#if the characters kept the progress they made while they were together | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

chimcess · 21 days

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Waterlog || pjm (3)

Pairing: Jimin x Reader Other tags: Olympic Swimmer!Jimin, Ex Olympic Swimmer! Reader, Swim Coach!Reader Genre: Strangers to Friends to Lovers!AU, Coach!AU, Swimming!AU, HEAVY Angst, Slow Burn, Mutual Pining, fluff, eventual smut, I'm so soft for these two it's crazy. Word Count: 12.2k+ Synopsis: After a car accident ends her athletic career, Y/N has slowly started rebuilding her life again as a high school swim coach. That’s until she gets a request from an old friend and finds herself back in the spotlight as the new coach of Olympic swimmer, Park Jimin. Warnings: toxic relationship (not reader and jimin), arguments, cheating (not reader and jimin), talks about previous child abuse, anxiety attack, strong language, crying, emotional abuse (not reader and jimin), talks of bad parental relationships, abandonment issues, some PTSD, prescription medication use, mentions of depression and mental health, lots of angst in this one, finally making some progress though, age insecurity, mutual pining, lots of side character development in this one, they really are so sweet together, jimin just being the nicest boy in the world, so much PDA, physical touch is his love language 👀👀👀, writing this is so comforting even when its angsty lol, i think that's it, let me know if I missed something A/N: Hello hello. Probably my favorite chapter to date. Bad news is that I think this series might be a little longer than originally intended. My inability to just get to the point has things moving a little slow, but I'm trying my best. We'll have to see, though! Hope you enjoy reading :)

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Time went by quickly. Wednesday and Friday morning, Jimin and I met up to train for a few hours and then got breakfast together. When he asked if I wanted to work out with him in the evenings, I agreed. In the beginning, I had given him pointers, but after the second week came to a close, we had started exercising in silence. We spotted one another, made small talk, and went to dinner on the nights he did not go home to be with his parents. We got along and I was happy my overwhelming attraction to him had slowly calmed down.

I was still aware of his presence, the way he smelled, and how often he smiled and laughed, but I had grown used to seeing him walking around in barely anything at all. Hoseok called me a cougar whenever we had time to chat while Andy kept telling me to talk with Jimin about how I felt, but I had gotten very good at deflecting. Things were better and I was taking my wins whenever I could get them. Even if those wins meant I went home sexually frustrated and aching for someone to make it better.

Jimin was packing up for the night and I was getting ready to head out. He had plans with a large group of his friends, so I would have to figure out dinner by myself this time. He invited me but I politely declined. I could vaguely recall how rude his friends from that restaurant had been, and that one girl's mean glare. I had no interest in repeating that.

Giselle waved at me on her way out which I returned with a smile. She was a very sweet, college girl and getting to know her was fun. Her brother moved out here six years ago and was the only reason she left Memphis. In-State tuition and a rent-free bedroom was all it took to convince her to spend some quality time with her big brother and his dog, Lucky.

She and Sam were the closest, but I would often see her eating lunch with Megan when he was with a client. Everyone was making bets on when they would eventually hook up, but I was convinced that had already happened and they were keeping it a secret from the nosy staff.

"See you tomorrow," Yoongi called out from across the room, seemingly appearing out of thin air.

He was out of eyesight before I could reply.

"Bye Yoon," Giselle sing-songed anyway, shoving her ear buds in and leaving before the door could close behind Yoongi. "Night guys!"

As the young woman said, Yoongi and Megan were the two most important people to befriend. Not just for massages either. The both of them were hilarious and kept the back fridge stocked with our favorite snacks. On the mornings I did not have time to eat breakfast, Megan stopped and got me a muffin and coffee from her favorite cafe. If I needed someone to help me out in the pool, Yoongi was always happy to offer himself for the job. It was challenging for me to focus on my swimming when Jimin was around, and I would often come in early to get a quick work out in before he got here.

“You okay getting home?” Jimin asked.

We had come together tonight, and he had offered to drive us in his truck. I had grown very fond of the green machine, which Jimin affectionately called Fiona, and I jumped at the chance to get in his passenger seat. We were usually riding around in my car since it was better on gas.

“Yeah, I’m riding with Sam.”

Sam and I had grown close as well. He was super funny and always down to hang out with me if I showed up by myself. On the odd Sunday I felt like getting out of the house, I found myself at the gym with Sam. I was currently attempting to teach him how to swim and always filled in for Yoongi on the weekends.

Jimin nodded, “Good. See you this weekend?”

I smiled, “Can’t miss your big party.”

Jimin’s 24th birthday was on the 13th and his family liked to go big. Eloise was clearing out an entire section in their restaurant for all of us, and I had found myself teamed up with Taehyung to help with the planning. Na-Yeon put everything in his hands since she was not feeling up to the task this year. I only agreed to help when I realized just how overboard the snowboarder would go if no one was there to reel him back in. So far, I had placed the responsibility of decorating, music, and organizing the gift table on my shoulders. James had pulled me aside and thanked me when he found out. Apparently, he was also worried about Taehyung’s enthusiasm.

“It should be fun,” He nodded. “I’m going to head out.”

“See you tomorrow,” We had finally started coming 5 days a week. "We're working on your turns. Butterflies, too. Be prepared.”

He groaned, “You’re torturing me, coach.”

I laughed, “Is the baby upset?”

“Very,” He winked. My mouth went dry. Sometimes I felt silly for getting nervous around him, especially when I knew he flirted with everyone. I was not special. “See you Saturday.”

“Yeah,” I mumbled as I stared at his retreating back. “See you.”

Jimin’s birthday passed quietly. We had a great time and ate well. Taehyung got drunk enough to suggest karaoke once we cleared out the place for the night, and he and Na-yeon had all of us cracking up. I finally met Jungkook’s girlfriend, a pretty girl who did not talk very much, and I could feel the tension between the two of them. Jimin said that was just how they were and to ignore it.

After Jungkook successfully shoved Jimin's face into his cake, we opened presents. The boys got him tons of workout clothes and gear, Eloise bought him a new blender, and his parents both chipped in to get the new video game he had been talking about picking up.

I gifted him a bottle of his favorite cologne after Na-Yeon mentioned he was out. Jo Malone was the most distracting thing in my life right now, its scent clinging to the passenger side of my car most days and driving me insane if Jimin stood too close. Still, it was something I did not think I could part with now. Jimin was happy with the present and hugged me after opening it. I was positive I had this stupid grin on my face for the rest of the night.

By Halloween we were in the gym every day, save Sunday and the occasional Saturday when Jimin needed some time to rest. We both kept our word, our conversation at the restaurant we went to with Jungkook and Taehyung sticking better than I thought it would. Overtime he got more confident when asking for a break and I was a professional at picking up on his body language. We were a good team, and I was confident he would be in great shape for the Olympics.

It was mid-November now and Taehyung had finally gotten around to getting us together for the sushi date in Detroit. I had just gotten out of the shower when Jimin messaged he was going to come along. His mom had a rough Sunday and could not go to their usual dance class, so he had stayed with her instead. He looked worn out when he walked inside the pool room Monday morning so instead of training, I just sent him home. We were meeting back up on Wednesday to get back to work, but it seemed Jungkook’s nagging finally convinced him to come out with the rest of us.

My relationships with his friends had also started to improve. Taehyung had added me to their group chat a few weeks back and I had tried to keep up with them as often as I could remember to. It was not difficult. They text so often I had to silence notifications for the chat, but I had to admit they were really funny. Jungkook especially.

I was happy to spend time with everyone and getting out of the house sounded nice. Violet and Calvin were great, and I did enjoy eating dinner with them sometimes, but I would be lying if I said they would be my first choice to spend time with.

I had grown close enough with Taehyung during the partying planning that his bubbly, over the top personality had become more endearing than overwhelming. We had gone to lunch a few times together, his boldness only increasing with each meet up, and he could hold me hostage for hours if I let him. Milo was typically my saving grace, and Taehyung would leave with a wet kiss to my cheek and promises of the same time next week.

Tae: Y/N should pick you up

Jimin: Why???

Kookie: Your truck is ass

I chuckled and sent off a text of my own before going to my dresser to find something warm to wear.

Me: I don’t mind driving

Me: Don’t hate on the truck. I like it.

My phone chimed a few times but I ignored it for now. I knew I wanted to wear a pair of dark, navy jeans. It was freezing outside so a long sleeve was a must, but I could get away with just two layers. My hands found a mustard-yellow turtleneck and I smiled. I could wear my brown boots with it. Happy with my outfit, I checked on the chat.

Jimin: U sure?

Tae: The truck is GREEN

Tae: Already a crime

Kookie: It can’t go over 60

Darcy: omg stop blowing my phone up

Darcy: just ride with her dude

Jimin: Y/N?

I rolled my eyes. I hated when he did that. Jimin had the habit of double and triple checking in with someone. It was sweet but it also drove me insane. There was nothing more I disliked than repeating myself, especially if I already agreed to something.

Me: I’ll pick you up in 30, k?

Jimin: Thanks

Darcy: Was that so hard?

I frowned. So, Darcy was in a bad mood then. Shouldn't take it out on Jimin, I thought. Even if she was having a bad day, something that seemed to be a reoccurring theme with her, it doesn't mean she can just talk to people like that. Fighting the urge to give into my annoyance and call her out, I tossed my phone on my bed and made myself finish getting ready.

Walking into the living room, I went on a hunt for the jacket I wanted to wear. It was the same color as my leather boots with sherpa trim. It would tie everything together and, I hoped, would keep Taehyung from complaining too much about the “offensive” color of my shirt. He had a hard time accepting anything in the yellow or green family. Finding it on the sofa, I nodded and left it be. I would grab it on my way out.

It took me more time to get my hair figured out than anything, but once I gave up and did the same thing that I did every day, it worked itself. After that, I put on a little bit of makeup since I figured it would not take me very long. This was a casual outing with friends and the dim lights of the sushi place would give me some grace if things were not perfect. A nice base, simple eye look, and a layer of mascara already had me looking more awake than I had in months. After applying a layer of lip gloss and a misting of setting spray, I was out of the door, jacket keeping me warm, and purse tucked under my arm.

I drove in silence, like I always did, and pulled onto the curb of Jimin’s house. Sending a text to the chat, I waited for him to come out. I was a few minutes later than I said I would be, but Jimin found a way to be late for everything, so I did not feel that bad about it. Taehyung and Milo were already on leaving Ann Arbor, and Jungkook and Darcy riding with them. They would only beat us there by fifteen minutes or so, but I hoped he would hurry up and come outside. Taehyung worked hard for those reservations.

My phone vibrated and I stared at the little device in my cup holder. It was weird how my anxiety fluctuated on a daily basis. Back home, I could talk on the phone and hold a conversation behind the wheel, but ever since I came to Michigan it felt like I had taken three massive steps back. Taking a few deep breaths, I told myself that I was safe. I was parked, completely stationary, and no one was around. No traffic meant no accidents. Sucking in a harsh breath, I picked it up.

Jimin: Be out in a sec

Jimin: Just making sure mom is okay

He had not left his mother’s house in days. I was worried about Na-Yeon, but I had to believe that Jimin would tell me if something was seriously wrong with her. I had truly started to feel connected with the woman. We joked over dinner and I found myself helping her out more and more each time I came by. It would devastate me if she passed away without me knowing how bad it had gotten.

Me: Take your time

He came out only two minutes later. Wearing a heavy, black puffy jacket and tight pants, Jimin leisurely walked over and got into the car. His cologne hit me as soon as the door opened, and I bit my lip, trying to hide the deep inhale I took. Jo fucking Malone.

He smiled at me but otherwise kept quiet as I drove. He knew I had a difficult time behind the wheel and tried his best to keep conversation light. While I normally appreciated the sentiment, I did not want to make him sit in silence for 45 minutes. Opening and closing my mouth a few times, I struggled to come up with a good conversation topic.

We often bounced from idea to idea, mostly sticking to swimming and music, and I always found our little talks to be very insightful. Movies and tv shows had been fun to bond over, a small generational gap introducing us to shit we had never heard of before. There were so many things I could bring up, things that Jimin would jump at the idea to talk about. Still, I could not find my voice.

“So,” I started, awkwardly, trying to push past the blockade of anxiety. “Is this place as good as Tae says or is he going off on one of his rants again?”

Jimin chuckled softly. “It’s pretty good, but it’s still just sushi. Taehyung finds a way to make everything sound extravagant.”

We shared a quiet laugh.

“It was nice of him to invite me,” My hands gripped the wheel tighter. We were starting to approach more populated areas. “He didn’t have to do that.”

Jimin snorted childishly, the sound relaxing me ever so slightly. If there was one thing I hated was driving at night. I was lucky the snow had stopped falling yesterday afternoon and the roads were clear, but a part of me wished I had asked Jimin to drive.

Traffic in Saline was lighter than any town back in Colorado, and driving around was a breeze in comparison. At home, you were lucky if there was only one accident a day, but more times than not I had been stuck on the interstate for hours because of multiple car crashes. Michigan felt less hectic; safer. Not safe enough to let my guard down, but safe enough to listen to Jimin when he spoke.

“Taehyung is just that kind of guy.”

I nodded; eyes glued to the road. I wanted to say something and keep our conversation flowing, but the more cars around us the more I tuned him out. My eyes flickered between my rearview mirror, side mirrors, and windshield rapidly as I drove. Once we were out of Saline and on I-94, I loosened my grip on the wheel. We would not hit much traffic until we were closer to Detroit.

Jimin stayed quiet and looked out the window. I wanted to thank him for being so understanding, but I knew he would not want me to. I kept my thoughts to myself and focused on the road. Jimin began to hum an unfamiliar tune.

My hands were shaking when we pulled up to the restaurant. Traffic had gotten pretty bad coming into the city, but we had picked a good day to come out. Jimin hummed and sang underneath his breath for most of the car ride, and we had a few small sporadic conversations when I felt the knots in my stomach loosen for a few brief moments.

"It's been forever since I've come here," Jimin said to himself, going to unbuckle his seat belt. "It looks pretty filled up."

Bash was a sushi place across from Wayne State University's football field and was one Taehyung’s favorite restaurants. He bragged about how delicious their food was for weeks before finally wearing me down with the promise of picking up the tab. He made reservations for their omakase, or “chef’s choice,” and promised I would get his obsession.

When I talked to Megan about it, she had said it was an expensive meal, so I was going to try and force myself to enjoy it regardless of my own personal feelings. Jimin seemed to like it here, and we usually enjoyed a lot of the same foods, so it made me feel a bit better about things.

I had to park down the street and spotted Taehyung’s Mazda a few cars away. Instead of getting out, I took a few moments to gather my composure. Jimin sat beside me patiently. He had grown used to my traffic anxiety. We had driven together so many times now, and he had gotten a taste of the worst of it a handful of times.

He had only asked about it the first time we rode to the gym together, completely frazzled and unsure of himself as I hyperventilated in the driver's seat. My hands trembled violently as my palms sweat profusely, and I let myself shed a few tears once we were parked. He reached out, placing a hand on my back, and quietly asked me what was bothering me.

“Red light,” I managed to wheeze out. They were doing some construction on the main road and things started piling up. I had gotten stuck in the intersection for just a few seconds, but it was long enough to send me into a blind panic. “Anxiety. Sorry. Need a minute.”

He helped me calm down, calming down to help me through my panic attack. We played a game of I-Spy, Jimin picking out the most obvious shit and saying the most random things to point out in order to make me laugh. When I felt a little better, he got out of the car to help me get out. After that he kept quiet about my obvious driving discomforts, but stuck close just in case I needed the support, and always offered to drive.

“Ready?” He asked when I grabbed my phone out of the cup holder.

“Yeah.”

We walked inside and the hostess made light conversation while she walked us to the back. Taehyung's laugh could be heard from the other side of the room, and his bright blue hair and vibrant eyeshadow stuck out like a sore thumb in this place. Milo was dressed in all black, his arm draped around his fiancé's shoulder, and a smile on his face. Jungkook was beside him scrolling through his phone, but Darcy was nowhere in sight. Glancing at Jimin, he seemed exasperated.

“Trouble in paradise,” He murmured, leaning down so I could hear him. I had to imagine their relationship was very exhausting and took its toll on their friend group. I knew how much it sucked being caught between Tilly and Hobi back in the day. “Here we fucking go.”

Taehyung jumped out of the booth when he caught sight of us, his fluffy, white cropped top riding up, revealing even more of his tanned skin. The snowboarder wrapped his arms around my waist and snuggled my hairline, showering me in compliments. Gold hoop earrings tapped my forehead, and his belly button ring was cold against my ribcage. He was happy to see me “dolled up” for once and forgave how ugly my shirt was since I looked “so cute.”

Milo gave me a slight wave, eyes never leaving Taehyung's bouncing body as he embraced Jimin, and Jungkook put his phone down to greet us. Darcy had gone to the bathroom and from the look on Milo’s face, Jimin’s was right about trouble in paradise. Whatever was going on, we were all about to fall witness. It made my stomach churn just thinking about it.

Our waitress brought a new pot of tea, asking us if we needed anything, before leaving with the promise of the first course coming out soon. Darcy almost slammed into the poor woman on her way back to our booth, her annoyed huff making the hair on the back of my neck stand up. When she sat down beside her boyfriend her entire body was rigged and face pulled together tightly. She did not spare us a glance as she sulked.

Darcy was a very beautiful girl and it made sense why Jungkook liked her so much. Tanned skin, green eyes, and black hair, the girl had one of those bodies most women would pay thousands of dollars for. Like Taehyung had said, she was a pleasant enough person, and we did not along well enough to hold a conversation, but there was no hiding the fact that Darcy was not a nice girl. In fact, I would venture to say she was very, very mean.

I saw it firsthand at Jimin’s birthday party. I had a moment where I felt myself panicking. Overwhelmed with all of the noise and people, I excused myself and called Andy to get my head back on straight. The women's restroom was tucked away in a small hallway and allowed me the space to shed a few tears. I was just starting to calm down, Andy's words of encouragement getting back to some sort of baseline, while I rubbed cold water on my neck. That was when I heard Jungkook on the other side of the door.

He was angry and when I told Andy I needed to go, I had every intention of going out there to talk to him, but another voice beat me to it. Darcy had been in a bad mood since she walked through the front door, her shitty attitude bringing down the party every time she opened her mouth. At first, I just brushed it off as an off night, something I could feel empathy towards, but then she opened her mouth and stopped those thoughts in their tracks.

The two of them were serial cheaters, and Jimin had alluded to that being their main issue when I asked about her attitude problem earlier that night. Eloise was the person who gave me the whole story and was not afraid to voice her dislike for the older girl. This was different from Milo, a guy who she clashed with due to their night and day personalities. Darcy had actively picked on and made fun of her growing up, and bullied her older sister while they were in school together.

Darcy, according to Eloise, started the back-and-forth cheating when they were in college. Instead of going their separate ways, something I doubt anyone would have blamed Jungkook for doing, he chose to get even. After fucking one of her sorority sisters, Jungkook made his way through the entire house within the span of three months. In retaliation, Darcy slept with a couple of guys from the NHL, something she still did to this day.

On the night of the party, she was still fuming over catching him with another woman a few days prior. Trapped in the bathroom and too afraid to let them know I could hear them; I suffered through five minutes of a couple’s quarrel I had no business being in the middle of. It was an eye opener for sure and made me avoid getting too close to either of them.

Darcy was very mean and spiteful, her words meant to cut him deeply with little care about how it would make him feel in the long run. She even brought up screwing one of his rivals to get back at him, something she had done on numerous occasions, and went as far as to compare the two men in bed. It helped to explain why Jungkook hated Jackson Wang so much.

Jungkook, despite how much I enjoyed him as an individual, was just as awful. He spent most of the argument defending his bad behavior by bringing up her own and took no accountability for his actions. He could have sex with all of Michigan and it would be justified because she cheated on him first. It was all very juvenile, and I tried my best to avoid them for the rest of the night.

“Bet they can’t go ten minutes without fighting,” Jimin mumbled in my ear.

I fought back a smile, leaning into his side. Physical touch was the swimmer’s love language and I had slowly grown accustomed to small touches here and there. So, it did not catch me off guard when his arm came around my shoulders, resting just above my head, hand gently brushing against my neck. The voice in my head often wished he would do it more often.

“She won’t start something before the food gets here,” I reasoned, stealing a look at the couple. Jungkook seemed fine, but from the look on Darcy’s face that might change soon. “I’ll say twenty.”

“What are we bargaining for?”

I laughed awkwardly, “Whatever you want.”

Taking a second to think, Jimin eyed the couple across the table. Taehyung and Milo were obviously extremely aware of the couple's awkward tension and tactfully ignored them, instead giggling about some inside joke. They were a very sweet pair. My weariness about Milo had dissipated over the last few weeks, but I could understand why he and Eloise could not get along.

Lou herself had admitted to being a bit of a stuck-up teenager back in the day, and Milo was the typical small-town stoner. They constantly butt heads when they were in high school, and just drifted apart with age. Taehyung and Jimin's friendship were the only reason they were in the same circle anymore, and the two just never spoke to avoid pressing buttons.

“I want to do something together,” Jimin finally said, I smiled, trying to ignore the snarky comments Darcy was making. The arguing was starting, and I felt my neck growing hot. Did they have to do this in public? “Get dinner or something.”

“We do that all the time,” I countered, half-heartedly paying attention to him.

“Denny’s doesn’t count," He mumbled.

The waitress finally came back with a large tray of sushi in her hand. That seemed to break up the argument momentarily, but Darcy did not seem pleased to be interrupted. Stuffing a large piece of ahi sashimi in my mouth, I sparked up a conversation with Taehyung to keep myself from having another meltdown. Beside him, Milo sent me a grateful look.

The rest of the table was silent, waiting for the fight to resume. Taehyung kept smiling painfully, but I could see the panic bubbling in his eyes, and for once I saw a small crack in his otherwise well-crafted facade.

“I didn’t mean just getting food,” Jimin finally continued when we hit a lull, and it took me a few seconds to remember what he was talking about. “I meant… going out.”

I looked at him, eyebrow raised. His cheeks were puffed with scallops and I wished we were alone. This was not a conversation I wanted to have in front of the others, especially if he was insinuating what I thought he was. I did not want to jump to conclusions, but I was sure he was asking me out on a date. Even if it made me feel jittery thinking about it, I had a difficult time finding the voice to say yes. Saying no felt just as impossible, though, and I wished he would have picked a better time to bring this up. Whatever the hell this was.

“What are you asking me?” I whispered, taking another piece of fish off my plate, sneaking a look at Taehyung and Milo.

They were too wrapped up in one another to being listening in on us. I did not even bother checking in with the other two. I knew for a fact they did not care about anybody else but themselves.

“You know,” He replied.

Dating was not off the table, and I was more than happy to indulge myself, but I was worried about crossing this invisible line I had drawn. What would people say if they found out? A coach and her trainee, and even worse, the older woman and her much younger man. I could see the headlines now and it made my palms sticky. That would not be a good look for either one of us, and I did not want our personal relationship to affect Jimin’s career.

Putting my chopsticks down, I leaned away from him. “Can we talk about this later?”

He nodded, meeting my eyes, and I was relieved to see he was not upset. I had seen him angry a few times now, and he wore it on his sleeve with pride. Jimin was not afraid of his emotions, something I found extremely attractive, and it was nice that all I could see right now was understanding. Whatever happened he would hear me out, and I had to hope he would be understanding. I just had to be sure I did not fuck anything up.

Across the table the bickering had started again. Our waitress brought out the rest of our meal, sans desert, and seemed happy we were enjoying the food. She eyed Darcy wearily and left our table in a hurry. I felt horrible for the wait staff who had come to our table. They were all getting the nastiest looks from the dark haired beauty.

“Do we really have to do this now?” Jungkook sighed, running a hand through his hair roughly. His face was red and expression tight. “In front of my friends, dude? Are you serious?”

I cleared my throat, grabbed my tea and took a long sip before sinking into the booth and praying no one could see me. Jimin’s arm dropped, and he squeezed my shoulder in comfort. I let myself melt under his touch. It always felt nice when his hands were on me, his warmth burning hot like a furnace even in below freezing temperatures. Taehyung’s eyes were bulging out of his head now, his bottom lip trembling as he tried his best to keep the conversation between the four of us light. He had stopped trying to include the other two.

“You two seem close,” He gritted, fakeness coming from him that I had never encountered before. “Glad you were able to sort that out.”

I looked over at Jimin and saw his cheeks had gone pink. So, Taehyung knew something I didn’t. It would make sense for the childhood best friend to get the scoop before the chick he’s known for two months, I had definitely vented to my friends on more than one occasion, and my curiosity was peaked.

“I'm working on it,” Jimin replied, taking a big gulp of water. “Thanks, Tae," He breathed, rolling his eyes.

I stifled a laugh. He was so cute when he was embarrassed. I made a mental note to ask Tae to explain what he meant when we had a chance to get lunch. I had a feeling the snowboarder would be more than happy to divulge that little piece of information.

“Talking about me to your friends?” I teased, trying my best to ignore the ever-growing argument across from me. The butterflies in my stomach were a helpful distraction. “Good things, I hope.”

He cracked a smile, face and neck flushed. “The best things.”

Such a flirt.

I bit my lip and looked away. Eating was a nice way to interrupt the electricity that was enveloping us, and I gorged myself on octopus and tuna. Whatever the hell these dishes were, I had to admit the sushi here was the best I had ever had. I would never doubt a recommendation from Taehyung again.

The conversation started flowing easily after that. Jungkook and Darcy were at a stalemate and were relatively quiet on their side of the booth. With the atmosphere lightening, Milo felt good enough to start telling us his latest work stories. He was a firefighter along with all three of his brothers. His father was promoted to chief about five years ago but was coming up to his retirement. The only one of his siblings to avoid the fireman fate was his baby sister, but had still managed to find a job at the station.

"You guys must be close," I laughed in disbelief.

“It’s the family business,” He joked. "Rosie is our new EMT."

Taehyung spoke excitedly about his upcoming competitions and was really hopeful he would win enough to qualify for the Olympics this year. Milo and Jimin both reassured him multiple times while I tried my best to keep up with everything he was talking about. I had very little knowledge of snowboarding, so I was having to constantly interrupt and ask for clarification. No one seemed to mind, and eventually Jungkook joined in to talk about his upcoming hockey games.

The Red Wings were having a good year, and he was proud of his team for working as hard as they did. As a goalie, he did not do a lot of skating, but his job was one of the hardest on the team. From what I knew after watching a few games on tv with Jimin's family, Jungkook was one of the best goalies in the NHL who was highly sought after. He had been offered millions to transfer to the New York Rangers, but out of loyalty he turned them down.

“I’ll take you to a few matches if you want,” Jimin offered. “Kook can get us tickets whenever.”

I smiled, “That sounds like fun.”

“Milo and I go all of the time so we can sit together,” Taehyung interjected, his shoulders relaxed for the first time since we got here.

Darcy was quiet and stayed on her phone. Jungkook was pretending she was not here, and it helped keep the arguing from starting again. I was not sure how long the truce would last, but I hoped they could hold it together long enough for us to finish eating.

“So Y/N,” Milo mused, taking a piece of fish from Taehyung’s plate. “Have you ever thought about competing again?”

I laughed nervously, “For a time, maybe. My injuries make it hard for me to swim the way I used to so I decided to keep it as a hobby.”

It was not a complete lie, but I knew I might be able to get back into competitions if I put in the time and effort. I hated the thought of being back in the spotlight, cameras shoved in my face, only to lose and give them more to talk about. I was still recovering from the trauma they inflicted on me after the accident. My leg injuries just gave me the perfect excuse to keep my distance.

He nodded, eyebrows knitted, “I didn’t know you had medical leave. What happened?”

Jimin tensed up beside me.

“I was in a car accident,” I replied. Talking about what happened did not bother me as much as it used to, and Milo seemed genuinely interested in the answer. “I had to get a full knee replacement on my left side, and a full hip replacement. I should have lost my leg, but the doctor on staff recognized me and brought up my profession.”

Milo whistled, giving me a sympathetic look. “Leg? You could have died.”

“Well,” I breathed, finishing off my last piece of fish. “I pulled through though, so it wasn’t all bad.” I fiddled with my shirt, pretending to smooth it down as I played it cool. "Anyway, I have nerve damage in my leg that makes me get really horrible cramps and twitching if I overwork my muscles. It sucks but coaching is really fun, so I can't complain."

Blatantly lying wasn't something I did often, but I truly hated reliving the months of physical therapy. Unable to walk or talk, I was stuck in that hospital bed for weeks and then got sent home to watch my closest friends wait on me hand-and-foot. When I wasn’t in physical therapy, I was with my SLP. When I wasn’t with her then I was in bed, crying into my pillow, and wishing I had never woken up. It was an extremely dark time in my life, one filled with chronic pain and overwhelming depression, and talking about it made me emotional.

“Anyway,” Taehyung sent his fiancé a pointed look. “Kookie’s next home game is in two weeks.”

Happy to be out of the spotlight, I began to talk with Jimin about changing our schedule around so we could attend the game. Taehyung was excited to get me some Red Wing merchandise, and Jungkook quickly began to boast about his prowess on the ice. Darcy scoffed beside him and I felt the group tense up.

“You’re so cocky, Ian,” She taunted, eyes glued to her phone. “I heard Avalanche was doing really well this season.”

I knew from the group chat that the Red Wings and the Colorado Avalanche had a long-standing rivalry. It had started all the way back in the mid-90’s and reached its peak in 2002. While the intensity had dissipated over the years, it had recently spiked up again due to Jungkook and Jackson Wang’s ongoing feud. The only reason Darcy would bring that up would be to piss her boyfriend off.

“Hm,” Jungkook smirked, chuckling darkly. “Who told you that?”

I held my breath, already guessing where this was going. The tension from earlier was thicker than ever as we fell silent. Darcy put her phone on the table, flipped her hair over her shoulder, and looked Jungkook in the face as she replied.

“Jackson.”

It was dead silent for a few seconds. Then, without waiting for a response, Darcy kept digging the knife in and twisting. She called him ugly, said he sucked in bed, brought up all of the ways Jackson was better than he was, and went as far as to bring up his father's affair. Jungkook could not get a word in as her silky voice dropped lower and lower, words cutting deeper and deeper, and eyes growing brighter as she watched his expression fall. I learned something tonight. Darcy enjoyed hurting Jungkook.

"Why are you doing this, dude?" Jungkook's voice was thick with emotion. "You're acting like a fucking child. It's embarrassing."

“Holy shit,” Milo groaned as their voices got louder. “Are they being forreal right now?”

“Babe,” Taehyung scolded, the forced smile still plastered on his face. “Language.”

“You weren’t embarrassed when you fucked that girl” Darcy screamed and I felt my stomach twist uncomfortably. “Why should I feel bad about airing out my dirty laundry? Everyone here knows how much of a whore I am anyway, isn’t that right, Ian?”

“Keep your voice down,” Jungkook hissed, eyes glassy. “You’re causing a scene.”

Taehyung and Milo looked as mortified as I felt, both of them staring at Darcy in horror. The entire restaurant had gone silent. Eyes were glued to our table as they argued. She shouted about him getting his dick sucked in their bed, and Jungkook was just angry she was acting like this in public. It was Jimin’s birthday all over again only this time they knew people were watching and did not care. Taehyung’s smile was finally gone and replaced by trembling lips and fidgeting hands.

“Take that shit outside,” Jimin cut in, voice cold and hard. Darcy glared daggers in our direction. “You’re going to get us kicked out.”

Darcy opened her mouth to argue but was interrupted by the waitress coming back and demanding our party leave. Taehyung began to apologize profusely while Darcy stormed out of the restaurant, bumping into numerous people roughly without looking back. Jungkook was hot on her heels, breathing heavily, and eyes glossed over with unshed tears. She shouted that Jackson was outside and for Jungkook to go fuck himself. Jungkook didn’t reply but I knew he was not expecting the other man to be here. I sure the fuck wasn't.

An arm wrapped around my shoulders, “Hey, calm down. Breathe.”

I had not realized I had been holding my breath. Turning my head, I was taken aback by how close Jimin was. Our noses brushed together, his breath hot against my cheek, and I jerked away, heart racing. The butterflies were swarming now, and a shiver went down my spine. His arm dropped and I immediately missed its warmth. Flustered, I scooted out of the booth and kept my head hung low. I was so embarrassed, and I could hear Taehyung’s voice starting to wobble as he handed over some cash to the waitress for the trouble. No one was going home happy tonight.

“I’m so fucking pissed off,” Jimin grunted, keeping in step with me. Milo was attempting to get a now hysterical Taehyung calmed as they followed behind us. “I don’t know why Tae invites the two of them anywhere.”

I shook my head, “It’s not his fault. She needs to get some self-control, though. That was so rude and uncalled for, and for what?"

“They both owe him a fucking apology,” He sighed harshly.

The guests of honor were already in a very heated screaming match when we finally made it outside. Whatever had been brewing inside had clearly reached its peak, and neither one of them was willing to back down. Jimin’s arm was back around my shoulders as he tried his best to shelter me from the strong winds that were kicking up. Looking at Darcy and Jungkook all I could see were my parents and it caused me great discomfort. Maybe I should try to call my dad again and make sure he was alright? He rarely answered but at least it would cut some of the edge off of my anxiety.

“Why are you acting like this?” Jungkook shouted, pulling at his hair. “What the fuck is wrong with you, dude?”

“You!” Darcy shrieked. “You! You! YOU! You’re the problem. This is all your fault!”

Jungkook called her a crazy bitch and Darcy slapped him across the face before stomping off. A sleek red convertible was waiting for her on the curb, a well-groomed man behind the steering wheel. He smiled and waved at Jungkook before speeding off, Darcy already attaching her lips to his neck and not sparing any of us a second glance.

“What the fuck!” Taehyung shouted, sobbing and clinging to Milo.

I was surprised he was able to hold himself back for that long. He seemed hellbent on strangling Jungkook as soon as he was able. I stepped to the side watching a man I had never seen upset shove Jungkook backwards. Any resemblance of a smile was gone now, replaced with a snot-nosed, red eyed man with bared teeth. Jungkook stumbled, barely keeping his footing before shoving the other man back. Milo was quick to defend his fiancé, pushing Jungkook so hard he stumbled, fell on his ass, and cried out in pain.

Jimin’s arm gripped me tighter as he stared at the scene unfold in silence. His clenched jaw, however, told me how angry he was. I briefly wondered what he would be doing if he was not so focused on keeping me warm.

“That was so fucked up,” Taehyung cried, wiping his face roughly. “I told you both to keep that shit at home or don’t come!”

“She started it! It’s not my fault-”

“Dude,” Milo shook his head, wrapping his arms around Taehyung. “It doesn’t fucking matter. That’s your girl.”

As the three of them argued, I tried to decipher the look on Jimin’s face. He was angry, that was very apparent, and I felt my own anger finally start to rise. He had been dealing with so much shit and on his first night out in ages this happens? It was unfair and ridiculous, my frustration over the entire situation making me want to go over and push Jungkook around, too. However, I knew that was not the way to handle this. Truth was, he was not the only person to blame for how badly the night had ended. Darcy was the main instigator.

“Are you okay?” I asked Jimin, stepping away from his tight embrace. His arm was still around my shoulders with no sign of moving. “I’m sorry everything got so shitty.”

He nodded, face softening when he looked at me. “Just worried about Taehyung. He was really excited about tonight.”

The yelling was finally starting to calm down and I was happy that they were talking things out. I did not think I could handle the screaming for any longer. I had been a bundle of nerves since I left my house, and my fingers trembled at my sides. I could hear my mother’s voice echoing in my head, though I was positive it was distorted after so many years. Sometimes when her and dad fought, she would find me hiding in my closet and pull me out, hands leaving my skin tender from the harsh grip she had on my arms, before telling me to clean up the broken dishes from off the floor.

“Come here you little shit!”

She hated me; hated being a mother. I could remember how much I wished she would hold me like the other kids' moms held them but was too afraid to ask. One time I drew a picture of her at school and she never even looked at it. Instead, she smoked her cigarettes at the dinner table and watched Law and Order. If I really thought about it, she threw the drawing away. It was too dirty. Just like I was too dirty.

Mom had germaphobia and considered me one of the dirtiest things she had ever seen. I was not allowed in their bedroom because of it. Dad went along with it like he did everything else. When he wasn’t drinking, he was sleeping or in the garage. I hoped he was doing okay. Danielle seemed to be just as controlling as mom had been.

“Where’d you go?”

I startled, whipping around to find Jimin staring at me. His expression was gentle and calm, and I was suddenly aware of the harsh chill nipping at my wet cheeks. I had not noticed I was starting to cry. Strange. It had been a long time since those memories had been brought up.

“Are you okay?” He asked, rubbing my arm. “You looked lost.”

I nodded, quickly reaching up to pat the tears away. It was a good thing my mascara was smudge proof or else I might look even more pathetic. I am 31 now and it felt stupid to cry over things so far in the past. Things I had not had to deal with in well over 20 years. Dr.Wolfe would disagree with me, but she wasn't here.

“Yeah,” I nodded, voice thick. “Just zoned out for a second. Eyes must have dried out.”

It was a bad lie, but a lie he accepted. Squeezing my arm one last time, he finally moved away to give me a bit of breathing room. That was another thing that I always appreciated about the guy. He never overstayed his welcome, even if he wanted to. Taking a second to compose myself, I mindlessly fixed my hair and adjusted my clothes. Nervous habit.

“I think everyone’s heading home for the night,” Jimin said, nodding his head toward the other three men. “They seem cool. You ready to leave?”

I shrugged, “If you are.”

He nodded and walked over to the ground. I gave myself another moment to gather my thoughts. The worst of it was over and I doubted those memories would make themselves known again. With the screaming over it would not take long for my head to get itself straightened out. I might ask Jimin to drive us back, though. I was exhausted, and frankly, I did not think we would be safe if I was behind the wheel. Nothing worse than an anxious driver.

Jungkook was ashamed of their behavior tonight, and when I joined the others, he was quick to throw a million apologies in my direction. I accepted them all easily but knew it would take me a few days to fully forgive him. Tonight was a lot. Hopefully I could speak with Taehyung privately and ask him not to invite the couple out with us. If I never had to see Darcy again it would make my stay that much easier.

“I think we’re going to go home,” Milo said once Jungkook walked away. He was planning on calling an Uber so Tae could have a bit of space. “My little flower is burned out for the night.”

I smiled sadly, “Are you sure? We can always try something else.”

Taehyung’s head snapped in my direction and I wanted to scoop him up in my arms. His face was puffy from crying and eyes still misty. He was quick to nod his head and reached out to take hold of my hands.

“You still want to hang out with me?” He whimpered.

I had only said it to cheer him up not thinking that he would actually go for the idea. I had never seen him so distraught before and Milo seemed convinced that he was over having fun. Stealing a look at the blonde, he gave me a grateful smile but otherwise kept a watchful eye on Taehyung.

“Of course I do,” I finally replied, squeezing his large hands. “Tonight wasn’t your fault.”

His lower lip started to wobble again and next thing I knew I was in a very tight, warm hug. Taehyung cried into the crook of my neck. He was worried I would not like him anymore because of the fight. I awkwardly hugged him back, hoping my calm reassurances would soothe him. We really needed to get from outside the front of this restaurant before they called the cops.

“It’s alright,” I said, trying to gently remove his arms from my waist. “We’re still friends, I promise.”

After another minute of crying, Taehyung was back in Milo’s arms. His face was red, and his nose was running, but the sobs had stopped. Jimin placed a hand on my lower back and started to bounce a few ideas off of Milo. It was late, but from the sound of things, our get together was not over. I could not say for certain if this was a good thing or not, I did need to have that talk with Jimin. If we were out too late there was no way for me to promise I would not pass out in the car.

“Uh,” Jimin thought for a second. “If we’re still hungry there’s Pie Sci and Woodbridge is right down the street. There's also that park a few blocks away."

I shrugged, “Whatever’s the best?” Looking at Taehyung, I made sure that he was feeling well enough to hang out. “I won’t be upset if you want to go home. It was a rough night for all of us.”

He sniffled and nodded. “I’m just really tired.”

Jimin and I said our goodbyes and I promised the blue haired boy I would call him in the morning to set up another meet up. He called it a group date, something neither Jimin nor I disagreed with, but it did make me feel queasy. Depending on how our conversation goes, we may never spend time together outside of training. I felt like I was going to vomit.

“Let me drive?” Jimin murmured as we parted ways with the couple.

I nodded, digging in my purse to find them. “Mind reader, I swear. Get out of my head, kid.”

He snickered, “Who says you weren’t in mine, granny”

The queasiness dissipated and I felt like I could breathe a little bit easier now. Being alone with Jimin had never felt this nerve wracking before, not even the first time we met, and it was hard to explain all of the thoughts and feelings going through my head. We were finally having the talk, but I had never imagined it going this way. Handing him the keys, I elbowed him in the ribs.

“Whoops,” I mocked. “You know me and my bad eyesight, kiddo.”

“Watch it,” He hissed, rubbing the spot. “Don’t want you breaking anything. You know you have frail bones.”

I laughed, “Don’t make me give you a knuckle sandwich, punk.”

Sliding into the passenger seat felt less daunting after the light hearted exchange. Still, my blood was pumping as Jimin clicked his seatbelt in place. I had no idea when the conversation would shift into murkier waters, but I needed to start thinking about what to say to him.

Denying my feelings would only make things worse, and I did not think the younger man would believe me. In fact, he would be offended that I thought he was dumb enough to get bamboozled in the first place. Lying did not seem like the right call anyway. My feelings were not something to feel ashamed about, but they were very frightening.

“When is later?”

I gasped, startled out of my thoughts. We had been driving for over ten minutes already. Time seemed to slip by when I was lost in my own head. Jimin apologized for scaring me but repeated the question once I reassured him that I was fine.

“Now,” I mumbled. “I guess later is now.”

Turning on the blinker, Jimin switched lanes smoothly. He was probably the best driver that I knew and always made sure to keep my little quirks in mind during our rides. He had even gotten used to leaving the radio off when I was around, something that I appreciated more than words could ever say. Recognizing that I was stalling, I cleared my throat and tried my best to get my jumbled thoughts across.

“As much as I would like to go on that date,” I started, voice weak, “I’m just a bit concerned with how that might affect our ability to work together.”

There we go, I thought to myself mentally patting myself on the back. That was not as hard as I thought it would be. Leaving out a few details would not hurt anybody, and it was the main cause of concern for me. My age was definitely up there, but I doubted Jimin would understand my perspective. To him I was just older, but to the rest of the world I was this cougar on the prowl for young men to help me relive my glory days. Even my own friends thought it was funny to make fun of the age gap.

“Is it only because of that?” Jimin pressed, his voice telling me that he was still reacting positively to whatever was coming out of my mouth. I was refusing to look at him, fearful that he would see through me. “Or is there something else bothering you?”

“W-w-well-” I stammered, “There is the media frenzy to think about. Sejin is already dealing with the press and your ‘out of character’ seclusion this season. Then there’s the age gap. I just-” I struggled to find the right words. Having let my insecurity slip out, I lost my flow and scrambled to get back on track. “Look, I haven’t done this whole dating thing in a really long time, and I don’t want that to get in the way of being a good coach. Ozzie put me in charge of you, and my reputation is on the line.”

I could hear my heart beating in my ears. Mouth dry and palms sweaty, I forced myself to look out of the window as I spoke. Anxiety had been something I dealt with for as long as I could remember, and it only got worse the older I got. My hands and fingers trembled in my lap as I tried to steady my breathing.

In all of the dreams I had about Jimin, and there had been quite a few at this point, this moment had never felt so real and raw. We were always in these picture perfect pieces of heaven, sunshine beaming down on us, and the words I desperately wanted to say fell from my lips with ease. It was simple and sweet, and yet profound and beautiful. I could wax poetics and put myself thoughts together so eloquently he had no choice but to say yes to me.

Reality was different. Here I was stumbling over my sentences and stuttering my way through words. Instead of taking his hand with mine, I was fidgeting with shaking fingers and desperately hoping he could not see just how uncomfortable I was. I knew he did. He always noticed. My heart was racing so fast I was afraid it would burst. Had he turned the heart up? It was boiling.

“I just want to know how you feel about me.”

“Hm?” I squeaked, unable to form any real words. My mouth was too dry.

“I’ve thought about all of the same shit,” Jimin continued, voice as smooth and calming as ever. “I don’t care about any of that. All I want to know is how you feel about me.”

“You know,” I replied, wheezing. Talking felt impossible. “You know.”

“I want to hear you say it.”

Taking in a deep breath, I squeezed my eyes shut and began the mental countdown. My therapist taught me the technique years ago and I always found it to be helpful. I did this a few times until I felt calm enough to open my eyes.

“Are you alright?” Jimin asked.

“Yeah,” I nodded, finally feeling my heart rate slowing. “A little anxious.”

“Don’t be,” He placed a hand on my knee. “It’s just me.”

And he was right. It was just Jimin and I in my car, but that was also the reason I felt so suffocated. There was nowhere to run or hide in here, and if things went south I was stuck with him for half an hour. Trying not to let those pessimistic thoughts send me back into a panic, I began to mentally point out things in my car.

Air freshener. It's green. It smells like pine and lemons. I want a new scent. Jimin likes to buy this coconut and mango one that smells like candy. I will buy one like his. I love the smell.

I let out a heavy breath. Everything was fine. He was not upset. He just wanted to know how I felt about him. Nothing more nothing less. My heart was settling, and my fingers were no longer shaking.

“I like you,” I choked out, placing my hand over his. “But you already knew that.”

He gently laughed, flipping his hand up to intertwine our fingers.

“Yeah, you’re a terrible actress.”

I groaned, leaning my head against the window. As much as I tried kidding myself, there was absolutely no way he did not see the way I looked at him. I always knew when his flirting took on a more serious edge, like when he called me beautiful after seeing the scar on my leg for the first time, so it should not have been surprising that he picked up on a thing or two. Still, it did not make it any less embarrassing.

“How long have you known?” I asked, peeking at him through my lashes.

“I mean, I had a feeling when you first got to town, but I wasn’t completely sure until that first training day.”

He laughed at my embarrassed groan, holding my hand tighter. I knew I wasn't subtle enough. Poker face champion, my ass.

“Don’t be embarrassed,” He cooed. “You’ve been my dream girl since I was, like, 15.”

“That's not helping the age gap thing,” I tittered as I played with his fingers. Then, because I could not help myself. “Dream girl, huh?”

Picking up on the teasing tone in my voice, Jimin chortled.

“Okay, big head. Calm down.”

“Big head?” I guffawed, pulling my hand out of his grasp. “Who are you calling big head, shortstop?”

“You, big head,” Taking back my hand, Jimin pinned it down and kept a tight grip. “No take backs.”

I always loved it when Jimin was in a good mood. He was so playful and full of energy, and all signs of those dark days were in the deepest parts of his mind. It was impossible to keep myself from playing along which only served to egg him on.

“You never said yes or no.”

“Yes or no to what?” I questioned.

Jimin started rubbing the back of my hand with his thumb.

“To that date.”

Saying yes felt wrong, but saying no felt impossible. No matter what I said someone would be upset, and I had to decide who that would be: Jimin or America? I turned my own hand around this time and put my fingers through his. They fit together awkwardly, his hands just a bit too large, but I still found it perfect all the same.

“Do you have any ideas?”

His shiteating grin was contagious and a burst of butterflies began to flutter in my stomach. Hands clasped, Jimin started to list off all of the places we could go, but I was not fully listening. I had a date with this guy. I was going on a date with my trainee.

“What do you think?”

I blinked rapidly, hoping he could not tell that I had zoned out.

“You pick,” I breathed. “Surprise me.”

The rest of the drive back home was spent making small talk and discussing food preferences. Jimin was a dinner and a movie kind of guy, while I would rather do some sort of activity. What type of conversation could we have in a theater? Jimin seemed excited to plan out a fun night and I was just happy he was this into me. The feeling was most definitely mutual.

“Do you mind if I go to my house tonight? Mom needs some space and I know my dad is tired of having me breathing down their necks.”

I had yet to go over to his house. The days that we drove together were when he spent the evening with his parents. When Na-yeon and I talked about it, she was more upfront about her health situation than the men of the house. James spent most of his time taking care of his wife and their son enjoyed giving him a break every now and then. James would go on a fishing trip with his friends while Jimin stayed back to keep an eye on his mother.

“Is it closer to town?” I asked, nibbling on my lower lip.

I had yet to drive through downtown Ann Arbor. The Park house, and by proxy the Anderson’s, was a thirty minute drive from the bustling city. Nestled in the smaller town of Saline going towards Manchester, I had rarely had to leave the small town. This trip to Detroit was the farthest I had gone since arriving in Michigan, but I had a feeling the traffic in downtown Ann Arbor would be a bit much for me to drive through alone.

“Yeah,” I felt even more nervous by his nonchalant tone. “I used to live downtown, but I got tired of the noise. I bought my house in Eberwhite last summer, so there’s a little less foot traffic.”

“How’s the drive back to Saline?” Even I could hear the hesitation in my voice.

“Less than twenty,” Rubbing the back of my hand, his voice took on a sweeter tone. “We don’t have to. My truck’s at my parent’s place anyway.”

“Maybe some other time?” I forced myself to laugh, hoping to make the awkward tension leave. “Preferably when it’s not dark outside.”

I relaxed into my seat once I started seeing familiar landmarks. Saline was a very small town with a little over 2,000 residents, but downtown still had a way of attracting a relatively large crowd. Stoney Creek Brewery was packed and Jimin pointed out Sam’s car as we pass by.

“Looks like he came out with Otis and Skye,” He murmured.

Otis was another personal trainer at the gym, and Skye was responsible for marketing. They had been going out for a while now and made plan to move to Ann Arbor once Otis graduated from school. He was getting his masters in movement science at the University of Michigan. They had planned on moving out there when he graduated last year, but neither of them could find a job that could pay their bills. Otis was hoping the master’s would give him a competitive edge while Skye saved up enough money to start her own advertising firm.

“Think Gigi is with them?” I wondered.

“Probably not. She’s busy studying for an exam. I saw that she requested time off tomorrow and the day after, so I don’t think she has the time to go out for drinks.”

Giselle was getting her bachelor’s in dental hygiene at UM, and everytime I spoke to her she was swamped with work. I had no idea she needed to request time off, though. Must be an intense program.

“Did you ever go to college?” I asked Jimin.

He nodded, “I got my bachelor’s in psychology.”

Well, I had not been expecting that.

“Really?”

“Yeah, but I never went back to get my master’s,” We turned onto the long road that led to his parent’s house. “I might after the Olympics.”

It was interesting to hear about his goals post-swimming. I never had those. My entire life was going to be swimming, and then, once I could no longer compete, I was opening my own swim school. After a couple of years of coaching under my belt, the plan was to start training professional athletes until I could join the Olympic coaching team. The accident was a very traumatic and eye-opening experience for me, so most of those plans ended up getting changed and modified over the years.

“What about you?” Jimin asked, pulling up to the curb.

“I went through an accelerated program at UCCS. Just graduated with my Masters in Athletic Training back in April.”

Neither one of us seemed to be ready to break the bubble we created. Even if we were just talking about school, it felt too intimate to leave. Holding hands in my car was new and I was worried if I opened the car door all of this would turn out to be a dream. The date, the confession; all of it.

“I should get going,” Jimin sighed, still not moving his hand from mine. “It’s late and I have to drive home.”

I was the first one to move away. He was right. It was almost midnight and I had a really difficult time tonight. All of that yelling really took a toll on me. Jimin did not move until he heard the click of my seatbelt unfastening.

“See you tomorrow?” He asked when I rounded the car. Getting out of the car, he held the door open as I slid inside. “I know we were out later than we thought we’d be.”

I nodded, “We can have a late morning. 8:30 instead of 6.”

“Sounds good. See you then.”

He closed my car door and jogged to his truck. It was parked in the driveway today. I pressed the button to roll my window down.

“Drive safe!” I called out.

Looking over his shoulder, Jimin grinned and threw a hand up. I watched him climb into Fiona and tried to keep myself from worrying too much. It was so dark outside and he could be exhausted behind the wheel. Who knows what could happen to him.

He caught me staring and waved at me again. I returned it with a small smile. The truck stopped for a second and his phone was his hand. My cell phone vibrated in the cupholder.

Jimin: I’ll be okay

Jimin: Text you when I get home, k?

Looking back at the truck, I found him already looking at me. I nodded my response. He smiled at me again, waved, before finally backing out of the driveway. I did not move until I could no longer see his truck in my rearview. My phone buzzed one more time.

Jimin: At the stop sign on Woodland and Ann Arbor-Saline

Jimin: Go home. I’m here. I’m fine.

I hesitated texting him back when I knew he was driving, but decided that I would just have to trust he would not open it until it was safe.

Me: Get out of my head, kid

Finally putting my car in drive, I threw my phone back in its spot and made the ten minute drive down the road to the Anderson house. All of the lights were off when I pulled up and I was as quiet as a mouse walking to the backyard.

I was beyond tired but still needed to get my nighttime routine done. Stripping out of my clothes, I turned on the shower and took off my makeup. Tonight wasn’t a wash night, so I was not in the shower for long. I heard my phone vibrating as I put on lotion and I quickly threw on a night shirt and went to my bedroom.

Jimin: Who says you aren’t in mine, meemaw

Jimin: I’m home now so you can get some sleep

Jimin: Night, geezer

I snorted. That was a new one. Crawling into bed, I got comfortable under my blankets and thought about a good comeback.

Me: Thank you

Me: Geezer? That’s such an geriatric thing to say, you whippersnapper

Jimin: LOL night 🫰🏼

Me: Night 🌜

I quick sent Taehyung a text to make sure he and Milo go home safely before putting my phone on the charger. Jungkook sent a text to our group chat an hour ago to let us know he was in his apartment back in Detroit. He was in Ann Arbor so often since Darcy lived out here, but he had bought a multi-million dollar home in Corktown when was first signed to the Red Wings in 2019. Milo was the one to reply to my text, signing his name at the bottom, since Taehyung passed out in the car on their way back home.

I took my medications and started up a game of solitaire while I waited for them to kick in. My psychologist had sent me to Michigan with a three month supply. I was planning my first trip back next week so I could see the boys in time for their first big competition of the season. While I was in town, I would pick up another three month supply. We were making the arrangements work as best as we could, and I was lucky I had a large group of people willing to support me during this transition.

Finally I felt the sleeping pills kicking in and I went to my white noise app. I hated falling asleep in silence and Emery had suggested the app while we were in a session. I paid for a yearly subscription and never regretted the fifty bucks. It had been a huge help in lulling me to bed.

Lights out and blankets wrapped snugly around my body, I closed my eyes and thought about everything that had happened. Jimin liked me back, asked me on a date, and told all of his friends about his infatuation with me before I even realized something else was going on. I was his dream girl. That put a lazy smile on my face. Then, I could no longer think about anything and was plunged into a dreamless sleep.

Taglist: @ownthesunshine @screamertannie @lovelytaes-blog @pernesianparapio @tae-with-some-suga @sumzysworld @chimmisbae @adventures-in-bookland

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cozage · 11 months

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The Moss that Grew in Gloom

Chapter 2: Honor in Asking for Help

Start From Beginning | Next Chapter | Masterlist | Read on AO3

Summary: As the daughter of the best swordsman in the world, your life has been a lonely one. You've never minded the quiet life, until a mossy-haired swordsman falls to your island and shakes things up. Word Count: 2.5k Characters: female reader x Zoro

You heard him outside your room in the mornings, training in the courtyard. Sometimes you stopped to watch him, but most of the time you ignored it. He worked his way up the baboons, slowly and painfully.

In the afternoon, you explored the island. Most days you wandered through the destroyed villages, but you also enjoyed watching Zoro train. One time he caught you, and demanded you either fight or leave, and you laughed as you walked away. He didn’t seem to question why the baboons didn’t chase you as you retreated.

He dragged himself inside at night and the four of you ate dinner together. Most of the time it was silent, save for Perona’s loud voice talking to nobody in particular. After dinner you and Zoro went to the infirmary, where you checked his bandages and made any adjustments that were needed.

This went on for a few weeks, until Zoro only had about 10 baboons left to conquer. He had been stagnant in his progress for a few days, and you could tell he was getting frustrated.

“Would you like some pointers?” you asked, tightening the bandage around his wrist.

“What could you teach me?” he snarled back.

You laughed, it echoing off the stone walls. “I guess you won’t know until you ask.”

“I don’t need your help.”

You hummed, tucking his bandage under the wrapping to keep it from unraveling. He hopped off the cot and stormed towards the door.

“Let me know if you change your mind,” you called out to him as he stormed down the hall.

There was a knock on your door three days later. You opened it to find the moss-headed swordsman standing there there, sweat beading on his forehead. He looked nervous, but he didn’t say anything.

You stood there waiting for him to speak for a few moments, but he didn’t.

You finally took the bait, tired of his game. “Can I help you?”

He scowled at you. “Hang on, woman. I’m working on it.”

You stood there for another minute, but he didn’t say anything.

“You’re wasting my time,” you said, starting to shut the door.

“Hang on!” His hands slammed against the door, taking you by surprise.

You squinted your eyes at him, crossing your arms over your chest in irritation while you waited for him to muster up the courage to say whatever he was planning.

Zoro fiddled with the hilt of Wado Ichimonji, clicking it in and out of its belt. “Mikawk said you’ve beaten all of the babboons on the island.”

You raised an eyebrow. “And?”

“How’d you do it?”

You give him a smug look, finally realizing his motives for being here. He had actually taken you up on your offer.

“Are you asking me for help?” you asked coyly.

“No!” Zoro snapped immediately. He hesitated for a second, and then let out a defeated sigh. “Yes.”

You gave him a slightly evil giggle and picked up your sword next to the door. “Come on, let’s see what I can teach you.”

You walked past him without saying anything further, and quickly down the hallway. You heard him struggle to keep up with you behind you. You considered waiting for him, but pausing would show a sign of weakness you couldn’t afford to let him see. He already understimated you enough as it was.

When you finally made it out to the courtyard, you turned back to face him, hoping he was still behind you. He was a short distance back, but he had kept up for the most part.

The courtyard didn't seem like the proper spot for the training he’d be doing, and you’d rather stay away from your father’s lurking eyes and his judgemental comments. So you continued on towards the tree line, still not saying anything to Zoro.

“Hey!” Zoro called out, stopping at the courtyard. “I normally train here!”

“Keep up!” you called back to him, not slowing your pace. “Or else you’ll get lost.”

You heard him let out a huff of desperation, and his boots stomped quickly on the ground to close the gap to you. You smirked to yourself, but said nothing outloud.

Once you hit the treeline, you slowed down to allow him to catch up to you. It’d be easy for a normal person to get lost in these woods, and Zoro would be hopelessly doomed here. When he finally caught up with you, he was breathing heavily.

“Could you walk any faster?” He snapped, struggling to catch his breath.

“Yes.” You kept walking, your eyes watching the darkened areas of the forest where enemies could be hiding.

You heard his steps start to recede, and as you look around, you realize he’s wandering away from you.

“Hey!” you shouted, running over to him. You gripped his wrist tightly, dragging him back to the path. “All you have to do is follow me! How are you failing so badly at that already?!”

You heard him clench his teeth, but you kept a strong grasp on his wrist. You did not want him to get lost here. It’s unlikely he’d ever find his way out.

You pulled him along, and he followed obediently, even if you could feel him silently seething. Luckily, no baboons bothered you all for now. It’s the weaker part of the island, but sometimes they still liked to challenge you for fun.

You all finally made it to some old ruins, and you stopped abruptly. Zoro smacked into you, and he groaned out in pain.

“Pick a spot,” you said, ignoring his grumbling. “Do you know what Haki is?”

He gave you a scowl, which you took as his answer.

You coated your hand in armament haki and held it up to show him. “You ever done this before?”

His scowl deepened, and you resisted the urge to roll your eyes. How could this man best your father if he didn’t even know what haki was.

“Haki is your spiritual energy, which you can harness and use in various ways.”

“I don’t know what that has to do with beating baboons.”

“Because,” you hissed, irritated with his arogance. “This cut-”

You sliced at the air with your blade, sending a slash to the tops of the trees. Several branches fell to the ground.

“Turns into this.”

You infused haki into Nikko, sending a glance his way before slicing the area next to the one you had just cut. It was a clean cut, and the tops of multiple trees completely toppled, crashing to the ground.

Zoro’s jaw dropped for a moment, but he quickly corrected it. He tried not to look too impressed, but you could feel pride swelling in your chest. You had proven yourself to him, in a minor yet crucial way.

“Teach me,” he said, desperation in his voice.

“I can’t,” you replied.

“Then why’d you show me?!”

“You have to learn it yourself, idiot!” you shouted back. “So pick a spot!”

He grumbled, but he walked over to a flat rooftop and sat down. You joined him, holding out a hankerchief. He stared at you, skeptical of the piece of cloth.

“Around your eyes,” you said, pointing at his face.

“What?” he hissed.

“Do you trust me?”

He frowned at you. “I don’t know you enough to trust you.”

You groaned, turning and walking away from him. You were exasperated with his constant mood switches. “If you don’t want my help then I’m leaving. Find your own way home.”

“Wait!” he shouted. “Fine. But I’m using my own.”

When you turned back, you saw him tying a bandana around his head and pulling it down over his eyes.

“Okay,” you nodded. You bent down, picking up a stick from the ground. “Now dodge.”

“What?!?!” He screamed, but when you swung, he moved out of the way instinctively.

The fact that your stick didn’t make contact with him on the first attempt shocked you. Either his senses were sharp, or…

You swung again, and he dodged. Time and time again, you swung and missed him.

“You do know what haki is!” you pouted. You were hoping you’d get at least one hit in.

“What do you mean?” He raised his bandana off one eye, looking up at you.

“Your observation haki is super refined!” you complimented. He deserved that much. “It’ll make it easier to transfer that concept to armament haki.”

“Oh.” Zoro did his best to act disinterested, but you could see his cheeks pink at your compliment.

“So the feeling you had when you could sense my movements?! You know that feeling?” You looked at him, waiting for him to respond, but he just shrugged.

“I just know how to do it. It’s not really a feeling.”

You frowned. There was definitely a feeling you associated with it. It’s how your father explained it too. The mossy-haired man probably just wasn’t paying enough attention.

“Close your eyes again. Really focus on the feelings you’re experiencing when you dodge.”

You swung another twenty times, and he dodged them all. No matter how indifferent or how much malice you put into the swings, he always avoided your attack.

“You know the feeling now?” you asked after the last swing.

“I don’t have a feeling!” he shot back, still blindfolded.

“Are you focusing on how you feel?!”

“No!” he yelled. “I’m focusing on you!”

You rolled your eyes. “Focus on yourself.”

“I can’t!” he shot back.

“Why not?” you growled.

“You’re too damn distracting!” He said, tugging his bandana off his head to stare at you.

You ignored the heat rushing to your cheeks and used his outburst as a way to take a deep breath and focus yourself before you responded. “Well stop focusing on me. Focus on my attacks, and how they make you feel.”

“I already know how they make me feel,” he muttered under his breath. He pulled his bandana over his eyes again, and you swung.

You smacked him, and he yelped out in pain.

“What the hell?!” he demanded. “I wasn’t ready!”

“Focus!” you screamed, swinging again.

He dodged this time, though it was a later reaction than it had been before. You could tell he was trying to follow your instructions, even if they didn’t make much sense to him. After a few swings, he seemed to flow better in his dodges.

“You can feel it,” you said, dropping the stick to the ground.

“I think so.” He didn’t sound too sure. “It’s like a weird tingling sensation.”

“Yes!” you shouted in triumph, and he jumped at your loudness. “Now you just have to harness that tingling sensation and put it around you, kind of like an exoskeleton.”

“An exo-what now?” He pulled his bandana up again so it sat normally on his head. His eyes were full of confusion.

You hummed, trying to think of a proper synonym. “Kind of like a shell?”

“And then I just push it into my swords?”

“We’ll get to the sword part after you get the armorment haki down.” You didn’t want him wearing himself down to the bone in one day.

He closed his eyes, trying to concentrate. You could see his body tensing, his muscles clenching together in effort.

“Zoro?” you sang his name like a soft melody, and you saw his teeth grit in frustration.

“I’m focusing!” he snapped.

“Yeah, I see that. I just think-”

He shouted in frustration and stood up, pulling out one of his blades and slashing it at nothing. “I can do it myself, okay?” he yelled, looking at you.

You didn’t react. You just stared at him with an irritated expression, waiting for him to calm down. He finally did, heaving deep breaths from his energy being gone after so much training through the day.

“Come on.” You turned back towards the castle. “You’re too worked up. It’s not going to work if your mind isn’t right.”

“Do whatever you want,” he huffed. “I’m not coming back until I get this.”

He’d be out here all night even if he didn’t start wandering off. “Zoro-”

“Leave!” he yelled. “You’re distracting me, woman!”

“Fine,” you snapped back. You sped towards the treeline without another word, refusing to look back at him.

You couldn’t believe the audacity of that swordsman. You offered your kindness, just for him to treat you like this. Your father always said pirates weren’t honorable, they they could turn on a dime, and Roronoa Zoro seemed to be the perfect example of that. You wanted to scream at him for being so rude. Let him get lost, let him fight all of the baboons at once. Whatever happened to him, he brought upon himself.

You made it back to the castle as the sun was slowly sinking down over the ridge, and you were irritated to learn that your entire day had been wasted on some ungrateful man. You stormed into the castle and past your father without a word. You were about to head up the stairs when he addressed you.

“Busy day?” he asked. You could hear the sly question in his voice.

“Are you going to chastise me for helping an outsider?” you snapped back, your anger still bubbling inside of you.

His eyes gave you a warning glare, letting you know that your attitude was pushing his patience. “I take it the lessons did not go well.”

You took a breath. “He doesn’t want my help.” You felt calmer now that you were talking to your father. He was so level headed, everything was so simple with him. It brought you back down to rational thinking.

“Why do you think that is?”

“Probably because I’m a girl,” you scoffed. “And he doesn’t want me helping him make any progress.”

Your father laughed dryly. “I believe half of that answer is right.”

You squinted your eyes at him, trying to decipher the code he was speaking in, but he changed the subject before your could figure it out.

“Would you like to spar tomorrow morning?”

“With Yoru?” you asked eagerly, excitement bubbling inside you.

“If you would like.”

“Yes!” You jumped with glee, and your father smiled at your joy.

You grinned for the rest of the night, excited for what would come in the morning. You were so consumed in getting ready for your own battle with your father, you didn’t realize that Zoro had never made it back to the castle.

#one piece #one piece imagine #one piece scenario #one piece x reader #one piece fic #one piece x you #zoro #roronoa zoro #zoro x reader #zoro x y/n #zoro x you #cozage #TMTGIG #✧˚zoro✧˚

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elitadream · 8 months

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🎆 Sing for Absolution: behind the scenes 🎆

Hello everyone, and welcome to this summary on how the story was visually built! If you happen to come across this post and would like to read (or reread) the collab @drones-of-innocence and I have created together, just click on the title above and it will take you right to it! 🤗

With that said, let's begin! :D

As some of you already know, this was an idea that Drones had for a long time. It was brought up during one of our many conversations a few months ago, in which she briefly described the plot and sent me a condensed version. I- immediately and completely fell in love with the concept, so much so that I couldn't keep still. 😂💘 I practically begged Drones to let me draw a few frames for it, and she happily gave me permission. At first, what I intended to do was make about 3 or 4 thumbnails, like I had done with One Step Closer.

I returned with 22.

And from there, we both decided "Okay. Yeah. Let's make this official. 🙌💯" LOL

What's interesting here is that, as you can see, some frames didn't make it to the final cut! 🤓 And inversely, new frames were eventually added as the collab progressed. Out of all the sketches that were either abandoned or later deemed superfluous, my personal favorite would probably have to be this shot of Kamek. 😈

From the rough thumbnails I had presented, Drones helped me select the best and most eloquent ones, and I also changed a few other things along the way. For example, one panel that was entirely redone was frame 3 (where Mario enters Peach's room), because the initial composition didn't allow for the reader to see the setting very clearly, and I felt that the establishing shot needed to be wider.

Many of the drawings were also ultimately flipped to give the visuals a more coherent direction and better flow, including this one!

I decided pretty early on that the palette should be made of cold hues, seeing as these events happen to take place at night and that a warm overlay wouldn't adequately have conveyed the more ominous and solemn tone of the story in my opinion. 🤔💁‍♀️

Oh! And I almost forgot: using cold colors for the backgrounds and characters was also very convenient because it helped make the magical effects (the fire, the spells, etc- all the bright, warm and/or complementary nuances) really stand out, which resulted in a more interesting and visually striking contrast overall. 😌🎨

As I do with all my illustrations, I started by cleaning the sketches and adding a unifying background filler for all the frames. Then, I selected the colors I wanted to use (a gradient made of a mix of navy blue and purple) and worked on each drawing individually. Even with simple tones, we can observe the sheer difference that shading makes! 👀😉

There's a visual element that appears in the story and which I had borrowed from Drones before, and that would be Peach's healing magic.^^ ✨ I remember I was fascinated by the idea when I first discovered it in Un Fiore Per Te, which had prompted me to ask her if I could feature it in a piece where the Princess is seen using said power while at Mario's bedside in one of my other tangents. 💞

I kept the effect similar on purpose in Sing for Absolution, so that the slight reference would be easier to catch! 😊

And last but not least, there's that cheeky little Fire Flower! 🤭🔥

As mentioned in a previous ask, the flower actually signifies a lot in this case as it somewhat embodies the deeply affectionate bond between Mario and Peach, glowing brighter and closing its eyes in happiness when the two are close. 💖

While admittedly not the first drawing I made in which a Fire Flower appears, the one that actually inspired both Drones and I to include this symbolic power-up in the story was one that I made all the way back in February for Valentine's Day. 🥰 The subtle yet direct reference can be spotted twice in the text, linking this piece to the collab and establishing a bit of a chronology as well. I was very honored that Drones added this small detail, and I very much look forward to working on more ideas with her in the future! 😁🤝

Big thanks once again to all of you dear friends and followers who have commented and given their thoughts on this projects. Drones and I can't thank you guys enough for your interest and enthusiasm!! 😇💗

ALSO ALSO- I have shared here my visual side of the collab's progression, but Drones intends to give her own side of the story's development soon (explaining some of the themes and narrative elements a little more in depth), so make sure to stay tuned and check her blog as well! ^-^ 💫

#Mario #Princess Peach #Mario x Peach #Mareach #concept #story #collab #Sing for Absolution #fanart #fanfic #elitadream #drones-of-innocence #creators on Tumblr

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itsmarsss · 3 months

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The World-Famous Annual Heffley Puppet Show [Rodrick Heffley x Reader] (Diary of a Wimpy Kid)

(~from the vault~)

Susan invites you to watch one of the Heffley's weird annual traditions, and you're expecting anything but this.

Word Count: 1,479

[...]

Dating Rodrick Heffley was… an experience. Not in a bad way at all, it was only that it could be… weird, for lack of a better word to describe it, at times. Like right now, for instance, when you were sitting in his living room while his parents told an extremely over-complicated story through… puppets.

You weren’t exactly sure how you'd gotten yourself into this situation. Okay, well, that was a lie, actually.

Susan had been incredibly persistent about you coming to the ‘World-Famous Annual Heffley Puppet Show’, as she made sure to announce extravagantly, adamant about you being present to witness the oh-so-great performance, and, despite Rodrick´s ridiculous attempts at making faces at you from behind her that quietly told you to not, in any occasion, agree to it, you just couldn’t get yourself to say no.

“Why would you say yes? You could have just said your grandma just died or something!” Rodrick questioned you, exhasperated.

“Dude! Don’t say that about my grandma!”

“Okay sorry. But you could’ve said absolutely anything! Anything!"

“I tried! She kept finding solutions! She even said she’d move the date up.”

“She said that?”

“Yeah. Why?"

“Shit. She’s never moved the date before. She really wants you to go.”

“Why is that?"

“No idea. I think she just really likes you."

“Why do you sound so shocked about that?”

“She’s never really liked any of the girls I went out with.”

“Okay, James Dean. You’ve gone out with like one girl before me when you were like sixteen.”

“Hey I got laid! Occasionally.”

“Ew."

“It’s true!”

“Yeah right.”

“Fine. I got laid twice. Happy?"

You shrugged, grinning at him as you poked fun at him some more.

"Well now that you said yes to her I guess we’re gonna have to go.”

“It can’t be that bad!”

It could. It definitely, 100%, without a doubt, could. The ‘performance’ had been going on for about half an hour now, and it didn’t look like it was heading towards an end any time soon. You were all sitting in chairs, which were lined up in front of the couch, your seat between Rodrick's and Greg's, with Rowley by Greg’s left and Manny by Rodrick’s right.

Okay, yeah, maybe this time you should have listened to Rodrick.

You really, really tried, but you could not, as much as you desperately wanted to, figure out the plot of the story Mr. and Mrs. Heffley were trying to tell. It had something to do with dragons and fried chicken and at some point you could swear there was a clown. How any of that tied up together was beyond you, and, as you could see, Rodrick and Greg too.

The only ones who seemed to be having any fun at all were Manny, who was standing up and clapping like crazy throughout the entire thing, probably props to the very questionable voices his parents were making for the ridiculous amount of different characters that seemed to progressively look worse in appearance as they showed up, and Rowley, who also didn’t seem to understand any of it, but looked entertained nonetheless, occasionally even shooting Greg a few comments, to which Greg just smiled and mumbled something incoherent under his breath in response.

You leaned over to Rodrick, who was wide-eyed at this point, looking borderline terrified at the scene that unfolded in front of him. “You said it was bad, not that it was gonna give me nightmares!” You whispered.

He looked genuinely embarrassed, and for Rodrick Heffley to be embarrassed of something, oh that was something. “I tried to warn you!”

“What are you guys talking about?” Greg whispered too, making himself a part of the conversation.

“Shut up dickhead,” Rodrick let out under his breath, to which Greg replied by sticking his tongue out at him, earning a middle finger in response. Oh, brothely love.

“Do you guys really have to go through this every year?”

They both nodded. “It’s like it gets more terrifying every year,” Greg commented, and you took a quick glance back at the couch, where Mr. and Mrs. Heflley were crouched behind. Apparently a pig who was wearing a bow tie was hunting down a rabbit for sweets now.

“Do you guys think they’d notice if we left?” Greg asked and you pondered on it. Then you had an idea.

You turned to face your boyfriend. “Okay look. You gotta be fast alright? And you can't let your mom be upset at me."

“What?” Rodrick questioned you, finally managing to look away from the trance the puppet show had kept his eyes in.

“When I say I gotta go you say you’re coming with me.”

He nodded, though he hadn't really gotten the gist of where you were going with that.

“Wait can I come?”

“No,” Rodrick promptly replied.

“Come on give him a break," you nudged his arm, to which he rolled his eyes, letting out a sigh.

“Fine. But only ‘cause she asked.”

Greg smiled, looking at you. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

“Alright we gotta get out fast. Just grab Rowley with ya.”

Greg nodded in understandment.

“Hey Mrs. Heffley?” You spoke up.

The voices stopped. You were already grateful just for that moment of silence. Susan’s head appeared from behind the sofa. “Yes dear? Something wrong?”

“I'm really sorry, but um I really need to head home, I think.”

“Oh but we’re only halfway through-”

“I’ll take her home!” Rodrick exclaimed at lightspeed, yanking you by your wrist and sprinting towards the front door.

“We’ll come with!” Greg yelled too, doing the same with Rowley, leaving only Manny as an audience for the remainder of the story.

“But-”

“Bye! Thnak you for inviting me!” You yelled over, already out by the front yard.

“Uh- bye sweetie!”

You got to Rodrick’s van, which was parked on the street, all panting and out of breath from running so fast.

“Okay, get in demon spawn.” Rodrick unlocked the back door and waiting for the boys to enter.

“Hey!” You exclaimed in feighened offense.

“Not you. You’re a… sexy little demon...ess,” he smirked, knowing he’d get a laugh out of you.

You could hear Greg and Rowley say ‘ew’ from the back as you got in the car.

“I agrre with them, ew. I think I prefer demon spawn.”

Rodrick got in himself, turning the engine on. “Okay any ideas?”

“Can we go to Chipotle?” Rowley asked.

“No we should go to Taco Bell!” Greg yelled, and they immediately started arguing about it, talking over each other so loud you couldn’t understand a single word they were saying.

“Hey! Dickheads! Shut up!” Rodrick yelled, and, surprisingly, they did. “Y/n chooses.”

“What? Why?” Greg asked, offended.

“She has girlfriend privileges!”

You laughed at Greg’s angry expression. “Well I think we should go to Subway.”

“We’re not going to Subway." Rodrick deadpanned.

“What? You said I had girlfriend privileges!”

“Not if you choose fucking Subway!”

“Fine. Domino’s?”

“That's a decent option!” He smiled, and started driving.

You got yourselves a large pizza, Greg and Rowley quick to leave the table and go chase after each other around the place.

“You have grease on your chin,” you informed Rodrick when you looked at him. He wiped it off, his mouth full of food. He tried to say something, but quit as soon as he started, the sound muffled.

“Dude swallow the pizza first, that’s gross!”

He did so before trying again. “I said thank you.”

“It was looking all greasy and gross!"

"Oh shut up," he smiled at your teasing. "I meant for saying yes to my mom. She was actually like super excited about it.”

You furrowed your eyebrows together, confused. “Wait I thought you wanted me to say no.”

“Well yeah. But she clearly liked that you did go or whatever. She likes you.”

“That good?”

He shrugged his shoulders. “I guess. Maybe he won’t be so up our asses if she likes you.”

“Well you’re very welcome. Cause that was… something.”

He laughed. “You thought that was bad? You should see the Christmas one.”

There was no way. “They do a Christmas puppet show too?”

“Oh no it’s much worse. They actually act in it.”

“Jesus.”

“Yeah. And you’re officially invited by me.”

“Oh no don’t bring me into this again-”

“Too late! I-” he took a sip of his soda- “will be telling my mom you had a wonderful time today, and you were so, so bummed you had to go home early!”

“You’re a jerk!”

“What's that I hear? You’d be thrilled to attend the Yearly Heffley Christmas Play?"

“I hate you.”

“No you don’t.”

You smiled. You supposed you signed up for weirdness the moment you said yes to dating Rodrick Heflley of all people.

“I do, actually!”

He smiled at you. No, you don't.

[. . .]

A/N: heyy rewrote some thingies but its mostly the same as when i first wrote it. so here ya go with some more rodrick content! :)

#ill get my shit together with my masterlinks #im slowly adding my old stuff to tumblr but everything ive ever posted is on ao3 so if yall wanna check it out its itsmarsss there too #rodrick heffley #rodrick heffley imagine #rodrick heffley x reader #greg heffley #rowley jefferson #diary of a wimpy kid #doawk #doawk imagine #doawk rodrick

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aspiring-spellcaster · 1 year

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Gotg 3 was amazing and here’s why

1) It filled the void left by the avengers. A lot of the content since endgame hasn’t been anything special, just the title character and their supporting side characters with a few cameos thrown in. But the guardians work so well together. They feel like a real found family and I think that’s what I’ve been missing. Characters who really love and care and support each other.

2) It’s not interested in progressing the “overall mcu story”. There was no mention of Kang, or the multiverse and there were no cameos (not even in the end credits scenes). This movie’s only purpose was to finish the trilogy in a cohesive and satisfying way. And imo it succeeded. It kept the charm of the first two movies and went deeper into emotional depths while also having genuinely funny moments. It was so refreshing to see a mcu movie that had a clear vision of what it wanted to be and that was also made by people who care about the characters and story

#guardians of the galaxy vol 3 #guardians of the galaxy vol 3 spoilers #guardians of the galaxy #gotg 3 #mcu #marvel #my post

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yurinaa-world · 10 months

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"𝐼𝓈 𝒾𝓉 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓈𝒸𝒶𝓇𝓎 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒽𝒶𝓋𝑒 𝓉𝑜 𝒸𝓁𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝑜𝓃𝓉𝑜 𝓂𝑒?"

Characters: Blade and Luka x Gender-Neutral Reader

Synopsis: Watching a scary movie together

Warnings: Fluff, ooc (Luka), spelling errors,

Notes: Im not really proud of this one

𝐵𝓁𝒶𝒹𝑒

You let out another shriek for the seventh time, clinging onto Blade's arm. You only got through almost half of the movie, yet you were screaming, closing your eyes to avoid the scary scenes that played on screen. Blade, the whole time, wasn't affected by the movie; he just looked at you with a grin; it seemed that your fear-filled face was laughable for him.

"You can look now that the bloody part is over." He tells you, opening your eyes to look at the screen, It wasn't over at all, that liar! It's just getting worse; it just made your stomach churn before you hit his shoulder. "You damn Liar!" You hiss at him, glaring daggers at his grinning face, making you want to just slap him.

"I thought the gory scene was over, but I don’t mind you keep on clinging to me." Blade teases you; you feel his arms wrap around you and pull you closer to his chest and press you against it. You feel his breath fanning across your neck, and you shiver in response.

He chuckles at you, "You're so cute when you're scared." "Shut up and go watch the movie." You huff, hearing the sound of the main character in the show running through the woods away from the killer.

You turn around and glare at his smirking expression before he goes to watch the movie and how it progresses, he had warned you before watching that yet you don’t ever listen.

𝐿𝓊𝓀𝒶

"It's not as scary as I thought it would be," you shrug as you look over to Luka; he seemed to be shaking. Uhh, Luka, are you scared?" you ask with a bit of laughter in your voice. "What! No! I'm not scared; why would I be scared?" Luka quickly denied it, but you could tell he was totally scared. He was shaking, and his eyes were wide with fear. "Whatever you say," he said, you kept on watching the movie but ended up zoning out.

Loud screams hurt your ears. You jump before Luka grabs onto your arm. Luka, what was that?" you say, not trying to laugh at his reaction but a little bit concerned for him. "Did the greatest fighter of the fight club really scream like a girl?" you say while laughing even harder. "You know we can stop if you want; I don't mind." You smile.

"No way I can handle a dumb movie," he tells you. Yeah, sure, you thought to yourself but didn't voice it out loud, or else he'll get pouty with you again, but you don't like the way he has arms around you. It's cute to see him all scared.

if you liked this, consider tipping me on ko-fi! it'd mean a lot!

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an-idyllic-novelist · 1 year

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Kim Dokja headcanons with fem!reader who is a writer

These headcanons are dedicated to my friend @d10nsaint who recommended me this webtoon series to me when I had nothing else to read lol. Enjoy! :)

Prior to the apocalypse, Kim Dokja was neither a social butterfly nor a likable person on Minosoft’s Q and A team. Most people avoided him, and he liked to keep a low profile so he could read his webnovels in peace.

It was a perfect, quiet routine for a contract worker like himself until the arrival of a new junior shattered it all. [First Name] [Last Name], recently transferred from the company’s [Country] branch to HQ. And she was assigned to work under him.

Not only was the junior a quick learner, but she was also very good-looking. Kim Dokja might be a reader at heart, he wasn’t a blind fool to not notice her. She was definitely on her way to becoming the next Yoo Sangah in the company: charming, kind, and willingly to stay late to help the team finish up any assignments for the next meeting.

He definitely did not have a chance with someone like them. At least that was what he had thought until he looked over in her cubicle to go over some paperwork when he saw the artwork of a web novel on her computer but she wasn't there.

SOMEONE ELSE BESIDES HIM READ WEBNOVELS?! The man was stunned to say the least. However, right now he could not afford to look like a weirdo with the CEO making random rounds to each department today. So, like the gentleman he is, he placed the documents on your desk and went right back to work.

But he kept an eye on her…in a non-creepy way of course! It was just….hard for him to make conversation with someone. It definitely took Kim Dokja a few times to ask [First Name] if they would be interested in going to get a bite to eat on the way home from a particularly tiring day in the office.

To his surprise and delight, she accepted. It was nothing fancy, just a food stall. When he saw that her phone screen was opened up to the newest chapter of Three Ways of Survival he couldn’t help but blurt out that it was a mind-blowing twist to the story.

[First Name]'s reaction to his words was stunned silence, followed by them asking him that he’s read the novel too with a starry look in her eyes.

After that, Kim Dokja and [First Name] exchanged numbers. While at Minosoft, the two of them worked together and remained professional. If one or the other were invited to drinks, they’d follow them. Nothing too odd to raise any alarms, just casual banter that even made a few of the other employees raise her eyebrows.

It was a whole different story when they were off the clock though.

The two of them either went out somewhere, or just spent a good chunk of the evening texting each other web novel recommendations or their thoughts on the latest chapter of TWSA.

Kim Dokja thought he knew everything about his growing crush on [First Name] until she shyly dropped another startling revelation on him just a year after discovering that they loved reading as much as he did: [First Name] [Last Name] was a web novel writer.

Not only that, but her work was something he’d recently started to read when tls123 went on a brief hiatus due to health issues.

Seriously, how could someone be so perfect in his eyes?!

Naturally, he read [First Name]’s work and gave her honest feedback on the plot’s progression, the characters, any and everything that would make her grin from ear to ear or hum in contemplation about where she could improve.

He has the honor of reading her rough drafts before she published it online. Not going to lie, some of his ideas came from his favorite web novel. But [First Name] deeply appreciated his help and often thanked him for his support, especially when she was hit with writer’s block.

It took Kim Dokja another six months before he worked up the courage to ask [First Name] out on a date. He was terrified, fearing that he might lose his only friend…but seeing the bright red hue on [First Name]’s face and hearing her stutter that she would be delighted to go out with him as more than a co-worker and a friend made his heart skip a beat.

She….she really…liked him too, huh? That’s…great. No, it was more than great. This is probably one of the happiest memories he still kept close to his heart: knowing that he loved someone, and she loved him back.

And now, no matter what happened in these scenarios, he would protect and provide for [First Name]. She was precious to him, and she gladly reciprocated that same devotion and love with no strings attached or scheming.

It still warmed his heart to see her cuddle with Gil-Yeong and Shin Yu-Seong late at night or work with the rest of his party to ensure that everyone was prepared for what lay ahead next.

He also took secret, sadistic delight in seeing his significant other win arguments against Han Sooyoung, especially about stories or writing.

No matter what she said, a plagiarist is still a plagiarist even if people said that SSSSSS-Grade Infinite Regressor is superior to Three Ways of Survival in every way.

#orv kdj #orv kim dokja #kim dokja x reader #orv headcanons #omniscient reader's viewpoint #omniscient reader webtoon #an idyllic novelist #omniscient reader’s viewpoint x reader

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justonemorechapternicercy · 1 month

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I wish a happy, peaceful and stress-free birthday to my beloved @unbeknownstunknown I hope your day will be at least okay, but hopefully as wonderful as you are. (I'm not sure if you still like Nicercy or not, but hopefully yes. 🫣) I love you my dear. I wish you the best, because you deserve it!

Grover knew things. Most people didn't realize that; next to the big Percy Jackson, he was basically invisible. Even after following Pan's footsteps, he was still just a background character. Not that he minded, of course! He'd rather be just a side note than live through what Percy had to experience in all of his life. (He would NEVER want to be a demigod. No way.)

So, it wasn't like he minded being forgotten by people who weren't his friends. It made it possible to see things; to hear things.

To know things.

Like how the Stolls did most of their pranks. Or how Rachel found the loophole in her virginity oath. (That one was not something he wanted to know. Like, come on, girl! With Thalia?! Not something Grover wanted to know about his friends…)

Or how Nico di Angelo has been in love with Percy ever since the first time he looked at him. And how the literal second half of his soul has been in love with Nico ever since the guy saved their asses in the Battle of Manhattan. To be fair… the two of them weren't subtle. (Yet they still didn't realize their feelings. Idiots.)

Usually he stayed out of other's lives. He knew their secrets, but they were not his to spread. He just kept them. Like pretty jewels on a shelf; pretty, but basically useless. He only interjected when it was really important. Like in the battles. When he had to notify Percy about new rumors from Olympus. When there were gossips about Juniper.

But… maybe some secrets were more important to share than to keep.

For years, he saw the pinning grow. How crush turned into love, how suspicion turned into blind trust. Sometimes he suspected he knew them better than they knew themselves. He'd seen them grow up, from naive mortals to battle-hardened almost-gods.

He was the happiest he'd ever been with Juniper; didn't Percy, his soulmate, deserve the same happiness? Deciding to get involved was a scary thought. But not as scary as it was to imagine his best friend settling down with not having the best thing for him. To imagine Grover getting married and having the love of his life for the rest of their immortal lives, while Percy was thinking he wasn't loved, adored and cherished by Nico.

That was unacceptable.

He loved Juniper. He wanted to marry her, to have children with her, to spend the rest of their immortal lives with her. And seeing Nico and Percy laughing with each other, “talking” without any spoken discussion, being so comfortable with each other, yet believing their feelings were unreciprocated… Grover knew.

They deserved to have the same thing he had with his beloved.

Getting the two together was probably easier than expected, but harder than it sounded. He went shopping for Juniper's ring, taking Percy and Nico with him. For moral support, of course.

Not because he knew that as soon as they would get into the store, the two of them would stare at the rings with interest. Nope.

“Nico?” Grover asked. The younger boy raised his eyebrow curiously. “Do you think Percy's and Juniper's fingers are the same size? I forgot to ask about her ring size.”

Nico thought for a second, turning his head to look at Percy. Grover already knew the answer. “Yeah, I think so.”

They looked at the glass, studying the rings under it for a bit longer. Grover imagined how the rings would look on Juniper's gorgeous finger, and he suspected Nico was also thinking the same, except in his mind it was Percy's finger.

The Sea Prince was walking back and forth in the shop, like the ADHD demigod he was, before he walked up to them, throwing an arm around Nico's shoulder to check on their progress.

“Percy, I need your help,” Grover said. “Your finger is the same size as Juniper's and I want to see which ring would fit on her.”

Maybe seeing a ring on Percy's finger, Nico would realize he should put a ring on it.

“What do you think,” he turned towards Nico, “would look the best on-? I mean… If you were buying a ring for Percy, which one do you think would fit?”

His two friends were staring at him, bewildered. Too much? Probably.

“That.”

But it worked. Nico's answer was too quick, his choice was too perfect to hide he was thinking about it before.

“Oh,” Percy sighed. The ring really was perfect. Thin silver band with a tiny blue stone in it; deceptively graceful, just like Percy was.

“I would wear it,” Percy confessed, eyes still on the jewelry, his ears suspiciously red.

“Oh,” Nico exhaled.

“I would…” the Ghost King coughed, light blush pinkening his unhealthy pale skin. “I would buy it. For you. If you want, that's it. From me.”

It was painful to watch. Like a chariot crash. But Grover couldn't look away. It was happening!

“I mean… if it was you buying it, for me… That would be. Uh. I'd love that?”

They were so awkward. It was adorable. Grover felt like he was both the proud big brother of both, and the long-suffering love expert who has been waiting for this moment for years.

“You- really?!” Nico looked so excited; like a puppy. Hellhound, Grover admitted, but a puppy nonetheless.

Percy swallowed. “Yes,” he breathed.

Nico's mouth dropped open a little, as if he was surprised at how easy it was. Well. Probably it was surprising for him. Grover knew.

“Would you- really? Will you… Is it just…”

Percy blushed, redder than Grover ever had seen him before. “I will marry you. If. If that's what you- Was that? I mean.”

“Yes.” Nico was nodding, like one of those little toy dogs in the cars, bobbing his head up and down. “Percy. Will you marry me?”

Grover sighed, not bothering to hide his proud smile. Finally! After years and years and years… It was finally happening.

“Yes.”

#percy jackson #nico di angelo #grover underwood #percico #nicercy #pjo #pjo fic #happy birthday kitty 💙💙💙

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aluraveil · 2 years

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Catching the Harbingers cheating on you...

TW : Cheating, cursing, heavy angst, and angst with no comfort.

Sypnosis : You catch your harbinger s/o cheating on you..but how would they react?

Characters : Columbina, Pierro, Pantalone, Capitano, Childe, Arlecchino, Scaramouche, and Dottore x Reader.

Author’s Note : I’m really in my cheating angst era 😭

PART 2 IN PROGRESS!

Columbina

You and Columbina had been dating for quite a while. You hadn’t seen her in a while so you decided to visit her office and maybe spend some time together.

You loved hearing her sing, you loved hearing her soft voice.

You went into her quarters of Zapolyarny Palace and when you entered her office door you saw Columbina cuddling with someone else.

Imagine to your surprise when you found out she was cuddling with not just some ordinary person.

But another Harbinger.

It was Arlecchino.

The both of them were way too close to not look like a couple.

Arlecchino stared at you with her cold gaze which nearly made you shiver.

Columbina found the whole thing amusing. You catching her cheating with one of her fellow Harbingers.

You didn’t even say a word and you fet your heart shattering. You turned your heel walking towards the door when suddenly Columbina called out your name.

“Y/N why don’t you join us hmm?” Columbina asked with her soft voice and her lips curling into a smile.

“You’re shameless.” You spat.

“It seems like someone’s mad” Arlecchino said and the both of them started laughing at you.

You felt humilated. You didn’t want to give them the satisfaction of knowing that their words were getting to you.

But unlike many things in life that you couldn’t control, you couldn’t control the tears that came down your cheeks.

You ran out of there and never looked back. You never wanted to see them ever again.

Pierro

You and Pierro had been married for a while. The both of you loved each other a lot but you started to doubt his feelings towards you. He started coming home late all the time. But he was always late...so why did it start feeling like he wasn’t out doing missions for the fatui all the time?

Then again he is the 1st harbinger and the leader. So it made sense but you couldn’t ignore the gut feeling in your chest.

But one day you recieved a letter in the mail from an anonymous person.

“I have proof that your husband is cheating on you. Head to Zapolarny Palace at 5 pm into his office and you will see.”

You had thought the letter was strange but you couldn’t ignore the same gut feeling in your chest. You headed to Pierro’s office at 5pm.

You opened the door and you walked in on Pierro with another women. They were cuddling on his chair and they looked in love.

The anonymous person was right. He was with another person.

“Pierro? What’s going on? Who’s she?” You asked.

“I fell out of love.” His deep voice made you shudder. “But this wonderful women right here kept me company and we’re in love.”

“But I thought you loved me?..”

“No and get out.” Pierro said with a glare at you.

“W-what?-” You couldn’t finish your sentence as who you recognized to be Childe grabbed you out of his office.

“It’s better not to piss him off.” Childe said in a worried tone. “Are you okay?”

“You were the anonymous letter?” You said with tears in your eyes.

“I felt as if I had to tell you. I didn’t want you to see you getting hurt and wasting your time.” Childe said as he hugged you tightly.

You cried in his chest and Childe comforted you.

Pantalone

You were walking towards the Northland Bank where you wanted to visit your boyfriend. You knew he was really busy all of the time but you really wanted to see him.

You entered the Northland Bank and walked up the stairs to Pantalone’s office. Your hand was on the door knob and you were about to open it when you heard strange noises coming from inside.

You opened the door with a smile as you were excited to see him.

Pantalone looked up from his paper work that he was signing and gave you a smile.

“Oh Y/N” He said “What do I owe you the pleasure today?”

“Oh nothing” You said while walking towards him. “I was wondering if we could do something today?”

“Hmm yes” Pantalone hummed as he got up from his desk and started walking with you towards the door.

The both of you were about to exit his office when suddenly you heard a strange noise.

You looked behind yourself with a confused expression as you went into his office.

“Dear it’s nothing.” He said while trying to grab your arm. “I was thinking we could take a walk around the harbor”

You almost would have believed him. With the way he was so calm, his smile, and because he was your boyfriend.

But you’re no fool.

You looked behind his desk when you saw a girl who was under his desk. Your eyes widened and you pulled her from up from the desk. You were absolutely livid.

“So this is who you’ve been with while you claimed you were busy with work?” You said with tears threatening to spill out of your eyes.

“I wasn’t lying when I said I was busy with work dear.” He said as his smile dropped. “She has been...keeping me company.”

“Your such a fucking bastard.” You screamed as you dropped the girl and walked up to him and slapped him in the face.

You ran out of the Northland Bank with tears in your ears. You were full on crying as you ran towards the nearest alleyway. You sobbed violently as you lost your balance and fell towards the ground.

Meanwhile back at the Northland Bank Childe had seen the entire thing unfold. He saw the way you were so upset. He was standing there feeling pity for you as he watched Pantalone just roll his eyes and walk back into his office.

“I could treat her so much better.” Childe thought.

Capitano

You and Capitano were a rather odd couple. For one, people would point out obvious differences between the both of you. Capitano was known as ruthless, cold, and unforgiving. But you? You were really kind, caring, and your smile was really bright.

People would often question “how did the two of you end up together?” but they were too scared because of Capitano.

You knew that your boyfriend would often train the fatui soldiers and you noticed that him and a certain female agent were getting pretty...close?

You noticed that they would often spar together a lot. You just brushed it off thinking that Capitano loved you a lot and wouldn’t ever cheat on you. Or even break your heart.

You expressed your concerns to him but he would often respond with

“You don’t have anything to worry about.”

“We just like sparring together.”

One day you got fed up when you saw Capitano and that female fatui agent was smiling and brushing. You confronted Capitano about it and the two of you got into a huge argument about it.

Capitano ended up storming out and you were left by yourself to gather your thoughts together.

Maybe you were overthinking things? Maybe they don’t actually have feelings for each other?

You baked deserts and added them to a basket and figured you would share it with him as a way to apologize for overthinking things. You loved him a lot and you didn’t want to throw everything away just for that.

You were walking towards the training grounds when you spotted Capitano and the same female fatui agent with each other.

You were frozen at the next thing that happened.

He had lifted his helmet and kissed her on the lips.

You were heartbroken. You were shocked.

You walked up to them and took one of the deserts and threw it at Capitano.

You ran away after that with tears in your eyes. You couldn’t believe it.

Childe

You were babysitting his younger brother Teucer and the both of you hung out around Snezhnaya. You took Teucer outside and the both of you were building a snowman in the cold winter.

“Y/N look at my snowman!” Teucer said with a big smile.

“It looks great! Good Job Teucer!” You patted Teucer on the head.

The both of you decided to make some hot chocolate but in order to do that the two of you needed to go into town and buy some supplies.

You walked with Teucer into town when you had noticed Childe inside a tavern.

“That’s weird” You thought. “Maybe Childe finished his harbinger duties early?”

You walked closer but you saw Childe making out with another girl. You couldn’t believe it.

“Y/N is that my big brother?” Teucer asked “I want to go inside!”

You didn’t stop him. You just continued staring at Childe through the window of the tavern.

Teucer walked inside the tavern and shouted “hey big brother!”

Childe jumped when he heard his younger brother’s voice.

“Oh hey Teucer. Aren’t you supposed to be with Y/N? Where is she?” Childe said with a puzzled expression.

“She’s right there!” Teucer pointed at your teary face. “Wait why is she crying?”

Childe looked behind himself and knew he was fucked. He had gotten caught. His gaze met your teary face.

You ran off back to your shared home and for the next few hours crying. While you were babysitting his younger brother, he was off cheating on you with another girl.

Arlecchino

You noticed Arlecchino was becoming rather distant? She would always come home late, and she basically stopped acknowledging your presence. You wanted to make things work out so badly. You loved her a lot.

You didn’t even bother knocking on her office door as Arlecchino said that you were always welcomed. But she wasn’t even inside. You just decided to head back home and wait for her there.

You were walking through the long halls of Zapolarny Palace you noticed how some fatui agents would point and laugh at you. You were confused. Whhy were they laughing at you?

Some fatui agent walked up to you while giggling and asked “hey where’s your girlfriend”

“I don’t know, maybe she’s busy?”

“Yeah really busy alright” The fatui agent started laughing “you are so oblivious.”

“What?” You asked confused “where is she?”

Suddenly Arlecchino showed up and everybody immediately went silent. You turned around and saw some other person holding her arm and giving her a kiss.

You recognized that person to be Columbina.

“Why are you with her?”

“She’s my new girlfriend” Arlecchino gave her a kiss on the forehead. “I told you we broke up”

“Broke up? You haven’t even said a word to me all week and the next time I see you you’re with another girl? You didn’t even tell me you wanted to break up” You said angrily. “Fuck you.”

You ran out of Zapolarny Palace after that while people sent you pitiful looks. You didn’t need their pity though.

Scaramouche

Your relationship with Scaramouche was rather odd. Sometimes he would brush you off or say rude things but you always knew that he didn’t mean it. You would tell yourself that he loved you just as much as you did.

You were informed by Pulcinella that your boyfriend Scaramouche had ran off during a mission in Inazuma and that he hasn’t returned to the fatui ever since. You were initially questioned because the Harbingers thought you knew where he was, but they soon realized that you didn’t know where he ran off too either. You were quite upset because you haven’t seen him in a long time. Thoughts were swirling in your head such as

“Where did he go?”

“Why did he run off?”

But more importantly, you wondered if you would ever see him again. You really missed him.

You decided to take a stroll around Inazuma to clear your mind for a bit. You taken the path to Chinju Forest when you saw two people behind a tree. Your heart had stopped. You realized it was Scaramouche.

“Kuni? Is that you?” You asked but you immediately regretted it when you saw Scaramouche with another girl and they were full on making out.

“Huh Y/N?” He said pulling away. “Oh what are you doing here?”

“What am I doing here?” You said pissed off. “The fatui are looking for you and why are you with her? I thought you loved me?”

“Hmph that’s none of your business” He rolled his eyes.

“So this is it? You’re leaving me for her?” You said with tears in your eyes.

You didn’t even wait for a response. You were heartbroken.

Dottore

You knew Dottore was always immersed in his research. Sometimes he would even tell you about what he was working on. One day he hired somebody as his assistant to help him with his research.

It didn’t bother you that much. In fact you were happy for him because the both of them shared the same interests. But it all started when he started cancelling dates or when he would come home really late and skip dinner. he would tell you that he had already eaten in the lab.

The topic of your conversations quickly were only about him talking about how awesome his new assistant was. How nice they were.

He would hang out with his assistant more than you and the both of you slowly drifted apart.

You were jealous and you felt insecure. You didn’t know anything about things concering his research or anything like that. You felt lonely so naturally you decided to pay him a visit.

But when you entered his lab you found him and his assistant.

They were making out.

“You’re really cheating on me with her?” You said while wiping your tears away. “Fine then. Goodbye Dottore.”

#dottore x reader #dottore #pierro #pierro x reader #columbina x reader #angst #childe x reader #capitano x reader #scaramouche x reader #pantalone x reader #arlecchino x reader #tw. cheating #genshin impact #genshin angst

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sollsmith · 2 months

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Fire in the Flesh

Chapter Six

Daemon Targaryen x Original Female Character

Words: 2.7K

Warnings: mentions of abuse/injury

Summary:

After five years at war in the Stepstones and the death of his first wife, Daemon Targaryen returns to court embroiling himself, and his niece and heir to the throne Rhaenyra, in chaos and scandal. Daemon’s actions cause Viserys to give him the one thing he has always wanted. A Valyrian bride. Just not the one he had in mind.

Marra had been slowly spiralling for days, but it finally came to a head as the day progressed. She could tell Daella, that he asked about her father, that she confirmed it and then he left. Daella would understand. Letting her future husband know of the cruelty her father inflicted on her was surely the right thing to do. Daemon could stop it. However, once the prince had left and she had returned the book, the words Talya had said days before echoed in her head; “May the Gods look after her. His widowing was no mistake or accident. The Queen and I pray for Lady Daella every day.”

Marra had quickly learned the politics and workings of the court over the last half moon. Marra had been weaving herself into court, threading together whispers and rumours quicker than anyone had before. She had fed some of this information to Daella, mostly aimless gossip. The main source of her information was Talya. They had met in the kitchen, six days after they arrived, when Marra had come to ask if they had something other than pork for dinner. While Daella sat at pretty lunch tables and attended dress fittings, Marra spent her time either preparing for her return, or in Talya’s company.

At first everyone had kept tight lipped on the Prince. She was told he was rarely in the Keep, most of his time spent in brothels on the street of silk or in exile. Eventually when she met Talya, the lips were loosened and what Marra saw as truths began to unfold. She told Daella some of them, she thought Talya’s account of his known preference for women with silver hair and purple eyes was deemed appropriate, after Daella had convinced herself the Prince would not meet with her she was not pretty enough.

They both woke early, taking a carriage to the dragon pit to view the final preparations being made. A platform has been raised, several rows of seats laid out, and multiple florists were hard at work arranging beautiful displays of red, white and black flowers. Daella had to pull her away from a nervous young apprentice who was clearly on the first day of the job.

Once they had finished, they returned to the Keep for a late breakfast with the Princess. Daella taking at least one of her meals with Rhaenrya had become commonplace over the last week, where they would provide each other with gossip and reassurance that their marriages will be fruitful and happy, despite both their doubts.

Breakfast had been consumed, and they soon were walking around a buzzing throne room, also in the mist of preparations. Tables and chairs had been set on two sides from the room, spanning one end to another, the middle remaining empty for the night of festivities that were to take place. The head table had been placed just below the throne. Enough seats for the King, the Queen, the Princess, the Hand, Alios, Maelor, Daella and Daemon. Marra had nervously paced around while Daella inquired about where Marra would be sat, wanting her close to her; “You could place her at the end here? Just below me, on this side?”

“Are you well?” Daella had asked, linking her arm with Marras, they were on their way to meet with the seamstress who was fitting her ceremonial robes. “You have been awfully quiet.”

“Well, yes.” Marra smiles. “Just nervous for you, that’s all.”

“Don’t be. I will be fine.” Daella smiled, placing her other hand over Marra's arm and giving it a squeeze.

“You’ve come around? I thought you were going to throw yourself into the ocean when you came back from the small council meeting the other morning.” Daella had been inconsolable after the meeting, returning to her chambers in tears before Marra fixed her up and sent her off to tea with Rhaenyra.

“This time tomorrow I will be a married woman. There is nothing I can do. Daemon may have been sharp and rude, and it was a shock, that is true. Rhaenyra told me herself, he was being cruel to get a rise out of Viserys, not because he meant it-”

“And you believe that? Marra finally snaps, Daella casualness and airiness about her impending marriage beginning to grate on her. Daella stops walking, unlinking their arms.

“Yes, I do.” Daella stared at Marra, a slight hurt stained on her face. Marra had been nothing but assuring and supportive, the sudden change of stance the day before the wedding shocking Daella slightly, especially when she herself was finally somewhat at peace.

“You believe the girl that your betrothed was fraternising with not even two moons ago? His niece? The reason you're in this very situation?” Marra whispers.

“They’re Targaryens, Marra. Family relations are expected, if not encouraged most of the time. Why do you think they seeked me out after all these years? The Princess is young, like us, in want of rebellion before a life of servitude to her kingdom as Queen, and the Prince is rumoured to have a particular appetite. I’ve heard the rumours myself, you told me them, but all that is done now.”

“How do you know that?”

“Rhaenyra-”

“Rhaenyra has every reason to lie to you. What is to say she and the Prince are not still coupling behind your back.”

“Then let them!” Daella yelled, before lowering her voice again, “I do not care. If it makes them both happy and I’m left be, I can live the rest of my days in peaceful bliss, secure and in protection of the crown. Away from my father.”

“And if they want to marry someday? What of you then?” Marra seethed. How could her friend be so naive and blind?

“They would have to rid themselves of me and Sir Laenor. We are both aware of Laenors nature, but Rhaenyra loves him deeply. She would not cause any harm to him.” Daella said softly. She and Rhaenyra had spent countless hours in each other's company, and she knew it to be true. While they were due to be husband and wife, Laenor was firstly Rhaenyra's friend.

“While you may have every faith in the Princess’ nature, I suggest you rethink your future good husbands.”

“Daemon has committed crimes in war, Marra. I challenge you to find me a man that hasn’t.” Daella sighs. She wishes now she had never brought up Daemon’s time in the Stepstones, offended that Marra would now throw the once legitimate worries about his nature back in her face.

“Do you know what happened to his previous wife?”

“A hawking accident. She fell from her horse.” Daella started confused, shaking her head softly.

“Really? And how does one’s head cave in during a simple fall from a horse? Hmm?” Daella swears she sees a smirk lightly graze Marra’s face for a split second.

“That’s a very serious allegation, Marra.”

“Believe me, it’s not an allegation.”

“Where did you hear such things?” All animation had gone from Daella's voice and face. She was blank, unable to read.

“Talya. One of the Queen's ladies. The Queen herself told her. The Prince wanted to marry the Princess, he’s campaigned for the King to annul the marriage for years. When he didn’t get what he wanted he removed the problem himself.”

“You hear one piece of gossip from a serving girl and that’s it? You know the full story? The Prince wasn’t even on the mainland when she died, Marra, you sound insane.”

“He has a dragon, Daella.” Marra laughs in her face. Daella just blankly looks her back in the eyes, searching for her old friend. The one that would squash any worry she had, not amplify them. Typically Daella was in Marra’s shoes, mindlessly panicking about something she had no control over, while Marra talked her down. The role reversal had made Daella’s stomach turn. She reaches forward and places her hands in Marra’s, softly stroking them.

“Look. I understand you are worried about me. Especially with whatever gossip and scandal you have heard. But it is just scandal and gossip, yes? Daemon may be cold and cruel with his words, and violent at war. I cannot judge him based on the words of others.”

“How can you be so naive? You do not know him. He has no interest in you-”

“Neither do you, you’ve never even seen the man, let alone spoken to him-”

“I have, he came to your chambers after the small council meeting.” Marra spitted out before she could think. Daella's eyes widened, hands loosening their grip on Marra’s.

“What?”

“I had gone to get firewood, when I came back he was in your rooms, let himself in.”

“You did not think to tell me this? Is that what we are doing now Marra? Keeping secrets? For someone who has spent the last half moon complaining about the secrecy of this court, have you let it position you this quickly?” Daella felt the pang of guilt as the words left her mouth. Maybe if she had told Marra about that night in Mellos room, would she be more understanding of her position. If she just told her that she is positive that she saw a glimmer of kindness in his eyes. But she had made the accusation now, and there was no going back.

“No, he asked me not to tell you.” Marra’s voice was gentler now, more anxious than angry.

“Not to tell me? So you will keep your word to a man you're clearly not very fond of, but will not accept those of your friend?”

“We did not speak, he asked where you were, I told him, he left. That was all.”

“And now you expect me to believe that? Just a moment ago you told me he did not want me. Now he was seeking me out in my rooms?”

“I do not know, maybe he was the only one there to prematurely remove his next obstacle on his path to his niece?” Marra was panicking, firing words that she knew would hurt. Maybe the only way to get Daella to wake up was to hurt her.

“So now not only does he have no interest in me, he also wants me dead?” Daella laughs, almost cackling at the contradiction.

“He’s not above it. I dumped all the wine so we wil-”

“Wine?” Daella laughs out. “You think he is capable of the violence of caving his someone's head in, yet would use poison to get rid of me?” Daella lets go of Marra’s hands. “I know you are scared, perhaps my worries mixed with whatever gossip you have picked up has caused whatever this is. But I will hear no more of it.”

“You cannot marry him.”

“I do not have a choice, Marra! I’m not some lowly maid. I’m betrothed to a second son, the brother of a King. Choice is not something I am entitled to.”

“Well do not come to this lowly maid when he leaves you as your father does.” Marra regrets it as she leaves her lips. She watches as Daella slowly inhales then exhales. She does not speak. She just turns and walks forward. Unsure what to do, Marra moves with her.

“No.” She says and she swings back around to face her. Marra for the first time in two years, cannot read her face.

“But I know all your measurements?”

“I can manage. It’s only a robe.” Daella turns again, feet taking her as quickly as they could down the empty corridor.

She knocks on the dark wooden door. She can hear a muffled voice, asking her to wait, footsteps tittering closer before it is pulled open with a squealing creek, revealing Elinda’s tall frame. Elinda was an older woman from the Stormlands, the main seamstress to the Crown. Daella had spent many hours with Elinda over the last half moon, being poked and prodded with her sewing needs and squeezed to death by her corsets. Despite the slight discomfort she put her in, she was kind, and delighted in Daella's love for fabrics and colours.

“Daella, my dear. Could you wait a moment? I have-”

“Let her in.” Daella's eyes brighten at the sound of his voice, trying to get a glimpse of him over Elinda's shoulder. She had not expected him to be here. Logically he would have every reason, he also needed his clothes fitted, but it was not something she could imagine. The rogue prince standing on a pedestal while women held fabrics and pins up to his body.

“Are you sure, my prince?” Elinda turns back to ask him.

“Let her in.” Daemon says again. Elinda quickly steps to the side, making room for Daella to enter. Daella steps forward, reaching forwards to grab Elinda’s forearm, giving it a welcoming squeeze.

“Hello.” She whispers, turning to venture further into the room. Daemon is sitting on the small divan that dresses the room. The first thing she notices is that he is barefoot, a row of mens boots lying to his left. His white tunic is loose and untied from trying on various surcoats. She can see part of his bare chest, hard, burn marks and scars licking at the edges. Her cheeks blush at the sight of him. It was slightly indecent to see a man that was not your husband in this state. His eyes watch hers as she takes him in, smirk dancing on his face.

“My Prince.” She greets him, smiling softly, averting her eyes to the ceremonial robes that hung on a dressing rack. They were black, floor length with red stained along the bottom, shoulders and sleeves. She moves closer to the rack, drawn to the glimmering gold embroidery that adored the belt and lapels of the robes. Her hand reached to feel the fabric.

“Do you like them?” Daemon hums, watching as her fingers run along the belt.

“Gevie.” Daella says letting the fabric slip from her hand, turning to look at Elinda who had now shuffled back into the room. “You have done a beautiful job Elinda, on such late notice too.”

“Oh sweetling, I did not make these. They were sent from Dragonstone at the request of the Prince. I’m old, but not that old.” Elinda laughs. Daella looks to Daemon who is now raising to his feet. She realises this is the first time she has ever stood next to him, she had always been seated before. Has he always been this large?

Daemon stops behind her, so close she can feel the heat radiating from his chest. He reaches his arm around her, hand caressing the fabric of the robes they hang limp in front of them. She twists her head back to look at him, neck straining upwards to get a look at his face.

“Would you like to try it on?” He asks, tilting his head to look down at her. She nods and he reaches for the smaller robe, lifting it off the rack. “Elinda?”

“Yes.” Elinda smiles, grabbing the robe from him, pulling at the belt to undo it. “Daella, remove your overcoat, and we'll get this fitted on you.”

Daella pulls at the buttons of her coat, unlooping them one by one, before shrugging it off her shoulders. Underneath she is wearing a powder blue silk gown. It was simple and thin, Daella knew she would be trying on clothing, so she decided to wear a dress that was easy to slip on and off. Daemon has moved back to his seat, watching her. His eyes traced her thighs, hip before moving to her chest. She wore a gold necklace, and from the chain dangled large amethyst stone that sat perfectly in the space between her breasts.

His view is disrupted when Elinda moves behind Daella, instructing her to insert her arms into the sleeves. She does so, allowing the soft fabric to envelope her. They smelled of ash and iron. Elinda moved around her fussing with the belt until it was sitting perfectly against her body.

“There we go!” Elinda fusses once she has it right. “What do we think?”

Daella is not sure if she is asking her or Daemon. Daemon stands once again, grabbing a embroidered headdress of the table to the right of him that Daella had missed. He lifts it onto her head, fixing it there, rough fingers gently moving her hair into place, out of her face.

“Gevie.” He whispers.

Authors Note:

Another chapter to make up for my nearly two week absence! Cannot promise this will always be the case but I do what I can! I do hope the time jumping around is not to confusing.

Next up: Daemon and Daella get wedded and bedded ;)

For the masterlist to this series and all my other fics click here!

Tag List: @ajthefujoshi @hangmanscoming @papichulo120627

Add yourself to my taglist here!

#daemon targeryan #daemon targaryen x oc #daemon targaryen smut #daemon targaryen imagine #house of the dragon fanfic #house of the dragon imagine #house of the dragon #hotd #matt smith #a fire in the flesh #daemon targaryen x original female character #fire in the flesh

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adventuringblind · 8 months

Text

Drive with you Forever

Chapter Ten: a monster or a hero?

Max Verstappen x Charles Leclerc x Lando Norris X reader

Chapter summary: things come to a climatic peak at Abu Dhabi

Warnings: GORE, depictions of abuse, minor character death, description of injuries and blood, panic attacks, annoying first responders, gun and knife violence

Notes: wow I enjoyed this chapter. It was so much fun to write. I think going from action to intimate with the transition actually worked better then I thought it would. Not something I can say about my other work 😒😂

Previous <-

Masterlist

She’s aware of the drops of blood running down her fingers onto the tarmac of the track. The lighta of Abu Dhabi illuminates her skin as she stands with shaky knees. She can smell the rage falling of the man in waves. His movements were clumsier in his anger.

He’d made a mistake in thinking he could touch them.

He’d been wrong to assume she would give in so easily.

Now, with a grin on her face and crimson cover face, she proves he created the killer he always claimed her to be.

Aside from Jos and his odd interactions with her, paddock like was peaceful.

She’d gone back to analyzing data and tinkering with the cars. Using the rest of the season to simply heal. She was here because she wanted to be. She was here supporting her loves. She was here because this is her passion.

Redbull had been on fire since she got back to working with data and strategy. She loves driving, but this felt more like her. She’d made peace that her body would never be the same. Christian respects her choice and appreciates her for everything she’s done. Hence why she will always have a place in the Redbull garage, according to him.

Nights with her boys have been calm (for the most part). They are on a high after their tedious streak of lows. They’d spoiled her relentlessly after they almost lost her.

Max has finally managed to learn how to get his feelings across. It took him almost losing all of his partners to figure it out. He has Seb to thank for that.

She walked in in the German gently explaining to Max that he needs to tell them how he feels because bottling it up isn’t healthy and despite one of his partners being superhuman, she isn’t a mind reader.

Boy did he sob. They all did really. They pulled together as a unit after that. Not just being there for each other, but a team that works together to overcome the challenges and difficulties that life throws at them.

They are together. They are a family. They are bonded together by something deeper then love.

She’d found a way to help her confidence in being independent. How you ask? Getting one step closer to being a superhero.

Her martial arts had been coming along amazingly. Her trainer was impressed with how quick she progressed. It’s definitely helps that her visions had gotten better and she could see the possible outcome of a fight before it even happened. Sometimes while she was sparring, she’d be able to control her visions enough to just get a glimpse of her opponents next move.

She’d practiced with a few firearms and knew how to pull them apart and put them together with the wave of a finger. She could help guide bullets to their intended destinations with hardly any aim.

It’s safe to say she feels like she could take on the world. She just hopes she doesn’t have to.

It’s a funny thing to her, that even though she could kick someone’s ass into next year, her three partners still baby her.

Lando has found that his favorite place is having her in his arms. He claims if he lets go she might disappear.

Charles is always talking to her. Her tells her every reason why he loves her daily because he almost didn’t get a chance to tell her at all.

Max is vulnerable with her. The work of racing paints him to be cold-hearted and a villain, his father not helping much in that regard. Now he shows her every emotion he kept hidden away. He cries and laughs and lets the three of you see a side of him the cameras don't.

Everything was falling into place. The peace and happiness she wanted so bad was finally within reach.

But is seems nothing ever goes to plan.

The energy she worked so hard to keep in control was taking over for her. The locked box she didn't want to open had now exploded. A urge of something she'd never experienced before flying out.

It didn't help he was holding Lando by the throat. The Brit had been through enough already. His eyes are pleading with anyone. If he could just free himself from whatever was holding him there then maybe he could help her.

But she didn't need help.

Two sets of hands on his shoulders became one. The man on his left projecting something at his lover.

The glint of metal from the knife left his hands and landed itself in her shoulder. He could hear her skin ripping open. The blood starting to pool around the new wound.

She'd already killed three of them. The ones who had initially grabbed the three boys.

Their throats had all been sliced open on the track.

These men had been shouting the names they know her by. Killer. Betrayer. Monster.

Don't they know they made her this way?

The knife that had found its way into her skin is pulled out with a vile squelch. She looks down and smiles. The pain only encouraging her to keep going.

The laugh that falls from her mouth is terrifying.

She throws the knife back at its original owner. Her hand still outstretched and guiding the thin weapon. It sticks in a place he won't recover from. His body crumbles to the ground. Blood leaking from the gaping hold in his chest.

Originally, Lando thought he might die here. These stupid people holding him captive on the empty track had talked about ways they wanted to end him.

He was scared and shaking for fifteen minutes before she came to his rescue. He was still shaking as the other man pinning him in his place took off running.

She just watched him go. If he wasn't going to fight her and run away like a coward instead, then it's a waste of her energy to go after him.

She was on her knees in front of Lando in an instant. Her eyes rake over his body to look for any signs of injury. Satisfied, she unties all the ropes that had made his escape impossible.

His turn now to assess her. Lando's hand flying up to put pressure on the slit on her shoulder.

"What the hell is going on?" The waiver in his voice is not even trying to hide itself.

"My father has decided to use a different means to get to me.”

He's shocked at how steady her voice is. He can see the murky fear in her eyes, but also something he can't pinpoint.

"Are you alright?"

"Shaken up, obviously, but alive."

Her tears of relief are mixed with the blood on her cheeks.

Neither knew how this was going to end, but they couldn't spend much more time thinking about it.

"Do you know where he's keeping Charles and Max?"

He nods slowly, impressed at her composire. Then he's taking her hand and leading her onwards.

Jos was dejected at the sight of the four of them celebrating together. He hated that his son didn't listen to him or want anything to do with him, for that matter.

He knew what he was doing was wrong. But he'd made a deal.

He gets his son back, and the maniacal genius gets his daughter back. It's a win-win aside from the British boy and Anoying Monegasque having to lose out on life. But it was a risk he was willing to take.

The man he’d been working with found him. Knew him even. It was creepy, but he was willing to work with it. The mad man wanted his daughter back for something he couldn’t explain and Jos wanted his son back.

If only Jos had known Max would fight tooth and nail for her- for them.

Charles had a flight and fight response. First, he tried flight. He tried to run to the safety of Max but was foiled instantly. He wanted to check on Lando, but they had dragged the Brit away so long ago.

Now he's alone and struggling. They've been trying to pin him down, but he's been masterfully landing kicks on any place he could to their bodies.

He wasn't going down without a fight.

It was when they started talking about her that his body went lax. The things they said just morally sounded terrible.

"I hope this is worth it."

"Pretty sure is she can bring back the dead.”

"To bad she can’t have her own kids. This would be easier for all of us if she could.” Charles had no clue what they were talking about. None of it was making sense. He did understand that the intent was to bring her back to wherever the devil is living.

Oh, how he wanted to scream. How he wanted to yell at her to stay away, that they would be fine. But it was too late.

He could see her silhouette walking towards him. She looked calm. Her presence helping his mind to think rationally.

Though it was no longer rational as every person around him started clawing at their throats. Coughing, rasping, and pleading for whatever had them to stop.

Charles knew it wouldn't.

She stood there barely moving her hands. He could see the lights reflecting of her sweat. Then Lando was behind him, pulling out of the restraints. Reassuring him that everything was going to be okay now.

He couldn't help but relax into the brits hold.

He didn't know if they died as they fell. And frankly, he didn't care in this moment.

She crouched down to his level, cupping his face with her hands. He’s glad to see them both okay but the word takes hold as he notices the holes littering her body.

“Are you okay Did they hurt you?” They both ask him. Though one is more frantic than the other. He nods his head, really flooding his body at the sight of the two.

Abu Dhabi was an interesting race this year. Max had already won the world drivers championship. Regardless, the race was still good and fun and he put himself being able to relax even while he was driving.

The group had gone out to celebrate. He had won. Redbull had won. Obviously, there was going to be a party.

The quartet, however, did not plan on staying long. It had been a long year for all of them, filled with many highs and lows. They all wanted to celebrate with each other in peace.

They had escaped a moment and decided to walk along the track just the four of them. The stars were out and the moon is bright. The lights from the track are still turned on. It felt peaceful, like nothing could take this moment away from them.

Then it was gone.

In the blink of an eye, Max was being dragged away from his lovers. Unknown hands and foreign voice is coming in every direction. He screamed, and he thrashed in an attempt to escape. But the hold on him was too much those. The people holding him there came prepared. So much for being a high performance athlete.

It felt like hours, even though it was probably just minutes. He hadn’t necessarily given up on fighting, but it felt pointless, and he was running out of energy. He needed to conserve what he had left to come up with a plan.

Then his father came out of the haze. He lectured him about why he was doing this for his own good.

Oh, how Max was seething. His father had once again managed to get in the middle of his personal life. Claiming of what he was doing was for his benefit.

Max yelled in anger. He didn’t know all what he was saying just thought it felt good to get it out of his system.

Then a new voice. One he’d never heard before.

“Relax, you can have him to yourself soon enough.” The voice said.

His father was mumbling in Dutch as he walked away obediently. It was shocking for Max to see. Jos didn’t normally walk away from a fight.

They kept him on his knees but they had barely touched him. If he had to guess, Max would say his father struck a deal. The thought makes him want to throw up.

Everything in him wants to fight. He wants to scream out to see if his partners respond.

But he didn’t need to.

It’s blurry. He didn’t realize he was crying. The flash of his lovers comforting eyes the only thing pulling him back from his increasing panic.

Two of them. Where’s the third?

He can hear the sound of crushing bones and shrill screams.

The three of the, are huddled together. Lando has his buried in Max’s chest and Charles’ arms are wrapped tightly around his midsection.

Then the sickening calm of silence.

He can hear her heavy pants. He can smell the carnage around him.

Slowly he gets up and approaches the female like a wild animal.

She looks psychotic in a way. Her skin is slick with sweat. Her body is stitching itself together but her wounds have drenched her clothes in a dark red.

Blood seems to cover most of her.

She looks exhausted. Her visible skin has lost its color. She looks like she’s on edge, scanning her surroundings for more threats.

Max doesn’t touch her when he gets close. He can see the tears pulling in her eyes, taking in what she’s done.

She sinks to her knees. The weight of it all pulls her to the ground. “Are you hurt?”

Max looks at her with love. She’d always made sure everyone else came first. She’s bleeding out before his eyes and yet she’s asking if he’s okay.

He sets himself in front of her.

“Why aren’t you scared? I’m everything he said I am.” Her voice breaks. She’d killed them but Max knew it wasn’t out of any good feelings. She wasn’t satisfied with herself. She had done it to protect them.

Lando and Charles are next to him now. Charles is the first to reach for her hand. She flinched away at first but then relaxes at the touch, letting the warmth of his skin remind her that everyone is alive.

“We could never be scared of you, mon amour. You were protecting us.”

“But I killed them.” She sobs. Her mouth falling open in a silent scream. Her arms close around herself as she pushes herself as close to the ground as possible.

Max knows they need to get out of there. People are going to be here soon and they’ll ask to many questions.

But they aren’t at fault, so why is he scared?

Screw it, he’s calling Seb.

The four of them pile into each other. The female wails have not slowed and their doing her best to get her to breath. Her blood pools onto the tarmac even though her wounds are closing slowly before their eyes.

Max manages to get his cell to work. The screen shattered and he can barely see what’s on it because of the static, but it works.

He fails Sebs number. He feels guilt about spoiling his retirement party but he doesn’t know what else to do.

“Hello? Max?”

“Help.”

She wasn’t sure what was happening. There are sirens and police surrounding the area now. People are asking her questions that she can’t respond too. Her skin is on fire and she can’t feel her limbs. She just wants to go home.

Seb hasn’t left her. She’s clutching his hand like a child. The fear of being left alone with strangers and her thought to much to handle right now.

The other three are answering questions. Mostly about how she looks like she went to hell and back and they have some scraped knees and bruises.

“Y/N is trained in martial arts and self-defence.” Explains the Dutch for the thousandth time. “They came after us. Majority of them ran away. And do you blame her for fighting? Shes been kidnapped before for fucks sake!”

Max stomps away from the first responders and back to her. He sits down next to her in the ambulance and huffs. “They aren’t listening.”

“Patience. They are trying to get all the information.” Seb continues wiping blood off her exposed body. Her clothes are decimated and her hair is a crusty tangled mess.

“I know. It’s just frustrating. I want the to catch the people who organized this.”

“Your dad one of them?”

Max turns his head away in shame. “I highly doubt he’ll come back to any races after he exposed himself like this.”

“One can hope.” Seb sighs and Max nods his head in agreement. Seb runs to rag over the wound in her shoulder, the sting causing her to let out a hiss of pain through her teeth. “Sorry, Love.”

The adrenaline that had once been fueling her had dwindled away into nothing now. Everything hurts and she’s tired, but Seb said she needs to stay awake for now.

Lando peeks his head into the vehicle. “They want to ask you questions, love. If you aren’t up to it I’ll let them know.” Lando patiently awaits her response. Wordless, she stumbles out of the bed and into Lando’s arms. He helps her out of the ambulance, and they take slow steps back onto the tarmac. Her breathing gets more uneven with each step.

Lando keeps his arm around her waist to help her to her destination. "You don't have to do this yes, we can wait until you're stronger." She smiles at him with appreciation, but she knows it's better to do it now.

The officer meets her halfway, and Charles jogs to catch up with them.

"Did you recognize any of the attackers?"

"No."

"Did you kill the seven that were on the track when we arrived."

"Yes."

"Why is that?"

"They wanted to kill us."

"How do you know?"

"They said so. They held knives to throats and huns to heads."

Charles had never heard her sound so robotic. Like every answer had been preprogrammed into her.

"We're they the ones who hurt you?"

"Yes."

"What happened with Max, Charles, and Lando?"

Her breath hitches, and the tears start again. Lando increases the pressure of his hold as her knees go to buckle.

"They almost died. They got them by surprise and tried to kill them to get to me." She can't stop the cries that sake her body again.

Charles is at her other side. The two are trying to keep her upright. Her dry heaving not helping them.

They decided they heard enough. So they dragged the group down to the police station to test them for every possible mind altering substance on the planet.

She cried every time they touched her. The medical equipment is not helping her state if mind.

The four males sit and wait for her. They weren't allowed to go with. She fought, tooth and nail, because she didn't want to leave them. They begged to let at least one of them go with her, but we're ultimately denied.

The look of panic on her face when she was being hauled away broke all of them.

An hour later, an officer came to give them an update. "We're holding her overnight."

"Absolutely not." States sebastian in protest. "The girl is traumatized. Her family almost died tonight, and she's been dealing with strangers keeping her away from them. You might want to rethink."

The man in front of them gives seb an exasperated look. "She killed seven people. We have no witnesses that can give an outsiders perspective. And we're waiting on security footage. Her blood work is anything but normal, and you seem dead set on leaving." The man explains. "I will have someone call you with an update tomorrow."

The boys left. Sullen. Tired. Broken.

They slept on sebastians' floor that night. Hanna watched as they passed out as soon as they got in the door. Seb just hugged her. His distress clear to her.

She deserves better. She was a child who had her innocence stolen.

The holding cell is cold and metallic. The air smells musty. The colors contrast her own appearance.

They didn't even give her new clothes or a hairbrush.

After hours of waiting, someone came in with a laptop. The image of her on the track is already on the screen.

The play button is pressed.

It's what happened but from an outsiders perspective.

She panics. Her whole body trying to not relive these moments.

They come over the gate with knives and guns drawn. Three of them immediately going for her.

You can't see it, but she’s using her powers. It looks like a mere glitch on the screen.

She disarms the first and takes a knife to the hip from the second. A knife she promptly pulls out of her and slams into his throat.

The first bullets came from the one behind. The one in front keeping her sandwiched innetween them.

They talked at this point, but the video doesn't have sound.

The first throws her to the ground, her head snapping from impact on the tarmac.

She reachches for the knife in the second man's throat. The now slick metal makes a gorey sound as it slides out of his next. She launches at the third before he can get another shot of. His finger never makes it to the trigger.

The third is a lot stronger than her. She coaxed her visions into guiding her, showing her how to get him on the ground. Her leg hooks into the back of his knee to pull him to the earth.

She waits now. Holding up her hands in surrender. Pleading with him to stop.

He dosents. His knife is now aimed at her. Me manages to lodge it into her stomach. Again, she pulls it out and slits the last man's throat.

Then she's sprinting.

She had heard the shots of protest from the boys. They were going to use them as leverage. She had to run. She had to heal. So she did both, managing to weave some things back together before she found Lando. Using her visions to guide her.

She was going to overdue it but she didn't care.

Lando had been forced to his knees. He had a gun passed to his head. Tears had glistened his cheeks as he mumbled words of forgiveness.

Then another stupid knife found its way into her shoulder. She returned the favor after that.

The man with the gun took off back over the fence. She didn't care, though. Lando was her priority at that moment.

Then she's untying him, making sure he's okay and running off to hopefully find the other two.

The camera angle switch’s again.

Charles is trying to kick away his captives, landing him a punch to his ribs and an elbow to his knees. They put all their weight on him to hold him steady.

Then their clawing at their throats. Her and Lando just standing and watching.

The video pauses. She didn't even realize she had been crying and shaking til she's brought back to the present.

"They have no fingerprints on them. No signs they poisoned themselves. You admitted to killing seven. How did you do it?"

She shrugs. How is she supposed to respond to this? "I guess I assumed I killed them. Me and Lando didn't know what was happening. We just stood there trying to assess the situation."

She feels like she might believe her own lie. There is no way to explain that. Her and Lando both just stare at what's happening.

Then the video turns back on.

Her and Lando are running to Charles, untying him, checking for injuries, then running off to find Max.

The last stint is something she wants to forget.

The group around Max and Jos had been massive. But they saw her walking towards them and fled the scene. All except one.

They'd fought for a ridiculous amount of time. She'd felt his bones snap underneath her. He'd pummeled her to a pulp. He pulled her hair. Her visions were no help as she was exhausted. They had each other in a headlock. She couldn't breathe. It didn't help he was stronger.

But her powers helped in that are as she used them to snap his neck. The sound of cracking the only think filling her ears for thirty seconds.

Then it shows them all together. It shows her on the ground screaming, crying, throwing up.

Then it's done.

She can't move. She can't breathe. Every moment now fresh in her brain once again.

"Technically speaking, this was all self-defense. They hit you first in every scenario."

She glared at whoever this man was that made her relive this.

But she didn't say anything because his next words were 'free to go.'

It's late and dark. She's still covered in blood. But her phone is broken.

So she walks.

She walks, and she cries.

She wants it all to end. The little girl wanted to be with her family. With sebastian and Hanna and her siblings. She needs to know her boys are okay.

She spaces out, lost in her own head as she arrives at the hotel. At Sebs door. Praying he's awake or at least will wake up.

She knocks. Fully expecting that she will be spending the night outside the door. To her shock, it opens.

Seb pulls her inside where she's tackled in hugs and kisses.

"They let you go?!"

"They had no reason to keep me."

She's aware of how awful she looks. She needs new clothes which she doesn't have here but their hotel room is farther than sebs.

And at 6 in the morning, they are in their own room. Seb, having driven back himself.

The boys are getting things together to help her clean up.

She stares at the wall. Blank and empty. Just how she feels.

Max and Lando are out at the store. They have nothing they need to help take care of her. They were expecting to leave this morning, but the benefit of flying private is that Max can change when they leave.

Charles is running a bath for her. She's a mess of litteral blood, sweat, and tears.

He croutches down next to her and pulls one of her hands into his own. "What do you say we get cleaned up, hm?"

She lets him help her to her feel. The warmth of the steam from the bath hitting her skin makes her feel something close to alive again.

Charles helps her out of her trashed clothing and then holds her hand while she gets in. "Do you want a moment to yourself, Chéri?"

She almost panics for a second. "Don't leave me- please."

"Do you want me on their with you or next to you?"

She likes when he asks with easy words. "With."

Then Charles is stripping of his own clothes and climbing in behind her.

He takes his time rinsing her skin. Careful not to mess with her new stitches that the paramedics gave her.

He spent time untangling her hair with nimble fingers and washing out every last bit of grime.

She relaxed into his hold. The safety of his arms reminding that he's alive, so is Max and Lando.

They're still in the bath when the other two come back. Lando and Max take the opportunity to get the food ready and set out their clothes for her to wear when she comes back.

“I know where both enjoying this, but I think if we stay in any longer we may become one with the water.” Charles laughs.

He gets out first and wraps a towel around his waist. He lays a spare on the floor so they don’t slide around anthem helps her to the ledge. He takes a towel and dries her off with it, taking extra care of her wounds and double checking that her stitches look okay still. He wraps her towel around her and slips his clothes back on. He wasn’t going to put her trashed clothing back on her.

Charles guides her out of the bathroom into the dimly lit suite. Max and Lando help her into their clothes; Max’s shirt and Lando’s sweats. Then they crawl into bed together.

Her cries shatter their hearts. The broken sobs of overwhelming feelings finally getting to her. “I don’t deserve this after what I did.”

“What you did was save us geliefde. We could ask for anything more then that.”

“But I killed people. He was right. I’m a fucking killer. A monster.”

“You killed them because you had too. It sucks and I can’t say I understand how your feeling, but if you didn’t do it then we would be dead. So no matter where your thoughts go, the three of us are grateful for what you did out there.”

“We love you Chére. Our superhero.”

Next ->

Tags: @styles-sunflower @purplephantomwolf @boiohboii @reblog-princess-blog @jjsprobablywrong @jayda12 @faithm120601 @eugene-emt-roe @lpab @yaaadii @80sloverry @spongebeck3101 @eviethetheatrefreak

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am-i-the-asshole-official · 5 months

Note

Was I the AH for making a joke no one told me they didn't like?

This happened back when I was 12.

I was pretty... not popular, but friends with a lot of semi-popular figures in a certain fandom. I know you aren't supposed to be on social media until you're 13 and all that, but it was a good while ago [2019ish] and I was a kid who never made friends IRL.

One of my friends [16, I think?] had a delusion [it was a diagnosed disorder they had and told me about, if I remembered I would tell you, MAYBE OSDD but I think it was something else] that they were one of the characters from the show the fandom was about.

I had other friend groups into the same show, and I would often make jokes "pretending" to be one of the characters [usually just posting a memed up version of a screencap and mimicking the speech pattern of the character], which would land well and make them laugh, so I saw no issue using this joke around the friend with delusions [who I'll call Lucas]. I only did it twice.

The first time I didn't notice anything different, but the second time they started treating me like this character [who I later learnt but didn't know at the time Lucas recalled having memories of being in a romantic relationship with]. Lucas was the only person I knew who had these types of delusions, so I didn't know what to do and just went along with it until they, uh... "snapped out of it", I guess?

Soon after, I was added to a group chat with a few other people. All of them were 16, except for who we'll call Dawn, who was 12 or 13, and who was the leader of their whole group. I'll call the other people Rosa [someone who I had gotten in a huge argument with before for a reason I don't remember but I think she started it and I overreacted, if this was about that it'd probably be YTA or ESH, but I apologized and we didn't really talk anymore], and Nate [someone who I hadn't ever talked to outside of a large group setting]. Lucas was also there in this group chat.

They were staging an... intervention? They were basically making me explain my actions and were telling me how I was a horrible person for "tricking Lucas into thinking I was this character". Lucas wasn't very responsive to the situation, and I was pretty sure Dawn was the one who orchestrated the whole thing and roped Lucas into it, maybe as a confidant or something like that. Rosa brought up how awful I was to her before, and how she never forgave me even though I thought she did. Nate also brought up how "aggressive and violent" I was, citing one of the only times I had talked to him [which I thought was just a funny way to greet someone, akin to like "*knocks a door off its hinges and it explodes everywhere, I take several minutes trying to put it back together but it clearly isn't done well* Hi guys"], using a screenshot he had taken MONTHS prior and had been saving for that moment, he told me.

I was supposed to go out shopping, so I couldn't keep on checking my phone without my parents getting suspicious of me. I was also hyperventilating and kept on having to take breaks to make sure I didn't freak out. I kept on trying to reply to things in chronological order, and they were getting more and more progressively upset. I told them the first part about my parents getting suspicious, and one of them even told me that "your parents should know what kind of sick fuck you are, maybe then you'll understand your actions." Eventually, we DID go shopping, and I couldn't reply for several hours.

When I got back, Dawn and Rosa had made several call out posts on their social media each, and I had several DMs from other people about it. I couldn't read the posts, and all I did was deactivate my account. I couldn't post art I had done online until about a year ago, couldn't even think about the show until a few months ago when my friend wanted to try it out, and I still can't go onto that social media platform because it makes me so nervous and I can't breathe, afraid that someone will recognize me even now and "expose me". Lucas wanted to keep in touch, but they were a bit clingy and only came to me when they were having mental breakdowns. I couldn't handle the constant reminders, so I eventually deleted their number.

Note: while I am very safe about my identity online, these people [at least Dawn, since she said how old she was before me and even showed pictures of herself in cosplay online before, she WAS very 12] did know what age I was [I had lied about it before then to other people].

I still feel really bad about this, and I was wondering if I really was being an asshole. Maybe I was just being biased because I was the one being persecuted? I don't know. Maybe I was the AH because I was suffering from the horrible illness sweeping the nation called being 12 years old?

I'm sorry if this is a little silly, but I'm 17 now and this is still a part of my past I'm ashamed of.

Could you tag this post "12 year old confrontation" so I can find it? Thank you. Sorry, again.

What are these acronyms?

#aita #am i the asshole

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wondrousmay · 14 days

Text

SPYxFAMILY CODE: White movie review (spoilers ahead)

I finally have some time to gather my thoughts so here’s my belated review of the movie!

I had a really good time! I did my best to avoid spoilers and my efforts paid off. A lot of scenes would lose some emotional impact if I had knew about it beforehand. I think one important thing to keep in mind is how the movie is essentially a filler movie (an original story that is not from the manga) so the status quo of the main plot in the manga can’t be changed too much. The movie aimed to appeal to fans of the manga, anime-only and for new fans so some of the plot points might feel repetitive. I personally didn’t mind it since the movie had its own interpretations of events.

Major spoilers under read more!

I did think the plot was the weakest aspect of the movie. The incident that kickstarted the plot was how the higher ups at WISE wanted to replace Twilight’s role in Operation Strix. However, no explanation was given on how the replacement would actually work. I know this isn’t important in the grand scheme of the story but it did bother me a lot lol. I didn’t mind the Eden cooking competition though because it gave us the excuse for the Forgers go on a family trip. The villains were also pretty weak (writing-wise). They were quirky and served their purpose as obstacles for the Forgers but they weren’t compelling as the characters in the manga in my opinion.

The movie biggest’s strength is the focus on the Forgers (individually and together as a family). Each member of the Forgers got the chance to shine in their own way. Personal highlight for me was Yor. She’s my favourite character and the movie emphasized her importance in the Forger family. She is irreplaceable to both Loid and Anya and it made me really emotional to see how far she has come. Of course, she still has insecurities of being replaced but this is just a small part of her character.

While Yor’s fight scenes with Type-F was really hype-worthy, my favourite scene with Yor is a simple conversation between her and Loid. It was when she told Loid that they should all go with him to find the last ingredient together and explained to him that Anya was probably feeling lonely and wanted to be with him and the family since they came on this trip together. I can’t remember what she said exactly because the subtitles were quick but it was a really emotional scene and the fact that Loid listened to her meant a lot to me.

I also liked how the movie handled Loid’s character. The writing did a good job of balancing Twilight the spy and Loid the father. Twilight’s priority was to show progress for Operation Strix because he didn’t trust another agent to handle the mission. We saw his dedication to find the ingredients for Anya’s cooking competition but in doing so, he neglected his family during the trip. I really liked seeing this kind of conflict. Anya called him out on it and Yor had to convince him that Anya was being lonely too. It was a very interesting character journey for him. I loved that he didn’t hesitate to rescue Anya too.

My favourite Loid scene was his reunion with Anya! Loid figured out that the reason Anya ran away was because she went searching for the last ingredient (the syrup/wine thingy) but we never found out what he was actually thinking despite Anya reading his mind. We only see his fond smile and Anya having a happy expression. I really liked this kind of open-ended scene because it feels really personal and intimate for the characters.

The other instance where this happened was after Twiyor’s Ferris wheel scene. Anya read both of her parents’ minds after they cleared up the misunderstanding but we didn’t get to know what they were thinking. Just that Anya was happy about it. Again, I liked that their thoughts are kept private and open to interpretation.

Another favourite scene was the one where Loid, Anya and Yor were reunited after Anya was rescued! It was very touching and emotional! I also loved when Yor and Anya came to help Loid with the steering wheel to steer the airship away from the city. The aftermath of this scene (Yor asking Loid how he knew to pilot the ship) reinforces my theory that both Loid and Yor know that the other is hiding something/is more than what they say they are but they decided not to think too much about it.

Another little scene I want to mention is Yor and Anya playing together when they got to their hotel room. The way Anya’s expression lit up when Yor played along with her was too adorable for words!!!

I guess I should also mention the poop god scene lol. This sequence gave me secondhand embarrassment but it got so much laughter from the audience though. It felt like it went on forever too.

Since the main focus of the movie is the Forgers, the supporting characters do show up but they didn’t have any major scenes. The production value of the movie was fantastic. The aerial scenes and Yor’s fight scene with Type-F were the highlights for me! It was also wonderful to see the Forgers on the big screen!

Overall, I do recommend this movie to both old and new fans of SxF! I can guarantee that you will fall in love with the Forger family even more!

#this got longer than expected!!!#may reviews #spy x family #spy x family code white #spy x family code white spoilers #sxf spoilers #yor forger #loid forger #anya forger #sxf ramblings

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dean-winchester-is-a-warrior · 3 months

Text

The Dangers of Hope Ch. 2

Series Summary: When Y/N shows up at Camp Chitaqua with her little girl in tow, her bloodshot eyes leave no doubt that she's infected. Or is she? Everything Dean has come to know for certain over the last five hellish years, is about to be challenged.

Pairings/Characters in the series: Endverse!Dean x Reader, Emma (OFC), Castiel, Sam Winchester, Lucifer, Michael, Zachariah, Risa, Johnston (OMC), Patrick (OMC), Theresa (OFC),other survivors and soldiers.

Series Explicit 18 +/Warnings: Show level violence, some gore, angst, smut, fluff all the usual for a series of mine. ❤️ Endverse!Dean (that's a warning for his anger and callousness as well as his extreme hotness. 😁) Each chapter will have their own specific warnings.

Chapter Warnings: Not too much. A mention of recurring nightmares, some talk of fears.

Word Count: 4,240

A/N: So, I've had this idea for quite a while. Basically since I watched The Last of Us. I loved Pedro in the role of Joel, but I kept thinking how incredible Jensen would have been. Which then made me think of how amazing he was as Endverse!Dean which then led me to this idea. Lol! I've stolen the premise of Ellie's storyline from TLOU, but made her a grown up, a reader insert, and a love interest for Dean.

If you've never seen TLOU, don't worry - you don't need to have seen it to understand this story. 😊

I've taken some liberties with the Endverse in my story, changed a few things from canon, but kept lots of things too.

I sincerely hope you enjoy the story. It will be ten chapters and I will do my very best to post one chapter every weekend. ❤️

A/N 2: Thank you SO much to everyone who was so kind and gave such a lovely reception to the first chapter of the series. I hope you enjoy this new chapter too! ❤️

Series Master List || Tag Lists

The dividers used here were created by @saradika .

The big, wide log cabin seemed so completely empty after Dean Winchester left, as though his presence alone was what had filled it.

The blue-eyed man - Castiel - ran after him quickly, shouting an order to a guard outside to let no one go in.

So Y/N sat completely still, listening to the muffled sounds of camp life happening on the other side of the pine walls. Her exhausted brain was trying to comprehend what had happened, trying to piece it all together.

The first person she'd encountered had been the woman, Risa. She and another soldier had been guarding the border of the camp when Y/N and Emma finally stumbled out of the forest.

Y/N was fairly certain she would have been shot on site if Emma hadn't been there. Instead, their hesitation gave her the chance to swear up and down that, despite appearances, she wasn't a Croat.

The two soldiers had eye-balled each other and Risa had finally told the other guard to stay at the outpost.

“The Boss is still out on the raid. I'm taking them to Castiel.”

She'd pulled the heavy chains and manacles out of the guard post shack, and brought Y/N, cuffed and bound, to see Castiel. She’d met with him in the big cabin, tying Y/N to the table and then explaining things to him. He'd seemed a bit out of it at first, but then seemed to sober up quickly when Risa explained the situation to him a second time. Then he examined Y/N and made her tell him the story again. His face got progressively more dumbstruck as she spoke.

When he was informed that the Boss was back, he'd told Risa to take Emma away somewhere safe while they all talked.

Now, in the big, lonely cabin Y/N had to shake her head. She’d been so certain, in the end, that she was going to die. But Dean had walked away and left her breathing.

Just another miracle that somehow kept her alive for one more day.

The evening wore on and the light began to disappear, leaving only a dusky blue twilight inside the cabin. She didn't like the night time and the dark. It was a fear that had started with the poltergeist when she was sixteen - when every time she turned off the light and closed her eyes, something evil emerged to cause her pain and terrorize her in the dark.

Before long, the very last of the twilight left the room, and unknown, unkind darkness loomed all around her, and she began to feel the panic rising. But suddenly, just before it could take hold completely, Dean strode through the door, carrying a bright lantern that banished the dark. She breathed a sigh of relief, thankful to see him in spite of everything.

He moved to stand directly in front of her, almost exactly where he stood when he’d elected not to shoot her. She looked up at him and gave a slight smile, not knowing what else she could do. Then she thought to ask the question foremost on her mind.

“Can I see Emma? I'd like her to know I'm safe.”

“No.” He said, shooting down the request without hesitation. He moved over to a metal folding chair that sat at the end of one of the tables and pointed at it.

“I'm gonna sit right here, all night, not sleeping. And if you so much as twitch? I promise I'll put you down.”

Y/N still couldn't help but appreciate the light he'd brought in for her, and the fact that she was still breathing, so she gave another half smile. “Okey dokey.”

He looked briefly taken aback by her response before his scowl returned. He plunked himself down on the chair and folded his arms across his chest, sitting up ramrod straight. It didn't look very comfortable.

But then, her spot on the hard floor, chained to the table, wasn't all that comfy either. But she decided she was grateful that the length of the chain allowed her to comfortably move her arms around. That was something.

She leaned back against the wide metal leg of the table and tried to relax. But soon her active mind was wandering and she stole a glance at Dean, wondering about how very different he was now. Of course twelve years was a long time in the best of circumstances. Twelve years spent fighting monsters and battling through an apocalypse was bound to change a person.

As she stared at him he turned his head and caught her at it outright. She blushed slightly and decided to cover with a question. “Can I see Emma tomorrow?”

“No.” Dean said before going back to staring at the far wall.

His outright refusal was frustrating. But she worried that arguing with him might be considered “twitching”, so she kept her mouth closed.

The silence stretched out again and made Y/N antsy. She was used to Emma’s little-girl-babbling, her singing, and just her general five-year-old noisiness. The camp was mostly silent on the other side of the wall as well, only the crickets could be heard, playing their creaky songs.

Her eyes once again settled on the only interesting thing in the room, Dean. She tried to be less obvious about staring this time, but realized she’d failed when he spoke harshly without looking in her direction.

“Why are you staring at me?” His voice was full of annoyance.

“I’m not.” She said quickly and unconvincingly.

He finally looked at her and his face was cold and angry. She remembered that he used to have a really bright, beautiful smile.

“Why can’t I see Emma?” She asked, aware she was probably pushing buttons she shouldn't.

Dean ignored her and slowly looked away again. Y/N huffed out an angry puff of air and despite her worries about riling him, decided to argue. “She’s my daughter. I just want to make sure she’s okay, and let her know that I’m okay too.”

He remained silent and Y/N’s voice became desperate. “Please!”

Dean swung his head back to look at her angrily. “Look, I’m probably going to end up shooting you. When that happens, do you want her to have to go through all of it again? Or worse, have her sitting in the room when you turn and I have to take you out?”

Y/N felt a lump form in her throat, but she shook her head. “No.” She said softly.

Dean lifted his hand and then dropped it, looking away again. “So okay. Then shut up about it.”

Y/N was only a little offended and sighed slowly. After being quiet for a minute she spoke with another frustrated sigh.

“Okay, but do we just have to sit here? This is boring.” Her eyes lit up slightly. “We could play twenty questions.”

Dean looked back at her and his expression was finally registering as something other than angry or blank. He obviously thought she was nuts.

She shrugged. “Just to pass the time.” When he just continued to stare, she shook her head. “No? How ‘bout the alphabet game?”

Dean’s perplexed expression fell back into his usual scowl but Y/N trudged on anyway. “The alphabet game is where you pick a subject, like countries of the world, or 80s action movies or something, and then go back and forth, each having to come up with something that matches the next letter. Like if I said ‘Action Jackson’, you’d say…’Beverly Hills Cop’, then I’d say-”

“Shut. Up.” Dean said succinctly. His mossy green eyes were dark, and quiet frustration oozed out of him.

Y/N slumped back against the table leg. “Sorry. I talk when I'm nervous, and when I’m bored. So, it’s a double whammy here. Hence the motor mouth.”

“Go to sleep.” Dean said in a clipped tone.

“I have too much adrenaline for sleep. I WAS almost shot today, after all.”

Dean’s jaw clenched before he looked away from her again and leaned back slightly in the chair. “If you don’t shut up and go to sleep I may change my mind about the ‘almost’ part.”

Y/N bit her lip trying to suppress a giggle as exhaustion and adrenaline combined with her twisted sense of humor. The result was a loud snort that had Dean once again looking at her like she was nuts.

She smiled at him, wishing he’d smile back, and shared the movie quote that was tickling her funny bone.

“Good night, Westley. Good work, sleep well. I’ll most likely kill you in the morning.”

When Dean just stared at her silently, she shook her head. “Princess Bride? No? It’s a classic.”

She swore she saw his hand move towards the holster on his thigh and she raised her hands in surrender. “Okay. Sorry. I’ll be quiet now.”

Dean stared a while longer at her and she wondered if he really was contemplating shooting her, until he finally looked away and settled himself more comfortably in the chair.

She sighed. It was gonna be a long night.

***

Y/N was floating down a river in a little canoe. Emma was sitting across from her and talking to her, though she was still a baby.

“We’re lost, Mommy.” She said and Y/N shook her head. She had to keep her baby safe and that included keeping her safe from the truth.

“No we’re okay, baby.” Y/N said as the river got choppy and sharp rocks jutted out, waiting for them around every bend. They careened straight towards one, and Y/N could do nothing to steer the canoe around it; the one oar she had was mostly turning her in circles. They smashed into the rocks and the boat began filling with water.

“Mommy, the water is coming up.” Said Baby Emma. “We’re gonna drown.”

“No, we won’t baby. I won’t let us.”

Y/N tried to scoop the water out with her hands, but it was just too fast. They were sinking. Y/N grabbed for Emma but the baby began to float away.

“Emma!” Y/N called out to her daughter as she floated farther and farther away. But even though she was almost a mile away, Y/N could still hear her little voice right in her ear.

“You lost me, mommy. I can’t come back, I’m lost.”

“No! I didn’t!” Y/N cried out, jerking awake.

The cabin had sunshine pouring in through the east-facing windows. It was morning, she was alive, and so was Emma, she reassured herself, she was just out somewhere in the camp. Her recurring nightmare could be left in the shadows. She took a deep breath and looked over at Dean. He was staring intensely at her. She raised her hands.

“Sorry, not ‘twitching’, just a bad dream.”

Dean still didn’t blink. It was unnerving. “Did you really not sleep at all?” Y/N asked.

“Said I wouldn’t.”

Y/N took in his posture in the chair, straight and alert; he’d barely moved an inch all night. It made her smile and shake her head.

“Huh.”

Dean’s scowl was firmly in place. “What?” He questioned.

Y/N shrugged. “No, nothing. It’s just good to see that things haven’t changed much, after all.”

Dean scoffed. “Woman, everything in the world has changed.” He looked away from her. “And it just keeps changing every day.”

“Maybe,” Y/N conceded. “But yet here you are, all these years later, and you’re still protecting people.”

His head swung back towards her and he seemed offended. “What the hell are you talking about?”

Y/N lifted a manacled wrist and gestured beyond the cabin. “You sat up all night, in what I can only assume to be the world’s most uncomfortable chair, to make sure that everyone in the camp was safe from a potential monster.” She shrugged again. “Because you’re still protecting people.”

“That is not what this is.” Dean said angrily, and Y/N raised an eyebrow.

“No?”

“No.” Dean reiterated. “I am the leader of this camp, and leaders do their own dirty work. If you turn, I’m gonna be the one to shoot you.”

“To save your soldiers having to do it.” Y/N said with a nod.

“No!” Dean barked. It surprised her that he was so angry about what she was saying. It was obvious to her. The hunter she’d known may have turned into a soldier, may have gotten a little harder, but from everything she’d seen, he was still Dean Winchester underneath.

His face was a snarl now, though. “Look, I don’t want you thinking I’m some kind of benevolent nursemaid here.” Dean tried to explain. “Everyone in camp has jobs, has their roles. It’s how we’ve all survived so far. My role is to keep the camp guarded. And I do that so everyone else can perform their roles. It’s simply a matter of survival. If you turn into a Croat and start killing folks, that lowers our numbers, makes us all more vulnerable. That’s all this is. So don’t go thinking I’m some kind of bleeding heart. When the time comes, I will take you down.”

Y/N nodded slowly. “Okay.” She said calmly. She didn’t really believe a word of it. But she wouldn’t argue with his need to make her see him as deadly.

“I mean it. I won’t hesitate.” Dean said coldly.

“But,” Y/N looked at him and gave a small smile, “you already did. Hesitate, I mean.”

Dean’s jaw ticked. “Are you taunting me?” His voice was low and very menacing.

Y/N raised her hands, making the chains rattle. “No!” She denied vehemently. “I’m not taunting you, I’m thanking you. That hesitation saved my life.”

Dean’s glare was hot and angry. “Well, like I told you, things change real quick these days, so don’t tempt me.”

He turned away from her again and Y/N lowered her hands. His attitude was not what she’d expected. He honestly seemed insulted that she’d implied that he was a good man who made it his mission to keep people safe.

Silence descended again, until Y/N began shifting around, noisily rattling her chains.

“Stay still.” Dean barked without looking at her.

“I can’t.” Y/N said, slightly embarrassed. “I…I have to…pee.”

Dean turned to look at her for a moment and then shrugged. “Go ahead.”

Y/N’s face scrunched up in disgust. “Ew.” When Dean made no move to rectify the situation, she let out an annoyed huff. “Do you at least have a bucket?”

Dean continued to stare at her for a long time, before calling out. “Johnston!”

A thin man holding a rifle stepped in the door. He’d clearly been standing just outside. “Yes sir?”

“I need your help with the latrine.”

“Sir?” The young man’s face was confused and Y/N snorted out a laugh.

Dean shot her a dirty look. “Shut up.” He ordered. She bit her lip to stifle her smile.

He turned back to the soldier. “With her, Johnston.” He said, pointing at Y/N. “I need help taking her to the latrines. I’m gonna hold her chains, so I need you to keep a gun on her.”

“Oh!” The man was clearly very relieved. “Yes sir.”

Dean stood up and took a key from the inside pocket of his green canvas jacket, bending to unlock the padlock that kept Y/N attached to the table. He pulled her to her feet and she stumbled into him, her legs being slightly wobbly and asleep from her uncomfortable position.

“Sorry.” She said, suddenly shy as she stood so near him. She looked up into his face and was slightly mesmerized by his shining emerald eyes and the dusting of freckles on his cheeks. He really was remarkably beautiful, moreso today than when he’d come to save her all those years ago.

Dean just grunted and stepped back, holding her thick chains in his big hand easily. He took the lead, his long strides forcing her to jog along behind him or risk being dragged all the way.

The camp was still just waking up and she could smell coffee brewing around the campfires where people sat sleepily rubbing their eyes and then popping them wide open as the strange procession passed by them. She tried to smile at them, but the fear on their faces made her remember her bloodshot eyes, and she lowered her head. They probably thought their leader had gone crazy, dragging a Croat around on a leash.

After a few minutes of walking they reached a row of outhouses, plain but well built. Dean pointed to the one on the end of the row and Y/N went in. She stopped just inside the door, looking back at Dean.

“Are you going to let go of the chain?”

“No.”

She frowned and waved her hand at the wooden door. “I can’t close the door if the chain is in the way.”

Dean just shrugged in answer.

Y/N’s face was imploring. “Come on.”

Dean said nothing.

Y/N gritted her teeth. “Well could you at least look the other way?”

“No.”

Y/N rolled her eyes and let out a little growl of frustration. “For pete’s sake, I am in chains, and you’re holding on to them! Where the hell am I gonna go if you look away for a minute?”

Dean stared at her a moment longer before finally, begrudgingly, turning his head.

“Thanks.” Y/N mumbled, trying to pull the door over as far as it would go with the chain stopping it.

When she was finished, she came out with pink cheeks. There was no way both men hadn’t heard her peeing. There were definitely some real indignities involved in people thinking you were a monster.

When they got back to the cabin, Dean was locking Y/N back up to the table, crouched down beside her, when her stomach rumbled from hunger. He ignored it, double checking her manacles before walking out and leaving Johnston watching over her with his rifle.

A few minutes later though, a young girl, probably no more than thirteen, came in with a bowl of oatmeal and some canned oranges. She also had a cold glass of water on the tray and Y/N groaned out loud. She hadn’t realized how thirsty she was until she saw it there. Her groan seemed to startle the girl who was approaching Y/N with considerable trepidation.

Y/N tried smiling again, knowing there was nothing she could do to change her bloodshot eyes, but hoping she could still show kindness in them.

“Hi.” She said softly. “My name is Y/N, what’s yours?”

“Theresa.” The girl said, as she came a little closer. “Boss told mom to make you some breakfast and she sent me to bring it.”

Y/N nodded. “Thank you so much. It smells delicious. Tell your mother I said thank you as well.”

Theresa nodded back and finally came up beside her to set the tray within reach on the floor. Then she scuttled away quickly and Y/N tucked into the food. The oatmeal was slightly stale and plain with nothing to go in it, but it was warm and filling and the oranges were sweet and juicy despite their slightly tinny taste. It was the best meal she’d had in well over a week and she was grateful to Dean, the man who didn’t care about anyone, for providing it for her.

She hoped Emma was eating well this morning too, and that she was somehow coping with everything. She closed her eyes and tried to send her daughter strength.

The next few days passed much in the same way. Dean would watch her every night, assuring her that he was watching for any signs she was turning. But a couple days in, she woke up in the night to see his head slumped onto his chest, exhaustion finally winning out over any remaining fears he had of her changing.

On her fifth morning, Dean was locking her back up to the table after a visit to the latrines (during which he now allowed her to take the chain in with her and shut the door), when he swore and grabbed onto her right hand. He pushed the manacle up further on her arm and examined her wrist where it had been rubbed raw on the underside.

“What the fuck? Why didn’t you tell me you were hurt?”

Y/N shrugged. “Didn’t hurt that much, and I figured you wouldn’t care, you know, if you were still figuring on shooting me.” She said with a teasing smile.

Dean gave her his usual dirty look. “Yeah well, I wouldn’t want you to die of sepsis before I get the chance.”

He called to Patrick whose turn it was to guard the cabin for that morning. When the red-headed man stepped inside, Dean told him to bring a first aid kit from the medical tent. When Patrick left, Dean pulled another key from inside his jacket and unlocked the manacle on Y/N’s right hand.

Her arm felt strange without the extra weight of the manacle and chain. Dean checked her other wrist, satisfied that she only had the one wound. When Patrick returned with the first aid kit, Dean began cleaning the raw spot on Y/N’s grubby skin.

As he worked, Theresa came in with Y/N’s breakfast. She pulled up short when she saw Dean there, since he was usually gone by the time she came in. Y/N tried to encourage her forward.

“Thank you, Theresa. Don’t worry, your boss is just fixing up a scratch on my wrist. You can still bring breakfast over.”

The girl hesitated before moving over to Y/N and setting the tray on the floor. “Have you seen Emma today?” Y/N asked.

Most of the time, she tried desperately not to think about what her daughter was going through. If she were to dwell on it too long it would drive her mad. As it was, the nightmare of watching Emma float away from her, was coming two or three times a night now.

The girl looked afraid to answer with Dean there and kept glancing over at him, clearly nervous. “It’s okay.” Y/N reassured her again. “Please, how is she?” Y/N asked, aware that desperation laced her voice.

Theresa looked up at Y/N, her big brown eyes far too wise for a thirteen year old girl.

“Sad.” She said simply before standing and scurrying out of the room.

Y/N felt like a knife was twisting in her gut. She closed her eyes and tried to stop her tears from falling, but simply couldn’t. Two fat tears fell down her cheeks as she stared into her lap. Without saying anything, Dean tied a bandage around her injured wrist before tying more gauze around her uninjured left wrist, protecting it from the rough metal.

He cleaned up the first aid kit and left without a word. It was a few minutes before Y/N realized he hadn’t re-manacled her right wrist.

All that day it felt as though a heavy stone sat in her stomach. She barely touched her breakfast (an egg and some sliced fried potatoes) and didn’t have a bite of lunch. She felt terrible wasting the food and insisted Patrick eat it. It tasted like ash to her and she simply couldn’t swallow. All she could think about was Emma and how she was hurting.

Her ability to compartmentalize her pain and fear was breaking down as worry and heartbreak took over everything.

That evening, Dean showed up earlier than usual. He walked right up to her and, kneeling beside her, unlocked her other manacle so that she was free of the chains at last. She gave him a quizzical look.

“What are you doing?”

Dean shrugged. “It’s been nearly a week that you’ve been here and almost two weeks since you got bit.” His usual scowl was highlighted by confusion in his green gaze. “I don’t know what the hell is going on here, but it seems increasingly unlikely that you’re gonna start foaming at the mouth any time soon, so…”

He stood up and moved away, nodding to someone outside. Risa stepped through the door and behind her, holding her hand, was Emma.

Y/N gave out a loud cry of surprise, too many emotions flooding her at once to articulate any actual words. She tried to leap to her feet, but ended up stumbling back to her knees as Emma launched herself at her.

“Mommy!” Emma’s tears and sobs soon choked anymore words out of her as well.

Y/N wrapped her daughter up tightly in her arms. “Oh, baby, baby!” She buried her face in her daughter's long hair, squeezing her too hard, she knew, but she couldn’t help it. She’d been so terrified she’d never get a chance to hold her again, so she savored the moment briefly before turning her head to where Dean was standing by the door.

Her throat was choked, but she pushed the words out. “Thank you. Thank you.” It was all she could say.

Dean didn’t respond and just walked out the door.

Jensen RPF and Any/All Characters: @lyarr24 @lacilou @deans-spinster-witch @globetrotter28 @suckitands33 @akshi8278 @evznackles @jackles010378 @impala67rollingthroughtown @krazykelly @candy-coated-misery0731 @envyaurora95 @spnwoman @deans-baby-momma

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Any/All Fics Regardless of Character or Fandom: @kazsrm67 @slut-for-evans-stan @sexyvixen7 @nancymcl @waywardcheshire

Everything Incl. Fan Edits: @k-slla @leigh70 @eevvvaa @kickingitwithkirk @foxyjwls007 @notinthislife50 @roseblue373 @mishkatelwarriorgoddess @avanatural @mrsjenniferwinchester @all-alone-he-turns-to-stone

#dean winchester #endverse!dean #endverse!dean x reader #dean x reader #dean winchester fan fic #dean winchester fan fic series #spn fan fic #endverse

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