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soapsilly · 5 months

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Redemption - Roronoa Zoro Imagine

Pairing: Roronoa Zoro x Reader

Spoilers for One Piece (?)

A/N: This is Part 2 for Betrayal, another Zoro imagine I wrote, so if you haven't read that I'd recommend you do that first.

Summary: After (Y/N) confessed to the Straw Hat Pirates that during their two year separation, she betrayed her boyfriend Zoro and had a child back on the island she was stranded on, she had to leave the group. But once her new home was under attack she had no other choice but to once again hope for the crew's help. Will they forgive her?

Part 3

Requests are closed

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Fire... smoke... screams...

She could see the clouds of smoke from miles away. Once she set foot on the island the first things that greeted her weren't the familiar smell of the autumn leaves or the sound of the market place but rather the smell of the burnt down huts and the pleas of the townspeople. Ever since Whitebeard's death two years ago pirates from all over the world set sail in search of the One Piece. It was exactly like after Gol D. Roger's execution all over again. But her little island? This wasn't where the One Piece was hidden. What these pirates wanted was merely to destroy, to pillage and to artificially drive up their bounty...

"We would never do that", the young woman thought to herself, "all our bounties were racked up for far better reasons. Luffy would never allow this" (Y/N) was well aware, that she herself was part of a notorious pirate crew - or rather she had been part of one until recently...

The realization hurt but she didn't have time to keep thinking about her misery. All that mattered right now was the little boy for whom she had given up everything. As fast as her feet would carry her she ran towards the edge of the forrest where the little cabin that she called her home stood.

She breathed a sigh of relief once she arrived and saw that the destruction of the village had not yet reached that part of the island. But she didn't plan to just sit by and wait for that to happen. The people on the island she called her home weren't fighters. If they were lucky there were a few handymen that knew how to handle tools and heavy machinery but that was about it. She knew that she could never take on those pirates on her own - even if she improved her strenght greatly in the span of those last two years. But she knew who could...

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"Are you sure you're okay?", she whispered, not wanting to get caught by the other Straw Hats.

"Pffft.. Never felt better", the swordsman dismissed her worries with a movement of his hand and continued undressing the woman that was lying underneath him. Calloused hands roaming her body, trying to take in as much of her as he could.

"But - But you should rest...", it became increasingly harder to string together coherrent sentences with the way Zoro was kissing down her chest.

"If you insist", with a swift movement he flipped them around and in an instant the witch was now on top her green-haired boyfriend, straddling him firmly.

She started laughing, "You know, that's not what I meant"

Not many people knew Zoro the way (Y/N) knew him. The other Straw Hats would probably describe him as a 'matter of fact' - guy. His playful side wasn't something he kept hidden - not at all. It's just that the stupid jokes were only funny when they left her lips.

"Hey, Zoro. Dinner's ready", Sanji's words pulled the swordsman out of his thoughts. Every since (Y/N)'s confession nobody on the ship acted normal around him anymore - well nobody except Luffy and Robin. Luffy was never the most delicate, which Zoro was grateful for and Robin probably knew that he just wanted to move on. Nami however didn't leave him alone, offered to speak, to be a shoulder to cry on. He appreciated her good intentions but he just wanted to repress the feelings, exercise and drink his pain away. But the thing that annoyed him the most was that shitty cook being so nauseatingly nice to him. Nami told Sanji that she would raise him hell if he even dared to think to start a fight with Zoro. But what she had achieved, was that the only little thing that the swordsman had left of his (Y/N) was now gone too. He remembered how amusing she found the fights he and curly-brows had - so much so that Zoro tried to initiate fights with the cook. But Sanji never took the bait no matter how hard he had to pull himself together. If Nami-swan wanted something from him, he would not disappoint.

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There she was, it was barely a week and a half since (Y/N) left the Thousand Sunny back on Sabaody but yet it felt like a lifetime. The witch took a few deep breaths before slowly making her way over to the ship. She was grateful that Robin told her that the crew would have to make a stop for supplies an island over before heading to Fish-Man Island. On her way over there, she had hoped that she didn't miss them, that they'd still be there and all the hoping seemed to have payed off. But the hardest challenge - convincing her former friends to help her after everything she put them trough - still lay ahead of her.

Much to her dismay the whole group was not only on the ship when she arrived, they were also in the middle of dinner.

"(Y/N), you came back!", Luffy's voice broke the silence. The girl realized that he genuinely sounded happy to see her. She wasn't quite sure if she felt happy that there was at least one person left on this ship that didn't hate her or sad because she had to tell him yet again, that she still wasn't coming back.

But before she (Y/N) could even attempt to say anything, Nami spoke up, "No, Luffy. She's not. What are you doing here?"

Her voice was cold - so much in fact, that (Y/N) needed two attempts to explain the reason for why she was there. Once she finally ended her plea for help there were a solid few seconds where nobody said a word. (Y/N) had mostly spoken to Luffy as the captain of the ship but she knew that it was really the navigator that she would have to convince to help her. She kept her eyes firmly trained on the Straw Hat anticipating his decision. She, of course, noticed Zoro's presence in the room - how could she not? - but right now all that mattered was that the crew agreed to help.

"Please, I wouldn't ask if I had any other choice...", (Y/N) added quietly after a few more seconds of silence.

"Of course, I'm coming to save you, (Y/N)-chan~", Sanji was the first one to speak up in his sing song voice with hearts in his eyes. For him it wasn't even a question at all. All he saw was a damsel in distress and he'd be the knight in shining armour to come and save the day. He could already picture himself as the hero of the battle and all the ladies clinging on to him to show their gratitude. It was Usopp that had to break the flirtatious cook out of his ramble with a slap on the back of his head.

"What are we even debating about? Of course, we're helping, guys! She's one of us", Chopper agreed. The ship's doctor was always a loyal soul. Chopper and (Y/N) both were outsiders before they met the Straw Hats so she knew how important his nakama were to him.

"No, Chopper. That's exactly the case! She's not. Not anymore", Nami objected, "she should've thought about that before betraying the whole crew. We can't always drop everything just because a former acquaintance happens to have a problem"

Nami liked to say that she was only upset for Zoro - and she really was. She knew that the mosshead was utterly in love with the other woman. She could tell from the way he would loosen up around her, she could tell by the way he would look after her to make sure nothing and nobody would ever upset or hurt her, she could tell by the way he was slightly - only slightly - less annoying when he was around her but the truth was also that Nami was hurt for herself too. (Y/N) was her friend, the first girl that joined the group before Robin finally made them a trio. They had talked about their plans and then (Y/N) just chose the domestic life over everything they had dreamed of?

"And what will you do the next time you'll be in trouble? We won't always be around to save the day", the red-head now spoke directly to (Y/N).

"I promise, I won't ever bother you again, but you haven't seen what I've seen. I'm not asking for myself..."

Of course, she wasn't asking for selfish reasons. Zoro knew that. (Y/N) always chastised him for being so stubborn. But the swordsman knew that she was honestly none the better. If he ever told her that, she'd never admit it but it was the truth. And so he also knew that (Y/N) was far to proud to come and ask them for help so soon after leaving the crew - well, except if she had no other choice. But it didn't really matter anyways, if she was in danger or even just in any type of discomfort, he'd always come and save her.

Zoro had heard enough, "We're helping"

It was the first time that (Y/N) looked at him since she entered the ship. She looked like a scared deer with how wide her eyes were. It was clear to him that she didn't expect him to stand up for her at all. Did she really think that lowly of him? Why did that thought sting? If Nami was anything to go by, he should hate her and helping her should be the last thing on his mind but he just couldn't help his feelings. This time it was Zoro that couldn't stand the tension, so he tore his eyes away from his ex-lover.

"Zoro, are you-", Nami seemed unsure.

"Either we all go or I'll go alone, I'm done talking about this", and with those words the swordsman stood up from the table and left the room. When he passed (Y/N) on the way out, he had to side-step as to not bump into her but just that act alone was the closest he's been to her in a long time.

"Guess, it's settled then", Luffy laughed, "(Y/N) lead the way!"

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Zoro and (Y/N) were lying on the deck of the Sunny at the moment talking about anything and eveything. Usually the mosshead would have a afternoon nap but instead (Y/N) and him decided spend some time together soaking up the last sunrays of the day.

"Is there anything else you want out of life?", (Y/N) asked her boyfriend, who had his head comfortable rested on her lap.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean... other than becoming the world's greatest swordsman?"

"No, why would I?"

"Well, you made that promise to a friend when you were a child. You're a man now. Isn't there anyhting else that you could wish for? In addition to being the best? I mean what happens once you reach your goal?"

Zoro was quiet for a moment, it was clear to (Y/N) that her lover had truly never ever considered there possibly being more.

"Well, what about you then?", he positioned himself so that he was now looking up at her.

"I guess, I'd like to be married someday", she answered nonchalantly.

"Why?", Zoro's voice dripped with confusion but there was also somehting else... judgement maybe?

"I don't know, I think I just like the thought of having that special bond with a person, you know? Belonging together, having each other's back...", she trailed off towards the end. She could feel her cheeks heat up. Talking about feelings was so much easier when drunk...

"Oi! Everything okay with you?", Zoro sounded amused, "you sound exactly like curly-brows"

"Why? Because I want to belong somewhere?", she was irritated by his reaction.

"Don't be so dramatic", the swordsman rolled his eyes, "you belong to the crew like all of us"

She wiggled her way out from underneath him not wanting him on her anymore.

"Do you really not understand how that's different? I just don't want to be just someone's girlfriend for the rest of my life", she was starting to get frustrated now.

"Just someone's girlfriend? And being someone's wife is better? What kind of goal is that?", (Y/N) could sense that Zoro was not taking her seriously at the moment, which made her even more furious. Unfortunately the witch was an angry-crier, so wasn't long before the tears started to fill her eyes. When he saw her reaction, he added, "Damn, you are so sensitive"

"And you are always so goddamn insensitive! Talking to you is like talking to a brick wall!", (Y/N) knew she shouldn't yell but the way he was talking down to her made her feel so helpless.

"I don´t want to talk to you anyways when you're being so difficult. I should've just taken a nap", he was annoyed by her behavior.

"Fine!", with that she stood up and walked away from her boyfriend but as she was walking inside the Sunny she turned around telling him, "and for your information, the are some things that Sanji actually gets very right, you know..."

She knew that indirectly comparing him to the cook would rub him the wrong way but she really couldn't resist.

"Oi, are you actually trying to start a fight or what?!", Zoro yelled after her, raising his voice for the first time the entire conversation.

Zoro mindlessly sat by the railing sharpening his katanas. Would things be different today had he acted a little more sensitive during their fight? Back then he didn't pay it anymore mind. In fact, he didn't think (Y/N) would've either. They had had far bigger fights - or so he thought - but guess it was more important to her than he anticipated. Maybe he wasn't enough for her... Was she really that unhappy?

"Hey...", Zoro was pulled from his thoughts by (Y/N) herself. It was the first time that she directly spoke to him since her confession on Sabaody, "I just wanted to thank you for speaking up back then. You really saved us"

Us... Zoro felt a sting in his chest. Of course, her new man and their son. Helping her wasn't even a question for him but the thought that she was in that situation to begin with made him angry. What kind of man doesn't protect his family?

"Don't mention it", he grunted, still not looking up from his blades.

"No, I mean it. If it wasn't for you I don't know what I'd do", Zoro couldn't help but notice that the way she was talking to him wasn't as familiar anymore almost like they were strangers. First the crew and now (Y/N) too. All this tiptoeing around made him sick - he wasn't used to being pitied and he didn't like it. One bit. He would almost have preferred it if she had just sad down with him and talked... normally?

As if she had read his mind, she asked him if she could sit with him for a moment. She took the shrug she got in returned as a 'yes' and sat down opposite from him.

"Zoro... I - I really never meant to hurt you", she continued. He wasn't sure if he wanted to have this conversation now but the alternative was her leaving again, so...

"It's my own fault. I should've known better", he answered.

"What? Why would you say that?", the woman opposite of him truly sounded upset with his statement. She was trying to catch his eye but he adjusted himself so that he was now facing the water.

"I wouldn't give you what you wanted. I was too occupied with my goal of becoming the strongest. All the training, the exercising...", he trailed off towards the end. "Logical consequences", he tried to sound unbothered.

The witch furrowed her brows, "No... No, no. Where is that coming from?"

"You told me you wanted to get married someday and I didn't take you seriously"

She remembered the fight but hadn't thought about for ages - especially because - in her mind - it wasn't so big of a deal. But then again, the swordsman also never heard what happened after the fight.

When Sanji entered the dining area the first thing he noticed was a sniffling (Y/N). With the speed of lightning he was kneeling in front of her, tracing soothing cirlces on one of her hands.

"(Y/N)-chan! What happened? Who hurt you?", the cook jumped up from his position on the floor.

"It's nothing, Sanji. Just a little fight", she wiped her tears away and tried to smile up at him.

"Was it that stupid Marimo? I'm going to break his face for making you cry", he was already halfway out of the room before the witch could even react.

"Sanji, no, please don't", she pleaded. Usually she'd be the last person to stop either one of them from starting a fight with the other but this time was different.

When the blond heard how desperate she sounded he stopped in his tracks, instead he turned around and started to prepare some tea for himself and the girl.

Once the tea was served, he sat down with her, so they could talk.

"It's silly...", she tried to dismiss the problem but Sanji wouldn't have it.

"How silly can it be if it makes you cry?", at the mention of her tears she swore there were distinct flames in his irises.

"It's just... Zoro and I were talking about our goals in life and when I told him I'd like to get married someday, he didn't seem to like the idea"

"How could anybody say 'no' to a proposal from you? I would marry you in an instant ~", where the witch had seen flames a moment ago, there were now hearts in his irises.

"Oh yeah? Sanji, no offense but you'd marry any woman that's not on the tree by three", she couldn't help but laugh, "But in fact, I wasn't proposing to him. We were fighting because he's just so... insensitive? You know, sometimes it's like only his thoughts and feelings are what make sense to him and so other thoughts and feelings are irrational and therefore not valid..."

"Stupid.. selfish.. douchebag.. mosshead..", Sanji was talking more to himself than to the girl sitting opposite of him, "why are you even putting up with him? You could easily find a better man that would cherish you and worship the ground you walk on"

The witch was sure the cook was talking about himself but let it slide for the moment.

"I love him", she shrugged, "what you don't understand is, that I'd rather have a thousand fights and never ever get married than to marry somebody else"

In that moment, the cook genuinely could feel how serious the girl was.

" - but don't tell him that. Otherwise, I'll never get him to tie the knot", she quickly added.

"I wouldn't dream of it", the blond confirmed.

"So, and now let's make dinner, yes? I'm starting to get hungry", (Y/N) was nudged Sanji in the side, a bright smile lighting up her face.

To further cheer her up, the cook promised to prepare the witch's favourite meal for dinner and (Y/N) was happy to help and spend some more time with her friend.

(Y/N) was in the midst of stirring one of the many pots, that were cooking on the stove - with Luffy as their captain a single dish would never be enough - when she heard Zoro's voice from outside the kitchen.

"Oi! (Y/N) come quick! There's something I want to show you"

The girl turned to the cook, who by the look of it was busy with adjusting the taste with seasoning so every dish was nothing short of perfect.

"Is it okay if I leave you to it now?", she smiled.

"Are you sure? The stupid marimo didn't even apologize"

"Positive", she shrugged, "I'm not angy anymore and I'm sure he isn't either. Why waste time being pissed at each other when you could also just spend the time that you have together being happy?"

And with that she skipped towards the door leading to the deck where her stubborn, stupid marimo headed boyfriend was already waiting for her. But just before she could leave the kitchen she made an abrupt stop, returned to where she left the cook standing and gave him a kiss on the cheek, which almost made the receiver levitate.

"Thank you, Sanji"

"Zoro, no... There's nothing you could've said or done differently that would've changed anything. I'm... so sorry", she hoped that this would convince him that it really wasn't a 'him-issue' and that he shouldn't give up on love all together, but he remained silence. When she realized that he wouldn't answer her she made a move to get up but just before she could leave Zoro spoke up.

"I don't hate you, you know?", it was the first time during their conversation that he had looked at her - really looked her in the face. She could see that he still loved her. He has always been bad at articulating his emotions but that was okay for her because she could always tell how he felt about her. He showed her. Two years of seperations didn't change that.

She didn't expect him to say anything now - least off all that. Of course, she felt glad to hear it but still she couldn't help but to feel guilty... like she didn't deserve forgiveness for all the pain she caused.

"I wouldn't blame you", she sat back down.

"I could never. Three days are one thing. Two years a whole nother", he shrugged, "Besides, Nami hates you enough for the both of us"

The witch sat there shocked but once she saw Zoro's smirk, she let out a relieved laugh.

"I think Nami hates me enough for the whole crew", she giggled.

The two of them started teasing each ofther and for a moment it felt like before. Before Sabaody, before (Y/N)'s confession, before their separation.

"By the way, I like your dress", the woman told Zoro with a deadpan look. It took a few moments for her words to register in his mind before he started yelling.

"Dress?! Are you blind, woman??"

When she saw how frustrated he was with her she couldn't hold back her giggles.

Their laughs could be heard all over the Sunny, much to the bewilderment of a certain navigator.

"Look at that! How could he be laughing with her like that after everything she put him through?", she turned to Robin.

"They love each other. Feelings don't change from one day to another"

"Well, for her they apparently did...", Nami retorted.

The older woman sent the red-head a knowing smile but chose to stay silent.

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The battle was in full effect and (Y/N) was in awe of how strong everybody has become over these last two years. Even the self-proclaimed coward trio of Usopp, Nami and Chopper did a lot of damage to the enemy crew. A lot of parts of town have been destroyed during the fight but the witch knew that this was the lesser of two evils and the townspeople would work together once everything was over to build it up again.

"They're like vermin!", Nami shouted. She was right. The pirates weren't strong - at least not compared to the Straw Hats - but they were many and they were everywhere.

"Doesn't matter. We're stronger", Ruffy laughed.

During the fight (Y/N) felt like she never left the crew, working together like a well maintained machine. For a moment she forgot about the struggles and that all of this would be only temporary - that they would leave once the threat was over - but then a loud explosion pulled her back to reality. A cloud of black and grey smoke rose up from just outside of town where the forrest began.

"My house!", the young witch shouted, "I need to go- I need- I-"

The others could see the genuine fear in her eyes as she was running towards where the flames were blazing up from afar.

"I'm coming with you", Zoro started to follow her.

The girl stopped in her tracks, "Wait, no you can't come"

"Why? Don't be ridiculous. You'll need help"

"Yes, but not from you", she her voice sounded urgent, "Sanji? Can't you come? Or Robin?"

"What the hell is wrong with you? You're wasting time!", the swordsman was getting angry. Why would she rather want the waiter's help before his? He could keep her safer that any body else on the crew but of course she had to be stubborn again.

"Both of you are wasting time. I'm coming", Robin interjected. Zoro tried to object but before he could both of the women already took off.

"What are you hiding, (Y/N)?", the older of the two asked.

"You'll see soon enough"

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Once the fight was over the forrest floor around the hut was littered with pirates. Neither (Y/N) nor Robin believed in taking prisoners. Fortunately, (Y/N)'s little house and garden were unscathed.

"How?", Robin was puzzled.

The younger woman sent her a bright smile, "That's Mim's doing"

"Mim?"

And so (Y/N) told her about her mentor. Mim was an older woman - an old hag to be specific - that took care of (Y/N) when she landed on her island two years ago. She was strict and a little grim but also extremely warm-hearted and as chance would have it, she was known as the island's sorceress. At first (Y/N) believed that it was only hearsay, like it had been in her home village, but she quickly realized that the old lady was an actual witch and better yet - she would teach her.

"I see. So, your mentor protected your home with a spell", Robin concluded as the both of them walked over to the little hut.

As they walked up to the door, an old woman and a little child came up to them. When Robin saw the little boy with the green hair and the outstreched arms, she quickly realized why (Y/N) was so against Zoro accompanying her.

"You need to tell him, (Y/N)"

"I can't, Robin. It wouldn't change a thing"

"You don't know that", she insisted.

But before (Y/N) could give an answer, they heard the voice a certain green-haired swordsman.

"What wouldn't change a thing?"

(Y/N) stiffened up. When Zoro saw the little boy in her arms his eyes immediately grew wide. The whole crew waited in anticipation.

It was the toddler that broke the silence with his babbling, signaling for his mother to be wanting to be let down. Once she set him down the little boy immediately started to wobble his way over to Chooper, where he promptly fell on his behind and happily started to wildy gesture around.

"Is that - ? Why did- ? When-?", Zoro was lost for words and so were the others. It was Nami that spoke up first.

"(Y/N)...", she walked over to the other girl and hugged her tight, "I'm so sorry"

"You didn't know", she assured the navigator, "to be honest? I probably would have reacted the same way". She sent her friend a half-smile.

"Ma-ma?", the toddler demanded his mother's attention, two fists full of Chopper's fur in both of his chubby hands.

"Ah. No, no. Leave the nice Tanuki alone, honey", she walked over to the little boy scooping him up in her arms again, ignoring the ship doctor's protests over the misidentification.

Zoro cleared his throat to get her attention back to him. As much as he enjoyed the moment of reconciliation, he still thought there was some things the two of them had to talk about.

Within seconds the mood switched yet again and all of a sudden everybody was reminded of the reality of the situation they were in.

"Maybe we should give those two a minute or two...", Robin suggested.

"Yeah", (Y/N) answered but didn't take her eyes off of Zoro, "Sanji, why don't you cook something nice for us? The fridge should be stocked...". Her suggestion was met with instant approval from their ever hungry captain.

Sanji just nodded, still not having processed the newly gained information. How could the marimo be a father??

Nami made grabby hands towards the Mini-Zoro in (Y/N)'s arms. Usually she was rather unimpressed with babies. But this was different. This baby belonged to her best friend and... Zoro.

"Come to aunty Nami", (Y/N) didn't hesitate for a moment to hand him over to the red-head. Had it been Luffy or Usopp she'd think twice but she trusted Nami to take care of her baby.

"I'll leave you two to it, so you can talk", the navigator continued, "What's the little man's name by the way?"

"Oh, I decided to name him Sanji", (Y/N) answered seriously.

"Excuse me?!", Zoro was shocked.

"Just joking! I'm sorry", she tried to calm the mosshead down. From behind her, she could see Usopp and Nami snickering behind their hands and Sanji nearly dying of heart palpitations. "It's Sora", she added quietly as the others left her and the swordsman alone.

"Is (Y/N) coming back now?", the witch heard Chopper ask somewhere in the background but she didn't have the mental capacity to think about anything but Zoro at the moment.

"Sora...", he repeated thoughtfully once they were alone, "Does he- does he have my name?"

(Y/N) felt anxious. Would he like that?

"Well...", she started but had to stop because she didn't know what to say, "I mean... yeah?"

"Roronoa Sora...", Zoro didn't know how to properly express his feelings in the moment. Hell - he didn't even know himself. But he knew that he liked the sound of that.

"Why didn't you say anything?", he asked her. It was almost like a plea.

"Would it have changed anything? I didn't want to burden you"

"Burden me?", he was in disbelief, "How could you ever burden me?"

"Don't you understand? I was alone on this island. All alone and I had to make a decision" she was getting emotional - for the first time since her confession. There were no more jokes and funny digs to mask how she really felt.

Zoro felt terrible, he knew how hard it was for her to feel isolated and then to go through something like this without any help? When they first got together he would've never thought that he'd ever grow so attached to the girl but it didn't take long for him to really fall madly and deeply in love with her. Sometimes he'd feel bad that couldn't really express how he truly felt for her but he promised himself he would do anything in his power to protect her. But he couldn't even do that.

"You had your goal... and... and... I never wanted to hold you back", (Y/N) couldn't stop the tears from falling anymore. Being separated from him was the worst feeling in the world but she would give up everything and more for him.

Zoro pulled her into his chest, holding her close and tucking her head underneath his chin. From the way hear hands would immediately grab at his robe, it was noticeable how much she missed his touch.

"I'm so sorry. I'm sorry you had to go through all that. I'm sorry I wasn't there. I'm sorry you felt like you had to lie", he hated that she felt like she had to protect him. The crew - especially Nami - had been so terrible to her, "I love you more than anything..."

She pulled back and looked up at him. Tears still streaming down her face. Even now, he couldn't help but to think how beautiful she was. And for the first time in over two years his lips met hers.

The kiss wasn't hungry or sensual. Zoro could taste the salt from her tears on her lips but it didn't bother him at all.

Once they broke apart she smiled up at him, "I've missed you"

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"Are you sure?", Nami shouted down from the Sunny.

"A pirate ship is no place for a child", (Y/N) answered back.

It's been a week since the fight. The townspeople were already in the process of building up what's been broken and it was time for the Straw Hats to move on. Of course, the offered the witch to join them again but nothing changed for her. She had to think about her son first and foremost - as much as she would miss life on the sea. Most of the crew already boarded the ship. It was only Zoro left on the beach with (Y/N) and their son.

"I guess it's goodbye then, huh?", the witch had a sad smile on her face.

"I promise it's not forever. As soon as Luffy is pirate king I'll come back for you... both of you", the mosshead still wasn't the most secure in his new role as a father but as long as he had (Y/N) he knew that it'd be alright.

(Y/N) went in for what would be the last hug for a long, long time, "Promise me you'll be safe. Who's gonna make you take care of yourself when I'm not there?", she smiled.

The two of them exchanged a few more kisses and 'I love you's before the crew told them it was time to depart. During the last hug, Sora, who was seated in his mothers arm reached, out and grabbed his father's cheek with a happy laugh. Zoro furrowed his brows for a moment but then quickly started grinning.

"And you keep an eye out for your mother, yes?"

The toddler babbled as if to confirm that he understood his father's order.

A loud sob disrupted the family moment. When they turned to the Sunny they saw the whole crew smiling down at them - much to the discomfort of Zoro, who was still not entirely at ease with PDA. It was Franky that the initial sob came from. The cyborg has always been prone to tears but on closer examination it was almost the whole crew that was at least a little teary-eyed. Everyone except Luffy, who had a puzzled look on his face.

"Oi, that baby looks like Zoro..."

That sentenced earned him a hefty slap at the back of the head from nami and a hearty laugh from (Y/N).

"I'm gonna miss you guys so much", she smiled through tears.

"We'll be back before you know it, (Y/N)-chan~", Sanji shouted down to her.

"Oi! Let my girlfriend alone! Nobody's gonna miss you", the swordsman, who had joined the others on the ship by now, yelled at the cook.

(Y/N) stayed on the beach listening to the two of them fight until they were too far away to make out the words anymore. Then she turned to the little mosshead in her arms.

"Guess, it's just us now huh? Roronoa Sora..."

***

Tag List: @ikissnishiki, @multi-writer-personal-blog

#roronoa zoro x reader #one piece imagine #roronoa zoro imagine #zoro roronoa x reader #zoro imagine #one piece x reader #one piece

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anyasathenaeum · 2 months

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Cherish You (Vash x Reader smut)

A/N: Hey guys, I'm back from the dead after one hell of a time. Anyways, literally nobody asked for this, I just felt like writing this because Vash is the loml and he deserves to be loved and be given lots of orgasms. I'm still awful at writing smut so please don't perceive me okay thanks bye Warnings: MINORS DNI, AFAB!reader (female terms used), smut (lots of it), P in V sex, unprotected sex (WRAP IT BEFORE YOU TAP IT, FOLKS), overall loving & tender sex, restraints, riding, praise, a hint of angst (poor baby Vash struggles with his self-worth), reader doesn't cum (intentionally), crying Word Count: 4.8k

You had known Vash long and well enough to know when he was having a bad day, just like he was today.

While it may not have been obvious to others, with his troubles well-hidden behind his bright smile and goofy personality, you could see past it all to notice the pain in his eyes. His smile, while blinding to others, was hollow to you, and his goofiness seemed slightly more exhausted and strained than usual, as if he were overexerting himself to keep up the façade of everything being alright.

Sure enough, when the two of you had retreated to the safety of your room in some shabby little inn for the night, the carefully curated mask that Vash wore chipped off piece by piece, revealing the wounded, tortured soul of the man underneath it all. The man who believed he deserved nothing good in this world, that only sadness and evil and death would follow him until the end of time.

The man that you loved more than anything.

"Vash..." You called softly to him, kneeling down in front of him as he sat on the edge of the bed.

You gazed up worriedly into his face, a face so beautiful and yet so marred by pain that didn't belong there.

"Don't worry, Mayfly," Vash replied immediately, looking at you with a weak and tired smile, "I'll bounce back in the morning. I just... don't feel too good right now. I'm sure some rest will fix me right up."

"Don't give me that, Stampede," you retorted immediately, feeling frustration rise within you as you reached up and cupped your lover's face in your hands gently yet firmly. "I'm the one person in this world who can see through your lies. You know that."

Your words, while meant kindly, still made Vash flinch slightly, his eyebrows furrowing as he squeezed his eyes shut and let out a heavy sigh. He had no answer to your words, which was an answer in itself - he'd been caught in his blatant lie and he knew it. You knew him better than anybody else, so why did he even bother trying to brush you off, to convince you that he was fine when he was far from it?

You could tell that Vash was struggling with trying to voice what was bothering him, so you waited patiently, your thumbs gently stroking his cheeks as you granted him the time and space to find his voice. Instead, you focused on taking in every little detail of his face - his fluffy blonde hair, his beautiful and expressive blue eyes, his soft lips, the curve of his nose, the mole under his eye, every little piece of him.

"I... I can't protect you, (Y/N). Nothing I do ever seems to stop all the death and anguish that seems to haunt me. Nothing I do is good enough. I lose everything and everyone. I'm afraid... that one day, I'll lose you to it all, too. I can't risk losing you, (Y/N). Not you. Never you. You're... you're the one life I can't ever part with, and you're the one person I never deserved."

Vash's words echoed through the empty room, filled with such fear, pain, heartbreak and love that you felt your eyes begin to sting slightly. You looked up just to see the infamous outlaw gazing down at you, his blue eyes watery and filled with the same emotions you'd heard in his voice.

"Shut up."

You couldn't stop yourself, your tone quiet but your words filled with an underlying anger as they spilled forth, your whole body trembling.

"Shut up, Vash. Stop talking like that, you hear me? You deserve love and happiness and peace. Nothing less than any of that. I chose you. My heart chose you, and it continues to choose you each and every day that I live on this planet. It deemed you worthy. So, I don't believe what you're saying for a second. I love you, Vash. I always have. No matter what happens or what has happened, I love you. I'm not going anywhere. You're stuck with me, Stampede. Understood?"

Vash's gaze never left you, not even for a second as you spoke, his blue eyes widening at your words and a few tears slipping down his cheeks as he took in what you had said to him. His brain struggled to comprehend how you could possibly love him as much as you did while his heart practically sang in his chest, calling out to its other half that lived in your chest.

As Vash sat there on the side of the bed, seemingly frozen in place, you stood up before pulling Vash tightly into your arms, holding him as close as you possibly could against you, pressing kisses into his soft hair. After a moment or two, you felt Vash's arms wrapping around you in return, one warm and one cold as he pressed you against him, his face burying itself into your belly as he took comfort from you.

You could feel him trembling as he clutched onto you, his fingers digging slightly into your skin as he held you close, soft, shaky whispers of "I love you. I love you, Mayfly" escaping him against your skin as Vash struggled not to cry.

You ran your fingers through his blonde hair, the tips of your fingers just grazing over his scalp in a soothing, gentle motion, attempting to soothe the love of your life as best as you could. You could feel Vash calming slowly, his breathing evening out and his trembling subsiding as he breathed in your familiar scent and took in your comforting warmth and gentle touch.

"Hang on a second," you murmured to Vash gently once he had calmed, stepping away from him for a moment and causing him to whine loudly in protest at the lack of your embrace and warmth.

You quickly stripped off your clothes, piece by piece, as quickly as you could until you were completely bare before walking back over to Vash, whose eyes were wide in surprise at your sudden nudity, a slight blush spreading over his cheeks.

You giggled at the sight of the colour rising in Vash's cheeks, "Why are you blushing, my love? You've seen me naked many times."

"I've also seen the suns rising over the dunes many times in my life, Mayfly. Doesn't make it any less beautiful every time I see it. Just like you," Vash replied, his eyes taking in every bit of your body as you stood before him.

Now, you were the one blushing, looking off to the side for a moment before smiling lovingly at the man sat before you. You reached out and took Vash's flesh-and-blood hand into yours, intertwining your fingers with his gently before guiding his hand to your breast, letting it rest on your skin. You heard a shaky little breath escaping him as his hand cupped your breast oh-so-gently, and you couldn't help but smile bigger when you saw how Vash gazed at you, as if you had hung the stars in the sky yourself.

"Let me show you how much I love you, Vash," you whispered softly, your tone gentle yet firm. "Please. Let me cherish you."

Vash swallowed softly, nodding his head slowly in consent as he looked up into your eyes, heat and desire beginning to course through his body. Sex was nothing new between the two of you at this point, but something about how you were looking at Vash and how you spoke to him made him feel like something was going to be different this time.

And sure enough, as Vash reached to pull his shirt off, you quickly stopped him, your smaller hand wrapping around his bigger wrist as best as it could. You shook your head at him, smiling softly when you were met by a confused grin from him.

"I want to take care of you. Completely," you explained, a hint of heat rising to your face.

Vash blushed even darker than before at your words, but nodded assent as he let go of his turtleneck, allowing for you to take over just as you had wanted.

Slowly, silently, with nothing but loving touches and gentle caresses, you worked Vash's shirt off of him, then his boots, his holsters, his pants and his socks, leaving him in just his boxers. Your diligent and tender work of undressing him had already affected him, given the very obvious tent in Vash's underwear and the wet spot darkening and growing on the fabric.

"Sit against the headboard, please," you directed Vash gently, waiting for him to follow your request.

The Humanoid Typhoon seemed a little confused by this, but he nodded as he did as you asked, shifting so his back was resting against the headboard, with him sitting up in the bed. Vash seemed gently restless, unsure of your next move, but he trusted you with his heart and soul.

You were his best friend, his other half, his soulmate. You were the only person who had ever seen him this vulnerable, the only person who knew what Vash sounded like as he cried out and moaned in the throes of passion, the only person who knew what he tasted like. You were the only one who ever felt him inside them, the only one who had been filled by him over and over again as he moaned out confessions of love for you against your skin, the only person who would ever be with Vash that way. He belonged to you heart, body and soul, just as you did to him.

Without a word, you crawled into the bed towards Vash, making your way over to him until you were straddling his lap, your pussy grinding oh-so-gently against Vash through his boxers, pulling a hiss from his lips, his hands coming to grip onto your hips, clenching onto you tightly.

"M-Mayfly! S-Sensitive!" Vash whined out, trying to take deep breaths and calm himself, a wave of pleasure coursing through his veins as you continued to grind against him.

"I know," you cooed gently, continuing your gentle grinding as you watched Vash's expressions carefully, seeing the pleasure he was getting from your touch.

You reached over and took Vash's wrists in your own, removing his hands from your hips and bringing them up gently against the headboard, next to his head. His eyes widened as he watched you hold him, and another soft whine escaped his lips as he tried to grind against your bare pussy, clearly wanting to feel more of you.

"Not fair... wanna feel you, (Y/N)..." Vash pouted at you, gazing at you as you smiled a bit mischievously at him.

"I asked you to let me take care of you, Vash. This is part of that," You replied softly, stopping your movements altogether and making Vash groan in slight frustration at the lack of friction. "Stay here, just like this. Do you trust me?"

"Of course I do, Mayfly," Vash replied, panting softly as he tried to move his hips against you, his entire body aching for just a hint of friction from you.

You giggled as you got off of Vash entirely, teasing him further as you stood up off the bed, making Vash groan even louder, his frustration building as he whined you name, "(Y/NNNNN)!"

You couldn't help but continue to laugh softly as you dug through Vash's bag, looking around for something in particular before letting out a triumphant "Aha!" as you found what you were looking for.

Glancing over at Vash, you grinned softly and said, "Close your eyes, please."

Vash rolled his eyes playfully but conceded, closing his eyes as you made your way back to the bed, getting back into Vash's lap and straddling him once more. Gently, you took the piece of rope you had pulled from Vash's bag and tied Vash's hands to the headboard, being careful to be gentle with him and making him comfortable. When you were done with your work, you smiled softly and sat back in Vash's lap.

"There. Open your eyes, love."

Vash opened his eyes, looking over at his hands to see the ropes now binding him to the bed, and his eyes widened in surprise to see what you'd done.

"M-Mayfly? What is this?"

"You always focus on everybody but yourself. Tonight, I want to focus on just you, Vash. I want to make you feel good, I want to make you feel loved. The way I'm doing that is by ensuring you can't focus on anything but what you're feeling. Okay?"

Your voice was gentle yet firm, your words loving as you explained to the love of your life what you were hoping to do, and you could see the blush on Vash's face darkening as you explained what you wanted to do, his heart fluttering in his chest at your genuine desire to make him feel loved.

With a nod from Vash, you proceeded to gently work his underwear off of him, finally allowing his cock to spring free, already rock hard and throbbing slightly in time to his heartbeat. Globs of precum leaked from the head, dribbling down his shaft just from the few touches you had shared with him, and you felt a spike of desire and confidence go through your body at the sight of just how badly Vash wanted you.

"God, Vash... you're so beautiful," you murmured softly, tracing your hands slowly down Vash's body, taking your time with each and every scar that littered his body.

You knew Vash was sensitive about his scars, about how mutilated and broken his body looked, but to you, he was nothing short of angelic, a being of beauty beyond compare. You loved every tiny piece of him, scars and all, and you wanted to ensure that Vash understood that, that that knowledge was engraved in his soul.

A soft little whine escaped Vash as you traced down his body, your fingertips grazing over his scars with a featherlight touch, and all he could think about was just how badly he wanted to hold you, kiss you, and touch you. Vash found himself tugging against the ropes holding his hands in place, but you giggled softly and leaned in towards him, your lips teasingly a mere few centimeters away from his.

"Ah, ah, ah... no touching, Vash. Tonight's about you," You scolded him playfully.

Vash simply whined, his blue eyes filled with a mixture of pleasure, pleading and frustration, wanting nothing more than to feel you against him, to be able to hold you and touch you to his heart's content. While you weren't fully going to give into his pleading puppy-eyes, you decided that you would allow yourself to rest against him, straddling him once again and now grinding your bare pussy against the sensitive skin of his cock, a soft gasp escaping Vash's lips as he finally felt you against him.

You began to move slowly, biting your lip and letting out soft, muffled moans of pleasure as your soaked folds glided over Vash's cock, his tip nudging your clit with each thrust of your hips. You could feel Vash tensing against you, soft whimpers and pants escaping his lips as he strained against the ropes restraining him once more as you rubbed your pussy against him. The fact that he couldn't hold you as you moved against him and teased him like this was driving him crazy. Vash knew that he could easily break free from the ropes restraining him from you, but instead, he allowed you to continue your thrusts, opting instead to get lost in the pleasure you were giving him.

"B-Beautiful," you moaned against Vash's throat, pressing soft, wet, open-mouthed kisses to his skin as you continued to press your pussy against his cock, rocking back and forth with a bit more pressure, "You're so beautiful, Vash. S-So beautiful, and so good... God..."

Your loving praise mixed with such sensual and intimate touches made Vash shudder in a way you had never felt him before, his head slumping against your shoulder as you felt his whole body tensing, a loud moan escaping him as you felt his cock throbbing against your pussy.

"M-Mayfly, ha-ah! I- I'm gonna-... I'm gonna cum!" Vash cried out, his body trembling slightly against you as he felt his orgasm approaching faster than it had ever done so before.

"Cum for me, my love," you encouraged Vash gently, continuing your gentle praise and bringing your fingers up to his hair, tugging it gently as you pulled him into a passionate kiss, finally giving him a taste of you. "That's it. Cum for me. I love you. Cum for me."

With a soft cry of your name against your lips as he returned your kiss with equal passion and need, you could feel Vash coming undone beneath you. His cum spurted all over your cunt, coating both your folds and his abdomen with his seed as his orgasm washed over him, wave after wave of pleasure washing over him. Vash closed his eyes as he nuzzled his face into the crook of your neck, panting heavily as he struggled to recover from his orgasm.

You continued running your fingers through Vash's hair as he snuggled into you, cooing to him gently as you held him close to you, "Breathe slowly, my love. Deep breaths... that's it. You did amazing. I love you so much."

Vash shivered slightly in your hold, pulling back a bit to look into your eyes, his eyes wide and his cheeks flushed from your praise and the overwhelming pleasure he was feeling. As you shifted in Vash's lap, you quickly realized that despite cumming mere moments ago, his cock was still rock hard and throbbing once again, clearly still aching for you.

"(Y-Y/N)..." Vash panted softly, looking up at you with need and slight desperation, his tone and his gaze indicating how much he still wanted and needed you.

You didn't respond, instead leaning down and pressing another softer and gentler kiss against Vash's lips, your hands gliding down his body slowly. As you reached the base of Vash's cock, you sat up a little and guided Vash to the tight ring of muscle at the entrance of your core, sinking down slowly and pushing the tip of Vash's cock into you.

The moment he entered you, a loud whine escaped Vash's lips as a gasp escaped from you, the feeling of him stretching you out and filling you making you see stars as you settled into his lap, allowing him to fully bottom out within you.

"I love you," Vash began to babble softly the moment he felt your pussy clenching down around him, his face burrowing into your neck once again as he pressed desperate kisses against your skin, frantically beginning to thrust up into you in order to feel more of you around him, "I love you so much, (Y/N), you feel so good, please... please... I need you. I want you, (Y/N), please... God, I love you."

"I love you, too, Vash. I love you so much," you moaned softly in return, pressing your palms against Vash's chest to steady yourself as you began to bounce in his lap, driving his cock deeper and deeper into you.

Endless praise spilled forth from your lips as you drove Vash deeper and deeper into you, your pussy tightening around him as he brushed that perfect spot deep inside you with each thrust. Any and all thoughts left your mind except for wanting to make Vash cum over and over again while telling him how good he was, how perfect and how beautiful, how much you loved him and how good he made you feel.

"You're everything t-to me," you gasped out, grinding down on Vash and driving his cock even deeper into you, your cunt milking him and pulling endless whines and moans from his lips as you did so, "You're my world, Vash. My universe. I-I love you, I'll always love you."

The sounds escaping Vash changed suddenly, his whines and moans suddenly becoming soft whimpers and little hiccups, and you could feel his body trembling against you in a way unlike before. As you pulled away to look at him, you realized that Vash was crying in your embrace, crystalline tears coursing down his cheeks as he looked up at you, his bottom lip quivering as he tried not to sob openly.

"Vash..." you whispered softly, slowing your movements and bringing your hands up to cup his face gently, brushing away his tears, your heart aching at the sight of his tears. "Shh... it's alright."

Vash wasn't entirely sure why he was crying - you were in the middle of making him feel amazing, and yet, as he heard your words, words of love and tenderness and devotion, he suddenly felt overwhelmed by it all. How did somebody whose hands were as stained with blood as his end up with somebody as incredible, kind and pure as you? How did your heart belong to somebody like him? Thoughts swirled endlessly through his mind, his emotions overwhelming him as you sat in his lap, holding him close and caressing his face gently.

"Look at me, love."

Your voice was gentle yet insistent, tilting his face up so Vash could look you in the eyes. You pressed gentle kisses all over his face, untying Vash's hands from the headboard and allowing him to finally wrap his arms around you tightly, clutching onto you tightly as he buried his face into your bare chest, soft sobs escaping him as he held you close.

"I l-love you s-so much," Vash whimpered softly against your skin, holding you as close to him as he possibly could as his emotions overwhelmed him. "I'm sorry, (Y/N)... I-I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize, my love," you replied immediately, kissing his face gently, "You're allowed to feel overwhelmed. It's okay. I'm here for you. I'll always be here for you, no matter what."

Another soft sob escaped Vash's lips, but instead of burying his face into you, he tilted his face up and pressed his lips to yours in a passionate, emotional and surprisingly tender kiss, his hands tangling in your hair as he pulled you against him. This kiss was Vash's way of showing you just how much he needed you, how much you meant to him, how much he loved you and never wanted to be parted from you for as long as he lived. Vash's heart ached for you, wanting nothing but to spend the rest of his life by your side, loving you, making love to you, protecting you and being happy with you, if only the universe would allow it.

A sudden upward thrust from Vash in the middle of your tender moment made you gasp against his lips, the feeling of the tip of his cock brushing against that perfect, gummy spot inside of you making your whole body shudder in his grasp. His movements were slow and deliberate, ensuring both of you could feel him thrusting every inch into you as he kissed you and held you close. Both of you moaned and whined against each other's lips, and you began to grind your hips against Vash's in time with his thrusts, somehow driving him even deeper than before.

"L-Love you," Vash borderline sobbed against your throat, "I lo-love you, Mayfly. Love you so m-much, (Y/N)."

You felt your orgasm beginning to build as Vash continued his thrusts, and you matched his tender and loving movements, trying to focus on him rather than on the pleasure you were feeling. You decided then and there that you would forfeit your pleasure in favour of ensuring Vash was looked after rather than him looking after you. You reached down and pressed down on Vash's hips, silently asking him to stop his thrusts as you continued your own movements, wanting to make him feel good.

"I love you," you gasped out softly in reply, grinding and bouncing slowly and more intentionally in Vash's lap, plunging his cock deeper and deeper into you and pulling the most beautiful sounds from him. "I love you more than anything. I'll always love you, Vash. Always. You're mine and I'm yours."

A strangled sound, half a sob and half a whine, escaped Vash's throat suddenly as he clutched onto you, pulling you down hard into his lap and holding you flush against him with incredible strength as he buried himself inside you completely, "(Y-Y/N)!"

With the cry of your name, you felt Vash spill himself inside you, his cock throbbing as his seed coated your walls in white and spilled out of you as he filled you more than he ever had before, the sticky substance pooling on Vash's thighs. His whole body was shaking against you as he came down from his orgasm, his heart pounding as he tried to calm himself down and recover from it all.

"It's okay, love," you whispered gently, embracing Vash and holding him against you tightly, letting his head rest against your chest as your orgasm slipped away from you, your pleasure disappearing. "I love you, it's okay, Vash. Breathe. I've got you."

Vash's breathing slowed gradually, his eyes sliding shut as he rested against you for a moment until his body suddenly stiffened and he sat up, his eyes wide and filled with concern as he looked at you in alarm.

"(Y/N), wait... wh-what about you?! You didn't-!"

"And I'm not going to," you cut Vash off gently yet firmly, "I'm not interested in my own orgasm right now, Vash. I just want to focus on you, love. Not me. I told you that from the beginning, didn't I?"

"But this isn't fair! You've made me cum twice, a-and... I've done nothing for you in return!" Vash exclaimed, his expression borderline upset as he took your face in his hands, looking at you worriedly.

You couldn't help but laugh at how endearing Vash was, and you kissed the palms of his hands before placing your hands overtop of his on your cheeks, intertwining your fingers with his.

"It's not a big deal, Vash," you laughed softly, gazing at him with tenderness and love.

"It is to me!" Vash exclaimed immediately, frowning and pouting as he tugged you closer to him.

"How about this, then? Let me take care of you for a little while longer, and then, afterwards, if you still want to, you can do what you'd like to make me feel good. Deal?" You offered, cocking your head to the side as you gazed at the love of your life.

"Deal."

Vash didn't hesitate to take you up on your offer before leaning in and kissing you again, this kiss gentle, loving and sweet rather than lustful and passionate. His embrace was strong, yet gentle, and as Vash held you close, he felt an overwhelming sense of true peace for the first time in what felt like a lifetime. In loving him and cherishing him as you had, not just tonight but every day before this, you had shown Vash what he meant to you. You had shown him just how much you loved him and believed in him, and it made his heart swell and break simultaneously.

"I don't know how somebody like me could ever deserve somebody as precious as you."

Vash's words made your heart ache in your chest, and you shook your head resolutely as you pressed your forehead to his, closing your eyes and taking a deep, slow breath before answering, "You deserve so much more than just me, Vash. You deserve the world."

"You are my world, (Y/N). You always have been and always will be, for as long as I live."

You couldn't help but kiss Vash once again, wanting nothing but to spend the rest of your life burrowed in his embrace, but you pulled away so you could clean both yourself and him off and continue taking care of him.

"Come on, my love. I'll run you a bath and you can soak your muscles. You've worked hard, you need to rest," you offered gently, standing from the bed and heading to the bathroom to do as you suggested.

Vash sighed happily as he slumped back against the headboard and watched you walk to the bathroom, a blush on his cheeks and a goofy little smile on his face. His heart was still awash with a flurry of emotions and residual pleasure, but the most prominent thing he felt in that moment was overwhelming love for you as he let out a quiet whisper that nobody but he could hear.

"Gods, how I love you, Mayfly. I will spend a thousand lifetimes trying to deserve you."

#anya's athenaeum #trigun stampede #trigun stampede x reader #trigun x reader #trigun #vash the stampede #vash x reader #vash the stampede x reader #vash the stampede smut #vash tristamp #trigun stampede smut #trigun smut #vash x you #vash smut #vash trigun

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milkncookiesmoonsrambles · 9 days

Text

Hazbin Hotel, and a list of criticisms

Hi! You can call me M, and I recently watched Hazbin Hotel. I used to be a fan of vivziepop, but I'm not anymore, after learning that she's transphobic and having Helluva Boss leave a bad taste in my mouth. Here is all of the strange areas I noticed, free of anything I've seen already. This is only hidden under a keep reading because I think this'll be a long post and I don't wanna waste space.

The show is way too fast-paced for its own good. The show was on episode 6 of 8 and STILL introducing new characters. I swear the show doesn't know how to pace itself.

Why have Adam be the main representative of heaven? I know that Eve was technically the first person to sin, but Adam sinned as well, and I highly doubt he'd be put into such a position of power after dying.

Why have Lucifer's character design be the way it is? If he's so old and a fallen angel, why not have that represented anywhere? God he looks like a middle schooler but with a horrendous colour palette.

Despite being named after the hotel, it barely serves more than a backdrop. There are no new guests other than Pentious, and there's no reason to have it around at the point of episode 8

Episode 8, after the fight with the angels. They fix the hotel, and say they'll get new guests. The main cast still has no idea how to redeem sinners other than what Adam said in court in episode 6. Why continue on this idea without even knowing if redemption is a possibility? Charlie hates the idea of instilling false hope into people, yet she still advertises the hotel as a way out, without any knowledge of how to leave.

There's barely any interesting representation in a supposedly queer show. When Angel Dust is on-screen, he's essentially the promiscuous gay guy stereotype. When Vaggie and Charlie act like a couple, it feels wrong. Alastor is supposedly aroace, but the only mention is a barely-characterized cannibal he supposedly goes way back with calling him an "ace in the hole", which means next to nothing.

Alastor isn't scary. Not one bit. He's said to be scary, but nobody in the main cast is afraid of him. Sure, Charlie is higher in power than him, and she doesn't seem afraid, but there is NOTHING showing that anyone is even slightly bothered by his threats, other than Husk, and he's revealed to be OWNED by him. Angel Dust even flirts with him in episode one. EPISODE ONE. The only slightly scary line from him is "This face was meant for radio", and even then it's undermined by how it's treated.

Pentious means nothing to the show, and I'm fairly certain means nothing to the cast. His only characterization is that he's a coward, and he's an inventor. Then he's fridged. Not even kidding. He dies to get a big reaction out of another character.

Charlie is strange. Despite being a princess of hell, she acts like she's never seen bloodshed before. She acts like a naive child until she starts swearing, and even then it sounds wrong with her characterization.

We never learn, in-show, how anyone died. We're assumed to know almost everyone.

New characters are introduced constantly, and most of them are treated like we already know them. It's like Spiderman: No Way Home, where they show off new characters, but the story acts like we're supposed to point at them like "OH, IT'S THE GUY FROM THE THING!".

Genuinely had this thought out loud, "If your character is named Cherri Bomb, why have her as a normal sinner?" Like, I know it could be a nickname. I don't care. It makes no sense to have her just be someone normal. She's like, the only character shown to use explosives. Why not have her use it as a main power.

Why is the art style inconsistent with noses? Charlie, Vaggie, Alastor, and Mimzy have noses, as well as others, I'm not sure, but others don't.

On the topic of designs, there's so much clutter, and they all use basically the same colour of red, except for Angel Dust, who I suppose is Vivzie's special little boy. They're all so sharp and uninteresting, there's barely any variation.

Mimzy's introduction is a nothing burger, and is barely anything more than an opportunity to make Alastor look more powerful. She adds nothing to the story, and does nothing other than attract supposedly dangerous people to the Hotel.

I've said it before, but so many storylines are rushed. The episode about heaven could easily have been, like, an entire season's worth of content. It could have been slower, introducing us to the general feel of heaven before slowly showing the cracks, like how nobody really knows how they got here, or how angels don't know much about Hell or the exterminations.

How do the exterminators not know that they can get hurt or that they can die? And if they don't, how come Lute knew that she could remove Vaggie's wings and harm her?

Vaggie says that she didn't know angels could be hurt before finding out about the dead angel. The writing must've been so out of wack, because SHE'S SUPPOSED TO BE AN EXTERMINATOR. An exterminator that was WOUNDED in order to not come back. What in the nine circles of hell.

So much is assumed that the viewer already knows. I used to be a fan of Helluva Boss, so I know probably a lot more than the casual viewer, but if I were to go in blind to this show, I would know absolutely nothing.

This show feels more like Vivienne's character showcase than a story set in Hell. Barely anyone associated with common Christian theology knowledge is part of the story, and even then it's written so incorrectly.

I'll admit, I am slightly biased, as I've read through the vivziepop critical tags, but there's so many small holes in the story.

#vivziepop critical #hazbin hotel critical

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bambisnc · 2 months

Text

nobody knows [ft j.sc]

pairing : sungchan x reader! genre : cavity giving coded fluff cw/tw : use of caps + suggestive mention if u blink u'll miss it :P wc : 0.4k ish

[03.17] Beep!!

bee eff (🦌) : HEY where tf are youuuuuuu it's FREEZING here your hot adn super loving bf is FREEZING alone AT NIGHT for you

you : 3 am is literally not even considered night,, + if you're hot.. then how are u freezing darling bf ?

bee eff (🦌) : yk what i meant !!! but feel free to elaborate on my being hot 😏😏

you : LMAO ur so cute i'll be right down

quietly making your way out of the house to meet sungchan, your boyfriend. neither of you was yet over the hype that came after having officiated your relationship with the title of dating. after years of pining, the (literal) boy next door and your childhood best friend was finally yours; as much as you were his, of course.

there were a lot of perks of dating your neighbour, to be honest. being able to meet him almost anytime of the day was definitely one of them. there was also, however, the tiny issue of having to ensure that all your rendezvous remained secret.

because, you know, there is the fact that neither of your parents would have been very approving of a partner "at this young an age?! you kids need to be focused on your studies! dating and whatnot will only jeopardize your friendships and make you one of those hermits who stay locked away in their room when a boyfriend or girlfriend breaks up with you!" you're pretty sure the thing about friendships was somewhat targeted..

you really did try to ignore your feelings for the boy. safe to say, that didn't work out well. his earnest confession and admittance of the fact that he was willing to take responsibility to keep you both a secret and completely hidden from all prying eyes was more than enough for you to brush your lips against the corner of his own and say yes.

bee eff (🦌) : HEAVENLY CHORUS MY GF'S COMIGN GUYS !!!!!!!!!!!! <33333 when ur here i'm gonna hug you so hard frfr. not letting you breathe for like 10 mins AT LEAST

you : oh? not going to let me breathe huh~? very 🥵🥵 of you~

bee eff (🦌) : your mind? out of the gutter please i'm trying to be romantic here!! xx but if that's what you want sure <3 i'll do anything, everything you want forever, i promise.

you've had doubts about this sometimes, a lot of worries, but you've never regretted it – and seeing how sungchan greets you with a huge smile and an exclamation of "yn!! you're here pretty!!" followed by a, as promised, huge hug – you don't think you ever will.

notes : not even gonna lie i lowkey cried at the last text,..... oh adn kiss of life nobody knows stays winning ty for ocming to my ted talk + [m.list]

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factorialsotherfandoms · 6 months

Text

The eggs are asleep, and finally Philza and Missa can catch a moment to themselves. Unfortunately, catching that moment means admitting to the injuries they have been hiding from their children - fussing over scratches while having arrowheads lodged next to your spine is the duty of a parent on Quesadilla Island, but an exhausting one.

Missa's quick fingers manage to pull said arrowhead from Philza's back, the momentary flash of pain causing him to nearly drop the iodine solution. He doesn't, though, just a little stain on the floorboards, and so he continues applying it to the wound in Missa's leg.

He barely notices the scratch of a needle against his back, but Missa cannot help but whine as the gauze is pressed against his wound.

"I hate it here," Missa manages, thankfully in English as Philza is in no position to twist and see his translator. "Why is everything trying to kill us?"

"The island fucking hates us, is why," Philza grouches, reaching over for a bandage. He's managed to get Missa's leg to stop bleeding, but it should still be covered. "Enjoy the island my ass."

Missa giggles a bit, even as he tapes a dressing in place over the arrow wound. He says something in Spanish which is definitely too fast for Philza to parse; he tries to turn and look, only to be gently pressed back into position.

"It's nothing," Missa assures him. "But the skeletons! Why are they so bad?"

"The skeletons aren't even the worst of it," Philza groans back. "If you ever see glowing eyes and nothing else? Run."

There's a long pause, and Philza hopes that Missa understands the severity of his warning - a Nightmare Stalker is exactly that, and Philza knows Missa is not nearly equipped to handle one. If he struggles as he does, he doesn't want to think about how his partner would suffer in his stead.

"It's okay," Missa pats his shoulder a few times, leaning around his wings to do so. "I'm good at running. It's my special talent!"

"You're good at a lot of things," Philza promises.

Missa doesn't reply; this time when Philza turns, he is allowed to. His entire body aching he sits himself up and twists himself around, taking Missa's face him his hands.

"You are so good," he promises. "So, so good. There's nobody else I would want to raise my eggs with."

There's more on the tip of his tongue; Philza quashes it as Missa closes his eyes, rest of his expression hidden by his mask.

Philza can see Missa struggle with his words for a bit - he's always amazed how someone can make themselves understood in two languages - before eventually receiving, "you are the best egg father."

"We have the best egg child," he retorts.

"We do!" Missa's entire body language perks up. "Chayanne is the best egg child, and he is ours. We are so lucky."

"We really are."

Philza isn't sure when it happens, but eventually he realises that he has leant forward, his forehead resting against Missa's mask. He closes his eyes and savours it, feeling as Missa loosely places his arms across his bare back - Philza needs his for support, one either side of Missa's hips and taking his weight, but otherwise he would do much the same.

The two of them stay in silence for a while, savouring each other's presence. The pain is still there, from protecting their children, and yet... In a simple house of oak and glass, for a moment it is all peace.

"Run away with me."

This is not how Philza had ever meant to bring it up, but the words slip out of their own accord.

Missa startles, eyes wide and spine straight as he blinks himself out of the peaceful haze, "qué?!"

"Run away with me," he shifts so he can see all of Missa's face, taking both of his partner's hands in his own. "Take the children, and run away. Find a way off this island, and to another world - one where the skeletons are the /only/ thing to worry about. I'll build you another house and we'll make it a home. Any colour you like, with a fence and walls and real bedrooms and a kitchen for Chayanne and gardens for Tallulah... You can have your own music room and kick Wilbur out for trying to steal your guitar, and we can sit on the roof in the moonlight and you can sing and I'll dance with the children asleep beneath us and no risk of zombie horsemen on our tail."

"But how-" a small whine catches in Missa's throat. "How do we get away? They said we cannot leave."

"There's always a way to leave," Philza says. "We just have to find it."

There's hands in his wings, and Philza startles.

"Your wings are so big... If they healed, you could fly away," Missa says, something wishful in his tone. "Up and up and far, far away, so far they could never catch you."

"And leave you behind?" he asks.

"You'd come back for Chayanne. And I... I could follow you then?"

"Even if something happens to Chayanne, I'd come back for you," Philza promises. "I won't leave you here, not in this hell."

"You wouldn't leave anyone here, if you could help it."

"Probably," Philza admits. "But I wouldn't come back for them, not if I didn't know I could escape again - I'd come back for you."

"I'll wait for you," Missa seems almost to melt in Philza's touch, whimpering as he curls in on him. Philza isn't even sure what he said wrong, just that his egg partner is clinging to him, whimpering.

"We might not always be together," he tries to reassure. "But I will always come back for you - I'll always find you. There's no point in running away if we don't run away together; if some day I /can/ fly away, I'd only do it to come back with help."

The whimpering turns to sobbing, and Philza adjusts his position to hold Missa properly. The hands in his feathers dig deep - one finger catches on some tape holding one of the litany of dressings in place - but Philza just holds Missa and worries.

Why this reaction? Was it something he said?

He stops talking just in case; Missa clearly wants a hug, so he just holds him, understanding only odd words of the broken fragments of Spanish between the sobs.

Eventually the tears slow; Missa pulls away, still sniffling.

"And... Spreen can come?"

"He can live next door, if he wants," Philza promises; it'll be a little hard to negotiate with Fit, but interpersonal drama is just a part of life. "A whole new town for /everyone/ - all of the islanders, and all of our friends. Maybe if we let his ex in Forever will even stop hitting on me."

That earns a laugh, if a bit of a wet one.

"I want to dance with you," Missa says.

"With no zombie riders," Philza promises. "Maybe tomorrow we could dance a bit at the Favela? But, one day, we'll do it somewhere safe."

"On the roof, under the moon?"

"I'll make a roof specially designed for it."

The tears slow some more, and Missa drops to actually lie on the bed.

"Do you really think we'll escape?" Missa turns to Philza and asks. "We broke the Wall, and the Federation-"

Philza moves to lie beside him - on his front while Missa is on his back - and takes a hand. "We will. I promise."

"But-"

"Someone cleverer than us will work it out," he smiles to Missa. "We've just got to survive while they do."

"And if they don't?"

"Then I'll burn the Federation to the ground."

#qsmp fanfic #qsmp philza #qsmp missa #genuinely can't tell if shippy or not #happy end au #little bit of character injury #they're both a bit tired so its less 'I have a plan' and more 'I have a dream'#still comes after the one with Fit tho #Missa doesn't need details he needs hope #they went out with chayanne and tallulah and archer skeletons happened #hence ows #the early spanish philza doesn't catch is missa going 'yes i do enjoy your ass its one of the best things on the island'#or words to that effect #just silly but too flirty for him to be comfy with it being understood #“run away with me” = I love you #“I won't leave you here” = I love you #I'd come back for you = I love you I love you I love you #“I'll wait for you” = I trust you I love you I want you #Philza's just not very good at saying feelings and Missa says them very fast in Spanish so Philza doesn't understand #(I love you can take many forms and still be love)#something something the irony of philza being the one who says I'll come back and Missa the one saying I'll wait #but genuinely the promise works both ways in this specific context

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blueraineshadows · 1 year

Note

I really enjoy your writing! I don't even have the words to articulate what I like so much about it, but as I was reading one of your fics for the first time I knew I'd found one of those gem authors that just hit every note.

I saw that you take requests, so I thought I'd put one in. I don't know if you've ever seen the movie "Atonement" (Keira Knightley slays every period piece she's in), but there is a scene that I thought would be perfect for Sebastian. The two love interests are alone in the library, and the female lead is confronting the male lead about a love letter he never meant to send her. He had written two letters, one of them nsfw, and of course sent the wrong one. Smut ensues, lol.

Thank you so much for your kind words! 😀💜

I like this Ask! I haven't copied Atonement, just used the idea and let Seb and MC lead. I hope this is okay for you...

Sebastian Sallow x F!MC 💚🔥🌶 NSFW

The parchment in her pocket was rumpled from far too much handling. Ever since MC had received it via owl it had been a constant presence in her thoughts. When she had first read the words scrawled down in ink, she had clutched it to her chest immediately, scandalised! There had been nobody else in the room with her, but she glanced around none the less, terrified that anyone would see what erotic notions were written there.

The sensible thing to do would be to burn it. Immediately. But her traitorous body had other ideas. Slowly, she had smoothed out the parchment and devoured the words, her cheeks flushing and her thighs squeezing together tightly.

She had lost count how many times she had read it now, the words seared into her brain. That letter had dragged her deepest, darkest fantasies from her secret, put away heart, fantasies about Sebastian Sallow. But what to do? How was she ever going to be able to look him in the eye again and not see the vivid images he had conjured with his words?

.....*.....

He had not heard a reply back from MC yet, and Sebastian was beginning to wonder if he had revealed his feelings too soon. He had been sure that she felt the same for him, and had bravely confessed his love for her, sending her a romantic love letter in order to charm her heart.

But nothing. Anxious doubt clawed at his insides. He paced his bedroom, debating whether to go and seek her out. Could he face the humiliation of her rejection?

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Then, he thought of her, her soft skin, the alluring scent she wore, and he thought about the other letter he wrote. This one had been just for him, his own guilty pleasure as he poured out all the naughty, passionate things he wanted to do to her. How she drove him wild with want.

He had an urge to read his own words again, refresh his passion for her, and went to where he had hidden it. When he unfolded the parchment, licking his lips, his heart stopped cold in his chest. On the parchment were the pretty, flowery words he had used to confess his love. His eyes scanned the page, panic setting in when there was nothing about what their mouths and lips could do to each other.

Fuck! He had sent the wrong letter!

.....*.....

He had found her. MC stood between the book stacks in the library, the window dark behind her. The light of a single candle illuminated her face, book open in her hands, as she stared at him. "Sebastian," she whispered.

"MC," he said. She could see the rise and fall of his chest, the glow of candle light in his eyes. She felt the tremble in her legs, the pound of her heart.

She couldn't seem to stop breathing so fast. She snapped her book closed and pushed it back onto the shelf, trying to get control of her wild pulse. "Your letter..." Her throat was dry and the words didn't sound like her own voice.

He went to speak and then hesitated. He stepped a little closer. "Forgive me," he said. "I sent on the wrong letter. I never intended for you to see that one."

She put a hand against the bookcase, fingers trailing softly along the spines of books she wasn't really seeing. She couldn't turn around, couldnt look at his eyes without feeling like she might combust into flames.

"What was in the other letter?" She rasped. She felt him come closer, up behind her, and goosebumps spread along her arms.

"A confession," he murmured. She could hear his breaths. "I wanted you to know how I feel about you, how I've always felt, ever since your first day in 5th year."

She closed her eyes, swallowed thickly. "I'm going to need to see that letter," she said. Butterflies danced at the very thought. He had feelings for her, and had all this time!

"And the letter you sent to me, the mistake, is that not how you truly feel, then?"

His breath fanned against her hair. She waited, desperate to hear what he would say, and terrified of it at the same time.

"I feel all of it," he whispered. "Body and soul."

She gasped and finally turned, their faces inches apart, and she could see it. The fire he so vividly imagined in his letter burned hot in his gaze. Her eyes fell to his mouth, what wickedness he had promised with those lips. She squeezed her thighs together, panting, her back now pressed against the bookcase.

"You do not flinch from me," he said.

"No," she breathed. "I do not."

Their breaths mingled, his lips closer, she thought she might actually start begging in a minute, desperate to feel his kiss. She licked her lips, throat dry, he watched the motion with dark eyes. Then, his hand skimmed her hip, smoothing upwards to her waist. The only sound in the quiet of the library were her soft pants of breath as his fingers entwined in the fabric of her blouse.

When his lips touched hers, her eyelids fluttered closed and her bones melted. His mouth moved softly, teasing her, the slide of tongue sending shivers down her spine. His hair was thick and soft, luxurious against her fingers as she ran her hands through it. Her soft moans and sighs floated gently from her mouth as he moved to torture her throat with lips and tongue.

"Sebastian." His name was a sweet worship on her whispering lips as his hands moved to mould the curves of her arse. He guided her even closer, their bodies crushed close, closer, her back pressed against the bookcase.

He ground against her, the stiff press of his arousal drawing a gasp from her lips. The words of his letter swirled through her mind, promises of lust spelled out in ink. Her fingers clutched at his robe, twisting, desperate, as a thick, hot throb pulsed through her.

Her thighs parted easily at the press of his knee, her skirt bunched up at her hips. Instinctively, she bore down against his leg, grinding, eager, the ache driving her insane. He groaned, breath hot against her lips as he claimed her mouth again.

His hand slid up her bare thigh, finger tips caressing her burning flesh. She flexed a leg outwards, opening for him, and he slid fingers beneath the damp cotton of her underwear. The drag of a finger against her folds made her head fall back, banging against the leather bound volumes behind her. She felt the spread of her slick, pulsing need screaming for him to do as he had so darkly described.

"So wet," he panted. "So perfect."

She felt the vicious tugs as he unfastened his trousers, his arm supporting her waist as he tilted her. It was a desperate struggle of limbs and breathing and then she felt the push of his tip, the stretch of her heat as he nudged inwards.

She met his eyes, fingers clasped tightly on him, her mouth agape as he pressed deeper. A low cry, breathless and needy left her at the full feeling of his cock, she clenched around him, trembling.

He gritted his teeth. "Oh fuck," he hissed.

Then they both froze. Footsteps from further down the stacks. "Someone is coming," she whispered.

She looked down at their joined bodies, clothes askew, her legs spread eagerly for him, and flushed hotly. It would not do to be caught like this!

Regret pained Sebastian's features as he withdrew, leaving her feeling bereft, empty and insanely unsatisfied. They hurried to straighten their clothes, MC patted her hair and moved to snatch a book up, flipping it open.

They were the picture of innocence when Madam Scribner strolled past. She saw them and paused to look closer. "It's almost curfew," she said. "Perhaps you ought to finish up."

"Oh, that's the plan," Sebastian said smoothly. "We'll be on our way in a few moments."

When the librarian had moved on, Sebastian met MC's gaze. She smirked. "We have unfinished business you and I," she said. She patted the pocket of her skirt. "I've got the proof."

His smile envoked all the wickedness he had promised.

#hogwarts legacy fanfic #mc x sebastian sallow #sebastian sallow #sebastian sallow fanfiction #hogwarts legacy #sebastian sallow smut #BlueRaineShadows

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loulouwrites · 6 months

Text

Secrets . Tommy Shelby

summary: tommy shelby is dead, and his life has just begun

warnings: angst, talk of death, grief, post season 6, abuse, discussions of domestic violence, unedited,tommy shelby having a normal job? lmk if i missed any!

word count: 5k

Death was no stranger to Thomas Shelby.

He had killed more men than he could count, he had lost more friends than he cared to remember, and he had died six months ago - at least, that's what everybody thought.

He wondered if he should have felt more guilty. He was sure his family had grieved him - he hoped they had, anyway - but he would not blame them if they hadn't.

He imagined, as they grieved them, relief also passed through them, he imagined them feeling guilty for thinking such a thing. He knew Ada would feel terrible, shake the thought out of her head, but it would be there.

Thomas Shelby was dead, and that meant his terrible legacy died with him.

He didn't feel anything when he thought about his family's reaction, because his was the same. He grieved the loss of himself, he grieved those he loved that were still living, knowing he would never see them again. He grieved the dead, his dead wife, his precious daughter that was taken before her life truly began, and he grieved that he was not going to see them for a long time. But, admist his grief, that wave of relief washed over him, he felt his stomach untwist, he felt the weight on his shoulders disappear, and for the first time in a long time, he felt free.

For the first time in his life, he was exactly where he needed to be.

Alone.

Nobody here knew his real name, nobody knew what he had done, and most importantly, nobody cared.

The first month he had has been dead, he had met a group of travellers, they had welcomed him into their camp with open arms and open bottles of cheap whiskey. He had been lucky they didn't recognise him, the community being so small, but by some miracle, they didn't.

He didn't stay long, the group was too insular, and he knew it was only a matter of time before they ran into a group who did know who he was, and who would tell anybody who would listen that the dead Thomas Shelby OBE, was not actually dead.

The second month, he had travelled north and had worked on the shipyards in the North East. They were used to all kinds of people travelling there for work and leaving after a few months to move on to bigger and better things - he had lasted two weeks.

Thomas Shelby was no fool. He had no need to work jobs on shipyards or factories. He had given his businesses away, he had buried his titles with him, but there was always Shelby money somewhere, hidden in different parts of Birmingham, money that was meant to stay hidden.

Enough to allow him live comfortably for the rest of his life.

The third and fourth months were spent collecting that money and trying to find something to do with it.

He was not a man that was made to relax. He didn't enjoy sitting, or reading, or any leisurely activities, he was born to work. He had always been like that, always working towards something, always reaching towards a goal, but he had done everything a man could do, and now, it was time to rest.

He liked living in the countryside. He had thought it might be too dangerous, too many nosy neighbours and friendly questions, but not too many people passed through, and those that did didn't care about where he came from, they tended to just ask him for directions to the nearest town.

He lived a lonely life, and he liked it that way.

He did have one friend. When solitude became too much, even for him, he would venture the two miles to the nearest house, where a charming elderly widow named Pearl lived.

Pearl was nearing seventy-five. She had lived for two centuries, she had seen a queen die, a king crowned, she had seen her sons shipped off to war and never return, and she had seen many liars in her time. And yet, she did not suspect the nice man who lived close by to be anything but an honourable, young man.

Pearl's husband had died almost twenty years ago, and she had seen the look of a bereft spouse on Tommy Shelby's face the moment she had seen him - but she never asked him about it. They didn't talk much over the dinners Pearl would prepare, they didn't really need to, they had both talked enough in their time.

It was a chilly night when Tommy approached Pearl's little cottage. He always came to dinner on the last Sunday of the month, how that habit had formed, he had no idea.

The old woman had greeted him with a smile at the door, waving him inside where it was warm and inviting, the smell of her cooking a warm welcome.

He had barely sat down on the wooden chair at the foot of the table when a crash came from the adjacent kitchen, and he had shot the woman fussing over him a questioning look, to which he shrugged.

"I'm sorry, Pearl," a woman's voice called from the kitchen, the door swinging open "I broke two of your plates." The woman stopped in the doorway when she noticed Tommy sat at the table, her eyebrows furrowing slightly.

Pearl waved a dismissive hand at the woman, patting Tommy on the shoulder and waving her over to the table, encouraging her to take a seat.

"It's only a couple of plates," Pearl said, "I have too many, anyways." She pointed to the woman that had gingerly sat down to the right of Tommy, introducing her before disappearing into the kitchen to plate up their dinner, "she's a family friend and will be staying with me for a while."

"Pearl has spoke of you very fondly, Tom." The woman smiled, leaning forward in her chair.

Tommy hadn't bothered to change his forename.

"I'm glad to hear it," Tommy grabbed the glass of water that Pearl had placed on the table before he had arrived, "she hasn't mentioned you before, though."

Tommy was good at reading people, always had been, and he didn't miss the way the woman's red painted lips tightened, her smile slightly straining at his words.

"I should be offended." She let out a huff of laughter, "I always thought Pearl and I were close."

"Not as close as I am with Pearl." Tommy joked, noticing the woman's posture relax as she leaned back in her chair.

"Yes, well, Pearl makes friends very easily. I don't think she has ever met stranger."

Tommy smiled at the woman's words, his eyes flickering across her face. She was pretty, her makeup was perfectly applied to her face and her hair was immaculately styled, even the red varnish on her nails was perfect.

She shifted under his gaze, and Tommy realised he hadn't spoken in at least a minute, and he cleared his throat, embarrassed at what he was sure she thought was him leering.

The awkward atmosphere was thankfully broken by Pearl reentering the room, her hands full as she balanced three plates in her arms. Tommy was quick to jump out, taking the plates from the older woman and setting them on the table.

The dinner conversation was more lively than it usually was when Tommy visited, Pearl seemingly thrilled at having another presence at the table, so much so, the two younger people in the room could barely get a word in for the entire meal.

Pearl had excused herself after dinner, claiming it was too late for a woman her age, and insisting her two friends make themselves a cup of tea before Tom headed home.

The clattering of cups on saucers were all that could be heard in the living room, the awkward tension returning as they sat on the sofa.

She reached over to the side table, retrieving a pack of cigarettes and a lighter, offering one to Tommy, which he declined with a shake of his head, though he did inhale extra hard when the smoke drifted his way.

"You and Pearl have become quite close." She said eventually, flicking the ashes of her cigarette into the crystal ashtray on the coffee table.

"Oh, we're the best of friends." Tommy nodded, his voice flat, but his eyes carrying a glimmer of humour that she clearly picked up on, her lips curling into a smile.

"I'm almost jealous."

"Of me?" Tommy raised his eyebrows, "or of Pearl?"

Her laugh was one of the best things he had heard in a long time.

"I suppose it must be nice having a friend, it's so rural here, it must get lonely."

"Loneliness isn't always a bad thing." Tommy muttered, and she didn't miss the bitterness in his tone.

"I suppose you're right," she sighed, taking a drag of her cigarette, "as long as you choose it."

Tommy hummed in response, leaning back into the cushions of the sofa. "Why are you here?" He didn't mean for the question to sound so abrupt, he meant to ask it in a friendly manner, instead it came out like an interrogation, and her eyebrows raised in surprised.

"Pearl is an old family friend, she offered me somewhere to stay for a while."

"For a while?" Tommy asked, "won't your husband miss you?"

He flinched at his words. Subtle.

"I'm not married," she offered him a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes, "what about you? Pearl told me you live alone."

"Widowed." Tommy shrugged, and she nodded in response, but she didn't say anything, she didn't offer him her condolences, or ask what happened, and he would be eternally grateful for that.

He saw himself out a few moments later, thanking her for the tea, and telling her to thank Pearl for the lovely meal.

"It was very nice to meet you...Tom..."

"Smith." Tommy answered from the front door.

He had never had a very good imagination.

◇─◇──◇─◇

He saw her again three days later. It was Wednesday when she arrived at his door, holding a basket of rock cakes in her hand, pushing past him into his house before he had time to protest.

The house was unbearably plain. He hadn't bothered to decorate the place, keeping the furniture that was there when he had purchased it. He watched as she took in the living room, her head moving around, taking in the bare walls and dated carpet.

He imagined it looked strange, there was not one personal touch in the entire house, no paintings, no photographs, just the daily newspaper thrown on the table in the corner.

"I love what you've done with the place." Her tone was so serious, Tommy almost thought she was being genuine, and his eyes widened until she turned her head to meet his gaze, a smirk on her perfectly painted list.

"I've been known to have an eye for interior design." He smirked back, and she snorted at his words.

"Pearl sent me." She held up the basket in her hand, "she made too many."

"You'd think she would no portion control by now." He said, taking the basket from her and setting it on the table, next to the unread newspaper.

"I think she made the specially for you." She smiled, "it's nice."

"It is." Tommy agreed and she began walking around the living room, a frown on her face.

"What do you do?" She asked eventually, her tone incredulous. He frowned at her words, his face questioning. "I mean...there are no books, no writing materials...what do you do all day?"

Tommy considered his response, but what could he say? 'I spend all my time pondering every mistake I have ever made?' 'All I do is wonder what my family are doing at this very moment?' 'I wish I was actually dead?'

He just shrugged.

"Do you not get bored?" She sounded truly concerned about him.

"Only boring people get bored." He told her, his mother had told him that when he was young.

"Now I see why you're so fond of Pearl. She's the only entertainment you have."

"She's more than enough." Tommy joked dryly, and she smirked at him, a knowing look on her face.

"Well...have a good day." She made her way to his front door, "God knows how."

The door had closed behind her before he could respond.

He didn't go and see Pearl that night, instead choosing to walk through the empty fields surrounding his property. He enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere at night here. The sky was clear, there was no city fog or grime that hid the stars in the sky, the air was crisp and fresh, not assaulting his lungs as he walked. It allowed him time to think, but he didn't think about the bad things outside, those were reserved for the confines of his house.

When he was out in the calm of nature, he allowed himself to think about the good things, few as they were.

When he returned to his house, he almost missed the object that had been placed on his front step, he would have if he hadn't tripped over it when he went to unlock his front door.

He picked up the object as if it were a bomb, rather than the leather-bound book it was, holding it between his thumb and forefinger with a frown on his face.

Jane Eyre.

He couldn't help but huff out a laugh.

◇─◇──◇─◇

"Did you like it?" She asked him two weeks later. Tommy didn't know they had ended up walking together every lunchtime on a Saturday, but he couldn't find a reason to complain.

"No." He huffed, "I didn't like Jane Eyre either, by the way."

She rolled her eyes at his words, not phased by his clear displeasure. She had started leaving books on his doorstep every week. The first had been Jane Eyre, which Tommy had read in only three days, not pleased by the story one bit. The second had been a Charles Dickens novel that he had already read years ago, and he didn't like it the first time either.

"I'm starting to think you don't like much." She grumbled, nudging his shoulder with hers as they walked down the country road.

"That's not true, at all." He said, placing a hand on her lower back, rubbing circles there. They both stopped walking, heads turned to face each other, he leaned his head in, their foreheads almost touching. He noted the nervous look in her eyes, how her body stiffened under his touch, "I like Pearl." He removed his hand from her back, continuing his stroll, smirking when he heard her modest heels clicking against the pavement as she tried to catch up with him.

"You have a terrible sense of humour." She huffed, a smile on her lips.

◇─◇──◇─◇

She became a regular fixture in Tommy's life. He saw her more often than he saw Pearl, for she would venture to his house whenever she felt like it, asking him his opinions on the books she had given him, sometimes she would turn up with flowers and plants to 'brighten the room'.

He didn't mind it as much as he thought he would. She wasn't an imposition in his life, she didn't ask him questions about his life, she didn't pry when his mind seemed to be elsewhere, she kept their conversations to the books they had read and their upcoming meals at Pearl's house.

If he were still a suspicious man, he would have found it strange.

Why was she so disinterested in his past?

Was it because she didn't want him to be interested in hers?

But, he wasn't that man anymore, and he learned to be grateful for their encounters, no matter how shallow they were.

She eyed him suspiciously from across his kitchen table, the china cup hiding the bottom half of her face. She had become quite good at reading him over the months, she could tell when he wanted to say something, and when he didn't.

"What's on your mind?" She placed the cup down, crossing her arms across her chest.

"Where are you from?" He asked her, his expression blank, not suspicious, but not completely uninterested, either.

"South."

"South." Tommy repeated, nodding his head.

"Where are you from?"

"North."

"North." She replicated his nod.

"Why did you move here?"

"I got sick of the city, Pearl offered me a place to stay at hers."

"You didn't work?"

"No." She sighed, bringing her cup of tea to her lips again.

"You've never been married and you didn't work. Family money?"

"Something like that." She shrugged and Tommy could see the irritation growing on her face.

"Must have been a lonely life."

"You'd know, wouldn't you?" She stood up from her seat them, brushing out the small creases in her green dress, her mouth opened as if she wanted to say something, but she shook her head, grabbing her handbag and leaving the kitchen.

Tommy felt guilty, but he didn't try to stop her.

◇─◇──◇─◇

He didn't see her for another few days. He knew she was avoiding him, it didn't surprise him when she didn't show up for their afternoon walk the next day, or when Pearl informed him she hadn't been feeling well so she wouldn't be joining them for dinner.

Pearl didn't miss the way his shoulder's deflated when she informed him.

Tommy didn't miss the ghost of a smirk on Pearl's face.

He saw her again exactly one week after she had stormed out of his kitchen. He had ventured into the nearest town to buy the essentials he had run out of over the past month, when he saw her, she was exiting the bakery.

She stood out like a sore thumb in the rural town. Her blue button up dress was cinched at the waist, the hat she wore was perfectly placed on top of the fashionable waves of her hair.

She didn't look like she belonged in the countryside, better suited for the nicer streets of London, or even, New York.

Tommy supposed he didn't particularly fit in either.

He approached her as she was about to enter the post office, offering to take the string shopping bag from her arms, which she declined with a polite smile.

He followed her into the post office, lagging behind due to the multiple women exiting, thanking him for holding the door.

He stood by the entrance, watching as passed along letters to the man at the desk, reaching to her purse to pay for the postage, plus a pack of cigarettes and some cherry drops.

He held the door open for her when she left, struggling to keep up with her quick steps.

"I thought you had no family." Tommy said, her pace slowing, making it easier for him to walk by her side.

"I didn't say that." She muttered, her gaze fixed ahead of her, "I said I had no husband. We all have family, Mr Smith."

"No all of us."

"Aren't you a widow?" She frowned, turning her head slightly to meet his gaze, "you had no children?"

The word got stuck in Tommy's mouth, "no." He flinched at how small his voice sounded.

"No brothers, sisters, parents?"

"No."

She didn't pry, she just nodded, letting a comfortable silence take over as they walked home.

She invited him in when they got to Pearl's cottage, informing him the elderly woman was in Brighton for the weekend, visiting her sister who had recently fallen ill.

He had gracefully accepted, helping her unpack the numerous shopping bags in the kitchen, and offering to help her cook dinner, but she shook him off, telling him she cooked better alone.

She wasn't as good of a chef as Pearl, Tommy noted as he struggled to cut his lamb, the meat slipping along the plate with the force.

She grimaced when the glasses shook on the table, a clear indication she had cooked the meat half an hour too long.

"I'm sorry." She sighed, "I've never been a good cook, or good hostess."

He waved a dismissive hand at her, finally gathering a cut of lamb on his fork, trying not to chew too aggressively under her watchful gaze.

"You don't have to eat it." She told him, setting her knife and fork down, "God knows I'm not going to."

"It's...good." Tommy said, trying to discreetly pick out the tough meat from his teeth with his tongue, she shot him an unimpressed look, and he huffed a laugh. "I've had worse."

"Hopefully Pearl will be home soon, I'm going to starve if she isn't."

"I could do with some starvation, I've had to get my trousers let out since I moved here."

"I lied." She said suddenly, seemingly out of nowhere, and Tommy's eyes squinted in confusion.

"I'd say you were truthful...you really aren't a good cook."

"No." She groaned, sipping the red wine she had poured for herself, "I lied to you...about my life."

"I'm not trying to be funny, love, but you haven't told me anything about your life."

Her expression relaxed somewhat as she looked at him, but he could still see the worry in her eyes.

"I did. I said I've never been married."

She rose up from the table, pacing the small dining area with a sheepish expression on her face. Tommy breathed out heavily, gently placing his knife and fork on his plate as he watched her.

"You have been married?" He asked, not enjoying the way his stomach faintly twisted. He barely knew this woman, he had no right to feel betrayed because she had lied to him.

"I have been." She muttered, and his eyes narrowed further, but he didn't respond. "I mean...I am? Still...I think?"

"You think?" Tommy finally spoke, his voice laced with a mix of confusion and concern. He stood up from the table, mirroring her pacing movements as he tried to make sense of it all. "What do you mean you think you're still married? You either are or you aren't."

"I am." She spoke with conviction, halting her pacing to face him from the opposite side of the table. "I am still married."

"Why did you lie?" Tommy's words came out harsh, though he truly didn't mean them to. He had no right to judge her, he was just as bad, but he couldn't help but feel offended by her deception.

She looked down, her fingers nervously fidgeting with the edge of her wine glass. "I didn't mean to lie, it was just easier than the truth."

Tommy knew exactly what she meant.

"My husband wasn't kind," she continued, "he didn't physically harm me, but it would only have been a matter of time. He would find me if I stayed with my family, so I came here."

She didn't owe him an explanation, and Tommy was rather floored she had given him one.

He knew what the old him would do.

He could feel the primal, violent desires he thought had died rise up inside of him.

But, he wasn't that man anymore.

"Why are you telling me this?" He asked her finally, moving to stand directly in front of her.

She shrugged at his words, "I don't know. I just don't like secrets."

Tommy felt a pang in his stomach.

"Everybody has secrets, love."

"Even you?"

"Even me."

◇─◇──◇─◇

Something changed following their conversation over dinner. Whilst Tommy assumed she would pull away from him, they seemed to get closer over the weeks.

Tommy wasn't sure whether he wanted to spend so much time with her, but he didn't put up much of a fight. He should have felt guilty about it, she had told him her secret, and he was still clinging on to his.

There were many times he thought about telling her, like on the walk they took where it started to rain and they had to run back to his, or when she brought him extra scones Pearl had made, or when she was lying with her head against his bare chest on a Sunday morning, but he never did.

They were just passing time.

That's what she had said before she left his house one morning. They were both lonely, neither of them had anything better to do, they were doing each other a favour.

"How did you get your money?" She asked him as she buttoned up her blue dress.

He choked on his cigarette smoke.

"What do you mean?" He asked, once his wheezing had subsided, standing from the bed to get dressed.

"You bought a cute little home in the countryside, but you don't work...I'm curious."

There was nothing hidden behind her smile. She wasn't asking for any reason other than wanting to know more about him.

The guilt returned to his gut.

"Gambling." He shrugged, buttoning up his shirt, his cigarette dangling from his lips.

"Gambling?"

"Horses...got lucky."

It wasn't exactly a lie.

◇─◇──◇─◇

Tommy enjoyed his mornings with her. He enjoyed the simplicity of waking up slowly, lighting a cigarette as he looked down at her sleeping form. He always woke up before her - he didn't sleep well, she was a master at it - and he liked it that way.

"I feel like we're abandoning Pearl." He told her, watching as she rubbed sleep from her eyes at the kitchen table, accepting the cup of tea he placed down in front of her, raising an eyebrow when she declined the toast and marmalade, reaching for a biscuit off the plate in the middle of the table instead.

"Tea and biscuits is the best breakfast you can have." She had told him.

"You're abandoning Pearl." She said, "I live with her."

"You haven't been home in days."

"That's your fault." She told him, "you're the one that trapped me here."

"I trapped you here, did I?"

"You make such good cups of tea, it makes it hard to go home."

Tommy hummed, a small smile playing on his lips. "Pearl does use too much milk."

"Exactly. You've spoiled me." She smirked, standing from her seat. "But you're right...I should go home." She brushed his shoulder when she passed him, "I'll see you around, Mr Smith."

He made sure to kiss her before she left.

◇─◇──◇─◇

The three days without her allowed Tommy time to think.

He enjoyed his time with her, but he could never seem to think clearly when he was in her presence. Her charm and wit would cloud any thought he had until he was utterly consumed by her.

It wasn't much different when she was gone, either.

His thoughts were still entirely made up of her - he wondered if it was because her floral perfume still lingered on his pillow - but he was able to properly assess the past few months.

He remembered how hollow he had been. How there was nothing to think about but the ghosts of his past, how he would tremble when he remembered the things he had seen, and the things he had done.

He remembered how she had changed that.

Now the haunting memories only came back in hushed whispers, whispers he could easily ignore when her laugh was so much louder, her presence much more dominating.

He wondered if he could love somebody he barely knew. Somebody who didn't know him at all.

Of course she knew small things.

She knew he preferred jam on his toast, she knew he didn't like sugar in his tea - a fact she had been horrified to learn - and she knew he was haunted.

She never asked him about it, but she knew. She couldn't ignore the way the nightmares made him shake, she couldn't ignore his body feeling like a furnace under her perfectly manicured fingers.

She didn't ask him, but he offered her an answer anyways.

He paced the floor of his bedroom, his breathing finally returning to normal, his eyes meeting hers from where she was sat up on the bed, her eyes concerned.

"France." He had muttered, returning to his spot in bed beside her.

She said nothing, instead, laying her head back on the pillow, her hand resting on his chest, above his rapidly beating heart.

It wasn't exactly a lie.

He pondered the timeline of their relationship as he walked to Pearl's house on a chilly Sunday evening.

They didn't know each other, not really, that was the beauty of it. She didn't know who Tommy really was, but she knew enough to feel safe with him. He didn't know much about her past, but he knew enough to know she could be trusted.

He didn't know much about her.

Yet, Tommy loved her anyway.

It was a strange feeling. He felt lighter, he felt happier, but there was still the guilt.

She had not offered him more information than was needed.

He had outright lied to her.

And so, as he approached the neighbouring house, Tommy decided he would tell her. He would tell her his real name, he would tell her what he had done, and he would tell her loved her.

There was no anxiety when he got to the front door, knocking lightly, even though Pearl had told him there was no need to. There was no need to feel anxious, because he was sure she felt the same - and he was certain, no matter what, she would not betray him.

Pearl greeted him with a smile, ushering him in as she always did. His eyes darted around the living room as he shrugged off his coat, the room looked the same as it always did, but something felt different.

He offered to help Pearl, knowing she would decline as always, pushing him towards the dining area.

He frowned when he got to the table, his eyes lingering on it for a moment too long.

It was set for two.

He glanced at the older woman in a silent questioning, and she sighed heavily under his gaze.

"She went home, son." She said, reaching over to rub his arm, a maternal comfort.

He knew she could see the confusion on his face, whether she could see the devastation and betrayal, he did not know.

"When?" He managed to ask, his throat dry.

"Two days ago." Pearl said, gently pushing Tommy into his seat at the head of the table. "Husband came up to get her, took her back."

He wished the woman had punched him in the stomach.

"And you let her go?" His voice held no venom, he was simply deflated in the chair.

"You can't force a woman to stay somewhere she doesn't want to, my love. No matter how much you want to."

She didn't wait for him to respond, leaving the room to plate up their dinner. Tommy's eyes stayed fixed on the place she would be sitting if she were here, his eyes not wavering from the empty chair.

It would have been easy to be sad.

It would have even easier to be angry.

But, he felt nothing.

She was just another ghost that would haunt him in his nightmares, and if that were the only way he would see her again, he looked forward to them.

He could not feel betrayed by her.

He was the liar, after all.

#tommy shelby imagine #tommy shelby fanfic #tommy shelby x reader #tommy shelby fanfiction #peaky blinders imagine #peaky blinder fanfic

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whumpshaped · 6 months

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Idk if you're still looking for classic tropes but I suddenly remembered something I've seen alot and love. When Whumpee reacts more strongly and negatively to positive touches then pain, like the pat on their arm burns, they look away like they're being insulted or degraded when caretaker/friends are trying to let them know they care. Whumpee so unaccustomed to positive things that they hurt.

tw past trauma, conditioned whumpee, anger as a trauma response, perceived betrayal

It was getting unbearable. The touches on their hand, the pats on their shoulder, the quick hugs and kisses. It seemed like the others around them barely thought about it; it was second nature.

Well, Whumpee could barely think about anything else.

"Can you stop?" they finally snapped one day.

Caretaker blinked at them. "I... I'm sorry, I'm not sure what you mean–"

"Can you stop mocking me? Just for a day, or even an hour, can you just stop?"

It was infuriating just how confused they looked. Whumpee couldn't believe it. They didn't take Caretaker for someone who would revel in conditioning and gaslighting them, not like Whumper, but maybe they had been wrong. Were they seriously going to pretend that nothing was even going on? Or better yet, that Whumpee was crazy?

"I still– I still don't get it," they said timidly. "What did I do? I'm not– whatever I did, it wasn't on purpose. I'm sorry."

"Of course it wasn't," they scoffed. "Right. It's never on purpose with you, is it? It's all in my head! I'm imagining it! The constant fucking– the fucking touching, the, the kindness, because it's meant to be kind, isn't it? Or is it just to see me squirm? Or have you made a bet with the others?"

Caretaker looked almost hurt. Great. What next, the manipulation? The 'woe is me'?

"I'm sorry," they repeated, more emphatically now that they knew what their crime was. "I had no idea... None of us did. We wouldn't have touched you at all if we knew it made you uncomfortable. But none of us was mocking you, I promise–"

"What?"

"We won't do it again. I'll tell the guys–"

"No, not– not that part. What do you mean if you knew?"

"I... well... you never... you never said anything..." Caretaker rubbed the back of their neck awkwardly. "Looking back, I guess I should've asked..? I'm sorry. I'm not really in the habit, since we're all so touchy-feely. I just assumed you were cool with it. But now that I know you're not, it won't happen again."

Whumpee didn't understand. How did none of them notice the way they froze up every time? The way they went rigid? "You're lying."

Caretaker frowned. "I'm not. Whumpee, nobody here wants to make you uncomfortable on purpose. If there's anything you don't like, please tell us."

How? How could they? How were they supposed to speak up when they'd been so ruthlessly punished for doing so every single time for the past six years? They couldn't do that. Was that the stupid game? Making the criteria something Whumpee was terrified of doing?

"You're fucking sick," they spat, then turned on their heel and left.

Speak up. Right.

Use your words.

How could I have known? You never said a thing.

They shook their head, trying not to feel too betrayed that their friends were playing all the same mind games as their abuser.

general drabbles taglist: @ashh-ed @whumpsday @whump-queen @the-scrapegoat @hidden-dreamland @rosewriteswhump @dismemberment-on-a-tuesday-night @whumpkinpie @delicateprincepaper @whumppmuhw @whump-em @cyborg0109 @morning-star-whump @justanotherlokifan @2in1whump @lthrboy @justletmereadmywhump @florissimps @anonymous-tiangou

#asks #whump #whump drabble #past trauma #conditioned whumpee #anger as a trauma response #perceived betrayal

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pbs-theundeadmaggot · 11 months

Text

first love // Something to believe

🎶something to believe by painting promises

(AU) Steve Harrington x fem!reader

[a/n] back from the grave and ready to start writing again I introduce to you... a new series! this is just the beginning of a new and painful adventure for our favourite boy Stevie, hope you enjoy! btw the upside down doesn't exist, Eddie lives and Nancy isn't Steve's Ex (everything else is normal though).

[warnings] none!

first love masterlist here!

Almost thirty and still painfully single, you’d come to the conclusion that maybe love just wasn’t for you. Sure your parents and friends loved you but nobody was In Love with you. Since freshman year of high school you’d been aware of your lack of romantic interests, wether it was Chad from biology who asked you out as a dare or Jake from math who was about as interesting as watching paint dry, nobody had seen you; nobody had wanted you.

Except for Steve.

At 14 you weren’t sure if it was his adorably nervous smile or shining brown orbs that drew you in but since the first moment your eyes met you fell head over heels for him. No matter how much your parents hounded you on your feelings for the cute chestnut haired boy you chalked everything down to a right place, right time kind of thing. In secret you were a fool in love, smiling like an idiot any time his name was mentioned and in public you were simply a best friend, his best friend.

While time passed and fate crowned him as the infamous ‘King Steve’ your feelings never faltered. Growing day by day, minute by minute, even when you were deemed a glorified personal assistant by his other so called ‘friends’, shunned aside among the ‘peasants’ unworthy of a royalties precious time. Short lived but a monumental time in his life, he managed to find his way back to you, like magnets yearning to meet, no matter the circumstances you could never be apart for long.

At 19 after watching him go through his fair share of girl friends and hookups you finally realised it was better to keep your feelings hidden. After all, trading years of friendship for one night of pleasure wasn’t worth it, not when you could have every other part of him, any day of the week, forever. In fact, if that was all you’d ever be you were more than happy to have the privilege of admiring him from afar even when it meant you’d never get close enough to call him yours.

By 20 you and Steve were still the bestest of friends, welcoming new additions to the ever growing group. The newest addition being Eddie Munson the resident 'freak' which he proudly claimed. Along with Robin and Nancy everything had been perfect, too perfect. That should've been the first red flag, the second being that you entertained the idea of falling for a guy named Christopher. You may not have loved him but that didn't make it any better when you found him in bed with one of his exes, his excuse being that he used your status as the 'golden girl' and best friend to the ex 'king' to make said ex jealous, no shocker but it worked.

You vividly remember Steve consoling you that same night, jokingly pointing out your awful taste in guys, if only he knew. Before stating something that would change the rest of your life forever.

Sat side by side basking in the humidity of the summer air you laughed and joked as Steve told you of yet another fail at family video. You had been sworn to secrecy as he recalled tripping over in order to escape one of his overly enthusiastic past hookups. Knowing full well if Dustin ever found out Steve would never know peace again.

You don't know quite how long had passed between the jokes and the comfortable silence that currently surrounded you, but you decided that if you had to stay in one moment forever, it would be right now. The warm beer in hand and head rested on Steve's shoulder as you watched the night pass by could never compare to the nights you'd spent alone or with Christopher. Steve was your home and you were his. Which is why he knew he had to take a chance. A very stupid, idiotic chance, but a chance nonetheless.

A pact.

If the two of you remained single at 30 you'd marry each other. It was a no brainer. There would be no more question about when you would finally settle down and find a decent husband, but it also satisfied the stupid societal standard of the white picket fence dream. Although, what that meant would entail was to be worried about at a later point. Besides, who knew if the pact would still be valid in 24 hours, let alone another ten years.

⋆﹥━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━﹤⋆

[a/n] Reblogs and comments are greatly appreciated and encouraged!

other works available here!

Tagging some mutuals who might be interested? @munsonsreputation @sweetpeapod @mysticmunson @acourtofsnakes @jesus-in-the-womb @chvoswxtch

#pbs-thedesecrated #stranger things imagine #stranger things #stranger things fanfiction #Steve Harrington #Steve Harrington imagine #Steve stranger things #Joe keery #steve stranger things #steve harrington angst #stranger things fics #x reader #Steve x reader #x female reader #stranger things x reader #steve harrington #steve x y/n #pbs-firstlove

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sashaisready · 4 months

Text

Chapter Three

Lee Bodecker (The Devil All The Time) x Femme Reader

A year after the sudden death of your husband you find yourself at a loose end, unsure what to do next. You're also learning about your sexuality - your hidden desires and fantasies creeping out now you're no longer playing the role of the good wife. A certain Sheriff in town could be the one to awaken something in you

Series Masterlist

Chapter 4

Warnings: Smut, rough smut

You weren't sure where you were going, because you knew the station was in the other direction and the Sheriff seemed to have no intention of stopping anytime soon. But you wouldn't dare ask.

The cuffs dug into your wrists and you bounced across the back seat because the Sheriff hadn't put your seat belt on and wasn't too concerned with softening his sharp turns. You were scared now. You chastised yourself for being so stupid, for taking it as far as you did. For letting yourself get swept up in your anger and putting yourself at risk.

A tiny voice in the back of your mind was excited though. Something about being cuffed in the Sheriff's cruiser was like one of your fantasies come to life.

But this wasn't a fantasy, this was real. And now you'd cursed, kicked and spat at a police Sheriff. A Sheriff with the authority to put you in jail.

Lee was furious with you for making such a scene and making him look bad in front of everyone. The bored little rich widow needed a project it seemed, and that meant getting in everyone's way. He didn't know who the fuck you thought you were, a stuck up little bitch with too much time on her hands. He didn't know what he was going to do yet, but he knew he needed to teach you a lesson so you never tried anything like that again.

The Sheriff finally pulled over the car at the side of a dirt road at the start of some woods. You swallowed, panicking, trying to take in where you were. There was nobody around for miles. This couldn't be good.

He calmly stepped out of the driver's door, strolling around to the passenger door you were leaning against. He ripped it open suddenly and you fell straight out of the car roughly onto your back into the dirt below, your restrained hands meant you couldn't break your fall. You let out a small moan of pain.

Lee grabbed your arm and yanked you to your feet, shoving you against the car. He leaned his face impossibly close to yours.

"D'you wanna tell me what the fuck you were doin' back there?" he sneered, practically nose to nose with you.

You gasped. "Trying...t-to...save the library" you replied breathlessly.

Lee chuckled. "An' makin' a fool of me, did that help?" he asked.

You didn't respond, desperately trying to think of what to say. He slammed your body against the car again, causing you to whimper. It didn't hurt really, but you were terrified.

"Answer me, sweetness" he demanded, clutching his hand around your chin, squeezing your face between his thick fingers.

Your body betrayed you in that moment. Despite the intense fear you felt, that small part of you thinking about your fantasies earlier had found its way to the front. The way he's looking at you is terrifying, but it's so animalistic and feral that you find yourself aroused. The touch of his fingers on your skin is almost burning. You can hear how heavy your breathing is, you're practically panting. You can see your chest rise and fall as you try and calm yourself down. There's a throbbing between your legs you're struggling to ignore. You can feel the moisture pooling, you clench yourself desperately trying to stop it but it only makes it worse. You can't even imagine how wet you are.

Once again, against all of your better judgement, you let your impulses lead the way.

A slow smile spreads across your face, your lids are hooded, heavy with lust. Lee's expression begins to change as he realises what's happening. Surely not? Is she...?

"Make me" you growl, and suddenly you press your mouth against his, unleashing your tongue into him with desperation. He gasps momentarily but suddenly he grips your face tighter and returns the kiss, his tongue finding yours. It's messy, frantic, teeth clashing with urgent breaths. You've never been kissed like this in your life. Kissing is too nice a word to describe what it is.

He rips your face away suddenly, his grip still taut on your chin. You are panting and saliva drips down onto your jawline, no way of knowing if its yours or his. He studies you for a moment.

"Are you sure about this darlin'?" he asks tentatively. "Because once I start...I ain't stoppin'". His smile is devilish, unable to believe that you have fallen right into his lap.

You nod fervently. All you can think about is how he'll feel inside of you. You're so touch starved, so desperate for contact, so aching for release.

"I've been very bad, Sheriff" you whisper, your eyes wide and innocent. "I need to be punished".

Lee's eyes are alight now, wild with lust. He grins, needing no further encouragement. You have no idea what you've let yourself in for.

He grips the handcuffs with one hand, pulling you away from the car. His other hand goes for your ass under your dress, gripping your cheeks and jiggling them, before giving a short spank hard against your flesh. You let out a gasp, causing him to moan softly.

"I'm gonna have some fun with you, honey" he growls. He drags you round to the front of the car, roughly pushing you onto your back as you lay flat on the hood.

"Spread 'em" he commands, gesturing at your legs.

You feel momentarily embarrassed, despite everything you've already said to this man, and having his tongue in your mouth seconds before. But then you glance at him, and you can see that look in his eyes. It hits you that it's the same look you think about in your fantasies. The look of all-encompassing lust and desire for you. The look you'd always wanted to see from Arthur. It's even more powerful in reality than it had even been in your mind's eye. Your libido takes the wheel, you are no longer driving.

You kick your legs out enthusiastically to hitch your dress up over your stomach, exposing your cotton white underwear to the Sheriff and the cold light of day. Then you spread your legs as per his demand, hitching your ankles up onto the bonnet. The metal is warm against your bare legs. You feel salacious presenting yourself in this way, offering yourself up on a plate. You have never been so excited.

Lee exhales as his gaze travels down your body. He can see the moisture pooled against the gusset of your underwear, his mouth practically watering.

He moves to you quickly, yanking your briefs off with such force that they tear, hanging uselessly off your leg. He wastes no time, taking a finger and running it languidly along your entrance. You gasp at the feeling, your body shudders. He moves to the top of you, his thumb finding your clitoris and massaging small circles. You cry out, before pressing your face into the surface of the car to muffle your cries.

Lee grabs your face and pushes it back towards him.

"We have nobody to be quiet for here, honey" he whispers, pinning you against the bonnet as his thumb continues.

You can already feeling the beginnings of your climax building from those first few seconds, your body overwhelmed by the sudden touch. He suddenly withdraws his thumb and you whine pathetically at the loss. He seizes your dress and pulls it over your head, although your cuffed arms mean he can't shake it from you entirely so it hangs halfway down your back. He pulls you forward suddenly and unclips your bra from your back with one hand, flinging it onto the ground below. You feel like a ragdoll being stripped. You arms still locked behind your back mean your breasts were presented particularly pertly, pushed together by the position of your shoulders.

He gazes at your exposed breasts, smiling admiringly and taking them in his mouth one at a time. Moaning deeply as his tongue swirls over your nipple. You moan too, throwing your head back against the bonnet in ecstasy.

"I always knew you'd have nice tits" he grunts as he removes your breast from his mouth, roughly manhandling your chest and squeezing them. You have no verbal response, you're lost somewhere in your pleasure haze.

He inserts a finger into your folds, you initially yelp at the intrusion – it has been so long since a man had been inside of you like that. You gasp as the initial sting turns into pleasure, bucking your hips against him, aching for more.

"You're so tight for me" he hisses, inserting another digit inside. You clench tightly around him, unsure if you'd ever be able to let him go. "You've been waitin' a long time now honey, haven't you?"

He buries his face deep in your cunt and begins to lick your clit as his fingers pump into you faster and faster. "Tastes so good, baby" he moans.

You cry out, your shoulders shuddering. Between the sensations and the way he talks to you, you are overwhelmed. Your thighs clamp around his ears, holding him in place and communicating your urgency. You squeeze him forcefully as your climax builds and builds, as if you're afraid he will try and escape before your release arrives.

You can hear him moaning softly against you. He knows you are close. He finds himself rock hard as he listens to your cries, and your moisture drips onto the car hood below.

The building continues into a violent crescendo and your climax greets you like a freight train. You cum so hard that a strangled scream leaves your lips and you feel dizzy, short of breath, it's as if you can feel every nerve ending in your body in tandem. He continues lapping at you through your orgasm, dragging it out until the sensitivity is too intense and your legs kick him away.

You catch a glimpse of his face as he looks back up at you, his face drenched in your fluids. You gasp at the lewdness of it before your exhaustion hits, and you slump back down panting.

He's grinning ear to ear, watching your destroyed body crash back onto the hood as if you've taken a bullet to the head. Your hair is wild and knotted, your face is flushed and shiny with sweat. He takes it all in, admiring his handiwork.

"You enjoy that, sweetie?" he asks, almost mockingly. "Did you get what you needed?"

You utter a small grunt, still drunk on your orgasm and trying to grasp that this is all really happening. You always thought your solo climaxes were intense, but this is on another level.

You don't have long to recover as you hear the clinking of his belt buckle. His trousers drop to the ground and he takes his length in his hand, crawling up your body. Your eyes widen at the sight of it, longer and thicker than you could ever have imagined. You gasp, despite being soaked you're not sure you're even equipped to take him.

"My turn, baby. And I like it rough".

He kisses you deeply and you feel his tongue swirling against yours, feeling yourself come back to life and reawakening.

You spread your legs in wait, but he laughs.

"No, not yet hon'. You gotta repay the favour".

He grabs your arm and spins you round so that you're rotated the other way, your head is now flopping off the side of the cruiser and you're essentially upside down. You're dazed by the sudden movement and confused about what he's doing.

But suddenly all is clear. He walks around the car and stands astride you, lining you up with his crotch and resting a knee on the car.

"Open wide and say 'Ahh' honey".

Your mouth falls open before you can understand what he's doing and suddenly he pushes his huge cock deep into your mouth. You're positioned perfectly so that he can essentially fuck your throat. You gasp, spluttering and gagging. You've never performed oral sex like this with a man in control, normally it was you guiding the movements and pace. Right now you're nothing more than a warm, wet hole for him.

He must notice the panic in your eyes as he begins to hush you, rubbing a comforting finger under your chin.

"Shh. C'mon honey. I know you can take me. Breathe through your nose, now".

As he finds a rhythm you begin to calm down. You're still gagging but it gets easier. You feel tears streaming from your eyes, the day's mascara sliding down your cheeks. Spit is leaking from the sides of your mouth as he thrusts and drips down onto your chin.

"This is what happens when you disrespect me, baby. You gotta be put in your place. Doin' all those terrible things in front of all those good people? Huh? Can't let you get away with that" he grunts.

His thrusts become more erratic and you're shocked to feel another orgasm build as he taunts you.

As uncomfortable as you are, you feel intensely aroused. It's degrading, to be used like this, but he's moaning so intensely each time your throat takes a bit more of him. Arthur never made sounds like that. You close your eyes, allowing yourself to be swept away as you listen to him whine, strangely proud that you are doing that to him.

"So good baby...that's so so good. You're a good little cocksucker aren't you? Look at you go" he moans.

You squirm as you listen to his praise, clenching your thighs together. You barely recognise this version of yourself, high on the adrenaline of being spoken to like a common whore.

Suddenly he rips himself from your mouth. You shoot back up, using your cuffed hands to push yourself away from the bonnet and sit upright once more. You're coughing and choking, wheezing as you gasp for air.

Lee chuckles. "Well that was just too damn good sweetie and I don't wanna finish before we've got to the main event".

He grabs you roughly from behind, pulling you against his chest. You can feel his tummy resting on your back, and his sopping cock grinds against your backside. You back up against him, gyrating and pinning his dick between your cheeks.

He practically barks at that, then pushes your shoulders down so that your breasts and neck are flat across the bonnet. Your head is turned to the side, the metal resting against your cheek. He kicks between your feet to spread your legs then lines himself up. You can feel the cool breeze against your folds as you wait, practically salivating as he delivers a sharp snap to your ass.

"Fuck me, Lee" you whisper softly into the cruiser's hood.

"What was that honey?" he asks teasingly, his fingers curled in your hair as he rips you back up to face him. He wants to watch you say it.

"Fuck me, Lee" you repeat, staring into his azure eyes. He stares right back so intensely that you nearly look away. It's like looking into the eyes of the devil.

"Gladly" he responds, shoving your head back against the bonnet.

He pushes inside you in a single movement, bottoming out instantly. You yelp at the sting, he's so big that you feel completely stuffed. You can't believe he could fit entirely within you.

"Oh honey" he moans as he pulls out and slams into you again. "And I thought your mouth was good..".

You can barely hear whatever he's saying as he finds his rhythm, you're already lost in the familiar warmth of your climax starting up again. There is an obscene squelching sound as he rams into you, you're dripping at this point. You feel his balls slap against your cheeks and his tummy nudging the top of your ass. You begin to meet his thrusts, jerking your hips in time with his and pushing back onto him.

"You really thought you were gonna stop the library removal today sweetie?" he taunted as he sped up.

You could only mewl quietly in response, your head spinning.

"Hope you learned your lesson that what I say goes. You got that babydoll?" he asks through laboured breaths. He slaps your ass with the back of his hand.

You want to make a clever retort but there's nothing left in your brain except this moment and how it feels. And then finally, it's here. You let go and your orgasm swells through your body. You go limp and cry out obscenities as it works its way through. For a brief moment you think you lose your vision.

Lee gasps as you clench tightly around him while you ride through your climax. It pushes him over the edge, triggering his own orgasm. His cry is long and drawn out as he shoots thick white streams of cum within you, filling you to the brim and then his heavy body crashes down across your back.

For a moment he lays on top of you like that. The only sounds are the deep panting from the both of you, and a bird cheeping somewhere in the trees. You close your eyes, genuinely realising you might fall asleep despite the uncomfortable position and the huge man on top of you.

For the first time in a long time you are finally spent, satisfied.

#lee bodecker x reader #sheriff lee bodecker #lee bodecker #lee bodecker x you #lee bodecker x female reader #Awakened fic

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foreteller-ava · 11 months

Text

We're Here For You

FFN | AO3

Summary: Minako misses her SEES. Akihiko attempts to comfort her.

A/N: This is a revamped version of a fic from 2019, so if you're like "I read this before" actually you did. It's revamped enough to be worth republishing because I just wasn't super happy with the og.

If you click ffn, you get the og fic. If you click ao3, you get the new fic. The read more is obviously the new fic and here's my tumblr post for the og.

“Uhhhhh, so are you a student from Gekkoukan High?”

“I mean I suspected that I had a few secret fans at school, but to think I’d meet one here in this weird place.”

“But none of us know her -- myself included.”

Minako had meant it when she’d told the Phantom Thieves she was happy so long as the rest of SEES was there, and that she wanted to help them. Their leader, whomever he may have been, deserved to be safe from harm and she had a feeling he’d do the exact same thing if this were her SEES and he was the one who had been dumped away from them. He was their leader after all, and she couldn’t imagine SEES taking a leader who wouldn’t do anything for them.

But even with the knowledge that he would help her too, it didn't take away from the fact that this wasn’t her SEES.

They wore the faces of her friends, they acted like her friends, they even talked amongst each other like her friends, but they didn't know who she was. They didn’t recognize her and she couldn’t bring herself to acknowledge that fact in front of them. She hardly even wanted to acknowledge it at all. Her emotions were her own to bear; they couldn’t become their burden.

She thought she could handle it at first. When she first saw them, she’d put on her signature brand Minako smile, told them it was fine, and continued traveling through the labyrinth as though nothing had happened. But then in the lobby she’d watched Junpei and Yukari bickering, and Shinjiro and Koromaru had been playing happy in the corner, and Akihiko had offered her a beef bowl and the similarities started piling up until all she could see were her SEES and all she could do was think about the fact that they just didn’t know who she was at all, and she’d bolted. She’d run from their laughter and love and the concerned look Akihiko wore on his face when she couldn’t handle it any longer.

She ran as far and as fast as she could, only stopping when she was hidden by the darkness of the Kamoshidaman theater. It was supposed to only be a moment. It didn’t take her long to gather herself back together and bring herself back to normal after a rough day or a difficult moment. It was, after all, what she did best. But then the sobs started and they couldn’t stop, and all she could do was curl up in one of the seats and try to muffle herself enough that nobody who came in would hear.

Her breathing had only just started to even out when she heard her voice in his name. “Minako, are you here?” She bit at the collar of her shirt, trying to muffle her sobs so Akihiko wouldn’t hear. “If you didn’t want anything, you could’ve just said so. I wouldn’t have been offended.” She didn’t respond, hoping to hide from his attention. “Akira is looking to send us out again soon. He said he wants you on the team.”

Akira could jump into the movie all by himself for all she cared. She couldn’t bring herself to face the other SEES. Not until she was sure that she could face them.

“Senpai, did you find her yet?” Yukari’s voice came in next. “Mitsuru-senpai and Junpei said she wasn’t in either of the other two theaters. And Fuuka and I couldn’t find her in the bathroom either.”

“Not yet.” She could imagine Akihiko shaking his head as he sighed. His disappointment at being unable to find her was clear in her voice. “Go report to Mitsuru and have Akira check the Velvet Room. If she’s like our leader, then she could just be trying to strengthen our arsenal before we go out.”

“What about you?” Minako could only hope Yukari would leave soon. It was bad enough that Akihiko could possibly see her like this, she didn’t want to hear Yukari’s reaction too.

“I’m gonna check the whole theater. We can’t leave without her.” Minako’s hopes of remaining hidden were dashed. There was only one exit out of the theater, and even if she tried to sneak away, it was unlikely that she could escape undetected. She could either stay hidden and hope that Akihiko didn’t notice her, or she could try to control the situation and leave on her own. She wiped the tears from her eyes, thankful for the black fabric hiding the tear stains. She took a deep breath, steadying herself so that she was no longer gasping for air, and put back on her smile. She wasn’t ready for everything, but if she could fool her SEES into thinking she was okay, then she could fool this SEES too.

“Hi Akihiko-senpai, Yukari.” She waved to both of them. The look of relief on their faces was immediate. “Sorry for running off like that earlier, I just needed to cool off a bit. I figured Kamoshidaman was a good place to do some training.”

“Of course.” Yukari nodded. Minako could hear the relief that she wasn’t in the Velvet Room. It was something she understood, Theo was overwhelming enough sometimes; having him and all of his sisters was even worse. “Akira wanted you on the team for the next trip. Do you want me to tell him you’re on your way?”

“Please do! I’ll meet with you guys in a few minutes.” Minako pulled out her phone, making a show of pulling up the alarm app. “I’ll set an alarm so I don’t forget if you want to go now.” It was all for show, but the sooner that Akihiko and Yukari left, the sooner she could actually pull herself back together again.

Yukari left. She expected Akihiko to follow after her, but he stayed. His intense gaze felt like it could, felt like it was looking for any inclination that she had lied. “Minako, I’m...glad you’re alright.” He wasn’t her Akihiko, but he had been worried for her anyways despite barely knowing who she was.

She needed to smile, as big and bright as possible if it meant getting through this conversation as quickly as possible. “Of course, senpai! I’m sorry I worried you.”

Akihiko nodded, looking her over. He seemed unsure how to act, but then again, her Akihiko had been the same: first hesitant on how to handle the new juniors on the team, and the uncertain how to handle himself when Minako had been a part of his life he couldn’t imagine being without. So he had claimed at least.

The reminder of the similarities made it harder for her to hold back the tears, and she felt them sting at the corner of her eyes as they threatened to fall. She closed her eyes, hoping that when paired with her smile, it would be enough. “I’m serious Akihiko-senpai! I’m doing fine.”

“I thought you were at first, but…” He trailed off, trying to think of how to word it. “When we first saw you in the movie, your smile was different. It was brighter.” She didn’t know what to say. Perhaps she should have expected him to notice, he may not have known her, but it wasn’t like Akihiko to ignore the hurt of somebody he considered a friend. It hadn’t taken long for her Akihiko to warm up to her in the dorm, and it hadn’t taken long for this one to do so as well.

(She didn’t need to warm up to him. The similarities were so obvious that despite the loss of six months, it still felt like him.)

“I’ll be fine.” She couldn’t let him worry for her, not now. “It’s just...a lot to take in. That’s all.”

Akihiko didn’t respond, waiting for an elaboration, and when she opened her eyes to his understanding face in front of her, the realization that he wanted to try so hard for her despite not knowing who she was caused her to break, and the tears that had been pooling in her eyes began to spill over. “I miss my SEES. Being with the Phantom Thieves and Investigation Team was hard, but it wasn’t so bad because I could look forward to seeing them. Then you guys were here and I just…it was proof that my SEES wasn’t.”

“Minako…” He tried to reach out for her, but she shrugged out from under his arm before he could try, unable to meet his gaze.

Guilt burned through her at how helpless he looked. This had been the exact reason why she hadn’t wanted them to see her, why she hadn’t wanted them to know. It wasn’t their fault that they were the ones grabbed and not her friends. “I want to help you all find your leader. I promise. I just…need time…needed time.” She pulled at the bow of her uniform, tugging at the sides. “Hearing Junpei bickering with Yukari just reminded me of how much I miss my best friend, even if he doesn’t shut up about how much he loves the girl from Strega. And seeing Shinjiro so content with Koromaru reminded me of how happy he was making food with Fuuka, even when she can’t cook and then you…” She laughed, though it carried little mirth or joy. “You remind me so much of my Aki. You took me for food because you knew I was upset even if you don’t know me and you’ve sat here listening when you could just walk away because you care and…” Her rambling stopped as she heard him sit down on one of the chairs. When she could finally meet his gaze, she registered the dumbfounded expression he wore. She tried to go over everything she had said, trying to figure out just what would leave him so surprised before she realized exactly what it was.

She called him Aki.

“I’m sorry, Senpai.” She bowed her head, unable to shake the guilt of everything that she had offloaded onto him. “That’s a nickname only for you and Shinjiro, I shouldn’t–”

“We’re close in your world, aren’t we?” He didn’t acknowledge her apology, instead watching her reaction. He was trying to figure out if that was the truth. It wasn’t hard to guess. She’d said it herself, it was a name that only his childhood best friend referred to him as. With this Akihiko, it wasn’t her place.

She nodded slowly, and his face fell. Guilt was written plain as day on his face, from the way his brows furrowed and his eyes looked down to the uneasy turn of his mouth. He felt guilty for something completely out of his control. For hurting her when it wasn’t even his fault. And that was so completely him. It was exactly what she had wanted to avoid.

“It’s not your fault.” She wanted to reassure him. It really wasn’t his fault that she was alone. It wasn’t anybody’s and she wouldn’t blame him for it if it was.

Akihiko shook his head at the notion. “Doesn’t matter who’s fault it is. You don’t deserve to feel alone while you’re here.” In an attempt to comfort her, Akihiko hugged her, and Minako couldn’t bring herself to pull him away. He wasn’t her Akihiko, he didn’t love her in the same way that hers did, but she couldn’t stop herself from taking comfort in him anyways. She buried her face in his chest, refusing to let go and he let her cry until her sobs calmed and her breathing finally evened out.

“Feeling better?” he asked when she pulled away.

Minako nodded, her cheeks burning a light pink. “Thank you, senpai.” She gave him a smile, smaller than the one she had given him earlier, but much more sincere.

Akihiko smiled back. “I’m glad, that’s the smile I want to see.” She felt her blush deepen. “It’s nicer than the one you gave me earlier.”

“Because this one’s real.” It was only when she said it, did she realize it was true. At least for now, she felt happy. She may still miss her friends, and that fact caused her hurt, but could still make the most of it, could still help herself feel better, could still look forward to everything that might come. “You said Akira was looking for me, right? We shouldn’t keep him waiting any longer, we have to find your leader after all!”

Akihiko nodded and started leading the way before stopping to face her. “Minako...if you’re ever feeling down like this again. Let us know.”

“We may not truly be your SEES, but just like them, we’re here for you.”

#Persona #Persona 3 #Akihiko Sanada #Minako Arisato #P3 FeMC #Kotone Shiomi #Hamuko Arisato #Akiham

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scrollsfromarebornrealm · 10 months

Text

the four letter word: everything is not alright

The Ghimlyt Dark -----------

Riven, wake up!

He needed to go faster, go faster, go faster--

Riven!

Landing on the ground hard enough to rattle his bones amidst the Ishgardian infantry--

Someone get a healer!!

Riven unmoving, barely breathing in his arms--

Estinien?! Where are you going?!

He wanted to stay he wanted to stay he wanted to stayhewantedtostay everything inside him was screaming to stay, stay to make sure she breathed, that she opened her eyes, that she was warm and alive--

Estinien?!

~~~~~~~~

Love was not meant for one such as him. It was too gentle. She was too gentle. She was soft and sweet, he was brutal and razor-edged. She believed in the goodness of men, he didn't. A woman like her made a man think too much, made him start to think that...he could be what she believed him to be. A noble knight, an honorable man.

Estinien knew he was far from being a noble knight or an honorable man. He wasn't educated. She deserved someone as smart as her. There had to be some fool that was her intellectual equal among all the swains that dared darken her doorstep. Never mind that the thought of Riven smiling at another man, a faceless bastard being able to hear her laugh, hold her hand, touch her-- filled Estinien with a green-eyed rage. Yet he had to keep his distance.

I love you, Estinien.

Words that had gone past every defense he had around his heart-

I love you, Estinien.

His soul had sang. It had screamed in joy.

I love you, Estinien.

He wanted to be that honorable man. That noble knight.

I love you, Estinien.

But she deserved better than him. He was a poor man, a relic of a country's shameful past. What could he offer her? His rage? The nightmares that still haunted his sleep of the monster he'd become? It had taken everything in his power to keep those hidden from Riven when they'd been together-

I love you, Estinien.

He couldn't shake Ghimlyt. Couldn't shake the memory of her limp body in his arms. Her unsteady breathing. Orn Khai had been a relief, a bloody blessed distraction. Perhaps the Fury had decided to have mercy on him. And while their quest had ended up in misadventure--it was still a distraction, still good enough to keep thoughts of her at bay. Perhaps if he stayed busy, he could finally kill the hot ball of need/longing/somethingelsehedidnotwantoname--that seemed to be permanently lodged inside him.

And then he had run into the Scions' receptionist and the Baldesion woman. His...rather unsightly night aside, the request they made of him promised more work, more distance. More opportunity to steel his will, his soul against that siren's call of things he did not want to think about or feel--

To shore up his defenses against her--

But he missed Riven. She was a hole inside him that just would not heal. And he didn't want the hole anymore.

He wanted her.

He was weak against her.

He missed her. He missed everything about her. Her voice, her scent, her tongue, her laugh, the way her face would scrunch up when she was reading something particularly serious that she was trying to make sense of. He missed her explaining things to him--Riven had a way of teaching so that even the most basic dolt could understand what she was presenting--

He missed the shine in her eyes, the way her body would melt against his own--the pure trust she gave him when they were in bed, as if she knew she was safe--that he wouldn't let anything or anyone harm her--

His tongue slipped. Or had it? On a linkpearl call to Riol--

Do...you know how Riven's doing?

The response, enough to make his blood run cold--and it had not been for all his training as a solider, the desperate urgency of the new mission he was on--if he'd had the power, he would have cast that aside and made a beeline straight back to Eorzea-

Don't know. She's been gone for a while now.

What do you mean gone for a while?!

As in she's just vanished. Nobody's seen hide or hair of her. Or Augustine and the others for that matter. I'll ask Tataru about it the next time I see her.

His own inquiries at the towns he passed through as he began to make his way into Ilsabard--

The Warrior of Light? Nobody's seen her for moons now!

I heard a rumor she and her companions made for the New World--

I heard they all died at Ghimlyt Dark and the Grand Alliance's covering it up--

She was fine. She was safe. She could handle herself. She had her sworn. They would die before she was harmed. He didn't have anything to worry about. Shouldn't have anything to worry about. Everything was fine.

I love you, Estinien.

Everything was not fine.

#ffxiv #wol x estinien #estinien x wol #wolstinien #estinien varlineau #riven fortemps #wol riven #the four letter word

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tobiasdrake · 6 months

Text

This might be the weirdest investigation yet, but I'm here for it. Not like I have room to talk anyway.

Oh hey, maybe Vivia should project with me. That way, I can go investigate the murder while he can remain here on lookout. If he sees Yakou's soul try to exit his body, Vivia can grab him and cram him back in there.

Yuma should be able to levitate, pass through solid objects, etc. This does mean we won't be able to touch anything, though. However, given recent events....

We have already confirmed that Yuma would rather bend over and blink at something than pick it up and take a closer peek. So this should offer no complications for his investigative process. He was already very hands-off as it is.

I guess this is the lore explanation for not giving us complete freedom despite using the complete freedom superpower.

Given everything we've seen from him? Yeah. I can believe that Yuma's base assumptions about the nature of reality would make this difficult. He's aggressively neurotypical, after all.

The blackout most certainly has something to do with our murders. I'm not sure what, but it's doubtful that it just happened by coincidence.

We know that the inner lab's deathtraps are on a separate power grid that never glitched, so it's not as simple as "Fink caused a blackout to get to Huesca."

Well. I. Will never feel safe again. Gonna go out on a limb and say those are here to restrict our otherwise free run of the lab.

If you touch the lost souls, you become one of them. Which is a super macabre way of saying they're walls meant to funnel the investigation along on its rails, as well as an obstacle course for gameplay.

What would be the point? Yomi's already made up his mind as to what happened. There's nothing more for him to learn here.

OMIGOD Do I get to interrogate a ghost? Tell me I get to interrogate a ghost. I want that so badly.

But he was unaware of their presence until late into our conversation. This means they must have been hidden from him until right that moment. Or they had just entered the room when he reacted.

Moving into the airlock.

What this means for our case is that the gas chamber may have been activated while we were talking to Huesca. Nobody would know. Since decontamination devices are affixed to both the airlock and the panel chamber, the gas chamber's activation is imperceptible from the outside.

Yuma. What did Vivia say to you? You can levitate and pass through objects. You absolutely can pass through the vents.

Imagine if the inner lab was penetrated as easily as crawling through the decontamination vents from airlock to panel room.

It can't be that easy, can it? There's no way.

Also, and I don't expect this to be a factor because writers never take this into account, but you can't pass stealthily through a ventilation shaft. Even setting aside that vents aren't designed in a way that allows a human body to conveniently pass through unimpeded, the flimsy metal that they're made with makes really loud noises at the slightest impact.

To quote Jamie Mythbusters, it sounds like Thor, God of Thunder is trying to enter your building.

But that's like volcanic convection. Never comes up in media because the alternative is more fun.

In any case, this isn't as simple as "Killer crawled through the duct to escape". But assuming the panel room has a similar duct, it may have been used to hide during our initial investigation. After the killer got the drop on our Ama-Pal and then vanished behind the vault door, it may be possible that he slipped into one of these vents and stayed there until we were all busy with our lab stand-off.

It can also be absorbed through the skin. In order to pass safely through this chamber, you would need a full suit with an enclosed oxygen system. A diving suit with full helmet or a space suit or the like.

It does, however, take thirty minutes to kill you. Which means it's possible that Fink waded through it and went right on into the panel room. Then he killed Huesca and Yakou, then wandered off somewhere to succumb on his own terms.

No idea why he'd do that but it's on the table as a possibility. The answer to "How did Fink beat the gas chamber?" could be as simple as "He did not. Next question."

We were able to brute-force the combination, but only by temporal cheating. Even if Fink waded through the gas chamber, it would be difficult to crack this code via the same mechanism we used.

We have firmly refuted the possibility that Fink used an Ama-Pal to do it. Only one Ama-Pal was functional at the time, and it's the one we went and retrieved while Fink was in the lab killing Huesca. Furthermore, it can't be used to brute-force the panels (time cheating excepted) because the electroshock penalty fries Ama-Pal's circuits and kills it dead. Tested and proven.

Okay, so only the airlock decontamination vents are easily accessible. There goes the theory that Fink was hiding in this room.

It would have been difficult for him to sprint all the way to the airlock in the short time we were down. Especially before we disarmed the gas chamber. Unless he brute-forced the gas chamber, in which case it wouldn't matter.

I still feel confident that he was hiding behind that door after he conked out Ama-Pal. But whether he was or wasn't, where could he have gone from there?

It's super inconvenient, though. The door opens on this side, so you have to waddle around this big, heavy metal door. With our slow-moving clunker of a robot, no less. After he notices the door opening, Fink had plenty of where the opening door was concealing his presence, in which to skedaddle to the other side of the room and prepare his ambush.

#master detective archives: rain code #drake plays rain code

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elpida · 1 year

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Eris always took a morning stroll around the gardens, more so now that she was pregnant. God knows how they'd got here, from their beginning of stubbornness and glares of locked hues, yet now she could tell you every fine detail of Derek's face from memory alone. She had grown to love him, she had not said as such but she'd shown it.. the softness that slowly crept in, the gentle touches of her hand, the way she'd find him in a crowded room and chose to be at his side rather than away from it. How with some wine in her system and confidence brewing, she'd closed their chamber doors one evening and kissed him like she never had before. She'd said nothing that night, simply crossed the room in a hot step to meet his lips, but she meant it. When she laid with him, she meant it. She'd slept peacefully in his arms that night, bodies strangled by silk sheets.

"M'lady." spoke one of the ladies in waiting as they approached. Eris liked the fresh air, and she wasn't very far along in this pregnancy. Enough that in her dress you could just make out the small forming curve. Not something she could hide, nor did she really want to. She was proud to be with Derek, a man that took no second wife, that had never embarrassed her and in the most selfish way... being protected? Having someone really look after her? It was something Eris might not be familiar with, but she enjoyed it. "Might I speak freely with you?" Eris raised her brows at the woman before her. She'd seen her before, though there was a little drama surrounding this lady at the moment. Still in waiting for marriage but heavily pregnant. It was scandal at it's finest. Nobody would harm her when she was with child but after, who knew what they'd make of her. "Of course." was all Eris said when she was taken by the end and guided to a quieter part of the garden, hidden behind a rosebush. "M'Lady.. I fear to say the truth on the matter of the Father." Eris watched her hand lower to her bump. "You would be safer, for saying. Far safer a choice to speak for you and your child than remain silent" it made all logical sense to Eris. "The Father he's... well it's your husband M'Lady. He's been with me frequently since the marriage, he swore me to secrecy, told me that you were a cruel woman that'd take revenge, that you'd not allow me to come between our love.." The wind was knocked from Eris and she was sure she felt her heart drag down. "He said he loves me." naive, was Eris' first though. This girl was naive and she was naive, for believing that her prayers had been answered. Her mind raced, was this true? wouldn't it? Either way she felt her blood, boiling with anger. "Leave." the woman looked disappoointed at Eris' command. "I said leave."

The girl didn't hover, she left. She'd done what she needed to do, plant doubt and loathing at Eris, made sure there was someone nearby to overhear and spread the rumour. Eris was going to be faced with the shame of those rumours, a pregnant wife, betrayed and yet this kingdom would expect her to do nothing on the matter. Her nostrils flared and she felt the heat of tears in her hues, welling and threatening. Embarrassment and rage filled her and that turned into her pacing, trying to breath deep and slow and not go completely off the rails. He wanted to embarrass her? They all wanted to see her humiliated? Fine. Then they'd never see Eris again. Hell to this kingdom, she thought. Reckless and headstrong she ran with that idea, didn't give anything sensible a second thought because right now she just couldn't be here. She had to leave, right now, to be able to feel like she could breath at all. Eris ran. She left the palace, no guard could tell her not to leave, she simply turned on her heels, and walked out and once she was out of the grounds, she ran. The guards on that gate would be punished, imagine letting a pregnant wife of lineage, walk out alone, when a clear storm was brewing in the sky.

She left, almost first thing in the morning, and with each passing hour the storm that broke became worse, but she did not return. She had not yet returned, and the night hours would prove ever more dangerous for her. She took no cloak for warmth, no money, just the silk dress that'd be drenched in this weather and it was. She was sodden, her hair clinging to her pale skin, stained with dirt. She'd fallen once or twice, the forest floor was like a swamp, dredged with mud and it was stodgy on the bottom of her dress. Thunder would crack, lightning streaking across the sky but that stubbornness wouldn't turn around, no matter how could, no matter how tired and heavens... she was so tired of walking. Tired and cold, scared... but she'd never admit how scared she was in these woods, alone. If there was one justice, it was that nobody would see her tears in the rain. "Hello?" she called out, wondering if anyone might be nearby but they were not, she was lost. @dalphahale

#closed starter #omg dont mind that i went on a tannnngent you do not have to match at all #i was just so skjdfgkldsf in the moment #eris&derek #eris interactions

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lillywillow · 1 year

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Gone But Not Forgotten

Summary: Bucky struggles with the loss of a furry friend. He finds somewhere he can go to cope with his sorrows where he meets others going through the same thing.

Written for: @buckybarnesbingo

Words: 1383

Square Filled: K4- Support Group

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Gender Neutral Reader

Warnings: Loss of a pet, some angst

When Bucky moved into his place, he made friends with a neighbour who had an old cat. The neighbour explained that their children had gotten the cat when he was just a kitten and now they were all grown up and nobody wanted him and the poor thing hardly got any attention. The neighbour was also too busy to take care of the tabby so Bucky started feeding him. That was how Bucky ended up taking in old Tiger. The cat lived with Bucky for many years until finally at aged 21, Tiger crossed over the rainbow bridge. He was napping peacefully in the sun when he went. When Bucky informed the neighbour of Tiger’s passing, they were sad but it was nowhere near the crushing blow he felt. In the few short years Bucky had known Tiger, well, he just felt like the cat was his own. Tiger would sit on Bucky’s lap and purr as he would watch tv. Bucky also made sure he was well taken care of, eating the right diet, brushing his fur when it became matted and keeping him out of the extreme weather. Bucky handled the cat’s burial himself. The neighbour was grateful Tiger had someone so kind and caring when they could no longer care for him. Bucky made Tiger’s final years comfortable.

…

Tiger’s loss was really hitting Bucky hard. He had seen many losses over the years and with how slow and weak the cat had been getting lately, he’d been expecting it but it was still a shock. He was just glad it had been a peaceful passing. Bucky was out on a walk when he passed a bulletin board. One note in particular caught his eye.

‘Are you mourning the loss of a treasured companion? Come see us. We’ll handle your grief with care because we understand that while your pet may be small, your loss is great.’

While Tiger may not have officially been Bucky’s pet, he still felt like he was so it couldn’t hurt to go, right?

…

The vet had recommended coming to this place. You had just come from there after having to make the unenviable decision of having to put down your dog. He had been bitten by a tick in a hidden place which meant you didn’t catch it in time. The poor thing was in agony and while the vet could prolong his life, it wouldn’t have been a very good outcome. After it was over and you had made arrangements for his remains, you came here. You had just moved to town so all your family were back home and you hadn’t made that many friends yet. There was no one close to comfort you. You just felt numb as you took an empty seat. It all had happened so fast, you barely had time to process it. After a while, you felt a warm hand on your shoulder. You looked up to see someone offering you a sad, kind smile. That’s when the dam broke and all those emotions you had been holding back overflowed and you burst into tears. Before you knew it, someone was hugging you, someone else brought over a box of tissues.

“I… I’m sorry f-for making a scene,” you sobbed. “I j-just h-ad to put… to put…”

You shook as a new wave of tears washed over you.

“It’s alright. That’s why we’re here,” one of the people reassured you.

“Did Dr. Ben send you?” one of the others asked.

You nodded, clinging onto the person hugging you in a need to feel something warm and solid.

“He’s really good, isn’t he? He recommended this place when I had to put down my Mitsy… It’s been a week now but I still miss her very much. Take all the time you need,” the woman gently explained.

You continued holding onto the stranger until your sobbing had subsided, feeling embarrassed when you saw the dark patch on his shirt you had made with your tears.

“I’m so sorry,” you apologised.

“It’s okay. I’m sorry about your loss,” he replied.

You blew your nose and cleaned up your face a little as the man got you a cup of water and a snack.

“Thank you,” you sniffled.

“You’re welcome. I’m Bucky, by the way.”

You introduced yourself as you sipped the water.

“Do you want to talk about it?” Bucky asked.

“I just… it all happened so quickly. He seemed fine last night but this morning he couldn’t move his back legs and he was whimpering in pain… The vet gave me all my options but I… I had to do what was best for Bob…”

“Bob?” Bucky raised an eyebrow.

You smiled a little. People always questioned the human sounding name.

“My boy Bob. Robert if he was naughty…”

You told Bucky all about Bob, the years you spent together, colourful anecdotes and showed him pictures. He smiled warmly and listened to your every word.

“What about you, Bucky? What brings you here?” you asked after a while.

“A few years ago, my neighbour gave up their cat. I guess he technically adopted me as his human but I took care of him for a couple of years… Yesterday Tiger was napping in his usual spot and he… he didn’t wake up…”

There was a deep sorrow behind his steel blue eyes. You gently held his hand.

“I’m so sorry…”

“You know, I just question if I even have a right to be here. Tiger technically wasn’t my cat…”

“But he was. You gave him a loving home and he would have felt at peace with you…” you guaranteed him.

“I guess you’re right…”

You continued chatting with Bucky until you had to pack up for the next group to come in. The both of you exchanged numbers, knowing how hard it was to go back to an empty house.

…

Over the next week, you went to the pet grief support group every day. You listened to people share their stories of their beloved pets and sometimes cried with them. Bucky was also there to offer his support too. By the end of the week, Bucky asked you out to lunch which you accepted. At first you talked about the animals you lost but as time went past, you discussed other things. Bucky admired your kind heart and you enjoyed his company. It wasn’t long before the pair of you started dating.

…

One afternoon, you were taking a walk in the park when Bucky spotted something small and white hiding under a bush. Getting down on his knees, he saw a tiny kitten. It let out the smallest, most pathetic mew and hissed at him when he tried to grab it. It had to be the cutest thing Bucky ever saw.

“It’s okay, baby. We’ll keep you safe,” he cooed, bringing it to his chest and cradling it in his arms. “Poor thing. She’s trembling…”

“We should take her to Dr. Ben,” you suggested.

Bucky nodded and the pair of you headed to the vet.

…

After the vet had given the kitten the all clear, Bucky decided to officially adopt little Alpine. He still missed Tiger and you missed Bob but the tiny feline was doing her very best to fill that void. When you both came to the support group, all you were looking for was solace, never intending to find love. There may come a time when you would have to say goodbye to Alpine but while you both had her, you were going to love her as much as possible until then. Animals can bring out the very best in people, even if it’s not always in the ways we think. If it wasn’t for Bob and Tiger, you and Bucky may never have met. Your meeting may have not been a happy one but the grief support group brought the two of you together.

#Bucky Barnes #bucky barnes x reader #buckybarnesbingo2022 #bbb2022 #marvel #Pets #Cats #mild angst #marvel fanfiction #marvel one shot #gone but not forgotten #Support Group

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