to you and when he smiles, it feels like something you aren’t meant to see.

The coffee pot gurgles. It breaks the spell and your father’s smile warms at the edges, smoothing out the tender gash of his mouth. 

“I made it the way you like it,” he says. “I thought you might need it.”

“Yeah,” you say. “I think I do.”

You’re halfway through your first cup when your mother emerges, already fully dressed for the day. She looks you over from head to toe and her face softens, goes sweet at the edges. 

“Did you sleep?” she asks.

You nod.

“Good.” 

“Where are you going?” you ask.

“The shrine,” she says.

You wince.

“Don’t worry about it,” she says. “I’ll take care of it.”

“Take care of what?”

“There’s a soulmate clause in the contract,” she says carefully. “They’re required to refund you. Mei is meeting me though, and she thinks the clause is loosely worded enough that she can get them to hold a different day for you instead, if you’d like. It’ll likely be a less auspicious rokuyo day, but—”

“But if I marry Aoshi, it might be the best I can get.”

She nods. “At least you’ll have options.”

“I guess. Mei’s going?”

Mei is an old friend of your mother’s and one of her prime sources for her study, a veritable treasure trove of data. She’s made for the courtroom, tiny and calm and whip-smart, and her grasp of soulmate law—tricky at the best of times, highly scrutinized as it is—is unparalleled. 

“Yes,” she says. “We’ll take care of it.”

“Thank you.”

She comes over to you and cups your cheek. You lean into the touch, into the saffron scent lingering on her skin. “You aren’t alone, tadpole,” she murmurs. 

You close your eyes. “I know.”

She pats your cheek lightly. “Good,” she says. 

You miss her warmth when she pulls away. 

She takes her purse from your father; they murmur to each other. Your father leans forward to press his forehead against hers and you look away. 

The door clicks shut behind her, and your father starts to hum, low and off-key. The quiet, off-beat snick of the shears accompanies him. It’s like being a child all over again, and you settle into the hazy familiarity of it. 

The morning stretches on. Yoshikawa and Abe appear during your second cup of coffee, and they drag you out to the new cafe you’ve been meaning to try. It’s a creperie filled with hazy pinks and soft greens, the warm air scented sweet. The three of you squish into a small booth as you have so many times before.

They keep you busy, plying you with sugary crepes dipped in rich, thick chocolate and decorated with fresh, perfectly red strawberries. They’re cut into little fans, pressed softly into the chocolate, almost like small flowers in the dough. The three of you peel them out of their paper cones, licking at your fingertips like little kids. You swap flavors, trading bite for bite.

You close your eyes as you reclaim your own crepe from Abe, sinking into the taste of it, letting the sugar wash everything away. Abe laughs, loud and bright, accompanied by the low purr of Yoshikawa’s voice. You let the sound of them encompass you and wonder how you ever got so lucky.

You check your phone as you leave the creperie. You bite at your cheek as your phone screen comes to life, Takao’s little smile carving out a piece of your heart. It’s an old photo from when you first got together, and it’s still a favorite even after all these years. 

Abe takes your free hand and squeezes it softly. She doesn’t say anything, but then again she doesn’t need to. 

There’s still no message when you go home. Dusk is falling, the last fingers of sunlight playing across the horizon, and you hesitate on your own doorstep. Yoshikawa coaxes you inside with a firm hand on your back. When you glance back at her, her dark eyes are sharp but kind. 

Once you’re inside, you can’t decide what is worse: Takao not being home, or the fact that he was. His favorite jacket is missing from the closet; his to-go mug isn’t by the coffee machine. One of the dresser drawers is still cracked open. 

Yoshikawa and Abe talk to you, but you can’t quite hear them. They bundle you onto the couch and stay until late, when you finally shake the cobwebs from your thoughts. Abe bites her lip when you shoo them out the door, but she goes without a fight. 

The house is quiet as you get ready for bed. The bed feels vast, too big for just you. You reach for your phone perched carefully on the nightstand, untangling the charger from the trailing vines of the pothos it’s by so you can pull it closer. You squint against the brightness, texting Takao a simple good night.

He doesn’t reply.

You hadn’t known the living could haunt, but you go to sleep curled up around a ghost. 

***

You go back to work. 

There’s still days left of your soulmate leave, but you need the distraction. You ignore the quiet whispers and bury yourself beneath a new project. Caught up in your work you float through the day, only coming up for air when your phone vibrates. You snatch it up each time, but it’s only stray notifications—a news alert; a pop-up saying that the recipe blog Yoshikawa likes updated; your IC card balance. 

It’s never what you want it to be.

It carries on for two days; each day you wait for the ping of Takao’s text, but you receive nothing.  On the second day you wrap up your day late, staying behind to finish off a few notes on the new project. It’s not as if you have anything better to do.

The sun has set by the time you’re on your way home. The city has bloomed into a neon wonderland, little shocks of color blazing through the night. You watch a black cat scuttle across the sidewalk, its fur glinting fuschia from the nearby izakaya’s sign.

Your neighborhood is quieter but it still has the hum of the city to it, a familiar song. There’s a sweet scent on the breeze, courtesy of the night-blooming flowers that coat the building next to yours. You trace your fingertips over a delicate petal. It’s silken against your skin, and you sigh, turning to your home before coming to a quick halt. 

Golden light is slanting out your kitchen window. It pools warmly on the ground, and you suck in a harsh breath, almost running to your door. It opens with a click. You step inside and for a moment, the genkan looks undisturbed. But then you see Takao’s shoes tucked carefully into the getabako; his house slippers are missing. There’s a quiet rustle from the kitchen’s direction.

You slip off your shoes and drop your bag into its place.

“Hello?” you call out, wincing at how timid you sound. 

The rustling stops. It starts again, and Takao rounds the corner just a few seconds later. 

“Hi,” he says shyly. “You’re home late.” 

“Worked late,” you say. “You’re back.”

“I am.”

You’re across the room in seconds, and he wraps you up in his arms as you barrel into him. 

“Please stay,” you say, knotting the soft cotton of his shirt up in your fingers. You can feel the slow rise and fall of his chest. Something in you warms. “Please.”  

He cups the nape of your neck, the warm span of his palm soft against the tender flesh there. You breathe him in, still nestled in tightly against him. 

“You didn’t respond to me,” you murmur. 

“I said I needed space.” 

“It was just a good night text.”

“Let’s not do this,” he says. 

Something in you wants to drag it out. To make him hurt the way you hurt. But you bite back on that part of you, swallow the poison down. 

“Are you staying?”

He sighs and you go very, very still. 

“I am.”

You slump into him with a sigh of relief. He cradles you close.

“You scared me,” you tell him. 

“I know.”

“Don’t do it again.”

“I’ll try not to.” 

“Good.”

“You know, this is what I was afraid of, all those years ago,” he murmurs, brushing a kiss against your hairline. “That I wouldn’t be able to let you go if your soulmate came. And that I’d have to worry about you leaving me.”

“How many times are you going to make me say it?” you ask, gritting your teeth. “I’ve told you, I’m not leaving you.”

“You might.”

“We’ve been together for years,” you say, pulling back so you can meet his dark eyes. “He’s a stranger. He wants an idea, not me. Not really. So no, I’m not.”  

He sweeps his thumb over the apple of your cheek. He doesn’t say anything, but he doesn’t need to.

You kiss him then, a featherlight brush of your lips that lasts for just a breath before you pull back. He cups your jaw and chases you. He kisses you again. Deeper, more solid. When he pulls back, you open your eyes and look at him.

“I’m not, Aoshi,” you say. “I know. Trust me.”

He watches you. His eyes remind you of a summer’s night, encompassing and pitch-black, but warm. Always warm. He searches your face, his gaze so intent that it feels physical.

He nods.

You let out a low, soft breath.

Now you have to talk to Kita.

***

It takes time.

Your work’s soulmate leave is generous, but Kita is at the whim of his farm. The rice paddies don’t care about soulmates nor do they pay attention to weekends. And devoted as he is, he heeds their call, nature his kindest mistress.

It makes you think of Toyooka. You know the song of the fields, the rustle of the rice in the countryside breeze, an age-old tune that’s sunk into the soil. This close to harvest the verdant fields go Midas-touched, gilded with the sweetest hint of gold.

You wonder what Kita’s farm looks like. If it looks like the summers of your youth. If he sits on the engawa in the hot months, eating crisp watermelon down to the white bone of the rind, juice dripping sticky down his fingers. If the taste curls thick on his tongue, sweet with the countryside’s unique freedom.

He’d offered his farm as a meeting point early on, but without a car it’s too far. It’s too personal as well. He’s sown into the soil there, living in each grain he’s tended to. You think his hands were kind against the rice shoots, his long, thick fingers careful as he planted them. 

It’s too much, the idea of being surrounded by him. 

Your home is out of the question because it’s not just yours. 

You couldn’t do that to Takao, not when he’s stitched into every seam of your home. He’s in every atom of it—the slight imprint of his form in the memory foam mattress; his toothbrush, half-flattened by how hard he brushes, tucked neatly into a cup by the sink; the photos that line the walls, a tapestry of silken years woven together. 

It’s also the one thing Takao’s asked of you.

(“Don’t bring him here,” he says one night, his voice flat. 

You pause in the middle of drying a dish. He holds out the next, still soaked to the point that it’s dripping on the floor, and you hurry to finish. It almost slips through your fingers when he lets it go.

“I wouldn’t,” you say fiercely, even though you’d thought about it for one brief second. “I wouldn’t do that to you.”

“Okay.”

“Do you think I would do that to you?” you ask him, setting the dish onto the rack. He hands you another, and you take it without thought. 

Takao blinks. He turns to look at you, and his expression is beautiful and terrible, a tender underbelly flayed open.

“No,” he says. “I don’t, not really. I just want this home to have always been ours. Just ours. I just—wanted to be sure, I guess.” 

You reach out and cup his face, cradling it between your palms. “It is,” you tell him. “It’s just ours. It’ll always be ours.”

He considers you. “Good,” he says, and he catches your hand in his. He turns his head; he presses a kiss against your palm. It’s devout, that brush of softness from his lips against the ley lines of your skin, as if he’s an acolyte at your altar, laying offerings at your feet.

The two of you press together for a moment, the warmth of his lips searing through your skin to settle in your bones. You take up his hand and press your own kiss to the center of his palm. His eyes go half-mast, and you can feel his smile against your skin. 

He pulls back. Squeezes your hand softly, and then he’s turning back to the sink, already reaching for another dish. 

You stand there for a moment. Your hand has gone cold without the heat of his skin. You flex your fingers, trying to make sense of the dread creeping over you. 

Takao glances at you. He smiles, sweet and fleeting, a dandelion tuft caught in the breeze. For a breath, you’re in high school again, gazing at a boy you’ve never spoken to but spent hours with, the two of you balanced on a precipice. And then the past fades, until you are left with who Takao is now. With who he has become to you.

You smile back, and then take the next plate he hands you.

It’s easy, after that. He washes, and you dry, a rhythm you’d know anywhere. Takao is swaying, humming along with the radio, and he laughs when you start to sway with him, your hips bumping each time. 

He doesn’t bring Kita up again.)

With both your homes off-limits, you’re back to square one.

Finally, Kita decides to drive to you. 

You choose a little coffee shop on the outskirts of the city, both to shorten the drive for Kita and for its familiarity, a cradle of comfort for a conversation you’ll never truly be ready to have.  

It’s a charming place, more rustic than modern with little wooden tables and shelves draped with plants, their lush vines hanging down behind the counter. It’s always warm, the sunlight streaking through the windows to paint the counters golden. The shop is studded with flowers too, bright buds spilling over the lip of water pitchers in a froth of color. Coffee is heavy on the air but a note of sweetness threads through it, a sugary bite of fruit. The pastries are made in-house and you know they’re sinfully good, little melt-in-your mouth slices of heaven. 

You’ve eaten three since getting here. You’re on your second drink too having gulped down the first one—scalding your tongue in the process—so quickly that even the barista had seemed surprised. 

It’s your own fault, really—you were almost a full half hour early. With nothing to do but wait, you’re all tangled up in yourself. 

The woman tapping away on her laptop in the corner pauses to eye you warily as you shred another napkin. You’d folded this one into a lopsided origami bird before beheading it. You send her a polite smile; she turns back to her laptop without a word.

You try to make another origami animal but you can’t remember any other patterns. You could make an army of birds you suppose, but after the fifth one you run out of napkins. When you consider getting more, the look on the barista’s face keeps you in your seat. You slouch down into it, your cheeks warm.

You look up just as Kita enters, the little bell at the top of the door chiming quietly. He finds you instantly, his amber eyes settling on you as soon as he’s through the door. He smiles, warm like the spring sun, his eyes crinkling with it. 

He’s as handsome as you remember, leanly muscled with broad shoulders and casually graceful as he walks to your table. In the cafe lighting his gray hair goes silvery, bright against the black tips of it, and you think of a moon being eclipsed.

“Hello,” Kita says, holding out a hand when you start to get up. “S’fine, you don’t need to get up.”

“Oh,” you say, caught awkwardly between sitting and standing. A smile drifts across Kita’s face like a summer breeze, a quick, soothing thing. You cough and sit back down. “Hi.”

The two of you are quiet for a moment. He’s watching you, drinking you in, and his eyes remind you of a sunlit forest, of the way the sun’s rays drip down between the trees like honey. It aches, the way he looks at you. It’s soft and sure. Steady and open and earnest.

Kita looks at you like you help make the world make a little bit more sense.

His gaze flickers down to the tabletop, and that same small smile blooms on his lips. 

You suddenly remember your mini-army of origami birds, including their headless leader. You fight the urge to close your eyes in mortification.

“You should order something,” you say, fidgeting with your cup. “Their coffee’s nice.” 

“Alright. D’ya want another?” he asks. “I’ll get it for you.”

You shake your head. “No,” you say. “Thank you, though.” 

“You sure?”

“Yeah,” you say, and he nods.

When he goes to the counter to order you hurriedly sweep the remains of your shredded napkins away, wincing as they flutter into your purse. Some of them stick to your sweaty palms, and you rub them vigorously against your thighs until they curl up into little paper pearls. They patter to the ground quietly. You send out a quiet mental apology to the cafe workers.

“You alright?” Kita asks. He settles down across from you and you envy his assuredness, how serene he looks.

You nod, not trusting your voice.

He eyes you for a moment, those golden eyes all too knowing. But he doesn’t say anything, choosing instead to wind his hands—lightly tanned and slender, with a constellation of small scars scattered over his skin—around his cup.

It’s tea, you think, the faintest hint of it reaching your nose, and it fits him in a way you can’t quite put into words. There’s a hint of a smile on his lips as he takes a small sip and you look away. 

“I’m glad we could meet,” he says.

“Yeah,” you say, already wishing you had another napkin to shred. “I think it’s important to talk.”

“It is, but I just wanted to see you.” 

He says it so simply. Kita speaks with the surety of the sun’s rise; he means every word he says. There’s a sweetness to him that could only come from earnesty. He leaves no room for doubt.

You break in the face of it.

“I can’t be with you,” you blurt out.

He goes still. The smile on his lips fades. “What?”

“I can’t be with you,” you repeat. 

“We’re soulmates,” he says, and it’s the most rattled you’ve ever heard him. His fingers flex. He looks lost, those amber eyes hazy, and you think of the morning mist, how it swallows down the sun. There’s a tiny quiver to his lips.

“I know.”

“We’re supposed to be together,” he says.

You ache for him.

“I’m sorry,” you choke out. “But that’s not enough. I can’t leave him. I don’t want to leave him.”

Kita’s quiet. The silence stretches on. And then—

“You love ‘im,” he says softly. 

You nod. 

“You’re happy?”

You nod again.

Kita leans forward and cups your cheek. He skims his thumb over your cheekbone, a careful glide. It comes away wet, his skin salt-kissed, and you lean into his calloused palm.

He wipes away another tear. His touch has the same aching tenderness of a fresh, swollen bruise. 

“Okay,” he says. “I can live with that.”

That quiet, easy capitulation makes it worse. You can see he means it; it’s reflected in his eyes. If you’re happy, that’s enough for him. 

Your stomach hurts.

You sniffle, pulling away from his warm touch and wiping at your eyes. Your cheeks are hot, and they get hotter as you see a few people glancing your way. Kita lets out a slow, deep breath. 

“I’m sorry,” you say, staring down at your coffee cup. “I’m so sorry.”

“I know.” 

It’s not an “it’s okay,” but you suppose that would have been asking for a lot from him. You look at him from underneath your eyelashes and find that his amber eyes are distant, like the sun at the very edge of the horizon. 

You wonder where he’s gone, and then think that perhaps it’s best that you don’t know. You fidget with your cup. The porcelain of it scrapes against the table, and Kita’s eyes clear. Still, they’re not as keen as they usually are, and you shift in your seat. He takes in a soft breath, a whisper of a thing, and then his eyes flicker to you. 

“I’d like to stay in contact with you,” he says. 

You jolt, almost knocking your cup off the table. “What?”

“I would rather have you in my life.” 

“Shin—Kita, that’s not fair to you.”

“Please call me Shinsuke.”

You ache for him, something bone deep that no salve will help subside. “That’s exactly why this isn’t fair,” you say gently. “You’re going to want more than I can give you, and we both know it.”

“I know,” he says. His eyes are keen as they flicker over you; the tilt of his mouth makes you look away. “And I’m sorry. But I won’t ask anything of you, except for this.” 

“Kita—”

His fingers flex, but he doesn’t correct you. 

“Are you sure this is what you want?” you ask. Your hands are trembling; the words are sour on your tongue, the lemon tang of a promise that’s going to hurt. 

“Yes,” he says, steady as stone.

You sigh. “Okay,”  you say. “Okay.”

“Thank you.”

You nod, toying with a sugar packet as he sips at his tea. You fold and unfold the edge of the package, until the paper starts to wear thin, a few tiny crystals of sugar spilling loose to plink against the table. 

The silence that falls is heavy, weighing you down like an anchor. There’s the quiet background noise of the cafe: the chatter of the barista and other customers, the soft tinkle of the bell as someone else enters, the hiss and purr of the espresso machine, but it seems distant. 

“I’m gonna go,” you say abruptly. “I think that’s for the best.”

You’re already starting to gather up your things when Kita stands. “It’s okay,” he says. “You should stay. I need to be gettin’ back to the farm anyway.”

“You just got here,” you say helplessly. “You drove all this way.”

He glances at you. His expression is complicated; you can’t quite parse it.

“I drove here for you,” he says gently. 

You open your mouth and close it again, a koi-like gape. You sit down slowly, settling into the booth again. He picks up his cup of tea—still piping hot, little wisps of steam rising from it like smoke—and gives you a little smile that doesn’t quite reach his striking eyes.

“Get home safe,” he says. 

“You too,” you say faintly.

You watch him leave, the way each of his steps is steady and sure. You don’t think you’ve ever known someone so at home in their own skin. But there’s a curve to his shoulders now, the broad width of them collapsed inward. It’s minute but it’s there, and your stomach roils again, a sour brew of emotion welling up in you. 

He pauses to ask the barista something; she gives him a to-go cup and watches as he carefully pours his tea into it. He hands back the other cup with a little nod of his head. 

The cafe door clicks shut behind him, bell chiming, a clear, porcelain sound that cuts through the chatter of the cafe. You resist the urge to bury your face in your hands, choosing instead to look down into your nearly-empty cup. The dregs of it are dark, and you wonder if your future is written out in them. 

You blow out a soft breath and scrub at your face with your hands. When you glance up, the barista is carefully not looking your way. To avoid seeing the way her lips have twisted, you glance out the window into the haze of the mid-morning sun, still spilling golden over the tiny parking lot. You immediately balk. 

Kita’s still there. 

He’s in his truck, half-hidden by the glare of sun against the windows, but you know it’s him. You can’t see his eyes, but you can tell he’s staring straight ahead. His mouth is a thin, tight line. You chew on your lower lip.

One hand comes up to scour beneath his eyes. It comes away with a wet sheen catching the sunlight and shining bright. You wince, glancing away.

You stare down into your coffee cup again. When you down the last of it, the dregs of it, it’s sharp and bitter on your tongue.

It almost erases the heavy, metallic tang of guilt.

Almost.

***

Your phone pings.

You grab it without looking away from your monitor, typing in your passcode one-handed as you mutter the last line of the email to yourself. You flick the notification to pull up the text without checking the name and pause.

It’s a picture of the rice fields, rippling in the breeze like a current, the stalks going gilded as harvest draws closer. Beyond the sea of them there are rolling hills of green with only a few power structures—standing tall on their metal legs as they reach into the sky—to mark a human presence. It’s all framed by the bluest sky you’ve ever seen, filled with puffy white clouds that you think are likely being whisked along by the breeze. 

It’s so vivid you can almost smell the fresh air. 

There’s also only one person that could have sent it to you. 

Trying to keep in contact with Kita has been an exercise in awkwardness. You feel bad but you’re trying to figure out how to temper it, since you’re caught between what you know he wants and what you’re capable of giving him. 

To his credit, Kita never pushes. You suspect that he prefers calling—he seems the type—but he mainly texts, following your lead. 

(“I feel like I owe him this much,” you tell Takao one night, when Kita has texted you while the two of you are curled up on the couch watching a movie. 

“I don’t think you owe anyone anything,” he says, but he never asks you to stop.)

There’s still a hint of stilted awkwardness to it, but it has gotten better than it was. 

It’s stunning, you text back. It reminds me of summers in Toyooka. 

He doesn’t reply until dusk is settling, but that’s not unusual considering how diligent he is with his farm. You reply quickly, bored with the TV show you’ve been watching as you wait for Takao to pick up dinner, and the two of you fall into conversation. 

He asks about Toyooka and you tell him. You tell him about catching summer fireflies and playing in the fields with Abe. You’re about to tell him about Abe’s duckling that followed her everywhere one summer when you realize exactly how long of a paragraph you’re sending. 

Before you can second guess yourself, you delete the paragraph and send a different message: I think this might be easier as a call.

I’d like that, Kita replies.

You hit call, knowing you’ll balk if you give yourself time to think. 

He picks up instantly.

“Hello,” he says.

“Hi,” you say, a little awkwardly. “How are you?”

He chuckles, but it’s kind. “I’m good,” he says. “How are you?”

“I’m good.”

“That’s good,” he says. Silence falls for a moment. It’s not a comfortable one, and Kita shatters it by saying: “You were talking about your summers in Toyooka?”

“Yes,” you say, and you launch into the tale of Duck (“She named the duckling Duck?” “We were six.”) and how he’d followed Abe through the sea of paddies, all the way up to the genkan of the rented house each and every day.

Kita is a good listener. He seems happy to let you chatter away. He asks questions here and there and tells a few stories of his own, but mostly he’s quiet, just the soft whisper of his breath echoing on the line. 

The two of you talk until you hear the door to the house open. Takao calls out a greeting, a familiar song, and you call one out in return. Rustling accompanies him and the faint scent of spices starts to waft into the living room. 

“I should go,” you say into the phone. “Dinner’s here.” 

“Alright,” Kita says softly. “Have a good night.”

“You too.”

Takao comes into the living room as you hang up; he presses a quick kiss to your lips. He tastes suspiciously like your favorite appetizer. 

“Hey,” you say, narrowing your eyes at him. “Did you eat some on the way home?”

“Yup,” he says cheerfully. “A toll for my labor.” 

“You haven’t finished your labor yet. I set the table, so go unpack the food.”

“Yes ma’am!”

You bat at him; he dodges with a little laugh. He leans down and gives you another quick kiss, this time at the corner of your lips, sweet and fleeting. When he pulls away he heads towards the kitchen, lightly swinging the bag of takeout as he goes.

You’re getting to your feet to follow him when your phone vibrates in your hand, buzzing along your skin. You glance at the notification and see that it’s Kita. You flick it open. 

It was good to talk to you, he’s texted.

You pause for a moment, chewing on your lower lip. You can hear Takao humming to himself in the kitchen.

Yeah, you reply. It was good to talk to you too.

It’s easier after that. You stop agonizing over each word. It doesn’t completely fade; you will always be more careful with Kita than you are with anyone else. It’s the kindest thing you can do for him. 

The two of you start to text more, each message a string drawing you closer to each other. He texts you photos of his ducks. You repay him with photos of the conbini’s cat, a spoiled little thing often found lounging in the front windows, little face turned up to the sun. 

You start to call too. It’s sparse at first, often a continuation of a text chat that simply would be better on the phone, but it grows more frequent as the weeks pass. Some nights it’s short; other nights, you feel lost in time, as if only seconds have gone by when you’ve talked for much longer. 

You grow used to seeing Kita’s name pop up on your screen. It’s nice, if you’re honest. You like talking to him. 

“What’re you makin’?”

You glance towards where your phone is propped up. At some point, today’s call became FaceTime, mainly so you both have your hands free to make dinner. It gives you a glimpse into his kitchen; a glimpse into him. 

His kitchen is meticulously clean and inherently practical. Everything seems to have its space, whether it’s a row of well-maintained pots and pans or a knife block with an assortment of handles jutting out from it, a sharpener carefully tucked in beside it. 

But there are other little touches of Kita scattered about: the apron hanging from the rack is embroidered with tiny rice paddies, each stitch painstakingly made by his grandmother’s steady hand; the strawberry plant in the window is heavy with small, glistening berries despite the season; there are neatly folded handkerchiefs tucked loosely into a drawer by the cleaning supplies.

Even through a phone screen it feels warm. Homey in a quiet way. 

Kita moves back into frame with a bowl in his hand. He’s got a brow raised, and you remember he asked you a question. 

“Nikuman,” you tell him, gliding the cabbage over the mandolin’s shining blade. You work it carefully, watching the ribbons of white-green flutter down onto the cutting board.  “Oyakodon too. You?”

“Tofu hamburger.”

“That’s your favorite, right?”

A small smile blooms on his lips. “You remembered.”

“You don’t have to sound so surprised.”

“I’m not,” he says. “It’s just nice.”

You hum, finishing up with the cabbage and dumping it into a bowl. Kita keeps chopping as you pour rice into a pot and start to wash it. “Ugh,” you murmur to yourself. “Almost out of rice.”

“What rice do you use?” Kita asks.

You point at him with a wet hand. “No,” you say. “You’re gonna judge me.”

“Over rice?”

“You’re a rice farmer!” 

He chuckles. “And?”

“That means you know rice secrets. Like better brands.”

“I could always give you some.”

“Some rice secrets?”

“Some rice.”

You hum. “Thanks, but I don’t want you to have to go out of your way,” you say. “Shipping it seems inconvenient. 

“I was thinkin’ I could bring you some. I have a delivery in the city soon.”

You pause. Kita’s stopped preparing his dinner, instead turning his gaze on you. Even through the phone, his amber eyes almost glow. You think of the last vestiges of a sunset, of the deepest sheen of gold threading across the horizon. 

“Kita…” 

“You can say no,” he says quietly. Quietly, but no less steady for it. 

You sink your hand into the rice that’s settled at the bottom of the pot, still covered by water. When you flex your fingers, the grains slip through them like darting little fish. You do it again. The water ripples around your wrist.

“I can’t, Kita,” you say. 

He nods, his gray hair a lightning strike gleam. “Alright,” he says. His shoulders dip low, an exhausted Atlas, and you sigh.

“Not yet,” you say. “But one day.”

He nods again. For a moment you think he’ll say something else, but he simply gives you a crooked little smile. When you change the subject, he doesn’t fight it. The two of you settle back into conversation as you cook. 

You hang up as Takao returns home. Dinner has just finished cooking, the oyakodon perfectly golden, the scent of it lingering savory in the air. You settle in at the table, talking about your day as you eat, until you finally put your chopsticks down.

“Kita asked me to meet up.”

He puts his chopsticks down as well. 

“I said no,” you say, meeting his gaze. “Well, I said not yet.”

“Not yet? You want to see him?”

“I think I’d like to,” you tell him, because you will always be honest with him about this. “But I won’t if you don’t want me to.” 

“I don’t want to stop you from doing something you want to do.”

“I will, though.”

He runs a hand through his hair; it flows through his fingers like water, little rivulets of dark hair catching between his fingers. “I know,” he says.

“I’ll choose you, Aoshi,” you tell him. “As many times as it takes.” 

He reaches over and cups your cheek with a warm hand. “I know,” he says. “It’s not my favorite thing, but if you want to see him you should.” 

You cover his hand with your own and turn into his touch. You press your lips against his palm, against the leylines that are carved there, a future you don’t know how to read. 

You press another kiss to his palm, a quiet gratitude for his trust.

He leans over to brush a whisper of a kiss to the corner of your lips. 

As you turn back to your meal you think of the waver to Kita’s smile, like the sun hidden behind passing clouds.

One day, you promise him. One day.

***

One day comes quicker than you’d thought.

It’s early, the sun still hovering over the horizon as the blue of dawn fades away into something brighter. The sunlight catches on the city buildings, the windows shimmering like a mirage, a promise of what’s hidden behind them. The streets aren’t empty—they never are—but the frantic pace of them has slowed to something leisurely, as if the city is still waking up too. 

You weave your way through the streets. The route is familiar and you pay little attention to where you’re going, choosing instead to watch the vendors begin to open their stores. The florist is already putting out buckets of flowers, a riot of color from the dawn hues of a ruffled ranunculus to the deep purple of the elegant, leggy irises rising over the rest. He’s half-lost in the blossoms, pushing his way through petals to lay out more of his wares. Some of them catch in his hair. 

Next door, the conbini is still aglow. It’s always a beacon in the night, but it’s softer in the day. You head in and grab a quick snack for later, giving the half-asleep cashier a little smile. 

The bustle of the street has grown when you leave the conbini, the stream of people burgeoning into a river. But you still hear it when someone calls your name.

You glance around and find Kita just a door down from you, coming out of a small grocer’s. He smiles at you softly and you almost duck back into the conbini. 

He waits there, leaving the choice of approaching up to you, but you’ve run from him enough. You slip through the crowd and join him by a flat of dusky peaches, the air around them faintly sweetened. 

“Hi,” you say. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”

He nods towards the inside of the grocer’s shop. It’s small, clearly family owned, but it’s well-stocked. There’s a kid—no more than ten, you think—carefully putting shining apples into a basket, their face scrunched up in concentration. 

“Tsukada stocks my rice,” Kita says, and now that he’s said it, you vaguely remember him mentioning this neighborhood when you’d talked about his delivery route a few weeks ago. “I’m very grateful for it.”

A scoff comes from behind the register. An older woman peers out, her brow raised. Her eyes are wrinkled at the edges, her crow’s feet papery, but the thickest line is clearly a laugh line. 

“It’s good rice,” she tells you. “Simple as that.” She eyes you curiously, tilting her head to the side. Her thick black braid thuds against her shoulder; it’s streaked with gray, like pebbles just visible through a river’s darkened waters. 

Kita inclines his head to her, a small smile on his lips. “You’re kind,” he says. 

“Just tellin’ the truth.” Tsukada settles back, disappearing behind the register again. “Take some fruit with you when you go. I know your granny likes peaches this time of year.”

“I will,” he says. “Thank you.”

She waves him off with a gnarled hand, barely visible from your vantage point. 

Kita returns his attention to you. “It’s good to see you,” he says, all summer warmth. “I don’t suppose you have a little time? My next delivery isn’t until later.” 

You purse your lips. He tracks the movement, his eyes dimming, and you sigh. 

“I have a little time,” you say. “Coffee?”

He lights ups. “Perfect,” he says. “D’ya know a place near here?”

You nod. “I think it has tea, too.” 

He smiles at you. Then he’s calling a respectful goodbye to Tsukada, gathering a few of the peaches to put in the bag slung over his shoulder. You watch him pick them, his long fingers tender against the soft flesh. He brushes his fingertips along a stubborn leaf still attached to the stem. You half expect him to tear it loose, but he leaves it in place.

“Ready?” he asks.

“Yeah.”

The two of you wind through the streets. He stays by your side but gives you space, only pressing close when the stream of people on the sidewalk thickens to a river. 

The coffee shop isn’t far. When you duck inside the scent of coffee billows over you, sharp and thick and a little bit bitter. You both order—Kita offers to pay, but he doesn’t look surprised when you decline—and then find a little booth tucked away by a small window. The sun has warmed the seats. It streams through the glass in whirling colors, catching in the stained glass decal pressed close to the window. It dapples Kita with pink like he’s been flecked with sakura petals, and you hide your smile in your coffee cup. 

He seems to notice, an answering smile tugging at his lips, but he doesn’t mention it. 

“How’s the farm?” you ask.

“S’good,” he says, taking a sip of his tea. You can smell it faintly, even through the coffee, an earthy kiss. “The ducklings are fully grown now, since I know that’s what you really want to know.”

“You caught me,” you say with a laugh. “Can you blame me? They’re so cute!”

“Yeah,” Kita says, his gaze steady on you. “They are.”

“And you’ve been skimping on the pictures.”

“I sent you one just yesterday.”

“Yes, exactly! Just one!”

He chuckles softly. “I’ll do better,” he promises. 

“Good.”

“And how’re you?”

“Working a lot,” you say. “It’s starting to feel like it’s all I do, but my project should be done soon so I can have a bit more time. I want to meet Abe’s new girlfriend, but I haven’t had a chance yet.”

“I’m sure you’ll meet her soon.”

“Hope so. How are your Olympians? This is what, their second one coming up? I’m looking forward to it.”

He grins. It’s broad and bright, brimming with pride and joy. “They’re not mine,” he protests, but his grin doesn’t falter. “But yes, their second, and they’re good. Workin’ hard. It’s off season, though, so hopefully they’ll come ‘round to visit.” 

“I’m sure Aran will.”

“He doesn’t have a choice,” he says. “Granny’ll go get him herself if she’s got to. He’ll get an earful about it, too.”

You smile into your cup. “I’d like to see that.”

“It’s sure something.” 

“I can only imagine.” 

Kita takes a sip of his tea. Not for the first time you’re struck by the way he moves, the careful surety of it, steadiness edged in grace. You wonder if it’s from his time playing volleyball or if he was always like this.

“Do you ever miss it?” you ask.

“Sometimes,” he says. “It made sense, y’know? Learning something, repeatin’ it, then using that repetition to move forward.”

“It doesn’t sound that different from farmwork.”

He chuckles. It’s low and warm, like the first true rays of light pouring over the horizon. “I suppose they have similarities.” 

“Seems like it to me.”

The two of you keep chatting. It’s easy to pick up the thread of the last time you spoke, and you weave it into today’s conversation. 

You bask in the glow of the morning sun as it streams over the booth. Under the sun’s warmth the world goes honeyed, a slow, sweet drip of time. You shift sleepily. Kita breathes out what could be a little laugh at the sight, but when you look at him he’s got his face tilted up into the light. It gilds him, his half-closed eyes going from amber to pure gold, as if he’s Midas-touched.

You sigh. 

He blinks, the fan of his long eyelashes casting a soft shadow on his tanned cheeks. 

“I have to go,” you tell him. “But this—this has been nice.”

“Very nice,” he agrees.

“Let’s do it again sometime.”

His breath catches briefly. You pretend to not hear it.

“Yes,” he says, a quiet hope lining his voice. You hate yourself a little. “Let’s.” 

You give him a little smile as you rise to your feet. He gets up too despite his unfinished tea, and the two of you head out the door together. 

The humid air rolls over you; you can already feel the heavy stickiness on your skin. You huff, rolling up your sleeves, and a tiny smile appears in the corner of Kita’s mouth. He doesn’t say anything though, and you bid him a quiet goodbye. 

He returns it, his eyes soft, and you head down the street.

When you turn the corner, you can’t help it. You glance back at where you left him. 

He’s already gone.

***

Autumn makes itself known.

It encroaches on the hazy, honeyed nights of late summer slowly, a creeping first frost. The cold is soft edged, more a kiss than a bite. Still, the hydrangeas that line the path to the municipal office have faded under its touch, the blossoms leeched of color and gone brittle at the edges. They rasp out a dry, harsh song as the breeze picks up.

You shiver and lean into Takao’s warmth as the two of you walk to the office, your kon-in todoke clasped tight in your hand. The ink of your seals is still fresh, done hurriedly at the kitchen table when you realized that you were going to be late for your appointment. Abe’s seal is almost too far out of the witness’s section to count; she’d still been bleary-eyed, her first cup of coffee only partially drunk. Yoshikawa’s seal is perfectly in the box for it. She was still teasing Abe when you and Takao left.

“Nervous?” Takao asks, twining his fingers with yours. His palm is slightly sweaty; you hide your smile in your scarf.

“A little. You?”

“Who wouldn’t be?”

“Yoshikawa,” you say promptly. “I don’t think marriage would rattle her at all.”

He laughs. “Yeah, I can see that.” 

You slip inside the office; the chatter of it settles over you. You shrug off your scarf as you orient yourself, reading the signs plastered all over to figure out where the two of you need to go. 

The clerk who processes your kon-in todoke is young. She has a kind smile, and she flashes it as she takes the form from you, along with your koseki tohon. She holds out a hand for your IDs and her nails are baby blue, dotted with tiny white clouds, a perfect summer sky. You can’t help your smile.  

You lean into Takao as she scans your forms. He gives your hand a little squeeze; when you glance up at him, the tips of his ears have gone dusty pink. You almost laugh. He seems to realize it, delivering a nudge to your side that makes you pinch at him. 

“Everything looks in order,” the clerk says. “You have your soulmate form as well?”

“Yes,” Takao says. He hands it to her; you stare at the bulletin board behind the clerk’s head so that her face is blurry. Her keyboard clicks away, but she doesn’t say anything, and you let out a breath you didn’t realize you were holding. 

She examines your forms again, her eyes sharp as she reviews them, and then she’s shuffling them together and forming a neat stack. She flashes that same sweet smile. 

“Congratulations,” she says. “You’re officially married.”

Takao squeezes your hand before letting go. He turns to face you and he’s glassy-eyed, his lower lip trembling. He cups your cheek and pulls you close to brush a barely-there kiss against your lips. You chase him when he starts to pull away, deepening the kiss for a brief moment. 

“Hi,” you say when the two of you break apart. “Husband.” 

“Wife,” he replies. There are roses blooming in his cheeks, the blush spreading from his cheekbones up to his ears. He nuzzles his nose against yours. 

The clerk coughs, but when you glance at her, your cheeks heating, she’s still smiling. 

“Thank you,” you tell her. 

She nods, gathering the rest of your paperwork and handing the small stack to you. You collect them carefully before handing them to Takao so he can put them in the small folder he’d brought.

The entire trip home feels unreal, the cityscape swirling together in a watercolor blur, neon melting into the harsh sheen of metal, softened by a hint of greenery. Takao’s touch is grounding though, and you squeeze his hand from time to time, as if making sure he’s still there. 

He always is.

The two of you exchange rings in your sunwarm kitchen. You have no vows, but you think you don’t need them. It’s enough to see the look on Takao’s face as he slips the ring into place; it speaks a language from long ago that you still know by heart. Abe and Yoshikawa cheer when you’re done, and then the rest of the day rushes by, filled to the brim with mini-celebrations. Your friends have gone out of their way to provide what the shrines will not, and you once again wonder how you’ve gotten so lucky. 

Dusk is falling when the last of your guests leave, the sunset spilling over the horizon like fire. The last dregs of light fade as you curl up next to Takao on the couch. He presses a soft kiss to your hairline; you chase him for a real kiss.  You lace your fingers together when you break apart. You thumb at his wedding ring idly, the metal warmed by his skin. 

“We’re married, huh?” you say.

“Seems that way.”

You laugh. “Don’t sound too excited, now.” 

He pinches at you. “I’m not excited,” he says, deftly avoiding your return pinch. “I’m happy. There’s a difference, you know.” 

You lean into him. “I think you’re right.”

“It happens sometimes.”

“It does?”

He pinches at you again. You shove him away, but he pulls you back in and cradles you close. You play-struggle for a moment and then finally relax into him when he tightens his grip. 

“Are you?” he asks softly.

“Am I what?”

“Happy.”

You turn in his arms, reaching out to cup his jaw. You stroke your thumb against his cheekbone.

“Yes,” you say. “I am.”

He kisses you then, his mouth soft and sure. You would know his touch anywhere, you think. It settled beneath your skin long ago. 

“Good,” he says. “Good.”

You bury your face in the crook of his neck, tasting the salt of his skin on your parted lips. His breath wavers. You press a kiss to his pulse.

“I have a phone call to make,” you murmur into his skin. “And I need to do it soon. It’s important.”

He tugs you back up so that you’re looking at him. His eyes—as deep and dark as the night sky—flicker over you. You wait. His brow furrows for a moment and then understanding blooms on his face. He leans forward to press a ghost of a kiss to the corner of your lips. 

“Okay,” he says, letting you go and getting to his feet. He pauses, as if he wants to say more, but he heads to the kitchen without a word. You watch him go before grabbing your phone and dialing. 

You take in a deep, slow breath as the line rings.

Kita picks up quickly. The two of you exchange pleasantries for a few minutes, catching up with each other briefly. There’s an easy flow to it, but he pauses after a moment.

“Is something wrong?” he asks.

You bite at a hangnail. 

“I got married today,” you say softly. “I—I thought you should know.”

He’s quiet. It reminds you of the deepest parts of winter, when even the air is still. You ache with it. He’s a bruise that will never quite fade, you think, and you can only imagine what it’s like for him. 

“Thank you,” he says eventually, his voice soft but steady. “For telling me.” 

“It didn’t feel right to not,” you confess. “I’m sorry, Kita.”

“I know.” 

The call doesn’t last much longer. There’s not much left to say after that, and your husband is patiently waiting for you. 

Once you’ve hung up you head into the kitchen and find Takao slicing up a small cake. It’s a froth of delicate frosting topped with crystalline spun-sugar flowers. Abe had insisted that you have a wedding cake and you hadn’t bothered to argue.

He glances up when you wander in. His smile is incandescent, a starlight thing, and you go to him with a matching smile tugging at your lips. You kiss him once, then again, and then a third time still. He laughs. 

You wind your arms around his waist as he finishes cutting the cake, pressing your forehead between his shoulder blades. He smells of home; there’s the faintest hint of his cologne under the scent of your laundry detergent. You press closer.

“Hard call?” he asks.

“Yeah,” you say, muffled by his shirt.

“It’s over now.”

“So it is.” 

He puts down the knife and turns around in your arms. He draws you close. “I love you,” he says. “Enough that I’ll even share this cake with you.”

“Oh, wow.”

“I know.” 

You laugh. “You’re ridiculous,” you tell him, knowing you sound terribly, disgustingly fond. You start to pull away but he tightens his arms around you. “Aoshi!”

“You gotta say it back.”

“I love you,” you tell him softly. “I really do.”

His smile is tender and fleeting, a dandelion seed caught on the wind. You kiss it from his lips. His hands come up to cup your jaw; you feel the metal of his wedding ring against your skin. 

It feels incredibly ordinary.

You hope it always will. 

*** 

You shiver as you pull the door to the onigiri shop open, burying your face in your scarf even as you step into warm air. A gust of wind whips in behind you, carrying a few rare snowflakes—fat and fluffy, a perfect pure white—inside. You pull the door shut behind you quickly.

It’s blessedly warm in the shop and the air is spiced with enticing, savory aromas. For a moment, you think of your father’s kitchen: the clutter of ingredients spread across a chopping board, an organized mess; the weight of a worn soft apron; the warmth of a heating stove. You open your eyes, not realizing you’d closed them as you breathed in.

It’s a cozy shop. There are plush looking booths and a few small tables, plus a handful of stools at the counter the chef is working behind. He’s a broad man, his forearms flexing as he shapes an onigiri. He snaps something at one of the men sitting on the stools, reaching out to smack the blond’s hand as he tries to grab something behind the counter. The blond squawks, pulling back and looking deeply offended. 

You cough out a laugh.

Both of them snap their gazes to you. They’re twins, you realize, encountering two identical faces. The chef’s furrowed brow smooths out into something placid. He pushes the blond back into his seat with a big hand. 

“What can I get ya?”

“Oh,” you say, caught off guard with how easily he’s switched up. “I’m not sure yet, I’m sorry.”

“Menu’s over there if you need one,” he says, pointing to a stack you hadn’t noticed. “Sit wherever you like.” 

“Thanks,” you say, and suddenly, the man next to the blond looks up. He’s handsome, tall even while he’s sitting down, his shoulders just as broad as the chef’s. He’s also oddly familiar; he says your name and you blink.

“Aran?” you ask.

He beams. “It is you! It’s been a while. Are you staying to eat?” 

You glance between the three of them. The twins are staring at you now; the chef has a brow raised but is otherwise placid, while the blond gapes. You put two and two together and realize that they must be the Miyas. No wonder the name of the shop sounded familiar. 

“You’re Kita’s soulmate,” the chef—Osamu, you remember—says. He sounds bland, but there’s a bit of a sneer tucked into the corner of his mouth. 

“That’s her?” the blond—Atsumu, then—says. He looks you over from head to toe, his honey-brown eyes shining in the low light. His mouth twists into something lemon-edged, a faint hint of sourness lining his whole form.

Osamu ignores him, looking at you instead. “Kita’s here,” he tells you. “He’s droppin’ off some rice in the storeroom.”

You glance at the door of the shop. 

“Dontcha want to see your soulmate?” Atsumu asks, a little bit mean.

You wince. You twist your scarf around your fingers, spooling it around your knuckles.

Aran sighs, looking very, very pained. “Don’t be rude,” he chastises. 

“M’not being rude! I’m just asking! She’s not—”

“Atsumu.” 

Kita emerges from the back, coming up behind the counter. His sleeves are rolled high on his forearms; there’s a light sheen of sweat on his brow. It turns his hair to the dark gray of a summer storm cloud. His mouth is drawn taut, a gash of a thing. 

Atsumu goes pale.

“I’ll have the other part of the delivery for you later this month,” Kita says to Osamu. The dark-haired twin nods. There’s a little smirk on his lips, the bitten down delight of watching a sibling get in trouble. 

Atsumu’s fidgeting, tugging at the hem of one of his sleeves with long, strong fingers. 

“Hey,” Kita says, turning to you. “S’good to see you.” 

“Yeah,” you say, still looking at Atsumu, who looks like he’s waiting for a death sentence.

“I didn’t realize you came here, I would have told Osamu to look out for you.”

“It’s my first time. A coworker suggested it.” 

Atsumu’s shoulders are slowly lowering. There’s the slightest twitch to Kita’s lips, a little half-smile that you recognize. There’s a layer of mischief to it that you’re still getting used to. 

“By the way, Atsumu,” he says, and the blond chokes.  “Didya have something you wanted to say?”

Osamu snorts as his brother wildly shakes his head. It’s quiet but obvious and Atsumu scowls at him. Kita clears his throat and both brothers snap to attention. 

Next to Atsumu, Aran looks like he’s holding back laughter. It’s a good look for him—he glows with it, his barely contained smile bright and true. 

“Ya sure?” Kita asks, that same little mischievous tilt to his lips. Atsumu nods. “Alright then.” 

He rolls down his sleeves as he steps out from behind the counter; he comes over to you and gives you a crescent moon smile, soft and sweet. The two of you step away from the group slightly. 

“Hi,” you say, quieter this time, something just for you and him. 

“You stayin’?” he asks. “You should join us.”

You shake your head. “I have to get back,” you tell him. “Another time?”

“Of course.” 

Kita stays by your side as you order; he radiates a gentle heat, like the bricks of a hearth long after the fire has died down. You watch Osamu make the onigiri, placing each filling carefully. His big hands are gentle as they mold the rice. There’s care and pride in each movement and it lives in his face, too, in the swell of his smile as he completes each one. 

They’re a lively group—Atsumu is growing louder and louder as he argues with his brother, something like a pout on his expressive face before it’s wiped away by indignance. 

“Oi!” he says, pointing at Osamu, halfway out of his seat. “Take that back!”

“Nope,” Osamu says.

“You—”

Aran grimaces as he pulls Atsumu back into his seat. “You’re so loud.”

“Am not!” 

“Ya are,” Osamu says. “Now shut up, you’re bothering the customers.”

Atsumu makes a noise that reminds you of a cat that’s fallen into water as Osamu hands you your order. The box is rather simple, with Onigiri Miya stamped onto it in a deep, rich ink, but it somehow reminds you of the bentos of your childhood. You think it might be how carefully the onigiri are tucked into it, each one nestled close to the next, a little mountain range of rice. 

Kita walks you to the door after you say your goodbyes to the rest of the group. He holds your onigiri box as you put your scarf back on, looping it around your neck.

“Sorry you couldn’t stay,” he says. His fingertips linger when he hands the box back. “I promise my friends don’t bite.”

“Maybe not Aran.” 

He laughs softly. “The twins are all bark and no bite,” he says. “Besides, I can keep ‘em in line.” 

“I noticed.”

He smiles. “See you soon?”

“Yeah,” you say. “See you soon.” 

He holds open the door for you; a gust of wind sweeps over you, tugging playfully at the end of your scarf. You carry his warm smile into the cold winter afternoon.

You’re almost halfway down the street when you hear a familiar voice. 

“Hey!”

You glance back over your shoulder. Atsumu is powering after you; he catches up to you in an instant, tugging you back until you’re both out of the way of other pedestrians. You’re halfway into an izakaya’s doorstep, the winter peonies surrounding it swaying around your ankles. A few early customers peer out the door at you, but Atsumu pays them no mind. 

“What’re you doin’?” he asks, a little too loud.

“Miya—”

“Kita’s traditional,” he says roughly. “It’s only ever gonna be you for him. You know that, right?” 

Your stomach roils.

(I’ve been waiting.

He still is.)

“I’m married.” 

He throws his hands up into the air. “He’s still your soulmate!” 

“I don’t love him!”

“It’s Kita,” he shouts, startling a few passersby. “Everybody loves him!”

“I’m not in love with him,” you say, the words bitter on your tongue. You are so, so tired. “I’m married. I’m happy. Kita’s accepted it, so why can’t you?”

He snorts, honey-brown eyes narrowing. “You really think he’s accepted it? Or is that what you tell yerself so you can sleep at night?”

“Fuck you.” 

The words snap out of you, brutally frigid, like river ice cracking beneath its own weight. To your utter horror, there are tears pooling hot in your eyes, threatening to spill over. Atsumu looks almost as horrified as you feel, but it’s of little consolation. You can feel a sob welling up inside you, rippling through you like oceantide. 

You manage to bite down on it when it leaves you, muffling it just enough. Then the tears finally fall, carving their way across your cheeks like snowmelt, already bitterly cold from the winter air. You rub them away with the back of your hand. 

“I didn’t mean ta—”

“But you did,” you say, knife-sharp and drawing him up short. “You did. Goodbye, Miya.”

He doesn’t follow you when you walk away.

***

The neighbors’ little girl loves the summer rains. She spends them running around outside, the murky puddle water splashing under the soles of her banana-yellow boots. She has a matching umbrella and sometimes you and Takao can see it from your bedroom window, whirling like a top. 

“We should do that,” Takao says, his chin hooked over your shoulder. It’s pouring out. The rain hums against the roof, nature’s oldest song, and the neighbors’ girl—Aiko, you think—is dancing to it. You can just make out her long braid bouncing as she hops from puddle to puddle.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah,” he says, getting to his feet and tugging you with him. “Let’s go.”

“Aoshi, it’s pouring.” 

“Yes, that’s the point.” 

You laugh and let him drag you through the house. He shoves your raincoat at you, shrugging on his own before the two of you race to the genkan, giggling as you go. You slip your boots on and run outside.

The rain sluices down on you, the humid summer heat already sneaking its way beneath your raincoat, the beginnings of sweat starting to gather. You pay it little mind, sucking in a deep breath instead, taking in the scent of the wet concrete as Takao grabs your hand. He tugs you towards Aiko.

Before you know it, the two of you are swinging her back and forth between you, her little wrists clutched tight in your hands. She shrieks with delight each time she comes up off the ground; each landing creates a tidal wave in the puddle she crashes down into. 

Takao is laughing, low and sweet, and when you glance at him, he’s already looking at you. His dark hair is plastered against his forehead. Water droplets are beading on his long eyelashes before he blinks them away. 

Your breath catches for an instant. And then Aiko is tugging on your hand, wanting to go again, and you glance away from your husband with a little smile. 

You stay outside with Aiko until her father calls her in. Then the two of you tumble back into your house, stripping off your wet clothing with groans. 

Takao cooks dinner as you lay everything out to dry. You’ve just clipped the last clothespin into place when he calls to you; you take the extra clothespins and clip them along the little storage space you’d added to the balcony for them, a short length of bright blue twine. 

He’s made curry, the type that warms even your bones. The two of you curl up together on the couch to eat. You lean into him, ignoring his groan as you accidentally elbow him in the stomach.

“We should go on our honeymoon,” he says after a moment. “It’s almost been a year and we still haven’t gone.” 

“We should,” you say, scraping your bowl clean and licking the last of the sauce off of your chopsticks. “Where do you want to go?”

“Haven’t thought that far.”

You snort. “You’re the one who brought it up!”

“It’s a step by step process, you know. First we have to decide to actually go, then we pick the place.”

He easily evades your little pinch. 

“It’s gonna be hard to pick,” you tell him.

“Maybe.” 

“We’ll figure it out, I guess.”

He leans in and presses a kiss to your temple. 

“We always do.” 

He’s right, you think. You always do figure it out.

Together.

***

The farm is dusted with snow.

It reminds you of powdered sugar, light and fluffy and easily blown away in the slightest breeze. It’s the first snow according to Kita. The true frost set in over the last week; the paddies have iced over, a cobweb of winter. You listen to the crackle of it settling and shiver, pushing deeper into your scarf.

“Ya warm enough?” Kita asks.

“Yeah,” you say. “It’s just a little more mild in the city.”

He hums his agreement. The two of you keep walking along the worn dirt path, weaving through the slumbering fields. The snow crunches softly underfoot. In the distance, you can hear the rumble of a truck; it purrs and groans as it putters down one of the other roads. 

“I’m glad you came,” Kita says softly.

He’s invited you several times, never pushing, but you’ve always said no. You don’t know why this time had felt right, but it had. You watch a crow circle overhead before it lands in a bare tree, a spot of darkness against the pale blue sky. 

“Me too,” you say. “I’ve never been out here in the winter.”

“Pretty, ain’t it?”

“It is.” 

The two of you lapse into a comfortable silence as you wander further. You pass another farmhouse where two small children are playing outside, both of them bundled up to the point that they’re waddling more than walking. One of them has a crimson scarf, the deep color of poppies at night, the ends of it fluttering in the gentle breeze.

They’re sliding a puck back and forth on ice that’s creaking ominously. They wave to you with the branches they’re using for hockey sticks. 

“Should we stop them?” you ask, waving back.

Kita shakes his head. “There’s only an inch or so of water, this time of year. They’ll be fine.” 

“Okay.” 

“Did you ever do that?”

He laughs. “Course.”

“Play or fall through?”

“Both, actually,” he says. He takes hold of your arm as you slip on a patch of ice, keeping you upright with ease. “Careful now.”

He waits until you’re steady before he lets go. He presses a bit closer after that and you let him. The wind is too constant to really feel the heat of him, but you think you feel it anyway. 

You fall back into comfortable silence. The wind is whistling softly through the bare trees, stirring the last clinging remnants of the leaves. You watch one of them tear free and blow away. It carries across the fields, which stretch as far as the eye can see. 

You turn back when you get to the edge of the paddy you’re walking next to. By the time you’re back to the farm, you’re chatting about what to make for dinner. Kita had taken you to the local market earlier in the day letting you browse through the piles of daikon and leeks, each of them fresher than anything you would see in the grocery store.

“Oden?” Kita suggests as you enter the genkan and you nod.

“Sounds perfect,” you say, using the wall to balance as you start to take off your boots. Kita stops in the middle of taking off his jacket and kneels down in front of you to get the buckle you’re struggling with. “Kita, you don’t need to do that.”

“Already down here,” he says with a smirk. “So I might as well.” 

You sigh. “Thank you,” you say, slipping off your jacket and hanging it carefully. 

He nods, tucking his outerwear away neatly before getting to his feet. After he’s sure you’re all set, he heads down the hall, turning on the small kotatsu that sits in his living room. It’s an older one, the blanket slightly worn, patterned with white cranes. It was his grandmother’s, you think. 

“Get warm,” he says. “I’ll start cooking.”

“I should help—”

“You can after you’ve warmed up a little bit.”

“Fine,” you say, ignoring the little smile on his face as you pout. You sit at the kotatsu and melt into the warmth as he heads into the kitchen. 

You join him not long after. He gives you leeks to chop as he peels daikon; you spend a few minutes at his pristine kitchen sink, washing the grit out from between the leaves. The two of you chatter as you cook. The kitchen is slowly heating, until it’s like a banked fire. 

His kitchen is small but set up well and the two of you move around it easily together. You rarely bump into each other and hand off ingredients as the other needs them. It’s seamless and it doesn’t take long before the oden is done.

The two of you settle at the kotatsu to eat. Kita hands you a pair of well-worn chopsticks.

“You should come for longer next time, if you can,” he says.

“I’ll try to,” you say, knowing that you’ve only touched the surface of the farm. Of the life he’s built here, in the wide expanse of the countryside. 

He smiles warmly. “Good.”

Time flies by until Kita has to get up to turn on another lamp as night encroaches. When you peer out the window, the night sky sprawls endless above you, softly lit by the tender touch of the waning moon.

“I should go,” you say. “It’s late.”

He hums an agreement. The two of you bundle up in the genkan; Kita lends you a too-long scarf that’s messily knitted. You wrap it around your neck several times before you are willing to brave the cold. 

The snow glistens under the moonlight as you trudge to Kita’s truck. There’s a stillness to the night, as if you’re on the cusp of something unreal, something otherworldly. You tilt your head back and gaze at the stars, scattered throughout the plush darkness, glinting like ice. 

Kita cranks the truck’s heater to high as it rumbles on. It blows out a gush of cold air that makes you shudder, but it’s already warming by the time you’re pulling out of the driveway. 

“Where does your farm end?” you ask.

“Just here,” he says, flicking on his blinker as he makes a turn down the road towards town. “Then it’s Suzuki’s place.” 

“Do they—”

“Have ducks?”

“...Yes.”

His eyes flicker to you, the amber of them aglow in the silvery moonlight. “He does.” 

You must look pleased because he laughs, the sound low and warm, filling the cab of the truck like billowing smoke. The smile on his lips is wide and you think of the horizon, how it never ends, and hope that his joy never ends, too. 

“Kita,” you say, unable to help yourself.

“Mhm?”

“I’m glad we’re friends,” you say softly.

Kita’s smile dims, the summer sun hidden behind thin, wispy clouds. 

“Yeah,” he says after a moment. He sounds a little sad. “Me too.”

The rest of the ride is silent.

***

Winter melts away in the face of spring’s burgeoning warmth. The crocuses come early this year, pushing up through the dregs of frost, unfurling quietly, steadily. Yoshikawa paints them; they’re bruises against the soft white of her canvas, the yellow stamen cradled between petals like golden treasure. 

She gives you and Abe the paintings one day at the park. They’re carefully wrapped, no bigger than your hand, tied up with a piece of twine that you think she sniped from your gardening supplies. 

“What’s this?” Abe asks.

“Find out for yourself,” Yoshikawa says, as if Abe isn’t already tearing into the paper. She hands you yours as you sit up from the pile of blankets you’d laid out on the grassy knoll of the park. You pull it open carefully.

“Pretty,” you breathe, tracing a finger over the long, elegant curve of the stems. “Are these the ones behind the house?”

She nods.

“These aren’t your usual style,” Abe says.

Yoshikawa shrugs, laying down on the blankets and shielding her eyes against the sun. “I’m trying something new.”

“It’s nice,” Abe says. “You should do more like it.”

“Maybe.” 

“When are you going to paint me?”

“I already painted you,” Yoshikawa points out. 

“That was in high school!”

“It’s still painting you.”

You tune them out and lie back down. You curl up so that you can pillow your head on Yoshikawa’s stomach. She shifts to give you more room. She smells like sweet, wet earth. You think of a garden after rain, when it’s gone lush and green. You sink into the oasis of her. 

Abe wakes you up as the sun is starting to set. You groan but let her coax you up. The three of you gather your items plus a few things you hadn’t had at the start of the day: a heart shaped rock Abe tripped over; a box of okonomiyaki that’s perfuming the air with a savory, spicy scent; a few golden wildflowers, tied carefully together with a hair elastic.

You know the walk home by heart, so you spend your time looking at the city as it comes to life, a night-blooming flower. Next to you, Abe is chatting merrily at Yoshikawa, who is looking at her with a smile you know well. She glances at you and drops you a sly little wink. 

“What was that?” Abe asks immediately.

“Nothing,” Yoshikawa says, taking your keys from you and opening the front door.

“It was something!”

“It really wasn’t.”

“Yes it was!”

You listen to them bicker all the way to the kitchen, trying not to laugh. Abe whirls on you. “Tell me,” she whines.

“It really was nothing,” you say. “She’s just winding you up.”

Abe huffs. “I hate you both.”

“You love us,” Yoshikawa says, opening up the box of okonomiyaki and grabbing three of her favorite plates. 

“Sadly, I do.” 

Your phone rings; when you glance at it, it’s an unknown number. You silence it and grab a plate from Yoshikawa. The three of you eat and chat, swapping bites here and there since you all got different fillings. The sun sets; the golden light pours in through your kitchen window and haloes your friends. 

Your phone vibrates and you pull it out of your pocket, expecting it to be Takao. Instead, the same unknown number is calling you again. You frown and pick up.

A woman says your name. There’s something to the way she says it. You let out a soft, shaky breath as you listen.

You hang up. Your phone sits heavy in your hand.

“That was the hospital,” you say, sounding too calm even to your own ears. “Aoshi was in an accident.”

Abe and Yoshikawa’s heads come up. 

“Is he okay?” Yoshikawa says, blade-sharp.

Your vision is going black at the edges, a slow, steady swallowing. You sit down carefully, the wooden floor cold even through your clothing.

Abe says your name.

She sounds scared.

“No,” you say evenly. “He didn’t make it.”

#bee writes hq!! #kita x reader #kita shinsuke x reader #haikyuu x reader #hq!! x reader #.lbgtm