#Event: Chapter 1 - Fading Minds & Breaking Hearts | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

syddsatyrn · 3 months

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Je t'aime Violet

By Sydd Satyrn Masterlist

Chapter 1 ⛧ Chapter 2 ⛧ Chapter 3

⛧Pairing: - Alastor x OC!Reader Violet

⛧Fic playlist: Click here!

⛧Warnings: Drinking, smoking, swearing, smut, fluff, hurt/comfort, angst, adult themes, 18+ not for minors

⛧Summary: Hello ladies, gentleman and nonbinary friends! I present to you, my series Je t'aime Violet. This story is staring my OC, Violet! She is a deer demon containing a lot of personality. With a gifted voice and a bit of jazz, she's got style and class on lock. After 7 years, Violet and Alastor's feelings towards each other never dissolved. Violet reconnects with the man who left with her heart, will she forgive him? Does Alastor have the ability to set his pride aside for love?

⛧Notes: @hellfiremunsonn is my beta reader, go check out her writing! Its fantastic!

⛧Taglist: @ok-boke @myeternalsin @squiword7 @hxzbinwrites

⛧Chapter 2: Sauntè The sunrise paints your hotel room in orange and yellow hues. You stir in bed and slowly open your eyes. It takes you a moment to remember that you are in a hotel room. You sit up and rub your sleepy eyes. As the haze of sleep fades, your mind starts to process the events of the previous night. The mysterious shadow lurking in your room sends a chill down your spine once again. Was it just a figment of your imagination, or was there truly someone watching you as you slept? Shaking off the unsettling feeling, you swing your legs over the side of the bed and stand up.

With a deep breath you decide to take a quick shower and change into something a bit nicer. You chose an A-line, knee length black dress with a simple corset. After brushing out your long black hair, you put on a pair of kitten heels and do a simple makeup look. Feeling satisfied, you think you're ready to head down to the lobby in search of some coffee. ---------------

Alastor was up all night in shock, when he felt your presence nearby he thought he was going crazy, last night he sent his shadows off to find you and you just so happen to be two doors down from his room. He couldn't believe it. After all these years, here you were, in the same hotel, under the same roof as him. A mix of emotions flooded through him - excitement, curiosity, and a hint of something darker that he couldn't quite place. He remembers the last time you both saw each other, that night still haunts him.

His hands clenched into fists as memories of the past flooded his mind. He knew he had to see you, to talk to you, but he also feared your reaction. Would you welcome him or push him away?

With a deep breath, Alastor stepped out of his room and made his way down the hallway towards your door. The dimly lit corridor seemed longer than usual, each step echoing in the silence of the night. When he finally reached your door, he hesitated for a moment before raising his hand to knock.

Before his knuckles could make contact with the wood, the door swung open, revealing you standing there in the doorway, a mixture of surprise and confusion written on your face. Alastor's heart skipped a beat at the sight of you, the same familiar features he remembered so well.

"Alastor," you breathed out, disbelief coloring your voice.

"Violet," he replied, his voice low and laced with static. For a moment, he simply stood there, gazes locked in a silent exchange that spoke volumes. The way he said her name made your ears perk up and your tail flicked. Finally, Alastor cleared his throat, breaking the tension heavy in the air. "May I come in?" he asked, his tone almost wavering. Violet hesitated for a moment, her mind racing with memories and questions. Despite the flood of emotions coursing through her, she stepped back, allowing The Radio Demon to enter the room. He moved past her gracefully, his presence commanding yet tinged with an underlying taste of vulnerability that tugged at Violet's heartstrings. As he turned to face her, she noticed a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes, a stark contrast to his usual confidence. "I never thought I'd see you again," she admitted softly, her voice barely above a whisper. Alastor's expression softened at her words, he briefly let his guard down as he observed your appearance.

"Nor I, you," he replied, his voice tinged with a mixture of regret and longing. You stood there, facing each other, the weight of unspoken words hanging heavy in the air between you both. Alastor can see the pain in your eyes, the hurt and confusion that mirrored his own. As the tears rolled down your cheeks, without a word, he closed the distance between you and him, pulling you into a tight embrace. The initial shock melted away, replaced by a flood of emotions as you wrapped her arms around him, clinging to him as if afraid he might disappear again. Alastor's grip tightened slightly, a silent promise to never let go again. "I'm sorry, Violet," he murmured against your hair, the words heavy with regret. "I should have never left you."

Alastor breathes you in, a familiar smell that has haunted him for years. He holds the back of your head as you let out muffled sobs into his chest. For so long, he had tried to bury the memories of that night, but now they flooded back with a vengeance. As you slowly calmed down in his embrace, Alastor pulled back slightly to look into your eyes. The raw emotion reflected in them made his chest tighten with guilt. "I never stopped thinking about you, my dear," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. “I never stopped thinking about you.” You return, feeling like you might just cry again. You searched his face for any sign of deception, but all you found was love in his gaze. Alastor gently brushed a stray tear from your cheek, his touch sending a shiver down your spine. "I know I have no right to ask for forgiveness after what I put you through," he began, his voice laced with sincerity, "but I want you to know that I never wanted to leave you. It was the hardest decision I ever made, but it was the only way to protect you from something bigger." The weight of his words hung heavy in the air, you felt a mix of emotions floating inside you - pain, longing, but above all, a flicker of hope that maybe, just maybe, things could be different this time. “Well…you know I can't stay mad at you for very long.” You finally say, breaking the silence and trying to lighten the mood. Alastor’s eyes lit up, relieved by your words. He continues to hold you close like you are the most precious thing in the world. The tension that had lingered between you dissipated, replaced by a sense of familiarity and comfort. His face is pretty red and he looks away. “I never wanted to leave you…” “Alastor, I’ve come to accept that you did it for my benefit, although I may not understand it, I don’t think you’re making it up either.” You reply, his words make your heart swell. Alastor let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding, the weight of years of guilt slowly lifting off his shoulders. He gazed at you, his eyes filled with a mix of gratitude and admiration. "You always were too kind for your own good, my dear." he said softly, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. His face is so close to yours, you swear you’re dreaming right now. The love of your life has returned to you and everything feels exactly like when you first met so long ago. Alastor reaches out and gently cups your face in his hands, your heart is racing, your breath catches in your throat. Without breaking eye contact, Alastor leaned in slowly, giving you time to pull away if you wished. But you didn't. Your eyes closed as his lips met yours in a gentle yet passionate kiss. Alastor held you close, his touch reverent yet filled with a hunger that matched your own. The world fell away as you lost yourself in the bittersweet taste. You practically melted in his arms, a feeling that only he was able to accomplish. When you both break the kiss in need of air. He takes a moment to collect himself and reluctantly lets go of you. He takes your hand and smirks. “Unfortunately, I have some business to attend to today, but darling…Would you care to join me for dinner tonight?” He kisses your hand and your face turns a darker shade of red. "J'aimerais ça," you reply, your voice barely above a whisper as you meet Alastor's gaze.

(I would like that)

“J'ai hâte d'y être, chérie,” he replies.

(I'm looking forward to it, Darling.)

——————————————- As the evening sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the city, you found yourself standing outside a quaint little French restaurant. Alastor stood beside you, his arm gently linked with yours as he led you inside. The ambiance was cozy and inviting, with soft jazz music playing in the background and the scent of delicious food filling the air. The two of you settled at a private table near the window, basking in the soft candlelight that flickered gently. Alastor's eyes never strayed far from yours. He reaches across the table and takes your hand in his. “You look stunning tonight, my dear.” He says, a genuine smile graced your lips as you met his gaze. “You were always such a charmer, Alastor.” You reply and Alastor raises an eyebrow. The waiter comes by and takes your order, he comes back momentarily with two glasses of rye whiskey. Something that only you and Alastor drink. You hold up your glass and he mirrors your gesture. “Sauntè.” “Sauntè, ma chérie.” You and Alastor have always had a lot in common, you both have older tastes and speak French. You’re both deer demons, and you have the same drink of choice. You met him while bartending at a Jazz club, before you had started your career. You couldn’t stop staring at his ears, he ordered rye whiskey and you fell head over heels for the polite man sitting at your counter. He returned several times and once caught you singing in the kitchen. He told you how pretty your voice was and that you should get serious about your talent.

You took his advice to heart and began performing at the club, captivating audiences with your voice. Alastor was always there, watching from the shadows with a proud smile on his face. Eventually, your talent caught the attention of a music producer who offered you a record deal. As your career soared, Alastor remained a constant in your life, supporting you every step of the way. Until that one devastating rainy day when he left. Alastor raised his glass to his lips, the amber liquid glinting in the candlelight. As the whiskey burned its way down his throat, he couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment wash over him at that moment. It was surreal to be sitting across from you after all these years, almost like a dream he never thought would come true.

“Violet, if I may ask…” He began, your ears twitch. “How exactly did you find me?” “I heard you on television, talking about the hotel. How could I not recognize that voice.” You reply, and take another sip. Alastor's smile faltered slightly as he remembered the reason why his voice was now propagated through the airwaves. "Ah, yes, the hotel," he said wistfully. "It seems my reputation precedes me." There was a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes before he composed himself once more. "But enough about me," he deflected smoothly. "Tell me about you, my dear Violet. How has life treated you in my absence?"

“I just finished my first tour! I’m doing a few local shows next, just paying back some favors.” You summarize the highlights of your tour through Hell and all the different places you played. “I am pleased to hear you are doing so well in your career. I’ve always adored your voice. How does it feel to be a star?” “Don’t get me wrong, the fans are nice and so is the money. But I’ve always felt like there was a hole in my heart when you left.” You admit, it was difficult because he took a piece of you with him. He reached out and gently took your hand in his, his touch comforting and familiar. “Would you ever consider giving me a second chance?” Alastor asks. Your heart skipped a beat at his question.

Taking a moment to gather your thoughts, you squeezed his hand reassuringly before replying, "Alastor, you never truly lost your chance with me. Despite everything, my feelings for you never changed.” His eyes widened in hopeful disbelief, and a faint blush dusted his cheeks. "I've always believed that second chances are worth giving, especially when it comes to matters of the heart," you continued softly. "But promise me one thing - never leave without saying goodbye again. I couldn't bear to go through that pain a second time."

Alastor's expression softened, "I swear on my very soul, Violet. I will never leave you in the dark again."

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anki-of-beleriand · 11 months

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The House At The Edge Of The World Ch. 14

Summary: Y/N is the owner of an Airbnb at the edge of the world, a place in which Wanda would either heal or become what everyone is afraid of.

Pairings: Wanda Maximoff/SW! x Female!Reader

Warnings: Minors DNI! +18, angst, jealousy, drama, slow burn, hurt and comfort, friends to lovers, pregnancy, romance, fluff, mentions of depression and self harm, healing, R owns an Airbnb that welcomes many known characters from Marvel, R has powers, Wanda needs healing, and so does R, R sometimes is an asshole but for a good reason. More warnings as the story progress.

Author's Note: The story follows up the events of Wandavision right before the twins birth. Since I didn't like the fact Natasha died in Endgame, she is alive as well as Tony everything else just happens the same way it does in the movies. We will see some Eternals and mentions of all the new members of the cinematic MCU.

The end looks like a good conversation, and decisions to be made. R is ready to do so, but will Wanda want to stay with her?

English is no my mother tongue so I do apologize for any grammar, spelling or funny mistake.

Chapter 1 - Chapter 2 - Chapter 3 - Chapter 4 - Chapter 5 - Chapter 6 - Chapter 7 - Chapter 8 - Chapter 9 - Chapter 10 - Chapter 11 - Chapter 12 - Chapter 13 - Epilogue

Chapter 14

Stay with me

Whatever had happened after you left, you didn't care.

Your main priority had been Wanda, and all through the flight you and Ajak had been tending to her injuries and her general state. Yelena had been observing from afar, but her eyes never left your form while you worked on the redhead. She had known about your power, about the strangeness behind your family and the world surrounding you. Yet Yelena never imagined she would fear the power hidden inside you.

The gate of the Quinjet opened to show the image of a dark-haired woman with fair skin and kind features. She locked eyes with you almost instantly, your heart leaped at the sight of Sersi coming over to you to wrap her arms around you.

"Y/N, are you okay? How is Wanda?" Sersei asked looking behind you to see the redhead woman still unconscious being carried on a stretcher.

"She is still unconscious. Her magic has been greatly affected by the device they use on her." You were trying to hide your real emotions, your eyes never leaning those of Sersei who merely offered a comforting smile.

"Well, she is in luck, right? Ajak and I are here, and you will be there as well." Sersi stepped back, turning to Sprite who was coming onto her with the same concern written in her face.

"Sersei!"

"Hey, Sprite, how is it going?"

The conversation between them faded away while you let your feet take you inside the house and followed the women leading Wanda to the closest room. You could see as they settled her down making sure she was comfortable before setting the medical bay for the redhead.

"Her nervous system has been affected by the electric shocks." Ajak said to your right, she stood there overseeing everything while never losing sight of your persona. "She was sedated so it will take a while for her to wake up."

"She needs magic, and…"

"I know." Ajak placed a hand on your forearm, the tenderness behind her gesture almost made you break. "It's going to be okay, she is far stronger than you gave credit for."

You crossed your arms, tilting your head to the side. It wasn't as if you didn't know how strong Wanda was, you have known for a long time. It was more the fact that you feared what would happen when she woke up.

Would she stay?

Would she leave?

So many questions roamed inside your mind, and the uncertainty of the situation was almost unbearable. Never in your wildest dreams did you imagine you would fall in love again. Much less with a woman that, by all accounts, was just like you.

"They will come, and they will have questions." Ajak intervened again, you didn't need to ask who she was referring to. "Are you ready for that conversation?"

"Are you?" This time around you did face Ajak with an unreadable expression. "I could lie and get away with it."

Ajak softened her features by nodding at Wanda, "but you won't lie for her, or else, whatever chance you get to be together may slip away."

You opened your eyes, raising your eyebrows at this. Following Ajak's stare you realised Wanda had changed a lot of things in a bubble world you had built around yourself. You were not a hero, you never were, but you couldn't ignore the world any longer… you couldn't ignore the world Wanda was living in.

"Think your words carefully, and be ready."

"What about you and the others?" Your secret might be out, but the rest of the Eternal should keep their own secrets for themselves.

"We are family, Y/N, whatever you decide we are here for you."

Ajak gave your forearm a light squeeze before turning around and leaving you alone with Wanda. You hesitated before stepping forward and sitting beside her, your hand found hers and the warmness of her touch brought comfort to your soul.

______________________________________________________________

Night had already fallen by the time you exited her room.

Wanda was still asleep, and during all that time people had come and gone after making sure the redhead was not in danger and that her recovery was a matter of time.

You knew the meeting with the people who had come to her rescue could not be postponed any longer. Wanda had on her peaceful expression, her magic was still flickering and and out of reality, and the pain in your heart was a longing for her to be better, for her to put you out of your misery.

With a kiss to her forehead, you knew there was nothing else you could do. Not until she woke up, and not until you had spoken with everyone.

It was time for you to face the world.

The noise coming from the study told you where you should go. It wasn't difficult to find everyone waiting for you, the many faces you had known personally or by the TV news were all staring at you.

The first person you noticed was Sersi, her tender smile warmed your heart giving you strength to enter the room. To your left were the people you had called family since you were a teenager Ajak and Sprite sat comfortably on the sofa with Thena and Gil hovering behind them. To your right were the women you had helped at some point, friends and people you had trusted with some secrets but not all of them.

Natasha and Yelena wore their Widow garments, with Nick Fury and Tony Stark wearing casual clothing that hide the real power both of them possess.

"She is still asleep." Your words echoed into the room, your eyes falling upon Ajak. "Her strength is coming back, and her magic is not as erratic as it was a couple of hours ago."

"Erratic?" Tony asked, leaning back, his posture relaxed and open. "What do you know about that? More importantly, who are you besides a dirty secret from Romanoff over here?"

Natasha growled at the man, but her eyes were just as curious as those of Yelena. They thought they had known you, but after what you did on that island they were not so sure anymore.

"I'm Y/N, and I'm merely the owner of a destroyed Airbnb." You shrugged, cracking up a smile. "That's gonna cost you an extra, you know that, Mr. Stark?"

Tony returned the smile, "I'm aware. Though I would say you already got a good deal out of this mess, Maximoff seems to be very fond of you, from what I heard."

The comment made your eyes flickered gold, a hand placed itself on your shoulder and you knew Sersi had come to the rescue.

"I pride myself to be well-informed of what is happening around the world, and who are the people I should watch out for." This time around it was Fury the one to speak, he placed his elbows on his knees, his hands wrapping around one another and his sole eye pinning you to the spot.

" You and your friends were certainly a surprise for me today."

"That made you nervous, Agent Fury?" You retorted eyeing the man with a blank stare. "We've met before, you know?"

This time around Fury was shocked by the news, he narrowed one eye as if trying to place you in his memory. You chuckled tilting your head.

"You won't remember me, I was different back then and you were just being recruited into the secret organisation that works for your government."

"How…" Fury started but trailed off when Sprite created a scene right in front of them.

A young Nick Fury with both eyes, talking with a man that looked nothing extraordinary. Yet they exchanged words, a handshake and soon Fury had a piece of paper. That was it, they both parted ways, Fury went straight to what seemed like an office building, the other man went inside an old car and drove away.

"What were you doing there?"

You smiled, "I was following him, and old debt to settle. He was the son of a friend, I was making sure he was not killed that day."

"He died, though." Fury stated narrowing his good eye at you.

A flash of sadness crossed your face at the memory.

"He did. I couldn't make it on time. And, at the end of the day, I am not a hero." You leaned back glancing at Fury then at Tony. "I am a mere owner of an Airbnb at the edge of the world."

Silence settled around the living room for a moment, you could see the observant eyes of the heroes of the world observing you and your family. For the very first time in a very long time, your world and the real one crashed in a single moment in time.

You could see the possibilities forming in the mind of Fury, the questions pouring from Stark's mind and the many unsaid things you had between Natasha and Yelena.

At the end of the day, she was the first one to speak. Her tone revealed how hurt she was for the situation, her eyes never leaving yours.

"You never told me you were this…" Yelena trailed off for a moment, her gaze dropping. "This powerful."

"Y/N powers are not something you play with." Thena said, settling her eyes on Yelena. "None of you had seen what they can really do, and it is something Y/N have always been careful with."

"Having powers doesn't mean you have to put them to work for the greater good." Gil continued lifting his chin. "The world can be an ungrateful place."

"That's true." Natasha chimed in uncrossing her arms. "But sometimes, it needs to be saved either way."

"You guys are young." You said shrugging. "The world, people… Some of them will never change. I fight only for my loved ones, Natasha. As long as my family and friends are fine, I am fine."

"Which will explain why you came to the rescue, right?" Tony intervened tilting his head and settling his eyes on you. "You love Wanda, you couldn't allow her to get hurt."

"I do, yes." You replied simply, Tony nodded leaning back on the chair.

"Are you a threat?" The man asked and you couldn't help but laugh at his bluntness.

"Oh, I am." You replied, your eyes gleaming a dangerous shade of gold. "I can be your worst nightmare and none of you would know what happened or how it happened."

"But you are not interested in fighting us." Fury didn't even flinch, his words were just as neutral as yours had been a moment ago.

"Or protecting you, no."

"At some point the world would come crashing down on you, don't you think?"

You turned your head to Ajak, the older woman offered a single smile matching the one Sersi and Thena were wearing. You knew the world, the real one had come to you in the form of Wanda Maximoff. She had broken the icy facade you had worn for so long, that right now it was almost impossible for you that her world was starting to be a part of yours.

"It already has, Fury." You sighed, lifting your eyes to the ceiling. "I am not a threat to you or your government. I'm not interested in power or fighting, I only want peace."

"And Wanda." Tony mentioned with a teasing tone.

You flared at him looking away until you saw the same teasing glint in Natasha's eyes.

"I guess, we will see."

Fury nodded, crossing his arms, "I guess we will."

"Well, now that the conversation is over, how about something to drink and eat. I bet everyone is hungry."

Ajak stood up with many agreeing to her sudden change of topic, you sat there for a moment watching as Ajak left the living room with Fury and Tony following them and everyone soon scattering around the house.

Yelena came to you slowly, she sat down with a frown on her face trying to catch up to what she just heard, to the things she had seen.

"I'm sorry, Lena. It was never my intention to make you feel…"

"Cheated?" Lena snorted, shrugging. "I knew there was something else about you, but you had never raised any bells in my head or Natasha's… We knew you were not a threat."

You smiled at the young woman leaning over placing your elbows on your knees.

"I never intended for this to happen." You lowered your head thinking hard over the last couple of months. "But she… I

I don't know…"

Yelena swallowed down her emotions, she nodded curtly placing her hand on yours.

"If she hurts you, I'm gonna kill her."

You couldn't help the laughter leaving your lips, your arms wrapping around the young woman with tenderness. For some reason, you knew she and you would be okay, and whatever had happened with the rest of Earth's Mighty heroes… Well, that also seemed to be okay.

Now, all you had to do was wait for Wanda to wake up.

______________________________________________________________

It happened at dawn.

The world was sleeping, the sky was changing its colours with shades of blue, purple and red igniting the horizon. There was a cold breeze biting at your skin, sitting by the balcony you had allowed time and weather to invade your thoughts and insecurities while trying to forget what you feel.

The soft footsteps brought you back to reality. Your heart beat fast, hitting your ribcage the moment you sensed her and your eyes found those of hers.

"Hey." She didn't rush her feet, her dopey and tenderness made you gasp in affection.

Standing up from your position, your hands wrapped around her, putting her against your body and feeling at peace knowing she was there. That she was okay.

"You shouldn't be up, love." You whispered, her hands playing with your hair while you felt her smile against your neck.

"You weren't there." Her words were tender, a mere whisper in your ear that told you of her doubts. “And I thought…I don’t want to lose you.”

“You won’t lose me, Wanda. I’m here.” And you meant it in more ways than one, you made sure to look at her the wounds on her neck, the ones on her wrists and then her tired expression.

You almost lost her.

And your heart broke into a million pieces thinking you wouldn’t be with her anymore. And now that she was back, that she was in your arms, the fear had doubled. What would happen if she didn’t want to stay? What if she had to go?

Wanda softened her stare, she didn’t need to hear your thoughts because those same thoughts were inside her head. Being with you had been so different, falling in love with you had been…what she needed.

“You won’t lose me either, Y/N. I’m here…for you.”

At that moment you realised she wasn't the only one feeling the uncertainty the recent events had brought to your lives. It took you but a second to notice her lips against yours, the neediness behind her gesture, her hands travelling down your body.

The flash of crimson told you Wanda ws not alone, and soon you were being dragged inside the house and you gave in knowing that moment could end up in a heartbreak.

By the time you woke up again, the clock on the table was showing it was past midday. The warm body to your side stirred, you lowered your faze to see Wanda snuggled against your side with a content smile playing on her lips.

She was awake, and probably had been for quite some time. The place was completely silent, and you couldn't even make the sound of people outside the room.

"Everyone went to visit the town." Wanda mumbled without opening her eyes. "It's only you and me."

As soon as she said this, her body trembled and her hands grabbed you tightly. You sighed looking at the ceiling, the arm you had around her midsection wrapped tightly around her.

"So, it's only you and me in a big empty house? Whatever can we do?"

Her giggles made you look down and find her green eyes looking at you. You smiled back but your eyes were finally showing how you were feeling with the whole situation. Wanda tensed lightly, turning around she sat down letting the blankets fall to the bed.

"I think we should get ready."

"I think we need to talk."

You watched as she merely stood up and left, the emptiness in your chest made your body ache with longing. Tilting your head to one side, you knew that falling into bed with her had not been the best of decisions when there was so much left unsaid between the both of you.

"I made you something to eat, and there was some orange juice and some wine but I wasn't sure what you may want so early…"

You observed the redhead walking around the kitchen, babbling non-stop while evading your eyes and trying to make it impossible for you to bring the white elephant in the room.

Wanda gasped, halting her actions, finding herself looking into your golden eyes.

"Y/N…" Wanda whispered your name with fear and longing.

"I am in love with you." You all but whisper, your left hand cupping her cheek but you never did anything to shorten the distance with her. "I thought I would never feel this again, and you came into my life showing me this was possible… That I could feel like this again…"

Wanda's eyes watered at your words, she was trembling by now with her lower lip quivering under the weight of your words.

"Wanda, I…"

"I'm sorry." Wanda whispered with a sob escaping her lips.

She leaned in hiding her face on your chest, something inside broke for you knew her life was out there in a world filled with danger and heroism that you were not ready to be a part of. Whatever you could offer to Wanda was a life of tranquillity and solitude in a place that was almost forgotten to the rest of the world.

It hurt knowing you would lose her.

"I couldn't… I tried… I just…" Wanda cried softly, holding onto you. "He… He was there… And I just…"

"It's okay, it's okay… I know." You whispered, hugging her comfortingly.

"No! No, it's not." Wanda finally said, she stepped back wiping her face. "I should have seen it, I could have prevented it… but I left him there, I thought…"

"Stark recovered his body, and he won't be used anymore." You commented softly. Wanda shook her head but you didn't stop there.

"They were waiting for you to recover, but as soon as you're fine you can go back…"

Wanda stopped her passing, she winced at the memories coming into her; she placed a hand on her face while trying to collect her thoughts and you couldn’t help but close your mouth and remained silent watching her without knowing what to say. Or what to do.

“I thought Vision was my everything.” Wanda tried to hold onto her tone of voice, her eyes completely lost in the memories and the situation she had evaded moments before she was taken from the Hill.

Wanda remembered the time she had been tied to that room, her eyes seeing the dead body of Vision while she thought of her life in the most recent months. She had been happy, not having to fill out anybody's shoes, or trying to hold herself for fear of triggering someone, or messing up while trying to help someone. Wanda and Scarlet had gone through her memories and her past, and everytime she thought about the end well…

It all came down to Y/N, to her smile and the warmness behind her words. I never thought love would feel like this…

And if she was honest with herself, Wanda never thought it would be like that; the young woman dried her tears while her lips broke into a tentative smile she dedicated to you. You didn’t dare to dream about her thoughts or her choices, waiting too much about the people around you could be painful at the end of the day.

“Then you came into my life and…” Wanda shook her head putting her arms around herself while biting her lower lip. “And I found myself falling so hard, and so deep for you…I know…I know it would be impossible for me to live away from you.”

“Wanda…”

The fact that the home was empty, and that this conversation happened right after you and her had shared a dawn filled with passion and tenderness should be the indicator this was going through the right track. But you didn’t dare to hope, a lot of things had happened in the past for you to think this could be different.

The young woman came onto you, and your world stopped for a moment when she cupped your face in her hands with her lips curving slightly. At that moment, it was Wanda and Scarlet all in one sending you a stare that made your soul tremble in a way you hadn’t done for so long.

“Everybody is waiting for me to go back, to be better to…” Wanda trailed off for a moment, her eyes flashing with the memories of how her life had been up until that point. “When I had to come here I was mad, and sad and ready to leave everything for a glimpse of normality, to recover a life I never really had but dreamt of.”

“And now? What do you want, Wanda?” You finally asked in a whisper, Wanda turned to you and you realised you hadn’t been this vulnerable in front of anyone in a while.

“Now, I want a normal life…I’m tired of what am I and what I can do I only want…” Wanda bit her lower lip, a flash of fear crossing her green eyes. Your hand placed tenderly under her chin lifting her stare to look at you.

“What do you want?” You could give her the world, if necessary. She just needed to say it and there was nothing in the world you wouldn’t get for her.

Wanda sighed showing the vulnerability you had come to appreciate from her, those moments in which she would stop pretending in front of you.

“I want to stay here, I want to…I want to be with you and see what will happen.” Wanda all but declared, you stood there for what seemed an eternity and the other woman was starting to step back, her face falling with a crack of uncertainty.

“Then, stay with me.” You stepped forward wrapping your arms around her, giving her enough space to leave but letting her know you wanted her with you. “I can’t promise you it will be easy, but I can promise you I will do everything I can to make you happy.”

Wanda stepped forward, and without any more words she sealed the deal with a kiss.

______________________________________________________________

It was past midday by the time everyone was back into the house.

At another time, and perhaps in another place the moment of peace you and Wanda had enjoyed during the day would have been cut short by the needs of the people filling out Ajak’s living room. Wanda was taken to the side by Tony and Nasha and soon you found yourself under the watchful eyes of Thena and Sersi.

Wanda stood on the balcony leading to the kitchen, the world in the coast of Italy was something she had come to appreciate in her soul. It was peaceful, and her heart found comfort in knowing this could be her new home.Her body turned lightly, and she and Scarlet stirred uncomfortably when her green eyes found the form of Thena leaning close to you.

Jealousy was something Wanda had learned recently, and the fact she had to be on the balcony while you were inside with a former lover was making her restless.

Tony stood by her side, his dark shades reflecting the afternoon sun while the sound of laughter filled out the streets. Fury rested the weight of his body on the rails crossing his arms while letting his good eye pinned the redhead on the spot. Natasha sat down playing with the drink Ajak had given her, enjoying the cold breeze of winter, and the strange silence amongst the group.

“This went a little out of hand.” Fury broke the silence talking to the group, his good eye moving from Wanda to Natasha. “Monica is trying to gather all the evidence she can, while Rhodes is helping out with some other bases around the coast.”

“Hayward was not working alone.” Tony commented lightly, his lips pressing together while his hand helped him out of his glasses. “But the fact he thought he would get something out of stealing the body of Vision and getting to you…”

“I thought about it.” Wanda finally said, looking away while wiggling her hands. “When I came back…I…he was alive because Thor gave the mind stone and his body the charge he needed to be alive. I thought…my magic could do something similar.”

“That’s why you started the whole Westview thing?” Tony asked, Wanda offered a broken smile shrugging.

“I wasn’t thinking when that happened, Tony.” Wands sounded tired all of a sudden, her body giving up on the tension she had been accumulating as of late. “But the moment I went to get his body, I knew it was a possibility.”

Fury narrowed his head leaning forward, “why didn’t you?”

“I was afraid, and I didn’t know if it was possible.” Wanda stepped forward until she was standing beside Tony and observing the blue of the ocean in the distance. “But I knew I could find a way to do so, perhaps…perhaps if I got to know my powers and who I was, I could use my powers to do it.”

“Then you just finally explode.” Natasha had seen the state Wanda had been in during Steve’s funeral, the way she had fought during Thano’s attack from the past and how she had been when she realised everything had been lost.

Wanda lifted her shoulder turning slightly, she locked eyes with Natasha and her smile was different. Without a doubt, Wanda had changed, and that was all Natasha needed to know at the moment.

“Are you ready to go back, or do you think you will explode once more, Maximoff?” Fury asked, straight to the point while uncrossing his arms and stepping forward. “We are trying to build the team from scratch and…”

“I won’t go back.” Wanda said firmly, her eyes hardening as they settled on Fury.

Tony and Natasha interchanged glances, while Fury merely lifted a single eyebrow at the bold declaration. Wanda dropped her arms, tilting her head to the side.

“It took me so long to get to where I am right now.” Wanda stated simply, Tony snorted, nodding towards the house.

“You mean, with a lover girl? Never peg you for a lesbian, Maximoff.”

Tony chuckled under the glare of Natasha and Wanda, he lifted his arms in a sign of peace but instead of mocking all Wanda could see was understanding, something she never thought Tony was capable of.

“It’s not about Y/N.” Wanda satiated turning to Fury who was looking a little sceptical. “You sent me here to heal, and get better. For the first time in my life I was able to be just…me. Someone who didn’t have to keep with anyone’s expectations, who didn’t need to jump every morning to save the world.”

Tony held back the smile threatening to leave his lips, he could see Wanda had changed in the last months she had been away from the life she had lived during her time as an Avenger and a runaway. She seemed relaxed, and the gleam in her eyes told Tony she was happy, happier that he had ever seen her before.

“I don’t want to give this life up, Fury. Not now,not any time soon.”

“Is this you talking, or is this what happened to you a few days ago talking for you?” Fury inquired, tilting his head and making sure Wanda could not look away from him.

The young woman pursed her lips shaking her head, “it is me talking, Fury. Before this…I just…I thought I had to go back to everything I left behind. This was supposed to be a holiday so I could get better.”

“It wasn’t about that.” Tony intervened, stepping forward, he placed a single hand on Wanda’s shoulder and Natasha nodded briefly, giving Tony the heads up to go right ahead.

“What do you mean? What was that?” Wanda pointed at Tony then at Natasha, both of them stirred lightly while Fury leaned back waiting to hear the story.

“We thought about getting you out of the States and really out of commission for some time.” Tony revealed glancing at Wanda with a tenderness she had only seen in him whenever Morgan was around. “What we saw when trying to get you out of Westview told us that you were just asking for help.”

“A help we never provided because we were too busy saving the world.” Natasha said simply.

“So you never thought I would be better?” Wanda asked, crunching up her nose.

“No, we never thought you would be back to do the same things you have been doing over the years. We thought you would be back changed.” Tony waved his hand around smiling. “And you did.”

Wanda knitted her bros together, she set her eyes on Tony first then on Natasha and finally on Fury.

“So you were expecting me to stay here?”

“Not here, exactly.” Tony replied. “But perhaps telling us you didn’t want to go back into the hero world. Which, we would have understood, we actually got you kid.”

Wanda was kind of surprised at some point they thought she would choose a life different to the one she had been leading up until the Blip. She had been lost, and with some many broken thoughts inside her mind, so angry at the world it had been quite difficult to try and find a way back to what she really wanted or needed. Her powers had been part of that confusion, and her misused of the magic had created so much conflict inside her and in the world that she never thought she had a choice.

“We lost track of you after Westview.” Fury started passing around the balcony, his hands in his pockets. “And Hayward came over to try and start an illegal operation in Italy that we stopped just on time.”

Wanda stood there for a moment, confused as to what Fury was saying exactly.

“As far as I know, Wanda Maximoff dropped off the face of earth, and we are one venger down.” Fury snorted. “Just my luck, gotta start looking for new talent then.”

Wanda stood there with her mouth hanging open, “Are you saying…?”

Fury shot her a pointed stare, ignoring the smiling faces of Natasha and Tony. He knew he wouldn’t hear the end of it from Tony, but for now he could give away what he knew would bring peace to Wanda. It was the least he could do.

“Just try to not break anything around here, and try to not make yourself noticeable.” Fury stepped forward walking towards the entrance of the house. “You know how to find us, Maximoff. I hope you find what you are looking for. Good-bye.”

Wanda stood there for a moment, still shocked by what had just happened. Tony and Natasha turned their eyes on her waiting for her reaction, Wanda just shook her head passing her hand through her hair looking first at Natasha then at Tony.

“Is he serious?”

“As serious as Fury can be, yes.” Natasha commented leaning back on the chair she was occupying. “So, you want to stay then?”

Wanda broke into an easy smile, and this time when she lifted her eyes you were looking back at her. The smile on your face, and the wink you sent her way was everything Wanda needed at the moment.

We really are staying here.

“Yeah, I’m staying here.”

______________________________________________________________

Night had already fallen, and your footsteps were taking you to the edge of the cliff.

The smell of the ocean reached you out, and the wind caressed your skin lightly while the moon shone a silver light above your head. The town was a golden paradise you could oversee from your position in the Hill; and the silence around you was enough to make you feel at ease. The woman on your left shivered, and you turned to her, passing your arm around her shoulders, putting her closer to you.

Wanda snuggled closer, her hands dropping around your hips leaning in the place of her face on the nape of your neck. Your heart jumped in your chest, your body tingling all over while you placed a soft kiss on her forehead.

“I’m thinking of a new setting for the house, perhaps something bigger for both of them.” You commented lightly, Wanda pursed her lips watching what used to be your guest house.

Your breath was taken away when she lifted her face with a brilliant smile, she grabbed your hand dragging you around the backyard towards the ruins of the house. You chuckled watching as her hands gleamed red and the idea you had in your mind became more real right before your eyes.

“Like this?” She asked teasingly at you, you shook your head putting her closer brushing your nose against hers.

“You know Gil is gonna be mad he couldn’t help around?” You whispered putting some strand hairs behind her ear, Wanda closed her eyes for a moment only to open them filled with unshed tears.

“He can help, this is only so he knows what you want.” Wanda bit her lower lip, enjoying the closeness of your body and the sight of your smile.

“And what about what you want?” You asked leaning in to plant kisses on her cheek.

Wanda closed her eyes tilting her head to wrap your lips with hers, a soft caress of lips while the kiss turned into an intimate moment of shared emotions. You broke the moment by spinning her around, your arms surrounding her waist making her laugh at the silliness of the moment.

“Go on, Wands, tell me what you want.” You whispered in her ear, your eyes gleaming gold showing off a big house with people coming in and the sight of you and her as a family.

Wanda and Scarlet jumped at the sight, her breath caught in her throat when they noticed the sight of a bump in their abdomen. You could sense the woman in your arms tensing, disbelief filling up her senses as she stepped away from you turning with green and red eyes glancing at you.

“What did you…?” She started and you shrugged looking away for a moment before looking back at her.

“Magic without intent, Wanda, is not magic.” You replied, stretching out your arms around the hill. “But if you put your heart in it, well it can work miracles.”

Wanda placed a hand on her abdomen, the dreams she had about her life back in Westview and what chances were coming onto her made her dizzy for a moment. She jumped when you grabbed her hand tentatively, you chewed on your lower lip before dropping your shoulders.

“I….I am in love with you, you know that.”

“I do.”

You nodded as if confirming her words, “I want to be with you.”

“I want to be with you, too.” Wanda replied suddenly understanding what you were trying to say.

“There is still a lot we need to figure it out but…I just want you to know I wouldn’t miss this new adventure with you for anything in the world.” Your voice was almost trembling as you opened up to her, Wanda was glancing at you completely serious hearing every word with a beating heart.

“I want to grow old with you, and if you allow me I want to build a family with you. Whenever we are ready, whenever you ar…”

You were cut off by the woman crashing her lips against yours, she held onto you with the same passion she had done so those first times you two were together. She kissed you with love and neediness, and her magic reached out to yours in ways you had learnt for years but that came out naturally to her. You smiled into the kiss, a game started with you trying to cut it short while she chased after you laughing as you tickled her and soon both of you were just kissing and playing around until, little by little, you went into your destroyed home and enjoyed one another under the night sky above your room.

______________________________________________________________

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#fanfic #wanda maximoff #wanda maximoff x reader #imagine wanda maximoff #wandaxreader #wanda maximoff x female reader #female reader #reader #Marvel fanfic #Wanda Maximoff #wanda maximoff au #Female reader #Y/N #Wanda/ Y/N

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detectivestucks · 1 month

Text

A Jealous Hokage XII

18+ content, Minors do NOT interact

Pairing: Kakashi x F!Reader x Obito

Summery: You have a second fight with Kakashi shortly before you are attacked by Aoto. Kakashi finally give you what you want.

Warnings: NSFW, fingering, unprotected penetration, violence, Sexual Assault (please begin chapter after the green stars if this triggers you)

Word Count: 9.1k

Art Credit: @akirasukuna

Part 11 New here? Check out Part 1

A/N: It's finally here! Sorry it took so long to write! There were several plot choices I mulled over. I also wanted to post both 12 and 13 close together but since they're both crazy long, it took forever 😅

You came to work on Monday with an uneasy aura around you. Shiho was glad that you weren’t gone but it wasn’t the same. She missed the old you. She looked out the corner of her eye, stealing glances of you fuming at your desk. You slam your palms down on the wood and look up, startling her.

“I’ve had enough of this.”

You scoot your chair back and leave your office, headed to the Hokage. On your way there you come across Aoto. You glare at him before looking down and slipping by.

“Hold on there, gorgeous.”

He reaches out and grabs onto your hips as you walk past.

“Don’t touch me!”

You whip around and slap your palm into his face. He staggers back rubbing his cheek growling at you.

“Oh you’re going to regret that ‘Angel’”

“Doubt it.”

You sneer at him. You were already in a foul mood. You look at him with a fever in your eyes daring him to come at you again. You were itching to kick someone's ass. If it couldn’t be Kakashi then Aoto’s cocky mouth would make a fantastic substitute. He looks at you up and down with a mix of hunger and anger. You watch as his mind calculates his next move and he ultimately decides to move on.

You stare at his retreating figure as he leaves and rounds the corner before you finally turn back around and continue towards Kakashi’s office. Now toe to toe with the double doors, you pause. Once more taking a deep breath, you allow yourself to calm down before you twist the handle.

Stepping inside, you see Kakashi sitting behind his desk like always. However, he looked his most disheveled yet. It seemed all your relationship did anymore was bring both of you pain. You were no longer happy and in love. You were miserable and falling apart. His hair was in his face, his headband, normally centered on his forehead, was on the floor by his chair. You weren’t even sure if he showered. He seemed muskier than normal, the smell of his shampoo and cologne long faded away. But when he saw your presence he sat up straight. Nothing but longing in his eyes. He felt sorry for snapping at you but he couldn’t stand the idea of you risking your life. It hurts you to see him like this. You felt your chest tighten and your hands shake. You loved him. You loved him so much it hurt, but everything you had been through recently pushes to the front of your mind.

“Kakashi, I’d like to revisit my request to rejoin the field.”

“Stop.”

“Kakashi-”

“No.”

“But-”

“No. We’re not doing this again.”

“Lord Sixth, please…” you look back up at him pleading. A tear starts to leak out of your eye. “Just allow me to be far away from this place. From these people. From all the events that hurt me recently.” A tear slips from Kakashi’s eye too. He rounds his desk and reaches for you, pulling you into his chest and holding you close to him.

“I can’t allow you to do that.”

“Kashi please, it’s thanks to you that I’m in this mess.”

His fingers tighten

“How many times have you asked me how you can fix this? This is how! Let me go!”

The pieces of his heart felt like they were shattering and being ground into sand. “I can’t” he says, defeated with tears welling in his eyes. He pulls you into him closer, the salty pearls spilling past his lash line. But you push him away, breaking the embrace.

You turn on your heel and leave his office heading straight towards the bathroom. You were hyperventilating. Yes, your feelings for Obito have grown over these past few weeks. Yes, you had thought about leaving Kakashi for him. But your feelings for Obito were nothing compared to your feelings for Kakashi. The intensity to which your heart ached for him. Every time you’re apart and you see him again it hurts your entire body. You felt crushed. You could barely breathe. You were gasping for air, tears pouring down your face. You missed him. You loved him. You wanted life to go back to how it was. You were so mad at him for doing this to you but you couldn’t help and bawl over the fact that he was suffering too. Your head was swimming. You went to stagger over to the paper towels to wipe your face but your feet couldn’t move.

Your feet couldn’t move…

You blink a few times before your eyes dart up. There was a man in the bathroom with you. His face was familiar but who was he? Pulse quickening, your mind struggles to put it together before clarity hits. He was one of the men standing behind Aoto in the lunchroom.

“What do you want?” you scoff.

“You’re awfully mouthy for a cry baby.”

“That’s a lot of tough talk from a guy standing in the women’s room. Why don’t you come closer and see how much of a cry baby I am?”

Your emotions were a roller coaster and you welcomed anyone who’d come along and challenge you right now. “Let’s see how much of a man you are once I’m done with you.”

The man scoffs, “Some shinobi you are, you didn’t even realize you were being followed.”

He had a sick cocky grin on his face and you found it infuriating. It was true, you had been too overcome with emotion to realize he had followed you in here but you could still kick his ass.

“Why don’t you release this tedious jutsu and fight me shinobi to shinobi.”

“Stupid little bitch. Using ninjutsu is part of fighting like a shinobi.”

“Fine, if that’s how you feel.”

The corner of your mouth tugs up as you look up at him through furrowed brows, hands weaving into mind transfer jutsu. You entered the shinobi’s consciousness and watched your body fall in front of the sink. As soon as you made your way inside his brain you released the pesky jutsu that had glued your feet to the floor. You were about to return to your own body so you could choke out this creep when you hear another voice behind you.

“Good job, Aoi. She’ll be more cooperative like this.”

You turn around and see two more men approach, the voice in question belonging to Aoto. Your possessed assailant's face twists into a look of disgust as you react to seeing who was behind the bathroom confrontation.

“Aoi, what’s wrong with your face?”

Using Aoi’s body, you attack Aoto.

“Aoi, what the hell are you doing?!” He shouts.

You follow Obito’s training to the letter. Taking on both men at once. Using the fact that they were afraid to use full force on their friend to your advantage. You channel Aoi’s chakura in his fist and swing on Aoto.

“Seriously, what’s wrong with you!”

You didn’t answer, you just kept hurling their friend’s knuckles at them, sweeping their legs and protecting your real body from their ill intents. They made you sick and as you fight you could hear Aoi’s consciousness shouting at you. He was angry at ‘the bitch who took control of his body.’ but you were more angry at the perv who agreed to attack you three on one.

“Aoto, I don’t think that’s Aoi!” says the third man

“What do you mean?! Of course it’s Aoi!”

“No, isn’t this girl a member of the Yamanaka clan?”

Fuck, they’re figuring it out.

“Yeah, so?”

“So all we have to do is go for her body and Aoi will be released.”

Shit.

The two men disengage and lunge towards your real body. Quickly, you return to your body just in time to escape from the third attacker’s clutches. All three jonin jump on you. You fend them off, trying to make your way towards the exit. Kicking, punching, and even channeling chakra into your face to head butt your way through them. You’d be proud of yourself for being a chunin who could hold her own against three jonin if you weren’t so terrified of the outcome if you didn’t. The thought completes just as you feel it again. Aoi restrains you once more by freezing your feet to the floor.

You panic as the men close in. You shout the only word that flashed into your mind.

“KASHI!!”

“Aww, you calling your boyfriend to come save you?”

“KAKASHI! HEL-”

A hand wraps over your mouth. “Be quiet, slut. It’ll be better for you if you just accept your fate.”

You bite his hand as you grab his wrist and elbow, using your face as leverage to fracture his arm. Even if it’s not a full blown break, you hurt him pretty good. Your feet might be useless but you can still fight.

“BITCH!”

He makes to punch you in the eye with his other arm when Aoto stops him.

“Not the face! I want to keep her pretty.”

Aoto eyes you hungrily while the unknown third man punches you in the gut. You almost throw up from the blow coughing and spitting as you clutch your abdomen.

“Just you fucking wait for when it’s my turn.”

Your already aching stomach twists as you process the implication of his words. Oh gods, please let Kakashi have heard me.

“Well, well, well, is someone having trouble in paradise? Coming to the bathroom in tears I see. Looks like you’re in need of some comfort.” Aoto says, striding towards your trapped body, staying just beyond your reach. You were wild with rage and fear. “I’d love to get a taste of how the hokage’s favorite pussy feels wrapped around my cock. You want that too, don’t you pretty girl?”

“Go to hell!” You spit in his face but internally you're panicking. Oh gods, please let someone walk in, anyone!

You go to weave more hand signs, you need to use mind confusion and get yourself free but then your arms are restrained behind you. Aoto’s bravery reaches full height and he strides all the way up to you, pushing his body against yours. The strained erection hiding in his pants can be felt against your hip. Hot tears start to run down your cheeks, realizing you were trapped. No one was coming to help you. This was actually going to happen.

“Don’t cry, baby, you’re gonna hurt my feelings.”

He starts grinding his hardened member into your leg as he begins to run his hands up and down your body. Goosebumps erupt on your skin, spreading all over, terrified of his touch.

“You’re a bad little girl, using your pussy to manipulate our Hokage. It’s almost treacherous.”

His friends laugh as they watch you.

“Don’t worry baby girl, I won’t say anything to the black ops, just as long as you give each of us a turn.”

His right hand finds the button of your pants and he undoes it.

–

Kakashi sat in his office feeling beside himself. You were trying to leave him. You were throwing yourself in the arms of danger, trying to get yourself killed. Had he caused you that much misery? Had your comrades hurt you that bad?

He stood up. He had to find you, beg for you to stay and drop this nonsense of becoming active duty once and for all. You were everything to him and he couldn’t lose you.

“Kashi!!”

He heard it faint as a whisper. Was it the ghost of your relationship haunting him?

“Kakashi hel-”

No, that was real. Something was wrong. He bit his thumb before slamming his palm to the floor. A pack of dogs appeared before him.

“Find her.”

They immediately understood and dispersed.

Soon he heard howling coming from the women’s bathroom. He ran in to see Pakkun biting Aoto’s leg. His eyes met yours. He saw your unbuttoned pants, tear stained cheeks, and the bruising fractured arm of the man restraining you from behind. The rest of his hounds gathered at the entrance of the bathroom, growling at the three Jonin, waiting for the order to attack. Kakashi’s body began radiating chakra and purple sparks of lightning. Thick and menacing, you had never sensed anything like it before. It was pure hatred.

The men attacking you lost their predatory smiles. Looks of fear soon taking their place. In an instant Kakashi whipped six kunai out of his pocket and threw all of them at once. Each blade cut the tendons in their shoulders causing their arms to fall limp at their sides. The restraining pressure of the jutsu release and your feet were free. You ran towards Kakashi who pushed you behind him. As you stumbled backwards some of his dogs moved in front of you, continuing to bare their teeth at the men.

Kakashi first rounded on Aoi and the unknown man whose arm you fractured. He punched each of them in the face so hard they both fell to the ground. You wondered if they were dead as you watched their bodies limply crash onto the floor.

Aoto could be heard whimpering as he backed towards the corner. He knew he was next. Petrified at the realization of how helpless he was, unable to fight without use of his arms. He couldn’t so much as weave hand signs to protect himself. Kakashi’s wrath now turned towards him.

“You dare to touch her.”

“This is all a misunderstanding, my Lord.”

Kakashi grabbed his arm and broke it over his knee. Aoto hollered in pain.

“You dared to TOUCH HER!”

Aoto was quaking in fear. One broken arm wasn’t enough to quench Kakashi’s anger. He reached for Aoto’s other arm and broke that one over his knee in the same manner. The screams were enough to curdle your blood as you saw how the bone punctured through his skin. You watched the scene unfold, horrified, watching the crimson liquid drip onto the tile below. Kakashi’s dogs moved forward, grabbing the two unconscious shinobi and dragging them out of the bathroom, presumably headed towards the hospital.

“Y/N!”

You jumped at the way Kakashi shouted your name. “Which hand did he use to unbutton your pants?”

“Kashi-”

“WHICH HAND!”

“Th-the right one.” you whispered, terrified.

Kakashi kicked Aoto to the ground and grabbed his right hand, proceeding to break each and every one of his fingers. Some of the digits were snapped backwards, some to the side, but all of them displaced into unnatural positions. The sound of the shattering bone sent tremors down your spine. The man was reduced to a puddle of hysterics, shamefully begging and pleading for Kakashi to stop. You see him move to rip off Aoto’s fingernails when you speak up.

“Kakashi! He-he’s had enough” you half heartedly cry.

It’s true, he was scum and he deserved this. Aoto surely wouldn’t have shown you any mercy had Kakashi not come and rescued you when he did but you couldn’t stand seeing him behave like this. It was breaking your heart to see him so cruel.

Aoto is sobbing as he looks down at his mutilated hand. Blood soaking his clothes, shattered bone poking through the skin and slicing blood vessels. Kakashi kneels behind Aoto and wraps his arm around your attacker’s neck. Aoto’s bloodshot eyes stare up at you, pleading for his life. You stare back at him with a mix of disgust and horror.

“Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t kill you.” Kakashi snarled, choking the life out of the man.

“I-sor-ry” the man gasped under Kakashi’s grip.

His face turned blue and he passed out from hypoxia.

Your knees became jelly at the sight and you fall to the floor. Kakashi runs over to catch you in his arms. He redoes the button of your pants and scoops you up, carrying you to his office. You bury your face in his neck. Your eyes briefly look up over his shoulder at the scene behind you. The largest of his dogs pulled Aoto out of the bathroom by the cloth of his shirt and dragged him in the direction of the hospital wing. Tears continuously seep out of your eyes, soaking his vest as your fingers clutch him, clinging to him for safety.

*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*

When he reaches his office he walks all the way to his chair and sits down with you balled up in his lap. The tears continue to flow as he starts to rock you. He didn’t care if he had to sit there with you for a week. He’d hold you the rest of his life if it meant he could bring you comfort.

He felt like it was his fault. He put a target on your back. Aoto would've never touched you if it weren’t for him. The guilt of everything, the job, the fangirls, the gossip, this…it was too much and he snapped.

“I’m sorry Angel. I’m so sorry.” He began to cry. “Everything's my fault. It’s all my fault.”

He continued to rock you.

“I’ll let you go. If it keeps you safe. If it makes you happy to go back into the field, I’m done standing in your way.” He was sobbing into you while you cling onto him for dear life.

At that moment you didn’t want to be anywhere else. Just in his arms…always in his arms.

“Kashi, thank you...” You bury into him more, tears still spilling out of your eyes.

“I love you Y/N”

“I love you too.”

Your arms clamor their way around his neck. Squeezing him in your desperate attempt at comfort.

“Good cause I won’t leave your side…ever.”

You feel the butterflies erupt in your stomach as goosebumps simultaneously wash over your skin.

“Let’s go home.” He whispers

“Okay”

The two of you silently exit the building holding hands, making your way to his house. You kept your heads down to avoid all the shocked stares. All the gawking faces. All the whispers. Both of you walked away with red puffy eyes to a secluded corner of the world where only you and Kakashi existed. As soon as you’re through the door Kakashi brushes your cheek.

“You must be exhausted, my Angel. Let’s get you to bed.”

He was right, though it was just after noon, you were exhausted. The fight, the fear, the horrible screams, all of it drained you. It was a sobering morning and it felt like you hadn’t slept in a week. He guides you over to his bed and pulls back the covers for you.

You slip in between the cool gray sheets. Him following behind. His arms clung around you, rubbing circles on your back as he pressed his face against your cheek. His musky scent and the remnants of his laundry detergent on his clothes fill your nostrils. The comforting scent centering you and making you feel at home. You slip into a deep sleep before your mind can relive the events of the day and you sleep through the entire afternoon, evening, and night. Not waking till the next morning.

You stir in Kakashi’s arms. He hasn’t let go of you since he carried you from the bathroom.

“How are you feeling?”

You hear his soothing voice crystal clear. There wasn’t even a drop of grogginess to be heard. Clearly he had been awake for hours but refused to let you go or leave your side. You tuck your head back into his chest before you whisper back.

“I’m okay.”

He tightens his arms around you.

“There may be questions about the events of yesterday. You don’t have to say anything.”

“I know.”

“I’ll handle all of it. Just stay in your office with Shiho and I’ll send Obito to guard you in case anyone is thinking of seeking revenge.”

He may still be furious with Obito for sneaking around behind his back and training you but he can always count on Obito to keep you safe. You felt he was going a bit overboard by enlisting Obito as a body guard. You were sure no one would dare seek revenge after seeing Aoto’s hand but it was comforting to you and anyways, you just wanted to keep listening to his voice.

“After I get all of yesterday’s business handled I’ll begin working on your field assignment.”

A wave of relief washed over you. You should be shaken and traumatized but hearing those words brought you peace. You’d be leaving the village. You’d be able to leave all this behind. You’d go deal with problems that can be solved by stabbing and punching your way through them. You silently hug Kakashi and he kisses the top of your head.

You go to get out of bed and get ready for the day, though it was proving a bit difficult since Kakashi refused to let you go. He insisted on keeping some point of contact with you the entire time. In the shower he washed you. When you were done, he dried you off with your towel. He kept an arm around your waist while the both of you brushed your teeth. He rested his hands on your shoulders while you did your hair. Even when you were changing into your clothes, he held your hand the entire time. His insistence to not let go of you made it hard to pull the fabric over your body.

You felt that the events of yesterday must have scared Kakashi just as much as you. You wonder what went through his mind when he found you in the state you were in but you quickly push the thought out of your mind, not ready to address your feelings about the incident. You instead choose to focus on the present. You lifted Kakashi’s hand to your lips before looking up at his worried face.

“You sure you’re okay?”

You silently nod. He purses his lips but doesn’t push the topic further. Instead Kakashi walks you to headquarters where there are several members of the police force, the medical team, the elders, and the Anbu waiting for him.

“Kakashi what the hell happened yesterday?! And where have you been!” Homura demanded.

“I’ll answer your questions in a moment, Lord Homura.”

Kakashi turned to his Anbu guards, “I need you to fetch Obito and have him go directly to Y/N’s office.” he then pivots to a second guard, “And I need you to stay with her the entire day. Do not leave her side.”

“Kashi, I’ll be fine. I don’t need a bodyguard.”

The severe look he gives you tells you to shut it and just accept the protection. It wasn’t for you, it was for Kakashi’s own peace of mind.

“I’ll come get you later.”

“Okay, I’ll see you then.”

He gives you a long hug before releasing you and turning to the room full of expectant officials waiting for an explanation. You leave Kakashi and head straight to your office just as he asked you to do. The Anbu officer at your side still lost as to what happened, having no clue what got him reassigned to guarding you and only able to jump to conclusions.

You make it to your office and see Shiho rush to you, enveloping you in a tight embrace.

“What the hell happened yesterday?! You never came back and when I went to find you, the women’s bathroom had become a crime scene. You and Kakashi were missing…” She started to sniffle, “The entire building was buzzing with gossip… I was so scared.”

You hug her back and hear Obito enter the room. He must have used Kamui to get to you as fast as he did.

“Princess!”

You turn but his arms are around you before you can fully face him.

“Why the fuck did three unconscious jonin get dragged to the hospital yesterday by Kakashi’s hounds?”

You go to answer him, opening your mouth. You see the Anbu soldier look at you with interest out of the corner of your eye. Shiho stares at you expectantly, but you can’t make the words leave your lips. They simply sit on the tip of your tongue. Your eyes dart back and forth between Obito and Shiho, mouth agape before tears spill out. The two of them return to hugging you, letting you cry in their arms.

“I’m sorry. I’m not ready to talk about it.”

“That’s fine. I’ll find out from Kakashi later.” he says as he holds you. His strong arms envelop you and make you feel calm and safe. His hugs always made you feel better.

Once you calm down you go to your desk. You sit down and sift through the paperwork that was deposited there in your absence. Even though you were leaving for the field, you decided to start reading the assignments and work on them. Who knew how long Kakashi was going to be held up explaining his attack on the three men. Plus neither of you had any clue if they regained consciousness and what tale they spun to the confused medical team treating their wounds. The good news is that you had a lunchroom full of people who have witnessed how Aoto would speak to you, and Kakashi’s hounds were summoning animals who could talk so they would be able to corroborate what happened.

You sit up straight and close your eyes taking a deep soothing breath. You felt that Obito and the Anbu guard should at least have a clue why they were with you and know who to guard you from. Timidly, you spoke out into the silent room.

“Aoto…Aoto and his friends attacked me in the bathroom yesterday.”

You open your eyes and see Obito’s face. It held the same horrifying severe glare that Kakashi wore when he found you.

“Attacked you how?” He asks through clenched teeth.

You swallow and his suspicions are confirmed.

“Why are they still breathing?” he whispers with rage

“Obito, don’t.” you panic, starting to fear he’d act the same terrifying way that Kakashi had.

“They should be banished from the village!”

“I’m sure they’ll be arrested and dealt with, Obito. Kakashi will follow the proper steps.” Shiho interjected, seeing the look on your face.

She could tell there was more. Something about how Kakashi saved you yesterday must have scared you. Seeing Obito’s features bear the same look appeared to be frightening you.

“Y/N, are you okay?”

You look down and shake your head side to side. Your eyes look back up at Shiho. “Kakashi…what he did… the way Aoto screamed…” you fell silent.

“What did he do?”

Obito chimes in, already knowing the answer. “According to the nurses all five fingers on the guy's right hand were broken along with both his arms. The tendons in his shoulders were sliced, one fingernail is missing, and he was choked till he was unconscious.”

Shiho looked horrified as the smile on Obito’s face grew. “Serves the piece of shit right.”

Shiho looks back at you. “And you saw him do this?”

“...He asked me which hand touched me.”

She gasps.

The Anbu officer posted by the door can be heard whispering, “Damn”

“I don’t want to talk about it any more.”

“Of course.”

You go back to reading the assignments on your desk in silence. Quiet tears beginning to dampen your cheeks.

*************************************************

Meanwhile in the Hokage’s office Kakashi was busy making arrangements for the arrest and trials of the three jonin involved in yesterday’s incident. The nursing staff who had been treating the men seemed uneasy in Kakashi’s presence. The calm, put together man in front of them was responsible for the horrific mangled state of Aoto. It truly frightened them. It was no secret that there was a time when Kakashi was deemed ‘cold blooded’ but those times were well over a decade ago. The reminder of the person he could become chilled everyone in the room.

Once the group had been dismissed, Kakashi sat down to work on your reassignment. He wasn’t sure which team to put you with. There were no gaps that needed filling. All teams were full and you weren’t skilled enough to be promoted to a position like Jonin leader or Anbu. You were a Chunin when you were last in the field. Admittedly you seemed stronger than last time around but not enough to grant you a promotion.

Maybe he could partner you with one of his most trusted Jonin who led individual missions. Sasuke would be ideal. He was scouting the earth looking for intel on the Otsutsuki clan amongst ancient ruins. Your skills would be exceedingly useful. But Sasuke’s missions were some of the most dangerous in the five great nations. If he were to run into a member of the god-like clan, Sasuke would narrowly escape with his own life, let alone protecting yours.

Kakashi’s thoughts are interrupted when he hears a knock at the door and looks up to see Obito enter.

“My orders were for you to stay with her the entire day. Why isn’t she with you?”

“She asked me to leave.”

“Why would she do that?”

“Something about my face looking too much like yours.”

“What’d she mean by th-”

“Apparently we have the same homicidal face when we want to protect her.”

Kakashi swallowed.

“I didn’t realize I scared her that much.”

“She’s got the Anbu guard with her. She’ll be fine. How’s it going in here?”

“I’m trying to figure out how to get her out of the village as fast as possible.”

Obito perked up. “You’re going to let her rejoin the field?”

“I don’t know who to pair her with.”

“Why not me?”

“You’re kidding, right?” Kakashi glares up at Obito through furrowed brows.

“Clearly you trust me to protect her. You assigned me to guard her today.”

“In public where there are witnesses. You’re not stupid enough to make a move on her surrounded by comrades.”

Obito clenched his jaw ignoring Kakashi’s insult. “Of everyone at your disposal you know I won’t let anything happen to her. I’d protect her with my life.”

“And invite yourself inside her sleeping mat that very night. Not happening.”

“What, you don’t trust her? Is your relationship that fragile that you’re threatened by me?”

Now it was Kakashi’s turn to ignore his friend. “I’m thinking Naruto’s missions.”

“Why not Sasuke? At least his missions apply to her skill set.”

“I’ve already thought about that. I’m not going to risk her going up against the Otsutsuki.”

“Fair point”

“Naruto’s just as strong.”

“And an idiot”

“-And loyal. He wouldn’t let anything happen to her. He’ll keep her safe”

“I wouldn’t let anything happen to her either. If she were in danger I can pull her into my void.”

“No.”

“Kakashi-”

“No Obito! She will be paired with Naruto. Accept it. I’m not letting my girlfriend be alone with you in the woods for weeks at a time!”

Obito was furious. Yes he’d love to have that kind of time with you but it wasn’t about that. He didn’t feel comfortable letting you out of his sights. Especially not after what happened to you yesterday. He wasn’t there to protect you. He didn’t do a good enough job training you. The thought of you facing danger without him by your side to protect you was more than his fragile emotions could handle.

“Fine.” Obito turns to leave before he says anything he might regret.

“Report back tonight. You have your next mission in the morning.” Kakashi barks after Obito’s retreating figure.

“Got it.” he grumbles harshly as he storms away.

*************************************************

Kakashi summons Naruto to his office to brief him on the situation.

“You got it Kakashi-sensei. I won’t let anything happen to her.”

“Thank you Naruto. Please wait here while I go get her.”

–

Your eyes widen with excitement as you hear the Anbu agent at your office door address his Hokage. Kakashi steps through the threshold to your expectant gaze. Dilated pupils, staring at him with puppy-like wonder. It melted his heart to see you so excited.

He sat down on the corner of your desk.

“Wanna come meet your new captain?”

You nodded eagerly.

The softest smile appeared under Kakashi’s mask, his eyes soaking in your happiness. It was the happiest he’d seen you since the gala. He grabbed your hand and led you to his office. The Anbu bodyguard following behind. When you enter through the oak doors of the familiar office you see the young blonde hero waiting for you.

“Naruto?”

“Yes, an exceptionally skilled ninja assigned to special rank missions. You have the same level of security clearance and will be assisting him on intel gathering and international relations.”

“I wasn’t aware you had your own unit.”

“He doesn’t. You will be a two man squadron.”

You felt a mix of emotions. You were excited by the classified missions you’d get to go on. It certainly was in your wheelhouse and similar to what you were doing here at headquarters but you also know the arrangement was Kakashi being over protective and assigning you a babysitter. …A babysitter many years younger than you at that. He was the same age as your little cousin though, he was extraordinarily powerful so you couldn’t complain.

“Pleased to officially meet you.” Naruto says with an outstretched hand.

“Likewise.” you say as you shake it.

It wasn’t really the first time you’d met. You had held intel briefings for the boy before but you worked much more closely with Shikamaru and Sasuke than you ever did with him. He seemed kind and warm; very different from his friends. You looked forward to spending time with him.

“Most of Naruto’s missions are to act as an ambassador for the Leaf. He is a well respected and liked figure so other nations are more willing to cooperate when we send him to their villages. Your presence during these visits will allow our negotiations to include swapping intel. You will look at any transcriptions they have on site, that way they don’t have to transport documents to our village. It will be a far more efficient use of our time.”

“So I’m a bargaining chip. My translation abilities for their cooperation.”

“Yes, you may be going on missions again but your mind is still one of the Leaf’s most valuable assets.”

You press your lips together but understand where Kakashi is coming from. You had been requested by several Kage to visit their villages to aid in intel efforts. Of course Kakashi would use this to the Leaf’s advantage the moment you offered yourself on a silver platter. It wasn’t quite what you had envisioned but you were happy nonetheless.

You give him a nod of understanding.

“I’ll send word to the Tsuchikage. I believe they have been the most anxious to work with you out of the bunch. I’ll summon you both once I hear back. You’re dismissed.”

Both Naruto and you bow before turning to leave. A huge smile stretched across your face. Kakashi’s genius once more impresses you. It was a well thought out idea. It almost amazed you he didn’t think of it sooner. Or, perhaps he did think of it sooner but refused to indulge in such an idea so as to not have you leave his protection. A small chuckle left your lips. It was probably the latter.

The Anbu that had been assigned to you turned his head. “What is it ma’am?”

“Just Kakashi.”

He gives you a questioning look.

“Do you think he came up with my mission today?”

“Didn’t he?”

You shake your head.

“I bet he had this idea his first week in office.”

“How did he know you’d plan to go back out on missions? I thought you had your sights set on department head back then.”

“I did. I don’t think he ever anticipated this, but he’d tell me how the other Kage would ask to borrow me. He probably refused them until now.”

You smile and continue to your office.

–

Shiho’s face lights up with excitement upon your return.

“How’d it go?”

“I’ll be working with Naruto.”

“Oh wow! How dangerous are these missions going to be?!”

“They’re not. I basically have a way over qualified babysitter while Kakashi barters my skills for international cooperation.”

Shiho chuckles. “I guess it was stupid of me to think for even a second he’d put you in any real danger.”

“Stupid indeed.”

Her face falls for a moment. “I’m gonna miss you.” She sighs as she rests her head in her hand. “I don’t want a new officemate.”

You stretch your lips into a half hearted smile. “I mean if everything had gone according to the original plan I wouldn’t have stayed your officemate anyways.”

“I know,” she says looking down and to the side. “But I’d still see you all the time. Now instead of being down the hall you’ll be across the world.”

“Hey, I’ll still visit.”

She looks up at you with a slightly annoyed smile. “It’s not the same and you know it.”

“I know.”

“Do you know when you leave?”

“Not yet.”

A light knocking interrupts the conversation.

“Excuse me Shiho, may I borrow Y/N?”

“Of course Lord Sixth.”

Kakashi’s eyes pan over to you.

“Care to walk with me?”

You smile and stand up. You stretch out your hand and he takes it in his, guiding you out into the hallway and towards the archives. In your early days the two of you spent a great deal of time sneaking around the vacant library. No one ever went in there. Only you and Sasuke ever seemed to be interested in the dusty abandoned shelves of the large intelligence wing of headquarters. And, to your great fortune, Sasuke was rarely in the village.

“Please stay posted at the door” he asks of your bodyguard.

“How long can I expect to have him follow me around?”

“Till I feel you are safe.”

You want to point out what a waste of resources it is and that the guy probably wants to be out doing real missions instead of watching the Hokage’s girlfriend but you maintain your silence and instead focus on Kakashi.

The two of you wander between aisles of bookcases, the fingers of your free hand gliding over the numerals as your eyes gloss over some of the titles.

“What did you want to talk to me about?”

“You have to be aware how hard this is on me.”

“...I am.”

“You were just attacked yesterday and now I’m letting you out of the village. You’ll be somewhere I can’t rescue you. It’s…putting me on edge.”

“I thought that’s why you’re making Naruto babysit me.”

This comment is met with stony silence.

“Kakashi, Obito can always teleport to me if I’m in any real danger.”

His lips push together in a thin line, a hint of anger flashing across his face.

“Which also means he can teleport you to me if you need to get to me quickly.”

He pulls you into a hug, cradling your head with his hand.

“I know he trained you but when you get back I’d like to train you myself.”

“When I get back? Did you already get a response?”

He releases the hug and returns to just holding your hand.

“No, but I just so happened to get a raven from the Sand requesting your assistance. I’ll be sending you to them first and by the time you get back we’ll have a response from the Stone.”

“Oh. That was fast.”

He squeezes your hand. “Yeah, I wasn’t expecting to send you off so soon but I think it might be best to have you out of the village till the dust settles with this Aoto business. Even if it’s hard to let you out of my sight right now.”

“Kashi…”

You stop and lift your head to face him fully, your thumb brushing his cheek. The look of pining consuming his features pulls you in. Your gaze falls to his covered mouth, your finger hooks the cloth of his mask, pulling it down and crashing your lips into his just like you did the first time you kissed here in these very archives.

His arms wrap around you, holding you with all the care in the world. Your hands slide up into his hair, pulling his face into yours.

In your haste you accidentally fall into the shelves, pulling him with you. The two of you giggle as you displace stacks of scrolls, knowing you’ll have to reorganize them before you leave. You push him up against the shelf pulling off his vest.

“You sure?” he asks

“Since when are you one to worry about sex at work?”

Admittedly the events of yesterday got him thinking and he didn’t want to be like this with you in public anymore. Not where a new assailant could be inspired and get the wrong idea about you.

“Kakashi, please?”

You weren’t used to being denied the chance to express your feelings for him. He nods his head and follows your lead, unable to say no to you. He lifted your shirt and brought his lips down the column of your neck, pressing tender kisses against the skin. You open the front of his pants but he doesn’t dare touch yours, so instead you take off your own. You step out of them and kick them over to the side to rest in a pile with both of your shirts.

“Come on baby” you say, pulling him down to the floor to lay above you.

He tenderly brushes his hand down your side before running a circle over the flesh of your behind. Your nails trace the muscles of his shoulders and arms as you open your knees, granting Kakashi access between your legs.

He understands and glides his hand over to your folds, running two fingers over the area before sinking them in. The pleasured moan you hum into his jaw fills him with euphoria. He begins to pump in and out of you, making sure to push into that sensitive spot only he knows about.

Your nails dig into him, small crescents occasionally making his skin.

Your lips suck at his neck. If you were going to be away from him, you wanted to mark him up so that he thought of you every time he took off his mask. Giving him the very same treatment he gave you. However each time he stroked you in just the right spot you had to take a break and catch your breath from how he stole it away.

A playful idea crosses your mind. You let your lips travel up to the only part of his neck that could be seen with his mask on, the skin behind his ear. His member twitches violently as your lips locked over the extremely sensitive skin. Grinding your pelvis up against him while sucking the area, drove him wild.

When you pulled back to admire your work he lowered his mouth to begin to return the favor. Soon, he realized that you were going to be acting as a diplomat. You couldn’t arrive in other countries covered in hickies. He had to preserve your appearance. You giggle at the small huff he makes when he thinks through his options.

Lowering his head he begins to suck on the soft tissue of your chest. None of your clothes would reveal love bites this low. These markings would be just for you when you changed. To remind you why you needed to get home safe. You kiss the top of he head between moans, the bruises making a tapestry across your skin. Your legs rub together, aching for him to be between them again. He was playing too much. You had needs.

“I know, Angel, I’m coming back.” he breathes into your skin

He gently licks each nipple before sitting up, kneeling himself between your legs and lining himself up with your slit. He rubs his shaft along your folds already dripping slick onto the floor. You see the precum pearling on his tip in the low lighting of the archives. Gazing at your face he sees your doe eyes drinking him in like you did that first night. It was like going all the way back to the start of your relationship. Back to the days when he was gentle with you. Terrified to hurt you, not realizing how much you enjoyed being tossed around.

But not today. Today wasn’t about passion. Today was about sending a message. He wants you to know how much he loves you. Wants to tell you that you have to come back to him at all costs. Leaving the village comes with the implied promise that you would always come home to him. No matter what.

His tip sinks in, immediately caressed by your warmth. His groan was matched by your gasp. The stretch of him pushing in always took your breath away. A small whine is emitted by you and your hips wiggle with him buried inside. You want him to start stroking but he takes a moment to stare into your eyes. His fingertips lightly playing in your hair.

Both of your hands come to each side of Kakashi’s face, pulling his lips towards yours as you roll your hips. He smiles and surrenders to your neediness. Beginning to rut into you, stroking into your adorable puffy pussy, giving it the attention you were begging for. Choked moans fill the air as he works in and out of you, his length massaging your gummy walls.

Your hands slide from his cheeks back to his hair, pulling on his tresses lightly as you fall into pleasure. He punctuates each inward motion with a slight upward thrust that hits a sensitive spot making you mewl for him. His lips pressing chaste kisses against your cheeks.

You whisper his name along with sweet nothings as you become lost in the moment. You were reconnecting, returning to the way things were. A much needed reset before you left his side for who knows how long. The thoughts of how he could spend the rest of his life like this return to his memory. The absolute bliss of your walls sucking him in clouds his mind. Grunts from his chest are breathed into your neck as his strokes begin to increase in speed.

He cradles your head, pulling your chest close to his. You nuzzle into the curve of his neck just like how he was buried into yours. He hits a harsher pace when he lifts his face up. His weight shifting backwards as he looked down on you, his hands lightly gripping your hips as you lay splayed beneath him. He smiled down at you, admiring how your body looked each time his hips collided into yours.

He lifted your right leg and brought it over to lay on top of your left one. Gently taking you sideways. Your hands reached down looking for his. He grabs onto you, intertwining his fingers with yours. Pulling you into him through the hold. Your eyes locked upon each other. Unspoken love communicated with a single stare.

The smile that stretches your lips swallows him whole. His strokes become harsh and purposeful. Each time aiming for that squishy spot deep inside you. The one that makes you see stars. His head lulls back as you constrict around him.

“Yes Angel, that’s it.”

“Kakashi…”

He lets go of your hands to hold your body covetously. Pulling you down on him so he can hit your deepest parts. Your moans swell with your pleasure. “Yes Kakashi, right there”

He keeps plunging in. He adjusts your legs to his favorite position, one between his legs, the other over his shoulder. A position that allows him all the way in.

“Oh fuck! Thank you Lord Sixth.”

He closes his eyes as they roll backwards. You always know what to say. He grinds into you, slowing the roll of his hips to savor the depth. You gasp and dig your nails into his shoulders. Your eyes watering under him, looking up at him waiting for him to reopen his own and see you pleading for him to make you both finish.

He takes a deep breath as you squeeze around him before he reopens his lids and finally sees the polite request you’re making with your gaze. He leans down and kisses your nose, acquiescing.

He begins to pump faster. Building his speed with each forward snap of his hips. The ridge of his mushroom tip dragging along your velvet walls that suck him back into your cavern. You pant and feel out of breath as he plummets fore and aft.

“Gonna cum…” you whisper, fingernails biting into him.

“Cum for me Angel. Cream around your Hokage’s cock.”

You nod your head and let yourself release, fully relaxing around him. He looks down to see the ring of your sweet fluids wrap around his base.

“Oh fuck, Angel”

He feels how your walls flutter closed around him as you orgasm with him inside of you. He loses all ability to hold back and suddenly you feel hot ropes fill you up. He gently pumps his spend deeper inside of you aiming to keep it in there for the rest of the day.

You lift your head to reach for his lips. He pushes his mouth into yours, slowly deepening the kiss as he grows soft inside of you. The two of you swirling your tongues together as you hum into each other’s mouths. You close the kiss by pulling back and giving him several pecks along his jaw and the corners of his mouth.

“You realize I’m gonna spend the rest of the day worrying about this spilling out of me.”

“Opps.”

“Psh, you probably did that intentionally.”

He chuckles and shakes his head. The two of you sit up, your legs threaded around his waist as you sit between his knees. He wishes he could spend the rest of the day on the floor with you but he knows your sudden departure means there are plenty of intel projects that need to be redirected to other task managers on top of all the responsibilities he ignored yesterday.

“We have a lot of work to do before you leave tomorrow.”

“I know…”

You sit with your foreheads resting against each other.

You close your eyes and focus on feeling him. Feeling his pulse, hearing his breathing, sensing his warmth between your legs.

“Should we get going?”

You take a deep breath. “...yeah”

You lean over and grab your clothes, beginning to put them on when you feel a glob of him slip out of your cunt. You make a face and Kakashi cracks up.

“I knew you did it intentionally…”

“I didn’t but I can’t say I have any regrets.”

–

After reorganizing the scrolls you displaced, you meet up with your Anbu agent at the entrance of the archives. He eyes the two of you suspiciously, noting your flushed skin, messy hair, and the hearts etched into both of your eyes as you look at each other. You finish your work day and Kakashi picks you up at your office to walk you home, spending the night at your place before he has to say goodbye to you the next day.

*************************************************

“Oh hey Obito.” Naruto greets as he enters the Hokage’s office. The early rays of the sun spilling through the window.

“Hey Naruto.”

“What are you doing here?”

“New mission. You?”

“Same.”

“With Y/N?”

“Yeah.” He scratches the back of his head knowing that Obito wished to be in his position. “You seen them?”

“They’re probably coming in together.”

“Oh yeah, that’d make sense.”

Just then you and Kakashi rush through the door. Kakashi strides over to his desk while you take your place by Naruto’s side.

“Good Morning!” You chipper

“Morning Y/N!” Naruto responds.

Obito however, is stunned into silence. He stares at you, soaking in the view of you in your uniform. You exude confidence in your Chunin vest layered over a fishnet undershirt. His eyes drop to the navy stretch pants covering your legs. His gaze lingering over the bandaging wrapped around your upper thigh to hold your knife holster in place. Your painted toenails poke out of your standard issue sandals and Obito feels his chest pang knowing he’s going to be thinking about this view his entire mission. It was truly cruel of Kakashi to brief both missions at the same time. He pulls his gaze away from you and towards Kakashi who is glaring at him disapprovingly. Obito feels guilty and drops his gaze.

“Obito, you had time to go over the details last night?”

“Yes Lord Sixth.”

“Any questions before you head out?”

“If I run into any enemy nin?”

“Eliminate them quietly.”

“Understood.”

“You’re dismissed.”

Obito bows and turns to leave, giving you one last longing glance that you catch. You swallow as you register his meaningful look before fixing your gaze in front of you.

“Y/N, Naruto, Gaara’s intelligence team has found three large stone tablets in ruins on the border of the nation. Apparently none of his translators know what they say but he thinks they could be connected to the actions of a band of rogue shinobi. You are to go to the capital and meet with his intelligence officers, then travel together to the location of the tablets.”

Both of you nod

“Naruto, she doesn’t leave your sight. She is never to be alone with anyone. Even if the Sand tells you it is classified information and asks you to leave the room, her safety always takes priority. Do you understand?”

“Understood Kakashi-sensei.”

Kakashi rounds his desk and grabs your hands. “Stay safe. Don’t do anything reckless.”

You blush and look down. “I won’t. I promise.”

“I love you.”

“Love you too”

Kakashi presses a long kiss to your lips. “See you in a few days.”

“See you in a few days.”

His fingers slip from yours as you pull away and walk out the door. Kakashi feels his heart drop watching you leave.

Naruto looks back over his shoulder and gives Kakashi a reassuring nod. The two exchange an unspoken conversation in just one look and understand each other before Naruto faces forward and lengthens his stride to catch up with you as you make your way to leave the village.

Part 13

Masterlist

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cornbake · 6 months

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Are you coming to the tree?

WARNINGS: No content warnings for this chapter. Part 1 of "Hanging Tree"

It's beautiful here in the underdark. The glow of mushrooms and soft grasses. The stones around the cavern allowing the light to bounce about, even though your eyes don't need the help to see. This is home. Was home. You know this is home. The large glowing tree infront of you. You know this tree. It's a symbol for.... something. You can't seem to remember of what but you know it's a symbol for something. Perhaps something beautiful. The soft glow illuminates the area around you, but you can't look away from the tree. The surroundings are unimportant to you at the moment. Besides. You know what's around you. -----------------------------

You awake to the morning sun. Your sensitize eyes close as the light burns into your retinas. You are above ground. You take your time to adjust to the light. It doesn't take away the squinting and burning feeling you have when you try to look around you but you can at least see. You don't remember anything from before and by the looks of it. You had crashed with a ship. It's odd. You feel like you should know what happened, or if you didn't know then you should have a serve head injury. You blindly make your way over to the water near by, looking at yourself in the water's reflection. Your hair dangling in front of your face, covering the right side completely. Through the stark white hair, you can see two red eyes staring back at you behind broken round glasses. You couldn't help but touch your face, your face. It wasn't what you remembered it to be. Which isn't saying much considering you can't remember anything at all. But is was as if you where seeing a complete stranger. You would have stayed their staring til night fall if not for the unpleasant squirm behind your eye. You winced, groaning at the uncomfortable feeling, curling up on yourself until the feeling passed. Taking a moment to gather yourself, and your racing thoughts, you decided to push onward. Perhaps answers lay further head. And further a head you pushed. You wondered upon a few others that happened to be on the same ship. Each with the same squirming thing as you had in your brain. Except they seemed to remember the events before, during, and after the crash. Shadowheart was the first you had happened upon, being a cleric that seemingly remembered you. You had freed her. Or at least that's what she told you. You had used a mix of strength and intelligence to break open the pod she was trapped in. She was grateful you didn't leave her behind. Her words fathered only when she saw she was met with a blank stare. It must have clued her in that you had no recollection of these events due to the reaction she gave you. Concern. It confused you at first, why would she be concerned? It wasn't at your appearance was it? You too thought you looked out of place up here. Her words were concerned for your health. "The crash was harsh, you must have some brain damage if you are having issues remembering events..." she explained as she gave you a healing spell. Not that it helped much, you felt better, some of the spastic events of the ship coming back, yet you still didn't seem to remember anything from before. Her worry didn't seem to fade completely but she was contempt so far. She decided to stick with you as your mind healed, and so you push ahead. Astarion was the next you had met, an odd one considering the rest you had found. He He was the only one to attack you. Or attempt to anyway. When it became clear you where just as clueless as he was he became less treatening. "And to think I was ready to decorate the ground with your inners! My name is Astarion..." You stared at him for a moment before replying to him. "I was ready to do the same." "Why, a drow after my own heart. I don't believe you gave your name...?" Name? Did you have a name? If you did you surely do not remember it. The pale elf looked at you expectantly as you thought. People usually have names don't they. Maybe you could just give him anything and it would work. "Do you need to think that hard for your own name?" His red eyes narrowed, the color matching your own. "Tav." "Tav." He repeated the name. He seemed confused, whether it was your choice of name or the time it took to give him a three letter word, you didn't know. But he just rolled his eyes, taking the name as an answer. "Well then.... Tav... shall we continue forward. I'm sure together we could fix this little problem of ours." His smile was sharp as he looked down to you, his canines being sharper that then normal. At least sharper than Shadowheart's. The thought was sent away as he started to wonder forward with out you. -----------------------------

Despite having the full day to think as you collected friends, you still couldn't recall much of anything. It was a void of nothing in your head. No home. No name. No history. You felt... sad, that you didn't seem to know anything. It hurt almost. It burned almost. You should have something. Everyone else had something. A home. A name. A history. It was strange. They thought it was strange. "It's likely the worm in your head." "Perhaps it's a side effect of the illithid spawn" "I don't much about these mind flare parasites but it could be from that." It was the same answer. It must be the reason. You sat in front of the tent that was able to be put together while the rest of your group of misfits had just finished setting up camp in the middle of no where. You had gathered an odd assortment of people threw out the day, from a lady that was constantly on fire to a wizard you had given a high-five when he asked for "a hand? anyone?". The last of the two being a struggle for you mind to recall. It was almost a fight to keep yourself present and in the moment. You could hear something or someone. They wanted to remove the arm from it's owner. It horrified you to think about. Especially after knowing the arm belonged to Gale. Gale was very kind, he was rather concerned over your missing memories and was reading over the books he had to try and help. You don't know what you would have done if you let those thoughts win over. You close your eyes for a moment, clearing your head. You don't want to think about that. You could feel that similar presence creeping back at the mere thought of gore. You instead trying and switch to something else. Something different. You look over the small party of people you had collected. Brought together by a little worm that you each had. The differences between everyone was jarring. A large loud fire bathed lady, Karlach. She was scary at first, hells, you didn't even SEE her when you first wondered close to her. You where following a squirrel that was running away from you when you spotted the blood and soon, the Tiefling herself. You almost died from the look she was giving you itself. Thankfully, you two happened to realize neither was looking for a fight and she became the sweetest person you know. Which isn't many people mind you, but still the sweetest person you know. Only few of your party held similarities. At least similarities that stood out enough for you to notice. Shadowheart and Lae'zel both seemed to recall your presence from the ship during it's crashing. Despite your memory not being fully recovered from that time. They had attempted to helped recount the events to you, neither seeming to agree too much but the attempt was kind. You couldn't seem to fully recall anything they had told you, and after your poor attempts at telling them what you did remember was decided you should sit out for a while as they set up camp as they didn't want you to hurt yourself. This just gave you time to watch the only other person that shared any similarities within the group of companions. Astarion.

It was odd. To you at least. If he had glasses you would almost assume the reflection of the stranger you saw in the water was his face. Yet, he didn't seem to know who you were.

"Why, a drow after my own heart."

Drow. Maybe that explains the color tone difference between the two of you. He wasn't a drow. He was a high elf. At least that's what Lae'zel called him. You aren't sure what the difference was between a high elf and a drow. He had the same hair, same eyes, same ears… It was confusing to you really.

"Could you stop staring at me like a begging dog?"

Your thoughts stopped, you saw his eyes looking at you from the side, not moving his head away from the book he was reading. He seemed to be annoyed at you. "Is it not allowed for me to look at people?" You tilt you head to the side, gaze never leaving him. He huffs, eyes returning to his page as he straightens his posture. "It is when it's distracting me from my alone time." You narrow your eyes at him. Mind working to come up with a response. "If you wanted alone time, then why not be inside your tent?" Your question was innocent in intention. You didn't understand why he was in the middle of camp if he wanted to be alone. "Who are you going to ogle at if I'm not out here." He rolled his eyes, clearly more annoyed at you pointing out the holes in his statements. "I'm not "ogleing" at you... just thinking..." He spared you a glace, a bored curiosity crossing his features. "Oh? Think about what, darling?" You thought a little longer, staring at him before standing up. He watched you intently. Red eyes turning to a hardened stare, like a cat watching a bird. Yet to his surprise, you turn and retreat to your tent. Ignoring him. "Aren't you going to answer my question?" He seemed taken aback by your silence. "Oh..." You stopped for a moment to look back at him. His bright red eyes meeting your duller red ones. "No." His eyes widen in shock at your disregard for his simple question. "Goodnight, Astarion." You turned in for the night, leaving the pale elf dumbfounded at your actions. Not that you saw the state he was in as you closed the flaps to your tent and ready yourself for a night's rest.

#astarion x reader #fanfiction #baldur's gate 3 fanfiction #astarion fanfic #dark urge x astarion #dark urge fanfic #astarion x you #astarion x tav

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sunshine-overload · 1 year

Text

[BSTS] Zakuro Alt Stage 4* Card Story

(note: Team C’s show is based on ‘Dogra Magra’ a novel by Yumeno Kyūsaku. It follows a protagonist who has lost all his memories and sense of self. The heroine in the show is Moyoko. ‘Daydream’ is the translated title of the event song.)

chapter 1 -voice training room-

zakuro: ….Hm. Really, what should I do about this.

saki: Is something the matter?

zakuro: It is quite embarrassing but once again my melody was in disarray and all over the place. My word, this is starting to become a dire situation. Like the futility of a crushed egg.

saki: I thought your voice sounded as nice as always though…

zakuro: Even your comforting words right now are in vain.

saki: (Zakuro-san really must be feeling unwell…)

zakuro: I’ll just be going around in circles if I continue trying in this state, I’d be no better than a dog chasing its tail. Please allow me to take a short break.

saki: Yes, please rest for a bit.

zakuro: I’m going to go and buy something to drink, excuse me.

-zakuro leaves and returns-

zakuro: …….

saki: Um, Zakuro-san… Are you ok? If you’re not feeling well then…

zakuro: My my, your concern is so deeply kind. Actually, I have an unrelated query I would like to ask you. —What kind of existence am I to you?

saki: Huh? …Why do you want to know something like that?

zakuro: I mean nothing strange by it, I simply want to break through this predicament of mine. No matter what I do, this life of mine is an empty cicada shell. If the advantage to this emptiness is nothing more than being able to sing in a matching melody to a song then… If I’ve lost my only unique ability then this body will be crushed by its own hollowness and fade away.

saki: Fade away… but that’s…

zakuro: The only way to perceive yourself when your existence is ambiguous both inside and out, is by viewing it through the eyes of another. I’d like you to tell me what I am, so, what would your answer be?

saki: Let’s see… I think that you’re Team C’s indispensable singer.

zakuro: Well well… I’ll humbly accept that unexpected sentiment of yours.

saki: Um, does that help you at all?

zakuro: Of course, it’s as if good news is reverberating down from the heavens. I shall etch your words into my very being. Now then… I guess it is high time I attempt to tackle this difficult melody once more.

saki: I think it may be best if you stop rehearsing and rest for today…

zakuro: No no, I’ve just changed my mind. I think this ambiguous state I’m in is quite fitting for this melody that provokes insanity. For now, I’d like to engrave my singing into your memory as much as I can. Please give me a bit more of your time, my sweet little bird of destiny.

chapter 2 -backstage-

saki: (I wonder if Zakuro-san is feeling better now…)

zakuro: My my, it seems the little bird has wandered off and lost her way.

saki: Zakuro-san!

zakuro: Could it be you’ve come to wish me success in the show before the curtain rises?

saki: I’ve just been worried about you…

zakuro: My my, that’s unexpected, you’ve really been worrying for my sake? Well well, what surprisingly good fortune, I’m thankful to the point of being indebted to you.

saki: I’m glad, you seem to have returned to your usual self again, Zakuro-san.

zakuro: How shameful of me it is to have clouded your kind heart with unease. If a certain devotee of yours were to hear of this I’d be sentenced to being torn limb from limb.

saki: (I wonder who he’s talking about…)

-cg

zakuro: …Still, this show really is like a ‘daydream’ to me. Body swaying and everything being hazy as if I were sleepwalking… In a state where one is prone to mistakenly identifying themselves with another. Please tell me little bird, just what do you think my true existence is?

saki: Um, that’s the same thing you asked me the other day, isn’t it?

zakuro: …….

zakuro: How strange, I apologise for repeating myself. Though, I’m happy to know that you pay enough attention to remember my foolish ramblings. You truly are the one and only ‘Moyoko’ for me.

-cg gone

zakuro: …The curtain should be rising soon.

saki: I’ll go and return to my seat then. Please do your best in tonight’s performance.

zakuro: I’m on the stage… you’re in the audience. And yet, it’s as if there is nothing that separates us. Let us both enjoy ourselves, on this journey into a world abundant with bizarre happenings.

—end

#bsts zakuro #bsts translation

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yurtletheturtlehenderson · 2 years

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The Stolen Umbrella || TUA Rewrite --- ꒰ run boy, run pt. 11 ꒱

A Diego Hargreeves x F!Reader Series

𝘈𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘭 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘝𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘢, 𝘍𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘩𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘸𝘯𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘧𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘦𝘺𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘶𝘯 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘸𝘰 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘵 𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘭. 𝘋𝘪𝘦𝘨𝘰 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘙𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘥'𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘥𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘭𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘺 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘩𝘦𝘳?

☂︎ 𝔱𝔰𝔲 | ❛ ᴀ ꜱɪɢʜᴛ ꜰᴏʀ ꜱᴏʀᴇ ᴇʏᴇꜱ ❜

CW⚠️ : Diego being the flirty little shit he is, descriptions of dead bodies (canon deaths from Five's flashback), a ridiculously long chapter (this is what happens when you have me go offscript, its basically just all you and Diego fluff, its kinda crazy) please take breaks and rest your eyes

a.n.📝: these warnings tho. I'm not kidding, 90-95% of this 9k chapter is Diego x Reader fluff to make up for ep 1. I hope you enjoy, and I hope you can understand why it took me so long 😅 + I recommend listening to Majestic by Wax Fang and keep the roof scene in mind - only if you're interested ofc

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

❛❛ 𝐓𝐑𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐈𝐒 𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐊𝐘, ❜❜ That's what Diego had told you. Those exact words, ironic as they were, became the very three words it took for your heart to trust his completely and truly.

You hadn't realized it, not like Diego had. But the sun had already begun to set on today. Days were far, far quicker above ground than they were below. And that was after the fact you had been up on the roof most of that day. But you couldn't help it. You were lost in your head, drunk on the view and the taste of freedom.

You were certain you would never forget the feeling you first stepped onto the academy's roof. As sure as Diego was certain he'd never forget taking you there.

The trip up had your stomach in knots. Despite his reassuring words, the events of the past half-hour were still much too fresh. But, you tried to remind yourself, so were his actions thereafter. You couldn't stop thinking about the little things. Like him asking to enter your space. He always did that.

And that meant something.

You decided to take it as a good sign you were traveling up rather than down, though that did little to quell any budding fears when you reached the top of a singular stairwell. At the top, shining through the dark, were three prominent strips of electric blue light. They would have reminded you of G.R.E.G.O.R.Y.'s face had it not looked like daylight fighting its way through the cracks of a door. And as you soon found out, that's exactly what it was.

It opened slowly and with a terrible creak. The air getting vacuumed inside and over your skin still wasn't the most startling thing, and neither was the blinding light flooding in. It was the view marvelously laid out before you when your eyes finally adjusted to the light.

It was tempting to get confused; standing all around you and Diego were brick walls with several detailed arches leading out to the rest of the roof.

But you were too focused on the sky. The clouds had all but faded away, leaving the sky a beautiful baby blue. Little white wisps of clouds were smeared across like paint. G.R.E.G.O.R.Y. taught you all about the clouds, the water cycle—everything a child typically learns. But he never told you how beautiful they were. He never told you how entrancing it was to watch them glide across the sky if you watched carefully enough.

A powerful gust of wind swept through, nearly knocking you off your feet in your trance. You hadn't even realized Diego had gently been guiding you along to the center of the roof with you on his arm until the wind crashed over you. Neither were you aware of the way he had been observing your reaction. Diego was finding it harder and harder to hold back his growing interests in you; you were so endlessly curious to him. In the most unexpected ways.

An image he had failed to shake from his mind was that of your first taste of freedom. Diego would have allowed himself to consider it such a privilege to witness it, had he not been blaming himself for finding you sooner. For even being associated with that man in any manner. But he would be lying if he said he hadn't been yearning to see another glimpse.

He saw it in your eyes now. The way your e/c irises were magnified behind the pools growing in your eyelids. Your jaw hung slack, pulled apart in a glorious smile as the wind whipped at your collar. It was clear you were trying to soak up every detail. And so was Diego.

"Diego..." You break free from your spell long enough to meet his gaze with a look he can't quite place.

Diego is unable to bite back the confident smirk poking into his cheekbones. "You like it?" Joyous laughter is your response and his chest swells with pride. Strolling further down the old moss-dusted path, the two of you gladly took in your surroundings with care.

The roof you now found yourselves on was half bathed in afternoon sunlight, setting every leaf of topiary ablaze with green. Vines crawled up the brick walls of the adjoining buildings, moss leaked from the mortar and the small fields of grass at your disposal stood tall from lack of care.

Looking down at the brick beneath your feet, you note the enormous brass symbols worked into the ground; a "U" and an "A" overlapping one another.

"Umbrella Academy," Diego said, once again reading your mind. You tore your eyes up from the signet and at Diego. He sounded different. The way he sounds when he talks about his father, the Monocle, you noted. It saddened you, and so did the faraway look he was disappearing into. "You see, we're like you,"

Your earlier conversation with Luther came rushing back as he spoke. Superstrength. That was Luther's special. But you realized you didn't know Diego's. Now didn't feel the proper time to ask, so you remained silent.

"We all have things we can do," With a bitter edge in his voice, Diego gazes wistfully down at the bronze signet. "Well, turns out, that's the reason he wanted us in the first place. We were out saving the world before most of us had even gotten acne," With a bitter breath you barely caught, he gestured to the symbol laid out before the two of you and met your eyes with shockingly little sadness. It was as if he had accepted it long ago. "Called us, the Umbrella Academy,"

The name drew so many questions. For both of your sakes, you decided you'd much rather focus on that than the friction building in your blood that came with the anger in hearing such things. The curiosity was written clearly on your face as you studied the pavement with a small tilt of your head. "You had umbrellas?"

He barely managed a breathy chuckle. "No," he answered lightly, already feeling disarmed. "It was just a name. He named us after him."

A scoff broke loose without you thinking, but you didn't regret it. It matched the dissatisfied frown screwed onto your face. Why were you not surprised by this new information?

"You seem upset?" Diego wondered aloud, curious to have caught on to your huff of annoyance.

"Yes," you answer, unable to help the hotness in your tone. "That is very upsetting,"

Were you mad on Diego's behalf or was he imagining things again? He wasn't sure what was more dangerous: how hopeful he was that you were, or him looking for little such moments. Nevertheless, he shook it away. It was hardly appropriate. But how was he to know you were only just wondering similar things.

"He was a very upsetting man," Diego replies. The warmth in his voice betrays his words, as does the fond curiosity lurking beyond his gaze. Thankfully, for him, it seemed to be lost on you.

You were too engrossed in thought. One you decided to voice with great interest. "Your parents..." you spoke slowly, as you had been the longer you spoke. Not for lack of knowledge, but experience. You were nervous and you spoke every syllable carefully in fear of messing up. Almost like you were picturing the words in your mind. "You trusted them?"

Diego didn't give much thought at all. "My mother? Absolutely. My father is another story,"

Thoughtfully, and albeit more than a bit relieved, you nodded. And then a horrible thought crossed your mind. One that plunged spikes of dread in your stomach like a pin cushion. It made your arms around his feel as heavy as lead and it wouldn't be long before you made that true.

"Do--" you winced inwardly at how small your voice came out. You cleared your throat of that sentence, hoping to pull Diego's attention on you, only to find it already was. It was an action you suddenly regretted. "Trust me?"

"I do,"

That doubt returned to your heart. That shadow looming over you like a storm could, telling you this was all a dream. "Why?"

Diego smiled sadly at this.

"I couldn't say for sure," he says, this time not shying away from your you, but instead, locking you in his gaze. He always swears to himself he feels lighter on his feet as you look at him, entrapped, but he doesn't let this break his message to you. He can't. "Trust is... tricky. Sometimes it's obvious, sometimes it doesn't make a lick of sense. And sometimes" his crooked grin spilling this confession has frozen you completely. And he knows it. "it just happens,"

You took his words with such care, but you held them so tight to the heart liquifying in your chest. You couldn't say why, but it just made sense. Maybe you didn't have to understand why. Maybe you just had to trust.

A sharp breath was drawn into your lungs, one that you relished as the cold air lashed at the walls of your nostrils and lungs refreshingly as you returned your attention to the view. The air was nippy, especially from up here, despite the warm blanket of sun fighting its way through the buildings as it made its way to bed. It was so wonderfully surreal and simple and you couldn't get enough of any of it.

Then and there, Diego's promise rang again in your mind. "Where the stars shine the brightest,"

Something jittery swept through your system like electricity—something like excitement. And you were pleased to see it was already spreading to Diego like wildfire. "What?"

"Show me,"

"Show you...?" He chuckled.

Eyes hungrily searching the roof, looking for the best spot, you replied as if it were the most obvious thing in the universe. "Where the stars shine the brightest," Diego found himself tethered to your side with a small 'Woah!' as you wandered along your shared journey on the roof, but he didn't exactly complain. He wasn't the only one to find himself in your subconscious pull; the grass around you swayed like kelp underwater before reaching out for your legs and the overhanging branches nearby bowed regally before you two.

Diego was in a state of wonder, just as much as you were.

"I mean," he scratched behind his ear—the one with the scar—sheepishly. "I hate to say it but this is probably the best spot. Well, other than up there,"

You followed his finer to one of the adjacent buildings. Its roof stood about one story taller, with no stairs, no fire escape, and only a small concrete platform that remained part of a glass shed. A greenhouse, you recalled. The sight painted the largest, cheek-stinging grin anyone had ever worn.

"But I don't see us getting up there without a ladder, but no promises that thing hasn't been eaten by termites-- hey what are you doing?"

Diego really needed to think before he spoke. Already in his jitters, he had forgotten who he was talking to until he found himself pulled along in a gathering sprint. Your hand was locked in his as you lead the way, an untamed grin splitting your cheeks apart as you came alive. The brick wall adjacent to the greenhouse was getting closer and closer.

"Jump and kick," you ordered. "When I say,"

"What?!"

It was the only time you broke your focus away from the wall, and it was lightning fast. But you smiled knowingly. "Trust me,"

"Jump!" Diego did just that and instantly you shifted his world a second time.

It felt like one of those drinking bird desk toys. His whole center of gravity shifted, and suddenly he was falling back down. But not where he came from. The pull started in his gut and fell through his legs—he understood now why you told him to kick—but the most disorienting thing was the journey back to the ground which turned out to be the journey up the wall. The two of you remained in a sprint, but rather than a brick wall lined with ivy as his destination, the scene ahead was nothing but boundless sky. The two of you were running up the side of the building.

When it happened again after the two of you moved onto the second, he wished he could say he had been more prepared. But the truth was his stomach was too busy trying to figure out what was down and what was sideways. Through his popping ears he could make out your jovial laughter and the glimpses he (was pretty sure) he caught through his dizzying vision depicting the grin set free on your face. You were in your element, and he was quite literally just along for the ride.

He guessed he was about as heavy to you as a paperweight, making all the jumping, hurtling, and climbing you did for yourself and him a piece of cake. The sight waiting for him when he opened his eyes wasn't unfamiliar, but it took him a great deal of breathing and clutching steady ground as he catches his bearings enough to recognize you were at least two or three levels up on the roof. Already you were having the most fun you had ever imagined possible. But it didn't last long.

Paranoia set it at his disheveled state, swirling your head with dangerous thoughts. He was sick from what you had done, had that meant his father was right about you?

"Diego!" His head spun but he still made an effort to meet your eyes at the concern laced in your voice.

"I think... I'm gonna hurl," He drew a lazy, out-of-breath smile on his face, and fear's icy grip on your heart loosened. "...We totally gotta do that again,"

Was he serious? You only shook your head, allowing yourself for the first time to enjoy the small the flip of your stomach as you turned away to hide the smothered simper. Diego couldn't help but feel as though the silence you left him in was a little more intentional this time around.

His eyes never left you as you joined him to sit, taking a spot on the ledge nearby. A thick patch of ivy sat under you like a cushion as the two of you looked out onto the city, just barely in the shelter of the shade. The wind whipped at your clothes, but as you dared peer down over your legs and the traffic below, you wondered if it had anything to do with the cars. Your stomach plunged back down underground before you could decide, and your hand latched onto Diego's bicep to steady yourself. Now he was laughing.

You smiled sheepishly at him, and he at you. For reasons you couldn't understand you felt a tiny stutter in your chest when he silently brought your attention to the fact your hand was still on his bicep. Fearing you crossed a line, you drew it back and ignored the heat dusting your ears knowing it would soon be melted in the wind.

So many new feelings, thoughts, and phenomena came with freedom that you couldn't have possibly predicted. Questions, you were expecting. And lots and lots of fear. But not quite an ally in someone so close to The Monocle. Not quite so many laughs. And certainly not this much trust.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

The world was quiet and still. So unlike Five's mind. He couldn't remember the last time he had known peace and quiet—genuine contentment. He likes to think it was those precious ten years; just him and his best friend, cracking jokes, keeping one another sane. Always looking out for one another. Or, of course, his days with his siblings before everything went to shit. When they were still kids, playing hero and sneaking out to Griddy's every chance they got.

But those days were over. His siblings had lives of their own and the friend he met today was a total stranger. Hell, he might as well have been a ghost.

Five gave himself a disapproving shake of the head as he came to stand at the arching mouth of his destination. Nothing has changed, he reminds himself. She was still lost to him forever.

But not everyone was. Hope still remained, waiting to be reclaimed. Five recalled the day he found her, not that different from how he found his best friend; lost and lonely, just like he was.

Only she had been found right here, in the (not yet) ruins of the department store he found himself at now. Not quite eleven years after the worst day of Five's life, just when he needed her most.

Delores.

With bated breath and starvation for a proper reunion, Five disappeared inside Gimble Brothers in the blink of an eye to retrieve his long-lost love.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

The setting sun that had set the sky ablaze in a fiery explosion of color was a sight difficult to part with. Even for someone who lived to see a thousand sunsets. And yet, as the evening wore on, you had found it easier and easier to look away and at the man at your side.

"Sunsets," you had whispered, loving the taste of the word on your tongue and actually putting it to something real. "...always like this?"

It was silent for a moment as Diego tried to recall, but nothing came even remotely close. As he took in the sight before him—the deep sapphire sky directly above that somehow fell into a blazing gold where it met the blinding ball of fire disappearing behind the tips of the city—he fished his memory for a time he enjoyed a sunset quite like this one. But the answer was simple. He couldn't.

"Each one has its own charm," he had answered with a knowing grin, pleased to find you were already looking at him.

"Mm," you nodded thoughtfully. Had he caught a twinkle in your eye, he didn't know for sure. You were already turning back to the view, your eyes fluttering closed as a soothing breeze washed over you both.

What had remained of the retreating sun was soaking into your s/c skin, breathing in life and an energy you hadn't seen properly in decades. It was warm and persistent, and you could see it through your eyelids. But you weren't complaining. It was such a wonderful concept to you, the sun; a force locked away so far out of reach, and yet it was impossible to ignore. Nothing could stop its power, it demanded to be seen.

The thought of missing out on even a single one of these made your heart ache. Instead, you chose to focus on Diego. He was enjoying the view too, you could tell. As he sat beside you, basking in the sunlight, you could sense the tension leaving his shoulders and his jaw didn't look as clenched as you normally saw it. His dark eyes were set on the horizon, letting in rays of sun that unveiled hidden undertones of golden brown. And this was the first time you truly took note of the scar stretching from the outermost corner of his cheekbone to the apex of his ear. What stuck with you most was the fact that Diego looked just as relaxed as you were feeling. It made you wonder if this was some form of escape for him as a child. Nothing wrong with asking, right?

With a polite tilt of your head that you were quite proud of, you mustered up the courage to ask him. "Come here often?"

To say Diego was taken by surprise would be the understatement of the century. A low chuckle sparked deep in his chest that had you rethinking everything and sending a delicate heat migrating up each of your faces for very different reasons. While your heart sank, his flittered and for the first time since getting to know Diego, you regretted putting that shy smile of his on his face.

"What?"

He shook his head as he tried (unsuccessfully) to wipe any evidence of his amusement from his face.

"Diego," you had meant to sound assertive, but your embarrassment got the best of you, your voice instead coming out as more of a plea.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," he placed a temporary hand on his chest as a sign of apology. "Really. It's just," He has to bite back another smirk to get through his next sentence but he manages to pull it off without laughing. It would have been easier for you to recognize this had you been able to identify the specific glint in his eye. "I wasn't expecting that and-- well, its just... that's kind of a famous pick-up line,"

"A 'pick-up'?"

"Yeah," he shrugged, not quite knowing why he was talking like he was expecting you to know what any of these meant. Maybe he was just nervous. "You know, a come-on,"

Growing exasperated, you shook your head expecting a better answer. "

...'Come on'?" you certainly had no idea what had Diego acting so strange.

He simply cleared his throat and returned his sights on the skyline; the sun had already sunk behind the horizon completely, though its remaining light still cast the sky in a comforting glow. "It's nothing, really. Just something unoriginal people try on others they want to, em," he laughed again but it was the kind to clear the air—you could tell it wasn't at your expense. "Get to know them better,"

It took the wagging of his eyebrows and a few suggestive nods for it to click, but when it did, you were surprised to find yourself laughing along with him. Another heat rose to your face that you buried in your hand. "Oh," you mumbled, suddenly unable to meet his eye right away. "Sorry,"

"Don't be," You don't have to be seeing him to know he wears an untamed grin on his face, you can hear it in his voice. It shouldn't be this infectious.

He felt the pull again. It wasn't strong enough to do anything but send another pleasant shiver down his spine, completely oblivious to the fact you could feel his stare in the side of your head. He liked that you said that, though he probably shouldn't—even though he had understood your question. But Diego could never bring himself to tell you he felt this way. He'd never want to make you uncomfortable, or have you take it the wrong way.

"...I knew what you meant," he said instead. The amusement quickly dwindles when he considers your question and its answer. "And... yeah, I did. When I was younger. Not a whole lot, but, whenever I could. Whenever I needed to get away from my dad."

"It was actually my mom who showed me the beauty in this place," he says after a beat. Diego knows he's taking a risk, but the words come tumbling out anyway. He couldn't help it. His mother was an integral part of his life—he was who he was because of her.

A silence fell on your shoulders as delicately as fallen snow, and a realization much like that of last night when viewing The Monocle's portrait with him hits you. She was still his mother. And the bond they held was something indestructible. You could never bring yourself to stand between them.

You knew what it was like to have your mother removed from your life, and you decided it was something you would never wish on anyone. Particularly Diego.

"She is... special to you," Diego was a bit taken aback at your tone of voice. It had been posed as a question but, the look in your eye was unbridled, somber clarity.

"I survived because of her," he admitted, bowing his head as that very insecurity Grace had chased away threatened to return. His gloved hands catch a wandering leaf, and mindlessly he begins to fiddle with the stem, watching it as he twirls it between his fingers. "You know, I used to have a horrible stutter?"

He chuckled half-heartedly at your softened shock.

"Yeah, I uh," Just picture the word in your mind. "I struggled a lot when I was a kid. 'Specially around my dad. I'd get so knotted up, and every time he'd hear me speak..." he shook his head and sighed, dropping the leaf and watching as it wafted down to the streets below, riding the breeze. "I don't know, it was like he'd secretly get a kick out of it or something. Like it was proof I wasn't good enough."

A wistful smile came to his lips, and it was odd. Odd the way it warmed something in your chest, waking something up—something new.

"Mom was a whole different story. She always believed in me. She saw the potential in me, I mean. She still does, sees it in all of us." That breath—that warmth caught in your throat when his gentle eyes caught yours. Your heart was aching, for more reasons than you could name. All you could bring yourself to do was tether yourself to Diego's next words. "The thing about Grace? She may have been made by him... but she isn't him. I know what you heard back there, and... I'll admit, I can't explain it. But I know that it isn't her."

Realistically, part of you knew this. Part of you knew—part of you trusted by now, Diego would never have put you in such a situation if he knew she truly believed this. But that part of you was still so small, it was barely a concept. Your trust had been shattered long before it could fully be built, and whatever this was with Diego... all you knew was that you wanted to hold it tight.

But trust is tricky. And it goes both ways.

"She protected you,"

His throat tightened at your understanding. "She did,"

"Mine did," your voice was tiny but coarse. The rock lodged in your throat was getting bigger just from acknowledging its existence. Cause you knew what caused it, and it made you feel so damn guilty.

You closed your eyes, willing yourself to swim back down into the murky depths of your memories. Like fighting to make it to the bottom of the deep end of the pool. The deeper you dive the harder you fight not to float right back to the top. Just as you had done so for decades. But your hope was dying out as fast and sure as the memories you chased.

All but the feelings of loss, anger, and fear were lost to time. Including your mother. Though one thing could never be forgotten.

"She is gone," you said. Though the rock in your throat demanded attention and threatened tears, none came. "She died."

All emotion was absent from your voice and your stare. But your grip on the world was another story. Diego's attention was pulled around the roof when he felt the shift. That feeling in his gut was steadily spreading throughout all of his body like the others kind of drug. It felt like his blood was thickening, which only made his increasing heart rate all the more frigid. But nothing compared to feeling your next words brought.

"The Monocle killed her."

Nothing was stopping Diego from believing the sensation sinking him into the ground was of no fault of his own. A manifestation of his guilt. His father—his fucking father. All his life, he had known him to be an abusive, manipulative piece of shit. Who, as of yesterday, was a kidnapper and now a goddamn murder to top it all off. What else was he hiding?!

For a moment, Diego considered letting whatever happened with your powers, happen. If he fell through the roof, he fell through the roof. If he plummeted up into the sky, he plummeted up into the sky—Luther would sure get a good laugh at the odd picture. As long as it meant he didn't open his big mouth and risk taking his anger out on you. It's precisely why he's so surprised when he finds the courage to speak, his voice is somehow coaxing.

"Y/n?"

You tore your eyes away from the twinkling metropolis at the sound of his voice, and little by little your grip retracted. Embarrassed to say he had startled you from your thoughts, but something you couldn't quite name had put you at ease. Maybe it was the way he broke you from your little spill. The way he didn't hold it against you.

"Sorry," you mutter, your arms folding back in over your torso out of habit. It hurt him a little to see. Perhaps it reminded him so much of himself.

"Hey, you don't have to be sorry for that stuff, you know,"

You didn't move a muscle, not so much as a tilt of the head from where it sat. A grating voice rooted into your subconscious was making that hard to believe.

"I don't care whatever he told you," said Diego, plucking the thoughts straight from your head. "I don't believe it."

"You don't know,"

The pause in the air is volumes louder than the words he speaks next. You were right, Diego didn't know what his father said to you. But that didn't change his mind either.

"Yeah, well... Knowing my father, I have a few ideas," Diego has to remind himself where he is, and when he does he feels the reluctant release in his clenched fists.

He feels an inquisitive hole burning itself into the side of his head until he turns to face you. The word he'd use to describe your expression was dumbstruck. Like you weren't quite convinced with whatever you so desperately wanted to believe.

"Not scared? At all?"

For your sake, Diego buries the returning anger for his father. Instead, he shook his head at you and spoke truthfully. "Not even a little,"

It was happening again. The muscles in your cheeks were twitching without your consent before they pulled your lips back in a smile. It felt so strange to smile—it felt so strange to be happy, and giddy. You hardly ever had a reason to be. Anything you thought was happiness in your life with G.R.E.G.O.R.Y and the things he showed you on his screen were instantly proved wrong the moment Diego first showed you the sky. The moment you felt the winds and the sun.

This was bubbly and new. It left a fuzzy feeling in your chest that tickled your lungs until you chuckled, and the muscles in your cheeks hurt. So many foreign feelings were swirling together in coexistence in your chest, but you welcomed the change. Your hands fiddled happily in your lap as Diego matched his grin with yours.

Like you, it was the first time you had truly seen him at ease since the two of you had met.

"I'm serious," you can hear the grin in his voice. "I think it's pretty cool, actually,"

That word caught your ear, and you offered a curious tilt of the head. "It makes you cold?"

He chuckled again, beaming out at the skyline as he licked nervously at his lips. When he looked back at you, you resisted the urge to squirm under his gaze.

"No," he corrected. "Sorry, no. It's just a saying. Like, uh," Your attention on him tempts the stutter in his brain. "To be in awe of something would be, so to speak, awe-some. If something's cool, you think it's great, excellent, whatever... I find it admirable,"

The grin on your face was nearing blinding, but still, you shook your head in disbelief at it all. Two nights ago you were sure you were sooner to die trying to escape your prison than escape. Now you are sitting on the roof, admiring the stars as the son of your captor—Diego, the first person you ever brought yourself to trust—praised your power—your special.

"'Cool'," you repeated, getting a feel for the word on your tongue. Diego hummed in delight.

"Bad-ass," he winked.

His response was shocking enough to elicit an authentic laugh from deep within your belly. You hardly made an effort to hide your grin behind your hand as you gawked at him with aching cheeks. "'Bad ass'!?" You chortled. Surely, that had to be an insult.

Diego's dark brown eyes lit up in amusement at your reaction, no more than the flare of satisfaction in his chest as he laughed with you. "Oh yeah, definitely bad-ass,"

"Is bad-ass... good?"

"The best," he assured, loving the sting in his cheeks. Without even thinking of how you might react, he nudged you playfully with his shoulder but the undisturbed gleam in your eye told him he was fine. "I mean," he puffed his chest out just a little farther and looked out stoically at the horizon, trying to look as goofily-chauvinistic as possible. "I would know this, of course. Being so bad-ass myself," He only broke the facade to gauge your reaction, pleased to see the unimpressed, albeit slightly amused curl of your lip. The dreaded silence in the air was broken by quiet and content chuckles that fizzled out with the slow of traffic down below.

With a sigh of content, your attention returned to the very reason you were here: your neck craned up at the darkening blanket draping over the city as your eyes scoured it for stars. It wasn't long before little white specks crept into view as the sapphire deepened into black, enunciating the endless reach of space. This sight–this moment–was molten bliss. It was searing and heavy, and so overwhelming it made you tired. But you didn't ever want it to end.

Giving in to your body's desires and never taking your sights off the stars, you allowed yourself to lay back on the roof, arms outstretched at your sides and expecting the familiar pain digging into your spine. But you forgot about the carpet of ivy–it was pleasantly soft in its many layers. Funny, came a thought far back in your mind. Funny that a concrete roof was far more comfortable than your room ever was. The same pair of eyes to have been stealing glances at you all day were watching you now—not bothering to hide the gleam that came with you so at peace.

"So," he said, sparing a glimpse at the very stars to have enraptured you. "What'ya think?"

Diego watched as your chest rose and fell with a heavy sigh that expelled the first of so many doubts. A lazy, almost sleepy smile fell upon your lips. "Bad-ass,"

He was too busy chuckling into his lap to see the satisfied grin flash across your face before you returned to the stars.

They were beautiful. They were bright. They were endless. Nothing was holding them back. And standing out amongst them all, vibrant, alluring, and free was one of the very few things you remembered from the outside. One of the very few things that looked exactly as you last left it; You were sure the moon was the most beautiful thing you had ever seen in your life.

"Diego?" it was getting just a bit harder for him to ignore the occasional murmur in his pulse when you said his name. This time, your voice was soft and skeptical. This is exactly why he made certain to match your gentle tone as he turned to look at you.

"Yeah?"

For a beat, you didn't speak. Your bottom lip quivered, willing itself to say the words that felt so wrong to say. Words that, until now, you never had a reason to say.

"Thank you,"

And you knew in your heart you were right to trust your instincts the moment he shook his head with a somber smile. "Don't thank me," he says. He's surprised to hear the words from his mouth almost as much as you are. But it just didn't feel right. Not when his father was responsible. Not when you were right under his nose your entire lives, and he could have helped. He could have stood up to his father, he could have snuck you out somehow. The thought almost felt as familiar as you, the moment he first laid eyes on you through that little window. "Not me,"

It was Diego's turn to try and decipher the look hidden in your eyes—disappointment? contemplation?—when you forced your attention away from him and back on the stars. Your hands fells to the end of your sleeves, fiddling with a frayed thread and allowing yourself to get lost in the view. Guilt zapped at his heart and he felt himself growing defensive and embarrassed.

He only wanted you to have what you deserved. You had a right to see the goddamn sky if you wanted and it made him angry you were in a position where you felt as if you had to thank him for doing so. But he didn't know how to say this. Diego couldn't see that the reason he had a hard time with being honest with anyone, including himself, was for the same reason you had a hard time trusting: His father.

"I only m-mean," he stopped to clear his throat, cringing at the heat crawling up his neck at his stutter. "I only mean I don't think I'm very worthy of thanks. Not when my dad did what he did to you."

The silence you left him in knew just what to say, as it always did. His gut sunk lower than he previously thought possible, but it had jumped the gun.

"Not true," you finally said, voice quiet yet assertive.

He looked over his shoulder to find you sitting up again, your shoulders brushing together and leaving a subtle blush in its wake.

"No, I could have helped you."

"Did you know?"

His head sinks, all the more disappointed in himself. "No. No, I didn't. But that's exactly why I'm mad at myself," he pleads. He doesn't know why he's trying so hard to convince you to hate him. The truth is, the more he gets to know you, the less he wants to leave your side. But maybe that's his answer.

His passion painted a small heat on your cheeks and a grateful twitch at the corner of your lips. "That is why I am not."

"...You're not mad at me?"

You shake your head, putting all his worries to rest, unaware his presence does the same. At that moment, it's just you two on earth. A frightening thought for you, but for the first time in your life you can remember, you liked the company you had. Just you and Diego, what felt to be quite literally on top of the world. Where the stars shine the brightest.

So many of those new feelings were swirling together in your chest like never before. Freedom from the wind and the view, the chill from the night air that sent a pleasant shiver down your spine, and the oddly addicting flurry that stirred in your stomach just ever so when Diego's eyes flicked over your lips.

A sudden and familiar crackle from Diego's belt startled you two apart from the small gap you hadn't even been aware had been closing. His eyes blew open wide as his hands jumped to his belt and you were pretty sure you caught a 'Seriously? Right now?' under his breath. You had no way to know your gut wasn't the only one sinking when he threw you an apology and pulled out that noisy little radio of his.

"We have a 10-14 at Gimbel Brothers department store. Shots fired. Repeat, shots fired. 6045 Vanderbilt."

And just like that, everything was over. He was gonna leave you again, coming back who knows when? Ypu turned your head, not wanting him to see the angry tears threatening to build in your eyes. The thought of him leaving again, now of all times left a sour taste on your tongue—you were mortified for giving placing so much faith in Diego, only for him to turn around and leave again.

"Work?" You asked, unable to stop the bitter accusation in your tone.

"Yeah. It is," he said, something you couldn't identify in his whisper. Not taking his eyes off of you and your crossed arms, he turned off the radio and returned it to its spot on his belt without a thought. "But it can wait." Your head whipped back to face him.

Diego knew he had made the right choice the moment he felt the pull grow tighter in his gut—he felt like the grass from earlier, having no choice as he was carried out to you. But he was happy. Your smile alone lit up the roof and cast away any shadow of a doubt he was meant to leave.

And Diego knew he made the right choice when that trust he placed in you was given right back to him, placed on his shoulder with your head. He warmed at the feeling of your temple laid so delicately to rest on his broadened shoulder, but he didn't dare move a muscle. As if you might break. As if you might move. So badly he wanted to tuck his chin over your temple, wrap his arm around your shoulder but this was new enough for you.

This was new enough for him. Intimacy—vulnerability—quite like this.

Instead, he settled his cheek on your head with such care—a care you had yet know. But he had already hurt you once before. And once was too many. Diego couldn't name when he decided this, but he knew as surely as the earth orbited the sun, he had always meant to know you. And you him. And whatever journey lay before you both, he could only hope the end was nowhere in sight.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

As she sat in quiet contemplation, reflecting on recovered childhood moments long forgotten, Allison couldn't stop her mind from wandering. The mysteries her father harbored all her life continued to unravel around her and her siblings since his death. On top of it all, Pogo's increasingly suspicious behavior was like a loose thread Allison couldn't stop picking at.

He had found her in the attic—her old hiding spot—staring up at the moon as she sat tucked away in the window sill. While in retrospect, she was grateful he had found her and brought her here, she couldn't quite bring herself to shake the questionable aura surrounding him, nor the conversation she had attempted to pry from him surrounding her suspicions.

"How'd you do it?" she questions carefully. "Alone in this huge house for so long,"

Her eyes couldn't tear themselves away from the wall of buzzing monitors. Each picture of her childhood home was painted in noise from the VCR, obscuring the details of every nook and cranny on display in waves of fuzz.

Including the hall leading to the elevator shaft.

Allison is sure to take note of the twitch in his ears, though it brings her no joy to do so. Nor does the feeling that accompanies his sudden interest in the floor where he readjusts his cane one too many times. "I mean, that's bound to take a toll on anyone." she reiterates.

The lift in question was obscured—it was just around the corner. But that's not what bothered Allison.

"Well," he answers carefully, his voice hard and level as his eyes meet hers in what she has to convince herself isn't a warning look.

What bothered Allison was the sight of her father emerging from around this very corner, with a familiar old primate in tow.

"One grows used to things, even if, sometimes..." was Allison seeing things, or were his eyes narrowing? "one shouldn't."

There wasn't a word to describe what Allison was feeling. More accurately, there weren't enough. She knew something had been off the moment they had reunited with Pogo—he was just too eager. But she didn't want to believe it. He had been far more of a father figure than her own father for as long as she could remember. Perhaps that's why she had such a hard time leaning in to such accusations.

The chair's wheels squeaked beneath her as she leaned in for a closer look—something about her father in this image piqued her interest. She fiddled with the dials long enough for it to show her the rest of the tapes from this day. And for the second time, her suspicions were confirmed.

Allison had watched as he had retreated from the elevator shaft—from whatever nefarious studies he did on you in secret—and made his way down to dinner like any other night. Realization hits her hard, and she collapses into her chair, eyes never leaving the screens.

This was the evening. This was the meal.

This was the last time the family had seen Five before he disappeared.

Her finger smashed the eject button without thought. Allison didn't need to see it a second time. She found her head planted in her hands, her fingers rubbing at her temples in indignation as it all washed over her.

Of course that's where he'd gone. Of course the answer to the question Allison and her siblings had asked all these years 'where does Dad always disappear to?' was something as vile as this.

She felt stupid for not seeing it sooner, and yet that feeling in itself felt foolish. There was no way to know. More than anything her heart ached. For you, for anyone who might be looking for you. She knows she'd do anything to get Claire back if something happened to her—anything.

With a hefty sigh, Allison pulls herself back up to the wall of monitors. Maybe, she thought, though she wasn't thrilled with the idea, more answers lay in the question. Maybe she would find more clues in the tapes. She casts a glance over her shoulder at the cabinet, nearly going for a random selection as pointed out by Pogo. And yet something pulls her attention to the right.

Hanging off one of the many tape decks sat a single VHS box, just waiting for her to open. Promiscuous enough, unlike every other selection, the white label had been hastily torn off. Allison takes it in hand, inspecting the weight with burning curiosity.

Surely, whatever was on here couldn't be that interesting.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

The sight of Luther's empty bed was nearly within his reach, seducing his exhaustion-riddled body with the temptations of rest when Allison finally caught up to him.

"There you are," she let out a breath of relief as she hurried to meet him halfway down the hall. "I've been looking everywhere for you,"

"What are you still doing here?" He frowned, genuinely surprised to see her after hours. What about Claire, he wondered. "I thought you were gone,"

She shook her head. "No, I was gonna go, and then Pogo showed me this--"

"Well, listen..." He sighed, cutting her off much to her annoyance. "I was wrong about Dad's death,"

"What?"

"Yeah, I was wrong about Diego. And Y/n. You know, you were right. I mean, not only to turn what Dad did to her into an interrogation and accuse her so brazenly but to do the same with my own brother? That is just--"

"--No, I– I know, I get what you're--"

"--Seeing all of you and being back here on top of everything... I should be the one who's trying to bring us back together, not tear us apart."

"Would you shut up?"

That got his attention. "What?"

"You were right," she admitted. Her voice was as hard as the rock in her stomach from the evidence she had unwillingly stumbled upon. "...about Dad."

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

The floors wailed with every hurried footstep the siblings took as Allison directed Luther to the surveillance room, though it took them both a solid moment to realize this made no sense considering the marble they walked on. All at once, their pace slowed and their eyes fell towards the figure sauntering up the wooden staircase behind them, an inconspicuous duffle bag slung over his shoulder. The despair in Five's features was displayed without doubt, and the physical aftermath of his little last-minute siege at Gimble Brothers was not lost on his brother and sister.

"Five," Allison came to a standstill in shock. "What the hell happened to you?"

The minimal traces of sweat and blood on the boy's brow were less worrisome to Luther than the haunted look in his steely eyes. In passing glances Luther had caught traces of that thousand-yard stare since Five's return, but nothing like this. It was just concerning enough, he couldn't bring himself to care when he picked up the sound of wandering footsteps on the first floor. All his attention was on his brother and the undeniable need to help.

"Are you okay?" He asks, lending out a gloved hand for comfort. "Can we help--?"

The boy's grip on his wrist was iron, but nothing compared to the grip on Five's heart. Despite the regret attached to the advancing deja vu at his lighting reflexes, Five's grasp tightened—his fingers dug harder and harder through the material peacoat sleeve, putting Luther further on edge. If he hadn't known better, he'd say Five was almost scared to let him go.

The truth was, the smell of rotting flesh and soiled runoff were somehow stronger than the sight waiting for him that day in the not-so-distant future. Which was saying something considering the gruesome image was burned into the back of his eyelids. Hell, he could hardly look anyone in the eye since his return. This was the first time he truly did so—his voice trembling in a manner no one who knew Five Hargreeves to be possible.

"There's nothing... you can do," that thousand-yard stare pierces Luther. It goes straight through him like he's seeing a ghost. And then, unexpectedly, it falls away. All the way down and over the balcony to a fourth figure, silently making its way into the living room on Diego's arm with a grin on her face. "There's nothing any of you can do,"

It was uncanny the resemblance you bore to the Y/n he found that day. One arm coiled around your torso as you wandered aimlessly and harmlessly through unknown terrain, searching for any signs of life. Completely unaware of his presence. How you didn't hear or see them on the second floor, Five didn't know. But it was no different from how he found you on that sordid day.

What remained of the world Five once knew were getting harder and harder to distinguish. The sky had been devoured by curtains of ash and blankets of sewage flew past his shins in makeshift streams created by the debris. His footsteps were loud and slow, treading his way through to higher ground where the spring of blood, mud, and ocean water had thinned to massive puddles.

There is where he first saw it. There is where he first saw him. A single hand rising front the mountain of rubble. Its abnormally thick peacoat-covered forearm was stained pink from the runoff, and gripped tight in its fingerless gloved hand was a small white orb. He stumbled closer without thought to get a closer look, kneeling beside the carnage to discover the unexpected.

"Don't ask me,"

The knot in his stomach coiled tighter and tighter as he took the wrist in his grasp in an attempt to pry the eye free. He inwardly cringed at the sound of the popping of stiff joints as he pried the fingers apart. Clearly whoever now possessed it had ripped it straight from the original owner's head. It was an eye—a prosthetic by the looks of it. The thin coat of blood and slime told Five it was still fresh.

"What you know is true,"

To this day, Five couldn't name what compelled him to check the body. Whatever it was, he knew even then it was something far more simple than curiosity. And everything to do with intuition. The moment he laid eyes on the blonde, a hole the size of a crater had been punched through his chest. The features weren't hard to make out, even though the bloated after-effects of the end of the world and the fifteen-something years of aging. The sharp chin and prominent brow of his brother Luther were unmistakable.

Five reluctantly brought himself to his feet on wobbling knees, fighting tooth and nail to keep the non-existent contents of his empty stomach from causing too much trouble. The fight within himself as he laid his eyes upon the scene just around the bend was even harder.

Nobody had to tell him the bodies he had found were that of siblings.

"Don't have to tell you"

Nobody had to tell him that in the blink of an eye, Five had lost everything.

Five had to really be looking to spot them under all the wreckage and trickling streams. Naturally, he saw them right away.

His sister Allison lay first at his feet; her face, not unlike Luther's, still wore traces of a frown even in such sleep. Her head was visible, barely surfacing from the mountain of rubble, just enough to identify. The water washed over her in gentle strokes, carefully washing away the rubble and ash to have been pooling in the crooks of her eyes.

Not far behind her, sprawled stomach first into the ruins of concrete was Klaus. His mouth hung open even after his dying breath, and his eyes had yet to flutter closed. They were as sad and far away as they had been in early youth—when he wasn't hiding behind a mask of some sort. Before Five could stop the thought he found his heart weeping at the thought Klaus looked more like his true self in death than he ever had in life. He just wished, now more than ever, he had been around longer to be proven wrong.

"I love your precious heart"

Diego. Five had nearly missed him. Had he not tripped over a chunk of concrete hidden in the murky water and fallen on his ass right in front of his dead brother, he would have missed him. Maybe it was this very thing—this sudden action that kicked him into gear and told him all this was real to a point where the lump in his throat finally gave. Tears sprang loose from his eyes as he took in the sight of his brother, stomach first, left arm sprawled out ahead of him as of reaching out for Five in his dying moments. As if he knew the brother to have disappeared from his life would return to him in death.

"I,"

What pathetic excuse for a bargaining thought was squandered when Five's eyes fell upon Diego's inner wrist. Any hopeful doubt seeding itself in Five's mind that these people he has stumbled upon were not his family was violently uprooted. He felt fucking foolish for even acknowledging such a thought, but here he was. Just a boy, lost and alone at the end of the world—just a boy, eyes drilling into the inked insignia of a black umbrella tattoo on Diego's inner wrist confirming his worst fears.

"I was standing"

Any attempt at pulling himself out of such an intense state of grief left him little options. Now all he could focus on was the blood staining his body and dripping into his stocking as he put all his energy into standing upright. One by one his senses returned to him—the smell threatened another lurch in his gut, the sun could be felt beating down and making him sweat, even through so many layers of ash in the sky. And slowly, and ever so surely, the white noise created by the blood storming in his ears fell away to reveal to Five a most unexpected and wonderful thing.

"HELLO?!" The voice cried. It wasn't a call that expected an answer, rather a desperate wish—a demand from the universe.

His body didn't act right away when he told it to move. But when it finally did, he ignored the water splashing up on his ankles as he stumbled around the nearest heap.

"You were there"

You were there. Pulling yourself up from a rubble mountain two stories high, blood caked over your wobbling head where dried streaks fell into your lidded eyes. One hand hung loosely around your torso where you gripped your bleeding side, the other doing all in its power to anchor you to the wall in an upright position.

"Two worlds collided"

You were on the brink of death by the looks of it—if Five had to guess, you had just pulled yourself from the depths of hell given the firey wreck behind you. There was so much fear in your e/c eyes, shining out so bright he could see it from here. Just as surely as you could sense his. But that was just it.

He could see it clicking in your brain; whatever trauma-induced fog cast over your mind was trying to lift away at the sight—the realization he too was coming upon.

Yes, the two of you had somehow found yourself at the end of the world. But no longer were either of you alone.

"And they could never tear us apart"

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

a.n: to paraphrase the amazing Billy Boyd who gave my best friend a mint at comic con, "I've been sittin' on tha' fer three~ years! Enjoy it!"

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

I REMIND YOU TO BE CAUTIOUS OF ALL RESOURCES YOU FIND REGARDING AIDING THE UKRAINE--IF YOU SUSPECT ME OR ANYONE YOU KNOW HAS OVERLOOKED SOMETHING THEY ARE SPREADING, MAKE IT KNOWN!

Documenting During Internet Shutdowns: A Full Blog Series

'Through our work with activists who have experienced internet shutdowns, we have learned some useful tips and approaches to capturing and preserving video documentation during internet shutdowns that we are sharing in this series. We wrote them with Android devices in mind, but the tips can be applied to iPhones as well. Some of the strategies require advance planning (and often, internet access), so it’s a good idea to review them and implement any steps before you are in a situation where you do not have internet and you need to document. Save a copy of any of the tutorials so you can refer to them or share them during a shutdown. And finally, start practicing the techniques and methods in your everyday work so that they become second-nature before you’re in a crisis situation.'

'17 Black-Led LGBTQ+ Services and Groups You Can Support Right Now' article by Bianca Rodriguez

The Trevor Project:

'And so do the people you care about. Here you can reach out to a counselor if you’re struggling, find answers and information, and get the tools you need to help someone else.'

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Taglist:

@whatawonderfulusername @vicassa @ohmyitsfaith @white-wolf-buckaroo @guineverebeckilicious @a-girl-who-loves-disney @ongaku-ato-kakikomi @alpacataco @okimreadynow @omni-idiot-fanfics @onlyroad @popacherryvisitalibrary @disaster-magician @little-boats-on-a-lake @lonerstolovers @dumdumsun @night-yoarrbe

❥ Let me know if you would like to be added to the taglist! ❥

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becomingbts · 3 years

Text

Time heals (sometimes) - 1

Summary: 6 years ago, (Y/N) thought that she was finally taking her life into her hands, leaving behind a toxic and abusive relationship with a man who taught her she’d never be worthy of love. However, it became hard to ignore his words when she met her seven soulmates who rejected her without even giving her a chance to prove herself. It took (Y/N) 3 years to realize that it wouldn’t be her end. She would live on to prove them all wrong; she would become what they all thought she wasn’t: someone worthy of love. And as she stands proudly on the stage, under the burning spotlights and the applause and the cries of the delirious crowd, she feels alive. Alive, just like the bond she believed to be broken.

Pairings: Y/N x OT7

GENRE: Soulmate AU!, Idol Y/NAU!, semi social-media AU!, ANGST (mainly), fluff, romance, maybe smut in the series.

Ask or comment to be tagged!

1.5k

Warnings: The series is going to be heavy with a lot of personal experiences mixed into the fiction, so this is going to be kind of therapeutic for me. Please, consider not reading the series if you are not comfortable with: abandonment issues, anxiety, panic attacks, depression, self-harm (not descriptive and only part of MC’s past), suicide thoughts (in the past), toxic behavior, toxic and abusive relationship (in the past), depreciating self-talk and low self-esteem, a lot of curse, physical and mental pain, near death experience situation (in the past), and maybe smut scenes (happy ending though, but it will probably be quite the ride).

NOTE: So hello everyone, welcome to Time Heals (sometimes). Thank you so, so much for the warm welcoming, it has been my first time getting so many asks, I was honestly overjoyed. I still don’t really know what to call this part; is it a teaser? A note? A full chapter? I believe we’ll get some snapshot of memories like this one throughout the series because there is going to be a lot to unpack on both sides. I think it will be a chapter nevertheless because I have to establish some kind of order as to which parts should be read first, and I think this one is extremely important.

Thank you for reading,

-Dolly

Profiles #2 - here - part 2

Her scream pierced through the air while cries broke in the frenzied arena while a single blond-haired man froze, emptily staring at the stage. It felt like his senses heightened; his skin was shuddering, his eyes were frantically searching for one specific figure while his voice was lost in his throat. The screams resonating in the stadium would have been too loud for his voice to be heard anyway.

Jimin knew he shouldn’t be there.

Namjoon had told them more than once that none of them should try to go to one of (Y/N)’s events. It could be dangerous and they could be overwhelmed; anything could happen to them and they would still remain a nobody who fainted in the howling crowd. Would they want to take this risk? No.

So, Jimin would have had to admit that going to her very first concert in Seoul since the pandemic sounded like a very, very, very bad idea. And to be honest, it still didn’t seem to be a bright idea now that he was actually there.

But he still went because he needed to see her for himself; to see how she was. He had so many things he dreamed about asking her. Are you okay? Are you sleeping well? Did you eat before coming to the arena? Are you nervous? Do you... remember me?

Maybe he was torturing himself. He kept on watching her lives, following her on all social media, always made sure to leave a sweet comment, and never miss any of her new updates... Maybe he even had a folder of pictures of her on his phone but he’d never admit it to any of his mates. Taehyung would probably take his phone away from him and delete everything and Jimin couldn’t let that happen.

He felt like it was cheating. Don’t take him wrong though. When he thought that, he was not really thinking about the boys. They did collectively agree not to follow her activities as an artist but it was getting harder and harder with how popular she got anyway. Moon was everywhere. In commercials, on the radio, her songs were on the TV… Even if she was known for refusing most of the promotional contracts that were offered to her, her image was still constantly in the media despite her avoidance of it. Ironic, but the media were trying their best to find anything about her, be it positive or negative. One day she was seen on her bike, the next, she was in a coffee shop, and it kept on going on, overstepping on her privacy as if it was just a meaningless word.

The lockdown had admittedly played a major part in Jimin’s obsession. Being in their apartment meant quickly running out of activities, and his job as a dance teacher was not really filling his free time (a lot of his classes were also canceled). It was also during that time that (Y/N) truly blew up as an independent artist. Advertisement on YouTube started being around her channel and her music, the recommendations he kept on seeing were about also her… Jimin’s resolve honestly broke easily. It was hard not to be curious about his lost soulmate even though he didn’t feel like he had the right to be hurting.

Anyway, to come back to his main point, if Jimin felt like he was cheating; it was mostly for her. After all, (Y/N) had no means of letting the curiosity get the best of her, to know what they were doing; to simply see or contact them. He had, at first, not really thought about that. Watching her content seemed a very innocent thing to do in his opinion; billions of people were watching her content, why should he prevent himself from doing so? Yet, Jimin could still remember one of her live she did soon after that interview she had given on this damned radio show where she had revealed who her title track ‘TIME’ was about… She had gone live the next day-Jimin had jumped on his phone because of the notification-and one fan had asked her what would she do if she knew that her ‘ex-soulmates’ (and those words left a very sour taste in Jimin’s mind) were watching her. The question had silenced a previously restless Jimin, replacing his initial excitation with dread while a lump formed itself in his throat. He had not even noticed it; he was so focused on her live and her upcoming answer that Jimin had completely missed the sound of a glass breaking in the apartment. Jimin had been home alone, so even if had indeed heard it, he probably wouldn’t have bothered to check what had happened, thinking that the wind knocked it over or something. Jimin had been so absorbed by what he had been watching that he even got surprised a few hours later when Seokjin came home and yelled at him for breaking something when he had been clearly innocent, engrossed in (Y/N)’s live (not that he could tell his soulmates about that part, but yeah). (Y/N)’s live would always be more important than some random glass breaking again in their apartment. Every object was doomed with Namjoon living here anyway.

On her side of the screen though, (Y/N) had seemed taken aback as she had read the question and had gritted her teeth gently. She had seemed to be pondering about her answer even though a lot of people in her chat were telling her to forget about the question if it made her uncomfortable (a lot were even scolding the person who asked). Yet, sighing softly, she had looked up at the screen:

“I’d appreciate it if you could refrain from asking questions on this topic. It’s not taboo but I’d rather not remember everything that comes with it. However, to answer this-hopefully-last question about it, I’d ask them to turn off my stream and to stop watching any of my content. It would only be fair after all. I’ve been denied access to their lives six years ago, why would they get a free pass into mine now?” She had not smiled nor had she seemed hurt by her own comment, yet Jimin��s heart had shattered in pieces, unable to press the cancel button.

Her voice had slowly faded into background noise while her words had been stuck in his head.

I’d ask them to turn off my stream and to stop watching any of my content.

How could Jimin ever do that? He realized that he truly should. Namjoon would even agree with you, as ironic as it sounded for Jimin. Namjoon had been one of the most adamant ones about rejecting your bond, after all. Jimin was shaking with bitterness while ‘Moon’ continued her stream peacefully with music. Jimin could only try to gulp his anger down as he remembered her crumbling features on that fateful day.

“You’re not our soulmates. This name on our arms means nothing to us. You are nothing to us if not a hindrance. Leave us alone.”

If Jimin could go back in time, he’d prevent Taehyung from spatting those words at her. Yet, he couldn’t do anything. Playing the scene over and over in his mind wouldn’t change anything. It wouldn’t change that she probably hated them. It wouldn’t change the song she made about them.

And worst of all, it wouldn’t change the fact that Jimin had let himself believe that their choice had been for the best, trying to console and reassure himself, even if he had already known that it was wrong. Tears were pooling up in his eyes even if none escaped as he finally caught a glimpse of her on the stage. Suddenly brought back to reality after his subconscious memory trip, Jimin finally connected back to the world, looking around while he was still frozen on his spot. People were still screaming around him and he wondered if he looked like an intruder. Because, after all, wasn’t that what he exactly was? She said it herself that she didn’t wish for them to watch her; so what was he doing here?

Jimin couldn’t help but stare; she looked ethereal, dressed like a queen in the middle of a sold-out arena. People were screaming her name as she yelled her infamous ‘hi people’. It was an opening sentence that Jimin heard way too many times in her vlogs and suddenly hearing it in real life seemed surreal.

Jimin could only watch in awe, entranced with her everything.

Screw the boys and what they would think once he’d be back from her concert.

He had been the one to find her six years ago anyway. He had been the one to bring her to their home six years ago, hoping for the boys to change their mind once they’d meet her.

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Uploaded : 09/04/2021

Taglist: @sweetmoonlight9, @mickmoon, @dreamer95, @loveyoongles, @spicetouched , @jikooksgirl19, @summerevelyn , @springjade , @clevercoley, @prooteus, @sehun096rainbow, @ainsle-e, @ifyouareme, @sunshinee0-0, @fangirl125reader, @sea-nevermind-enthusiast, @atlantis-atlas, @thequeen-kat, @naajix, @skyys-universe , @sichajeon , @yukiehyukie, @amxranthinesworld , @bunzom, @potate-oh, @mawwnsterr, @ celaenaelentiyavox, @dvoz-writes , @honeybaby-94 ,

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maladaptive-ninja-returns · 3 years

Text

Into The Thick of It (1)

Loki x Female Reader

Chapter 1: The Cult

Series Summary: Her work as an agriculturist nearly takes the readers life is not for a stranger (and his weird looking dog) who later turns out to be the God of Mischief. Thrown into a completely different realm, you want to figure out a way home while trying to stay out of the way of this literal God. But fate has its own plans for the two of you.

Written for @tarithenurse and her #Taris1Kchallenge

Warnings: torture, sacrifice, undertones of rape

Word Count: I am on a break. It feels good to just breathe without dreading the rest of the day. Why is work so punishing?

MASTERLIST in bio, darlings. Tags are open (check bio)

One single machine whirrs in this dull laundromat. The light above you flickers at intervals so regular you have already made a beat out of it. The only other sound distracting enough is some old music playing on the radio at the front desk where no one sits at this hour. And that fan that seems to be breathing its last over your head. "Yeah, it's unbelievably quiet here," you mentioned in a soft tone before looking around the empty space. "I guess I'm glad I only had to stop for three days here." "What? Are you not going to explore this place?" your friend, Zaira's voice crackles through the phone. You shrug despite knowing she cannot see you. "I don't know, Zai, this place gives me the creeps for some reason. I am only hanging around here because Prashant wants to revise the reports I sent him of the soil composition before he gives me a green light to leave this place." "Damn! That bad?" "Oh! You have no idea!" You look around once again. The front desk guy has just come back in his old Chevrolet and the clock has struck nine. "Zai," you whisper in the lowest tone possible, watching the man whistle as he gets out of his car without closing the door, "there are no kids in this village-slash-town." He walks to the back to open the trunk of his car, whistling a somewhat familiar tune. "That's...not haunting at all!" Zaira's sarcasm can be heard in her surprised tone. "Well, what's more haunting is the fact that the youngest person here is an eighteen-year-old boy who keeps showing up anywhere I go and keeps staring at me funny." The man shuts the hood with a loud thump and you can see a fresh bundle of store-bought rope, a baseball bat, a bottle of some chemical-probably for cleaning- and a pair of rubber gloves as he starts walking to the entrance. "Allah-" Zaira takes the Lord's name in surprise- "no wonder they have The Sacrifice playing somewhere there." The man sets everything on the front desk, still whistling the same tune, which you now come to realise is the song that is currently playing on the radio. "The...the what?"

"The thing playing in your background," Zaira comments, "it's playing on a two strong instrument with a looping chorus. It's a pagan ritual song that is sung by some orthodox communities that still present a sacrifice to their pagan gods. We learned this in the summer session for cult studies, boo. Oh, wait. You were back home that time. The chorus basically says 'here's your sacrifice, now pay my dues'." Not a word of what Zaira said is heard after the pagan ritual song because suddenly all the materials resting on the front desk are making sense. So is the creak of the back door that opens to let the only teenager of the town in. Your body is frozen in place, your mind has gone blank. One moment you are running for the exit. And the next, you are lying on the floor with the two men hovering over you while the song calling for your sacrifice slowly fades away. . It is the discomfort from the heat that wakes you up. The sweat and stickiness all over your body slowly registers in your brain that alerts of a throbbing ache at the back of your head with a bang. Everything is a blur for a few moments; till the lights morph into fire beacons and the sun transforms into a bonfire, the figures moving around you become humans with faces smeared in blood. Your clammy skin shines in the light of the bonfire, your hair sticking to any part of you. Tears are rolling down the edge of your eyes while your brain is registering this new pain altogether from the gag in your mouth. You try to move your hand to touch your skull where it hurts, but are unable to do so. My hands...I can't move them. Your dizzy brain gives your body the command again but in vain. "She's awake!" a raspy voice pierces through the air. And within a speck of a second, all the memories start rushing in. Y/N? Hello? Babe, can you hear me? Adrenaline shoots up in your system and your senses are heightened. The smell of kerosene is heavy in the air along with the crippling stench of burning flesh. You have been bound to a pole with your hands behind you, the bonfire in front of you, the forest surrounding you from every corner and the moonless sky on top of you. The faces in the fire are all familiar. The residents of this town, all staring at you while you struggle to get out of the ropes cutting through your skin, stop their movement to pick up the bowls kept in front of them and drink its contents. Your cries are muffled; partly because of the gag and partly because of the sobs that want to escape your throat just like your tears. Your already broken body jumps when the oldest woman in the group starts shouting phrases in a language unknown to you. And just as she begins, everyone around her takes out a dagger and starts moving in your direction. Your heartbeat seems to drop for a moment. They can see the horror in your eyes. But that does not stop their moments. The woman's chants grow heavier as her hand moments grow more vigorous. The youngest of them all skips a step or two to straight away jump on the platform where you are kept on display. He looks around once and turns to you to move your sweat laden hair strands away from your face. His pale fingers are cold, almost icy to the touch. "Don't worry, I'll get you out of here," he whispers close to your ears. Your sobs turn to sniffs to hear his words and look into his eyes. Those grey irises are trying to dig straight into your soul. "Trust me." Your instinct- which has never been wrong in your life- is already moving your leg to bend the knee and get his balls. And you do. Watching him writhe in pain for one long satisfying moment as he curses you from heaven to hell. But he gets back up, with the eyes of a madman ready to kill. You are crying out still, for anyone who will listen, in heaven or hell, as he takes you by your throat. The venom in his hold is enough to take your life. "The only way out-" he says close to your face- "is through, you cunt." One last prayer comes out of you as a whimper before you wait for his dagger to meet you. In the next heartbeat, everything turns white. . Everything is blinded by a white light. It does seem to be the end. Why did I have to die like this dammit?! A Buzzfeed Unsolved episode?! But something does not sit right. The white light should be the end, right? Then why can feel something wet under my h- Before you realise you are tumbling down the steepness of the forest. Your body can feel every rock and every pebble on the way down the seemingly endless slope. It seems like a long while when your limbs finally skid on flat rocky terrain, bringing the ringing pain to a halt before it can bounce all over your body a bit louder in the deafening silence. The first thing your senses do is look for any sign of danger around you. The forest is dark. And apparently different than the one you were in before. The trees are taller and with trunks that would not fit in your hugs. You cannot see their ends in the sky from where you lay. Not weird at all. The silence too sends your wounded heart into an anxious stir. Not even the cicadas speak here. Am I...dead? Now that definitely stirs something out there. A twig breaks in the distance. You pause your breath and shush your racing heart. A soft rustle of leaves can be heard somewhere that lets your sweat run cold all over the body. It is hard to breathe through the gag as it is, and you are standing nowhere near a hiding spot, making your basic instincts run wild with any shadow you see in this treacherous night. So all you do is stand as still as a trembling mouse and wait. And that wait isn't long. Call it nature's mysterious ways or just a random event happening at the right time, a cool breeze stirs the air for the first time in this place. From where you stand, the breeze hits your back, tickling those sweat beads on the nape of your neck before letting you smell the odour of blood it carries with it. All the neurons inside you make you turn around and face a familiar figure emerging from the shadows with a dagger in his hand. The basic instincts inside you are already making your body break into a run in the opposite direction. The rush of the flight instinct is overpowering all the injuries and you forget for a second that your hands are still tied behind you as you speed straight ahead. But that devil of a man is fast. He has already closed the distance and his hands are grabbing your hair, pushing you both to the ground. He presses you down with his body, not giving you any room to get up or free your limbs. But he does untie your gag before turning you around and holding your neck in a choke-hold. "Please, please, please..." Nothing else is coming out of you at this point; except for hot tears streaming down the side of your face. "Well," the bastard sighs, pressing down his pelvis on your abdomen while having the audacity to smirk when looking down at you, "we had to sacrifice a virgin. But surely it's going to work the same if I put that mouth to work." The dread of his words does not set in till his free hand reaches for the button on his pants to undo it. The more you try to push away from him, the tighter he grips your throat. Oh, Gods! Just let me die instead. He is halfway undoing his zipper when a sound cracks through the air. It almost sounds like a very quiet motor either just starting or just stopping. And the closer it gets, it starts taking the shape of a growl coming from the throat of an animal. The man is distracted now; looking for the source of the sound. Loosening his grip a bit, he turns around to let his vision get as far in the dark as it could to look for anything out of the ordinary. And while he is busy, it is you who notices its presence and choose not to make a sound. The man turns around to look right into red eyes gleaming at him from a distance of three inches, sending him jumping up and crawling back on the ground as far away from you as possible. Huge white canines visible even in this darkness are on display as this four-legged creature growls in your captor's direction. A twisted horn rests majestically on each side of its head. Paws as huge as a lion's, but claws twice as big and dark as the night are resting on either side of your shoulder. The fur seems dark and dense except for where pointed bones are protruding out on its back. The growl revving in this creature's throat is enough for the predator to crawl back further with his heart stuck in his throat. And before he can figure out what demonic hell this creature had walked out from, he comes to discover another wave of fear when he sees a shadow behind it in between two trees. That shadow seems human. Human enough at the very least until he thought he was hallucinating that figure with gleaming green eyes. "Wh-who's there?!" the man's voice starts in a scream ends up in a squeak. "Get that ugly dog away from here!" The 'ugly dog' shifts from your side to take a few steps towards the bastard, metaphorically pinning him in between the roots of the trees he was sweating in. "Hey!" he shouted again at the shadow, "can't you hear me?!" You sit up, watching the creature slowly ready itself for attack mode. Turning around, you too are able to see a figure. It looks tall and is evidently clad in something heavy. Is that a sword in his hand? But that sword is not as concerning as those illuminated green pupils. "You son of a bitch! Get the fuck out of here before I stab you and your filthy farm ani-" "Rífa hann í sundur," is all you hear in a low hum from that figure's end one second. The next, there are growls and blood-curdling screams emerging from behind you; haunting enough to make you jump and curl up where you sit but never move your eyes away from that shadow that still stands as still as a rock. Tears still fall from your eyes; your legs pulled as close to your chest as possible. The screams continue to come out for a long time...long enough for you to notice a snowflake fall on your knee. More snowflakes come after the first one. And once the screams die down, you feel something brush your hands, almost making your heart fall out, only to realise that creature standing right behind you nudging at your ropes to gnaw your hands out of them. The adrenaline rush has diluted now. The pain and exhaustion that comes with it now lie heavy in your bones. Your eyes cannot take it anymore. But they still want to see that figure which now takes the liberty to walk out of the shadows underneath the clear light of the nearest moon. Your body is ready to fall but the creature provides some support to your lifeless limbs. Its fur feels so good on your cheeks. And that pale face coming to a stop in front of you feels almost angelic. Those green eyes are looking at you with both concern and judgment but what your brain registers first is the moonlight falling on those otherworldly cheekbones framed with clean braids. You want to keep looking at that face for a few more minutes. But there is only so much your wounded body can take before everything is a blur. . You have already hit deep slumber when the God comes to stand before you. He gets down on his knees to get a close look at your face buried in the hound's face. "What do you think she's doing here, Agni?" Agni huffs and shifts enough to let the God have a better look at the face marred with wounds and bruises. A face that still looks so serene after putting up such a fight. The long pale fingers move those few strands of hair away that are blocking your features under the light of the moons. Calculations have already been done in that mind. What's left is to figure out whether to leave you here in the depth of the endless garden or... "Agni-" that voice commands with zero emotions, still studying your features- "call out for help. We are taking this one back to the camp."

#loki #loki x reader #loki x female reader #loki x you #loki x y/n #loki fluff #loki smut #marvel fluff #marvel smut #mcu fluff #mcu smut #fluff #smut #fanfic #loki fanfic #loki series #into the thick of it #taris1kchallenge #tarithenurse

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retiredcultistredux · 11 months

Note

Zan, Are you doing alright? Was that some of Ester's Magic?

Zan: "His ability to get into people's minds can cause quite a headache...and the more you start to believe the lies he tries to show and tell you, the further you deteriorate...though...I know it's not real. ...But focusing so hard on trying to resist...trying to ignore it when it's so loud...it isn't doing much to stop the pain..."

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m-y-fandoms · 3 years

Text

1 Thing I Love & 1 Thing I Hate About EVERY Danganronpa Character Part 1

Part 2

SPOILERS FOR ALL THREE MAIN GAMES

I’d love to hear our opinions as well in the comments or my inbox or DM’s! If you try this trend with DR characters, tag me!

Sayaka Maizono

♡ Her passion for her career and friends.

✘ The way she tries to screw over Makoto when the game had just begun. Like wait and see what happens before screwing over such a great guy? Leon didn’t deserve it either.

Leon Kuwata

♡ His voice actor (English), and how real and human his execution was in that we all would be so scared and irrational. It was just so iconic and sad as it’s our first introduction to the death in this series and we all think: “shit, this is real... they are really killing these kids.” I didn’t think it would be that brutal, just seeing his body limp at the end with the haunting music.

✘ His design is disgusting. I hate how he looks.

Chihiro Fujisaki

♡ So innocent, so kind, so intelligent

✘ Shouldn’t have been killed for such a stupid reason, also they did Mondo dirty with that motive for killing as well. Just a mess. As for the actual character, Chihiro cries right off the bat when you do your introductions and that was kind of annoying to me personally.

Mondo Oowada

♡ He has a lot of respect, understanding and emotions for someone I thought would be a hard-ass douche biker.

✘ The worst motive to kill ever in a game where you know you’re getting executed if you’re found out. Like you’d be extra careful and that’s his reason to kill? Lazy writing.

Celestia Ludenberg

♡ Bad bitch energy and her goth lolita design.

✘ Manipulation and double murder. Bad bitch energy only goes so far. Confidence is different then selfishness. Also, of all the chapter 3 triple murders... the worst motive to kill.

Kiyotaka Ishimaru

♡ Emotions: secure in his masculinity, able to cry, show emotions, and apologize when he’s wrong. He’s funny and likable.

✘ The Ishimondo white hair thing was stupid. Taka was fine on his own.

Hifumi Yamada

♡ Writing takes talent, fan fiction as much as any other style or genre. Also the talent of his voice actor (who also voices Kiibo/K1-B0).

✘ Literally everything else about him.

Sakura Oogami

♡ I love everything about her. I love her wisdom, loyalty, design, voice etc. Just step on me, mother.

✘ Why the hell would she ever agree to be a spy even if it meant the end of her dojo? I just don’t think she would do that rationally because she isn’t selfish. The others would suffer for her spying. She remedies this with redemption in her letter in chapter 4 but still she should’ve said no off the bat. Everyone had something to lose. The dojo wasn’t worth spying for monokuma. Also I just don’t think she would commit suicide. She can’t help the remaining students survive and redeem herself truly if she’s dead.

Kyoko Kirigiri

♡ Bad bitch energy, calm and collected when I could never be.

✘ Especially in future arc of the anime, damn can you show some emotion please? Through your words and expressions not just your actions. Sure she was willing to “die” for Makoto but like I just want more emotion from her sometimes, even in THH.

Makoto Naegi

♡ So pure. I Love Bryce Papenbrook. Makoto reminds me of Sora and I love his design.

✘ In THH I didn’t mind his innocence but in the Danganronpa 3 future arc anime, when people started straight up abusing him and accusing him, he needed to grow a little backbone.

Byakuya Togami

♡ Love my dad, king shit, also love how over the progression of the games and animes he becomes a little more kind to his friends.

✘ Why the fuck did he mess with Chihiro’s body? Just so cruel and disrespectful.

Yasuhiro Hagakure

♡ Funny magic man. Sexy voice.

✘ Please. Please Hiro use your brain just once. Why do we have to prove Kyoko isn’t a ghost?!

Toko Fukawa

♡ Character development in UDG and I love Genocider.

✘ Putting down herself and others constantly gets old in THH.

Aoi Asahina

♡ Love her voice actress and her personality

✘ We really just gonna get everyone killed in chapter 4 huh? Surely you know they don’t all deserve that.

Junko Enoshima

♡ A very memorable villain with great hair and design.

✘ I just can’t stand her. I hate her so much.

Mukuro Ikusaba

♡ Her mercenary background is super cool as a concept.

✘ Too bad it wasn’t explored nearly enough.

Hajime Hinata

♡ Seeing the protagonist be a little less naive, innocent and positive than Makoto was a refreshing change, although I loved Makoto. I liked Hajime’s cynicism and expressions that sometimes just screamed “this shit again, huh?”

✘ I enjoy the way Izuru looks but I hate him as a character. He is sexy to look at but Hajime is just a better character overall

Teruteru Hanamura

♡ His love for his family and mother especially is so cute and heart breaking if you know the full story.

✘ He needs to know when to dial it back and quit with the perversions. And no it’s not just how he looks, Miu needs to chill at times, too.

Twogami

♡ I feel like he genuinely cares about his friends, just hides it well

✘ His death felt like a cop out and poorly written. It just didn’t sit right with me. Also his design is disgusting to me, his outfit and such.

Mahiru Koizumi

♡ Loyal to her close friends.

✘ I just have no interest in her as a character and I find her boring.

Peko Pekoyama

♡ Loyalty. Loyalty is something I value very highly in every form of relationship. Peko is also very hot.

✘ Come on girl... I know how you were raised but you should’ve known Fuyuhiko didn’t think of you as just a tool and you two should’ve expressed your true feelings long ago. Like even in secret. How do you live like this? Also I feel like killing Mahiru could’ve been avoided with a calm talk.

Ibuki Mioda

♡ Cute design, positive vibes.

✘ Cringe sometimes in the way she talks.

Hiyoko Saionji

♡ Beautiful character design and some very good insults and snarky remarks at times.

✘ Just irredeemably mean and annoying. Even when you do her free time events she is just so annoying.

Mikan Tsumiki

♡ I like her design as well as her hair, expressions, sprites and clothing.

✘ I hate her. I just hate her whether she’s in her true psycho form or timid stuttering form. She’s just annoying in my opinion.

Nekomaru Nidai

♡ So supportive, can hold my drink at a party. Respects everyone and wants the best for them.

✘ Bro Mechamaru was a stupid plot point. I just couldn’t stand looking at him and couldn’t take it seriously. Still sad when he died though.

Chiaki Nanami

♡ From chapter 5 of sdr2 on she is impossible not to love if you didn’t already. Just the selflessness, the sadness of the reveal and execution, how she returns to help Hajime at the end???? I love her. I love her hair design, color palette, her personality, everything.

✘ I’m bitter and miserable about her being the only class member to actually die (the despair arc anime) also her falling asleep at random times is kind of odd and she doesn’t seem to be like that later on in the game??? Like it seemed like a cheap joke but not actually who she is? Hard for me to explain.

Gundham Tanaka

♡ King shit, couldn’t praise him enough. He’s sexy, loves animals, and is funny as hell sometimes. His voice actor is a saint and a cool dude and I named my guinea pigs after the Dark Devas (yes I know they are hamsters in the games.)

✘ Come on dude. I get that being from Hell and magic and having evil powers is your shtick, but we all know that you and Nekomaru sacrificed yourselves so the others wouldn’t starve. We know you care about your classmates. There comes a time when it’s time to let personas and facades fade and be true to your heart. I just feel like him denying he cared at the end hurt. We all know he cared. I didn’t like how he was haughty until the end. He deserved better. I love him.

Nagito Komaeda

♡ I love him so much. So cunning and intelligent, always a step ahead. And he’s big sexy.

✘ Him killing himself in chapter 5 hurt me so bad I was like in denial for days. Also hate how Bryce Papenbrook gives him a raspy stoner psycho voice in the game then a light airy higher-pitched voice in the despair arc anime. It just bothers me. I love his voice still but the inconsistency just hurts my OCD

Sonia Nevermind

♡ I love that she’s so interested in her passions and love her feelings for Gundham

✘ Her outfit and bow are atrocious. Also why didn’t she start liking and talking to Gundham sooner on? Their romance bloomed late and it would’ve made for a better chapter 4 ending if they were a bit closer.

Kazuichi Souda

♡ Cool design and outfit, love his voice (also voices Kaito in V3) and his backstory is relatable at times. He’s also very human in that he’s scared a lot of the time or insecure or blames others in panicked situations. It’s not always a good thing but it’s human and realistic.

✘ Gosh he can be so annoying. Sometimes flirting or whining too much is well... too much.

Akane Owari

♡ Strong-willed and definitely someone I would be friends with

✘ What the hell is her outfit? Gymnasts and athletes don’t wear that shit. Stop objectifying her when it doesn’t even make the product or plot better. Like there’s absolutely no point to making her dress that way. I was a gymnast for 15 years. Even those who do parkour (which Akane seems to do more often than actual gymnastics in the anime and game) don’t wear what she wears. Also she’s underrated.

Fuyuhiko Kuzuryuu

♡ I love him. He’s the DR character I’m most like out of all the games and anime. Tenko is a close second. I think he’s adorable, love his character arc, development, redemption, and love his voice.

✘ In the anime/despair arc, Fuyuhiko is not done justice. He doesn’t get enough lines, has a different voice actor, just doesn’t give off the same vibes.

Izuru Kamakura

♡ Sexy man long hair good.

✘ Boring character. I wish he were just Hajime.

Kaede Akamatsu

♡ Loyalty and leadership are such attractive qualities in her. Also she faced her death with such class and dignity and I respect her because I could never.

✘ Some of the voice lines Erika does for her are just weird and cringe. Just random moans or grunts... I don’t know it’s like when Ann Takamaki from Persona 5 (also voiced by Erika) makes suggestive noises as well. Just grinds my gears. Also hate her outfit down to the hair pins.

Shuichi Saihara

♡ I love his nasally voice. I love his design and he’s so adorable. I love how emotional and compassionate he can be. He ties with Makoto for favorite protag of mine.

✘ That sprite where he sniffs his hand. And his ugly ass hat.

Rantarou Amami

♡ Sexy man, sexy voice, sexy piercings

✘ Ugly outfit, and wasted potential

Ryoma Hoshi

♡ I respect him and feel bad for his outlook on life and for how poorly he views himself. I love his little hat as well and he’s the first “different styled” character (Hifumi, Bandai, Teruteru) that I liked the design of.

✘ I hate when he says “got a long ways to go,” it’s overused and annoying, and wish he gave himself more credit. Also hate that when you first meet him he warns you that he’s killed people and is dangerous to be around. Come on buddy, you know you wouldn’t hurt your friends. Stop pushing them away.

Kirumi Tojo

♡ Competence, well rounded, skillful

✘ Boring as hell. I wouldn’t waste one free time event on her.

Angie Yonaga

♡ Dark skin, super cute, love her talent as an artist myself.

✘ Gives religious people a bad name and is super manipulative which I hate.

Tenko Chabashira

♡ I relate to her and feel bad when she’s misunderstood. She’s a good person deep down. Also love her sprites.

✘ There’s more cunning, funny and clever ways to write her digs at men.

Korekiyo Shunguuji

♡ I’m in love with this man. Long hair, voice, mystery, mask, intelligence, passion, talent.

✘ He definitely was a victim of abuse and a lot of people refuse to see that and just hate him. Team Danganronpa should’ve given him a redemption arc where he realized his sister abused him and changed.

Gonta Gokuhara

♡ I love his design except for his suit. Also he’s so cute and naive. I cried for his trail.

✘ No need talk like caveman. Better way to do this.

Kokichi Ouma

♡ Like Nagito, I value his intelligence and crazy cunning.

✘ Shouldn't have died. Also shouldn’t have manipulated Gonta. That was just cruel.

Miu Iruma

♡ She has her hilarious moments and her death surprised me and was sad.

✘ Sometimes she lacks basic empathy, i.e. calling Tenko “Tencrotch” when she just fucking died.

Maki Harukawa

♡ Amazing character development. Didn’t see her surviving until the end at the start. Also her love and passion for Kaito.

✘ “Do you wanna die?” gets old.

Kaito Momota

♡ Just the overall best bro you could ever have.

✘ Has some toxic masculinity issues and anger issues.

K1-B0

♡ Pretty much everything about him. His design, his attitude and personality, especially how amazing and cool he is chapter 5 onward, his execution made me so sad. He’s so innocent and funny without trying.

✘ When you do his free time events he’s very arrogant and just talks about himself a lot... it seems odd and not similar to the Kiibo we see throughout the game.

Himiko Yumeno

♡ Super cute design, love her voice and “Nyeh...” and her sprites. Her character development is great as well.

✘ Why did they take so long to make her important and likable?

Tsumugi Shirogane

♡ An excellent and well hidden reveal

✘ I hate her. So annoying, from the voice to the references and her personality.

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lazuli-bloom · 3 years

Text

Roses and Styx

Chapter 1 - An Inconvenient Attachment

Beetlejuice x Reader

Word Count : 5365

Sure life wasn’t always easy, it had it’s ups and downs, but you were doing alright for yourself. Mostly. However when you find a strange sight while on your lunch break one autumn afternoon, your life gets all the more unusual.

Archive | Next Chapter

--=--=--

The sun beat down on you, unobstructed by a single cloud in the vibrant blue sky. A pleasant breeze wafted by, chilling the heat of the sun’s kiss. Summer was in its death throes, but stayed determined to linger as long as possible. It gave an odd contrast to the scenery. The blazing warmth of a summer sun illuminating the turning leaves and tombstones on that early October afternoon.

You sat on a stone bench enjoying your lunch in the quiet peace of the graveyard. Most people avoided visits to the cemetery, not wanting to keep the company of the dead. You, however, frequented it. With few visitors and lovely Gothic inspired architecture, the cemetery made a relaxing place for lunch breaks. Plus, it was only a short walk from your job.

While there were benches throughout the graveyard, your favorite spot was one off in the corner and closest to the gate. That day, however, there had been a funeral held in that corner of the cemetery. So as not to impose, you picked a different bench to occupy. You tried to not let your gaze stay fixed on the graveside service, but the task proved to be easier said than done. The funeral repeatedly pulled your attention back to it by partly virtue of being an event you’ve rarely seen.

Many people, dressed in black, all focused on one grave. Most of the figures standing there were adults, but among the crowd were children clinging onto parents. The group was too far to get a proper look at any of the mourners, but there was one that stuck out. A man, slightly broad in build, wore a peculiar striped suit with wide vertical bars in black and white. You noted the clothing choice as strange, but tried not to judge. Perhaps he wasn’t able to get a solid black suit on short notice.

The strange pattern of the suit made it easy to pick him out against the other mourners. He didn’t stay still. He moved around, seeming to want to get other’s attention only to be ignored. The man’s bizarre actions, coupled with the indifference of the crowd, were major reasons you kept glancing back to the funeral.

You shake your head and check your phone, almost two o’clock. Time to head back to work. You grab your trash and get up with a stretch. With one last glance back to the funeral, you find the striped suit man looking back your way. You pay him no mind and check your phone once more before heading to leave.

To wring the most time and relaxation out of your lunch, you amble back to the hardware store. You turn to the next street where brick shops sat side by side. On the corner was a shop with a rounded, sun-faded green awning stretched over most of the front facade. Your eye glanced over the printed “Rose Creek Hardware” in yellow letters for what must have been the millionth time.

The bell above the door chimed as you stepped inside. To your left an older mustached man stood behind the front counter. He wore a light blue button down under a green apron, both tight around his rounder stomach. He gave you a warm smile that you returned.

“Back from lunch already, Cass?”

“Yeah. It’s really nice out today, I can hardly believe it’s October already.”

“Hopefully, when I get the Halloween decorations up, it’ll give things a more autumn feel.”

“Can’t wait to see it, Mr. Turner! Oh, and is Sam still here? Or have they left already?”

“They’re still around. Sam was helping the new hire.”

You nod and make your way behind the counter to retrieve your apron. After you get the strings tied, you do a sweep of the store. You found Sam in the back corner pulling merchandise forward. They didn’t notice you straight away, so you softened your footsteps for your approach. You stayed at their back until they turned enough one way that you could slip around to their side and not get caught in Sam’s peripheral. Once close enough to the shelving yourself, you slap your hands down on a bare spot- “-Missed a spot!”

Sam seized up, grabbing the shelf for support. “Geez, dude! You trying to kill me?” A wide grin breaks across your face. You chuckle to yourself as Sam regained some composure. They took a breath, shot you a glare, and got back to work.

“Heard you were training the new guy.”

“Yeah, he left already.”

“What’s he like?”

“Eh. Kinda boring? White bread personified, if you ask me. Dude came in with a dress shirt and tie.”

You shrug and start helping pull forward items. While turning products to have labels front-facing you continue on with your conversation. “Sounds like all I��ll have left to talk to will be Mr. Turner.”

There was a pause in that moment, and a sting of sorrow poked at your heart. You do your best to smother the feeling and focus on your work. It’s better to cherish the moment. You force yourself to smile and keep your chat going.

“So, there was a funeral today-”

Sam groaned and rolled their eyes at you. “You went to that creepy graveyard again? How are you not haunted?”

“Hey! I told you, it’s close by and usually quiet. I enjoy taking my lunches there. Anyway, there was a funeral and one guy there was in a weird suit with black and white stripes. Kinda like the Hamburglar.”

“I swear. You’re a magnet for the weirdest shit. It’s all those shitty movies you watch that seep into your head. How the hell do you not get nightmares?”

You stay silent and look over the product in your hand as your mind wandered back to your most recent nightmare. Piercing blue dots masked in shadow, watching every move you made. You shake your head to dismiss the thought.

You huff out a small laugh. “Guess that stuff just doesn’t get to me.”

“Whatever. Just don’t let any of your weirdness rub off on my cat.”

You press your lips into a tight line and tap your finger against the pliers in hand. “You sure there isn’t anywhere else he can go?”

“Cassie, I already told you I checked.”

“I’m just worried. I don’t think this is a good idea. My apartment doesn’t allow pets.”

“It’s just for two weeks. I’ll pick him up on the sixteenth. Hell, that’s not even a full two weeks, just thirteen days. You’ll be fine.” Sam finished with their side of the aisle and took a step back. “When do you want me to drop him off?”

You breathe out through your nose and make a noise somewhere between a hum and a groan. “Seven should be alright. Donna’s always heads out to the bars on Saturdays, so it should be clear by then.”

“You need to lighten up and not worry so much. Maybe a cute roommate is exactly what you need.”

You don’t give a reply and go back to work. The two of you split off and start tackling other sections of the store. Time marched on, and all too soon, Sam’s last shift ended. Mr. Turner bid them a farewell with a handshake and handed Sam their last paycheck. You give them a small wave and focus back on your task. You knew full well you were going to see them later that night, so you didn’t see the point of having a drawn out goodbye right then.

Once Sam left, the rest of the day dragged on slower than a sloth on crutches. When there weren’t any customers needing help, you talked with Mr. Turner. It gave you something to do, sure, but time still crawled.

That day was one of the worst kinds you can have in retail. The kind that’s just slow enough you bored out of your mind, and peppered with enough customers that you couldn’t slack off and dick around on the store’s desktop. It’s like they coordinated to space themselves out to be the most annoying.

As grueling as it took to get there, five-thirty eventually rolled around. You and the boss took the last half hour to close the store. Sweep, wipe down the counters, count the till, all that good stuff. You were in the middle of dusting when Mr. Turner handed you an envelope. You thanked him and opened it to count the bills inside. Five whole Benjamins. With another thanks, you move the bills into your wallet and get back to dusting.

Once all finished, you headed out, followed by your boss. He locked the front door and walked with you around the side to the small parking lot. He hopped into his old pickup while you climbed into your little junker. The bucket of rust masquerading as a car was on its way out, but you planned on getting every mile out of it you could. Mr. Turner had driven off by the time you coaxed your car into starting. The car sputtered and hissed, but you got the clunker going.

The drive to your apartment complex was as mundane and silent as ever. Your only option for music was to sing it yourself, since the previous owner had beaten the hell out of the radio. CDs weren’t an option either as the owner before the last had stuffed the disc slot full of cookies. For what reason remained a mystery.

You drum your fingers on the steering wheel as you drove, watching familiar sites go by as you neared your apartment. Nicer well-kept buildings and streets slowly turned to the more rundown variety. The street grew more broken and in increasingly desperate need of repairs as you went.

Building after building, you passed by until finally it was time to turn off. You pull up to your complex’s parking lot, just as run down as the roads leading to it. Two buildings sat facing each other, both in contest for which one can be the most rundown. Your building nudged ahead of its twin with the recent addition of graffiti marring the exterior.

You park in your designated spot, managing to not bump up against the two cars encroaching on your space. You worm your way out without adding anymore dents to the black sedan, and head to the complex’s front door. Standing near the door with a cigarette between clawed yellowed fingers was a scrawny older woman with a perpetual sneer on her wrinkled face. Cold steel eyes narrowed at you as you dared to approach the harpy.

“Hi Donna. How are you?”

“Parker! Where’s the rest of your rent?”

You force a smile to mask the spike of irritation. This harpy is going to be the death of you. You clear your throat to help prevent your ire from bleeding out into your tone.

“Right here, Donna. I get my pay on Saturdays.”

“Not my problem. Rent is due in full on the first. Today is the third.”

“I tried paying you last Saturday, but you-”

“The first, you stupid child. Not Before. Not after.”

“Yes Donna, I know. I’m sorry, I needed to replace a flat tire an-.”

“I don’t want to hear your excuses. Just pay the rest of your rent and get out of my sight. You worthless leech, can’t even follow basic instructions.”

You press your lips into a tighter line to keep yourself from screaming at the horrid bat. It was best to bite your tongue and get the interaction over and done with as quick as you could. You pull out your wallet and hand over four bills. It was nice while it lasted.

Donna snatched the money from you and promptly counted it. Once satisfied, she took a long drag off her cigarette. She ordered you to leave while smoke seeped out of her mouth like a dragon.

You didn’t need to be told twice. You hurried off to your apartment, climbing the stairs to the second floor and making a beeline for your door at the end of the hall.

You shut the door, leaning against it and breathed out a deep breath. After calming yourself some, you set your keys on the counter by the door and step further into your little abode.

You make your way back to the small living room and crash on the dingy brown love-seat, tossing your phone onto the stained coffee table. You lean back and stare at the ceiling. A boring white painted over heavy popcorn texture, collecting all kinds of dust. You close your eyes and let your mind wander, wanting to squeeze some relaxation time out of the rest of the day. Too bad your phone rang.

Sam called to tell you they were on their way with the cat. You told them to be careful and not let Donna see them on the off chance that she hadn’t left for the bar yet. Sam, however, brushed aside your concerns and told you not to be so worried. You pinched the bridge of your nose and groaned at that. Sam wasn’t the one that had to deal with Donna and hopefully never will.

It wasn’t until a long while later that there was a knock at your front door. A quick check through the peephole showed you Sam was on the other side with a backpack and pet carrier. You open the door and hurry them inside. Sam stepped in, stopping in the space between the kitchen and living area, and looked over the place.

“Wow. This place is shitty.”

“Thanks, hadn’t noticed.”

Sam set the carrier down on your couch, and the cat inside growled in a low tone. Sam took off their backpack next and handed that one over to you.

“Here’s all of Rigel’s things; food, bowls, litter box, toys. I’ll be back in town to get the last of my stuff on the sixteenth, and I’ll pay you then.”

“I thought we agreed half now and half when you got back?”

“It’ll be easier to just pay you all at once.”

You drum your fingers on your thigh and let out a sigh. “Alright, fine. It will be nice to get two hundred dollars all at once.”

“See! You fuss over the smallest things.”

You change the topic by offering Sam something to drink but they declined. Sam still needed to pack up a few more boxes before the end of the night. You nod and give a small wave goodbye, only for Sam to pull you into a hug. Your muscles tense up, but you did your best to return Sam’s sudden hug.

There was a unique funk around Sam that made the hug even more challenging to bear. An overly strong lavender tried and failed to cover some mix of sweat and burnt coffee. Sam left shortly after, telling you to just call them should you need anything. You nodded and waved them off.

Once they left, you turn to Rigel stuck in his carrier. His hissing got louder the closer you got to the carrier, and was full on slashing at the front when you reached down to open it.

You recoil and let him be for the moment, choosing to set up his things in the bathroom instead. While your bathroom was on the smaller side, it seemed big enough for one cat to stay in. You pack up all the various toiletries that a bored cat might knock down and set out Rigel’s things. Litter box in the corner across from the shower stall, while his food and water were against the opposite wall between the door and the sink.

With that set up you go get the carrier. You did your best not to jostle it too much, but Rigel wasn’t pleased and let you know. He let out some of the most chilling demonic screeches as he knocked against the fabric carrier, desperate to break loose and slaughter you. You set the carrier down in the closet, closing one of the bi-fold doors so he had a dark corner to hide in. You braced yourself with a few steadying breaths before swiftly unzipping the front. Once open, you pull your hand back and leave the bathroom completely, making sure the door shut behind you.

You did your best to salvage the rest of your night, enjoying your cup of noodles while watching a movie. It was a B-Movie slasher about a supernatural being going on a killing spree in Las Vegas. And this somehow led to the being going to space in the next film. Overall, it was pretty cheesy, but got a few laughs from you.

Soon you had to wrap things up and head to bed. You sneak into the bathroom to swipe your toothbrush and clean them at the kitchen sink that night, and probably for the next two weeks. With a yawn and a stretch you change into sleepwear and crawl into your bed.

Sleep didn’t come to you easily, but it wasn’t a night full of endless tossing and turning, either. The rest you got didn’t feel like enough, as the buzzing of your alarm woke you too early for your liking.

You sat up rubbing your eyes and checked your phone for the time. The small screen on the back of the thin flip phone showed the time was seven o’ two. You heave out a sigh and pull the warm covers off.

While your body went through the motions of your morning routine, your mind wandered back to the images you saw in your dream. An island floated in the middle of a dark ocean with storm clouds rumbling high above. The cold wet sand pricked against your bare feet like needles, yet you kept on walking. You had found yourself on a rickety dock at least fifteen feet above the violent waves below. There was nothing around you, but you knew you weren’t alone. Down below, lurking beneath the water, two hungry orbs of blue glared up at you, waiting. Expecting. When you didn’t move from your perch, the beast thrashed at the pillars of the dock. You lost your footing and tumbled down to the abyss.

You shook your head, forcing your thoughts to jump back to the present. Chills ran down your spine as the nightmare crawled around in the back of your mind, clawing its way forward. You stuffed it as far back as possible and carried on with your morning.

You soon were out the door and on your way to work. You grip the toilet paper wrapped over your forearm, letting the lines of blood soak into it so it can better rest on your arm. Rigel had given you a few nasty scratches when you got him fresh water, the ungrateful bastard. At least there’s a first aid kit at work.

The bell above the door chimed as you looked at the time on your phone. The damn cat almost made you late for work. You make your way to the back room to grab your apron, only to bump into a man turning the corner. It took a second to get your bearings and notice you ran right into Mr. Turner.

“Oh shit. Sorry, sir.”

He laughed and waved you off. “Morning Cass, see you’re in a hurry.”

“Ah- no, well, kinda. I hit every red light getting here and-”

“You’re fine, don’t worry. No need to rush. Just get your apron and I’ll introduce you to the new guy.”

You nod and scurry back to grab the green apron. It hung by itself on the hooks, speckled in paint and smudges. By that point the thing was overdue to get tossed and replaced, but the same thing would end up happening to the next apron.

You throw it on and tie it behind yourself before going out to the sales floor. Mr. Turner stood next to a man younger than himself but older than you. The boss was the first to notice you and gave another wave. “There they are.”

The new guy turned and flashed you a wide smile, showing off straight white teeth in a hollow smile. Tamping down the disquiet, you force yourself to offer a smile in return. The man strode up to you and held out a hand. “Great to meet you, I’m Brandon! Mr. Turner was just telling me how great of a worker you are-” He squinted at your apron before going back to that fake smile- “Art. Interesting name.”

“Thanks,” you said, and hesitated a moment before taking his hand for a brief shake. On contact that strange buzz of discomfort shot from your palm through the rest of your arm. Once your hand was free, you fight the urge to rub off the non-existent traces of him. There wasn’t anything there, nothing real, and you knew that, but more than anything you wanted that feeling gone and the only way for it to leave was to brush it off. Why did people have to insist on handshakes, just needless physical contact with strangers? It’s stupid, and you hated it.

For the first half of your shift the boss had you go over the day-to-day tasks with Brandon. There were few customers in the store that Sunday morning, so you mostly had the guy pull forward merchandise and clean some shelves. Brandon did the tasks, but they all came with questions. Most of the questions were mundane things about the products stocked, store hours, and what times saw the most customers. The problem came when Brandon veered his questions towards you personally.

“So, is Art short for anything?”

“Artemis.”

Your answer was short and pointed. You already didn’t like that he was the type to read name tags over asking for someone’s name.

“Interesting. So you from around here?”

A shiver shot through you, and you’re quick to stop that line of questions. You ignore the question entirely, instead cutting in to tell him to finish front-facing the aisle while you go check on Mr. Turner.

The day dragged on until finally getting to your lunch break. Brandon, thankfully, caught on that you weren’t one to disclose much about yourself to a new face. However, that didn’t make the morning smooth sailing. You grab your lunch and speed off to the cemetery, eager to get a break from Brandon.

Your usual bench was free, and you took your place to enjoy lunch. Munching on your meal, you take in the sights, finding a serenity in the quiet. The sun shined brightly, causing some of the glossier headstones to reflect the rays. You hum to yourself and scan over the graveyard. To your surprise, you spotted someone in the far corner opposite you. Your brows furrowed, perplexed by the other. You watched the figure, curious of what they’re doing.

They wandered from gravestone to gravestone, kicking at the earth with hands stuffed into pockets. The build of the figure suggested a man, and one dressed in monochrome. You squint your eyes at them making sure you weren’t mistaken; but no, that was the same bizarre suit you saw a man wearing the day prior.

You keep your gaze fixed on him, wanting to figure out why he might be here a second day in a row visiting completely different graves. Did the man simply like to visit graveyards and have a limited wardrobe? If so, you didn’t want to comment on the matter out of fear of shattering the glass house.

You ate lunch with glances at the man. You wanted to piece together why he might be there. He wasn’t mourning; he moved from one grave to the next as if searching for something. The man in the weird suit went down one row of graves, heading away from you, only to hit the end and turn back for the next row.

You forced yourself to not look at him for fear of getting caught. But your curiosity burned, and you chanced a look up. He didn’t notice you, too engrossed in whatever he was doing. Embolden by that, you continue to munch away at your food and sneak glances at him. That is, until you swallowed wrong and went into a coughing fit.

You got your breathing under control a minute later and checked to see if he noticed. And oh boy, did he notice. The man was staring straight at you. It was awkward enough to get caught looking, but you noticed the man closing the gap between you two. He was still at the far end with well over two hundred feet between you, but you didn’t want to stick around and have that plummet to single digits.

Nope. You scoop up your belongings and speed-walk straight back to the store. You didn’t even chance a look behind you. Eyes forward and keep moving. You weren’t sure if he was actually still following; you didn’t hear any footsteps behind you. So that seemed like a good sign.

You blew past the door, bell violently chiming, and you made a beeline for the back. Your heart pounded against your ribs, wanting to break free and make a run for it. You take quick breaths, forcing the next to be longer than the last to get yourself to calm down. In the middle of collecting yourself, Mr. Turner walked into the back area with worry knitted on his brow.

“Cass, you alright? What’s wrong?”

“Is there a man in a striped suit in the store?”

He gave you a puzzled look, but left to do a sweep of the store. He came back half a minute later, shaking his head. “No, no one’s in the store dressed like that. What happened?”

“Nothing really. I just saw him in the cemetery and it looked like he was starting to follow me.”

He frowned. “Well, you just come to me if any creep is giving you a hard time. I’ll knock his teeth out for you.”

You manage a smile and nod. You take a few more breaths to calm down before you grab your apron. Things were going to be okay. The guy might not have even seen what store you went into. Heck, that guy probably didn’t even leave the cemetery. And even if he did, Mr. Turner was there to help you out of a tight spot. You smile a little brighter and step out onto the sales floor where you see the stripe suit guy looking at paint chips.

A strangled scream catches in your throat. You step back, dipping back into the employee’s only area of the store before he could see you. What the Hell were you going to do now? You couldn’t hide back there all day.

You push aside the fabric curtain dividing the sales floor from the back, and get a look at the man. With him much closer, you could see his green hair and the distressed look of his suit. He leaned forward, looking over the paint colors. Maybe he didn’t know you were back there. If so, you could wait in the back for a few minutes for him to just leave.

You close the curtain and slip your hands into your apron pockets. Your fingers brush over cool metal, and your thumb flicks up the slider on the side. It wasn’t much, but it was certainly better than nothing. Box cutter in hand, you look back out.

The stranger stayed put in front of the paint colors. You take a shallow breath, prepping yourself to go out. In the middle of psyching yourself up, you see Brandon wander over to the paint section. Hope bubbles up in you. The new guy can take care of him for you.

Brandon scanned over the section. He pushed down some color chips, looked over the desk before looking your way.

“Art! There you are.”

Brandon’s voice bellowed in the small store, not only earning a squeak from you but also causing the stranger to turn and look. You yank the curtain closed, hoping the man in the monochrome stripes didn’t get a good look at you.

Brandon parted the curtain a moment later and looked you over with knit brows and lips in a thin line. “Art, what are you doing back here? I don’t think it looks very professional for an employee to skulk around in the back all day.”

“The guy over at paint followed me from the cemetery.”

Brandon raised a brow at you. “There aren’t any customers in the store, and certainly not in paint, I would have seen them.” He pulled open the curtain with a flourish to reveal the man standing just on the other side. “See, no one’s there.”

Your eyes dart between the idiot holding back the curtain and the green-haired man tilting his head some with a grin plastered on his face. Thought processing came to a crawl as you tried making sense of what you were seeing. Your gaze lands on Brandon in the end.

“You don’t see anyone there?”

He rolled his eyes and looked back out to the sales floor. He then looked back at you with brows knitted further. “No, there’s no one there, Artemis. Perhaps you should stop taking your lunches in the cemetery if they’re just going to put scary thoughts in your head.”

Brandon frowned at you before stepping out onto the sales floor, going right through the man in the striped suit. He stopped to shiver, only to keep walking a second later. Once he left, your wide eyes landed on the man still standing there, still grinning and showing off sharp yellowed teeth.

“Hi there!”

Nope. Nope nope nope. You grab your box cutter and pull it out to point at the guy. And without a word you push aside the curtain more and go around the man. The man whined at your action and followed you.

“Come on babes! Don’t ignore me, I know you can see me!”

You keep walking, heading straight for Mr. Turner. He turns to you at your approach and the small smile fades from his face. “Cass? What’s wrong? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

The gravelly laugh behind you sent shivers down your spine. You did your best to shake off the feeling and forced a smile.

“I’m not feeling too good. I was hoping I could go home early today.”

His lips sink further into a frown, but he gave you a nod. “It’s fine by me. But what about that man you were talking about that followed you from the cemetery? Are you going to be okay?”

The man behind you continued to laugh. You tighten your hands into fists, the metal of the box cutter pressing hard into the flesh of your hand.

“Yeah, I’ll be okay Mr. Turner. See you tomorrow.”

He nodded, and you handed over your apron while keeping the box cutter in hand. You offer one last quick goodbye and head out the door, the bell only chiming once. You march down the sidewalk and hear the strange man continuing to talk.

“So, babes, where are we heading?”

You pause at your car door. You take a few quick breaths and finally respond to this... person. “I’m going home. I’m obviously not feeling well and seeing things that aren’t there.”

You slip into your car and promptly lock all the doors. You heave a sigh and lean against the steering wheel as your brain sorts through all this nonsense. A groan rumbles in your throat and you lean back in your seat. In your peripheral, the man in the striped suit sat in your passenger seat sporting a sharp grin. Well shit.

#beetlejuice #beetlejuice x reader #musical beetlejuice x reader #roses and styx #my writing

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harlowsage · 3 years

Text

Strange (CH)

{Part 1}

Pair: calum & Jude Armenta (fictional character)

Summary: Based on the song “Strange” by Celeste. The couple had broken up due to clashing schedules, resulting in Calum’s first ever taste of heart break.

Warnings: sprinkle of some angsty goodness.

Character preface: Jude Armenta is a Grammy winning producer who’s on the level of Kanye west and Max Martin.

Side note: Been a long minute since I’ve had any inspiration to start writing again. Promise to get better at story telling as time goes on. Warming up again.

ENJOY HEHE <333

https://harlowsage.tumblr.com/post/660389189201887232

(Story Moodboard)👆🏼

https://harlowsage.tumblr.com/post/660744341452718080/strange-ch

https://harlowsage.tumblr.com/post/660922684542238720/strange-ch-chapter-3

{part 3 is up👆🏼}

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It’s been a year since they broke up and went their separate ways, not because they wanted to, but because they had to. With the success of Calum and the bands career reigniting their popularity and even placing them on the same level as major artists such as The Weekend and Ariana Grande, all with the help of Jude who helped create their new sound with the last two albums they released.

Jude would never admit it, but she blamed herself for the break up. Calum tried, god knows he did, constantly trying to keep up with her although he was always touring while she was either in LA, New York, or Sweden producing music for artists like she’s supposed to. But due to their conflicting schedules, they had trouble communicating on a healthy level. It was always either Calum calling her before and after shows with her stuck in a studio with her phone put away somewhere, to her returning his calls and texting him a summary of her day and what kind of artists she was working with at the time. After a while, they slowly faded into strangers, once meaningful conversations turning into meaningless small talk.

One day Calum had showed up to their house in Topanga after a red eye from Spain, only to find Jude wide awake sitting on the side of the pool with her feet in the water smoking a joint. He joined her, sitting next to her crossing his legs staring at her painfully beautiful side profile. He noticed that his presence didn’t even affect her.

“It’s 5 in the morning, what are you doing up?” He asked in a tired voice.

“I have a flight back to New York in an hour, thought I’d come out to watch the sunrise while I wait for my ride” she hummed, still looking into the distance.

“I see” he hummed, not knowing what else to say.

They both sat there in silence for a few minutes, listening to the sound of birds chirping in the trees and crickets in the bushes.

“Calum”, she spoke, finally turning to look at him.

The look in her eyes made his stomach twist, there was hardly any warmth or admiration in them.

“I know”, he sighed, the sadness loud and clear in his tone.

“We tried, we really fucking tried. But I think it’s time we accept the evident truth” she choked out, her voice ever so slightly wavering.

“I love you”, he whispered, tears welling up in his eyes.

Jude bowed her head, her own tears forming.

“I love you, I always will” she whispered placing her hand on top of his.

He intertwined their fingers leaning into her pressing his lips to her cheek tasting the salty tears streaming down.

Jude pulled away, her lips pursed and eyebrows furrowed, she stared at him for a few seconds taking in the beauty that is him, before nodding her head and getting up.

“I have to leave, got a flight to catch. I uh, ima be staying there for a quite a bit, the house is yours” she said in an almost robotic like voice.

“No it’s yours, I’ll have my stuff moved out once I’m fully awake”, he tightly smiled trying to reassure her that he’s gonna be ok, even though they both clearly knew he wasn’t.

Jude could only nod her head, lingering for a moment until she heard the sound of the town car that was sent to take her to the airport. It was like a switch had turned off and she was on auto pilot.

Not having the guts to say good bye, she turned on her heel and grabbed her shoes along with a suitcase which Calum had just realized was there the entire time.

He could only watch her back as she walked further and further away until she was gone. It was then when he finally broke down clutching his shirt where his heart is.

After that day, the two hadn’t seen each other since. Calum only showed face to events he absolutely had to, while Jude turned down any public appearances even if she was winning awards. Not entirely because of Calum, although he was an aspect of it, she’s just always been the type of public figure who hates the concept of Hollywood.

When the Grammys came around, the band won album of the year, the album Jude had a big hand in. Ashton took lead and thanked her in the speech. Calum held a fake smile making sure to not waver his tight expression even though it pained to hear her name. But when you date the most famous producer in the industry it’s almost impossible to escape the near mention of their impactful presence.

Jude had the opposite effect on her, not being one for social media, she never kept up to date with the boys ever growing success. There would be countless weeks that would go by where she wouldn’t even have the slightest thought of Calum, until she’d hear a song that reminded her of him which would then cause an avalanche of memories hitting her. She wasn’t one to let emotions control her, so whenever he would seep into her mind she’d find something to distract her until he turned into a fading figment of her imagination. After a while she began to move on, meeting a fellow songwriter through a mutual friend. The two hit it off right off the bat. Next thing she knew, she was seeing him outside of work, grabbing lunch/dinner with him, inviting him into her New York loft, and vice versa.

Calum had heard through the grape vine that Jude was seeing someone. It drove him insane that she could move on so fast, when he was still hurting the way he was. He found himself growing a toxic habit of sleeping with women who reminded him of her. They all had long brown her with big brown eyes, but none of them could ever touch the enigmatic beauty that is Jude Armenta. The boys had to have a serious talk saying that sleeping around isn’t gonna fill the void he’s trying to cover up, it’s only gonna cause a deeper hole. He knew they were right. So he swore off having countless one nighters, to focusing all of his hurt into music.

As time passed he found it easier to go to sleep without reaching for her in the middle of the night. Days felt slightly brighter and his mind was no longer consumed of thoughts revolving around Jude. He was finally getting better and beginning to move on with his life.

That was until he caught sight of her at cafe that he knew was her favorite to eat at, she was sitting at a table outside, captivated by a book she was reading. Her hair was cut short accentuating her heart shaped face, she was wearing cut off shorts paired with some old vintage tee from her dads collection, and some sunglasses sitting on the bridge of her nose. To the common eye no one would even know that was her, but spending countless hours admiring her beauty up close, it was so natural that he would be able to spot her.

“Jude”, he whispered.

…..

Lemme know what you think, and if I should continue this story :)

#calum hood #calum hood imagine #calum hood fanfic #calum hood fluff #calum hood blurbs #calum hood smut #calum hood fic #5sos fanfic #5sosedit #5sos blurbs #5sos smut #calum 5sos #5sos imagine #5 seconds of summer #5 seconds of smut #calum imagine #calum smut #famfiction

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agxthahxrkness · 3 years

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Heartbeats Under the Floorboards

After the events of Westview, Agatha Harkness is forced to reflect on herself in order to have a chance to save another.

Rated M

Agatha/Wanda (mentioned)

Chapter 1: Reflections

It had taken weeks to break free of the mind control, but in the aftermath of the lowering of the Hex, her mind has started to register what had occurred. As the oppression dwindled, Agatha became herself once more, albeit a little exhausted from the strain. The girl had been powerful, just as the myths foretold, although as she had mentioned to young Wanda, the chaos magic cast within the Hex were doomed to be broken eventually. After a few short days of regaining her strength, she caught herself curious of the after effects of all the chaos magic. What had it done to those around her, to the very fabric of reality that surrounded the town?

She was gone in the blink of an eye. All of her belongings, every shred of evidence she could've left behind, even her rabbit familiar. It was as if Agatha... Agnes, had never existed within the small town of Westview. Even though she was well aware that someone would come looking. The Sorcerer Supreme would've most definitely felt the aftershocks of power and chaos colliding over Westview. Perhaps the echoes were felt through the Multiverse as well. It was best that she lay low. Even though this place had felt like a home, it definitely wasn't one in the slightest, even if she did enjoy her stay for the most part.

Agatha sat back in an old leather chair in her residence safely tucked away in her own little pocket dimension she had conjured in Salem. As painful as this place was, it was her first and only real home. Her blue eyes gazed over at one of her many bookshelves. Not looking at anything particular as she pondered what that young witch was looking for in the Darkhold. That book was too powerful for someone with such little practice. You needed to protect yourself with that old tome. It irradiated dark energy, corrupting energy. Something that Agatha was far too intimate with even for her own liking. She let out a sigh, rubbing a hand over her eyes as she conjured a cup of tea with the other. Bringing it up to her lips as she opened her eyes to just focus on something, anything, that wasn't Wanda Maximoff. But the nagging notion of that young witch playing with dark forces she didn't understand pulled at her thoughts. That book would kill her if she wasn't careful. Agatha knew that she wouldn't even feel it's dark presence seep into her mind until it was too late. That poor girl wouldn't know what hit her.

Wanda Maximoff.

Why did her thoughts always travel back to her? Was it that she had been disabled by the younger woman, or was it something more? She thought back on their interactions, all the small smiles and winks. The bump of one's hip against the other's. The way Wanda had squeezed her waist while ushering her out of a room. How she had gladly accepted Agatha's arm when offered. Even how the younger woman allowed herself to be guided away from Monica, easing into Agatha's arms. The older woman would've been lying to herself if she said she hadn't felt Wanda's pull of conformity in her mind the moment she had set foot in that town. Even when the young witch had locked her into her own mind, Agatha had remembered the slightly forlorn look in Wanda's eyes, and the small smiles at Agnes' playful flirtations. Funny enough, she had kind of enjoyed that name. Had she really been playing a role in Westview? Or had the older woman felt... something? Maybe hidden below just under the surface. Feelings she hadn't thought about in so very long. Not since her original time in Salem when the world was simpler, yet the prejudice was the same. The tea was cooling in her cup as she replayed the events and dwelled on her memories.

She finally looked back down at her cup, draining it quickly before rising out of her chair. Already missing the warm leather, she lit her ornate iron fireplace with a flick of her fingers as she moved over to the closest bookshelf. She perused it as her thoughts poked at her composure. Agatha selected a tome, flipping through it, and not finding anything that interested her, placed it back on the shelf smoothly. Wanda was still in her mind, rooted in her.

In her.

Agatha's eyes went wide for a moment as the idea entered the forefront of her thoughts. The chaos magic. The older woman lifted her hand in front of her, focusing her attention on creating just a standard purple orb in her hand, letting the wisps play around her fingers. If it was still there, if Wanda hadn't somehow reclaimed all of the chaos magic she had siphoned in their duel, how would she know? From what bit of field research she had on the girl, it had to do with her emotions and the lack of their control. In a way, it went against everything Agatha had known for centuries. Even her magic was precisely controlled, and in some ways, so were her true emotions. She had to know. She had to discover the truth. She had to help the young witch that had reminded her so much of herself when Agatha was her age.

She took a moment to reflect on base emotions, finding the ones that had always haunted her. Agatha has been hunted, persecuted, suffered abuse in her own right. Her breaths became shallow as the memories slid into her mind's eye. The sideways looks over the years from those she had thought of as friends. Feeling like an alien in her own skin. Feeling like there was a monster inside that she didn't know how to control or sate.

Agatha remember the events that lead to her trial. How she sought answers to her questions and was met with betrayal by her own coven. How her own mother had betrayed her. How the old crone had created something she considered a monster, an abomination, an abuser of power.

How the only person to ever look at her with true affection, true love, was taken from her by an angry mob from the town church. And how, in her grief and rage, she had burned down their house of God in the same way those fearful puritans had burned the woman she had loved all those years ago with a pure heart so full of love. Agatha was sure she saw God every time they touched.

It was the feeling of isolation, of vilification, of loss. So much loss.

Agatha stared down at her hands through angry tears, a floodgate of grief and sadness at all of the lost moments in her life, feelings of love and kindness that had been taken from her when she was so very young and full of hope. She struck the polished hardwood floor with a fist, rings of purple rippling across the surface like a detwave with each strike. The witch choked back sobs as the pain in her hand grew intense. But it didn't compare to the centuries worth of pain that had been smeared across her mind.

Her heart felt like it would burst and her head felt like it tilted of it's own accord for a moment as the fire now roared against the mantle. The gas lit lamps began dimming and burning bright without any real pattern. Chaotically. Her familiar purple energy lighting in both hands, nearly raging against her skin. Feeling like her own power would burn her flesh if she let it. But she had to let go, needed to feel it. Falling to her hands and knees against the floor, a white hot heat felt like it was rolling up her throat, her brunette locks whipping around her shoulders.

Wanda had pulled her emotions from their safe little box, whether the younger woman knew what she had done or not.

There was a snap in her mind and withdrew against herself, rocking herself back to sit on her feet as she cried openly for that young woman she had loved so much all those years ago. The girl Agatha hadn't been able to save or even protect.

Even if the feeling Agatha suspected she had for the younger witch were real, even if they weren't reciprocated or acted upon, she wouldn't let another young woman fall to the darkness and prejudice of this world. And perhaps she could undo what had been done, for both of them.

"Never again!" She broke the floorboard with the amount of force she had struck the floor, pushing all of those once locked away emotions into the energy she cast out, only then realizing... that it was a red glow.

She inspected her glowing hands through blurry eyes and watched as the red hue lingered for a moment more before shifting back to it's natural purple tone. It was there, a piece of it was still there. Even if it was a miniscule amount, it was enough for what she needed it for. With this, she could find her, find Wanda.

Agatha let the purple energy fade away, slowly standing and cradling her most-likely-broken hand, as she smiled to herself. She could help Wanda be prepared for what was to come, maybe even save her from herself should she need it.

"Now, I know how to find you."

#agatha x wanda #agnes x wanda #wanda x agatha #wanda x agnes #starting a series #post wandavision #agatha harkness #wanda maximoff

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black-dragon1998 · 3 years

Text

Ghost Capatain Chapter 1

Summary: After years of abuse from Hydra reader and the twins escape to New York City and try to survive in the only way they know. Becoming the new top dogs in the American criminal underworld is just a bonus that helps them help people in need. The Avengers, however, aren't that pleased when they by a rough bach of Vibranium and bust into their Club and arrest the reader.This set a whole rollercoaster of events in motion, that not only racked up old memories for the reader but also Bucky and Natasha.

I suck at summaries sorry.

This is a non-canon and just a figment of my imagination that I couldn't get out of my head. at the moment I have a pretty good idea where this fic is going but that could always change. Don’t like don’t read.

Warning: non at the moment but will most likly be added in further chapters.

Ghost Captain Masterlist

You were leaning against the bannister of the private second floor overlooking the club. Your men around you were preparing everything for the deal going down tonight. All were nervous for it, for you, it was just another day at the office.

Your interest at the moment lay with the green-eyed brunette wearing red at the bar. The two of you were having a silent stare down that nobody was paying attention to. You had found her easily enough, even in this sea of people you were drawn to her and it had nothing to do with her psychic powers.

It had taken her a long time accepting her powers, but when she finally did she was a real powerhouse. People always thought you were the scary one, well than they hadn’t ever seen Wanda angry. Even Pietro didn’t trifle with her when she was and he pissed off everybody all the time.

When she was having a bad day because of the burden of her powers put on her or just because of you and Pietro were there for her. The three of you were family and you would die for each other. More importantly, she was your moon, the reason you were still sane after everything Hydra put you through. When the three of you were finally able to escape Hydra you had fled to America and done what you did best. Survived.

After a couple of years in America, the three of you had made a name for yourselves. Now nobody trifled with you anymore. The business you had set up both legally and illegally were run by the three of you in the shadows. Parts of the money you earned was invested back into companies and projects you had running in Sakovia. Never having lost the connection with your home country.

Taking a sip of your drink your eyes drifted back to Wanda. The glass nearly broke form the tension you suddenly put on it. Their next to Wanda was a sniffling little bitch that had the audacity to put his hands on her. He would quickly learn nobody touched your girl and got away with it.

Wanda was sitting at the bar enjoying her drink. She for one liked being on the ground floor, unlike you who mostly stayed on the second floor overlooking the club. Being surrounded by so many people in a controlled environment gave her a certain feeling of normality.

At the moment though she was regretting not being on the second floor with you. The guy to her right was getting closer and closer. The way he was looking at her made her want to throw up. She tried ignoring him and found you looking at her from the bannister.

You looked so dame hot with your burgundy three-piece suit. Just enough buttons of your shirt were undone to be sinful and it sends her mind spiralling. Wanda could also see the numerous women around her trying to get your attention but you had only eyes for her.

Everybody thought you were this big bad mobster with no heart. Well, you were a big bad mobster but Wanda knew you would die for the people you called family. Only they got to see that side of you. Wanda even called you her teddy bear behind closed doors.

“well aren’t you particularly beautiful, sweetheart?” Wanda’s attention was called back to the guy to her right. Now he was leaning against the bar far closer than Wanda would have liked. She decided to not give him any attention, that usually ended with the guy on the floor bleeding.

“you know I have never seen you here before. Us meeting must have been fate.” Wanda could smell the alcohol on his breath. Instead of acknowledging him she turned away and took a sip from her drink. If he kept bothering her for much longer she would call the bouncers to throw him out, before you could deal with him.

Then he made the fatal mistake of putting his hands on her.

“Not to brag or anything but I may know the owner of this joint. If I put in a good word we could go somewhere private.” This made Wanda laugh before she pulled her arm away. She felled your anger burning as she felled you nearing. This time she did face him.

“I don’t believe you know anybody in this club, let alone the owner. You don’t seem to be made from the same material as they are.” Her statement seemed to anger him. He roughly took her by the shoulder this time. His hand, however, was quickly removed by a furious you.

You had a fire in your eyes when you looked at the asshole who dared to put his hands on Wanda. He seemed to link back at your anger trying to pull his hands back.

“you think it��s okay to grab a lady just like that?” it wasn’t a question but he still seemed to want to stammer out a response. He was quickly shut up by you.

“I don’t want to hear your sorry ass excuse. I heard the last part of the conversation you had. I have to say to make such a bold statement you either have to be incredibly tough or incredibly stupid. So tell me what is it. Because believe me I have never seen you before.” His eye became comically wide.

“More importantly I would like to know where you would have gone to be ‘private’ in my club with my girl.” The full realisation hit him and all colour drained from his face. He started blabbering incoherent words together with apologies when one of your waiters showed up. A young woman in her mid-twenties. A good worker never had any problems with her.

“I am so sorry Captain. He is my brother and I let him in. I told him to behave, didn’t know he would go after Wanda.” The girl sounded distressed. You looked her over with a critical eye and she shrunk back into herself.

“Please don’t fire me. I really need this job. I promise I won’t happen again.” The girl stood with her hand hanging down, not meeting your eye. You felled Wanda nudge your mind.

“you can’t fire her. It’s the only job she has and has to provide for her idiot brother and sick mother.” Leave it to Wanda to play on your emotional side. Turning to the sibling Infront of you, sighting internally.

“I don’t want to see his face here again if I do you won’t like the outcome.” Your voice is cold, leaving no room for arguing. Not that they would try anyway. Soon after the bouncers arrived and took him away.

The girls turn to you with watery eyes.

“thank you. I wouldn’t know what I would have done if I lost my job.” You clapped the girl's shoulder to ground her.

“We can’t be held accountable for what our family does.” Your voice is hard but caring, something Wanda is going to tease you about later. Finally, she met your eyes and gave you a small smile. That is when your eyes caught something, a small bruise around her eye.

You felled the girl stiffen again, trying to get out your grasp.

“I fell this morning.” her lie wasn’t convincing at all but you didn’t correct her. Instead, you took a card out of your back pocket and put it in her hand.

“When you are ready go to this address. Tell them I send you and everything will be sorted out for you.” She put the card in her pocket and went back to work. You only hoped she wouldn’t wait until it was too late.

The attention that was on you quickly faded when the song changed and people went back to drinking and dancing. Turning around you were met with Wanda smiling at you.

“you are getting soft in your old age my captain.” She smirked at you. Quickly snacking an arm around her waist and pulling her closer.

“Who are you calling old baby. If I recall correctly I’m only two years older than you my little witch.” You whisper in her ear, not denying her statement. Wanda knew you were soft for her. You did nip her ear as small reprimanding. She only giggled and hugged you close.

“I love you, my Captain.” She told you kissing you deeply.

“love you too my little witch.” after a long passionate moment your break apart and remind her that you have a meeting in half an hour and that you should prepare for that.

Normally you and Pietro make the deals with when they are done in the clubs, Wanda being in the back pretending to be eye candy. In reality, she was scanning everybody for trouble but Pietro was with Zrinka at the moment. So you would do the deal on your own, with Wanda as a back-up.

For today's deal, you were glad she would be staying on the background. Ulysses Klaue was a pig and you despised having to work with him and after the shit that went down with Ultron, he wasn’t happy to work with you either. But he wanted to do business in the city so he had to go through you to do it.

“would you look at this, the street rat made it big.” Klaue laughed when he was let into the room and saw you sitting at the desk. Your facial expression didn’t waver. You had long ago learned to never let verbal assault get to you.

“I would say it’s nice to see you again Klaue but we both know that would be a lie. So why don’t you tell me what you came here with and we can both go on with our life’s.” his smirk quickly disappeared and was replaced with a scowl.

“watch who you are talking too. I have an appointment with the leader of this joint.” Now it was your turn to laugh.

“I know. You are talking to them.” You see him want to make a smart-ass comment but cut him off.

“I would watch the tone you take on with me. Everything that is said here will determine if the big boss wants to do further business with you. So I would watch your words.” He grumbles under his breath but sat down.

It quickly became clear he wanted to get rid of his last batch of Vibranium. Apparently, the Avengers were closing in on him and he hopped getting rid of it would get them off his case. You thought that was highly unlikely but weren’t about to tell him that. T’challa had asked you and the twins to look out for rogue Vibranium and get it back to Wakanda.

“so if I’m understanding this correctly you want to sell me your last batch of Vibranium.” You slumped a little in your seat and intertwined your fingers.

“why would you do that?” you knew why but wanted to be sure and hear it from him.

“I think you know why. The Avengers are hunting me for months and there are only so many places one can run to before being sick of it.” He spat out, already angry enough he had to deal with you. He was also apprehensive cause last he checked the Avengers were just breathing down his neck.

Feeling you had desperate enough for negotiation you put your poker face back on.

“Alright, we might be interested in buying it from you. You saw hope flicker behind his eyes, even though he further showed no emotions.

“at the right price of course.” You smirked.

“1 million dollars.” He started. You razed an unimpressed eyebrow at him.

“750 000” you countered.

“900 000”

“I thought you wanted to get rid of it to get the Avengers of your ass.” You questioned.

“850 000” he tried again.

“800 000, with the promise wrap this up tonight. That is my final offer.” You reached your hand out to close the deal. He seemed to contemplate for a moment but finally shook your hand. After that things were finalized quickly. Seemed he wanted to get rid of it. Within the hour the crate with Vibranium stood in your office and you were eight hundred thousand dollars lighter but it was worth it.

Klaue didn’t waste any time to leave with his eight hundred thousand dollars and put as much distance between him and the treat as he could.

When you were sure he had left you called Wanda to join you in the office. Completely slumping into your chair suit jacket open, happy that that deal was over. Wanda sauntered into the office with a massive grin on her face.

“look at you my big scary mob boss handling things so smoothly.” She pulls you out of your chair and into a big messy kiss. When you eventually part for air you stroke the side of her face.

“come on gorgeous let’s go home so I can show you what a real badass I am.” She giggled. If other people would see you like this they wouldn’t believe her but luckily you were already hers.

“yes, lets so I can spoil you for a job well done.” She giggled when a little blush appeared on your face.

Leading her toward the back garage, not feeling like waiting for your driver. Beside you liked to drive once in a while. Picking the keys to the Lykan sportscar. Having let the Vibranium being placed in before. You lead Wanda to the passenger door when alarms began going off.

You quickly turn around and look at the monitors placed in the garage. What you see makes you curse, the Avengers were busting down the door of your club. Subtlety apparently wasn’t something they did.

“I thought some of them were ex-assassins.” Wanda had to chuckle at your comment. Turning toward her you give her the keys. She looked at you confused.

“go now. I will cover you with my powers.” Disbelieve filled her eyes.

“(Y/N)! no, I am not leaving you behind.” At moments you find her stubbornness adorable, not right now.

“Wanda we don’t have time for this. They are after the leader of this club. That is me, so that means you can get away.” The ‘you can get me out later’ going unsaid.

“promise me you will be careful?” you gave her a reassuring kiss while opening the driver’s door.

“I promise. Now go may we meet in Sint-Pietersburg.” You saw her understanding before she got into the car, setting up a mental link with you. As she drives out the garage you reflect the lights around the car so it seemed to be invisible. When you know she is out of reach you start thinking about your own escape.

The moment you think about slipping into the shadows you are hit in the back with an electric shock that made your knees buckle and fall to the ground. Twisting with aftershock you see pair of black combat boots come closer. Looking up you see a woman with red hair wearing a SHIELD tactical suit.

“shit!” you mutter before she hits you with another round of electrical shock before you pass out.

Chapter 2

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thesmokingguns · 3 years

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WENDY AND THE LOST BOYS CHAPTER 2

“Sasha. Yo, Sasha.” The sound of Tommy calling her name woke her up and she made a small sound trying to cover her ears by burying herself deeper in Tommy. There was a banging on the door to the room, “Yo Nikki, have you seen Sasha?” The door handle jiggled making her eyes snap open as she looked down at the person she was laying on. His green eyes were looking at her before he turned to look up at the door.

Nikki got out of the bed, pointing at Sasha to try and stay in the bed so he could get rid of the drummer. She was quiet but he could see this weird nervous energy coming off her. The past 24 hours had completely rocked his impression of the girl who didn’t give two shits about anything. He realized it was because for the first time she didn’t have Tommy as a bodyguard and she was feeling vulnerable. Nikki moved the wooden chair he had propped under the knob the night before knowing how Tommy liked to just walk into places without knocking and opened the door a crack.

“Sasha? I don’t know man. I got back here at 3am and there was that wild storm after it.” Nikki was filling the gap in the door not about to let him into the room. “Maybe she went grocery shopping or out with one of her friends?” Tommy shook his head.

“No, she wouldn’t do that today.” The drummer was pacing the hallway and Nikki could see Mick standing at the end of the hall. Even though the guitarist had in sunglasses Nikki knew that he was staring at him and he knew where Sasha was. “Fuck, I’m such an idiot. I should have left with you and that chick last night.” Nikki wanted to look over to where Sasha was standing on the bed but he didn’t want to give it away that she was inside the room.

“Let me throw pants on. Maybe she ran out of cigarettes. We can go look.” He watched Tommy nod before closing the door. Sasha had this strange look on her face as she reached for the cigarettes on Nikki’s dresser. “What’s going on today?” He asked, pulling on his jeans. She looked at him, those blue eyes wild as she just shook her head. Nikki threw up his hands grabbing his shirt and jacket. Sasha took a few steps across the room reaching him and touching his arm, making Nikki turn to look at her.

“Thank you for letting me sleep here last night. I don’t think I would have been able to sleep if you didn’t come home.” She admitted. She stood on her tiptoes as Nikki leaned down, brushing a kiss on his cheek. He wanted to bury his hands in her hair giving her a proper kiss. How did she smell so good living in this dump with them. His hand was around her waist and the way he was looking at her was trouble.

“Sixx, I’m heading out.” Tommy called, breaking them apart. He left the room and she listened at the door to make sure they were actually gone.

“You can come out of his room now.” She heard Mick call out. Sasha’s head came out of the room as she looked around. Mick shook his head at her.

“I didn’t have sex with him.” She let him know crossing over into the room she shared with Tommy. Sasha knew she had to get ready to go.

“Oh, I know you didn’t have sex with him.” Mick commented looking in the open door as she dug into the closet. “I can’t figure out why you haven’t slept with anyone yet but I kind of like that you’re driving them all crazy.” She gave him a smile shutting the door as he walked away.

Sasha knew she didn’t have much time to get ready. Tommy had every right to be frantic. They had to be at the courthouse at noon and it was already eleven. She carefully slid the thigh highs on, clipping them to a garter and moving to grab the strapless dress in the closet. She didn’t want to look in the mirror at herself, knowing that the scars would show. The cardigan on the bed was quickly thrown on and Sasha headed out. It had only taken her fifteen minutes to get ready; any longer Tommy might be back screaming.

She slid through the open window, frustrated about the nailed door. Being the party house had been so much fun but moments like this she was over it. She carefully headed down the concrete stairs, heels clicking and heart racing. She didn’t want to do this. Already her hands were shaking and stomach tight. Sasha fumbled for her cigarettes looking up as she heard her name. Tommy came rubbing across the street, hands smacking against the roof of a taxi that almost hit him.

“Of all days to go missing.” He said throwing his hands up at her. His mood softened when she glanced up under her king eyelashes, eyes looking like they would burst any second. “I shouldn’t have gone out last night. We should have stayed at my parents house.” She grabbed his hand weaving their fingers.

“Ah, Angel, you’ve landed back home. And looking very nice.” Nikki took in her appearance. What an upgrade from her usual keds and t-shirts. He had expected more of a reaction but she just did a smirk. “Are you two going on a date?” He teased, thinking it was too early. Tommy looked at her as if asking her if he was okay to talk.

“We have to go to court. We’ll see you later, Sixx.” A yellow cab had pulled up and she moved inside grabbing sunglasses and pushing them on to cover the tears already filling her eyes

*Flashback*

“Get over here, you little bitch.” The sound of bottles smashing just propelled Sasha to the door. She had gotten out of her boyfriend's bedroom and could see the exit of the apartment.

Neil had been pissed off after the show. His singing was off and instead of just admitting he didn’t have a career in music he took his anger out on her. He was going on about how she didn’t respect him because had seen her flirting with the bartender. She had been ordering him a beer.

“Nooo.” She screamed feeling her hair yanked back, sending her flying onto her back on the living room floor. He was going to kill her. If she was sure of anything it was that Neil had lost his mind completely and was going to kill her.

Tommy was drumming on the dashboard as his mom drove him back from the show they had tonight. He had to go to church with her in the morning but he was planning to stop by Neil’s house to grab some of the stuff he had lying around. His mom had agreed to wash his clothes this weekend and pick him up from the show so it was a pretty big win for the seventeen year old. Plus his mother was the best cook in the world and even though Tommy would never admit it he loved being in the kitchen talking to his mother and watching the Greek VHS tapes of the soap operas his mother loved.

“I’ll just be two minutes.” Tommy promised, watching his mother undo her seatbelt. She gave him a look and he knew that she was coming long with him. His mother wasn’t a fool and knew her son got into a lot of mischief but she always felt better meeting the people who he surrounded himself with. That way she knew if something happened who she would have to kill for letting her only son get hurt. As they headed into the apartment the sound of shattering glass and a scream filled the air. His mother gave him a look, wondering what sort of trouble he had managed to attract this time. He didn’t bother knocking, just through open the door ready to greet his singer. What he saw instead was Sasha on the floor, face down, bleeding into the carpet with Neil sitting on top of her, a broken beer bottle glistening with blood, circle patterns over her left shoulder.

“Tommy, get him off her. I’m calling the police.” his mother pushed her son to the man wielding a weapon as she picked up the touch tone phone to dial 9-1-1. She extranded the cord as far as it would go as she sat on the carpet next to the girl who was fading in and out of consciousness. Tommy had tackled Neil, his mother watching to make sure her skinny son was okay. “I need an ambulance as soon as possible as well as police. A woman was attacked.” she gave them the address carefully pushing aside Sasha’s hair to check on the girl. She saw her blue eyes, she was fighting to stay awake, the loss of blood weakening her.

“Thank you.” she whispered a hand that had been digging into the carpet reached out taking Tommy’s mothers hand in her own. She held this girl wondering if she was going to die on the carpet in her lap. Her eyes shifted between the blonde and Tommy who was sitting on his singer who seemed to be coming down from whatever manic episode he was on and realizing there was blood covering his apartment. She was realizing that the blonde wasn’t as old as she had expected and was probably around the same age as her daughter making her more upset. She only knew that they saved that girls life that night.

*End Flashback*

“I’m scared, Tommy.” Sasha whispered as they sat on the bench outside of the courtroom. She would be called to the stand and he wanted to sit with her instead of inside with his parents. He was feeling guilty about not being there with her last night ahead of what would be a hard day for her. Having to relive what happened with Neil and let people hear details she wasn’t ready to even admit having happened was something Tommy knew she was struggling with. He squeezed her hand letting her rest on his shoulder, “The band is going to all look at me differently. I’m going to need to move out. I can’t believe I let this happen.” She felt like she was going to have a panic attack.

“Sasha Kavorky .” She looked up hearing her name. Tommy was already standing up helping her to her feet. His arms wrapped around her body in a tight hug before watching her walk into the courtroom.

She didn’t meet the eyes of anyone until after she was sworn in and the questioning began. She had gone over her testimony before and knew that there were going to be issues with how people saw her. She went over her background with Neil leading up to the big event so everyone would know their story and it was going to be out there for the jury to make their decision on. Sasha looked at Tommy in the crowd, sitting next to his mother and was thankful at least there was one good thing that happened from meeting Neil.

Sasha had been a young kid when she had met Neil. He had come into the thrift store she was working at looking around as if he was trying to be a superstar on a budget. But he was nice to her and didn't treat her like she was the fifteen year old kid she actually was. That was the first sign that he was trouble but she hadn't realized that it was creepy for a twenty year old to hit on a child. He had started grooming her after a few weeks of making small talk at the shop. She went to see his band play and loved the way Neil threw his arm around her handing her beers well girls looked on jealous. It was also cool that Tommy, who was a Junior in high school started talking to her even though she was just a Sophomore. She probably got along better with Tommy because he was closer to her age and just a kid in High School like herself. He drove this gross van that always had a weird smell because he banged chicks back there but he’d drive her over to Neil’s after school because that’s where band practice was. When he became Senior and she was a Junior that’s when things started to get bad.

It had been like overnight Sasha went from a good looking girl to a total knockout smokeshow. She filled in and started to get more attention as she got older. After Tommy graduated and she was 17 they were all at his graduation party in the backyard of his parents house. Neil had gotten so mad at the fact that some guy asked her to dance and a fight had almost broken out. Sasha had been able to cool everyone down but that night he had hit her for the first time. When the guys were at the show the next day Tommy had asked her about her shiner and Sasha had to laugh it off saying she had drank too many beers at the party and fell. If she had known that this was just the first brick in a wall of lies she didn’t know if she’d have told it. With Tommy out of school Neil started to get really paranoid about Sasha’s senior year. Even though she had moved in with him years ago he still was worried about her. He had started spending her shifts working watching her, coming in and checking up on her, and never leaving her alone. If she laughed at a joke a customer said she knew he’d beat her for it later. It was a double standard however. When they played shows Neil would grab girls feeling them up and acting like Sasha didn’t exist.

Tommy pulled her aside when she was looking for Neil before the show. She had been holding the beers that she was supposed to get for him and was afraid she’d be in trouble if he didn't get it well it was still cold. Tommy had told her that he had met the bassist for London and he was going to start a new band with him. The way that he had told her this before telling his band made Sasha realize that people were starting to see what Neil was doing to her. Tommy told her to call him because maybe she’d come to practices and see if they were any good. He was trying to do anything to get her away from Neil at that point. She had only nodded moving to the dressing room to give the lead singer the beer.

“Can you show us where he stabbed you?” the lawyer asked, knowing that seeing the scars would be better for the jury than the photographs they had of her shoulder. She knew this was coming from the mock interrogations that she had sat through. Sasha nodded, biting her lip and shrugging out of the cardigan. When she turned in the seat you could see the mangled circle patterns on her shoulder, three wounds all over lapping. The last one had stabbed the bottle so deep into her she had thought it had gone clear through. She didn’t turn to look at the jury when she heard the murmuring as she showed them the display but the first time she looked at Neil, her stomach twisting as she saw the way a smirk was on the edges of his lips as he tried to get a look at his handy work. She searched the crowd finding Tommy looking at her, his eyes not leaving her face as she shrugged her cardigan back on.

Tommy and his family were her family now. Not just like her family but his parents had officially adopted her after everything that had happened. When she had gone into the hospital his mother or Tommy were by her side until they released her. She had gone home to the Lee household and was given the guest room and told that it was her room now and she could decorate it how she pleased. His mother took her shopping with his sister and drove her to school. She loved her like a daughter and never ever made her feel like she was anything less than her own child. And Tommy was her best friend, her brother, and the only person in the world she felt like she could tell anything to. It was nice he put her on a pedestal because they both never thought of sleeping with the other person but there was a comfort between them of security they hadn’t found with anyone else in their lives.

When he went to Nikki’s house to jam he would bring her along, as long as she wasn’t in school. His parents made sure she had a semi normal existence after everything. When they had met Mick for the first time she had been leaning over the railing of the apartment smoking one of Nikki’s cigarettes and telling them to help him carry his stuff up. She had been the one to know about the party that Vince was playing because she had just graduated and knew where all the parties were. It had only been six months since she had almost been killed by the psycho but she had found her place.

The jury was told to go deliberate and they were allowed to leave until a decision was made. Since their court time was later in the day there was a fear they wouldn’t hear back by the end of the day. It was something they were kind of expecting. Sasha was sitting between Tommy and his mother, drinking the cup of warm coffee when a lawyer came out, his face sweating. They all looked up at him, hearts beating, knowing they’d know what was going to happen soon. When the guilty verdict was read she didn’t clap or cheer but sat there, a wave of relief washing over her because it meant that she was safe.

“Are you okay?” Tommy’s mother asked holding her in her arms as they sat around people who were getting up to leave. Sasha could only nod her head, she felt the tears coming from the relief she felt. Her hands digging into her purse as she pulled out a pair of sunglasses and slid them over her eyes, “Do you two want to come home or are you going to get proper wasted?” Tommy rolled his eyes at his mothers attempt to use cool lingo but she had gotten the smile she had wanted out of Sasha.

“I’m sure the guys are a little confused but they’d be down to go out and party.” she turned back to his mother, “But we’re still on for Sunday dinner.” she promised kissing the woman's cheek.

Sasha went into the window first looking around to see Mick laying back in a chair, fiddling with his guitar, Nikki had papers spread out and was rapidly talking to Vince at the coffee table. The looked up at the pair entering.

“Tommy, we’ve written a new song. Come over here for a second and play it.” Nikki demanded. The drummer nodded moving past him to grab a beer in the fridge. He tossed one to Sasha and the pair of them both seemed to have the same idea. They started shut gunning the beers, laughing as the empty cans hit the floor, “Can you two grow up?” NIkki said, surprised when Sasha flipped him off before heading into the room she shared with Tommy.

“Why did you two have to go to court? Did you end some weird secret marriage?” Vince asked as Tommy got situated behind his drums. The drummer glanced to the door of the room wondering if he should tell them now that it was over.

“I met Sasha through the lead singer of my old band. She started dating him when she was a kid and he treated her really badly.” Tommy told them. The guys all wanted more information but Sasha was coming out of the room. She had on her usual denim shorts that were cut too high in the back and she was wearing the London shirt again. She looked at Nikki giving him a smirk when he saw what she was wearing.

“Did you see London got a new bassist? They’re playing at The Rainbow tonight.” She teased plopping down on the couch across from where they were set up.

“You’re going to wear the band's shirt to their show? Seems kind of lame.” Nikki muttered. She rolled her eyes at him.

“Oh, fashion advice from the guy who’s wearing his own band shirt right now.” Mick covered anything Nikki could say by starting the guitar chords to their new song. She smiled getting the last word in and watching the guys start tweaking the song around. When it started to get dark they all were antsy for a drink.

Despite Nikki’s protests they had ended up at The Rainbow. The only good thing was she had changed out of the band shirt and was wearing this one shoulder leopard dress that seemed to cling and hang off every part of her body. She even wore high heels instead of her usual scuffed keds. When she had come out of the room Tommy had given the boys all a look that was clear to stay away from her. Which was fine but well they all drank and listened to the band Nikki watched Sasha hammering back shots.

“She’s shattered.” Mick commented from where he was sitting next to Nikki. “Are you going to go save her?” He looked up to see her leaning against what looked like the leader singer of London. As if she realized he was staring she made eye contact with him through the crowd. He had no idea how she was able to take his breath away with a single look but it was like her blue eyes stopped time. She had stepped away from the singer and moved through the crowd seeming not to bump into anyone.

“Hey, are you guys with the band?” She teased leaning close to them. Mick gave her a small look and she leaned over whispering something in his ear before pointing to a group of girls. The guitarist gave her a look before heading over to see what she was talking about. Sasha took up his space sighing in relief, “I wanted to look nice to celebrate today and just feel free. You didn’t even say if I looked nice.” She said her head rolling to look over at him.

“Fishing for compliments?” The bassist asked, licking his lips. She looked absolutely gorgeous. She was always gorgeous but he didn’t realize she could be this stunning.

“Is it really fishing when I look like this?” She asked him leaning forward to take his Jack and coke, sipping it as she leaned back into the seat. She was teasing him, knowing that he couldn’t do anything about it because she was like Tommy’s kid sister. He watched her out a leg up on the table, her dress sliding up her thigh and skin glistening in the lights. She let her head roll looking at him with these blue starry eyes. “I am very drunk and lonely.” She told him.

“You’re only 18. You’re not allowed to be lonely.” He teased her before pushing her leg off the table before he was tempted to run his hands up it. “And if you’re so drunk don’t drink other people’s drinks.” He leaned close wanting to grab his drink from her hands but she just leaned into him.

“You’re only 23 and someone could drown in the loneliness in your eyes.” Nikki stopped at her words and she looked around slyly. “Why don’t you take me home, Sixx? Or are you spending the night with someone else?” Sasha had got her hand around his neck, her nails scratching his head well she shifted almost onto his lap.

“Tommy would kill us.” He told her through gritted teeth. There was nothing he wanted more than to take her home. “Why don’t I just walk you back?” He asked, watching the way she pouted. God, the fullness of her lips were accented in the bratty face she was making. Lips like pillows on girls that looked like her were a recipe for disaster.

He managed to get her outside of the club, steering her in the direction of their apartment. The warmth of summer seeming to sink into their bones. Sasha was smoking his cigarettes, making Nikki wonder if she ever bought her own. She didn’t seem as drunk now that they were in the fresh air. She was steady besides him, holding his arm when they would cross a street and seeming to be lost in thought.

“Are you going to miss me, Nikki?” She asked as they climbed through the window. It was weird to be alone in the apartment, knowing everyone was out partying.

“Miss you? When the band goes on tour?” He joked watching her as she stood in the doorway to Tommy’s room. She shook her head.

“I’m going to college. I start at UCLA in less than a month. I’ll be living in the dorms there so I’ll be out of your hair.” Why did that information catch him so off guard. She licked her lips, “I guess I should practice sleeping alone. Have fun with the guys.” She shut the door to Tommy’s room locking the door with a soft click before he could react.

Nikki’s head spun as he walked back to the Rainbow. Why was he upset that she was going to be leaving? He wouldn’t have to buy cigarettes as much, that was for sure. But there also wouldn’t be the sound of her laughing as she drank her coffee on the counter tops in the morning. She wouldn’t be there when they practiced, watching him with those big blue eyes. The smell of her wouldn’t be in the shower. These little things that had felt so good without standing out this summer played over and over in his mind. What he couldn’t really understand was when he had started to like having her around.

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