𝑚𝑢𝑙𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑢𝑠𝑒 / 𝑙𝑖𝑠 .

"oh, you're threatening me now? now i have no choice, i gotta see how this plays out. and i want to be there and see your face when i hit post." devon's smirk appeared in full-force, cheek buzzing from the ghost of her kiss, and he didn’t move. he couldn't move except to lean in, not when her fingers were on him and her voice was soft like that, honest in a way that stripped him bare. god, she means it, he thought. and that was terrifying. and kind of the best thing he'd ever heard. he closed his eyes for a second, forehead still pressed against hers, just breathing her in. "yeah, he did. then pops practically interrogated me once he found out," devon admitted after a pause. "i didn’t even mean to say anything. it just… came out. like i couldn’t not talk about you." and wasn’t that the problem? he’d been trying so hard to keep this a secret—to protect it, protect her—but it was like trying to bottle up the sun. she was everywhere in his life now. should probably stop trying to shield them from the inevitable, considering how nosy his family was. "look, you don’t have to do anything you’re not ready for," devon added, his hands resting at their waist, pulling back to look in their eyes properly. "but i want you there. with them. with me. you're already a part of my life, babe. i'm not hiding how i feel about you from the people who matter. that's literally impossible."

sage raised a brow, her lips curling into a playful, almost dangerous smile. "you post a thirst trap, devon, and i’ll post one too. it’s only fair, right?" she tilted her head slightly, eyes gleaming with mischief. then her expression shifted, softened, as she absorbed his next words. "you didn’t even mean to say anything, huh?" her lips curved into something quiet — not quite a smile, but close. "that’s kinda sweet." she didn’t step back, just let her fingers rest lightly against his chest, tracing small circles like it helped her think. maybe it helped her stay steady, too. "your dad asking about me?" she echoed, voice lower now, a little warmer. "i like that." more than she probably should, actually. she paused to look at him — really look. "i’m ready for all of it, if you are." the words came out softly, like there was no doubt behind them. just her, being honest. totally honest. "i don’t wanna waste any more time. i wanna be your girlfriend. i mean— if you wanna be my boyfriend." she smiled, eyes fixed on his. "family dinners, vacations, meeting your friends… bring it on. i’m ready." it was a promise.

" you must be imagining things ... " he teased but he surely couldn't see any wrinkles on her smooth skin. when he was in there alone it just felt ... tragic. it was different to be back in his room together with her. pepper had been apart of basically all his teenage years. chuckle slipped past orsons lips, " oh yeah? teenage me thought that was the only way to get a girl to show some skin. " he'd been the typical teenage boy, hadn't he? big heart eyes for the pretty girls. though there was one girl who were different from the rest. " i think i have something back there ... " orson moved to open his closet door, showing the pictures that were taped against the wood. pictures of them in school and on different trips, scattered with some random pictures he'd taken around town as a kid. " only the best shots got put up. "

"you need to look a little closer. then you'll see what i’m talking about." her voice held that same teasing lilt, but there was a quiet weight beneath it. she wasn’t just playing. part of her wanted to see if orson still looked at her the way he used to. part of her wanted to know if time had changed anything at all. when he joked about the game, she chuckled. "teenage you was right," she admitted, crossing her arms as she leaned back against the wall. "but the rules changed. now you can just ask nicely..." her gaze lingered on him for a second too long, heat flickering there before she looked away. "wait…" stepping closer, her breath caught for just a moment when her eyes landed on the photos. "you kept all of these?" pepper’s voice softened, touched by something heavier. her fingers hovered near one of the pictures, but she didn’t touch. "there’s a lot of us over here." she glanced at him, a nostalgic smile tugging at her lips. "i’ve missed you, ors."

the lump forming in his throat is almost too much to bear, but he's determined to keep himself from full blown sobbing in her presence. he'll most likely give himself a rain check for later, though it doesn't shape up to be certain. pools of tears gather on his lower lids like collected raindrops on a leaf after a heavy downpour. ❝no, of course not,❞ he responds faintly. ❝you couldn't possibly hurt me any more than you've already done.❞ the harshest reality is wielded like a blade as he drives it home. such an out of character moment for him, and yet.. how much could one really stand before they break?

raina flinched, the weight of his words slicing through whatever fragile resolve she'd managed to hold onto. she took a shaky breath, the tears burning behind her eyes now impossible to ignore. "that’s not fair," she whispered, voice cracking just enough to betray the storm inside. "i know i messed up—i know i did. but you talk like i meant to break you, like i wanted any of this to happen." she stepped closer, not touching him, but close enough that the air between them felt heavy. "i’ve been hurting too, arjenis. maybe not the same way, but... i never stopped caring. not for a second."

sage’s gaze only deepened, her fingers tightening just slightly against his shirt, like letting go wasn’t an option. she pressed her body against his when his hand moved to her waist. she couldn't stay away from his touch even for a second. "i hope so. i don't wanna see you mad at me." she was pouting, eyes fixed on how tempting his lips looked. she let the moment linger, leaning in just enough so their lips were barely apart, her breath warm against him. "i'm not playing a game here, dev." she whispered, her voice soft. "i know you could play it better than me. i'm more… possessive. you're mine." she enjoyed saying it out loud, not a hint of shame in her voice.

"maybe i should test that theory. could do one of those.. what do you call them—thirst trap photos. see how you handle all those comments from swooning fans," devon teased, his confidence returning as he tilted her chin up with his finger. "but seriously, i just fall so hard, you know? i want to be yours for as long as you'll have me." he leaned forward, his forehead touching hers in a moment of vulnerability. "my dad called yesterday," he mentioned, the seemingly random subject change typical of his scattered thought process. "he asked if you'd be coming to dinner next weekend. i told him maybe. is that okay? i know we're not public, but family doesn't count, right?"

"don’t test me. don't even think about those thirst traps unless you wanna see just how possessive i can get." sage’s brows lifted slightly — not because she was surprised he told his dad, but because, deep down, she liked it more than she wanted to admit. she didn’t pull away when his forehead touched hers, just stayed there, close enough to feel every breath between them. "your dad asked about me?" her voice was softer now, curved with a smile. "yeah, that’s okay. family doesn’t count." her fingers moved gently up the back of his neck, a quiet kind of affection in the touch."if it means something to you, i’d love to meet your family. i wanna be part of your life, dev. i just don’t want all the internet craziness to mess with what we have." she leaned in, brushing her lips lightly against his cheek. "this... you... matters too much to risk."

" cecily ... that's a nice name. " the blond hummed as he watched her. icy blue eyes watched her as she leaned closer, " mhm, let's go on a little treasure hunt. " isaak held out his arm for her to hold as he moved out in the living room. he grabbed two shots from one of the tables before he continued upstairs. " almost there. "

“ that makes me feel old. ” he teased as he thought back on their time together in his tiny little room. movies watched in bed, getting ready before going out to a party or sneaking out to roam the town. “ i told you. ” maybe that was why he’d kept away from his room, it held too many memories for it to be all torn down. “ well, you want me to brush you up on the rules? ” he teased as he winked her way.

"whoa, whoa, whoa," ronan raised his hands up, stopping that train of thought in his tracks, "where is this coming from?" he asked, furrowing his brow, "you are not too much. you are never too much. not for me."

"but what happens when it’s not easy anymore? when i’m not easy anymore?" her fingers brushed nervously over her wrist.

pepper rolled her eyes and crossed her arms as she leaned against the wall. "you seriously get off on this? because if so, i think you're the one who's got a problem, not me." she could feel her heart rate quickening, a mixture of irritation and something else… something exciting. "i just don't understand why you're all up in my space trying to make this thing happen."

"you're forcing me to pick one ?" front of nico's brows stitch together as he asks in mock frustration, brown eyes dropping to skim along exposed skin while he chuckles. "maybe your lips," a smirk has formed due to the teasing movements, preventing hands from reaching out for her. ". . . but i'll likely change my answer soon."

"my lips, huh?" dorothea stepped closer, her fingers lightly brushing against his chest as she spoke. "maybe you'll change your answer, but i think you already know what i like most about you." she leaned in just a little, her voice lowering with a playful edge. "it’s that you can’t resist me, no matter how hard you try."