#follow up to the messages in EW | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

sunny44 · 2 months

Text

Secret love

Pairing: Carlos Sainz x Leclerc!reader

Warnings: Charles is a jerk, Carlos surgery and other things.

Summary: Carlos and Y/n are dating and Charles is not aware about it, unless he knows.

Continuation “Stubborn”

We were lying in his bedroom on his house in Monaco, naked, and I had my head on his chest while he traced imaginary circles on my back.

"You know we can't hide forever, right?" He says, and I grunted in frustration.

"Don't ruin the moment," I say, burying my face in his neck and he laughs.

"I'm serious."

"Who says we can't?"

"I did."

"But you were also the one who said that hiding made the sex even hotter."

"And it does, but we can't keep your family in the dark about this."

"And why not?"

"Because I don't want to keep mine in the dark either," he says, and I sigh. "I know your brother probably won't approve or he'll freak out, but I don't want to have to restrain myself from kissing you just because we're in public."

"I know, but I'm sure he'll freak out and I'm not in the mood to deal with him."

"Okay," he says, getting up and putting on his underwear.

"Carlos," I sit up in bed, covering myself with the sheet.

"I'm going to take a shower," he says, heading to the bathroom but stopping before entering and looking at me. "I respect your decision, and I always will, but that doesn't mean I won't be hurt or disagree with what you want."

I sighed, lying back down as he entered the bathroom. I grabbed my phone and saw messages from Charles, but I ignored them.

Carlos and I always got along well, but initially, there was nothing special about our relationship. Until something changed, and I couldn't help but notice how attractive he is. So we started getting involved, and it's been 5 months now, and a week ago he asked me to be his girlfriend.

I understand that he wants to introduce me to his family, and I want to meet them, but the moment that happens, I know soon my family will also find out and I'm not ready to deal with Charles.

I got up and went to the bathroom, and he was still in the shower. I entered with him and hugged him from behind, feeling him hold my hands.

"I want whatever you want. If you want me to meet your parents, if you want me to stay with you in Madrid or anywhere else." he turned to face me. "I want anything as long as it's with you."

"I know your brother is difficult and super protective when it comes to you, and I'm pretty sure he won't like me dating you at all, but I'm tired of hiding around when all I want is to hold your hand in public, kiss you when I got a podium, or hug you when I have a bad race."

"And I want all of that with you too." he smiles and kisses me.

"We can go to Spain and have dinner with my parents and my sisters." He strokes my face. "Charles won't know, and then we can decide how to tell him."

"Sounds like we have a plan."

...

I got home and took off my shoes, putting them by the door, and took off my coat.

I heard footsteps coming towards me, and Charles came over.

"Where have you been? I called you several times, and Mom said you've been out since yesterday."

"I went out."

"And where did you sleep?"

"Why were you looking for me?"

"I wanted to know if you're up for skiing together this weekend?"

"No, thanks." I started walking to the kitchen, and he followed me.

"Why not? You love skiing."

"Because I don't feel like being a third wheel for you, Lorenzo, and Arthur."

"Oh, come on, you always hang out with us."

"Yeah, that's why I know it won't be fun."

"Okay then. But anyway, what did you do last night?"

"Why are you so curious, just leave me alone."

"I need to know if you went out with someone."

"I did go out with someone."

"And who is he? I want to know if he's good for you."

"He is, and you don't need to know anything."

"Just tell me it's not Pierre."

"Ew, no. He's like a brother to me, and isn't he dating someone?"

"Oh right, I forgot." I sat on my bed, and he was still following me. "But anyway, who is it?"

"Ugh, you're so annoying, leave me alone."

"I need to know if he's right for you."

"You don't need to know anything, and you don't need to approve anything."

"Of course I do."

"I never evaluated any of your girlfriends, so you won't do it to me."

"But I'm your older brother, and you give your opinion about my girlfriends either way."

"It's because you're a jerk."

"Hey, why am I a jerk?"

"Because you use the same stupid excuse about focusing on your career and Ferrari and then you show up dating your ex's friend."

"Alex wasn't even Charlotte's friend, you're only saying that because you don't like her."

"Good thing you know." I said, getting up. "And Arthur is another jerk, the only one who's decent is Enzo."

"Okay, seriously, let's not argue about my relationships again."

We had argued before, not speaking for about two weeks. I have nothing against Alex; she's kind, but Charlotte was like a sister to me, and the way Alex entered our lives shortly after he and Charlotte broke up, I hated it. Not to mention the fact that she pushed in the beginning to be my friend, which ended up making me not like her.

My brother's relationships are none of my business, but as a woman, I think it's ridiculous that he gives these same excuses about Ferrari only to show up with someone else shortly afterward.

"Well, I'll go back home and see you at the next race then."

"See you later, and have a good trip."

...

I was at the airport in Spain, and I told him he didn't need to pick me up since he's well known here, and picking up his teammate's sister at an airport where people know him is a bad idea.

So he came to pick me up, but he was in a car with tinted windows so dark that I couldn't see it was him, and I was also covered enough so no one could see me.

"Hi, love." I got into the car and kissed him.

It had been a few weeks since we last saw each other.

"Hi, love.”m he replied and kissed me again. "I missed you so much."

"I missed you too." I rubbed our noses together, and he laughed.

"I missed this too."

"That's good because there will be a lot of it in the next few days."

We're going to Mallorca, where his family spends their holidays, but since there's a race next week, we'll only spend the weekend before heading to Austria.

"My parents are excited to meet you."

"That's great, it makes me less nervous."

"Don't be nervous, they'll love you. And my sisters too."

The rest of the way was silent, but a comfortable silence. Carlos spent the whole way with his hand on my thigh, making me feel my heart race even more when he parked the car at their house.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm just nervous."

"Everything will be fine," he looked at me, and I gave him a quick kiss. "I love you, you know that, right?"

"I love you too," I gave him another quick kiss and we got out of the car.

We grabbed our bags and went into the house, and I could hear several people talking at once, and I didn't understand anything, so they were probably speaking Spanish.

"Good morning, everyone," he says, and everyone stands up to greet us. "This is my girlfriend Y/n."

"You're beautiful," his mother smiled and hugged me. "Carlos spoke very highly of you."

"Thank you," I smiled.

“You remind of me of someone.” She says.

“I’ll guess that I remind you Carlos teammate.”

“Actually yes, you looks like Charles.”

“I’m his younger sister.” She looks surprised. “I’m basically his feminine version, we look a lot.”

“Wow, that’s surprising.” I smiled.

“A good surprising I hope.”

“Of course.”

“She showed me a photo of them when they were younger and they were basically twins.”

“What’s the age gap between you two?”

“Charles is 26, I’m 24 and Arthur my young brother is 23.”

“You all grew up very close.”

“Yes, and I also have a older brother, his name is Lorenzo. He’s 35.”

“You must missed having girls around.”

“Yeah, it was just me and my mom surrounded by boys.”

After chatting a lot, Carlos and I decided to go to our room.

"My brother knows I have someone." I said, sitting on the bed, and he turned to look at me.

"Does he know about us?"

"No, he just knows I have someone."

"Okay, do you want to tell him?"

"I don't know," I sighed. "At the same time that I want my family to know, I also don't want him to know."

"Well, let's enjoy our weekend and worry about that when it happens."

"Okay," he came towards the bed and climbed on top of me.

"Now I just want to enjoy the company of my girlfriend alone until I have to share you with the others."

"Hmm, I like the sound of that," he smiled and kissed me.

…

The weekend went by extremely fast and we were on a plane now heading to Austria. My brothers were there, and Carlos and I were going together.

When we arrived at the hotel, my brothers were coming out to the exit and saw us together.

"What are you two doing together?" Charles asked.

"We came on the same flight." Carlos replied.

"I thought you were in Spain and would come from there to here."

"I had to go to Monaco first."

"Ah, okay," I sighed in relief. "Come on, you're going to share the room with me."

"Did you come alone?"

"Yeah."

"Alright." He picked up my suitcase. "Bye, Carlos, thanks for the help."

"You're welcome," he smiled and followed Charles to the room we were in.

"There's only one bed, so..."

"No problem." I said, putting my bags in a corner.

"Were you and Carlos sitting together on the flight?"

"Not technically, but I convinced a guy to switch seats with me."

"Do you like him?" If I hadn't controlled myself, it would have been obvious how shocked I was when he asked.

"He's nice."

"That's good that you have a boyfriend; I wouldn't want you and him to have something."

"And why not?"

"We're on the same team, even though we're friends, we're always competing, and Carlos isn't the best boyfriend in the world."

"And why do you say that?"

"Because he ended a long-term relationship just to be with some model." I sighed.

"You're the last person who should be talking about being a good boyfriend."

"Why are you defending him?"

"It's not about defending; it's about saying that you can't judge someone by their relationship choices when you yourself don't know how to make them." He went silent. "And you know that's true."

"Whatever, let's all go out to dinner."

"I'm tired."

"That wasn't a question."

"Ugh, fine." I said, going into the bathroom to take a shower.

I got ready and we met up with my other brothers. When we arrived downstairs, I saw Carlos dressed up, and obviously, I had to disguise my reaction.

"I invited him; he was alone," Charles said to me.

"Oh, that's great."

"Why are you suddenly excited?" He asked after noticing my change in mood.

"Because I'm hungry and happy that you're going to pay."

"Who said I'm going to pay?"

"I did. You earn way more than I do."

"Haha."

I managed to sit next to Carlos without making it obvious that I wanted it to happen. We ordered dinner, and while we waited, I felt his warm hand on my leg.

"So, how are you guys feeling about this weekend?" Lorenzo asked the two Ferrari drivers.

"I think it all depends on how the car performs on the track, but I'm trying to be optimistic." he said, and I put my hand on top of his.

"Yeah, let's see if we can get on the podium." At that moment, our food arrived.

...

After dinner, we talked for a while longer until we went back to the hotel. Obviously, I wouldn't be able to sneak away to Carlos's room since I was sharing a room with Charles.

After I removed my makeup and put on comfortable clothes, I texted Carlos to meet me in the pool area.

"I'm going for a walk; are you going to sleep?" I asked Charles, who was already lying down.

"Where are you going?"

"Just walking around a bit, exploring the hotel. I won't be able to do this once we start going to the Paddock."

"Oh, okay, I'm going to sleep. Take the room key."

"I got it, call me if you need anything." He agreed, and I left the room and went to where we had arranged to meet.

"Hi.” He whispered, hugging me around the waist.

"Hi." He kissed me, and I smiled in the middle of the kiss.

"You have no idea how hard it was to see you in that dress and not kiss you."

"You also looked very handsome in that outfit." He smiled. "It's always nice to see you in clothes that aren't Ferrari, I think Charles is the only one worse than you."

"Oh, come on."

"Seriously, you guys have no sense of style."

"Okay then, I'll leave it up to you from now on what I'm going to wear."

"If it's up to me, you won't wear anything from now on." He laughed.

“Whatever you say.”

"I can't stay too long." I said to him, who grunted.

"Alright, we'll see each other tomorrow then." I agreed. "Are you going to wear my shirt?"

"Your dream." He smiled. "Do you have a spare one?"

"Seriously?" He asked surprised.

"Seriously."

"I do. Let's go get it." We went to his room, and he grabbed a shirt from his suitcase and handed it to me. "Thank you."

"Are you sure you want to wear it? I know I want everyone to know about us, but I don't want you to feel pressured into it."

"I know, but I realized just now that we've been meeting in secret like two teenagers in a forbidden relationship. We hold hands under the table at dinner and all because I'm afraid of my brother's reaction." He looked at me. "I don't want to hide my love for you; it's not something I'm afraid or ashamed of."

"Whatever you want, I'll be happy." He cupped my face and kissed me.

"I love you." His eyes sparkled. "I love you so much, and I want you to always know that."

"I love you too, my love." I rubbed our noses together, and he laughed.

"Well, we have to sleep now because tomorrow is going to be very busy."

We said goodbye and went to our rooms to sleep. I took off my clothes, brushed my teeth, put on my pajamas, and lay down.

"Are you okay?" He asked sleepily.

"I am, you can go back to sleep." He gave me a kiss on the forehead and fell asleep again.

...

The next day, I woke up alone and saw a message on my phone from Charles saying he had already left and others from Carlos.

Carlitos 🌶️

Good morning, Hermosa

I’m already heading to the track, and I’ll see you later

Don’t feel pressured to wear the shirt; if you don’t feel comfortable, wear something else

Love you

Good morning, my love

I'm still thinking about the shirt

But don't worry, if I wear it, it's because I want to

Love you more and see you soon

In the end, I decided not to wear the shirt today but on race day, and since today was just practice 1, I decided to do that.

When I arrived at the paddock, people were taking photos, but they seemed more focused on me than usual, and when I got to the garage, I could see the anger in my brother's eyes.

"Is this serious?" He asked me angrily . "Carlos, seriously? And you even had the nerve to lie to my face all this time."

"Charles, calm down," Lorenzo held his arm.

"What's going on?"

"What's going on is that you're sleeping with him," he said loudly, and some people looked.

"Hey, lower your voice," Lorenzo once again reprimanded him.

"Seriously, I don't understand your problem, judging me all this time for my relationships while you were doing this."

"I don't understand what's happening?"

"You're dating Carlos?"

"Yes," I said loudly what I had been afraid to say for a long time.

"Then he was the guy you were talking about that day?" Before I could answer, Carlos showed up.

"What's going on?"

"You son of a bitch." Charles tries to lunge at him, but some mechanicsll and my brothers hold him back. "You were here all this time pretending to be my friend, and behind my back, you were sleeping with my sister, seriously?"

"I'm not just sleeping with your sister, I like her. Actually, no, let me correct myself, I love her."

"Yeah, sure, your ex heard the same thing for 8 years until you dumped her."

"Can you stop?" He looked at me. "Just stop."

Everyone went silent, and I just shook my head and left there, I went straight back to the hotel and cried the rest of the day curled up in bed until I fell asleep.

I woke up to noises in the room, and it was Charles pacing back and forth, and I could see the anger in his eyes when he saw that I was awake.

"What are you doing?"

"Packing my things, I'm not going to stay in the same room as you."

"You don't need to, I'm going back home." I said getting up.

"You're not going to stay to watch your boyfriend's race?"

"Can you stop?"

"And why should I? You're a liar, you and him."

“I decided not to tell you, not him.”

"It doesn't matter to me who decided or not; he shouldn't even be with you in the first place." He looked at me. "You're only 24, and he's turning 30, you're at different points in your life, do you really think he's going to want to be with you for long?"

"Why wouldn't he?"

"Because we're always traveling, meeting new people. Do you really think that when he's alone, there won't be thousands of women chasing after him?" I held back my tears. "Do you really think that when he's drunk after a race and some model comes onto him, he'll resist? Do you really think he won't end up sleeping with her, and you'll be the pathetic girlfriend who was cheated on by a Formula 1 driver?"

"Tell your girlfriend what you just said to me, Formula 1 driver." I stepped closer to him. "Soon your girlfriend will have such big horns that she won't even fit through the door."

"You have no right to talk.” He says angrily.

"I'm a much better boyfriend than him, and I don't date my teammates' sisters."

“Stop making things about you Charles.”

“I’m not making things about me.”

"Yes you are. Do you know how hard it is to be related to you? How hard Enzo, Arthur, and I had to fight for some attention in this family?”

"That has nothing to do with the situation."

"Yes, it does. You always find a way to make things about you. Why can’t you just see that I’m happy with him? Is it so hard for you to let me be happy?" He doesn't say anything. "Things always were and always are going to be about you, how you wanted to do go-karting, how dad was always helping you and never had time for me, how your career affected Arthur’s career, how mom didn’t go to my college graduation because it was your F1 debut. Do you see how it is? You're always in the spotlight in the family. Enzo is the first child, so he is special, Arthur is the youngest, so he gets a lot of attention, and you are the superstar. And what am I? I'm the one who always is put to the side, and for the first time in years, I'm happy and you’re still making about you"

"Then why are you here fighting with me instead of just ignoring what I think is best for you and going after him?"

"Because you're my brother. I’ll always put our family above my happiness and even though you're an idiot, I still love you, and I still care about what you think of me." I wiped the tears from my face, and he fell silent. "And I shouldn’t care since I’m no one to you."

"Y/n…"

"No. You made it very clear that I'm just a slut for Carlos to sleep with until he finds someone better." I shouted in his face. "I never treated you disrespectfully, regardless of the stupid decisions you make daily, and at the first opportunity you had, you treated me like a nobody instead of your little sister."

I grabbed my suitcase and left. I wasn't really going to Monaco because there were no flights and I didn't want to be alone at this moment, so I went to the only place where I would really feel safe.

"Hey, don't cry." It was the first thing he said when he opened the door. "It's going to be okay."

"I'm sorry." My voice came out low and faltering.

"You didn't do anything wrong to apologize to me for." He hugged me tightly.

"I need to because my brother shouldn't have said those things to you." He grabbed my face and made me look at him.

"I don't care about anything he said to me, and I don't care at all about what he thinks of me. What I care about is that he hurt you over something that's none of his business."

"Can we not talk about him anymore, please?" And once again, I was crying.

"I'll prepare a bathtub for you, okay?" I agreed and sat on the edge of the bed while he went to the bathroom.

We stayed silent the whole time; he prepared the bathtub, tied my hair up in a bun, helped me with my clothes, and my body relaxed as soon as it touched the water.

"Do you mind keeping me company?" He smiled and took off his clothes, sitting behind me.

"You know I love you, right?"

"I know, and I love you too." He kissed my forehead, and we returned to silence.

I think we stayed for about 20 minutes until the water cooled and then we got out, got dressed, and went to bed to lie down.

"Everything will be okay if you're willing to continue, your brother will accept it over time." I agreed with him.

"I hope so because I don't know how it will be if he hates me forever."

"He doesn't hate you, he's just upset."

"How do you feel about this weekend?" I changed the subject.

"I think it’s okay."

"Is there any problem with the car?"

"It's not that, it's just that I've been feeling a bit strange." I got up quickly.

"What do you mean strange? You’re sick and here I am lamenting over my idiot brother." I put my hand on his forehead and saw that he was a little warm.

"I'm fine, I’m just a little warm.”

"Okay, but if you feel anything different, let me know." He agreed, and I lay down again for us to sleep.

...

Carlos woke up unwell today; his fever was high, and he didn't seem very well, but he was insisting on going to practice.

"You have to stay and rest."

"I'm fine; it's just a fever."

"It's not just a fever; this could get much worse later."

"Hermosa." He held my hands on his face. "I'm fine; everything will be okay."

"Just promise me you'll take care of yourself and not push beyond what your body can handle."

"I promise." He gave me a peck on the lips and smiled. "Are you sure you'll be okay here alone?"

"I'm more worried about you than me, okay."

"I promise to come back as soon as possible and not to overdo it."

"Okay, I love you."

"I love you too." With that, he left.

A few hours passed, and I saw that a strange number was calling me, and for some reason, I decided to answer.

"Hello?"

"Is this Y/n?"

"Yes."

"This is Roberto Merhi."

"Oh, hi, is everything okay?"

"I'm here to talk about Carlos; his fever got worse and he was taken to the hospital to do some tests, and in the end, he'll have to undergo emergency surgery to remove his appendix, and before he went, he told me you were his girlfriend and asked me to call you."

"My God, which hospital?" I asked, already putting on my sneakers.

"I'm parking in front of your hotel and we'll go together."

"I'm coming down."

The trip to the hospital was horrible; I only knew that he had to have surgery, but I didn't know if he was already having it, if he had already done it, or whatever was happening at the moment. The only thing I knew was that I needed to see him.

"Hi, you have a patient here named Carlos Sainz, and I'm his girlfriend."

"Your name, please?"

"Y/n Leclerc." She agreed.

"He entered surgery 10 minutes ago, but it's a simple procedure, so if there are no complications, he should be out in at most an hour."

"Thank you."

"You can wait in the waiting room."

The waiting time was agonizing ; Roberto and I stayed there waiting for news.

"How did you two meet?"

"Well, it was at the Paddock; we always got along well, and I often come to see Charles race, so we got closer, and here we are."

"I bet your brother doesn't know or doesn't like it." I laughed.

"He didn't know until yesterday, and he doesn't like it today." He laughed too. "It's complicated."

"I can imagine."

"Miss Sainz." I stood up as the doctor arrived.

"Yes?"

"He's doing well, the surgery was a success, and he was asking for you."

"Thank you." I went to the room, and he was lying there, smiling when he saw me.

"Hi, love.”

"Hi." I went to him, and he took my hand. "You promised you wouldn't strain yourself."

"Don't make me laugh." He said, already laughing.

"Sorry."

"It's okay."

"How do you feel?"

"Like I've been opened up and closed again."

"Stop joking."

"I'm fine, obviously, it still hurts, but the doctor said I'll be fine."

"I was so worried when Roberto called me."

"I didn't mean to worry you."

"I know you didn't, but I worry anyway."

"Come here." He shifted to the side, and I lay down with him.

"I love you." I felt him smile since his face was against my head.

"I love you more."

"Excuse me." We looked at the door and saw Charles there with a balloon. "Can I come in?"

"Come in." Carlos said, and I got up from the bed.

"How are you feeling?"

"I could be better, obviously, but I'm okay."

"I brought a balloon." He handed him a helium balloon.

"Congratulations on motherhood?" I asked.

"It was the only one available." Carlos laughed.

"Thanks."

"Can I talk to you?" Now he asked me.

"Depends, will we be civilized?"

"Yes."

"I'll be right back, okay?"

"Can you bring me some water later?"

"Of course." I smiled and left the room.

"I'm really sorry for everything, I was an idiot, and I shouldn't have meddled in your relationships, and I also shouldn't have talked to you like that." He said. "It's just that you're my little sister and I can't stand the fact of someone having access to your heart to the point of being able to break it."

"Charlie, I love you for wanting to protect me, and I know your intentions are good, but the way you handled the situation hurt me." I wiped a tear. "I know you don't like the idea of me dating your teammate, but I love him, and we're not just fooling around, it's serious, and I don't need you to like it, just to respect my decision."

"And I do respect it." I agreed. "I love you, you know that, right?"

"I know, and I love you too, Charlie." He hugged me tight. "I'll go bring the water."

"Okay."

"Are you staying longer, or are you leaving now?"

"I'm leaving now; I just came to see you guys. I still have to race tomorrow."

"Oh, right. I would go and watch, but..."

"It's okay; you have many races to watch. Don't worry about me, just take care of him."

"Bye, Charlie."

"Goodbye, Y/n." He leaves, and I go back to the room.

"Is everything okay?" He asks, drinking the water.

"Now it is." He smiles, and I turn on the TV and lie back down on the bed with him.

263 notes · View notes

am-i-interrupting · 2 months

Note

do you mind if i ask for a bimbo gn!reader who thinks they have an unrequited crush on vox all the while being oblivious of vox's own attempt at flirting, please?

Daft Dolls

All that training with Velvette about how not to just pace but run in high heels really did pay off. Not only was it a valuable tool to have in Hell of all places, it was also just pretty damn useful to know in general.

You weren’t running from loan sharks. No, you were running towards a specific hotel. You weren’t in trouble. Far from it. You were excited. You could not wait to see the look on his face.

The doors were slammed open as you barged in. You looked across the lobby of the hotel.

Vaguely you registered other people (a man dressed in red who just appeared out of thin air) but your eyes zoned in on the pink clad spider at the bar.

“The fuck you doing here, toots?”

“I got you out of work!”

Your voices overlapped. Angel Dust looked at you with a raised brow. “What?”

“I got you out of work,” you repeated as you walked towards him, the door closing behind you. “Well, not work but work work. You know, Valentino work. I know it’s not what you wanted but being on set with me is better than being on set with Valentino, right? At least, that’s what I was thinking ‘cause when I went to talk to him about it he was mad. Like mad mad. He threw bottle of rosé at me.”

“Are you okay?” Angel asked.

You batted his hands away from you. “I’m fine. It’s no big deal. He has shit aim anyway. He missed but with the help of Vox I was able to get you off of Val’s set and onto mine!”

Angel Dust just stared at you, absolutely silent.

As he processed what you said, a blonde woman came up beside you. “Um, hi, I’m Charlie. You’re one of Angel’s friends, I guess? It’s so nice to meet you.”

You took her outstretched hand (it was really soft) and shook it. “Nice to meet you too! Angel’s told me about you. I’m—“

“Vox helped you?” Angel asked, coming out of his stupor. “Like TV head Vox? Overlord Vox? That Vox? He helped you get me out of work?”

“Yeah,” you said shaking your head. “He was already up there with Val. I kind of just barged in. I wasn’t thinking. That was probably a stupid thing to do but you were on the news and then you were messaging me all freaked out about what Val was gonna do because you were on the news so I just kind of went up there to talk about it and anyway. Yeah, why?”

He downed the glass that was on the bar beside him. “You’re so oblivious sometimes,” he said.

“What?!”

He pointed a finger at you. “You call me at least once every two weeks and moan and groan about how—“

You clasped your hands over his mouth. “Can we not ta— Ew! Angel!” You yanked your hands back, now covered in his saliva. “Gross!”

He smirked at you and leaned in close, “Just making sure you’re prepared for that hand job he’s gonna get.”

You pushed his shoulder and he pushed you back. This led to you both lightly hitting each other with no real intent to harm one another.

That was until a different woman’s voice sounded through the room, “What the fuck is going on?”

The both of you stopped and turned towards her. Grey skin, white hair, orange eyes, she was gorgeous. You couldn’t help but say as much.

She looked completely thrown off by your blatant statement meanwhile Angel threw his head back with a laugh and Charlie looked over at her with a huge smile.

“Vaggie,” Charlie said in a sing-song voice.

“No,” the woman (Vaggie) immediately responded with. “Absolutely not.”

She turned around and started walking away. “Sorry,” Charlie said before moving to follow her. “But they’d be perfect for the Hotel!”

“No, we’re not having two Angel Dusts,” Vaggie said.

“But, Vaggie,” Charlie’s voice then grew too distant to hear.

Angel waited a moment but then he turned to you again. “You really got me out of work?” he asked, voice so close to sounding fragile.

“Course I did,” you told him. You grabbed his hand. “Your my friend, Angie.” You let go. “I need to go back though. I’m on my lunch break and it’s probably almost over. I just got so excited, I had to come tell you in person.”

Angel pulled you in for a hug and squeezed you with all six arms. “You’re the best, toots.”

“I know, I know,” you said. “Anyway, I gotta go. See ya!”

You blew Angle kissed as you walked backwards to the door. You spun around, prepared to open it when you saw the red clad man from before holding the door open for you.

“Oh, thanks.”

“Of course, my dear,” he said, a radio filter on his voice. “Please, allow me to walk you back. I’d love to thank our mutual friend in person for helping our other mutual friend.”

“You know Vox?”

“Yes, indeed I do, very well, in fact. I’m Alastor. Pleasure to meet you, my dear, quite a pleasure,” he said.

You gave him your name in turn.

The two of you walked together in silence. You did notice as the two of you walked, many people sprinted away which was odd, especially for you.

You were normally approached by people when you were out. They didn’t run away.

See, several years ago youd made a deal with Velvette. You were one of her models and she’d provide you with protection from Hell’s many dangers along with the occasional free clothes as a bonus. Time passed and you and Velvette actually ended up getting along fairly well. She’d put you in her streams, in her posts, she’d hang out with you outside of work. That’s when one day she heard you singing when she invited herself over. A couple days later, you were basically told you were going to make an album. The rest was history.

So, people running from instead of approaching you was different, weird, even strange.

You looked over at your company but he simply wore a smile. You could hear him humming actually, something upbeat and jazzy. You supposed if he wasn’t deterred you shouldn’t be either. Maybe it was just one of those off days in Hell, especially since it was so soon after the extermination.

Eventually you got to the three Vs’ tower. What you didn’t expect was for Vox to immediately teleport to the entryway.

His posture was straight which was normal but it seemed tense. If that wasn’t enough to tip you off the fact that he was still sparking was and his eye strobing definitely was. You followed his gaze to Alastor and found yourself suddenly very cautious of the man.

While Alastor didn’t seem that bad on the surface you’d known Vox longer. You trusted Vox. You more than trusted Vox actually but the point was you took a very lengthy step away from Alastor and toward’s Vox even if he was sparking.

“What marvelous company this one makes,” Alastor said, gesturing to you. “Wouldn’t you say, old friend?”

Vox took a step in front of you. “Get the FUCK out of my territory!” he said.

Alastor’s smile turned into something devious, something knowing, and something very unnerving. He gave a bow and then vanished into the shadows.

Vox placed a hand on your back and guided you inside. “Do not ever go around him again, understand?”

“Yes, sir,” you said. Not once in your half a decade in Hell had you ever seen Vox like this.

He sighed. His sparking calmed down and his eyes stopped strobing. “Sorry, just, um, I— he’s— it’s complicated. Just don’t associate with him.”

“Sorry, I was just going to that hotel Angie’s staying at. He insisted on walking me back, that’s all,” you explained.

“It’s— Wait, what? What hotel?”

“The Happy Hotel that Charlie Morningstar started. There was an ad for it on 666 today before Angel’s fight.”

Vox stopped. “Alastor’s back and he’s staying at a hotel run by Lucifer’s daughter?”

Prior to all of the things that happened two days after the extermination, Vox had already said (as what you assumed was a way to placate Valentino) that he would be personally in charge of directing your music video but it seemed like since Alastor he wasn’t letting you out of his sight. That was silly though.

He did come into your apartment in the tower though and just sat on your couch. That was normal though. Vox did that when he was stressed. He said your apartment was less noisy than staying with the other Vs. Whatever the case, you made him dinner last night.

Now it was the next day and Velvette was dolling you up as she was prone to do. She blended out your lipstick with her finger. Then she put a thick layer of lip gloss on top.

“Pout for me. Perfect. You look pretty, innocent, and fuckable,” she said.

She pulled you out of your chair and to the nearest full length mirror. She was right, as always. She’d given you a very soft blue makeup look for the most part with sharp eyeliner and bold pink and black lips. She had dressed you in a pastel pink cropped sweater, a matching miniskirt with a high pastel blue g-string, and tall white boots. She’d outdone herself but she always did.

She ushered you out of the dressing room after you both got done gawking at yourself and to the set. There you found Angel in a very similar get up but with the pinks and blues reversed.

“You ready to blow this shoot?” Angel asked,

“Wrong kind of shoot for a blow,” you told him.

He rolled his eyes with a smile. One hand of his went around your shoulders. The other went around the waist.

You both went to set and chatted while you waited for Vox to arrive.

It was only a few minutes before he was walking through the doors, a tray of three cups in his hands. He set it down on a nearby table. Velvette went to grab one but he cut her off, taking it instead. You caught sight of her offended expression before it morphed into a done but knowing look. One hand on her hip while the other plucked a different cup off the tray,

Vox turned, now two cup in hand. He caught sight of you and raised an eyebrow. Velvette doubled over laughing. You couldn’t help but wander why. It was too loud to hear what they were saying but it didn’t look like either of them had moved their lips.

Maybe one of Vox’s soundboard noises went off. That was known to happen occasionally but you couldn’t think of why.

You didn’t really get the chance to think of any reasons though as seconds later Vox was in front of you. He extended the hand holding the cup he’d taken from Velvette.

“You look nice,” he said.

“Thanks, Velvette’s work,” you explained, taking the cup from him. You hummed to yourself when you were met with your favorite drink.

“I’m sure that’s not all true,” he said.

You were too busy to notice how his eyes lingered on your face but Angel did. Throughout the next few weeks Angel noticed a lot.

He’d never really seen you and Vox interact before. He would just hear stories from you afterwards and holy fuck. You had to be dense to think this man wasn’t absolutely obsessed with you.

Vox brought you your favorite drink every single day. He complimented you every single day. He would correct and critique everyone else in a very detached way at best and frustrated way more often than not. But with you, he was calm, gentle almost. He took your ideas and incorporated them. He would go out of his way to physically correct your poses or guide you through specific motions. Once you mentioned off handedly that your feet were hurting and there was an early lunch break where he didn’t even eat, he massaged your feet for you.

When Angel brought this up, however, he was brushed off.

“He brought Velvette a drink too.” Yeah, one she complained tasted like piss.

“He does that all the time. It doesn’t mean anything.” Angel had never heard Vox compliment anyone in his nearly seventy years in Hell.

“He just knows me better, that’s all.” Not once had Angel ever seen Vox being even half as kind to Velvette or Valentino.

“I’m sure he does that with other people’s ideas.” Angel remembered being told multiple iterations of the same story with different people, all because they did something as small as suggest different shoes for someone to walk in because it was too loud.

“It’s probably just easier to do that than explain. He knows I’m used to being puppeted around by Vel.” He spent five minutes explaining to Angel what to do instead of just moving his four arms into position.

“Do you want me to give you a foot massage, Angie? All you have to do is ask.” Well, yes, but that wasn’t the point!

Angel watched as Vox laughed at something you said. “Fucking dumbass,” he muttered to himself as he grabbed a yogurt off the snack bar.

“I know, right?” Velvette said, scaring the shit out of him in the process. “You think this is bad? Ugh, imagine being surrounded by it all the time and Voxy’s just as bad and there’s no escaping him. I have to put up with his bitch ass whining all the time. It’s exhausting.”

Angel relaxed enough to lean against the wall. “Kind of makes you want to press them together like dolls and make them kiss, don’t it?” he asked.

“Yeah. . . Wait a minute! That’s it!” Velvette slapped Angel’s shoulder.

She whipped out her phone and started typing frantically. Her legs started kicking from where they dangled over the edge of the snack bar.

Angel peeled open the yogurt and tried to lean to have a look at what she was typing. She was too fast though and shut off her phone with a satisfied smirk.

Her eyes were glued to the pair of you. You pulled out your phone and saw a message from her. You looked over at her with furrowed brows. She just smiled at you manically. You shook your head but gave her a thumbs up.

When lunch break was supposed to be over, Velvette clapped her hands together loud enough it echoed through the room. “Listen up, sluts!” she said, taking control over the room.

You watched as she and Vox had a back and forth which ended with Vox confused on the set couch in a new outfit Velvette poofed on him. It wasn’t anything too far out of his usual style but it was a change. It was simple black slacks and a white button up shirt but the sleeves were rolled past his forearms and several of the buttons were undone. He looked. . . You were staring that’s for sure.

The music came on and you began lip singing. You put your hands on either side of his head. You threw your leg on the other side of his lap and straddled him. You moved your body up and down, not grinding on him due to not sitting on him but it was a close thing. Your face was right in front of his. You tried to hold eye contact with him but for some reason his eyes kept darting down.

“Fuck it,” he said under his breath.

Then an arm was wrapped around your hips forcing you down and a hand was in your hair guiding your head closer to his. Your lips met his and static filled your entire body. His tongue was caressing your mouth, making you feel like you had a mouth full of pop rocks.

You moaned when he flipped you so your back was pressed against the couch. He rolled his hips against yours and you could feel him through his pants.

“Fuck the music video,” he said against your lips. “How would you feel about filming a porno instead?”

“Mmm, kinky,” Angel said.

“I am so sending this to ‘Tino,” Velvette said.

#vox x reader #hazbin vox x reader

258 notes · View notes

mynameismckenziemae · 2 months

Text

Unbroken

Part 1

Bradley ‘Rooster’ Bradshaw x You

Summary: You (Jake’s younger sister, Emma) were gutted by the way your first (and only) relationship ended, you’re not looking for anything but some fun. Bradley Bradshaw shows up for your older brother’s wedding and is eager to scratch your itch, but refuses to let it be a one-time thing. Will you let him mend the heart he didn’t break?

*Should be able to read alone but helps to read Jake and Charlie’s story, ‘In Case You Didn’t Know’ first.

Warnings: 18+. MDNI! This chapter contains adult language and situations, future chapters will have smut. There’s probable veterinary inaccuracies-I work in people healthcare, not animal healthcare 🥴TW: unwanted/nonconsensual touching/advances. Please message me if you have questions.

•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•

“Thanks for letting me get ready here, I was afraid I wouldn’t have time to shower and get ready after that last call. Does this look okay?” You ask as you check your reflection in the mirror.

“No problem,” your oldest friend and soon-to-be sister-in-law, Charlie answers as she comes into the guest bedroom. “Emma Lou, you look gorgeous. That dress new?”

Charlie and Jake had invited you over for dinner to meet the other half of their wedding party, Bradley Bradshaw.

“Kind of? I got it at the beginning of last summer, just haven’t worn it yet. It’s too short for church and can’t really wear a dress when I’m wrangling farm animals,” you laugh.

“Well, you could if you really wanted too. I’m sure the farmers wouldn’t mind,” she teases.

“Ew,” you shudder, thinking about one client in particular you work with. “No thanks.

“Anderson still being gross?” Charlie asks, reading your mind.

“Uh-huh. Speaking of, I have to go out there tomorrow, he thinks one of his cows is pregnant,” you sigh, following her to the kitchen.

“Can’t Gav or Noah go instead?” She asks, washing her hands at the sink.

“I’m sure either would in a second,” you reply, wetting your hands too. “They’ve been nothing but great since I joined the practice, but I haven’t told them how he acts towards me. They’d fire him in an instant if they found out. It’s dumb, but I feel like he wins if he knows it bothers me. Plus he brings a lot of money into the practice. Ky comes with me too.”

Charlie frowns but then nods. “Okay, but be careful. He’s a dead man if he ever lays a hand on you,” she warns.

You don’t tell her that he already has.

“So this Bradshaw guy…Is he as hot in person as he is on Insta?” You ask, changing the subject.

“Nope,” she laughs, drying her hands. “Even hotter.”

“Off to a good start. Straight? Single?”

“Yes and yes. He told Jake he was going to ask me out but I think it was just to push Jake into telling me how he felt,” Charlie replies.

“Should’ve done that 10 years ago,” you mutter, smiling when she rolls her eyes.

“Bradley’s a sweetheart. I think you’d make a cute couple.”

It’s your turn to roll your eyes. “I’m just looking to get laid. My vibe isn’t cutting it anymore.”

“What’s not cutting it anymore?” Jake asks as he walks into the kitchen behind the two of you.

“My vibrator. I was telling Charlie I need to get laid,” you answer, forgetting Jake was picking Bradley up from his hotel on the way home.

Jake coughs awkwardly, “Bradshaw, this is my sister, Emma.”

You cringe, laughing as you turn around, refusing to be embarrassed.

Damn. Charlie wasn’t lying; he is hotter in person. Dressed in tight jeans with a Hawaiian shirt, unbuttoned to reveal his dog tags, and a white tank clinging to his defined chest.

“Couldn’t have led with that, Jake?” You glare at your older brother before turning to Bradley with a smile. “Nice to meet you.”

“You can call me Bradley, or Rooster if you want. Nice to meet you too,” he chuckles, cheeks flushed and his deep brown eyes twinkle with amusement as he takes your outstretched hand, making it look small. Your eyes flicker to his dog tags, wishing you could reach out and grab them to pull him in for a kiss.

“Who wants a beer?” Charlie asks, breaking the spell.

“Me, please, and thank you,” you answer as you reluctantly pull your hand away, wondering how his callouses would feel on other parts of your body.

“I’ll take one too, thanks,” he answers as his eyes do a perusal of you.

•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•

“So you’re a vet?” Bradley asks as you finish your singer around Jake and Charlie’s kitchen table.

“Yep. Large animals mostly, but I’ll cover the clinic if needed,” you reply.

“Emma was always the smart one,” Jake says, nudging you with his elbow.

“And the pretty one, and the sweet one, and the strong one…” you tease.

“Strong one is true,” Charlie agrees, squealing as Jake pinches her.

“I’ll never hear the end of it ‘cause Em beat me in arm wrestling once or twice,” Jake rolls his eyes.

“Once or twice?! I was 14 the last time you beat me,” you scoff as Charlie laughs in the background.

“Sounds like there needs to be a rematch,” Bradley says, sipping his beer.

“I’m in,” you shrug, looking at Jake.

“Fine.”

•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•

Everyone helps clear the table and load the dishwasher. It’s refreshing to see a man besides your dad and Jake help; you and Jake were raised without household gender roles but most of the men you know weren’t.

“Alright, on 3. Jake,” Charlie looks at him as she holds your intertwined hands. “No cheating.”

You laugh at the look he gives her.

“1, 2, 3!” Charlie says and releases your hands.

Jake’s stronger than you remember, but still not as strong as you. You let him push your arm a little, biting your lip to not laugh at the look of surprise that flashes over his face before you take a deep breath and push his arm down.

“Oh come on, you totally dropped your shoulder!” Jake argues.

“She did not, you’re just a sore loser,” Charlie laughs, kissing his cheek.”

“Gym muscle just doesn’t compare to farm muscle,” you grin, flexing your bicep.

“Guess not,” Bradley smiles.

Your phone rings and you frown when you see that it’s your tech, Ky.

“It’s work. Sorry, I gotta take this,” you excuse yourself to the front porch.

•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•

“Everything okay?” Jake asks when you come back inside.

“Yeah,” you nod. “It was my tech. His kid is sick so he won’t be with me tomorrow.”

“So you have to go to Anderson’s alone?” Charlie asks, remembering your conversation from earlier.

“Yep,” you sigh, flopping down on the couch.

“As in Jim Anderson? The pervy old fuck?” Jake asks, sitting forward on the couch.

“That’s the one. He thinks one of his heifers is pregnant and I’ve got to go take a look at her before the weekend.”

“Shit,” Jake sighs, thinking. “I’d go with you but we meet with the pastor tomorrow morning. I’ll call him and see if we can-“

“No. You’re getting married in a few days. I can handle it,” you assure him.

“I know you can,” Jake agrees, “But it’d make me feel better if you weren’t alone.

“I can go with you,” Bradley offers. “I was just going to hang out at the hotel while these guys were busy.”

“Oh, you don’t have to do that,” you shake your head. “It’s smelly and gross.”

“I don’t mind,” Bradley shrugs.

“He can use some of my old clothes and work boots,” Jake adds. “I know you can hold your own, Em, but I really don’t like that guy.”

Knowing Jake won’t drop it, you sigh and look at Bradley. “You really don’t mind?”

“Not at all. I think it’d be cool,” he smiles so genuinely that you can’t help but believe him.

“Okay. I’ll pick you up at 8.”

•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•

Bradley’s waiting outside the lobby holding two coffees when you pull up the next morning in your work truck. He looks good enough to eat, even if he is wearing your brother’s Wranglers and a Longhorn tee; your Alma mater.

“Two creams, no sugar,” Bradley says, handing a travel cup over. “I texted Jake how you take it,” he answers before you can ask.

You take a sip. “Oh it’s perfect, thank you. I was gonna treat you since you’re helping me out.”

“You’re saving me from a morning of scrolling on my phone, it’s the least I could do,” he replies. He’s practically vibrating in his seat as you pull out of the driveway.

“Excited?”

“Yeah,” he replies with a grin. “I’ve never been up close to a cow before”

You laugh. “Really?”

“Really. I grew up in the city.”

He tells you about it on the way; his dad died before he really knew him and much like Charlie, he was raised by a single mom that he lost to cancer too young.

“You don’t have any family left,” You realize softly.

“Mav’s like an uncle, plus Jake and the rest of the squad.”

“Jake’s not the best at expressing it, but he considers you a brother.”

“You’re telling me the guy who was in love with his best friend for 15 years but didn’t tell her isn’t good at expressing his feelings?” Bradley jokes.

“Crazy, right?” You laugh. “I hear you were gonna ask Charlie out.”

“I just told him that so he’d finally make a move. Yet he always says I’m snug on my perch.” Bradley sighs, rolling his eyes.

“Yeah…what is the story with your callsign?” You ask.

“My dad’s callsign was Goose, so it’s a nod to him. I’m also a morning person.”

“That’s it?” You ask as you turn into the driveway.

“…why?” He asks, avoiding your question and your eyes.

“I was just wondering if it means you have a big cock,” you answer as you grab your bag and hop out of the truck, eyes flicking to his groin before meeting his with a cheeky grin.

•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•

Bradley catches up to you a minute later.

“Good. He’s not outside,” you observe out loud as you round the corner of the barn. “I’m assuming she’s the one in the holding chute. Maybe we’ll get lucky and be gone before he realizes I was here.”

“That bad, huh?”

Your blood boils as recall you the times he’s touched your ass, brushed your breasts, and the inappropriate comments he’s made.

“Yeah, that bad,” you reply, starting your exam.

You finish quickly, laughing when Bradley turns green as you palpate inside her.

“Jesus! Your whole fucking arm’s inside her!” He gulps, turning away and patting her side.

“We got a fetus,” you say pulling your arm free, and removing the lubricated sleeve from your arm. “I just need to give the mama-to-be some vaccines and we’re done.”

“You know, she’s actually kind of cute,” Bradley says, crouching on the other side of the chute to rub her head.

“The calves are even cuter,” you reply, patting her. “I’ll be ready in a second here. Just a heads up, she may flinch.”

You hum as you draw up the meds, not hearing the footsteps behind you. You jump when a hand brushes your backside.

“Didn’t even come to the door to say hello. You avoidin’ me?” Jim breathes into your ear, reeking of chewing tobacco and old sweat.

“Hi Jim. No, I’m just in a hurry. Have a lot to do with Jake’s wedding in a few days,” you reply, stepping to the side to get out of his reach, refusing to look at him.

“You can spare 5 minutes, can’t you? I never get you to myself,” he spits before entering your space again.

“No. I’m here to see the animals, not you-hey!” You yelp when he tugs your ponytail.

That’s the final straw.

He stumbles when you jerk your elbow back, knocking the wind out of him when it nails his solar plexus.

“Don’t ever fucking touch me again,” you seethe, quickly administering the injections and picking up your bag.

“Oh come on, honey. I was just playin’,” he wheezes, bent over. But he reaches for you again.

“You heard her. Don’t touch her. Or anyone else for that matter,” Bradley says calmly as he walks around the chute; but you can see his hand shaking out of the corner of your eye.

Jim gulps as he looks up at Bradley before nodding. “Alright. Sorry Em.”

“I’ll send you the bill and you can find your veterinary care elsewhere,” you reply, ignoring his apology.

Jim’s face goes white when Bradley murmurs something and slaps him on the back none too lightly before following you to the truck.

•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•

“So that was unprofessional,” you sigh as you back out of the driveway. “But fuck, it felt good.”

“It’s not unprofessional to protect yourself,” he replies. “You’re quite the woman, Emma.”

Your cheeks heat under his praise. “I really appreciate you coming with me and having my back.”

“You had it handled, but no problem.”

“Can I treat you to lunch? As a thank you,” you ask as you pull into the parking lot of his hotel. Not admitting to yourself that you just want more time with him.

“You don’t have to do that, but yeah, I’d like to get lunch with you.”

“Great! I’d take ya now, but I smell like a barn,” you smile. “I’ll pick ya back up in about an hour after I shower.”

“Can’t wait,” he winks, walking to the lobby after shutting the door.

He grins when he glances back, catching you watching him walk away in those tight Wranglers.

•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•

“Sorry I’m late. I ended up calling my coworkers to let them know what happened before Jim calls to complain.”

“No worries. How’d that go?” He asks, climbing into your personal (and much cleaner) truck.

“Good. They were furious,” you reply, continuing when he arches a brow. “But not at me, said they wish I would’ve told them earlier. Noah’s going to give him a call later. I’d love to be a fly on the wall during that conversation.”

“I’m glad they’ve got your back too.”

•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•

“Wait a minute, is there where Jake took Charlie on their first date?” Bradley asks when he sees the sign for the scenic outlook turn, handing you a fry from the bag of food you picked up from Ray’s-the town’s old carhop.

“Yeah, he told you about that?”

“I gave him the idea. Well…sort of,” he chuckles. “He was freaking out and didn’t know where to take her. Wanted it to be special, you know? So I asked what he would’ve done if they were in high school. I laughed when he told me he’d take girls to a car hop and find some place to park and fool around, but he said Charlie would like it.”

“She did. She would get so jealous when he’d take other girls out. It was so obvious. God, he’s an idiot,” you laugh, parking under the shade of a live oak.

You eat your lunch on the tailgate as he tells you about his dates when he was younger.

“…my mom tracked us down when I missed curfew and didn’t answer my cell, found us necking in the grocery store parking lot,” he smiles.

“I’m sure it wasn’t at the time, but that’s hilarious.”

“It was mortifying. That was the first and last date I got with Ashley Jones.”

“Thats too bad; if your mom hadn’t found you when she did, you might be married with 2.5 kids by now,” you tease, sipping your milkshake.

He laughs. “Nah, I’m happy with where I am at the moment.”

You smile, catching his insinuation when his eyes meet yours.

“How about you? You ever come out here and make out in a truck with a guy?”

“Nope. I’m Jake Seresin’s little sister, so every cop in town always had an eye on me. Fucking Jake,” you sigh dramatically. “It’s like a rite of passage around here and he ruined it for me.”

“You know, I’m a guy….and we’re sitting in a truck,” Bradley murmurs, brushing a strand of hair off your forehead.

“Yeah? You offering?” You ask, leaning in.

“I am,” he whispers before pressing his lips to yours.

•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•.•

A/N: I worked on this way too longgggg. I originally liked it but now I’m not sure lol. I hope everything makes sense and you all like it 🥺

As always, any interaction is appreciated but I love hearing what you think in comments/reblogs.

Tagging (please let me know if you want to be added/removed!):

@mamachasesmayhem

@its-the-pilot

@dizzybee03

@sweetwhispersofchaos

@shanimallina87

@blindedbythelightt

@getmyprettynameoutofyourmouth

@lexixstewart

@phoenix-rising-starbird-one

@mrsrobertfloyd5

@charmedkim

@k-k0129

@bellaireland1981

@hookslove1592

@amiets2

@nero4te

@eli2447

@atarmychick007

@vixenobrian

@86laura11

@hisredheadedgoddess28

@dempy

@angelbabyyy99

@buckysteveloki-me

@djs8891

@mizzzpink

@daggerspare-standingby

@mrsevans90

@littlezee80

#bradley rooster bradshaw #top gun maverick #bradley bradshaw #bradley bradshaw x you #bradley rooster bradshaw x you #bradley bradshaw x reader #bradley rooster bradshaw x reader #jake hangman seresin #jake seresin

160 notes · View notes

eclairsnme · 9 months

Text

♡ POV: Being The Itoshi Brother’s Elder Sister ♡

Part 1/ Part 2/ Part 3/ Part 4

More trouble and very dilf (prick) boss and yandere kaiser!!

tags: idol!you, crack comedy, reunion, familial love, sfw, somewhat of a brat (⁎⁍̴̛ᴗ⁍̴̛⁎), lack of common sense, dilf boss, kaiser is giving me psycho killer mannn (✦థ ｪ థ), red flags!!

*･゜ﾟ･*:.｡..｡.:*･'(*ﾟ▽ﾟ*)'･*:.｡. .｡.:*･゜ﾟ･*

A few years ago,

You picked up the phone and read a message.

It’s a punishing journey here.

It was from Sae, your younger brother.

After reading the message, you flipped the phone to your manager.

You could not be bothered to reply to him as... well, you are in a middle of a scandal.

A rival company is trying to sue you for plagiarising their music.

I mean like ew? (¬､¬)

You debuted in the music industry one year ago and had already gathered a massive fanbase and caused a wave in the industry.

Many were hailing you as the pop star of the century. Recognised not only domestically but also worldwide.

The songs were written by you and with the collaboration of acclaimed song producers.

When all of your songs dominated the Billboard chart, you solidified your status as the youngest and most celebrated star of this era.

You know what they always say, behind every success has its own trials and tribulations, and yeah you were now experiencing that exact phenomenon — a scandalous scandal, a bad suing kind.

The rival company had been trying to produce their very own pop star using you as the manual, however, it was to no avail. Obviously.

You snorted at that. No one could compete with you, naturally.

Therefore, they had to resort to underhand tactics. Such as, wrongly accusing you of plagiarism without any ounce of evidence and trying to sue you to boot?

Huh! The audacity.

More absurdly, he annouced all that mumbo jumbo on the stupid bird app! That hellhole of an app.

It goes without saying that the news spread quickly like lighting speed! Both fans and haters became aware of it and rumors and negative comments began to circulate rapidly. They really popped off there.

What else popped off? Keyboard warriors. They came and showed the heck up. They have never typed their opinions so quickly.

Before you could defend yourself from such an outlandish claim, they had already painted you a bad reputation. You cracked a displeased smile.

It appears that your followers and supporters have left you abruptly and without any hesitation.

And they call themselves loyal fans. You pouted. People’s minds sure do sway rather quickly. That bandwagon sure has lots of passengers.

Today, a crowd gathered outside your studio to protest against what they perceive as your "sinister" conduct.

How very rude!

Prior to your debut, you had anticipated that your first scandal would involve a dating rumour with a super hot man. However, the current scandal being circulated is merely a laughable joke and not the kind you had expected.

The music you made was definitely yours last you checked. It was unquestionably from this absolutely talented brain of yours.

“Pest,” you grumbled.

Oh and what a pest he definitely is. Actually, he was more disgusting than those creepy crawlies. He had a greasy face, greasy hair and an incredibly bad breath.

You shivered. Yucky.

“That bastard!” The boss of your company slammed the table.

Your boss was a tall and well-dressed individual in his mid twenties. He was an efficient and smart, young man that had personally scouted you and propelled your career (well, that is a little too much credit to him but yeh yeh).

This company had a few B-listers if you squint... hard enough. You were his first pop star and damn, you exceeded all his expectations. Not to toot your own horn, but yes you are quite literally The Best.

After learning of the absurdity, he was absolutely furious. He was frothing in the mouth like how baristas froth them age-old milk. You found it quite funny to see his handsome face contort to such comedy.

You hid your giggle behind your hand.

He stopped and knelt down in front of you, "I understand that this situation is difficult for you right now, but I assure you that we will find a solution and overcome this obstacle together."

Even the dumbest person would know that refuting the so-called "claims" was a simple task. However, the bigger issue at hand is the individuals who have already turned their backs on you. Unfortunately, you are currently considered the most disliked public figure.

Can you believe that? Me!

To that, you grunted and took a heavy whiff of the musky meeting room.

Gain back their support?

You suddenly stood up, causing your boss to fall back onto his buttocks.

An idea crossed your little noggin. Your idea is truly exceptional, with a level of creativity that is almost unparalleled. Some people might even dare ask, "From that brain of yours?"

A true visionary of the century you would say. You snickered to your own delight.

“What’s going on?” Your boss asked in confusion.

“I know just the way to make him eat his shit!” You bellowed, lightly brushing the nonexistent dust from your Miu Miu garb.

Oh yes, eat shit he will. Bet, his shit would be the best-tasting shit he will ever consume.

Present day

You, the top idol, stood in front of the screen fake crying your heart out for your dear little brother.

“Do you not love me anymore?!” You dramatically placed your hand over your face, wiping away the fake tears.

Rin covered his ears at that infamous phrase coming from you.

As the situation “escalates”, even Rin’s teammates started to catch on to your act. As in, they actually fell for your poorly executed acting.

“Oi, Rin your sister is calling for you! You bastard of a little brother making her cry,” his teammates and Karasu collectively shouted at him, accusingly.

This was too much for Rin to handle, the embarrassment was too excruciating. He was so close to believing that you were not his sister. Heck, did you hear his internal thoughts? Because he could vaguely hear you crying louder. He shuddered.

To Rin, this was the equivalent of having his mom unexpectedly appear in the classroom and announcing every speck of mole on his body to everyone. Yet again, he shuddered.

You, on the other hand, were just about to tease him more when Mr Manager tapped on your shoulder.

“Your next schedule is in an hour, you need to get ready.”

Ah, talk about getting blue balled. You frowned. You were just about to have fun with Rin.

"Schedule? I thought I was done for today?" You gave him a look of disapproval, with your lips tightly pressed together.

"I-it's the meeting with the boss!" He spread his arms wide in disbelief, brows downturned and mouth gaping like a goldfish.

"That person would not mind," you turned away from the screen and shrugged your shoulders, "no big deal missing one or two meetings."

"You mean, multiple (all) meetings?"

Wow, talk about being unnecessarily observant. You rolled your eyes. If your eyes could roll to the back of your skull that will be great.

So, your boss has this thing where you have to meet him and then goes on to lecture you on your bad public image blah blah blah. A broken record. That is what he is. He needs to learn how to shut up.

"Please you need to attend the meeting or else," your manager took a deep breath, "he will be really angry at me. Since he also specifically mentioned the severity of your behaviour this time around."

"Andddd?" You nonchalantly glance over, not sure why you should care.

Your boss sure is a pain in the buttocks. You can handle yourself well without him. What about the severity of your behaviour this time around? This was not your first rodeo.

"Wait!" You yanked the collar of his shirt, "What do you mean by the severity of my behaviour this time around."

He miserably clutch onto his shirt to ensure he would not die to accidental asphyxiation.

"T-he paps!" He released himself from your grip and whispered into your ears, "They took a photo of you smooching a man! Boss was super - and I mean super duperrr - angry! Since this morning, he has been attempting to hide the entire situation from the public."

Smooch? The only thing you smooched was...

Oh!

Oh?

OH!

Ohhh?

OH!

So, someone did catch you getting first base with that German guy.

"Smooch?" Anri gasped, a little too loudly. Actually, loud enough for the entire Blue Lock facility to hear.

Smooch? The Blue Lock players repeated after Anri.

Anri clasped her mouth shut.

Erm oops. (Ŏ艸Ŏ)

Turns out, the screen was still on for everyone to witness.

"End of today's entertainment — hope everyone feels motivated by the special appearance of the wonderful idol," with a click of a button, Ego had the screen turned off to the disgruntlement of the players behind the screen and to the joy of Rin.

"W-we have to go!" Panic filled Mr Manager's voice as he tried to drag you out of the room.

"But my Rin!"

"You are welcome here anytime," Ego interjected.

"Really?" Your teal eyes lid up.

"Reward for work and work for reward. It is widely acknowledged that when individuals receive recognition for their diligent efforts, they tend to exhibit improved performance and exhibit a more optimistic outlook. As a result, it is imperative to provide incentives that are based on performance. By the way, I must take a moment to express my genuine gratitude for your presence here today, Miss."

You blinked at his response, "I don't know what you just said, but I will be back for my little brother, Go-go!"

Ego briefly reflects on his nickname and then lets a faint smile appear on his face, "Hope to see you very soon too."

"Ah, the boss is already calling me! We have to go!"

"Bye-bye, big melon woman!" You did not forget your manners, as you made your way out.

Anri shyly waved back at you.

Damn, I really want big boobs.

His sharp eyes met yours.

You gulped.

You felt like a deer caught in the headlight. It was just a smooch — a very normal German etiquette. No biggie. Right?

Your boss held a photograph of what you believe is the source of this man's frustration.

You took the photograph out of his hands, "I spy with my little eyes a man and an exceptionally drop-dead knockout woman engaged in - you know what? This is actually a really good photo! We could hang it-"

"For goodness sake!"

"-on the wall."

He ruffled his neatly tousled coif into a slightly messy one.

"It is just an old friend," You fidgeted with the ends of your dress.

"Friends do not eat out each other's face!" He exasperated, loosening his tie.

"I-"

"I don't think you get it. This photo shows very clearly, the nation's biggest star and the German prodigy footballer exchanging salivas! This is big big news! And it will be a scandal if people catch wind that you are going around smooching high profile people! What would people think of you? We have been through so many ups and downs together but this is your first relationship scandal. I can already imagine the looks of your fans-"

"Aren't you being a tad bit dramatic? Isn't it normal for a pretty girl like me to have relationships?"

"You are an idol!" He shouted, a little too loud that you flinched, "And what is this thing that your Manager told me? Regarding your desire for a boyfriend, please keep in mind that as an idol, you have a certain image to uphold."

You stood up and slammed the table, a little too hard — you felt your palm throb underneath. You took angry steps towards him and placed your still throbbing palm on his face ever so not gently.

He stared into your teal eyes and you saw the big gulp he took.

Taking another step closer till your head was right beneath his chin, you stared up at him and squeezed his cheeks with all your might. He groaned and grabbed your wrist.

"What is that for!" He softly clasped onto his tender, reddened cheeks. You harrumphed back at him.

"HA! Idol this idol that." You snorted, "what if he is actually my boyfriend? Have you thought of that? Plus, my fans are mature enough to understand. We've practically grown up together. Don't be delusional, old pal!"

Ah, I am really digging my grave.

"You know very well-" You eyed him sharply, his mouth clammed shut.

"Kaiser and I are super in love and so what if some paps caught us? Is it really possible for someone like me, a young and attractive woman, to remain celibate forever? I am certainly not a nun." You let your mouth run, nervously.

Wow, my grave has been dug real deeeep, very spacious if I say so myself.

To be honest, you were not even too sure what you were even saying. Your boss was being such a prick. Prickly prick. Ugh.

"When did you even meet that guy with your full schedule?" He asked, hands still on your wrist.

"Our love needs no words. Whence our eye meets, we are in love," You physically cringed at your words. Seeing the goosebumps rising from your boss's arms, you were not the only one who thought so it seems.

Great. Just great.

"Let us set this straight. So you are telling me that you are in a relationship with that football player?"

"Why do you act so surprised? C'mon, I have two fine brothers who are also football players. What can I say? I just love a man who can treat the ball right. It is all bound to be. Therefore this is no scandalous scandal you should be worried about."

He releases your hands and stuffs his hands inside the pocket of his suit, reaching for the cigarette pack. He let out a deep breath and then proceeded to light a cigarette. With a shaky breath, he exhaled the thick smoke, his head throbbing from pent-up exhaustion and frustration.

You almost felt sorry for him, almost.

"Sooner or later, the news will explode. I will have a statement prepared for the media. Get ready."

Oh jolly, will you look? My grave is the size of an Olympic pool! How spacious. Sorry, big man.

Your boss was a good man that cared for you. But sometimes it gets overbearing. Very red flag. Do you think maybe that's why he's still single? I mean, he's got a lot going for him - eligible bachelor, CEO, and let's be real, he's pretty good-looking. But there's gotta be a reason, right?

Ladies, if you need a man you can call me.

ヾ(о-ω･)ﾉ⌒★

Kaiser smiled to himself.

The brightness of his phone deepened his smile into one of a Cheshire cat.

On his phone was a picture of you helplessly holding onto him as he savoured your lips.

"Aren't we cute together?" He said to no one in particular as he caresses the rose tattoo on his neck.

Oh, how the world so nicely revolves around him that fate has brought you back to him.

It would be wonderful if you could be in his embrace at this moment.

He puts down the phone and closed his eyes.

Be patient. Mein göttin.

"You should go back to sleep," Sae's soothing voice nearly put you to sleep as you struggled to stay awake.

You heard rustlings on the other end of the call, pretty sure he was in the middle of his training.

Oops.

"I made a fool out of myself today!" You lamented, snuggling deeper into your silky covers.

"Aren't you always a fool? What did you do this time? Lo siento. Estoy hablando con mi hermana-" You could hear another feint voice conversating with him. Must be his teammates. You yawned.

"- I am sure it is nothing too serious as always. You are tired, go sleep," Sae returned to the conversation.

"It is really really bad..." you spoke softly, rubbing your face onto the silk.

"Did you kill someone?"

"My boss looked like he almost died but no," You stretched your aching body, "I think I just got myself a boyfriend, more like I just told my boss a big lie that is about to be publicised...That guy is not even my boyfriend and when he hears of this garbage - oh boy is he definitely going to have a heart attack. I am in big trouble."

"You dug your own grave," Sae said, cooly.

"I know right, the grave is swimming pool sized."

"Who is the unlucky guy?"

"Kaiser Mikel?" You attempted to recall his surname.

Sae paused for a second before he replied, "Michael. Michael Kaiser?"

"Oh, you know him?"

"I do. He is a... good player. Sister, how did you even get involve with him?" This time, Sae sounded genuinely curious very unlike his usual disinterested self.

"You see," you hugged your bolster tightly, "some bugger quote on quote took a photo of us exchanging salivas."

"Excuse me?" Sae choked, "Exchanging salivas? Mierda-" You could imagine your brother's incredulous yet icked face right now. Well, he wanted to know and you delivered. ｢(◔ω◔「)三

"You heard me right."

"I wish I did not just hear that. But Kaiser and you?" Sae did not fail to exaggerate the last part almost in a manner you did not enjoy.

"Why did that sound like you are mocking me?" You grumbled underneath your soft duvet.

"I don't think that guy will mind being your boyfriend if that helps," Sae shook his head thinking about the German prodigy.

"Really?" you exclaimed, your eyes sparkling with sleepy excitement.

“Yeah. He- Dame un momento. I have to go now. I'll send you a text message. Go to sleep now," he paused briefly, "and have a good night."

There the phone line goes. Silence.

As if Sae had actually cast a sleeping spell on you, your head sank back onto the plush pillow and you succumb to silky sheets pulling you into a dreamy languor.

A boyfriend sounds nice... right?

Ring. Ring. Ring.

The sound of incessant phone ringing filled your room, grumbling under the sheets, you unwillingly pick up the phone.

"Who is it?" You drawled on every word in a drowsy stupor.

"Guten morgen, mein engel!"

You ended the call.

When did you fall asleep? You were having such a nice conversation with your brother too.

As you glance towards the window, you notice that the sun has barely even risen. Feeling lethargic, you let out a groan while still in bed.

Five more minutes...

Your dark lashes fluttered shut as you inhaled the fresh scent of cedar from your sheets. You sank softly into the mattress as sleep slowly envelopes you-

Ring. Ring. Ring.

You moaned softly.

"Five more minutes..." You spoke quietly to the spirits in your room.

Ring. Ring. Ring.

"Five just five-"

Ring. RIng. RIng.

Your eyes snapped open, half awake and half annoyed.

"What is it?" Mouth still dry as you tried to sound as harsh as possible to the rude morning caller, but it came out sounding like a meek, saddened mouse.

"Is mein liebling still sleepy?" The timbre of the caller's voice sent chills down your spine.

You know this voice! You rubbed your sleepy eyes and cleared your dry throat, "Kaiser?"

"Yes, Liebling." He purred.

Your bare arms prickled, sending you chills.

You were still sleeping, right?

"Er- wwie komme ich zu Cologne (*how do i get to Cologne)?" You spouted a random German phrase you so happen to remember from your travels.

"You are very cute," he lightly chuckled.

Oh damn, maybe you were half asleep but that was a pretty nice-sounding chuckle. Still, you did not understand what he just said.

"Someone reached out to me and said you are very much in love with me and that we are in a loving relationship," he continued softly, clearly enunciating each and every word you did not understand, "I am very very flattered, Liebling."

You feigned laughter in response, not sure what you are laughing at but he was laughing too so you are safe.

"Yes, it is a joyous occasion," Kaiser laughed in tune with yours.

Seriously, what is this man saying? You thought to yourself between laughs.

☆〜（ゝ。∂）the end (for now) ☆〜（ゝ。∂）

sike! Extras!

Sae is very unimpressed by Kaiser's courting of his sister. He does not know much outside of soccer but he sure as hell knows that Kaiser's method was, to say the very least, strange. He just hopes the German fella does not hurt his sister. That would be extremely troublesome.

<also, how would you react if you met someone like Kaiser irl, because girlfriend he is screaming red flag to me>

404 notes · View notes

bryngmemoney · 3 months

Text

✁FASHION FLIRT✃

Megumi Fushiguro x Reader

⭑story masterlist link

tw: none that i know

Writing in between messages!!

🪡Chapter Four: Leaf

Maki’s POV for these first 2!

Nobara sat against the park bench, staring at the lest message sent by Yuta. She looked up again to see Yuji waving his arm to the left, as Junpei stood behind a propped up camera. Although covered by the shade of the tree above her, the noon sun blaring onto her phone screen bothered her as she struggled to read what was displayed on it. Farther up she could see Megumi hiding in a group of bushes holding up a scarecrow, that had been DIY’d into a monster prop, and Todo who she guessed was supposed to be acting scared right now. It looked crazy to any on-lookers, but not like any of them really cared.

“Hey Yuji!” She called out, earning the boys head to whip back in reaction. “How much more is this gonna take? I need to be out of here before three.” Yuji looked back at her confused, “What? You said you were free all day?” Nobara simply shrugged in response, “I didn’t think it’d take this long,” granted, they had been there since 9 this morning but only because of Yuji’s indecisiveness on scenes.

“Can we just hurry up and get this over with?” With that Yuji turned back around to look at Megumi, who for the past thirty minutes had been shoved into plants while having to hold up the prop. Although Megumi played the main protagonist in Yuji and Junpei’s indie horror film, due to the limited amount of people they could find everyone had to double up on rolls. Just his luck that since he was the main role he didn’t have to do much than memorize his lines, but in the few scenes he wasn’t in, he had to do tedious tasks like this.

Nobara just sighed in defeat, regretting not taking Mai’s offer on going with her to the cafe across the street to grab a quick drink.

You walked next to Yuta down a concrete pathway, tracking Nobara’s location on your phone. “It says she’s-” you were cut off by a sudden force crashing into the side of your shoulder. You stumbled forward a bit hearing Yuta let out a gasp at your sudden push. You turned around to look at the aggressor only to find a familiar face.

“And what are you doing here?” asked none other than Ryomen Sukuna. Knowing him, this was probably his way of giving you a ‘polite hello’. “Walking, watch where you’re going next time,” you replied, only earning a huff of a laugh from him.

“Y/n! Yuta!” called Nobara, you looked to find her running up to you guys. “Hey Nobara!” greeted Yuta beside you. She turned towards you smiling, however it dropped once she saw Sukuna. “Ew.” In response, he only rolled his eyes. “Well let’s go guys, don’t wanna be around him any more than I need to.” She was about to start walking away, until yet another person called out, but this one with less enthusiasm. “Nobara, get your bag because I am not carrying this around.” You saw him walk up reaching out his arm with the purse you always saw your friend with. Yuta first to speak up greeted him with a ‘hi fushiguro’, followed by a ‘What’s up Megumi,” from Sukuna.

Once Nobara grabbed her purse, he looked passed her at the others, greeting a small ‘hey’ and immediately noticing you along the two. In response to his stare you gave him a small smile, “Hi, y/n l/n.” It took him a second but he managed out a second ‘hey’ except this one directed at you. “You’ve got something in your hair,” you pointed out.

Instinctively he tried to get it, yet missed. In a helpful manner you went to grab it, he was less than an arms reach away anyway, and took the small leaf out.

…

“Thanks.” “No problem.” “Okay, thanks Megumi, bye now.” Nobara said, turning to face you and Yuta once again. “Let’s go i’m hungry, have not eaten anything all day!” With that you three started walking off. “Bye Fushiguro nice seeing you!” Yuta added. You gave a simple wave back, watching Sukuna turn away, and Megumi reply with a small lift of his hand.

Author’s Note: more megumi very soon guys 🤗 also a little plot building ig, but I hope you enjoyed!

still having taglist problems trying to fix it the best I can but hope it’s working!

Taglist below, feel free to comment or dm me to be added!!

TAGLIST

@iridescentrays @gumimegz @maya-maya-56 @mamafly @lunavixia @swissy23 @coltsgf @m00nglad3-mp3 @etsukis @xosren @qtnfer @oengleli @harek89 @y-sabell-a

168 notes · View notes

the-secret-keeper · 10 months

Text

MC Acting Innocent After Being Harassed by a Lower Rank Demon

This includes the brothers separately, and was requested by @waterbanana21

I love this idea, so thank you for requesting it! I'm not sure how to show that you requested it, because I'm stupid, but I appreciate you nonetheless.

TW: Harassment, the demon bros being protective, and suggestive language, though nothing is explicitly mentioned, and in Mammon's there is a mention of someone's eye getting gouged out with a heel, again, not too explicitly described though.

This is in first person, and reader is referred to as MC!

In Asmo's we text Solomon, his texts are in blue, and ours are in purple.

Hope you enjoy, and I hope this is what you wanted!

Lucifer, Avatar of Pride:

"Look, I've told you I'm not interested, you need to leave me alone." I dismissed, shutting my locker loudly.

"Come on! It's just a couple of drinks!"

"I said no!" I yelled at them, beginning to speed up so I would be on time for my meeting with my boyfriend.

The demon continued to match my speed easily, following me through the school making various comments. Some were dismissing me, some were lewd, others were whining about how he was much better than Lucifer. It's annoying.

I was considering taking a turn towards where I knew one of the brothers would be, but I also knew that Lucifer valued punctuality. Though I'm sure he wouldn't mind in this case.

"I already have a lover, I don't need you!"

"But you want me!" He tried to reason.

"Ew." I fake-gagged, hoping being rude would get my point across.

"Don't be like that." He tried to put his arm around my waist as I approached the stairs.

"That's it!"

I turned around and used my fingers to jab his carotid arteries, then the palm of my hand to ram into their nose. Once their balance was lost, I grabbed the wrist of the arm that had been reaching for me, and used my body weight to throw them over my shoulder to fling them down the stairs. I watched in slight amusement as they continued to fall down the stairs, almost like a slinky.

"So this is where you were." Lucifer said, coming up the stairs, and moving to the side, allowing the demon to continue falling.

"Sorry, got a bit caught up." I apologized. "But, as it turns out, throwing the annoying lower rank demons down the stairs is fun!" I smiled.

"Do you want me to deal with him?"

"Nah, the bruise to his ego will be greater than any injury I gave him." I waved off his suggested. "Let's go." I looked at my lover, grabbing his hand so he could lead me to where he wanted to take me originally.

Mammon, Avatar of Greed:

I was on my way to meet up with Mammon, as he said there was something I "needed" to see at this shop downtown, when one of the lower rank demons that has a locker next to mine came up to me.

I made light conversation with them, as I always try to be friendly with those who approach me. But it very quickly turned into me trying to shut down the conversation. They were making passes at me, trying to grab me, and just generally being a creep. I wanted to get out of this situation.

"Hey, this is my stop." I lied, stopping in front of Asmo's favorite heel store. If Asmo wasn't in there, I could probably still duck out the back and get to where I'm going.

"Let me walk you in!"

"Oh, no, that's ok."

I tried to reassure them, but they were already opening the door for me. I sighed, entering, and fake browsing the shoes. Maybe I should get a pair? Asmo does tell me it would help my ability to balance.

"Find anything that catches your eye?" I grabbed the glitteriest pair of heels within my line of vision, and found my size.

"Yep. Just this."

I strained a smile at them before taking the box to the checkout. They insisted on paying, so I pulled out my phone and shot a message to Mammon asking to change the meetup spot to somewhere closer. He complained, but complied.

The demon followed me out of the store, as I began to walk towards the meeting spot, but with I picked up the speed. The demon was still insisting on accompanying me. The comments they were making were making me more and more uncomfortable.

"Please stop following me." I said, stopping my jog. "You're making me uncomfortable. I don't want to do any of those things with you, I am in a relationship already."

"What are you going to do about it?"

"I'll make you shut up!" I glared at them. They laughed.

"You, a pathetic human? I can do whatever I want with you, whenever I want, because you're powerless against me." I reached into the bag containing the heels.

"No, I am not." I argued, grabbing a heel by the toe part.

"Then do it. Shut me up! You can't." They got in my face. "In fact, if you don't shut me up, I guess I'll just take that as, a confirmation that you're into me." They smirked. I swiftly pulled out the heel and stabbed it into their eye. They screamed.

"That's not how consent works, dickhead."

"MC! Are ya ok?!" I turned to see Mammon rushing towards me. "What happened?!"

"I'm fine, Mammon." I reassured. "This demon was being too persistent."

"Where'd ya get the heels?"

"Bought them, unfortunately." I sighed. "I tried to get them to leave me alone by going into the first store I recognized, but it didn't work. Luckily though, they paid for them, so no money wasted!" He laughed as I said that. "But, I only have half the pair, as one of them is lodged in his eye. Should I leave them here?"

"Nah, this one can be a trophy! Taking down yer first demon without magic!" He wrapped his arm around my shoulders, and began to direct me to the meetup spot. "I'll treat ya!"

"Thanks, handsome." I smiled, leaning into him, and wrapping an arm around his waist.

Leviathan, Avatar of Envy:

(I tried to make his section heading bigger, but I really wanted the chat font as his heading T^T sorry)

"I wish I could say I didn't regret this decision." I sighed, attempting to drag my boyfriend out of our hotel room. "Levi, you suggested we go to this con since it's rare for the Devildom to have them! Be proud of your cosplay, so we can go downstairs and enjoy our weekend together."

"It's so embarrassing."

"You chose it!" I finally gave one giant tug and we both fell out of the room, the door closing behind us automatically. I stood up, brushing myself off, before doing the same for my boyfriend. "You look amazing, sweetheart. Besides, there are so many people who will be dressed up in the same cosplay, don't even worry about it." I reassured, readjusting a part of his cosplay that was slightly crooked. "Now, let's go have some fun." He nodded timidly, and I took his hand, leading him downstairs to the con.

We spent several hours walking around looking at all the exhibits, going to panels, and looking at the various merchandise stalls. I suggested he enter the cosplay contest for his character, but he refused.

I was looking at a bunch of pins with various characters on them, when I looked up to ask Levi a question. He was gone. He must've wandered off while I was distracted, and now I was alone, surrounded by demons.

I sighed, purchasing the pin I had been looking for, along with something for Levi and began looking for him.

One of the other con-goers that had been giving me bad vibes since I got here, noticed that I was now alone. They approached me under the guise of trying to be friendly, but I wasn't buying it. I didn't reciprocate their attempts, and shut them down each time with ease.

Eventually, I'd had enough, and turned to someone who was cosplaying a well-known female character who is known to have a very effective magical weapon. That being said, this was just a prop.

I tapped their shoulder, smiling politely.

"May I borrow that for a moment?" I pointed at their prop weapon. They glanced at the person who had been harassing me for the past fifteen minutes.

"Sweetheart you can do a lot better with it than I can." They said, handing it over.

"Thank you." I nodded, before turning around and slamming the prop against the persons head before kicking them where the sun don't shine.

I continuously hit them with the prop weapon on their face and head, eventually climbing on top of them so I could continue to do so without much resistance from them. I felt hands grab my biceps and lift me off the person. I thrashed against their hold before realizing that it was my boyfriend.

"I'm not going to ask."

"Good idea." I nodded, before turning to the cosplayer I borrowed my makeshift weapon from. "Thank you, and sorry for ruining it."

"Honey, don't even worry about it." I smiled at them, before waving to them and walking off.

"So, where were you?"

"I think we got separated at the merch tables. But I got you something."

"I got you something too!" We both started digging through our bags only to produce identical pins. We stared at each other for a second before we burst out laughing.

Satan, Avatar of Wrath:

"Thanks for letting me borrow your notes, MC." My locker neighbor thanked. "Curses and Hexes is my worst subject."

"It's no problem, Satan is the best at that subject and he and I study together." I explained, taking my notebook from them and putting it in my backpack. "How did your test go?"

"Aced it!" They exclaimed laughing.

"Good job!" I congratulated. I checked my watch. "I need to get going but it was nice talking to,"

"Hey, give me your notes on Seductive Speechcraft." I looked at the rude demon.

"Asmo has my notes, he likes to look them over." I glared. "It was nice talking to you, I have to get going."

"See you tomorrow, MC." My locker neighbor waved as I walked off towards the library, where I'd agreed to meet up with Satan.

"Give me those notes."

"I don't have them, go ask Asmodeus." I brushed off, glaring as I started to speed up.

"Then give me your math notes."

"We take different math classes, and I don't have them."

"Why not?"

"Beel ate them." I replied in a sassy tone, although it was true.

"You're lying."

"I'm not." I stopped, and looked at them.

"Just give me what I want."

"I don't have what you want!"

"Then give me you as payment." I slapped them hard across the face.

"Don't insinuate that." They grabbed my wrist, squeezing hard, and glaring at me.

"How dare you touch me? You lowly human!"

I kicked their knee, which caused them to release my wrist, and I swung my heavy backpack, slamming it into their head. Once they had fallen over, I scrambled to remain the winner of this fight, though I doubt they'd fight back now. I grabbed their hair and started slamming their head into the concrete floor of the school. After I was satisfied with the outcome, I got off the floor, let out a breath, straightening my uniform and heading to meet with my boyfriend.

"Why do you smell like blood?" Satan asked upon seeing me.

"For a good reason." I vaguely explained. "It's not mine though, so don't worry."

"It's not yours? Then whose is it?"

"They're still alive, quickly, get them to the infirmary!" I watched as the demon I had beat to a bloody pulp was rushed by on a gurney.

There was a beat of silence after the crowd of loud demons had passed the open library door. Satan was processing what just happened.

"Theirs?"

"Yep."

"Deserved?"

"Most definitely."

"Good." He patted my head and we began to study together.

Asmodeus, Avatar of Lust:

I regret this. 100% Why? Because. There are so many demons here. Obviously. We are in the Devildom. Yeah, but there's one specifically that's bothering me. Won't leave me alone. Isn't Asmo with you? Why isn't he handling it? He's off flirting with other demons, and I have his phone. Damn. All I can say is good luck. Gee thanks. Do you want me to come get you? No, it's fine. I'll handle it. Simeon is making me go to bed. Good example for Luke and all that. Night Sol. Night MC. See you tomorrow.

I smiled fondly at the texts between my best friend and I before putting my phone away. Asmo was kind enough to find an outfit with pockets. Though, it may have been for his own selfish desires, as I am now the keeper of all his things. His outfit doesn't have pockets.

I turned around, leaning my back on the bar as the demon beside me tried to seduce me. But it was ineffective. I live with Asmo, they'll have to do better than him to try to seduce me.

They placed their hand on my chest, which I promptly removed.

"Come on, don't be like that." They whispered seductively into my ear. I leaned away, not wanting them that close to me.

"Don't touch me." I glared.

"Dressed like that, you're practically begging for attention. Just let me make you feel good."

I turned around so my stomach was now against the bar and reached over, feigning putting my arm around their shoulders, only to put my hand on the back of their head and slammed it down until their face connected with the bar. I let them go immediately after though.

"How're you doing over here, darling?" Asmo asked.

"I want to go home." I pouted at my boyfriend. "I'm tired."

"Aww." He cooed. "My sweet little thing." He gently placed his hand against my cheek. "So cute. So soft." He pecked my lips, and likely would've kept kissing me if he hadn't heard,

"They broke my nose! They broke my fucking nose." I saw blood when I looked over, but their face was covered by their hands so I didn't see much.

"Darling? Why would you do that?"

"They touched me and I didn't like it." I played innocent.

"Shame on you then." He chastised the demon, before linking our arms together and heading towards the exit of the building. "Let's get you home so we can cuddle."

"Sounds lovely, Azzy."

Beelzebub, Avatar of Gluttony:

I was going up to get more food for my boyfriend. We were at a new all you can eat buffet that was, clearly, poorly prepared for Beelzebub. I could practically see the employees sweating as he ate plate after plate.

I went back to the buffet and grabbed two plates, filling one to the brim, and one with just enough for me. As I was on my way back to our table, a hand grabbed my wrist.

"Excuse me." I eyed their hand, glaring at the demon who was gripping me, but they did not release me. "I'm going to have to ask you to ask your friend over there to slow down."

"It's an all you can eat buffet. Let him eat." I shook my head at the hypocrisy. "Remove your hand from me please."

"Look, we need time for the cooks to refill the buffets, if he keeps eating like this we won't have enough food for anyone else. Besides, he could probably lay off a bit if he wants to keep that body."

"You should've been more prepared for the Avatar of Gluttony when you advertised it as an all you can eat buffet. It's not his fault that you weren't, nor is it mine. And do not ever comment on his body for any reason. Let me go. Now."

"Come on, you seem to be reasonable. For a human. Just tell him to stop, that he needs to stop."

"Do it yourself, coward." I very carefully pulled my hand out of his grasp. I smiled at Beel as I approached I set our respective plates in front of our spots, standing before our table.

"Excuse me!" I heard the demon from before exclaimed, placing a hand on my shoulder and squeezing. I very easily flipped them over my shoulder, and unfortunately right onto the table.

"Sorry about that baby." I looked at Beel with puppy dog eyes.

"It's no problem sweetheart. Let's go to Madam Screams to get some dessert." He said softly after a moment. I nodded, smiling once again as he stood and we walked out of the restaurant.

Belphegor, Avatar of Sloth:

I had received a text from Lucifer asking me to find my boyfriend, as Beel was busy and Belphie wasn't responding to his calls or messages. I suggested that he might've just been avoiding Lucifer, but I got the sense that he didn't care if Belphie was avoiding him.

As I searched for my boyfriend, I asked a few people I recognized if they had seen him recently, but they all pointed me in different directions. It was like a wild goose chase. He was in the gardens, then he was in the auditorium, then he was down some random hallway, then he was in the math classroom. He was apparently everywhere, but nowhere at the same time. I hated it.

I hadn't called him yet, taking the challenge to find him without it, but I was reaching the end of my patience. I had other things to do, I didn't want to spend the whole afternoon looking for my elusive lover.

"Have you seen Belphegor?" I asked a classmate of mine who I only vaguely remembered from my math class.

"Not today." They denied.

"Oh, thanks anyways." I nodded and turned to leave, going to check one more place before I finally give up.

"Hey, wait up. It's hard to catch you without him." I didn't wait up, but they did catch up to me, and kept pace with me. "I was wondering if you'd be interested in going out with me."

"No. I'm already in a relationship and have no interest in you or breaking off my current relationship." I said monotonously.

"Come on, just give me a chance."

"No."

"He doesn't have to know. Just one night."

"Absolutely not." I scowled at the demon, who didn't falter in their advances.

I turned down a hallway, only to feel them confidently place their hand on my ass. I grabbed their wrist and twisted their arm so much it was on the verge of snapping. They started whimpering in pain.

"Touch me again and I will do more than almost snap your arm." I threatened. "Believe me when I say next time you touch me you will not walk away with both arms intact." I moved their arm more, causing tears to form in their eyes. "Have I made myself clear?" They nodded vigorously. "Good." I let them go and they scrambled to their feet and sped away as fast as they could.

The next day after finding Belphegor, we were both walking down the hall when we saw the demon from yesterday. We made eye contact briefly and they immediately ducked their head down, running past us. Belphegor furrowed his brows, confused by the situation and why they seemed more afraid of me than of him.

"What was that about?"

"I'm not sure. But if they're scared, they must have a good reason.'' I smiled, purposefully leaving out what had happened the day before.

386 notes · View notes

novelizt · 7 months

Text

PEERING EYES OVER WROUGHT-IRON FENCES ☁︎ ANTHONY LOCKWOOD

GENRE ➺ childhood friends (to estranged friends) to lovers. angst w/ a happy ending.

WC ➺ 12.2k

SYNOPSIS ➺ to uncover the mystery of iris griffith's murder, it's time to face the music, cross the fence, and talk to a friend you never expected to become a stranger to.

WARNINGS ➺ mentions of the lockwood family tragedies, strained family dynamics, discussions and descriptions of murder

DISCLAIMER ➺ fem! reader. lockwood & co. are aged up to about 18-years-old, I try to shoe-horn forensic science into psychical investigations (I am not a professional so... it's unrealistic, sorry.), and Lockwood calls reader cherry/cherry cheeks

NOTE ➺ I can't remember if Portland Row has wrought-iron fences. In case it doesn't, it does now — this is fan fiction. Also, this is the first time I've finished a story this lengthy and I feel really proud of myself. I hope you enjoy!

The first time Lockwood had laid eyes on you, you were a set of peering eyes over a wrought-iron fence. He could barely see over it, but he could remember how round and shiny your eyes were. All doll-like and unrealistic. Honestly, it scared him. You couldn't blame little Lockwood for scuttling back to his sister.

That same day, your parents had brought you over and formally introduced themselves. Between your parents's statuesque figures, stood you.

Contrary to your encyclopaedic eyes, your mannerisms were timid. You looked miniscule in your Sunday dress. You looked like a breeze could knock you over. Anthony couldn't help but feel bad for running from you earlier.

Following introductions, a terse dinner ensued. Your parents were doctors, the kind who would scamper about in hospitals in scrubs and white coats — people who believed in science. His were researchers who dabbled in spiritual devices of different cultures — people who preferred to find the emotional aspect in the supernatural. Suffice it to say, the conversation was very one-sided.

Even then, Anthony was determined to be your friend. He thought having pretentious parents, like yours, would spoil the fun in things like spinning tops or fencing or enjoying pie with ice cream after supper. (Your parents had insisted the sugar would make it difficult for you to sleep.)

Anthony had made up his mind before you even uttered a word to him.

The instant the adults had dismissed you to the living room with Anthony and Jessica, he had snuck you a pie with extra ice cream on top. He and Jessica had their backs to the door so in the unlikely event that your parents came in, they wouldn't see you breaking their rules.

You weren't much younger than Anthony back then, but with cherry smeared across your cheek and ice cream clinging to your lip, he thought you were as cute as a button. He wasn't aware that he had been smiling at you so widely.

He missed the knowing glint in Jessica's eyes.

Across the peaceful months you'd spent as friends, Anthony and Jessica would tell you about their parents' most recent findings and you'd tell them the most bizarre concepts you learned at the academy.

At night, Anthony would sit by the window in his attic room, flagging out written messages on a sketch pad. Across the way, you would poke your head out to read it.

lots of apples are falling these days. want some?

my parents won't let me

that's because an apple a day keeps the doctors away. i think they're scared

no way... papa says he cuts people open. how could he be scared of apples?

ew... and I dunno, cherry. do you want apples or not?

stop calling me that

apples?

sure...

come down

ARE YOU MENTAL??

He was, indeed, crazy. He had tiptoed all the way downstairs and grabbed his mother and father's favorite jackets on the way out.

In the bite of night and the glow of ghost-lamps, he looked up at your house to see your head poking out of of a different window, a crazed expression on your face. 'What are you doing?' you mouthed.

"Hurry!" He yelled back. He chuckled when you'd flinched and checked behind you. He held up the jackets and took a breath, watching in amazement as fog formed from it.

All while you tapped the window sill in thought. You took one more contemplative glance behind you, then shut the window.

You were vaulting over the fence in no time. He caught you, cushioning your fall with the jackets he'd taken and greeted you with an incandescent smile. Even in greenlight, your little heart skipped a beat.

"Here. Wouldn't want you to catch a cold. We'd both be in trouble if you did."

He threw his mother's coat over your head. It was so big, it enveloped you like a gown. You tried to slip your arms through the sleeves but you only got halfway before you wiggled the limp fabric in his face. He swatted you away but folded them up enough so your palms could come through.

His father's jacket was huge on him, too, but he had the kind of air that made him look natural in it.

In his efforts to help you, his own hands had turned red from the cold. You seized them and stuffed them in your pockets, since your—his mother's—jacket had the lined pockets.

After huddling for warmth, you two grew warm enough to walk further into the backyard and pick up handfuls of apples. You found that you could only fit three apples in each pocket, so you held more by tucking your shirt into your pants and shooting them into your shirt. Anthony had done the same. You didn't realize how ridiculous your actions were until you saw how puffed his figure looked with that many apples stuffed down his shirt.

You snorted so loud it hurt, slapping your hand over your mouth to kill any more laughs that could alert the sleeping adults.

He turned his head to you, like an owl. It made more apples fall from your shirt as your shoulders shook. He shushed you, frantically glancing at the house. "What's wrong with you?"

You shook your head, riding the wave of maturity before it crashed. Little laughs and apples spilled from you. "You look like a pufferfish!"

He looked down and examined himself then, indignantly, he pointed at you. "You're literally spewing apples, you're just as bad!"

Restraint crumbled. Your hand came away and your laughs filled the silent night air. Anthony's laughs began to dance with yours until the pair of you were reduced to shaking stumps surrounded by fallen apples.

"Don't look at me! You're making me laugh!"

"Your face is funnier!"

"Stop it!"

"Cherry— You're only making me laugh more!"

It was no surprise that his parents had woken up and scolded you two accordingly. While they tutted at you, you two sat under the same blanket. Elbowing each other when they began to question who'd initated it.

You weren't a snitch. You did not tell, and they never found out who caused the trouble.

Jessica later rewarded you both with a cookie under their noses. You cracked your cookie in half to share with her. Anthony did the same to his, giving his other half to you.

—

Those memories were a far cry from the present. On some days, they felt like dreams. Now, all you are to him is a pair of peering eyes over wrought-iron fences.

Lockwood would catch glimpses of you on the way back from a case. He would nod, you would nod. Then both of you would continue on with your lives like the era of cherry pies and fallen apples had never happened.

Some days, he would turn the newspapers, checking to see if student doctor you had earned any new accolades in your scholastic journey to saving lives, but he never had it in him to say hello to you.

That morning's issue had you on the front page. You with your resplendent eyes and smile finally sporting a white coat at the ripe of eighteen, the first one of your age to earn 'Doctor' as a suffix to your name. Apparently, you'd applied your studies on forensic science to aid psychical investigations involving mummified body parts.

Seems you were doing well.

He placed the paper face down on the thinking cloth, ignoring Lucy's questioning gaze as he took a sip of tea.

"What's happened now?" Lucy asked, stretching her neck to see what made him so upset. She settled back into her seat after she set her eyes on the crossword puzzle, unable to glimpse the front page. "Kipps's crew?" she guessed.

"No, he would have his brow furrowed like this–" George turned to show his brows knitted together so hard they looked like they were drawn on with marker. "–if it was Kipps. It's got to be something else."

"Oh, right," Lucy said with bite, smacking her head like that made sense. "How could I forget?"

George shrugged, grinning like he had a secret on the tip of his tongue. "I don't know, Luce. Maybe it's the letters you've been receiving from one; Norrie White."

Lucy's chair scraped as she stood, gaping at George with anger tightening her mouth. "You went through my mail!"

"She wrote her name in marker. Red. Marker. I would have to be blind to miss it."

Lockwood kicked back and watched the drama ensue, a smile easing itself back on his face. Lucy and George's petty squabble was always a shot of espresso on a rather depressing morning. They made an excellent stopper to all his wonderings about the past.

"That was none of your business!" Lucy shrieked. In her fury, her hands itched to do something... to throw something.

Lockwood realized too late. He vaulted forward to pry the newspaper from her fingers, but Lucy's rage made her a savage. She chucked the newspaper at George with the velocity of a racing car.

The headlines collided with George's face with a resounding thud.

His glasses fell and landed with a unceremonious noise. Thankfully, unscathed from the impact.

The same could not be said for his nose.

George's face pulsed like he had been stung by the world's largest be. He splayed his hand over his nose to check for bleeding and groaned.

"That hurt..."

"Of course it did. I intended it to," Lucy huffed. She scooped up George's glasses and the paper. "That ought to teach you about looking at my correspondence."

"Didn't have to thump me that hard though," George grumbled, snatching his glasses back.

He looked like a dartboard bullseye wearing glasses. Lockwood couldn't focus on it though. His eyes were honed in on the newspaper Lucy was currently unraveling.

He bit his cheek and decided to finish his tea in one gulp. "Well," Lockwood started, fixing his collar as he stood. "I'd better see what we're taking on tonight. I'll be—"

"Hey, this is that girl next door." Lucy pushed her face closer to the paper to reassure herself that she wasn't seeing wrong. She'd seen that blouse and trouser combo on you a few days ago. "Yeah! That's her!"

George showed a rare kind of expression. A raised brow aimed at Lockwood. "She's a doctor now. How could that be upsetting?"

"Don't tell me you have a rivalry with her because she poked you in the bum when you were little," Lucy joked.

Lockwood's face flushed. He looked at the kitchen door, contemplating escape, then back to his friends. He leaned on the doorframe, attempting to look lax but coming off as stiff as a board. "Who said I was upset?"

"You were quiet over tea," George said.

"What of it?" Lockwood pushed.

George gave him an are you kidding me kind of look. "You never shut up when you can help it."

"And you did this." Lucy copied his pondering face, and Lockwood grimaced—reminding himself to school his expressions better.

"Please. For all things good, never do that again, and I am not upset at her—"

"Defensive now? You so are," George chuckled.

Lockwood's jaw ticked. "I am not—"

Saved by the bell. All three heads turned to the door with interest. It was still early in the day, so a new client was unexpected.

"I'll get it," Lockwood said. He left a prattling Lucy and George in the winds of his coat.

The doorbell rang again before he got to it. "Keep your shirt on—"

George and Lucy idled at the foot of the stairs as the door swung open. George let out a gasp, Lucy elbowed him to keep quiet.

Speak of the devil and he will appear. Though, you were more seraphic in that white dress, innocently festooned with embroidered cherries. Your smile was as disarming as ever. It was even brighter than the light haloing your hair.

"Hello."

Lucy tripped over air at the sweetness of your voice, now understanding how the word 'mellifluous' came to be.

Lockwood was indifferent.

Just staring at the back of his head, Lucy knew he was sporting an expression reserved just for Kipps and his crew. It made her want to kick his shin and tell him to get himself together.

"Hi," Lockwood finally greeted, tone bleak. "What are you doing here?"

"Lockwood," George finally intervened. Seems he was taken by how you carried yourself, too.

Both your and Lockwood's heads turned to him.

"Oh, you must be George Karim." Your smile widened, outshining the light above the door. "And Lucy Carlyle. Pleasure to finally meet you."

Lucy and George rarely agreed on things, but they spoke like they were on the same wavelength then. "Pleasure is ours."

A little laugh escaped you, just as graceful as the swish of your skirt. You introduced yourself, discounting your new title. "My parents asked me to invite friends to my celebratory dinner tonight but I don't have people I'd really consider friends." Your honeyed eyes drifted back to Lockwood, trying not to wilt under his blasé gaze. "I was thinking you three could drop by. No need to bring anything but yourselves. We have pie and ice cream for dessert."

Hope was alight in your eyes. The insider statement flew over George and Lucy's heads, and apparently, Lockwood's too. Your expression dampened as it struck you.

"That sounds nice," George said pleasantly.

Lucy nodded in agreement. "And it's not every day we get invited to a free meal."

"With pie." George was already dreaming about it.

Lockwood let out a breath. "Sorry. We have a case tonight."

"No, that's for Friday night," George interrupted. "Isn't that right, Lucy?"

"That's right," Lucy doubled down.

Both of Lockwood & Co.'s best simply blinked and grinned at Lockwood's taut form.

"Great," you quipped. Your eyes lingered on Lockwood but moved to George and Lucy when he showed no interest in being civil. "I'll see you tonight, then. Have a nice day!"

"You too!"

Lockwood gave you a sufficient nod and lipped smile as he closed the door. The moment you were out of sight, the room turned sepia.

Silence for a moment, then George.

"There is definitely something going on here."

—

Despite Lucy and George's joint efforts to pry answers from him, Lockwood did not bend. When the light began to die outside, they retired to their own rooms to prepare. Finally leaving him in silence.

Lockwood chose to wear his usual get-up. The only difference was his waistcoat. It sported a thin, stylish red stripe down it's right side; George had worn an unstained shirt for once, so he did put a bit more effort into his looks that evening; and Lucy wore her best skirt and sweater to put her best foot forward.

"Now," Lockwood said as they all spiraled down the steps. "You have to remember a few things about our neighbors."

"And that would be?" George rolled his eyes.

"They're doctors," Lockwood answered like it was a sin.

"All of them?" Lucy asked with interest.

"Yes, the entire family," Lockwood confirmed. "You have to remember that when they start getting weird about our work."

"Why?" Lucy flicked a crumb left on George's shoulder once they reached the last step. "We get help from hospitals when we need to examine post-mortem documents. It's not like our professions are worlds apart."

"You mean I get help," George corrected firmly. "Not like either of you do the grisly work when it comes to research."

"Well, you're the best at it," Lucy said placatingly.

"'Course I am," George nipped.

Lockwood shushed them. "Regardless of what they say, do not loose your cool. They think getting you worked up means they win.

"They can't be that bad. Your girl was nice enough," Lucy said.

Lockwood's brows furrowed then unfurrowed. "She's not my girl," he said, opening the door with zeal.

"Sure," Lucy grinned as she slipped past.

—

34 Portland Row looked the same as 35 from the outside. The interior decor made it clear that the home was made up of doctors. Successful ones, by the looks of it.

You greeted them at the door with the same radiatant smile from the papers. Your dress was marvelous but Lucy and George could not help but look over your shoulder, into the opulence of 34 Portland Row.

Like always, Lockwood greeted you with a nod and addressed you by name. It wasn't much but you accepted it with cheeks strained from practicing your smile.

As you lead them to the dining room, their eyes wandered at their own volition. Lockwood couldn't help but do the same.

The crystal chandelier in the living room was as decadent as ever; the doorknobs had been changed to be made of glass and silver; the bookshelves were packed with newer books—likely yours; the wall next to the stairs still held your height measurements from years ago. He caught your eye as he did so, trying not to flinch at the waves of melancholy that crashed over him. He chose to look at the back of your head as the light of the dining room enveloped them.

Like every room in this house, a chandelier sat in the middle. Everything was gleaming. Not a speck was out of place, except maybe him. Perfect, just like the family that lived here.

The table was already set with steaming meals of steak, veggies, and mashed potatoes. There was a pitcher of juice in the middle but Lockwood noticed that he, Lucy, and George's glasses were already filled with water. Your mother had just finished filling the last one when she offered her most deceitful smile.

"Anthony Lockwood and friends..." your mother greeted. Her tone was eloquent but the drawl in it sent an unwelcomed pang of anxiety through Lockwood, he tensed then forced himself to relax. "Haven't seen you around lately, Tony."

"Running a business does eat time, unfortunately." He spared her a terse smile and sat at the chair you directed him to — just across from you. Lucy sat beside you, and George had the misfortune of sitting next to your father. Lockwood cleared his throat to break the silence. "You haven't aged a day, Mrs.—"

"Doctor, actually. We've had this conversation before," she chortled with a furled smile you would only expect from the devil's mistresses.

Lucy and George found sudden interest in their food. Your shoulders sunk, but like times before, you didn't say anything. Lockwood tried not to look surprised.

"Right... Doctor. My apologies." He straightened himself in his seat. "You two look swell. How has the winter been treating you?"

"Oh, it's absolutely tiring," your father said. He had the kind of tone that suggested that he was always pouting. At least he wasn't spitting venom while he was talking about himself. "Patients coming in but rarely being able to make it out. Terrible thing, really."

"Sorrows to those who have passed because of the upstart," your mother chipped in. "Our little darling saved some lives in lieu of her recent graduation, and she's only been a doctor for a few days!"

Your mother smiled at you. You refused to look up from your dinner. "All I did was administer CPR. The hospital was understaffed that day. I work in a different department, mama."

Her smile faded before her eyes snapped to Lockwood, her grin sharpening.

"Can you imagine that? Not even a day as a doctor and she's already on the papers. Real talent gets recognized straight away, everyone knows."

Your father did not finish chewing his steak before he joined in. "Kids these days run around wasting their time on things other than their academics. What do they expect to do after their talents fade, huh? Our girl has no worries in that department."

George pushed his plate away after a blob of spit landed on his potatoes. He thought it was best to put down his utensils as well. His grip was turning his knuckles white. Lucy had resorted to pushing her asparagus to calm the anger beginning to stoke in her mind. They were beginning to see why Lockwood did not want to come. The aforementioned remained with a practiced smile on his face.

Your eyes conveyed your apologies yet Lockwood refused to look at you. You were as meek as the girl Lockwood first saw over the fence. Your voice was weaker when you used it in this house. "Mama, papa. Those kids risk their lives to make living easier for everyone. Bravery like that can't be learned from textbooks."

"No, but keeping your nose out of that business altogether will keep you alive." Your mother's expression changed, a beguiling woman turning into medusa before their very eyes.

You sunk under the weight of her stare. You might as well have turned to stone.

"Knowledge keeps you alive," your father added. "Perusing supernatural business will only end with dead kids or orphans who have to resort to psychical work to get by. Some of them work up the nerve to call it a real profession."

A resounding ring resounded from Lockwood's side of the table. He had dropped his knife. His smile had gone. His lips twitched, like he wasn't sure what to do or say. Ultimately saying nothing.

Your eyes glossed over, anger and sadness swirling together in your belly. You were ready to let loose, to set your parents straight. Yet, one look at your father's face was enough to have you curling in on yourself.

The temperature dropped like the conversation had. No one said a thing when smoke began to choke the room.

"Well," your mother cheered. "Seems like the pie is ruined. I'm afraid we'll have to end supper here."

—

Lucy rushed the door open, just itching to unload the tangle of colorful words she'd thought up in that stuffy house of yours.

"They were horrendous," George said, throwing his flannel aside. "I thought that junior doctor was nice but now I know she's Medusa's spawn."

"She is. And have you seen her dad?" Lucy doubled down. She considered going downstairs to release her pent-up emotions but thought better of it. "Terrible, the lot of them."

Lockwood had thought the same cruel thoughts but hearing it from them made him defensive. You weren't bad. You were just a bystander. Your lack of responses hurt as bad as your parents's passive-aggressive jabs, but you weren't even close to being half the evil your parents were. He felt his stomach churning as they began to drag your name through the dirt.

"We are never going back there," George declared. "You were right, Lockwood."

"I need 24 hours of sleep to recover from it. I've never felt so murderous before." That was Lucy's way of saying goodnight. She started for the steps right after.

"I think we should go back. So you can finish the job," George said, following Lucy up the stairs.

Lockwood stumbled ahead, throwing his coat on the newel and collapsing at the foot of the steps. From where he lazed, he continued to hear Lucy and George bicker.

"Maybe you could call up that Norrie White to help you get away with murder," George said encouragingly.

"Don't even start on that, George," Lucy warned.

Her door closed.

"Fine," George said despondenty. "It was just a suggestion, geez."

His door closed, too.

Lockwood let out a breath. It felt like his soul had left his body for a moment of reprieve. He didn't have even five minutes of silence before he heard urgent taps reverberating through his ears. He sat up, alarmed, trying to assess where the noise could have come from.

After a quick sweep, he swung the kitchen door open and discovered you on the other side of the garden door, knuckles raping against the glass with a pained look on your face.

He contemplated leaving you out in the cold but decided that he wasn't that kind of person. He opened the door and wasn't all that surprised that your habit of forgetting a jacket stayed true. You were shivering.

"Anthony—"

"Give me a moment," he interrupted. He turned, walked back to the steps to retrieve his coat, then returned to drape it over your shoulders. "Come in. Sit. You never remember to bring a coat at night, stubborn girl."

You smile despite the frost on your face. Your face turns pink as the warmth of 35 Portland Row thaws you. He sits you on his usual seat and takes George's cushioned seat instead.

"Old habits die hard," you chuckle, holding his coat tighter. If you bent your head enough, you would get a whiff of him on it. You could have tried to do it inconspicuously but he was sitting right there, he would know. "I'm sorry... for everything. I thought they wouldn't– I really should have known they would say things like that. I apologize for them. I really do feel bad. If Mr. Karim and Ms. Carlyle are still up, I'd like to tell them as well."

"They've retired for the night," he reports. He redacts the part that they were discussing the demise of your family. "but thank you for coming to say that."

"And I'm sorry I didn't say anything," you add.

Lockwood doesn't say anything to that. In his mind, you would have stopped them if you were really sorry. "Why did you come here? And please don't say you're inviting us to another dinner."

"Goodness, no." You snort. "I... have a case. I don't know who else to surrender the evidence to."

His brows jump. "You're asking for psychical service? From me? Us, I mean."

You nod. "I hear that Ms. Carlyle is particularly gifted. What I think we're facing is something special. Something no regular agent can feel out."

"Why hasn't Fittes or Rotwell been put up to this if it's that important?"

"Because it's a personal study of mine." You drop a manila folder on the thinking cloth. Lockwood didn't even notice you were holding it earlier. "It's a closed case. An unsolved one. The autopsy is gruesome and justice was never brought to the victim. I searched her property myself and found the source. I tried to communicate with her but I can't do it."

"And you think Lucy is the Listener for the job?"

"Yes. I don't just want to get rid of a ghost, Anthony, I want to lay her to rest. To give her peace."

He leans back in his chair, drinking in the information while he raked a hand through his hair. "You investigated the area of the haunting alone?"

"In daylight," you said in your defense. "My sense of touch is useful enough for me to know if something is a source. Problem is, I can't get any psychical resonance to find out who had killed her."

"Amazing..." he breathed. He didn't know you had that level of sensitivity. Still, he had to think of this as an official case. He righted his posture immediately. "I'll ask George and Lucy in the morning. Can you come by at nine?"

"Yeah. My parents are at work before then. No worries about them."

"Good."

You nod, not knowing what else to do. "Good."

You stared at each other. Possibly taking in how much time had changed you; The scars he'd earned through the years, the callouses on your hands from studying, blemishes, changed mannerisms—and then the unspoken reminder that you had drifted apart after the Lockwood family turned from four to one. You were completely different people to the children who used to laugh through these halls.

"I better get going," you said. You couldn't handle Lockwood and his expressive eyes. You don't know if he was doing it consciously, but it was like you could see his sadness bleeding into the world just by glancing at them.

He nodded like a puppet on a string, pulling himself up and leading you to the garden door once more.

"Goodnight," you said, mustering a friendly smile that was, thankfully, returned.

"Night... Cherry," he replied.

You smiled for a moment more before you snuck back home. Neither of you remembered that you had his coat until morning.

—

You were knocking at 35 Portland Row at 8:55. You stood stiffly, not knowing how to conduct yourself after last night's catastrophe. Lockwood's coat was folded over your arm when George answered the door.

Opposite of the day before, his face was flat. If you turned around and left, you'd be doing him a favor. Unfortunately for him, you were there with intention.

"I need the help of Lockwood & Co."

George opened his mouth, probably thinking of some creative way to say 'shove off'. Lockwood's voice from the kitchen bellowed over his train of thought. "It that her? Let her in, Georgie."

George was mumbling something but he stepped aside and didn't stab you with a nearby rapier. You believed that meant there was a chance to redeem yourself.

You were lead to the receiving room where you were shortly joined by Lockwood and an either groggy or bloodthirsty Lucy. George had retired to the kitchen to bring in biscuits. You hadn't earned the respect to have cake in the vicinity.

Lockwood lead the conversation, eyes trained on you. It made you conscious enough to shuffle and pick at the frayed seams of his coat.

"You only gave us a few details about this case. Evidently it was murder but it was closed and unsolved for two decades."

"I have the rest here," you said, revealing another manila folder. This one was thicker, packed with all you knew about it. It was the real deal. As you passed it across the table, the three of them ogled at the vivid red 'confidential' stamp slanted across the front. "Her name was Iris Griffiths. She was a forensic scientist who cracked several unsolved cases in her time. She had sensitive hearing, from what her colleagues said. She wasn't working on any new cases before her housemate reported her dead on a random night."

"Was it during winter? She could have been ghost-touched." Lucy suggested with a clipped tone. She just wanted to close the case and never see you again.

You shook your head, reaching across and guiding Lockwood's hand to another page in the folder. "Her autopsy shows several lacerations and bruises but no remnants of ghost touch. Her body was already decomposing when she was found."

"And her flatmate? They could be a suspect." George pitched.

You shook your head again. "Celia Rodney was out of town with her fiancé. Several colleagues were interviewed and confirmed it."

Lockwood looked up. "Then we have to assume that it's someone from Griffith's personal life. Did she have a lover?"

"This is like the Annie Ward case all over again," Lucy groaned.

You continued nonetheless. "She did have a lover, actually. Howard Gasley was her co-worker and boyfriend. They had a good relationship, according to the interviews, so I don't suspect any foul play between them."

George leaned against the right side of his chair. There was a creak from the old thing but he ignored it. "What if their relationship was rocky behind the scenes?"

You looked down at the evidence file and sighed. "I guess we will find out when Ms. Carlyle's able to speak with her. All our suspects have solid alibis. To obtain justice for Iris Griffith, we'll have to be her witnesses."

George turns stiff. "We? Lockwood."

Lucy does the same. "You're asking me to communicate with a ghost?"

Lockwood tries to settle them down with a relaxed smile. "It's high time I stop scolding you for being good at what you do, Luce. Our client is explicitly asking you to exploit your talent and find us a killer. The client is always right. Isn't that right, George?"

George grumbles a reply you don't hear, and Lucy nods limply, like she can't comprehend the fact that Lockwood was being so lax about this. What happened to the dangers of communicating with ghosts?

Regardless, they realize that arguing with him was going to be a losing battle. He has that look in his eye—one akin to an adrenaline junkie who's about about to jump from a cliff, and his eyes are set on you.

Lucy and George watched as you returned his coat before they shot each other looks.

What happened to hating you and your white-coat family? Lockwood marched to the beat of his own drum, apparently.

They had their kits ready before dark and met you on the street you'd told them about. Lockwood saw your peering eyes over the run-down house's picket fence and quickened his pace.

"Lovely place," Lucy drawled, eyeing the chipping paint with faint curiosity. Two decades could do so much to a nice house.

"Very lively," George seconded with bite, side-stepping the corpse of a rat.

"I have the source inside, under a chain net," you inform them. You push open the door, wincing as the hinges break and send the wood slamming to the floor. "I hope the house holds long enough to finish this investigation."

"Finally," cheered Lucy. "something we can agree on."

Lockwood was contemplating over how to behave himself. One second, he was keeping pace with you, then walking ahead the next, then falling behind you. He cycled between all three, ignoring George's rolling eyes and Lucy's sighs until all four of you reach the second-floor's lavatory. Luckily, no one had fallen through the floor.

"Do tell me we're not dealing with supernatural turd," George begged.

Lucy wrinkled her nose. "I'll be the one doing the Listening so you can take your complaints outside, George."

"This might be worse," you answer them when you pull off the chain net from an odd looking thing. It looked like a starfish wrapped in ripped and yellowed tissue paper. Lucy gagged when she took a second look.

"Mummified hand," Lockwood said aloud, trying to keep a placid smile on his face. "I always tell you to never mess with mummified body parts but we'll have to make an exception."

"Mummified parts bridge the forensic and psychical field, unfortunately." You cover the source back up as a mercy to Lucy. "They couldn't find her hand before they autopsied her body. Found this under a plank in her bedroom."

"Handy," George said dryly.

Lucy glared at him. "Not the time."

"I'm not sorry," he replied.

"You could have mentioned this sooner," Lockwood interjected, turning his head to you.

You gave a smile in response. "I think it's just another piece of evidence that proves someone had been very angry with her."

"Did the academy teach you to smile so morbidly?" George questioned.

"No, that's just her face." Lockwood said gravely.

George spared you a look that resembled concern. "Pity."

You dropped your smile and walked passed a chuckling Lockwood.

—

Lucy couldn't hear a thing while there was light out. Even with the chain net off, all she could hear was George's heavy breathing.

Lockwood had everyone sat in the disparaging kitchen to have tea and some biscuits before night fell. All the courtresy of Lockwood & Co., of course. Papers spread across the table, rehashing the details in hopes that it would help Lucy discern which questions to prioritize once she made contact with Griffith.

George squinted his eyes at the court transcripts. "There's an awful lot of witnesses."

"It was a big case. Griffith did wonders to connect the world of science and the psychic." You dipped a biscuit into your overly sweetened tea; it was not so coincidentally your favorite brand, and took a bite. "She inspired me to study. It's been a dream of mine to solve her case."

George nodded with the most plastic smile on his face. "Wonderful. We're fulfilling childhood wishes while Lucy experiences rediscovered trauma."

You sighed and sunk into the rotting seat. There was no salvaging an acquaintanceship with George at this rate. You lulled your head to look at Lockwood. He spared you a smile but looked away just as quick.

"Don't interrupt me, that's all I ask," Lucy said as the clock struck six.

Papers were put away, circles were drawn, several more candles were lit, and Lucy hunkered down in the lavatory. The door was closed to give her room to work, leaving you to stand between Lockwood and George. You hobbled from heel to heel as you eyed their rapiers and their weary wandering.

The silence reminded you too much of home. Words poured out of you to chase away your parents's images in your mind. "How strong are Ms. Carlyle's talents? I've only heard heresay about her abilities."

"None of your business—"

"She's the best Listener in the field," Lockwood answered. Even in the dim light, you could see his smile pull higher. It made your heart do funny things while your stomach dropped. "I ought to think she'd be on parr with Marissa Fittes, given enough time. Maybe even better."

George nodded in agreement, turning his head as the ghost-lamps outside flickered to life. The green hue bled into the room, dimming the atmosphere even more.

You leaned against the wall as a chill crept out from under the lavatory door. "I have no doubt that we'll be able to get our answer then."

"Oh! Ow!" George exclaimed.

You didn't have a rapier or any form of weapon but you turned to him like you could help, just to find he was simply hugging himself.

"Got really cold all of a sudden. Felt like something passed through me," he said. He looked down at his thermometer. "Temp's dropped significantly. This visitor is a force."

"That's why she got the best of the best to do it," Lockwood boasted, winking your way and changing his stance as a spectral glow began to flicker under the door.

"Do we have a guess on what we could be facing?" you asked, backing away.

Lockwood didn't miss the tremoring in your hands. "No, but where where is a lack of knowledge, there is faith. We'll make it out this alive."

"Oh," you laughed unhumorously. "how reassuring."

"He's good at that," George added flatly.

Lockwood held out an arm, guiding you to stand between him and George. Their backs turned to you, their rapiers raised and at the ready.

"Here," Lockwood didn't look away from the dark as he unclasped a salt-bomb and a flask of lavender water. He held them out and you took them with shaking hands.

Malaise stalked in on you three, making the hairs on your arm stand. You gripped the salt-bomb and lavender water for dear life. Pressure squeezed down on your chest and your heart raced for a danger unseen.

"This much activity before ten? Griffith must have had qualms about dying." George said.

Lockwood chuckled, nodding along. "Wonder how nobody reported this much activity if the source was hidden all this time."

"Nobody wanted to visit this place when the killer was still at large," you answered, struggling to keep your tone even. "Some kids started some rumors during the court proceedings. They said someone just wanted the house badly enough to kill for it."

"That would be unfortunate," George said. "Imagine all that commotion over a killer who simply wanted real estate."

You tried to stiffle a laugh but failed. "It does sound ridiculous."

Lockwood chanced a glance at you, catching your faulty smile before a scream shook the Earth.

"Lucy?"

"Lucy!"

"Ms. Carlyle?"

She came bursting out of the lavatory, two fingers pinching the mummified hand, and looking quite disgruntled before she stood in the boy's protective circle.

"We might need Little Miss Doctor to stand in the iron circle," Lucy said, fumbling for her rapier and holding the source a ways from her body. Frost was gripping at her gloves.

The plan was scraped with one glance to the circle. It had been thrashed by Griffith from the time Lucy came tumbling out of the lavatory.

"Type two," all three of them agreed.

"What happened?" asked George. His eyes darted down the hallway with more apprehension than before.

"She got angrier and angrier the more names I mentioned," she answered. "I felt like she was about to drown me."

You took the mummified hand from her grasp. The sigh she let out was laughable. "Did she say who killed her?"

Lucy shook her head as she readied herself. Miasma was building. Fear gripped you like nothing you'd experienced before. When you touched the hand, that feeling multiplied. You heard murmurs but nothing substantial.

Shell...

Kill me...

Secret...

You couldn't stitch those words together to come to any conclusion. You were crossing your fingers that Lucy could. The possibilities kept you up at night. If you weren't thinking about your estranged friendship with Lockwood, you were thinking of getting justice for this woman you didn't even know. The cold pinching your skin from the source was a reminder that it wasn't over.

Like a light in the dark, Lucy looked at you and said, "She kept nodding her head whenever I asked if some person killed her; She said yes to Rodney. She said yes to Gasley—"

"So even she doesn't know who killed her?" George laughed emptily. "Brilliant."

"We might have to investigate more on our own to find more details." Lockwood nudged your side. You thought it was to shield you from the cold but that would be too presumptuous. He had bumped into you to swipe away the apparition of Iris Griffith.

She came and went like a zap of electricity. Frantic and unpredictable. Every time you caught sight of her mauled face, your heart picked up. How these three hadn't double over from heart failure was a mystery. Your knees gave up when she'd appeared beside you.

Your eyes watched her in slow motion. The rippling gashes in her plasma, her sneering face, her slashed dress... She was a hairsbreadth away from you before your instincts kicked in.

Your blood fell to your feet but your hand reached into your pocket in a panic, saving yourself as you pulled out a silver button. You threw it at her face and, fortunately, it was enough to disperse her ghost.

Lockwood let out a loud breath of relief but jumped back into the rhythm when her apparition reappeared. "Was that my mother's button? Nevermind. Time to make our exit! Luce, where's the chain net?"

She clicked her tongue. "Dropped it. Her manifestation appeared right in front of me."

"Go get it then!" George rushed, swiping at the air and setting off the first salt-bomb of the night.

"I would if I could," Lucy replied with a bite in her tone. She grimaced at the hand in your vice. "It's in the toilet."

"Pick it up! You've held worse." George backed into Lucy. They switched places.

"It's best if you don't," you advised. "This place has been deserted for years. Who knows what kind of bacteria's been growing in the bowl."

"Oh, you have to know everything, don't you?" George hissed.

Lucy didn't snap at you this time. "Listen to the doctor, George! Did we bring any more chain nets?"

Lockwood reached for your shirt, tugging you towards him as Griffith bit the air where your head would have been. He held you between his arms as blood rushed to your ears and cheeks. Lockwood's breath tickled your ear. The warmth of your face was a juxtaposition to the cold encasing your hands. "My bag! It's a bit away. We'll have to split up."

"Try not to die," George said with false sweetness. He and Lucy ran the opposite way you and Lockwood had.

Griffith chased them. The farther she got, the more you remembered how to breath.

"Calm down, cherry cheeks, ghosts can feed off of your fear," he tried to pacify you. The rasp of his voice evened your heart rate enough for you to get your brain turning again.

"Right. You're right..." You looked ahead, through the darkness and could barely make out the lumps on the ground. "Chain, we have to get the chain net."

"I've got you," he assured.

Even if your pivotal functions had returned to normal, your legs hadn't gotten the memo. Getting up made your knees buckle and legs feel like cooked pasta. As if the cold eating your fingers weren't bad enough.

Lockwood caught you around the waist, holding your weight while he held his rapier at the ready. "Hold on to the source and remember the salt-bomb."

You nodded firmly, clutching both to your chest as you two made a joint effort to get to the bags.

You were almost there, just passed the iron circle that Griffith had broken through, when she appeared above you like an unwanted mistletoe.

You screamed, Lockwood said something to console you, you threw the salt-bomb without taking off the clip, and Lockwood quickly sliced off the top to set it off. Salt sprayed over you two. His body folded over yours as it showered down.

Griffith's yells faded for a moment, a moment long enough for you to slide forward and grab the chain net that clung onto the side pocket of Lockwood's kit. Your hand wrapped around it, Iris's spectral glow kissed your skin, you felt the chill of it — she was colder than her source.

Suddenly, Lockwood had tugged you back towards him. His pull was strong enough to knock you onto your side. It would bruise but at least you weren't ghost-touched.

You wrapped the mummified hand in the net and sighed as the glow faded away and the screaming ceased. The frostbite on your fingers were worth the pain. You were alive.

Silence and heavy breathing ensued.

You rolled the rest of the way on your back, heaving for breath you won't get back. Not while Lockwood remained hovering over you.

The candles had been blown out in the earlier attack. The only light came from the ghost-lamps that sifted through the broken windows. Everything was in that ugly shade of bottle green... but that didn't make him any less magnificent.

Sweat collected on his brow, his mouth was agape—chasing for breath, and his lips were curled in that kind of smirk you could only dream about. Holding your breath did little for your racing heart.

"You okay, cherry cheeks?" His lips moved like their one purpose was to enrapture you.

You nodded dumbly, unable to find your words.

—

Portland Row was cloaked by the night when you four made your escape.

The three of them headed for the 35th while you bound up the steps to your parents' place. George and Lucy gained enough respect for you to wish you a good night before heading in, successfully tuckered out. Lockwood remained, staring at you with his hands in his trouser pockets.

He raised his brows at you then motioned to your front door. "Head on in. It would weigh on my conscience if I don't see you home safe. Your parents would have my head."

"You..." you paused at the fog before you. It was colder out than you thought. "You called me cherry cheeks earlier."

His stance turned tense. He rocked on his heels before he mustered a smile. "Old habits die hard... Sorry if it made you uncomfortable."

"It's okay," you reassured, returning the smile. "I missed it."

"You don't mind then?"

You shook your head. "Never did."

His smile broadened, teasing a glimpse of his pearly whites before he looked at his shoes to hide it. "See you tomorrow then, cherry."

You bit the inside of your cheek as you stared at him. These days, both of you were tall enough to see each other clearly over the wrought-iron fencing. You missed the days you had to tiptoe to show him a smile.

You had no problems shooting him a smile from over the fence. You had no problems coming home to your perfectionist parents. You had no problems imagining your world without Lockwood in it... but you missed him.

Now that the events kept replaying in your head, all you could think while you looked at him was I miss you, I'm sorry. I miss you, I'm sorry. I miss you, I'm sorry.

Lockwood had the talent of knowing when you wanted to say something but couldn't bring yourself to. He forgot how when you had grown apart. Now, in the quiet of the night and the privacy of the stars, it came back to him like the memories he tamped down by closing his window.

"What's wrong?" He asked, setting his hands on the freezing iron fence.

You feel the knot in your throat and the tears in your eyes. It hurts to hold back. Your lungs are lined with spikes as you take a breath. It feels like you're cracking your ribs open as you cave and admit to him, "I don't want to go home to them."

It may have been a trick of the light, but you swear there were tears in his eyes, too. His smile had changed. It was the same one you were accustomed to—the one he used to welcome you into his parents's house all those years ago. Like no time had passed at all, he beckons you. "Come on in then. 35 Portland Row is always open for you. It's your home, too."

—

One night's sleep on 35 Portland Row's most uncomfortable couch was worlds better than the comfy bed in your own cold home. You stretch like a cat to work out all the kinks in your joints, smiling at the air for no reason other than the happiness that filled you the moment you realized you were at the Lockwoods'. Your frosted hands had been wrapped up over a very sleepy catch-up the night before.

Ambient music was playing in your head as you took in your surroundings. The browned books and the disarray of trinkets left all around you were more home than anything you were used to.

It felt like you were wading through the most pleasant dream.

It all screeched to a halt the moment you swung your foot down and stepped on something squishy and loud—it groaned like a beast.

Terror clawed out of your throat in the form of a scream. Juttery legs hopped onto the back of the couch to gain height, and weary eyes looked down at the monster under the bed— er, sofa.

The lump inflated, made of patchwork quilt... until that fell away to reveal a very disheveled and very grumpy Anthony Lockwood.

"Ow," he simply said.

Your soul returned to your body. You offered a little laugh as you eased back down on the couch. "Sorry, Anthony."

"Don't worry yourself," he assured, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "I was the one who snuck down here."

You were a kid when you admitted to being afraid of being alone. It was thoughtful of him to come down here to keep you company when he had a perfectly good bed upstairs.

With a fluttering belly and a sheepish smile, you reached out and patted his sleepy head. "You've always been good to me. I should be more grateful."

He opened one eye to look at you while he rubbed the sleep out of the other. A corner of his lip tipped up into a lazy smile. "You can start with a 'thank you', darling."

"Thank you," you said all too quickly. The deeper octave and the rasp in his voice had finally hit home. It made your cheeks warm.

Judging by the growing smile on his face, he had accomplished what he was intending to.

Your shoulders jumped. A knock broke through the calmness of the air. You turned and saw George in an apron and kitchen mitts. "Are you two going to give each other goo-goo eyes all morning or are you joining us for breakfast?"

—

The investigation resumed as soon as the breakfast plates had been cleaned.

You split into two groups. George and Lucy were off to the archives to work out all of Griffith's social connections, and you and Lockwood were off to the hospital to look for documents that contained the same M.O. or similar timeline to Griffith's case.

"I thought police were the only ones allowed to hold information like this," Lockwood admitted as you two shuffled through files upon files in the hospital archives.

"Most of it, they do. I just hope there's something here relevant to our case," you reply. "If we have to hand this off to detectives, DEPRAC will get involved. They'll just close the case and leave it be."

He nudges up to you after a good three hours of finding absolutely nothing. "Let's look at the last few cases she solved. Could have a clue."

"All of those are solved though," you respond. You were biting your nails at this point. You had to find something before questioning Griffith's ghost again—for Lucy's sanity and for the group's safety.

Lockwood took you by the shoulders just as you began to imagine the worst. "Cherry," he said to snap your attention to him. "If we can't find anything, I don't want you joining us on this one."

"What?" You back away from him in your incredulity. "I helped last night, didn't I? This is my investigation as much as it is yours, Anthony."

"This visitor is a type two, cher. It's not as simple as solving a case. This means lives are in the balance—"

"I'm aware." You put your foot down. You slapped his hands away and shimmy a thick stack from under the desk. "I'm aware of the risks and I consent to them." You pick up the one at the top of the stack and shove it into his chest. He had always liked the curiosity in your eyes, so he was taken aback by the void in them as you looked at him. "I have enough people treating me like I belong at home or behind the safety of iron fences—I do not need you to coddle me like that. My parents do it enough."

He watched your back as you look through the second file in the stack. "You know I don't mean to coddle you..."

"You're doing it right now." Your tone carries a point. "You're telling me to sit this one out because it's too dangerous."

"It's risk assessment—"

"You're underestimating me—"

He slams his hand down on the paper you're idly reading. Bringing your attention to him. "I do this because I don't want to lose you."

Your anger falls away.

The reminder of how how much he'd lost occurs to you. It makes your arms grow limp and your heart to shrink. You can only stare at him with those same eyes he can't unsee even when his are closed. He hates the way he's made sadness swim in them. "Anthony..."

He said your name with the same caution. "You want to know why I became distant?"

"People grow apart when they grow up, Anthony. It's not your fault—"

He knelt beside you, laying his heart out right then and there. "I couldn't stand watching you with your perfect family. They always said any field tampering with the supernatural was a death sentence. I hated how they were right. I hated how they made you so small. I couldn't watch you like that. I hated that you turned into a doctor, just like them. I hated how they were so bad and so cruel, but they were always right."

You were quelled into silence. Biting your lip to keep the tears in. He held your hands delicately, careful of your injury. His touch was light but you knew you would feel it for hours. You held his hands with as much strength as you could muster, even as your skin burned and screeched for reprieve, you did not let go. "They are wrong about you..." you whisper to him.

He went on, plastering on a smile you knew was fake. It sheared your heart to know that. "I knew they were right when they said you would do great things... But they said so many other things that hurt. I couldn't stand being around. It just made me remember that no one was around to defend me anymore. I'm sorry that I had to leave you out, too. Seeing you reminded me of everything they said and I... I couldn't shake it."

Your eyes hurt so much. You gave up somewhere along the way and let the tears fall. "I'm sorry I wasn't strong enough to fight them. I wanted to say so many things but they've always been so- so..."

"Scary?" he supplied with a pathetic laugh. "I know. Don't blame yourself."

You bobbed your head, sniffing as tears went. "You don't have to apologize for all that, Anthony. I'm so sorry, I didn't stand by you when you needed me. But I am going to see this case through to the end, I've dedicated my life to it."

Even when you were hiccuping and heaving for air, you wiped away the tear that tracked down his cheek. His heart surrendered to you then.

"Okay... And I'm sorry, I shouldn't have ignored you like I did," he said again, just because he felt like you needed to hear it.

"No. I'm sorry," you reply. Vehemently wiping his eyes. "Anthony, come on. Don't cry. I'm not worth crying for."

"Oh, don't say that," he said lightly. "You're worth everything, cher."

Both of you manage a smile but neither of you are well enough to hold it. You laugh at each other's attempts.

You came clean to him too: How your parents had made you the sun of their solar system; How they poured their knowledge into you like you were a cup meant to hold their images in vivid color; How they moulded you into being the projection of a golden girl—their magnum opus. You carried the weight of their world. Most days, they acted more like teachers than parents. It got worse the older you got. Trophies and medals took the places of photographs until all you became was your achievements.

"They were so hard on you..." he said slowly. It was just sinking I just how trapped you were. You were cornered in a place that was supposed to covet you.

"Still, I should have defended you. I hate that I didn't," you said, wiping your nose with the back of your sleeve. It was the most ungraceful thing he'd seen you do but it brought him back to the cherry pie incident, and he found that he couldn't even think of you in a bad light.

"It's water under the bridge. I hate your parents, but there is one thing we can agree on," Lockwood said, cracking a semblance of a smile.

You cocked your brow at him. Teary eyes and all, he still found you as cute as a button.

"I would make you the sun of my solar system, too. They got that right."

With a snort, you said, "You're good at buttering people up, you know that?" You shoved his shoulder to shut him up but he caught the red on your ears and the smile you hid with a tilt of your head.

—

When you rendezvoused with George and Lucy, it was around 5:40 in the afternoon. The sun was dipping and the ghoulish were about to walk the earth. If George or Lucy noticed the redness in your eyes, they said nothing of it. You hurried along inside the stranded house and relayed newfound information.

"The last case Griffith reviewed involved a woman named Shelly Carson. She immigrated from America and died at 17 while she was interning for Hayes Inc." You flipped the file open on the kitchen table over tea. "They profiled the case to be a suicide but I don't think Griffith agreed." Your finger pointed to the lower left corner where Griffith would put her stamp of approval. The line was void of it. "She wrote 'Garrote not rope??' on the unofficial report. Carson's case could have been a murder."

The information set off a spark in George. He was rubbing invisible dirt from his glasses and finished doing so as you concluded your assessment. "We found a Shelly Carson in our search too," he said. Everyone lent their ears. "She was friends with Griffith in childhood. Alongside Rodney and Gasley. The four of them were close friends from well-off families."

"Ah, they're rich. Explains a lot," Lucy snorted. George ignored her quip.

"Turns out Rodney and Carson were both interested in Gasley. Rodney moved on with some bloke named Jerome Holt, but she suspected him of having an affair with Carson. Holt proposed to prove her wrong."

Lockwood tilted his head. "Sounds like gossip, Georgie."

George brandished an old leather diary. "We tracked down Howard Gasley. He gave us this."

Lockwood lit up. Sitting up with renewed energy. "How did you manage that?"

Lucy grinned. "The death of his girlfriend weighed on his conscience. All I had to do was tell him that her ghost can't be put to rest. Spilled like a waterfall after that."

"So, he did kill her?" You asked.

"Well, that's the difficult bit... The rest of the pages were ripped out and he didn't explicitly say he did. Maybe he did do it, he likes ripping things." George revealed, pointing the diary at the mummified hand in the net. "I think he's involved, one way or another."

Lockwood looked at it, then looked at Lucy. "What do you think, Luce?"

She looked at all three of you with a gleam in her eye. "I think we're about to find our killer."

—

The set-up was same as last night, except the iron circle had been extra fortified to fit all four of you in case things get out of hand. Lockwood stuffed lavenders into your pockets as Lucy lit the the candles.

"If you die tonight, I will not forgive you," Lockwood said as he put a salt-bomb in your hand.

"Same goes for you," you retort with a smile.

He returns your grin, tapping your sides and making your heart flutter before he sets off to help George with inventory.

You cross the chains to help Lucy in the lucky room chosen to host the seance in. With all the furniture pushed to the walls, the sitting room was the epitome of morbid. The carpet was patterned in a way that made it perfect for summoning and the cobwebs embellishing the place contributed to the unsettling ambiance. Lucy herself was lighting candles around the source. You took a pack of matches and helped light the rest of them.

"How are you feeling?" you asked as you lit the last candle and killed the match.

"Confident," she replied. She even spared you a smile. "And you?"

"Scared. Excited, mostly."

She bobs her head. She had a far-away look in her eye before she asked, "Your room is an attic room, correct?"

The nature of the question surprised you. "Yes. Why?"

A smile teased her lips. "I knew it." She looked at you like she saw right through you. "Lockwood was loitering near the window this morning. Just thought it was odd."

You hear him in your mind then — cherry cheeks. Warmth crawled up your neck as Lockwood and George entered the room.

"What are you two blabbering about?" George questioned, off-put by Lucy's smile and your flushed face.

"Nothing," you said together, one more pitched than the other.

George didn't look convinced.

Lockwood spoke up. " You ladies ready? Let's catch ourselves a killer."

The door was left open with an heavy stopper, giving you ample room to run to the iron circle in case things took a turn for the worst. Though, you doubted it would. The other three shared the sentiment. Some kind of energy buzzed between you four and livened the room, something that wasn't there the night before.

Lucy looked between you and Lockwood with a knowing expression you only ever saw from Jessica Lockwood. It was gone as quick as it came but the brief blast from the past made you dizzy. The resemblance must have been what made Lockwood so comfortable with her.

Lockwood had crossed the room and stood by you. Close enough to catch you if you stumbled forward in your daze.

He glanced at his wrist to check the time. "7:30's a good time. Ready, Lucy?"

"Ready," she confirmed. With a tug, the iron net came off of Griffith's mummified hand.

George and Lockwood reconsidered their stances with their rapiers as warmth was immediately sapped from the room. It was akin to jumping into a lake without testing the waters. Blood rushed to your ears. The whispering began again.

"We're here to help you," Lucy said calmly.

Wind began to pick up despite the windows being closed. Lucy persevered. "Iris Griffith, I know that you're experiencing a great injustice. Let me help you. Talk to me."

Lucy closed her eyes. You trust that she was establishing a connection with Griffith. The chill subsided by a fraction, her eyes were moving rapidly like you do when you're in the middle of a dream.

"There's a spectral glow behind you, George." Lockwood caught that faster than you. He was glaring down at the opposite corner of the room.

George's face remained impassive. "You'll tell me if she gets too close."

"Shush!" Lucy threw a hand up in the air. "Shell... Shelly? Yes, what about Shelly Carson? She died before you. You saw her case. They got the autopsy wrong, didn't they?"

A faraway scream interrupted the silence. You fumbled forward. Lockwood caught your arm. "Careful there, cherry cheeks." You lived up to your nickname.

"They all kept... Secret...?" Lucy murmured. "They all killed you to keep a secret?"

If this were a cartoon, you imagine everyone to have exclamation marks above their heads. Finally, some of the mystery began to come into focus. Who are 'they' and what secret were they so desperate to keep?

"Secret... Shelly Carson?" Lucy's expression lightened and the room grew slightly warmer. "Yes! Their secret is Shelly Carson. No? Oh, then what— They killed her to keep the secret... then paid people to say they were innocent."

"Rich people," George tutted.

The anticipation was killing you. All those nights of research, pouring over case files and autopsies were boiling down to this. You gripped Lockwood's sleeve to ground yourself. He glanced at your hand, worried you were seeing something he wasn't, but felt a smile twitching on his lips when he noticed the elation on yours.

Lucy'a voice pierced the air. "They killed her to keep what secret?"

The silence, the anticipation, and the chill in the room melded.

"Rodney pregnant? With Gasley's—" Lucy shut herself up. It was like a bad episode of a telenovela, but this was real, and someone had died because of it. "And when you were about to uncover the truth about Shelly... Rodney and Gasley they got you, too? I'm sorry to hear that. Gasley must have regrets. He had left a diary and... your, ah, hand so we could uncover your story."

It wasn't the most peaceful way to end a talk with a ghost. As soon as Lucy finished the conversation, the apparition of Iris Griffith had appeared once more. Contrary to your hypothesis, finding out the motive and her killers did not put her to rest at all.

She wailed louder than the previous night and zipped about even faster than before. Nothing Lockwood & Co. couldn't handle though. You showered the room with lavender and salt as Lockwood & Co. danced with a ghost.

—

You all appreciated a bit of silence after getting your ears blown off by a visitor. The world clearly didn't like you enough to grant the request, judging by the hunched and fuming figures of your parents blocking the door to 35 Portland Row. They sported crossed arms and crossed expressions. Your mother, specifically, was blowing steam from her ears.

Seeing your sweaty and worn form only confirmed their suspicions: You'd been running around with ghost hunters.

"You ungrateful brat..." your mother muttered.

Lucy stepped forward, blocking her way to you. She was hardened by her own experiences and least expected the horrid woman to turn on her own daughter for simply doing something outside of white-tiled establishments. You were grateful for it.

That only stirred the pot for your parents.

"We sheltered you, spoiled you, and educated you to be the lady you are today. You are our legacy." Your father harumphs forward. "We made you what you are and you would throw that all away by risking your stupid little life for some miniscule ghost adventure!"

George is the next to block their way. He wasn't that protective type, but he did look the part when he wanted to. "It was her childhood dream. Let her live." Leave it to George to be forward.

Your mother stamped her feet. The display was so awfully childish you had to look away. "You are children who don't know a single thing about building a foundation for a good life! You are going to run my daughter to ruin!"

Because of her display, Lockwood & Co. weren't so intimidated by her anymore.

Lockwood had stepped ahead, completing the wall that prevented your iron-fisted parents from getting to you ever again. "We're the best psychical agents in London. We expect a little more respect, doctor."

You could hear the smile in his voice. You couldn't help but smile, too.

With a last burst of anger, your father yelled to you. "You either come home or you find your own way. I'd rather live without a daughter than live with a disappointing one."

It shouldn't hurt as much as it did, but you had given your whole life to live up to the version of you they were dreaming of. Even if you had achieved all that, all it took was having a moment of autonomy for them to turn against you and disregard your sacrifices.

Lockwood had turned to you with a face so full of hope, it brought you back to the other night at the horrid dinner party and the night you snuck out to pick apples. After all that's happened, you found it in yourself to steel your resolve and face your father with bravery that felt unnatural but oh-so addicting.

"I'm going home," you told them.

You walked passed a stunned George and a speechless Lucy. Lockwood was far bluer than the two, but you shot him a smile that put all his worries to rest.

When you were kids, he was the one to take you by the hand and drag you off on a new adventure. This time, it was you so took his hand and pulled him passed your parents's skyscraping figures and into the comforts of 35 Portland Row.

Home, at last.

The first thing you saw as you pulled Lockwood through the threshold was his smile, radiant as ever. He didn't give you much time to admire it. He swooped down and stole your first kiss before you could even blink.

You could hear Lucy and George laugh over your parents plights. You were tired, sweaty, and covered in salt but all you could think of was; you should have done this sooner.

The next morning, you submitted the evidence and psychical report to the relevant authorities, convicting Celia Rodney and Howard Gasley for their crimes. Griffith's source was relinquished from your possession and burned at the Fittes Furnaces, marking the end of Griffith's case. It was the best thing you could do to bring her peace.

Shortly after, Lockwood and Co. welcomed you as the company's official forensic consultant, and in 35 Portland Row, you were finally comfortable in your own skin.

You and Lockwood now stand on the same side of the fence. There is no need shyly avoid your peering eyes when he could have the satisfaction of seeing them flutter close as he kisses you.

Thought, it is nice to remember that all this started with those peering eyes over wrought-iron fences. You and Lockwood reminisce those days over a cherry pie with extra ice cream or an afternoon picking apples from the backyard.

Every now and again, Lockwood would toss an apple over to your parents's side of the fence to scare them.

⌠ @novelizt 2023 ⌡

LOVELOCKED (PEOWIF BONUS CHAPTER)

NOTE ➺ Thank you to everyone who made it through to the end! I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I loved writing it. It's the first time I completed a project this big so I hope it brings you some joy. To everyone mourning the seasons we'll never get, I'm with you. To my fellow writers, I'd appreciate a tip or two to improve my stories. To everyone in general, may you continue finding fics that comfort you 💙

#— ❨ 🌺 ❩ 𝐋𝐈𝐙𝐙𝐈𝐄'𝐒 𝐔𝐓𝐎𝐏𝐈𝐀 ₊˚.༄#anthony lockwood x you #anthony lockwood x reader #lockwood and co x reader #lockwood x reader #lockwood and co fanfiction #anthony lockwood angst

269 notes · View notes

0097linersb · 9 months

Text

Meddle About Pt.2 (Last)

Pairings: Haechan x Reader / Jeno x Reader (Briefly Mentioned)

Genre: Smut

Summary: Mark doesn’t think you or Haechan would have a problem with killing each other, not even bat an eye at it in fact.

Word count: 11.2k ish

A/N: I love y´all sorry this took so long. ALSO! FOLLOW ME ON MY NEW TWITTER @wooyodefender we can chat there

Part 1

“I don´t get it, you guys already fucked so why isn´t the bet ove-”

“We didn´t fuck,” You and Haechan corrected a confused Jisung at the same time, except the two of you had very different tones when delivering the message.

“Are you just letting anyone watch now because I´m intere-”

“I´m begging you to not finish that sentence,” Jeno interrupted Jaemin, rubbing his face harshly out of stress. You gently touched Jeno´s hands so he would stop stretching his skin, looking out for any future wrinkles on that pretty face.

The chaotic scene definitely didn´t match your current environment - which consisted of a breakfast place, one of those where the cooks look like they haven´t showered in weeks, piles of waffles, bacon and the shittiest coffee you have ever tasted filling the tables. The restaurant was full of families with loud annoying kids running around - Maybe Donghyuck could go play with them. It was hell, but hey, that was hangover brunch.

Maybe it was the universe´s way of punishing you for allowing whatever happened with Donghyuck to... well, happen.

“I´m just glad the two of you are finally getting along,” Mark tried changing the subject, smiling at his best friends who for the first time looked like they weren´t going to punch each other at any given moment.

“We are absolutely not,” But you were more than happy to burst his bubble. “In fact, I have never been more disgusted by Donghyuck before.”

“That´s not what you sa-”

You interrupted Haechan with a fake smile, using your best customer service voice to not upset Mark so early in the morning as you stabbed your pancakes, “You can shut the fuck up now, thank you.”

“So, he slept over and no sex?” Chenle teasingly pushed his friend as he laughed in his face. “You really have no game - ”

“Speaking of which: Mark, please control your bitch, she made me sleep on the couch without a pillow or a blanket.”

“I should have kicked you out to sleep on the street, you fucking -”

“Ok, enough! It´s only Monday and I´m still too hungover to deal with you two,” Mark rolled his eyes, rubbing circles into his temples.

“So, when are you fucking?” Jisung asked, returning to the original topic where his single neuron was still parked at.

You groaned and buried your face in Jeno´s shoulder, the man gently patting your head to calm you down, “Can we all please stop reminding me of that?”

“Probably this Saturday or the next,” Haechan ignored you.

“Do we have it freaking scheduled? Ew.”

“Why? Did you want me sooner?” The man teased you, an annoying fake pout on his face. “Awn, someone´s eager.”

Jeno had to physically hold you back from smacking Haechan down after his comment, “I would rather bungee jump without the -”

“What a cliché, Y/N. You can do better than that-”

“Let´s not speak on the subject until then,” Mark cut you off, his tone was strict and final.

★

Somehow, as if it was even possible, Haechan managed to become even more insufferable after the recent events. Firstly, because now that he knew you were slightly attracted to him – and also knew you were not happy about it - the man had massive leverage on your fights. Secondly, as previously stated, the thought of finding Haechan even remotely alluring had you wanting to take a nap on the highway during rush hour every time you caught yourself even considering his appearance, causing your stress levels to be significantly higher ever since. Lastly, if there is one thing Haechan has always been, is cocky, and now... Oh, now he was just unstoppable, and you hated yourself for thinking it was kind of hot.

Kind of.

But as equally annoying.

Now, you caught yourself staring at the man, lost in thought, more often than you´d like to admit, and he managed to catch you every-single-fucking-time, sending you an annoying wink like he was hot shit.

Which maybe he was.

You didn´t understand how he could accept being into you so easily when you wanted to throw up at the thought that maybe you were excited that he was going to fuck you some time soon. Before everything that went down, the two of you would just simply offend each other to your hearts 'desires, but now there was a sudden shift in your dynamic as he started hitting on you nonstop, which somehow managed to annoy you more than when he would call you the most degrading offensive things he could think of - which he could probably be arrested for if anyone from outside your group heard a minute of your conversations.

“You do know you´re going to die alone and miserable, right?” You asked him Thursday night, after only an hour and a half around him, figuring that was your time-around-Haechan limit.

“I don´t think I will,” He smiled at you, a condescending tone to his voice as he leaned back against his seat.

“Oh, I can assure you. No one can put up with you for long enough.”

“Everyone puts up with me just fine. Have you ever considered maybe you´re the problem?”

“As if- ”

“It´s ok baby, I´ll fix your attitude when I fu-”

“Can you two shut the fuck up and just never talk again?” Mark looked stressed as he reminded you and Haechan that you were not alone at the restaurant table. “I swear to God I´m going to start leaving one of you out from each group hang out.”

“It would be the best thing you have ever done,” You assured Mark.

“C´mon, I´d miss you,” Haechan sent you a flying kiss. “You´re nice to look at.”

“I will stab you in the eyes to assure you never look at me aga-”

“If any of you say another world I´ll drag you outside by the ear.”

You did shut up after that because you honestly felt kind of bad for Mark, he genuinely loved the two of you and you´ve been making his life hell by not getting along. At the same time, it´s not like you haven´t tried! When you first met Haechan, after only 5 minutes with him, you were already sure you disliked the man; but you made an effort for Mark, you spent weeks trying to make yourself grow any positive feelings towards Haechan, or just anything that didn´t involve strong wishes of strangling him, but the man never returned any of your efforts, always wanting to hog Mark all to himself and bad mouth you to the man, so you gave up -

Wait.

Donghyuck had really nice fucking hands.

Which you unfortunately noticed as he places more meat on the grill occupying the center of the table between your friends after Mark made the two of you change seats so you´d sit far away from each other. His fingers were just somehow very delicate and clean but manly at the same time, he had big hands and veins appearing through his skin, his long fingers adorned by rings – Did he always wear rings? Because they were surely doing something to you.

And with that thought process, you were suddenly reminded those fingers had been inside of you and you had to cross your legs to contain the very sudden and very fast pulsing that started between them. You let your forehead meet the table in a very loud thud as you groaned in frustration. Every day that passed made you despite Haechan a little bit more.

When the weekend did come, your group´s chaotic schedule didn´t allow you a time window to complete the second part of the bet, although you did meet. It was a common friend´s birthday, a small get-together at his place to celebrate another year and even though there were suggestions that you could finish the bet that night, you were absolutely not about to get fucked on Doyoung´s bed. Also, Haechan had some things to do and had texted the group chat he would be late to the party – Chenle had informed you Haechan had a date and you prayed to all gods out there that he would bring the girl along so he would leave you alone for once.

When he did show up though, he was in fact, unaccompanied. But the main point was that Lee Donghyuck, had dyed his hair a light shade of brown that had you wanting to swallow down your own fist. Ok, maybe you could fuck on Doyoung´s bed after all.

But Haechan´s leather jacket and rings stayed on during sex.

What?

No!

Fuck, maybe you just needed to get laid, it has been a while. Would Jeno mind taking whatever you had a step further?

“Hello friends,” Haechan greeted his friends before turning to you. “Hello stalker.”

“What? Why stalker?”

“I don´t know, the way you´re looking at me seems pretty obsessive,” He shrugged as he jumped over the couch to take a seat in front of you, who was sitting on the floor.

“You´re delusional.”

“It´s ok,” He assured you, accepting a drink from Doyoung who was walking around welcoming and giving everyone attention like a good host. “I like them crazy.”

“Because that´s the only crowd you can pull.”

“Let´s remember who was begging me just a week ago,” He winked at you before taking a sip from his glass, you along with all the boys around gagging at his comment.

“I thought we were forbidden from talking about the subject,” Jaemin informed.

“I did my best,” Mark sighed. “I give up on these two, just kill each other for all I care.”

Haechan and you managed to prove once again Mark´s repulsive argument that the two of you were basically the same person when you replied by asking at the exact same time, “Who would you rather survived?”

“Right now? I hope none of you.”

“Cold,” You pouted at Mark before turning to the other man. “C´mon, Donghyuck and I are besties, soon he will even give me his computer and his most precious hoodie. If that isn´t friendship I don´t know what is.”

“You really think you´ll win, huh?” At least Haechan looked amused.

“I don´t know, did you get your date there today?”

“What date?”

“Chenle said you were on a date.”

“He told me he had a date,” Chenle corrected.

“You mean I hanged out with a friend so she could dye my hair?”

“Same thing,” Chenle shrugged. “Didn´t you already fuck her before?”

“Yeah, but that doesn´t make it a date. We were at her hair salon – Wait,” Haechan stopped mid-sentence to look at you. “Awn, are you jealous?”

“Donghyuck, I´ll put this the nicest way that I can so Mark doesn't have a nervous breakdown: Why the hell would I be jealous?”

“I don´t know, there´s really no reason for it. If you want me just say so and I´m all yours-”

“Ok, I can´t take this anymore. I know Mark asked us to not talk about it and I was very happy to oblige but I have some matters to discuss,” You interrupted Haechan.

“Yeah, whatever,” Mark rolled his eyes and shrugged. “Go for it, see if I care.”

“Let´s make a rule that when we reach the 4 minutes mark and Donghyuck has already lost, we have to stop everything immediately.”

“We can´t do that,” Jeno carefully informed you, already prepared for the murderous glare you sent his way.

“And why not?”

“Since we couldn´t bet on the same thing you two, we bet on how long Haechan would take,” Jaemin explained.

Oh, right. You remember very clearly betting on 6 hours because it was simply not going to happen. Jaemin, who went for the 12 minutes mark went as far as asking you to have at least some faith on his friend.

You could argue that now that you and Donghyuck had some form of sexual encounter, he already knew your body a bit better and that was kind of cheating, but then you reminded yourself that none of the guys knew what actually happened that night after the club and you´d rather leave it that way, so you simply sighed in defeat. It´s not like Haechan did much besides literally putting is fingers inside of you, so you guessed that didn´t really count either.

“Cheer up, princess. You´re about to have the time of your life,” Haechan smirked at you and you answered him by chugging your drink in misery.

For the rest of the night, you tried avoiding Donghyuck like the plague because if you thought about how his rings would feel around your neck one more time, you would be forced to punch the guy and cause a scene – You liked Doyoung enough to not do that on his birthday. It wasn´t a full-out house party, but there were enough people around to make it possible to stay far away from Haechan, at least for a while, until he decided he didn´t want to let you have a peaceful night after all.

And so you drank.

“Daydreaming about me?” He sat next to you on the couch. Jeno had left you alone for a single second to grab more beer for fuck´s sake.

“You wish.”

“I do, in fact.”

“Can´t you find literally any other girl to torment?”

“But it´s so fun annoying you, though,” He smiled. “You look hot when you´re mad.”

“Take your degradation kink elsewhere, thank you very much.”

“Will do, wanna come with?”

“Are you serious right now?”

“C´mon. We don´t have to fuck, you´ve been staring at my thighs the whole night, you could just ride them-”

“Oh my god, leave me alone.”

“Well, let me tell you something,” He informed before turning his body in your direction so that he could lower his voice, suddenly deep against your ear. “I appreciate your act, it´s cute, really. But there´s no one looking. If we go somewhere, we can come back, and no one would know a thing. You could stop pretending you haven´t been clenching at the thought of my fingers the whole week and I could do all the fun things I´ve been thinking about-”

You could sense his smirk at the way your body violently twitched. It was only once, but it was one time too many.

“Oh. Wanna know what things?” He teased.

You could just stand up and leave. But you didn´t really want to?

So you simply crossed your legs and took a deep breath to try and sort your mind out.

His chuckle hit the sensitive skin on your neck, “I´ll take that as a yes.”

And then his palm found your thigh once again, holding it from the inside like it was his, “I know we can´t actually fuck, but I think there are things that can be even more fun, don´t you? You know what I can´t stop thinking about ever since I´ve seen your pretty little pussy? How much I want to eat you out. You sound so good, I´d love nothing more than have you sitting on my face for hours-”

You took another shaky breath, nails digging deep into your own right thigh, “Donghyuck.”

“Yes?”

“I will go to the kitchen get another drink and you will let me.”

He laughed once again but retrieved his hand from your body, “You know where to find me.”

And unfortunately, you did, because later, after a few more drinks and 1 very frustrating hour of trying to focus on anything else other than your panties sticking to your skin, you found yourself grabbing Donghyuck´s arm to get his attention while he talked to some guys you didn´t know.

“Yes, princess?”

You ignored the pet name and everyone´s eyes on you for your own sake, “Can you please follow me?”

His cocky smile had you immediately regretting your impulsive choices, “Always.”

You groaned but accepted when he grabbed your hand and motioned for you to lead the way, which you did, practically running up the stairs so none of your friends would see you before getting the two of you inside a bathroom and locking the door.

“What do you want?” He amusedly raised his eyebrow at you, his body leaning against the bathroom sink now that you were alone and the music wasn´t so loud.

“Don´t pretend to be dense,” You called him out before pulling him down by his shirt so you could smash your lips together.

He smirked into the kiss before getting into it, wasting no time pressing you against the bathroom door as his tongue entered your mouth to match your desperation. When his hands found your hips to pull you closer, a moan escaped your lips and he groaned, his grip on you tightening enough to bruise your skin.

Your hands in turn found their way around his neck, pulling harshly on his hair so he would get the message and just do something before you regretted bringing him here. You didn´t need foreplay this time, you already had hours of your very creative mind flashing images and trying to drive you crazy, all you needed was someone´s fingers inside of you – And maybe they had to be Haechan´s.

Thankfully, Donghyuck somehow got the message and pulled your thighs up around his waist, so he could carry you over to the sink as you two practically devoured each other, like air wasn´t something necessary for human survival, but his lips sure were. You used your legs wrapped around him to grind his crotch against yours and he groaned at you, “Don´t play dirty.”

“Then do something.”

“What do you want?”

“You know what I want.”

“Do I?” He played dumb, suddenly stepping away from you like that was just perfect timing to be a fucking little tease. “I can go grab you a drink if that´s what you mean-”

“Good luck with that boner out there.”

“Yeah, gonna find someone I can actually fuck.”

“Oh my god, just fucking finger me please,” You groaned in surrender, letting your head hit the mirror behind you in frustration.

The biggest smirk filled his face as he closed the distance between you in satisfaction once again, eyes shining in victory, “That´s what I like to hear. Good girl.”

“Don´t be condescending.”

“C´mon, I know you like it,” He teased before his lips met yours once again.

He bit your bottom lip to be annoying before licking inside your mouth so you would let him do his thing – And since you had already thrown your dignity out the window an hour ago on Doyoung´s very elegant couch, you just let him. The man must have gathered how desperate you were from the way you were kissing him back, because he simply found your panties under your skirt and slid them right off with no ceremony, before his palms were pulling your thighs open and he found his place in between them.

“Hand,” He ordered.

For once, his voice didn´t sound like he was teasing you or playing around. It was just a plain order looming over you and you liked it, being able to forget who you were and who was standing in between your legs, your hand raising in front of him without even knowing what for. You watched in shock as he took two of his rings out and put them on your finger, before moving to the next one.

“Leave them on,” You quietly pleaded, kind of ashamed of yourself for liking the idea and not believing you actually said that out loud. It just escaped.

He smiled at your tone, “I´d love to, but these would really hurt.”

“Oh.”

“It´s ok, I´ll leave the ones on the other hand,” Haechan assured as he finished putting all his rings on you and his mouth met yours once again.

You always kind of expected that for a kiss to be good and effective, it needed to have a build-up, to start slow and make its way up – But Donghyuck had a way of reminding whoever he was kissing of how needy he made them in just a few seconds. His mouth was working so good against yours that it was almost a pity that you had to break the kiss to gasp as you felt two of his fingers gathering slick around your slit and when he felt like his fingers were lubricated enough, he slowly pushed them inside of you, you had to close your eyes and let your head meet the mirror again to process the feelings.

You see? He didn´t even have to do much and you were already so worked up, clenching around his fingers and hands holding harshly onto the sink. You were honestly scared of the power Donghyuck had over you and what he would do if he ever found it out.

When you opened your eyes, Haechan was watching your face attentively before moving his fingers slowly. He looked so fucking good with his new hair and dark eyes that even this rhythm to get you used to being filled got you biting on your bottom lip to keep your whines inside.

He noticed that and smirked, “C´mere,”

And so you complied, lips chasing his until your tongues met once again.

You had a theory that it´s not that Donghyuck was good in bed, you were just really horny. Your thought process made a lot of sense considering he never actually did anything to you besides looking hot while you actually did all the job – But you could throw your whole theory in the trash next to the sink once Haechan sped up his fingers.

You bit his lip to keep yourself grounded at the fact that the man in between your legs actually knew what he was doing and did it really well.

Shockers.

And you meant well enough that if he fucked anything like he fingered you, you were kind of screwed (at least when it came to the bet).

“It´s loud outside, don´t worry,” He smiled once you let go of his lip, noticing you were having a hard time keeping yourself together - and you really tried pretending he didn´t have the perfect rhythm, that his fingers weren´t hitting all the perfect spots, that his kisses down your neck as you caught your breath weren´t doing wonders for you, but it was a really hard task considering he was in fact making you feel all sorts of new things in this short amount of time.

When Haechan felt like you still weren´t letting yourself go, he bit harshly on the side of your neck and you couldn´t force inside the gasp that left your mouth.

“You know I won´t let you cum until I´m satisfied, stop being stubborn.”

“M-maybe you´re just not doing a-ah- good job.”

“Oh, sorry. My bad,” He apologized, but the smirk on his face, once he stood straight, didn´t match his tone nor his words. Suddenly his thumb was on your clit, drawing circles as he pumped his two other fingers inside and you almost came undone at the way he cockily winked at you when a loud moan escaped your lips.

“Oh, fuck-”

“Yeah, that´s more like it.”

“Just shut u-up,” You groaned as your nails found his shoulder, digging into his skin to try and keep yourself grounded as he sped up. You honestly didn´t feel like you would last very long under his ministrations and that just wouldn´t do.

“Want me to stop?”

“God- No!”

“Awn, look who´s finally not being a bitch.”

“Donghyuck, I swear to god-”

“What? What will you do, huh? Cum around my fingers? Threatening. Maybe next time do it on my tongue.”

You really didn´t need the imagery right now.

You closed your eyes and your forehead met his chest as you felt your high approaching, trying to conjure all your willpower to not cum and give Donghyuck the satisfaction of doing it so fast, but it was no use. Haechan had some kind of magic fingers and when his free hand found your neck and you could feel the cool rings pressed against your skin, along with his lips brushing against your open ones that just couldn´t keep quiet, you were done for.

Your whole body trembled as your cursed during the longest and hardest orgasm of your life, breaths mixed together.

Once you regained your sanity, you just had to suck Haechan off in return after that.

It was good manners after all.

★

You would be indeed lying if you said the bathroom incident didn´t occur more than once. Thankfully, you only allowed it to happen 3 times other than that one – 3 was a good number, you could forgive yourself for slipping 3 times. You could even argue that since he had already fingered you once, if he did it once or twenty times, it was the same thing, so it was not like it was going to impact on the bet.

Yeah, you knew it was bullshit but who cares.

The first time it happened, just like at the party, you were drunk. It was during trivia night, Donghyuck´s team was winning, and you were very unhappy about it. It´s not your fault that Mark was stupid and ended up on your team! By the time you got to the final questions, you were practically raging and somehow managed to beat them after getting 4 questions right in a row (once you got Mark distracted with something on your phone). After managing to rub your win in Haechan´s face in every way known to mankind, he got annoyed enough to drag you to the bar´s bathroom and “get you to shut up” as he so kindly put it.

The second time you couldn´t use alcohol as an excuse, although you could say you were high on the adrenaline of playing ranked matches online. It happened when you and Donghyuck were playing Valorant and after you cursed at him for the 30th time about sucking over the call, he finally snapped and told you to come say it to his face – Which you did, because he really did suck. What happened once you were in his house, in his room, was completely unexpected. No one could have guessed he would end up fingering you as you played another ranked match on your account, right?

The third time would have looked strangely like a 90´s parent trap kind of movie if you weren´t genuinely annoyed by the situation. You had invited Mark to watch the new horror movie at the cinema, Mark had agreed. Donghyuck had also invited Mark to watch the new horror movie at the cinema, Mark had agreed. Mark had also thought it was a good idea to not show up and not let either of you know about the other, resulting in a very angry surprise meeting at the movie theater´s door.

“I´ll just sit very far from you,” Haechan had groaned.

“Don´t be ridiculous,” You rolled your eyes, grabbing his arm and practically dragging him to your seats.

“Awn, you´re scared. Aren´t you?” He teased once you were sitting down, finally processing why you weren´t putting the many rows of distance between you two yourself.

“Yeah, very much. Now be quiet.”

“I will have to inform you I am scared too.”

“Oh, that´s just great. Do you even have anything to offer in life at this point?”

It was kind of expected that he would finger you during the movie after that.

★

“And who the fuck is that?” Donghyuck asked dumbfounded after you appeared in front of him, arm laced with another man´s. He earned an elbow on the ribs by Jaemin for his comment.

You rolled your eyes and apologized to your date before turning back to the very rude person in front of you once San reassured everything was ok, “Donghyuck, I know you were raised by animals or something, but here in the city we normally greet people when we see them.”

Haechan´s reaction must have been genuine shock because he was quick to apologize and give his hand out for San to shake as he introduced himself, even if he didn´t look anywhere close to happy.

“Oh, so this is San,” Donghyuck raised his eyebrows in entertainment.

Your date gave you the cutest smile once he heard those words, “You talked about me?”

You were not about to let Haechan ruin this for you and tell San that all you said about the man was that he didn´t fuck you and that was the exact moment that resulted in the stupid bet that will end up with the man in front of you fucking you instead – So you simply smiled at San, “Of course.”

“I didn´t know we could bring dates,” Donghyuck sent you a pointed look.

“You´re supposed to bring dates to these kinds of things, Hyuck. I´m sorry you couldn´t find anyone to put up with you.”

“Did your boytoy bring anyone?” He raised an eyebrow at you.

Both you and San gave him a confused look, not sure who he was talking about. Jaemin rolled his eyes and grabbed his arm to drag him away but he didn´t budge.

“Jeno,” Donghyuck clarified.

Oh, you see what he was doing.

And you were not about to give him the satisfaction.

“Jeno brought Karina,” You informed calmly, not playing his game. “As expected.”

“I see,” Haechan nodded before turning to your date. “Good luck filling the position then.”

You couldn´t even say you were surprised, of course he couldn´t let you have anything.

“Enjoy the party, Donghyuck,” You rolled your eyes before dragging San as far as possible.

“Well, that was something,” Your date tried to break the ice when he saw you breathing out in annoyance.

“I´m so sorry,” You sighed, calling over the waiter with the champagne tray. “Donghyuck´s insufferable.”

“Well, now I have to step up my game to fit the boytoy job description,” He smiled at you, getting two glasses from the tray and handing one to you.

“I´m sorry about that too,” You smiled in gratitude over the rim of the glass.

“It´s ok, it´s a position I´m more than happy to fill. Specially if it will make your friend even more jealous.”

“Oh, don´t worry. It´s not like that, I can assure you. He simply has something against my happiness, which is ok, because I also have something against his.”

“Yeah, I don´t think we´re close enough for me to comment on that so cheers,” He laughed, raising his glass in your direction.

You clinked glasses and laughed too; you loved a self-aware king.

Turns out San was a really great guy and you were happy you had invited him to be your plus one to this fancy party thing. He complimented your dress and makeup every hour, he got you new drinks whenever the ice on the ones you were holding started melting too much, he got along with your friends, he looked absolutely stunning and most importantly, he kept you entertained. He also didn´t back down whenever you were at the table with the whole group and Haechan tried teasing him, politely putting the man back in his place – which really, was more attractive than anything.

“Things going well, huh?” Jeno asked as you two met at the bar. San was in the middle of an excited discussion about music with Jisung, so you offered to get the drinks this time.

“Very, actually.”

“Think things are finally going to escalate tonight or are we thinking boyfriend?” The man teased. See? He could tease you just fine because you knew he actually cared.

“We still haven´t even kissed, so I don´t really think I´m about to get railed,” You laughed, lowering your voice a bit so the bartender and people around wouldn´t hear your vulgar words as you waited for the drinks.

“Well, you can always call Haechan over to complete the bet.”

“I´m not that desperate.”

“By the way he looks like he´s going to murder San anytime, I think he is. Always knew all this tension between you two had to be something more.”

“Yeah, I wouldn´t dwell too much on it. Sometimes people just don´t like each other, Donghyuck´s just bothered he´s not the center of attention tonight.”

“He´s bothered he´s not the center of your attention.”

“Guess I´ve spoiled him too much, huh? How´s Karina, anyway?”

“Still working on wooing her.”

“You wooed her the first time you talked to her, Jeno. Don´t worry, she wouldn´t be here if it wasn´t the case.”

“Well, since it didn´t work on you my game has been a little off balanced.”

You laughed at his teasing but didn´t have time to reply as the bartender came back with your two drinks and Jeno´s. The two of you thanked the man and made your way back to the table and Jeno was right, Haechan did look like he wanted to murder San. Once his staring was getting too much, you kicked him under the table and he simply gave you an annoyed look before turning his attention back to your date, who was oblivious to the stares. Or at least pretended to be.

Tired of Donghyuck´s attitude, you asked San if he wanted to dance and he was more than excited to stand up and offer you his hand like a real gentleman, before leading the way to the dancefloor. Sadly for you, the fancy ballroom didn´t offer any ass shaking music, but San being the dancer he was, had no trouble leading you in his arms.

“I do have to say things are spinning a bit,” You laughed, commenting on your many drinks.

“Yeah, I think that last Whiskey was a bit too much. Are there really that many chandeliers or am I seeing things doubled?”

“I think both.”

★

As expected, San didn´t rail you that night. But he did kiss you goodnight once he dropped you off at home and your heart was happy enough with that.

Haechan also ignored you the week following the gala, you even tried sending him an invitation on Valorant when you saw he was online on Saturday but he never answered, same when you sent him a slightly offensive meme on Whatsapp, expecting him to offend you back.

Well, guess you were living the dream.

When the next weekend came around with no acknowledgment from Haechan, you figured he finally had enough of you and was over with your little frenemies routine, meaning the bet was also over. You were fine with that. What you weren´t fine with was with the fact that he got you used to having the best fucking orgasms of your life and now you were left high and dry.

Life also wasn´t as much fun when you didn´t have anyone to try and beat at everything.

So with no thoughts in mind, you put on your hottest outfit for group outing that night, even going as far as putting on the skirt Haechan always teased you about because you knew he liked it too much. You kind of expected him to not show up after icing you out for weeks, but there he was when you got to Jaemin´s house and he simply treated you as if absolutely nothing had happened.

“Awn, wore this skirt for me?” He asked as soon as you sat down next to him on the couch.

You were so surprised at him suddenly referring to you after weeks, that your eyes were wide when you asked, “You talking to me now?”

“I was never not talking to you.”

“Donghyuck, of course you were.”

“Was not.”

“Was too.”

“Yeah?” He entertained; his face petulant. “And since when am I supposedly ignoring you?”

“Since the gala with San, you-”

“Oh, I see. You want me to be jealous so you´re projecting.”

“That´s not- What in the gaslighting?”

“Don´t worry, princess. I wasn´t ignoring you, was just busy.”

“I saw you online when I was playing Valorant.”

“Yeah, I saw your invitation. But you see, you´re just really bad and I was playing with the guys from college.”

“So you two talking again?” Jaemin interrupted.

“See?” You told Donghyuck as you pointed to your other friend to prove your point, downing a shot of tequila as frustration started to build up on you.

“Just shut up and drink,” He rolled his eyes against his own shot glass.

Well, guess you could say things were normal after all.

“So, the bet,” Jisung brought up and everyone around the table groaned. “What? It was supposed to end like weeks ago, I kind of impulsively bought tickets to a Monster Truck show counting on that money!”

“As if you would win,” Chenle attacked. “But he´s right, we really need to get this over with.”

“We don´t need to do anything. Very easy for you to say when you´re involved nowhere near the actual completion of the bet.”

“I could fuck you to end this already,” Chenle shrugged.

“We´re doing it tonight, just shut the fuck up,” Donghyuck groaned, downing another shot of tequila. Yeah, he looked even more frustrated than you.

“And how are we going to do this when you´re not even talking to me?”

“Are you serious right now?” He looked murderously at you bringing the topic up again and you became small under his eyes. Since he started hitting on you, Haechan had stopped actually being rude and insulting you and you kind of missed him feeding your ego. Maybe you complained enough he stopped, maybe he didn´t want to fuck you that badly anymore -

“Wait, are you dating the girl from the salon?” You asked when the possibility crossed your mind. “Because we´re not fucking if you´re da-”

“What?” He looked at you like you were the world´s most stupid person. “Why would I- Oh, wait, so the bet is off in case one of us starts dating?”

“Obviously?”

“Guess you´ll have to tell your new boytoy you just lost your friends a lot of money.”

“What? We´re not dating, we´re just – Oh, so you are jealous.”

“I´m disappointed.”

“At what?” You asked in disbelief, already swallowing another shot. You noticed Mark tried to say something, maybe stop the two of you from starting a fight, but you also noticed how he shut himself up before saying anything.

“At how easy you just drop everything to get with some dude. I thought you were a worthy opponent -”

“Donghyuck, this isn´t a game.”

“No, this is a bet.”

“Oh my god, just admit you have a star problem or something. Can´t handle not being the center of attention for a night? Is it too much for you? Go cry about it and leave everyone alone.”

“Guys-” It was Jeno who tried this time but you were quick to shush him.

“Not you acting like you didn´t came running the second I wasn´t down your neck.”

“So you were ignoring me!”

"Yes I was fucking ignoring you. I don´t like you, I guessed that was established.”

Wow.

Yeah, you knew that. But it kind of stung now.

A bit.

“Is this some kind of foreplay?” Chenle asked.

“Ask Y/N, I bet she´s getting off on this,” Haechan rolled his eyes, another shot finding its way down his throat.

“Oh my god, chill. What got your panties in a twist?” You rolled your eyes too, more Tequila passing your lips because you couldn´t let Haechan drink more than you.

“I can´t even tell if they´re really fighting or not anymore,” Mark raised his hand in defeat, a deep sigh leaving his lips.

“You´re the one suddenly all sensitive. Homeboy didn´t fuck you good or are you just pmsing?”

“You know what? Let´s go to the room and end this right now so I don´t have to put up with you ever again,” You half-suggested half-ordered.

No one said a word after that, noticing how Haechan was actually really mad. Jaemin didn´t even whine about you two using his room as you had expected he would as his friend stood up and made his way down the hall.

“Wish me luck,” You rolled your eyes before downing another shot and following Donghyuck.

When you got to Jaemin´s room, Haechan was already inside, so you quietly entered and closed the door behind you. You were thankful for Jaemin´s colorful lights because the blue room got you relatively calmer than you would be if you had to face the man in front of you in a normally lit room.

“We´re not fucking until we have an adult conversation for once,” You informed, leaning your body against the door.

“There´s nothing to talk about.”

“Of course there is.”

“I know we have this playing around thing but I´m really not in the mood.”

“And I´m not in the mood to be fucked like this, so what´s wrong?”

“Why do you need something to be wrong? It´s not like we ever treated each other well.”

“Yeah, but you kind of did for the past weeks -”

“Yeah, because I wanted to fuck you. Why? Did the princess fall in love?” Haechan gave you a fake pout. “I said you convinced me you were hot enough to fuck, not to date.”

“I can assure you that´s not the case. I just don´t enjoy this whole childish act, we never liked each other but you don´t need to suddenly be a bitch about it.”

“Guess I learned from the best.”

“So you want to not fuck me anymore and call off the bet? Is that it?”

“I guess. It wouldn´t really be fair now that we had someone else meddling in, would it?”

“What the fuck are you even talking about, Donghyuck?”

“I just wasn´t aware we were allowed to have sex with anyone else during the duration of the bet -”

“Oh my god, you´re still talking about San – Oh. – Oh! Hold on! You´re mad because you were counting on me to be untouched and desperate or something so you could win the bet!”

“Dear lord. I had you moaning like a whore around my fucking fingers and you think I need to count on something to get you anywhere? You really are stupid.”

“Since you suddenly care about the integrity of this bet so much I will let you know that San hasn´t fucked me yet, so that´s all cleared. Now, if you could be a dear and go inform everyone you want to cancel everything so I can in fact go get railed by said man, I´d be really happy.”

He answered everything you said by crossing his arms and scoffing, “As if.”

“Oh I see how it is, wanna up the bet? See who gets me there faster? I bet my League account with all the legendary skins that San can beat you.”

Well, that was enough to get Haechan practically throwing you against the door, a loud bang echoing through the apartment. You knew playing with his competitive nature would work.

“Are you really that desperate for me to fuck you that you´re trying to get on my nerves?” He asked, voice more like a growl and face mere inches apart from yours.

“You´re not the only attention whore in town,” you teased.

“I told you all you had to do was ask, baby,” He smirked before smashing his lips into yours.

Excited that this was finally happening and with the few shots in your system, you were more than happy to return the enthusiasm, hands now finding their familiar place in his hair as he pressed you harder against the door. As always, Haechan´s lips had you whining for more in no time, his hand expertly exploring your body as if you had no more time left in the world.

Oh, right.

The bet.

“Get on the bed,” He rasped out after he felt you starting to grind against him.

“You´re making me do all the work?” You teased, just wanting to be annoying.

He stopped and stared you down in silence, thumb finding its way to your lips as he watched your face lost deep in thoughts, something in his eyes started to crumble down and it got your anxiety to start coming out. Not wanting to give him the time to process whatever he was trying to, your mouth engulfed his finger as you sucked on it. A smirk filled your face as you saw the way Haechan´s jaw clenched at the action, so you gently bit his thumb before letting it go. At least your distraction plan seemed to work out.

“Honestly, fuck you,” the man sighed but his words had no bite as his lips found yours once again. You were so distracted by his tongue inside your mouth that you almost jumped when you felt him slowly slide the straps of your top down your shoulders. The sudden change of speed getting your brain to malfunction.

Now, you were not generally sensitive around your boobs but there was just something that happened to you whenever it was Haechan touching your skin that had your back arching when his fingers accidentally brushed against your nipples when he was dragging your top down, goosebumps erupted up your body in a single second. A weak moan left your lips at the surprising feeling and the man answered it by rubbing the pad of his thumb over your right nipple, his tongue in your mouth not doing much to keep your noises inside at the way your core violently clenched around nothing.

Donghyuck´s lips left yours to find their place on your neck, where he left wet hot kisses while you did your best to not squirm under him. The man made his way down your shoulders, to your collarbones, the top of your boobs until his soft lips found your nipples too - He looked up at you so smugly once you hissed at the sensation of his tongue circling the left one.

You kind of found a new appreciation for his insufferable cocky face.

“The timer,” You managed to breathe out, voice shaky.

“Go ahead baby, I trust you with that chore.”

An annoyed whine left your lips because honestly, you were not in the right headspace to be given any tasks - But as Donghyuck´s fingers dug into your waist to hold you still as he left marks on your boobs, you managed to get your trembling hand inside your pocket and get your phone out.

“Don´t start it until I tell you to,” He ordered, looking up at you before dropping down to his knees and honestly, the view was enough to keep you from arguing. He could win the bet for all you cared.

The man in front of you unbuttoned your shorts and gently pulled them down your legs, kissing up your thighs when he made his way back up. Your whole body was shivering as he approached where you were pulsing and you violently shook as he left a kiss right on your center over your lacy panties, his hot breath against your wet skin forcing a moan out of you.

You hated that your body could simply not react normally to this man.

Your knuckles were white from gripping your phone so tightly as he licked and kissed you slowly over your panties like he had nothing else to do for the rest of his life, it was hard keeping your moans inside and he didn´t even really touch you yet.

“Donghyuck-”

“Yes?” His eyes met yours from between your legs and you seriously wanted to scream.

“Do something, please,” Your voice sounded so broken.

The man chuckled at the way you dropped your attitude so fast, “Well, since you asked so prettily.”

His fingers found the seat of your underwear, dragging it to the side as his face approached your core once again, now with nothing in the way.

“I´ve been wanting to do this for a long time.”

“Then fucking get to it,” You whined, the back of your head hitting the door in frustration. You hadn´t completely forgotten the bet was supposed to include no foreplay, but you were so desperate to feel his mouth on you that you could make an exception.

Another low chuckle left his mouth before he got straight into work. If you thought his fingers were magic, you didn´t even know how to begin describing his lips.

“Oh my fucking god,” You moaned, not even sure you had said it out loud or the words were just repeating themselves over and over inside your head.

He kissed your clit, sucked on it and his tongue lavished you and all you could do was try your best to hold your sounds in because your friends were right outside and they didn´t deserve the show. Your free hand found its place tangled in Haechan´s hair and the whimper he let out at the way you tugged on it got you almost reaching the edge.

He fucking whimpered.

A high whiny breathy groan.

That man was going to be de death of you.

You were about to stop him, push him away because you were already so close, but he could probably already guess that by the way your body was twitching and you were pulling harder on his hair, so he leaned away after a final chaste kiss to your clit. He cleaned his face with the back of his hand as he looked up at you, appreciating the view of your semi-wrecked form.

Donghyuck on his knees was such a pretty sight.

“Get on the bed and start the timer.”

Your legs were wobbly but you obeyed this time, eager to finally get fucked -

Yeah, you were excited to be fucked by Donghyuck, so what? It was about time you accepted defeat and indulged a bit in your sexual taboos - Haechan himself being most of them.

You sat down on the edge of the bed, not trusting your voice to ask how he wanted you. Also, this was his part of the bet, he would have to work for it for all you cared. You pressed START on the timer and tossed your phone away somewhere under the pillows, watching as the man approached you.

“It´s annoying,” He said once he stood between your legs, his hand holding your jaw to tip your head up so you were forced to look him in the eyes.

“What is?”

“How hot you are.”

“The timer is running.”

“And?”

“Hyuck-”

“Are you going to start dating San?”

“Do you really wanna talk about this now? Donghyuck, why-”

“Maybe I really was jealous.”

“What?”

“I didn´t like seeing you with him. At the time I blamed my ego or whatever, but now thinking about you with him it´s making me mad - I mean, maybe it is my ego.”

“Are you thinking about another man when you´re supposed to be fucking me?”

“Can you shut up for a second?”

“Is this your idea of a confession?”

“No, Y/N. I´m not saying I´m in love with you, I´m just saying I realized I was jealous and I´m not sure why.”

“Ok, can you figure that out after you finish fucking me, please?”

“Eager?”

“Yes, actually.”

“I´m so hard.”

“A romantic,” You roll your eyes.

“No, it´s just- You have a weird effect on me.”

“I- I know. I feel it too.”

“Nah, I´m just that good.”

“Ok, I take it back.”

“I´m clearly joking.”

“You´re clearly being annoying.”

“Shut up.”

“Come do it.”

And so he did. Donghyuck bent over and his lips found yours once again as he gently pushed you back down onto the mattress and climbed on top of you. You wasted no time wrapping your hands around his neck to try and pull him impossibly closer, your fingers once again tangling themselves into the hair in the back of his neck and tugging at them. The way his hips automatically rutted against yours in reaction made your vision blurry. Man was not kidding when he said he was really hard.

“Like hair pulling, huh?” You teased once the two of you let go of each other to try and catch your breath for a second.

“You should try and choke me a bit if you´re curious,” He winked at you playfully.

“You for real?” You really tried teasing him, but you´re the one who ended up choking around nothing and looking at him like he hung up all of the starts in the sky himself.

He didn´t answer you, his lips catching yours as his hands found the hem of your panties, pulling them down your legs the best he could without breaking the kiss, which was not hard considering you were eager to help. Ha, who would have guessed.

You felt Donghyuck fitting himself between your legs once again, his whole weight supported by his left hand as he snaked his right hand in between your bodies. You felt his fingers circling your clit and you whined, trying to push him away, “Hyuck, no. I´m already clo-”

“Just let me stretch you out a bit,” He explained, his same finger now finding its way inside you. Now, that´s something you had already experienced a few times before, but every time Haechan had his fingers slowly pumping inside of you, it felt like the first time all over again.

“Oh, dear lord,” You whined, trying to hold back your orgasm because that would be simply humiliating.

“I could literally cum just because of the way you keep clenching around my finger.”

“I´m close-”

“I know, baby. I can feel it. But you can hold it in for me, right? I want you to cum on my cock.”

“Fuck. Donghyuck-”

“Yes, princess?”

“If you don´t add another finger right now-”

“Anything you ask,” He smiled down at you, complying with your request - which you immediately regretted because if one of his fingers was already too much, you were definitely not prepared for two. Your nails dug into the skin of his arms without you even realizing, but you needed something to ground yourself. He was fingering you so slowly and yet you wanted to scream at how good the drag along your walls felt.

When he judged you were ready, he retracted his fingers and you breathed out in relief, finally not having to use your full mental capacity to focus on not cumming.

“We should go on a date sometime,” He stated in a matter-of-fact tone, like you were discussing the weather on a nice little walk.

“Lee Donghyuck, what are you-” It was hard talking when you were still trying to catch your breath.

“Indulge me.”

“You´re not helping yourself win the bet.”

“I don´t give a fuck about the bet, I´m already happy proving you wrong.”

“And how are you doing that?” You knew the answer to that question, but you wanted to hear him say it.

“Because baby,” He paused to give you a soft kiss on the lips, " this exact moment, we´re chatting to give you a break since you can´t even handle being fucked just from my fingers inside of you.”

Touché.

Maybe you loved his voice, especially when saying lewd things.

“You´re not so much better,” You rolled your eyes, squeezing the bulge in his pants and earning a groan in response. “Now, can you please undress?”

“Undress? How fancy,” He laughed, but his hands were already undoing his belt.

“Do you always talk this much during sex? Maybe we should gag you.”

“Careful with your promises, I might come demand their fulfillment.”

“Just fuck me, Donghyuck.”

“Never wanted anything more,” He smirked after he finished taking his pants off.

He kissed you once again, but you were quick to break away, sitting up to pull at the hem of his shirt and he complied, raising his arms so you could take it off. You pulled Haechan closer, kissing down his neck and ecstatic with the little whines he let out, especially as you started lowering the kisses to his chest. His skin felt burning hot against your lips and you wanted to stay there forever.

It came as a surprise when he grabbed onto your waist and manhandled you, spinning you around, so you were now with your back pressed to his chest. His hand found your neck to hold your head as he chuckled darkly right against your ear, “I appreciate the attempt, but today I´m in charge.”

You moaned as he used his knee to force your legs open, his hand leaving your throat to push your back down the mattress. You didn´t even have time to react or support yourself with your arms, your left cheek meeting the bed sheets as you felt the tip of his cock against your entrance.

You pushed your hips back without even realizing, just wanting Donghyuck inside of you once and for all. But to no one´s surprise, it was just teasing you that he wanted.

“You´re so fucking wet,” He marveled, rubbing his tip up and down your folds. “Just like you always are for me.”

You wanted to retort, but you also wanted his dick inside of you – today, preferably. So you just whined impatiently and arched your hips a bit more, “Donghyuck!”

“Beg.”

“No.”

“I want to hear the high oh mighty miss I´m-always-right begging for me to fuck her.”

“Please.”

“Not good enough.”

“Donghyuck, please fuck me. You won ok? I need you. I don´t care. Just please, fuck me,” You could seriously cry.

Maybe you weren´t used to not getting things your way.

“Tell me you´re mine.”

“Am I?”

“Yes, but I need you to know it.”

“Fuck me well and I might be.”

“Good answer.”

You could tell he was smirking as he finally slid inside of you.

“Oh god,” You moaned. You had been waiting for this for months!

“You can call me Haechan.”

“You´re not as funny as you think you are,” You breathed out, your hands gripping onto the bed sheets as he waited for you to adjust for a second.

“Maybe, but I am about to give you the fuck of your life.”

“Why are you still talki-”

Donghyuck didn´t let you finish the sentence, his hand that was caressing your lower back now grabbed onto your waist for support as he took his dick out before pushing it back in. He took absolutely no time to find a rhythm that drove you crazy, and as expected from mister tease himself, it was a slow one, but with that, you could feel every single vein and piece of skin dragging against your walls, every single pulse and twitch of his cock.

“Fuck,” You moaned, closing your eyes harshly to try and focus on something other than the way the man you hated was about to make you cum in approximately 20 seconds just from teasing.

“I´ve been imagining fucking you for years,” Haechan groaned.

“Then fucking do it properly,” You cursed between gritted teeth, sentence interrupted by a gasp when his cock hit something inside of you that had you involuntarily clenching around him.

“You can´t take it.”

He was probably right, but you wanted him to anyways.

“Maybe you just can´t do it.”

Haechan´s answer was a laugh; his movements didn’t stop as you felt something grabbing your hair and pulling you up, your back once again against his chest, “I wanted to have my fun, but I guess that´s not something you´re familiar with.”

His movements then sped up, his right hand finding your clit and rubbing circles on it and his other hand moved to your favorite place, your neck.

He was absolutely right. You couldn’t take it.

You were pretty sure you were being loud, but you couldn´t even be sure because your mind was in another dimension.

“Happy now, princess?” He groaned against your ear from the effort of how he was harshly fucking into you.

“Yes, oh my god. Don´t stop – Ah- I´m so close.”

Your body was shaking at this point, you threw your right arm back to latch onto Haechan´s hair for any sense of stability as you felt everything beginning to turn white.

“I thought you would put more of a fight,” His hand around your neck tightened. “But I love seeing you like this, so no complaints.”

You heard his voice but his words didn´t register, leaving your mind as soon as they entered because you were so so close.

“Tell me you´re mine.”

“I´m yours.”

“This pussy is mine, only mine.”

“Only yours.”

“Good girl.”

Never in a million years did you think you would let Lee Donghyuck say those words to you, and never in a million years did you think those exact words would trigger the most earth-shattering orgasm of your life.

“Oh fuck, oh my god. Hyuck”-

He didn´t let up, fucking you all throughout as you were moaning and twitching, his fingers never losing speed against your clit, his groans from the way you kept squeezing around him were enough to almost give you another orgasm back-to-back as he let your cheek gently hit the mattress once again.

“If you keep calling me that I might cum soon too.”

You didn't even mind the overstimulation, your ears were still ringing, you were still gasping for air but he didn´t stop, in fact, he only begin fucking you harder. Another high started building up and you weren´t even done with the first yet.

You barely registered when he pulled out for a second to flip you around, finding his place in between your legs once again, which you automatically wrapped around his hips as he pounded into you.

“Fuck,” He groaned, looking into your eyes. Sweat was running down his forehead and neck and you so desperately wanted to pull him closer and lick it. “Maybe I was jealous, can´t stand the thought of someone else seeing how pretty you look like this.”

“Hyuck.”

“I want to ruin you for any other man. Fuck, you feel so good.”

He was close too, you could feel his cock twitching inside of you and how he lost control once every few thrusts. Your nails scratched his back enough to draw blood but he seemed to enjoy it, his head dropping down your neck and a whine leaving his lips. The vibration against your skin got goosebumps erupting once again all over your body and you felt yourself at the edge again.

You stopped caring your friends were right outside about 10 minutes ago and Donghyuck just never did - Oh, right. He probably wanted Jeno to hear it all.

“Hyuck, ah- I´m close.”

“Me too, baby.”

You didn´t think it was possible for him to go any faster, but he did. Now supporting his weight on his two arms, Donghyuck drilled into you and his lips met your neck, leaving wet kisses and sucking on it to leave as many bruises as possible.

Man really had a possession problem.

You couldn´t take it anymore, as the man bit a particular spot on the side of your neck, you closed your eyes and let it hit you. No man had ever been able to make you cum just from penetration alone and your world was suddenly turned upside down with your second orgasm of the night. Donghyuck probably did manage to ruin you for any other man.

Fuck him.

With your body spasms and the way your walls started clenching when you came, Donghyuck followed right along with you. He had his eyes closed, eyebrows furrowed as moans left his pretty lips - Haechan was insufferable but he was also the hottest man in the world, you were going a bit crazy.

You felt warmness hitting your insides as he slowly stopped his motions and started trying to catch his breath. You watched with hazy eyes as his chest stopped heaving and he opened his eyes to stare right back at you.

“Hello beautiful,” You smiled at him, breathing somewhat closer to normal even if you were still shivering.

“I figured it out,” He smiled back at you.

“You´re still inside of me.”

“And I plan on being for a long time.”

“Is that a threat?”

“I want you to go out with me.”

“Awn, someone has a crush.”

“Maybe. Let´s have a date and figure it out,” He shrugged. “Maybe we will end up killing each other, maybe we will end up boyfriend and girlfriend, maybe we will end up fucking – No, we´re definitely fucking either way-”

“You just want to keep staring at my boobs.”

“That too.”

“And you´re still inside of me.”

“You never said yes.”

“We´ve known each other for many years, Donghyuck. What makes you think we will start liking each other now?”

“I guess I already like you and even when hating each other we still had fun, you get me, I get you. Let´s not overcomplicate it.”

“Ok, let´s give it a try.”

“You just want me to fuck you again,” He joked.

“That too,” You smiled.

★

“Oh, fuck.”

“What´s wrong?” Donghyuck asked worriedly, tightening his belt after the shower you took.

“The timer.”

“Oh, yeah. Was too lazy to turn it off,” He shrugged.

“But the bet-”

“I told you I didn´t care about the bet.”

“That´s because I won.”

“That´s because I let you win.”

“So you´re just giving me your stuff like that?”

“Nop, because many rules were broken and that makes the bet invalid.”

“I never agreed to that.”

“So you really want my computer? Yours is perfectly fine, I know it because I´m the one who assembled it!”

“No, but I do want your hoodie.”

Donghyuck stared at you in silence long enough to make you uncomfortable before shrugging, “Fine, as long as I can fuck you in it. Now go outside and tell our dear friends the bet was canceled.”

“Shouldn´t we just lie? I kind of feel bad for Jisung.”

“If I agree, I get to choose where to go on our first date.”

“Let me guess, your bed?”

“What do you take me for?” He fake gasped.

“Do you really want me to answer that? Because then I don´t think there will be a first date.”

“Look who´s all mouthy now, not only 15 minutes ago you were-”

“Don´t you dare.”

“Oh, I dare.”

“Just give me your hoodie and shut up.”

“You´ll go out wearing it.”

“What- Why?”

“I want Jeno to see it.”