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foolish-spectre · 6 months

Text

The Price of Freedom

Pairing: Astarion x Gender-Neutral Tav/Reader (Primary Focus is on Astarion)

Content Warnings: Murder and Canon-Typical Violence, Allusions to Physical, Emotional, and Verbal Abuse, Mental Breakdowns, Gore?, Massive Spoilers for the Pale Elf Quest in Baldur’s Gate 3, Heavy Angst

Word Count: 835

Characters: Astarion Ancunin (primarily), Cazador Szarr, Tav/Reader, brief mention of Astarion’s siblings

A/N: So I wrote this on a 14 hour plane ride, basically I wrote this in the last hour since my brain was mush for the other 13, I wanted to explore his side of things hence why it’s in second person, and I’m going to give a hot take, I’m glad you can’t hug Astarion after he kills Cazador, not because he doesn’t deserve it of course not, but because I don’t think he would like to be touched after such a painful but cathartic moment, he hates being touched, especially in a moment like this, there’s a time and a place for hugging in Astarion’s mind and in my opinion, this scene ain’t it, KEEP IN MIND I ALSO WANTED TO HUG ASTARION AFTER THIS SCENE SO I DONT BLAME ANYONE, but personally Astarion doesn’t want to be hugged rn, another thing I noticed is how Astarion is always drawn to your hands, it’s always the hands, I want to explore more of that in a separate fic or headcanons but yeah

Your grip upon your master’s knife tightened as you stared down at your “Father.” He likened his sired spawn to be family, and you were ready to give him all his owed dues as the eldest child.

It was funny to see him on his knees after so many years of shoving you beneath his feet. A wicked grin slithered onto your face as you yanked his long black hair aside to bare his neck.

The knife felt so light in your hand, how strange. One last thrust and it would be all over. One last thrust with the same knife that your pathetic master carved that damn infernal script into your back. It tethered your fate to him and now it would finally set you free. He would never hurt you again.

The first plunge felt cathartic yet it wasn’t enough, it would never be enough. You started with his neck since it was his bite that doomed you. Then you thrust the blade repeatedly into his heart and ribs, he oh so loved to play with yours and even threatened to rip your’s out so you could see how pathetic it was. Just the thought of it made you dig deeper into his rib cage.

After the frenzied attack upon your master’s chest, you thrust the dagger upwards into his stomach. He was never satisfied with your hunts, always demanding more and more. Even wanting to consume you, practically making you believe that’s all you were. But you weren’t, you would never be-!

Just as you were about to violently flip him over and plunge into his back, you finally looked at his face. The sadistic smirk was wiped off replaced only with fear and disbelief, his sickening voice silenced, his eyes devoid of disgust… you were left with nothing.

Cazador Szarr was dead.

As the adrenaline wore off and you realized that your tormentor was finally dead, you slumped to your knees, dagger falling from your grip.

He was finally gone. He would never be able to hurt you again. And yet…

Why do the scars on your back feel fresh? Why did fear seep into your very bones? Why did you feel so miserable-

As sobs wracked your tired body, your siblings and friends surrounded you, unsure of what to do. Your lover approached you cautiously, not because they were afraid of you but because-

You didn’t really know and even though you’ve spent months together, you were still trying to get a hang of things.

They held out your arms to embrace you and in return you gave them a flinch. You hated the look they had on their face when you did, but… it feels so tainted, so fresh, so…

You hated it, you needed to get out of here, you needed to be in the sun again, you needed… you needed to feel alive again.

You stared down at your master’s corpse and held his staff for the first and last time. The rest was a blur.

Right now you were finally exiting this damn house, you would never have to see it again. You would finally be free, from this prison, from the people who tormented you, and from the crypt that reduced you to nothing but a feral animal.

As your weary feet got closer to closer to the entrance of Cazador’s palace, a part of you wanted to look back. To look back at your master’s dead body to make sure he was dead, gone for good.

… Why did you still think of him as your master, even when he’s gone? He was your master no longer, he would never have to control you again. You’re free of him.

Cazador means nothing to you now and you’ll make sure of that.

As you tried to shake your mind off of this, you walked side by side with your companions and lover. You stared at their face, even now they looked so beautiful.

Sure you didn’t care for them at first, but they were still with you… after all this. It would’ve been so easy to leave him behind for Cazador to consume him but they didn’t. They stayed and fought tooth and nail to save you, to help you achieve freedom.

You didn’t realize that you reached out for their hand until they looked at you, surprised. You were about to pull away until they gave you a gentle squeeze back.

Even though you were empty, even though you felt like the world had ended after all this… it felt reassuring. In a sense, your whole world did end. All those centuries of torment and the master that owned you was finally put to rest. All of it was in the past. Your lover’s hand reminded you that you did the right thing. That… you weren’t tied down to Cazador anymore.

You were finally free. And you didn’t want to lose this, you wouldn’t trade power for the one person who truly cared about you.

#bg3 #baldur’s gate #baldur’s gate iii #baldur's gate 3 #baldur’s gate 3 #bg3 x reader #baldur’s gate 3 astarion #baldurs gate astarion #astarion x reader #astarion ancunin #bg3 astarion #astarion #astarion x tav #astarion x you #astarion x mc #my writing #astarion angst #angst

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shadowdaddies · 7 months

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you know what I need? a modern AU where reader is stressed over finals, she spends the whole day studying at the library and asterin decides to distract her once she gets home... if you know what I mean 👀

I can't be the only one stressing over them rn, I hope everyone is doing alright

Good luck with finals, honey!💜

Stress Relief

Asterin x f!Reader smut (modern AU)

Warnings: smut below the cut, oral f!receiving, minors dni

It was an effort not to trip over your own feet as you dragged them through the doorway to your bedroom. Holed up in the library from open until close, your brain was mush by the time you made it home. You collapsed on your bed, exhaustion settling through your bones as you tried to relax to no avail.

Twisting over to sit up in bed, you grabbed your backpack from where you’d tossed it on the floor and opened up your laptop. If rest was going to prove impossible, you might as well try studying more. Poring over your study guides and notes, the screen became increasingly difficult to focus on, text blurring in and out of sight.

You let out an exasperated sigh as the door to your apartment opened, the sweetest voice ringing out. “Hey love, are you home?” Your girlfriend, Asterin called out - the sound of her own bags dropping by the door followed by soft footsteps down the hall led you to poke your head around your laptop screen. “Hey, Ster.”

Asterin gave you a knowing look. “Babe, you need to relax. You’ve been studying so hard, I know you’re going to do great on all your finals. But your brain needs rest too if you want to do well.” You sighed, knowing she was right. “I know, Ster, but whenever I try to rest it’s like my brain thinks of everything I don’t know or haven’t gone over enough. I’m so stressed and it’s like I can’t shut it off. I just want to think about something else.”

Asterin smirked, crawling over you as she straddled your hips, lifting the computer to the other side of the mattress and gently closing it. Golden hair hanging around her face, she smiled down at you, tracing one hand along your cheek. Your breath hitched as she leaned down, licking a stripe up the shell of your ear as she smirked against it and whispered, “I think I can help focus your mind elsewhere.”

You shivered, nodding as you threaded your hands in her hair, encouraging her to continue. With a tug on your earlobe, Asterin moved down your body, kissing down your neck until she reached the fabric of your shirt, you lifting up eagerly to help her remove it - tossing it to the side without a second glance. She continued her trail along your chest, soft golden waves tickling your skin as she kissed down your sternum.

Sitting up, Asterin gave you a teasing smile as she toyed with the straps of your bra, sliding her hands along the fabric as she dipped her fingers just below the cups, playing with your sensitive nipples. You whimpered, writhing beneath her touch as you pleaded for more. “Ster, please touch me,” you gasped, your own hands dipping below the fabric to grip her warm waist. You took the opportunity of Asterin reaching behind you as she unclasped your bra to lift her shirt, her laughter a soft ring in your ears as she helped you pull it the rest of the way off.

Heat pooled in your core as you saw she hadn’t worn a bra today, her bare form against the warm lights of the bedroom illuminated to appear like a golden goddess. You were breathless, eager to touch your beautiful girlfriend before she grabbed your wrists, pinning them by your head. Leaning down to press a soft kiss to your lips, Asterin smiled. “This is about you right now,” she whispered before shifting back lower on the bed.

Palming your breasts in her hands, her own chest slid down your torso as she pinched and twisted the sensitive buds. You gasped, instinctively arching into her touch. “Ster, I need you, please,” you whined. Those golden eyes shimmered as she watched you - the flush of your cheeks, quick inhales of breath - she licked and kissed the exposed skin above your pants line.

She tugged them down in one motion, exposing you completely to her. Hands sliding up your legs, Asterin spread you wide open for her, massaging your thighs as you admired each other for a moment. You wriggled under her grip, gasping as you grew more impatient. “Ster, I’m begging, just touch me,” you babbled out pleas and praises, desperately trying to get what you needed.

Soft hair brushed your inner thighs as you felt her warm, wet tongue swipe a kitten lick against your clit. Your eyes rolled back, hands reaching for her hair as she began her assault with her tongue. Asterin sucked in a pulsing pattern around your clit, her tongue flicking wildly. Head thrashing from side to side, toes curling, you were a moaning mess beneath her expert mouth. “FUCK, Ster. Just like that,” you managed to whisper through your incoherent praises. Her tongue dipped lower, thrusting inside your core as she lapped at your juices, collecting your wetness on her tongue as she returned to your clit, sucking at the same time she thrust two fingers into your dripping center, curling them against your walls. Eyes wide, mouth hanging open, you gasped and clawed at the sheets beneath you, clenching around those long, slender fingers. You were vaguely aware of Asterin telling you to let go before you exploded, vision filled with stars as you hurdled hard into your orgasm.

You were a mess of tired limbs as Asterin hovered over you, kissing you deeply while she allowed you to taste yourself on her tongue. “Come on, love. Shower, now,” Asterin said, gently bringing you to your feet as she led you to the bathroom. She let the water warm as she finished undressing, pushing you under the hot water, soothing your tired muscles before pressing her body against yours. Threading a hand through your hair, Asterin tilted your face to hers - her other hand moving to grab your ass possessively. “This night is far from over, love. I’ll wear you out until you have no trouble falling asleep.”

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emerysnonsense · 4 months

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Hihi sweet tea!!!!

Messaging before I forget and before I go to work!!!

Very much haven’t done much today so far

Ate a bit before I leave so I don’t perish carrying heavy stuff ^^’

And yeah!! When the room is at least semi done I don’t mind showing you around it!

It’ll probably be kinda bare bones but I suppose we’ll see!

I’m very excited for it to be done ish

Gonna be able to use the stupid expensive computer stuff I bought finally!!

Bought it all awhile ago and got it just don’t have a place for it without the room ^^’

So I’m building up my money supply once again for…. something….. idk

I’ve got basically all I really want rn, nothing big to purchase to save for, probably just saving, emergency money, bills and the such, and like small purchases like…snacks or idk weird funky things I see

Oh probably gonna buy stuff for my cat, spoiler her some, maybe some stuff for the other cats too

Idk suppose we’ll see

Anywayyyy hope your day has been good sweet tea!!!

Glad you’re taking care of yourself and finding time for yourself too!!!!

Imma finish getting ready for work and then am probably gonna go T^T

Not excited for work cause it’s been stupid busy lately but hopefully it’s chill

Either way I’ll have my favorite manager closer person and not the sucky ones so ayo

Goodnight and sweet dreams sweet tea!!!!!!

Lotssssssssssss of tonsssssss of platonic love to you sweet tea!!!!!!

hi hi! hope you're doing well starshine!

honestly don't have a lot of concentration rn

brain feels like mush ^^'

I think your room will be cool! sure, there's not much in there at first, but it'll look more and more personal as time goes on

and there's so much potential for decorating!

also, it's good that you can save money again now

maybe you'll find something cool to buy later on, who knows

either way it's always good to have some money saved up

I hope work won't be that bad for you

you got this, ok? I believe in you!!!

will go shower and then sleep

lots of platonic love to you starshine <3333333

#answered ask #starshine ✨

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sjjdkdkwo · 3 years

Text

I think while Stephen was a pompous doctor during his pre accident days, he’d actually be a really sad person behind closed doors? He probably doesn’t even realize it but he’s such an empty person for so many reasons at that point like the loss of literally his whole family. And he doesn’t really strike me as a social butterfly even then, like he doesn’t really have friends, he has colleagues but in his warped sense of companionship that’s enough and means he’s not a sad lonely person. At least in the movies they don’t show you any friends he might have besides Christine? And it really makes me wonder if he even has them to begin with, and if he didn’t I feel like he’d do all these little things to overcome loneliness he doesn’t even know he has? You get me??? Anyway—

—

A thirty-four hour shift wasn’t the longest Stephen had endured since becoming a surgeon, but it was draining all the same. Especially when it seemed he was the only capable surgeon at Metro General half of the time he was working there. Stephen swore if he had to fix Nick’s mistakes on more time he’d push him from a fifth floor window; and make him operate on himself just to make him see how incompetent he really was. He’d already come close once earlier that week.

He stifled a yawn as he made his way toward the elevator in his building but stopped when he felt something barrel into his legs. Nearly tripping over the thing he looked down with scowl and found a familiar furry face looking up at him. Stephen forgot any irritation as the little dog before him barked and got up on it’s hind legs to paw at Stephen’s own longer ones. He broke out into a large grin as he crouched down to be closer to eye level with the dog and reached out to run his fingers over the animals soft silky fur before sticking out one hand for the dog to shake.

“Well hello, Bandit.” He greeted. “How are you doing today?”

Bandit let out a high pitched bark and placed his paw into Stephen’s waiting hand. After giving the dog a gentle little handshake he reached inside his coat pocket and pulled out a small bag of dog treats before holding one out for the dog to eat. A deep chuckle rumbled in his chest as Bandit scarfed down the treat and he let his hand linger so his furry friend could lap up the residue left on his fingers.

“I know, I know, bacon flavor is your favorite. I didn’t forget.”

Stephen held conversation with the dog for another minute before a tall man ran up to them calling out the dogs name. When he saw Stephen a look of relief passed over his face as he made his way toward them.

“Doctor Strange, thank God.” He huffed before his gaze landed on Bandit. “And you! What have I told you about running off like that? Your lucky you ran into Doctor Strange, mister!”

Bandit barked again, wagging his tail and jittering about between both men. Stephen shook his head fondly and stood back up.

“Marcus, how are you?”

“Great, listen I’m so sorry, Doctor Strange. I don’t know what comes over him whenever he sees you.” Marcus said scratching his chin in thought.

“Probably these?” Stephen laughed holding up the bag of dog treats.

“I see now, trying to bribe my dog into leaving me for you, huh?” Marcus joked.

“Hardly. If anything, he’s the one trying to con me with that adorable face of his.”

Marcus laughed and settled a soft, kind smile on his face and leaned down to hook Bandit back on his leash.

“I get what you mean, I’m practically starving with how often he whines for table scraps.” Marcus huffed again. His phone chirped then and he quickly fished it out from his pants. His eyes widened when he stared at the screen and he looked back up at Stephen with a sorry face. “Shoot, I gotta go, Doctor Strange.”

“Oh…right course, it was nice seeing you, Marcus. You keep a close eye on him, he’s a slippery one.”

“Oh I will.”

“I was talking to Bandit.” Stephen teased.

Marcus rolled his eyes and gave him a wry smile. “Very funny, Doctor Strange. Bye now!”

Stephen waved them both off with a slack smile before making his way back toward the elevator door and to his loft. He often thought about getting a dog of his own, but then he’d remember he hardly had time for himself most days and would eradicate the thought from his mind completely.

Walking through his front door Stephen slipped off his coat and shoes and placed them neatly on by the door and on the coat rack. He rolled his head side to side a few times and walked into the living room quickly switching on the television. The loft would be to quiet otherwise and on days were things were less ideal than usual; it almost felt like there was someone else there. Not that Stephen needed the comfort, certainly not. It was merely a habit he often told himself instead. Stephen turned his gaze to the table settled against the wall and the two frames placed meticulously there.

“Donna, Victor. I’m home.” He said to the frames then trotted to the kitchen. “You wouldn’t believe the day I’ve had. I swear it’s like Nick was placed on this earth just to annoy me.”

It was a stupid habit really, one that Stephen would never admit to anyone to save his life. It had started thanks to an old college roommate who had once confided in him that he could speak to the dead. Of course Stephen had laughed at him and had deemed the whole ordeal sheer lunacy. His roommate had hadn’t taken much offense though and had continued to hassle Stephen with tales of psychic powers or special cards one could use to speak to the deceased. Sometimes one could merely talk into the open air and if they were lucky a loved one would be near by to hear it, he’d said. Stephen had taken everything with a grain of salt though, and hadn’t cared much for the conversation.

After a particular nasty phone call with his father however, Stephen had been reminded how strained things were with his family at the time, and how broken they’d all become since Donnas’ death. And later that night in a bout of deep dejection he’d called out her name when no one was around. Before he knew it he’d spent six hours talking into thin air about anything and everything, and from then on he simply hadn’t been able to stop. A few years later he’d ended up doing the same with Victor.

Stephen reached the kitchen counter and opened one of the cabinets beneath the sink to pull out a silver pan. Opening his fridge next he rummaged through before pulling out a stick of butter and single cut of steak. “He nearly misdiagnosed a patient with a brain tumor. Can you even believe that? If I hadn’t stepped in and run a few more tests who knows what would’ve happened? Sometimes I just want to—“

Stephen stretched out his arms and clenched his fingers as if strangling an imaginary person. He sighed and went back to the items lying on the counter and heated up the stove.

“Honestly some days I think it’s not just the patients who’ve got something wrong going on in their brains.” Stephen laughed at his own words and dumped a scoop of butter into the pan before placing the steak in. “It seems like there isn’t anyone there who hasn’t gotten on my nerves. Well…there is a new surgeon, Christine. It’s kind of endearing really, when she first met me she could hardly find the right words to even say hello. I’m not surprised though, it’s not everyday you meet someone of my skill and talent.”

Stephen walked away from the stove and found his way to the living room and turned on some music.

“We actually have a date this weekend at dinner I’m speaking at. She was so excited when I told her; I bet she’s kept up with all my work...” Stephen said, drumming his fingers on his armrest with a lofty smirk. A slight smell of smoke made it’s way over to him but Stephen decided to ignore it in favor of talking some more. Before he could continue his ramblings though the next song played and he let out a jovial laugh. “I can’t make you love me by Bonnie Raitt, 1991. Oh god, I remember when you played this song for days on end after Brian Williams broke up with you, Donna. You didn’t stop moping over that halfwit until Victor and me practically dragged you out of the house.”

Stephen smiled softly to himself, looking over at Donna and Victor’s pictures on the table in front him. “We went to the fair that day, remember?”

Donna had been a wreck when Brian had decided she simply wasn’t the right person for him. She’d cried and ran into the family room to declare that true love was a lie and that her life meant nothing anymore. Stephen and Victor had tried not to laugh, and instead set about planning ways to get back at Brian for making her cry regardless. She was their sister and they loved her too much to let her tears go to waste after all. After more than a week of hearing the same sad song behind her closed door though they’d decided enough was enough and had tugged her out of bed and into Stephen’s car. She’d been steadfast in her sulking demeanor the entirety ride there regardless of what Victor or Stephen did however.

It wasn’t until two rides in that Donna had cracked her first smile after Victor had screamed so hard he’d almost cried while on the rollercoaster ride. She’d babied him after, but still teased him about it as they’d made their way around before she dragged them both to see a psychic. Stephen had groaned and begged her not to indulge in the nonsensical fake mysticism but she’d made a show of almost crying herself and Stephen knew had no choice. He had often thought Donna could one day convince him into murder if she’d tried hard enough, and thanked anyone who would listen that she was kinder than that.

Stephen had stood off to the side as his siblings received their readings, not paying any mind to what the supposed psychic was telling them and making faces the whole time. He’d been relieved that they’d finished till Donna had insisted that he get a reading of his own. This time he hadn’t relented when she’d pouted—until Victor had joined.

He’d sat in front of the psychic with an air of skepticism and superiority, nodding with feigned interest with at each word he heard. He would admit that his ego had been stroked when he’d been told that great things awaited him in the future, and had turned back to his siblings with a smug grin. His mood has quickly shifted though when the psychic had told him that sorrow and hardship would also follow him for the rest of his life. When he’d been warned that he would come to associate large bodies of water and automobiles with pain and death Stephen had scoffed and demanded their money back. Donna had smacked him on the shoulder and scolded him for his rudeness, apologizing to the psychic while Victor rolled with laughter behind them.

Though it had left him annoyed, Stephen didn’t think on it beyond that day and resumed life as usual. He didn’t believe in discernible tales of the supernatural and mystical beings or the occult, not when science and logic could easily disprove them.

And then a year later, Donna drowned in the lake.

Stephen had been to overcome with grief to make any connections between the two events at first, and when he could finally think on it had merely become angrier with himself for belittling his own sister’s death in such a way and pushed the thought from his mind.

Victor’s death hadn’t hurt any less. And looking at his brother’s mangled dead body beside the parked car he nearly laughed at the fortuity of it all, before breaking down and cradling him in his arms while he cried.

Stephen had become deathly silent as he let his mind wander further into the tragedy that seemed shadow him through life and wondered not for the first time if perhaps he was cursed. Pain had become an old friend by now, and sometimes Stephen didn’t know if he was truly happy or simply passing by as best he could. All his thoughts were interrupted at the sound of the smoke alarm going off however, and he cursed as he ran back into the kitchen to turn of the stove and look down at his now burned dinner. Glad for the distraction Stephen laughed into the empty loft and turned his head slightly as if someone were really there.

“Guess that’s a no go. You know what means, take out.” Stephen said throwing out the steak into the garbage been before grabbing his phone. And if anyone else were really there they might have said he looked almost relieved and eager at the thought of ordering out. Almost like he’d planned for the dinner to fail since starting it. “I think I’ll order Ruffian’s tonight, the delivery boy, Tim always gives me extra utensils.”

Stephen didn’t need extra utensils. Who would even use them? No one, not when he lived all alone.

A few hours later Stephen practically rushed out of his seat to get the door when he heard the buzzer. Swaying his way to the entrance he opened it with a casual smile only to drop it when he saw a stranger standing there.

“Uh, food for…Doctor Strange?” the man before him said, squinting at the paper in his hand in disbelief before looking up at him.

“Ah, yes. That’s me.” Stephen responded. He furrowed a brow. “Tim’s not working tonight, huh?”

The man gave him an odd look before nodding. “Yeah he’s um—he’s off tonight. Anyway here.”

Stephen reached out to grab the bag as it was offered to him, and gave the made a teasing grin.

“Thanks, I needed this.” He said.

“Oh yeah?”

“Let’s just say my cooking is so good even the smoke alarm cheers for me.” Stephen snorted. The other man didn’t laugh. So Stephen did it for him, admittedly awkwardly though. “You get it? See I’m so—“

“Yeah listen I’ve gotta go to my next delivery, but uh, you enjoy your food Mister—“

“Doctor” Stephen corrected.

“Right, well. Bye now.” The man said in grimace before hastily making his way away from Stephen.

“Yes…goodbye now.” Stephen said to the empty hallway.

Stephen ate his meal in relative silence after, only finishing half and talking out loud only a few times in between bites. After finishing and placing the leftovers in the fridge he stood in the middle of the empty living room.

“Well, I’d better head to bed. Early day tomorrow, and I can’t be late.” Stephen said, rocking back on his heels. “You know they’d be completely lost without me otherwise.”

He laughed, but no one was there to hear it. He gave a strained smile before shutting the television off and heading to bed.

After changing into his sleeping attire Stephen settled into the large vacant bed under the warm thick blankets and shut off his bedside lamp.

“Today wasn’t so bad. Saw a few people today. And of course I did excellent work.” Stephen spoke into the dark solitary space around him. “Yes, thing are looking pretty good for me I’d say. Right Donna, Victor?”

Stephen smiled to himself but couldn’t help but think about what his siblings would really say in that moment. He knew of course, he could still remember every detail about them well enough to be able to guess. He could see Donnas’ pitying glance and Victor’s desolate stare.

Aren’t you lonely, Stephen? , Donna would probably ask.

Stephen scoffed into the air.

“I’m not lonely.” He mumbled. “I’m not, I’m perfectly fine with my life as is. I have everything I ever wanted you know.”

He was speaking louder now he knew, but it didn’t matter. He had no one to wake up anyway.

Are you sure?

“Don’t be ridiculous. Lonely…I can’t be lonely.”

Stephen shifted in bed, suddenly realizing how quite the room was and frowned deeply. He sat up and beat his pillow; it felt to stiff in that moment. The whole bed felt uncomfortable then really, but Stephen didn’t give in and settled back down with an angry huff.

“How can I be lonely when everyone knows my name.”

He lay there for a moment in the heavy stifling silence before he couldn’t handle it anymore and flung himself from out of the bed to open his bedroom window, letting in the harsh cold air as he did so. Along with the cacophony of voices and cars and whatever other noises lived on constantly in New York.

Stephen let out a shaky breath and made his way back into bed. He didn’t bother getting comfortable this time, instead curling in on himself and shutting his eyes tight as he let the raucous noise from outside shelter him from the suffocating stillness of before. Only then was Stephen finally able to sleep.

That night he dreamt of bright flashing lights and drowning. Deep, deep into a pool of black ooze until he could no longer breath.

In the morning, Stephen wouldn’t give the dream a second thought. He didn’t need to, not when he already knew.

There was no such thing as magic.

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