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pawnshopbleus · 1 month

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Miller's Girl

Chapter Three - The Meeting

Professor!Joel Miller x Fem!College Student!Reader Very Loosely based off of the new movie, Miller's Girl, starring Jenna Ortega and Martin Freeman

Summary - Your landlord decides to raise the rent in your studio apartment the day you are fired from your job. In need of money, you sign up for a babysitting service your friend suggested. You didn’t expect to get an offer so quickly, and you also didn’t expect to come from your professor.

Series contains - cursing, mature language, teacher x student relationship, age gap, smut, fluff, angst, non beta read chapters and everything else I forgot to mention

Authors Note - after i dont know how long and several fights and bomb and shooting threats at my school, i'm back. I wrote this at 12 am so I hope you can understand it.

College, no outbreak, and modern AU

The Miller residence was a cozy two story home in the suburbs of Austin. The exposed brick fireplace climbed up the side of the black and white home. The green grass was a little too long for the pristine way Professor Miller held himself.

You walked along the concrete walkway to the front door. You wiped your sweaty hands on your black pants and knocked on the door. You hoped that Professor Miller wouldn’t notice the circles under your eyes or the fact that you wore these exact pants to class two days ago.

When the door opened you didn’t see Professor Miller towering over you. You didn’t see anything until you looked down a little bit. Standing there in all her might was a little girl no older than thirteen.

“Sarah! What did I tell you about opening the door without asking who it is?” you heard Professor Millers stern voice yell from somewhere in the distance.

“Sorry Dad but I think the babysitter is here!” Sarah yelled back.

Sarah looked at you and shrugged her shoulders before skipping away. You stood still, not wanting to enter the home uninvited. The door was left wide open and you could feel the cold air wafting out of the home. The pay as a professor must be stacked to keep the AC running in the middle of October.

“What are you just standing there for? Come in,” Sarah says with a hand on her hip.

“Did your dad say it was okay?” you ask, not wanting to make your professor and future boss angry.

“Yes, I did.” Professor Miller says from the stairs.

He’s wearing something much more casual than what you are used to seeing him in. The blue jeans and white shirt that are sticking to his body make him look like he does something physical for work. If you didn’t know any better you would have thought that he was some sort of contractor.

“Professor I-” “When you’re here it's Joel. Just Joel.”

You nod your head and look at your shoes. Your beat-up Converse aren't exactly appropriate for a meeting with your future employer, but it was these or the flip flops that squeak every time you walk.

“Go ahead and sit on the couch. Sarah, go to your room.”

Sarah stomps up the stairs and into her bedroom. Joel walks over to the accent chair across from the couch and sits down. He huffs as his body hits the soft velvet of the furniture. He leans back and spreads his legs, almost as if he were making room for someone to sit on his lap.

Your eyes roam from his lap to his grey eyes that are staring back at you. You’ve just been caught eyeing your professor like a slut. Whether he minded or not didn’t come up as he gets straight to the point.

“Look, you are the most qualified person for this job. Your resume and experience are great and you seem like a nice girl, but I don’t know if I can trust you with my daughter.”

“Look, Joel, I know that my being late to your class could have affected your perception of me, but I think I would be great with your daughter. She was wearing a Madden Boys shirt when I walked in, right? Well, I saw the Madden Boys in concert just last year! I think having a cool babysitter would do her some good.”

“Did you just call yourself ‘cool’?” Joel asks.

You open your mouth to say something and then close it as nothing comes out.

“How about I give you a trial week? You’ll get paid a flat rate and if Sarah likes you then you can stay.”

“That would be wonderful! Thank you, Joel.”

Your peppy attitude threw Joel off. When you first arrived at his home, you were cautious and timid but now you were smiley. He has never seen someone with such a bright smile. All thirty-two teeth were on display as you shook his hand and thanked him once again for this opportunity.

Your hands were also unbelievably soft compared to his calloused hands. The same hands that cramp when they hold a pen for longer than fifteen minutes.

You leave his home after that, your mysterious scent lingers in the spot where you once sat. Joel jogs up the stairs and almost trips on his daughter who is sitting on the top step.

“I like her,” Sarah mumbles, her voice barely audible as her face rests on her knee.

“Well, we’ll see about that kid,” Joel says as he walks to his office and closes the door behind him.

As much as Joel wants to not like you. As much as Joel wants to blame you for being late to his class, he can’t. He could tell how sincere you were when you apologized to him. Your soft eyes begged for his forgiveness while he tried his best to not look into them. It was like a siren's call, slowly luring him into a trap that he didn’t want to be in again. He loved one woman and she left him alone with a baby and no money.

The optional homework he assigned burned a hole in his desk. The key word was ‘optional’ and still almost all of his students did it. As much as he loved it when his students took advantage of every opportunity they got, he hated that he had to grade the work.

After almost a hundred essays on why Victorian architecture is important, Sarah knocked on his door. She opened the door and placed a basket of cookies on his desk. The basket looked like Easter came very late. There was plastic wrap covering every inch and crevice of the pink and white basket. Pink and blue bows stuck to the top and bottom of the basket. Inside the basket held what looked like two dozen cookies.

“The babysitter came by and dropped these off. She said that there's a note in there but only you can read it.”

Joel peered around the basket for a sign of the note but couldn’t find it anywhere.

“Can you hurry up and open it? I really want a cookie.” Sarah crossed her arms over her chest and leaned her weight on one hip.

“Sarah Miller, are you rushing me?” Sarah nodded her head. Joel shook his with a smile on his face. He loved that his daughter felt like she could be sassy with him. This type of banter made him feel like he was a good father.

Unwrapping the basket was Joel's idea of hell. The texture of the wrap felt weird under Joel's hands and the bows and glitter fell to the floor, making a mess. A pink bow fell into his black coffee which made him groan. He would have to make another.

Sarah snatched two cookies and skipped her way to her room. Coincidentally, those two cookies were hiding the note that he was looking for. The small white square of construction paper housed five words. In loopy writing, it said ‘I hope you like cookies.’ It was so simple yet it made Joel close his eyes and rest his head on the back of his chair.

#joel miller x you #joel miller fanfiction #joel miller fic #joel tlou #joel miller x reader #joel miller x female reader #the last of us fic #tlou

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hot-take-tournament · 9 months

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ok original submitter of the christmas halloween take here! i’ve seen this point being brought up that i’d like to speak on and that’s the following: ‘well there’s christmas stuff being sold like well before christmas so it’s not exclusive to the christmas season! therefore that point is invalidated’

here’s the thing; halloween stuff is also being sold before halloween season, and again it’s socially acceptable to have that kinda stuff around year round as it’s generally just spooky aesthetics. meanwhile having christmas stuff all year round is silly because it’s intrinsically tied to december. you can’t have christmas decor in your house and other relayed stuff in summer that’s just silly! (unless you’re doing a hhgregg joke) (and also you’re free to do whatever forever i just think it’s a bit silly :-P)

‘but it may be sold that time’ think about it; would you rather buy christmas stuff in advance and save it for the season, or buy it all in december during the Rush to buy christmas stuff? plus stuff is less likely to be sold out earlier you buy it

btw while some christmas stuff is general winter stuff, such as snowflakes, a lot of it (christmas songs, stockings, reindeers) is specific to christmas, and there is a distinction between general cozy winter aesthetics and christmas aesthetics so even then you can’t do christmas stuff in february.

ok, i know this isn't entirely the same point, but it is one that i feel really strongly about and i've been holding in this rant for a long time now without even realising it

i think pretty much every argument about why halloween is better than christmas is valid - but the one argument that i see a lot and 100% disagree with is when people say that halloween 'stays in october', while christmas 'spreads throughout the year'

i can understand why most people feel that way - it's true that the lead up to christmas usually starts the second october ends, but... for me, at least, halloween is worse

i've worked retail for a long time, and in my experience at least even though they're both sold super early halloween stuff stays on the shelves a lot longer than christmas stuff does - actually, halloween stuff never goes away.

(this is a grocery store, so we're talking about food specifically)

christmas products do get sold really early, but they don't stick around that long after christmas is over, either because they either sell out or just go out of date.

and we're never overstocked with branded christmas stuff. it's always more expensive, higher quality, and takes up more shelf space - things like shortbread tins, fancy chocolate reindeer, stuff like that - so we don't get sent as much, and we don't build up a surplus of stock - by new year's it usually gone

but our halloween stock consists of mountains of cheap shit candy - more than we could ever sell - that's filled with so many chemical preservatives it takes 12 months or more until it hits its sell-by, and since there's always a chance someone will buy it, we just leave it up there until it's replaced by more of the same halloween candy next year

at least christmas decorations go away eventually - we have a dedicated, decorated halloween section all year long.

i already have really bad memories associated with halloween, and i'm reminded of those memories every day because for me, halloween never fucking ends.

i know that people when people make this point they actually mean christmas adverts and songs and stuff playing too early... but i'm so done with halloween, i can't take it anymore

i'm trapped in a never-ending halloween hell and if listening to mariah carey in october is the price i'd have to pay for freedom then i'd pay it in a heartbeat

i'm so tired

just let me be free

#asks #not a poll

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the-clintster · 6 months

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15 questions - 15 7 mutuals

I got tagged by @mirrorthoughts - thanks Sei! <3

1. Are you named after anyone? Not really. My mother claims she saw my name in the credits of some movie she doesn't remember.

2. When was the last time you cried? Today. I was at the doctor's office and was very nervous about the results of my blood tests.

3. Do you have kids? Nope.

4. What sports do you play/have you played? Used to do Archery but not anymore. I kinda want to get back into it but the hurdles are too much for my mental health right now.

5. Do you use sarcasm? No. Of course not. I would never.

6. What’s the first thing you notice about someone? Mh idk their face? Vibes? If they seem pleasant or not?

7. What’s your eye color? Blue.

8. Scary movies or happy endings? Happy endings all the way. (Tough my definition of a happy ending may vary.)

9. Any talents? I'm very good with plants and cats. Otherwise I just know a little bit about a lot of things.

10. Where were you born? Germany

11. What are your hobbies? Writing, reading, video games, movies, documentations & video essays, puzzles, gardening, handicrafts (like assembling furniture, building litte things, etc.)

12. Do you have any pets? Yes, right now I have a cat named Lu but I'm looking to adopt another cat soon!

13. How tall are you? 1,68m

14. Favorite subject in school? Art & German and later Software Development & English

15. Dream job? I always wanted to be an author when I was younger but nowadays I prefer writing for myself. (Wouldn't say no to suddenly becoming a successful author and not having to work anymore though.)

I kinda like my current job (Software Developer) but sometimes I wish it were a little easier. Post office worker seems like a cool job (I already know all the package sizes & prices because I send a lot) but I wouldn't want to deal with people everyday.

It's kinda funny that Sei and previous posters said they want to own a café because for a few years now I've dreamed of owning a diner. I always wanted a cozy place that's open for night owls like me because something like that doesn't exist where I live. Basically all the things that Sei said. 😂 /Sei, if I ever find a treasure map that leads to a shitload of money, we should open a café/diner, hire a bunch of people to run it for us and then just chill with the guests.

Low/no pressure tags for: @deucaleoning, @theloudestnoise, @tipsyjaehyun, @taubenschlag94, @darkmistandodddreams, @the-thorster, @the-parkster

#long post #tag game #t

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justsasuke · 1 year

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Could I ask for some Taka new years headcanons? Like quiet or rowdy night? Do they drink? Play games? Cook? Do Juugo and Sasuke sneak away to watch the fireworks alone? Do they stay up or is someone a party pooper with the “9pm bedtime” mentality?

yes absolutely!! I love this. I'm imagining this to be set in Japan or possibly even an alternate canon where things went how they should've

The Uchiha celebrate New Years very traditionally, with mochi making, a trip to the buddhist temple at midnight, etc. etc. and when Sasuke was younger that's what he did (insert Weird Uncle Madara trying to get him drunk at the age of 12) His friends were invited ofc. if they had no where else to go, but since New Year is a very family-centered holiday they were usually with their own families.

but after Sasuke moves away--I'm imagining the Uchiha estate is more in the country and he went to a city for a job or school? idk--he gets together with his friends + S.O. (read that Juugo)

They all gather at Juugo's apartment because it's the biggest (read that cleanest) and most conveniently located.

Suigetsu always volunteers to bring the beer but he only buys Sapporo beer even though he knows Sasuke prefers Kirin. This almost led to a fight but thankfully Juugo had a pack of Kirin beer in his fridge. (which, side JuuSasu note but I picked Kirin beer as Sasuke's favorite for the name but it also happens to pair well with yakiniku, and as we all know one of Juugo's favorite foods is beef. And I just think it's cute how it matches)

They spend most of New Years eve cooking and talking and chilling, and then when evening comes they eat Toshikoshi Soba (it's traditional in Japan), and mochi that was cooked a little too long because they got distracted.

On every other night of the year Karin likes to go to bed at 10 p.m., but on new years eve she's the most insistent that they stay up and go to the nearest temple to watch the bell ring all 108 times and ring in the New Year. (fireworks aren't really a thing on New Years, people always visit the temples/shrines instead)

When it's getting close to midnight they bundle up--because it's definitely cold--and make their way to the nearest shrine.

I imagine that it's snowing softly and their footsteps are crunching just a little bit and they walk in relative silence because they're soaking in the stillness of the world around them, and Juugo and Sasuke are walking so close their shoulders are bumping and when they do speak to each other it's in soft undertones.

When they reach the temple it's crowded and Juugo and Sasuke end up holding hands so they don't lose each other in the crowd (mostly Juugo losing Sasuke bc let's be real, Juugo is high visibility haha)

After they ring in the new year they go back to Juugo's apartment and pass out all over the living room and sleep for a few hours.

Suigetsu and Karin end up sharing the space under the kotatsu because Juugo settled on the couch and Sasuke fell asleep on top of him.

At 4 a.m. they get up to go see the first sunrise of the year and pile into Juugo's car. Juugo already packed breakfast and drinks, and Karin makes sure to bring blankets to make it cozy, and Suigetsu was going to get the front seat but had to go to the bathroom last minute so Sasuke takes it instead even though he's a crappy navigator and still half asleep. (he ends up dozing again during the drive)

They make it to the mountain just outside the city limits and drive up to the viewpoint and then sit and wait for the first rays of orange light and everything is perfect.

.. .. .. That's all I have for tonight. I had so much fun putting this together and sitting in some nostalgia. I hope you enjoyed it too. If you have any additional thoughts to expand this I'd love to hear them!

I hope you had a happy New Years eve and New Year day~

see you

#New Year anon #Team Taka #Team Taka headcanons #Team Taka love #Karin #Suigetsu #Sasuke #Juugo #Juusasu #of course #SasuJuu

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friend-of-giants · 2 years

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Skyrim Asks

Tagged by @sheirukitriesfandom

I do love little questionnaires like this. Obviously I'm going with Wren, since she's the only Dragonborn I've played as that I've bothered to put any thought into.

Tagging @downontheupside @babyblueetbaemonster and anyone else who sees this and wants to do it! I don't really like tagging people 😂

My responses under the cut since this is a little long.

1. Favourite Tavern

There’s something about the Vilemyr Inn that holds a special place in her heart. The innkeeper is always friendly, and the menu there has some of the best salmon dishes in Skyrim. The scenery in Ivarstead can’t be beat, nestled at the base of the Throat of the World, overlooking the steamy Eastmarch valleys, surrounded by waterfalls and the vibrant golden trees of the Rift. It's just a perfect little inn!

2. Favourite Drink

Mead, mead, mead. Honningbrew, Black-Briar, unlabeled bottles she finds lying around that may or may not have already had someone else’s mouths on it, all fair game. She’s rather partial to Black-Briar Reserve, as well as spiced wine and, when she can get it, sujamma.

3. Travel Companion

Her horse, Dagon, first and foremost, as she would rather not walk all over Skyrim. In prior years it was Lydia who accompanied Wren along her journey, but she has since moved on and now travels with Teldryn and eventually Inigo.

4. Wealthy or not?

Wren came from decades of banditry and struggled her way into the civilized world with barely a handful of coin. After becoming Dragonborn, the gold started coming in, and due to her upbringing she held on tightly to every bit of it that she earned. She is rather wealthy, but has her funds hidden away and only buys what she needs.

5. Worships the Aedra or the Daedra?

She doesn’t actively worship any of them, nor the Gods. On rare occasions she will pray, but directs her prayers to all of them and hopes one will be willing to listen.

6. Biggest Fear

Losing those she cares about, and knowing that she may be unable to save them. The possible effects of what her dragon soul may do to her in the long run. She tries not to think about that.

Also Dwarven centurions (technology shouldn’t have that kind of power) and frost mirriam (she’s violently allergic)

7. Pet Peeves

People asking too many questions, or disregarding her abilities due to her size.

Bonus Peeve: Rolff Stone-Fist

8. Do they like being dragonborn?

At first, yes. She loved it, the power and the status and being able to instill fear into men and dragons alike. Something happened partway through her journey of fulfilling her destiny against Alduin which drove her to depression, and changed how she saw herself and how she fit into the world. Eventually she was talked into moving on and doing what she was meant to do. Now she is more or less over being the Dragonborn, and if it were possible, she would give up her gift as she believes it is what caused her fall from grace.

9. Favourite faction

Never joined any, but when she lived in Whiterun she found herself watching the warriors of Jorrvaskr practicing in the yard. She never had the time to join, as she was focusing all of her time and energy into fighting the dragons and finding a way to stop Alduin.

10. An object of sentimental value

She has her journals that she keeps tucked away around her home, as well as another object I can’t specify since it plays a role in the story I just started writing 🤷‍♀️

11. Hobbies

When she isn’t out wandering around Skyrim, Wren likes to cozy up in her bed with one of her multitudes of books she’s stolen throughout the years. Living on the shores of Lake Honrich makes for good fishing, which she thoroughly enjoys, as well as cooking her catches.

And, of course, drinking.

12. Favourite city

Riften! The autumnal forests that surround the city are what drew her there in the first place, as well as the Black-Briar meadery and the view of the lake and the mountains beyond. With salmon and honey being plentiful resources in the city, two of Wren’s favorite things, she can never see herself living anywhere else.

#tag games #oc: wren

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himynameisobed · 2 years

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i sit to write in a coffee shop for the first time this year. it's early august and the air outside is thick with pre-rainfall heat. someone recently told me that coffee has a 12 hour half life, and i don't exactly know what that means but i'm trying not to drink it past noon if i can help it - if i'm trying to sleep at around 10:30PM every night. so i order a decaf. i need something warm, and want the flavour - something to soothe me in the early evening hum. i sit alone at a large table, facing the full-wall window beyond a row of tables for two and three. i watch a young man walk in and pleasantly kiss who i assume is his girlfriend with a tenderness often reserved for the familiar. sometimes i envy these small comforts and affections, but i am happy nonetheless. happy to be sitting in the light bustle of the shop. i didn't realize i'd missed the tardemark noises; the clanging of baristas' utensils, the comfortable buzz of anonymous chatter, a tap running water for a few seconds before turning off - the hiss of steam, someone calling out an order, and the calm, unthreatening music floating over everything. what could be more perfect for someone looking to quiet all their inner noise? a man reads his newspaper and sips his drink alone. he's older and looks relatively content, and i wonder about his life and if he's happy - if he has a wife (or husband) who he loves dearly, or children who have all grown up and fled home to start new lives of their own. or maybe he has no one and these are treasured stolen moments when he can be in the company of others for at least a little while. he's stopped reading and now he's staring out the window and i wonder what he's looking at. there are tables outside too, scattered along a makeshift patio, and trees strewn in between. i see the animated face and gestures of a woman probably recounting some new personal tale to her companion. she alternates between laughing and looks of horror or disgust. she turns her head to scoff and waves her hand dismissively, and i have a feeling she might be talking about a man. it's nice to sit here and soak it all in. i want to make a regular practice of it, so i can get even a little bit of writing in, day after day. and all it costs to stay indefinitely is $2.89 for a cup of decaf coffee. i bet it's cozy here in the winter. i imagine what it must look like from the outside, from the perspective of a shivering passerby hurrying home through the cold. surely she would gladly walk through the warm yellow light spilling through the full-wall window into the 6PM dark. maybe she would look in and smile at the thought of the warmth waiting for her at home. and on the inside, there i would be, cozy in an ovesized sweater, maybe sitting in the same spot i'm sitting at now, watching her walk by. maybe there will be a light snowfall, and it'll make a pretty picture through the window. i'll look around to see if anyone else is struck by it - all of us there, sheltered from the cold, happily tucked away in some softly-lit, quietly buzzing corner of the city - but no one will have noticed. they'll go on talking or reading or lightly laughing, so i'll keep the beauty of the moment to myself. i truly believe there's something magical about coffee shops on winter evenings, and i hope to find that small everyday magic again this winter too - in cups of decaf coffee in the new dark of early evening, safe from all manner of snow and storm.

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19thsentry-blog · 2 years

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In The Shadows

Miraculous Ladybug Fanfic (Lukanette Endgame)

Chapters

Prelude | Chp 1 | Chp 2 | Chp 3 | Chp 4 | Chp 5 | Chp 6 | Chp 7 | Chp 8 | Chp 9 | Chp 10 | Chp 11 | Chp 12 | Chp 13 | Chp 14 | Chp 15 | Chp 16 | Chp 17 | Chp 18 | Chp 19 | Epilogue | Worlds Not Our Own | Timeline

Chapter Eight: Turn Me On (AO3 Link)

Chapter Snapshot

Viperion's mouth was still hung open from when he'd been cut off mid-sentence, but now he was just staring at her like she was a freak. He snapped his mouth shut and rubbed the back of his neck again before speaking. "I wondered this when you mentioned your Master before, but…how much did he teach you? About…all of this?"

Ladybug had always suspected there was a lot she didn't know, and she'd told Master Fu over and over that she didn't feel ready, that she felt like she was drowning with it all, but he just…he had so much faith in her. So much faith that it made her feel bad that she was doubting herself when he saw so much in her. For a moment, it was a relief that there was someone, even if she didn't particularly like that someone, who thought Master Fu might have left her unprepared too. Ladybug leaned back in her chair. "I mean…the basics, I thought. The names of all the Kwamis, what their powers were…why the Miracle Box was important, and why I needed to keep my identity a secret. Not to use the power for selfish reasons." Basic stuff.

Viperion seemed to deflate a bit, and inadequacy came rushing back through her like a tornado. "I mean, we didn't have a lot of time--just a year. And I didn't even know he existed for most of it, a-and when I did, fighting Hawk Moth and then Mayura took most of my time…"

Cross-country travel. Hotel room. Odd jobs. Apartment. Odd Jobs. Buy Stuff. Odd jobs. Sell stuff. Cross-country travel. Rinse and repeat, ad nauseam. After the day Luka had had, he was glad to be back to a familiar rhythm, even when something in the back of his brain whispered, Familiar for how long? For now, he ignored it.

"The back entrance is 'round here. 'Spect you'll be usin' that most of the time, and that suits me just fine. No loud music past nine." The old man ambled around the well-kept garden, pointing down to the concrete staircase that led to a wrought-iron door in an alcove. "Key's under the mat, feel free to keep it with yeh, I've got spares. Er, what wassit you said you did again?" Beady eyes squinted at him through thick glasses.

Luka smiled politely, shifting his guitar case. "I'm a luthier. I just got a job at Paradis des Cordes."

The man nodded amicably before shaking his head with a frown, the words catching up with him. "Haw? Didn' you say you just flew in today?"

"Yes, sir. I interviewed for the position while I was still in New York, over the phone. There aren't many people with my level of expertise," Luka said with a soft laugh. He had felt that something about Paris was going to be different this time and that finding stable work before he arrived would be prudent. He didn't intend on making his presence known to Ladybug for a few weeks, so having something that didn't involve using Sass was imperative. He was relieved that Parisians were used to akumas causing delays and that being late for the first time he met his new boss wasn't as big a deal as he'd feared.

"Interviewin' over the phone--sounds plum crazy," the old man rumbled on, "but most folks don't seem to have much sense these days." He sighed, wistful and long-suffering. "Well. I'll get outta yer hair. Knock if you need me."

"Yes, sir, thank you," Luka waved, stepping aside so the man could totter back to his front door. Luka descended down the staircase and got the key from under the simple brown door mat and unlocked the door, storing the key in his jeans pocket. The little apartment was plain but cozy. A small kitchenette sat on the right side of the door, and to his left was a small living room, complete with a vintage CRT television set and plush dark brown loveseat. Directly across from the entryway was a set of hardwood stairs that must have led up to the old man's home proper. Just to the right of the stairs an open door led to a room with a full-sized bed, a simple walnut chest of drawers, and a side table. The bed looked very tempting, but he still had to unpack.

"Do you think the Celestial Guardian would hang me from my toes if he knew I was hiding his guidebook in a toilet?" Luka asked, duct tapping the triple-wrapped trove of knowledge under the tank lid of the toilet. Sass hissed a laugh to go with Mullo's giggle.

"Perhapsss, but it isss for the greater good."

He readjusted the tank lid on top of the toilet and washed his hands. "Mullo, I know it'll be hard for you, but you absolutely can't go upstairs, alright? We don't want a repeat of what happened last time."

Mullo pouted, "But it's so boring."

Luka dried his hands on the tan hand towel next to the bathroom sink. "It'll be different this time. I won't leave you in the house anymore, as long as you promise to stay hidden while we're outside."

"Deal!"

Luka fixed himself a sandwich for dinner and set out an egg and cheese for Sass and Mullo, then settled into bed to see if he could start to adjust his sleep schedule. It was only 7 pm, but he was exhausted. The plane ride had been long, followed by the hour on the bus, the run-in with Ladybug and Chat Noir, meeting his boss, finding his new apartment--he should be ready to pass out, but he was wide awake. He could hear Mullo snoring from the inside the safe burrow of his duffel bag. Sass was curled in a ball at the end of the bed, tongue occasionally slithering out in his sleep. The snake stirred and lifted his head when Luka got up and dressed, and wound up following Luka into the living room. They sat in companionable silence for several minutes, staring at the old CRT television sitting on the entertainment center across from them.

He expected both Kwamis to bring up the business with the Guardian immediately when they were all alone, but neither of them had. They had gone about their usual routines with as much ease as they had before. It had been a relief at first, although he knew he would want to address the elephant in the room at some point. Luka pulled a guitar pick from his jeans pocket and flipped it around and around in his fingers, thinking. The clock on the wall indicated it was 8: 14. Luka pulled his guitar case around and unlatched it, settling the instrument in his lap so he could begin to mess with what he had dubbed "Marinette's Melody". He didn't get very far.

"I'm sorry, Sass," he eventually said. His fingers slowed to a lazy pace, the guitar moaning a sad lullaby beneath his fingertips. "We've been doing all this so you could finally see your friends again, and I just…I could have done that for you, but I didn't."

Sass shook his head sagely. "No, we have been doing thisss sso we could enssure all of the Miraculoussss were in ssafe handsss. Our tassk isss not yet complete."

That was true, he supposed. The Butterfly and Peacock were still being used for ill, Ladybug admitted it herself. He still had some time to grapple with the change coming to his future. He would do everything he could to ensure the Butterfly and Peacock were returned to the Guardian, and then…maybe by then, he'd be ready. "You're right. I guess I'm being over dramatic," he said with a small laugh.

"When the Miraculousss are all ssafe, thingsss will change. Perhapsss you can become who you were alwaysss meant to be," Sass said, tone light.

Luka's hands paused on the strings, his heart slowing. "Problem is, I'm not sure who that is anymore," he said, a small smile on his lips as he turned to look at his friend. He’d spent decades searching for and protecting the Miraculouses, and when those leads would run dry, he’d roamed the world in search of their legacies, instead. No one else was around to remember, so he had taken up the mantel. A roving bard in search of heroes to write songs for.

Sass looked nervous, normally bright eyes clouded. He spoke slowly--if he had hands, Luka suspected he'd be wringing them. "If…it would pleasse you, you could…if you were not weary of it, you could be my holder. Properly, thisss time."

He couldn’t help the hope that crept into his voice. "Wait, you mean that? Wouldn't you want to go back with the Guardian? To the Miracle Box with your friends?"

"Only if that isss what you dessire. The Guardian exisstsss to choosse championsss who will fight for peace. The Miracle Box isss where we stay while we wait for a suitable champion," he paused, a smile forming over his face as he looked at the wide-eyed Luka. "I already have mine."

A rushing sting of tears overwhelmed him for a moment, relief swelling in his heart. Losing Sass wouldn't have just been losing a friend; it would've been losing his home. "That's good," Luka said thickly, a laugh bubbling out of his lips. "Because I don't know if I could let you go." Sass flew to burrow between his neck and shoulder, and Luka laid a warm hand on his smooth scales, not minding when a tear or two dropped off his lashes and onto his shirt. "How would you feel about having a look around town with me? I don't think I'm going to sleep tonight," he said after a minute.

He went to go rouse Mullo, but she grumbled at him to go away and let her sleep. Figures: he was finally going to let her join him and Sass on adventures outside (at her insistence), and now she was complaining he was interrupting her beauty sleep. Luka slipped out of the basement apartment, locking the door behind him. He asked his boss after introductions were made if he'd ever heard of Tom and Sabine's--and Malo had simply laughed and said it was just across the park. Paradis des Cordes faced Place des Vosges, so Malo only had to point one bony finger out the door for Luka to spot it. He'd unwittingly picked a place so close to where she could be found. Must be fate, his brain thought again, Marinette's eyes dancing in his mind.

His new apartment was close by, close enough to walk to work and back each day. Luka always traveled light. Anything he kept, he had to be able to shove in his duffel bag and call it a day (the only exception to this rule was his guitar, which he refused to travel without). As a consequence of spartan living, most of his clothes were utilitarian and easily replaceable if they were ripped or torn. The only thing that he took great care of was the leather jacket he tightened around him tonight in the Paris chill. It was part of Wes's 'initiation ritual' to the world of punk. Punk was familiar to him, the rebellious kids he met in the scene were the same he'd known growing up in London in the 1800s, full of piss and vinegar and in sore need of a place to put their energy when the world had given them the bird. The jacket was critical, a statement of who you were and what you stood for. He'd used white nail polish to embellish the back with a rough stencil of Jagged's rough, minimalistic logo.

It was part of him, now, a second skin, even though he only brought it out in the winter months. It was still too big for him, but he never cared. Better too big than too small. Luka crossed the street to the park, his feet grateful for the soft grass over the hard pavement. He wandered around the square for a bit, then crossed over to the other side to see if he could spot Tom & Sabine's--memorizing the pathway he would take when he would go tomorrow, hoping to spot a glimpse of her.

In the end, he couldn't think of anything worth sending via text. "Hey, it's Luka. Still waiting?", "Touched down in Paris, want to show me around? -Luka", "It's Luka, I missed you". Bad. All bad. He was too bad with words to trust his longing with them.

The boulangerie-patisserie was situated on a corner, the architecture jutting out elegantly with the store's name in gold letters, and beneath it were dark windows stenciled decoratively in gold. The second and third-floor windows were dark, but the attic windows were dimly lit. He could see a small balcony all the way at the top, which was dark, but after a moment a light burst forth from the back wall and a small figure appeared, coming to stand at the edge of the balcony.

From his place yards away, he could see her look out across the park, folding her arms to lean against the railing. He couldn't look away, and he wasn't sure why. He always wondered why there were so many Grecian and Roman myths of men that got cursed by nymphs, knowing they were in the wrong for staring but doing so anyway. Apparently, he was one of them now--not the kind of company he wanted to keep. The girl turned towards him and he could make out two pigtails over her shoulders. Though he couldn't see much else he knew she was looking at him, so he did the only thing he could think to do. He waved, briefly, then quickly shoved his hand in his pocket and began to turn away. From the side of his vision, he watched her stiffen before darting away into the safety of the attic.

Man, he really needed to stop waving at people. Luka had taken a few steps on his way back home when he heard a door clatter shut and footsteps quickly running across the street, and he turned again to see someone--to see her rushing towards him. Luka barely had a moment to register that he knew who she was. To revel in the too-big blue eyes, the nervous stutter of her steps, the dark fall of her bangs across her forehead. Marinette closed the gap in seconds, arms around his neck and lips on his.

He gasped in surprise, and she pressed the advantage, sweet strawberry-tasting lips hungry against his. Arousal tore through him instantaneously. Luka wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer, winning a soft heady moan from her throat. After the longest and shortest few seconds of his life, she drew away first, and his now slick lips felt the cold bitterly. Forehead still resting on his collarbone, Marinette loosened one arm from his neck and drew away from him just enough to give him a half-hearted punch on the shoulder.

"You were supposed to text me," she mumbled.

He tucked her head beneath his chin, smelling the sweet honey scent of her shampoo. "'M sorry," he said back. "Bad with words."

Marinette hummed, her breath tickling his exposed skin. "This is good too."

After a moment--"You waited for me."

He heard a miserable sort of smile in her voice. "You didn't give me much of a choice."

Luka laughed softly, glad that she'd been counting the hours as much as he had. "Let me show you something," he said. Luka gently prized his way out of her grasp and took her hand, interlacing their fingers just as he had a month ago. Marinette pushed her side into his and let him lead her across the courtyard. He stopped them by the trees that lined the park, facing the street. "See that store?" he asked, nodding his head at Paradis des Cordes darkened and shuttered windows. "They repair and sell guitars, among other things. They've got a lot of pianos, too. My first day is tomorrow."

She frowned, looking up at him. "First day? When did you--?"

Luka shrugged, an easy smile on his lips. "I just flew in today; met my boss a few hours ago. He's a nice guy--I think I'll like it."

Marinette looked back behind them, eyes still able to make out the shadow of her house and parent's store. "Was this…did you plan this?"

"No, that was all luck. I didn't even know where I'd be able to find you when I got here. Imagine my surprise when I found out," he said with a laugh. "I almost didn't live long enough to find out. I'll be honest, I've imagined a lot of ways to die," and in his more desperate times, had even thought that a few of those ways might not be too bad, "but being crushed by a giant pastry monster wasn't on my list."

Marinette snorted playfully, "Believe me, by the end of the year you'll probably get to add way weirder experiences to your bingo card. I know I have. Oh, but, um--sorry for not warning you. About the…monster…stuff. I wasn't really thinking about it last time. Maybe if you texted," she tacked on with a squeeze on his fingers and an angry pout.

He grinned at her. "Would I have gotten that nice of a 'welcome to Paris' kiss if I had?"

"It took a lot of courage to give you my number, you know!"

Luka let go of her hand so he could put an arm around her instead, pulling her into his shoulder. "Guess you're going to have to keep giving me an earful about it. But that does mean seeing a lot more of me if you're up for it."

Marinette huffed, dropping her head on his shoulder. "You must be a glutton for punishment, hanging around me."

"Marinette, if you're a punishment I'll send myself to hell."

A faint rose blush dappled her face. "It sounds like the Akuma today almost did the job for you."

"Almost--but Ladybug saved me. She seems good with that 'just in the Knick of time' business," Luka said. Marinette hummed and nodded, head resting on his shoulder. "Do you know her well?"

Marinette stiffened against his shoulder. "I guess, um--she's saved me a few times. W-why?"

"No particular reason. People in Paris seem to trust her. Do you?"

She relaxed again; eyes trained on the storefronts just beyond the street. "As much as I trust myself, I guess. She's…a professional. She wants people to be able to trust her to do the right thing, and…and she tries." Marinette looked up at him from beneath her long eyelashes shyly, although why she seemed so bashful he wasn't sure. "Do you like her?"

Luka took a deep breath, letting it go to the count of five. He wanted to--that was all he could say for sure at the moment. If she was the Guardian, he'd want to get to know her and see her in the way everyone else saw her. He wanted to trust her too. "It seems like her heart's in the right place. Sounds like she's been keeping you safe, and I like that."

Marinette gave a short laugh before stopping, the blue in her eyes churning. A line appeared between her brows as she thought--but was cleared when she yawned.

"Guess I should get you back home, huh?" He watched Marinette, his little squirrel, get nervous and twitchy.

"But I don't want to," she said.

Luka nudged them back towards her house regardless. "I think we both deserve some shut-eye. As much as I'd like to steal you for the night, I don't think the old man I'm renting from would appreciate policemen at his place searching for the punk who kidnapped the baker's daughter."

If her blush was rose before, now it was a deep scarlet. Luka laughed when all that came from her mouth was jumbled word salad. He stopped them across the street from the bakery and took both her hands in his, lowering his head to kiss her knuckles reverently. "It's alright," he whispered on her skin. "Now you know where I work. You won't lose me again."

Ladybug shoved the well-worn desk in the boiler room of her old middle school closer to the dim light above. The cord to the lamp stretched tenuously but stayed plugged in. As long as no one walked straight into it, everything would be fine. She hated this place. Whenever someone had hurt feelings or trauma, they always ran straight to the old boiler room because apparently to feel sad you also needed to be surrounded by creepy. Still, it was the only neutral ground she could think of where no one would bother them that was still semi-well-lit.

Viperion showed up at 9pm on the dot, wrinkling his nose at the musty smell and the grim interior. “I still don’t understand why we can’t do this as normal people in a relatively normal place,” he said, rapping his knuckles on a pipe by the door.

"We are normal superheroes--at least one of us is--and a school is a relatively normal place," she snapped back. She didn't know why it was so hard for him to comprehend the concept of secret identities and why they were so important, but it had been. In the end, he accepted her terms--if they were going to sit and chat as he wanted, then he would have to do it her way. Ladybug sat in the old discarded wooden chair that she pushed behind the desk and motioned for him to do the same on the other end.

They stared at each other for a moment and awkwardness settled in. He looked away, rubbing his neck. She thought about starting the conversation, but he was the one who apparently had so much to say, so she wasn't going to give him an out now. She could hear water slowly drip, drip, dripping somewhere in a corner.

"How long have you been the Guardian?" he asked, quietly, eyes still concentrating on the corner of the desk with the graffiti.

Ladybug had been prepared to bicker all night--it had been 2 days since she'd enacted the tactical retreat at Place des Vosges, and she still felt bitter that she'd gotten so excited he might cooperate and hand over the Miraculouses. His invitation to talk this morning after the day’s Akuma attack had also gotten a rise out of her, but now that he was sitting there as if the flame had gone out of him her reply was a bit softer, even if it still had an edge. She shrugged; arms crossed. "Not very long, a few months."

His blue eyes shot up to hers, a studious frown on his face. "Who was it, then, before you?"

She held up a hand first, "Hey, question for question, bub. This is supposed to be equal. Me next. How did you get the Snake and the Mouse Miraculous?"

"Sorry. The Snake Miraculous came from its last holder, Sangpo. The Mouse Miraculous I found on my own."

She pursed her lips. He wasn't exactly forthcoming with details, but she'd get them eventually. She answered his previous question. "The last Guardian of the Miracle Box was a man named Fu. He transferred ownership to me after…long story. So, you said this Shangpo guy was the last holder, where did he find it?"

"Sangpo. He didn't find it. It was given to him by the Celestial Guardian. When he was too old to use it, he returned back to The Order to serve as one of the monks in the temple. …How long has the Miracle Box been in France?"

So, this previous Snake holder had to be at least as old as Master Fu, although she’d never heard the term Celestial Guardian before. She had assumed that Viperion just stumbled across the term Guardian, but she was starting to get a sinking feeling that he knew a lot more than he was letting on. "Uh, that I don't think I can answer. I mean, Fu was old old, so probably awhile. But he wasn't exactly forthcoming with details. How long have you had the Snake and Mouse?"

Viperion paused at that. "The Snake…I guess since I was 12, maybe 14. The Mouse was a lot more…recent, I guess."

Ladybug frowned. "Hey, you're being cagey! And how can you not remember if it was 12 or 14?"

"We're both being cagey," he sighed. "This isn't exactly how I wanted this part to go. I want to work with you. I promised Sangpo I'd make sure that if any of the Miraculous had survived, I'd keep them safe. You said yourself the Butterfly and the Peacock aren't in good hands."

"They aren't, but I don't know why you suddenly care about using the Miraculouses properly. Weren't you just in New York using them to spin a profit? I literally caught you red-handed." They glared at each other over the desk.

"There were extenuating circumstances. It's not like I go out and commit felonies. If I hadn't done what I did, Mullo would still be sick."

So, what, he'd been out collecting money for a mouse doctor? "The only person I know who could cure Kwamis was Master Fu," she said, not so happily remembering the day Tikki had gotten sick.

Viperion sighed impatiently. "If this Master Fu guy was a real Guardian, he'd have been taught the same techniques I used, and they didn't work. Believe me, I tried." Viperion rubbed his eyes, and he suddenly looked a lot older than he had moments ago. "What she was sick with wasn't just some flu, it was…it was enough to kill a person. I was in New York looking for a cure for her--something I'd caught wind of in California. And it worked, but it wasn't easy to get."

Ladybug's mind tried to keep track of all the questions that popped into her head as he spoke--how would he know techniques that Master Fu would have used? Did he really know more than she did? What was it that Mullo had gotten sick with, and who had died? How did you just "catch wind" of a magic cure? And what exactly did he have to do to get it? She didn't get the chance to ask.

"So, she's been cured which is all well and good, but there's another problem. When I found the Miraculous, it was broken, and the book that the Guardian Precepts mentions isn't one I have--"

Ladybug pressed her fingers to her temples, "Wait, wait, wait--give me a minute to--what the hell are the Guardian Precepts?"

He shook his head and leaned back in his chair, too, the pair of them both looking fairly dejected. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean for you to…if I made you feel bad, I didn't mean to. I guess I was hoping you would know more than I would, but it sounds like we were put in the same spot."

Ladybug inhaled sharply, his soft smile, the sad dejected laugh--he meant it, at least, and for a moment she felt just a little bit less alone. How often had she wished someone else would get it? Maybe they had gotten off on the wrong foot. Ladybug shifted in her seat, interlocking her fingers nervously. "I'm sorry, too. I, um, might have been a bit…Chat Noir says I can be…"

The corners of Luka's mouth tilted up. "Passionate."

Ladybug snorted. "A nice word for a perfectionist control freak."

Viperion laughed, and with it, some tension left her body. It was a nice sound. She didn't mind it. "I don't think he ever said that. Lots of other flattering things, though."

"He's a smooth talker; don't be fooled," she said, not able to help a small smile.

Viperion rested his chin in his hand, leaning over the desk slightly now. "So, you are dating?"

Ladybug sputtered, nearly knocking herself out of the chair. "We are not!!"

The mischievous spark was back in his eyes. Apparently, the smug son of a bitch was in there still and lurking just under the surface, waiting to bite her in the ass. "My apologies, then. You clearly have no feelings whatsoever for him."

"I don't! I have a…" she stumbled, thinking of Luka and his lips and being curled up under his arm, and also thinking about how they'd never actually said what they were to each other. "A somebody," she settled for instead with a sharp nod of her head. "And before that, there was…not important. Anyway, I don't even know who Chat Noir is. And that's for a good reason; the kind of reason that time travelers get involved in. But that's a different story," She said, waving her hand dismissively. "Back to what we were talking about. I guess a non-punchy partnership would be good."

"I'm glad to hear it," he said. He took another look around the room, "But next time, I pick the meeting spot."

She could accept that. Especially if it meant she could learn all the things she was supposed to know. Maybe then she could feel like a real Guardian, and with Viperion and his power, maybe they would really be able to turn the tide on Hawk Moth… That wasn't even the only thing that was going right for her at the moment. She was supposed to hear back about the Lanvin apprenticeship in the next month or so, and now Luka was here… Things could be good. Things could be really getting good in her life.

Something in her brain, the part she hated most of all, whispered, But isn't that when everything goes wrong?

#in the shadows mlb #alternate universe #lukanette #luka couffaine #marinette dupain cheng #Nat's Monster In The Box

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satanshatt · 4 months

Text

Corridor 12

A few years ago while I was finishing my bachelor’s I went on an exchange semester during my last year. There was a lot to get accustomed to but luckily I did not travel on my own but went with a friend from the same university, although from a different department. We moved from an overall cold country to a subtropical one with much higher temperatures and higher humidity than we were used to. One of many things to get used to and one of the few things I still miss today.

After several hours of travel we finally arrived in our new home country. We took a taxi from the airport and gave the driver the directions for the university dormitories we were staying at. I would be staying at the female dormitory whilst my friend stayed at the male one across from my building. The rooms were overall quite nice except for the lack of furniture and coziness. As you enter the room you have the bathroom to the left, straight ahead a window and a plane desk and further in to the left, the bed. Once I made a few visits to IKEA to buy som additional furniture and decoration, the room felt a bit more homey. I remember thinking I was the lucky one as I got a room on the twelfth floor with a view over the city whilst my friend faced a brick wall. It would later turn out, I was not so lucky after all.

One thing I did not get used to was my bed however, the mattress was unusually hard and the bed would creak somewhat when moving around. Usually when I went to bed I would lie awake for about one hour before finally starting to get sleepy. During some nights however I would wake up with my heart beating, thinking I heard something in my room. I would always turn the lights on at once to look around, but never noticing anything different. Sometimes I thought I heard a necklace breaking and pearls falling, bouncing on the floor. Other times I heard the clear sound of someone crying beside me. When I turned the lights on I would never see any pearls and most relieving no one else in my room. The walls in the dormitories were however very thin so I would always explain these sounds away by someone walking by my door or the person next door being especially loud. But when I would lie there alone in bed in my dark room, I could swear that the noises I heard were right next to me.

Another thing I missed from my home country that I'd took for granted was clean tap water. To get fresh drinking water I had to go to the elevators in my corridor. It was a short walk away so there was no use in locking the door but whenever I returned I would still worry that someone had entered my room. Before I could relax I would check my closet, the bathroom, under my desk and under my bed to see if someone was hiding there. The scariest part would usually be to check the bathroom. As you enter the bathroom the first thing you’ll see is a mirror above the sink. When you look into it you can also see the wall to the left of yourself without having to step into the bathroom completely. I would always fear that I would see someone standing right there next to me, not knowing if they saw me too. Sometimes, I thought I saw something white, like eyes, glistening in the mirror. Eventually I would start locking my front door when getting water to not go through the hassle of checking my room.

Other than these hiccups my semester abroad went quite smoothly and I had a nice time. I tried many new foods, made new friends and visited uncountable amounts of museums. For the most part, me and my new found friends would visit bars or clubs trying to ignore the idea of actually studying on your semester abroad. As I got more familiar with the city and closer to my friends, I felt safer and started to ignore the weird occurrences in my room. I even got through midterms despite my lack of studying. But after about two months, things started to go down hill.

One night me and my friend from the male dormitory returned to the dormitories after a night out and said goodbye in the yard before going our opposite directions. I returned to my room at around 10 pm sitting at my desk to sort somethings out before classes the next day.

As I was typing on my computer, I paused for a moment as I thought I heard a faint scream in the corridor. I took of my headphones to listen but heard nothing. I assumed the sound was from a stream I was watching and resumed, thinking nothing of it.

Only a few minutes later I heard the scream again. As I was more on alert now I paused the video quickly and straightened in my chair to listen. Silence for a moment. I could only hear the whirring from the air conditioner and a police car going by outside. I breathed out, starring at my wall, until it came again. An although faint, but very painful scream. It was unlike any scream I heard before, the kind of scream you would only associate with someone experiencing or seeing something terrible. It was raw and jarring making me hold my breath. I grabbed my phone and texted my friend in the other building to see if my friend heard something as well. We had previously checked on each other if we would hear the same loud music or siren from outside. I sat down again and stared at my phone, waiting for the three dots to appear. Waiting for a calming reply. But he did not reply or even read the message for minutes, making me more anxious.

My thoughts were racing. Did someone have a panic attack? Did someone get attacked in their room? Could there be some threat in the corridors outside? In a heartbeat I rose from my chair and went to my front door to check that it was locked. Seeing that the lock was turned I stood still by the door to listen if I could hear anyone walking outside. Bzz. Bzz. My phone buzzed on top of my desk. I sat down by the desk again and unlocked my phone.

“No, I did not hear anything like that. Why are you asking?”

I quickly replied explaining that I heard someone screaming, still not sure what was going on in the corridor outside. As I was typing, I heard the scream again. Just as heart wrenching and cold as before. I froze in my chair, listening. She screamed two times, and then stopped again. Silence. I hit send, waiting again for my friend to reply with any advice at all, only hearing my now jagged breathing. My phone buzzed again.

“I think it’s best if you try to call the reception downstairs, maybe they can help you?”

I looked at the wired phone on my desk, it was there when we moved in and they explained that we could use it if we would ever need to reception quickly. There was a sticker on the top of it explaining to call 144 to reach the reception. I picked up the receiver, dialled the number and waited. The receiver beeped every now and then. It had been silent for a while now, no new screams. I sat listening for a while until the beeps turned into a long, continuous beep. I assumed it signalled the call was canceled. I put the receiver down, holding my hand on the phone, debating what to do next. I turned my head toward the door as if expecting a new scream to come at any moment, but nothing.

That’s when I noticed a shadow. The hair on my arms stood up and it felt as if my blood went cold. As the corridor outside would always be lit, there would be light shining through at the bottom of my door. Now, there was something, or someone, blocking the light, as if someone was standing right outside my door. I blinked a few times and rubbed my eyes as quietly as I could to not draw any attention. When I looked again, the shadow was gone. I took my chance and I called the reception one more time, praying that someone would pick up. “Hello?”. I breathed out, a wave of relief washing over me. “I’m sorry, I just heard someone screaming on the twelfth floor, I’m in room 122, I just wanted to see if everything’s okay?”. I winced for a bit as I noticed my pronunciation was worse than usual.

“Everything’s fine.” The voice curtly replied before I was met with the long tone of the call ending.

I took a heavy breath and leaned back in my chair. In all likelihood, someone had a panic attack or similarly and hopefully they had received help.

My phone buzzed on the table again and I realised I hadn’t replied to the last message.

“Are you okay? Could they help you?” I picked up my phone again and replied. “I’m okay. Receptionist said all is OK”

I sat still for a moment again, listening to see if I could hear anything. Maybe the screams were just some sort of prank? Someone blasting the sound on their speaker to freak people out? If so, the prank definitely worked. I rose from my desk and went straight to bed, feeling how tired I had grown from all the excitement. Luckily, I fell asleep quite quickly, unfortunately my dreams were haunted by what had happened.

A few days later was studying with a classmate and told him what had happened. A bit into the story he took up his phone, apparently searching for something. I continued telling him about my call to the reception until he looked up from his phone again and looked at me, he turned his phone towards me. “Have you read about this?” He interrupted me, still showing me the phone. There was an article explaining an incident that had happened in the same dormitory a few years back. Another student, in the same building as mine, had been discovered dead in her room. Her friend had started screaming, alerting other students to call the reception and the police. After an autopsy the cause of the student’s death was still undetermined. “No I have not, where did you find that?” I looked to his face away from the screen. “I just google your dormitory and incident”. I took up my own phone to search for the article myself. In the article a photo of the diseased girl was attached. She was wearing an elegant pearl necklace.

We left the subject shortly after but I couldn’t remain focused through the rest of that day. Eventually I returned to the dormitory and the first thing I did was to head to the reception. I walked up to the counter and greeted the elderly lady behind. At the fear of someone overhearing what now seemed like a ridiculous question, I leaned a bit over the counter to speak more quietly so no one else would hear. “Yesterday, I think I heard some screams in my corridor on the twelfth floor, I just wanted to see if everything’s okay?”. The lady looked at me for a moment. “No need to worry, a student had some troubles with her room but it was taken care of.” She smiled at me and I hastily smiled back. Not knowing what else to say, I smiled awkwardly and then headed toward the elevators to return to my room.

It was quite late already but I had an assignment coming up the next day I had barely started. I set up my desk to get ready to study and prepared some snacks to keep me motivated. As soon as I sat down, I thought I heard the scream again. Only this time, it wasn’t just a scream, but it sounded like someone was screaming for help. Gathering some courage, I decided to see what was going on, to see if someone really needed help. I unlocked my door, stuck my head out. It was quiet, at first nothing looked apart. When I turned to look to the right, I noticed a door further down the corridor stood ajar. I exited my room and took a few steps towards the open door. As I came closer I started to hear a faint sound of someone crying. The same exact sound I had heard in my room.

I finally reached the door and softly stepped closer to peer inside. The crying stopped. It was dark inside, only the sound of an AC running could be heard from inside. “Hello?” I asked with a shaken voice. “Do you need help? Should I calls someone?”. I took another few steps inside. The room had the exact same layout as mine so it was not hard to navigate. I passed the bathroom and looked inside to see if anyone was there. It was empty, only some dripping from the shower inside. As I moved to step out, in my haste I saw a pair of white, gleaming lady’s eyes but when I looked again, nothing was there. My head was racing with thoughts and I felt my sense of fear growing by the second. My body felt heavy, it was hard to move and I knew that the best choice would be to return. Still, I continued, worried that someone was actually in need of help.

I moved further inside. I saw the same type of desk as mine but it looked like any other student’s desk. School books, pencils and old cups of coffee. It was dark outside but the moon shed some light inside through the window. Suddenly, a pearl dropped from the air and bounced on the floor toward me. Then another one, and another one. They laid on the floor in front of me and gleamed in the light from the moon. I looked up to see where they were coming from. To the left of me was the bed in the same position as mine. The first thing I saw was a girl with short black hair in a red dress. It was the girl from the article, laying there with her arms above her head, looking straight into the air.

As I slowly looked over her I noticed a long black shadow standing on top of her and as I looked up I saw her. The same figure I had seen in my dreams. A figure in a long black gown, with long black hair almost covering her face. She had the same white eyes I had seen in the mirror. And in her hand which hung down against her she held a broken pearl necklace. Panic rose within me, my body still felt heavy but urging me to get out as quickly as possible. I took a step back then turned and ran towards my room. I heard steps behind me. Looking back I saw the black skirt coming out of the room I just left. My room was not that far away, as soon as I stepped inside I slammed the door and locked it.

I laid down in bed and pulled the blanket over my head, hoping nothing could happen as long as I did not interact. I remember closing my eyes as hard as I could, tensing my whole body. Eventually I must have fallen asleep as I woke up to the sun shining through my window. The first thing I did was pack my things and check into a hostel near campus. It would be an extra expense which did not come at the best time but I could not stay in that corridor any longer. My friend in building one asked me why I moved out when the room was so cheap but I couldn’t manage to speak about it. A few weeks later, a rumour spread around campus that a student at the university had passed away during weird circumstances. Eventually, it was announced on the news that a female student had passed at the university dormitories. She had just moved in at the twelfth floor, in room 122.

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white-eyed-girl · 1 year

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My personal top 37 for Eurovision 2023 Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

24) Australia - as I place it here in the top I still have no idea what to think of this song? Whether it sounds cool or just out there :''

23) Belgium - song is okay, apparently he's a great performer which paired with a positive song usually means good news for Belgium (I wouldn't have given two cents to Laura Tesoro but that's what well-channelled charisma will do to a mid song), this can do very well

22) Latvia - this sounds so indie, which I like, but I'm usually more of a happy indie type, so this flies over my head a bit; the last bit in Latvian in stellar though, absolutely beautiful

21) Portugal - oh this is so portuguese, which I absolutely say as a compliment :'' it's actually quite good to see, especially after the sad parenthesis that their 2021 entry was for me

20) Israel - I…I mean, it's not bad I guess? It's a bit all over the place, also I just can't get myself to take the ''power of the unicorn'' thing seriously, like I have never heard of unicorns being associated to power? And why does she turn into a CENTAUR in the video?? The ''phenomenal'' part sounds annoyingly cool Her fandom is one of the worst this year btw, absolutely terrible

19) Poland - someone, for the love of all is right and fair, please come and get that BEJBA out of my mind lmao The song itself is alright, it's outrageously catchy but she can't sing it and I think we all pay attention to it mostly because of memes and because of some scandal I heard happened with the Polish tv Oh, I never finished watching the official video because that part where she's eating with her mouth open is so gross lol

18) The Netherlands - this walks on the very fine line between very delicate and almost inconsistent, kinda like a candle flame that's about to be blown away by the wind Still haven't decided where exactly it stands for me :''

17) Armenia - this sounds like something I should like in theory, but I feel like there's a bit too much going on in it, like a lot of different pieces of a puzzle that I'm not sure fit too tightly with one another

16) Georgia - As it is, it has too harsh a start and I find it a bit repetitive It is undoubtedly cool, but I think it could have been even better, also a mention is due to how godawfully written the lyrics are :'' Had this been in Georgian it would have slapped buttcheeks though

15) Malta - I actually like this, it's groovy and SO cozy at the same time, and I find myself randomly going ''…do you wanna DANCE'' during my day lol The sweater gimmick is cute

14) Iceland - I actually enjoy this BUT in small doses, because both the song and her voice are quite explosive and if I listen to them excessively they kinda tire me in a way? The P-p-p-p-power bit is actually my favourite

13) Denmark - this song is so PASTEL asdfghjk everything about it is so cute and he looks like a fawn lol I guess I warmed up to vocoder effects, also unrelated but it's cool that he's Faroese

12) Ireland - pains me to say it, but Ireland's only purpose in Eurovision in this day and age is providing my guilty pleasures :'' They have failed few times in this since when I watch, and they certainly didn't fail this year :'' this is so cliché that it almost does a 180 degrees turn and becomes a cheesy anthem that can be enjoyed in moderation

#eurovision 2023 #eurovision song contest #personal top

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thatbritishactor · 3 years

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Together we stand (part 23)

Summary: Together We Stand explores the relationship between Billy Russo and Reader (You), over the course of twenty years. You meet as children, and you two are best friends until life tears you apart. You always find your way to each other over the years, although you witness him becoming someone you barely recognize. Billy is your weakness, the one person you cannot resist, and as he grows into a selfish, cold, manipulative man, you can’t let go of the Billy you once knew.

Warning: Mature (SMUT), 18+, language (cursing), abuse (psychological), toxic relationship dynamics.

Words: 3,400

The * indicates steamy/ mature content

My Masterlist

Together we stand playlist

Part 1 Part 2* Part 3 Part 4* Part 5 Part 6* Part 7* Part 8

Part 9* Part 10 Part 11* Part 12* Part 13 Part 14 Part 15

Part 16 Part 17* Part 18 Part 19 Part 20 Part 21* Part 22

You make your way through the busy streets of New York, a bit late for your appointment with Billy, and it’s making your stomach clench. You hate being late, but students had questions after your class about finals, and you had to take the time to ease their anxieties.

Billy chose a bar in Manhattan, different from the place where you used to meet, and you’ve briefly wondered why he wanted to change. You plan to ask him about it, maybe tease him a bit because changing his habits isn’t a Billy thing.

Winter’s arriving, and you cling to your scarf and coat, the cold air stinging your cheeks. You’ve rushed directly from work to Manhattan, taking the subway to be faster. You’ve texted Billy that you’d be a little late, and you enter the bar, feeling butterflies in your stomach. You’ve tried not to think too much about it all day, but you’re still a bit nervous about having a big talk with Billy. He’s showed you that he was more balanced, but part of you is scared that it was just an act to lure you in, again.

You look for him and think to yourself that this place is way fancier than what you were used to. It has a cozy, yet chic atmosphere: it’s beautifully decorated with exposed brick, velvet couches and large plants. You notice the gorgeous gold tin ceilings and the classical art adorning the walls, and you feel like you’re in a Victorian lounge. You finally spot him: he’s wearing a buttoned-down shirt and has rolled the sleeves to his elbows, exposing his forearms. You make your way to him, discarding your scarf and taking off your coat. He sees you and gets on his feet, displaying a large grin. Your stomach clenches at the sight of him and you return the smile. He softly says your name and leans in to kiss your cheek, and you let him, feeling yourself blush.

“Please, sit” he gestures next to him, and you settle on the couch, crossing your legs. You’re careful to put a safe distance between you so your knees don’t touch, but close enough so you can take a whiff of his familiar scent, sending electricity through your nerves.

“What d’you wanna drink?” he asks, appraising you.

“I don’t know, same as you?” you try to catch your breath.

He gestures towards the waiter and shows his glass before making a sign for two more of the same drink. The waiter nods, and Billy turns to you. You try not to notice his familiar smell and the effect it has on you, detailing his face. He looks healthy, you think to yourself: his cheeks a bit red and his eyes shimmering, a light stubble still gracing his sharp jaw. He looks impossibly beautiful in the dim light of the bar, and you must stop yourself for going further in your thoughts, looking down to your watch and playing with it instead.

“Busy day?” he asks, and you sigh.

“You have no idea, what about you?”

He smiles, his eyes twinkling. “The beauty of being on leave is that I’m basically on vacation” he replies mischievously, “I’m making the best of it until I have to get back”.

“And when is that?”

“In two days” he replies, and moves to face you a bit more before setting his arm on the back of the couch, his hand close to your shoulder. You try not to take notice and the waiter brings your drinks.

“I’m surprised” you gesture towards your surroundings “I thought that you’d be nostalgic enough to choose the bar from last time.” You add, referring to the night you met after your huge fight.

Billy’s smile grows into a smirk and the butterflies swarm in your belly at the sight of his smug look, bringing back memories.

“That was four years ago” he reminds you, narrowing his eyes. You take a sip form your drink to keep your composure and hide your smile.

“Still.”

“Well, we’re not the same people as last time, are we?” You scoff. “What?” he says, looking innocent.

“Nothing. It feels good to hear you say it.” You settle the drink back on the wooden coffee table.

“Yeah, yeah, I know what you want me to say.” He rolls his eyes before absentmindedly caressing his beard.

“And what’s that?” you ask in a cheerful tone.

“That you were right.” He sighs, and looks into your eyes.

You stay silent for a second, lost in his dark gaze, trying to find where the iris and the pupil start, almost forgetting what you were talking about. A warm feeling spreads through your chest and you break eye contact.

“Was I?” you slide a few inches away from him, before putting your elbow on the back of the couch so you can face him. You bring a hand to your face, resting your cheek on your palm, studying his expression.

“Don’t make me say it again”, he warns, his voice low.

“Fine”, you concede. You know that it means a lot coming from him: Billy’s a proud man and admitting that he was wrong is the equivalent of dropping him on his knees and begging for your forgiveness.

“This place is fancy” you try to change the subject. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were trying to impress me.”

“What if I was?”

“Don’t be smug, Russo”, you chastise him, looking back into his eyes.

“That’s my second nature, and you know it.” He grabs his drink, gazing at you through his eyelashes.

A small silence settles during which you ponder on his words and try not to be too nervous, when he finally speaks again.

“I’ve read your book.” He states, and the change of tone makes you suddenly dizzy.

“Oh” is all you say.

“It was… a wake up call for me” he looks back at you, his eyes serious this time, all signs of smugness disappeared.

“How so?” your voice is weak from the sudden emotion you feel, coming from the back of your throat.

“I mean, I know how I feel about you” he starts to explain, looking pensive. “I’ve always known, ever since we were kids.” You nod to encourage him, moved by the admission of his feelings. “But for the first time, I could see how you felt about me.” He looks back at you, and you open your mouth to protest.

“I know what you’re going to say” he interrupts before you can speak “You’ve always been vocal and honest about your feelings. It’s just that… It’s always been hard for me to believe you when you said you loved me.”

His words hit hard, and your breath catches in your throat. You blink a few times, trying to assess how you feel, and Billy looks intently at you.

“Reading your words” he speaks again “You, describing our relationship, how you felt about me, about us… It changed everything”. You look back at him, staring into his eyes, still unable to respond. His gaze is warm and intense, and your stomach clenches again.

“Most importantly, I had laid down in front of me all of my mistakes. All the things I did to you throughout the years. The bullying, the indifference, how many times I rejected you, pushed you away” he trails off, seeming overwhelmed. “All of that, from your perspective”.

You nod before letting out a shuddering breath, and he reaches for the hand that’s resting on your knee, squeezing it slightly. “I’m sorry I’ve been such an asshole in high school” he says softly, his words caressing you “I’m sorry I was even worse when were young adults.” He adds. You gaze at his hand, overwhelmed, and search for something to reply.

“Thank you” you say finally, the words coming out weak and unsure. “I’m glad the book helped somehow.”

“It did, although I did start reflecting on our relationship after my injury” he removes his hand. You instantly miss the warm feeling of his skin against yours and curse yourself. “The book opened my eyes even wider, especially after the wedding.”

You flinch, hated to be reminded of your infidelity. A small silence settles, during which you try to make sense of the thoughts crushing against one another in your brain, coming as waves. You’re unable to form a sentence, still upset from his revelations and the vulnerability he just displayed.

“What are you thinking about?” Billy asks suddenly, tearing you away from your thoughts. You gaze at him and notice that he’s been watching all this time and you blink twice, blushing.

“We haven’t talked in a year” you try to find sense in what you’re going to say. “We haven’t seen each other in three years before that… And the first thing you say to me is what I’ve always wanted to hear.” The warmth in your chest spreads towards the rest of your body. You feel embarrassed and stunned, so you grab your drink and take a big sip, hoping to diffuse the tension building inside you.

“I know it’s a lot” Billy replies cautiously “But I’ve had a lot of time to think about what I wanted to say to you”.

You nod, finishing your drink, and Billy scoffs. “D’you want another?” he asks in a tentative tone, and you smile. “Yes please” you breathe. Billy’s eyes glance briefly at your lips before he blinks a few times, slightly shakes his right shoulder and gestures towards the waiter again.

“You okay?” he asks after a few seconds. You slide a hand through your hair and breathe through your nose.

“I’m good” you flash a soft smile at him. Billy’s gaze lingers on your lips again, and you feel yourself blushing once more. You subtly inch yourself a few inches away from him, unsure you’ll be able to resist if he tries to touch you. He immediately notices and shifts away a bit too. The tension between you grows and you decide to dive in.

“So, I’ve been thinking a lot about this…And I think that I should start to explain why I never told you about Antoine.”

Billy’s eyes grow faintly cold, a change no one else would have noticed. He flinches slightly when you say Antoine’s name.

The waiter comes with your drinks, and you thank him, appraising Billy carefully. He seems to have regained his composure. Once the waiter leaves, you dive in:

“I was a coward, I was scared.” You want to appease him. “After your injury… It’s fucked up, and selfish, but I felt responsible for that. Cause it happened right after my last letter… And I had this vivid dream… Anyway, it’s stupid.”

Billy’s gaze flickers back into yours. Something’s changed in his eyes, he looks more serious than before, aggravated even.

“It’s not stupid.” He admits. “What dream?”

You scoff and put a hand over your eyes, embarrassed. “I just… woke up in the middle of the night, feeling scared, terrified even. It was a few weeks before I received a letter back from you. I felt like something had happened to you, I was sure of it.” Your admission is met with a thick silence during which Billy looks pensively in the distance before he takes a hold of himself.

“You weren’t responsible for that.” His voice is low.

“Well, I did feel like it was because of me” you answer earnestly. “And then you started to write back, and we felt close again… That’s when I met… him.” You trail off to gauge his reaction, but he seems closed off again, as if he’s regained control over his emotions.

“I was deathly afraid that if I told you about him… You’d endanger yourself again. I couldn’t live with that. I buried my head in the sand instead. I’m sorry, that wasn’t fair to you.” You want to reach for his hand again, craving his contact.

He stays silent for what seems an eternity, lost in his thoughts, and you catch your breath in expectancy. After a while, he finally talks in a smooth controlled voice you know too well.

“You were right. The time I got hurt? I was in a bad place. I missed you so much I was…”

You feel tears coming into your eyes. It hurts, but you try not to show it, because you know how Billy feels about pity.

“It was my fault too. I should’ve written back. I fucked up on my end too.” He says with an expression you know very well: blinking a few times, his mouth slightly curved, his eyes serious and a look of slight disgust on his face.

“I’m glad we can talk about this.” You admit. A small smile tugs at the corner of his lips and he looks tenderly at you. The need for him to touch you grows stronger in your chest, but you tame it, breathing evenly.

“So, what about Antoine?” He grimaces a bit when he utters his name “Does he know about you and me?”

You look away. “No. Does that make me a horrible person?”

“Can I be honest with you?”

“Please.”

“No. It doesn’t. Maybe a coward though.”

You look into his eyes to find humor in them. He’s telling the truth, but it feels like he’s teasing you.

“I don’t wanna hurt him. I can’t lose him.” You admit.

His jaw clenches slightly at your last words, and a shadow crosses his dark irises.

“I get that” he mutters “I do.”

“What about you?” you ask, hopeful “Do you have a girlfriend? You still with Amanda?”

“Nah, she was just a friend.” He takes a sip of his drink, looking away from you.

“You kiss your friends?” you raise an eyebrow, a small laugh building in your chest.

“I fuck’em too, it’s fine” he replies, and you roll your eyes, releasing the giggle you were holding. You feel relieved: laughing diffuses the tension inside of you a bit. Billy looks at your hilarity, smiling, before he speaks again.

“No. No girlfriend. Just casual sex”. He settles his drink back on the table, assessing you again.

“As long as you’re happy” you tug at your own hair, feeling more relaxed than before.

“I’m fine.”

You stare at each other again, silence falling between the two of you. It fills with everything you want to say to him: how you wish you had never been apart, but how grateful you feel that you can talk openly like this. You’re so happy that he’s open about his feelings, and part of you wishes you could discover everything about this new Billy. A hunger builds inside of you; for him. Desire and want battle inside of you and you struggle against them, conjuring thoughts of Antoine. It appears clearly to you that you still want Billy, and that you always will, realization settling in, both exciting and scaring you. You gaze into his dark eyes, finding a desire matching yours, and you’re suddenly scared that you might lose control. You break eye contact, releasing a sigh, and you feel Billy relaxing too, not having noticed that his body had tensed up.

“What about work?” he asks, and you glance back at him. “What do you do now?”

“I’ve started a PHD at Columbia University” his eyes widen. “I teach undergraduates too.”

“A PHD in literature?” he scratches his beard pensively. “And you’re a professor now?” He seems impressed with you, and you blush again, the alcohol in your veins making you feel warm.

“It’s a PHD in French and romance philology” you explain softly.

“I don’t even know what philology means” he lowers his eyes.

“It’s the study of language, something pointless and useless.”

“Don’t do that” Billy says, looking serious and grabbing your hand again, his touch sending electricity through your whole arm. “You’re so smart, you’ve always been”, he praises.

“Thanks Billy”, you squeeze his hand back. “University is my safe place.I just want to stay there my whole life. I plan to become a professor so they can’t ever kick me out” you let a small laugh out.

Billy’s eyes roam over your face, expressing a tenderness that makes your chest tighten and your heart expand simultaneously. You get lost in his gaze for the hundredth time tonight, alcohol making you careless.

“What about you?” you try to focus again, removing your hand from his to grab your drink. “Did you renew your military contract?”

“Last year” he nods, repressing a hiccup “I’ve got another three years to go”.

You finish your drink. “You happy with that?”

“I um… The marines are my safe place too, I guess? But I’ve got other plans” he adds mysteriously.

“Really? What are they?” you inquire, curious.

“I’ve been thinking about starting my own business. But I need money for that”.

“What kind of business?”

“It’s uh… I think there might be some future in private military firms”

You frown. “Private military?” you prod, perplexed. You have no idea what those are.

“They provide military and protection services. I’d love to build something of my own”.

“It’d suit you.”

“Another?” Billy asks, showing your glass.

“I wish I could” you sigh “But I’ve got a class in the morning”.

“So reasonable, professor” he teases, smirking, and his smile makes your heart beat faster.

“I’m really glad we did this” you don’t let him destabilize you.

“Me too” he cautiously brings his hand close to your face, assessing your reaction. You let him, gazing into his deep eyes, and his fingers ghost over your face, lightly caressing your cheek. You close your eyes at his gentle touch, trying your hardest not to lean against his hand. You repress a moan, opening your eyes again to find him gazing intensely at you.

“I should go” you whisper, feeling yourself on a slippery slope. He removes his hand and you immediately miss his touch, your insides painfully clenching.

“Thank you for meeting me” he replies on the same tone, seeming tense.

“Do you wanna do this again sometime?” you ask, trying to conceal the hope in your voice.

“Whenever I come back to New York, I’ll ring you” he smirks smugly, and you beam at him before you grab your coat to slide it on.

“I’ll get the check” you gaze at the waiter behind the bar.

“Please don’t insult me” Billy scolds you, and you grin, biting your lower lip.

“Friends split the bill” you taunt, and his dark eyes chastise you.

“You’ll play next time, alright?” he suggests, and you nod.

Billy puts his black coat on, and you admire him from afar while he pays for your drinks at the bar. He looks so elegant, confident, and charismatic, qualities he already possessed as a teenager but that somehow make him irresistible as an adult man. You search for your Billy, observing him, and find him in the softness in his eyes and the way he fidgets a bit, betraying an inner tension you attribute to your meeting. He exits the bar and joins you in the street suggesting walking you home. You accept, eager to spend more time with him, and the two of you joke around, exchange stories, and even play your old game “ten steps plan”.

You arrive at your building and glance up, not ready to part with him yet.

“So… this is me” you say, gesturing towards the door, shaking from the cold air.

Billy reaches for you and rubs your arms to warm you up and you look up at him, thankful for his touch. You regret wearing so many clothes, wishing you could feel his skin against yours before dismissing the thought. Maybe it’s good thing that you met on the coldest day of the year.

“Goodnight, then” he stares into your eyes. He details your face, like he often does, and you do the same, taking him in. You don’t know when you’ll see him again, and although you’re used to saying goodbye to him, you always wish you could keep him longer with you. Time stretches and neither of you have moved, until he finally bends down a bit, slowly bringing his face closer to yours. You stop breathing, dreading what’s coming next, part of you burning for him to kiss you, the other screaming at you that it’s the worst idea in the world. He brushes his lips on your cheek, kissing you lightly and you close your eyes, releasing a sigh. You lean against him and he retreats, his dark eyes piercing through you.

“Goodnight” he says in a coarse voice, and you swallow hard, nodding.

“See you” you reply, still shivering.

His eyes glisten and he finally steps back and turns over, gives you a last glance and leaves. You stare at him for a split second before entering your building, your heart beating fast against your ribs.

Part 24

* * * * * * * * * * * *

I hope that you liked this chapter! I’ve had to think a lot about what I wanted them to say in it. It took me a while to feel ready to write it, but I’m really happy with how it turned out. I love to write tension between characters, and it’s at its peak between these two trying to be *friends* (they’re kidding themselves, but they HAVE to try, right?)

i know some of you are on Billy’s side, others on reader’s side. I personally can’t choose between who’s right or wrong, as I feel they’re both flawed and are trying their best, this chapter reflects that.

Please tell me your thoughts?? I’m so eager to read them. Thank you <3

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#ben barnes #billy russo #the punisher #the punisher fanfiction #billy russo imagine #billy russo fanfiction #billy russo x reader #billy russo x you #together we stand #my fics

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kimthwariru · 3 years

Text

Namjoon reaction—calling him a ‘friend’ when he clearly has a thing for you

❀genre: smut, a bit of fluff

❀collage au

(This was originally supposed to be a quick reaction but something happened to me and I couldn’t stop writing)

“Look, Jisoo, I’d agree with you, but then we’d both be wrong” you flash a cheeky smile at your best friend. She’s being going on and on about how this Kim Namjoon guy had a thing for you.

You can’t lie, you’ve seen him around in campus and sometimes you’d wish he would suffocate you with these thighs of his. Ugh. The perfect combo, lean yet masculine physique with a brain that actually functions for a change. You’ve seen the way these collage girls were circling him around and you can’t blame them, the guy was a catch.

But he was not your crowd of people. He was outgoing, social and had loads of what you like to call “the lad friends”. You guessed his main activities were partying and getting shitfaced every night.

You’ve talked to him a couple of times. He uses the same bench as you to read now and then. You would eventually take sneak peeks at the books he was reading, check if he had any taste or not, and the result was always better than what you expected. This guy knew books. He was not just reading what was on the best seller’s that week to look sophisticated in front of others.

When he caught you peaking he’d started having small talk with you. You swear you’ve never experienced a better conversation flow with another human being. This guy screamed comfort. He seemed genuinely curious about the things you were saying. None of that painful act of pretending to be interested just because he wanted to get laid. You had been talking with him for a month straight and aside from a few moments of some what flirty looks his actions never suggested something more.

His aura was welcoming and he always paid attention to the little things. Unlike some other shallow guys out there, he felt…different.

But how different could he really be? You’ve seen the people he hangs out with. Kim Taehyung? He had a relationship with three girls at the same time. Didn’t even apologize for being the biggest jerk in history. You’ve heard Jung Hoseok’s body count was reaching a 3 digit number AND Jeon Jungkook once fucked 4 different girls at the same night.

Just thinking about it makes you sick. It pains you to admit but there’s only one truth to this. Even if Kim Namjoon was interesting, he was definitely a person you needed to stay away from. All the data point to a big fuckboy alert!

“Come on y/n…. If he wasn’t even in the slightest interested in you then why did he tell me explicitly that he wanted you to attend the party??”

“An invitation to a party doesn’t mean anything. Besides, I’m sure I’m not his style. Have you seen the type of girls he hangs out with? Yikes.”

Jisoo smirked at you “Oh, I see you’re stalking him now?”

You shake your head “Don’t be ridiculous! We take Econ together, that’s all. What? Am I supposed to cover my eyes every time I see him?”

“Maybe you should” Jisoo came closer to you “Y/n, we’re going to that party”

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

“This is a big mistake, I’ll get bored within the hour” You scream at Jisoo over the loud music.

“Don’t be a whiney ass and enjoy yourself for once” she handed you a drink.

Enjoy yourself for once. You and Jisoo’s definition of enjoying one self were clearly very different. You scan the room to look for any familiar faces you could talk to. Unfortunately, not a lot of your acquaintances attended frat parties.

Your head motion immediately pauses when you meet eyes with Namjoon across the garden. Was he looking at you this whole time? You feel your cheeks burn.

Initially, you don’t know how to react but eventually you flash him a small smile and focus back on Jisoo

“Kim Namjoon just gave me the biggest stare of all time” you say as you down your drink

“What!?” Jisoo’s eyes widened “This is the time where I say I told you so.”

You think for a second that maybe Jisoo was right all along. But that just makes the whole thing more dangerous for you. You can’t lie, Namjoon is attractive, but you knew he was trouble. Maybe he liked you today and then liked another girl tomorrow.

Suddenly, you feel a hand touch your shoulder “Hey y/n, Jisoo. Glad you guys made it” Namjoon’s low voice pierced your ears.

Jisoo gave you a look before replying to him “Hey!! We couldn’t miss such a night!” She smiled “right y/n??”

“Yeah!! Totally” you cheer kind of awkwardly.

Namjoon’s eyes fixed on you. You felt his stare eat you up. His whole presence felt angelic yet overwhelming. “Do you guys maybe want to join us? We’re sitting right by the pool”

“Oh! Sure, why not!” Jisoo answered almost immediately

You were walking towards the pool, Namjoon was pacing right next to you, he was so close to the point where you could sort of smell his cologne. You swear you could get drunk off his scent.

“I have to be honest, I didn’t think you’d actually come” He chuckled

“Are you disappointed?” You teased and raised an eyebrow.

You see a dimple smile making its appearance, how can this dude be so incredibly hot and cute at the same time? “I think pleasantly surprised would be the right way to put it”

Why do you feel like you can not breath? He hasn’t said much, yet you feel yourself burn up all of a sudden. “Good to know” you smile back.

“Joon! You have to see this” was the first thing Taehyung yelled when you arrived to the place where the guys were sitting “12 o’clock, Hobi making out with Mina from 3rd year. Can you believe it? After two years of trying to get it, he finally succeeds”

Of course the main talk is girls. No surprise there.

“Jungkook bitch, you owe me 20 bucks” Taehyung eyed Jungkook

Your expression screamed disgust. Apparently, Namjoon noticed “They are not as bad as they seem” he elbowed you.

You give him and awkward laugh “I’ll take your word for it” You lie.

“Guys, this is Jisoo and y/n. Can you stop trying to head lock each other and say hello? You’re embarrassing me” Namjoon introduced the pair of you to the boys who were still arguing about the bet.

“Oh, hey girls.” Taehyung paused to inspect Jisoo’s face. “Hey, business and shipping? Ain’t it?”

“Oh, yeah, right!” Jisoo smiled

“Hyung aren’t you taking that class for like the third time? How many times can you fail you recon?” Jungkook teased him and Taehyung answered by giving him a slap on the shoulder.

“Hey y/n, do you want to go grab a drink? I think you’ll need it if you are to tolerate these guys” Namjoon offered.

“I trust you know best” you smile and quickly follow behind him. His shoulders wide and his muscles very visible even through his airy shirt. This guy was a whole statue.

“By the way, I’ve never seen you at parties before. I think I saw you once at the December ball but that’s about it. Not really a big fan of these kind of things, are you?” He suddenly said. You can’t really decode his words. How did Kim Namjoon know you even went to the December ball? You’re pretty sure you didn’t even talk to him that night.

“Interested in me much?” You give him a cheeky smile but he was just looking at you, a couple of seconds passed without him responding “I’m only joking! It’s true I don’t really attend these sort sort of things.”

“And what do you do for fun miss y/n?” He laughs and you swear if you could bottle the sound and get drunk on it you would.

“Oh you’ll think I’m lame”

“Try me” he said in a serious tone while starring right through your eyes. Suddenly, your body felt too heavy for your legs to bear. How can he get to you like that?

“Okay…” You start, him looking at you like that didn’t help control your train of thought, but you manage to get a hold of yourself “So you know that little corner cafe on willow street? Every Friday they have these comedy music nights. A guy-“

“Park Jihoon and the little funny guitar, yeah! I used to go there every Friday during my freshman years! Do they still do that old thing? I swear the pun with the atom never failed to make my day.” He started laughing again.

“Whoah what? You’re telling me you’ve been to the shrieking shack?” That place was a little treasure you’d found earlier this year. It was an amazingly cozy place, perfect during the cold winter time. The staff were all so kind and wore these big oversized colorful ties. But the people going there were all much older than you. You’ve never heard someone your age talk about that place. Let alone a person like Namjoon.

“Careful how you talk to a veteran y/n. I’ve basically helped to build the place” he chuckled.

“Y/n is that you?” A familiar voice greeted you.

“Jimin! Oh my god, hey! It’s been ages since I’ve seen you!” You hug him.

Jimin was a great soul, he majored in contemporary dance and ballet. He had been traveling for the past couple of years enrolling in some extra ballet classes in the magical city of Paris. You envied him for his talent and admired him for his passion.

“Girl, you have to come visit me. You’ll love Europe!”

“I would also LOVE to have some money in my wallet” you laugh “Oh Jimin, this is my friend, Namjoon. We go to collage together”

Namjoon gave you a look and soon after shook Jimin’s hand “What’s up. Nice to meet you”

“Nice to meet you too! But y/n, I’m so so sorry, I have to go. I was actually on my way out just now. I sort of uhm, have a thing-you know” he coughed “I’m leaving in two weeks, can we please meet before that?”

You knew Jimin was probably off to his ex boyfriends house. They broke up before Jimin left for Paris but every time he got back he’d have a couple of hookups with him. “Oh yeah! I bet you’ve got something very important right now, you better go quickly” you teased him “I’ll text you tomorrow, ok?”

Jimin laughed so much his eyes were barely visible “definitely! text me! I’ll be off then! Bye mister Kim Namjoon” he playfully said and was out of your sight a second later.

“You two seem…close” Namjoon suddenly commented

“Yeah! We were! But he has been studying abroad for like two years now.”

Namjoon’s facial expression was quite enigmatic “Did you guys ever… you know”

“Oh no no no.” You pause to make a small chuckle “Jimin isn’t exactly interested in, well, girls like me, or to be exact, girls in general”

Namjoon’s eyes widened and he immediately bursted into laughter “oh… I see” he made a pause “So tell me then, how come the old soul that never goes to parties finally attends one?”

You feel your cheeks burn red. Partly because the reason you went was him. You don’t know why, but the past month you and Namjoon hit it off very well and you wanted to test Jisoo’s crazy theory, you wanted to make sure for yourself if Namjoon was interested in you or not. Now the problem was, even if it turned out he did like you, you didn’t know what you’d do exactly. Namjoon was a really nice guy, but he didn’t come without his red flags.

“Just wanted to try something different, I guess”

“And how’s that 'different' treating you so far?”

What could you possibly tell him? That you have enjoyed every minute you guys have been talking? That you think that just by staring at you he could make you feel things no other guy could? You barely can admit all of that to yourself. “I think pleasantly surprised is the right way to put it” you repeat his words from before.

You see him smile at that. “You know what y/n? I’m really happy you came”

How can he make your heart beat so fast with just one sentence? “Oh really? And why is that?”

“I don’t know, I guess… I just like talking to you, you know? Whenever I’m around you I feel at ease, like I can tell you anything. I feel different when I’m with you, but in a good way”

“Wow” that sound escaped your lips without your consent

Namjoon laughed “Why? Is it too weird?”

“No! Definitely not weird, more like, I don’t know, surprising?”

“In what way?”

“Well you’re… Kim Namjoon, you’re the 2021 class president and you’re like the most popular guy in the whole campus right now.” You made a pause “And I’m just..-“

“The most interesting girl I’ve ever met” he cuts you off

The way he was looking down at you made butterflies grow in your stomach “You really think so?”

He gently grabbed your waist and pulled you closer to him “I know so” he leaned down, you swear his eyes had the whole galaxy painted inside of them. You couldn’t even breath properly at this point. Kim Namjoon was too close and the only thing you were thinking about was how well his kiss would feel “God, you’re so beautiful” he said and pulled you in for a soft, gentle kiss.

You couldn’t believe your senses. Kim Namjoon was kissing you and you really thought the earth had stopped spinning right then and there. You could feel his big palms traveling up and down your back.

His kiss was breathless, jubilant, filled with the joy of life, and you should stop him, he is no good to you, you know that, but his scent is delightful and his lips are so warm.

Unconsciously, your hands reach the inside of his shirt. His skin hot and soft at the touch.

"y/n" he practically moans your name, and just the sound makes your knees go week "Don't do that, I don't think I'll be able to stop"

"Who said anything about stopping?" You say and go back to kiss him even more passionately this time.

“There’s a lot of people here, my room is upstairs, would you perhaps want to-“

“Yes.” You immediately say. You don’t care about anything anymore, you’d let your future self deal with the consequences of today’s actions. The only thing that has been lingering in your mind is how good he’d feel inside of you.

The moment you’re finally alone in his room, he lifts you up, swinging you around and kissing you. It was like a dream. Namjoon was everything you wanted. Your reluctance about getting with him didn’t matter any more, the tingly feeling in your stomach overtook every single bit of hesitation you had. You needed him.

“God, you’re lovely” he exhaled

He looks at you as he sinks you down on the bed. Planting a soft kiss before his hands quickly begun to peel away clothes, yanking his belt loose, fumbling hurriedly at his trousers.

You look at his lips tracing your skin and the faint moisture left behind, you look at his muscly arms as he lifts you up and sinks you down again, you look at him looking at you, with eyes brighter than the sun itself. Was this all a dream?

When your dress was finally off he undoes your bra clasp on the way down. Slowly planting kisses on your collarbone, the tops of your breasts, your sternum, and you arched you back as you were needy for more.

His lips finally reach your nipples .Your boobs smooth under his hands, your nipple firm under his tongue, and there, that makes you squirm again, a little more insistently this time.

“Fuck, I’m so fucking wet right now, I feel it” You moan

You see him raise an eyebrow. A vivid smirk painted on his face “Let’s check, shall we?”

He splays his hand low across your belly, and the first brush of his thumb over your clit makes you breathe in sharply and him forget to breathe at all.

“I’m your friend?” He breaths in, his voice dangerously low

“Oh come on” You manage to say in between moans “what was I supposed to tell Jimin?”

His strokes and flicks are light and teasing, his thumb carefully circling around your clit. He gives you a slow, constant, unyielding pressure that makes your breath come up short, makes your toes curl in the effort not to move.

“I’m gonna fuck the word ‘friend’ right out of your pretty little mouth” he covers your mouth with an intense kiss before slipping two fingers of his free hand inside of you, and you makes a noise like triumph and want all wrapped up together. If his fingers felt like this, you can’t imagine how his dick felt like.

“Hmm?” He doesn’t look up, he keeps his eyes on his hands, on you, spread out beneath him “You like that baby?”

God, just the way the word 'baby' sounded coming from his mouth could make you come right this second. You look at him, his eyes look as hungry as his voice sounded. This dude was out of this world.

“Please Namjoon, I want it, I want you inside of me right now”

Namjoon lowered his underwear, and simply pressed his hard member on your slit. You could feel his balls softly caressing your clit as he made subtle movements while kissing you. “Such a needy little thing” he teases “Tell me how bad you want my cock inside of you”

“Oh..” you moan “I’d do anything, please…give it to me… fuck me like you own me” you whined as you used your pussy to caress his length up and down. He seemed to enjoy they way you touched him.

“Fuck y/n… that feels so good” he rests his forehead on yours.

“Imagine what my inside will feel then” you whisper in his ear “I’m such a tight good girl” you move your mouth in front of his, bitting his bottom lip as he growled when he felt your movement grow faster

“Fucking hell” he immobilized your body with his hands and pressed you down to the bed. He immediately shoves his dick inside you, filing you up to the brim before staying there for a couple of seconds and then pulling out completely. That movement made your vagina crave to be filled all the way up again.

“More” you whine, a dopey expression all over your face. You were so needy of him, but you didn’t care.

He lowered his left hand towards your thigh and gave it a big squeeze, kissing you aggressively while doing so. He quickly braced himself back into you, you felt your walls completely wrap around his member. It felt magical.

His strokes long and steady in the beginning. Every time he went in and out completely you felt the pit of your stomach burn in pleasure. Namjoon was doing everything right, you can’t lie to yourself, this is the best sex you’ve ever had. Normally with other guys you don’t even come close to coming, but now, you feel yourself trying not to do so.

“You like my dick being inside of you baby?” He plants a small kiss on your neck and goosebumps run down your spine.

‘Like’ was nowhere near good enough of a word to explain how much the sensation of him thrusting his hard member in and out of you made you feel. “I love it Namjoon… I just love it…”

Your words must’ve turned Namjoon even more on, because his pace immediately started becoming faster and sloppier. Every time your skin touched a loud sound could be heard. Namjoon was thrusting deeper and deeper into you, and every time he’d fill you up completely you’d cry out his name.

“Ah, I like my name so much better when you fucking moan it like that” he says and started shoving his dick inside of you like crazy. You could tell he was close to coming, and so were you.

It wasn’t long until you felt your walls clenching and your toes curling. The sensation overtook all of your body, it was mad… your heart beat uncontrollable. Namjoon made you feel a completely new range of emotions.

“Ah y/n, I can feel you cumming all over my dick” his voice cracky, You could see how turned on he was by all of this, by you. “Fuck” he shoved harder “You’re so” harder “fucking hot”

Namjoon stopped and pulled out immediately spreading his cum all over your tummy. The sight was breathtaking, you’ve never found a man so attractive while coming before, but then, Namjoon is no ordinary man.

He quickly grabs a couple of tissues and wipes you clean before laying on top of you again, placing another soft kiss this time. His hand playing with your hair. You were both naked and sweaty and a mess but it felt so magical. You wrapped your hands around his broad shoulders, pulling him even closer to you. You didn’t want even a centimeter of distance between you and him.

He suddenly stopped kissing you and simply stared at your eyes. After a minute or two, or maybe three, you're not really sure, time didn't exist right now, he tacked a string of hair behind your left ear.

“Y/n, let me take you on a date. Please. I know you don’t normally go out with guys like me, but I swear I’ll make it worth your while-“

“Park Jihoon and the little funny guitar. How does that sound? Or are you too good for the shrieking shack now?” You chuckled

“I’d love that” he smiled, making your heart melt a little.

#bts reactions #namjoon reaction #namjoon fanfic #bts fan fiction #bts fanfiction #bts fan fic #namjoon imagine #bts imagines #bts scenarios #namjoon scenarios #bts college au #bts smut #bts fluff #namjoon smut #namjoon fluff #namjoon fic

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sapphire-strikes · 2 years

Text

Christmas Writing Prompts! 🌟

I've always been a fan of these and it's been so long since I've participated in one, so what better way to jump back into it and the Christmas spirit then to make one of my own?

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🎄Theme Prompts 🎄

1: Snowball fighting.

2: Sledding.

3: A Christmas Party.

4: Decorating The Tree.

5: Snowed In.

6: Missing Home During The Holidays.

7: Black Friday Shopping.

8: Frostbite.

9: Baking Christmas cookies.

10: Christmas lights.

11: Holiday Sleep over.

12: Firelight.

13: Christmas Caroling.

14: That Fuzzy Feeling.

15: Holiday Movie Marathon.

16: Letters To Santa.

17: Unusual Traditions.

18: Car heater.

19: Happy Tears.

20: Home Alone.

21: Exchanging Gifts.

22: Silent Night.

23: Christmas Dinner.

24: Twas the Night Before Christmas.

25: Christmas Morning.

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❄ Dialog Prompts ❄

A: "It's a little big don't you think?" "It's just cozy sized!"

B: "You're going to catch a cold!" *Achew!* "See? Now what did I tell you!"

C: "I...really wasn't going to do much this year..." "That's okay, you don't have too, we've got it all planned out, you just have to tag along!"

D: "Your hands are freezing!" "It's not that bad... Woah, wait, what are you doing!?"

E: "I promised your parents I wouldn't land you in a snowy grave."

F: "You make a great Santa, (character), I'm almost surprised!" " '(Character)'? Who's that? I am Santa Claus!"

G: "I think I'm a little old for this kind of thing." "Nonsense, no one is too old to make it on the nice list!"

H: "I don't think I could eat another bite..." "But you haven't even had dessert yet!"

I: "You need to keep them distracted, don't let them leave until we're done setting up!"

J: "I'm just a little tried after all the excitement." "Are you sure that that's all?" "Yeah, I'm glad I came though."

K: "Why are there so many mistletoe?"

L: "They'll be no sad faces on Christmas!"

M: "You look like you could use this." "What is it?" "10 onces of the best hot chocolate you'll ever taste, and I'll put money on that too."

N: "Please, do come inside and warm up, won't you?"

O: "Christmas won't be the same without you, y'know..."

P: "Even a miracle needs a hand!"

Q: "You can't do that, then you'll be cold..." "I insist, the cold doesn't bother me one bit, I promise!"

R: "You're...scared of Santa Claus?"

S: "You're my gift this year!" "That's so sweet, but like I sai-" "Get in the box."

T: "В лесу родилась ёлочка,В лесу она росла. Зимой и летом стройная, Зелёная была~"

U: "You're being awfully sarcastic for someone dangling upside down in a mess of tinsel."

V: "All I want for Christmas is you!"

W: "You look comfortable, huh?" "Mmhm..."

X: "Let's stay up and wait for Santa!" "I don't think I can stay up much longer." "Oh? I know just the thing to help wake you up!" "Don't you dare..."

Y: "Hark! The Harold Angels Sing!"

Z: "Merry Christmas, Y/n!"

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Send in a theme, a dialog prompt and the characters you'd like it to be about and I'll do my best to come up with a little drabble! Feel free to mix and match prompts however you like and if you have any specific ideas for a drabble please be sure to include those too (The more I have to work with the better)! You could also send just a theme and a premise if none of the dialog prompts catch your interest and I'll do my best to work off of it.

They most likely won't be very long but I will be working on them all the way up until Christmas so send in as many as you'd like and I'll get to as many as I can as I find the time!

#I might update with some more options as I come up with them!#sfm Christmas prompts #writing prompt #christmas writing prompts #holiday writing prompts #these are free to use btw if anyone takes interest!#As I'm sure you guys can assume I'm doing most of my writing for sfm #I love writing reader inserts but interactions between just two characters are good too!#btw I'll be saving the most Christmasy requests for closer to Christmas #so don't give up if yours isn't picked right away #I might be saving the best for last #Also you guys are welcome to use multiple prompts in the same request!

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izukus-sugar-baby · 3 years

Text

Checked out!

WARNINGS: fluff-ish, eventually will be smut, mentions of getting sick twice

word count: 2k

Heres my first writing for tumblr! Hope you all like it!

Part Two, Part Three.

"Hey Miss!!" You peered down at the smaller voice, simultaneously feeling a book slip from your hand and onto the ground. The bookshelf was at least 5 rows high, and you had been standing as far as you needed to reach the top. You were dusting off and replacing the books on the shelf, which... hadn’t been so pleasant with children running around before their daily read. Regardless, you had a job to do. It wasn't gonna stop for a ton of kids. You had been rearranging the books in alphabetical order before the kid startled you. Thank god it didn’t fall on their head.

"Are you gonna read to us today? Or is Miss Maggie?" The kid didn't look over six years old, blue eyes and long brown hair with freckles littering her face in a wonderful way. She wore a small dress full of sunflowers with bright pink shoes on her feet. She had been here before... Although, her name wasn’t ringing a bell.

"I wanted to read one of those pigeon stories you read us last time!" You let out a sigh of relief that the book didn't smack the kid on top of her head prior to climbing down to the ground and leaning down be eye-level with her.

"Pigeon stories?" You've read dozens of books about dozens of creatures and characters. What on earth would relate to a.. pigeon? Leaning down a bit farther to snatch up the book you had dropped, she pushed another book into your arms. The title read The Pigeon Needs A Bath!

"This book is pretty thin, You sure you want me to read just this one book, sweetheart?" You stood up straight, handing the girl the book back before cocking your hip to the side and placing your hand onto it.

"Me and Emmie can go find some more!" She hurried off to find her.. friend? Knowing it had been a child, it could be a stuffed animal! But she sure did leave too quickly to ask any questions about it. You sighed, climbing back up to finish your organizing. Thank goodness I’m already close to being done. You thought to yourself, dusting top to bottom and moving onto the 4th row. Their reading wasn't for another.. what? 20 minutes? You had time to knock out another shelf. Time flew by as you finished the 4th row. It was already time to read.

"I have to stop by Goodwill and get some more books. I also gotta stop at the post office and some.. other errands? You got this reading?" The owner of the store, Maggie, looked over to make sure she had gotten your attention before naming off a few things that needed done in the shop before you closed up shop.

"Yeah! What time will you be back?" You climbed down the last step of the ladder, patting off the dust from the bookcase that had gotten on your apron. It was some cutesy hello kitty apron you wore so the dust wouldn't ruin your clothing but it really just made it look like it was some mini cafe. None the less, you wore it.

"I'll be back in time for that uh, Pro hero guy. I don't know- my wife wrote him in. Ask and she'll tell you!" You weren't too involved with all that hero bullshit, the whole who can save more lives?! You get the most money AND an award. The system in itself was ass and it wouldn't make a difference in your everyday life for one of those snobby people to stop by. You walked around the shelves, watching Maggie leave as you sat down on a small rounded couch. A small chime rang through the shop as it called the children over for their reading, a few already sitting and ready to hear you.

It wasn't a big library, it seemed like a corner store had gotten torn down and then completely renovated into a library for children. The second floor had been where the owner and her wife stayed. It was a cozy little place where about 8-12 kiddos would visit for a read. There were bookshelves in the walls for more book space and 5 separate shelves more towards the middle of the place. They held less books than the ones on the wall. Only two of the five reached over 3ft. Parents would come in just to rent a few books. But more often than not, the owner would go out hunting for new books for everyone to enjoy. Along with cute little toys and those foam floor mats to sit on. All of the children in the shop had sat right in front of you, including the girl from earlier who held 4 books in her hands. A few other kids held thin picture books in their hands as well, but only having 15 minutes to read to them, it might be hard to get around to all of them.

“Alright, Who's first?" You asked, smiling down at them. Every single child raised their hand, some even raising both so your attention was on them. Of course this wasn't going to be easy. You thought to yourself as you put a hand over your eyes, pointing to some random kid. He held a small book, standing up slowly and handing it to you.

"My mom reads me this sometimes.." Poor boy was only about 5, and seemed pretty shy. You gave him a reassuring smile before he went back to his seat. You began to read and in no time at all you finished reading the few books children selected. Thank god it was a Friday, Most children would be picked up right after the reading for afternoon preschool etc. But it seemed like no one wanted to leave. Was it that hero Maggie had mentioned? You sighed, hopping up and heading to the check out desk where you saw a few children wanting to check out their books you previously read to them. You leaned down over the desk to reach for the book, scanning it and doing so for each person. The store bell jingled, as if the creak of the door didn't give away someone walking in.

"Welcome to 'Children's Magical Bookshop,' You paid the person no mind as you spoke, handing the last child their book and letting your gaze fall upon the... very tall man in front of you. Noise filled the small shop, children running up to him screaming-

"Deku!" As loud as their little lungs could. He gave a flashy smile, leaning down to hug the children that ran straight for his legs. He laughed and lifted a few of them in his.. very strong arms. Was it hot in the bookshop? Was the AC fucked up? You force your eyes from the tall man.. Was he looking at you too? Your mind screamed at you to introduce yourself, Quickly walking towards a shelf to do something. Anything bust stand there and gawk at him.

"Are you Maggie?" There were hopping children behind him, playing with his gloves and such as you turned to him.

"No- I'm y/n. Are you that.. pro? She had been talking about.?" You huffed through your nose, turning to him. He extended a hand, nodding with a cheesy grin on his face as soon as you had taken his hand into yours. It wasn’t like you never saw him on the news, but you sure did skip the channel as soon as it was some bullshit hero chart over who had been number one. He was so much hotter in person..

"Yes! I'm sorry I'm a bit early, I finished patrol sooner than I thought! I hope I'm not interrupting anything? The woman on the phone said before six, I told her I was sure I could make it around five!" His eyes traveled to your lips for a moment, listening to you speak back to him.

“You’re fine, There’s plenty of time for you to hang out and sign all of their t-shirts and such. Make yourself at home big man. You can sit in the reading area,” The kids dragged him to where you were just moments ago.. But he couldn't get you to leave his mind. You were beautiful. He needed to make you his.

The poor hero stayed until about six o’clock to talk to you, since all of the kids finally left to go do their summer homework or whatever they had to do. Deku had been leaning over the counter for almost an extra hour to make some conversation with you, he just couldn’t help himself. You cant blame him either! You had this smile that he couldn’t resist. And quite frankly, he wasn’t used to this feeling of butterflies in his stomach. He fought some shit villain every day! What's a few butterflies? Especially as pretty as you. Why wouldn't he want to stick around?

“I really didn’t think it would be so chill this week! It feels like I've done nothing but catch up on papers!” Izuku scratched his neck with his index finger, shaking his head lightly. “I guess I really am doing a good job!- Of course other pros are doing their jobs as well!” He let out a relieved chuckle, looking at you with a big, sincere, smile on his face. “How has work here been? It must be so nice working with so many children!”

You feel your eyes involuntarily roll, shaking your head and leaning against the wall behind you. “It’s nice until some kid gets sick on themselves and their mother isn’t here to help. We have extra clothing in the back because it’s happened more than once.” You groaned as your eyes trailed to the door leading to lost n found, clothes, and other things. You had an unamused look on your face talking about it. He noticed and let his eyes follow yours until feeling your eyes rest upon him once more. Maybe texting would let you come around to him a bit more? Were you bored?

“Yikes- I’ve seen adults get sick after villains show up. But I probably should head back to my agency.” He looked out of the store window before right back to those beautiful e/c eyes of yours. “Do you have a number I can text? I would love to talk to you more y/n..!” He was already prepared for rejection. It was kinda weird to be hitting on you after dealing with kids wasn’t it? Maybe he should take it back. Was he coming off as some sleazy ass hero?

Your eyes widened in the slightest- Enough for him to notice. “Sure, Let me see your phone,” You stepped closer to the counter, seeing him fumble on the pouch of his belt before unlocking and giving you his phone. You went to his contacts, making yourself one of them and handing it right back to him. He had an even bigger, cheesier, grin on his face after he took it back.

“Thank you, y/n!” He bowed his head before quickly leaving out to his agency. Finally, you could go home as well. Not that he was a problem, but that man sure could talk. It was endearing. Maybe I can put enough of those stutters in mind tonight. You joked to yourself, grabbing your keys and walking out to lock up the small bookshop. There was no doubt that you were attracted to him. Every woman in America and Japan was attracted to him in some way.

You let out a small sigh, driving home and turning your radio up until hearing your phone ding. You glanced over at the screen to see an unknown number texting. Assuming it was Deku, you waited until you were home to answer him. By the time you had texted him back, he was quick to reply. You two made plans to hang out soon and have dinner together. You talked for hours until one of you had fallen asleep. He was ecstatic. You really enjoyed his company.

taglist: @tenyaiidasslut @hi-rubi @devilsbooksworld @flamingpastapotatoes @arleneeene @blacklotussai @akam4recs @prinvilmain

a/n: I fucking hate tumblr KWJCHDH ive had to re-write this more than once because they changed the layout if the save and post. Its not my best work and was mostly edited on here instead of Google docs. Learn to edit the first version first i guess 💀 The second part will be much better!

Please Reblog!!!!

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johnsamericano · 2 years

Text

Ꭰąվ 𝟙९

➱ Qíɑղ Ƙմղ

Having spent 12 years as a single father, his little girl means the world to him, so when a new woman enters his life, he has no other option but to listen to his daughter, who was an odd hatred towards his dad’s girlfriend.

genre: angst, fluff.

warnings: manipulative daughter, a bit suggestive at the end, single parent!au

☞ taglist: @morningsunandnightsky @soberhani @aaasteroidsky @chenlewifey @piaozhisheng @doeilovr @aedreamzy @multistan30 @legbouk

falling masterlist

“Dad, someone's ringing the bell.”

“Coming. Thank you, honey!” Jieun’s dad walked past the living room, drying his wet hands in the apron covering his dressing shirt. He’d gotten off work early to cook the most elaborate dinner she’d ever seen. “Hey.” The greeting sounded too familiar for it to be directed to a stranger. He knew the person who'd rang the doorbell. “Come in.”

“Are you sure I won't be a bother?” You stood nervously with homemade pumpkin pie between your hands, Jieun’s favorite as you were told.

“Of course not. Here, give me that.” With one hand holding the container and the other reaching out for yours, he guided you into his home, the cozy smell of food enveloping you like a warm hug. “Jieun, darling, come here for a second.”

Kun hadn't dated anyone ever since his wife left him with their newborn daughter, therefore, he wasn't very sure how to introduce you.

“This is y/n.” Jieun could already sense something big coming, and she didn't like it one bit. “My girlfriend.”

You seemed too young for her father, and there's only one reason why young women date older men. Money.

“Hi, Jieun.” You smiled at her, extending your hand her way only to be rejected. “I baked you a pumpkin pie, though I'm not sure if it tastes decent.”

“Of course it does.” Kun squeezed your hand.

“I thought you said you wouldn't date anyone after mom.” Her words punched you straight in the face, making you speechless.

“Don’t be like that, darling. Let's go eat so you two can get to know each other better, alright?” Her eyes scanned your figure from head to toes before walking pretentiously to the kitchen, making sure you knew that was her territory.

“I think I'll just head home.” Before you could move from your place, Kun’s arm was already hooked around your waist, dragging you with him.

“Let her warm up to you. She's never had a female figure to look up to. She needs time to adjust.”

Time wasn't what she needed. She needed you out of her father’s life, and she made that very clear when she spat into a napkin your pumpkin pie, claiming it tasted like rat poison.

“Excuse her. I don't know what got into her tonight.” He hugged you tightly once you were outside, safe from his daughter's death stares. “I’ll see you tomorrow at work, alright?” He smooched your forehead loudly, nuzzling your face afterward. Giggles erupted from your mouth.

“Alright, I'll see you tomorrow.”

Dating a single father was a lot harder than you first expected. You wanted to bond with his daughter, but as much as you tried, she wouldn't let you in. She'd always make sure to be home to keep Kun from visiting you or just to keep an eye on you two while you hung out in the living room.

Jieun had told her friends about his dad’s new girlfriend, and they all agreed on something. If she was young, she'd want to have a baby, a baby who would take her place in her father's heart.

She needed to act quickly if she wanted to keep her father by her side.

“There’s no wine.”

“I’ll go get it, don't worry.” But Kun quickly interrupted you, conspiring an opportunity for you and his daughter to get along better.

“You stay here to watch the sauce, I'll be back in no time.”

Little did he know his plan would backfire terribly. His little daughter had purposely smashed a plate against the floor, cowering in fake fear at the corner of the room by the time his dad arrived.

“What happened here?” You were blinking confusedly, spoon in one hand while the liquid inside the pot started to rise, matching the tension in the room.

“S-she threw the plate at me!” You frowned. “I was just trying to help.”

“Y/n?” You looked at Kun pleadingly, having run out of words to excuse yourself. He was sure you weren't capable of something so violent, but his daughter’s safety came first. He kneeled, taking his trembling little girl between his arms, cooing as he tried to calm her down.

You took your leave, getting rid of the apron as you made your way out, humiliated by a twelve-year-old girl.

Kun avoided you at work, and so did you. The man that had confessed his love for you only a few days ago, would now treat you like a stranger.

Kun wasn't doing exactly well. He knew something was wrong, but he couldn't make any decisions without having proof his daughter was lying. That was until he was passing by her room with fresh laundry, hearing giggles coming from inside. He pressed his ear to the door as sneakily as he could.

“You should've seen her face! I wanted to laugh so hard when she left, but my dad would've known something was off.”

His heart shattered as he heard his daughter's confession.

“Qian Jieun.” He stormed into the room, dropping the laundry basket with a loud noise. “What did I just hear?” She hid her phone under the pillow, smiling nervously at him.

“Nothing, dad. I was just talking to one of my friends.”

“Give me that phone.” Kun wasn't one to scold his daughter frequently, but as he scrolled through the endless conversations with her contacts, rage started burning up inside him. “Care to explain?”

The girl remained silent, staring at her hands as if the answer would magically appear there. Kun sighed, sitting beside her to try a different approach.

“What happened with you, huh? You used to tell me everything.” If there was one thing she couldn't stand, was the sight of her father sad.

“You were going to start a new family with y/n. I'm too old and you'd probably pay more attention to a baby than me.” The teenager in front of him had suddenly turned four years old again. Sulky and in need of cuddles from her dad.

“Come here.” He cradled her between his arms, pressing kisses to her forehead tenderly. “I would never, ever, stop loving my daughter, alright? If I were to have another baby, my heart would only become bigger to fit both of you in.”

“I’m sorry I scared y/n away.”

“Oh, I'm sure you are. But you're still grounded for a month. No phone and you'll help me with the house chores.”

“But dad-”

“And you'll apologize to y/n. That is if she wants to take me back.” Jieun felt bad for snatching the opportunity of being happy again from him. Her dad deserved all the love in the world.

(...)

“Y/n.” You felt a tap on your shoulder, turning back to face the black-haired, dimpled man.

“Kun?”

“Can we talk?” His hand remained on your shoulder.

“I’m guessing you finally discovered the truth.” You leaned against the fridge in the corner of the break room.

“I’m sorry, I truly am. I know this doesn't magically fix things between us, but as a parent, you only want to do is what's best for your children, no matter if it makes sense at the moment or not. I believed Jieun not because I didn't trust you, but because that’s what parents do. Sometimes we do stupid things to protect our kids.”

“Kun-” He grabbed both sides of your face, urging you to keep in whatever you were just going to say.

“I talked to her, and she'll apologize, I'll make sure of it. And, if you accept to take me back, I swear I’ll be more cautious with these kinds of things. You're the first woman I've ever been with after my wife, and I love you so very much-” He would've kept on ranting hadn't you placed your palm against his lips.

“Kun.” His innocent eyes looked for any sign revealing what you'd say next. “It’s okay. I told you from the beginning that I knew things weren't going to be easy. But we're a team now, alright?”

“Thank God. I might've followed you back to your apartment if you hadn't forgiven me.” He buried his face between your shoulder and neck, sniffing the raspberry scent from your hair.

(...)

“Please forgive me. I swear I won't do it again, and if I do, you can send me off to boarding school far, far away from you.” The girl, whose knees were on the floor, pleaded with her head hanging low.

“Jieun, please, don't go overboard. Your father already explained the situation. I understand.” You kneeled as well, not very sure if hugging her would be the right thing to do. “I’m going to be honest with you. I do want to have kids, but that doesn't mean I want you out of the picture. I know you're too old to consider me your mom, but that's not going to stop me from thinking of you as my daughter.” For the first time since you arrived, she glanced up at you.

“So you and dad are going to get married?”

“Perhaps in a few years. Only if you agree, of course.” You had a natural ability to talk to kids, and Kun could only thank heavens for sending such a person his way.

After sending off Jieun to her room (she was still grounded, after all), Kun poured two glasses of wine.

“Thank you.” His arms wrapped around you as a rom-com played in the background. “I wish you were Jieun’s real mom.”

“Things happen for a reason, and I'm just glad I spilled coffee on your shirt that day.” Memories of your first encounter provoked cheeky grins on both of your lips.

“So...you want to have kids, huh? How about we practice a bit?” He ghosted his lips over that sweet spot under your jawline.

“That seems like a great idea, Mr. Qian.”

#nct au #nct imagines #nct ot21 #nct smut #nct x reader #nct #nct scenarios #nct 127 #nct angst #wayv #wayv smut #wayv angst #wayv fluff #wayv kun

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