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#next year she rents and actual cabin though
innytoes · 2 years
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18. I know autumn camping trips are totally aesthetic but it’s cold as shit in this tent, can we snuggle? with the Giant JatP Polycule because they would go on the most memorable camping trips and also snuggles
When Carrie said she was taking them camping for Reggie's birthday, they'd been... well, not surprised. Okay, they'd been surprised. Because Carrie was more the 'ski chalet in Switzerland' type, not the 'tents at a national park' type. But it's what Reggie had asked for, a real camping trip with s'mores and ghost stories and cuddles.
When Willie, who was either the bravest or at least the person who feared death and dismemberment the least, pointed out Carrie didn't seem like the 'sleeping on the ground' type, Carrie sniffed disdainfully. "Who says we're sleeping on the ground?" she asked, as if offended by the question.
She'd given them a list of things to pack, told them she'd take care of the rest, and the rest was history.
When they got to the camp site in the big almost-but-not-quite-we're-being-casual limo, and piled out, there was a beautiful big round yurt waiting for them. The wooden deck went all the way around, with a hot tub on one side. There was a fire pit, and an outdoor shower (as well as an indoor one, Carrie quickly clarified), and a big swing set that Luke and Willie immediately raced to.
"Oh my god, peach blossom, this is the most incredible thing ever," Reggie whispered, grabbing Carrie in a bear hug and twirling her around. She didn't even protest that much, since there was nobody around but the driver, who was ignoring them to carry in all the bags of food and stock the fridge.
"I know it's not exactly a musty sleeping bag on the floor of Mister Molina's old tent, but..." She rolled her eyes. Julie snorted, because even though she loved their old tent, it had also... seen better days. And probably wasn't big enough to hold all of them.
This place, though... It was huge. The bed was big enough that a fair number of them would fit, but there were also a set of bunk beds behind a little screen. The place had a little kitchen with a fridge, hotplate, and microwave, there was a real bathroom, and a cozy looking fireplace with an honest to god couch and sheepskin rug on the floor.
The first two days were great. They made s’mores, they sang campfire songs, Reggie and Willie had a competition on who could jump further from the swings. They tried out the hot tub, and maybe made out a little in the hot tub. At night, they watched the stars and Willie pointed out constellations, telling the most beautiful stories about them. Reggie kept quiet about the fact that he was bullshitting, prodding Flynn when she attempted to call him out. He liked Willie’s stories.
Everything was amazing... until the firewood ran out. And the glamping people didn’t respond to Carrie’s texts.
“It’s okay, we can just forage for branches for the fire pit,” Reggie soothed her. He didn’t want her to get all worked up and ruin her own trip. Willie and Alex immediately volunteered as well, and Luke tagged along mostly so he could sword-fight Willie with assorted sticks, while Julie and Flynn scouted the area in case there was like, a shed with more stock nearby.
They still had a campfire that night, and it was still awesome. Except that night when they went to bed, they realized that no logs meant no fancy fireplace. Which meant no heat.
“It’s fine,” Reggie tried again. “The blankets are really warm, and the coffee table thing is a whole chest with more blankets.” So they piled more blankets on the big bed, as well as the bunk beds for the people who’d chosen ‘freedom from poky elbows’ (Alex) and ‘proper beauty sleep’ (Flynn and Carrie).
It was a little after one in the morning when Reggie felt something cold press against his calves. “Gah,” he said, flailing awake. Carrie shushed him. He squirmed out of Julie’s grasp just enough to turn around. “Whasswrong?” he asked, wrapping his arms around Carrie.
“It’s cold,” she complained, burying her icy nose against Reggie’s chest.
“Not in the cuddle pile,” he assured her, snuggling close. Fifteen minutes later, just as he was dozing off, he was woken up again by Flynn throwing her extra blankets on the bed before unceremoniously climbing over him and shoving herself between Julie and Willie.
Alex didn’t last much longer. “Well now I feel left out,” he said from across the room, before shuffling over with his own extra blankets. It was a tight squeeze, but Luke was more than happy to pretend he was a weighted blanket, sprawled mostly on top of a shivering Alex, until they all drifted off to sleep, cozy and warm again.
The next morning, after getting a response from the Glamping Manager that they’d be by with more firewood the next day, Alex shook his head. “Nuh-uh, I’m not doing that again,” he said. With a glint in his eye, he strode over to the wall, grabbing the probably-only-there-for-decoration axe off the hooks. Then he strode outside confidently.
“Do we... do we trust Alex with an axe?” Flynn asked.
“Honestly, Alex is the only one of us I’d trust with an axe,” Julie said. The rest of them pondered this for a moment, before nodding.
“Besides, he’s got them... drummer muscles,” Reggie said dreamily. This kickstarted Willie into action, hurrying out the door of the tent after Alex.
“Come on,” he called behind them. “You’re gonna miss the show.”
Watching Alex take out his frustration on a fallen tree until they had at least enough wood to get them through the night without freezing was totally worth it, even if they had to collect more sticks for the s’mores fire. Still, as Carrie tilted her head at Alex chopping out his rage at Cold Toes All Night, taking off his hoodie and revealing only a tank top underneath before getting back to it, she mused it was a shame they didn’t have some nice lawn chairs and drinks to watch this view.
“Best birthday ever,” Reggie whispered.
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perfectpaperbluebirds · 7 months
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Sicktember #19
Prompt: Curled Up With a Pet
Fandom/OCs: Priest ‘verse OCs (Luc and Flora)
Words: 2530
Sicknario inspo: 'Have you taken anything for that fever?' from this post and caught in the rain scenario from this post.
Author’s comments/background: Ah my sweet babies, in the honeymoon of their relationship. This is tooth rotting fluff, giving a new meaning to the idea of sickly sweet, but it’s definitely sickfic and easily one of my favorite things I wrote this year. Another prompt that just needed some characters to bring it to life, though, which made writing this easy. Enjoy the continued progression of Luc and Flora’s relationship. I set myself up perfectly for some romantic sickbed sex as the next chapter. We’ll see if I have the b*lls to write that, though. 
~~~***~~~
The last week in June was always when Father Luc took his summer vacation. He had rented an isolated cabin by a lake in a different state this year, ensuring the lowest possible chance of meeting someone he knew, which enabled Flora to join him along with Charlotte, his golden retriever. The pair had been scheming and anticipating the trip for months. Days of uninterrupted time together, not having to hide or cover their whereabouts, was something they had only dreamed of. Now they would actually experience it. 
The first few days of the trip were blissful. They spent hours basking in one another's company, talking about everything and nothing, elated not to be watching the clock or looking over their shoulder constantly. They ate every meal together, swam at all hours of the day, cuddled on the couch, stayed in bed for hours, explored and memorized every line and curve and expression and breath… perfection was the only word they could find to describe those first days. 
Around midweek, though, Flora was going a little stir crazy. It was decided that she would run to the nearest town for a grocery run and some window shopping. Luc despised shopping of any variety, so he opted to stay back and go for a hike with Charlotte on the nearby paths. It would be their first time apart in days, and Flora felt a little strange leaving them in the rearview mirror. She felt almost exposed without the warmth of his solid presence only a touch away. She decided she wasn't going to linger long in town, not wanting to waste a single moment of the blessed week. 
Luc, too, missed Flora the moment her car disappeared, but he had been looking forward to hiking since they'd gotten here. Flora was not an outdoors girl, though he knew she would've toughed it out just to please him, so he seized the opportunity to go while she was otherwise occupied. 
In his eagerness to get a few miles under his boots, he didn't look at the weather before starting off, which proved to be a huge oversight. The first half of the hike was perfect. He set a challenging pace, but didn't push himself and eased up when he needed to, though he refrained from taking any long rests. Charlotte trotted along with him merrily, enjoying her investigations along the path but never straying far from his side. 
The hour he'd set for his midway point arrived, and since he was feeling great, he decided to go just a bit further. The moment he made this decision, so it seemed, the rain clouds rolled in with frightening speed. Within minutes the first fat drops were falling. Luc groaned and turned around immediately, knowing it was probably too late. Sure enough, within fifteen minutes rain was falling steadily, surprisingly cold for the month of June. He had a cheap plastic rain poncho in his pack and he threw this on, knowing it would do little good in this, heavy, soaking rain. He tried to keep up the same pace, and even sped up where he could, but the path was steep and slippery in many places and he was forced to slow down for the sake of safety, so in the end he lost time. He avoided any injury, but he still slipped and fell more than once, and soon he was muddy on top of everything else. Any enjoyment he'd gotten from the first half of the walk was quashed by the cold, wet second half, and he was beyond relieved when the cabin appeared over the rise. Charlotte started running when she saw it, desperate to get somewhere dry, and he wasn't far behind.
Even though they returned almost forty-five minutes later than he intended, shockingly Flora hadn't returned either. He realized she was likely trying to wait out the rain, since driving in inclement weather made her anxious as it was, and this was unfamiliar territory to boot. Relieved not to have worried her, he toweled off himself and the dog, threw his filthy clothes in the wash, and hopped into a hot shower. 
He felt worlds better when he emerged, except that the damp chill seemed to have settled in his bones. Donning a sweatshirt and sweatpants, he planted himself on the couch to await the return of his beloved. 
About an hour after the rain had slowed to a drizzle, Luc heard the truck in the driveway. She had texted him when she was leaving town that she was on her way and that she'd picked up frozen pizzas for dinner, so he had the oven preheated and the pans ready. He waited just inside the door for her, and the moment she entered they collapsed into each other as if their absence had been months instead of hours, a hug so tight that neither knew where one of them ended and the other began. He breathed in the sweet scent of her, relishing the tickle of her hair against his neck. 
"I don't know how I'll get used to not being able to touch you in public again," she murmured in his ear, echoing his thoughts exactly. 
"We won't deal with that until we have to," he murmured back. 
They continued with similar sweet nothings while they moved as one into the kitchen and got the pizzas into the oven, unable to keep eyes and hands away from one another. 
"How was town?" he asked after a while, in the midst of making sweet iced tea to go with the pizza.
"Adorable. It's cliche, but the best word to describe it is quaint. They have little shops for everything. The grocery store was very overpriced, but they did have a lot of good stuff. I definitely splurged a little. How was your hike?"
He made a face. "Wet. Well, breathtaking at first. The trails are wonderful. But we got caught in the rain and got drenched before we could get home."
"I wondered why Charlie was looking all bedraggled. And why you chose to shower without me," she said, nudging her hip teasingly against his. "I'm sorry to hear that. I know you were really looking forward to that."
He shrugged. "Maybe I'll get another chance before we leave. But next time I'll actually check the weather first."
The rest of the night passed similarly. The rain never stopped with only the intensity varying from hour to hour. After their first day out of the house in days, the pair was tired and spent a languid evening watching movies on the couch. Flora sat in Luc's lap, her head on his chest, with a blanket covering them both. Luc was thankful for all the extra warmth keeping him from shivering, since he still couldn't get warm. They both dozed off and on, but during one interlude between movies, Flora made Luc promise to take her out to lunch the next day and go with her to a bookstore cafe she'd seen for dessert. Because Luc's only objective for the whole week was to make Flora the happiest woman alive, of course he said yes. 
~~~
In the wee hours of the next morning, Luc woke out of nowhere. Usually a hard sleeper, at first he was confused as to why he was awake, until he realized the pillow was unpleasantly wet under his face because apparently his nose was running. He gingerly lifted his head to find one nostril was completely clogged while the other was already tickling furiously, as if a dozen sneezes wanted to get out suddenly. He crept out of bed, careful not to disturb Flora. Charlotte raised her head to look at him from her bed on the floor, then laid back down with a huff of annoyance.
 He tiptoed around the foot of the bed, scrubbing at his nose until it squelched which only served to make him want to sneeze more, and over to the ensuite bathroom. Once the bathroom door was shut behind him, he blew his nose several times, then finally gave in to stifle a smattering of fittish sneezes into a towel. Another round of nose blowing, which triggered a little coughing fit, and at last he felt better. Opening the bathroom door, he was startled to see Flora half sitting up, blinking at him in confusion. 
"Are you okay?" she mumbled, fuzzy with sleep. "Heard you coughing."
He frowned. "I didn't mean to wake you. I'm fine. Just a tickle."
"Heard you sneezing too. Are you coming down with something?"
He shrugged. "Maybe a little chill. All the rain yesterday and such. Nothing to worry about."
Flora nodded, already coasting back to sleep. She was out before he had gotten under the covers. Before he could settle, he again had to scrub at his nose and was annoyed to find that it was already feeling drippy. He laid down with a huff reminiscent of Charlotte's and closed his eyes. He too was asleep again in moments.
~~~
The couple slept in the next morning, as had been their habit this week. By late morning, though, Flora, more of a morning person than Luc, was flitting around like a butterfly getting ready while the priest hadn't yet managed to get out of bed.
"Why are you getting all dressed up?" he mumbled, still half asleep.
"Because you promised to take me to lunch, silly! It's already brunch time as it is."
He ran a hand across his face, suppressing a groan. "Right, right. Okay, then I need to start getting ready too." He tried to keep his tone positive, but going into town was the last thing he wanted to do. Anything beyond moving from the bed to the couch was the last thing he wanted to do. But he could never disappoint Flora, not during their magical getaway. He was sluggish getting ready. His nose and throat still bothered him, his eyes felt puffy, and now he had the makings of a headache too. Yet he didn’t complain, smiled at Flora whenever he was near, and tried to act as if nothing was wrong. 
He couldn’t hide anything from perceptive Flora, though. He hadn’t made much headway in getting ready, and had only just made it out of the shower when she stopped him with a gentle touch on his arm. “Are you okay, Luc? You look pretty out of it.”
He sighed, choosing truth over a white lie. “I think that hike yesterday really took it out of me. I’m exhausted. Got the sniffles. Just really don’t feel great. But hey, I can still take you out to lunch, don’t worry. I want to make you happy and make the most of our time here."
Flora gave him a sympathetic smile. “Don’t do that to yourself. I can see in your eyes that you really don’t want to go out. You stay here and rest and hold down the fort. I’ll run up there and grab a book or two and some lunch and coffee to go for us. You don’t need to make yourself miserable for my sake.”
He chuckled softly. “I would never be miserable if I was with you. But if you’re sure, then I’ll take you up on that offer. I know you’re getting bored just hanging around here. And all I want to do is go back to sleep for a while. I promise I’ll be better company when you get back.”
“Especially if I bring you some caffeine,” she laughed. “Okay, it’s a deal. I’ll see you in a few hours, then. Enjoy your rest.”
“I’ll miss you the whole time,” he said softly. He hated that he would have to watch her drive away again, but knew he wouldn’t feel any better if he were with her in this case. It was for the best for him to stay here, so he could get himself into shape to enjoy her when she got back. 
~~~
Flora was back by late afternoon with a bag full of books, and a bag full of takeout, plus a carrier of drinks. Luc wasn’t in the living room, and she had a strong sense of deja vu, recalling the official beginning of their romance when she nursed him though a horrible chest cold. She set the food in the kitchen and the books in the living room, then poked her head into the bedroom, smiling at the sight that greeted her. 
Luc was wearing the same clothes he had been when she left, and it looked like he had turned around and laid down as soon as she was gone. He was on top of the bedspread, but covered in the blanket she always traveled with, snoring deeply and curled up in a “C” shape around Charlotte, who was also snoozing. Unlike the first time she had nursed him, though, she wasn’t about to let him sleep all day, not when they only had a few precious days left alone together. Plus, she was hungry, and she assumed he would be too. 
She perched on the side of the bed and ran her hand up and down the length of his leg. When he didn’t stir, she tried gently shaking his arm. He shifted and mumbled, immediately scrubbing his nose, which she noted was an angry shade of red, into his shoulder with a snuffle. She went to brush the riot of dark curls away from his forehead, but frowned when her palm made contact with his skin. She shook his shoulder again, softly calling his name. His eyes flickered open and lit up upon seeing her. They shared a tiny smile. 
“Hey, sleepyhead… Have you taken anything for that fever?” she asked softly, trying not to let worry color her tone too much. 
“Fever?” he mumbled. “What fever?” Luc slowly sat up, rubbing a palm into one eye and sniffling, only to be wracked by a harsh shiver a moment later that made him hiss in discomfort. 
“Oh no, are you cold?” Flora asked, though the answer seemed obvious, scooting closer to him and lifting her arm invitingly. 
“Freezing,” he said, and she thought she heard his teeth start to chatter as he pulled her blanket closer around himself, then sagged against her with a sleepy yawn, his heated skin making the hair on her arms prickle. She simply sat and held him for a bit, weighing their options. 
“Looks like I might be making another run into town,” Flora murmured. “I’m not sure how much medicine I brought. I think I just have Tylenol and Ibuprofen.”
“Don’t go again,” Luc mumbled, still half asleep against her. “I’ll be fine. I just want you here with me.”
Flora laughed softly. “If you insist. Your wish is my command.”
“All I wish is that we go watch more movies with coffee and dinner.”
“Call me Jeanne, then, because I think I can make that happen. As long as you promise you’ll take some medicine and not get any worse.”
“Your wish is my command,” Luc echoed sleepily, his dimple flickering in a smile.
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elvisgrace · 10 months
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💌 | Forget about sims, lets learn about YOU! Tell us one fact about yourself, and then send this to 5 other Simblrs to do the same 👽
Several years ago, when my bbs were still actually babies, we rented a cabin for a week with my parents, my baby brother, and my sister in the Appalachian mountains.
It's late at night, and I head upstairs to pop my head in to make sure all the pocket-sized ones are still asleep and don't need anything.
1st step - Oh hey, a shadow
2nd step - Kinda weird that on this entire stair case only one riser has a shadow
3rd step - Also too, based on light directionality, that shadow is totally wrong
4th step - Is that a sock stuck there through static cling?
5th step - Is that a face?
6th step - Are those WINGS???
7th step - Is that a motherfucking BAT staring directly at me???
6th step - That is very definitely a motherfucking BAT staring directly at me
5th step - oh god
4th step - oh shit
3rd step - oh fuck
2nd step - oh god oh shit oh fuck
1st step - ohgodohshitohfuckohgodohshitohfuckohgodohshitohfuck
At the bottom of the stairs, I'm trying to regroup and figure out what the hell to do, the most basic, rudimentary, non-standard life skills I knew at this point in my life came from my girl scout years lost in the mists of time, and very most definitely included no knowledge on what to do if confronted by a motherfucking BAT.
Things I vaguely knew about bats*, gleaned by osmosis through pop culture a) bats hate bright light b) they prefer to avoid people c) bats hate loud noises d) bats carry rabies 5) bats are probably definitely nocturnal supernatural creatures from Transylvania
Conclusion: This bat has been hanging out in this brightly lit stairwell, just chilling while the constant bedlam only small children can produce rages around him. This bat is not WELL, he is not RIGHT, he is going to give us all the rabies and grin while doing so.
I'm trying to alert my mom and brother to the situation unfolding without startling the bat and setting it off, so I'm emphatically whispering it at them. My mom has had a couple of glasses of wine at this point though, so she isn't picking up what I'm putting down, and I keep repeating myself to the point I'm whisper screaming at her and and whisper hysterically laughing, because at this point my emotional responses have done what I already should have, which is to say, fucked right off.
I grab her arm in exasperation to lead her to the stairs and point at it and she just. doesn't. see. it. I have to lead her up to the 5th step before she finally sees it at which point she yells "Hey it's a bat!" And I whisper scream "What are you doing? Are you trying to get us rabies-bat-murdered?!?!?"
I go to the kitchen to look up Animal Control, and I hear her and my brother discussing strategies for getting rid of it. I'm trying to tell them to let Animal Control deal with it, but for whatever reason they've decided to stand their ground against the bat (the reason is wine).
Their weapons of choice? A WICKER BREAD BASKET AND A COAT HANGER.
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**
So once I've realized how committed they are to this terribly stupid course, I just ask them to wait long enough for me to barricade my kids in their rooms, because unlike their grandmother and uncle***, I am not here for toddlers getting rabies-bat-murdered.
We're locked away, and I hear crashing, thumping, and shouting going on, and after eons later my brother came to tell me they got it. Evidently they managed to get it in the basket and sling it out an open window, at which point they heard a tiny plop from the driveway. However, the next morning the driveway was empty. No doubt that to this day that bat is planning his rabies-bat-murdery revenge.
This is also the trip where the moment I got home, I had to immediately turn around and go back, because my daughter left her special teddy bear there, a 5 hour round trip.
*This is in no way scientific or accurate, and I'm pretty sure I Mandela effected most of it.
**Not the actual items in question, just a reference.
***Their grandmother was probably not there for toddlers getting rabies-bat-murdered. She was there for getting back to her very first ever episode of Criminal Minds. Their poor beleaguered uncle was there for minimizing the absolute fuckery that inevitably ensues when Oma gets an idea.
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savoies · 2 years
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oh shit…. are we in love - ty smith.
summary: friends to lovers.
specified pronouns: she/her.
word count: 1.3k
warnings: maybe one bad word.
a/n: another fic brought to you by me and q's (@shanerwright ) convos. *named after the valley song.
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(*credit to gif owner*)
Ty Smith had been making other people happy for 21 years. And that was no exaggeration. Since he could remember he always put other people's needs before his needs and would much rather see other people happy on his behalf before himself. He had always been making other people happy and well, there wasn't really someone to make him happy when he was making everyone else happy. Well  that was until he met you.
You were a friend of Jack’s, meeting him after he had started his NHL career in New Jersey. You had met Ty through Jack, not really knowing him that well but liked hanging out with him since he was always so nice. Let’s just say that after a year of knowing and hanging out with someone like Ty you were bound to develop some type of feelings.
~~~
It was lake day for the New Jersey Devils youth. Them renting a cabin for the day and calling up their closest friends and driving up north. Everyone was out by the lake as the sun set. 
Ty sat on the dock, him not really wanting to go in the fifty degree lake. You had gone inside to go get a sweater and then sat next to him. You had a habit, not really knowing that you did it but as Ty grew closer to you he had picked up on it. Everytime you were comfortable with someone's presence you would hold their hand, of course it was only something you did in between your friends. But as both of you sat on the dock enjoying the sunset and you entangled your fingers in Ty’s, he couldn't help but have a small smile lay on his face and his heart skip a beat. 
~~~ 
Ty had trouble expressing himself. Especially when it came to his love life. Him and Jack currently talking in one of the corners of their captain’s apartment. Jack had brought you as his plus one knowing that his friend had a bit of a huge crush on you.
“Dude I don’t know why you just don’t ask her out.” Jack told his older friend. Snapping Ty out of his trance as he stared at you talking to Mikey. Everyone knew of Ty's crush on you, well everyone except you and him (he knew but he just put it aside thinking that it was just the fact that you were one of the only girls that he actually talked to).
“I don’t know what youre talking about.” He said as he sipped his drink, then changed the topic of conversation. There had been many times Jack had brought up the idea of him asking you out except that Ty couldn't bring himself to do it because he didn't want to ruin what you guys had, he liked having you around and felt as though  if he did express his feelings for you you would disappear as so many other people had done before.
So Jack thought about it. He had introduced you two and he would also get you two to go out. Because he saw the way both of you looked at each other. So knowing how his friend was he felt as though the next best thing was to talk to you.
You weren't exactly more open about your crush on Ty just because you felt as though someone like him wouldn't like someone like you. Except both of you were idiots. Huge idiots because you were basically perfect for each other. 
You know how you develop feelings for someone and at some point it becomes something more than a crush. That's how you and Ty were. Two big idiots who were deeply in love with each other. Let’s just say that when two people were in love but were afraid to share their feelings, having a friend like Jack came in handy.
Jack had a plan. It wasn't the best plan but he hoped that it would work. Because after a year and a half of watching his two friends make heart eyes at each other he couldn't take it any longer. 
He had invited you over to hang out except that when you arrived there was no Jack in sight, only Ty.  You had knocked three times and then came face to face with Ty as the door opened, your heart feeling the warmth and your stomach filling with butterflies. 
“Oh uhm hi, is Jack here?” You said, wrapping your arms around you, feeling kind of as though he could hear your heart thumping out of your chest. 
“He went out with Nico. Want to come in and wait?” Ty said as he took in your features that he learned to love over the course of knowing you. 
“No, it's ok, I'll just text him.” You said as you pulled out your phone and started to walk away. This right here was it. He could either let you go and foolishly continue to hide his feelings for you or he could invite you in and hope that maybe you would want to hang out with him. He stayed glued to his spot, not beginning to move and then his voice spoke up, more like a squeak than anything, him then clearing his throat.
“Would you maybe like to come in…. To watch a movie or something.” He said as he instantly felt vulnerable, like he was putting everything he had to offer on the table. 
You smiled at the sight of him, he looked so soft and all you could think about was what it would be like to have his arms wrapped around you and how it would be like to lay next to him, warmth radiating from both of you. How could you say no. Next thing you knew both of you were on the couch, your shoulders touching slightly, as if any of you were to move the warmth from the other would disappear. 
You were the first to speak. Breaking the silence between the two, the only thing being heard through the New Jersey apartment was the background noise of the movie Ty had picked. 
“Why haven't you asked me out yet, I thought you were going to do it at the cabin but was I just reading the signals wrong?’ You asked, wondering if you had just made a huge mistake. 
Ty’s eyes widened. Here he was about to confess how he loved you. Confess how much you meant to him. And Jack or anyone wasn't here to get him out of it. It was time to acknowledge his feelings and tell you how he felt.
“I thought maybe you would say no, I just felt as though maybe you didn't or you don't feel the same way.” He said as he avoided eye contact. Love was a weird thing. Something you do so much for but at the same time something you can't begin to explain. Both of you sat there not even knowing what to say next. 
“Ty you're honestly the best thing that has happened to me in the last year. Without you I don’t think I would be where I am today.” You said. Sometimes love isn't saying the three words but saying stuff that makes you feel the three words.
Ty sat there. Here you were, the girl that made him happy confessing that you were in love with him. For 21 years he had been making other people happy and finally here you were to make him happy.
“Can I kiss you?” He asked softly. You nodded as both of you leaned in. Placing your hands on his face, your first kiss being filled with so much love and need. Even though the three words were not said in this love confession they were said soon after because after so many months of holding back your love it couldn't hide it any longer.
.☆☆☆.
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ratsoh-writes · 1 year
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Emerald is noticeably taken aback by Ram's words and how casually he said them. He and his brother 'get to' stay in a house? As in, its a privilege to have an actual roof over their heads?? Almost like it's something they have to 'earn' instead of a common right for all sentient life???
Something deeply uncomfortable twinges inside her chest. A feeling that there's something not quite right, but without enough experience or information to pinpoint what it is. Like a shadow you see out of the corner of your eye.
Emerald is suddenly very conscious of her increased height astride the black horse. She dismounts slowly, taking the time to try to think through what she says next. She barely knows this monster : asking anything too personal would drive an immediate wedge between them. And hey, maybe she's getting conerned over nothing. Maybe this is just another one of those monster customs she's still so new to?
"Um," she says, fidgeting with the reins in her hand as she speaks, "Wh-where were you staying before, if that's not a rude question..?"
Ram shrugs again.
Ram: here n’ there. When t’ crash happened, pitch n’ I only had t’ clothes on our back. No skills or nothin’. T’ royals put monsters like us in a’ big building complex thing for t’ first year to get back on our feet, but with no schoolin’ we didn’t really qualify for anythin’
Ram doesn’t seem to have any shame when he tells how he and his brother were homeless for a few months, then did various couch surfing with roommates looking for a job. Eventually they landed the shepherd gig, and saved up enough to get a little rig attached to a truck to stay in. The only degree ram has is a drivers license, but pitch, a “real genius” according to ram already passed his literacy exam and has a high school diploma. The two monsters that they’re moving in with were friends made when one of the sheep Ram was caring for beat the other monsters cow in best of show.
There were shelters for every one who appeared without a home for the first two years of the crash, but if you were still unemployed after that you weren’t allowed to stay. And no one wanted to hire two illiterate monsters with no skills beyond basic thievery. Ram and pitch are tough though so after living at the docks for a few months, a sheep rancher picked them up as farmhands and they’ve been saving money ever since. Rams apartment fund is going into an education fund for pitch instead since peaches and rancher are letting them stay rent free in the cabin
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katyobsesses · 2 years
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I’m very curious about Luna and Visit Olympus 👀
Ah, Luna, my beloved. This isn't the title, just a reminder to me of what the doc is and I have not written much, if any, of this yet outside of an outline but it lives in my mind rent free.
Basically an AU where Tina and Quinn used to live near each other when they were kids (so when Quinn was Lucy, hence Luna as their ship name!) But Tina moved out of her foster house when she was adopted by the Cohen-Changs, changing her last name and moving to Lima. Lucy was devastated about this, because Tina was the only person she had who saw her as herself, not as this perfect little princess her parents wanted her to be. After Tina left is when the bullying started tenfold for Lucy, and then the bullying is what turned her into Quinn.
The fabrays then move into the district for McKinley and Quinn starts afresh during freshman year.
During the time apart, however, Tina has also changed, adopting her punk/goth/emo aesthetic, so the two girls don't recognise each other at all and canon continues as usual until Quinn is outed as Lucy in Born This Way. (though they do seem weirdly drawn to each other during S1 and 2, though neither understand why)
By this point, however, Tina and Quinn are Not Close, so Tina doesn't know how to bring it up to Quinn and keeps her own identity a secret (though Mike does find out about Tina's childhood with Lucy and is a Good Boyfriend/Bestie about it)
That is until S3 and Skank!Quinn. Quinn is now hanging out with the Alt crowd, and Tina knows in her heart that this is Quinn just wanting to feel seen, but also these are girls that Tina hung out with during freshman year and knows they're trouble. She's the one to go to Quinn in episode 1 instead of Rachel. Tina recognises that Quinn needs help learning who she is, and realises she is still the only person who knows who Quinn is at her core.
That's kind of all I have so far plot wise, except I know it's a Luna (Quinntina) endgame, with a supportive Mike and like a bunch of queer awakening especially on Quinn's side. The quintessential childhood friends to lovers pipeline. Oh also each others first kiss at like 10 or whatever. Oh also Mike is so supportive because he's also in love with his childhood best friend - who is of course Matt.
---
Okay so Visit Olympus is actually just my current cross stitch WIP - a Percy Jackson inspired one because I have gotten obsessed and I need things to replace my Harry Potter shit and there is like nothing on the market (come on Disney give us good merch, I need a Cabin 6 shirt please and thank you)
basically its one of those vintage looking travel posters of the empire state building at sunset with "Visit Olympus - home of the gods" next to it- here's my planning for it, it took me way too long especially as I'm using a pattern from the internet for most of it. Like I was up until 4am one night planning it 😂 (hence it saying "the of the gods" instead of "home of the gods")
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camnotes · 25 days
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the supposed last days in england
16 july 2014
We do not have breakfast together today. You cycled to Will's to prepare for the busking festival in Edinburgh. I wanted to sleep a bit more but after replying to my friend's email about meeting up in Denmark, I was a quite awake. Felt a bit lonely, I opened Youtube watching videos about health and beauty care by a Canadian girl. Tried to check how much internet data I have left out of the 100MB but the password for the app did not work. Felt bad about lying in bed using the internet, though it is less than one hour. When I could hear some sounds from the birds, I decided to wake up. I peed, cleaned my tongue and washed my throat with warm salt water. Rinsed the kettle and put some cold water in the boil. We run out of lemon so I have artichoke herbal tea from Vietnam. Washed a pure light green granny smith's apple, put the red blanket over the table outside, I was happy to enjoy another breakfast outdoor since we moved here, in the sun, looking up to the sky.
Looking straight now is the fence that divides our small rented stoned garden and the big grass garden of the land-lord that we go to the end most of the time to stay on the wooden floor next to the little stream, my favourite plum tree, few other trees and Andrew's cabin. You said it was a very girl, which you actually mean 'woman', thing of Magaret to ask her husband to put up the fence that was not there. Magaret happens to be a white woman that can make me put her in the category of those irritated British women. One day she was on the phone with someone and all I could hear was a lot of 'She' - she was talking about some girl or woman; and a lot of 'She was ridiculous'. Though she did have a few words with her for a few times and did smile and ask me about our recent holiday in Budapest, all could be just 'diplomatic'. I have learned myself not to be close with housemates because it's easier like that so I should understand why she behaves so. Women are more possessive of their men because historically since there was no contraception, women could get pregnant when being with a guy so they have to be careful and cannot just play around with different girls like guys.
It's just a 'women' thing. They might have a period, they might have been wanted by any guy. You said guys go get the girls so all the girls have to try to attract guys, that's why girls are more jealous to each other.
I have learned myself that when a white person is not nice to someone, it's not always 'racism', it's more 'discrimination' most of the time that can happen not just between races but between the same race from different places in one country. The people from the capital take for granted that their accent is standard; the rest is 'countryside', 'southern', or 'northern' for the case of the U.K.
When I think about almost four years that I have lived in England, I think about the people I have encountered, the people who have made me smile, laugh, cry, and think.
The formal manager of the scholarship office of the university. Big size middle age English man, some white hair, big belly.
When I met him in Vietnam before applying for the scholarship for the second time, he was friendly, helpful, understanding with the situation in Vietnam, my family situation. He told me he helped an Indian girl from a slum to study in England. I told him Westminster had been ranked first in the UK for giving our scholarship to international student. He smiled quite proudly 'It's good to be first in something'. He ordered the second coffee when I asked him about his degree in Archaeology before. Looking at my CV, he asked me why I do not study Film.
He seems like a different man in England. When people live in their own country, they can be nationalist. In the first meeting with all the international scholarship students, after telling everyone about the bad stereotypes of each nationality that has scholarship students - now I can only remember he said Indians, don't be on the phone all the time. He then said 'York is the most English town in England' then smile proudly, 'Guess where I am from'. At the end of his speech when he said, 'Be careful with me. I'm the man with the money and power.' is when my tears rolled down and I could not stop it. I looked around, some African faces, some Indians, some Asians - all seem too nervous and worried to smile or laugh at his supposedly joke. No one applauded either.
7 September 2014
I feel a bit lost but a new life is waiting ahead. It is not as if I am suffering from cancer and dying, even if there might be a next life, who knows how it would be. In my case now, I know it would taste like heaven on earth when I have several kinds of Vietnamese food a day, long time no see friends and family and the weather would warm me up after four years of wind and cold, come and go sun in England.
The last 39 days with London, England and BB. More than a month of traveling in between will make it easier. I have not felt good from yesterday since you told me you are going to teach that woman today. It just sounds like a prostitute getting client from the street for what happened. You will be very mad if I tell you this comparison. In Vietnamese culture, being a musician or a typical performing 'artist' could be considered as one kind of 'prostitute' who pleases different people. That is why my mum would not want me to go into singing, learning music instrument or any other kind of art, besides the fact that we could not afford it. I was surprised to hear from the mixed Dutch and French woman that her Dutch father did not want her to pursue ballet because for him, it is like dancing naked in front of lots of people.
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kkodzvken · 3 years
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suit up - hawks x f. reader
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the one where keigo marries the girl of his dreams, and then takes her home and shows her just how loved she is. title cred/inspo: suit up by jonghyun
notes/warnings: smut and fluff (your teeth may rot and fall out, you’ve been warned), soft dom!keigo, praise kink, slight size kink, oral (f. receiving), unprotected sex + creampie. reader and kei use the traffic light safe word system and they review it beforehand, and he checks in with her at one point but she’s green, so everything is 100% consensual. they flirt + kei says explicit things at the reception but nothing /actually/ happens in public. mentions of alcohol
wc: 5.3k
a/n: this idea’s been bouncing around my head for a while bc i wanna marry this dumbass so bad :’) my first full hawks fic!! im so happy hehe
Beautiful.  
You’re so beautiful.
Keigo’s always known, of course. He’s found you beautiful since the very first moment that he laid his eyes on you, all those years ago. He tells you that you’re beautiful every single day, no matter how much you roll your eyes or jokingly tell him to shut up.
You’re beautiful all the time, but there are certain moments that leave him especially breathless. The day that you foolishly challenged Rumi to an arm-wrestling match. The determined look in your eye as you clenched your fist, sweat dripping down your brow and arm muscles straining (you lost, of course – the rabbit hero was ridiculously jacked). The brilliant smile that graces your face whenever he brings you flowers or little souvenirs from his work trips. The very first morning after you moved into his penthouse, when he woke up next to your peaceful sleeping form, and realized that he’d have mornings like this for the rest of his life.
The day that he flew you up to the mountains for a starlit picnic. The smile on your face as you polished off your meal, and the way that your hand flew up to your mouth when he got down on one knee. Your teary-eyed look of pure love as he slipped the ring onto your finger, the diamond gleaming like one of the stars that shone down on you. The way that your eyes rolled back and your legs wrapped around his waist when he took you home and fucked you for hours.
And right now. Keigo swore that his heart damn near burst at the sight of you. The organist was playing, but he couldn’t hear the notes, couldn’t hear anything besides the blood rushing in his ears. Your hands clasped an elegant flower bouquet, and Keigo was sure that the blossoms were pretty, but he couldn’t spare even a second to glance at them. No, his entire focus was trained on you. You, with your beautiful dress that perfectly accentuated the body that he loved so much. When your eyes raised to meet his, and that perfect smile worked its way across your face… he had to bite his inner cheek to try and hold the tears back.
In a simultaneous eternity and heartbeat, you were handing off your bouquet to a bridesmaid and clasping Keigo’s large hands with your much smaller ones. The officiant was speaking, but Keigo didn’t process any of it. The sight of your eyes shining up at him, more beautiful than any of the stars in the night sky, was the only thing anchoring him to the world. He felt like he was floating through a dreamscape with only you, the happiness in his chest powerful and all-encompassing.
.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.
You’re talking to a group of your old friends from high school when a tap against your shoulder grabs your attention, and you turn to see your fiancé – no, your husband – smirking down at you. He wraps an arm around your waist and pulls you close. “Excuse me, ladies,” he says to your friends. “Mind if I steal her for a moment?” His amber eyes glint mischievously, and you swear that a whole swarm of butterflies take flight in your stomach.
Your friends giggle and nod, and then Keigo’s spinning you around so that you’re face-to-face. He’s stunning, in his black suit and red dress shirt, the shade of crimson matching his wings perfectly. “Dance with me, dove,” he says, before leaning down to press a quick kiss against your lips. You nod, and he leads you towards the center of the venue, where most of your guests are dancing to some cheesy pop song. Keigo nods at the DJ, who nods back and switches to the music. Soft synth notes travel through the speakers, before the singer’s dreamy voice floods your ears.
Your hands find their way to his broad shoulders. His wings move to wrap around you protectively. You’re not sure if he even realizes that he does it – it’s such a normal thing, now, for him to shield you, to create a little cocoon for the two of you. You frown as you feel his muscles moving underneath your fingers. “You’re too tense,” you say, fingers gently kneading at the parts of his back that you can reach. “Let me give you a massage once we get home.”
He chuckles, one of his own hands coming up to capture yours. He laces your fingers together before bringing your hand up to his lips and pressing a gentle kiss against your skin. The look he gives you is so tender, the love radiating off his body so palpable, that it makes your knees feel week. “Sweet, but I’m the one who’s going to be taking care of you tonight.” You open your mouth to protest, but he tuts, and a feather flies up to shush at your lips. “No, listen. You’re driving me crazy. Every time I turn my head, I see you looking so damn beautiful that my heart stops. Makes me wanna just pull you away and rip that pretty dress off.”
You gasp at his words, a pretty blush dusting your cheeks. “Kei! People are gonna hear you!”
He shrugs, pulling you even closer and swaying your bodies lightly to the music. “Let them,” he says nonchalantly, but the glint in his eye is pure sin. He leans down so that his lips brush against the shell of your ear. You can’t help the shudder that wracks through your body as his warm breath hits your skin. “You’re so cute when you’re blushing like that. Did I make you flustered, baby?” His fingers release yours, instead gripping your chin and forcing you to meet his eyes. “Answer me, love.”
You nod, feeling small. Only Keigo can affect you like this, can reduce you to a trembling mess with just a few words.
You love it.
He smirks at your confession, pressing a kiss against your cheek before leaning his forehead against yours. “What do you say we jump ship, babe?” Your confusion must show on your face, because he continues. “I think I might die if I have to wait much longer to get my hands on you. And judging by the way you’re acting… I’d bet good money that you’re already dripping for me.”
“Kei!” You swat at his chest before burying your face in it. He laughs, one of his real, genuine laughs that makes your heart soar, before kissing the crown of your head.
“I don’t see you denying it.”
“Shut up.”
“Aw, is my cute little wife flustered?”
Wife. The word sounds so pretty rolling off his lips that you can’t resist retreating from the safety of his chest to press your lips against his. He cups your face with one of his large, rough hands and kisses you back. His wings shift to cover you up before the hand on your waist moves down to pinch at your ass – or, at least, it tries. The layers of your dress obstruct him, and he growls in frustration.
You can’t help but whine as well. You want him all the time, of course. Years of being together haven’t changed how fucking badly you want him all the time. You’d used up all your willpower behaving for the ceremony and the reception so far. You’d been good, had kept your hands to yourself throughout dinner and the toasts. But now, the mix of his body against yours, the dirty words that he’d whispered into your ear, and the cocktails running through your bloodstream were making it very hard for you to ignore the pooling heat between your legs.
You wanted him. You wanted your husband.
“Please,” you whisper. Under normal circumstances, you’d hate how whiny and pathetic you sound, but you’re too far gone to care. “Please, let’s go, Kei. Need you.”
.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.
A few whispered words to Rumi, and a knowing smirk from her, and you were gone. It was surprisingly easy to slip out the venue. You’d expected to be stopped by some nosy family member, but it seemed that everyone was too tipsy and having too much fun to care. Nevertheless, you had to be careful once you stepped out into the fresh night air. The number two hero’s wedding was perfect paparazzi bait. You didn’t even want to think about the feeding frenzy that the media would go into if they caught sight of you now.
The night sky was like a shield, though, and it protected you from prying eyes. You’d been discreet when picking the wedding and reception venues, and even more discreet in choosing your honeymoon destination. Tomorrow morning, you and Keigo would fly up to the mountains, where he’d rented a little cabin for the two of you. By some miracle, he’d managed to get a whole week off work – a whole week where you’d have him, entirely to yourself.
But right now, you aren’t thinking about tomorrow morning, or the lovely, peaceful honeymoon that you were about to embark on. Right now, the only thing you can think about is Keigo. Keigo, with his beautifully messy hair that moved like ocean waves as you soared through the air. There’s nothing in this world that you love more than flying with him, pressed against his sturdy body with his strong arms wrapped around you. Light pollution makes it hard to see the sky from the ground, but up here, the moon and stars are breathtaking.
Almost as breathtaking as your husband, who’s eyes are prettier than any stars could ever hope to be.
He looks down and catches you staring, taking him in with your wide, wondrous eyes. You can barely hear anything through the noise-cancelling headphones that he makes you wear whenever you fly, but his words reach you, clear as day – “I love you.”
“And I love you.” Your voice comes out small, stolen away by the rushing wind. You try again, louder this time. “I love you!”
He chuckles, chest shaking as he tries to keep his laughs contained. “You trying to one-up me? I can be loud too.” He takes a deep breath, before tipping his head back and shouting an I love you up into the heavens.
His lips are soft and sweet as candy when they dip down to meet yours. “I’m just so happy,” he whispers against you. “You make me so happy.”
.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.
The moment that you set foot into the penthouse, you gasp.
“Oh, Kei,” you breathe, hand flying over your mouth.
He bounces nervously as he locks up the balcony door, not meeting your eye. “Do…do you not like it?”
You march up to him and grab his face in your hands, before standing up onto your tip-toes and planting a kiss on his forehead. “I love it, baby. Really, you’ve outdone yourself.”
He perks up at the praise, kissing your lips once before his hands move down and he picks you up, clean off the ground. You can’t hold your shrieking laugh back as he spins you around, a smile lighting up his face like a god damn Christmas tree.
The house is beautiful. Really, he did outdo himself. Back when you’d first started dating, he’d had to call off your six-month-anniversary date because of a mission. You’d assured him that it was fine, that you understood, but you’d be lying if you said that you weren’t upset. He promised that he would be back in a week at the latest. You’d spent the night with your friends, eating ice cream and watching shitty movies, and left for work the next morning. You weren’t expecting him back for a few days at least, but when you opened your door after an exhausting day at work, he was there, waiting for you. Scratches on his face and bandages on his arms, but he was there. And he’d decorated your apartment with flowers and fairy lights, centered around a haphazardly made blanket fort in the center of the living room. Little candles were placed across the room, each with a red feather standing guard, making sure that the flames didn’t accidentally get knocked over and grow. After you’d gotten over your initial shock – how the hell did you get in here, Kei – you ran into his arms and squeezed him, tight. He didn’t let go of you for the entire night – his body always pressed against yours, fingers constantly entwined, even as he made you cum so many times that you forgot your own name.
It was one of your fondest memories, one that always brought a smile to your face. You’d mentioned it offhandedly last week, while you were in the weeds with wedding planning. Honestly, you didn’t think that he’d even heard what you said, with how stressed and busy the two of you were. He was picking up extra patrols to make up for his honeymoon vacation time, and you were working your ass off to get your overbearing boss off your back.
But he had heard. He heard, and he listened, because that’s just the kind of lover – the kind of husband – that Keigo is. Attentive, sweet, and intuitive. You swear, he spoils you beyond belief. You don’t even know when he got the time to decorate the apartment today, but it’s beautiful. Even more beautiful than the decorations from your six-month-anniversary, because this time, the sight is sweetened by the knowledge that this is your shared home. This isn’t just your apartment, that your friends helped sneak him into so he could fancy it up. This is your shared space, where you’ll spend the rest of your lives together. Where you’ll wake up in his arms every morning, his wings wrapped around you protectively, fragmenting the morning light into shards of red. Where you’ll make meals together and laugh at his bad cooking, where you’ll take sanctuary from the harshness of the world. This place is your home. Keigo is your home.
He finally stops spinning, but refuses to set you down. Instead, he readjusts you so that he’s carrying you bridal style. You almost laugh at how cliché it is. It feels like something out of a cheesy rom-com, but you’re so happy that you feel like you’re in one of those rom-coms.
You do laugh out loud when you see the trail of petals leading to your bedroom. Keigo feigns disappointment, dramatically sighing. “Don’t laugh, princess, you wound me.” That just makes you laugh even more, and soon, he’s joining in, burying his face in your hair as he walks the two of you towards the bed. “C’mon, I’m trying to be romantic! Quit making me laugh!”
“I can’t help it,” you giggle as he gently places you onto the bed. Thankfully, he had the common sense to not put any petals on the actual bed, but the floor is absolutely covered. Blossoms line the walls as well, along with candles that bathe the room in their gentle glow. You take a second to admire how beautiful your husband looks in the soft light. The shadows make his wings seem that much bigger as they unfurl to their full size. He looms over you, looking like the most delicious mix of devil and angel that you’ve ever seen. There’s still a playful smile on his face, but something mischievous simmers beneath it.
“Hope you didn’t forget what you said at the reception hall, baby,” he says, eyes glinting. “What was it? Hmm, something like, need you, Kei, need you to take me home and fuck me, I’m already so wet for you.”
You groan and try to bury your face in your hands, but he’s too fast. He grabs your wrists and pins them above your head, easily wrapping them with just one of his large hands. “You’re making shit up,” you pout. “I only said the first part.”
“So you admit you said it? That you need me?”
“Shut up.”
“Mm, no thanks.”
You groan again, trying to suppress your smile. There are plenty of times that you and Keigo have had “serious” sex, but you mostly find yourself like this, devolving into giggles and teasing. There’s something about him that makes you feel so safe and at ease, and you can’t help yourself from giggling at his stupid remarks. He laughs, and releases your wrists to cradle your face with both his hands. He shifts so that he’s properly on top of you, his thighs on either side of your hips, and bends down to press kisses all over your face.
“My wife,” he breathes, in between kisses. “My sweet, beautiful, amazing wife. This dress is so pretty, but let’s take it off, my love. You don’t need it anymore.”
It takes a few minutes of awkward wriggling and tugging to finally remove the lace monstrosity, but at long last, the dress ends up on the floor. Keigo’s hands are on your body in an instant, fingers trailing over the curve of your waist and snapping the waistband of your panties. “God, you’ve got such pretty little lingerie on.”
“Wanted to dress up for you,” you say, pawing at his tie and trying to loosen the knot. It makes you feel small, to be so exposed while he’s still fully dressed. Normally you love to savor in that feeling, but right now, you need to feel his bare skin against yours. “Now take your clothes off, please.”
You finally manage to loosen his tie enough to pull it over his head. After stopping for another deep kiss, your hands continue their path over his body. His suit jacket comes off next, although he has to help you gently maneuver it off his wings. His cuff links clatter to the ground as you almost viciously rip off his dress shirt, and you moan when you finally feel his warm muscles.
You’re practically grinding into each other by now. Little whines leave your lips as you shamelessly roll your hips, seeking any friction you can get. You can feel his hardness, even through his thick pants, and you chase it with vigor. He’s not much better, a light blush dusting his face as he meets your rolls with shallow thrusts of his own. “Off, off, Kei, need to feel you,” you babble, fingers desperately trying to undo this belt buckle. Breathlessly, he pushes your fingers aside and pulls his belt off, unceremoniously throwing it across the room. You half expect it to collide with a candle and set the entire building on fire, but a few feathers fly out to catch it and gently set it down.
You don’t waste a second in pulling his pants down and throwing them as well, trusting that a feather will keep it from crashing into anything. Your fingers try to pull down the waistband of his boxers, but he tuts and grabs your hand.
You look up at him with pleading eyes. “Please,” you whine.
The smile on his face is gentle beyond belief as he answers. “I told you that I was going to take care of you tonight, baby. Let me make you feel good, okay? Can I make you feel good?”
You want to protest, want to beg him to stuff your face or your cunt and fuck into you until you’re lightheaded, but Keigo’s insistent about making you cum at least twice before even thinking about his own pleasure. And you can’t deny that you’re aching for him. You’re certain that you’ve soaked through your flimsy panties by now, and your mind is hazy with want.
You nod. Keigo takes your face in his hand, gently stroking your cheek with his thumb. “Can you give me your colors too?”
You force your mind to push through the fog, force your heavy lips to move and form words. “G-green for good, yellow for slow down, red for stop.”
“Good girl.” The praise goes straight to your core, and you whine. “Oh, baby, I know I just vowed to give you everything you could ever want, but you’re so damn needy. Be patient for me, okay? Let me touch you.”
You nod obediently, but you can’t fight the urge roll your hips and feel him again. With a soft, scolding noise, he presses one of his hands into your hipbone, effectively pinning you to the mattress. Try as you might, you can’t squirm away. He’s so ridiculously strong, his muscles toned from years of training and hero work, that you’re no match for him. But it’s not so bad. You love the dominance that oozes off his body as he moves down, his hands and tongue exploring every inch of skin that they can find. His teeth nip at the sensitive spot on your neck, the spot that always makes you melt for him. You shamelessly sigh and tilt your head to give him more access.
His right hand, the one that isn’t currently pinning you to the mattress, plays with the lacy edges of your bra. He palms you through the thin fabric, making you groan and arch your back into his touch. It’s not enough, you need more, need to feel more of him before you lose your mind. He seems to read your mind, because he doesn’t even bother to unclasp the bra, electing instead to rip it clean off your body. The snap of the straps breaking makes you gasp, but you revel in the sting of the elastic bouncing back against your skin.
“Couldn’t wait,” he says, not a hint of shame on his face. “You know how much I love to tease, but fuck, I need you now.”
He’s a bit more ceremonious when he removes your panties, choosing to use a hardened feather to slice through the fabric instead of just ripping with brute force. He fucking moans at the sight of you, wet and needy for him. It sounds like absolute heaven, but you don’t have even a second to revel in it before he’s diving into you. The sudden rush of pleasure is electrifying, and you go to instinctively slam your legs shut, but Keigo’s hand is too fast again. His tongue doesn’t falter for even a second as his fingers dig into your thighs and push you open. His lips wrap around your clit and suck, and he’s outrageously loud as he moans into your sex. It’s all so much – he’s licking at you like a man on death row, coaxing little whines and gasps from your lips.
His beautiful eyes are trained on yours, pupils blow out with love and lust. He memorizes every little expression that flits across your beautiful face as he eases a finger into you, eyes only leaving your face to admire the way that your little cunt sucks him in. But he can’t tear his gaze away from you, and the way your mouth falls open, or the way that your eyes flutter and roll back. The way that your hands ball up into fists, alternating between grabbing the bedsheets and lacing through his hair. Fuck, he loves how you pull at his hair when his fingers curl up against that spongy spot inside of you that makes you see stars. Loves the little curses and gasps of his name that spill past your lips as he scissors and thrusts his digits deeper and deeper into your perfect pussy.
“Cum for me, princess,” he groans. “Please, cum for me, need you to be a good girl and cum for me.”
And, well, you did just vow to give him everything that he could ever want.
You throw your head back and almost sob as you gush all over his face and fingers. He’s insatiable, licking and fingering you all through it, desperately trying to lap up every single drop of your juices. Your body is shaking, and you whimper, the overstimulation building until it’s too much, until you’re crying out too much, Kei, ‘s too much!
“Give me your color, baby,” he says, slowing his assault against your body.
“G-green,” you stutter out, the words as shaky as your legs. “Green, don’t stop, it’s just – ah! Kei!”
Your verbal confirmation was all he needed to dive back in, sucking at you with even more vigor than before. His fingers twist and curl against your spot, and his tongue lashes at your clit. He doesn’t stop for even a second, burying himself in your heat. It’s all you can do to maintain your grip on his hair, tugging at it just the way that he loves. You’re thrust headfirst into your second orgasm of the night, crying out his name and positively sobbing at the onslaught of sensations.
When he finally pulls away, the lower part of his face is soaked with your cum. He makes a show of licking his lips clean, not breaking eye contact with you, no matter how much you blush and squirm. He saves his fingers for you, though. A gentle tap at your lips is all it takes for you to obediently open your mouth and take in his digits. You swirl your tongue around, eyes lidded with the afterglow of your pleasure.
But you’re not finished, are nowhere near finished. You suppose that you are being needy, but how could you not, when your husband looks like an absolute fucking god? The candlelight makes your cum on his face glisten beautifully. You whine and pull him in for a kiss, mashing your lips against his and greedily swiping your tongues together. It’s sinful. You can taste yourself on him, and it makes you shudder, makes you need him that much more.
“Please, please fuck me,” you beg, wrapping your legs around his slim waist and trying to pull him closer, closer, closer. “Please, Kei, need you inside me, need my husband inside me.”
“Fuck,” he breathes, so quietly that you would��ve missed it if you didn’t feel the word formed against your lips. “Fuck, baby, okay.” His hand slides between your bodies and quickly pushes his boxers down. He uses a feather to pull them all the way off, because he can’t be bothered to focus on that, not when you’re practically drooling at the sight of his cock.
Your fingers twitch, and you aren’t able to hold back any longer. Your hand finds his cock, marveling at how heavy and perfect he feels as you wrap your fingers around him and guide him towards your sopping cunt. You pause before you slide him in, though, looking up at him with wide eyes. “Can I ride you? Please?”
He curses again under his breath, practically shivering at your words. His strong hands reposition the both of you, until you’re sitting on his thigh and he’s leaning back against the headboard. He cocks an eyebrow and smirks. “Well, then? Get to work, princess.”
You roll your eyes, trying not to laugh at his antics. “What happened to Mr. Let-Me-Take-Care-Of-You?”
“He’ll come out later. If my pretty wife wants to ride me, she gets to ride me.”
You laugh for real this time, but it quickly turns into a moan as you sink yourself down on his length. No matter how many times you take him, he always overwhelms your senses, always stretches you so deliciously. You lean your forehead against his and give yourself a second to adjust, and then you’re rolling your hips, little whines leaving your lips.
“Feels so good, Kei.” You throw your head back, your fingers digging into the strong muscles of his back to anchor yourself. “You always feel so good.”
His eyes are half-lidded and dark as he takes you in. He’s memorizing every inch of your body, every detail and movement that he absolutely fucking adores. “You’re the most beautiful thing in the world,” he whispers, seemingly more to himself than you. “So beautiful. I’m so lucky.”
Your thighs burn, but you force yourself to ignore the pain. You’d rather die than stop right now. His strong arms encircle your waist, and his wings surround your bodies, ruffling with every one of your movements.
You want to ignore your exhaustion, but your husband is perceptive as ever. His hips raise up to meet you, and it sends a fresh wave of pleasure through your body. You’re shaky, though, and you’re getting sloppy.
Before you can even process what’s happening, you’re being spun over and pinned to the mattress. A gasp leaves your lips, and you whine as his cock slips out of you. Your hand reaches out and paws around wildly, searching for him through your haze. Keigo’s quick to kiss you and shush your protests, entwining his rough fingers in your searching hand and stroking his thumb against your palm.
“Relax, angel. Let me take care of it.”
He slides into you again, making you both moan. Your pussy sucks him in greedily, clenching and fluttering around him. He pauses once he bottoms out. His face buries into the crook of your neck, and he presses sweet kisses all over your skin.
You wrap your legs around his waist and squeeze, trying desperately to make him move. “Keigo, baby, please,” you whine, fingers digging into the strong muscles of his back.
He coos, cupping your face and kissing you before he readjusts himself. “Of course, pretty girl.”
His thrusts are deep and hard, so hard that they make the entire bed shake. Your eyes flutter shut, but he grips your jaw and begs you to keep them open – please, baby, look at me, need to see my pretty wife fall apart.
“You’re so fucking perfect,” he moans, teeth nipping at your lips. “So perfect, and all mine.”
“All yours,” you agree. You’re practically babbling by this point, unable to stop the noises slipping past your lips. You’re floating on a cloud, soaring through the sky, anchored only by his body against yours. “You’re so deep in me, Kei, can feel you so deep in me. Please, ‘m so close, just a lil’ bit more, Kei.”
He coos again, hand slipping down to toy with your clit. You wail, sinking your teeth into his shoulder as the coil in your stomach snaps and you gush uncontrollably. You can’t do anything but cry out for him, can’t do anything but cling onto him and shake and twitch. The feeling of you clenching around him is too much, and with a broken fuck and a cry of your name, he spills inside of you. He fucks you through it, the obscene sounds of your combined release making you feel lightheaded and weak.
He holds you for a few minutes, just like that, bodies entwined. You both pant and try to catch your breath. The weight of his body on top of yours is comforting, so you protest when he finally pulls out and sits back to admire the way that his seed drips out of you.
“Come back,” you complain. “What kind of husband doesn’t give cuddles to his wife?”
“The kind of husband who needs to clean her up,” he says with a chuckle. “C’mon, let’s go take a bath.
Your body feels boneless with exhaustion and the hazy afterglow of your three orgasms, so you’re grateful when he scoops you into his arms. You tuck your face into his neck and hum contentedly, unable to stop the giddy smile that blooms across your face.
“I love you, Kei,” you say, planting little kisses over his neck and jaw.
“I love you too, princess,” he says, grinning and poking your nose. He laughs when you scrunch it up and scowl at him. But, with how cute he looks, you just can’t hold the scowl for long. Soon, you’re giggling too.
You look up at him with so much love that it makes his heart ache. His eyes grow a bit more serious, and he dips his head to kiss at your swollen lips. “I mean it, baby. I’m so happy to spend the rest of my life with you.”
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catgirlforkaeya · 2 years
Text
winter cabin
kaeya x gn!reader
fluff + slight hurt/comfort // modern au
warnings: not proofread + lowercase + swearing + small mentions of alcohol & overworking + slightly suggestive + use of pet names
a/n: was supposed to go to a parade tonight but the weather made it get postponed :( i kinda rushed this near the end bc i got rly tired LOL. also i’m not sorry for the angst <3
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your best friend amber was the one to suggest a winter cabin to you
you’d been telling her how you wanted to have a small get-away with kaeya because you both really needed a break. he’d been overworking himself a lot lately and you’d been wrapped up with everything at your job and trying to help him. you weren’t exactly sure what to do though— until she suggested it to you
luckily you knew someone that rented cabins so it was fairly easy to get one (they even gave you a small discount)
jean was also understanding and easy to convince when you asked her to give kaeya the week off so you could go to the cabin with him. she’d been a little concerned also so she did it without much hesitation
now came the hard part— convincing kaeya to actually go
you exited your office and headed down the hall towards his. when you two bought the house a year ago you got this one mainly because it had enough room for two at-home offices.
you exited your office and headed down the hall towards his. when you two bought the house a year ago you got this one mainly because it had enough room for two at-home offices.
with a small knock you slipped past the door. you saw kaeya sitting at his desk typing away at his computer, pausing periodically to write something on the notepad in front of him. walking up behind him you placed a hand on his shoulder as you kneeled down a little. you let out a small sigh when you noticed the half-empty bottle of wine on the desk.
“y/n—“ kaeya looked down at you out of the corner of his eye. “i’m sorry i didn’t hear you come in. do you need something love?”
“no, i just wanted to talk to you about something,” you moved your hand to his thigh as you grabbed a stool to sit on so you weren’t killing your knees.
“oh? what is it?” kaeya asked as he turned his attention to you. he tabbed out of whatever he was working on and spun his chair some so that he was facing you, your knees now brushing against each other.
“i have something planned for us to go somewhere for the week.”
kaeya raised an eyebrow at you. you could see the confusion on his face. “but i have w—“
“i already talked to jean and convinced her to give you the week off,” you interjected, letting out a sigh. you felt bad for cutting him off but you already knew what he was going to say.
there was a long pause. you watched kaeya, trying to read his face but it was a fail. you could definitely tell that he was tired and stressed but god only knows what was going through his head right now.
“bub please just agree and take the week off—“ you took one of his hands in yours, squeezing it gently. he looked down at your hands then back up at you. “—i wanna do something for you. you need a break from everything, you deserve time to relax.”
“when do we leave?” kaeya let out an exasperated sigh as he ran his thumb over your knuckles.
“tomorrow afternoon— i know it’s a little short notice but i wanted it to be a surprise.”
“well,” he stood up and looked down at you. “guess we better start packing then.”
with a small nod and a smile you stood up too. you placed a gentle kiss to his lips, mumbling a small “i love you” against them.
the next day rolled around fairly quick. it felt like just after you closed your eyes to go to sleep you were being woken up by the scream of your alarms
luckily y’all managed to get everything packed the night before so all you had to do was get dressed, eat, and load the car
it didn’t take too long to do all of that. by around 10am everything was done so you decided to leave out early
kaeya kept insisting to drive but every time you argued and said no— it’d ruin the surprise because you’d have to tell him where you were going. he eventually just gave up because he knew you wouldn’t cave
the drive was fairly long but since there was somebody to talk to it went by pretty quick. you two jammed out to music, talked about random shit, etc etc. there were times of silence but it wasn’t an agonizing silence. kaeya even fell asleep a few times (you snapped a pic when you had gotten off the road to grab something to eat just to tease him about later)
you eventually found the road that lead up to the cabin. kaeya kept questioning you the closer you got to it but you just shushed him
“this is how horror movies start y’know,” kaeya let out a small huff as he looked out the window. the scenery was pretty bland— just a bunch of bare trees covered in snow.
“it’s gonna be fine just shush,” you rolled your eyes as you glanced down at your phone on your thigh. the map said you were about a mile away. “we’re almost there.”
within a minute or so you rounded a corner and the cabin came into view. you looked at kaeya through your peripheral vision and laughed as you saw his eye widen slightly.
“this is where we’re staying..?” he looked over at you, cocking his head to the side slightly
you nodded, stealing a quick glance at him. deep down you were worrying that he wouldn’t really like it and it’d just be a wasted trip.
“how did you-?”
“i know someone i went to school with that rents these cabins,” you shrugged as you pulled up in front of the house. you put it in park and sat there for a moment.
it looked way prettier than what the pictures showed. it was all made of what looked like shiny oak wood. the roof was pointed and slanted, the windows were very long vertically and thin horizontally. the porch was lit up by golden lanterns that looked like they had a sunset captured inside. there was snow covering the ground and parts of the roof.
you two hopped out of your SUV and unloaded the suitcases— thankfully the two of you combined only had 2 suitcases and 2 backpacks so it wasn’t that hard so unload.
the walk to the cabin was short but you were freezing. kaeya made his usual remark about how you can’t handle the cold (causing him to get a punch to the bicep).
when you two walked through the door you were greeted by a bunch of lit candles and rose petals making a trail off to somewhere. for a split second you were confused on what was in front of you— but then it dawned on you that you had asked for this in the preparation requests.
“oh?” kaeya raised an eyebrow and looked over at you. that look on his face was… dangerous. lustful but dangerous.
you had just barely started to drop your bags when his lips were on yours.
the two of you had a relaxing trip
you mostly stayed in the cabin, but you did go to a small town that was nearby a couple times
it had a cute little diner that you grabbed meals from a few times. there were nice little shops too so you had to stop there
other than those few times you didn’t leave the cabin. you two just stayed cuddled up next to each other for 98% of the time. you always had your hands on each other (you also showered together each time— it was kaeya’s idea to do it because it’d “save water” but he had ulterior motives)
time honestly slipped away from you while you were there. it was nice being able to spend time with your boyfriend and actually seeing him happy. it had been quite awhile since you saw that cute ass smile that made you fall in love all over again
you were laying in bed with kaeya. you had your head resting on his chest while he had his arm wrapped around your torso to keep you close. the only sound was the faint muffle of the tv and the fireplace crackling.
you were drawing small hearts on your lover’s bare abdomen with your fingers. you’d periodically reach up and give kaeya a small kiss to which he’d just hum in response before returning the kiss.
“darling,” kaeya’s voice broke the silence. his voice sounded raspy and soft. it almost sounded fragile in a way, if that made sense
“yes bub?” you rested your chin on his chest and looked up at him. you reached up and grabbed a strand of his hair, twirling it between your index and middle finger.
“thank you for everything this week,” he gave you a small smile. despite his voice and face looking completely fine his eye looked like he was on the verge of tears. your eyes do betray you after all.
“you don’t need to thank me,” you tilted your head slightly, propping it against your other hand that was resting in the middle of his chest.
“nono, i do—“ he began, taking a deep breath. “i’ve just been so distant with you lately and you still managed to do all of this for me when i really, really don’t deserve it. i really don’t even deserve you.”
“kaeya alberich.” you sat up a little. you cupped his cheek with your hand, massaging his cheekbone with your thumb. “you do deserve it. to be honest you deserve the world— and if i could give you that i would. i’m not mad at you for being distant because i understand. it’s a shitty time of year for you and you need something to distract yourself from it. that’s completely okay.”
you were right— he was on the verge of tears. your words were the final straw; the draft of air that tore down the deck of cards. weeks of pent up emotions poured out. you pulled him up into a tight hug. he buried his face in the crook of your neck.
you just sat there with him, letting him let everything out. you ran your hands through his hair as an attempt to calm him. you kept whispering small reminders that you were here for him and that you cared.
you felt awful that you couldn’t do that much to help. yeah you could be there but that didn’t make his pain completely go away. you’d gladly take his place in a heartbeat if it meant he could be happy. the holidays were always hard on him. everyone in mondstadt saw it as a time to spend time with family and friends and give them gifts for everything they did this year. obviously it would be hard on kaeya because, well— he’s got no family left. you always let him spend time with you and your family but that still would never completely fill that void in his heart.
“i’m— sorry,” kaeya pulled away causing you to loosen the hug. his face was stained with tears. your heart ached seeing the sight.
“don’t apologize,” you wiped some of the tears away, reaching over to your nightstand and grabbing some tissues for him.
the rest of the night was just you giving kaeya some extra tlc. letting him cuddle you however he wanted, showering him in kisses, humming soft tunes, reminding him how much he meant to you, etc. you even braided his hair at one point because you knew he loved it. this went on until you two fell asleep.
“i love you so so so much, y/n. i know i don’t show it that all well but i truly do, and i hope you know that.” was the last thing he whispered to you that night.
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Text
Emergency Contact
Summary: When Spencer ends up in the hospital again, his emergency contact — who happens to be his boyfriend, Luke Alvez — is called. Too bad he hasn't told the team about him yet...
Tags: whump, h/c, hurt spencer, broken ribs, coming out, relationship reveal, protective derek, team as family, fluff, au: different first meeting
Pairing: Luke Alvez x Spencer Reid // (heavy on the Derek & Spencer friendship, too)
Word Count: 2.6k
Masterlist // Read on AO3 // Bad Things Happen Bingo
Okay, so Emily was not in S11, but for this fic she is, because I wanted supportive Penemily and that's what I gave myself. Other than that, this fills the square "broken ribs" for my Bad Things Happen bingo card. Enjoy the whump mixed with fluff!
Spencer doesn’t mean to get hurt again, but he also isn’t exactly surprised when it happens. If anything, Hotch really needs to stop sending him out to scope places and suspects out by himself. Surely Tobias Hankel proved he’s a trouble magnet in that regard years ago.
The summerhouse the suspect rents is a nice enough place to lay incapacitated while he waits for back-up, he supposes, but he’s not exactly able to lie and enjoy the sunshine when his ribs have been smashed in with a metal baseball bat and he knows the suspect is currently hightailing it down the beach. Not to mention the fact that it’s worryingly difficult to breathe.
Still, it’s better than a dilapidated cabin in the middle of butt-fuck nowhere Georgia, pumped full of heroin while his feet are whipped. Small mercies.
“Goddamnit, Spencer, again?” Derek asks amusedly when he finally arrives and crouches down by his side, but the undercurrent of worry in his voice doesn’t elude him.
“Sorry,” he wheezes, still winded and in immense pain from the ambush. “I didn’t see him coming.”
Derek raises a brow, chuckling slightly. “Yeah, pretty boy, I figured that.” His hand goes to Spencer’s hair as his expression furrows in concern again. “Did you see where he went? I’ll send the others after him while I go with you to the hospital.”
Spencer smiles a little, relieved that he won’t be alone. It’s become a strange sort of tradition to sit in one another’s hospital rooms after the job kicks their ass, and he’s glad Derek isn’t about to break it now.
“I saw him turn right out of the backdoor, but that’s all,” he says breathlessly, before cringing at the effort and folding in on himself even more.
“Okay, Spencer,” Derek says soothingly. “Just relax. The ambulance will be here any second.”
He obeys and closes his eyes as he listens to Derek call Hotch on the radio and send the team in the right direction before coming back to sit next to him on the floor.
“This might be one of the nicer places one of our unsubs has owned, huh?”
Spencer nods, mirroring Derek’s morbid amusement. “Crime pays better than investigating it,” he manages, smiling up at his friend.
He snorts. “You can say that again. With the way the market’s turned in the last couple years it’s more like this is my hobby and my properties are my day job, rather than the other way round.”
Spencer tries to reply, but he moves involuntarily in amusement, and a fresh wave of pain has him wincing again, trying to will the tears away.
“You’re alright, Spence,” Derek says gently, his hand returning to his hair. “Help will be here soon, okay?”
Thankfully, the medics do show up in a semi-timely fashion, and both of them are loaded into the back of the ambulance as the EMTs check him over, Derek’s hand not leaving his person unless it absolutely has to.
“How many times were you hit, Dr Reid?”
He cringes. “Four.” It’s almost embarrassing that the unsub got four hits in, and the only reason there weren’t more is because he was fleeing the scene, not because Spencer was able to fight back. He tries to remind himself that there isn’t much you can do when caught-off guard by a furious arsonist armed with a steel baseball bat, but his ego is still bruised. Albeit not as badly as his poor ribs.
“I’m gonna fucking kill him,” Derek mutters under his breath, his grip tightening on Spencer’s shoulder minutely enough for him to know he isn’t doing it consciously.
Spencer smiles appreciatively, closing his eyes against the pain. The non-narcotic painkillers they’re feeding him through the IV really aren’t doing anything.
“I think you’ve managed to avoid internal bleeding,” the EMT says, all though he tacks on a pointed, “just. But I’m concerned about the possibility of a punctured lung. There’s a chance your trouble breathing is solely pain-induced, but I don’t like the way your chest sounds. The doctors will check everything out when we get to the hospital, and get you all patched up.”
“Hold in there,” Derek says urgently. “I really can’t have you dying on me, pretty boy.”
Spencer smiles as comfortingly as he can through the immense pain in his chest and his mangled breathing. “Trust me, I don’t intend on it.”
The x-ray reveals two broken ribs and confirms the paramedic’s suspicions of a punctured lung, although thankfully, minor enough to not require surgery. He’s set up with oxygen and regular nurse check-ups in a quiet room after the doctor is able to remove the excess air in his chest cavity.
“How are you doing, Spence?” Derek asks worriedly as he pulls up a chair next to Spencer’s bed as soon as he’s allowed to see him.
He pulls away his oxygen facemask to answer. “A bit better,” he says, but his voice is dry and raspy from the oxygen so he certainly doesn’t sound it. “The pain meds are actually working now.”
Derek’s tight, anxious expression relaxes slightly. “That’s at least something.”
Spencer nods tiredly, but before he can respond, a nurse is popping her head round the door. “Dr. Reid,” she says genially, “sorry to interrupt. I just wanted to let you know that we’ve managed to get a hold of your emergency contact, and they’re on their way.”
Spencer’s eyes widen. How could he have forgotten? Granted, he was a little preoccupied with the whole punctured lung, broken ribs thing, but how could he have let it slip his mind that this little accident would lead to the secret he’s been keeping under wraps getting out?
When he’d first met Luke at an FBI gala last year, he never could have foreseen the most intimate and special relationship of his life coming to fruition, but it had. They’d connected on so many different levels, and the chemistry between them felt like something out of one of the fantastical romance novels Penelope reads, and when he’d asked if it was okay for Spencer to put Luke down as his updated emergency contact, he’d been rewarded with a wide, beautiful grin and a firm, heartfelt kiss.
It was serious enough, sure, and they were coming up on having been together for a year, but besides Emily and Penelope — who’d met Luke and developed an amusing, playful rivalry with him — he hadn’t introduced him to anyone on the team.
“On their way?” Derek asks, raising an eyebrow in mild confusion. “Isn’t your contact Hotch? He already knows you’re in the hospital.”
Spencer just stares at him like a rabbit caught in the headlights, completely blanking on something to say. They’re working a local case, so it won’t be long before Luke is bursting into his hospital room armed with cuddles and comfort, and as much as he craves that, he’s too busy panicking about his team finding out to really look forward to it.
Eventually, after watching Derek’s face morph into even stronger, more suspicious confusion, he gives up. They’re going to find out anyway. “I’m dating someone.”
Derek’s face lights up. “Pretty boy!” he exclaims happily, playfully pushing his shoulder as gently as he can. “That’s amazing! Why didn’t you say something? What’s her name?”
Ah. That’s the primary reason he hadn’t told his team about Luke. He’s nowhere close to being ashamed about his sexuality, he accepted himself decades ago, but he’s still not worked up the courage to share that part of himself with his team. Excluding Penelope and Emily who have been together for years (he’s still baffled as to how the others haven’t caught on yet), everyone’s in the dark.
It had started as a basic survival tactic. He’d joined the FBI two years younger than the standard entry age in the early 2000s, and he was far too concerned with just getting by than living outwardly as a gay man. And then, as time went by and he knew his team was accepting and welcoming, he found it too awkward to try and correct people when they assumed he was straight. There just wasn’t ever the right time.
“I’m gay.”
Derek’s happy expression falls and for a split second, Spencer feels a flash of panic. Maybe Derek’s okay with gay people as long as they’re not his immediate friends, as long as he doesn’t playfully call them ‘pretty boy’ and play with their hair when they’re injured, maybe—
“Well, what’s his name, then?”
Spencer looks up from his panic, seeing Derek smiling again, eyes maybe even brighter than they were just seconds ago.
“Wait—”
“Spencer, if you think I’m gonna care that you’re gay — if you think any of us will care that you’re gay, then you have another thing coming,” Derek reassures him. “Wait, that isn’t why you didn’t tell us right?”
He suddenly looks distraught at the idea that Spencer might not have felt comfortable coming out to him, and Spencer rushes to correct him. “No! No, I know everyone would be fine with it, I just didn’t really know how to say it. Penelope and Emily know, but only by accident.”
Derek relaxes, chuckling a little. “I’m sure there’s quite a story there.”
Spencer blushes. “Maybe.”
“I’ll find out later,” he says confidently, winking at him, and something in Spencer loosens at the fact that Derek hasn’t changed his behaviour at all. “But I’m more interested in Mr. Sexy Emergency Contact Mystery Boyfriend Man right now.”
Spencer outright laughs at that, before wincing painfully as his ribs twinge, and he has to fit the oxygen mask around his face again and breathe deeply for a couple of breaths before the nasal cannula can suffice again.
“I met him around this time last year at an FBI gala actually,” Spencer manages. “Everyone on our team bailed except Penelope, Emily, and me. He’s called Luke and he works in the Fugitive Task Force. We just clicked as soon as we met, you know? We have this chemistry that I’ve never felt with anyone before, and we started dating pretty quickly. We actually moved in together last month when his lease was up, but we’re thinking of moving to a bigger, nicer place in Mount Pleasant. Luke’s actually had his eye on this one house that went up…”
He trails off when he notices Derek looking at him strangely, suddenly feeling self-conscious. “What?”
“Nothing,” Derek says gently. “You just look happy, pretty boy. When you started talking about Luke you got this happy, dopey smile on your face, and I’ve just never seen you like that. It’s nice.”
“Oh.” He blushes fiercely at the acknowledgement of just how soft he is for his boyfriend, but it’s not embarrassing, he’s just ridiculously happy and head over heels in love.
Still, feeling a little awkward at the attention, he raises the oxygen mask to his face just for something to do.
“Does he treat you well?” Derek asks seriously, suddenly looking like the FBI tough guy he really is.
Spencer grins and nods, pulling the mask away again. “So good. He’s one of those people that looks out for everyone before himself, you know? He listens to my rambles and tangents like he actually knows and cares about what I’m saying, and he insists on making me every meal we’re both home for. Every day off, he brings me breakfast in bed, and he’ll even suffer through my documentaries even though his favourite thing to watch is action movies. He’s the best boyfriend I could hope for.”
“Good,” Derek says fiercely, even though he’s smiling just a little at the thought of Spencer being taken care of. “But if anything ever changes, I won’t hesitate to—”
“Spencer?” Derek’s interrupted by the door flying over, and a very harried looking Luke Alvez rushing towards the bed, seemingly not noticing the man literally threatening his death right next to him. “Oh my God, Spencer, I was so worried, I thought—”
“Hey, it’s okay,” Spencer says, voice still a little weak. Can’t he at least sound convincing when he’s trying to tell these people that he’s fine? “I’m okay, I’ll be out of here before you know it.”
“Are you sure, baby? Do I need to get the doctor? Have they been looking after you, because I swear—”
“Luke,” he laughs, interrupting his worried tangent. “I’m fine, I promise.”
He watches amusedly as Luke sags with relief. “Oh thank God,” he breathes, and it’s then that he appears to notice Derek. “Oh, shit.”
He looks to Spencer with an alarmed look in his eyes, knowing full well that he isn’t out to his team yet, but before apologies can start dripping off his lips, he rushes to fill him in.
“It’s okay. I told him.”
Luke’s face brightens in an illuminating smile, his eyes wide and happy. “You did? I’m so proud of you, cariño.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” Derek says, rising from his chair to shake Luke’s hand. “I’ve heard a lot about you in the last ten minutes.”
Luke grins. “All good things, I hope.”
Derek winks teasingly at Spencer. “Oh, better than good. Spencer here seems quite gone for you.”
He blushes again, but Luke just sits on the edge of his hospital bed and takes his face in his hand. “Well, I’m just as gone for him as he is for me. Probably even more so.”
“No way,” Spencer protests as vehemently as he can with an oxygen mask glued to his face again. “I definitely love you more.”
His words are half swallowed by the mask, and half muffled by the gaggle of FBI agents pouring into his room, all talking over one another loudly.
Luke jumps off the bed and stands to attention as they all quieten down, three of them in complete shock, one of them — Emily, recognising Luke — in anticipation of what’s about to happen.
“Uh,” Spencer starts unsurely, eyes flicking between his boyfriend and his team. “Meet my boyfriend?”
There’s a brief pause before everyone jumps into action again: Emily greeting him warmly, JJ introducing herself, and Hotch and Rossi giving him firm, threatening handshakes as a warning that no harm is to come to their pseudo-son.
Spencer knows they don’t have to worry about that, though, not with Luke, and they’re quickly shown that when he takes his rightful place sat on the edge of his hospital bed again, hands smoothing his hair gently.
“Thank you,” he says to Derek, voice soft and sincere as everyone’s sat leisurely around the room, doing their own thing now they’re calmed down after the initial meet and greet, “for taking care of him. I worry about him, you know, and it’s good to see that he has so many good people looking after him.”
“We all do,” Derek replies, looking over at Spencer fondly. “We’re all incredibly overprotective. Residual effects from him joining the team so young, probably.”
“I can see that,” Luke smiles, looking over at Hotch and Rossi, who still have their eyes trained on him, despite having warmed up to him quickly.
“Well between us all,” Emily interjects diplomatically, “I think we have Spencer covered. He has a lot of good people looking out for him.”
Spencer knows they all think he’s asleep, but he can’t help but say something. “I definitely do,” he slurs tiredly, causing Luke to quickly turn his attention to him, pressing a tender kiss to his forehead as he runs his fingers through his hair with the hand not intertwined with Spencer’s. “Love you.”
“I love you too, baby,” Luke murmurs. “And so does everybody in this room.”
Smiling softly and feeling safe as anything, Spencer finally gives into the heavy pull of tiredness, and lets himself drift off to sleep.
I'm such a sucker for coming out fics omg, I hope you didn't mind that element! But God, I've missed writing Ralvez fics. If anyone has any Ralvez prompts then please send them my way because I want to write them so badly but I really find it hard to find plot for them! <3
taglist: @criminalmindsvibez @suburban--gothic @strippersenseii @takeyourleap-of-faith @makaylajadewrites @iamrenstark @hotchseyebrows @reidology @spencerspecifics @tobias-hankel @goobzoop @marsjareau @garcias-bitch @oliverbrnch @im-autistic @anxious-enby @kuolonsyoja @ropoto
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dreamescapeswriting · 3 years
Text
Together ~ KNJ [Request]
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WORD COUNT:5.3k
PAIRING: Namjoon x Reader
GENRE: College AU, friends to lovers, angst, fluffy ending,
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A single cough erupted from one side of the giant lecture theatre that you were sitting inside of causing everyone to stare over at the kid that coughed. He blushed deeply but anyone would with around 100 students sitting and staring at you because you coughed. All of you were just sitting there waiting eagerly for the exam to end. Tapping pens could be heard as you glanced around at everyone, it was the final exam and it appeared as though everyone had already finished and was just waiting for the bell to ring. All you wanted to do was race out of the lecture hall and out into the hot summer weather to tan for a while but you had to sit there, in silence until the test was finished otherwise the whole year of learning would have been for nothing. 
All the hours of countless cramming for tests would have gone to waste so you sat there. Staring forward at the chalkboard and around 60 students heads since you were right at the back of the hall.
It was finally the end of your first college school year and you were looking forward to the next eight weeks of pure bliss, not having to worry about waking up early for lectures or staying up all night studying for a test. It was going to be the best summer vacation you could ever possibly want, you already had what you were going to do planned out. No one was going to be in the dorm house that you shared, they all had their own plans so you arranged to stay inside for the first week, catching up on everything that needed to do before deciding to relax, binge watch shows and do whatever you wanted.
"Pencils down and close your booklets, if you have no finished you're exam don't worry. I'm sure you can make it up when you repeat this year," You looked at the woman at the front of the room, she was a woman in her early 40's with a Karen haircut, she'd been brought in when your original tutor for the course left to have a baby and never bothered coming back. It was a surprise to you that you even knew half of the questions on the exam, the teacher was useless you practically taught yourself late at night reading through the books and countless research articles online. 
"Single file lines! You're adults, we shouldn't have to tell you how to behave!" She screamed as people began rushing to get out of the hall, you stayed behind not wanting to get trampled in the herd of people.
The room was silent again apart from the shuffling of papers as Mrs Kim collected all of the papers. Leaning behind yourself you began packing things into your bag not noticing that your best friend was lingering up behind you. 
"Boo!" He yelled out as he placed his hands on your shoulders and shook you a little making you cry out in surprise. 
"Joonie," You whined as you saw the surprised look on Mrs Kim's face as she heard a sudden noise come out of nowhere. 
"Sorry Mrs Kim, I've come to steal my best friend." He practically pulled you free from your chair and dragged you out of the hall and into the hallways where people were talking amongst one another.
"I'm not even going to ask how it went, you're my best friend and I already know you've passed," He said in a matter-a-fact tone as he wrapped an arm around your shoulder and that was when you knew he wanted something. The two of you had been friends since you could walk and talk you knew exactly what he was up to when he was flattering you. 
"Whatever it is, no. I'm not doing it, I'm not driving you, I’m not doing a late assignment for you, I’m not going to pick you up late from a party and I'm not going to kill someone for you," You went through everything so you didn't leave a single thing out but Namjoon tutted at you. 
"I am offended that you would even think for a second that I was trying to get something out of you," You stood still as you looked at him with a blank stare, 
"Okay fine I need something," He grumbled pulling you with him as he walked out of the main campus building.
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Back at the house, you waited for Namjoon to tell you what it was that he wanted, the whole walk home he'd been avoiding the question or distracting you with something else. The house you lived in was huge, it had around nine bedrooms in total all with their own bathrooms and two main bathrooms. It used to be an old mansion home but it was renovated when a college was built nearby and rented out to groups of college kids. The last year you'd been living there with Namjoon and six of his college buddies, all of you got along which was perfect, no awkward meetings in the hallways or kitchen.
"You can't just tell me you need something and then not say anything," You told him as you picked up a slice of pizza from the box and began eating it. This was what he did when he wanted something, he would try to bribe you with food or do something nice for you, you'd known him long enough that this meant he was going to ask for something big.
"You're not doing anything in the summer, right?" You put down the slice of pizza and brushed your hands onto a napkin as you got up to leave. You already knew what he was going to ask and you weren't interested, 
"No way, there is no way of me going on that stupid trip." You told him as you began heading for the staircase wanting to go to bed but he grabbed your wrist. 
"You're my best friend, we're supposed to look out for one another," He whined as he looked at you, his large brown eyes turning into puppy-dog eyes as he attempted to persuade you.
It was the summer vacation he and some of his friends had been planning to take together,
"Kyong is going and I don't want to be alone with her," He told you as he looked at you, tugging on your wrist as he waited for you to say something. Mi Kyong, his ex-girlfriend that practically ripped him apart and left you to stitch him back together again. Cheating on him so many times in the relationship you wondered how he stayed with her for as long as he did. To you, she was the devil in disguise but to Namjoon she was and would always be the love of his life. 
"I'm weak if I go near her I'll break," That wasn't a lie, you knew that if Namjoon even stayed in the same room as her alone she would somehow manipulate him back into her life only to break him up into pieces yet again.
"I thought Jungkook and the boys were going," You sighed thinking about how your perfect relaxing time was going to be ruined by going out to some log cabin in the woods.
"They're taking their dates...Please...We'll have fun I promise and you can bring books...Music, painting gear...Whatever you want," You knew he was never going to let it go so you nodded slowly at him, at least this way you could keep a close eye on him at all times. 
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The two of you were back in the living room, pizza slice in your hand as you were ready to curl up and watch Grey's Anatomy together,
"There's just one thing," He called out, you turned to stare at him pizza slice in your mouth waiting for him to continue.
"You have to pretend to be my date." The pizza slice slipped from your hands and onto the white leather sofa as you stared at him. 
"What?" Your voice cracked thinking that maybe you'd heard him wrong or he was just trying to joke but he shook his head. 
"You have to pretend to date me, nothing major just...A cuddle and holding hands," You stared at him feeling your heart pounding against your chest at the thought of doing something like that was Namjoon. He wasn't the type of friend that cuddled or held hands with anyone so suddenly doing that bought back all of the feelings you had for him that you had repressed. You never wanted to admit your feelings for him and when you moved into a house together for college you pushed them down so deep you thought you'd gotten over him. 
"And share a room, which we've done before it's not a big deal." He mumbled as he began watching the screen. Not a big deal? To him maybe it wasn't a big deal but to you, it was bringing up all of the repressed feelings you'd hoped you had been over.
"Y-Yeah, no big deal." You mumbled staring at the screen as you suddenly didn't feel like eating anymore. 
"I gotta go pack," You said suddenly, leaving the pizza with Namjoon and rushing up to your bedroom. Slamming the door and looking around as you thought about all of the things you didn't have for a summer vacation, tomorrow was going to be an impromptu shopping trip as early as possible. 
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The car pulled up outside the large home and you thought it was some kind of joke until everyone began pulling their bags out. You took Namjoon by the hand and stared at him, 
"I thought you said it was a cabin in the woods," You whispered turning to look at the large mansion behind you which was defiantly not a small cabin in the woods.
"No, I said it was a home in a remote area." The remote area part was right, the ride had taken you almost four hours to get out here and it was in the middle of the woods but it was not a home of any kind. It was huge and modern. All of it was an open plan area with large floor to ceiling windows. The walls were white and black and that was just the outside. 
"I couldn't let my boys slum it for the summer," Kyong's voice said as she trailed her hand along Namjoon's back, you watched as he tensed up. The original plan was for him to be in the car with her but you managed to get Jimin and his girlfriend to swap with you both, riding along with Yoongi and his girlfriend instead. 
"It's costing me almost 650,000,00₩, for the month. I know you're only here for a week but I decided I would stay." Everyone seemed to have their eyes glued onto the building as they stared at it, 
"Nine bedrooms so I'm afraid Y/n might have to be on the sofa," She said in a condescending tone but that was when Namjoon wrapped his arm around your waist and drew you closer to him. Sparks felt as though they were shooting off your body and you hoped no one picked up on the fact that you were so shy from the small touch. 
"Actually she'll be in my room since we're together." He stared at Kyong as he said it and the smile on her face was wiped away, leaving a shocked look as she tried to think of something to say in response. 
"Really? You and Y/n- Wow...I never would have thought your taste would have changed that much," You knew it was an insult but you chose to ignore her, pulling at Namjoon's hand. 
"Come on babe, let's go find a good view." You cooed, pulling him into the front door and hoping that Kyong would finally leave him alone now that she heard you were dating, that way you wouldn't have to go through the butterfly feelings every time he touched you, even a little. 
"Babe?" Namjoon chuckled as he walked behind you, he'd never heard you call him anything besides Namjoon or Joonie, or if he was in trouble, Kim Namjoon.
"You need it to be convincing, right?" A smirk played on his lips while you had your back to him, he let you lead him through the house to try and find a room for the two of you but it was huge and you thought you might have needed a map to find your way around. 
"Here," Namjoon laughed pulling you into a large bedroom, your bag dropped from your shoulder. 
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The bedroom had its own sitting room so you weren't going to have to worry about sitting downstairs where Kyong would bother you. There were large glass windows leading out onto a balcony that looked as though it had grass on it.
"Why does the balcony have furniture, there's no door-" You stopped speaking when the glass doors that you originally thought were windows began to move and open up, folding into the walls so you could walk out onto the small balcony area that looked over a giant pool on the ground floor. 
"This place is incredible," You breathed out as you laid your hands on the balcony railing, looking over at the woods that were just beyond the house. 
Namjoon was looking around the room, an ensuite was connected to it all white marble. A walk-in shower and a corner bathtub with jets.
"Hey I-whoa," Namjoon stopped as he looked at you and the view wondering where the windows had gone.
"So that's what that switch did," He chuckled softly as he thought back on the switch he had flicked on the wall.
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The night came sooner than expected, you'd spent most of the day unpacking everything you'd bought along with you and planning what you were going to do the next day and now everyone was gathered in the kitchen. 
"I made us all a pasta dish, I figured it would be nice for the evening," Not for one second did you believe that Kyong had cooked the pasta, mostly because there were take out containers in the bin but also because Namjoon told you about the last time she tried to cook. She almost burnt her entire dorm down just trying to use a rice cooker. 
"Are you really going to eat all that?" Kyong questioned as she watched you piling pasta onto your plate,
"I mean pasta is known to bloat us but I guess you're obviously not bothered about looking bloated." Namjoon was suddenly by your side ready to take over for you, 
"Y/n looks perfect, so why don't you just focus on yourself," He ordered, taking your plate and his over to tone of the many dining tables that were in the home. 
"Ignore her, she's just trying to get under your skin." He reassured you as he smiled weakly, you knew he still had feelings for her but it was nice to see how much he was stepping in for you when he needed to.
"What did you ever see in her?" You mumbled as you began eating some of the pasta, trying not to let her lingering words bother you so much. It wasn't as though you and Namjoon were really dating, it didn't matter what you looked like anyway. If a person didn't love you for who you really were then that person didn't deserve the time of day. 
"I'm not sure, I think I was looking in the wrong direction," He laughed as he watched you eating, smiling as he couldn't help but look at you. All the years he'd known you he had been hopelessly in love with you but never realised until it was too late. Until you both in college and busy with everything else to deal with one another, he never wanted to ruin the friendship that he had with you.
"What?" You questioned as you noticed how much he was staring at you, 
"Nothing...Did you bring my favourite book with you? I might sit by the pool with you tomorrow," He was trying to change the subject and distract his own mind from thinking about you in that way.
"Do you have spare blankets over there?" You asked Namjoon later when you were back in your room, 
"Yeah but I don't think you'll need them, it's summer." He chuckled looking up to see you standing over at the sofa in the bedroom getting ready for bed. You were dressed in one of his old football shirts from high school and a pair of shorts. Namjoon's mouth nearly fell open, he'd seen you in his clothes before but this was something different.
"I meant because I'm on the sofa, I can't sleep without something covering me," You laughed awkwardly when you felt how much he was beginning to stare at you, you shifted your weight from one foot to the other. 
"Why are you on the sofa? We have a huge bed right here," He laughed pointing at the large California King Bed that was in the room but you never would have thought that he would be okay with sharing with you. 
"You want to share a bed? You? Mr Kim Namjoon who hates being cuddled?" You laughed as you slowly made your way over to the bed, pulling back the covers a little. 
"Don't worry, it's not as if I'm going to cuddle you in the night." It wasn't something that worried you though, it was a thought that excited you.
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The next morning Namjoon bought breakfast up to you on the balcony, telling you that he and the boys were going to go for a hike. 
"Sure, sounds good...Get some good photos," You told him as you bit into the apple he'd bought up to you, he smiled just watching you. That morning he'd woken up before you to find himself wrapped around you, one arm draped over your waist while your legs tangled together under the thin sheet you had both chosen to sleep in. 
"I will, what are you planning on doing today?" The plan was to sit in the bedroom and avoid Kyong as much as possible but you knew it wasn't going to happen, 
"I'll sit by the pool and read...Maybe go for a swim or bike into town." There was a small village just down the road, it was almost a two-hour walk but maybe an hour on the bike if you were lucky. 
"Sounds like a good idea, maybe I can ride with you later. We can get some snacks to bring back," Agreeing with him you couldn't wait for the day to pass just so you could spend some quality time with him but right now you were looking forward to curling up beside the pool. 
"Have a nice time," You whispered to Namjoon as you stood by the back gate of the house, all of the boys were getting ready to leave on their hike, the girls staying behind. 
"Wait!" You turned around to see Kyong rushing over in hiking boots, a coat and some short shorts that were going to do nothing to protect her from the bugs and nettles that could get her out there.
"You're going too?" You questioned as you looked from her to Namjoon, it was clear he had no idea it was going to happen. 
"Yeah. Me and my boys going for a long hike. It'll give me and Joonie a chance to chat." Hearing your nickname for Namjoon roll out of her mouth made your blood boil and you wanted nothing more than to trip her up but Namjoon looked at you and you instantly felt calmer. 
"Baby please come with me, it won't be the same without you." Frowning you stared at him wondering what he was doing when he pulled you close to him by your waist, leaning his face down so close to yours that you could feel his breath on your skin. 
"Fine, let me change..." You looked at him going to leave when Kyong scoffed at the pair of you, 
"Not even a kiss goodbye?" It was obvious that she didn't believe you and Namjoon were truly dating and you knew Namjoon wanted her to believe it so you grabbed him back the back of the neck and kissed him. The moment your lips touched it felt as though your legs had turned to jelly and you were about to fall but Namjoon held you steady, holding you by the waist as he pulled you closer to him enjoying the kiss between you. For that moment no one else was around you, it was just the two of you as you finally kissed for the first time, your heart hammering against your chest as if it was trying to escape. 
"I'll go and change," You whispered as you pulled away, your voice was hoarse as you stared at him biting down on your lip as you hoped that would happen again. 
"I'll wait here," His voice was almost as hoarse as yours as he watched you run back into the house, his eyes never leaving your body until you disappeared. 
"Well, that was a nice performance," Kyong mumbled but Namjoon didn't hear her, he just waited for you to return. 
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The week was almost over and you were enjoying your time there more than you originally thought you were going to. You and Namjoon spent a lot of time with everyone else which meant pretending to be a couple most of the time, holding onto one another, kissing him whenever you had the chance. It started to feel as though you were pretending anymore and that this was really happening, even if you knew deep down inside that there was nothing to this. That it would all be over as soon as you got back to your dorms but for now you were going to soak up as much of his attention as you could get for yourself. 
"I don't like being blindfolded Joonie, it makes you think you're up to something," You whined as he continued to walk you through a bumpy area, you could hear gushing water and footsteps but that was all. He let out a deep laugh that seemed to echo around wherever you were and you whined again, 
"Relax, here-" He began to untie the make-shift blindfold and you let your eyes adjust for a second to see that you were somewhere you'd never seen before. It was a cavern that had a pool of water inside, flowers spreading over the walls of the cave, the walls and ceiling seemed to have silver reflecting on them because of the water. 
"Hot springs," He said with a smile, bending down to touch the water as it began bubbling, your mouth almost dropped open at the sight. 
"I didn't bring a bathing suit, you didn't tell me what we were doing," You laughed softly as you looked at him and then to the pool behind him, it looked as though it was going to be relaxing. 
"Is it deep?" He shook his head in answer to your question, 
"Probably reach your shoulders, there are some rocks just under the water we can sit on and relax." He promised as he began to unbutton the white shirt he was wearing, you gasped and turned away not wanting to make him uncomfortable. 
"I didn't bring a bathing suit. I'll wear my underwear, it's just the same," He said as he looked at you, hoping that you would do the same but not once saying what he wanted out loud. 
The two of you sat there side by side in the water just enjoying the peace and quiet, Kyong had done nothing but follow the two of you around all week long leading you to "pretend" you were both together for as long as possible.
"This week has been one of the most amazing times of my life," You told him as you rolled your head over to look at him, your gaze meeting his as he smiled at you. You didn't know if it was the low lighting or just because our feelings for him were resurfacing but his eyes seemed to sparkle, as though they had a golden hint to them.
"Even with all this pretending, that's been going on?" He questioned as he looked at you, biting down on his lip as you shrugged, 
"There's been one thing that's bugging me all week." He sat up straight making you do the same as you watched him, tilting your head to the side as you waited for him to elaborate on what he meant.
"I don't want to pretend...I want to be yours and I want you to be mine." Closing the distance between your mouths, you kissed him. At that moment it was clear that everything you had been feeling that week, the sparks, the butterflies, was all real. Everything you felt for him he felt the same for you and it excited you. He placed his hands on your waist lifting you up and placing him on his lap under the water as you continued to make out in the hot springs. 
His teeth biting down softly on your bottom lip as he asked for entrance, which you gladly granted him, letting your hands wander into his hair as you tugged him closer to you. 
"We're not pretending?" He questioned as you pulled away to catch your breath, you shook your head desperately, 
"Never again," You whispered before reconnecting our lips with his, going back to your steamy make-out session in the water.
Namjoon left soft kisses on your shoulder as the two of you laid naked in the bed, looking out at the night sky as you cuddled with one another. The two of you had made it back late after your make out in the hot springs and continued your session in the bedroom where it lead to more. 
"I'll go get us a snack," He chuckled as he heard your stomach growling, even if it was almost 3 am you were hungry from the activities you had both done together. 
"Thanks," You kissed him softly as he changed into a pair of shorts and a white shirt, disappearing out of the door and leaving you alone with your thoughts.
Letting out a small excited squeal you laid back against the pillows and smiled to yourself, you never thought this day would come and now it had, you couldn't contain yourself. Everything you had ever wanted was becoming a reality.
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Time passed and Namjoon still wasn't back with your snack, you figured he was going to cook something so you laid there for a second, trying to rest a little before he came back not expecting to fall asleep within seconds of closing your eyes.
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Waking up alone the next day you frowned to yourself, he was supposed to be beside you,
"Joonie?" You called out as you changed into some leggings and a baggy shirt thinking maybe he had gone for an early walk or something. You headed down to the kitchen shocked to see Kyong nursing a hangover but that wasn't the part that shocked you. The part that shocked you was that she was dressed in nothing but Namjoon's shirt, the one he had put on the night before to go and make a snack for you. 
"I made this, drink it." Namjoon's voice called out to Kyong as she smirked at you, turning her head to look over at him and that was when you saw the deep purple bite marks up and down her neck. At that moment it felt as though your whole world was falling apart as you put it all together, dressed in his shirt, he was looking after her and she was covered in marks.
"I-I can't believe it," The glass Namjoon was holding slipped from his hand and smashed against the floor, the green liquid splashing all over the white floors and cabinets while Kyong smirked. 
"Y/n, it isn't what it looks like." You scoffed at him, rushing back up the stairs towards the bedroom as you began throwing clothes into your bag, trying to get some money together as he begged you not to overthink it. 
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"It's not what it looks like," He pleaded as he stood in the way of the door so you couldn't leave the bedroom, 
"Was she dressed in your shirt?" You questioned as you stared at him, his eyes widened with panic,
"Yes, but-"
"Was she covered in hickies?" You asked him again, cutting him off. All you needed were the answers you knew exactly what had happened. He fell back into her arms the way he always did, crawling back to her every time.
"Yeah, but that-"
"You didn't come back last night, were you or were you not with her?" His face fell and he didn't answer, tears rushed to your eyes as you pushed past him heading down the stairs and in the direction of the front door. 
"You can't just leave, we're miles away from home." He called out as he chased after you, Kyong holding onto his arm as she whined at him not to yell anymore. 
"That's my problem to deal with," You mumbled as you threw your bag over your shoulder and took one of the bikes, heading to town was the best plan for now. Once you were there you could figure out where to go by Kyong groaned at you, 
"They're for people staying on this holiday." Locking eyes with her you threw the bike onto the ground before heading down the long driveway, ready to start your long walk back into the town. 
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"Y/n!!" Namjoon yelled as he chased you down the road, grabbing you by the hand as he made you look at him.
"You have to let me explain, I know how it looks." At this point your tears were already rushing down your face as you looked up at him, you thought that he would be the one person you could trust in the world. He knew how much it hurt to be cheated on and yet he still did it to you, was it even cheating? Were you nothing more than a fling for him? 
"What was it? I was just there until she decided she was jealous enough to take you back? Or were you both in on a joke about it, she knew I had a crush on you and thought she could get kicks out of it?" He didn't blame you for being angry but he held your arm as he tried to make sure you listened to him.
"You thought, I can't screw my ex so why not fuck my best friend over instead?" Namjoon's eyes watered as he stared down at you waiting for you to finish,
"How could you ever think I would hurt you like that?"
"Because you did-"
"No. I didn't. I went down to get you food last night and I found her, drunk and on the floor covered in her own vomit." You pulled a disgusted face as he explained what had happened, leading you over to a rock as he sat you down beside him. 
"She was covered in her own vomit, along with bite marks, hickies. She said she'd been into town for drinks and got a taxi back. I changed her into my shirt and took her to bed but she wouldn't go to sleep without me there," You looked at him, feeling bad for accusing him of doing the one thing you knew he hated her for doing to him. 
“I sat beside the bed the whole night, I didn’t get into bed with her, I just wanted to make sure she was okay.” He sighed and you realized how much you must have overreacted.
"Joonie..." You breathed out as you felt bad for everything, 
"I know what it looked like but I would never do that to you. I'm in love with you, always have been and always will be but I loved her too...She may have hurt me but she's still a person and someone I once cared for so I wanted to make sure she was okay," That you could understand, you knew how deeply Namjoon cared for everyone he met so you weren't going to hold that against him.
"Now, please...Come back so we can drive home together..." 
"Together?" You questioned as he locked your hands together, linking your fingers with his, 
"As a couple?" He questioned looking at you, making you smile brightly as you nodded your head. 
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Tagline: @lyoongx  @mitzwinchester @rjsmochii @taestannie @sw33tnight @innersooya @sweeneyblue1 @jin-from-the-block @acciocriativity​ @mwitsmejk​ @anxiousbobatea​ @justbangtanthingz​
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watchmegetobsessed · 3 years
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VALERIE - Part V. (Harry Styles)
happy sunday loves!! part 5 is here, buckle up bc we are getting down to business here!! thank you so much for the nice feedbacks, it’s always so moving and inspiring to read your thoughts, so please keep them coming! even if it’s just some gibberish rambling, those are the best haha! now let’s jump right into part 5, we are heading into the christmas mood and im so excited for yall to read this part!! enjoy!
word count: 6.1k
SERIES MASTERPOST
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By the time November nears its end you officially become a couple with Marcus. It happens gradually, two more dates follow your first one, and then on the third one you agree to test the waters of the possibilities between the two of you exclusively. 
Marcus is a great guy. He is funny, caring and smart, always listens to you and cares for even the smallest details about you when you’re talking. He is great company and never fails to make you feel appreciated and wanted. Exactly what you’ve been looking for in a guy, Rosa really hit the nail on the head this time. 
You easily fall into a habit with him. Fridays are for date nights, sometimes you go for little trips outside the city on Sundays and he never misses a chance to send you flowers throughout the week. He is just the type of guy that’s always there to cheer you up with something whenever the days start to weigh down on your shoulders. 
You even have dinner together with Rosa and Steven one Saturday evening, Rosa keeps giving you those ‘I told you so’ eyes whenever Marcus kisses you shortly or places his hand to your waist. You mostly just roll your eyes at her, not wanting to make a big deal out of the two of you, but Rosa knows how long you’ve been trying to find someone. 
What’s a surprising turn is that you start seeing Harry more. Intentionally. You have no idea how it happens, but it does and you’re not mad about it. Some days you grab lunch together whenever he is in the neighborhood, some days you go shopping with him when his sister doesn’t have the time. Harry is a problematic shopper, he takes a long time to decide on clothes so usually you are the one that forces him to choose and finish before all shops close. 
When he has had a rough week and you happened to call him for whatever reason, the two of you agree to meet up for drinks at his place, then end up playing UNO for hours, slowly emptying out two bottles of wine.
It’s starting to get harder to imagine what it was like when things weren’t like this with him. When you were getting anxiety from just the thought of seeing him or having to talk to him. It’s like the both of you are showing a different version of yourselves to each other and you have to admit you enjoy being friends with him. 
He keeps his habit of teasing you and making jokes about you though, but you don’t mind it. He is not doing it in a mean way with the attempt to piss you off, but to make you laugh and start a playful war where you both throw insults at each other until one of you runs out of it and just starts laughing. You feel a kind of dynamic building between you and him that has a way better effect on you than the continuous killing you were doing before.
You can tell Rosa is thankful for the change as well. Whenever she sees you interact with Harry without making a grimace or have that face that screams how badly you want to hit him, she is relieved that she has one less thing to worry about and Valerie will have two amazing godparents who even like each other.
Christmas is always a big parade in your family. Your mom and your aunts always want to celebrate together so in the past few years it has become a tradition to rent a place out that has enough space for the whole extended family and spend three days there from the 23rd to the 25th. This year your dad found a huge cabin in the woods with ten bedrooms and seven bathrooms, just the perfect size for you all. It’s gonna be your parents, Rosa and Steven with Valerie, Aunt Monica, Aunt Teresa with Uncle Andrew, your cousin Etta, her husband Joe and their two kids, your other cousin Lily with her husband Jeremy and their daughter, and lastly you and Harry.  Though your mom urged you to invite Marcus along as well, he could join you for longer than a dinner, since he was already set to fly home to his family.
“You sure he can’t stay for at least the first night?” you mom asks on the phone one evening. You’re stirring the sauce in the pan. holding the phone to your ear with your shoulder so you have both of your hands free.
“Yes, I’m sure. It’s fine, he can come for dinner and then leave later.”
“I get it, but it would have been fun if he stayed,” she sighs, clearly disappointed that she couldn’t change what’s already set. If you’re being honest you don’t mind that Marcus is not staying for the night. You haven’t been dating for that long, you feel like it would be a little uncomfortable to have him there the whole time. A dinner is perfectly fine as a starter, since he hasn’t met anyone else from your family other than Rosa and Steven.
“Anyway,” she sighs moving on, “Have you figured it out how you’re gonna get there?”
“I don’t know, I guess I’ll tag along with someone.”
“Well, I think you should ask Harry. Everyone else is pretty packed already. Rosa and Steven won’t have any extra space with Valerie this year.”
You nod, even though she can’t see you. These past years Rosa always offered you a ride for the holidays, but even when they brought her over for just one night their car was jam-packed. No way you’re gonna fit in there so you are left with Harry since Marcus can only come in the afternoon.
“Sure, I’ll ask him.”
You shoot him a text that day and he replies right away that you’re welcomed in his car, though he won’t be able to take you back since he is leaving early in the morning on the 25th since he is flying back to the UK to his family. It’s fine, you think, you’ll just probably just tag along with aunt Monica back to the city, she always gets her a car for these occasions. Though it’s not your ideal option, she is not the best partner for rides, because she is a fan of smoking in the car, but you don’t have much of a choice. 
“I’ll call you when I leave, okay?” Marcus tells you on the morning of the 23rd. It’s early, barely seven, but he is up because he needs to work a little today and you are finishing up packing since Harry will be here in an hour to pick you up.
“Sure. Drive safe,” you huff sitting on the edge of the bed, staring down at your suitcase that’s still not closed, clothes are sticking out on the side and you’re sure you’ll have to sit on it to pull the zipper.
“See you later,” Marcus says before you end the call. 
It’s rather comical how you try to close the suitcase but you only care about the fact that you eventually succeed. Only minutes before eight you are packed and ready so when you get Harry’s text that he is outside you can leave right away.
Seeing you with your big suitcase he hops out of the car and rushes to help you.
“How long are you planning to stay, Y/N?” he chuckles lifting the bag up and you just shrug your shoulders with a smirk. You’ve alway been a heavy packer, no need to try to cover it up.
Harry throws your stuff into the back of the car as you take the passenger seat. His phone is hooked to the car, a playlist of his own playing gently through the speakers and you’re surprised to catch on the Christmas feeling in the songs.
“Are you in the spirit?” you ask when he gets into the car.
“Like to set the mood ahead,” he chuckles starting the car and off you go. 
Ridiculous to think about it, but it’s actually the first time you sit in the same car with Harry or see him drive even. The way you two used to be was not quite ideal to have you locked up in such a small place as a car. But now you have nothing against spending the almost hour long drive with him. 
“Can you pull out the navigation when I leave the highway? I’m not sure where exactly I need to head,” he asks you, eyes fixed on the road ahead of him and nodding you open the app on your phone so his can keep on playing the music without the voice of the navigation interrupting it. 
“Excited to spend your first Christmas with us?” you ask. Though Harry was there at several family events, it’s his first Christmas since becoming Valerie’s godfather. 
“I am,” he chuckles, nodding, hands gripping the wheel gently. He is a natural driver, easily working the car, the kind you feel completely safe next to. As Baby It’s Cold Outside comes on a smile stretches across your lips as you start gently bop your head to the song. “I’ve heard crazy stuff about Christmases at your family,” he adds glancing in your way for a second.
“Like what?”
“I remember when Steven told me about his first Christmas with your family. You remember that?”
Searching in your memories you tried to remember when was the first time Rosa brought Steven along. They dated for two years before they got married so it’s been about five years since then, but as you think hard the memory of that specific year pops into your head making you laugh as you nod.
“Oh, yes. The year Aunt Monica almost burned the Airbnb down,” you sigh grinning at the memory. She brought some special kind of cigars that year that were told to be curiosities from somewhere fancy, but they ended up the literal worst quality, flaming bits were falling out them all the time when she would smoke one, almost making the rug catch on fire wherever she went. Best thing is that she was already drunk on the liquor so she didn’t even notice, there was always a person on Aunt Monica duty, following her around, making sure nothing burnt down. 
“Steven said he had a moment when he thought about bailing,” Harry tells you and you gasp, because that’s new information.
“Really?”
“Yeah, but like only for a split second after your dad walked in on him naked in the bathroom. That was kind of the last straw. Luckily Rosa could convince him to stay. Guess it all worked out at the end.” Harry smiles as he stares ahead of him.
You can’t imagine a version where Rosa and Steven don’t end up together. They met through a mutual friend not long after Rosa had a nasty breakup with her scumbag ex. Steven was there to put her back together and be her partner as she found herself again. The change and positive impact he had on her could be seen every day and you were so thankful to him for helping your sister find her way out of such a dark place in her life. It didn’t take them too long to start dating and he proposed a little more than a year later. You still remember how Rosa was screaming in the phone when she called you that evening telling you that Steven proposed. They are quite literally a match made in heaven. It’s been your goal in life to find this person in your life though you haven’t had much luck with men so far. Ironically, if you were in a room with every man you were ever involved with in any kind of way, Harry would be the only one you’d want to talk with. If you had to make this exact same choice just months ago you would have chosen to run out screaming. 
“Maybe this year it’s your turn to get horrified from us,” you laugh, sinking down a little in your seat as you adjust the seat belt. You’re still quite far away from the cabin, you might as well make yourself comfortable. 
“I think there’s not much that I haven’t witnessed yet. I was walked in on at the bathroom once too, but it was your cousin, Etta.”
“When did that happen?” you ask with a heartfelt laugh.
“I think it was last summer at one of your nieces’ birthday party. Luckily everything was already tucked away when she basically barged in.”
“She didn’t miss much,” you tease him with a smirk and your witty comment catches him by surprise.
“Are you saying my dick is not imposing enough to be worthy of peeking?” he asks with raised eyebrows and you’re happy he is driving. His intimidating look would already burn right into your skin by now, but he is forced to watch the road instead. 
“I mean, if you want to put it that way…” you continue, but a laugh escapes your lips.
“Take that back, Y/N,” he orders, sneaking a hard look at you before turning back ahead, but you can see the small smile hiding on his lips. 
“Or what?”
“Or you might find yourself in a war you don’t want to be involved in,” he warns you, but his words don’t quite have the effect on you he wanted. Because in a heartbeat you find yourself feeling… excited? Thrilled? Even curious about his means behind his words. 
“Wouldn’t want to lie, so…” Pretending like you’re sorry you shrug your shoulders as Harry gives you a look that makes your stomach churn. Now either you are gonna have some fun teasing each other or… you just threw yourself into the arms of the Devil himself. Either way, you’re certain Harry won’t leave it in that.
Turning your head to your window you can’t keep your smile contained as you think of the fact that how big of a lie it was. Harry is surely not a guy who should ever worry about any aspect of his manhood. You’re talking from experience. 
***
The cabin is absolutely gorgeous, just the perfect place for a cozy family holiday. Hidden from the busy roads with a secure gate and tall trees on both sides, the back of it is facing a majestic view of the valley and the evergreen covered hill in the distance. With an interior straight from the pages of a magazine, you need just a few moments to adjust to your surroundings upon arriving.
“I saved a nice room for you, Harry!” your mother gushes the moment she sees the two of you walk through the front door. You huff in annoyance.
“And what about me?” 
Harry chuckles giving you a smug grin. “Guess you’re just second after me.”
“It’s his first Christmas with us, he deserves the better room,” your mom shushes at you, making your eyes roll instantly. It’s still hard to believe Harry has this kind of charm over most people.
After greeting everyone who is already there, your dad, Aunt Teresa and Etta with her family, your mom walks the two of you down one of the hallways that leads to several bedrooms. She stops at the last door with an excited grin on her face as she opens it revealing the bedroom behind it. 
You instantly understand why she thought this is the best one. The view is absolutely breathtaking, the gentle noon light is flowing into the room through the floor to ceiling windows, the king sized bed facing them so when you wake up in the morning the first thing you see is the endless sea of evergreens on the side of the hill. Not to mention the room has its own bathroom, not many of the other rooms are blessed with that. There’s a spacious shower that has enough space for at least three people in there and it’s one of those fancy ones that can make you feel like you’re having a shower in the middle of a jungle, mood lights and bluetooth speakers attached to it.
“No fucking way Harry is getting this room!” you gasp as you look around, taking in the luxure your mother is willing to hand over to him.
“Jealous, much?” he smirks, throwing his sports bag to the bed already ruining the neatly made sheets. He does not deserve this.
“Mom!” you huff turning to her, but she has made her mind up already.
“Your room is nice too, don’t worry Honey. Let Harry have this one!”
“I really can’t believe you are taking his side,” you grumble under your breath, folding your arms on your chest as you take one last look at the stunning view. 
“Come on, Y/N. He is a guest!”
“He is not! You said it yourself he is family now!” you retort and Harry just laughs behind you, so you shoot him a murderous look over your shoulder, that just fuels his entertainment.
“Don’t be silly. Your room is the second one on the right from here,” she smiles at you. “We are gonna take a walk around once everyone arrives, so get settled by then!” she informs you before walking out. 
“Hey,” Harry’s soft voice makes you turn around. “You can have the room if you want.”
Your eyebrows rise at the kind gesture, it’s very not like him, even now in your friendly state, so it’s quite odd that he is willing to switch rooms with you.
“No need,” you shake your head grabbing the handle of your suitcase that you abandoned at the door.
“You sure? It doesn’t matter where I’m sleeping, really.”
“I’m not gonna deal with my mother’s scolding if she finds out I took your room, so you can totally stay.” 
Harry chuckles as you head out, but stop at the door to have one last word with him. “Though I might occupy your bathroom, that shower looks nice.”
“All yours,” he grins before you walk out.
***
By 11 am everyone arrives and the once quiet cabin is now buzzing from life, children running around, Valerie’s babbling shoots through the spacious living area where Rosa set her crib up, your mother is already making preparations for dinner while most of the men are circled around the pool table having a beer since no one has to drive for the rest of the day. 
“When is Marcus arriving?” Rosa asks, eyes on Valerie who is absolutely destroying something that once were an elephant maybe, but she’s been ruthless with the poor animal, chewing and throwing it around all the time, so it’s not just a grey, fuzzy mess.
“Sometime before dinner. He has some work to finish,” you tell her pulling your legs under yourself on the comfy couch.
“And explain again, why isn’t he staying for the night?” she turns to you with a puzzled look.
“Because he is going home to his family early in the morning tomorrow.”
“Okay, but he could have just left from here, didn’t he?”
“It’s… complicated. It’s better if he just goes back home tonight and then leaves from there in the morning.”
What you leave out of the whole explanation is that you didn’t really invite him to stay the night as well. Sounds horrible and ridiculous but you didn’t think you’d have felt comfortable with him staying. You’ve been dating for only barely more than a month and though things are going well, you felt like starting with just a dinner would be a better idea. Marcus didn’t question why you didn’t offer him to stay, it seemed like he was fine with just coming and then going after dinner. 
Does this make you a bad girlfriend? Maybe, but you value your comfort and feelings more than to ruin your favorite holiday with your family. 
Just as you mom said, once everyone is settled in their rooms for the upcoming three days, the whole gang dresses up to have a walk around taking the welcoming little path that runs around the cabin and is smooth enough for Valerie’s carriage as well. Your nieces and nephew are quick to surround Harry and nag him to join them at the front, exploring the woods surrounding the path. It seems like he doesn’t mind it and gladly takes part in the adventure, also secretly looking after them so their parents can have a break and enjoy the stroll in hopes the walk tires the kids out enough that they’ll willingly go to bed in the evening instead of whining to stay up late. 
You’re walking with Etta next to you as she tells you about Hannah’s latest dance competition when you spot that Harry and Oliver, your nephew, Etta’s other kid are suspiciously whispering around pointing in your direction. At last Olly nods and runs up to you showing a quite thick piece of wood into your hand. You look down at him confused.
“Thank you?” you tell him a little unsure what it’s all about.
“I found it in a bush, I want to take it home. Harry said you’ll keep it for me because you have a good hand for thick and hard sticks.”
You almost choke on your own breath, as Olly just carelessly runs back ahead to join his sister. You immediately look over to Etta in fear that she heard what Harry told Oliver, but luckily she was talking with Joe turning back, not really paying attention to the conversation you just had with her son. If she did, Harry probably wouldn’t live by now.
Speaking of the devil, you look in his way and that annoying, smug grin is right there as he nods in your way saluting before he shows his hands into his pockets and turns back around to catch up with the kids. 
That disgusting piece of shit really went into the depth of teaching something secretly dirty to your nephew as a way of payback for your comment in the car earlier. He surely wasn't just joking when he said you’d pay for what you said. And you have a feeling he is just getting started. 
***
Aunt Monica is like a legend in your family. She is the oldest between your mom and her sisters, already in her sixties, but in the heart she still feels like she has just turned twenty. She never married, but had several men in her life, love affairs, short flings, but none of them lasted for more than a year. 
“Why would I settle when there’s so many fish in the sea?” she once told you, her iconic Chanel sunglasses sat on her nose as she sipped on her martini. 
She has worked many jobs throughout her life, she was once a dancer, she waited tables and even worked as a TV host at one point in the ‘80s. She was the true free spirit of the family, her sisters often questioned her sanity, but you think there’s nothing wrong with how she lived her life, enjoying it to the last bit. In the early ‘90s she was seeing a millionaire, probably the only man she would have given her lifestyle up for. Unfortunately, they never married, the man passed away due to his heart problems, however, since he had little to zero family he left basically everything to Aunt Monica. Money, house, cars, business, everything. Being the smart woman that she is, she handed over the business into professional hands but she is still the owner, so the money is still flowing even though she could have lived happily on the money she inherited without ever having to work a day. 
She seems a little odd in your family, but she has always been a loving aunt to you, a caring sister and she never fails to take care of her loved ones. She is the one to pay for all these Christmas getaways, otherwise you wouldn’t be able to stay in places this nice.
“What’s all the money for if I don’t spend it on my family?” she always says when someone questions if she is fine with paying for everything. Your mom and Teresa have tried to convince her to let them at least pay for part of it but she wouldn’t even listen to them. 
She likes to have her own, sometimes odd ways in life. She definitely has a drinking problem, but not in a dangerous way. You have never seen her completely wasted, she just likes to keep things buzzing and always have a drink on her whenever she needs the extra fun. Because of her past she has the greatest stories about meeting famous people back in the days or how soldiers used to try to win her over when she was just a teenager.
“Oh, those things happened,” your mom told you when one day you questioned if you could believe all the crazy stories Aunt Monica tells you. “She was like… the star of the show. Used to hate living in her shadow, but I can’t blame her for enjoying life and doing the things I was too afraid to do myself.”
Now you’re sitting in the sunroom that faces the amazing view behind the cabin, the Christmas tree is standing tall in the corner, beautifully decorated in white and beige. Valerie is snuggled up to your chest as you gently rub her back and you listen to Aunt Monica tell you about how a literal captain once proposed to her after just three days of knowing each other.
“He was a gentleman, but a beast in the bed, Y/N. I’m telling you, men in uniform are just a different level of satisfaction.”
She sighs deep, taking a sip from her margarita that’s definitely not her first drink, and you just laugh nodding.
“He was begging for me to go to Italy with him.”
“And why didn’t you?”
“Who said I didn’t?” she asks with a pretentious hurt look turning to you and you just laugh. You should have known the story would go this way. “I accepted the offer, only turned down his proposal when we sailed off and then we parted as soon as I stepped onto the land of Italy. Broke his heart into pieces, but I was too busy enjoying the Italian summer.”
Harry comes in and hands you a bottle filled with juice that probably Rosa sent for Valerie.
“Thank you,” you smile at him shortly as you adjust the little girl in your arms and hand her the bottle.
“Young boy, have you ever proposed to someone?” Aunt Monica asks Harry who stops in his way as he was already about to head out, but now he walks back to the sofa where she is sitting.
“No, not yet,” he shakes his head.
“And how do you think you would if the time came?”
You watch Harry think to himself at the odd and quite random question. It’s not really something you would have ever asked him, but now that there’s the chance to hear his answer you are listening curiously. 
“Depends on the woman I’m proposing to,” he replies after a few seconds.
“How would you propose to Y/N?”
Your eyes widen as you turn to your aunt with shock all over your face. You definitely didn’t want yourself dragged into this.
“Aunt Monica, that’s--”
“Shush! I’m just asking theoretically. Wanna hear his answer.”
Harry’s eyes wander over to your sitting figure on the sofa as he leans onto the back of the one in front of him. You can feel the heat crawling up on your neck to your cheeks under his burning look and you just know he enjoys how nervous you got from this simple question that wasn’t even asked from you. 
Licking his lips he moves his eyes from you over to Aunt Monica who is still waiting for his answer.
“Something romantic, but not too grandiose, I know she doesn’t like being in the center of the attention that much. Maybe…” Tapping on his chin you listen to his words and without even realizing you hold your breath. “Maybe on a hike with a nice view. She would be admiring the view when I get down on one knee and as she turns around I pop the lid on the box.”
What bugs you is that it’s an awfully accurate description of how you’d imagined your proposal. He was right about many aspects, like how you don’t like being in the center of attention. No idea how he nailed so easily, but he did. 
Glancing down you pretend to be busy with Valerie who is still peacefully drinking her juice, eyes wandering around the room relentlessly.
“So you really look to satisfy her deepest fantasies, careful about even the smallest details. Women appreciate it,” Aunt Monica nods, completely oblivious to how uncomfortable she just made you feel.
“Thank you, I do like to satisfy women,” Harry cheekily answers with a smirk, eyes locking with yours for a moment as Aunt Monica lets out a laugh at the dirty comment. Before you could bite your tongue a retort slips out of your mouth.
“What a shame you don’t always succeed.”
Harry’s eyes turn from playful to dark pretty quickly and you enjoy the victory over him. Your comment in the car earlier already wounded his manhood, now it’s another stab right into his… crotch. It’s the least he deserves after what he taught poor Olly.
“That I don’t believe. He seems like an absolute pleaser.” Aunt Monica winks in Harry’s way who just smiles at her shyly, but you can tell your comment is still bugging him. 
“I think Y/N knows that too herself, am I right?” He tilts his head to the side and you stand your ground with holding his gaze and not looking away.
“Don’t be so sure about that,” you simply say, just when you hear your mom calling out for you. “Would you take her please?” you innocently ask walking up to Harry, holding Valerie out for him. You can tell he is looking for a witty comeback, but he has nothing just yet, so he is stuck with keeping his mouth shut as he takes baby Valerie from you. You gift him with a sweet, but definitely spikey smile before leaving him there with Aunt Monica. 
***
Dinner is already almost ready, you’re helping your mom and Aunt Teresa in the kitchen with the finishing touches, Joe and Harry packing out the wine bottles from the rack Jeremy brought them in, the two of them examining the bottles with such professionalism you almost believe they have the slightest idea about what to look for in a good wine. 
“Should we open some red or white ones for tonight’s dinner?” Joe asks your mom who is the master chef when it comes to the dinner.
“Red would suit better,” she answers. “Are they sweet?”
“Some, yeah,” Harry nods holding up a bottle and checking the label.
“Great. Monica loves that too,” Teresa chuckles as she adds some salt to the mashed potato. 
“And Y/N too,” Harry adds, not even looking up, but he successfully attracts your mom’s attention with his comment.
“She does?” Harry looks up and sees your boiling anger plastered all over your face, so of course he chooses to take it further.
“Oh, yeah. She can drink like a gallon. Wine drunk Y/N is like a whole different person.”
“I told you so many times not to get drunk, Y/N. It’s not too ladylike. When was the last time you saw her drunk?”
“There were plenty of occasions,” Harry exaggerates and you could kill him right there. “Though last time it was the tequila that got her wildin’.”
That damned smirk of his is making your hands curl into fists and for a moment you tell yourself it’s okay to punch him in front of your mother even if she’ll probably disown you for such behavior. 
“Y/N! I have told you a million times that you need to know where your limits lie!” she huffs shaking her head at you while you clench your jaw. Back at it with the lessons about getting drunk. She’ll never get over it, not even when you’ll be forty. Why does it matter to her so much? Sometimes she is the one to get you started, but then she gives you the dirtiest looks when you have one too many. She should just get used to it now. 
“She surely likes to have fun when she has had a few drinks,” Harry continues smugly. “Remember how much fun you had at Rosa and Steven’s wedding?”
“Oh, God! I remember how drunk you were that evening, I could have killed you!” your mother growls and you roll your eyes at her.
“It wasn’t that bad. There were a lot more people who got way more wasted than me,” you try to defend yourself folding your arms on your chest. 
“That doesn’t change that you were too,” she says with a hard look. Great, now she is mad at you for something that happened literally years ago. Kudos to Harry for ruining her mood.
“She wasn’t that bad,” Harry adds and you look in his way with suspicion. “She was a delight when it was time to get her to bed.”
Your mouth almost hangs open, but it seems like you’re the only one understanding what he really meant by that. Luckily, beside you and him, Rosa and Steven are the only people who knows what happened between you and Harry that night, so it’s no surprise no one else catches on the hint.
“You were the one who took her up to her room? Sorry if she was a burden,” your mother sighs and right at that moment you wish the floor would just open up and you could disappear forever. Harry’s satisfied grin is the evidence that he just won another round of this nasty war.
Just as you open your mouth to try and move the conversation to another field you see a pair of headlights pull up to the driveway. Everyone turns to the window as Marcus’ car parks down last in the line. As you step away from the counter you see the confusion in Harry’s eyes about the new guest.
“Oh, amazing! He is here!” your mom cheers, seemingly instantly forgetting about how she was dragging you just a minute ago.
“Who’s here?” you hear Harry ask, but you’re already out of there, heading to the front door to greet Marcus.
Just as you walk out into the cold evening air you see him get out with a warm smile on his lips. You wait for him at the door, arms wrapped around yourself and as he reaches you he places a soft kiss to your lips. 
“Hey, how was the drive?” you ask him.
“It was fine. I didn’t arrive too late, right?”
“No, we were just about to set the table. Come on in, I’ll introduce you to everyone.”
He takes your hand in his as the two of you walk inside, all eyes immediately turning your way at the arrival of your boyfriend.
“Everyone, I want you all to meet my boyfriend, Marcus. He is staying for dinner.”
Your family members walk up to the two of you, shaking hands and introducing themselves to Marcus who smiles at everyone politely, trying his best to remember all the names and information that’s thrown at him all of a sudden. Everyone seems delighted to have him for dinner, the kids instantly make him promise he’ll play a card game with them after dinner and he happily says yes to the invitation. 
You can tell your mom is proud that finally both of her daughters are spending Christmas with a man by their side and you’re almost certain your dad took a liking to Marcus the moment he mentioned he is into fishing.
Everyone seems excited and happy for Marcus, there’s just one face that doesn’t fit in the line of joyful smiles. Harry stands quite far from the two of you and only gets closer when he shakes hands with Marcus. His cocky grin is long gone from his face as he keeps his hard look on your boyfriend who is chatting with everyone. Standing next to Marcus, your hand still holding his, your eyes lock with Harry’s and there’s an unknown, burning feeling in your gut when his hard gaze holds yours. The sudden change and cold act gets you wondering what’s really going on in his mind. He is the first one to look away and you watch him walk into the kitchen and disappear from your sight before you force a smile on your lips and turn back to Marcus.
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dragons-bones · 3 years
Text
FFXIV Write Entry #12: A Bloodshore Holiday, Part 2
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Prompt: lull (free write!) || Master Post || On AO3
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5
--
It took long minutes for Aymeric to finally calm his giggles; as they tapered off, he pressed a kiss to Synnove’s forehead, right on the dark grey tattoo in the middle of her forehead, and then the one across the bridge of her nose. Almost immediately, all the irritation at Halulu and her sisters drained out of her, and Synnove sighed, low and quiet, leaning into her knight. No, he had not been privy to this scheme of theirs; she could see the confusion lurking beneath the amusement in his lovely blue eyes.
As nice as it was to be held by him—it had been sennights since they had last seen one another, though they spoke frequently by linkshell—time was flitting by. She raised her hand to glance at the wrist chronometer she had on. A little over a quarter bell to eleven.
Well, plenty of time, then.
Synnove wiggled in his grasp, and Aymeric obligingly set her on her feet. She pushed herself to her toes to brush her lips against his, however, and she giggled in delight when he wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her close and deepening their kiss. They withdrew after a few moments to rest their foreheads against one another and share silly grins.
“Hello, my knight,” said Synnove.
“Hello, my lady,” said Aymeric, ice blue eyes twinkling.
“What brings you here?”
“Kidnapped,” he said wryly, and she couldn’t help the fresh giggle that shook her shoulders. He continued, “’Twas a conspiracy between mine own friends and your dastardly sisters, it would appear: I presume it was Lucia who locked my office, and then Alakhai picked my pocket of my key, and then it was Alakhai and Rereha who took my befuddled self to the airship landing with Lucia and Handeloup’s explicit blessing.”
Synnove tipped her head back to plant a kiss on his chin. “Oh, my poor Aymeric,” she said with another laugh. “But here you are!”
“Here I am,” he said cheerfully, “with no idea why! Lucia said I am now on vacation, and Rereha has mentioned the ferry multiple times now, but quite honestly I have no idea what the plan is.”
Glee suffused her, and she stepped back to take his hand and begin leading him down the stairs from her office. “It sounds like our meddlesome friends and family have gotten us a sennight at the Bloodshore cabin,” she said, familiar enough with this route that she walked backwards so she could see him.
And the trick paid off, as seeing Aymeric’s gaze sharpen with interest, excitement, and a little heat had her mentally purring in satisfaction. “The Bloodshore cabin?” he said. “I believe you’ve mentioned it once or twice in some of your stories.”
Synnove hummed, unable to suppress her enthusiastic grin. “Rereha’s parents have vacationed there for years, even before the Calamity. I’m not entirely certain who actually rents it out; it’s not Gegeruju, though if he had his way, he’d own the whole damn eastern Vylbrand seaboard. Rere likely wheedled contact information out of her parents to make arrangements for us.”
“I’m genuinely impressed by the amount of planning they must have done for us,” her knight said with a shake of his head. “And the ferry, I assume, is to the eastern side of La Noscea?”
“That’s right!” she chirped. “It was always our tradition when the girls and I would go to stay at the cabin for a bit; we’d take the ferry instead of teleporting. Fun to see the sights.”
Aymeric’s smile was bright as they reached the next landing. “Well, then, I look forward to partaking in such tradition,” he said, gently tugging at her hand to pull her back. She cocked her head, then grinned when he bent his arm and placed her palm in the crook of his elbow.
“And in the meantime,” Synnove said, kissing his cheek, her heart fluttering at how he beamed, “I finally get to show you my city.”
“Something to which I have been looking forward to,” he said, nuzzling her temple. “I am becoming less and less annoyed with our friends for their meddling. Lead on, my lady.”
Their descent down the northeast tower was uneventful; classes were currently in session, and a full day of assessment was on the docket for the customs’ agents. The main halls were a little busier, and the pair of them attracted attention: the green-eyed, bronze-skinned Highlander normally obsessed with her theorems atop her tower with her carbuncles, and her handsome elezen companion with raven hair and striking icy eyes, dressed in blue and black. The students stared blatantly, mouths dropping open and turning to whisper amongst themselves; the senior arcanists, by contrast, grinned or winked.
“I thought I saw Thubyrgeim talking with your sisters!” Houxine from mathematics sang out as they passed. Synnove made a rude gesture, and the red-haired duskwight merely cackled and said, “Have fun, you two!”
“Just how often do you get locked out of your own office?” Aymeric said dryly.
“Often,” said Synnove, matter-of-fact.
Her knight heaved a sigh, the sound only a little bit exaggerated. “I strongly suspect Lucia and Handeloup are going to be taking notes,” he muttered.
She snickered.
The main hall of Mealvaan’s Gate was too busy for them to garner any further looks, which suited Synnove just fine. It felt strange to be taking the route without any of her carbuncles in tow; her sisters had taken charge to babysit whenever she needed a break and time to herself, but this was the first time they had done so by effectively kicking her out of her office, first. Normally, Thubyrgeim and Halulu conspired to throw her out if she had gone too long without sleep, with Heron or Alakhai or Rereha either escorting her home or meeting her there to whisk the foci bracelet and the carbuncles off for an adventure with their aunties. The sensation of not having Galette around her shoulders as she left the Guild premise was almost as if she was naked, and for a moment, her grip on Aymeric’s arm tightened.
Seemingly without thinking, as his gaze was darting around the area outside the Gate to drink in the sight of all the people and the docks and the various shops and cafes that cluttered the western end of the city, Aymeric covered her hand with his opposite one, brushing his thumb across her knuckles in a soothing caress. The thread of tension that had been winding around her spine loosened, and she rested her head on his shoulder for a moment, taking a deep breath. The salt breeze of Galadion Bay dominated, but faintly, she caught the barest whiff of sword oil that constantly lingered around her knight, and the sandalwood that scented his shampoo.
With a smile, she said, “Hungry?”
Aymeric kissed the top of her head. “Famished, lovely one,” he said. “To the Bismarck, then?”
“Yes. Come on!”
They took the aetheryte to the main plaza; as lunch drew nearer, the streets of Hawker’s Alley were becoming more crowded, and they would only have so much time to savor their own meal before they would need to wend their way to the docks. Synnove pulled her knight through the press of people, having no qualms elbowing people out of her way; Limsa Lominsa’s aetheryte plaza was likely the busiest in Eorzea, being both open air and sitting at the heart of the city so close to the markets. Adventurers, merchants, citizens all traversed the great open space; bards and buskers and other entertainers lined the edges, dancing on the low walls or playing a reel beneath a shady tree.
She looked over her shoulder and laughed at Aymeric’s wide-eyed wonder, her heart swelling with fondness. He looked like a little boy, and she tugged up him beside as they finally cleared the worst of the crowd at the base of the winding path that would take them to the upper decks so she could kiss his cheek once more. “None if it’s going anywhere,” she said. “I promise. We’ll have to let our friends conspire more often, hm?”
“A fine idea,” he said, wrapping an arm around her waist.
The climb upwards was quite fun; the shops built into this stone pillar had their windows and doors open, and Aymeric craned his head as they passed each one to get a glimpse of what they had to offer. A cobbler with an eclectic display of prototypes in various sizes and shapes and colors, and a shoeshine chair just outside the door; a bookstore (one of her favorites), with a glimpse of the shopkeeper giving an impromptu reading lesson to a mixed group of hyur, roegadyn, and miqo’te children would couldn’t have been older than three or four as their parents browsed (she muttered to Aymeric about the Admiral’s plans for a public education system, and smiled as his gaze sharpened with keen interest); a chandlery that had a display out today of candles carefully carved into lotuses and roses and similarly scented so that it smelled as if they passed a flower shop instead.
Eventually, they reached the top, and the Culinarians’ Guild sprawled out before them. The outdoor seating area for the Bismarck was already beginning to fill; some tables were set aside for reservations, but many were kept open for walk-up patrons. Aymeric’s eyes popped anew, and he stared over her head at the sprawl of tables with their cheery umbrellas in various reds and yellows and blues as she directed them towards the maître d’s station.
H’lahono was on duty today, the miqo’te waved cheerfully. “Hullo, Synnove!” she called out, already stepping out from behind the lectern with two menus in hand. “Good to see you again!”
Synnove laughed, gently tugging her knight along with her as she followed the waitress. “How long have my sisters been planning this?” she said.
“I have no idea,” H’lahono said cheerfully, “but they made the reservation four days ago.”
She led them to a table around the curve of the Bismarck, with both a stunning view of the city and privacy from the other diners, further achieved mahogany partitions between the tables in this section. It was shaded by a yellow umbrella, offering both protection from the sun and any leaves that would fall from the vines and greenery growing atop the stone spire. H’lahono set their menus before them as they took their seats and gave a short bow before scurrying off.
Synnove propped her chin in her hands and grinned at Aymeric. “How are you doing?”
“…Overwhelmed,” he said, a little breathless, staring out over the city. Galadion Bay sparkled in the sunlight, and the drone of the crowds were dimmed with the height they were above them. He turned his head back to smile at her, wide and blinding, as he shrugged out of the leather jacket he had been wear to sling on the back of his chair. “But having fun so far, my love.”
She took a moment to admire the sight of him in public so informally dressed—if she could get the ties of that shirt undone to show off the top of his chest, she was absolutely going to—and then tapped the menu. “Anything in particular you’d like to have?”
Her knight flipped it open, frowning thoughtfully as he glanced it over. Finally, he chuckled ruefully and shook his head. “This is the Bismarck,” he said, “the finest restaurant in all Eorzea. Quite frankly, I have no idea where to begin.” He smiled sheepishly at her. “Would you pick for me?”
Her heart felt full to bursting, and she rested her hand on the table, palm up. Aymeric set his own hand in hers, and she squeezed it gently before bringing it up and leaning forward to kiss his knuckles, then his thumb. “Of course, my love,” she said, and delighted further in the faint flush of surprise and pleasure that pinked his cheeks.
Clearly, she needed to turn his lovely gestures back on him more often.
When their waitress arrived, Synnove placed their order rapidly after only a quick glance at the menu herself; she was well familiar with the staples and the seasonal specials, and the daily specials were only what required the closest reading. The waitress had brought a plate of bread for them, along with herb butter, and olive oil and balsamic for dipping, and almost immediately, she had plucked a slice of the fluffy bread from the platter and slathered a generous helping of the butter atop it. Aymeric followed her lead, and as they waited for their lunch to arrive, they hooked their ankles together beneath the table and looked across the city, with Synnove pointing out the various Maelstrom squadrons and their ships docked in the harbor today.
“A shame the Victory’s out on patrol,” she said with a sigh, dragging the bowl of balsamic closer to herself into which she dipped a new slice of bread, having polished off the first. “She’s a real beauty.”
“I’ll freely admit to knowing so little of ships that I fear I wouldn’t be able to properly appreciate her,” said Aymeric. He had claimed the little bowl of olive oil, and kept batting at her hands whenever she tried to steal a dip. “But I have no doubt you’ll make a fine teacher.”
There was no stopping the blush across her own cheeks. He always knew the exact right thing to say.
Their soup arrived with their drinks: cups of piping hot clam chowder, with a mango lassi for Aymeric and a mint lassi for herself. Aymeric hummed appreciatively at the first sip of his drink. “Oh, I like that,” he murmured. “I believe I had something similar in Ul’dah, but this is better.”
“Ul’dahns typically use goat milk for their yogurt,” Synnove said, digging her spoon into her chowder to fish for a nice large clam. “We use either buffalo or sheep here.”
“Are Ul’dahns capable of using any other kind of dairy in their cuisine?” Aymeric said with a laugh as he picked up his own spoon.
“I dare you to say that in front of Rere.”
Aymeric laughed harder.
He ended up polishing off his chowder first, his eyes glittering with delight at the first taste. Fresh cream, large chunks of popoto, even larger clams fresh from the nets that morning, and more than a few generous pieces of thick bacon: the Bismarck’s chowder wasn’t allowed entry into any of the chowder competitions in La Noscea anymore because inevitably, it would win. She grinned at his enthusiasm, eating her own cup more sedately, and they used the last of the bread to mop up the remains as their entrees arrived.
For Aymeric, Synnove had ordered a simple classic: haddock baked with olive oil, salt, pepper, paprika, and parsley, then drizzled with browned butter sauce, served with a heaping side of grilled asparagus. She knew from experience that the dish best highlighted the skills of the Bismarck chefs, who knew how to keep the flesh of the haddock tender and flaky, and season it without overwhelming the natural mildness of it. And La Noscean asparagus was, quite frankly, fucking godly.
She paused before digging into her spicy fish stew—tomatoes and garlic and a medley of spices for the sauce-like soup, with octopus and cod and crab and assorted vegetables—to watch his face, and grinned when his pleased groan fell from his throat. “That,” he said after swallowing, cutting off a larger chunk of haddock from the large fillet with his fork, “has no right being so delicious for something so simple.”
“It really doesn’t,” she said with nod, and stole a piece of asparagus.
Her poor knight ended up needing to chug half his lassi when he ventured a bite of her fish stew—“My love, we have got to work on your spice tolerance if you want to survive eating in this city!”—but he agreed that while the dragon pepper was clearly his enemy, it was otherwise delicious, the various fish and vegetables each perfectly cooked. Lunch passed in companionable silence as they ate. And then came dessert.
Aymeric threw back his head and laughed from deep in his belly as slices of chocolate pudding pie, its crust made from crushed chocolate cookies and then topped with huge dollops of mint-flavored whipped cream, were placed in front of each of them. “I should have known!”
Synnove’s smile was unrepentant. “Today’s the first day they’re serving it,” she said without shame. “It’s tradition. And while Mistress Iriene and the Bluebird did fine work in mimicking it, no one but the Bismarck does this dish right!”
He certainly had no complaints. Barely a crumb was left on either of their plates.
Unfortunately, they weren’t quite able to laze about to enjoy their full stomachs; the ferry departure time was ilming ever closer. Their waitress said the bill was already covered—Rereha had likely told them to put it on her tab—but she and Aymeric chipped in equal portions for a very hefty tip, and off they scampered to the aetheryte. They reappeared at the one in the middle of Hawker’s Alley, closest to the ferry pier, and they both whooped with laughter as they raced down the rickety wooden boardwalks.
They had just enough time for Synnove to duck into the Fisher’s Guild, waving to Sisipu as she purchased a rough wooden bucket full of oysters. Aymeric raised his eyebrows at her once she emerged and they began to weave between all the drying racks in the direction of the ferry. “What magicks have you been up to if you’re still hungry?” he said.
She reached up and booped his nose. “Another tradition,” she said cheerfully. “I’m not hungry now, but these will keep for a few more bells, and it’s a fairly long trip around Vylbrand. They make for an excellent midafternoon treat, and the ferry crew will return the bucket with the empty shells so the Fisher’s Guild can reseed the oyster beds with them.”
He eyed the bucket speculatively—had he never had an oyster on the half shell?—before shaking his head with a rueful grin. “A day for many first, then,” he said.
She gaped incredulously. “How have you gone this long without eating a raw oyster, Coerthan rivers have oysters, I fished them up myself, how on Hydaelyn—”
He bent down and slanted his mouth over hers, and she went nearly limp with a pleased sigh. The sailor overseeing the loading of the ferry whistled. Synnove held her hand up to her in a rude gesture, not breaking the kiss, and the sailor cackled.
As they made the ferry gangplank, the sailor—Yuhehe, a woman with deep laugh lines in her sun-weathered brown face—whistled again. “Nice seein’ ye again, Mistress Greywolfe!” she said, her voice like a crow’s croak. “Yer pack and ‘is be below, Mistress Noykin gave them over earlier ta’day.” She gave Aymeric a very appreciative once over. “And this be yer beau, then?”
“Aye,” Synnove said, reaching up with her free hand to pat Aymeric’s chest. “Keep your hands to herself, you she-devil.”
“Alas, but our great love affair is destined to end before it even begins,” her knight drawled with a wide grin, bowing courteously to Yuhehe.
The old crow cackled again, but her cheeks had darkened suspiciously. “Oh, ye picked a good one,” she gasped around her laughter. “’ow many of them fine ladies be angry ye poached ‘im from ‘neath their noses?”
Synnove’s smirk was that of a coeurl who had gotten both the cream and the canary, and Yuhehe’s cackles followed them up the gangplank.
“Now just who did she hear that from?” Aymeric murmured with a smile.
“Good money’s on Rere, but Yuhehe was once Upright, and Alakhai turns into a gossipy fishwife with that group,” Synnove said under her breath, still grinning, and her knight hummed in understanding.
The ferry ride was blissfully uneventful, the sloop smoothly riding the wives east as the sun danced westward. She pointed out the Salt Strand—“Used to be the Guild firing range, but the Calamity blasted it to hell and back; we still don’t know what’s done there now.”—and the great Moraby Drydocks, a bustling hive of activity. There was the great expanse of Mist, the new adventurers’ town where construction was as common as at the Drydocks, as adventurers who raised the gil built new homes and businesses. The oysters vanished as the buildings of the Red Rooster Stead slipped beyond the horizon, and the windmills of the Grey Fleet started to take shape on the opposite one, and Synnove pointed out a stretch of land on the cliffs in front of them, a tiny building’s roof and chimney just visible above the edge.
“That,” she said, quiet pride filling her, “is my house.”
Aymeric gathered her close, pulling her onto his lap so that her back was to his chest, and propped his chin on her shoulder. “I’d quite like to visit it, before the sennight is up,” he murmured into her ear.
Even as she shivered, warmth filled her heart, and she snuggled back against him, placing her hands on his arms. “That is without question,” she said, and she felt him smile against her neck.
The coast continued to roll on by, until eventually the craggy shores of the eastern side of Vylbrand came into view, riddled with coves and bays and lagoons. It was nearly early evening, closing in on the fifth bell past noon, when the ferry came to anchor near one such nook, about a half-bell’s sailing still from Costa del Sol. They had stopped such that their view of the cove was obscured, the tall cliffs giving nothing away about what was hidden beyond.
Fresh excitement sizzled in her chest, and Synnove turned to kiss Aymeric’s cheek. “Here’s our stop.”
-
(Onward to Part 3!)
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wistfulcynic · 3 years
Text
from one minute to the next
A little something inspired by the prompts @winterbythesea posted here and here and here. This is not those prompts exactly (nor is it what I outlined on the discord, sorry guys) but I think it carries the same lighthearted dumbass energy as they do. 
Also, Killian Jones does not know what a ‘date’ is. Fight me, show. 
Summary: Emma’s not quite sure how it happened, but somehow she finds herself going from single and solitary in the city one minute to smoothly co-parenting with her ex, living with a pirate, and at home in a town full of storybook characters the next. 
Home. She never thought she’d have one of those. 
This is the story of how she got there. 
(also no! curse! renaissance! 3B divergence without Pan’s curse) 
<3k words  Rated T
AO3
-
from one minute to the next: 
Emma was never entirely certain how it happened. 
One minute she was telling Neal she didn’t want to get back together with him, that it was just too late for them now, and he was looking sad but in a resigned sort of way, as though he regretted the truth of her words while still recognising that they were true. 
“For what it’s worth,” he said. “I am sorry. I shouldn’t have listened to August. I shouldn’t have left you like that. If I hadn’t…” 
He didn’t finish the sentence, but he didn’t have to. They both knew how different things would have been if he hadn’t left her. And they both knew that it was far too late to undo what had been done. The only option left was to move on. 
“We found each other again, though,” she reminded him. “And we found Henry.” 
“You mean Henry found us.” 
“Yeah, that’s probably more accurate.” 
They shared a chuckle, and for the briefest moment the years fell away and she remembered why she’d fallen for him. And for the first time since she’d run him down in a New York alleyway, Emma looked at Neal and she felt hopeful.  
“Anyway,” she said, “Henry wants both of us in his life. He deserves that, and I think he needs it. And I think for it to work we need to try to be friends.” 
“No hard feelings, then?” Neal asked, hopefully. 
Emma hesitated. 
What did she feel for Neal? There was still affection, of course there was—the stubborn remnants of a passionate first love that she doubted would ever fully die. There was resentment too, a lot of it, and a lot of hurt. A fair bit of anger. So yeah, there were some hard feelings, but there also wasn’t much point in attempting to hash any of them out with Neal. Not when they needed to move forward.   
She produced a smile, slightly stiff at the edges but he didn’t seem to notice. 
“Sure. No hard feelings.” 
Neal’s face broke into a grin, the wide, happy kind that crinkled his eyes and once upon a time would have sent Emma’s heartbeat into overdrive. Now it just made her think of another crinkly grin, one far rarer and all too often tinged with sadness. 
“Neal,” she said. “I’ve got to go.” 
-
The next minute she was at the docks, breathing deeply and gathering her courage, looking up at the Jolly Roger and hoping Hook—Killian—would be there, in his cabin, maybe with his flask and one of the books that lined his shelves. More than once these past few weeks she’d caught him tucked up in a corner somewhere, reading, and Belle informed her that he actually had a library card. 
“He didn’t have the required ID,” she’d said with a little smirk. “But I think we all know who he is.” 
Emma was pretty sure she did know that, now, and the knowledge propelled her forward, onto the deck of the ship then down to his cabin where she knocked firmly on his door and shivered a bit when his voice called for her to enter. 
He looked up, surprise registering on his face followed swiftly by the delight he could never quite conceal when he saw her. 
“Swan,” he purred. “To what do I owe the pleasure?” 
Emma’s heart was pounding and her throat dry, and honestly it was ridiculous to be this nervous, it wasn’t like he was going to say no. 
“I’m, um. Heretoaskyouout,” she blurted. 
He frowned. “To what?” 
Emma drew a deep breath and tried again. “Ask you out.” 
“Out of where?” 
“What? No. What?” 
“Where do you want me to go out of? This is my ship.” 
Emma resisted the urge to smack herself on the forehead. Of course he didn’t know what ‘ask you out’ meant, he was like a thousand years old. “No, no, I mean out on a date,” she explained. Tried to explain anyway, though his confusion just grew more apparent. “Like, to dinner or something. You and me. Out.” 
“Ah. Ah.” 
She watched as he turned the unfamiliar phrase over in his head, watched his eyes brighten with interest at learning a new thing, then when he finally realised fully what it meant she watched a rosy pink flush creep across his cheekbones and up to the tips of his ears. 
He swallowed, and when he spoke again his voice was gruff. “Let me be certain I understand. You want us, as in you and me, to go someplace and eat dinner together. Just—just us?” 
She nodded. “Yeah.” 
“And in this realm that is called a date?” 
“Yeah.” 
“And am I to understand that there are… romantic connotations to these dates?”
‘Romantic connotations’, she thought, for fuck’s sake, and did her best to ignore the fluttery feeling she always got in her belly whenever he broke out the big words. Aloud she said “Yeah.” 
“I see.” He swallowed again. “And when do you propose we have this date?” 
“Um. Tonight?” 
Aaand there it was, that wide and crinkly grin that made the blood rush far too recklessly through her veins, this time with no sadness lurking behind his eyes. None at all. 
“Tonight it is, then,” he said. 
-
One minute Emma was alone and telling herself she was content to be so, the next she had parents and a son and an ex who was almost a friend, and she was dating. Dating Hook, which she told herself firmly was only weird if she thought too hard about it. She wasn’t actually dating Captain Hook, of course she wasn’t. That would be ridiculous. No, she was dating Killian Jones—who was surprisingly, endearingly, sweet and nervous about it at first, like he wasn’t entirely certain her interest was real and was doing his utmost to tread carefully.
Emma didn’t want him always on his best behaviour, though, and while Killian was wonderful she knew that both of them still needed at least a little bit of Hook. And so it was that after their third date, when Henry was with Neal and Emma had made it very clear to her parents that they were not to expect her home before morning, that she and Killian stumbled back to his ship tipsy on rum but drunk on each other, and she made certain he understood exactly how interested she was. 
It was very. She was very interested. 
And when they awoke the next morning and she groaned at the glaring sunlight and pressed her face into his neck, muttering that it was too damn early and she needed caffeine, he ran his fingers through her hair and informed her he had a coffeemaker in his galley. 
She pulled back and blinked at him. “You what?” 
He flushed slightly, though with a pleased grin. “I asked Granny and she showed me what I needed, and helped me buy it.”
“But why? You don’t drink coffee.” 
He shrugged. “It’s growing on me. And besides, I thought—well, I hoped—that you might want to spend some time aboard ship in the future and, well, I want you to feel comfortable here and to have the things you like.” 
She stared at him for a moment as his flush deepened, then surged forward and kissed him, wrapped herself tightly around him and kissed him and kissed him until they were both breathless and the coffee forgotten until much, much, much later. 
-
Another minute passed and they were marking six months together. Emma had rented a place of her own, nothing fancy but hers, and she and Killian were spending most of their nights there. Her bed was bigger than the bunk in his cabin, softer and with actual springs, and her parents, Granny, and Ruby had all chipped in to buy her an espresso machine. Small but serviceable, like her apartment. Granny taught both her and Killian how to use it—and honestly, Emma thought, you haven’t truly lived until you’ve seen a shirtless pirate with a hook for a hand whip up a latte on a Sunday morning—and she was, tentatively, happy. 
Very happy. 
She didn’t see too much of Neal. He spent time with Henry of course and with Belle, renovating the pawn shop and brightening it a bit, removing what traces they could of the Dark One’s influence. She also knew he was volunteering at the convent where the Lost Boys lived, helping them get accustomed to life in Storybrooke and make it their home. 
He might also, she suspected, have become somewhat more than friends with Tink. 
-
And then one night Emma and Killian had dinner at a new place by the docks, where they gorged on seafood and drank a bit too much wine and decided, for safety and for old times’ sake, to spend the night on the Jolly Roger rather than trying to get home. 
Home. She had a home now, and a man who as good as lived there with her. She should really get around to asking him to live there officially, she knew. She kept meaning to. She wanted to, she truly did. But as conversations go that one felt so weighty and so significant that she wanted to be sure to do it right and so in the end she’d done nothing at all—nothing except feel that little bit more guilty each time Killian asked her politely if it was all right for him to stay. 
Yes, she wanted to tell him. Stay forever. Soon she would. 
They stumbled onto the ship and to his cabin, foolish and messy in a way they hadn’t been for a while. Emma realised she had missed this a bit, the dark, almost feral look in Killian’s eyes when he was just this shade of drunk and she was naked in his bed on his ship. 
“You are… so beautiful, Emma,” he growled against her throat as his fingers tangled in her hair. “Have I told you how you steal my breath away?” 
“Not for at least an hour,” she teased. 
“Remiss of me.” 
“Mmm. However will you… ohhh… make it up to me?” 
He pulled back and looked down at her, his eyes glinting in the moonlight. “Oh, I have one or two ideas.” 
-
They woke late the next morning as was their habit on a Sunday, and Emma groaned as the light pierced her eyelids and straight through her throbbing head. 
“Killian.” She poked him in the ribs. 
“Mmphh,” he replied. 
“You still have your… thing. Right? Coffee thing? In the galley?” 
“Aye.” He rubbed his eyes and blinked. “I believe there’s aspirin in there as well.” 
Emma turned her poking finger into a caressing one, stroking him with the tip of it. “Killian,” she said again, in a wheedling tone. 
“It’s your turn to make the coffee and you know it, Swan,” he replied, in his pirate captain voice. 
She huffed. He raised an eyebrow. 
“Fine.” She flung the covers off and rolled out of bed, snatched his shirt from the floor and threw it on, buttoning it just enough to keep it from flapping when she walked. “I’m guessing you don’t have milk though.” 
“Certainly not any in a drinkable state. Though there should be some of that horrid creamer.” 
She perked up. “Cinnamon?” 
“What else?” 
In the galley Emma found the coffeemaker and an open packet of coffee that smelled surprisingly fresh given how long it had been since they’d last slept here. There was also the cinnamon creamer, unopened, and a big bottle of aspirin. One minute she was pulling everything off the shelves and turning to set them on the table, and the next the door was swinging open and a person walking through it, and Emma found herself colliding sharply with a bare chest. A familiar bare chest. A familiar bare chest that was not Killian’s. 
“Neal!” she shrieked, dropping everything in her arms. “What the fuck!” 
“Emma!” He looked equally stunned. “What the—what are you doing here?” 
“Here on my—on Hook’s ship, you mean?” My boyfriend’s ship, she wanted to say, but calling a 300-year-old pirate a boyfriend was something she still couldn’t do, however objectively true it may be. 
“The ship he said I could use whenever I needed it?” countered Neal. “Yeah, that one!” 
“He said you could use his ship?” 
“Uh huh, he did. When I, you know.” A shifty look crept onto his face. “Wanted privacy.” 
“Priva-oh!” Emma’s eyes widened as the penny dropped. Neal was still living in his father’s house. The house where Belle also lived. “Um. I see.” 
“Yeah.” Neal didn’t meet her eyes. “But why are you here, don’t you have your own place now?” he demanded. “I thought Hook lived with you.” 
“Not officially,” she muttered. “And we, um, had a bit to drink last night at that new seafood place and you know.” She shrugged. “The ship was closer.” 
“Huh. Well that explains those noises I heard last night.” 
Emma was just about to ask him what the fuck that was supposed to mean when the door opened again and a voice called “Why don’t I smell coff—oh! Um. Hi Emma.” 
Emma pressed her thumbs against her temples. “Hey, Tink.” 
The fairy was dressed identically to how Emma herself was, only the shirt she wore was Neal’s. An old Metallica tee because of course. 
“Well,” said Tink. “That explains those noises we heard.” 
Neal nodded. 
“What noises—” Emma began, then the door opened again. 
“Did you find everything, love—oh. Er.” Killian appeared in the room wearing only his jeans and without his hook. He scratched behind his ear. “Hello, friends and enemies.”
“Hook,” said Tink and Neal. 
“Killian,” said Emma. She crossed her arms over her chest. “You never told me you were letting Neal stay here.” 
“Ah. I did offer him use of the first mate’s quarters whenever he was seeking a bit of privacy, yes. If you remember, love, my quarters proved invaluable in that respect when you were still living with your parents.” 
Emma felt her cheeks grow hot. “Yeah,” she muttered. 
“I merely thought Neal and Tink could do with a bit of the same benefit. And you know the Jolly gets lonely if she’s left by herself for too long. Although,” Killian favoured Neal and Tink with a raised eyebrow and a smirk, “I did make that offer quite some time ago now. And I don’t believe I said anything about staying here.” 
“Yeah, well.” Neal’s face took on that belligerent look he got when he was feeling defensive. “I don’t want to move out of Papa’s place and leave Belle alone.” 
“Are you kidding me?” Emma demanded. 
Everyone stared at her. “What?” asked Neal. 
“Belle’s seeing Ruby.” 
“Ruby?” 
“Yeah. For like three months now. Ruby’s constantly moaning about how they can’t stay at her place because Granny��s got wolf hearing and they can’t go to Belle’s because it’s full of you. Trust me, Belle will be okay if you move out.” 
“Oh,” said Neal blankly. “Well. Fuck.” 
Emma looked around the room, at her current boyfriend and her ex-boyfriend and her ex-boyfriend’s new girlfriend who was also her current boyfriend’s ex… something, all of them in varying states of dishevelment, hangover, and undress, and she started to laugh. 
“Yeah,” she said. “That about sums it up.” 
-
So Emma never did quite figure out how it happened, but somehow she ended up with a home of her own in a fairy tale town with fairy tale friends and a pirate boyfriend, where one minute she was drinking coffee in a ship’s galley with a group of people who knew each other far too intimately for anyone’s comfort and the next her ex and his girlfriend were her neighbours and her pirate was living at her place for good—at their place, now—and her son was bouncing happily between the two apartments save at least one night a week that he spent at Regina’s. She and Neal co-parented better than she could ever have hoped, and every morning she woke up to blue eyes warm with love and lattes made precisely how she liked them. 
And, well. Emma’s happiness wasn’t tentative anymore. 
-
She was happy. Really happy. Truly happy. So happy that when she came home one evening to find the kitchen smoke alarm shrieking and Henry teetering on a stool waving a towel at it as Killian and Neal grappled with some foamy, hissing, smoking substance on the countertop, she wasn’t even mad. 
“What the hell do you idiots think you’re doing?” she demanded. 
“Ems!” 
“Mom!” 
“Swan!” 
“It’s not what it looks like!” they cried in unison. 
Emma shook her head. “I’m going next door,” she said. “To have a beer with Tink. This,” she gestured vaguely at the room, “had better be dealt with by the time I get back.” 
As she turned and headed back out the door, the last thing she heard were three furious voices. 
“Now look what you’ve done!”  
“What I’ve done! It was your idea!” 
“And I still don’t have a science project!” 
Emma grinned, and shut the door firmly behind her.
---
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