"No, Of Course We Aren't. I'm Mortified That You've Even Brought It Up. Now I'm Going To Need To Sell

During a bank robbery you’re surprised when the criminals seem to recognize you and retreat in fear. Only later do you learn that your high school sweet-heart now runs a global crime syndicate and has you placed on a “No Harm” list. You decide to pay them a visit after all these years.

Kai saw red.

One second, he was watching Pia put on a damn show, her every move calculated to get under his skin. The next, some guy was pulling her in, pressing his lips against hers like he had any damn right.

Before he even processed it, Kai was moving. He wasn’t the type to make a scene—well, not really—but this? This was a fucking joke. His fist connected with the guy’s jaw in a clean, sharp punch, sending him stumbling back. The music didn’t even drown out the collective gasps around them, but Kai didn’t care. His knuckles ached, his pulse hammered in his ears, and his sharp gaze cut to Pia before she could react.

“Enough.” His voice was low, firm, leaving no room for argument.

Without hesitation, he grabbed her wrist, his grip possessive but not painful, and pulled her through the sea of bodies. He didn’t stop until the cool night air hit them, the bass from inside now a distant thrum behind the slam of the door.

He finally let go of her hand, dragging a rough hand through his dark hair as he took a deep breath, trying to rein himself in. His knuckles stung, but he didn’t care. He turned to face her, his stormy eyes locking onto hers with a mixture of frustration, heat, and something deeper he wasn’t ready to name.

“You wanna play games? Fine. But don’t expect me to just stand there while some asshole puts his hands on you like that.” His voice was rough, his usual teasing edge nowhere to be found.

He stepped closer, towering over her slightly, his jaw clenched. “Tell me you didn’t want me to do that,” he challenged, searching her expression, daring her to lie.

to say that pia had never experienced this kind of tension was an understatement. the level in which they were meticulously taking a step ahead before the other caught up to them. she didn't really want to dance, especially with this guy but at the same time was she going to let kai have the satisfaction of knowing that he was getting to her? oh, absolutely not.

she rolled her hips, shifting her body so she was now facing away from him as she shifted in a way she was sure was going to get a physical reaction from her dance partner any second now. she effortlessly moved so she was all the way down to the floor and then glided her way back up, extending her long legs to standing as she wrapped her arms around the male's neck.

she was aware what he was doing, and if she would let her guard down and the true emotions spill out it would show she was quite irritated in that moment. the fact that this girl in his grip was so gorgeous, and peppy, and obviously completely intoxicated by him. did she wish it was her? of course she did.

she knew this wasn't very healthy behaviour, acting in this way of one upping another. and yet she couldn't stop herself so she shifted her head to whisper into this guys ear and he began pressing kisses to her neck as he tucked her hair behind her ear.

for a moment she could pretend it was kai, and block out the rest of the world but her eyes bounced back to him with this glitter in her orbs like she was trying to prove something and bit her lip. this guy was obviously feeling ballsy and pulled her in for a kiss, admitedly his lips didn't taste like the ghost of a cigarette and liquor but she welcomed it for the purpose of this game.

ana de armas icons.

like or reblog if you save.

｡˚ੈ✩‧₊˚ nine people i'd like to get to know better ｡˚ੈ✩‧₊˚

last song i listened to: terms and conditions by Seb Lowe. (little fitting giving the election haha)

favorite color: Mint Green.

currently watching: Law and Order SVU, Monk, The Bear, Call the Midwife, House of Dragon (it's getting difficult to fit them all in. Maybe I should binge-watch one programme at a time, haha.

spicy/savory/sweet: Sweet or Savory depending on my mood.

relationship status: In a relationship

current obsession: Crocheting, writing (and rping), The Bikeriders (the film), Bridgerton, tarot cards and anything period related whether its reading, writing or watching-- or just discussing things tbh.

tagged by: @butlerbarrow <3 (took me a while to actually do it, whoops) tagging: @amoonlitmemory, @vicletnight, @byronlc and anyone else who wants to do it!

Ruby stared at her phone, biting her lip. She had intended to back off, to put an end to this and redirect her focus. But as she stared at the last message from the guy she liked, the one who had asked her out, her stomach twisted. He had left her on read.

So here she was, sitting in this weird limbo, trying to figure out whether she was just going to sit there and wait around for someone who seemed to be ignoring her—or lean into this playful back-and-forth with King.

She hesitated, staring at the screen. Should I just let it go? she wondered, but she couldn’t ignore how she felt now—how the attention from King, the teasing, the compliments, was almost like a balm for her bruised ego.

text: yep... why'd you ask? text: oh... wow, king, I had no idea you paid that much attention

She paused, her fingers hovering over the screen as she tried to think of a reply. She had always found King attractive, she'd even go as far as to say she had harboured a crush for her neighbour, but she had no idea he also found her attractive -- maybe it was just her body he liked. It wouldn't be the first time that had happened to her ... Still, for some reason, she didn't mind playing along.

text: it was a little red lacey number I was hiding under that dress, actually ;)

he wasn't bothered sending a picture of himself. and in his in way it was kind of like him shooting his shot. he knew he wasn't the most muscular guy, but he also wasn't super skinny and un-defined, he had something going on and not just in his pants region. which he knew she would clock. it didn't help that moments prior she'd sent him a photo and it prompted a reaction.

text: so that.. lingerie, is that what you have on now?

he wasn't quite sure what he was doing at this point but he was just completely rolling with it.

text: could imagine you hiding that little set underneath that dress you wore the other day. the one that hugs your curves and makes your legs look really long.

was he trying to sext with her right now? well, he hoped she'd take the compliments because he meant it, she was gorgeous and the dress he remembered IS incredible with her body, so it's not like he was wrong.

Rhiannon didn’t respond right away. She let his words settle, watching the way he curled in on himself, the way his frustration laced through every syllable. She didn’t flinch at the bitterness in his tone—just observed, quiet and steady.

After a moment, she looked away, out toward the darkened yard. “I know what you mean,” she murmured. “When there’s too much noise, too many thoughts, and no way to turn them down.” Her fingers idly traced a knot in the wood beneath her. “It’s like being stuck inside a room where all the walls are mirrors, and every reflection is another thing you have to think about.”

She let the thought drift between them, not pushing for a response.

Instead, she sat back a little more, looking up at the stars in the sky. They always had a way of calming her, a way of reminding her how small she and her problems were in the grand scheme of things. “People don’t always notice when someone’s overwhelmed. They just keep talking, keep expecting.” Her gaze flickered toward the window, toward the muffled thrum of the party inside. “It’s easier to let them think you’re distant than explain.”

Her eyes met his again, searching but not prying. “Does anything help?” It wasn’t an empty question, not a meaningless attempt at small talk. Just quiet curiosity, like she was offering him space to answer—or not—without expectation.

Kit's gaze shifted back to his front and he returned to taking eaven breaths. He knew this was futile to continue doing this and silently cursed himself for being out from home for so long. He was thinking of classwork and what he needed to assign for his next class, about the bpm of the current song playing at the party, also trying to calculate a math equation he'd seen in his head, all the while people at the party continued to try and speak to him. It was too much and he soon found himself needing and wanting to go home.

His brain was still buzzing and he could feel himself slipping mentally. He made a mental note to know that he'd be pretty much be operating on autopilot for the remainder of the week. He couldn't understand her feeling of not being around strangers but it all being too much was something all too familiar for him. He was nodding along to what she said absently before taking a small sigh.

At her question his eyes looked back to her as he pulled his knees up to his chest and rested his head on top of them. "It spins everywhere." His reply coming out bitter and irritated. "I can't control it and I just," he shrugged, "I needed a moment." After a moment he continued. "Most people assume i'm just cold but if my brain is already in overdrive and someone speaks to me on top of it..it just becomes too much to handle."

Closed starter for @amoonlitmemory

The night air was cold against Lydia’s skin as she stood outside Kaleb’s window, hands stuffed deep into her jacket pockets. Her breath clouded in the space between them, between where she stood and where she knew he was, just beyond the glass. The night had gone to hell— just another disaster date.

She raised a hand, knocking lightly against the glass, just like she had a hundred times before. A ritual. A quiet, wordless way of saying, Hey, I’m here.

A moment later, the curtains shifted, and there he was—Kaleb, bathed in the soft glow of his bedside lamp, eyes heavy. He opened the window without a word, and she climbed through like it was second nature because it was.

“Rough night?” she asked, voice low.

Jeyda’s fingers twitched, but he didn’t move to take the mail right away. His eyes, dark and unreadable, flicked from the envelopes to the woman standing before him—Aylin. 4B. Too many words, too much warmth. He wasn’t used to either.

A beat passed. Then another.

Finally, he reached out, taking the stack from her hand with deliberate slowness. The legal firm's gold lettering gleamed in the sunlight, but he didn’t bother looking at it. He already knew what was inside.

His voice, when he spoke, was low, rough from disuse. "Thanks." Nothing more. No welcome, no acknowledgement of her offer. Just that.

Jeyda turned the mail over once in his hand, then tucked it under his arm. His gaze settled on her, not quite meeting her eyes but near enough. Aylin was still watching him, waiting—for what, he wasn’t sure. He didn’t have anything else to give. Not pleasantries. Not reassurances. Definitely not friendship.

Closed starter for @littledaydreamers based on this:

"Excuse me! Are you… Mr Arslan?"

Aylin held out a small stack of mail, the afternoon sun catching the gold lettering on the return address of a legal firm. "I think I might have accidentally grabbed your mail. 4A, right? I’m so sorry! I was in a rush, trying to beat the heat… and honestly, these boxes are practically prehistoric. I'm Aylin, by the way. I live in 4B." She offered a tentative smile, one practiced for calming anxious brides and soothing stressed mothers-of-the-groom.

She took a closer look at the man in front of her. He was… imposing. Tall, broad shouldered but there was an intensity in his eyes, a haunted quality that sent a shiver of unexpected concern through her. He looked like he hadn't slept in weeks. He didn’t speak, didn't even acknowledge her. He just stared, his eyes fixed somewhere just past her shoulder.

“Look,” she continued, her voice softening. "I really am sorry. Here." She extended the mail again, pushing it gently towards him. “I'm sure you’re expecting these. Welcome to the building. I hope you… settle in okay.”

She hesitated, a sudden impulse tugging at her. Against every ounce of self-preservation, Aylin added, "If you need anything… anything at all… please don't hesitate to knock. I'm usually home, knee-deep in tulle and seating charts, but… I wouldn’t mind a break. Just let me know if there's something I can do." And then, she waited, holding her breath, wondering if she’d just made the biggest mistake of her life.

Fletcher's eyes lingered on the female as he tried to work her out. "I'm just saying blackmailing criminals sounds like a dangerous pastime. I would hate for something to happen to you."

Completely  motionless,  Dove  kept  her  blue  eyes  on  Fletcher.  If  there  was  something  she  learned  from  her  high  school  best  friend,  then  that  you  should  never  back  down  ever.  ❝Oh  that's  funny,  why  not?❞

She sat there waiting for her phone to ping with King's reply, and with every passing second, her stomach hurt a little more. Had she scared him off? Ruby nearly jumped out of her skin at the sudden knock on her window.

Her heart lurched in her chest as she whipped around, eyes wide, expecting—well, she wasn’t sure what she was expecting. But it definitely wasn’t King, crouched on her damn roof like some reckless idiot with a smug expression on his face.

She pulled on a long, baggy t-shirt to cover herself up and then rushed to the window, her pulse racing for so many reasons.

"What the fuck, King?!" she whisper-hissed, quickly unlocking the latch and yanking it open. "Are you actually insane?"

Up close, she could see the way his chest rose and fell a little faster than normal, the adrenaline probably still running through him from his stunt. His hair was tousled—more than usual—and the glow from her room cast shadows over his face, making him look even more unfairly good-looking than he had any right to be.

And then she realized.

He actually climbed up here. For her.

Her stomach flipped.

She crossed her arms, feigning irritation, but the smile tugging at her lips betrayed her. "What on earth made you decide it was a good idea to scale my house? What if you fell, dumbass?"

She stepped back, making room for him. "Get inside before you break your neck."

Her voice was stern, but the way she looked up at him through her eyelashes, the way her body hummed from the tension between them? Yeah… She wasn’t that mad.

there was a large amount of time that passed, and in the back of his mind he was sure that ruby was panicking somewhat that he had ghosted her. the last thing he wanted was to make her feel insecure or even upset in anyway but he had a plan. now, he was pretty good at climbing, however scaling a building was an interesting one.

she had a tree outside her window so once he was to the top, and completely ignoring any gnawing doubt because it was actually quite high now he was there, now all he had to do was step to the edge of a branch (without it snapping under his weight) and hop onto the roof.

he managed to leap the other side, gripping tightly to the textured tiling. he leant to the side and knocked on her window with his closed fist. "ruby.." he almost shouted but he was trying to be quiet so they both wouldn't get caught.

this was actually the most he had done for a girl so this was saying something. it was actually quite the gesture. but he realised whilst messaging her that words couldn't really convey how he was feeling in the moment.