#I wish I had a Sal to help me too | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

morallyinept · 6 months

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Summary: Joel Miller comes back into your life unexpectedly after a gap of thirty years, and stirs up all kinds of memories and longing. Now, as you're stationed on an outpost for five days alone with the man you stupidly let go of all those years ago, you have a chance to confront him about your past life together and all the things you wished you’d said and done.

But Joel’s different now, and you know you need to tread carefully. Joel Miller is not the same man you once knew in another life.

A slow burn romance set in the post apocalyptic world, approx. twenty or so years after the initial Cordyceps outbreak.

Pairing: Post-Outbreak Joel Miller x MatureF!Reader (No name or physical description of reader. However reader is of a similar age range as Joel; in her late forties/early fifties. Joel is slightly older at 56.)

Chapter Word Count: 5.1k

Series Masterlist

☝🏻See Series Masterlist for full smut warnings & triggers in this story. Chapters that contain smut or triggers will be highlighted in the chapter notes below. 👇🏻

Chapter notes: Descriptions of an animal kill. Mentions and descriptions of suicide/self harm. Tiny mention of smut. You and Joel open up further, with a heavy chat.

☝🏻Some of the tags aren't working, so please ensure you're following me and turn on notifs so you don't miss an update on this story.

Enjoy! 🖤

Previous Chapter

Joel switches on the walkie-talkie and you both wait in suspended silence.

He remains sitting forward; his left elbow on his knee and the other on the arm of the wicker chair. His fingers tap and fidget restlessly, you notice.

You sit back fully in your chair and keep your eye on the green light. Waiting for it to pulse. Waiting for it to crackle into life and deliver bad news.

You can’t help it, years of ingrained pessimism have bludgeoned your optimism down to a flat nub.

It feels like an age before the time passes through midday and Joel switches off the walkie-talkie just after seventeen-past the hour.

“No news is good news.” He reminds you, glancing at your anxious face pulled tight, and you smile faintly, grateful for the ebb of reassurance, even though it barely makes an indent.

Your mind drifts to Kelper and Max in the main group, heading towards the horde with Tommy. To Sal, who’s in the second group bringing up the rear with the explosives. And to Guthrie locked down back in the commune, praying for you all incessantly no doubt. You wonder how he can still have faith, after everything.

You hope they’re hitting their marks, that they're okay and this God forsaken plan of Kelper’s goes off without a hitch.

You rub at the back of your neck and yawn and it doesn’t go unnoticed.

“Why don’t ya take a beat?” Joel nods over to the cot and the thought is too tempting; you’re tired and feel your eyelids become heavy and swampy.

“Mm,” you agree.

You stand and kick off your boots after unlacing them. The heat in the shack from the sun only makes you more sleepy, and you flake on the cot foregoing any blankets.

You roll onto your front, your head facing the wooden wall. Up this close you can make out the fuzzy fibres in the dark, splintered wood, and your finger runs over the rough surface, back and forth a few times.

“Did you miss me, Joel?” You put out there, pausing with the dull pang in your gut waiting to drop. “When I left, I mean.”

The question had been gnawing away at everything inside you. Now that you’d asked it, you weren’t sure if you wanted an answer.

You know it was a cowardly move; leaving whilst he was at work. Shoving your possessions into bags quickly and removing all trace of you from his life.

You keep your eyes closed, it's better if you can’t see his expression. Especially when his face is knotted up again, like you assume it will be.

You’re pretty sure it's a question that's winded him and it makes guilt sprout like moss somewhere when he doesn’t respond.

Why do you keep torturing him with this, and yourself?

“Sometimes,” he whispers, his voice travelling over towards you.

You hold your breath, your body tensing.

“Sometimes it felt like I never stopped.” You hear the wicker in the chair creak as he moves inside it. “Even if you drove me fuckin’ nuts.” Joel concludes.

You smile, opening your eyes. “I did, didn’t I?” You reply, your shoulders jostling a little as you chuckle.

“I liked it. Kept me on m’toes.” Joel husks from the other side of the room.

“I know.” You confirm, your smile dipping. "Do you..." You trail off and steady your breaths as they find an increasing pace. "Do you ever wish you could just go back, do it all over again?"

"Before the Outbreak?" He queries.

"Yeah. If you got a second chance, would you do it all differently?"

You hear him take in a deep, contemplative breath. "Some of it."

You hear more shuffling in the wicker chair and close your eyes again. You breathe out slowly trying to swim out of all the muddled thoughts pulling you under.

Were ya missin' me too, darlin'?

You can hear him as though he's right beside you. Feel the warmth of his breath in your ear, his lips nipping gently on your earlobe as his scruff tickles the skin on your neck. Feel his swamping hand that’s burning on your thigh as he squeezes and then runs it up your hip, towards your stomach.

Thick, rough fingers trailing along your navel gently, leaving goose bumps and making your nipples peak as he strokes with a featherlight touch around them, under your top, in giddy, teasing circles.

You moan out, biting your lip. Pushing back into him to be met with the swell of his hardness pressing into your ass, and his grunts braiding through your hair as he slowly grinds into you.

“Joel…” You hum, burning up. You turn over in the cot to find his lips, searching for the heat of them.

But you’re met with nothing.

You sit upright, dumbfounded and perplexed as you rub sharp, crusted sleep from your eyes.

You glance over to the wicker chair to see Joel slumped in it. His arms crossed over his chest and his head lolled to one side. His eyes are closed and he snuffles gently. He’s asleep.

Licking around the inside of your cotton mouth, you glance at the clocks that all read past four in the afternoon. The light still floods the shack and it feels stifling.

You sit forward, contemplating whether to wake him or not. Joel looks content, if not for an aching neck to suffer from later.

You smile, observing him and the way his mouth is downturned and pursed under the greying fuzz smattered above it. It suits him, you think. Ageing.

He appears more beautiful now than you remember, and you soon start to feel like you're burring up from the inside the longer you stare at him.

You stand, stretching out, reaching for a bottle of warm water, when you hear it.

You stop, the sound of it rendering you frozen on the spot and your heart racing.

It’s the sound of your own name passing from Joel’s lips in a soft, sleepy moan.

It comes and goes.

Bleeding into your subconscious like a dream, or more of a hellish nightmare lodged between the sinew and muscle.

This time it's the blood from the buck that stirs that sleeping giant.

One moment you're focused on the task of deboning the flesh from a blunt hunting knife that you'd recovered from one of Joel's knapsacks. The next, you're frozen, hunched over the infant carcass of stained, wet fur and reliving through it all over again.

You see it all, hear it in surround sound. Even smell it; the ripeness of it, the rot. Drawn to it like a fruit fly to fetid garbage.

You try to rationalise it; convince yourself that it's just some malignant trauma hovering over you, not done with roughing you up yet and that it’ll settle soon. But it’s hot, searing mercury in your veins, heavy mustard gas in your lungs that chokes you.

Nothing's affected you like this before, like this loss has. Well, that's not strictly true. Losing Joel is right up there. The scars of that run deep, deeper than the one on your wrist.

You glance at it as you carry on with the task at hand, physically shaking your head as though you could empty the incoming white noise out of your ears if you shake hard enough.

But it's still there.

You regard your hands soaked and slippery in the claret. It's so bright, fresh. The metallic scent of copper is tasted on the back of your throat as you breathe in and swallow it down.

You're not sure how it started, how it all went to shit in a blink of an eye. How you were complacent and allowed yourself a few moments of respite; to believe that everything could be alright.

You can see it clearly as you scrunch your eyes tight; willing yourself not to go there, but you do.

It always pulls you under.

You're walking with a basket, laundry maybe. Or is it something else? You look into the basket in your hands, but you don't see it, there’s just a void. A hole where a memory should be. What was in that damn basket?

You pass smiling faces, working hands and chatter. Laughter, such an alien sound, but full of promise and hope. These are your people, people who owe you their lives, but you're insistent they don’t. They really don’t.

The camp is thriving despite its lackadaisical appearance. Clusters of tents, makeshift tarpaulins wound around branches. Old RV’s being picked clean of pipes and bulbs.

It’s a good place to pitch up, rest for a while. Probably one of the better places Kelper has managed to settle you all. It's the longest time you've had to stand still, to soak in the peace. To let it all start to peel away in thin papery layers from your skin as you shed it.

Then you hear it.

Screaming. A single wail at first, but then more; more are mutating into a chorus of shrieks and panic that seem to be coming from all directions like sharp, precisely aimed arrows.

You drop the basket. Or maybe you throw it down, again, you can't be sure. All you know is that once you hear it, it's discarded.

You start forward towards the screaming, pulling your gun from your back waistband. Instinct fuels you to aid; it’s all you run on these days.

Then you see it.

The blood. It's on their faces as they dash past you, scrambling. On their arms and legs. You don't realise it right now, but the blood is from bites; flesh torn apart by teeth that infect.

It spreads quicker sometimes. Other times it lies in wait, hours of slow torture as the fever turns you out.

You're firing. More gunshots are heard echoing tinny around you. You take a couple out, but more rear through the camp.

Then more, then too many. Herds of them. You've never seen a cluster this big, this co-ordinated. They just keep fucking coming.

You remember being paralysed as they swarmed in like locusts, devouring everything. Taking everything from you in literal moments. You watch helplessly as faces you know are pulled under, devoured.

You try to shoot them, knowing it's too late for them; to end their suffering as a last kindness. They would want that. They would understand.

But your aim is sloppy. They're getting closer. Your gun jams. Shit. There's too fucking many.

Run.

RUN!

A hand yanks you backward, so hard that you're sure your socket has been wrenched out. You grip tightly onto Kelper who drags you away like you weigh nothing; a clumsy kite on the end of flimsy string.

Something clicks in you, brings you back as Kelper screams at the others to run. Some of them do. They scatter like marbles dropped from a little boy's pocket. No clear direction. They run straight into their deaths, with flailing arms and you can't save them.

Stop! You’re going the wrong way!

You run too. Your lungs are on fire already as you yell at people you pass and can't hear your own voice. You reach out for them. You latch onto one, Guthrie.

You toss your gun in exchange for his hand and he keeps that frantic pace with you. He trips, falls and cries out as you lose your grip on his sweaty fingers. You go back for him as he scrambles up.

A bullet passes so close by your temple and hits the infected sprinting for you both. It's thunder cracking in your ears and leaving a tinny din.

You turn to see Kelper aiming and hollering at you; he’s all teeth and spittle at the mouth. A rabid rottweiler unleashed with hackles, barking crazed and panicked.

You run. You and Guthrie together. You follow Kelper, footsteps stampeding as he dashes towards the treeline. Losing them in the camouflage, good idea.

You fucking run.

Your ankles are snapping at you to relent, every breath you suck in feels like liquid fire. You glance over your shoulder to see Max and Sal bringing up the rear. Their faces bloodied and you can hear Guthrie's exhausted moans as he keeps pace with you.

You drag him along. You make him work through the pain. He can't stop. You won't let him stop. You can’t lose another. You won’t.

Stray infected chase you. Kelper points to a clearing where it dips a few yards out. An opportunity to take those bastards on.

He glances at you and you know. You just know it has to be done.

You shunt Guthrie down the hill and he slips, rolling and yelling out. Max dives down after him. Kelper pulls Sal to him. She practically flies around the trunk as he pauses with her in his grip.

You pick a spot and get ready. You reach for your gun behind your back to realise you don't have it.

Fuck.

Seconds. You have seconds to react. Blood thuds inside your ears.

You don't remember, but you lunge.

Teeth are snapping at you as you grapple with the infected. Skin a sallow grey and fungal rot in a sickly pale orange; even its scleras are a disgusting hue.

You remember the smell. The stench of its breath as it comes for you.

You slam it backwards, reaching blinding for something, anything. Your fingers graze a rock and you pummel its head with it and keep going, long after it's dead.

Long after it no longer has a face to haunt you.

It takes Max and Kelper to pull you off as you scream ferally at it. The other infected that chased you have already met a similar fate, and the five of you are left standing there on the edge of the camp, hidden and listening to the sounds of your extended family die.

You pull them away, with Kelper; the sounds of their screams whistling in your ears.

Max wants to be a hero, wants to go back for them. And you love him so much for it, but you can’t let him. He tries to fight against you both, a small tussel, but stops when Sal speaks.

There's no-one to go back for. Her voice is cold, empty. She knows it too.

You walk for hours.

Until the sky is darker and the ringing in your ears stops, or maybe you just learn to accommodate its petulant wail. You walk until the blisters in your boots are plentiful and burst.

Until Kelper spots an old farmhouse up ahead, isolated in the vast fields and valleys.

You and Guthrie keep watch whilst the others do some recon. His arm is busted up pretty bad from the fall down the slope. You apologise to him as you tear a strip from his shirt and create a makeshift sling, and he tells you it's alright; a broken bone is nothing in the grand scheme of things. That you did good. That God was with you.

And it's at that point you crack. Fissures start erupting inside you uncontrollably.

You pace away, you don't want him to see it. Any of them.

You don't know where you’re going. You can't feel your feet anymore and you're blinded by tears that won't cease. You try to remember your mantra. Try to remember how you're still here and they're not.

Eventually you walk into something soft, warm. Arms pulling you tight. Telling you he’s got you as you sob, and your cut to shreds and exhausted feet finally give way under you.

He falls with you, settling into the ground and mourns the loss with you.

You don't know how long you and Kelper stayed out in the grass that night. All you know is that you never let go of one another. Even when you fell asleep amongst the tiny bugs.

You stand up; your back aching from being crouched for so long over the buck's carcass, and stare down at the bloodied meat you’ve salvaged from it.

And then it hits you and makes you feel unsteady on your feet. A renegade choke slithers up from the back of your throat and out into the open as your eyes mist over.

You know it with resolution, with utmost conviction.

The loss you suffered that day was insurmountable. The loss you suffered when Raiders came and took more than just scavenged possessions from your people still cuts deep.

The losses since the Outbreak have stacked up against you, that some days you don’t think you can physically take anymore.

Enduring and surviving is taking its fucking toll. The pain garnered from those losses will remain with you always. More scars.

But, as you stand here zoning out into abject realisation and determination, you know that there is a loss that trumps all of that.

And you feel wretched for even comparing them.

A single man for all that bloodshed and carnage? All those innocent lives lost? It's a heinous and selfish thought. One that rises bile to the back of your throat as you try to cough it away.

But you know, without a shadow of a doubt, that losing Joel again would be worse than anything you've endured and survived through. Worse than anything else that's possibly coming for you next.

And you can’t lose him again now that you’ve found him.

You just can’t.

After Joel’s annoyed rantings about you not waking him finally cease into incoherent mumblings, you both settle down to eat some of the venison that you’ve cooked.

Whilst he was asleep, you took the opportunity to hack the buck up outside; a messy job that left your top splattered with blood and your mind stained with rattled recall.

You washed up discreetly in the alcove, replacing it with another simple, long sleeved top from your pack, and then later laid the meat into pans cooking it tenderly.

The sounds of sizzling as the meat cooks stirs Joel at just past six in the evening.

You both sit down to eat as the approaching dusk begins to infect darker blues into the sky.

You share the remainder of the focaccia bread and you watch as Joel winces as his neck aches. He rubs at it listlessly.

“Ya should've woken me.” He pouts again, as he shovels in another mouthful of meat, chewing with a deep frown.

“You needed the sleep.”

“I should’ve been on watch,” he grunts. “Not fuckin’ sleepin’ with a bent up neck.”

You shouldn’t have been moaning my name either, is what you want to say, but you keep it to yourself. A secret that elates you as it thrills.

Your mind can't help but to wade into conjuring up images about what it was exactly that he was dreaming about. You try to contain the small smile ebbing as you chew, but it’s difficult - it pours renegade across your lips anyway.

“S’not funny.” Joel gripes. He reaches for some water still patting at his neck.

“I’m not laughing at you.” You state with a flat mouth free of curves or bends.

He eyes you carefully as he puts down the water bottle.

You clear the chipped plates when you’re both finished, and put the remaining cooked meat inside the Tupperware box. It’ll keep for a day or two.

Joel gets up and disappears outside, and you make the most of the few minutes of silence. Silence that is always somehow interrupted by wayward thoughts or unflinching desires as of late.

You think back to your dream earlier of being wrapped up on the cot with him pressed up against you, and it suddenly feels hotter inside the shack, even though the cooler air of the evening seeps inside now.

Your mind swims with his hands. His hands that were on your hips at the Hootie And The Blowfish concert he took you to as you swayed against him, mouthing the words of the songs into the air.

How his large palm would squeeze your thigh in the passenger seat fondly and you flare at the thought of him rising it higher and higher, until his fingertips would probe the edge of your panties that were always soaked for him.

The taste of his thick, salty fingers as you’d kiss and suck each one gently whilst he lost all his breath and sense of being, drowning in you.

A longing sigh settles in the back of your throat and chokes you.

Joel returns a few minutes later, zipping up his fly as he pulls the door shut behind him, and you turn away feeling as though you’ve been doused in gasoline and set alight.

He slouches down back in the chair and sighs listlessly. His hand is rubbing again at the back of his neck as he peers out the small window.

He tries to crack it out, bending his head from side to side and growls under his breath when it doesn’t release.

“Want me to massage it for you?” You offer after he grunts in frustration again.

His brown eyes dart to you as though you just shot him in the gut.

Your own mouth is appalled at the suggestion, and the origin of it, but the mutiny in your chest spurs you on.

“Might stop you complaining?" You suggest, standing and not giving him much of a choice. Or yourself, for that matter. Driven on drunk autopilot as you're there in a blink of an eye.

He caves, nodding hesitantly and scooches his chair forward a little.

"Ya sure?" Joel questions, a small voice that cracks like glass, flows out of him. His eyes are furtive, widening and he looks acutely terrified. His posture is suddenly more rigid, if such a thing were possible.

You nod like it's nothing, but it’s everything. A small reassuring smile greets him behind a skull of chattering teeth.

You step behind him, flooded with gumption, despite the fact your body is yelling at you that this is probably a disaster waiting to happen.

You feel him hitch a breath as soon as your skin makes contact with him. Yours does too. It stops time, space and gravity no longer exist.

Coherent thought dissipates and you're left with a head full of iridescent bubbles, floating with them. The sweat beads at your neck, you feel your spine pull tight. You clench between your legs.

His neck is hot and red from the constant pawing at it; the skin in his hairline feeling rougher and bobbly with large pores and coarser hairs, as your fingers sink slowly into it.

You press your thumbs at the base and wiggle them around in slow moving circles, applying gentle pressure.

Joel groans out immediately; a noise that is all too familiar to you, and so uniquely new. His shoulders instantly deflate.

“That’s the spot, huh?” You smile, wrangling it all out of him.

“Fuck,” you think you hear him murmur, as you knead and roll your thumbs across the top of his spine.

“Ya too good at this,” Joel says after a few minutes. You can see he has his eyes closed in the window’s reflection.

You beam, enjoying that he’s enjoying it, as you’re all fingers and thumbs, albeit with a tremor in them.

“Ya used to do this thing, you’d scratch ya nails into m’head.” Joel lets slip through a deep sigh.

“You remember that?” You ask, smirking.

“I 'member a lot,” he groans, as you push your fingers up the back of his scalp, snaking to his crown and then dragging them down again. Letting your nails rake through his salt and pepper waves and scratch against his skin.

“Yeah... like that.” Joel whines; a long, laboured husk pulling from his chest that causes devastating explosions inside of you, ten million Hiroshima’s.

You continue circling around his crown, behind his ears, to the front of his forehead, and back down his nape where your fingers knot around his unruly curls.

You let your dexterous digits run through the silk of them. You see goosepimples flood across the back of his neck and you pulse.

You could just lean forward and plant a tender kiss there. You can see yourself do it in your mind's eye; taste his skin, and you lick your lips unconsciously.

“God, I fuckin’ missed this.”

It makes you fly to hear it, fireworks sparking inside your core. The hairs stand up on your arms and your own scalp tingles. A deep ache pulls on your clit as you squeeze your thighs together again and try to stifle your own groans.

“Yeah?” You manage to swallow.

He nods slowly, pushing his head back into your fingers to get more of them. Chasing the sensations that leave prickles all over his scalp, running down his spine and into the end of his hardening cock.

“Feels good?” You prompt.

“So fuckin’ good, darlin’.” He croons with his eyes closed and jaw slack. "I could fall asleep again."

Joel Miller is literal putty in your hands. A stark contrast from a few minutes ago when the grump wouldn’t stop griping into the air. Now he’s languidly panting into it with soft breaths that move up in octaves when you find a good spot that makes him melt further.

Your hands slip down onto his broad, thick shoulders and knead with the pressure there, working him out. You’re no professional, but the amount of knots in his shoulders pains you a little.

He’s been holding on to a lot of tension for so long.

Your brain wanders off to wondering about how he releases some of it. The back of your own neck becomes saturated as you linger in that wanton territory of Joel with those hands wrapped around his large, thick cock and grunting as he comes.

You wonder if he still makes the same face...

The sting of you biting down onto your lip pulls you out of that illicit thought. You can't help it; touching him again, finally having your hands on him, brings it all back and makes your need physical and corporeal. It's been so long.

Joel sighs out again; the sound speaking to the ache between your legs, communicating with it as you feel it more intensely.

More contented hums follow from him, putting invisible smooches on your skin as they land on you and flower.

And then Joel reaches for your right hand, pulling it round to his face and goes to run his nose against it, inhaling the natural perfume of your skin.

An action driven unconsciously in that dreamy moment of his hedonism and own need. You're certain he's going to kiss you there.

But he stops.

You hitch your breath at the contact of his hand on yours, so familiar, and yet so new. His hand is so warm, a little rough on the fingertips that grip gently around your wrist.

You close your eyes as you feel his breath waft over your palm.

Then you freeze when you feel his fingers push up your sleeve and catch him staring at the scar on your wrist as it’s revealed.

It’s long, puckered and massively obvious. The skinny, zagged pink line is vertical and was once dangerously deep.

Joel twists in the chair, the sound of the wicker slicing through you. His brown eyes are back in that alcove of his frown as they ward up at you questioning, swimming in fury, and it instantly becomes too much.

You snatch back your wrist, breaking all contact with him as the dreamy spell shatters in reflective shards at your feet.

“What happened?” He asks gently, tentatively.

You can still feel it, the strange lack of any pain sensation; just the release of pressure as the blade slid up and into your wrist with ease. You’d thought it would at least sear or burn. That you’d scream out in agony as it ripped apart the fibres of your sinewy flesh.

But you didn’t. Instead you just watched, with some acquired peace; peace that you’d longed for so desperately at the time, and welcomed it, as you slowly bled out. It felt like you were high, floating almost.

Kelper had saved you, the bastard. You’d beaten against his chest, crying and cursing him for doing so, but in hindsight, you know why he did it. It was so you could save him later. Save the others.

Even save yourself in some way.

And as you breathed life back into his body, you understood that it was just a cheat’s way out of this world. Although the world was scorched and desolate, there was still love and connection to be found.

And that was fucking worth living through it all. Had to be. Because there was fuck all else.

You swallow thickly, unsure of where to begin, how to revisit that fertile ground that you've dug up and re-soiled over again and again.

“The same thing that happened there,” you swallow, tapping your right temple at him, and Joel senses the damage it would cause the both of you if he digs around that grave site, so he presses no further; just leaves withered roses on the ground before walking away.

Instead he sighs, and the frown that is so moulded into his features returns. “Ya needed me, so many times n’ I wasn’t there.” Joel utters.

The scar, not leaving his sight, taunts him of his failures to protect yet another person he’d cared about from all the rot in the world.

“What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger.” You sigh gently. "Supposed to, anyway."

You turn your wrist around and look down at the scar that you used to loathe. You try to remember what your skin looked like before it was there and you come up blank. It feels like it's always been a part of you, even before it was physical.

“I haven’t felt strong in a long time.” Joel whispers out, and your head turns to him.

Jaded from years of craggy, cemented trauma, a hardened shell like the shirt pulled taught on his back sits heavy on him; even if it crushes him most days.

It's impenetrable, solid steel. Nuclear bomb proof. But you just witnessed him take the weight of it off for a second, lighten the load, and it leaves you paralysed to hear him say it.

In your head, you’re yelling at yourself to rush forward and scoop him up in your arms. But you sense he probably doesn't want that. Wouldn't know how to accept it and it pains you further.

“You’re stronger than you know. That’s why you’re still here.” You say, weakly. It's hard to believe that yourself some days.

He drops his head, his hands now a thick, clumsy ball of knots inside his lap and mulling over your words. He offers no words, but just the subtle shaking of his head as though you're wrong about that.

“Joel, I have to tell you something.” You begin with a little hesitation. But you can’t keep this from him. Not now.

He looks up at you with some mild concern. “What?”

You roll your lips over one another; they’re dry, chapped and don’t taste like your own anymore. You feel your heartbeat quicken.

“Tommy told me about Sarah.” You reveal in a low tincture.

You see Joel's cheekbones flex by his ears as he grinds his teeth. “I figured he might.”

His own voice is toneless and it makes your bones ache to hear no music in it.

“I know there’s nothing I can say-”

“I can’t,” he says, holding up a large palm and shaking his head.

“You don’t have to.” You confirm. “You don’t ever have to. And I’ll never…” You trail off. Perhaps you should heed him and actually stop as you fumble around your words.

“You can say it.” Joel nudges you, his eyes sinking further back into his skull.

You sit in the other chair beside him, dragging it close.

“I’ll never understand what it’s like. What it’s been like for you, without her."

"Ya never had any?" Deapite his warning, he asks you, and you shake your head.

"I bet she was incredible… But I do understand why-” you tap your scar, and he looks at it with a deeply etched sadness drawn on his face. “-Why you tried to make it stop.”

His expression makes your eyes water and you tell yourself to not falter, to not crack or break when he needs you now.

Endure and survive. Endure and fucking survive!

Joel reaches for your hand, resting it upright on his knee and trails his index finger lightly across the trench of the scar. It makes you shiver as you both watch him do it.

You feel the warmth flood through your body at breakneck speeds. Live through the way you shudder as your spine resets itself and you swallow like you're choking, dying.

He's killing you with a bare, featherlight touch and you can't abnegate yourself from heading to the light.

"Sometimes... it feels like we were never there. Was a dream, that life. I dreamt it. All of it. I dreamt her up... Must've, to have been so happy, so content. So fuckin' unprepared." Joel sniffs. "Then we just... lost it all. Everythin'. N' for what?"

His eyes find yours, his face softens and his fingers continue that gentle, heady contact. And you both sit there for what feels like an age, not speaking whilst he familiarises himself with your own pain.

"This ain't survival. This is fuckin' Hell. And I couldn't even..." You hear him whisper to you as he shakes his head recalling his own failure. "I flinched. The bullet missed. I don't know why. Somethin' kept me here. Punishin' me."

You soon feel your fingers brushing against his wrist, and then interlocking with his digits. You both squeeze tightly against one another and neither one of you falters that grip.

Not even for a second.

Not even when your palms sweat and your fingers ache under the crush of him.

“I wish ya both could've met.” He utters, head bowed in the direction of your scar, and you see a single tear drip from his face and land on the thigh of his worn jeans. "She would've liked ya."

You squeeze his hand tighter, and he squeezes back.

You don't say anything, because honestly, what can you say? Mere words are destitute. He carries more anger, more remorse; more guilt than a human being could ever drag the weight of behind them. It's crushing him on the daily.

Joel Miller had already crossed over into Hell and eternal damnation the moment Sarah was taken from him. He'd lost his baby girl. Ripped from his arms as he’d yelled at Tommy to help him frantically as she slipped away from her daddy's embrace; bled out all over him and he'd never felt more helpless. More alone.

He'd resided in that Hell on a daily basis; adding to his heavy life sentence with the onerous deeds he'd committed since. Heathen atrocities, blood stained hands, and stacks of faces haunt the darker trenches of his mind. Joel can never escape them.

There were things - depraved and animalistic things - you could never know about Joel, for he would never burden you with the horrors of their weight. Some of it's from a selfish point of view; he wouldn’t be able to stand the pity you’d tarnish him with.

Or the forgiveness.

He’d carry it all himself and save you that pressure, save you from the nightmares soaked in an iron tasting sweat. He'd been lost for a while, knuckles sheathed in the crimson of the innocent.

He had wielded a scythe and dealt the cards in the House’s favour. Death's bitch, who refused him an easy way out when he'd finished with him.

He’d done heinous, despicable things all in the name of survival and base instincts, that he was inherently ashamed of; carried demons that wouldn’t let him rest or sleep as they clawed at his face continuously.

And when he looks at your scar, it’s another thing to add to the pile of calcified bones that have mounted up behind him.

He should have been there for you. Should have fought harder to find you. Tore up the world in his search. He should never have let you fucking go in the first place.

You can’t pull him out of that fiery torment, walk across the hot coals and lead him out by the hand, not fully. Your comprehension of it wouldn’t even begin to pierce through that layered steel.

But you offer a moment’s calm in the swirling hurricane as you reduce it to a gentle breeze. You stop that ice from creeping up into his heart and denying it of it's beating.

You silence that voice that convinces him he's going to die, alone.

You squeeze Joel's hand and offer a moment or two for the hellfire to stop burning him and blistering his skin. You take his pain and pull blood soaked threads from it, finally speaking in a language that he can understand and respond back in fluently.

For a moment, you squeeze back. And that’s more than Joel will ever be able to ask for.

To be continued...

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biggestxsimps · 1 year

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The Campbell Boy

Sal Fisher x Male Reader (Ashley’s Twin)

A/N: This was requested to us over on our Wattpad! Sorry, the first 200 and something words are just Sal falling for Ash, the other 1000 words are about Y/N tho I swear. Sal is so ooc omg, I haven't played the game in a hot minute so he's not at all accurate lmao.

Sal's POV:

I knock on Todd's door, I hear muffled words before he opens the door. He greets me as he opens the door. "Sorry it took me a minute to answer, I was wrapping up a tutoring session with Ashley, have you two met?" "Hey I'm Ash" I turn to see a beautiful girl, I feel my heart thump as she continues. "You must be Sally Face. I've heard so much about you!" I cough before responding "I.. Um.. me? You have?" "Yeah! All good things I swear. I'm glad I finally got to meet you."

"Me too. Er, you too. Um, I mean, it's nice to meet you as well." She sends a sweet smile my way. "I'd love to stay and chat more but I have to get going. Thanks for helping me out today, Todd." She walks to the door. "Enjoy the weekend, boys!" The door closes as I reply "You too".

"You alright Sal? You seem a bit anxious." "Oh, yeah, yeah. I'm good, I'm cool." I turn back to the ginger boy. "Okay so what brings you this way?" I completely disregard his question "Ash seems nice, is she a freshman too? What's she like?" "Her full name is Ashley Campbell. She's a freshman, like us, she also has a twin brother. She's overall a nice person." I don't seem to hear anything after that, until Todd asks "You didn't come here to talk about Ashley, though, so what's up?" "Oh, right..."

Timeskip

I was on the way to the basement, letting the elevator take me down. Larry had let me know Todd was over and asked if I wanted to hang out. It had been a while since the three of us hung out so I obviously accepted, what I didn't expect was to open the door and see Ashley sitting on a beanbag in the corner. My eyes trail from her to the figure standing beside her, his (E/C) eyes somehow more beautiful than Ash's. I felt like time had stopped.

"Sal?" I hear Larry call from beside me, I turn his way, clearing my throat. "Uh, I- yeah?" I hear the others chuckle before the taller boy walks over to me, hand out. "I don't believe we've met, you must be Sal. Larry and Ash can't keep their mouths shut about you." I look up at him, 'God, he's even more attractive up close'

"You.. Er I'm- Yeah, That- That's me."

He lightly laughs, 'I wish I could listen to that forever' he slightly tilts his head as he responds. "I'm Y/N," he quickly gestures to the brunette girl. "Ashley's twin." I nod slowly. "It's-Uh, It's nice to meet you." I finally shook his hand. "Nice to finally meet you too, Sal" I feel my face turn hot and I'm suddenly thankful for the mask covering my growing blush.

An awkward silence fills the room before Larry cuts it. "Okay, you two weirdos can stop shaking hands now." He lets out a hearty laugh as I quickly retract my hand from his warm ones. The (H/C) boy walked over to his spot next to Ashley as I sat next to Larry on the bed. 'I can't seriously be feeling this way for another boy, not that there's anything wrong with it. I'm just not gay.. right?'

Timeskip

It's been a few months since I met Y/N. I really expected my feelings for him to die off as easily as they did with Ash but I still feel just as strongly, if not more for him. 'I should probably talk to someone about this.' The first person that came to mind was Todd. He's had the most experiences with these sorts of feelings.

I quickly make my way to the 2nd floor, walking in, I greet his parents and bee-line for his room. I didn't bother knocking, the ginger boy sat in front of his computer. "Oh, hey Sal. What brings you here?" He turns the chair to face me. "Todd, I need some advice." His eyebrows furrow. "What sort of advice? What did you do?" I shake my head. "I haven't done anything. I need help figuring out some feelings." "Feelings? You're better off talking to Ash about that." I immediately shut down the idea. "Definitely not." He starts to smirk as questions me. "Why? Is she the one you have these 'feelings' for?"

"No, Um. Actually, I think I'm into her brother."

Todd's eyes grow to the size of saucers. "Y/N?!" I meekly nod. "I didn't know you liked boys." Todd laughs a little. "I didn't either." I exclaim. "That's why I need your help." Todd nods a few times before asking. "So what exactly do you need help with?" I go to respond but then pause, "I'm not sure. I guess I just wanna understand these feelings. I've never really felt this way for anyone before, and especially not for a boy."

"Sit down" He brings his arm out and gestures to the chair. "Let me help you out."

Timeskip

Yesterday's talk with Todd really helped me out. Though the idea of liking a boy is still pretty new to me, I think I'm ready to at least give it a shot. He told me that I should ask him out, that he thought he was pretty obviously gay. I couldn't be a hundred percent sure but I trusted Todd, and Y/N. I was sure that even if he were to reject me, he wouldn't make it a big deal, and would let me down slowly.

I take a deep breath before sending Y/N a text, almost instantly getting a response.

'want 2 hang?'

'ye whose place?'

'mine'

'lemme grab ash'

'hoping itd be jus u?'

'k all gud sys'

I stuff my phone into my back pocket before glancing up at the bathroom mirror. I fix up the pigtails before waiting in my room. It doesn't take long before I hear a knock on my bedroom door. "Come in." The door is slowly swung open, Y/N walking in and greeting me. "Hey man, why'd you call me over?" 'I really had to do it now, no backing out.' I shrug. "I kinda needed to talk to you." His wide smile slightly dropped. "What's wrong?" I shake my hands. "Nothing's wrong, I just.." I pause as he walks over to me, sitting on the bed, beside me.

He looks at me like he's waiting, not impatiently, just curious. I can't control the loud beats fastening, the loud thumps making their way up my throat. "Uhm-" my voice cracks, my head turning away in embarrassment. "You're all right, take your time Sal." His hand lays on my own as he gives it a reassuring squeeze. It wasn't the first time he had comforted me like this, it always made my heart jump but it really wasn't helping right now.

I don't know how long I was thinking before his gentle voice cut through my thoughts. "Sal?" My head turns back to his, quickly spurting out, "I-think-I'm-in-love-with-you!" I close my eyes tight as I wait for his response. It takes a few seconds before his thumb starts massaging my still held hand, his other resting on the porcelain mask at my cheek. I slowly open my eyes to see him grinning. "I feel the same, Sal."

My eyes widened. "You do?" He chuckles before nodding. "Have for a while. I was planning on asking you out too. Guess you beat me to it though." I lightly laugh as I lean in for a hug, his arms wrapping around my torso. "Does this mean we're- y'know?" I feel him nod against me, "If that's something you want?" "Obviously" I reply. We both share a laugh before he kisses my covered forehead.

A/N: After reading through it, it feels a little rushed, sorrryyy.

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kiltongrammarwriter94 · 2 months

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The Case of The Heart's Whisper 18+

Pairing: Pippa Fitz Amobi x Fem Reader

Summary: You didn't realize having a relationship with Andie Bell would lead you to become Pippa Fitz Amobi's main resource in Andie Bell's complex life. You also didn't expect to fall for the detective, especially since you're still hanging on the girl who broke your heart.

words:6k

Authors Note: I wrote this piece quite a while ago after reading halfway through the first book, for that matter this story includes many inconsistencies and does not follow booklore in terms of storyline or even timelines. What if reader helps pip with the case and ends up falling in love with Pip? but a bit Andie-coded because I just love her. This was just meant as a fun writer's challenge and is meant to be entertaining. Please also keep in mind this was written before I finished the first book.

Warnings: Past Andie x fem reader, angst, fluff, possessive pip if you squint. Mentions of child abuse, toxic parenting, Andie bell haunting everyone from the grave. Dark pip having the ability to bring me to my knees. This story is not suppose to make sense. That’s about it. Steamy but actual smut is not written. Not proof read. Reader is on her last year in school. Being held back a year for therapy. Cussing.

"What was your relationship with Andie Bell?". You gulped, feeling tears start to brim at just the name. Her name. Images of soft blue eyes and Andie's infamous smirk replayed in your mind like a broken record. Bringing back memories you had flushed away, locked away tight.

Under the watchful glare of Pippa Fitz Amobi, you felt your tongue dry against the roof of your mouth. Her words replaying in your mind, 'what was your relationship with Andie Bell?'

It wasn't that easy. You wish you could have gotten up from your seat in the canteen, where pip laid out her voice recorder, her strong willful blue eyes seeming to crawl over your skin, but not in a predatory manner, you couldn't help but notice the way she was staring at you. It made your stomach flip, your eyes burn, it felt all too familiar, the way her eyes were focused on you. With such intensity.

Just like her.

It had been forever since someone had eyed you like that. Five whole years to be exact.

A deep guttural sound boomed you away from your thoughts and your eyes moved to the boy who sat across from you, Ravi singh. His eyes were on you as well, except you couldn't help but feel like he was judging you. Sitting down with his arms crossed and his dark eyes looking into your soul, how were you suppose to tell him that Andie had been interested in you. That she had personally took you aside after you had stumbled upon Sal and Andie in the canteen, Andie with her usual puppy dog eyes directed at Sal. It had hurt, like a sucker punch to the gut.

All the things Andie had said to you during your studying lesson. It all had been lies. Of course you did nothing, only turned back on your heel, book bag in hand. You heard rushed footsteps next and then Andie was behind you. Her force strong and impatient, "y/n wait!! I didn't mean for you to see that". You had halted, burning red eyes and betrayal filling your veins. You turned on the girl, yanking your hand from under her touch.

"My friends were right about you Andie bell. You're nothing but a cruel mean person who will use anyone for your gain! I should have known the minute you came to talk to me that you had no intention of being my friend! Or whatever the hell you were playing at. Do yourself a favor, get another French tutor. I'm done."

Cue to the next day, when you were making your usual walk to Kilton grammar l, beanie in hand as the chilly English weather had been harsh at that day, numbing your fingers to the bone. Your father never was one for making sure you were comfortable and safe, his job stopped the day you were born. Despite your rough upbringing you were usually rather optimistic, everyone always said you were a female version of Sal signh. Not exactly what you wanted to hear, but maybe that was why Andie gravitated torward you. You shook your head, Andie Bell was out of your life. And like life, you watched as a silver SUV parked along side you, Andie bell in the front seat, brows furrowed.

"Get in the car you'll freeze to death" she spoke. You only continued walking, defiant. "I prefer the cold air, it makes my immune system stronger".

You didn't expect Andie to park the car, getting out with a grumble and practically tackling you. If you closed your eyes just enough you could still feel Andie's soft fingers ghosting over your cheeks bones, hot breathe against your ear. "I apologize for what I did. It's just...Sal is my best friend. And perhaps I should have broke it off with him, but it's hard. And then you came into the canteen and I panicked, I'm not use to panicking. I-" Andie's blue eyes had remained still, blush on her cheeks. "I like you y/n. Like a lot. It wasn't suppose to happen at first I really did need help with my French, but then I started noticing things about you. Like how you're always so sweet to others, how you mumble when you're nervous. Or how no matter how much your dad makes you unhappy, you always seem to be shining. Why is that? Is there some sort of secret?".

You remember feeling like you were in the twilight zone. Andie bell was a popular girl, a popular girl with a cruel heart, one who enjoyed hurting others. And yet here she was, helping you up and dusting your trousers. Her eyes warm and soft. Why she liked you, you didn't know. But you wanted to know why.

Needless to say how were you suppose to sit and say that Andie bell had liked you, not to Ravi Singh , that would just make him hate you more. And perhaps you felt guilty. Because his brother had died for Andie bell. And she had been playing games with you.

A soft brush of fingers against your hand made you turn back to the girl, in an act of utter coincidence or an act of kindness, you weren't sure which she spoke, this time to Ravi.

"Ravi would you mind leaving us two girls together? I believe y/n would feel more comfortable giving me her account without others listening in".

At this you watched as Ravi immediately stood up, eying you with strange eyes, before walking out of the canteen, the door's hinges making an utter awful squeaking noise that reminded you of the deer your father use to shoot.

"Andie wasn't like the others". You didn't recognize your voice as you spoke. It was brittle, far away sounding, pain infused. You watched as Pippa remained speechless, eying you with her soft grey eyes.

"The others?" Her brows furrowed, "other students you mean?".

You nodded, a tear flying past your cheeks and onto your bottom lip, tasting the familiar salt on your tongue. You watched as pip followed the motion, eyes drifting down your lips.

"At first when she came round to me, I thought it was some cruel joke she was trying to play. I had heard about what she'd done to Nat De Silva. People talked. But....when she came round to my desk after French class and asked if I could tutor her I was lost for words". Pippa watched as a smirk filled your lips.

"Andie bell was kind to me. I don't know why....perhaps she saw something in me others didn't bother to see. And-and perhaps if we had gotten to be around each other more we could have been something. But she's gone now. And no one can bring her back".

"I will"

The words made your eyes find pip's. And you watched as the girl without thought reached over the table, taking your trembling fingers into her own, holding them against her own flushed fingers. Almost like she knew.

"I can't promise you Andie....I cannot simply wave my fingers and make her appear. Although I wish I could....but I can offer you peace. Justice. I can offer you a finalized solid answer to what truly happened to her. I've heard what others said about you and her. You were special to her too y/n".

At that all composure left you. Your body began to tremble and you let the soft sobs rock your body, the all to consuming feeling of grief taking over.

In an instance pip was beside you, bringing you to her chest and holding tightly. So tight you could feel the girls heartbeat, which was rapid and going a mile a minute. Battering against her rib cage.

You clung to her, after all these fives years you had wanted someone to hold you like this, to brush the tears away and say that it gets better. That time can heal wounds, but of course stuck with your father who had no notion of feelings or emotions that was not what you had learned to expect. Instead you tucked it away.

But pippa was kind. She had a sense of ease that seemed to calm your racing heart. And lull you into a sense of comfort. And perhaps, if you were being honest, she had that same energy to her. It was like having a piece of Andie with you, however small it was. Because as much as Pippa reminded you of Andie, she was almost completely 100% different. Where Andie was rough around the edges, pipa was solid, keen on the way she thought, logical. Where Andie was sporadic and lacking sympathy, pip made up for it with her soft eyes and just heart.

In the weeks that followed you found your eyes finding Pip's when you would greet her in the hall of Kilton grammar, her eyes seeming to find yours in a crowd. She was always the first to greet you, smile that pipa smile. What you were not aware of was the fact that pip had been ogling you during lunch apparently.

"What's up with Pippa Fitz Amobi always staring at you?" You blanched. Eyes wide as you eyed your best friend Seth from across the lunch table, your fresh salad you had nicked from the canteen bar forgotten.

"What do you mean? I helped her out with her end of term project a few weeks ago. She's probably just grateful or something. Not many people gave her grace over the topic" you growled out.

Seth, who was not very bright in social cues only began talking yet again. "No I mean, she's always staring at you now. She was in geography and just now when you sat down. I think she fancies you".

You had to chuckle at that, your laughter filling the lunchroom, your cheeks flushed and eyes wide, you immediately shoved Seth, "that is the most stupid comment I have ever heard!! Pippa fitz Amobi having a crush on me! Me Seth! I'm nobody. Seriously what a notion. She's probably got a few more questions to ask me."

"Well I better prepare because she's coming this way".

Your smile vanished, your eyes wide. "What!"

And like clockwork pipa was in front of your table, blue eyes scanning you. "Sorry to interrupt your lunch hour y/n, but would you mind if I asked you to have dinner with my family and I after school? I know it's sudden. I was going to ask Ravi, but I figured I hadn't properly thanked you for answering my questions"

Seth smiled from the brim of his thermos, making your nerves ramp up even more, but you stayed calm, moving your eyes to Pippa's. A small smile formed on your lips as you took in her face, all furrowed lines and nervous fingers behind her back. You half expected her to serenade you with random facts, a sign she was nervous.

"I really would love to pipa" you began, and you watched as Pippa's smile began to grow, her blue eyes alight with something you couldn't understand yet.

"That's wonderful!! My mum is making shepards pie, are you alright with that? I wouldn't want to make something that doesn't sit well with your stomach". Pippa’s nervous rambling was cute to an extent, and you only chuckled.

"I haven't had a decent shepards pie in quite while, my father isn't a real good cook." You explained, and pipa nodded, before reaching out and taking your hand in hers, your reflex was to pull your hand away, but Pippa's touch was firm, almost gentle as she softly moved your sweater from your Palms, "it's alright, I'll be gentle, no need for a scare" she spoke, directly to you, blue eyes soft as she produced a pen from her Kilton uniform, writing her home address on the back of your palm, the nib of the pen feeling cold against your warm skin.

Seth only remained the smiling idiot he was, wagging his furrowed brows as if to say, 'is that evidence enough?' You only sent him daggers.

Turning back to pip who was on the last letter of her street name, you eyed the canteen, finding little to no teens were sat paid attention to you two. You made a small noise with your throat, watching as pip's eyes flew to yours, a sea of light blue, whispering softly you spoke.

"How's your EPQ going? Have you made any progress? About Andie?" Maybe it was the way her name fell of your lips, or how desperate for answers you were. Pippa's eyes widened, and she spoke fast, "I can't speak of it here. That's partly why I invited you round to my house. I have some more questions. But these need to be answered privately."

Privately?

Pippa must have sensed your apprehension, because she was soon smiling, "nothing to be scared about y/n. If anything your answers have changed my mind about Andie. To an extent. And it will just be us tonight, Ravi is working. I noticed how you clammed up with him last time".

"I didn't clam up, it's just odd having Sal singh's brother eying me like I have some secret I'm hiding from him." You shot back, your confidence seeming to find its way out. You couldn't help but feel that raw feeling weld up in your chest, your teeth gritted out. You felt a flush take over your face as you apologized, your words escaping you. Gosh, here pip was going out of her way to invite you to a dinner, a family dinner that is, where you were probably intruding on, and you had snapped at her.

Pippa only eyed you, eyes flashing over your flared nostrils and wide set eyes,you watched as her eyes remained transfixed to your features, her blue grey eyes darkening just enough as she eyed your flushed cheeks. You would have found that odd, if it were not for your rambling, rapid apologies falling of your lips. Pip only halted your words, leaning in so close you could smell her perfume, strawberry and raspberry. Your heart raced out of its chest at the way Pip moved to lean over you, her eyes taking in your eyes and your flushed racing chest, the smile that reached her lips was so saccharine that it made your stomach erupt in butterflies. Pip spoke softly against your ear, like it was some sort of secret to be hid from others. Her words were soft, velvety against her tongue, "I like when you use your voice" she spoke, "it's cute. You look almost like a little puppy, puffing out its chest and barring its teeth. Such a sweet little creature"

From the way Pip smiled victoriously over the way your eyes followed her, almost trance like, you could practically feel Seth's eyes burning holes into you, probably resisting the urge to yell "she's obviously flirting with you!". Once your brain was cognizant enough to realize that pip had said you reminded her of a dog, a puppy at that. A puppy, the lowest of the forms of dogs. Why didn't she just say you were akin to a baby playing in the sand box? It would have irked you, if we're not for the way that pip stayed eyeing you, a shine in her grey eyes, almost like she was getting some sort of high from teasing you. It made your cheeks flush and your eyes move down to her lips, which were plastered in that smile, the one that twisted your insides in the best way.

You felt your confidence come back to you in tiny spurts, your eyebrows raising, tongue coming to peek out over eager lips, "Who knows Amobi?" You spoke, twisting your lips into a even sweeter smile, your voice taking on a different tone, "I may be a wolf in sheep's clothing, easy on the eyes, soft, sweet, so sweet that you would be blinded by what I could do".

At that you watched as pip's eyes glazed over, her usual pale complexion pink in color. "Is that so?" She began. "Well I'll just have to see about that. Half past six tonight, don't be late" she spoke, winking at you and walking off. As she walked off, You felt a sudden pang in your chest at your realization. You liked Pippa Fitz Amobi. You had ever since she had held you that day a few weeks ago. But you never acknowledged it, it felt to odd. Too shameful. You hadn't had a crush on anyone since Andie, you had stuck to your small group of friends and avoided going out, mostly you stayed in your room, far away from prying eyes and your father, who was too into himself to notice your tear stained cheeks on days you would allow your mind to drift back to Andie.

It almost felt like you betraying her, being here flirting with pip, almost like you had forgotten her for a split moment. Like your pain and anguish had been wiped clean and put back together by the girl in front of you.

Pippa watched you as she sat back with Cara, the way your eyes were downcast, and she felt a pang in her heart, you were still grieving, that part was evident. But if she could just get to know you, the real you she was sure she would be able to help ease the burden. After all Andie and you had been close, close enough that even witnesses and Andie's own friends had stated that Andie had been drawn to you. Like a moth to a flame.

At first pip had found that odd, a girl of Andie's caliber being drawn to you, but as she observed you throughout the weeks she found out two things. first, you we're different than all the other students that roamed these halls of Kilton grammar. You were kind to a fault, the sort of kind that made people smile, and their days brighter. You were a ray of sunshine on a cold dreary day. No wonder Andie had been drawn to you, after all she had been through with her dad, her family life, you had been a breathe of fresh air. A oasis away from the troubles of life. But you were also a mystery, one she couldn't wait to sink her teeth into, to know every little secret you ever had.

"Shall I send off the wedding invitations?" Cara spoke, making pip roll her eyes but steal some of the girls custard, which remained untouched on the girls plate.

"It seems Pip's EPQ is not the only thing she wants to study" seth spoke, and you only rubbed your cheeks in your hands, "oh god! She probably thinks I'm a nutter Seth” you gritted out.

Seth laughed, "after that performance?? Are you kidding me!! If I was a girl I would have fallen for you! I mean, you basically challenged her back. Pip seems like she needs that."

**********

Kilton weather was often dreary, which was why you were partly glad that you had managed to bring your jumper, the air was cold and seemed to nip at your bones. You had snuck away while your father had gone down for bed, his tell tale signs of liquor cans littering the floor and the loud snores indicating he was out for the night.

Not that he minded if you went out, he usually didn't have any notions of where you were, it was a miracle you weren't one of those teenagers who abused that power. You knew many teens who would go wild with the freedom your father gave you. But with freedom came many things, the mood swings, the often vile words that would fall of your fathers lips when he drank too much. You knew he loved you, it was apparent he did, but he never had the courage to say it, never once. You chalked it up the fact that he had never had that himself, your grandparents were the typical Victorian English parents, their idea of affection was a Pat on the back and a job well done.

Drastically different than your mother. Even after years of her being gone you still felt the ache that her face brought. Etched into your memory like a painting that would never waver. Or fade. You hoped. Your mother had been your world, she had been there to pick you up and dust you of, but like everything in life she had withered and vanished. It was a car accident that took her. The icy roads of Kilton still haunted you. So you were on your own. Till Andie of course. Then you felt less alone, less inclined to be alone. Andie wasn't all smiles, she was a girl trapped in a toxic house, where her father would eye her looks, make her feel little than she was. You had understood that to a sense, and would sit and listen as she would talk endlessly about her father.

The Amobi's household was quiet, the house sitting on the edge of town, with a quiet garden in the front that you knew Pippa’s mother had loved to garden in. It didn't surprise you that right as you made it to the door, it opened. Pippa standing in the threshold, a dinner dress on and hair pinned slightly to the side, enough that you couldn't help but notice how beautiful she looked.

Vastly different from her regular Kilton uniform, although the high knee socks did wonders for her appearance.

You couldn't help but notice how formal she looked, meanwhile you were less than formal.

A blush overcame your features, eying your now less than formal dinner attire. "I didn't realize it was fancy dress" you stated, "that dress looks beautiful on you pip. Even I couldn't make it as radiant as you".

Pippa had smiled, her cheeks crimson. "Oh this? I figured you would like to see me in something more than my Kilton uniform. Please, come in. You'll catch your death out here.".

Immediately you were bombared with checkered paws and a snout that began to lick at your face, all rough tongue and eager sniffs. you giggled, moving to draw your hand through the dogs soft fur. "This must be Barney. I've been told we share a couple attributes" you laughed, and the dog only began to bark at you playfully. The moment was ruined quick enough when pip gently moved Barney, "she's not here to see you Barney".

Pip's mother, Mrs Amobi had been almost overjoyed to see you. She had reached out and had hugged you so hard your bones had nearly popped off. She had knew your mother for years and had even stated you looked just like her. It was a comfort to know.

Mr Amobi had been just as nice, smiling and telling you how lovely you looked, you were thankful that a father had noticed. Josh was next, he had quickly said hello to you and asked if you were Pippa's new friend, to which you had eyed pipa and playfully remarked that was up to her.

Dinner was pleasant. You couldn't remember sitting down to a dinner like this, where the food was made with love and care, where jokes were passed around and by the end you were filled with laughter and a full stomach. You tried not to notice pippa's eyes which were on you for almost half the dinner. It would have seem of putting to anyone else, but you noticed the way Pip's eyes would watch you as your brought trifle to your mouth, grey eyes zeroed in on the ice cream that stuck to your lips. Or the way she would make a joke, eyes seeming to smile wide when you would laugh just a little harder. While you had gotten up to help Mrs Amobi with the dishes, feeling like a horrid house guest when she had just smiled and told you to sit your pretty self down. You had been hesitant to, but it was only then that pip crossed the room, moving to whisper something in your ear. Goosebumps arose on your forearms and you only watched as she took your hand in her own, fingers slotting against your own.

"Before you leave I was wondering if you wanted to take a look at my EPQ? It's just- I found some things you might be interested in".

You had agreed, feeling your stomach coil pleasanty as pip's fingers wrapped around your own, her grip soft yet firm, fingers caressing your skin. It made your head dizzy with want, the type that would fill your head and cause you to do stupid, stupid things. Luckily as soon as you passed into the threshold of Pips door your eyes caught sight of the board adorning the girls room. And as quickly as the soft syrupy feeling in your stomach had come it was gone. Vanished just of the sight of the crime board,

you were met with the board, Pippa's writing strewn about and evidence upon evidence filling the space. It shouldn't have made you so emotional, but you couldn't help but bring your hands to your lips. After five years pipa had managed to collect more than enough evidence, something the Kilton police hadn't the courage to do.

"You-you did all this?" You spoke, eyes turning to pipa in amazement.

She humbly nodded, "well Ravi helped me. But I did most of the work. I just felt as if I should show you" pip spoke, moving closer to you, enough that her pinky bumped over yours, the soft feeling of skin against your own making your cheeks flushed.

You eyed the board, taking in the utter dedication that had gone into it, but it was what was written on the board that made your heart stop. Not from surprise, or even grief. But anger. Anger that had grown in your chest for years now.

'Andie's secret older guy?' Written in Pipa's messy yet beautiful handwriting stared back at you. You could feel the way your heart had stilled, the world was quiet. Nothing but the board and pipa by your side.

You knew Andie well enough to know that you were just a pawn in her game. Even if she had told you she was fond of you, made you feel special, made you feel like you were important, said she saw you differently than others, she still had used you. You were never as important as she said you were. Because it was evident from the board that she hadn't been as enthralled with you as it seemed. She had been secretly out with some older man.

You chucked sardonically, eyes moving to pip's ceiling. "Andie always did love her secrets didn't she?" You whispered. "I know it's silly, but Andie was all I had left after my mum died. She made me feel like I was the most important girl, she would coo at me and tell me that she thought I was beautiful. And then she'd tell me to tell her she was the most beautiful girl in the world. And I would, without hesitation. But now I'm seeing parts of her I didn't recognize, or perhaps pieces that were always there but thanks to my naivety I just brushed off. I'm- I'm angry. Obviously, that she lied to me, it hurts. The type of hurt that makes your eyes burn and your body numb. But I also know that she's still out there, and even if she hurt me I'm not giving up". The conviction in your voice was enough to cause pip's heart to stop, hoping that someday you'd talk about her like that. With stars in your eyes.

"I'm glad to hear you say that. Because I know this is awfully sudden, but- would you like to be my partner on this case?" Pip spoke, tilting her head and eying you with such soft eyes.

It was different from the flirty Pip from the canteen. Here was just pip, with her soft kind eyes, peering at you with-understanding.

" isn't Ravi your partner? I would hate to intrude-"

"I want you with me" pip has stuttered, eyes wide when she had spoken, but then her eyes calmed and she spoke again, "I want you to help me with this case. You knew Andie better than anyone. And you could be important. Theirs no reason why this case can’t have three investigators”.

You let your eyes fall down to pip's wooden floor. For five years you've wanted the chance to find out what happened to Andie, not just for yourself but her parents, and Becca. The whole Bell family, because even if they had hurt Andie, she had also hurt them in turn. When you meant family, you had no notion of adding Jason bell to the mix.

"Alright" you spoke, lips upturning into a smile.

"I'll help you". The smile on Pip's lips was reward enough.

******

The first thing you learned about Pip was that she was different from the other girls you'd met. And you had met many, being a tutor at Kilton grammar many had come to you. And they were all the same. The same way of speaking, even the same monotone spirit in their eyes.

But Pip was different. She was clever, well educated. Her brain worked faster than others. Perhaps a touch obsessive, but you would admit that you were also on the edge between obsessive.

"Andie had a burner phone" you spoke, watching as Pip's eyes burned with excitement, Ravi sitting on her chair in her room. It had been a particularly hard day, one that lead with no leads. Till you had spoken, hoping this fact would help. You had remembered seeing Andie silence the phone when you had been studying together, saying something about a Howie Bowers.

Pip's smile was wide and she immediately rushed to you, pulling you into a hug and kissing your cheek, "y/n you clever thing! We need to find that burner phone. Where could it be?" She thought, back to her usual pacing the floor.

Ravi remained standing a few feet from you, eyes refusing to meet your eyes. Ever since pip had introduced you to the team, Ravi had been distant. You knew he liked pip. Could see it in his dark brooding eyes. To him she must have been a goddess, a girl who thought his brother wasn't guilty, who was going to prove it. Might as well propose.

But lately you had seen their dynamic change. Instead of pip always looking to Ravi, her eyes were on you. You were the one she went to, when her dog had disappeared, when she had cried and cried enough tears you had been the one to wipe them away, to calm her down.

And Ravi knew that. And he hated you for it. And you couldn't help but feel like you didn't quite belong.

You brought that up to Pip during one of your sleepovers, the ones that had become usual now. Usual enough that pip even had designated a drawer that belonged to you. Ravi would complain that it wasn't fair that you got to spend the night, but pip would just smile that smile and say something to make him smile. It usually left you with a bad taste in your mouth.

"Ravi isn't fond of me is he?" You had stated. Pip had looked up from her log entries, halting the recorder that was spewing out a very angry Nat De Silva interview.

Pip's eyes had widened, her lips upturned into a questionable smile. Brows filled with concern more like.

"Where on earth did that come from?".

You had rolled your eyes, moving to lay dramatically on her bed, "you act as if you don't see the way he looks at me. Don't get me wrong he's always been cordial. But-I've seen the way he looks at me. Like he hates me. And everything always had to be a competition for him. Like let's see who can win pip first."

At that Pip's smile was evident as she watched you ramble. Taking in your pink lips, your pale complexion, the way your sleep shirt was riding up enough to reveal your braw straps. Something akin to hunger laid in her eyes.

"And I'm not that type of person" you began, rubbing your tired cheeks, eyes taking in the ceiling.

"I don't like when people have to choose sides. Ravi's making this into some stupid competition, like if your friends with me then you can't be friends with him. and that is not who I am! It's stupid and childish! and honestly I am beginning to think I should drop out, let Ravi and you finish the case. Because I am not-"

"I choose you".

The words had halted on your tongue. Lips dry, you immediately sat up, hair a mess of curls and you eyed Pip, who sat up next to you, laptop long forgotten as she eyed you.

Waiting for your response. Her grey eyes holding so much apprehension in them.

You only eyed her with confused eyes, "I don't want you to have to choose-"

"I don't care. I still choose you over him."

Pip was close now, her form leaning over yours, enough that your heart had begun to race. "I can't help it" pip began, her face now so close to your neck, pip smiled when she caught sight of the way your cheeks flushed.

And without even a warning pip was closing the distance, capturing your lips in a kiss. You only allowed your eyes to close, enjoying the way pip was laid on top of you, the weight of her body making you warm and fuzzy.

Pip kissed like her life depended on it, every brush of her lips was deliberate, very stroke of her finger against your cheeks was soft. It left your head spinning and your lips chapped.

"You taste so good" she spoke, in between kisses, her breathe ragged and eyes wild.

Her hands laid possessively over your waist, fingers gripping your skin softly yet firmly. You don't think you've ever been this turned on before, save for your few moments with Andie.

But pip, with her lips that were unforgiving and her hands that were ticking your sides. You had never thought pip Amobi, the girl who use to ask for extra homework would be this experienced.

Pip's lips moved to your chin, your jaw, your neck. And all you could do was whine in protest.

Again you couldn't help but compare Pipa to Andie, no matter how much you tried not no, to convince yourself that they were different people, you couldn't help it. When Andie had been with you, and she had that look in her eye, that familiar glean, the way her fingers would caress your hands, then up your arm. Andie had always been a hurry. She would pull you against her in the girls toilet, shushing you and then kissing you senseless, to her it was some stupid power move. She would have you say how much you were obsessed with her, and then she would leave you even more turned on, moving to wipe lipstick of her lips in the schools dodgy mirror. She never went far enough with you, and you always wondered why.

She had always been eager, that was fact, but she had never done what pip was doing. Eying you with dark blue eyes, Mapping out every detail of your features, "it's not fair for you to look so utterly ravishing" she had uttered, looking somewhat conflicted as she eyed your lips.

Her delicate fingers moved to hover over your face, swiping delicately a piece of hair that had gotten in the way. The way pip had done it, so softly, had made your arousal burn even more.

Pip sighed, fingers moving to dip bellow your chin, gripping softly, yet enough that your breathe hitched as she lazily caressed the skin bellow your chin.

"What am I going to do with you sweet girl?" she purred, eyes dark. "I could take you here right now on my bed like I've imagined so many times, or I could take you on the floor, though I doubt it would be sanitary. Though I would fancy fucking you on my door. You'd look so cute trying to stay quiet" she drawled out, laughing when your cheeks reddened, she clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth, feigning thinking.

Her smile had been confirmation enough that she had come to a conclusion. Her smile somehow looking like a toss between Pervy and downright Sinful.

"How about we start by removing this lovely top? Hmm?" She cooed, lips leaning in to kiss your lips firmly, leaving you breathless and your brain foggy. You only nodded into the kiss, and Pip very cleverly dodged your lips, wiping away the tiny bit of salvia that followed.

It shouldn't have been hot, you knew that. You knew if you were not being controlled by your horny mind you would have been sick, but from the way Pip had begun unbuttoning your night shirt, each button coming undone sending shivers through you. pip remained stoic, but you could see the control in her eyes shifting as the last button was taken of.

"I trust you pip...you can take it off" you whispered, your voice quiet and calm, yet you felt your body buzzing with anticipation.

It was then that your eyes opened, taking in the dark room, chest heaving as you eyes the girl next to you, watching as her chest rose and fell beside you sound asleep. Had all of that been a dream? Your cheeks flushed, the pit in her stomach opening up as you realized.

You were in love with Pipa fitz Amobi, and you couldn’t deny it any longer. You had to confess, for your sanity.

#agggtm #andie bell #andie bell x fem reader #emma myers x reader #pipa fitz amobi x fem reader #dark pip is appreciated #pipa fitz amobi #pippa fitz amobi #pippa fitz amobi x fem reader

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dadada-darling · 6 months

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Shidou 12, Mahiru 21, Mikoto 18

hi hi

12. what do you wish would be discussed more often about them in the fandom?

shidou

(long read + the rest of the questions below)

hm... if i had to think and judging from sal's past reactions, i would say it wasnt discussed often on how shidou has depression, or well, has symptoms of it. it wasn't brought up often either (we've seen like a few posts mentioning it)

in trial 1, he says about how he wants the death penalty because he couldnt find himself to live with what he did to other people's families (esp relatives of people who were braindead)

he gained a will to live in trial 2 because he feels like he needs to live to take care of futa and mahiru. without him, they'd die. he doesn't know how to feel, he wants to be forgiven despite being riddled with sins.

we think his development is really neat! for us, we feel like shidou does have depression (we do have it ourselves)

mental health is kinda tricky to talk about, but it'd be nice if people talked about this more about shidou's character.

there's also this part too

there's also a few times of we've seen people mentioning this part of triage specifically. people were worried if shidou might do something to kotoko but for us we think he'll just talk some sense into her. shidou doesn't seem like the violent type to do that

21. do you have any similarities with them/relate to something in them?

mahiru

OKAY this is kinda funny to answer because sal himself (the host) doesn't relate too much to mahiru at all except for a few of us in the system that does! i guess if we were to pick in generally... a childish way of viewing love? we're kinda airheaded. (the second trial song, i love you is relatable to some of us!)

if asking individually as in me (mikko) I guess i do share a color with her? we're both orange!

if it helps we (me and sal) both got mahiru in milgram character assignment. i think thats funny

18. which non-deco vocaloid songs do you think suit them?

mikoto

ohhh this is a fun question! from my list i'd say:

phony by tsumiki (mikoto)

disappearance addiction by kairiki bear (this is more to john)

jigsaw puzzle by mafumafu (both mikoto and john. angst time)

miseen by nulut (both mikoto and john. angst)

empty prayer by nulut (mikoto and john. AGAIN. angst)

donut hole by hachi (both mikoto and john. sorry i keep using them.)

dispassionately , reminiscence by A_II (mikoto and john AGAIN i am so sorry. we love them)

i hear the sound of someone else's problems by ame no murakumo (mikoto, some parts remind me of john!)

lower one's eyes by nulut (mikoto + john)

melty land nightmare by harumaki gohan (mikoto and john. can you tell that we think about them often)

that's all for now! these are the songs i could think of while thinking of mikoto (and by extension, john) hope this was a fun read!

#answers #sal answers #milgram #shidou kirisaki #mikoto kayano #mahiru shiina #john milgram #tagging it as sal answers because even though hes not around rn we just answered for him #mikko.txt

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penny-weiss · 1 year

Text

RWBY Parallels V5, V8, and V9

Ruby’s hand-to-hand combat.

V5E3: Ozpin, “Getting you four in fighting shape… (points to Ruby) You can only fight so long as you have Crescent Rose, but you’re still lacking in hand-to-hand combat.”

V8E14: Ruby loses Crescent Rose. While she had some coaching from Ozpin in volume 5 and tries to engage in hand-to-hand combat against Neo in volume 8, it’s clear she heavily relied upon her weapon. I expect in volume 9, we will start to see her branch out of her comfort zone to other styles of combat. I hope Yang is going to coach her a bit more in the art of hand-to-hand.

Ruby is purity.

V5E5: Blake, “Have you ever met someone and thought to yourself, ‘They are the personification of this word’? …I remember getting to know Ruby and thinking, ‘This girl is the embodiment of purity.’ After a while, I saw Weiss was defiance. And Yang was strength.”

V9: The quote from season 5 about Ruby being purity reminded me of the poem Child of the pure unclouded brow from Alice in Wonderland that speaks of losing one’s sunny face and silver laughter. Ruby's purity and silver eyes may be why she is tied to the weather in this version of Wonderland. The last stanza of the poem especially stood out to me.

And though the shadow of a sigh May tremble through the story, For ‘happy summer days’ gone by, And vanish’d summer glory – It shall not touch with breath of bale The pleasance of our fairy-tale.

How do you handle all of this?

V5E5:

Oscar to Ruby, “How do you handle all of this? …How can you be so confident? People have tried to kill you. The world’s about to go to war all over again. How are you okay with any of this?”

Ruby to Oscar, “When Beacon fell, I lost two of my friends: Penny Pollendina and Pyrrha Nickos. I didn’t know them for very long but that doesn’t change the fact they were two of the most kind-hearted people I’d ever met. But that didn’t save them. Pyrrha thought if there was even the smallest chance of helping someone that it was a chance worth taking, and because of that, she died fighting a battle she knew she couldn’t win. And Penny was killed just to make a statement… I am scared but not just for me. What happened at Beacon shows Salem doesn’t care if you’re standing against her or not. She’ll kill anybody, and that scares me most of all. Pyrrha, Penny, I’d be lying if I said that it didn’t hurt, that I didn’t think about them every day since I lost them, that I didn’t wish I had spent more time with them. If it had been me instead, I know they would have kept fighting too, no matter how dangerous it was. So that’s what I choose to do: to keep moving forward."

V8E14: Penny is still fighting even after Ruby and Blake fell.

V9 Intro: While Ruby could still keep a positive outlook in Volume 5 after the initial loss of Penny, I can't imagine Ruby keeping the same outlook in Volume 9 after round 2 of losing Penny.

Think back to Beacon

V5E7: Ren, “That desire to go back and tell yourself not to be so stupid. That just proves you’re not the person you used to be. You’re smarter or kinder or stronger, and you’re not done growing yet.”

V9 Trailer: “What are you going to be?”

In Alice in Wonderland, Alice says, "Mabel, I’ll stay down here! It’ll be no use they're putting their heads down and saying ‘Come up again, dear!’ I shall only look up and say ‘Who am I then? Tell me that first, and then, if I like being that person, I’ll come up: if not, I’ll stay down here till I’m somebody else’—but, oh dear!” cried Alice, with a sudden burst of tears, “I do wish they would put their heads down! I am so very tired of being all alone here!”

I think Ruby's younger self speaking to her older self is meant to mirror the conversations Alice has about who she is and who she will become.

If Ruby sticks around…

V5E7: Yang, “If Ruby sticks around, then I will too. If there’s one thing I know about her, it’s that she somehow always knows the right thing to do.”

V9 Trailer: Unknown voice (though it sounded similar to Salem to me), “You never were the hero... You seem to be carrying a rather large burden with you. What if you could leave Ruby Rose behind, shed like an old coat? What might happen if you don’t?"

Will the team have to face this question? What growth will Ruby have to go through to keep fighting and to continue being a leader?

I'm still rewatching the other seasons, but I found some of these moments interesting to compare, and I am excited to see Ruby's growth especially!

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writingbirdy · 23 days

Text

I'd do it again~ Todd Morrison x Neil

There aren't enough stories of these two 😭

•●•●•●•●•●•●•●•●•●•●••●•

Hanging from the altar of the devourers of god, Todd looked dazed fighting the possession of the red eyed demon. He had been there for what felt like an eternity until two more people were dragged into the main area. Todd had blacked out as the demon took control but once he regained consciousness he saw the two new people hanging from the roof and his heart dropped. Hanging there was Neil slowly losing all life he once had. “Neil… no…"Todd whispered and a tear ran down his face. “It's…gonna be okay…” Neil whispered back to him. Todd wishes more than anything that Neil wouldn't have been involved but here he was being strung from the roof dying for a clut he had nothing to do with Ashley, sal and larry had finally defeated the cult after years of trying Ashley quickly ran to todd and helped him out.

“Neil, we have to help him..” Todd panicked trying to stand up. “Todd he might not make it out of here…'' Ashley trailed off grabbing Neil down from the ceiling. The two walked back to the house the gang once lived in, well plus Sal who was strangely possessing Ashley's arm? Todd shook his head not wanting to think of the logistics of the situation. They unlocked the door and placed Neil on the couch as Ashley went to get proper bandages to help Neil and try and help him recover. Todd sat down on the floor next to the couch holding his hand as he tried not to panic more. Neil gave Todd a small smile as if to say “I'll be alright.”. “Well this should help but he lost a lot of blood ... .so it may not heal "Ashley shared as she wrapped bandages around Neil's neck making sure no more blood would be lost. For days and nights Todd stayed with Neil and took care of him even though Neil tried protesting but Todd was having none of it.

It had been a few months since everything happened. Sal had been managing to stop the corruption between hopping worlds, Ashley had been helping around the house and taking care of gizmo, Neil has slowly gotten better and has been able to help Ashley and get back to a normal life. As for Todd he was still struggling to control the possession to his advantage. He was currently in the bathroom looking into the mirror at his permanent red eyes, Neil walked in and stood behind him laying his head on Todd's shoulder. “You still look beautiful to me…” he said, kissing Todd's cheek. “just reminds me of everything…” he turns to face Neil and looks into his eyes. “You almost died… we put you in danger..”

“I went with ash because I loved you too much to let you go and if that meant I had to die I would've” he said holding todd close to him.

#sally face #sally face fandom #travis phelps #larry johnson #ashley campbell #sal fisher #todd morrison #todd morrison x neil #angst #angst with a happy ending

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hearts4golbach · 3 months

Text

Zombified. (Larry Johnson x Fem!Reader.)

part 10.

co-written by @cupid-isgone

We spent a good while eating like kings that night, and slept with full bellies. The house, it turned out, had working, heated, water!

We all agreed that we'd take quick showers, for moral and for health. The warm water felt great and I had to fight not to take too long.

While I was there, though, my mind started to wander, considering the past couple weeks.

I had been alone, fighting to survive by myself, and then suddenly I wasn't. I had a whole group of people, friends to help me.

They saved me and I got to live to meet Larry all over again.

I thought about the coincidence that it was Larry I had ran into and fell in love with. I truly believed it was meant to happen. I wasn't sure where I'd be if I hadn't had him. I smiled softly at the sleeping boy in front of me.

I gently shook him awake. "Hey, get up. It's your turn to shower." He groaned dramatically as I tried to half-drag him out of his sleeping bag.

"5 more minutes." he muttered, pulling the sleeping bag over his face before groaning once more.

"Nope. Don't get sassy on me, I'm doing you a favor!" I tugged at his arm. "If the others go before you, they'll take up all the hot water. They're still sleeping, so you know Sal won't rush in to take your spot yet."

"I guess you're right." he whined, sitting up. his messy morning hair was adorable, making a stupid grin form on my face. he stood up, kissing my forehead before walking into the bathroom.

I grinned and leaned back on my heels, staring after him as he closed the door. My leg was still slightly sore and a bit stiff, but I was finally able to move around on my own.

I walked down into the kitchen, grabbing a can of soda out of the fridge and cracking it open. yes, I'm aware you shouldn't drink soda first thing in the morning. but, we're in the fucking zombie apocalypse and now I'm my own mom. I grabbed Larry a glass of water and took it up to the bathroom, knocking on the door.

"Larry, you done yet?" I called softly. I didn't want to wake up Sal and Todd just yet. I wanted to have some time to just exist peacefully with Larry before they got up.

"nah," he laughed, "but you can come in. there's a curtain." I hummed in response, walking into the bathroom. "what's up, sweetheart?"

I set the glass on the counter, leaning my elbows on it and wiping some fog off the mirror idly. Larry glanced out the edge of the curtain before saying, "Water? Don't you think I have enough water right here?" He laughed at his own joke.

"oh, hush your face. that's boiling hot water, thought you'd like some cold water to wake you up." I rolled my eyes, drawing miscellaneous shapes in the fog.

"Yeah, yeah." We both went silent for a bit after that. I drew a cartoon-ish looking zombie in the mirror and wiped it away. I wanted to think about more positive things. Like that night stargazing with Larry.

it was like I could still feel the excitement and amplified connection we had that night. I couldn't help but smile. I also thought about our first kiss in a storage closet.

It almost felt bittersweet, with everything that led up to it. We had gone from almost hating each other, to being chased by zombies together, to then making out in a closet. I grinned thinking about both of our bad breath. My mind shifted then, to slow dancing with him.

I wished that moment never ended. my thoughts were interrupted by Larry stepping out of the shower, already wrapped in a towel. "you okay?"

I smiled softly at him. "Yeah. Just thinking about stuff."

"mmm," he hummed, "like what?" he leaned in, placing a soft kiss on my lips. he took a random hairbrush out of the drawer and began to brush his hair.

"y'know. Stuff. Like that atrocious hairstyle you had in 10th grade," I snickered at the face he made.

"oh," he rolled his eyes, "the one time I try to be romantic." he smirked.

He walks to the mirror and starts finger-combing his hair. I roll my eyes as he struggles to undo a knot. "Here, let me help you."

"I'm goo-" he attempted to push my hands away. "y/n." he tried to stop me.

But I had already seen it. An angry red patch of skin in the space between his neck and shoulder. In the center, there were already greying marks spreading out like vines.

A zombie bite.

"y/n." he repeated, but I didn't listen. I stared at the bite, hoping and praying I was hallucinating and it'd dissappear.

"tell me this is a joke. please, for the love of God, say it's a joke. say this is a terrible prank and that I have nothing to worry about." I pleaded quietly, not removing my eyes from the scene.

"I... Y/n, you don't..." He paused. I shoved myself backwards, leaning heavily against the wall opposite to the mirror. "Babe, please let me explain."

"Explain what?! The fact that you've gotten a zombie bite? When did that even happen? How long have you been keeping this from me??"

he sighed in defeat, shutting his eyes. "I got the bite whenever we first saved you." he admitted.

I breathed in sharply, closing my eyes. I sunk to the ground. "Stop. You're lying. This is a prank. Stop it."

he sighed, "the cats out of the bag. I'm sorry, I should've told you sooner but I couldn't ruin what we had- have." he corrected.

"no," I protested, "Don't start with the past tense shit, you're not dying."

He sighed. I opened my eyes and looked up at him. Without saying a word, I shakily stood up. Larry tried to support me, let me lean against him, anything, but I just pushed past him and into our makeshift bedroom.

every time I took a breath, it felt like there was no air left in the world. I pressed my hand against the wall as I walked inside, trying to keep my balance. Todd and sal had begun to stir.

"y/n? what's wrong?" Todd's forehead creased.

I just shook my head, still reeling from shock. I decided to go grab a glass of water. Maybe splashing some in my face would prove it was a dream or something. The other three followed me awkwardly. I heard a tap and half-turned to see Larry slide something metal out of a hiding place.

he slid the metal object into his waistband and kept following me. I racked my brain, trying to figure out what it could be.

"hello? earth to y/n. what's going on?" sal grabbed my shoulder.

I jumped at his touch and turned to look at him helplessly. I wanted to reach forward, hug him, comfort him, anything. But instead I just pulled away and walked outside. For the first time in a long time, the air was warm. The sky was dark and cloudy, though, and I could smell rain in the wind.

the old feeling of comfort that came with the smell of rain made me want to cry even harder. I could see fear start to grow in sals eyes, meanwhile todd was already panicking.

"y/n," Larry walked up behind me. "you know what needs to happen."

He pulled out a pistol and gently handed it to me, putting his hands over mine to carefully close my fingers around the handle. "Larry- What?"

"I'm too dangerous. It's been days. I'm lucky it hasn't set in faster, but who knows what will happen if you leave me loose?"

"what the fuck is going on?!" sal yelled.

Larry said nothing, just pulled back his hair to reveal the bite that he had been hiding. I burst into tears finally, covering my face.

I looked up, watching tears fill sal and Todd's eyes. Todd covered his mouth, nothing but a squeak coming from him. sal took off his prosthetic for the first time and let it drop to the ground. he pulled Larry in, squeezing him tight.

"Larry, we don't have to do this. we can find a cure! we can end this hell and save everyone!" I wiped my eyes, fidgeting around.

"y/n," Todd consoled, "were not scientists. it's not possible, I'm sorry."

"if I can't be with you guys, I don't want to be alive, or even a zombie." Larry sobbed onto sals shoulder. tears streamed down sals scarred face as he pursed his lips.

"but you promised. you promised we'd go on a date, a real fucking date one day. please, lar. you can't leave me now." I pleaded one last time, knowing it was the end. he turned around and hugged me. my heart ached, knowing it was the last time I'd feel Larry's touch. he didn't have to say anything, I just knew there was no hope. "I'll miss you."

"I love you, y/n." he pulled back, placing his hands on either side of my face. "keep going for me. kick this zombies in the ass and show them how strong you are." he continued to cry. he gently kissed my lips. "I love you all."

It took everything I had to let him pull away from me. It was like my entire soul, my entire being, everything that made me who I was, was crumbling around me. My body shook as I sobbed silently.

I roughly wiped tears from my face. Larry had no chance of surviving this, and keeping him around would only put everyone else in danger. I knew what had to happen. And I wouldn't let anyone but me be the one to do it. If anyone would have to live with this guilt, it would be me.

I clicked the safety off the gun. I looked up and met Larry's eyes. "I love you," I whispered, barely loud enough for him to hear me over the gentle wind. I felt a drop of rain land on my face, but I ignored it. Larry dipped his head, smiling sadly at me.

I put my finger on the trigger and pulled.

#fanfiction #fanfic #ash campbell #larry johnson #sal fisher #sally face #zombie apocolypse au #zombified #zombie apocalypse #zombies #zombie #larry johnson x reader

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fabuloustrash05 · 1 year

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How do you think Mona’s relationship is with Raph’s family + Casey and April?

She really only interacted with Raph from what I remember and that’s a crime, she deserved more from the writers. Splinter showing her embarrassing baby photos of Raphael is everything to me💅

Yes! I've been wanting to talk about this! I really wish the show had Mona interact with more characters. The only people she truly has a dynamic/relationship with is Raph, Sal Commander and maybe Lord Dregg (but very little). Wasted potential for her character, so I'm gonna fix that! Here we go!

Leo & Mona Lisa

Leo took the longest for him and Mona to really form a bond/friendship. Leo tends to have a hard time trusting people Raph's close with (Slash & Casey) and even longer to warm up to them. Leo was grateful for Mona, she has helped him and his brothers numerous times, they both respect each other as skilled fighters and have a mutual respect towards each other, but that was it for the longest time. It wasn't until one night when Mona came to the lair to visit Raph she ran into Leo instead. He tells her Raph is out and won't be back till later so Mona decides to stay at the lair and wait. Leo is about to watch a 24 hour Spaceheroes marathon, and not wanting to leave Mona bored and alone, he offers for her to join him and watch his favorite show. Few hours later, Raph comes home to find his brother and girlfriend sitting together wearing Spaceheroes merch, sitting inches away from the TV, watching in a amazement as they fanboy/girl over Captain Ryan. Raph realizes in horror that Leo has turned his girlfriend into a Space-Nick. The two now are really close and 80% of the things they talk about together are Spaceheroes and other sci-fi shows Leo has gotten her into, and other times they spar together and share sword fighting tips and tricks.

Donnie & Mona Lisa

Similar to Leo, Donnie took a while to really bond with Mona, but he and Mona were more quick to find something in common. She's more than just her strength, she's intelligent and handy too. There have been times Mona had to work on/repair many Salamandrian ships by herself when they were down and her and her commander were off planet. Donnie also really enjoys talking to Mona about intergalactic sciences, and Mona often shows and lets him borrow her old tech and gear for him to study and analyze, helping him improve his work and knowledge of many scientific fields. Out of all the brothers, Mona and Donnie have the most mature relationship/dynamic, if that makes sense. Sometimes they like to share a cup of coffee and catch up and chat about the latest stuff going on in their lives. I also like to think in the future Donnie is Mona's go to for medical treatment/her baby doctor when her and Raph start having a family. He also becomes their kid's personal tutor.

Mikey & Mona Lisa

Mikey is quick to befriend anyone he meets, so of course he and Mona quickly form a friendship. Mona, just like many others, adores Mikey and he feels the same. Mikey reminds Mona of all the Salamandrian children back on her home planet and she admires how positive and carefree he can be despite all the challenges he has faced in his life. Mona also really loves Mikey's cooking (I HC that Salamandrian appetites are similar to Saiyans from Dragon Ball Z,) and she will eat almost anything he makes, and Mikey wants to introduce her to all Earth's food, especially pizza. I imagine one day Mikey finds out Mona is unaffected by spicy foods (another HC of mine) so he just decides to make as many spicy foods as he can to see if he'll get any reaction out of her. Spoilers: he didn't. Mikey also likes how happy Mona makes his brother, cause out of everyone Mikey knows how grumpy Raph used to be before Mona entered his life. Now, whenever Raph is angry or Mikey wants his big bro to do something for him, Mikey just pulls the "Mona-Card". Mikey is also a big time RaMona shipper and always likes to mess with Raph when it comes to Mona, whether that's embarrassing him by telling Mona stories about Raph from past missions/their childhood or telling her about "the bug incident".

April & Mona Lisa

These two would be BFFs and you can't change my mind on this!! Think about it: April's first real best friend turned out to be a lie, being only a Kraang bot used to get to her and the Turtles. For Mona, she grew up in the military (my HC), there's no time for silly childish games and making friends, only war. April would start trying to form a friendship with Mona by using the "we're both aliens" conversation starter, which Mona thought was a sweet gesture of trying to make her feel more at home when she first started living on Earth. Eventually Mona began to ask April for dating advice and help her get ready for dates with Raph. Because of this, the two form a strong bond and become basically like sisters. Always chatting, hanging out, sometimes even training together. Two become emotional support for each other and help each other grow and improve in their fighting and skills. April is the spunky upbeat friend, while Mona is the blunt badass ("Someone will die" "Of fun!"). Also, April always tries to get a piggyback ride from Mona, because she's tall and April is small. It's cute.

Casey & Mona Lisa

This one was kinda tricky, but I imagine Casey and Mona's dynamic would be something similar to Joey and Monica from Friends. The best friend and the girlfriend team up to annoy the shit out of the boyfriend and mess with him over little things he does. April is the good influence on Mona, while Casey is the bad influence. Casey is probably the one who taught/convinced Mona to curse and is most likely the one to make the dirty jokes when he sees Raph and Mona together. He's a wingman at heart, gotta help his bro. Also, out of everyone, Casey is the only one not disturbed when Mona talks about her traumatizing violent and bloody war stories. Casey thinks they are "so metal!!"

#asavvyzavvy #asks #answered #fabtrash headcanons #tmnt headcanons #tmnt 2012 #tmnt #teenage mutant ninja turtles #tmnt mona lisa #tmnt leonardo #tmnt donatello #tmnt michelangelo #april o'neil #casey jones #tmnt raphael #tmnt ramona

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ctitan98official · 3 months

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Anonymous: Hello, is it alright for me to add a dabble request for Cass's long lost child au? It's a mix of fluff and angst really. Cass realized Y/n's birthday was coming up very soon and wanted to surprise her baby with a party at House Dimitrescu, so she had them spend half the day with their great-grandmother Miranda helping around her lab or something (nothing crazy). But Y/n wasn't really fond of their own Bday (due to their past trauma) and had mixed feelings over it when they were surprised. Like Y/n tried to stay and celebrate it with their family, but felt almost depressed about the situation.. (And not wanting to hurt their mom's feelings because they aren't blaming her about it at all) somehow slipped away from the party while everyone was having a good time, and hid in the family library, with some tears in their eyes.. Someone probably at some point told Cass that Y/n was gone.. Potentially had a search party but someone (probably Cass) found them.. a lot of comfort, explaining and apologizing happened that night.. but there is no bad ending really. I hope this is okay, and I hope your doing alright.

Thank you for such an awesome prompt! I hate my fucking birthday too. I have a lot of bad memories around them. Let’s get into it!

Ever since you reunited with Cass, she was so excited to celebrate your birthday with you. She’d been secretly getting you presents throughout the year and was very eager for you to see what she had gotten you.

Cass had not let on that she knew your birthday was rapidly approaching, hoping to surprise you, but she did wonder why you had not tried dropping little hints about it. She chalked it up to you not wanting to be a bother, but you were going to have an amazing birthday whether you realized it or not. She would not fail.

On the morning of your birthday, you still hadn’t said anything which somewhat concerned her, but she had thought up a great way to get you out of the castle for a few hours while she got everything ready for your party. She had asked for Mother Miranda to keep you occupied with her in the lab for the day, which the scientist was all too happy to do.

You hugged your mom and she kissed you before you left.

Cass and Alcina had collaborated on themes and they settled on things they knew you would like.

Dani was in charge of invitations, but… She had gone a bit overboard and invited pretty much everyone in the village. It was going to be packed, but hopefully very fun.

Bela and Karl set out chairs and tables, while Donna had made delicious foods and pastries to serve. She loved you so much and insisted on making all of the refreshments.

Sal worked on setting up lots of decorations he had made himself. He was very happy to be celebrating your birthday. You and him had gotten pretty close as well.

By the time everyone has finished with the set-up and all the guests have arrived, Cass goes to retrieve you from Mother Miranda’s house and bring you back to the castle.

You smile when you answer the door and see your mom.

“Hi, baby. Did you have fun with Mother Miranda?” She asks and kisses your forehead.

You grin at her and nod before saying goodbye to Miranda.

Cass takes your hand and excitedly talks with you as you both make your way back.

Cass opens the castle doors and gestures for you to go inside.

“Why’s it so dark?” You question.

Suddenly, the lights are switched on and the room comes to life. People cheer before wishing you a happy birthday.

You feel your heart drop. You thought that if you didn’t call any attention to it you would be able to get out of celebrating your birthday, but no such luck.

Cass gives you a big hug. “Happy birthday, baby. I hope you love your party.” She says happily.

You feel so guilty. This is your worst nightmare. You thank her and try to seem excited. You can’t stand the thought of her knowing that you don’t like something she put so much work into. It’s not her fault you hate your birthday.

People come up and congratulate you and Cass makes her way over to her sisters and mother to give you some space to talk and mingle.

“Aww, Y/N’s so happy!” Dani squeals as she looks at you. Little does she know how good you are at hiding your emotions… For a time at least.

“I’m so glad we can finally be together again… Y/N’s home.” Cass says, feeling herself tear up.

Alcina chuckles and hugs her daughter. “This is a good night to celebrate.” She tells her.

You are feeling overwhelmed after only a short amount of time. You need a break. You can feel it becoming hard to breathe and you quickly excuse yourself from the group of people talking to you.

Cass and your family are enjoying themselves and don’t notice you leave at first.

You run to the library and shut the doors, hoping to muffle the noise.

You’re beginning to shake and sweat. Oh no. You feel a panic attack coming on. You try to even out your breathing, but you feel like you can’t get enough air.

You curl up in a corner and wrap your arms around yourself. You sob and can’t seem to find a way to calm down.

A little bit after you have been gone, someone asks where you are. “Hey, where’s Y/N?” They inquire.

People turn to try and locate you but no one has any luck.

Bela hears that you’re missing and goes to find Cass. “Do you know where Y/N is?” She asks.

Cass furrows her eyebrows. “I- No. They’re gone?” She questions.

Bela nods.

Fear sets in for Cass. Where could you be? Weren’t you having fun? “I’ll find them.” She says with worry and swarms off. Cass can always find you fairly quickly… And tonight is no exception.

Cass senses your presence in the library. What are you doing here?

She pushes open the door and the sight she sees breaks her heart.

You look so little and scared as you cry and rock yourself.

“Baby…” Cass says and comes closer before kneeling down in front of you.

You try to turn away to hide your face, but Cass gently guides you to look at her.

“What’s wrong, Y/N?” She asks softly.

You hate that you’ve ruined everything. “I-I’m f-fine. Just getting s-some air.” You try to say.

Cass chuckles sadly at your attempt to downplay the situation. “It’s okay, Y/N. Tell me what’s going on, little one.” She says and sits down before pulling you into her lap.

You lie your head on her chest and enjoy the feeling of her rubbing your back. “I… Hate my birthday.” You admit.

Cass’s ministrations stop in alarm. “What?” She asks and looks at you, completely surprised.

“They were always… Miserable.” You say, reliving the trauma of your abusive adoptive family. You tell Cass about some of the awful things that happened on your birthday. “I… It’s just… I never want to celebrate it again. I’m sorry, I should have told you, mom.” You whisper and begin crying once more.

Cass is… Devastated. Not about you hating the party she threw, but at how you were treated growing up. That was the last thing she wanted for you. She feels so guilty. Her poor baby was suffering for years… And she had absolutely no idea.

A steely resolve overtakes her features. Those people would pay for what they did to her child. However, her baby needed her right now. She runs her fingers through your hair, gently rocking you and whispering reassurances in your ear.

Eventually, you begin to doze off from Cass’s actions.

Cass is relieved that you are able to fall asleep. She carefully picks you up and carries you to your room before tucking you in and kissing your head. “Mommy will be right back, baby.” She says quietly.

Cass returns to the party and tells Alcina what happened. The matriarch gasps at the horrors her grandchild had been through. She is very mad at your adoptive family, but she takes a deep breath before she gracefully ends the party. She tells everyone that you are not feeling well. It’s not a lie…

Partygoers groan but eventually leave.

Cass apologizes to the family, but they all assure her that they just want you to be happy. They begin to clean up and Alcina tells Cass to go and be with you.

Cass slips back into your bedroom and lies down next to you on the bed.

In your sleep, you instinctively move closer to her and she wraps her arm around you.

“I love you so much, Y/N. I’m with you.” She tells you and kisses your cheek.

Maybe you could learn to like your birthday if you always got to spend them with your mom…

Note: That was sad, but I know lots of trans and queer people hate their birthdays because of trauma (I know I do). I hope this brings a little comfort to those of you who need it.

Masterlist

#re8 #re8 village #cassandra dimitrescu #cassandra dimitrescu x reader #cassandra dimitrescu x y/n #y/n is stupid #resident evil imagines #resident evil 8 #resident evil village

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beatendeadcourier · 1 year

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Lavina character by @angelic-simp

I never really tried writing before but she gave me the courage and motivation to try with our characters so thank you very much I hope u all enjoy this read :]

Warnings: Angst, stabbing, no blood describe but some murder, Implied stalking, spelling mistakes probably lmao [I think that's all, I can't remember anymore]

"Cosmic Mistake"

Sals pov

Waking up with a headache was always wack like what is the point in sleeping if you were gonna wake up with a fucked head and joints

Speaking of fucked up things you finally seemed to noticed you were tied up to a fucked up chair bummer, you try your best to recollect what happened before this a lot of thoughts are always a confused blobby mess but it seems luck was on your side and finally your braincells rubbed together just right to remember,,,,

Ah,, of course this is something you don't forget so easily, you as well as your two beloved have been kidnapped by a shitty horror cult AH! God your head was killing you, you haven't had your daily fix of caffeine. It felt like days you know that's not true but you can't help but be dramatic right now this really ain't good let's see where we are before your disabilities get worse.

Finally getting out of your thoughts and looking around you see that you are in some sort of torture room, that or it just looks really bad the room is a really dark red so its hard to see anything but you swear you see blood on the walls and floor, it seems as well the chair your in has locked you in place by your hands, feet and neck its so uncomfy but your not surprised you managed to fall asleep in it.

What a situation this is. You feel hmmm you don't know how to feel but you do know there is a boiling pit in your chest, you're pissed off you're alone in this room so you know that Bob and Lavina your absolute beloveds are somewhere else and not around you, you care about them so much they could be hurt or in danger for all you know right now.

Well that just won't do for you, using your shapeshifting abilities you twist and enlarge your body to snap off those flimsy chains that tried to contain you all the while your head is pounding for you to stop, you don't care you need out now.

The chains really didn't put up much a fight with your struggling you stand up oozing rage, you start to faintly hear sirens going off in your head that can't be good but that's not important, you start heading for the door out of this room you don't even give a reaction as you open the door swinging it open so fast it slams against the wall, it seems the door crushed one of the cult members outside your door, guarding it they passed out instantly.

,,Oops you guess anyways that's probably gonna attract some attention so you should skidaddle and fast, you start your jog down the hall of this giant mansion.

Lavinas pov

It hurt to wake up literally you haven't opened your eyes due to them being so heavy but you can feel the stiff feeling in your neck from sleeping in an odd angle was really prominent you groaned loudly tried moving your arms to wipe the sleep from your eyes, hmm its seems you can't move your arms your confused and start panicking a bit something feels like metal, getting really worried about your lack of movement you snap your eyes open real fast to see what they problem could be.

,,,You wish you didn't, once you opened your eyes all your senses decided to tune in at once finally noticing your tied to a chair by you hands, ankles and neck panic shoots through you as you notice their are people in the room with you and they seem to be talking to you but you still cant make out what they are saying to you, your too busy looking around and seeing all these big machines and demonic looking symbols, something behind you is making the room glow a bright bluish green making it easy to see your kidnappers, you can't really see behind since you had your neck suspended but the glowing light of what you think is magic makes you not wanna look anyways.

There was a tall looking priest guy in a surgical mask who was surrounded by four other people in cult gear, your ears finally decided it can hear the people that are talking to you

Mysterious In charge looking Guy: “ -Are you she can ever hear in the first place?? She's not responding to my evil monologue guys and that makes me upset!”

Lavina: “Um W-What???”

The Man snapped his neck towards you speaking up, you are so confused and frightened right now

Priest Guy:” AH! So you Can hear! It's very rude of you to ignore my evil sacrificial plan i have for you, YOU have no manners missy!”

Your stomach sank hearing the words sacrificial come from his lips it completely made you ignore getting angry of him calling you missy and the like, what did they mean by sacrifice YOU?!! What qualities could you possibly have to be sacrificed like this?? Before you could frighteningly speak up and comment, the priest cut you off.

Priest Guy: “NOW HAVE TO RESTART!,,, no you know what you don't get to hear my magnificent speech i spend so hard on getting a short version you rude girl!”

He was red in the face as he flapped his arms around hitting some of the underlings around him, they all seemed to grumble as he threw his tantrum about not hearing is stupid ass speech.

Priest Guy: “We are sacrificing YOU girly to our lord and savior, The Eyes of The Universe *sighs dreamily*,, We have kept a close eye on your little sin group of the hungry traitor and caffeine obsessed Narcoleptic freak”

He looked very upset and kinda freaked out when he, you presumed, was talking about sal. Your super worried about them right now,, what if they are dead oh no-

Priest Guy: ”BUT don't worry about all that now we have fixed those little problems-”

Lavina: “WHAT DID YOU DO TO THEM?!”

You yelled angrily at this imposter priest

Priest Guy: “WOW,,, aren't You nasty HOW DARE YOU CUT ME OFF LIKE THAT!-”

Before he could go off on another tantrum one of his lackeys touched his shoulder seemingly saying something without saying anything. He seemed to snap out of his anger like this, suddenly looking very happy, touching all his fingers together.

Priest Guy:,,,heh if you will excuse us all we are gonna go prepare you more for your inevitable demise, I can tell The Eyes are gonna love you. “

And in order they all crowd out the door in perfect sync, you were alone now.

You're so shocked and flabbergasted, you don't know how this could be possible,,,, this room is really dark,, you hate the dark the only light that can be seen is the bluish greeny glow of a mysterious contraption behind you.

Your heart is pounding out of your chest definitely too fast. You can't help but think about all of this where our your loves that guy seemed to imply,,, that they arent around anymore does that mean,,, they could be dead, that thought made you start to tear up almost instantly no no please they can't be, you started to tremble you keep clenching and unclenching your fists, the big amount of grief you feel right now is earth shattering.

You didn't even notice but it seems you started to scream your lungs out, you can't ever hear your own screams but you know you are saying their names over and over, you are too stuck in your thoughts you can't help but get tunnel vision and start hyperventilating in the cold of this quiet and desolate room, all alone.

in the dark.

Sals pov

Honestly what is this place you swear you can't be hallucinating right now like you know it's a possibility but you have a feeling this is for real, as you were running through the corridors you passed so many weird rooms like there was a room full of medieval gear or the room that had nothing in it but a jar of,,, something on a pedestal, you didn't check every room as it would be a waste of time but you did figure out most of the rooms definitely intersect into each other in some way.

You finally decided to take a detour through one of these many door and to your surprise it looks like a butcher shop there is meat hanging around, you honestly thought it would be empty but you heard the faint noise of another being in the room with you, you immediately go into attack mode, it seems to be coming from slightly in the back of the weird covered counter, it kinda looked like it was made out of skin,,, ya ok whatever, you sneak ever so slowly past it trying to take this person by surprise, you finally see a blacked out figure ever so close to you

They seem big and imposing, they are hunched over something, you can't seem to make it out though. All your thoughts are mostly made of your gonna fucking kill this guy a thousand times, you have been going on a mini spree of beating the shit out of anyone you see in this place.

Your blood shot eyes have just adjusted to the darkness in this room, you can see the person better than before and,,, wait a goddamn minute.

Sal: “BOB?!?”

What the hell why they hell is he in here of all rooms and why the fuck is he wearing his funky looking devil costume that doesnt really matter now you have found at least one of your group but honestly seeing him has made your headache lessen just slightly and you went a little droopy eyes seeing him.

Bob straightened up almost instantly like your voice activated him into an attack mode of sorts, he was holding his usual steak knife and his grin seemed to split open on his face even more,,, he actually looked kind of menacing to any other but to you he looked perfect even though it is kinda off he's wearing his costume right now if you are remembering correctly he didn't have it on when you guys were taken.

But not minding that you open up your arms wide for him but not yet trying to hug him.

Sal: “Omg!! Look who it is, I'm SO excited to see you!”

Your words were laced with affection but strained from the pounding headache still, He did not do anything he didn't even move he even seemed,, hungry he was drooling excessively, something seems wrong but you can't tell just yet.

Bob: “ Oh? A very perfect treat has fallen into my hands, I'm more excited to see you.~ “

His eyes and deep in his sweater glowed cyan, as he looked down at you with an insane crave in his eyes.

Before you could comment on his weird behavior, if he was ok at all he raised his knife in the air aiming to bring it down on your head, you dodge out of the way just in time for him to get it stuck in the hanging meat that was behind you.

Sal: “OH WOW so this is how everything is gonna play what the hell man!”

Bob: “Come on now don't play hard to get with me!~"

He proceeded to rip his knife out of the body and started advancing towards you, trying to get you into a bear hug to capture you.

You booked it out of the doorway vaulting over the counter and skidding harshly over to the door, ripping it open off of its hinges, he was hot on your tail.

There is obviously something very wrong right now he shouldn't be attacking you, you literally make out with his dumb of ass everyday he would never try to harm you on purpose, It has to be this fucking cults fault you knew he was in a cult before sure you pretended not to know you werent that dumb he didnt hide it that well but for his sake of letting him take his time to tell you guys and not to force the info out of him but it seems this daycare of a shit cult was watching him and keeping tabs on you and Lavina wait to use you for whatever the fuck.

Bobs thundering footsteps matched the pound of your brain against your skull it hurt so fucking much. He sure was catching up to you his ass was laughing as this chase began, spewing out words like he's the cat to my mouse and he can't wait to eat my meat, you would make an inappropriate joke right now but his ass has started to try a swipe at you like a cat with his knife.

You make a really sharp turn in the corridor to your left making Bob smack right into the wall with a surprised look on his face as he wasn't expecting it, he made the wall and the bit of the floor shake from him smacking full force with all his weight into it, as you continued to run you started laughing your ass off seeing it happen, he grew very angry at that shaking his head around trying to get rid of his dissociation and the pain, He growled loudly as he pressed on following you.

You saw at the end of this hall two big curved doors now that looks like something you are so tired of this fucking maze of doors it feels like your in the backrooms right now,

You make it fast to the door and slam your body weight into it, you trip a bit but catch yourself before you end up on the ground, you catch your footing and look around you wildly and pause….

Sal: “,,,,why the fuck would a cult need a disco room?!"

You were so fucking curfuffled what the fuck is going on in this place like good for them but why?!

You have frozen, really questioning your reality right now, headache still beating your ass. You don't even care if Bob's thundering steps are right behind you, this night is turning to hell so fast you're about to combust into a cosmic horror just so you can go home and relax.

Bob:"HAHAHA We aren't always doom and gloom, now come here so I can gut u properly"

He seems to have heard your comment, over the booming disco music that makes your nose wanna bleed and the disco ball that was high on the ceiling spinning you were going insane.

You turn around with a fuck all sort of face for once your eyes arent drooping as they usually do and your eyebrows are knitted so hard they might as well be in the ground by now. You are clenching your fists so hard you are so about to be the nonsense back into him, lovingly of course.

Sal: “ I do NOT care what this cult has done to you our little magician is somewhere in this fucking disappointment and confusion mess of a cultist temple.”

You don't mean to be so rude to him but this is really getting to you and no matter what you're gonna save him even if you have to throw down with him in the disco party room at least the music is good to rock his shit too.

Bob lets out a bellowing laugh, it echos off the walls in this room somehow, it's intimidating but he's never scared you not even slightly, you get into a position of jumping around on your feet a lot to gain momentum and started cracking your joint mostly your shoulders and neck to get ready for him, you hate hurting those you love but this will be good for him.

Bob: “HAHAHA I don't know who you're talking bout darlin, there is no us that you speak of but I do know you're gonna make a great meal, You really are stupid person I would love to see you try to hurt me!”

And with that he lunged at me with his knife.

Bobs pov

Oh fuck oh fucking shit-

This was such a freaky situation to you, fighting like this with one of your darlins like this and what's worse is you cant even control yourself at all, you are a copilot in your own body the cult has your body captured and you were stupid to think they wouldn't try to come back for you to use you again for something else you just regret bringing them into all this.

But you can't focus on that right now, your controlled body is trying to kill your love sure it was really hot with how they look like that, their face is a perfect shade of red with the most angry eyes you have even seen on them god it's making you hot and bothered, you can't believe this is what your mind goes to you are so down bad but you can't help it if that looked was pointed towards you, you would have smothered them in affection by now you really were so happy to see them again and not harmed by what you can tell.

As your stuck in your head with your thoughts your body has gone into attack mode and trying its best to stab Sal but surprised to you they are blocking you perfectly it really hurts that they keep jabbing you when they see their opening but you really hope they win and if your body wins,,, well you don't think you would ever recover.

Bob: “You sure are a slippery little thang!”

They didn't say anything to his body shit talking them, they looked like a focused killer *sighs* oh how he loves that look on them.

They were bobbing and weaving him with focus, every time he tried to swipe or hit them they would reflect they both were on the dance floor trying to fist fight each other and it actually seemed Sal was winning they really were wearing you down but as they dodged one of your attacks, it made you fall to you knees surprising you they grab at the neck of your sweater were the pendent was it was glowing very harshly against you but as they were doing that the music suddenly boomed through the room making them let go and hold their ears having a very painful expression wash over their face, they hunched in on themselves,

oh no,, their headaches

My body took the opportunity to pick up the dropped steak knife and stab them into their thigh

Sal: “ ARGH! “

Oh no no no please don't do this! you tried to plead with your body but it wasn't listening to you at all.

Your body laughed hard as you stood up, your beloved open mouth surprised that you stabbed them.

Bob: “HAAHAHA of course my prey always falls into my hands, you had no chance of winning this.~”

Your body spread its arms out wide as it straightened up, advancing slowly towards them, you were looking down in a daze not moving at all.

You couldn't handle this, this is too much you want this to stop!

Just as you body got right in front of them trying to grab at them, they suddenly spring up and winding up their fist and punching you hard in your chest, were the pendent that kept its control of you was laying, they shattered it with their first in one punch it hurt so bad, knocking you down on the floor immediately, you couldn't breathe for a second it almost felt like you just died.

What a hunk they are. <3

Sal pov:

This motherfucker stabbed you what da hell!

You took the opportunity of knocking his ass back, you ripped the knife out of you, Ough it hurt but your shapeshifting abilities cleared up the wound for you only now making you feel the phantom pains of it.

You fell onto the ground rolling around and groaning just because you can, you were ready to get the fuck out of here but you cant till everyone is safe, you really fucking hope the neckless you punched was the thing controlling him as freed him.

As you were doing that sounds of suffering Bob sat up breathless taking off his headband and wiping his face of the red paint not getting all of it but it did make his black hair pop out, he had his hand placed on his chest trying to control his breathing.

He finally landed his eyes on your crippled form and immediately panic crawled over to you.

Bob: ‘ Oh my! Honey i am so sorry I-I couldn't stop myself AH and now your hurt because of me.``

He had a pained look as he picked you up like you weighed nothing and started cradling you spewing out apology after apology. It looks like he's ok now hehe oh you're so glad.

You look up into his face while he holds you bridal style sitting on the ground, you look him in the eyes and your face just softens so fast your eyes get droopy with happiness and you let out a big wobbly smile break out onto your face for him.

He blushes so hard as you grab his face with both your hands and nuzzle into his cheek feeling his stubble scratch at your skin, you missed this feeling so much already. You sigh and stand up out of his hold.

Bob: “Woah Woah let me see your wound first”

He forces you still as he holds your thigh in his hands as he examines you he finds,,, nothing just a slit where the knife went through your pants, he's speechless. He looks up at you as he's on his knees.

Sal: “heh don't worry bout it dude :].”

He looked at them with confusion and love as he slowly got up from the ground as he did so he opened his arms wide and quickly pulled them into a hug.

Bob:” Oh I'm so sorry sweet pea, I never meant to drag you guys into this, this is my burden not yours.”

He was really squeezing the life out of you but even so you can hear the tiredness in his voice, you guys aren't done yet. You still hug him back of course then you let go.

Sal:” look babe we all can have this talk when we all get out but right now we need our Lavina literally were the fuck is she i swear i heard screaming earlier.”

You say with the utmost serious voice ever, it seemed to have affected Bob a little but he snaps out of it as he puts his hands to face and drags them down.

Bob: “ We have to go get er right now! She is in the basement and they tryna sacrifice er to the deity they worship!”

Sal: “,,,,,ex-fucking-cuse me,, then we have no time to waste come on!”

You grab Bob's hand and make a run for it out the second double doors on the opposite side room.

Third person pov

Hand in hand Bob and Sal make their ways down endless corridors and random rooms to try and find the basement, Sal is super frustrated.

Sal: “ouagh who built this place, how the hell are we gonna even find the basement, what kind of maze is this!”

They say using their free hand to rub between their eyes trying to lessen their headache. Bob put his free hand on their hand and lovely pet their hair trying to help, not used to seeing them act like this. It made him worried and nervous in a good way.

Bob: “ yeah we have a map. But uh, don't be surprised when it ain't on paper, it's actually pretty close to where we are."

He started leading their limpish body to an off looking corner of the grand hall, He both stopped them in front of a map that looked like it belonged in a mall to show where all the departments are. Sal was speechless as they looked at this “map” nothing on it made sense literally but they could make out the “You are here” with what looked like stickers of all of their heads in correct places but obviously Bobs and Sals sticker was in the rooms their were hold up in, but it shows a clear picture of where Lavina is and her sticker head was looking pretty cute and kissable, the both of them thought that but there was no time to think about that right now.

Sal: “Im going to make this place explode, lets fucking get it!”

They said with so much vigor in their tone dragging Bob by the hand as they started sprinting with a certain fire in their eyes Bob has never seen making him blush, but looking at them like this and how pissed and energetic and even brushing off a stab wound, Bob has a feeling they will all make it out he felt very safe with them even though their angry and serious look was making him go feral.

Lavinas pov

This was it for you, you have already screamed your voice horse, you can still feel the big globs of tears rolling out of your eyes catching in your eyelashes every now and again.

You feel,,, numb, you still feel your fear but they don't matter to you anymore you're empty. The priest guy and his team already has came back into the room to prep for your sacrifice, The Priest keeps droning on and on you have already tuned him out long ago, all you can really hear is your shorten breath and your hiccups from sobbing everything else around you just sounds like white noise, what's the point in caring anymore if the ones you have devoted your lonely life too are not here anymore, you can feel the scream bubbling up at that thought trying your best to curl into yourself, you can feel all your muscles clenching at once from the emotional pain your mind is afflicting onto you.

The Priest and his crew seemed to have everything set up, ready for you. Still being tried down to this chair The Priest pulls a leveler that he was standing next too on a platform he seems so fond of standing there looking down at everyone, the chair seems to move backwards, spooking you it gets more into a laying down position you finally look up trying to see what was behind you that emulate a glowing cyan color, the room was still pretty damn dark but if it wasn't filled with darkness it was filled with the color.

It looked like a portal and on the other side of it was a gigantic creature with multiple eyes. It looked like a giant mushroom cloud after you drop an atomic bomb with many appendages of mostly tentacles. You made eye contact with it making you flinch and closing your eyes tight making more tears roll off of your face, the portal exhaled wind out of him constantly, having your hair and clothes whip around you, you didn't wanna look please don't make you look at it.

The lying down position was making you nauseous, it felt like eternity before the chair started to transform more and move you towards the portal making the wind come out even harsher against your skin.

You could faintly hear The Priest cracking loudly, you refused to open your eyes keeping them so tight you saw sparks in your vision. You were bracing for impact.

Your eyes snapped open violently to the sound of a door breaking off its hinges flying through the air in one swoop. It slammed right into The Priest who gave out a high pitch earth shattering scream and cowering into himself, flinghing hard. The flying door makes a hard impact with his body making him slam into the wall making it ricochet, spin a few times and finally falling onto the floor with the crippled body of The Priest under it.

Your watery eyes shoot over to the now doorless doorway. Standing there is a figure cloaked in darkness standing perfectly still with an imposing stance, they stood there for a few seconds in tense silence that has fallen around the room they moved by only cracking their neck really loud and looking up with a very pissed off face, for you to find it actually to be.

Sal: “Guess who?~”

What?? Your jaw felt like it hit the floor.

Sal: “ If any of you don't want that happening to you next i suggest you scram. NOW! “

As though a pin had been dropped, the very sweat soaked looking cult members almost tramped each other to head out the emergency door that you didn't notice till now that was in the room tucked in the corner.

You dont think your face has ever been hotter in your life than at this moment, your eyes were sparkling with tears as your pupils dilated to their full size.

Sal advanced into the room as the last of the members shut the emergency door behind them and right behind them was a flustered looking Bob.

Bob immediately ran over to you trying to find a way to free you of this chair speaking sweet nothings to you as your other beloved walked over to the leveler resetting it to make the chair go back into its original form as they ripped the lever from its holder and started beating the shit out of the multi machines that was in the room making the portal function, the portal dissipated as well as the cyan glow now putting the room in more darkness but you could still see as well as feel Bob petting your hair trying to sooth you as you nuzzle against his hand in tears again from all the emotions that are wreaking havoc inside you making you speechless.

Finally Sal seemed to join the rest of you, your metal bindings were still in place it seems Bob was in no success in getting them off.

Bob: “ These really are a Bitch to get off, “

His gaze landed on Sal who was right next to him.

Bob: “ Im for once lost on how these things work hehe.”

He chuckled nervously, sweat dripping from his forehead, Sal slowly guided his hands out of the way so they could get to the metal cuffs.

They laced their fingers slowly under the cuffs that were touching your wrist and in one harsh pull they broken the metal completely off, that shocked you so much you didn't even try to move your limbs as they continued to lace and rip your cuff off your other limbs, finally getting to the one holding your neck in place, they paused for a moment rocking a stoic face and corressed you check softly wiping away the tears that just kept falling, they were being so soft with you making you heat up, your whole body feeling like it was on fire and cooled off with their cold touch.

You brought one of your freed hands up to grip the hand that was on your check closing your eyes as you hiccup a bit. You felt them pull off the neck cuff with all their might, like the cuff offended them in some way by holding you hostage.

Third Person pov

After Sal just freed Lavina Bob scoped the two up into a big bear hug attacking both with face, forehead and hair kisses.

Bob: “ AHA OH MY TWO GOOBERS NOW that was a moment!”

He both set the two down after attacking them with affection, making the pair look more disheveled and flustered, and it seemed to make Sals face unfurl a little less from it.

Sal quickly shook their head making their head feel more like shit but they really needed to sober up more. They grabbed Lavinas hand as Lavina grabbed Bob's hand, making a chain of holding hands.

Sal: “Right! Let's bounce from the very uncool joint.”

Hand in hand they all went towards the exit all the other cult members fled from, it seemed this emergency door helped lead them straight to outside.

They stopped once the exit door shut behind them unlinking hands. Honestly this whole situation and the rescue has finally caught up to Lavina making her wanna do fire crimes against these motherfuckers that gave her emotions trauma for no reason other than they stupid ass cultist plans that make no sense.

Lavina: “ *Huffs* That's it guys, I need to be a bad person just for a bit right now!”

With that being said she sparked a giant magical flame into her hands running straight up to touch the mansion, once she touched the walls of the place the flames started spreading quickly.

Bob didn't even try to stop her as he watched her attack the building with all her might and her magic, he looked on at her with a pleased and smug face turning away as she started summoning raccoons to go chase anyone they saw with a cult hood.

Lavina: “RISE RISE MY RACCOON ARMY AND EAT THOSE WHO HAVE BETRAYED US ALL AAAAHHHH!!!! “

Bob:” Our girl sure is feisty-”

He cut himself off as he looked at Sal, who seemed to be completely face planted onto the grass and passed out on the ground. It seems that the headache and their affiliations have caught up with them for the night. Bob let out a dreamy and breathless sigh as he picked them up, tossing them over his shoulder holding them in place with his big arm. Bob supposed it was time to get the hell out of dodge now.

He raced up to Lavina who was knees and hands on the ground screaming obscenities at the rapidly burning up mansion, sirens could be heard in the distance. Bob reached Lavina and quickly grabbed her by her ankle and started dragging her away.

Lavina: “NO NO I'M NOT DONE YET, LET ME AT THEM, LET ME AT THEM I NEED TO MAKE THEM PAY MORE!!! “

Lavina crawled at the ground and scurried around as Bob dragged her by the ankle. Starting his track away from the half charred half ablaze mansion he let off another warm checked smile, with affection in his voice leaning his head on Sals limp body.

Bob: “Ah my little heroes, all for me? You two were so brave what would I do without you, my precious darlin’s.<3”

-Fin-

Aftermath bonus:

It only took a couple weeks for anything to go completely back to normal or well if you mean your normal is having a polycule consisting of some form of criminal in their own way than ya things have gone back to normal so far, the group is mostly recovering for emotional damage the cult has inflicted onto the trio but in each others presence it is melting away faster but two of the others still have a pretty little question that been on their minds for some time now ever since they left that mansion burning far behind.

It all started where most of their serious conversation happened, on the coach in the middle of a movie night it just popped up out of nowhere Lavina couldn't hold it in anymore she had to know.

Holding a pillow to her chest she looks Sal directly in the face. Bob sees the face Lavina is making and perks up, seeing as they both have talked about it when their middle man was not around.

Lavina: “ Soooo,, I knew you could get serious but didn't know you could get that bad.”

Bob; “ Ya, you were like a beast with the cult,, not that i'm complainin’ "

Sal looks up with a dazed look staring into the ceiling, pondering both of their words thinking back on the time they were in their manic rage fit they had to save both of them. It took them a moment and a few frog blinks before they finally decided to say something that shocks both of the beloved.

Sal: “Oh that ya, mmhhh I wasn't even really that angry to be honest, not that big of a deal.”

Huh?!? What did they mean they weren't that angry?! Both of them literally saw them lose their goddamn mind, did they just imply they can get even madder.

Bob/Lavina: "YOU WEREN'T THAT ANGRY WHAT DOES THAT MEAN??"

Bob and Lavina couldn't help themselves, they both sprung up out of their relaxed positions to basically get in Sals face, Both of the stalkers also couldn't help the hardcore blush that covered their faces, they kept imagining an even worse off Sal.

But instead of answering that question Sal just chuckled and pushed both of their faces away

Sal: “ heh come on guys no more questions we are watching a movie right now.”

Bob: “ How are we supposed ta’ be normal after that comment?”

Lavina drapes herself over Sals lap, giving them her best puppy dog eyes as her ears go down to give her more of a puppy look.

Lavina: “ Come oooonnn you can't just leave us hanging like this, please??”

Sal just hits them both with a smirk then goes back to watch the tv with their normal expressions again instantly killing them both, Bob and Lavina can't help the hearts in their eyes and the warmness in their faces.

[I just want everyone to know this is 6,000+ word count on Google docs WTF-💥]

#bob velseb x self insert #sona x sona #oc x oc x canon #spooky month fanfic #not art #writing this time #for creative liberty #bob velseb #bob velseb x reader #polycule #long fic #my writing

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saintsofwarding · 11 months

Text

WE SHALL BE MONSTERS

Header by @keltii-tea

Chapter 6: A Funeral Rite

Her mother's burial took place on a frozen winter day, the ground so hard it took hours for the gravediggers to hack out a hole in the icy soil. By the time they were finished, the snow had begun to fall again, filling in the grave with a fine dusting of white.

Her father's sobs filled the air. Miranda stood at the front of the silent crowd, her head bent, listening as he howled and railed, a mad thing clawing at the dirt even as the priests read, in their flat, pious affect, the words of the Black God, the last words spoken to the dead.

Miranda was white-faced, her hands folded down her front, her eyes hollow, but dry. She'd done her crying where no one else could see.

For her mother was dead. She'd died anyway, despite the gift given by the Black God, despite the priest's assurances and her father's faith. Hours they'd sat by the table, until the candles burned down, until the night was spent, until the thing pulsing inside her mother's stomach went still, and Miranda knew that it had all been for nothing.

"Was she not devout enough?" her father had said. "She worshipped every Sabbath...prayed every night to all her saints...she schooled me in the ways of the Black God, she couldn't have been unworthy-"

Her father had scrambled after the priest, despite the other man's mutterings and head-shaking. "Tell me, damn you! Tell me!"

Miranda had stood and watched at the window as her father went after the priest with fists flying, until the passersby had to pull him away from the blinking, bleeding holy man sprawled in the snow. She had felt the corpse behind her like a weight on her mind, but did not turn to look at the still body of her mother, already dressed in her coffin clothes, a dress embroidered with flowers that Miranda and her mother had worked on together.

"May she walk through the endless dark..."

The coffin lay in the grave, now, a simple six-winged symbol carved into its lid. Had her father been of a mind to make it, it would have been beautiful, a work of art. This one was little more than a box.

"May her feet trace the path of the saints before her, the dead before her, the dead who will follow her, for all the years to come..."

Someone sidled up alongside Miranda. She glanced over. The fisherman's little boy- his eldest- stood alongside her, staring with bright, mournful eyes into the grave.

"I'm sorry," he whispered to her.

"Why are you sorry, Sal? You didn't do it." Miranda's hands curled inside her mittens. "It was the baby did it. The baby poisoned her."

"Papa says it happens. Sometimes." Salvatore shook his head slowly from side to side. "I've been reading lots of books Dr. Nicolescu's been giving me. I want to be good at that stuff. I want to..." He gulped and scrubbed his sleeve over his eyes. "I wish I could have helped."

"You couldn't have." The words came out sharp as a whip-crack. "You're too stupid."

"Am not." But he was crying now in earnest, big tears that dripped and melted the dust of snow at his feet. Miranda's lash of cruelty cooled; guilt crept in. Not enough to cover the hollow, the great ragged thing that filled her up now.

Not grief- that didn't cover it. Hope, maybe. That her mother would survive. That her father would not be reduced to this, this catatonic wreck.

That everything would be all right.

"May the warding saints guide her...may she never lose her way...may she be taken into the Black God's embrace, where she will be remembered forever..."

Her father's wails reached a fever pitch as the priest finished his blessings and stepped back, lowering the holy book, allowing the gravediggers to proceed. The first shovelful of dirt hit the coffin. Miranda made herself watch as more and more followed, as the grave filled up, burying her mother's body like it had never been there at all.

***

Salvatore followed her after the funeral. Miranda had recently turned twelve, but Sal was barely nine, a skinny, homely little boy with curly black hair and a puppylike demeanor, almost stumbling in his efforts to keep up after her.

"Miranda!"

She kept walking, shoulders hunched inside her coat.

"M-Miranda! Wait up!"

"What do you want?" She didn't look at him even as he skidded to a halt by her side, breathing hard, his hat askew.

He reached up to fix it back into place, trying in vain to fit it over his protruding ears. "Where are you going?" he panted. "Your house is that way!" He flung out an arm back toward the village.

"Yes. I know."

"Then why are you going...up there? Your father was crying at the funeral. Shouldn't you be at home with him?"

Miranda shook her head.

"He was so sad." Salvatore went quiet for a while, trudging through the snow next to her as the trees thickened around them and the path sloped, steadily, upward. They were climbing a path away from town, houses and fences and goat-pens rapidly falling away. Soon, all Miranda could see of the village were the turrets and towers of the great, empty castle that shadowed the entire valley, turned blue and misty at this distance.

It had been shut up for years, run by a skeleton crew of caretakers that were still loyal to the long-dead last of House Dimitrescu, the ancestral aristocracy that had once lorded over this land. Miranda had often wondered what lay inside, what secrets, what stories, but she'd never dared to sneak past the gate with its terrifying murals of demons and warrior maidens.

Now, she couldn't care less. She just wanted to be away from the whole place.

"I don't like this place," Salvatore said, glancing at the trees around them. "My pa says there are evil spirits in these woods."

"Your pa has weird ideas."

"I think it's true. I hear howling from up here sometimes."

"Those are things called wolves, Sal." She gave a little annoyed huff. "I hear them too."

"Are you ever scared they'll...jump in through your window and get you?"

"No."

"I am."

"You would be."

"Oh!" He stopped in his tracks. "What's that?"

The clearing rose before them, snowy and lit blue by the fading daylight. A stone dais in its center was ringed with pillars, carved all over with interconnected knotwork, while a vast stone chalice stood in its center, locked into place by some unknown mechanism.

The Giant's Chalice. At high noon, during midsummer, it made for a merry sight, all strung with ribbons and bells and colored lanterns. Miranda went every year with her parents, her mother and father taking her hands to swing her round in circles as musicians played a dancing tune. Now, during the dead of winter, the shadows reached long, snowflakes dancing like wraiths on the chill breeze.

"It's just the chalice," Miranda said.

"It looks different in the dark." Salvatore shivered.

Miranda headed into the clearing, the little boy at her heels. She made a slow circuit around the Giant's Chalice, watching the way the light gleamed off its lichen-scabbed stone. Another thing that like the castle had been here a long, long time, though if the holy books and her father's tall tales were to be believed, it had been here and been old since before the first of the castle's foundations were even an architect's dream.

Further on, through ruins painted with sacred imagery, up a long, long flight of steps, there was more, but maybe Salvatore's nerves were catching. She stopped to look at the path leading to the other ruins and shivered at the darkness.

"You weren't crying, though," Salvatore said. He'd hopped up onto the dais, his nerves seemingly forgotten, and began walking its edge like a tightrope. "Why weren't you crying?"

"I..." Miranda looked away from the path. "I...I don't know."

"Weren't you sad?"

"Yes." Her voice quivered. She stared at her boots. She'd forgotten to shine them for the funeral, and they were scuffed and dirty.

Footsteps approached her. There was a hesitation, then Salvatore put his arms around her. He hugged her round the waist for a long time- that was all he could reach. Miranda stiffened, but after a moment she let it happen.

Eventually he let her go and stood back, balancing on the edge of the dais again, like this was all some kind of big game.

"My pa says your pa went and got the priest when she died and the priest had a box." He paused. "My pa kissed his saint's medal when he saw that box."

"He was right to."

"Why?"

Annoyance spiked. Wouldn't he shut up? Miranda thought about turning on him, maybe picking up a rock and throwing it at him to shoo him off like a stray dog. He stared up at her with his eyes big and round. And if she did? He'd run off crying to his mommy, would probably never bother her to play again. Usually- before- she'd be all right with that.

Now?

Now, she didn't want to be alone.

"He..." She let out her breath. "He had this...thing. A baby in the box. But not a baby. It was a piece of the Black God. A gift. I think. He...he put the baby inside her. He had to cut her open." Her mouth trembled. "He said it would make her come back."

Salvatore didn't move a muscle.

"But she didn't come back." Miranda kicked at the snow. "She just died. And now she's gone."

"Not necessarily," Salvatore said.

"What are you talking about?"

"It's...it's in one of the books Dr. Nicolescu gave me. One of his old ones that he didn't want anymore. It has these, um, amazing pictures...I wish I could show you..."

The last thing Miranda wanted was to look at Salvatore Moreau's book collection. "You can just describe them, I have a pretty good imagination."

"Okay, they were woodcuts, and in one of them the ancient priest-saints of the crystal city, they stand over one of their holy dead, and they put the gift in them-" He lifted his hands, eyes shining, shaping the pictures as he spoke. "-And then the person, they don't rise, but they get sealed up. In a vault. Like a monk who's been bad. And then the next night...they rise again. And they become one of the warding saints. The guardians of the city."

He lowered his hands. "It doesn't just happen, Miranda. It takes a little while."

Miranda's heart thudded against her breastbone. Her mouth was dry. She licked her lips. "My mother," she said. "It's been...it's been a day since, since the gift..."

"Oh, no," Salvatore breathed.

"We have to get back down to the graveyard." She pushed past Salvatore, already running. "Come on!"

She pelted back down the path, her blood fire, her heart pounding. The freezing air tore at her throat and lungs, ripping her hair free from its braids. What if she wasn't fast enough? She heard Salvatore running after her, but she didn't slow, didn't stop even when a tree branch whipped past her face, slicing a line of blood over her cheek.

She burst back through the gate and into the village, the last of the daylight leaving the sky, just a trace of orange sunset lingering between two mountain peaks.

The church rose from the village's heart, its steeple cut sharp against the low snow clouds. Miranda slowed as she passed the lych-gate, her boots crunching on gravel. Already the snowfall had covered the mourners' tracks and filled in the wheelruts of the wagon that had borne her mother's coffin to its grave.

This was an ancient graveyard, centuries of the village's dead buried in its ground. Her mother had not been interred near the church, where the very oldest of the graves had stood for untold years, their dates worn away, lost to time. Her grave was in the far reaches, far from the comforting amber light shining in the church's windows.

Miranda hurried toward it. Salvatore finally caught up. He'd lost his hat running down from the Giant's Chalice, and the tips of his ears were red with cold.

"Miranda," he whispered.

"Hush," she hissed.

"Miranda, it's just pictures-"

"It's history, Sal."

"It might just be a story!"

"Stories are history," Miranda spat at him. "And if you don't believe that then you're just as stupid as you look."

She pressed on. The snowfall had grown thicker, denser. Chewing her lip, she doubled back and unhooked a lantern from by the church door.

"That's stealing!" Salvatore gasped.

"I'll give the priests some lei for it in the morning." Miranda stepped into the snowfall. "Are you coming or not?"

She approached the far reaches of the graveyard. Out here, the shadows were deep, the nearest house further away than a shout could travel. The castle loomed overhead, its shape indistinct through the snow. It seemed to lean in, as if curious about what she was doing.

Miranda glared up at it. What business did it, grand dead thing as it was, have with the affairs of the living?

Her mother's grave was almost hidden under a blanket of white. The lanternlight fell across it in a hazy gold pool, glittering on the fresh, undisturbed snow.

Little puffs of white trailed from Salvatore's mouth as he stood alongside Miranda.

"She didn't come out," he said quietly.

"Not yet." Miranda blinked, then set the lantern on a nearby gravestone. "Come...come on, maybe she needs...some help..."

Shovels leaned against the wall. The gravediggers', she guessed. She grabbed one and stabbed it down into the dirt. The blade made a chuff sound as it bounced off the frozen soil.

"Come on!" she told Salvatore. "Help me."

He hung back, fiddling with his mittens.

"Help me!" Miranda ordered.

If she got her mother out, if she came back alive- maybe everything could go back to normal. She imagined bringing her home, her mother's pretty face aglow with newfound life, as beautiful as one of the gilded saints on the painted ruins out by the Chalice. Her father would rise from his aggrieved slump, and though his eyes were red with crying, they would widen with relief as he lay eyes once again upon his wife.

It worked, Mother would say. You saved me.

You came home, her father would gasp. And you...Miranda...our darling...all thanks to you! She imagined their embrace, the smell of her mother, the smell of baking and drying herbs, her warm, safe home returned to her again.

She just had to get her out. She just had to dig deep enough. Her hands ached on the shovel handle; she felt skin tearing under her mittens as she hacked, feverishly, at the ironbound earth. Salvatore joined in, barely able to get the shovel into position- he was far too small- but trying valiantly nevertheless.

He'd begun to cry again. Miranda ignored him. What was there to cry about when hope was within her grasp? Her shovel hit something hard- a rock, maybe- and jounced from her hands, sending her tottering back. She stumbled and fell hard on her rear in the snow. "Ah-"

"Miranda!" Salvatore dropped his own shovel and hurried to her side. "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine, don't..." She pushed him away, heart pounding. "We need to-"

"Miranda," Salvatore cut in.

"What?"

"Do you hear that?"

For a moment she thought he meant wolves. They were howling again, far away, their voices so distant they were almost lost in the hish and creak of the wind in the trees.

Then Miranda heard it, and a chill struck her, coiling down to her marrow.

Scratching.

It echoed from below, muffled through earth. It was coming from the grave. At once, Miranda was frozen. Salvatore shrank back, tucking his chin into his scarf.

"Is that..." he whispered.

"Be quiet," Miranda snapped.

She got to her hands and knees, staring at the grave. The scratching went on, one moment long and languid, the next manic, a storm of sound against-

What? The coffin? The dirt? She couldn't tell. Was her mother trapped down there, trapped in smothering darkness?

Terror gripped her, sudden as a blow, but this time all she could think of was the corpse on the table, the pulse of the gift within her belly. The red line carved in her waxy skin.

The scratching stopped.

Silence flooded the graveyard. The only sound now was the wind, Salvatore's soft weeping, Miranda's own too-harsh breathing. She tasted something bitter in her mouth.

"Is it over?" Salvatore whispered.

The soil over the grave erupted in a shower of snow and frozen dirt. A hand, Miranda realized; it burst from the grave and clawed at the air. Miranda and Salvatore pitched backward, screaming. A shape tore its way free, snarling, snapping, the clack of teeth, the air scythed and sliced by hooked, dirt-clotted talons.

Salvatore was yelling something, but all Miranda could focus on as she lay sprawled and rigid was the filthy hair hanging in mats over the thing's face, the hunched shoulders as it shook loose, the flare of green off its eyes as the lanternlight struck them.

The familiar dress, embroidered with flowers. Miranda had done some of those flowers herself. They'd worked on them together.

"Mama?" she whispered.

The thing whirled on them with a growl. The lamplight fell over its face. Miranda's breath caught in her teeth.

Her mother's face. Her lips were drawn back from fangs; they'd forced their way from the gums, warping her jaw out of shape.

But the rest of her- the rest of her was...if she squinted, if she dreamed- maybe she could still be the same-

"Mama," Miranda said. She held out a trembling hand.

"No," Salvatore moaned.

"It's me," Miranda pressed. "It's okay. It worked. You're alive now. It worked."

Her mother blinked. She made a series of little yelping noises, like a hurt dog. Her lips slid down over her teeth, hiding them. She stepped forward, using the knuckles of one hand to swing herself along.

Her belly swung, too, split-open like a log riven with an axe, entrails dragging along the snow after her. They left a streak of blood behind them.

Miranda smelled the gore. The rot.

Tentacles unfurled from the stomach wound. They curled, writhed, reaching for Miranda from deep within her mother's body.

Her lips drew back from her teeth again, and the growl that rippled from her was anything but human.

She gathered herself to lunge-

Silver flashed in the lamplight. The lycan screeched; gore sprayed. The creature swayed there for an instant-

Then fell apart. Her head toppled one way, her body the other. They hit the ground with a wet splack.

Behind them, the old priest lowered the sword: heavy and made for cleaving, its cutting edge bright with the moonlight shine of silver.

A trace of black blood glistened on the blade.

Miranda gasped for breath. Salvatore curled beside her, his head in his hands as he rocked back and forth, sobbing.

"Children," the priest said. He sounded weary as a miller's donkey. "Come. We must make you both a tisane of herbs in case any of the wolf-sick blood touched you."

Miranda blinked. She mumbled.

"What was that, child?"

"You...said...she would live again..."

The old man lowered his eyes. "The will of the Black God cannot be known by mortals," he said. "We can only do as it asks, and hope our prayers will be answered in turn."

He turned and began away toward the church. Salvatore picked himself up and scurried after, still crying, but Miranda lingered. Her mother's body had already begun to crystallize, veins of milky white stone spreading over her remains. Within seconds she crumbled, becoming nothing more than dust on the snow.

She came back wrong.

She was supposed to be alive again-

And she came back wrong.

But all Miranda could think as she hurried after Sal and the priest, as she drank the bitter tea the old man brewed, as she felt it work through her body and drive away the Black God's holy madness, was that it was a miracle her mother had come back at all.

And maybe-

Maybe-

Miracles could happen twice.

#re8 #saints of warding #re8 fanfiction #re8 fic #resident evil village #resident evil #rosemary winters #karl heisenberg #mother miranda #Donna Beneviento #Chris Redfield #chapter 6 #salvatore moreau

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imaginingmarvelandeverything · 2 years

Text

An Impossible Choice

Pairing: Bruce Wayne x F!Reader

Warnings: Forced engagement, physical assault, murder threats, shitty parents, crime mentions, mob boss

Word Count: 1482

A/N: Here is the first part of my new series, In Better Circumstances! Bruce is not actually in this chapter, but when he does get here, he’s not going to leave. This is based off this convenience bonus chapter, but you do not have to read the bonus chapter or convenience to read this, it is a standalone! Anyway, I hope you like it!!

Ko-Fi

Series masterlist

Masterlist

Headcanon requests open!

Y/N struggled to keep the smile off her face as she drove home, her upbeat playlist blasting through her car speakers. The company she had been interning for had offered her a full time position on their design and engineering team. It had been a possibility since she started, yet she never believed it would happen this soon. Of course, there would be a trial period for her new position, but she did not think anything could affect her chances. She wished she could tell Bruce, but when she had talked to him on the phone a week or two before he told her he was going to be off the grid for a little while. He assured her he would be in touch when he could, but she would not be able to contact him first.

What he was doing confused her. She understood when he said he wanted to keep doing a year of different degrees to find out what he liked the best, but going off the grid in a remote monastery was something else. She was worried about him, and as his closest and only friend, she thought it was justified. In fact, she had half a mind to turn her car around and drive to the tower to get Alfred to tell her exactly where he was. But she stopped herself and pulled into the drive of her parents house instead.

She idled in the car. Part of her could not wait to tell her parents the news about her job offer, so that they would finally see that she could do things herself, without their power or influence. But the other part of her said why bother? That surely their reaction would be the same as it always was; faked pride and questions about when she was going to settle down and start a family. There was only one man she had ever considered that possibility with, and to her knowledge he had never even been out on a date.

She sighed and climbed out; there was no use delaying the inevitable.

She could hear whispers coming from down the hall in the direction of the living room as she shut the front door behind her. “You’ll never guess what happened today!” She called as she walked down the corridor. “The company-” The words died in her throat as she walked through the living room door. Her parents were sat on the two seater sofa, the other seats in the room were occupied by four dangerous looking men. But she only had to recognise one of them to know something was wrong.

“Y/N,” Her mother said with forced sweetness and an even more forced smile. “this is-”

“Sal Maroni.” Y/N cut her off and tore her eyes away from the man in question to look at her parents, her heart in her throat. “What have you done?”

“What we had too.” Her father said. He looked uncomfortable, like something was about to happen that he did not agree with.

“Miss L/N, it’s nice to meet you at last. But I suppose I should explain why I’m here. You see, your parents drained your father’s family fortune decades ago. I’ve been… lending a helping hand.” Maroni’s smile was all teeth, he reminded her of a shark. “But the time has come for me to get something in return.”

Y/N’s stomach dropped and she took a step back as Maroni stood from his seat. The two burly men that were clearly some form of security followed suit. She looked to her parents but they were both avoiding her eye.

“This is my son, Pino.” Maroni gestured to the man who was still sat in the armchair. Y/N glanced at him, tall and square, clearly worked out too much, and was staring at her like she was a piece of meat. “He’s at the age now where he needs to be settling down and getting married. And who better to do that with that you.”

“No.” Y/N said, carefully retreating out of the room, her eyes focusing on the men flanking Maroni. “No.”

Maroni smiled his shark like grin. “You wouldn’t like the other choice, princess.”

She bolted. She was halfway to the front door when one of Maroni’s men caught her. He locked her arms into her chest and ignored her flailing legs and demands that he let her go as he half-carried, half-dragged her back into the living room. He threw her to the floor, her knees cracking on the hard wood as she tried to catch herself. Maroni’s hand wrapped into her hair and he used it to pull her up so she was kneeling and levelled her face with his. She gripped onto his wrist as his grip tugged painfully at her scalp, but she kept her eyes on his, refusing to show how terrified she actually was.

Her father stood from his seat to try and intervene, but the man that had grabbed her pushed him back into his seat.

“You said you wouldn’t hurt her.” Her father still said, glaring at the man who had shoved him.

“And I’m not.” Maroni said, even as he tightened his grip on Y/N’s hair, making her eyes water. “Let’s try that again, shall we, princess? I know that you and Bruce Wayne have always been close, and you will have seen first hand what the grief of losing parents can do. So, let me put it like this, you’re going to do exactly what I say and marry my son, or your family will follow in the footsteps of the Waynes. Do you understand me?”

She gritted her teeth, realising he was giving her an impossible choice and she was damned either way. “Yes.” She managed to force herself to say, unable to nod with the stinging grip he had on her.

“Good.” He released her and she dropped back to the floor. He turned to his son, who was still yet to say anything. “Pino, the ring.”

Pino stood from his seat and stalked over to where she was kneeling with a smirk on his face. He roughly grabbed her hand before forcing the ring onto her ring finger. “Congratulations, we’re now engaged.”

She ripped her hand back and held it against her chest like she had been burned. The ring was large and gaudy. She had never hated something more.

“The engagement will be announced in the paper a day from now.” Maroni said, rebuttoning his suit jacket and preparing to leave. “We’ll send you a full meeting itinerary, it obviously won’t do for you two to not know anything about each other. We’re looking forward to you joining the family, Y/N.” He walked out, his son and men following close behind him.

Neither her nor her parents moved for several minutes. Y/N’s mind felt blank, her brain still trying to process exactly what had just happened. But a hand on her arm snapped her back into the moment.

“Y/N-” Her father tried to help her off the floor but she ripped her arm away from him.

“Don’t touch me!” She pushed herself to her feet and bolted back out of the room. She was behind the wheel of her mustang before she even knew what she was doing. She threw it into reverse and swung the car out of the drive. She shot off down the darkening streets of Gotham and was at the old airfield on the outskirts of the city before she even realised that was where she was heading.

Taglist: In the reblogs

She threw the car door open and fell to the floor as the first sobs racked through her chest. She ripped the ring off and threw it into the passenger side footwell. She pulled out her phone and pressed Bruce’s contact before she even knew what she was doing. But her phone just beeped and told her the number she was trying to reach was currently unavailable. She buried her face in her knees and tried to force air into her lungs, but she felt like she was drowning. Everything that had happened was too much and the only person she wanted, the only person who stood a chance of easing any of the weight resting on her heart, was god knows where doing gods knows what.

Part 2

#bruce wayne #bruce wayne imagine #bruce wayne x fem!reader #the batman #battison #batman x reader #batman imagine #in better circumstances #bruce wayne x reader

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mjolnir-steve · 2 years

Text

I Looked at You Like the Stars That Shined

Jake Jensen x fem!reader

Word count: 1269

Summary: Jake is settling into his new apartment and needs some decoration on the walls. You find a photo album from when you first met.

Warnings: cavity-causing fluff

Author’s note: I haven’t written in a hot minute, but I was inspired to continue my little Jake series, so I rolled with it. This takes place in the days after I Want Your Midnights, but I do still think this can be read as a one-shot, as well. I’m trying to develop the series in my head some more. As always, thank you to my besties Iva (@beefybuckrrito) and Thevy (@the-sal-del-mar) for beta-reading and supporting me!!! The title comes from “Mary’s Song (Oh, My My My)” by Taylor Swift (lyrics | song), and it’s about the kind of lifelong love I wish I could have. 💙

Likes, comments, and reblogs are always appreciated, and I’d love to know what you wanna see from these two! I still need an AU title, so definitely lemme know if you have ideas! 🥰️

The cutest little divider is by @firefly-graphics!

It was a yucky Sunday afternoon in January, one of those days when you couldn’t quite tell if it was raining or snowing, and you were staying at Jake’s, helping him go through the boxes he’d yet to unpack in his new apartment. He was in his office setting up his work computer when you came across a box labeled PHOTO ALBUMS in his bold, all-caps handwriting.

“Jakeyyy, come take a breakyyy with meee!” you shouted playfully. You plopped yourself in the corner of the L-shaped couch, knowing Jake inevitably would rest his head on your lap and stretch his long legs out in the opposite direction. It didn’t take long before he did just that, throwing himself over the back of the couch and managing to gently land on top of you. He looked up at you and smiled.

“Are we taking a nap already, bubs?” he mumbled through a yawn. “One of those days, huh?”

“We can nap later, bubba. I found photo albums!” You handed one to him. “You should pick out some pictures to frame. The only thing you have on the wall is your pin-up Wanda poster from WandaVision.”

Jake wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. “It’s art, and she’s a beautiful lady, Y/N.”

You rolled your eyes and softly smacked his forehead. “I found an album from first grade, and then here’s your album with Polaroids from your missions with The Losers.” You held up the yellow photo album that Jake chose to match the yellow stretch Hummer they’d purchased.

“Let’s go through first grade. I wanna find some good ones of us.” He snuggled into you, relaxing into the warmth of your tummy and thighs, and you handed him the fabric-covered album. The very first photo was one of the exterior of his treehouse. “Remember when I fell from the top of the ladder and broke my arm in like sixth grade?” he snorted.

“Yeah, you were already too tall to keep going up there.” You smiled, absentmindedly running your hand through his un-gelled hair as he turned the page. The next photo was of Jake and his sister, Franny, on the first day of school. She was going into fourth grade when the two of you were going into first.

“Isn’t it crazy to think you took that photo with Fran and we met like 45 minutes later?”

“Yeah, you had no idea your life was going to change forever, did you?”

You hummed in amusement, tickling the shell of his ear with your fingertips. “I’d argue both of our lives changed.”

“Oh, of course. But I think I turned yours upside-down.”

“Literally. You taught me how to hang upside-down on the jungle gym during recess that day… while I was wearing a dress, no less.”

You both laughed so hard that it hurt to breathe. “I still remember that dress. That was my favorite.”

“That was the one with the teacups on it, right?” he wiped a joyful tear from his eye as he continued to settle down.

“Mhm, and you asked if I even drank tea, as if I were a poser. Quite the way for the new kid to introduce himself.”

“I needed to know what I was dealing with, sussing everyone out. I was always meant to be a spy of some kind, I think. Trust no bitch.” He pushed his glasses up his nose and flipped through a few more pages as you giggled, until he found a picture of your first grade class. “We were pretty cute, huh?”

“I was cute. You were a menace,” you accused him, pointing at Jake in the class photo, his little polo turned inside out, his front teeth missing, and his glasses crooked.

“Can’t argue with you there.” As he moved to turn the page, a folded photo fell from the pages of the album. Jake put the album down on his stomach and opened the photo up, revealing the two of you on your eighth birthday, a miniature Jake with frosting on his nose kissing your cheek as you smiled, your birthday cake in front of you. “Okay, you have to admit I was pretty adorable here.”

You felt like your heart was glowing as you looked at the photo. “We’ve always made a good pair, huh?” You leaned down to kiss his forehead.

Jake smoothed his thumb over the photo, his brow furrowed, when he suddenly jumped up. “Gimme a few minutes, okay?” He practically skipped to his office, and you heard the clacking of the mouse and keys as he set to work.

Ten minutes passed, then twenty, and you couldn’t keep your eyes open anymore. You settled in for a nap, sure that Jake would wake you when he needed you next.

Jake worked furiously at his computer. He scanned the damaged photo into several editing programs and didn’t stop what he was doing until he felt he’d fully restored it, making it look good as new. “Y/N, c’mere!” he called, bouncing like a puppy in his seat.

When you didn’t respond, Jake walked back into the living room where he saw (and heard) you softly snoring, clutching a throw pillow to your chest. He smiled and gingerly moved across the room, slipping on his Vans and jacket and grabbing his wallet as he quietly left the apartment.

You woke up about an hour later to the sound of the front door closing. Confused, you got up and walked toward the door where you found Jake soaked to the bone and clutching several shopping bags to his chest. “Did I wake you, bubba? I’m so sorry.” He toed off his shoes and hung his jacket on the hook inside the door. “Lemme get changed. I have something for you!”

Jake ran to his bedroom and changed his clothes, returning to the living room about ten minutes later. Although he was being super sweet today, you couldn’t help but notice how good he looked in his tight black tank top and gray sweatpants, his muscles and tattoos on display.

He produced an elaborately-wrapped gift from behind his back, complete with a bow and gift tag that read, To: My Bubba, From: Love: Your Bubba.

“Jake, what did you do?” You examined the small, rectangular present, wondering what it could be.

“Open it and find out, Y/N.” He grinned and clapped excitedly as you untied the ribbon and began to open up the paper, careful not to rip it.

Inside the wrapping was a picture frame with two photos side by side. On the left was a perfectly-restored version of the photo from your eighth birthday party. On the right was a copy of the Polaroid you took on New Year’s Eve, in which you kissed his cheek instead.

“I made one for myself, too. I’m gonna hang it above the TV so I can see it,” he whispered, blushing a pretty pink. “Do you like it? Is it too much?” He played with his fingers nervously,

“Bubs, this is perfect. How did you…” You looked at the restored photo in amazement. “Seriously, I love this so much. I love you!” You launched at him, pulling him into a tight hug. “This means so much to me. I can’t wait to hang it up.”

Jake watched you with heart-eyes that he simply didn’t know how to hide. Little did you know, his mom had inscribed on the back of the photo: Jake and future daughter-in-law? :) The year was smudged, but that didn’t matter. Jake intended to fulfill his mom’s prediction, and hopefully, this was step one.

#jake jensen #jake jensen fic #jake jensen x you #jake jensen x reader #jake jensen x fem!reader #jake jensen fluff #maggie's writing

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