#stands on the space between the seat and the handlebars

[hearts4juzi]

Cant get the image of ggy trio on an electric scooter together.

like one of these bitches

#tzu rambles #saving for later #also other characters but i keep thinking of ellis on the back with his feet on the metal parts while tony sits in the eat and gregory+ #stands on the space between the seat and the handlebars

[doobea]

"STAND CLEAR OF THE CLOSING DOORS PLEASE" - RIN ITOSHI

synopsis: Rin discovers that he likes being next to you on public transit. But it probably doesn't mean anything - right?

contents: proplayer!rin, gn!reader, reader is team manager, under the assumption that reader kinda short, fluff, sfw, loosely based off of my recent morning commutes to work, kinda word vomit/kinda proof'd sorry word count: 3.4K a/n: i realized that i wanna write more oneshots and i know i said i was gonna take a break from rin but ... i can't sorry!! apologizes if this feels rushed LMAO

Rin’s mornings have a strict routine. 

He would get up at the crack of dawn, dedicate the first hour to yoga and the second hour to his needed morning run, make himself a protein shake for his meal on the go, and take a brisk cold shower all before jogging down to the train station for his work commute. His routine is nothing but quick and simple in his book, though not everyone can easily pick it up.

Today he wakes up missing his alarm or rather the lack of it.

His phone beams in his face the time 8:35AM and he curses under his breath. Practice starts at 9:00AM sharp and waking up two hours late throws everything off for him. He decides to keep his windows shut, skips out on his morning exercises, ignores the rumbling in his stomach, and sprints to the subway station that's located ten blocks from his apartment.

The air grows heavy and thick from the continuous sea of people cramming into the train car. Usually, the earlier train cars have enough room for him to fully stretch his arms out or even sit if he was feeling lazy but it's practically impossible by the sheer volume he’s currently facing. Rin stands by one of the entrances of the train car, clutching his duffle bag close to his body as more salary men and women alike are shoving past him, trying to claim an open spot of their own.

"Stand clear of the closing doors please." The automatic voice announcement blares through the outdated speakers and lights by the entryways flash yellow as the sliding doors begin to seal shut.

"Wait!" Rin perks up and sees your frantic figure running down the flight of stairs, hands busied with a binder and a duffle bag of your own. "Someone hold the door!"

And while Rin would pretend and ignore just about anyone on any given day, he couldn't do it this time, not when he notices the logo on your bag and the name stitched onto the blue zip-up sweater you had on. He quickly sticks out his foot to prevent the sliding doors from closing, earning himself a harmony of groans from the workers around him, and watches your figure slip past the gap and stop directly in front of him.

He watches you gasp out a breathless 'thank you' before eyes widen at recognition, "You're Rin from Project: Blue Lock, right?" You say a bit too loudly for his liking and swiftly adjust your volume into a whisper. "Sorry, I just read your file before I hopped on." You attempt to point at the binder between the lack of space.

Rin stares at the binder, which appears to be on the verge of spilling out all of its contents of how stuffed it was. "You're the new manager?"

"First day!" You cheer despite almost missing your own commute just moments ago.

The train car sways in motion, causing you to stumble forward and almost crash into him. He watches as you glance around for a surface to hold onto but there isn't much to offer in a crowded room. Rin, of course, had no issue claiming such space as his back leaned against the side wall next to the doors and one of his hands rests freely on the top metal bar.

"Hold onto something," He points out the obvious.

"I’m trying," You respond, but Rin notes that you didn't want to shove your way through the crowd nor grab at the handlebars behind the seats that people sat in. He figures that you're too much of a people pleaser.

The train car lunges itself into motion again after the next stop, this time more packed than before. You were practically pressed together if not for the binder. Much to his own surprise, he lamely offers his extended arm that was gripping onto the metal bar.

"Are you sure?"

"Do you want to hurt yourself?"

You didn't bother fighting back as the next wave of people make their way through and reach to latch your free hand around his arm, fingers pinching the fabric of the athletic undershirt he wore. The train's frequent stops meant a lot of back-and-forth motions, each time you would apologize and he would find himself mumbling back 'no worries'.

When the train finally reaches your shared destination, Rin's collar is pulled to the side and his sleeve is no longer compressed against his skin. His bangs stick to his forehead and he feels sweat drip down his spine. You're still profusely apologizing beneath him but he holds back his sharp tongue.

"It’s fine."

The second incident follows shortly after during a team excursion to Okinawa's training camp. Since then it had been two months since you started working for the team and Rin was taken aback by how structured you are compared to the first meeting. Ever since joining, productivity and communication between members have increased and during game days you would already have everyone's lockers stocked with necessities such as painkillers, bandages, extra sweatbands, etc. It didn’t take too long before you quickly became everyone’s favorite manager.

Isagi would always greet you with a fist bump first thing in the morning, Bachira follows in after with an overbearing hug, Nagi gifts you whatever latest candy he had in his bag, and lunch is always on Reo.

Rin keeps his distance, he’s like that with everyone, but even he can silently admit that you’re annoyingly good at your job. He hasn’t spoken a word to you outside of official introductions after the train incident - until now.

The bus system in Okinawa is different from the ones he was used to on the main island and it seems like you also figured that out the hard way as he watches you do a second headcount on the public transit. The workers had forgotten to change out the working hours last minute and, because the team went during the slowest season, the schedule wasn't always on time.

Luckily, the last bus of the day was able to pick up everyone from the training camp after one heated call to the company. Unfortunately, this meant the drive back to the hotel was going to be in pitch-black darkness with added bumpy roads (who decided to build a sports facility on top of a mountain?) and of course, this bus has no working AC or indoor lighting.

"... eighteen, nineteen - who am I missing?" You strain your eyes down at the clipboard before peering up again.

"Here," Niko raises his hand next to you which causes you to emit a small screech.

"Geez, okay," The lack of lighting plus the football player's face covered in hair did not help. You make your final check mark and signal the bus driver to start the commute. "Two rules I wanna say for this ride back: one, rest up! You guys killed it today and tomorrow morning we'll fly straight back for regional conferences, I already have your suits tailored and cleaned up in your closets. Two, absolutely no ghost stories on this bus."

Shidou, who's seated directly in front of Rin, starts to laugh and throws his head back, "Hear that? Lil' manager here is scared of the dark."

Rin can't see your expression, but he imagines you making a deep frown. You strut over to Shidou's seat and promptly smack the clipboard on his head.

"I mean it, no ghost stories!"

Bachira tips his head, his phone flashlight already propped under his chin, "But I'm great at telling ghost stories."

Gagamaru jumps in next but he keeps a straight face, "I've been to this mountain last time with my grandpa. It was also the last time I would see him."

Everyone is unsure whether he meant it as a joke or if he was recalling true events. Either way, this conversation needed to end.

You groan dramatically and plop yourself down next to Rin, making the seat bounce ever so slightly, "Please tell me you're on my side."

"He actually enjoys reading horror, your honor." Chirigi replies in amusement.

You whine in return, "What? Why?"

Rin shuffles closer to the window, feeling uncomfortable by the unwanted attention, and plugs in his earbuds, "It's just a stress reliever for me." He answers, hoping that it'll be enough. It wasn't.

"Oh, he totally wishes that all the bad things happen to his brother." Rin rolls his eyes at Isagi's comment while the shorter male and Bachira share a moment in laughter.

"Probably a sadist too." Nagi chimes, not looking up from his mobile game.

"Definitely a major sadist." Reo agrees.

If not for the fact that everyone was good on the field, Rin would've placed half of the football team six feet under by now. He turns up the volume of his earbuds and sinks deeper into the seat.

The whole bus swerves along the cliff's edge, causing everyone to grow quiet as they all grip onto their belongings and the nearest handrest. The only light available is the moon but even that wasn't going to be enough as dark clouds were rolling in. The players scramble in their seats and check their surroundings, seeing nothing but ragged bushes and the dirt road being engulfed by the night.

"Honestly," Your shaky voice is loud enough for him to hear, "this is way worst than ghost stories."

Rin is not someone anyone could go to in need of comfort. Yes, he can be rude (although kinda working on it?), but most of the time it's because he doesn't know how to be comforting. Guess it's time to put his skills in check because he really doesn't want to ride back with a paranoid seatmate.

"Wear this," He takes out his earbud and places it in your ear, handing over his phone with a music library pulled up in the process. "Pick whichever song you want."

Rin didn't expect it to work but you graciously take his phone and throw on a slow, mellow beat to hopefully calm down your frantic state. He leans back into his seat once more, watching your chest slowly fall in a rhythmic pattern and your eyes close shut as you try to calm yourself.

After a few more near-death turns and bumps in the process, the bus manages to make it back to the resort in one piece. While almost every player on board carried green faces and barf bags at the end, the older driver seems to have no issues waving everyone goodbye.

Rin didn't even notice that you and him are the last ones on the bus until he overheard his teammates asking around. He had been too engrossed in the fact that you had fallen asleep next to him.

Again, he holds back his tongue but this time it's in an attempt to hide a smile.

"How did you manage to misread the time?"

"I didn't do it on purpose!"

"We were supposed to be there now."

Rin stifles back a groan as he watches you pace back and forth on the platform, waiting to catch the next arriving train. Except for the fact that there might not even be a train. Because the last train may or may not have run an hour ago before the construction workers closed the route off for maintenance. Heavy on the may or may not. He knew that he should've gone with the others earlier when Reo offered everyone a ride in his limousine, but Rin kindly stayed behind to help you (it was actually his turn this week) clean up the football field.

"Okay, maybe we should call a taxi instead? Or would an Uber be faster?" You anxiously play with your dress shirt before typing rapidly away at your phone for any quick solutions. "I can't believe I'm going to be late for my first sports banquet!"

Usually, Rin would keep quiet in public when it came to anything related to football. But due to the fact that the train might be delayed for the rest of the night and that you two were the only ones dressed up at the station, he didn’t care.

"It's mine too," Rin adds but with less enthusiasm. "I can guarantee that it's probably nothing special."

"What?!" You practically shrieked in shock, almost stopping in your tracks at his statement. "It's the perfect time to network and meet international players!"

The striker shrugs and kicks at nothing in particular on the ground, scuffing his brown loafers in the process. “Not usually my thing.”

You let out an exasperated sigh, "You can’t just say that when you literally just told me you haven’t been to one!" A few quiet moments pass before you let out a sound of, what he assumes, victory. "Taxi is right outside, let's go!"

You shove his body into the car, purposely ignoring his protests as you scoot closer to the center of the back seat. Your body is now pressed firmly against his and his cheek crashes into the opposing window. Rin shoots you a glare and you merely roll your eyes in response.

"You literally have all that space next to you. Do you really need to be in the center?"

"Listen here," He widens his eyes as you whip out a hairbrush and a whole skincare set from your bag. "My goal tonight is impressing all the other players and their managers. And appearance is what people notice first." You said as you apply a full-on face mask.

"You can’t be serious right now."

"Oh, but I am." You grin and shove an extra sheet mask in his hands.

It reads 'Collagen Essential Lifting & Firming Sheet Mask' in big pink letters with an image of a snail in the background. Not like he hasn't done skincare, but Rin wasn't sure if a snail really belonged on the cover image of the packaging. He tries to throw it back on your lap but your hand stops him.

You whip your head around to glare, "Put it on, or else I'm doing it for you."

Something about your sharp tone sent shivers down his spine. Rin reluctantly rips open the packaging and carefully starts placing it on his face, making sure the extra solution doesn't drip all over his suit. The mask against his skin is cold, wet, and smells nothing like snails.

He glances at the rearview mirror to see his reflection, the extra white flaps from the sheet hang off of his face in a way that reminds him of a soggy mummy, and he grimaces, "I look ridiculous."

Rin flinches when he feels your fingers on his face, grabbing the extra flaps and readjusting their position back on his cheek, "After this, you'll look like a newborn baby!"

Rin flicks his eyes away from his own reflection to scowl at you but is taken aback at your appearance. While his facemask is just a white sheet, yours had little cute characters printed on it, and he could not take you seriously.

"You look so stupid right now." He didn't mean to have his intrusive thoughts slip out so easily, especially since you're his manager, and almost backtracks his words immediately. "Stupidly cute." Wait that doesn't sound any better. His other intrusive thoughts got in the way!

"Itoshi Rin?"

"Yes?"

He feels a flick on his forehead followed by a series of giggles.

"You're such a weirdo."

"You like our manager, don't you?"

For the first time in ages, Rin misses his shot.

"What?"

Aiku stands behind with a shit-eating grin that Rin is all too familiar with. Ah, the unsolicited relationship advice from 'big brother' Aiku is what Rin likes to call it.

"C'mon, you guys are super buddy-buddy now!" Aiku attempts to rest an arm on one of Rin's shoulders but he steps aside.

While he's not completely wrong, the two of you have grown slightly comfortable with each other's presence since the banquet, Rin wouldn't quite think of anything more of it. You are a naturally sociable person and Rin just happens to have gotten used to your presence. Nothing more and nothing less.

"Don't go spreading around rumors like that." He jogs to get the ball however Aiku beats him to it and holds the ball captive between his feet.

"You smiled at them this morning." Aiku points out and awfully recreates Rin's 'smile'.

Rin rolls his eyes and tries to get the ball but Aiku pushes it further away, "That doesn't mean anything."

"Okay but recently you've been sitting together quite often." Aiku decides to start dribbling the ball down the field and Rin is quick to follow after.

"Maybe I'm just less annoying to be around."

"Would you let Isagi sit next to you? Bachira? Me?" Rin jumps in an attempt to block his shot but it barely grazes his head as it flies smoothly into the goalpost. He loses his balance and falls straight to his bottom in defeat.

"Let me help you." The taller male persistently offers and holds out a hand.

"Like you have any luck with relationships." Rin swats the hand away and begrundingly gets up. Aiku ignores the comment.

"I'll make the guys stay behind today to clean up the locker rooms so that you and our little manager can have some quality time together." Aiku puts emphasis on the last part and it's almost enough to make Rin throw his cleats at him but he saves the action in his imagination instead.

"I'm leaving," Rin dismisses his co-captain's suggestion and begins to walk off the field.

He hears Aiku clicking his tongue in annoyance, "Does arrogance run in the family or something?"

Without turning back, Rin holds up his middle finger and makes a beeline toward the locker rooms.

Getting on the subway during the afternoons is always rough for just about everyone. Unlike the mornings, which are just filled with salary men and women, the afternoon hosts a wide range of age groups and it doesn't help that the station he has to take is in a centralized location in the city. It feels like sardines packed in a tin can.

"Stand clear of the closing doors please." The automatic voice blares above his head as he leans against the wall in the corner of the train car, away from where the majority of people had gathered.

"Woah, fancy seeing you here!" Your chirpy voice makes Rin do a sharp turn as you barely squeeze through the sliding doors. The sight of it makes him recall back to the first meeting, although this time with a lack of disheveled hair and a thick binder in the way.

You swiftly manuver your body over to his spot through the sea of people, "Do you usually get off this time?" You didn't ask to be instigating but rather out of curiosity.

Rin takes hold of the top metal bar as the train starts to move, "Not really. Just needed a break from Aiku." He confesses.

"He can be a bit much."

You try and shift your weight so that you could stand up straight but it fails and you end up leaning against another passenger. The stranger sends a nasty glare while you fix your posture, apologizing profusely to them. Once again, the train car ended up being too crowded for you to secure a spot of your own and you weren't in a good position to reach for the top bar.

Subconsciously, Rin offers his arm again, not wanting to see you struggle for the remaining stops. This time around, you had no hesitation in latching your hand around his bicep. A small part of his brain wanders back to Aiku's question and it plagues his mind.

Does he like you? He knows that he doesn't mind being next to you. And he doesn't quite mind when you touch him. Talking to you feels nice too. Wait, this all sounds like a crush, he thinks. The hand on his bicep suddenly feels like it's on fire and he starts sweating.

"Sorry, is it getting hot in here?" You speak from below and he realizes that your hand is slowly slipping off by the amount he was producing due to just nerves alone.

"My bad." His free hand clasps yours back onto his bicep and he holds it in place.

"You sure? I can try grabbing something else." You suggest.

It's nerve-wracking but Rin does admit that it feels nice.

"I don't mind."

Standing next to you on the crowded train is rather fitting at the end of the day, he thinks.

#blue lock #bllk #bllk x reader #doobea writing #blue lock imagines #blue lock x reader #blue lock headcanons #itoshi rin x reader #rin itoshi x reader #itoshi rin #rin itoshi #blue lock fluff

[daechwitatamic]

2. Retrograde || KSJ

(banner by @itaeewon)

Title: Amalthea (Masterpost) - Part 2: Retrograde

Rating: NSFW - minors go away i mean it Genre: best friend's older brother!au, angst smut fluff trifecta Pairing: Seokjin x female reader Beta team: @yoongiphoria, @here2bbtstrash, @kookstempo

Summary: You can count on two things in life. One: that your lifelong best friend Minji will always be there for you, in your corner, your brightest star. Two: that you'll never be free from her older brother Seokjin's orbit - the gravitational pull is just too strong.

Warnings: language, underage drinking, a broken bone, angst, kissing, implied protected s*x/ kind of the immediate aftermath to it, TIME JUMPS WC: 9.5k

Part 2: Retrograde

Retrograde: (noun) when celestial objects appear to travel backwards

You broke your wrist when you were ten. 

You were riding your bike around the dead end. Minji and Jungkook were away at a cousin’s house. Seokjin was down the street, on his skateboard, trying the same kickflip over and over again. Sometimes he made it. Sometimes he didn’t. You weren’t riding together. 

You don’t remember hitting the curb. You don’t remember what had distracted you. You don’t even remember flipping forward over the handlebars. Just the sickening burn that began at your wrist and pulsed in sluices up towards your elbow. 

Seokjin had run to your house to get your dad, the forgotten skateboard drifting by itself towards the run-off drain, where the wheels snagged and it stilled.

Your dad had picked you up and carried you, sobbing, into the backseat of his sedan, buckling you in. Then he’d turned and looked at Seokjin, who was standing, stone-faced, behind him. 

“Your dad’s not home,” he’d said, not a question. “I don’t want to leave you home alone - you can ride to the hospital with us. I’ll call your house when we get there and leave a message to explain.”

No one had cell phones yet, back then.

Every bump of the car jostled you and made you cry harder, holding your injury close to your chest. You weren’t even embarrassed to cry in front of Jin - it hurt so bad it eclipsed any other emotion.

And then Jin had reached out and held your uninjured hand, giving it a squeeze. 

“Hey,” he’d said, and then put on a heavy accent. “What be a pirate’s fav’rite letter?”

You’d thought about it. “Arrrr,” you guessed, proud to have figured it out.

Seokjin had grinned at you across the backseat. “You’d think it’d be ‘R’,” he cried, amped to get to deliver the punchline as intended, “but his true love be the ‘C’.”

“Good god,” your dad groaned from the front seat. But despite the unrelenting burning in your arm, you’d smiled.

–

The summer you were twelve, you’d played hide and seek outside at night. The idea came on out of nowhere. Jungkook - eleven, that year - had a few friends sleep over one night, loud boys named Taehyung and Jimin, and someone had suggested it. You remember thinking your parents wouldn’t allow it, but Mr. Kim had said it was okay as long as you stayed out of yards if you didn’t know the family that lived there, didn’t leave the dead end, and came back inside by ten o’clock.

The neighborhood felt different at night; it felt different to be set loose like this - free to run and shout and hide as the day’s sticky humidity faded into something comfortable. 

You’d split up, everybody running in separate directions, dark figures darting under streetlights and plunging into the shadows. You stuck close to the houses, trying to stay out of open spaces. You left your own yard, creeping two houses down, curling up in a ball next to someone’s shed.

I am a rock, you thought, hugging your knees as tightly as possible, making yourself as tiny as you could. I am just a rock. The dirt beneath you, gritty, dug into your knees and shins. In the distance, you could hear both trucks on the highway and the chorus of frogs in the streams behind the neighborhood. Sweat trickled between your shoulder blades.

I’m just a rock.

You heard someone’s footsteps approach you, in the dark, and then pause. You held as still as possible, trying to barely even breathe. Don’t see me, you thought. I am just a rock. 

The moment stretched, tense, and whoever thought you might be a rock decided to move on, their footsteps carrying on down the sloping yard. You released a breath, unfolding a little, looking around. Seeing no one, you stood, brushing dirt and pebbles from your legs. 

Seokjin appeared out of nowhere from the other side of the shed, and you’d stepped backwards instinctively, pressing your back against the grainy wood of the shed, holding your breath for the second time in minutes. 

He spotted you, clearly - he froze, feet away from you, looking at you through the darkness. You didn’t move a muscle, hardly dared to breathe. It was so dark that you couldn’t make out the features on his face. He was all shadow. But somehow you knew - knew - that his eyes were on yours. 

“You don’t see me,” you’d whispered to him. “I am just a rock.”

You’d heard him laugh, low, the surprised sound leaving his lips without permission. 

He should have tagged you out. But after a moment, he’d carried on, leaving you to hide again in peace. “Goodbye, rock,” he’d said, barely louder than a whisper. 

—

You were fifteen the first time you got drunk - really drunk - in Minji’s basement. You shouldn’t have - none of you should have been drinking in the first place, being underage. But Mr. Kim had gotten called into work and… it just sort of happened. 

Seokjin had a friend over and they’d holed up in the basement with a handle of vodka the friend had hidden in his duffle bag. You and Minji and Jungkook had been on them like buzzards, trying to get in on the fun. 

“Absolutely not,” Seokjin had told Jungkook, more serious than you’d ever seen him. “You’re only fourteen. You can hang out with us if you can keep your mouth shut, but you don’t get any.”

“Hyung -”

“No,” Seokjin had stayed firm, and Jungkook had caved. 

“You two,” Seokjin had said, turning his gaze to Minji, who looked back at him innocently, like she was ready to follow every rule and would never put a toe out of line, “can have a little.”

Three hours later, you made it up the stairs to the kitchen barely alive, using your hands to help you balance on the steps. You’d gone up for water, but as you stood over the kitchen sink you were distracted by your reflection in the window. And then, the backyard beyond your reflection.

Somehow, you made it outside, tripping down the wooden steps to the grassy yard, spinning and landing heavily on your back. The night sky swirled above you, the stars laughing at what an idiot you were. The grass beneath you tickled, but you gripped it in your hands, desperate to make the spinning stop. 

Somehow, Jin appeared next to you in the grass, a few feet to your left. “How’s the yard?” he asked.

“Spinning,” you told him thickly. 

He reached out a hand and patted your arm twice. “It’ll stop.”

You stayed there in silence, watching the stars, clutching the earth beneath you, hoping you wouldn’t get flung off the ride. 

“Sometimes,” you heard yourself say, your voice seeming to come from the constellations themselves, the moons too far away to see, “I feel like everyone looks right through me.”

You felt Seokjin’s eyes on you, but he didn’t say anything. 

You nodded, licked your dry lips. “Yeah,” you said, like he’d asked you something, like you’re agreeing with something he’d added on. “Like maybe I’ll be see-through forever.”

– 

You almost got a boyfriend when you were sixteen. There was a guy from school - you’d talk on the phone late at night, sit together at lunch, share answers to homework assignments before the first bell rang. 

On a particularly rainy Saturday, he’d taken you on a date to the nearest shopping mall. It had been okay - you’d had pretzels, wandered through a few department stores. 

It had been okay - until you ran into a bigger group of kids from school. You’d joined them for a while; they were his friends, and he jumped in their conversations easily, someone who belonged. You, the see-through one, smiled and listened. Always on the outskirts.

And then he’d said, “Hey, we’re going to go back to J’s dad’s house. You’ll be okay?”

It had taken you longer than you were proud of to realize he was leaving with them, leaving you alone. It had taken longer than you were proud of to feel pissed, to realize you should have done anything except smile and nod. 

He’d been your ride there.

Your parents had been working. You’d called Jin - your emergency adult. 

“Y/N?” he’d sounded confused. You’d never called him before. 

“Are you busy?” you’d asked him, the shame crawling over you, burrowing under your skin and making you want to rip it off. “I need a ride. I’m stuck.”

“What?” His voice was sharp. You could hear background noise stop, like he’d hit mute on what he was watching or paused the game he was playing. “Where are you? What happened?”

You lowered your voice, giving him the shortest version of the story possible. You were met with silence, stretching so long that you pulled the phone away from your ear to check your service, to see if you’d dropped the call. “Jin?”

“I’ll be there,” he’d said, something tight in his voice. “Wait for me by the food court.”

“Okay,” you’d whispered, and hung up.

Outside, it rained in sheets. You stood and watched the waves of rain move left to right across the parking lot. People jogged in from their cars, hoods on or umbrellas aloft. When Jin’s car pulled up to the curb, you ran through the rain, trying to shield your hair with your hands. It didn’t work at all. By the time you slid into the passenger seat, you looked half-drowned. 

“Thanks for coming,” you’d said, eyes on your shoes as Seokjin put the car back in drive and pulled slowly back into traffic.

“It’s fine,” he’d said, still terse. It was unlike him. He was so rarely serious, so rarely not making bad puns, so rarely not laughing like a windshield wiper. It made these moments feel… heavy, somehow.

He drove in silence for a little. You stewed in the passenger seat, sifting through embarrassment and anger and also - somehow - happiness to be here now, with Jin, even if it was at the cost of every cent of your dignity. 

Then, he seemed to notice the shopping bag on the floor of the car, tucked between your sneakers. 

“What’d you get?” he asked, voice light again.

“Shirt,” you told him, reaching down to pull the top from the bag and hold it up. “Cute, right?”

“Snazzy,” he agreed. “I think I should get one. You think they have my size?”

You laughed despite yourself. “You’re so lame,” you told him. “Besides, this totally isn’t your color.”

“Please!” he blustered. “I can look handsome in anything. I’d look amazing in that.”

You were really laughing by then. Minji used to get so annoyed that he made you laugh when he got like this - you were encouraging him, she said - but you genuinely found him so funny that you couldn’t help yourself. You always had. 

“Sure, okay,” you told him, stuffing the shirt back into the bag. “You keep telling yourself that.” 

As you neared your neighborhood, though, your mood sank again.

“Jin?” you asked, looking over at him. He raised an eyebrow at you, his eyes on the road.

“Could you maybe… not tell Minji? About today?”

He didn’t answer for a while, not until he came to a red light and could turn and look at you completely. “Why?” he asked. 

You could feel it as your face reddened as you had to put words to your embarrassment again. “She… was right about this guy. I should have listened to her. I just… I’m not ready to hear I told you so.”

Seokjin stopped in front of your parents’ house so you wouldn’t have to run across the street in the rain.

“I never saw you,” he promised you solemnly. “But Y/N? You shouldn’t let people treat you like this. That guy’s an ass.”

You gave him a tiny smile before extracting yourself from your seatbelt. “Thanks,” you’d said, and then darted through the rain like it would melt you.

–

Jin left for college at the end of the following summer, weeks before you turned seventeen. You watched through a gap in your living room curtains, curled up on the couch in your pajamas, as Mr. Kim and Jungkook helped load Jin’s boxes and bags into Mr. Kim’s car. 

It felt unfair, that he got to leave, that he got to turn right out of the dead end and have a life - and you were still trapped here. 

When Minji came out of the house, giving her older brother a reluctant hug, you rose, feet taking you unbidden on a course in their direction. 

Minji had grinned at you. “I’m glad you’re here, you can help me move my shit into his room.”

“Yah!” Seokjin had protested, pushing her shoulder lightly. “No one said you could have my room!”

Minji stuck her tongue out at him. “You won’t be here to stop me!” She started back into the house, then turned over her shoulder and called to you, “Come on, the bed will take forever to move!”

She disappeared into the house, leaving you and Seokjin alone next to Mr. Kim’s sedan, which was packed to the brim.

You didn’t look at each other; Seokjin leaned against the car with his arms crossed, eyes on the ground. You faced the car, and him, the house on the other side. You watched the reflection of his profile in the car’s window. 

What could you even say to him? What words could you pull out of your soul that weren’t a total cliche, or completely inappropriate, or both? 

Don’t have too much fun. 

Don’t forget me.

Please, don’t go away and fall in love without me.

I really don’t want you to go.

In the end, you told him, “See you at Christmas?” and he’d nodded silently, and you’d said, “Okay, then. Good luck with everything.”

Then you’d slinked into his house to help his little sister commandeer his bedroom. 

–

That’s only part of the story, though. If you’re flipping through moments you’d shared with Jin… there was one you skipped. You avoid it, give it a wide berth, like if you step too close you might knock it from its pedestal. Like you might get sticky fingerprints all over its protective glass just from looking, somehow. 

Mr. Kim had thrown Jin a graduation party in June, two months before he left for college. It had been wholesome while the sun was up - the Kim men had taken turns at the grill, little cousins had run barefoot through the yard, a table had been laden with gifts and cards, blue balloons had been tied to the porch railings. 

At night, though, it seemed like both children and adults disappeared, leaving only you in-betweens. Blind eyes had been turned to the cases of beer stashed beneath the sodas in the buckets of ice. Cars full of kids parked up and down the dead end street, unloading loudly and entering the even louder house. 

You’d stayed close to Minji, hadn’t even had that much to drink. But the house had been packed with people, too loud, too hot, and you’d found yourself slipping out the kitchen door sometime around one in the morning.

The lights from the house cast squares onto the driveway. Past them, a figure sat on the ground at the end of the driveway, long legs stretched out in front of him.

You’d made your way over slowly, warily. Not sure if you were wanted, not sure if you were intruding. 

He’d turned to see who it was when you approached. You think you probably imagined the way he’d softened when he saw it was only you. 

“You good?” you’d asked. 

“‘Course,” he said - which should have been a clue that he might not be. A one word answer? From Kim Seokjin?

You paused next to him, still a bit unsure. “You sure? You’re… sitting on the ground alone, outside your own party.”

Jin huffed out a laugh at this. “I just needed some air. Some space.”

“Oh,” you said, feeling instantly like you were ruining the space he’d been craving. 

“You can stay,” he’d said quickly, reading your response correctly. “I mean… I don’t mind if you’re here.”

Relief flooded you. You’d leaned against the side of the car parked there - not Mr. Kim’s sedan, you didn’t know whose car it was - and eyed him thoughtfully. 

“Are you scared?” you asked. Something about the question felt right, felt like you were zeroing in on the problem. 

Seokjin laughed again, a little sarcastic. “Me? Never.”

You smiled at his back, seeing right through his bravado. “About what? What’s the biggest thing?” 

He’d shaken his head, pushed himself to his feet, brushed gravel from his hands, then his ass. He’d turned slowly, walked back towards the house, paused just a foot from you. 

It was always you and Seokjin, in the dark. 

You were always more honest with each other in the dark. Inside, he’d be all dad jokes and video games, kitchen skills and skateboard tricks. 

You needed some shadows to get any idea what he was thinking. It had always been that way. 

“I dunno,” he’d said, hands in his pockets. “Classes. Dorms. Not having my dad around. Not being here to watch out for Jungkook.”

“That’s more than one thing,” you’d pointed out. 

He’d nodded seriously, but his lips twisted in irony, like he was thinking a very clever joke and holding it in. 

“Okay then,” he said. “Let’s go with: losing my place, here. Coming back and finding out that everyone just… moved on without me.”

He’d brushed past you then, reaching out to touch your elbow lightly on his way by.

It’s been over a decade since that night, and you still don’t know if he meant his family, or you. 

You’re mad at yourself the second you’re back in your car. You’d gone there uninvited, you’d cooked for him. Obviously it meant something - neither of you were stupid enough to think it didn’t. So why had you run the second he’d tried to talk to you?

You berate yourself the whole way home. And you’re not the only one who’s pissed. Jin texts you before you’re even out of the neighborhood, though you don’t see it until you park at your complex, grabbing your phone from the cup holder where you’d tossed it. 

[11:28 AM] Jin 😎: im confusing YOU? [11:28 AM] Jin 😎: im not the one who came to cook you breakfast and then bolted the second it got serious [11:28 AM] Jin 😎: THAT’S confusing

Defensiveness rises up in you like a wave. Where does he get off lecturing you after the shit he pulled two years ago? Hands shaking, you fire back, “no, you bolted BEFORE breakfast. the second you got your jeans zipped, if i remember correctly.”

You throw your phone onto the passenger seat like it’s burned your hands, closing your eyes and pressing your head back into the headrest, breathing out slowly through your mouth to calm your racing heart. Fuck, those had been fighting words, for sure. But you’re pretty convinced he deserves it. 

When you get brave enough to pick it up again, he hasn’t answered. You’re not sure if you’re relieved, or more worried. With a sigh, you collect your things and head inside. 

“Roomieeeeee!”

You’d barely unpacked since returning from Christmas break your freshman year of college, your suitcase open on your dorm bed, a small pile of dirty clothes on the floor next to you. You’d been about to move it all to the hamper, it just hadn’t happened yet. Your college roommate, Sheyla, had just burst through the door, crowing happily when she saw you. 

You got along well with Sheyla - you’d probably stay friends after college. But no one could take Minji’s place. When you and Minji decided to go to the same college, you’d agreed to live separately, to preserve your friendship. You both knew you needed breaks from each other to maintain the love. 

“Hey!” you called back, flapping a hoodie out of the ball you’d scrunched it in and smelling the pits. Into the dirty pile it went. “How was your Christmas?”

Sheyla tossed her bag on the ground and flopped backwards onto her bed, fingers reaching to turn on the fairy lights you’d strung up together. 

“Honestly? Boring. No one lives home by me, it was old people central the whole time. How about you?” She looks at you, suddenly sharp-eyed. “Did you see that guy? Your neighbor?” 

You glanced at the door in alarm, as if Minji could have possibly materialized there, just in time to overhear.

Sheyla clocked this and laughed. “She can’t hear us! I told you your secret was safe! So, did you?”

It had been your first holiday break going home, your freshman year of college. You’d seen Jin sparingly over the last two years - two winter breaks, two summer breaks, and the odd weekend here or there if he had things going on. 

You hadn’t had a conversation in that whole time; you’d been to the house to see Minji, but you hadn’t crossed paths. You texted each other on your birthdays, maybe once or twice if something interesting happened. 

It had been weird, feeling things shift, noticing him slowly become someone who used to be in your life. 

“Yeah, his family came to my parents’ Christmas Eve party,” you admitted. “But we really didn’t talk. He didn’t even come sit in the same room as me and Minji.”

It was true; you’d stayed in the kitchen for most of the party, wanting to avoid all your parents’ work friends, who were going to ask you about how college was going, and did you like your classes, and had you made new friends, and did you have a boyfriend yet and - you were just too tired for it. 

You and Minji had sat on the kitchen counter, crossed ankles dangling, sipping at beers and watching people pass by the doorways - one out to the living room, one out to the dining room. 

Seokjin hadn’t come into the kitchen once - but you knew he was out there, because you could hear his wild laugh, his high-pitched complaining as he scolded Jungkook for something he’d probably started in the first place, his voice bouncing over the low tones of the others. 

Jungkook had slunk into the kitchen near the end of the party. “Jinnie wants a beer,” he’d told Minji, reaching out a hand, somehow knowing you two had a six-pack behind you. 

“Why can’t he come get it?” she demanded as she reached back, fingers closing around a glass neck.

Jungkook shrugged. “He told me to get him one.”

Minji narrowed her eyes at him, the way she does when she’s assessing, deciding something. Then she handed him a second bottle. “That didn’t come from me,” she told him, and he gave her a salute before grabbing the beers and scooting back out.

“Are you and Jin fighting?” you asked, leaning back against the wooden cabinets behind you. 

“Not unless he’s fighting without telling me,” she laughed. “If that’s the case, I’ll hear about it later, I’m sure.”

It had bugged you, that he seemed to be avoiding you. Then you’d glanced out into the living room, and there he was, the beer in hand. 

He was standing facing Jungkook, but his eyes weren’t on his younger brother. They were on you - and Minji - but they seemed… far away. Wistful, somehow. Then, he’d noticed you looking and he’d pulled his gaze back to Jungkook fast. But the redness took over his ears and crept down his neck almost instantly. 

You still weren’t sure what that was about. The most hopeful, foolish, idiotic part of you hoped it had a guess.

“Well,” Sheyla had said with a sigh. “There’s always next time.”

You’d slept over at Minji’s that night, the two of you cramming into her double bed now that you were too old for sleeping bags on the floor. In the morning, you’d rummaged in the kitchen for something to drink - something with bubbles, preferably, but water might have to do - when Seokjin had shuffled in behind you.

You’d turned, surprised, a cold can of seltzer in your hand. “Oh,” you’d said, suddenly very aware that you were still in pajamas, hadn’t bothered with a bra. You crossed your arms, hoping for nonchalance, and tried not to eye the grey sweatpants Jin sported. “I didn’t think anyone else was up. Morning.”

He’d stretched, the movement exposing a strip of belly between the sweatpants and a plain white t-shirt. “Morning,” he’d answered, voice gravely from sleep. 

You’d watched as he started the kettle. He kept his back to you, turning over his shoulder to see if you were still there after a minute. You wanted to ask him - well, lots of things. How was college, how was he, why was he avoiding you, why was he being so fucking weird?

His back, wide and solid, said don’t. So you’d taken your seltzer and retreated back to Minji’s bedroom, wondering if you imagined the feeling of his gaze burning on you as you fled.

–

You were twenty when Seokjin graduated from college. You were home, too, most of your school stuff yet unpacked the morning they took his graduation pictures in the front yard. Jungkook looked barely awake, rubbing his eyes sleepily as Minji fussed over trying to get his hair to lay flat. Seokjin stood in the center of the yard in his cap and gown, and you could hear him in your head complaining that they were taking too long and could they please just hurry up and take the picture. You smiled over your cup of coffee and then removed yourself from the window before you could get caught watching. 

He’d had a graduation party that night. You really considered not going; it had been four years since Seokjin had left for college, two since you and Minji had, and in those four years you’d barely interacted - just the niceties when your paths had to cross, when your orbits swung you too close together again. It seemed pointless to show up when you wouldn’t even talk, when the days of stealing quiet moments away from everyone else were long gone. It seemed pointless to go, just to spend the night cataloging all the ways things had changed in four years, getting your feelings hurt for no reason at all.

Jin had said he was afraid of everyone moving on, but he’d nudged you on your way - so, really, you ought to just go.

Minji hadn’t understood. How could you explain it? “I don’t think he really wants me there,” you’d tried, sticking to the most basic truths. “Jin and I don’t really talk these days.”

“Since when did you and Jin talk in the first place?” she’d demanded, half right. “You’re there as my friend. Now come on, get changed!”

The sun was setting when you finally let yourself out the front door, calling goodbye to your parents, and making your way across the street. It was log-jammed with cars - a rare sight - and people milled through the front and side yards, red cups and plates of food in hand. It felt a bit like deja vu - you’d done this for all three Kim siblings for high school (though you and Minji had a joint celebration) and now you’d go through the cycle again as you four finished college in waves. 

Despite Minji’s needling, you’d felt a little off-kilter, a little out of place. The feeling had sent you into the backyard to look for the drinks before you even found Minji.

As always at their summer parties, there was a keg tucked under the deck - you had to know they put it there, or else ask someone. You’d never find it on your own as a first-timer. You threw your shoulders back to cast off the squiggly feeling in your stomach and made your way down, grabbing a plastic cup and feeling around for the spigot. 

You heard a familiar sound across the yard - Jungkook’s voice, whining that he was out of beer.

“Hyung will do it,” Seokjin said, and before you knew it he was sidling around a group of moms with their toddlers to reach the keg - and you.

He stopped when he saw you, then ducked his head and came closer, Jungkook’s empty cup in hand. His ears were tinged pink and you weren’t sure if it was from standing in the sun or… something else.

“Hey,” you’d said, taking your thumb off the spigot and watching the foam on your beer slowly fizz away. “Congrats on graduating.”

“Thanks, I guess,” he’d said, sending you a sideways grin as he pulled the spigot from your hand and started filling Jungkook’s cup. 

“You guess?” you squinted at him. That grin was disarming, devious. 

He shrugged. “I don’t feel like I really did anything that special. Showed up for class, turned in my homework.”

“You’re right,” you deadpanned. “I rescind my congratulations, effective immediately.”

His grin widened as he laughed, pleased that you were playing along. His gaze lingered on you before he checked on his beer again, making you warmer than you’d been walking through the almost-setting summer sun.

Things felt… charged, suddenly. Energized. You were used to Jin feeling comforting, like when you were kids. You were used to Jin feeling like an emotional black hole, everything inside you gravitating towards his center, as you did as a teenager. But this… this was new. 

“Are you done at school?” he’d asked, shifting slightly closer. He released the spigot, letting the foam on his beer start to settle and you picked it up again, filling the top of your own where it had settled and left empty space.

“One more final, but it’s online,” you’d said.

Out of the corner of your eye, you watched Jin watch you. You wondered what would happen if you said it - told him how you felt, or told him you’d felt like he didn’t want to be near you the last few times you’d seen each other, or told him how badly you wanted your hands on him.

“What’s taking so long?” Jungkook shouted from across the yard, starting to make his way over. When he saw you at the keg, his steps slowed, understanding crossing his face.

“I had to share,” Jin explained, waving a hand at you. You handed him back the spigot, finished. 

“Minji’s inside?” you asked them both, stepping out of the shadows and back into the sunlit yard. 

“I think so,” Jungkook said, and you’d given them both a quick wave and headed in. You didn’t miss the way Jungkook nudged at Seokjin’s ribs, causing him to spill the top-third of his beer.

Long after sunset, after the food had been cleaned up, after the families with little kids had said goodbye and headed home, you found yourself wandering through the backyard again. Minji had gotten a phone call from the guy she was dating and went into her room to talk - you could have sat in there with her, she wouldn’t have minded, but it kind of gave you the ick to listen to her being so sickly sweet and moonstruck. 

Instead, you combed the house for a familiar face. Jungkook had a whole group of friends over, and they were playing a drinking game in the basement. Your parents, who had joined the party in time for the food, had told Mr. Kim goodnight and headed across the street, telling you to text them if you decided to stay the night with Minji. Most of Jin’s college friends who had come from out of town had filtered out. 

You finally found Jin, nearly at midnight. He was in his room in the dark, lit up by only his phone screen. His door was mostly closed, and you hesitated in the hall, deciding to leave him alone and go back to bugging Minji in her room.

You hadn’t even turned around to retrace your steps when he called your name. Heart thumping, you’d pushed his door open a little further, hovering in the doorway. He was laying on his bed, on top of the covers, his phone screen casting his face in blue.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, turning his head sideways to look at you.

“Minji’s on the phone with the boyfriend,” you explained. “I needed to escape.”

Jin laughed, a little sputtering. 

“What are you doing?” you’d asked, taking one tentative step over the threshold. You’d been in Jin’s room very rarely in your years growing up here. It seemed like new turf. 

He told you the name of the webtoon he was reading, flashing the screen at you so you could see.

You had nodded, silent, stuck in the middle of his room. You didn’t want to leave, didn’t know how to leave. 

“Can I… read with you?” you asked, tentatively. You didn’t think, didn’t plan, didn’t map out how this would work or look; you just wanted to stay with him, just wanted to get closer.

Seokjin surprised you; he immediately shifted over on his bed, closer to the wall, making space for you.

You had to tell yourself to move, had to beg yourself to move before you stood still so long you made it weird. You’d never been in or on Jin’s bed, and you’d never laid that close before - certainly not since you and Minji were little kids, all laying on the floor together to watch a movie. Never in context like this. 

You lay next to him gingerly, afraid to break the spell, afraid the moment would burst like a bubble on a child’s sticky, eager fingertip. You felt exactly that way: like you wanted it so much, but you knew if you touched it, it would be gone. 

Your head rested next to his, close enough that you could hear his even breathing, but your bodies stayed a good foot apart. 

Still, even with the space between you, you could feel his warmth. His bed smelled like him - something deep and smokey. It could have felt thrilling - it could have felt forbidden. Instead, inexplicably, it felt comforting, peaceful. Like home.

And eventually, as you stayed there, you settled in. Your breathing slowed, your pulse calmed, and you actually got caught up in the comic on the screen. Jin held his phone above you both, waiting patiently until you murmured, “Okay,” before scrolling each time. 

You don’t remember falling asleep. What you remember is waking up slowly, immediately unsure where you were. The early morning light was unfamiliar, grey. You stretched, feet reaching for the end of the bed, and then went stock still as you felt someone shift beside you. 

Oh god. Had you hooked up with someone? Uncommon, but not impossible. 

You took a steadying deep breath, bracing yourself to face your potential mistakes, and cracked one eye open. 

Seokjin breathed through his mouth, eyelids fluttering in sleep, just next to your face. You had a split second of absolute alarm, your brain making the equivalent of !!!!, before it came back to you. 

You’d fallen asleep reading on his phone. Nothing had happened. But his arm was over your side, fingers resting lightly on your stomach. 

You stayed as still as you could, trying to make your brain stop making sounds like a broken motor, hoping Jin wouldn’t wake before you were ready to function like a human. You considered, for a moment, leaning into the situation - rolling into the cuddle, closing your eyes and sinking back down into fuzzy darkness, your face buried in his shirt. 

You closed your tired eyes, ready to do just that when your brain suddenly began operating again and your eyes flew open, one hand slapping the mattress in panic.

Minji. If you were in Seokjin’s bed, that meant you were in the Kims’ house, which meant Minji was on the other side of the wall - could catch you, had possibly already caught you. 

Heart pounding practically in your throat, you slipped slowly out from under Seokjin’s arm. He had stirred, rolling a little, tucking that arm closer to his chest now that it had nothing to hold. He didn’t wake. You breathed a sigh of relief and started hunting around for your phone. You found it on the ground - it must have fallen off the bed in the middle of the night. 

When you checked it, your question was answered -

[1:52 AM] Minji: did you go home??? [2:07 AM] Minji: you could have said goodbye!!! 😠

You press your phone to your chest out of sheer relief. She hadn’t found you, hadn’t peeked into his room on her way through the house last night, hadn’t spotted you two spooning of all things. 

“Christ,” you’d muttered, frustrated with yourself for the close call, for falling asleep, for being so stupid over Seokjin even now when you were grown and had separate lives. 

You had slinked out of his room on tiptoe, had scooted through the house as quickly and silently as you could, scarcely breathing until you were safely behind the walls of your own house across the street. 

You and Jin never talked about it. A precedent, really.

–

The path of your orbit swung you out again - back to college, away from home, back into your world of classes and dorm life. The pieces of your adult life started to click into place as your senior year spun by - grad programs, internships, hints at a life in a different universe than the one you’ve known. 

You and Minji graduated, returned for the summer. 

There was a night you’d laid across from Minji on the swinging bench in their backyard, her feet in your lap. You two swang gently, eyes on the constellations above you, listening to music play from Minji’s bluetooth speaker. 

“Next year’s gonna be weird,” you said, because it was all you could think about, then. You’d gone to college together, but you wouldn’t be together for grad school. 

“We’ll be fine,” Minji had murmured, eyes closing. 

You’d nudged her with your foot. “Don’t go to sleep. I’m trying to talk to you. I’m nervous.”

She had opened one eye, nudged you right back. “We’ll be fine,” she repeated, more firmly. “It’s not like we’re going to live on campuses in different states. I’ll be right here. You won’t be far, either.”

You lapsed into silence again. The swing tilted you back and forth, lulling you half to sleep.

“I broke up with that guy,” you muttered, half hoping she wouldn’t hear you. Instead, she sat straight up, almost overbalancing the swing and dumping you both on the ground. 

“You what?” she asked. “Why?”

“I just wasn’t feeling it,” you explained. You were twenty-one that summer, starting to look at apartments you’d be able to afford while working part-time around grad classes. “Honestly, I was just bored.”

“You always say that,” she accused flatly. “I’ve never understood this about you. Everybody bores you. No one… sticks.” Her voice softens and she adds, “I worry about you.” 

You laughed, once, and struggled to sit up. “I’m fine, Minji. None of them were… right. Someone will be.”

“But how will you know?” she pressed. “If you don’t give anyone a chance, how will you know when it’s right?”

Your chest clenched. Because I know what it feels like when it is, you thought, but you couldn’t say that. 

“I just will,” you’d muttered, not an answer. You’d gotten up from the swing, heading for the house. “I need some water.”

As soon as you open the kitchen door, Jin jumped a mile. He’d been standing at the kitchen sink… next to the open window.

You narrowed your eyes at him. “Were you listening?” you demanded. 

Jin had flushed pink before you even spoke, telling on himself. “No,” he said hotly. “I was just here, and the window happened to be open, and -”

“And you eavesdropped,” you finished. 

He faced you, lips pursed thoughtfully. “How come no one sticks?” he asked. 

You honestly thought you heard him wrong. “What?” you’d uttered, sure he’d repeat himself and say something else entirely. 

“Why,” he said again, more slowly, “haven’t any of the guys you’ve dated lasted?”

There was a roaring in your ears as you stared back at him.

“What am I supposed to say to that?” you countered, your voice suddenly a whisper. “Jin, what do I say to that?”

He stepped closer, looking down at you, suddenly dangerously close to being in your space. He murmured your name, reached for your hand. His thumb stroked the back of your hand once, his eyes on yours imploringly.

What were you supposed to say - “because none of them were you”? 

The kitchen door opened with a slam and you leapt apart, Seokjin dropping your hand and wheeling around to face the kitchen sink again. With shaking hands you reached for a cabinet that held cups and glasses, rummaging like you were trying to find a good one.

“Get me one of those, please,” Minji asked, poking you in the side as she passed you, before plopping into a kitchen chair.

“Sure,” you’d said, praying that your voice wouldn’t give you away. Seokjin slipped away, down the hall, into the shadows.

–

“What do you think of the wine?”

You were in spanx, a black velvet dress Minji had bullied you into buying, heels that made your ankles swell, and a lipstick called Pretty Petunia. 

The wine was too sweet for your liking.

But for the sake of your date, who’d made you reservations at a fancy Italian place, you’d smiled and demurred, “Not bad. What do you think?”

You barely heard his answer. It was your third date, and you’d been more bored at each one. He hadn’t made you laugh even once.

As the candle flame between you flickered and danced, you downed two more glasses of the too-sweet wine and did serious damage to the bread basket. When your date asked you if you wanted to go back to his place for a nightcap, you lied and said you had an assignment due by midnight for grad school and needed to get home. 

When he dropped you back at your parents’, you showered and got into sweatpants. You climbed on your bed and pushed your curtain aside just a few inches, leaning your arms on the windowsill and laying your head on them. Your phone buzzed by your leg - the date. 

You didn’t answer.

You kept your eyes on the window, on the Kims’ house. 

Seokjin had moved out earlier that day - really moved out, taking everything with him to an apartment a plane ride away. 

You hadn’t told him goodbye, hadn’t snuck out to the moving van for one last moment. He hadn’t texted you, hadn’t looked up towards your window.

He’d just left, and you’d sat here and watched him go.

You rotated in place, wobbling as Seokjin slipped further from your life. You adjusted to the procession. Life hurtled on.

–

The first time you brought a boyfriend home, you were twenty-four. Three years had passed since Seokjin moved away, two since you moved out of your parents and into your “swanky” apartment, one since Minji had moved to her own place not too far from you. 

You didn’t have any expectations for your parents’ Christmas Eve party - the three Kim kids were around some Christmases, but not all. You hadn’t seen all three of them on the same day since before Seokjin had moved out. You knew Minji was coming - you’d texted. The boys? Who knew. 

You were excited to see Minji for the first time in a while. You were nervous to bring your boyfriend around your extended family. You were trying desperately to keep Seokjin from even crossing your mind. You weren’t excited to see him. You weren’t nervous to see him. You tried to keep the Seokjin part of your brain perfectly blank as you led your boyfriend, Daniel, up the front walk of your parents’ house, careful to point out the ever-present icy patch near the front door. 

Your parents greeted Daniel warmly. You’d been dating about two months, and he’d met them not that long ago. He was a nice guy, at the end of the day. 

“Come on,” you murmured to him, after you’d hung up your coats and taken off your shoes. “I have to introduce you to my aunts. I’m sorry in advance?”

He’d look at you wide-eyed, nervous. “Why are you sorry?”

“They’re just… loud,” you’d said, already steeling yourself for the squeals and hullabaloo. 

Daniel held up surprisingly well, smiling genuinely and repeating everyone’s name back to them to make sure he remembered it. He was a nice guy.

Christmas Eve dinner went smoothly. You sat near Minji, the two of you catching up in quiet voices as the loud conversation flowed around you. Daniel, bless him, kept up with the larger conversation, taking a more active role with your family than you were. 

After the meal, people floated around the house in groups. Someone put on a Christmas movie in the living room, you helped your mom put desserts out in the dining room. 

You were standing in the living room, leaning against Daniel a little, chatting with Minji and watching the Christmas movie over her shoulder when the front door opened, shooting a blast of winter air through the room. That’s what made you look up - the chill.

Seokjin came through the door with his eyes down, working his feet out of his boots before the door was even shut behind him.

“Jinnie!” Minji cried. 

A few things happened in quick succession. Your chest clenched, your stomach dropped. 

Seokjin’s gaze followed his sister’s voice, then found you. You watched it on his face as he processed - seeing you, recognition and affection flickering to life, then confusion as he took in the stranger behind you, and then his face went absolutely unreadable.

Daniel wrapped his arm around you, hard, pulling you against him wordlessly. He’d never been so assertive the whole time you’d known him.

Later, he’d asked you, “Is there history with you and Minji’s brother? It seemed, when he showed up…”

Weeks later, when he ended things, bitterness caused him to spit, “Call Minji’s brother and cry about it.”

So much for a “nice guy”.

You’d wished you could call Minji’s brother to cry about it. He would have made you smile again. 

–

Jin’s shoulders were under your fingers, his ragged breath in your ear, his lips on your jaw. Nothing existed but him. Everything you’d spent almost your entire life hoping for was right here, within grasp - he’d called you beautiful, he’d pressed his lips to yours like he’d die if he didn’t, he kept you safe in the space between your arms if only for a few moments. 

Then, he’d stepped away carefully, holding you up a bit until you were steady on your feet again. You adjusted your skirt as he zipped his jeans and stepped away towards the trash bins - to deal with the condom, you realized. Then he was back, close enough that you could see him in the dark again.

You didn’t know what to say to him. You didn’t know how to ask if this was what you hoped it was - if he wanted you, really wanted you, wanted to be with you. You didn’t want to look stupid - stupider - if this was just sex, nothing else. 

“You probably shouldn’t come in right after me,” Seokjin said. Was there something glum in his voice, or were you paranoid? “Minji will sniff that out so fast.”

“Yeah,” you said. Your voice sounded warped to your own ears. “Got it.”

Got it. This didn’t mean a thing. 

You stayed there, pressed close to the house, hiding in the shadows long enough for your pulse to calm, long enough to start to shiver. You hadn’t gone back inside at all - instead, you’d crossed the street and entered your parents’ house, falling asleep in your childhood bed. 

It was fitting. You’d cried yourself to sleep as a child and teenager plenty of times in that bed. Might as well do it again.

In the morning, New Year’s Day, you’d texted Minji, “what’s up at your house?”

She’d answered, “dad just took jinnie to catch his plane. why? whats up?”

You’d played it off, said something like “just wondered if you were as hungover as i am”. You laid on your childhood bed and stared at the ceiling, tracing the bumps and cracks you knew by heart. You reminded yourself that you hadn’t asked Jin for anything, hadn’t told him anything. You had no right to be upset with him.

The only move was forward. So, that’s what you would do. You’d move on, and so would he.

Which doesn’t explain why now, two years later, you’re furious again.

You avoid the neighborhood, try to slip back into your old habits and old routine. 

Your mother, of course, calls you out. 

“Haven’t seen you in a bit,” she says to you on the phone, a few days after you’d made Jin hangover soup. She keeps her voice so innocent, but you hear the unsaid - you were here so much and then you stopped. 

“Want to go out for dinner?” you suggest. “I’ll treat you and Dad to somewhere good?”

“I already started cooking for later,” she says. She sounds sorry, but you’re beyond sure it’s all a trap. She proves you right by adding, “You could come here for dinner, though. I made your favorite.”

Of course you did, you tricky devil, you think darkly. 

“Okay,” you say, long-suffering. “I’ll come for dinner.”

“We’ll see you at seven,” your mom says, and hangs up. 

You feel entirely like you’ve been hoodwinked. You’re just not sure how yet. 

When you arrive for dinner, you walk in warily, half expecting an unpleasant surprise of some sort. But you find just your parents, delicious food, and a quiet house. 

You eye your mother suspiciously through the whole meal, but nothing out of the ordinary happens. You help your dad wash the dishes when you’re all done, spend a little time sitting around chatting. Eventually, you eye the clock and tell them you should get home. You give them quick hugs at the door and step out into the night, pulling the door shut behind you.

Across the street, the Kims’ house is all lit up. Minji’s car is parked in the street, not far from your own, which means she’s there too. You wonder how many more days Seokjin will be in town, before he fucks off back to his own city again. He’d said he’d stay for a few weeks, and you’re already nearing the halfway point. 

You were stupid to even talk to him again. You were stupid to go to their house, knowing he was there. You were stupid to let him flirt with you at the bar, to nearly let him kiss you. You were stupid to show up, uninvited, and fucking cook for him like a goddamn girlfriend. You shouldn’t have done any of it. You should have stayed away. 

You’re all worked up, thinking this, as you stalk through your parents’ front yard, pushing the button to unlock your car. You open the driver’s side door, still fuming, furious at yourself. 

The door is jerked out of your hand as someone slams it shut.

Seokjin faces you darkly, one hand still on your car.

“You scared the shit out of me,” you scold him. “Seokjin, what the fuck.”

“We have a conversation to finish,” he says, ignoring this. 

You close your eyes, lean sideways onto your car. You don’t have the energy for this. “I have nothing to say,” you tell him, opening your eyes again to look up at him. “I’m sorry I threw a cheap shot at you. All that… it doesn’t matter now.”

“It doesn’t matter?” he repeats, raising an eyebrow. “What does that mean?”

You shake your head. “It was so long ago, and it didn’t mean anything… I shouldn’t have even brought it up again.”

His brows furrow. He murmurs your name, the same way he had in the back hallway at the bar. “I don’t think you mean that,” he says gently, and it makes you even angrier, angry that you have to stand here and feel foolish while he gets to pity you.

“Which part?” you snap. “It was two years ago, we haven’t talked in those two years, and bringing it up has been completely fucking pointless, so where’s the lie?” 

He grimaces, shaking his head a little. “I wondered for months if I’d hurt you… if you were upset. I was really hoping you weren’t. But, clearly…”

“Fuck you,” you tell him, a derisive laugh edging its way into your tone. “You don’t get to show up out of nowhere and feel bad about it two years later. I’m over it - I’ve been over it. I just never got to tell you to your face that you were an asshole, and now I can.”

“I was in a bad place that night,” he says, trying to explain. “I only -”

“I don’t want your explanation,” you snap, cutting him off. “Believe it or not, Seokjin, I’m not, like, dying to hear the list of reasons why you were out of your head enough to make a mistake like me, that night.”

He literally steps away, eyes wide, his hand falling from your car and slapping the side of his leg as it lands. “Mistake?” he echoes, horrified. “Is that what you think?”

This trips you, knocks you completely off the furious track you’d been barreling down. “What?” you say, unconsciously trying to buy yourself time to process, to formulate a response. 

He steps back toward you, closing the space between you. One of his hands comes up and rests on your cheek. For some reason, you let it, staying still and allowing it. “I’m so sorry,” he whispers. “It didn’t mean nothing. It wasn’t a mistake, and I should never have let you think differently.”

And then he’s kissing you, slow and gentle, nothing like the fiery kiss you’d shared two years ago. His thumb strokes your cheek so gently it almost tickles. You open for him, letting him take you deeper, tilting your head back to give him more room as he shifts to press you against your car. Your mouth moves against his, his tongue teasing at your bottom lip. Then he’s sucking lightly at it as you sigh against his lips. Your hands are clutching his jacket, your hips pushing against his like they’re asking for trouble. 

And then you’re opening both hands and pushing him away, scrambling to get your car door open again. He looks at you, bewildered, your name a question falling from his lips.

“I can’t do this again,” you tell him brokenly, as honest as you can be. “I can’t do it again. I think it’ll kill me if I do.”

You drop heavily into the driver’s seat, tug the door shut, and pull away. You buckle up as you drive away, Seokjin getting smaller and smaller in your side mirror, standing in the middle of the street in the dark, watching you go. 

You drive five more blocks and then pull over, pressing your hands to your face as you gasp for air through shuddering, stomach-clenching sobs.

Seokjin was seventeen the first time you got drunk at his house, really drunk.

He felt responsible, since it had been his own fault - it was his friend Yoongi who’d come over with a handle of vodka. He’d been the one to tell you and Minji you could have a little. So when he watched you use hands and feet to climb the stairs and head up towards his kitchen, he’d followed, to make sure you didn’t fall down and get hurt.

He knew you’d gone outside because you’d left the kitchen door wide open. He’d followed, silently, closing the kitchen door behind himself. You were laying on your back in the yard, hands clutching fistfuls of grass, eyes on the sky above. 

He’d laid next to you, a few feet away, asked you how the yard was. 

“Spinning,” you’d told him, the word so badly slurred he almost couldn’t tell what you’d said.

And then you’d flopped your head towards him, those eyes swimming with something he thought he could understand, and you’d said, “Sometimes I feel like everyone looks right through me. Like maybe I’ll be see-through forever.”

Seokjin had reached across the grass, taking your hand, lacing his fingers with yours. He’d given your hand one squeeze, and you’d closed your eyes, turning your face back up towards the stars. 

“I can see you,” he’d assured you. He didn’t know if you’d remember in the morning or not. But it had felt important to make sure you knew. 

He could see you. 

He had always been able to see you.

<- Prev || Next ->

ehehehehe i hope you liked this update!!! a little peek backwards :) thank you for reading and i hope you continue to enjoy!!!!!

i'm taking a week off of posting because I am traveling for a Family Event (send help) so part 3 will post on Friday, June 16th. thank you for understanding!

#bts x reader #bts fanfic #bts fic #seokjin fanfic #jin fic #jin fanfic #seokjin fic #seokjin x reader #jin x reader #seokjin smut #jin smut #seokjin fluff #jin fluff #seokjin x you #jin x you #seokjin x y/n #jin x y/n #kim seokjin fic #kim seokjin fanfic #kim seokjin smut #kim seokjin fluff #bts smut #neighbors au #s2l #seokjin angst #jin angst #kim seokjin angst #fic: amalthea

[hellfiremunsonn]

💕NOW YOU SEE ME PART TWO💕

I DO NOT ALLOW MY WRITING TO BE REPUBLISHED ANYWHERE OTHER THAN MY OWN BLOG WITHOUT MY CONSENT

18 + IF YOU ARE NOT 18 OR OLDER DO NOT READ OR INTERACT WITH MY WRITING. IT IS NOT INTENDED FOR MINORS. I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MEDIA YOU CONSUME.

Summary: You’re not as innocent as everyone thinks, just a little clueless and maybe a bit careless, and with zero filter Eddie’s crush begins almost instantly.

Because Eddie sees you… He sees you for you, and the minute you stumble into his garage at work, asking him to fix your bike he knows he has you wrapped around his finger and he’ll do everything and anything to get what he wants.

Warnings: perv!eddie, he’s gross, he touches, he sneaks peeks, probably some coercion, will lead to smut but everything reader does is consensual, “innocent” reader, fem!reader, slight little reader, slight age regression?actions traded for Eddie’s labor on the bike, alright were adding a piss kink warning to this, daddy!Eddie, implied subspace/littlespace  (will update as I go)

💕PART TWO💕

"Well I'm not leaving until you let me help you with something" You said sternly, arms crossed in front of you.

Eddie laughed, taking the handlebars of your bike in his hands and lead it to the far end of his side of the garage, to keep it out of the way. "What are you going to do, stand there all day?" he mocked.

"No" you said obviously. "I'm uh..." you hesitated, looking around you for a moment. "I'm going to sit in this chair" You plopped yourself down on the metal chair just on the other side of the large toolbox Eddie had been organizing earlier.

"Really?" Eddie said coming back to the car he had been working on. "You're going to sit there, all day and not move?"

"Yup" You said popping the 'p'

"Good luck with that princess" he said with a laugh, gathering the tools needed before leaning back over the hood of the car.

"I don't need luck" You huffed. "And don't call me princess"

"Why not?" he said through a grunt, his words were a little muffled over the clanks of his tools.

"Because I like it" You said flatly.

He popped his head back out and around the hood to get a better look at you "I'm sorry did you just say that, you like it?"

"Yeah?" You shrugged. "It makes me horny sometimes though, and right now I don't want you to be the one making me horny, because I'm mad at you" you said pointing your finger at him.

Eddie couldn't believe the words coming out of your mouth, how quick you were with honesty with no realization of how easily that turned him on. Thankful for the car hiding his lower half, otherwise you'd see just how much you already had an effect on him. "Jesus Christ you're going to try to kill me aren't you?" he said with a laugh, shaking his head.

"Maybe not kill you, but definitely wear you down" you said smugly, shoving your hands under your bum and kicking your feet out repeatedly, scuffing the toes off them across the cement floor in front of you.

You sit there for hours, you're bored, your ass hurts and you really have to pee but you're determined to follow through with your word. You groan for the umpteenth time, sliding down your seat until your chin touches your chest. If you close one eye you can see Eddie through the sliver of space between the hood and the car. You pinch him between your fingers before sitting back up.

"Getting restless over there?" he says after hearing you sigh, the metal chair squeaking with every movement.

"I'm pretty sure my ass is going to be numb for the rest of my life" you say sitting back up, tucking both hands in-between your thighs as if it'll make the ache in your bladder go away. "And I have to pee so bad" you whine.

Eddie chuckled to himself. "I'm not the one who said you had to sit there all day to prove a point"

"No, but I'm true to my word, so m'not moving" a beat "when do you finish work again?" you ask, leaning forward slightly to catch a glance at him.

He leans back from his work with a smirk on his lips. "For the seventeenth time" He pauses to watch you squirm in your seat. "I finish at six"

You let out a small 'hmp' and slump back down into your seat, looking up at the clock on the wall.

"I don't remember you being this insistent in high school" Eddie says coming to stand next to you while grabbing more tools.

"I didn't really care that much about school, but I passed, and graduated so that's all that really matters I guess" you shrugged. You didn't really expected Eddie to remember you from school, not that you avoided being seen, you just didn't think someone like him would remember someone like you.

"Didn't someone start a rumour about you and Steve? N'you slapped that girl in the cafeteria about it?" Eddie said, although his tone was more questioning.

"Oh it wasn't a rumour" you said laughing at the memory. "I did slap that girl though, but that's cause she was trying to make me feel bad about sleeping with a stuffed animal at sixteen" you rolled your eyes. "They always tried to make me feel bad about stuff, that I just didn't care about you know?"

"It wasn't a rumour?" Eddie asked, returning the conversation back.

"You're talking about Steve Harrington right?" you asked with the tilt of your head.

"Yeah" Eddie said, trying not to show the eagerness in his voice.

"Then yeah it wasn't a rumour, I sucked his dick when we were both in freshman year I think? Got caught in the bathroom by one of his groupies, that's how people found out" you blow a raspberry.

"I guess you really aren't that innocent as you seem huh?" Eddie said wiping his hands once more.

"Never said I was" you said honestly.

There was a brief moment of silence between you two but it wasn't awkward, and Eddie was almost shocked at how comfortable he seemed around you, and you around him.

"And now?" Eddie asks turning to you, his hands sliding up and down another wrench, cleaning the grease off of it with a partially clean rag and your brain stopped for a moment.

"W-What about now?" you said forcing yourself to respond, meeting his brown eyes for what felt like the firs time.

"What are you up to these days? Hope its not Harrington" he chuckles, smiling extra when he hears your laugh bubble out of your mouth.

"No, no, absolutely not" you say in-between laughs. "No Steve, although I see him sometimes when I go get movies, but he and I were never meant to be a thing" you take a deep breath, regulating yourself after laughing. "But I'm not up to much, reading mostly, and trying to do art stuff"

Eddie moves around the garage while you talk, putting things away, tidying, you almost don't realizing he's doing everything you offered to do for him because he keeps asking questions. But you don't mind, not today anyway, you'll just have to come back and bug him tomorrow.

"No work?" he asks.

"No, not yet anyway, I'm trying to hold out on that for as long as I can, but not having money as often as I'd like kinda puts a damper on things" you bring your legs up onto your chair, feet on the edge of the seat and crossed at the ankles while you leaned your chin on your knees. Hoping that keeping yourself small and tight like this will take the edge off your bladder once more. "I just don't want to get a job doing something I wont love you know? I want to be excited to go to work everyday, but there's nothing that really intrigues me that much"

Eddie nods in agreement. If it wasn't for Wayne teaching him everything he knows, and giving him the opportunity to work at the garage because he knows the guy who owns it, Eddie isn't sure where he would have ended up.

You don't notice but from where Eddie is standing he can see right between your legs, and the small darkened wet patch forming on your panties. He bites his bottom lip to hold back a groan, almost stopping completely when the thought crosses his mind that you might actually be getting off on the fact that you've been holding your pee in for so long. Were you truly wet, or was it just a long day of sitting in the Indiana summer heat on a metal chair. Either way Eddie wanted so desperately to be buried face deep between your thighs.

"Can't you finish work a little early?" You ask. Your voice is small and pleading.

"I could, but then you wouldn't win, whatever game it is that you're playing" he said shutting the hood of the car loudly, causing you to jump slightly. "And you're doing so good" he praised and it went straight to your cunt, making you whimper softly. You drop your feet back onto the floor in front of you.

He comes over to you, kneeling in front of you and placing his hands on top of your knees, knowing exactly what he's going to get you to do next "You wouldn't wanna give up so easily hmm?" his hands slide up and down your thighs, moving the skirt of your dress only a little, but enough to make your stomach flip.

"No, b-but I-" you squint your eyes and furrow your brows, trying hard to focus on keeping your bladder under control. "I can't concentrate when your hands are on me Eddie"

"Do you want me to stop?" He asks.

"N-No!" You say a little too quickly, instantly blushing at your own admission.

"Here's what I'm thinking" Eddie says lowly, his hands back to sliding against your thighs.

All you could muster out was a small "Mhmm?" opening your eyes slowly to look at him. Your eyes were either glossy with lust or tears, but he loved it either way.

"If you go, right now, right here, I'll close up early"

Your eyebrows shoot up. "You want me, to go right here?" your flabbergasted and insanely turned on.

Eddie nods. "And if you do, you'll have really proven your point by sitting here all day, and it'll show me how much of a good listener you are" his hands feel like fire on your skin and you squirm in your seat. "You are a good listener right? You going to follow the rules princess?"

You whimper and shut your eyes tightly again, hearing the pet name slip past his lips once more. "I can listen" you say so quietly that if Eddie wasn't directly in front of you he wouldn't even known you had spoken.

He coos "I bet you can, huh?" His index finger trails along your jawline until he reaches your chin, pushing upwards so your eyes meet his. "Show me then princess, show me how good you are, and maybe I'll give you a reward"

Your heart rate is rapid, and you can barely hear Eddies voice over the booming thumps that echo in your ears, your chest is rising and falling so quickly Eddie is paranoid you might hyperventilate but then you speak.

"You don't think it's gross?" you say with a pant.

"Maybe, but doesn't mean I don't like it" he said with a shrug and a sly smile.

"If-if I go, then we can go home?" Your voice has gone higher in pitch, rocking back and forth slightly while your thighs clench together so tightly you're afraid you might give yourself a cramp. 

Eddies dick isn't the only thing that twitches when he hears you say 'home' like you already knew you'd be going home with him, whether it was to your place or his. "Then we can go home" he reassured.

"What's my reward?" teeth sinking into your bottom lip harshly. 

"You'll have to wait and see princess, it's a surprise" he said squeezing your thighs harshly. 

You jump slightly at his hands, letting out a small whimper. "What if I can't go?"

"You can" he encourages quickly. "Look, come here" he says shifting slightly on his feet, bringing one hand up to your cheek so you lean forward. He brings his other hand to match, before pulling you down closer to him, resting his forehead against yours. 

"Are you going to kiss me?" 

"Is that what you want?" he says all too sweetly, his warm breath fanning across your lips.

You nod "A lot" you say honestly, closing the distance between the two of you, your brows pushed together tightly. He doesn't kiss you for long, but it's enough to relax you to almost let go and you whimper when your body instinctively stops you. 

"Come on baby" Eddie coos, his thumbs rub circles on your cheeks, his forehead still touching yours. "Come on baby" he repeats "I know you can do it"

Your eyes are shut so tightly, and you're concentrating so hard to get your lower half to relax. Eddie doesn't speak, and neither do you, giving you the space to let yourself and your body decide what it wants to do. You slip one of your hands between your legs and push lightly against your clit like a button. Feeling it throb with each touch, encouraging yourself to let go. 

Eddie is in shock, watching your hand as it disappeared under the skirt of your dress. He wants to move to get a better look, but he also wants so desperately for you to fill your seat and his lap from where he crouches in front of you with your piss. 

A high pitch whimper is what breaks his stare from your cunt when he realizes what's happening. Both of your hands move to hold onto his wrists that still cup your face, nails digging into his skin as your bladder painfully begins to release itself. You ache from the waist down, but it's euphoric with how good it feels, especially with how turned on it's made you. Your seat quickly fills with the warm liquid, wetting the skirt of your dress under you, pooling until it rolls off the edge of the chair and onto the floor below you. 

"Good fucking girl" Eddie says, but there's a growl to his voice that makes you open your eyes to see him. His eyes are almost as blown out as yours and you commit the image of him in front of you to memory. The way his cheeks are tinged with pink, mouth slightly agape while he breathes unevenly, and he doesn't even flinch when the liquid begins to splat against his knees from where he's still positioned in front of you. "Feels good doesn't it?" He asks, one of his hands smoothing the hair out of your face and tucking it behind your ear.

"Uh-huh" you say with a sigh slumping back into the chair, your hands loosening your grip around his wrists until they fell limply at your sides. You didn't even care that you could feel the wetness of your own piss that you sat in under your palms, too blissed out to care.

After a few moments when you finally stopped, you looked at Eddie, who had a smug smile on his face. 

"That was fun" you said quietly. You still felt a twinge of embarrassment, it bubbles in your chest but Eddie doesn't give you long to dwell in it.

"It was wasn't it?" he says tapping your thighs lightly. "Lets get you cleaned up and then we can go home yeah?"

You nod "Yes please"

You stay seated while Eddie moves around the shop, closing everything down for the night before returning to you with a pair of coveralls. 

You raised an eyebrow "Those are too big for me Eds?"

"I'm not gunna let you sit in your wet clothes baby, come here let me help you" He places the clothes next to him and offers his hands to you which you hold onto eagerly. He brings you do your feet, and you wobbly lightly. You're confused with your feelings, but your brain feels too foggy to get the words out so you just let Eddie help you. He slips your dress up over your head and into a plastic bag next to him. He then removes his shirt off of himself and holds it out for you to duck your head to let him slip it over you. You only briefly get a chance to admire his chest, his tattoos, and pink scars that scatter his skin. His t-shirt lands just barely at your thighs, it's warm and it smells like Eddie and the garage. Eddie reaches under the shirt, hooking his thumbs into the waistband of your panties and tugs them down until they teach the back off your knees, signalling you to step out of them. 

"Your shoes wet?" he asks, adding your panties to your wet dress in the bag.

"Think so" you say rubbing your cheek against your shoulder.

Eddie can see it in your face that you don't know what you're feeling, and he knows he has to be extra gentle with you right now. He lured you into subspace, and although you went into it quite easily, he can tell it's going to take you a little longer to come out of it. He also notices how child like you've become, small and shy, accepting eddies help with no resistance or back talk and he's unsure if you even knew what little space was either. He'd have to ask about it later. He kneels back in front of you and unties your laces on both shoes before standing back up. 

"Is it okay if I pick you up?" he asks, bending slightly so he's more eye level with you.

You not, holding your arms out to wrap them around his neck. He scoops you up bridal style and brings you over to the other side of the garage where the floor is dry and sets you down. He kneels back down once more and removes your shoes from your feet, and then your socks. The cold cement floor sends goosebumps across your skin and you shiver. 

"Cold?" he asks with a little smile, taking the pair of coveralls into his hands he holds them out for you to step into. You hold onto his shoulders to keep you steady while you balance on each foot. Eddie brings them up to your hips, doing the zipper up until you belly button and then ties the rest of it around your waist. He folds the pants several times before they're no longer able to drag along the floor. "Two minutes" he says holding your face in his hands, he kisses you on the forehead before shuffling around his work space again. He grabs a hose that's hung on the wall and sprays down the chair and the floor around it, watching as it rolls down to the centre of the room and down the metal drain. He collects your small bag of things, and the plastic back with your wet clothes and returns to you, reaching out his hand for you to hold. "Lets go home yeah?" he says with a smile. You take his hand in yours and give him a small smile, letting him lead you out of the shop, your feet bare as they walk along the warm concrete outside to Eddies van.

TAG LIST: @hard-candy-writing  @harrys-four-nipples @edsforehead@candyflossfairy @ceriseheaven @bowersbubbles @eddiesprincess86@tlclick73 @choke-me-eddie @eddiessidegirl @edsforehead @cancankiki@bimbobaggins69 @bbyhargrove @babeyglo @ajkamins @canyonmooncreations@anaisweird @eddiesguitarskills @harringtonfan4

#hellfiremunsonn #Eddie Munson #Perv!Eddie #Stranger Things #Eddie Munson Stranger Things #Stranger Things Eddie munson #Eddie Munson x fem!reader #Eddie Munson x you #Stranger Things fic #Eddie Munson fic #Eddie Munson fluff #Eddie Munson smut #Stranger Things fluff #Stranger Things smut #Eddie Munson piss kink #perveddie #perv!Eddie munson #Eddie Munson x reader

[narcolini]

coping mechanisms

angel reyes x gn!reader (& bonus coco), angst, 1683 words

no warnings, just men being dumb and fighty

for day 21 of whumpril: ‘it’s just a scratch’

tagging: @drabbles-mc @cositapreciosa @hausofmamadas​ (let me know if u wanna be tagged for angel fics)

Angel’s been like this since EZ’s arrest. Desperate for distraction. He’d been bothering the guys at first, tagging along on every job he could, calling round for drinks when they didn’t want guests. You could only keep him busy for so long too, because you always had to go to work eventually. No matter how much of yourself you gave in the time in between, it wasn’t enough. He was driving himself mad with it, really, the pursuit of an occupied mind. When no-one was there to help, he drank instead, but his wallet complained as much as his head did on that one.

And then he’d started fixing up his bike.

New parts, new paint. He stays out all day, polishing it, tweaking it. Riding out until it’s dirty and doing it all over again.

He’s at it now, in the lot, down on one knee to add shine to the front wheel arch. You’re watching him from the porch of the clubhouse, forearms on the wooden railing. You try to be a part of what helps. Offer him every escape you can think of: movies, dinner, sex. But he just goes right back to the bike afterwards. It’s the only thing that keeps his mind from running away with him. The repetition, you suppose, the little tasks, over and over again. He can’t think about EZ’s sentencing while he’s doing it. It’s just polish, and detailing, and the instant gratification of doing something practical with his hands.

There’s no waiting for someone else’s decision with the bike, the control is all his.

‘You want a beer, Ange?’ you shout.

His head shakes from across the yard. ‘Nah, you’re good.’

You’d expected as much, but offering a drink every now and then is all you can do when he’s like this. You were trying to be patient. Supportive.

‘I wanna go eat soon,’ you tell him, which he nods to. ‘In like thirty minutes?’

‘Yeah, sure.’

He hasn’t looked up from the bike once, is just raising his voice so it carries instead.

You sigh, relaxing into the support in front of you. EZ’s trial can’t come soon enough. You need your boyfriend back. Need a decision, a sentence, so he can stop avoiding what’s coming and deal with it instead. The longer he goes like this, the harder it’ll be when it happens and EZ goes in for good. He won’t even talk about it. Acts like he doesn’t have a brother at all, and if you bring it up, then, well. It’s worse than letting him spending hours and hours waxing the leather of his seat cushion.

There’s another bike pulling up now, Coco on his own, rolling into the space beside Angel’s. You can see right away that he’s got the angle wrong, probably from squinting into the sun. He goes wonky, then straightens, too close to where Angel’s working. You can’t be sure, but it almost looks like he’s made contact. Bike to bike.

‘Ey, ey, yo!’ Angel’s standing, tossing his cloth onto the seat. ‘Watch your fucking bars, homie.’

Coco’s engine cuts off. ‘Relax, bro,’ he says, craning to look between the two machines. He pushes his own bike back, walking it with his boots, before kicking down his stand. ‘It ain’t that serious.’

But Angel’s bent again, inspecting the paintwork of his own. ‘You fucked up my bike,’ he snaps, finger swiping along the mark he’s found.

‘What?’ Coco dismounts, hair swinging as he walks to stand beside him. When he’s there, looking at what Angel’s looking at, he laughs. ‘C’mon bro, that shit’s barely visible.’ He pushes Angel’s shoulder dismissively, grinning like they’re in on a joke. ‘The fuck is wrong with you?’

But Angel isn’t laughing. ‘The fuck is wrong with you?’ he snaps back, shoving Coco harder than he had done in the first place, away from him and into the handlebars of his own bike.

You straighten. Even from here you can see that they aren’t joking, can recognise the tension stretching between your boyfriend’s shoulder blades. He’s pissed, and he means it.

Coco laughs again as you take to the stairs, path set toward them. He’s not cocky with it now, but nervous, laughing from the shock of Angel’s reaction. ‘Yo, chill,’ he says, ‘it’s not that deep, Angel.’

‘Me chill?’ Angel’s hand flies out, gesturing to the bike. ‘You’re out here damaging my shit cause you can’t fucking ride, asshole.’

You’re a step away now, close enough to exchange a look with Coco, a what the fuck is going on, look. He’s got a right to be annoyed, sure, but this? This is beyond rationale. You and Coco both know that, but only one of you is patient enough to realise it’s not really Coco he has an issue with. Or the bike. It’s not really that at all.

Coco scoffs, righting himself, and setting his kutte straight over his chest. ‘You need to get a life, homie,’ he says, making your stomach sink. He shouldn’t take this route. He shouldn’t say anything at all.

‘Let’s bring it down a notch, yeah?’ You stop in front of them, looking between the two.

‘Ever since EZ was arrested this is all you fucking care about,’ Coco continues, ‘it’s fucking sad, man.’

Angel tuts, face tilting to the ground for a minute. You can see his jaw working, can imagine his molars clenching and unclenching.

‘He’s done for, bro, making your bike all nice and shit isn’t gonna—’

Angel swings at him, too clumsy to make contact with his fist—Coco flinching back in just the right moment—but his elbow catches his nose on the way back, and then it’s happening so fast that you lose track. Coco rushes him, taking them both back into Angel’s bike, swearing and grunting and grappling like children. Like boys in the mud of the school yard.

‘Fucking stop!’ you shout, hooking a hand around Coco’s shoulder because he’s closest, and yanking him as hard as you can.

It isn’t easy, and you’re ashamed to admit that you might’ve pulled his hair, just slightly, to get him to release, but eventually he lets you, and you drag him away from the stupid fucking fight.

‘What the fuck is wrong with you guys?’ you pant, pushing Coco behind you. When you turn to throw the question at Angel, he bumps into you, all momentum. He hadn’t realised that you’d gotten in between them yet. ‘Hey.’ You shove him back, two palms to his chest. ‘You’re acting like children.’

‘He started on me, man,’ Coco whines, pinching the bridge of his nose. ‘You gave me a fucking nose bleed, asshole.’

Angel’s panting, chest lifting up and down wildly. ‘Yeah. Eye for an eye, fuckwad.’

You tut. ‘Angel.’ He’s embarrassing you. You’re actually itching under the skin with it.

Coco’s shaking his head, looking at the red on his hands, before putting them back to slow the flow of it. ‘You’re fucking crazy, homie,’ he says, tracking backwards toward clubhouse. ‘Stay the fuck away from me.’

‘Likewise, bro,’ Angel quips back, saying it over your head, all attitude and childish bitterness.

‘Will you fucking act like an adult, Angel?’ You’re staring at him, eyes wide and disbelieving. ‘It’s just a scratch. An accident.’ You’re close enough to see the mark for what it is now, and honestly, it’ll probably buff out. It’s probably just a streak of rubber over anything else. ‘Are you even seeing yourself right now?’

He scoffs, turning away from you to grab the cloth from his seat. ‘I don’t need shit from you too, y’know.’

‘You threw a punch over a scratch, Angel!’

He sours, grumbling, ‘You heard what he said about EZ.’

Yeah, the truth. He said what everyone else, besides Angel, has already accepted. ‘Really?’ you ask, head shaking. ‘You’re gonna lash out at literally everyone that talks about it?’

You watch him run the cloth through his hands, once, twice, waiting for a reply that never comes. You expected him to have a moment of realisation, to meet his stubbornness head on and accept that it isn’t fucking working. For him, for anyone. But he just stands there, waiting for you to leave.

‘You know what, Angel?’

‘What?’ His head twitches toward you, too sharp for your liking. It just adds fuel to the simmer.

‘I have been so patient, and understanding, letting you do your fucking…’ You wave toward his bike, toward him. His avoidance. ‘But you really need to sort your shit, and fast,’ you tell him. He needs to act like the older brother for once.

His head goes back, with a sigh bigger than he has any right to. ‘He scratched my fucking—’

‘The bike is not the fucking point, is it?’ you snap, cutting him off before he can complain any further. ‘You’re going to have to deal with this, okay, I know it sucks, but you can’t just keep yourself busy and never address the giant fucking elephant in the room.’

He’ll go crazy. You will too. Like a stone tied around your middle, thrown off the bridge with him.

‘EZ is likely to go down.’ Your voice catches, forcing you to swallow. ‘For a serious amount of time, and you need to deal with that, Ange.’

No more distractions, no more snapping at everyone that mentions it. Just him, and the real fucking reality that he’s trying to avoid. Your stare at him, waiting still. He says nothing. He can’t even bring himself to match your gaze.

But that’s fine. If that’s how he wants to be, then fine. You aren’t going to helicopter over his neuroticism anymore. You huff, turning on the balls of your feet.

‘What, you not even gonna let me defend myself?’ he scoffs, trying to sound arrogant and failing, too delayed to have any real impact. He’s only saying it now because it looks like you’ve won. 

‘No,’ you reply, eyes set on the door of the clubhouse. ‘I’m going to see if you broke his fucking nose.’

#angel reyes x you #angel reyes x reader #mayans mc fanfic #whumpril2023 #angel reyes fanfic #just a little one for today <3<3<3

[angeloddity]

Summertime Storms

Slow Afternoons

steve harrington x fem!reader

You visit Steve at Family Video on a rainy day.

genre: fluff

word count: 1,400

a/n: every time I watch stranger things I fall in love with steve all over again. No spoilers for season 4 

part ii || series masterlist || masterlist

The firmament spirals, a dark threat above you. Storm clouds, almost formed to completion, are ready to crack at any moment. It’s supposed to rain all day, at least that’s what the weatherman said on the news this morning. The caption at the bottom of your TV read: Summertime storms roll through Midwest. You hadn’t paid it much thought at the time. 

Now, looking up at the sky while you bring your bike to a stop in the nearly empty parking lot of Family Video, the bag you packed on your back swinging slightly as your motion slows, you wonder if you ought to have brought an umbrella. You balance precariously on your bike, toes barely finding solid ground as you lean your weight back onto the seat—you’d raised the seat too high one day only to find it stuck, unable to lower it to a more fitting height—to get a better look at the sky. 

A single fat raindrop falls from the clouds, landing heavy on the space just above your eyes and splattering against your face. You reel backwards from the unexpected impact, the shift in weight nearly causing you to tumble, bike and all. 

More raindrops begin to fall around you, not too many, but they’re all just as heavy as the first, excessively large but not unusual for the season. The threat of more rain to follow forces you to stumble off your bike and wheel it to the portico, the overhang offering protection for the sidewalk in front of Family Video and the surrounding stores in the strip mall. 

You lean your bike against the windows of the store. The green borders and various movie posters hanging on the glass are likely to make it impossible to see anything but the handlebars from the inside, but it’s not the first time you’ve left your bike here and it won’t be the last. 

It’s then that the rain finally comes, a tremendous downpour, loud and weighty. The rushing hiss of rain hitting the pavement drowns out any other noise and blurs your view of the empty asphalt, streaking everything in the parking lot into shades of grey and splotches of green. There are only a handful of cars in the lot, all of them likely belonging to employees in the plaza, but Steve’s is the only one you recognize—the only one that hasn’t lost all form in your sight line from the torrent of rain. The stream of rushing water shrinks your world until nothing exists beyond the downpour and the store behind you. 

You can’t help but edge your way towards the downpour, sticking your hand beyond the protection of the roof above you until the rushing rainfall catches on your skin. Drops splatter against your hand and the pavement below you, smaller droplets sinking into the tops of your shoes, but you hardly notice. 

Behind you, the door chimes, signaling an end to your muffled solitude.

“Well, if it isn’t my best girl. Did you come to rent a movie?” Steve stands in the open entryway of Family Video, leaning back against the glass door to keep it propped open, an easy smile resting on his lips. His words make your heart flutter, they always do, and you can’t help but smile back, stepping towards him as though some magnetic pull is tugging you in his direction.   

“I came to see you,” you chirp, too happy to mind how ridiculously lovesick he makes you. 

Steve settles against the door, crossing his arms and shifting his weight. He’s not allowed to leave the store, not when he’s the only one working at the video rental for the day, even if it’s unlikely that, between the already slow weekdays and the threat of storms all day, there will be any customers. But he can linger just on the edge, as close to where you currently stand as possible. The magnetism, it seems, pulls both ways. 

“Are you coming in? You’ll catch a cold from the rain,” he urges, warm, brown eyes taking in the state of your slowly dampening clothes, slightly darker dots marking where the water splashed up against you.

“It’s a warm shower today,” you state, holding up your now wet hand to prove that you would know, you’ve felt it. But the rain is cooling the air down, and you don’t really want to be wet when you finally enter the air conditioned video rental.     

You walk towards Steve, wiping your still rain-wet hand on your shirt as you do, leaving even more marks behind on the fabric. 

As soon as you’re through the door, Steve throws his arm over your shoulder, pulling you in close to his side to provide you some warmth, at least you think that’s what he’d claim if you asked him about it. You both know that he just wants you close. 

He brings you around the counter even though the space is meant to be for employees only, so he can stand by the phone and register, just in case someone does decide to call. Then he helps you up to your usual perch on the countertop.

It’s dark in Family Video today, the store’s old lights buzzing overhead, working far harder than they should to emit such a small amount of light. The store relies mostly on natural lighting, something which doesn’t exist today, the storm casting a deep grey across everything in its reach.

The rain outside shows no signs of stopping anytime soon. 

In the near silence you can hear the sharp clatter as the shower falls in sheets against the roof. The darkness, the sound of the storm, and the comfort of Steve leaning so close to you all come together to bring hints of sleep back to the edges of your eyes.  

It reminds you of the bag you brought, still settled on your back to survive the bike ride over to Steve’s work. 

“I brought you something,” you exclaim, pulling the bag from your back and placing it down beside you so that you can dig through it. The bag clunks as the contents inside make contact with the countertop.  

“Yeah? What is it?” Steve asks, but you ignore his question.

You pull out two mismatched mugs, setting them down before reaching back in the bag to pull out a dented thermos. A puff of steam floats up from the metal container when you open it, carrying with it the scent of hot coffee. You pour some into both mugs before putting the lid back on the thermos, setting it aside so Steve can have more later if he wants it. 

You each grab a mug and take a sip. The coffee is nothing special, cheap grinds turned to liquid fuel in your family’s coffee maker, but you made it to Steve’s taste rather than your own, and he seems pleased. 

“You're an angel,” he practically moans. He crowds in between your legs, bringing his free hand up to your cheek to hold you steady while he places a gentle kiss just above your eyes—right where that first raindrop landed. 

You can’t help the peel of giggles that pass between your lips at the reminder. Steve doesn’t question it, just smiles at you softly before pressing another kiss to your cheek. You’re impossible to kiss properly like this, something your boyfriend has learned by now, so he settles for whatever skin he can reach. 

Three more kisses against your cheeks leave you grinning like a fool when Steve finally pulls away from you.

He takes one more sip of his slowly cooling coffee, before turning his attention to the various items placed on the counter, meant to tempt the nonexistent customers to spend more money. He grabs a small bag of cookies, halfway to stale, from one of the little snack racks set up on the counter. The packaging crinkles as he rips it open, sounding much too loud in the empty video store, before popping one in his mouth.

“Are you allowed to do that?” you practically whisper, as if drawing the attention of the universe to yourselves could get you in trouble, as if the rushing water against the roof and the low buzzing lights and Steve himself aren’t the only things there to witness you. The storm has made sure of that. Steve merely shrugs.

“As long as you don’t tell, I won’t,” he says around a mouthful of crumbs, a cheeky, closed lip smile growing as he chews. He washes it down with another sip of coffee. Steve holds the bag up to you and you grab one of the cookies, popping it in your mouth. The texture isn’t great, too old to be considered fresh, even with the preservatives, but the sweet taste is pleasant. 

You take another. 

#steve harrington #steve harrington x reader #steve harrington x you #steve harrington x y/n #steve harrington x fem!reader #steve harrington fanfic #stranger things fanfiction #stranger things x reader #stranger things #steve harrington makes me lose my mind #makes me go absolutely insane #gives me brainrot

[ntxpowersport]

Exploring the Mini Jeep: Your Ultimate Guide to Compact Adventure

In the realm of off-road vehicles, the mini jeep stands out as a unique blend of nostalgia, adventure, and practicality. Evoking the spirit of the classic Willys Jeep, these compact yet capable machines offer enthusiasts a thrilling off-road experience without the bulkiness of traditional SUVs. In this comprehensive guide, we delve into the world of mini jeeps, addressing common questions and shedding light on their allure.

FAQ:

What exactly is a mini jeep, and how does it differ from regular jeeps? Mini jeeps, also known as compact off-road vehicles or mini off-roaders, are smaller versions of traditional jeeps like the Willys CJ-2A. While they retain the iconic Jeep design cues, such as round headlights, slotted grills, and boxy bodies, mini jeeps are scaled down in size. They typically feature a shorter wheelbase and reduced dimensions, making them nimble and maneuverable on rugged terrain. Unlike full-size jeeps, mini jeeps are often powered by smaller engines, offering a balance between fuel efficiency and off-road capability.

What are the advantages of owning a mini jeep?

Off-road prowess: Despite their diminutive size, mini jeeps are engineered for off-road performance. Their compact dimensions and lightweight construction allow them to navigate tight trails and conquer challenging obstacles with ease.

Versatility: Mini jeeps are highly versatile vehicles suitable for various outdoor activities. Whether you're exploring backcountry trails, camping in remote locations, or tackling off-road courses, these compact machines excel in diverse environments.

Affordability: Compared to full-size SUVs and trucks, mini jeeps are often more affordable both in terms of initial purchase price and ongoing maintenance costs. This makes them an attractive option for budget-conscious adventurers seeking off-road thrills without breaking the bank.

Customization options: Like their larger counterparts, mini jeeps offer ample opportunities for customization. From lift kits and aftermarket accessories to paint schemes and interior modifications, owners can personalize their mini jeeps to reflect their unique style and preferences.

Are mini jeeps suitable for everyday use, or are they primarily recreational vehicles? While mini jeeps are primarily designed for off-road adventures, many owners also use them as daily drivers. Their compact size makes them ideal for navigating crowded city streets and tight parking spaces, while their off-road capabilities ensure they can handle rough terrain and inclement weather conditions. However, it's essential to consider that mini jeeps may not offer the same level of comfort, refinement, and convenience features as mainstream vehicles. Additionally, their limited cargo space and seating capacity may pose challenges for families or individuals with specific hauling needs.

How do mini jeeps compare to other off-road vehicles like ATVs and side-by-sides? Mini jeeps occupy a unique niche in the off-road vehicle market, offering a blend of attributes that set them apart from ATVs and side-by-sides.

Unlike ATVs, which typically feature handlebar controls and open-air seating, mini jeeps offer a more car-like driving experience with enclosed cabins, steering wheels, and traditional pedal controls. This provides increased comfort and safety, especially in inclement weather or rough terrain.

Compared to side-by-sides, which often prioritize utility and hauling capacity, mini jeeps offer a more compact and maneuverable package. While side-by-sides excel in tasks like hauling cargo and towing, mini jeeps offer a more engaging driving experience and greater versatility in terms of customization and personalization.

Conclusion: In the realm of off-road exploration, the mini jeep stands as a symbol of adventure and freedom. With their compact size, off-road prowess, and nostalgic charm, these pint-sized off-roaders offer enthusiasts a unique way to experience the great outdoors. Whether you're tackling rugged trails, exploring remote wilderness areas, or simply cruising around town, a mini jeep promises thrills and excitement at every turn. So, if you're looking to inject a dose of adventure into your life, consider joining the ranks of mini jeep enthusiasts and embark on your next off-road journey with style and confidence.

#Mini jeeps

[allthingschildcares]

Benefits of Owning a Double Stroller: 10 Best Double Strollers

If you have young children, you know getting around town with them can be challenging. That’s where a double stroller comes in handy. A double stroller allows you to take your children with you wherever you go, making life much easier.

This blog post will discuss the benefits of owning a double stroller and provide tips on choosing the right one for your needs.

What is a Double Stroller? A double stroller is a wheeled device that transports two children at once. They can be used from newborn to toddler age, depending on the features included in the design.

Double strollers are generally wider than single strollers to accommodate two seats side by side, but some models offer seating in-line, one behind the other. Some also come with adjustable handles, brake systems, and many storage compartments.

Some feature adjustable reclining seats, adjustable footrests, and weatherproof fabric covers to provide extra comfort and convenience for both passengers.

When shopping for a double stroller, it’s important to consider your family’s lifestyle and how often you’ll be using it so that you choose one that meets your needs perfectly.

What Are the Benefits of Owning a Double Stroller?

Convenience A double stroller offers a range of benefits for busy parents. It provides added convenience, enabling two little ones to be transported simultaneously without struggle.

In addition to saving time, a double stroller can also help maintain order on family excursions since children can stay synchronized and get to their destination in an organized fashion.

Especially ideal for twins or those close in age, a double stroller offers extra storage capacity so that all diaper bags , snacks, and toys can be tucked away neatly. On top of that, many modern models afford an adjustable design, allowing it to grow with your kids and fit comfortably within tight spaces.

In short, investing in a double stroller is not only practical but essential for keeping children content during out-of-town adventures.

Safety Double strollers are a great choice for parents of two small children who want to keep their little ones safe while they travel. Unlike single strollers that leave one child standing or walking alongside, a double stroller ensures both children can safely join the journey.

Double strollers come in multiple sizes, from jogging to umbrella styles, so parents have plenty of options for choosing the perfect stroller for their family.

While features and designs may differ slightly between brands and models, all double strollers share one key point: safety is absolutely paramount.

With added features such as extra straps, deep seat adjustments, and sturdy frames, it’s clear that safety was built into the design, suggesting just how necessary it is for families with younger or multiple children on board.

So if you’re looking for a reliable method of transporting your little ones securely and comfortably, there’s no better choice than a double stroller.

Affordability Double strollers offer a great way for kids to join in on the family fun without breaking the bank.

They often cost much less than larger models, like triple and quad strollers, and typically are designed for two passengers at once. This makes them an ideal solution for parents who need more than one seat but are looking to save money.

Many affordable double strollers come with features that make life easier, such as adjustable handlebars for added comfort during walks, extra storage capacity for diaper bags and toys, and even umbrellas for shade in sunny conditions.

Not only can these economic investments provide a way to get around town with two children aboard, but they can also be used as part of the overall journey of parenthood: full of smiles, fresh air, and lasting memories.

Read Here More About Benefits of Owning a Double Stroller: 10 Best Double Strollers

[adviserbabycom]

Doona Infant Car Seat & Latch Base Review

In this blog post, we will embark on a journey to uncover all there is to know about the Doona Infant Car Seat & Latch Base, including its design, safety features, ease of conversion, and overall comfort for both parent and child. Hold on tight as we unravel the truth behind this 2-in-1 product that's creating quite the buzz in the parenting community. Doona Infant Car Seat & Latch Base Features Convenience and Ease of Use The Doona Car Seat's ability to transform into a stroller in seconds is a game-changer. It eliminates the need for separate car seats and stroller systems, making it incredibly convenient for parents on the go. I have personally used it in various scenarios and found it to be incredibly easy to transition between car seat and stroller modes. Whether it's taking the baby to restaurants, malls, or doctor's appointments, the Doona has proven to be a reliable and hassle-free solution. Compact and Maneuverable The Doona's compact size and maneuverability are remarkable features that make it stand out. It's designed to fit in tight spaces, making it ideal for crowded areas like restaurants and waiting rooms. I have used it in restaurants, where it easily replaces a seat at the table, and its small footprint ensures it doesn't intrude on other patrons' space. Additionally, the stroller mode of the Doona is easy to handle, allowing older siblings to take joy in pushing the baby. Safety and Comfort The Doona Car Seat prioritizes safety with its 5-point harness and 3 Layer Side Impact Protection. I appreciate the adjustable handlebar, which not only acts as an anti-rebound bar inside the car but also provides a comfortable grip while pushing the stroller. The fabric used in the car seat is removable and washable, ensuring that the seat stays clean and hygienic for the baby. The use of baby-safe materials and breathable textiles, including bamboo and memory foam, adds an extra layer of comfort for the child. Travel-Friendly One notable advantage of the Doona Car Seat & Latch Base is its FAA Aircraft Approval for travel. This feature makes it convenient for parents who frequently travel by air. The ability to combine it with the Doona Travel Bag (sold separately) enhances the travel experience further. The compact design and easy maneuverability also make it suitable for various travel scenarios, including ferry rides and taxi or Uber trips. I have used it extensively during my travels, and it has consistently provided a hassle-free and comfortable experience. Versatility and Longevity The Doona Car Seat & Latch Base is suitable for infants from 4 lbs. to 35 lbs., with a maximum height of 32 inches. This rear-facing car seat can be used for an extended period, accommodating the growth and development of the baby. As a pediatrician, I appreciate products that offer longevity and adaptability, and the Doona Car Seat delivers on both fronts. Overall Impressions In conclusion, the Doona Infant Car Seat & Latch Base has been an invaluable asset for me as a mother and a pediatrician. Its convenience, compactness, safety features, and travel-friendliness make it a top choice for parents. I have personally used it in a variety of scenarios, from everyday errands to special occasions, and it has consistently exceeded my expectations. While the price may be on the higher side, the benefits it provides far outweigh the cost. I wholeheartedly recommend the Doona Car Seat & Latch Base to parents who prioritize convenience, safety, and quality in their infant car seat and stroller system. Frequently Asked Questions Doona Infant Car Seat & Latch Base Yes, the Doona Car Seat & Latch Base is FAA Aircraft Approved for travel. It can be taken on board and used during the flight. Yes, the Doona Car Seat can be used without the Latch Base. It is equipped with an integrated car seat base, allowing it to be installed and secured in a vehicle without the Latch Base. The Doona Car Seat uses the Latch installation system. It is not specifically designed for ISOFIX installations. Please consult the product manual or contact the manufacturer for further information on installation options. No, the Doona Car Seat is designed for rear-facing use only, as rear-facing is considered the safest position for infants. Our Top Recommendations for Travel-Friendly and Versatile Car Seats In the bustling world of parenthood, having a car seat that's easy to travel with and versatile can make all the difference. We have handpicked the top choices for you: - Top Convertible Car Seat for Air Travel: Traveling with kids is a challenge, and a convertible car seat designed for air travel can make the journey much smoother. Explore our top picks. - Best Graco Car Seats: Graco is a well-known brand trusted by parents. Check out our selection of the best Graco car seats. - Top Lightweight Car Seat for Travel: A lightweight car seat can make travel more comfortable and manageable. Discover our top recommendations. - Best 3-in-1 Car Seats: These car seats can adapt as your child grows, offering excellent value for money. Find out which 3-in-1 car seats we rate the highest. - Britax One4Life vs. Graco 4Ever: In the battle of all-in-one car seats, these two models are often compared. We delve into the specifics to help you decide which one is best for you. Navigate through our detailed reviews and find the perfect car seat that aligns with your family's needs and lifestyle. Read the full article

[cy222]

My most memorable time on a Mobile E-Bike Repair UK

About the bicycle

Bianchi Impulso E-Allroad is a back center drive e-bicycle with 3 degrees of help constrained by a solitary button. All the data you could need to see is on the 'Ebikemotion' application. I joined my out-front Quad-lock to the handlebar of the bicycle so I could have my iPhone open to see all the typical data you'd get on a bicycle PC: speed, normal speed, temperature, distance voyaged and e-bicycle explicit battery and assessed distance remaining. Assuming you need, you can likewise have maps appearing and utilize the route highlights - I didn't test this so can't say how well they work.

This audit was not paid for and it's anything but a promotion - the bicycle was credited to me by my working environment for survey. Mobile E-Bike Repair UK sevices from Cyclerepairs247

Initial feelings

I had proactively downloaded the 'Ebikemotion' application and associated the bicycle to it at the shop, so it was all set - Yes I work for the bicycle shop that sells these bicycles and had to find out about them, so what preferable way over to learn than ride it?

At the point when I moved on board the Impulso e-allroad I thought that it is truly agreeable. The Mobile E-Bike Repair UK I had acquired was a Huge and I ordinarily ride a medium (I'm 173cm tall). Notwithstanding, after I changed the seat level and position to intently match my street bicycle, the fit was great. The stem level was higher than I'd typically have on my street bicycle, however I figured I'd leave it as not every person prefers a pummeled stem. Presently I'm not a bicycle fit master, yet the main explanation I'd consider going to a little a tad more space with the stand over level - for those uncommon events where you end up riding the crossbar. I swelled the 700x35c tires to the center of the suggest pressure, 40psi (30-50psi is the producers suggested tension for these Kenda tires). I ordinarily run 85-90psi in my 700x25c tires on my street bicycle.

My most memorable excursion was, as I told my significant other similarly as I left, a speedy ride up the street to perceive how the bicycle feels. Almost 4km later I maneuver into the carport, not exactly needing to get off the bicycle. The straightforwardness wherein I could ride up the slopes around my home (read little ascents to cyclists and slope to non-cyclists) was astonishing. The 3 degrees of help were actually very unique - when I worked out how to switch between them. I saw what I'd call 'drag' or a sensation of additional weight, from the heaviness of the engine, when contrasted with my light weight 7kg carbon Street bicycle. Indeed, even still, I was unable to sit tight for a more extended ride I had made arrangements for later in the day.

#Mobile E-Bike Repair UK

[travelingwithtots]

Cybex Gazelle Double Stroller Fan Club

So grateful that I met Krishna when we were both expecting our baby #2s and knee deep in double stroller research. I described to her my key criteria, and she told me it matched up with hers. She told me about her decision to select the Cybex Gazelle S Stroller.

I have now used this stroller for the past 14 months, for daily use around our residence in London, as well as several trips via train. Here are my thoughts!

Pros:

The seats are front and back (Rather than side by side), which works better for the narrow sidewalks and entry ways in London.

There are approximately 20 configurations of the double stroller (i.e., car seat, bassinet, 2 infant/toddler seats) so you can experiment to see what works best for your Family Travel.

The ergonomic near-flat position is ideal for naps for the kids; and when the seats are faced opposite direction, both kids can nap simultaneously.

There is great storage space underneath stroller. The stroller also comes with a basket which fits well underneath, and can in total hold up to 50 lbs of gear.

The drive of the stroller is very smooth! I have gone for many, many long walks — and I always appreciate how easy it is to manuever.

If we want another child, this stroller also can attach to a buggy board for the oldest child to stand upon.

The bassinet was multi-purposeful for when we would go out, as well as a great soft for our baby to take naps on (under safe supervision).

The footmuff that matches the stroller made going out during the cold more manageable.

Cons:

This is a heavy stroller! Between the weight of the stroller, all the gear I have under the stroller, and my two 25 pound toddlers (yes, they both weigh about the same) — it can be a lot to push around. Because of our London life, I generally have a few stairs to overcome, and it requires some strategizing to make it over.

My toddler is starting to get too tall for the cover on the seat. He looks slightly uncomfortable with his legs and head, and he is just turning 3!

Because both of my kids like to nap in the afternoons, I need the the seats to face opposite directions so that they can fully recline.

When both seats are facing the front, the top child’s legs might hit the bottom child’s one. I have not figured out the solution to this.

In a separate category, I have folding. Because my friend has mastered quickly folding the stroller down; whereas I still struggle with it. I think my specific one might have a a glitch in the handlebar. The moves are simple, and my husband can usually get it done quickly, it just glitches up a bit (my action item for myself is to follow up on our warranty). When it folds, make sure to have a travel stroller bag for all the parts so that they stay together!

All in all, I feel like the cons of this stroller would pertain to most other quality sturdy double strollers. I love this Gazelle Double Stroller, and definitely would buy again.

#GazelleDoubleStroller

[fivelakesinwriting]

Night Driving (Drew Starkey)

Author's Notes: This is a continuance of the request Night Swimming - I had so much fun writing that request that I wanted to make a second part, and you all said "heck yes". Here we go. Let me know what you think if you have a moment, please! It's admittedly shorter that Night Swimming, but I don't think it's any less fun and I hope you love it all just the same! xoxo

Warnings: Swearing, sexual references - sexual innuendos, Smutty(ish) - some clothes are removed. Lots of touching, and kissing.

Requested? Yes! You all wanted a sequel, and I couldn't help myself to write one either. Requests for OBX are also very much open.

*My work is not to be transferred, copied, translated or reposted to any other sites without my permission. Please see my masterlist for all other works and warnings. Thank you! xoxo

Drew picked her up for dinner on a mild evening for dinner. He was on time like he always was, pulling up into the driveway with a flash of his high beams at her just to make her smile as she stood on the front porch while she waited for him.

"Hey, good looking." Drew grinned as he hopped out of his truck and took the few shorts steps to stand in front of his girl.

"Hey, handsome." She smiled as she placed her hands on his sides, pressing up on her toes to be closer to his height.

"Ready to go?" Drew asked while he wrapped one arm around her waist, then dropped his head down to press his lips to hers quickly. He smiled softly at her little pout, then led her towards the passenger side of his truck.

Drew opened the door for her, his hand gripped to hers as he helped her into the truck. He raised his eyebrows and felt his conviction to be on time for dinner begin to fade as he saw a flash of her backside under her little skirt. Drew pursed his lips as he shut the door once she was settled safely in the front seat then made his way around to the driver's side, his fingertips brushing over the scruff of his chin as his mind began to race.

"Let's go! I'm so hungry!" She groaned out as she pressed her hands to the roof of his truck, her head against the headrest.

Drew smiled softly as he started the ignition of the truck and made his way back out of the drive, and towards their destination. The drive to the restaurant where everyone else was meeting them felt long. It was a place they all frequented, and Drew knew the route well. But for some reason the drive today felt excruciatingly long.

Drew reached the turn off for the restaurant, but kept driving. His eyes focused on the road as one hand clutched the steering wheel as the other ran his thumb over his bottom lip.

"Wasn't that our turn?" She questioned as she turned her body to look out her window at the passing street sign.

"Gonna take the back roads. Nicer drive. Less traffic." Drew mumbled as he took a quick left turn onto a bumpy, dirt path that had her squealing and reaching for the handle above her window.

"Drew! There's nothing out here! Where are we going?" She replied, her knees pressed together. She reached for the dashboard with one hand as the other kept her white knuckle grip on the handlebar over her window.

Drew didn't say anything in response. He simply kept driving, his eyes fixed on the road ahead of them. A small smile on his face as he heard her squeal again as they hit the larger bumps in the dirt path. He found a spot on the side of the road that was covered by some trees, his truck still somewhat visible in the light of dusk. He pulled over, put the car in park and pulled up the emergency brake just to be sure.

"That is just cruel." Drew stated firmly with a jab of his index finger towards the short, pleated black skirt she wore.

He pulled his keys out of the ignition and dropped them in the cup holder in the centre console. He ran a hand over his chin, his fingertips catching on the scruff of his chin.

"You don't like my skirt?" She asked as her fingertips tugged at the hem of her skirt, the fabric pulling up her thighs a little more.

Drew breathed out a laugh before he reached over to the passenger side, unbuckled her seat belt and grabbed her hips. He pulled her over the console and placed his girlfriend on his lap to make her straddle his thighs.

"I like it a lot, and I think you knew that when you put it on." Drew muttered as he placed his hands beneath the short hem of her skirt on the backs of her thighs.

"This road doesn't go anywhere. Does it, Starkey?" She questioned softly as she combed her fingers through his hair.

"This road? No. Just leads to some guy's fields. It's a dead end." Drew whispered as he turned his face to kiss her wrist, his fingertips creeping up the back of her skirt to feel for her panties.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd think you just kidnapped me so you could fuck me in your truck." She shivered as she felt his fingertips hook into the strap of her thong.

"It sounds bad when you say it like that." Drew teased as he hooked his fingers in the back of her thong, kept them there, and did nothing.

"So, what's it like?" She asked as she wiggled in his lap for more attention. His touch was too light on her backside under her skirt. He was gentle with her, but never feather-light. His touch always had some sense of urgency.

"More like, I took you somewhere pretty to get under your skirt before dinner." Drew grinned as his right hand moved from the strap of her thong and into her hair to pull her close.

"Make your move, Starkey." She challenged as she pulled her short nails down the front of his shirt, her thighs squeezing against his as she held her breath waiting for his kiss.

Drew leaned forward to close the small space between them, his lips pressed to hers. He released a sigh of relief through his nostrils at the feeling of finally kissing her that day. He wrapped his fingers around the long tresses of her hair and gave a small pull, his tongue slipping in her mouth when she whined.

Drew's girlfriend pushed the bottom of his shirt up over his abs, her fingertips pressed into the deep plains of his muscles. He smiled against her mouth as he felt her fingertip move down his abdomen towards the buckle of his belt.

"Let me help." Drew smiled through a heavy breath as he removed his hands from his girlfriend's body and reached between them to pull the prongs of his belt for her. The anticipation and sexual tension in the cab of the truck was almost tangible at that point. Drew wasn't sure who wanted it more.

"Thank you." She sighed with relief as she reached for the button of his jeans only to have her hands swatted away, her body being thrust backwards against the steering wheel which caused her backside to give a prolonged honk on contact.

"Goddamnit, Drew!" She gasped as she jumped forwards, her arms wrapped around his neck and her body flush against his once more.

"Well, sit your ass in my hands and that won't happen again." Drew growled as he reached beneath her skirt to grab hold of her backside in both his palms firmly. He gripped at the flesh of her ass and squeezed, smiling as she dropped her forehead down to his with a pout.

"Kiss me, Starkey." She begged as she adjusted her arms around his neck, her hands combing through his hair again.

"You kiss me first. Everyone knows when I start with you, then I get razzed all night long. You kiss me first, pretty girl." Drew demanded as his hands pulled at the flimsy strap of her thong and he realized with the right twist, he could snap it.

She released a whine from the back of her throat that made Drew feel primal, every carnal instinct in his body being lit like a match. He bared his teeth to her before he grabbed at the back of her neck and pulled her down for a kiss that would no doubt leave both of their mouths hot and swollen.

Drew's free hand pulled at the strap of her thong, doing his absolute best not to tear it into pieces. He tugged it down over the swell over her backside and to her knees, reluctantly removing his lips from hers to look between them to see what he was doing.

Drew adjusted himself in his seat and with an easy lift of the woman in his lap, he tugged her underwear the rest of the way down her legs. He reached up and hung the lace material over his rear view mirror for safe keeping.

A loud honk erupted from around them. Drew pulled his hands from under his girlfriend's skirt and glared at her.

"That wasn't me! I can barely move you're holding me so tight, Drew." She panted as she pulled her hands from his hair to move her own hair from her face.

Drew quickly averted his eyes from her lips, swollen from his kiss and looked into the rear view mirror. Behind his truck was a sedan that he knew all too well.

"There's someone behind us." Drew growled through gritted teeth.

"We were followed? Do you think it's the guy who owns those fields? Drew, farmer's have guns. Big guns." She rambled as she reached for his belt and quickly redid the buckle for him as she tried to look through the tint of his back window.

"It's no one with a gun, Sweetie." Drew soothed, his body relaxing when he realized his reaction to the vehicle behind him had frightened her.

He lifted her up and gently placed her back into the passenger seat of the truck, his fingers reaching up to pull her underwear off of his rear view mirror - which he handed to her with a soft smile.

"Be right back. Put these back on, hon." Drew smiled as he leaned over the console and pressed a quick kiss to her lips before he practically kicked open his door and hopped out of the truck.

Drew stepped on to the dirt road and closed the door harshly behind him, refusing himself a look back at his girlfriend as he pulled her underwear back on. He stood quick, purposeful strides over to the sedan that idled behind his truck and knocked on the window with a closed fist.

"Dude, I swear to god. We followed you because we thought something happened. We saw you take that super hard turn passed the restaurant and come this way." Rudy giggled as he rolled down the window, his lips sucked between his teeth as he stared up at his friend who was less than impressed.

"You can't text?" Drew asked while he shoved his hands in his pockets, his eyes narrowed at the blonde man who still giggled in the front seat.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Next time I'm certain your truck has been stolen, and you and your girlfriend are being held hostage - I won't come save you. Can we go for dinner now? I'm pretty sure the guy that owns those fields has a gun." Rudy replied as he caught his breath.

"You're a fuck." Drew muttered as he held back a smile. He turned on his heel and made his way back to the truck.

"The scenic route. Huh, Starkey?" Rudy yelled out the window of his car before he backed up and drove away, back towards the main road.

Drew shook his head as he opened up the driver's side of his truck and climbed in once more. He gave his girlfriend an apologetic look as he sat back down, fastening his seat belt once more.

"I'm sorry about that." Drew stated softly as he grabbed his keys from the cup holder and stuck them in the ignition again.

"That's okay, Starkey. You can take for a drive after dinner, if you like." She smiled as she sat up on her knees, leaned over the console and pressed a kiss to his cheek.

"Alright. Promise I won't take you near a farmer's field, or where Rudy can find us." Drew smiled as he placed a hand on her thigh once she settled back in her seat, and pulled the truck around and drove back towards the main road.

Please let me know what you think if you have a moment! xoxo

Thank you for your support. Requests for OBX are open!!

@littlementalpolaroids I'm sorry I didn't tag you sooner - if you haven't already seen this!!

#drew starkey #obx fic #outer banks #drew starkey fic #drew starkey imagine #drew starkey fluff #drew starkey smut #outer banks imagine #outer banks fluff #outer banks smut #obx requests #obx imagine #obx fluff #obx smut

[blueberry-sunshines]

Late Night Rendezvous - Keith x Reader One Shot

Summary:

You are a fellow pilot at the Garrison and Keith's only friend, he sneaks you out to show you something during the night...

Word Count: 3.2K

Slight Angst | Sweet, Vulnerable Keith

{This can also be found on my wattpad: @/blueberry_sunshines}

{POV: Yours}

You were sitting criss-cross on top of your small bed in your dorm at the Garrison. The dim yellow glow of the school commissioned lamp lightly lit up the pages of your biology textbook. You were staying up late trying to study. Your roommate offered to stay up with you to help but you told her just to go to sleep. You didn't want her to be all sleep deprived.

Keith Kogane wasn't in all of your classes, but he was in a few. You were both fighter class pilots so your curriculum was quite similar. Everyone always says they're so surprised he's nice to you, and your roommate loves to tease you about it. She says that Keith has a 'soft spot' for you, but Keith just says that you're the only person he can stand.

Besides, you've known each other since you were kids. You both transferred to the Garrison at the same time and were partnered together. At first Keith was really cold towards you, but you always just thought he was shy and it didn't bother you that much. He seemed bored with the simulator and you always found his showing off to be rather funny. After what happened with James, Keith finally opened up to you and after that, you two were rather close. By the end of the year you two definitely started to become real friends...

You guys are 16 years old now and Keith is probably your best friend. There's always been a thin barrier between you two, but you've been ignoring it because you don't want him to push himself further away. You kind of always wished he would open up more. You thought about asking him to help you study tonight, but boys and girls aren't allowed in each other's dorms and you've been trying to make sure he stays out of trouble because you've been worried about him recently. He's been kind of distant lately and much more aggravated. A lot of people had been antsy lately because the Kerberos mission was a few months away. You knew that Keith sees the pilot, Shiro, as an older brother figure. He took Keith under his wing, so maybe that's what he was thinking about all the time when he was out of it. You had talked Shiro many times about Kerberos and he seemed very confident about it, so you never thought to worry about it. You shook your head, trying to refocus on your biology book. You turned around to look at your alarm clock and saw it flash "1:13 AM" in its big, red numbers. Damn, you really needed to wrap this up and get to bed soon...

-Knock Knock-

You had just about jumped from the surprise of someone knocking on your door. You looked over to your roommate's bed to see her definitely asleep. You sprung off your bed knowing exactly who it would be. Shaking your head in half disappointment, you put your hand on the button on the wall and let your door slide open to see none other than Keith Kogane. You felt the accidental smile form on your face the moment your eyes met his. He looked uncharacteristically nervous as he stood there in the hallway all dressed up in his red jacket and boots. You loved seeing him in his outfit because the Garrison uniforms were rather bland. Although, you thought, Keith could probably pull of anything.

"Are you gonna let me in?" Keith whispered to you with a furrow on his face. Your face began to heat up in embarrassment from spacing out.

"Sorry, just tired..." you whispered back, peeking outside the door to see if there was anyone there before grabbing Keith's sleeve and pulling him into your dorm room.

"I didn't think you'd be awake..." he admitted quietly as he walked towards your bed.

     "What's up?" You asked curiously. Normally he tells you he's coming before he does, so you weren't sure what he was doing here.

"Get changed, we're going out." He was sitting on your bed now and had his arm crossed. You looked down at yourself and realized you were still in your old T-shirt, sleep shorts combo. Eh, well this isn't the first time Keith's seen me in my pajamas.

"Keith," you sat back down on your bed, pulling him down with you. "I don't know if we should." You cautioned, "You're always getting in trouble and you can't afford losing your scholarship. You are the best pilot here, you were born for this."

     He frowned at you before speaking, "(Y/N), we're not gonna get caught. Besides, if I get kicked out, they have you left." He bumped into you jokingly.  "Where are we going?" You asked quietly to make sure your roommate doesn't wake up. Keith started standing up then and shook his head, "You'll find out soon." He said shortly, not leaving any room for you to guess what he's planning.

     "Come on," he stood up quickly and held his gloved hands out to you. You placed your hands into his and felt the warmth of his palms. It made your heart jump for a second. He pulled you up off your bed and slightly spun you over towards your big, gray wardrobe.

    "Now get dressed and come with me~" he whispered into your ear and pulled back with a smirk. He let go of your hands then and slipped out towards the door, "And hurry before we get caught!" He whisper-yelled to you as the door slid shut.

     Your heart was beating so fast. Something about Keith always made your adrenaline start pumping. Maybe it's because we're always doing things that could get us in trouble. You thought to yourself.

     Okay maybe more like convinced yourself. You then started changing out of your pajamas and into your regular outside of school outfit to distract yourself from your thoughts. You didn't want to like Keith. You guys are best friends and there's no reason to ruin that just for a silly crush. Once you were changed you made a dash to the door and snuck out next to Keith as quietly as you could. You smiled up at him and he looked down at you kindly before heading down the corridor with you stealthy following after him. You were glad to see him like this, this is the first time he's really seemed happy in the past couple weeks.

     You slipped around past some adults and teachers before making it out of one of the dock's open doors. You and Keith had snuck out of the Garrison many times before but you normally don't go with him every time he goes out. He likes being alone and so do you, so you understand.

Keith was leading you around the side of the building to stay out of cameras' and lookouts' lines of vision you eventually managed to creep around to a corner and ran until you were in the spot where you are completely hidden, there you two found Keith's land speeder. Keith plunked a helmet onto your head and started to get on before you protested.

     "Hey I wanna drive!" You whisper shouted to him hoping he'd let you be in charge of the speeder. Shiro had taught Keith to ride them ever since you've known Keith, you tried to convince him to let you join them when you were younger but he always refused. It wasn't until you were older you realized your boundaries much better. Over the past year, though, you had asked Keith to teach you and he's been trying. You weren't the greatest yet but you were definitely learning.

Keith let out a soft chuckle, "No way, sweetheart." He snipped at you in a playful tone while using a sarcastic nickname that always caused your chest to ache. "Besides, you don't even know where we're going." He fully sat down on the seat now and patted the seat behind him, other hand on the handlebar. You reluctantly obliged and slid on behind him. He turned his head around to look at you and gave you a smirk, "Hold on tight, we're going fast."

     You grinned and nodded then wrapped your arms around his torso and hung on as he revved the speeder and you two went rushing across the desert. Your heart began to race as you pulled yourself closer to Keith, feeling the wind on you as you flew through the air. You began thinking to yourself where Keith may be taking you as you looked around at your surroundings blurring past you. You eventually leaned your cheek against his back as the ride wasn't super short.

"We're almost there!" He yelled back to you, not turning his head back this time. You could hear the smile on his face and it made you smile too. You picked your head back up to start looking around again to see if you knew where you were. As you slowed to a stop, you peeked your head around his shoulder to look in front of you.

"Hey!" You began laughing, "You liar! I so know my way here!" Keith had driven you guys to his old house he used to live in with his dad. You guys have come here many times in the past. Keith comes here all the time and even skips classes to be here. It's a cute little home but it's not very cleaned up inside. Perhaps Keith likes it the way it was left and you can see why. Keith joined in on your laughter.

      "This isn't the place, we're just stopping to pick something up." Your laughter subsided as Keith got off the speeder. "Stay here," he smiled down at you, "I'll be right back." He then pushed down the visor on your helmet just to tease you before he walked off towards the house. You flicked back up the visor and rested your hand on your palm tiredly. You were starting to feel tired again after that adrenaline rush. You yawned as you thought about what on earth Keith could be grabbing. By the time he came back you started to feel more awake when you began having conversation again. Keith had a long case in his arms and he strapped it safely to the back of the speeder. Keith got back on and began driving you two up a long hill a small while away from the old Kogane house.

Once you made it to the peak, you two both got off the speeder and you got to see the beautiful sky line over the dessert mountains. You let out an amazed sigh at the sight. You were pulled out of your awed state when you heard the sounds of Keith doing something behind you. Turning around, you saw Keith setting up a telescope. You looked at him in confusion because you didn't think Keith liked telescopes, especially not after that full semester on telescopes and astral charts two years ago. He looked up at you through his long hair that was sagging in this face from his bent over stance. He didn't really look so amused either which just pushed your confusion even further.

"Come here." He beckoned after he was done setting it up. "Come here and see what you can see, right in the middle of the scope."

You looked at him skeptically before getting down to look into it. In the middle of your view was a small faint blip in the sky. "Dude," you snorted, "what star is this?" You still had no idea what he was having you look at.

"It's a moon. Jupiter's Europa." He said shortly. You stood up from the telescope and saw Keith sitting nonchalantly on the ground now. You walked back and sat down next to him, letting your hands fall behind you to hold yourself up.

"Europa is about 365 million miles away. That's nothing compared to Kerberos." He said, his voice starting to sound a lot more unhappy. "It's over 3.2 billion miles from here. And Shiros actually going!" He shouted with a growl in his voice. There it is, you thought, this is about Kerberos.

You kept quiet. You knew during times like this, it was better to just let Keith talk and you were perfectly fine with that. Looking over at him, you could see him still looking up at the night sky. His eyes were sad, his gaze was lost, yet angry. "I heard him fighting with Adam when I was outside his door a couple hours ago. Adam told Shiro that if he goes to Kerberos, that he won't be here for him when he gets back." His eyes wavered down at the ground between you two now. "And it got me thinking, everyone's been saying this is just a routine mission but, why would Adam be so worried about it?" He looked over to you now, helplessly, you didn't have an answer, and he didn't expect you to have one.

       "I think you should confront Shiro tomorrow and ask him to tell you the truth about it." You offered finally after a small moment of silence. Keith nodded slowly, thinking about your response.

      "Thanks, Y/N." He gave you a small grateful smile before laying down on the ground now, face up to the sky. You followed suit and laid down, suddenly even closer to him than you were before.

      "Anytime, Mullet." You grinned turning your head to face him. You saw him looking at you with a disappointed scowl on his face, causing you to let out a small laugh. Keith let out a sigh as you stopped giggling. You never knew what he was thinking, and the look on his face, you could tell he was thinking deeply about something. "What are you thinking about?" You decided to ask him, thinking there'd be no better time to have real conversations with him than tonight.

Keith looked back at the sky now opening his mouth to speak and then closing it again. Most likely thinking over his words.

"I've been thinking about something else too. I don't know what I would do in Shiro's shoes. I'm impulsive and stupid as hell, and when I want to do something I don't let anything stand in my way, but if someone I really loved tried to stop me from doing it, I don't know if I could, even with the thought of them leaving me for me. And it scares me, Y/N, so many people have left me and I don't know what I'd do if it were my fault you left."

You felt a lump form in your throat from hearing Keith talk about this. This is one of the times in a very long time he has let you in on how he feels about anything. Hearing him openly express your emotions was touching and you felt so honored to be the one he tells them to.

"Y/N?" Your name escaped his lips again, this time asking as if he was longing for you. You turned your head again to look at him. You held your breath when you noticed that your faces were close enough that your noses could be touching if either of you moved any further.

"Yeah?" You asked him suddenly much more quiet now, you cursed yourself for sounding so nervous but you couldn't control your pounding heart at the proximity. You were searching his eyes to see if you could guess what he was thinking, he's never been very touchy and you were oh so close to touching, you started to sit up a bit to give him space, but you were stopped in your tracks when you felt Keith's hand grip onto yours as he sat up too, pulling your hand towards him.

The warm touch so foreign and yet so familiar. An hour ago in your dorm, a month ago while guiding you in the simulator, a year ago when he tried to help you fix your bad hair day, all the way back to age 13 when he handed you back your glitter gel pen in class and you felt the flaming rush in your chest.

"I want you to know," he whispered, holding onto your hand a little tighter now, "no matter what happens, I will never do anything on purpose to make you leave me."

You didn't know what to say, so instead you flung your arms around him and pulled him into a loving hug. You let out a shaky sigh as you felt Keith's body relax into yours. "I know you wouldn't." You were in this weird state of shock having never seen Keith this vulnerable before.

"God I'm so fucking stupid..." you hear his muffled voice growl from your shoulder. He pulled away from the hug then, angry at himself for just simply showing you his emotions. You shook your head quickly and put his hand back into your own.

"No you're not, Keith." You reassured him, "Thank you for telling me this." You said then, hoping to make him feel more secure again.

"Yeah..." he sighed then, "Let's get you back in your dorm, they should be switching look outs soon." He quickly changed the subject. You frowned at him, both for putting back up his wall and for making this night coming to an end. You agreed nonetheless, you were glad Keith was beginning to let you in and you were willing to accept that the boundary was back up. Keith means the world to you, and you'd never let that go.

Keith drove you guys back to his speeders hiding place before helping you sneak back in and back through the halls to your dorm. There wasn't any talking on the way back but it was a comfortable silence. Once you were back at your door, you thanked Keith for the wonderful night and told him to get some sleep before the sun starts to come up. You turned them to your door and were about to open it when,

"Hey, uh, (Y/N)?" He whispered for your attention once again. "You're really important to me." He said shortly but still full of so much love. You pulled him into another hug. "You too, Mullet." You whispered into his ear, "Never forget it... please?"

You felt Keith nod and he gave you a quick squeeze before letting go of the embrace, slowly, his hand sliding down your arm as he began to walk away, once it reached your hand and gave it another quick squeeze before he finally let go and slipped around the corner into the darkness. You let out a large breath you didn't know you were holding once you saw him disappear. God were you in love with him. Even if he's never usually like that during the day, you love every Keith and maybe one day you'll tell him....

__________

Hey!!! Let me know what you thought of this one shot :))) I know Keith was pretty ooc, but I like thinking of him being very sensitive around the ones he loves!

Also this didn't proof read yet because I rlly wanted to get this chapter out to you guys !!!!!

This is my first like official Voltron work so bare with me!

PLEASE PLEASE REQUEST SOMETHING LOL

#keith kogane #keith #voltron keith #keith kogane x reader #vld keith #voltron #voltron x reader #Voltron one shot #keith Kogane one shot #keith x reader #vld Keith x reader #klance #shiro vld #keith vld #takashi shirogane #vld shiro #keith x lance #lance x reader #lance mcclain #vld lance #vld lotor #vld fanfic #vld allura #vld romelle #vld coran #vld pidge #vld paladins #keith kogane fanfic #keith kogane fanart

[house-of-no-regrets]

No Regrets [in the wee hours]

Took a bit longer than expected, but I’ve finished the next little story! Hopefully I’ll be able to keep a decent pace on these. No overarching plot, just little stories in the same universe with the same characters. Warning for ~*murder*~ in this one!

-------------

I've been all-too-easy to wake up since I was a child; I'd often needed to go from dead asleep to functional, if groggy, as soon as I heard my father demanding action or attention. While I no longer need that reaction time, the old man long since locked up to rot, my brain is set in its ways and very convinced that I need to be able to bolt out of bed and fight God if a dust bunny moves too quickly in my vicinity.

Which is how I found myself waking up in the middle of the night, the sudden shift in the atmosphere bringing on consciousness with all the subtlety of a foghorn.

My room was silent, still, but I knew without opening my eyes that there was a spirit somewhere, and I didn't even give them a chance to speak before I pointed at the sign posted on my wall, barely shifting from my comfortable snuggle in my blanket and not even opening my eyes. Yes, this happens more often than I care to admit. No, I do not enjoy it. At all.

"Resurrection hours are noon to eight. I'm still alive and still need sleep to function."

There was silence, but the presence didn't leave, so I groaned and raised my head, finally opening my eyes to see the translucent, vaguely glowing, and unfortunately blurry spirit at the foot of my bed.

It did finally speak in a bewildered voice.

"Um, I'm being murdered."

Ah, fuck.

I grabbed my glasses from the bedside table and put them on. The spirit at the foot of my bed was tallish -- I've always been bad at estimating height, maybe half a foot shorter than Yvette? Five-nine... ish? -- and seemed to be in his twenties. There was a considerable dark stain on his chest and belly; likely blood, and the cause of his death. The newly-dead tend to show things like that, as they haven't had the time to get used to modifying their form.

I really hate it when brand new ones find me. I'm not sure how it started, but it seems like more and more often, now, the dead are drawn to No Regrets before they even realize they're dead, at least if they're the type to need my help. Wish I wasn't the one who had to break it to him. I'm not great with people.

"Sorry, bro, but I'm afraid they succeeded. Where was it? I'll get the police over there."

"Uhh... my house. I think. It's a little..."

I sighed. Right.

"You're probably a little out of it still... fresh dead usually are. C'mon, I'll take you around until things look familiar."

Climbing out of bed, I headed over to grab my hoodie from the back of the chair. I learned the hard way that sleeping is not a tits out sort of occasion when you're liable to get the dead dropping in at all hours of the night, so I sleep in pajama pants and a tank top. Little too chilly for tank tops outside, though. I shoved my phone in my hoodie and my feet into loafers, then started heading out of my room and down the hall.

"You remember your name?" I asked, trying to make conversation and learn what I could.

"Uh, Davis. Craig? Craig Davis."

"Well, Craig Davis, I'm sorry to hear about your passing. You're gonna need to possess me for this little adventure, by the way, but I'll walk you through it once we're outside."

"I- what?"

Considering how often I find myself lost in normal conversations, dealing with confused new spirits is especially difficult. Still shaking off my body's angry demands for More Sleep was not helping matters in the slightest, either.

"Possession. I'll explain it in just a minute." I rubbed an eye and yawned as I stopped in the foyer to pull a set of keys off one of the hooks on the wall.

Usually, I've got a driver. Not for vanity reasons, but after three or four near-misses caused by Sudden Spirits appearing in the car with me, I elected to hire someone to drive me into and around town as needed. But it was Fuck-This-Shit O'Clock in the morning, and Graves deserved their rest. The dead don't need to sleep, but they can if they so choose -- and it does, after all, conserve energy. The same goes for Yvette and Ashby; it was too early in the morning for most people to be out and searching for a necromancer to kill, so I wasn't gonna disturb them. I could handle a simple spirit chauffeur and 911 call on my own.

The keys were to the motor scooter; it was the better choice in this situation, allowing for more mobility and no passenger seat for any extra ghosts to drop into. That did, though, mean that Craig would need to ride shotgun in my body.

When I got out to the green scooter in the driveway, I paused and looked over at Craig.

"Hey, I know you're probably still a little out of it, so Possession 101." Script time. At least having this stuff memorized made it easier to do while dozy. "Our bodies need to take up the same space, so c'mere." I beckoned Craig over.

"So like… step into you?" He asked. Good, seemed like his head was clearing up some.

"Yeah, that's part 1."

He nodded and complied, crossing the space between us and settling in the same location, the two of us clipped into each other like bugged NPCs. It always felt so weird, those moments before a spirit actually possesses you. A sort of wobbly, in-and-out feeling like physics is trying to crush you and the spirit together, or, failing that, just kick your ass to the ground so you're not both in the same place at the same time.

"A'ight, now turn around and face the direction I’m facing, and overlay your hands onto mine as best you can." It was just a moment for him to obey, and I continued. "I'm not resisting, so you're gonna start feeling like you're being pulled in and pushed out at the same time. Space is trying to equalize. Let yourself be pulled in. It's gonna feel a bit like-"

The whirlpool effect kicked in before I could finish, the sudden snap and release of tension as Craig's spirit sank into my body. I wobbled a bit and grabbed the handlebar in front of me, then shivered at the sudden chill and dizziness. I'm pretty good at taking on passengers like this, but that didn't make it any more pleasant.

"You in there, buddy?" I asked out loud. Especially with new spirits, trying to think at each other was more trouble than it was worth. My lips moved to answer, though it wasn't my voice coming out.

"Uh- yeah. Yeah I'm here."

I grabbed the helmet hanging on the other handlebar and snapped it on, kicking the stand up and plopping heavily onto the seat.

"Great. Let's go."

"Wait, why am I not in control?" came Craig's confused voice. He felt almost frustrated, an undercurrent of emotion that wasn't mine despite being in my mind and body.

"Because this is my body, and I let you in willingly. Easier to keep control when you're letting someone in. Plus," I gave a little snort. "You just died, dude. I've been letting spirits possess me since middle school."

I felt his frustration turn to grumpiness, and then the pressure in my head, like a storm rolling in, that I knew from experience was him trying to take control. I froze and let out an irritated huff.

"You stop that. I'm not dealing with you doing some dumb shit with my body. Either chill out or get out."

"Oh- uh. Just wanted to see if I could…"

"Uh-huh. Anyhow, now that you're together enough to try joyriding, do you remember much about where you were before you were killed?"

I started up the scooter as emotions rolled through my mind, detached and distant, almost like the muffled dissociation I was used to mid-shutdown. Possessing spirits' emotions always felt weird like that, both mine and not mine, held at arm's length. Craig's was especially turbulent for a new death, but given that he had been murdered… I didn't fault him for being a little confused and angry. Even if it did put me a little on edge. 

"Uh- South Pine Street, Dogwood Acres housing development."

"Baller. That's not far from here. Once we get close to your body, you should be able to feel where it is, so I'll have a house number for the police. Don't want to have them scream in all blue lights and loud sirens and have your killer go to ground before they know which house, y'know?"

The muffled flare of anger that I felt was definitely not my own. I took a deep breath, hoped that the killer had panicked and tried to clean up instead of get rid of the body first, and puttered off towards Dogwood.

The housing development was quiet, lines upon lines of identical suburban boxes lit by flickering street lights that cast the sidewalks and yards in harsh white light. The occasional house had the glow of yellow within, but most of them were dormant. Weaving my way through the maze of streets, each one absolutely indistinguishable from the one before and the one to come, I felt terribly exposed -- and alone despite the spirit currently hitching along in my body.

I turned onto South Pine and brought my scooter to a puttering stop, stabilizing it with both feet on the ground. I couldn't help but bounce my legs to replace the vibration of driving; the sudden lack of sensation would ratchet my anxiety up even if I wasn't currently letting a frustrated dead man hang out in my head to catch his murderer.

...I should be more than a little anxious, really, but half-asleep Tabby once again wrote a check that more-awake Tabby is having to cash, and more-awake Tabby is very used to having to deal with the consequences of her idiot decisions. It occurred to me that normal peoples' consequences didn't usually involve murder, but when you live with the dead, you're bound to meet a few killers.

Two houses down, I could feel- not a tug so much as a presence, an echo of Craig's spirit reacting to his body. It was the only one on the street with its lights on and its garage, while not lit, was open. There was a car in the garage, another in the driveway, and a pickup at the curb in front.

"258?" I asked Craig, though I knew the answer already. His anger flared and I felt the oncoming storm again. I snapped at him. "That's two strikes, Craig. I'm sorry for your death, but if you end up driving my body into a crime scene or, god forbid, getting me killed next, I will kick your ass to whatever afterlife you're headed for and stay there to keep kicking it for eternity."

Big words for a short fat lady, but this is, in fact, my body on the line right now. I probably wouldn't be able to follow through on any ass-kicking, but dammit, I would try.

Craig was silent, and I could feel him steaming, petulant like a child denied a toy but with the power of a grown man behind it. With my stomach tying itself in knots and my hands starting to tremble, I dialed 911, hoping it would help quell the rising panic.

"258 South Pine Street. I think there's been a murder. I don't know the state of the crime scene or if the perp is still there, but you might be able to catch them if you hurry. The victim is Craig Davis, white adult male, either shot or stabbed in the chest, likely multiple times-"

"Wait, is this Tabby? The necro girl?"

Oh god I hope that isn't what the operators call me regularly-- I know I'm a bit of a 911 cryptid, since the usual intruder calls are to the non-emergency line, but if I get known as the necro girl I might have to move to a different state.

"Yeah, uh, necromancer, yeah-" I couldn't help but stumble over my words, now, with my train of thought derailed by the interruption. "-uh, murder?"

"Right! I'll send someone."

I murmured a thanks and hung up before she could ask me to stay on the line. I already had to stay around for the cops so Craig could give a statement, and making small talk with the 911 operator was not in the spoons tonight.

I don't like cops much, but in my line of work, they're kind of a necessity. I need to stay on the police force's good side because I need them to remove attempted murderers from my property on the regular. ...and also because graverobbing is still technically illegal, even if I do have the body owner's permission to dig them up.

At least most of the locals who know of me and my employees are chill about it. It took a bit of effort to get to that point, but now at least people don't run screaming from the less-presentable of my employees…

The blue lights of the police showed up fairly quickly, followed almost immediately by the red flashing of EMS. I puttered up slowly and parked my scooter just out of range as the officers set to work surrounding the house, then hung my helmet on a handlebar and walked up the rest of the way to watch the impending train wreck. I could feel Craig's anger boiling higher and tried my best to ignore it; Craig himself seemed to have fallen silent and sullen after I called him out.

"Tabby!"

I was standing just off to the side of the ambulance when someone stepped up behind me and called my name, making me jump and cringe.

"Oh- oh dear, I'm sorry, Tabs. I thought I heard you were the one who called this in!"

I straightened up immediately, face burning. I recognized that voice, bright and smooth and kind and--

"J-Jenna!" My voice was barely a squeak as I turned to face her, looking up at the round, dark face of one of the EMTs. She was a good six feet tall, maybe more, towering above me even in her uniform flats, with a brilliant smile and full lips and gorgeous natural hair pulled through the back of her uniform cap, the streetlight illuminating her from behind like a halogen angel.

Jenna had shown up to one of my early calls for assistance at No Regrets, and then she kept turning up, not every time I was in a situation where I'd be around EMTs, but often.

Concern showed on her face as she leaned to look me over.

"Are you okay? Did you see it happen, or-"

I shook my head, buying time to sort out words by tapping my temple with a finger.

"N-no, I uh- the victim woke me up, he's in here, uh, in case the cops need somethin' from him."

"Oh… are you getting enough sleep, dear? You sound exhausted. Do you want to sit in the back of the truck?"

It took me a second or two to recover from the way she called me dear, my face burning bright red. I couldn't make eye contact even for the second or two I can usually manage so that people don't immediately think I'm being dishonest.

"I- uh- um- w-well, it's, uh, it is like 4am--" I stammered, trying desperately to find words. "I-I guess 'm sleepin' okay, uh, how're… you doing??"

I have never been a great orator and the list of why that is gets a bit longer with every um and stutter.

Jenna's face bloomed into a gorgeous, open grin.

"I'm on 12-hour overnights right now, so I'm basically at least 60 percent Red Bull at any given time. Everyone okay up there at the House? Last I heard y'all were digging up half the lawn.”

I nodded, unable to keep from grinning. At least this was a subject I could talk to her about without making an absolute ass of myself--

"Yeah! The new girl, Chris, she's gotten Daryl and Roy to help her get the vegetable garden going! It's plenty big enough to take care of all of us, and I worked out a deal with the soup kitchen so that they get any of our excess, once things are running smoothly, and I can use their account to buy from that bulk food program that's usually only open to chari- oop-!" I bit my tongue and cringed. Right. I'm pretty sure that's technically fraud and I just admitted to it in front of-

There was a commotion from the house that snapped me back to attention, and the cops were leading a man out in handcuffs. He looked pale and shaken, spattered in blood, and not quite… present, like he had just checked out of reality for his own good. That… was a familiar look. I furrowed my brow. He certainly didn't look like a maniacal killer-

"He caught me with his wife," I said. Well. Craig said. I jumped. Jenna jumped. I flushed and covered my mouth reflexively.

"N-no that was him! The victim!" I squeaked. Jenna laughed, a hearty belly laugh, and covered her own mouth, though she was doing a terrible job of hiding her grin.

"I figured! If he caught you with his wife, it would be an upgrade!"

At this point, you could probably fry an egg on my face. Hell, my glasses were starting to fog up-- I stammered for a few moments, trying desperately to find something to say, and it was Craig who saved me, if you could call it that. I was too caught up in my embarrassment and awkwardness to realize how much anger and frustration he was radiating.

"Motherfucker told me he'd have my job! Son of a bitch thinks he can get away with doing this to me, he's gonna fucking pay--"

The oncoming storm crashed over me before I could get a grip on it, and all of a sudden I was lumbering forward, snarling words that weren't my own, and dragging a gardening pickaxe out of my truck -- Craig's truck -- on my way to the man and the cops--

I let out a shriek, in my own voice, feeling the sound cutting my throat raw. I wrested control of my body back with a lurch, falling on my ass in the yard with the force of it while the silvery-blue form of Craig was ejected from my body, screaming obscenities.

I threw my hand forward, fighting for whatever thoughts and words I could find to fix this. I saw Craig right himself and move back towards me, and the first incantation -- if you could call it that -- that my brain grasped left my lips in a single desperate breath, with a dizzying rush of power--

"INTHENAMEOFTHEMOONIBANISHYOU--!!"

The force of the hurried exorcism rushed outward like a sonic boom, strong enough for even the mundanes around me to feel, and Craig's spirit let out a yowl of rage for a brief second before twisting around itself and collapsing in with a sickening crunch, crushing smaller and smaller until it was gone.

I winced -- not my best exorcism. At all.

As the flare of adrenaline dropped almost immediately and I came back to myself properly, I realized -- blurrily, as my glasses had gotten thrown off somewhere -- at least two officers had their weapons half-drawn at me, though they were looking over at where Craig's spirit had disappeared.

I collapsed the rest of the way onto the grass, shaking, and covered my face with my hands, trying with everything within me not to start crying. I should have realized he'd try something like that, why hadn't I been paying attention- I could have been attacked, I could have been arrested, I could have had to watch myself beat a man to death and I- fuck--

The sob that came out was squeaky and pained, and I pressed my hands harder against my face, like that would stop anything else from going wrong. I should have brought someone-- I shouldn't have let him possess me-- I should have been paying more attention--

Warm tears ran from the corners of my eyes, down my cheeks, to pool in my ears, making my already-trembling body shiver harder with the unpleasant sensation. I'd let myself get complacent, hadn't lost control of a possession like that in years, and- I'd almost- fuck--

"Honey, honey, sit up for me. Tabby? C'mon, let's get you up--"

Numbly, I let Jenna help me into a sitting position, where she wrapped a blanket around me and pressed an open bottle of water into my hands.

"Take slow sips. Are you okay? Just shaken?"

I nodded, some part of me grateful that I couldn't quite see her face properly without my glasses, because I didn't want to see what she thought about me after that. She sighed, though, and sounded relieved when she murmured "Good."

My whole body felt like jelly, trembling so hard I could feel the water in the bottle sloshing around, and I kept flashing from too hot to too cold to too hot again, and I couldn't even sort out my thoughts--

Jenna sat down beside me and rubbed my back. If I wasn't having a complete breakdown, I might have enjoyed it.

I don't know how long it took for me to calm down and clear my head, but the car with the other man had left, and the other EMTs had loaded Craig's body into the ambulance while Jenna sat next to me and made sure I was doing okay.

After a while, though, I blinked and shifted my torso, then opened the blanket more and cursed at the bloom of red on my hoodie.

I heard Jenna curse as well as she stood up, but I grabbed her pants leg.

"N-no, 'm okay," I mumbled, and instead of trying to speak more, I reached to pull my hoodie and tank up my stomach to show bruised, but completely unbroken skin, covered in blood, rivulets following my stretch marks and making it look even worse despite my being otherwise completely uninjured. "See, 'm okay." This was not the first time I've had a possession lead to the dead's cause of death showing on my own body. It wasn't even the bloodiest.

Jenna sat back down, and I could see her leaning in a bit.

"Well damn. Magic ghost stuff, huh?"

I nodded.

"Magic ghost stuff."

I could see the flash of white against dark skin as she grinned.

"So that exorcism… Artemis or Usagi?"

It took me a moment to parse her.question, but all of a sudden I was completely back to myself, just in time to absolutely die of embarrassment.

"L-listen, I- y-you can exorcise i-in anyone's name, i-it's the power and conviction that counts--!!"

"Usagi, then." I could hear the laughter in her voice, laughter that bubbled out moments later. I wanted to crawl in a hole in embarrassment, but- it didn't feel like condescending laughter. I knew what that felt like. She seemed just genuinely amused. "I grew up with Sailor Moon, too."

I couldn't stop the squeak that eaked out, and I covered my face again.

"G-god I hope word about this doesn't get out, people already think I-I'm weird enough, and to- to fall back on anime for magic i-in a pinch is just--"

"Cute," Jenna finished.

I squeaked.

Jenna moved away for a moment, and then she settled my glasses on my nose. I couldn't make eye contact, but I did glance over at her and sheepishly murmur my thanks.

"The officers still want a statement from you, since you made the call and tried to go after the perp, but I don't think they're looking at any charges, given…" Jenna trailed off and looked over at where Craig had disappeared. "...yeah."

I nodded, slowly, and then found myself yawning, the adrenaline drop setting in especially hard.

"...d'you think it can wait 'til tomorrow… 've kinda had a rough night."

"I think they'll be okay with that."

#house of no regrets #no regrets #tabby #jenna #writing #ethical necromancy #necromancer #paranormal #fantasy #magic #writeblr #story #useless lesbian tabby has A Night

[pennamesmith]

For Want of a Skeletor

Entrapta hosts a Princess Alliance meeting at the Crypto Castle and absolutely nothing goes wrong. More Skeletor stories!

*

The lights were on late in Dryl. 

Stars shone outside the windows. Entrapta sat hunched over her desk, studying datapads and readouts. A polite cough from the laboratory door caused her to look up from her work.

“Oh! I’m sorry Hordak, did I wake you?”

Her partner stepped softly into the room and shook his head. “Imp did. You know how he gets when either of us take too long to come to bed.” 

Hordak crossed the cluttered floor and joined Entrapta at the desk. He was holding Imp in his arms, and the smaller, winged clone whined plaintively when he saw her. Entrapta kept her screens on, but leaned gratefully into Hordak’s side and curled a tendril of hair around his waist. She yawned, despite herself. 

“I know. I just want to make sure I get everything right before the other princesses come over tomorrow.” She glanced back at the data, nervously tapping her fingertips together. “I’ve never hosted an Alliance meeting before! And this rescue will be our biggest mission since… well, you know. I don’t want to mess anything up.”

Hordak smiled. “Your diligence is admirable. But I also seem to recall someone telling me that imperfections are beautiful.”

Entrapta stuck out her tongue. “No fair.” 

“I’m afraid the science is sound. Come to bed, my dear.” 

The scientist scoffed, but she did not protest when Hordak gathered her up in his arms. She wrapped more of her hair around him, and Imp settled sleepily in the resulting nest. Entrapta could already feel herself drifting. 

“You will be a shining star tomorrow,” Hordak promised, as he carried his family back to rest. 

“Tomorrow,” echoed Imp.

*

The next day saw the Crypto Castle’s largest meeting room filled with princesses, dignitaries, and other honorary Alliance members. While Scorpia and Perfuma admired the tiny refreshments laid out for everyone, Mermista split her time between groaning at Sea Hawk’s boasts and trying every available chair to find the most comfortable one. Glimmer and Bow stepped uneasily around the edges of the room, watching carefully for anything that might be a trap, and Frosta followed their lead. Netossa and Spinnerella tried their best to find a chair Swift Wind could sit in. 

Adora and Catra, wearing increasingly baffled expressions, were conversing with two domestic-looking robots who sat at the head of the table next to Entrapta. One was tall and skinny, and the other wore a welded-on handlebar mustache. 

“Entrapta has parents?” Catra was asking, her face a galaxy of disbelief. 

“Adopted, technically. Or adapted,” the skinnier bot explained. “We’re Entrapta’s parental units. She built us when she was six. You must have seen the painting in the foyer.” 

“Yeah, we’ve been here pretty much the whole time,” the mustachioed model added. “You kids sure made a racket during your last few visits. What was that all about?” 

“Uh,” Adora faltered. 

To her immense relief, Hordak swept into the room at that very moment, flanked by Imp, Emily, and the reprogrammed Horde drone Entrapta had dubbed ‘Skeletor.’ 

“Welcome, everyone,” Hordak boomed, bringing the gathering to a respectful hush. 

“Witless fools! I’m in charge now! And if you know what’s good for you you’ll do as I say!” Skeletor shouted. 

Hordak scowled and shooed the fussing robot away from the table. “Pay no mind to that one,” he grumbled once he’d regained the floor. “Now then. Please allow me the honor of introducing the unparalleled mind who has made this operation possible, Princess Entrapta.” 

“Thank you all for coming!” Entrapta started, while everyone took their seats. “I know you’re all excited about what we’re planning, but there’s still a lot of preparation to do before we can take off. As the chief science officers for this mission, it’s vital that Hordak and I gather as much data on your abilities as possible! Interdimensional travel is severely unpredictable and —” 

“Hold on,” Mermista interrupted. “Exactly how high are the chances of us getting mutated by cosmic space energy or whatever? Because I only want cool mutations, not gross ones.” 

“Maybe thirty, thirty-five percent?” Entrapta guessed. She shrugged. “A lot of this is theoretical. You guys will be like my guinea pigs! By which I mean the small robotic animals in the castle I protect and care for. And experiment on, sometimes.” 

She laughed heartily. Glimmer and Bow shared a nervous glance. Perfuma turned slightly green. 

Entrapta regained her composure and pointed back to the display board. “Ahem. Anyway, the good news is we already know some things about where we’re going! Probably.” She shuffled her notes, gaining confidence as she spoke.

“Before Adora found the Sword of Protection, historians debated ancient records of She-Ra. Some claimed she was called ‘Her-Ra’ and fought for the ‘Power of Grayskull.’ But I theorize that what those archaeologists actually uncovered was evidence of —”

“I have a question!” Frosta yelled. “Will there be hunky guys in the other dimension? I’m asking for a friend.”

“It’s funny you mention that, actually,” Entrapta replied. “Listen, just let me finish and…” 

Unfortunately, anxious impatience had already gripped the assembled Alliance members. They clamored with questions, all talking at the same time. Entrapta shrank back in her seat and pulled her welding mask down, seeming to reach for something under the table. 

Hordak stood up. Just as it looked like he was about to do something violent, a loud alarm sounded and the lights in the room flashed red. 

“Uh-oh.” Entrapta glanced around at the assembled company. “Um, get ready to tuck and roll everybody!”

“Get ready to what?” Mermista cried out, but it was already too late. Multiple trap doors swung open across the meeting room floor, and with flailing limbs and startled shouts the guests were sent tumbling down chutes in every direction. In moments they had all vanished.

“I always feel so much better after doing something bad!” Skeletor cackled. “Now we begin phase two!” 

*

Adora and Catra, who had clung to each other as they fell, landed with a bump in a darkened, underground space. As soon as they arrived, bright lights flickered to life and a huge screen lit up against the wall. 

Entrapta’s face appeared on the monitor, larger than life. “Oh good! You’re alive,” she chirped when she saw the other two. 

Adora clambered to her feet. “Entrapta! What’s going on?” 

The scientist glanced away. “Well, I guess Skeletor didn’t like that we were ignoring him. So he stole my map of the castle and activated the security systems! Which means we’re all lost in the labyrinth until I can catch him. Isn’t that great?” 

“It’s something,” Catra groaned, rubbing her head. 

“Exactly! Now, without my map I can’t come find you. But if you can make it through the traps, the hallway you’re in should take you back to the meeting room. Then you’ll be safe until I can fix things!” 

The screen dimmed again before Catra or Adora could protest. Left with few other options, they turned to get a good look at whatever dangers lay ahead. 

They were standing at one end of a long corridor. Square blocks floated along its length, suspended in midair with anti-gravitational tech. An interrogative punctuation mark flashed on one, while a squat robot with painted-on angry eyebrows shambled slowly back and forth beneath it. 

Catra took it all in. “You have got to be kidding.” 

Adora had already drawn her sword and begun to venture forward. Catra was about to follow her, when something made her ears flick. A suspicious frown crossed her face.

“Hey, Adora!” Catra called. “Listen!” 

“What?” 

Catra pressed her ear to the wall. “There! Do you hear that?” 

“Obviously not,” Adora huffed. “Now stop dawdling, the first puzzle looks pretty easy.” 

Catra stayed where she was. “Hold on a second. This part of the castle feels familiar. I remember walking through here back when, uh, back when it was still Horde territory.” She coughed awkwardly, and then reached up to tilt the frame of a big-eyed kitten painting. “Look!” 

Something clicked and the wall slid open, revealing a new passageway. Distinctive laughter could be heard coming from the other end of it. A purple neon sign reading “Secret Entrance!!!” buzzed to life. 

Adora sighed and rolled her eyes. 

“One time Entrapta had me and Scorpia over for a life-size Snakemen and Ladders game that got a little out of hand,” Catra explained as they entered the tunnel. At the far end there was a brightly lit office; inside, it was filled with laboratory equipment, video monitors, and a humble but dignified desk. 

Hordak was sitting at the desk, in what appeared to be a smaller version of his old Fright Zone throne. It swiveled. Entrapta was sitting on the desk, and she waved as the other couple entered. 

“Myaah! Sleep gas and stun-rays only, my evil minions!” muttered Skeletor, who was busy working the video monitors. On closer inspection, Adora realized that each of them showed some of the other princesses as they traversed the castle labyrinth. 

“Welcome to mission control!” Entrapta sang, spreading her arms wide. “Hordak didn’t think you’d find us, but I had a hypothesis you might.” 

“It was a ruse!” Adora gasped, scandalized. “You’re not lost at all!” 

“You really need to hang out with Entrapta more if that still surprises you,” Catra observed. She looked at the monitors. “Ah, are they gonna be okay?” 

“Better than!” Entrapta sprang off the desk, hanging by her hair as she showed off multiple datapads. “Everyone was getting a little… distracted upstairs, so I just decided to speed things up a teensy bit! The princesses using their powers to escape the maze will let me get all the readings we need, and then we can have a nice little party! I had the baker make tiny cakes.” 

“I made sure Hordak’s doomberry pie was especially tasty!” Skeletor piped up. 

“And it’s all perfectly safe!” Entrapta promised. Discreetly, a ribbon of hair reached out to push a blinking button. On the monitors, Mermista and Sea Hawk were rescued from a robot shark attack by a convenient change of the currents. 

“This is hilarious,” Catra laughed, looking more closely. On one of the screens, Swift Wind was gleefully running loop-de-loops along a curving racetrack. “I think they’re actually having fun in there. Can we stay and watch?” 

“I’m afraid not,” Hordak said. She-Ra’s — and your — assessment is the most important of all. But we’d love to have you over to the castle for dinner soon. Shall we say eight o’clock next week?” 

“That sounds nice!” Adora chimed, before Catra could stop her. 

“Splendid. I’ll cook,” Hordak concluded. Then he pressed a button on his desk, and a trapdoor sent the younger women plummeting through the floor. 

Catra and Adora yelped in surprise, only for their fall to be cut short by an enormous pile of pillows on the level below. They struggled to their feet. Another corridor stretched away in front of them, filled with further challenges. Floating gold coins, each about four feet tall, indicated a pathway. 

“Try not to have too much fun,” Hordak called good-naturedly as the trapdoor slid shut. 

“Use the warp zone! It’s faster!” Entrapta added. 

“Have a nice trip down!” said Skeletor. 

*

Hordak settled back in his chair (it had soft armrests, and a cushion for lumbar support) and watched his partner at work. Entrapta flitted from screen to screen, taking notes and making adjustments. On one display, Bow and Glimmer had met up with Netossa and Spinnerella while navigating a cage minefield. On another, Frosta was making an ice bridge to help Perfuma and Scorpia cross a slow-moving spike trap. 

“I’m sorry you had to use your backup plan. They really are utter fools if they ever doubted your genius,” Hordak mused. 

“Different people have different strengths and weaknesses,” Entrapta replied, without looking up from her work. “And a good scientist collaborates whenever they can! Even if that requires a little creativity sometimes.” 

Hordak nodded. “Fair enough. Nevertheless, I would not blame you if you wished to have nothing more to do with the Princess Alliance. Even their attempts to help you can seem… insensitive. You’re not obligated to forgive that.” 

Skeletor looked up from his control panel and shook a fist. “Don’t you get awfully tired of being a hero all the time? Don’t you ever feel like doing something evil?” 

“They’re trying to be good friends,” Entrapta defended. “And so am I. And if I really did need their help, maybe things would be different. But I’ve got it all under control!” 

She vaulted across the room, flipping switches and turning dials along the way. On the monitors, Perfuma’s fall from a tall platform was gently broken by a sudden anti-gravitational field. 

“Besides, forgiveness isn’t always about the person being forgiven. It’s also about taking back potential energy that was lost.” 

“Did you learn that in my brother’s therapy group?” Hordak asked. 

Entrapta smirked. “Actually, he got it from me.” 

A pleasant ding sounded and Entrapta clapped her hair. “Hooray, everyone made it back! I’ll calculate the high scores and then we can continue the social experiment!” 

“You astonish me every day,” Hordak purred as he rose to follow her. Entrapta put out her hand, and he took it. 

“Wait for me!” Skeletor cried out. “You might get lost by yourself!” 

*

One week later, a much smaller gathering of royals met in Dryl. 

Catra and Adora sat together in one of the Crypto Castle’s least intimidating dining rooms, listening with barely-contained delight as Entrapta’s parental units thoroughly embarrassed their former boss. 

“...And so I said to him, ‘I have charging ports Hordak, can you download raw data offa me?’ Ha! Oh, you shoulda seen his face!” 

Hordak slouched in his chair. “I do not think we need to bore our guests with the details of this particular story,” he protested, feebly. 

“Oh, I’m not bored at all! I want to hear everything,” Catra said. She leaned forward, grinning. “So, was this before or after you hooked him up to the lie detector?” 

Entrapta giggled, and gave Hordak a gentle pat on the shoulder as she reached for another helping of his tiny quiche. All things considered, the night was going surprisingly well. 

It was exactly what Entrapta wanted. 

After dinner, wheeled bots carted away the leftovers and dirty dishes. Hordak poured coffee for himself and Adora, and the parental units retired to wherever it was they lived in the cavernous castle. Entrapta, lost in thought as usual, felt a familiar feline presence approach her. 

“Thank you,” Catra said, sincerely. “Not just for this. For everything. For being so nice all the time. For making this mission happen. It means a lot to me.” 

Entrapta smiled softly. “To me, too. Everyone makes mistakes. It would be a shame not to learn from them when we can.” 

“Did you say something?” Skeletor squawked, suddenly materializing in the doorway. 

Entrapta, unbothered, immediately produced a datapad. “Oh we’re just talking about the big rescue mission! Actually, you should probably take a look at my data, Skeletor. I haven’t told you much yet, and we might need you!” She held the blinking screen out happily. 

Skeletor looked at the datapad. At first he seemed confused; then he boggled as he registered the information in front of him. “Eternia?” he gasped in disbelief. “Grayskull?” 

His voice rose to a fevered pitch. “He-Man!”

For once, Skeletor had no words. He shrieked incomprehensibly instead, fists shaking. 

Hordak chuckled. “It’ll be just like the old days!” 

Skeletor screamed. 

#spop #skeletor #entrapdak #entrapta #hordak #Catra #Adora #the princess alliance #smith stuff #fan fiction #thank you for reading

[evelynmlewis]

The Kingdom of Heaven: Chapter Eleven

Comes after this.

***

Cam was very hung over the next day.

I was just exhausted, but shrugged it off with a caffeine brew. Not exactly the best way to go into a mission, but I had to make do.

We arrived at the Wall at around nine AM. I’d been instructed to wear civilian clothes. The same was not true of Cam or the other DYNTEC agents on the job today. They all had on black combat fatigues and waterproof boots and various belts and straps. All were heavily armed.

As far as I’d been aware up until now, there was only one gate in the wall. It was the big fancy gate, the one two hundred feet high that was supposed to remain shut until the day when humanity could finally return to the Earth.

But, as I’d discovered various times over the last few days, I’d been misinformed. There was a second gate. It was a bit smaller, and it was at a totally different place in the wall. It was hidden by a concrete building adjacent to the wall, the building itself covered in signs that said “NO TRESPASSING”, “KEEP OUT”, and “DYNTEC PROPERTY”.

Inside, there was something resembling a large garage door. Parked in front of it was a Land Rover. I’d never seen a vehicle like it before, and I hung back, afraid to touch.

Jesse was the driver. “Get in,” he said. He seemed to have finished growing a handlebar moustache specifically for this mission. I took the passenger seat.

Cam and two other men jumped up. They were expected to cling on to the back and side rails while standing. I hoped Cam wouldn’t fall off. He had dark circles under his eyes.

“All right”, said Jesse into his Biometric. “Operation Wounded Gazelle is a go.”

The garage door slowly began to rise.

The jeep revved, and we trundled forward into the unknown.

***

For a few hours we were silent. It was still morning, after all, and we were tired. But mostly, we were entranced.

Over the last several hundred years, green things had encroached all the way up to the Wall of the Settlement. Technically we were, even now, still driving through a lost district. This place had once been city. Broken roads spread out under us, and there were abandoned buildings for miles. But there were also plants. Even trees. They came out from everywhere, from the holes in the concrete, from the windows of buildings (and strangely-shaped buildings they were), and from the skeletal shells of cars.

Plants had consumed this city like spores of the edible fungus in the food labs that grows to the shape of its mesh. They filled and spilled from everything.

My senses were overwhelmed with green.

Besides all of this, there was a strange, recurring, high-pitched noise, of which I could not quite discern the origin. It continued, growing only occasionally louder and then quieter, as we traveled.

The air smelled different out here, too. It revitalized me almost instantly. I thought I could never breathe enough of it. I looked up at Cam, wondering if he was having the same experience. I couldn’t read him.

Jesse did not stop.

The building corpses grew smaller, into the ruins of single-dwelling houses and two-lane roads. I knew he’d said “fifty miles”, but I had still been picturing the Kingdom of Heaven as some kind of poverty-stricken slum-like outgrowth of the Settlement, just beyond the wall. When we eventually left behind any signs of civilization other than the remnants of the road, I slowly began to realize that this was not the case.

We continued using the road until the ground began to slope and the concrete became too broken to drive on. Jesse was using a screen on the Jeep’s dashboard to navigate. I examined it, but it showed only a topographical map, with elevation defined by contour.

We drove across a space filled with more dense, lush grass than any I’d ever seen, and parked between two small hills. There were trees visible from here too, some tall thin dark ones away on the hills. More trees were ahead—we couldn’t go on, at least not in the Jeep.

“We’re here,” said Jesse.

“Where are we?” I asked.

He looked me directly in the eye. “The place where you get out.”

Cam and the boys had jumped down onto the grass.

I was hesitant, at first, to put my feet, wearing plastic-soled shoes, down on the grass in full weight. I thought, perhaps, it might be more respectful to take my shoes off.

So I did. Jesse didn’t stop me. Then I carefully slipped down. My feet touched grass. I was sure that I was still damaging it. The blades were so soft. And they tickled, too. There seemed to be a hundred itchy things in the grass.

I put my socks back on. That was all right, and then my socks were suddenly wet through. I grimaced and put my shoes back on.

“Necessary evils,” said Jesse, giving me the side-eye.

“Right,” I said.

“I’ve got a map for you,” he said.

“Are you guys leaving? Now?” I felt a little panicked.

“Yes. We’re driving back to the Settlement. As you’ve been told, Cam is your contact…” Jesse gave Cam a thump on the back, and he jumped to alert.

“That means he’s going to be driving out regularly to meet with you. Now take this.” He handed me a piece of paper. It was unusual for me to handle paper. I unfolded it gingerly.

“Try to keep that dry.”

It was a topographical map similar to what Jesse had been looking at on the Land Rover. There was a red X marked on it, and a blue dot on the opposite corner of the paper.

“The dot is where we are now. The X is your destination.”

There was also a green triangle, and curving streaks of blue. I wasn’t sure what they meant. “What does—” I started, but Jesse had already gotten back into the Jeep and started it. I ran toward him. “Hey, what—”

He started backing up. He was ignoring me deliberately.

Everybody was on board. Cam was in the passenger seat now. They were leaving. I couldn’t believe it. I took a few more steps after the vehicle, but faltered.

The Jeep got smaller in the distance, until it went around the edge of the hill and was gone.

I stared after it for a long time.

#kingdomofheaven #writing #trad #fiction #my writing #writeblr #wip #sci-fi #please drop a comment at this point or on the previous post!