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iwillsearchtheuniverse4u · 3 years

Text

See You In My Dreams, Stranger

Sik-k smut | khh smut

Warnings: SMUT! ORAL! (f and m receiving) PUBLIC? (not really tho)

Preview: Meeting a stranger on my night walk down the river turns out to be one of the best nights of my life.

It was one of those restless nights that I’ve been dreading ever since I started attending university. I couldn’t sleep, the thought of not knowing where my life is headed keeping me awake every single night. I couldn’t concentrate, I couldn’t brush my teeth or remember to drink water, I just felt like existence was so utterly useless when all my dreams have been swept under a rug somewhere because I was too afraid to act upon them. I’d been dreaming of becoming a translator but all the odds of the world were against me so I chose some apparently more ‘useful’ business degree that I hated with all that I had in me. Because of my perfectionism I had been attending all of my online classes and excelling at them but I felt empty, I felt like I had been contributing to everything I hated the most in this society. At the same time I was just too afraid to change my major because I felt like I had to do something impressive to the outside world, something that would make people respect me.

Just another night of endless tossing and turning, tears streaming down my face, wondering if life does ever get better than this. I couldn’t take it anymore. I got up, took a few steps towards the light switch in the corner of my one room apartment and pressed it. The cheap yellow light bulb lit up the room. The floor next to my mattress was covered in books I was trying to study from and my notes covered in smudged ink. I had a bad habit of crying while studying, sleeping, listening to music and showering, every activity that demanded me to be alone in my little space that had never really felt like home at all. Not much else was in that room apart from a small refrigerator, a microwave oven, my mattress, a closet and a wooden bookshelf. I also had a tiny bathroom that always smelled a bit moldy if I forgot to spray the air freshener three times a day.

I decided to go for a walk along the river as it became clear I wasn’t getting a second of sleep in that night. I hastily put on my black leggings and a hoodie with my high school’s logo on it. I desperately needed to get away from my own thoughts so I grabbed my phone and my earphones that were tied into little knots as always. I couldn’t afford the wireless ones because my scholarship was kept safe in my bank account where I was saving every last cent just in case I decided to drop out and go move to...run away to a foreign country where my name sounds like a whisper of the distant wind. As I was locking my door I heard one of the neighbors flush their toilets. Most of them were students like me or people living on part-time jobs, I never really met any of them, they were just familiar faces I would probably forget in a year after moving out.

The streets were quiet, only the sounds of air conditioners and an occasional motorbike or a car passing by me. I checked my phone to see the time, the picture of my favourite singer’s face lighting up my screen: 3.30am. Of course other parts of the city were probably very much alive at this time of the night but my area was populated only by grocery stores, cafes and libraries, not a single club in sight. The only lights I could see where streetlights and some LED signs. I headed towards the river trying to untie my headphones. I put them in my ears and decided to lose myself in the beats of one of those hyped-up rap songs. I put the volume up just so it was a bit uncomfortable and let my ears adjust to the blasting music.

I finally reached the riverside and started walking along the flow of the water. I couldn’t hear it but it still resonated with my mind better than the rustling sound of the city. There was a road along the river that ended somewhere within the green forest because the are was populated with some important bird species that I could never remember the name of. I sat on the bench at the beginning of that forest, my mind still dissolved in the loud beats coming out of my earphones. Even though my ears were covered with a thick layer of my long brown hair I was sure the music could be heard by anyone standing within a 1 meter ratio. I didn't mind, it was 4 am, people were either asleep or sloppily making out in a club somewhere far away. Thinking about the things I was missing out on started to become louder than the music and I let my tears fall. I was overworked, overwhelmed and empty, I couldn't keep it in. Not that I ever tried. I had never been good at hiding my emotions.

Looking at the night view of the city on the other side reflecting on the surface of the river, getting lost in my thoughts, I felt the bench move ever so slightly under my body. I looked to the side and almost fainted at the sight of a dark shadow sitting beside me. My heart started beating and I stood up to leave in case it was a stranger trying to talk to me in the middle of the night. As I took my first step away from the bench the person lightly touched the fabric of my sleeve. I looked back at him. I was certain it was a man judging by his broad shoulders and a black cap on his head. I removed my headphones, my heart still beating as if I had been running for the last 3 hours. "Excuse me. I wasn't trying to bother you or anything. I just like to look at the city at night when my head gets all crowded and I can't think straight. Don't go just because of me." His voice was deep and raspy but had an elegant tone to it, it felt calm but distant as if he had been lost in thought. He was looking at me and the lights of the city were playfully jumping around in his eyes but his expression was the complete opposite. He seemed broken. I couldn’t let myself leave him, partly because he seemed significantly depressed and partly because he was astonishingly beautiful. My feet were unable to move, I stood there for a moment contemplating my options but my gut feeling sat me down next to him.

As we were sitting, each on one side of the bench, looking at the sparkly surface of the river my heart calmed down and minutes passed, none of us speaking, just the sound of the river mixed with my music flowing through the night air. "You were crying." He stated with a regretful tone, almost whispering. My cheeks flushed with warmth, I looked at his profile, him still staring at the waves. "I just thought I was alo-" "Don't. Feelings aren't something to be ashamed of. They're just as much a part of you as your legs and arms are. If people feel burdened it's usually their problem because they've never been faced by their own emotions. They just don't know how to act and feel uncomfortable." He talked slowly and didn't bother looking at me. It felt like his words were directed at the universe or at himself just at the general direction he was speaking, he looked so lost. I didn't notice I was staring until he looked at my eyes and smiled. It was one of those crooked smiles, filled with a certain type of worry I couldn't identify. "You can tell me why you were crying. I probably won't remember tomorrow anyway. I can lend you my ears for tonight, maybe I'll forget all about my own problems." His gaze moved back to the view as he sat back and crossed his arms on his chest. At that moment I felt like telling him every little thing about my life. It had been so long since I had anyone who would just listen without the constant urge to solve my problems but just LISTEN. I stopped myself. "I won't let you get off the hook that easy. I have a feeling that you're the one not facing your own problems. Why don't you lean on someone for a change?" I said, determined to make him speak. He looked at me from the side and his head slowly followed his gaze, his eyebrows furrowing just so much I could notice. The anticipation of hearing his raspy voice that felt so familiar and kind made me turn off my music. This man that sat next to me just a moment ago suddenly awakened my curiosity. It took a while for him to speak as we were maintaining a really intense eye contact for what felt as hours. I was able to inspect every milimeter of his dark cat-like eyes. "You're good at reading people, I'll give you that." He smiled and turned back to face the view. "I'm just under a lot of pressure. People expect a lot from me, that's all...and sometimes it can get really frustrating when I can't really reach those expectations. Sometimes it feels like there are so many people doing my thing better than me, it scares me." He put his hands in the pockets of his black sweater still staring at something in the distance. I wasn't sure what to say but he also didn't expect me to say anything. He needed someone to listen and I was there to supply. I asked: "And what would your 'thing' be exactly?" in an effort to get to know more about this mysterious creature in front of me. "Music. I make music for a living." His eyes now focused on his shoes while he bit his lips in an effort not to smile. I finally realized why his voice sounded so familiar, it was freaking Kwon Minsik, Sik-k, Korea's best rapper, sitting next to me staring at the Han river. My hand automatically covered my mouth as I inhaled. I was trying to calm myself down. He probably heard my playlist which was full of his songs and it made me feel so embarrassed, my cheeks flushing with heat again. He tried really hard to hide his cocky smile as he turned his face away from me, looking into the woods on the other side. After a few minutes he asked: "So now are you going to tell me why you were crying?" He was facing me, looking at my eyes attentively like a little boy waiting for instructions from his teacher. I was still to shy to maintain eye contact so I looked at my hands on my lap. I told him my story about how lost and useless I felt in life. I told him about feeling lonely and scared about my future. I told him everything.

Before I knew it tears started to emerge from my eyes again and I tried really hard not to look at Minsik who was still facing me, one of his arms resting on the back of the bench. I cracked. I cracked in front of a man I respected the most. It was embarrassing but also liberating, I was done trying to impress the world. I dropped my head, defeated. Next thing I felt was his warm hand on my cheek, gently wiping the trail of my tears. I froze for a bit, my eyes widening at the sudden proximity of his body. I didn't even notice him getting closer before he put his hand on my face. He was sitting right next to me, the sides of our thighs touching ever so slightly. I could hear my heart rate getting faster and louder. As much as I wanted to, I couldn’t control it. I looked at him and he removed his hand, still looking at me with his furrowed eyebrows, a concerned expression drawing on his face. "I'm sorry. You probably think I'm just being childish, crying at something as trivial as my major." I said with a shaky voice. "Don't ever say sorry for your feelings ever again, you hear me? And besides, I don't think it's stupid, I think it's just very important to you. You want to set goals for yourself but you're too afraid that you're not going to reach them so you just let them go. I would obviously tell you to go for what feels right and figure it out but that won't make you feel secure and I bet a lot of other people in your life told you this before." He replied with his deep raspy voice that I loved so much. He was so close. I could feel every breath on the surface of my cheek, his left arm was lying behind me on the back of the bench, it was almost like a hug. I couldn’t think straight anymore, my thoughts were intertwined with the smell of his cologne and the heat of his body so close to mine. He didn't feel like a stranger, he felt like someone who'd known me for years. I buried my face into my hands so I wouldn't make any thoughtless mistakes. Suddenly, he moved away from me, I couldn’t feel the proximity of his body anymore, the cold night air embracing my whole being. I peeked up from my palms. He was still looking at me with concern in his eyes, saying: "Sorry, I probably got too close for comfort, I'm not used to this kind of emotional thing, you know?" I felt a desperate need for physical touch, maybe it was the cold air, the anxiety or his perfect stature or maybe it was a mix of both but I straightened my back and looked directly into his eyes. It was so unlike me to be this bold but my body automatically moved closer to his.

He didn't move even when my face was only ten centimeters away from his. His expression changed, his forehead relaxing, his eyelids closing halfway when I suddenly felt his hand on my thigh. He grabbed onto it like he was holding on for his dear life and it made me want him more. I stopped, looking down at his lips when he pulled himself closer. His smooth lips crashing into mine made me lean back but he was only getting closer until he pinned me to the wooden bench beneath us. It was a passionate kiss, his hands didn't limit themselves to my thighs but discovered the hot surface of my skin under my hoodie. I felt a certain kind of euphoria, the kind you only get to experience when you do something completely out of character for you but turns out to be the best thing you could have possibly done.

As our kiss was getting more heated and his hands were groping my breasts for a couple of minutes the heat between my legs was getting unbearable. I could feel one of his hands roam down to my thigh and up to my ass where he got the grip to grind against me. Our lips and tounges still inseparable, I played along and grinded my heat against his growing buldge until I heard his raspy growls which sent shivers down my spine. As our tempo aligned we started breathing heavily and his lips left mine but relocated to my neck, definitely leaving more than just the incredibly pleasing pain. There was only a couple of pieces of clothing seperating us but the longing was excruciating. I started tugging on the collar of his black hoodie, trying to stop him as his lips attacked my collarbone. "Stop...I can'...I can't take it." I said with a soft voice in between my moans. His hips stopped moving immediately and he pushed himself above me so we were looking face to face, his body still on top of me. The loss of friction left me feeling needy. "Are you okay? I didn't mean to be this fast, I just thought-" I got up and laid a small kiss on his lips mid-sentence. "Come to my place." I whispered in his ear. I hadn't gotten to know this part of me before but that night felt different. Maybe it was the stream of emotions I had just shared with this stranger on top of me or the tone of his voice or the feeling of the cold night breeze but I didn't want to spend this morning alone.

When we finally arrived at my door he was standing so close to me I almost held my breath trying to get myself to collect my thoughts. I swear I could hear his heartbeat like it was my own, his lips suddenly tracing the curve of my neck as I was trying to insert the right passcode. I couldn’t even focus in my own hands as his were holding me around the waist so it took me a few moments to find the right digits. When the holy sound of the door lock unlocking echoed in the hallway he already pressed the knob in a hurry and pushed me inside. Because my one room apartment was so small it only took our intertwined bodies a solid 30 seconds to hit the mattress. He was planting sloppy kisses down my collar bone as I was tugging at his hoodie, trying to set him free of it. He stopped for a moment only to get up and remove it. The moonlight from outside my small window caressing his elegant body, lighting him up from the back like he was some beastly creature of the night taking advantage of my sadness. I couldn’t move, he was sitting on top of me, his face was covered in darkness but I knew he was watching me. "Do you have any idea how freaking beautiful you look in this light?" His raspy whisper made me quiver. I smiled and looked away while my body was hungry for his touch. I wasn't ready to show it.

He slowly got up with his hands trailing the shape of my thighs until he was holding me behind the knees, still looking at me. I felt his hands pull my leggings of as if it was the easiest thing in the whole entire world. He then proceeded to playfully pull at my panties, rubbed my knot and lowered his face to blow at my growing heat, my legs almost immediately trying to close at the sudden pleasure. He held them open while licking my folds twice, trying to see my reaction. I couldn’t hold in my moans and my spine curved in-synch with my breathing. It was something I haven't felt in forever, not like this, not this strong. I grabbed onto his hair and he seemed to read the ques as he got rid of the piece of fabric. His tounge was doing circles around my clit making me see fireworks and probably tugging at his hair with both hands so much that his scalp was in pain. He got me shaking in a matter of minutes and it was the best high I've ever experienced, sending all kinds of shivers down my skin, leaving me panting. He was far from done though.

"You taste so good, baby girl," he said unknowing of the affect it had on me. I got up to unzip his pants (which he more than willingly helped me with). I traced my fingers down his perfect abs to the hem of his boxers and lower, tracing his hard member while inspecting his face. As soon as I grabbed it through the fabric with my whole hand his eyelids shut closed and his head fell back in pleasure. I pulled him to the mattress and got on top of him trying to grind at his boxers, making them soaking wet. Then I got up to remove the rest of his clothing. I proceeded to trace my tounge along his shaft and sucking on his member, enjoying his growls. His hands were grabbing the sheets and the veins on his forearms and neck were starting to protrude. Every now and then a soft "fuck~" escaped his mouth, motivating me to keep going. Then he suddenly stopped me, saying: "I need to come inside of you, grab my wallet." Instead, I got up to open one of my drawers where I was saving a pack of condoms, praying they would fit him. I handed one to him and he was so quick about it, it got me thinking just how many girls he gets to play around with like this every night. The thought escaped my mind when he stood up to hold me around the waist, slowly pulling me back to bed with him. He undressed me, pulling my hoodie over my head only to discover I wasn't wearing a bra underneath. His dark eyes glowed with passion as he greabbed one of my nipples, tugging at it while kissing me sloppily. He threw me on the mattress and got on top of me. My body was heated up completely, I couldn’t even feel the night breeze coming from the opened window. He licked my sensitive nipples a few more times before aligning himself with my entrance and pushing inside of me. The fireworks from before were nothing compared to the utter pleasure I felt at that exact moment, Sik-k filling me up perfectly. My head fell back in moans and my back curved up again. I could have sworn I saw stars playing in the darkness of my eyelids. All I heard him say was: "Fuck..." He took his time waiting for me to adjust and started to quicken his pace while adjusting the angle. One of his hands was stroking my stomach and the other was holding onto my ass. I tried to mimic his movements, increasing the fraction of our bodies. The moans escaping our mouths felt so unholy they made it even more passionate. "I'm going to- I'm close!" I squealed throught the moans which made him go even harder and faster. My whole body tensed up and I grabbed onto the bedsheets pulling them off. His dick was starting to twitch inside of me, hitting all the right spots and I knew he was trying his best to make me come first which was a rare experience. I opened my eyes seeing him focused on me with his furrowed eyebrows, sweat dripping down the side of his jawline. My body was caught up in a wave of shivers, the walls of my pussy tightening so much it got him shaking as well. We were both just trying to ride out our highs with the last strenght we had. It was sweaty and suffocating but liberating at the same time, all of our thoughts disappearing for these unthinkable moments of pleasure. His hot body collapsed on top of me, both of us trying to catch our breaths again. "This was amazing." I told him in between breaths. He rolled over me to remove the condom and, to my surprise, came right back to lie beside me, his arms hugging me from behind. He kissed my neck and whispered in my ear: "See you in my dreams, stranger."

#sik-k #minsik #khh #fanfiction #sik-k fanfiction #khh fanfiction #korean hip hop #khiphop #kwon minsik #korean #권민식 #민식 #식케이

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hxlyhead-harpies · 4 years

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The Last Dream of My Soul part 2. (R.L.)

This part is a bit short but I hope that’s okay with you all! Any feedback is appreciated and message me or comment if you want to be tagged! My requests are also open. Enjoy!

Pairing: Young!Remus Lupin x Reader

Summary: The very bookish (Y/n) has spent most of her life alone, aside from her best friend Lily and her beloved books. But when the infamous Marauders get thrust into her life, how could she resist the beautiful and unattainable Remus?

Warnings: none

Word count: 1.8k

Part one

By your second week eating breakfast with the Marauders you were starting to feel like you really belonged with them. James was extremely funny, in your opinion the funniest of the group. He never failed to make you laugh when you sat near him in the common room and once he made you laugh so hard in the Great Hall that you had almost choked on your toast. Sirius was also funny but in a different way. He playfully flirted with anything that moved, something that would normally make you scoff, but with him it just made you laugh. You weren’t as close with Peter, though you helped him with his transfiguration homework and he occasionally shared his sweets with you. And then, of course, there was Remus. Remus was by far your favorite of the group, though it was for reasons you’d never dare disclose to anyone but Lily. He was sweet, sending you reassuring smiles when you’d muster up the bravery to tell a story to the group. He’d slip you chocolates when you were studying late at night and fostered the same love for muggle literature as you. Every little thing he did only added to your attraction to him. In your eyes, he was absolutely perfect

You looked forward to the evenings in the common room, sitting next to the crackling fire with the marauders and Lily. Laughing at James and Sirius’s jokes and stealing glances at Remus’s face, seemingly glowing the light of the fire. You finally felt as if you had found your place at Hogwarts.

“Hey (Y/n),” Remus said, startling you out of your thoughts. You turned to look at him.

“Yeah?” you replied. He shifted in his spot on the floor, next to the couch where Lily sat with James.

“I just finished Crime and Punishment,” he said. You turned in the large armchair where you sat to fully face him.

“Oh really? How did you like it?” you asked.

“I liked it, though I have to digress- you were right- it is a bit dense,” he answered. You smiled at his from your seat, quickly looking down at your hands.

“Well of course. I told you so,” you responded. You heard him laugh lightly from the floor.

“I was wondering though if I could borrow your book? The one you talked about at breakfast the other week,” he inquired.

“Oh of course!” you said. “I can go fetch it for you right now.” You gestured towards the stairs that led to the girl’s dormitory.

“Oh you don’t have to get it right now,” Remus said. You smiled and shook your head.

“It’s no trouble. I’ll be right back,” you replied, pushing yourself up from the armchair. He thanked you as you made your way towards the staircase, but you just smiled and waved him off.

When you got to your room you rifled through your bag, attempting to locate the book. You searched for a moment to no avail, before realizing that you had left it on your bedside table. After you retrieved it you turned to head back downstairs, only to almost run directly into Lily.

“Oh my goodness Lils! You scared me,” you said, clutching your chest.

“Oh I’m sorry,” she replied.

“What are you doing up here?” you inquired. Mere minutes ago she was downstairs in the middle of a conversation. You wondered what had brought her upstairs so early. She usually didn’t leave the common room for at least another hour.

“It was getting late and I’m tired,” she replied, shrugging. “Plus James and everyone else decided to go up to bed,” she continued. You felt yourself deflate.

“Oh,” you said. “I was supposed to bring this down to Remus. I guess I took too long,” you said, holding up the book. You felt embarrassed that you had gone all the way upstairs to retrieve him the book when he had just decided to go to be without waiting for you.

“Don’t be silly,” Lily said with a smirk. “He’s still waiting for you downstairs.”

“Oh,” you responded.

“Yes he’s waiting for you all alone in the empty common room,” Lily said in a teasing sing-song voice. You felt yourself blush.

“Lily, I’m going down there to lend him a book. What do you think is going to happen?” you said. Lily just laughed, wiggling her eyebrows at you. You shook your head and headed down towards the common room, now feeling slightly nervous. When you got to the bottom of the stairs you saw Remus’s head pop up. He had moved from his spot on the floor to the now vacant couch. He shot you a smile as you walked over to him.

“Here it is,” you said, handing the book to him. “Sorry I kept you down here waiting for me, I didn’t know everyone was planning on turning in so early.”

“Oh it’s no problem,” he replied, taking the book from you. He quickly flipped through the pages, feeling the worn parchment against his fingers.

“Wow, Lily wasn’t kidding. You really have marked this thing up,” he said, chuckling. You ducked your head in embarrassment.

“Yeah… Sorry about that,” you responded sheepishly. Remus looked up at you, his eyes sparkling in the dim light.

“Oh don’t worry about it. I can tell that you really love the book,” he said. You nodded silently, averting your eyes to your shoes. A silence fell between you as Remus turned the book over in his hands. You were debating whether to bid him goodnight and go upstairs or attempt to start a conversation with him. Luckily, he made the decision for you.

“At the risk of sounding like a complete idiot, what is this book about?” he asked, rubbing the back of his neck. You giggle softly before sitting down next to him on the sofa.

“Well,” you began. “It’s the story of the muggle French revolution. It follows a man who was kept as a political prisoner, his daughter, a French aristocrat, and a drunken lawyer. It’s full of intrigue and espionage, and while not a romance, it contains what I consider to be the most romantic scene ever written,” you said, catching yourself before you continued to ramble. You look up to meet Remus’s eyes to see that he’s smiling.

“That sounds incredibly interesting,” he said after a moment. You smiled and nodded.

“What qualifies it to be the most romantic scene ever written?” he asked in an almost teasing, yet earnest tone.

“I’m not sure exactly. Something about the words is just perfect. I guess it’s just the kind of thing I wish someone would say to me,” you answered shyly. You saw him nod in your peripheral vision.

“Are you a fan of romances then?” he inquired.

“Yes, I am. They might be my favorite type of book to read,” you answered abashedly. You had always loved the allure of romance novels; Pride and Prejudice, Wuthering Heights, and Jane Eyre had been your go-to reads throughout your adolescence. You longed for a romance of your own, and since that seemed unattainable, you lived vicariously through your books.

“I don’t think that’s anything to be ashamed of,” Remus said, “Though I can’t say they’re my favorite types of books.” You laughed.

“That doesn’t exactly surprise me, Remus. You are a boy after all,” you said jokingly, nudging his shoulder with your own.

“Hey! That’s an unfair stereotype. I’m sure plenty of boys enjoy romance novels. I am just not one of them,” he said with a smile, nudging you back.

“Why don’t you like them?” you asked. He shrugged, his joking demeanor morphing into a more uncomfortable one.

“I don’t know exactly… I just don’t picture myself wanting a real-life romance, so why would I want to read about a fictional one?” he elaborated. You felt your stomach drop.

“Oh,” you said, attempting to keep your voice even, “so you just don’t want to fall in love?”

“Yeah, I suppose that’s it. I don’t think the whole falling in love and marriage thing is for me,” he responded. You hoped that you appeared to have an unbothered demeanor because it felt as if your heart was breaking.

“That sounds a little sad, don’t you think?” you asked. Remus shook his head, still appearing a tad uncomfortable.

“Not to me. Besides, loneliness isn’t the worst type of pain that one can feel,” he replied. You frowned.

“I’m not sure about that. For me, the pain of loneliness seems unparalleled. I want nothing more than to fall in love,” You took a deep breathe, playing with the hem of your sweater. From the corner of your eye, you saw Remus shrug.

“I guess that’s where you and I differ,” he said after a beat. You nodded quietly. After a moment of uncomfortable silence, you stood up from your seat on the couch and dusted off your skirt.

“Well, I best be off to bed,” you said. Remus looked up at you quickly. He gave you a small smile before bidding you goodnight. You quickly turned around and rushed up the stairs.

By the time you got to your dorm, your body felt heavy with disappointment. You closed the door hurriedly behind you before flopping onto your bed. You let out a sad sigh, looking up at the ceiling, After a minute you felt the bed dip beside you and you look up to see Lily grinning down at you.

“So how’d it go?” the redhead asked, wiggling her eyebrows.

“Fine,” was your response. Lily groaned before laying down next to you in the bed.

“Come on (Y/n). Please just tell me what happened,” she begged.

“Nothing happened,” you said simply, “and it’s been made clear to me that nothing ever will happen.” Lily looked at you, clearly confused.

“What do you mean?” she asked.

“I have been informed that Remus Lupin is not one for romance. He doesn’t want it now, and he doesn’t want it ever,” you replied, wiping away the tears that were threatening to fall.

“Oh,” Lily said softly. “That was not how I expected that to go.” She turned her head to look up at the ceiling.

“It’s fine,” you said. “I’ve gone seven years without needing a boyfriend. I certainly don’t need one now,” you said defiantly, getting up to begin getting ready for bed. You saw Lily frown.

“But that doesn’t mean you can’t want one. You’re allowed to be sad you know?” she says, propping herself up on her elbows.

“Lily, if I let myself be sad over every boyfriend that I never had then I would have been sad for the last seven years,” you replied. Lily began playing with the threads of the quilt that was splayed across your bed.

“I guess.” She got up quickly and went to join you by your dresser. “Well even if Remus Lupin is too daft to realize it, you’re quite a catch,” she said reassuringly. You giggled quietly.

“Thank you, Lils,” you responded.

“Don’t worry someday you will meet your Mr. Heathcliff,” she reassured you, patting you on the shoulder, before skipping off to her own bed. You run your brush through your hair, desperately hoping that she was right.

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@goosegorl @serenefreakgeek

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katytheinspiredworkaholic · 3 years

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Correspondence, Chapter 02

Pairing: HotchReid

Summary: An AU where Reid never joined the FBI, but got roped into consulting for the LA field office while working and teaching at Caltech. Hotch gets his email referred from a fellow agent, and they start to work on cases together -- until they start talking on a regular basis. Regular becomes frequent, frequent becomes constant. They know nothing about each other, but they don't really mind.

Rating: Mature/Explicit (eventually)

Chapter CW/notes: Vague mentions of PTSD, spoilers for the Foyet storyline/mentioned character death. Little angsty, maybe a little OOC since Reid and Hotch don’t actually have a boss/subordinate work relationship in this story and I’m adapting that whole-heartedly. But other than that, it’s just grown men acting like dorks and Reid attempting to give parenting advice. Set in season 6, self beta’d.

Word Count: 4535

Masterpost Link

Ao3 Link

Chapter 02

May 2010

Hotch does, indeed, take Dr. Reid up on his offer.

They work on a few more cases together, over the course of six to eight weeks, and each time Dr. Reid proves to be an invaluable asset. His knowledge is unsurpassed, extensive, and astounds Hotch every time he opens a correspondence email from the esteemed professor.

Have you ever thought about being an FBI agent? He teases one night, when they’d been sending theories back and forth in emails that had become less and less formal. Dr. Reid still sent dissertation-length assessments of the cases when they landed in his niche (which was often), but their replies had turned to a messaging template instead of the business-like format Hotch is used to writing all day every day. Quick, rapid-fire messages replacing the professional grade layout that felt so impersonal, with titles and headers and enough filler to give him chronic headaches.

This was much better. Informal as it was.

I’m fairly certain I wouldn’t pass the physical exams, but thanks for the compliment. Another life, maybe. Dr. Reid answers, and Hotch finds himself smiling and huffing a laugh behind closed lips, the kind that stays caught up in his chest. He’s not sure how much older the professor is, for all he knew he could be bordering on retirement, but it was an amusing thought nonetheless.

I would get them waved, or curve the scores. I have that kind of pull around here. Never would he speak with his agents or anyone at the Quantico office like this, and it had taken weeks and dozens of emails to get to this point. But the freedom of it was nice, enchanting, like a little taste of his life outside of the office. Just confined to the response box of his email. Despite what everyone (ie: Morgan, Prentiss, Garcia) said about him, he did have a sense of humor. He just also had a sense of propriety, and he was their boss. He wasn’t going to make light with them in the place where they catch murderers.

Don’t tempt me. I have tenure. But Virginia gets so cold, I’d freeze to death half the year.

Didn’t you attend MIT? What did you do during winter?

Froze to death. Pay attention.

Hotch outright laughs, and then snaps his mouth shut and looks out the open blinds of his office. Everyone has gone home, for the most part, but he doesn’t need JJ or someone else hearing him and coming to check on him. He hasn’t been getting much work done since Dr. Reid started replying to his emails that evening, and the little half smirk on his face is something he doesn’t think he can school as he rereads their conversation over and over.

Apologies. Next I’m sure you’ll tell me how you had to walk to class uphill both ways in the snow.

No, I took the bus. And Froze. To. Death. I live in sweaters, and I’m from Las Vegas, I’m not meant for the cold.

Las Vegas? Really?

Born and raised. My mother still lives there.

Hotch’s eyebrows raise at that, apparently he’s not so old that his mother is still around. His own parents are gone, have been for years, but that’s under different circumstances and really not a situation he likes to reflect on.

Must be nice, only being a few hours from home. Do you go back often?

As little as possible. I should really visit my mother more, but that’s hard for reasons I won’t get into. I do write her, though. A letter every day, although not much happens around here for her to get invested in.

As in a real letter? Not an email, or a phone call?

She doesn’t do well with phone calls, or computers. Letters are more personal, anyway, and she likes being able to have the paper in her hands in my own handwriting. It’s the least I can do, not going home unless I absolutely have to.

This is the most the man has ever spoken about himself, in a personal manner instead of an academic one, and Hotch isn’t quite sure how to take the evolution. It feels like a shift in their dynamic, an opening that could lead to a deeper level of friendship and -- it’s been a while since he’s had that. Allowed himself to have that. After Foyet, and even before when Haley started pushing for divorce and Hotch responded by isolating himself as much as he could to keep his work unaffected, he’d had trust issues. Hotch is man enough to admit that.

But speaking with an old professor on the other side of the country might just be the stepping stone he needs. Who knows, maybe they’d even get the chance to meet one day.

I just grimaced at my own triteness. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to give you such a maudlin review of my life story.

No, that’s okay. I don’t talk much about myself, so I wasn’t sure how to respond. Work and home are kept very separate for me. It’s an unhealthy coping mechanism, I know, but it works as best as it can.

In your line of work, I can only imagine. You do what you have to.

Hotch pauses in their conversation, looks at the clock and the stack of paperwork he still hasn’t finished -- too busy lost in his talk with Dr. Reid -- and feels an itching in the back of his mind he wants so desperately to scratch at. To give into. Lists of things he knows he should talk about, but doesn’t trust anyone enough to do so. Hotch really isn’t sure he can even trust Dr. Reid with them.

At least, not yet.

Thank you. And thank you for entertaining me, as well.

Anytime.

It’s not a month later that Hotch is sitting at his desk, after hours, once again. Head in his hands and his phone still warm, overworked from the hour-long phone call he’d just endured with his ex-sister-in-law, Jessica.

Jack was being bullied in school. She’d had to attend the parent-teacher conference about it instead of him, because he’d been on a case in Florida for over two weeks. Which really just highlighted to Jack’s teacher what his home life is like and she expressed her worry. Adamantly. Jessica was in agreement, and she once again wanted to have the conversation on if Hotch returning to work at the BAU had been the right choice after Haley was killed. He’d taken his sabbatical for 30 days, passed his psych evals -- which didn’t mean much, he helped write the qualification questions -- and Jack was doing well with his therapist and in school.

Or so he’d thought. Until today.

That ‘conversation’ turned into an argument, because Hotch gets defensive when someone questions his choices in regards to his family, and as much as he knows that she is right -- he feels awful about how it devolved. Jessica has gone above and beyond in taking care of Jack, to allow Hotch to return to work, and she is the last person that deserves the brunt of his frustration. He only has himself to blame, and he doesn’t know what to do. Who to turn to. Who might have answers for him, if there even was a correct answer for his situation.

The Foyet case is classified. His assigned therapist is so easily played he hasn’t returned to her in months.

Hotch just wants someone who won’t see through him, even when he pushes back.

He wants to talk to someone who he doesn’t want to push back against.

Who he trusts.

Dr. Reid, I need help with something no one seems to have an answer for, but it’s of a personal matter and not a professional one. Would you mind lending me your services?

Hotch sends the email before he can take it back. It’s late in Virginia, but Dr. Reid is four hours behind him in California and there’s a high chance he might still be in his office. He seems to keep longer hours, for an old professor.

He won’t admit it to himself, but he feels a tightness in his chest as he awaits an answer. All the paperwork from the Florida case is completed, there’s nothing keeping him there at the office any longer. But it’s too late to go pick up Jack from Jessica’s, and he doesn’t think he would be welcome to come sleep on her couch like he often does on nights like this. When he wants to be there when Jack wakes up, and tonight he longs to do just that. But he isn’t sure he can even look Jessica in the eye right now.

So he sits there, and watches his computer screen, and feels himself distance from the ache in his bones. Knowing if Dr. Reid doesn’t answer him, he would have to spend however long it would take to compartmentalize his apprehension, once again, and go home to his empty house and not think about how he is failing in raising his son. In being a good father.

The soft ping of his inbox is his single solace in the storm of his thoughts.

Agent Hotchner, You know I’m always happy to help, in any way -- personal or professional -- if I can. What is it you need an answer to?

That tightness releases, but it also gives way to the worry building up in his chest. An overwhelming, crushing amount of it that he didn’t realize was climbing higher and higher the longer he’d been left alone with his thoughts. Drowning in trepidation. Everything he doesn’t want to have pressing on his mind when they are hunting down serial killers, working with criminals that would see it as a weakness and exploit it without batting an eye.

But this time, Hotch knows this is becoming something he shouldn’t try to hide away.

Child psychology. Trauma, in particular, and the effects on children after the fact.

It’s enough to describe what he needs answered, without telling too much of what happened. It’s still hard for Hotch to think about what happened, to fully realize what they had gone through. What had happened to Haley, what had happened to him. What Jack will have to grow up knowing nearly happened to him. What he almost witnessed.

(626)-595-0387 I have unlimited texting, and tend to stay up very late at night. Also, I have a feeling that you might want to keep this off government regulated emails. I’m not a practicing psychiatrist, mind you, but anything I can do to help you I will be more than happy to offer.

Hotch is stunned. Whatever he expected, that wasn’t it. He’s near speechless, staring at the phone number with a Pasadena area code, and hesitates in moving their correspondence off of the email platform. A drastic change in dynamic and expectations, but… it would be nice, to be able to message the professor whenever he wanted. The ease of access an alluring thought.

Another soft ping in his inbox has him looking up from where he’d been glancing at his cell phone in contemplation.

Also, it goes without saying, but everything we talk about in our conversations would still be confidential. I have no one to tell them to, anyway.

Hotch huffs out a sound that could have been a laugh, and he’s surprised he even can manage that. But he’s barely thinking about it before he’s picking up his cell phone and typing in the number Dr. Reid had given him. []6/3, 22:46[] This is Agent Hotchner.

He sends it, pauses in thought, then keeps typing.

[]6/3, 22:47[] You can call me Hotch, since this is outside work. Agent Hotchner just reminds me I’m abusing bureau resources for personal gain.

The whole interaction is causing this clawing, hot feeling in his chest that might be nervousness in risking the change in their work relationship, or residual guilt from the fight with Jessica about Jack, or just… the fear that Dr. Reid will tell him he is fucking this up and he should never have returned to the FBI at all. Because there are days, like today, where Hotch really starts to think that might be the case.

[]6/3, 22:49[] I figured as much. No one else actually messages me after 6pm except you and some of my more zealous students.

[]6/3, 22:51[] And although I don’t think you’re abusing anything; in that same vein, you can call me Spencer. This is just two friends having a chat, nothing more.

Hotch appreciates the gesture, finds himself almost smiling about it -- but then he remembers what he has to relay to ask what he wants to ask the other man. And he isn’t sure where to begin.

So he just -- begins at the start. The case where Foyet fooled his whole team, posing as a victim, and managing to get away. Slipped through their fingers. Gotten away with murder and insider FBI information and more than he should have ever been able to access. Dr. Reid -- Spencer, please -- doesn’t say anything as he relates all of this, and Hotch commends his patience. Because from the start, this isn’t about child psychology at all. But it is certainly about trauma, and that becomes apparent when Hotch throws caution to the wind and describes what happened to him in his own apartment. Paraphrasing and dropping out intimate details, but explaining what happened is still brutal even stripped to its bare minimum. When Foyet had broken in, and blitzed him, and tortured him as he stabbed him nine times in the chest. Precise, practiced, indicative of letting him live with the knowledge of what that monster masquerading as a man could do.

The details begin to bleed through the more he types. The more he remembers.

How he’d had to put his ex-wife and son into protective custody. How it hadn’t been enough. His late night obsessions all for naught. And finally, a brief -- or as brief as it can possibly be, for as brutal an event as it was -- summary of what happened when Foyet had found his family. How he had killed Haley, how they had stopped Foyet and Jack had been spared witnessing anything. Even the fight inside Hotch’s own house. He doesn’t… well, Hotch doesn’t plan on describing that and keeps it at bay. He barely remembers it. Blurs of fists and broken furniture and rooms he has memorized from years of memories flying by as they tore through his home like a hurricane.

But he gives enough of a picture. Enough that, though he doesn’t say as much, Spencer probably knows Foyet didn’t make it out alive. Can guess it was by Hotch’s own hands.

Which leads them to now -- to the part Hotch needed help with more than anything. His past and his trauma Hotch has a lot of practice dealing with, knows how to handle it alone. As he always has. But the part he doesn’t know how to handle?

He is raising his son on his own. His ex-sister-in-law, Jessica, has been a godsend and is helping with Jack so Hotch can be at work. His lifeblood. His identity. Everything he’s ever worked for. He almost left; Strauss had offered him an early retirement package that was too good to pass up, but he had in the end. Because being an FBI agent, catching the monsters that plague their world, that is what he does. And that’s what Jack knows him to do.

It helps Jack, Hotch found, to know that his dad is out there catching men like the one that took away his mom. He probably would have taken the loss a lot worse, if Aaron had left the bureau.

But he’s messing up. Hotch feels that in his bones. He’s gone so much, Jessica is taking on the role of parent instead of Aunt more and more, and Hotch does not want to turn into that father that shows up once in a blue moon and pretends he never left. He’s worried that what Jack’s teacher, and Jessica, had said is true and Jack’s home life isn’t going to be healthy for him. It’s going to make him suffer.

That what Jack has gone through, Hotch doesn’t know how to address correctly.

It’s near a half hour later that he’s gotten the entire story out, and Hotch realizes that even though text is probably going to be easier to have a conversation like this… he probably could have written it in an email and saved them both some time. He apologizes at the error, because it’s late and his head isn’t quite screwed on straight whenever it comes to matters with his son, and he just… he’s at a loss. Doesn’t know what the right course of action is, or if there even is one outside of a professional’s opinion.

Then Hotch waits for a reply.

It feels like hours, but in reality is only a couple of minutes.

[]6/3, 23:22[] Hotch, the fact you are so worried about your son and how your actions have affected him through all of this, is all I really need to know about you being a good father. The consideration you are showing him is not something every parent can do, in the face of what happened to you and your family. You do not need to worry about that. You love your son, and that is the most important factor right now.

[]6/3, 23:25[] Secondly, I’m so sorry that this happened to you at all. You and your son sound like you have such a strong bond, and I know that’s what must have helped you through such a difficult time. It’s apparent that you love him very, very much.

[]6/3, 23:29[] I don’t have a lot of friends that ask me the hard questions like this. Not that I don’t want them to, I just understand why, because I can recite statistics all day and give you textbook answers easily. Which I know you were hoping would give you a black and white response to your question. But in this there isn’t one, sadly. I know you are worried and I feel like you don’t need to be. And I don’t know how to express that in a way that won’t make you detest me.

[]6/3, 23:32[] Your son just lost his mom, and you just lost your ex-wife, and there’s not going to be a straightforward path to healing. Everything you say you have done for him? It’s perfect, it’s exactly what you should be doing, and don’t stop. That’s all you can do and all you should focus on, in truth. Listen to what he tells you and watch for what he doesn’t, and hug him, because you are a great dad -- and this is coming from someone who did not have such an example.

[]6/3, 23:33[] And I am very sorry about Haley, Hotch. I truly am.

Hotch doesn’t even answer him for a good few minutes. It is a lot to process, to read through, and he does read through it more than once. But every single time he reads that final text, his eyes sting hotly and he has to blink back emotions he thought he had waded through plenty on his 30 days of leave. Apparently, not enough.

It’s so much, and yet he wants more. It’s not enough in the sense that he wishes Dr. Reid -- Spencer -- would keep talking to him. Keep telling him he’s doing a good job. That he hasn’t failed his son.

That for once, he’s handling something right.

With a breath that feels like it shudders through his chest a little more roughly than it should, Hotch slowly types out a response that doesn’t even begin to feel anything close to adequate.

[]6/3, 23:41[] Thank you, Spencer. I could never detest you, in the slightest. Everyone keeps telling me I’m not screwing this up, but

He pauses, not sure if he even believes what he’s about to type.

At the last second, he switches tactics entirely. Feels a flood gate open. Just one, solitary floodgate in the vast Hoover Dam size wall he keeps up from the moment he shrugs into his suit jacket at home until he sheds it all away at the end of the night. In the confines of his home, with six physical locks on the door and two different digital security systems. With a weapon carefully concealed and childproofed in every room. With steel reinforced windows and no exit save for the front and back doors. A fire hazard, but a good precaution against anyone who would try to break in -- like Foyet had.

[]6/3, 23:41[] ...I find it so hard to believe them. In some ways it’s hard to believe you, too, but that’s not personal. Your words have resonated more than anyone else’s, if that’s any consolation. Even more than the therapist they assigned after everything.

[]6/3, 23:45[] My sister-in-law flat out told me I was failing my son, being away like I am, and his teacher believes his home environment isn’t healthy. He’s being bullied in school. I don’t know what to do.

Hotch types it all out and sends it.

The reply is instantaneous.

[]6/3, 23:46[] Yes, you do. You know exactly what to do.

And then there isn’t any further elaboration.

At first, Hotch is confused. He feels himself being pulled from that precipice of self-loathing and despair. Tugged by a string. The confusion forces him to look at Spencer’s response, nine words long, and decipher what they mean.

Trusting his first instinct, once more.

[]6/3, 23:49[] I have to talk to Jack.

[]6/3, 23:54[] You have heard all of this from everyone other than your son. He may be young, but he is going to know the answer better than his teacher or his aunt. Talk to him, before you start nailing yourself to a cross. You may find the answer to the situation a much easier fix than you are anticipating.

Hotch considers this, thinking about his son. Six-years-old now, first grade, smart as a tack, curious and kind. But so strong, a foundation that even he found himself clinging to sometimes, in the face of the storm of everything that had happened to them. Which is not healthy, and Hotch learned to not do that to him. To instead find solidarity in their relationship, withstanding the storm together. As they always have.

[]6/3, 23:57[] He’s not one to let a bully have his way. He knows that’s not right. Maybe he has another strategy.

[]6/4, 00:01[] He’s young enough that trying to befriend his abuser would be a good tactic to counter the situation, does that seem like something he would do?

[]6/4, 00:02[] That sounds exactly like Jack. Hotch replies, with a smile finally easing on to his face -- and it feels lighter now. Easier to hold.

[]6/4, 00:04[] He sounds like a sweet kid.

[]6/4, 00:05[] He is. I’m very proud of him.

[]6/4, 00:07[] You really are a great dad, Hotch. I’m not just saying it to say it.

That crushing, overwhelming feeling has ebbed to nearly nothing -- and with a sudden rush of vertigo it is replaced with gratitude for the old professor lending him his evening hours. It flashes warm and sudden and Hotch isn’t used to that, either.

[]6/4, 00:08[] I would never expect you to, but thank you.

Even he feels lame for thanking the man for saying such a thing.

[]6/4, 00:10[] You don’t need to thank me, I barely did anything.

[]6/4, 00:11[] But if you ever need to talk, about anything really, I’d be more than happy to do so.

[]6/4, 00:13[] I promise I can be good at that. The listening part. Day or night, it really doesn’t matter. I’ll always be around.

Hotch pauses at the offer, and then types slow and hesitant.

[]6/4, 00:16[] What if I just want to check in on a friend?

[]6/4, 00:16[] I am also around for that.

The answer is sudden, without hesitation, and Hotch feels a smile start to ease the muscles in his face. Soften the edges once more.

[]6/4, 00:18[] I wouldn’t mind someone to talk to after a long day. It’s been a while since I’ve had a…

He pauses again, not quite sure if he remembers how to do this without pressing in too fast. Committing to too much, not sure what he is able to give of himself. But he’s already shared more with Dr. Reid in two months than he has with David in the past two years.

Hotch makes a decision, for himself, for the first time in a long time.

[]6/4, 00:18[] ...It’s been a while since I’ve had a friend outside of the bureau.

[]6/4, 00:19[] Do I still count if I’m a consultant?

[]6/4, 00:19[] You absolutely count.

His own message makes him smile, and there’s a beat between messages where he hopes he made the older man smile as well.

[]6/4, 00:22[] I’m never short on topics of conversation, I warn you. So unless you want a lecture on quantum physics -- how do you feel about chess?

[]6/4, 00:24[] I’m getting the feeling you’ll wipe the floor with me.

[]6/4, 00:25[] Oh, without a doubt. But the desktop app also has a chat feature.

[]6/4, 00:26[] Look at you, all modern and with the times.

[]6/4, 00:28[] My home phone may be a rotary, but even I can’t scoff at the vast reach of online chess.

[]6/4, 00:28[] So what say you?

Hotch pauses, one final time, and considers the night; the conversation, Spencer’s advice, the way talking about what had happened helped ease the weight of it more than he’d ever anticipated. Then he thinks of the source, of what started it all, and how -- once again -- Dr. Reid was right about a number of things. But one thing in particular.

[]6/4, 00:32[] I’m going to take your advice and go to my son. But tomorrow night, after he’s in bed, I have many hours to myself.

[]6/4, 00:35[] By no coincidence whatsoever, my evenings are always free. Care to show off those FBI honed deduction skills? My best chess opponents have ironically been FBI agents.

[]6/4, 00:36[] Oh, I’m terrible. Trust me.

[]6/4, 00:37[] I promise I don’t care. Your company is worth however many short games we can endure.

Hotch smiles, despite himself, and this time doesn’t try to hold it back.

[]6/4, 00:39[] Then, it’s a date.

(tbc...)

Tagged list: @spencehotchner @ssa-sarahsunshine @gothamapologist @reidology @marsjareau @dragon-snaps-fandom @emmyraebird @just-an-emo-rat @aaron-hotchner187 @dk18077 @more-heid-pls @fakin-it-til-i-make-it @merpancake

#DID I MENTION THIS WAS A SLOWBURN?!?#Cause it's a S L O W B U R N #we still have a couple chapters of Hotch's POV before we get to see how things are going on Reid's side #also I am so frustrated with tumblr's formatting issues but I finally got it to stop rearranging my damn story when I edit it I think #fingers-crossed #at least ao3 has my back #Once again Updates are on Saturdays about 5pm EST #if you want in on the tag list just message me <3 #HotchReid #Heid #katyswriting

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alovesongshewrote · 4 years

Note

For the requests, can you do Douxie x reader where the reader gets a job at the bookshop and conveniently forgets their sweater at work so Douxie has to lend them his hoodie 🥺👉🏻👈🏻

Sweater | Hisirdoux Casperan x Reader

Plot: haha, sweater go brrrrrrrrr

Word Count: 1,946

Warnings: Folding chairs and spiders

A/N: Idk what this is, but i hope you enjoy it

Tag List: @furblrwurblr

You had always wanted to work at a bookstore.

Ever since you were an angsty twelve-year-old who only found solace in books, it had been your dream to work amongst the written word. Too bad Chapters had shitty hours.

That didn’t matter now, though. GDT Arcane Books had excellent hours, a positive work environment, and the nicest couches to ever exist. They also had a painting of Guillermo del Toro. You weren’t sure why, but you loved it anyway. There was only one thing about the small bookstore that you loved more than the Del Toro painting, which is saying a lot, that painting was amazing.

Your coworker, Hisirdoux Casperan, was very quickly becoming your favourite human being in the entire world. He was sweet, selfless, and he cared about other people. He made you laugh more than anyone else, and he was there for you when you were stressed or anxious. Also, he had a cat. I don’t even need to tell you that cats are amazing.

The bookstore was the perfect place, and it only got better as the seasons changed. Fall in Arcadia was beautiful, fall in Arcadia in a bookstore was even better. GDT began to feel like a second home to you, so much, in fact, that you developed the habit of leaving things at work. It wasn’t your fault, things like this happen sometimes, and that’s okay. As long as you don’t forget anything too important, you should survive.

And then you forgot something important.

It wasn’t anything major like your wallet, but it was necessary to keep you warm in the cool weather, especially at night.

And it was night. And it was cold. And your favourite sweater was still in the bookstore. And you hadn’t realized until Douxie had locked the doors and you’d both gone your separate ways.

In short, you were a little bit screwed.

You wrapped your arms around yourself, shivering slightly. This was fine. Totally fine. As fine as a dog drinking coffee in a burning room. The wind blew, shaking the branches on the trees and raising goosebumps on your skin. Lovely.

You braced yourself against the breeze, trudging forward, determined to make it home and have a hot cup of tea.

And then you heard a trash can fall over. Extra lovely.

The last thing you wanted was to deal with a Goblin or Shadow Mephit or something. You walked faster. There was another, louder crash behind you. You sped up again. You were not dealing with this tonight.

There was more noise from behind you, the universe clearly disregarding your wishes for a calm night. At this point, you were running. There was a limit to how much crap you could put up with, and it was a limit you were fast approaching.

Then Douxie flew into your side, bringing both of you to the ground.

“Douxie!?”

“(Y/N)!?”

Whatever had thrown Douxie at you roared from the alley. You couldn’t see it, but you could tell that it wasn’t anything good.

“You have to run,” your coworker said, getting to his feet and offering you a hand up.

“What? No, I’m not leaving you-”

“I’ll be okay, (Y/N), but you need to get out of here!”

Even if you wanted to, you didn’t have time to get out of there. What appeared to be a large stone spider emerged from the space between buildings. How this thing didn’t wake up the whole neighbourhood, you had no idea, and you couldn’t stop to think of one because the arachnid was now attacking. Douxie stood in front of you, shielding you with his body, and some kind of blue forcefield.

“(Y/N), GO!”

You ran, but you didn’t go home. Instead, you searched for something to fight with.

Monsters and magic were not a new concept to you, not when you lived in Arcadia. You’d gone through whatever the hell that troll-thing was, an alien attack, and several other crap-tastic world-ending events. This was just one monster, and you had Douxie, who was apparently a wizard on your side. This was not the problem you were expecting or even a problem you wanted, but it was one you could handle.

It took a minute of searching, but eventually, you found the perfect weapon. Someone had left a folding chair outside. It may not be an enchanted sword, or a serrator, or a gun, but folding chairs had done wonders for you during the troll-hell, and you figured it would work for you now.

You grabbed the chair and rejoined the fray.

Douxie was not pleased to see this. He really liked you. You were sweet, snarky and charming, and he really liked all of your quirks. He enjoyed your company and wanted to spend more time with you. He knew you were a strong person, and that you could take care of yourself, but he was really hoping that you wouldn’t have to deal with this. He knew it would kill him if anything bad happened to you.

But you lived in Arcadia, where bad things always happened, and you knew how to deal with this.

“EAT CHAIR, PUNK!” you yelled, bringing the chair down on whatever part of the spider you could reach. This didn’t make the spider happy, but you were able to avoid any and all attacks while repeatedly bashing the thing with your folding chair.

The wizard was at a loss for words.

While he wanted you to run home, he knew there was a high chance that you would stay, and a higher chance that you would stay and try to help him. The chair, however, had not been a part of these calculations, so all he could do was stare and watch as you kicked this thing’s ass. No one could blame him, it was very impressive and very attractive.

And kick-ass you did. You dodged attacks and landed hits, your folding chair proving to be as useful as ever. Eventually, you managed to wedge your weapon between the pincers of the arachnid, distracting it momentarily.

“Douxie! Now!”

Douxie snapped from his haze at the sound of your voice. He sent a wave of magic at the thing before opening the gate to limbo underneath it. You and Douxie were left staring at the ground where the thing had fallen through.

“Nice one,”

“Thanks,” the situation set in for both of you.

“Hey, wait a minute, what was that?”

“Oh, fuzzbuckets, are you okay?”

The two of you hesitated for a moment, held at a stalemate. You wanted answers, he wanted to know if you were alright.

You took this time to take in details you hadn’t noticed while beating up the stone spider. Douxie had some kind of band or cuff on his wrist. You had never seen that before despite working with him for a few months now. It was new. And it was pretty cool if you were telling the truth.

While you examined the cuff from where you stood, Douxie noticed that you were unharmed, but shivering slightly. You didn’t have your sweater on.

“Aren’t you cold?”

The question knocked you out of your thoughts, but fortunately, you were focused enough to answer, “Oh, uh, yeah, I forgot my sweater back at the bookstore,”

“Oh,”

Without another word, Douxie took off his hoodie, walked over to you and wrapped it around your shoulders.

“There you go, that should warm you up,”

You gingerly grabbed the edges of the hoodie, wrapping it tightly around your shaking frame. He was right, it did warm you up, but as your eyes ran over the tattoos on Douxie’s shoulders, you thought of a few more ways he could help you achieve that goal.

“Thank you,”

“Of course, love,”

The wind blew by again. It wasn’t so bad this time.

Then you realized how late it was.

“Oh, god, I should be getting home, I-”

“Let me walk you,”

“Are you sure?”

“(Y/N), I know you can defend yourself,” he cast a cautious glance towards the discarded folding chair, “But it would make me feel a lot better to know you got home safe,”

Your cheeks warmed at the sentiment. It was nice to be cared about.

“Ok. Come on, I’m this way,”

The walk started off in silence.

Douxie’s hoodie was soft. His tattoos were really nice. It was still kinda cold, but Douxie showed no signs of feeling the temperature.

But it was too quiet. You needed to talk about this.

“Hey, Doux? You mind telling me what that thing was?”

The wizard sucked in a deep breath, “To be honest, I don’t know yet. I’m still figuring that one out,”

“Huh,” you supposed that was a valid answer, “Let me know when you do,”

Douxie smiled for a moment. He told you that you’d be the first to know. Then his face fell. He almost looked scared, but there was nothing around you to be scared of. You were a bit confused, but your attention stayed on Douxie.

“(Y/N), until this is all sorted out, could you avoid going out after dark? I don’t want you getting hurt,”

That was a bit of an understatement. If you got hurt at all, it would kill him. If you got hurt by something he could have protected you from, it would destroy him.

“I’ll do my best, but you know I get off from work late,”

“Then I’ll walk you home,”

“I’d like that,”

You were a bit surprised by how determined he was to keep you safe. It was really nice to have someone watching out for you for a change. It made you feel warm on the inside.

After that, the conversation turned to normal things. Music, books, anything other than stone monsters with no name. Douxie did ask where you learned to wield a folding chair, but some things are best left to the imagination.

You were actually sad when your house came into view, something you never thought possible. You’d been enjoying your time with Douxie so much, you didn’t want it to end. Unfortunately, you did not control the universe.

“Well, this is me,” you took off the hoodie, which was also a sad event. You held it out for Douxie to take, “Here-”

“Hang onto it,” the wizard said, taking your hands under the hoodie for a moment, “At least until you get your sweater back,”

You both pulled away, blushing, 100%.

“Thank you,”

“It’s no problem, really,”

There was another moment of silence. You both had so much to say, but no idea how to say it.

“Well, I’ll see you tomorrow,”

“Tomorrow,”

Douxie watched as you opened the door to your home, and stepped through the door. A surge of energy ran through him. He had to say something, anything, or he would regret it.

“(Y/N)?”

You spun around to face him faster than either of you thought possible, “Yes?”

Douxie paused. He didn’t think he’d get that far, to be honest. But you were watching him with anticipation, waiting for him to speak.

“Just… stay safe, okay?” it wasn’t exactly what he wanted to say, but it was close enough.

“I will if you do,”

The smile on your face was the best thing he’d seen all day.

He was so distracted by the curve of your lips that he didn’t even notice that you had moved to stand in front of him.

“Thanks again, Douxie,” and with that, you left a small kiss on his cheek and entered your apartment, leaving Douxie a blushing mess on your doorstep.

“Douxie? Are you alright?”

“I’m much better than alright, Arch,”

#hisirdoux x reader #hisirdoux casperan x reader #douxie x reader #douxie imagine #hisirdoux imagine #hisirdoux #hisirdoux casperan #douxie #toa douxie #toa hisirdoux #fluff #chaotic #chaotic reader

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forevercaroline · 3 years

Text

For @iamcarito, @misssophiachase, @karinanic, @missmystic-vampirebarbie, @crazychicke, @infernal-panda, @austennerdita2533, @vampsandchill

Forbes chapter 3

Everyone is settled in the living room of the sorority house, they are in their pajamas, there’s popcorn, candy, chips, fruits, granola bars, there’s something for everyone. Before the movie Melissa stands in front of the fireplace which the tv is mounted above. “Instead of Aspen we will be going to Palm Springs or Montecito for our retreat.”

There are murmurs through out the girls while the movie is going through the opening credits. Lexi leans forward to address the girls in front of the couch she, Erica and Lydia are sitting on. Malia, Allison and Kira are sitting on the other couch. “Since it’s my generosity lending one of the Forbes homes to this retreat I don’t think anyone should be murmuring about anything. Now I can take my generosity back and we can all stay in a hotel and not even a Forbes hotel. Now which would you rather stay in a mansion with a movie theater, and a private pool or a four star hotel with a public pool. I know which one I would prefer but I’m not the one murmuring about location change.”

She sits back and Erica snickers at the girls while Lydia’s phone vibrates alerting her she has a text and it’s from Parrish asking if she is going to come over tonight.

Xxx

“There’s paparazzi camped out at the gate asking us about the Salvatore’s.”

Her father is in his office at the hotel he has Lexi on speaker phone as he goes through papers. While Lexi is in her room trying on the new outfit she got for her date tonight with Isaac. “Do they realize the Forbes live in California and the Salvatore’s live in New York City. We’re family but we don’t talk every day.”

Lexi looks at herself in her mirror, she looks like she is going to a business meeting for the hotel not a dinner and movie date with a cute guy. She turns around quickly and lets out a little yell.

“What’s wrong?” Her fathers voice showing all concern he picks up the phone and is ready to leave at a moments notice of Lexi is in danger.

She closes her eyes and puts a hand over her chest as she answers her father. “I thought I saw someone it’s nothing it’s probably the light playing tricks or a member of the staff.” As she is taking off the outfit and throwing it on a chair in her closet someone moves in her bedroom.

When her mother died the paparazzi hounded them just wanting to take pictures of them grieving. They had a private viewing at the estate and one photographer jumped over the gate and came in the house to get a picture of their grieving. Ever since then Lexi is a little jumpy when paparazzi are at their gate, she knows they are a way of life well her life anyway but she doesn’t have to like that part.

“Should we bring up the topic of private security again?”

“Dad I’ve told you I don’t need a bodyguard, the bodyguard would be bored by my life the estate, school, one of our other homes and shopping, and sometimes a nightclub.”

As Lexi is looking in her closet for another outfit her dad tells her. “Who could be bored by your life your a Forbes.”

The blonde picks out a pair of jeans, black tank top and grey sweater with black ankle boots as she is coming out of her closet she is spooked by someone entering her room she lets out another little yell, it’s only the chef coming to finalize the menu for the date. As she leave Lexi puts her phone to her ear and tells her father. “Ok on the private security but I don’t need a bodyguard.”

Xxx

As everything is being prepared in the pool house Isaac is let into the main house. Lexi meets him at the front door. “We’ll be dinning in the back in the pool house.”

They go out into the backyard and Isaac has never seen such opulence everything is so fancy from the perfectly manicured bushes, to the statues, and the outdoor pool the little bit of the main house he saw.

When they enter someone from the staff asks Isaac for his coat. At first he is still stunned by the luxury of this estate and the Normalcy of the pool house it looks just like a dining room. With the circular bar off to the side opposite of the curved couch in the nook underneath the window the couch is decked out in red white and blue pillows. In the middle of the room there is a tan medium size table with matching tan changed.

Noises are coming from the kitchen across the hall from the changing rooms. Isaac is looking around taking everything in, not really carrying on a conversation with Lexi. She sighs all this effort and she is forgotten for the glamour of the house and he only saw a tiny bit of the main house then some of the greenery. She sits down on the couch in the corner and pulls out her phone she first texts Erica then Aiden, Ethan has been with Jackson and Danny all day.

“This is all part of your home?”

“Yes if your impressed by this floor wait until we go upstairs to the watch the movie or if you want we can go downstairs for a swim although I don’t think you brought a swimsuit.”

He looks back at her. “You don’t have extra swimsuits?”

She puts her phone down and looks at him. “This is a home not a mall.”

Their food comes out, Lexi decided to just have a easy menu chicken and salad. Through out the whole meal Lexi is just picking at her meal her head leaning against her hand while Isaac drones on about how magnificent this estate is. Lexi knows her home is beautiful but hearing someone talk about nothing else but how beautiful her home is not entertaining. She thought Isaac was different but just because he has a accent doesn’t mean he’s any different then the other guys she goes on dates with always blown away and forgotten when they see the luxury of her life. At least she knows being this far away from the gate she knows there is no way of paparazzi getting to the pool house. They really should hand out maps of the estate to guests. She smiles at that thought it would be funny if they actually did that.

“Want to go watch the movie?”

He nods and they go up the spiral staircase and through the double doors into the home theater. Lexi sits down in one of the corners of the long curved custom made red couch one of the many seating in the room. Issac sits in the middle and they watch a movie.

After the movie ended and Lexi walked him back to his car. He kissed her on the cheek. “We should do this again sometime.”

“Maybe.”

He leaves and she bee lines for the guest house hoping at least one twin is there. When she lets herself in she is in luck both twins are there. She falls onto the couch and her feet are in Ethan’s lap.“Isaac Lahey hot, but that was a terrible date. He spent the whole time going on about how lovely the estate was. I know how lovely it is I live here.”

Aiden lifts her head so he can sit underneath her head. “Aww hon we’re sorry you had a terrible date.”

“After spending the whole day with Danny and Jackson I still can’t decide I like them both.”

“Are they coming with us to Paris tomorrow?”

“No I told them would be out of the country for a couple days.”

Lexi smiles up at both of her best friends, she can not imagine her life without Ethan or Aiden. Not only are they her best friends they are like her brothers. “Are you guys ready for full fashion emersion with both Forbes and Salvatore families coming together.”

Ethan and Aiden have went on vacations with the Forbes family but they haven’t met the other members of the family IE: their cousins the Salvatore’s. They have read all about them in the magazines and heard about them from Lexi.

Xxx

When Peter comes home that night Genevieve the head of the staff at the estate comes up to him. “Mr. Forbes there was an issue while you were gone.”

Click on the link for the rest of the chapter.

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13726612/3/Forbes

https://archiveofourown.org/works/27185111/chapters/78081137

#multi chapters #forbes #lexi forbes #lexi branson #peter forbes #peter hale #sawyer forbes #erica reyes #ethan and aiden #caroline salvatore #damon salvatore #stefan salvatore

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cotncandyboifics · 3 years

Text

1989 [High School AU]: Chapter 4

AO3 Link

Masterpost

Chapter 1 ~ Chapter 2 ~ Chapter 3 ~ Chapter 5 ~ Chapter 6 ~ Chapter 7 ~ Chapter 8 ~ Chapter 9 ~

Pairings: slight Logince, eventual Prinxiety & Logicality

Word count: 1,910

Story summary: Roman Prince is your stereotypical Jock, with everyone swooning after him. Every day a crowd of people follow him around, only to disperse at his personal whim. In reality, he's lucky to have such good acting skills that help him cover up the disdain he has for his life. He only wishes he could use his skills properly.

Patton Whitelock's always there to lend a helping hand, no matter who you are. If you need a favor or just need someone to talk to, go to him. In reality, he's been taught from a young age that kindness should be held above all else. No one suspects that he took it the wrong way.

Logan Montgomery is the smartest boy in the Senior class. He's stern, and most people are too intimidated to speak to him. In reality, he despises most all of his fellow students. He sticks to his studies and doesn't stray, for fear of being stuck in his father's shadow his whole life.

Virgil Black is the most emo kid in school, let alone 12th grade; everyone knows to leave him be. In reality, he's very fortunate. He has two parents who love him dearly. But everything beyond his life, everything within his mind, is utter chaos and turmoil.

what will happen when they're assigned a biology project together?

General CW: food, swearing, implied s-lf h-rm, non-graphic descriptions of s-lf h-rm scars, graphic and non-graphic descriptions of anxiety attacks and panic attacks, drug abuse, minor character intoxicated on heroin, non-graphic drug overdose description, sickness/description of sickness, blood, non-graphic descriptions of needles, (will be added to as I write more)

Chapter CW: <3rd person> graphic description of a panic attack, (let me know if i missed anything please!)

Author notes: <none>

...

Where would he have gone? In the backyard? No, there's too much space out there, and it's too bright. Maybe- of course! Patton raced down the hall to the bathroom door, which was shut. He nearly started knocking, but remembering how easily startled Virgil could get when he was having an attack, he decided to just calmly say into the closed door;

"Virgil, it's Patton. Can I come in?" His voice came out very buttery and smooth, calm as he could get it to be. he heard a muffled sob from inside, and his heart went to his throat. But he knew he had to stay calm, for Virgil's sake.

As slowly, gently, and quietly as possible, he opened the door and stepped inside. It was dark, the only light coming from a small hazy window near the ceiling above the shower. He could barely make out Virgil's figure; he was curled into a ball on his side, crying into his knees, lying in the bathtub. From what Patton could see, the way his hair was sticking to his forehead implied he had been sweating, and the sleeves of his sweater were wet and crumpled, like he'd been chewing on them.

Patton slowly walked over, trying not to upset Virgil more. He slowly and gently clambered into the Bathtub, and sat cross-legged with Virgil in front of him. Remember everything you read about. Pressure is good, it gives a sense of security on an instinctual level. Don't take his hoodie off of him. He slowly reached down and lightly touched Virgil on the shoulder. When he didn't react, Patton gently scooped him up and held him in his lap, securing his arms around Virgil's shaking form as he cradled him. Although Virgil was taller than Patton, Patton had a sturdier build compared to Virgil's thinness. He started rocking Virgil very slowly, and did the first thing that came to mind.

"Virgil, it will be okay. I'm here. I'm going to breathe, okay? Try and feel me breathing, and when you can, try and copy it." Once again, his voice was soft and caring, nearly a whisper. Patton began breathing slowly and steadily, in, and out. in, and out. After what seemed like a long while, Virgil had stopped shaking, and Patton could tell he was trying to copy his breathing. It took him a few tries - his diaphragm kept spasming and making him sob more - but the tears had mostly stopped.

Soon, Virgil was breathing along with Patton - still a bit shakily, but they were definitely getting somewhere. Once Virgil's attack passed, he felt exhausted. He relaxed more into Patton, almost falling asleep.

"Virgil, I know you're tired, but we can't sleep here. Want me to call your parents so they can come pick you up?" Patton said, leaning down to try and come eye to eye with Virgil, who seemed content laying there, his head on Patton's left collar bone.

"Mmmm," Virgil started, rubbing his eyes. "No, that's alright. I'm supposed to take the bus today anyway."

"But-"

"Shhh, it's okay. I'll stay here for a while longer, and then get going, so I'll have time to get my bearings." Virgil stood, getting out of the bathtub, and then helping Patton up and out. As soon as he was out, Virgil pulled Patton into a hug - not a hard one, but a heartfelt gentle one. The best kind. "Thank you so much. I don't know how I would've made it through that one without you. Are you alright?" Virgil pulled away at the last part, holding Patton's shoulders and looking into his eyes. Patton had never seen this side of Virgil, so excessively caring. "I know you've never had to deal with me, or anyone, having an attack, but for the record, I think you handled it amazingly." Virgil continued, pulling Patton back into the hug.

Patton hugged back then, burying his face in Virgil's shoulder. "I'm just glad you're okay."

They stayed like that for a while, just happy in their moment.

...

When Patton and Virgil returned to Roman's room, Logan was just leaving.

"Hey, Lo! Are you out of here?" Patton said, still cheery as ever.

"Hello, Patton. Yes, my parents have arrived. I must be going now. I will see you tomorrow in class. Goodbye, Roman, Virgil," Logan nodded to them all, and then stepped past the newcomers to exit. Just then, Patton's phone buzzed, and a text came through that Virgil and Roman remained oblivious to; Patton scarcely read it, but knew that if it was from his brother, he'd best be getting home.

"Uh, w-wait up Lo! I'm headed out too!" Patton said, hurriedly grabbing his pastel blue backpack and rushing out, quietly saying goodbye to Virgil.

Patton caught up with Logan at the end of the hallway, a few feet before the door.

"Hello Patton. Are your parents here too?" Logan said, opening the door and holding it open for his curly-haired companion.

"Uh, no, but I'd best be getting home. I take the bus. My parents... don't have a car. They, uh, they care for environmental safety and stuff." Patton said, trying not to make his lie too obvious.

"Oh, I see." Logan's hand went to his chin, as if he was considering something. "Well, if you wish, I can ask my parents if they'll give you a ride home. I know the bus can be uncomfortable."

"Oh! umm..." Patton really wanted to say yes, but he knew that if his brother saw him come in from someone else's car, he'd be furious. "I'd love to, really, but I can't. Thank you so much anyways though! I'll see you tomorrow." Patton said, a toothy smile appearing as he waved to Logan. Then, before Logan could press further, Patton skipped quickly down Roman's driveway, down the sidewalk, and out of sight.

Logan just shrugged it off, and got in his parent's car.

...

Virgil and Roman were fixed in an awkward silence. Virgil was slouching against the wall near Roman's door, and Roman was laying back on his bed.

"Where were you?" Roman asked eventually.

"In the bathroom. I'd been holding it for a while, if you must know." Virgil lied, trying to keep Roman from asking again.

"Yuck! TMI, Surly Temple!" Roman said, throwing one of his pillows in Virgil's general direction, unsuccessful in hitting him; the pillow landed at Virgil's feet.

"Man, for a jock, your aim is shit," Virgil said, chucking the pillow back and hitting Roman square in the face.

"Ugh!" Roman exclaimed, shoving the pillow off him. Virgil walked over and plopped onto the bed, being sure to avoid eye contact. "Well hello there, my Chemically Imbalanced Romance," Roman teased, leaning closer to Virgil.

He just scoffed at him for the hundredth time that day, and threw the pillow at his face again. "Yeah, in your dreams, Prince Underarms-Stink."

Roman didn't react that time; he simply put the pillow back and watched as Virgil yawned and stretched out his arms. He turned away before the pink glaze on his cheeks could be spotted by Virgil. He pulled out his phone and plugged in his earbuds, putting one in his ear and offering the other to Virgil.

Virgil thought about protesting, but he was too tired to really care that much. he just sighed. "Oh, why the hell not." He took the earbud and put it in his ear, laying back and snuggling into Roman's pillows.

Roman clicked shuffle on his Taylor Swift playlist, and immediately regretted sharing an earbud. of all the songs to play!

There I was again tonight forcing laughter, faking smiles

Same old tired, lonely place

Walls of insincerity

Shifting eyes and vacancy vanished when I saw your face

All I can say is it was enchanting to meet you

Virgil felt a blush rise to his cheeks as the song continued, shifting his gaze even further from Roman.

Your eyes whispered "Have we met?"

Across the room, your silhouette starts to make it's way to me

The playful conversation starts

Counter all your quick remarks, like passing notes in secrecy

And it was enchanting to meet you

All I can say is I was enchanted to meet you

Roman watched Virgil, both of their cheeks darkening. Eventually, Roman looked away, not wanting to be creepy.

This night is sparkling, don't you let it go

I'm wonder struck, blushing all the way home

I'll spend forever wondering if you knew

I was enchanted to meet you

The lingering question kept me up

Two a.m., who do you love?

I wonder till I'm wide awake

Virgil risked a glance at Roman, who seemed to be tracing his ceiling fan with his eyes. He probably isn't even effected by this, Virgil thought. Wait a minute, why am I even effected? Virgil looked away again, trying to stifle his feelings.

Now I'm pacing back and forth, wishing you were at my door

I'd open up and you would say,

Hey i t was, enchanting to meet you

All I know is I was, enchanted to meet you...

This night is sparkling, don't you let it go

I'm wonder struck, blushing all the way home

I'll spend forever wondering if you knew...

This night is flawless, don't you let it go

I'm wonder struck, dancing around all alone

I'll spend forever wondering if you knew

I was enchanted to meet you.

When Virgil looked back at Roman again, Roman was looking at him. Roman immediately looked away, praying Virgil didn't see. But he knew he did, that for that split second that their eyes met. Virgil could see the blush on Roman's cheeks now. When Virgil didn't look away, Roman looked back.

This is me praying that this was the very first page

Not where the story line ends

My thoughts will echo your name, until I see you again

These are the words I held back, as I was leaving too soon

I was enchanted to meet you

Roman looked away first. I can't be doing this, I literally just asked someone else out. This is stupid.

Please don't be in love with someone else

Please don't have somebody waiting on you

Please don't be in love with someone else

Please don't have somebody waiting on you

Virgil had looked down as well, but glanced back, seeing Roman mouthing the words slightly. Virgil only blushed harder and covered his face with his hands, wondering how it could possibly be healthy for his heart to be beating this fast.

This night is sparkling, don't you let it go

I'm wonder struck, blushing all the way home

I'll spend forever wondering if you knew

This night is flawless, don't you let it go

I'm wonder struck, dancing around all alone

I'll spend forever wondering if you knew

I was enchanted to meet you

Please don't be in love with someone else

Please don't have somebody waiting on you

As the song ended, Virgil picked up his phone and pretended to read a text from his mom. "Uh, my mom says I best be getting home," He said shortly, taking the earbud out and standing, grabbing his bag. Roman sat up, wanting... well, he didn't really know what he wanted. He said the first thing that came to mind.

"Um, do you want a ride? I can drive you if-"

"No, that's alright." Virgil considered elaborating, but couldn't think of a good reason for his denial. He just had to get out of there, away from Roman, or he didn't know what would happen. "Uh, I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Ye-yeah, sure thing," Roman said, scratching the back of his neck. Virgil left with scarcely a sound, and walked hastily toward the bus stop.

On his walk, he found the song they'd been listening to, and added it to his library.

#patton sanders #ts patton #roman sanders #ts roman #logan sanders #ts logan #virgil sanders #ts virgil #thomas sanders #sanders sides #sanders sides fanfiction #slow burn #high school au #prinxiety #logicality #roman x virgil #patton x logan

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hattywatch · 4 years

Text

J. Vesey - You Like Making Me Wait For It

Author’s Note: This was supposed to be done for Valentine’s day but uhhh, about that... So here it is, almost a month late. The premise for this story is that Jimmy is actually a BIG FUCKIN’ SOFTIE and not the sarcastic little shit that I constantly make him out to be. This can be proven by the attached tweet. As always this is fiction, so don’t get carried awayyyy :)

“It’s not a real holiday,” he texts his mom, in regards to her message to him, bright and early, on February 14. He follows it up with a heart emoji and tells her he'll see her tonight though, because she’s his ma and he’s not a complete mutant, but he pulls the blanket over his head and rolls onto his side and tries to fall into the warm feeling of sleep again.

As cool and standoffish as Jimmy tries to come off, everyone who knows him would jump at the chance to tell you that in reality, he’s soft as shit. A quick scroll through his recently played on Spotify would give him right up if he tried to deny it.

His icy indifference to Valentine’s day was never the norm. He used to look forward to it, liked it even, but after years of disappointment the shine has worn off and he's really had enough of it.

_____

His first Valentine’s memory is fond. He put on his best clothes and walked into school, chest puffed out and chin raised proudly, the little red and pink valentines he worked on with his mom tucked away in his backpack, heart-shaped lollipops carefully taped onto each one.

He didn’t understand the point of it until his mom patiently explained to him, “Sometimes we’re so busy everyday that we don’t tell people we love them like we should, so on Valentine’s day we spend the whole day letting everyone know we care about them.” He snaked his little arms around her waist and promised his mom he’d never be too busy to remind her he loves her.

She hugged him back tightly and brushed away a stray tear on her cheek before she opened up the box and had him start listing off the kids names in his class so she could neatly write them on each card. He spends his time taping the lollipops gently to the cards that declare “Have a sweet Valentine’s Day.”

As the class walked around dropping a card into each other’s decorated shoe-boxes, Jimmy couldn’t help but be filled with love for his friends. Tipping over the box afterwards, he was a little glum when he found out Tommy was the sole recipient of a card from Ashley, the pretty blonde with pigtails who sat 3 seats in front of him.

When he walked home from the bus stop with Jess later, they talked about their favorite ones, in particular the heart shaped erasers the teacher gifted each of them. She didn’t get a card from Ashley either. His mom told him not to worry about it and quickly diverted his attention to the pile of valentines with pencils and stickers attached, ooh-ing and ahh-ing as he explained who each one was from.

_____

In highschool Valentine's day is marked (like everything else during those awkward teenage years) by a rush of hormones and snickers.

The week leading up to Valentine's day the cheerleading squad hung signs up all over the halls detailing how to purchase a rose to be delivered to the person of your choosing during classes. All of the proceeds go to a local charity, so each morning the voice over the speaker reminded the student body to buy a rose for a good cause before listing off the lunch of the day and signing off.

Jimmy fills out a few; a pink one for his little cousin a few grades down from him, a yellow one for the librarian who helped him submit his college applications, and an orange one for Jess who just got a rejection letter from Duke and could use some cheering up.

On the 13th he finds himself with $2 extra dollars and some time to kill before Jess is done with extra help and ready to walk home. He goes to the office and fills out a slip for a red rose to be delivered to Molly, a girl he's helped in Chinese class a few times; she's popular and cute. He can't help his heart from quickening when they go over characters that have been giving her a particularly hard time during the spare period they share once a week.

He writes her name clearly in black ink, trying his best to keep his penmanship even and neat.

"There you are!" He jumps, but luckily his pen is off of the paper, having just finished scribing the Y in his name. Jess walks up to him, braids trapped under her backpack straps; it looks uncomfortable. "I've been looking everywhere for you, dude."

He slides the scrap of paper into the slot of the box in front of him. "Sorry, last minute love, you know how it is."

He feels his cheeks get warm at the thought of Jess catching him in the act. She is much more pragmatic when it comes to love. She hasn’t dated at all in high school, laser focused on her grades and soccer. He knows she thinks he’s a sap for caring at all when it’s unlikely anyone will find lifelong love in high school, but he's a romantic, sue him.

"Yeah, I know. You're a sucker for this stupid holiday," she rolls her eyes at him and adjusts her bookbag, swinging the tails of her braids free. He shrugs a shoulder but smiles, because she’s right and he can’t deny it.

“C’mon Romeo, my mom said she’d pick us up out front, it’s freezing today.” He follows her, excited about the prospect of tomorrow. He’s not sure, but he thinks Molly may feel the same way, and there’s no time like the present to find out.

_____

When he quietly places his lunch tray down next to Jess she knows something is off. He usually bounds over to the table, chatty and excited to talk about his morning classes and who said what stupid thing that made the class groan, but he’s downright meloncholy and she can feel it roll off his body in waves.

Jess twirls the stem of her orange rose between her pointer and index fingers, “Thanks Jim. Made my day.” She bops him on the head with the flower. He smiles a little but it doesn’t reach his eyes.

“Rough day?” He nods and starts picking at the crust of his pizza.

“I didn’t sign my fucking last name.” Jess doesn’t quite understand, so she kicks him under the table to get him to look up from his pizza and make eye contact. She raises her eyebrows in question and he finally continues, “I sent Molly a rose.”

Jess hums for him to keep going, she heard a rumor going around about Molly and James Jordan getting together, but she hadn’t heard anything about Jimmy.

“We study together every week. Chinese. She has a hard time with the-" he waves his hand to clear the subject, "anyway it’s not important. We have a free period together every Tuesday and I help her with it. I thought maybe she noticed.” Jimmy sighs and squishes his water bottle in his hand, “You know I get nervous around her, so I thought maybe she knew. Anyway, I sent her a flower, but I just wrote ‘Jimmy.' No last name. She thought it was Jordan and she walked right up to him in between classes and kissed him. They have a date Saturday night.”

Jess winces, “That blows. I’m sorry, Jim. Maybe it’s not meant to be for a reason. I heard that she…" she pauses because she's never actually heard anything bad about the other girl, but desperately wants to cheer up her friend. "I heard that she… snores?" Jimmy finally rolls his eyes and laughs.

"Oh yeah, cross her off the list. That's a deal breaker." He smiles for the first time in hours and he's sure Molly isn't the one he's been waiting for.

_____

In college his fervor to have a nice Valentine’s day led him to ask out the brunette from his Public Finance class, she said yes and seemed excited, but then text him to cancel 2 days before that she "forgot about a big paper that's due on Monday." His buddy John is in the same class and didn’t say anything about a paper, so Jimmy takes the hint and decides to go home for the weekend, tail between his legs and heart heavy from the rejection

He heads to the laundromat with a veritable sack filled with, what feels like, every piece of clothing he's ever owned, downtrodden and pissed off. He's loading his clothes into the machine when someone jabs him in the side with a boney digit.

"What the hell are you doing, Jim?" Jess beams up at him. She's wearing pink lipstick, but is otherwise dressed in all black, like always.

“Laundry. My mom had too many loads at the house ‘cuz Nolan brought his home too, so I’m just going to do it here quick.” He keeps shoving his clothes in the washer machine.

Jess nods at him, “Cool… cool. So, your mom still does your laundry?” She shoves her hands deep into the front pockets of her jeans and leans back on her heels with a shit eating grin.

Jimmy stops and looks up at her, “Uh, usually. Yeah, why? Can you tell?” He stands up, back sore from being hunched over the front-loading washing machine. She looks up at him and grins wider.

“You’re supposed to separate the colors. Let me help you.” She starts pulling all of his clothes out of the washer and dumping it into her orange pop-up hamper. “Come over here, I’m using this machine.”

“Why are you here,” he attempts gentle conversation since, apparently, he’s domestically useless. Jess opens a machine and starts pulling out all of his light colored clothes, basically pairs and pairs of socks and a few t-shirts here and there.

“My stupid comforter is too big. It takes forever at my house, so I just bring it here instead of drying it 6 times,” she pauses, pinching a lone sock and holding it out in front of her swinging it in his direction before throwing it in the washer, “lucky for you, James.” She helps him sort the other colors and shows him where the detergent goes and lends him some fabric softener that smells nice, she even advises him against washing his suit pants and the one nice sweater he owns, saying that he’d be better off dry cleaning them.

An hour later when their stuff is all folded and packed back up, he’s got no other plans and he hasn’t seen Jess since the summer, so he helps her bring her comforter and sheets to her car and stands there awkwardly trying not to make this weird.

“Jessie,” she turns around, scarf half wound around her neck, death glare pinned on him.

“Did you want me to kill you? Don't call me that,” she swats at him and opens her trunk so he can drop her cottony smelling bedding in it.

“Let me buy you dinner, this was really nice of you to help me.” She smiles and agrees without any cajoling.

“Oh god, yes. I’m starving. Chipotle?” There’s a reason they’ve been friends for so long.

They order and he pays while she fills up their cups and finds an empty booth. When he drops the trays down on the table and slides her the burrito she ordered, he smiles and reaches his hand across the table, “Jessie, will you be my Valentine?”

She rolls her eyes, but it’s warm and laced with affection when she kicks him under the table, “You fucking sap. You’re lucky you bought me food or I’d say no.” She takes a bite and chews, but Jimmy keeps needling.

“So you’re saying the way to your heart is through your stomach.” He nods, “Noted.”

They chat over dinner, discussing college and what people from high school are up to. She’s in an accelerated program at BC and should graduate a year early. He’s reserved, but hoping to get drafted.

It’s not long after they're done, still taking up space in the booth, when his mom calls, “Hey ma.” Jess mouths ‘tell her I said hi!’ and gets up to throw away their garbage and heads to the ladies room.

“Jess said to tell you hi,” it’s barely out of his mouth before he regrets it.

“You’re out with Jess. On Valentine’s day?” Her tone is accusing, but soft. “I always liked her. I didn’t realize you were seeing each other. You don’t tell me anything anymore.” Before she can get too deep in her pity party he stops her.

“It’s not like that. We just ran into each other, we didn’t plan anything” Jimmy scratches at a scuff on the table, wishing he just waited until he got home to have this conversation. The last thing he’d want to do is make Jess uncomfortable with this. His mom prattles on about how she’s always liked Jessica from down the block, but Jimmy mostly tunes it out. It’s not until she’s walking back to the table, smiling softly at him that he rushes his mom off the phone the best he can.

“I’ll tell her you said hi. I’ll be home soon, see you, love you, bye!” He hangs up before she can get a word in.

Jess plops down across from him, “Did you tell her I said hi? I love your mom.” He assures her he did, and stands up, stretching.

“We should get going,” he grabs his keys off of the table, and Jess stands too and follows him out to their cars.

“Thanks, Valentine,” she unexpectedly hugs him around the middle. “I usually hate this fucking day, but you made it pretty bearable.”

He can’t help the laugh that escapes him; she’s such a pessimist. “Yeah, I get that a lot after dates. Bearable.”

His heart stutters when he realizes what he said, his hands get clammy. He feels dumb, hanging up on his mom so she didn’t make Jess feel like tonight was anything that they didn’t intend it to be, and then he sticks his foot straight into his stupid mouth.

Jess doesn’t flinch though and just follows him out the door to their cars. “See ya later, Jim. Don’t be a stranger. Cambridge isn’t that far, yeah?”

He laughs and hugs her goodbye again before getting in his own car and driving home.

When he unlocks the front door his mother is on him like a hawk. “Where’s Jessica? Why didn’t you bring her here? I just love that girl.” He has to remind himself to calm down before he opens his mouth, because she means well and loves him.

“She had some stuff to do, but she said hi,” he grabs a cookie off of a plate cooling on the countertop and prays his mom doesn’t need to go out, lest she catch sight of Jess’ car in her driveway and ruin his lie.

She takes his half eaten cookie from his hand and takes a bite, chewing slowly. “What you’re saying is that I shouldn’t get my hopes up,” before she pins him with a glare only a mother could muster.

“Still single, ma.” He grabs a cookie in each hand and hustles up the stairs to his room before she can pepper him with more questions.

He lies on his bed and flips on his tv, clicking channel to channel until he finds a hockey game that will keep his attention. By the end of the 2nd, the Bruins are up 4-1 over the Leafs and he mutes the intermission report to scroll through twitter uninterrupted.

His timeline is filled with photo after photo of happy couples and gushing declarations of love. He can’t help but sigh and be a little jealous. After watching the rest of the beating Boston lays on Toronto, he shuts the TV off and lies awake, staring at his ceiling. The jealousy has faded, and now he’s just a little sad, slightly disappointed, with a pinch discouraged mixed in.

He’d blame his next action on hopelessly romantic desperation as he opens Twitter back up and drafts his tweet.

Spending another Valentine's day without having found “the one.” Hope she is out there somewhere safe and sound.

Jimmy taps the button to send the tweet and rolls over onto his side before the day catches up to him and he falls into a mostly dreamless sleep.

_____

Valentine’s day as a Ranger finds him alone in the city once more, begrudgingly texting his mother back and pretending this holiday doesn't make him feel like Steven fucking Glansberg.

At least he's back in Boston tonight, starting an away stretch down the eastern seaboard. He has two whole days to spend with his friends and family in his home state before the game against the Bruins and before they leave for Carolina and two more down in Florida.

He takes his parents out for dinner soon after he lands, and then hits up a few friends to go to the bar. They’re all happy to hear from him, but only Tommy can come out, everyone else is busy with their girlfriends. He can’t blame them. He’d rather be courting a pretty girl than third-wheeling with his parents, but he’s not there yet in his life, so a few beers with Tommy will have to do.

They’re chatting through their second round of Guinness and watching the basketball game when his phone vibrates in his pocket. He leaves it, the game is getting good and it’s almost the half. A three-pointer closes it out and Tommy excuses himself for the bathroom, so Jimmy signals the bartender for two more and finally pulls his phone out of his pocket.

Jess: Jimmmmmmmmm

He smiles in spite of himself.

What’s up Jessie?

But then Tommy comes back from the bathroom and he puts the phone back into his pocket, because he’s a good bro and that’s rude.

He almost forgets about it, laughing with Tommy through the rest of the game and catching up with a few kids from the neighborhood that walk into the bar and spot him, but then he takes his phone out to order an Uber and he sees the notifications.

4 unread texts from Jess

He orders the Uber after putting in Tommy's address as the first stop and his parent's home as the second before he swipes back over to his texts.

Jess: I'm at a galrnyinrd day party

Jess: Galrntinrd*

Jess: GALENTINES*******

We were playing text or delete and I didn't want to delete you 😭

She's obviously had a few. Jess was never one for overt emotion. But it's always fun getting it out of her, so he hopes she hasn't sobered up in the hour that's passed since she text him last. He climbs into the Uber after Tommy and types out a careful message to her. Eyes struggling to focus since he had a few beers himself.

Didn't know you cared, Jessie.

He finally looks up and says goodbye to Tommy with a handshake that turns into a hug when the car comes to a stop, before settling back into the backseat for the rest of the ride to his childhood home.

He doesn't get another message from her until the driver stops at the final destination and wishes him a good night. Jimmy leaves a tip when the app pops up asking for a review and sits on his front steps in the cool night air, trying to sober up before he walks inside and wakes the whole house up.

Jess: You're a big dummy.

The message is quickly followed by another.

Jess: When are you coming home next?

Jimmy doesn't know what to say to that, so he stands up next to his house number and snaps a selfie before sending it off to Jess.

Jess: 👀👀👀👀

Jess: I'm walking to you now

He hears her front door slam from 6 houses away in the quiet stillness of the late night. The next thing he hears echoing are her giggles followed by heavy footsteps as she runs over to him.

"I misssssed you." She's a little tipsy still, he can tell by how tightly she wraps her arms around him.

"Missed you too, Jessie," he winds his arms around her too. She buries her face in his chest and he can feel her cold nose through his shirt.

"Let's go hangout in the basement. It's freezing out here," he unlocks the front door with his Patriots key, the same one he's had since middle school; the paint chipping with use over the years.

When they walk through his mom's kitchen, she opens the fridge and grabs two water bottles before following him down the steps to the basement where they'd spent much of their youth watching movies, doing homework, and playing Mario Kart. He feels calm and at home here, sunken into the old couch with her by his side.

"So, Galentine's?" He swipes one of the water bottles from her and takes a sip before switching on the TV to whatever is on TBS, it looks like The Notebook.

"Don't make fun. It's a nice excuse to drink some wine and have a good night with your friends." She sniffs haughtily.

"Yeah, yeah. Any excuse to drink and gossip," he's just picking on her a little. It's what they do.

She swigs her water and looks at him with a little distaste coloring her face. "Stop acting like you and Tom didn't do the same thing earlier; I saw his insta story."

Her eyes open wider as she realizes what she said, and he's a little taken aback. If she saw Tommy's story, that means...

"So you knew I was home?" He presses his knee against hers on the couch.

She looks anywhere but at him, finally focusing her attention to the water bottle in her hand- unscrewing and re-screwing the cap back on.

"I mean..." She rolls her eyes in that careless way she has about her, and he notices her sweater is pink, as are the socks peeking out of the tops of her boots. "Kinda." He feels her move imperceivably closer into his side.

He can't help the smile taking over his face, "You just wanted to spend Valentine's day watching chick flicks with me, you can say it."

"Shut up," she hits him with a pillow, firm across his chest. "Maybe."

It's the closest he's ever gotten to a mushy declaration from her and it warms him up. "You're an ice queen," he wheedles gently, wrapping his arm up and over her shoulders along the back of the couch.

She sighs and leans her head on his shoulder, he's happy to sit here watching Noah hang from the ferris wheel, just like this, but Jess is apparently not.

"Not feeling so icy right now," she whispers, so low he's not sure if he imagined it, but then she's right up in his ear, "Feeling a little warm, actually."

She places her hand flat on his chest and sucks gently on the skin under his ear behind the tendon in his neck and he's feeling a little warm too, as a matter of fact.

"Jess," she doesn't pause at the sound of her name, "Jessie," he pushes, a little more firm, he can't bear to physically remove her because it feels too good, but he's just, not sure she wants this.

"Jimmy," it's mumbled against his neck, and she barely pauses sucking into his skin to pant out his name.

"You don't really…" he stutters, not sure how to go about this. "Are you sure you…" She bites gently at his neck and he can't help the groan that leaves his lips, "Jesus Christ, stop that for one second. I can't think straight when you do that."

He gently pushes her shoulder to give himself room to breathe and collect his thoughts, but when he looks over at her she looks downright chagrined.

"I'll just… go," she starts to stand up and he grabs her wrist and pulls her back down to the couch.

"No you don't." She falls to the couch ungracefully next to him, red in the face and eyes glassy. "What the hell is this about, Jess. You can't just do… that and then leave without a word."

"Don't make me say it." Jess looks down at her hands. Her face gets impossibly redder and Jimmy is sure he's going to like this next part very much.

"Gotta tell me your feelings, Jessie." She refuses to look at his face and he can't stop the grin from forming.

Deciding to put her out of her misery, he nuzzles his nose against her neck, gently exhaling into the sensitive skin there.

"You… I… ugh!" She grasps at the back of his head and tilts her own to give him better access, but he refuses to take the bait until she says it.

"Say it," he whispers, pulling away just enough so his lips don't graze her skin.

He can feel the sigh she releases before she steels her body, spine going straight and takes a deep breath.

"I want nothing more than to watch cheesy chick flicks with you. Both on Valentine's day and every other single day of the year. You're the only person that has ever made this day worthwhile and I…"

He's not sure how the sentence was supposed to end, because he's so proud of her that he can't wait and stops her mid-sentence with a kiss on her mouth.

She doesn't really have much to say after that, and he knows she's not great with feelings, so he's just being merciful.

_____

Mrs. Vesey makes her way down into the basement on February 15th, a basket of laundry propped up against her hip. She screams once, startled by the unexpected lump she finds on the couch in what she thought was an empty basement.

She screams a second time when she realizes who spent the night.

Jimmy could have done without either.

#jimmy vesey fic #jimmy vesey imagine #hockey fic #hockey imagine #buffalo sabres fic #buffalo sabres imagine #nhl fic #nhl imagine #jimmy is soft soft soft #this is the first time I did a third person narrator #help #someone tell me if this is okay?#VALIDATE ME I HAD A ROUGH WEEK

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be-the-spark-flyboy · 4 years

Text

Glitter On The Floor

Call It What You Want 4/?

Pairing: Med student!Poe x Reader (college AU)

A/N: I have an unusual ship going on in this dont come for me if you dont like it okay also I suck at writing summaries

Chapter summary: A new years party that brings more revelations than resolutions

Warning: little angst, drinking, swearing

Word count: ~3.2k

You never thought you’d ever be excited to attend a party but here you are checking and double checking your reflection in the full height mirror in Jessika’s room.

“Oh god, you look hot okay? Stop hogging the mirror,” She teases you, nudging you aside trying to perfect her eyeliner.

Oh, you look hot, alright, and you feel damn good too. Your cropped sweater top was thick enough to keep you warm and paired with the mini skirt and velvet thigh-highs boots, you feel damn fine in your all black ensemble.

Normally you would’ve opted to stay at home and watch the fireworks all by yourself at midnight from the rooftop. But after a lonely Christmas eating takeout and binge watching shows all by yourself, you just wanted to see you friends again. Rey and the boys were also attending, which made you feel a lot better about going. You had a good feeling about this.

No one was more excited at the prospect of you attending a party than Jessika. She’d basically went through your entire wardrobe to find you something appropriate to wear, then ended up lending you her sequined mini skirt because your all black theme was too gloomy for new years.

“Our ride will be here in five minutes and then we’re gonna find you someone to make-out with at midnight,” Jessika wiggles her eyebrows at you suggestively and you roll your eyes, “Unless, you’d rather make-out with a particular med student you can’t shut up about instead, huh?” She’d been teasing the hell out of you about Poe since you told her about the hot stranger, who saw you fall down the stairs, who also happened to be a friend of a friend who was an adorable med student, dog dad and also afraid of ghosts-

Okay maybe you did talk about him slightly more than anyone else. But that didn’t mean anything did it? “Poe is just my friend, Jess,” You shove at her, sighing in frustration. “And he has a girlfriend,”

“But don’t his friends hate her? I’m sure if you ask, they’d help you break them up and set you up with Poe,” she says, drawing indignant gasp from you.

“Jessika Pava, since when did you start giving out ideas to ruin peoples’ lives?”

“I’m not trying to ruin lives,” She grabs you by your shoulders, bringing you to look at her, features set in a serious frown. You wonder if she was actually being serious for once in her life. “I just want to see you happy, with the man you love,”

Nope, not serious for once. You slap her hands away and she guffaws at your exasperated groan, “God, who said anything about love?”

“So you do like him though, right?” you roll your eyes again, walking away from her to collect you purse from your room. “You didn’t deny it!” You hear her squawk from behind you.

—-

The party was already in full swing when you arrive. Jessika drags you along with her right away to introduce her boyfriend to you for the first time. She had only been dating Snap Wexley for around three months now, but she seemed to really like him.

Snap was a nice person. He was warm and welcomed you into his residence with a huge smile. His apartment was a two storey duplex with a ridiculous amount of patio space. It seemed everyone in your college were filthy rich, except you.

The entire place is crowded, music blaring from the speakers and people dressed in sparkling attires, milling around. Thankfully, you recognize almost no one, though it seemed like Snap had invited almost half of the entire campus.

Jessika loops her arm around yours, pulling you along into the house. You see Rey excitedly waving you over from the living room and you happily tackle her and Finn in a hug.

Jessika gels right in with the two of them although this was the first time they got to meet. Extroverts. The night goes on as both Finn and Rey animatedly recount their holiday stories and in no time, the four of you are laughing at Finn’s reenactment of how his cousin almost broke the Christmas tree in half, trying to decorate it.

“Where’s Poe?” You ask, noticing the absence of the third member of their little clique. Not like you were searching for him or anything.

Rey shrugs, “He should be here soon, he said he was about leave the house,” then her attention shifts to behind you, “Oh look, he’s here,” Rey motions.

You see him from across the room and your breath catches at the sight of him. Dressed in a navy blue button up tucked into his dark jeans with the sleeves rolled up, he looks handsome as ever, with an arm around his girlfriend’s waist. Your chest tightens for an entire different reason at the sight.

Then the entire conversation you had with Jessika earlier on plays in your head. You couldn’t possibly like Poe right? He was just your friend.

They look good together, like some celebrity couple that just stepped out of a magazine. Sarah’s dressed in a burgundy cocktail dress that fits her like a glove, elegantly coiffed curls sits on her shoulders, not a hair out of place. Something like jealousy curdles in your stomach and you stomp it out before it grows into something ugly. But not before it spoils your mood entirely.

“Urgh, he’s with that witch,” Finn scoffs beside you. You have no idea why Finn hates Poe’s girlfriend so much. He really isn’t the type to just be mean to people for no reason and it also confuses you to no end that Rey seems to agree with him. Not that it was any of your concern, anyways. So you brush it off.

You make the mistake of turning back to the pair just in time as Sarah pulls Poe in for a kiss. You quickly avert your gaze elsewhere. The excitement you felt since morning completely drains out of you. Suddenly, the last place you want to be in was anywhere surrounded with people.

“I’m going to get something to drink,” You inform Jessika, unhooking your arms from her. You break away from your small group without another word, before she even gets the chance to react.

—-

Poe never thought he’d ever feel this miserable around people. Because these weren’t his people. He wanted to run to where his childhood friends were standing as soon as he had caught sight of them. Unfortunately, he couldn’t do that. He was to busy being talked at by people he barely knew. This was the last place he ever wanted to be.

But Poe keeps up the pretense of a happy couple and feigns through the crowd convincingly enough to not invoke the wrath of the woman beside him. Poe follows Sarah, steering away from the corner where he spotted his friends. Having Finn and Sarah in the vicinity was just a recipe for disaster. He had only made that mistake once.

Poe finds you weaving through the crowd, hurriedly moving past everyone with a singular destination in mind. And you look...wow.

Poe remotely registers that he shouldn’t be ogling you from afar with his girlfriend right beside him. Despite that, he just can’t seem to tear his eyes away from your figure until you disappear around the corner.

Your outfit complements your figure just right, and your boots- Shit. He catches himself wondering how soft your thighs would feel under his fingertips.

Shut the fuck up, Dameron! He scolds himself, forcing his thoughts back to the present. He really shouldn’t be thinking about you like that.

He wonders how far his imagination would go if he didn’t try to stop it. No. He really shouldn’t. A tug on his arm brings him back to reality as he gets dragged along to patio, half against his will.

—-

“Shit, shit, shit,” you curse as the liquid sloshes out of the cup spilling onto the table.

“Are you always this clumsy?” You yelp as a tall figure materializes behind you, almost making you drop the cup. “Relax, its just me,” Ben Solo passes you a roll of kitchen towel for the mess.

You had managed to somewhat befriend Ben over the course of two weeks while the two of you worked on your assignment together. He wasn’t bad company.

“How long have you been standing there?” You mop up the beer on the table, “And how did I not see you?”

“Lost in thought?” he shifts back to his previous position, perfectly blending in with the wall painted black. Huh, no wonder you didn’t notice him.

“Um, no,” you lie. “Who are you hiding from?”

“People, in general.” He replies like it’s the most obvious thing in the world. But of course, you understand.

You hear bright laughter before you see a head of blonde hair walk towards the kitchen. Her eyes light up in recognition when she sees you standing there, “Hey, it’s you! We have that class together, right?” You try your best to make small talk but thankfully Phasma was chatty enough for it to not feel awkward while she collects her drink.

She turns to leave and then startles when she sees Ben standing against the wall, casually sipping on his beer. You’re pretty sure he didn’t mean to position himself like a Halloween decoration meant to sneak up and scare everyone, but you wouldn’t put it past him to do just that.

“Oh hey, Solo. Didn’t see you there,” She quickly recovers, sending him a bashful smile.

“Hey, Phasma,” Ben replies, barely meeting her gaze and shifting on his foot, cheeks dusting pink as she brushes past him. Your eyes widen when you realize what just happened.

“Oh my god, Ben, do you like her?” You whisper-shout at him once you’re sure she’s out of earshot.

“What? No, what are you talking about?” He tries to act nonchalant but the pink in his cheeks turns to a full blown scarlet, giving him away.

“Is that why you’re hiding in the kitchen?” You tease him. “Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone,”

“Who are you hiding from?” He throws back at you.

“I’m not hiding,” it was your turn to act nonchalant.

“Really? Then why are you here?” He crosses his arm, scepticism evident in his tone.

“To get a drink,” you raise your beer as if to prove your point.

“Oh so you’re gonna leave now, right?” He raised an eyebrow at you, not buying your excuse.

“What? Is this your kitchen now?” Leaning on the counter, you roll your eyes, relenting. “Fine, I’m hiding. Let’s not talk about this anymore,”

---

“I don’t know, she seemed a little down all of a sudden,” Finn leans against the patio parapet, facing Rey. Raucous laughter bursts through the quite night from the group gathered on the other side of the patio.

You had disappeared after telling them you were ‘going to get a drink’ and Jessika had informed Rey that you were still in the kitchen only minutes earlier. Rey couldn’t help but wonder if there was something going on with you.

“Maybe she’s just tired, Rey,” Finn pulls her into his embrace, trying to comfort her. Rey worries to much about other people. It was just in her nature to try and take care of everyone she could and Finn loves her for that. But sometimes it also causes her more stress than she needs.

Rey rests her head on his shoulder, “Maybe,” You seemed pretty pumped to be hanging out with all of them, why did you deflate so suddenly?

“Oh my god,” She pulls away from the embrace, looking at Finn in shock from her sudden realization, while Finn watches her, confused about what caused her outburst. “I think she likes Poe!” Finn continues staring at Rey in confusion, unsure how she came to that conclusion. “Think about it! She was fine until Poe came waltzing in with his girlfriend,” she gestures frantically to the pair on the other side of the patio, Sarah practically draped across Poe, the two of them looking like the embodiment of an ideal couple. Only in the outside.

“Oh... OH,” Finn exclaims when it finally hit him. “Is she jealous? I don’t know, maybe hurt?”

“If only he wasn’t with her,” Rey couldn’t keep the malice out of her tone at the mention of Sarah. “We can’t even do anything about it now,”

“I’m really gonna kick Poe the next time I get a chance.” Finn groans. Finn really would’ve loved to meddle with his best friend’s life, but in this scenario it would only make things more complicated. But the drama was so tempting.

“Kick me for what?” Poe’s voice startles the both of them as they swivel around to look at him. How the hell did he walk across so quickly?

“Heyyy, Poe, didn’t see you there,” Rey forces a chuckle from herself, trying not to look too suspicious.

“Yeah! Hey, Poe,” Finn adds lamely.

Poe narrows his eyes at the two of them acting all dubious. It was never a good sign. He’s been on the receiving end of way too many of their pranks to not know what that look meant. He sighs, thinking, what’s one more prank in the joke that is his life right now?

---

“So... Phasma, huh?” You start again, determined to get something out of the brooding man beside you. If you’re going to spend the rest of the night in the kitchen, you might as well try to get entertainment out of your fellow anti-social buddy.

“I thought we weren’t talking about that anymore,” he mumbles. You grumble something about him being no fun under your breath. “I’ll tell you if you tell me,” he bargains with you.

You contemplate your choices. Surely it wouldn’t do any harm telling Ben about Poe right? “Okay, fine,” one advantage of taking refuge in the kitchen was that you had a free flow of drinks. You were on your third cup of whatever was in the punch bowl and feeling slightly tipsy. “There’s this guy I kinda sorta like, but he’s also my friend,”

“Why don’t you just talk to him if you’re friends?” Ben questions you.

“He’s here with his girlfriend,”

“Oh,” He winces as you nod your head in agreement.

“My turn. Why don’t you talk to Phasma?”

“I don’t want to?” He answers you, unsure, more like question instead.

“You’re just scared, aren’t you?” It was pretty obvious. Fear was the reason so many people held back from doing what they want.

Ben sighs heavily before turning to you, lowering his voice a little more “I just don’t wanna screw this up, okay? I really like her and I don’t know how to talk to her,”

“So you’d rather not try?” Ben just shrugs. “I think you should ask her out,” you give him your opinion. “Okay consider this. The worse thing that could happen is that things between you two remains the same. But if you try, at least you’d know,”

“The worst thing that could happen is that she throws her beer in my face infront of everyone,” You couldn’t help the laughter that bubbles out of you from the picture he paints. “But I get where you’re coming from,”

“Okay, maybe don’t immediately ask her out. Just chat with her a little, first.” You reach up to pat him on the shoulder, “Whenever you’re ready,”

“Wait, right now?” He whips his head around to look at you, alarmed at the prospect.

“Then when? After your graduation?” You sass. Ben takes a deep breath steeling himself.

“Okay,” He pushes himself off the counter, smoothing down his shirt, then his hair. He takes a step forward, then turns back to you, “Do I look okay?”

You give him a reassuring smile, poor boy was so nervous. “You look great, Ben,”

He takes another step forward then immediately propels backwards again, turning to you, “What if I get rejected?”

“Then we’ll ditch the party and get greasy pizza from that shop around the corner,” you promise him, earning a grateful smile from him.

Another step forward and he turns back, again. “What if-”

“Oh god, Ben just go!”

“Okay, fine fine,”

—-

You carefully position yourself in the kitchen so that you’d still have a view of what was going on in the living room but still be hidden from sight. It’s been a few minutes since Ben had gone on his mission to ask his crush out.

As the clock strikes closer to midnight, the crowd gravitates towards the patio to watch the fireworks. You follow, staying at the back of the crowd. The whole place was packed.

You briefly wonder if you could just pick up your coat and leave. You could take a nice long walk back to your apartment and curl up with a book and mug of tea. You had promised Jessika you’d stay, but you were also tempted to leave. She was already in her boyfriend’s care anyways.

You can clearly see Ben’s tall figure sticking out in the crowd. It’s not easy to miss him. Surprisingly, he spots you easily in the dark as well. He sends you a discreet thumbs up and you respond with no lack of enthusiasm on your part. At least one of you were having a good time. Good for him.

You wrap your arms around yourself, trying to keep yourself protected from the cold. But it finds a way to your bones anyways. It seems it was your curse to spend all your time all by yourself, year after year. You couldn’t remember the last time you had your family around you, opening Christmas presents together in the morning and watching the fireworks on New Year’s Eve. Although this time was kind of your fault. You could’ve still hung out with Rey or Jess, but you really didn’t feel like it.

Well, if this was what the rest of your life was going to be like, then you’ve already had enough practice for it.

—-

Poe watches the firework being set off in the distance. The light and the colours painting itself across the night sky, ebbing and flowing like waves. One disappears and another one explodes, sending a different shade shining through the sky.

From his vantage point, he could clearly see Finn and Rey, arms encasing each other, giggling at something. So content to just be in each other’s company. He wants that so much it aches.

Sarah’s arms around his feels like lead, weighing him down, and he wishes it were someone else’s. Finn was right. He shouldn’t have let himself be treated like he was expendable.

Maybe in this new year he’d finally let go of his fear and look for someone who actually loves him. In this new year Poe decides he deserves better.

—-

The Dameron Taglist (open):

@writefightandflightclub @arkofblake @yougottakeeponkeepinon @multifandomlife22 @skymerons @smol-peter-parker @rae-rae-patcha @demigod-dragonrider-schoolidol @spider-starry @hkmultifandom @cloud-leader @elmoakepoke @staringmoony @valhallavalkyrie9 @the-cry-of-youth @liadamerondjarin @m1rkw00dpr1ncess @takemepedropascal

#poe dameron #poe x reader #poe dameron au #poe dameron fanfiction #sw fanfic #fanfic #its finally hereeee

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nicetomeetniall · 4 years

Text

Shared Clothes and Hurt Feelings

Summary:

Y/N’s friend group shares clothes all the time. When she has an important meeting, she knows just the sweater to wear. She had let a friend borrow it, who may have let Y/N’s ex boyfriend borrow it.

Warnings:

Language.

xoxo

The friend group of Y/N’s basically had a communal closet. Anytime someone needed an item to complete an outfit or something to wear for a date they could find it. There was no downside to it. The mix of luxury and common clothing was perfect for any occasion the friends may find themselves in. It was all great until Y/N needed her sweater back from a friend.

Y/N loaned her favorite sweater out to her friend, Freya, just weeks before she needed it back. She had a meeting at work that would probably set the tone for the rest of her career and she knew that the sweater would show just enough professionalism while allowing her to show some personality.

On the phone call, Y/N first told Freya the news about the exciting work news before asking about the sweater.

“I don’t have it. I actually let someone borrow it.” Freya said over the phone.

“Oh, that’s fine.” Y/N dismissed. “I just need it back before Monday. Can you get it from them?”

“Shit, Y/N. You know I’m leaving town this evening. I don’t think I can.” Freya’s tone let Y/N know the woman on the other side of the call was nervous. “You can’t think of something else to wear?”

Y/N could find something else to wear but she didn’t want to. This was a big moment for her and although it might be silly, she loved that sweater and tried to wear it whenever there was something big happening.

“I really need it.” Y/N said. “You can just give me your friends number or whatever. I’ll get it from them. Who has it?”

There was silence on the line for a few seconds. “Harry has it.”

“My Harry?” Y/N asked, trying not to freak out before she got confirmation.

“Yes.”

Harry. He and Y/N had broken up only seven weeks ago. It was an ugly end to a nearly three year relationship. It was months of unresolved conflict and lack of communication that led to an explosive night. They had been so awful to each other in that two hour period inside their shared apartment that they weren’t sure they could ever look at the other person again. It was such a bad breakup that they both left the apartment and Harry’s sister was the one to pack up their belongings.

They ran in the same social circle and Harry was the one to borrow and lend clothes the most. Still, that was Y/N’s favorite sweater and everyone knew it. He knew it. There’s no way he didn’t know it as soon as he took it from Freya’s hands when she passed it onto him.

Y/N would just have to choose another outfit. She had the weekend to find something. She could do it.

Except she couldn’t. She hated herself for leaving half her wardrobe on the floor and breaking a sweat in an attempt to put something together. She’d worn that sweater when she got the job, when she adopted her cat, and when she was feeling the best about herself. She needed the damn sweater.

Y/N texted Harry. She didn’t want to call him. She had went all these weeks without hearing his voice. It wasn’t easy, but she managed to do it so there was no point in regressing.

It’s Y/N. Freya told me you have my sweater. I need it. Can we please figure out a way to get it to me? I need it before the weekend is up.

It was simple enough and straight to the point.

I can bring it to you tonight. Send me your address.

She wished he would have someone drop it off for him, but of course not. That wasn’t Harry. He didn’t run from anything.

After texting him her address she rushed around the apartment. It was all a bit pathetic, really. She straightened the books on her bookshelf and messed with the curtains, making sure they were just right. She didn’t think he’d step foot past her doorway but a part of her wanted him to.

Y/N missed Harry. He’s a person you only meet once in a lifetime. He’s as good and as genuine as anyone can be. Even though he made mistakes in their relationship, he was adamant on fixing them. Y/N didn’t even let him try so she regretted it.

The knock on her door came too quickly. She opened it slowly, not sure if she was ready to be face to face with him.

“Hey.” Harry said, giving her a slight smile. “Hello.” She said, looking down at her sweater that he held in both of his hands, as if it was some sort of present.

Harry pursed his lips to the side, a sign that he was trying to decide what to say. It was all awkward and uncomfortable.

“I saw it at Freya’s the other day and I just- I don’t know. I’m sorry. I haven’t worn it.” He quickly said, extending his hands for her to take it from him. “It was stupid of me.”

“Well, thank you for returning it.” She took it from him carefully, being sure not to touch his hands.

“Can I ask what the occasion is?” He asked, moving his eyes from hers to right behind her so he could catch a glimpse of her new apartment.

He never thought they would be in this situation. It wasn’t supposed to be like this. They were too good for this.

Y/N saw his eyes travel and opened the door wider. “Yeah, come in.”

Harry was cautious. As much as he wanted to look around and see her space, he was afraid of seeing anything that might upset him. It would kill him to see any sign of another man. He followed her into the living room and sat down on the couch as she tossed her sweater over an armchair.

“You know how I’ve been with the same company since I graduated. I’ve been working my way up the ladder.” Y/N began to explain as if Harry hadn’t been there every step of the way. He hated feeling like a stranger.

“I know, Y/N. I was there for several promotions.” He said, watching as she sat on the other end of the couch.

“Right…” She trailed off, embarrassed. “I just have a meeting about some app that’s being developed. I’m leading the marketing strategy and if it goes well, then I’ll be on the map for who knows what.”

“I’m sure you’ll do great.” Harry nodded, getting a faint smile from her.

They said nothing for a few minutes. Harry wasn’t sure if he should leave and Y/N didn’t really want him to.

“Well-” Harry started.

“I’m sorry.” Y/N blurted, immediately fighting the urge to cover her mouth with her hands.

Harry looked over at her with the most understanding facial expression. He understood her outburst of apology.

“I just shouldn’t have walked out so quickly. We didn’t give ourselves time.” She explained.

“It was a long time coming.” Harry said which made her heart drop. “We weren’t the same for months. I was stupid, I wasn’t thinking about you at all.”

She nodded, it was all true. He had been so selfish before they ended. She still couldn’t put all the blame on him, though. She should’ve spoken up about it sooner.

“I’ve missed you, though.” Y/N said, figuring that any response she might get couldn’t hurt more than anything else she had been feeling because of their separation.

“You don’t have to.” He said, making her raise her eyebrows. “I’ve missed you, too. I know it’s complicated and we have to do better, but I’ll try.” Maybe it was a stupid idea to try again. Maybe they didn’t care about the possibility of pain because any sort of love was worth it.

Masterlist

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fiesta-freddie · 4 years

Text

Love in Disguise- Part 3

lmao when I say this chapter was a bitch to finish because of my writers block...anyways here it is (finally). Good ol’ Chapter Three!

Words: 3.6k

Summary: You’re out for a day on the town with Archie to get some essential shopping done. You worry immensely about everything that could possibly go wrong, which, unbeknownst to you, might end up being a jinx for you. Archie manages to save the day with his optimism, but also ends up confessing something you wish you would've heard

The next morning had come quicker than you anticipated. As you got yourself ready, your mind and stomach couldn't seem to stay at ease. Various thoughts ran through your head about what could possibly go wrong. All you could seem to focus on were the negative outcomes like what if and what might. Nevertheless you managed to talk enough sense into yourself to step foot out your front door.

As you locked your door, you looked around you to see if anyone had a look of suspicion on their faces. Although no one did (and you knew deep inside no one had any idea what you were about to do), a little part of you still kept alert. The night before you had stayed up late coming up with different excuses in case you were questioned.

“It’s for a costume party.”

“I was out shopping and I wanted to buy something for my husband.”

“It was a foolish dare.”

“My brother's birthday is just around the corner and I wanted to get him something nice.”

Someone would have to be downright dumb to believe those lies, but at least you had something in your back pocket in case you needed it.

******

Archie had suggested The Woseley for a quick breakfast and pep talk. Although you really didn't want to, he was doing you a huge favor so you really couldn't turn him down without him thinking you were ungrateful. (Not like he would ever think that anyway)

A slow, awkward and cigarette-odor-filled cab drive later, you arrived in front of a large building which seemed a little run down on the outside but looking through the window, you could tell it was an upper class establishment. You now knew why Archie had told you to come dressed somewhat nice.

Thanking the cab driver, you hoped out onto the sidewalk, which had a surprising number of people walking along it for nine in the morning.

“Deep breaths, Y/N, you can do this. Nobody knows, so...so just don't make the situation more awkward then it already is,” you whispered to yourself as you began to walk into the doors.

Instantly you were greeted with the smell of coffee and an assortment of hot breakfast foods. God, you thought to yourself, I hope Arch brought some cash. From the looks of it I won't be able to afford a damn thing here.

“Good morning, miss. Table for one?” a friendly hostess who couldn't have been much older than you greeted. She had a delicate glow among her face that made her seem so innocent and lively.

“Oh no- I uhm- I’m actually supposed to be meeting someone. Last name Corcoran?” you said stumbling over your words. Pull yourself together Y/N.

You watched as she skimmed through her list, her finger gliding down the paper. “Ah, yes here it is. Archie Corcoran?” You nodded. “Right this way then.” She beamed, grabbing a menu on her way to the table.

“Here you are miss, your server should be here momentarily, enjoy.”

You watched as she walked away, before Archie got your attention

“Ah, so you decided to come!” Archie said, in a teasing tone. You, however, were too anxious to notice it.

“Well yes, I would have felt bad if I didn't, considering all you’ve done for me this far.”

He let out a small chuckle. “Yes, and with more to come.”

You had no idea what that entailed, but Archie was your best friend (maybe even your only real one) and you trusted more than anyone else you knew.

*****

“Y/N, are you feeling okay? You barely touched your food in there.” It was true, you had spent most of the time poking at your food instead of eating. Although the obvious topic never came up, it was floating around in the back of your mind, causing an uneasy feeling in your stomach.

“Oh yeah,” you lied “I’m okay, just a little tired I guess.” You hoped that Archie wouldn't catch on to your lie and to your advantage he didn’t. He was preoccupied with trying to wave down a cab for the both of you.

Once Archie had finally succeeded, he opened the door for you and followed you inside. “Ah thank you sir, to the mens shop please.” You saw the cab driver nod through the rear view mirror.

He had a fair amount of stubble and wore an old newsboy hat which was patched in many different places.

“Okay,” Archie began, nudging your shoulder to grab your attention. Your eyes skimmed the list of stops he had written down “so our first stop will be the mens shop because clothes are an obvious must, then to the hairdresser. I have a friend there who agreed to help us out. After those two places its teaching time. What’dya say? Sound good?”

For the first time that day you smiled “Sounds great Arch, thank you so much for helping me out.” The rest of the cab ride was silent, except for when the driver mumbled under his breath out of annoyance.

*****

“Right, then here we are. Thank you sir,” Archie said, thanking the cab driver.

You stood on the sidewalk and looked through the window of the shop. There was expensive looking suits everywhere, with expensive looking people too.

Archie looked at the front doors and then back at you, he could obviously see that you were nervous. He had a soft and comforting smile on his face, taking your hand in his. “Take a deep breath Y/N.” You did. “Walking in there will be a piece of cake, just stay with me, okay?” You nodded. As you two walked through the french doors, Archie still held onto your hand squeezing it a few times for reassurance.

“Now, I think we should get a few different things. It doesn't just have to be suits, but we should get at least one, maybe two, tops.”

“Why not just get one? Especially if they’re...uhm...a bit pricey.” You said looking at the tag on a nearby suit.

“Well because if you get that job, which you most definitely will,” Archie whispered in your ear “then you’ll need to be prepared. And besides I can lend you a few things too.”

You nodded and began to look around. The shop wasn't as fancy as you had imagined in your head, but the price of their clothing wasn't surprising.

You walked around, taking things off the racks and putting them back on. Every now and then you found yourself walking away from a section after taking one look at the highly priced piece of fabric. You could see people in the far back of the store getting their clothing tailored. “My god, how on Earth do people afford these things.”

While you were still searching for something that wouldn't put you in debt, Archie came over with a handful of clothes. “Y/N look what I’ve picked out for you!” he said, handing you a yellow turtleneck sweater.

“My god, where did you get all these?” You questioned him with a laugh.

“That's not important, but here, go and try these on. I've already got a dressing room for you.” He said handing the pile of clothes to you and pointing to a dressing room with a 3 on it. “I’ll be waiting outside the dressing room, so after you put on a pair of clothes, come out and show me so I can give you my expert advice!”

“Sure thing” You said with a giggle.

You followed his orders and put on a white button down shirt paired with blue slacks. “You ready?” you asked from behind the curtain.

“Show me what you’ve got!”

You slid open the curtain, making a dramatic entrance “Here she comes, with the first set of clothes!”

You began to pose like a model, facing in all different directions and using your hands for added effect. “That looks splendid on you Y/N.” Archie said, clapping proudly “Absolutely wonderful! Next set.”

You spent the next twenty minutes taking off and putting on an assortment of different clothes. You had to admit that Archie was quite an expert when it came to mens fashion.

“Alright this is the last set. You ready?” you questioned, poking your head out from behind the curtain.

“Mhm, lets see the style!”

“Ta-da!” you exclaimed, making one final entrance.

Archie paused for a moment and looked you up and down. “I like it, but its missing something.”

“Like what?” you asked, looking down at the outfit. “I think it looks pretty good.”

Archie's eyes quickly lightened, “I’ve got it! Just wait here a second, I’ll be right back.”

You gave him a quick salute as he wandered away, then turned to the mirror to look yourself over. You liked how the green sweater fit snugly on you and how it was on the lighter side. As you examined different angles of the clothing, it was a given that you would need some sort of chest bind.

You heard a noise from behind you. Assuming it was Archie you turned around to see what he had brought back. “Alright what did you-” As soon as you realized that the man in front of you was not who you expected, you didn’t know what to do except freeze

“Excuse me ma’am, but what is it exactly that you’re doing?” He asked. It was evident that he was some sort of manager based off his appearance. He was older and didn’t look amused in any way at all. Had it not been for your hair, which was a dead giveaway you were a girl, he might not have even approached you in the first place.

“Well- I uhm, you see I was just. I was shopping for my husband!” You said a little too quickly, it was the dumbest lie you could have used, but there was no way you could retract it now.

“Your husband?” He questioned again, looking down at your hand. You quickly realized why he looked, and you hid it behind your back. “Your husband? Whom you’re not wearing a ring for?” Shit, there was no way you would get yourself out of this one.

“Y/N, I think I’ve found-” Archie stopped as soon as he realized what was going on.

“Excuse me sir, are you with this young woman here?” the manager asked

“Yes, yes I am. May I help you with something?” Archie was never short tempered with anyone, but when it came to people he cared about, his entire demeanor changed.

“Well, it would appear that she’s trying on clothes that aren't exactly suitable for her. Now, she said that she was shopping for her husband, which I’m assuming would be you.”

Just like you, Archie had gone speechless for a brief moment. You two quickly exchanged worried glances before he began to speak.

“Well, yes I am her husband,” he said, “And I’ll have you know sir, that I find it very rude that someone of your corporation status is asking such pressing questions. It’s absolutely none of your business what me and my wife are doing. I don’t see that it should be a bother to you, considering the fact that we are paying customers. But if it truly does bother you, then I have no problem stepping onto the street outside your shop and telling everyone how we we’re harassed inside this store.”

The manager had an expression of shock among his face. He didn’t expect Archie to rant the way that he did, and quite frankly, neither did you.

“Now,” Archie continued, taking the pile of clothes from the dressing room and handing them to the once intimidating man “We would like to purchase these items. If you would be so kind to take them up to the register for us, that would be wonderful. Good day to you.” Archie didn’t even let the other man get in another word. He turned around, grabbed you by the arm and walked away.

You had a hard time processing what had just happened, but you went along with it anyways. Getting nervous when you were confronted was something you absolutely hated. It always caused you to tense up and to top it off, you weren't the smoothest liar in the world either. Had it not been for Archie, you might as well had said goodbye to the interview, because you probably would’ve been kicked out of the store.

You were silent while Archie payed for the clothes, avoiding eye contact with anyone and looking directly at the floor. The damage wasn’t too bad and thanks to Archie's complaints to the manager, the price was knocked down a considerable amount.

Archie may have seemed tough in the heat of the moment, but once you were outside of the store and back onto the street, he dropped the act and took a deep breath. “Shit, I’m sorry for that fiasco Y/N. I shouldn't have left you by yourself.” Archie said, apologetically.

“It’s okay Arch, I figured that something like that was bound to happen sooner or later. I’m just glad it didn’t get too carried away. But you were great!” You said. It wasn’t Archie's fault and it wasn’t necessarily yours either. You were well aware that most people wouldn’t be open to the idea of you cross-dressing, just like most people weren’t too keen on the idea of queers either. It wasn’t anything you could change, but you wished that people were more opened-minded

“Yeah, maybe it was bound to happen, but it was still scary. I mean, my heart dropped.” Archie paused for a moment. “Y/N, maybe we should rethink all this. I know I pushed you to do it, but its not to late to call it quits now. I mean-”

You cut him off. “Archie, no,” now it was your turn to be the stern one “We’ve already done so much and I’m excited about this whole thing. You were the one who pushed me to do this, yes. But I needed that push otherwise I’d probably never get myself out there. So were going to finish this journey. And were going to finish it together. Got it?” You weren't trying to be rude, but somewhere from deep inside you had a sudden burst of fire. You didn’t know where it had come from, but you sure as hell liked it a lot.

“Woah there chief, didn’t know you had that much fire in ya’.” Archie said with a grin “if you really want to do this, then I’ll be with you the whole way.”

You smiled and grabbed his hand in yours, holding it up between the two of you. You gave it three quick squeezes, before you began to make your way down the street.

*****

“Alright Y/N, this is the next part of your transformation, and quite possibly the most exciting part, if you ask me.” Archie looked at you through the mirror. You were sitting in a barbers chair, with a drape across the front of you. You were glad the shop only had one other customer in it at that time.

“Alright Corcoran, I trust you. But I swear, if you shave my hair down to a buzz, you’ll be sorry.” You warned. He only chuckled and patted your head.

Archie turned to the hairdresser, who he claimed he was good friends with. “Alright Caroline, give her the ol’ mop top hair do. Oh and Y/N, close your eyes until she’s finished, I want you to be surprised.” You gave him a sigh and reluctantly closed your eyes, uncertain of how you would feel once your hair was gone.

“Don’t, worry sweetie,” Caroline said, running a comb through your hair and parting it “You’ll be satisfied once I’m done.” She had a soft spoken tone which made you feel at ease. You relaxed your body and let her get to work.

With your eyes closed you were unsure of what was happening around you and you had absolutely no idea what was being cut. All you knew was that Archie and Caroline were having a conversation on how to cut your hair.

“Thats good, its good,” you heard Archie say. You could imagine him standing next to Caroline with his arms crossed, watching her work “Maybe make it a little shorter on that side- perfect just like that!”

“Archie I’m a hair dresser not a magician.”

“Right, I know, I just want it to look convincing enough.”

You heard Caroline sigh. She didn’t seem annoyed, but you could understand her frustration with Archie. You even got frustrated with him sometimes, but you knew he only had peoples best interest at heart, no matter how much he got on your nerves sometimes. “Well I can’t cut it as short as those Beatle boys have it, because then it might throw off the whole look, but I can make it more of a shaggy mop top that way its short enough for her to pass as a guy.”

“Of course, do what you need to Caroline.” Archie said, backing off a little. “Thanks a ton for doing this too.”

“Mhm, of course.”

You giggled as hair fell onto your face. It was itchy as hell, that's for sure. You moved your nose attempting to get some of the hair from your face to the floor, but you were unsuccessful. You decided to finally give up after many failed attempts.

Finally, you heard the scissors being put down and you knew that she had finished. “Arch,” You heard Caroline say as she turned the chair “What’d do you think of this?” You didn’t realize though, just how much of your hair was gone until you felt Archie run a hand through it.

“This is really nice Cara, it looks really good!”

“Am I allowed to see now?” You asked to no one in particular. Apart from wanting to see what your hair looked like, you were waiting to get the hair off your eyelids.

“Sure doll,” Caroline said in her soft voice. She turned the chair again, this time to face the mirror. You impatiently opened your eyes the first chance you got.

“So wudd’ya think Y/N? Do you like it?” You didn’t bother to answer Archie's question.

You had to admit that you weren't to crazy about it at first, given the fact that it was much different from the head of hair you had forty-five minutes ago. You examined your new look at different angles in the mirror. Even if you didn’t like it, you weren't going to be rude about it. Maybe it’ll grow on me

You turned around to Archie and Caroline, with a smile “I love it, thank you so much.” Caroline nodded at you.

“What do I owe you?” Archie asked Caroline, pulling his wallet from his back pocket.

She waved her hand dismissively “Don’t worry about it, no charge. Its a pleasure for me to help you out Arch. Besides your one of my best customers.” He smiled and thanked her a million, as did you.

*****

It had been hours since your shopping adventures had ended, and both you and Archie were completely worn out. “Man, that was quite a day wasn’t it?” Archie said more thank asked. You two were sitting in the living room of his small apartment, shopping bags surrounding the both of you. He was spread out across the floor and you were spread out across the couch.

“Yeah,” you chuckled “It was fun, but I don’t think I’d ever be able to do something like that ever again.”

“Well, Y/N what do you think The Beatles do all day? They probably run around for press conferences and I bet they’re in and out of the studio all the time too. You might want to get to used to living off of coffee for a while.” he joked. You giggled at his words once again, trying to process what he said. It was hard though, because you had began to doze off, your eyelids shut every now and then, but tried hard to keep them open.

“God, I hope not. I mean, I can handle a few cups but not that much. Hopefully I won’t be worked to death. That is if I get the job.”

Archie paused for a moment. “Well, I’ve got faith in you Y/N. You certainly look like a convincing man. I mean, if I didn’t know you, I’d assume your a man at first glance. Maybe a bit of an odd looking one in some ways, but I wouldn’t question it. I’ve taught you everything that I can only imagine you’ll need to know. You’ve got the voice down perfectly, and your mannerisms aren’t half bad either. Plus, thanks to me, you can now successfully tell each of the Beatles apart from each other. Trust me that’ll save you in the long run.” He paused again, assuming you were still listening, but you had already fallen asleep “I have no doubt you’ll get the job. You know what you’re doing, you’re smart...and beautiful too, even if your hair is now a mop top. Just don’t forget me when you become part of the fame.” Archie chuckled, propping himself up onto his elbows and looked over at you, sound asleep. A smile spread across his face when he saw how peaceful you looked. Even when you were sleeping you still managed to make him smile.

Archie walked over to where you were on the couch, and grabbed the blanket that was on the end. He carefully draped it over you, trying to cover you up as much as possible. “Goodnight Y/N,” he whispered, even though you couldn’t hear him “I...I love you.” Archie said, planting a light kiss onto your head before walking off to his own room.

----

Beatles Taglist: @beatlevmania @givemequeen @my-dumbshit @john-lemonade @ineedyoubygeorgeharrison @princesof-theuniverse @geostarr @katiekitty261 @killerqueenisthebest @yeehaw-city @asphalt-cocktail @chloe-on-cloud9

Love in Disguise Taglist: @motley-queen @littledarlingwellaway @thetimelordmeeps @killerqueenisthebest @lizvxx @edsloveshisrichie @beatlesdotcom @thiccjelly17 @viralwolf02 @givemequeen @bowiescocaine @julessworldd @sapphic-cupid @thegreat-annamaria @yeehaw-city @asphalt-cocktail @myukulelegentlyweeps @jimmypagesandbrianmayshair @doctorwhatwhenandwhere

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xtrashmammalstefx · 5 years

Text

Who Do You Love? (Ben Hardy x Reader Fluff/Smut)

Warnings: SMUT, Angst, insinuations of physical abuse

Word Count: 3446

Ben and I always had this interesting dynamic. Since we met back at the start of Primary School we’ve been each other’s, go-to person. I mean if anyone was giving us a hard time, or (as we began to do when we were a little older) had a crush on someone but didn’t quite have the balls to make the first move we would go to each other for advice and protection. As we grew the dynamic would change. Whenever one of us suffered a break-up, or if my parents decided to drive me towards the edge (again) we would lend each other a shoulder to cry on and let each other know that no matter what we were still loved. That was how it always was between us. Then when we were thirteen we attended the Halloween party that started everything.

I was dressed as Wednesday Addams that year (Christina Ricci forever being one of my goddesses of cinema) and Ben was Luke Skywalker. “Just don’t go snogging your sister,” I teased him.

“Okay first off I don’t have a sister,” he pointed out as we made our way towards the party. “And secondly it was she who snogged him and she was still a movie away from learning it was in fact incest.”

“Okay okay point made Skywalker,” I said following him inside. It was your average party with loud (mostly ghastly) music, punch, dancing, and games. The game that started my years of torment was Truth or Dare.

I remained invisible throughout until one little bugger known as Luca Greenley spotted me. “Y/N truth or dare?”

“Um pass,” I said nervously.

“Not an option darling,” he said.

“Don’t call me that,” I said. “Truth I guess.”

“Who do you love?” I damn near spat out my punch.

“Wuh-What?”

“I saw you drawing a heart around a name during History class the other day,” Luca said. “Come on now out with it.”

Beside me, Ben tensed up.

I shook my head. “What’s the punishment?”

“You have to do a dare,” Luca smirked. “And I dare you to kiss who you think is the best looking lad here.”

That was definitely not any better but I didn’t want to risk public humiliation either so I just stood up and ran for it.

“Y/N/N WAIT!” Ben said running after me as I made my way down the street. I stopped if only to catch my breath. “Why’d you take off like that eh?”

“Sorry,” I said. “I just couldn’t handle Luca’s game.”

“Well, he’s a tosser I’ll give you that,” Ben said. “Still I wish you’d just gave me the sign then I would’ve gotten us out of there without making a scene.”

Years earlier we came up with a sign; just a tiny little motion no one would notice but us. If the situation got nightmarish I would brush my hand with his letting him know to get us the hell out of there, or if there was some distance I would curl a piece of my hair with my finger. As for him he would tap my leg or scratch the back of his head. That night I did neither.

“Sorry I panicked,” I said. “Let’s just go back yours okay?”

Ben lived in the flat next door to mine. It was heaven compared to the hell I lived in. My step-dad was an arse who drank alcohol like it was water, and my mum was blissfully oblivious of his wrongdoings and was only ever concerned with mine.

I tried not to think of them though as we made our way up to Ben’s room. We dug into his trick-or-treat candy (we made the rounds earlier, before the party and both got plenty of sweets to make our dentists happy). Sometime during our pig out, Ben looked over at me.

“So who is it then?” he asked.

“Who?”

“Who do you love?”

“Oh, uh, n-no one,” I said more afraid than anything else.

“Y/N/N I’m your best mate,” Ben said. “Not Luca, or any of them for that matter. You can tell me anything. I won’t judge.”

“What if it isn’t judgement I’m afraid of?” I muttered.

“What else could there be?” Ben asked. “Come on Y/N/N tell me.”

He reached over and started tickling my sides. I fell back laughing so hard it hurt.

“TELL ME! WHO DO YOU LOVE?!”

“BEN PLEASE! I-I CAN’T BUH-BREATHE!”

“TELL ME!”

I opened my eyes then, face covered in tears, and looked up into his breathtakingly beautiful green orbs. My breath slowed and the feeling became overwhelming. So much so that it made me spring forward and peck him on the lips.

He looked at me wide-eyed and remained frozen on top of me.

“Ben?” I said. “Ben are you okay?”

I brought my hand to his cheek and that managed to snap him out of his stupor. “Um, what was that for?”

“That was me answering your question,” I said.

He rolled off of me then and sat up at the edge of his bed. “You know I love you right?”

“Yeah,” I said sitting down beside him.

“You’re my best mate,” he said. “And what we have I don’t want with anyone else. Nor do I want to risk it by having it be something that could end in disaster.”

My heart sunk down to my stomach.

“I’m flattered that you feel the way you do, and that you love and trust me enough to give me your first kiss,” he said. “But I don’t want us being more than what we are. At least… not yet.”

It hurt but I understood.

“Just having you in my life is enough,” I said placing a kiss on his cheek.

Time passed but our connection remained strong even in 6th form when we found ourselves in different circles. Ben was popular among the masses. Girls wanted to be with him and guys wanted him to be their friend. While I was invisible except in the eyes of tormentors.

I tried to not let them get to me but sometimes you’re just not strong enough.

Home didn’t get any better either but I learned to hide. Not just myself but the bruises as well.

Everything came to a head one day when Ben’s girlfriend, Heather Rowe aka Miss Popularity, started saying things to her friends by her locker which was two down from my own.

“Guys I think Saturday is going to be the night,” she said excitedly.

“The night?” One of her friends questioned.

“You know. For me and Ben?”

“What? You’re going to sleep together?!” exclaimed the other.

“Yeah,” Heather nearly squeaked in excitement. Meanwhile, I fought back a laugh.

“Oi what are you looking at freak?” snapped one of her friends. It was only then that I realized I was staring.

“Nothing,” I said slamming my locker shut.

“Can’t believe Ben was ever friends with her,” said the other.

“He still is,” Heather groaned. “But no worries he’ll learn soon enough that some of us are better than others.”

“Damn straight,” said the friend that caught me staring.

“He’ll be rid of that trash in no time,” said the other. “You’ll see.”

“You wish,” I muttered as I walked past them.

“What was that?” Heather asked.

“Nothing,” I said before feeling someone shove me from behind. I landed hard on the ground. I flipped myself over to see Heather and her friends hovering over me while other students laughed.

“Listen here freak and you listen good,” said Heather threateningly. “I’m Ben’s girlfriend. Okay? Me, not you. So you best remember your bloody place and stay away. Honestly, as if he would ever love someone as trash as you.”

“You call me trash as if it’s an insult,” I said. “But I would a hundred times rather be trash than a worthless, unlovable, tart.”

“You best watch your mouth freak,” Heather glared at me.

“Or else what? You’re going to break me? News flash sweetheart I’m already broken,” I said getting to my feet. “I just do my best not to show it, for the sake of those who care about me.”

“Please, who would care about you?” Heather sneered at me.

“Me,” said a deep voice from behind her. Ben stood there and judging by the look on his face, safe to say he was pissed.

“Oh hey, babe,” Heather said trying to go in for a kiss. Ben brushed her off and approached me instead.

“You okay Y/N/N?” he asked rubbing my shoulder gently.

I nodded.

“You sure?”

His eyes bore into me in a way that made lying impossible. That twat.

“That’s what I thought,” he muttered before turning around. “What the hell is wrong with you?”

“Excuse me?” Heather said.

“Don’t!” he snapped. “Don’t fucking lie to me! I heard every word you said.”

Heather’s mouth hung open. “Are you seriously siding with this dog instead of me right now?!”

“Yes,” he said. “And honestly I don’t even know what the hell I was thinking when I agreed to be your boyfriend. You’re vile and cruel.”

“That’s not what you said last⸺.”

“In case it wasn’t obvious I say a lot of things when I’m drunk. Like when I said yours was the best kiss I’ve ever had,” he said. “Now if you’ll excuse us.”

He turned to me and draped his arm over me. “Come on let’s get out of here.”

“Ben,” Heather called out as we walked away. “BEN!”

Ben ignored her as we continued our way out of the building. I didn’t say anything as we made our way to his house. He didn’t push either which I was thankful for. Then when we entered his room he locked the door.

“So what did you mean by it?”

“By what?” I said sitting on the bed.

“When you said you were broken,” he said. I looked away from him then. My heart raced with anxiety, and I could feel the tears wanting to come, but I wouldn’t let them. “Y/N/N.” he kneeled down in front of me. “Whatever it is you can tell me. Alright?”

I couldn’t. I couldn’t tell him. My voice just wasn’t there. But I could show him.

I rolled up my sleeves revealing the scars I’d given myself time and time again. He gasped and I could see tears welling up in his green loving eyes. “Wuh-Why?”

I wiped a tear from my eye and shrugged out of my sweater revealing shades of yellow, green a purple all over my body. Ben jumped back looking as if he was about to be sick.

“Who?” he asked. “Who did it?”

I sniffed back tears. “I-I call him step-ass for a reason.”

Ben’s eyes grew wide. “How come you never told me?”

“I didn’t want to worry you. Besides we haven’t exactly been that close as of late.”

“I’m sorry,” he said taking my hands in his. “I-I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you.” He brought my hands to his lips. “I’m so sorry,” he cried.

I wrapped my arms around him.

After what felt like an eternity he pulled back. I watched as he got to his knees and brought his lips to the yellowing bruise on my left him. He gently kissed every bruise he could find only stopping when I winced at the one on my ribs. He looked up at me. “That one is still fresh.”

“Sorry,” he muttered and moved on to the ones on my upper arms. “Handprints?”

“He has a strong grip,” I whispered. He kissed them all with care. A part of me knew I shouldn’t have but I couldn’t see how it could be helped. A small moan escaped from the confines of my mouth as he kissed the last one. “That shouldn’t feel so good…” I whispered.

Ben placed his hand on my cheek. “No, it shouldn’t,” he agreed before enveloping my lips with his. I leaned back on the bed, and he did his best to hover over me while not making the bruises any worse.

We kissed each other hungrily as we slowly made our clothes disappear. Ben’s body was harder than it used to be; there was muscle where there was once child-like softness. It was still the same Ben though; hard or soft he will always be the same Ben to me.

“Are you gonna ask me again?” I whispered as he lined himself up with my entrance. He looked at me confused for a bit then remembered…

“Who do you love?” he asked.

“You,” I said pecking him on the lips. “It’ll always be you.”

He smiled, kissed back, and slipped in. I smacked my hand over my mouth to keep myself from letting out a loud yelp.

Ben held me there, gently kissing the skin of my neck, cheek, and lips until I was comfortable enough for him to move. The feeling of him in me was something I knew I would never forget. He kept it gentle and sensual. Then when the stirring and tension started within us he went faster and harder. I tried to hold them back but the moans kept coming and coming out of my mouth.

“God I fucking love you,” Ben cursed as he thrusted into me; getting me closer to my end.

“BEN I⸺HNNG!” I tightened around him and felt as my warmth covered his length. Ben’s movements then became messy until I suddenly felt him twitch inside me. He filled me up, kissed me for the millionth time, and slowly pulled himself out. He collapsed beside me and drew me into him so that my head rested on his chest.

“So who was it?” I asked after a long time of silence.

“Who was what?”

“The best kiss you’ve ever had,” I said.

“Oh,” he chuckled, his face still flushed in an afterglow. “Um, actually you were there for it.”

“I was?”

He nodded. “The best Halloween of my life.”

“Oh,” I felt my face warm up.

We laid there together until the sun went down. I got dressed and readied myself for whatever was to come that night.

“What are you doing?” Ben asked once he’d come back from the bathroom wearing a t-shirt and boxer shorts.

“I have to be home soon,” I said. “He gets cranky when I don’t show up for dinner on time.”

“Well no offense darling but you’d have to be barking mad if you think I’m just going to let you go back there,” he said. “After what you showed me there’s no fucking way I’m letting you go.”

“What else can I do?”

“We’re gonna talk with my parents,” he said.

We did and when they found it hard to believe I showed them my scars and bruises as I did for Ben. Both Mr. and Mrs. Jones were heartbroken at the sight.

“Son let’s go,” Mr. Jones said.

“Dad?”

“You’re going to pack her things while I have a word with her mother,” he said.

My mother couldn’t believe it at first but then both Mr. Jones and Ben brought up the bruises. According to Ben, his dad said he was going to phone the police as soon as they got back. Ben packed a bag full of clothes and other items from my room. When they came back my mother was with them.

I showed her what they had seen and that was it.

My step-dad was thrown in jail and my mom and I moved in with her sister in Midsomer. I kept in contact with Ben but there were days when I was so crippled by PTSD that I couldn’t even get out of bed.

As the years went Ben got into acting and I watched everything he was in. He was brilliant, and I couldn’t have been more proud. Meanwhile, I started a YouTube channel where I review and perform music.

I blasted my latest fixation in my car as I made my way to Bovingdon Airfield.

Well, I've been deep in this sleeplessness, I don't know why

Just can't get away from myself

When I get back on my feet, I'll blow this open wide and carry me home in good health

I sang along and let the song take over my body and soul. I’d been doing better, and the bruises had long since faded. The emotional scars though...they were still taking their sweet time to go.

I arrived at the airfield just as the song reached its end. “Who do you love?” I sang quietly as I killed the ignition.

I asked around as was pointed in the direction where the Live Aid stage was brought back to life. Ben was standing with a crowd of lads who were taking a water break. It was the ginger dinosaur lad who I knew to be Joe who noticed me first. He looked at me curiously but I brought my finger to my lips silencing him. He smirked but stayed silent.

“What?” Ben asked. “Why you lookin’ like that mate?”

“You mean sexy?”

“No, I mean like⸺.” That’s when I pounced on his back making him curse and scream.

‘JESUS SHIT!”

“Hello love,” I laughed.

“Y/N/N?”

“Who else?”

“You scared the shit out of me, love,” he said.

“I know,” I said kissing him on the cheek. “I couldn’t resist. Still, love me?”

He smiled softly then. “Of course.”

After that, it was like we’d never been apart. We spent the day fucking around when he was not filming or rehearsing, and I got to know the rest of the band. I even managed to sneak in some Instagram shenanigans with Joe who quickly became like a brother to me. It was fun, and not only was I smiling… I was finally breathing for the first time in what felt like forever. I loved it, and judging by the smile Ben would throw at me every now and then, he loved it too.

That night we went over to his place where I was going to stay for the entirety of my visit (or at least until I’ve found a flat of my own). I gave Frankie numerous hugs and kisses and made myself at home. Once we’d eaten dinner Ben and I relaxed on the sofa.

“So what’s your next musical venture? And please tell me it’s Queen related!” Ben laughed.

“Actually not this video but the one after will be Queen related,” I said.

“What? Then what song are you doing now?” To say I got a shit-eating grin on my face would be an understatement. “What? Why are you looking at me like that?”

I took out my phone, opened up the youtube app, looked up the song, and blasted it. I placed my phone on the coffee table and stood up holding my hand out for Ben. “What?”

“Come on there’s no way we can listen to this masterpiece without dancing,” I said. He took my hand and stood up. We danced and dance. When the song reached the verse ‘Who Do You Love?’ the first time Ben couldn’t help but laugh.

Suddenly we were kids again. Laughing, dancing, and just loving being alive, and being together. We were so into the song and into the dance that just before Josh Ramsay sung the final verse Ben tripped over the coffee table and landed on the floor, taking me with him.

We both burst out laughing just as the song came to an end.

“Who do you love?”

I sang it quietly enough for only him to hear. Breathless he smiled up at me and suddenly the same feeling I felt on my thirteenth Halloween came back. Only this time it was stronger. Much much stronger. I leaned down and pecked him on the lips.

Ben looked at me for a moment as though he were thanking God I was in his life. He then brought his mouth to mine wrapping his arms around me. He kissed me hard as he flipped us so that I was on the floor.

With the bruises gone he had no reason to be gentle and yet he still was. We laid there on the floor snuggled up to one another for the rest of the night after. Before sleep overcame me I pecked him once on the chest and whispered…

“I love you.”

I almost thought he didn’t hear me… that he’d been sound asleep…

“I love you too,” he whispered. “I always have… and always will.”

Tag List: @okaykathryn @stella2445 @dinosbabu @fairestkillerqueenofall @onceuponadetectivedemigod @boherahpsody @thebohemianpenguin @ihatethespacebars @sweethandskidcowboy @madsthegroupie @pugs-cats-bb-8 @hardzellosposts @freddie-bulsara-queen

#ben hardy #ben hardy imagine #ben hardy fanfiction #fluff #Smut

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mythicamagic · 5 years

Text

Swimming in Silk - chapter 19

Training in front of her, engaging her in conversation and now lending her his clothes…Kagome is starting to suspect that Sesshoumaru is trying to gain her attention.

Sesskag - Romance, Humour, Drama, Angst

Rated M - As always you can read this story on Ao3, fanfiction.net or Dokuga

Chapter One - here Previous Chapter - here Next Chapter - here

AN: Sorry this chapter is all over the place, I still didn't fit in everything I wanted lolol good news though! After this depressing chapter, the angst won't be so heavy in this fic anymore x

Haunted Hounds~

After wading through the shallows to shore, Kagome peeled her sodden sweater off, sighing as she wrung the waterlogged material. Inuyasha promptly shook himself, soaking her anew.

"Gah!" Kagome sputtered. "Can you not?"

"How else am I supposed to get dry?" He grunted, white hair puffing up under his cap.

She couldn't help but giggle. "You're not, be cold and suffer with the rest of us."

By the time they'd padded up to the huts, Kagome was positively shivering. The ocean was a quiet crash of waves behind them as lights suddenly flared to life in various windows. The covers over doors were thrown back, and various demons rushed out, raising weapons with wild, fearful eyes.

Kagome quickly raised her hands, "we come in peace!" She squeaked, spying a familiar face among them, who lowered his axe. "Kaito!"

The demons paused, frowning and looking at the dark haired man. "General, do you know them?"

"Ah! That's Lord Inuyasha," said one.

Inuyasha acknowledged them with a grunt. "Lower your damn weapons."

"Yes, do so. The Lady of the Western Lands stands with him," Kaito said, eyes gentling slightly. He shifted on his crutch, raising a hand to her and beckoning. "Come, my Lady. Everyone else, go back to sleep," he dismissed. The demons murmured amongst themselves, wandering back into their huts. Kagome padded into the hut Kaito indicated, Inuyasha following.

Inside, Inukimi adjusted her silks, covering bare shoulders. Kagome caught a glimpse of fresh bite-marks and cherry red hickeys before they were hidden, causing her to blush.

"W-we didn't mean to disturb you so late!" She glanced at Kaito, now noticing his rumpled clothes.

"Hush. Time-travel is not known for being considerate," Inukimi gave a soft laugh. With her hair down, she looked simultaneously radiant and decadent in her loose clothing.

"It smells like sex in here," Inuyasha grunted, yelping when Kagome stamped hard on his foot.

"Zip it!"

Inukimi laughed, fixing the futon and smoothing the covers as Kaito sat down beside her with a grunt, resting his crutch down. "Adorable. I'm surprised you're familiar with the smell, Hanyou."

"Shut up!" he barked, cheeks blooming red.

"Lady Inukimi?" Came a gentle, feminine voice. "What was all that just now? Shippo thought he sensed-" the cover over the door was tentatively peeled back and a taller Shippo peered in, along with a girl who Kagome vaguely recognised.

She gaped when it clicked."Shiori?"

"Ah, Kagome!" Shippo darted inside, scooping her up and hugging so tight her bones protested. His head came past her stomach now.

"Wow, lookit you! So tall," she wheezed, giggling and wrapping her arms around him, lifting so that his feet left the floor. At least she could still do that.

"It's lovely to see you again after so long," Shiroi murmured, folding her hands neatly in front of her and bowing. The previously petite child had matured, becoming a young woman perhaps a little younger than Kagome. She still wore a modest white yukata, but her face had lost most of its childish features. Those violet eyes remained as kind and sad as they were before. The miko suddenly remembered her mother, and realised she must have passed, leaving the hanyou alone.

Smiling gently, she blinked when Shippo detached himself from her and immediately hugged Inuyasha, who bristled. He made to say something, before closing his mouth and setting his rough hand on the fox's red hair.

"It's been a while...little brat."

"Hmph, it's not like I missed a big bully like you," Shippo mumbled.

Blue eyes shining bright, her chest warmed. Turning to the others, she voiced the thought that had been with her since surfacing: "Where's Sesshoumaru?"

Their expressions immediately shuttered, some unreadable or awkward. Ice shot into her chest, hitting the bullseye of her heart.

"Don't worry," Shippo immediately soothed, straightening. "He's just uh…sleeping right now."

She blinked, giving a relieved laugh. "Well duh, it's late at night. Heh, you all looked weird for a sec there."

Inuyasha's ears flicked under the cap, heavy brows drawing into a frown. "Spit it out, Shippo." He growled. "You ain't explainin' everything and no doubt it's some crap that'll just worry her later."

Surprisingly, it was Shiori who timidly spoke up.

"Our village is home to many different kinds of demons. The majority of them are survivors from the West's fall that happened 10 years ago. They fled here, and we sheltered them, or some joined us of their own accord like the wolf demon tribe led by Kouga. When they came, Lord Sesshoumaru was among them, so he picked up the mantle to lead again."

"That's not surprising," Kagome tilted her head.

The Hanyou fiddled with her sleeve. "It's just that…concerns have been raised about the amount of sleep our leader gets."

"Yeah, because it's not healthy." Shippo snorted.

Inukimi huffed, lighting her signature pipe and inhaling. "Ridiculous. He's perfectly fine. How do you explain his performance in the fighting pit? Resting isn't a crime. He defeats challengers when required," she uttered darkly, words flowing out with the exhale of curling smoke.

Shippo throws his hands up, bristling. "Lady I don't wanna get into this with you again! Sleeping for 18 hours is not normal!" He burst, flashing small fangs.

Differing energies crackled in the air, raising the hair on Kagome's arms. She'd never seen Shippo argue so boldly with someone collected like Inukimi. "That's…that's enough you two, please calm down," she tried to wrap her head around everything.

"The fuck? 18 hours." Inuyasha grumbled. The strict and disciplined 'Killing Perfection' sleeping so long sounded ludicrous. "Where is he now?"

Kaito spoke up, absentmindedly sharpening his weapon. "In a cave not far away, located within the cliffs. He rarely shows himself, but always makes an appearance at the pits."

"Fighting…pits, right?" Inuyasha's ears twitched.

"Guessing that's exactly what it sounds like," sighing, Kagome tried her best to ignore her mounting worry. "Okay, let's backtrack. You said it's been 10 years since the big battle. How many years ago did Kouga and Sesshoumaru arrive?"

Shippo rubbed the back of his neck. "Uh, two?" Seeing the look on her face, he added. "We've tried talking to him but he doesn't want to see anyone. He's…changed so much, we've got no clue how to help."

Sensing her turbulent emotions, Shiroi spoke up. "I'll ask Ayame to take you to him tomorrow."

"Ayame?" Kagome croaked.

"Mhm, he only wakes up during the day if her cubs go to bother him," Shippo offered a weak smile.

Unbidden, Kagome answered it with a small one of her own. You've always been pestering him to do things, huh Riza?

With no alternative but to sleep, Kagome left Inukimi's hut, deciding to rest with Shippo. Glancing behind her as she settled down on a futon, she noticed Inuyasha taking a seat. He'd followed without a word, and now rested his faithful sword against his shoulder, closing tired gold eyes.

Kagome also spied the two white-haired fox sisters curled up together in their true forms. She supposed they must have moved to the village along with Shippo at some point, and wondered what had become of the Fox clan. Shippo curled up with them, and Kagome loosely curled her arms around herself, shivering and closing her eyes.

-------

Sleep proved to be a flirtatious but unobtainable friend. A burst of loud noise, that of high pitched yips and barks, broke her out of her dozing. With her eyes still in the process of opening, Kagome shrieked when tons of bundles of fur landed on her stomach. Countless wet noses and tongues attacked her cheeks, causing her to burst into startled giggles.

"Oi! What did I say?" A familiar gruff, masculine voice barked. "Settle down and get off her already!"

Kagome laughed, setting her hands on the wolf cubs that kept climbing over her, occasionally licking the miko while ignoring their father.

"OI!" He called again, before being nudged aside.

"OFF!" Ayame snapped, voice dark and green eyes blazing.

The countless amount of cubs immediately scrambled off, looking at their parents in the doorway with perked ears and expectant faces.

Picking herself up and wiping the slobber from her cheeks, Kagome noticed Inuyasha and the foxes had already left for the day.

A whine sounded out, "Ayame! I told ya to let me handle it this time. If ya keep butting in, they're never gonna listen to me!"

"You were taking too long," his mate flipped some firey red hair over her shoulder. "Besides, you let them rudely wake up Kagome. You call that handling it?"

Kagome's cheeks hurt, and she touched her mouth, finding she was smiling too wide. But she couldn't help it. Not wasting time, she rushed forward. The two wolves abruptly stopped when she wrapped her arms around them, resting her face against their shoulders.

"K-kagome? What's wrong?" Kouga mumbled, resting a large hand on the small of her back. A strangled, happy sound reached their hearing.

"Nothing, I'm just...really happy. So happy," she breathed, squeezing them. "Seeing you both safe is a big relief."

Pulling back and grinning tearfully, Kagome ignored their perplexed looks. It was one thing to hear they were safe in the Future but was another to actually see, hear and touch them. It made her long for Sango and Miroku.

"Thank you so much for finding Sesshoumaru and helping him. You saved him," she rambled, causing Ayame to laugh gently and nudge her.

"It was no trouble. C'mon, I'm sure you want to see him. You can cry on us some more later," she said, tucking Kagome's hand through her arm.

"Hey! I haven't seen her in ages," Kouga soured, watching as the miko was ushered outside.

Ayame glanced over her shoulder, smiling flippantly. "You've seen her now~ are you saying you're more important right now than her mate?" She asked sweetly.

Kouga's shoulders fell, expression shifting into a grumpy, accepting one. Letting herself be tugged along away from the huts, Kagome held on when the cubs followed, racing through their legs and causing her to trip on the sand.

"Careful!" Ayame growled at the bundles of fluff.

Smiling and carrying on along the shore in the morning light, Kagome walked them play and leave tiny paw-prints in their wake. "It's kind of strange, seeing you guys with kids."

"Heh, it feels strange for us too. Still doesn't feel real even after two years."

They approached a cliff with numerous crags and splits, which had eroded into caves and openings. Nerves erupted into her stomach. "...Shippo said he's been like this since arriving," Kagome murmured.

A snort sounded out close to her ear. "Honey, I've been baby-sitting this Lord for at least five years. He hasn't changed since Kouga first found him all injured. Hasn't shifted out of his true form once from what I've seen."

The words made dread pool in Kagome's stomach, along with a hard lump of sadness in the back of her throat that was difficult to swallow. Jaken had mentioned once, in passing, how true forms often dulled more complicated emotion. Demons merely became creatures of instinct.

Is it...less painful for you this way?

"I remember first seeing him. I'd been told stories about The Killing Perfection ever since I was a cub. A God on the battle-field. But he was just an abandoned, lost puppy. Still is," Ayame lifted a shoulder. "Aside from when he's in the pit, I honestly find it difficult picturing him conquering anything. Don't get me wrong though, our tribe kind of like him after he aided us getting here. I was heavily pregnant at the time and heh, let me tell ya; walking through human territory in that state was not fun! But ole' Ice Prince woke up enough to protect us during the journey. We lost men during the battle of the Western Lands though so, I guess to him it might've been paying his debts."

There came a beat of silence between them, the words left hanging in the air. Eventually, Kagome spoke once more, voice subdued. "I keep trying to get used to everything changing...but the second I get my head around a place it's already shifted."

Ayame smiled. "I might not time travel but it's still changed too fast for me too. At least there's always a place for you, no matter where you drop in, right?"

Kagome blinked, smiling gently and nodding.

They reached the mouth of the cave, Kagome's boots crunching on the pebbles and stone. The spray crashed against the nearby jagged rocks, flicking water up near them. He's really picked a remote spot, she thought, glancing at the distance from the village, which was in view but far off.

The cubs stopped to play, biting on a piece of driftwood while Kagome and Ayame padded inside. The shadows of the cave swamped in. All noise felt drowned out within the large space. The crunch of their shoes echoing too loud. To the side lay remains of animal bones and carcasses, everything beyond the light of the entrance drenched in dark. Yet on the edge of the light, silver fur glinted.

A large body shifted, around the same size as she'd seen him before, that of a large bear. His true form looked much healthier at least. Well fed, unharmed. Yet scars crisscrossed certain areas where the fur was thinner, no doubt more hidden by the lustrous fur that flamed around his shoulder. He slept on despite their presence.

"Oi!" Ayame growled. "You have a visitor. Wake up!"

Sesshoumaru stirred, opening one groggy, ruby eye. He stared at them listlessly for a moment, before closing his eye again, seeming to fall back asleep.

"Hey!" Ayame barked, only to be drowned out as a flood of yips and galloping tiny fluffballs racing around them. Uncaring of their sleeping mountain, the cubs bound atop the Daiyoukai, nudging and sniffing at him.

Sesshoumaru didn't stir, despite their antics. A low sound built in the back of his throat however, the more they tugged at his ears or tail. Unfortunately, they didn't seem deterred by his grumbles.

Cuuute, Kagome couldn't help but think. "They seem to like him."

"You know what kids are like. Don't know to be afraid of something most would faint in fear of." Ayame smiled, before frowning at the dozing Daiyoukai. Growling, she sank to one knee, plunging her fist into the ground. The walls around them trembled with distress, and the cubs yipped with alarm, huddling around Sesshoumaru.

"HEY! This girl time travelled for your ungrateful hide!" She bellowed. "She came here just to see you! The least your sorry ass could do is say hello!"

Sesshoumaru's tail flicked out, sending a cub rolling free from its personal tug of war. He huffed quietly, giving another low noise and shifting so that he was turned away, back facing them.

"If he doesn't want to see me, Ayame...it's okay," Kagome said, watching quietly.

Ayame growled, straightening and putting her hands on her hips. "It's weird, almost like he doesn't believe you're really here or...doesn't want you to be?" She then winced, glancing at the miko. "Uh, I didn't mean to-"

"No, it's fine," Kagome soothed. "I'm going to um, stay here for a little while. Just in case he changes his mind."

"Are you sure?"

She nodded distractedly, watching every inhale and exhale.

"Alright, but I'm only leaving you for an hour. Shippo will come fetch you. It isn't healthy to stay here alone."

"Sesshoumaru's alone."

"By choice!" Ayame tsked. "It's true he was injured, and the battle at the Western Keep probably took a toll. But everyone else has tried to move on. They might still revere him as Leader, but honestly he needs to be defeated soon and replaced if we're gonna progress. Otherwise, we're all sitting around waiting for him to get better."

It occurred to Kagome then that no one else knew. Sesshoumaru probably hadn't told anyone what he'd been through with the monks. They just thought he was pining for his lost house.

Kagome assured her she'd be fine, waiting until she left along with the rambunctious cubs, before turning to Sesshoumaru. Without their presences, the cave was plunged into silence, save for the tumble and crash of waves against rocks outside. Sitting down, she wrapped her arms around her knees and hugged them to her chest, just listening.

Little by little, she inched closer. Carefully, agonisingly gently, she reached out and lay her palm on his side. The jagged bite mark on her arm pricked, and her body tensed, but he didn't stir. Lithe fingers combed through damp fur, untangling it. He felt warm and steady, much better than his previous trembling, but she could sense the undercurrent of something. A great tired weight on his chest that caused every draw of breath to seem like effort.

"I don't know why I wanted to see you while you were still recovering. Maybe it was just me being full of it, thinking I could be the one to heal you. Seriously...I'm an idiot," she chuckled quietly. "But here you are, wounds closed. Healthy. Least that's what everyone thinks, mn?"

She didn't know if he were listening or could feel it, but she stroked her hand through his fur all the same. "I get why you didn't tell them about the monks. Too proud," her lips curved into a wobbly smile. "But Shippo would help if you opened up to him, I'm sure of it."

His lids remained shut. Her fingers lightly slid over his muzzle. You were like this when Rin died too...just trying to sleep it off. So many bad things have happened to you, I bet they've mounted up. Why don't you ever talk to anyone, you beautiful dumbass?

Leaning down, Kagome rested her head against his back. "It's going to...get better, you know?" She murmured. "Not to be patronising, but it will. So for now, if this is what you need, to be comfortable, then that's okay. Just...don't sleep forever," turning her face into the warmth of his side, she trembled.

"I'd miss you too much."

--------

She stayed with him until Shippo came to collect her an hour or so later. Kagome didn't check her watch to know, just let time disappear. Leaving without a word or fuss, Sesshoumaru did not stir without her presence.

"Are you alright?" Shippo immediately checked, padding back with her along the beach.

Unprompted, Kagome smiled gently, causing him to blink. "Yeah. I think since I can't help Sesshoumaru this time, I'll focus on doing what I can around him."

"Meaning?"

She hummed, "well, why were the demons last night showing their markings and claws? On the outside, this place looks like an ordinary village, but I can feel a barrier around it. Wouldn't it make sense to start covering up their demonic features so that everyone can hide in plain sight without wasting energy on that?"

Shippo smiled, tilting his chin up to look at the morning sky. "You don't miss much. That's been a huge thing lately, big mess. No one wants to start posing as humans except the foxes, Shiori, and a few of the wolves."

"Why?"

"They refuse to unless their leader does it first. Set an example. But it's like he's doing the opposite, lounging in his true form all the time."

Slowly, the pieces started to fit into place. Now she understood Ayame's frustration. Shippo continued, sighing. "Sesshoumaru's the strongest, as proven every week in the pits. Hence he's the leader. If someone could just beat him in the fighting pits, someone who gets that we need to change to survive, then we could really pass ourselves off as a human village. We'd be so much safer! Plus that way us foxes wouldn't have to be the ones going to neighbouring villages for supplies. Shiori wouldn't exhaust herself by keeping the barrier up too. We're sitting ducks like this."

Kagome nodded seriously, mind whirling with the new information. "When's the fighting pit next open?"

"Tonight. It's held over there," Shippo pointed to the opposite cliffs and caves, situated nearer to the village and on the right of the shore, where Sesshoumaru's was on the far left. Isolated.

"Great, I'm heading there tonight."

"N-not to fight, right?"

She laughed. "No Shippo. If I beat him and became leader where would that leave you guys when I disappeared? I just want to watch."

Shippo exhaled with relief, smiling up at her. Tentatively, she offered her hand.

Green eyes flickered with surprise, and it occurred to her how much older he'd become. She shouldn't have done it, he wasn't a little kid anymore. He'd survived war and-

Shippo's hand slid into her own.

Emotion welled up inside her and when he gave a squeeze, and she felt that he'd done it more for her sake than anything else. Kagome squeezed back with gratitude as they walked in step back to the village.

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

That night, Kagome walked among the crowd through the narrow passages in the caves. They walked with torch in hand, until the rocks bathed in orange hues gave way to a giant opening, fit for the hall of a King.

Kagome followed the demons to the rings that looped around the massive pit in the centre of the floor, almost like they were in a colosseum. The cave seemed to have been carved, paving seats for them, so she took one. Glancing to her left, she found Inuyasha, who had decided to follow. He frowned, ears pressing against his skull.

Sesshoumaru's form became visible after a moment, climbing down into the room via one of the higher openings in the cave and making his way to the pit, jumping in and waiting with a tired sort of expectation. The demons in the crowd glanced around, muttering to themselves.

Finally, a challenger Kagome didn't recognise jumped into the ring, bulls horns protruding from his head. With a blast of yellow youkai, his form melted into a demonic bull, tossing his head and rearing on hind legs.

Everyone watched with bated breath as the fighting started without introduction.

Two forms collided, roughly slamming into each other. Kagome noticed that while they used no real techniques, more throwing weight or striking, they each avoided using their deadly weapons of poison, teeth or horns if they could help it.

Sesshoumaru ended things by moving with a burst of speed, leaping atop the bull, which was struggling to get up. A large paw slammed down into its jugular, bracing his weight and opening large jaws, pining the burly demon down via rows of deadly teeth on ethier side of him. Sesshoumaru held him there despite the kick of frantic hooves beneath him.

Eventually, the bull made a noise, and Sesshoumaru backed off, panting.

"He's...like a stray dog or something," Inuyasha mumbled, ignoring the cheer from the onlookers.

Kagome glanced at him. "What do you mean?"

"When demons communicate, it's like human speech, just different. Gestures and stuff. But even using that, it's like he's completely closed off. He might still fight well, but he's not the taunting asshole I know. The hell happened to him?"

"He got hurt, badly," she murmured, not wanting to say more than that. It felt like a betrayal of trust to explain, for some reason.

"Oh for goodness sake," came a voice behind them.

Kagome turned, looking at one of the higher stands and spotting Inukimi. Her eyes were on the pit, so the miko shifted to look. She then gaped.

Kaito limped into view, facing Sesshoumaru while leaning on his crutch.

"You foolish oaf! What are you doing?" Inukimi stood from her seat with a rustle of silks, glaring.

From within the pit, the General glanced up at his Lady, mouth curving. He lifted a shoulder, giving a sad, rueful smile. "We can't live in the past, my Lady. I should at least try to end this stagnation."

Kagome's eyes widened. Kaito who had been so proud he'd all but rejected her as Lady of the West. Kaito who hated the House lowering itself. It was he who stood before his lord, discarding his crutch.

Blue light coated the dark-haired Generals form. Smoke billowed out, slowly sighing away to reveal a three-legged black inuyoukai. He leaned forward, equal size to Sesshoumaru, who growled softly.

The two leapt, meeting with a clash of hard bodies. Black and white fur met again and again, demons trying to topple the other. A few times their paws swiped out, hackles rising as they snarled, teeth starting to snap and bite. Their forms chased each other around the pit, colliding into the walls and causing the structure to shake.

"Crap, Kaito's really letting him have it," Inuyasha muttered.

Seeing Kagome's questioning look, he scratched his cheek. "Let's just say he's yelling at the Bastard and telling him to wake up and fucking lead already. Sesshoumaru is pissed-"

A hard-hitting sound echoed off the walls as Kaito hit the floor a moment later, his single back leg giving. His jaw smacked hard against the ground as Sesshoumaru remained atop him, pressing him down and snarling quietly.

"What's Sesshoumaru saying now?"

Inyasha tsked. "...For Kaito to find someone strong enough to take over or leave him the hell alone."

When the dust settled, Kagome watched as the silver inuyoukai padded around the pit like a restless tiger. Kaito's black form receded, his more human appearance returning. Taking up his fallen crutch, the General gingerly got to his feet and limped away.

When no other challengers stepped forward, the fighting pit drew to a close.

------

She'd asked around, but apparently, defeating Sesshoumaru was indeed the only way to seize control over the village. Even if she could win, Kagome also asked if she could pass on the mantle immediately after- only to be shut down and told an 'outsider' like herself wouldn't be accepted as a leader in the first place.

Kagome thus spent her week helping Shippo and the other foxes. Kouga and some of his wolves had unfortunately left to run an errand. Despite how busy she kept, she always noticed the lack of Sesshoumaru's presence. Visiting him had only become possible in the evenings she was so tired, helping newer arrivals construct a hut. On one day she walked the road to the neighbouring human village and helped load supplies onto the wagon, discussing trade. Pushing some hair back from her eyes, Kagome sighed.

"It's hard work, mn?" Shiori smiled knowingly, tending to the horses.

"Sure is. How are you able to leave the village and move around if you're...you know," Kagome glanced at the humans walking around. She cupped a hand to her mouth and mouthed: 'using your powers.'

Dark eyes danced, her hanyou features under a glamour. She beckoned, and the miko leaned in, watching as Shiori opened her pocket, revealing a glowing orb.

"Oh, you had something like that last time."

"Yes, but I was being used back then. Now I'm...happy to be of use to the village, even if I wish everyone would be a little braver," Shiroi said gently.

Kagome nodded, brows drawing together. "You feed your power into that and it projects a barrier around them, right? You must be exhausted all the time," she said, eyeing the pallor of Shiori's usually darker skin with thin lips.

"E-excuse me, are you a miko?"

Turning, Kagome faced a nervous looking man.

"Yes, hello?"

"Please," he took her hand. "My wife is giving birth. I-I don't know what to do, please help! Our village priestess is away visiting friends. Please!"

Everything else fell away as Kagome nodded seriously. "Don't worry, I'll come. Shiori, can you-"

"I'll come too."

With a nod, the two women rushed to aid the man and his wife.

------

Kaede's teachings had certainly come in handy. It had felt kind of surreal, holding the newborn. Whenever she'd helped deliver in the past, Kaede had always been the one easing the child out, taking the lead.

Shiori had been a massive help, advising whenever the miko had become uncertain. It was clear the woman had more experience.

Washing her hands for the umpteenth time, Kagome padded back to the village with the hanyou.

The foxes and cart had left hours ago ahead of them, the sky darkening to lush purples.

"Kagome, do you think it's possible for Lord Sesshoumaru to still lead?" Came the quiet question.

Feeling caught between a rock and a hard place, Kagome sighed. "...Not right now," she admitted. "He seems to just be attending the pits out of necessity. If...if you ask me, it looked like he almost wanted to be defeated," she murmured.

Shiori nodded, raising a hand to her head. "I worry that- that soon raiders will come, and our village will be snuffed out just like the Great Houses. If we got attacked, I don't know if my barrier will hold. That's what I'm...afraid of…"

"Shiori?"

Glancing at the Hanyou, Kagome squeaked in alarm, catching the woman before she fell. Feeling her blazing forehead caused clammy sweat to cling to her skin. "Shiori! Hold on, w-we're not far from the village!"

Awkwardly ducking, Kagome lifted her onto her back, supporting Shiori under her thighs. But the days work had significantly weakened the miko and she only managed to make it down a hill before stopping. Panting, she sank down to her knees. I can't just leave Shiori to get help, what am I going to-

"Kagome!"

Lifting her head, gladness filled her heart.

"Inuyasha!"

With the smell of sea-salt clinging to him, Inuyasha leapt down from the trees, racing towards them on the path. "The hell happened?"

"Shiori fainted. I think she's done too much today, or maybe...all week," Kagome murmured, wondering quietly.

Inuyasha removed the weight from her shoulders and hitched the woman onto his back. "Let's hurry then, don't slow me down, idiot," he muttered almost affectionately. Kagome smiled despite the situation and followed, hurrying after him.

As her feet pounded on the path, Kagome watched as he took off in front, bounding ahead. Strange, nostalgic feelings wrapped around her heart and squeezed. She shook her head and raced quicker in the direction of the sea.

------

A fire flickered in the centre of the largest hut. Within, the majority of the village residents lingered, waiting for any sign of change from Shiori. They drifted around, looking a little lost.

Shiori herself lay on a futon, breathing shallow. Kagome had done everything she could think of to bring her temperature down. Nearby at a low table, Inukimi poured over scrolls and paperwork, frowning at the disturbance.

"What happened to her?" Ayame peered down.

"She was overworked!"

A few demons glanced at Inuyasha, vague guilt passing over their faces.

"Cease your yapping." Inukimi sighed. "I dislike children who shout."

"Tch, what? You'd rather I was more like Sesshoumaru, keeping my trap shut?"

"Preferably. He always was quiet, even as a pup. Granted he did cry at first, but ignore them long enough and they learn not to make noise. Obviously, it's a lesson you were never taught."

For some reason, though the comment hadn't been meant as particularly malicious, Kagome thought of Sesshoumaru's scars. Of him. Alone, quiet and drenched in the dark of the cave. Not making a fuss. Hiding his distress. The pain so keen he couldn't bring himself to see anyone lest they think him weak.

She stood, hands balled into fists as a low fire churned in her gut. "All of you are cowards," she muttered lowly.

The demons instantly bristled, but she didn't care. Tip-toeing around them achieved nothing. "Shiori is like this now because you're too afraid of change. She's been managing the force field and helping everyone, keeping up appearances with glamour. Not just her but the foxes and wolves. The rest of you are falling behind, don't you understand that?"

"Shut up! What would a human know of it?" One growled.

"I know you all loved the House of the West!" She burst, brows drawing together. "It's that love...that fuels your protectiveness over your markings and features. Your heritage and species. That's why you don't want to cover them up. It would feel like a betrayal. It's why you won't act on your own despite Sesshoumaru not really leading you."

A low growl sounded out, and Kagome was surprised to find Inukimi's narrowed gaze on her. "You dare call yourself his Mate and then encourage us to go against him?"

"He's not given you any orders!" She snarled, reiki and a skitter of hot, familiar youkai curling out of her bite mark. Sesshoumaru's presence loomed over her aura, lending weight to her words. "He doesn't want this position at the moment. The way I see it, he's fighting out of obligation for tradition. And that's what this all is! You're going to die for your traditions."

"Kagome!" Ayame chided.

"Well, they are! You can't stay isolated forever. You're not on an island. Your human neighbours will get curious, and one day they'll bump into the barrier. If the humans see you like this, don't you think they'll retaliate? The time for...surgiving is now. I'm sorry. I wish you didn't have to cover up your marks. All of them are beautiful..." a blue crescent moon on a beloved brow came to mind as she looked around at them, seeing stripes, pointed ears, horns, tails. "All of them. But you have to. It's time you start living for yourselves, not for the past."

Inuyasha's ears flicked, swivelling in her direction as he looked slightly shocked.

"Adapt or die, is it?" Inukimi's words came low and solemn, looking through her. "I recall musing something similar at the burning Western Keep."

Kagome faltered, the energy around her dying down. "I hope your choice isn't the same as it was then..."

"Choice? My fate was decided for me, don't you recall?" She sneered, rising from her low table. "Foolish."

Watching the demoness pass by with a flow of silver, Kagome glanced at the inventory paperwork, feeling her shoulders fall.

------

The night of the fighting pit came around again. Kagome and Inuyasha sat in the same seats as before, her hands tightening into fists, honestly debating jumping in herself. At least it would free Sesshoumaru from responsibility and allow him time to collect himself.

Slowly, she inched from her seat to stand.

"Don't," firm fingers wrapped around her wrist, tugging her back.

Kagome glanced at General Kaito on her right. His back hair fell loose around his shoulders, dark eyes sharp.

"But General I-"

"It is not your fight," he rumbled.

Usually his tone would have riled her enough to disobey, but Kagome found herself weakening. She didn't know what to do. But there had to be something! Otherwise she'd be leaving without having helped at all, and that was the purpose of these jumps, right?

Feeling something brush her side, Kagome raised her head, looking at the blurry image of red and white. Scrubbing her eyes, she blinked up at Inuyasha, who had risen.

Words caught in her throat as Kagome watched him. The hanyou stared down at Sesshoumaru, who paced around the ring, snarling for a challenger. His roars echoed off the walls right into her bones.

Kagome's fingers latched onto his clothes before she'd realised it.

Solid, bold golden eyes slid down to her. Inuyasha's mouth tightened.

"...I gotta go, Kagome."

She stood, babbling immediately. "No you don't. What are you talking about?" She squeaked. "I-If you go and end up winning, you'll have to stay here."

Inuyasha stared back levelly.

Cold fear, sadness, confusion and panic erupted in her chest. "Please don't," she said quietly. "I-I don't know how far away from the Present we are. What if...what if we never see each other again!" Hysteria laced her voice and a few heads in the crowd turned. "I can't take that! You can't disappear from my life like Sango and Miroku! I need you, I-"

"Shut up already!"

Her shoulders were seized in a tight grip, and Inuyasha glared down at her. "That's enough. You don't damn need me!" The shout died in his throat, golden eyes dimming slightly. "C'mon. You haven't needed me for a long, long time."

Kagome trembled in his grip, rendered helpless, like that frightened 15-year old that had stumbled from the well all those years ago.

"Look, I get that you wanted me to stay in your Time. But it's...not where I'm meant to be. Least I don't feel that way. Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful," he grumbled, eyes shadowed from his cap. "You and your family made a space for me. They're- you're good people. But I can't exactly fill a role there. I'm just a house guest."

"But you're n-"

"I said shaddap!" He cut her off, growling. His voice soon lowered again, the fight leaving him. "I can't protect them. But I can protect these guys. I was useless in that big battle at the Western Keep and I've felt shitty ever since. Sesshomaru's been leadin' our old man's people for years. They haven't ever accepted me but I can't just ignore em' anymore. And don't start whining. You're the reason I want to protect people in the first place. It's your fault I'm like this now," he grit his teeth, letting go slowly. "So just, remember your own damn goal. That's your future, right there," he said, pointing a clawed finger at Sesshoumaru in the pit. "So keep damn working towards it and quit looking to the past! I gotta...start working towards my own future now."

Tears rolled down her cheeks as she watched him take a step. Then another. And another, further and further away from her.

His shoulders were broad and strong. Back straight. He walked with purpose.

A harsh sensation, like that of a knee being rammed into her stomach, caused Kagome to bolt forward, burying her face in his thick hair. She clung to that strong back, wrapping her arms around him and trembling and sobbing. Because now she knew.

Even if Inuyasha lost this fight, he'd be staying the Past no matter what. And there was nothing she could do to change his mind. I don't want to lose anyone else. Inuyasha is supposed to be...supposed to be my rock.

A coarse palm, rough from years of scrapping, slid over her hand.

Her breathing hitched. The tears felt hot, thick and ceaseless.

"I would have died with Kikyo if it weren't for ya," he grumbled lowly. "I'd be in the netherworld embracing her. But instead, I've kept my life. So let me do something with it, Kagome." The waver in his voice strengthened until it was all she could hear in her ears.

Finally, finally, Kagome's hands fell.

His form immediately jumped into the pit, discarding Tetsusaiga and his cap. Sesshoumaru fell quiet, tail flicking out as he raised his head.

"I hear ya became pretty useless, bastard." Inuyasha taunted, rolling his shoulder as his ears twitched. "It's been a little while since our last proper fight. I'm in the right mind for it now, so let's go."

His smaller form leapt into the air, and Kagome gasped as Sesshoumaru met him with a crack of blazing with red energy. From within the haze, their bodies came flying out, the Daiyoukais transformed. His clothes looked less pristine than usual, skin ashen, something in his face looking tired, but focused on Inuyasha. He met every punch and kick with one of his own, tossing his brother into the ground. The Hanyou turned mid-air, landing on the balls of his feet and pushing off again to strike.

As they fought, Kagome felt a smaller hand wrap around her own. Frozen, she only sat down beside Shippo when tugged. The entire crowd watched silently, the air hanging heavy.

Harsh snarling and strikes of claws bounced off the walls.

Inuyasha picked himself up and threw himself into the wall that was Sesshoumaru again and again. Catching his fist, the Daiyoukai tugged on it with a deceptively small movement and Inuyasha lurched forward with his whole body, stumbling after the hand Sesshoumaru led him by like a puppet on strings. A classic taunting move.

Subverting this however, Inuyasha planted his foot down, using his free fist and striking. Sesshoumaru's head snapped to the side, gold eyes slightly wide. Inuyasha doesn't wait this time, following one punch with another without hesitation. Fists pummelled. Coarse knuckles split and ran raw as he unleashed the depth of his frustration at his own powerlessness. At change and Time.

For all his efforts, Sesshoumaru swayed on his feet, expression unreadable under the scrapes and bruises. Inuyasha panted, eyes having bled red, lips peeled back. Even feral, a part of him couldn't understand why. Why his formally proud, nightmarishly strong brother took it. Why he didn't answer with blazing anger. Inuyasha kept punching until ribs and bones cracked, Kagome's cry to stop halting his fist inches from Sesshoumaru's bruised and bloodied face.

Sesshoumaru's jaw moved, before he spat. Blood met the floor, soon joined by knees. The daiyoukai sank down, head bowing and limp hair sliding forward.

Inuyasha snarled with bloodlust, taking a few steps forward- until Tetsusaiga was shoved into his palm. Kagome looked at him searchingly, standing between the two as the Hanyou panted, gripping the sheath as his eyes wavered to gold once more.

Kaito and Shippo exhaled with relief.

Howls and shouts broke out into air, the wolves and foxes singing their praises. Even the other demons looked mildly impressed, but most were astonished.

Heartbroken.

Inuyasha panted harshly, looking up at them dazedly.

The roar of the crowd was lost on Kagome as she turned, words on the tip of her tongue, but Sesshoumaru had already picked himself up, leaving. Glancing at Inuyasha again, she bit her lip, wavering.

Inuyasha tsked, before bending down and retrieving his cap. He then placed it on her head and tugging it down so that she couldn't see his expression. "Go after him, ya idiot."

Feeling the pull of elastic in her gut that heralded Time's approach, she nodded mutely and turned on her heel, racing away.

Thank you, Inuyasha.

Hurrying out of the caves, the noises from behind her grew dimmer as she ran into the night air, holding back tears.

"Wait!" She called, breathless.

His figure was a pale spectre on the white sands, distant and padding further and further away. The sands cushioned her boots, feeling like they were pushing her back, but Kagome raced forward determindly, starting when the tide raced in, waves catching her feet.

"Sesshoumaru!"

The demon halted, and she knew he'd heard her this time. Felt her. But the elastic snapped, and Kagome cried out as the waters turned pink. Her body sank under the waves, feeling the current lash at her clothes and hair as water closed over her head.

No!

Squeezing her eyes shut, Kagome struggled and fought. It was the same as all the other jumps. She'd resist and the waters would pull her quicker and harsher away, stealing her breath. Even as she panicked, the miko forced herself to become still.

To try and think. To reject Time without resisting.

Lungs protested, spouting fire into her throat and tearing her mouth open. Salt flooded in, and she choaked, kicking her legs to push herself up.

She broke the surface a moment later, sucking in gulps of air.

Feeling the tide lull her once more, Kagome opened her eyes. The exact same shore awaited her, and hope fluttered in her heart.

The changed position of the sun revealed she had time-travelled, but how far she didn't know. A warm orange sunset bathed everything in a soft glow, catching on fur. Kicking her legs, Kagome swam for the beach, noticing the tell-tale silver.

Wading out of the water and kicking off her boots, she padded wet foot-prints on the sand, feeling it crunch beneath her toes.

Approaching his sleeping form, she sat down beside the Daiyoukai, taking off Inyasha's cap and wringing the droplets from her hair.

"One good thing about short hair; it sure dries quicker," she smiled, panting.

One red eye peeled open. Sesshoumaru's head remained on his paws, unmoving. Kagome felt saddened to see his melancholy hadn't improved much, but at least he was out in the sun. Looking out at the ocean, she exhaled. I can't believe I was able to come back like this. I-I know in the grand scheme of things this jump might not matter but-

A weight settled on her thighs. Sesshoumaru rested his head down, letting out a long sigh. Kagome blinked down, softening and placing her hand on the crescent moon. Slowly, her thumb grazed the mark, dragging over blue fur.

"Time wanted me to go home but I came right back here. I don't know how long it's been since Inuyasha won, but you don't have to force yourself to heal quickly. Just take your time. I'm sorry if I made you feel...inadequate or something, I was just worried. But I...think I need to apologise to your mom too."

Between one moment and the next, fur disappeared under her fingertips, red steam leaking out from around his form. Smooth skin replaced it, and Kagome smiled slightly. Looking at his handsome face, her thumb automatically stroked the bridge of his nose. Her other hand combed through his bangs, a kind of peace settling over them. Soon however, an idea took hold.

"Do you have one of those pipe things your mom has?" Kagome asked randomly. This time a golden eye cracked open.

"Hn," he opened his juban, parting the silks to reach in and bring out a pipe.

After lighting it, Kagome brought it to her lips and took a drag- bursting into a coughing fit. The bitter taste brought tears to her eyes. Placing her hand on her chest, she blinked rapidly, glancing at Sesshoumaru's perplexed expression.

"I'm trying something, leave me alone," she snipped.

Giving it another go, she managed to exhale the smoke somewhat smoothly this time. Reiki hummed over her skin, and she tried her best to put the image she wanted into the smoke merely by thinking it. She sighed when nothing happened.

"You are doing it wrong," Sesshoumaru croaked, as though unused to using his voice. Sitting up and taking the pipe from her, he tapped the ornate carvings. "You are focusing your powers externally, which is defensive." He said, silken tones returning the more he spoke. "But for this, you must push them back down so that they flow internally. That way, the power will come out on your breath when you exhale."

"O-oh, usually I pull the reiki out of me and concentrate it to my hands to lace with my arrows. So, I have to somehow keep it contained inside me? I've never thought of using it that way. Demons are pretty impressive," she smiled.

Sesshoumaru said nothing, watching as she centered herself. Activating her powers, Kagome fought tooth and nail against the impulse to raise the energy to her skin. Taking another drag, she exhaled unsteadily, seeing the faint pink sparks flow out in the smoke.

"It worked!" Kagome grinned at him, sobered by the way he stared at her tiredly. Her heart squeezed, and the smile on her face fell a little. Even depressed and worn down, he still had the patience to teach her. You're kinder than you give yourself credit for.

Doing it again, this time Kagome pictured a face. The smoke flowed out, collecting into an image. It took a few attempts, but soon enough a gentle, masculine face smiled back at them in the smoke.

"...I do not know him," he muttered.

"Mhm, that's my Papa," she smiled gently, passing the pipe back to him. "He died a long time ago."

Sesshoumaru rose a brow at her expectant face, before he glanced away and closed his mouth over the pipe. Tilting his chin up, he exhaled, smoke producing three inuyoukai's that danced and chased one another in the air, before curling into an image.

"Show off," she teased.

His lips curved slightly even as the wraiths of thick air cleared. A demon with a strong jaw and bushy brows stared back at them.

"Your Father?" Kagome guessed, seeing the resemblance.

"Hn."

The pipe was passed back to her, and Kagome felt pleased he seemed to understand her intention without words. Creating another smoke piece, Grandpa smiled back.

For Sesshoumaru's turn, he exhaled Bokuseno, which made her shoulders fall.

Next for her came kindly Kaede.

For him, bossy, proud Jaken.

Sango and Miroku followed.

Demons she didn't know came from his breath but she could tell from their armour they were of his House.

She exhaled Edo, the village as she'd known it.

He, the House of the West.

When he went to pass her the pipe again, Kagome's hand pressed it gently back to him. Tears swam in her eyes, but she squeezed his fingers, waiting.

Sesshoumaru hesitated, gaze dimming. He then haltingly brought the pipe to his lips and exhaled shakily.

Kagome gazed up at the image of Rin, the smoke curling to give her hair playful whisps. The grey wraiths couldn't help but flow into beautiful blooming flowers to adorn her image.

Seeing movement out of the corner of her eye, Kagome noticed his head had bowed, form shaking slightly.

"Sesshoumaru…"

Sliding her arms around him and tugging slightly, Kagome braced herself against his sudden weight as the Daiyoukai drooped into her, resting his forehead in the crook of her neck. She smoothed her hands over the plains of his back, murmuring soft comforts.

"It's alright," she soothed. "It's okay."

He didn't make a sound, but something wetted her skin, and Kagome gathered him closer. Sesshoumaru did not mourn loudly, and there was more going on than simple grief. So, when the tremors subsided, Kagome kissed his neck and touched his torso, sliding the material of his clothes back from his shoulders. He wore no armour so it parted easily.

His once almost pristine body held multiple scars now, as she'd suspected. They'd carried over from his True Form no doubt.

Patient hands slid over lean muscle, touching the damaged flesh. Sesshoumaru kept his head on her shoulder for a moment, before lifting it. Those weathered gold eyes shifted over her face, leaning to rest his lips against the side of her head, inhaling her scent.

The ageless tiredness of his body relaxed as she slid her hands over him, stroking, trying to soothe. Kagome touched every scar available and bent to kiss them, until they lapsed into simply laying and holding one another on the beach. Sharp claws combed through her short hair with vague confusion, so she held his face in her hands and kissed him again as assurance, shifting on the sand.

Soon, the tide swept in, waves rising up to claim the lovers in its embrace.

Answering quiet laughter joined the crash of surf on the rocks.

#sesskag #Sesshoumaru x Kagome #Sesskag fanfiction #sesshomaru #Kagome higurashi

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boogiewrites · 5 years

Text

A Girl Walks Into A Bar 3

Characters: Declan Harp x Bella Fiore (OFC)

Word Count: 3900+

Summary: Modern Declan harp AU. Bella returns to the bar. Declan having felt her absence and noticed her lack of communication over the past week, makes an attempt to get to know her better.

Warnings/Tags: Language. Drinking.

Positive feedback is MUCH appreciated! Reblogs, likes, asks and comments feed me to write more! Let me know if you’d like tagged in my work.

Click on my screenname then go to Mobile Masterlist in my bio for my other works and chapters. (Had to do this since Tumblr killed links, sorry.)

You had thought about stopping by the bar after work a few times that week. You'd stared at many half-written texts that would be reaching out to Declan., but you'd always found an excuse not to send them.

Work was work, CeeCee being understanding as always of how belittling people who didn't work or make music could be, doesn't berate you much when you return. The father and daughter had gotten themselves added to the list of people to never work with again. You'd take a listen to what the other girls, Mary and Jean managed to put together for them in your absence, and it wasn't their fault it was awful. It was the fad that had made its way into even smaller towns, far away from California thanks to Rebeca Black and her song Friday, of tween and teens coming in with parents that had more money than sense and wanting to cut a track. This one was worse than Friday, by a landslide. It was high pitched, the autotune was lending no favors and super nasally. Friday you had gotten used to, it was an internet classic at this point, but this song would never pollute the ears of anyone else if you could help it, and you deleted it off the drive. Whoops.

You'd gotten word your truck was still being worked on. Being an older model it was harder to find parts and people willing to work on it, but you just couldn't give Betty up. So you were still without a ride and as Friday afternoon rolled around with everyone else busy, you found yourself walking. You followed the same path, this time no looming snow clouds overhead but the harsh biting winter wind was worse this time. You'd been bundled up beyond recognition, beanie over your two-day-old curls, dry shampoo being your best friend this morning. Your scarf was up over your nose, and the sherpa collar of your oversize denim jacket was flipped up. If it weren't for your figure, no one would've even known you were a woman.

The windows in the front of the bar are too tinted to see inside but the neon advertisements were blazing through. Motorcycles were lined up against the sidewalk, more than you recall last time. You notice they're all black and have varied wolf head emblems on them. You hadn't looked at their vests last time when you were stopped before entering the bar, perhaps this was their symbol.

The bar is the same, a steady bass and wavering guitar come through the speaker's placed along the tops of the walls with the blinking strings of lights. The same stained floor creaks in greeting before you look up to see every person in the bar turned to see who came in. You stand your ground, a hard look on your face as you unravel the scarf from around your head. At the appearance of a woman, most of them turn back to their mates and mumbled with raised brows. You see the man who hassled you on your first visit and you give each other a nod in recognition with hard faces.

"Look who decided to show up." you hear the familiar deep, gravely voice come from behind the bar as he wipes his hands down on a towel before throwing it over his shoulder. "Haven't heard from you all week babe, I was beginning to wonder if you were gonna come back." he says in a playfully defensive, whiny way/ He moves around the corner of the long bar occupied by men in leather vests, you now note the banners across their backs that read "Black Wolf". You assume this was the group of bikers he'd been talking about in your kitchen that morning after the storm. You put your gloves and hat on the bar top at the very end chair, a few seats between you and the nearest person. His broad form comes to your side and wraps his around you, you manage a small smile and pay his back in return. He smelled as good as you remembered, masculine and musky with the hint of liquor you're guessing was seeped into his shirt from working.

"It's Friday I needed my ale." you say with the small smile lingering after he stays with his hands on your shoulders, smiling down at you.

"Ah," he says nodding and looking to the back of the bar with a smirk. You were as reserved as ever, you weren't as much of an outwardly animated person it seemed. At least not in public, or maybe it was all the other men staring, making you aware you were the only woman in the bar. "I won't make you wait. Comin' right up, Bells." he says and moves smoothly, shoulders shifting as his long legs carry him to the cooler. You look at the guys staring at you as you sit down, erasing the smile from your face and lowering your brow at them. You're met with mostly indifference to your cold glare.

"Thanks, Declan." you say with a relieved sigh, taking the bottle to your lips.

"So..." he says, leaning his elbows on the bar top across from you. "You have any other crazy customers this week?" he says with a warm smile.

"Nah. I mostly worked with just one band this week." you say with a nod and a noisy swallow. "They're out of downtown, a new group that plays up at Stiver's on Saturday nights." you explain, not making so much eye contact, feeling the heat coming off him through your jacket, making you extremely aware of his physical presence. You weren't intimidated, but you weren't used to this sort of platonic attention.

"It's been forever since I've gone downtown for any reason besides business." he shakes his head. "They any good?"

"Yeah, actually. Not a bunch of dicks like the usual dudes we get in there." you let out a huff of a laugh.

"Always good. I wouldn't know anything about that, I'm always surrounded by these assholes." he chuckles and motions to the guys sitting at the bar, some groan in retaliation.

"I'm not interrupting a meeting or anything I am?" you ask, side-eyeing the guy next to you as you take another drink. "I don't recall them all being inside last time."

"Nah." he says with a gritty response. "The cold finally ran them all in here." he dismisses the suggestion.

"Yeah it's fucking freezing out there." you agree, your shoulders starting to lose their tension, remembering how to have a friendly conversation again.

"You still walking in this weather?" he asks with an almost big brotherly scolding tone.

"Trucks not fixed yet." you say with a pursing of your lips.

"Hell, what'd you do total it?" he laughs.

"No, I had to have some work on the transmission. They've had to order parts and it's taking a while since it's an old truck." you say, the Ale warming you as you unbutton the thick sherpa lined denim jacket to reveal a black knitted sweater underneath.

"What kind ya got?" he asks with a tilted head.

"1949 Ford F1." you answer with a small nod.

"Seriously?" he asks with an amused face, his brows shifting in surprise.

"Yeah?" you say obviously, blinking slowly. "Why would I lie about that?" you ask with joking narrowed eyes.

"Just surprised is all." he shrugs and smiles again. "Don't think I really took you for an old truck kind've girl."

"Well, you don't really know me that well do you?"

"Not yet no." he says in a playful way. "But I'm tryin'." he gives you a big charming smile and it causes a much more subtle than his, but a smile nonetheless on your face.

You realize he's making an effort, trying to get to know you. He hadn't made a move on you, not in any sleazy or unacceptable way anyway. So you sigh and take your phone out of your pocket and go to your photos. Remember, you were trying to make new friends, not keep up your old habits. "Here she is this past summer." you say, laying your phone down on the bar top to show him.

"She?"

"Oh yeah, she's a full-bodied woman." you nod and grin.

"This cute lil lady have a name?"

"Betty."

"Black Betty, huh?"

"Maybe." you say with a deep dip in your voice, a half smile that shows your teeth coming across your face.

"Solid choice. Suits her." he nods, "Can I?" he asks, pretending to swipe the screen.

"Since you asked first." you nod and give a subtle thankful smirk, taking another drink. Because you hadn't been with anyone, it wasn't like you had any nudes or even any recent selfies in your phone. Pictures of Robert, mainly. Some of your family, food, guitars you wanted, various other music or work-related things and Charlotte and her new baby. The fact that he asked before scrolling was deeply reassuring to you.

"Declan!" you hear in an English accent shouted from the man you'd seen last time in the bar, even if the memory was fuzzy. "Can you get some money out the safe? SOMEONE's decided to pay with big bills and I need some change."

"Be right back." he looks to you and gives a nod. You return the motion with a face that says it's perfectly fine. He hits the bar in front of you before disappearing through the back door.

"You were in here last week." Mike says, slowly nodding. "You're Bella... right?" he says with a knowing tone and narrowed eyes. He was wanting to meet you again after Declan had talked about you. Declan didn't really discuss women much, he hadn't really given them much attention in a while, having made his way through the available pool of them locally and hook up apps weren't really his thing.

"I am." you say obviously, your face straight.

"You were pissed last I saw ya, I dunna know if ya remember me." he laughs, reaching his hand out. "Mike." he says with a warmer smile and you accept it politely. "Declan behaved himself at your place didn't he?" he says quietly.

"Yeah, he's been unusually nice. I'm waiting for him to ask me something pervy and weird to be honest." Mike chuckles. "Like he wants to wear my skin or something." you suggest with a shrug.

"Nah he's too big a boy to fit in you innit he?"

You lower your chin and smirk at him.

"Oh, bloody hell." he rolls his eyes. "Not what I meant. I swear it." he laughs. "I was gonna make a joke at his expense, sayin' if he did say somethin' like that it'd be because he can speak without thinkin' but I've gone and put me own foot in me mouth instead." he says with a nod and pout, his eyes away from you as he continues to exhale noisily. "My apologies."

"No offense taken." you say with the smirk still in place. "He... doesn't wear people's skin in his spare time, does he? Just so I know?" you ask with a deadpan delivery that makes him laugh.

"He is many things but he does not wear people's skin, no." he chuckles.

"I'm guessing you'd know?"

"Declan and I go way back. Years and years I've known the big idiot." he smiles with fondness. "We were mates long before we were business partners." he further explains.

It was good he had old friends, showed he could be loyal and manage relationships, you think. "He seems like a really decent guy." you say with hesitation in your voice. "Are you willing to vouch for him? I'd really hate to find out he's only nice to get girls into bed with him and have to kick his ass." you say with a slightly parted mouth and low brow to show your half seriousness.

"I can see why he likes you." he laughs. "I like ya too, lass." he nods and wags his finger at you. "Any woman threatenin' Declan for behavin' in such a way is alright by me." his voice is warm and friendly and you're thankful to hear the tone. He had grown used to new girls coming into the bar looking to bed Declan themselves, seeing this wasn't the case with you set his mind at ease. "He isn't that sorta man, no. Take him at face value, and you shouldn't be too disappointed." he shakes his head and gives you a closed mouth smile with kind eyes.

"Good. I don't need any more jerks disguising themselves as decent in my life."

"I share the sentiment." he nods. "Here's the devil we speak of." he says with a non-suggestive wink, heading back to cross paths with Declan as he walks down the bar to serve.

"Mike not bothering you is he?" he jokes, leaning back on the counter, turning your phone back on and picking up right where he left off.

"No, just talking shit about you." you say with a straight face and he looks over to Mike who gives him a cheesy grin.

"Gonna give me a chance to redeem myself?" he chuckles, eyes moving back over to your face.

"Maybe. Depends on how quickly you notice this bottle is empty." you say with a smirk, holding it up and shaking it.

He gives a low, rolling chuckle that makes a tingly sensation prickle up your neck and into your hairline. With a word he reaches out, his hand over yours with no sign of hesitation and takes it from you, moving to the cooler for another. He gives a rough shove to Mike's shoulder on the way there and Mike laughs, knowing he'll get an ear full later. On his return, he goes back to your phone as you take another sip and you watch his eyes. You see his jaw clench, his face less soft as he comes across something. You take another sip, narrowing your eyes and wondering what he could've come across.

He's found a picture of you that Charlotte took because you were rather pleased with yourself at the time. It was the middle of summer, and you dressed for the heat. High waisted, distressed denim shorts, frayed edges resting over the top of your upper thigh tattoo, a cropped and cut up Led Zeppelin shirt that hung off your shoulder, showing a strap to a bralette underneath.

"You uh..." he begins, carefully considering the direction to take his next words because what he'd found lies beneath all those layers was something he wanted to see more of. He suddenly was very eager for warm weather. "You look almost happy here." he decides to go with the tease, moving the screen to her point of view.

"Ah. Yeah." you nod and the corners of your eyes soften. "I decided last summer to enter her into a car show. So I got her all cleaned up and chromed and apolstered and everything. She needed it anyway, truth be told. She deserved a makeover." you explain. "She actually placed and I was the only woman to place so I was feeling pretty proud of myself."

"Congrats on that. You win anything else?"

"No, that's the only time I entered. Too much money for up keep and cleaning and not worth the payoff. I've got other things I'd rather spend the time and money on."

"LIke tattoos?" he grins. "Didn't know you had any." he muses.

"Well it is winter so... ya know... clothes." you say with an understated laugh.

"What is this?" he almost mumbles, enlarged the picture to your thigh, the only visible one in the photo.

"Ram's head." you say bluntly.

"Dude that's fuckin' sick." he says with a wrinkle of his nose in enthusiasm. "That's bad ass Bella." he says, looking back over to you.

"Thanks. It's one of my favs." you say with a small nod to the bewjeweled and metal inspired ram with large horns that permanently lived on your thigh.

"That one of those, astrology sign things?" he asks. "I dunno which is a ram but one's a ram, right?" he asks.

"Yeah, Capricorn." you nod. "But I'm not one, no. It's just badass like you said." you give him a smile, pulling up the wrist of your jacket to show a small black scorpion tattoo. "This is my sign. First tattoo too." you say rolling your eyes.

"Ah. Scorpion. Nice." he says leaning further forward to look at the now worn ink. "You have more?"

"Yeah." you say flatly, eyes studying his enthusiasm. "And no you can't see them." you chuckle.

"Wasn't gonna ask. Just curious." he shakes his head and hands your phone back to you. "I"ve been told Scorpios are mean, but you've not been mean to me." he says defensively.

"You've not been around me long enough." you huff a laugh into your bottle. "I'm not speaking on behalf of all scorpios but, I'm only mean to people who deserve it." you shrug. "And you've been pretty nice so far so..." you shrug and take another drink.

"Yeah you've been good comapny to keep." he gives you a softer, closef mouth smile. "Especially after being around these dicks all the time." he motions with his head down the line of men at the bar, leaning in and whispering to you.

"Bar needed some estrogen it seems." you grin.

"Certainly couldn't hurt."

"I would say the same of the bands I work with too. Should be more women in 'em." you nod and take another drink, your face appearing mroe serious.

"Not many women working in music?"

"Our studio is entirely women right now. But, with the musicians, the groups themselves, they're mostly men. The women do more solo stuff and don't seem to get booked as much. Which sucks, because it always seems their shows are only on days I can't go." you say more amused and with a tugging back of the corner of your mouth.

He listens intently, chin resting in his hand as his eyes stay focused and yours wander around the bar. He was pleased you were sharing, opening up a bit again. You seemed guarded and even though he certainly understood the compulsion to be so, it was something he worked hard to overcome for himself, and he couldn't help but want the same for you. You seemed really funny and nice underneath the hard leather shell. Or rather, denim shell tonight. "Your job have weird hours?" he asks with a tilt of his head.

"It can. I mean, you gotta follow the muse sometimes, if something's going really right you don't want to just cut it off and try again tomorrow and hope it sticks again. Creativity doesn't really work that way, unfortunately. I gotta travel for training and conventions and stuff a few times a year, sometimes people can only record on weekends so my days off are out of wack."

"That I can certainly relate to."

"Yeah, I'd say so. You probably have to work every day and hour most people are off."

"Yeah. But I'm a night owl, it's not too bad."

"Damn, I bet you never get to go to shows," you say with an almost pout he appreciates. "Having to work nights and weekends."

"Owning the place helps." he grins.

"Yeah you got me there. Not an owner, but a partner so I get a little wiggle room." you shrug. "But my best friend had a baby recently, so I lost my going out partner so all I do is work anymore it seems. You been to any good shows lately?"

"I have not. Live so close to a music town and never take advantage. Seems like you go a lot though."

"I try to. Support local acts, network, try and fail at making friends." you laugh into your bottle. "Without Charlotte it's not as fun. Guys are gross, you know how it goes." you roll your eyes.

"Unfortunately yes." he nods. "If you.. .and if I'm being too intrusive here tell me to fuck off, please." he flashes a wide charming smile your way "But if you ever need someone to go with you..." he shrugs and then places his hand under his face as if he were displaying himself. "I could always help keep the gross guys away." he offers and you study him for a moment. He wasn't being weird about it or nervous or awkward and you chew your bottom lip for a moment. With a giant man with a mean mug like him with you, you certainly wouldn't have to worry about dudes getting near you. And you knew you could trust him to get you home if you got too drunk. A role Charlotte used to take on often.

"Yeah," you say with a drag to your words. "You would." you nod in thought. You're trying to make new friends, Bella, you're trying to make new friends, you chant to yourself. Open up, it's not a date, he's offering to run interference for you. Just accept someone's help. "We seem to have similar taste in music too." you muse, recalling your passionate arguments of rock and metal the last time you were at the bar.

"It would seem so yes." he gives a wide nod. "And I need to get out more anyway, to be honest. All I do is work too. I miss being fun." he laughs.

"Big fuckin' mood, man." you give him a real laugh that reaches your eyes. Just do it Bella, you're the one making it weird now, just fucking let yourself enjoy something for once. "There's one on Sunday, this week." you begin, keeping your exterior cool and indifferent as you swing your eyes to his. "If that's not too short notice. Actually, there are some girls playing I'd like to see." you add with a tilt of your head.

"MIKE!" he yells, not looking away from you.

"WHAT?" he shouts back across the room.

"I WON'T BE HERE SUNDAY NIGHT!" he says leaning back and projecting his already loud and booming voice to his business partner.

"Oh?" he asks, making his way towards you.

"Me and Bella are gonna go see a show. I offered to keep the sleazeballs away." he says almost proudly.

"I see." he says with an insinuating glance. "It's been year's since you've been to a show."

"Yeah give away how out of touch I am, thanks." he chuckles.

"I'm glad someone's gettin' ya out of here. Let me get some fuckin' work done." he teases before he walks away.

He turns back to you to see a smile on your face and he feels hopeful. "So what time is it?" he asks.

You get out your phone, "What's your Instagram? I'll DM it to you, I found it on there." you murmur, scrolling through your likes.

"dhwolff. Two f's." he raises two fingers.

"There. Sent it." you say, already looking forward to stalking his feed later. "It starts at 9. So we can stop by some food trucks beforehand or something, beer isn't too expensive at this place." you say with approval in your voice.

"You want me to pick you up at your place? You're closer to town."

"Works for me." you say with the first smile that had an inkling of real excitement behind in what could've been years.

@vale0413 @littledeadgirlwalking @jaegeeeeer

#Declan Harp #declan harp x reader #declan harp fic #declan harp fanfic #declan harp fan fiction #frontier #frontier au #frontier fanfic #frontier fic #frontier fandom #jason moamoa #delcan harp x ofc #Declan Harp AU #frontier fan fiction #writing #fan fiction

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tenaciousarcadeexpert · 5 years

Text

Criminal Minds-The Good Ol Days

Chapter 7-Sweet Nothing

Just a collaboration fic with @princesswagger15

Tagging: @marvelfanlife, @itsmeedee, @cynbx, @jaqren, @gabriellewritermua, @princesswagger15, @screaminginbi, @tleighstone12, @cosmicmelaninflower

Note: It’s been a while since I’ve written smut as well as @princesswagger15‘s first so please bear with us. We did what we could and worked so hard on this chapter. I hope you all enjoy.

Matt catches his breath as he looks around to see everyone staring at him, including his friends, all of whom are worried that he could be getting himself into some trouble.

“Hey guys, what’s going on?” Emily asked JJ and Will as she and Tara looked up to see Derek getting out of his seat.

“Oh my god, Matt.”

“Someone needs to stop them before it gets worse.” Garcia whispers.

“Looks like Derek is gonna cover that.” Elle says as she sits up a bit.

“Kyle……..I’ll give you one last chance to apologize to Kristy and leave her alone, unless I’ll have to force you in doing so. And trust me.” He walks over to Kyle. “You don’t want to make things worse, do you?”

“Or what? You fucking sissy. You gonna try to punch me? Now move dickbag, I’ve a pretty girl waiting for me.” He pushes him to the side and makes his way towards Kristy, who was currently huddled up near a corner.

“I said don’t touch he-” “DON’T TELL ME WHAT TO DO, YOU ASS!” He punched Matt, causing him to fall over, only for Luke to catch him as they look on.

Kyle chuckled. “That’s what I thought, you little pussy. Go stay with your momma.” He gives him a little wave just to mock him and turned around.

Everyone looks at Matt as he starts to move towards Kyle again only for Derek to stop him.

“Let me handle this Matt.”

Matt then moves to the side as Derek walks up to Kyle saying, “Hey man, just back off. The girl isn’t interested in you. So why don’t you just make this peaceful for everyone, and walk away.”

“Why don’t you just shut the hell up and mind your own business?” Kyle says as he pushes Derek in the chest.

“Why don’t you just listen to him and quit making this hard for yourself?” Both Kyle and Derek looked to see Hotch come out from the crowds after seeing that Haley’s roommate and his friend are in trouble.

“Wow, you’re the one to talk.” “Hey, I don’t like it when people can’t take no for an answer. So how bout you just leave my friends alone?” He then walks besides Matt as the two of them and Derek surround Kyle. Distracted, Kristy then stood up and runs towards Elle and Marissa, whom she and Reid looked on to see the encounter.

“Oh my god, my friends. I gotta go help them.” Said Reid.

“Reid, please be careful. I don’t want you to get hurt.”

“I won’t. I’m just gonna try to ease the tension going on.” Marissa then nods as he then walks to the scene, in which Kyle continues to mock his friends.

“Really, you think all three of you are trying to scare me? Please, I can smoke all of you bitches apart.”

Kyle and the guys were ready to fight just as they crack their knuckles. Before either of them could attack, Reid pops in right in between the two sides.

“H-Hey guys. There’s no need to fight here and cause a scene. We can all just walk away right now and-”

Just then, Kyle pushes Reid onto the floor as everyone watched. Reid groaned as he tried to push himself off the ground.

“You think you can try to talk me out of this? Why don’t you just go home to your mommy pipe cleaner.”

“SON OF A BITCH!” Marissa yells.

Just then Marissa walks up to all of the guys and pushes Matt, Hotch, Derek, and Reid out of the way. Marissa then gets to Kyle and just as he was about to say something, Marissa punches Kyle into the table behind him and kicks him in his knee, as Kyle screams and falls to the ground. Marissa then grabs him by the collar of his shirt and pulls Kyle closer to her.

“Look here fucky the fucktard, my friend is not interested in you, she has a wonderful boyfriend. And these four guys gave you an opportunity to leave quietly, but you didn’t. And you pushed my boyfriend and called him a pipe cleaner. SO YOU LISTEN TO ME, If i see you, hurt or harass that girl, my boyfriend or ANYONE ELSE, I will squeeze your fucking nuts like grapes until they fucking pop. Now go home and cry to your mommy, bitch.”

“Gah uh-uh! Okay! I’ll stop” Marissa then lets go of Kyle, who collapsed to the down and crawls back, fleeing from the kitchen. Once he was out of sight, she then walked over to help Reid up.

“Reid, are you okay?”

“Y-yea, I’m okay Marissa. This was nothing.” Reid tries to shrug it off as Marissa and Derek helps him up.

“Are you sure? I can still chase him down if you want.”

“Yeah, I’m fi-ah!” He touched the side of his lower abdomen. “Man, I should’ve worn my sweater vest.”

“Don’t worry Reid, it’s just a small bruise. It’ll go away.” Said Derek as he analyzed his friend’s face. He then noticed that he had a little bruise on the side of his bottom lip. “Dammit, he even bruised you there. Well, at least he didn’t mess up the entire pretty face of yours, otherwise I would’ve really went after him.”

“You and me both.” Marissa adds.

“Well, I’m fine now. Thanks.” Derek and Marissa smiled back as the three then took their attention to Kristy, who was shaking as she sat down in a chair with the group.

“Kristy, are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”

“I swear the next time i see Kyle I will-”

“You’ll do nothing because I got it covered Matt.” Marissa says as she sits next to Kristy.

“Do you want some ice or anything Kris?”

“I’m okay.” She continues to rub her wrist, which was bright pink.

“I can’t believe he would do this to you.” Haley looks on.

“Well, Kyle Hodges is nothing but a sexless pig who targets vulnerable girls and treats them like trash.” Elle adds. “Good thing he never cross paths with me, otherwise I would’ve ripped his goddamn balls off.”

“Same here.” Marissa adds. The team continues to look on as Kristy continues to look down and rubs her wrist.

“You know what? I don’t feel comfortable staying here. I wanna leave.”

“Okay Kristy, I can come with you.” Haley suggests.

“No, I-I wanted Matt to go with me, if you don’t mind Haley.”

“Uh no, I don’t.” She then looked over to Matt. “You don’t mind taking her back to the dorm, do you?”

“No, not at all.” He then grabs his jacket and wraps it around Kristy, helping her up as she stands. “Come on, let’s get outta here. Goodnight everyone.”

“Goodnight!” Everyone said. They all looked on as the couple leaves the party. Just then, Hotch looks over to Haley, still expressing concern for her roommate.

“Don’t worry Haley, she’ll be alright.”

“I know. I just worry about you sweets, are you sure you’re okay?”

“I am. I’m fine, you guys can stay here and enjoy the rest of your night.”

“Hmmm. Is it okay if I just stay with you?” She then moved up close to Hotch, prompting him to blush.

“Uh sure.”

Outside, Matt was escorting Kristy out of the party, still pissed at Kyle for ruining the night for them as well as hurting his girl.

“Alright Kristy, we’ll take a quick walk to the dorms and-”

“Well actually Matt, I was wondering if we can go to the mountain you took me to on our first date.”

“Oh.” He raised an eyebrow. “Y-you sure about that?”

“Yeah.” “Oh okay.” He looked down to see Kristy lend her arm out for him and gently touches her hand. He then pulls out his keys. “Alright, let’s go.” The couple then walked away, as they head to the car. At the same time, Reid and Marissa have also decided to ditch the party.

“Well, so that was a dud.” Marissa jokes.

“Really? I’ve never been to so many parties but this one didn’t seem so bad.” She raised an eyebrow at Reid.

“Okay, look here, when at a party of any kind, a fight will always kill the mood for the whole party. I wouldn’t be surprised if half the people in that party walked out. But the plus for me, was that I never saw Meadows aka The Bitch.”

“Yeah, whatever happened to her? Considering that she was the host for the party. I wondered if she saw the whole fight?”

“To be honest, I wouldn’t be surprised if the bitch saw it and did nothing about it. But I also wouldn’t be surprised if she was in her room, with a guy passed out drunk.”

“Guess so.” Reid then rubs his stomach as Marissa watches, whom they hear his stomach rumbling. “Also, despite the stomach pains, I’m kinda in the mood to grab something to eat. If only I gotten something at the party before we lef-”

“Don’t worry about it. I’ve got food back at my dorm and then we can do whatever you want.”

“Oh okay, that sounds cool.” The two decided to head to Marissa’s dorm, hopefully to get a bite or more after the mess that was at Meadows’ party, while everyone else were trying to enjoy their night despite the fight that just happened.

Will then offers JJ a can of soda as she sat down on a couple of stairs.

“Thanks.” “No problem.” Still, he could notice the long face his girl was having. “Don’t worry, you’re friend and his date will be alright. At least they managed to leave this mess.” “Yeah. I wonder what they’re doing right now?”

Will shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know. Hopefully, it’s better than what happened here an hour ago.” “Yeah.” She then looks up to him. “You mind if we leave?” “Uh sure. Besides, this party was getting boring anyway.” She chuckled. “Yeah, it has.”

Somewhere, Matt parks his car near the top of the hill where Kristy and Matt can see the city lights.

“This looks nice.” Said Kristy, admiring the view.

“Yeah, it does.” Matt nodded as he looked over to see his girl staring at the view, though he still couldn’t help but notice the stiff posture she had during the drive, along with her still rubbing her wrist and cheek. He could still tell that she was still a little worked up about what happened and felt bad because he and Kyle are both jocks.

“About what happened over there, I-”

“It’s okay Matt. Don’t blame yourself, we got out of there, that’s all that matters.”

“I know. It’s just, I still can’t believe he’d hurt you like this.” He then took notice of where Kyle slapped her, as it starts to turn bright pink. “That son of a bitch.” He muttered. “He’s gonna regret laying a single finger on yo-”

“Matt, I’m fine, really. Relax hun, it could’ve been worse.”

“Yeah, I know.” He then laid back against his seat as they continue to look at the view. “It’s quite relaxing. Just enjoying the view.” “Kinda like our first date.” He chuckled. “Yeah. Exactly like our first date. Except that I didn’t get punched by Kyle Hodges on our first date.”

“Yeah.” She chuckled back. Just then, she removed her seatbelt, leaning close as she took notice of the the little bruise besides Matt’s lip. “You know something?” “What is it?” “I always assume that you were a lover, not a fighter.” “Oh, the bruise. Well, I’m both.”

“Well, which one would you say you’re more of?”

“W-well, call me cliche, but I’d rather be a lover than a fighter. A lover who’s not afraid to fight when the person they loved gets hurt.”

“Good answer.” “Yeah.” Kristy continues to caress his bruise as Matt took notice of her wrist that was brightly pink. He gently rubs it and placed a soft kiss on her wrist. She then smiled at the simple gesture and caress his face, leaning over to kiss him by the cheek and again on where Kyle punched him. Matt smiled back in return.

Kristy and Matt look into each other’s eyes, eventually she leans in and kisses Matt on the lips and puts her hand in his hair. It didn’t feel real at first, but the next thing they knew, they couldn’t stop.

He felt his hands brushing back and forth against her back while she grips the back of his head. She then slides a hand against his body, till she she felt the leather belt from his skinny jeans, unbuckling and pulling the belt from it’s loops, never breaking the kiss.

Just then, Matt gasps as he breaks the kiss, much to Kristy’s confusion. He looked away in shame.

“Matt, what’s wrong? D-Did I do something?”

He shook his head. “N-no. It’s not you. I-I don’t know, but it doesn’t feel right, not after what happened at the party and what Kyle did to y-”

“God Matt, don’t worry about it. Just don’t stop, I-I want you.”

“I-I” Before he could say anything, he felt a finger press against his lips.

“Shhhhh, I want you.” She whispered, giving him a lustful gaze. He nods back and kisses Kristy once again, only this time, he was no longer holding back. The kissing starts to intensify as Matt pulls slightly on Kristy’s hair and Kristy moans into Matt’s mouth.

She then gets on his lap, and takes off her shirt. She then leans over as Matt kissed her neck and shoulder. Kristy then kisses Matt on his neck and chest as she pulls off his shirt over his head. After discarding the shirt, he then pulls her close, kissing her harder and deeper, as their chests rubbed against each other. She moaned as she felt Matt’s hand slide up her skirt.

With their clothes discarded to the front seats, the two kept going, as Kristy straddles him despite the lack of room and awkward leg positions inside the car. There was only one thing on their minds, one hot, and intense thing going on and neither of them wanted to stop. Kristy continues to straddle Matt just till he slips his hands under her skirt and took it off and laid Kristy on her back and kissed her neck. They can feel the sweet, sweet pleasure building up as they skid against each other faster and faster while moaning and groaning each other’s names.

Back at the campus, Matt and Kristy weren’t the only couple to be fucking, as Reid and Marissa were at her dorm after a rough time at Meadows’ party. The two decided to ease their distress through some snacks. A couple snacks and minutes in and the room was already filled with laughter as Reid started to tickle Marissa.

“Oh stop it Reid, stop it!” Marissa playfully squealed as Reid tickles her on her stomach

“Why huh? Why should I stop?” He teased as she continues to laugh.

“Because my stomach hurts and- HAHAHAH!- Reid please!” Marissa beggs as she tries to roll over.

“Fine, but you owe me a coffee tomorrow morning.”

“Whatever you say, bad boy.” Reid rolled his eyes as he lift his hands off from Marissa’s stomach, moving back as she lift herself up from the ground.

“Marissa, can I ask you a question?”

“Yeah sure.” She then readjusts her blouse.

“Why is it that you hate Meadows so much, if I may ask?”

“Oh hun, there are so many reasons of why.”

“Can you tell me a reason?”

“Well, it was our freshman year of high school and it’s semester finals. We both had Geometry together and she told me she needed major help. I was the smartest student in the class so of course I’d do it because at the time, she was my best friend. Now we take the finals and I help her cheat, but then we go on winter vacation, and we get our test results back. I got a zero and in the gradebook it said I had cheated on the test. We come back from vacation and I find out that Meadows lied and said cheated off of her. So that’s just ONE reason of why the Bitch can go die in a fire and fall off a tall cliff.”

“My god.” Reid responds, shocked that someone like Meadows would do something cruel to his girl. “I didn’t know. Had I knew what she did to you, I wouldn’t have accepted her invitation.”

“Yeah well I saw how excited your friends were and i thought maybe we could just have some fun, but I should’ve know. Anything within a five mile radius of that girl immediately loses all things pure inside it.”

“Well yea. My first college party ended with me getting punched by Kyle Hodges.”

“Which is exactly my point haha.”

The two continue to laugh just as Marissa took notice of the little bruise right by Reid’s lip.

“I’m so sorry for what happened to you babe.”

“It’s fine. It’s not like it could look any worse.”

“I still feel like I could’ve stepped in sooner, maybe he wouldn’t have hit you or Kristy.”

“No, I think you did a great job taking care of him, especially when you threaten to rip his genitals off. That would piss his pants from then on.”

“Haha! Well what can I say, I'm good at what I do.”

He chuckled. “Yeah, you are.” Just as they laugh at the thought of Kyle wetting his pants, they suddenly leaned close together as if something was drawing them close to each other. They almost had that hypnotizing gaze in their eyes.

“S-so.”

“Yes?” “I-I, you know what? I-think I forgot what I was going to say.” “Me too.” Reid’s eyes continues to linger on Marissa’s. He felt tired, on the verge of closing his eyes. He wasn’t so sure if the party party made him all worn out or if he was just full from the ice cream they just snack on. He blinked for a moment and the next thing he knew he felt his lips press against hers. Marissa dropped her bag of chips and let herself get lost in the kiss as she ran her fingers through his hair. They slowly pull away from the kiss as Reid looks down on the carpeted floor.

“Uh-uhm, about that, I-”

“Don’t worry about it. But i want to keep going, only i-if you want to.”

Reid nods in response as he leans over to kiss Marissa once again. He then placed a hand over the exposed skin of her waist as they passionately kiss. Marissa then slides her hands under Reid’s shirt and lightly grazes his skin with her nails, causing Reid to giggle a bit. The couple lifted themselves up from the floor and onto the edge of the bed where Marissa pulled Reid on top of her. The two stand upright on their knees as Reid placed both of his hands on her waist. He then slid his hands up Marissa’s shirt, lifting it over her head and tossing it to the side.

“L-like what you see?” She murmured into his lips, taking notice of the pink laced bra she had on, as well as the soft curves on her body.

“Yeah, I do.” He whispered, caressing the soft curves as he nips down to her neck and chest.

Once again Marissa puts her hand under Reid’s shirt, only for her to unbutton it and pull it off of his arms. Discarding his shirt, Marissa gently brushed her hand against Reid’s bare chest. “I get it, I don’t have the defined abs that other guys have.”

“I don’t care, I like you for you.” The two smiled on as they continue to kiss, feeling the sweet pleasure coming on as they start taking off their pants.

At, the same time, Will roamed around the inside of the campus pools as he and JJ decided to ditch the party in favor of taking a late night dip in the swimming pools. Though Will was having second thoughts about it.

“Jennifer, are you sure about this?”

“Yea why not! It could be fun!”

“I know, it’s just that it’s pretty late. Besides, what if we get caught?”

“Everyone is asleep in their dorms, relax.” JJ stripped into her bra and underwear before diving into the pool, hopping up and down into the water as she playfully splashes the water. “Come Will, jump in. Unless you’re scared.” She teases, giving him a wry smile. Will was silent for a moment, though after a little encouragement, he then starts to strip down into his boxers, and jumps into the pool, much to JJ’s delight.

Back at Meadows’ party, Garcia was sitting on a couch drinking a beer, listening to the thumping of the music when she felt a tap on her shoulder.

“Courtney, is that yo-”

“Hi Garcia.” Says Luke as he sits next to her.

“Oh, it’s you.” She pouts. “Whatever happened to your date you were talking to earlier?” “Oh, well after everything that happened earlier, she decided to go back to her dorm.”

“Oh, I see. You didn’t want to go with her?”

He shook his head. “Nah.”

“Oh, it seemed like you REALLY liked her.” Luke then chuckled at her response. “What, what’s so funny? Don’t you like her?”

“I mean she’s fun to hang out with, but i don’t really like her like that.”

“Oh, I see. So why are you here?”

“I figured that you might need some company with everyone else gone. Whatever happened to your friend who was with you?”

“She got tired, so she left.”

“I see.” The two look on as they see several people slow dance on the dancefloor, including Tara and Emily.

“Umm, I really came over here to ask you to dance with me.”

“W-what?”

“Would you like to dance with me?”

“I-I, uh sure.” Garcia then grab Luke’s hand as they make their way on the dancefloor. She then rest her head on his shoulder while they dance and smiled.

#matt simmons #derek morgan #aaron hotchner #spencer reid #luke alvez #jennifer jareau #penelope garcia #emily prentiss #tara lewis #elle greenaway #kate callahan #ashley seaver #criminal minds #criminal minds fanfiction #criminal minds au #the good ol days

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ee1af · 5 years

Text

You first met Jimin with your best friend Jungkook at a party. It was the farewell party of your senior Yoongi, who had helped you alot through your years in college. He was transferring to another country along with his family and requested you to especially attend the night. So you did.

You didn't really like parties and had zero experience as to what you should wear. So you ended up wearing a golden turtle neck sweater paired with dark high-waisted jeans and heels. Your hair was tucked in a high pony tail and gold earrings adorned your ears.

The party was held outdoors of a luxurious hotel since yoongi was quite rich. Entering the venue, you felt awkward with all the stares from random strangers, but immediately spotted jungkook. However, he wasn't alone, but had a rather handsome company with him.

As you approached them, jungkook's face lit up at the sight of you, but suddenly started laughing, saying,

"Oh my God y/n! Don't you have any party clothes? I could've bought you some."

The handsome guy beside him smirked at you and you felt your cheeks redden with embarrassment. You remembered seeing him at jungkook's place once.

Jungkook was right. Everyone except you was dressed in formal attires; pencil skirts with button-up shirts, elegant dresses, gowns and suits. But did you care?

"Jungoo, you know that I don't give a fuck about clothes. Besides, it's my first time attending a party so kindly shut the fuck up." You said - annoyed.

The handsome guy laughed at your sarcasm and Jungkook felt the need to introduce you both.

"Oh y/n! This is an old friend of mine, Jimin." You smiled at him; his name suited him perfectly. "And Jiminsii.. This is the girl I've been telling you about." Jimin smirked at you and offered his hand for you to shake. "Nice to meet you y/n," his voice was smooth as honey.

"Same here Jimin," you said and shook his small hand with yours. You wondered what did Jungkook tell him about you.

The party was going pretty well and you gave Yoongi the gift you'd brought for him. "Haha y/n. I've never seen you dress up like this. You look so cute aegoo." He squeezed your cheeks while making fun of you. You just rolled your eyes playfully at him.

Since jungkook was mostly busy with jimin, you spent your time drinking. Yes, you loved alcohol and had quite a high tolerance. Which is why after chugging a whole bottle, you felt just a little bit tipsy. But it was enough for you to trip on your high heels as you tried getting up. Jimin, who was glancing at your side from time to time, immediately made his way towards you. He helped you get up, supporting you in his strong arms. You muttered a quiet thank you as you rested your head on his shoulder. Jimin, upon seeing your messed up state, glanced back at jungkook; who only gave him a nod and a thumbs-up. He took you to his hotel room; since he had only come for a few days from Seoul, and was staying there for the night.

He gently laid you on the King- sized bed and took off your heels. All the while, you couldn't help but stare at his face and wonder how could someone be this handsome. You didn't know if it was the alcohol or the sudden undeniable attraction for the man in front of you, but you held his hand in yours.

You let out a low "jimin".

Jimin's eyes widened at the sight of your entwined hands. You looked so vulnerable and submissive that he couldn't help but think of all the things he could do to you. But he did not. He didn't want to take advantage of a girl in her drunken state, let alone his friend's best friend.

"Y/n... You should sleep now." He gave you a half smile and left the room.

You sighed. You weren't that drunk to be taken advantage of. One thing you found utterly sexy was jimin's intimidating stares that could kill people. He kept looking at you throughout the time you'd been drinking and you had caught him a few times but he looked away immediately. Strange.

Well, you tried dozing off but could not. Thoughts of jimin clouded your mind and you just wanted him to be there. You checked your phone only to find jungkook's numerous texts asking if you were okay. You smiled as you read them; your best friend certainly was the best.

But there were messages from another number too, so you checked.

Unknown: hey y/n...

Unknown: it's me jimin.

Unknown: dw I'm not a stalker. Jk gave me your number.

Unknown: well, just wanted to tell that the medicines are in the left drawer. And if you need anything else, you can call back.. sleep well!

As much as you were loving the attention from this attractive stranger, you couldn't tell why he was being so nice to you. And what did jungkook tell him about you? Anyway, you replied.

Y/n✨: thankyou for the concern jiminsii... but im not that drunk to need medicines.

Y/n✨: also, tell jungkook im alright:)

Jimin replied immediately.

Hotstranger: jungkook just left. But I'll inform him.

Hotstranger: you don't need to go home. Sleep. I'll be back soon.

You blushed at how domestic that sounded. You imagined jimin saying that to you and somehow it looked so sexy.

But what did he mean by I'll be back soon? Was he staying there too? On the same fuckin bed? It was an expensive hotel and of course he was not gonna pay for another room. Besides, you honestly did not mind a hot stranger sleeping by your side anyway.

A few minutes later, you heard the door creak and someone -well - jimin entered the room. You shut your eyes immediately, and your heart was thudding in your chest. He went to the bathroom to change. When he came back, he sat at the far side of the large bed, busying himself on his phone. You couldn't help but flutter your eyes open, only to see jimin wearing a white t-shirt with black sweatpants, hung low at his hips. The shirt was almost see-through and a bit damp at places. You could see his stomach through it.

"Uh..jimin?" You startled jimin with your voice and he practically jumped, but composed himself quickly.

"W-what? I thought you were asleep." He scratched his neck shyly.

You chuckled at how cute he looked. "Can you please lend me some of your clothes? Mine are too uncomfortable to sleep in."

"Yeah, sure."

Jimin went to his closet and picked a loose white button-up and shorts. You thanked him and went to his bathroom.

When you were done, you peeked out of the door and said, "umm.. The shorts were too loose for me so ..umm.. I only wore the shirt. Thank you again."

"No it's okay y/n." Jimin's eyes subtly followed your exposed legs as you make your way to your side of bed. You plopped down on the bed and got into the sheets. God! Everything smelt of jimin's intoxicating odour. Was it his shampoo, body wash or just his natural vanilla smell? You couldn't figure out. All you knew was that it aroused you in so many ways. You didn't know how you'd ended up in this awfully attractive man's bed, but your drinking proved to be a blessing in disguise.

Jimin put his phone on the side table, shaking the bed as he got under the sheets too. He couldn't bring himself to sleep. Not when you-his crush for quite a long time-were laying beside him, in his shirt.

Jungkook had wanted you both to meet up and spend some time together. Both jimin and you were single and workaholics. So jungkook thought it would be cool if you both had a liking for each other. Besides, he was aware of jimin's small crush on you, which he had developed when he first saw you at jungkook's place.

Jungkook told jimin about your likes, dislikes, and how you were totally different from other girls.

Jimin kept rejecting girls, proly because of his busyness in work. You on the other hand, never really hung out in bars or cafes as they were not your taste. You liked libraries; and you often visited one after work. Jungkook often teased you that you'd die alone and he'd have to bury you in a library.

There was no spark in your life, but jungkook was sure no one could resist a man like jimin for long.

And so here you were, completely drunk in his intoxicating aura.

When you turned to jimin's side, your lazy eyes met his brown ones. Fuck... His eyes widened instinctively.

"Haha," you laughed dryly. "Seems like we both can't sleep tonight."

Jimin gulped. Seeing you wear his shirt was doing wonders to him.

"Y- yeah. The shirt looks really nice on you."

You blushed and looked down; only to realize how loose it really was. So much so that the collar had slipped down one of your shoulders; thereby exposing your flesh. Well, shit!

When you looked back towards jimin, you found his eyes roaming all over your body, tracing each and every curve as if memorizing them.

"Y/n," his deep voice caught you off guard. "You're not wearing a bra huh." His lustful eyes were burning holes in your body.

Suddenly you felt like a deer caught in headlights. You couldn't help but let out a moan and he hadn't even touched you yet.

"You're so hot... y/n." Jimin closed the painfully long distance between you two, placing his hand on your bare shoulder. His fingers started rubbing small circles on your skin, and nothing had ever turned you on more.

His other hand went to the nape of your neck to keep you close to him as he placed small kisses on your shoulder up to be back of your ear. Then he whispered seductively, "jungkook was right. You're fucking hot."

Wait, what?

"J-jungkook said what?" You asked, mouth agape.

Jimin chuckled darkly and whispered in your ear, "that you're hot y/n."

You could not believe your ears anymore. How could your best friend... Wait... Was he deliberately trying to hook you both? Did he want this too?

You looked back at jimin, who was staring intently at you. His jaw tightened when you bit at your bottom lip and he closed his mouth on one of your earlobes. He licked the soft flesh, swiping his skillful tongue down your neck. You let out a whimper as your hands tugged at his blonde locks. You felt so vulnerable under his seductive gaze; it left an aching in your heart. Never had anyone made you feel that way in such a short period of time. Jimin's teasingly slow tongue finally reached your bare shoulder; where he started sucking and biting on your flesh. You let out soft, pleasurable moans near his ear, tugging on his hair harder. He let go of your shoulder and shifted his eyes to look at yours.

Damn.

His sweaty damp T-shirt was pressed to his chiseled body and you could see his chest and abs through it. You gasped when his hand went to the neck of your-his- shirt and unbuttoned a few buttons. He started kissing your collarbone; open-mouthed kisses that made your breathing shallower. Jimin slowly made his way down to the beginning of the curve of your breast; stroking the soft skin with his plump lips. Slowly, he pinned you down on the matrice; hands on your hips as he got on top of you. The soft creaking of the bed made your insides flutter.

Jimin looked straight into your widened eyes; studying the features of your face. He then dipped his head into the crook of your neck, whispering near your ear sensually,

"you make it so difficult for me babygirl. I couldn't stop staring at you through out the party"

You whimpered at the nickname; clutching his T-shirt tightly.

"Mhm... what will I tell jungkook now.. huh? That I fucked his best friend?" Jimin softly kissed your earlobe; his actions and words contradicting.

You kissed his jaw; arms wrapped around his neck as you whispered against his skin,

"I don't care what you tell him. I just care about what you might do to me."

Jimin practically shuddered at your words; while retracting his head from your neck and looking at you.

"Y-you're so irresistible baby. I swear I could make you cum for days." He leaned in to kiss your lips, lips just brushing yours as his hot breath teased you.

"Then...then do it jimin. Don't stop."

Your lips met his in a hot, messy kiss. His tongue swiped over your bottom lip and you gave him entrance. Jimin's skilled tongue tasted you like a cannibal; your hot moans swallowed by his mouth.

Your hands made their way under his shirt, feeling the muscles of his back tighten. You slowly lifted his shirt and jimin threw it off. His melanin skin looked ethereal in the moonlight coming from the thin curtains and your fingers roamed all around his body in a feather-like movement.

Jimin shuddered and unbuttoned the rest of your shirt buttons in one smooth motion.

"You're so beautiful," jimin whispered; taking one of your nipples in his mouth. You moaned at his wet lips exploring every crevice of your body. One of his hand gripped your thigh, traveling upwards to your silk panties. Jimin's fingers worked their way inside and removed the piece of clothing in a single tug.

You wrapped your legs around his tiny waist; one hand at the nape of his neck and the other tugging on his smooth hair. Jimin put his hand on your shoulder now, slowly moving it over the length of your arm upto your hand. The silky fabric on your arms dropping swiftly as he did it to the other arm too. His smooth movements made you shiver vulnerably.

Jimin got off of you and took off his sweatpants. You could see the outline of his painful bulge through his grey boxers. Your hands instinctively went to his length and started palming him over the way-too- tight fabric. He groaned and removed your hand; getting rid of his boxers too.

Jimin's weight was back on you as his fingers found your entrance. You whimpered at his thick finger thrusting into your hole; stretching. The cold metal of his ring caused heat to erupt in your stomach.

He adjusted his length to your entrance; looking at you in desperation.

"Y/n, are you on birth control?"

"Yes." You nodded.

Jimin entered you in a single thrust of his hips, letting you adjust to his size. His throbbing length filled you completely, causing a strangled moan to erupt from your throat.

"Ah.. y-you're so fucking tight baby.. Fuck."

Jimin's deep-ass voice made your insides turn.

"J-jimin.. you can move now." He nodded and started thrusting in you, his pace getting faster with every moan coming from your mouth. He started kissing the crook of your neck, breathing heavily near your ear. You tugged at his hair harder with every thrust.

"F-faster... please," you breathed. Jimin obliged and started thrusting into you at a wild pace. You could feel your orgasm building inside you.

"Mhmm.. is it enough for you babygirl?" he whispered deeply in your ear; kissing it several times. You nodded, unable to form any coherent words in your state of pure bliss.

Suddenly, jimin's phone went off. You whined when he stopped his movements to pick up his phone from the nightstand. "Fuck..It's jungkook," jimin said looking at you. He picked up the call immediately. "Hey jungkook...y-yeah.. She's alright now." You started teasing jimin by moving your fingers along his chest and abdomen. He glared at you.

"Sh-she's asleep... yeah."

You wanted to get a reaction out of him and started thrusting your hips upwards, taking him deeper than ever. Jimin's moans were threatening to erupt but he managed. He placed a finger on your lips to keep you from making any sound; but you knew better. You licked his finger and started sucking on it; meanwhile looking jimin in the eye. You could feel his breathing become shallower and you smirked; he was falling apart..

"N-nothing jungkook.. really.. I'm alright... just.. just tired." Before you could do anything further, he said, "and yeah... your best friend is fucking hot."

Your breath hitched and you chocked on your air. You could hear jungkook chuckle at this, causing jimin to smirk widely at you. Jungkook is so dead you thought.

Jimin ended the call and threw his phone aside. His eyes bore into yours, holding a fierce glow.

"You almost got us caught y/n. Or shall I call you..y/n slut?"

His deep voice caused goose bumps all over your body. He leaned in and placed his tongue flat on your throat; licking and sucking the tender skin there. He thrusted his cock deep into you, making you clutch his shoulder blades for support. Your nails dug into his smooth tanned skin, leaving red marks. You moaned his name as the thrusts got more rough. "J-jimin I'm close." You were so close to your edge, you could feel it in your bones. Hearing you moan like this, his thrusts got faster and faster; until waves of euphoria erupted from your body, making you shiver under him. Jimin came undone soon after, spilling his seed inside you.

You both stayed like that for a while; sweaty bodies pressed together as you caught your breath. Jimin got off of you and laid by your side, arms secured around your tired form.

"That was amazing," you mumbled in his heaving chest. "Mhm.." His head lay in the crook of your neck as he played with you hair. "Next time.. I would really make you cum for days y/n."

His words made your insides tingle with excitement. Would there be a next time? "Then I'll look forward to it jimin." You put your arms around his neck and stared into his brown eyes; that you've come to love. "Sure you would," he said as he cut the distance and attached his lips to yours, kissing you softly. You kissed him back, as you put your fingers in his unfairly silky hair. This was undoubtedly the best aftercare ever, and you were looking forward to more of these with jimin. But since that night, you never saw him again. Maybe he went back to Seoul? Or God knows where. But you missed your hot stranger a lot.

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