💜 | violet

@v-violetskies /
            
            jasper’s breath hitched against his lips when he pulled her in to kiss her back, like he confirmed what she already knew but it still hit her hard anyway. the hand to his chest clutched his shirt in her fingers, the other hand holding onto his shoulder like she was both grounding him in the moment and holding him like he might slip away. 
            
            when he pulled away, she took in a shaky breath, a half-smile on her face while the warmth of his forehead rested on hers. she didn’t say anything to him yet, she just let him get it all out while her eyes opened to look at him like she couldn’t bring herself to look away. 
            
            at his final confession, her smile becomes more full, eyes squinting as she let out a breath of a laugh. “healing isn’t easy.. but you can’t do it alone, so let me carry some of the pieces.. I got enough light for the both of us.” her hand slowly lets go of his shirt, lifting her hand up just like she did before when she asked him to try, splaying her fingers out on his face. she squinted her eyes closed and snorted, fingers flexing against his face. “besides, you promised you would try. and elias is a man that only makes promises he intends to keep.”

@-STABBYBABY |
            
            elais froze the second her lips touched his . it wasn’t hesitation out of rejection — it was shock . the kind that hits you when something you’ve been running from catches up faster than you thought it would . his breath hitched , body going rigid before instinct finally overrode restraint .
            
            his hand that had been resting along her jaw slid to the back of her neck , fingers threading through her hair as he kissed her back — slowly at first , almost like he didn’t believe it was real . but then he broke . the tension in him melted , replaced by something raw , trembling , and painfully human . it wasn’t perfect ; his breath shuddered against hers , his lips parting like he was afraid the moment would vanish if he held onto it too tightly .
            
            when he finally pulled back , his forehead stayed against hers . his eyes stayed closed for a beat longer , his breath uneven between them . “ you shouldn’t have done that , ” he murmured , voice quiet but shaky — more like a confession than a reprimand . “ you don’t even know what the hell you’re getting into , jasper . ”
            
            he swallowed , his thumb brushing against the tear still clinging to her cheek . “ i’m not the guy that knows how to be wanted right . i’m the one that burns out before he ever learns how to keep the light on . ”
            
            there was a pause . the kind that lingered with everything he wasn’t saying — the way his fingers still rested against her skin , the way he hadn’t stepped away . when he finally did speak again , his voice was lower , almost breaking . “ but god , you make it hard not to want to try . ”

@v-violetskies /
            
            jasper shakes her head at his words, fingers flexing against his chest like she was holding back a million different reasons why he was wrong. “it doesn’t burn me down, it gives me meaning. it makes me feel alive.” she furrowed her eyebrows slightly, a painful smile on her face. “I’d rather feel too much than not let myself feel anything at all. I don’t do it just ‘cause I’m broken. I do it ‘cause it reminds me who I am, eli.”
            
            she let out a slow breath as more tears ran down her face. she still looked at him through the fog. “I do it ‘cause it’s the one thing that makes me hate myself a little less.” 
            
            she looked away for a moment when he continued, not because his words hurt, but because she knew he wouldn’t be able to understand it. not now, not like this. and she didn’t know how to explain that to him. 
            
            her breath hitched when he stepped closer, looking at her hand against his chest like she was not only metaphorically but literally feeling his heart in her hands. the way he took a step forward despite every instinct telling him not to. her eyes slowly move up to look at him, like she was surprised by the progress she didn’t even have to push to see. 
            
            when he brought his hand up to trace along her jaw, her mouth fell open slightly, cheeks burning red as she stared at his lips, watching the words roll off of them before they stopped coming. when he finished speaking, the hand on his chest clutched his shirt as she moved forward, pulling him down just enough to kiss him. it was quick, and messy, but it was filled with all of the things she didn’t say to him for the past month. 

@v-violetskies /
            
            jasper let out a huff of breath when winnie suddenly pulled her into a hug. her fingers tightened around elias’ like she was bracing herself for all the words that just pushed through her defenses. suddenly, her throat locked up and her chest felt heavy, tears stinging her eyes as she looked up like she wasn’t sure if she wanted to cry here and now. “I-I didn’t..” she spoke softly, her voice hoarse with something deep. “I didn’t say that for pity. I don’t need you to—” she let out a rough breath, like she couldn’t even finish that sentence. she couldn’t lie or deflect, she just sat with it. when lexi finally leaned into the hug, head rested against her shoulder, the tears broke loose, silently streaming down her face. she let out another rough and shaky breath, almost a laugh as her arm came up to wrap around both winnie and lexi. “none of you asked me to, lex. I do it because I give a damn.” 
            
            reign curled over and brushed back a hair behind lexi’s ear, giving her a gentle pat on the head before moving to winnie. it’s tendrils brought over a hair tie and pulled up her hair into a loose bun on her head to be out of her face and to keep her neck and face from getting too hot since she was crying. 
            
            winnie only cried more from everyone’s reaction—feeling all of the heavy emotion, the heartfelt words, as she carried it all with them and let it wash away through her tears. she sniffles softly and presses a soft kiss to lexi’s temple and then sinks into the hug with them. “but you did ask me,” she murmurs against lexi’s hair. “y-you asked me.. and I promise. I promise I’ll always carry it, even if it hurts me.” 

@-STABBYBABY |
            
            ruland sat stiff for a second , his jaw working like he wanted to say something sharp but couldn’t get the words out . his arms crossed over his chest as his gaze dropped to the floor , but his voice carried a rough edge .
            “ .. you’re not a problem , jas . ” his throat worked on the word , quieter now . “ you were the only one who ever fucking came back . doesn’t matter how loud you are , or how much space you take up— ” he huffed , shaking his head . “ you’re the reason i’m even here . so don’t start acting like you’re just some .. filler . ”
            
            elias’ hand stayed steady under hers , his eyes fixed on her even when she tried to look away . he didn’t push closer , didn’t make a show of it — just spoke low and deliberate .
            “ you don’t have to be useful to earn your place . you don’t have to fix everyone else to make staying worth it . ” he let a breath out , his thumb brushing once against her hand , grounding . “ taking up space is enough . you’re enough . ”
            
            lexi blinked hard as winnie’s arms wrapped around her and jasper , her mouth pressing into a thin , wavering line . she tried to deflect at first , her voice cracking with sarcasm . “ don’t flatter yourself , jay . you’re not the only one with scars . ” but her body betrayed her — she leaned into the hug , her forehead pressing lightly against jasper’s shoulder .
            
            savage’s voice purred through her , lower and steadier , cutting through her shaky walls . * you bare your wounds to stitch the world’s together . foolish . selfless . beautiful . *
            
            lexi’s breath hitched , her hands curling into fists before she finally exhaled . “ i didn’t .. ask for you to carry mine , ” she muttered , but the heat in her words dulled , softened , like she wasn’t sure if she believed it herself .

@v-violetskies /
            
            jasper looked to lexi first, her eyes narrowing like she just watched her prove her point. but when her gaze moved up to look at reign at her words, it made elias’ words sink that much deeper into her. she furrowed her eyebrows at the klyntar and slid her hand out to place over elias’ without looking at him. “yeah, whatever,” she muttered, shifting to lean back against her other hand on the floor as she finally looked at elias. “that’s.. my scar.” she looked down to the floor with a sigh, like she owed this to them as much as she owed it to herself. “I unbury everyone else’s pain because I want to fix it. because it hurts a lot less knowing I can do something to help when everyone is always looking at me like I’m a problem.” she gave a subtle shrug, her voice growing quieter, softer. “if all I do is take up space.. least I could do is make something useful out of it.”
            
            reign’s eyes settled as she looked at jasper with something close to pride and reverence. [even while you take up space, you make room for everyone to sit in it with you, chaos brat. you bleed together.] she leaned closer to lexi, hovering over her shoulder as she gave her a gentle but affectionate head nudge. 
            
            winnie blinked a few times like she was trying to stop the tears forming in her eyes. she let out a frail breath of air, a quiet sob, and then pulled her hands away from ryland and slid to the floor beside them to pull lexi and jasper in a hug as she started crying, tears spilling from her eyes. “y-you’re worth staying for,” she says breathlessly against lexi’s shoulder, arms pulling in both jasper and lexi close. “you all are.”

@v-violetskies /
            
            jasper’s eyes settled on his as she searched through them before raising her eyebrows slightly, an amused smile on her face. “trouble, huh?” she asks while she brought her other hand up to cup both of his cheeks into her palms. she just looked back at him for a moment before her thumbs gently brush against his face. “good. I’ll be here when you remind me, and I won’t keep you waiting.” she closed her eyes and leaned her forehead against his as well, turning her head just enough so her lips were closer to his ear. her tone dropped quiet again, just for him to hear. “you’ve always been good at keeping me in check. I pull you forward, you keep me from pushing too far,” she said, letting out a breath of a laugh before she turned her head back and opened her eyes to look at him. her thumb brushed along his lips this time, tilting her head slightly. “I like your smile,” she said softly, just to him. not a question, more like a suggestion or invitation. 
            
            winnie was stiff and embarrassed while she clung to lexi, face warm and buried into her like a safe place she wasn’t ready to crawl out of. she let out a small and quiet defeated whine while she sunk further into her. when lexi’s hands flexed at her side, her arms wrapped snug around her, fingers rubbing circles against her back like she was responding to it by grounding her. her head gently nudged against her once like a silent ‘I’m here’ even though she was melting under the weight of her embarrassment. 
            
            jasper didn’t turn away from elias, but at lexi’s comment and the quiet sound of defeat coming from winnie melting into a flustered mess, she decided to try and pull them back before they fell too far. “nobody’s holding it against you,” she said, almost like she was still responding to elias as well as them. “feelings are messy. you don’t have to like them. but when you do feel them, under this roof? nobody’s ever going to hold it against you. especially not me.” 

@-STABBYBABY |
            
            elias jaw shifted , a quiet grind of teeth as he tried to keep his expression unreadable , but the sharpness in his eyes gave him away . her words landed heavier than he wanted to admit . his grip on the back of her neck tightened just slightly — not restraining , but grounding , almost possessive . “ careful what you promise , trouble , ” he muttered , voice low and steady , though the rasp undercut the calm . his forehead pressed firmer to hers , like he didn’t want to risk her pulling away . “ you tell me to hold you to it— i will . and i don’t forget . ”
            
            lexi’s lips parted , like she had something to throw back , but nothing came out . instead , she scoffed under her breath , a weak defense against the flush creeping up her face . she looked away quickly , chin tucking toward winnie’s hair as if that would hide the heat in her expression . “ god , you’re insufferable , ” she muttered toward jasper , but it lacked venom , landing closer to embarrassed admission than insult . her hand flexed against winnie’s side like she needed the anchor .
            
            savage rumbled , sharp-edged but laced with approval , like stone breaking . * you clutch at ghosts and still believe they will stay . yet she does not let go . * his presence curled possessively warm against lexi’s thoughts . * you burn to be chosen , little wolf . and she is already choosing you— whether your pride admits it or not . *

@v-violetskies /
            
            jasper tilted her head slightly at lexi’s reaction, the sharpness in her expression easing before she finally noticed winnie making the kissing gesture beside her. her expression was flat as she tried to play off being unamused, but the twitch at the corner of her mouth proved that she thought it was hilarious. she let out a snort at elias’ reaction to it, pointing a thumb toward winnie while looking at him. “yeah, she always does that.” she turned back to winnie for a moment to sign something to her. even without knowing the words, it was clear that by the way she gestured toward lexi when talking about her made it seem like she was trying to fluster winnie. 
            
            winnie was slowly drawn out of her giggles as she looked back at them, eyes flicking between the both of them as she looked down at her hands like she forgot that she was still doing that. she signed ‘what?’ when jasper waved her down to get her attention, but then immediately after her face turned completely red as she clung onto lexi and also buried her face into her. 
            
            jasper barked out a short laugh. “hah! it’s too easy,” she muttered before her gaze slid back to elias, amused. her posture instinctively straightened, chin lifting up just a hair when he leaned in and left that comment. “good thing I don’t wanna let go. I tend to hold onto the ones who like running away and avoiding things. usually means they need it the most.” she let her words sit in the air for a moment, glancing back at lexi like it was just as much for her as it was for elias. her thumb brushed against him again as she looked back at him, leaning in to rear her forehead against him. “I hope you hold me to it. never forget it.”

@v-violetskies /
            
            jasper smiled against his neck while she continued to pepper him with kisses, half amused, half teasing him for the reaction. but the way he said her name, the way he didn't push her away, it only fed into her own hunger lingering beneath her chest. when he cut her off with a kiss of his own, she gasped against his lips, but she melted into it quickly as if answering with her own passion and intensity for him. her hands eased from his face, fingertips gently brushing past as they fell  to his shoulders where she held onto them like she never wanted to let him go. 
            
            when he broke the kiss, she was already panting against him, uneven breath mixing with his in the small space between them. her eyes slowly blinked open as she let the silence settle between them, like she had to gather the words he blew away in the moment. once she finally figured out what to say to him, her half-lidded eyes moved up to settle in his, a quiet yearning for him glistening in her golden hues. 
            
            "I have fire coursing through my veins," she said softly, the words coming out slow, almost a breath against him. "if you can handle mine, I can do more than handle yours." her eyes wavered for a second like she forgot the rest of what she was going to say, instead leaning in to place another kiss to his lips, a soft and needy sound slipping out of her mid-kiss.

@-STABBYBABY |
            
            elias’ head tipped back when she nudged at his chin , a sharp breath slipping out between his teeth . her mouth at his neck , her hands cupping his face — he could feel her everywhere at once , and it was fraying the edge of the control he clung to like habit .
            
            his hands slid from her waist up her back , palms flat , pulling her flush until there wasn’t space left between them . “ jas .. ” her name came rough , caught between warning and want . his jaw flexed under her fingers , but he didn’t pull away — he leaned into her touch instead , eyes half-lidded as her kisses kept coming .
             
            finally , with a low growl in his chest , he caught her mouth mid-kiss , cutting her off with his own. it wasn’t careful , wasn’t neat — it was hungry , the kind of kiss that said she’d been driving him mad and he couldn’t keep pretending otherwise . when he broke it , his forehead rested against hers , his breath warm and uneven . “ you don’t get it , ” he murmured , voice quieter now but no less raw . “ you light me up , and i’m trying not to burn us both down . ”

@v-violetskies /
            
            jasper didn't even notice his reaction at first, she was just enjoying giving him affection while her lips lightly peppered his neck with kisses she's probably been saving all day. at both his comment and the gesture of pinning her snug against him, her eyes blinked open just enough to pull her through the haze for a moment. 
            
            she nuzzled into his neck, brushing her nose delicately against it before she was bet with a kiss to her temple, glancing up toward him with a smile that was half content, half amused. "fire doesn't scare me," she murmured softly, a soft and playful murmur against him as she started peppering him with kisses more consciously and intentionally. she started by angling her head to kiss under his chin, trying to nudge his head up as she leaned to the side to pepper more kisses against his neck while her hands slid up to cup his face into her hands.

@v-violetskies /
            
            while kira listened to him speak, her expression shifted. hell, her entire demeanor changed as soon as he gave out his terms. for once, she looked away, staring out at the view of the city momentarily. she crossed her arms over her chest, but it looked more like she was hugging herself than anything. "I don't want information from you. at least not that," she admitted quietly, her eyes slowly looking back to him. "I want to know what you think you saw, in my vision. why it doesn't scare you. why /I/ don't scare you."
            
            her eyes squinted before looking away again, letting out a sigh as she took a couple steps back. it looked like she was considering his offer, even though she wasn't very big on rules. especially when she didn't get anything out of it. "way to treat me like a pathological liar, darling. what a gentleman," she said sarcastically, her eyes settling with an annoyed look in them as she placed a hand on her hip. "I don't recall lying. I don't like liars.. withholding information on the other hand, that's what I like to call leverage."
            
            she held up her free hand and looked down at her nails again, like she was still considering his offer even though it didn't really sit right with her. "no tricks, no lies.. but I can't do busy, especially not on neutral ground," she says as her eyes lift up to look at him. "not because I don't want to, even though I really wouldn't want to either way.. but because that girl isn't the only one your people are after. they've been looking for me for ages," she admitted casually, as if that didn't change anything at all. "I just know how to hide better."

@-STABBYBABY |
            
            elias listened patiently , taking the map of her words and folding it into his head . " loyalty is loud in you . noted . " he didn't smile at her insult about not being alive ; he treated it like a stray fact to tuck away . " you don't have to tell me where she is to make your choice meaningful . you do have to convince me you're not baiting me for a laugh . that's the part i don't do well with . "
            
            he folded his hands into his pockets , the tone of someone who always asks for terms before trusting a stranger . " here's what i'll take : one drink . one seat across from you . neutral ground , a busy place where people matter more than theatrics . no teleporting . no illusions , no probes in my head , and your hands stay visible the whole time . you talk , i listen . if i have reason to believe you lied , the meeting ends and i start pulling threads until someone forgets why they ever thought this was a good idea . "
            
            he let that hang , then added the practical detail that mattered most to him . " i'll bring someone neutral if i need them . not to interfere , only to make sure there are witnesses . you can say the word and end it . if you keep true to the rules , i'll tell you one verifiable thing in return : a name , a lead , whatever will help you keep whatever you're protecting safer than you'd keep it alone . " there was a curiosity at the edge of his calm now , small and unwilling to be hidden . " you're offering me a favor , or a test . i don't care which , i care if it's honest . one drink , kira . make it count . "

@v-violetskies /
            
            kira tilted her head slightly, an eyebrow raised slightly when he talked about choices. the scales on her face peel off and fall, the demonic look in her eyes fading to something more sincere. she crossed her arms over her chest with an amused smirk. "you're trying to blame me for the tail you're so desperate to follow? I didn't choose for you to stalk my friend, you stupid echo," she said with a dramatic wave of her hand. "you're kind of bad at hiding. you analyze, strategize, try to perfect, well.. everything," she continues, gesturing vaguely to him by looking him up and down, leaning in slightly closer. "but you? oh, you darling.. you haven't been alive in ages."
            
            she taps her foot against the rooftop twice and then takes a step back with a smile. "a human who hides too much in his heart behind facts and precision. now /that/ is interesting," she says in awe, looking down at her nails again like before. "it's cute. the way you pretend not to care. how you hold yourself up behind those walls because you're afraid no one will be there to catch you if they come tumbling down. because if you're down.." she lets out a dramatic gasp. "who will stand to protect others?"
            
            she started tapping her chin before looking at him finally, no smile on her face this time. "I'll tell you what. I won't tell you where she is.. I never would," she said while shaking her head, a glint of unbreakable loyalty in her eyes. "but I might have information to give you about why she is important to me. we can play mind games all night up here, or you can sit down and have a drink with me. I'll pay." she blinked once, slowly, to show that she was being genuine. her eyes settle on his as she tilted her head slightly once more with something unreadable behind her eyes. something almost curious.

@-STABBYBABY |
            
            the dart thuds into his chest . elias looks down like it offended him personally , then slowly lifts his head back up , expression flat but the corner of his mouth twitching . " that's low , " he says dryly , tapping the foam with two fingers as if inspecting a crime scene . he doesn't leap or scowl , he simply reaches for the nearest cushion and flicks it so it sails across her line of fire and clips the nerf gun out of her hand . it skitters away under a heap of pillows .
            
            he leans over her , hands braced on the pile , eyes unreadable for a beat . then he smirks , softer this time . he plucks a strand of silly string from his hair and dangles it between thumb and forefinger like a prisoner's rope . " truce ? " he asks , his voice low . " or are we escalating to water balloons next ? " he pauses , then relents , offering the pillow he had used as a makeshift shield like a white flag . " fine , one ceasefire . but only if you stop trying to start world war pillow . "

@v-violetskies /
            
            jasper couldn't contain the giggles behind her hand even after the can was out of silly string. she was just staring at him until she bursts out laughing again once she was met with his flat, icy expression. only he could make a silly string attack look like the start of an actual war. "I'd say that's a good thing on my part, perfect. nobody takes me seriously. that's what's so fun about it."
            
            when he leaned forward, she smirked and leaned toward him as well, eyes half-lidded and amused. her eyes flickered to the pillows around them before looking back at him, like she could see it coming but couldn't react fast enough. when he pulled the pillow down, she reached for the nerf gun she put down as she fell onto her stomach while the entire mound of pillows collapsed on top of her. 
            
            her vision spun for a moment as she just lied there and laughed, her hand inching closer until she felt the plastic weapon in her hand. then she rummaged around under the pillows until she was on her knees again as she pushed herself up from underneath the destruction of her pillow fort, aiming the nerf gun at his chest as she shot it without hesitation.

@-STABBYBABY | this is adorable
            
            elias closed his eyes the moment he heard the hiss of the can , already resigned . the string tangled in his hair and across his shoulders while he sat there , jaw tightening , unmoving . when it finally stopped , he opened his eyes and level that flat , icy stare right at her . " really mature , " he said dryly , plucking a strand of neon string from his hair and flicking it aside . " this is why no one takes your negotiations seriously . "
            
            he leaned forward just enough that his presence filled the small space of the fort , his voice dropping low , calm but edged . " you realize , of course , this means war . " and then , without warning , he reached for one of the couch cushions forming the wall and yanked it down right on top of her , pinning her under the soft weight as his smirk finally broke through . " fun sponge , huh ? you started this . "

@-STABBYBABY |
            
            lexi's fingers curled into kira's waist gently , moving her closer as she closed the space between them when she felt kira's hand on her bare skin . when she pulled away , her grip tightened on her wrist at the eager invitation , a smile tugging at her lips as she kissed her again . in that moment , it was like the world went still — colors sharper , sounds crisper , the feeling of kira's touch burning her skin in every good way possible . savage stirred inside her , not intruding , just present and aware . 
            
            at the sound of kira's zipper removing her dress , lexi did not hesitate to assist her with taking it off . she reached around and unclipped her bra , exposing her breasts as her hand found its way to kira's jaw with a steadiness that wasn't entirely hers alone . " be careful what you wish for , little flame , " she said , her voice echoing savage's influence , leaning closer to whisper against her ear . " you bleed too easily . we'll be gentle ~ " their voices purred against her .
            
            then , after a moment of letting that settle , lexi leaned into kira , gently pushing her back to rest against her dress on the floor , kissing her more sensually while savage worked to take off her own clothes . her hands gentle , and surprisingly soft against her skin , her fingers tracing every inch as something unspoken rippled up her spine — not her own hunger , but kira's , savage tasted it too , and for once , it didn't comment . it just understood .

@v-violetskies /
            
            kira moved rather fluently, immediately reacting once she received the okay to continue. one of her hands slid up underneath lexi’s hoodie and shirt to feel her bare skin, the other loosely held in lexi’s hand. she gasped softly as lexi’s hand graced her leg and the curve of her waist, breathing heavier by the second. “don’t hold back, lexi. please,” she plead softly, instinctively leaning in again as their lips met once more. 
            
            her fingers lightly graze the edge of her breast while the sound of a zipper is heard quietly behind her, a light purple glow around it as kira managed to unzip her dress to expose her back, pulling away briefly to take off the sleeves before she pulled lexi in and kissed her again. 

@-STABBYBABY |
            
            lexi's breath hitched just slightly at the kiss . a slow , satisfied smile curving her lips as she let herself be pulled in . her hand found kira's wrist again , fingers tightening just a fraction to anchor them both in the moment . the softness in her eyes softened further , melting the playful fire with something deeper , something quieter but no less fierce .
            
            as kira's fingers brushed the hem of her hoodie , lexi's gaze flickered downward , then back up , a silent question lingering in the air . she didn't need words , her gentle nod said it all . her other hand slid up from kira's leg to the small curve of her waist , the fabric giving way under her touch as she closed the slight space between them . every movement was slow , deliberate , full of reverence for the fragile trust they were building , even in the heat of the moment .
            
            lexi's lips found kira's again , softer this time , asking , exploring , but always giving kira the space to choose how far to go .