gay culture is having toxic friends u physically cant cut out of your life for at least a year

volume control, b.b

A/N: Hope all is well, please give me feedback about what you think about this one, I had a lot of fun writing this one!

Request: Hi, I'm not sure if your taking requests right now. But if you are, could you do a Bucky x reader smut where the reader loses her voice so Bucky tries to see how loud she can get in bed without her voice? Thank you. You're an amazing writer.

Warnings: language, 18+, overstimulation, oral (fem rec), fingering, praise kink, unprotected sex (no glove, no love)

Word Count: 2.8k

Your POV

     The warm ginger flavored tea cooled the burning sensation of my throat. It seemed to be the only thing that I had tried that had calmed the feeling. Laryngitis had made an appearance this week, completely wrecking the use of my voice. Every time I tried to speak; I sound like a boy going through puberty.

     The last couple of days had the worst in terms of soreness- luckily that part is over. All that seems to be left of the illness is the voice cracks and inability to talk about a whisper. It has become more annoying than anything.

      Every time respond to Bucky, you could see the amount of self-control it was taking not to laugh or make a joke about the croaking.

     Dressed in only black spandex and a t-shirt, I pulled myself off the couch with my empty mug in hand. The couch seemed to be my home for the past week. I had called out of work for the week. Knowing that trying to talk to clients while sounding like a pubescent boy wouldn’t be very professional.

     Calling out of work had proven to be more beneficial in more ways than one. It allowed more time to be able to spend more time with my moody boyfriend and catching up on shows that I had been putting off.

     Bucky called off his avengers’ duties this week and took care of me while I wrestled with the illness. Trading in his weapons for running to the store to grab more boxes of tea, throat lozenges, and a variety of ramen.

“How many of those have you been though?” Bucky questions walking past me pouring the hot water in my mug.

     I pulled out a fresh box, ripping the cardboard lid open. It really did seem like we tried everything to relieve the pain. Spoons of honey, throat lozenges, saltwater, nothing helped other than tea. This means I have been drinking it like a madwoman.

“This is the second box since last night,” My voice cracking at the end. We’re making slight progress, the voice cracks getting further apart. I gesture to the bottle of honey; he grabs it from the counter handing it to me, shaking his head.

“You should probably slow down, you’re not gonna have enough for later.”

“That’s why I have you to get me more,” This time he doesn’t hold back on the laughs when he hears the faint cracks and strain. I turn back around in protest of his action, pretending to be upset at him.

     In reality, it was hard to stay irritated with him when he laughs. The pureness of the sound and the smile that would take up his whole face never failed to make me smile.

    He comes up from behind me, wrapping his arm around my torso. With his body pressing against mine, the coolness of the metal against my arms sent shivers down my spine. The hair on his chin tickling my shoulder, watching me as I finish pouring the honey.

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t be laughing, you’re not feeling good” He mumbles, his lips nipping at the base of my neck. Moving my neck to the side, granting him more access to it.

    Bucky peppering kisses along my neck and shoulder. This action causing me to giggle and buck my hips against his and gripping the edge for the counter for support. A small breathy groan leaves his mouth when my hips made contact with his.

“I’m feeling fine now,” I manage to whisper without the croaking sound. He twists my waist, forcing my body to turn and face his. I look up at his blue eyes, they were darker than normal. His facial hair grown out a bit making him look softer and cuddlier.

“You sound better,” Bucky taunted, his voice had gotten lower and his eyes looking down at the gap between our bodies.

“Does it?” As soon as I thought my voice wasn’t going to crack, the words fall out cracked and broken. Ruining the seriousness of my tone.

Bucky rolls his lips in holding back a laugh.

“So good, baby,” Bucky slides his hands underneath the bottom of my shirt.

     A breathy whine escaping my lips, feeling his cool hand along the sides of my hips. His eyebrows rose at the sound,

“You sound so sexy,” His tone lowered and his eyes piercing mine. I pressed my body to him, wrapping my bare arms around his neck. His lips connecting with mine and his arms pulling me tighter, trying to eliminate any and all space between us. 

I can feel his bulge forming against my pelvis- all because of a moan.

     Sinking into each other, our lips matching in rhythm and pace. A raspy yelp leaving my lips as I feel a harsh smack against my right ass cheek. Completely forgetting the only thing separating it was thin spandex- Bucky’s favorite article of clothing. He says it is one of his favorite things that we have created.

     He liked the way it made my ass jiggle and moved with whenever I took a step. He especially went crazy when they’re rid up when I’d grab something from the top shelf in the kitchen, exposing the bottoms of my ass. He never failed to smack it, sometimes leaving his handprint through the fabric.

    Bucky’s flesh hand grabbing a fist full of ass and jiggling it himself. His release of the flesh causing me to whine again.

    The bulge that was currently trapped in his basketball shorts, started to throb. If only I could take it in my mouth and relieve all the pent-up pressure.

     Bucky’s lips moved away from mine but kissing alongside my jawline and down my throat. His hands now gripping my hips preparing me to jump back onto the kitchen island. I jumped, allowing him to guide me onto the cold granite.

     With his lips disconnecting from the side of my neck, his eyes peering into mine. It’s as if I could read his mind, knowing exactly what he wants. All I do is nod,

“I want to hear you moan, baby,” His hands teasing the waistband of the spandex. Dipping his fingers inside, but not going far. The feeling making my cunt moisten.

     Bucky’s true talent was his ability to tease. He was never in a rush, always took his time making sure that I was dripping before even daring to pull his dick out. It was like he got off on that the sight of the arousal dripping down the sides of my cunt.

“I want to see if you can still get loud,” My breath hitches, and my core tightening. My chest rises and falls heavier at the thought.

     As vocal as I am in bed, Bucky never put to the test how loud I could go. He was always satisfied with how vocal I ended being. What he loved, even more, was seeing me struggle to keep quiet. Teasing my clit with his fingers till I couldn’t help but moan.

     Bucky’s fingers starting in slow circles, watching me twitch and shudder. He’d dip his fingers inside gathering all the juices and using it to add pleasure. He’d moan at the sight of how visibly hard it was for me to stay silent. Some nights, he’d give me a towel or blanket to bite down on. Other nights, he’d want to see me struggle and wouldn’t give me anything to help.

    The moment I would make even the tiniest of whimpers, the pleasure would be ripped from me and I would be left not being able to cum till I could prove I could do it.

Those nights he was ruthless. Edging me till I was in tears.

Every time he’d pull away, making it almost painful to stay quiet the next time.

      I spread my legs giving him access to the place that was about to cause me a great deal of regret. His fingers slide inside the waistband of the shorts, bucking my hips at the contact. His fingers quickly being removed before they touched my clit.

“You fucking tease,” My voice was barely audible, his lips curl into a devilish smirk. Without any sort of permission, I removed my shirt. My breast dropped and Bucky’s eyes flickered to my bare chest, lighting up instantly. My nipples already hardening at exposure to the cold air.

     Within seconds, Bucky taking one in his mouth and his hand squeezing and kneading the other harshly. Eagerly tugging on my nipple with his teeth and soothing it with his tongue. I whimpered with every tug. I could see the smile on his face when I looked down.

     I wrapped my arms loosely around his head, keeping him focused on my breast. The only movement being when he’d move off the other giving attention to it. The nipping and tugging making my cunt completely soaked. I could feel it soaking through the spandex. The harsh treatment towards my breasts making the ache between my legs so strong, I thought Bucky could feel it.

   Bucky took his time giving each breast a moment to be assaulted, leaving them both sore. I silently prayed that my cunt was next.

    Bucky pulled away from my breasts, removing his shirt. The sight of his abdomen and dog tags, causing my pussy to throb a little harder. He places lips on my collarbone, slowly laying back on the counter and shoving the opened mail and assignment files on the floor.

    The combination of the cold granite and his hand made my back arch. He placed small kisses down my stomach till he got to my naval- that’s when he started to drag his tongue down till he got to the band of my spandex. I hold my breath as he removes my shorts, finally exposing my slick cunt. 

    I pushed my hips into the counter motioning the need for something to relieve the throbbing.

“So pretty, baby…” Bucky murmurs sliding his middle finger down the sopping wet folds, teasing my entrance. His finger only sliding into the first knuckle, he still standing while he does so. A scratchy moan getting past my lips.

“Yes, baby, I want to hear you.” Without warning he inserts two fingers and curling them, hitting the spongey tissue. My walls start contracting.

My throat tensing as I unexpectedly whine at the feeling.

“Good girl, I know you can get louder.”  Bucky eyes not leaving mine, I am now propped on my elbows and grinding my hips into his fingers. He adds his metal thumb to my clit, rubbing the bud at an agonizingly slow pace. Bucky removed his fingers from my cunt, bringing them to my lips.

    I open my lips enough for his fingers to enter. I sucked the clean, tasting myself. The saliva from my mouth being used as lubrication before he slid them back inside. The circles around my clit become faster. Our eyes met and his pace quickened. My jaw-dropping from the pure pleasure of his fingers. His mouth dropping with mine and his eyes darkened as he watched my body start to jerk.

A string of curses left my mouth and my vocal cords struggling to get any sound out.

“You’re doing so good” I laid back down, feeling my limbs fall weak to the feeling of my orgasm approaching. The soreness of my throat getting tighter, but not caring.

     Bucky crouched down coming eye to eye with my cunt, still fingering fucking my entrance. His thumb left my clit, but it was replaced with his lips. His tongue swirling around the bud. His facial hair scratching the sides of my legs adding more sensation down there. His fingers haven’t stopped, if anything they had gotten faster.

     My eyes rolling back, not being able to properly keep them open. I groaned and gasped at the fast-approaching orgasm. There was no denying that this would wreck my voice even more than it was before, but the feeling of his tongue and fingers making the future pain bearable.

“Fuck!” I went into pure ecstasy. I jerked my hips towards his mouth, my lower half becoming incredibly sensitive. Bucky doesn’t even seem to notice my body twitching. I gripped the kitchen towel beside me,

“Bucky, I-“ I was interrupted by his fingers curling again hurling me over the edge. My throat tensing again, it felt like it was bleeding inside.

         Bucky continues to attack my cunt with his tongue. His fingers leave my hole and join his other hand holding my hips down. I didn’t know how much more of the pleasure I could take.

“Such a good girl, you taste so good.” His voice muffled against my throbbing pussy as he licks the rest of the arousal up. I manage to prop myself up again, our eyes meeting again.

     His mouth glistening from my juices. His eyes don’t break eye contact, staring at me as a string of spit drips onto my clit. I watched in awe of him, he licks it up flicking my cunt one last time. My body has cooled down from the brutal assault.

“You’re doing so well, princess.” He brought himself up, I see the wet spot against his briefs. He was soaked through with precum. The tip was red and swollen, looking like it was going to burst with only a few strokes.

“But I know you can do better,” I sit up completely and watch as he frees his dick. It’s glistening with his liquid, reach to take hold of it in my hand. Bucky stops my hand from doing so, guiding it around his neck. Bucky gives his cock a few strokes, before sliding it up and down my folds.

His cock twitching against them.

The harsh usage of my voice was starting to affect my ability to even get any sound out at all.

     Bucky pushes slowly into me and in return, I clawed at his back. Our bodies have no room in between us anymore, my forehead pressed against his shoulder. His pace quickening. His cock stretching my walls and filling my cunt. The size of him never fails to amaze me.

With all I might, I managed to croak out a shocking volume:

“Faster, please Bucky,” He whined at the sound of my raspy plead.

    His thrusts turning into pure pounding at this point. His arms tightly wrapped around my torso. With the support around my back, my head falls back at the feeling of his cock ramming into me.

“You’re doing so good taking my dick,” He peppers kisses around my throat and collarbone.

My nails digging into his skin.

    My moans are loud, and the pain of my throat was masked by the intense pleasure building in my stomach. I couldn’t even think with his cock inside me. My orgasm building as his pace becomes inconsistent. He was close as well.

     I was surprised he lasted this long considering how he went in, already wanting to cum. All that was coming out of my mouth were a mix of curses and moans. His eyes lighting up with every sound that fell from my lips.

“I don’t how much more I can take,” My voice was in shreds, it was painful trying to speak at this point, but I couldn’t conceal them anymore. Not with his current speed and power.

“Cum all over this dick,” With his approval, my walls start pulsating and my forehead falls back against his shoulder. I watched his dick disappear inside me while I cried in pleasure, my legs quivering at the intense pleasure.

     Tears welling as the pain in my throat was becoming too much. Bucky powered through my orgasm, before his cock twitching inside me. His load bursting inside me. Bucky holds us in the same position while we are recovering from our highs. My pussy is milking every last drop of him, whimpering one last time as he pulls out.

   My breathing still heavy and the piercing pain in the back of my mouth becoming more prominent. I lay back against the counter, catching my breath.

“You got so loud, baby, I’m so proud of you,” Bucky coos while grabbing the kitchen towel that I was previously using as a grip.

         He glides the fabric against my cunt, whipping away his cum that was leaking out of me. I twitch with the contact with my clit. He takes my hands and pulls me back up to meet his eyes. I try to speak but wince at the pain shooting through my throat like daggers. His face instantly filling with worry.

“I’m so sorry, I shouldn’t have- “He begins to panic, but I grab his wrists,

“It’s okay,” The only volume I could speak in being below a whisper. I hop off the table picking up my discarded clothes, sliding them back on. I bend down, picking up his briefs, and hand them to him.

“It was worth it,” I chuckle. He takes the briefs from me and looks at the abandoned mug.

“I’ll just have to get you more,”

All in good time

Pairing: Jacob Black x f!reader

Type: Not requested

Genre: Kinda fluffy i'd say

Warnings: None!

Rating: g

Requests: Open (for Narnia and Twilight, maybe?😳)

A/n: Alright, alright, I know I said this blog was going to be centralized on Narnia stuff, but lately I've really gotten back in my Twilight phase🥴 Plus, I had a really shitty week and needed a pick me up. Jacob is one of my biggest comfort characters so I felt it was only suiting. I hope you'll enjoy it😬 I suggest reading this while listening to any kind of Twilight ambiance playlist.☺Also, I know my title sucks HAHA. Couldn't think of anything better so yea, I'm sorry, but this is what you get

Update: changed my title huhu!

* gif is not mine!!

There were days that just deeply and inherently... sucked. Days where everything seemed out of rhythm, where no matter how hard you tried, it all seemed wrong; it all fell apart.

Today was one of those days. When your dad jokingly said: "Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed." you did not think it the tiniest of bit funny. When you opened one of the kitchen cabinets to get your favorite brand of cereals and found an empty box, you almost threw a full-on seven-year-old crying on the floor tantrum. Especially when you saw the half-emptied bowl sitting in the sink. Too bad, no breakfast for you this morning. Ridiculous, immature, and not changing anything? Yes, of course, but you still did it out of pure spite. As if that would punish anyone else than you.

Like any other day in Forks, it was raining, nothing awful here, if it was not for the fact that the window on the driver’s side hadn’t been properly closed. Your seat was by now totally drenched. With your pants completely soaked you rode to school, your knuckles turning white from angrily gripping the wheel. Once you arrived, it seemed that everyone was annoyingly happy and enthusiastic while you just couldn’t get out of your personal, unchangeable, black cloud. Not to help, your friends only kept making fun of your moody behavior. Could you not be taken seriously on one of your worst days?

In your least favorite class, you were horrified to see written in big letters on the board:

“20% exam!! Leave your personal effects in front of the class.”

You would have run away if it wasn’t for the flow of students coming in to push you further in the classroom. Convinced the exam was for the next week, you did not even open the pages of your manual concerning the subject. It is with panic and exasperation that you sat at your desk waiting for your doom. Did you need to add that along with all that bull crap of a day, the only person who could have made your day a little less annoying was, once again missing. No calls, no texts, no news, nothing. Probably on another mission with the rest of his mutant gang. You got to the Rez after school, hoping you would see him, but were only welcomed by Leah and Seth. It almost felt like they were waiting for you as they were sitting outside of Billy’s house. Why they were the only ones left here was a mystery for you. The pack usually always stayed together.

- “Where are the others?”

- “On some kind of mission around the lands.”

- “Is everything alright?” They nodded nonchalantly. “Then why are you two here?”

The answer Seth gave you while chewing loudly on yet, another snack, made you grith your teeth so hard he thought they were going to fall out of your mouth.

- “To protect you.”

- “I thought it was nothing, so why would I need protection?”.

- “You should talk about it with Black. He’s the one who ordered us to stay to watch over you or something.”

- “I am PERFECTLY capable of WATCHING OVER MYSELF.” you answered a little louder than expected, anger rumbling in your chest. That earned you some awkward looks from your two friends, but at this point, it didn’t even matter, you were seeing red.

Leah, never intimated by you, shrugged her shoulders. Seth looking a little bit more nervous still laughed at your display of anger. Jacob was the one assigning babysitters over you? Of course, you and he would have a little discussion, that mutt would not see it coming.

When you got back home, you called your father to warn him; there was no way you would be cooking dinner. With your luck, it wouldn’t be a surprise if you burnt the whole house down. Fortunately, he was in good mood (unfair) and answered there was no problem; he would get pizza. He got home with the box in hand and a “Hey sweet...heart”. One quick look at your rough appearance and frustrated expression and his mouth closed shut. He dropped politely, almost carefully, a plate with a slice of pizza before quickly leaving for the couch. You mostly played with the food, incapable of swallowing it down, looking at the forest many times, waiting, expecting to see a tall figure appear on its verge but nothing. Time passed, still no sign of life. There was no way that by now Leah or Seth didn’t give him your message. You had time to wash the dishes, do some homework, and get in your sweats. At 7:30 pm you gave up; he wasn’t coming. Your father was still watching TV, completely oblivious to your growing anger. You picked up his plate to put it in the sink but tripped and dropped it, the delicate plate exploded into a thousand pieces.

- “Y/n? Everything okay?”

- “Y..ea.. an accident. I’ll pick it up.”

There was a slight tremolo in your voice. That was it. Your day had been terrible with no sign of sun, and this broken plate would be your breaking point as ridiculous as it sounded. You leaned on the counter, head hanging low, feeling tears of frustration swelling up in your eyes. Taking a deep breath, you looked up; in a second you were out the back door.

- “Where you going?” you heard your father ask.

- “Getting the trash out.”

The figure backed in the woods as you rushed into them without hesitation. You smacked against something big and warm, warmer than it was normal to be, yet you had become quite accustomed to it.

- “You little piece of shit.” your index finger digging in his chest. “You weren’t even here today, and it was terrible, and you can’t do this. I do not need any PROTECTION. Oh my god, do you really think I am weak and helpless without you or Leah or Seth or ANY werewolf to protect me?!”

He didn’t interrupt your monologue, only looking at you spitting your anger out.

- “You are SO annoying. Honestly who- who do you think you- are?! I’m- I am not, I can DEFINITELY, I don’t ne-eed any-one.” Your speech was becoming less and less coherent, your emotions taking control of your mind.

Without waiting any longer for you to finish your incoherent thought, he pulled you in for one of his signature bear hugs.

- “You can’t do this to me I’m an-ang-angry...”.

- “Shhh, it’s okay.”

- “You-you weren’t there.” you gave up fighting him, wrapping your arms around his waist.

- “I’m sorry, Leah told me.”

- “Wh- why didn’t you come sooner?” you continued, sobbing.

- “Some wolf things, Paul got in trouble.“ you backed off, immediately lifting your head at the mention of one of your friends in trouble.

- “Is he okay?”

- “Of course, he is, but Sam was very upset this time.” he stroked the side of your face with a small smile. “Enough with the boys, tell me what's wrong.”

- “Everything. I left my car window opened my seat was drenched. At school, everyone was disgustingly happy and in a good mood. I did not know I had an exam, I didn’t even study the subject. And this morning, my dad half ate the rest of my favorites cereals, and then I didn’t eat anything else as a silent protest, I know that’s stupid, but”

- “You didn’t eat anything else?”

- “Yeah, but I…” you lifted your gaze to meet his disapproving one. “I mean, I must have eaten a snack at lunch today…”

- “Must have?” he looked angrier.

- “Y/n??? Where are you??”

The calling of your father interrupted your conversation; he looked in its direction.

- “You should go back inside before your dad comes out.”

- “What? No, please. Can’t you kidnap me for tonight?” he chuckled lightly.

- “Trust me, go back in, okay?”

You looked at him unsure, even though you knew he was worthy of your trust. You finally nodded before running back inside.

- “What took you so long?”

- “Oh, uh, I thought I saw something and got a little carried away.”

- “Mokay, I don’t like you being so close to the woods. We’ve still had a few complaints about some trekkers finding traces of big animals in the woods. I’d prefer you be careful, alright?” You held up a smile, thinking about your friend just outside.

- “Sure.”

You stayed in the middle of the living room, expecting, waiting to see Jacob’s next move. You expected something quick, but when ten minutes later, there were still no signs of him, you felt frustration rising again. Not sure what to do now, you sat next to your father, half paying attention to what was happening on the screen. If he just left you, he was going to pay for it. You needed him, and just like that, he was gone? Probably, got called away by Sam again. Maybe it wasn’t in his control? But if it was…

Knock. Knock.

You looked up, surprised. The door opened with a creaking sound.

- “Oh, Jacob. Hi, what are you doing here?”

- “Hi Charlie, I heard Y/n had a pretty bad day. Came to kidnap her, if that's okay?”

- “Bad day? That’s an understatement. I swear, at one point, I thought she was going to scream at me. I ate her last bowl of cereal this morning; the thing was disgusting, I only ate half of it. I don’t think that helped.” You heard your friend’s low chuckle. Your dad seemed to feel pretty guilty about his crime, which did make you feel a tad bit better. “But yeah sure. Y/n! You have a visitor.”

You walked to them, Jacob awkwardly fitting in your small house; he seemed so disproportionate with his imposing size. For once, he was wearing actual clothes, a shirt and a pair of jeans, a sign he wasn’t planning on having to transform tonight. A sign that he was planning on being entirely dedicated to you.

- “Ready to go? I’m kidnaping you.” He said that last part with a smirk, a hint to your previous request.

- “Sure.” You grabbed your coat, said goodbye to your dad, and left without waiting any longer.

First, he took you away to get some food in you. It wasn’t until your teeth were digging inside a delicious burger that you realized just how hungry you were. Jacob being the glutton that he is, ordered two cheeseburgers along with a pack of large fries. You went for a milkshake, the perfect dessert for a night like this, and took your victuals to the La Push beach. It was empty and peaceful; the sun was slowly going down, the wind just a whisper in the night. It wasn’t even that cold, but the excuse to snuggle into Jake’s wolfish warmth was too good to pass.

- “Feeling better?” he asked while wrapping his arm around your shoulders.

- “Yes. Thanks, Jake.”

- “Kidnapping mission was a success?”

- “Yes, it was.” You answered with a smile.

- “Alright.” He muttered under his breath, looking in the distance.

You stayed for a while in comfortable silence, simply enjoying the other’s presence.

- “So, what were you saying about me not being there today, like that made your day worst?”

His question took you by surprise. A look at his cocky expression was all it took you to punch him in the ribs as hard as you could.

- “You wish idiot.”

He laughed at your attack, he probably didn't even feel a thing but leveled his face with yours in all seriousness.

- “You can avoid this conversation for now since you had a shit day and all, but keep in mind, it’s not over.”

- “And you keep in mind that our discussion about you ordering werewolves to stay behind to protect me, is not over. You won’t get away easily with that one Black.”

He laughed again, visibly amused with your threat. You laughed too but were slightly less amused. These two conversations were important ones, although one you apprehended way more. You looked at Jacob's happy expression and felt a fuzzy feeling warming your body. No, right now was not the time for such serious topics.

All in good time, right?

...

Tagging my two gals because they know how nervous I was😭...@imjustdreamingig @gonzalezyon I did it gals🥺 I hope you'll like it, thank you so much for your support💕💕

“The displeasure was mine.”

hoseok x reader (or oc) genre: fluff word count: 1.8K

a/n: Hi lovelies! This is Hobi and Petal/reader’s first meeting and well Petal is not impressed. But also, she’s intrigued. And secretly fond. But mostly annoyed. And Hobi is just happy and fond and he enjoys teasing her and yeah, it’s fluff but also idk what it is. Anyways, I hope you all enjoy and thanks for reading! :)) 

IT was just a comment. Or a question rather. It shouldn’t have set you off the way it did, but the way it was asked, with complete lack of knowledge of who you really were and a total misunderstanding of your personality, it was… annoying.

Maybe it was also the way in which he asked the question. Stringing the words together through that sunshine grin he’d been flashing to everyone since he arrived.

More likely than not, it had everything to do with the fact that you had a shitty day and weren’t in the mood for partying, but had promised your friend that you would make an appearance, and was instantly reminded of that the second you tried to back out from coming. That was probably to blame.

But this man, irksomely handsome and optimistic, and for some reason on a mission to cheer you up, just had to ask you the question that was now grating on you as you mustered a tight smile in response to his bright one.

“Why are you so serious?”

That was it. That was all he asked.

You stared at the man for a total of three seconds before giving him the tiniest forced smile, knowing full well it relayed your annoyance.

“Do I know you?” You finally asked, the man’s eyes widening as he slowly shook his head.

“I believe this is the first time we’re meeting,” he replied, a bit more nervous than his initial question to you. He sat on the arm of the sofa that was perpendicular to the loveseat you were seated on.

“Right,” you nodded a couple times. “So why are you asking me about my mood as if we’ve met before?”

The handsome man simply stared at you for a split second before his smile widened once more, his almond-shaped eyes turning to crescents with his unflinching cheerfulness. “Well, I’m Hoseok,” he told you, holding a hand out to shake.

Scoffing at him, you looked down at his hand before meeting his gaze again. However, you noticed the knowing expression on his face as he took in the slight curve up on your lips that unwelcomingly appeared on your own face.

“Hoseok,” you repeated. “You’re the idol.” You had heard about the man before through your mutual friend who went to school with Hoseok. He cocked his head at you in excitement that you’d heard of him before. “You have an idol look,” you noted, the man giggling at the comment. Why did his laugh have to be so cute?

“What does that mean?” He asked curiously, the smile still planted on his features, not quite as wide but equally as bright.

“Handsome,” you shrugged, watching how that smile morphed into a boastful one as he shot you an arrogant look. Oh jesus.

“You think I’m handsome?” He asked, raising his eyebrows slightly, relishing in the compliment.

Looking at him with a judging expression, you looked away from him to scan the rest of the room. “Looks aren’t everything.”

As he chuckled in amusement you rolled your eyes, looking back to him. The annoyance you felt toward the man probably had nothing to do with Hoseok himself and everything to do with your poor mood, but suddenly it felt like your heart was pounding against your chest out of irritation. It had to be irritation.

However, despite the bothersome presence of the dude who seemed to be the actual embodiment of the sun, you found that your eyes were drawn to him. Before he approached you from across the party, you’d been watching him conversate with the other partygoers. It seemed like there was a spotlight that followed him across the room.

You had watched how he made the rounds, chatting with anyone and everyone, making it his goal to evoke laughter from them all. His bright enthusiasm appeared to be an act of service, as he tried to leave each individual happier than when the conversation first started. He seemed to get a high from entertaining the party. Like he wanted people to like him, or felt like it was his duty to provide cheer everywhere he went.

“Are you at least going to tell me your name so I know who had the complete displeasure of meeting me?” He joked, the comment nearly earning a genuine chuckle from you, but you held it back, instead just letting your mouth spread into a smile. “Ah, she smiles.”

“Occasionally,” you joked back. “Displeasure, I like that,” you added before telling him your name. “And yes, the displeasure is mine,” you smirked. Looking down at his hand, you realized he was still holding it out for you to shake, the smallest of breathy laughs leaving you. “Wow, you are persistent.”

“I’ll just leave it there, no pressure,” he told you, and you couldn’t help but smile a little longer.

“What’s your stage name, Idol Hoseok?” You suddenly asked, not even sure why you asked the question. Why did you care?

Twitching his head to the side quickly, he smiled at you. “You know,” he started, “I’m more than just an idol.” Though the words were said in a lighthearted tone, it felt as though they were cloaking a sentiment that may have touched on a bit of the man’s vulnerability. In fact, the overall cheerful demeanor, as genuine as it appeared, also seemed to be a mask or a shield of some sort, keeping people at a distance from the man underneath. As annoying as he was, he was intriguing.

“Mhmm, of course,” you told him dismissively.

Letting out a light chuckle, he shook his head. “J-Hope. That’s my stage name,” he told you.

“Oh, fitting,” you told him genuinely, completely understanding the name. Anyone who met Hoseok for even a few seconds surely understood why ‘hope’ was part of his stage name.

“Yeah?” He asked, acting just the slightest bit cocky once again. “Are you feeling more hopeful right now?”

“Mmm,” you hummed in feigned thought. “I’m hopeful this conversation might end soon. Does that count?”

Again, the man had the audacity to flash you that literal sunshine of a smile. “Well, hope is hope,” he told you through the smile. The comment once again had you letting out a small breathy laugh as you fought a smile, nodding at him. “Did you know that you are a very pleasant person to be around?” he asked teasingly.

“Yeah, it’s actually one of my stronger qualities,” you told him sarcastically.

“It must be right up there with friendly and approachable,” he joked back, making you once again have to hold back a laugh.

“Exactly,” you nodded. “That’s usually how people describe me.” Hoseok stared at you for a moment with a… fond smile. Why did he appear fond?  

“I’m sure,” he said simply, giving you a small smile. “You know you’re allowed to have fun at these things, right?”

“Who said I’m not having fun?” You questioned while cocking your head to the side.

“Well, your face,” he told you through a small smile.

“Ok, but like I pointed out already, you don’t even know me,” you reminded the man, his eyes immediately widening in panic.

“No, I-”

“You can think whatever you want about me, Hoseok,” you interrupted his scrambling for an explanation for his comments. You’d heard all the comments before about you being stuck up or moody or boring, Hoseok wouldn’t be the first or last to person to have that opinion of you. He was just one of the first who actively tried to cheer you up, and for some reason, the endearing sentiment of that action was angering.

“I don’t have an opinion-”

“Also, I don’t need you to try to cheer me up,” you added, glaring at the man. “I’m quite content in all my moodiness.”

“Look, I’m sorry if I offended-”

“No, don’t apologize,” you shook your head. “It’s fine, I just think you and I don’t really complement each other very well,” you told him bluntly, the man’s eyes widening in surprise.

“Well, maybe I beg to differ,” he commented, you letting an annoyed smile toy on your lips as his mouth curved into a smirk, almost as if he was accepting a challenge.

Pulling your eyebrows together in confusion at his expression, you stood up to leave the party you didn’t want to attend in the first place. “Thanks for the frustrating but slightly entertaining conversation, Hoseok,” you prepared to bid him farewell. Reaching your hand out, Hoseok giggled at the gesture, placing his own hand in yours. He squeezed your hand, the feeling of his warm soft hand against your own causing your heart to race once again. Um, what the fuck?

“Nice to meet you,” he told you with that infuriating smile that you couldn’t look away from.

“The displeasure was mine,” you replied, the man laughing once again, his mouth wide open as he let the amusement flow through him freely. Annoying. And definitely not just because it was way too cute for someone you were supposed to be irritated by.  Pulling your hand from his, you took a step away from him before meeting his gaze again. “Maybe if I’m unlucky enough I’ll see you around again,” you smirked.

You were met with his smile once again, as cheerful as ever. It seemed as though he knew he could get under your skin by being overly bubbly in your presence when you were throwing nothing but insults and unpleasantries.

“Already looking forward to it,” he teased, you rolling your eyes before finally walking away.

Hoseok watched as you crossed the room, walking up to your friend and telling her something, probably letting her know you were heading out.

He observed you as you smiled brightly at the mutual friend, adorably scrunching your nose as you giggled at something she said. A feeling of affection as well as a jealousy settled in his chest. You were stunning, cute, and surprisingly warm, but he wanted that directed toward him.

Scanning the room one last time as the friend talked to you, Hoseok smiled and gave you an arrogant head nod when your eyes landed on him. Blinking a couple times at him with a judging expression, you looked away from him, Hoseok chuckling to himself on the arm rest.

Continuing to stare at you, unable to look away, he watched as you hugged the friend and made your way to the front door. Just as Hoseok was about to look away from you to direct his attention to the partygoers who all seemed a bit less interesting after meeting you, you surprised him by looking back one more time.

With your eyes locked on one another’s, Hoseok gave you a small genuine smile as you resisted the urge to smile back. And with that, you left the apartment, but you stayed firmly in Hoseok’s mind.

And he didn’t think you’d ever leave.

Prestige

Chapter twelve - No

Sanders side fanfiction

Idea by: @hestianerd1

Wordcount: 3490

Pairings: Prinxiety (as always)

TW: cursing and a bunch of friendly competition, also there is this thing about being forced to wear clothes that they are not totally comfortable wearing... I feel like that’s all, but as always, do let me know if anything bothers you :3

The summery of the whole story: Prestige. Such a simple construct. All you have to do is act the way you want people to perceive you, keep up the image, wear a big proud smile and never ever dare make a mistake. That’s why Weltingston Heights University is such a well known school. Everybody knows that anyone who got in must have some prestige tied to their name. Educational records, family history, or even literal fame. So why not treat students the same way? Because what’s a little more pressure on their young and strong bones?

But prestige and image are precious things. You slip up even the tiniest bit, step out of the line you drew for yourself and it’s all gone. So now that the pressure is on, and everyone already knows their place in this small circle of society, only one question remains. How far are they willing to go to keep the false image up?

(Or: Very over-dramatically with a noticeable amount of sarcastic undertone: "Oh my god! They were roommates!")

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

Chapter twelve - No

“No.”

“Come on maaan. You can keep the hoodie for all I care. Just put it on.” Cassie sighed exasperatedly. They were currently standing in her room, Virgil staring at the clothing hanging from her hands.

“What even makes you think that it’ll fit me?” Virgil razed an eyebrow and pointed at the material with a doubtful finger.

Cass looked at it, then back at him with a confident smile. “Well. You’re like my height. Skinnier than me, so… It’ll probably hang a little, though.”

V’s eyebrows knitted together in whatever emotion he was currently feeling. Not even he could tell what that was, but it wasn’t excitement. Turning to the mirror by his side he eyed the make-up Ro’s little sister already forced up on him. Not anything too much, just some mascara, shades an eyeliner. She even went with the emo look he was sporting thanks to his deep eye bags. (Let it be known, that they’ve gotten a little better since he’s been living with the Velez’s. A few good nights of sleep next to Ro and they suddenly seem to be disappearing. Who would have thought.)

To be honest, he kind of liked it - the make-up, he means. Cass was really great with a brush for someone who hadn’t warn make-up once since they met (which wasn’t that long, to be fair). Even the tiny details she did - the magical way the liner curled; not in a ‘normal’ way, but rather in a what seemed like a teeny-tiny butterfly wind. And of course, the glitter. The small amount of glitter she used did it for Virgil. He’s eyelids freaking sparkled!

He looked back at her with lowered lids. “I’m not doing it.”

“Seriously?” her shoulders sunk. Expression all ‘I’m so going to force you into this if you don’t wear it willingly and I so don’t feel like doing that…’.

Honestly, our boy should have been shitting his pants at this point. Because he knew she would go through with it. There is not a single person scarier than Cassandra Velez when she wants something. And believe me, she will get it. No matter the cost. But our boy was just as much stubborn as stupid. So he set his jaw and said: “No.”

The almost taller girl pinched the bridge of her nose tiredly. Then looked up at V, sad resignation in her eyes. “You’re choice dude.”

There’s no way to describe what went down in the next ten minutes… Virgil had no idea what was coming his way.

He ended up standing perfectly still, eyes wide with full on terror, in front of the mirror, as Cass perfected the hem of the dress and some random details on him. Whistling and smiling as if a fifteen-year-old girl force-dressing a twenty-three-year-old man into a dress was a normal part of her day.

He didn’t even dare to speak after all the horror that just went down…

Cass stood up, grinning widely. “Great! My work here is done.” she dusted of her hands as if there was actually something on them. Virgil was pretty sure there wasn’t. “What do you think?”

She stepped away and for the first time Virgil saw himself in a dress. A very fancy rufly dress, might he add. He swallowed. “Ahm… I think it’s… nice?”

“I do too.” The girl nodded proudly. But then her eyes fixated on something above his face. Another wave of fear run down V’s back. He froze as she slowly walked over to him and wordlessly played around with his purple locks.

She pulled her hand way and smiled. “Now your perfect.” she nodded to herself. “I’ll go announce the beginning, stay here until I call your name, got it?”

V bit his glossed lips and nodded obediently. Cass did too and walked over to the door. Pulled it open, stepped out and just before the wood would fully fall closed, she peaked her head back in. “Oh and one more thing.” she looked straight at V, look as seriously (and menacing) as before. “Don’t you dare fuck up my work.” And with that she threw a giggly smile, as innocent as a six-year-old and with an ‘Okay, bye.’ left.

Virgil stood there for a long while until his heart finally stopped trying to murder him by escaping through his chest.

Meanwhile both brothers were in they separate rooms doing all the stuff they needed to feel as beautiful as possible. Not that Remus cared how he looked, but this was a competition after all. And who would pass up a chance to crush Roman’s massive ego a little?

Roman was more focused on getting his liner right. He was ready half an hour ago, but then he noticed that his right eye had a thicker red line then his left. And all hell broke loose.

Makeup-wipes all over the ground, brushes and liners and lipsticks and shadows all around the place. Literally. They even ended up on the ceiling-lamp (don’t ask Roman how that happened).

So when Cassie called out for everyone to gather, he was just so-so done. He told her off and asked for five more seconds, but the little annoying monster barged in - no regards for privacy - and literally dragged him away from his make-shift make-up station. He just barely managed to pull out the line (thankfully perfectly) and drop the closed bottle of liquid-liner onto his bed.

His little sister dragged him out into the living room, instructions being, everybody ways with closed eyes. Because we love dramatics in this family, don’t we? Oh and, V still wasn’t allowed out of her room, obviously.

But now, that they were all here, Cass stepped aside, sitting down at the bar and grinned. “Let the games begin.”

Both opened their eyes, surveying the competition, before sitting down on the prepared stools.

The self-acclaimed judge walked into the middle of the room (questioning why the hell did she sit down in the first place) and gave a big grin. Holding onto a hair-brush she gave an expert TV grin. “I welcome you to the fifth annual Velez fashion show! Another wonderful year has passed and here we are gathering again on the beautiful occasion.”

Roman looked around a little nervously, trying to find his roommate. But he had no idea where he was… His shoulders sagged a little, but this was a competition. He could let anybody know he was off his game.

“Today are competitors are the always charming, always smiling fairytale-like prince, Roman Velez!” she called out, pointing to her brother, who stood up with a big TV-grin of his own and waved at no one. Remus clapped enthusiastically, following Cassie’s lead.

“And give a warm welcome to our next competitor! You know him, you love him! It’s the murder-driven always laughing crazy green monstrosity, Remus Velez!”

Roman clapped a slow dramatic clap. Remus turned a playful glare at him.

Cass just smiled at this even more. She knew what was coming next, but they didn’t. And that power was something she lowed immensely. “But that’s not all that we have for today, ladies and gentleman and everyone above! No.” she shook her head seriously. “Today, on our yearly show, we have a special guest. He’s always broody, always moody, loves his hoodie and purple - give a big applause for our special guest, Virgil Riet!!!”

 That’s when the door to Cassie’s door opened and a very self-conscious Virgil stepped into the living-room light. Ro’s hoodie pulled tight around his chest to cover him up as much as possible.

Roman’s eyes widened. he didn’t expect V to look that great in a dress. He didn’t even expect him to be wearing a dress let alone a full face of make-up! his tiny form fully swallowed in his hoodie, the bottom of cases dress peaking out. Stocking covering his slim legs. And the make-up. the make-up! (He wondered if v was scared for life from that experience…)

“Come in, come in! Sit down with us.” Cass ushered him to his prepared seat. “You’re our special guest today, boy, don’t shy away from attention. Our show will begin shortly.”

V pulled hard on the zipper-lines of his new-found-favorite-hoodie ad walked over to sit between the staring twins.

“You look like a hooker!” Remus observed with a happy grin.

“No he doesn’t!” the remaining siblings piped up, both a tad bit too defensive. One because this was her work Rem was insulting and the other because this was his friend/roommate/possibly-giant-crush he was insulting.  

And Virgil just shrunk into himself even more. He didn’t even dare to look up. Otherwise, he would see that both boys looked just as much fancy as he did. There was no need to be ashamed.

“Alright, ladies and gentlemen and everyone above! First up is our lovely nut-job, Remus. Show us what you got.”

rem immediately got up, walking the space of the living room as if it was a runway.

“Our beloved green monster, never seems to not surprise! This special day he went with his signature color-combo, wearing a black spiked leather jacked over a purposefully torn dark-green V-neck. Chains are a must with this man, hanging from his neck just as from his bedazzled black-washed torn jeans. Combat-boots to top it off. And let’s no forget the plethora of leather bracelets and of course the make-up he is sporting.” Cass commented.

Remus did a pirouette, meant as a mockery of Roman, obviously and bowed deeply, signature grin not missing.

“Great round today, Remus. I loved all the details - the drumstick in you pocked especially. You get an eight from me. Virgil, our guest judge -“ she turned to him. “-what do you say?”

Virgil blinked a little, trying to figure out what role he was playing in this insanity. “Ehrm…” he cleared his throat. “Seven…?”

“Aaaalright! You, Rem, gained fifteen points! Great job! Let’s see out next competitor.”

Rem sat down proudly, smirking at his brother. “Top this bro-Ro.”

“Oh, just wait and see.” he smirked back a little too confident compared to how he felt inside. he was about to go parade his ass in front of Virgil. His Virgil. this was going to be the end of him…

“Roman Velez, come up here, dude! Let’s see what you’ve got!” Cass stepped aside.

He stood up, as graceful as ever and glided over to the big carped - the designated cat-walk.

“Oooh, nice. Today our fairy prince came up with the perfect outfit to represent him. Dress as flowy as ever, red like his fierce fiery eyeliner! And the white stilts! Love the boa Ro, but that was the winners two years ago - are you recycling ideas, bro?”

Ro gave a triumphant grin and stretched his leg out from the thigh-slit that run ap his long sparkly dress. “Not at all, Cass. No angels today. We’re playing dirty.”

“I see, I see. The devil today then, hah?” she grinned at the fishnets that pocked out. On the sidelines, Virgil went completely red.

Ro ran a hand through his perfectly stilled hair to reveal small horns and grinned at the judge. “Full-on, sis.”

“Nice touch. I like it.”

Ro did a fancy stop, posed, and blew a kiss at Virgil. Very much feeling himself in the element. The poor short guy almost fainted at the sight. You have no idea the confidence that radiated off of Roman. The happiness. And Virgil reveled in it all, trying to swallow as much of it as possible.

“Alright people. Time for judging! I love you Roman, but today was a little disappointing. Although I loved the never-before seen make-up on you and the fishnet twist, I just don’t see you winning today, I’m sorry. I give you six points.”

“Thank you judge Cassandra.” Roman nodded solemnly. It gnawed at him a little.

“But don’t sweat it, dear, because there’s one more judge waiting for his turn.” Cass winked at V. He was a little (a lot) out of it, jaw almost literally slack open. “So, what do you say? tell me, what did you like about this contestant?”

“I-“ he swallowed. “I liked the slit…”

Jesus! did he just say that?!

Remus burst out laughing next to him, cackling his ass off.

Red as a bell-pepper Virgil shrunk back into his seat. “Nine.”

“Uuh, look at this, ladies and gentlemen and everyone above! For the first time in years, we have a tie!” Cass stepped back into the middle, moderating the whole thing as before. She would be an excellent moderator, Virgil though.

“I congratulate both contestants! they both did a great job! But don’t go anywhere, people, because we have our guest here to show off my stilling job! Come up here, Virge. Let’s see what the contestants have to say!”

Roman was already gone the moment he walked into the room. But seeing V take a deep breath and standing up onto the ‘runway’ in his loose jacked draped over a black sport-dress with a white strip on the sides and his black sneakers he might have just died right on the spot.

“Today, our lovely college boy sports my favorite tube dress, hugging him in all the right places. I’m literally jealous how good it looks on him! Better on him then me! Unfair! But look at his gorgeous face and the black butterfly-winged liner. I even stilled your hoodie in, Ro.” she winked at him.

Ro just wordlessly nodded, ogling V with big dreamy eyes. “I…can see…”

“Also, notice the earrings. I want praise for that, because getting those on him was a fight!”

“Oh my fuck! Did she pull the whole thing on you?” Remus burst out laughing once again.

V was already opening his mouth to deny all of it, but the little snitch beat him to it: “Yes. Yes, I did.” His head fell low, cheeks pricking red. This was too embarrassing…

Cass cackled at the sigh, as the witch she was and turned back to their audience. “Alright boys, our shy contestant won’t stand much longer. Show him some love - how many points would you give him?”

Remus leaned in, hands on knees. Eyes thin as slits, running over every Cassie-made detail of his attire. He then looked at the expectant designer/moderator and leaned back all un-Remus-like (all serious and shit). Twirled his mustache between two fingers. “You look like a bitch.”

“That’s what I was going for, thank you.” Cass smiled. “Points?”

“Nine.”

Little sister literally jumped up with a happy fist in the air. This was her best outfit by far. And she was too happy to dwell on the fact that it looked way better on his tiny ass then it ever would on her.

Don’t get her wrong, she was almost as skinny as Virgil, but as curvy as humanly possible. And although the dress looked good on her, this kind of combo just wouldn’t. And that made her sad. But then again, she wouldn’t pull of her brothers’ outfits either. You needed that personality for those. And boobs. She didn’t have those either. (Not that the boys had any…)

Roman sat in his chair too scared to even open his mouth. Blatantly standing at the slowly crumbling V. He could see the tiny rapid movements of his fingers even through the fabric layer of Ro’s hoodie. And the evading looks he gave everything else but the ‘judges’.

He wondered what he was thinking. Because Roman sure as hell wasn’t thinking straight. No PG13 thought in his head.

But he couldn’t say that out loud now, could he? So, he decided to do the best thing he could - act. He leaned back just as his brother did, legs and arms crossed, a surveying look on his face. “You did well today, sis. But I feel like those shoes could have goon a different way…”

Not really. he liked them a lot. He wished V would wear dresses more often. It really looked good on him.

“None of mine fit him! this man has impossibly small feet!” the designer protested exasperatedly. Virgil turned a deep red at that. She was right… She made him try on he heals but they ended up being a bit too big…

“Hon, we both know it’s not his feet that’s the problem. Your elephant shoes wouldn’t even fit me.” Remus chimed in as always. His comment very appreciated.

“Go to hell, Remus! My feet aren’t that big!” Cassie glared at her brother.

Roman just smirked. “Alright. Otherwise, I like your combination. I give you a nine as well.”

“Oh my god, ladies and gentleman and everyone above! I guess we have a winner then! For the first time in three years, our humble moderator wins the annual Velez fashion show, placing her design at a towering eighteen points!” She grinned at no-one in-particular. then she turned back to her brothers and smirked. “You can suck it losers! Ha!”

By the time she was doing her little victory dance, Virgil had scrambled back into his seat, folding back into himself.

“And this is why we never let her win.” Roman grumbled to himself, watching his little sister dance around like a maniac.

“She get’s it from you.” V shrugged.

“What?” Ro turned on him with wide, fake-surprised, fake-offended eyes.

But the darkling just shrugged. “You heard me.”

It wasn’t long after that the four had shared a trophy ice-cream bowl (Cass didn’t want to share, but she was still the youngest and didn’t have much choice). Now they were all in their respective rooms, trying to get rid of the make-up and all the unnecessary layers of clothing.

Virgil was pacing around Ro’s room, too hopped up on nervous energy and embarrassment to sit down. Already out of the dress, but still in Ro’s oversized hoodie and comfy joggings (also Ro’s, by the way - they scrunched up at the bottom in the most adorable way). He was barefoot so every step was audible on the hardwood floor.

Roman was at his little make-shift station washing off the make-up. Virgil had already done so - even though it was done kind of shitty-ly.

“You looked really grate today.” Ro commented, smearing the beautiful liner he worked so hard on.

His roommate froze in his tracks. Cheeks pink. “You think so?”

“Very much. You should wear dresses more often. And make-up suits you, though I think your face is pretty enough without it.”

He just threw that out there, while looking like a panda from the smudges. As if this wasn’t one of the nicest things a human being has ever said to V. The guy couldn’t even wait to be finished with what he was doing!

Virgil stood there, shell shocked, face redder than a tomato for the hundredth time today. “Thanks… I guess…?”

“Oh, you’re very welcome!” Ro turned around in his stool, grinning brightly. And that’s when he noticed the very obvious smudges that were still on V’s pretty little face. He bit back a snickered. “Come over hear.”

Virgil immediately went even redder and that made Ro laugh. “Oh, don’t be stupid. Just come here.”

The shorter did as he was told, carefully walking over to his friend. Ro patted the bed next to him and v sat down obediently. “You obviously never wore make-up before.” he snickered.

V didn’t even dare as much as take a breath. Because Ro’s hand was inching towards his face. A cotton swab in his hand. And suddenly he was holding his chin so delicately, washing off the remains of his black mascara and liner.

Electricity sprung from the pales their skin connected. And Virgil couldn’t help but stare at those beautiful green eyes that were so focused on his hands.

His gaze slipped from them to the dark, lipstick bit lips, caught between Ro’s teeth. He was chewing on them subconsciously, the way he always was when he was focused.

It scared Virgil how much he waned to taste those lips. To ease the pain they were in with his own. And it also scared him how much of his attention he wanted the moment he walked out on the make-shift stage. How his focus was solely on his words and face and eyes and expression and what he thought about him.

Oh, how it drove him crazy, the thought that Roman could like him in a dress. And that he thought his face was more beautiful without make-up.

How easy it would be just to lean in and steal that sweet kiss. How easy it would be to just place his hand on his, stopping the careful motion and take what he’s been wanted for weeks now.

How easy would be to just-

Virgil’s lips collided with Roman’s and everything around him ceased to exist.

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Oooooooooooh! Thins are going downnnnnn!!!! (About time after twelve chaps XD)

I won’t even apologize because this disappearing will be somewhat normal from now on. (School’s kicking my ass...) Let’s just be happy I finished this chap :D But as compensation, I’m making art for this one. Three pieces of (hopefully) colored art, so stay tuned ;D

But I do hope you enjoyed this mostly meaningless chap XD <3 

Read ya <3 ;*

Tag list:

@a-formless-entity

@cirishere

@ray-does-stuff

@lovelivingmydreams

@mothman-juicy-ass

@akatsuki-no-katira

HEYO, I saw you were doing matchups, could I request one with a male BNHA character? If not feel free to ignore!

My pronouns are she/her, I identify as female. I prefer villains, but if no villains match then heroes work too.

INFP/J, Virgo. I’m pretty shy but I try my best to be friendly to most even if it’s painful to socialize. Awkward. Very compassionate and love giving gifts. Can be temperamental/moody, stubborn, and I eavesdrop a lot,, I criticize myself too much and that extends to others, but I don’t communicate this well. Creative, but unmotivated. Heavy sleeper and I hate being woken up. I’m always thinking about something, but rarely paying attention, honestly I just live in my head half the time.

I guess if I had a quirk it would be Reverse; the ability to reverse motion. So if something was coming toward you, redirecting it in a different direction. I chose this because I like playing Uno a lot and the reverse card is my favorite LOL.

If I’m not daydreaming I’m probably drawing, writing, or just working. I don’t have a particular type, but I do favor people with a sense of humor. Tend to go after people who don’t notice me. My love languages are gift giving (giving) and quality time (receiving).

Thanks so much!

- 🍐

This is a tough call. In my head Villains aren't the most romantic ones, accounting for all the trauma.

But I think that Shigaraki would be a match. And I really did my research on this one.

He’s a bit immature. So awkwardness is a bit of his thing, especially when it comes to people like you. He’s such a sucker for the shyness of yours, especially when you're awkward. He’s awkward too, but it’s nice to feel matched like that. At least so in the beginning.

Funny thing, Shigaraki needs someone to be creative with him. He loves gaming, and so taking time to play with you a bunch of games while asking the league to do random things to give the both of you some time alone is something people are starting to catch up on. Kurogiri is highly irritated by his bullshit but let's it go. Shiggy can spend years playing with you, and spending time with you.

He’s been neglected all of his life so even the tiniest little gift you give him will make him weak in the knees. He’s very soft when it comes to you, especially when it comes to your ideas to improve the plans for the league. Even if it was actually the dumbest idea you could think of, he’d believe in you so hard he’ll demand they at least try. You encourage him to be more creative, so he loves to brainstorm with you.

Though he isn't the most understanding when it comes to your moods, since he’s own moodiness can be childish. Though if both of you had been feeling strange that day, the both of you can destroy stuff together to get rid of the temper. He himself is keen on talking a bit of shit, though you might have to tamp down the criticism when it comes to him, because he’s pretty sensitive about a lot.

I can seriously picture the both of you sitting next to each other lost in a bit of a trance, I would say he’d definitely sit there staring into the wall a bit into his own thoughts, and he’d enjoy sitting there holding your hand, especially when he spots you daydreaming with the soft look on your face. It’s adorable to him. He’d love any and all the gifts you’d give him. And while when he met you he’d been a little judgy, he really fell in love with how compassionate and stubborn you were.

And he can seriously see how loyal you were.

He will feel annoyed that he can't give you anything he thinks is good enough for you. He is annoyed that you give him amazing gifts all the time and yet he isn't doing enough.

So what’s the solution? Well, he demands one night every two weeks or so when the whole league will be forced to sit there and play board games together. Since this was a sort of gift for you, it would be a game of your choice.

Did he brag about just how amazing his gift would be? Yes. He thinks he’s amazing afterwards. Dabi will take care of his big ego though, cause he will berate him so hard the first night.

It does become one of the most awaited nights later though, time for the league to bond.

Shigaraki thinks himself pretty lucky having a girlfriend that isn't too bent on physical touch. It takes him a lot of time to become comfortable with you, since he’s deathly afraid of touching you and accidentally turning you into dust. It took you giving him a two fingered glove for his hands, so he wouldn't you know… kill you. And so, with that, falling asleep together was something he loved to do with you.

No one. Absolutely no one was going to dare wake you guys up, because both of you are horribly mean when they wake you up before you are ready. And Shigaraki wastes no time threatening death upon anyone who wakes him up, and so both of you can equally be sure that no one will wake you unless it's an emergency.

Funnily enough he isn't as cold as you’d first think, because he enjoys doing random shit and just really hanging out. So he sits there playing his game and randomly asks you about whatever it is you’re doing, whether it's writing or drawing. He isn't the greatest motivational speaker but he tries his very best to encourage you, even if it's in a convoluted way. After all, the only reason he’s ever been motivated is tragedy, so you might have to convince him that reversing a bullet into your guardians isn't exactly motivational for you.

He has his own type of humour, sarcastic dry type which you wouldn't really catch until you get to know him. Once he sees you cracking up at his jokes though he’ll try extra hard to make you laugh or smile. He’s loyal, too; So expect all your enemies to be his, and all your problems to be his. Childish vengeance or not, he tends to be a bit cruel to people he sees no worth in.

His goal morphs when he meets you. Now destroying everything doesn't seem too appealing unless you're by his side, sitting on the throne of destruction he’s made alongside him.

I hope you like this haha took a long time for me to decide on who’d be good, cause I also could see Tamaki Amajiki or Dabi working too.

geraskier zoom conference hc's based on that 'and they were video conferencing' post

(this has turned into a fic in point-form oops; also it's more pre-slash 'cuz this quarantine is ongoing and i don't have any specific ideas about how a relationship discussion would go or be handled over zoom haha)

it starts as a group conference call between yennefer and triss and jaskier and geralt probably because yen and triss and geralt run some sort of small business and they need jaskier for something artistic probably (he's a freelancer)

let's say they have some sort of start-up to do with children's education somehow, inspired by ciri, and they want to start a small educational web series and they want music in each episode and so hire jaskier as a composer

geralt is in charge of episode content because this web series is gonna be about mythology and he has a masters in it and has done a fair amount of traveling for it (and lowkey has been learning about different kinds of myrhs and legends and heroes and monsters all his life alongside swordfighting thanks vesemir)

ANYWAYS at first they just talk about work: geralt knows which myths he wants to talk about and how, but can't quite come up with a good narrative because he has a bad tendency to ramble on about very precise specific details that get boring, and he also doesnt know how to set the tone for children despite having one himself

jaskier suggests they make the show centre around a hero that is a witcher who goes off on adventures meeting all these creatures, and jaskier already has some fun ideas for songs

jaskier thinks geralt isnt very forthcoming but he's clearly interested in the project and there's excitement in his eyes when he says ciri will like something they write together

geralt also gets kind of moody about inaccuracies (like a nerd 'cuz he is one lol), and jaskier thinks it's funny and likes to pull his leg by saying they should just change this detail or that detail and that he's allowed bc he's the composer and he's taking creative liberties

about three zoom meetings in, they decide the witcher should have a horse and jaskier says they should give it a name and geralt says "roach" and jaskier laughs and asks about cockroaches and geralt looks... petulant??? and says there are fish called roach too and he meant the fish, and jaskier feels fond and relents and says yes fine the horse's name is "roach"

the next video call they have, they start talking again about work and jaskier's trying not to focus too much on the fact that geralt has shown up with his hair braided but goodness it makes him look softer with the way it pulls back and some strands of hair escape to frame his face

geralt eventually notices and hmms his questioning hmm (and when did jaskier start distinguishing the difference?) and when jask asks about the braid, geralt's face goes EVEN SOFTER and says ciri can't practice braiding on her friends' hair at school anymore so she practices with him and jaskier's like "well fuck that's it this is it ive never even seen him in person but here we are this is a crush oh shit"

the first time geralt laughs is because in one of their meetings, jaskier decided he was gonna be chill and wear a work shirt but just his boxers with stupid cartoon pizzas on them, amd he feels so comfortsble he forgets he's just wesring his underwrar 'till he gets up to grab his acoustic guitar and geralt sounds like he was startled into laughter and yeah, that's right, he's wearing stupid boxers and he flushes but geralt looks pretty amused and jaskier did that so he's not too embarrassed

halfway through the session after that, where jaskier has given up on slightly professional looking clothes but has committed to wearing something over his boxers at all times, he hears some barking and he sees a german shepherd's nose enter the bottom of the frame by geralt's arm

jaskier is obviously like YOU HAVE A DOG and geralt explains ciri usually plays with him during their meetings but they decided to go earlier that day and when jaskier asks what the dog's name is, geralt pauses and looks a cross between irritated and embarassed and then says "roach"

jaskier laughs and laughs and geralt just looks on stoically and it's not on his mouth but jaskier can see the pout in his eyes, but after he's done laughing, all he says is, "like the fish" and geralt smiles a tiny smile and shakes his head and jaskier's a goner, truly

one day, jaskier is caught on trying to find the perfect wording and chord progression for one of the episodes, and focuses on his guitar and keyboard for a while as he toys with this key and that rhyme, and when he looks up, geralt is in a kitchen putting on tea and mixing something in a pot and it's an hour past when they usually hang up

"you could have stopped me, you know?" jaskier asks, but geralt looks at him and hmms and jaskier feels all warm goddammit

he tells jaskier to go take a break and jaskier obliges and brings his laptop to his kitchen and they kind of just have tea together for twenty minutes before something dings and geralt has to go 'cuz it's dinner time for him and ciri

the next meeting, geralt shows up and his daughter's there in the background and she has hair like geralt's and a sunshine personality the complete opposite of geralt (though they both give off disintguished kinds of vibes)

jaskier is charmed; she's a great cheerleader and a wonderful person to run ideas by especially considering she's the target age group for their show, and when she makes a comment about how she wishes she could play the ukulele she got as a gift two years ago, jaskier brightens up and says he can teach her

now jaskier zoom calls a little earlier so ciri can have a short ukulele lesson before his work meeting with geralt, and it's so nice whenever he hears ciri practicing off to the side or roach barking from out of the frame and jaskier wonders what it would be like to truly be in the house with them

the next meeting after, they go a bit too long again bc they were arguing (well, jaslier was actually pulling geralt's leg some more, to be honest, but he can't help it if that's how he flirts), and ciri shows up and says it's time for food and when jaskier says he'll leave them to it, ciri suggests he just stay on amd they can eat together

geralt doesn't immediately say no and actually seems to be waiting for jaskier's answer so jaskier says yeah okay, and he grabs some food and they all have dinner together and they get to talking and jakier and ciri bond over disney movies and ciri says she wants to watch them together the three of them and yennefer and triss

the watch party happens and over zoom yennefer seems deeply amused the entire time and triss keeps giggling and geralt seems extra annoyed for some reason but jaskier enjoys himself and sings along to the movie and he tries not to imagine sitting right next to geralt on his couch on the side not occupied by his daughter

jaskier wakes up with a headache very close to their meeting time one day, and kind of just opens his laptop while he's lying in bed and opens the window to wait for geralt to start the meeting while he reaches over to get his ukulele 'cuz it's the closest instrument to his bed and the easiest on his brain when it's pounding like this

when he settles back against his headbkard and pillows once more, geralt is looking at him with a frown and asks if he's feeling okay, to which jaskier replies he's fine it's not covid he just gets headaches every now and then and it sucks but he can still compose (and he shakes his lil uke at the camera)

geralt says no he should sleep and when jaskier pouts he says he's going to sit here and wait for jaskier to put down the damn ukulele and drink some water and eat a granola bar and then tuck himself back into bed and he looks all fierce about it while he says it and how can jaskier not lug his laptop around while he does these things and fall a little more in love

eventually it becomes totally normal for jaskier to just hang out for long stretches of time, whether or not they talk about their witcher web series, and they cook together and hang out in their pajamas and jaskier and ciri have their music lessons and their disney nights and geralt even starts getting him to work out during some of their work breaks by doing 8 minuts abs

(jaskier was pretty adamant about not exercising but said he's do it just the one time but after 8 minutes of pain, geralt was flushed and kind of sweaty and said he needed to chamge his shirt anf then just took it off right there on the camera before he walked out frame to grab a new one and jaskier had to rush to pick his jaw off the floor before going to change out of his own sweaty clothes and yeah so he does 8 minute abs with geralt sometimes now)

once, geralt sends him a zoom link for a meeting at 2am on a night when jaskier can't fall asleep (his sleeping schedule's been so fucked since quarantine started) and when jaskier joins him, he looks like hell and he apologizes but when jaskier says he probably won't sleep for another three hours anyways, geralt looks the tiniest bit grateful and asks if they can work so they do, and if jaskier writes a song that's a little more like a lullabye dyring their meeting, and feels like his heart is about to burst when geralt, who'd moved from his desk to his couch, nods off while jaskier softly sings to him, well... jaskier doesn't know what to do with himself after he makes sure geralt is properly sleeping and then leaves the zoom meeting

they work and work and really get to know each other and then, all of a sudden, there are no more songs to be written for their witcher series and jaskier says "that's the last song, i think" and geralt hmms but neither of them hangs up

jaskier bites his lip and says, "i'll see you at the team meeting we'll have with yennefer and triss to wrap up my contract, i guess?"

and geralt says, "you should add me on facebook; we should keep in touch for future projects"

jaskier tries not to feel too bummed out because this is still a connection point and also yay more creative projects with the hot man he is probably definitely in love with and also potentially more money! but he's still a little bummed and then he decides if he's going to feel bummed he should at least do something about it and he says, "i will! you know facebook has video chat too"

and geralt hmms again but there's definitely a smile, and it's even an actual smile! "im aware," he says, and then before he hangs up the zoom call he looks stern and adds, "dont forget about ciri's ukulele lessons" and honestly jaskier wasn't expecting to continue with them but he's relieved they can still keep doing those

he shoots geralt that friend request and sates the need to scroll down his wall by going through geralt's past previous profile photos instead (they're usually of him and ciri and they're adorable)

and then, delight of delights, the next day around when they usually have their meeting, there's a video chat request from one geralt of rivia coming through facebook, and even more delightful: geralt's clearly on his phone and he only waits on the screen long enough to make sure jaskier's there and to give him a quirked eyebrow and a trademark hmm before he turns the camera around and jaskier is treated to an outside view and a walk with geralt and roach via mobile

and thus geralt becomes a fixture of his every day life

Best Friends // Carlos De Vil

a/n~ This is an ABSOLUTE cluster fuck of a thousand different prompts and ideas that I had that somehow some way got jumbled into one long ass fic. Idk I really actually kinda like it. YOUR FIC IS FINALLY HERE BUGGY GIRL!

Requested: Yes by @happilycameron

Prompts:  “We’re not just friends and you fucking know it.” //  “Stop pretending you’re okay, cause I know you’re not.” //  “I think I’m in love with you, and that scares the crap out of me” // “Quit stealing all the pillows!”

Best Friend Noun A persons closest friend

She giggled as she ran through his apartment, booking it into his bedroom with him on her heels. Spinning on her heel she watched him from where she stood, he leaned against the door frame, his arms crossed as his chest heaved trying to catch his breath. She placed her hands on her hips waiting for his next move.

He took a step forward, pulling his hand back through his nearly pearly white hair, getting the few strands that lay across his forehead out of his face. She took a step back, watching as he continued to move forward a sly smile spreading across his face. She shook her head, putting her hands up in surrender as her back hit the wall causing a gasp to escape her.

“Carlos, don’t.” She knew the wheels in his brain were turning, carefully calculating out his next move. He lunged forward, hands slapping against the wall on either side of her head. A chuckle escaped him as she jumped, the noise of his hands connecting with the wall, startling her. “Fuck,” she sighed, hands coming to rest on his chest. “You’re not funny.” She curled her lip before averting her gaze elsewhere, couldn’t take the chocolate eyes that stared at her.

He laughed as she pushed against his chest trying to get him out of her personal space. Her mouth turned down at the corners as she slid down the wall, pulling her knees to her chest as she rested into a seated position. He cocked his head to the side, nudging her foot with his for a moment before kneeling down in front of her.

“You’re so moody.” He grumbled, sitting cross legged on the floor in front of her. She shrugged, eyes trained on the blue plaid comforter hanging off of the foot of his bed. “Thank you captain obvious.” She mumbled, glancing in his direction for a split second. He contorted his face a bit as he sucked his teeth; sighing he pushed himself forward a bit so that their feet rested against each other. “Alright, what’s wrong?” He asked, reaching forward and wrapping his fingers around her knee giving it a gentle squeeze. She shook her head, focus fully back on him. “Why do you always think something’s wrong when I’m even the tiniest bit quiet, ‘Los?” She knew he meant well but sometimes his good intentions annoyed her. He chuckled, pulling back from her and resting his chin in his hands. “It’s simple really, nine times out of ten you’re quiet when something’s bothering you. Now we can do this the easy way or I can call Jay over and he can get it out of you. Your call.” He raised his eyebrow watching as every emotion flashed through her eyes.

She rolled her eyes, pushing herself from a seated to standing position from the floor. He knew he had gotten under her skin bringing Jay into the situation but sometimes that’s what he had to do to get her talking. Knew that she’d confide in Jay if it was something to do with him.

“So clearly you think you’ve done something wrong if you’re willing to call Jay.” She mumbled, arms crossing over her chest as she took a seat on the edge of his bed. He shrugged, turning to face her. “I just scared the shit out of you so of course I know I’ve done something wrong. It’s just a matter of figuring out what was under your skin before I got my fingers under it.” She shook her head, knew better than to let her feelings take over. “It’s nothing, don’t worry about it. Can we watch Aladdin now?” She questioned, standing and holding her hand out to help him up off the floor. He chuckled, shaking his head. “I still can’t believe they made a movie about that thief. I mean we’re thieves too, where’s our movie?” She rolled her eyes, shaking the hand she had outstretched at him. “You’re a petty thief, you haven’t pretended to be a prince to get the princess, yet.” Her voice was almost a whisper, eyes trained anywhere but him.

Carlos sighed as he reached for her hand, pulling himself up off the floor and dusting off his pants. He knew by the look in her eyes that something was up but he didn’t want to pressure her into talking. Intertwining their fingers he pulled her close to him, wrapping his other arm around her waist as she buried her face in the crook of his neck. He didn’t want to say anything but knew that he had to, knew he needed her to know he was there for her.

“Stop pretending you’re okay, cause I know you’re not.” He whispered, thumb tracing designs into her palm. He felt her torso heave as she sighed, her breath fanning out over his neck. “I can’t do this, ‘Los. Not right now.” She mumbled. Pulling his hand free from hers he wrapped his other arm around her waist, pulling her as close to him as possible. He rested his chin on top of her head, loving how the smaller girl fit perfectly in his grasp. “Can’t do what? Tell your best friend what’s got you down?” She snickered, pushing back from him and bringing her hands back up to rest on his chest. “Best friend, huh?” She questioned, eyes locked with his as confusion danced through them. “Are you not my best friend?” He was curious now, unsure of where she was headed. She nodded, gaze averted to the paw print charm that hung around his neck.

His fingers danced through the soft waves of her hair, sending shivers right down her spine. She reveled in the feeling for a moment before steeling herself, eyes meeting his as her fingers were still wrapped up in his leather necklace.

“Of course I’m you’re best friend, but...” she trailed off, fingers wrapping up in the leather cord the charm hung from. He cocked his head to the side before reaching up and pushing her bangs out of her eyes.

“But what?” He urged, wanted to hear the words he was longing her to say, to know she felt the same way he did. She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth as she shook her head, wasn’t sure she could make her mind form the sentence.

“But we’re not just friends and you fucking know it.” Her voice was barely more than a whisper, eyes studying his expression for the slightest falter. He couldn’t help but chuckle; it wasn’t exactly how he had imagined the moment to go. Her face fell as she pushed on his chest breaking his grasp and walked out of the room.  His jaw dropped, mind slow to process what has just happened before he found his feet moving of their own accord. “No, Buggy, stop.” He called out, knew the nickname would stop her in her tracks.

Carlos rounded the corner and found her standing in the living room, back to where she knew he would emerge from. He sighed as he closed the distance between them in three long strides, hands quickly finding a home on her shoulders.

“Buggy girl, please. Hear me out.” He mumbled, reveling in the scent that was unmistakably her. “What’s there to hear? You laughed at me, ‘Los.” She mumbled, crossing her arms over her chest to try and keep herself together. His grip tightened on her shoulders as he leaned his head forward, resting his forehead on the crown of her head. “Please don’t cry.” He knew her too well, knew the slight crack in her voice meant her eyes were welling up with tears. She huffed, straightening her back ever so slightly. “M’not crying.” She mumbled, willing her voice not to crack.

He sighed, resting his cheek on her shoulder as he let his arms drop and carefully wrapped them around her waist. She turned her head slightly to catch a glimpse of him; his eyes were closed as he tightened his grip on her waist.

“Don’t lie to me.” He mumbled, pulling in a deep breath through his nose. She sighed, relaxing so her body melded with his; hands falling to rest on his. “I’m not lying.” He chuckled, pressing a soft kiss under her ear. “Now we both know that I know exactly how you are when you cry and when you lie. Stop lying.”

She huffed again, pulling his hands off of her waist and stepped forward. A frown tugged on the corners of his lips at the sudden loss of contact. Spinning on her heel she faced him, arms crossed back over her chest as she let the tears fall freely. She was hurt he would laugh at her, thought for a split second he may feel the same way.

“You laughed at me.” She pushed her bottom lip out in a pout, wanted him to know how she really felt. “I didn’t laugh at you.” He said, closing the small distance between them. “I didn’t laugh at you.” She mocked, hands dropping to her hips. He sighed, knew she was getting angry. “Bug, please.” He reached out, hands resting on her waist. “No, don’t ‘Bug, please’ me, Carlos. There were so many ways that conversation could have gone and you really laughed at me.” “I didn’t mean to laugh at you.” She raised her brows, the look on her face saying she thought otherwise. “Then explain to me what that laugh meant, I’m listening.”

Carlos pulled her close so her body was flush with his as he wrapped his arms around her waist. Her hands found his biceps, she was still mad but she loved when he held her. He leaned forward slightly, resting his forehead on hers before taking a deep breath.

“Don’t think your being all cutesy is gonna make me any less mad.” She chuckled, melting into his touch. “I think I love you.” He mumbled, finger nails biting into the sides of his arms as to keep himself grounded. She pulled back ever so slightly, eyes fixed on the way his lashes danced over his freckle spotted cheeks. “What did you just say to me?” Waiting for his chocolate gaze to meet hers. He sighed as his eyes fluttered open, taking in the confusion that danced in her eyes. “I said, I think I’m in love with you, and that scares the crap out of me.” He pulled his bottom lip between his teeth, heart hammering in his chest. She cocked her head to the side, reaching up and cupping his cheeks in her hands. “What was that, De Vil?” The corners of his mouth quirked up as a chuckle escaped him. “Buggy.” He warned, not sure he could repeat the words he had just uttered. “Carlos.” She mocked, pressing a quick kiss to his nose. “Buggy girl.” He kept one arm wrapped around her waist as his other hand found her chin, tiling her face ever so slightly. “Baby boy.” She mumbled, treading in untouched waters. He pulled back just enough that her face came into full focus, brows raised. “What’d you call me?” She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth, a giggle escaping her. “You heard me.” He shook his head, leaning in to rub his nose against hers.

They stayed standing like that, wrapped up in their own thoughts. Rubbing his nose against hers mindlessly, he sent shivers dancing down her spine as his lips gently brushed hers. She let her hands fall, forearms resting on his shoulders as she clasped her hands behind his head. Raising on her toes she tried to steal a kiss, but he pulled back, chuckling as a frown played on her lips.

“Uh uh, what was that you called me, Buggy?” A blush crept up her neck, turning her cheeks a light shade of pink. “I called you baby boy.” He chuckled again, placing a soft kiss to her forehead. “That’s what I thought.”

~.~.~.~.~

It wasn’t long before he had pushed her down onto the couch wanting nothing more than to hold her. He had propped up all of the decorative pillows she just insisted he have on his couch up behind them for support. Wiggling slightly he reached behind her and pulled the pillow that was supporting her shoulder out from behind her; a sigh escaping her as her shoulder collided with the back of the couch.

“Hey, quit stealing all the pillows!” She whined, simultaneously moving so her body rested fully against his. He pushed his bottom lip out in a pout, situating the pillow so his arm would stop falling off of the couch. “I thought I was your pillow.” He whined, mimicking her earlier tone. She giggled, tilting her head back to look up at him. “You are my pillow, but sometimes your bony chest just isn’t doing it for me.”

His mouth dropped open, shock dancing through his features as what she said sank in. She couldn’t help but giggle like a school girl, knew he wasn’t actually offended but wanted to play along anyway. Reaching up she grasped his chin, gently pushing his mouth shut.

“Alright, we’re not trying to catch flies here, are we De Vil?” He screwed up his face, her expressions never made sense to him. “Why would I wanna catch flies?” He mumbled, gentling pulling her hand away from his face. She giggled, fingers intwining with his. “Nevermind, it’s just a saying.” She shrugged, eyes trained back on the movie on the television. “Your sayings never make any sense.” He grumbled, earning himself another giggle. “You never make any sense, baby boy.”

 Butterflies sprang to life in his stomach as she uttered that pet name for the second time that night, it was different but he couldn’t say he didn’t like it. She cuddled into his chest, her cheek resting on the hand she held in hers. Pressing a chaste kiss to the top of her head he chuckled, running his free hand up and down her back. He pulled a deep breath in through his nose, sighing before he spoke. “Love you.” He mumbled, unsure if she’d heard him. “I love you, De Vil. But if you don’t shut up and watch the rest of the movie I’m gonna make you put a sock in it.” He chuckled, shaking his head. “There you go not making sense again.” She shrugged. “But you love it.” He sighed, relaxing his body into the couch once more. “You got me there, Buggy girl.” 

Blind Hope Chapter 1

Title: Blind Hope Author: Rosie Dayze Word Count: 2299 Pairing: Nick Jakoby x Reader Rating: PG-13 Themes: Angst, Plot, affectionate frustration Disclaimer: I do not own Nick Jakoby, he is the intellectual property of Netflix Originals. I make no money from this fanfiction.

Authors Note: This was supposed to be like...five hundred words. I don’t know what happened, but here you go. I put in a break so that this didn’t take up anyones feed too much. Also, sorry I got so moody with this. It had a bad anxiety day.

You are engrossed in work when you hear someone call your name. By the sound of it, it isn't the first time they've tried getting your attention. You look up from your desk and see a courier in a red and blue uniform holding up a bouquet that can only be described as extravagant. Roses of every available color mingle with babies breath and other, smaller flowers that you don't know the names of.

“If you could...just sign here?” The courier is doing their best to sound professional, but you get the feeling that the flowers are heavy and there are other delivers to make. Stunned, you sign for the flowers. Relieved, the courier puts them on your desk and absconds.

Transfixed, you run your finger across one of a petal so dark blue it's nearly purple. It's like dewy satin beneath your touch. The bloom opens and a soft floral scent fills the room. It brings with it a gentle, silvery chime. These aren't just flowers, you realize, they are elven roses. They'll continue to bloom for a whole year, maybe longer with a bit of care, and they carry song as well as scent.

They are also, ridiculously expensive.

“What...on earth?” June's voice cuts through your reverie. Bashfully you whirl around, hoping against hope that you can block out the sight of your unexpected gift. “I...uhm...” But June's already there, manicured fingers on her lemon yellow hips. You decided long ago that June was pretty much the most beautiful woman to ever walk the earth. An amalgam of American genetics mingled with a dash of magic gave her rich brown skin and hazel eyes and hair so dark and curly that the sun could get lost in it. Her eyes narrow and then go wide “Are those what I think they are?” she asks in a voice made for radio. “Maybe?” She rolls her eyes and skims past you. Gentle as can be she bends to a blossom that matches her outfit and takes a deep whiff. Her lips, glossy and bright, curl into a cat like smile. “Entarnian,” she says in perfect elfish. The tiniest points in her ears, nearly invisible beneath the wealth of her hair, belie a distant heritage. “Oh, sweetie, these are incredible.” You assumed as much, but getting June's stamp of approval means that these flowers are pretty much exactly as expensive as you thought they were. “I was afraid of that.” June blinks. “Afraid? Why?” She pulls away from the arrangement. “Who are they from?” You bite your lip. Honestly, you aren't sure. You've been on a lot of dates in the past few months, and only one of them went well. No, you admit, it was perfect. Sure, it was just dinner, and a walk, but you'd really felt something. You thought he had too, but then he didn't call. He didn't text. It's been nine days since you heard anything from Nick Jaokby and you are pretty sure you aren't going to hear from him ever again. At first you were angry about it. Now you're just confused. “I don't know. I went on a date with that banker last night.” June's nose wrinkled. “The thrice-divorced? Oh...sweetie.” You shrug. You hadn't really wanted to go on the date either, but you had hoped that dinner and a show would pull you out of this five day funk you've been feeling. It hadn't. Mr. Peter Prescott was pretty much everything you dislike in a potential partner. It wasn't his looks, those were plastic perfect, it was everything else about him. He'd spent the first ten minutes of your date demanding to know if you'd even slept with an elf and it had pretty much gone downhill from there. You desperately hope that the flowers aren't from him, but they seem like exactly the kind of thing he might send in the hopes of guilting you into a second date. The very thought of it makes your stomach turn sour. “I don't know,” you repeat. “Well, only one way to find out.” Quick as a lash June's hand dives into the greenery. The roses chime merrily, creating a delicate music. Moments later her hand reappears, clutching a tiny, pink card between her fingers. “There we are.” You see your name written in hurried script. It's not the fine, practiced hand of a florist, but there is something charming about it all the same. June passes it to you. “Open it.” You raise your brow. “You aren't the boss of me.” It's not true, and you both know it. June, who is your best friend, is also your direct superior. She just crosses her arms and gives you a long, deadpan look. “Alright, alright.” You tug at the envelope flap and a little card spills out. It's not particularly large, but you think it's bigger than the average floral notecard. You hesitate to open it. Right now the note, and the flowers, could be from anyone. Right now they are Schrodinger's flowers, and you kind of like them that way. Perhaps someone from your family is celebrating, and everyone you are related to got a bunch of overpriced, musical flowers. Maybe they are from a secret admirer who is practically perfect in every way. Maybe...just maybe they are from who you'd really like them to be from. You don't even realize you are holding your breath when you open the card. I wanted to say I'm sorry The note begins. Your heart gives a hopeful leap. Ward told me that I wasn't supposed to call for three days or I'd look stupid. I looked stupid anyway because I broke my phone when putting my warbag into my locker. I didn't know how to say I'm sorry. Ward said to send flowers. I didn't know what kind. I hope these are okay. At the very bottom of the card, hastily scrawled in what little space was left, is a phone number. “Well now. That explains it.” You bite your lip. You want to believe it. You really do but there is that tiny, ugly voice in the back of your head screaming at the top of its anxiety crafted lungs that breaking a phone doesn't delete all the information. He could have found another way to get your number. Right? And yet, maybe he couldn't. Or maybe he was nervous. Or maybe... “Stop it,” June says. You look up from the card. “Stop what?” “Stop thinking whatever you are thinking that's putting that look in your eyes.” You close the card. “What look?” “The one that says you are going to overthink whatever that card says until you make yourself sick.” Gingerly she plucks the card from your grasp. You let her take it. As she reads it her lips curve. Her eyes go bright. “Awww!” You roll your eyes; part amused, part annoyed. You wish that you had the same reaction. You wish the only thing you felt was the sweet joy that is practically beaming out of June's demielf eyes. “He could have called you, could have gotten my number all over again like he did before.” June's smile wilts. “Don't do this.” She sighs and deposits the note on your desk. “I am begging you not to do this.” “Do what?” You cross your arms. The turmoil of emotions that's been stirring in you for nine days bubbles up inside your chest. “Not take what some guy I went on one date with says happened?” “Nick isn't just 'some guy' and you know it.” “I had a four hour conversation with him.” You aren't sure if you are telling her or yourself. “I was a nice conversation, but that's all it was.” She narrows her eyes at you. June, despite being no more than two months older than you, has this amazing mom expression. Its that particular mix of I-care-about-you and you're-being-dumb that only the most nurturing of people can master without even trying. She crosses on Jimmy Choo clad foot over the other and takes in a slow breath. “Call him.” “What?” “I know you are already talking yourself out of it. You are already coming up with seven different excuses of why it can wait until later.” “I'm working.” You point at your desk. “No you aren't. You are officially on break.” “I already-” “I swear to god if you don't call him I will fire you.” You return her direct look with one of your own. “No you wont.” She sighs. Her shoulders drop an inch or so. She reaches behind her and picks up the card. “You're right. Bluff called. But darling, I love you nearly as much as I love my wife and I am telling you that by second guessing and overthinking you are going to do nothing but hurt yourself.” She presses the card to your hands. “You don't have to call him right now. Take what time you think you need but please, I'm begging you.” She touches a single finger to your forehead. “Stop thinking the worst of people.” She squeezes your shoulder, and walks away to leave you with your own thoughts. You don't think the worst of people, honestly. You just know that sometimes people are the absolute worst. Some more than others. It's printed clearly on the front page of newspapers, emblazoned across social media. It's all there, plain as day. You aren't Nick, you aren't sure that everyone is just trying their best. Your thoughts come to a crash behind your eyes. Nick. The memory of him saying those words with the fervent tone of a true believer rolls through you. He said it so honestly, with such genuine hope that you found yourself looking at the world a little differently. You started to notice things, nice things. At least for the first few days. Then he hadn't called and you'd stopped looking. You sigh to yourself. So what. So he didn't call. It was only nine days, not the totality of your existence. Nine days was nothing. Even so, that ugly voice wont shut up. You spend the rest of the day at your desk. At five o'clock you gather up your things, including the flowers and take the trolly home. You stop at your favorite deli and pick up a sandwich for dinner. You give half of it to the little old lady who lives in the apartment next to you. She comments on your flowers, asks about who sent them. You give a vague “oh, no one” answer before retreating to the sanctuary of your apartment. You read and reread the note a thousand times. You come up with worst case scenarios and fairy tale solutions. You binge watch a television show and think about adopting a pet. You eat your sandwich. You smell the roses. “Damnit,” you mutter as you pick up your phone. You dial the first four numbers and then erase them. You dial the first five and erase those two. You toss your phone down and pull your laptop into your lap so you can look at pet adoption sites and social media pages. The sandiwch in your belly starts to feel like lead. If it had been someone else you might have been amused, maybe flattered, But this wasn't someone else. This was Nick Jakoby. You spent four hours in his company and started to see the whole world differently. You saw more kindness and hope than you ever expected to. You saw a glimpse of what it might have been like to see things the way you think he does. And then he didn't call. Oh, you'd think about calling him. You'd even picked up the phone. He'd said that he'd get in touch with you and you had believed him. After all the liars and the idiots and the buffoons and thrice divorced bankers you had wholehartedly believed him. You had believed he'd want to see you. That you would wake up and there would be text asking you for coffee, or something later asking if you wanted to go for another walk. But nothing had happened. One day turned into two, and two had turned into nine and by the end of it all you hated him for not keeping his promise. But more than that you'd hated yourself for not sucking down your own anxiety and reaching out to him first. “Damnit,” you snarl and pick up the phone. Before you can stop yourself you are jabbing his number into your phone hard enough to make the screen rainbow. Ring This is dumb, you tell yourself. You are in a bad mood. You should not call him right now. You should hang up. Wait for your mood to settle. June is right. You overthink things. You drag yourself down. You let your hope for the best get drowned out by your expectancy of the worst. Ring What are you even going to say if he picks up? That you've missed him? It'd be the truth. You have missed him. But that's not the point. Maybe you should tell him you are angry that you haven't heard from him. You've been worried. That would be true too. But is it the whole truth? Nothing but? Ring The call connects with a brief click and smoke sound. The first thing you hear is his breath, a sharp intake of air that sounds hopeful. He says your name like a prayer. You sag against your couch, pull a pillow into your lap and push your phone harder against your ear like that can somehow bring him closer. “Nick?” you ask. “I am so glad you called.” He says it the way he says everything. Like he means it. “I am too.”  

Chapter 2 Found Here

An Unexpected Future

Part 27:

The rest of the class consisted of some games, including a very amusing one where the instructor had all of the future fathers strap on 20 pound empathetic bellies and try to tie their shoes. We also watched another video and practiced breathing techniques to manage pain during labor. Then for the last bit of the class we discussed everything from what to pack in a hospital bag to breast feeding to diaper changing and we even talked about how to put a baby properly in a car seat. I never realized how much there really was to know when it came to having and caring for a baby. It was pretty overwhelming, but the class was very informative and when it was over, both Ezra and I felt more confident about everything.

Angelica called me after the birthing class and reminded me that our graduation ceremony was in a week. I had been so wrapped up in everything going on with preparing for the baby that I had completely forgotten that I was about to graduate from college.

The more I thought about it, the idea of actually walking to receive my diploma seemed silly to me, although Ezra strongly disagreed. He insisted that I walk at my graduation.

"But I hated everything about my high school graduation." I groaned. It was a beautiful afternoon and we just had lunch after the birthing class ended and were now enjoying the weather sitting in the grass under a tree in Central Park. "The silly robes, the long and boring wait for my name to be called just to walk up on stage in front of a bunch of people I'll never see again. It's pointless. Seriously, I'd rather not bother when I can just have my diploma sent to me in the mail."

"Well, what's the fun in that?" Ezra asked, finishing a cigarette. I noticed that he had been smoking a lot lately, probably due to nerves with the baby's arrival being just around the corner. "Come on, (Y/N). Be proud of yourself. You've worked so hard over the past couple of years. You earned that diploma and graduating from college is a big deal."

"Coming from someone who didn't even graduate from high school." I teased, nudging his arm.

"Yeah," He frowned. "Well, maybe I kind of regret that decision..."

"So, you want me to suffer because of your poor life choices?" I was only picking on him, but I could tell he wasn't taking any of it as a joke.

"I simply think that you deserve to celebrate such a big accomplishment." He shrugged, another cigarette already between his teeth as he pulled out a lighter. "Just like anyone else."

"Good Lord," I changed the subject, taking the cigarette right out of his mouth before he could light it. "How about we try and cut back a little on the smoking???"

"How about we leave a man alone to his vices?" Ezra grabbed the cigarette from me and put it back in his mouth and lit it.

"Vice my ass." I huffed. "You smoke what? Two packs a day now???"

"That's a bit of an exaggeration, don't ya think?" He took a long drag. "Anyway, we're not talking about me and my bad habits right now. We're talking about you and your refusal to attend a simple graduation ceremony."

"Hey," I smirked, an idea suddenly popping in my head. "I'll tell you what: If you can go a week without puffing on a single cancer stick, I will gladly walk at my graduation."

"Only a week?" Ezra raised his eyebrows. "Alright. Yeah, okay. Fine..." He hopped to his feet and tossed his freshly lit cigarette onto the ground and put it out with his foot. "No problem."

Right away Ezra threw the rest of his cigarettes that he had on him into a trash bin.

"You know, I was mostly kidding about you quitting smoking." I chuckled. We were back at the apartment. He had found 2 more unopened packs that were lying around and I found it amusing watching him as he got rid of them.

"No, no." He said. "Don't you worry. In a week you will be hanging your head in shame as you walk across that stage to get your diploma. You may not think I can do it, but I will prove you very wrong, my dearest."

"Whatever." I rolled my eyes. He was always so dramatic.

I was surprised to see that Ezra had made it 4 days without a single cigarette. I did take notice though that he had replaced smoking with food.

"Geeze." I laughed as he chowed on his 5th slice of pizza. We had been spending our evenings lately relaxing at home, binge watching shows on Netflix and taking turns making dinner or ordering takeout. "I thought I was the one eating for two."

"Well excuse me for being hungry." He immediately got defensive over my comment. Not smoking had him easily irritated as well and every little thing would set him off. "Am I not allowed to eat now???"

"Oh, here we go." I groaned. "Relax, will ya? It was just a joke, Ez. There's no need to get hostile."

He tossed the crust from the slice of pizza he had just devoured into the almost empty box and got to his feet. "Whatever, I need a beer..."

I sighed, slouching back, trying to focus on the movie we were currently watching. It was hard for me to not get super annoyed by his moodiness considering my own mood swings were just as crazy as ever lately. Not to mention, I had been starting to have what the doctor said were Braxton Hicks contractions randomly throughout the day and at night, so I was very uncomfortable and irritable.

I was currently feeling the tightness spreading throughout my stomach and was trying to relax when he came back with his beer.

These 'practice' contractions only hurt a little, but they were causing me quite a bit of discomfort and they had the baby kicking like crazy.

The baby was almost always moving now and I was constantly aware of every nudge and kick.

Ezra sat back down beside me on the couch and he seemed to sense my discomfort as he glanced over at me, although he didn't say anything.

We had been bickering a lot the past few days since he gave up cigarettes and by each evening, we were both tired of it and would just sit in silence. It seemed easier to enjoy each other's company this way lately and I tried not to be too bothered by it, knowing we would eventually move passed it.

I had fallen asleep at some point right there on the couch and when I woke up the next morning, Ezra was no where to be found.

I checked my phone and saw that he had sent me a text.

'Morning love. Hope you slept well. Sorry I didn't wake you last night to come back to bed. You need your rest and I didn't want to disturb you. I know things have been a little tense these past few days, especially on my part. I want to make it up to you, so I'll be back in a couple of hours with a special surprise😉😉😉'

I responded: 'I understand babe. I'm proud of you for taking the initiative to quit smoking even if it's only for a week and to get me to walk at my graduation lol. I know it's tough, but I know you can do it. Who knows, maybe after a whole week, you won't ever want another cigarette again 😋 I know, I'm being too hopeful. Well, if you're going to be out all day, I think I'll go finish up some baby shopping with my mom. And please, nothing too crazy! I know how you are when it comes to surprises. Love you. See you tonight ❤'

'You know me oh too well, dear. Crazy is my middle name!!! 🤪 Have fun with your mom and tell her I said hello. I'll see you when I get home. Love you bunches xoxo'

I ate a bowl of cereal, took a shower and got dressed before meeting up with my mom in the city where we spent the entire day picking out some last minute necessities and a few fun things for the baby and had a late lunch.

I was surprised to see that Ezra had beat me back home that evening. He seemed overly giddy about whatever trick he had up his sleeve.

"You're kind of freaking me out." I giggled as he quickly took all of my shopping bags from me and set them on the kitchen table as soon as I walked through the door. "Seriously, what's the big surprise???"

"It's in the bedroom." He was practically bouncing with excitement like a little kid. "Now, before I show you, please please promise me that you'll have an open mind about this and not be totally mad at me."

"Jesus," I laughed nervously as he skipped down the hallway to the bedroom. "Should I be scared???"

He didn't answer and it took him a moment to emerge from the room.

"Ez???...Oh...my GOD!!!"

He had entered the kitchen craddling the tiniest puppy I had ever seen in my life in his hands.

"What do you think?" He asked, grinning from ear to ear as he held the puppy up, showing me.

"You...got a dog?" I furrowed my brows.

"I sure did." He giggled, letting the small animal lick his face. The puppy was fluffy and white with brown spots and floppy ears. "Josh's sister's cocker spaniel had puppies a couple of weeks ago. Her name is Sasha and she has 3 brothers and 2 sisters. So, what do you think??? She's adorable, right?"

I couldn't help but smile at his enthusiasm, although I was feeling pretty conflicted.

"Well," I said. "I'm definitely surprised..."

"Oh, come on," He was giving the puppy kisses on the nose and nuzzling his cheek against its soft head. "Look at this little face...How are you not absolutely in love???"

"Ez," I laughed. "We're just weeks away from having the huge responsibility of caring for a baby. And now we're going to double that responsibility with a puppy?"

"Are you going to make me take her back???" He suddenly looked like a kid that had just dropped his ice cream cone on the ground or that accidentally let go of their balloon and I immediately felt guilty.

"Ugh," I groaned, quickly giving in. "No...of course not. You're clearly already a match made in heaven. And I don't think I could have the heart to break up such a fast, yet precious bond between a grown ass man and a puppy."

"Awe," Ezra cooed, holding the dog's face closely to his as he spoke and I rolled my eyes. "You hear that, Sasha? Looks like you get to stay!"

"Yeah, yeah." I grinned. "Sasha gets to stay."

Destiny - 1

Genre: Angst, fluff

Pairing: Chanyeol x reader

Word count: 3590

Description: A tragedy that completely changed your routes to your destiny.

A/N: So, after a possibly long break I’m back with this present. For chanyeol. That’s it. Thank you.

“Chanyeol!” You called, taking footsteps a bit faster to catch up with him.

“Chanyeol, stop!”

“Chanyeol, I swear to god stop!”

“Chanyeol, why the hell are you ignoring me?” You yelled, leaping forward to stop him by pulling his arm. With a force you turned him to face you, eyes glaring at his when he turned.

He abruptly turned, stumbling a bit and facing you, eyes soft yet held a rage within them. A mixture of frustration, guilt and annoyance in them that made you gulp down your words and stand there looking like an idiot who doesn’t know what to do.

His eyes wandering everywhere than yours, yet you could feel the guilt in those orbs which weren’t landing on your face. You didn’t know for how long you stood in front of him without saying anything but you were sure it was quite a long time before you said something.

“Why are you ignoring me?” You voiced, taking a step towards him. Voice firm without losing any sternness which was present when you yelled and he was running away from you.

“Then what the fuck do you want me to do?” he snapped, running his hand through his hair in frustration but expression telling otherwise. His deep voice over powering yours making you gasp at his vexation. You stepped back, fury rising inside you every passing second and you want to snap back too but instead sighing in annoyance not wanting to extend it any further.

When you saw sideways trying to hide your indignation, that's when you realize each and every passerby on that sidewalk had stopped to pass a judging look towards both of you. Irked and unbothered, you looked back at his eyes which still refused to look at you.

“After doing all that, you're asking me what I want you to do?” You scoffed, rolling your eyes and crossing your hands over your chest. You didn’t want to look at him faking his exasperation so you looked sideways, eyes trailing from one person to another, anyone and any object but him.

He let out a dry laugh not sounding humorous but rather guilty, tottering towards you unable to maintain his balance, after all you can see through his facade he put to show that he was not a bit guilty but in reality that was his alcohol that was making him say things he didn’t want to say and do things he didn’t want to do.

“Can you tell me what did I do?” he barked, trying to stand a little straight and not trip in the process, still not looking at you.

“Yeah sure, here you go... You forgot our fourth marriage anniversary, well I thought you might gonna surprise me afterwards but clearly I was wrong. Forget that, I thought even if you didn’t do shit it’ll be fine for me, so I decided to give you a surprise instead and guess what? You came home late - drunk, made all the guests wait for your damn appearance and over that you created a fucking scene in front of all for no reason. Not for no reason, it's because you were so drunk you didn’t realize there were people around you, right? And now… you’re acting like you did nothing wrong after ruining our anniversary. That’s what you did Park Chanyeol.” You babbled, voice exasperated biting the inside of your lip as you held back your tears.

“I didn’t expect you to give me surprises, a bunch of gifts or some fancy outings. All I just wanted from you was to remember our anniversary and wish me with a sweetest of your smiles like I did when you entered the hall for the party, it wouldn’t matter if you wished me first or last, just you should’ve wished me.”

With that all your anger from the previous arguments faded into nothingness and tears started to surface your already watery eyes. It was just matter of time as your tears fell on your flushed cheeks and you waited for him to say something. Anything.

His face fell, draining all his previous facade of frustration and vexation replaced with pure guilt as he looked at the ground with no words on the tip of his lips. His hands in his pockets, eyes red from the consumption of alcohol and his legs unsteady, ready to give away any strength left and fall on the sidewalk.

He looked up, first time after he unconsciously dragged you out on the streets. Even though you were trying to not look at his eyes and not let the fact affect you that he was damn tipsy and might just pass out in the middle on the sidewalk, you couldn’t help but glance at his eyes that roamed over your face while staggering a little.

“Hap...happy fourth anniversary.” He cooed, hands reaching to get a hold of yours. Grabbing your hands tight yet soft making you look at him and probably helping himself from tripping too. His cheeks flushed red and his ears even redder with guilt and embarrassment written all over his face and for sure alcohol. Then, he smiled the one which you wanted from the beginning and the one for which you fell for him in the first place.

“I… I’m really sorry. I… uh.. Forgot our anniversary and now... I.. I’m wishing you with no shame probably being the last person to do the most important thing. But, please don’t c.. cry. I know I’m an idiot and totally acted shit in front of all the guests and demanded things from you in such a rash manner and told you things which I don’t remember now. I.. I shouldn’t have done that… and for that I really am sorry.” he babbled, taking an unsteady step towards you.

“Demanding food is fine, I suppose,”

“Demanding food is fine but demanding food while yelling and almost making your head hit the refrigerator is not fine.” He said, his voice becoming more sluggish as he tried to stand firm.

He eventually lost his balance and fell forward as his senses gave in and he passed out. You grabbed him before he would lose the support your body was giving his wobbly legs and you made him rest his head on your shoulder. His breath tingling your skin beneath his nose and the delicate fragrance of his shampoo mixed with the smell of alcohol wafting in your nose told you to forgive him, to forget what he did and tell him not to worry about it anymore. And that’s what you did.

“I forgive you, Chanyeol. Now let’s go home.” You divulged, wrapping your hands around his torso and pulling him towards your shared apartment with the tiniest smile on your face.

That’s what love is.

That’s how you both are.

One minute arguing and another minute apologizing each other and claiming it was one’s fault. And that’s how your love for each other is - a little moody, a little nervous but true and selfless. Even while arguing over the slightest of the matter you both observe each other to the fullest and see through each other’s facade like a transparent glass which reveals the inner most emotions from which the outside world is deprived of.

You were fine with everything he has to give to you even though it's little and not as big when you were with your mom, your small apartment which gave you a feeling of safety and selfness, your car which might not be as long and sleek but travelling with Chanyeol in it made both of you proud about what you have now yet those small arguments always came. But, that’s okay right?

At first your mom accepted your relationship with Chanyeol, gave him a chance to prove himself and he did. Yet your mom wasn’t satisfied with him, with whatever he did and whatever he could afford for both of you, something was always lacking for your mom even if you were satisfied with everything.

That’s when your mom started nagging you - for a divorce - which you completely and straightly denied every time she did bring the matter up.

Chanyeol wanted to become a painter and he painted in his free time but he could never make his passion his work because all he thought was how to prove your mother that he can earn a satisfactory amount of money and make every need and necessity of both of you affordable with the small convenience store he owned.

The scenario was different for his family. His parents always supported your relationship to the fullest and loved and savored you with affection. You were always given a bit more attention than him when you were around his family and that made him whine like a small child about it. But sure they never complained or questioned about you or your marriage.

And when your mom came to know about the scenario which Chanyeol created in his drunk state, she fumed with anger as she called you in a haste. Yelling at you for even choosing Chanyeol in the first place, making assumptions about him for only loving you for your money which you knew is otherwise, throwing rash comments about his character and finally bringing the topic of divorce.

At first you kept silent as you watched Chanyeol’s sleeping form next to you on the bed with a small smile and not paying enough attention to what your mom had to say about him. But as her voice ranged from a strict tone to something more sounding like hatred, you couldn’t hold back.

You snapped, eyes closed and biting your lower lip not to show the anger in your voice as you told her to stop with her toxic, unwanted and false facts about Chanyeol. And eventually with straight annoyed tone you denied the divorce and ended the call, throwing your phone on the nightstand beside. Feeling agitated you decided to just call it a day and sleep, pulling your blankets over you and shutting your eyes for the process to sleep.

A high pitched volume filling your bedroom woke you up. Your hand crawling out of your blankets to reach the nightstand beside before shutting the small device before it could possibly wake your husband next to you.

You disinterestedly made your feet get out of the warmth which was your blankets and Chanyeol but more specifically Chanyeol, stretching and yawning as you wobbled a little still empowered by the deep sleep and hooded eyes.

It was especially lazy and the daily chores of the house went slow until your eyes caught a glance over the calendar.

“Shit,” you cursed under your breath, throwing the mop in your hand on the floor as your feet sped their way to your bedroom.

“CHANYEOL!” You screamed, hands on his arms, shaking him rapidly to wake him up. Your knees on the edge of the bed shifting more outwards as you shook him violently now.

You lost your balance and fell forward. On him. Your hands sprawled over his waist, your elbow hitting his rib as your head hit his bicep. You squeaked in pain as his strong bicep hit your forehead. You were a whole mess laid on him as you tried to wake him up with your ferocious techniques.

“What the hell!” Chanyeol grunted, deep voice muffled by the blankets he is under as he shifted to the other side. You could sense a frown on his face and the squeezing of his eyes as he always did before waking up.

You lifted your arms which were sprawled all over him and tried to gain a control over them while steadying your wobbly knees. You tried to peek over his face to note if your efforts worked or it all became futile.

Your one hand trying to lift up the covers and wake him up while other still keeping your balance. Your eyes furrowed as to not get caught. You saw two wide eyes glaring at you and you sat back up. Chanyeol woke up and it’s what all that matters after getting drunk the previous night instead of you getting caught for waking him up.

You saw him pulling his form to a sitting position, eyes still half lidded as he tried to process to what just happened and why he was nearly crushed. He ran his hand through his already messy hair, yawning before looking at you.

He looks hot…. NO. This is not the time for thinking such things when you both have no time at all. You shook the thoughts off your mind before giving a wide grin.

He slumped back down not bothering to pull his comforter, sleep already overtaking his eyes.

“Chanyeol, WAKE up.” Your voice firm as you saw him open his one eye and then the other. He shook his head cutely just like a little puppy, but you were not falling for any of his traps, after all it was an important day for him.

“Chanyeol, today is your job interview. Wake up.” Your hands reaching to touch his arm but before you could shake him up again, he suddenly sat up. His back rigid and eyes wide awake.

“Fuck,” he shrieked, tossing away the blankets rushing directly towards the bathroom, tripping in the middle with a gasp, launching himself again before entering and closing the door.

You sighed, still sitting on the bed with your legs crossed. Head resting on palm of your hand and shaking your head while chuckling at the clumsiness of your husband.

You saw him again at the breakfast table, making a fuss about everything. Nearly, dropping his glass of juice on his dress shirt. You saw him eating as fast as possible while you were a bit calm and still eating your toast.

“Calm down, everything will be fine.” You tried to calm him down as you ate your toast. You earned a glare from him as he continued making a fuss and complicate even the easiest things.

“Why didn’t you wake me up early?” He asked accusingly.

“What do you mean I didn’t? I was waking you up from at least twenty minutes and yet you were not waking up.” You argued, now munching your toast faster and sending a glare on each bite you took.

“Still, it is your duty to wake up your husband. You should have done whatever to wake me up.” He rolled his eyes as he finished his toast and stood up while hurting his knee in the process.

“Don’t tell me my duties, I know them damn well and by the way who was the one that got drunk last night?” You snapped back, finishing your toast and stood up with a jerk. Without taking in what he accused you of next, you grabbed your bag and walked out of your apartment to the car parking downstairs.

You waited for Chanyeol, sitting on the passenger's seat irritated at his inculpating words. You were fidgeting with the strap of your handbag when he entered and closed the door with a loud bang.

You frowned at him for being an asshole, banging car door for no reason and accusing you for the thing which you never did. You rolled your eyes and stared out of your window as he pulled the car on the road.

There was a maddening silence which you hated in the first place especially when Chanyeol drove, so to make it less awkward you turned on the stereo, playing whatever song that came in your mind first.

Suddenly it became silent again, you were sure the stereo worked well and the music CD wasn’t corrupted. You knitted your eyebrows together as you looked at the system examining it. It was somehow off.

You turned it on again. While you were looking out, hands in your lap and silently enjoying the song, you kept seeing the system from the corner of your eyes to check. And that’s what you caught you off guard when you saw Chanyeol’s hand nearing the music system to probably turn it off.

Before he could reach for the system and turn it off, you placed your hand on the off button keeping it out of reach from his hand. One hand trying to stop while his other on driving wheel. He struggled a little trying to pull your hand away and stop the music but failed. Finally he sighed and took his hand off of the music system completely. This somehow made him more furious.

You smirked into yourself for your little victory. You were about to look away when a hand, so rapid came across the music system and turned it off. You hissed, forcing out a long breath closing your eyes.

Chanyeol was smirking at you now that his act deceived you. You widened your eyes at him for being so childish and annoying but it was also you being childish. You tried to push away his hands off the stereo. Starting with a slight force which gradually increased as you were unable to move his hand away.

“What! Just got this much.” He scoffed, the devilish smirk visible which made you fume even more. You tried even harder, grabbing his hand and pulling with such a force which you suppose you never applied anywhere before.

This became a silent competition between both of you. Chanyeol wasn’t stopping for anything and he sure wasn’t taking his foot off the gas pedal unconsciously speeding up the car. Your eyes stayed glued on the music system taking any chance to turn that thing on again while the world passed outside in a blur. The hiss of the tires over the road was lost as both of you were so engrossed in turning each other down that you didn't notice. Chanyeol leaned a little to turn the system off again when accidentally he pressed on.

In that instant he lost the opportunity to evade and successfully escape past the truck in front of them. Even if he’d paid attention to what was ahead of him, it would have been hard for him to get past the truck considering the car speed. Both of you barely had any time to scream when the sudden jerk knocked both of you back and then side ways.

The car tumbled over and over as it got dragged with a huge velocity. At the last moment as the window glass got shattered, you jumped. Your head hit the hood of the car and you let out a screech. Your bones and muscles and joints and organs felt like they were being smashed and crumbled into nothing. Your lungs contracted with such a force that you were afraid if you would ever be able to breathe again. Your torso smashed against the windshield while arms and legs got pierced with the broken glass. Your vision kept flickering, flashing from cruel darkness to blinding light. The only sound that filled your ears was the crushing of glass mixed with distinct crackles of your bones and at last a large thump. Your body suddenly went limp as your realized you landed on the land with a sudden jerk on your skull.

Silence.

The car had flipped so many times that Chanyeol became disoriented and he even dropped down to the conclusion that he got concussion that had him seeing black and white. He was thrown out of the car due to the tumbling and tossing. He was fleetingly aware of the bloody taste in his mouth before another object hit him on the side of his waist making him squirm. He finally felt something under him. Ground. As he tried to open his eyes, he realized he wasn’t able to open his left eye.

You opened your eyes after what seemed like eternity and felt like you died. You weren’t able to move when you tried to and the vision so blurry you was unable to see your own hand. You waited for your vision to be clear, and that’s when you saw. Him. Chanyeol. A few inches away, eyes closed and blood running from possibly every inch of his face.

You tried to get close but was unable to move and that's when reality hit you. You were in a pool of blood yourself. Body numb and unmoving. Your mind hazy and vision foggy which was becoming worse by each passing second.

You saw Chanyeol opening his one eye, his other swollen and red. You waited for him to see you. In that moment you regretted ever fighting with him in the first place, as the last thing before the accident was both of you silently arguing.

His iris moved, trying to take in everything surrounding him. Those orbs landed on your form. You could see through him. Clear and transparent as always. Guilt. Regret. No sign of any annoyance from before.

You extended your hand, trying to touch him one last time before god knows what will gonna happen to both of you. His own unmoving and limp figure trying to strain his hand muscles to get a hold of you.

The slightest touch that felt like feather against the concrete road gave you the feeling of safety, love and screaming apologies from the other side which was surely satisfying.

That’s when you let your eyes close. Let your eyes see black. Let your body go still and let your ears listen silence.

Destiny Masterlist

ϟ Good Times (Sirius Black & Remus Lupin)

So I finally managed to get my shit together and write this little, quite sad piece. I was listening to Good Times by All Time Low (which I recommend you listen to while reading this) and this came to mind. I know I'm a bit late since Halloween was almost a month ago, but hey, let's just go with it. There’s no reader insertion in this, just a little one-shot about my babies; hope you’ll like it!

word count: 2300+ words

summary: In which it's Halloween again, but two lone wolves find it hard to enjoy the festivities.

Molly struggled to make her way through the many people, mostly redheads, gathered in the dining room, and the joyous laughter that filled her ears. It had been a long time since she had last witnessed so much happiness among her family and friends, and didn’t try to control the effusive exaltation surrounding the teenagers and adults she had grown to love. It seemed that all of their scars were lighter to bear when bliss lingered in the lonely twelve, Grimmauld Place, and she could have sworn she even saw the glimpse of a smile curling Mad-Eye Moody’s lips.

It had been a long day but Molly was proud of what she had accomplished. As she looked at the mischievious twins she could easily tell apart - although they liked to think she was too ignorant for that; as she looked at her eldest son, sipping from his glass of wine and conversing lightly with his younger brother and Tonks; as she looked at Hermione and Ginny, who were laughing over something stupid Ron had just said; as she looked at Harry, the boy who lived, the boy she had come to consider as her own seventh son; as she looked at her husband, whose eyes wore the same glint of curiosity and intelligence she had fallen in love so many years ago; as she looked at the freshly cooked meal and the thoughtfully arranged decorations, she knew she was proud, and hopeful.

“Remus, would you be so kind as to-” she started, turning around but bringing her sentence to a halt when she saw no one was in sight.

Fallen dead silent, she inspected the empty corridor a few seconds, then sighed. She should’ve known better, she should’ve remembered some scars were much deeper than the silver marks on his face.

“For some reason, I knew I’d find you here.”

The deep voice cut through the silent night. A man glanced at the direction the voice came from, squinted his eyes, then shook his head and continued walking down the sidewalk, a bit faster though. For a second there he had thought the tall man in the cemetery was talking to the massive, black dog sprawled right next to one of the tombstones… he shrugged it off; it was probably just a strange, lonely man on a cold Halloween night.

Remus was cautiously walking towards the guard dog as if the tiniest of hasty movements could’ve made it run away. The dog’s ears rose for a few moments, registering the familiar voice, before dolefully falling again. It had not even bothered looking up at the tall man who was approaching him; in fact, its eyes didn’t leave the mossy rock of the tombstone it was laying on, even when its sandy-haired friend sat carefully by its side. Remus’s coat would be drenched and covered in mud, but he didn’t mind. He kept quiet for a minute, the littlest of smiles on his lips.

“Sirius Black ditching a party. What a great day to be alive.”

The black dog groaned, and Remus chuckled lightly. Suddenly, they weren’t two ragged, abandoned souls in a little cemetery; they were seventeen, young and a little too reckless, their whole lives ahead of them.

“It’s not that I don’t like the company of your smelly dog self,” Remus stated after a few more minutes of quiet, “but could you turn back to your human form? It’s easier to, you know, communicate.”

Reluctantly, Sirius shook himself and soon the dark fur and canines were replaced by a sharp jawline and sorrowful eyes, sitting on the mere ground.

“Did you… apparate here?” Remus asked softly, not wanting to disturb his best friend’s tortured peace.

He simply nodded.

“Sirius… Someone could have seen you,” the werewolf warned, although he knew Sirius was very well aware of it; he had never played by the rules, after all.

“I know, Moony, I know, but I was just going mad in there. I had to get away, especially tonight. I’ve been trapped in this rathole for sixteen years and them… they just expect me to stay still and not help them when they’re risking their lives! At least in Azkaban, I didn’t have to stand for my mother’s yelling,” he finished with a bitter laugh.

“But couldn’t you wait until tomorrow for your little escapade?” Remus insisted. “It was… surprisingly great, back there. You would’ve been with the rest of us, plus you would’ve got food.”

“I guess I could have stayed for the food,” Sirius commented with a smile, more sincere than the previous ones.

He couldn’t help reminiscing the old times, the good times; he was the social butterfly, envied by boys and girls, adored and abhorred by his professors at the same time, and surrounded by the three best friends he had ever had. Every memory, every mouthful of firewhiskey in the Gryffindor common room, every hour locked in detention with James and every crack of laughter; everything felt so real, so palpable, that he almost felt like he could have reached his long lost best friend’s hand if he had dared to touch the tomb. Fearing it would only remind him of what had become real on that Halloween night, so long ago, he didn’t move.

“It’s been fourteen years,” he finally breathed out.

“I know.”

“I know you know. It just… feels like it was yesterday we said goodbye to them, doesn’t it?”

Remus sighed, the hot cloud of his breathing dancing just before his lips. He didn’t like this conversation. He dreaded it. For the longest time, he had tried to turn his back on his past, keep his head up and carry on. For the longest time, he had tried to be brave, to live up to everyone’s expectations - he was a Gryffindor, after all. For the longest time, he had tried to run from October 31st of 1981, and he almost would have succeeded, had it not been for Sirius. He loved his best friend like a brother, and he was the person he cherished the most, but his torturous questions and melancholic sighs were like a steel vise constricting his throat. However, Sirius needed someone to talk to. A shoulder to cry on, a partner in crime to laugh with and a mature figure to yell at. And Remus was willing to be the shoulder, the partner in crime and the mature figure. He was willing to do anything for his best - and last - friend’s sake.

“Yes, it does.”

They remained silent until Sirius threw a pebble across the graveyard with a contained fury.

“I wish I hadn’t been so stupid. So naïve… I thought… I thought Peter was trustworthy. If I hadn’t insisted-”

“No one could have known. Don’t blame yourself for it, Sirius, it’s a waste of time.”

“But they would be alive! Both of them! Harry would have parents, and we would have friends!”

“And Voldemort wouldn’t have been defeated. And Harry would’ve died at eleven, without Lily’s love protecting him. Would you like this outcome better?” Remus questioned, still calm.

Silence.

“I guess not,” the black-haired man admitted in a murmur, shaking his head. “How is it that you’re always right, and I always look like a damn fool?”

“I reckon you couldn’t be granted both good looks and intelligence,” Remus shrugged.

Sirius’s laugh was long to come, but when the bark-like sound escaped his lips, it was the warmest and most familiar sound Remus had heard in a while.

“It’s always been this way,” Sirius reminisced, smiling wildly this time. “Remember in Charms in fourth year, when I was convinced Accio worked on living things, and you told me it didn’t? I think we argued for at least fifteen minutes until the Professor had to separate us.”

Remus’s smile spread as well, and he felt like he could breathe steadily again; remembering his time as a Marauder, when all of them were together and simply happy, was much easier than facing the consequences of the war on their broken alliance.

“Of course I remember! You were so stubborn - didn’t you write that in your exam?”

“Yeah,” Sirius laughed. “But I still got an O, so joke’s on you.”

“I never understood how you managed to have such good grades without ever working. Or even opening your books. That wasn’t fair! I spent hours in this goddamn library and you barely lift a finger and always came top of the class!”

“I’m just so naturally talented, Remus, you can’t even begin to imagine the extent of my abilities.”

“Oh, Merlin, shut up, you're so annoying,” Remus laughed wholeheartedly, gently hitting his best friend in the arm. He had missed his playful arrogance, his characteristic cockiness no one could really replicate.

It felt right, respectful, to be giggling like schoolboys right next to James's and Lily's tombs. They both knew their missing friends were somewhere, watching over them, and chuckling without a care was the best tribute they could have paid them - the best way to remember them.

"You've always been this way,” Remus commented after a few seconds of placid silence. "So... overly confident. So fond of yourself. I never understood how you did it- I still don't."

“I'm not the same cocky teenager I used to be... I lost a lot of my ego in prison,” Sirius answered with a smile, although the bitterness in his tone was obvious. "Serves me right, I guess. 'Twas my pride, after all, that got me into this mess. I shouldn't have run after Peter...”

“You didn't deserve any of it, if that makes you feel any better.”

“Not really, but I appreciate the help.”

The both of them fell silent again, and Sirius couldn't help meditating on Remus's last words. "You didn't deserve any of it"... did he really mean it? Was it true? Could he really be so easily forgiven after putting his best friends' lives in the hands of a traitor, of a coward, and then taking the fall for their murder? Could he be so easily forgiven for not sending a damn letter, not showing any sign of opposition nor resistance, not even trying to plead his case, at least for Remus, at least for himself? Did he deserve to get out of prison? Did he deserve freedom, mercy, and consideration? Was he worth anything more than Sirius Black, the most dangerous fugitive in the wizarding world? Sirius Black, the criminal on the run, the murderer, the Death Eater?

He never told Remus in order not to worry him - he never told anyone, for that matter, but what pained him most was all the headlines he could still decipher when he wandered the streets as a dog; it was all the burning pictures of him on the cover of a newspaper mindlessly thrown to the ground, the pictures of him, staring coldly at the reader; it was all the conversations he still overheard, two years later, about the Ministry and the once prestigious Black family. He aspired to be so much more than the serial killer the media made him look like. He aspired to be something else - anything else, really, than the twisted, disturbed Black son, who followed his ancestors' path and became a devoted lackey for His Majesty the cruel, abject Voldemort. He wanted to prove everyone wrong, he wanted to show the wizarding world he was better than them, better than his parents, better than his foolish brother, better than the Dark Arts, better than all of them, and he almost had succeeded when for the first times in century, a Black was sent to Gryffindor. The joy of stomping on his family's prestige had quickly overweighed the anxiety about his parents' reaction that day, and he remembered it all so clearly. He missed those times, when everything felt clearer and more simple. He often found himself longing for the days of sweet ignorance, of blissful youth, and no matter how hard he tried, he wasn't able to bring himself to stop thinking about it. Reading everywhere his name along with the despicable title of "murderer", and associated with the horrid name of the monster he had fought for so long didn't help him anyway.

Sirius sighed. He was glad he had found Remus. He had missed him intensely when he counted down the days in his cell, feeling even more guilty of leaving him behind and on his own, with the clear conviction that his best friend was a killer. He had wanted more than once to write a letter, even just a two-letter complaint, but he wasn't allowed to, and mostly lacked courage.

His breathing steadied softly until it coordinated itself with Remus's. Those were the moments he prefered, the moments he had wished most when he was away, on his small, lost island; when everything was calm and quiet, and he could finally feel his lungs unflex and let out all the toxic smoke that threatened to asphyxiate him.

And after a few minutes of pure silence, merely disturbed by the discreet sound of a fleeing airplane above their heads, Sirius and Remus both knew they were going to be okay again, as long as they stayed together and gave each other the confidence to hold on.

Sirius's hand fell on the shivering grave that born his beloved friends' names, forever engraved into the fragile stone. Remus's fingers soon followed, holding the tombstone as if it could disappear.

IN LOVING MEMORY OF

JAMES POTTER • LILY POTTER

“Happy Halloween, Remus,” Sirius murmured.

“Happy Halloween, Sirius,” Remus whispered back.

Harry was fine and they were fine.

They all were going to be okay.

Day Off

Request: For a prompt, maybe try Squad Levi, either version of it. 

Word Count: 5,227

Every other week the members of his squad were allowed to visit the town and visit their families, see girls, whatever the hell they wanted to do to relax. He came with them but often returned early to scrub down the castle. It wasn't like he had much to do in town besides buy tea anyway. The first few times his squad had asked him why he didn't stick around, he shrugged them off, saying that he didn't have a very big interest in mixing with townsfolk. Petra and Eld tried to convince him to visit their families, telling him that they'd be ecstatic to meet the famous Captain Levi, but he only scoffed and said it would be best if they didn't meet him since people found his personality to be off-putting. In time they learned to just accept the fact that their captain was an antisocial bastard and didn't say anything about his short town visits, only greeting him as usual when they returned and occasionally showing off food they received from their families.

He expected this particular visit to be the same. Land in town, head to the tea store he normally frequented, buy another box of tea, and then leave. He wasn't expecting the members of his squad to linger by his side, following him at a rather awkward distance to let him know that they were joining him but far away enough for it to look like they were hesitant children who didn't know if they were supposed to follow their mother or not.

"What do you shitheads think you're doing?" he asked, stopping in his tracks and turning around to look at his sheepish subordinates.

"It was all Petra's idea!" Auruo blurted before anyone could say anything else. He pointed accusingly at the ginger and she squeaked, clearly embarrassed to be singled out. "I told her not to bother you but she insisted that we spend our day off with you!"

Levi raised an eyebrow, waiting for Petra to explain.

She looked helplessly at her comrades but they all shrugged at her and made no attempt to come to her rescue. "You guys suck," she muttered under her breath. She sighed and rubbed her arm nervously, not quite raising her eyes to meet Levi's. "Well, you're always by yourself all of the time and we're a team so I just thought…it would be nice if we all spent time together. There are some really fun things to do in town that we can't do back in the castle."

He could either tell them to get lost (which would be mean but probably something his squad would expect from him so it wouldn't be too much of a dick move) or just let them drag him around town. The first option was tempting. Telling people to fuck off was easy for him but he knew that doing so would mean Petra and Auruo would be sulking around the castle for at least three or four days and he really couldn't work with moody people. He was moody enough for five people and more gloom would make him feel twice as shitty. "Alright," he finally said. "Let me just buy this and we can get going to wherever the hell you guys want to show me."

The giddy reaction from them was a lot more than he expected. He was half sure that they were only teasing him. Petra and Auruo shared a rare high five while Gunter thanked him for allowing them to accompany him and Eld slapped him a little too roughly on the back.

He grumbled on the way to general store while the rest of the squad gossiped behind him, snickering about the military police patrolling the area. Eld proposed a prank to play on them but Petra shushed him midway, gesturing at their captain. Levi honestly couldn't care less if they ended up pissing off the military police. That branch of the military largely consisted of assholes and if their plans for today consisted of fucking with them, maybe he'd actually be looking forward to spending the day with his squad. His team would probably be way too cautious to pull a prank on their first outing with their captain but, hey, it could happen.

Despite their claims about wanting to spend time with him, everyone kept their distance from him. Petra and Eld lurked in aisles behind him trying to come up with puns for all of the products lined up in the store, guffawing when one of them produced a particularly clever one. Auruo grumbled to himself in the corner trying to look cool but only managed to make himself seem like an angst-ridden loner. And Gunter was…well, he was looking closely at the types of tea alongside him.

Gunter was a good team player but Levi had truthfully never interacted with him much. Well, he hadn't interacted with anyone on his team very much despite handpicking them. It wasn't that he disliked them, he just wasn't the kind of person to approach others and seek friendship. His personality was also rather uninviting so he wasn't surprised that his subordinates never sought him out. They were civil, which was actually far better than what most people are like to him after meeting him for the first time. And Gunter was as polite as they got. Eld cracked jokes at least and Petra always offered to make him tea in the morning. Auruo even sometimes talked to him, usually trying to make sarcastic remarks about the hypocritical military police living in Wall Sina only to fumble across his words and bite his tongue. Gunter, though, always kept his distance from the captain, so Levi was surprised when the man opened his mouth and asked, "We're running out to black tea, right?"

"Yeah," Levi answered. He watched Gunter study the boxes, peering inside and sniffing the leaves, before snatching the one out of his hand and replacing it with another one. "Get this one. The other brands taste like shit."

"Oh!" Gunter looked around nervously, checking to see if the storeowner had heard Levi's crude language. "I do trust your judgment when it comes to tea, Captain. Is there anything else I can get for you before I head to the register?"

"You don't have to buy it. I can pay for it myself," Levi said hastily but Gunter shook his head.

"Don't worry about it," Gunter said, already hurrying off to where Petra and Eld were. "Do you guys want anything? I'll pay."

"Ooh, buy a pack of cigarettes for Auruo," Petra snickered.

"Shut up, Petra!" Auruo snapped from the corner of the store, walking over to avoid a scolding from the storeowner and to talk to Petra himself. "I haven't smoked since our days in training."

"It's why he looks like he's ten years older than me even though we're the same age," she whispered to Levi.

"What are you telling the captain? Don't gossip about me when I'm standing right in front of you!" He lunged for her and she squealed, hiding behind Eld.

Gunter sighed, heading towards the register to pay for the tea since his teammates didn't seem like they needed anything else and were busy goofing off anyway.

It was strange seeing his squad so relaxed. He's seen them joke around with each other during training, but it seemed like they were really at ease in the settling of this bustling town. Perhaps being surrounded by normal everyday civilians helped them to forget the death that awaited them outside of the Walls. It was a little refreshing to see them like this although he wasn't all too sure that he belonged there with them.

Eld's hand clapped him on the shoulder, a grin on his face. "Where to next, Captain?"

Levi shrugged. "Wherever you guys want to go. I'm only here because you insisted to spend time with me," he pointed out. "If I had it my way, I'd already be heading back to the castle alone."

"You could try to sound a little like you don't hate the idea of spending the day with us," Petra sighed, but her tone isn't annoyed or angry. It's somewhat teasing and he can see that she's smiling. "Maybe we could hit a restaurant or something if you're feeling a little hungry. Auruo knows some really good places."

Levi raised an eyebrow. "I thought you said he smoked. Shouldn't his taste buds be dead by now or something?"

Auruo puffed out his chest proudly. "The grow back twice as good after you quit. That's what they don't tell you!"

"You wouldn't believe it after Auruo's cooking," Eld said while Petra bit back a laugh. "The way you try to pass off your dishes as good really says otherwise."

The sandy-haired man was about to snap back at his comrade but Gunter came, tea in his hand, and gave Eld a look. "Stop teasing Auruo, Eld" he told him. Auruo smiled and was about to thank him before Gunter added, "You know he can't handle it when people make fun of him."

Auruo scowled.

Petra hooked her arm through Gunter's as they left the general store. Levi was starting to notice that she could be rather touchy with those she was friendly with. It wasn't in a creepy way. She just tended to stick close to people if they were good enough friends with her. Her friendliness was probably why she was the one who approached him the most although he wasn't quite sure if he'd consider her more than an ally on the battlefield. "We were thinking about going someplace to eat. It's a little bit early for lunch but maybe we could snag some brunch if Auruo quits sulking."

The sullen man stuck out his tongue at them like a child. "I'm going to take you to the worst café to eat since you guys are such assholes."

Petra and Eld began to raise their voices in protest, complaining about how stupid a move that would be since he'd have to be eating with them too, but Levi interrupted. "Do that and I'll make you clean the shitter for a week."

He waited for the awkward silence to settle in since every time he told a shit joke people would just stand there not knowing what to do, so he was surprised when Petra began laughing and Eld said, "Best threat you've dished out this week, Captain." Stupid as it was, he felt the tiniest bit proud that he wasn't as socially inept as Hanji often claimed he was. Stupid goggles.

Auruo sniffed, muttering about how he was under appreciated, but nonetheless began to lead them to an eatery that he claimed would "knock your goddamn smelly socks right off." Somehow Petra and Eld managed to tease him about this too and, as expected of Auruo, Auruo scowled. He couldn't imagine how they managed to become friends with all of the training they did. He supposed good-natured joking was better than constant bickering though.

"Eld! Eld!" A gaggle of children with a beat up ball ran up to them, surrounding the tallest member of the squad excitedly. They must have been around nine or ten years old, scrawny little things but energetic. "You're late today! Come play with us!"

Eld ruffled a boy's hair and smiled. "Sorry, kiddos. I'm out with the Captain right now. I'll play with you guys next time I'm in town."

A few kids whined but others perked up after hearing that Levi was in their midst. "Captain Levi's here? Which one is he?" They looked curiously at Eld's friend. Some glanced over him, convinced that someone so short could ever be a captain.

"Hey," Petra whispered to one of them, tilting her head over at Levi.

"He's so short though!" one of them said in surprise. "How'd he get to be captain if he's so short?"

Eld, typical Eld, was snickering while Gunter and Auruo looked shocked, scandalized that a child could speak that way to a highly esteemed member of the military. He was about to open his mouth and say something rude when Petra bent down to pinch the young rascal's cheeks. "Who are you calling short, squirt?" she said while the child tried to swat away her hands. "Besides, he has the highest kill count in the Legion. That's way more important than how tall you are!"

The child managed to wriggle his way out of Petra's grasp and rubbed his cheeks, now pink from Petra's pinching. He gave Levi a suspicious look. "You can't really be that strong," he said.

"Play a game with him and see," Petra said.

"Petra," he growled. Had he known that hanging out with children was on the list of things to do today, he would have ran back to the castle as fast as he could earlier that morning.

She only gave him a mischievous grin as the kids began to flock around him saying, "Play with us! Play with us!"

"Now you've got them all riled up," Eld laughed. He grabbed the ball from a girl and spun it on his finger. "The only way to stop them is to play, Captain. Come on. One game won't kill you."

"Alright," he sighed. He thought that saying yes would make them shut up but the kids only cheered loudly, making him wince. "How do you play?"

A bunch of them began to babble all at once, their voices overlapping one another and making it so that Levi couldn't make out any of the words they were saying. Eld managed to quiet them down enough to explain. "There's a court – it's shaped like a circle with a line to split it in half – and teams kick it back and forth. You can pass it to teammate using any part of your body but you can't catch it or let it touch the ground or you lose."

That seemed simple enough and he figured he could either just lose straightaway or easily kick the ball. "Okay," Levi said. "Where's the court?"

Excited once again, the kids lead him and the rest of his squad a little ways away to a lopsided circle drawn in chalk in the middle of a plaza. Shoppers and other townspeople were walking through it, ruining the shape even more, but as soon as the children came screaming and gathering onto the court the townspeople sighed and made sure to steer clear of it. They were probably used to the children's daily ball game by now.

"So how's about all of us against Captain Levi?" Eld suggested.

"What! No way!" a young girl cried. "He's never going to win by himself!"

He was slightly touched that a child was thinking about him but also a little miffed that she didn't think he could win without anyone else's help. "It's fine," he said. He just wanted it over with.

"See? He's okay with it so we're good to go!" Eld said cheerfully, patting the girl on her head. "I'll play with you guys so we're more evenly matched in skill. Of course, you could always have anyone else from the team join you if you don't think you can handle it yourself." He flexed his muscles and all of the children oohed, glancing at Levi to see if he would react in any way. He didn't.

Levi looked back to see if Gunter, Auruo, or Petra would want to join him but Gunter shook his head, lifting up the small box of tea he was holding to indicate that he couldn't play. Auruo scoffed, calling it a child's game and that he was much too old to partake in such an activity. When he finally looked to Petra, she smiled.

"I'll be cheering you on from the sidelines, Captain," she said cheerfully while he scowled at her. "Go! Fight! Win!" She pumped her fist in the air and he rolled his eyes. Figures that she wouldn't play even after getting him into this mess in the first place.

"Let's get this over with," he sighed, moving to one side of the court. "Make it snappy, Jinn. You're buying lunch after this when you lose."

"If I lose," Eld corrected, "which I won't." He handed the ball to the young girl who had it earlier and told her to toss it up for him. After she gave it a good throw, he kicked it up over to the other side, making Levi run over to it.

Levi cursed. Anything that caused him to physically exert himself when he wasn't fighting or cleaning was a pain in the ass. Still, he didn't want to lose in front of a bunch of kids and ran over to the ball and managed to send it back.

A few of the kids participated, managing to hit back balls despite Levi's powerful kicks (like he'd ever hit that filthy thing with his hands), but it soon became clear that this game would be one between Jinn and his captain. The children soon resided to the sidelines where Gunter, Auruo, and Petra were and cheered, gasping whenever it seemed like the ball would hit the ground.

"Hey, you're pretty good even though you're playing this for the first time!" Eld panted, almost missing the ball.

"Tch." Levi was truthfully a little out of breath himself but he didn't want Eld to pick up on it. He ran over to kick the ball back but miscalculated and hit it way too hard at the wrong angle, sending it soaring past the confines of the court. "Shit."

"He missed it! He missed it!" the children cried gleefully. Their smiles soon turned into looks of horror once they saw where the ball was headed.

It arched into the sky and descended towards an innocent bystander. Some innocent people strolling by were able to avoid it, hurriedly walking away to avoid the ball. Others even screamed, alerting people to stay away, but there were a few standing and staring at the ball hurtling towards them. It was as if the earth was standing still as the ball made its way closer and closer to its victim, a frozen military policeman before hitting him straight in the face with a loud bonk!

The soldier stood there, stunned, before slowly turning his gaze to the culprit. Levi had half a mind to just stand there and smirk but a hand grabbed him by the wrist and pulled him away.

"We've got to run," Petra said, dragging a surprised Levi behind her. She looked back at the wounded military policeman gleefully and bit back a laugh. "Nile said that if he got another report about us messing with one of his men again he'd have Erwin dock our pay."

"We'll see you guys next time," Eld said hurriedly, running after Petra and Levi. He gave them a distracted wave before picking up the pace.

"Run, run!" the children cheered, scattering themselves before they got a scolding. A few clapped and waved their arms as the members of the Legion ran by and Levi was surprised to hear one kid even say, "Come back and play next time, Captain Levi! It was really fun!"

"I told you guys not to bother them," Gunter muttered, following a little ways behind them.

"It's not our fault that nobody in the military police can take a joke," Eld snickered.

"Aw, who cares?" Auruo said. He was running ahead of them, leading them to who knows where. "We can't make it to the restaurant I wanted to take the Captain to because of you guys. It'd be way too easy to find us there."

"Take us to another place then," Petra said, hardly bothered that their plans had to be changed. "We could always take the Captain next time."

"Next time?" Levi said warily. This trip alone was already exhausting. He couldn't imagine doing this again with them even after a few weeks.

After running for a while and losing the angry policeman in a crowd, Petra had let go of Levi's wrist. "You could have left anytime you wanted to. We're not holding you hostage." She looked over to where Auruo is. "Did you pick somewhere to go yet? I'm starving!"

"There's a place nearby that's pretty good so you can quit nagging me to get there faster," Auruo scowled. A funny expression appeared on his face and he gave Petra a smug look. "It's like you're my wife or something."

Petra's smile vanished and was replaced by a deadly glare. "Disgusting."

"So they're like that on casual outings too," Levi mused as he watched the two bicker back and forth. He had always assumed their behavior was similar to what they were like in training but it was another thing to see it happen in real life.

"Yeah, apparently they've been like that since their trainee days," Eld said affectionately.

"I could shut them up for you if you want," Gunter said.

"It's fine." He wasn't much of a conversationalist and while he didn't care very much for noise, it was nice hearing Auruo and Petra's arguments fill up the silence with the occasional interruption by Gunter and Eld.

The restaurant Auruo led them to was a quaint family-owned store that smelled heavily of bread. ("They have a lot of bread-based dishes," Auruo explained. "They make the bread themselves. Get up super early in the morning just to make enough to satisfy all of the customers they get every day.") It was a tad crowded and waiting to get seats and have their order taken was kind of a pain in the ass. It probably would have been more so if he had to wait the entire time but Petra had convinced the restaurant owners to lend Levi and Eld their washroom in the back to clean up since they were pretty filthy playing with the children. By the time Levi and Eld had returned, the rest of the squad had already taken their seats and ordered for them.

"Eat, eat!" Petra said when she saw them, gesturing at the food. "It's super good! Auruo paid so you're going to have to pay him back Eld."

"Pretty sure Captain Levi lost that match by hitting it out of bounds-" Eld began but Petra shoved a baguette in his mouth before he could finish his sentence. He chomped of a huge chunk, chewed, and swallowed. "Hey, this is pretty good!"

"Huh." Levi looked at the bread and gingerly broke off a piece before popping it into his mouth. The outer crust was crunchy but the interior was soft and fluffy, almost melting in his mouth. He wondered if the family continuously baked the bread during the day. They must have because their bread was still warm and it was already past midday. "Not bad."

Auruo sat up. Hearing "not bad" from the Captain was the highest form of praise one could receive. "You should try the soup we got you before it gets cold. The beef is incredibly tender – it really just falls off the bone – and the broth has an intense flavor. If you prefer spice you could put some in – Petra, stop being a pig and pass the pepper to the Captain! - although I think it usually has enough heat without it. The vegetables are also a rather refreshing addition."

"Wow, Auruo, maybe you should jus tell Captain Levi your true feelings for him," Petra said, a tad miffed that Auruo had called her a pig earlier. She offered the pepper to Levi anyway but he declined. "You look like a young maiden in love blushing like that."

Levi ignored them and ate his soup, which was exactly as good as Auruo described it if not better. If he dipped the baguette in there, it was absolutely divine. It had been a while since he had eaten something that good. The members of his squad weren't exactly great chefs. Petra and Gunter were at least passable, but that was mainly because they didn't burn anything like Auruo and Eld. If he could eat more food like this, he'd definitely consider going out to town more.

"Ah, that was so filling," Petra said, stretching her legs out. "And very delicious."

They were sitting in a plaza, taking a break by the big fountain. Gunter had suggested they go there after lunch because it was so peaceful there. While there were far too many people there for Levi's taste (but then again Levi never really enjoyed anyone's presence even if they were sitting quietly in the corner), he did enjoy the quiet. Even Eld and Petra were too relaxed to take a jab at Auruo. The air was filled with the noise of gentle chatter, the whisper of the wind, and the smooth sonata of a violinist playing alone in the square.

"We should dance," Petra said suddenly. Her suggestion hung out in the air and, when no one answered it, Levi looked around to notice that everyone was looking at him.

"I'm not dancing," he said.

"How can you refuse our dear Pet?" Eld said. "She's the best dancer on our team and she doesn't dance with just anyone either. Do you know how many guys she's turned down at military balls?"

"Get Eld to dance with you then," Levi said. "Gunter or Auruo."

"Just one dance. It'll be fine," Petra promised. She stood up and held out her hand to him. "Eld steps on my toes too much and Auruo complains even though he's always the one making mistakes. And Gunter is…he's busy holding onto the tea, so you're the only one left! I'll even teach you if you don't know how."

"I know how to dance, it's just that I don't want to," he said, but he reached for her hand anyway and let her take him to where the rest of the couples were dancing. He was going to protest even more, mumble something about how it would be weird since everyone dancing seemed to be together, but Petra had already intertwined her fingers with his and had his right hand on her waist while her left one sat on his shoulder.

"Realx a little more," Petra said to him. "You're so stiff." She was leading him, her steps not as grandiose as the others around them. They were a little slower than those around them, falling behind the beat.

"This is embarrassing," he muttered. "And aren't I supposed to be leading?"

"Do you want to?" Petra asked, surprised. "I just assumed you didn't know how because you never danced at military balls. Or maybe it was because Hanji was always the one who to invite you to dance when they were too drunk."

"I know how to dance," he assured her. "I just wouldn't want to dance with Hanji ever, even if they were sober." He had danced with Isabel sometimes. Oftentimes he'd grumble enough for her to give up and just dance with Farlan but there were a few occasions where she nagged enough to get him to dance with her for just a song. To say he was good would be a generous compliment. To say he was decent would also be…somewhat generous. So he often stuck to just observing on the sidelines, content with sipping on the shitty wine they typically served during military balls while Erwin kissed up to the other military heads so they wouldn't cut funds. He could lead a dance though even if he was probably the absolute wrong partner for her.

If she thinks he's a shitty dancer, she doesn't show it. Instead she smiles like it's the best dance she's ever danced even though they're not nearly as graceful as the other couples. "You should dance with me at the military balls," she told him. "You look lonely standing there brooding in the corner all of the time."

"Maybe I like brooding," he grumbled.

"Well, you're certainly good at it," Petra said mock-seriously. "But I think you're good at dancing too."

He was sure she was joking because a child is probably better at dancing than he is but he looked over at her and she seemed earnest. For some reason that made him feel more embarrassed.

The fact that they're moving so slowly compared to the other dancers makes him want to stop even more but Petra kept talking to him, sometimes to tell him where to move his feet or twirl her and other times to gossip about the rest of her squad mates behind their back, and that made him feel a little bit more relaxed. Petra even told him at one point that he was "moving less like a machine and more like a person!" She also somehow managed to get him to promise her at least one dance at the next military ball. Maybe he'd get drunk enough so he could blame his lack of grace on inebriation instead of just his lack of skill.

"Have a nice dance?" Eld asked when the last song had ended and they finally returned to the group.

"It was okay," Levi muttered. He was surprisingly tired after all of that. Who knew that dancing could be so physically exhausting.

"So 'okay' that Captain Levi promised that he'd dance with me again at the next military ball," Petra said smugly. He half suspected her of being flirtatious or playful at the very least, but a glance told him that she was rubbing her closeness to her superior in her comrades' faces. Unsurprisingly, it worked.

Auruo was perhaps the most scandalized, half-shouting complaints about how Petra didn't deserve to be spending so much time with the Captain mixed with whining about how she always rejected dance invitations from him.

"Did you have a nice time?" Gunter asked when they had piled up into the carriage headed back to the castle. Auruo, Eld, and Petra were piled up on one side, all snoozing on each other's shoulders. Auruo was muttering something in his sleep while Petra and Eld snored.

He hadn't realized they had spent nearly the whole day in town together. He had expected it to be a lot more torturous but the time seemed to have flown by. "It wasn't bad," he finally admitted, leaning back in his seat.

For anyone else this might have been a pretty disappointing answer. Gunter, however, knew this was probably the best compliment anyone could get from the captain and nodded happily.

The next morning Petra was already in the kitchen making tea. "Would you like a cup, Captain?" she asked without looking up. "It's just about ready anyway."

"Might as well," he said, sitting down at his usual seat.

She poured him a cup and sat down beside him with her own cup of tea. "Did you have fun yesterday?" she asked, taking a sip. It seemed that the taste was to her pleasure because she hummed with delight after taking a taste.

"It was…alright," he admitted reluctantly.

She smiled. "See? I knew you'd like it."

"But don't expect me to go out with all of you guys again. It's hectic dealing with all of you guys on a daily basis already."

She traced the rim of her cup with a finger. "You don't have to spend your day in town with all of us at once. Maybe next time you could just go with Eld. Or Gunter. Or me."

"I'll go with you if you don't take me dancing again," he replied. Despite her talkative and playful behavior, he found himself getting along with her most out of the rest of his squad. She didn't mind silence during conversations and just seemed to be easygoing in general. He also just really liked her tea. "It was terrible."

"It was wonderful," she said. She sat back, happy that the Captain had chosen to spend time in town with her next instead of the rest of her comrades. "I'm going to brag about this to the rest of the guys. They're going to be so jealous. Especially Auruo. And also write my dad and tell him that I'm going to bring you along the next time we visit."

"You're going to what?"

She laughed at his shocked expression. "Relax! It's a joke, Levi. Ah, Captain Levi," she corrected herself.

"Levi's fine," he said. After knowing his team for a good month, it was a little embarrassing to be having this conversation with his subordinate. He supposed he had always been more of a captain than a comrade but yesterday's outing made him feel at least a tad more familiar with his squad and he could allow this kind of informality. "At least off of the battlefield. Hearing everyone call me 'Captain' all day gives me a headache."

He didn't know Petra could smile that wide. "Okay, Levi. But that means you should call the rest of us by our first names too." She drank the rest of her tea and, setting her cup down, stood up. "I'm going to tell the rest of the squad now."

"Tell them what?" he asked as she scurried out of the room.

"That I get the privilege of accompanying you on your next town outing," she called back. She jogged back for a bit, popping her head back in the doorway. "That makes it final, by the way. It'd be embarrassing for me if you backed out!" Petra ran away after that, leaving Levi with her dirty cup. She probably did that on purpose knowing that he wouldn't chase her down and retract his earlier deal with her when there was a dirty teacup lying around.

Well. He supposed he could tolerate another outing with the members of his squad. After all, their last one wasn't half bad.

Read it on FF.net here https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12674075/2/PruCan-Week-Drabbles

Day 2: Tempt/Touch

Summary: Matthew is a wizarding student convinced no one is seeing his true potential.

Matthew could see his father just to the side and half hidden in the darkened auditorium crowd as he walked towards the centre of the stage. Scorch marks, his brother’s doing, littered the waxed flooring beneath his feet. Honestly, Alfred couldn’t stand for anything less than big, obnoxious, and showy.

“Whenever you’re ready,” the headmistress instructed. There was a slight quiver to her voice, and he could only assume she was expecting the twin brother to do the exact same thing. The examination board was bracing themselves.

Taking a deep breath, Matthew closed his eyes and raised his wand. At least in this way he couldn’t see the vast ocean of people just beyond the lighted stage. Mostly just parents looking to support their children in the end of year performance exam, but it made the entire thing more frightening. No one ever paid him any mind the rest of the year.

His eyebrows drew closer and sparks emitted from the end of the wand and fell in a red waterfall to the floor at his feet. From the gathered pool shapes emerged, animals that galloped, crawled, or flew rose and began to join around him. Several gryphons flew out over the crowd raining down a small spell that encouraged feelings of calm.

The headmistress smiled, thanked him and called the next name. Matthew walked back behind the curtain to polite parental applause.

“Well done, the both of you!” Arthur grabbed both sons by a shoulder. Alfred beamed brightly up at his father’s praise. “I expect you’ll be moving up a level this year, if not getting distinctions.”

“Thanks, dad!” Alfred crowed, his grin stretched as far as his face would allow. Matthew’s response was a little more subdued.

“But, I am god awful tired of receiving notices from your teachers about destruction of school property.” His narrowed eye stare focused on one of his sons in particular. “Shape up, will you?”

Despite his pink face, Matthew could only watch as his brother continued on. “But you have to admit that the fireworks were amazing, right? I’ve been practicing all year!”

“Yes, well…” Arthur started directing them through the flowing crowd towards the exit. “Next year will be much more difficult. You’ll start learning summonings. And if you’re not careful with those, the creatures will escape and cause you harm. You’ll be tempting fate if you’re not prepared for anything dangerous.”

Matthew zoned out of the conversation as Alfred professed himself to be ready to take on any sprite or fairy that might try to attack him and Arthur did his best to convince him that his following studies would require more bookwork and less theatrics. They got into the car and drove back home, Matt sitting in the backseat behind his father and brother and doing his best to remain inconspicuous.

Fifteen minutes of driving later they pulled up to their home and everyone headed inside. Alfred was still talking animatedly about other explosions he had tested while offering to demonstrate them to their father and Matthew took this opportunity to slip past him and make a run for it to his room. Down the hall and into his own space where he turned the lock and rested his head against the door a moment.

“How’d your test thing go?”

He didn’t look up. Instead he grit his teeth as he responded, “It went fine.”

“Only fine?” Gilbert sat up on his bed having returned to normal size. Human-sized was more like it, seeing as the creature could change heights at will and as he rose and moved to stand beside him he was just the tiniest amount taller than Matthew. He of course did it to annoy him.

“We’ll find out the marks in a couple days. I told you that.” He pushed past the sprite and started shedding the nice dress clothes he had worn for the performance exam. For now he draped them over the back of his desk chair as he reached for his favourite hoodie.

Gilbert latched onto his wrist. “You seem moody tonight.”

Matthew pulled his arm away. “Everyone talks about Alfred more. He nearly blows up the entire school and everybody praises him.” He paused and looked at the other and threw up his hands. “Of course I complete a high level summon but no one believes I’m ready.”

“I’d say I was more moderate level for a summon, but I do appreciate the compliment.”

“You know what I mean.” Matthew paused his tirade and looked over Gilbert’s unnatural form. Humanoid for the most part, his skin paled to nearly translucent while the tips of his ears formed points. What really drew the attention was the entire visible portion of the eye was an eerie red and whenever he grinned rows of pointed teeth would shimmer wet with saliva.

With an effortless leap Gilbert landed into a crouch atop Matthew’s desk disturbing none of the books and papers that were scattered across it. “You know, when someone summons us we’re usually given a mission. A purpose.” He tilted his head, and showed those predatory teeth. “I’m pretty good at pranks. What do you think? I could make your brother loose his pants in front of everybody. Bet you’d get quite the laugh out of that.”

Matthew fought a smile. “I don’t know. He might deserve it, but I’m not sure he’d be able to go outside from the embarrassment.”

“Oh, come on!” Gilbert hung his head, looking more like a dejected dog than a mischievous sprite. “You’ve kept me locked away for weeks! We could be wreaking havoc or at least throwing a couple eggs at someone’s house.”

“I’ve been busy.”

“Studying, I know.” With fluid movements he was back off the desk and advancing closer. Matthew stood his ground seeing as he was the one in control. He was a wizard after all and the master over this creature. No possible harm could come to him while he remained calm.

He stopped a breath away, hovering close enough that Matthew’s skin prickled expecting contact. “You should learn to let loose a little. Maybe…” It could have been his imagination that Gilbert was still coming closer, breath hot against his face. “We could even…?”

Who initiated it was anyone’s guess. Matthew’s only thought was sudden pulse of desire that swept into his mind and turned all other thoughts to static. Gilbert’s hands were on his upper arms keeping him in place while their mouths met in connection. He let his eyes drift close and his fingers explore the foreign body before him. He was in pure heaven until Gilbert bit down on his lower lip.

The sharp jab of pain jolted him out of his delusion and he tried to break away. Gilbert held on a moment longer, tongue darting out to lick at an open wound and then he retreated back while Matthew was left to touch the spot in particular and stare at the small red droplet pooled on his index finger. “What…?!”

With a shrug, the sprite returned to grinning, but it seemed different this time. “I don’t know… Kneel.”

Matthew hardly registered that his body moved without his permission until he felt his knees hit his carpeted floor. Then he began to panic. The other had tasted his blood and control was now reversed. How could he have been so foolish?

The sprite laughed and danced between his feet. “Not bad, but I’m nowhere near incubi standards. Ah, don’t make such a sad face.” Gilbert’s sneer dropped to a childish pout. “I’m not going to hurt you. Just going to return to my own place for a while. But call me if you do decide you want to pull something over on that moron you call a brother.” He leaned in closer and winked. “Could even continue where we left off if you wanted.”

With a cackle Gilbert dematerialized from view, calling out a final farewell of “See you around, Matthew! Can’t wait to try this again,” as he vanished. Once the sprite was gone, his hold was broken over the student and he slumped forward to pound his fist against the rug.

It would take him at least another month to steal all the ingredients necessary to perform that summons again.

Love you, Love you not

They say time flies when you’re doing something you enjoy.

Well, the opposite is just as true. I’ve been waiting for him for over twenty minutes now and with every minute that goes by I am more tempted to leave. It feels like hours. I’m embarrassed and the waitress is getting moody.

But I can’t leave now. That would be even more heartbreaking than what is about to happen.

You see, he never takes me anywhere. EVER. We’ve been together for 5 years and I can’t remember the last time he took me out on a date, so I obviously grew suspicious when he asked me to meet him for dinner after work.

I thought he either wanted to break up or tell me he’s cheating on me, both options would require a public safe space because I can get really… intense.

After he told me he wanted to go out with me I went around the house on a mission, a mission to find evidence that he was cheating but instead, I found something I wouldn’t have expected in a million years: a ring.

A bloody ring, can you believe it? Why would he want to marry me? Perhaps it’s not even for me! I hope that’s the case because our relationship is so dead that its life insurance has paid out already.

I think our problems started as soon as we got together. We automatically adopted a lifestyle that made us resemble a long-time married couple. There was no mystery, no privacy, it was all about us being together. We both stopped working on ourselves, and things went horribly wrong.

We moved in together just a couple months into the relationship. He was renting a tiny apartment and I started staying over so much that I just stopped leaving altogether.

He did and still does, so many things that annoy me. He leaves the door open when he goes to the toilet, every time he eats he hoovers the food down like he hasn’t eaten in months, he leaves rubbish everywhere he goes, and the list goes on. And I’m absolutely sure I’m no saint either.

We got too comfortable too quickly, too soon.

He also does things that I find adorable, not all is bad, he leaves the light on if he goes to bed first so I don’t trip, he makes me a cappuccino every single morning, he does most of the chores because he wants to, and he loves me, even if he doesn’t show it.

But just because he does good things doesn’t mean I have to live with the bad things.

We also have very different views. I want to build a career, make good money and never have to worry about the end of the month. He on the other hand, not so much. He’s comfortable in life. Way too comfortable. He doesn’t mind getting minimum wage if that means routine, normalcy and no risks.

I’m full of ideas and interests. He only has one interest and I’m pretty sure that in 5 years, I’ve never witnessed him having an actual idea.

But he takes care of me when I’m ill, and he deals with my meltdowns like a champ. He does anything and everything I ask for.

That also bothers me, he does things because I ask him to. He never does something because he thought it would make me happy. It’s always because he’s following orders. And I need a partner, not a butler.

Our sex life is non-existent. Talking about having kids is somehow a thing, but how are we going to make them? I have considered looking for a sex partner elsewhere, but I don’t think infidelity would solve the issue. The issue is us. We don’t belong together. We don’t match. I don’t understand why he would propose.

When we met the red flags were there. Everything wrong with us today could have been predicted back then. He never showed that he craved me sexually, he never chose what we would eat that day and would conform to whatever I chose, later revealing that he hated the meal. His apartment was filthy, his mattress was bare! He slept on nothing but his mattress and used the tiniest blanket to stay warm.

Why did I even stay with him?

I think I see him through the window.

Yes! That’s definitely him. With his fancy clothing. Who is he trying to fool?

“Hi” Dry and uninteresting as ever. Good start.

“You’re late. You know how much I hate waiting. You know how much I hate being alone in public. Why did you think it was ok to leave me hanging?”

Silence.

Always silence.

He never talks back. It’s frustrating. It always makes me nervous and I eventually explode with anger.

“Aren’t you going to say anything?”

“Can we eat, please? I have prepared something for you.”

The waitress looks happier, she no longer has a loner occupying one of her tables without ordering.

She doesn’t look so happy when I order tap water and the soup of the day. I couldn’t care less.

Dinner is uneventful. We don’t talk much as usual. But I can see he’s visibly nervous, terrified even. I know social situations make him really uncomfortable. It makes me uncomfortable too. That’s probably why he never takes me anywhere. Neither of us really enjoy it.

“I took care of dessert. I’m sorry I didn’t consult you, and that’s why I was a bit late too. I’m sorry.” He says, almost sweating and visibly trembling.

“Your forgiveness will depend on what dessert you got.”

I can see a little smirk form on his face, and suddenly he signals to the waitress. Brave and exclusive. He avoids these situations like the plague.

The waitress brings an overly fancy tray and puts it in front of me.

Written on it with chocolate fondant is the dreaded question - “Will you marry me?”

“Is this desse…”

I couldn’t finish my question. He’s already on his knee showing me the ring I had already seen. But he doesn’t know that.

“I know we have our moments, but if it wasn’t clear already, you are the woman of my dreams. I don’t want anyone else in my life but you. And I know I can be difficult, but everything I do is for you. I want you to be the happiest woman in the world, and if you let me, I want to be the happiest man in the world with you. Will you marry me?”

I freeze.

I want to say no. Why am I not saying no?

Unfortunately, the answer is easy.

He makes me absolutely miserable, but I can’t imagine my life without him. He makes me laugh, he makes me look forward to the future and I can be my true self around him.

I don’t need filters, pleasantries or fake politeness. I am more me with him.

So, does he really make me that miserable? If I can only be myself around him, isn’t the problem me? Is being myself making me miserable? It would make sense. I’m irritable and sad most of the time. I get angry at absolutely everything and it only takes a second to make me go from 0 to 100. Truth is, when that happens, he is there to either calm me down or to allow me to take it out on him.

Perhaps I don’t hate him, I hate myself.

It’s so much easier to blame someone else for our problems than admitting that maybe, the problem is within ourselves.

He knows me better than I know myself. He sees all the ugly in me, and still, he loves me.

And if we’re being real, I love him. I love him more than anything in this world. I want to spend my life with him.

Is suffering worth it? Definitely. Because no matter if I’m with him, with someone else or alone. I will suffer. That’s just life. So if I have to choose, I want to go through life with him.

I look at his face and I see it differently now. He has the purest, most innocent and more beautiful face I’ve ever seen.

I touch it and it’s as soft as ever, his eyes watery and I can feel him shaking. He doesn’t need to wait anymore, my decision is made, and it has always been.

“Yes”

- Grace Humby

Why Are Girls So Moody? The Real Reasons Why They Feel This Way

Ever find yourself wondering, why are girls so moody? You’re not alone. But there are reasons you’ll be shocked to discover.

Why are girls so moody? That is a loaded question probably asked by men since the beginning of time. So, you are in good company.

And before we get started, here’s a little secret. If it is due to her time of the month, do NOT ask her, blame her, or be jealous she can use it as an excuse. This will not help, even the tiniest bit. Do not be tempted. [Read: How to tell an attention seeking woman from the rest]

Are girls really so moody?

Before you go claiming that girls are so moody, make sure you’re right. Sure, girls get moody, just as guys do. But is she really moody or are you impatient?

Men have long been taught that women are crazy, emotional, and moody. But is that really even true? Or are you just claiming that because you don’t want to deal?

Often, when a girl, completely within reason, asks a question or wants to have a serious talk, guys think her moody or irrational. When, in fact, it is you being irrational, immature, and ahem, moody.

So before wondering why your girl or any girl is so moody, take a second to look at the situation and determine who is really the moody one here. [Read: Don’t fall for these typical girl stereotypes]

Why are girls so moody?

Okay, now that it is actually established she is being moody and you’re not just being unreasonable, why are girls so moody? There are a plethora of reasons, but what are the likely culprits? And what can you do about them?

#1 She is on her period. Yes, hormones play a large role in girls being moody or emotional. It is science. Therefore, it is not our fault. We cannot control it. Even when we know that’s what it is, we can’t really do anything about it.

So if your girl cries at an allergy medicine commercial, getting super mad that you burnt some toast, or withdrawing, just let her be. If she asks for something give it to her, but there really is nothing you can do but be there for her. [Read: 20 things you should never ever say to girls on their period]

You might know her moods. If she is upset, cuddle her and make her tea, if she is mad give her space, and if she withdraws don’t push her to talk. 

You have never gotten a period, so you have no right to comment. And even if your ex or your sister or your best friend’s cousin was never moody, dealt with cramps, or was extra tired, it does not matter. All women are different. So let her dwell however she chooses. [Read: 23 things girls wish guys knew about a girl’s mind]

#2 She is having a bad day. This shouldn’t be too shocking. Men have bad days and get moody too. We all handle rough days in different ways. Maybe you go to the bar and have a beer or play violent video games. 

She might be annoyed at everything you say and do. Try not to take it personally. We all take things out on the wrong people and point our anger at the incorrect target. 

In this situation, ask her what’s wrong. Don’t try to fix it, tell her it is fine, or tell her she is making big deal out of nothing. Just listen. Tell her it sucks and you’re there. That is all she wants.

#3 She is stressed. If she has been moody pretty often lately, she is likely super stressed. That can be due to work, family, or even something like a remodel or planning a wedding. 

The last thing you want to do here is tell her to relax. Nothing is ever that simple. If you do want to give her some time off and you know what is stressing her out, take care of it. Don’t just buy her a gift certificate to spa and say peace.

Have what she needs covered. If her mom needs help with a project, volunteer. Don’t change what she is doing or make her feel bad for being busy, just offer to take a little off her plate. [Read: 15 thoughtful ways to comfort a girl and do it right]

#4 She isn’t sleeping well. There can be a whole lot of reasons someone isn’t sleeping well. Trust me, I suffer with severe insomnia. And that can definitely lead to someone being moody, just ask the people in my life.

The last thing you should do in this case is tell her to go to sleep. If she is up late working don’t say, you should get some rest. She knows that. Sleep is just not so simple for some people.

However, offer to make her some chamomile tea or play soothing sounds or even buy her a new pillow. All of this can be very thoughtful, but read her response. If she is annoyed and fed up with trying sleeping aids and you show her you’re annoyed, it only makes her feel guilty for something she has no control over.

Just try to be patient with her moods if it is due to bad sleep. Trust me, she is suffering more than you are. [Read: 18 effortless ways to help someone who’s feeling down]

#5 She is just feeling down. All women and men have off days. Something just isn’t right, and we really don’t have a reason for it. Maybe she had a weird dream or woke up on the wrong side of the bed.

For me, whenever the sun doesn’t come out all day I just feel off. On those days just give her a hug. You don’t have to go out of your way and be super doting.

Just offer to watch her favorite movie, pick up her favorite take out, and cuddle up on the sofa. Those are the days where we just need a bit of home comforts to perk us up.

#6 You. Although the world does not revolve around you, sometimes in fact we are moody because of you. You could have done something wrong, lied, or deleted The Bachelor off the DVR. Most women will tell you what’s wrong, you apologize and moving on can commence.

But sometimes even after that we fester in the annoyance or anger a little longer than necessary. We might hold a bit of a grudge. We can even be a little passive aggressive. In those situations give us time to cool off. [Read: How to deal with passive aggressive people without losing your mind]

Depending on the severity of the faux pas, we will get over it in time. Probably not if it was something like cheating. But if you broke a vase or ate the last of the salt and vinegar chips, time and humor cures most minor hiccups. 

#7 We are not perfect. Sometimes men expect us to be perfect, prim, and proper. We get a bad rep for being emotional, so many of us try are damnedest to remain calm and cool. But when we do that you get excited and think we are “not like other girls.”

And just because we can be cool and forgiving and put up with some dumb stuff, it doesn’t mean we are perfect. Being annoyed, moody, or emotional mostly just means we care and are in fact human.

We are all guilty of overreacting sometimes. It is bound to happen from time to time. We just ask that you put up with it the same way we put up with dirty socks, fantasy football, and your moodiness.

No woman can be agreeable all of the time, and you shouldn’t expect her to. Just as you have your reasons for being mad or distant or upset, so do we. 

[Read: Are you dating a highly sensitive person? 20 things you can’t ignore]

Next time you wonder, why are girls so moody, maybe instead, consider how you can make us feel better. 

The post Why Are Girls So Moody? The Real Reasons Why They Feel This Way is the original content of LovePanky - Your Guide to Better Love and Relationships.