( 🗯️ ) thinking about… being married to firefighter ! vi
( 🗒️ ) content warnings : pairing : firefighter ! vi 𝔁 wife ! reader ; nsfw content ; mentions of injuries ; fluff ; guided masturbation ; nipple play ; finger sucking & finger licking ; nudes + modern au ;
firefighter vi ! who always kisses your head before a shift at the firehouse. her shifts usually start super early so she’s almost always gone by the time you wake up. not that, that matters to her, she’s been kissing your head before work every day since the two of you started seeing each other.
firefighter vi ! who twirls her wedding ring around her ring finger whenever she feels nervous or uneasy. whether it’s a slow day at the station or a super busy one, thinking about you always seems to quiet down her racing mind.
firefighter vi ! who calls you out of the blue every day, the moment her break starts, she’s immediately dialling your phone number and calling home. firefighter vi ! who says every day without fail that listening to the sound of your voice is the best part of her day.
firefighter vi ! who always brings you lunch when you’re working. and even when you’re not, if you happen to live close to the station, she’ll go out of her way to have lunch with you.
firefighter vi ! who always sends you photos in uniform with the helmet on because she knows it drives you crazy. sometimes, she’ll sneak into the bathroom during her break and take photos of herself with the jacket open and nothing underneath, just to send them to you while you’re at home or working ( she honestly prefers it when you get them while you’re out of the house, the thought of you having to contain your reaction while in public never fails to turn her on )
firefighter vi ! who has a picture of you in her wallet, firefighter ! vi who looks at said picture whenever she’s feeling nervous or unsure of herself, she uses your face in her wallet to remind herself to keep fighting and to come back home, safe, to you in one piece.
firefighter vi ! who always calls you whenever she’s sent out to fight a dangerous fire :( she hates disturbing you, hates hearing your broken voice over the phone and the worry in your tone. but, she hates the thought of not making it out of the fire without telling you ‘i love you’ one last time, even more.
firefighter vi ! who ( against her will ) is in one of those beefcake calendars. firefighter vi ! who blushed like crazy when you came to the station and bought every single one of them ( you wouldn’t want a bunch of strangers looking at your girl all sexy and half naked after all )
firefighter vi ! who is always riled up after a shift, it doesn’t matter if it was long, short, dangerous or boring, thinking about you is what gets her through the day. thinking about you without any clothes on is what gets her through the dullest moments of her work day. which results in soaked panties and an insatiableness for you that can only be tamed by her fingers in your mouth… or your cunt.
you were lounging on your couch staring at the tv, you couldn’t even tell what channel was on, your eyes had dried up from the lack of sleep, but you needed to stay awake, you wanted to stay awake. you hadn’t seen vi all day and it was honestly wearing you down. plus, you knew she was just as desperate to see you, given the not so innocent texts that she’s been sending you all day long.
you wanted to wait for her, be good for her but… as you open your text messages to check if she has sent you anything else ( like the time she’d be coming home ) you’re immediately met with the last photo she sent you— vi, in her uniform, complete with that yellow helmet of hers. but, with a detail that had you drooling into your screen, her jacket was completely open, her perfect nipples hard and peaking under the fabric for only you to see, her happy trail forming a path between her belly button and her pussy.
the more you stared, the wetter you got. the more you wanted to wrap your lips around her nipples and graze your teeth over her flesh, to mark her up so everyone ( including those girls who always hit on her while she’s on the clock ) know that she belonged to you and that you belonged to her.
you run your fingers over your chest, circling your nipples the way vi would, you feel your nipples protrude against your blouse, waking up slowly but surely. but it’s not the same, your missing the callouses on vi’s hands and your missing her taste too. you continue your path down your own body, trailing your fingers over your stomach until you reach your clit, circling the little bundle of nerves, once, twice, until you’ve gathered enough wetness on your slit in order to plunge two of your digits inside yourself, you moan and throw your head back against the couch cushions, raising your other arm up in order to maintain eye contact with the vi from the photo on your screen. what you wouldn’t do to have her fingers inside of you, right now. you let out a breathy sound and close your eyes for a second, imagining vi on top of you, plunging her calloused fingers in and out of your hole while her breath fans across your face.
but, apparently it was a second too long because you missed the ‘clink’ of your front door opening while lost in thought… and lust. heavy boots stomped through the floor of your house in the direction of the living room. you hear vi’s grave voice calling out your name when suddenly it stops, both her footsteps and her voice calling out for you, the noise replaced by a naughty whistle that travels from her parted lips and into your waiting ears.
“so this is what you do when i’m not around? huh?” vi asks, sarcasm coating her deep voice.
you’re petrified, your fingers still inside of you while you attempt to control your breathing and make it as even as possible under the circumstances. your phone is still in your hand, vi’s photograph still shining on your face.
vi takes a couple of steps forward until she’s hovering over you, her scent fills your nostrils and almost makes you moan all over again, a mix of sweat and that body wash of hers that she’s worn since the day the two of you met.
“i didn’t tell you to stop, now, did i?” vi taunts, getting closer to you. “what were you thinking about?” she asks, she’s so close that you can feel the heat of her breath on your cheeks.
“you.”
“me, huh?” vi questions, her air of aloofness and nonchalance completely intact before her eyes move from your flushed face to the photo on your screen— her photo. “mmmh.” vi muses. “should i be jealous?” she asks, cockily.
you turn your head to look at her only to receive a sound of reprimand in return. “no, no, you were having so much fun with photo me, i’m not gonna be the one to ruin your date.”
“vi!” you complain.
“look at the phone.” vi repeats, her voice leaving zero room for argument. “so…” she starts. “what were you thinking about?” vi asks, again, this time pushing for more details.
your fingers are still inside yourself, not moving just… there. “you… fucking me.” you respond, a little more breathless than what you would like to admit.
“I see… was i good?”
“yes.” you breath out, moving your hips just a little in order to curve just how uncomfortable you are.
“mmm, and what did i do?” vi asks, her eyes moving from your hips to your face before tilting her head down and blowing hot air into your ear.
you shiver at the sensation, curling in on yourself before gathering enough brain power to answer her previous inquiry. “you touched me right there.” you say, before jerking your head down, motioning to your chest.
vi trails her calloused hands over your stomach, slowly, before pinching your right nipple, making you jerk off the couch. “right here?” she questions, circling your nipple with two fingers before pinching your other bud.
you jerk your head back and stare up at the ceiling. “yes.” you moan.
vi takes your reaction as encouragement and sneaks her head under your shirt, running her tongue over the flesh of your breasts, licking and sucking until you’re panting like a dog. it’s only when you clench your legs around your own digits that she grazes her teeth over your sensitive peaks. “like this?”
“mhm.”
vi emerges from under your top and locks eyes with you. “what did i do next?” she questions, her clear eyes boring into your skin.
you’re having a hard enough time breathing without choking on your own saliva, you don’t know how you’re supposed to focus long enough to answer her million questions but you do it anyway, something about the tone of her voice is making you want to be good for her. “you put your fingers in me.” you confess.
vi looks amused, and beyond cocky, she trails her index finger over the skin of your face, swirling it around your cheek before stopping and pressing two digits against your sealed lips. “then why aren’t you?” she asks, lifting both her eyebrows before plunging her fingers into your mouth.
you moan at the fullness and close your eyes while your tongue laps at her digits, hungrily, you move your own fingers inside yourself curling them and uncurling them while moving your hips up and down in chase of relief. you open your eyes, momentary, in order to stare at vi’s blue ones, her lips were parted, her cheeks red in fascination and lust. the couch starts scratching the floor with the sheer force with which you’re moving your body against your hand, until something inside you snaps, your movements become sloppy and uncoordinated while black spots fill your vision, you bite down on vi’s fingers, making her let out a groan in appreciation before you’re coating your own fingers with your release.
vi sighed, appreciatively, before removing her fingers from your mouth and plopping them into her own, lapping at your spit like it was a bottle of cold water after a hard shift. “good girl.” she praises, meeting your lips with hers in a sloppy kiss.
firefighter vi ! who is the definition of ‘happy wife, happy life’ she’s completely whipped for you and everyone knows it, including her coworkers who tease her endlessly about it, not that she minds it too much, it’s true, after all. plus, she’s proud of everything that she has built for and with you.
firefighter vi ! who, sometimes ( more like all the time ), comes home battered and bruised because she refuses to let anyone else’s hands touch her skin. she’ll come home, take off her uniform and plop herself, wordlessly, in front of you, you know this dance by heart by now. so, you simply reach for the first aid kit that’s stashed under the counter and start cleaning up her bruises and putting ointment on her burns.
vi isn’t one for open vulnerability, at least not in front of others. but, when she’s with you, sitting on the counter while you tend to her bruises and run your hands over her sweaty head of hair, she lets herself relax, she lets her eyes squeeze shut and her head tilt back while your hands tend to her battered flesh, sometimes she’ll even let little sounds of relief escape her parted lips, telling you, without words, that you’re doing a good job.
firefighter vi ! who’ll come home, late at night, and lay next to you completely clothed ( uniform and all ) after a hard shift.
it was way past 2 a.m. when you felt the bed dip beside you, you couldn’t see your wife, you could only see her ginormous fire jacket. you roll over under the covers and run your fingers over her pink hair, removing it from her eyes.
vi remains motionless, her eyes dazed and clouded over.
“vi what’s wrong?” you ask, your voice thick with sleep.
vi sighs, deeply, but refuses to move from her spot atop the covers. “can you just…” she starts, uncertainty coating her otherwise smooth voice. “hold me?” she finishes.
“of course.” you answer in kind, before opening your arms for her and letting her get comfortable in your arms.
SYNOPSIS - everyone knows vi. how could they not? a jock—captain of the school’s softball team— notorious for gifting girls her varsity jacket, then mysteriously having it back on her shoulders a week later. a heartthrob. painfully attractive with a piercing icy blue gaze that burned with intensity and passion. so how are you supposed to act when the Violet Lanes sets her eyes on you, a shy, quiet nerd in her fourth period ELA?
NOTES - hii!!!! i had sooo so much fun with silver lining that i really wanted to make another smau…so here we are!! other than that there’s nothing that important to say! enjoy :)))))
@liifeunwritten 2026
PROLOGUE
#001
#002
#003
#004
#005
#006 (FINALY)
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mdni. whiny top vi. fem bottom reader. tribbing. vaginal sex. short drabble. based off this video.
vi masterlist
thinking about vi who has a clit that’s noticeably larger than the average size. it would be such a lewd sight; a rosy-pink nub that sticks out from between her pussy lips, that jumps and twitches at even the slightest touch, constantly sensitive and exposed because it’s too big to fit behind the protective skin of her labia.
she would jerk it off between her index finger and thumb and the pleasure would almost feel like too much. she would potentially buy a fleshlight too and just grind against it at first, pretending it’s a real pussy, before ultimately deciding to stuff her clit inside the toy. it would feel heavenly, a sensation she’s never felt before, something that she didn’t think was possible for her to experience as a woman.
so when the two of you began dating, she took every opportunity possible to her fuck clit inside your pussy.
earlier, you were bent over in front of her, on your hands and knees, while vi fucked her clit inside your small hole with slow strokes. then you were kneeling in front of her while she rubbed her clit against your tongue, suckling on the little nub as if it were a piece of candy.
right now, though, vi is pinning your legs back to your shoulders, your cunt on full display while she rocks her hips against yours. she’s trying to force her clit as deep inside you as she can, needing to feel as much of you as possible. you assume you feel tighter in this position because vi is moaning louder than before, her blue eyes are entirely unfocused—and you can hear the obscene squelching noises your pussy is making when it sucks on her clit like a kiss.
vi is a whiny mess on top of you, spreading her pussy lips wide with her one hand so the entirety of her clit can slip in and out. your entrance is fluttering around her spongy, swollen clit and you’re opening yourself wider with your palms, needing more of her—as much as you can get, and then some. just feeling her inside you, knowing how intimate this is, has been enough to make you come your brains out in the past.
”mmffuck—you’re gripping me so tight, baby.” her hips are smacking against the back of your thighs with animalistic fervor.
the sight of you is completely obscene, it’s debauched. your breasts are bouncing with the strength of her thrusts, your chest is heaving from how severely you’re panting. your legs are spread wide like an easy whore, confidently in a state of your own salacious nakedness. your cute pussy is soaked in a combination of both your juices.
vi’s eyes are glazed over, her pink tongue is hanging out dumbly—consumed by the mindless lust and intense sensations radiating from her aching clit. she’s never felt so much pleasure before you, never known the sheer ecstasy of having the most sensitive and intimate part of herself engulfed in slick, rippling heat—squeezed and massaged from all sides. it’s like nothing she's ever experienced before and she’s easily addicted to your pussy.
”your pussy is so wet—unghh!”
god, she’s needed this.
the air is musky and tangy with sex; it’s vi’s favorite scent next to your own natural pheromones. her muscular frame is casting a shadow over your own and it makes you feel safe and secure. and the sounds of your lovemaking is obnoxiously loud; the clap, clap, clap of skin is echoing like gunfire in vi’s obsolete bedroom.
then you bring your middle finger to your clit, stroking it with ferocity, and you’re quick to come because the feeling of vi’s clit inside you is the nastiest thing you’ve experienced thus far in life. and vi’s whole body convulses when she feels your contractions around her clit. her own muscles are clenching and unclenching as wave after wave of mind-numbing ecstasy rips through her—all because of the way her throbbing, pulsing nub is buried inside the velvet-heat of your hole.
cw: puppybutch!vi x femme!owner!reader, smut, breeding kink, strap usage, biting and marking, slight scent kink, mommy kink, strap warming, mention of aftercare, mention of collar and leash
puppybutch!vi who wants to knock up her pretty femme owner so badly. she can't help it, she just loves you so much! the thought of pumping a litter of pups into you makes her head all fuzzy! it's simple as breathing to her; you're absolute perfection in her eyes, how could she not want to see you all round and swollen with proof of her utter love and devotion to you?
puppybutch!vi who ruts her strap into your squelching cunt so desperately. she's so adorable, all whiny and teary-eyed where her face is buried in the crook of your neck. she swears she can feel your pussy fluttering around the thick silicone cock she wears, swears she can feel the tip kissing your cervix with each desperate buck of her hips.
puppybutch!vi who gets so sensitive just from you scratching behind her fluffy puppy ears. the sweet stimulation has her tail thumping against the mattress so fast and her clit throbbing helplessly between her thighs.
puppybutch!vi whose gums grow all tingly with the need to sink her teeth into your soft skin. gods, she's almost foaming at the mouth just thinking about the pretty bite marks she could leave all over your perfect neck and shoulders.
puppybutch!vi who's drooling all over your shoulder once her teeth meet your skin. she's grunting like she's feral, hands pawing at every inch of your body she can reach.
puppybutch!vi who starts blubbering like a broken record between her whines and moans the closer she gets to her orgasm. the words barely make it to your ears with how she's still burried in your neck, too addicted to your scent to pull back.
puppybutch!vi who stammers so adorably when she accidentaly calls you mommy for the first time. she didn't mean to let it slip, really! but she's been chanting your name like a prayer and she's way too pussydrunk to notice until it's too late.
puppybutch!vi who starts pleading even more when you don't push her away for revealing her mommy kink. you can feel the heat of her breath against your skin where her spit-slicked lips are glued to the side of your neck, can feel her whimpering her words into your skin — please, mommy, please, let me knock you up, mommy!
puppybutch!vi who cums as soon as you give her permission to. her hips stutter against yours, her silicone cock stuffed into you all the way to the hilt. her teeth are digging into your shoulder again and her tail is wagging like it's trying to turn into a damn propeller, but gods, her moans and whimpers are just too sweet for you to care.
puppybutch!vi who collapses on top of you like a weighted blanket, both of you thoroughly fucked out. she insists on keeping the strap in — to make sure it takes. and how could you deny her when her voice is still so whiny and breathless and she's lapping at the bite marks she covered you with so gently?
puppybutch!vi who's already thinking about asking you to put a pretty collar and a matching leash around her neck next time.
please i BEG you to do a part two of the college roommate!vi when she says “dont wake me up this early for breakfast unless you’re offering yourself” (or however it was said) but the reader decides to try and test it and stands in the most revealing pajamas (or even subtle lingerie) and is like “would you care for some breakfast?” and gestures to herself (or whatever you wanna write!!)
18+, mdni, college roommate!vi cinematic universe
vague continuation of this drabble
"vi...? are you up?"
you push through her bedroom door, peering around it at the vaguely vi-shaped lump of pink hair and muscle splayed over messy sheets. she lets out a soft grunt, voice scratchy as she pushes up onto her elbows.
"yeah? what's up prin -- oh... shit..." her eyebrows shoot up as you link your hands behind your back, chewing on your bottom lip, eyes cutting away shyly as you rock on the balls of your feet.
and suddenly, vi is very much awake, because there you are, framed in her doorway in the most delectable pink and white lingerie set she's ever seen -- all delicate satin and tiny bows. she gulps, her mouth dry.
"what's all this, sweet girl?"
you tug at the hem of your nearly transparent babydoll as she groans, running a hand through her hair.
"uhm... i know it's early, but --" you worry at your bottom lip before glancing shyly up at her again, "remember that one time i woke you up and you said something like 'don't wake me up this early unless you're offering yourself for breakfast' or something like that?"
vi blinks at you for a solid three seconds before she slumps back into bed with a hoarse laugh, "holy shit -- oh my god -- i did say that, didn't i?"
"mhm..."
"so now..." she sits back up with a dopey grin, patting her mattress, "you're...?" she lets her voice trail off suggestively even as you shuffle forward to slip onto her narrow bed with her. she lets out a low, appreciative moan as she looks you over, her gaze dark and hungry; she doesn't bother hiding the way they linger over your semi-exposed tits or the way her throat bobs as she reaches out to pull you into her lap.
"happy... birthday?" you say, your voice breaking slightly as her palms slide up the smooth skin of your thighs, her fingers already toying with the thin straps of the tiny little thong that's little more than three silken pieces of string connected by identical pink bows.
"mm... oh yeah. that's today, isn't it?" she says, but her voice is distracted as she leans in to press a soft kiss to your collarbone. you gasp, letting your head tip back as she mouths at your skin, running reverent hands up to the bend of your waist, hoisting you up till you're straddling her hips proper.
"y-yeah... and i th-thought -- ah -- y-you --" you let out a pitched whine as she skims her teeth along your collarbones, grinning wolfishly up at you as you tangle your fingers in her hair.
"that you'd surprise me with breakfast in bed?" she asks, hissing as she rocks you down over her, rolling your hips into hers.
"s-something like that --" you breathe out, swallowing hard as she smiles and cradles you to her, touch soft even as she trails needy kisses up the length of your neck till she reaches your lips.
"fuck -- you're so hot -- jesus --" she murmurs, peppering you in open-mouthed kisses, pressing you back till you're pinned beneath her.
"mm -- ngh -- v-violet!"
"shit," vi swears, looking down at you from beneath hooded eyes, her lips parted and pink, her fingers rucking up the thin material of your babydoll so she can tug the thin string of your thong to the side to reveal your already slick folds.
you whimper as she leans down to trail her lips along your stomach, kissing down to hover her mouth over your cunt. she looks up at you and with a teasing smirk and a wink, running a finger through your wetness to tease at your throbbing clit.
"mm -- hell yeah -- happy fuckin' birthday to me," she says, before she lowers her mouth to you and parts you with her tongue.
it all starts when you get the first place in the competition.
boiling red, violet vanderson's in the scenario too but instead, she's holding a lame third-place award, smaller, not made of gold, embarrassing. only serves as a reminder of her failure and the overwhelming sense of not being good enough to be holding the gold you're holding between your hands, first place.
cocky cunt — can't you just give her a break for ten minutes? not look at her with that funny smile on your face as if you're mocking her lack of talent. you look so stupid with a recognition you don't deserve.
and surely, vi's the biggest loser in the building.
when the crowd cheers as you're given a fat check from the prize and her eyes melt in envy, she cannot help but give you that look of disgust you can see mid-way the wide smile on your lips so you're now aware of how she feels about you: the hatred that comes from deep down due to the doubts you planted in her brain about her own skills (one thing is to win the second place, but the third? fucking stupid, delusional even) so it's funny in the end how she can get so annoyed to the point it turns her into a monster.
you've spoken with her, what? one? two times? forgettable interactions only making dumb questions that makes vi roll her eyes, always playing the optimistic card around people when asking what needle size is she using, if she prefers a curved magnum instead of a normal one when it comes to shading as if some of that mattered. an annoying prick with a cute face.
"good tattoo," you say when greeting her, but vi don't say a word in reply and it makes you laugh cause hell — you know people like her, ready to cut throat if necessary, unable to take a compliment from the competition, the enemy. "i don't know why you didn't get the second place, i think it's a really good piece."
"thanks."
you fucking rat. was that to punch her ego to death? suddenly vi wishes to never see your face again, turn around, practice double the harder and come back next year to take not only the money, but your pretty golden award that shines like diamonds under the yellow lights, that being said — how exactly she ended up in that party hours later, the one your friends throw after the event and gathers everyone around for a beer or two, meet new people, a celebration she does not belong in as there's nothing to celebrate about.
truth is? makes her feel pathetic, bronze medal on her chest, talking to people who congratulate her as if the third spot is something good and nothing to be ashamed of, as if vi's not going to toss it to the trash the very same moment she steps in her little apartment: the real problem here is that her friends also happen to be your friends and after being insisted on drinking her problems away, she's there regretting all of her decisions who only stab her in the back.
stabbing.
she's taking a lot of bad decisions lately — clearly, cause on a scale of one to ten, how much of a hypocrite would violet be when she's fucking you in front of the bathroom mirror almost two hours later? funny. when she's pushing your face against the surface so your cheek's now squished against the cold, hard to speak as she gets off from the sound your moans make as they slowly fill the bathroom she made sure of locking.
yeah-- how much of an asshole would she be when admitting how much it turns her on to see you there struggling to breathe with her medal around your neck? free hand that pulls diagonally and has the ribbon pushing perfectly against your throat: how did she end up crossing that thin line that diffuses the hate and love? taking advantage of you in a dirty bathroom instead of calling you out for being an asshole.
"you really are a hot third place," you say, and it's the laugh that pisses her off, your games while she pushes you harder against the mirror. you smell like weed, there is alcohol on her own breath, and it's a shame, but vi does not remember now why she was following you to the bathroom, ready to scream something about your constant mocking, of how you didn't deserve to win fucking anything. "even for a fucking loser you're not that bad."
it's violet now the one that suffers from a cocky smile, when you feel bold even when the strap on's well secured around her waist, tightly around each leg as she buries herself harder in your soaked cunt and uses both hands now to hold you in place, not really kind, far from the usual mercy as she squeezes your waist in hopes to keep you up in your feet, remind you about how you both are in a party still and not somewhere you can slip.
what did you expect, anyway? a pat on the shoulder and a kiss on the cheek? it hits just right when her nails dig in your skin and she doesn't have to pretend to care about the pain it produces, how well it blends with the way her hips move now against you, sharp, controlled movements, how vi doesn't need to say a word cause you're melting in her arms and she keeps fucking you to her own fun, her own desires.
is it bad if it turns you on to notice how quickly violet vanderson can put you back to where you belong? jeans on the floor, underwear made halfway to the side, you're now vulnerable to her, trying to spread your legs further apart so she can go deeper even if the space is almost non-existent, tits crushed against the mirror and her own body, you're leaking against the blue dildo and making a mess out of vi's black boxers to the point she's sure it will leave a stain behind, a new victim to that delicious sound she can hear even from over the loud music outside, the one of your soaked pussy does when making space for her, when you invite her in.
there it fucking is. erratic moans, the gold medal looks better in her own chest more than it ever did in yours, ruined face imprinted in her brain now that you look back at her with pleading eyes, begging to go harder, deeper, anything so you can cum all over her rubber cock and vi can feel like a winner again.
"gonna make you my fool now," she replies in your ear, a reminder of how she's always in control — "gonna steal your first place and keep you to myself."
is it hatred now? holy shit, it's getting hard to tell. the music's so loud she's having trouble to hear her own thoughts and concentrate about anything but the way your body reacts to her touch, craving for more, needing her closer even when you spat incoherent words while she has a personal fight with your shirt, struggling for a moment to take it off due to the impatience and kiss the soft skin of your shoulders, nibble on the curve of your neck that now seems so tempting to bite, leave a hickey or two so you can be ashamed of it after, of how you let a loser take control of your surroundings, yourself.
take what's her own and let her take in return what's yours, let her invade so you become one, let her make a mess out of you as a reminder of who's actually better, of who deserves to be carrying the gold medal: she hates you, right? she hates you when she shoves a finger in your mouth and you gently bite the digit, it's that visceral feeling-- that need of having you drunk on her smell, on the feeling her cock leaves behind every time vi's hips withdraw entirely and you're hollow for a second before she fucks you back again so the rubber balls hit your entrance and you moan in plain delirious. full of her.
"don't cum yet," she orders, ignoring whoever is knocking on the door and daring herself to boss you around cause shit, she calls the shots, right? making you sweat in your cute little outfit, palm of the hand over your stomach so she can have the perfect angle to pull your ass back to her cock right how she wants you to be — "fucking hear me? nod when i speak to you. don't cum."
"yes--" at this point? vi's clit swollen too, the friction, the moment, she's soaked and it's easy to make her like the feeling, the way your ass searches for the rubber turning her sensitive on each thrust, "yes-- i hear you."
worst white lies have been told before, but she's moaning against your ear, moving with you and it's hard to say anything to take the contrary, remind her about how she's the third place still and you're not at her will. it's hard when vi's sucking on your neck like a vampire and her weight crushes you down, when she uses a hand to spread your ass for her cock and she doesn't care about the saliva coating her fingers, about how soaked you are so it's now staining your inner legs like the most delicious proof of want, how much time she's been locked with you in that shitty bathroom so there's visibly line outside, think of anything else other than how good she is at fucking the alleged enemy.
"c'mon- fuck yourself good-- let me see you" it's growing on her now, a sight that surpasses somehow winning any gold: ass moving on it's own rhythm so her thumb can slide through your folds and land on your clit, gently stroking it in slow circles to add even more pleasure, greedy when taking her time in touching and getting to know which parts leave you breathless, helping you move against the strap-on so you reach the very deep and take her entirely, no cheat.
who are you to blame when you cum? does nothing but drive the pink haired crazy, the narrow space boiling hot now due to human heat, the smell of sex staining on the white tiles of the walls when vi can physically feel the warmth throughout the fabric of the strap-on, staining her cock deliberately now with your sticky orgasm as she keeps moving, relishing that nasty sound that is now louder than any damn music outside-- who is vi to blame when she cums after too? consumed by the need to see you, even if the lights in the bathroom were so damn dim, be a witness to the way the blue dildo leaves your abused cunt so puffy for her it has vi salivating like a damn animal ready to kneel.
she hates you, right? to cum is to admit you're fucking pathetic. to cum is to admit that she has you by the neck, under her everlasting spell.
"wear my medal and i'll wear yours," you say, breathless. "is it a deal, third place?"
"you think anyone will believe i won outside?" vi asks instead as she lazily drags the shirt back to her body: was that the conversation you were having before? flirting and exchanging dumb medals hoping the rest will play along? "i don't want a medal i don't deserve."
her words don't seem to bother you however, when you add instead — "i don't care about what the rest believes, vi. i just want to keep you satisfied so you can fuck me later. it looks better around your neck anyway."
it's oh so simple.
according to her it all starts when you win the competition (or something like that, what-fucking-ever) cause why else would violet vanderson would be shoving her hand inside the back pocket of your jeans later that same night? only as a sign of possession when she squeezes your ass before speaking close to your ear:
"next year m'gonna make you my dog too, with my gold medal."
and you know deep down it’s nothing but the plain truth.
summary．you've been invited to spend the christmas with your ex-girlfriend's family. only one problem is that your ex-girlfriend has not told anyone that the relationship is over. (requested by anon)
warnings/themes．fluff and angst, found family af, fake dating, ex lovers, christmas, family gatherings, secret santa, everyone is alive and happy au, modern au, vi on her knees begging for you to take her back??/
words．14.0k.
notes．it's so long i should've cut it into parts but idk where... so suffer (╥﹏╥)
— ✩ part one, part two
As always, The Last Drop is a lively spot. Colorful lights hang from the ceiling, decorated tree stands in the corner, 'merry christmas' painted on the wall, even a few strings of garland have been hung from the low ceiling. People are crowding around the bar. Some are playing pool, some are simply chatting amongst themselves.
Vander's voice snaps you from your thoughts. “Look who finally showed her face around here!” He reaches over the top of the bar to ruffle your hair.
“I know. I know.” You laugh, swatting his hand away. “Things are just...busy, y'know?”
Vander rests his forearms on the countertop as he leans closer to you. “Just making sure you're still alive. Been an awful long while since I last saw you.”
“I've been fine, old man.”
“Glad to hear you're doing alright kid. Haven't seen you around here in, what…three months? You need to come by more often, keep an old guy company.” He chuckles. “I almost thought you'd vanished.”
“You sound like a grandma with kids that never call.”
Vander grins and winks at you, taking a rag and wiping at the bartop. “You're like a kid to me, so I guess it checks out.”
You scoff but say nothing. Your eyes start to travel across the room. A few people mill about that you recognize as regular patrons, but other than that, there's pretty much no one of interest.
Vander snorts and lifts the rag to his shoulder. “We're having our christmas gathering again this year, you should swing by. Just like last christmas, eh?”
A lot has changed for you in the past month, and you've been dreading this coming up. “I...don't know.”
Vander raises an eyebrow. “Not up to seeing the old gang again?”
“Uh, not exactly.” The memory of the breakup is still fresh. It's not that you don't want to see your friends, it's just the idea of seeing her again. “It's not that. I just...things have changed, especially recently. I don't want to...accidentally make things awkward or something.”
Vander shakes his head . “Why would it be awkward?”
You don't know why. You sigh. “Nevermind it, I'm going.”
The old man smirks. “That is what I like to hear.” He then folds his arms across his chest. “You better show up or I'll drag you here myself. You know I could.”
“Like I'd let you drag me here, old man. There's no way your back can handle that.”
“Ah, you kids these days have no respect for your elders. You're gonna break my old back and then I'll die.” He pretends to sniffle, making you scoff.
Silco then walks over, looping his arms around Vander's shoulders. The two of them exchange a knowing glance before Silco turns his attention to you. “Look who actually decided to show up.”
Vander laughs and pats Silco's arm. “Eh, just cut the kid some slack. They're just here to have a good time.”
Silco chuckles. “So are you coming on Christmas?”
You rub at the back of your neck, and just as you're about to answer, Vander beats you to it. “Yeah, she's coming,” he confirms.
Silco hums, he lifts his arm from off Vander, resting it in his hip instead. “Good, I was beginning to think you were going to weasel your way out of it.”
Vander snorts. “Lay off, would ya? let the kid breathe.”
Silco relents and waves his hand dismissively. “I'm just saying.” He looks back at you. “We all want you there, you know. It wouldn't be the same without you.”
Hearing them say that makes you feel guilty for even considering not going. You know they mean it. You just hope it won't be too awkward.
Vander nods and smiles at you. “He's right, you know. Everyone's been asking about you. They'll be happy to have you there.”
“Pft, I get it. You don't have to butter me up, old man.”
Vander chuckles, then looks over his shoulder. He gestures to a small box on a nearby table. “Could you grab that little box over there for me?” Silco nods before bringing the box over and handing it to him.
“What's in the box?” you ask.
Vander grins. “We're doing a secret santa,” he explains, “and since you’re coming that means you're participating too.”
A secret santa. You'd completely forgotten about the secret santa. You groan in annoyance. “I'm still annoyed I got that whoopee cushion from Powder last year.”
“That was a good one. She was so damn proud of herself too, and besides...” Vander pauses, turning to look at you. “You never know, you might get something less annoying this year.” He then holds the box out to you.
There's always the possibility you won't get something shitty, but knowing most of your friends...yeah, that's unlikely.
You look at the box, then up at Vander. You take the box from him. “I hope you're right, old man.”
Vander smiles before stepping back to talk to Silco.
You look at the box over in your hands. It's not too heavy and you feel compelled to shake it. But if you do that, you'll probably end up drawing Vander's name. That's basically cheating.
Sighing, you decide to just bite the bullet. You take the lid off the box and stick your hand inside. Your fingers rummage around before they eventually close around a folded piece of paper.
You pull out the slip of paper, unfolding it slowly. You glance at the handwriting, then almost roll your eyes.
Of fucking course.
Vi.
Out of all the names you could have drawn, you get the one person you didn't want to get. You could have gotten literally anyone else. Mylo, Claggor, Powder, Silco, or anyone other than her. But no, you had to get your ex. Just your luck.
You look at the note again, and the first thought that comes to your mind is...
Well, fuck me.
You're so focused on the slip of paper in your hands that you don't notice Vander and Silco peeking over your shoulder.
“So, who'd you get?”
Vander's question makes you jump. You quickly stuff the paper into your pocket before they can see who it is.
“No one,” you say. “It's not important.”
Silco hums. “Then why are you pocketing the paper?”
“It's a secret for a reason.”
Vander and Silco glance at each other, and you can tell they're silently communicating.
Vander turns back to you a moment later, rubbing his jaw. “A secret, huh? Well, that means whoever you got won't know it's you.”
“That's kind of the point of a secret Santa,” you point out.
Vander nods. “True means you can give them something real nice.”
Silco glances at Vander before looking at you. “Whoever you got is probably going to be very happy when they get their gift.”
You almost snort at Silco's words. Right. A gift from you? She'll probably chuck it straight in the trash. You don't know why you're worried about how she'll react. Why care if she'll like the gift? Why care if she's happy with whatever you get her?
You push those thoughts away. “If they'll actually like it.I'm not the best with gifts.”
“Ohh, I'm sure they will,” Silco says, a knowing smirk on his face. You frown at that.
Vander adds, “Just give them something from the heart.”
From the heart, my ass. The only thing you want to give her from the heart is a kick in the ass. “Because someone's gonna be real happy with something from me.”
Vander and Silco exchange another look again.
You turn away from them, looking out the window. They're probably trying to read your mind, figure out who it is you got. The thought makes your eyes twitch. You don't want them to know. You don't know why, but you really don't want them to know.
“Just do us a favor,” Silco suddenly says, cutting into the silence. “Try not to stress too hard about it. You'll give yourself gray hairs.”
Vander chuckles at Silco's words, “You'll give us an old heart attack.”
You roll your eyes. “Ha ha, funny.”
Silco replies, “Well, we're only half-joking.”
Vander's eyes soften. He slaps Silco's shoulder to get him to shut up. “What he means is, you overthink too much.”
So what if you overthink? It's a normal thing to do. Especially in situations like this, where you're stuck with the one person you don't want to be.
“I don't overthink,” you lie.
“Oh yes, you do.”
And they're right. Again.
You can't even count how many times you've paced around your apartment as you try to figure out where you went wrong. What you could have done differently if there was something you could have changed. All of that, just because of one person who tossed you aside without a second thought.
“Listen.” You look at Silco as he stands up straight. “You're going to drive yourself crazy thinking about something that hasn't even happened yet.”
Vander gives you a look before adding, “and stop overthinking.”
If only it were that simple.
“I should probably go,” you mutter, and the two of them nod.
Vander pats you on the back as you start for the door. “Same place, eh?” he calls after you.
“Don't think too hard, kid,” Silco adds.
You give them both a nod as you leave the bar.
Christmas is going to be one hell of a mess this year, you can feel it.
Now all you have to do is figure out how the hell you're going to deal with it.
You're standing outside of Vander and Silco's house. The weight of the present in your hands suddenly feels a thousand times heavier.
You push down the anxiety gnawing at you. You shouldn't be feeling so nervous. It's just a gift. Just a present for a secret santa. Just one night. One stupid night, and then it will be over. You can handle being around Vi for one Christmas.
You straighten up and square your shoulders, then you push the doors to their house and walk inside.
Your eyes search the room, looking for that familiar pink hair. Luckily, you don't see her. Yet. Your shoulders relax a little. That'll give you a few minutes to brace yourself. No one is around, probably in their rooms or preparing for the dinner.
Distracted, you don't realize someone is standing behind you until they grab you and spin you around. Your eyes meet their powder blue ones.
“What the hell are you doing here?”
“Woah, hey—” you stumble over your words.
Her grip tightens on your arm. “Don't 'woah hey' me.”
Vander's deep voice cut in before you could even speak. “You've actually came.”
She looks away. Her hand finally falling from your arm. As soon as it does, you rub the skin where she grabbed you.
Vander looks between the two of you and says, “Hand me the gift, kid. I'll put it there.” He gestures towards a christmas tree where the gifts are already sitting underneath. You hold the present out for him to take. He takes it before giving both of you another look. “Go easy with your girlfriend, eh?”
Wait. What?
Girlfriend?
“I will.” Before you can even process what the fuck is happening, you're being pulled outside.
You yank your arm back from her, quickly putting some distance between the two of you. “What's your problem?”
She spins around and scoffs, looking you up and down. “I should be asking you that. What the hell are you doing here?”
“Vander invited me. He asked me to come.”
“Then you should've said no.”
“Wow? Just wow. I know that things didn't go well between us, but you don't get to push me out of this family. They're my family too.” You take a deep breath. “You don't get to decide how I'm allowed to spend my Christmas. If you want to keep acting like this, fine. Ignore me, pretend I don't exist, just like you've been doing for the past months.”
Vi laughs dryly. “They do not know.”
You blink at her. “What do you mean?”
She looks over at the door and says, “They all think we're still together.”
“What?” you almost shout. “Why the hell would they think that?”
“Because I didn't tell them.” She scoffs. “Every time I talk to them, they ask me how you are. Silco and Vander keep making comments about how we make a cute couple. They still think we're together.”
“Then why the hell didn't you tell them?” You glare at her. “Were you ever going to?”
“I don't know!” Vi retorts, throwing her arms up. “They're all so happy about us being together.”
“That's such bullshit!” you snap at her. “That's such a crappy excuse! you should be the one to tell them we broke up.”
“Don't you think I know that? it's not that simple.”
“Is that it? you're scared that they'll know?”
“Don't act like you don’t know how Silco and Vander can get.”
“Oh, I know how they get,” you snap back. “You're just too much of a pussy to face them and tell them the truth.”
Her expression hardens. “Look who's talking. You can't even say no to a little family gathering, but here you are.”
“I didn't come here because I wanted to see you. I came for the family, not for you.”
“As if I wanted to see you either. The last thing I wanted was to have to deal with you all night.”
“Fine, you know what? I'll go tell them right now that we broke up. They deserve to know.”
She grabs your wrist before you can take a step towards the door. “Wait”
You look down at her hand, then back up at her. “What?”
“Don't,” she says through gritted teeth. “Just...don't tell them…yet.”
You scoff, ripping your arm away from her grip. “Why the hell not? So they can keep thinking we're still together?”
“Just don't tell them tonight. Can you just give me until after Christmas?”
Unbelievable. You shake your head. “Why are you still dragging this out? What difference does it make if we wait till then or do it now?”
“Because it's fucking Christmas!” she snaps before dropping her gaze. “Look, it's the holidays. I don't want to ruin Christmas. They've all been looking forward to all of us celebrating together. I don't want to ruin it by spoiling the fun.”
“What the are you talking about?! You want to fake it this christmas? Pretend we're still a happy couple?!”
“Yeah…” Vi whispers. “Yeah, that's what I'm asking.”
You sigh. “Do you know how ridiculous that sounds? you're asking me to pretend like we're still together, to pretend that nothing has changed.”
“It's just one day. One day, that's all I'm asking for. We can tell them anytime after that, just not tonight, please.”
She even says please. It makes your heart ache. She looks desperate, like this really means something to her. Who are you kidding? Of course, this means something to her. They're her family. And on Christmas, all they want is for everything to be perfect. Perfect food, perfect presents, and perfect couples.
“Fine,” you mutter. “You've got your damned wish.”
“Yeah?”
“Yes. I'll pretend like we're still together. Happy now?”
There's a flicker of a smile on her face, something quick that's gone before you can even register. “Yeah, thank you.”
Vi then looks away. Silence falls between the two of you as you shift awkwardly. She keeps her focus on the floor. This is so damn awkward.
And it's your own fault for agreeing to this nonsense. There's no way this night doesn't end up being a goddamn catastrophe. You would give anything to just disappear right now.
Powder's voice snaps the both of you. Peeking her head out of the doorway and calls, “Hey, you two. It's cold out there, get your asses in here.”
You look at ‘girlfriend’, waiting for a sign of acknowledgment.
She slowly glances up, her eyes meeting yours. “Come on.” She holds out her hand. You scoff and take her hand in yours.
You've held her hand so many times before. Holding her hand used to be nothing, but now it feels so odd, weird, strange...awkward. Though, she doesn't seem to notice how out of place it feels.
Vi leads you towards the door and squeezes your hand as she pulls you along.
“How are my favorite love birds doing?” Mylo's voice greets you as you both enter. He then slings a casual arm over your shoulders. “It's about time you two showed up. Thought for sure you were just gonna keep making out in a corner somewhere.”
It takes everything you have not to elbow him in the stomach. “Yeah, you know us. Can't keep our hands off of each other.”
“Aww you two are sickeningly in love. It's really cute, actually.”
“Yeah, we're very in love,” Vi says. You try not to roll her eyes.
Mylo claps you on the shoulder before releasing you. “Well then, I'm going to go find myself some eggnog.” He leaves towards the kitchen, whistling to himself as he goes.
“Are you okay?” Vi asks you.
Her voice brings you back on earth. and suddenly you're all too aware of how hard you're clenching your jaw and that you're just glowering at the floor with a storm cloud over your head.
“Yeah, fine,” you mutter, “just cold” It's not cold at all. Vander always keeps the place nice and warm.
Not even she's dumb enough to fall for that.
She runs her thumb over the back of your hand. It's not meant to be anything special. And yet, it still makes your heart skip a beat.
Idiot. You have absolutely no idea how you're going to get through this night with both your sanity and your heart still intact.
“Okay,” Vi finally says, “can you stop clenching your jaw so hard? you look like you're trying to grind your teeth down to the bone. I know this isn't the ideal situation, but please don't go around looking like you want to kill everyone in this room.”
Her fingers squeeze your hand, and you realize just how tightly you're holding her hand in yours. Gritting your teeth, you loosen your grip.
“There, that's better...please try and just relax for a bit. This is going to be hellish already, so I at least need you to not look like you hate me every second we're in here.”
You scoff. “Please don't act like you care.”
“I'm not acting like I care,” she says in a tone just loud enough for only you to hear. “I do care.”
Fucking liar.
Care? Care about what? about you? about what she put you through, how she broke your heart?
“Oi! time for dinner!” Powder yells from the doorway into the kitchen.
Vi mutters, “finally.”
Powder grins as she waves you both over. “Hurry up or Vander will eat everything and complain about his bad back afterwards.”
“We're coming,” Vi calls back.
The two of you head towards the kitchen. There's a long table in the middle of the room, covered in a red and green tablecloth. Vander is at the head of one of the tables, while Silco sits beside him. Mylo and Claggor are chatting amongst themselves as Powder takes her seat beside Claggor.
Vi looks at the seating arrangement and sighs. She pulls you over to the table and sits down, pulling you to take the seat next to her.
Everyone quiets then down and turns their attention to Silco.
Silco places his hands together. “It's good to see everyone together like this today.” He glances around the room in a quick survey, seeming to count everyone's attendance. “And what better time to be together than the holidays?”
Powder huffs. “Can we just eat? I'm starving.”
Silco raises his hand for Powder to stay quiet. “Patience, Pow. First, let's do something a bit…different.”
Mylo and Claggor glance at each other in confusion. “Different?” Mylo repeats.
“Indeed,” Silco replies. “Instead of just diving into our meal, I thought it would be nice if we all took a moment to share a few words about what we are thankful for this year.”
“We're really gonna do this?”
Claggor nudges him. “Be polite, Mylo.”
“He's right, though,” Powder chimes in.
Silco lifts an eyebrow at them both. “Is it really such a hassle to express gratitude at the end of the year?”
Mylo and Powder grumble something under their breaths.
Claggor is the first one to respond. “I think it's a fine idea.”
“Thank you, Claggor,” Silco says. “I'm glad we have at least one cooperative person here.”
Vander coughs then speaks. “Alright, then I'll go first...I am grateful for my family. I am thankful for my health, for my business, and most of all, that everyone is still here with me and safe.”
“That's so soft…” Powder says, but everyone ignores her.
Vander turns at Silco, as if he's saying something that's meant to be for his ears only, though everyone can clearly hear. “I'm also thankful for you, Sil.”
You're not sure if you're the only one who noticed, but that comment definitely seems personal.
He collects himself quickly and nods at Vander. “Thank you, Vander.” then he shifts his gaze to Powder. “How about you, Pow? any words of gratitude?”
Powder slouches back in her seat like a child who's been forced to eat her vegetables. “I swear, if you make me say something corny—”
Mylo interrupts, “Say something nice for once, or you're not getting dessert.”
“Ugh, fine. I am thankful for…” She pauses. “I'm thankful everyone's here and we're all...whatever, happy and healthy or something like that.”
“I'll take whatever I can get,” Silco mutters before turning his attention to Claggor. “What about you, Claggor?”
Claggor seems to be taking a moment to think. “I'm grateful for…” His eyes are unfocused as he thinks. He then glances up to look at Vander. “I'm grateful for the family I have here.”
Everyone's eyes turns to Mylo, expecting him to go next.
He fidgets anxiously. “What am I supposed to say?...er, fine... My whole life's a mess, but...at least all you idiots are here to make my life more miserable.”
“We love you too, Mylo” Powder teases. “Real touching. I think I might cry.”
Mylo throws a glare in her direction. “Shut up.”
Silco turns at Vi, waiting for her to speak. “I'm thankful for...I'm...thankful for the people I have in my life.”
Everyone's eyes settles on you next. “Well, uh, I guess I'm thankful to be able to still participate in this family gathering, even if I haven't seen everyone in a while.” Then, you look at Vi. “Hopefully I can still be here and spend Christmas with all of you next year too.”
Vi holds your gaze, and then, unexpectedly, a smile forms at the corner of her lips. It's been so long since you've seen her smile like that...
She quickly looks away and you notice that her cheeks have turned a light shade of pink.
“There, we all said our little cheesy bullshit,” Powder impatiently says.
“Language, Pow,” Silco reminds.
“Yes, Powder, mind your language” Vander adds, earning a mock-offended look from Powder.
“Like you don't swear all the time.”
“I do not swear all the time, Pow,” he protests, although you know it's a lie. Even the most proper and upstanding people swear, and Vander is definitely not that.
“Yeah, yeah, sure.”
Vander huffs but chooses not to add anything. Silco lets out a dry cough to redirect everyone's attention. “Right, now that that's over, let's go ahead and eat, shall we?”
“Finally,” Mylo grumbles, “I was starting to wonder if you forgot about why we all gathered here.”
Silco gives him a look. “Patience is a virtue, Mylo.”
“We've all been patient for the last hour, so spare me.”
Claggor sighs, but thankfully Mylo and Powder seem to settle into silence for the time being.
Silco nods in approval. “Then, shall we begin?”
Vander gets up from his seat, moving to go grab the food.
Powder and Mylo look at Vander expectantly, and they both look like they're about to get out of their seats. Silco gives them a warning look, silencing them before they can get a word out. “Wait until everything is ready.”
They both grumble, but they obediently sit back down. They're impatient, sure, but they at least know better than to piss off Silco.
Vander returns a moment later, setting a platter filled with food on the table. It looks delicious, and the smell is mouthwatering. Your stomach growls a little.
Powder and Mylo are practically drooling. You wouldn't be surprised if they lunged for the food the moment Silco gave the word.
And sure enough, the moment Silco gestures for everyone to get their food, Powder and Mylo are gone, rushing to claim their plates.
Powder and Mylo shove each other for their own plates. No one says anything though, they're all just used to it. Mylo seems like he's really close to just pushing Powder to the side and snatching up the slice he wants, and Powder doesn't look any better.
It's like this is all completely normal, they know to expect this kind of behavior when food, and more importantly, free food, is involved.
Powder and Mylo finally settle down after their little fight, and they finally begin digging into the food. Claggor is significantly slower when it comes to eating. Vander eats at a decent pace, and he doesn't seem as starving like Mylo is.
The last one to begin eating is Silco. He takes one look at how Mylo and Powder are chowing down on their food, then he turns his gaze and looks at you, as if silently asking if you're going to eat.
You take the hint, and you decide to dig into your own food. The food is delicious. You can't blame Mylo and Powder for basically trying to swallow their food whole. Vi also begins eating now that everyone's settled down.
Vander laughs, his eyes crinkling up at the corners. “Slow down a little, you two, the food isn't going anywhere.”
Claggor shakes his head as he watches them eat. “You'd think they'd never seen a Christmas dinner before.”
“You know them, they would scarf down all the food in town if they could.”
Powder glances up. “Hey, it's not our fault we're just starving.” Mylo nods in agreement, his mouth too full to say anything.
“You both just had eaten before this,” Claggor counters.
Mylo swallows whatever food is in his mouth long enough to argue with Claggor. “And that was hours ago.”
“Yeah,” Powder agrees, “it was practically an eternity since we ate.”
“Two hours is not an eternity,” Claggor retorts.
“It might as well be,” Powder mutters.
Despite the bickering and arguing the dinner feels oddly domestic.
Claggor looks like the responsible and mature oldest sibling who's done with his siblings nonsense. Vander acts like a tired parent. Silco acts more like a stern aunt. Powder and Mylo act like rowdy kids who are constantly at each other's throats.
Vi sits next to you. She's making sarcastic comments with Silco, laughing at Powder's jokes, and making small talk with Claggor. She even gives Mylo an unimpressed glare when he tries to snatch all the bread for himself.
The way she's acting makes your heart burns. She's giving you all the attention a partner would give. She gives you fond smiles whenever you make a comment, she casually slides an arm around your shoulders, she even scoots her chair closer to yours.
It's so normal, that it takes you back to your relationship and how you two were before the breakup.
She's even doing little things, like leaning closer to you, letting a hand rest on your thigh, discreetly grabbing your hand and intertwining your fingers with hers under the table.
You want to hold her tight and never let her go.
But.
You two aren't together anymore.
But.
Maybe it could work this time.
Maybe you two could just bury the hatchet and move on.
Maybe things could work between you two if you try it out again.
Then you remember the fights, the nights you spent on your bed, crying while Vi was out with friends. You remember how she treated you after the breakup.
So focused on trying to stop yourself from touching her that you're surprised when she suddenly leans her head against your shoulder.
“It's been a while since we've seen you two together,” Powder interrupts your thoughts. Her mouth still full of food.
Claggor shoots Powder a look. “Powder—”
“Shush, I'm just wondering,” she argues, then shrugs, “has she been avoiding you?”
“No,” you say before anyone can say anything. “We just haven't had time to schedule any dates, that's all.”
“For months? haven't had time to schedule a single date for months?”
“Life gets busy, y'know.”
Mylo scoffs. “You two are dating, the least you could do is at least manage one date a month.”
Claggor smacks him over the head. Mylo grumbles and rubs the back of his head, shooting his brother a glare. “What? it's true. We just kind of...” he pauses, “…we all miss you.”
Vander gives Mylo a disapproving glare. “What Mylo means is, your presence has been sorely missed around here.”
“We just want you around more,” Powder puts in her two cents.
You cast a sidelong glance at Vi. You and her are putting up a pretty good facade so far, but Mylo's question seemed to have put her on the spot a little. She catches your glance, and you give her a look that says, just play along.
Vi squeezes your thigh. “Look, I— I know we haven't been as...present as we should have been for the past few months. Work just got really hectic.”
“That's true,” you back her up with a nod. “I had to travel away for a business trip a few weeks ago, so it's been pretty hard to find time to spend together.”
Vander, Silco, and Powder all nod in understanding. They're aware of the fact that you have a job in a big city, so it's not an unbelievable explanation.
Mylo, however, snorts and crosses his arms. “You don't have to feed us some lame excuse for not hanging out with us.”
Claggor gives Mylo another smack. “Would you shut up already?”
“Ow!” Mylo grumbles as he rubs his head again.
Vander sighs. “Regardless, it's good to have you here for Christmas this time.”
Everyone nods and agrees. Powder grins at you, Silco shoots you a small almost-smile, and Claggor and Vander both look genuinely pleased to have you here.
All eyes then land on Mylo, and he shrugs again, mumbling, “I guess it is good to have you here.”
“See, it's a christmas miracle, Mylo isn't being a little prick for once!” Powder teases.
Mylo scowls. “Hey, I'm never a little prick—”
“Bullshit.”
“I just think that—”
“Nobody cares what you think,” Powder interrupts again.
That just causes Claggor, Vander, and Silco to laugh. Vi snorts next to you.
The conversation soon changes to talking about old childhood holiday memories.
Mylo tells a story about him stealing Silco's secret chocolate stash when he was twelve. Powder tells a story about the time she accidentally burned the back of Vander's hair with a roman candle. At some point, Claggor tells a story about a time he and Mylo accidentally broke a window during a snowball fight. Even Mylo himself laughs at that one.
There's lighthearted banter, friendly jabs, and just a lot of laughter in between. This, this is what it should have been like from the beginning. It reminds you of the way it used to be when you were all younger, but still has a different air to it. In a way, it's better than those old days. Everyone's grown, but there's still that same energy that always connected you all as a family...it just feels fuller.
You swear you can see the faintest tearful sheen in Vander's eyes. He's always had a bit of parental pride and love toward all of you, and seeing you all sitting here together, happy...damn, it must bring back a lot of memories for him.
Yeah, this is how christmas should be…
It makes you forget that all of this is fake. It makes you forget why you and Vi aren't together anymore. It's like just for tonight, you can pretend like things are back to how they used to be.
But you know this will not last. When everything is said and done, when christmas night is over and you're all saying your goodbyes, you have no doubt in your mind that you and Vi will go your separate ways again.
You glance at her. Her eyes are bright, her smile is big, and her entire face lights up with joy.
Vi must notice you looking, because she looks over at you. She's looking at you with that look again.
That look...that damn look she's giving you again. The look that makes your heart stutter against your ribs, the look that makes your stomach twist into knots. It's a look that makes you want to lean forward and kiss her.
You almost give into your urges. You almost reach out and push a stray strand of hair out of her face. You almost do something to kiss her.
Yet, you don't. That would spoil the whole 'still dating' facade, and besides....you have boundaries. Also, you're not that stupid.
You give her a nod and offer a smile. She just smiles back.
Silco clears his throat. “How about you two?” he says casually. “Any…any problems between the two of you lately?”
You and Vi both sit up straighter. “Problems...?” Vi repeats.
Silco shrugs. “I don't know, I'm just wondering...a lot of couples who have been together for as long as the two of you have.” He trails off, but everyone at the table knows the implications.
Mylo grumbles. “I swear, if you start talking about how high the divorce rate is—” Claggor elbows Mylo, and he shuts up.
Silco chuckles. “Oh, I'm sure you two can last.”
Powder rolls her eyes. “These two have been together since forever. You guys were like...practically attached at the hip, from day one.”
“Yeah, we were like that, weren't we?” Vi looks back at you.
“Yeah,” you say with a casualness you don't feel. “Yeah, we were.”
Silco hums. “I remember when you two first started dating.”
“Oh, do you remember that?” Vander says, looking at Silco. “I remember the two of them coming to me the day they decided they were going to be official.”
Claggor nods. “Yeah, and they were so...so mushy. All 'you're mine' and 'we're never going to break up,” he puts on a mock high-pitched voice, imitating you and Vi
“That was the worst,” Powder groans.
Mylo asks, “How many times did you have to stop them from making out all over the bar again?”
“Way too many times.”
“By the way,” Mylo says. “You two aren't doing anything for new years, are you?”
You and Vi exchange glances. “...we haven't made plans yet,” you say slowly, trying to think of excuses.
“Oh, you should come join us then.” Mylo leans back and stretches his arms. “All of us are getting hammered down here for new years, you two should come.”
“Yeah, it'll be fun!” Powder pipes up, eyes lighting up. “You guys will come, won't you? promise you'll come.”
You open your mouth, trying to wrack your brain for excuses, but before you can say anything—
“Of course we'll come.”
You turn to look at Vi, and she just gives you a shrug.
Mylo grins. “Good, good! That'll be fun.” He points a finger at you both. “I swear, the two of you used to be so much fun at parties, it's like you both went boring when you got older.”
“Hey, just cause we're getting old doesn't mean we suddenly became party poopers,” Vi says defensively. “We're still fun.”
Mylo cackles. “Are you now? I never see you two do anything anymore. Ever since you got that fancy shmancy job, you've been too busy to have any fun.”
“We know how to have fun, we have—” you pause, trying to think of the word, “responsibilities now. Responsibilities that a certain someone is too dumb to understand.”
“I understand responsibilities, but I understand the concept that if you don't get wasted while you're young, then you'll wake up at forty, old and boring,” he says, looking at Silco and Vander. “And I want to make the most out of my young and reckless years. Meanwhile, you've already turned into an old, boring fart.”
You scowl at that, but Silco interrupts, “Don't knock on old farts just yet. Some of us are old and still know how to have fun.”
“Yeah.” Vander nods. “Just because we're old doesn't mean we don't know how to have a good time.”
Mylo rolls his eyes and waves a hand. “Yeah, yeah, you old farts can still have fun. You just don't know how to have real fun anymore.” Mylo then pouts. “I miss how it used to be, you know?” He sighs, resting his chin in his hand. “Before all that adult crap, when things were easier.”
“Easier,” Powder mutters, poking at the remains of her food. “Yeah, when we were broke and always hungry, real easy.”
Mylo reaches over and flicks her arm. “Easy doesn't always mean money, you dumbass.”
Powder scowls and smacks his arm back. “Don't call me a dumbass, you dumbass.”
“Then don't be a dumbass,” Mylo snaps back, smacking her again.
Powder smacks him again, harder. “Don't you dare call me a dumbass again.”
Before they can start another childish argument, Silco's voice cuts in. “Enough you two," he says, and they immediately grumble and fall quiet.
“Honestly, I sometimes wonder how the two of you aren't still in high school,” Vander says.
“That's an insult to high schoolers, they're more mature than those two,” Claggor jokes, earning him a smack to the head from both Powder and Mylo. He yells and puts his hands up in surrender, “ow ow ow, ok ok! don't hurt me!”
Powder and Mylo laugh, while Silco shakes his head. “See what I mean? Children.”
“And they both insist they're mature enough to be out in the real world, independent and capable,” Vander says.
“They're still just as chaotic now as they were in high school,” Silco says dryly. “Nothing has changed.”
Powder and Mylo both glare at him. “Really? like you two were that much better in high school,” she grumbles.
“We certainly weren't as immature as some people,” Silco says pointedly.
“You guys were probably just as bad as us, you just don't remember."
There's a pause, and Silco and Vander exchange glances before Silco snorts. He tries to bite back a laugh, but it comes out anyway, causing Vander to burst out laughing as well.
“I can't—” Vander wheezes between laughs. “I can't believe...you actually…”
Silco doubles over, laughing even harder. He manages to gasp out a few words, “Oh, if you only...if you only knew…”
Powder and Mylo exchange confused glances, while Claggor tilts his head. “What? what happened? what's so funny?”
The laughter finally dies down as Silco composes himself enough to speak. “Nothing, it's nothing.”
“All right, all right,” Vander looks around the table. “I think most of us are done eating. Who wants to help with the dishes?”
There's a collective groan from the rest of the table. No one likes doing dishes.
Powder and Mylo immediately groan out a “not it,” and Claggor follows up with “You all know I'm terrible at dishes.”
“Don't look at me either,” Silco grumbles. Vander just sighs and shakes his head.
And that just leaves you and Vi...
You're about to argue as well, anything to get out of being stuck in the kitchen with Vi, but she beats you to it. “Yeah, we'll do it,” she says, before you can even open your mouth.
You had been fully intending to dodge the chore, but now you can't without looking like an ass and leaving her alone to do dishes.
Vi stands up and picks up the nearest stack of dirty dishes, balancing them on her arms. She shoots you a look, like she's daring you to try and weasel out of helping. You huff and stand up. This is absolutely the last thing you want to do right now.
You follow her to the kitchen and grab a few more dishes along the way.
She holds the kitchen door open for you, and you step into the little kitchen with its small stone countertops and simple appliances. You set the dishes down on the counter near the sink, turning to find Vi already rolling up her sleeves.
She's not looking at you, but when she starts to roll up the left side of her shirt sleeve, her eyes dart over to you for a split second.
You pause, staring at the side of her face. You can't tell if she's...no, you must be imagining things.
Vi lifts one eyebrow. “What, you're not gonna help?”
“No, no, I am,” you hurriedly say.
You're not going to look at her.
Not at the way her forearm flexes when she reaches down to turn on the water, not at the way she bends over to grab some dish soap, and definitely not at the way her shirt tightens across her shoulders.
Yeah. Yeah. You're definitely not going to look at her.
Not at the way her fingers move when she soaps up the dishes, not the way her biceps flex when she bends her elbow, and especially not at the way her hair falls into her face when she scrubs at a stubborn stai—
Why is she so fit?
What? You look down at your own hands. You start washing another dish, trying your absolute hardest to look anywhere except at her.
The minutes tick by in awkward silence, but eventually, your mind starts to wander. After all, washing dishes is pretty damn boring.
Out of the corner of your eye, you watch her shoulder blades shift under her shirt. The fabric of her shirt is stretched taut, and you wonder what she looks like under it if she still has all the same muscles....
Yeah, okay, you really have to stop staring.
“Can I ask you a question?”
Well, so much for not looking at her.
“Depends what the question is,” you grumble, shifting a little.
You expect her to ask you something about your current life or something generic. What happened when you were gone, what life was like where you were?
Instead, she asks something completely left-field.
“Do you ever think about us?”
The glass in your hands slipping a little in your grip. You were not expecting that question.
How are you supposed to answer that? yes? no? sometimes ?
What was she even expecting to hear? did she want you to say yes, to say that you always thought about her, that you would've come back to her in a heartbeat if you could've? Or did she just want to hear you say no, to hear that you moved on, that you had to move on because it was either that or let yourself fall apart?
‘Sometimes’ was definitely not the answer you would've given months ago.
Now, though? you would admit that sometimes, after a rough morning or a particularly lonely night, you'd let yourself think about her. Sometimes, you'd remember those nights you spent in her apartment, on her shitty couch, talking her ear off about everything and nothing, the nights where the two of you would sit on the couch and watch tv, her head resting on your shoulder, and you'd wonder if…
Yeah, you thought about her a lot.
But you can't say that to her. You can't tell her that you think about it all the time. About how sometimes you can't fall asleep because you miss the feeling of laying in bed with her, about how you always find your hands searching for her in the middle of the night.
“I used to,” you say instead of letting your thoughts wander any farther. “Not anymore.”
You keep scrubbing, even after there's no longer any more dirt on the glass. Just so you have a reason not to look at her, just so you have a shield from the thoughts you know are brewing in her mind.
She's quiet. You can feel her looking at you. Then, she takes a breath like she's going to speak, but then stops herself. She's overthinking something. She's trying to pick her words carefully, and damn, you just wish she'd spit it out.
“What about you?” you murmur. “Do you...do you think about us?” You force yourself to look over at her.
She's not looking at you now, she's staring at the soapy water, and avoiding eye contact with you. “Yeah,” she finally says, “I do.”
Her answer goes straight to your gut and twists deep inside you.
She continues scrubbing at a plate as if she hasn't just turned your world upside down. How are you supposed to react to her answer? do you say something, do you not say something?
“Why?” the question leaves your lips before you can stop yourself.
“Why do you think so?”
You shrug. You genuinely don't know.
Her eyes linger on yours for a few seconds, and you can't quite read them. She looks like she wants to say something, she looks like she wants to reach out and hold you, and you'd bet real money that if circumstances were different, she would've done exactly that.
Instead, she just averts her gaze back to the sink. “I don't know...I just do.”
“Oh,” is all you say in response.
You're both quiet after that.
A few times, you catch yourself glancing over at her, trying to pick up any hint of what she could be thinking. But, every time, she stubbornly keeps her eyes down on the dishes she's scrubbing. You have a feeling that if she were to look at you, if she were to meet your eyes right now, she'd either burst into tears or shove you into a storage closet and kiss you until your lungs burned.
You don't know which one would be worse.
The sound of Claggor's voice finally breaks the stifling silence, and you let out a breath you didn't know you'd been holding. He peeks his head into the kitchen, grinning widely. “Yo, you two almost done here? Powder is about to get impatient.”
You're thankful for the interruption, and judging by the look on Vi's face, so is she.
“Yeah, we're done,” Vi says, glancing up from the dish she's been washing for the last ten minutes.
You dry your hands off on a nearby towel. “We're finished.”
Claggor grins again. “Thank God, Powder is about to start biting people.” He laughs, then disappears back into the main room.
“That sounds like her.” She chuckles, scrubbing her hands off on a towel.
“Guest we should head out there then.”
She hesitates, still running the towel over her hands even though they're no longer wet. “Yeah.”
You push the door of the kitchen open and gesture for her to go first.
“Now that we've had an amazing dinner, it's time for the best part of the night.”
Everyone gathers around, now sitting either on the couch or on the floor. Powder and Mylo immediately get squished together on the floor. Powder complains, “Hey! you're shoving me!”
“Only because you're taking up too much space.”
Vander smiles from his spot on the couch. “Alright! It's time for secret santa. Everyone remembers who they drew, right?”
A group of nods and hums go around as everyone pulls out the slips of paper that have the names they drew.
Vander clasps his hands together. “Good! Who wants to go first?”
A few seconds of silence, then Powder’s hand shoots up. As always, she's the most excited one. “Me!”
“Well, look at that, our little girl is so eager. Okay, you can go first, Pow-Pow.”
Powder smiles and scrambles off the floor. She almost trip over herself as she pulls a present from beneath the Christmas tree. She looks down at the tag and grins. She then scans the room with a giddy smile, then her eyes land on Silco. She bounds over to him, practically shoving the present into his hands as she sits down on the floor next to his legs.
Silco smiles faintly as he takes the present. “Alright, let's see what you got me, hm?” He's quiet as he carefully unwraps the present, and Powder watches him who barely contains her excitement.
The wrapping paper is then set aside, and the present is now fully unwrapped. It's just a little box, though Silco is curious as to what's inside.
“Go on, open it,” Powder encourages.
He looks back at the box and, with a nod, pulls out the item inside. He holds it in his hands and looks at it curiously, then looks at Powdr with a raised eyebrow.
She's still grinning, and she looks extremely pleased with herself. Mylo glances over to look and snorts out a laugh. “Would you look at that?”
“You got me…” Silco begins as he tries to sound unimpressed. “...a shark plushie?”
“Yep!” Powder exclaims, “I got you a little shark plushie. You like it, right?”
Silco glances at the plushie and then at her again. He looks vaguely fond. He carefully sets it down on his lap, then smiles. “I adore it.” Her grin somehow widens even more. Silco chuckles, then looks around. “Who's next?”
Claggor raises a hand. “I'll go,” he offers, to which Vander nods.
“Go ahead, Claggs,” he says approvingly.
Claggor gets to his feet from his spot on the floor, then moves to the tree. He crouches down and rummages around, looking for the present with the correct name tag.
A minute passes as a few minutes go by. He eventually stands back up, a small present in his hands. He looks around the room, then his eyes land on Mylo, who's now lying down on the floor and looking very bored.
Claggor moves over to him, tossing the present into his lap. Mylo looks up and catches the present, shooting him a glare. “You couldn't have done that a little nicer?” he complains while sitting up.
Claggor just shrugs and gives him a flat look. “Suck it up,” he tells him bluntly before sitting back down.
Mylo scoffs and begins to unwrap the present, ripping the wrapping paper off carelessly. He tosses the wrapping paper away, then looks down at the present as he tears the box open. He's quiet for a moment, looking at the contents...
..and then he groans, covering his face.
“Oh, come the hell on,” he whines. He looks up from his hands to give Claggor a withering look. “Dude, seriously?”
“What?”
Mylo just sighs, shooting the toy in the box with a dismayed look. “Really? a stress ball?”
“I thought it was a good idea,” Claggor says, not bothered by Mylo's unimpressed tone. “And you seem to be lacking a bit in the stress management department.”
“Well, excuse me for being a bit stressed when you're being a dick.”
“See, you need the stress ball. You proved my point right there.”
Mylo just groans and throws his head back. He picks up the stress ball and squeezes it hard. “I hate you.”
Claggor merely grins. “I love you too.”
Mylo mutters something under his breath, too quiet for anyone to hear, then looks up as he addresses the group. “So, who's up next? I'm sure there's some poor sap itching to go.”
Silco raises a hand. “I'll go next,” he offers.
Everyone glances at him, then nods and gestures for him to go. He gets up off the couch and saunters to the tree. He scans the presents beneath it, moving a few aside to find the one he was looking for.
He finally finds it and smirks to himself, grabbing the present and standing up. His eyes sweep over the group. He then turns and walks over to Vander, holding the present out to him.
Vander glances at the present, then at Silco, taking the present and curiously giving it a little shake. “What is it?” he asks curiously.
Silco just grins in a vaguely irritating way and sits back down. “Just open it.”
Vander raises an eyebrow but begins to unwrap the present meticulously. He peels away the wrapping paper to reveal a small box, then looks at Silco, eyes questioning.
Silco just shrugs and gestures for him to go on. Vander quirks another eyebrow up but opens the box anyway, now intrigued.
Then a snort finally escapes him. He's now fighting to hold back laughter.
Mylo sits up suddenly, looking at Vander, then at Silco. “What? What is it?”
Vander doesn't answer for a moment. He's still staring into the box, looking like he can't believe what he's seeing. He looks up at Silco. “Please tell me you're joking.”
“I couldn't be more serious.”
Vander lets out a long, suffering sigh, then digs through the tissue paper and pulls something out of the box.
It's a pair of comically large underwear, one that could practically fit an entire person inside of it.
Vander groans, holding the underwear up and staring at them with slight disgust.
Mylo and Powder both start laughing once they register what the present is. Powder laughs so hard she nearly falls over, clutching her stomach as she howls with laughter.
Vi's eyes widen at the sight of the underwear, her mouth dropping open a little in surprise. As much as it pains her to admit it...she just knows the jokes that Silco is going to start making any minute now.
…and she's right.
“You see, I thought it was a necessary gift.”
“Necessary?” Vander repeats in disbelief.
“Of course. you're getting old, and as you get older…accidents happen.”
“I'm not that old,” Vander grumbles, though he knows it's probably not the best argument.
“Oh, you know what I mean. Things begin to...fail as you age. I simply wanted to make sure you had a spare pair.”
Mylo practically rolls on the floor, clutching his sides. “Oh, my god, I can't breathe—this is—this is gold,” he wheezes. Powder is laughing so hard she's choking.
Vander looks down at the underwear in his hands. He looks like he wants to throw it into the fire and destroy it. He gazes up at Silco, giving him a look that clearly says, ' I will get you back for this '.
Silco leans back against the couch and crosses an ankle over his knee. “What? You don't like them? I personally thought they were a good choice.”
Vander opens his mouth to reply, but Powder interrupts him.
“Oh, god,” Powder chokes out, “you should try them on. They'd look perfect on you.”
“No,” Vander mutters firmly, folding his arms and sitting back.
But Powder's not done. “Come on, just try them on,” she wheezes. “It really would be a look for you.”
Vander turns his glare to Powder, his expression clearly saying, ' I will murder you if you keep talking. ' “No,” he says again through gritted teeth.
Even Silco is starting to look amused.
“Just for a second,” the younger teases, “come on, just long enough for us to see. We won't even say anything.”
Vander throws a sneering look at both Silco and Powder. Eventually he lets out an exasperated grumble and stands up, mumbling something he heads into the bathroom with the underwear.
Mylo is dying of laughter. “Holy shit,” he chokes out. “He's really doing it.”
It takes a few minutes, but the bathroom door swings open and Vander steps out. He looks like he regrets every decision he's made that led him to this. His face is as red as a tomato as he stomps back over to them in the gigantic underwear.
Mylo and Powder are losing it again, falling over and rolling on the floor with laughter.
Silco tries to stifle a laugh. “Oh my, they look even better than I imagined.”
Vander can hardly look anyone in the eye. “I hate you. I hate you all.”
Claggor looks at Silco and Powder. “You guys are terrible,” he says, but there's trace of a smile on his face.
Vi grins from ear to ear. “You look... perfect,” she comments through a strangled chuckle.
Vander turns his glare on her. “I hate you all,” he repeats.
“I want pictures.” Powder holds up her phone.
“Absolutely not. I forbid it,” Vander snaps, sounding as serious as someone wearing comically large underwear can.
Powder pouts. “Oh, come on,” she says with a whine, looking up at Vander with puppy-dog eyes. “Just a few.”
“No, I'm not having pictures of me in these...embarrassing things circulating the internet.”
“The internet? Who said anything about the internet? I just meant...a few for my own personal, um, research.”
He opens his mouth to say something, but Silco chimes in first. “Oh, come on. Humor her. It's the season of giving.”
Vander glares at him. “There's no—”
“Pleeeease?” Powder interrupts.
Vander looks like he's about to argue, but Powder is already giving him those puppy-dog eyes that he struggles to resist. He hesitates, then, with a grumble, he sighs. “Fine, one picture.”
Powder looks like a kid on Christmas. The instant the word 'picture' leaves Vander's mouth, she leaps to her feet and lifts up her phone. “Stand up straighter.”
Vander obeys, reluctantly straightening up.
“Say cheese.”
Vander grunts, but cooperates. “Cheese,” he mutters, putting on a strained smile.
Powder snaps the picture, then lowers her phone and looks at it with a satisfied smile. “Oh yeah, you're getting on the naughty list for this one.” She wiggles the phone a little.
Once the picture-taking is over and Vander changes his clothes back, Silco motions for Powder to settle down.
“Alright, settle down. It's time to continue with the secret Santa,” Silco says, looking at the others.
They all nod in agreement, still snickering but mostly focusing on the present exchange.
“Who wants to go next?” Silco asks, looking around the group.
Mylo looks around, then grins. “My turn.”
Powder rolls her eyes, knowing that look on his face all too well. “Here we go,” she says, preparing herself for whatever nonsense his brother is about to come up with.
“Well, I drew someone's name... and it was a pretty easy choice.” Mylo then looks around the group with mock innocence. “Oh, where's my victim?”
Claggor sighs. “Who exactly is the unlucky person this year?”
“There's only one person who I could have possibly chosen…”
“Would you just spit it out before the suspense kills me?” Powder snaps, impatient.
Mylo huffs. “Jeez, have some patience. Anyway, my secret santa is…”
Claggor puts his head in his hands, bracing himself.
“My secret santa is, drumroll please…” They reluctantly drum their hands against any surface near them. “My very special secret Santa is…”
Mylo grins, looking from face to face, savoring the moment before he does the big reveal.
“My secret Santa...is Powder!”
“Fuck!” She groans and buries her head in her hands.
“Aww, what's the matter, Pow?”
“You're the worst,” Powder mutters, looking like she's praying to any god out there to just put her out of her misery already.
“Come on, don't be like that. It could be worse, I could have gotten you a box of spiders.”
Powder looks like she's seriously considering that as a better option. “You know what? Give me the spiders. Spiders would be better than whatever it is you got me.”
“Nice try. You're not getting out of it that easily,” he says, holding the present just out of her reach. “You have to open it, come on.”
Powder grumbles in protest, then reluctantly reaches out for the present. She snatches it out of his hands. “If I die from this, I'm going to haunt you for the rest of your life,” she mutters, slowly tearing the wrapping paper.
Then, Powder tears back the last piece of wrapping paper, revealing a plain black box. “What the hell is this?”
“You're going to have to open it and see for yourself.”
Powder grumbles, giving Mylo a glare that could freeze hell over. She slowly opens the black box, not sure what to expect. “...Please tell me this is not what I think it is.”
The others lean in closer, curiosity getting the better of them.
“You did not get me what I think you got me.”
“Oh, you're going to have to be more specific than that.”
“You know what I'm talking about.”
“I honestly have no idea what you're talking about.”
Vander just rubs his face with one hand, knowing that this situation is about to spiral out of control.
“You're telling me,” Powder hisses, “that you didn't get me exactly what I think you got me?”
“Like I said, you'll have to be a bit more specific.”
“Mylo, I swear to—”
Claggor cuts her off, knowing that she's about to blow her top. “Calm down, Powder,” he says, placing a hand on her shoulder.
“I'll calm down when the box goes straight over his head.”
“Why so angry? I thought you'd be excited.”
“I can't wait to make you eat that box.”
“Oh, I'm so scared.”
Vander interjects. “That's enough. No need to start throwing things around.”
“I was just having fun.”
“Yeah, have fun with a black eye.”
“Enough,” Silco says, giving both Powder and Mylo stern looks.
Both Mylo and Powder grumble, reluctantly backing down a bit.
“Can we all just get back to opening presents, please?” Vander asks.
The others nod in agreement, though Powder still looks like she's not done with Mylo yet. She glares at him one last time before returning to her seat.
Mylo just grins, enjoying having gotten the last word in. He takes his own seat next to Claggor.
The others exchange glances, silently agreeing to not let Powder and Mylo be too close to each other for the rest of the evening.
Silco clears his throat, getting everyone's attention. “Now, who's next?”
Vander leans back in his seat. “I'm up next, I guess.” He rummages at the gifts under the Christmas tree. After a few moments of searching, Vander finally finds the present he was looking for. He picks it up, holding it in his lap. “This one's for you.” He hands the present to Claggor.
Claggor takes the present. He glances down at it, then looks up at Vander with a smile. “Thanks,” he says, starting to unwrap it.
Once the wrapping paper is off, Claggor is holding a box of assorted tools. They range from pliers to wrenches to screwdrivers.
“Just like you requested.” Vander watches as Claggor starts inspecting the tools.
“Wow, these are great. Thanks, dad,” he replies, running a hand over the tools in the box.
Vander smiles. “I thought you'd like them. I saw them at the pawnshop the other day and figured you could use them.”
“I definitely will. These are a huge upgrade compared to what I have now.”
Vander pats Claggor on the shoulder. “You deserve it. You've been working your ass off lately.” He looks around the room, looking for the next person to take their turn. “Alright, who's up next?”
Mylo's head suddenly snaps up. “Oh goodie, it's Vi's turn.”
“Come on, Vi, your turn,” Silco says.
“Yeah, yeah. Hold your horses,” she mumbles, getting to her feet and making her way over to the christmas tree.
Vi crouches down and rummages through the presents. She grabs it and stands back up. She looks over at you, looking like she's been caught doing something she's not supposed to do.
She makes her way over to where you're sitting, holding out the present. “Here, this one's for you.”
You take the box from her and looks down at it. It's heavy in your hands. The wrapping paper slightly crinkled from how hard she was holding it. “Thanks, Vi.”
“Don't mention it, babe ,” she mutters, her voice strained.
Powder and Mylo both let out a chorus of ‘aww’ when they heard her use the nickname.
“Shut up, you two.” Vi glares at them both.
You start unwrapping the present, tearing off the wrapping paper to reveal what's inside.
When the wrapping paper is off, you're holding a small box. It's plain, made of brown cardboard, and doesn't look like much. But as you look back up at Vi, you can see a hint of nervousness on her face.
Still curious, you glance back down at the box in your hands. You lift off the lid and open it slowly.
There, nestled in a bed of tissue paper, is a necklace. It's a silver chain with a small silver heart pendant. It looks delicate and beautiful, and judging by the look on Vi's face, she spent a lot of time picking it out.
You slowly lift the necklace out of the tissue paper. You hold it up, letting the chain dangle from your fingers. It glints in the light. The pendants catching the glow from the Christmas tree lights.
“Do you like it?”
You meet her gaze. “Yeah, I do,” you respond. “...It's beautiful.”
You hold the necklace in your hand, then run your thumb over the pendant. Without even thinking, you clasp the necklace around your neck.
It fits snugly against your skin, the pendant resting on your collarbone.
You catch Vi watching you as you adjust the necklace. “Looks good on you.”
“Thanks.”
Mylo and Powder both let out another chorus of ‘aww.’
Vi shoots them another glare. “Would you two shut up, for Christ's sake?”
“Oh, come on, sis. It's cute” Powder teases.
“Ah, young love,” Silco says.
Vander chuckles. “I remember my younger days.”
“Don't you mean your younger hookups?”
Vander holds his hands up. “Guilty as charged.”
Silco laughs. “Some things never change.” Then, he glances around the room, looking for who's turn it is next. “Lasty, who's next?”
You notice that almost everyone has given out their gift. It's obvious that your turn is next. “I'm up next.”
You get to your feet walk over to where the presents are. then you hold the present in your hands, not looking up quite yet. You can feel Vi's eyes on you.
You compose yourself and look up, meeting her gaze.
You walk over to her, heart suddenly beating faster. You feel nervous, but you try to push it down. You stop in front of her and hold out the present. “Here you go, babe .”
Vi's expression softens. She grabs it, looking slightly puzzled. You watch silently as she unwraps the gift.
“Is this... a sweater?” It's clearly hand-knit, with uneven stitching and a clashing color scheme.
“I made it myself,”
“You made it? Like, with your own two hands?”
“Obviously...”
“I mean... it's…”
“It's hideous?” you suggest.
She winces. “Yeah, kinda…”
“Hey,” you say, mock-indignant. “I spent a lot of time making that, you know.”
“I can tell.”
“Then, try it on.”
Vi hesitates, looking at you warily. “Seriously?”
“Seriously.” You nudge her. “Just try it on…”
She sighs, realizing there's no way out of this. “Fine.”
She pulls it over her head, struggling to get her arms through the sleeves. The fit is awkward, and the sweater seems too small. But somehow, it kind of makes her look...cute?
She tugs at the sleeves and looks down at herself. “How do I look?”
You pretend to look her over. “I dunno,” you reply. “it's...something.”
“Be serious. I look like an idiot, don't I?”
“Don't be like that” you tease, straightening the collar of the sweater. “It's not that bad.”
“Not ‘that bad?’” she repeats. “Are you kidding? I look like a walking Christmas tree.”
“I think you look…” cute. adorable . “Fine
“That's the best you've got? 'fine?'”
“What do you want me to say?”
“I don't know…something more than just ‘fine’”
“Okay, okay, let me rephrase that, you look…” beautiful, cute, adorable. “...very christmas-y”
“You really know how to boost a girl's ego.”
“I didn't realize you needed your ego stroked.”
“I don't,” she protests, flustered. “I'm just saying, a little bit more enthusiasm would be appreciated.”
Silco clears his throat, drawing everyone's attention. “Ahem, now that the present giving is concluded…”
Silence falls over the room as everyone waits for Silco to speak. The tick-tock of the grandfather clock is the only sound that can be heard.
Silco glances at the clock. “It appears to be midnight,” he says, pausing for emphasis. “Which means…”
A chorus of “Merry Christmas!” rises up from the group. Everyone sounds festive and cheerful.
You look back to Vi, who is still fiddling with the sweater. “Merry Christmas,” you whisper, not wanting the others to hear.
She turns at you and smiles warmly. “Merry Christmas to you too,” she replies, voice just as quiet as yours.
Awkwardly you glance down at the carpet, unsure of what to say next.
“Hey,” she says suddenly. “Can I talk to you for a second…? In private?”
“Sure.” you agree, following her as she leads you away from the group.
She leads you into a small back room and closes the door behind her. The room is dimly lit with only a few bare light bulbs lining the walls. Aside from a few boxes and some old crates, the room is empty.
Vi's quiet for a moment, gaze averted to the floor. She's fiddling with the hem of the sweater again.
“Listen,” she finally says, meeting your eyes. “I know this is weird, and I know things are.. difficult right now. But…” She pauses. “I just want to say one thing…”
“Go on,” you encourage.
“I…” she starts, then falters. Her tongue darts out to wet her lips. Her gaze drops to the floor. “Well, I just— I just... I miss you.”
Your heart skips a beat as she finally says the words out loud.
You've been wanting her to say that for weeks, months. After everything that's happened between the two of you, you desperately wanted to hear those very words fall from her lips. But now that she's saying it...
Her gaze searches your face, drinking in every feature. Her hand comes up, as if to touch you, then drops back to her side. “Say something.”
“I don't know what to say.” Because you really don't know what to say. You have so much you want to say that you don't know where to start.
“Say you hate me. Say you never want to get back together. Just...” An opinion, a response. Anything from you.
But what can you say? Do you tell her the truth? that you've missed her so much you can't even sleep at night? that the last month has felt like a living hell, having no contact with her?
You want to tell her that you hate her for throwing you away just to come back around wanting something from you again, but your tongue feels like cotton.
“Say something…yell at me, curse me out, anything!”
But her tone gets under your skin, and suddenly you feel the anger start to build inside of you.
Who does she think she is, demanding a response from you? she's the one who tossed you aside without a second thought. You're sick of this. You've done everything for her, given her everything she wanted, and here she is, pushing you for more.
Without a word, you turn from her and head toward the door. You can't do this anymore.
You hear her call out your name as you shove open the door, and yet you don't stop. You make your way back and stop at Vander's side. “Vander, I'm going to head out.”
Vander nods and he gives you a knowing look. He can tell something's going on, but he's wise enough not to press the issue. “Alright, kid,” he says gruffly. “Get some rest, yeah?”
You nod your head and force a smile onto your face. “Yeah, I'll try,” you say, giving him a wave before starting towards the exit.
When you pass by Silco, he gives you a curious look. You catch his gaze and give him a nod.
Finally, you walk out the front door. The cold night air hits your face. You take a breath, preparing yourself for the walk home.
But then you hear the door swing open behind you, her footsteps hurry after you. “Wait!” her voice calls out. “Wait, stop!”
You keep walking, your steps quick. You're trying to get as far away from her as possible to outrun all of the feelings that came rushing back to y—
“Let me walk you home.”
Her words cut through your thoughts. You falter, steps slowing down.
You stop walking, then turn around to face her. “What?”
She looks like a kicked puppy. Her shoulders are slumped. She can tell you're not happy she's followed you out here, but she looks like she doesn't care.
“I just...look, whatever happened in there, whatever happened between us...just let me look out for you. Just let me walk you home. I…I have to know you're safe.”
“I don't need a babysitter.” You practically growl. “I can handle myself.”
Vi flinches at your words, but she doesn't back down. “I know you can,” she says. “I'm not offering to babysit you. I'm just...I'm just asking to walk you home.”
You glance back at the entrance of their house. The warm lights and sounds spilling out into the cold night air. You turn back to look at her. “You don't have to walk me home. We don't have to keep up the act anymore, I'm going home and...you've got better things to do than worry about me.”
“Screw the act. I'm walking you home. It's not up for debate.”
“Seriously? What's the point, Vi? We're not together anymore. Why bother?”
“Because I care!” she snaps. “Maybe it's hard for you to believe, but I still care about you.”
You scoff at her words. “No, no, no, you don't get to act like you care now. You're the one who broke up with me. You're the one who walked away and left me.”
“I made a mistake,okay? I was a damn idiot, and I screwed up.”
“A mistake?” you echo, scoffing again. “You ended everything, and now you want to walk me home? What, you think that makes up for everything? You think it’s that easy? You threw away everything we had like it meant nothing! like all those months we spent together meant nothing!”
Your voice is trembling with anger as you continue. “And then what did you do? You went around, throwing yourself at anyone that gave you a second glance. Yeah, I know all about that. So don't try to act like you actually care when you clearly didn't give two shits.”
“Baby—” She stops herself. She closes her eyes for a second and takes a deep breath before continuing. “I was trying to get over you. I was trying to push you out of my head and it hurts like hell.” She takes a step closer to you. “I know it sounds stupid. I know it doesn't make any sense. I just…I needed something to distract me, something to keep me from thinking about you. Because it hurt too much to think about how much I messed things up.”
You shake your head. It's almost funny, the way she's trying to excuse her actions. “Yeah, congrats. You did a damn good job at distracting yourself, huh? It sure as hell didn't take you very long to get over me.”
“You have no idea how many times I wanted to reach out to you. How many times I thought about coming back to you and begging you to take me back.”
“But you didn't,” you hiss. “You didn't reach out to me, you didn't try to fix things. So why should I believe you now? Why should I believe that you're sincere when you didn't care enough to fight for us before?”
She looks down. “What was I supposed to do?” Vi whispers. “I messed up. I messed things up and I don't know how to fix it. I don't know how to take back what I did. I don't know how to make things like they were before I messed up. All I know is that I miss you. I miss you so much, and I'd do anything to have you back.”
You swallow hard. Everything she's saying, it's everything you've wanted to hear for months. It feels like a dream.
“Why now— why do you want me back now, after all this time? why didn't you want me back when it mattered, when I needed you?”
“Because I was an idiot! Because I was stupid, and scared, and I thought walking away would make it easier, but it just made it worse. Because I spent every night regretting that I let you go and wishing that I could take it all back. I'm sorry. I'm so damn sorry for what I put you through.”
“Sorry doesn't fix things. Sorry doesn't take away the pain, sorry doesn't undo what you did!”
A tear slips down her cheek. “I know, but I am sorry. I'm sorry for hurting you. I'm sorry for walking away. I'm sorry for everything I did wrong. Just...just give me a chance. Give me a chance to make things right.” She takes another step forward. “Let me prove to you that I love you and that I want to make things right. If I screw up again, you can toss me to the curb and never speak to me again. But please just give me one more chance.”
Despite how angry and pissed off you are, deep down, there's a part of you that still loves her, that still wants her, even after everything she's done. It's hard, looking at her now. She's still the girl you fell in love with. She's still the girl who makes your heart skip a beat.
The anger you had been holding onto starts to soften. She sounds desperate and sorry, but is she being sincere, or is she just saying this to make herself feel better? You can't help but doubt her words.
“I don't know, Vi.” You're fighting to keep the tears at bay. “I just...I don't know.”
Vi closes her eyes tightly as tears stream down her cheeks. “I'll do anything. I'll get on my knees—” She sinks to her knees, burying her head in your middle. Her shoulders shake as a sob racks through her. Her arms wrap tight around your waist. “—every day if I have to. I'll beg on my hands and knees. I'll crawl on my hands and knees. I'll grovel on the ground.” She looks up, pleading. “Just...please, please, baby, just give me one chance.”
You reach down to grab her shoulder and gently tug her up to her feet, then whisper softly, “No, Vi, stand up, please.”
Vi complies, standing on shaky legs. Her hands are still tightly clenched around your shirt. She doesn't try to let go. “Please, you gotta believe me, baby. I'm sorry. I know I hurt you, but...just give me a chance. Give us a chance. Please. I love you. I love you, baby. I love you.”
You shake your head. It's too much. You feel everything right now. You don't know what to do with all. “I…I don't know if I can give you another chance. I'm still so angry and I don't know how to process it all and I think I need some space. I need to think, and you need to give me some time to think. Please.”
Vi bites her lip before she nods slowly, shoulders slumped in defeat. “Okay. I— yeah, yeah, okay. I'll give you some space. I just…I pray that you'll give me a chance to prove myself.” Her hands move to your face, gently caressing your cheeks. “I miss you so much.”
You close your eyes, unable to bear the weight of her gaze. A single tear slips down your face. “I hate you.”
“I don't blame you.”
Your hands come up to grip her wrists, feeling the warmth of her thumbs against your cheeks as they brush away your tears. “I hate you so much.”
Your mind is a mess that you can't even begin to make sense of. Nothing makes sense. So you pull her close and hide your face against her shoulder, feeling her arms wrap tightly around you. “I hate—” you're interrupted by a quiet sob. “I hate you so much.”
Damn her for making things so confusing, for making you feel so much.
You feel her hand rubbing your back. A silent apology for all the pain she had caused. It only made things worse.
If only things had been different. If only she had been more communicative. If only she had been more sensitive to your feelings. If only she had been there for you when you needed her. If only she hadn't walked away and left you broken. If only she hadn't hurt you the way she had.
And most of all, if only you had been strong enough to push her away and protect yourself from this mess.
In the window, Vander and Silco watch you and Vi from afar.
Silco takes a drag of his cigarette, the smoke curling around him as he exhales. “Your little plan worked quite well,” he says and looks at Vander with a sly smile.
Vander just shrugs, sipping his drink. “I don't know what you are talking about.”
“You're not fooling anyone.”
Vander hums “I don't know what you mean,” he says again.
Silco let out a puff of smoke. “Don't play coy, Vander. You knew damn well what you were doing when you rigged that secret santa.”
“I may have had a…little influence?”
“A little influence? oh, don't downplay it. You wanted them back together, and you knew exactly how to make it happen.”
“I have had a hunch that they still cared about each other. And plus, I don't want to see Vi moping around for the past months.”
“And we couldn't have that, could we? Seeing her moping around like a lovestruck puppy.”
Vander nods. “She was really terrible at hiding it,” he says. “Always pacing around, always looking like she lost a puppy.”
“It was painful to watch.”
“I just hope they figure things out.”
“I agree,” Silco says, his eyes flickering over to you and Vi. “Hopefully they can work things out.”
“Only time will tell.”
They watch in silence, seeing how you and Vi are still holding each other.
“I still wouldn't forgive you for that damn underwear you got me.”
“That was the funniest thing you could have received.”
Vander narrows his eyes at Silco. “I do not find it funny to receive underwear as a gift.”
