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georgiapeach30513 · 9 months

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Much Too Fast, Part 1

Summary: Spotting Curtis Everett broke down on the side of the road, you just had to pick him up. Didn’t you?

Pairings: Curtis Everett X Reader

Rating: explicit

Warnings: explicit language, explicit sexual content, hitchhiking, drinking, PIV sex, dry humping, fingering, squirting, mentions of oral sex, early indications of a D/s relationship, cheating (?), 18+ ONLY

Word Count: 5K

Series Masterlist

A/N: this is 100% one of @tis-thedamn-season brain. Not going to lie...I love it!

*dividers created by @firefly-graphics

Looking at the clock in your car you sigh. Getting closer to your destination every mile. Putting more and more space between you and the place you used to call home. This was the perfect opportunity to start a new life. You weren’t even running from anything, you just wanted to see more. Wanted to do more. Moving to a new state, a bigger city, and to a possible beautiful home.

There were still so many doubts. So many what if’s, but you were young. Your parents told you that you needed to take the chances you were given. Live life, and experience new things. More than the little podunk town on the opposite side of the United States. The east coast was going to give you more opportunities that is something you were sure of. That you were positive.

The current hope you had was to make it to your last hotel before the rain started. And then the last couple of hours to Boston. One more sleep, and you would be there. You needed to stay awake. Stay alert, and hope for the best.

Curtis on the other hand is annoyed. No service, and broke down on the side of the road. The rumble of thunder makes him even more irritated. He had just a few more hours on his mini road trip, and he would be home. And then this stupid old car broke down. He should have known better. A mechanic taking a stupid dumb car. Out in the middle of nowhere, with no fucking cell service.

He couldn’t even remember why he needed to take this trip every year. And in the predicament he’s in currently it just pisses him off. He leans on the hood of the car, hoping that someone will see him stranded. The chances were low. He knew he was probably going to be staying the night in the backseat. He was tired. He was agitated.

You squint your eyes in the distance, seeing a figure leaning onto a car. This is just like how every horror movie starts. But you feel the need to pull over. Slowing your Mini Cooper down, but staying on the road. It was a small two lane road, and you hadn’t seen a car on here for miles.

“Hey, uh…woah,” the man that approaches your car backs up quickly. “Sorry, I know this is going to sound lame and dumb, but you’re a young girl out here alone, and I don’t want you to feel that I’m trying to take advantage of you or chop you up for…this isn’t making you feel better is it?”

“No. Not at all,” what he was saying didn’t make you feel better, but how he was saying it did. “Are you having car trouble or do you normally just lean against your car hoping for someone to chop up?”

“Ah, you caught me,” he leans over, trying to get a good view of you, but still standing far enough away. “Although, my getaway car’s transmission went out. There’s no cell service here. Can’t even call my partner to come tow this damn car.”

“Your partner?” Curtis watches as your arm starts to relax a bit more. The grip on your steering wheel loosens up.

“Yeah, we own a garage together.”

“Imagine that, a mechanic with car trouble,” Curtis gives you a chuckle, stepping closer to your car. “Not much of a mechanic are you?” His arms rest on your open window, and against your better judgment, you still don’t tense up. “What are you doing out here?”

“I go on a road trip for about two weeks every year. I was almost home. Heading to Newton.”

“Me, too,” Curtis’ eyes drift up and down your front. He tries to make himself not look too much like a predator who had found its next prey, but you seriously were a gem. Out here all alone, in your tiny little car, loaded up with piles of shit. This car was too small for how much you had in here.

“Newton’s a few hours away, and it’s getting late.”

“Oh, I’ve got a hotel about twenty minutes up the road. Um…do you need a ride? I’m sure that they have a phone there. Seeing how there’s no service.”

“Uh, did your daddy not teach you not to pick up strangers?” Of course he did, but somehow this handsome stranger was making you feel comfortable.

“Should I be scared?”

“Of me? No, but isn’t that what a killer would tell you? I seriously mean you no harm, but I am questioning your judgment here. You got pepper spray or anything?” Nodding your head, you dig around in your cup holder holding it up. “Are you sure you’re comfortable with this?”

“You’re not making me feel better about this now. But the GPS does say the hotel is just up the road, less than an hour to go. Hand me your keys,” Curtis freely hands the car keys to you, and you stuff them in your doors pocket, unlocking the car, and letting Curtis clumsily get in.

Finally putting into perspective how long his legs are. Cramping them up, and sitting uncomfortably beside you. An adorable little giggle escapes your mouth, and he turns to glare at you, “You think this is funny? Why in the world do you have this tiny little car?”

“It’s adorable,” him squished up in the passenger seat was really adorable.

“It is useless for more than one person. Where are you driving from? Oh my god, how was this even comfortable? This is terrible. Please tell me this isn’t your only car. If my daughter ever asks for one of these it’s not just a no, it’s a hell no,” the fact he was already talking about a future daughter oddly makes you tremble. “What is the purpose of these cars?”

“Some of us don’t have legs that go on for days. You know, I didn’t even get your name?”

“It’s Curtis. And you are?” You quickly give him your name, and he shakes his head no, “You should be called Grace.”

“Why is that?”

“Because, you and this tiny little car are my saving Grace. Does she even get over fifty?”

“Yes. The bags of clothes in the back aren’t helping your space. Your seat isn’t as far back as it could be. Beggars can’t be choosers though. I’m from Washington state by the way. Why do you go on a road trip every year?”

Curtis is constantly adjusting his seating. Knees up higher than was normal, and pressing up against the dash of the car. Twenty minutes wasn’t a long drive. He could do this. “Uh, just to get away. Life can come at you fast. Mine didn’t exactly turn out the way I wanted it to. Without getting too into anything, I helped a friend out. We got ourselves stuck, drifted, and somehow remained friends, and we make it work. We have to.”

“I’m not going to ask.”

“Please don’t,” Curtis looks out his window, appearing as if something was bothering him, but you didn’t want to pry. If he wanted to tell you more he could. But you know he won’t. “So New England?” Finally he looks towards you, and you gulp. Gripping tighter to the steering wheel. Oddly trying to rub your thighs together. He was handsome. Too attractive.

“Yeah, sometimes you get tired of the same thing.”

“What’s a pretty girl like you, driving all the way out here for? I’m assuming you’ve got something lined up?” His deep blue eyes coast up and down your body, noticing every tiny movement in you make with a smirk. “Is there something wrong?”

“No. No, I uh — yeah, I’ve got something. Gotta meet with them, and would uh have a place to um…to live.”

“Hmm, you’re just breaking all kinds of rules, huh?” You glance back over to Curtis, and he was still eyeing you like his prey. His legs spread as much as they could, but in this tiny car, he couldn’t get the effect he was wanting. He didn’t have to try to make you want him. You wanted him.

“What?”

Curtis chuckles, wiping his thumb and middle fingers on the sides of his beard. You reach towards the air conditioner, turning it up. “You picked me up, and the way you’re talking…are they putting you up in a house?”

“Yeah. What…what do you do in Newton?” Something had to change. The topics had to go to something else besides you. It was getting more difficult to drive and pay attention.

“I told you, I’m a mechanic. Gotta garage with my buddy, Jax. We stay busy. Blue collar work. Beats the traveling bullshit. I don’t get it. Traveling for work. Traveling because you want a vacation. On your own.”

“Did you just get off a two week road trip?”

He turns to look at you, that devilish grin still there, “I like you.”

“Why?”

“Called me out on my own bullshit quickly. A lot of people won’t do that. They say I’m too argumentative. I’m not. I’m blunt, there’s a difference. Isn’t that the damn hotel?”

“Yeah,” you respond. Turning into the hotel and the gravel crunches under your tires, and you hate that this is it. Curtis was about to make a call, and get something worked out, and this would be it. You grab your backpack, and walk in with Curtis.

He allows you to check in before stepping up to the counter, “I need a room for the night.”

“I’m sorry, sir, we have no more vacancies.”

“There’s…can I just — I guess hang out in your lobby then. I gotta call someone in the morning to help with my car, and…”

“I’m sorry, sir, no loitering. Have a good evening,” she walks off, and goes back to her seat. Picking up her phone, and letting Curtis know that the conversation was over.

“Just my luck. Damn. Thanks, here let me get you some money. I’ll…hell, I don’t know, start walking.”

“It’s two in the morning,” biting at your lip, you know this is the most bizarre and ridiculous thing you have ever done. He was nice. He was hot as fuck. And you were terrified. Not of him, but of moving here. Moving away from what you knew and into the unknown. All the warnings you push back in your mind. You had made it this far, and he hadn’t killed you.

“I know, darling. I’ve been in worse places.”

“No, I mean…I’ve got a second bed,” Curtis cocks his brow up at you, and you slowly exhale. It was okay. You needed something random and fun tonight. Needed to get out of your head, and Curtis looked like just the man. And the worst he could say was no, and you would never see him again.

“Hey, it’s fine. You’ve done plenty for me, and I can’t thank you enough.”

“Then let me rephrase it; would you like to come up to my room for a drink? There’s a mini bar.”

“You’re testing fate?”

“I see a sexy man with nowhere else to go tonight. And I want a drink with him. There’s two beds,” he gives you a bow, and you start walking towards the elevators. Everything's in slow motion. Down to the roaming eyes of Curtis. Licking his lips as he stares at you, and you are quaking.

“C’mere,” he whispers when the elevator door closes, and you walk over to him. His thumb brushes over your cheek gently. Looking into your eyes as he traces your pouting lips, “You’re shaking. I won’t hurt you, and I won’t do anything you don’t want to do. There’s two beds, remember?”

“I want to use one.”

“Then breathe,” the ding of the elevator has his hand drifting down your front, and grabbing your hand. Starting to lead the way to the room. “Key?” You hand him the key, and take your final breath. You invited him.

The second the door closes, your hand glides up his chest, settling behind his neck, “No mini bar?”

“Oh, that’s right,” he sighs when you step away from him, going to the bar to get two small bottles of liquor, “Tito’s or Jack Daniels?”

“I’ll take my chances with Jack. Join me on the bed?” He plops down, and taps on the bed. Waiting on you to join him before lifting up his bottle, “To new beginnings.”

“To new beginnings,” you copy, drinking the vodka in one sip. The little bit of alcohol was giving you a bit more of a confidence boost. Looking up at him as you listen to him start to tell some story.

You lean more into him, trying to listen to his words, but it is just static. Curtis looks down at his lap, and his raspy voice moans. You check to see what he was staring at, and your hand is palming him over his jeans on it’s own accord, “Is this okay?” You ask him with a pout. Had you read all the signs wrong? He knew what you were talking about, right?

“I knew exactly where this was going when you asked me for a drink.”

“Oh,” you start to move your hand, but Curtis grabs yours with his own mitt sized hand. Placing it back over his swollen jeans, and starts your motions again. “I don’t normally do this.”

“Me neither. So lets for tonight, toss aside those pesky feelings telling us not to give into our primal needs as humans. We’ve both been checking each other out tonight, so let’s act on those needs. Okay?” You nod your head at him, adding a bit more pressure to your movement, “Why now?” He asks, groaning as he leans back on the bed. Watching you enjoy his hardening member.

“I don’t want to be the person I was in Washington. I want to have fun. Be spontaneous.”

“Mmm,” his hips start rocking into the air with your movements. When you start to undo his zippe, he tugs at your leg, guiding you to straddle him. His giant sized hands rub up your thighs and to your ass, coaxing you to start grinding on him.

“So picking up men on the side of the road isn’t a normal thing?”

“Nuh-uh,” you shake your head with a smirk. Getting more into the movements, and you pull off your shirt. Reaching behind you to undo your bra, you let it fall to the floor as Curtis starts groping your tits.

“Well isn’t today my lucky day?” Sitting up in bed, he pulls you closer to him. Peppering kisses along your jaw, and creating a trail all the way to your mouth, and you whimper into him. His length was right at your core, and he was throbbing. Just as needy as you. “You know what you’re doing.”

“Curtis,” you whine as your hips gyrate over him. Making a mess of his pants already. It had been awhile since you had sex. He had his thick fingers gripping the spears of your ass, and pressing you harder on him. “Do…do you…” you can hardly speak from the kisses he was continuing to assault you with.

“I always carry protection, don’t worry.”

“Curtis, you’re hard.”

“And you’re wet. What are you going to do about it?” He gives both your nipples a quick pinch, and your movements pick up. Riding on top of him like your life depended on it.

“I wanna come.”

“Just like this, little lady?”

“Uh huh,” biting at your lip, you pout at him as you move.

“Then make yourself come. Enjoy yourself. I’m not a little boy, I can hold off,” he lets out a guttural moan when you circle your hips over him. Guiding his hands to your tits, wanting him to play with you while you get off.

You are soaked, and so close. Right there. Hands on his shoulders as your desperately rub one out over him. Fire courses through your veins, and your movement stutters as the sweetest pleasure races through your veins.

“Thatta, girl,” reaching into his pocket, he pulls a packet out, and reads the expiration date, “Still good,” you crash your lips into his. Hands rubbing over him before pushing off his jacket, while he yanks your jeans open.

He flips you over onto the bed, and stands up. Watching as you struggle to tug your jeans off, but Curtis reaches towards them, yanking both the jeans and panties off at once, hissing when you spread your legs apart.

“Good fucking, girl,” he walks out of his jeans, his cock making his boxer briefs look uncomfortably crowded. He gives you a wink when he pulls his underwear down. A thick and heavy cock springs up, and you yip, your legs starting to close.

“You changing your mind already?”

“No,” you wanted him. Wanted this. But that cock was thick. Almost able to envision the severe stretch he was going to give you.

“You can take it. And if not, I can make it fit. We can stop any time, okay?” You nod your head, trying to steady your breathing, “I need your words. I need to know that you can stop me if you want to stop.”

“Yes. We can stop at any time,” Curtis pops the packet in his mouth, giving the foil a tear. His lithe fingers place the rubber on his tip, and he starts to roll it on. Pressing his knee on the bed, he gives your leg a jerk down the bed, before his wide body kneels between your thighs.

Spitting on his Hanford before roaming his fingers through your folds, “You are drenched. When did you first get wet?”

“Well…”

“It wouldn’t have been in the car, would it? I saw you moving your legs,” he pushes two fingers into your weeping cunt while his palm stimulates your clit, “Oh my god. What a tight little pussy we have here. You hear that?” He pumps his fingers into you more vigorously. Your wet heat was making the most vulgar and loud squelching sounds.

“You are a sloppy, little one. Did I make you that wet? Oh god, you need to be fucked good and hard, don’t you?”

“Yes, please,” you beg. It had been too long. Almost two years. One bad breakup had turned you away from men, but now he had you turning into a big slut. His cock forgotten as he tries to ruin you. Sex before was all about your boyfriend. Curtis wanted your pleasure first. “Please, Curtis.”

“She’s polite, too. Oh, fuck, she’s a juicy one. Mmm, I already feel you squeezing me. Come on. Uhh, come on,” his fingers curl, and he sets off at an earth shattering speed. You try to close your thighs when you can’t take anymore, but Curtis shoves them back apart. “Come on. Give it to me. When you come, I’ll fuck you. You can do it. Come for me. You're so close.”

Your hands grab onto the comforter, and you grit your teeth, not wanting to be too loud. And when you squirt onto his thighs, he keeps pumping. “There ya go! There’s a good fucking girl. Just like that.”

“Oh fuck.’

“That’s what I’m going to do,” getting closer to you, he slaps his cock over your clit, “You still want this?”

“Yes, please.”

“She is well behaved,” your mouth goes slack as Curtis pushes through your entrance. Slowly splitting you open as you whimper. “Holy shit. My god, you’re a tight little thing.”

“Don’t stop,” you plead as he slows his motion. “All the way, please,” Curtis continues his journey into your body. Not stopping until he slides all the way in. You lift off the bed, staring at where the two of you connect. “What are you doing?”

“I’m giving your cunt a moment to stretch, little lady. You okay?” You furrow your brows, biting your lip as you nod. “You never had a big dick like this?”

“It’s like a fucking traffic cone,” Curtis’ eyes close as he chuckles at you.

“A traffic cone?”

“It’s so much bigger at the base. How…how did you get it in there?”

“And looka here,” his hand rubs over a bump on your stomach, “You feel me all the way in your belly, huh? That right there is where I’m at. So you want this traffic cone to fuck you?”

“My god, yes!”

“Mmm,” his hands rub up and down your thighs. Giving the tops of your legs the sweetest little tickles before sliding to the backside of your knees. Lifting your legs before slamming them on the bed beside your body. Keeping you good and spread so he can watch himself spear into you.

His thrusts are slow and deliberate. Drawing himself all the way out before plunging back in. Your hands hold onto his wrists, and you make the most beautiful desperate sounds. Scratching down his forearms when he picks up his speed. It felt as if he was pounding his entire weight into you. Bouncing you further up the bed.

He would love to see you riding his cock, but your pitiful little whimpers and whines of his name have him addicted. You are reactive. He gets to see your tits rock with the pounds into you. He didn’t do this shit. And after the year he had, it was what he needed. He needed this warmth. He hadn’t felt more alone and all while he was with someone, and you were just what he needed.

He hadn’t felt this wanted in a while. Sex was treated as more of a chore. Not this desperate need to get off. It hadn’t been exciting. It was predictable. It was when she needed it. But you are receiving every bit of him. With the way you are pouting at him, and keeping your eyes only on him, he knows he could have you doing whatever he wanted you to.

Completely into a submissive role, and you didn’t even know him. “Curtis!” Your whispered screams are giving him life. The walls of your cunt flutter around him making him completely weak. He wanted to keep you around. Newton wasn’t too big. But just one night was never going to be enough.

“Curtis!” Whining out his name as your head tilts back.

“You keep…keep squeezing me like that, and I’m not — not going to last,” he pants out. He had never felt someone react like this. “Let go, little darling. Let go for me.”

Your pussy quivers, and legs tremble as the hardest orgasm he has ever witnessed from a woman flows through your body. You clench around him, and his forehead collapses on your shoulder. Letting your pussy milk him dry. Hugging every part of him perfect, convulsing around him so hard that he didn’t have to fuck you. Your walls make sure every drip of his spend fills up the condom, and he can only deeply breathe on you.

“That. Was. Incredible. You breathing?”

“Barely,” you choke out. “How many condoms do you have?”

“Sorry. I just got the one. Whew,” he sits back up in the bed, and slowly pulls out of you. Your cream coated his length so thickly. “My god. Oh my god. I didn’t want to leave you.”

Leaving your legs spread, your eyes start to drift closed. He figures you have been driving for a long time. You look so peaceful, comfortable. Letting your gaping hole be fully visible for him to gaze at. When he starts to lay on the other bed, you jolt up, “Sleep in this bed.”

“There’s two beds.”

“Then we’ll sleep in that one. This one is messy,” Curtis shakes his head with a smile. Pulling the blankets down in the other bed before picking you up bridal style.

“Fine, you twisted my arm. I need you to have at least panties on. Where’s a clean pair?”

“Backpack,” he pulls on his own underwear before bringing your backpack over to you. “Where are you going?”

“You need water. Panties. Then sleep.”

“Okay,” you even shimmy your shoulders. It didn’t take much to make you happy. He definitely wanted to see you again. Maybe start from the beginning and take you out on a date. Spend some time together before he tells you about his complicated life. But for tonight, he was just going to lay down beside you.

Sending a text to Jax, he crawls in the bed with you. He didn’t know why you are so comfortable, but holding a soft woman for the night isn’t something he was going to complain about. He was just going to let you sleep. Rest. Tomorrow was a new day.

Pulling into the beautiful home, you crumple up that piece of paper, and toss it into the floorboard. You knew it was too good to be true, and are slightly annoyed for getting your hopes up. He was a man that you picked up on the side of the road, and had the best sex of your life. Curtis was generous enough to leave his number on the pad of paper at the hotel, but you woke up alone. Nothing was stolen, so you are thankful for that, and that you are still alive.

And now it was back to the reason why you were here. A ridiculously large house, and what waits inside. They had to be rich. A well dressed woman, holding a baby, swings the door open wide. Her arm flails around as she waves to you, “Oh my gosh! I was so scared that you wouldn’t come, and you are early. Come on, please. Hey,” she gives you a strong handshake, and then makes her baby wave to you.

“Ah!! I’m so glad to finally meet you. I’m Tati, and this sweet, beautiful, perfect, and angelic little thing is Poet. But she will also go by Poe. Poe, can you say hey,” the baby babbles a bit, but a hey does come out. “So, I know this kind of a last minute thing. We gotta wait on my…husband. I’m having to fly out unexpectedly. Oh, but don’t think that you have to definitely take the job. My parents said they can help. He’s taking the day off. Uh, so first things first, if you say yes, you will have the pool house. It’s a fully functioning house. I don’t travel too often, but a fair amount. The times that I do, at night, her daddy will have her.”

“Dada,” Poet whispers. She giggles a bit before hiding her face on her mom’s shoulder. Slowly peeking over at you grinning, and you give her a sweet smile.

“Obviously the whole house you will have access to. Poet’s room is downstairs. Your background check is impeccable, you’re up to date with your immunizations, speak French. Honestly on paper you’re perfect, so I’m expecting you to have some flaws somewhere. Anyways, ahh! Sweet girl, guess who is here?” She looks out the window, smiling down at her adorable baby.

“Dada! Aye!”

“Yay!! Daddy is going to be with you all day today. How exciting!”

“Aye!” She claps her hands. Her mouth moving with no words. She was a daddy’s girl.

You turn towards the door with Tati, and your heart drops. In walks the sexiest man that you have ever met. The man that you could still feel all over you. The man that had left you early in the morning, leaving you alone. The man who was your possible employer’s husband.

“Curtis, I hate to do this. But I got called out at the last minute. You know. Anyways, thank you for taking the day off. I’ll be back in two days. If you decide you want the job, Curtis can give you all the lock codes. I left a list of Poe’s medicine’s and allergies on the fridge. Emergency numbers on the hall calendar. There’s a book with all the main contact numbers on it, but Curtis can show you everything else. Eeee!! I hope you decide to stay. Poe can’t quit looking at you. I think that she likes you. Anyways, bye my sweet angel. Ah, you’re such a saving grace. Thank you so much. Bye.”

She gives Curtis a kiss to his cheek before grabbing her suitcase by the door. Continuing to blow kisses to her baby as she walks out, and you and Curtis are left staring awkwardly at one another.

“Dadadadada.”

“I’m her daddy.”

“Mhmmm,” that much was obvious. What wasn’t obvious was that he was married as he was fucking into you last night. You even gave him in the middle of the night head, and he fingered you back to sleep.

“Oh, so we’re going to be like that now? I had you saying please all night last night.”

“Ugh,” this was a bad idea. Everything that could go wrong, did go wrong. Nothing was going to be different here. It was always going to be the same.

“Can you at least let me explain? You gotta. Look at this beautiful girl. Poet Isabella, can you tell Grace, please?”

“Peas,” she whispers, her chunky little legs kicking around.

“You can’t say no to that. When you said please, didn’t I listen?” He might have listened, but he left out that he was married. He was fucking married to your maybe employer. He was married, and he was inside of you.

“This…this is very different and you know,” he shrugs his shoulders. Walking over to a fenced in area, and he sits his daughter down. His eyes looking at her, completely ignoring you. “Fine. Explain.”

“What happened to those manners?” Oh, he was an asshole. You didn’t have to listen to this. Didn’t have to put up with this, and then he purposefully places his left hand where you can see it, and you sit down on the couch.

“Please, explain.”

“Thatta girl.”

Masterlist

Taglist: @tis-thedamn-season @marveloustaylortot @pono-pura-vida @sstan-hoe @missusbarnes-rogers @peaches1958 @seitmai @smile1318 @andydrysdalerogers @cjand10 @midnightramyeoncravings @donutloverxo @whiskeytangofoxtrot555 @bambamwolf87

#much too fast #mechanic au #mechanic!curtis everett #curtis everett #curtis everett x reader #curtis everett x fem!reader #curtis everett x y/n #curtis everett x you #curtis everett smut #curtis everett fic #curtis everett fics #curtis everett fanfiction #chris evans #chris evans characters #snowpiercer

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avatar-anna · 1 year

Note

hii so i wanted to know if you could do a frat boy harry who’s a hockey player and reader who’s a figure skater. and it’s like enemies to lovers type of thing like rivals.

idk how to feel about this one...but here you go!

Part 2

You positioned your arms in the correct position, taking some deep breaths before the music began. The opening chords sounded—a lilting, breathy harp—and when you were ready, you bent down gracefully, and started the routine you'd been perfecting for months.

Your skates glided across the ice, your body letting the music move you through each trick. Nothing else existed for the next two and a half minutes. Drowning out every single distraction was the only way to achieve perfection, in your mind.

The music finally stopped as you skated back to the center to land in your final position. Your breathing was heavy, but you tried your hardest not to let it show. The routine needed to appear effortless, and panting like you'd just run a marathon would give the opposite effect.

There was light applause from some of the other girls you skated with after you left the center of the rink, but otherwise it was still fairly quiet. That is, until Harry showed up.

“Oh, come on, Princess, you can do better than that!”

“Suck my dick, Harry!”

“I’d rather suck on something else, love, you know that. But only if you let me.”

You rolled your eyes, but didn’t look over at him once, knowing that would only give him more satisfaction.

Harry Styles was the captain of your school’s hockey team. He was the best goalie in the state, had an excellent record, had his pick of any NHL team from coast to coast, could even be selected for the Olympic team next year. He was one of the most popular guys at your school, students and professors alike wrapped around his finger, but to you he was just a cocky, arrogant son of a bitch.

You skated at the same university, but instead of holding a stick and getting into fights and shoving opponents against plexiglass, you performed. Your competitions weren't so barbaric. You were a figure skater, an excellent one at that. Not that anyone at your school really cared. If it wasn’t aired on the a big sports network, it wasn't worth talking about. It didn't matter that you were a world class figure skater, or that you were mastering tricks that only the best skaters in the world merely considered putting in their routines. It didn't matter that you'd won competition after competition. You weren’t praised for your flawless technique or your effortless grace the way that Harry was praised for blocking an impossible shot. Statistically speaking, you technically had a better record than Harry did as far as victories went, but as history has shown, boys always got more recognition.

It didn’t bother you that Harry and his teammates were more popular than you, that wasn’t your issue. The problem was that it went straight to their heads. They lorded their talent over everyone like they were God’s gift to humankind. It drove you insane, and the fact that you all practiced and trained at the same rink made it that much worse.

You skated back to the center of the rink again, more laser focused than ever now that you knew Harry was watching. The only good thing that came out of his assholish ways was that it drove you to work ten times harder. When the music started, you could feel his eyes watching your every move, but you let it fuel you. You didn't just achieve perfection, you were perfection. And where you might have bobbled a landing last go around, this time you stuck it without a hitch.

“Yeah! That’s my girl!” Harry whistled, the sound of his hands clapping bouncing off the pretty much empty rink.

At that, you turned and glared at him, only to see him smiling and wiggling his eyebrows at you. Everything about him irritated you to the highest degree, from the self-satisfied smirk to the way his dark curly hair fanned out beneath his backward baseball cap, the one that rarely left his head unless he was wearing his goalie helmet. The most annoying thing about him was how cute he was. If he wasn’t such a dick you actually might be interested.

Before you could reply with a snide remark, your coach walked over to where Harry was pressed up against the rim of the rink. “Stop distracting my skaters, Styles!”

“Sorry, Coach,” Harry called, but he didn’t look apologetic in the slightest. Winking at you, he walked off, taking his hat off for a moment to run a hand through his hair before putting it back on again.

Shaking Harry off, you finished the rest of your training in peace. It went pretty quick, which was why Harry was there in the first place. Once you and your friends got out of your skates and changed into regular clothes in the locker room, you were all on your way to the parking lot.

“I swear he’s into you or something,” Kate, one of your best friend said when she saw Harry waiting by your car, a couple of his friends/teammates with him.

“As he should, but it’s never gonna happen,” you said.

Kate nudged you. “Why? I mean he’s annoying as fuck, but he’s the hottest guy at our school. And I’ve heard he’s, like, you know, good in bed.”

“Ugh, not you too, Kate,” you groaned, though you weren’t all that surprised she was playing devil’s advocate. She went to the dark side a few months ago when one of the other boys on the hockey team asked her to to some fraternity dance and had been together ever since. “And for the record, no one our age is actually ‘good.’ According to my sister, it takes years of practice.”

“If you’re worried I don’t have any experience, you shouldn't. I have plenty of it, Princess.”

You rolled your eyes. “Your hand doesn’t count as experience, Harry,” you said, walking past him and his friends to put your things in the trunk of your car.

His friends all laughed and pushed him around, but you ignored all of it, waiting for them all to leave. From your vantage point, you saw Kate walk over to Harry and her boyfriend Zayn. She went over and gave him a hug, but you stayed where you were, not looking Harry in the eye.

“There’s a party tonight,” Zayn said to you and Kate. “You guys should come.”

Before you could say no, Kate spoke first. “Yeah, we’ll definitely be there.” After telling you that she’d be at your house to pick you up later, she and Zayn walked off, leaving you and Harry alone.

“I’m assuming you’re sticking around because you need a ride?” you asked, slowly inching forward.

Harry nodded, reaching his hand out to you. You took it reluctantly, letting him pull you closer. Once you were close enough, though, you couldn’t help yourself. You surged forward and kissed him, pressing your body against his. Harry was more than receptive, letting you take his baseball cap off and run your hands through his hair. His kiss set you on fire, and you hated how much you loved it.

“You have to stop doing that,” you said once Harry’s lips attached to your neck. You almost couldn’t get the words out because he knew exactly which spots made your breath hitch, but you managed.

“I thought we were supposed to be keeping up appearances,” he panted, speaking the words into your skin. “You’re the one who doesn’t want anyone to know we’re dating.”

“We’re not dating.” Your response was immediate. You expected Harry to stop his attack on your neck, but he didn’t. In fact, you felt him grin against you.

“Sure, whatever you say.”

Screwing around with Harry was not something you expected. He was cocky and got on your nerves constantly. But he flirted with you just as often, and one day it just got to you. You dragged him into a closet at a party, and you’d been secretly doing whatever you were doing ever since.

“No one finds out, got it?” you whispered, unbuttoning his shirt.

“Whatever you want, Princess. We done talking now?”

So you were a thing. Friends with benefits. But not really friends because outside of closed doors Harry still pissed you off to no end. Rivals with benefits? No, that didn't have the same ring to it.

It didn't really matter, though. Even giving that much thought to the situation at hand was too much.

Harry slid into the passenger seat of your car after throwing his gear in the trunk. Giving him a ride wasn't something you foresaw after that first night you spent with him, but he didn't own a car and didn't live with his friends, and after he mentioned nearly getting jumped at a bus station, you offered to drive him home. Harry was a thorn in your side, but you weren't heartless.

His hand settled comfortably on your knee as you pulled out of the parking lot, his thumb moving back and forth along the soft material of your sweatpants.

“Don’t,” you warned.

“Don’t what?” Harry asked, though you didn't even have to look over to know he was smirking at you.

“Last time you tried something in the car we almost crashed”

“That’s because your eyes were closed. I'm completely innocent,” Harry reasoned.

“You had your fingers—”

“Now, now, Princess. Stay calm before you nearly kill us again.”

You groaned in sheer annoyance. At Harry's childishness, at yourself for letting his immaturity get to you. He knew just how to push your buttons, and you absolutely despised him for it.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

“Stay with me tonight.”

“I already told Kate—”

“Tell her you’re sick,” Harry interrupted, kissing your bare shoulder. “You didn’t even want to go in the first place. Just stay here.”

You wouldn't lie, staying in Harry's bed sounded much more appealing than holding a plastic cup of stale beer and shouting over music to be heard. Parties were never really your thing, but it was something to do on the weekends, so you went. But now Harry was presenting another option, though it was one that wandered beyond the boundaries of your arrangement.

“Don’t you think people might get the wrong idea if both of us don't show up?” you asked. You felt like you needed a reason to say no, and this was the best one you could come up with.

“Everyone thinks we hate each other,” Harry replied. His voice was raspy and slow, the way it got when he was tired. You weren't sure when you started to recognize little details like that, but now you did. “Come on. My roommate is gone for the weekend. We'd have the whole place to ourselves.”

“We’d probably kill each other,” you mused, though the idea did spark something in you.

“Maybe.”

His voice was muffled as his lips dragged across your skin, leaving goosebumps in their wake. One hand moved your hair to the side so he had better access to the spot just below your ear while the other traced lazy circles on your hip. You were tired, utterly spent really, but the sensation of Harry’s skin and the occasional nip of his teeth was hard to ignore. You leaned into his touch almost involuntarily, humming as his hands continued to dip and stroke apply pressure in the places he knew were your most sensitive.

“What were you gonna do at that party anyway?” he said. “Pretend to have a good time? Talk to guys who think they have a chance with you when they don't?”

“Who says they don't?” you asked, though it was mostly to egg Harry on. You didn't miss the glares pointed in your direction whenever you talked to other guys at parties. There weren't any kind of rules that the two of you abided by, but both of you were well aware of the fact that you weren't seeing anyone else. And Harry would always let you know how he felt about you flirting with other guys when he finally got you alone.

You'd hoped that your remark would set Harry's jealousy aflame and make him remind you how wrong you actually were. It was the kind of cat and mouse game you played often, but instead of responding the way he normally did, Harry did the oddest thing. He let go of you completely.

“Fine then. Go and have fun at your party.”

You were inexplicably cold as Harry's arms released their hold on you and he shuffled towards the edge of the bed so he wasn't touching you.

Totally and utterly surprised, you laid still, unsure of what was going on. Finally, you said, “Really?”

Harry shrugged as he pulled a book from his nightstand and opened it up, completely nonplussed. “If you think that anyone at that stupid party is going to measure up to me, then by all means,” he said, gesturing towards the bedroom door with his book.

Without another word, he went back to reading, leaving you virtually alone with your thoughts.

Something stirred in you. Guilt didn't feel like the right word, but you felt...kind of bad for making Harry feel that way, and even worse now that he wasn't paying attention to you. It was ludicrous, seeing as he drove you insane and you hated him, but at the moment, all you wanted to do was crawl over to him and have his attention again. At the very least to have him finish what he'd started.

So, perhaps against your better judgement, you did.

“I’m sorry,” you said, squishing your cheek against his shoulder and spreading your hand across his torso.

By now you didn't even have to look at him to know which tattoos you were tracing, so you kept your eyes on his face as your fingers traveled from the butterfly on his stomach down to the fern leaves on his hips. Up, down, lower, grazing until you got a reaction from him.

“You’re gonna have to do a lot better than that,” he mumbled. His eyes were still on his book, but he had yet to turn a page, so you knew progress was being made.

You added kisses to the mix. All across his chest you kissed him, sucking a hickey right where his heart was. You could feel Harry's heart beat faster, but he still wouldn't look at you, which made your brows furrow with mild annoyance.

“Hmm. Now we're getting somewhere,” he said, a satisfied grin on his face, when your hand finally stopped teasing and got to work.

Still, it took another couple minutes of you practically groveling for him to finally look at you. His chest was flushed, but his face still remained as calm as ever. He'd hardly reacted at all to what you were doing, which made you want to please him that much more.

Pouting at him, you took the book out of his hands and chucked it across his bedroom, then placed one of his hands on you.

With one brow raised, Harry looked down at you. “You ready to behave?”

The logical part of your brain was saying this was madness. You hated how smug he was acting, how sure of himself he was. You were stroking his ego, and he was eating it up, something you never thought you would do voluntarily. But you wanted to, and you hated how much you loved it, loved having to work for it.

You nodded, leaning towards him. He would most likely never let you live this moment down, and you would have to exact some kind of revenge on him in the future, but all of that was far from your mind. The only thing you cared about was Harry's lips meeting your own as he pushed you back against the mattress, finally ready to give you both what you wanted.

#harry styles #harry styles blurb #harry styles x reader #harry styles imagine #harry styles fanfic #harry styles oneshot #harry styles fanfiction #harry styles x you #harry styles fluff #harry styles writing #harry styles one shot #harry styles fic

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chericarlisle · 8 months

Note

you come home for summer break from college and meet your dad’s best friend carlisle cullen for the first time at family dinner and mans is 🤤🥵😍

Just a Summer Thing || c.c

𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠: carlisle cullen x human female reader

(𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝)

𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭: 2.6k

𝐚/𝐧: i haven’t been on tumblr in about two years. y’all i literally couldn’t even navigate this new format of the app, so needless to say my writing is rusty and my formatting is shit. i’ve literally never seen some of these requests in my inbox until now i’m so sorry 😭

for the sake of this story we are just gonna pretend that carlisle doesn’t light up like a bottle of glitter in the sun.

For many, the most exciting part of graduating is the freedom that comes with the college experience; however, after almost a year of no privacy and very loud neighbors, you begin to miss home. Suddenly graduating high school is not the most exciting part, but rather it is coming back home from college for summer break.

Finals week had kicked everyone’s asses and after celebrating such a survival, many college students- yourself included- eagerly packed up their 290 sq ft. rooms to return to much larger ones.

You and your roommate, Mel, had helped each other pack up the first day that finals were over. Mel had become a pretty good friend over the past year, but she unfortunately had to live on the opposite coast. It seemed that things always worked out that way for you for just about anything.

Your parents had finally divorced when you were sixteen which sent one parent to the west coast and the other to the east. The same could be said about a package of jeans that you had ordered; each one coincidentally ended up on the opposite sides of the United States.

Since your mother was taking a sojourn around the world, you were going to stay with your dad in Forks for the summer. He had recently moved to the new city after receiving a job offer from the city’s barren hospital. The job came with great pay, but most importantly a wonderful modernist house resting on the eaves of the forest. The exact words being from the realtor who had so eagerly sold your father on the house. Despite the fact that the house was a lavish build in the middle of nowhere, it was only fair that your father finally lived happily. The man had been living in an unhappy marriage for so many years; it was something that you all could attest to.

You had stayed at his house a few times before in the fall and winter, yet you hoped that summer would vanish the melancholy atmosphere of Forks. If it wasn’t raining, then it was snowing and vice versa. It seemed that there was always something falling from the sky in Forks almost year-round.

Your hopes for a glowing summer at your father’s were assured when you arrived at his house surrounded by not a single cloud. It was about a six hour drive before you arrived in the town, and you noticed that the sun does in fact shine in Forks after all.

“(Y/n), you made it!” Your father came running out of the front door, although it was impossible to not notice him since more than half his house was made of glass.

You put the car in park and stepped out to meet the man in an embrace. His usual cologne was overpowered by the smell of the hospital disinfectant that lingered on his white lab coat. “Dad! It’s been too long.”

He nodded in agreement before offering to help you unload your car. The upside of living in a dorm room that was about the size of a large bathroom is that one can’t accumulate too many boxes. You popped the trunk to reveal about six medium sized boxes that consisted simply of clothes and dorm room decor.

Your dad chuckled at your down sizing, “That’s all you got, kiddo? Wow, college really has changed you! Where’s my girl that moved in with a gazillion boxes?”

“I could say the same about you, Dad. Living in this giant fishbowl and all, I would’ve thought that you’d have more furniture.” You jested at him as the two of you began to pick up the few boxes.

He set down a box and placed his hands on his hips, “Well how would you know that? You haven’t even stepped inside yet!”

Closing the trunk you jokingly shook your head, “Like I said, fishbowl.”

Your dad helped you unpack your meager amount of belongings. He made the bed with the new mattress while you hung up your clothing in the empty closet. Even though you had visited last year when he had first moved in, this house and its furniture still felt foreign. The newly constructed home aroma still lingered in the air.

“So Dad, how’s work?” Mindlessly rearranging the hangers, you decided to organize the closet for the second time.

“It’s going pretty well actually,” He smoothed out the plush comforter before continuing, “I’ve gotten close with some of the other doctors and I was actually thinking of inviting them and their families over tomorrow for a barbecue.”

You hummed a response while continuing to sort the hanging clothes, for you were not opposed to the idea of a barbecue. It had been so long since you’d had any good food that wasn’t from the dining halls.

“You know you were right, (y/n). The sun does actually shine in Forks!” Your dad chuckled once more before excusing himself to go make phone calls to his friends from the hospital.

—-

The next day, despite that there was a small chance for rain, Mother Nature held out and it seemed to be for the better. There would be plenty of time for rain in the months that occurred after August.

Your dad had opened up the pool because what’s a barbecue without a pool party? Slipping on a yellow sundress over a swimsuit, you went downstairs to help with the food preparation. The kitchen counters were covered in various packages of bread as well as hamburgers and hotdogs waiting to be grilled. Everyone was set to arrive around one o’clock, and it was currently two hours before then. The time crunch was apparent as your dad ran around the kitchen frantically trying to man the stovetop and the ovens. Between the combined work of both you and your dad, lunch was prepped right as the visitors began walking in.

Last night, your dad had told you that he was inviting a few coworkers and their families, but you had no idea that it would turn out to be so many people. The backyard was brimming with young kids running around the pool while their parents socialized over drinks in the vast plot of grass. While your dad grilled the main course for lunch, he had you welcome everyone at the front door. Most of them were doctors, but a few were nurses. Regardless, they all came with either spouses, kids, or both.

Except one doctor stood out very much, for he came alone. You were not only stunned by his lack of family, but also how perfectly styled his light blonde hair was. His hair somehow managed to contrast his flawless skin that seemed even paler. Not a single strand fell forward and covered his golden eyes that crinkled as he wore a polite smile. One hand sturdily held a case of beer, presumably for the party, while the other reached out to greet you.

“Hello, you must be (y/n). I’m Carlisle Cullen. Your dad talks about you a lot at the hospital.” The man squeezed your hand gently in a friendly manner before letting his own drop to the side.

“Wow, I just got here and I’ve already got a reputation. Hope he says good things about me.” You reached out to take the case of beer from him, but he insisted on carrying it himself like a gentleman. Most of the guests had just thrown their things at you, so this was a nice change of treatment.

“Only good things, of course.” He nodded.

You gestured Dr. Cullen to come inside and he followed behind you, waving to the couple of guests that were mingling indoors.

“So Dr. Cullen, are you the one who hired my dad? Your name sounds vaguely familiar.” The two of you were nearing the backyard, and your dad waved you both over through the screen door.

“Your father had an impressive resume and we desperately needed that kind of help around the hospital. And please, call me Carlisle.” He turned around to smile at you before making his way over to your dad who wore the grin of a five year old standing in a candy store. The two seemed to be talking a mile a minute as if they had not just seen each other at work. It was apparent that Dr. Cullen was your dad’s closest confidant in the hospital.

Sitting on one of the lounge chairs, you began to feel the rays of the sun harshly beaming down like a spotlight. The heat was becoming unbearable, so you slipped off the yellow sundress to reveal a teal bikini that was a gift from Mel. Everyone was either preoccupied with their friends or family and couldn’t have cared less, except one man who stood by your father at the grill.

Dr. Cullen, an untouched beer in hand, was walking over towards you. A smirk painted his lips, but you knew behind those sunglasses there was a playful glimmer in his eyes. Your father was so preoccupied with his role as grill master that he didn’t even notice that the doctor had walked off.

“Now, Dr. Cullen, why aren’t you out there socializing with your peers?” You playfully pulled down your sunglasses to peer at the man who had leisurely taken a seat on the lounge chair beside you.

“Well, Ms. (y/l/n), I see these people every day,” He gestures to the mass of people surrounding the yard, “but it’s not every day that I get to talk to you.”

You stifled a giggle at his poor attempt to flirt, “Do you get many girls with that line, Doc?”

He shook his head, laughing at his own poorly planned pick-up line. “Apparently, I’ve been out of practice for a while, sweetheart.”

Leaning the back of the lounge up, you turned to sit and face him. The chairs were positioned so closely that your knees hit his, yet neither of you moved. Barely leaning in, your lips ghosted against the shell of his ear. The smell of mint clouded your senses being so close to the man who was as still as a statue.

“We’ll see about that.” Breathlessly, the words left your lips as you leaned further to grab his untouched beer and take a confident swig.

You leaned back to see that his face was not shocked, but rather smug. If he had been stunned by your receptiveness, then it surely wasn’t obvious now as he seemed unphased. It was more obvious that a challenge had been accepted.

Just as he was about to continue the banter, your dad hurriedly ran over to the both of you. He was covered in one of those cheesy grilling aprons and desperately waving around the tongs in his hand. “Hey, would you guys mind grabbing some paper plates and cups? We ran out, but there should be some in the closet upstairs. I’ve got just about a million more burgers to cook.”

You looked at Dr. Cullen who just shrugged in return. Agreeing to help, you both stood and began to walk back to the house. Your father, pleased with the answer, ran off to continue to man the grill and the line that was beginning to form.

Dr. Cullen seemed to trail behind aimlessly, so you grabbed his hand without second thought. Once you were inside, you eagerly led him up the stairs and to the hallway where the closet was.

Just like everything else in this house, the hallway closet was unnecessarily elaborate in its design. It was no towel closet, but more like the size of a whole bathroom itself. You walked in once the barn door slid open and Dr. Cullen flicked on the lights.

For a man who lived by himself, your father stored a lot in the closet that would make you think he had a family of ten living with him. You scanned the endless shelves as did Dr. Cullen, but the plates and cups appeared on your side first.

“Found ‘em.” Of course the supplies had to be on the very top shelf which appeared to be closer to the sky than you. It wasn’t until you were on tippy toes trying to reach the items that you were aware of leaving your sundress downstairs by the pool.

And it wasn’t until Dr. Cullen stepped behind you, that you were aware of how chills racked your body.

“Need some help there?” A cold hand rested on your bare waist as you turned your head ever so slightly to be met with Dr. Cullen who tauntingly looked down at your lips. Without shame, he continued to admire your pillowy soft lips before you gave in.

Fruitless attempts to get the supplies were damned as you threw your arms around his neck to deepen the kiss. You pulled him down as he pulled you closer; neither of you wanting to let go. His one hand on your neck slid up to cup your jaw, slightly turning your head to expose your neck. For a brief moment, his lips disconnected from yours, but only to make their way further down. The man slowly moved his free hand from your waist to delicately brush your hair off your shoulder. His lips connected with your neck as he kissed a slow line down to your collarbone.

“God, Dr. Cullen,” You threaded your fingers through his hair as he mercilessly continued on, “You don’t seem that out of practice to me.”

For a split second he stopped his maneuvers only to correct you once more, “Please, call me Carlisle.”

So overcome with pleasure, his name breathlessly rolled off your lips and you only pulled yourself closer to him. Moving your hands from his hair, you began to blindly fiddle with the buttons on his shirt as he continued to nip at the sweet spot where your shoulder met your neck. His skilled fingers began to play with the strings of your bikini top that held it together.

He murmured while trying to slow his movements, “Sweetheart, I don’t think I can stop, but I don’t want to do this here.” His efforts to stop were becoming forgotten as he took in the sweet smell of your perfume that painted your skin and tempted him more. “You deserve something thoughtful, not a heated moment in a closet.”

You quickly pulled back and he seemed shocked, for he mistook your adoration for insult. His eyes scanned your face for any inkling of meaning before your lips reconnected with his in a hurried passion which instantly cleared his confusion.

Meanwhile, downstairs, your dad noticed the absence of paper plates and cups. He didn’t come to think of where you might have run off with them, but he instead took initiative to find them himself. Not a single thing could’ve prepared the man for the sight that he would see once he made it to the top of the stairs and down the hall.

Without a care in the world, your dad slid open the heavy barn door to not only find the missing supplies, but to also find his daughter pressed up against the shelves and lip locked to Dr. Cullen. The faint sound of someone uttering their shock caused you and Carlisle to separate. Your father stood in the doorway frozen in shock before Carlisle instinctively jumped in front of you to cover any indecencies.

After what felt like the longest minute of your life, your dad awkwardly cleared his throat before speaking. “I’ll uh just grab some paper plates next door.”

As your father scrambled off, Carlisle turned around to plant a kiss on your forehead, "Like I said, we can do this somewhere else."

a/n: i haven't posted on tumblr in so long this feels so weird 😭 please like and repost! REQUESTS ARE CLOSED (these are ones from years ago lol)

#carlisle x reader #carlisle cullen fanfiction #twilight carlisle #carlisle cullen x reader #carlisle cullen #twilight fanfiction #twilight

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coochiequeens · 3 months

Text

Rip Curl could just have had three brand ambassadors, one for the men's line, one for the women's line and a trans person for a body inclusive line. But no they did the lazy thing and fired the woman and have a man wearing women's clothes.

By Shay Woulahan January 28, 2024

An Australian brand that specializes in swimwear for surfers has come under fire after bringing on a trans-identified male as one of their “female” brand ambassadors. Rip Curl’s controversial move comes just months after the company dropped Bethany Hamilton, a shark attack victim, for voicing her opposition to trans-identified males competing in female sporting competitions.

Rip Curl cut ties with Hamilton in November 2023, despite her status as one of the most celebrated female surfers in Australia and abroad. The decision came after Hamilton publicly opposed gender ideology policies which permit males to compete against women.

Last February, Hamilton shared two videos to her Instagram account questioning October 2022 guidelines adopted by the World Surf League, in accordance with the International Surfing Association, which granted males who claim a transgender status permission to compete against female athletes.

“Is a hormone level an honest and accurate depiction that someone indeed is a male or female? Is it as simple as this?” she asked. In her follow up video, she questioned the policy again. “Am I just a hormone number? Is it as simple as that?”

In her reaction to the new guidelines, Hamilton had also threatened to boycott the World Surf League, and has been outspoken in support of fairness in women’s sports on social media since.

On January 24, Rip Curl posted a video on their women-focused Instagram page, Rip Curl Women, which featured Sasha Jane Lowerson, a trans-identified male surfer.

In the description of the video, Rip Curl described Lowerson, 44, as “a West Australian waterwoman who loves the freedom found in surfing, disconnecting from the mainstream, and the feeling of dancing on constantly changing waves.”

Seemingly anticipating a flood of negative responses, Rip Curl locked their Instagram comments in an effort to limit discussion on their new ambassador.

Lowerson competed successfully in men’s surfing competitions prior to identifying as a “woman.”

“With a commitment to maintaining a positive space for all, we have disabled our comments. Thank you for your understanding,” the sportswear company added.

Lowerson drew criticism in 2022 after taking first in both the Open Women’s Longboard and Open Women’s Logger events at the West Coast Suspensions state championships. Just three years prior to competing in the women’s category, Lowerson, competing under the name Ryan Egan, had taken a top position in the men’s category.

Lowerson had previously celebrated the updated guidelines by World Surf League in February 2023 which permits men to compete in women’s swimming competitions if they reduce their testosterone below a level known to be much higher than what women naturally produce on average.

In advance of the ruling, Lowerson had already been competing in women’s competitions. In March 2022, Lowerson placed ninth in the Noosa Festival of Surfing, becoming the first “trans woman” to compete in surfing at the professional level. Two months later, he placed first in the Open Women’s and Women’s Logger divisions at the Western Australian State Titles.

In an interview with THEM, a pro-trans publication, Lowerson said he began surfing many years ago but didn’t begin identifying as a woman until his 40s.

“I’ve been a professional longboard surfer for many years. And in that time, I hid in the closet basically. I tried to transition at 19 and again at 29. And now, in my early 40’s, I’ve been successful.”

Reacting to Lowerson being platformed by Rip Curl, many women online expressed anger that the brand would drop a disabled female surfer, only to then work with a male surfer who competes in female competitions.

Many women called for consumers to boycott the brand.

“Company @ripcurl hired a MAN to advertise their women’s line, rather than an amazing female athlete. Amazing. They hate women don’t they. Don’t buy anything from these people. #BoycottRipCurl,” one critic said on X.

“Imagine dropping an athlete that survived a shark attack and went onto be one of the best surfers in the world for a mentally ill Man competing in women’s surfing? Seriously Ripcurl? #BoycottRipCurl,” wrote another woman.

#BoycottRipCurl has been trending on X for the last two days as women continue to express their outrage.

Lowerson has made his Instagram account private following the backlash. However, Reduxx was able to obtain photos from the page showing Lowerson modeled sexually suggestive outfits with captions that related to his surfing career.

Since news of Lowerson’s partnership with Rip Curl first broke, female athletes have spoken out against the brand and in support of Hamilton.

Swimming Champion and activist for women’s sports Riley Gaines called out Rip Curl on X, encouraging her followers to boycott them.

In a follow-up post, Gaines stated: “Encouraging to see so many people reply that they’re throwing out their Rip Curl apparel and pledging not to buy from them again. I didn’t know people still wore Ripcurl anyways. RIP Rip Curl.”

Gaines has been outspoken against the inclusion of male athletes in female sports after she was forced to compete against Will “Lia” Thomas in the 200 freestyle final at the NCAA Women’s Championships in 2022. Gaines and Hamilton are expected to join forces to host a story hour for children on 2nd February in Springfield, Missouri to celebrate the launch of their new books, “Happy No Snakes Day” by Gaines and “Surfing Past Fear” by Hamilton. Trans activists are expected to protest the family event.

Skateboarder Taylor Silverman also chimed in to condem Rip Curl. Silverman has also been outspoken against males competing in female sports since voicing her own experience being displaced by males participating in women’s skateboarding.

Anyone else thinking that when this guy won his last event in a men's competition he saw a lot of younger competition and knew that his days surfing professionally was coming to an end unless he did something drastic?

"The 25- to 34-year-old age bracket is the largest, with 24 percent of the total surf population.

Surfing is dominated by youth – as 71 percent of the total surfing participants are in the 6- to 34-year-old age range.

In fact, 87 percent of all surfers are younger than 44 years old. "

A quick Google search confirms that "sasha" is 44.

#australia #BoycottRipCurl #Bethany Hamilton spoke the truth #World Surf League #International Surfing Association #Rip Curl Women now with Men #Sasha Jane Lowerson is another male who transitioned after a successful career in men's sports #Rip Curl locked their Instagram

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sgiandubh · 8 months

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Imma need an in-depth breakdown of Puff please! And I’m not being sarcastic either. Puff pre-dates my time in the outlander fandom.

Regards,

Your curious anon.

Dear Puffy Curious Anon,

If my cantankerous boss would have summoned me at 03:03 pm EEST (when your request landed in my inbox), just to tell me "Imma need an in-depth breakdown of the Greek trade unions' position on the current critical understaffing of the HoReCa sector", I would have politely answered "yes, ma'am, when is the deadline". I would have then turned on my heels, rolled my eyes, sworn like a drunk sailor under my breath (fuck my life comes to mind, pardon my French) and quickly be done with it.

You, bless your Anon heart, wrote: "Imma need an in-depth breakdown of Puff, please". Wee difference, Curious Anon: you are not my cantankerous boss. That being said, since the question has been asked by several people in the comment threads of the day's posts, I am gonna give you my two cents on Queen Pufflander, even if you've been around before I even knew this weird place existed. And hopefully put to rest this nonsense forever (wishful thinking, doubt it will happen).

Once upon a time, when S&C's bantering was the plat du jour on Twitter and this fandom a considerably less toxic place, Puff the Magic Dragon of the US East Coast was one of the Queen Bees of Shipperville. Her blog was witty and no-nonsense (if a tad verbose) and, as *urv, she quickly earned her fair share of side performers: Stella and Deep Throat (SOURCES) or the tarot reader(s) immediately come to mind. People loved Puff and that is only fair, to be honest: I bet the farm she was great fun. Little by little, information traded in DMs started to pile up in her famed Vault, from which she was generously sharing, from time to time, sibylline rants ("maybe they did or maybe they didn't, but don't worry, something happened and all shall soon be revealed"). I can critique that forever and a day and tell you that all this sent people's expectations up the roof and beyond, of course. But, again: I was not here. It is unfairly easy to judge all these things with a historian's eye, and people who lived to tell the tale are far more entitled than me to comment their fandom experience, circa 2015.

When the whole Shatner/Watchtower baliverne started (early 2016, if memory serves) things ugly escalated and rather quickly so. People started jumping ship. With McSideburns already in the house (EIFF comes to mind and a certain poignant S&C penguin picture, too), enter Flukenzie Floozy. Thus, after IFH, Puffy decided to pack her crystal ball & tent and move to greener pastures on Wordpress. There, she held court with a keen eye for the Byzantine politicking of this fandom, not unlike what Perfidious Albion did with regard to the Thirteen Rebelling Colonies, after that Boston Tea Party. Her main moments of intersection with the rest of the shipper community are Covfefe Pics (of course) and Remarkable Week-end (of course). With regard to Covfefe, she quickly cried wolf, but by the time Remarkable Week-end happened, she pulled off a mighty witty breakdown of The Nuptial Charade of the Century. Blaze of glory was Quarantein Ha-wa-wee (of course), when she blamed S for all the world's evils and then some more. After that, she concentrated on her Neverending Feud with *urv (a Private Investigator was, at some point, hired and paid for via crowdfunding), which somehow managed to end (nevertheless) with a Report she might or might not have sent to S, "for further consideration".

As all good prophets, Puffy finally went into Occultation circa 2021, not without warning us that she was torn between Gay Sam & SamCait intellectual traditions, with a wee penchant for the first (reason why I completely ditched her peddling, because IYKYK).

I can understand why people might think I could be Puffy. I am, however, very sure about my own identity, whereabouts and creed: to state the opposite would really, really be mental. I fully assumed my responsibility and went ahead to actually prove you, this morning, I wasn't. Reading her rants was useful, but also taxing. I doubt Stella and Deep Throat were anything else but narrative helpers in a sophisticated Greimas actantial model. Something I would never do, for example: I am confident enough not to need any crutches. And I am very, very sorry for this word vomit: it should come, perhaps, as solace its length could never compete with Puff's storytelling marathons.

To wash my sins (not really: because I really love that picture), here's S,C, a penguin and a cakebox (?), at EIFF 2015. This is, you can be certain, the purest thing on this page, Anon:

#Anon

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notyour-valentine · 2 years

Text

Michael Gray x Milf!Reader ~ Headcanon

Note: Too long ago @sonichkkaaascreams snowed into my inbox with the idea of the Shelby!boys x Milf and I do still have an idea for a multi!part series in the back of my mind, I didn't want to keep her waiting so I will publish both this and one for John, Tommy and Arthur. This is my first time writing for Michael!

I do not consent to my work being translated, copied or posted elsewhere on this platform or any other. This hasn't been beta'd so I apologise for typos or mistakes. Here is my Masterlist

Warning: As I am an adult, all my writing I share is unless explicitly stated for adults (18/21+). Expect canon confirming tone, language and depiction of violence. Your media consumption is your own responsibility.

Request: @sonichkkaaascreams

Wordcount: 530

Tommy had known you forever and trusted you to fill the position in Boston Ada had vacated upon her return to England

He offers good pay and perhaps a change of tapestry will do you good and so you take your boy and move across the sea.

There is a nice house with a cook and maids, and a beautiful garden, with flowers and trees and gardeners to keep it all in line, and a shiny new car, with drivers to take you wherever you want, just waiting for you - provided by Tommy Shelby

At first, life in Boston is terribly exciting, both for you and your son, but no matter what, you miss home a little

So does Tommy’s young cousin Michael who had been sent over too, to watch over this side of the Shelby Company’s business

He is younger than you and ought to find the whole city and the high society girls in it just ripe for the picking, but you can’t miss his unhappiness, nor how he, instead of nursing a hangover, prefers to sit at your dining room table for sunday breakfasts with you and your son

Or how he would rather take him (and you) to a baseball game than to go dancing in the city

You don’t mind - he is a decent young man and is good with your son

Once, when you felt like he had been wasting his time at your house instead of going out and enjoying his youth, he confessed that he used to have a brother and that he missed it, missed playing football in the garden until his trousers were green and dirty, missed having someone to motivate for all sorts of mischief, missed having someone look up to him

The three of you take lots of trips around America during the holidays to see the country, from the east coast to the west, from the Niagara Falls to the painted facades of New Orleans, the Rocky Mountains or the silver screes in Hollywood

You weren’t born yesterday and so you soon noticed his lingering eyes that were followed by lingering touches on your back or on your arm, nor the way his legs would brush against yours, or how he’d pull you in for dances

At first you are incredibly reluctant, because he is so young, and because you fell like it shouldn’t last. He is just lonely in America, and perhaps you were too

And yet, he was handsome and charming and witty and he made you feel so…glamorous

And consequences, whatever they may be, were far away in England

Why should you two not enjoy yourselves?

So that was exactly what you did, all over the shiny house Tommy had bought you, all throughout the young, wild country Tommy had sent you both to

He had spent the night before the crash in your arms so you were right there when he was called home

You thought that meant that whatever you had was over, after all, it was just a bit of fun, right?

But only when it was time for him to leave, did you realise that Michael had no intention of stopping your affair, in fact- he had nothing but the opposite on his mind and all of the sudden all those possible consequences you thought far away and out of reach became very real indeed

Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed!

Taglist

@lilyrachelcassidy @jyessaminereads @watercolorskyy

@books-livre @chlorrox @quarterpastmidnight

#peaky blinders #peaky blinders headcanon #michael gray #michael gray headcanon #michael gray x reader #michael gray imagine #valentineswritings #valentinesheadcanons #michael gray fanfic

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vinosities · 5 months

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A great many birdwatchers—from those who simply maintain feeders in their gardens to those, more obsessed, who wander the world in search of new and better birds—have stumbled onto a seductive truth: paying attention to birds, being mindful of them, is being mindful of Life itself. We seldom think of it this clearly, but sometimes, unexpectedly, we are overtaken by a sense of wonder and gratitude. Surely it is the encounter with a force much larger than ourselves that moves us.

Recently I was in the Canadian Arctic. We'd put ashore on the south coast of Hudson Strait and were walking in an expansively beautiful river valley when one of our party spotted a white phase gyrfalcon perched on a boulder high on the opposite hill. These are wonderful birds, fiercely majestic and much coveted by wealthy falconers. As we watched, it launched itself, dashing low over the ancient rocks in pursuit of a passing raven—whereupon the chase was on. Desperately twisting and turning, the raven seemed at each instant about to be caught. Then another raven appeared. This second one was clearly striving to position itself so it could help its companion should the gyrfalcon manage to seize it. As the pursuit went on, with the white bird hard on the black bird's tail, I sensed something akin to the notion of fateful inevitability that drives classical tragedy. Raven, the Trickster and wolf-bird, is one of my favorite birds and yet the gyrfalcon is equally wondrous; further more, it needed to eat the Raven in order to survive. That's the way things often are.

But not this time. The white bird eventually gave up and returned to preen on its boulder, and the ravens settled to the ground halfway down the hill. Then I noticed a third raven circling effortlessly above the valley. Our guide said it had been there all along. Perhaps the gyrfalcon had decided it wouldn't be wise to take on three ravens at once. The chase may even have turned into a joyful form of serious play.

At its best, in its heightened moments, birdwatching can encourage a state of being close to rapture—the forgetfulness that blends the individual consciousness with something other than itself. Some people call it "flow," others "enlightenment." We can't predict these moments, nor can we fully recapture them, because—in some odd way—they have no content. It's only afterwards, when the self returns—with all its familiar baggage—that we recognize the fact that something utterly liberating has occurred.

{...} Hope—whether Blessed or otherwise—must be taken on faith. Hardy's Darkling Thrush is an aged bird, "frail, gaunt, and small," that nevertheless sings ecstatically. The poet can't for the life of him see what's prompted the creature to "fling his soul / Upon the growing gloom." All he can conclude is that the bird knows something he doesn't. Despite its decrepit condition, its song is charged with the passionate energy of life; and that, after all, is at the heart of everything, including Hope itself. Some will say that this is a highly Romantic notion, especially in our age. And so it is. And I find it exhilarating.

— Graeme Gibson, The Bedside Book of Birds

#readings #graeme gibson #insp.#theology

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lovetorn · 2 years

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weekend getaway [roommate!dream au]

Roommate!Dream x Reader

it's been a little bit over a year since i posted the first roommate!dream, and a few months since i posted the last one. so, in honour of the best series on my blog, i present to you, the last instalment of the roommate!dream universe.

w/c: 1.7k (i think)

roommate!dream masterlist

A weekend away was exactly what your friend groups were in desperate need of. It was spring break and instead of joining your peers on tropical islands and weekends down on the coast, you decided to embrace the icy chill that still lingered in the air and book an Airbnb in the forest a few hours away from campus. Some were displeased with the mention of a jacket instead of a swimsuit but agreed to go nonetheless. The car ride up went smoothly and soon, you, Dream, Sapnap, George, Karl, Quackity, and Wilbur were pulling up to a two-storey cabin.

“A cabin in the woods, ooooo~,” Quackity had joked when Dream parked the van you had hired for this trip specifically. The sun above was doing nothing to warm you, and the chilly breeze caused you to pull the sleeves of your hoodie over your hands. The group was eager to get inside and soon piled in with suitcases and shopping bags full of food.

Dream took your bag, along with his, upstairs to snag the room he thought was best. The other boys argued with Dream as he did so, but were soon rendered speechless when he mentioned something about ‘the most sturdy bed’. You weren’t listening.

After settling in, Sapnap brought up the idea of a campfire as the sun started setting. And after a long day of roadtripping, everyone agreed.

The warmth from the fire was nowhere near as hot as Dream’s hand that rested on your thigh. He was laughing along with Sapnap about some snide comment George had made with a near-empty beer bottle in his other hand. You were occupied with your second can of some alcohol that Karl had pulled from his cooler and was already feeling the buzz in your stomach. Being the first night of a college getaway, it was a piss-up, and you felt like the only one who was being responsible with your alcohol consumption.

Before you got up to go charge your phone, you felt Dream nudge your side, his eyes wide with evident intoxication and an adorable grin on his cheeks. You tilted your head and went to answer him before you felt Dream slip his beanie onto your head.

“Can’t have you getting cold,” He mumbled. Your cheeks warmed when you felt Dream’s hand on your wrist as he moved it into his wavy locks. You giggled, watching as he sunk his head into your lap, his eyes closed in contentment while holding his bottle high above his body to avoid spilling it over you. You admired how child-like he looked; so innocent and naive—a complete contrast to his everyday exterior. His eyes fluttered slightly as he sighed, snuggling his head further into your lap before your moment was rudely interrupted.

“Dream,” Sapnap called from the opposite side of the fire pit. Dream lifted his head quickly, your hand falling out of his hair in the process. “Want to play some football?” He asked and Dream’s eyes lit up, looking towards you for some unspoken approval.

Considering his drunken state, as well as yours, the idea of your boyfriend playing football was the greatest idea of the night. You nodded, a cheeky grin playing on your lips as he shot up from your lap, stumbling slightly when he was on his feet. You only laughed as you fixed the beanie on your head and followed the boys to the open area behind the fire pit. The floodlights from the roof of the cabin lit up the grassy patch and you found a spot on the ground.

Chatter suddenly filled the air as Karl, Quackity and Wilbur stepped out of the sliding door, their concoctions of what you guessed were rum and coke sloshing out of their glasses. You turned around to wave at them.

“Y/n!” Karl screamed as he and Wilbur sat themselves down next to you, Quackity jogging out onto the grass to join in on the game. You turned your attention towards your boyfriend whose laughter could be heard for miles as he stumbled around the oval, his friends following suit as they clumsily threw the football around.

Said ball came barrelling at Dream, and without a second thought, he caught it and drop-kicked it. Dream over-dramatically shielded his eyes with his hand in an attempt to see where the ball had gotten to.

“Well boys, s’gone,” He laughed, his words slurring together slightly.

The boys groaned collectively. “Dream! What the fuck,” Quackity yelled throwing his hands up. Dream only giggled and took a swig of his beer, clearly unbothered by the disappearance of the ball. The boys shook their heads, taking their beer bottles with them as they went towards the trees to find the ball.

“Baby! Come here, I wanna show you something,” Dream yelled to you, his words slightly slurred and his cheeks blushed. The use of the pet name made your stomach flip. It had only been a few months since you went from roommates to more, and the thought of having Dream as your boyfriend was otherworldly after pining for a year.

Your warm drink sloshed out of the can as you stood before you placed it in the grass carefully, making sure it didn’t tip over in the process. Dream grinned as you made your way towards him, copying your actions by placing his drink in the grass behind him.

“What’s up, gorgeous?” You asked as you stood in front of him. Dream gave you a boyish laugh and pointed at the tree behind him.

“The ball’s in there—they’re gonna be looking for a long time,” Your jaw dropped in fake shock as you grabbed his hands and swung them around. “I think I’ll leave them searching for a little longer on their own.” Dream’s eyes swam with mischief and moved his hands to your hips.

“Get a room!” George yelled from the trees when Dream leaned down to place a sloppy kiss on your cheek, the two of you ignoring his comment.

“Babe,” You said, pulling away from his grip. Dream looked close to devastated as you stood in front of him and you giggled harder at his expression.

Dream slapped his hand over his mouth as he struggled to keep his laughter in. “You’re wasted.”

“No, I’m fine! Look, I can walk in a straight line,” Your clear thoughts were slightly fuzzy, but you shook your head and held your finger up. You placed your left foot in front of your right one, and so on, successfully completing your word. Even in his dazed state, your boyfriend was surprised, his eyes wide and his mouth opened slightly.

“Wow! You did so well,” He rushed towards you to throw his arms around your head. Dream was sweaty but neither of you cared, finding the moment intoxicatingly sweet instead. You both giggled together, your arms around his torso and head against his hard chest.

“I can do it too,” Dream whispered in your ear, his lips causing shivers down your spine as they brushed against you. He pulled away abruptly, moving to show you he could, in fact, also walk in a straight line. You stood laughing at him as he stumbled around failing miserably, his hair falling in his eyes.

“I’m so bad!” Dream’s chuckle turned to a wheeze as he hunched over, hands on his knees. You nodded in agreement.

Unknown to the two of you, the rest of your friend group stared at two of you in drunken disbelief, clearly entertained by the two of you.

Sapnap had turned to Quackity, “I want what they’re having,” who nodded in response. The two, along with George, stood in the middle of the oval as they observed the random interaction between their friends.

“Oi! Stop that you two,” George yelled as your mouth met Dream’s in a rushed kiss. Wilbur and Karl gagged from their spots on the grass as they finally finished off their drinks, alcohol dripping from their chins. Dream threw his middle finger up as you pulled away. Your foreheads were sticky against one another, but you wouldn't've had it any other way.

Who would’ve thought that two roommates could have turned a college apartment from something so trivial to something domestic and monumental?

“I’m so glad I picked your name off the list and not George’s,” Dream confessed, covering his mouth afterwards like a child who told you something they weren’t supposed to. “He bribed me to, but I wanted you.”

“You didn’t even know who I was when you picked my name,” You peered over his shoulder at the boys who were sprinting towards you with the ball, cheering and yelling at Dream to join them again.

“I know, but I knew there was something about you, and I had to know who you were.”

“That’s a lot of ‘know’s’.”

“I know,” He laughs.

“Okay, that’s enough, you two! Dream get back to your game and stop stealing Y/n off us!” Wilbur yelled.

Dream sighed dramatically and let your hands go. “Go! Others demand your presence, your highness.”

You rolled your eyes before you leaned up to press a smooch to his cheek. “I love you.”

Dream’s eyes widened and his face dropped. You feared you had overstepped, already conjuring up an excuse about how drunk you were when Dream rushed forwards.

He scooped you up in his arms, his lips next to your ear. “I’ve been waiting for you to say that for the longest time.”

You giggle in relief and pull your head backwards so you were nose to nose with him.

“I love you, too, okay? And I will spend the rest of my life telling you,” His words strung together and you struggled to decipher them, but you caught every word and hung onto them. Your chest ached with love and devotion and Dream’s hands on your hips were firm. Your skin was on fire and your eyes welled up with tears at the sheer joy you felt when you looked at him.

Tears rolled down Dream's cheeks idly, and you wiped them away softly, lips upturned in a grin as he laughed softly in disbelief.

"You're a dream," He whispered, smirking at the use of his own name.

“You’re a dream, sweet boy,” You giggle at your own joke.

You were so wrapped up in your little world with Dream that you barely missed Quackity’s exaggerated groan. “Hurry the fuck up, man!”

You giggled and kissed him on the mouth, drunk on something much stronger than alcohol. Something that you wished to be drunk on for the rest of your life, especially with the man in front of you.

–

as i close this chapter of my blog, i want to say thank you for all the love and every reblog, like, comment, and ask about roommate!dream. it has been a journey, but it's been my favourite one. feedback on this one-shot is appreciated, but don't feel obligated to do so.

i love you guys so so much, and i'm going to miss r!dream and his stupid face as much as you (maybe even a little more). he has a special place in my heart and who knows, maybe i will pick this universe up again, but until then, goodbye my sweet boy <3

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deadratio · 2 years

Text

(Ghost) Riders In The Sky Ch. 2

Jake ‘Hangman’ Seresin x fem!reader

Summary: GhostRider was once considered one of the best naval pilots on the West coast. She was top of her class, and had the proof for the pudding. That all changed one day, though, when she and her very best friend are sent on a mission that turned deadly. She was never the same, and ran away from her problems. What will she do when she's forced to face the demons that taunt her on a daily basis, and the man who she once thought she resented?

Word Count: 1.8K

Warning: mentions of character death

A/N: I cannot express my gratitude in the love the first chapter of this series has gotten! Even if it’s a little bit, I still greatly appreciate it! I actually drafted this last night after getting back from vacation just because I couldn’t get the story out of my head all week. This is honestly more of a slow burn than I had originally anticipated it to be! I hope you enjoy this part! Hoping I got everyone that wanted on the tag list tagged! Let me know what you think! I will work on creating a MasterList shortly!

Chapter 1

The California sun beat down GhostRiders skin as she stared at the doors to Top Gun, the place she once deigned to consider home, or at least as close as she could get to it. The sweat on her brow was not only due to the heat, but the anxious wave of nausea that gripped at her stomach and throat. This was the last place she expected to be on the three-year anniversary of Danny’s death.

She inhaled multiple deep breaths before reaching to pull on the door. Before she even gets a grip, the door swings open, revealing a man with black hair, an older pair of aviators adorning his face. “Oh, my apologies, miss.” He says, moving to hold the door open. She took a step back, briefly taking him in. He wasn’t the tallest person she’d ever met, but he had an air of over confidence about him, nonetheless. Before he could say anything else, she nodded to him in thanks, stepping into the air-conditioned hall. The walls were covered in memorabilia, a large photo of Commander Kazansky sitting to her right. She doesn’t glance at the photo immediately to her left, which would possibly reveal the identity of the man she had just encountered.

Taking slow steps down the hall, GhostRider finds herself in front of the conference board room door. She can see multiple figures in the room already, in the same khaki brown uniform she was wearing. Her nearly shaking hand gripped the door handle, pushing on it with her weight as she moved into the room. In line next to each other, she recognizes a few faces, namely Yale and Omaha, two other naval aviators she’d had brief contact with at different postings. She looked over to the two admirals on the opposite end of the table as she took her place in line, her arms glued to her side.

She and the others saluted the two, holding position until they were dismissed to remain standing, her eyes looking at the wall directly across from her. “You have all been called back here for very specific reasons. You were in the top of your respective graduating classes, which means you are the most qualified to take part in the mission we are about to assign you,” Admiral Simpson stated, looking down the line of lieutenants. (Y/n) had heard these words before, and knew they weren’t going to accompany a mission of ease. Attempting to maintain composure, she remained staring directly at the wall.

“Please take note of the presentation on the projector. Only a handful of aviators in the history of the Navy have completed a mission like this. This is extremely dangerous and presents the risk of death. You have all accepted this risk when you signed up for the Navy and were given assignments after being trained. You accepted this even further after attending Top Gun. You all have been in precarious situations before, but none like this.” Admiral Simpson motioned to the images aligned on the wall opposite them.

(Y/n) willed herself to look over, and she thought her eyes had deceived her. The images were near mirrors of what she had been assigned just over three years prior, save for the location and the terrain. The blueprints were modified for this specific mission, but even she could not mistake the similarities to her pervious mission. Her teeth ground against each other to prevent herself from letting out the sob that so desperately bobbed at the bottom of her throat.

“You will be taught by a set of instructors picked by myself and Rear Admiral Bates. You will find out more details and information during your first few days of training. You are all dismissed, except for Lieutenant (Y/l/n).” The Admiral’s voice was monotone, the other lieutenants saluting him before departing. Glassy eyes slid over to the Admiral, lip quivering as she remained standing at the front of the room.

“Lieutenant (Y/l/n). I understand you have been on a similar mission before. About three years ago?” Simpson questioned her, moving to stand in front of her.

Attempting not to sound upset, (Y/n) let out a half-hearted “Yes, sir.” Her hands were behind her back now, holding each other so tightly she could have cut off her own circulation.

“I also understand that there was an unfortunate loss on that mission, is that correct?” He asked, his face barely making any emotion to reveal any other knowledge he held.

GhostRider nodded her head, words failing her in that very moment. The man before her had to know how it felt to lose someone you love so dearly it’s almost like your life depended on it. He had to.

“I feel for you in your grief of the loss. I knew him very well. I will say, too, that this mission is extremely akin the one you performed three years ago. Which is the reason that, instead of having you fly it, we want you to help instruct and teach it.” He told her, his face finally falling a bit as he looked up to her.

Her mind was racing at that very moment. He wanted her to lead another set of people to their possible, maybe even imminent death? How could he ask her to do that? Why her? Why not any of the other people who had been on the mission? She couldn’t say anything as she looked towards him, her eyes meeting his own. She could see the reluctance in his eyes. He didn’t necessarily want to ask this of her.

“Why me?” She finally said, a tear finally strolling down her cheek. She couldn’t help herself anymore. It had officially been three years since she watched Danny land in the ocean and not come back. Her head was a wreck, and so was her heart.

Admiral Simpson looked over to Rear Admiral Bates, then back to her. “I know there were others on the mission with you, but you are the most skilled out of those in the group. Only you and one other person can help this set of aviators achieve this goal.” He said, his voice still flat.

She considered him again, searching his features for anything that would give him away. She found nothing, and moved to scan the Rear Admiral, finding his face to be a bit softer in expression. She knows that she technically doesn’t have a choice in whether she gets to do this or not. She was given assignment by the commander himself.

“I’ll do it, sir. On the condition that we ensure all of them make it home. Alive.” She stated, looking back to meet his gaze. She could see the nervousness in his eyes then, the bobbing of his adams apple as he gulped. She knew it wasn’t a promise he could make. He didn’t say anything as he turned around, looking to Warlock as he considered her words.

“You know that is something that even I cannot guarantee. You will have to help prepare them to achieve that goal. But you and I both know that the outcome cannot be known.” He replied, turning on his heel to look back at her.

“I will do just that, sir. Am I dismissed?” She asked, more tears threatening to spill over her lashes.

“You are dismissed, lieutenant. Come prepared tomorrow morning.” Admiral Simpson said, crossing his arms.

GhostRider saluted him before hurriedly making her way out, her mind consumed with the thoughts of the past, and the future.

A few hours later, (Y/n) found herself sat on the beach, the sun setting over the horizon of the ocean. The blue waves crashed against the shore, pulling with it sandcastles that had likely been built by families in the hours before her arrival. She could hear the activity of the bar behind her. The Hard Deck was formerly her old stomping grounds for a good time, with Danny in tow of course. She couldn’t force herself to step in, though. The memories haunted her even more now that she was in its vicinity. She just wanted to be close to the ocean, and a place she once found herself whole in.

It was not long before she heard shouts of “Overboard! Overboard!” coming from the bar, knowing all too well what that meant. She turned her head to watch the commotion, finding the same man she had run into earlier being hauled out by three men. But she knew them. Hangman, Coyote and Payback. She recognized all three of them as they threw the man on his ass in the sand, the wind whipping their hair as they laughed.

“Thanks for the drinks, pops! Come back any time!” Hangman had said, moving to close the door behind him. Before he could fully close them, he made eye contact with the figure on the beach, finding the features he had memorized looking back at him. She was even more beautiful than before, her hair untangled in the breeze brought in by the sea. He remembered all their bouts during their time at Top Gun and wondered if she would be joining him and the others on their mission. He slammed the doors shut, turning back to his friends. The smile on his face seemed to grow bigger the closer he got to the group; his previously empty hand now occupied by a beer.

“Hey, Coyote! You’ll never guess who I saw outside!” He shouted to his friend, moving to stand directly next to him. “GhostRider got called back too!” Coyote had looked at him, a smile upon his face.

“Hopefully she’s recovered from that mission three years ago, it really messed her up!” He said, having also taken a beer from someone else in the group.

Jake Seresin wasn’t dumb by any means, but he was unaware of a mission that GhostRider had gone on. He thought she was just doing the same things he and the other aviators had been doing in their years since graduating from Top Gun.

“What mission?” He yelled over the music and cheers; the jukebox had just been plugged back in after Roosters rendition of ‘Great Balls of Fire!’

Coyote shook his head, patting his friend on the shoulder before joining a few of the others on the other end of the bar. Hangman watched him walk away, still wondering what mission he had been talking about, and why GhostRider would have to recover from something when she seemed perfectly healthy and had obviously been called back along with the rest of them. Hangman moved to look out the window, but found the spot previously occupied by the girl he had secretly adored empty. He took another swig of his beer before joining the larger group again, the thoughts of her remaining at the back of his mind, taunting him after all those years apart.

Chapter 3 Tag List: @littlewhiterose @alldaysdreamer @et-homephone @revengze @chaoticassidy @luckyladycreator2

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deliciouscloudss · 2 years

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Hiiii could you pls do Genshin reaction to you squeezing into their sleeping bag while camping? Maybe you were scared or cold? Could you pls do diluc xiao childe and anyone else you’d like Tyyy

Happily!! Thank you for being my first ever request!!

You squeeze into their sleeping bag while camping.

Long expeditions were your least favorite, so you were more than happy when Xiao offered to accompany you, stating simply that he'd feel better knowing someone was there to keep you safe. It was relatively late when you guys called it a night, Xiao taking seemingly no time nodding off. You on the other hand were plagued with restlessness, tossing and turning and becoming overly alert at any noise that came from your tent. Reasonably, had there been any trouble, you knew he'd be the first one to know of it. It's in the middle of your battle with rest that you notice Xiao tossing and turning, looking over to see him still asleep, tossing and whispering incoherencies to himself. It only takes you a moment to realize what's happening, quickly making your way over to him. At first, you're unsure of what exactly to do, waking him up from a nightmare doesn't seem like the best course of action, but your heart hurts for him too much to let it go on much longer. Eventually, you make the decision and slip in next to him in his sleeping bag, careful to not potentially startle him. Despite the size, the bag is still very cramped, but Xiao seemingly calms at feeling your presence besides him. Suddenly, without waking up, his arms wrap around you tightly, pulling you closer to him in a way that makes you both feel a lot safer.

Diluc was hesitant at first at the idea, he'd only been camping a few times as a child and hadn't really enjoyed it as much as his brother and father. Eventually, when he does decide to accompany you on a summer camping trip at the Falcon Coast, he's pleasantly surprised at how much he's enjoyed himself. It was the end of your first night as you were settling on opposite sides of your tent that an idea came to your mind. Diluc had bid you his goodnight and faced his back to you as he attempted to sleep. You could tell he wasn’t fully asleep when you made your move, walking over and laying yourself besides him over his sleeping bag and wrapping your arms around him. The first thing you feel is his overwhelming warmth, he is reminiscent of leaning into a blanket heated by a fire. You feel the way he tenses for a moment before relaxing, almost sinking into your hold. You lay like that for a few minutes before he finally speaks up.

“I’d reckon it’d be much warmer if you laid under here with me.”

Taking that as an invitation, you tuck yourself into his bag with him. He lets out a content sigh as you wrap your arms around him.

“That’s much better.” You can hear the smile in his voice.

At first, you weren’t very keen on the idea of camping in Snezhnaya at all. Childe didn’t push, in fact, it was his older siblings who indulged you more on the idea, just enough that you approached him on it. He was absolutely overjoyed, and you guys had left on the trip just a day later after bidding his family a goodbye. It was when you arrived at the destination that the atmosphere of his homeland began to hit you. The activities themselves were fun, stuff you’d enjoy on your own, if it weren’t for the overwhelming cold that is. You knew of the cold from the moment you approached the nation but being out in the wilderness is significantly different than being in the city or in Childe’s family home. Childe on the other hand seems completely in his element, treating the unforgiving cold like a beach on a hot summer day. You can’t help but get secondhand joy from his enthusiasm alone, it’s more than enough to get you through the day. It’s at the end of the day as you’re settling into everything that the cold is getting to you again. Childe has effectively tired himself out to the point of sleeping like a bear the moment he was tucked into his sleeping bag. You shiver again at the cold, despite being tucked under every blanket possible before another idea comes to your mind. You look over at the other side of the tent with an eye roll. This was part of his plan all along, you realize. Making your way over, Childe turns over at the sound of your footsteps, a dopey smile on his face as he opens his sleeping bag for you to crawl in.

“You had this planned all along, didn’t you?” You ask.

“Maybe,” Is all he responds, burying his face in the crook of your neck and pressing a kiss to your cheek.

Hope you enjoyed!!

#genshin impact #genshin imagines #genshin impact x reader #genshin impact fluff #childe x reader #childe x you #diluc x y/n #diluc x reader #childe imagines #diluc imagines #xiao x reader #xiao imagines

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kemetic-dreams · 11 months

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Lincoln to Slaves: Go Somewhere Else

The issue of slavery divided the country under Abraham Lincoln’s Presidency. The national argument was simple: either keep slavery or abolish it. But Abraham Lincoln, known as the Great Emancipator, may have also been known as the Great Colonizer when he supported a third direction to the slavery debate: move African Americans somewhere else.

Long before the Civil War, in 1854, Lincoln addressed his own solution to slavery at a speech delivered in Peoria, Illinois: “I should not know what to do as to the existing institution [of slavery]. My first impulse would be to free all the slaves, and send them to Liberia, to their own native land.” While Lincoln acknowledged this was logistically impossible, by the time he assumed the Presidency and a Civil War was underfoot, the nation was in such duress that he tried it anyway.

By early 1861, Lincoln ordered a secret trip to modern-day Panama to investigate the land of a Philadelphian named Ambrose Thompson. Thompson had volunteered his Chiriqui land as a refuge for freed slaves. The slaves would work in the abundant coal mines on his property, the coal would be sold to the Navy, and the profits would go to the freed slaves to further build up their new land.

Lincoln sought to test the idea on the small slave population in Delaware, but the idea met fierce opposition from abolitionists when it went public.

In April 1862, Lincoln was still of the mind that emancipation and deportation was the key to a peaceful United States. He supported a bill in Congress that provided money

“to be expended under the direction of the President of the United States, to aid in the colonization and settlement of such free persons of African descent now residing in said District, including those to be liberated by this act, as may desire to emigrate to the Republic of Haiti or Liberia, or such other country beyond the limits of the United States as the President may determine.”

This would become the final portion of the DC Emancipation Act.

In August of 1862, Lincoln invited five prominent black men to the White House, the first African delegation invited on such terms. The topic was simple, that Europeans and Africans cannot coexist and that separation is the most expedient means to peace. Lincoln encouraged these five men to rally support for an exodus.

This intent is even echoed in the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation: “… that the effort to colonize persons of African descent, with their consent, upon this continent, or elsewhere… will be continued.”

Near this same time, the results of Lincoln’s investigation into the Chiriqui lands proved the coal there was worthless, and there was also the small matter that Costa Rica claimed ownership of part of Thompson’s land.

The next area considered was a small island off the coast of Haiti. About 450 Africans were sent to the island, but after only a year, nearly 25% had died due to poor nutrition and disease. The remainder were returned to the states.

By 1863, realizing Liberia, Haiti, and the Chiriqui lands were not reasonable for resettlement (Liberia was considered too great a distance to relocate a large number of freed slaves), Lincoln mentioned moving the “whole colored race of the slave states into Texas.”

Four days before his death, speaking to Gen. Benjamin Butler, Lincoln still pressed on with deportation as the only peaceable solution to America’s race problem. “I can hardly believe that the South and North can live in peace, unless we can get rid of the negroes … I believe that it would be better to export them all to some fertile country…”

Of course this would not happen. Throughout reconstruction, Jim Crow laws, and eventually the Civil Rights Act, the country struggled for the next century to settle the problem of race–one it still struggles with today–though today the US is made stronger, not weaker, by its diversity.

#haiti #abraham lincoln #african #afrakan #kemetic dreams #africans #afrakans #liberia #chiriqui #costa rica #civil rights act #civil rights

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writingcold · 1 year

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Neapolitan: A Continuance

A/N: Hey. Hope you liked the last part. A little spicy strawberry always sets me right. A lot happens in this part. A lot. It’s beginning to wrap up. Sorry to those who are way more wise than I am when it comes to the legal stuff. I like to research, but that doesn’t mean that I actually know what the hell is actually supposed to happen.

I have to say a quick thank you, my friend, to @gardensgatedaisy for helping with the pacing of the very truly smutty scene. Wow. I’m really nervous about this part. I… just… ugh. Please don’t come at me. lol Or do - it may put me out of my misery.

I also need to say, I do not know the members of GVF or their families. Jake is my muse and is haunting my brain in so many different ways it’s scary. This is a total work of my own fiction.

Here are the links to the master lists of Neapolitan and Neapolitan: A Continuance

Word Count: approx 8800 words

Content warnings: Courtrooms. Arguing with friends. Language and drinking. Threesome sexual encounter. Smut. Like, this idea knocked my own socks off kind of smut. But I’m probably a real lightweight, so - there’s that. Minors dni. Just do not.

Part 9

Violet’s POV

Violet’s eyes were glued to her screen, hand covering her mouth and a thousand questions bubbling in her tummy that threatened a mad dash to the bathroom. She could hear Jake rummaging around in his music room. She could hear the rain on the roof. She even wrote a few random numbers down on a piece of scrap paper. She was sure that it was not in some weird dream state. The email was a reach out from work - from the top boss of the nursing department. She started to tap her fingers across the keys, not typing, just needing to hear the sound. The coil in her belly started to bend harder. She nearly bounced to her feet moving quickly into the kitchen for a fresh glass of water.

She hated interrupting him when he was in his own space. But this was different. Her toes struggled across the smooth wood planks as she tried to find some way to not involve him. She was in the doorway watching him move around his guitars completely lost in his own little world.

“Jake?” she asked softly.

Bent over, hand on the black Gibson, he rolled his eyes up on her. “You okay?”

“Can you read this and tell me I’m seeing it wrong?” she asked, waving her hands like what she could only assume like a crazy person.

She practically ran back to her computer. He was slow to follow. Violet wanted to grab him by his belt and drag him to move faster. His eyes shimmered with curiosity when she pointed at her screen. Her heart was racing as she watched his eyes coast over the words before standing up straight.

“They want you to consider being a trainer/recruiter?” he asked with a smile tugging at his mouth. “Is that a promotion?”

She nodded.

He bent back towards the screen to continue reading. “Most of it would be remote work. Like from home?”

She nodded. He straightened back up, concern on his face.

“But you love field work.”

“I do. But, I’ve done two stints. Doesn’t mean that I can’t return to the field at some point, but this may be something we need. Instead of both of us out there on opposite sides of the planet…”

“You’d do that for us?”

“I would.”

Violet’s phone started ringing. Josh’s profile picture flashed across her screen as she glanced at it. Jake’s eyes grew round.

“Shit - I left him on the phone…”

She watched as he rushed back off to his music room as she answered with a laugh. “Sorry I interrupted your call, Joshua,” she said with a laugh. “He’ll be right back with you.”

Violet blew him a kiss before hanging up. Jake returned with phone in hand talking with Josh about some meetings and getting things set into the calendar. He was holding up his hand as he moved into the kitchen to retrieve low ball glasses. He poured out two glasses, neat, with a smile.

“Josh, pour yourself a drink,” he said as he held one out for Violet.

“Why doesn’t he just come over?” she asked with a raised eyebrow.

He mouthed ‘Home with Mom’ as he put the top back on the bottle. “Is Mom around?”

She watched as he put it on speaker. Chaos on the other end with laughter and music and Karen’s voice calling out from what must’ve been the beyond. She rolled her lips in between her teeth as she shuffled her feet.

“Alright, we’re both here with drinks,” Josh remarked. “What’s going on?”

“Celebrating! Violet has been offered a promotion,” Jake beamed as he switched the call over to video. The sound of their cheering brought Kelly’s voice around. Jake held the phone up as he backed towards her.

“Where’s mine?” his dad asked. “Can’t I …”

Violet laughed as they watched on. Josh nearly dumped his drink on their mother in his rush to get his father’s drink. Karen scolded him all the while looking into the phone at the happy couple smiling back at her. Kelly had a very satisfied grin once he received his drink.

“What’s this promotion entail, darling?” Josh asked.

“Training/recruiting. It would mean I would mostly work from wherever home would be that day,” she said. “I would go to universities and talk to candidates about the program, too, but mostly it would be from home.”

Josh paused, his eyes on his twin. Jake rubbed his hand across her back with a nod. Violet was sure whatever transpired between them in that moment it was positive. Josh’s face was filled with warmth. They loudly toasted to possibilities and the moments to come. Karen and Kelly’s faces were proud as they congratulated Violet. In an abrupt move, the screen appeared to have the zoomies. Clearly, they could see that Josh was rushing out of the kitchen and outside onto the deck away from the elder family members.

“I got it finished, by the way,” he said, his tone sly.

Jake’s smile faded a bit. “Yeah?”

They seemed to have one of those moments that Violet preferred to not have - those flashes where they could talk in short hand and no one else knew what the hell was going on.

“I got the first part, so…”

“For fucks sake,” she grumbled as she drained her glass and set it down with a thunk.

Violet listened to Jake laugh quietly as he returned to his music room without extrapolating anything. Fucker. The word was meant lovingly, but sometimes…

She sat down at her laptop. A sense of joy and a shift of mind crept into her thoughts as she typed out her interest in the new offering. She listed sensible questions. All the while the smile grew on her face. It would be a good fit. She enjoyed the instruction. She would enjoy talking about the program that she had fallen in love with as a student. The fact that it would allow her to have more time with Jake and the family made her heart flutter.

She paused a few moments before hitting the send button. The notes that reverberated out of the music room tickled her brain with satisfaction. Slow and steady; strong and supple. His music was always like him. Violet wondered if he knew it and played into it or if it was just happenstance. Her finger traced the shape of the trackpad a few more times. Her eyes trained on her words and questions to ensure in her brain that her heart wanted this so very badly. A huge puff out of her cheeks and she clicked the ‘send’ button.

Violet chewed the tip of her finger. The race of her blood around her body had to have been double than normal. Her eyes traced over Max’s texts - four times in the past two hours. Jake was out on an ‘Appearance Night’ where the guys were expected to go out for the evening to a set of designated bars to interact with fans. She had opted to stay home, and was not regretting the decision. Violet had wrapped up a piece of work she had been procrastinating on, as well as tucked into a book she had been wanting to tackle. She knew Max was trying to utilize a hands off approach with anything dealing with Alison, but if the woman would just call instead of leaving these nondescript messages life would be so much easier.

The last time Max had merely texted, Violet had gotten a call from Mae. Alison’s case had taken a turn. Tim decided to change his plea, refusing a plea deal, forgoing a trial. No contest. It was not a guilty plea. It was so fucking noncommittal in accepting responsibility for the damage he inflicted and gave a twist of a dagger to Alison in the most vulnerable of ways. Mae explained that a civil suit would be impossible for any woman listed in the case regarding Alison. Tim would have to pay all court fees. He would have to pay fines to the women that were pressing charges. He would have to do minimal time in jail. He would lose his medical license. He would lose his medical practice. Mae’s case was dead in the water. It had been a terrible, terrible day indeed.

She texted Max to call when she could. Violet would be home. She no sooner had brewed a cup of coffee and sat down on the couch when Maxine’s picture popped up on her phone. Her stomach swirled as her friend explained that she was not allowed to take any more time off due to staffing shortages. She was pulling doubles with no relief in sight. Sentencing was a week away and yet, Max found herself unable to be with Alison when she was needed most.

“She does not want to see me, Maxine,” Violet remarked before taking too large a drink of the scalding coffee.

“Ollie is MIA. That Aryssa has him so buried that he can’t shit without permission,” Max rattled on. “John is in the same situation I am - he’s been on mandatory double shifts for the past four months. Teddy and Julie are already in Seattle with no way to take time off for any reason.

“I am not asking you to be there for… You don’t need to be in the courtroom, Vi. I would never ask you to put yourself in his space. She’s gonna need a friend, close. It may be enough to just know that you are there in town.”

She stayed on the couch with her glass of wine and the TV on to some cooking show that she had no clue what the hell was going on when he pushed his way into the house. She listened to his keys strike the catch-all bowl and the thunk of his shoes. He smiled at her as he sat then lay down so that his head was immediately in her lap.

“Hey, gorgeous,” he whispered.

“You’re barely buzzed,” she observed as he brushed his fingers up her arm, landing on her shoulder.

“Didn’t feel like it tonight; not really.”

She twirled her fingers in his hair as he tried to pull her down to meet him in a kiss. When she would not bend, he took a long moment to really look into her face. He dragged his thumb across her jawline.

“Something happened.”

Violet nodded. She rolled her lips in between her teeth as if she could hold in the words that haunted her. She explained the situation. Jake sat up to place his full focus on her. He listened without interruption.

“I get that you feel a need to show support to her, but I thought she did not want contact with you.”

She ran her bottom teeth across her upper lip. He was right. Alison did not reach out. She expressed no need for Violet - at all. “Something that I had that she did not is that I hid. None of my friends had any knowledge of my situation and that was how I needed it for a while. I knew… No, I thought I knew that they would see me differently if they were aware of my hurt. I was afraid they would never believe me. I thought they would see me as weak and would abandon me in my need. I was happy to be proven wrong. When Alison did not hear me about him, it was a different kind of embarrassment. She doesn’t know where to place blame. She doesn’t understand, yet, that there is no blame that should be on her shoulders. Or mine. Alison has to figure that shit out for herself.”

He tucked her hair behind her ear and leaned in, kissing her cheek before resting on her shoulder. “What do you need me to do?”

“Will you come with me?” she asked, voice barely a whisper. She knew it would be a lot to ask. They were recording, they were world building once more.

“Of course.”

Violet wore a simple outfit of black dress pants, white button-up, soft gray jacket and black sling-backs. It was her armor in interviews, formal meetings, and now her trips into universities. She slid the last button into place as Jake made his way back into the hotel room with a coffee carrier and breakfast. His dark eyes were tentative as he took in her appearance. It was going to be a hard day for both of them. There was no quick way around it.

They ate in silence. Jake disappeared to get himself ready while she checked in at work. Her official start was in another week, to which she would have to jump on a plane to Lexington for a week. The bright spot would be to fly home, a destination otherwise known as Jake. It was a phenomenon she identified and admitted to him that he was home. She was blessed to have the feeling reciprocated.

The Madison Municipal Courthouse was a tangle of chaos with people everywhere moving in all different directions. It was enough to excite the nerves and overwhelm the already frayed senses. Locating the actual room was a feat in and of itself. Jake stayed calm. He sat close as they slid into the last row, mostly out of sight of the defense table. Violet felt a vale of haze wrap itself around her brain as the time drew closer. Alison walked in, her eyes grazing over her as she passed. If there was recognition there, Violet was unsure. From the opposite side, there was movement and a flash of orange as Tim was brought inside. Instead of focusing on how the air thickened and boiled with a rage she had known, she turned her sights on the brightness and warmth of her present. Jake looked at her with a serenity that she needed. It grounded her. Sheltered her.

The whole affair took less than twenty minutes. It all dwindled down to another assault upon Alison and the other women. Tim was going to be allowed to travel a road to sidestep real jail time. It was an insult to injury that was completely legal and without excuse. The judge handed down what he could to the fullest extent with the parting words that he felt there were so many more victims that were mute because of fear. Jake tightened his hold on her hand as the gavel was dropped and Violet felt herself begin to breathe again. The courtroom was fast to empty. Ali passed by her and Jake in the hallway, her lawyers flanking her sides in a brave show. There was no celebration to be had. There was no sense of punishment in the end. No closure. No finish.

They returned to the room in silence. Her phone chimed with a notification that she nearly ignored. Looking at it, her heart choked and broke a little. Ali sent a single word text - thanks.

“What was that bar we went to last time we were here?” he was asking as they moved back into the hotel room.

“Donovans,” she answered, peeling out of the little jacket.

“How about we go, have a few drinks and just bury the night?”

She nodded. Their flight out was not until the next afternoon. Changing, they took the time to walk down Capitol Street, taking in a few cool little shops and grazing through the farmer’s market before having an early supper in a tiny little cafe. Violet asked to take a walk down around the green spaces and gardens that looped the Capitol building. They reached the bar just after eight to find that live music was already flooding out of the door.

“I know today was not what it needed to be,” he said as they sat down with the first round. “I know none of this has not been easy.”

“I guess we’ll just have to accept that losing his practice is going to have to be enough,” she answered before taking her first sip. She was unable to hide the bitter scorn that laced her tone. “House arrest in a fucking mansion on the east coast with his family? Yeah. There’s justice in this world.”

He patted her thigh as they settled into the music. Jake smiled as the sound reverberated around them like he was reminiscing what it was like to be a bar band. They talked quietly about what was to come. She felt lighter as he asked about how she looked forward to Lexington the following week and getting a scope on the new job. She had gotten her first assignment - she had to fly out to Seattle and visit a few smaller colleges before taking a car down to Portland. The trip would take four days total. At some point, the guys were expected to head to LA for a few weeks. Jake already had made arrangements for separate living arrangements since she would be along for that stretch of promotional shots, wrapping up recording and finishing up loose ends for the studio. She wondered if she should make mention that she would be in LA so as to stem off any return trip after the fact.

“I wanted to ask,” he started, his voice low against her ear. “How do you feel about getting a marriage license when we get home? We can take a drive over to Hewit to get it.”

Violet’s brows pinched. “Don’t those things have a time limit?”

“Thirty three days.”

She looked at him over the rim of her glass with a raised eyebrow.

“What? I did some looking into the matter. I want to get this done before we voyage off on the next tour.”

“Ooo - so romantic there, sir,” Violet said, voice thick with playful sarcasm.

“That’s me, baby. Nothing if not romantic.”

The idea of just the two of them struck something within. Something on their own. It would only be theirs to nurture and to grow between them. At the same time, she could only imagine the look she would receive from her father at the news that they had run away to be married. Or the loud arguments that would come from his mother. Worse, the two forces aligned into one huge argument. In truth, the parents were the parents and would accept their decisions, eventually. Maybe.

Jake drifted back to the bar for another round. Violet was texting with Max the news of the day. Her spritely friend commended her bravery for actually going into the courtroom when it was not expected. Violet admitted that they were so far back that she barely could see her demon in the front. It was an untruth, but she did not need to explain that either.

“Violet?”

The masculine voice that called out to her caught her attention in a way that she was not prepared for. Turning, she caught sight of a face that she had not seen in years. “Connor?”

“I thought that was you,” he said, his handsome face breaking out in a huge, familiar smile that set her tummy to rolling and her brain exploding.

He reached for her and she could not stop herself from allowing him from scooping her into one of his wrap around hugs. “Wow,” she sighed as the familiar feel of his frame and smell of his cologne filled her senses. “It’s been a few years, hasn’t it?”

His bright green eyes roved all over her face as he pulled away. It was the same boyish grin and strong presence that she always felt radiated off of him, but there was something else that emanated from him. Confidence? Maturity? She felt nostalgic as he sat down across from her, his hands coming to rest before him like it had been moments, not years between seeing her. Connor was one of those spirits that drifted into her sphere from time to time, but always seemed to linger in a manner that was healing and always welcoming. The last time she had seen him was when her case started to fall apart. He had tried to give her comfort, but his own path kept him at a distance. Instead, he gave her counsel which turned into the best thing she had at that time - sound advice to walk the fuck away and the help to do just that.

“You look amazing, Vi,” he replied in his easy manner. She had forgotten how rich his voice could be, as well as the effect it had on her. “I’m glad you’ve come back to Madison. Are you working at Children’s again?”

Her brows pinched and she forced herself to look away. “No. No, I’ve become a bit of a vagabond actually. Are you still with Hamilson and Stuart?”

“No. I’m with Ingraham now. They put me on the partner path,” he answered with a nod. “A vagabond, huh? What does that entail?”

She grinned as she told him about getting a call from World Surgical Services and how she was part of a team that was mainly in Ethiopia. And then she voiced her next step with the non-profit - actually taking a role in recruiting and training. No one outside her parents or Jake’s parents knew of her direction. Her eyes traveled in the direction of the bar in search of Jake. He was still waiting, but at least he was leaning in to talk with the bartender. Her focus was disrupted when Connor looked over his shoulder in the direction she was looking.

“You’re not alone, are you, Vi?”

She shook her head with a shy little smile. She watched as Jake began walking towards their table with drinks in hand. Looking back at her former lover, there was a shine there that she recognized.

“Timing.”

The word hung between them. Each letter was heavy on his lips as Jake drew closer. Violet nodded. The one thing with Connor that was their shared folly of timing. She had started running into him sophomore year of college. He was a senior. By the time they had hooked up, he was days from moving out east for law school. He returned to Madison just as she was starting at Children’s and beginning her master’s program. Of course, he was involved with someone else that time who did not share. On again. Off again. Only to dance around once more. Violet’s smile grew wider as Jake stopped at her side to hand her a drink before sliding in next to her.

“Looks like you found a friend,” he said once he was settled.

Jake smiled at her as he turned to her. Unlike previous partners who felt the need to overtly stake claim on her in the presence of any other foreign person, he made no move to show any kind of affection towards her. It was not necessary in his realm to do so. Violet introduced Connor and sat back as the two men seemed to hit it off immediately. By the third round of drinks, Connor was hitting his stride - full of charm and flexing his ability to talk about anything and everything. Violet was sitting back watching these two men bantering back and forth with no end in sight. Jake asked questions about them, while Connor was getting info on their now. At one point, Violet disappeared to the ladies room and a refresher on the drinks and she swore neither man noticed. Both were so invested in the other that she was sure she could hitch a ride home and no one would be the wiser.

Violet leaned into Jake as Connor was getting the next round of drinks. “We’re going to have to cut this off or you’re going home with him,” she teased.

Jake grinned a sideways smile that made her take notice. “That wouldn’t be such a bad thing as long as you were with me, gorgeous.”

Violet felt the confidence roll off of him in a way that she had yet to experience. They had talked about past encounters for both of them. They had talked honestly about what they liked sexually beyond the initial discoveries of those first months of actually being together. But the way that he looked at her in the moment was unlike anything that he had shown her before. There was desire that encompassed not just her, but Connor as well.

He narrowed his eyes at her before turning his attention back to finishing his drink. “He’s got to have a pretty cock.”

The words stilled in her ears as he looked back at her, his tongue brushing across the corner of his lips. “He does,” she whispered.

There was no surprise, no reaction at all other than a subtle life in the corner of his smile. “It’s something we’ve not tried. Thoughts?”

“With Connor?”

“He is pretty,” Jake remarked, his eyes flicking back in the direction of the bar.

“I’m surprised,” Violet said as she brushed her fingers up his thigh.

“No you’re not. You’ve wanted to see this for a while,” he said, unable to hide the draw of heavy breath. “I’m wondering if he’d like to play.”

Violet nearly choked. Smiles were in place as Connor set the drinks carefully down before them, his bright green eyes flitting between them. She pinched his knee as he wrapped his arm around her to pull her closer.

Conversation continued, mostly between Jake and Connor as they began talking and flirting about travel. Connor had always been adventuresome. He fancied himself an amateur photographer, which of course sent Jake into a whole new direction. Violet was beginning to feel very much the third wheel on a third date.

“I’ve got a portfolio if you’d like to see,” Connor was saying after what seemed like thirty minutes of sun rise this, sun set that, mountains - oh mountains, making a fucking swan look pretty…

She glanced at Jake as he seemed to ease into her touch once more. “What do you think, Vi? Should we?”

“Surely you don’t have that shitty little place over on 10th, do you?” she asked, trying to bring her focus back to the table.

“No. I’ve got a place over in Maple Grove,” he answered with a wide smile.

“Ooo - ritzy, Connor. I never took you for those kinds of digs,” she teased.

Jake shrugged, not understanding the joke, but not really caring either. “What about the group you are supposed to be here with?”

“I’ll go say good evening, and get us an Uber. Meet me out front,” he said as he slid from the table.

Violet watched as Connor walked away, drink in hand. “You’ve already talked about this.”

“Maybe.”

The single word answer made her blush. He took his last sip before leaning in to her. He brushed his lips against hers before landing. Violet felt a rush of what was to come. Indeed, it was something that she was curious about. She had vacuumed up crumbs that he allowed her to have from exploits with other lovers, other men and women that he had enjoyed.

“Is this alright with you?” she asked, as he threaded their hands together.

“It’s more like is it alright with you, Violet,” he stated as they stood up. “This is, after all, mostly for you.”

The ride over to Maple Grove was slow. Midnight traffic did not clear until they were well on the east side of town. The house was more cabin in the woods, but modern in a very metropolitan way. He showed them around as he flicked lights that spilled out onto natural forest and the creek that wove through his backyard.

“Very different from the rats in that studio you had,” Violet said as she took a glass of water from him. “You’d go into the bathroom, but had to jump over a hole in the floor just to get over to the shower.”

Connor laughed at the memory. “Or the fact that the heat would cut out at four every afternoon, no matter what and not come back on until two in the afternoon the next day. Damn that was a shit hole, wasn’t it.”

“Good to be on the partner track,” Violet said with a nod. “This place is stunning. Congratulations.”

“It is good, indeed. Thank you,” he said quietly as Jake moved to the record player. “I told you I had a collection, nothing too amazing there, though.”

“Oh, that’s alright. There’s this,” Jake said, holding up a Hendrix Blues jacket.

“Where are these from?” Violet asked, looking at framed pictures of old woods.

“I took those in a little village north of Prague,” Connor answered as the first few notes poured from the speakers.

“Beautiful,” she whispered as Jake moved closer to her.

The vibe shifted. The air grew tighter. Violet could barely focus as he traced a finger across the back of her hand. Connor had moved closer to her as well, the smell of his clean cologne mixed with Jake’s woodsy blend sending her off into a moment of haze. She felt odd standing there watching as the two men seemed to circle each other. Both were talking but the words made no sense. Her eyes lingered on the way Jake trailed his fingers across her skin - feather light, barely there, but grounding to only his touch.

“You will be present in this, Violet,” he said, his tone sharp to draw her forward to him.

Her eyes immediately snapped up to his face. His dark eyes danced across her features, hard and expectant. “Yes, Jacob.”

“Answer the man’s question,” he remarked, moving his attention back to Connor.

In a daze, she looked up at her former lover who smiled softly at her. “I need to know my place in this, Violet. Is there anything that you are uncomfortable sharing or doing in the course of tonight?”

Surprised, she turned back to Jake. He grinned. “I…” She regained her ground as she straightened. “I suppose not. Been a while for anything like this.”

“Same,” Jake replied as he took an offered drink from Connor. “Her ass is mine, Connor, but I’m sure she’ll be more about watching us. She has a thing…”

“Yeah,” Connor whispered, his fingers touching her hand. His touch carried the weight of memories and past tenderness. “She’s always had that interest. I remember it fondly.”

Before Violet could even think about blushing over the comment, Connor pushed forward, grabbing Jake by the face and pressing them into a passion filled kiss. Her stomach clenched at how the two men melted against each other. Jake sighed against the man’s mouth and yet, he reached for Violet’s hand to hold. She felt her jaw soften. His cheeks grew warm as Connor deepened the kiss even more eliciting a deep moan from both of them. The sound reverberated right through her core, soaking her panties.

She watched in awe as Jake turned back to her, eyes completely unfocused for a long moment. He was so totally lost in the sensation that this man presented to him. She pulled him in close, letting her mouth linger against his as if to draw in any residual heat from Connor. Instead of impact, she withdrew, eyes rolled up on her former lover.

“Condoms,” she said firmly.

“Of course.”

The pit of her stomach danced a bit as Jake took a sip of his drink. Reaching out, she took the glass and downed the rest of it. A gleam in her smile made both men release a shared noise. “Shall we retire then?”

Jake took her hand, turning her until he had her wrapped up in his arms. His smile yanked her into the moment, setting fire to what she was about to witness and experience with him. He kissed her sweetly as the excitement was beginning to overwhelm both of them. Connor quietly led them deep into the softly lit home that was painted in rich blues, green and browns. All very masculine lines and practicality. Violet’s eyes traced across the variety of pictures and art and trinkets as they floated into the minimalist bedroom. The sleepy tones were instantly relaxing. Connor snapped on a few faint lights as Jake drew her closer. His nose nuzzled into her crook of her neck as he fitted himself against her back. She watched as Connor dropped a few packets of condoms on the night table along with a tube of lube. His eyes traced across her features as he walked towards her. She had nearly forgotten how handsome her former lover had been. So classically formed that he would rival the hands of masters.

Her brain began to fog over as he drew close, one hand reaching for her own, one hand wrapping around Jake’s shoulder. He pressed his long frame into her before bending to kiss her. Jake’s mouth felt hot against her neck as Connor deepened their kiss, tasting her mouth so deftly as he had always done. Allowing her to fall back for breath, Connor leaned over, capturing Jake’s kiss once more, effectively pinning her between both men. Jake’s hands snaked across her breasts as Connor’s grabbed at her hip and ass. Her body already throbbed for their touch. Jake must have sensed her shift and he leaned back just enough to pull her against him tight. In the pocket of space, he lifted up her light sweater over her head before returning to kissing on Connor. The smell of their bodies flooded her as he tugged her bra down to expose her breasts. The feel of Connor against her front and Jake behind nearly caused a blackout level of tension. Jake’s deft fingers unclasped the bra so that it could fall to the floor. She kicked out of her little flats before ducking out from between the men so as to watch them paw at each other.

Violet watched as clothes were shredded off their frames. She slowly slid out of her leggings and panties as Connor started yanking Jake back towards the bed. “Jacob,” she whispered, but it was as if she yelled at him. His head whipped around to look at her. “Suck the man’s cock.”

She grinned as the two men fumbled to the bed so as to let Connor lay down. Eagerly, Jake smiled back at her. “It is a pretty cock, Violet.”

Violet fought to maintain her brain and her cunt from rupture as Jake first palmed Connor before licking up the shaft and sinking down until it hit the back of his throat. There was no teasing, no hesitancy. Jake hooked his thumb beneath the balls and swallowed Connor’s beast down. His dark eyes touched her as he hollowed out his cheeks on the upstroke.

“Quit letting that cum leak down your legs, baby,” he said, pumping the thick cock in his hand. “Get over here and let this man lick that sweet pussy.”

Violet climbed up on the mammoth sized bed. Connor’s eyes were already rolling into the back of his head even though he was reaching for her. With care, she slid her frame over Connor’s waiting face. He ran a finger through her dripping folds before wrapping his arms around her hips and dragging her down. The guttural moan that ripped from her chest robbed the room of air and set it on its side. Looking down on Jake was like looking into another life. A life that she was absent from and only had inklings and whispers of actual existence. She held onto Connor’s forearms to maintain balance as he plunged his tongue into her. Violet could not stop the whorish moan that escaped as the sight of her man sucking him down with an unhinged passion struck her senses. Jake turned his near blackened eyes up onto her. Lust scorched and wanton, he began rutting into the mattress at the sight of her coming undone. Connor pinched at her clit with his fingers as he started ramming his tongue against her entrance, gaining himself passage into the depth of her. Her fingers turned white as she held on. Her orgasm pummeled her like a prizefighter.

Connor hummed as Jake grazed his teeth across his balls. Her body was already wanting more as Jake rose, straddling Connor’s belly, one hand on his own cock, one hand on the spit slick one behind him. Leaning forward, he began to lap at her belly, breasts and nipples in an all out assault. Violet brought her hands up to balance better on his shoulders. Gaining her bearings for a second, she was able to grab his dick, pumping him as she felt her core threaten with another wave of orgasm. Just as it hit, Connor turned and bit into the meat of her thigh and Jake bit into the left nipple before sucking it deep into his mouth.

“So good, Violet,” Jake whispered into her chest as he worked gentle kisses across the skin.

Somehow the three of them moved together so that Jake was on his knees and Connor was before him, practically devouring his mouth and rubbing their cocks together. Violet was behind Jake, her hands roving across the miles of skin of both men. She hummed as Connor spread Jake’s knees before working his way down, to lay at an angle before him. A deep, low rumble escaped Jake as Connor kissed at the thin skin on his hip bones. Those bright green eyes flicked up to Violet, revealing the languid desire that all of them seemed to be experiencing.

“Get him ready for me, Vi,” he whispered tenderly.

Her soft sigh rang out. Jake looked over his shoulder, reaching for her to pull her into a kiss. The urgency he displayed turned her skin into cinders. Connor’s mouth wrapped around Jake in a sloppy mess. The depravity that touched his face in that moment touched Violet. The absolute vulnerability he lay open at her feet was utmost trust.

“You’re so beautiful, baby,” she whispered against the extended flesh of his jaw. “So mine.”

She leaned away to grab the lube from the nightstand. She dropped it at her side, wanting to first partake of his joy. Connor was ravaging his cock. The heat of them both and the little moans and sighs were like a chorus. She began to train little kisses down his shoulder followed to his spine. She dragged her fingers across his ass, gripping until he chirped in pleasure. A few drops of lube across her fingers and she went to work on Jake’s entrance. He pressed back against her, totally relaxed and ready. Jake landed one hand into Connor’s hair while the other slipped back behind, finding Violet’s heat and slick. She cooed as he pumped her clit to the same rhythm as her own fingers. She slid one in, followed by a second. He let out a soft whine as she stretched him. A third and he rocked back into her palm as Connor deep throated him at the same time. The gasp that spilled from his mouth set her hairs standing on her arms as the goosebumps erupted. He turned to look over his shoulder, lips pursed and searching. She leaned into him, keeping her hand in time as she kissed him sweetly.

Jake whined into her mouth as Connor let him go. He wrapped Jake’s cock up tight in his large palm while he rose to his knees. The darkening of those bright green eyes startled Violet as it prickled remembrances of past liaisons, past passionate moments both only with him and sharing with others. Without giving her a chance to shift, he wrapped his arms around Jake and her and crashed his mouth into hers. To taste her lover on this man’s tongue sent shivers through her. Jake trailed kisses across his shoulder as he wrapped his hand back to her, lacing their fingers together. The love emanating from Jake, and the lust that fueled Connor was near breaking her mind as they moved together, getting lost together in sensations and tastes and smells and sounds.

Connor was whispering into Jake’s ear as he lapped at the ear lobe, nibbling it roughly. Violet let her fingers slip from his bottom with a kiss to the base of his neck. His skin was so hot under her touch. There was a light sheen against his chest as he moved from between them.

“Lay down, baby,” he said, his voice roughened by exertion.

He helped her before capturing one breast in his mouth followed by the other. He slid his frame down, carving a path down her belly to her thighs with his tongue. Hot and wet he drove his mouth up against her as Connor lifted Jake’s hips up.

“Violet,” Connor said, the base in his voice tumbling out of his mouth as if escaping from his gut, “your man is so fucking perfect.”

She watched as he bit into Jake’s ass just as he pushed his tongue up against her clit in a hard press before sucking her core to attention. Connor rose up fully on his knees, drawing a black condom across his dick and drizzling lube down Jake’s entrance. There was no hesitation, no waiting, and no asking, Connor worked his way into Jake, hands white knuckled on his hips. The sound that Jake let out into her folds instantly made her spray into his open mouth. The beauty of the moment was quick to unravel as Jake frantically tried to maintain focus on her pussy.

“Goddamn,” Connor growled, setting a pace that bumped into her clit with force.

Jake looked up into her face, eyes unfocused, mouth extended in silent pleasure. The haze seemed to clear as his gaze latched on to her. He rose up onto all fours, a show of brutal strength against the pounding he was taking. He balanced for a moment, his hands racing to dig into the flesh of her hips, dragging her down until he crashed his torso into her. Frantically, she drew her knees up almost to her ears as he pushed his cock into her, using Connor’s pace to fuck her in a manner that was totally unhinged and without a thought other than to pound her into the mattress.

Violet gripped his shoulder to maintain her place. Connor covered her digits as he held on tight. Connected. Together. Wave after wave of groans and moans and slick skin on skin as they worked together to reach a crescendo. Looking into Jake’s features, she found him totally fucked out. He resided in a space that was beyond a boundary that they had yet to reach and he was dragging her along for the ride. Connor’s handsome face was becoming stressed as he tried to hold on.

“Fuck you’re so damn good,” he moaned. “I’m so…”

“Let me have it.” Jake’s raspy tone filled her ears as he looked down at her.

Tears sprang to her eyes. Masculine beauty oozed out every pore as he touched her cheek. So much love poured out of him onto her as Connor crashed into him in his own orgasm. A blush of a kiss and Jake took over, slamming into her quickly, hitting every spot that he knew to press into. He swarmed her senses and overpowered her body, leaving it to quake and shiver as total pleasure over took both of them in a barrage of stuttered breaths and tender whines. Connor lay down at her side as Jake continued to move against her. His tired, flirty grin invited her in, kissing her gently at first before incinerating her mouth in a deep, searching kiss. She felt Jake bending closer to her before yanking his body back up so that his knees folded under him to better ram into her. His palm landed on her belly as he began to fuck her in earnest. Connor’s fingers twisted and pulled at her nipples as he bit and swallowed and danced against her mouth.

Jake was beginning to grind hard. Violet couldn’t hold on any longer. Her core exploded as heat and joy and love broke across her skin like sunshine. He rode her through until finally cumming hard into her, his jaw totally lowered making his mouth a graceful o.

“Beautiful,” Connor sighed as he nuzzled into her, his fingers tracing down Jake’s cheek.

There was no sound save for their breathing. The air thinned and cooled as they returned to the earth and the bed beneath them. Violet dragged her fingers through Jake’s hair over and over as he rested against her belly. Connor kept planting warm kitten kisses against the cap of her shoulder and cheek as he held tight to Jake’s hand against his hip. There was something wholly natural as they lay together. It was a shared surrender to ultimate feral emotions.

“Showers,” Jake grumbled as if not really wanting to leave his position.

“I think you’ll like the accommodations, Vi,” Connor sighed as he started to roll away totally unaware of his own nakedness.

He led them into the en suite bathroom that was wrapped in chrome and quartz and dark tones. The shower was coiled like a shell and had water coming from all directions. Connor smiled as Violet laughed as her body was sprayed from all sides. Jake playfully pushed him in beside her before joining in. Slowly, they washed each other with silent kisses and gentle touches. Somehow both men moved so that she was in the middle. While Jake washed her breasts and belly, Connor washed her back, paying close attention to the slender curve to her ass.

Clean and partially dressed they drifted to the backyard deck with drinks and smokes. Jake kept her close, having her curled into his side on a wide chair. Connor leaned against the railing, his tall frame at ease as they continued their conversation from the bar, filled with laughter and joy that somehow continued until Violet was asleep and the men held hands talking softly about what could happen next.

The morning brought questions. Where the hell she woke up was the first one blazing through her brain. She felt Jake’s skin beneath her fingertips, settling her, but the room was different. Rising, she grabbed the first t-shirt she saw, not caring that she had no clue who it belonged to. The hallway brought a clearer remembrance - Connor’s. They must have crashed in his home. The smell of coffee drew her through the living room into the welcoming smile and gaze of Connor himself. He made no move towards her other than to hold out a cup in question. A nod of hers returned to her in the form of a question of like always? She nodded again and watched as he mixed half and half in with a packet of sweetener before handing it over to her.

“I was being hopeful when I was talking with you last night, Violet,” he said quietly as he opened the back sliding door to the deck.

She followed like she was trapped in a dream she did not know she was having. “Not sure what you mean.”

“I didn’t think of it until this morning that you would be here for Tim’s sentencing,” he replied, making eye contact that was pensive. “When I saw you, I was hoping that you were back living here. I’ve missed you. Greatly.”

She gave him a soft grin of understanding. “I’ve missed you from time to time.”

He shook his head. “When I told you to go, I should have gone with you.”

The admittance forced a little sad laugh from her mouth. “I was in no position to be anything to anyone, not even a friend.”

“I would've shouldered it,” he remarked. “I would’ve shouldered it if it meant that I could have sheltered you. What a fuck I was to let everything just go with you.”

“You were in no position to leave, Connor. You were fresh at Hamilson and Stuart. You were finally finding your own feet. I could not have been so selfish to ask you for that. It was enough that you covered me with the ADA, and gave me good counsel to protect myself,” she said into her mug. “Besides, it was a pain that I needed to heal on my own. I have come so far since that day.”

“There was a time that I made you happy,” Connor said, stretching out on a deck chair beside her. “There was a time where -”

“It’s not the same. I’ve put my own shit back together and got lucky enough to meet Jake. I'm beyond blessed that I am building this life with him.”

He nodded. “I would never interfere. You have become a stunning woman because of it all, Violet. You’re still the strongest person I know. It makes me happy that you have gotten everything you have ever wanted.”

Violet shifted her hold on her coffee, placing it on the little table next to her so she could reach for his hand. “Seems you’ve said something like that before. I’m sorry. I’m sorry that we never got our chance.”

“Kind of hard to say you were the one who got away when there was not a real time that you were ever mine. Not fully. Not really.”

He threaded his fingers through hers to give a nice little squeeze. Violet shared the grief that shone so clearly in his expression. It started like a bubble in her belly and lodged in her throat as the silence stretched between them. The air stirred as a breeze kissed at her cheeks drawing her back to the present.

“I’m going to have to get him going. Our flight’s this afternoon,” she whispered, letting go of Connor and making her way to her feet.

Instead of reaching for the door, Connor swept her up into one of his secure embraces. She sunk into his strength with a surprised laugh. It had never felt like goodbye as it did in the moment. It put a little fracture on the surface of her heart as he withdrew to walk her inside. Jake stood completely disheveled in his boxer briefs in the hallway, shuffling out towards the kitchen. His sleepy smile and blush on his cheeks warmed her as he reached for her.

“Morning, gorgeous,” he rasped as she leaned into him.

“I can call for an Uber. Get you two on your way,” Connor offered as he poured himself another coffee, as well as one for Jake. “Vi said your flight is this afternoon.”

“Yeah. My brothers are supposedly waiting on my ass to get back to work,” he gripped before taking a sip of coffee.

They fell into light conversation while Jake woke up. Violet disappeared to dress. Her heart ached as she put herself back together. Jake snuck in behind her and got ready at her side. There were quiet glances and warm touches as she pulled a bush through her snarled hair.

Goodbye was hard. Jake was swept up in a tight hug, to which she watched as Connor whispered something in his ear. A blush rose on his cheeks as he moved away. Violet smiled sadly as Connor reached for her, kissing her before folding her up tight. Jake stepped outside to wave at the driver. She snuffled as he tucked her hair behind her ear with a gentle touch.

“I’ve missed you. I’ll keep missing you,” he whispered as he let her go.

One last look across the raven black hair and bright green eyes, caring expression and tender touches was enough to absorb it all. Sliding into the backseat, she was silent the whole ride back to the hotel. Jake, too, seemed to be stilled by their previous evening. Somehow, they had experienced a shift. Violet could not deny there was a change in their dynamic. If anything, it was impossible to say that she did fully love the man at her side. He had shared with her a moment that she never expected. The memory was breathtaking. The trust he had laid across her was unconditional. Jake was her forever. Always. Etched across her soul like an epitaph. To have such a full love, full acceptance, was beyond her reasoning, but she would sure as shit work every day the best she could to keep it close and safe for all her time.

Sooooo…. What did you think of Connor? He kind of struck me over the head to be included, and I’m not sorry about it. Totally gratuitous scene but it wouldn’t let me go, so there it is. I’m so nervous about that addition, but he just — fit.

Here’s the tag list if you would like. Last part will be posted next week!

@lvnterninthenight @doodle417 @luverleaver @jakesgrapejuice @fictional-duchess @whitesuitjake @milkgemini @positivegvfthings @songbirds-sweet @streamingcolors-gvf @gretavanbitches @samsurfgreenbass @joshkiszkas-admin @gardensgatedaisy @babyhoneygvfarchive @myownparadise96 @josh-iamyour-mama @starcatchercarol @loveisonaroll @jakesstarlight @myownparadise96 @reesetrippingthelight @kyrose11

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comatosebunny09 · 2 years

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untitled.

Warnings: Mentions of Blood, Mild Violence, Language, Word Vomit, Angst

Music Inspo: Face My Fears - Utada Hikaru

Started off as a potential love confession and a prelude to this. Went in the opposite direction. Sorry not sorry. Thank you for reading!

Blood.

So much of it speckles the pure, powdery snow beneath your feet. Intermingling with your own, viscous crimson coasting down your arm. You grip your katana with bone-white knuckles, afraid it might slip from your grasp. Grit your teeth with your eyes screwed shut, tensing as she rains another slew of attacks on your face.

“You little bitch!” the old woman spits, her cry so shrill, the birds overhead scatter. She’s a stark contrast to the gentle person she was hours prior. Bore kind eyes with a genuine smile. Giving hands that offered you solace and a place to lay your head. Those very hands are now balled into fists, thumping against your chest. Shoving, scratching, slapping. “We trusted you, and you betrayed us!” The malice of her voice sends your heart plummeting to your feet.

Your cheek stings in the wake of another slap, throbbing an angry scarlet. You could easily overpower her. She’s nearly thrice your age, half your height. Old, feeble, weak. You were merely protecting her. Upholding your duty. You had to; you were trained to.

You peer over her shoulder, her tear-stricken face fading in and out of focus. A Gaussian blur of emotions. You watch as a purl of inky smoke builds behind her. Hisses and pops, stretching toward the sky with its pungent odor. Releases a sigh of a life petering out. A demon. Her husband. Or what once was. It tried to kill her; wanted to eat her. You were merely…

You were…

You—

“Get out of here!” she shrieks, slicing through the fog of your conscience. You flinch. The blood in your veins crystallizes to ice as she bunches your haori in her hands and pushes. You don’t budge. Rooted to this spot, sight filmy with the threat of your own tears. “Leave this place, you coward!” She’s crying. You’re crying. You did this.

You did—

The snow crunches. The old woman’s on her knees now. Her shoulders tremble, choked sobs leaving her throat. “How could you?” she weeps, clawing at the ice. “How could…” A pained, bloodcurdling scream follows, the sound like that of a wounded animal awaiting its slaughter. Her wail holds your heart in an agonizing vice, your gut fastening itself in knots.

You’re not really thinking. Body moves of its own volition. Running. Phasing in and out of sight, your feet and skill carry you through the forest. Farther and farther away from that once warm cabin. The arctic wind kissing your tear-stained cheeks. You don’t have a destination in mind; just let your instincts take you. Heart guiding you, lungs aflame.

When familiar blue rooftops mar your vision, you finally come to your senses. Skid to a stop at the entrance, the snow a billowing mist around. He is there in the clearing, seated on his engawa. Of course he is. Sunshine amid the rain. A golden wildflower growing through the cracks of asphalt. A campfire kindled on the coldest day. You can’t breathe. No matter how hard you try, how much air you greedily suck in, you just can’t—

A call of your name. Worried brows, concern etched in his features. Kyojuro drops his book, cautiously taking steps toward you before breaking into a sprint. Extends a hand, your name at the curl of his tongue again. He moves closer. Uncomfortably close. Overwhelming so. You can’t remember how to breathe. He’s so warm, and his earthy scent is crowding your senses.

He’s holding you. Shaking you, strong hands burning through your haori. You’re hysterical. Can’t recall how to talk. Your voice is lodged in your throat, your eyes darting about with paranoia coloring your veins. He’s calling your name, his voice sounding from all angles.

“You’re bleeding,” he states, gently forcing you back, optics scanning over you with alarm. You hate yourself for how pained he sounds. Don't deserve such kindness. “Are you alright?” And then the calluses of his battle-worn hands tenderly press into your enflamed cheeks, bending your head back. Amber eyes melding to flames in your bleary vision. You don’t know when you’ve started crying again. Just feel a wail rolling from your throat like a tumultuous wave. Feel your body quake with unbridled emotion. “What’s wrong?” he demands, bending until you’re at eye level, his tone as anguished as your heart.

You don’t know. You really—

He draws you into his embrace as if it’s second nature. Holds you firmly to him, his heart thundering beneath your cheek. Fingers, soothing and compassionate, combing through your unkempt hair. Gentle coos and shushes vibrate your ears, and he kneads the space between your shoulder blades as you tremble with a new rush of despair.

Your hands are so small, balled up in his hakama. You feel pitiful. Wailing, blubbering, sniveling. He's shushing you. Chanting "I've got you" into your tresses like a mantra. Holding you to him, refusing to let you crumble. Somewhere between the sympathy in his tenure, the heat of his form, and the adrenaline draining from your limbs, your vision's fading. Transitioning to black. Your name yelled in the distance, your body slackening. The sensation of you being lifted into powerful arms until...

Nothing.

#rengoku x reader #kyojuro x reader #my works #demon slayer fanfic #kny fanfic #rengoku kyojuro x reader #kny reader insert #rengoku angst #kyojuro angst #tw: blood #tw: angst #tw: language #tw: violence

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teacupcollector · 2 years

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INSATIABLE -(Bucky Barnes/Reader/Steve Kemp) Part 1 (of a possible series)

Marvel Masterlist Summary: Y/N has moved across the country to the nice state of Oregon after a fall out with her family. As she continues her journey down the desolate road she comes upon a mysterious stranger. Despite her inner confliction she befriends him. Little did she know, knowing him would change her life.

A/N: This has been in my drafts for a while. Maybe I could make this a series? (I feel bad because I have so many unfinished stories lol)

A/N: If this becomes a series I would like everyone under the age of 18 to not interact. This will be very dark. I hope you understand an enjoy!

"You know what you need to do right?" Steve asks as he rushes around the small living room picking up his essentials.

"Yes sir..." The asset responded.

"My wife and kids expect me to be back at the house before 11 for my kids soccer practice so hurry and repeat it back to me." Steve says as he walks to his front door. The asset stills for a moment before responding.

"Put on casual clothes, go into town on foot and if possible hitchhike into town, analyze potential vic-"

"They are not "Victims" Asset..." Steve says as he walks up to him.

" If you see them as victims you will begin to sympathize with them." He says gently smacking his cheek a couple of times.

"Now again." Steve says and the Asset nods.

"Put on casual clothes, go into town on foot unless someone offers a ride, analyze and scout potential livestock, capture said livestock by any means necessary." The Asset finishes and Steve sighs.

"And what should you find out about them? What is your name?" He asks and the Asset responds.

"Make sure there is no obstacles, i.e Family or friends who would be searching for them. My name... My name is James..." Steve nods and pokes the Assets forehead.

"I paid a pretty penny for you... If only they knew what they were giving up..." Steve says as he pats his shoulder.

"Smart and pretty is what you are! Makes my job a hell of a lot easier." He says opening the door.

"Make sure the rest stay fed yeah?" The Asset nods.

"Yes sir..." Steve nods back before exiting and shutting the door.

"I like shiny things but I'd marry you with paper ring duh duh, duh duh," You continue to hum the rest of the song.

You decided to take a road trip. You quit your job and packed up what you had in your little apartment in Florida and head West. You decided to see what was beyond the East Coast. This is your third day on the road and you are on a long stretch of road in the middle of no where. As you continue you see a figure on the side of the road. You slow down to a slower pace to see what you could identify. He looked worn out and his clothes looked dirty. He was carrying a backpack and that is all you could see as you passed him. You continue to drive before ultimately coming to a stop a mile or so down the road. You swore to yourself that you would never pick up a hitchhiker. You know you (Mothers name) Would be rolling in her grave if you did. Against your better judgment you make a U-Turn. Now that you see him from the front he doesn't seem so bad. You pull over on the opposite side of the road and roll down your window.

"Hey!" You call out and the man pauses. He turns to look at you.

"Do you need a ride?" You ask and the man looks back and forth down the road before crossing the street.

"If you don't mind... My car broke down and I am trying to get to town." He says.

This makes you pause. "I didn't see a car..." You say debating on letting this man in your car now.

"There is a trail some miles down that way." He says pointing down the street he was walking from.

"I like to camp... It's peaceful out here..." He says but his eyes look so far away as he looks into yours.

"Anyway I was heading out of the woods in my truck when it blew a fuse." He says.

"Could you not have called someone?" You ask as you look him up and down.

"There's no service..." He says and you quickly look at your phone to see that there is indeed no service.

"Oh uh... What is your name? I want to know who I am riding with..." You say with a nervous laugh.

"James..." He says and you hold out your hand.

"Nice to meet you James. I'm (Y/N)." You say and he nods shaking your hand.

"Um... Hop in." You say unlocking the passenger side door. He nods again and releases your hand before going around the front of the car and to the passenger side. You quickly move all the fast food bags and wrapper to the back seat where it is full almost to the top with moving boxes. He sits down once you are done.

"Sorry I have been on the road for a bit." You say as you look in the rear view mirror.

He nods. "That's fine I understand."

As you are driving you decide to get to know him. "Is there a place where I can drop you off once we get to town?" You ask.

"Where do you live?" James stills.

"I kind of live everywhere." The way he speaks sounds stiff as if he has talked this much in a long time.

"Everywhere?"

"Yeah... I have an apartment in town and a small house in the woods." This makes you quirk a brow.

"I thought you said you were in a camp..." James nods.

"I am but houses still have electricity. I like to unplug on occasion." He says.

His voice starts to sound less strained as he talks. "I have never went camping believe it or not." You say with a laugh.

"Really? Why not?"

"Well for one. I had no one to go with, for two I am really scared of the dark as well as being alone. For three uh... The woods kind of scare me..." You say.

"Did your dad not take you?" He asks.

"Uh... He couldn't really... I never met him. Well not until recently." James looks over at you.

"What does that mean?" He asks and you sigh.

"I don't want to dump my trauma on you... I just met you..." You say blushing in embarrassment.

James takes a minute to respond. As if he is trying to gather what he is trying to say.

"I was never one for small talk..." He says.

"It doesn't show who you really are..." You look over for a moment.

"You think so?" You ask and he hums a 'Yes.'

"So if I were to ask you your favorite color you'd be annoyed?" You ask with a laugh.

He shakes his head. "No... I'd just think you are generic."

"Woooowww So I am just a basic bitch huh?" You say with a smirk.

"N-No that's not..."

"I'm just playing James... Soooo deep stuff?" You ask.

"Mhm..." He responds.

"Okay... Where would I start?" He shrugs and there is silence throughout the car.

"I'm an amputee..." He says quietly.

"I lost it in Iraq..." This makes your eyes widen. Now that you think about it you didn't see a left arm. Or at least the sleeve was empty.

"I-"

"Please don't pity me..." James says.

"I have enough of that..." James voice seems to break.

"I... I don't know what to say..." You say and stay silent for a moment.

"I would say 'Thank you for your service' but that seems generic." James lets out a chuckle.

"Yeah... No need to be a basic bitch..." He says some humor hidden in his tone. This makes you burst into laughter.

"Okay I guess it's my turn..." You say and focus on the road.

"When I mean I met my dad recently it is more like 5 years ago... He left my mom and my sister when I was born and he recently popped up..." You say.

"What do you mean by popped up?" He asks.

"My mom died 5 years ago and once he heard about it he came to collect what "is rightfully mine." He was high on drugs during her funeral..."

"How old are you?" James asks. "I will be 24 in (Your birth month)."

"You were still a teenager when she died... I'm sorry..." He says and you sigh.

"My sister and him live in Florida... She is determined to get him into rehab. I swear to god she is delusional. He left us and all he wants is money... She doesn't see that..."

"Do you still talk with your sister?" You shake your head.

"I told her I wanted nothing to do with him and in turn wanted nothing to do with her... She kicked me out the next day..." You feel his hand place itself on your shoulder. You know you should shrug it off but you felt comforted by it. You haven't said any of this out loud in so long. It felt nice to let it out.

"I have a sister... Well had..." He says and releases your shoulder.

"She died of Cancer while on my 2nd tour... I didn't get to see the funeral."

"I'm really sorry James." You say and sigh.

"I guess we both are a little broken huh?" James chuckles and nods.

"I guess so..." You turn up the music in the car.

"Lets jam!" You say and James chuckles as he nods his head to the beat.

An hour or so later you finally see your first stop light. "Hey it looks like we are almost there!" You say pointing ahead of you.

James nods. "I can see that."

"Is there a place I can drop you off? I don't want to leave you stranded." James sighs.

"Look... I don't want to be weird..." You go through the light once it turns green.

"Weird about what?" You ask and he sighs again.

"I owe you one right?"

"I me-"

"I owe you one. How about I help you unpack?"

"Oh I don't want to bother you. You must have been tired walking all that way."

"My mother would be cursing me from her grave if I didn't help you... Please... I might not be able to pick up some boxes but please..." You pause as you stop at another red light.

"Okay... Okay fine lets go." You say with a smile.

You drive toward the apartment complex. You hate to think it but you are starting to feel slightly sorry for him. He seems like he really wants a friend and since you are moving to a whole other state you might need one as well.

"I guess today is your lucky day because my complex is a block or so from a tow/car place... I forgot what you call them." You say slightly flustered as you back up into your designated parking space.

"It seems to be slipping my mind..." James says with a small smile though it seems slightly forced.

"Lets not worry about it..." You look at your phone as you take the keys out of the ignition.

James gets out of the car as do you. The two of you begin to unload the car.

"Put that box on my shoulder."

"What?" He nods to the box that says 'Clothes'

"James it will be-"

"Don't say it will be to heavy... I got it." He says.

You sigh and nod as you struggle to get the box to shoulder height. He leans down with his right shoulder and wraps his right arm around it and stands up fully.

"See? I got it." He gives a nod.

You pick up a smaller box and lead the way up the outdoor stairs and into the hallway. You stop in front of your apartment and unlock the door and step inside. James follows you and stays near the front door.

"Uh... You can set it in the living room." James nods and goes toward a living room like space.

The entire place is unfurnished and James seems to notice this. "Where is all the furniture? I didn't see a U-Haul or anything with you." You set your box on the counter in the kitchen.

"Oh uh... I kind of picked up what I could and left... I don't really have that much money so it might stay like this for a while haha..." You say nervously.

For some reason you didn't want him to look down on you due to your situation.

"B-But that's okay! I don't mind!" You say and he nods as he begins to walk back outside.

You follow as you head back to your car. "So do you have any job?" He asks and you shrug putting down another box.

"Not yet... But I should find one honestly... I paid my rent for 3 months in advance so I could have time to find one. It is surprisingly cheap here." You say with a smile.

"What about you?" James takes a moment which confuses you.

"I'm a contractor. I take jobs where ever I can find them.... Mainly construction..." You nod. "That's interesting." You say with a smile.

A bit of time went by and you have all the boxes inside. "Do you want some food?" You ask and he shrugs.

"I mean I don't have any here but we could get take out?" You ask and he pauses.

"Sorry you must have places you want to be. We just met each other. I'm sorry if I put to much pressure on you." You say looking away.

It is true. You don't know this man and now he knows where you live. If you were in your right mind because apparently you aren't you wouldn't have picked him up in the first place.

James begins to speak. "Sure I can stay for a little bit... I'll pay."

You shake your head. "Oh no you don't have to do th-" "I owe you one now. Don't worry about it." He says as he picks up his phone and looks at you.

"What are you hungry for?" He asks and you pause for a moment.

"How about Chinese?" You ask and he nods before looking up the closest Chinese place.

He then asks what you would like and you proceed to tell him your order as you begin to unpack some pots and pans. He stands near the kitchen counter as you do this.

"Is there anything I can help with?" He asks and you nod.

"Could you put some of the food into the fridge?" He nods and proceeds to do that. By the time you both were done with the Kitchen boxes James got a notification on his phone.

"The food is ready... I forgot to mention that this place doesn't deliver but it is just down the street. I'll go get it okay?" You nod and say.

"Alright stay safe! It is getting kind of late." He nods before leaving

As the Asset is walking to get the food he makes sure to duck out of sight from the apartment. He checks his phone.

By the time James returns You are already unwrapping a rug and blowing up a mattress for you to sleep on. He knocks on the door before entering. You walk over and look through the peep hole. Once you see that it's James you smile and unlock the door to open it.

"Heya!" You say as you let him in.

"Hey." He says with a slight smile lifting up the bag of take out before walking over to the kitchen and setting it down on the counter. You shut the door behind him and debate on locking it. 'I don't want to freak him out so I won't lock it.' You think to yourself as you turn and follow him to the kitchen. He seemed to work fast because he was already setting the food out and grabbing plates.

"Thank you James I guess I owe you one." You let out a laugh.

"I guess we will be in debited to each other for a long time if we keep doing this." James lets out a chuckle and nods.

"Yeah... I guess we will." He says as he stares into your eyes.

"I guess you do owe me one..." He says just above a whisper. You feel your body become hot as blood rushes to your cheeks. You quickly grab your food and begin eating.

"I-Is it getting hot in here? I think it's getting hot in here haha." You say as you walk toward the living room and set your food on the now fully blown mattress.

After making sure it wouldn't spill you walk over to one of the many windows. "I'm just going to open a window..." You say as you open one.

James only hums as he comes into the living room with his food and sits down next to yours. When you finish opening the window you walk over and sit down. You both continue to eat in silence.

"It is getting kind of late..." James says. "Is it?" You ask and look at your phone.

It says 11PM and your eyes widen. "I am so sorry James! I didn't realize. You don't think it is to late to tow your car?"

"Uh... No I don't think so. Pretty sure they are open 24 hours." You nod.

"Oh! Well take the plastic bag so you can carry your food!" James nods and stands up.

You stand up as well and pick up both plates of food. James follows you to the kitchen and you put each plate of food into their respective containers before putting his into the take away bag and handing it to him.

"Well I hope you get there safe." You say with a shy smile.

"Yeah... Stay safe and... congrats on the new apartment." He says with a tight smile.

You nod and walk him to your door and he steps out. "See you around (Y/N)." He says and you wave.

"Bye James!" You see him walk down the hall and down the stairs until he is out of sight. You shut the door and sigh as you begin to get ready for bed.

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