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zackcollins · 4 years

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if you met me first ch. 3 || mathew barzal

chapter 1 || chapter 2 || masterlist

Author’s Note: Here’s chapter 3!! I finished it relatively quickly after chapter 2 but I’m scheduling for it to be posted on September 7th, 2020 at 13:00 EST because it’ll both give me some more time for chapter 4 and because I think I want to space out the days when I post parts of chaptered fics. I’ve been told that people like the anticipation of the next chapter, so I’m going to try to wait a few days between chapters so everyone has some suspense. If that’s alright with everyone. Let me know if I should change that idea. I’ll work with any reasonable suggestions I’m given. GIF credit to draisaitlpasta!!

Warnings: There’s the briefest mention of Barzy being in what could be considered the start of an anxiety response. I won’t spoil why; all I’ll say is that it’s towards the end of the chapter just so you know in case you have to avoid it.

Word Count: 1.8k+

Title: If You Met Me First by Eric Ethridge

Additional: The reader is still gender-neutral! I think I’m managing really well with keeping it that way but let me know if I’ve accidentally gendered them. I’ll either go in and fix it or just change this note to reflect the gender I wrote them as. Whichever it is that you guys prefer. I hope that’s okay and I hope you enjoy this!

Mathew hummed and kissed your forehead.

“Surprise,” he said, voice eerily calm for the situation.

“What about—“

“I called your boss,” Mathew interjected. He kissed your forehead again and ran his fingers through your hair. “I told her that I was your long-distance boyfriend and that I was surprising you with a trip to St. Lucia for our anniversary. It didn’t take much convincing after that.”

You felt yourself smirk as your heartbeat sped up. Your stomach filled with butterflies when you saw the confident look on Mathew’s face.

“You were really banking on me saying I liked you,” you said, kissing Mathew’s cheek.

“Tito—the whole team, really—said I was being an oblivious moron,” Mathew replied. “They all said that from the way I talked about you and our interactions, your feelings for me were incredibly obvious and that they were dumbfounded as to how I didn’t notice sooner. They’re the reason I called today; they told me to call for myself or they would call for me.”

You chuckled, patting Mathew on the cheek. Mathew chuckled, kissing your wrist as you pulled it away. You shivered a little at the contact, smiling weakly. Mathew smiled weakly in return, eyes conveying an emotion you weren’t sure you knew how to read.

Mathew yawned just then, causing his eyes to shift from the unreadable emotion to an emotion that was much more familiar to you—tiredness. He shifted a few times on the couch in what you assumed was an attempt to get comfortable. You shifted until you were able to swing your legs over the side of the couch, standing up. You offered your hand to Mathew, helping him stand.

“C’mon,” you said, leading him through the living room and down the hallway. “It’ll be more comfortable if we sleep in my bed.”

You felt Mathew’s heartbeat quicken through the pulse point in his wrist. You smiled internally as you continued walking down the hallway.

When you were in the bedroom, Mathew froze a few feet from the bed. You looked up at him after sitting down at the foot of the bed. You raised your hands in a questioning gesture and nodded your head towards Mathew.

“What’s wrong,” you asked, voice somewhat laced with concern. Everything had seemed fine in the living room and you were concerned you had accidentally done something to upset Mathew on the short walk to the bedroom.

“What…” he trailed off and squeezed his eyes shut.

You found that odd because he wasn’t normally the nervous type. Sure, he got antsy sometimes but he never usually left sentences unspoken.

“What should I wear,” he asked, motioning to his body. “Do I wear this? Or do I get down to my underwear?”

You discreetly let out the nervous breath you had been holding. Finding out you hadn’t done anything wrong made you feel a lot better.

When you composed yourself, you looked at what Mathew was wearing. You noticed that he was in a pair of blue jeans, a black cardigan, a white t-shirt, a pair of black socks and his favourite silver necklace. As he stood there, he was fiddling with his cardigan sleeves. You briefly saw his wrists and noticed that he was wearing bracelets that would fit perfectly with any teenage girl’s aesthetic.

You sighed and ran a hand through your hair.

“You can sleep in your t-shirt and underwear.” You motioned to his socks. “And your bracelets, necklace, and socks, if you sleep in those.”

Mathew put his hand on his chest and contorted his face into one of humourous disgust.

“Only heathens sleep with socks on,” he said, voice condescending in nature.

You chuckled and gave Mathew a thumbs up. “Good answer.”

Mathew smirked, returning the thumbs up. You rolled your eyes and shook your head at him before focusing your attention on undressing and changing yourself for bed.

Just as you were sliding your pyjama shirt over your head, you felt the bed sink lower. You looked over as soon as the shirt was over your head. You smiled when you saw Mathew sitting there in his t-shirt and boxer-briefs, looking at you with a nervous expression.

Wanting to ease some of his nerves, you reached over and tapped the tip of his nose with your finger; you said a soft ‘boop’ as you did. When Mathew snorted and cracked the smallest of smiles, you knew your mission had been accomplished; you repeated the action and verbal aspect a second time for good measure.

Mathew reached over, squishing your face with his hand. He pushed your head back slightly as he did. You giggled when he removed his hand.

“Dork,” Mathew said, squishing your face and pushing it backwards again.

This time, you licked the part of his hand that was over your mouth. Mathew recoiled his hand, scoffing as he wiped it on your pyjama pants. You giggled as he glared at you, though you saw no heat behind it. Rather, he looked like he was trying not to laugh.

“That’s what you get,” you said between giggles. “Has no one taught you that putting your hand over someone else’s face means that it’s going to get licked?”

Mathew grumbled, poking your nose. You giggled harder, holding onto your stomach because it was starting to hurt. Mathew chuckled along with you but you could tell that there was an undertone of concern to the way that he was looking at you.

“I… I’m…” you said, words coming out in wheezes as you giggled relentlessly. “I’m… fine, Mat… Mathew.”

Mathew’s face softened a little but you could tell that he was still looking at you cautiously. You respected him for the fact that he wanted to make sure that you were okay. You honestly were okay. You would have told him otherwise if you needed to. It had just been ages since you had laughed like this and, because of that, everything felt more intense than it normally did.

When you had finally calmed down from your intense giggling fit, you noticed that Mathew had stopped looking at you cautiously. You now noticed that he was looking at you lovingly. Your stomach swooped and you were fairly certain it wasn’t because you had just spent fifteen minutes giggling like a fool. You swallowed the nervous lump that had formed in your throat.

“Is it okay if we cuddle,” you asked.

When Mathew stared at you blankly, you realized that had been a stupid question.

“We were cuddling on the couch,” you said, mostly to yourself. “Of course it’s okay if we cuddle.”

Mathew grabbed your face, directing you to look at him. You felt the tension you had ease when you noticed that he didn’t look annoyed with you.

“Hey,” he said, soothing his thumb along your chin. “I get it. You’re nervous. How long have you waited for this?”

You sighed, biting your lip. Mathew nodded, smiling softly as he soothed his thumb along your chin a second time.

“We’ve been friends for, what,” you paused, looking at the ceiling in an attempt to help yourself remember the number, “six years?”

Mathew hummed, nodding. “Something like that.”

You bit your lip again, this time squeezing your eyes shut. Mathew soothed his thumb along your chin again, humming a couple of times as he did.

“Look at me,” he said, softly.

When you opened your eyes, you saw that Mathew was looking at you with that same unreadable expression from earlier. It didn’t bother you that you couldn’t decipher it; instead, it made you feel at peace. Something about it brought you a sense of calm and it was helping you with your decision to tell Mathew the answer to his question.

“I started liking you after three months of being friends,” you said, smiling weakly at Mathew.

Mathew chuckled, leaning forward and kissing your cheek.

“It only took me a month and a half,” he said before laying down on the bed.

He didn’t look at you when he asked, softly, “Can I be the little spoon?”

Instead of replying, you laid down behind Mathew. You slotted your bodies together, wrapping your arms around his midsection and burying your head in the nape of his neck.

“Thank you,” Mathew muttered, though it was faint, strained, and wet with the beginnings of tears so you barely heard him.

“Hey. Hey,” you mumbled into Mathew’s neck, squeezing him closer to you. “I’d never shame you for that. If you need to be the little spoon sometimes, you need to be the little spoon sometimes. Being the one getting cuddled is fine, Mathew. Some people need the comfort of a person surrounding them. It doesn’t make you any less of a man. Needing human contact is normal.”

Mathew sniffled wetly a couple of times, his breathing somewhat shaky. You kissed the nape of his neck and brought your hands up, splaying them across his chest. Mumbling sweet nothings into his neck and softly compressing his chest seemed to calm him down. You kissed his neck a few more times as his breathing evened out in an attempt to keep him calm.

“Thank you,” Mathew said once his breathing was completely under control, though his voice did sound somewhat strained. “I don’t know what I did to deserve you and we aren’t even officially dating yet.”

You chuckled into Mathew’s neck, flicking his chin with one of your hands.

“I admitted to having feelings for you,” you said. “I didn’t disagree with you when you mentioned that you were my boyfriend because it helped you get me out of work so you could take me to St. Lucia. I didn’t say no to going to St. Lucia even though we’re going tomorrow and I had no warning. Use your head, Mathew.”

“I thought we’ve established that I need things spelled out for me,” Mathew deadpanned.

You chuckled, flicking Mathew’s chin again.

“Fair enough.”

Mathew chuckled but it quickly turned into a yawn. You pat his chest before dropping your arms so that they were back around his midsection.

“Let’s get some sleep,” you said, pulling Mathew in closer to you.. “We need it because tomorrow is going to be a long day.”

Mathew hummed as he grabbed the blanket and tossed it over the top of both of you. You smiled into Mathew’s neck as you closed your eyes, shifting a few times to make yourself comfortable.

Right as you were drifting off to sleep, you heard Mathew’s soft snoring. Snoring normally bothered you but it felt different hearing it from the man you had carried a torch for for the last six years. It made you feel at ease.

The last thing you registered before your brain switched to subconscious thoughts was Mathew mumbling something in his sleep.

“Can’t wait for tomorrow.”

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bangtan-spells · 7 years

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Yoongi Scenario: Tainted Love - Part 12.

Request: Could you make one with Yoongi being some sort of demon/vampire boss that every one is super scared of but then there is Y/N, Yoongi is in love with her and everyone is always super impressed how Yoongi always surrenders and softens when something is about her? He’s super protective and wants to please her in his own way, thank you for doing this i love you

Summary: Demons are merciless, demons are ruthless, demons can’t hold nothing dear to them. Yoongi is the leader, the king of the demon world. He is feared as he is respected, no one expected him to bring a human girl as his lover, you. You fell in love and now you are in the midst of adjusting to the demon world, its custums, and its dangers. But everything is worth it if is for him, the demon king that lives between shadows and that would turn hell apart to protect you.

Demon AU. Featuring all BTS.

Genre: Romance / Drama.

Part 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 13

You weren’t surprised when after appearing you found yourself in the middle of a forest, you didn’t know where you were, the only thing you could assume was that it shouldn’t be too far away since the sensation of dizziness wasn’t as strong and somehow being in a forest seemed logical for some reason, maybe in your head you had formed the idea of witches and warlocks not living in the city. You started walking, following Taehyung and Jungkook who were at the front as they shared few words, Yoongi, Jin and you were a bit behind, walking quietly, so much the only sound you heard were your boots with each step you took as all of them moved with absolute sigil. You were the only girl but suddenly you didn’t feel that graceful.

-They will hear us from miles with me walking like this, sorry- you murmured.

Yoongi shook his head giving you a look that meant that didn’t matter.

-Don’t pay attention to it Y/N- Jin said with ease but as you turned to look at him you saw a bit of tension in him, was he nervous? why would Jin be nervous?

You gave Yoongi a questioning look but he just kept walking without saying anything, or giving anything away with his expression, as usual. Yoongi had a pretty cold face, not very expressive unless he was angry which you could tell when it was too late to not get in his bad side. You were in between both of them not really knowing if you should talk and ask things as you would usually do or if you should keep your mouth shut, judging by their faces you decided for the latter, now that you observed them well they all were tense, even Taehyung and Jungkook walking in the front were pretty alert, they talked but you saw how they were constantly looking around, or how Taehyung graced the grip of one of his swords a bit too often. You looked at Yoongi too who had eyes on the front but you also saw the shadows starting to slid from him, slithering to the ground and you wouldn’t have noticed if you weren’t aware of them already. You heard a whistle and your heart skipped and your stomach dropped with adrenaline, Taehyung halted in the front whilst Jungkook, Jin and Yoongi closed around you.

There was a moment of all of you looking around and then a figure came into view, jumping from a tree just in front of Taehyung who had his right arm flexed back but without drawing his sword yet. The man looked human, although you doubted he was so as any human would have fainted at the sight of Taehyung and his rabid eyes, this one instead looked at your group like acknowledging who you were, very much calm and tranquil, too much.

-We come for no trouble, just a talk- Taehyung said but his tone didn’t reflect the intention he stated.

The man, who had long white hair although he didn’t look old and half of his face painted in blue frowned notably offended. You wondered if Taehyung was the correct one to make diplomacy at the moment, why wasn’t Jin doing the talking, that would be better.

-I will not talk to you, scum, only to your leader-

Taehyung smirked but didn’t react on the insult. -You see, he doesn’t talk to scum either, take us to your leader-

Yoongi didn’t move of your side which told you this wasn’t the first time they did something like this, you watched attentively the reaction of the man, how he inflated his practically uncovered chest, he wore some sort of white tunic with baggy pants. It made him seem like he belonged to a tribe or a sect, then you remembered Jimin had said they had clans, maybe it was something of this clan

He glared at Taehyung and looked at the rest of you, noticing that Yoongi was said leader, Yoongi remained stony and then the eyes of the white haired warlock focused on you for just a second before turning around, three more jumped off the tree branches to follow him. You were startled but kept your mouth shut to not gasp in surprise, the demons didn’t seem fazed so you guessed they knew they were being followed since far behind. Of course the noise you were making didn’t matter.

You went further in and now you started seeing more things, there was noise coming from afar, the kind of noise people would make, but you stopped before you got to the source of that noise, in front of you there was a stone house, small as it couldn’t have more than two rooms by the initial size. Yoongi had moved to the front now, but even if he had said not to get away from his side you decided to stay behind for the moment, now with Jin and Jungkook who were giving not so friendly stares at the warlocks that were around you.

-She’s human- one of them said in a hushed voice that was a bit too loud. You turned to look at the other three, fairly young although one of them you would say was stepping on the forties, they didn’t have long white hair as each had a shade of brown, but what everyone had on common was the blue paint on the face.

-What are you pretending to do bringing humans here?- the same one asked stepping forward and the long haired warlock lifted his chin to Yoongi like waiting for an answer.

-Now, that’s none of your business, we will advice to not go further with this topic- Jin answered a bit too lightheartedly. -Bring us to your leader that’s all you want to do-

The warlocks had stepped a bit closer, perhaps a bit too much, Yoongi didn’t turn to look but then he didn’t need to as his shadows were dispersed behind.

-I think you want to tell us what are you really up to, demons can’t be here, we are only letting you through as a courtesy- he said sternly. - Even less bring humans in here, if this is some kind of trick or threat of you with another clan we will not take it lightly- You glared, looking at the warlocks defiantly, you were confident you’d be safe although you were also a bit anxious for being questioned, what was the deal with them and humans? Weren’t they neutral? -We would like to examine her-

-What?- you exclaimed not liking the idea of them “examining” you, the word was a bit too clinical but in this context you didn’t know what could mean.

-You don’t want to do that- Jin continued gesticulating with his hands in a negative motion. -We are here for a talk, that’s it, we are peaceful, we are talking to scum like you and everything, I’m even giving you advice!- he completed with a laugh that the white haired warlock didn’t take nicely.

-Examine her- he stated, you inhaled deeply to not gasp so soundly and moved to be completely covered by Jungkook’s back but as soon as one of the other three had moved there was something flying to his neck. It was only a shadow so the warlocks were confused and the one being attacked started to gasp for air, in the first couple of seconds he was choking and then Yoongi moved his head slightly and the shadow turned sharp, like it was a blade it went through the skin and tissue making the body fall to the ground. The other two were outraged and were murmuring things that you couldn’t understand but guessed couldn’t be good, they closed on you again but this time Yoongi remained at the front.

The long haired warlock was breathing heavily like he didn’t expect this outcome and then there was someone coming out of the little house. This one had white hair as well, but short, he wore the same clothes and looked fairly similar.

-What is this?- he stared at all of you and then at Yoongi. -You- he said like he was seeing the devil in the flesh. -You have just broken our treaty-

Yoongi cocked his head just slightly. -Bruma- he said, maybe it was the name. -I did no such thing, actually this one did- he said pointing at the long haired warlock with his chin and Bruma, who had to be the leader gave a quick stare to the other. -He put mine in danger, I only reacted logically- he shrugged like it wasn’t a big deal. -I figured better that one than this one over here- he said now pointing at the long haired one. -I figured you wouldn’t appreciate me killing your blood brother-

-Our manners are always so on point- Jin whispered to you, and you breathed in trying to calm your beating heart as you saw the body and then Yoongi.

Bruma scowled but fulminated his brother with his eyes before looking at the body on the ground and then back at Yoongi.

-We need to examine her, if she’s a device from another clan, if this is a trap…- Bruma gave a look to his brother that made him go quiet.

The warlock looked at you for moment that made you feel uncomfortable, like you were bare and he could see beyond you, like he could sense you wholly and you wished Jungkook’s body would have been able to shield you from that as well.

The warlock leader looked at Yoongi for a moment and then at his brother and shook his head.

-She’s his lover- he said with a tone that told him he should have known better, you didn’t know what gave it away, Yoongi didn’t say anything but his face denoted the truth. Bruma gave you a curious look, but you tried to remain unmoved figuring this wasn’t being examined or else Yoongi wouldn’t have allowed it. You felt he had read you entirely though and you didn’t like it. You wished you were next to Yoongi as you were feeling a bit unsure but you didn’t know if it was ok to go to the front now. Like he was reading your mind he turned his head your way and did a little move that called for you. You went there with a strong yet relaxed pace trying to not look as nervous as you were, though being by Yoongi’s side made you feel better.

The leader nodded which settled it as then you were allowed into the stone house after Bruma gave a few orders, one of the other two warlocks stayed behind while the other followed you inside.

With all of you there it was crowded, you sat on rugs on the ground and around you there were multiple things hanging, from the ceiling and on the walls, you saw stone and teeth chains, dreamcatchers looking amulets of all kinds, and dried animals, which made you cringe a little.

-I have seen your kin around here lately- Bruma said as soon as you were sitting giving a quick look to Taehyung and Jungkook at the back. -What is this about?-

-I wouldn’t like to make an accusation but I’m afraid you are kind of messing with mine- Yoongi said smoothly.

Bruma glared because he was being accused after all. -Get to the point Yoongi, I don’t have time for demons and your treacherous words, or for you coming in here-

-One of your clan set up a distracting amulet in my territory and I can’t have that, I demand him or her for interrogatory-

-I won’t listen such claim, my clan isn’t working against yours-

-But it is- Yoongi looked at you and you gave him the amulet you had brought in your bag. -There you have it, according to my sources this is your doing, you like wild board teeth don’t you-

The warlock looked at Taehyung who gave him a grim smirk. -That doesn’t mean anything, that would be a violation to our pact, I….- Bruma realized what he was saying and was still for a moment just as Taehyung drew his swords and Jungkook got the other two warlocks unmobilized.

Yoongi was still sitting next to you staring at the warlock in the eye. -I’m glad you understand, so, unless you want a slaughter house I propose you give this amulet a serious look-

Bruma took the amulet in his hands and he examined through fully to then nod, he looked at his brother and his comrades still restricted by Jungkook’s shadows.

-Let them free, they don’t have anything to do with this-

Yoongi gave him a curious look. -That I cannot do, this was made by this clan so I’d suggest you doing the explaining before I lose my patience, I don’t have time for this shit, but I’d stay a few minutes back to see you all dead- Yoongi raised his brows like making his point and Bruma scowled giving another look to the other two warlocks before sighing, he looked much more older now and really he didn’t seem that bad, maybe Yoongi knew this and that was why he hadn’t attacked yet. Or maybe he was just waiting the right moment.

-This looks like it was indeed made from one of ours but I’m afraid it is not quite like that- Yoongi waited for him to go on and Jin frowned as he paid attention to what the warlock was saying. -There was… a group, that was from this clan, they abandoned the clan a few months ago, these knots, this kind of rope...I’m almost sure this was their doing, we have no intention to mess with you, as we have a pact, an alliance- he remarked strongly.

-Where is this group? Where did they go?-

-I’m not sure, deserters are not always hunted you see, that was a problematic group so…-

-So you didn’t think in cleaning your own shit?- Taehyung barked from the back making Bruma give him a harsh look.

Yoongi lifted a hand for Taehyung to stay quiet but insisted Bruma to answer the question with a harsher stare. -They were problematic, and we are trying to stay as neutral as we can-

-But you are not being neutral, you attacked us- you said before even thinking if you could opinate or not.

-She’s got a point, if you were aware of it you are accomplices- Jin intervened giving Yoongi a look, by the back Jungkook tightened his hold on the other two warlocks making one of them gasp for air soundly.

-Bruma you are in a very complicated position as I see it now- Yoongi started in that dangerous calm that usually predicted terrible things -As I see it I have to kill you and all your clan for this, can’t have no one crossing me and go on just like that, now can I?- Bruma didn’t say anything to Yoongi’s rhetoric question so he went on. -So, you got to give one piece of information that justify why shouldn’t I kill every single warlock in these woods-

-You can’t do that-

-Oh I can- Yoongi smirked amused. -I have a thing for blood, I won’t mind- the warlock looked at you but this time it was Yoongi raising his shadows in a threat. -I wouldn’t think about that either, you’d just make the blood bath quicken-

He realized he was cornered, he wouldn’t be able to use you as hostage and he wouldn’t get out of this without being useful. You understood a bit why Yoongi preferred you to stay home as this could get ugly pretty fast, but at the same time being here gave you a better perspective how they thought, how they dealt with issues. Usually blood and violence, at the very least threats, a pact didn’t seem such steady thing anymore.

-We found out, a few days ago, that they are working for certain demon- he sighed. -These are your issues we shouldn’t have to mind it or intervene-

-Go on Bruma, don’t mess this up any further, we have a nice pact after all- Yoongi smiled but the other saw the threat in his words.

-They are working for a demon, doing a kind of magic that we don’t condone, I don’t know much about it, and I tell you the truth, I don’t- he went quiet for a moment giving Yoongi and all of you a severe look. -What I do know is that this demon is doing some kind of experiment with very dark high magic, we don’t want to cross him or have anything to do with him-

They were afraid you realized, whoever that was these warlocks were afraid of them which made you have goosebumps, if he could face Yoongi like this, rather calmly, then how bad would it have to be someone who made him turn his face the other way to not cross them.

-Who?- Yoongi asked.

-I do not know his identity, what I do know is that is a male and he….- Bruma hesitated but a moment and you got even more nervous. -He’s a monster, the same kind of the one you have back there- his eyes went to the back of the room directly to Taehyung.

You expected him to react but you didn’t expect him to do it the way he did, one of his swords flew in his hands, the movement was quick directing it towards one of the warlocks restricted who screamed at seeing death before his eyes, you gasped and Yoongi jumped to his feet, but it was Jungkook who got in between Taehyung, his thick lava like shadows were the only thing that prevented Taehyung’s sword to go through his shoulder.

-Get off my away- Taehyung grunted putting much force to the blow making the other warlocks get lose as Jungkook had to focus on not being pierced by the blade.

-Calm the fuck down- Jungkook snarled.

-Enough- Yoongi’s voice resonated making both Taehyung and Jungkook look his way. -Jin- he said making the other demon move to the back of the room where he disarmed Taehyung.

-Are you going to cut me with that?- he asked when Taehyung tried to attack him.

Taehyung groaned again but stayed somewhat calm as he kept himself still with the help of Jungkook’s shadows.

Yoongi pushed you back and you stumbled but got the idea and stepped back to where the others were standing, even the other two warlocks were unmoving, waiting to see what was going to happen next.

-Don’t fuck with me Bruma, don’t fuck with my people- he started his warning as the leader of the warlock clan also stood up. -That one on the back?- he said signaling Taehyng with his head. -Would gut you and make you eat your shit-

Bruma whispered a few words and then he was surrounded by a blue aura. -Don’t threaten me, get out-

-No, I think you don’t understand- Yoongi hissed when the blue light touched him but soon he was surrounded by shadow and he could grab the warlock by his neck. -I’d make it worse- he closed his hand on it and the other two warlocks tried to attack but were stopped by their own leader as he lifted a hand to stop them. -You don’t see the real monster coming until you are up your neck full of shit- he squeezed more and got so close the light blue aura went smaller drowned by the shadows.

-Next time you come at me or at any of mine with some bullshit I’ll throw you to that monster- he said referring to Taehyung. -If you are lucky enough that is, remember this little pact of ours and what it means for you, what yours did was a high crime and is punishable by death, If you don’t hunt them down I’ll take it as your doing- Yoongi let him go and hissed again when the blue light touched him, like he was burned and you flinched a little not liking the sight of him being even slightly hurt.

-Send word when you have a lead- Yoongi said before turning around where you were, he nodded at Jin and then looked at you and put a hand around your shoulders just before looking at Taehyung and if you were not mistaken you saw hurt and pride in both their eyes, it was the first time of you seeing such connection between them, and the pain you had just witnessed made you want to cry.

He was the monster that even other demons despised. He was taboo.

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under-latest-nostalgia · 7 years

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Got Scars on Our Future Hearts (But We Never Look Back) [5/7]

Where Carlos keeps disappearing, Evie is scheming something, Mal knows and won’t say and Jay just wants to struggle about his new found crushes in peace.

Alternatively, Carlos is in a secret underground rock band and is totally crushing on Jay. Jay finds out about said secret band and finds the lead totally hot. Evie planned it all from the start and Mal likes watching her emotionally stunted male friends fumble about their love lives as much as she did. (Even more alternatively, the Punk Band AU I talked about with be-a-thief-in-the-night)

Chapters: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]

<AO3>

Carlos laughed as he ran off stage, out of breath and hyped up on the adrenaline of a gig.

“Goodness sake, Snowflake,” their bassist, Beck, says as they pull off the plague doctor inspired carnival mask and ruffling their dark hair, “Really pulling for some groupies, huh?”

“Oh shut up Crow.” Carlos replies, using their stage names in case the mics weren't off yet.“You know I've only got eyes on one.”

“And what a tragedy that is.” Elliot comes in with a flourish and a wink, shaking his sweat soaked hair, dropping the motorcycle helmet he used on the couch and sitting beside it with a groan. “You've got too pretty a voice to get all hung up on one person now.”

Harriet comes in and smacks her brother up the head before squeezing in beside him, “As if you'd actually go for it if he was available you dork.”

Elliot rolls his eyes, “I'm trying to teach you, dear sister. Just because I don't want or need any doesn't mean you have to live your life in constant awkward pining.”

“Oh shut up!” Harriet replies, blowing a raspberry in her twin’s direction.

“Still, I can't believe our lil baby singer had the guts to do it.” Kali replies as she gingerly places her guitar on the stand.

Carlos groans, “You act as if I pushed him against a wall and made out with him- “

“And what an image that would've made.” Elliot cuts in cheekily.

“ -thanks Lio- as I was saying, I just dedicated to an anonymous person, I didn't even say his name.” Carlos finishes, exasperated.

“Maybe you should.” Beck says with a grin that reminded Carlos a tad too much of the Isle. “We could set up a club to go with our gig next time. Have you corner the unsuspecting Jock as the party dwindles.”

Beck waggles their eyebrows suggestively and grabs Kali's hand and pulls her into a dip. “Imagine, you, him, bright light, a dark corner.”

Kali laughs as Beck pulls her up into a twirl. Kali sighs dreamily for effect, “You whisper in his ear, and before you know it-”

“BOOM, “ they say together, as Kali extends her hand in a dramatic pose, “He's all flustered and you have him right where you want him.”

They bow dramatically and the twins clap lightly.

“Take him home, maybe ravage him, or the other way around, whichever,” Elliot adds with an eyebrow waggle of his own, “And happily ever after happens.”

Carlos shakes his head and groans into a facepalm, “I regret telling you all about him.”

Beck laughs, “Telling us? Dear, don't pretend you had a choice.”

Carlos sighs and shakes his head, “Ugh, whatever.”

Kali takes pity on him and pats his head, “Don't worry about it too much. But I do think it's a good idea to invite him to our next gig and have it in a place where you can talk to him instead of having to leave immediately.”

Carlos sighs, less exasperated and more defeated, “Yeah, you're right. You sure we can pull that off?”

Beck and the twins have what you can only describe as Cheshire cat grins on their faces, Kali shrugs and looks at him with an expression that said well, what can ya do?

Carlos can already feel the regret climbing up his spine.

Carlos gets back in a simple shirt and some sweatpants. He heads to Evie and Mal’s dorm room. He gives two sharp knocks on the door and out opens to a widely grinning blue haired princess.

“A note, Carlos?” Evie says with a sly smile, “How old fashioned of you.”

“Ugh,” Carlos grunts as he walks in and lets himself fall on one of the beds, “I would've thought the teasing would end at my bandmates.”

Evie somehow snorts like royalty, “Oh please, C, our resident badass wannabees wouldn't have even touched the tip of the teasing iceberg.”

“Honestly, this is the most fun Auradon drama I've seen.” Mal says from her bed with a grin that reminds Carlos of her mom. “Ironically the main characters are VKs, but then again we are the most fun in general.”

Carlos sighs, wanting to steer the conversation away from his train wreck of a romantic conquest. “Beck’s planning an afterparty for the next gig. Thought you guys might want in on it.”

Carlos doesn’t mention that it’s planned deliberately to move his love life forward but he figures he deserves a bit of reprieve before Evie and Mal find out eventually. He sees Evie with a twinkle in her eye and Carlos already knows he’s going to either owe Evie his soul for the rest of his life or regret this with the force of a thousand dying suns. (Okay, so he’s being a tad dramatic. Don’t judge him, Evie’s plans are always over the top since she, and he quotes, “missed out on the prime of my party planning youth because of a certain half fairy.”)

Mal is giving Carlos the stink eye for planting a party planning thought in Evie’s head and turns to face the blue haired princess with a neutral expression.

“Evie…” she starts cautiously as the other girl turns to her excitedly.

“Mal…” Evie says with a sly smile. “You’d do anything for your best girl right?”

“Don’t you drag my affection for you into this!” Mal says, shaking her head violently and giving Evie what could only be called a childish pout. Not that Carlos would ever say that to Mal’s face.

Evie laughs and pats Mal’s cheek. “You know you can’t turn me down, sweet pea.”

Mal growls playfully, wraps her arms around Evie and pulls her down onto the bed. Evie shrieks with laughter, playfully struggling against Mal’s grip, too distracted and breathless from laughing to really try.

Carlos rolls his eyes at the two and decides that it was his time to leave, he says a quick goodbye the girls won’t hear and hops off the bed and out of the room.

Carlos pads silently to their room, a habit that sometimes freaks the Auradon kids out. Heeled shoes aren't exactly quiet and on the Isle quiet is a lifestyle. Although, to think of it, Evie has perfected the art of stiletto sneaking.

Carlos gets to their room and he opens the door, the hinges creak and Carlos’ jaw locks instinctively. He grimaces at the habit as he loosens his jaw. He wonders when he'll be able to stop locking up at the minutest sound when he's alone, reacting like he's still afraid of a slap to the face for existing.

(He guesses it would be when he actually feels that it's ok for him to exist.)

He opens the door wide and sees Jay sitting up on his own bed, eyes alert and muscles coiled like snake readying to strike. Jay visibly relaxes into a smile when he sees Carlos. A part of Carlos is relieved that he wasn’t the only one with remnants of the Isle in him, the other part is angry that someone as precious as Jay had to live with the Isle marking him.

“Sup, Pup.” Jay says, raising a hand lazily, heavily contrasting the attack-mode he was in earlier.

“Hey, Jay.” Carlos says as he closes the door, walks over to his bed and sits down.

“You alright, C?” Jay says with a worried tone, Carlos looks up in surprise and is startled by the pouty look on Jay’s face, “You look exhausted.”

Adoration bubbles in Carlos’ chest, he couldn’t believe Jay would bother worrying about him, Carlos kicks off his shoes in an effort to get his mind busy and keep his tone light. “Uh- I-I’m fine. New project is’all, keeping us up.”

Carlos looks at his abandoned shoes like they’re the most interesting thing and Jay frowns, worry lines deepening before shaking his head.

“Oh, that’s cool.” Jay says with a strained smile Carlos misses, “Just… don’t go around collapsing.”

Carlos feels a blush starting, which is honestly the stupidest thing seeing as he sung the dude a love song just a couple of hours earlier. Carlos looks up and smiles at Jay, “Thanks, Jay. Don't worry, I'm pretty sure I can handle it better than the Auradon kids.”

“Course you can.” Jay says with a snort, “You'd be hurtin’ the VK pride if you didn't.”

Carlos laughs, it was nice to be able to banter with Jay like this. It's been awhile since they weren't both either asleep or busy. That afternoon was actually the first time in a couple of months that they really got to hang out together and now that the rush of the show was fading from Carlos’ veins, he realized that he really missed the older boy. Even on the Isle where Mal and Jay were more frequently out thieving together whilst Carlos and Evie worked on the logistics side of things. When it came down to it, the moment the four of them were in a room, Jay had managed to squeeze into whatever makeshift beanbag Carlos was on, chattering idly about his thoughts and Evie was off to sweet talk Mal into whatever plan she had come up with to get whatever thing she wanted. Honestly, Jay's existence was entwined into Carlos’ life and if it were up to the younger, it would ne-

“Earth to Carlos.”

Carlos blinks as his train of thought stops suddenly. “Huh?”

Jay looks at him with a mixture of fondness and amusement, “Off to lala land again?”

Carlos shrugs and smiles, “Just thinking about how it's been awhile since we got to hang out together. Just us.”

Jay looks startled, mouth opening and closing a couple of times like a fish out of water.

Carlos laughs, embarrassed, “Cat got your tongue?”

Jay looks like how speechless feels before he snaps out of it, “W-wait, are you saying you want us to go out- hang, hang out together?”

“Course,” Carlos says, “Just ‘cause I've got new friends doesn't mean they're higher on the list than you, bro.”

Jay looks taken aback before giving a grin that Carlos has figured made every vaguely interested person swoon on the spot. Carlos manages not to through sheer willpower and built up tolerance over the years.

“Hah, of course I am.” Jay says with faux confidence, “Best bros for life dude.”

They both go quiet.

Jay looks down and speaks up, “I just figured, you'd be better off with the Auradon kids.”

Carlos frowns and sits beside the older boy, nudging the other's shoulder, “Hey, I might not be the most evil but we're VKs for life, right? Ain't nobody but us could really get it.”

Jay grins, “Cause we’re rotten.”

Carlos laughs at the old phrase, “To the core.”

#jaylos #disney descendants #jay descendants #carlos de vil #malvie #the jaylos punk band carlos au #finally releasing the fifth chapter HAHAHA #jaylosfic

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thunder0-0sage · 7 years

Text

Summerbolt (manga script) Volume 4, chapter 33

CHAPTER 33: NEW TARGET

We see Seiren and his younger brother, Goran, on the cover, hugging each other over the shoulder and smiling widely, wearing jeans and white T-shirts on which ‘Best bros ever!!’ is written with black letters, the sentence being split between the two’s T-shirts.

‘These two sure look great together but do they really get along as well as they seem to be?!’

The tunnel dug underground by Rose is seen, where she is moving forward along with her son, the girls from ‘Earth class’ №1 and the civilians they’ve saved from the hotel on the beach earlier, Feoria, who’s lost her clothes in the last battle now wearing a man’s shirt and shorts, looking quite big on her.

‘As the one group of heroes fights on the beach, the other is making its way back to Deckstoru underground. Where exactly is their journey going to take them?!’

Zilli: ‘-Are you sure this is the right way, Mrs. Summerbolt?’

Rose: ‘-Of course. For the long years I’ve lived in this town I’ve studied its infrastructure very well and know it like the palm of my hand, whether up there or down here.’

Graid: ‘-We should reach our house soon enough.’

Violet: ‘-And why exactly are we going there?’

Rose: ‘-We need to arm everyone properly. The ones without combat-suitable devas and the ‘normal’ ones will help, too. There are no more innocent or helpless people. If you keep thinking as such, you’ll be the first to die.’

Turora: ‘-In the name of God!! What in the hell are you talking about?! We’re just kids!’

Graid: ‘-No. You were kids. The enemy doesn’t care about your age, sex or convictions. There is only one thing that really matters to them. (he becomes extremely serious while saying this and looking ahead) The complete destruction of this country.’

Miluna: ‘-So, do you know anything about ‘them’?’ (Rose and Graid look aside)

Rose: ‘-Quite a lot, actually. There will be a better time for discussions, though. The most important thing right now is to defend the city and try to evacuate as many people as we can from its vicinity.’

Feoria: ‘-Wow. You sure do sound like a war general.’ (Rose sighs)

Rose: ‘-I was one … a long time ago …’

Everyone is extremely shocked as the focus goes to the central parts of the city, the enemy attack raging there with full force as dull green energy shells, shots and rays are shot in all directions, blowing up the buildings around and destroying the people inside.

As pieces of different things are tossed around the air, Goran is seen, running forward when a shell hits right in front of him, exploding and throwing him aside, the young lad having escaped death thanks to his deva – golden-brown spike-like blades that have covered half of his body, jumping up and moving on.

Goran: ‘-Well, that was a close one!!’

He then hears a strange noise, turning around and seeing that there’s a whole group of villains behind him, pointing their energy weapons at him as Blackscale covers his entire body in spike-like blades and launches to his opponents, dodging some of their attacks while the rest hit him, neutralized by his armor.

Goran: ‘-Too bad for you, guys!! You’ve messed with the wrong Deckstorian!!!’

He reaches one of them and cuts his face very deep with his fists, kicking him back and grabbing his weapon that’s been tossed up, blowing up the soldiers around him on a molecular level, getting ready to finish the last of them when a blue spike hits the weapon.

The teenager looks at it with confusion when its energy filter starts glowing in bright green and he throws it aside, jumping back from the explosion, seeing the freak nearby, wearing the same kind of uniform like the deviants back at the beach. There are three large blue spikes protruding from each of his shoulders, one – from each elbow and pointing down to his wrists, and two smaller ones above each ear, his eyes glowing in dull green energy.

Deviant 1: ‘-Going somewhere, kid?’

Goran: ‘-You’re a deviant, too, aren’t you? Why are you attacking me then?!’ (the villain smiles in a hideous way)

Deviant 1: ‘-None of you will see any mercy from us. You are all going to die and the world as you know it is going to disappear!!!!!’ (Goran moves a step back with an angry expression, taking a battle stance)

Goran: ‘-Is that so? I won’t show you any mercy either, then.’

The two of them launch to each other, clashing their fists, the bastard’s elbow spike cutting Blackscale’s arm, kicking him back and creating spikes that are coming out of his palms, attacking the lad, trying to doge all of his attacks.

Deviant 1: ‘-What’s the matter?! I thought you were going to show me no mercy!!’

Goran: ‘-Patience, darling!!’

The freak only then realizes that his opponent has led him to a burning vehicle, exploding seconds later and ripping off parts of the boy’s clothes without damaging him. He takes advantage of his enemy’s temporary distraction, crushing a right uppercut in his chin, throwing him up and smashing his elbow in his face when he falls down, kicking him in the stomach and getting ready to deliver a finishing blow.

One of the villain’s spikes pierces his shoulder then, the one protruding from his other palm getting closer to his chest as he pushes him to a wall nearby, Goran managing to stop him for the time being. The two of them give their best to succeed in each one’s task – to kill and to survive.

Goran: ‘-You don’t give up easy, do ya?!’

Deviant 1: ‘-Neither do you!!’

Seiren’s brother manages to head-butt him, the spike almost piercing his chest with that but he moves aside, breaking off the one that’s already in his shoulder and twisting the freak’s other arm, piercing him very deep in the stomach and pushing him down.

Blackscale then starts to walk aside as his opponent starts crawling and trying to get up with zero success.

Deviant 1: ‘-Wait. (Goran stops and turns to him) You fight quite well, boy. And you remind me of someone. What’s your name?’

Goran: ‘-I’m Goran Blackscale, son of Serego Blackscale!!’ (the evil deviant is very shocked, hearing this)

Deviant 1: ‘-Serego … The Lizard Lord?!! You’re his son?!!’ (Goran nods)

Goran: ‘-Yeah, that’s right. But I don’t know anything about that ‘Lizard Lord’ stuff you just said.’ (the freak then smiles)

Deviant 1: ‘-It appears that there are other dangerous guys around here except the Summerbolts!! Things will definitely be getting even more interesting from now on!!’ (while he’s saying that, a group of soldiers has appeared nearby, noticing Goran and going after him)

Soldier 1: ‘-Hey!! There’s a survivor there!!’

Soldier 2: ‘-Kill him!!’

Soldier 3: ‘-Don’t you even think about running, kid!!’ (Goran runs aside and some of the bastards follow him, the others staying with their wounded comrade)

Soldier 4: ‘-Who was that boy? Did he do this to you?!’

Deviant 1: ‘-We’ve got a new target, boys. That kid’s a Blackscale and he’s got lots of potential!! We must capture him at all costs!!’ (the soldiers goggle their eyes in shock)

Soldier 5: ‘-If that’s true, we must contact the general and inform him of this unexpected development!!’

Deckstoru’s coast is seen, the focus going to the place where the six deviants were killed by the first attack group in the last chapter, a few girls appearing nearby, then suddenly stopping and looking ahead in terror as the corpses start dissolving into dull green energy.

Girl 1: ‘-Wh-what is this thing?!!’

All five of them scream of horror as a boot with lots of animal fur attached to it steps on the sand near them, heavy breathing being heard from the creature to whom it belongs.

Deathaxe: ‘-Silence, you scum!! (a ray of dark energy is shot forward, destroying the girls’ bodies completely, a beeping sound being heard after that and a massive hand, covered in a black glove pulls out a small disk-shaped device, projecting a multi-colored misty image, turning out to be one of the soldiers) What is it?’

Soldier 4: (vision) ‘-We have discovered an interesting target and are currently in pursuit. His name is Goran Blackscale. He’s the son of Serego, ‘The Lizard’.’

Deathaxe: ‘-Now that’s some really great news!!! I’ll be right there!! (the demonic general is then seen in full, covered in armor from head to heels, having lots of spikes on it and animal fur covering different parts along with a huge black cape, his small white eyes flashing amidst the darkness of his helmet) This war ought to be very fun indeed!!! Ha-ha-ha-ha!!!!’

‘A sudden new turn!!! The enemy forces’ newest target is none other than Seiren’s younger brother!! Why is it that they want him so bad and what fate awaits him?!’

THE END

#manga #fantasy #script #original #epic

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allyinthekeyofx · 7 years

Text

Dreamcatcher - Chapters 4 & 5

Prologue & Chapter 1 ** Chapters 2&3

Brackenhurst Learning Facility for Extraordinary Children Cleveland, Ohio May 3rd 1999. 8:35pm

Scully battled her expression for as long as she could, knowing instinctively that Mulder's eyes were on her.

In the six plus years they had been working together, she had gained a certain measure of open-mindedness toward what she had seen and experienced, and slowly, slowly, her grip on the rationale of science was being eroded.

Despite that, though, Dana Scully the pragmatist, the scientist still hovered in the background, ready to pounce, to offer a practical solution to whatever madness was on the agenda that week.

And then she felt it. The merest pull on the right side of her face as her eyebrow made its slow ascent into incredulity - a reaction totally beyond her control and an expression she knew her partner could read like a book.

What is that look, Scully?

I'd have thought that after five years you'd know exactly what that look is, Mulder.

A look of incredulous disbelief.

Sarcasm.

The patented Dana Scully look.

And she hated it.

Hated to be so predictable in front of her partner.

Swallowing, she rearranged her features into their usual neutrally interested expression.

"Miss Brackenhurst, you say that Elisabeth...Lilly knew that she was going to die? That she saw it in her dreams?"

Julia raised a tear-streaked face to regard the agent in front of her.

"I don't know what I'm saying really. I know how crazy it sounds. I'm not a stupid woman, Agent Scully. I know the difference between fantasy and reality, and at the time, as I said, we.... I chalked it up to an overactive imagination at work."

She dropped her head and studied her hands.

"Now, after all that's happened, I'm not so sure. I just want it to stop."

Mulder coughed slightly, as if to remind the two women of his presence.

"What about the child who's missing now?"

His eidetic memory searched for a second through the dark recesses of his brain.

"Deborah Hollis? Did she experience the same nightmares?"

Julia shook her head.

"No. If anything she slept deeply. One of those kids always first to bed and last up in the morning. For a while it worried us, but she was fine during the day, so we put it down to a growing child needing to regain her energy. Debby was...is a unique child in many respects."

"How so?"

Julia smiled slightly.

"She was possibly the most precocious child we have ever had here. Very confident. Outgoing. Well liked amongst her peers. Her IQ registers her at genius level. She loves to learn. But at the same time she is very much a little girl. The kind of child you just want to be with..."

She shook her head as tears once again threatened to spill from her cool grey eyes.

"Oh, God, I'm sorry. I just can't believe this is happening. Not here, not anywhere."

Mulder glanced across at Scully, sending an unspoken message to his partner.

This is getting us nowhere.

The merest nod from her and Mulder rose to his feet.

"Can you show us the rooms they slept in?"

His words seemed to allow Julia to regain at least some of her lost composure, and she swiped a hand over her face, smearing the tears that still lingered on her cheeks.

"Of course. I'm sorry. Please follow me."

XXXX

Scully felt as though she had stepped into one of those schoolgirl novels of her childhood. Complete with midnight feasts and ghost stories.

The dorm was large, airy. Wood panelled with colourful scatter rugs strewn carelessly across its surface.

Six small beds. Pine headboards. Each sporting a different coloured comforter and various assortment of plush toys. A small night stand stood by each bed which held a lamp to match the comforter, for late night reading by insomniac mini-geniuses.

A nice room.

A safe room.

A room where little girls would giggle into the night before falling into sweet childhood slumber.

A room where at least one of those little girls had been ripped from her dreams and taken to...to...

Scully wasn't sure. Not yet. But it would come.

Mulder was prowling the area, like a tiger locked in a cage and Scully could almost see the gears whirring in his head as he tried to get a feel for his surroundings.

It had taken her a long time to feel comfortable with her partner's strange submersion into a crime scene. To watch him sink into the horror was both fascinating and frightening.

Mulder had lived in dark places for most of his life, and recently Scully had begun to wonder how much more he could take before one day the horror came back to haunt him. To haunt them.

Every crime, every death, seemed to take a greater toll on him, and his recovery time had gone from a few hours to a couple of days. During those times, she would leave him alone, having learned long ago that only Mulder could rid himself of the dark places.

Her help was neither needed nor appreciated despite her best efforts.

"Is this room still in use?"

He had paused by one of the beds, this one a stark contrast to the others. No brightly coloured comforter here. Only a striped mattress. Brand new and unused.

Julia shook her head.

"No. We closed it immediately after...after Lilly was found. The girls who slept here were moved into other dorms. It wasn't difficult to find the space. Over half of the students have already been removed by their parents. I don't blame them for being scared. We're all scared."

"And the child who found the body?"

Mulder winced at the word, and immediately wished he could pull it back. Bodies were found in abandoned warehouses, by fast-running rivers, in burnt-out vehicles. Not a word he enjoyed linking to bright-eyed nine year olds with swinging pigtails.

Only he seemed to have a reaction to the word, though.

He shivered.

"It was Debby wasn't it?"

Scully started. She was used to Mulder's leaps of logic, although how he had arrived at that conclusion was a mystery. The name of the child had not been included in the initial reports, although there was a transcript of the psychologist-aided interview. She had assumed that due to the age of the child, privacy had been respected.

"Mulder?"

He heard the question in her tone and shrugged, indicating to her that his hunch was just that - a hunch.

A correct hunch.

Julia wrapped her arms protectively across her chest.

"Yes. She was the one. I thought you would know that."

Mulder nodded curtly and Scully mentally translated the nod.

Interview over.

Information gathered.

Time to leave.

"Thank you for your time, Miss Brackenhurst."

She indicated Mulder who was staring intently at the colourful mobile that hung from the ceiling above Lily's bed.

"We'll be in touch."

"Can I take this?"

Julia followed his finger with her eyes as it came to rest on the tasselled edges of the mobile. Feeling suddenly that she should refuse, but unable to generate a good reason for doing so. Just a lingering protectiveness over the dead child's' possessions. God knows, she hadn't had many and Julia felt like she was violating the child's trust by allowing the last reminder of her to be removed from the room.

"I don't know...I don't think..."

Scully had no idea what was going on in her partner's mind, but one look at the burning intensity in his eyes caused her to step forward and lay a silencing hand on Julia's arm.

"We won't damage it. As soon as we're done we'll return it to you."

Julia looked from one to another, confusion evident, and then she merely shrugged.

"Certainly. If you think it's relevant to your investigation."

"Thank you."

Carefully, Mulder reached up and unhooked the mobile from its fixing. He gazed at it almost reverently, tracing one long finger across the intricate pattern of coloured thread and beads.

He locked eyes with Scully.

"We should go."

Turning, he followed Julia Brackenhurst toward the exit, but paused long enough to pull Scully closer to him, leaning slightly so his words would be only heard by her. She felt his breath tickle her neck as the whisper reached her, hearing the words but not really understanding.

"Dreamcatcher."

She frowned, indicating the information meant little to her, but Mulder simply allowed his hand to settle in the centre of her back as he guided her gently forward toward the door. The pressure of his fingers told her all she needed to know.

Not now. I'll explain when we're out of here.

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

CHAPTER FIVE

8:57pm

The girls watched from their positions, half hidden behind the armoire which graced the corner of the building's vestibule, as the two agents descended the curved wooden stairway.

The older of the two girls narrowed her eyes at the sight of Mulders hand resting against his partner's back. It seemed, to the casual observer, to be there simply to guide, to reassure her of his continued presence, but to her it seemed to suggest so much more. More a subconscious act of implicit protection that was both expected and enjoyed by his partner. She did not ask him for it, but didn't seek to push him away either.

"What do you see, Fliss?"

Felicia worked her pretty face up into a scowl and nudged her companion sharply in the ribs.

"Sshhhhh, stupid! They'll hear us. I'll tell you in a minute."

Beside her, the younger girl returned the scowl, rubbing her ribs exaggeratedly even as she craned her neck in an attempt to get a better view. For the time being, Felicia ignored the movements, focusing her attention on the scene before her. From their vantage point it was difficult to see much of anything. Hearing was almost impossible. Murmured words from the two agents. Miss Brackenhurst's defeated posture as she showed them to the door.

Stupid woman. She just doesn't see what's going on here.

But the two agents with her?

Felicia wasn't sure. The female agent Scully wasn't buying it.

None of it.

Felicia had sensed a certain measure of aloofness in the way the woman had looked at her earlier. A coldness that she wrapped around herself like a blanket, designed to keep everyone out, even the man beside her. She had immediately discarded her as a potential confidante.

But Mulder...now he was different all together. More willing to believe. More willing to submerge himself in the horror that plagued her young life. In the scant few moments he had allowed her to look deep inside him, he had told her all she needed to know. He reminded her in a lot of ways of her Father...the way he was before.......

............before...

Flames, burning, forcing her back, gasping for air as his hand reached out toward her, pleading, beseeching her to not leave him in the hell they had created for themselves...and her voice rising in intensity until it was all she heard....Daddddeeeeeeee...

"Fliss?"

Whispered.

No response.

The child tried again. More urgent this time. Hissed almost.

"Fliss."

Felicia forced her mind back to the present, feeling for the first time the urgent pull on her sleeve as her companion demanded attention.

"What?!...I told you to keep quiet, didn't I?"

"But Fliss, look. Look at what he has..."

The biting reproach died in Felicia's throat as she realized just what it was that Mulder held loosely in his hand. During his descent down the stairs his body had been half hidden by Julia, and Felicia had been too fixated on the position of his left hand to really take much notice of what the right one was doing, and suddenly a wave of nausea washed over her. The sudden rush of bile in the back of her throat prompted her to slam her fragile body back against the wall, no longer heeding potential discovery.

She shook her head numbly.

No, Daddy, no, please say it's no. Please don't let him take it. He can't take it. He can't. Tell me what to do.............

Tears had pooled from deep within her eyes, and were even now spilling down her pale cheeks, but she was unaware of anything other than the feel of the solid panelling against her shoulders as she silently twisted her head from side to side in an expression of anguished suffering.

Why aren't you here for me, Daddy? Why did you leave me to face this on my own? I'm not strong enough or wise enough to do it. Tell me what to do. Please tell me what to do...

She was dimly aware of a high-pitched scream, the sound coming from far away, reverberating around her head like an echo of things past, making her legs fold out from beneath her as the floor rushed up to meet her.

Taking her once again into nothingness.

To sleep, to sleep, perchance to dream...

XXXX

"What the hell?"

Mulder spun around, his hand automatically reaching for the high-powered automatic weapon secured at his side, releasing it from its leather casing in one fluid, practiced movement.

Beside him, Scully mirrored his movements, her whole body tensing as she identified the sound of screaming.

A child screaming. Close by.

The acoustics of the vestibule made it difficult to determine just what direction the sound was coming from, echoing and bouncing as it did off the bare flooring, and beside her Mulder closed his eyes for the merest of seconds to attune his senses more acutely.

An old Academy trick.

One that actually worked.

"Over there."

His eyes snapped open and he gestured toward the far corner of the room.

Scully held up one hand, palm facing toward Julia Brackenhurst, a silent direction that she stay put, that they would handle this.

Attuned as they were to each other's methods of working meant they had no need of verbal communication as they separated, each taking a slightly different path toward the armoire that graced the dark corner. Halfway there the screaming stopped abruptly, only to be replaced with another sound. The unmistakable hitching of a child, trying desperately not to cry.

Mulder lowered his weapon and continued forward, safe in the knowledge that Scully would cover him should the need arise, sending up a silent prayer as he did so that nothing lay in that dark corner that would plague his dreams for the next few nights.

He didn't need help in that department.

Not now.

Not ever.

"Federal Agent. Identify yourself."

Even as he spoke the words he was aware that he would look pretty stupid if the corner housed nothing more threatening than a frightened child.

But then again...

Chewed up and spit out.

He thumbed the safety off the gun.

"Who's back there? Show yourself."

Still nothing.

Mulder felt a tension knot give in the centre of his shoulders. He could almost hear the crack, but still he remained focused, eyes never wavering, ever aware of the potential dangers.

"I will count to three. Now show yourself. One...two..."

"Mulder, look."

His eyes dropped to follow his partner's gaze, and then he saw it, almost hidden in the gloom: a child-sized hand, fingers curling cautiously around the side of the armoire. A hand that was followed moments later by a face, tear-streaked, eyes wide, terrified beyond belief. All of seven years old. Maybe younger.

"Don't shoot me."

Something way down in Mulders heart cracked into a million pieces as the child's terrified, whispered plea reached his ears, and he traded horrified glances with his partner.

Way to go, Mulder.

Julia rushed forward, almost pushing Scully out the way in her haste to reach the child.

"Gina honey what is it? Why are you hiding back there?"

She dropped to her knees and opened her arms as Gina bolted into them. The child's tears began afresh, and for a while there was nothing Julia could do but rock the child gently against her, waiting for Gina's violent trembling to subside enough for her to speak.

Mulder seemed to have lost the ability to move as he watched the scene unfold before him, the sight of the sobbing child transfixed him, and it was left to Scully to move forward to check the cramped space behind the armoire.

Nothing.

Meanwhile, Julia's soothing magic was having at least some small effect on the child, and she disentangled her from within the confines of her arms, gently pushing Gina back a step until the child was forced to meet her eyes.

"What's wrong, sweetie? Did something scare you? Is that why you screamed?"

A shake of a tousled head.

"It wasn't me who screamed, Miss Brackenhurst...it wasn't...honest it wasn't."

"But Gina, honey, we heard you."

"NO!"

Gina stepped back from the woman who wasn't allowing her the time to say what she had to say and turned beseeching eyes toward Scully.

Julia stretched out a hand towards the child, forcing her to turn back to her.

"Gina, honey, look at me. We heard ..."

"NO! It wasn't me. It was Fliss. She screamed and screamed and screamed..."

Mulder squatted on his haunches and regarded the child thoughtfully.

"Why did Fliss scream, Gina? Can you tell me?"

His words were soft, almost indiscernible to Scully standing less than two feet away. The child's response, though, was completely different, as her high-pitched tones became an ear-splitting scream as she clenched her fists by her side.

"BECAUSE HE TOOK HER! HE TOOK HER AWAY! AND I TRIED TO STOP HIM AND I COULDN'T I COULDN'T I COULDN'T I COULDN'T..."

Mulder reached out then and clamped his hands around Gina's thin arms, pulling her towards him, allowing her to burrow her small face against his chest. Her screams became muffled as he wrapped his arms protectively around her, and while her words became indiscernible, the wailing did not.

Julia stumbled to her feet, her hand over her mouth in an unconscious reaction to the disintegrating child in front of her. She watched with wide, shocked eyes as Mulder raised his head slightly. His expression mirrored Scully's own.

What the hell is going on here?

Taking care to keep his tone absolutely neutral so as not to frighten the child even more, he spoke, directing his words to his partner.

"I think maybe we need an ambulance"

Continued chapter six

#Dreamcatcher #My fic

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