#i’ve said this before and that’s my take that won’t be ch aging

[violetthekiller]

See I personally don’t agree that the sentiment around the show is mostly negative. The amount of comments I see begging for season 3 on a regular basis always amazes me. I think a lot of the shows harshest critics were the ones that were there right on Sunday night foaming at the mouth for the next episode. I personally am a big euphoria fan but have been hoping since season2 ended that at the very least Z would not return. Sometimes you gotta learn to walk away when you’re on top and I personally would like to see her do something else. So even tho I’m exited by the idea of its cancellation that doesn’t mean I’m a detractor of the show.

eh i’ve seen little to no one speak about it hugely positively (let alone at all) in like a year including people i would watch it with/talk about it excitedly in person.

the main thing is the sheer length between the release of the seasons. their original target audience are now past the target audience range and it doesn’t seem to be creating new hype/attraction from a new audience to allow it to bridge that gap. 3 years is wayyyyy to long between releases with literally nothing in between imho

#i’ve said this before and that’s my take that won’t be ch aging #now i’m going to sleep #ask

[the-name-is-z]

SKELETONS | ch. 8

daryl dixon x f!oc

masterlist

a03 link

Summary: The group collectively begins the search for Sophia, finding themselves scattered. Warnings/Information: AMC's The Walking Dead OC Insert | 18+ Advised | strangers to lovers; the slowest of slow burns; gore; angst; horror; humour; m/f; lost little girl, discussion of weapons and guns, children being hurt, suggestions of religious turmoil/questioning (christianity)

Chapter 8 - Manhunt

Bright and early, Rick unrolled a pack of knives across the hood of an abandoned car toward the edge of the woods.

“Everybody takes a weapon.”

“These aren’t the kind of weapons we need. What about the guns?” Andrea scoffed, putting her hands on her hips. Iris whisked her knives out of her sheaths, flashing them at her.

“Maybe they’re the kind of weapon you can’t handle.” She challenged. Andrea didn’t know how to shoot to save her life, and she needed to be taken down a few pegs.

“We’ve been over the guns.” Shane called, not bothering to look up. “Daryl, Rick, Iris and I are carrying. We can’t have people popping off rounds every time a tree rustles.” Iris smirked.

“It’s not the trees I’m worried about. She gets a gun and I don’t?” Andrea huffed, looking Iris up and down. Iris raised an eyebrow.

“Sweetheart, I’ve been carrying a gun since I was Carl’s age. Are you sure you know what kind of tree you’re barking up?” Iris asked. Andrea rolled her eyes, but shut her mouth.

“Say somebody fires at the wrong moment, a herd happens to be passing by. See, then it’s game over for all of us. So you need to get over it.”

“The idea is to take the creek up about five miles,” Daryl explained, deftly changing the subject. “Turn around, come back down the other side. Chances are, she’ll be by the creek. It’s her only landmark.”

“Stay quiet and stay sharp. Keep space between you but always stay within sight of each other.” Rick instructed.

“Everybody assemble your packs.” Shane added.

“Dale, you keep on those repairs. We’ve gotta get this RV ready to move.” Rick instructed. Dale nodded, pulling himself to his feet.

“We won’t stay here a minute longer than we have to.” He agreed. “Good luck out there. Bring Sophia back.”

“Keep an eye on Carl while we’re gone?”

“I’m going with you.” Carl interrupted. Rick sighed. “You need people, right? To cover as much ground as possible.” Rick turned to Lori and she shrugged.

“Your call, I can’t always be the bad guy.” She stated.

“I can walk with Carl. We’ll stay safe.” Iris offered. It wasn’t often she felt an overwhelming urge to babysit, but if she could teach the kid a thing or two, he might grow up to be a real survivor. Rick looked between his son and Iris before nodding slowly.

“Okay. Okay. You stay with Iris, you hear me? Within sight, no exceptions.” Carl nodded eagerly, grinning up at Iris. She winked at him. Lori was watching the exchange with an unreadable expression. Whatever her feelings toward Iris, she could shove ‘em.

“C’mon, cowboy.” She said with a small smile, jerking her chin toward the forest. Everyone moved out, trailing after one another into the bush as Daryl led the way. Carl fell back a little to show Shane the knife Rick had given him.

“Shane, look! Dad said I could carry it and Mom said as long as I was—“

“Keep it down. We’re looking for Sophia.” Shane hissed. “You need to focus on the task.” Iris glared at Shane over her shoulder, waving Carl forward. 

“It’s a pretty cool knife, Carl.” She said, flashing him a smile. “Maybe one day your dad will let me teach you to throw ‘em.” 

“Will you teach me how to shoot a gun?” He asked. Iris shook her head. “But why? You said you carried a gun when you were my age—“

“That should be something your dad does, when he decides the time is right. Just like mine did.” Iris explained slowly. “I carried a gun before all this, Carl. I carried it to protect myself against people. Not walkers. There’s a big difference, and it’s not my place to decide if and when you learn to shoot or why. It’s your parents’ job.” He fell silent, but nodded in understanding. She patted him on the shoulder. “I’m happy to teach you a few pointers about the knife, though.” He grinned.

The group slowed as Daryl pointed out a tent a little ways ahead of them. Carol almost bolted toward it, but Rick kept her back.

“She could be in there.” Shane whispered.

“Could be a whole bunch of things in there.” Daryl replied. He moved forward alone, crossbow in hand, Rick and Shane following as they surrounded the tent, just in case. Rick waved Carol forward to call out for her.

“Sophia? Sweetie, are you in there?” She called. “Sophia, it’s mommy. Sophia, we’re all here, baby, it’s mommy.” Daryl unzipped the tent slowly, the smell almost visible as it leeched out. Iris hoped Sophia wasn’t in there. They all gagged as Daryl went inside. “Daryl? Daryl?”

“It ain’t her.” He replied, coming out of the tent.

“What’s in there?” Andrea asked.

“Some guy.” He replied, shrugging. “Did what Jenner said. ‘Opted out.’ Ain’t that what he called it?” They all froze as a sound echoed from far in the distance. Bells. Church bells. They rang out through the forest from what could be miles away, but Rick pointed in a direction and they all started running.

“See this, running through the forest toward a really loud noise, is what one might consider a bad idea.” Iris whispered to Carl quietly. “Can you tell me why?”

“Noise draws walkers?” He answered.

“Gold star, kid.” She replied, nodding. They slowed in a clearing, the noise louder but harder to pinpoint.

“What direction?” Shane asked.

“I think that way, I’m pretty sure.” Rick pointed, making a face.

“Damn, it’s hard to tell out here.”

“If we hear them, maybe Sophia does too.” Carol stated.

“Someone’s ringing those bells, maybe calling others.” Glenn pointed out.

“Or signalling that they found her.” Andrea offered optimistically.

“She could be ringing them herself.” Rick suggested. “Come on.” Iris kept her thoughts inside, for Carl’s sake, but it was just as likely someone rigged them to draw walkers and anyone stupid enough to take the bait.

They emerged from the trees into a graveyard, a white church sitting pretty in the middle of the large clearing.

“That can’t be it. Got no steeple, no bells.” Shane murmured. Rick ignored him, pressing forward. “Rick…” They ran across the open graveyard toward the building.

“Bad idea number two is…” Iris whispered, waiting for Carl to finish the sentence.

“Running out in the open?” He asked, looking up at her. He tripped on the corner of a gravestone and she stopped, catching him and hauling him to his feet before he could even hit the ground.

“That and not paying attention to our surroundings.” Iris said with a smile, keeping him with the group as they kept going. 

They rounded the church, Rick going to the large red double doors at the front. He and Daryl took a side each, pushing the doors open to reveal the church. A few bodies sat in the pews, waiting, but instead of the second coming of Christ, they now waited for something living to eat. Rick reached back and Lori put a machete in his hand. Iris held up a hand, stepping to the front as she pulled her knives from her belt.

“Eyes up, boys.” She said softly. She took her time setting up each throw, her bicep flexing with the effort, but the shtk of each knife in each skull and subsequent thud as each body hit the floor came quick. The group turned to her as she marched right in, pulling her knives from each perfectly aimed eye socket. “Thanks, Ted.” She whispered, feeling their eyes on her.

“Damn.” Shane stated plainly.

“I used to play a lot of darts.” Iris said simply, shooting a wink to Carl, who was grinning ear-to-ear. She put her boot through the closest one’s skull.

“Sophia!” Rick yelled as they all filed in.

“Yo, J.C., you taking requests?” Daryl spoke to the crucified wood figure at the end of the aisle.

“I’m telling you, it’s the wrong church. It’s got no steeple, Rick. There’s no steeple.” Shane urged. The sound of the bells ringing started again, Daryl pushing his way outside. It was incredibly loud now, but they found that the speakers on the side of the church didn’t really need a steeple. Glenn ripped the wiring out, stopping the ringing. It must have been on a timer.

“I’m gonna go back in for a bit.” Carol said, going inside and taking a seat. Most of them followed suit, Andrea sitting against the wall outside. Iris paced under a tree out by the graveyard, frowning at the empty field around them. Heavy footsteps crunched on the grass and she turned to see Daryl standing there, his crossbow on his shoulder.

“You grow up in a gang or somethin’? Guns and darts?” He asked.

“Close enough. My dad was a biker, I basically grew up in a bar.” She said with a smirk. “Learned a few things.” He grunted in acknowledgement. 

“That why you’re messin’ with that biker patch all the time?” He asked. Iris nodded, pulling it out of her pocket and showing him.

“My lucky charm.” She answered simply. “You? Grow up in the woods?”

“Close enough. Mountains.” He replied simply. Iris nodded. “Driftin’, huntin’. All I’ve ever known.”

“Good to know at least someone has the skills to keep us alive out here.” She said simply, earning a small snort. He nodded anyway, and the rest of the group made their way into the shade of the huge tree. Rick and Shane shared a heated conversation a little ways away, Shane clearing his throat as he came to address them.

“Y’all gotta follow the creek bed back, okay? Daryl, you’re in charge. Me and Rick, we’re just gonna hang back, search this area another hour or so just to be thorough.” He explained.

“You’re splitting us up. You sure?” Daryl asked. Iris turned to Carl, who was already looking up at her. She pointed at him and he pointed back.

“Yeah, we’ll catch up to you.” Shane confirmed.

“I want to stay, too. I’m her friend.” Carl said suddenly, stepping forward. Shane and Rick glanced to one another, then back to Carl. Rick sighed. 

“Iris, would you—“

“‘Course.” She replied. “Can’t abandon my partner, now, could I?” Carl smiled up at her. Iris nodded to Daryl and he led the others back toward the highway.

“Give me a minute?” Rick asked.

“Yeah.” Shane agreed. He ruffled Carl’s hair and they walked to the steps of the church to wait as Rick ducked inside. He came out a few minutes later, ruffling Carl’s hair on the way down. “Get what you needed?” Shane asked.

“Guess I’ll find out.” Rick replied. Iris breathed a chuckle as she stood, stretching her back before following after him.

He continued to lead them most of the way, holding up a hand as a branch broke in the distance. Shane pushed Carl behind the two of them as they moved forward to inspect the noise.

Iris gasped as she caught sight of the deer, pushing in front of them with a wide smile. She’d always loved them. Her favourite animal. It’s antlers still held the soft fuzz they did when they were new, rounded and soft. It moved quietly out of the brush onto the game trail right in front of them, sniffing the air. Iris turned, beckoning Carl forward with a finger. He quickly obliged, grinning as he came up beside her.

He continued and the deer watched, staring him down as he got closer and closer. There was a respectful distance between them, of course, but it was amazing to see. Something so rare. Iris turned back to see Rick watching with a grin on his face. Even Shane wore a small smile. His foot broke a small twig under his foot, the deer’s ears twitching.

Carl dared just one step closer to the deer as the shot rang out. It caught them all completely by surprise. Both Carl and the deer crumpled, hitting the ground with a thud. Blood was seeping into the cool wet earth, the bullet wound going straight through the deer’s side and through Carl. There was no exit wound.

Iris thought she heard Rick cry out, but her ears were still ringing from the shot. From shock, too. Rick fell to his knees at his son’s side, Iris and Shane immediately had their guns out.

#daryl dixon #daryl dixon x reader #skeletons #the walking dead #the walking dead daryl dixon #thenameisz #twd daryl #twd daryl dixon #daryl dixon x oc #daryl dixon x fem! oc

[catierambles]

Alternate Instincts Ch.21

Sy sat on the couch in her apartment scrolling through his phone as Stephanie was grabbing some things when there was a timid knock on the door. Getting up, he went over and opened it, arching a brow at the young man with dark curly hair standing on her doorstep.

“Sup, man.” He said.

“Uh...hi.” He said, “Are you—you’re an Alpha.”

“I am.” He said with a nod and took a quick sniff, catching his fear. “You know Steph?”

“We’re uh...we’re neighbors. I’m—I’m Hunter.” An alarm bell went off in his head. Hunter.

“You wanna come in?” Sy offered gently.

“I uh...”

“It’s okay, bud, you’re safe. I ain’t gonna hurt ya.” He said and Hunter let out a sigh.

“Yeah, it’s just...”

“I understand.” He said and moved to the side, “Come on in, take a seat.” Hunter moved past him into the apartment as Stephanie came from the back.

“Hi?” She said, looking at him curiously.

“Steph, this is your neighbor Hunter.” Sy said.

“Hunter.” She said and Sy nodded. “The one that...” Another nod.

“You know.” Hunter said, twisting his fingers nervously.

“A couple others in my pack have contacts on the Council.” Sy said, “Got a bad vibe from Frank so they looked into him. We know what he did to you, son.”

“He doesn’t just hurt us.” Hunter said, “He takes our money, leaves us with almost nothing.”

“Why don’t you have a seat?” Stephanie suggested and he nodded, going over to sit on the couch. “Would you like something to drink?”

“I’m fine, thank you.” Hunter said, “I’ve seen you around, and I’ve seen her with a white haired Alpha and I—you made Frank nervous. He only gets like that if he feels threatened and...” He stopped with a sigh, “Can I join your pack?” They were both silent for a moment.

“Sy, you said that you couldn’t challenge Frank because it would be poaching, and that your hands were tied, but what if a member of his pack came to you for help?” Stephanie asked.

“Well that’s a whole ‘nother story.” Sy said, crossing his arms over his chest. “If a member of his pack asks me to step in, I can step in.”

“Should you call the others?”

“Lemme call Geralt, get Mikey here too so he ain’t surrounded by Alphas. Easiest way to do it would be to take over, make this pack mine. He wouldn’t be able to touch you if you were a member of another pack, Hunter, but that don’t mean he won’t make your life hell.”

“Too late.” Hunter said with a derisive snort. “You’d really challenge him for territory?”

“How big’s the pack?”

“About a dozen? Including the kids. It’s this building and the one next door.” Hunter said and Sy blinked for a moment before pulling his phone from his pocket.

“I’m calling all hands.”

The rest showed up as quickly as they were able and introductions were made. Hunter seemed a bit more at ease with Mike there as they were closer in age and Mike wasn't an Alpha. He explained everything that had been going on in the pack, Frank taking all of their money from their jobs, giving back only enough to get by. Families were no exception. Omegas were mistreated, taken advantage of. Betas, of which there were only a couple, were treated with suspicion and sometimes open hostility. Nulls, which made up the rest of the pack save for the children who had yet to manifest, were treated by Frank as abnormalities, even though they, statistically, made up most of the wolf population as a whole.

"Have you ever challenged for territory before?" August asked.

"Only once." Sy said, stretching his shoulders and bouncing on the balls of his feet.

"If he doesn't submit, you may have to kill him." Walter said.

"Cross that bridge if I come to it."

"I could do it." Geralt said.

"No you can't and you know that." Sy said, "You work for the Council, you can't run a pack. Besides, the kid came to me for help, not you."

"Anything I can do?" Stephanie asked.

"Stay here." Sy said, "I ain't puttin' you in danger, doll."

"I don't like being benched."

"No one does, but this is a wolf and you--"

"Have a black belt in kickboxing and Brazilian Jui Jitsu." She said and they paused, looking at her.

"Really?" Mike asked finally and she nodded. "Fuck, that's hot."

"And you let Lewis hurt you?" August asked and Sy punched his shoulder with a scowl. "What? If she can defend herself, why didn't she?"

"Jordan twisted it to make me think I deserved it, so why the hell would I fight back?" She said indignantly.

"You didn't deserve it." Walter said immediately.

"I know. Being with you all has made me realize how I should have been treated from the start." She said, "But my shitty ex is not what's important right now. What's important is kicking Frank to the curb so he can’t hurt these people anymore.”

“Agreed.” Walter said, “You want backup in case he tries to fight dirty?”

“Yeah.” Sy said, “Feel like steppin’ up to the plate?”

“I’ll stay back unless it goes pear shaped.” Walter said and with a kiss to Stephanie each, they left the apartment after she told them where she hands in her rent checks.

“I don’t like this.” She said and Mike went to her, holding her arms gently.

“They’ll be fine. Sy is the strongest Alpha I know. If anyone can kick Frank’s ass, it’d be him.” He said and she nodded, but she still didn’t like it.

“Are they—” Hunter started, “Are you their Mate?” She simply nodded again, “But you’re not—you’re not a wolf.”

“It’s complicated.” She said briefly. “Oh I need a distraction so I don’t go down there.”

“I can give you a distraction, sweetcheeks.” Mike said with a smirk but it fell at the look she gave him, “Sorry.”

They ended up sitting in her living room watching one of her favorite movies, The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, Mike sitting at her feet with her legs crossed over his chest, Geralt and August on either side of her, each with a hand on her knee. She had a hard time concentrating, her mind drifting to what was going on on the ground floor of the building. Mike must have picked up on it, his hands coming up to hold her legs.

“They’ll be fine.” Geralt said.

“I know.” She replied, “Doesn’t mean I can’t worry.”

The movie was almost over when the front door opened, Sy and Walter coming back inside and Mike moved so she could get off the couch without stepping on him. Sy had a contusion on his cheek that would blossom into an impressive bruise and his lip was split, dried blood in his beard.

“I’m fine, doll.” He said as she reached up to touch his face gently.

“He still breathing?” August asked and he nodded.

“He’s limpin’ and bleedin’ but he’s alive.” Sy said, “Steph was right. Man’s a bully, and bullies always fold when they come up against someone who ain’t gonna back down.”

“What happens how?” Hunter asked, getting up from the recliner he had been sitting in and Sy gave a sigh, running a hand over his scalp.

“Imma need a proxy, someone to run this pack while I’m up north. I’d tap Steph because she’s got an apartment here, but she ain’t a wolf. Geralt can’t because he works for the Council. August—”

“I can’t.” August said, cutting him off.

“Can’t or won’t?” Sy asked.

“Can’t. Same reason as Geralt.” He said and there was a pause.

“You work for the Council?” Mike asked.

“Not officially.” He said, “But I still can’t hold a pack or be a proxy.”

“Fuck.” Geralt sighed.

“I’m missing something.” Stephanie said.

“He’s a Cleaner.” Geralt said and Stephanie looked at August in surprise. “I had my suspicions.”

“It’s close enough to what I did with the Agency that I got approached when I left.” August said.

“Hunter,” Stephanie said, still looking at August. “You can go on home, we’ll let you know what happens next when we figure it out.”

“Right.” Hunter said, “Mike, talk to you later? I’ll dig out that omnibus we talked about.”

“Yeah man,” Mike said, “Absolutely.”

“Mike why don’t you go with him?” Stephanie said, “That way you guys can talk Warhammer some more.”

“You—you sure?” Mike asked and she nodded.

“Come on.” Hunter said, “I ate nothing but cup noodles for six months so I could get the Black Templar set.”

“I’m a Custodes guy myself.” Mike said as they left the apartment, the door closing behind them.

“Sy told me about the Cleaners.” Stephanie said, “The shit they pull.”

“Stephanie—” August started.

“How they kill people who tell the Council to fuck off.”

“It’s not that.” He said, “Some of these packs were doing horrific things. Sex trafficking of minors and Omegas, drug smuggling, weapons stockpiling.”

“So contact the Feds.”

“If the human government found out what they were doing, it would only add fuel to anti-wolf legislation.”

“Horrible behavior isn’t exclusive to wolves.” She said, “All of the things you’ve said are illegal, but not punishable by the death penalty. You also said “some” not all. Have you gone after packs who disobeyed the Council too many times?”

“Steph, it’s not that—”

“Have you,” She said and he paused.

“Yes, but I only took out the leadership, everyone remaining were taken in by other packs.”

“It doesn’t matter that you didn’t kill everyone, August, it matters that you killed people who the Council couldn’t control.” She said, “Giving the Council the middle finger is not against the law, and certainly isn’t punishable by death. The Councilors throwing tantrums because they got told no shouldn’t result in a body count. You’re their contract killer, their hitman, their enforcer, whatever you want to fucking call it. They’re using you to do their dirty work.”

“I’m maintaining order between packs.”

“You’re killing dissenters and naysayers. They spout all these grand words about cooperation and integration with law enforcement, but they’re taking the law into their own hands. If what these packs do is punishable by death, then so be it, but it’s not the Councils job to be judge and jury with you and every other Cleaner as the executioner.” He was quiet. “You said it was similar to what you did with the Agency.”

“Steph—”

“Don’t make me ask.”

“I tracked down and killed rogue Agents who threatened the national security. These weren’t people who just wanted to disappear into the quiet life, they worked with extremist groups, terrorist organizations, committing high treason.”

“These packs aren’t committing high treason, August. You’re their gun, nothing more.” Stephanie said.

“Stephanie...”

“They’re using you August, getting your hands filthy so theirs stay clean.”

“She’s right,” Sy said, “About all of it. It’s fucked up, Walker. You left the Agency because you got sick of bein’ used, but the Council is doin’ the same shit as Langley.” They watched him thinking it over, starting to pace in the apartment, running his fingers through his hair.

“Fuck.” He growled out and pulled out his phone, pulling up a contact and putting it to his ear. “I’m done.” That was all he said before he hung up, putting it back into his pocket. “I’m done being fucking used.”

“Good.” Stephanie said, “Now we need to think about—” It was cut off as August crossed the room, pulling her into his arms and taking her mouth hard in a kiss, his hand fisted in her hair. “August?”

“I love you.”

#henry cavill #captain syverson #walter marshall #august walker #hellraiser mike #geralt of rivia #alternate instincts

[ikeromantic]

Entwined, Ch 8

Part 8 of a multipart series. Mai has been reborn in the modern age after a full life in the Sengoku. The warlords as spirit animals find her again after 500 years of searching for her soul. Approx. 2800 words.

Part 1

Previous: Part 7

Mai swam to consciousness slowly, aware first of the feeling of motion. The subtle vibration in the soft leather seat. The press of the safety belt across her chest. The muted rumble of the engine and the tires on the road. Her eyes opened, blurry and blinking. Hills and grass sped by through the window to her right. The sun was high overhead in a blue sky filled with white, fluffy clouds. 

“Awake, little mouse?” Mitsuhide’s hand was on hers, his thumb gently stroking her knuckles. 

“Mmm. Yeah.” She smiled at him warmly for a moment, before she remembered what she’d overheard. Mai pulled her hand back, regretting it as soon as she lost his touch. She frowned. “Where are we?”

Mitsuhide chuckled. “Well, after you passed out, I thought you might need a break. So I took you along to visit a friend of mine at the coast.”

“I have work to do this afternoon. And errands. I can’t just take the afternoon to - to play with you.” 

“Mmmm. I think you can. I checked that little notebook you keep in your bag. You planned to pick up beading and embroidery notions and work on a custom design for the emperor’s haori in the play, yes?”

Mai nodded.

“Unnecessary. The back won’t show in any of his scenes. So I’ve saved you some time, which means I get to spend it.” He raised an eyebrow. “Unless there is another objection?”

There was, of course. She knew now that he was in love with some girl from his past. And she knew it shouldn’t matter. Mitsuhide owed her nothing. They were co-workers. Maybe . . . maybe friends? But that didn’t give her the right to feel so - so jealous and hurt and . . . she took a deep breath, trying to organize her thoughts.

Mitsuhide looked at her with concern. “Mai?”

“It’s fine. I’m fine.” She shook her head, letting the breath out slowly. “Look. Mitsuhide. I don’t . . . I don’t understand you. Why do you want to spend the day with me? How did you even know where to find me this morning?”

He laughed. “A master never reveals his secrets. But in this case I can tell you it was just luck. I saw you hurry off the train and just decided that I wanted to spend time with you today. Even if just as your assistant.”

“But why?” Why do you haunt me and tease me and look at me with those warm, sun-gold eyes when there is someone else you love? And why does it bother me so much?

“Ah.” He was silent for a time, looking out at the road with a thoughtful expression. “Would you believe me if I told you we were lovers in a past life and I’ve spent centuries trying to find you again, just to see your smile one more time?” 

“Mitsuhide . . .” Mai sighed. “You're still teasing me.”

His laughter held a false note, but after a long moment he glanced over at her and his smile was as playful and mischievous as ever. “Is that what I do? Hmm. How naughty of me.”

She looked out the window, accepting that he wasn’t going to give her a serious answer. If she was honest with herself, Mai wasn’t sure what answer she wanted from him. What would she do if he said he wanted to date her? She would just tell him no again, because he was a client. At least . . . she told herself she would. 

“Deep thoughts, little one? Do I trouble you so?”

“You are pretty troublesome,” she shot back. 

He chuckled again, this time more naturally. “I suppose I am. So, are you feeling a little better? You had Ms. Higurashi and her fiance quite worried.”

“I am. I just - I don’t know. I’ve been having these weird thoughts pop into my head. Like something from a historical drama. Except I can’t figure out which one I’m remembering and -” Mai paused, suddenly realizing she must sound a little crazy. “I told you about it before, but it’s like, every time it happens I get these terrible pains in my head. It’s scary.” She paused, taking a shaky breath.

Mitsuhide reached over, taking her hand in his. His gentle grip was warm and unexpectedly reassuring. “It will be alright, little one. I promise.”

And as stupid as it was, him saying so made her feel better. As if Mitsuhide could do anything about whatever was going on in her head. But the way he said it, his certainty, made her relax as if he really could protect her. “Thanks.”

His touch lingered even after she thanked him. Mai expected him to pull his hand away but he didn’t and she didn’t want him to so she said nothing. It really wasn’t fair to like someone so much, she thought. Especially someone still pining for an old flame. 

They pulled into a parking area close enough to the beach that Mai could smell the ocean on the breeze and hear the low thrum of the waves rolling in. The sound set her immediately at ease, relaxing a knot in her shoulders that she hadn’t even realized was there. 

Mitsuhide looked across at her. “If you have any lingering protest, little mouse, now is the time to voice them. I can take you home if that is what you really want.” His thumb stroked the back of her hand. 

“I -” She struggled with herself for a moment. It was absolutely not acceptable that he practically kidnapped her on this little venture, but she had planned to spend the day working on the haori for his play . . . “I suppose we can take the rest of the day. But just so you know, if you were anyone else, this would have some serious weirdo stalker vibes.”

He laughed. “I will take it as a compliment that you let me get away with it, then.” His smile faded as he regarded her. “I appreciate your trust.”

Mai nodded. She wasn’t sure how to respond. Mitsuhide was a dark window to her, reflecting back nothing. She felt unsure of his feelings for her, his intentions. He was a stranger. Inexplicable and mysterious. But her heart said to trust him, even if her head told her she was being foolish. 

Mitsuhide reluctantly released her hand and got out of the car. “Come along little mouse.”

She got out and followed him as he walked through the handful of parked cars. It wasn’t a holiday or a weekend, and the weather was still cool so the beach was mostly empty. The only sound was the waves, which grew louder the closer they got, and the cry of seabirds wheeling overhead. 

The sidewalk ended in a wooden staircase down to the sand. A breeze tugged at Mai’s loose braid and tossed Mitsuhide’s hair around his face. She couldn’t help but watch him from the corner of her eye, careful not to be caught staring. He was smiling in a relaxed way, his eyes soft at the corners as he looked out at the blue ocean. It was such a nice expression, Mai thought. It pulled at something in her chest and set an ache in her heart that made no sense to her. 

“I don’t come to the coast very often,” he said quietly. She had to strain to hear him over the waves and the breeze. “I always forget how it makes me feel to see the horizon.”

Mai nodded. She always loved the beach. Her family took a special holiday to the sea at least once a year, growing up. And she made a point to go with her best friends too. Being here with Mitsuhide felt different though. There was that tug in the core of her, and under that a sense of deja vu. Her head began to ache in rhythm with her heartbeat. 

Mitsuhide seemed to sense that she felt unwell. He took her arm gently and walked with her down the stairs and onto the sand. “It’s just a little further to the house.”

��So. Who is this friend of yours, anyway? Will they be alright with me showing up too?” 

He grinned widely. “He won’t mind. That much I’m sure of.”

The house, it turned out, was more of a shop. Two stories, with a wide, covered porch. The front was decorated with a surfboard hanging above the door, and several swimsuits for men and women hung in the downstairs windows. Inside there were shelves with children’s water toys, buckets and forms for making sandcastles, and little colorful arm floats. Music played in the background, a low thrum of rock music heavy on the drums and bass guitar. 

As soon as they walked in, a man came bounding down a staircase at the back, taking the steps two at a time. He had coppery skin and a shock of white hair worn to his shoulders. His arms were heavily tattooed with sleeves of fish and flowers, his hands were gloved, and he wore a gold band a little too short to be a proper necklace and a little too long to call it a choker. But what stood out more than anything was his eyes. Twin rubies lit with an inner fire. Bright and hot and full of some secret joy. 

“Mitsuhide! You old snake!” The stranger grabbed his arm and shook it. “Long time no see.”

“Motonari.” 

That was when those glinting rubies landed on her. For a moment, Mai couldn’t breathe. She felt as if something were around her neck. She heard the word savvy hissed in her ear and smelled sulfur and hot iron. And then it was gone, and there was just the shop and the two men smiling at her.

“Uh, hi! I’m Mai. It’s nice to-”

“Mai!” And before she could say another word, the stranger pulled her into a hug. “I wondered if I would be seeing you around ag- ahaha. So how are you? What brings you two to the beach today?”

Mitsuhide frowned slightly and pulled Mai closer to him, out of Motonari’s unexpected embrace. “She needed to take a day off, so I kidnapped her and brought her here.”

Motonari laughed, the sound a little manic. “That sounds about right. So what do I owe the pleasure?”

“First, of course, I need to get our lovely Mai some proper beach day clothes. And I had a little something I needed to discuss with you, if there’s time.”

He nodded. “For the lady, if I got it, she can have it. For the other,” he chewed at his lower lip. “We’ll see. I stay out of things now. You know that.”

Mitsuhide smiled as if this were the agreement he hoped for. 

“You two can go talk. I - I really don’t need -” Mai started to protest, but Motonari cut her off.

“Ya got flowers in yer ears, girl? Ya heard the man. You need a bathing suit, a cover up. A sun dress. Something to sit on. A parasol. Don’t be shy.” He grinned, eyes flashing. “This bastard here’ll cover ya so don’t be shy.”

“I insist,” Mitsuhide nodded, shooing her toward the racks.

Mai went, only half reluctantly. She did need a new swimsuit for the summer, if nothing else. She was surprised to find that Motonari had a really nice collection. Burberry, Dior, Versace . . . not the kind of stuff she’d expected given the surf-shop vibe. But she wasn’t complaining. She picked five that looked like they might suit her, two cover-ups because you can’t just pick a swimsuit and not having a matching cover-up! And a sundress that was too cute to say no to. 

They guys were standing off to one side, talking intently. Neither of them looked happy. Curious, she idled a little closer to see if she could innocently overhear. 

“Ya can’t force it,” Motonari said, his raspy voice was low and unhappy.

“I’m not. She’s remembering on her own. I just didn’t expect that it would hurt her.” Mitsuhide’s smile was gone, his jaw tense, lips pressed to a thin line.

Motonari nodded. “Well yeah. What’d you expect? Ya think it’s painless to have a whole life tossed in on top of yer own? Poor girl.”

“I don’t know if it would be better to stay away or no. I want to be there for her when she -” Mitsuhide glanced up, a knowing look in his eye. 

Caught, Mai, shifted from foot to foot. “Uhm. I was just wondering. Where the changing room is?”

“To yer left.” Motonari chuckled. He looked like he knew she’d been eavesdropping too.

Mai hurried off, feeling guilty for what she’d overheard, but curious too. They were talking about her. She knew it. But what did they mean? Remembering a whole life? It was like that stupid joke Mitsuhide made in the car. About her being a lover from a past life. Ridiculous.

She wasn’t sure if she believed in reincarnation any more than she believed in some kind of heaven - or hell for that matter. When people died, they were just gone. No one knew what, if anything, happened past that. It wasn’t that she disagreed with the ideas people had, just that she didn’t think anyone really knew. Much less Mitsuhide Akechi, teaser-in-chief. But he hadn’t looked like he was teasing Motonari. They both looked deadly serious.

Would it be so bad, she wondered, if it were true? She wasn’t sure how she felt about that. 

Mai put it out of her mind as she tried on the first swimsuit. It was a little more daring than she usually wore. Though it was a one-piece, the top and bottom were connected only by winding ribbons of fabric. The bottoms had a high thigh line and the top was two ruched triangles of fabric - just enough to make them ok for a public beach and not a stitch more. 

She thought it looked pretty good on her. Almost like a toga turned swimsuit, with the white and gold accents. Mai checked herself out in the threeway mirror. She had never liked the way her butt looked in a swimsuit, but that wasn’t the suit’s fault.

“Are you planning to hide in there, Mai? Or are you going to show us what you picked?” Mitsuhide called from outside.

“Ya, give us a fashion show, girlie!”

Mai frowned at the curtain. “I haven’t picked anything yet! I’m just trying some on.”

“Then let us help you pick.” Mitsuhide laughed. “Come on. Don’t be shy.”

“I’m not shy,” she shot back, pulling the curtain open. She was, but she didn’t want Mitsuhide to be right. He acted like he knew everything about her and he didn’t. So if he thought she was shy, well . . . Mai stepped out, defiant in her swimwear.

The expression on Mitsuhide’s face was worth the discomfort she felt putting herself on display. His lips parted to let out a startled breath. His eyes were as wide as teacups. He made a little strangled sound from back in his throat, as if he wanted to say something but the words got all tangled up there. 

Motonari whistled. “You got good instincts. That one’ll knock any man out. Makes a guy wonder if yer single?”

“If you’re asking, then yes. I -” Hideyoshi flashed into her mind for a moment. “Nothing serious.” Mai cleared her throat, feeling a touch guilty. She knew he wanted to be more than friends, but she wasn’t ready to take that step. 

“If ya want to change that, I’m on the market.” Motonari shifted his stance slightly, and something about the way he stood emphasized his slim hip, the curve of his strong thighs. He had a certain, rough appeal to him. 

“She has better taste than that.” Mitsuhide finally found his voice, though he sounded a bit breathless. 

Mai grinned. Something about that flicker of jealousy made her feel happy. “So? Is this a good one?”

“I think something a little more . . . covering.” Mitsuhide gestured to a pink, frilly one piece that would cover her from the base of the neck to mid-thigh. 

“Mmm, I don’t know,” Mai tugged at the criss-crossed ribbons on her abdomen. “You really don’t like this one?”

Mitsuhide took a breath, and that was when Mai noticed a tinge of red in his cheeks. “It’s . . . it’s very . . .”

She realized this was her chance to get him back for his earlier teasing. “Very?” Mai turned in a slow circle, trying to move like the models did at fashion shows. Graceful and sinuous, almost like a snake. 

The red in his cheeks deepened. Instead of replying with words, he took her arm and hurried her back into the changing room. “Try something else,” he managed, his voice hoarse.

Motonari was laughing. “I’ll leave you two to figure it out.”

“I like this one.” Mai’s chin stuck out stubbornly. Just the fact that Mitsuhide did not want her to wear it made her want to. 

“Little mouse -” He took a breath. “I cannot . . . I do not want . . .” Mitsuhide’s gaze was heavy with internal conflict, as if he were wrestling with his own thoughts on the matter. “I have no right to tell you what to wear,” he said after a pause. “But please. Please believe me when I say I do not want other men to look at you in - in this -” His gaze drifted down, moving slowly over her mostly exposed body. 

The slow, hungry look made Mai feel even more naked than she was. 

His hand stroked down her shoulder, sending a prickle of heat across her bare skin. Mitsuhide’s eyes finally pulled away from her body to fix on her face again. 

They were so close, she realized. The dressing room wasn’t all that large, and Mitsuhide wasn’t all that small. If she went up on her toes, she could kiss him, she thought. And more surprising to her, she wanted to. She felt her body leaning into him, obeying her desire without thinking it through.

Mitsuhide stepped closer, his body pressing closer to her. He was warm and firm and solid. His hands rested on her arms. A lock of his hair fell forward, brushing against her forehead. She could almost feel his lips, they were so close to hers. Then, as if lifting a great weight, he pulled back from her, his hands dropping to his sides. “It is too soon,” he said quietly, more to himself than to her. 

Aloud, he added, “Please. Try on something else. That’s all I ask.” He stepped out of the changing room and closed the curtain firmly behind him. 

Mai froze in place, unsure how to react. The changing room felt empty with the loss of his presence, but there was a budding warmth in her chest from his raw, honest reaction. She decided she would try on a less revealing swimsuit, but there was no way she was leaving this one behind. Not when it elicited that look in his eyes. 

In the end, she selected a sky blue one-piece with side cut outs and a low back to wear for the day, with a matching silver and blue cover-up and sandals. And Motonari threw in a parasol with tiny little bellflowers on a white background. She also took the sundress, pale green with little embroidered sunflowers on the bodice, which she wore out because her work clothes didn’t feel right for the beach.

Mitsuhide didn’t ask her to model anything else, but he seemed to be back to his regular self as they left the shop. 

Motonari gave them a warm goodbye and told Mai she should stop in again. She decided she absolutely would. Her friends would love this place and Motonari. 

#ikemen sengoku au #ikesen mitsuhide #ikesen motonari #mitsuhide akechi #motonari mouri #cybird otome #otome #otome guys #fanfiction #fanfic #fluff and drama #spirit animals

[paisholotus]

A child is full of woe

Ch.1

Narrative

Morticia, Gomez, and Pugsley wait by the limo as Wednesday and Winda approaches. Gomez gives them a wide, paternal smile.

"Look at you, my little death traps! Seeing that uniform brings back so many terrible memories, doesn’t it, Tish?" He asked, his deathly beautiful wife.

Morticia looks at her two children, suddenly overcome. "Why don’t you boys wait in the car? I need a moment with my two dark clouds." Pugsley throws his arms around his two older siblings, hugging them. They don't return the gesture.

"Pugsley, you’re soft and weak. You’ll never survive without us. We'll give you two months tops." They said, glaring at the boy. "I’m gonna miss you guys too." He says, sadly walking towards Gomez as they both get into the limousine.

"Any plans you have of running away end right now. I’ve alerted all family members to contact me the minute you two darken their doorsteps.

You have nowhere to go." Morticia says sternly looking at her oldest children.

Wednesday and Winda don't break eye contact. "As usual, you underestimate us, Mother. We will escape this educational penitentiary, and then you will never hear from us again." Wednesday says with no expression on his face.

"Wednesday, Winda, you two are brilliant children. But sometimes you both get in your own way. I’m sure you’ll grow to love Nevermore and find it as life-changing as I did. I got you both a little something." She said, opening a black decorative box.

She presents them with two pendants. It features a small obsidian “W” which can be spun to form an “M” too. One was dark blue the other one was black.

“W” and “M”. Our initials. It’s made of obsidian, which Aztec priests used to conjure visions." She said, smiling tenderly. She put them around Wednesday’s and Winda's neck. "It’s a symbol of our connection." The two older children observe the gift. Then, he looks at their mother.

"Which one of your spirits suggested this toe curling tchotchke? We're not you, Mother. We will never fall in love or be housewives and househusband's or have a family." Winda sneered, looking back down at the necklace, as Wednesday looked else where avoiding his mother's hurt gaze.

Morticia is pained by Winda’s words. "I’m told that children your age can say hurtful things and that I shouldn’t take them to heart." She said, smiling slightly.

"Luckily, you don’t have one." Wednesday said lowly. "Finally, a kind word for your mother." She turns to Lurch, who’s holding the crystal ball carrier box. "Lurch, the crystal ball, please." Lurch steps over and gives her the box, then gets in the car. She hands the box to Wednesday. "We can’t talk to you both for the first week while you’re settling in. So we’ll call you next Sunday."

Morticia gives them a final smile, then climbs in the limo. As the older Addams children watch their family drive away, winda reaches for the new necklace, unconsciously revealing a hidden insecurity. Wednesday turns around and walks into the school that shall be there hell.

"Morticia dabs tears from her cheeks. Gomez offers her a reassuring smile. "Don’t worry, my love, our little scorpions won’t be alone." He surreptitiously hits a button in the hand-rest.

-Time Skip-

Laritha Turner walked down the red-decorated great staircase and stood in front of the mansion's enormous doors. She told her children to hurry up 15 minutes ago, but they tend to forget.

 

She glances down at Florence, and Laritha bends down as Florence jumps onto her hand. "Go be a dear and tell the kids to come on, before they are late." Florence taps her nail in Laritha's hand before jumping back to the floor and rushing back up the stairs. Five minutes later, her children came down. Celani, Celeste, and Jonathan. 

Laritha smiled happily at her children as her husband, Marquez Turner, joined her by the doors, kissing the side of her head. Johnathan was the oldest, and he was nearly as tall as his father. He had locs in two ponytails, dark skin, dark brown sunken eyes, and several piercings.

Celani, the second oldest, was about medium in height. She had long curly hair, just like her mother, lovely dark skin, large brown doe eyes, and nose piercings.

Finally, there is Celeste, the youngest. She was the shortest below her mother's height, with short curly hair, dark brown under-bag eyes, and no facial piercings.

 

"Okay, my children of the moon. Hurry and grab your things; I don't want you to be late on your first day back." She watched them grab their belongings and walk outside, getting in the limousine. 

 

The parents got into the car as they drove off to Nevemore. "You kids excited to go back." Their father asked. Johnathan nodded. "I don't really feel a difference. Nevermore is nothing but bleak; nothing ever happens." Johnathan said, crossing his arms. 

 

"What about you, Lani?" Her mother asked. Celani shrugged, "My friend Bicana said there were new transfer students joining the school; she said that they tried to kill some kids. How fun." Celani said, smiling at her fun. 

 

"Yeah, well let's try not to torture anyone, my red lotus. You know what happened last time." Celani and Johnathan rolled their eyes. What happened to Matt Webster was well deserved. Matt Webster decided to call her siblings slurs, so she set his car on fire while he was in it. Because why are we still being racist in 2024? 

 

"Celeste, what about you, my garden snake?" her mother asked. Celeste took out her headphones and smiled slightly. "I don't really have a particular answer, mother. But I'm happy I can go back to terrifying pilgrims." she said, chuckling and looking through her songs. 

 

Laritha signed as Marcus gave Celeste a proud smile. 

 

They arrived at Nevemore and got out of the car as their parents stood in front of them with proud smiles on their faces. "Okay, my loves, we'll call every night, please try not to kill anyone, at least not without reason." She said, giving them a smile and individual hugs. 

She watched them walk into the school, waving them goodbye.

This is Florence

#black reader #black writers #black tumblr #self post #tumblelog #poc reader #black girls #poc writer #black representation #black excellence #the addams family #wednesday addams #Wednesday addams x black reader #morticia addams #gomez addams #pugsley addams #nevermore academy #paisholotus #the love within you

[skyler10fic]

Sweet Like Honey: Ch. 8 Happy Endings

Summary:

Their last day starts with a massage, and they make the most of their time remaining with a little role play.

Note:

Last chapter of this fic! I have loved the journey and I hope you have too!

Read on Ao3

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

Gentle music and ocean sounds played in the background as the receptionist at the spa welcomed them back to the room for their couple’s massage. The room had a peaceful energy, with light blue walls, white beds, and only natural lighting, coming from the French doors with an ocean view beyond the shaded porch and grass hill that sat behind the spa. Idyllic didn’t even begin to describe it. 

“Pretty nice, huh?” One of the massage therapists said, catching Daisy and Carol gawking at the view. 

“Hi!” They spun around to see a pale middle-aged woman with curly red hair and a young Chinese woman with long, glossy black hair. Daisy found her voice first. “I’m Daisy, this is my wife, Carol. We’re here for the couple’s massage.” 

“I’m Lorraine, and this is Olivia. We’ll be taking care of you today.” Lorraine picked up the clipboard on the counter. “Ah, I see you’re here on your honeymoon!” 

“Congratulations!” Olivia added with a smile. “We’re happy to help you celebrate. We’ll leave you to undress to your level of comfort, then each lay face up under the sheets. We’ll be back in a few minutes.” 

Lorraine started to follow Olivia out but stopped and assured them, “Oh, and don’t worry about the windows. They have a one-way filter so you can see out, but even if someone were to climb that hill, they couldn’t see in.”

When the door was closed, Daisy took off her tank top and bra and started to slide off her shorts, but noticed Carol was watching her instead of undressing. 

“They’re coming back any minute,” Daisy warned. “Better get naked, babe.” 

Carol stripped off her shirt, bra, and shorts, but hesitated and waited to see if Daisy was taking off her underwear next. 

“Is it okay if we leave these on?” Carol asked. “I just don’t want to… um...”

“Yeah, it’s fine!” Daisy approached her and put her hands on Carol’s shoulders. “You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do.” 

Carol leaned in and whispered into Daisy ear in embarrassment. “I don’t want them to know if I get wet.” 

Daisy tried not to giggle but instead soothed a thumb across Carol’s collarbone. “You probably won’t, if it’s like the professional massages I’ve had before, but that’s okay. I’ll leave mine on too.” 

A knock on the door broke them apart. 

“Just a second,” Carol called. They scrambled under the sheets on their respective massage tables. “Come in!”

“We’re back!” Lorraine and Olivia reappeared and put warm oil on their hands. 

“Are we ready to get started?” Lorraine asked Daisy and approached her, and Olivia stood by Carol. 

“Yes, please,” Daisy answered with excitement. She looked over to Carol, who gave her a thumbs-up and a tentative smile. She’d had sports massages before to address pain and prevent running injuries, but nothing with a romantic or sensual overtone like this. It was simultaneously familiar and foreign to her. 

They started with a shoulder massage, then neck, then head, back to the shoulders and down their arms to their fingers. Next were the sore muscles in their calves and feet. As the spa music changed from palm trees and waves to gentle rain and birdsong, the masseuses had them flip over under the sheet and began working out the knots in their backs, from shoulders to hips. Carol inhaled sharply as Olivia’s hands worked her lower back and reached the waistband of her boyshorts. Their faces were down in the donut hole of the massage table’s headrest, but Carol could sense Daisy’s amusement from two feet away. 

“Doing okay?” Olivia checked in with a gentle tone. 

“Yep, feels good,” Carol affirmed. Her bare skin just wasn’t used to being touched here by anyone but Daisy. She couldn’t say that out loud, so she relaxed into the experience. That was the point, after all. 

“How about you? Pressure okay?” Lorraine asked Daisy as she loosened the tight muscles across Daisy’s back. 

“Perfect. You’re an angel, Lorraine.” Daisy sighed, “Ugh, we needed this.” 

They finished with a lotion scented with coconut, amber, and sandalwood. Carol identified the coconut, but Olivia had to read off the other two for her. 

“We sell it in the gift shop at the front of the spa,” Olivia added and massaged it onto Carol’s shoulders and the back of her neck. 

“Mmm,” Daisy hummed before Carol had a chance to ask her. “We should get some.”

“It’s called Sea Breeze,” Lorraine informed as she pulled the sheet back up over Daisy’s back. “All done here.” 

“Here too.” Olivia pulled the sheet over Carol’s. “You two take your time getting dressed and we’ll meet you at the front with your complimentary cucumber water.”    

Daisy and Carol thanked them, then when the door was closed again, Daisy sat up on the table and watched Carol stand. “Did you like it?” 

Carol stretched. “That was a lot more relaxing than the ones I’ve had in the past. And less painful. I’d do it again if you wanted to sometime back home. Maybe as one of our date nights or for a birthday or something.” 

“I’m glad to hear it.” Daisy stood and started to redress. 

Carol put on her shorts and asked, “How about you?” 

Daisy straightened her tank top as she answered. “I loved it. Lorraine was really good. That was the perfect end to our trip.” 

She turned away to slip her sandals back on, and Carol came up behind her and said softly, “Well, the trip isn’t over yet. We still have the rest of the day and night before we check out tomorrow.” 

Daisy faced her and pecked a kiss to her lips. “That’s exactly what I was hoping you’d say. I have an idea.”

“So do I.” Carol raised her eyebrows. “I bet we have time for both, though.” 

Fully dressed, they retrieved their cucumber waters from Lorraine and Olivia, found a bottle of Sea Breeze lotion to take home, and paid the receptionist. 

They grabbed croissant sandwiches for lunch at the poolside cafe and took them out to a table for two, far away from any other guests, to talk through their ideas for how to spend the time they had left. When they had agreed on the perfect finale, they took a few selfies with the water in the background and portraits of each other individually before heading back up to their room to put their plans into motion.

—----------- 

Carol owned exactly one skimpy, teeny string bikini, but it was a showstopper. Red with ties at her neck, back, and hips, exactly the right angles and amount of coverage (which was very little) to accentuate her body. She didn’t wear it often, but she was well aware of its hold over Daisy. And seeing as they weren’t actually going to the pool or beach, but simply doing a bit of role-playing this afternoon, that was precisely the point. 

She stepped out of the bathroom and saw that Daisy wore a thin, practically sheer, white tank top with nothing underneath and tiny, soft shorts. Carol wondered if there was anything under the shorts as well, but that was getting too far ahead of the game. 

Daisy picked up Carol’s camera and put the strap around her neck so she couldn’t drop it. She slid the balcony door open, and Carol followed her out. 

“Before we start,” Daisy asked, “can you show me how to get the settings right?” 

“Yeah, here.” Carol guided her hold on the camera to point to the lounge chairs and pressed a few buttons to adjust the aperture and shutter speed. With the camera strap around Daisy’s neck still, they were already touching and it would be so easy to simply kiss her until they were too far gone to continue with the game. But Carol wanted the chase, the playfulness, the spirit of the honeymoon so far outside of their routine. 

“Ready?” Daisy asked, both about the camera and the role play. 

“Wait, do we need a safe word, like… applesauce?” Carol tried to think of something totally random. 

Daisy cocked an eyebrow at her. “Applesauce? How about just ‘end scene.’ Like we’re actors?” 

“Good point.” Now that she said it, it was obvious. Why hadn’t that occurred to Carol a few seconds earlier instead? “Okay, uh, begin scene.” 

Carol stepped a distance away and put on some sexy upbeat music on her phone, and Daisy looked down at the camera and then back up with a completely different expression on her face, pleasant and engaged but professional. 

“Hi, Miss Danvers? I’m Daisy. We spoke on the phone earlier?” 

“Ah, yes.” Carol put on her best nonchalant top-model face and stuck out her hand to shake Daisy’s, which felt absurd, but she stayed in character. “I’m glad the magazine sent someone of your talent. I’ve seen and admired your previous work.” 

Carol winked and Daisy hid a smile, both thinking of their naughty selfies they sent each other when they were apart via the secure app Daisy had built for the purpose.  

“You have? I’m honored,” Daisy flirted. “I’m a big fan of yours as well. I’m glad you had time today for our photoshoot with your packed schedule.”

“A day out here on this beautiful beach? How could I resist?” Carol gestured out to the ocean in front of them. 

“Exactly, and with such a beautiful subject…” Daisy openly checked out Carol. “Let’s get started by having you lean on the balcony railing.” 

“Like this?” Carol rested her forearms on the balcony in a way that pushed her cleavage together. 

“Perfect.” Daisy took some full-body shots as Carol observed the tiny people on the beach. Carol could only see them, and they could only see her, when she was standing so close to the railing and looking down. Otherwise, it was just water, with a few sailboats in the distance and birds out looking for fish. 

“Okay, now turn towards me, maybe hands in your hair?” Daisy instructed and mimed a pose the best she could with the camera in one hand. Britney Spears’ “Gimme More” came on, in perfect timing. Carol knew exactly what she wanted and gave her several poses that she imagined might be sexy. Daisy adjusted as needed but loved it overall. “Yes! Just like that. Work it!”

Carol loosened up with Daisy’s praise, and Daisy got some genuine smiles with the pouty and sophisticated looks. 

“Okay, now let’s get some of you lying on the lounge chair.” Daisy adjusted the back to a good angle—not too straight-up but not too flat—and Carol took her place. “Do you mind if I…? Daisy gestured to Carol’s legs. 

“Not at all.” Carol shrugged. “I trust your professional opinion.” 

Daisy ran her hand up Carol’s ankle and calf, then gently moved that leg to cross the other at the ankle instead of the knee. She shot a few in that position, with Carol repositioning her arms and looking in a variety of directions in what she imagined to be professional model poses.

“I love that,” Daisy said, “but I need a better angle. Don’t move.”

Carol had to work hard not to move as instructed. Daisy’s better angle was achieved by straddling Carol’s knees and kneeling over her. In any other circumstance, Carol’s hands would already be on Daisy’s hips, pulling her closer and rolling on top of her. After a few shots, Daisy noticed Carol’s eyes drifting to her breasts. She climbed off Carol and stood up. Time for the pursuit.

“These will be exactly what the magazine needs, Miss Danvers,” Daisy said professionally and scrolled through the shots on the camera’s preview screen. 

“Please, call me Carol.” She turned on her side and Daisy shot more as the song changed to “My Darling” by Hazzy. 

“You know,” Daisy said casually, “last week I did a shoot like this, but the girl decided the topless shots looked best. Of course, if you’re not up for that, I wouldn’t blame you. Not everyone is as open as she was.” 

“I’m open.” Carol sat up fully with her feet on the ground. “You’ll see from my previous work, I do whatever I need to get the job done.” 

“Good to know,” Daisy purred. “And another girl… well, I think she was into me. She wanted me to take my top off too. And I wouldn’t for just anyone, of course, but it really worked for her.”

Carol knew what she was doing, making her jealous with all these imaginary “other girls.” And on some primal fantasy level, it was working. 

“Actually,” Carol spoke up, “that might make me feel more comfortable too. If we’re both doing it together.”

“Yeah, alright. I can see how it might help. Can you hold this?” Daisy took off the camera first and handed it to Carol. She turned her back to Carol, and Carol took it as permission to shoot a few of Daisy taking her tank top off. When Daisy turned back around, she caught Carol taking the photos. 

“Sorry.” Carol blushed on cue. “You’re just too hot to be behind the camera all of the time. You deserve someone who appreciates you too.” 

“That’s nice of you to say. Honestly? I see so many gorgeous women in this job, it is hard to not compare.” 

“I mean it. You could be a model yourself,” Carol replied, pretending to fumble with the straps on her bikini top. “Ugh, sorry to ask this, but it seems like my stylist tied these in knots this morning! Can you help me untie them?” 

“Of course.” Daisy leaned over Carol, putting her breasts at exactly the right height to tempt her. She fiddled with the strings at Carol’s neck and back, until they fell loose. They weren’t tied tight at all, as Carol had known the bikini wouldn’t last long in their role-playing. But it gave Daisy an excuse to undress her model. 

“Thanks.” While handing back the camera, Carol noticed Daisy kept the bikini top and stuffed it in the pocket of her soft shorts. 

“Put your arm like this.” Daisy guided Carol’s arm to barely hide her breasts, and Carol held it there as Daisy shot. After a while, Carol repositioned and crossed her arms in a way that pushed her cleavage together again, this time facing the camera, which Daisy enjoyed. 

“Now lie back,” Daisy instructed and Carol did so, with Daisy straddling her legs again to shoot straight-on. Daisy placed Carol’s left hand so it cupped the right breast, and Carol’s right hand on the front of her bikini bottoms. Carol gave the camera a defiant pout, challenging the viewer to tell her to stop. She curled her fingers into the red fabric and closed her eyes and parted her lips in imagined pleasure, and Daisy whimpered, slipping out of character for a second. Daisy hid behind the camera, shooting away. The song changed to the very steamy “Ease My Soul” by Desire The Unknown.

“Have you ever had one of your models do this?” Carol dared, slipping a finger into the side of the fabric. 

“No, I don’t think so.” Daisy swallowed. “But it might be easier if I help take these off.” 

She let the camera hang from the strap around her neck, with the body falling just beneath her breasts, so she’d have both hands free to untie the straps on Carol’s left side. She stopped and took a few shots of the loose red strings hanging against Carol’s skin. She did the same on the right, this time with the shot including Carol’s fingers disappearing under the red bikini. Daisy pulled down the front to bare Carol touching herself, but instead of shooting the erotic sight, Daisy moved the camera to Carol’s face. Carol stroked her clit in earnest and bit her lip as she looked at the camera in lust. Both of them were breathing faster now, and the movement made their peaked nipples all that more tempting for each other. 

“You know, it’s only fair if these come off too.” Carol’s free hand stroked Daisy through the shorts and snaked up inside. Just as she suspected, her fingers didn’t meet any more fabric on their way to Daisy’s wetness. Daisy pointed the camera down for what she hoped was a shot of both of Carol’s hands, one disappearing inside Daisy’s shorts and the other still touching herself. 

“None of my other models have been this generous,” Daisy panted. “I would love to work together more—mmmMMMh—in the future.” 

“I’d love to. In fact, I’d like to hire you exclusively as part of my team,” Carol dared with clear possessiveness in her tone. “Why don’t you put down the camera and we’ll talk business.”

Daisy gently set the camera on the end table next to the lounge chair and Carol continued touching her. “I��m definitely interested. What did you have in mind? ” 

“I want to make you all mine,” Carol growled. “No more other girls, no more taking your shirt off to please them, just you and me.”  

Carol’s middle finger pressed inside Daisy, and Daisy joked, “Seems like a perfect fit.” 

“Excellent benefits too,” Carol added and sat up to capture Daisy’s lips. Carol abandoned touching herself to swirl her cum around Daisy’s nipple. 

“I can tell. Ohhh!” Daisy moaned loudly enough that if any of their neighbors were outside too, they could have heard. Carol stroked faster, driven by the knowledge that others might be listening, might even be turned on by the sound, but would never know who it was. 

“So you’ll take the job?” Carol teased with words and fingers. Daisy bucked her hips and closed her eyes in an expression Carol knew well. She pressed harder and deeper and faster to bring Daisy over the edge.   

“Yes! Yes, yes, fuck yes,” Daisy chanted as she came. “Oh god, yes.” 

Daisy’s eyes fluttered open in bliss and Carol couldn’t help but capture Daisy’s open mouth, working her down gently. But the more Daisy’s tongue lapped at hers, the wetter Carol became. She finally pulled back and moved her hand from inside Daisy to herself once more. She had an idea. 

“Your training starts now,” she commanded as Daisy watched Carol touch herself again. “See what I’m doing? Pay careful attention. This is going to be your job.”

“I can handle that. I’m very experienced,” Daisy said with a filthy smile. “And I’m dedicated to the cause.” 

“Give it a try,” Carol instructed and raised an eyebrow. Daisy replaced Carol’s hand with her own and Carol’s legs parted more open for her. Daisy stretched out over Carol for a better angle, with the skin-to-skin contact heightening Carol’s pleasure. Daisy’s cocky confidence deserved to be kissed off her face until she was desperate for Carol again. 

When they parted for air, Daisy sped up her fingers, in and out of Carol, and the heel of her hand rubbing against Carol’s clit. 

Carol panted, “You’re going to be promoted very quickly here. So good.” 

Daisy licked her bottom lip. “Oh yeah, and what’s that position then?” She winked, proud of her double entendre. 

“I think you’ll find it rewarding.” Carol barely got out as Daisy’s expertise worked her higher and higher. “God, fuck, Daisy.” 

She whined and moaned as Daisy’s mouth moved to suck at her neck in rhythm with her fingers. She was so close, and Daisy knew it. Daisy’s fingers curled inside her. 

“I’m all yours,” Daisy whispered. “Anything you want. I can be the girl of your dreams. What do you need?”

“You, fuck yes,” Carol cried. “My… Mine…”

It was a good, deep orgasm with that tingling flood of happy chemicals from her core to head to toe and all over. Daisy stroked Carol’s folds gently, working her down, then wiped her hand on her shorts and kissed Carol again. 

“End scene?” Daisy asked with a hint of self-satisfaction in her husky tone. 

“Mmhm. You know you’re already the girl of my dreams.” Carol smiled and kissed Daisy again with light strokes up and down Daisy’s back. The lounge chair quickly became uncomfortable, however, and they stretched as they disentangled themselves and stood. 

Daisy retrieved the camera and her tank top as they went back inside. “I seriously think some of those photos are going to turn out good enough to add to the secret photo album.”

“Yeah?” Carol was curious to look but that could wait for later. She tossed her bikini to her suitcase and paused in front of the bed. “Still up for your role-play?” 

Daisy glanced at the clock. “Yeah, we’ve got time.” 

“Then I believe it’s time for your massage. I’ll be your masseur today, hello and welcome to my spa.” Carol beamed and gestured to the bed.

“Good thing I’m already undressed.” 

“Not quite.” Carol stepped closer and lowered Daisy’s shorts. “This kind of massage requires complete access. Oh, and one more thing.” She retrieved the collar from Daisy’s jewelry bag and fastened it around Daisy’s neck. 

“Thank you.” Daisy touched the collar and got into character. “What would you like me to do first?” 

“Lay on the bed on your stomach, so I can start with your back.” Carol squirted some of the new lotion into her hands, and Daisy laid down as instructed, with her head to the side since they didn’t have the donut pillow of the massage table. Carol stood next to the bed and worked down Daisy’s shoulders, arms, and hands just like in the real massages earlier. “Your hands are really strong. You must play piano, right?” 

“No,” Daisy giggled. 

“Hmm strong arms too. Yoga?”

“Uh yeah, definitely ‘yoga,’ mainly the partnered kind where I have to my nails short,” she laughed under Carol’s touch. 

“That’s my favorite kind. I like it so much, I even work the principles into my massages,” Carol replied in appreciation as she rubbed Daisy’s back. “You must also get a lot of compliments on your soft skin, and on this freckle in particular.” She leaned down to kiss the spot before continuing down Daisy’s back. 

“Sometimes, but it’s always nice to hear more,” Daisy hinted. 

“Oh this freckle too, a little group of them.” Carol leaned down and kissed Daisy’s lower back. She massaged down Daisy’s glutes, down her thighs and inward before continuing on to her calves. Daisy wriggled impatiently. 

“Stay still,” Carol instructed. She worked her way back up. “I promise you won’t be left wanting.” 

“I trust you.” Daisy said it simply, but it drove Carol to reward her. Carol stroked inward and up Daisy’s thighs until one hand groped her ass and the other swept through her wetness. Daisy let out a whimper. She pressed her middle finger in deeper, past Daisy’s entrance, then spread the moisture to Daisy’s clit. 

“This feels so good,” Daisy affirmed. “This may be my favorite kind of massage.” 

“May be?” Carol took it as a challenge and fucked Daisy with her finger again, adding another and moving faster. “I know you’re my favorite client. In fact, you’re the only one who gets this special treatment.”

“Special, hm?” She was openly fishing for the compliments now, but it only spurned Carol on.

“The very best. Now we’re going to pause here and turn over for the front.” 

“Okay.” Daisy obeyed, but her voice was small and high with need.

“Lift your hips a bit.” Carol slid a pillow underneath Daisy and climbed onto the bed, straddling her knees. The hand that had been finger-fucking Daisy resumed its job, but paying more attention to Daisy’s clit now with better access. The other hand stroked all down Daisy’s side and back up to massage her nipples, each in turn. 

“Gorgeous, these deserve our premium luxury treatment.” Carol paused her other activities to lean down and lick and suck and kiss each breast in equal measure. “There.” 

Daisy moaned as Carol’s hand resumed its massage of her clit and inner labia, but she kept her arms out beside her and didn’t reach up to replace the absence of Carol’s mouth on her breasts with her fingers. 

“You’ve been such a great client today,” Carol praised and lazily fingered Daisy’s entrance again. “So compliant and wet and arousing.” 

“Please, Care—” Daisy begged, shortening Carol’s name as she only did in their most intimate moments. “I wanna come. Please make me come.” 

“Anything you want, baby.” Carol smirked and curled her fingers against Daisy’s G-spot while pressing down on her clit with her thumb. She rubbed her thumb up and down, and Daisy keened under her, body fully surrendered to the pleasure racing through her system. Carol eased her through it and removed her hand. 

“Now that was a massage with a happy ending,” Daisy panted. 

“Customer satisfaction guaranteed.” Carol laid down and kissed Daisy, long and deep. She allowed herself to grind on Daisy’s thigh until they parted for air.

“What do I owe you as payment?” Daisy asked. 

“Mmm, I accept several methods…” Carol rolled out of bed and retrieved her favorite vibrator. “But this one earns loyalty points.”

Daisy propped herself up on her side with her hair delightfully touselled and her voice low and sexy. “Oh I’m all about loyalty rewards.” 

Carol was on her in an instant, unable to resist that smirk. She kissed Daisy’s lips, jaw, and neck as Daisy took the vibrator and pushed Carol on her back. Daisy turned on the lowest vibration and took her time using it on Carol’s breasts, side, and thighs inward. 

“Tell me where you want me to insert my card,” Daisy teased. 

“Right in the slot, please, please,” Carol begged. “Higher, in.” 

Daisy watched Carol’s expression change as she did as instructed, moving the vibrator to Carol’s slick folds. By this point in the day, there was plenty to help the vibrator slide easily across Carol’s entrance and up to her clit, then back down and inside. 

“Mmm more,” Carol instructed, and Daisy increased the power of the vibrations. Carol let out a little noise of pleasure, and Daisy repeated the circular movement that provoked it. Carol touched her own breasts and requested, “I need your mouth here.” 

“Anything for bonus points.” Daisy laid down half on Carol, with kisses down Carol’s left breast to lick and suck at her rosy hard peak. She repeated it on the right side, but settled back to the left, with Carol’s fingers buried in Daisy’s hair and massaging Daisy’s scalp in rhythm with Daisy’s movements on her.

Daisy pressed the button on the vibrator again, at the next intensity level. They both knew this was the final act of their play, and Carol hit her climax right on cue. 

“Fuck, baby,” Carol strained as Daisy’s mouth and the vibrator sent waves of pleasure crashing through her. “Yes, yes, so good.” 

When Carol instinctively rolled her hips away, Daisy turned off the vibrator and moved to kiss Carol’s lips. They lay side by side, skin to skin, reluctant to let the moment end. 

Carol brushed back Daisy’s hair gently. “You’re the best wife ever, you know that?” 

“What can I say?” She shrugged in false modesty and her smile softened. “I love married life. Being married to you.” Daisy traced a feather-light touch from Carol’s forehead to temple to cheek to jaw and drew her in for a final kiss. They nuzzled noses and parted like magnets being separated despite their pull toward one another. 

“One last night out,” Carol sighed as Daisy left her side to get clothes out of her suitcase. 

“But it might end up being the highlight of the trip. Did I tell you this pub is hosting a drag show tonight?” 

Carol grinned. “That is a perfect end to this extremely queer honeymoon.” 

“Only the best for my wife.” Daisy winked and disappeared into the bathroom with her clothes in hand. As Carol gave Daisy space to shower alone, she wrapped herself in her warm robe and cleaned up the hotel room in the meantime. She had just enough time to get her dirty clothes packed into a zipped large compartment in her suitcase and get out her clothes for tonight and tomorrow when Daisy reappeared to get ready in front of the mirror and sink. Carol tapped Daisy’s butt as she passed on her way to the shower, and Daisy quickly replied in kind before Carol turned and closed the door. 

In the shower, Carol mentally prepared herself for the end of this fairytale vacation. It wasn’t just post-wedding tasks like thank you notes and changing her legal name that awaited them, but all of real life with work and deadlines and other people’s needs and ordinary to-do lists and obligations… The last year and a half hadn’t always been like this blissful week. It held its fights and frustrations, disappointments and heartache, miscommunications and compromises. But every one of them was worth it to build up to this. And there would be more, for better or worse, building a marriage one day at a time for the rest of their lives. 

After her shower, dry and fully dressed, Carol bumped Daisy’s hip side by side in front of the mirror. 

Daisy laughed and spotted Carol’s rings in her jewelry pouch. “Don’t forget these.” 

Daisy slid them onto Carol’s finger just as she had in the ceremony a week ago. Carol took Daisy’s left hand, already with rings on, and kissed the back. It had a lotiony taste, but she hardly noticed. Causing that smitten look on Daisy’s face was her only focus.

“I love you, my wife,” Carol said quietly, though it was only the two of them in the room.  

“Love you too, my wife.” Daisy squeezed Carol’s hand and they returned to their usual playful banter as they finished getting ready and headed for one last Pride-filled night of their honeymoon, overflowing with queer joy.

—----------

The End!

#daisy johnson #carol danvers #aos #agents of shield #captain marvel #daisy x carol #carol x daisy #wlw #sapphic fic #femslash #lesbian carol danvers #bisexual daisy johnson #skywriting #rated: e #role play #honeymoon au #marvel femslash

[storiesofsvu]

The Nanny With Benefits ch 6

Warnings: language. Talk of poly shit, that’s about it. (also im sure some of you are all ”katt…stop tagging me cause this is clearly just gonna be rita…trust me…this will be poly, and rafael will be getting his dick wet…. )

A week and a half later and the chicken pox fiasco had finally subsided. Thankfully, and after a brief check in with the doctor (both the paediatrician and Rita’s) they’d determined that the period of contagion was definitely over and it was fine for everyone to be around each other again. You’d kept a very close eye on everyone in the apartment, not totally trusting that Rita was healthy yet, she was still rather lethargic and had a lingering cough she couldn’t seem to beat. Isabella however was up and running with her normal energy returned only a few days after her fever, and was happy to have her brother back in the apartment to play with. Out of caution, you’d kept them both inside until everything was fully in the clear and it was apparent no one else was going to catch any kind of cold or flu from the germs in the house. The entire thing had made everyone a little bit stir crazy, you hadn’t wanted to spend much time with friends during the debacle since most of yours were teachers, nannies, or other careers that spent a lot of time around young children.

The cabin fever was finally broken when your group chat lit up with playground plans on Tuesday. Said group chat involved you, Lucy (Olivia’s nanny) and Julia (Amanda’s nanny), considering the kids all knew each other and the squad was family, it made sense that you spent play dates together instead of randoms or people that the parents weren’t fond of. The kids always got super excited for all of them, Amanda’s girls were roughly the same ages as Damian and Isabella, while Noah was a bit older, he still had a lot of fun with them and liked to play the big brother role, and it really was adorable.

You’d been running late, Damian had spotted the Starbucks logo on the way to the park and insisted on stopping for a drink (a habit you had no doubt came from his parents), so you got them both caffeine free beverages, and iced coffee for the adult crew. You finally rolled into the park, stopping the stroller by the bench Lucy and Julia were at, Damian un clipped himself and darted off before you could even say a word, and once you’d unbuckled Isabella she let out a very loud squeal and darted off after her brother.

“Was starting to think you weren’t coming.” Julia greeted with a tease and you laughed.

“You kidding me? I’ve been trapped in the house for nearly two weeks taking care of two fucking babies…” you dolled out the coffees to the other two as you sat yourself down on the park bench, eyes instantly searching out the kids, “I wouldn’t miss this for the world.”

“I thought Damian didn’t get sick?” Julia asked and you laughed again.

“He didn’t. Rita caught it, turns out that’s definitely where Is gets her neediness from.”

“How did she catch it?” Lucy gasped.

“Turns out she was never vaccinated.” You shrugged over a sip of coffee, “I made sure she got an appointment to catch up on everything she’d missed once she was better.”

“You know…sometimes I wonder who you’re actually supposed to be taking care of over there.” Julia laughed and you nearly snorted.

“I made that comment at my interview. They give me a weekly bonus to make sure they have meals prepped and to run errands for them on top of taking care of the kids.”

“As long as they’re paying you enough.” Lucy replied.

“Please…with Rita’s budget…I’m pretty sure I’m being over paid.”

“So she really is the one in charge over there, hey?” She replied and you laughed over another sip of coffee.

“It seems so. I won’t lie…there’s like, some weird vibes in this marriage. It’s not like anything I’ve ever worked with before and I am very confused about a lot of it.”

“What’d’you mean?” Julia asked before suddenly calling out to Jessie to play nice.

“It’s been nearly a year and like…I don’t think I’ve ever seen them actually kiss. Like there have been some brief cheek kisses, but nothing on the lips.”

“Is that that weird though?” Julia asked, “like, keep it professional in front of the nanny?”

“Normally I’d say so,” Lucy cut in, “but aren’t you on a live-in contract?”

“Yeah.” You nodded, turning to them, “like we spend a lot of time together. I’ve hung out with them individually and together and there is just this…like…vibe. They clearly care about each other, but I almost feel like there’s something else going on? I didn’t realize, but I’m pretty sure they have separate bedrooms…and when Rita had pox’s she asked me to put lotion on them instead of Rafael…”

“Maybe she just didn’t want to risk transferring it?” Julia offered.

“No..I think you’re onto something.” Lucy retorted, “I remember when they got married, Liv said it was completely out of the blue and very last minute. Like…no one knew they’d been dating, and that seems suspicious for two lawyers working opposite sides, doesn’t it?”

“Maybe they were fucking and Damian was a whoopsie?” Julia offered up and you shut down that thought.

“No. They used surrogates for both kids.”

“Do you think maybe they’re both gay and covering for each other?” Julia asked suddenly, pulling laughs from you and Lucy.

“No.” You sipped at the coffee, “I mean…maybe there’s something, but they have definitely fucked. Like, there’s that certain spark there that can’t be faked. And I’ve heard a couple of Harvard stories that would confirm that.” You laughed, “and why would they bother covering for each other this late in life? Rita’s parents are long gone, and Lucia’s fully in support of whatever Raf does. Which..” your head tilted in curiosity as you glanced towards Julia, “she..well…both of them…tease Raf about Sonny a lot. You said he’s around a lot, right?”

“Yeah.” She replied, “him and Amanda definitely have something going on. But I’ve also seen Rita leaving Amanda’s apartment at god awful early hours of the morning. Mainly on nights when the girls stayed with me…”

“The plot thickens…” You raised a brow, sipping at your drink.

“I’ve definitely seen both Rita and Raf at Liv’s.” Lucy commented, “I figured it was just a friendship thing, but now I’m rethinking it…”

“What is it like in that house?” Julia suddenly commented and you grimaced.

“I mean, it’s great, honestly, best family I’ve ever nannied for. But….in terms of this topic….things are very flirtatious….like…not to the uncomfortable point, but there certainly is something going on. And like…I’m not the one to fulfill the stereotype of the nanny fucking the Dad, but I’m not even sure I have to worry about that in the situation. Rita’s flirtation is definitely more aggressive, but Rafael’s is definitely still there. And I am just confused!” You laughed.

“Maybe they’re poly?” Lucy shrugged.

“I’ve been there over a year already and I’ve never seen anyone else in or out of the apartment.”

“You said Rita’s got a lot of cash, maybe they’ve got a separate apartment for that?”

“I dunno.” You chewed on the tip of your straw, “that doesn’t seem like the vibe. If they’re not at home with the kids, they’re at work. They both truly are only passionate about two things, and I don’t see how they’d have time or energy to like, be out in the city seeking out a third.”

“Well clearly they don’t have to.” Julia nudged at your arm with a smirk, “you’re already living in their house.”

“Oh fucking stop it!” You swatted at her arm heavily, “I am their nanny, and that is it!”

“Okay but there clearly is something weird going on here, we can agree on that, right?” Lucy laughed, shifting to toss her empty cup in the trash.

“I mean…probably.” You replied.

“Why don’t we meet up for drinks tonight?”Julia asked, “somewhere we can debunk all this without prying ears?” You laughed, rolling your eyes, but still nodded,

“Sounds perfect.”

“Good!” She smiled, “cause I’ve gotta get Jessie to a gymnastics class and I don’t want to miss this outcome!” With another laugh she was calling the girls and doing goodbyes before leaving the park.

You and Lucy decided that once the kids got bored of the park you’d move on, taking them to the zoo. The rest of the afternoon was spent there, pointing out the animals, buying them treats and genuinely having a good time. Noah was the perfect friend, guiding Damian through the exhibits while Isabella swapped between toddling through the rooms, or perched on yours or Lucy’s hip’s. The five of you stopped for a late lunch at their cafeteria, making sure everyone got their fill of animal shaped foods before you packed it all up and made your way back to the cars and home.

Overall, you were nearly more confused at the end of the day, but you knew that whatever happened, you loved this job, and you loved this family, and would always love being a part of it.

The kids barrelled into the apartment (probably a little sugar high) as they darted towards the living room for t.v time, and you were a little surprised to hear Rita’s laugh echoing through the space.

“I suppose they had fun today?” She asked with a grin as you dropped the bag by the door, stepping out of your shoes.

“I would hope they did. The park and the zoo, and all their friends? I think we hit all the buttons. Sorry…if they’re a little riled up, Lucy and I definitely let them indulge in a little too much sugar than normal, but I promise I can take care of bedtime tonight if they’re being fussy.”

“None sense.” Rita laughed, “they are still my kids after all.”

“You really aren’t like the other parents on the Upper East Side.”

“Oh we really, really aren’t.” She replied and you swore she was smirking as she moved through the kitchen, “it’s just boxed mac and cheese, I can handle it. Why don’t you go get changed? Rafael’s working late, I can start feeding the kids.”

“Okay.” You smiled, nearly feeling your cheeks heat before you darted down the hallway to change.

There was just something so incredibly compelling about Rita. The way that she knew exactly what she was doing. You were so used to the stereotype that the husband and the nanny had some weird affair, yet here you were in a backwards situation, yet also feeling like Raf had been a bit flirty. It was very safe to say that once the kids were asleep, you would definitely be meeting up with Lucy and Julia to at least attempt to figure out your thoughts on what was actually going on in this marriage.

_______

@melk917 @stone-hearted-seymour @alexusonfire @nocreditinthestraightworld @holycrapraewth @1-lindsay83 @ms-calhoun @thatesqcrush @tinyboxxtink @detective-giggles @teamsladsandgents @witches-unruly-heart @lannister-slings-and-arrows @lazaretta @drduckthief @addictedtodinosaurs @jamiethetrans @bumblebear30 @natasha-danvers @bookpillows @swimmingstudentchaos891 @newyorker14 @screenee @savannah-elliott @lawandorderuswnt @whimsicallymad @poisonedcrowns @Audrey-tindalls-punchingbagwh0r3

#Rita calhoun #barhoun #rafael barba #rita calhoun x reader #rafael barba x reader #Barhoun x reader #law and order svu #poly!barhoun x reader #the nanny with benefits

[my-soul-sings]

kiss the girl | ch 1

Fandom: Tears of Themis Characters: Artem x Reader 

Summary: Armed with a trusty book, Artem Wing attempts to win the woman of his dreams.

A/N: Artem’s personal story cracked me up so much that I had to write a fic about him with a less dense MC to troll him. :) 

***

It’s no secret that Artem is a genius. As the youngest person in Stellis to become a senior attorney, the firm has attracted hordes of clients seeking his services despite his higher-than-average hourly billing rates. Themis Law Firm may be a relatively new firm and much smaller compared to the bigger, reputable and more established ones in Stellis, but Artem’s presence has made it a force to be reckoned with in this industry. 

And yet, despite being perhaps one of the finest lawyers of his time, the Artem you know is quite something else altogether. You don’t really know how to explain it. Sure, he’s your boss and you admire his work ethic, intelligence, wit, charisma… the list could go on and on. But over the past few weeks it’s become evident that even geniuses like Artem lack in some ways. 

In Artem’s case, the area of lack is painfully obvious.

“So what kind of man are you into? We’ve all shared, it’s your turn now.” Celestine is sitting on the edge of your desk, a playful smirk on her lips as she sips her coffee. 

“Well… I don’t know…” Your words trail off as your eyes dart towards the pantry, where you spot the familiar back of your boss who’s trying very hard to blend into the side of the fridge at the moment. Needless to say, he’s not doing a very good job. He’s been stirring that cup of coffee for the past ten minutes now—yes, you’ve been keeping track ever since you noticed him come to the pantry for coffee despite having a coffee machine in his own office—and you’ve already spotted him glancing over in your direction at least twice when he thought you weren’t looking.

It’s been like this for the past few weeks. You didn’t really pick up on the signs at first: Artem leaving work almost always at the same time that you do, your conversations about work almost always ending with personal questions to get to know your likes and dislikes, and the unusual number of times he would walk out of his office a day to pay a visit to the pantry, only to leave empty-handed. 

But one incident became two, two became four, and it didn’t take much brainpower to figure out that he was oddly interested in matters involving you. It doesn’t matter if it’s about work or about your personal life, he seems to want to know everything, but especially about your love life and love interests. 

If the fact that he’s been not-so-subtly eavesdropping on your conversations with Kiki and Celestine in the office isn’t clear enough, then nothing will be.

You could just clear the air with him directly, although there’s that lingering fear of, “What if he isn’t actually interested?” It’s not like you can read his mind; maybe he’s just doing this shoddy spywork in an attempt to know his employees better. Something about employee welfare and morale building maybe—you wouldn’t put it past him. 

But then you think about it deeper and realise it can’t be, especially not when Celestine isn’t that subtle either with her pointed glances in your direction before staring straight at Artem with a smirk on her lips. She obviously knows what Artem is up to and is in on it somehow, which might be why lately she’s been asking you all sorts of questions relating to your love life whenever Artem happens to stroll into the pantry yet again. 

Just like that three weeks have passed, and you still haven’t gotten around to talking to Artem about it. It’s not for a lack of guts; really, it’s not. It’s just… it’s quite amusing to see Artem Wing, the youngest senior attorney in Stellis, a brilliant mind who usually has the answers to every legal problem, at a complete and utter loss. 

“The kind of guy I like… I think I’ll know when I meet him...” The answer is deliberately vague, which makes Kiki groan and Celestine click her tongue in dissatisfaction. Your attention, however, is focused on the back figure of your boss whose head is now drooping like a wilted flower. 

“...and I think I’ve found one.” 

In that instant, his head perks up, as do Kiki’s and Celestine’s. They begin to badger you for details, but your stubborn lips won’t budge. When you hear footsteps coming from the pantry, you allow your eyes to dart upwards only once, and you see Artem’s usual cool demeanour and straight face as he returns to his office. 

Your lips curl into a tiny smirk when you notice that the mug of cold coffee is still sitting on the pantry counter. 

***

She found one… 

The sentence she just said is playing over like a broken record in his head, much like when he’s mulling over a witness’ statement when preparing for a cross-examination. 

Does that mean she’s met someone who might be her type? Or is she already dating someone?

No wait, it can’t be the latter. She just told Celestine last week that she wasn’t seeing anyone because she’s “married to work”. 

A chuckle spills past his lips before he realises it—that’s the kind of thing he tells his relatives when they pester him about not having a girlfriend at his age. 

His smile quickly fades however, when he remembers the dilemma he’s in. Her answer left no room for him to guess what kind of guy she likes, let alone whether he fits into that box. And the fact that she’s found someone who’s her type… Does that mean he’s already lost the battle before he could even try? 

A knock on his office door jolts him out of his reverie, and he barely has time to clear his throat and fix his tie before Celestine enters the room. There’s only one reason she comes into his office when he doesn’t call her in, and it’s written all over her amused face. 

“I think she noticed you in the pantry this time. You stood there for way too long—even Kiki was starting to notice.” 

Artem groans, leaning back in his seat and turning away so Celestine won’t have to see him crumble internally and wallow in shame. First, she has a type, and now she’s noticed him needlessly hanging around the pantry, suspecting that he’s been eavesdropping on her conversations (which he has). She must think poorly of him now. 

“Don’t look so down, I think you still have a shot.” 

“What shot?” he asks with a sigh, fumbling with the knot of his tie to loosen it. “She’s already found someone who’s her type.”

“She never said she was dating him. She could just be, you know...” Celestine waves her hand in a gesture that Artem can’t understand, “...making a general statement of some sort. Point is, you can still try. Don’t give up.” 

“As a lawyer, shouldn’t you be advising your client to give up if there are better alternative modes of settlement?” 

His know-it-all response is not appreciated, and Celestine folds her arms across her chest, glowering at him. “Artem. She’s not a case that you need to solve. This is about love! Romance! The heart! Read a book about it, will you?” 

“I have, but nothing has worked so far. The advice in the book is at best ineffective, at worst a hoax.” He glares at the book on his desk, and Celestine follows his gaze to it before she recognises it as the book she’d given him a few weeks back. 

For the first time since coming in, her gaze turns into something more sympathetic. Artem isn’t sure he appreciates the sentiment. 

“Trust me on this, Artem. Don’t give up yet. I really think you still have a chance.”

“I do?” He perks up at that, raising a brow. “Did she say something about me?” 

“Not exactly…” Celestine grimaces when he starts sulking again. “But it’s a woman’s intuition. Trust me. I know her better than you do.” 

At his prolonged silence, she adds, “We both know my intuition is way more reliable than your gut feelings when it comes to relationship advice.”

The silence lingers on for a few more minutes, before Artem finally relents with a sigh. He doesn’t say anything however, merely fixing his tie and picking up the book from his desk to put in his drawer. 

“...You really should get back to work now.”

“Got it, boss.” Her tone is patronising as always, and she throws what’s probably meant to be an encouraging smile his way before she finally leaves him alone to his thoughts, although Artem can’t help but wonder if she’s still laughing at him internally.

In his now quiet office, his breathing is the only thing that can be heard. He picks up his pen and flips open the case file he was reading earlier before he left to visit the pantry. 

But then not even a minute passes before his office is filled with the repeated sound of a pen clicking, a dejected sigh... and then the sound of his drawer opening once more. 

#tears of themis #tears of themis artem #artem wing #artem #tears of themis fanfiction #tears of themis fanfic #artem fanfiction #artem wing fanfiction #artem fanfic #he cracks me up so much #my writing #kiss the girl

[nataliedanovelist]

GF - Timestuck AU: The Power of Mabel ch.7 (finale)

While fighting over a time machine so one twin can win a pig or the other can win the heart of a girl, Mabel is left stranded in a snowy forest with no time machine and no brother. Oops.

ch.6

AO3 link

~~~~~~~~~~

Ford sat on the kitchen floor with his back against the cupboards, clinging to his knees, his glasses still in hand. His throat was sore and his eyes hurt and his nose was runny and his heart was raw and broken, and yet he wasn’t done crying. Though he was done sobbing and occasionally crying so hard he thought he would throw up, free-flowing tears still streamed down his face as he hid the bottom-half of his head in his beefy arms. 

“What do we do now?” He moaned.

Stan looked at the know-it-all who didn’t have a clue. He sighed and moved to sit next to him, his back against the cupboard and his knees up by his chest as he combed his mullet. “I dunno… Sit here and die?”

Ford hiccuped a cruel laugh and buried his face in his arms fully. “I wish I could.”

Stan snorted. “What’s that saying? The good die young?”

Ford groaned and started to sob again. 

Stan rubbed his back, his head against the cupboard and he looked up at the ceiling. “O-Okay, okay… Let’s think about this. So we never made up, or something else really bad happened between us, and that’s the timeline Mabel was from, right?”

“Right.” Ford gruffed, lifting his head up and rubbing his eyes dry.

“So, since that didn’t happen, or it happened differently… B-But that doesn’t mean she’s… She’ll still exist in our timeline, won’t she? She’s gonna be okay?” He asked the scientist, digging for some kind of hope.

Ford sighed and rested his cleft chin on his arms. “As long as what happened didn’t interfere with Alex’s life too much… Which I don’t know how it could… Mabel and Dipper should still be born in 1999. There’s a small possibility they’ll be different than what they once were, or because of some unseen butterfly effect, their birth might be different or might not happen at all… But…”

The eldest by fifteen minutes slipped his glasses back on, stood, and said stubbornly, “I’m going to do what I can to ensure it is a better future than what the kids had. Our entire family was broken because of what we did and didn’t do. Clearly either one of us went insane or died or something horrible, and I won’t allow that to happen.”

“I don’t think we gotta worry too much about that happening.” Stan said from down on the floor. “I mean, if Mabel changed things so much that an entire reality changed, then we don’t really gotta do much except not screw this up.”

Ford laughed and held out a hand to his twin, who gladly clasped it and stood. “You’re right.”

But the men were disheartened to finally notice the mess in the kitchen. Mabel’s cake batter sat on the flour-dusted counter, the oven was hot and ready for baking, and the muffin tray was on the floor from where Mabel dropped it. Ford looked down at the sweater he was wearing - the sweater she had knitted for him - and without a word he walked to the living room and saw Mabel’s knitting sitting on the couch where she had left it, a completed red sweater with a golden heart on it.

Ford smiled mournfully and held the sweater as Stan joined him and gasped at the sweater. The big brother held it out to the little brother and croaked, “We’ll see her again.”

Stan smiled, cleared his throat, and took off his hoodie and snagged the new sweater to slip it over his old white t-shirt. “Yeah.”

~~~~~~~~~~

July 22nd, 1980

Ford held the lantern up to better read the writing in the cave. He peered at it and was intrigued by a description of a being with answers. It would be summoned if he read out-loud, and though there were many clear warnings against this, the desperate scientist was extremely tempted.

“Sixer! Let’s move before we get caved in or some shit.” Stan called as he walked up to Ford. “What are you reading, cavemen graffiti?”

“Look, Stanley, there are tales of an all-knowing being with answers. It could help me with my theory…”

“Nope.” Stan grabbed Ford by the collar of his trenchcoat and dragged him away like dragging a child out of a toy store.

“Stanley! Let me go!”

“That shit’s got bad voodoo written all over it! You’ve gotta be inhaling toxic cave gas or something to think summoning a demon is a good idea!”

“We don’t know it’s a demon.”

“Really? Then why does that wall read in old blood ‘Do not summon demon!’?”

“Huh. Well, um…”

“That’s what I thought, now don’t make me pick you up and carry you. Let’s move.” And he lightly shoved Ford forward to lead the walk away from the cave and through the tunnels for sunlight.

~~~~~~~~~~

Alex’s wedding was wonderful and a joyous day, but it also made Ford and Stan nervous. They both agreed not to say a word to anyone (as far as Fiddleford knew, Ford had found the girl’s parents and all was over and ended well), and white they were happy to be one step closer to meeting the kids, they were slightly worried that something might be different than Mabel’s timeline.

She never told them her mother’s name. Did Alex marry someone else? Did they marry at the correct time? There was no way of telling, and they both agreed to allow themselves to enjoy the day and maybe drink a little. Or a lot. 

~~~~~~~~~~

When Shermie called and told them that Alex and Dana were going to have a baby, Ford choked on his coffee and Stan dropped the phone. They silently exchanged looks and were terrified that there was only one baby. But it was seven months before the end of August, so maybe the new parents were choosing to keep everything a surprise. Knowing Alex, that is something he would do, especially if there were twins. A beautiful surprise for his twin uncles.

So they congratulated Shermie and made him swear to call them if anything happened so they could be there. And despite their fear, they were very joyous of becoming grunkles again.

~~~~~~~~~~

August 31st, 1999

The entire week leading up to the day, the men were incredibly anxious. The birthday was on 31st, which meant Dipper and Mabel could be born at 1am on the 31st, or 11pm on the 31st. They had no way of knowing, but as long as that damn telephone stayed silent, they weren't leaving the house all weekend. Neither of them slept the night of the 30th, just in case.

Finally, a little after coffee on the 31st, the phone rang. Both Ford and Stan tackled each other and fought for it, but Stan sat on Ford and grabbed it first.

“Stanley, get off me!”

“Stanley, what are you doing to your brother?” Shermie chuckled on the other end.

“Nevermind that, Sherm!” Stan laughed. “What’s going on with you?” He asked casually, though he smiled down at Ford, who smiled back, despite still being sat on in the kitchen.

“Well, you guys know I’m gonna be a grandpa soon…”

“Really? Had no idea.” Stan said sarcastically as he stood up to get off Ford. “So? Is it happening now?!” Ford ran down the hall.

Shermie laughed. “Yup. I just got here myself and Alex and Dana got here about twenty minutes ago.”

“Piedmont Hospital, right?”

“Right.”

“We’ll be there in six hours.”

“It’s an eight hour drive!”

“I said six hours!”

“STANL-” But Stan hung up the phone.

Stan hurried up to his attic bedroom and dressed in his baby-blue Hawaiian shirt and slacks, while also grabbing a suitcase he’s had ready all week, prepared to stay as long as Alex and Dana needed him.

He ran back downstairs with suitcase in hand, with Ford by the door, and they sprinted into the Stanmobile and drove down the road.

~~~~~~~~~~

Shermie was waiting for them in the hall, beaming with joy, and his little brothers ran to him for a tackle-hug.

“Good to see you, Grandpa!”

“Congratulations, Shermie!”

“Thank you, thank you!”

“Did we miss it?!” Stan asked. “Has it happened yet?!”

Shermie grinned and nodded. “Yes, everyone is safe and fine.” And he opened the door.

The aged explorers beamed (and no, they weren’t crying) to find Alex holding one baby and Dana holding another baby. The eldest pair of twins high-sixed and cheered and then gently approached the little ones, beaming down at them.

It was like they had been holding their breath for twenty years, and now they could finally breathe.

“What are their names?” Ford asked quietly, seeing how each newborn was sleeping soundly.

“This is Mabel,” Alex introduced, giving the bundle to Stan.

“And this is Mason.” Dana said tiredly, giving her son to Ford to hold.

Stan and Ford were a bit concerned with the name change, but one look at the baby boy relaxed them. Of course a name like Dipper was a nickname.

“Matching names, huh?” Stan asked cheekily, cradling Mabel and looking down at her with shining brown eyes.

“We couldn’t help ourselves.” Alex chuckled.

Ford’s eyes were glued to Mason. While of course he had been dying to see Mabel again, he had also been excited to meet his science-loving nephew. He was so cute and small in his polydactyl hands and Ford knew it would take a lot more strength than what he had to let him go.

The author tore his eyes away to see his twin looking down at Mabel with tears in his eyes, holding her close to his heart and trying really hard to hold it together, but his joy and peace was far stronger than any bad habits that stopped him from showing his emotions. Stan lightly kissed Mabel’s cheek and Ford saw his lips barely move, though he didn’t hear what he said. Which was fine by him. Ford smiled back down at Mason, finally content.

No one heard him say it, thank Moses, but Stan couldn’t help himself. He had whispered to his niece as quiet as a mouse, “I’ve missed you, pumpkin.”

And finally, after all these years, the small hole in the boys’ hearts could be filled.

THE END!

#GF #gravity falls #gravity falls au #timestuck au #fanfiction #stangst #thank you guys SO much for reading! #im sorry i hurt you last chapter #hopefully this makes up for it ^^; #august 31st

[marauderundercover]

Taking Chances Ch. 16: Summertime Nightmares (Alt prompt: Consolation/advice)

AO3

Prev

The following week was the last of the school year. And it was...weird to say the least. Some of her classmates were upset that she hadn’t been the one to tell them. Many of them (most) assumed that she’d known and just hadn’t told them. She didn’t want to argue with them and she knew her dad hadn’t announced her existence in Gotham yet, so she just pointed out the fact that the Wayne family was very private.

That mostly worked. Lila kept poking though, insisting that Marinette would have told them if she trusted them. Nino disagreed, which shocked Marinette. He usually believed Lila, or at least he hadn’t ever openly gone against her before. But not this time. This time, he insisted that Marinette trusted them and it was probably her dad who asked her not to say anything. While wrong, Marinette didn’t disagree. She’d let her dad take the fall for this one. Alya though...she wasn’t taking it well. She thought Marinette should have told her ages ago. If she had known before Lila came, maybe she would have told Alya. But Alya had been more lax on what she posts on the Ladyblog since Lila’s arrival. She’d done less research, and was posting things not related to Ladybug and Chat Noir. While that wouldn’t usually bother her, Marinette did not want her newly discovered family to be the next big story on Alya’s blog.

So she basically just kept her head down, kept quiet at the class hangouts. And now school was finally out for the summer. It would be a little over two months with no Lila. Breathing out a sigh of relief, Marinette walks into the bakery and smiles widely at her Maman and Papa.

“Hello honey, how are you?” Her Maman asks, sliding a croissant into her hands.

“I’m fine, Maman.” She says, mentally preparing herself to ask what she’d been avoiding. Her dad had offered to let her stay in Gotham for the summer. It was both a chance to bond, and a chance for him to train her a little so that she could fight better, help her make a case against Hawkmoth, maybe even find his identity. He also wanted to give her a break. He thought that taking a step away from Paris, from always policing her emotions, was in her best interest. She agreed, but she still hadn’t talked to her Maman. Or her Papa.

“Bruce called.” Her Papa says. Marinette freezes. He wasn’t supposed to call yet! “Asked if we’d made a decision about letting you go to Gotham for the summer.” Rats.

“I was gonna talk to you guys today! I didn’t wanna upset you. I love you guys so much, but I also really wanna spend time with the other half of my family because I just met them and we haven’t really had a chance to bond or get to know each other and-”

“Honey, we understand.” Her Maman says, cutting off her ramble with a smile. Marinette blinks.

“Really?” She asks in a small voice. She didn’t want to hurt them. Her Maman smiles and relief floods her body.

“Of course honey. It would also give you a chance to not deal with constant akuma attacks.” She says. Marinette squeals in excitement, running over and wrapping her parents in a hug.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you!” She yells. Watch out Gotham, Marinette Dupain-Cheng Wayne is coming back!

---

“Why hasn’t Marinette answered yet? She’s always down for a class picnic.” Alya says with a pout. Lila suppresses an eye roll, opting instead for a worried frown.

“Do you think she’s mad at you?” She prompts, knowing exactly why the little brat wasn’t answering. She was supposed to be on a plane right about now. Lila had borrowed Alya’s phone the day before (to make sure Marinette hadn’t tried to say anything about her again) when she saw the text. Marinette would be spending the entire summer in Gotham.

Lila, in a moment of what was surely pure excellence, deleted the text. It was perfect! Alya wouldn’t know Marinette had left and Marinette would be waiting for a text from her stupid BFF. But Lila had thought of that too. She’d changed the phone number on Marinette’s contact in Alya’s phone. It was now set to go to a fake number in a messaging app that Lila spent €1 on each month. It was worth it though, it’d definitely come in handy before. And now all she had to do was wait. Sure Marinette could always text Alya first, but Lila had heard too many times that Alya usually reached out first. Probably because of how much of a scatterbrain Marinette is.

“Why would she be mad at me?” Alya asks with a nervous smile. Hook, line and sinker. Lila frowns and places a hand on Alya’s arm in a faux attempt at reassurance.

“I didn’t wanna say anything, I really shouldn’t.” She says, shaking her head.

“Please. I’ll owe you one!” Alya insists, just as Lila had hoped. This would be a key part of her plan later on. Once Marinette has been silent for a few weeks.

“Well...okay. I heard her talking to Adrien the other day.” Lil starts, using the only other person who could go against her (but won’t!) “She said- she said she couldn’t trust you!” Alya flinches back as if she was hit.

“She said that?” She asks in a small voice. Lila nods sadly, celebrating on the inside. She’d be able to use this summer, while Marinette is away, to finally take everything away from that no good brat. It would be glorious.

---

Marinette was moments away from committing a murder. She was only going to do it because she knew for a fact that she’d get away with it. With a singular pout, she’d have the world’s greatest detective on her side. She was certain of it.

“Miss Marinette please put down the knife. I assure you prison is not lovely this time of year.” Alfred says with a sigh as he walks into the kitchen.

“Then tell Dick to get out of the kitchen!” She complains, pointing at her oldest brother who was currently covered in frosting and flour. She was trying to make cupcakes for after dinner, since she knew how much Dick likes sweets. She was trying to do something nice. And when Dick came into the kitchen, claiming he just wanted to spend time with his baby sister, Marinette let him stay. Because she loves her brother, she does.

But somehow in the two minutes that he was in the kitchen, he managed to dump the entire canister of flour. Not good, but she’d already baked the cupcakes so it wasn’t the end of the world. But then somehow, he’d managed to dump the entire mixing bowl of frosting. The entire thing. She had no clue how he had managed to do that, considering the fact it was frosting. It didn’t exactly run smoothly out of a bowl. It’s supposed to be able to hold its shape. Honestly, it was a mystery.

“Master Dick, you know that you are not allowed in the kitchen.” Alfred says with a frown. Dick pouts.

“I just wanted to spend some time with Mari.” He mumbles. Marinette almost regrets wanting to kill him. Until she watches as he wipes some of the frosting off of his head and eats it. Yeah, she doesn’t regret it anymore...but she does still love him.

“Okay, we’ll definitely have to spend more time together later. But for right now please go take a shower or something. I need to make more frosting and I do not trust you to be in the room when I do.” Marinette says exasperatedly. Dick sighs but leaves. Marinette puffs out her cheeks, giving Alfred a look.

“Yes?” He asks, his lips quirked up slightly.

“I honestly don’t know how you deal with them sometimes.” She grumbles before grabbing a new bowl. The cupcakes aren’t going to decorate themselves.

---

Jason huffs, annoyed that he’d been talked into staying at the manor with Marinette. He wasn’t mad at Marinette, he would do just about anything for the kid. Didn’t mean he wanted to stay at the manor just to make sure she didn’t sneak onto patrol. She’d assured them that she was too tired to try anything, but Bruce hadn’t believed her. Thus, Jason stuck at the manor.

But the kid had made a shit ton of cupcakes and Jason had a copy of his favorite book, so the night wouldn’t be too bad. After a few hours lounging in one of the rooms near Marinette’s, Jason starts to nod off. He’s about to welcome the rest, knowing everyone would be back from patrol soon, when he’s yanked from sleep by an ear piercing scream. Shit.

---

Marinette blinks as she looks around. Oh god. No, no please don’t let this be real. She chokes out a sob as she looks around her. Paris was once again completely underwater. The Eiffel tower was split in half. Hands shaking, she glances up and sees the moon. Or, what’s left of it. She moans in distress, letting her tears fall freely. She tries to breathe, but it won’t come. She’s panicking now, trying to ignore the burn in her chest as she sees the disaster around her. The terror around her. The destruction. She clutches her throat, trying to force her body to breathe. Force herself to suck in air, to be okay.

“Oh, Marinette, I see you’ve decided to join us again.” A familiar voice says. She tenses, slowly turning and looking behind her. Standing in front of her, just as she remembered him, was Chat Blanc. She should’ve known. She should’ve known that just because it was okay for a couple days didn’t mean it would stay okay. She should’ve tried harder to find Bunnix, should’ve tried to find a way to stop Adrien from finding out. Movement by Chat Blanc’s feet catches her attention and she glances down, regretting it immediately.

“What have you done?” She asks, rushing forward and falling to her knees, desperately trying to stop her little brother from bleeding out. “What have you done?” She yells, glaring at Chat Blanc through her tears. Her hands shake as she puts pressure on the wound, using Damian’s cape in an attempt to stop the blood.

“Marinette-” He tries to say, and she just shakes her head, hating that there’s blood coming out of his mouth. She knows what that means. She knows that this is bad. And there are no hospitals anymore. Everything is underwater. Everything except the three of them.

“Hey no, it’s okay. It’s gonna be okay, I’ve got you little brother.” She chokes out, trying to smile at him.

“Father,” He manages to say, his voice barely audible. “Help him.”

“No, no, please. Please don’t leave me! Please, no, no!” She screams, trying to wake him back up, trying to force him to get back up. He couldn’t die like this. He couldn’t die at all. She just found him. And now she’s lost him.

“Now we can be together forever Marinette.” Chat Blanc says, finally speaking up. She glares at him and his stupid smirk. The smirk that had haunted her since the first time she saw the white suit.

“I don’t want anything to do with you! You killed my brother!” She screams. Glancing down at her shaking hands, she can’t help but notice they’re covered in blood. She shudders, trying hard not to throw up.

“Brothers, actually.” He quips. She snaps her gaze back to him.

“What?” She hisses, standing so that she can hopefully run and get to one of her brothers before it’s too late. She can’t lose all of them. She can’t. He casually steps to the side, revealing her other brothers. But none of them are moving. Cass is also lying with them, but she’s not moving either. Gone. All of her siblings. And it was all her fault. She let Adrien know her identity. She didn’t try to fix that mistake and this is what happened. She lost every- her dad. Damian said- She turns and runs away from Chat Blanc, scanning the horizon and trying to stay as together as possible. She had to try. She could still save her dad. She could still help him. As she looks around, she manages to spot his cowl. Rushing towards it, she lets out a sigh of relief.

“Marinette?” He says, looking at her with a frown. She scans him for injuries, relieved that he just had a few small wounds. Nothing that couldn’t be fixed.

“I’m so sorry dad.” She whimpers, throwing her arms around him. He holds her for a moment before pulling away.

“Marinette, we have to go. We can’t stay here. It’s only a matter of time before-” He stops talking and his face morphs into the most horrified, anguish filled face that Marinette had ever seen. Right before he starts to crumble into ash.

“No!” She screams, horror and grief washing over her in waves. She was all alone and it was all her fault. And now she was going to die too.

---

“Come on Pixie, wake up kid. Come on, it’s okay, I’m here. Jay’s here.” A familiar voice soothes. Marinette stops thrashing, coughing slightly as she realizes the loud noise had been coming from her. She’d been screaming. Jay’s here? But then- She immediately opens her eyes, sobbing in relief when she sees Jason looking at her. No blood. Okay. She lunges forward and wraps her arms around him, sobbing into his chest.

“I’m sorry.” She cries. “I’m so sorry.”

“Oh kid, you don’t have to be sorry. It’s okay. You’re okay.” He whispers, holding her close. They sit like that for a few minutes, until a knock on the door frame makes her reluctantly pull back. She glances over and a new wave of tears immediately appears. She launches herself off the bed and runs into her dad’s arms, sobbing once more.

“Jason, what happened?” He asks quietly, she knows that Jason doesn’t know, but she doesn’t answer for him. She can’t. All she can do is cry in her dad’s arms, relieved that she could cry. That her nightmare didn’t end with her almost being akumatized like it had before.

“No clue. Heard her scream so I ran in here, but she was asleep. Once she woke up she started crying and apologizing.” Jason says softly, probably for her benefit. She tries hard to remind herself that the nightmare didn’t mean anything. Her family wouldn’t be hurt because of her.

“Is everyone okay? Damian and Tim and Dick?” She asks, still buried in her dad’s arms. She’d ask about Cass, but she was still in Hong Kong. Marinette made a mental note to text her later.

“Everyone’s fine. Did you- do you want to talk about it?” He asks, and she almost agrees. Maybe it would be better to finally tell someone about Chat Blanc. To share that burden with someone else. But...maybe not her dad. Especially not since Adrien actively knows her identity and she wouldn’t be opposed to dating the boy in the future.

“I- er, um.” is all she manages to say before shaking her head. She won’t talk to her dad about this, and she doesn’t want to leave his arms right now. Not while she feels safe. She can almost hear him whispering to Jason, but she knows he’s trying not to let her hear, so she ignores them and instead wraps her arms around him tighter.

“Can I go get you a glass of water? Maybe a cookie for Tikki?” Her dad asks after a few moments of whispering with Jason. Marinette frowns. She didn’t want to be left alone. Not yet.

“I’ll stay with ya Pixie Pop.” Jason says, almost as if he had read her mind. She nods, giving her dad one final squeeze before walking back over to the bed and climbing up, letting Jason wrap her in a hug.

“I’ll be back in a couple of minutes.” Her dad says before walking away. The silence only lasts a beat.

“You wanna tell your big brother why you woke up screamin’?” He asks. Marinette squeezes her eyes shut, desperate to get rid of the images from her nightmare.

“Nightmare.” She says simply. Jason chuckles.

“Kinda figured that part out Pix.”

“I’ve had it before.” She starts, aware of how her voice shakes. “But this time it was a lot worse. This time, I wasn’t the one who died.”

“What could be worse than dyin?” Jason asks, though she can tell by his tone that he knows. He knows what’s worse than dying.

“Watching all of you die.” She says simply. His hug tightens and she lets out a shaky breath, desperately wiping at her tears. “That’s not even the worst part Jay.”

“You don’t have to tell me if you don’t wanna.” He says softly.

“I know.” She says. “A version of it has happened. In a different timeline. That’s the worse part. Luckily when I had to go save that timeline, I didn’t know you guys. So you weren’t caught in the middle of everything. But in my nightmare, since you know about me and- and you guys just wanted to help but no one can win against that. No one. It was so hard to beat him when it actually happened. But the dream. It was awful.” There’s silence as he just holds her, lets her know he’s there without saying it. She’s so thankful for her family. For her brothers.

“Here’s your water.” Her dad says. She finally sits up and looks at him, noting the way his face is creased in worry. She manages a small smile.

“Thanks dad.” She says, her smile growing slightly as his face begins to relax.

“Mari! You’re still up?” Dick says, walking into the room. She blinks at him in confusion, not expecting him to just walk in. She watches as he looks between everyone else, clearly putting it together that something was wrong. He frowns, before his face stretches back into a grin. “Come on, bring all your pillows and blankets and we’ll have a Disney movie marathon until we fall asleep.” He directs, running out of the room to presumably get his own materials for the movie marathon.

“You don’t have to.” Her dad reassures her, laying a gentle hand on her shoulder. She shrugs.

“Might as well. I know I’ll definitely not be able to sleep anymore tonight.” She says, grabbing a couple pillows and her blanket, dragging it with her to the movie room. Leave it to her brothers to have a way to help her feel better after a nightmare. Marinette smiles to herself, once again relieved that she was in Gotham.

Next

Masterlist

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[jamespotterthefirst]

Mi Viejito (Ethan x f!MC)

Pairing: Dr. Ethan Ramsey x F!MC (Dr. Lilac Allende) Words: 1K Warning: None Summary: Father’s Day more than twenty years later. 

Author’s Note: “Mi Viejito” means “Old Man” (affectionate). Thank you to the two anons who requested this!

Also, no editing. Oops. We die like men. 

Twenty five years are not enough to dull the impact of startling blue eyes meeting hers across a room. For a moment, she feels like that fresh-faced intern she used to be, meeting her medical idol for the first time. Except now, Ethan Ramsey has the elegance of time on his side, carved into every fine line on his handsome face. His hair, once dark brown, is a storm of silver now, making the blue of his eyes even more of a shock.

A pleasant sort of shock that makes her body thrum with warmth.

Ethan removes his spectacles and gives her a tired but breathtaking smile. Lilac returns it, moving to settle into her husband's embrace.

“Happy Father's Day, mi viejito,” she murmurs into a kiss. After his hum of thanks, they melt into the kiss, enjoying the rare few moments of blissful companionship.

“Where are the girls?” he asks after a while, as though reading her mind.

“Andy should be here any moment to drop them off.”

“Ah, the calm before the storm,” he muses with exaggerated dread. It doesn't fool anyone, least of all Lilac. Anyone who glances at Ethan Ramsey with his children for more than two seconds knows just how much he adores them. “What about Lori and Jonah?”

“Jonah hasn't texted me back and Lori is on her date.”

“Hrm.”

Lilac laughs. “Hunter's a nice kid. He's taking her on a boat ride at the Common.”

Ethan is not impressed.

“It's a cute date for two seventeen year-olds,” Lilac reasons with little success.

“Pitiful.”

“You took me on one of those when we were engaged.”

“I meant his name. What kind of name is Hunter?”

She laughs at that and places a kiss on his cheek, succeeding in softening his expression by a fraction. “You're just upset your little girl is all grown up.”

Ethan's expression is as impassive as ever but Lilac can see the brief flash of sadness in his eyes. She places a comforting hand at his cheek, sweeping the ridge of his cheekbone with her thumb.

“She'll be back in time for dinner. And I'm sure Jonah will text me back later. He's been swamped with school work these past few days.”

Ethan nods but is unable to elaborate an answer because the sound of approaching voices grows louder outside the door.

The youngest Ramseys arrive then, three times more boisterous than any teenagers their age. Though, to the surprise of exactly no one, the person in the little group arguing the loudest is Jasmine. Andy rolls her eyes, unable to contain a smile at the charming young girl trying to talk her way out of whatever trouble she's gotten into.

“Seriously, it's okay. Our dad owns the hospital.”

“He manages it,” her twin, Violet, corrects.

“Same thing,” Jasmine returns dismissively. “He as good as owns it if the place falls apart without him.”

“That,” Ethan intervenes, placing a kiss of greeting atop each of their heads, “would be your mother. She does the brunt of the work around here.”

Jasmine scoffs. “And yet the man gets all the credit.”

“Typical,” Violet adds.

Ethan and Lilac both laugh proudly. After Andy takes her leave for the day, the girls hug their father.

“Happy Father's day!” They chorus.

“We brought you coffee from that place you and mom are obsessed with.”

They thrust a to-go cup in his hand.

“We remembered,” Jasmine says importantly. “Not like Tweedle dee and Tweedle Ugly.”

“Jazzie,” her mother scolds. “Don't call your brother and sister that.”

“Ingrates,” Violet adds, agreeing with her sister. “Write them out of your will, Dad.”

Ethan is fully laughing now, a sound that is rare and wonderful, easily drawn out of him by his family. The little crevices on his face grow deeper with his mirth and it tugs at Lilac's heartstrings.

“If we're divvying up Dad's stuff then I call Minnie,” Jasmine proclaims.

“You can have that cat now,” Ethan returns intently. “I don't want anything to do with that thing.”

“I call Jenner the Second,” Violet calls out before her sister can.

They dissolve into an impassioned argument about who loves the dog more. Luckily for all of them, they are interrupted by the sound of more approaching footsteps, followed by even more arguing voices.

“... doesn't have his license yet.”

“What good is a license if he doesn't even have a car.”

“You don't need a car in the city. You can get around in the train.”

“Then why did you text me begging for a ride here?”

“You're such a jerk, J.”

The eldest of their children appear in the office, ceasing all bickering when their eyes fall on the father. Dolores, beautiful and bright faced from the sun, the freckles on her cheeks more vivid as she smiles. Jonah, tall, collected, and handsome—reassembling his father more than any of his siblings. Lilac watches fondly as they hug Ethan and wish him a happy father's day. After the brief surprise of their sudden appearance wears off, she can see her husband's eyes shining with emotion.

“We're taking you to lunch,” Lori informs him. “Jonah got us reservations at your favorite place downtown.”

“Nice, that place has the best chocolate cake,” Jasmine says excitedly.

“We said we're taking dad, not you freeloaders,” Jonah returns jokingly, ruffling his younger sister's hair.

“It’s father’s day! We deserve to be celebrated, too!”

“How do you figure that, squirt?”

“Who taught you how to throw a ball, Jonah Naveen Ramsey?” Jasmine demands indignantly.

“Who gave you pointers on how to impress that girl down the street you used to have a crush on?” Violet adds.

“Who Googled 'how to drive a stick shift car' when you borrowed Dad's car without asking him?”

“You what?” Ethan asks, turning to look at his son.

“Who—”

“Alright, alright! You can come with,” Jonah cuts in. “You two are insufferable, I swear.”

“That's no way to speak to your fathers,” Jasmine chastises.

The siblings continue their banter, taking turns predicting what their father will order. The one who knows his order exactly, Lilac observes, is Dolores, though she has no chance to boast to her siblings. Ethan’s pager goes off and he groans when he reads the message.

“There’s a problem with the paperwork in the Sawyer case,” he tells Lilac. With a mournful twist of his mouth, he looks at his children. “I’m sorry but I have to go handle this. Lunch won’t--”

“I’ll stay to take care of it,” Lilac interrupts.

Ethan studies her expression. “Are you sure, love? It’s an awfully complicated case.”

“I’m sure,” she assures him with a nod. “Go enjoy lunch with them.”

Ethan gives her a look so laden with gratitude and affection, her heart skips a beat.

“Geez, you were right, Dad,” Jasmine says. “Mom really does run this place.”

“Or she just prefers dealing with grumpy patients over hearing your awful jokes, Jazzy,” Dolores comments, side bumping her sister affectionately.

“Mom is a pro at dealing with grumpy, though,” Jonah tells them sagely. “She’s dealt with Dad all these years.”

Ethan laughs at that. “You kids won’t cut your old man a break on father’s day?”

“Nope,” Violet returns cheerfully. “Roasting you is our way of telling you we love you.”

______________________________

Author’s Note: Happy Fathers Day to everyone who celebrates! Thank you so much for reading this!

For reference, Jonah is around 20, Dolores (aka “Lori”) 17 going on 18, and the twins are 14

A few notes:

Though I am super behind on replies to my previous fics, please know I am so thankful to everyone who interacted! Love you guys so much!

I haven’t been able to work on Ch 2 of the OPH3 re-write, but I hope to do so soon. I think I’ve decided to take it easy with that series and see where it takes me!

Same thing with the Pictagram series! Thank you to everyone for your patience!

If you tagged me in your content while I was away, I apologize for the delay. I have it all saved up, ready to enjoy this upcoming week!

Tagging in a reblog!

#ethan ramsey #open heart #ethan x mc #Playchoices

[smol-and-grumpy]

Legally Yours - Ch. 06

Pairing: Dean Winchester x Reader

Summary: Dean Winchester tops the list of hottest entrepreneurs 2020 and yet, there’s still something he wants but can’t have because, in order to get that, he would have to settle down and get married. She agrees too quickly because she wants to secure a more comfortable life for her and her daughter. Will she be able to help Dean get what he wants without losing herself in the fake story they spin up to deceive his father and the world?

Chapter Warnings: The dinner is coming up and there’s a little flangst. Also, they are still two stubborn idiots.

WC: 3779

Beta’d by: @deanwanddamons​​​​​​ <3

Series Masterlist ~ SPN Masterlist

It feels like she’s been sitting down for ages and she’s worried about Bobby and Liv. Sure enough, Sam sensed her worries and texted her that they are both being taken care of. So at least there’s that. 

Pamela made her slip into the sequin dress after her shower and the woman put some makeup on her face.

“Not too much, okay?” Y/N says, just making sure because she still wants to be herself after all.

The brown haired woman chuckles, “Don’t worry, babe, I’ll just turn up the volume a little, you’re fine the way you are. You have a cute face, don’t want to hide that below too much make up anyway,”

With careful strokes, Pamela shows her how she can apply it herself for her next outings and yeah, Y/N can’t say that she doesn’t like that. Because it seems hideous to always have a stylist at hand, no? She didn’t sign up for this crap.

When Pamela is done, she leaves with a contented smile on her face and Y/N walks over to the floor lengths mirror that’s attached to her closet to catch her own reflection. She wears heels, has to still get used to it because they are way higher than the ones she wears for work. Apparently being fake engaged to Dean Winchester comes with a sacrifice of her feet. 

Her eyes trail up her body from her shoes to her face and it’s weird because she thought that she’d probably not be able to recognize the women who will be staring back at her, but she does. Pamela was true to her word, she just really turned up the volume to Y/N’s boring self. 

Okay, now is the time to present herself, she guesses. Sam had said that they’re waiting in the study. She’s yet to find out where it is, though. 

Sticking her tongue out at her own reflection, she starts to chuckle. She’s living the life she never thought she’d get to experience and god, she hopes she won’t lose herself in it.

With a last look around her new room, she makes her way to Dean’s study.

  Dean makes his way into his study after having rushed home after the meeting to take a shower. He had been sweating bullets since this morning and it was refreshing to say the least. It would have been better if his dick wasn’t half hard when he thought about Y/N. He didn’t rub himself off, didn’t let himself go there and jerk off to the image of a girl he paid to pretend to be his fake fiancée. He was afraid that it would uncover things he didn’t need in his life right now. 

So, when he pushes the door to his study open, his dick is still semi but Dean thinks it’ll go away soon. Especially when he thinks about the dinner with his dad because that meeting is what nightmares are made of.

Sam’s already waiting on the couch, nursing a drink. He probably had a rough day as well and Dean can’t blame him. He walks over to his mini bar, pours himself two fingers of whisky and sits down with a grunt across from Sam.

“Go on,” Dean says, “I know you have a lot to say,”

The other man just chuckles, “She’s cute and pretty, you didn’t mention that,”

“Is she?” Dean cocks an eyebrow and takes a sip from his drink, “You’re right, I didn’t.”

“You like her, don’t you?”

“Sam,” Dean snorts out the man’s name, “I don’t even know her. She was in the right place at the right time,”

“You were never a good liar. I could always see through you.”

Dean frowns, “What do you mean?”

The other man chuckles as he takes a sip and lets the liquid travel down his throat, “You could have chosen anyone for that. The execs in your meetings, the ones working just below you, yet, you picked her.”

“Are you trying to go anywhere with this?” Dean asks with clear irritation in his voice. 

“Wait for it,” Sam says before he takes another gulp of the brown liquid in his glass and Dean rolls his eyes. Sam grins before he goes on, “All our lives, you have never picked a girl, Dean. Mostly they offer themselves to you, even back at school, do you remember?”

Oh, yeah, he does remember. Sam’s not wrong, but still.

“They offer and present themselves to you or your father picks them for you to bring along to social events and most of the time, you’re a one date kinda guy. You never ever picked one on your own.”

“You say it like women are something you find in a field,”

“Am I wrong?” Sam raises an eyebrow to match Dean’s, “Fact is, you picked out Y/N, even though you could have waited. You could have talked things through with me, wait until Carmen gets back and we could have come up with a plan. You know that she isn’t in for you either, she’s signed a contract and was willing to sign that prenup.”

“I didn’t want to wait for Carmen to come back to me,” Dean’s voice is stern. He really didn’t, he didn’t want people to think he let it slide when she’s been cheating on him. How will it make him look? He’s not a fucking idiot.

“I’m just saying that you’re being hot headed doesn’t help us at all. And the fact is still there that you’ve picked her and that means something in my book,”

“What stupid books are you reading?”

Sam chuckles and ignores Dean’s remark, “Carmen boarded the next plane back, by the way,”

Dean takes a sip from his drink, thinks about Sam’s words, “You can tell her that she doesn’t need to show up. I’m not taking her back when I have Y/N,”

The other man’s grinning from ear to ear and Dean rolls his eyes a second time, “And no, I don’t really like her. I barely know her. I just find her interesting, is all. She’s different to all the women I’ve ever met.”

There’s a laugh coming out of Sam and Dean scoffs annoyingly. 

Just when Dean wants to open his mouth to tell Sam to shut the fuck up, there’s a knock at the door. 

They both turn their heads to see Y/N open the door to his study. Dean feels a rush of blood to his head. How long has she been standing outside? How much did she hear? But before he can think about being more embarrassed, another punch knocks him out when he sees her walking in with her beautiful dress. 

“Sorry,” She says, “Am I interrupting?”

Dean has to clear his throat before he’s able to speak, “No, you didn’t. Come in,”

She nods and walks further into the room. She looks absolutely stunning, a really stark contrast to the look when he met her. It’s not that she was ugly before, she wasn’t — isn’t. He can see that she only wears minimal makeup.

“How do I look?” She asks with a smile as she twists around in her dress and somehow Dean wishes that Sam wasn’t here to see her like this.

“You do clean up nicely,” It slips out of Dean. 

Clean up nicely? What the fuck did he just say? Who says that?

“You look beautiful, Y/N,” Sam chimes in to probably play off the stupidity that Dean just let slip out of his mouth and Dean sends him a grim look. 

But it doesn’t stop there because Sam ignores Dean’s look to wink at her. He’s a little irritated by it, to say the least. 

“So, Y/N,” Sam says, “Do you care to tell me how you two met?”

“Sam, aren’t you late for your appointment?” Dean interrupts.

Sam looks at him puzzled and it takes another two seconds until he catches on, “Oh, yeah. It was a pleasure to meet you, Y/N. I’m looking forward to working with you because you’re a delight,”

The tall man stands up and takes Y/N’s hand, places a kiss on the back of it before he leaves and Dean tries his best not to let the feeling of jealousy hit him. He doesn’t know why he should feel jealous anyway. There’s nothing to be jealous about. It’s a business deal. He should be used to it, right? Right.

“My father will arrive in thirty minutes,” Dean says drily, his throat restricting the longer she looks at him. 

“Is there anything I need to know before you feed me to him?”

Dean lets out a small snort, “I’m not feeding you to him. I’m there too and can help out. When I think of it, maybe it’ll be good if we could establish the story of how we met.”

“Oh, I know!” Y/N shrieks out and gets all excited. Dean thinks it’s really cute. “How about I got into the elevators so quick which made you spill the coffee you’re holding over your shoes and pants? Like, the story is really partially true and it would be less hard for me to make it sound trustworthy,”

“Go on,” Dean nods his head, and empties his glass before he sets it down on the table before him. 

Her long legs and the away she sits doesn’t help his state of mind. The dress has ridden up on the couch and Dean tries to look anywhere other than at that exposed flesh that he’d like to sink his teeth into.

“I was afraid that you’d be mad at me so I offered to buy you a coffee to make up for it, but you didn’t want that because you were late to a meeting. But I was persistent and waited in front of the door and asked you so many times if you wanted a coffee and to please let me make up for ruining your suit. And somehow you agreed, maybe just to shut me up. We went on a coffee date every day until we fell in love.”

After her story, she smiled satisfactorily. The smile of a winner if he ever did see one. One he shows too often after a done deal. 

“I don’t really have time for coffee dates,” Dean adds his two cents, knowing that it doesn’t sound quite nice but he just can’t help himself. That’s the way he is. The way people expect him to be.

There’s a little pout on her lips, and Dean’s not prepared for that because it looks too cute, “I mean do you have a better idea?”

“No,” Dean shakes his head, “I like it, I never said I didn’t,”

“Good, but I’ll let you come up with your proposal story, okay? I feel like I can’t pick my brain anymore than I already have. It has been a long day.”

“Right,” He stands up and pats his thighs, buttons up his suit jacket too because he thinks it hides his more than semi hard dick pretty well, “Wait here, I’ll be right back,”

  Dean leaves the door open and Y/N can hear his heels clicking on the stone flooring until the sound is out of earshot. She wonders what he’s up to, feels a little nervous about it.

While Dean’s gone, she gets up from the couch and looks around the room. The study is spacious, like every room in this ridiculously big penthouse, she guesses. There’s a desk at the far wall, a bookshelf graces the other wall. It’s full of books. She wonders if Dean really reads. It doesn’t seem like he has the time to do so. She wonders if he relaxes at all because he seems so tense all the time. Maybe he only tenses up when he’s around her, at least she can’t help to feel this way.

There’s the group of sofas where she was sitting on but right by the floor to ceiling window is another sofa that looks out over the city. She wonders why that is because the sofa seems a bit out of place. 

Standing by the window, she’s looking out over the city, the people and cars seem so small from up here. She doesn’t dare to touch the glass though in fear that she’d leave handprints all over it. Dean probably won’t be happy about that.

She’s lost in thought, wondering over and over again if she had made the right choice. It was a spur of the moment thing. She does a lot of those, like the time she hooked up with Jimmy for the first time. They were at a frat party and she knew him from her communications class. She let him drive her home, even though he was definitely not fit enough to drive but her head was spinning and she might have had a couple of drags of a joint too many. They didn’t even make it into her apartment, fucked right in the backseat, not worrying about contraception. 

By the time she knew she was pregnant, it was too late to abort, and honestly, she wouldn’t know if she would have. It’s not the baby’s fault. She and Jimmy tried to make it work, even though he was always suspicious if the baby was really his. Jimmy’s parents were loaded and he had a bigger apartment close to campus, funded by his parents. She moved in there because his parents wanted it that way, not because he did. While Jimmy was still enrolled and finished his degree, she dropped out to care for their baby. He eventually graduated but stayed in college to pursue his Master's degree. 

When Liv was four, Y/N wanted to try her chance at the job market as well, but Jimmy was against it. His parents were too, apparently, because they said that she wouldn’t be able to give their grandchild a good future and they wouldn’t stand to have their name dragged into this. She fought tooth and nail to keep Liv and changed the child's name back to her own. And after a long fight, they eventually agreed that she would take Liv, and Jimmy was not to pay a single dime. 

Getting out of the abusive and loveless relationship was probably the best decision of her life up until that point. Jimmy drank a lot and was overall not happy. He would lash out at her and she didn’t know why she stayed. Maybe there was a shred of hope that she desperately tried to cling on to. 

So, when she moved out, she stayed with Bobby for a while until she found the job in Dean’s company, and then it went pretty quick. She and Olivia moved into their own apartment.

A year later, she heard the news that Jimmy’s parents went bankrupt and Jimmy was trying to hold himself above water after he developed a drinking problem. Apparently, Karma’s right there helping her. 

She’s so deep in her thoughts that she doesn’t notice Dean returning, only realizes it when a figure is standing behind her. Startled, she jumps a little as she turns around. 

“Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you,” He mumbles as he steps closer to the window to stand next to her and they look out of the window together. It’s romantic, she thinks, with the backdrop of the city, especially at night.

Looking over to Dean again, she notices him holding a velvet box in his hand and smirks, “Is that a ring, loverboy?” 

Dean sends her a look accompanied by a little frown. Something that says, I have heard it but I won’t say anything because it’s stupid. Well, he might not be wrong.

“Sorry,” She breathes out, “I told you I tend to babble when I’m nervous,”

He sighs and lifts his eyebrow before he opens up the box and it is as if the air has been punched out of her lungs. 

“Wow,”

The ring is absolutely beautiful.

Dean smirks and clears his throat before he speaks, “It used to be my mother’s,”

It wasn’t like all the engagement rings Y/N’s seen that the rich and famous women are wearing nowadays. This one is modest, might even be boring and too normal compared to those. The ring has a bigger round diamond in the middle, with two smaller accompanying stones on its side. It’s a gold color ring too, not white gold like they usually are. It looks special and it looks like it has more sentimental value around it than monetary value. Maybe that’s also why she thinks it’s so precious.

“Dean, I can’t possibly wear this ring,” She says, but his hand already goes to her left one, grabbing it and holding it up to slip the ring on her finger.

He pauses to look at the ring, smiles as he sees how it fits. How did it fit anyway? How is that even possible? 

“I was right with the measurement,” Dean chuckles and she thinks that he wants to turn away, but he’s still standing here holding her hand, “I want you to wear it whenever you’re with me, okay?”

She can not do anything else but nod.

“I proposed to you on this rooftop, overlooking the city,” He says and it takes her a while to realize that he’s talking about his proposal story that he’s suggesting.

“Right,” She bites her lips and looks down to the ring briefly before she looks up to meet his eyes again. They are glistening a little, and there’s a hint of a smirk on his face. Right here by the window, his freckles are prominent on his face. 

Y/N’s distracted, feels the urge to count them.

“We were alone and we just had a meal. It was a warm summer night and we took our desserts on the terrace,”

She can picture it clearly and her heart starts to beat faster. 

“I didn’t prepare a speech,” Dean clears his throat, and adds, “And the things I said weren’t particularly romantic,”

“It didn’t matter, because I know that you feel more comfortable showing your actions rather than using your words,” She chimes in, “There’s no romance needed, no sappy words, because you already show me enough how much you love me,”

There’s a sparkle in his eyes after she said it. Somehow she thinks it’s fondness, but then something changes and he avoids her eyes. Instead, he looks down to the hand that’s still holding hers. His cheeks are tinted pink. It’s totally cute how embarrassed he gets. 

“So,” Dean swallows, “The contract says that we don’t touch each other more than necessary, especially not in private. But since my dad will be here, we will probably need to keep up the illusion, don’t you think?”

“Dean, the only one who seems to be uneasy and flinches at my touches is you,”

The pink in his cheeks rises up to his ears, “Yeah, I’ll try to change, okay?”

“I want you to feel comfortable. And please know that you touching me doesn’t bother me. I’m not disgusted or disturbed by it, okay?”

He nods, “I’m not—” He starts, but stops to exhale, and then he tries again, “I’m not disgusted by your touches, I just need to relax, I guess,”

“What would help you relax?” She asks and she means it. Maybe she can help. 

“It would help if I knew that I didn’t pay you,” He chuckles drily, “Dad will be here soon so let’s get this over with,” He pulls her along to the door and her grip tightens around his hand. 

She’s so fucking nervous.

“What if he hates me?” She whispers just before they reach the door and Dean turns around, places a hand where her shoulder meets her neck.

“My father wouldn’t like you even if it was real. He has high standards,”

“That’s fucking reassuring, thanks,” 

Dean chuckles, “It doesn’t matter what he thinks, okay?” He rubs along her arm with his other hand, “Can you pretend to love me for a while, Y/N?” 

“It depends,” She says with a shrug and his eyes widen. She smirks then to ease the situation because he obviously doesn’t get the joke. “Can you pretend that I’m the only thing that keeps you going? Pretend that I’m your first thought when you wake up and the last before you fall asleep, Dean? It’s more challenging for you with the array of women you’ve dated,”

He smiles crookedly, and there’s that glint in his eyes again, “Oh, sweetheart, I’m not worried about my end of the bargain,”

Her face feels hot all of a sudden but she frowns after she catches herself, “Of course you’re not because you have nothing to lose,”

The frown on Dean’s face matches hers from before, “What are you talking about?”

“Yeah well, if I screw this up, I will lose my job and a steady income but you?” She pokes at his chest with her index finger, “You, Mister, will probably get a lecture from your dad, but you’ll be back to dating super rich women and beautiful models, and you can go on with your life as if nothing happened.”

Dean chuckles and he looks kind of amused? Which is not fair at all when she’s all worked up.

He pushes both his hands into his pants pockets, balances back and forth on his heels before he leans down to be on her level, brings down the air with him and she can smell his cologne. It’s intoxicating. 

“Tell you what,” Dean smirks, “If this blows up because of me, if they should see through me or if anyone should question my feelings for you, I’ll buy you an apartment and I’ll help you secure a job. I have connections. Somewhere where no one knows that you were being engaged to me. But,” He darts his tongue out, licks over his lips and she bites down on her own because she knows exactly how they feel, “If you make a mistake and it blows up because of you, sweetheart,” He makes a pause and stands back straight.

“I have nothing you’d want,” She shakes her head.

“There’s something,” He shrugs and he says it so easily too. She can’t help but frown in confusion.

“What?”

“If it blows up because of you, Y/N. If you fail to convince the world how much you love me,” He grins, and the grin grows cocky, “You’ll marry me,”

Ch. 07

Please share your thoughts with me, I’d love to hear your feedback.

#legally yours #dean winchester #dean winchester x reader #dean winchester x you #dean x reader #dean x you #dean winchester fic #dean winchester fan fic #dean winchester fan fiction #nathalie writes

[papers4me]

Fruits Basket Manga Review, ch (92-93)

That was painful & so well-written! This analysis will focus on kyokyo mainly & faintly on her effect on kyo. Although, her story affects tohru’s life immensely, I won’t analyze tohru’s part & will wait until it’s a tohru’s chapter to use the knowledge of kyoko’s past to better read tohru’s mind & understand her decisions! Can’t wait! after all, that’s why I’ve read the manga to begin with!

-Kyoko’s Atonement:  (the weight of words):

 Kyoko breaks down after she learns she’s expecting. Why? cuz she hurt her mom. The notion that “yeah my parents caused me emotional trauma & so I’mma hurt them as well” is toxic & burdening as it starts a cycle of pain. Kyoko was right. She had no idea how her mom felt seeing her rebel, or follow violence or hear her harsh words. I’m not cleansing the mom from guilt nor responsibility. I’m just saying since the mom’s pov is blocked from us, assuming shes similar to the dad is wrong. kyoko’s fear of being punished with a child similar to herself is genuine, realistic & refreshing to see expressed in anime! usually character like kyoko are cool & brave, but here she’s humanly weak & doubtful. LOVE IT!

Moreover, in furuba words weigh on ppl & have consequences. We see this with kyo. His dad destroyed him verbally with words “ not my fault, it’s yours” that kyo echoes back to yuki! meaning the consequences of the dad’s words cause harm to his wife, kyo & even yuki!. Kyo was tormented with his own words for long time & clung to them even more in order not to resort to suicide! “ not my fault, it’s the rat’s” . Words can crush you down so bad if you hear them from loved ones, & worse if you utter them back to other loved ones! here kyoko learned that just the mere thought of her future child echoing her words back to her would torment her to death! Excellent writing!

-Katsuya invented Furuba’s vision (Accepting weakness & moving on):

The teachings of kyoko & tohru were really katsuya’s after all. I’m fne with that. These teachings are the core of Furuba’s vision. He tells kyoko to accept that she’s weak, afraid & doubtful. it’s okay. But gives her tools to move on. Your kid isn’t you. They’re an individual person. As parents all we can do is give love/hugs (sth kyoko’s parents didnt do), listen to them (sth yuki’s parents didnt do) & if they do sth wrong will explain it & teach them well (sth kyo’s parents didn’t do, his wrong deed was being born a cat spirit & he was hated for it with no explanation, mom gave lots of “fake” love & escaped by death, dad became a raging monster). Accepting weakness & moving on is what the cursed sohmnas needed to do to heal & what tohru taught them. Off course, tohru herself struggled to follow her own teachings & that’s amazingly realistic!

-Kyoko’s guilt (punishment brings ease):

Kyoko wanted to be punished so harsh for her husband’s death. The gossip got to her. She failed him as a life’s companion. Taking care of our loved ones is a duty we carry with much love & care. Them slipping away is perceived as us failing by none than ourselves. The thing is, death comes with no warning at times. It was his time to leave. Accepting it or not, wont bring him back, but accepting it will help kyoko deal with pain while not accepting will cause more pain for her & tohru.

One of the most painful things abt grief is that it’s personal. Life continues around you. Only you feel it.  “didn’t the world end when katsuya died”. No kyoko. Only you died emotionally. Only him died physically. Kyo once said “ mom why didn’t you kill me instead”. A different reaction to grief, guilt & pain, but same conclusion: neither katsuya nor kyo’s mom are coming back no matter how much pain kyo or kyoko felt.

Kyoko found ease in emotional death, neglecting & refusing life, punishing herself for staying after him.

kyo found ease in rage & blaming others as he his father did, later he’ll escape to emotional & physical slow death “ cat cage/confinement”.

tohru... found ease in pretending "I’m okay” & her mom is alive.. but not physically.. emotionally, so she’ll ignore the truth & live only for her.

Didn’t I say grief is harsh, weird & very very personal. It’s hard to explain, deal with & heal. The mere words of consolation hurt cuz the grieving ones dont want to accept loved one are really gone. Her dad’s harsh words cemented the “emotional death” that kyoko felt. I’m not needed. neither katsuya. nor parents in general. depression. misery. sadness. emptiness.

-The tv show helped to trigger kyoko’s desire to “meet” katsuya. She has already reached the conclusion that she isnt needed. So, the tv show with their words of the deceased wanting you to be happy. triggered her into misinterpreting the words as to mean her death NOT fuel her to live in his memory as intended.

- “Loosing your way first before finding your answer” is okay & so human!:

Ironically..Tohru... was the person Kyoko was punishing NOT herself: By being emotionally dead, kyoko neglected her daughter. Her world shouldnt be just one person. There are others. Katsuya himself gave her a person to love. Tohru. Kyoko chose death & unintentionally set tohru into a world of loneliness 10 times harsher thsn what kyoko faced. She was about to do, but was saved by a nameless child who reminded her of tohru. She chose wrong first but later saw her answer. Kyo chose death by accepting the confinement & he, too, unintentionally set tohru into a world of loneliness 10 times harsher if he wasnt with her. He chose wrong first but later saw his answer. Off course kyo’s story is more developed & complicated as he dealt with bigger issues than just tohru & his answer wasn't just loving tohru alone but also loving himself & choosing to live for them both: himself & tohru.

-Kyo’s guilt is a concussion thought eating him alive:

Part of why kyo’s story was one of the most human & complex is due him loosing his way first, failing, repeating mistakes “ I always though that hurting ppl was the only thing I was good at, after all, isnt that why mom died?” Kyo’s nightmare being a conscious effect of hearing tohru’s talk abt “ videos & memories of loved ones” is 1000 times stronger & more human than a cliche effect of seeing a “ hat” & to revive a a blocked memory... What the hell!! truly disgusting how the emotional weigh is reduced for stupid cliche drama !!!!!! ..

Anyway, kyo actively & consciously wanted punishment .He was sure that kyoko blamed him” I wont forgive you” can only mean what it literally means. The purpose of the nightmare is to cause kyo to seek “ emotional death” like kyoko & to loose his path more. It is meant to prepare kyo to refuse tohru even more. Therefore, the pay off at the climax will be better & stronger.

Reading kyo’s inner thoughts will never not be refreshing!!! Also, the slow burn is cooked on low , hot fire , so the pay off will be the most delicious there is!

Side Notes:

I’ve stated my feelings regarding the age gap between kyoko & katsuya in last chapter’s preview post. I’m done with it & won’t let it interfere with my analysis of kyoko nor tohru.

The idea of just being together as a fun hanging out activity without being bothered much of where reminds ms so much of kyo & tohru!! we see them being happy together in the anime in kazuma’s house, shigure’s rooftop, cooking pancake in the kitchen! I really like this domestic feel of romance! it contradicts the notion of expensive restaurant with the girl wearing a breathtaking dress to woo the guy for it to be utterly romantic as we see in movies, & other stories.

NGL, katsuya looked sexy waiting home.. damn it! >_<

I cried watching tohru between her parents, how they acted & how loved she was! T_T. it reminded me of my niece How her dad’s death affected her! She was the apple of his eyes.. T_T.

Tohru is indeed a rice ball! her dad gave her a masculine name while tohru is so feminine! his reasoning is “finding salty taste in sweet things make the taste better & stronger, kinda giving it a hidden flavour”, the rice ball has a pickle inside it & it’s what makes the taste so savory & delicious!

Grandpa’s “ chance meetings could lead to variety of outcomes, good or bad” YES! kyo/tohru/yuki meeting each other by chance. Fiction make it look weird, but trust me, real life has those by dozens!

“ i wonder how lost you’ll be, how much time you’ll need to get your answer”. He will screw up so bad, kyoko! it will be so good! one of the best screw up’s I’ve seen! so painful for him & tohru & amazingly written!

Kyo’s nightmare being connected to him remembering/dreaming of kyoko’s story is bigger effect than opening the ep with it & having the cause be sth that happened last ep, a week ago... the effect is NOT the same.

Momiji is so cute!!! did his curse break here or not yet? he seemed as tall as tohru.

Writing tohru worried abt kyo after seeing him pale is the tohru I know!! Not that stupid girl who watches the guy she loves have a panic attach in se3, ep6, then goes in ep 7...” dahhhh.. Jeez.. I duno why kyo is sleeping until now.. better laugh & make cute rice cakes” giggle giggle...That scene got me so furious even when I first saw it!! THIS IS NOT TOHRU! tohru cried for a stupid story that haru told abt puppets!! she’ll forget the person she challenges herself for is sick?! ugh!

I love seeing yuki & kyo chill & cool around each other.

Kyoko being fully dependent on katsuya can be a factor in her grief, but I’ve seen cases where both partners are independent but still be completely broken after the others’ death. Grief isn’t logical at all & is extremely personal.

#Fruits Basket #fruits basket manga #ch 92 #ch 93 #sad paper #Anime Only #manga spoilers

[kuroopaisen]

cause & effect || 8

➵ your work friend, kuroo, has a tiny favour to ask. unfortunately, that favour includes convincing his family that you’re very much in love with him and have been for a while now. let’s just say it’s easier than you’d assumed.

warnings: f!reader, discussion of divorce

wc: 2.2k

m.list | ch. 7 ↞ ch. 8 ↠ ch. 9

“Tetsurou!” His mother calls as he’s a few steps away from the safety of the car.

“Hm?” He only half turns around, not willing to commit to the concept of walking back towards his mother’s house.

“Don’t forget to call.”

“Don’t worry,” you call out, “I’ll remind him.”

She smiles at you, raising a hand. “Thank you, dear.”

You’re rushed into the car before you know it, buckled in next to an exceedingly stressed Kuroo.

The two of you are already leaving later than he would’ve liked, and you can tell he’s desperate to get back to Tokyo.

So are you, honestly. It feels like you didn’t get enough sleep last night, even though you certifiably did.

His mother’s words keep playing over in your head. ‘No chemistry.’ ‘She’s no Ritsuko.’ What did that even mean? 

Sure, you might not be his real girlfriend, but you’re kind of pissed that you’re expected to live up to a set of standards you don’t even know about. Maybe you’re a bit too ticked off by the chemistry comment, but ‘no chemistry’ meant you weren’t playing your role well.

And if you were going to do anything during this whole stupid pantomime, it would be playing your part exceptionally.

“You know,” Kuroo begins, clearing his throat and stirring you from your thoughts, “I don’t think I said thank you properly last night.”

You smile, shaking your head. “It’s fine.”

“No, I…” There’s a creak in Kuroo’s voice, an uncertainty. Once, you might have found it unusual. After last night, not anymore. “I really appreciate you listening to me.”

You turn your head towards him, your smile softening.

Kuroo takes a deep breath, his fingers tensing around the steering wheel. He’s not looking at you (rightfully so – his attention should be focused on the road), but his brow is furrowed and his bottom lip juts out ever so slightly.

“I know it sounds dumb,” he says quietly, voice barely louder than the humming of the car, “since they split ages ago, but… I’ve had a hard time believing that… that if I fell in love with someone, it’d last.”

It hurts. Deep and true and harsh.

You know that pain. You’ve felt it.

“That doesn’t sound dumb at all,” you murmur, voice soft as cotton.

“Thanks,” Kuroo chuckles.

Silence falls once more. You let it. If Kuroo needs time, you’re willing to give out. Trying to force things out of someone never did them any good. You wait patiently, watching the road.

“I just…” He sighs after a while, sitting up a little straight. “I don’t know how to let someone in. Not in the way they want, anyway. I just…”

He chews on his lip, brow furrowed as he searches for his next words.  

“Because your parents split up?” You offer.

“Mhm,” he nods slowly. “I don’t begrudge them for it or anything… and I know it’s better than forcing themselves to stay in the relationship.”

Ah, the bargaining. You know it well.  

You tell yourself that what happened is better than nothing changing at all. But in the process, you forget you’re allowed to grieve. Allowed to be hurt. You push it away, cover it with a tatty veil, tell yourself that it’s wrong to feel anything mildly negative about it.

But that’s how it builds. That’s how it spreads like moss over a stone wall, slow and deliberate and hard to notice at first. But then it’s in all of you – in how you see yourself, in how you see others, in how you love.

“But it’s affected you more than you realised, right?” You ask gently.

Kuroo nods again. He glances at you out the corner of his eye, vaguely suspicious.

“Yeah,” he swallows. “I’ve only begun unpacking it recently.”

“It can take a long time to work through something like that,” you murmur, fiddling with your fingers as you gaze down at your lap.

You’re not sure if you’ve even worked through it all. There are still days when the thought of ‘family’ makes you want to throw up, where the bitterness swallows you whole. Bitterness for them, bitterness towards a society that places filial piety as a key virtue. How are you supposed to fulfil your ‘duty’ as a daughter when you still haven’t forgiven them for leaving you among the wreckage?

Maybe it’s time.

You take a deep breath, lifting your head to gaze out the window. “My parents are divorced, too.”

It’s a half-whispered confession. One you’re not sure if you should make.

You don’t know why it’s so hard to say that. It’s a simple fact – one that’s been written in stone since you were fourteen. And it’s not like Kuroo would judge you for it.

But it’s still difficult. It still feels like a stain that won’t come out.

“Wait, really?” Kuroo’s eyes go wide, glancing between you and the road. “I’m so sorry—”

“What’re you apologising for?” You giggle.

Kuroo opens and closes his mouth like a goldfish. “Well I—I’ve been sitting here complaining about it, and—”

You wave a hand at him.

“It’s fine,” you smile. “I’m not close with either parent, so…”

The mood shifts. Have you made a mistake?

“I’m sorry,” Kuroo says. There’s a painful sincerity in his voice – evidence that he doesn’t know what that’s like.

You’re happy for him. Through it all, at least, he had his dad’s side of the family. It’s something to be grateful for; and while the abandoned child in you feels bitterly jealous at the thought of someone else getting support, you know better than to admonish a parent doing their best to keep their son above water.

“It’s fine,” you say, pressing your lips together and shaking your head. “They’re both overseas for the holidays, actually.”

That’s the real reason you’re able to actually do this whole thing. There’re no parents to visit, no family to make merry with. There are friends you’d like to see, but most of their time was taken up by their own family festivities.

“Wait, really?”

“Mhm,” you nod. “Dad’s gone to Europe with his new partner, and mum’s visiting her new husband’s family in Australia.”

You know that they didn’t need to ask you if you wanted to spend the holidays together. And you don’t expect it. Sometimes weeks go by with no contact, and it’s your fault as much as theirs.

But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt. Being along during the holidays is always a reminder that things aren’t as they should be – you don’t have that nice little nuclear family you’re told to want, with parents who love (or at least, tolerate) each other so they can love you.

“I see…” Kuroo murmurs.

“So, you needing someone to stick their neck out for you ended up being pretty convenient,” you grin, trying to lighten the frankly dour atmosphere in the car.

“Where will you be during New Years?” He asks softly. There’s a certain melancholy to his face.

“Alone, at this rate.” You have friends to see, of course, but you know they can’t dedicate all their free time to you – and you’d never ask for that.

But you can’t reason your way out of loneliness, no matter how hard you try. Maybe you weren’t trying hard enough. All you can do is remind yourself that it wouldn’t be forever; the holidays would pass, things would return back to normal, and you won’t be lonely again for another year.

“You can stay with us, if you’d like.”

Kuroo’s voice is so soft. So kind.

It’s enough to make your chest feel all light and funny. Why, you don’t know.

“Thanks,” you murmur.

You’re not sure if you’ll take him up on the offer; you wouldn’t want to impose, and it wasn’t part of your agreement. Not that you’re really sure what’s covered by your agreement. You’re just coasting along, hoping for the best. Hoping you’re helpful.

Silence. A silence that weighs on your shoulders.

Did Kuroo feel… awkward, now he knew you came from a similar situation? Did he feel that he had no right to talk about it the way he was?

That wasn’t what you’d been trying to do at all. You didn’t want to rob him of his voice.

You take a deep breath, clutching your jacket with your hands. “I’m just saying that… I know where you’re coming from,” you swallow. “Kind of.”

Kuroo glances at you out the corner of his eye.

“It’s okay to take your time to work through these sorts of things,” you smile. “God knows I still am.”

He chuckles lightly. A good sign.

“It’s not easy,” you continue, “and I spent a lot of my teen years believing it didn’t affect me, that it hadn’t had that big of an impact, but…” One deep breath. “I used to besmirch the idea of family.”

It feels strange, admitting it out loud. You’d never done that before; not to someone outside of a therapeutic context. Not even your closest friends knew this was how you really felt.

“I didn’t believe in it,” you swallow, “And now I know that’s because of how my parents treated each other.”

Fights. Pointless bickering. Nothing ever got physical, but bitterness has a way of twisting people up on the inside, leaving them all tattered and miserable. A place where there’s no love at all, only two people running through the tired motions of affection, is no place to raise a child – let alone teach them how to love.

And something else.

“And… and because of how they treated me through the divorce,” you sigh.

It sounds worse when you phrase it like that.

“If you don’t mind me asking…” Kuroo speaks slowly, each word careful and cautious, “what happened?”

You chew on your lip. “Well, there’s the two of them trying to pit me against the other.”

Kuroo groans.

“And I… I don’t know, I felt very neglected,” you swallow, doing your best to ignore the pressure in your chest, the lump in your throat, the way your gut twists. “They were both so focused on sorting themselves out that I got left behind in a lot of ways.”

“How old were you?”

“Oh, I was like… thirteen? Fourteen?” You can’t remember exactly. It’s been so long.

“Shit.”

You laugh. “Yeah, it really wasn’t a good time for it. But… I think that contributed to why I feel a bit distant from my family.”

You sigh, closing your eyes for a moment.

This wasn’t how you’d wanted this conversation to go. This was supposed to be about Kuroo, helping him feel more at peace with what’d happened to him. It wasn’t supposed to be your sob fest.

You open your eyes, looking straight at him. “Look, Tetsurou, it’s okay to take your time. And it’s good that you’re able to identify the causes of your troubles. That’s a great start.” you say as your heart races. Would he find this preachy? Nagging?

He just chuckles, shaking his head. “I just wish I could deal with them.”

“I think you’re doing better than you think you are,” you murmur, resisting the urge to reach out and place a hand on his shoulder. “And… if you ever need someone to talk to, I’m here.”

Your heart feels like it’s running a damn marathon as he slows to a stop at the red traffic light. Have you overstepped? Are you being annoying? Worse yet, were you being invasive?

Kuroo turns to look at you properly for the first time on the drive.

He’s graced with the softest of smiles, his features much gentler than you’ve ever seen them. You’d almost believe there’s genuine affection in his eyes.

“Thanks,” he murmurs, reaching over to ruffle your hair.

You pout at him reflexively. You haven’t had your hair ruffled in years.

✧ ✧ ✧

The rest of the drive is quiet. Pleasantly so. Enough’s been said, and you feel no need to fill the silence.

Kuroo doesn’t either.

It’s nice to exist comfortably like this, the car’s heater working overtime as you trundle your way back to Tokyo. You drift in and out of a light sleep, bundled up in your jacket and your coat.

By the time Kuroo parks on your street, you’re ready to crawl into bed and hibernate for the rest of the month.

“Well,” Kuroo sighs. “Thanks again.”

You yawn, stretching your arms as far as the car will let you. “No problem.”

Kuroo wastes no time in getting out of the car and opening your door for you. You grimace as the cold air hits you; maybe you will crawl straight into bed. What better way to spend your day off?

You grab your things and slowly walk yourself to the front of your apartment building. Kuroo accompanies you the whole way.

“I’ll see you soon,” he nods to you as you turn around.

“I look forward to it,” you smile. God forbid, you’re actually excited.

Kuroos eyes light up for a moment. Are his cheeks red from the cold, or something else?

A bubble in your gut and you’re desperate to get inside, away from this confounding, stupidly charming man. You give what you intend to be your final nod, turning to open the door, but—

“Oh,” Kuroo says. “One more thing.”

You turn and tilt your head at him.

Somehow, he makes the stark winter light suit him. He grins. It’s brilliant enough to make you blush.

“Thanks for opening up to me,” he smiles, “I really appreciate it.”

#kuroo x reader #kuroo tetsurou x reader #kuroo tetsuro x reader #kuroo x you #kuroo tetsurou x you #kuroo tetsuro x you #kuroo scenario #kuroo tetsurou scenario #cause and effect by rowan

[limitlessgojo]

Blood Bound: Blackened Bond (Ch 16)

Warnings: Action, Coarse Language, Fighting, Descriptions of Blood, Death, Gore, Japanese Mythical Folklore, No Major Character Death

Previous Chapter: 土御門天皇 (Tsuchimikado)

Next Chapter: Inferno: Flames of Hell

Word Count: 3.3k

Tags: Kamo Noritoshi x Reader, Soulmates AU, Angst, Fluff, Hurt/Comfort, Fem!Reader

Taglist: @lessie-oxj @rizzo-nero @whoreuc @fkngkumiko @isl3t @gojoussunglasses @onepotatostand-blog @s-t-f-u-b-i-t-c-h @sunaswife @lordguameow @track5enthusiast @nayydoesthings

Notes: If you want to be tagged for every update, and specify if you're okay with NSFW posts or not, please mention it in the comments below ty ❤

This chapter is LONG, a lot longer than I expected haha, happy reading!

Chapter 16: Non-Standard

Noritoshi was in a shitty mood to say the least. He went home to his clan immediately after getting a summon. The clan head had discussed their stance on the upcoming war and is readying their jujutsu sorcerers for battle.

His half-brother had made a not too subtle snarky remark about you. "You've already gotten yourself a woman? Wonder if she even likes you. I'm willing to bet Homura's cuter than her." Secretly his brother was curious about you, having heard about your special grade status.

Noritoshi steeled himself, knowing his brother's playboy tendencies at his school.

"That's enough. I am quite serious about her, so don't even think of taking her."

He watched his brother shut up upon seeing him like this and left him hanging.

'Heeehhh? That Noritoshi is actually interested in someone? Interesting…'

Other serious matters aside, his father, as usual, asked about you, only for him to find out you've both gotten into an argument.

The head of the Kamo clan only raised an eyebrow. "That’s normal for every couple."

Noritoshi kept his temper at bay. But he couldn't help resenting his phone call with his father that day. If his father was less controlling and obsessive over their clan status, maybe it would have gone better.

No... He was also influenced by the elders. Ashamed as Noritoshi was to acknowledge it himself.

“We… broke up…”

At that, his father shuts his eyes, mood obviously souring.

"You are literally a fated pair, how is that even possible? *sigh* If it proves too difficult with her… well we had that list of marriage partners set up for you. Homura has made it quite clear she and her family would be very delighted to assimilate with ours."

Is this what Noritoshi wanted? A woman who obviously flirted with him as she lusted for power? No, he wanted you, who never inquired about his status. Just about his family, his mom, dad and half siblings.

You made it very clear you were worried about his family's well-being. And whether they would like you or not. You want him to meet yours. You never even asked him for a gift or much favors. (Though he had a feeling your family was pretty well off, based on your clothes and jewellery.)

And he loved the fact that he could breathe like a regular teenage guy around you. The only thing you’ve requested from him so far was honesty and transparency.

"No. That won't be needed. Y/N is mine. She is the only one for me." He spoke slowly and clearly. This is the first time he actually disagreed with his father. He'd lose his sanity without you.

"I expected as much, I've never seen you this determined about something before. Soulmates are so complicated." His father sighed out. "Do as you wish. It isn't wise for me or the elders to interfere with something as sacred and ancient as this soulbond you share with her anyways."

Noritoshi felt himself earn a small win at that. He was growing a backbone. "Thank you father."

“However! You cannot force her to love you back. Surely you know this. If you don’t get married by the age of 25, as per our clan tradition I’ll have you set up with another woman.”

Noritoshi inwardly sighed, resigned to his fate.

◇◇◇

Needless to say, you trained like a demon as the eve of Christmas quickly approached. Nobody dared come 10 feet near you as you perfected your Blizzard and Tornado techniques. It was normal to hear the crack of a sonic boom and see flashes of lightning around you.

You were hesitant to use your cursed technique reversal. You barely use flames and Inferno in general, but it can't be helped. But now you hold a pack of matches in your hand.

You lit a match and manipulated the flames. It danced dangerously around your fingers before you moved it from one hand to the other.

You were doing well. Spending a lot of time here on campus helped you to control your emotions and not let anger fuel your cursed energy like you did when you were younger. Those were such bad habits.

A wheel of flame circled in front of you. Very clean and stable. All of the sudden, a strong whirl of wind and empty space extinguished the flames like a vacuum … Only one other person in Japan is capable of doing that other than you.

You turned your head to the side and saw an incredibly tall man with snow white hair and a pair of sunglasses approached you. His bright baby blue eyes gently twinkling and peeking over the rims of his shades.

“Satoru nii, it’s been a while. Why visit me now?” You tiredly asked. He came up just a few inches away from you, staring down at you.

“I got a call from Hiroki. I’m here to help you with your special cursed techniques. It’s time, you’ve stopped holding yourself back Neko-chan.” He leered down with his trademark grin.

◇◇◇

You spend the entire afternoon getting pushed around by Satoru. This man was crazy strong. He kicked you against a tree. “OOF” you heaved.

"You avoid using Inferno. Is it because of your childhood trauma? I'm not shaming you but it's something you need to overcome."

You frowned at his words.

"You only have today to train with me y/n! Aren’t you honored I went out of my way from Tokyo to Kyoto?”

"Like hell I am."

“You’re not using the full extent of your cursed techniques. That power is your one true ally in this world. Trust it a bit more. Apart from your soulmate anyways, but I can see you and Noritoshi aren't exactly swell right now." Your eye twitched at that statement.

Satoru eyed the broken strands of red ropes that floated around you. Not a good sign. It was reaching out to the distance. Maybe to where Noritoshi is huh, Satoru wondered. Until he spotted one thin string, still very much intact and alive. He grinned.

‘This prick and his fucking special eye abilities’, you grumbled. He hit your back hard, “What bad language you have. Imma straighten you up today kitteeeen~”

He pranced around you and squatted to lean down to your level.

"But seriously, you say you want to get strong but you fear your own power kitten. Don't do that." Satoru pointed straight at your eyes. “Remove the fear of hurting the people around you. Because you’re literally fighting to protect the ones you love, focus instead on harnessing your cursed energy to fight. Your messed up emotions could cost you a fight, even your life. Doesn’t matter if you’re a special grade like me. At this rate you won’t catch up to me.”

You slumped to the ground in defeat.

“To be honest, I feel like my growth has stunted. I don’t know if it’s the lack of powerful opponents I’ve had lately.”

He sighed out so loudly and obnoxiously that your anger flared up at him. “Thaaat’s what I kept telling you. You shoulda come to Tokyo Jujutsu instead of here! 100% I would enjoy teaching you and I mean it. I could teach you ya know, and Yuuta is there as well. Another Special Grade, although his circumstances are quite unique and with the way he is right now, you have a better chance at beating him one-on-one since he’s a newbie to this world. And yet you kept saying you wanted to be here for your family.” He shook his head.

You felt as though your head cleared up all of a sudden. “Because I was here…. I was meant to be here. Satoru. I know it deep in my soul. Because I met Noritoshi and…. “ Your heart throbbed so loudly you heard it in your ears. A deep pain stabbed into you.

Ah right. You said you were over him. You broke up with him weeks ago.

“And? You’re not together anymore. Figure out your heart and I could let you reconsider transferring to Tokyo Jujutsu High you know?” He said with a frown.

Why does the idea of leaving Noritoshi behind feeling like you were carving your heart out? He isn’t anything to you anymore and yet…

No. Enough of this. You’re here to train and fight that curse that killed Sora. Your emotions were all over the place. Satoru came up to you and wiped your tears off your face.

“What are you doing to yourself y/n? Don’t lie to yourself. I thought you wanted to live life as honestly as possible.” Even Satoru looked concerned and troubled over your state.

You gulped. “Yeah you’re right. I told myself I wanted to get stronger and protect the ones I love. Now I’m just running away. Noritoshi at least has been trying to reach out to me, but I shut him down.” Your heart is hurting.

Satoru stared at you and the cursed energy that was rapidly pulsing around you. Then grinned. “Then... Fight me one-on-one right here right now. Let’s make sure to keep the damages to a minimum and take care of the buildings. All the other students are still here on campus. Sky's the limit since both of us can move well in mid-air. I want to see you control your emotions and fight me properly. I’ll hold back.” He said.

You took a deep breath and looked back up. “Challenge accepted.”

You’ve envisioned this countless times. You wanted to see how you could match-up against Satoru and all his years of experience. You weren’t expecting to win, but you were not going down without a fight. Your cursed technique is actually a good matchup for his.

You can manipulate molecules. Though you suspect his control is on an atomic level, and thus could overpower yours due to his finesse and 6 eyes. But you could at the very least try.

Satoru, on the other hand, already knew of your potential. 'She is the only one I know who can actually touch and surpass me, given that she can control gravity and condense molecules. It will come down to timing and refining techniques.'

“Give me 5 minutes to suit up.” You asked. He agreed. You flew to your room and eyed the katana of your father. He actually planned to give it to Sora when she turns 16. But due to her death, he gave it to you instead on your 16th.

The name was Kintsugi, because it was made of two halves before being welded together in the centre with high grade steel. The center has a core of a fine diamond dust that’s infused with cursed energy. It’s a grade 1 special tool that multiplies the cursed energy you put into it by 10.

“Don’t break it. Don’t break it…. But It’s Satoru I’m going against. It will break.” And so you put it back and instead reached for your best twin blades and metallic whip. You coiled it around your wrist like a bangle, before flying back to Satoru.

“Done preparing, kitten?” He had removed his sunglasses and his blue eyes were out wide open as they assessed your cursed technique.

“Yep!” You yelled. “Ah Toru, shouldn’t we inform the elders or Utahime sensei that we-”

He didn’t give you time to speak as he appeared in front of you all of the sudden. Rushing with a right hook. You quickly dodged. He kept his word and is going easy on you at least.

You exchanged a few blows with him, both his limitless and your spacial barrier active so technically, no hits were landed.

Until you warped the space and forced the molecules around them to retract, making you actually reach and hit him.

He must have expected the solid punch, because in return, he kicked you as he warped off your spacial barrier. You eyed him as you regrouped. It’s anyone’s game huh.

“You’re still holding back! Are you going to be like this in a real battle? Are you okay with staying weak? Or do you have to wait for someone special to die before you ignite?!”

Oh no he didn’t. Your emotions raged, and you tried to calm them down. But all you saw was blood red. You never felt this angry at Satoru before. Before you knew it, you had activated inferno, making the entire surrounding area, which Satoru was in, combust and burn up in flames.

You lit up a match and pulled the flames on the ground and trees towards your smaller flame and held a massive ball of fire. Satoru was gone, it was only soot on the ground. You looked up to see him hurtling down at you.

You barely dodged, before wrapping the flames around you as you used it to strike at him repeatedly. You both rose up higher and higher into the air.

“Special art: Goldenrod,” you shot a bolt of lightning at Satoru only for him to dodge it. “Don’t just shoot it from your hands! Electricity is a current! You can make it run through your entire body!” He yelled as you both spiraled and fought over the campus.

He had the energy to teach you while you were fighting. You scoffed, but listened carefully, generating electricity in your hands before letting it wrap around you.

You were both dodging and striking at each other with such power. The trees swayed violently as winds and rubble were thrown about.

“What on earth…” Noritoshi and the other students stared at the flashes of fire, lightning, and wind above the campus.

The sky darkened. Good. If you had water, that was another asset.

He must have realized this as he immediately activated his Cursed Technique: Reversal. “Red.” You were forced back, plummeting to the ground. You swiftly turned and saw Miwa and Mai staring at you with horror.

You pulled yourself up back into the sky, still filled with fire and lightning, narrowly missing the building. You twisted your fingers to the side. The flames turned into the shape of the Dragon and you whipped back to hit Satoru from the front while your dragon of flame hit him from behind.

He danced around your attacks, teleporting from one area to the next to dodge them.

He then easily extinguished your flames with a flick of his wrist, but your lightning stayed. He can’t extinguish it, because it was coursing through your body, constantly moving.

You both stood, hundreds of feet high above the Kyoto Campus in midair. Lightning flashed above and winds howled.

You’ve never been pushed this hard your entire life. Not with Hiroki. Not with Todo. But Satoru was really on another level of strong. Unbreakable like a monster. He didn’t feel human anymore.

You tried for a Mach Speed hit, which you’ve never tried on anyone else; it would kill them on impact. “Mach 3.5” There was a loud BANG!

Going at Mach Speed has its limits of course. You can afford to do Mach 1, 5 times a day. Mach 2, 3 times, and Mach 4 only once.

A huge cone of smoke formed behind you as you launched yourself at Satoru. He was still able to evade you, but you pointed one hand to him, quickly following up on another attack.

“Fubuki.” Your blizzard technique was a combination of Niflheim and Tatsumaki. Cold air whipped around you and you thrust it towards Satoru. A mini tornado has formed around you and it pushed and pulled widely. But you were in the eye of the storm.

Satoru dodged your winds, but couldn’t escape them all, wincing as some small ice shards cut into his skin. He attracted debris and rocks towards you. One caught on your shoulder, making you yell in pain, but the rest you were able to guard against with your winds.

He immediately closed in on you to prevent you from doing another full blast and punched with ‘Red’. You countered with a roundhouse kick supercharged with your blizzard and lightning, neutralising his infinity jujutsu with a bit of mixed gravity control.

A huge gust of whirlwind was emitted from the impact, forcing everyone on campus down to the ground.

“GOJO! TSUCHIMIKADO! STOP THIS!” Utahime was screaming at the top of her lungs, still heard over the roar of thunderclap.

You both looked at each other and knew it had to end soon. Rain was starting to fall.

He threw his back and laughed out loud. “I hadn’t had this much fun in ages. You’ve grown really strong. Stop me if you can.” And flew away from the buildings and into the surrounding forest. You whipped your tornado around you and quickly followed him.

All the other students that had been watching you go at it followed. Utahime did as well. They stood from a distance as both of you exchanged more hits.

You lit another match and let arrows made of flames rain on Satoru, weakening his limitless barrier as much as you could. Only one arrow slightly singed his sleeve. Damn he was good.

Satoru attracted your body with “Cursed Technique Lapse: Blue.” You felt like your insides were tearing as you tried to stop his force. But his limitless technique easily overpowered yours. You let go and rushed towards him with both your swords out.

He easily sidestepped and kicked them out of your grasp. The hit was so heavy, even though it hit your swords, you felt the force reverberate throughout your body.

Satoru grabbed your neck from behind, and for the very first time since you were awarded the Special Grade Jujutsushi status, you were forced down onto the ground.

You used your cursed technique to soften the blow as much as possible, but Satoru was relentless as he slammed you head-first down onto the grass.

Everyone winced as you hit the ground hard. "He's not human." Mai said. Everyone agreed, not used to seeing you at the mercy of another party like this. They were reminded of who exactly was the strongest sorcerer alive.

In order to win against Satoru, your goal was to touch him and move past his limitless barrier. Even if it’s just for a moment. You couldn’t use Niflheim or Inferno from afar. He would remain unaffected as he guards and stops the change in movement of molecules around him.

But now his hand was around your neck. Your twin blades suddenly rush to close in around his neck in an x position to gather his attention, while you use your technique to warp the space around his hand to weaken limitless and hold onto him.

You lashed out with your metallic whip, letting your cursed technique run through it. It worked and scratched his cheek a bit.

"Enhanced gravity: Output 30%", the ground cracked underneath the both of you as a massive weight pressed down. And then you shocked both Satoru and yourself with the lightning coursing through you. Screaming at the pain in the process.

He gritted his teeth as volts shocked his bones.

Utahime and the others stared at both of you. "What a huge amount of cursed energy." Todo said in awe. "Non-standard Jujutsu users are insane."

Satoru still had the strength to hit your lower back which caused you to heave out and stop Goldenrod from activating. Both of your clothes were literally toasted. “Haha. You’re a scary one y/n.”

That’s all you remembered before you passed out; you were out of cursed energy.

◇◇◇

Noritoshi rushed over to take you in his arms. Pulling your unconscious body close to his, he gave you a once-over. You had just fainted from exhaustion, there were no serious injuries. Good.

"Noritoshi," Satoru called.

"Yes, Gojo San?"

"Take care of her for me please."

He straightened up, "Of course. There’s no need to ask that from me." He then carried you to the infirmary, holding you gently in his arms.

Blood Bound: Table of Contents

Author's Notes: Me writing this entire scene: FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!!! (x100)

Y/n was able to fight on par with Satoru, because he chose to limit his cursed energy output and match his skills to her level. A psychokinesis cursed technique would be a natural enemy for limitless since you can condense and expand space between molecules. But you still lack experience in battle. And if we were going to talk about Domains, Satoru would dominate the battle.

#kamo noritoshi x reader #jujutsu kaisen fanfic #jjk imagines #gojo satoru #jjk x y/n #jjk x o/c #jjk fluff #noritoshi angst #kamo noritoshi x you #kamo noritoshi x y/n #kamo noritoshi #jjk x poc!reader #noritoshi x fem!reader #jjk kamo #noritoshi x you #noritoshi headcanons #jjk noritoshi

[justnerdthings]

New Beginnings Ch.2

Female Reader x Liu Kang/Kung Lao (Not sure which yet)

Note: Chapter 2. Friend said last one was good. So have another. >w<

Raiden had introduced himself properly and explained Mortal Kombat to you. You were at a complete loss. You hadn’t believed any of it at first, but Raiden had made it clear that this was not a dream or trick. The man shot lightning out of his hand! You were convinced. This was real. It had to be. You weren’t creative enough to dream this up. He was a god.

You were still in shock as Liu led you through the hallways again, this time avoiding any views of the outside. You were lost in your own mind until he stopped at a door. Again, a very simple door.

“This is your room,” He told you, eyes searching you again as he opened the door and gestured for you to take a look.

The room was small and very modest. A simple bed was pushed against a wall. A small wooden table and chair was pushed against the other side. Another doorway led to a small bathroom that, thankfully, had a modern-enough sink and toilet. It would do for one night at least.

“Will you stay and fight Shang Tsung?” Liu asked gently, feeling you out. Raiden had admitted that you didn’t need to help them. Raiden would not force you. But Raiden did say it was your duty. The dragon mark on your left shoulder blade was proof.

Funny. People always did say your birthmark looked like a dragon.

But would you stay? You weren’t sure. This was so much to take in. Why you? You had no experience fighting. You once punched a bully in grade school, but that was it!

You sighed and combed your fingers through your hair. “I don’t know,” You answered. Obviously it wasn’t the answer Liu had hoped for. “I just… This is crazy.”

He nodded. “I understand,” He said, sincerity in his voice. “It’s your decision.”

You turned and looked at him standing in the doorway. “You do understand, don’t you?”

He lifted a brow curiously. “Yes. I felt similar when I was told of Mortal Kombat as well.”

“When was that?”

He thought for a moment. “A little over ten years now.”

“Ten years? You’ve been training here for ten years?”

“Here? Yes. But I grew up in a shaolin monastery. I’ve been training most of my life.”

So he was a monk. Now his behavior made sense. “Did you get taken here out of the blue too?”

“No.” He shook his head. “I defeated a child trafficker and gained his mark. I unlocked my arcana soon after. Lord Raiden found me then. I’ve been here ever since.”

“You never left? At all? Not even to visit family?”

“Oh, yes. I am free to come and go as I please. I often leave to run errands for Lord Raiden.”

“Errands?”

“Yes.”

“Like eggs and milk errands?”

He laughed and shook his head. “To find people and information mostly.”

“Oh.” You weren’t sure what to say to that.

“Does this help you decide if you will stay?”

“I think I just need some time to digest this,” You admitted.

He nodded again. “Speaking of digesting,” He spoke, “Would you like some dinner?”

Oh, god, yes, you thought. You still had no idea when the last time you ate was. A day? Two? Raiden said you were passed out for quite some time. “Yes.” You nodded. “Please.”

Liu smiled again. You liked his smile. It was genuine. Kind. Sincere. He stepped back out of the doorway, allowing you to step out of the room.

You were led into a large room filled with fur rugs and handmade cushions. A low table was placed in the center and another man was already seated and eating. He looked up as Liu led you over.

“Brother, this is Y/N,” Liu introduced you. “She has the mark,” Liu told him as he sat across from him at the table.

“Hello.” You hesitated. This guy had a different energy about him. Or maybe it was just your anxiety. He, you, and Liu were all about the same age. And he, like Liu, was attractive. He probably had a nice ass too.

You weren’t sure if you imagined it or not, but Raiden’s laugh echoed in your mind. Averting your eyes, you lowered yourself next to Liu.

“You don’t look like a fighter,” the man said with a mouth full. His eyes were looking you up and down critically.

“Don’t be rude,” Liu chided as he watched.

The man glanced to Liu as he swallowed his food, then looked back to you. “My name is Kung Lao,” He introduced. “Descendant of the Great Kung Lao.” He was proud of himself.

“Oh…” Was he a prince or something?

“You have no idea who that is, do you?” Kung Lao accused, pointing his chopsticks at you.

A small shrug tugged up your shoulders as you shook your head slowly.

Lao grinned and shook his own head as he looked to Liu. He stopped once he noticed his brother’s disapproval. “So what do you do, Y/N?” he asked as he looked back to you. The way he said your name didn’t bring you much comfort in his presence.

As you stared at him, trying to think of how to answer him, he’d bitten into an egg roll while keeping eye contact with you. “Um… Not really anything, I guess,” you said, nerves starting to get the best of you. This guy was more intimidating than Raiden was.

“Nothing?” Lao asked. “You must do something. You’re breathing right now. That’s something.”

“Lao…” Liu warned and passed you a bowl of rice.

You took the bowl with a small, awkward smile to Liu and began to make your plate. Maybe if you just didn’t look at Kung Lao, you wouldn’t feel so judged. “Well, I’ve been a nurse for the past seven years… But it’s hardly anything to talk about. I just work at a small office. Nothing ever really happens there.”

“That’s an honorable career,” Liu said as he began to eat.

“If nothing happens there, why do you stay? Seems boring,” Lao commented.

“I kinda like boring,” You admitted. “I uh… I used to have real bad anxiety as a kid. Boring is comfortable. Routine.”

“Anxiety?” Lao asked.

“Yeah. It uh… It got so bad that eventually I was scared to leave the house.”

“That’s awful,” Liu said with a frown.

You nodded. It was always hard to talk about your anxiety. But Liu seemed mindful enough to not tease you or make you feel like an idiot. “Eventually I couldn’t take it anymore and went to see a doctor. They put me on medication for it. I was a new person after I got used to the meds. Felt like I could breathe again.”

“What made you so anxious that you would be afraid of leaving your house?” Lao asked, harsher in his words. What did you have to worry about compared to him.

“I don’t really know,” you admitted. “I was always teased as a kid. I was the weird kid. Didn’t have a lot of friends.”

“Childhood trauma?” Liu asked.

“Maybe?” You shrugged, not sure. You never really tried to get to the bottom of it.

“Is that where your fear of heights comes from?” Liu asked.

That one you did know. You gave a small laugh as you straightened up a bit. “No. That was me falling out of a tree as a kid.”

“Did you hurt yourself?” Liu asked.

You shook your head. “No. Just some scrapes and bumps. It just kinda stuck with me after that though. Never climbed another tree.”

“Well, at least you weren’t harmed,” Liu said as he ate.

“If you didn’t get hurt, then why were you so scared to climb another tree?” Lao asked.

“I don’t know. Guess it’s one of those weird things that happens when you’re a kid,” You told him.

“You have bigger things to worry about now, than falling from trees,” Lao pressed.

You stared at your plate of food. Lao was right. Scared of climbing trees sure did sound stupid now that you knew about Mortal Kombat. Weird, the idea of Mortal Kombat didn’t freak you out as much as climbing a tree. “Anxiety doesn’t ever really make sense,” You told Lao. “I used to be perfectly fine one minute, then crying and convinced I was about to die the next.”

“Were you being attacked?” Lao asked.

“Not by a person,” You answered.

“Animal?” Liu chimed in, curious.

You shook your head. “Anxiety.”

Lao just stared at you. It didn’t make any sense to him.

Liu was more curious than confused. “So your own mind was attacking you,” he concluded after a moment of thought.

You nodded. “Yeah.” You moved some food around your plate idly. “I know. It makes me sound crazy. But it hasn’t happened in years.”

“Because of the medicine the doctor gave you,” Liu concluded again.

“Right,” you answered.

“So, let me get this straight,” Lao began. “A nervous wreck of a person, who is scared of climbing trees, and has no formal training to fight, has the dragon mark?”

“Yeah, I’m kinda lost on that too,” you admitted.

Lao looked to Liu in disbelief. “Is Lord Raiden out of his mind?”

“I’m sure he knows something we don’t,” Lui told him.

“Mortal Kombat is only a few years away. She won’t be ready!” Lao exclaimed in annoyance.

“We’ll just have to do our best,” Liu answered and lifted some rice to his mouth.

“She’ll have to train every hour, every day, to be even remotely decent,” Lao said.

“Lord Raiden knows what’s best,” Liu said.

“Lord Raiden’s out of his damn mind!” Lao shouted.

You’d gotten used to people talking about you as if you weren’t there when you were a kid. But it hadn’t happened much since then. You set your chopsticks down. “Look, I don’t know if I ever could be ready for Mortal Kombat. I don’t know if I’ll even try. But do you really think it’s a good idea to talk that way about guy who literally shoots lightning out of his hands? And another thing, I am not a nervous wreck of a person!” You looked right at Kung Lao, clearly unamused.

Lao just looked at you, at a loss for words, for what seemed like forever. It was really only a few seconds before he looked to Liu and grinned.

Liu was already grinning, looking at his food.

With a huff, you pushed away from the table. “Sorry, Liu. I think I lost my appetite,” you said, annoyed… Doubting yourself… Still hungry, but you’d had enough of Lao.

Liu looked over with concern as you stood. He set his bowl down and stood with you. He was going to try and convince you to stay, but decided against it. “Would you like me to walk you back to your room?” He asked kindly.

You’d get lost if you didn’t have help. You nodded and turned for the door.

Lao was still grinning as he continued his meal.

Liu quickly joined you in the hallway. “Y/N,” He spoke carefully. “I apologize for Lao’s behavior. He’s not usually like that.”

You sucked in a stiff breath. You shook your head. “No. It’s okay. He’s right. I have no business being here.”

“Don’t let him scare you away. Lord Raiden believes you’re worthy. That’s enough for me. Lao will come around,” Liu said as he began to lead you down the hall.

Maybe. Maybe Raiden did know something you didn’t yet. “The monk I met when I woke up… Feng, I think. He said something about my arcana saving me.”

Liu looked at you, then nodded. “I heard about that. I don’t know the details though…”

“I don’t even remember doing anything,” You said.

After leaving you at your room, Liu returned to Lao. He sat back at the table. Looking to a still grinning Lao. He returned it.

“She has a fire in her,” Lao said.

“She does.” Liu agreed.

“I heard she passed your test,” Lao inquired.

Liu, glancing to him, sipped from his tea, then nodded. “Five times.”

Lao was surprised to hear that. He figured you’d only make it once if at all.

“It took some coaching the first couple times, but by the fourth one she was doing it on her own,” Liu explained.

“Impressive. If her anxiety is as bad as she said, she manages it well,” Lao said.

Liu nodded again. “How much of it was the medicine, I wonder.”

Lao had almost forgot. “Ah. That may be an issue.”

“Withdrawal from it may prove difficult.”

“Meditation training is first on your list,” Lao suspected. He knew how Liu thought.

Liu nodded. “How about yours. Did she pass your test?”

“I would have liked to see more, but it's a start,” Lao answered with a nod.

“You may get your wish if you keep up that act of yours,” Liu said.

“Oh, I intend to.” Lao smirked.

"Don't scare her away," Liu warned.

"She'll stay," Lao said with his mouth full. "She faced her fear five times. She's determined. And a nurse?" He nodded as he took another bite. "She commits herself to helping."

#mortal kombat #mortal kombat 2021 #liu kang #kung lao #raiden #reader insert #fanfic #fic #reader x character #ludi lin #max huang #tadanobu asano #new beginnings