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onlymingyus · 1 year

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Hallmark Moment: Love on 42nd St.

pairing; singledad!kim mingyu x singlemom! reader (afab since I will be mentioning body parts in this story)

genre; smut (minors dni), fluff, angst, parent au

warnings; !singledadgyu, !singlemomreader, kids, grandparents, food, alcohol, cursing, talks about past trauma including death of a spouse, protected sex, unprotected sex, reader is on birth control, talk about sexual health, fingering, oral (f receiving), hand job, marking, size kink, some manhandling, use of pet names, some aftercare

hallmark moment part one

w/c; 21k and some change

a/n; thank you so much for your patience with this one. i know it was a long wait. i also know this is very long but i hope you enjoy it. thank you to @junkissed-replies, @duhnova, and @wonwussy for reading and proofreading.

The phone was up to your ear the moment you were inside of the airport, your purse hanging off your arm while Mingyu trailed behind you shaking his head. He wasn’t surprised you were already trying to call back home, he had expected it, so he had told you to go ahead while he took care of carrying the carry-ons. His eyes travel over the back of your head and down your body even as he gets closer to you, able to listen in to some of your conversation, his arms flexing to adjust one bag over his shoulder.

“Oh! Mom, hi! Yeah we just landed, literally. No…I don’t know what time it is.” Mingyu chuckles watching you pull the phone from your ear watching you read the time on your phone. It was 6 in the morning on the east coast which meant it was 3 am for her and the girls. Mingyu watches your face fall slightly, an apologetic look taking the place of your once excited one.

“Y/N, hey I’m sure it’s okay. You’ll get used to the time difference soon. Here, sit down for a second?” Your eyes meet Mingyu’s only to nod, taking a seat on a bench giving him a moment to put the bags next to you so that he could go to the luggage claim to find the larger bags while you talked on the phone. “He’s right, I’m not mad Y/N. I’m just tired…and I’d tell you to call back later but…”

You hear your mom’s tired voice quickly get covered up by the sound of Mina’s when she reaches for the phone telling her granny to hand it over. “Mommy?” Mingyu’s eyes were scanning the bags but he still made time to check on you, happy to see that smile return to your face. “Baby, I’m sorry I woke you up. You should let your granny go back to sleep and you do the same. I can call back later, I was just, you know, missing you.”

Mina laughs, how tired she was obvious in her little voice even over the phone. “It’s okay mommy. I miss you too but we have so many fun things planned with granny and with Amy’s grandma.” Your eyes find Mingyu in the crowd, you found that was fairly easy with his height and general good looks. He stuck out sometimes or even found himself the center of attention depending on the audience.

With your thumb nail resting against your teeth, you laugh into a nod at Mina’s words, a soft sigh taking over the laugh when Mingyu winks at you across the crowd. “I hope you have the best time Mina. I know they will take great care of you, but remember you and Amy can call me and Mingyu anytime. You don’t have to worry about the time difference, okay?”

Letting the bag roll beside him, Mingyu makes his way back over to you in time to hear the end of your sentence raising his brow at your words. “Worry a little bit about the time difference.” Mina’s laugh is loud enough for him to hear, causing him to smile. “Okay mommy, and I want you to have fun too. I’m gonna go back to sleep. Call me back later?”

You make a sound acknowledging her question, moving to stand up next to Mingyu reaching out to take your carry-on. “Okay baby, I love you. Goodnight.” When you smile at her little voice almost repeating your words before the phone disconnects, you find Mingyu’s hand is quicker than yours. Your eyes scan over his personal carry-on over his shoulder, the shared large suitcase at one side as he lifts your smaller carry-on to sit on top of it.

“Gyu?” Mingyu makes a sound similar to the one you had made on the phone with Mina, his eyes lifting to meet yours causing him to smile at your confusion. “What’s that look for Y/N?” When you gesture your hands out to the bags Mingyu takes the chance to grab your hand with his free one nodding.

“And? We are ready to go. The driver is waiting for us, I think just through there. It’s been a little while since I’ve been back here.” You furrow your brows pouting at his instance to not let you help with anything while you walk beside him. “You have got to stop babying me, Mingyu. I thought the reason we packed the one suitcase was so that we could have an easier trip together, not so that you could carry it all on your back.”

You see a smirk form on his lips out of the corner of your eyes making you narrow your eyes even before he speaks. “Well I’m not carrying it on my back, it’s rolling beside me. I barely even notice it, now stop frowning so much bab–Y/N.” Your brows furrow at Mingyu’s choked back words but you don’t have time to question them when you find yourself searching names in a large lobby of people.

“Ah, there he is. See my name?” Moving to your tip-toes you nod seeing a sharply dressed man holding a sign simply stating, ‘Kim Mingyu’ near the front of the group. With your hand held tightly in his, Mingyu guides you through the rest of the people to the driver smiling at the man before introducing himself and you. “Let me take these bags sir.”

When Mingyu allows the man to take the large suitcase and your carry-on you simply look up at him giving him a look of disbelief causing him to laugh. “Y/N…please, come on.” With a tug to your hand, Mingyu pulls you closer, keeping you next to him while you both follow the driver out of the airport towards the waiting vehicle.

Once again you find yourself scoffing when Mingyu makes you get into the back of the suv so he can help the driver load the luggage before he joins you. A grin on his face when he finds you staring at him, a look of discontent in your eyes. “What? There is that look again. Just lean back and relax, once we get to the airbnb if you want to yell at me, you can.”

He knew you weren’t going to yell at him, not over something so silly, though he knew you were fully capable of helping do things. His fingers lacing with yours, Mingyu tries to hide his pleased smile when you sigh and lean against the seat only to adjust so that your head is against his shoulder. His eyes are towards the front so he can pay attention to the driver and the road just out of caution almost the entire way but he can’t help but to steal a few glances and gentle brushes of his fingers against your skin when you doze off beside him.

Mingyu almost hates to wake you when the car stops in front of the tall building on 42nd street. Your nose pressed against his arm causing him to smile when he brushes his fingers against your cheek moving your hair from your face. “Y/N, we are here. You gotta wake up, I promise once we get upstairs if you want to lay down I won’t stop you. In fact, I might join you, if you let me.” Your soft whine as you wake up makes Mingyu laugh tenderly, you reminded him of Mina so much, it made him miss the kids but he knew you both needed the break…especially you.

“We are here already?” You blink when the door opens next to Mingyu, the driver stepping off to the side letting Mingyu help you out of the vehicle. You rest your hand in his while you slide off the seat, your eyes instantly going upwards to the tall building making you lose any words you once had. “I know…” Mingyu laughs, noticing your uptilted gaze, “A bit bigger than what we are used to at home, huh?”

You nod, but Mingyu lets you move on your own while he tips the driver and takes over the luggage once again. You only notice he is back at your side when his hand rests on your lower back, guiding you towards the large doors of the building. “Wait until you see the view from inside the building.”

In just a few minutes you find yourself holding the doors to your airbnb open for Mingyu so he can pull the suitcase inside of it, still insisting that he doesn’t need you to touch anything. “See, I told you. It was nothing, just an elevator ride and we’d be here. We can unpack it later. We are here for almost a week.”

Mingyu smirks watching you roll your eyes, muttering along with his words causing him to laugh. “Y/N…you are being sassy. I thought you slept on the plane but do I need to put you down for a nap?” Your cheeks burn slightly, turning on the balls of your feet you start to complain to Mingyu but find him right in front of you. You feel his hands moving over your arms, him walking you backwards into the living room, a smile on his face.

“I’m not sassy, Gyu, and I don’t need to be put to bed like a child.” Mingyu laughs at your words, his right hand moving up to slide along your neck into your hair at your ear. He watches your head tilt back for him, his thumb gliding along your neck causing you to swallow hard. “Now you are putting words in my mouth.”

When his lips brush over yours, you feel your knees go slightly weak. There had been so few times when the two of you had a chance to be alone for long. This was completely new to both of you, no need to be concerned that a child would come running into the room causing the two of you to jump back from one another.

Your hands rest on his forearms, a soft sound of contentment escaping your lips making Mingyu smile against your lips. “We have all the time in the world here.” You smile at his words spoken against your lips, nodding you glance up to meet his eyes even so close for a moment before letting your eyes close once again. Mingyu smiles into the kiss, deepening it, taking in a deep breath of your perfume. You were intoxicating and he couldn’t wait for the chance to get to know you even better but he’d never rush you.

When Mingyu pulls back, his hands sliding from your neck to your arms, you furrow your brows slightly glancing up at him. You find an almost shy look on his face if it wasn’t for the slight smirk on his lips giving him away. His fingers lace with yours briefly before he is stepping away to get the luggage, bringing it further into the room and searching for the bedroom making an ‘ah’ sound when he finds it on the first try.

You scoff, a pout on your lips while you pull at the end of your shirt over your jeans a bit upset that he had stopped kissing you. You start to follow him, muttering under your breath, “As if it was that hard to find the bedroom in a one bedroom airbnb…” Mingyu only catches the end furrowing his brows, uncertain of what you had said when you finally reach the same room as him.

“What did you say?” He watches you shrug and smile playfully causing him to narrow his eyes curiously. “Nothing, this is a nice room. Where are you going to sleep, Gyu?” Mingyu scoffs as you tease him, his eyes scanning over the king sized bed when you move over to it laying on it not taking up much space. “What, you don’t want to sleep with me?”

He hadn’t meant it like that but when your eyes widen, it doesn’t take long for him to do the same. “Oh…no not like that. I meant, just in the same…” Your laugh pulls him back to reality when you sit up and shake your head. “Mingyu it’s fine, of course I do. I mean I want you to sleep in this bed…with me.” Mingyu watches you struggle to find the right words, he knew that if he reached out to touch your cheeks they would be hot to the touch.

Clearing his throat, Mingyu nods, a smile crossing his lips when he looks back towards the luggage, starting to open it to find a few things. “Then it’s settled, we will sleep together…” He hears you take a breath causing him to smirk because he knew what he was doing when he finished his sentence, “in the same bed.”

“Mhm, that’s the plan. Is that the bathroom?” Mingyu glances to where you are gesturing, your voice cracking slightly causing his smile to widen slightly. “Uh probably, from the pictures, we have an ensuite.” You nod almost too enthusiastically while sliding off the bed to get past Mingyu to head to the bathroom when you find yourself with his arm around your waist pulling you back towards him.

“Take your toiletries with you, Y/N. Something tells me you won’t want to ask me to bring them to you.” You shiver to the feeling of his breath against your ear, your fingers hold his forearm against your stomach while you take a steadying breath. You find Mingyu smiling at you when you meet his eyes, his fingers trailing over your side and stomach before he steps away letting you do what you need to do. “Smart, you’re right Mingyu. I wouldn’t let you, probably.”

Mingyu watches you dig through your carry-on, his smile concealed just barely when you fumble with the smaller toiletry bag. His eyes follow you all the way to the door only to take a breath when you close it behind you leaving him in the bedroom alone so he can mutter to himself. “God…she’s so fucking cute. Keep it together, Mingyu.”

Inside the bathroom you lean against the large counter holding double sinks in front of possibly the biggest mirror you had ever seen. You hadn’t taken a chance to really look at your appearance since you had gotten off the plane so now you were cringing slightly from the obviously traveled appearance in front of you. Digging through your bag you find your makeup bag and hairbrush so you could touch up at least slightly before going back out to see Mingyu again.

No man had ever made you simultaneously feel shy, anxious, comfortable, and desired before. You were terrified to be around him and yet there was nowhere else you wanted to be. Running your fingers through your hair, you manage to tame it back to something acceptable, nodding at your reflection before heading back out into the bedroom. “Sorry, I know I’m being completely idio…”

You had started to explain yourself to Mingyu but by the time you got back into the room you found yourself smiling, your hand going over your lips to silence any sound. Soft breathy snores leave his lips, Mingyu’s body completely on the bed except for his arm that had managed to fall from his side. “God you didn’t sleep at all did you?”

The words are barely a whisper, you walk on your tiptoes though you had a feeling nothing was going to wake him. With a light touch you carefully lift at his arm putting it over his stomach, your eyes going to his face watching his lips smack a few times in his sleep. He was so handsome, you couldn’t help but to reach out, pushing his hair from his forehead. “Rest well, Gyu.”

Mingyu groans softly, his face against the pillows when he hears the soft sounds of traffic from below the building. Opening his eyes he sighs seeing that the sun is lower in the sky but not quite setting yet. You had let him sleep for far too long, he didn’t need to nap all day but he really wasn’t going to complain. It had been so long since he had the chance to just lay down and not worry about what he had to do.

Glancing around the room, Mingyu furrows his brows, not finding the luggage at the end of the bed. Clearly you had been up doing things which now made him feel a bit bad about his nap but maybe it would make you feel better about the luggage debacle at the airport. He really hadn’t been trying to make you feel like you couldn’t handle it, he had just wanted to take care of you.

Standing, his arms stretched behind him, Mingyu moves to the window to look over the city enamored with the view. He really loved the city, not nearly as much as home but it was nice to get away and see something different every once in a while. A small sound from outside of the bedroom draws his attention over his shoulder, Mingyu smiles, unable to help himself in wondering what you had been up to while he had napped.

You had thought you might get bored while you let him rest but as usual you found it pretty easy to find things to keep yourself occupied. You had put away your and Mingyu’s clothes, all of the toiletries now had a spot in the bathroom, and you had managed to explore the rest of the airbnb. You now knew how the remotes worked, one for the television, one for the curtains, and one that seemed to manage the heat and air.

As the time ticked by you found your stomach beginning to grumble, the light meal on the plane hadn’t really gone too far for you so knowing Mingyu the moment he woke up he would be starving. You quickly found that some of the same delivery apps you used at home worked just fine in New York once you found the correct address for the airbnb.

Just in time you were trying to get all the food out of the bags, only managing to drop your phone onto the floor, when Mingyu moves into the kitchen to find you semi-struggling. You don’t notice him even picking up your phone, putting it on the counter until his hands slide around your hips causing you to jump. “Shh, you are so jumpy. Did you lock the door back?”

You laugh out a yes, nodding while glancing back to meet Mingyu’s gaze as he smiles. “Then who else would be touching you like this?” Shrugging you lean back against him, making Mingyu take in a deep breath of your scent he loved so much when his nose brushes past your hair. “You just surprised me. I didn’t know you were even awake. I was going to come get you in a few minutes, I didn’t want the food to get too cold. How was your nap?”

Mingyu lets his nose push against your ear, a sigh dripping from his lips. He has to fight himself to not keep holding you to him, instead he chuckles against your neck before stepping away to look over the boxes of food. “It was nice and long. Too long, you didn’t have to let me sleep that long at all. I’m sure you were bored.”

You watch him furrowing his brows like there was always a word missing from his sentences, but for some reason you understood the unspoken frustration. “Mm, I wasn’t. I got plenty of things done and you needed the rest.” Mingyu glances at you, shaking his head while he opens boxes, the sound of his stomach making you laugh.

“I knew you would be hungry.” His smile makes you match it, especially when you offer him a fork and he takes it from your hand only to pick up a piece of chicken turning the fork towards you offering you the first bite. Mingyu watches you take the piece of food off the fork, a small smirk on his lips before he does the same nodding at the taste.

“This is delicious…I had thought about trying to go out tonight but maybe we can just rest tonight and go out tomorrow. Spend the day seeing some sights then I can take you somewhere nice tomorrow night?” You can’t hide the smile that spreads across your face so you lean to pick up some fries taking a bite of a few before offering some to Mingyu letting him take them from your fingers with one bite.

His lips brush over your skin leaving you a bit breathless but you nod nonetheless. “Are you asking me out on a date Mr. Kim?” Mingyu grins, licking his fingers clean, his brow raising at your question. You watch him lean his hip against the counter before he leans to pick up one of the burgers you had ordered specifically for him. “I am. One where you put on one of those dresses you complained about me buying you so I can look nice with you on my arm.”

You scoff, a straw pressed against your lips when your cheeks start to burn from his words. Mingyu’s eyes slowly trace over your face, his smile only fading long enough for him to take a large bite of his burger so he can chew with a smirk. “How many of these fancy dates are you planning on taking me on? You bought me three dresses, Mingyu.”

“Three dates, obviously. At least dates where you will wear one of those dresses. Otherwise you can dress in whatever you want. You always look beautiful, but I wanted you to be the center of attention, for everyone to look at you the way I look at you all the time.” He had a way with words, you swallow hard putting your drink to the side watching him take another bite of his burger, half of it gone as if he hadn’t just complimented you like that.

Shaking your head, you turn your head away only to feel his fingers turn your gaze back to him so you see him licking his lips clean, his burger set to the side. “But I won’t make you do anything you don’t want to do, Y/N. So if the dressing up is too much, you can just–” You had a knack for surprising him with kisses, but when your lips cut his words off this time Mingyu simply smiles against your lips, his fingers pressing into your waist.

“I think we both need to stop trying to walk on eggshells around each other. We are acting like we’re going to say or do something wrong and the other person is going to go running but I’m not going to run away Mingyu.” His fingers slide lower daring to slip just below your shirt pulling it up your back so his fingertips can brush your bare skin when he sighs to your words nodding.

“You’re right, but I wouldn’t stop you. However…I’m not going anywhere. This is right where I want to be.” You smile against his lips, the food almost forgotten when your fingers run along his chest towards his shoulder. Mingyu takes a breath, his brows furrowing when his lips meet yours again letting his tongue graze along your bottom lip testing the waters.

The feeling sends a shiver through your body that makes the corner of his lips turn up but your lips part for him eliciting a small groan from his throat. You are surprised when your thighs press together at the sound, a slight panic running through you but you don’t pull back just yet instead you let your tongue glide along his while his hand slides along your back.

You weren’t sure how you wanted this to go. Neither of you had talked too much about your romantic plans once you had reached New York but it had hung in the air from the moment the trip became real. You knew you wanted more with Mingyu, and clearly he wanted more with you, but then the fear that you were moving too fast creeped over you causing your kiss to falter slightly.

Mingyu leans his forehead against yours when your lips fall from his, you can hear him swallow hard. His hand doesn’t move from your back just yet, instead his fingers lazily draw circles on your skin while he listens to you breathe. “We will go slow, I’m in no rush. I’d be a fool to be.”

His words are quiet when Mingyu speaks against your hair letting you move in closer to him to rest your cheek on his chest. You take in a deep breath of his cologne, feeling it calm your nerves, your heart slowing down even though you felt like you were floating. “I don’t want to disappoint you Mingyu. I love this, y–being in your arms. Kissing you, the idea of where this is going. I’m just, I guess, scared.”

Mingyu’s eyes close when you change your wording on a dime. He wished you’d just say it, but then again, that was hypocritical knowing he had done the same thing time and time again. “You haven’t disappointed me, never think that. I love this too and I will say it again, I won’t rush you. It scares me too, how much I like this, how much I like you.”

You look up when Mingyu leans back, his hand moving from your back to brush your hair behind your ear while he looks down at you searching your eyes. “I know you’ve been hurt, I know we don’t talk about it much but…if you ever want to know, I’ll listen.” Mingyu watches your eyes shift away from him at his words, making him wonder if he had said the wrong thing. Fear spreads through his mind but when you nod he smiles at you, softly running his thumb over your cheek.

“Yeah, maybe…but I’ll need something stronger than lemonade to get through that conversation, Gyu.” His soft laugh makes you smile, something you really needed. He was spot on without even realizing it. You were terrified to go too fast or too far with him because there was so much at stake. It wasn’t just your life and heart on the line, you had to consider Mina. You had to consider his heart and Amy’s. Then all the trauma of your past relationship would wash over you anytime you thought about getting closer to him making it feel like a wall was in the way.

“You just tell me what your poison is and I’ll get it for you.” His fingers brush over your neck when you lean your head into his hand, Mingyu watching you adoringly. When your eyes meet his and you smile at his words, he can’t help but to smile back at you. “Thank you, and you know this goes both ways. If you want to tell me about things…you can, but I won’t make you. We have just never gone down that road.”

Mingyu nods, his brows furrowing when he feels his heart tighten at what you were referencing. It was a fair proposition. If you were going to talk through your past relationship and how it ended, it might be fair to explain how he had lost his wife. Mingyu swallows hard and tries to give you the same smile but you can see the sadness under the mask causing your stomach to feel tight.

“Of course, when we are ready we can have that conversation.” His fingers tug at your hair gently before he steps away turning back towards the food. You watch him take a steadying breath, his hand shaking ever so slightly when he picks up his burger taking one last bite of it. You can’t help but to wonder if you can live up to the woman that still seems to hold his heart so tightly even after so many years.

It was somewhat surprising to both you and Mingyu how quickly the two of you fell into a pattern of relaxation that first evening. Yes, there was still a layer of tension. This unspoken wall between you but yet you still found yourself in his arms on the couch, a movie playing on the largest TV you had ever seen. His lips occasionally pressing against your temple, your hand finding purchase on his fingers, any reason to have contact.

You found yourself dozing off when Mingyu’s phone rang causing him to sigh softly, adjusting against you so that he could pull the device from his pocket smiling when he saw a facetime call from your mother. Sharing a glance, both of you knew it was probably one of the girls if not both. You had called them earlier Mingyu had been asleep so it would make sense that Amy would be missing her dad.

Mingyu watches you start to sit up only to reach over, wrapping his arm around your shoulders when he presses ‘accept’ letting the camera turn on, a smile on his face. “Daddy! Hi!” You are surprised to only see Amy, a smile crossing your face when she notices you in her dad’s arms. “Oh my gosh, hi mommy!” Mingyu shakes his head glancing at you when his daughter opts to call you mommy like she had so many times in the past couple of weeks.

“Amy…” You start to speak but she giggles knowing you are going to tell her you aren’t her mommy only to trail off to have her say, “yet” but her small laugh is enough to stop you this time. “Where is Mina?” Mingyu’s voice brings you back to reality and makes Amy nod, sliding off of what you recognize as the guest bed, the phone unsteady in her hand as she speed walks down the hall towards the kitchen.

“Mina! Daddy and mommy are on the phone!” You sigh leaning your head back when you hear your own mother laugh happily in the background. A small smile crosses Mingyu’s lips while he adjusts next to you again. You watch him clear his throat hiding his amused smile when your eyes glance over his face. “It’s not funny Mingyu…”

“Hi mommy, Hi Mr. Mingyu.” Your attention is drawn back to the phone at the sound of your daughter’s voice, your eyes quickly dart over her face making you smile brightly seeing her distracted making cookies with your mother. “Hi baby, are you all making things with granny?” Mina nods, lifting her sprinkle covered sugar cookie, icing covering her fingers and lips.

“Mina is, I’m not really that good at it. I decorated like two but I kept breaking off the small bits so I asked if I could call you guys.” Mingyu laughs softly, his fingers moving subconsciously to play with the end of your hair while he listens. “It’s alright honey, when we get back we know now that you can hang out with Y/N while Mina and I take care of the kitchen.” Amy laughs, nodding in agreement, letting the phone rest on the counter so she can pick up one of the decorated cookies taking a bite of it. From the angle you are able to watch her eating while also watching Mina with your mother who glances at the phone a few times before smirking.

“You two look cozy, are you having a wonderful time in New York?” The warmth in your cheeks causes Mingyu to glance at you when he feels it against his cheek, a laugh slipping from his lips when you only nod. “Uh, yeah…yeah we are having a great time. Thank you for helping with the kids Mrs. Y/L/N.”

Your mother smiles tilting her head watching Mingyu’s hand move from your hair to your shoulder squeezing lightly. Her eyes seem to smile almost brighter than her actual smile when she simply shakes her head. “Mingyu, just call me mom, Y/N does.”

You scoff while Mingyu laughs leaning up, moving his arm from around you to run his hand over his lips. “Mom, please, seriously?” You listen to her laugh at your complaining while the girls giggle enjoying their cookies and her teasing. “I am being serious, Amy has the right idea. It makes things a lot easier.” You couldn’t believe that she had jumped on this bandwagon so easily but watching her smile seeing you happy and in her eyes “loved”.

“Okay…well as much fun as this is. It’s getting late here and whereas this one had a nap today I did not.” Mingyu smiles at you so lovingly your mom finds it impossible not to feel her heart tighten. Her eyes follow him when he leans in to press a soft kiss to your cheek even as you laugh and tell him to stop out of embarrassment. “Mmhm, well you two have fun. Get some rest, Y/N. I love you very much. I love both of you.”

Mingyu turns his gaze towards the camera furrowing his brows but smiles softly. “We love you too.” He was speaking for you now; you should be offended, is the first thought on your mind but you find yourself swallowing hard, your cheeks burning once again. You only nod while Mingyu takes care of telling the girls goodnight and how much the two of you love them, leaving the last words to you when Mina asks for you.

“Goodnight baby, don’t stay up too late. Either of you, please? I love you so much…both of you, okay?” Amy grins just like her dad making your heart beat faster when she leans against your daughter, her eyes on the camera when she tells you that she loves you too. “Mm, bye bye.” The moment the screen goes to black you let out a slow breath causing Mingyu to look at you curiously, his phone laid on the coffee table. He uses his hand closest to you to move your hair from your face, almost begging for you to look at him.

“Y/N…are you okay? I feel like I should be apologizing for something.” Your hand slides along his forearm up to his wrist making Mingyu smile slightly even though you still don’t look at him. “You don’t have anything to apologize for, Gyu.” It was Mingyu’s turn to swallow hard, his eyes watching you when your hand dropped from his and you started to stand up shivering slightly.

“Alright, I don’t have anything to apologize for, but are you okay?” You nod glancing back at him to give him a reassuring smile but Mingyu can almost see right through it. Your hands running along your arms trying to bring some warmth into them from your lack of contact with Mingyu. “Just tired, it really is getting late. I’m gonna get ready for bed.”

Mingyu nods watching you leave the room, his eyes following you until you are out of his sight. He hated this wall between the two of you that had formed. It had always been there in a way but never this badly. You were supposed to be closer on vacation, no kids, no distractions and yet it seemed harder to reach you. He sat there for a few minutes trying to give you some space but the feeling kept nagging him. Maybe you didn’t want to talk about things yet, but at least he could be there for you in any way he could. He could be more open with you.

By the time you come out of the bathroom, your face clean, hair still slightly damp from your shower, you are surprised to find Mingyu already sitting on the bed waiting for you. He grins and leans to pick up the second wine glass he had found, a bit of red wine waiting for you. “Hope you don’t mind, since our hosts left this for us. I figured we could enjoy it.”

Mingyu smiles as you laugh softly making your way to the empty side of the bed. He finds himself unable to keep his eyes from traveling over your bare skin under your pretty satin nightgown. He doubts that you wear something like that every night but it was a treat to see you in it either way. Mingyu lets you take the wine glass from his fingers, his eyes finally moving back to your eyes to find your brow raised slightly.

“What?” The word comes out in a laugh making you smile even when you tip the glass to your lips taking a sip before speaking. “You were staring at me…makes me feel a bit self conscious.” Mingyu makes a sound of understanding, sliding his body closer to the middle of the bed to get a bit closer to you, his own wine glass in his hand. “I was appreciating you. You are stunning…and forgive me but I’m getting to enjoy seeing you more while we are here. I’ve never seen you in a nightgown before.”

Mingyu laughs when you breathe into your wine making it bubble slightly back into the glass out of embarrassment at his words. “Is that too forward? I thought we had gotten past that…” You shake your head glancing at him when he leans towards you slightly, his free hand next to yours on the bed just an inch away. “I mean…no, it’s not really forward, but you are right, we’ve never seen each other like this. I’ll be honest I usually just wear an old t-shirt to bed. I tried to look a bit nicer…”

The idea of you in an old t-shirt, perhaps one of his causes Mingyu to take a deep breath, his own wine glass against his lips. You watch him tilt the glass back letting the alcohol slip into his mouth while you study him and his reaction. His eyes finally move back to yours a bit shyly but only for a second before he seems to steady himself. “You don’t need to be wearing anything special to look beautiful, Y/N.”

He really did have a way with words. You turn your head away, a smile on your lips when you take another sip of your wine only to feel Mingyu’s fingers push your hair from your cheek when he speaks again under a sigh. “Are you too tired to have part of that talk? I’m not asking for you to tell me anything tonight but if you are up for it…I can explain a few things.”

When you lean into his touch, Mingyu’s chest tightens. His eyes meeting yours, he gives you a smile before turning to put his wine on the nightstand and adjust in the bed under the covers offering you the space next to him if you want it. Mingyu watches you take another large sip of your wine before you cautiously move to lay against him, the feeling of the satin soft against his arm when he wraps it around you.

“Mingyu?” When you speak, Mingyu smiles using his other hand to pull the covers up to you so you won’t be cold though his body was radiating like your own personal heater. “You only have to do this if you want to, you don’t have to talk about this if it makes you uncomfortable or sad.”

Mingyu glances down at you slightly with the smile on his face, shrugging his shoulders. “I want to talk about it, I never really do, you know? Other people try to push me to, or force it out of me. You are the first person that I think I actually want to talk to about it willingly. I want you to know how important that is to me, okay?”

He watches you nod while you chew on your lips, the covers moving slightly at your lap where your fingers were undoubtedly rubbing together out of nerves. “Okay…” Your voice is so quiet it almost makes Mingyu’s heart hurt but he smiles at you still, leaning to kiss your cheek, a sigh leaving his lips.

“Alright, so I met Amy’s mom when we were in college. She was a year younger than me but entirely more mature than I will probably ever be, a lot like you.” You find yourself unable to help it when you smile at the beginning of his story, though it was scary to learn about the woman who meant so much to him you knew it was important. Mingyu laughs a bit leaning his head back against the headboard as he continues his story talking about how they got together, how he was head over heels for her and not the other way around at first.

As the story continues you find yourself sharing in his smiles of how he worked up the courage to ask her to marry him, the story of their wedding, and finally Amy. It is only when he clears his throat straightening his back does your smile begin to fade, everything had seemed perfect, so easy but you already knew the basics of what had happened. “The pregnancy was going fine, Amy was healthy, her mom seemed perfectly healthy but apparently there was some undiagnosed heart condition.”

Mingyu feels your fingers lace with his when his voice seems to crack very slightly. You notice him glancing at you but never making full eye contact but you understand why knowing if he did he might not be able to keep back emotions he was clearly holding back. “She went into labor, refused to let anyone think she couldn’t do it…Amy is so much like her when it comes to being stubborn.”

Though Mingyu was doing his best to keep tears back, you were failing as they collected on the rim of your eyes listening to him talk. “She got to see Amy once, they laid her on her chest, she smiled at her before everything just kinda went to shit. Her heart gave out because the stress of the labor was too much.”

You wanted to speak to tell Mingyu how sorry you were but when you see his hand move to push tears out of his eyes you find yourself almost speechless for a moment when he laughs sadly. “Just one of those fluke things, ya know? Something they should have caught near the beginning of her pregnancy but…they didn’t.”

Mingyu sniffs back his tears and sighs, starting to apologize to you when you put your hand on his cheek shaking your head. “Don’t ever apologize for mourning her. She sounds like she was amazing and I am so sorry, Mingyu.” You watch him close his eyes, tears rolling down his cheeks when he nods. “It’s okay, it was a long time ago now. I just, you can see why I don’t really talk about it.”

Nodding you run your thumbs over his cheeks pushing away his tears while Mingyu seems to regain his composure. His eyes finally opened to look at you to see your own tears fresh on your cheeks making him frown and reach up to brush them away. “Don’t cry for me…I don’t want you to be sad.”

“I doubt this is the last time either one of us will cry for the other Mingyu. We still have so much to learn about each other…there is a lot of past.” Mingyu smiles a bit, nodding, his thumb still moving over your skin while your hand moves to hold his wrist. “I know, and when you are ready, I’m here for you, Y/N.”

You knew he was, but after hearing his story tonight wasn’t the night. You found yourself just wanting to comfort him, be in his arms especially with how tired you already were. “Turn off the lamp.” Mingyu simply nods to your words moving from you only for a moment to turn off the light before he has you back in his arms.

“Y/N…normally I wouldn’t rush you, but I did make reservations.” You can hear the smile in Mingyu’s voice from the other side of the bathroom while you finish putting in your earrings, checking your appearance one last time in the mirror. Your stomach was in knots, the rest of the day had been such a breeze compared to this. The two of you had spent the day going from place to place looking at different sights while Mingyu snuck photos of you, but now you were dressed in one of the nicest black floor length dresses you had ever worn.

“Gyu…I will stick a hairpin into your eye if you don’t get away from this door. Just go grab my black heels for me or something? I’ll be out in like two seconds.” He could hear the whine in your voice, and the nerves. You had started getting ready the moment the two of you had gotten back to the airbnb around 4 hours ago while he had taken only 30 minutes to use the spare bathroom to shower, fix his hair, and finally get dressed in his suit. You were fussing over every little detail, afraid to look less than perfect.

“Ouch…that’s a scary threat. Fine, I have the shoes. I’ll just sit here and wait, but I’m sure you are breathtaking.” Mingyu hears you whine again making him laugh, your black strappy heels in his hand when he goes to sit on the bench at the end of the bed looking towards the closed bathroom door waiting for you.

It takes another 10 minutes before you are able to convince yourself to leave the bathroom, Mingyu sits up surprised hearing the door open ready to give you a hard time but when he sees you he finds himself speechless. “Oh my god…is it that bad? I thought this one would be good for the first night because you said this place was really fancy. I have the green dress…”

Mingyu is on his feet, his hand around your waist the moment you start towards the closet to try to change. “Don’t you dare…oh my god.” Shyly you glance up into his eyes really seeing him for the first time tonight, his hair perfectly shaped, his tie actually tied not a clip-on, his cologne intoxicating. Your knees feel weak as if you are already in the high-heels making you lean more against Mingyu who leans down and presses his lips against your ruby red ones.

You give into his kiss for a moment, letting his hand on your waist grip you tightly until he pulls away and brushes his nose along your neck taking in the scent of your perfume. Mingyu can’t help but to smirk a bit when he feels your skin erupt in goosebumps under his nose. “I thought we couldn’t be late because of a reservation…”

Mingyu’s chuckle against your skin causes you to smile, your fingers barely brushing through the longer hair at the nape of his neck when he leans back to look at you giving you a real once over this close. “We do have a reservation, unfortunately.” His words cause you to laugh and shake your head. Mingyu smiles, letting you take the shoes from him and his place on the bench so he can watch you put the shoes on then offer you his hand. Shaking your head you join Mingyu at his side, letting him lead you out of the room and finally out of the airbnb.

With a thick faux fur coat wrapped around you along with Mingyu’s arm, you smile watching your breath in front of your face while you walk. Your stomach was impossibly full and your mind a bit fuzzy from some of the best wine and champagne you had ever tasted. The car had been there when you two were ready to leave but you had asked Mingyu if the two of you could walk at least part of the way back. The night was so beautiful, all the Christmas lights were still up even as everyone was still preparing for New Years Eve.

You looked so happy, truly happy there was no way Mingyu was going to say no to you. So now he walked beside you letting you set the pace, he knew you were in heels and didn’t want your feet to hurt you by the time you decided to call it or if you reached the apartment buildings. He watched your face turn up in wonder at the sight of all the different lights, the tall buildings, in a city that truly never slept.

“It’s so cold.” Your words bring Mingyu back to you completely, a slightly frown on his lips until he sees you smiling. “Do you want me to call the car?” You fall in closer to him, shaking your head causing Mingyu to laugh, bringing his arm up around your shoulders, rubbing them slowly. “Okay, I just don’t want you to get too cold. We can turn on the fireplace when we get back but I don’t want it to take too long for you to get warm again. I don’t want you to get sick. Your nose is already getting a little red.”

Your soft laugh when he touches your nose checking to see how cold it is. “Gyu, stop it.” You bat at this hand only for him to catch it in his bringing your fingers to his lips kissing them gently. “Mm these are cold too.” Shaking your head, you smile almost lovingly up at Mingyu when he kisses your fingers once more before letting them go. A shy grin taking the place of his playful one at how you are looking at him before he glances away and forward to where he is walking.

“You are so handsome Mingyu…you always are. I mean, not like you don’t know that, but this suit, your hair, everything…you just look so nice.” You were always catching Mingyu off guard; yes, he knew you had drank at the restaurant, you were clearly feeling a bit freer with your words, but he had never expected you to say that to him. It was his turn for his cheeks to warm up slightly, a grin spreading over his, in your opinion, ridiculously handsome face.

“I..I don’t always know that. What does that mean? I don’t always look nice, Y/N.” You shake your head at his words pulling him towards a store window display not paying attention to what the store is or what is displayed, only that it was reflective so he could see himself. “Yes you are, and tonight you look like a million bucks. If the PTA moms could see you now, Mr. Kim.”

The laugh that fills your ears makes you smile brighter while you watch Mingyu in the reflection, his hand running carefully through his hair while he shakes his head. You watch him roll his eyes, his hand pulling you closer before his eyes drop to the display with a raised brow causing you to do the same. You had stopped in front of a Tiffany & Co. store by accident, engagement rings, wedding bands, and other jewelry on display in front of you shining like the Christmas lights.

“Wow…they are pretty.” You take a breath at Mingyu’s words, your eyes scanning over the rings even while he leans closer taking a look. “They are, and probably worth more than my car.” Mingyu’s smile is almost as dazzling as some of the jewelry when he glances over to meet your eyes. “Mm, maybe…what do you think about that one?” Your eyes follow his to a pear shaped diamond near the middle of the display that was surrounded by small diamonds.

“It’s…gorgeous, and like I said, probably worth a ridiculous amount of money.” Mingyu only smirks a bit moving his hand from your shoulder to lace his fingers with yours nodding. “You are probably right but I think most people only buy one or two rings like that in their life, so it’s kind of worth it.”

Mingyu watches you shake your head, your eyes rolling at his words though you don’t seem to comment on his exact wording, instead you start walking again leading him to follow you. “Or sometimes they never buy them and run off.” Your words bit at the air making Mingyu furrow his brows while rubbing his thumb along the back of your hand slowly.

“And those who choose to do that are fools, in my opinion. Y/N…hey.” You had picked up your pace very slightly and it was clear your footing was growing unsteady. With a gentle tug at your hand Mingyu pulls you back towards him, using his free hand to turn you towards him, running his palm over your cold cheek. “I’m not going anywhere, not unless you tell me to. Understand?”

With your brows knitting together, Mingyu watches you sigh while you look up at him. “I understand.” This time you watch Mingyu’s brows almost touch, while you said you understood and he wanted to believe you he knew he would have to prove it to you in the long run. “Alright…let’s call the car. You are shivering.”

You poured the glasses of wine this time, the satin nightgown reaching your mid-thigh, a black robe covering it only to sway while you made your way back to the living room and Mingyu who had also changed out of his suit. While you knew he was turning on the fireplace you hadn’t expected him to lay out the large blankets in front of it along with pillows, so when you found him there you couldn’t help but to smile a bit. “Oh? This looks nice.”

Mingyu takes in the sight of you in the robe and nightgown, his eyes once again traveling the length of your legs with a sigh before he reaches up to take the wine glasses from you, putting them safely onto the coffee table in front of him. “Your skin was so cold when we got here, I thought this might feel nice. If it’s too warm we can move back to the couch but...honestly it’s pretty comfortable down here.”

You look at his extended hand taking it gingerly allowing him to “help” you onto the soft blankets next to him. The warmth of the fire instantly moves over your body causing you to let out a small happy sound that draws a lingering look from Mingyu. Watching you reach for your glass of wine, Mingyu’s eyes walk over any of your exposed skin while he chews at his bottom lip leaning on his side.

“We will have to get some more wine tomorrow, if we have another glass each that will finish up the bottle I’m afraid.” Nodding Mingyu smiles, daring to reach out his hand to run it over your forearm that was draped over your leg, the tips of his fingers brushing your leg underneath. “We can get more tomorrow. I’ll buy you whatever kind you want.”

You take a sip of your wine, swallowing it down hard when his fingers wrap around yours near your knee. “You are still cold, Y/N.” He wasn’t wrong and your choice of nightgown wasn’t exactly helping to keep you incredibly warm. “Come here?” You can’t help but to smile at his words when Mingyu leans back against the pillows moving his arm so it’s open for you to lay back with him next to the fire.

Your head resting against his arm, you bite at your bottom lip feeling Mingyu’s fingers moving along your skin near your knee. His warm breath is so close to your face that when you dare to look up you aren’t surprised to find his eyes on you but it still makes your cheeks burn. Mingyu can’t stop the smirk from crossing his lips when you shyly look away only for him to lift his hand from your leg to your chin turning your face back towards him.

Mingyu closes the distance pressing his lips to yours gently while his hand moves to yours to take your wine from your hand. He only pulls away from the kiss long enough to sit the glass to the side before his lips reconnect with yours causing you to whine softly into his mouth. Hearing your whine, Mingyu furrows his brows, the feeling of worry rushing over him that he is pushing you too quickly.

You let out another soft whine when Mingyu starts to pull away, his lips just resting against your lips as he speaks. “I said I wouldn’t go too fast. I know we’ve both been drinking tonight so, if you want me to stop I will underst–” Your lips cut off the rest of Mingyu’s words, and he smiles against your lips. His hand finding purchase on your hip, you allow the faintest of moans to leave your mouth into his when Mingyu’s fingers press into your night gown as he tightens his grip on you.

Mingyu’s mind was racing with thoughts even as his hand slid down your leg to the end of your nightgown, his shaky fingers daring to slide along your soft skin causing goosebumps to erupt under his touch. He could feel the way you arched towards him, the way your hand was gripping at his shirt to pull him close. Your tongue gliding along his while he swallowed even the smallest of moans you were allowing him to hear.

When you slide your knee up brushing it between Mingyu’s legs, he furrows his brows groaning almost breathlessly into the kiss before pulling away to rest his forehead against yours. Mingyu smiles at your hushed apologies, his fingers brushing at your warm cheek, he shakes his head. “God, Y/N…don’t apologize. I just…it’s been a long time for me.”

Lifting your gaze to meet him, Mingyu finds your eyes shy but sure. “You are so beautiful. Oh my god…I want to touch you so badly, but I don’t want you to run away from me.” His words made your chest tighten and your stomach flip. Instinctively your thighs push together while Mingyu’s thumb runs along your outer thigh gingerly. “I won’t run away from you, Gyu.”

Mingyu swallows hard, feeling your smaller hand lay over his guiding it along your leg. He wanted so badly to watch where you were leading him but he couldn’t pull his eyes from yours afraid he would miss a moment of your gaze. It’s only when you look away, your eyelids lowering out of nerves, your hands shaking slightly, does Mingyu look down to your hands, licking his lips and trying to keep himself calm. “Whatever you want from me, baby it’s yours.”

Your hand falters for a second at Mingyu’s words, but finally your teeth catch your bottom lip as a breath hitches in your throat. Mingyu’s thumb brushes the center of your panties, your hand dropping to his wrist when you nod, giving him permission to touch you for the first time. “Fuck, okay.”

A breathy moan fills Mingyu’s ears when the back of his fingers run along your inner thigh, his thumb pressing against your slit through your panties. Mingyu has to close his own eyes, feeling his cock twitch in his pajama pants from just how pretty you sound. He wanted nothing more than to see you, taste you, be inside of you, but he also knew he would let you decide when that would happen.

Leaning his head down, Mingyu presses his lips to your jaw, his kisses working their way to your neck and collarbone while your hand tightens around his wrist. His fingers gently caressing your skin while he rubs your clit through the cotton of your underwear until you just can’t handle it anymore, your hips lifting towards his hand. “Hmm Gyu, more…please. You can touch me. Please?”

Burying his nose against the crook of your neck, Mingyu groans as you beg him to touch you. He nods, sliding his fingers upward to push your panties to the side only to groan once again feeling your wet folds against his fingers. “Shit baby, you…” He wanted to have the courage to be more free with what he was saying to you, what he was feeling but that fear of pushing you away hit him like a truck again.

You didn’t seem to notice, instead your own head was on fire with the feeling of Mingyu’s fingers on you. This hadn’t been the plan for the evening. You weren’t sure what the plan had been. You weren’t even sure what the plan for the entire trip had been when it came to this but as you laid under him you couldn’t find yourself upset with how you felt. Yes, it felt like it was too quick, though in reality both you and Mingyu knew it wasn’t.

“Oh…” The softly spoken word slips from your lips, Mingyu’s finger and thumb on either side of your clit. The gentle, building pressure of someone who knew what he was doing and someone who wanted you to feel pleasure was evident in his touch. Mingyu’s lips move along your chest to the top of your breasts carefully testing the waters. When you whine out his name, Mingyu furrows his brows feeling like he is going to lose his mind, his cock leaking almost painfully still trapped in his pants.

“I..I got you. So perfect baby.” Your orgasm was right on the precipice, Mingyu’s middle finger pressing into you when the sound of his phone brought both of you hurdling back to reality. Your hand tightening on Mingyu’s wrist, you close your legs around his hand as you glance at the phone on the table seeing his mother’s face on the screen. “It’s the girls. Oh fuck…we can’t miss the call.”

Cursing, his head against your shoulder, Mingyu’s fingers slide from you while he nods. You whisper an apology, smoothing your nightgown and hair before picking up the phone, answering it away from Mingyu so he could also regain his composure. “Hi girls! You are calling so…late.”

You woke up in the bed alone the next morning, your hand sliding over the bed when you reached for Mingyu only to find a piece of paper where he should be.

‘I went for a run. You looked so peaceful, I couldn’t bring myself to wake you up. I will bring home some breakfast and we can talk a little bit about last night hopefully. - Gyu’

A slight groan slips from your lips at the idea of talking about the previous night, your head was pounding but a quick turn towards the window made you smile. He really had thought about everything, sitting up and reaching for the bottle of water and pain reliever Mingyu had left you knowing you would have a hangover.

Mingyu had woken up earlier than intended. He had found it hard to sleep after the night had been taken from the two of you by the phone call. It of course had not been the girl’s fault, but it had been poor timing. He knew you wouldn’t want to go right back to where the two of you had left off but it had left him wanting and slightly frustrated. So now his feet hit the pavement, sweat dripping from his hairline, as he tried to keep his breath steady listening to the music playing in his ears to keep him motivated.

Around an hour later Mingyu found himself with a bag in his arms, a bottle of water chugged, while he leaned against the elevator making his way back up to you in the apartment. He hoped that you were still asleep or hadn’t been awake too long. He hadn’t meant to leave you for too long, especially when he promised to bring back breakfast.

Pushing the door open with his shoulder, Mingyu balances the bag while kicking off his tennis shoes hoping that if you aren’t awake yet he won’t be the reason. A quick turn of the corner into the kitchen causes Mingyu to stop in his tracks, a smile spreading across his lips when he finds you sitting at the island. Your chin resting on your fist while you look at your phone, the bottle of water he had left for you in front of you.

“Hey baby, have you been waiting for me for a long time?” Your eyes close briefly hearing Mingyu call you baby for the first time since last night. You had wondered if he would, and now the word was sending a fire through your limbs. “Mm, no, not really. Just a few minutes, really only long enough for the medicine you left me to kick in. How was your run?”

You hadn’t told him not to call you baby, Mingyu thinks, letting out a small breath. He sits the bag of food on the counter in front of you moving around to kiss the side of your head. He takes in a deep breath of your scent allowing it to wash over him, calming his nerves even further before he nods gesturing to the food. “Good, I’m glad you slept in. Eat something. That will help your head even more.”

Swallowing hard, you watch Mingyu move from you towards the bedroom. You figured he was going to take a shower, the smell of his cologne and sweat was still lingering in the air though he had tried not to lean against you. Reaching for the bag you pull it open and take out the containers, furrowing your brows. You were hungry but you found yourself almost afraid to eat with how your stomach was twisted up with anticipation knowing Mingyu wanted to talk.

He didn’t take very long in the shower, pulling on a pair of sweatpants. Mingyu opted not to wear a shirt when he came back to find you pushing a piece of egg around the take out container. You were clearly lost in thought, he found himself wishing he could read your mind but also terrified of that idea.

Clearing his throat, Mingyu leaned in from behind you to kiss your cheek again making your eyes widen when you realize you could feel so much of his skin against the back of your arms. When your fork slips from your fingers to land in your food Mingyu can’t help but to laugh, shaking his head. “You okay? You have butter fingers today?”

Your eyes move over his torso for the first time, you had gotten glimpses of him in the time you had known him, and more so on this trip but never fully like this. Now you were letting yourself all but study him like a piece of art in front of you causing Mingyu to tilt his head watching you in return. “Seriously, are you okay?”

“You’re naked.” Another laugh escapes Mingyu’s lips at your words, his hand moving up to push his damp hair from his forehead. “I’m shirtless, does that make you uncomfortable? I just figured since we were just hanging out eating breakfast…I would just be more relaxed.” You shake your head no before nodding right afterwards, your fingers finding your fork amongst your eggs finally.

“I’m not uncomfortable, I’ve just never seen you shirtless before.” Mingyu watches you drag your eyes from him but smirks when you sneak peeks taking a small bite of egg from your fork. “Well, now you have. Are you disappointed?” You shake your head no quickly and enthusiastically, your eyes meeting Mingyu’s only to look away when he smiles at you charmingly.

“I…don’t do that, Mingyu.” Your cheeks burn from embarrassment as he grins at you, lifting his hand Mingyu brushes your hair from your eyes feeling how warm your cheeks have gotten. “Do what, baby?” Shy eyes meet him once again, Mingyu’s thumb rubs a small circle along your cheekbone when you sigh, tilting your head into his touch.

“Make it impossible not to be in…” You falter and Mingyu sucks in a breath stepping closer to you, his hand sliding along your cheek into your hair to tilt your head back so you have to look at him. “Say it, because I’ve been waiting…I’ve been dying to say it for weeks.”

Your eyes start to close out of fear but Mingyu leans down to brush his lips against yours whispering, “Please, just look at me and say it if you mean it.” Your heart tightens and the butterflies in your stomach dance when he pulls back to meet your eyes again waiting. “You make it impossible to not fall in love with you Mingyu.”

Mingyu smiles, his canines catching his bottom lip briefly. Lifting his other hand, he runs it along your neck tilting his head in thought. “As do you, Y/N, and I have fallen. I think you know that though.” A whimper slips from your lips causing Mingyu to step in closer to you, he knew how much it frightened you, he had some ideas of why but he wanted to take away all of those fears when it came to him.

“I love you, Y/N. I won’t hurt you and I won’t leave you. I won’t hurt Mina and I won’t leave her. Those are my promises to you.” Mingyu watches your eyes close, tears collecting on your eyelashes from his words. He hadn’t meant to make you cry, his own heart pounding harder at the sight. “Oh, baby, please don’t cry.”

You weren’t sure how you couldn’t cry hearing those words from him. They were the words you had been dying to hear but they were also the most terrifying words. You wanted to say them back but you couldn’t find enough strength to breathe much less speak. A small sob is the only sound leaving you when Mingyu lets you lean your head against his chest, your hands resting against his back.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you. I…” Mingyu’s voice trails off, you can hear the pain laced in his words only making you hold him tighter. Shaking your head you lean your head back sniffing back tears to meet his eyes. “You didn’t upset me Mingyu. I’m just scared, I’m overwhelmed. I don’t know how to handle any of this. I didn’t expect any of this when I met you.”

Mingyu understood, he never in his life thought he would meet another person who could make him feel like this and turn his world upside down in the best ways possible. “I know, I get that. I feel the same way. We can still take everything slow.” You were appreciative to him for that but you also knew that the glacial pace you had set up between the two of you was building a wall of ice so thick you were afraid it was going to only get thicker if you let it.

“Thank you, just not too slow. Okay?” Mingyu furrows his brows, leaning down to brush his nose against yours then his lips before muttering a simple “okay”. Your fingers were like live wires against his sides and he wanted nothing more than to pick you up and take you straight to bed but the sound of your stomach growling caused Mingyu to smile.

“We still have a few days here, and a lot of daylight. Finish eating your breakfast, okay baby?” You nod as Mingyu leans to press a kiss to your cheek, his fingers gliding from your neck when he steps away to take a breath and pick up his own fork. You watch his hand shake slightly, the eggs barely making it to his mouth even as he smiles the entire time knowing you are watching him.

“Eat, Y/N. We have a few places to go see today if we want to make it to our reservations tonight.”

You had put on the red dress for dinner tonight, pairing it with a pair of earrings that Mingyu had bought for you. They felt like they cost more than you’d be comfortable spending on jewelry, but the look on his face when he had seen you made it worth it.

“Why do you make it so difficult to keep reservations?” You laugh softly to his words, Mingyu’s lips brushing against the shell of your ear while his fingers trail dangerously low into the deep v cut of the dress. “I’m sorry, if anything you can blame yourself. You bought the dress.”

Mingyu laughs, a soft groan following it, his nails raking against your soft skin when your warm breath hits his neck as you speak. “It has little to do with the dress and everything to do with who is wearing it.” You can only smile, your chin tilted up by Mingyu’s fingers so his lips can meet yours in a gentle kiss so he won’t smear your lipstick too much though he wanted to do so much more.

You found yourself entranced by the man accompanying you to dinner. Though you had been dating him for a few months, it felt fresh that night. His fingers glided along your arm before he dared to reach beneath the table to run that same hand along your knee up towards your thigh with a deep sigh. “We never talked about last night.”

Mingyu watched your eyes fall to the table, your fingers rubbing together around the stem of your wine glass. “I would say we don’t have to but I think we really do. Interruptions are going to happen for us. I think we have to learn how to get past them, they aren’t a sign that something is wrong with what we are doing. I think that is clear with how today is progressing, don’t you agree?”

You tilt your head and swallow hard, considering his words. There was so much you wanted to tell him, so much you wanted to explain about your reactions but the wine just wasn’t enough. “Mm, I don’t disagree. I like where this is going Gyu. Last night was…the first time I have been touched in a long time. It’s scary to feel like this, and I know I said we’d talk about things.”

When you laugh, finally looking up at Mingyu, he smiles, reaching out his free hand to brush his fingers across your cheek lovingly, patiently. “We can talk about them when you are ready. I know you said you’d need some liquid courage. I told you, name your poison.” You nod, biting at your bottom lip, glancing to the side before wrinkling your nose. “Tequila, let’s get some on the way back to the apartment. I’m not saying we will talk about it tonight but that way…it’s there for when I am ready.”

Mingyu laughs while sucking in a breath, his own nose wrinkling to the idea of drinking tequila. “You don’t mess around. Alright, we can do that…whatever you want baby.” When your eyes fall down to the table again Mingyu can’t help but to let his smile falter slightly. “Are you okay?”

Nodding, you laugh a bit sadly trying to keep back fresh tears at how overwhelmed you feel once again. “You just keep making me feel important and calling me baby. I don’t really know how to process it.” Mingyu smiles once again, his fingers moving to slide into your hair so that his thumb can press against your jaw making you look up at him.

“I’m trying to treat you exactly how you deserve to be treated. I am loving you, Y/N.” Mingyu watches you sniff back your tears, how you are unwilling to let your makeup run, causing him to smile at how cute you are. “Yeah, well…someone said gentlemen didn’t exist anymore, Mingyu. They hadn’t met you.”

It was Mingyu’s turn to look down, his cheeks blushing warm, an embarrassed laugh leaving his lips. You wrap your hand around his wrist, lifting his hand to your lips to press a kiss to his palm making Mingyu lift his head to look at you surprised. “I love you, Mingyu.”

Pulling his hand back slightly, Mingyu closes his hand slowly, taking a shaky breath hearing you say that you love him for the first time. A smile spreads across his lips, Mingyu’s eyes finally meeting yours again. “Say it again?”

You laugh, Mingyu pulling you closer to him at the table, his lips pressing to your cheek when you whisper that you love him again. “Mm, god. I love you too. Are you ready to go? I am so ready to get out of here.” Mingyu smiles against your skin when you nod, causing him to pull back to look at you to find you biting at your bottom lip.

“Yeah, let’s get out of here.”

Mingyu holds the bag of alcohol at his side, his other hand resting against the elevator wall while he looks down at you. Your lips slightly smeared from his kisses, he can’t help but to think this is the sexiest he has ever seen you. The red of your lips matching the red of your dress, your fingers clenching at his suit jacket as the numbers count up on the elevator.

You wanted him to keep kissing you. You almost didn’t care if someone caught the two of you in the elevator but the way he was staring at you, studying you, was almost more sensual. It was as if Mingyu was undressing you with his eyes, plotting out his every move, how he was going to have his way with you. The butterflies in your stomach were dancing in circles, you found yourself wishing you had eaten and drank just a little less at dinner because of your nerves.

When the elevator stops at your floor, Mingyu links his fingers with yours leading you towards the room. He is quick to get the door open and discard his shoes letting you do the same while he takes care of the alcohol only to meet you in the hall taking you back into his arms. “Do you want a drink?”

You shake your head no, your forearms resting on his shoulders stepping in closer to Mingyu as he smiles down at you. “No, not right now.” Walking forward, you keep up with Mingyu’s backwards strides towards the bedroom. Your eyes move over his face finally meeting his eyes when he smiles at you softly.

Mingyu watches you carefully when he traces his fingers along your back upwards towards your shoulders and the straps of your dress. He looks for any signs of discomfort or hesitation; instead you shrug your shoulders inwards as he runs his middle fingers under the satin, causing your dress to fall slightly down your body.

With his knees hitting the back of the bed, Mingyu sits down, letting you stand between his legs so he can take in what is happening in front of him. A shaky breath falls from his lips when he lets his eyes drop from your face to your dress, the weight of the fabric resting on his fingers as he guides it down your arms and body.

Your eyes close, your hand reaching out to grab Mingyu’s forearm when you feel his warm breath come close to your chest as your dress pools at your feet. His lips brushing over the lace covering your breast while his hands move to caress your hips. “Gyu…”

It’s only your soft voice that brings Mingyu back, his eyes glancing up at you to find you looking down at him. “Yes?” Mingyu watches a smile spread across your pretty lips, your hand lifting to run across his cheek before you lean down to kiss him taking his breath away like you had so many times before. Only this time felt different, this kiss was different. Mingyu groans softly into your mouth, his hand gripping at your side when your hands slide to his chest up to his shoulders to push at his jacket.

“Off…” The word is practically moaned against his lips, causing Mingyu to furrow his brows together and nod. His hands move from your body, a breathless sound escaping him when he pulls from your kiss to shrug his jacket off, tossing it to the floor. You smile, shaking your head at his enthusiasm, your fingers moving to his tie to loosen it while his own fingers work the buttons of his shirt open much quicker.

“God why did I wear so many clothes?” Mingyu grins when you laugh at his words, his head leaning back to allow you to pull his tie from his collar and drop it to the floor before his shirt quickly follows it. “You are so handsome Mingyu. Oh my god…I wanted to tell you that this morning.” Shaking his head, Mingyu feels his ego inflate and his cheeks burn while he slides his hands around your body towards the clasp of your bra, his lips pressing to your stomach to leave gentle kisses.

Speaking between the kisses, Mingyu sighs against your skin only glancing up when your bra slips from your shoulders so he can lean back removing it from you completely. “I’m a fool for you baby. Holy shit…look at you.” Your face is hot from his words, your fingers moving to brush through his hair while Mingyu leans forward pressing his lips between your breasts, letting your bra slip from his fingers.

You feel your knees go weak from the feeling of his mouth, Mingyu’s soft lips gliding over your flesh as he takes care to not leave a single inch of your breasts untouched. His fingers gently massaging while his tongue laps around a nipple, Mingyu groans, feeling your hand tremble in his hair. He can hear your breath hitch and feel how your body pushes towards him. It’s only when you whine out his name on a breath does Mingyu pull back to look up at you, his brows knitting together.

“Oh baby…you can’t say my name like that.” His words cause you to laugh, Mingyu’s hands sliding along your sides to your hips while he guides you to step out of the pooled fabric at your feet so he can stand up in front of you. Your own hands moving to tug on his belt, Mingyu’s eyes drop to your hands only for him to lean his head back in a silent curse briefly.

As your hands work, you speak softly, feeling Mingyu’s thumbs draw circles on your skin. “Why can’t I say your name like that?” Your eyes glance up bravely, but when you meet Mingyu’s eyes finding him staring at you, an intense look in his eyes, you glance away biting at your bottom lip. “Because you sound needy, and when you need something…I want to give it to you.”

Mingyu’s words cause your hands to falter, his pants undone, you slowly let out a breath when he wraps his hands around your wrists lifting your arms to his chest causing your gaze to follow. “So, why don’t you tell me what you need.” You open your mouth slightly to try to answer Mingyu’s question but find it impossible to speak, one of his hands sliding along the back of your arm to your side while the other moves to your face cupping it lightly.

A smile spreads across Mingyu’s features watching you struggle to think, you were so beautiful, so soft under his hands but he wanted to hear it. He could guess, and in the future he might do that but right now he needed the words more than anything. “Come on beautiful, tell me what you need.”

You walk backwards, letting Mingyu guide you until you feel your legs hit the bed, his hand moving to the back of your head so that as he lowers you to the bed you don’t fall too quickly. “I can’t think straight. I..oh my god, Mingyu, you aren’t real.” Your words cause Mingyu to laugh, his knee resting between your legs hovering over you, a hand back in your hair.

“I’m real, and I’m so fucking in love with you. Tell me that you want me to make love to you and I will. I’ll do it all damn night long if you’ll let me. I’ll worship you in this bed, Y/N.” Mingyu watches you smile, your eyes closing shyly causing you to turn your head to the side only to be stopped by Mingyu. “Ah…don’t be shy with me, not anymore. Please, baby?”

You weren’t sure how you were supposed to be able to do that, just turn off being shy especially when the man of your dreams was saying such incredible things to you. Fear was ever present in your mind, fear that he would leave after all this was done. But one look in his eyes told you that those fears and the man you were afraid he could be wasn’t in the realm of possibility. “I love you, Mingyu.”

Mingyu sees tears in your eyes again, he hadn’t wanted that, he wasn’t sure where that was coming from. You watch his face fall only for you to shake your head whispering, “it’s okay, I’m okay. I’m just really happy.” Your hand slides along Mingyu’s jaw, his lips brushing against yours while you whisper the words, he nods understanding when you finally speak again. “Make love to me, I need you.”

A shiver runs through Mingyu, perhaps because of your words or your touch but either way a breath gets caught in his throat when he nods. Leaning back, Mingyu runs his hand over his head pushing his hair back and takes a breath to calm himself while his eyes scan over your face and body. You were licking your lips, you were waiting for him and he wasn’t going to make you wait much longer.

You watch Mingyu slide from you only for a moment, he kicks his dress pants off, his hands sliding to his briefs causing your breath to shallow. You could see how large he was and all you could think was how long it had been once again but his words bring you back to the present. “I’ll be right back.”

With brows furrowing you watch Mingyu head into the bathroom, the door ajar. The sounds of him rummaging through his bag giving you a moment to breathe while you run your own fingers over your stomach to your underwear when you decide to lift your hips and push them down, taking them off. You weren’t sure if he had wanted to do that but they were becoming uncomfortably sticky with arousal at your anticipation.

Mingyu stood in front of the mirror for a moment, the foil square in his hand while he took a deep breath. He didn’t want to keep you waiting but this was all very real now. Nodding to himself, Mingyu turns back to the door then stops in his tracks when he sees your bottom half exposed to him. “Oh…fuck. I was going to…but this is…” Each time he attempted to try to complete a sentence it was as if his brain misfired making it impossible.

With a few quick strides Mingyu finds himself back at the bed, his eyes moving over your body back up to your face where you look up at him pressing your lips together nervously. “You are perfect. I was just getting this.” Your eyes find the silver square between your fingers causing you to laugh but you know there is time for conversation later, instead you nod and reach for Mingyu.

He didn’t have to be told twice, your hand extended towards him was enough for Mingyu to toss the condom on to the bed and for him to lay back over you, his lips meeting yours gently. When you let out a soft whine into his mouth, feeling his leg meet your bare folds, Mingyu closes his eyes tightly, leaning his head against your forehead, a smile forming on his lips.

“You stay…right here.” Brows furrowing you start to ask where he thought you were going to go and where he was going again but before you have time to ask Mingyu’s lips are back on your skin working kisses down your body. You arch off the bed when he reaches your stomach, your breath quickening because you know where he is going now. “Oh my god…”

He hadn’t even touched you yet and you were already moaning, Mingyu was in heaven. His fingers slid along your thighs when he reached your legs so he could part them. His eyes were having a battle between watching your face and what was in front of him. In the end his breath was taken away by all of you, how wet you were, how much you clearly needed him.

“Fuck baby…you are so pretty. I’m gonna take care of you.” You only manage to nod, your fingers sliding along your stomach finally reaching Mingyu’s hair when he presses a kiss to your inner thigh. The feeling of his fingers parting your folds causing you to moan out his name, Mingyu groans against your skin finally running his lips across your wet slit.

You can’t help but bite at your lips, feeling his tongue sliding between your folds. The warmth of his mouth is almost overwhelming but it doesn’t prepare you for the feeling when Mingyu’s lips wrap around your clit. “Oh fuck, Mingyu.” You feel the need to close your thighs but find it impossible with him between them. Mingyu only smiles slightly, sucking gently at the small bundle of nerves, a groan escaping his lips at the taste of you.

When your fingers tighten in his hair, Mingyu slides one of his hands closer, turning it palm up, his eyes opening finally to watch you as he gently pushes his index finger into your pussy. He is slow and patient, letting your body adjust to the feeling but when you roll your hips towards him, Mingyu furrows his brows. The feeling of your soft walls pulsing around his finger causing his cock to jerk and pre-cum to leak against the front of his briefs.

“Fuck you taste so good.” You can’t help but to whine at Mingyu’s words, your free hand lifting to cover your face out of embarrassment. “Mmm, baby, don’t. I wanna see your face, please?” Your hand slowly lowers, along with your eyes to find Mingyu’s eyes on you. His lips pressing to your mound in a soft kiss as he adds a second finger causing you to moan out his name a bit louder.

“God…you sound like an angel.” Mingyu watches you struggle to keep your eyes on him, his tongue flat against your clit while your hips roll towards his mouth and fingers. A smirk pulling at the corner of his lips, Mingyu turns his attention back to your body completely. You feel the pressure of your orgasm building when his fingers curl upwards and his mouth latches on to your folds, alternating between licking and sucking. He was determined to send you over the edge almost as if he could tell you were right on the precipice.

“Oh…oh Gyu, gonna…” Nodding, Mingyu groans against your folds, pushing his knee into the bed so he could lift his body slightly, and in turn, your hips against his mouth. You had no chance in holding back your orgasm as it hit you in waves, each thrust of his fingers like another shockwave causing your thighs to quiver around Mingyu’s head.

Mingyu lapped at your cum, his fingers gently sliding from you as you came down from your first orgasm. His free hand moving to run along your outer thigh soothingly each time your legs jerked from sensitivity when his tongue would tread too closely to your clit. “Fuck, Gyu…please? Need you.”

Eyes closing at your words, Mingyu groans against your now swollen folds before pulling away to look at you. Your hand sliding along his temple until he is out of your reach, you watch him slide off the side of the bed to push his briefs down his legs. “God…” A single word from you causes Mingyu to laugh, his cheeks burning from how his ego is boosted but also from some embarrassment.

You couldn’t take your eyes off of him, there was so much to take in. From his handsome face, glistening with sweat, his mouth and chin wet with your arousal, to him now being completely naked in front of you. Mingyu watches your breath quicken causing him to furrow his brows wondering what is going on in your mind. “Talk to me…do you still want me?”

A smile spreads across your face when he even has to ask, extending your hand you take his hand into yours pulling him back towards the bed as you speak softly. “More than anything in this world…” Mingyu sighs happily, a smile matching your crossing his face as he hovers over you, his knee resting between your legs. His right hand moved to run along your neck up to your face to cup it in his palm so he could lean down and press his lips to yours almost possessively.

It feels like you are melting into him with the kiss, the way his tongue glides along yours. The feeling of how your thoughts fade into nothing but him. Mingyu groans into the kiss, finally pulling away to reach for the condom. You watch him curiously when he uses his teeth to tear it open. His eyes meeting yours even as he reaches between your bodies to roll the latex over his length letting out a small groan to the feeling.

All Mingyu can think is how this is happening, how you are his and how much he wants this to be perfect for you. His hand slides along your thigh to your knee feeling how your skin erupts with goosebumps under his touch when he pulls your leg up to his hips so he can lay between your legs. “Can I?”

He didn’t have to ask. You smile, reaching up to run your fingers along his cheek, Mingyu leans to press his lips to your palm causing you to let out a small happy sound. Lifting your hips towards him you nod and Mingyu gasps softly feeling you brush against him. “Okay, fuck…god, I love you so much.” The words are almost a whisper on Mingyu’s lips as he pushes into you for the first time, the stretch is intense but the pleasure is even more overwhelming as he takes his time letting you adjust to him.

Raking your nails across his shoulders, you arch your chest towards his feeling Mingyu bottom out in you. You had thought his fingers made you feel full before but there was no comparison to how full you felt with his cock inside of you. A soft gasping moan escapes your lips but Mingyu is quick to catch your lips and the moan swallows it as if someone else might hear you and claim it as their own.

His hand on your leg tightening under your knee, his thrusts steady, slow, and deep making you see stars. Mingyu relishes in the feeling of your nails and fingers on his skin. How you would start to scratch him but quickly seemingly realize and cling to him instead. He makes a mental note to let you know it would be okay in the future to leave marks on him, ones the kids couldn't see and he wonders if you’d be okay with the same.

Pulling from the kiss, you press your head back against the pillows moaning Mingyu’s name. His eyes follow your face, his cock twitching heavily inside of you as he feels you tighten around him almost impossibly tighter. You were getting close to your second orgasm and he wasn’t going to stop until you fell over that edge for him again.

“So good baby. You feel so good. Wanna make you happy.” Mingyu’s words make you smile briefly before your lips fall open in another moan when he hits your spot perfectly and your nails dig into his biceps. “There, there…” You could barely get the word out but Mingyu understood, his hips angle perfectly and your legs begin to tremble when he sends you over the edge for the second time that night.

Feeling you cum around him for the first time, Mingyu groans burying his face against your shoulder, his lips connecting with your soft skin in sucking kisses. He wanted so much to capture the moment and keep it forever but the feeling of his own climax was too overwhelming as it overtook him. He had been trying to keep it at bay for so long that when you clenched around him like you had he lost himself in you.

A soft groan against your chest, Mingyu cums hard into the condom making you gasp as you feel the warm filling up the latex. You find yourself wishing he hadn’t used one but he hadn’t known you were already on birth control and you couldn’t blame him for being so safe the first time.

Running your hand through his hair at the nape of his neck, you try to calm him down while you do the same. Mingyu’s lips brush over your breast before you feel him smile on your skin then hear him groan lightly when he pulls from you shaking his head. “Dear jesus…I don’t think I’ll be able to walk later.”

A laugh slips from your lips, your fingers falling from his when he moves from the bed to take care of the used condom only to turn around and stare at you in wonder. “What?” You laugh out the word making Mingyu grin at you, his fingers sliding along your cheek, his brows furrowing.

“I’m just really fucking lucky and I…really love you.” Your hand wrapping around his wrist you feel your heart beating faster in your chest. Leaning to press your lips to his palm, you close your eyes and smile against his hand. “I love you too, Mingyu.”

Those were the only words he ever needed to hear from you. The only words that mattered. Smiling like a boy in love for the first time, Mingyu laughs softly to himself, his fingers playing with the end of your hair before he pulls away and sighs. “I’m gonna get a drink, do you want anything?” He watches you look up at him for a long moment, something clearly on your mind before you finally sit up slightly in the bed and nod. “Um…yeah, Tequila.”

Your words cause him to pause, Mingyu nods letting out a slow breath realizing what it meant. “Yeah, I can get that.” He leans to kiss you softly once more before picking up his robe, putting it on leaving the room and you alone for a few moments.

Swallowing hard as you look around the room at the scattered clothes, you can feel the empty feeling between your legs knowing he won’t be the only one finding it difficult to walk later. Sighing, you smile and slide from the bed picking up the clothes to place them on the chair, grabbing your own robe, slipping it over your shoulders just as Mingyu comes back into the room.

“I wasn’t sure how much you would want…so I thought, fuck it.” When you laugh seeing two glasses in his hand and the entire bottle of tequila, Mingyu grins at you moving back towards you and the bed watching you climb back on to it. Letting you take the glasses from him, Mingyu sits beside you and tilts the bottle towards the cups, letting the amber liquid fill them halfway.

“Thank you.” Your softly spoken words cause a smile to spread across Mingyu’s lips, his eyes meeting yours after placing the bottle safely on the end table and taking one of the glasses from you. “Of course, I have to warn you. I haven’t had tequila since college. I can’t be held responsible for the bullshit that might come out of my mouth if we drink more than two glasses.”

His playful attitude helps to keep you calm knowing what you are about to talk about. Leaning against his arm, you shake your head and bring your glass to your lips.You take a sip and immediately make a face at the burn you feel going all the way to your chest. Mingyu follows suit cursing under his lips only to take another sip shrugging his lips finding a taste for the alcohol. “Not too bad, pretty smooth actually.”

“You are going to get drunk if you start that.” Smiling, Mingyu leans to kiss the side of your head with a shrug watching you take another small sip. “I’ll be good, besides this is your bottle.” He was right, you had asked for it for a reason. Sighing you nod and furrow your brows, taking a larger drink and making a face. “It is…I know this might be a weird thing to talk about after what just happened but for some reason it also feels like maybe the right time.”

Mingyu nods, he wasn’t going to force you to talk about it but if it felt like the right time, then it was. Meeting his eyes briefly you only chew on your cheek before looking down at your cup tilting it to watch how the liquid slowly moves while you speak. “Mina’s dad and I met when I was pretty young. We dated for a long time so when I got pregnant, we were both surprised but also…I thought happy.”

Your fingers shake slightly but a quick sip of your drink seems to steady your nerves allowing you to continue. “Uh, my mom never liked him. I should have known that we wouldn’t work by that but when you are younger you don’t really want to listen to your parents. So when I told him I was going to have our baby, he was shocked but said he’d take care of us.”

Mingyu watches you carefully, the way your voice goes from strong to shaky. How you take a sip of your drink only for your hand to steady until you reach the bottom of your glass. Leaning to the side to pick up the bottle, Mingyu adds more to your glass making you laugh out a small thank you. Your eyes are barely brave enough to glance up to meet him.

You find yourself afraid of how he might think about you or possibly Mina hearing your story. “I just don’t want you to think poorly of me, Mingyu. I know I was young and stupid…” Hearing your voice break, Mingyu tsks reaching up with his free hand to turn your face towards his, brushing his lips across yours while he speaks.

“I could never think poorly of you. You are the strongest person I know and I don’t even know half the story…what I do know is that you are one hell of a mother.”

Your eyes closing, you push back tears only to nod and pull away from his lips with a laugh. “I didn’t think I would be when he left. I was literally packing the hospital bag. I tried to call him to tell him I was in labor. I was so scared because it was so painful…I didn’t know how to get to the hospital without him. He didn’t even answer the phone. All I got was a text message that said, ‘I can’t do this. I can’t be a dad. I can’t be a husband’.”

Mingyu’s brows furrow, his fist tightening around his cup hearing how your ex had ended the relationship and the situation he had left you in. “I didn’t have the job I currently have. I was a waitress. He was the one with the job, while I waited tables and I was in school. I didn’t even have my car at that time. So I ended up calling my mom and of course she came and got me. She was with me when Mina was born. Mina has never met her dad, I have no idea where he even is. He’s never reached out to even meet her.”

When you laugh lifting your cup to your lips, tears running down your cheeks, Mingyu frowns deeply. He couldn’t understand how any man could do that to someone he was supposed to love and to someone he was having a child with. When you finish the tequila in your glass and reach for the bottle by leaning over Mingyu he shakes his head sitting his own glass down in place of pulling you into his arms.

Feeling you tremble in his arms, Mingyu closes his eyes and holds you close, letting you cry while he tries to stay strong for you. “You weren’t stupid then and you aren’t stupid now, Y/N. You trusted the person you loved and thought that person loved you in return. There is nothing stupid about that. If anyone is a fool it is him for giving you and Mina up, but in a way I’m glad he did.”

You bury your face against his chest, a small sigh on your lips at his words letting him speak. Your fingers brush gently against his side while Mingyu’s fingers work through your hair. “I’m glad because now…I’m the lucky one to have you and Mina in my life. Amy and I are so lucky to get to spend any time we get with you and I know I won’t take that for granted.”

“You aren’t real, Mingyu.” You feel his chest rise in a laugh, Mingyu’s fingers pulling your hair to the side while he leans down to kiss your temple. “I’m real, baby, and you are so fucking strong. Think seriously about everything you just told me. You were in school and you went from that to your career where now you have worked your way up in the company and you have made a life for yourself and Mina. I’m so proud of you…one day, Mina will look back on what you’ve done for her and if she thinks you are her hero now, god just wait for the moment she understands it all.”

Mingyu feels your tears on his chest, he knew it was a mixture of sadness and probably a hundred other emotions when he heard you let out a soft sob. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make you cry more.” Shaking your head you laugh leaning back to rest on his shoulder, lifting your hand to push away some of your tears and makeup. “You have no reason to be sorry. I’m not exactly sad, I’m just overwhelmed. I don’t talk about this, about Mina’s dad…but you actually made me feel like I’m okay.”

Smiling softly, Mingyu lifts his hand to wipe away some of your tears. “Because you are, baby. You are more than okay, you are amazing and I love you so much.” You laugh leaning against his touch letting out a shaky breath before meeting his eyes as he gives you a charming grin that causes you to melt. “I love you too, Gyu. Thank you.”

You wake up to the warm feeling of the sun hitting your face. Taking a deep breath you instantly can tell you had too much to drink the night before and you feel the ache in your hips but one glance to your right causes you to smile. Mingyu snores softly, his lips parted just enough to allow some breath to slip though.

Turning on your side, you rest your head against your arm and watch him for a moment taking in how handsome he is in the morning light. The same light that warms your bare back allowing you to take in a calming deep breath. It was your turn to let him sleep in, so as much as you wanted to curl up in his arms you resisted, opting to slide out of bed and tiptoe towards the bathroom closing the door with a small squeak.

Turning on the shower, you let the steam quickly begin to fill the room while you leaned against the counter running your fingers over the places you had been kissed before. Mingyu had left no marks but the effect still lingered. A smile crosses your face as you shiver, your fingers trailing along your neck before you pull your hand away all together in place of turning towards your waiting shower.

With a soft groan, Mingyu wakes up to the sound of distant running water. Reaching his hand out for you, he furrows his brows a pout taking over his lips when he doesn’t find you next to him. He had wanted to pull you against him and bury his face against your hair. He wished you hadn’t gotten up before him but as he woke up Mingyu realized the sound of water was you in the shower.

Leaning up to his elbow, the other hand running over his eyes, Mingyu looks at the bathroom door curiously. His feet hitting the floor a moment later making his way towards the sound and you. “Y/N?” His voice is quiet and gruff from sleep and the amount of alcohol he had consumed the night before so he isn’t surprised when he pushes the door open and you can’t hear him over the water hitting the shower floor.

Mingyu’s eyes walk the distance of your body, how it’s arched while you lean your head back in the stream of water. He knows he probably should let you know he’s there before doing anything else but you are like a magnet and he’s pulled to you so quickly.

You jump, feeling his hands sliding along your stomach when Mingyu joins you in the shower. Your head lifting to look at him surprised only to find him smiling at you, his thumbs rubbing circles along your hips. “Morning, baby. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

Water runs down your face causing Mingyu to lift one of his hands, wiping some of it from your temples to keep it out of your eyes. “Morning, Gyu. I thought you’d sleep a bit longer. Did I wake you up?” You can’t help but to smile at his touch, the one you had been craving since you had woken up but had been afraid to take for your own.

“The water did but it’s okay. The bed was cold without you. I hope you don’t mind that I joined you.” Mingyu watches you shake your head until he steps in closer and you feel his erection brush against your hip causing you to glance down and back up curiously. A smile spreads across your face when Mingyu groans softly wrinkling his nose.

“Ah…well two things. It’s morning and you look so pretty. God especially in the water, it’s running down your body.” You note how his voice almost trembles when his finger traces a droplet of water between your breasts. Your eyes follow his tongue along his lips when Mingyu has to take in a deep breath clearly trying to keep himself calm in case you deny him.

He starts to speak again but your hand wrapping around him stops him before he can start. Mingyu’s fingers grasp on to your sides, a soft breath leaving his lips before he locks his eyes with yours and laughs quietly. “I...want you so fucking much. God, Y/N…”

Twisting your hand you let your thumb press against the underside of his head while your fingernails gently scratch his shaft causing Mingyu’s knees to buckle slightly. “You want me in the shower?” His lips parted, water dripping from his hair, Mingyu whines out a ‘yes’, his left hand moving to grab at your ass lifting you slightly.

“Yes, your hand feels so good but god I wanna be inside you again. I can get a condom…” When Mingyu starts to move from you, your grip tightens slightly around him causing a low groan to fall from his lips. Pre-cum coats your fingers only to be spread back along his thick cock which each stroke of your hand. “I am on the pill, Mingyu. If you want to get a condom because that’s what you want that’s fine but–”

Mingyu’s hand slides along your neck, his head leaning down so his lips can claim yours even as you speak. Your words seem to cause a flip to switch in him, Mingyu’s hand drapes over yours around his cock while he walks you towards the shower wall until your back is flush against it. “Fuck, where do you want me to cum then?”

Mingyu’s mouth drops to your jaw, his hand moving yours over his length slowly waiting for you to answer him. He knew where he wanted to cum but he would do it wherever you wanted him. Your cheeks burn at his question, it had been so long since someone had spoken to you like this. You had gone from 0 to 60 with Mingyu but you didn’t want to slow down.

“Oh my god…I…inside me. I want you inside.” You feel the vibration of the groan against your throat when Mingyu practically growls at your words. He moves your hand from him in place of pinning your hand to the wall next to your head. His eyes meeting yours as you wrap your leg around his hip and feel him press his tip to your entrance before slowly pushing into you.

It felt different than the night before. Not just how he felt inside of you but the intensity of his thrusts, the way his mouth moved over your skin as he tried not to leave a mark causing you to whine his name. Lifting your hand you push his head lower to your breast arching your chest towards him.

Mingyu’s fingers dig into your skin when his mouth latches to the soft skin. You breathe quickening when you feel him make the first mark. Your nails scratching over his scalp when his teeth graze your nipple sending a wave of pleasure through your body. The ripple effect causes you to tighten around his cock, Mingyu squeezing his eyes closed even tighter and feeling his climax building.

“Oh my god, Gyu…more.” His eyes lift to look at you when you beg him for more. He wasn’t sure what you wanted more of but at the same time he wasn’t sure if you even knew. The look on your face was driving him crazy, you were so lost in him.

Your nails finally scratch along lower back to his side, a low groan escaping Mingyu’s lips. He knew that would leave a mark, a smirk on his lips when he latches to your other breast sucking hard at the skin. The sound of your breathy moans fill the shower and Mingyu finds himself falling over the edge sooner than he had anticipated.

His brows furrowing, Mingyu rests his forehead against your shoulder, thrusting up into you hard. His cum begins to drip on to the shower floor beneath the two of you with each movement. “Fuck…you haven’t…” He doesn’t finish his sentence but you smile running your hand over his head shaking your head.

“That’s okay…it’s okay!” You were fine with not finishing but clearly Mingyu wasn’t. His cock slipping from you, he replaces it with his fingers slowly fucking his cum back into you watching your mouth fall open in surprise and pleasure. “Oh my god Mingyu!”

He could feel your walls fluttering around his fingers, angling them he reached for that soft spot curling his fingers inward causing you to cry out his name again. “That’s it…shit. You are so pretty when you cum, sweetheart.”

That wasn’t something someone says in real life, you think to yourself only imagining how you might actually look. Mingyu’s fingers are buried inside of you, his cum mixing with yours before it falls to the shower floor only to be washed away. Your thighs tremble while your hands cling to him, relying on Mingyu completely to keep you standing.

Mingyu captures your lips with his own swallowing your moans, his fingers moving to rub circles around your clit. He slowly lowers your leg to let you lean against him and the shower wall. His free hand holds your body tightly, feeling you begin to shake coming down from your orgasm. “It’s too much…”

Your hand wraps around Mingyu’s wrist prompting him to slide his fingers from between your legs in place of holding your hip. His lips brush yours once more before he smiles, nudging your nose with his own. “You okay?”

Nodding, you laugh a bit tiredly letting him help you move back under the water to wash away the morning. His larger hands move over your body carefully even as you lean against him enjoying the feel of his touch and the warm water. “I’m more than okay, Gyu.”

Over the next day the two of you had found a pattern that you were almost afraid to lose knowing your trip was coming to an end. It was New Year’s Eve and you were wearing the last of the dresses you had packed. A long sleeved, satin green dress that reached the floor. The dress was more revealing than the others, with a deep v that rested at your sternum and a slit that ended at the top of your thigh.

Mingyu had watched you get dressed, your shyness with him all but gone in the passing days. Running a hand over his mouth he moves to run his fingers up your back securing the zipper of your dress before leaning to press his lips to your neck causing you to smile at the feeling of warmth that spreads through your body. “This is my favorite dress.”

A laugh escapes your lips, his hands moving around your body to dance along the v cut of your breasts daringly. “Mm is that so? I was afraid to wear it before. You don’t think it’s too much? I had to put makeup over a few spots on my chest so I could wear it.”

Mingyu’s eyes lift to your fingers adjusting your dress, a small purple spot barely visible under the green satin making his pants already begin to feel tight. “It’s perfect. You are perfect.” He wasn’t sure how he’d let go of you. Not having you in his bed every single night. Linking his fingers with yours Mingyu led you out of the apartment and down to the car and out to one final dinner.

He had put so much care into planning only to find that when it came to the actual moment they set the two of you at your table he couldn’t care less about all his well made plans. Instead Mingyu spent most of the night watching you, listening to you talk, leaning in to feed you or to kiss you. He was finding any reason for the night not to end.

You were almost overwhelmed with how much you had let yourself fall for him. Each brush of his fingers through your hair sent a wave of electricity through your hair and you found yourself wishing there was a way to turn back the time and start the trip over. You wanted the entire trip to be like this. No shy moments, no walls getting in the way. You wanted to get lost in his touch and in his eyes from the first moment.

Mingyu smiles hearing the others in the restaurant begin to count down. Setting the champagne in his hand to the side he instead leans towards you to brush his fingers along your neck, meeting your eyes. Whispering ‘three, two, one…Happy New Year, sweetheart”, Mingyu takes your breath away with a kiss.

You could recall being a child making up foolish ideas of meeting prince charming, sharing a New Year’s Eve kiss that would change your life but you never thought you’d actually have it. Now, your fingers circling Mingyu’s wrist, his tongue gliding along yours while most people in the restaurant cheered celebrating the coming of the new year, the two of you had lost yourselves in one another one again.

Mingyu laughs hearing the sound of the camera pulling from you to look at the man who grins at him offering him a business card and a wink. “You are a stunning couple. That might be my favorite picture of the entire night.”

Your cheeks were on fire, a laugh escaping your lips as the man walked away and Mingyu looked over the card only to pocket it a moment later. His hand finds yours once again to bring your fingers to his lips. “I love you so much, Y/N. I wish this would never end.”

Nodding, you swallow hard wondering how much would really change once the two of you flew home. How much life would take over and how much you could keep going. Mingyu, seeming to sense your anxiety, leans to kiss your cheek then your lips gently before speaking on them. “We will figure all of this out. I’m never letting you go. I’m yours.”

In the month after leaving New York, much had changed for you and Mingyu. You had gone back to your house and he had gone to his. Mina complained daily how much she missed Amy and Mingyu and you felt her pain more than she could even understand.

More effort was put into seeing each other from both sides, be that you staying longer at Mingyu’s house after dinner letting Mina fall asleep in Amy’s bed only to let Mingyu carry her out to the car if that meant you got to savor a few more kisses from him. Mingyu shows up at your work with lunch and flowers, the other girls at your office whispering and begging to know more about him.

It wasn’t until Valentine’s Day when the two of you got another chance to be alone. Mingyu’s mother offered to keep both of the girls so that you could have at least a night to yourselves. You had felt bad about the situation at first but seeing how happy Mina and Amy had been to spend him with her you found it easy to leave them in her capable hands.

Mingyu had worked most of the day on dinner, all of your favorite things already placed on the table when you let yourself back into his house announcing that the girls were settled in just fine at his mother’s. “That’s great, baby. Come here, dinner is going to get cold.”

He wasn’t sure when you had time to change but when you round the corner wearing a pink dress that hit your knees, a sweetheart neckline, and the necklace he had gotten for you draped around your neck Mingyu’s breath is taken away. “What? Do I look ok? I just thought…Valentine’s dinner and all that.”

Shaking his head Mingyu moves to take your hand pulling you towards him lifting his free hand to tilt your head back so his lips can meet yours causing you to smile against his lips. “You look beautiful. I’m the luckiest man alive.”

You laugh into the kiss, your fingers tugging at his cardigan before you let out a soft sigh onto his lips. “You are a charmer, that’s for sure.” Mingyu grins at your words letting you slip from his grasp and move to the table. Your eyes move across the dishes as you shake your head. “You fixed so much food, we will never eat it all.”

“That’s okay, we can save it and eat it with the girls for the next few days. Y/N…” Your attention had been pulled from him and he thought he could wait but after seeing you, it had been impossible. Casually you smile, turning with a small “Hm?” on your lips only to stop in your tracks when you turn to find him on one knee.

Mingyu laughs at your reaction, how you stop and almost stagger against the table grabbing it for traction. Your eyes falling to the baby blue box in his hand first then the pear shaped ring inside of it. “What are you doing? Where did you get that? While we were in New York?”

You were so observant, Mingyu thought to himself, his teeth catching his lip. It had been the exact ring he had been eying when the two of you had stopped in front of the storefront that first date night in New York City. He had loved how your eyes lit up looking at it and he had to see it on your finger. “Yeah, but can I ask the questions for a moment?”

A laugh falls from your lips only to be muffled by your fingers when you bring your hand to your lips. Tears are already slipping along your cheeks while you watch him carefully, unsure of what you were even supposed to do. Mingyu laughs again, shaking his head, taking a deep breath, his own eyes falling to the box before lifting to you once again.

“I was going to wait until after dinner, but I couldn’t. I’m so in love with you and I’m so tired of the back and forth we are having to do right now. I miss you and Mina every second of every day that I’m not with you both. I know that Amy misses you and Mina too…so Y/N Y/L/N will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

Shaking your head, you cause Mingyu to laugh again, his brows furrowing. “No?” At his question you gasp moving towards him to lean down towards him, a soft sob slipping from your lips.

“What? I…what do you mean no? Of course I will. I just…oh my god Mingyu.” Shaking his head at your words, Mingyu smiles, removing the ring from the box to slide it on to your left hand. His eyes follow yours only for him to reach up as he stands to wipe your tears from your cheeks.

“Don’t cry, baby. I didn’t mean to make you cry.” Your laugh makes Mingyu laugh, his lips brushing against yours until you pull his lips flush against yours. Your left hand grips at the front of his shirt tightly until you pull away completely in shock.

“Oh my god, you asked me to marry you.”

Mingyu’s hands move to cup your face, his thumbs brushing under your eyes, a soft smile on his face. “Yes I did and you said yes. Did you wanna take that back?” When you smile and shake your head no, your hands wrapping around his wrists, Mingyu grins brightly at you. “I love you.”

Closing your eyes tightly, you laugh feeling his lips press to your cheek then your lips before you speak against them. “I love you too, so much, Mingyu.”

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weskin-time · 1 year

Note

may i request taking care of johnny (soap) after he gets injured and nagging him the whole time about being safer bc you’re always worried about him but he’s not listening and just gazing at you with the most lovestruck eyes <3

Injured!Soap x GN!Medic!Reader

CW- death (reader kills a few guys), graphic depictions of wounds, blood, needles, heavy drug mention (soap is high on morphine), medical treatment, guns if i missed any please let me know

i’m sorry i’m american so i’m basing this off the US army <3

“Soaps been hit, requesting medical in the restaurant east building first floor.” Ghosts voice was calm over the radio, a contrast to the sound of gunshots echoing off the walls.

Fucking hell Soap.

“Copy Lieutenant, on my way.” You tried to sound just as calm trying to ignore the unease bubbling in your throat and settling on your esophagus like a hand around your neck.

You were in the middle of an active war zone, a small town surrounded a small military like base. Makarov’s goons pushing your location while you and the rest of 141 returned fire, it seemed his men had no regards for the Geneva conventions as they shot at you, a combat medic. They must have good information in this base of theirs if they’re holding down fire this hard.

You checked from your cover to see if the coast was clear, sending a glance to Gaz who nodded back at you telling you he was going to cover you. There was 4 men on the other side of the clearing, two behind cover and the others moving up to pressure you and the sergeant. You had to make this quick for Soaps sake. Bringing up your M4 you aimed at one man on the opposite side of you pushing his way to Gaz, bracing for recoil you pulled the trigger. Rounds exploded out of the barrel and the man dropped to nothing but dead weight. Sweeping your gun to a man behind cover you saw Gaz do the same to the Russian on your side, seeing him drop dead. The man behind cover poked his torso out to aim at you but you were already waiting on him to show himself, as soon as his gun was up he jerked back and fell limp on the ground thanks to a headshot. The last goon soon followed the rest of his friends.

“Reloading.” You called out to Gaz and moved out of cover as you dropped and replaced the magazine in your assault rifle. “You good out here?”

“Yea I’ll be fine by myself, get to Soap, go!” He shooed you away and you turned tail to run into the building on your right. Gunshots rang out behind you.

As soon as you entered into the main lobby of what used to be a restaurant you spotted Ghost standing guard in the door way to the kitchen. He nodded at you and you nodded back as he turned around and lead you into the stainless steel kitchen.

Soap was lying on the ground, back leaned up against an oven, his combat vest off lying on the floor next to him and his left arm resting against his torso with his palm against his ribs.

The first thing you noticed was the blood.

You practically threw yourself onto the ground and tried to gauge his wounds.

“Well if it isn’t my knight in shining armor.” A wheeze of a chuckle came out of the scot before you, he sounded like he was in pain which was a dumb observation because he was very much in pain.

“Shush it dumb nuts, where’re you hit?” you pulled your medical backpack off and set it next to you as you sat on your claves, gingerly placing your M4 next to you as you turned the safety on.

He grunted, “Two in my thigh and stabbed in my side.”

You turned your head to Ghost who just stood there, “Ghost I’m good here, go help Gaz and crew.” Jerking your head in the direction of the main door you opened up the pack to take out a few items.

After a heart beat of silence you glanced up at the tall skull masked man who seemed to be hesitant in moving. Locking eyes with his brown ones you sent him a reassuring nod.

“Be careful.” Was all he said as he disappeared out the kitchen door.

For a stone cold guy he did care a lot about the people he did trust.

You turned your attention back to Soap and examined the blood leaking out of his thigh. Dark red stained his pants and made a very small pool under his leg.

“You’re lucky, you didn’t hit an artery.” Some relief washed over you but the worry still stained your brain. You cared about Soap, probably much more than you should, and you didn’t like seeing him hurt like this. You examined his face and saw it was a little bit paler than normal but not white. “How bad does it hurt?”

“Hells fuckin bells,” he whispered under his breath, “Like I got shot and stabbed. How can ya tell I didn’t get hit in an artery?”

You snorted at his response and pulled out a long blue elastic band and another shorter one. “Your blood would be way lighter than this dark color here. Hold still, I have to cut your pants off.” You grabbed your knife from your shoulder holster.

“Buy me dinner first sweetheart, damn.”

“Shut it dork, just trying to get a better view of the wounds.” You felt a heat creep up your neck and settle on your cheeks as you began to cut a square around the two wounds. You did appreciate the fact he was still cracking a joke even under this stress, made you know he wasn’t loopy from blood loss.

Two holes leaked blood from them, they were about the size of your fingernail and a few inches apart from each other. It didn’t look as bad as you thought it would have. You had to stop the bleeding before you even worried about pain relief. You clasped your knife back in place.

“Move your leg up.” You patted a non bloody part of the outside of his thigh and helped him bend his knee with a whimper of pain from him. “Sorry. You’re gonna be fine, don’t worry John.” You tried to comfort him as you wrapped the blue elastic tourniquet a few inches above the first wound and tied it as tight as you could to stop the blood flow, he winced in pain at the uncomfortable string around his thigh. Setting his leg back straight you grabbed his left arm and pulled it to you.

“How much do you weigh?” You asked as you rummaged in your bag, “Keep your arm out for me.” Setting a sealed syringe on your lap you wrapped the smaller elastic around his bicep and poked his inner elbow for his vein.

You opened a syringe from it’s sterile packaging and grabbed the small bottle of morphine as he told you his weight, and got the proper amount of pain relief in the syringe that would work best for him. Finding a vein was easy and you noticed he turned his head and took in a breath as you poked him, sticking the needle into a blue vein and pressed the plunger.

“You’re going to be in lala land in no time Soap, no more pain for you.” You removed the band from his arm, gave him a little comforting pat on his forearm and smiled at him.

“Good movie. Bloody jesus that shite works fast.” His head lulled back against the glass of the oven as he watched you put away the morphine and toss the syringe across the room into the corner where it couldn’t poke anyone or break. Not the best way to dispose of it but hey what can you do in this moment.

You wanted to tease him on him seeing Lala Land but you held off. “Soap can you lift your shirt to show me where you were stabbed?” You spoke clearly and like how a parent talks to a child to make your words crawl through his ears and reach his foggy drugged brain.

“Doc how copy?” Ghosts voice cut through the air over the radio.

Reaching up you pressed the button to talk, “Soaps out of commission, he’s drugged on morphine and hurt pretty bad. Two shots to the thigh and stabbed in the side. Applying first aid now. How’s it out there?”

“Almost in the main base. At the front door now. No more injuries you need to see to, get soap to safety.”

“Affirmative Lieutenant.” You took in a deep breath, “Captain, requesting medical evac. Soap should be stable enough to wait.”

“Granted.” Price’s voice cut through the radio. “Evac will be ready and out in 5.”

“Thanks cap.” Releasing the button you looked at Soap. “John move your shirt.”

He lifted his arms like they were heavy and moved his black shirt, untucking it from his pants and lifting it up to expose his stomach and rib cage. Your eyes instantly focused on the ripped flesh of the stab wound. The knife caught him just above his hip. It wasn’t deep from what you could tell, must have been a dull blade.

“Hold still.” You went into your backpack again to find a pair of gloves, opening the packaging and putting them on. You shifted to lean closer to him, your finger tips touched his warm skin and he twitched at the contact. You pulled on the flesh to see inside him, and just as you thought it wasn’t deep at all, mostly just looked nastier than it really was with the ripped flesh.

As you grabbed some liquid bandaid and a alcohol wipe from your bag your eyes began to wander over Soaps exposed abdomen. He was toned, the body matching his work, he had abs if he flexed but his body was strong and muscular. What really caught your eye was a small trail of hair running from his belly button down his stomach and disappearing under his belt. Just looking at his happy trail made your mind fumble for a second like you were a school child seeing your crush shirtless for the first time. You’ve seen John shirtless before, being the medic in the unit you were in charge of all physicals, but this was different, he was bloody and he was so close to you. The heat from before made its home on your face once again.

“Like what ya see?” Slurred words came off his tongue like they were heavy. He saw you checking him out. Strike you where you sit your heart couldn’t deal with Soap when he wasn’t hopped up on opioids, now he must not have a filter.

Your hand gave a meek slap to his stomach and he chuckled. You couldn’t ignore the warmth that started to grow in your chest.

You cleaned the area of his stab wound and put the liquid bandage on, making sure the adhesive held and his skin was tight together. Getting gauze you unwrapped the beginning and began to tightly wrap it around his torso, arm going behind his back making you get very close in his personal space which you instantly noticed how close the two of you were now. Your other hand around his front seemed to not grab from the hand wrapped around the small of his back as your head tilted up to look in his eyes. You were practically hugging him. There was something there in the ocean storm of his eyes, an emotion you couldn’t quite place, a softness danced in them, it sent a shiver up your spine. You were inches apart, your face so close to his own you could hear his breathing, it was a little fast. It must be the morphine in his system, that has to be it. You did take notice of how his eyes shifted down to glance at your lips.

“You-“ You started but your voice sounded weak and breathy so you cleared your throat and tried again. “You really need to be more careful sargent.” Speaking seemed to break your trance as you finished wrapping him up, your attention now turning to his gunshot wounds.

“Getting shot in the thigh could have some really bad consequences, there’s major arteries in this area, not to mention the muscle damage and physical therapy you might have to do.” You just began to rant but noticed as you were digging through your hemostat that he hasn’t moved his arms from holding his shirt. “John you can put your shirt down.”

His arms dropped the shirt but it didn’t slide down to cover him thanks to the bandage, meaning you could still see a bit of his stomach poking out and his happy trail.

“N-no exit wounds?” You looked up to meet his eyes.

A shock sparked your system. His eyes held that same emotion, they were glazed over but you’ve seen the way he was looking at you in movies before. The way Flynn Ryder looked at Rapunzel in Tangled at the boat scene, The way Gomez looks at Morticia, the look reserved for a lover. Soft and filled with love like it was bubbling over his heart, silent appreciation and warmth.

“You’ve got pretty eyes.”

Your face exploded with a heat, it tore apart your throat and clawed at your chest. Your heart felt like it stopped beating.

“You’re not getting more morphine MacTavish.”

He laughed. A good belly laugh that soon ended as the stab wound hurt him even through the pain killer.

Morphine. Thats all this is. You can chalk it all up to him being high off his ass right now, there’s no other reason he would look at you that way. No reason.

“Focus MacTavish, is there a hole on the other side of your thigh or not?” You were the one who needed to focus not him.

He shook his head no before he continued to lazily move his head from side to side, his eyes half lidded. Yea it was one hundred percent the morphine in his system this man was as high as a kite.

No exit wound was good and bad at the same time. With where the bullets were placed you didn’t think it would hit his bone, and it didn’t hit any arteries, still he would need a leg splint regardless after you patched him up. The bullets were still inside him. The bleeding had stopped thanks to the elastic and you wiped the blood cleaning the area with a alcohol wipe.

“Yer so kind to me sweetheart. So gentle and caring. Yer a hard ass but yer nice when ya can be.”

You tried to ignore the constant heat on your face as you poked the hemostat through his first wound, pushing through the hole making sure not to touch the meat or fat of the sides before clamping down on the bullet you felt, you must have gone past 12 inches into his muscle, with the size of the entry wound and the depth you guessed it was a 9mm bullet. Yanking it out helped you confirm your thoughts. You did the same for the other wound and dug out the brass from his bloody flesh.

It seems like hours since you first got into this kitchen but in reality only a couple minutes had passed, you worked fast and it was Soaps fault you took longer than normal. You didn’t have the proper tools to commit surgery on the battle field to fully take care of Soaps wounds so the best you could do was apply pressure and wrap his leg as tight as you could, if it was uncomfortable you know you did a good job.

“Evacs ready.” Prices voice cut through your concentration.

“Thanks Price, I’ll get Soap to the evac local.” You took off the bloody gloves and put them in a little red biohazard bag in your backpack.

“Soap you ready to head ou- stop looking at me like that.” He was looking at you with those sparkling eyes again.

“Like wha?”

“Like this is a Disney movie.”

“Can I be the princess then?”

You snorted. “Yes John you can be the princess, I’m gonna have to carry your ass like you are one.”

“Good cuz yer the knight who saved the princess.” He was still slurring his words as you zipped up your backpack and helped him back into his combat vest trying to be mindful of his wounds.

“Kinda sucks you won’t remember this when we get back to base. Wish I could record you calling yourself a princess.” You crouched down next to him after you put your backpack back on, shifting your left shoulder under his armpit and your arm securely holding him to help him get up.

He winced in pain that broke through the morphine as you helped him stand, his arm flew to grab your side to steady himself, weight pressing against you as he stumbled a bit to get used to walking high and on a shot leg.

“I won’t remember anythin?” He whispered.

“Probably not. It’ll be fuzzy and you’ll be in surgery before you could even think to remember.” Your M4 would just have to be left as you began to help John hobble to the door of the kitchen.

“Well, then.” He took in a deep breath. “I think yer pretty. Handsome? Beautiful? Yer attractive.” He tossed around each word like he didn’t know which one suited you better before settling on attractive with a nod of his head.

You couldn’t tell if your face was red from the effort of helping him move or if it was from his compliment. “I think I gave you too much morphine big guy.”

“Nah. Ask me when I ain’t in lala land and I’d say the same thing. I like ya. Yer good to me. I wanna take ya out to dinner after this, as thanks and also because yer-“

“Okay Soap okay, ask me again when you’re not drugged up and bleeding and I might say yes.” A smile crinkled your nose as you laughed at the shit coming out of his mouth.

“Will do.” He weakly patted your back as you began to take him to the helicopter waiting for you two.

#tezi post #ask!#i hope this is good idk :3 #soap mctavish #john soap mactavish x reader #soap x reader #mw x reader #cod mw #cod mw22 #call of duty modern warfare #call of duty imagine #modern warfare #johnny soap mactavish #mw ghost #cod x reader #mw2 x reader #cod imagine #mw imagine

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sirdindjarin · 1 year

Text

Shouldn't - Joel Miller x Reader (Part Three)

Featuring: interrogator!Joel <3

Your trip through Lincoln turns into an all-out war. For Joel, it's the internal battle that's the worst.

I've decided this will be five parts in order to get this thing up sooner. Half of part four is already written, so hopefully it'll be up Sunday, March 19th to make up some of the loss of TLOU being over.

Masterlist ->

AO3 Link♥

WC: 8.5k

WARNINGS: Torture (Joel giving), violence, blood, depictions of gore, kidnapping, threat of violence against a child, hurt/comfort, angst.

TAGS: Hurt/comfort, angst, whump, Joel being who he is, mentions of sexual activity.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

“We’ll be passin’ by Lincoln tomorrow. I don’t know anything about it, but I’m hopin’ it’s as much of a ghost town as the rest of the Midwest.”

“We haven’t seen a city in a year,” you bite your lip pensively.

“Philadelphia,” Ellie comments with a raise of her eyebrows.

“But,” you optimistically hedge, “that was a major east coast city. We shouldn’t have a serious problem in Lincoln. Shouldn’t,” you emphasize when Joel tsks.

You continue, “We gotta find some food. It’s nearly spring but I don’t even know the last time we saw a rabbit. We have to check out the suburbs, at least.”

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

The sky is deeply blue. No clouds insulate the earth, and the wind injects icy air into your bones. Ellie is a walking sweatlodge in the layers you and Joel forced her into, but you can’t stop a shiver every now and again.

More than once do you look to Joel wishfully: the formidable, sultry desert of a man. He saunters slightly ahead of you now, his rifle cradled in his arms. His wavy hair flutters and you fight a crude smile at the remembrance of pulling it this morning as he moved inside you. Your lower back bears a scrape from where he'd pushed into you against the rock. You smile to yourself at the sting of it. Any tangible reminder that the things you two do are real is welcomed.

Soon, however, your eyes refocus on the tendrils of an unfolding city. The trees become more purposefully planted as the suburbs thicken. It’s mile upon mile of dilapidated house after crumbling apartment block. You’re barely inside the outlying district and yet it's depressing. Cities are always depressing.

Down an alleyway between formerly-beautiful, massive homes, you catch sight of an unbroken window. You motion to your adult companion and he nods. The house sits upon a concrete block, probably concealing a basement, so neither one of you can see through the window. Underneath it, Joel crouches and clasps his hands, palms up.

“What? Seriously?” You chuckle in a whisper.

“Just do it.”

“Ellie’s smaller." You turn to her, “Peek in. And be careful.”

Happy to be involved, Ellie eagerly sheds a coat. Planting one foot on Joel’s thigh and another in his hands, Ellie wobbles as she fights for balance, grabbing his shoulder. She steadies and peers through the corner of the glass, cupping her hands around her eyes.

For a long moment, you admire Joel’s easy physicality, his willingness to be a literal stepping stone for Ellie. He catches you staring, and you smile shyly at him. The corner of his lips quirk and he narrows his eyes in recognition, but then, tapping her ladder’s shoulder, Ellie carefully drops.

“Just a bunch of old-ass furniture. It’s the living room, I think.”

“It look ransacked?” Joel asks, subtly wringing out his hands.

“It looks like a fucked-up museum.”

You smile. “Perfect.”

Breaking in was the wrong word. The patio door was unlocked and undamaged, sliding somewhat noisily on its track. Two plates of rotten, unidentifiable food sit on the round, blue table cloth. The small, galley kitchen to your right is clean, all things considered.

Your boots noiselessly cross the linoleum to fling open cabinets and dust flies in your face, but you choke down the cough.

Ellie stands guard outside on the back porch, and Joel anxiously plants himself halfway along the track of the sliding doorway, unsure if he should leave her or you. His eyes follow you as you cautiously open the fridge, though you already know that anything inside would've perished long ago.

You're right.

Shrugging, you turn back to the graying, handsome man and stage-whisper, "Nothin'."

Joel motions with his fingers for you to come to him, and your stomach knots. His serious brown eyes have you tripping over your own feet, and when you're within arm’s reach, he slides his hand to the top of your spine, fingers curled partially around the back of your neck. Goosebumps blossom where he touches you and something flickers to life in your core.

"We'll try another place," he murmurs in your ear, then guides you out the door in front of him.

Damn, okay. No reason for that to have affected me so much.

An hour later, after two more failed scoutings, Joel picks the lock on the most promising house you've yet seen. Entering from the side yard, Joel steps into a garage. His heavy boots are less stealthy than yours - soft thuds rebounding in the concrete room. Ellie reclines against the house with her arms folded, silently resuming her role as lookout, so you follow Joel. To your elation, inside the garage is a red, four-door sedan. Joel’s head swivels to you and he casts a pleased, cocky smile.

He trains his weapon on the garage stairs and begins to advance into the house with you on his heels. He whips open the door with one hand. Total silence greets him. Gun first, he proceeds into and down the narrow hallway.

At the end of the hallway to the left is a kitchen stuck in the 1990s. A barn red and forest green color scheme covers every inch of the space, accented by roosters in every format: a cookie jar, window valances, salt and pepper shakers, and even a painting. A ceramic dish shaped like - what else - a rooster sits on a shelf next to Joel. He chuckles with satisfaction as he plucks the car keys from the bowl.

Your attention is caught by something else: you move toward the walk-in pantry.

“Remember when you told me to stop crying over trash?” You poke at Joel. He doesn’t reply, unsurprisingly, so you continue, “I miss what life used to look like. The little things, you know? Flavors of soda and terribly-decorated rooms like this one. I miss the dumb shit.”

You leave out your exact thoughts. He knows what you mean. He knows you mean that the small, fun decisions have been erased from the world. You’ll never again eat M&Ms until you get sick. He’ll never again nurse a glass of his favorite mid-shelf whiskey and pass out to a rerun of Whose Line is it Anyway?

You reach the full-size pantry door; the knob turns easily. But the hinges stick, so you jerk it open. Joel lunges for your arm and yanks you behind him when he sees the infected sitting on the floor.

Cordyceps snake up the wall and onto the ceiling where a broken bulb dangles. The… thing was long dead; a husk of a human body, it was no longer a threat. But you wouldn’t be eating anything from that pantry, that was for sure.

Joel still holds you firmly behind him. You try to shirk from his grasp but then you realize his other hand is digging into the flesh over his heart.

“Joel? Joel, are you okay?” You twist powerfully underneath his arm to get in front of him. He looks ashen.

“Hey, hey, what’s wrong?” The fear in your voice is palpable.

It only makes Joel feel worse. He shakes his head sharply. Joel turns away and presses his palms onto the counter. You stand there frozen, unsure how to help him.

“A- are you having a heart attack?” You ask, your voice cracking.

“Don’t - know. Don’t think so,” he chokes out and hangs his head.

You rest your hand on his shoulder, your thumb rubbing soothingly, “You’re scaring me.”

He’s quiet. He takes several deep breaths, expanding his lungs and pushing out the panic gripping his chest. Joel remains hunched for several too-long moments, and you’re about to speak when he beats you to it.

“‘m fine.” Joel straightens and brushes past you to the smaller cabinets above the countertop. He opens three before he gets lucky.

Without a word, Joel grabs the aluminum soup cans and tosses them to you. As he stalks past, you take hold of his leather sleeve.

“Don’t shut me out,” you implore him.

He pauses, his gaze trained anywhere but at you, and then he loosens your grip and gently pushes you in front of him. Down the hallway, out into the garage, and out into the side yard.

“What are those?” Ellie asks excitedly, starting at the faded red and white labels.

“Chicken noodle soup,” you answer flatly, too preoccupied with Joel’s behavior to enjoy the spoils.

“‘M’m! M’m! Good!’” Ellie quotes from the can. She looks up at you cheekily, “Is that what you guys were in there doing?”

“Ellie,” you gasp. “Oh my god.”

Joel wipes a hand over his face.

“No?” She laughs.

Crouching, you zip the cans into your pack. From your position, you look up at Joel and shade your eyes from the bright sun.

Several hundred miles lies between where you stand and where you want to be. It’ll be around a month before the three of you will reach the far end of Wyoming unless you’re able to start that car. In that month of walking, there will be no more major cities.

In short, a few cans of chicken noodle soup will not be sufficient.

“We really need that car inside, honestly. Carrying the amount of food that we’re gonna need would be so difficult. I think we need to risk the city.”

“I don’t wanna start it ‘less we’re ready to leave,” Joel asserts. “If it does work, it’s gonna draw attention.”

“If there’s anyone to give it attention. This place is creepily empty. But I agree with you. So, try the city for food?”

Joel reluctantly nods.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

As it turned out, food wasn’t hard to find. Within the span of a few hours, you spot a food pantry. A square, brick building, Joel hammers at the rusted padlock on the front door with the butt of his rifle. Grunting a final time, it falls.

The building’s entryway is narrow and dark. Joel’s flashlight guides you down the passage; at the end, to the right, is a restaurant-like setup: a dining area and a kitchen.

Inside the old soup kitchen, Joel finds an entire room dedicated to canned goods, corn chips, and jarred fruit. It used to provide meals for those in need and it would do so now. It's a fucking miracle.

Joel reverently picks up a jar of peaches and unscrews the lid. His eyes linger over your profile before he covertly inhales. The first time he met you, he had smelled peaches. Sweet, home-y, good. He knew it made no sense; you were dirty and so was he, but Joel couldn’t drop the vivid association.

“Fill your bag, Ellie,” you instruct and look over your shoulder at her.

Ellie stands wide-eyed at the most amount of food she’s ever seen. She wanders over to the chips.

“Holy shit. I don’t even know what to pick.”

You smile joyfully, “Whatever you want.” Your eyes catch on some ancient cookies, “Not those, though.”

Joel’s lips tug into a hidden, resistant smile at your parental nature. It was something he'd always admired in you.

“Make sure you take some of the vegetables, Ellie,” Joel orders as he carefully bags his peaches.

“Okay, Dad,” Ellie taunts without looking at him.

Joel snaps his head to her as though she called him a slur. He says nothing.

Since you’re not facing Joel, you’re unsure of his reaction and you freeze. You hadn’t told Ellie what he had confided in you. Guilt and responsibility for your sister’s hurtful statement lodge in your stomach. Unsure how to proceed, you follow Joel’s verbal cue (or lack thereof) and ignore it.

Ellie moves like a woman possessed as she ransacks the shelves, voraciously reading the label on every single can and bag of snacks before shoving them in her backpack, completely unaware of the wreckage her words had caused.

The sound of the front door’s hinges squeaks into the tense silence. All three of you whirl to face the direction of the sound. A moment later, a teenage boy carrying a gun and a radio waltzes into view. The boy makes eye contact with Ellie before hurriedly bringing his radio to his mouth and aiming his gun barrel at your head.

“Food stor-” the boy’s shrill warning is cut short when Joel fires.

Ellie jumps and clamps her hands over her ears as the deafening noise rings in the metal room.

The teenager collapses as arterial spray paints the cabinet beside him. Choking, he pushes the button on his radio again and garbles unintelligibly.

Joel makes a horrible guttural sound, pissed that he didn’t end it quickly. Joel strides closer and fires again at the boy’s head. The kid goes limp as chunks of his brain matter cling to the stainless-steel appliances.

“Let’s go,” Joel barks, angry about Ellie’s comment, the boy, and now your useless immobility at the horror before you.

“Okay, okay, okay,” you repeat as a mantra to rise above the shock.

The kid is older than Ellie, probably seventeen or so, and clearly part of a larger, well-equipped group but it was no less difficult to watch him die so horribly. You push Ellie forward, hating that you both must step over the young man’s scattered body.

Joel is already at the front door, ensuring that whoever the kid had radioed was not just outside, when the two of you reach him. You place your hand on his arm to let him know you’re there, and he grabs it.

Pulling you with him, he jogs down the car-riddled street and into the nearest alley. Over the next wordless few minutes, the three of you search for a safe place to hide for the growing night.

Occasionally, the sounds of a shout or screams touch your awareness. You’re not sure if they’re real or if your worried mind has decided to play games, and you’re too afraid of the answer to ask Joel if he hears them, too.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

The drip of water is steady and lonely. Cold, damp, dark. This backroom is a depressing place to sleep.

Not that anywhere else would’ve been much cheerier, you amend.

The city had been utterly destroyed. Buildings had been blown apart by god-knows-who while bones and rusted guns litter the streets. It had been a hasty decision to hide inside this bank. Joel was sure he’d heard rapid footsteps approaching when he all but shoved you two into this building.

A steel vault, disused even before the outbreak, sits open in the corner. Though money was of no use now, you’re mildly disappointed to see that it’s empty.

Would’ve been fun to see money again. It’s been such a long time since I’ve touched a dollar.

Joel concerns you.

He is distant and short in his responses. Berating yourself over your optimism, you remember how vehemently he had maintained his emotional wall while you three trudged from the coast. He’d only cracked when you’d been in danger. A pang of some unidentified emotion zings through your gut.

You close your eyes but open them instantly when the image of the teenage boy’s head ripping apart replays. Joel had been too agitated to tell you to look away, but really, you should’ve known better. What else was Joel going to do? Patch the kid up after the first shot? Hope he didn’t communicate with his group again?

The boy’s gun was on me, you remember. Joel might’ve saved my life. Again.

Ellie curls up facing away from the rest of the room, while Joel fiddles with random items from his backpack, making more noise than you’ve ever heard him make before. As he hastily wraps a long piece of duct tape around the toe of his boot, you sit beside him.

He stills and sighs. He doesn’t want to talk.

“What’s wrong?”

His eyes are hard. “Everything's great.”

“I’m sure it’s- I know it’s all… really hard, but I offered to help you,” you softly tell him.

He shakes his head, “I don’t need your goddamn help.” Though his voice is quiet, his tone guts you open. “You think you’re helping me, but you’re makin’ things worse.”

“Wh- what’d I do?” You recoil in shock. “Tell me what you need then, since I’m doing it wrong.”

Joel doesn’t answer. He heaves himself to his feet, crosses the room with an angry stride and wrenches open the door. He’s gone before you can say another word.

“Damn, what got into him?” Ellie props herself up on her elbow, watching the older man leave.

“I have no idea,” you whisper a lie.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Joel broods just outside the door. The atrium of the bank was once spectacular. The building was historical; the original crown molding and a sky-blue mural still adorn the ceiling, darkening with age and neglect. Though the sun has set, the pale light of dusk provides enough light for Joel to see the desks where bank representatives would’ve held appointments.

Joel slumps down in one of the chairs, bracing his arms on the desk in front of him. His odd panicking that morning has been weighing on him. Sure, he knew beginning to care for you and for Ellie would be a difficult road.

But he hadn’t anticipated that. How could he? How could he have known that seeing you near danger would cause spikes of terror to stab at his chest? That he’d be unable to breathe, unable to think? He’d yanked you away from a harmless fucking corpse, for god’s sake.

He wasn’t even protecting you when he pulled you away. He was protecting himself. His losses. Joel can’t go through it again. He’s not sure he actually has gone through it in the first place. It sure feels like he’s still drowning in it.

Joel sits, ruminating, for a long while before he returns. When he does, he’s grateful that you and Ellie are asleep. Joel notices Ellie clutch her blanket closer, and he shrugs out of his jacket. He tucks the jacket over the girl, careful not to wake her. Then, Joel Miller stands and sighs from the depths of his soul.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

The screaming is what wakes you. Ellie’s heart-rending, terrified screams zing around the small brick room. You bounce up in a single motion - immediately awake and alert.

Across the room, where Ellie is curled on the floor, a clicker hunches over her. She kicks at it, keeping it away from her until, in a breathtakingly horrible moment, her shoe glances off the clicker’s side and it falls upon her.

Feeling no fear for yourself, you fly across the room, gun in hand. You won’t risk shooting Ellie, so you drop next to her and aim up at its flowery head. Ellie’s forearms brace the thing away from her face, but it’s stronger than she is.

You fire and the thing goes semi-limp. The gunshot reverberates, deafening you all. Weakly, the clicker swings its limbs in an attempt to subdue its attacker, but you fire again. It jolts violently and you kick it forcefully off of your sister. It finally rolls away. Dead.

In shock, Ellie crab-walks until her back meets the brick. One had never gotten that close to her. She’d seen them, of course, even shot a few. But you had never let one get within ten yards of her. She could smell its earthy, putrid stench. Your arms cling around her shoulders as you verbally assure that she’s safe.

Dimly, you become aware that Joel is standing against the far wall next to his bed roll. His gun is out, but he looks far away and uncertain.

You push Ellie’s hair out of her eyes, her ponytail askew from the struggle. “You’re okay. You’re okay, El.”

She swallows and nods, burying her face in your arm for a moment before she scoots out of your hold. She moves as far away from the creature as she can in the tiny, dim room.

Your heart thunders in your chest as the adrenaline leaves you. Shaking, you return your gun to its holster and look over at Joel.

"You okay?" You're careful to remove all inflection. You step over to him. The look on his face is worrying.

He doesn’t answer, but his chest heaves.

“Joel,” you try to snap him from his trance. “It’s dead.”

He finally looks at you; and there it is. In his big, emotional, brown eyes, you see the storm. You see the problem. He cares too much.

Fuck. Now I get why I couldn’t help him, you think ruefully. Though it breaks your heart, you can’t save him. He was right. You’ll only make things worse.

Unable to see him like this, and knowing he didn’t want that either, you squeeze his arm and turn away.

“Okay. Can’t stay in this room now, but -” you squint up at the slit of a window, “it looks like it’s dawn, anyway. Let’s just go. Get out of here.”

Joel - finding something he can do - leaves the room to check for friends of the clicker while you pack up the food you’d managed to find the night before. Ellie’s attention follows Joel out the door, and she absent-mindedly rubs her arm.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

“Back to that house? I think it was down that way - we make a left, then duck through that old pet store, then out the back door and make another left,” your final word sounds more like a question, and Joel automatically answers.

“Yeah, reckon so.”

Sun glints off of disused high-rises and the light changes rapidly over the ramshackle city. With the weight of your pack, you soon begin to pant with exertion. Ellie’s hand sweats in yours as you march, but after the events of the past day, you weren’t going to be letting go of her until she was in that car.

A shout echoes down the concrete and glass corridor of the city’s buildings. Ellie, still shaken from earlier, whimpers at the sudden sound.

A rough hand grabs your free one, pulling you forward.

“C’mon,” Joel hisses. He’s looking behind you.

Seven dirty-looking men and two women advance on you from the side street. Two of the men and one of the women wear the same green jumpsuit - a uniform?

“Hey! Fuckin’ stealing from us?” The same man shouts angrily and silences any doubt about who these people were.

Dust and pieces of asphalt fly into the air as the group takes potshots at you three. Ducking, you shove Ellie in front of you.

“Go, go!”

The three of you slip behind a burnt semi-truck, then down another alley. Joel’s hand grips yours as if you’ll disappear.

“Left, Ellie!” You scream as she runs ahead.

The sound of chasing footsteps and shouted instructions shoots fear through your chest. Joel rounds a corner a split second before you do, and a bullet cuts the brick just above you. You shriek and Joel grabs the back of your head, pulling you into a running crouch.

Through the maze of alleyways, Ellie manages to navigate back to the road you’d found the house with the car.

“I can see it!” She yells.

“Joel, you got the keys?” You’re entirely out of breath.

He rips them from his jacket pocket and calls Ellie’s name. When she turns, he tosses the keys to her, “Start the car, kid.”

“What are you doing?”

“Shooting at them,” he answers, slipping the rifle from his shoulder.

Ellie sprints down the street, the blue house only three blocks away. Pumping her arms, she doesn’t even feel the pain in her right.

Joel backtracks to the alley you’d come from and positions himself. You join him. Sweating and pensive, he looks at you with warring emotions.

“Go with Ellie. Both of us don’t need to be here.”

“Shut up,” you snap.

The woman in the uniform appears first. Her curly hair is kept in a messy bun. That’s the only thing you internalize before you shoot and kill her. A wail goes up from one of her companions, and vulgar promises fly loose from the men’s mouths. The group stops just out of sight - unwilling to walk into the obvious ambush.

“Stay the fuck back,” you yell.

“Won’t bite you, girlie,” the other woman jeers.

Her voice is overlapped by one of the men talking to the group, “We could use the two girls.”

Joel's cheek twitches and he pushes his forearm against your chest, forcing you out of sight. He goes intentionally quiet.

After a significant beat, a man peeks his head around the corner, curious about the silence and Joel’s bullet enters his left eye.

“You’re dead, motherfucker. You’re fucking dead,” one of the survivors screams. Mumbles, curses, and the sounds of guns being checked and reloaded fill the concrete alleyway.

Joel ignores their threats against him.

“You’re gonna run. Ellie can start the car, but she can’t drive,” he reasons with you. He fires a few shots into the empty alley to remind the group of his presence.

He wasn’t optimistic. You would be faster than him. One of you could make the distance before those fuckers got line-of-sight, but it wouldn’t be Joel. Age and years of hard living took their toll.

You laugh humorlessly. “I’m not leaving you here, you asshole.”

“Okay, well, what’s your plan, smartass?” He asks viciously. “You think they’re gonna stay there ‘til we get gone?”

“I don’t know, Joel, but I’m not fucking leaving you here. What are you bein’ so self-sacrificing for?”

“I wasn’t gonna stand here forever,” he levels you with a guilty look.

“You’re- you were going to ditch us?”

“It’s a win-win. I make sure they don’t follow you, then I… go my own way.”

“That’s a win-win?” You can’t hide the hurt in your voice.

The jeers have stopped. You peek around the building and see most of the crew stalking down the path.

Wow, not the brightest.

Your argument with Joel stalls as the two of you fire upon your pursuers. Several people fall. Whether they’re killed or maimed, you’ll never know. You grab Joel’s collar and drag him backward with you. He has no choice but to run.

You run through brambles and weeds and dirt-covered front yards, leaping over bushes to avoid the aim of any survivors. But no gunshots ring out. The blue house grows in your vision as you close in on it.

A breath-stealing minute later, you realize something as the yard comes into view.

Ellie isn’t there. You bust into the garage to find the red sedan sitting untouched. Backtracking into the yard, you whirl around, searching. A flash in the grass catches your attention. Squatting, you retrieve the car keys. Nothing is clicking in your mind. Nothing makes sense.

She should be right here.

“Where the fuck is my sister?” Your voice shakes.

Joel, having been several moments behind you, sees you crouched in the grass with the keys in your hand, and immediately a switch is flipped inside him.

Ellie is gone. Joel will find her. His crime of failing to act during the clicker attack can be atoned for.

He sprints back toward the group. Dazed but full of adrenaline, you stand and run after him.

It’s quiet now. No one, save for four bodies, is present in the alley. Joel motions a different direction, and you follow. He was right, walking down that way would’ve been stupid.

The road you'd come from earlier was a main thoroughfare, so most of the side streets and alleys fed into it. Joel picks one and hides behind a large, scrubby hedge at the end of the row. He cranes his neck around the corner.

In the distance, seven people travel away from you. Two of them seemed to have come from the direction of the blue house. One of them, much shorter than the others, is being jerked forward every few steps.

Ellie.

You dash out from behind the bush to rush the group, despite their increasing distance, when you're held in place by a hand gripping your wrist.

"Gotta get closer," Joel rationalizes.

“Joel, we need to go now. We can't let them get wherever they're going. She’s just a kid, Joel! She’s my sister," your words string together in rushed panic. Desolate tears fall from your eyes.

Joel grabs your face, “I know. Look at me, baby - I know. We’ll get her back; just trust me.” His warm, determined brown eyes provide a stable place for you to land.

You touch his hands on your face and nod. He kisses your forehead quickly.

Risking exposure momentarily, you two sprint past several cratered buildings before finding cover behind a truck. Trailing behind the group like carrion, you make slow progress. They’re still several blocks ahead of you. As you get closer, it’s obvious that Ellie fights hard; she refuses to go quietly.

Fear twists your stomach, but rage twists Joel’s mind.

You’re closing in - so close, you can hear your sister cursing her kidnappers’ mothers, when the world goes black for a moment.

You feel small pebbles from the asphalt embed themselves in your palms. A jolt in your shoulder tells you that the ground has welcomed you. The buildings around you tilt and double. The faint sound of yelling and the dull sound of punches being thrown reaches your ears.

Fighting nausea, you close your eyes and lie still for a moment.

Maybe several moments.

The noises have stopped.

With a herculean effort, you sit up. A sharp, throbbing pain dings your skull. Curious, you raise a hand up to the back of your head and - oh, god - thick, crimson liquid coats your fingertips.

“C’mon, baby,” a man with a concerned southern lilt breathes. A gritty hand rubs your cheek.

Joel? You wonder. Or maybe you say his name aloud, you’re not sure.

“I got you,” Joel raises you by the upper part of your arm.

“What happened?” You clutch your aching head.

“You were blindsided,” Joel’s voice ices with hatred, "by a fuckin' coward."

“Where is he?”

Joel doesn’t answer; instead, he pulls you back in the direction you’d come toward a busted plate glass window.

And away from Ellie, you realize.

“Joel. My sister,” you protest.

He doesn’t speak, just continues his warpath. He helps you through the massive opening, glass crunching underneath boots, and your eyes are instantly greeted by a duct-taped man sitting in a barber’s chair. Tape covers his mouth, but you can tell his nose is irreparably broken. He’s conscious and his eyes follow Joel as if he were the man’s greatest fear.

“You were out cold,” Joel frowns. “I couldn’t leave you and I had to deal with this piece’a shit.” He looks away from you to admit his next words, “I lost sight of Ellie.”

He had made an impossible choice, but you’re upset anyway.

“She’s a child, J-”

“I fuckin’ know that. I know. I didn’t choose between you, I dealt with the immediate problem. That was this,” he points his knife at the man, “an’ you bleeding in the street.”

You wince as you touch your head again. It hurts like hell, but you’re certain it’s just a gash and a concussion. Both hopefully minor.

“Why’d you leave him alive?” You glare at the man.

“He smashed that bottle over your head so I rushed him; took me too long to get him down and by then, Ellie was gone.” Joel approaches his captive, growing larger and more menacing with each step. “But he’s gonna tell us where they took her.”

Without asking a single question, Joel plunges his hunting knife into the man’s hand, pinning it to the chair. The tape around his mouth prevents the shrill tone, but his scream is audible anyway. Joel leaves the knife inside the man’s appendage while he pulls half of the tape off his mouth.

“Where'd they go?” Joel asks calmly in his gravelly baritone.

“I don’t know them, man, I’m not with them,” he cries. “Listen, my name’s Steven, I don-”

“Wrong answer,” Joel replaces the tape before sawing his knife through the man’s hand, effectively tearing it in half.

Nearly passing out, Steven hyperventilates in pain. Grime and sweat roll down the man’s face. Joel wipes the bloody knife on the man’s shirt.

You collapse in a seated position to the debris-covered floor, weakened by everything that has occurred since you decided to come to this fucking city. Your eyes seek wretched solace in Joel. He looks confident. In control. In his element.

Twice now he has weaponized his brutality towards those who had hurt you; it’s difficult to reject or put name to the feelings it invokes. You watch with an intensity you should be disturbed by as Joel stabs his knife into his victim’s other hand.

“Lie to me again and I’ll rip your goddamn tongue out,” he promises, his voice somehow both hoarse and strong.

You know you should be horrified. You know this is theoretically wrong. But, like the others you watched receive Joel’s wrath, you can’t find it in you to care.

“All this over a-” Steven wheezes, “a girl I didn’t even touch?” He continues babbling for a moment before Joel answers him.

“You did touch her,” Joel wrenches the knife - still inside the guy’s hand - in your direction. The man wails. “Answer my fuckin’ question.”

“I don’t know, man,” Steven pleads. “I’m not in good enough with them.”

Something glints in Joel’s eyes which makes Steven continue hysterically, “But I do see them by the school a lot.”

“The school. Where?” Joel pulls steel from flesh and a gasping cry issues forth from Steven.

“D-down the road a half-mile, make a - a left at the gas station, then follow that road for five, maybe six, blocks.”

“Guards?”

Steven closes his eyes and whimpers.

“Any fucking guards?” Joel demands, looming ominously over the bloody man.

You clench your legs together in a rush. Too much had happened. Too much damage to your mind and your brain - nothing is processing correctly. Truthfully, you’ve never felt so safe, so cared for. Like a brand or a wax seal - heat, pressure, damage - the lengths to which he was willing to go for you and Ellie intensely bonds you to him. Nothing you feel now can you ever admit to Joel. You want him to heal, to stop his violent catharsis, not indulge it.

“Not now, too many of them died over the winter!” Steven screams. “There’s maybe sixteen or seventeen of them, but you killed some and I don’t know anymore - I don’t! Don’t fucking kill me, please.”

From the moment Joel saw your blood on the cold road, this man was dead. And he would be the first in a series to find out just how gray Joel’s morality is.

Joel turns away. He walks over to you and crouches, taking in your battered appearance. His heart lunges against his chest. He was going to get your sister back and he was going to make every single one of them pay for it. The flickering fear of failure lurks in his chest, but it’s stifled by his righteous indignation at the sight of you.

“You okay?” His fingers brush a lock of dirty hair from your face.

And you’re struck by his softness. The dichotomy of his easy violence and his gentle care is what pierces your soul. He would do anything for you and Ellie. Joel would slip back into the violent man he’d been and he would face his haunted memories. You knew which of those was the hardest for him, too.

You simply nod, cow-eyed and dumbstruck for the moment. Two thoughts cycle in your mind, and you voice the only one you can: “We need to go get Ellie.”

He also nods, then stands.

“Why?” He steps toward the man and indicates you.

“T-told you, man, I’m not in good with them. I thought killin’ someone they were after would help my shot.”

Joel’s knife thunks into Steven’s thigh. He pulls it out just as quickly.

“Why?” the dead man shrieks. “I told you everything I know.”

“I know you did,” Joel assures, but his near-mocking tone is not meant to comfort.

With all his strength, ignited by the memory of your bloody face as you fell to the ground, he plunges the knife into Steven’s chest and twists. A sickening sound as though the wind had been knocked from Steven fills the empty room.

Wiping the blade clean with Steven’s shirt, Joel turns uninterestedly from the expiring man. He holds out his hand for you and you instantly take it. He hauls you to your feet.

“’s go get our girl,” he murmurs into your hair.

You nod vehemently and follow him out onto the street. His steadying presence aids you through the pain in your head and your heart.

Trusting Joel entirely with navigation, he takes you through a park adjacent to the gas station his unwilling informant had mentioned. In the stark light of mid-morning, the rusted swing set and playground pierce your heart, reminding you of outbreak day. You'd told her your parents had asked you to pick her up, but that wasn't true. You had snuck Ellie from school because you were lonely.

It comes as no surprise to either of you: torture could get information, but how reliable the details were was murky. In his haste to get Joel gone, the man had underestimated the distance between the gas station and the school.

As the two of you jog along the sidewalk, Joel almost hopes to come across someone. Inside his chest is a riot of anguish and a desire to let it possess him. He had never lied to himself. Joel never felt more at peace than when he was exorcizing his grief through violence.

“I see it,” you pant, “I see the flag pole.”

The school is a single-story, T-shaped, brick building. Thankfully, you don’t have to cross the street to get to it. One man stands on the steps leading to the glass front doors with the very same gun Joel carries so faithfully.

You frown deeply - why only one guard? These people must know you would come for your child. A potentially paranoid explanation that you hate instantly jumps into your mind: because whatever they’re doing to her is more interesting.

As if you could physically stop the thought, you smack your forehead. Then you meet Joel’s eyes and see the exact same thought reflected back. He looks grim.

“How do you want to do this?” You ask Joel determinedly.

“We take out the guard, then go in.” He answers as if he’s simply picking up a kid from school.

“That’s not enough of a plan for me,” you state. “We split up to look for her.”

Joel is immediately shaking his head. “No.”

“Yes. One of us will find her. It’ll be faster if we split up. Whoever gets her, gets out, and we’ll all meet at that park.”

“Goddammit, I said no.” Joel growls, grabbing your jaw.

Worry and sorrow color his face. But you both know you’re right, and you continue speaking as if he's not looking at you like he’s losing a piece of himself.

“I’ll meet you at the park at -” you squint at the sun, “at noon, I guess.” You’re pretty sure that gives you both just under an hour.

His fingers are frozen on your jaw in desperation; the look in his eyes becomes unbearable, so you shoot forward, pecking him on the lips, and then take off around the side of the school.

Joel fights the stampede of his heart by tearing his eyes from your shrinking shape and focusing on the guard.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

“We haven’t hurt her,” the short, red-headed man states. His palms face Joel.

“That’s great. Doesn’t help you,” Joel raises his rifle.

“You shoot him and you die,” another man to Joel’s left shouts.

The space is set up like a conference room. A long table, likely from the cafeteria, sits in the center of the cluster of offices. The red-headed man stands at the head of the table as if he's expecting The Last Supper, and Joel’s newest problem emerges from an office to his left.

Joel’s attention shifts to the massive wooden monolith to his right. It had been the front desk, which meant it was taller than usual and sturdy. It would be the best cover he could get in this clusterfuck.

Faster than he thought he could, Joel rolls onto the ground. In frustration, the gunman fires a few .22 rounds at Joel’s moving form. Slouching underneath the desk, Joel feels and hears the satisfying thunk, thunk, of the smaller bullets lodging in the thick wood.

“Coward,” the man jeers.

A different male voice speaks. The redhead. “We want to negotiate. We want our food back. The girl for the food.”

Joel could roll his eyes. Did they think he was that stupid? He had killed at least six of their people on his way inside this building, and probably more - definitely more depending on how they felt about ol’ Steven - and the very first one had been a kid.

“Where’s the girl?” Joel calls out.

“Where’s your other girl?” The gunman retorts. “You the one who taught her how to shoot?”

Joel’s eyes narrow. Against all reason, he had been hoping they’d forgotten about you.

“She shot my fucking wife, you son of a bitch,” the man continues, shaking in rage. “I’ll kill that girl in front of you. She your kid? I hope she is.”

Joel’s not entirely sure which girl this guy means now, but either one is a sore subject, so he pops around the wooden structure as low to the ground as he can, and fires off several shots.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

“I’m kind of offended,” your lighthearted tone sounds almost shrill to your ears. “Only two guards on your cell?” Cell is a little much. They’d placed Ellie in a classroom and stood outside of the door. You’d picked them off before they even saw you.

Granted, your gunfire had alerted the rest of the building and rained hell down on Joel when he started shooting right after you in a wholly separate part of the building.

Ellie doesn’t acknowledge your joke. That’s how you know your blustery attitude isn’t working. She wasn’t a toddler anymore. Shaking off or pretending the pain wasn’t real was not going to work here.

She falls into you, her arms locked behind your back. You kiss the top of her head.

“Th- they were going to take turns with me. They told me how. They told me how you’d find pieces of me. I hit them, I made one bleed but -”

You cut off her flow with a shh. “That’s not happening. We’re going to get the car.”

Peeking out the door, the sound of gunfire coming from the other section of the building, you see another man run toward the fight. You shove aside your abject terror for Joel. Ellie needs you.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Joel hadn’t been quite as quick as he thought. He winces at his thigh. The denim is torn and bloody from the bullet wound through the right side of his leg. Since it was a goddamn .22, the shell was probably still inside his flesh, too. His only ray of sunshine was that it hadn’t hit his femur nor an artery.

Joel covers his head as more splinters from the desk fly past. The sound of the gunfire was deafening. Three more men had appeared from behind each of the closed office doors. If Joel’s count was correct, and so was Steven, there should only be five or six men left. He figured one would be guarding Ellie, so what he had to deal with here was likely the rest of the crew.

Breathing ragged, he holds his rifle close to his chest, waiting for his moment. It comes: a pause in the firing and the sound of two - maybe three - men reloading. Joel kneels on his good leg and pops his head and weapon above the desk. He fires upon the man who threatened to kill you in front of him, and watches with satisfaction as the man’s chest blows blood like confetti.

Hurling curses and non-words, the other men scramble to finish reloading, ducking behind doors and walls for cover.

The red-headed man is the closest to the one Joel just killed, and he seems off somehow. But Joel’s attention is diverted as a body comes crashing around the far side of Joel’s shelter.

The human kamikaze comes from Joel’s right, that’s his only excuse for failing to hear the large person’s strides. The bald man barrels into Joel, knocking him over, but he fails to knock Joel’s gun from his hands to the man’s mortal mistake. A single gunshot.

Two down. Three left.

Joel rolls over the now-dead bald guy and examines the room from this new direction. One of the men is hiding behind an office door. A very flimsy, particle-board door. Joel grins briefly and fires through a material he had touched every day in a previous life.

A loud thud comes as the body falls to the floor.

“Stop!” A voice Joel’s already heard several times screams. “Stop. You’ve killed enough of us.”

Joel makes a sour face to himself. To his count, there were three of them left - red-head, his friend here, and whoever was guarding Ellie. That didn’t seem like enough dead.

“No, I haven’t.”

“All we wanted was our food,” the man bellows. “You can have your little bitch.”

“Where is she?” Joel takes great care to keep the pain out of his voice.

To his vague surprise, no answer comes. Joel peers around the wall of the desk. A shadow moves inside an office, but Joel doesn’t think he can shoot through the table legs and wall that divide him from the unseen man.

Right before feeling a searing pain in his side, Joel wonders where the red-headed man went. But then he violently rolls, buckling the very same man’s knees. The redhead falls upon Joel and shoves the barrel of Joel’s gun out of range, gripping the barrel tight. Struggling but strangely weak, Joel punches the man in the nose, breaking it spectacularly.

The man only grunts and spits his blood onto Joel. Joel grunts and swings the gun at the man’s face, but it glances off his chin as the would-be target wildly tries to wrest the gun away.

Footsteps on the thin, industrial carpet alert Joel to the advancing presence of the last man. Allowing the redhead to pull the gun - still in Joel’s hands - upward, Joel uses the confusion to twist the gun to his left and pull the trigger in the direction of the final man.

A piercing scream shreds Joel’s ears as the oncoming person turns out to be the other woman from earlier. She falls to the floor clutching her stomach.

The redheaded man seems as though his brain has malfunctioned. The man is motionless for a fleeting moment and Joel’s jaw clenches in preparation. He understands who he has just killed. Now both men would be fighting for the same reason. A terrible roar is followed by a punch across Joel’s cheek, then another across his jaw, and nearly a third before Joel manages to overpower him.

Using his weight against him, Joel sacrifices the gun, dropping it to the floor, to violently shove the man to the side. Joel gets to his feet, unwilling to turn his back to pick up his gun. Instead, he draws his knife; a wicked grin curls from the depths of his adrenaline-soaked mind.

Driven by grief and hate, the redhead lunges for Joel and slices at Joel’s defensive arm. Joel realizes for the first time that his dueling partner has a shiny, sharp object in his hand.

How’d I miss that?

Joel bulldozes the man in the chest, lifting him off his feet, then pummeling him to the floor. Joel feels a sting to his upper back, but he shoves his knife into the screaming redhead’s chest once, twice, three times.

He sits back on his haunches, then falls to his ass, panting. In the silence, Joel slowly returns to his pained body. His thigh, his shoulder, his forearm, and … his side? Gingerly raising his shirt reveals a half-inch hole in his flesh. He looks up at the body before him and squints at the fucking letter opener in the man’s hand.

Joel’s head thunks onto the wood frame behind him and he shuts his eyes.

When he reopens them, mere slits on his face, the sun blazes through the huge window across the room. It must be noon, but Joel’s body refuses to obey his brain. Unbearable pain smothers him - pulls him down. He lets his eyelids close again.

But… it’s too quiet in this building. His eyes shoot open wildly this time, and he bares his teeth, grunting, as he crawls his way up the furniture to his feet. For all he knew, you and Ellie were dead in the corridor. Or worse.

Using his rifle as a semi-crutch, he hobbles out of the office space and down the linoleum hallway. Two bodies lie at the end, their clothes not the color he remembers you and Ellie wearing, but his heart rate skyrockets, anyway.

Joel softly calls your name, then Ellie’s. As he gets closer to the bodies, he frees a breath at their appearance.

Men. Not the girls.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

One of the swings on the playground moves in the wind. The area is deadly quiet, and it terrifies you. The one time you want to see a human being, you don’t.

“He said he’d be here?” Ellie demands from the backseat.

You had pulled the sedan behind a tiny building containing the park’s bathrooms. The position gave you the perfect view. Alternating between wincing at the position of the sun and searching the grounds, you tap your fingers on the steering wheel and don’t respond to Ellie.

The choice before you was starkly unpleasant. Leave your sister and go find Joel, take your sister to go find Joel, or leave without him.

He was going to leave us, the miserable part of your brain dredges up his choice earlier. Maybe he wants us to go. Maybe it’d be… better…

Better for him. You know it wouldn’t be the case for you. Or for Ellie. She has yet to stop craning her neck in every direction looking for Joel.

“You have to go find him,” Ellie insists eventually. It’s well-past the time you told him to meet you.

“I’m not leaving you alone again.” You state, though you had been considering just that.

“I’ll come with you.” She argues, but you hear the underlying fear of returning to that place.

“Absolutely not.” You veto.

“Then I’ll stay here. I’ll be okay. There’s guns in here. Or I can hide in the bathroom and lock the door, if you think that’s better.” Ellie opens the car door, making your decision for you.

“Ellie!” You hiss.

She pulls a handgun Joel had given her from her bag and nods at you. You fling open your car door, but she’s inside the bathroom before you can rush around the vehicle. She deadbolts the heavy door.

“Go find him. Please.”

Continue ->

#joel miller #the last of us #tlou #my writing #pedro pascal #ellie williams #joel miller fanfic #the last of us fanfic #tlou fanfic #tlou fanfiction #the last of us fanfiction #joel miller fanfiction #joel miller x reader #joel miller x you #my fics #whump #joel miller whump

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bloodyquillink-blog · 5 months

Note

I loved your reader x logan story!!!! it made me NEED more lol. Would you be willing to possibly write one for logan x reader where they meet at heshs wedding. Logan is best man for hesh, and reader is heshs finance maid of honor. they get forced to pair up and hate each other but then fall in love by the end of the wedding planning.

If it’s super confusing that’s okay!!

A/N 🪶: I’m glad you enjoyed it! I noticed you said they meet at Hesh’s wedding but then said they fall in love by the end of the wedding planning which was sort of confusing so I made a few adjustments if that’s okay. I will say I struggled with this prompt a bit, but the challenge felt good! I'm gonna label this one an f!reader as I noticed you used her when explaining.

Warnings/Tags: Reader wears a dress, Reader is from east coast, very fluffy and sweet, Happy Ending, Spaceballs(1987) Reference, Features a couple oc!characters as reader’s friends, Logan used to tease reader for being short, Keegan and Kick get bitches

Word Count: 5.1K

Who Would’ve Thought? Logan Walker x f!reader

You step out of the cab and grab your luggage from the trunk of the black SUV, your friends following. As your group moves to the sidewalk so as to not obstruct traffic, Wanda shades her eyes from the bright sun and looks up at the giant hotel.

“Lena’s fiancé rented out this whole place?!” Wanda exclaims in disbelief.

“Actually, it was her fiancés captain. David wasn’t even asking him to, he just brought up that they wanted some place nice and spacious for everyone and then his captain took care of it all.” Shawn corrects.

“Aw, that’s nice of him. Looks like he spared no expense either, shit!” Mara laughs.

“Looks like we’ll also be with a bunch of soldiers too, so remember to be nice! I’m looking at you, Mara.” You point.

“If they don’t mess with me, or any of you for that matter, then I won’t mess with them. Might wanna tell David to warn them too!” Mara doesn’t even look at you when she speaks, you already knew the drill after having known her and the others for so many years.

A car screeches to a stop right next to you, the door opening as Kat, your best friend since high school, jumps out and runs over to you all screaming incoherently.

“EEE! My girls!!! My best girls!!!” She manages to wrap all of you in her arms and squeezes you so tight, you begin to question if you’ll even make it to the wedding without some kind of breathing tool. Her soon-to-be husband steps out as well.

“H-Hi, Dav-id!” You squeak as Lena’s hug gets even tighter. You and your –breathless– friends endure the pain of friendship while David gets their luggage. He chuckles as he walks over to you all.

“Honey, you’re killing your friends.” He says, jokingly… you think.

“10 more seconds!” Lena shouts. David looks at each of you, smiling.

“We’ll remember all of you well, what kinda of graves do you want?” He jokes. Lena finally lets go and playfully smacks David on his arm.

“Yeah yeah, can’t a girl be happy to see her best friends?” She looks over at all of you, still smiling as wide as ever. You, Mara, Wanda and Shawn are hunched over, gasping for air as quietly, and gratefully, as possible. You hold out one of your hands.

“Good to see you in person again.” you pant. David gives you a half-hug so as not to make breathing even harder for you.

“I think you realigned my chakra with that hug.” Wanda groans.

“Which one?” Mara asks. Wanda pauses for a moment, still panting.

“All of them?” She answers. David continues giving hugs before kissing Lena on her forehead and wrapping an arm around her waist.

“I think that might just be your spine shifting back into place.” Shawn points.

“So, how was the flight over here? Nothing too bad, I hope.” David asks. You talk with them as you bring your luggage inside the hotel. All of you had a relatively quick and painless flight, ignoring your bag almost breaking open twice and Wanda needing to replace hers in the airport when it broke after the first layover. Mara and Shawn were all set and helped her pick out better suitcases. At one point, Mara offered to hold some of your things in her bag. It’s not that either of them traveled light, Shawn noted, they just packed more efficiently than you. You stuck your tongue out at her for that.

As you each receive your room keys, you hear the revolving door swirl. David looks over and waves to a small group of men, all dressed in mostly dark clothes despite the summer heat. One of them is absolutely huge with a beard, the next three are relatively similar in size and height, their eyes dark as they walked just a bit behind the older man. You recognize one of them but you can’t remember how. He holds your gaze until David begins introducing them.

“Ladies, I’d like you to meet my sweet old Captain.” He smiles as you all chuckle amongst yourselves. The man eyes David before shaking each of your hands.

“Call me Merrick. If you ever want to hear any stories about David, let me know. I suddenly have plenty to share.” Your group giggles as David deadpans and rolls his eyes before introducing the next man to come up.

“This is Keegan “The Smoothtalker” Russ, he and Merrick both worked with my dad a while back before the Federation. One of the most reliable men I know.” Keegan walks forward to shake your hands as well.

“Pleasure to make your acquaintance,” his voice is even deeper than Merrick’s, “I hope I can make your night as well.” You notice he holds onto Mara’s hand a bit longer than everyone else’s, he stares directly into her eyes. Mara doesn’t shrink at all despite his intimidating aura.

“I’d like to see you try, tough guy.” She shoots back. Keegan smirks as he steps back into his original spot. Mara doesn’t usually flirt, but when she does, it’s honestly inspirational.

David moves on to the next man, he bares some resemblance to David, actually. Wait…

“This is my brother, Logan, the first most reliable man I know.” He doesn’t say anything. Your friends offer a small wave, while you stare.

“Long time no see, Logan.” You say, smiling. He nods, smirk on his face, while David moves on. The next man is a little shorter than Keegan and Logan, but seems somewhat more approachable.

“This is Kick, the biggest nerd I know but another one of the most reliable men I know.” Kick rolls his eyes and steps forward to shake everyone’s hands.

“You may not know this but Hesh- er- David,” He corrects, “is unintentionally the funniest man I know.”

“Thanks, Kick–”

“I mean you should see him whenever he faceplants on the field after slipping, it’s like a cartoon. He gets up and it’s like he got a mud mask.” You all giggle as Kick walks back with his head high and David bites his lip as his ears turn pink.

“Don’t suppose you have pictures?” Shawn asks, Kick shakes his head but smiles.

“If I get any, I’ll send them to you right away.” David is gritting his teeth at this point.

“Okay, hun, do you wanna introduce your friends?” Lena brings her hands together, excited.

“Oh yeah! David and Logan already know her but,” She introduces you first. “She’s my best friend since high school! And this is Mara “The Baddie” Williams, and Wanda “The Mind Reader” Stevens and Shawn, who’s a nerd too! But it’s cool when she does it.”

“Interesting names. So, what qualifies you as a nerd?” Kick asks, amused.

“I did computer science and engineering in my first four years of college, then went back for my masters in computer science and I’m working on my doctoral, at the moment. I think she just calls me a nerd because I’m doing an ‘unnecessary amount of school’.” Shawn explains. Kick nods, appreciatively.

“What do you- you guys do?” Shawn seems nervous suddenly.

“I’m an IT specialist, so I also work with computers a lot.” Kick answers immediately. Shawn nods, smiling an awful lot more than usual.

“Cool, cool… and, uh, you guys?”

“As Hesh pointed out, I am apparently a ‘sweet’ and ‘old’ Captain. My job is working with these assholes and others like them.”

“Jury’s still out on the ‘sweet’ part, but everything else, yeah. I’m one of the assholes he works with, sadly.” Keegan says with a straight face.

“Same thing for Logan and I, just a couple assholes trying to make the world a better place.”

“I knew it, I’m surrounded by assholes.” Shawna jokes. Wanda turns to her.

“Did you actually just make a Spaceballs reference? Right now?”

“It is a good movie.” Kick admits.

“See, he agrees with me so it must be correct.” Shawna and Wanda bicker about the film. Lena claps her hands to get everyone's attention.

“Okay, why don’t we get our keys and head to our rooms before dinner and we can relax a bit and explore the hotel.” She suggests. As she finishes, the rotating door slides as more soldiers enter and fill up the lobby, some passing by David and clapping him on the back.

“I gotta stay here to help everyone else get comfortable, but you guys go on ahead.” David and Lena share a quick kiss before she turns. She pulls out her key card and excitedly ran off and then ran back to grab her luggage and waved goodbye.

“It was nice to meet you all! See you at dinner!” With the weight of her luggage, it was more of a speed walk. You and the girls wave goodbye and follow her to the big elevator centered in the lobby. As you walk, you feel eyes on you. Once you get to the elevator and wait, you look around. It doesn’t take much to find out what’s wrong. You look back over towards David and see Logan staring in your direction. You hold his gaze for a moment and force yourself to wave at him. He just looks away, focusing on whatever David is talking about with his group.

You ignore the interaction (if you can even call it that) and join into the conversation your friends are having. Lena is explaining the schedule while Shawna corrects her.

“Okay, so! We have dinner at 6:30! It’s like noon right now-”

“It’s 1:30.”

“Same thing! So, I got a room for all of us to share so we can be roommates!”

“Like it’s college again!” Wanda interjects.

All of you file into the elevator and go to your shared room. There’s five beds spread out amongst the room. The bathroom includes a separate bath and shower with multiple baskets of travel size toiletries lined along the side of the bathtub. You all set down your luggage beside one of the beds and sit down on the soft mattress and plush covers, talking amongst yourselves while you clean up for dinner.

After a few hours, you head down to the hotel restaurant. There were many tables filled already by David’s military friends. Him, Logan and his friends you met earlier sit at one table amongst their peers while Lena leads you to a different table that’s within their view. Logan can easily just stare directly at you from his spot which is exactly what he’s doing. When you look at him, you see the smile on his face. You almost immediately feel the weight of possible insults he could throw at you.

When you were younger, you knew the Walker boys when they attended the same middle school as you on the east coast since their family was moving around a lot at the time before going back to San Diego. While Logan was quiet then, he still managed to make silent jokes at your expense. He’d rest his elbow on your head or bend his knees or hunch over dramatically to highlight the height difference between you two at the time. One time, he saw a chihuahua being walked by its owner and pointed at it then pointed at you before patting your head and continuing to walk beside David, their longer strides made it hard for you to catch up.

None of those jokes seem to come from him now but it left an imprint at the time that was apparently enough to make you self-conscious in front of him these days.

Maybe I should’ve worn heels, you thought.

Whatever, it's too late now. Lena put her purse down in her chair.

“I’ll be right back!” and she scurried off to see David. Their happiness is worth it. You can get through the dinner. You and your friends take a look at the menu. Before long, everyone’s ordering and drinking together. Lena’s since returned from the other table and excitedly talks about the hotel. “It’s so nice, I can’t wait to explore it with all of you. I think I heard they have an arcade room somewhere.” As everyone talks, your phone buzzes.

Unknown Number: Can you tell Lena I said thank you for giving me your number?

Who the fu-

You look up at Logan again. That same damn smile on his face, phone in hand. His smile looks so damn genuine but you can’t help but feel like it’s fake. You look at Lena.

“You gave him my number?!” You whisper yell.

“Oh yeah! He asked me for it and I thought ‘Why not’, so now you guys can catch up a bit while everything’s going on.”

As much as you want to grab her by the shoulders and shake her silly, you can’t. She was trying to be nice and this was something for you to take up with him yourself, like an adult. You exhale through your nose and show her the text.

“He wanted me to say thanks.” You chuckle. You refuse to ruin her mood in any way on the week of her wedding, especially if she’s done nothing wrong. She smiles and turns to look at Logan, bringing two thumbs up which he returns. You bite your tongue and type in his name for the contact before typing more.

You: It’s rude to text during dinner

Logan Walker: Tell that to Kick and your friend.

With wrinkled brows, you look up at your table and see Shawn typing which is strange because Shawn’s the one who reminds everyone of table etiquette. You look between Kick and Shawn, remembering their interaction earlier. Oh?

“Shawn, what happened to your table manners?” You ask, trying not to smile. She looks up with wide eyes, suddenly shy again.

“Oh! Sorry, I, um…” Her phone buzzes. Lena finished sipping her wine.

“Guilty, I may or may not have given Kick her number too!” Lena chimes in.

“It’s been like 5 minutes and you’re already forgetting table manners? Okay, Shawn, I see you.” Shawn flushes at your comment and finishes a quick text before putting her phone away, smiling at Kick who sees her and smiles back.

“Done now! So, what were we talking about?” Shawn’s face is still red as she attempts to shift the conversation. As Mara and Wanda poke and prod, your phone vibrates.

Logan Walker: Since it’s so rude, I’ll text you after dinner.

You: Much appreciated

Logan Walker: But before I do, I just wanted to say you look nice tonight.

You: I feel a joke coming on

Logan Walker: A joke?

You: Nevermind

You shove your phone in your bag and get back to the conversation at hand. Not too long after, dinner is served. You share laughs and drinks, as well as small bites of your gourmet meals. Afterwards, dessert is served. You can’t tell which course you enjoyed more but both taste like heaven.

When the night is over, everyone heads back to their rooms, aside from Lena and David who spend some time together away from their “roommates”. You sit in bed, showered and ready to sleep when you remember the texts. You pick up your phone and read.

Logan Walker: So what did you mean by joke?

You: You remember in middle school when you’d always make fun of my height

Logan Walker: Oh.

The hell does “Oh.” mean?

Logan Walker: And you thought I was gonna make fun of you tonight?

You: I was expecting it yeah

Logan Walker: I meant what I said earlier.

Logan Walker: I didn’t realize I bothered you so much back then.

You wait a few seconds, seeing three dots appear and disappear a couple times.

Logan Walker: I’m sorry.

He’s apologizing? You debate your response in your head.

You: Thanks

Logan Walker: I’ll let you be, it’s late. I’ll see you at brunch tomorrow.

Logan Walker: Don’t be late.

You: I am never late

Logan Walker: You were late to dinner.

You: I was right on time!

Logan Walker: In the military, if you aren’t early, you’re late.

You: The bride decides the time of arrival

Logan Walker: You made that up.

You: You’re applying a military “rule” to civilians

Logan doesn’t respond for a few seconds. You don’t see any dots.

You: I got you there

You: Goodnight mr sergeant walker sir

You immediately put down your phone smiling to yourself as though you just broke a rule in an elementary school class on purpose and feel that little rush of doing something “bad”. If your friends weren’t sleeping, you’d probably be giggling or some shit like a damn schoolgirl. As you roll over on your side, ready to sleep, you realize something. Logan Walker made you smile. You go to bed feeling warm and fuzzy.

You wake up the next morning to Lena shaking you awake before she moves on to the others. You collectively get ready and head out by 10:30 for brunch. Before the doors open, you swear you can already smell the food. You eat in the same restaurant area of the hotel as you did last night. While the tables remain in the same spots, the room has brought in more tables, all divided into sections where chefs make and serve food. You can even see the spice racks hanging on the walls that must’ve been moved in here. As everyone moves throughout the room, you sit down with Mara and Wanda. Lena joins not too long after.

“Where’s Shawn?” She asks. Mara looks around and points, smiling. Shawn is walking around beside Kick as they talk, almost looking excited. Kick intently listens and you notice whenever he finishes talking, Shawn’s smile gets a little wider. Wanda pulls out her phone and sends a quick text before eying Shawn carefully. Shawn pulls her phone out, Kick waiting patiently. Suddenly, she looks up at your table of smirks and turns back to Kick giggling, her face already red. After a minute more of talking, they go their separate ways. You see Kick sit beside Logan and he makes a comment that has Kick rolling his eyes. Logan’s eyes turn to you and he smiles. This time you smile back at him and get to eating.

The next couple days are a blur. You and your friends explore inside and outside the hotel, hanging out in mud baths at the spa with some other ladies, and you think you see a couple men too, from the military getting massages. As much as you want one as well, they probably need it more if the content groaning you hear says anything. You’re all sure to say thank you before heading out for shopping. You already brought your bridesmaid dress, but you see a pale blue dress with flowy sleeves that you must have. You notice Mara, Shawn and Wanda have matching dresses tailored to their style and body, their dresses are nearly at the floor and the sleeves go to their wrists whereas yours stops before your elbows and the hem is a little above your ankles. They all wear a variety of darker shades of blue while yours is noticeably more pastel than theirs.

“Oh, I didn’t realize you already picked out dresses! Do they have more of those?” Lena grabs you by the shoulders, a firm grip.

“You won’t be needing to match them! In fact, it’s good you won’t.” She has another excited look on her face. Before you can ask her what wicked thing she has planned, she spreads her arms out in front of you.

“You’re my maid of honor!” Your mouth drops open. You look at the others who are all smiling almost as wide as her.

“You little shits, did you plan this?!” You know the answer and they all confirm with a nod and you squeal, giving Lena a bear hug. Both of you practically fighting to crush the other in your arms, but lovingly so. Eventually, everyone joins in.

After more shopping and spending time with your girls, you text Logan to let him know you were all heading back. The wedding was tomorrow and your favorite love birds, David and Lena, already had arrangements to make sure they didn’t see each other at least 24 hours before the wedding.

Logan Walker: Don’t worry, we have him locked in the bathroom.

You: Will that hold him?

Logan Walker: No, but this is what we’re trained for.

You: You’re trained to hold your brother in a bathroom?

Logan Walker: The army prepares us for everything.

You felt bold tonight.

You: What else are you prepared for?

Logan Walker: Can’t say, surprise attacks only work when no one expects them.

You: Are you gonna attack me?

Logan Walker: Maybe. Probably.

Logan Walker: Only if you give me a reason to.

You: Yeah ok soldier boy

You suddenly feel like you’re in trouble.

You: I’m sorry

Logan Walker: You’re in room 345, right?

You: …no

Logan Walker: You have 5 seconds to tell me the truth.

You: IM SORRY

Logan Walker: 4

You: IM INNOCENT

Logan Walker: 3

You: LOGAN NO

Logan Walker: 2

You: OKAY FINE

You: YES

You: SHIT

You: Fuckin interrogating me

Logan Walker: It’s my job.

You: Is it tho?

Logan Walker: When necessary.

You: Yeah that’s not ominous at all

You: Wedding’s tomorrow

Logan Walker: Oh, is it? I didn’t know that.

You: Yeah okay stupid comment

Logan Walker: Happens to the best of us.

You: So you admit I’m the best?

There’s a pause.

Logan Walker: Goodnight.

You: Thats a yes!

You: Im calling it a yes!

You: Im the best!

You see he’s reading your texts but not answering and decide to stop.

You: Goodnight

Before you can put your phone down, it vibrates.

Logan Walker: I’ll see you tomorrow. Sleep well.

And the conversation ends there.

Finally, the morning comes and Lena can’t sit still. After having to text back and forth with Logan about moving through the hotel so the couple doesn’t see one another, everyone heads out. You make it safely to the bride’s dressing room with everything you need. The hair stylist and makeup artist are already there and greet you inside. Lena’s mom has also joined to help her with the dress. Before you and the bridesmaids start getting ready, you take turns going out in casual clothes to get small snacks and water for everyone. You talk about the schedule of the day and occasionally past weddings you’ve attended.

Sometimes, Lena’s mom chimes in about her wedding, and the disaster it almost became multiple times the day of. From the makeup artist getting food poisoning when only half her face was done, the marriage officiant came in with crutches and a limp, the cake was almost destroyed when it was left somewhere in the hotel and no one knew where (keeping in mind the hotel you’re in is smaller than the even fancier hotel her mom was married in.).

As time continued going on and you all got yourselves together, it was time. Lena’s beautiful in her long white dress and veil that framed her face. Mara, Shawn and Wanda look amazing in their darker hues. Lena’s mom’s trying not to cry. And you felt pretty. Not even pretty, shit, you felt gorgeous. After thanking the makeup artist and hair stylist, you head out.

Lena and her mom walk arm in arm, David is biting his lip as he fails to contain a wide smile. You’re sure you can see tears in his eyes. You and Shawn and Mara and Wanda walk in pairs behind Lena. As Lena stands across from David, you stand on the far left side of the front with Mara, Shawn and Wanda standing to your right. You look across the way at the groomsmen. At Logan. Where your dress is lighter than the bridesmaids, his suit is lighter than his fellow groomsmen. The groomsmens suits are dull in comparison to the bridesmaids. Everyone still looks great and matches wonderfully. Logan looks so handsome. The entire time, you guys eye each other when the other looks away. Lena is crying and David is trying to hold back his tears, both still smiling at one another.

The vows and kiss are what break David, even with tears he continues smiling at his bride while everyone claps. Logan’s smiles and all of the groomsmen crowd around him as the photographer stands in the middle of the aisle. Then you, the bridesmaids and Lena take a photo as well. You spend almost another hour taking photos of everyone together in the venue before the afterparty ceremony begins. The toast and dinner seems to bring everyone even closer, you find yourself talking with a few other soldiers. Afterwards, at the cake cutting, Lena and David hold the knife together and pick out a slice. Lena swipes her finger against the knife, picking up the leftover frosting, before lightly pressing her finger onto the tip of David’s nose. He stares at her for a second before squishing his nose onto her cheek, returning the frosting. The interaction is held onto by the photographer taking pictures of the moment.

A few minutes later, David and Lena come up to you.

“So, how do you like dancing?” She asks.

“... You’re planning something again, aren’t you?” You respond, all too aware of her tendencies.

“Oh, no.”

“You’re not?”

“No. It was already planned.”

“What was planned?”

“So, the best man and maid of honor are expected to be paired for the dancing.” She’s smiling as though something mischievous has happened.

“So…” Logan appears before you can ask anything.

“Logan’s my best man. Lena was telling me about her plans for the bridesmaids dresses, so I did the same for the groomsmens suits.” David explains. Your face feels warm.

“W-Well, I’m ready when you guys are. Just, uh, say the word.”

“The word is now!” The music immediately changes to something soft and sweet. David and Lena move to the middle of the room. You and Logan stand on the opposite side of the floor to the tables. You back at Logan and do a double take when you see Kick and Shawn on the other side of Lena and David. You smile at her, her face is more red than ever. You think you see the redness goes all the way to her hands, of which Kick holds tenderly. Kick looks over and smiles at the both of you. You look back to Logan and think about the whole situation. Your best friend is getting married, your other friend apparently has a love interest, and you have some kind of maybe love interest person, kind of, possibly (good lord, even your thoughts are flustered). You see Shawn pointing towards the tables and Kick chuckles. You look over and your jaw drops.

Just off to the side of the tables, away from the dance floor, Mara leans against Keegan while he has his hands around her waist. He rests his chin on her head while she covers her face in her hands, giggling. Were all of you reduced to fits of giggles because of military men? Apparently so. As all of you chuckle to yourselves, you look at Logan. He’s smirking at you, his cheeks are a little pink.

“Hi…” You whisper, staring into his eyes.

“Hi.” He whispers back, staring back at you.

“I’m glad I saw you again, Logan.”

“Me too.” He pauses for a moment. “You still on the east coast?”

“Yeah, yeah. Never really left. It’s just my place, I guess.”

“Everyone has their place in the world.”

“I guess they do, yeah.”

“Would you mind if, after all of this, I visited?” You blink, a smile slowly creeps onto your face.

“I’d like it if you did.” Logan smiles wide and attempts to keep his cool. The flow of the conversation is interrupted by Wanda sauntering over.

“Hehe, hi guys.” Her words are almost slurred.

“Wanda, how much have you had tonight?” She pauses a moment, thinking.

“Um, I think, like, maybe a couple?”

“A couple?” You and Logan have stopped moving at this point, but your hand is still in his and his other hand remains on your hip. You’re both smiling to yourselves.

“Yeah, hehe.” Merrick walks up behind her. “Oh, hi, Captain sir!” He silently brings his arms around her stomach and lifts her just enough to get her feet off the floor, allowing him to walk away while Wanda continues her drunken giggling. You watch as he sets her down and instructs her to sit in a chair, before moving all alcoholic drinks away. She pouts looking at the cup of water that just so happens to be in front of her. You start laughing, trying to be silent so as to not draw attention away from Lena, but your fit has you putting your forehead on Logan’s chest. You feel him rumbling from his chuckles. You look back up and catch Lena laughing and directing Logan to a Merrick, who’s smirking down at the still pouting Wanda. Everyone’s happy tonight it seems. Even as the party dies down, it stays that way. Full of happiness.

~A couple months later~

You walk to your front door after hearing a firm couple of knocks. You look through the peephole and smile to yourself, heart pulsing. Opening the door, you see the man you’ve been waiting for. Logan grins, moving forward to pull you into a tight hug. His arms are always so warm, you’ve noticed.

“I missed you so much, what took so long?” You ask.

“A nearly canceled flight, traffic, there’s more if you wanna hear about it.” He answers, grabbing his luggage and bringing it in.

“Tell me everything! I’m still making dinner.” You spend the next thirty or so minutes cooking and talking, Logan talks and tastes the food intermittently. His vacation consists of exploring your town and attending special events throughout his time here. You catch up on your lives, or as much as he can tell you about. Originally, it was supposed to be two weeks of staying at your home. This changed to three, then four, and so on until Logan ended up changing his address and bringing in boxes. While he still has to leave for months at a time every once in a while, it makes seeing him worth it.

Then the day comes when he’s home for good. He stays in the state with a new job. You learn to lose the fear of losing him with every night you spend in one another's arms. Years later, you’re having your own wedding with him. Your friends wear similar bridesmaids dresses and groomsmen suits to remind yourselves of the event that led to this… the happiest moment of your life.

I hope you enjoyed this. Thank you for your request. I will add this to my CoD Stories series on Ao3 @ RiversSong82

#cod logan walker #logan walker x reader #logan walker x f!reader #logan walker #cod fanfiction #cod ghosts fanfiction #cod ghosts #quill writes

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ouroborus-momento-mori · 2 years

Text

Authors note - wow! I’m so blown away by the interest in my fic. This is my first attempt at fan fiction and a reader insert so please be gentle. It’s starting off a little slow but I really had to build where the reader is at in her life before we can really dive in. It’ll pick up in the next chapter which should be out before Sunday. Feedback is appreciated. Enjoy!

Corresponding Spotify: Destination Unknown

Link to AO3: Destination Unknown

Word count: 3,865

Find Chapter two - here.

Destination Unknown

Chapter One - The Long Drive

***

In your defence, you never meant to stay on the East Coast for this long. It started with you wanting to make a name for yourself, to get out from underneath your father’s shadow.

Almost a decade ago you moved out to Washington D.C. to start your university education at Georgetown University. One Bachelor of Arts degree and a Masters of Museum Studies later, you had earned your current position as Assistant Curator for Contemporary Military Aviation History at the Smithsonian’s Air and Space Museum.

You had a little help along the way with your father being an Admiral, but most people in this city had at least a little nepotism to help get them where they are.

You had certainly worked for it too, sacrificing countless nights out on the town, friendships, hell even your last relationship or two. All because you were addicted to the drive to do better. Be better. To work with the best. To be the best. To have people know you because of what you’ve accomplished on your own.

Not because of the last name that was gifted to you in your very first hours of existing.

Kazansky.

Your whole life you’ve had to bear the heavy weight of your name, and all the expectations and assumptions that came with it. It was both a blessing and a grievance. You loved your family dearly, but with the weight of your fathers rank and reputation you had grown up feeling smothered by it.

Your whole adolescent life you had felt pressure to enlist and rise through the ranks like your father. Your whole life you had dozens of people reminding you of how alike the two of you were. But that wasn’t what you wanted. It had nearly torn you apart in your senior year, having applied to civilian universities and the Naval Academy with your childhood best friend Bradley.

Ultimately you chose to move across the country to study as a civilian. Washington D.C. was safe enough as it allowed for plenty of visits with your parents when your father was sent for meetings at the nearby Pentagon or the White House. It also allowed for your father to keep close tabs on you, having plenty of connections in the city.

It hurt beyond belief at first to be so far away. But it got better with time. Over the past decade you have successfully built yourself a life of your own. Now at 29 you had an outstanding career, several publications and accreditations to your name, a well loved (albeit small and very expensive) apartment, and a fluffy black cat by the name of Merlin.

A loud sound interrupted your train of thought.

It was like your heart was ripped out of your chest when you heard your phone ringing, the blaring of “Sweet Child O’ Mine” signalling that it was your mother calling. You had been pacing your apartment all morning waiting for this. With a deep soothing breath, you picked up the phone.

“Mom?”

You heard a watery sob. “Oh honey. It’s even worse than we thought.”

You struggled to hold back tears. “How long do they think we have left with him?”

“Dr. Thompson says six months at best.” She inhaled another breath, you could hear her trying to hold back her cries. “Your father and I had a talk last night. We really want you home sometime soon. Now preferably. We just want to hold you again, have a few months with the family all together again. You think you’ll be able to make it?”

You had known this was coming for a while now. This past Christmas your father had started to show some signs of his failing health. Coughing up blood. Trying to hide it. Blaming his hoarse throat on all the talking he does. Or that it was a simple head cold. After urging him to get tests done, you had to pack up and leave sunny California for the East Coast once again.

When you had returned in January you submitted an exhibition proposal to your Director, centering around wanting to tell the unheard stories of contemporary elite naval aviators and their amazing accomplishments. You mainly wanted something that would allow you to move back to the west coast for several months, so you could be close to your family without having to give up your career.

With a couple months worth of check ups and tests on your fathers end, and a series of tweaking and resubmitting proposals and outlines on your end - you finally got the stamp of approval. Not only were they letting you curate your first solo exhibition, but they were also giving you a grant so you could publish a book to correspond with it.

The project would allow you to spend several months with your family. Splitting your time between the nearby naval aviators school for research in their archives and the command bases surrounding town where your family still resides.

“Yes. I’ll be home soon. I just need to get things situated. One of my colleagues will sublease my apartment while I’m gone. I’m taking Merlin with me.” You sighed into the phone, gazing across the apartment.

Merlin was lounging outstretched in the sun, absentmindedly pushing your papers around on your desk. He mewled at you when he noticed your attention. He plopped down and subsequently started pawing at the cupboard where you kept his treats.

“Oh goody… I can’t wait to meet my only grand-fur baby. He looks so soft in all those photos you send of him. I think he would really help your father too. Might soothe him, you know? I think it would do him some good. Petting Merlin and all.” She was rambling. She did this when her anxiety was flaring up.

“Mom. Will you be okay until next week? I’m going to drive home, it would be easier to pack everything into the car.”

“Yes, just get here as soon as you can, okay? I- We need you… Your father needs you here. Just come home soon. We all miss you.”

“I love you, mom. Tell dad and the boys I love them too. I’ll text you when I leave here on Friday.” You took a shuddering breath. “I’ll see you soon.”

“I love you too, honey. Your dad and your brothers do as well. You know that. We’ll see you soon.”

Immediately after your mother hung up you fired off a text to your two brothers, making sure they knew they could call or text you should they need any help. And to make sure they would take all the housework and cooking off your mom’s to do list. She had enough on her plate right now looking after your father.

You fired off a text to your father too, trying to express to him how much you loved him and how you were looking forward to seeing him and spending time with him.

***

You spent the next day packing everything into your old ‘69 baby blue Ford Bronco, a car you had fixed up in high school with your father, his friend (your would-be uncle, really) Pete, and your childhood friend Bradley.

You went into your office too, picking up some last minute essentials and saying farewells to your colleagues. You would be seeing a few of them in a few months when they flew out to collect the objects you’re going to be gathering for your exhibition.

Amelia, one of your best friends and colleagues, had agreed to sublease your apartment while you’re gone. She had recently broken off her engagement to her unfaithful fiancé. You gave her a more than fair price, and offered her the entire place to try to mend her broken heart.

You left a bouquet of flowers, several bottles of wine, a nice bottle of whiskey, an assortment of Ben & Jerry’s in the freezer, and your infamous collection of cheesy RomComs for her to revel with while you were away.

Looking around you tried to spot the little (large) fluff ball that lived (thought he owned) in your apartment with you.

“Pstpstpst… Merlin! Come here, you absolute rascal.” You scooped Merlin up, his black fur flying into the air. He was a massive cat, you were pretty certain he had Maine Coone genetics somewhere in him. You had named him after one of your father’s friends callsign.

Placing Merlin in his carrier and heading to your door, you took one last look around your apartment. You couldn’t quite put your finger on it, but this pit that resided in your stomach made you feel like this was the closing of a chapter for you. You shoved that thought away. No time to think of that now. Your family needed you.

***

You sent off a quick text to your mom, and just like that you were off on a cross country journey.

You silently thanked god your pay was decent, the sheer amount of gas you would need for this trip was stupidly astronomical.

With a few stops across the country to rest at pet friendly motels, you had finally made it to California in just under a week.

You decided to stop first at the US Navy’s Fighter Weapons School, Top Gun (as literally every naval aviator referred to it as in your youth), to drop off your research materials and hordes of guide and reference books.

Laughing gently, you couldn’t stop yourself from gazing at the school instead of the road ahead.

Holy shit, you thought. Where did the time go?

You had spent an absurd amount of time here as a kid growing up. You definitely didn’t have a normal childhood.

Pulling in, you started off loading everything you needed. Merlin started mewling from his carrier.

“You need the litter box, sweetheart? Just a moment, let mommy do this first.” You grumbled trying to haul everything you needed out. Getting frustrated with the weight of it all, you just dropped your boxes on the ground. Poor sweet little Merlin needed your attention. You hooked up his harness and his leash. Carrying him over to the surprisingly green grass next to the parking lot.

“Holy mother of god! Is that you, Kazansky?! The boss man told me you’d be making your way here again. Thought he was fibbing.”

Swirling around you had to lift your hand up to shield your eyes against the blinding sun.

“I really don’t think this is the best place to be letting your scruff-ball of a cat take a shit.” The blurry figure said.

Straining your eyes, you could just barely make out the face that was coming toward you. You could never forget that voice though, considering he was one of the pilots who practically raised you here on base.

“Solomon Bates. How’ve you been?” You couldn’t help the wide grin that stretched across your face. This was the first of many reunions you had to look forward to. Or in some (one) case, dread.

You rushed over, dragging Merlin behind you, to hug the man.

“I’ve been good, kid. Better now that you’re here. Your father has us all worried, not that you should ever tell him that. He’d whoop all our asses if he ever heard such a thing.” You both let out barking laughs. You were thankful for Warlock’s sense of humour.

“I know. Dad won’t let any of us worry over him. His pride is still just as strong as it was when he first started at this Academy, I’m sure of it.”

“Ahh you gotta give the man some credit. He didn’t get to where he is today without having a strong will and sense of who he is. His sense of pride has been well earned. You and your mother will have to use some of that charm you have, get him to rest and take it easy.”

You gave the man a small smile, “We’ll do our best, don't you worry about that.”

“I’ll take your word for it. Now,” He glared down at your cat, then swung his gaze over towards your Bronco. “I’m going to take a guess. You’re gonna need help with those boxes?”

“That would actually be amazing, Bates.” He laughed as he saw you let out a sigh, you let out a small chuckle too. It was a huge relief knowing you wouldn’t have to carry them all on your own.

You placed Merlin back in his carrier, rolling down the windows to let the wind run through the vehicle.

Bates helped you carry in the boxes leading you down the familiar halls you used to haunt as a kid.

You arrived at an all too familiar door. Your father’s old office, the one away from home and his previous office before his time at fleet command.

“You guys never gave this space to some other poor paper-pushing Admiral?” You had to admit, you were quite surprised. You used to spend time here as a kid reading or doodling. Your father would take you into work to hang out with the other naval aviators children.

The kids were almost always taken here when their fathers wanted to give their mothers a well earned break and they simultaneously needed to catch up on some paperwork or reading.

“Nah. Your dad’s always been welcome here, we never wanted him to leave in the first place. This complex has got so many rooms we figured we could leave this one be. Now it's yours for the next, what? Several months or so?”

“Give or take. Hopefully give. I don’t want to wish any time away.” You grimaced. That came out awkward. You still weren’t used to the impending, well… whatever would be coming down the line for you and your family.

“I know, kid. I know.” He nodded. “Now… time to let the old memories come alive, hey?” He flung open the door to your fathers old office and sauntered in.

You took a deep breath before following him in, your eyes scanning the room. Just like you remembered it. There was a grand oak desk to the far left with a leather executive chair at its helm. The rest of the room was occupied by dozens of photos from years long gone, grand bookshelves holding trophies, awards and books. There was also a long oval oak conference table, with several leather chairs seated. Everything was painted in dark moody tones, common to old officers clubs built during the Second World War.

When you were younger and first started getting into history and myths, you would often refer to your father as King (Admiral) Arthur and at his table would be the fabled knights (officers) of the round table.

You and Bates both dropped your boxes onto the large oval table. You would set up your work space at a later date.

You glanced at Bates as he meandered around the office to stop in front of your fathers old desk, picking up a photo that had a layer of dust. He wiped it off with his hand.

“You know… I can still remember this day like it was yesterday.” He hummed a smile, eyes twinkling at you.

You narrowed your eyes, having a sneaking suspicion at what photo he has taken up. You walked over and playfully snatched it out of his hands, glancing down at it for yourself.

Sure enough, you had guessed correctly. The photo was of a young freshman year pair, you and your old friend Bradley. You were both covered in silly string, laughing your asses off at the mess the two of you had caused.

Bates had been the man behind the camera that fateful day, and had taken glee in also capturing your frantic mother in the back of the photo. She had been desperate to clean you both up in time for the family photo, a yearly tradition the entire staff had at the weapons school here.

You smiled and took the photo over to the wall with dozens more, holding it up to the photo with dozens of figures all smiling and dressed in their Sunday best. If you looked closely enough, you could spot both you and Bradley in the front.

Both your white sundress and his white shirt had been stained from the silly string. Just above you was your father, your mother, Bradley’s mother, and your all but blood related uncle Pete “Maverick” Mitchell.

They were all holding in a laugh at how the two of you looked, dishevelled and stained, even after both your mom’s had tried desperately to clean you up for the photo. Still to this day no one had any idea where the two of you had gotten the silly string. That was a secret you and Bradley had pinky sworn to never tell. You always kept your promises.

“You two used to have so much fun together.” Bates mused, smiling to himself, his eyes glazed over in memories.

“Whatever happened to your friendship? You two ever stay in touch after you, uh, picked up and left?” You snapped out of your smile, turning your eyes to look at him.

“That, uh, came out wrong. Sorry” Bates grimaced. No shit, Warlock you thought to yourself.

“We, um, lost touch with each other.” You tried to find a way to phrase it for him. “After he found out he had been rejected from the Naval Academy, I decided to forge my own path. The civilian route. So… I moved to Washington.”

You took a moment to collect your thoughts.

“Bradley… I think he took it hard. The Academy was the only thing he wanted to do after graduation. He didn’t have any other plans. He’s a smart guy, he had all the right grades. He had all the right extra curriculars. Hell, he even had the legacy with Goose being a graduate. It’s always been a mystery to everyone why he got rejected.”

You took a breath, glancing at Bates. He nodded with a soft smile, urging you to continue.

“We saw each other a few times after I left, but it was never, uh, really the same. I guess we just grew apart.” Your mouth twisted around the words awkwardly. You knew why it was never the same, not that you would ever tell Bates this.

How would you ever go about telling, well, anyone that you had hooked up with and lost your virginity to your childhood best friend the night before leaving for the other side of the country for four years? Four years that had now turned into ten.

“I tried to reach out to him after his mother had passed away. It was right when I was finishing my end of term exams… I wasn’t able to make it to the funeral. He never replied to any of my messages or the package and letter I sent him.” Bates was openly looking at you now, he had a neutral expression on his face. You could tell though, he was trying to get a read on what you were feeling.

“I, um. I took it to mean he probably didn’t want to hear from me. After a couple months of trying to reach out to him then, I haven’t spoken to him since. It’s been years now since I’ve seen or heard from him.” You glanced down at your hands, the photo still in them, picking at your nails to avoid his gaze.

“Do you miss him?” Your eyes immediately swung back up to meet his gaze. What?

“What?” You blurt out, having to take a moment to actually speak the phrase.

“Do you miss him? The two of you grew up together. All of us older folk thought your bond was unbreakable. Hell I mean…” He trailed off, glancing back to the photo now forgotten in your hand. He gently took the frame in his putting it on the table, facing the two of you. “To be honest most of us thought the two of you would be married by now, having popped out half a dozen kids.”

Your face was bright red. You felt like you might actually melt into the ground now at this very moment.

Thankfully, Bates let out a barking laugh and slapped the table. “Holy shit, Kazansky. I wish I had a mirror to show you your face right now.”

You laughed along with him, clearly embarrassed.

He took one last look at the old photo, grinning.

“I gotta get back to work now, it’s soon time to head off for the day. Louise is making some kind of stir fry for dinner. She’s on some kind of health kick or another. You’ll have to drop by sometime. I’m sure she’d be thrilled to see you again, and to hear all your sure-to-be swanky tales from the Capitol.” He smiled and nodded to you.

“Here’s the keys to the office. I hope you get at least a fraction of use out of this old office as your old Iceman did. I’m sure with the looks of those books you got there it won’t be an issue for you.” He turned as he was heading out the door, a devious smirk on his face.

“Oh, and don’t ever let me catch you allowing your cat take a shit on my perfect green grass again. Or else I’ll be calling over my favourite drill sergeant to get you to do an asinine amount of pushups, just like any other recruit here would.” He gave you a cheeky wink and then he was off on his way.

You playfully rolled your eyes at his back, your smile returning as you looked down.

You picked up the photo frame one more time, looking to the base of it. On the bottom in your father’s handwriting there was a small written inscription “The fox and her rooster.” You returned the photo to its proper home on your father’s old desk.

You took one last glance around the rooms before leaving and locking the door, heading for the outside once more.

Once arriving at your well loved Ford Bronco, you made sure to check up on Merlin once more. He was happily taking a nap in the warm sun, it was the end of February so the heat hadn’t really started yet.

You sighed as you got into the driver's seat, flipping on the AC and flipping through your CD collection to find what you were looking for. The downside of your vintage beauty was that there was no bluetooth or plug in for your phone. You didn’t mind it though. It added to its charm.

Windows rolled all the way down and your hair thrown up in a claw clip, you put your aviators back on shielding your eyes from the glare of the sun on the road. Popping in your Journeys Frontiers CD, belting your heart out to the music as you started down the drive to the place you once called home. A place where if you’re being honest, your heart still longed for.

I’ll be there soon.

Tag list: @n3ssm0nique @linkedwiththemusic @wonderlandlovelove @serrendiipty @hockeyboysarehot @blossomreed @in-themountains @levylovegood

#bradley bradshaw #top gun rooster #rooster top gun #top gun: maverick #top gun #the fox and the rooster #bradley rooster bradshaw #bradley bradshaw x reader #rooster x reader #reader insert #miles teller #iceman #tom kazansky #Bradley ‘rooster’ Bradshaw X reader

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starry-hughes · 15 days

Text

brendan doesn’t talk while carson drives. she asked him if he would be okay going with her to visit her family. her parents.

when she first moved in with the hughes, she was uprooted from her home town on the east coast. but ellen and jim spared no expense to send her home when she wanted to see her parents graves.

flowers were resting in his hands as she parked, her body was in autopilot. “you okay?” he asked softly. “yeah, fine.”

brendan followed her slowly and let her lead the way. “hi mom, hi dad,” she said dropping to the ground, wiping the headstones clean and removing the previous dead flowers. “my friend’s mom comes out here every couple of weeks and leaves them flowers,” she sniffles.

he kneels next to her, helping her set up the flowers. “um, this is brendan, my boyfriend, the hughes are the reason we are together. you guys would love him i promise.”

brendan’s voice is caught in his throat. “carson is the best thing in my life.”

brendan doesn’t say much as they lay out a blanket and carson curls up into his lap, next to her parents. she tells them things going on in her life, tells them how much she misses them, her progress with therapy.

“i’m going to start the car and get it warmed up, can you fold the blanket please? i’ll be right back.” she asks him. he nods and she walks off. “send me a sign if you’re okay with me marrying your daughter, it doesn’t have to be now, but just one day.”

carson returns and brendan kisses her head, “i’ll let you say goodbye.” he walks off, waiting for her right out of earshot. “bye mom, bye dad, i’ll visit soon again, i promise. hope you guys like bren.”

she reunites with brendan, holding his hand as they walk to the car. “i’m glad you came with me-” she cuts herself off as she looks at the ground. “what’s wrong?” brendan frowns.

leaning down, she picks up a penny and smiles. “my dad always dropped a penny for me for a sign of good luck when i was sad, just to remind me he was thinking of me.”

brendan’s heart stops. “oh.”

“he would put them by my shoes and backpack before school when i had tests and stuff.” she shoves the coin into her pocket. “you okay?” she asks brendan who is slightly pale. “yeah, just cold,” he swallows.

#carson and briss

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is-the-bug-video-cute · 2 years

Text

Karen’s Blog, August 20 2009:

A few days ago I finally went on Cornell’s annual alumni field trip to Shoals Marine Laboratory, on an island off the coast of New Hampshire. Met a lot of nice and interesting people on the boat trip over—Hi Sue, hi Bob, Hi Louise and Stefan and Hannah, hi, Fern. We saw lots of sea birds and seals. We toured the island, watched the bird banding, visited labs, inspected some (very tidy) student dorms.

Cornell offers college-credit courses all summer; students come over for two week stays or longer. At lunch time I sat down with a bunch of students. We all started talking. The girl next to me looked at my name tag, startled, and said “Are you Karen Pryor?” Yes. She was very excited. “Your book changed my life.” Hmm. Too young for it to be Nursing Your Baby; she must mean Don’t Shoot the Dog; the new book’s only been available three weeks.

No, Lily Strassberg meant Reaching the Animal Mind, and got a jacketless and already well-used copy out of her back pack for me to sign.

Lily is 17. She has been clicker training dogs since she was ten, and now teaches public obedience classes. She read my story in Chapter 1 about training a hermit crab to ring a bell. So, for her class research project last week at the marine lab, she set out to train a crab to ring a bell. Her professor doubted it would work, but she was so excited about it, he let her try.

Lily collected some of the local hermit crabs around the island. They were very small and timid so she used the local green crab Carcinus maenas instead. (These are pointy-shelled Portunid crabs, like the blue crabs we eat on the East Coast, only of course they are green not blue.)

Lily used the same reinforcement procedure I did--feeding with forceps, using the movement of the forceps as the click. She shaped the behavior of shoving a hanging weight with a claw, an improvement over my more complicated job of pulling a string down.

Just to be safe, in spare moments across two days she trained two crabs, Crab A and Crab B, Abby and Bertha. She took good and thorough data, photographs, and video too. When she presented her project, the other students burst into applause. The professor said her study was ‘practically publishable.’ When the experiment was over, Lilly released Abby and Bertha back to the ocean in the same place where they were collected.

I was thrilled. So, apparently, were the crabs, and here’s why I think that.

For each session the crab had to be moved into a small experiment tank with a grid drawn on the floor (to measure exactly how far the crab came toward the target each time.) At first the crabs were hard to catch, and struggled mightily when lifted into the air. But soon, they got it—Oh, I’m flying to the place where I train them to feed me delicious stuff—and they just held still to be picked up by the shell, and relaxed completely in the air, legs hanging down calmly. Now I ask you: isn’t that cool? Clicker-wise ‘operant’ crabs?

What were the chances that out of 100 people or more in the room I would sit down next to Lily?

You will be hearing more about Lily, I bet.

#science #hermit crabs #crabs #crustaceans #mod poppy

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aurumacadicus · 2 years

Note

Winteriron camping..... Mothman?

My guy I thought Mothman was a tumblr joke this man is an actual cryptid???? 😭😭 I'm so stupid

Anyway flannel moths! Tony is very fluffy and has very blue fur.

.-.

"This is stupid. We're gonna get killed. I hate this," Bucky muttered, stabbing at the fire they'd built with a stick violently. “How did you talk me into this?”

“I threatened to tell Natasha that you were the one who ate the slice of cake she’d been saving,” Steve replied, unconcerned.

Bucky threw his hands up, frustrated, but he suspected being killed by a cryptid would be better than what Natasha would do to him. “When did you start believing in this stuff, anyway?”

“Sam’s into this stuff and I want to impress him,” Steve answered, shrugging.

“I’M HERE TO HELP YOU GET IN SAM’S PANTS?!” Bucky roared.

Steve blinked at him, unimpressed. He returned his attention to book he’d been reading about different cryptids of the east coast. “You’re here to make sure I live long enough to. You know you wouldn’t have let me come alone anyway so I don’t understand why you’re making a fuss.”

“Unbelievable,” Bucky hissed. He got to his feet and turned to stomp off into the woods.

“Where are you going?” Steve called after him.

“I’m going to walk off my rage so I don’t just fucking kill you myself,” Bucky snapped.

“Take a flashlight.”

Bucky turned to walk back and grab one of the flashlights, then stormed back into the woods.

Maybe he should have brought breadcrumbs or something, because as soon as he got away from the fire, all of the trees looked the same. He was pretty sure that he was following a path, but not entirely. Maybe he should bite the bullet and go back. If Sam was there, he could razz him mercilessly for being attracted to a punk like Steve.

His flashlight caught on something shiny and blue as he turned around. Bucky paused, considering if he wanted to open that kettle of fish, then sighed in frustration. It would bother him forever if he didn’t see what it was. He turned the flashlight back on the trees they’d shone on before, not really expecting anything except maybe a shirt or coat that had been left behind by other campers.

Instead the beam found glowing red eyes. Bucky sucked in a deep breath to scream.

“Ow, fuck, that’s bright. Stop it!” the creature snapped, and a hand came up to shield its eyes.

Bucky dropped the beam just enough to show a furred ruff around the creature’s neck, which spread back to fuzzy blue wings. Its eyeballs’ glow faded to a dull pink as the light moved away. “Um, sorry,” he said, for lack of anything else.

“Well, at least you didn’t scream,” the creature sighed. “It hurts my ears.”

Bucky couldn’t help feeling incredibly proud of himself. A little stupid, too, though. He stole a glance at the creature’s ears, like a human’s except pointed, sort of like what he imagined an elf’s might look like. The tips were coated with blue fuzz, too. Somehow that was cute. “Oh no,” Bucky said.

The creature looked at him, eyes big and frightened. “Are you a hunter? Please don’t hurt me, I wasn’t doing anything.”

“I’ve just had a sexual awakening,” Bucky moaned, rubbing his face with his free hand.

“Oh, a monster fucker,” the creature said flatly. “Sometimes you’re worse.”

“Shut the fuck up people come looking for you for sex?!” Bucky asked shrilly. He found himself sinking to the ground, overwhelmed. “I just found this out about me!”

The creature took a few steps toward him, bending at the waist to be able to see his face. “Well, you don’t have to act like being attracted to me is a chore,” he said, scowling.

“You’re being very rude,” Bucky told it. “I’m having an identity crisis right now. What’s your name? Pronouns? I feel gross calling you ‘it.’“

“I’m Tony,” the creature said. Tony blinked at him, frowning, then added, “I’m male. It’s why I’m blue!” he added cheerfully, fluttering his wings. They shimmered in the dim glow from the flashlight. “Females are yellow.”

“That’s neat,” Bucky said faintly.

Tony blinked at him a little longer, then stood up, crossing his arms thoughtfully. “Well, you’re much prettier than most of the monster fuckers that come looking for us.”

Bucky felt very proud again. He thought maybe he shouldn’t, except Tony didn’t look offended or scared, so. “Thanks, I guess.”

“Yeah, like this weird little human? I don’t think he’s a monster fucker but he smells really fuckin’ horny whenever he comes. I can’t tell if it’s at the thought of me or his hunting partner,” Tony continued, oblivious.

Bucky surged to his feet on instinct and reached out for Tony’s hand. Tony stared up at him, mouth falling open in shock. He looked down at their entwined hands, then back at Bucky’s face.

“This is the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I know screaming hurts your ears but Tony. Tony. Please help me embarrass Steve.”

“The little hunter?” Tony asked skeptically.

“He and Sam just want your picture,” Bucky assured him, and then, “I will make it worth your while.”

Tony narrowed his eyes at him. “What do you have that I would want?”

“Have you ever tried a s’more?” Bucky asked.

Tony blinked, uncomprehending. “No?”

“You’ll love ‘em,” Bucky decided. “Come on.”

“Be careful of my fur, I’m venomous,” Tony warned again, but he allowed Bucky to pull him along anyway.

Bucky warned him to cover his ears just before they cleared the treeline, which seemed to get him in Tony’s good graces as both Sam and Steve screamed bloody murder when they saw him.

#ask meme #write a blurb meme #winteriron #gayspacesprinkles

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agent-troi · 6 months

Note

trick or treat 👻

lol it was a toss up between a fluffy happy family ficlet or an angsty mytharc ficlet, and the random number generator says you get the latter👻

(this was also the product of an @audiofanficpod workshop, and a few people wanted me to continue this which i’m hesitant to even mention bc i just finished two big projects in a row and i’m tired😅)

anyway here you go- happy halloween!🎃

———————————————

It Happened on a Holiday

There was sadness in her face as she told him he looked a lot like his father. It had been a decade since they had last seen him, barely days after William’s birth; he had been heartbroken to have to leave them, but she had (against her fervent, selfish desire to keep him with her) managed to convince him that the separation was vital to all of their safety.

The point was moot now, of course, as Scully had eventually been forced to take William into hiding as well. With no way of contacting Mulder nor figuring out where he was, they were on the run aimlessly, moving from place to place so as to stay one step ahead of Them.

As the years went by, it became more and more apparent that they needed to make a choice. Small towns had appeared safe at first, but it was impossible to preserve their anonymity when everybody knew everybody, and it was paramount that no one discover what William really was.

So, she did the last thing anyone would expect, and brought her son back to the East Coast. Praying they would quickly disappear within the sprawling, bustling metropolis of New York City, she rented a small two-bedroom in Manhattan under one of the aliases she hadn’t yet used. Unwilling to trust his safety to the public school system (or any system that involved letting him out of her sight), she opted to homeschool him, and he thrived under her tutelage.

He asked a lot of questions though, mostly about his father. She put it off for as long as she could, not wanting to tarnish his innocence; but he was too bright of a boy, and despite their lack of interaction with other human beings, he knew he was different from them.

Eventually, she’d been forced to tell him how he was different, and why, as well as the fate that awaited them all if she failed to keep him safe.

“Why’d they pick 2012?” William asked, his hazel eyes wide with fear.

“I don’t know, honey.” Scully stroked his hair. “But we have until then to develop a vaccine from your blood. You’re the only person on the planet with complete, natural immunity to the virus.”

“Is that what the tests are for?” In addition to being his mother and teacher, Scully was also William’s doctor, ensuring he was passing all the necessary developmental milestones… and occasionally taking samples of his blood in her one-woman efforts to develop a vaccine for the alien virus.

She nodded and pulled him into a tight hug, unable to hold back any longer. “I think it’ll be ready soon, but we need to test it. That means we’ll need to take a big risk, and get back in touch with some old friends.”

“Like Dad?”

Scully chuckled even as she held back tears. “I wish, honey. But hopefully, he’ll find us.”

Before They do, she finished the sentence in her mind.

@today-in-fic

#asks #trick or treat #fic writing #x files #txf mytharc #x files fanfic #fox mulder #dana scully #mulder x scully #msr #william scully mulder

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imaginedreamwrite · 1 year

Note

Number 4 for Ariel and Ari

His eyes followed you, instinctively and naturally drawn to you as you enjoyed the soft sand and the gentle crash of waves upon the shore. His little mermaid, his Ariel that was born to be near water, was as breathtaking at the serenity of the ocean you loved.

Ari was fascinated by you, a man who was steadfast and humble yet a stronghold for his faction. He had found himself a wife from the east coast, his bride who adored the sea as if it was alive.

“You’re going to come into the water aren’t you?” Your home had access to the beach, something he had once considered getting rid of but now he had no choice to keep it.

“Ariel,” he stood and dusted sand off his jeans, following your footsteps toward the shore, “we should leave soon.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” you looked over your shoulder toward him, poignantly enrapturing him in your brilliant eyes, “if you want to go and deal with some arrogant council members be my guest.”

“Starfish,” his second pet name for you rolled off his tongue and he reached for you, his hand grasping your wrist, “you promised-“

“Did I?” You cocked a grin and struck without warning, hooking your leg around his to knock him to the shore.

As he fell you clambered on top of him, pinning his arms above his head and slowly leaning down to tease him with your soft lips. He was struck still beneath you, admiring everything he adored about you, everything that drove him mad with desire. You were his perfect match, the two of you a synonymous pair whose hearts beat for each other and truly Ari would lose his mind if anything happened to you.

“I don’t remember promising you anything.” You mumbled against his lips, barely kissing him and adding to your natural allure. “I don’t think-”

Ari didn’t give you warning when he flipped you over, he didn’t give you a chance to protest as he hovered above you and pinned you beneath him. His kiss was possessive, fuelled by the need to own your mouth and claim it for his own. His hands first roamed your body starting at your hips and moving to your ass, fingers deftly tracing your curves.

“I love you.” He said against your kiss, both of you shifting to lay on your sides in the sand, water crashing against your bodies.

“I love you too, Ari.” He held one of your hands above you, fingers intertwining with yours, as the other rest against your back holding you tightly together.

You were bound, legs tangled in the sea and sand, lips becoming numb from your constant exchange of physically intimacy and passion.

“My sweet mermaid,” Ari finally pulled away to give you room to breathe and brushed your wet hair out of your face, “you’re my life.”

“And you’re mine.”

#Ari Levinson x reader #Ari Levinson x reader fluff #Ari Levinson inagines #ari Levinson & Ariel #ari & Ariel #after the end series #after the end

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sapphires-and-silver-linings · 1 year

Text

The Betrayer | Chapter Eight: Where We Begin

Oh, you were in for it now.

Pairing: Albert Wesker/F!Reader, Chris Redfield/F!Reader

Tags: Fluff, Violence, Blood, Minor Character Death

Notes: Hey guys! I know it's been a full month since I last posted. The holidays were very busy, and I spent the last two weeks trying to write this chapter. It was initially going to be a really massive one (I'm talking roughly 20k words), but I decided to split it in half because it was just taking too long to write it. Also, university starts up again next week for me, so it might be a struggle to finish the second half as soon as I'd like. This just felt like a better option, and I really like how this chapter ends anyway, so I'm happy with it! Hope y'all don't mind having two chapters of flashbacks because I felt it was important to set up Lucky's history in S.T.A.R.S. to drive home just how hard Wesker's betrayal really was for her. Hope you enjoy, and let me know what you think!

Masterlist | Previous | Next

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

March 15, 1996; R.P.D.

It was a slow day at the station, something you always hated.

Three of your coworkers in the east office were out with the flu, including your partner, Kevin. That left you trapped at your desk, filling out report after boring report while you waited around, almost hoping for some kind of incident so you could get out onto the street.

No such luck.

Instead, Arthur sidled up to you as you hunched over your paperwork, the officer looking sheepish when you glanced his way. “Hey, would you be a lifesaver and take these reports to the west office? I have a meeting in a few minutes, and I’m already gonna be late as is.”

You groaned as you stretched back in your chair, eyes narrowing as you took in the massive stack of papers in his hands. “Seriously, man?”

He gave you a hopeful smile. “Please? I swear I’ll pay you back.”

You looked down at your desk, considering your own pile of paperwork, and sighed. You did want a break. This was a great chance to stretch your legs.

“Fine, but you owe me a sandwich from Grill 13 for lunch tomorrow, got it?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

You stood and begrudgingly took the sizable stack from Arthur’s arms, holding it to your chest as you bid him goodbye and headed for the opposite side of the building.

You stopped at the ramp that led to the west office entrance, deciding you were going to take the opportunity to make a detour instead of going straight there, the paperwork in your grasp the perfect excuse in case someone asked what you were doing.

Maybe now you could finally check out the new S.T.A.R.S. office upstairs.

Construction had been ongoing for the last few weeks to outfit the room with whatever the new special forces team needed. It was once the station’s gym, but no one was really upset when they discovered it would be moved to a larger space. In fact, many officers (including yourself) had been complaining for years that the gym was far too small for the ever-growing police department.

From those you knew that snuck a peek of the new and improved room, they had built a private office, set up an entire wall of radio equipment, and–what you were most intrigued by–created their own armory.

You made it to the hallway where the office in question was located, meandering down past the locker rooms. You glanced at the vending machines against the wall, wondering idly if you should grab a snack after this little adventure was over.

You reached the door, peering down both ends of the corridor to make sure the coast was clear before you opened it and walked inside.

You weren’t sure what you expected. It looked exactly like you had been told it did.

The dispatch console was massive and pretty high-tech, though you supposed that would have to be the case for a special tactics force.

As you swept your gaze over the room, you found yourself to be a little jealous of the computer monitors that sat on every desk, wishing you could type up your reports instead of cramping your fingers with handwriting.

You then laid your eyes on the armory, which was completely empty. You could only imagine the kind of weapons that would be stored there once the team had actually been formed.

Once satisfied with your snooping in the main room, you approached the private office, thinking back to what you learned about the recently instated captain.

Wesker, you believed his name was.

He was new to the R.P.D., which shocked everyone when he was picked before Marini to be given charge over S.T.A.R.S.

Gossip claimed that he was a tall, menacing-looking man, his eyes always hidden behind his sunglasses. He never smiled–or so you heard–and spoke with a very snide and commanding voice.

“Maybe he’s a lizard man,” David said as the two of you and Rita chatted in the break room. “They say higher-ups usually are.”

You and Rita shared an amused look at your coworker’s words, who always seemed to have a conspiracy for everything.

“I feel like he’d have to be a little higher up than that for the lizard people to believe it was worth the trouble, dontcha think?” you questioned with a laugh.

“Maybe Irons is the real lizard man,” Rita joked, whispering behind her hand.

“I’m just saying, the guy seems a little suspicious,” David replied, defensive.

You snorted. “You say that about everyone, Ford.”

You honestly felt sorry for the guy, considering he hadn’t even officially started working here yet, and already the rumor mill was turning. He probably had to walk a very thin line to maintain respect.

You were well aware that some of your fellow officers would take the first opportunity to try and knock down any new hires a peg, like some kind of frat hazing.

Bunch of dogs.

You rolled your eyes at the thought as you sat in the large, plush chair behind the captain’s desk, placing the stack of papers upon the wooden surface rather haphazardly.

Must be a lot of responsibility to be captain, you mused, kicking your feet up on the desk and leaning back. But man, the perks of getting this chair alone are worth it.

You knew you should get back on task, but it was difficult to push yourself out of the comfortable position.

“I could get used to this,” you said aloud to yourself, closing your eyes for a moment, relaxed.

“I see someone’s made herself at home.”

You gasped at the deep voice that penetrated through your daydreaming, throwing your legs off the desk and sending the papers sitting on the edge flying to the floor.

“You scared me!” you exclaimed as you dropped to your knees and started picking up the reports, not even bothering to look at the man standing in the doorway.

“Well, it’s not every day you find a stranger getting comfortable at your desk,” he admonished as he drew closer.

“Your… desk..?” Your eyes widened before shooting up to the man in front of you, met with your own reflection in his dark shades. “Captain Wesker?”

“How astute,” he replied sardonically as he appraised you. “And you are?”

You turned your attention back to the scattered papers to avoid his piercing gaze that you could feel even through his glasses as you offered him your name.

“You’re a patrol officer, aren’t you? What are you doing up here? Not slacking off, I hope.”

You sighed, feeling a bit embarrassed that you were caught. “Not slacking off, per se. I was asked to bring these reports to the west office and decided to take a little… detour. Wanted to check out the S.T.A.R.S. headquarters before it was in full use, you know?”

He hummed in response and–to your surprise–knelt down across from you to help you in your endeavor, his voice sounding amused as he inquired, “Well, is my personal office to your liking?”

Your eyes snapped back to his face at his teasing, the barest hint of a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. But that’s not what really held your attention, no.

His shades slid slightly down his nose as he assessed you, revealing the most dazzling pair of blue eyes you’d ever seen, like two sapphires set in stone.

You felt breathless looking at him, really taking in how handsome the man was.

“Cat got your tongue, Officer?” he asked as he passed over the papers in his grasp.

You huffed out a bashful laugh, feeling your cheeks redden as you took the reports from him. “Sorry. To answer your previous question, yes. Probably the most comfortable office chair I’ve ever sat on.”

“Ah, good to know,” he replied as he stood to his full height, adjusting his sunglasses so that they covered those beautiful eyes once more, to your displeasure.

You stood as well, having gathered all the papers. “You haven’t used your desk yet?”

“Hadn’t had the chance, I’m afraid. I technically don’t start until Monday, but I wanted to make sure everything was in working order,” he explained as he stroked a finger over the desk, lifting it to his face to inspect the level of dust that had settled on the relatively new piece of furniture before turning back to face you.

“I’m so sorry, Captain Wesker. I didn’t even think about–”

He waved his hand dismissively. “No need to fret, my dear, I’m only pleased to hear it’s to your standards.”

If you were flushed before, you must look like a tomato now. The term of endearment made your heart skip a beat.

You managed to calm yourself down, wondering why you were acting like this, and responded, “Well, I should really get back to work.”

“I won’t stop you,” he said as he moved out of your way, allowing you to exit the small office.

“It was nice to finally meet you, Captain,” you told him earnestly, holding out your hand for him to shake, your other one grasping the stack of reports tightly to avoid any more mishaps.

He took your hand in his larger one, the grip firm, though not crushing. “Likewise.”

You turned to leave but stopped in your tracks, glancing over your shoulder at him with an abashed smile. “You won’t tell my superiors about this, right? I’m sure I’ll get reamed if they knew I was taking the scenic route.”

He folded his arms across his chest and that ghost of a smirk appeared once more. “Your secret is safe with me.”

You nodded, appreciative, and hurried out of the room, something you hadn’t felt in a long time fluttering in your stomach.

***

May 7, 1996; R.P.D.

It was unusually cold for a May morning. You rubbed your arms to warm yourself since you didn’t think to grab a jacket before leaving your apartment.

You paused, quirking a brow when you heard Kevin humming to himself beside you as he cheerfully scribbled on a piece of paper.

“I know for a fact that isn’t a report you’re filling out so happily. What is it?” you questioned suspiciously.

“Oh nothing, really,” he replied with a shrug before fixing you with an impish smile you knew far too well. “Just getting around to applying to S.T.A.R.S., is all.”

“Didn’t you pick up that form like, a month ago?”

He rolled his eyes. “So what? I’m doing it now. The team is the R.P.D.’s baby anyway. Not like it’s going anywhere.”

“Well, I’m rooting for you to get in, Kev,” you told him, clapping him on the back.

“You could apply too, you know.”

There it was, the typical Kevin way of not-so-subtly hinting at something he wanted from you without ever straight up saying it. Something that drove you crazy during your relationship. Actually, it still drove you crazy, if you were honest.

You sighed, this being the umpteenth time he’s brought up the two of you joining S.T.A.R.S. together.

Sure, the team piqued your interest, especially all of the new recruits, but you had no real desire to join it yourself. You were pretty happy with your current position. Besides, you cringed every time you thought of your one and only interaction with their esteemed and intimidating captain, where you embarrassed yourself completely.

“I already told you, Kev, I’m not interested.”

“I know, I know,” he replied as he stood from his chair. “I’m gonna grab a coffee from the break room. Be right back.”

You waved him off, a part of you feeling a little guilty for being so adamantly against applying. Neither of you wanted to separate as partners, but you knew he’d make fun of you if you told him why you weren’t keen on joining the special tactics force.

You were certain your application would be tossed immediately anyway, so why bother?

You shook your head to clear your thoughts and tried to focus on finishing the report that you had started earlier.

That is, until you felt a presence looming behind you.

You assumed that it was Kevin, turning around in your seat to tell him off for hovering again, but the words died on your tongue when you found yourself staring at Captain Wesker instead.

“Captain? What are you doing here?” you questioned, more than a little confused.

“I’ve come here to make a suggestion,” he replied simply. “You should apply for S.T.A.R.S.”

“I–what?” you asked dumbly.

“I’ve seen your work history here at the R.P.D. You’ve proven yourself to be loyal, competent, and hardworking,” he explained, leaning down slightly to place the application form in front of you before looking at you directly. “Or hardworking until you ‘take a detour’, I should say.”

You’ve never felt so bewildered by someone–or so exposed by their gaze.

You thought you utterly humiliated yourself in front of him, and yet he was practically offering you a job? He must have looked into you after your first meeting, but you couldn’t fathom what about you would garner the attention.

“Oh, sir, I’m not sure. I’m pretty content with where I’m at right now,” you said, repeating what you’d been telling Kevin for weeks. You were now more conflicted in making this decision, but it felt like the better option. Or the safer one.

His brow twitched ever-so-slightly at your response, but he replied coolly, “The choice is yours but do reconsider. It would be a great opportunity for you. A woman of your caliber will surely bore of your current station before too long.”

With that, the man turned and strode out of the room.

You sat there for a moment, trying to wrap your brain around the interaction.

“I’m back,” Kevin announced as he plopped into his seat.

When you didn’t immediately respond, he glanced over, seeing the application sitting on your desk.

“What the hell is that?” he demanded. “Did you lie to me about not wanting to apply?”

You snapped out of your reverie at the accusation. “I didn’t lie! Captain Wesker gave it to me just now.”

“As if.”

You sighed before caving and telling Keven about your first meeting with the captain weeks ago, and what he just said to you a few moments prior.

It seemed your partner finally believed you as he leaned back in his chair. “Well, shit. Are you really not gonna join? He was right when he said it would be a great opportunity, and you apparently made a good impression somehow.”

You looked down at the form, tracing your finger over the S.T.A.R.S. emblem at the top of the first page, considering.

The biggest reason you didn’t want to apply was your fear that Wesker thought you were a lazy idiot, but the man himself just claimed otherwise.

And you would be lying to yourself if you said the prospect of getting closer to the enigmatic captain didn’t excite you.

He was just so… mysterious.

It must have been a curse, then, that you always loved a good mystery.

You tapped your nail on the application, feeling suddenly sure of yourself.

“I think I’ve changed my mind.”

***

May 23, 1996; R.P.D.

You stood in front of the door to the S.T.A.R.S. office once more, staring at it instead of just opening it up and entering like you knew you should.

You had always been riddled with anxiety when it came to big changes like this, but for some reason, this one seemed far more life-altering than most you’ve dealt with in the past.

Shortly after Wesker’s “suggestion”, you and Kevin had filled out your applications to the special tactics team together.

“Good luck, partner,” Kevin said as the two of you went to turn in your forms.

You glanced over to him and he held up his little finger to you, which you wrapped tightly with your own. Something you always did to show solidarity.

“Good luck, Kev,” you responded, hoping for the best, for both of you.

Kevin had been severely disappointed when he discovered that your application had been accepted and his wasn’t. He even spent the rest of the evening nursing a drink and complaining to anyone who was within earshot at J’s Bar.

You felt guilty about it, especially knowing that you only recently changed your mind about joining S.T.A.R.S. And despite Kevin’s constant reassurances that you would remain friends even if you were no longer partners, it did little to quell the heartbreak of knowing the two of you would never go on patrol together again, or sit next to each other at your desks and goof off between half-finished reports.

The realization of that almost made you rescind your application altogether, to which Kevin hastily told you it would be good for you and that he wasn’t going anywhere if you got the job.

“Who else would beat me at darts?” he had joked, patting your head like a dog.

You sniffled, trying not to let the tears building up in your eyes escape as you laughed. “Everyone this side of town, Ryman. You suck at them.”

The man usually struggled to stay serious, something you once couldn’t stand but now found endearing. However, he managed to give your shoulder a comforting squeeze and said with the most sincere tone you’ve ever heard from him, “You’re not getting rid of me that easily.”

Despite knowing you’d miss Kevin as your partner (as well as your other office mates), and the anxiety of such a decision, you were excited.

You’d never escape the grueling paperwork, but the missions would be far more interesting, and you were keen on getting to know the other members of the team. They were the best of the best, and you could learn a thing or two.

Of course, you still had to survive your interview with the captain himself, which somehow made you more nervous than the unsettling one you underwent with Chief Irons when you were fresh-faced from the police academy. You still shivered every time you thought about the old perv and how he had raked his eyes over you like a piece of meat.

Fortunately, though, the interview went well.

The captain was as cool and collected as you now expected him to be, seeming to listen intently as you answered his questions to the best of your ability. You were confident in your skills, but only being able to see your own reflection in his shades and incapable of deciphering his tone made you sweat.

“Well,” he said as you answered his final question, “I believe that concludes the interview.”

You stood up as he did, your hands twiddling in front of you. “So? How’d I do?”

He offered a small smile at that, escorting you to his door. “It would do you well to be more stoic. You have a habit of showing your every emotion on your face.”

You stiffened at that, turning to face him with wide eyes, certain that you screwed yourself out of the job before you even had the chance to work it.

Before he opened the office door, he looked down at you. “You start first thing tomorrow. See you then.”

You had sputtered out a thanks, rushing out of the room and into the hallway so you could catch your breath.

You couldn’t believe it.

You made the team.

Kevin congratulated you when you told him, and he offered to take you out for a couple drinks in celebration. You decided to decline, not wanting to overdo it and show up the first day on the job with a hangover. He rolled his eyes, but he didn’t pester.

You hardly slept that night, rehearsing introductions in hopes you wouldn’t make a fool of yourself (more than you already had).

And now here you were, standing in front of the S.T.A.R.S. office.

You straightened your spine and the box of your belongings from downstairs that was tucked under your arm before walking into the room.

Your initial plan of action was to meet with the captain, but you could see he was talking to someone in his office. Your attempt to remain self-assured faltered a bit as you stood there uselessly, not sure if you should wait by the door or come back later.

“Hey, can I help you?” you heard a voice say.

You turned to find a beautiful young woman walking up to you, her brown hair in a short bob and her blue eyes regarding you with light curiosity.

You introduced yourself by name, offering her your free hand to shake.

“Oh, you’re the new recruit, aren’t you? It’s nice to meet you. I’m Jill Valentine. Come here, I’ll show you your desk.” She released your hand from hers, turning and leading you further into the room. She placed her fingers on a chair that was pushed under a desk that sat in the middle of the office. “You’re here. I’m right behind you.”

You sat the box of your things on the surface of your new space, awkwardly trying to avoid crushing the keyboard in the process. As you looked up from the action, a gaggle of inquisitive men crowded around you.

“Who are you?” one of them asked, taking in your civilian clothing. You had turned in your old uniform before arriving at the office and had yet to be outfitted for your new one.

“She’s the new member,” Marini informed them, walking up behind the group. You didn’t know the vice-captain personally, but you knew of him. The surrounding men parted so he could give you a firm handshake. “Welcome to the team. We’re glad to have you.”

“Thank you, sir. I’m glad to be here.”

He nodded before leaving, the group converging once more to greet you. You gave out one handshake after another, your new team members leaving to sit at their own desks after introducing themselves.

The two men that remained didn't seem to be in a rush to leave as they considered you.

One of them had a red bandana tied around his head and saluted you with a smile. “Joseph Frost.”

“Forest Speyer,” the other said, sporting a brunet mullet.

“Nice to meet you,” you responded, shaking their hands like the others.

“It’s great to finally have an actual chick working with us,” Forest added. “Jill doesn’t count.”

“Up yours, Speyer,” The woman retorted with a roll of her eyes. “Don’t mind these two. They’re the resident clowns.”

Joseph reached out to squeeze her nose, making a honking noise as she swatted his hand away.

“In all seriousness, it’s nice to have another woman on the team. Feels like I’m drowning in testosterone everyday,” Jill told you in amused exasperation.

You scoffed in agreement, leaning against your desk and crossing your arms over your chest. “I know what you mean. The department’s a bit of a sausage fest.”

“Hey, sausage is delicious!” Joseph defended.

Forest, who had been leaning on his friend, was quick to wrap his arm around his neck and give him a noogie. “You would know, wouldn’t you, Frost?”

“Okay, wait a minute!” Joseph said, trying to pull Forest off of him. “I didn’t mean it like that, man!”

You laughed as the friends roughhoused, Jill smiling at you warmly.

“You guys wrestling without me?” another man asked as he approached the four of you. He was tall, muscular, and incredibly handsome, his brown eyes falling on you as Forest let go of Joseph. “You lost, sweetheart? I could escort you to the reception desk. Or better yet, out to dinner.”

You were stunned by such a bold flirtation, only able to narrow your eyes at the large man.

“Uh, Chris–” Jill started.

“I’d prefer you didn’t harass the new hire, Redfield,” Captain Wesker interrupted as he seemingly appeared out of thin air, disdain seeping from his tone at his subordinate’s terrible pick-up line.

“New hire?” the other man questioned before glancing back at you, looking sheepish. “Shit, I’m sorry about that. I’m Chris Redfield, by the way.”

You had heard that name quite a bit since he was recruited a few weeks prior. The receptionists always gossiped about how handsome and charming he was. You weren’t sure if “charming” was the right word for it, now that you finally met him. “Cheeseball” seemed more suitable.

You smiled, feeling forgiving as you shook his hand and gave him your name in turn. “No worries, Redfield. Talk to me like that again, though, and I’ll have to kick your ass.”

In your peripheral vision, you could swear you saw a smirk on Wesker’s face at your words. It was gone when you looked his way.

“No need for that. I’ll be on my best behavior. Promise,” Chris replied with a chuckle and a good-natured wink.

“Glad to see introductions are over,” Wesker said, now fully facing you. “I have a meeting with the chief soon, but you and I have some things to discuss. When I return, I want you to come to my office. Understood?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Good,” was all he declared before turning and striding out of the room.

Once the door closed behind him, you pivoted toward your new teammates, whispering, “Is he… usually that standoffish?”

The group nodded in response.

“He’s a good leader, don’t get me wrong,” Chris told you. “He can be a hardass sometimes, but he’s fair. Just kind of–I don't know–reserved, I guess.”

“Hm,” you responded, staring at the office door in thought.

You wondered if maybe you could get closer to him than the others, though you weren’t sure how to do that. Or even why. Sure, he was handsome, but he was your boss. Nothing good would come from feeding the flames of this little crush you somehow managed to form in the minimal interactions you had with him.

This was a dangerous game, and you knew you shouldn’t play it.

The image of those blue eyes danced in your mind anyway.

You sat down at your desk, half listening to your teammates as they talked and joked around, deciding to put away your things while you waited for the captain to return.

When you were finished, you glanced around, freezing when you realized you could see directly into Wesker’s office. The two of you would be able to look right at each other when the blinds were pulled up.

“Was I assigned this desk, do you know?” you asked the others.

“Yeah, Wesker picked it. Why?” Jill questioned.

You felt heat creeping up your neck.

Surely, that wasn’t on purpose, right? It had to be some coincidence that he put you within sight of his office. That, or maybe he was keeping a close eye on you to make sure you didn’t fuck up.

Either way, you felt a thrill of both exhilaration and apprehension run through you all at once, knowing you’d easily be able to sneak a glance at him whenever you wanted.

God, you were so juvenile.

“No reason,” you lied, trying to get a hold of yourself.

The job was going to be interesting, to say the least.

***

August 6, 1996; R.P.D.

The days bled into weeks.

The team seemed to accept you into the fold with ease, your experience in the force something they respected despite your lack of the more elite training a majority of them had received during their time in the military.

That was something that Wesker and Marini would rectify, however, having you spend time with each member of the team to learn their trade.

They wanted you to be their everyman, someone who could fill any role in case someone was unavailable and their particular expertise was required. But what they needed most was a medic, and that was the first thing you were trained in upon your official induction to S.T.A.R.S.

You had always been a quick study, building up your skills rapidly. You found yourself making fast friendships with your teammates, immediately falling into stride while on missions.

The constant learning, the fighting, the delicious adrenaline of a dangerous assignment well done–it sang in your veins. You had enjoyed your time as a patrol officer and missed working with Kevin and the others, but this team felt like home.

And even with the guilt you still felt for leaving Kevin behind, your friendship was steadfast like he had promised, telling you he’d just apply again. You managed to convince him to go out bar-hopping with some of the team and it didn't even end in disaster, to your relief.

If you were content before, you were positively radiant with joy now, feeling more energetic and ready to take on the world than you had in years.

Even your father, who never really accepted your desire to be on the force despite his military background, could see you were happy and commented on it. He told you he was proud of you, something you’d rarely heard from his mouth. It brought you to tears to hear it.

Maybe this was your calling.

It didn’t help that the captain took note of your aptitude, and although rare, his praise was something you started to yearn for. It was honestly pathetic, you were well aware, but you couldn’t stop the swell of self-satisfaction you felt when he told you how good of a job you were doing.

You’d be lying if you said that his approval wasn’t one of the reasons you tried so hard, but no one had to know. So you let yourself secretly bask in the occasional attention.

You had to admit, though, to your own chagrin, that your crush on your superior was getting a little out of control. The things he did had you going crazy, second-guessing his intentions with every interaction.

It started with him gripping your shoulder ever-so-lightly as he peered over it to check your report progress, which had you stiffening like a board in your seat.

“Good work,” he had said, the words making your heart skip a beat before he moved away like nothing happened.

And then came the light touches, like a tap against your arm to get your attention, or brushing your fingers with his own as you handed something over to him.

It was all innocent enough. You could pass it off as incidental, or as your growing desperation for his returning affection making you imagine he could have any real interest in you beyond your position on the team.

You’d never been good at deciphering signals like that anyway. Kevin had to speak quite plainly for you to realize he liked you as more than a friend.

But then you’d find yourself glancing every so often into Wesker’s office to discover he was already looking at you. You were quick to avert your gaze, but you could still feel the heat of his stare long after your eyes had fallen back to your desk.

It made you wonder.

“We still on for Friday?” Chris asked you, pulling you from your daydreaming.

You smiled as your head fell to the side of your chair to look at the man—who was becoming one of your closest friends in record time—and remembered your plans for the weekend.

He was shocked you had never ridden on a motorcycle before and was adamant he take you on a ride one day. You told him Friday evenings were preferable so that you didn’t have to rush back home to get ready for work the next morning.

You informed him it wasn’t a date, however, and he had rolled his eyes.

“If it was a real date, you’d know,” he said, a mirthful gleam in his gaze.

“I thought you said you’d behave, Redfield,” you teased, smacking his arm at the implication.

“Well, I have, haven’t I?”

“And you better keep it that way.”

He looked at you expectantly and you could laugh at the expression on his face. He was awfully cute for such a buff guy. Like a teddy bear.

“Sure are,” you replied finally, offering a wink and a finger gun.

“Good, cos there’s this great burger joint I found a few towns over. You’ll love it.”

“Greasy food and a long drive? You’re speaking my language, Redfield.”

“What can I say? You seem the type.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” you questioned, laughing.

He shrugged. “Just a woman of simple pleasures, I guess.”

You scoffed in mock defense. “My pleasures can be plenty extravagant, I’ll have you know.”

“I don’t know, but you can show me.”

Your mouth dropped at his sheer audacity and he gave you a shit-eating grin.

You reached over and flicked his nose as hard as you could, making him flinch backward, to your satisfaction.

“Can you guys stop flirting while I’m trying to work?” Kenneth said from a few desks over.

“Hey, that’s all on him, okay?” you defended, standing up.

“Where are you going?” Chris asked, brow raised. “I didn’t offend you that badly, did I?”

“Oh, don’t get your panties in a twist, Redfield. I’m just gonna grab a coffee. Try not to cry too hard when I leave.”

He shook his head at you, turning back to his desk as you waved, backing out of the office.

It was a bit quiet today, as several of the S.T.A.R.S. members were on an assignment.

You’d normally prefer to be out there with them, but goofing off with Chris always made doing paperwork more bearable. You still worried about your other teammates, though, a little tense as you awaited their updates over the radio and hopeful return to the R.P.D.

You made your way casually to the break room, which was usually uninhabited this time of the morning. You liked it that way, making it easy for you to enjoy a moment of peace as you sipped on your hot beverage in comfortable silence.

You put on a fresh pot, leaning idly against the counter as you waited, wondering what your team was up to at that very moment.

Finally, the coffee was brewed, and you were quick to make up your drink, perching on the counter this time, your legs dangling. You technically weren’t supposed to be sitting there, something Marvin got onto you for several times in the past. But the room was empty, so you didn’t care.

After a couple of minutes, you found your mind wandering back to your captain, something it often did these days.

You liked to imagine taking off his sunglasses fully to really display his features. You thought about what his hair looked like when it wasn’t slicked back, how it would feel between your fingers. You bit your lip as you envisioned what he looked like under his uniform, what it would be like to run your hands down his taut abs, and then lower.

Your brain started to enter certified gutter territory when the door to the break room suddenly opened, and you were met with an all too familiar figure striding towards you.

Speak of the devil.

You could feel your cheeks redden as you looked upon Wesker himself, cursing your mind for the dirty thoughts you were just ruminating on seconds ago.

He greeted you coolly as he approached you, pouring himself a cup.

“Captain,” you offered in return. “How was the meeting with the chief?”

He frowned slightly, placing the cup on the countertop, his tone laced with a hint of vitriol, “About as well as usual.”

“That bad, huh?” you tried to joke, unsure of where to go from there.

That always seemed to be the case with the captain. You would attempt to conversate with him, maybe even get to know him, and he would deflect or give the most minimal or cryptic response.

But sometimes… Sometimes your probing worked and he would open up a little bit.

“Mm,” was his only reply.

Guess today wasn’t one of those days.

You deflated at that, feeling awkward as you took a sip of your drink, looking away from him.

Thinking that was it, you were shocked when he moved closer, standing directly in front of you before leaning forward.

You short-circuited as his face neared yours, and your breath hitched at the thought of him kissing you right then and there.

Your lips parted as you stared at him, waiting for him to make a move.

Before you knew it, he pulled back, a stirring straw between his fingers.

“Just needed this,” he informed you.

You felt embarrassed at your reaction, but you could have sworn you saw a knowing smirk grace his lips before he grabbed his cup and left the room.

You shook your head, pressing your hand over your heart as you tried to calm it.

But as you jumped off the counter, ready to get back to work, a realization struck you.

He never added sugar or cream. What was there to stir?

This man, you thought, laughing airily to yourself. He’s gonna be the death of me.

***

September 13, 1996; R.P.D.

“You fight like a girl,” Chris taunted as the two of you circled each other, your fists raised and ready to strike.

“Oh, we’re going that route, are we? Trying to piss me off enough to lose my cool?” you replied with a sneer. “Dirty trick, Redfield.”

You were both drenched in sweat, having been at this for several minutes.

You were good at fighting, your teen years spent in hallway smackdowns and mixed martial arts classes, plus the police training as an adult. But Chris’s skills far outweighed your own, a big reason why you ever sparred with him to begin with. He always beat you in these matches, though you were getting better every time.

And today you were going to take him down.

“Not a trick if it’s true.” At that moment he lunged forward, aiming for your stomach.

This was what you were waiting for the whole fight, dodging his punches and kicks and landing smaller but quicker hits between them. He was fast for a big dude, but you were faster.

You just had to pick the right moment.

You dropped low as he lurched forward, using his own momentum and catching him off balance.

He fell to the ground face first and you were quick to pounce, straddling his back and holding his arms behind him with all your strength.

You could feel the muscles of his arms flexing in your own as he tried to pull out of your grasp, but at this angle, he had no leverage.

“Alright, alright. I yield,” he muttered.

“I’m sorry, what was that?” you asked meanly, tilting your head forward.

“I yield and you won. Happy?” he said more loudly, just to appease you.

“Hell yeah!” you shouted, releasing your hold on him.

You pulled out your mouthguard, pumping your gloved fist in the air, the excitement of taking Chris down for the first time making you giddy.

You leapt to your feet, holding your hand out to help him up. “Wanna go another round, Redfield?”

“Would if I could,” he said, taking off the velcro straps of one of his gloves with his teeth after removing his own rubber piece from behind his lips.

“Oh, scared I’ll beat you again?” you teased, walloping him in the gut good-naturedly.

He knocked aside your hand as he rolled his eyes. “You know I have to go pick up Claire from the airport. Otherwise, I’d put you in your place.”

“I’m choosing to ignore that last part,” you said, plopping down on the floor for a quick break and ripping off your own gloves. “You two still coming over for dinner tomorrow night? You know, so I can finally meet her?”

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” he told you with a grin, gathering his gear and heading toward the men’s locker room. “Seeya then!”

“I better!” you called, watching him as he slipped through the door.

You fell onto your back and starfished out on the mat, your exhaustion from the match finally catching up to you.

A part of you still wanted to go another round, wondering if anyone from your team was still hanging around the precinct. You could even hit up your buddies in the east and west offices. Rita always loved a good fight with you.

“That was impressive,” a deep voice rang out.

With a jolt, you sat upright, looking wide-eyed at the man walking towards you.

“Captain!” you exclaimed. “You saw that?”

“I did,” he told you. “Chris is one of my best fighters, so that was no easy feat.”

You wanted to accept the full glory of such a compliment, but you had the suspicion that Chris was holding back the whole fight. “I think he took it easy on me, to be honest.”

“Well, he shouldn’t have underestimated you, then. His mistake.”

“Thank you, sir,” you replied, only able to offer him a bashful smile, changing the subject in order to hide the way his words affected you, “What brings you to the gym anyway?”

He was still in his S.T.A.R.S. uniform, so clearly he wasn’t already exercising when he happened upon your sparring match with Chris.

“I usually complete my workouts early in the day, but Chief Irons’s emergency call this morning was quite the disruption to my schedule.”

“Better late than never, I guess.” You let out a shrill giggle that sounded unnatural coming from your mouth, making yourself wince at your own awkwardness.

“Indeed,” he said, scanning the room. “Would you be up for another round? Unlike Chris, I have no intention of going easy on you.”

Had you imagined the dark lilt in his voice as he spoke those last few words? Something about it made your spine tingle.

You were nervous at the idea of sparring with the captain, though, mainly because you knew he was the best at combat in S.T.A.R.S., even above Chris. And if you were only just now able to take Chris down in a match, knowing full well he didn’t put his all into the fight, you had no chance against Wesker.

You weren’t exactly leaping at the opportunity to get humiliated by your boss, but the thought of him touching you, even in a violent way, gave you pause in declining his offer.

“Uh, yeah. Sure,” you eventually agreed.

“Excellent. I’ll be right back.” He left for a few minutes to change into his athleticwear, something you realized you’d never seen him in until now. The thought drove you a little crazy. You shoved the guard back in your mouth and returned your gloves to your hands in anticipation.

He came back into the room in a well-fitted white t-shirt and black sweatpants. You felt your face heat up as you drank in his appearance and the way the fabric clung to his body. You never thought someone could look so hot in sweats, and yet.

He pulled on his gloves as he joined you on the mat, sunglasses still on his face and no protective piece of rubber in sight.

“Uh, sir, shouldn’t you wear a mouthguard?”

“Oh, don’t worry,” he assured, nonchalant as he got into position in front of you, “I won’t need it.”

Bewildered by his confidence, you matched his stance, putting up your hands.

“Ready?” he asked.

“Ready.”

Before you could even blink, he was on you, immediately throwing a punch that sent you staggering back a step.

You recovered swiftly, able to dodge the next one, though barely.

You were shocked by how lithe and quick on his feet he was, considering his height and the fact he was a decade older than you.

You went for a low blow at his side, hoping to open his guard for a second hit.

He blocked it with ease before punching you in the gut so hard, it winded you.

“Keep your guard up,” he instructed, giving you the barest of moments to recuperate before he landed his next strike.

You were struggling to find an opening, so you had to desperately dodge and weave in hopes of catching him unawares. You knew you wouldn’t have enough momentum to charge him, as he wouldn’t let you back away far enough. You worried if you tried to kick him, he’d just pull your feet from under you.

Maybe you could trip him?

That would be your best bet of getting him on the ground.

You narrowly avoided a kick to the chest, realizing now was your chance before he could stand in a more stable position.

You quickly swept your leg out, aiming straight for his ankles.

Before you could finish the movement, however, he was able to grapple you with ease, your world spinning as he flipped you spine-first onto the mat, pinning you there.

You were breathing heavily as you tried to loosen his grip, your frustration mounting at the obvious futility of it.

“Fine, I yield,” you finally admitted, slumping back against the mat in defeat.

Your eyes snapped up when you heard him chuckle above you, the man barely having broken a sweat.

“You lasted longer than I expected,” he told you as he leaned down, the suggestive smirk on his face crashing you back to the reality that he was on top of you, his face mere inches from your own.

He hovered for a moment, almost teasingly, before releasing you and standing up.

He pulled off one of his gloves and held his hand out for you to take as he said, “You need to work on predicting your opponent’s next move, my dear.”

“Duly noted,” you replied as you let him help you to your feet, feeling embarrassed by your blunders throughout the whole match.

But there was something else too.

The rush you felt as he pinned you down would fuel your fantasies for weeks to come.

He gave you a small smile, stunning you as he tucked a loose strand of hair behind your ear, an incredibly tender action considering what had just transpired between you. “We’ll have to do this again sometime.”

Oh, you were in for it now.

***

November 5, 1996; Raccoon Forest

The day had taken an unexpected turn, one that you couldn’t help but be grateful for.

Just over an hour ago, you had been sitting in the S.T.A.R.S. office, arguing with Forest over which popular rock bands would win in a bar brawl when Wesker and Marini strode into the room, the purpose in their steps indicating one thing and one thing only:

A new mission briefing.

There had been a robbery at the Johnson National Bank and the eight culprits had scattered to the winds. Intel suggested they had run off to the Raccoon Forest, up near the town of Cedar, but there were a handful of places they had been seen in and around the area. It was decided that a few members of the team (and yourself) would be splitting up into groups to check out the different locations.

And that led to you sitting in the passenger seat of one of the R.P.D.’s unmarked vans, Wesker behind the wheel.

You were more than a little shocked by his decision to have the two of you go alone on this assignment, the man usually sticking to larger groups or remaining behind in the S.T.A.R.S. office to have a better hold of the situation. This time, he left Marini in charge, to everyone’s bewilderment. It didn’t last long, however, the team immediately jumping into action.

You, though? You were dazed. Giddy, even.

You came into work everyday just hoping you’d have another moment alone with him like some blushing schoolgirl, happy as a clam to be given any opportunity.

Over the last few weeks, he had continued his maddening gestures of light touches and shared glances (which seemed to be a constant these days, to your delight), and you had sparred several times since that very first match.

He always managed to pin you to the ground, no matter how much you’d been improving, and despite your competitive nature making you want to win just once, you couldn’t help but relish the physical contact combat training with him brought. You still enjoyed and learned a lot from your matches with Chris, but Wesker was the better teacher. Maybe that was the infatuation talking, though.

And now you were sitting alone with him, heading towards a cabin in the woods.

It would almost be romantic if you took the armed robbers out of the equation.

The relatively long drive was quite tense, however, and you tried desperately multiple times to ease it with mindless smalltalk. The captain was very clearly uninterested in that.

And so the last stretch of the trip was completely silent, save for the occasional chatter of your team over the radio.

You spent most of the ride staring out at the passing trees, picking at your cuticles as you were oft to do.

“You should stop doing that.”

You startled at Wesker’s voice in the quiet vehicle, whipping your head around to face him. He glanced at you only for a moment before putting his attention back on the road ahead.

“Nervous habit,” you mumbled, feeling like a scolded child.

He didn’t respond, but you continued to look at him anyway.

You admired the slope of his nose, his strong jawline, and the way he seemed to be made of only hard lines and sharp edges. How someone so cold could set you ablaze was beyond you.

Maybe you just wanted what you couldn’t have.

He half-turned back to you, meeting your gaze with a slight quirk of his brow. “Yes?”

“Nothing!” you said a little too quickly, embarrassed you had been caught outright ogling him in such close quarters.

He let out a faint snicker, and when you peered over at him, you saw the smug smile that graced his lips. You were expeditious in returning your eyes to the window, not wanting him to see the heat blooming in your face.

Did he have any inkling as to what he did to you? How he affected you so severely, it must have changed the wiring of your brain?

He had to know, right? At least somewhat? The way he’d tease you or smirk at you had to mean something.

He’s still my boss, you reminded yourself. It wouldn’t matter if he knew. It wouldn’t matter if he felt even a fraction of the same way. Nothing good would come of it.

You knew that.

Still, you thought of sapphires.

You remained facing away from him until he pulled down a dirt road and parked the van between some trees, giving you ample cover from prying eyes.

You sat up straight, unbuckling your seatbelt as you turned to him for instruction, knowing when to set aside your feelings for the sake of the job.

The plan was simple enough: the two of you would circle the perimeter before advancing in on the cabin. If there was any indication that more than at least two of the perps were present, you would return to the van and call for backup. Otherwise, you could proceed with searching the small building and possibly make an arrest.

The captain informed the team of your whereabouts and of the plan, a couple of them already through with their inspections, finding nothing. He told them to remain on standby while you and the others conducted your own search.

“Stay close to me,” Wesker warned as the two of you readied your guns, carefully making your way to the clearing where the old wooden cabin sat.

You and the captain checked the surrounding area, noting there weren’t any vehicles present, though the tire tracks in the dirt just outside the building were fresh.

There were no lights on inside the cabin as you approached the door, waiting for Wesker’s orders. He had you pick the lock, which you did with relative ease, before he went in ahead of you, gun first.

The place was a mess, beer bottles and other garbage littering every surface. It smelled of mildew and sweat, which made you crumple your nose in disgust as you shuffled silently through the tiny rooms.

You followed Wesker as he entered the final space–a bedroom–and ripped the closet door open to find it empty, save for a stack of shoe boxes in the corner.

“All clear at the cabin,” he said, both to you and the radio. “We’re going to search the place more thoroughly. Tell me if anything changes on your end. Over.”

You heard a chorus of “copy that” as you lowered your gun, feeling more relaxed as you began looking for either the stolen money or clues to the thieves’ current whereabouts.

“This place looks like it’s been abandoned a while,” you mused, taking in the state of the seventies-style furniture and the building itself.

It was all covered in a thick layer of gray dust, except for what had been kicked up or swept away by the fugitives staying here–the dark wood of the floors, walls, and ceiling cracking and rotting in some places.

“Many of the cabins out here were built nearly a hundred years ago, mostly inhabited by hunters and trappers,” Wesker told you as he scanned his surroundings, ever calculating. “When Umbrella made their home in Arklay county and the population grew, a lot of the properties were bought up and remodeled.”

“I wonder why this place was abandoned, then.”

Wesker shrugged. “More people started moving into the city.”

“Good ole urbanization, huh?” you joked, offering him a grin. “I wish I had the money to buy a place like this. Would be nice to have a little vacation home. Always loved the forest here.”

“Though I believe I could thrive anywhere,” he replied with a sniff, “I much prefer the city.”

You laughed. “Fair enough. I do like to visit the more rural areas, but you can take all my city conveniences from my cold, dead hands.”

You heard him huff out a chuckle in response, something that always made you weak in the knees to hear it–to know he found you amusing. What you would give to hear a real, unrestrained, honest to god belly laugh from him, though. You wondered if he was capable of such a thing. You couldn’t even imagine a sound like that coming from someone so poised and put-together.

“Well, would you look at this,” Wesker remarked, drawing you back to reality. When you turned to him, he had fallen to one knee, prying open a floorboard in the dining room. “Appears I’ve discovered their stash.”

You rushed over to him, peeking over his shoulder to see rows and rows of stacked bills, shoved into a compartment built under the floor.

“How did you even find this?” you questioned in shock. You were pretty observant, but something like this never would have crossed your mind, least of all how to access it.

“The mountains were a safer place to store alcohol during the prohibition. Some of these old cabins had secret compartments and rooms installed to hide their contraband,” he explained before pointing at the loose piece of wood held aloft in his hand. “And I noticed these fingerprints in the dust along the edges.”

“My very own Sherlock Holmes,” you said, awestruck. “I could really learn a thing or two from you, huh, Detective?”

“Elementary, my dear Watson.”

You stared openmouthed at him for a moment before bursting into a laugh, not expecting him to play along.

He looked up and your heart stopped as he smiled at you. Teeth and all. You couldn’t recall having ever witnessed such a genuine expression on his face, the realization filling you with an unprecedented warmth.

Before you could fully appreciate this momentous occasion, you heard a creak from behind you in the kitchen. You both snapped your attention to the direction of the noise, pulling your guns from their holsters.

Wesker stood, holding a finger to his lips as the two of you crept forward into the room. You looked around, checking the pantry, fridge, and the inside of every cabinet, but there was nothing amiss.

You took a steadying breath. “Must’ve been the house settling.”

Wesker nodded and you moved away from him, ready to make your way out of the cramped space as you returned your weapon to your belt.

You were nearing the entrance to the kitchen when Wesker suddenly called out, “Wait–”

His voice was cut off by the crash that sounded beside you.

A door hidden in the wall flung open, two men barreling out of the space behind it and right towards you.

You let out a yelp as one of them took you tumbling to the ground, too fast and too close to have pulled out your gun in time to prevent it.

The man was huge, heavier than even Chris as he bore down his whole weight on top of you.

You kneed him in the groin as he tried to hold down your arms, the pain making him falter.

You managed to flip him onto his back, pulling your gun out once more as he struggled against you. He stopped when he saw the barrel pointed directly at his face.

You flinched when you heard a shot ring out, the sound of a body hitting the floor making you jerk your head around to make sure that your captain was the one still standing.

You realized your error too late when the man below you grabbed for your gun while you were distracted.

You had the chance to shoot, knowing that if he managed to yank it from your grasp, he’d blow your brains out in a heartbeat.

But you had never killed anyone–never wanted to kill anyone.

You knew a violence stirred within you. It was the reason you even ended up here in the first place. But murder? Even in self-defense, even justified, you were terrified of pulling the trigger.

This was something you could never come back from.

And so you made another grave mistake.

You hesitated.

Although your grip on the firearm was secure and he couldn’t tug it out of your hands, he used his strength over you to twist the barrel away from him and towards you instead.

You fought to regain control as he shoved it closer and closer to your face.

With nothing left to do, you pushed down hard, the firearm pointed sideways, to your relief.

But the pressure of the action forced your finger against the trigger, the gun going off between you.

You both reeled back from the noise, your would-be killer loosening his hold just enough for you to rip your handgun away from him.

But before you could even rack the slide and point it towards the man once again, another shot was fired.

You felt the man below you go limp and you sat there, stunned, as you watched the blood pour out of the hole in his head, collecting in a pool on the dirty kitchen tiles.

Hands trembling from the adrenaline, you stood up, taking in the bodies of the two robbers that laid before you, splashes of dark red now decorating the wall and floor.

“Thank you, Captain,” you said, eyeing the carnage with barely repressed nausea. “That was too close.”

You heard a hiss of pain behind you and you spun on your heels, finding Wesker with a snarl on his face as he held his hand to the side of his neck.

“Captain..?” you questioned, voice filled with concern as you stepped towards him.

That’s when you saw it–the crimson rivulets that ran down his wrist, staining the blue of his shirt.

You panicked, rushing forward. “Oh my god, you’re bleeding!”

You reached out to him, quickly pulling away his hand to assess the damage. It was a small, open wound. Thankfully, it wasn’t deep, and no major arteries had been afflicted.

He was clearly grazed by a bullet if the hole in the cabinet behind his head was any indication.

But when had he been shot?

He must have seen you trying to replay the scene in your head, counting the gunshots you recalled hearing, when he spoke with a low voice.

“You hesitated.”

That was right. Your gun had gone off, facing away from both you and the perp.

It had hit him.

You stopped breathing when it registered in your brain, the sickening awareness of the fact that it was the bullet from your gun that had injured him–that had nearly killed him–making your heart sink into your gut.

“Oh god. Oh my god. I’m so sorry, I can’t–'' He placed a firm, grounding hold on your arm with his free hand and you took a sharp breath in. You had to get it together. Your guilt could wait until he stopped bleeding, at least. “Come on, my medkit’s in the van.”

The two of you rushed outside and to the vehicle in question. You opened the back of it, having him sit on the edge of the cargo space as you scrounged in your kit for supplies.

You got to work on the wound, Wesker explaining the situation over the radio, requesting assistance from Chief Irons to handle the stolen money and the corpse clean-up. You were grateful he didn’t mention your almost fatal misstep, simply telling the chief that he had been injured.

Once that was handled and you finished covering the gash on his neck, you gently pressed your fingers to it, your eyes finally filling with tears now that he was all patched up.

Normally, you’d be over the moon to be this close to him–to be touching him–but not like this. It was tainted by your error in judgment. By your inability to do what had to be done.

“I should have taken the shot,” you whispered with a quivering voice full of shame and regret, incapable of looking at him.

You felt him grip your wrist and your watery gaze traveled to his visage, his mouth in a tight line, whatever emotion could be shown in his eyes hidden behind his shades.

“You should have,” he agreed, “but you didn’t.”

You felt a sob catch in your throat.

“And I should have noticed the hidden door sooner. But I didn’t. Nothing to be done about it now.”

You gaped at how blase he was being. You would rather him be angry with you than whatever this was. You deserved his vitriol right now. Not this calm acceptance.

“Captain, you were hurt because of me!” you cried, your fingers digging into his shirt as your tears spilled down your cheeks. “You nearly died!”

Your breath hitched as he brought his unbloodied hand to cup your face, his thumb wiping away the droplets falling in its path.

“So did you,” he responded, his voice uncharacteristically soft. “I’m willing to take a bullet if it means sparing you.”

You could feel your heart swelling in your chest, unable to tamp down the affection that threatened to erupt from that locked-up place inside of you, where you had been hiding your growing feelings for your dear captain.

And, without a single sensible thought left to stop you, you surged forward and kissed him.

His lips were soft, and you could almost laugh at yourself for being shocked by such a revelation. He might’ve looked like he was made of marble, but his skin was pliant as any man’s. You had built him up so much in your head, you sometimes forgot that he was human too.

He tensed and you pulled back instantly, panic rising with the thought that you had gone off the deep end this time.

First, you nearly killed your boss, and then you kissed him? All within roughly fifteen minutes?

Surely, there was a record for something like that.

“I’m so sorry, I don’t know what’s gotten–”

Before you could even finish your sentence, however, he tugged you towards him once more, kissing you so hard it made your toes curl inside of your boots.

When he released you, you were dazed, the feel and taste of his mouth so consuming, you were sure you’d be dreaming about it for weeks to come.

You wanted to say something–to tell him how long you had wanted to do that for–but the words died on your tongue at the sound of a vehicle fast approaching.

You sighed as you stepped away from him to create some distance, not wanting to expose whatever it was that had just passed between you.

You heard Chris and Jill calling out and you yelled back, alerting them to your location in the brush beside the road.

Before they could arrive, though, Wesker grabbed you by the jaw and pulled you into one final, searing kiss.

You had felt fire before–it was in your nature to chase whatever flame compelled you–but this?

This was wild. Untamed. An inferno to boil your blood and burn up every shred of common sense you had left.

There was no way to contain it anymore. No way to put it out.

All you could do now was ignite.

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

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