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lunajay33 · 2 months

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Just Us🩶

Summary: In a world full of walkers y/n was able to escape with her best friend, but maybe that friendship turns into something more

Pairing: Carl Grimes x f!reader

A/n: This story starts when the group is on the road after Terminus but I’m gonna make y/n and Carl 18 just to speed along the story!! This is also my first Carl Grimes series! This story includes 18+ scenes, pregnancy and more

•Masterlist•

The prison felt like home, a place where we could make permanent and we did…..for a short while but then the governor came along ruining everything splitting my family up in every direction but who ever above was on our side and we found each other. We worked together and escaped and survived Terminus and now here we all were….well who survived, we lost Beth and the next day we lost Tyrese, it was hard on us all but especially Daryl, Maggie and Sasha but we still had our group that had to be worth something right?

We were walking down a road that felt like it went on forever, all the cars empty of gas, no food, barely any water, just us scattered on the road and the hot Georgia sun beating down on us

“Hey you doing okay?” Carl asked nudging my shoulder

“Oh ya I’ll be fine, just……hungry, how this beautiful little bean?” I asked rubbing Judith’s cheek as she was in Carls arms

“She doing pretty good, she’s small enough she doesn’t need much food plus she’s not burning it off cause she’s being carried all day” he said as he adjusted her

“I can take her for a while” I said holding my arms out for her to give Carl a break

“You sure?”

“Of course you know I love babies” I said smiling as I held her to my chest as she babbled nuzzling against me

“I think she likes you more than me” Carl laughed

“I must just have that motherly vibe she wants” I said teasing him knowing how protective he was of her

Carls Pov

Seeing y/n hold Judith made my heart beat fast, she’s been my best friend since grade 2 and having her be with me during all this chaos was a blessing, she was my light and peace through all the gore and despair

But along the way, I don’t know when but she changed from being my fun loving best friend to this woman who was beautiful and caring and would do anything for the ones she loved, but I couldn’t ruin what we had not in this world

But the image before me, my little sister in her arms, and how quickly Judith took to her as if she was her mother, y/n always had that caring motherly aura about her even at the prison she’d try to help the kids but now we were 18 and maybe I wanted more with her maybe with this little time we had I should tell her

Y/n Pov

Carl had been glancing at me all day, I had caught him a few times and his cheeks would become beet red and I thought it was adorable, I’ve always found Carl charming in his own way, he was kind and always made me feel included when we were younger, and when people came back from the dead he became very protective and it just made me even more fond of him plus he’s insanely cute so that’s a plus

The group found a barn to sleep in for the night it was nice compared to sleeping in the wide open, atleast this was a bit of shelter and a layer of protection even if it was old

Everyone was scattered around, I was sitting by the little fire with Carl, Rick, Daryl and Michonne while Judith was still in my arms sleeping soundly against my chest

“You tired?” Carl asked from beside me

“A little but I don’t wanna move and disturb Jude” I said as I gently played with her wispy hair

“Here lean on me” he said moving closer so I could lay my head in his shoulder

He laid his head on top of mine, he was taller so his shoulder was at a comfortable height so I wasn’t breaking my neck

“Thank you” I whispered feeling the tiredness fully from the days journey

He wrapped his arm around my back holding my waist and pulling me closer, then I felt him brushing my hair back keeping his hand on my cheek for a bit before he pulled it back

I looked up at him seeing the red was back on his cheeks that warmed my heart, our lips were so close I could feel him breathing

“I’ll protect you y/n, always” he whispered running his hand back through my hair gripping it gently, I could feel my heart beat in my chest, my wrist, everywhere

“Carl promise me……..promise you’ll never leave me”

“I promise as long as you do the same, don’t know what I’d do with out my ray of sunshine” he said smiling as he laid his forehead against mine

This moment was so tender, loving and gentle I’d do anything to just stay in this little bubble of us forever but noooooo other people had to pop it

“Okay love birds calm down” Michonne said making some laugh as we both pulled back a bit blushing like crazy, I laid my head back on his shoulder a little embarrassed hearing Carl clear his throat obviously embarrassed as well

“Says you Michonne” Carl said and that shut her up as I saw Rick smile as he looked at her with such unspoken love, they were bound to be together

Even in when we were all in despair love was the only thing that kept us going, that kept us walking and searching for something, love is all we had and for me it was everything, my love for the group and my personal relationship I have with each one of them, and my deep love for Carl it made me feel safe knowing he was there

“Good night Carl”

“Good night sunshine”

I woke up the next morning finding myself in Carls arms with Judith still in mine cozy between our chests, everyone else still seemed to be asleep so I gently traced my finger over his cheek, his little freckles and tracing down to his pink lips feeling his little huff of air when he’d snore, everything he did made my heart swell more

“Having fun?” My heart jumped not expecting him to wake up

“Sorry I couldn’t help myself” I said hiding my face against his chest as he ran his hand up and down my back

“It’s fine, thought it was cute” he said laughing quietly under his breath

“Really?”

“Don’t make me repeat it” he said poking my side

“Fine…..”

“How’s Jude?” He asked looking down between us both seeing her curled up sucking her thumb

“Good, still as cute as a button” I said booping her nose lightly

It was silent as we both admired her, she was so naive to everything in the world and still has that wonder about her, she was lucky she had so many people love her

“I miss my baby sister, I remember when my parents brought her home she was so little I wouldn’t leave her side, I helped my mom take care of her, always couldn’t wait to have a baby of my own and now I don’t think I’ll get that and I don’t even know where my family is”

“I’m sorry, maybe they’re out there safe and if we find somewhere safe you can always have a baby don’t give up on that, i remember how you were with her is that why you spend so much time with Judith because it reminds you of Lily?” He asked as he rubbed my cheek

“Maybe…….i just miss her so much she was my best friend before you swooped in” I said trying to lighten the mood

“You know I’m glad you spilled your lunch on me that day, if not I’d never have met such a beautiful best friend”

“We don’t really act like best friends” I said feeling those butterflies in my stomach only he gave me

“Ya I suppose not, I just can’t help it…….do you not like it?”

“If I didn’t like it I would’ve told you Carl” I said smiling softly

Later that day a guy named Aaron found us, told us about this place called Alexandria and with some convincing Rick agreed and the next day we were rolling up to the gates of this supposedly safe protected community, I looked at Carl as he was sat next to me in the back of the car Rick was driving

“You ready?” He asked squeezing my hand

I nodded as I picked up Judith and we all got out gathering by the gate as it opened, showing a little town, unscathed this whole time, nice houses kids running around, the people looked clean but we were still a little wary

“Dianna will see you each and get to know the group but while you’re all waiting you can look around!” Aaron said as he and his husband left

Everyone had their interviews and after all that we found ourselves in a nice big house setting up bed in the living room

I laid down a big comforter and some pillows to make it more comfortable, Rick had taken Judith making me feel lonely, I was so use to holding her

“Mind if I sleep next to you” Carl said smiling as he started to make himself comfortable anyways

I laid down next to him facing each other as I lifted a throw blanket to cover us both up, everyone else was getting settled for bed as well around us still hearing the murmuring of little conversations

“Do you think we will be okay here?” I asked biting my lip nervously

“I don’t know……but I know that if we are all together then we will figure this out”

More parts to come! If you like this and wanna be notified of the next part lmk and I’ll add you to a taglist!!:)

Part.2<-

#twd fanfiction #carl grimes x y/n #carl grimes fluff #carl grimes x reader #carl grimes fanfiction #twd carl #carl grimes #carl grimes smut #carl grimes fic #carl grimes imagine #carl grimes x you #twd fic #the walking dead series #Carl grimes series

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phoenixinthefiles · 4 months

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It’s Called “Self-Reflection”

Hobie x reader🕸️…🎸💜

(My first ever x reader, be gentle)

“I look done,” you say, frowning as you analyze your reflection in the mirror.

You quickly whip your head around to the bathroom door and sigh in relief when Hobie doesn’t come through the door.

Majority of your reservations for staying the night with Hobie stemmed from your habit of talking to yourself.

It wasn’t even something you knew that you did until your mom caught you one too many times and you finally accepted that you have a problem.

God forbid Hobie walks in on you talking to yourself, you wouldn’t ever live it down.

You finish getting ready quickly, and you actually look like a person who gets a normal amount of sleep (you don’t).

Yawning, you take the few steps into the kitchen.

Hobie’s standing in front of the cooktop cooking bacon, shirtless.

Not that you don’t appreciate the view…

“When you get popped by that grease, I won’t be listening to any complaints.”

He whips his head around with a grin and he turns the heat on the skillet down before turning back to you.

“Yeah you only hear complaints from yourself.”

You tense up immediately and Hobie leans against the counter with an amused smirk on his face.

Your hands come up to cover your face and you groan.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about”

It’s a very pathetic attempt to shake of your embarrassment.

“No? Need me to jog your memory then?”

“Nah my mind’s like a steel trap. So if I can’t remember something you must be making it up.”

He snorts and points at your forehead.

“Must’ve trapped someone up there.”

You sigh, “What’s for breakfast, Hobart?” One last attempt at changing the subject won’t hurt.

He sweeps a hand over the stove, “All the regulars, deary.”

He turns back to grin at you, and you just know he’s gearing up again.

“Your friend up there have any preferences?”

You glare at him and go up to stove, not so gently nudging him out of the way, and ignoring his comment.

“How high do you have this thing?”

He scoffs and nudges you back, “Dictating my cooking now? Better tell your friend up top things don’t work like that round here. ‘S ain’t a democracy, I’m big man.”

“That doesn’t sound like something an anarchist would say.”

He shrugs, “Never good to be too consistent y’know?”

You roll your eyes at him, he only ever uses that line when you trip him up.

He reaches for the skillet on the stove and your brain doesn’t even track the sheer stupidity until he’s already burned himself.

“BLOODY HELL!”

You stand there, your brain still trying to process what he just did, as he turns the tap on and sticks his hand under the water.

Finally, you recover and move to fridge and grab a stick of butter but a sudden bout of laughter stops you before you can put it to use.

Hobie’s finally stopped swearing and now he’s staring at you incredulously.

“Nah, you’re actually mad. I just roasted my hand hand on that pan, and you’re laughing?”

He sounds too shocked to be offended and that makes you giggle even more.

“No, that’s not it,” you gasp out, “I’m just-why would you do that? What possessed you to put your hand fully on the handle of a hot skillet? Palm in perfect position to be burned.”

“Thought I turned the heat down, forgive a man for making a mistake.”

Oh now he wants to advocate graciousness.

You grab a knife and cut a nice sized chunk of butter, before stepping over to Hobie and gently smearing it on his hand.

“I still can’t understand that. You thought you turned the gas down so you touched a hot skillet?”

“You had a full chat to yourself, in a bathroom, while you fancied yourself up?”

“So I’m crazy and you’re stupid?” You retort. “Neither of us comes out on top in this situation.”

His smirk returns and he somehow manages to make the massive burn in the middle of his hand look good.

“Nah, I’m taller, I’ll always come out on top”

You roll your eyes and toss a roll of bandages at him, “Just because you’re a giant means you’re right? This is why I prefer talking to my friend, he always makes sense.”

“Bit hard not to make sense when you’re talking to yourself, isn’t it?”

You don’t even roll your eyes this time, the motion couldn’t show just how exasperated you were with him. (Though that could be the exhaustion, from you not getting enough sleep the past week)

“Fix your hand up and leave me alone, please and thanks.”

“I can only do one of things sorry, and I’m afraid it ain’t gonna be the one you prefer.”

You huff, “Just finish cooking the damn food.”

He clutches his hand dramatically to his chest and looks at you as if you’ve just shown up to some fancy event in your sweats.

“You’d make a man with a burned hand, cook his own breakfast?”

You huff again and push him out of the kitchen forcefully, you barely did anything.

“Fine, I’ll finish it, go water your plants.”

“You talking to me or your friend, y’know-

“Hobart,” you grit out, pinching the bridge of your nose.

He gives you one last smirk as he leans in and kisses your cheek, dashing away before you can swat at him.

“Thank God,” you sigh.

“Gonna assume you were chatting to your friend that time!” Hobie yells.

“HOBART BROWN!”

You can hear him laughing and you flick your middle finger in the direction of the boat he ran off to.

“Gonna find me an actual friend to talk to all the time and see how he likes that.”

Take it I don’t want it anymore @vhstown

#hobie brown x gn!reader #hobie brown fic #spider punk #hobie brown x reader #fromphoetou #atsv fanfiction #hobie brown #atsv x reader

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yanderecrazysie · 7 months

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Hello can give Is it crime part two please 🙏

This was also requested a ton on Quotev and Wattpad. Don’t know why lol.

Title: Is It a Crime Part 2

Pairings: Todoroki Shoto x Reader

WARNINGS: Yandere themes, light swearing

Summary: Shoto isn’t fond of the quirk marriage his dad has arranged. At least, he didn’t think so at first.

Part 1: here

“Is it a crime

That I still want you?

And I want you to want me too

My love is wider, wider than Victoria Lake

My love is taller, taller than the Empire State

It dives, it jumps, and it ripples like the deepest ocean

I can't give you more than that, surely, you want me back”

-from “Is It a Crime” by Sade

You’d never seen Shoto so desperate.

The red-and-white haired man was near tears when he arrived at your door and, in wordless shock, you let him in. The typically emotionless male had never shown this much emotion to you and it made you feel a little unnerved.

“I made a mistake,” Shoto said, “Please, sign the wedding contract again. We can get married and… be happy together.”

You only miss people when they’re gone. That saying rang true here more than ever. You had left his sorry self behind and he must have regretted driving you away.

But that didn’t take back what you’d heard from him and how you’d been treated. It didn’t take back the feelings of disappointment and humiliation, the constant wishing that things would be different and the depression that followed when you realized things would never change.

Every day in that mansion had been awful, pointless, and heart-breaking. As soon as you had gotten home, you were sure you were in the right place.

You never thought you’d see Todoroki Shoto ever again.

Who’s to say that, once you went back, everything would be fine? What if everything went back to the way it was? What if he was only asking because you were a live-in maid and chef to him, and he just missed that?

Either way, the answer was clear.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t do that,” you said softly, “I don’t want to marry you.”

Shoto flinched like he’d been shot. His eyes went wide for a moment before narrowing in anger.

“You’re going to sign the contract,” He reiterated.

“No, I’m not. I’m not going back to that life, Shoto. I was miserable in that mansion and I’m not going to willingly walk back into it.”

Shoto stopped for a second, then spat, “Who said anything about ‘willingly’?”

Your expression turned stormy and you spun around, ready to walk away from him. He was a lost cause- a child throwing a tantrum. No way were you going to stick around and humor him.

Suddenly, a wall of ice appeared in your path. Shocked, you turned around to find Shoto with his right arm out as though he was pushing something invisible.

Fury shot through you like a white-hot knife. Reaching your own hand out, you pressed it against the smooth ice and focused your energy into it.

The giant ice wall shattered into millions of tiny pieces in an instant. You felt a rush of grim victoriousness when you saw Shoto’s wide-eyed expression. He had never bothered to ask what your quirk was, and you had never bothered to tell him.

“If you don’t mind,” you said hotly, “I’ll be leaving now.”

Shoto responded with a low growl and an air push from his left hand. Now, a wall of fire blocked your path.

“What the hell, Shoto?” you screamed, “You’re going to burn my house down!”

“I don’t care,” came the cold response. Shoto’s heterochromatic glare bored into you and you felt tears well up in your eyes. This was your childhood home! Your parents lived here! You lived here!

You ran to the kitchen and searched for a bowl big enough to fill with water. You had to put out the fire and fast, before it got out of control and burned this place to the ground. But as soon as you had surfaced, holding a mixing bowl victoriously, Shoto made a wall of fire that cut you off from the sink.

You fled the house, tears running down your face as you abandoned the place you grew up. There was nothing you could do now except run away from Shoto.

But there was no escape. Every way you turned, you were met with fire, until the only way to run was to the red-and-white haired man. Tearfully, you trudged back to him, disappointment weighing heavily on your shoulders.

“You still can’t force me to sign that document,” you said sharply.

“We’ll see about that, (Y/n). We’ll see.”

#yandere #yandere x reader #yandere one shot #one shot #yandere my hero academia #my hero academia #yandere shoto #todoroki shoto

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receival · 29 days

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supernatural, seasons 1 - 5 starters.

the following is a collection of starter sentences from the cw show, supernatural.

i can’t do this alone.

where you headed?

no way i’m telling you.

i have these nightmares, and sometimes they come true.

you’re all i’ve got.

we go after this damn thing, together.

can i help you?

i kind of — i need to talk.

i’ve done some things … not good things.

there’s always forgiveness for us if we seek it.

salvation was created for sinners.

tell me what’s on your mind.

i’ve lied. a lot.

does that make me a bad person?

i know what you are.

you can’t be here.

this is hallowed ground.

maybe that works in the minor leagues, but not with me.

you’re wasting your time.

even if i did know where they were, i wouldn’t tell you.

this is everything i know.

what happened to them is not your fault.

it’s not my fault, but it’s my problem.

it’s not your problem. it’s our problem.

you got any better ideas?

this ends. now.

i’m ending it. i don’t care what it takes.

although i’m not too crazy about this new tone of yours — you’re right.

think real hard. it’ll come to you.

last time i saw you, you fell out a window.

i don’t know what you’re talking about.

this is what war looks like. it has casualties.

i’m gonna kill you, you know that?

sorry? i didn’t quite get that.

what the hell are you looking at?

who said anything about handing it over?

i want to stop losing the people i love.

i just … i just want this to be over.

did you get it?

you know this is a trap, don’t you?

don’t get yourself killed, alright? you’re no good to us dead.

it’s your fight. you finish this.

i want to thank you. for everything.

even when i couldn’t count on anyone, i could always count on you.

i wanted to let you know, just in case.

you kidding me? don’t say just in case something happens to you. i don’t want to hear that speech.

no one’s dying tonight.

i was hoping to kill more of your friends.

you know, i must admit, considering what they say about you, i thought you’d be … taller.

well aren’t you the chatty one?

i can’t believe you just shot me!

i’m so not in the mood for this.

holy water, (name). real cute.

where the hell did it go?

if you had just let me go in there, i could have ended all this.

the only thing you would have ended is your life.

you’re just willing to sacrifice yourself?

that’s not gonna happen — not as long as i’m around.

it’s not worth dying over.

no matter what we do, they’re gone. and they’re never coming back.

sometimes i barely feel like i’m holding it together.

did you really think i wouldn’t find you?

you gonna read me a story?

he begged for his life with tears in his eyes.

for your sake, i hope you’re lying.

you son of a bitch, you promised!

the things i did … it was a nightmare.

i’ll figure something out.

you’re selfish, you know that?

you don’t care about anything other than revenge.

how the hell are we gonna get in?

why are you splashing water on me?

come on. come on, we’ve got to get out of here.

(how are you?) / i’ll survive.

you saved my life back there.

i’m trying to thank you, here.

mad? i’m proud of you.

what the hell has gotten into you?

if you’re so sure, go ahead. kill me.

this was worth the wait.

two wrongs don’t make a right.

i want to know why. why’d you do it?

listen, you mind just getting this over with? ‘cause i really can’t stand the monologuing.

mask all that nasty pain, mask the truth.

you’re not my dad.

it’s inside me. i can feel it.

get back or i’ll kill you. i swear to god.

did i do this?

tell me if they’re okay!

you have to stay still.

i just need to find them.

you look good … considering.

man, tell me you can hear me.

come on, you’re the psychic.

i don’t know if we’re gonna find someone.

so, what? we just sit here with our thumbs up our ass?

well you sure know something.

if there’s only one working part, that’s enough.

you got to help me.

you haven’t called a soul for help.

aren’t you gonna do anything? aren’t you even gonna say anything?

i’ve done everything you ever asked me. everything. i’ve given everything i’ve ever had.

how is revenge gonna help him?

i should have never taken you along in the first place.

you get the hell away from me. stay back!

don’t worry, (name). i’m not going anywhere.

why won’t you look at me?

what’s happening to me?

it’s just a dream, that’s all.

i got to say, i’m impressed.

it’s out of my control. it’s just fate.

you always have a choice.

god, i feel like i’m at a slumber party.

alright, (name). this isn’t gonna work.

i’ll be damned.

oh, it’s good to hear from you.

it hasn’t been the same without you, (name).

you can’t kill death.

there’s got to be a way.

thanks for not giving up on me, (name).

this was the only way i could get you to talk to me.

what the hell do you want to talk about?

death is nothing to fear.

you’re living on borrowed time already.

how stupid do you think i am?

you really want an honest answer to that?

i took you for a lot of things, but suicidally reckless wasn’t one of them.

did you really think you could trap me?

i want to make a deal.

i don’t know how to help you. but i’ll keep trying, alright?

i mean, come on, you can’t … you can’t leave me here alone.

(name), you got to hold on.

you can’t go, not now.

we were just starting to be brothers again.

can you hear me?

it’s an honorable death. a warriors death.

you’re very cute.

there’s no such thing as an honorable death.

i’m not going with you. i don’t care what you do.

how do i know this isn’t just another trick?

oh, (name), i’m offended. don’t you trust me?

so we have a deal?

what are you doing that for?

you got some kind of angel watching over you.

you really don’t remember anything?

i had some things to take care of.

why don’t i believe you right now?

can we not fight?

half the time we’re fighting, i don’t know what we’re fighting about.

i just don’t want to fight anymore, okay?

(name), are you alright?

you shouldn’t have had to say that to me.

i put too much on your shoulders.

i made you grow up too fast.

i just want you to know … i am so proud of you.

why are you saying this stuff?

you’re scaring me.

stop asking if i need anything. stop asking if i’m okay.

i’m okay. really. i promise.

come here. i’m gonna lay my head gently on your shoulder. maybe we could cry, and hug, and maybe even slow dance.

don’t patronize me, (name).

what do you want me say?

aren’t you angry? don’t you want revenge?

look, don’t be stubborn. you know i can help you.

you’re not gonna hit me again are you?

look, if you don’t want my help, fine.

you didn’t think i remembered, did you?

they’re nice. they’re your friends.

i guess we’ll just have to blend in.

will you give me a little help here?

just because i’m not caring and sharing like you want me to —

these are your issues, quit dumping them on me.

am i gonna see you again?

(name), where did you learn to do all this?

i’m not alright. not at all. but neither are you.

that was beautiful. absolutely beautiful.

he’s the only one who gets to call me that.

something i said?

i can still see her, you know, the way she was.

but, hey, that was a long time ago.

truth is, i’m not handling it very well.

it just feel like there’s this hole inside of you? and it just gets bigger and bigger and darker and darker?

you and me? we were born to do this. it’s in our blood.

why are you even talking to me?

it’s an insult to his memory.

you can hit me all you want. it won’t change anything.

might as well put her out of her misery.

i just sharpened it, so it’s completely humane.

like i said, (name). no shades of gray.

you knew, and you just didn’t care.

i think you and i got some things to talk about.

i might be like you, i might not. but you’re the one tied up right now.

okay, i’m good now. we can go.

come on. i won’t even hit you back.

yeah, (name), but you didn’t. and that’s what matters.

you’re a pain in my ass.

i guess i might have to stick around to be a pain in the ass, then.

i don’t want to listen to you! i’m done listening to you!

it just feels like the right thing to do.

i think dad would’ve wanted you to have these.

if something evil happened there, it could have easily poisoned the ground.

well, don’t get too excited. you might pull something.

what else would it be about?

that’s perfectly normal, (name). especially with what you’re going through.

we shouldn’t even be here anymore.

you want to take another swing? go ahead. if it’ll make you feel better.

(name), where are you going?

what’s dead should stay back.

what the hell’s the matter with you?

stop it! that’s enough, okay? that’s enough!

i don’t scare easy, but you’re scaring the crap out of me!

you’re tailspinning, (name), and you refuse to talk about it, and you won’t let me help you.

i can take care of myself, thanks.

are lives are weird, man.

honey, is something bothering you?

haven’t we already talked about that?

haven’t we wasted enough time on him already?

you really think i could do something like that?

you brought me back.

you know what you did.

how could you? i loved you!

you really think this is gonna work?

it’s still me. i’m still a person.

i think she broke my hand.

you wanna stay for awhile?

i’m sorry. for the way i’ve been acting.

it’s my fault that he’s gone.

you can’t tell me there’s not a connection there.

we don’t know that, not for sure.

you’re the most important person in my life.

i never should have come back, (name).

i was dead. and i should have stayed dead.

you wanted to know how i was feeling. well, that’s it.

what could you possibly say to make that alright?

if i ran off with you, your mother might kill me.

you’re not a murderer, (name). you don’t have it in your bones.

i was upset, and i wanted to see you.

i’m sorry, baby, i’ll never leave you again.

what am i supposed to do now?

you mind your tongue with me, boy.

no one in their right mind chooses this life.

it’s my way of being close to him.

it was just a nightmare.

(name), i am trying to help you here, but you have got to be honest with me.

you asked for the truth.

can we make this quick? i’m really tired.

let’s pretend for the moment that you’re not entirely insane.

you’ve seen it, haven’t you?

what happened? talk to me.

these people are actually making deals with the damned things.

so we gotta clean up these peoples mess for them?

so, what, we should just leave them to die?

i don’t know what you’re talking about.

i was weak. i wanted to be great.

who don’t want their life to mean something?

i’m going to hell, one way or another.

you don’t really want to die.

i don’t want to die.

sit tight, alright? we’re gonna figure this out.

are you nuts?

i can buy us time to figure out something more permanent.

now allowed to say no, (name), not unless you’ve got a better idea.

we don’t have time for this.

just keep him alive.

i’m not going to put you out of your misery.

your misery is the whole point. it’s just so fun to watch.

i can’t do this anymore.

it’s all your fault.

i could have brought him back.

what the hell was that for?

shut your mouth, bitch.

it’s not the best time for a bleeding heart, (name).

what if we all have it?

it’s safer if you stay here for now.

i thought we were both going to die. you can’t hold that over me.

you can’t pull that crap with me, man.

why do we have to get stuck with all the responsibility? why can’t we live a little bit?

whatever weight you’re carrying, let me help a little bit.

you can tell me anything, you know what.

you don’t believe me.

he said that i might have to kill you.

take some responsibility for yourself, (name).

the truth is, it’s not your fault. (name), none of it is.

please, you’re in danger.

thank god you’re okay.

this has got to hurt like hell for you.

you can say a lot of stuff about me, but i’m not disloyal, and i’m not stupid.

i’m officially uncomfortable now. thank you.

well, sounds vaguely ominous.

what did you mean i looked the type?

i don’t scare that easy.

i should have found a way to save him.

you can’t save everyone.

the more people i save, the more i can change.

alright, time for bed.

if i ever turn into something i’m not … you have to kill me.

everyone around me dies.

please, you’re the only one who can do it. you have to promise me.

you have nothing to apologize for.

feels good getting back in the saddle, doesn’t it?

it had his face, but it wasn’t his face.

how’d you even know i was here?

i was chosen … for redemption.

hey, man, you’ve got to try this.

you’re enjoying that way too much, it’s kind of making me uncomfortable.

wait, there’s no such thing as unicorns?

i believe in what i can see.

i’m not enabling your sick habit.

there’s just chaos and violence, and random, unpredictable evil that comes out of nowhere and rips you to shreds.

you want me to believe in this stuff? i’m gonna need to see some hard proof.

this is vengeance. this is wrong.

men cannot be angels.

what you’re doing is not god’s will.

“thou shalt not kill”. that’s the word of god.

weren’t we gonna go to the movies?

we should go, or we’re gonna be late.

look, i said i was sorry.

are you sure you’re okay?

you’re just one person, (name).

(name), it’s me.

are you bleeding?

i tried to wash it off.

i don’t think it’s my blood.

(name), what the hell happened?

(name), i don’t … remember anything.

what did you find out?

nobody’s noticed anything unusual.

nobody saw me walking around, covered in blood?

how the hell did i get here?

what happened to me?

what if i hurt someone, or worse?

we don’t know what happened.

what’s the last thing you remember?

it just … feels familiar, you know?

please tell me you didn’t steal this.

i’m not thinking anything.

okay, now this is disturbing.

look, i just want to talk to you, that’s it, okay?

oh, do you a favor. that’s what i live for.

what’s going on with you, (name)?

i don’t know how i know, i just do.

i’d say they don’t like surprises.

should we knock?

even if you did do this, i’m sure you had a reason.

i killed him, (name).

you’ve gotta snap out of it.

you never told me this.

i didn’t want to scare you.

no one can control you but you.

you promised me.

we’re gonna figure this out, okay?

i don’t want to hurt anyone else.

i don’t want to hurt you.

whatever this is, you can fight it.

you know, i’ve tried so hard to keep you safe.

you’ll live to regret this.

how’d you find me?

that looks like it hurt.

just had a run - in with a hot stove.

you’re really carrying a torch for him, aren’t you?

romance — that’s just out of the question.

i’m not trying to hurt you, (name).

i’m telling you because i care.

i care about you a lot.

maybe you should leave.

it didn’t have to be this way.

you’re not (name).

you really don’t know the truth, do you?

he put him out of his misery like a sick dog.

why are you doing this to me?

shoot me.

are you that scared of being alone?

that’s holy water, you demonic son of a bitch!

i got lots of names.

why didn’t you kill me? you had a dozen chances.

would you give me two minutes to patch you up?

how did you know he was possessed?

i know demons lie, but do they ever tell the truth, too?

i’m part of this now.

this is my fight. i’m not getting your blood on my hands.

so, what bring you?

well, it’s good to see you.

don’t try to con a con man.

(name), back from the dead. getting to be a regular thing for you, isn’t it?

how about i smack that smartass out of your mouth?

careful, now. wouldn’t want to bruise this fine packaging.

oh, don’t worry, this isn’t gonna hurt you much.

feel like talking now?

i’ll make him bite off his tongue.

you’re not getting (name), you understand?

i’m gonna kill every one of you first.

i don’t give a rats ass about the master plan.

this isn’t going like i pictured.

you know when people want to describe the worst possible thing, they say it’s like hell? there’s a reason for that.

hell is a prison made of bone and flesh and blood and fear. and you sent me back there.

whatever i do to you, it’s nothing compared to what you do to yourself, is it?

they’d have been better off without you.

by the way, you really look like crap, (name).

you wouldn’t know anything about that?

that sounds vaguely dirty, but, uh, thanks.

you okay? (name)? is that you in there?

i watched myself kill (name) with my own two hands. i saw the light go out in his eyes.

it must have been awful.

it wasn’t you.

if it’s the last thing i do, i’m gonna save you.

dude, that’s not how it happened!

sorry, i just … i can’t even concentrate.

if you wouldn’t mind, just give five minutes.

you brave little solider.

thanks, thanks for the hug, but, uh — i’m okay.

what are you talking about? i’m a joy to be around.

okay, that is just nasty.

looks to me like something was hungry.

i have had it up to here with you.

then you know that i can’t keep letting you hurt people.

come on! those people got what’s coming to them.

i don’t think i can let you do that.

i don’t want to hurt you. and i know that i can.

like i said, i liked you. but you shouldn’t have come alone.

you wanna see a real trick?

could we please just leave?

okay, so we’re taking the scenic route.

stop. i’m mad at you.

hey, you love me.

you’re a jerk.

i’m so sorry. i didn’t see you there.

you’ve got to help me.

we should get somewhere safe first.

what the hell just happened?

don’t worry, (name), everything’s going to be alright.

you’re serious about this, aren’t you?

just take it easy, alright?

something happened to them. something they couldn’t control.

i sure as hell ain’t making apologies for them.

we’re all just scared of the unknown.

the only thing i’m scared of is losing (name).

i have to see him again. i have to.

i don’t like keeping her in the dark.

i know you feel guilty, but let’s just stick to the plan.

what aren’t you telling me?

don’t what? don’t tell me because i’ll mess up your hunt?

whatever it is, tell me, please.

you’re like a walking encyclopedia of weirdness.

what did you do to him?

you should worry about yourself.

i didn’t do anything to you.

hurting me won’t bring her back.

all i got left’s hurting you.

what am i supposed to do?

this isn’t working at all, is it?

i’ll see you in the morning.

maybe we should talk privately.

god, i am so stupid.

well, i guess neither of us are who we said we were, huh?

i don’t remember anything,

is there something else we can try to make it go away?

i’m sorry. i am.

stop it. don’t talk like that.

i don’t want to hurt anyone else. i don’t want to hurt you.

i can’t do it myself.

i need you to help me.

i don’t want to die.

we don’t have a chance.

i am getting out of here right now.

no, come on, we’ve got to work.

i - i don’t really know what i’m doing.

isn’t that kind of cruel? messing with their heads like that?

hey, i just play the part. i don’t write the script.

i’m very glad that you’re, you know, alive and well.

you won’t get rid of me that easy.

i’m sorry, what were you saying?

raising these spirits from the dead? making them murder for you? that’s playing with fire, (name).

you know what, you’re right, i don’t understand.

i’ve got nothing against you. you’ve got no part in this. please, just leave.

i cannot believe there’s an afterlife.

there’s an afterlife alright — but mostly it’s a pain in the ass.

i wouldn’t have done that if i were you.

they’re not gonna be very happy with you.

would have hated to have gotten thrown in here.

hey, you feel that?

you telling me you didn’t see that?

i think i’m adorable.

we’re not quite done here.

this is, without a doubt, the dumbest and craziest thing we’ve ever done. and that’s in a long, storied career of dumb and crazy.

i’m not thrilled about this, either.

do yourself a favor: don’t talk.

i want to handle this alone.

i can’t thank you enough for this.

oh, man, are you a sight for sore eyes.

i am the last person on planet earth you want to screw with.

what are you doing up?

oh, you can’t sleep, huh?

(are you alright?) / i don’t know.

honey, you’re scaring me.

just tell me what’s going on.

forget it. i’m just happy to see you.

i guess i was wrong.

are you sure you’re alright?

get some rest. i love you.

you been drinking?

i’m really glad you’re happy.

i get it. why i chose you.

why do we have to sacrifice everything?

that was so easy, i’m embarrassed for you.

i’m sorry that we don’t get along. and i wish to hell i could stay and fix it, but i’ve got to do this.

you’re just gonna slow me down.

this is dangerous, and you could get hurt.

look, whatever stupid thing you’re about to do, you’re not doing it alone, and that’s that.

i don’t understand. why are you doing this?

you don’t want to do that.

yeah, i can see that it’s blood, (name). what the hell’s it doing in here?

there are things out there in the dark.

i’m just trying to help you out, (name).

why don’t you just sit tight and try not to get us both killed.

there’s nothing here, (name).

stick behind me and keep your mouth shut.

this is real? you’re not crazy?

why’d you have to keep digging?

put the knife down, (name).

you’re not real. none of it is.

why is it our job to save everyone? haven’t we done enough?

are you lost?

still doesn’t tell us where we are.

i feel like i’m in a nightmare, and it just keeps getting worse and worse.

you said we were chosen for a reason! that is not chosen, that’s … killed!

i don’t think god has much to do with this.

hey, look at me, it’s not even that bad.

hey, listen to me, we’re gonna patch you up, okay? gonna be good as new.

i’m gonna take care of you. i got you. that’s my job, right?

you should eat something.

i hate to bring this up, i really do. but don’t you think it’s time we … bury (name)?

i’m not going anywhere.

i just don’t think you should be alone, that’s all.

you don’t think i’ve given enough? you don’t think i’ve paid enough? i’m done with it.

i should send you straight back to hell.

you’re like a … puppy. you’re just too fun to play with.

i swear i’m gonna tear that son of a bitch apart.

i did what you asked. now what?

that was pretty cold, wasn’t it?

you of all people should know that what’s dead should stay dead.

i knew i kept you alive for some reason.

can we celebrate for a minute?

(name), tell me the truth.

you shouldn’t have done that.

don’t get mad at me. don’t do that. i had to. i had to look out for you, that’s my job.

you saved my life over and over. you sacrifice everything for me. don’t you think i should do the same for you?

there’s nothing i wouldn’t do for you.

i don’t care what it takes. i’m gonna get you out of this.

#ask memes #inbox memes #rp ask meme #rp sentence starters #rp sentence meme #roleplay memes #sentence starters #sentence starter meme #ask prompt #rp prompts

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blackbirdnessie · 3 months

Text

Ninjago incorrect quotes Garmadad

Lloyd: What are you doing here?

Emperor Garmadon: I could ask you the same question.

Lloyd: I live here. This is my house.

Emperor Garmadon: I should probably ask you a different question.

Lord Garmadon: I’m going to hell.

Lloyd: Probably.

Lord Garmadon: I'll pick you up?

Lloyd: *nodding* Carpool.

Computer: Please enter a password.

Sensei Garmadon: *types in Lloyd*

Computer: Your password is too weak.

Sensei Garmadon: How fucking DARE YOU-

Emperor Garmadon: Quick! You must come with me! Your in great danger!

Lloyd: Why?!

Emperor Garmadon: Because I’ll kill you if you don’t.

Lil Lloyd: Help! I’m drowning!

Lord Garmadon: Calm down. We’re only in six feet of water!

Lil Lloyd: NOT ALL OF US ARE TALL!

Lil Lloyd: But that’s censorship.

Lord Garmadon: Well done. You are correct. You’re being censored. Now go.

Sensei Garmadon: Just be yourself. Say something nice.

Lloyd: Which one? I can't do both.

Emporer Garmadon: Ah, Hello again. We really need to stop meeting like this.

Lloyd: Maybe we would, if you would sTOP BREAKING INTO MY FUCKING HOUSE!!!

Lil Lloyd: Honestly, I am so evil. So full of darkness. I feed of the souls of the living I strike fear into-

Lord Garmadon: You sleep with a teddybear.

Lil Lloyd: He’s my sECOND IN COMMAND IN MY ARMY OF DARKNESS!

Lord Garmadon: I love cooking breakfast. It makes the whole house smell like bacon.

Lil Lloyd: That’s true, but it also smells like fire and panic.

Lord Garmadon: You and the smoke detector need to get off my case.

Lloyd in season 4: *About to do something incredibly stupid*

Sensei Garmadon: I know I can't stop you, but I won't let you go by yourself.

Lil Lloyd: Hand me the people opener.

Lord Garmadon: ...

Lord Garmadon: Pardon?

Lil Lloyd, annoyed: The g! Just hand it to me!

Lord Garmadon, stressed: WHAT THE FUCK IS A PEOPLE OPENER?

Lil Lloyd: How do you not know what a people opener is? Its pointy- you know? With a handle?

Lord Garmadon: Knife. It's called a knife.

*Lord Garmadon raised Lloyd Au*

Lil Lloyd: Standing next to sunflowers always makes me feel weak like ‘look at this fucking flower. This flower is taller than I am. This flower is winning and I’m losing.’

Lord Garmadon: Wow, you are not ready to hear about trees.

Lloyd: *Kicks the door open, looking panicked*

Lord Garmadon: What did you do?!

Lloyd: NOBODY DIED!

Lord Garmadon: WHAT KIND OF ANSWER IS THAT?!

Lloyd: I think it's time to start fucking some shit up.

Garmadon: Oh no.

Lloyd: More like "oh yes!"

Lloyd: Might I make a suggestion you possibly won’t like?

Sensei Garmadon: Do you make any other kind?

Season 3 Garmadon: Treat spiders the way you want to be treated!

Season 11 Lloyd: Killed without hesitation.

Emperor Garmadon: If we lose, you'll go back to not being my son.

Lloyd: I was your son again?

Movie Garmadon: *dangling from a rope over a pit of fire* Remember when I said I’d tell you when we’re in too deep?

Movie Lloyd: Yes?

Movie Garmadon: We’re in too deep.

Sensei Garmadon: How has life been treating you lately?

Movie Lloyd: Horribly.

Movie Garmadon: What do you call a dictionary on drugs?

Show Lloyd: If you say "addict-ionary" I swear I will cut you.

Movie Garmadon: I was actually going to say "high definition", but your answer's much better.

Movie and show Lloyd: ...

*movieverse At the police station*

Movie Lloyd: Hi, I’m here for Lord Garmadon.

Police officer: Who’s Garmadon?

movie Lloyd: Ah, you must be new.

Sensei Garmadon: How are you today?

Oni Lloyd: Please don’t make me think about my life.

#ninjago lloyd #ninjago #ninjago sensei garmadon #ninjago lord garmadon #garmadad #Ninjago Emporer Garmadon #lego ninjago movie #oni lloyd

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nishik1 · 10 months

Text

you jealous, nishimura? — why must feelings feel? smau + written

|prev|masterlist|next|

warnings: cursing, kinda cliche and cringe

wc: 1.5k (1,563) NOT PROOF READ!!

•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•

its been three days since Niki and Eunchae hang out, of course you and Niki have also hung out since then but you can’t help but feel your heartache whenever you think back to his post. you had no idea why you were feeling this way, i mean surely you didn’t like Niki right? he’s your best friend, you couldn’t possibly like him! you sat there in your seat, your head resting on your arm which was on the table.

“Y/N, are you alright?” Haerin taps your shoulder as you lift your head up to see Haering staring at you while snacking on a choco pie.

“yeah, I’m fine.” you say as you sit up, taking a sip of your water.

“is this about what happened with Niki and Eunchae?” Haerin asks while she chews, you shrug your shoulders in response.

“I don’t know… I’ve just been feeling kind of off ever since I saw his post, I don’t know why.” you explain with an exasperated sigh.

“its because—“ the girl sitting beside you tries to speak, you cut her off.

“no. its not because of that. how many times do I have to tell you that I don’t like him?” you’re lying to yourself and you knew that. you couldn’t like him even if you wanted to, he’s your best friend! you thought that maybe if you just denied the butterflies in your stomach and the way your heart beats a hundred beats per minute whenever you lay your eyes on him that maybe these feelings would go away.

“Y/N theres nothing wrong with it, why won’t you accept it?” she asks, curious as to know why.

“he’s my best friend, Haerin! there’s no way I can like him! I can’t!”

“why not? did he ever say that himself?” she asked though she knew the answer, she just wanted to know why you thought so.

“no… but we’ve been friends for years, I can’t ruin our friendship… I feel like me liking him would ruin everything that we have and I can’t afford to lose him…” you explain much to Haerins dismay. if only you knew how wrong you were.

•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•

“Y/NNIE!” you heard someone yell your name from down the hall already recognizing the voice, you sigh before putting a smile on your face.

“hey Riki!” you smile, closing your locker to look the taller boy in the eyes.

“do you have plans later?” he asked, you feel your heart beat faster as your face grows flush and butterflies flutter around your stomach. ‘oh shit…’ you think to yourself ‘im fucked.’ you think.

“no i don’t, why?”

“i was wondering if you wanted to hang out today, its been forever!” he said with a smile as he hugged you tightly, your eyes widen and you push him away, causing him to frown.

“we hung out like two days ago!” you say, throwing your bag over your shoulder.

“exactly, forever! plus we could just like go to the corner store then head over to your house, we don’t have to like go out go out.” he shrugs his shoulder, throwing his arm around you as you walk side by side.

“i guess i’m down… i have a free period right now and its my last class so… lets go?” you ask slightly hesitantly, in your heart you knew that you liked Riki— no. you don’t just like him, you like him A LOT and you knew hanging out with him would only make you like him more and as much as you wanted to accept these feelings, you can’t. you’re not willing to sacrifice the best friendship you’ve ever had over some feelings you deemed ‘meaningless’. Riki noticed your hesitation and worry began to arise in him, of course he didn’t make it obvious to you, but he could tell something was off.

as the two of you entered the store, you greeted the owner who the two of you have known for years now. when Riki first moved from Japan, you met him here. you two wanted the same packet of ramen and ended up reaching for it at the same time and the moment you two looked at each other, something clicked. you don’t know how or why, but it seemed as you two were made for each other. i mean hell, Riki knew you like the back of his palm, same goes for you. this is exactly the reason why you’re afraid to accept your feelings. you’re afraid, you’re afraid that if you accept your feelings, that you’d lose him. Riki walked down the isle looking for your favorite snacks as well as his. you watched him, scanning his facial features. butterflies. as you watched him, all you could feel were butterflies fluttering around inside of you. a small smile grew on your face, just until you snapped out of it. your smile dropped. ‘what are you doing Y/N? he’s your best friend.’ you thought to yourself, shaking your head.

Y/N, you ready to go pay?” Riki asked, pointing towards the cash register with his head. did it get hot in here all of a sudden?

“i— yeah. let’s go.” you curse yourself mentally for stuttering, Riki’s brows furrow and his eyes narrow.

the walk home was almost silent. why? because the two of you hadn’t spoken a word since you left the store. it was weird, normally around Riki, you were a social butterfly. the jingling of your keys had brought you out of your thoughts, “we’re home!” you yelled as the two of you entered the house and took of your shoes.

still, silent. the both of you have barely said anything the whole time you’ve been hanging out. it felt so weird, you can’t remember the last time the two of you have acted like this. “I’ll… I’ll go start boiling the water for the ramen.” you say, quickly scurrying out of the living room and into the kitchen, leaving Riki there by himself.

once you enter the kitchen, you let out a sigh of relief. walking over to the cupboard, you take out a pot and pour the water in before heading to the stove to boil the water. as the water boils, you take out your phone and start scrolling away on social media. you were so caught up on your phone you didn’t notice the water had started to bubble over.

“shit!” you exclaimed, running over to turn off the stove. the boiling hot water had began to overflow. you reach for the snob, yelping in pain when you make contact with the hot water. suddenly the door to the kitchen burst open and there stood a concerned Riki.

“Y/N what happened—“ he cut himself off, seeing you standing in front of the stove with your wrist in your hand and subtle tears in your eyes. he sighed, already knowing what happened. he walks over to were you were standing and takes the pot off of the stove, grabbing a rag and drying off the now cooling water. he takes your hand in his, guiding to over to the skin as he turns it on and runs it under his hand to test it for you. gently, he runs your burn under the water. you hear him sigh once again before saying.

“how many times do i have to tell you to watch the water?” he scolded. yes, this has happened before. you only stare at him, your cheeks flush and slightly tear stained. “you need to be more careful…” he said, turning off the water as he leaned down, opening the cabinet under the sink to pull out the first aid kit.

“this is gonna sting a little, you probably already knew that though. i mean from the amount of times we’ve had to do this.” he joked, opening a small alcohol wipe. he gently wiping it on the burn, you hiss and try to pull away your hand from his grip.

“ow that hurts!” you say, only for him to roll his eyes at you. “we’ve done this like a million times before, aren’t you used to it yet?” he said, opening the small bottle of burn ointment and putting some on his finger, dabbing it on your burn.

“oh whatever…” you roll your eyes, causing him to chuckle as he bandages your hand. once he’s done, he takes your face in his hand, cupping it as he wipes your now dried tears with his thumb. you two stay like that for a minute until you come back to reality and pull away.

“you should go home… you have a test tomorrow, i don’t want you failing.” you say as you look away from him.

“yeah, i’ll see you tomorrow. also be careful, don’t burn yourself again.” he said as he picked his jacket up off the couch and made his way to the door. you watch as he leaves and you wave goodbye once he makes it out. once again, you let out a sigh of relief as you make your way to the couch and plopping yourself down where he once sat, immediately taking out your phone. unknown to you, your brother was just in the next room over (the dining room) and had witnessed the whole thing. he let out a sigh as well and took out his phone.

•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•

NOTES: lowkey forgot this was also a high school au 🧍anyway i realized theres not that much of y/n and sunghoon interacting so i decided that for acceptance sunghoon is gonna be the one to help y/n 😇 also im sorry this chapter is cringe but i had to 😭

taglist: open! @en-chantedtomeetyou @yunicide @txtbrainrot @lizzyyaaaaaa @j-wyoung @beomgyusonlywife @spilled-coffee-cup @sungookie @telengraph @yajw @arizejkt19 @iea-tsand @k1ttylvr @soo0mi

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snelbz · 1 year

Text

‘Til Death Do Us Part {Chapter Fourteen}

Elorcan. Rockstar Modern AU.

@snelbz x @theladyofdeath collab

‘Til Death Do Us Part Masterlist

A/N: So sorry this is late! We had some crazy storms in my area last night and today and I never got around to queuing this! Enjoy!

Elide —

After one very fiery pep talk from Aelin, I’m gazing at myself in the bathroom mirror. This wasn’t how I expected my evening to go, nor did Lorcan, clearly. I believe him when he says he has no hand in this, but when it comes down to it, this was what used to take place when they had a get together.

It’s not his friends’ fault that this was Lorcan’s life. I just didn’t expect our home to be overrun with exactly the type of woman Lorcan wanted me to be.

It all happened so fast. One minute, Aelin and I were in the kitchen, getting more wine, when the doorbell rang. Rowan said he’d get it and we thought nothing of it.

And then I heard voices. Lots and lots of voices.

By the time Aelin and I rushed into the living room, it was full of big titted blondes and tattooed strangers making themselves comfortable wherever they could. Not to mention the long line of people already streaming out to the large back patio.

Sighing, I unlocked the bathroom door and stepped out into our room. At some point while I was in here, Lorcan managed to make good on his word and find Anneith. She was curled up on his pillow, fast asleep, as if the bass booming from downstairs wasn’t enough to shake the water in the bottle Lorcan had left on his nightstand.

I want to join her, want to curl up under the blankets and try to forget about everything going on downstairs but that’s unrealistic. I should find Aelin again. She would be my partner-in-chaos for the night. When I left her, she was going to talk to Rowan about not wanting to be at this shitshow of a party, but I know Rowan wouldn’t leave Lorcan in a house full of blonde bimbos and drugs, and Aelin wouldn’t leave me here to bear it alone, either.

So, I take a deep breath and open the bedroom door after telling Anneith goodnight. The music is horrible, so loud that I feel I may start bleeding out of my eardrums. I hate it. It only gets louder as I descend the stairs. I pray no one goes upstairs to defile any of our bedrooms.

I weave my way through the crowd but I’m so fucking short that I can’t see anyone beyond those in front of me. I never cared much about being short, but right now I wish I was a good foot and a half taller.

As I enter the kitchen, I don’t see Aelin and I don’t see Lorcan. I can’t tell if I want to see Lorcan or not. I’m pissed, but not so much at him. I’m more disappointed than anything, although I can’t tell who or what I’m disappointed in. Either way, that sense of disappointing dread fills my stomach as I grab a beer off the counter and look around for a bottle opener.

I don’t like getting drunk.

I think it’s sloppy and disgusting.

One beer won’t hurt, though. Right now I need something to take the edge off, something to keep me from crying in front of a crowd of people that I don’t know.

After a minute of looking for the bottle opener, I curse and grab a knife out of the silverware drawer. I saw it in a movie once. Surely it can’t be that hard.

“You must be desperate if you’re willing to risk your fingers for a beer.”

I nearly jump at the voice beside me. I was too focused and the music was so damn loud that I didn’t see the gray-eyed man approach me until I had the blade of the knife against my bottlecap.

He’s right.

I must be desperate.

“Looks like someone went off with the bottle opener,” I say, and look up at him. He’s handsome enough, the crisp gray of his eyes something I feel is rare. His black hair is cut neatly, a little longer on the top than the sides, and his smile is warm as he laughs.

“Well, luckily for you, you don’t need one.” I’m about to ask what he means when he grabs my bottle and twists off the top.

I stand there, gaping and mortified. “Thanks.” He can’t hear my half-assed gratitude above the music, I’m sure, but I’m too embarrassed to care.

He shakes his head. “Don’t worry about it, common mistake. I promise not to tell anyone you were about to go full-assassin on a twist top.”

I can’t help but chuckle. “That’s very kind.”

“I don’t know why I’m here,” he admits, gesturing to the kitchen around us. I know he means the party, not around my island. “Fenrys told me there was a party and I had nothing better to do, although now I feel a night at home with my dog was a better option.”

He takes a drink from his own bottle as I nod. “At least you had a choice.”

He lifts a brow before realization dawns on him. “Oh, damn, this is your party.”

“And it’s nearing my bedtime,” I say, and he laughs. I add, “It may be my house but it’s not my party.”

His laugh is warm and he holds out a hand. “I’m Nox.”

I take it in my own. “Elide.”

Nox might be the first normal person I’ve met since getting married to Lorcan. We realize what a small world it is when we both realize we’re from Perranth, as well.

“How old are you?” He asks, leaning against the counter. “Maybe we went to high school together or something.”

I hope he doesn’t see me flinch. It’s not a story I feel like delving into. “We’d moved to Orynth by the time I was in high school.”

“Got it.” He’s nodding and I notice had a dimple beneath his five o’clock shadow. “I didn’t think there was any way we could have known each other. I wouldn’t have forgotten you anywhere.”

I think that may have been a compliment, but at the same time, probably not.

“I promise you, I’m very forgettable,” I say, and he rolls his eyes.

“Bullshit,” he mutters, and his lips curve upward as he takes another drink from his glass bottle. “I promise that after tonight you’ll be on my mind for a long time.” As soon as the words leave his mouth, he cringes. “That sounded so cheesy. I’m so sorry.”

My head falls back as I laugh. It’s not a forced laugh, either. I laugh so hard my cheeks hurt. “It’s okay. I like—” “Elide?”

I turn around to find my husband, his tall frame looming behind me. Although he says my name, he’s looking at Nox. He doesn’t have a drink in his hand. In fact, Lorcan’s brows are knitted together as if he’s been filled with tension all night.

“Hey,” I say, and that laughter of mine fades. Uncertainty with that underlying anger returns. Even though I've been enjoying myself with Nox, I’m still pissed at the whole situation. I still don’t belong in this environment. In Lorcan’s environment.

“I came to talk to you,” he murmurs, but nods at Nox. “Who are you?”

There’s something in his tone that I don’t like. Something hard, his voice full of warning.

“This is Nox,” I say, slowly, looking up at his tight jaw. “Nox, this is Lorcan.”

“Her husband,” Lorcan says, and he doesn’t even lift his hand or anything in greeting. Doesn’t even say hello.

It doesn’t sit well with me.

Nox’s smile falters, surely thinking the same thing. He clears his throat before taking another drink.

I look behind my shoulder at Lorcan and give him a look. He just lifts a brow, like he’s not acting like a total jackass. “Want a drink?” I ask him.

He looks shocked by my question and I suppose he should be. When we first met, the day of our wedding, I had scolded him for drinking. Right now is different, though. He looks uptight and stressed and I feel like he’s taking it out on Nox, whose company I’m enjoying the hell out of.

“Here, man.” Nox is holding a beer out to Lorcan. “Still cold.”

Lorcan looks at the glass bottle but makes no move to take it. Instead, he grabs a plastic cup off the counter and goes to where the hard liquor sits and fills his cup. I watch him, lips pursed, wondering where the sweet, caring man I had come to know in the past weeks went. It was like he flipped a switch and I don’t know if it’s because of the party or because of Nox, but I don’t like him like this. I continue to watch as he drinks the liquor like its water. He meets my hard gaze with one of his own.

Nox clears his throat again, reminding me that I am not alone with my husband in this kitchen. “Look, if I overstepped—”

“Would you like to go for a walk?” I ask, turning to Nox. “I haven’t shown anyone all my hard-working labor when it comes to our landscaping yet. I know it’s not that exciting, but I—”

“Lead the way,” he says, laughing quietly at my rambling. “Anything to be able to get away from this obnoxious music for a minute.”

Lorcan’s jaw locks.

It’s one of their earlier songs that’s blasting through the speakers.

I almost feel bad for walking away from Lorcan but at the same time, I don’t. There is nothing romantic going on between Nox and me and there never will be. Lorcan jumped to conclusions. He’s letting his male ego control his attitude and it makes me want to throttle him. I won’t, though, not in front of all of these people. Instead, I’ll take a walk with my new friend and he can kiss my ass. If a party is going to be thrown in my house without my consent then I should at least be able to make friends.

Right?

Lorcan’s downing the rest of the contents of his cup as we exit. I don’t feel bad. I don’t want to be around him when he’s acting jealous. Jealous. That’s what he is. He’s jealous of Nox and I don’t understand why. Sure, Nox is handsome enough, but not nearly as attractive as Lorcan, even though they’re attractive in far different ways. While Lorcan is a rugged type of handsome, a handsome that shouldn’t be handsome but is, Nox is clean-cut perfection. It has me wondering how the hell he knows the Cadre. He doesn’t look like one to fit into this crowd.

There are people everywhere, in the house, on the front and back porch, the front drive and yard. Nox and I take a few laps around the exterior of the house, barely even looking at the landscaping I’d used as our escape out here. Sitting down on the steps of the front porch, I look over at Nox who finishes off his own beer, setting it on the step beside him.

“I’m sorry about my husband,” I say, giving Lorcan that respect. Whether he’s being an ass or not, he is my husband, even if he jumped to conclusions when he saw me talking to Nox. But he’s my husband, not my keeper. “This is all still new and he can be pretty territorial—”

“Are you the two that got married without knowing each other?” Nox asked, assessing me.

Nodding, I take a deep breath. “That’s us.”

“Huh.”

He doesn’t say anything else, so I turn to look at him. “What?”

“Makes sense why he’d be pissy.” He shrugged, looking back at the house as if he’s expecting Lorcan to come out the front door searching for him. “I’d be wary of someone I don’t know talking to my wife, too.”

“How’d you end up here?” I finally ask, curiosity finally getting the better of me.

“I sell to Fenrys and Connall.”

I blink, sure I have to be misunderstanding him. “And by sell you mean…?”

Nox laughs, shaking his head. “Drugs. Pills mostly, to Fen. Connall almost exclusively smokes weed.”

That was literally the last thing I expected and I’m having trouble wrapping my head around it. “You’re a drug dealer?”

“That’s not the profession I put on my taxes, but yeah,” he laughs.

This truly is a world I’m not used to, if the most clean cut, normal looking guy here sells drugs to the rock stars.

“Nox, hey!”

As if on cue, a couple guys approach and I take the chance to find Lorcan as money exchanges hands and he takes off a backpack I hadn’t noticed he was wearing.

It’s been a while since we left him in the kitchen, but I check anyway. He, and his bottle of liquor, are gone.

With a sigh, I search the house. Once again, my height puts me at a disadvantage. I don’t find him anywhere, although I do see far more than I want to. The number of tits I glimpse when walking from one side of my house to the other is astounding. A line of white powder is on my new coffee table and a guy with face tattoos is snorting it. The music is still loud as hell and empty glasses and cups are everywhere. Bodies are pressed up against one another on the dancefloor and I’m ninety-nine percent sure it’s coming awfully close to an orgy.

I still haven’t found Aelin, either. I make a note to text her once I find my damn husband.

After placing my half-empty beer on the counter, I make my way out onto the back porch and I’m suddenly filled with so much anger that my body is shaking.

I found my husband.

He’s in the hot tub in nothing but his boxer-briefs but he’s not alone. There’s about ten women cluttered together, surrounding him, in nothing but their bras and panties.

His earlier words come back to me about the hot tub being our place, and there’s a burning in my eyes.

He notices me and grins. “There’s my smoking hot wife!” He points at me, and all of the girls he’s with look at me. “Hey, baby! Why don’t you come meet my friends?”

He knows exactly what he’s doing. It seems to him that this is some sort of game and I suddenly feel foolish for trying to make a point with Nox. I went away with my friend, so he went away with his. He’s not touching them. His hands are together on his lap, but I can tell he’s drunk. I wonder how much liquor he had after we parted. His eyelids droop and his body is swaying, just a little bit.

My jaw locks and I beg myself not to cry. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”

He laughs and the girls around him have no shame. They know that their racks are on full display and they’re basically tossing their breasts at him. A thought hits me that makes me sick: how many of these girls does he know? How many of these girls have shared his bed?

Jealousy. I feel it now too and it’s an ugly bitch.

“We don’t want to be rude,” Lorcan says, eyes bright as his words slur. “I can’t just leave my friends. Can they come, too?”

My cheeks heat as the girls around him giggle. One reaches out to brush her fingertips along his shoulder and even though he moves away from her touch, I want to throttle her.

“You’ve made your point,” I say, through gritted teeth. “I’d like to talk to you.”

“This is your wife?” one of the girls asks, laughing as she bobs in the water, bouncing her massive breasts. “She’s so…tiny.”

“Why don’t you come join us?” another one asks, looking up at me. Her high-pitched voice annoys me. “We promise to help you have a good time. Strip down. It feels so good.”

“Yeah, baby, strip down,” Lorcan croons, taking another gulp from his plastic cup.

I’m not playing this game with him. I’m not going to let him taunt me with these women, with his drunkenness. This is a side of Lorcan I haven’t seen yet. At first, his jealousy of Nox was frustrating, yes, but it was also endearing. Jealousy isn’t always automatically a bad thing. If he’s jealous, it means he cares.

I’m not going to consider what that means about my own jealous feelings.

I see the change in his eyes the second he realizes I’m not going to play back.

“Goodnight, Lorcan,” I say, and look around the hot tub at his friends. “You ladies have fun.”

Without another word, I walk back into the house, not looking back at my husband.

When I unlock our bedroom door, Anneith is still asleep, curled up on the comforter. I can’t resist giving her a scratch under the chin and she stretches adorably without waking.

I’m in the bathroom, changing out of my uncomfortable jeans and into shorts, when I hear our bedroom door bang open.

I know who it is so I don’t panic. Instead, I take my sweet time. I brush my hair for the hell of it before taking a few minutes to pick out another tank top that’s less form fitting and putting it on. Then, when I finally open the door, my husband is standing there in his wet underwear.

And gods, those boxer-briefs do good things to him.

I swallow as I fight to meet his eye but he’s swaying on his feet, too drunk to notice.

“H-hi,” he says, then holds onto the doorframe to help keep his balance.

My brow shoots up as I cross my arms. “Hi?”

He leans in close to me. “It’s what you say to someone before you start a conversation.”

The need to rub my temples is overwhelming. “Why are you here?”

He blinks, looking around the room in confusion. “Don’t we live here?”

The look on his face is adorably ridiculous, but I’m pissed so I don’t laugh, no matter how much I want to. I try again. “Why aren’t you downstairs with your friends?”

“Ohhh,” he says, and takes a step back. “Them. Yeah, I left them to do their thing.” He leans in close to me and his breath smells like the inside of a whiskey bottle. “After a while, they get a little handsy and I wanted nothing to do with that.”

Well, that’s comforting…even though his words are slurred. “Lorcan—”

“You left,” he says, and he’s frowning. “You walked away from me.”

I scoff. “You didn’t seem to be too lonely!”

He rolls his eyes in dramatic drunkenness. “Those girls…” he shakes his head, long hair swaying. I wonder when he took it down. “They mean nothing to me. I lied. They’re not my friends. They disgust me.”

I hesitate as I remember that drunk people are prone to telling the truth. I’m still pissed, though. “I don’t like you like this. I didn’t like seeing you like that, and I didn’t like that stupid stunt you were trying to pull.”

His brows shoot up and he stumbles back to the point where he nearly falls over. “The stunt I was trying to pull? Nox, will you take a walk with me, outside at night, in the dark, just the two of us?”

I laugh but there’s no humor in it. “Are you mocking me?”

“You started this game,” he says, and pokes me in the chest with his pointer finger. His touch sends a chills through me even though there’s nothing even remotely sexual going on here.

“Game?” My voice is higher pitched than I’ve ever heard it, but to hear him actually refer to whatever bullshit has been going down between us as a game sets me off.

Before I can say anything else though, Lorcan holds up a hand, making me pause. If he were just telling me to stop talking, I would have lost it, but he turned towards the door, stopping to strip out of his wet underwear and pull a pair of sweats on. I don’t even have time to look away before I get a glimpse of his sculpted ass—of course he has defined muscles on his ass—before it’s covered by grey cotton, and he’s out in the hallway.

I’m livid that he had the nerve to walk out on me, right after getting mad at me for walking away from him outside, but then the music suddenly stops. There’s a flurry of outraged voices, but then one voice rises above the rest. “If you don’t live here, get the fuck out.” It’s quiet for a few seconds before he adds, “Now.”

Hundreds of footsteps hurry over our threshold and while I wait for the crowd to clear out, I check my phone that I’d forgotten on the nightstand hours ago. I have two texts from Aelin, one from two hours ago, letting me know they were leaving since she couldn’t find me and Lorcan was getting drunk, and a second about thirty minutes ago, telling me they’d made it home.

I type out a quick text to her, letting her know Lorcan is kicking everyone out and we’ll talk tomorrow. I don’t have the emotional aptitude to deal with my best friend tonight. I know she’s pissed, but just like me, she doesn’t seem to know where to place the blame, which means she’ll just want to vent.

Lorcan comes back in and shuts the door behind him, although a little too forcefully. I jump at the sound before crossing my arms.

“Happy?” He asks, striding past me into the bathroom. He braces both hands on the sink and for a second I think he’s going to puke, but he doesn’t.

“Happy?” I repeat, incredulous. “What about any of this would make you think I’m happy?”

“The house is empty!” He throws his hands in the air and faces me.

“Yeah, and trashed!” I add. “Your sorry ass better be cleaning it up tomorrow. Ask Fenrys to join you, considering he was the apparent mastermind here.”

I’m not even mad about the party anymore, not really. Now it’s just him that’s pissing me off, even though I can’t take my eyes off of his broad, bare chest in front of me.

Lorcan snorts and takes a step closer to me. “You’re just upset I kicked out your friend.”

My mouth falls open and I have half a mind to cross the distance between us and slap him. “You’re an ass,” I snap, instead.

His eyes light up. “Maybe, but at least I speak the fucking truth.”

This time, I do step forward but he doesn’t move. I go to shove his chest but his hands grip my wrists and suddenly I’m in his hold. He’s not rough, he’s simply stopping me from pushing him, not that it would do anything. It would be like shoving a brick wall.

From the second his hands are on me, though, I can’t breathe. Even drunk, he’s hot as hell.

“I won’t apologize for talking to someone,” I say, voice quiet but firm. “You’re my husband, not my owner. You should have a little faith in me.”

“It’s not you I don’t trust,” he says, and his grip on my wrists tightens. He pulls me closer and I wonder if he’s even aware of what he’s doing. “It was that prick. I don’t like the way he looked at you.”

I exhale through my nose, the short burst of air sounding like a laugh. “He wasn’t looking—”

“He was looking at you like he was starving and you were his last meal.” Lorcan’s intense gaze left little room for response. Damn it, isn’t he supposed to be drunk? “And, yes, it pissed me off cause you were smiling at him. You were smiling at him and—” He shakes his head. “Nevermind.”

He releases my wrists, but doesn’t step back. “And what?”

“Nothing.” It’s so quiet I almost don’t hear it.

“It’s not nothing,” I push, touching his chest, gently resting a hand over the inked flesh. “Tell me.”

He won’t look at me, instead he’s found something on the bathroom wall that’s clearly much more interesting. “You were smiling at him and you two looked like you belonged together.”

“What?” I’m not sure what I was expecting, but that hadn’t been it. “What do you mean?”

He laughs, but it’s a hollow sound. “He was what you asked for on your application. To a T.”

Scoffing, I shake my head. “He is not.”

“Fancy ass haircut, neat beard, preppy clothes, not tattoos?” Lorcan rolls his eyes. “I’m sure the accounting office he works for loves him.”

I cross my arms over my chest and my elbow skims over his bare abdomen. “He’s a drug dealer.”

Lorcan’s entire body goes still before he asks, “What?”

“He’s Fenrys and Connall’s dealer,” I say, and watch as his drunk brain tries to comprehend what I’m saying.

Lorcan’s mouth opens and then closes. “Well, shit.”

I scoff, rubbing my temples. “So you’re telling me that you got drunk off your ass and into a hot tub, in nothing but your underwear, with a bunch of nearly nude women because you thought that I wanted Nox instead of you, because of what I put on my application?” The words rush out of me, a whole new anger taking its place. “Even though our time together has been nothing less than amazing?”

He cringes and hesitates. “I—”

“And instead of talking to me about it, you decided to handle it like a damn, territorial brute—”

“You went off with him just to prove a point!” He yells, and I suppose I did, which makes me hesitate now.

“That’s not the point!” I snap.

“Yes, it is!” He jabs, and we’re so close that it’s almost comical because I’m looking up at him while he stares down at me, a good foot and a half separating our faces. “You went off with him even though you knew I didn’t like it.”

“But you had no reason not to like it!” I challenge, running a hand through my hair. “Nothing was ever going to happen—”

He shuts me up by grabbing my face and kissing me, ruthlessly. It’s sloppy and it’s brutal and his tongue is coated in whiskey. Yet, I melt into it, every thought vanishing from my head. He bites my bottom lip and I gasp, my fingers digging into his sides as my anger fades into nothingness.

He’s drunk, but as I said, drunk people tell the truth and this kiss is no exception. If Nox was looking at me earlier like he was starving, his hunger hadn’t even come close in comparison to Lorcan’s right now.

His hands find the back of my thighs, lifting me up and setting me on the bathroom counter behind us. My hands have found a home in his messy, tangled hair and I’ve never been more attracted to long hair than I am right now. The loose strands are tickling my face as he leans down, but they don’t bother me like I would have thought they would. Instead, they heighten every feeling as they brush against my face, my neck, my shoulders.

One of his hands is pressed to the small of my back, pulling me tight against his body. I can feel every hard inch of him as he kisses me. His other hand weaves into my hair and he cups the back of my head as he grinds his hard cock into me.

I fight off a moan, knowing if I let him right now, he’d prove to me exactly why he’s the obvious choice to be my husband. I know he’d bring a whole new meaning hot, angry sex, but he’s drunk.

He’s drunk and I’m still kind of pissed, no matter how turned on I am.

But I don’t stop him just yet.

He doesn’t push me to go any further, even though I’m tempted to yank down his sweats and take him into my hands. I keep my hands in his hair, though, keep brushing my tongue along his as I imagine what sex with him would be like.

I’m getting closer to that point of letting him have me, even with the events of tonight. I don’t love him, not yet, but I care for him and I do want to have a successful marriage. We’ll be sober for that, though. Sober, so he can remember every damn second.

When that kiss breaks, we’re breathing heavily. His forehead is against mine and my fingers are still wrapped in the strands of his hair. I glance down, unable to stop myself, and see just how ready for me he is. He’s not wearing underwear. There’s nothing to help hold down his thick, lengthy cock. I have to close my eyes to keep myself in check. Gods, what he’s going to feel like inside of me… The thought alone has me throbbing between my thighs.

Lorcan kisses me softly one more time before he whispers, “I’m sorry.”

Two simple words but they have my chest feeling a million times lighter.

“I was an ass,” he goes on, and even though those words are still slurred, I know he means them. “Again.”

I don’t bother telling him it’s true. He knows well enough.

“I want to be the man you want,” he confesses, and I wonder if I never say a word just how much he’ll confess. “I want to be the husband you deserve. I want to be everything you want and need.”

I want that, too, more than anything, but this isn’t a conversation we need to have while he’s been drinking. So I don’t say anything.

Instead, I wrap my arms around his waist, letting my head rest against his chest. His arms come around me and I close my eyes as I listen to his heartbeat. As the minutes tick by, the beats slow and it’s not nearly as frantic as it was before.

I don’t know how long we stay like that before we pull apart, Lorcan’s hand coming up to frame my face.

He opens his mouth to say something, but a massive bang from downstairs has him rushing out of the bathroom, through the bedroom, and into the hall. I’m right behind him, shocked at the audacity that someone would have stayed after he kicked everyone out.

I’ve made it to the second floor landing where I can see the living room below while Lorcan’s long legs have already brought him downstairs where he’s in the living room, looking at one of his big, pricey speakers that had fallen.

Fenrys, Connall, Gavriel, and Vaughan are all standing near it. One of the twins has a trash bag and the other has at least ten beer bottles in his arms. The two latter are looking at the speaker, scratching their heads. I blink as realization dawns on me. They’re cleaning up.

Drunk, apparently, judging from their hazy eyes and the fact that they’re knocking shit over. Gavriel is the only one that doesn’t look completely wasted.

I can hear the exhaustion in Lorcan’s voice, his alcohol-high wearing off, as he asks, “The fuck are you doing? I thought I kicked everyone out.”

Fenrys has some balls as he looks offended. “We didn’t think that included us.”

“We’re trying to clean up,” Gavriel says, and I know why they call him the voice of reason, the mature one. I can tell from his tone and calm demeanor. “After talking with those two—” he gestures to the twins, “—now all of us know that this wasn’t quite the night you were envisioning.”

Fenrys and Connall look like they’re being scolded by a parent. It makes me chuckle.

Five sets of eyes shoot in my direction. Apparently none of them knew I was here.

Gavriel gives me a chagrined smile. “We’ll clean up and be on our way.”

I shake my head as I descend the staircase. “Don’t drive. You’ll stay here tonight. We have plenty of space.”

Lorcan looks surprised by my offer.

I shrug. “Only dumbasses drive drunk and I hope they’re smarter than that.”

Gavriel could probably drive just fine, but he doesn’t need to deal with the others, especially the twins, while they’re intoxicated.

They continue to clean the living room, the kitchen, and the back porch while Gavriel and I supervise. Lorcan joins them, picking up used bottles and gods know what else and I have to admit that it’s hilarious.

Rockstars.

Cleaning.

As they clean, I get to know Gavriel. Lorcan told me that his fiance had passed away and every time he mentions her, his eyes light up. He seems kind and genuine, and I couldn’t imagine losing someone that I want to spend the rest of my life with. He didn’t deserve for that to happen to him. He tells me how music and the Cadre got him through it, and are helping him through that loss still.

It makes me have a new appreciation for Lorcan’s band. Yeah, they’re rowdy and live a lifestyle that I don’t agree with, but they’re also a family.

Speaking of that family, they’re all a mess, with the exception of Vaughan. Vaughan just seems tired, but Fenrys has gotten sick twice now. There’s no telling what had gone into his system tonight. Connall just seems sad now that his high has worn off, and as for my husband…

I watch Lorcan grow more sober - and nauseous - by the second. With each minute that his liquor wears off, his face grows greener.

“Get him upstairs,” Gavriel says, inclining his head in Lorcan’s direction. “We’ll handle the rest and lock up before we go to bed.”

I’m already moving towards Lorcan, very willing to take Gavriel up on that. I need to get him in bed while he still has the capability of doing so. “Are you sure?”

“Yeah, go.” Gavriel is moving out of the way, and by the look on his face, it’s a toss up whether Lorcan will throw up or not.

Wrapping my arm around his waist, we head back for the stairs, everyone saying their goodnights.

Halfway up the stairs, I look up at Lorcan, finding his eyes already on me. I smirk. “Was getting drunk with your friends still worth it?”

“No,” he murmurs as we enter our room. I take him straight to the bed and help him lay down. “They were annoying and way too handsy.”

I get a towel and lay it on the floor by his head, just in case, before sitting on the edge of the bed. Using my fingers, I brush his hair back off his face. His eyes fall closed and he looks like he could fall asleep any second. I remind him, “You used to like that.”

“Yeah, but now I like you.”

His words are so blunt, I wonder if he even meant to say them aloud. It’s the closest he’s come to saying he actually has feelings for me, but I don’t know if he means it the same way I do.

His eyes stay closed and after a few minutes, his breathing evens out and I know he’s fast asleep. I can still hear the rest of the guys downstairs, so after finishing getting ready for bed, I shut the bedroom door and flip off the light.

At some point, Anni had hopped back onto the bed and is asleep on Lorcan’s pillow. I roll my eyes before climbing into bed myself.

Before I can even finish settling, Lorcan’s arms have wrapped around me, pulling me into his chest.

I like being against his chest. It makes me feel not only comfortable, but safe. It makes me feel cared for. With the steady beating of his heart against my back, I finally relax enough to shut my eyes and start to fall asleep.

As I dream, his words repeat in my mind over and over again.

But now I like you.

#til death do us part #elorcan tddup #elorcan #elide x lorcan #elide lochan #lorcan salvaterre #lord lorcan lochan #snelbz x theladyofdeath collab #snacmc collabs

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gingerel · 11 months

Text

promptis | body swap

This was originally posted in two parts on my twitter, but posting here as one thing.

Part One

Some attacks they just can’t dodge.

Sometimes there’s not enough time to move or doing so leaves someone else vulnerable instead. And sometimes the attack is a cloud of thick, acid green mist that explodes two feet to the left of Prompto and expands to encompass him faster than he can blink.

It fills his nose and throat, making his eyes stream. Noct calls his name but Prompto can barely hear him through what feels like cotton wool stuffed in his ears. Prompto drops to his knees just as a hand grips his shoulder.

The world tilts, completely twists upside down and sideways and when it stops he’s standing somehow. The mist is gone but there’s thick slime clinging to the grass underfoot in its place.

Prompto’s clutching something, he realises and he drops his eyes to his unusually pale arm and follows it down to see his fingers clenched in the shoulder of his own vest. Prompto blinks to try and focus his eyes because -

“What the fuck?” Prompto says but his voice sounds like Noct's voice and the person on the ground - him, that’s him - turns on their knees to blink up at him.

“Prompto?” his own voice sounds.

“Are you both alright?” Ignis asks, “Prompto? Are you confused?”

“Yes,” Prompto says, using Noct’s voice again, “I’m very confused.”

“Noct,” Gladio says, “Stop fucking around.”

“I’m not,” the Prompto on the ground says.

“I think we might have discovered a new status effect,” Ignis says, remarkably calm. “You should both take a remedy,” he says practically.

To be fair, they've seen weirder and worse at this point.

When Gladio takes a step forward Ignis throws out a hand to keep him in place.

“I don’t want to know what it’s like to be that broad, thank you,” Ignis says smartly, “Best not to touch the residue.”

“Noct?” Prompto says and his own head nods at him, “This is so weird.”

“Can you access the armiger?” Ignis asks and Noct looks away from Prompto and lifts a hand. He summons a vial into his hand then fumbles and almost drops it to the ground.

“Smooth,” Gladio mumbles.

“Shut up,” Noct snaps, “It’s not my fault, it’s Prompto’s body.”

“Hey.”

Noct smashes the remedy and the magic washes over his skin. He shudders and looks up at Prompto hopefully but nothing happens.

“You too, Prompto,” Ignis suggests and Prompto thinks one of the vials into his palm too. It’s a cool rush, like it always is, like washing off something itchy, but nothing life altering happens.

“They’re still covered in it,” Gladio suggests, “You guys should wash off in the river and try again.”

“You might need to sleep it off,” Ignis muses.

Noct huffs in the sleeping bag over from Prompto’s - does Prompto always sound that whiny? - and rolls over. Prompto gets it; he can’t get comfortable either. Noct has broader shoulders than him but his legs are thinner and that inch he has on Prompto must entirely exist within them because Prompto can’t seem to settle them down in a way that doesn’t feel awkward.

Prompto had always kind of thought he hated his body; he wishes he were just a little taller and that he didn’t tire so easily but he misses it now he’s existing elsewhere. Cleaning up had been awkward and embarrassing, wading into the water fully dressed and slowly shedding their sodden layers one by one. The water was clear and did nothing to hide any part of them and they soon quickly realised it was less awkward to stare at the body changing next to them - their own - rather than down at their own limbs for a change.

Noctis hadn’t taken his wristband off though. For that Prompto is thankful. He hadn't even needed to ask.

“Are you always this cold?” Prompto asks, curling his - Noct’s - toes over to clutch at the thick socks he’d thrown on before laying down.

“Pretty much,” Noct admits.

Prompto doesn’t follow up with a question to ask if Noct’s back always hurts this much or if the ache in his knee ever subsides. He already knows the answer to that and neither of them will be soothed by having it said aloud again.

Noct huffs again and then he’s moving, nylon sleeping bag dragging across the tent floor until he’s right up against Prompto’s side.

“Um, hello?” Prompto whispers in shock.

“You won’t get to sleep if you’re cold,” Noct tells him and Prompto supposes he would know.

“Right so -”

Noct wiggles until his body is curled around Prompto’s, almost half resting on top of him where he can't grab him with his limbs like he might in a real bed.

“Excuse me,” Prompto croaks.

“Shut up, you do this all the time,” Noct mumbles.

It’s true, but he normally does it in his sleep and wakes up so long before Noctis that he’d assumed his friend had no idea.

“That’s not -”

“Sometimes I don’t sleep until you do,” Noct says, voice so quiet Prompto almost doesn’t hear him.

“Oh.”

Noct shifts again, like he can’t quite settle. “Your shoulders are so bony,” Noct complains.

Prompto scoffs, “If you wanna talk about bony we can talk about your butt.”

“Boys,” Ignis snaps.

“Go to sleep,” Gladio demands.

Part Two

When Prompto wakes up in the morning still with too long legs he feels like he might cry.

He feels awful, but he doesn’t know if it's the after effects of the spell or simply what Noctis has to deal with every morning. It would go some way to explain why he’s always in such a foul mood in the mornings and Prompto vows to never make fun of him again - maybe see if there’s anything he can do to help.

Noct is gone, Prompto realises, the warmth of the other body absent and Prompto wonders if it was the slow retreat of his lingering warmth that had woken him up. When he finally musters the strength to crawl out of his sleeping bag and onto the haven he’s greeted by the sight of his own body helping Ignis at the cooking station, chattering away in much the way it’s normal inhabitant does rather than the one residing there now.

“Good morning,” Prompto says, Noct’s voice sounding rougher than normal.

“You look like shit,” Gladio tells him.

“Thanks,” Noct mumbles on his behalf, “Real nice, Gladio.” He abandons Ignis at the stove and approaches Prompto, mouth drawn tight with concern. “Your back hurts,” Noct says, very matter of fact.

“Yeah, how did you -” Prompto cuts himself off. Of course Noct would know.

Noct rolls his eyes and steps up close to his side, palm flat against Prompto’s spine he digs his fingertips up to just under his shoulder blade and rolls them over a muscle. It’s agony for a moment then a little trickle of bliss right down Prompto's spine. Noct can’t seem to quite look at him - himself, Prompto supposes - eyes fixed over Prompto’s shoulders as he zones out a little

“Wow,” Prompto mumbles, “Thanks.”

Noct keeps going for a moment then, almost idly smooths his whole hand up and down Prompto’s spine. It’s new and a little odd, but it feels good so Prompto doesn’t ask him to stop.

Gladio clears his throat and Noct suddenly jumps back, shaking out his hand like Prompto burnt him right through his t-shirt.

“We’re heading out straight after breakfast,” Gladio says, “Hopefully we won't have to fight anything until this thing resolves itself.”

Prompto doesn’t know the last time they went a whole day without fighting so it really comes as no surprise when they end up in the thick of it only an hour after setting out from the haven.

When he and Noct had accessed the armiger immediately after the spell had taken effect it had been enough to test they had magic still and for some reason they’d just assumed they had the exact same magic as they always did.

What actually seems to be the case, however, is that their bodies remember exactly what kind of magic they’ve always had even if the people currently driving don’t have the capacity to control it.

Prompto tries to keep his distance, more carefully than ever because he’ll be damned if Noct’s body gets injured while he’s the one steering it.

But Prompto literally hears his own voice says “what the fuck” then fires his gun at a killer wasp headed right for Gladio and suddenly stops existing. Or something. Temporarily. Because he does exist again, in a blink of an eye but he’s in mid air, crashing down on top of one of the wasps and if he was actually Noct he’d just switch out for a polearm and spear it through it’s weird, gross body but he’s not so all Prompto can manage is to cry out and curl in on himself to brace for his inevitable collision with the ground.

So much for not hurting Noct’s body, he thinks, as searing pain blisters across his arm. Broken, more than likely.

“I can’t warp,” Noct screams, “Somebody get to Prompto.”

There’s a crunch and some of the buzzing around him dies but it’s replaced quickly, the same sickening thwick, thwick, thwick of wings.

Blind hope makes him raise the gun again aiming it just anywhere away from the fight and his friends and anything that might make this worse. Just making sure to aim close to the ground.

“I hate warping,” Prompto says miserably.

His arm is fine, fixed up quick with an elixir but the embarrassment still has a firm hold on him.

“I hate not warping,” Noct says.

They’re alone in the tent, Prompto sulking and Noct refusing to leave his side for some reason.

“Maybe they should kiss,” Gladio’s voice drifts into them, “That’s a thing right - a kiss to break a spell?”

“It didn’t work when Noct got stuck as a frog,” Prompto yells out to him, dragging the back of his hand over his mouth as he remembers the somehow sticky and slick feel of Noct’s little head against his lips.

Noctis snorts, absently kneading one of his biceps.

“Did you get hurt?”

Noct shakes his head.

“What is the point of having biceps like this if you can’t swing a greatsword?” Noct mumbles.

Prompto blinks, takes in his own arms that he’d thought were almost too thin now.

“Biceps like what?” Prompto asks.

Noct startles and because it’s Prompto’s face he goes red all across his cheeks right up to the tips of his ears.

“Maybe they should kiss,” Gladio says again and Prompto laughs along with him this time even though Noctis doesn’t.

“Maybe we should,” Noct mutters.

He squeezes his eyes shut tight, like something's causing him pain. Any effort to ask him what’s wrong on Prompto’s part, however, is undermined when Noct’s hands clumsily reach for his face, smacking him on the nose before getting a sure grip on his jaw.

“What are you doing?”

“Shut up,” Noct says, “I can’t, like, look at or hear me if we’re gonna do this.” He takes in a sharp breath then mutters, “This is not how the first time should have gone.”

“First what -”

Prompto almost over balances and knocks Noct over when he tugs him forward and seals their mouths together.

Prompto’s still in Noct’s body when it’s over, but it’s hard to be upset about pretty much anything right now.

#promptis #ffxv #myficlets #first kiss #body swap #prompto x noctis #prompto argentum #noctis lucis caelum

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yuriwritestwst · 2 years

Text

You’re the new manager to Night Raven College’s basketball team, and Ace is the wannabe-star player who takes an immediate liking to you.

Notes: Ace Trappola x GN!reader, actual university AU, light cussing, not actually that much on basketball or university

The first time the two of you meet is when Coach Vargas blows a piercing whistle amidst the squeaking of sneakers against the pristine gym floor. He promptly introduces you as the new team manager, a position you volunteered yourself for after deciding that you needed a resume buffer despite not knowing the first thing to basketball. It’ll be easy, you told yourself. All you had to do was refill water bottles and fetch stray balls, just like how they did it on TV shows.

The team makes its way through their very brief introductions, and you’re 100% sure you don’t retain a single name, much to your dismay.

“Ace Trappola!” someone says, flashing you a grin. Awkwardly, you return his smile. “I’m just a first year, but you’ll be seeing me a lot on court when I become a regular!”

“Crabby, I can’t believe you’d just lie to someone you’ve just met,” a taller guy drawls out. His teeth are alarmingly sharp, you note.

“I don’t want to hear that from you, Floyd,” Jamil, the vice-captain, hisses. “I’m sorry about those two.”

“No, it’s okay. I’m a first year too,” and before Floyd can snap back with a witty response about how awful it must be to be in the same year as Ace, the ginger is next to you with a heavy arm resting on the top of your shoulders.

“Finally!” Ace sighs in exasperation. “A first year comrade! I can already tell we’re gonna be best friends.”

“Don’t listen to him,” Jamil warns, swatting Ace’s arm off of you. “He’s just going to ask to copy off your homework eventually. I think it might be better for you to ignore him completely, actually.”

“Hey, rude!” Ace retorts back. “And for the record, I am actually glad that we have another first year on the team.”

“Yeah, okay Crabby, let’s get you back to practice,” Floyd coos playfully before violently shoving Ace back onto the court and turning to you with a devilish glint in his eyes. “I sure enjoy some friendly hazing.”

“Floyd,” Jamil warns again, eyes narrowing. “I know this team has some odd guys, but they aren’t actually bad people. I hope they haven’t scared you off, because we really need a manager this year.”

“Do you mind giving me the run down again?” you ask nervously, suddenly feeling more pressure than when you haphazardly submitted your application. “I’m not really too familiar with…well…”

“That won’t be a problem at all,” Jamil replies, smiling. “We can start with the storage room.”

By the end of the first practice with you as the manager, you find yourself rolling a cart filled with basketballs back to the storage room. It’s crowded, and despite Jamil’s best efforts showing you where everything is, you still have trouble naming exactly where and what most of the stuff is used for.

“Boo,” a familiar voice says from next to you, and you suddenly feeling something cold and wet on your cheek. You let out a yelp and reach for your face.

“You scared me!” you yell a bit louder than you would’ve liked. You only met this guy about three hours ago, but you’re already starting to treat him like a thorn on your side.

“My bad, my bad,” he laughs, not apologetic at all. Instead, he takes the cool bottle off your face. “Here. I accidentally got two from the vending machine.”

“Thanks,” your murmur hesitantly and wonder how “easy” it must have been for him to accidentally feed the machine twice for an extra drink. “I guess you actually are as clumsy as Jamil said.”

“Damn, I can’t believe he was talking shit behind my back again,” and from the way Ace says it, you figure he’s probably the thorn in a lot of people’s sides.

“Good work today?” you try, changing the subject. “Well, not that I know much about basketball in the first place.”

“Then the first thing I should teach you is that my work is always good,” Ace says proudly, chest puffed out. His pride is enough to convince you that it’s nothing more than an exaggeration. “But, man, I can’t believe you’re not a basketball nerd.”

“And I can’t believe Coach Vargas was fine with that.”

“Well, you know what this means, don’t you?” Ace asks with a eerily mischievous grin. You shoot him a look that tells him something like, this is going to end terribly, but he ignores it. “Oh, you’re gonna be so busy with me watching old game recordings. I’ll show you all the ropes.”

“Forget about the rules, and just tell me where this cart goes first,” you sigh, shaking your head.

“Just leave it here. Somebody’s gonna find this thing.” He unceremoniously rolls the cart into a wall, leading to a clunk, and you’re scared you’re going to get kicked from the team after one day. As usual, he’s not nearly concerned as you and simply slings his arm around your shoulders like he did earlier today. “Now, let’s go already.”

“You’re awfully pushy even though we met today for maybe ten minutes max,” you scoff. Still, you take his lead, albeit a little hesitantly. It wouldn’t be too awful to understand the game you were supposed to manage. Plus, even if he was annoying to no end, he didn’t seem like he meant any harm.

“I’m telling you, us first years have to stick together. We’re gonna be best buds by tomorrow morning.” Suddenly, you find that his grin isn’t all that teeth grinding. “Oh, and I was wondering if you’re also taking Intro to Chem 1, because there’s this assignment due tonight that I haven’t started and-“

“You stink,” you say pointedly, shoving his arm off your shoulder and start speed walking ahead of him.

“I was just kidding!” he calls from behind you, and you have to stifle the laugh that threatens to spill from your mouth.

Floyd being the world’s most reckless player brings about good and bad things, most of these being bad except for the fact that you were almost never bored. Yes, it was always fun to watch the lanky boy defend the ball with his life, even if it meant him rolling all over the floor for no other reason than the fact that he found the horrified reactions of others amusing, but this also meant far more injuries than you expected. Typically, they were never Floyd’s though.

“Damn, you’d think you’d get the hang of this after what? The third finger Floyd’s jammed this week?” Ace comments from your side during a small break. It was only Tuesday.

“Look, there’s only so much I can learn from watching a Youtube video.” You don’t even have time to roll your eyes, because you’re too busy trying to tape and splint a third year’s finger after Floyd had all but hurled the ball at him without enough warning. “There! This should be good enough until you reach the nurse’s office.”

The third year, assisted by his friend, nods, gives thanks, and makes his way out of the gym. Meanwhile, Ace makes himself comfortable by leaning against you, much to your dismay.

“For the last time, you’re super sweaty and gross,” you groan, wanting to smack the ginger square across the face. You try your best, but per usual, you can’t lose him. He sticks his hand out in front of you. “What?”

“For practice,” he says simply, tilting his head toward the direction that the third year just left in. “A splint like that won’t help anybody. ‘Specially if we’re at an away game.”

“Oh, and you’re suddenly a finger taping master?” This time, you do roll your eyes. In fact, you flick his forehead good and hard for extra measure.

“Uh, no, but I’m not afraid to tell you when it’s sloppy and when it’s not,” he responds as if it’s the obvious. He moves the hand that he placed in front of you around, urgent. “Come on, there’s only five minutes of break left.”

“If i practice on you, will you please get your sweaty head off my shoulder?” Immediately, he’s off and looking at you eagerly. In fact, he looks like he’s practically shining, and you almost forget that he’s the same guy who covered you in sweat two seconds ago. “One smart-ass comment from you and I’m breaking your fingers for real.”

Carefully, you take his index finger and middle finger together, to which he responds with a dramatized grunt of fake pain, and apply the tape around them. It’s weird, you think, oddly conscious of the fact now that his hand is in yours. He’s always been a physically and casually intimate person with you and his teammates alike, but something about this you find fundamentally different. Even through the tape, you feel his warmth searing through. Or maybe it was you who was warm. That’d be embarrassing.

Working your way up to his finger pads, your thumb subconsciously grazes against them, and you swear he stiffens. When you look at him, however, he’s busy looking at his own hand, expression unreadable.

“What?” you ask, grin spreading across your face. “Actually scared that I’m gonna break your fingers?”

“As if you’d injure the team’s star,” he fires back, also grinning.

“Tell me that when you’re actually a starter.”

“It’ll happen before you’ll learn how to properly splint a finger,” and before you can ask him what he means, because you’re so sure that you’ve done a decent job, he manages to loosen the tape on his own, two fingers bending freely to hook around the fingers of your hand that hovers above his. You almost stop breathing, but neither of you make an effort to pull away.

“See?” he says, the cockiness still laced in his voice. To make a bigger statement, you feel his fingers move to the back of your hand, drawing shapes. It’s only now that you realize along with his feather-light touches, he’s looking at your face with such intensity, as if he’d pull away the moment you show any signs of discomfort. Again, you’re not sure if it’s his fingers that are burning or if it’s you, but the gym is a lot more stuffy than before.

“Alright, back to practice!” Vargas booms. You jolt, and Ace laughs.

“You should practice more,” Ace says, standing up to get back on the court. “Just give me a call, and I’ll be there.”

And for some reason, you listen to him and continue to practice in the following days even when you get the hang of it. Neither of you suggest to stop, even months well into your first year on the team.

Ace finally makes it as a season regular by the time his second year rolls around, which means he’s always on the bus with you during away games.

(“Why are you going but not me?” he’d used to whine after team practice. It had become a habit for him to do a little bit more solo practice each day, with you in tow to grab the stray balls much to your dismay.

“Well, I’m the team manager for starters, and you’re just some guy.”

“Just you wait. You’re never gonna be free from me when I become a regular.”)

You come to hate away games very early on, though, because not only are you the one helping haul bags of supplies and water bottles, but you also realize that if a game is scheduled to end at 9:00 PM, you’d end up home at 11:00 PM if everything went smoothly.

Thankfully, though, the bus rides back are always quiet simply for the fact that everyone is just so exhausted, and after tonight’s game against Royal Sword University about two hours away, that was exactly the case. Aside from the quiet munching from some players who were smart enough to bring their own post-game food, most people were sleeping the soreness and hunger off. This included Ace, of course, as he was your designated seat buddy. Not that there were assigned seats, just best friend code as Ace had put it.

So here he was, snoring away on your shoulder, and while he’s been resting on you since the beginning of time, what’s new is the grip he has around your wrist. It’s loose enough for you to wiggle out of his grasp, but still firm. His hands are incredibly calloused, and you know this from the countless times you’ve seen them through splinting his fingers, but something about them against your skin in absolute silence makes you feel ticklish. Giddy, even.

Eventually, his hair starts to actually tickle you, forcing your hand to brush the stray locks away. If only you had scissors, because no matter what you did, nothing helped. Rather, after a few minutes of musing with his hair, Ace shifts in his sleep, and you think you might’ve woken him up. He doesn’t, thankfully, but even in his subconsciousness, he takes a liking to the attention you’re giving him and nuzzles into the hand that you’ve placed on his head in the midst of your ministrations. It’s almost endearing if it weren’t for the fact that you were basically trapped in your spot now.

“Hey, Goldfishie,” a sing-song voice calls. Oh no. “Do you have any snacks in your bag? I’m just so hungry that I could eat about— Oh.”

You nearly jump in horror, hands flying out of both Ace’s hair and his grasp as Floyd peers into the aisle you and Ace were in before a shit-eating grin spreads across his face. He’s technically your senior, but you want to hit him so bad.

“Never mind,” Floyd mumbles, spinning on his heel to the back of the bus where his seat was. Floyd typically never kept to one seat per ride, but he always found himself in the back messing with Jamil, and you just know that he’s telling everybody what he saw on his very slow journey there.

You sigh, groaning into your hands, and you’re not sure why you’re so embarrassed.

“Damn, way to wake a guy up,” Ace mutters from next to you. He yawns and stretches his neck before sinking back into the bus seat. “You nearly gave me a heart attack. I thought I was getting mugged or something.”

“And I should’ve let you get mugged by Floyd,” you hiss.

“Damn, if you’re this cranky, maybe you should be taking a nap too.” He checks the time on his phone. “We have an hour left anyways.”

“No, I’d rather not risk getting my face drawn over with marker,” you say pointedly, and Ace feigns hurt.

“I can’t believe you’d say something like that,” he gasps, mock shock, even though he, along with everybody on the bus, knows that it’s something he’d definitely do. “Come on, it wouldn’t hurt to get some shut eye.”

There’s an arm rest that separates the two seats which he quickly raises. You feel his arms pull you into him, hand gently pressed on your head once he positions you comfortably against himself. Your heart is bounding a thousand miles per minute, and you’re thankful that the bus is dark enough so that he can’t see your entire face flush all the way to the tips of your ears.

“What are you doing?” you ask rather dumbly. His laugh seems to resonate through his chest and into your ears.

“Consider it…returning the favor?” You want to scream.

“You were awake that entire time?”

“Well, not the entire time, but I was awake for long enough.” He coughs. “And for the record, you sure were moving around a ton.”

“Was not,” you mutter under your breath. “Why didn’t you move away then?”

He pauses. It’s a long silence.

“Just go to sleep already so that I can take my nap without having you wake me up again,” he grumbles. You try to pester him, but he closes his eyes, and even though you know he’s still awake, he stops responding. All you can do is sigh and give in to how oddly relaxing your current position is before dozing off.

And of course, you wake up to the click of a phone camera and Floyd’s cackle. Yes, he meant for you both to hear it.

Manager duty, as you have found out long ago, doesn’t mean manager mode during just club activities but also during your own free time too, which is why you find yourself in Ace’s grasp as he drags you down the mall on a fine Saturday afternoon.

“Do you really need me to be here for you to go shoe shopping?” you ask, already tired. “I wanted to study for one of my exams next week.”

“You have to take it easy once in a while, and I’m the one who’s gonna help you do that.”

“Says the guy who almost failed his way out of club activities,” you groan, recalling the midnight emergency cram session Jamil held out of sheer panic that they’d lose a regular right before the season started. “You should be glad that Jamil is the new captain.”

“I mean, I was close to failing, yeah, but I knew I wouldn’t actually,” Ace corrects very matter-of-factly. “And anyways, stop lecturing me about school. You’re supposed to help me pick out new sneakers today. You’ve seen Floyd’s new ones, right? I have to keep up or else I’ll look lame on the court.”

“I’ve seen his new ones, and I also remember him telling me that they cost way more than whatever budget you have in mind today.” You snicker a little at Ace’s frustration.

“Don’t worry. There’s no way I’m leaving without a new pair today,” he promises, swears even. You hate the grin he’s wearing.

“Ace Trappola, I do not care if this is best friend code or not,” you start, tone warning. “I will not be committing theft with you even if you cry to me.”

“Relax, relax!” he calms. “Promise we won’t do anything illegal. Just trust me.”

And even though you’re still suspicious of him, you just follow him into a Foot Locker where he all but drools over the highest priced, neon shoes. In your opinion, they’re a disaster to look at, but to each their own you suppose.

“What do you think about these babes?” Ace asks, and you want to hurl at what he shows you. “I’ve had my eye on them for a while now, you know?”

“Then just get it over with so that I can go home.” He frowns this time. “What? I mean, yeah, I love them so much. They look so good that I might go back on my statement on theft and steal them from you after you buy them.”

“Really?” He brightens immediately. “Then you should get these instead of me.”

“Absolutely not.” You’re so horrified that you can’t even lie about wearing them yourself, and judging by the knowing smirk he gives you, even he knows he’s caught you.

“Then maybe you should be a little more serious about my game fashion,” Ace sighs. “I need to look good for our team Instagram.”

“Your current sneakers are still fine though,” you try again, desperate.

“Well, Floyd said he was able to jump two feet higher in his new ones, so I figured if I bought the same brand, I’d be able to do some pretty sick slam dunks.” No matter what, Floyd always got Ace to believe his ridiculous lies.

“Fine, but can we leave if I pick one out?” You’re almost pleading at this point.

“Promise!”

So your eyes scan over all the shoes in the store, and while you can’t say you knew much about proper basketball footwear, you do find a design you like. It’s not particularly flashy like Floyd’s but it was still colorful enough to stand out on its own. Plus, the orange matched Ace’s hair.

“This one,” you say finally, handing him the pair you like. His immediate purchase without even trying them on makes you think he’s willing to buy just about anything so long as the brand was good, but you see him wearing those sneakers way more frequently than usual. He even wore them to class, which was unusual for Ace seeing as he always wanted to protect his basketball shoes from the daily wear and tear.

“Aren’t you gonna buy a new pair?” you ask him off-handedly months later over lunch.

“What, why?” you make out through his burger-filled mouth. He swallows. “They’re fine.”

You didn’t have to because you see him at practice every day, but you look under the table at his tattered sneakers and then back up at him to make a point.

“Ace, it looks like a dog chewed them up and then pissed all over,” you sigh. “Plus, you usually buy new ones if there’s so much as a tiny scratch.”

“I do not,” Ace says, playfully kicking you under the table. “These are fine. Plus, I’ve been making more three-pointers with these on, so there’s no way I’m trashing my good luck charm.”

“I can see it already,” you muse. “The next school paper is going to have the headline ‘Ace Trappola Scores with his Pissed-On Sneakers During Game’. Don’t say I didn’t warn you, Trappola.”

“Well, if I make it to the front cover, people are gonna be busy swooning over my perfect form instead of shoes,” he corrects. “But, if you really are gonna make such a big deal out of this, then you’re just gonna have to pick out a new pair for me.”

“What, why?”

“I might buy those neon ones that you hate so much, and you’re gonna see them every day for the next few weeks at least. But to be honest, I might like having you disgusted at them so much that I’ll just keep buying the same pair over and over-“

“Fine, I get it,” you huff. Ace smiles from across the table and flips out his phone.

“So what about this weekend?” he asks, and even though it shouldn’t take the entire day, he urges you to clear your schedule, because what if you two have too much fun and lose track of time?

You only sigh again, but you don’t doubt him.

“You see that?” Ace says, pointing at the tablet screen. The video is paused, and you see him picking out one of the new first years. “I was the one who taught him how to jump like that.”

“Sure you did,” you say, mindlessly looking through clips of the team scheduled for next week’s game and taking brief notes.

“And him over here,” Ace points excitedly. “He couldn’t do a proper lay-up until our drills from Monday. Pretty good, right?”

You decide to shift your position at this, turning over to face the back of his head as he sits on the floor leaning on the bedside. He hears your rustle when you do this and looks behind him.

“Looking pretty relaxed there, Manager,” Ace fake-chides. “Like you might fall asleep in the middle of analyzing plays right before play-offs.”

“You’re so right about that,” you grin, eyelids feeling heavy as he peers at you. “I don’t know. Something about your bed just makes me so sleepy.”

“And if you fall asleep here, where am I supposed to go?”

“The floor.”

“You’re in my apartment!” he yells. “There’s no way I’m sleeping on the floor when I literally live here. You can go home and sleep. After we finish watching these plays, of course.”

“Yes, Captain,” you tease, faking a salute. “To think you ended up like this even though you were all talk when we were first years.”

“And you’re rude like usual.” He sighs, pressing a finger to your cheek. After all these years of his antics, you don’t even bother to react. “Don’t you want to make it to nationals this year?”

“I’ve wanted to go to nationals every year, actually,” you correct, but when he starts pouting, you add, “but I guess especially this year, since it’s our last.”

“That’s the spirit!” Ace hollers with a toothy smile. “And if, no, when we win, we’re gonna be so famous. Trust me.”

“I don’t think that includes me though,” you chuckle, making Ace frown. “I’m just a manager.”

“Well yeah, you’re not exactly a player, but you’re kinda really important, you know?” And of course you know, because he hasn’t stopped saying that to you in all these years. “You know that, right?”

“Yeah, I know.” He nods dutifully, pleased that his almost-daily reminder is conveyed. “Kinda sucks that I don’t even get a participation medal, though.”

“Since when were you interested in prizes?” he asks, eyebrows raised. “I thought that was a me thing.”

“Since now,” you say playfully. “In fact, I think you owe me a prize right now, right here.”

“But we haven’t event started play-offs yet,” Ace teases knowingly. “Well, I suppose as the captain of this team, I should be providing motivation for all our members, manager included.”

“You’re so right,” you murmur, feeling his hand caress your cheek. He closes the gap between the two of you, lips pressed firmly against yours. It’s electric no matter how many times he’s done it, and you’re met with the same hunger every time. You hated to admit it but Ace Trappola knew what he was doing.

“Is that enough compensation?” he asks, finally pulling away, breathless.

“I feel like I deserve more than one kiss after being manager for so long,” you sigh, pretending to be upset.

“Well, you see, I’m just awfully busy with captain duties and all so-“

You don’t let him finish, pulling him by the collar and claiming your reward again and again. Not that he minded in the slightest.

(“Is this part of best friend code?” you tease after he gives up reviewing plays and opts to snuggle with you on his bed.

“It’s boyfriend code,” he corrects pointedly.

“I don’t know,” you respond, pretending to think. “You were pretty touchy when you were just my best friend too, though.”

“Then let me help you differentiate the two.”)

#twisted wonderland #twisted wonderland x reader #twst imagines #twst x reader #twst wonderland #twst #twst ace #ace trappola #ace trappola x reader #university au #basketball au

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brokenjere · 2 years

Text

bad in the bones (c.f) (ch.3)

a/n: hey all! hope you enjoy this chapter! lmk what you think and if you wanna be added to the taglist💖💖

synopsis: Yn and Conrad hang out by the beach and she tries some subpar blueberry muffins

catch up here

I can’t sleep. I lay in bed, tossing and turning until my back starts to hurt and my eyes burn because they won’t stay shut. I throw the blanket off of my body and go downstairs.

I had a hard time sleeping after the breakup. It was like my soul was so torn up that I couldn’t possibly find any peace. Even at night. Even in the dark. That’s always when it felt the worst.

Susannah’s house is quiet when everyone is asleep. You can hear the ocean, even so far off in the distance, through the walls. I feel like I need to tip-toe around so I don’t wake anyone. The only light in the kitchen is that of the moon and the refrigerator when I open it for a bottle of water.

I decide to sit outside. It’s still nice out, even at night. There are no mosquitoes or bugs, just the calm air and the soft swishing of the water. I hear the tree branches brush together and then see a head pop out of the brush. Dark hair. Tall. Same red hoodie he was wearing earlier. Conrad.

I follow him, choosing my steps carefully. He must be going down to the beach. I didn’t know they had their own stretch of it. I follow the path that connects the backyard to the sandy shore. Small, paved, covered with trees. It leads right up to the patio where their pool is. It was really perfect. Conrad is still in front of me and he pulls something out of his pocket and lights it. “What are you doing?” I ask, forgetting my own voice and the fact that I had been following him.

Immediately, I’m embarrassed. My face flushed so hot I pray he can’t see it when he turns around. He looks amused. “Have you been following me?” He asks. I swallow my words. I don’t need to incriminate myself even further, I think it’s fairly obvious the answer is yes.

“I couldn’t sleep,” I tell him. He nods and takes a hit of what I think, now that I can see it, is a joint. “Pot?” He nods.

“Do you want a hit?” He asks me, extending it toward me. We’re a few feet apart, so I have to walk toward him to grab it. I’m no longer under the safety of the tree canopy. I am now fully on the beach, exposed by the moon. I take the joint from him and take a hit. It burns my throat and my lungs but I suppress the cough. “Do you smoke?”

“I don’t.” He laughs at me and I can’t help but chuckle along with him. “Occasionally, I suppose.” I really only smoked when Josh did. And he really only smoked at parties. Sometimes, I’d pretend to inhale it and then blow it out really fast so that it didn’t make me cough. I didn’t really like the feeling of being high. It made me feel like I could float away and I didn’t want to float away. I wanted to keep my feet planted on the ground. “I thought Belly said you were an athlete,” I say.

“I quit, remember?” I nod.

“So you’re a stoner now?”

“I guess so.” He laughs and then I want to pry.

“Why did you quit?” He tenses and takes another hit before shrugging his shoulders. “You don’t have to tell me,” I say.

“I stopped liking it,” he says. I nod and he gestures toward the beach. The ocean lay out in front of us and I forgot that we had stopped moving for a second. “Wanna go down?” I nod eagerly.

Conrad laughs and we walk toward the water, our fingers brushing as we walked next to each other in silence. My flip-flops cause too much friction against the sand and my feet and I stumble in it. “Oh, hold on,” I tell him and reach down to take off my sandals. He waits for me, watching me intently as I struggle. When I finally get them off, I carry them between my fingers. Conrad reaches out to them. Or me. “What?” I ask, laughing between my words.

“I’ll carry them.”

“They’re sandals not bricks,” I tease. He shrugs and reaches for them and I hold them up higher, knowing he’s taller than me and can reach without a lot of struggle. When he reaches for them, I step backward, keeping them out of his reach. He stumbles forward and puts his hand on my hip to steady himself in the sand. I feel it. The electricity. But I ignore it. He laughs as we play keep away until eventually, I bring the shoes down from in the air and let him take them. “Fine, you win,” I conceded.

“It’s not about winning,” he says coyly, with an air of cockiness and proudness that would have turned me off if I didn’t know it was a front. Conrad is not egotistical. I know that in my bones. With both of Conrad’s hands full, I get a smirk on my face and I look over at him. “Hhm?”

“Wanna race?” He chuckles at me, thinking I’m joking and when he realizes I’m not, he holds up his hands. One with my shoes in it and the other with a joint and instead of caring, I shrug and start running in the opposite direction, toward the water. I hear him laugh behind me but then he takes off. I can hear his footsteps coming up closer to me as he gains his traction and then I’m on the ground. “You jerk!” I call, squirming from under his arms. “That’s not fair!”

Conrad holds me down in the sand. It’s getting everywhere. In my shorts, toes, and t-shirt. I have grains of sand in my bra. “It’s not fair for you to initiate a race when I have my hands full. It weighs me down.”

I look and see his hands are now empty. “Where are my shoes?” I laugh as he points behind us and I see them in a pile in the sand. “Did you at least save the joint?” I aks like I really care. The joint wasn’t important to me. I bet he threw it in the wet sand, smashed it into the ground, and then threw my shoes away, too.

Conrad reaches in his hoodie pocket and pulls out the unlit joint. It has burnt edges and is smaller than before but he saved it. Of course, he did.

I push him off of me and we sit up, looking at the water. “I’m sorry about the bonfire,” he says. The mood shifted from playful, funny, and carefree to serious, and somber. I shudder.

“What about it?” I ask quietly.

“Fighting with Belly. It was dumb and immature.” I’m quiet for a moment while Conrad studies my face. I think he’s looking for a reaction, a response, anything. I’m quiet until he can no longer bear the quietness. “I’m just going through some stuff. Stuff Belly doesn’t know about. And Nicole, I don’t know. She’s familiar.”

“And Bells isn’t? Familiar?” I don’t care about the fight. I care that he was rude to Belly but their fight is their fight alone and not mine.

“She is but Belly is like a sister to me.” He shakes his head, unsure of what to say next and so I speak instead.

“She says you’re different this summer. Quieter.”

“That’s true.”

“Don’t hurt her,” I say. I look at him for real now. Really face him. The moon illuminates his face only on one side but his eyes are bright.

“What do you mean?” I roll my eyes at him.

“You know she likes you. Everyone knows.” I don’t know if I should have given him that information. Did everyone know? I thought they did but maybe Conrad didn’t. Maybe he was an oblivious teenage boy with no sense of the obvious but something tells me he’s not. He’s more observant than he lets on.

“What’s your story?” He asks, changing the subject. “Why’d you come with them?”

“What did they say?”

“Not much.

If I have to guess, he was lying. I’m sure Laurel told Susannah plenty, probably about my parents and how Josh dumped me and that I was sad, miserable, and couldn’t possibly be alone all summer but maybe he was going easy on me.

“In what regard are you asking?” He bumps his knee against mine. It’s bony and hard and I smile up at him shyly.

“Anything. Why are you here?” He asks. I ponder this for a moment. What seems like such an easy question with an easy answer, suddenly isn’t so easy anymore. It was a lot of things, really. If I had been born into a different family or my mom wasn’t so selfish or maybe if my dad had loved me more, I wouldn’t be here. But that’s not the only reason I’m here. If Josh hadn’t dumped me or if we weren’t going to different schools or maybe if we had never fallen in love in the first place, I wouldn’t be here. If Laurel wasn’t such an amazing woman and Susannah so selfless and gracious, I wouldn’t be here.

“I guess I just needed somewhere to reset, you know? Start over.” It’s vague and impersonal and Conrad doesn’t really seem to accept the answer but he shrugs anyway.

“I guess I get that.”

“Thanks for having me,” I say. I know it wasn’t his choice and maybe if it was he’d have said no to having a strange girl in his home but I say it anyway because I’m grateful. “I’m sorry I told you to shut up.”

“I deserved it,” he laughs. I shrug and lay back in the sand. I don’t care if it gets in my hair or under my shirt because I’m already covered in it from Conrad tackling me. “I was being a hypocrite.”

“Do you think she’ll agree to be a Deb? Laurel thinks it’s dumb, too, I think. Our family has never been filled with those kinds of girls. Nicoles.” We never had a lot of money. My mom married into it and we had a nice house and I never had to want for much but we never had this. We didn’t have a country club to join in the summer and an ocean in our backyard.

“I don’t think it’s really like her. Do you?” I stare at the back of his hoodie. The up and down of his back as he breathes. He fumbles with the joint between his fingers. It went out in our race and he has yet to relight it. I wonder if he will.

“She’s changing, you know? Belly’s growing up. She’s not a kid anymore.” This fact is true. I wonder if while I’m away at college she’ll grow even more. Grow and grow until a huge pine tree I no longer recognize.

“I know. I’ve always seen her as a little sister but, she’s different this summer. I guess I have you to blame for that?” Conrad lays back down with me now but he looks up at the stars. He points up. “The Little Dipper.”

I try to see it but I can’t. “Where?” He shoves his finger up again as if that will help me see it better and then he traces it around. Creating lines between the stars that build the constellation. “I see.” He drops his arm back down and folds his hands over his chest. “Do you like her? Belly?” I ask to cure my curiosity more than anything. After years and years of pining, did she even stand a chance?

Conrad looks at me. His face is shadowed by the moon and sand and there are granules in his eyelashes that I want to brush away. “Sometimes it’s hard to tell.”

I get that. I get that a little more than I want to but I don’t tell him that. Instead, I grab the joint from inside of his hoodie pocket and hold it like a cigarette. “Are you gonna relight this?”

“Do you want me to?” I nod and Conrad props himself up by an elbow, leaning over my body. I run my fingers along the paper wrapping while Conrad pulls out his lighter. When he pulls it out, I hold the joint to my lips. He flicks the lighter, slowly inching it toward the end of the joint. It goes out and he flicks it again but it doesn’t light. He struggles a few more times until it lights again.

I take a hit when it’s lit and hold the smoke in my chest, letting it burn until I can’t anymore and then I let the smoke go, handing the joint over to him. “Thanks.”

“Don’t become a stoner,” he teases. I hear the laughter in his voice and roll my eyes at him. I didn’t think I have an addictive personality but I can admit to the fact that my entire body aches whenever Josh isn't around and for the first few weeks after our break-up, I felt like I was going through withdrawals. The aches, the mood swings, the irritability. Eventually, it wore off but sometimes I still think I smell him in the wind and see his face in passing by cars.

I come downstairs to the smell of muffins. Fresh, warm, blueberry muffins. I peek my head into the kitchen and see the lot of them all gathered around the kitchen island. “Yn, come in here!” Belly calls, grabbing my arm and dragging me toward the group. “Conrad went and got muffins this morning.” Just like Susannah said he would. He smiles shyly at me from across the counter and I reach forward to grab one.

Everyone watches me intently as if I’m a zoo animal on display and they’re all waiting for my party trick. Jeremiah wiggles his eyebrows, Belly has a smile as wide as her face, and the moms stare at me with amusement. I eat the muffin. “It’s good,” I say and watch all their faces fall in disappointment. “Did you guys want a firework show?”

“Not all they’re cracked up to be, huh?” Conrad asks. He eats his own muffin, clearly enjoying it but maybe he gets it, too. A muffin is not going to change the world. A muffin is not going to make the pain go away.

“Oh, come on,” Belly groans and grabs my wrist and drags me through the house and up the stairs. We plop down in her room and I see all the clothes spread out on her floor. It looks like a tornado ran through the place.

“What happened here?” I ask, looking over at her. She has her eyes closed and her arms folded behind her head. She peeks an eye open at me and shrugs.

“I needed to find an outfit to wear.”

“For?” There are jeans, t-shirts, tank tops, and bras. All of it is just thrown on the floor and forgotten about. What could she possibly have been getting ready for?

“Remember last night when I kind of ditched you?” I did. After she ranted about Conrad for two entire cups of beer, she said she needed a minute. I let her go and found Steven. All of his attention was on a girl. A really pretty girl with an accent that made her sound years more sophisticated and she was certainly out of Steven’s league. Her name was Shayla, I learned. She was a Deb. She had rich parents. She planned to get a dress from New York. She went on and on and I was intrigued. When she spoke, it was impossible to not want to listen.

It was hours before I saw Belly again. She didn’t turn up until we were leaving but I didn’t see much of her. She was talking to one of the boys inside of the Jeep and she looked like she was arguing but then she stormed off and I didn’t see her again until this morning. Some cousin I was. She could have been kidnapped but at the moment, I was so drunk I don’t think it mattered.

“Well, I met a boy. He brought me home last night. His name is Cam,” she explains.

“A boy?“ She nods.

“That’s why I didn’t come home with the guys. He took me home and asked me to go on his whale-watching boat this morning. I was looking for the perfect outfit.” How did I not know this? My cousin, Isobel Conklin, the careful, the perfect, the reserved: met a boy and was going to go whale watching with him.

“Whale watching?” I laugh, ignoring the rest of the story for now. I didn’t even ask the boys where she was when I got in the Jeep. Conrad and I sunk in the backseats like little children, being scolded by Jeremiah for getting so drunk. I honestly don’t remember much except his knees brushing against mine and the small overhead light illuminating all of our faces.

“Yeah, he’s going to school for marine biology. He’s really nice and cute,” she says, brightening up as she talks about him. Then she sinks down and says, “I just wanted to look good.”

“Isobel Conklin has three boys on her arm this summer?” I get up and start flinging her used and abused clothes onto the bed. I remember my first date with Josh. I was filled with butterflies from the base of my throat, eating my words, down to my stomach. I wanted to find the perfect outfit too. Something he would remember me by. I think I ended up wearing a bright yellow dress but he took me bowling so he probably got peeks up it as I tossed the ball down the alley.

“Not three,” she clarifies but I give her a look. “Okay fine, but Cam is the only one I actually think I have a shot with.”

I shrug, not caring to explain further. I don’t know what to say and I want to keep last night with Conrad in a little folded piece of paper that was kept safe in my back pocket. I don’t ever want it to see the light of day.

“What about you? Any guys?” She asks me finally. I shake my head. “You gotta get over him,” she says. Josh. Him means Josh and over means forgetting and forgetting means not to love and how can I not love him?

“It’s not that easy, you know,” I tell her. Belly has never had her heart broken. Not for real, anyway. Not where it mattered. “What if he was the one?”

“He wasn’t.” I stare at her. She’s right and I know she’s right but I don’t believe her because why else would he look like that when the light hits his face and why else would he make me feel like my entire life is falling apart now that he’s not in it. I don’t know what to say.

“Maybe so,” I decide on. “Maybe so.”

taglist: @marajillana

#conrad fisher one shot #conrad fisher rec #conrad fisher #tsitp #conrad fisher x reader #the summer i turned pretty #tsitp imagine #jeremiah fisher #jeremiah fisher x reader #jeremiah fisher imagine #jeremiah fisher fan fic #conrad fisher imagine #conrad x reader #belly conklin #jenny han #team conrad

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saturdaynightghostclub · 9 months

Text

Highway Hypnosis

Chapter 2: Cold Water

Joshua Cook–Joshy–is the son of Evergreen’s postmaster. He and Jasper Stevens and I used to run around at the creek together looking for smooth stones, which we’d put in old spaghetti sauce jars filled with water so that we could open them and know the smell of the river whenever we wanted. There were only eight kids our age in the whole of Evergreen, and these were the ones I chose. I lost Jasper the summer before I stopped visiting–he got all moody and started smoking cigarettes with his older brother’s friends behind the old chapel. Joshy said it was puberty, but I thought eleven was too young for that sort of thing even then. That was the way things went for us, so I stayed in touch with Joshy through sporadic emails and birthday cards and I let Jasper go. I hope the two of them stayed friends. Joshy is supposed to meet me at Uncle Len’s house; his father was entrusted with the key, and Joshy was entrusted with my wellbeing.

The house is just as I remember it. Built on a hill, like Noah’s Ark, so that the rain doesn’t flood the garden and drown the hydrangeas. Len painted the whole thing green when he bought the place, and to his credit he seems to have kept up with it. It’s small and eclectic, even from the outside, but it’s his. It’s him, and now it’s me and it’s mine. I get out of the car to stretch my legs and end up on the front steps with my back pressed into the edge of the porch. I look out at my feet in their white shoes–too white for a place called Evergreen, population 1200–and the crunch of gravel drags my eyes to the face of Joshua Cook, which is attached to a much taller and more athletic-looking Joshy than I remember.

“That can’t be our Homecoming Queen,” he calls, shielding his eyes from the sun as he trudges up the drive. I was never anybody’s homecoming queen, but he coined the nickname when we were young enough to rationalize that, because I was a girl who came home (“home” being a relative term) every summer, I must be his.

“Joshy,” I smile, standing to meet him. He hugs me tight, a real it’s-been-too-long type of hug.

“I’m sorry about Len,” he says because he has to, and then, even though he doesn’t have to, “you must be sick to death of hearing that.” I smile and nod.

“A little. Helps when I know you actually mean it,”

Joshy digs around in his pocket for a moment before producing a ring of keys. He dangles it before me, enticing me to take it, and I do. They’re regular keys, by which I mean they’re the size and shape of everyday house keys, but I swear to God they’ve got the weight and history of cast-iron skeleton keys, like something you’d use to unlock that little room off to the side of the Cathedra where they’re supposed to keep the relics. I haven’t been a religious woman since I was old enough to know better, but for a split-second holding these keys feels like standing on the precipice of something–Heaven or Hell, I don’t yet know.

“I can head home if you want some time to settle in, but if you wanted to take a little walk into town with me, I could introduce you to some people before my shift?” Joshy says, half-question and half-suggestion, “Or maybe re-introduce you? Not much has changed around here since you left.”

“Sure,” I say, “I’m in no rush.”

Joshy is as lively and chipper as I remember, perhaps in compensation for the less-than-cheerful circumstances of our reunion. He’s grown into what my mother would call a Fine Young Man, with broad shoulders and deep brown skin. He’s wearing jeans and sensible Washingtonian boots with a soft, oversized T-shirt. His presence, as ever in step with mine, puts me at ease; he is the boy who pushed me into the river, and I am the girl who pulled him in after me.

Gradually, I am re-introduced to Margaret at the bar, Jefferson at the roadside fruit stand, and Joshy’s father Leo at the post office. The counter at the general store, which is apparently owned by a woman named Melanie, currently houses a pair of long legs whose associated body is obscured by a comically large newspaper. The owner of the paper does not lower it as we enter, and Joshy rolls his eyes.

“I’m sure you remember Moss,” he says. I don’t.

“Moss?”

“Yep. Slow to grow on you,” he explains, “put it down, asshole.”

The person–Moss–lowers the paper to reveal a lanky, dark-haired man about my own age. His eyes are big and brown, and I know them. They chased me around trees and hid behind blindfolds during silly childhood games. Before I can identify them, their owner speaks.

“Eleven years,” he says. I’m taken aback–firstly, that he appears to have kept track of the passage of time since our last interaction, and secondly that he seems instantly and acutely aware of the fact that he knows me at all.

I nod, unsure of what else to do. “Almost exactly,” I reply. The man, who I now recognize as Jasper Stevens, hasn’t broken eye contact with me since he stood up. It’s an almost competitive stare, as if daring me to break first. I’m struck at once by the desire, left over from childhood, to shove him squarely backward into the counter and the inexplicable twentysomething urge to bury myself in his arms. It’s an aspect of my psychology that I’ve never been able to come to terms with, the innate need to seek comfort from those most unwilling to give it. The absolute knowledge, beyond all reasonable doubt, that whatever’s wrong with me will be fixed if the most withholding person in the room can only take a moment’s interest in me.

Jasper tilts his head to the side, resembling for a moment a particularly precocious cocker spaniel, and then speaks again. “Are you sticking around, Andie?”

“I think so,” I say, “at least for a while.”

“You think so?”

“I know. I am,” I say stupidly, clocking all at once that, assuming Jasper works at the general store full-time, I’ll probably have to see him every time I need groceries or ant traps or hand soap. Maybe I should reconsider. Jasper only nods, though.

“That’s good. I have something of Len’s, if you’ll be around I can give it to you.”

Joshy clears his throat, glancing between us with the nervous, fluttering air of someone who’s watching their in-laws and their parents interact for the first time. “Andie, are you okay if I head out? I told Janie I’d meet her before my shift,” he says. I recall that Janie is the name of Joshy’s longtime girlfriend, and smile inwardly. Joshy and Janie.

“Totally, I’ll head back to the house in a bit.”

“Call you tomorrow,” Joshy says, squeezing my shoulder before he leaves. As the bell above the door sounds its hair-raising alarm, I’m hit by the unwelcome realization that he could have been lying. I’m not sure what puts the idea in my head; there’s certainly no reasonable basis for it. Anyway, it would be an innocuous lie, so why am I suddenly uneasy? I roll my shoulders back and straighten my spine, standing tall against I don’t know what, and watch him go before turning back to Jasper.

The boy–it’s so difficult to see a man as anything else when you’ve known him in childhood–is gazing at me thoughtfully. No, not at me–through me. For one ridiculous moment I find myself wondering if he can see the inside of my brain, the panic of thoughts rushing through it, if he’s standing inside of it and letting it flow around him like a current. Then he changes. His face softens, like someone who’s just realized all their yelling is probably scaring the children in the vicinity, and I think for a moment that he might smile.

“Long drive, you must be tired,” he says gently.

“Exhausted,” I reply, “I think I’ve been hallucinating since Idaho.”

Jasper nods, oddly serene. “My shift ends in fifteen. If you hang out for a little bit I’ll drive you home.”

It’s a tempting offer, but something about the prospect of getting into a car with him, however short the drive may be, activates some kind of winged beast in me that beats against my ribcage in protest. “I’ve spent so much time in the car lately, I’d rather walk. Thank you, though.”

Jasper, again, nods his understanding. “Hang out anyway? For old times’ sake?”

“Why are you trying to keep me here?” I ask, trying halfheartedly to stifle the note of suspicion that threatens my speech. Jasper shrugs.

“I blew it the last time, and you never came back. I don’t like to repeat my mistakes.”

#writers on tumblr #original writing #tagging this feels so uncomfortable for some reason #like tags on tumblr are for talking shit not promoting your work #anyway i hope you enjoy #spoilers this is gonna be a one man situation don’t be mad #highway hypnosis

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fandom-go-round · 11 months

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Yesssss okay, then, if it fits this months theme enough, may I please request something with Alcina Dimitrescu x siren reader with breathe play/underwater sex?

Warnings: Sex, Underwater Sex, Breathe Play, Mermaid/Siren Reader, Monster x Monster Story, Smoking, Implied Blood Kink, Implied Pain Kink

Alcina loves it when you sing. She only asks you to sing occasionally, usually when she’s stressed or in a bad mood. You’re always happy to serenade her, half out of the water as she begins to relax. This is your private spot, away from the pressures of the village and her daughters. You don’t know everything, having to return to the sea often but here the two of you can just be together.

The change of song makes Alcnia open one eye, making you grin. Your sharp teeth scared most but no her, the countess chuckling and taking another drag of her cigarette. The calming tune from before begins to turn into something else, a cross between cooing and beckoning. If she were human, she would already be mesmerized and heading towards the water. Your lover is more powerful than any human but she moves closer, blowing smoke around your face.

Slowly you lure her into the water; Alcina only goes where she wishes and you trying to catch her is cute. You help her slide off her clothes, placing open mouthed kisses and little nips at the exposed skin. Her own hands reach for you back, giving a pinch to your nipple that makes you gasp.

“You must be brave, my dear, to attempt something like this.” Her voice is teasing but her eyes are full of promise; she expects you to please her. You hum back, tail fanning out behind you and catching her eye.

“Of course, I would never disappoint you.” She laughs at your words, tugging on your hair gently so you rise to look at her.

“See that you don’t.” Alcina kisses you after she speaks, both of you leaning as close as you can. You’re still singing, something old and ancient and deep from the oceans. Alcina follows you into the water, gasping against your mouth as you bring her under.

The water is cold but not too much. You give her a moment to collect herself before kissing down her body, her fingers digging into your shoulders. She’s taller than you and could easily overpower you but she doesn’t, letting you take the lead. She can hold her breathe longer than a human but, eventually, even she’ll have to breathe.

You make your way quickly between her legs, holding them over your shoulders as you kiss her thighs. She heals too quickly for you to suck bruises but you try anyway, groaning at the way she claws at your back. A sharp tug on your hair has you looking up, her cheeks flushed but eyes bright. You grin, moving to begin licking against her.

It’s easy to lose track of time between her legs. You alternate from sucking on her clit and pushing your tongue inside of her, encouraging her to wrap her thighs around your face. You’re bobbing your head up and down, tongue flat against her clit when the water shifts. Your eyes half open and you see Alcina trying to push herself towards the surface.

With one flick of your tail the two of you are rising, her head breaching the water. Moans and gasps fill the air, her hair plastered to the back of her neck. You watch through the water as her back arches and her nipples harden. You hum against her clit and she jerks, nails cutting into your back. The two of you meet eyes and she moans, pushing your head back down.

“Keep going, I’m close.” You give a nod, dragging her back under the water. Alcina groans one last time before she closes her mouth. She loves this, having to hold her breath as you go down on her. She very rarely lets you hold her neck but this works just as well. Without a word you begin to flick her clit, letting her squeeze you tighter. Better get her off before she needed to breathe again, you can’t leave your Lady waiting after all.

#resident evil imagine #alcina dimitriscu x reader #alcina dimitrescu #alcina dimitriscu imagine #resident evil x reader #resident evil #alcina x reader #re8 x reader #mermaid au #mermay #lady dimitrescu #lady dimitrescu x reader

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pretty-niche-writings · 2 years

Text

1-A girls general dating HCs with a short and shy reader

Content Warnings: Just fluff!

Fandom: My Hero Academia

Requested by: Anon

Author's note: This took way more than it should, seriously. The original ask requested the SFW with the NSFW ones but I decided to split it into two works. I'm pretty pleased with this one, just the punctuation I think I screwed up but that's something I'll learn properly overtime. I hope you enjoy!

Uraraka Ochako

👩‍🚀🐿 You can be sure she adores being with you out on the street, letting everyone see the absolute adorable S/O she had the pleasure of meeting. Everyone else on the street might be more focused on the adorable ball of fluff that is Uravity, but she herself can't keep her eyes out of you.

👩‍🚀🐿 Don't let her appearance fool you though, she is extremely protective, not letting a single situation harm or stress you too much. Normally a statement from her saying she would like the journalists to not overwhelm you or to not put you in a tough situation is enough to make the paparazzi behave, but every once in a while she has to let her angry side out, and you would not believe how much of a ruckus she can cause when she is motivated to do so.

👩‍🚀🐿 Uraraka absolutely loves being taller than you, since that means she can be the big spoon with no shame on it whatsoever! Sometimes you might even feel more like a teddy bear of a scared kid rather than her S/O because she holds you with a grip that could rival the ones she gives villains. Seriously if you need to go grab some water or go to the bathroom, do so before she falls asleep because you're not getting out before she is awake. And you would not wake her up, would you?

👩‍🚀🐿 No matter their size or weight, Uraraka could lift anyone up easily, but when it comes to you she is delighted in knowing she can do so without using her quirk.

👩‍🚀🐿 She really feels like a classic hero you would see on the first wave of the hero association, she holds you tight against her, feeling that she truly found the one she loved, she truly found her perf- and she squeezed you too tight! She really needs to work on that, cuddling really becomes a whole situation since she learned a bit too well from Gunhead.

👩‍🚀🐿 She is quite short herself, so people came up with all sorts of nicknames for you two, all of them being so great that she can't decide which one she likes more. Even if you're shy, she can't help but want to talk about you whenever she can, gushing on and on as she says each and every little detail she adores about you. Even if she says you're the cutest thing in the world in these speeches, whenever you see her going red when she realizes she spent minutes rambling about you during the interview, you start to think she is stealing your line.

👩‍🚀🐿 PDA with her is a must! Especially when she is feeling nervous about a situation. With her years of experience in the field, she can sense when a situation is escalating into something she might need to intervene in, and in those moments she will get really close to you. If she does that to make you feel or herself feel protected in something only she knows.

👩‍🚀🐿 But whatever the case is, she might be breaking records on how fast a hero can resolve a situation with supervillains. No one will ever take more than 5 minutes of her dates with you, no one!

Toru Hagakure

🧤🤍 Toru is energetic almost all of the time, but when she is with you she becomes quite binary. She is either skipping down the street with you from how much she is enjoying going out with you, or she is cuddling with you for hours in the same location.

🧤🤍 But the constant is that she is a big fan of physical contact. Naturally, eye contact isn't something she can do to show her affection, so she has to double her efforts to make you feel her presence near you.

🧤🤍 PDA isn't a problem to her at all, she will hug and kiss you no matter where you two are.

🧤🤍 Toru is definitely your biggest fan, she is extremely proud to have you by her side and being able to know you love her just as much as she loves you.

🧤🤍 With Toru you will have to get out of your shell, she is extremely extroverted and she is always going out to big events and you're invited to every single one. As she likes to joke, no one can see her pretty face, so she likes you because you fill the entire quota of beauty of the relationship by yourself.

🧤🤍 Despite that, she won't force you to attend anything you don't want to go to. She would like to show you off to everyone, but she won't do anything to make you uncomfortable. Once again, she will say that because she is your girlfriend, her smile is ten times brighter even if you're there at the event with her. Toru will get mad if you question how that works.

🧤🤍 She will want to see how her clothes look on you, so having you being shorter than her means more options in her closet open themselves up for you two to experiment with.

🧤🤍 For that same reason, your favorite style of clothing will influence the way she dresses. She is always combining with you, even if her clothes would fit her just as well even if she was alone.

🧤🤍 She would help you pick your clothes and would like you to do the same since how she dresses is something very important to her. Expect to have shop clerks at her favorite clothing shops greeting you by your first name after a while.

🧤🤍 Cuddling with her is something common, but it is never an easy endeavor. Not because she avoids being with you as she rests, but because she can't stay put when laying with you, she just has to play with your hair, kiss your arm, not to mention all the readjusting she does. It doesn't matter if you two only have 2 minutes to lay on the couch, she will move around almost constantly, good luck trying to snooze.

🧤🤍 She insists on cuddling, she adores it, but touching you trumps the importance of actually resting a dozen times over.

🧤🤍 Since you can't see her, the question of what position she actually sleeps in will remain a mystery forever more.

Momo Yaoyorozu

📐❤ She is already taller than most, so near her, you will look even shorter, and considering she will mostly take the lead in most situations because of her role as a leader in most team-ups, her presence will be a lot more attention-grabbing than yours, but if you're shy that won't be a problem. But that doesn't mean that's the only way you'll be interacting with her.

📐❤ On one side of the coin, you have Creati organizing team tactics with her fellow pro-heroes with a loud and clear voice, on the other you have your Momo whispering gentle nothings in your ear at the end of a long day. She needs to recharge, she can't be Creati all the time, at one point or another she needs to be herself again, and what better way to do that than with you? When you spend more time with her, you'll realize she isn't that different than you at all, her demeanor and attitude are oceans away from what the public sees.

📐❤ When you decide to go out with her to more social events, she always becomes overjoyed, calling multiple professionals to choose or even design clothing that's not matching, but compliments one another. It's at these moments that you need to remind her you two are only going to have dinner with a few friends. But on one hand, she is right, be it at the local restaurant or at the fanciest gala, a lot of attention will be directed at the two of you. Momo is a very private person, most people not even knowing she is with someone, because they don't need to be informed of that at all. Paparazzi are a nuisance, but a few reflective surfaces that mess with the flash of their cameras are super effective and don't consume a lot of fat at all!

📐❤ But she gets really annoyed when she can finally go out with you and someone tips off those reporters. She just wants to be herself when off the clock, not a famous pro-hero. But at the end of the day, it's all worth it, simply because you were there with her. She is quite sentimental, so expect her to treasure pictures of the two of you more than any official picture with important figures.

📐❤ Cuddling is complicated, you both enjoy being the little spoon, meaning that you will have to switch every so often when she feels like being hugged.

📐❤ At some point, she tried drafting a system for who can be the little spoon, taking into account how long each cuddle session lasted, the day of the week, and all sorts of variables. Momo will be quite excited when she's explaining it, colored graphs and all, but someone has to tell her it's a bad idea. And unfortunately, that person is you (those puppy eyes hit harder than any stale slide transition she decided to use).

📐❤ So in the end, as it's often the case, the simplest way works the best, do what feels natural at the moment, and ask if you want to switch.

Tsuyu Asui

🐸🌧 The best short couple in town! Oh, not quite, not quite. Don't get me wrong, most people will think that, but Tsuyu is quite taller than she appears, she is always hunched over because that's the most comfortable position to be in most of the time thanks to her quirk. She is quite tall, but only close friends will know that in general.

🐸🌧 But one thing is for sure, handholding is always amazing with her. Her hands can easily cover yours, so on hot days, you will have a cool hand to protect yours from the heat, while she has a warm hand protecting her from the cold of the chillier months, teamwork!

🐸🌧 Tsuyu doesn't see the need to talk that much, she only does so when she feels like she has to. So out of the blue expects some L-Bombs thrown your way, because that is something important that is worth saying every day. But most of the time, she is content with hearing you talk, adding her thoughts every so often.

🐸🌧 Most people think she is introverted, and that's not completely true. Most of her attention is focused on the people around her, she just doesn't see the need to interfere with what's already happening if she doesn't have to.

🐸🌧 But that means that she will speak up when she sees something wrong. And when things go really wrong, she will jump into action, so sometimes you'll have to return from a date alone. Tsuyu is very perceptive, so even as she is being Froppy, she is already thinking of the best day to have another date to make up for this one. Not just because she doesn't want you to feel that she doesn't value the relationship she has with you, but because she won't let some villain ruin such a lovely outing you two were having.

🐸🌧 Tsuyu has many titles, The rainy season hero, The best big sis in the world, the worst big sis in the world (Only when she is scolding her siblings at least), the best cook, Fruit-Jelly lover, and so many more. But you can also know her as the queen of cuddling. It is impossible to describe it, but when she cuddles you, a sense of pure peace overwhelms you. It may be because of her cool touch or because of how her arms can hug you so firmly and softly, but in the end, it's because of the feelings you two share. But there is a downside, it doesn't matter how long you two cuddle, it always seems to go by so fast (Mostly because you two end up falling asleep).

Mina Ashido

🥳💕 Ah yes, the relationship that is the embodiment of opposites attract. Being quite short herself, one might think that Mina isn't attention-grabbing when she is walking around with you, but you can expect her to be brightening the entire country with that smile only you can get her to show the world. Oh, also because she is a famous hero who is very identifiable even without her costume. There's that too.

🥳💕 Like most other heroes, Mina has to deal with paparazzi as well, but she doesn't dislike them, she is always excited to take some photos and talk about her day for a second or two. Ironically, because she is like that you won't have to worry about being overwhelmed, all the attention will be around the endless scoops Pinky will be giving them nonchalantly, so it's a good time to finish any snacks you were having or take a small peek at what's happening on your timeline while she is occupied.

🥳💕 When she has fulfilled one of the parts of her job, she'll come right back to you and return to the conversation as if nothing happened.

🥳💕 If you're shorter than her you are the perfect height to rest your head on her shoulder, and since she is taller than you she is the perfect height to rest her chin on top of your head, as Mina would say, perfect team synergy for a lazy afternoon.

🥳💕 Not that you will have much of those with Mina around, she always has plans and loads of energy to spend goofing around. If you prefer she can think of activities that don't include many people around, but with her, you will have to get a bit more comfortable out of your shell. Games of all sorts are on the table, from video games to tabletop ones, she loves them all. You're as likely to hear her calling you to fly some kites as hearing her calling you to help her show some noobs who is the Alien Queen.

🥳💕 But at the end of the day, this acidic pink battery of energy isn't as endless as it feels sometimes, at one point or another she will lie down on the couch and enter a state in-between sleeping and not being able to sleep. And in these moments you can be her hero! Even the amazing Pinky needs aid from her favorite partner and her trusty power-ups! She always prepares some milk, yogurt, or nuts in the fridge for situations like these, so be fast and save her from being exhausted for the rest of the week! When you give her the best refreshing treats eveeeer, she will finally be able to sleep. Well, as soon as you lay near her of course.

🥳💕 Speaking of treats, Mina loves yogurts, milk/soy milk-based desserts, and nuts. They always feel so tingly on her tongue and she swears they are always exploding her mind with flavor. She insists on sharing, but to her shock, you never taste the amazing flavor she claims the sweet to have. This probably comes from Mina's quirk making her whole body more acidic, meaning balancing it out with high Ph foods just feels right.

🥳💕 Now, believe me, you're no villain and even if you were Mina would never fight you, but when she cuddles, you swear she is trying to immobilize you. She snakes her arms and legs around you and holds you tight, just enjoying the moment. It never hurts or gets uncomfortably tight, but you will either have to help her wake up or get up and take a sleepy koala Alien on your back to the bedroom with you.

🥳💕 Speaking of tight, if you ever decide to wear her hero suit or official Pinky's camouflage pattern merch she will melt! Not literally, she has quite the control over her quirk... But that doesn't mean she has much control over her mouth, so expect a loud squeal of excitement as she comes running to check your dope fit out.

Kyoka Jiro

🎸💜 The true introvert of the graduated girls of class 1-A, she would rather spend the whole weekend silently relaxing by your side than any sort of crazy hijinks the world has to offer. You're more likely to be the one trying to get her out of her blanket fortress than the other way around. She always seems content with experiencing new things in the comfort of her home.

🎸💜 And new things are always on the table, new shows, movies, books, instruments, recipes and so many things that she comes up with the idea to try. Aside from playing music, she isn't that great at those other things, but she always has a blast messing around with you in a comfortable space.

🎸💜 She shows her affection with small acts of service. She makes more food than she needs so you can have some, she sometimes does some of your chores at home, she will learn songs you like to play them to you, and she will make you feel special without needing to say a single word. But she has a very low battery charge when she isn't having a sudden burst of infinite energy, so you need to repay the favors or you will have a very grumpy Earphone Jack sleeping for the entirety of her weekend. The best you can do is get her earmuffs and hold her hand while she is going to sleep. Most of the time she goes to sleep in the morning or in the afternoon, so she doesn't mind if you don't go to bed with her, just being around is enough.

🎸💜 But not every day you two can be in the peaceful silence of your home, sometimes she has to go to some event or meeting and she will need her S/O to be the best hero she can be. She doesn't get nervous about having multiple people staring at her, she is a famous pro-hero, and she can take the heat. But it's tiresome. In between these moments, she comes to you and sits next to you, just silently tuning out her surroundings. If she is feeling touch starved she will make use of her earphone jacks to hold you close to her, just like you would see in any corny old romance movie, but it is a perfect opportunity for you to take the lead and plug the end of her earlobe into your phone to play her some tunes.

🎸💜 If Jirou had to choose a favorite place to spend her dates, the winner will definitely be an old and unpopular bar near your favorite date spot. It's just perfect, the atmosphere is rich with inspiration for her to take in for her next song, but at the same time it's not so overpowering that she loses your presence in front of her. Plus, being able to play some classic bar games is always a plus in her book, just don't take it personally when she wins over and over again.

🎸💜 Just like you, Jirou is quite short, she never really minded it though, but she admits that being the one to make "short" jokes towards someone shorter than her is a nice change of pace, even if the difference isn't that pronounced.

🎸💜 But she does use platform boots. They fit her style perfectly, and that's the most important thing footwear can offer her! Well, every so often she has to get a new one since the shoe's sole gets turned into ribbons from when she brings them to work to have something to protect her feet from being scraped on the ground when she produces a massive Shockwave, but other than that small detail... completely aesthetic!

🎸💜 You two have a step ladder to reach the things on the highest shelves, but you do have to wonder why she uses it as well when she has two appendages that can stretch all the way up there and back, and can carry moderately heavy stuff.

🤍 Rules 🤍

💛 Masterlist 💛 Not done yet

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