#c:n.brooks

[brklynbxby]

Continuing on from here // Nathaniel x Harmony // @mysteriousxgirls

Nate’s breath hitched at the way she said his name, like a prayer tangled in desperation. Her grip on his shoulders only spurred him on — grounding, needy, electric. When she nodded, the last thread of restraint snapped. He kissed her again, fierce and hungry, then tugged her hand in his as they hurried through the house. "Careful," he muttered against her lips between kisses, the reminder soft but strained with want, one hand pressing against her lower back protectively as they moved. Even with desire roaring in his veins, his mind never strayed far from her — from their baby. Still, he didn’t stop kissing her. Couldn’t. His lips kept finding hers, then her jaw, then the spot just below her ear that always made her gasp.

By the time they reached the hallway, his free hand was tugging his sweater over his head in one fluid motion, muscles flexing as it was flung somewhere behind them. He reached for her cardigan next — couldn’t help it — and with a sharp pull, the few buttons gave way with soft pops, clattering like pebbles on the floor as the fabric slid off her shoulders. "Shit," he murmured with a crooked grin, but he didn’t slow down. His hands were already under the hem of his white undershirt, peeling it from his skin and tossing it aside without a second thought, his eyes never leaving her. "God I’ve missed this" he breathed, voice rough and they still hadn’t even made it to the bedroom.

[brklynbxby]

Closed starter for @mysteriousxgirls

The house was quiet. Too quiet, considering everything that had exploded just twenty hours earlier. Nate had just made coffee, the rich scent curling through the quiet kitchen like it was trying to coax some kind of peace into the house. The sun was low but still strong, casting long, golden shadows across the hardwood floor. He set his mug down on the counter and checked his phone out of habit. One new message. Rhett. Ivy never got on the plane and he was asking Nate to try convince Harmony to go out so they can surprise her. Though a wonderful thought, he wasn’t sure how well he would be able to execute it. But eventually he did.

Nate stood under the shower, head tilted back as hot water sluiced down over his shoulders. He wasn’t sure if it was steam or the ghost of last night’s tension still clinging to him, but his jaw had barely unclenched since they’d gotten home. Ella’s appearance. Shadow's cryptic stare like he knew everything and nothing at once. And then Cassian— Cassian, with that stupid smirk that said he wasn’t sorry at all. Nate shut the water off and dragged a towel across his face. He hated drama. He hated strip clubs. And he really hated how Harmony looked after it all — like she was about to lock every part of herself back in a vault he’d spent months trying to break open. He dried off fast, pulling on a soft blue sweatshirt and slipping a watch onto his wrist. The grey trousers were just structured enough to look intentional, but soft enough for a day he had no energy for performance. By the time he stepped out of the bedroom, running his fingers through his damp curls, Harmony was still in the same clothes as this morning. Nate tucked his phone into his pocket and crossed to the couch. No hesitation. He dangled his hands out in front of her, his voice low. “Come on, Harm,” he said gently. “Get up. You’re not staying here all day.” Nate reached out and grabbed her hands, tugging her to stand with him. “We haven’t had a proper date in ages.”

[brklynbxby]

closed starter for @mysteriousxgirls

The dressing room smelled like coconut body oil, anxiety, and someone’s protein shake that had definitely been left out too long. Nathaniel stood in front of the full-length mirror, dead silent, silver metallic shorts clinging to him like regret. They shimmered under the lights, tight across his thighs, leaving absolutely nothing to the imagination. The elastic straps of the angel wings dug into his shoulders like karma. He looked like a heavenly mistake. “I can’t do this,” he said, arms limp at his sides, expression blank with the weight of existential dread. From behind him, Rhett snorted so hard he choked on the gum he wasn’t supposed to be chewing. He was already in his outfit—if you could call a bunny-themed g-string an outfit. A tiny carrot-shaped pouch dangled in front, housing his, well… essentials. His ears flopped comically as he bent over laughing. “Bro,” Rhett wheezed, slapping Nathaniel’s bare back with a bit too much enthusiasm, “You look like a glittery sex pigeon, Harmony is gonna get so turned on."

Nathaniel fixed Rhett with a glare so scathing it could’ve wilted a field of daisies. “You’re wearing a vegetable as a codpiece.” Rhett didn’t flinch. Instead, he threw his arms wide like he was presenting art at a gallery. The bunny ears flopped with him. “Boobs, butts, and biceps—for a great cause.” Nathaniel dragged a hand through his hair, the strands falling back messily as he exhaled hard enough to ruffle the feathers on his angel wings. They drooped pathetically behind him. “I’m going to have to make direct eye contact with strangers. While my bits shimmer aggressively in their faces.” Rhett gave a solemn nod, hands now planted heroically on his hips. “Correct. And you’re going to strut out there like the celestial sex god you are. You ever seen Candice Swanepoel look depressed on a runway? No. You, my friend, are ethereal. Like if a Victoria’s Secret angel and a powerlifter had a baby who moonlights as a Chippendale.” Nathaniel blinked. “I’m going to trip. And my bulge is going to smother someone.” Rhett’s grin was immediate. “Then you’re a martyr. Imagine the headlines: Cinematographer sacrifices all for charity—death by penis suffocation.” That cracked Nathaniel. He buried his face in his hands, laughter muffled and barely restrained, the flush crawling from his chest to his ears. “I’m sure Harmony would be thrilled,” he mumbled between chuckles. Rhett was already nodding, deadly serious despite the wiggle of his ridiculous carrot pouch. “Please. She’s invested. I saw the Pinterest board titled and I quote ‘Nate’s Strip Club Redemption Arc.’ She bribed someone to make sure the spotlight catches the outline of your abs and the shimmer of your thighs. I think she’s bringing a ring light.” Nathaniel groaned, but the corners of his mouth betrayed him—curling upward despite himself. “This is the dumbest thing we’ve ever done.” Rhett adjusted his waistband like it was a tuxedo. “Correction: this is the best thing we’ve ever done.”

[brklynbxby]

closed starter for @mysteriousxgirls

Love is Blind over the past few weeks had been a nice relaxation from his life back home. He had been away far too long, and now, he was needed back at the studio. There was a film they were working on and he was required to return to pass a couple of important decisions. And now that he had a slight change with a fiancee, he knew he had to introduce her to this. She wasn’t just a part of his life anymore—she was woven into everything, making it all feel more real, more tangible. "Ready to dive into the chaos?" Nathaniel asked, his grin playful, though there was a weight in his chest, a growing pressure that hummed just beneath the surface. The magnetic pull of the studio loomed ahead—the busy, buzzing world he’d been immersed in, with deadlines breathing down his neck, but now, with her at his side, it didn’t seem quite as overwhelming.

The studio’s towering glass building loomed ahead, its dark-tinted windows reflecting the sun’s harsh light. A steady flow of people streamed in and out, each of them purposeful, their steps quick and sharp, their faces filled with the urgency of the day’s tasks. Inside, the hum of activity enveloped them like a living, breathing entity, the sound of chatter, the clink of equipment, the shuffle of feet moving across the polished floor. It was a far cry from the calm, quiet moments they’d shared in the Maldives. Nathaniel reached for the door, feeling the cool metal under his fingers, but as he glanced down at Harmony, the rush of noise and movement around them seemed to fade away. Their eyes met, a silent understanding passing between them.

"I’ll introduce you to the team. They’re a bit... chaotic, but they’ll love you," Nathaniel said, his voice rich with a mix of excitement and responsibility. The whirlwind of the past few weeks, the tension and the unknown, had now settled into something more familiar. As they stepped through the door, the atmosphere of the studio hit him like a pulse. Crew members shouted instructions across the room, the sound of cameras clicking into place, the low murmur of voices mixing with the sharp staccato of clapping. A hundred tasks all seemed to be happening at once, the air thick with the scent of coffee, the crispness of freshly printed scripts, the tang of lighting equipment. "Welcome back hubby" Jackie called out as she approached, smiling widely at harmony. "So, this is my fiancee, Harmony, and this is Jackie, she's my personal coffee lady but also my lighting tech" he laughed as he gave her a hug.

[brklynbxby]

closed starter for @mysteriousxgirls

Nathaniel stepped into the Love Is Blind pod with a mix of anticipation and nerves, the soft hues of the room settling around him. His heart still carried the weight of the conversation he'd had with Harmony during their last date. The conversation regarding her dance performances had triggered a protective instinct in him. They'd had a very deep conversation and it really made him wonder whether this was the one for him. He just hoped that she felt the same way. He had heard that she was speaking to other people so maybe they were a better fit for her. Still, he wanted to understand her better and really delve into what they could be together or for each other. As he walked further into the pod, his thoughts drifted to the depth of that conversation, wondering if she still saw him as someone who truly understood her, or as just another guy scrutinising her past. His gaze caught a surprise within the room that wasn't in there the last time he was in a pod—a sleek black box, its polished surface glinting under the soft lighting. Curiosity piqued, Nathaniel couldn’t help but wonder if it was part of a deeper surprise that Harmony had planned for him.

[brklynbxby]

closed starter for @mysteriousxgirls

Nathaniel took a slow, deliberate step into the pod, his eyes taking in the serene, intimate space that would be his home for the next hour. The weight of the day sat heavy on his shoulders. Fifteen dates, each one a brief flicker of connection, a fleeting moment that left him feeling both exposed and guarded. He could feel the fatigue in his bones, the mental exhaustion from carefully balancing his emotions between all the strangers he’d met. Yet, it was the prospect of this final date that pushed him forward, made him walk into the room with a spark of hope that refused to be extinguished.

As he settled into the warmth of the pod, Nathaniel exhaled a breath he hadn’t realised he'd been holding. His mind wandered to the dates he’d already had—some easy, some awkward, some where he felt the connection, but most where the chemistry was just too far out of reach. His heart, though, was still open. He had learned something important today: love wasn’t just about passion, but about mutual understanding, about two people learning to navigate life’s intricacies together, even when the road was uncertain.

His pulse quickened as the door on the other side opened, his heart picking up the rhythm of the moment. “Hey,” he said, his voice calm yet warm, as he made his presence known.

[brklynbxby]

Closed starter for @mysteriousxgirls

Nathaniel sat down quietly, the soft hum of the pod’s lights buzzing overhead. The air felt thick with anticipation, but he was used to that — the kind of tension that built up before a major shoot. It was the kind of pressure he thrived under, the kind that allowed him to focus all his energy on one thing: getting the shot right. This, though, was different. This wasn’t a film set or a cramped studio. This was something far more intimate, far more real. The idea of Love Is Blind had seemed absurd at first. But when he thought about it — when he really thought about it — maybe it made sense. His work was a delicate balancing act. He poured his heart into every shot, every project, but it was a hard life. Late nights, endless hours of setup, unstable schedules, and the emotional weight of constantly trying to capture something real. He wasn’t just filming a scene; he was channeling every feeling, every nuance of the moment. The emotional toll it took was exhausting. He needed someone who could understand that. Someone who didn’t just see the surface, the career, the fame. He needed someone who could look past the long hours and the instability and see the person he truly was beneath it all — the person who felt everything so deeply, who was both strong and vulnerable in equal measure.

Nathaniel exhaled softly, his fingers tapping the armrest as his gaze drifted toward the glowing screen in front of him. What was he doing here? Was he really ready to open up like this? To expose his heart in front of a camera, to lay his vulnerabilities bare? He wasn’t sure. The soft hum of the pod filled the silence, an almost ethereal stillness settling around Nathaniel. Then, a subtle shift in the air—a sound barely perceptible, but unmistakable. The door on the other side clicked shut. “Hello?” His voice broke the quiet like a soft ripple over still water, steady, yet carrying a warmth that sought to reach across the obvious divide before them.