#Last night she said she'd come around 10 but never did

[barcaatthemoon]

jenni's girl || alexia putellas x reader ||

alexia gets jealous watching you hang around your ex.

minors dni, 18+, smut ahead, bottom reader, top alexia

alexia was seething as she watched jenni flirt with you and buy you drinks. she knew that you knew what was going on, and yet, you still let it happen. alexia had pretty royally screwed up earlier in the day by completely dismissing you, but she still hadn't expected you to go running into jenni's arms the moment that you got into the club. especially not with the history surrounding the two of you.

that was why alexia was so scared. both of you had dated jenni, but alexia could see the lasting mark that had on you. sometimes she felt like all you wanted was to go crawling back to the older woman. she did her best not to think about the fact that she had been your rebound for jenni, but when she saw the way you hung off of the other woman's arm, it was impossible.

"has anyone ever told you that you need to relax?" mapi asked as she draped an arm around alexia's shoulder. alexia was quick to shrug it off as she continued to glare at you and jenni. "she wouldn't do that to you. maybe you're getting so upset because you're pro-,"

"i would never!" alexia shouted as she shoved mapi back. mapi's brows furrowed in anger before she stormed off. they were all supposed to be happy and celebrating, but alexia was having a bad enough time to ruin anybody else's night. you glanced away from jenni for the first time in probably 10 minutes to see alexia sitting by herself, obviously upset.

"go to her, but be careful. i wouldn't want to see you get hurt," jenni said. she pressed a kiss to your cheek, which alexia definitely did not miss. she got up from her seat and began to walk towards the exit, completely ignoring you as you followed her. the two of you managed to get outside and to the parking lot before alexia finally turned around to face you.

"i'm surprised you're not back in there with jenni," alexia scoffed. you frowned at her, deeply upset by the accusatory tone that she was using. "come on, i know that you miss her. i know that deep down, you'll always be hers because she had you first."

"it's not a competition like that, alexia. i'm with you because i love you. yes, i love jenni, but as nothing more than a friend now. you two are friends, and i don't act like you are whenever she asks you to hang out, do i?" you crossed your arms over your chest. if alexia wanted a fight, you were more than happy to give it to her. she was acting ridiculous, and there was no way that all of her anger had come from a single interaction between you and a mutual friend.

"prove it. prove to me that you're not jenni's girl anymore," alexia challenged.

"are you serious?" you asked her. alexia's facial expression didn't soften or move at all, giving you your answer. you rolled your eyes as you moved past her to get in the car. alexia was pissy with you on the drive home, ignoring you until the two of you got back home.

you learned just how serious alexia had been in the parking lot whenever the two of you got home. she had a tendency to shut you out a bit whenever she got jealous, but the tension between the two of you had been extremely horny. alexia found a good balance of that in pinning you against the wall and sliding her thigh in between yours while also denying you any sort of softer affection.

she seemed to relish in the desperate little whine you let out after being denied for several kisses. alexia was staring at you with watchful eyes, darkened by the thoughts of all the ways she'd turn you out to prove that you'd do anything for her. she couldn't wait to bend you over every surface in the house to fuck you senseless.

"ale," you pleaded with her after being denied another kiss. you looked up at her with your best puppy dog eyes and pout, which usually would have worked at any other time. you realized that you must have really messed up back at the club if she wouldn't even give you a second look now. "i'm sorry ale. please, just give me a kiss."

"jenni used to kiss you when she fucked you." alexia wasn't asking because she knew how jenni fucked. you let out a whimper as you crumpled against the wall a little. her face softened for a moment as she sighed and pulled you back up to stand straight. "cari?"

you were at a loss for what to do. you had apologized to alexia and tried to explain yourself, but she wasn't listening to you. in that moment, alexia could see the turmoil that she had been causing you. once she had softened, she looked more like your alexia. you had been fine playing things up whenever you knew that she wasn't genuinely pissed at you.

"i'm sorry," alexia apologized as she pressed a kiss to your forehead. you stepped forward into her arms, pushing both of you away from the door. "you have every right to be mad at me for acting like an ass."

"fuck me hard enough to make me forget about you being a dick. better yet, fuck me hard enough to make me forget how jenni used to." alexia looked surprised by the glint in your eyes, but she went along with it anyway. and if she needed a little more motivation, you had it ready on the tip of your tongue. "god, i don't think anybody has ever made me feel that satisfied. she used to fill me up so fucking good ale, i don't think you under-,"

alexia didn't even make it to the bedroom with you. she spun you around and pushed on your shoulders to bend you over the back of the couch. barely half a second passed before you felt alexia's body weight press against yours as she leaned forward to whisper into your ear, "stay right here, just like this. if you move an inch, i'll let you go see if jenni will take your bratty ass back."

you swallowed thickly as alexia backed away from you. she disappeared down the hallway before coming back just a couple of moments later. you wanted to turn your head to look at her, but you didn't doubt that she'd kick you out for the night. there was an edge to her voice, one that came along with a look of anger that you had seen earlier in the night. you knew that you'd be lucky if alexia let you finish by the end of the night.

"color?" alexia asked as she placed her hands on your skirt. you had worn a very short, leather miniskirt out. alexia had been appreciative of it on the car ride there, but not so much once everybody had filled into the club. many of the girls on the team thought that you were attractive and had attempted to get with you in between your relationships with jenni and alexia.

"green," you answered. alexia, thankfully, didn't rip your skirt as she removed it from your body. it was definitely something that she wanted to see you wear again, even if the moment someone else looked at you, she'd get all jealous and grumpy. alexia carefully set the skirt on the couch next to you, just barely in your eyeline.

"i'd mark your ass up, but i think you'd enjoy that a little too much," alexia told you. you knew that was far from the truth. all it had taken for you to decide that you weren't a fan of being spanked was one particularly wild night whenever you had first gotten together with alexia, one that you were surprised she remembered.

"fuck, ale," you moaned as you felt her fingers run over your center. your underwear were still on, but the press of alexia's fingers was anything but gentle. she wanted to make sure that you could feel everything.

"don't worry, i will," alexia promised. she pressed a line of kisses along your back as she slotted herself right up against you. you let out a gasp as you felt the strap-on that she had chosen for the night press against your cunt. alexia smirked with her lips pressed into the crook of your neck. "i just don't think you can handle it just yet. even with all that big talk, i'm not quite sure you could take my new toy."

"new?" you tried to turn your head back to look, but alexia held your neck firmly in place. you let out a whine as you were denied what you wanted, pulling a chuckle from alexia's lips.

"careful, if you keep this attitude up, i'll bring someone around and make you watch," alexia threatened. it was something the two of you had spoken about quite a bit, and despite how into it you were, alexia knew it would drive you wild. "imagine someone who would be good for me like ona getting all of your orgasms and kisses while you have to sit there all by yourself."

your cheeks were flushed and burning as your head was forced down. alexia's free hand came around to tear your underwear open. you were glad that alexia didn't get in moods like this often or else you'd be going broke trying to replace your clothes. she slipped two fingers inside of you slowly, scissoring them to stretch you open before she added a third.

"breathe," alexia instructed. she kept her hands still as she monitored your breathing. you took deep breaths, ones that alexia matched with gentle thrusts of her fingers. "when i take my fingers out, i'm putting the dildo in. it's the last time i'll be gentle for a while, are you ready?"

"wait!" you shouted out before alexia could move her fingers. "can i have a kiss first, please? alexia, it's all that i want."

"after, i promise," alexia said. you let out a little whine, but nodded for her to take her fingers out of you. she stayed true to her word, replacing her fingers with a harsh thrust of what was definitely a new toy inside of you. you hadn't gotten to see it, but it was thicker and longer than what you were used to.

alexia didn't break out the strap with you very often, generally only if you asked for it or she was really tired. this felt like she had custom ordered it or bought it from a high-end place. there were ribs and ridges that you could feel every bit of as she pounded into you harshly. the icing on the cake, however, was the slight curve that made sure she was fucking into all the right places with every thrust.

"fuck, ale. i'm cumming!" you were lucid enough to know that it was too quickly, but alexia didn't stop. she only grabbed you by the hair and fucked you even harder through your orgasm. she was being rougher than you had ever thought to ask her to be, knowing that she usually hated it a little.

the grip on her hair didn't let up as she continued to fuck you harshly. she managed to get you into your second orgasm quickly, which was when your legs really started to feel like jelly. alexia was supporting you fully now, your body not even touching the couch anymore. alexia briefly pulled out of you just to flip you over and place your body against the couch once more, only this time facing her.

"give me your legs," alexia commanded. you lifted them as much as you could, which wasn't very much at all. alexia scoffed as she just grabbed your thighs and manhandled you into the position that she wanted you. "color?"

"green," you answered weakly. alexia seemed to check on you before she took you at your word. the toy felt completely different from the new angle, and you were screaming out at the first few thrusts.

"shh, just take it," alexia told you. this stretch was completely different than the one before. "breathe, i won't have you passing out on me."

you tried to find a good breathing pattern while she was fucking you, but there really wasn't one. still, you took deep breaths when you could to keep your vision from going fuzzy around the sides. alexia leaned her forehead against yours, but she kept her hand on your jaw to keep you from leaning in any closer. she seemed to remember what she told you, which you had hoped that she wouldn't.

"one more, i know you have it in you. cum for me one more time and i'll give you all the kisses you can handle," alexia promised. you closed your eyes and pushed her head down towards your chest. alexia let you move her a little, knowing that you were getting so close.

"ale, fuck. i don't know if i can." your eyes were squeezed shut as you tried to focus on her fucking you. it was hard, but you knew that you had to try. you felt almost like you were going to cry as your body teetered on the edge of another orgasm. you were so sensitive that your body wasn't sure whether or not it liked the pleasure anymore.

"come on, please. i just want to watch you cum for me, please baby. show me that you're mine," alexia begged you. it was not what you had expected to hear, and the little whine in her voice sparked something in you.

"i'm yours, ale, yours," you repeated over and over until the words jumbled together. this time, you weren't screaming and moaning like the others, your mouth fell open silently as your head dropped back. alexia felt a gush of liquid coat her thighs and drip down onto the floor between your bodies.

"good girl," alexia mumbled as she leaned forward to kiss you. you were too out of it to properly kiss her back, whining once again. "are you okay?"

"i'm fine, ale," you promised her. she nuzzled her head against your neck to pepper a couple of kisses there. "how are you?"

"a little soaked, but i expected as much." you hadn't expected alexia to tell a joke. she carried you into the bathroom and laid you in the corner of the shower as she turned on the water. it wasn't until alexia was standing in there with you, cleaning you off, that you realized what she had said.

"you talked to jenni about fucking me, didn't you?" a part of you was angry, but it also intriguied you quite a bit. "that's how you knew what would happen if you switched with the third. you never take me from behind like that."

"i like to look at your pretty face," alexia said. she grabbed your cheeks and pressed a kiss to your lips. "next time, i'll ask first, i promise."

"next time?" you asked, incredulously. alexia nodded as she turned the water off and stepped out first. she wrapped herself up in a towel before grabbing the fluffy robe for you. "fine, but we need to talk about what you're going to do for me."

"excuse me?" alexia was taken aback by your tone more than anything else.

"i came for you like you asked, even though you were playing games with me and didn't tell me. you said i can have whatever i want, remember?"

"(y/n)," alexia sighed.

"no, alexia, you promised." you crossed your arms over your chest.

"okay then, what do you want?" alexia asked you.

"i want jenni to join us for a night next time she flies in to visit," you said. alexia's jaw dropped, but she couldn't argue with you. besides, she had ideas of her own along that vein that this would be a good trial for. "you promised, ale."

#woso fanfics #woso x reader #woso imagine #woso smut #alexia putellas x reader #alexia putellas imagine #alexia putellas smut

[cheshirecatuniverse]

If Rocky had a baby sister

notes: this may be off canon a little!! im making rocky late twenties-ish. featuring: white rascals

The most important thing for Rocky is for his little sister to be able to sleep safely under a roof. From the moment he finished the last meal his mother ever made for him, he had went to the portable crib that she was sleeping soundly in, carried her carefully, and never looked back.

He lived paycheck to paycheck until he opened Club Heaven. Do you know how expensive formula is?? Rocky had to learn, and learn how to raise a baby all together.

White Rascals wouldn't know about Rocky's sister until he would allow them to know.

Koo, however, would slowly learn about it due to the odd errands he gets every so often. Like buying $3 watercolors and disney princess cups.

Then, finally, during the daytime, Rocky walks in Club Heaven with a small child holding his hand.

Kizzy was the most offended from the secret while Kaito was indifferent.

Koo was the most nonchalant and was silently patting himself in back for being a good detective.

"Well, what is she doing here then?" Kizzy says as she looks across the room. His sister sitting on one of the white couches, swinging her feet happily as she goes through her backpack.

"The nanny is sick," Rocky sighs, not entirely convinced this is the best idea. Little did he know this wouldn't be the last time.

His sister would be shy at overwhelming new faces. Hiding or revolving near her big brother for some time.

Koo would be the most patient with her, kneeling down with a warm expression and asking if she was hungry, thirsty, or wanted to watch something on one of the Club Heaven TVs.

Sometimes, when the Club Heaven dancers come in way early before opening hours, they like to coo and awe at how adorable Rocky's little sister is.

Kizzy is quick to spoil her, making sure she gets lollipops from Rocky's stash. Brushing her hair or playing games while Rocky's busy.

"Kizzy, Kizzy, Kizzy," She heard little footsteps running at her, tugging at her jacket. "It's ballerina time!"

Kaito watched as the two posed and twirled around for a good 10 minutes.

At the start of the school year, Rocky made sure to walk his sister inside. As soon as she saw where she was supposed to go, she turned around and nudged Rocky away with her small hands.

In her little voice, she looked up to him and said, "I don't need you now, Rocky. Byebye."

He locked himself in his lounge at Club Heaven for a good hour. Koo, standing by the entrance, could hear sniffling.

Rocky cooks like a michelin chef, no one will ever compare to her big brother's cooking.

Rocky tries to give her the very best of anything and everything. She spoiled in toys, clothing, and most importantly, love.

Rocky always, always, reminds her that if anyone tries to hurt her or she feels uncomfortable with someone that she should tell him. He thinks it's important to have her trust at an early age, wanting to protect his little sister always.

She would want to have tea parties, with Rocky, and of course, he would do what she asked.

At random times, she'd run up to him and drag him to the living room so that they could build the worlds biggest pillow fort.

One time, she'd asked to put sticker rhinestones on his grill, and he has a problem of not saying no to her, so he lets it happen.

After she stuck a bunch of those plastic rhinestones on his teeth, she turned off the lights to the room. Rocky was confused until a flashlight was aimed at his teeth.

She cheered, "Party time!"

Rocky was a walking disco ball.

Once a week, she'd want a night where she and Rocky would wear face masks and make him paint her nails, and Rocky honestly has no idea where she got the idea from?? But he very quickly learned how to paint her little nails, the bright pink she'd like, without messing up.

He has five albums worth of baby pictures. (He's the 'BITCH I'M A MOTHER, NO DRAMA'.)

Obviously, Rocky has been getting into fights his whole life. But when his sister was old enough to notice the scratches and bruises she'd care a lot.

"Shhh, Shhh," Rocky would gently call her name as she cried at the sight. She was scared. He had knelt down, wiping her tears with his sleeve. "I'm okay. I promise I'm okay."

She jumped in for a hug and he continued to soothe her.

"You pinky promise?"

"I pinky promise."

When she was learning to speak, his favorite thing to that she would repeat was, "I love you." Before he'd leave the house, he would call to her and he'd say it, and then she would with a hug. He'd wondered how such a small human being could give the world's biggest hugs.

As a toddler, she'd wake up at random hours of the night. When he saw her up from her crib, he'd sit right next to it and sing her something so she'd fall asleep. Sometimes, she would even hum along, which was the most adorable thing imaginable.

"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine," Rocky would sing.

"Aaaaa, Aaaaa, Aaaa," She would blabber with him.

Moments like those reminded him he still had a family. She was her family, and that could be enough for him.

#high & low #high&low #high and low #high&low imagine #high&low rocky #high&low white rascals #white rascals #rocky mutsugi #high&low rocky mutsugi

[ciaonicole85]

Neighbor Series: Ch. 4 Part 2

A Delicate Ecosystem

Part 2: Carmen is obviously down bad, but does Sydney feel as deeply? Is her career or love most important?

I think this might be the last in this series.

The rest of the day and night went smoothly. Sydney tried to dismiss that stupid conversation with Richie from her mind. Carmy was the same as ever. She supposed he didn't have "the talk" with him. Typical that Rich thought it was her responsibility to control the actions of a grown man.

The next day Sydney walked past Marcus and Fak huddled in conversation and thought she heard her name. She shrugged it off, put away her stuff in her locker and joined them.

"Hey, sorry to interrupt. Marcus can we talk for minute?"

Fak who usually had something quirky to say, just waved at her and scuddled away.

"Yeah, anything wrong?" Marcus asked with an odd, no an irritated look, on his face.

"Well, yes. Our bread supplier isn't going to come through for the rest of the week. A death in the family. Carmy wanted me let you know that we'll have to make it in-house today, but we have a backup ready for tommorrow."

"Got it."

"Okay, let me know if you need anything."

"I said I got it."

Sydney was thrown off by his tone. Yes, Marcus had asked her out several months ago and it was weird for that night. Afterwards, they'd moved on and were back on good terms. She racked her brain trying to think if she'd done or said something recently to offend him.

"Um, is there a problem?"

"Nope."

Marcus's face was now unreadable and he walked away to his station. It was eerie, but Sydney had many other things to do so she shelved it for now.

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The following day Carmy stood behind the restaurant for a his "smoke" break right before nightly service. He quit cigarettes a shortly after The Bear opened because he had caught pneumonia and missed two days of work. His doctor told him that she'd seen a lot of pneumonia cases in her elderly and smoking patients that season. So now he chewed Nicorette and pretended that it was just as satisfying. While he stood there enjoying the solitude, Anna, a new hostess came out and began smoking her vape pen. She had a one of those warm, generic voices that was perfect for customer service, but she could instantly switch to a cloying Kardashian-esque accent. She used it whenever she could talk to Carmy alone. However, today she didn't immediately begin speaking when she saw him. He decided to not waste the chance to escape. Just as he was about to go back in Anna spoke up.

"So…do you like know of any nice apartments around here?"

Carmy was facing the door so he could roll his eyes, without her seeing. Then he turned around trying to look neutral.

"Uh, no. Well, I like mine. It's 10 minutes from here, but there's almost never anything available."

"Oh, really? Didn't Sydney just get a place there? Or did she move in with you?"

"Excuse me?"

"Oh, I just thought I heard like you were maybe together?"

Anna kept her voice light, but she seemed nervous. One hand was gripping her vape pen and the other was twirling her long brown hair.

"No, we don't live together. What does that have to do with you finding an apartment?"

"No? Well, I didn't think so. Sydney is great and all, but she's…like you could like date anyone here, you know?" Anna replied choosing to ignore his question.

Carmen couldn't believe he was having this conversation. This time he couldn't help rolling his eyes in her face. The unmitigated gall of this women to talk about Sydney and to approach her employer in this manner.

"Anna, my dating life is not up for discussion."

Carmen wanted to say more, but he knew that it would be best to discuss it with Natalie first. She came from corporate America and knew the proper HR way of dealing this stuff.

"Oh, oh yeah. Like, okay. Um, I better get back" Anna stammered, blushing and darted through the door.

That night Carmy was on alert. It was one minor incident, but he had to suppress his compulsion to spiral with doubt and worry that Sydney would be hurt because of him. He hadn't really thought much about how others might view their potential relationship. He probably blocked it out because there was already so much to worry about. Also, their kitchen "mind-meld" flow was getting better all the time. It was exhilarating how they had become more and more attuned with one another during service. Often while working side by side they would hand each other the very thing they needed without even having to speak, much less look at each other. They could plate a dish together faster than a pit crew could replace a tire. With a glance Carmy knew when Sydney needed a break on their most insane evenings. He'd just squeeze her shoulder and she'd move so he could take over for a quick five. He did the same for others though.

However, what happened the other night might have raised some eyebrows. He was asked to greet a congressperson who was dining there and he beckoned for Sydney to join him. Before they went out he grabbed a towel to pat her dewy forehead, retied her chef's coat and smoothed it down like he was her personal valet. This was in front of the entire kitchen. He hadn't meant to do anything that would make Sydney a target. His intention was to support her, not romance her at work. Of' course there were slip ups. He just hoped the conversation with Anna was a one-off. To be on the safe side during service he tried not to do anything extra with her besides their usual telepathic routine. Sydney followed his lead avoiding making unnecessary remarks or touching him.

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Later he walked her home. They were silent at first, their stride in perfect harmony.

Carmy cleared his throat.

"Sydney, has anyone been treating you differently?"

Sydney paused in surprise for a second, but then she answered "Am I that easy to read?"

Carmen was now very concerned.

"No, it's just that I had a weird conversation before service with one of the front staff."

"Was it about us?"

"Yeah, has anyone said anything to you?"

"Yes, Richie did. A couple others are just being a little icy this week. It's no big deal."

Carmen took her hand in his, intertwining their fingers.

"What did Richie say?"

"Oh, Mr. Richard had a speech. He wanted to make sure I kept the "shop" closed until you and Nat could pay back Cicero. He's afraid I'll mess up the ecosystem. "

Carmy's froze for a second, then he blushed scarlet from the mention of him getting anywhere near Sydney's "shop" and from Richie's audacity to address Syd instead of him.

She continued.

"At the time I thought he was just being Richie. Now, I don't know. I don't want to mess anything up for you, for us. The Bear is so new and we are on track to paying off the debt and maybe even getting a star."

"Sydney. We make an excellent team and nothing that we've done or will do together outside of The Bear will change it. I promise you, that I won't let it change. Your dreams are first priority."

"So are yours, Carmy."

Carmy's focused on his breathe for a moment, his heart pounding in his ears. His dream was doing this with HER. He meant it when he said he wouldn't even want to do it without her. Each day together wove a new thread from his heart to hers, but he wouldn't force it on her.

"Sydney, I like you. More than anyone I've ever…."

He stopped unsure if she was ready to hear how deep his feelings ran.

"But I understand if you want me to back off. Whatever you decide I will talk to them and fix this. You deserve nothing but respect."

They reached the front of their building and Sydney turned to face him. He was visibly trembling. Tenderness for him surged from her heart. Carmen was the most sincere man she'd ever met. He couldn't fake happiness, indifference, or confidence unless that was how he truly felt. Past the anxiety, occasional moodiness, and temper, at his core she saw someone who desperately desired to serve and to be understood.

He stood there defenseless.

She put a hand over his heart as if to speak to it.

"No, don't back off. I don't care what any of them think as long as we're good."

Carmy breathed again, took her hand in his and kissed her palm, nuzzling it against his cheek.

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Sydney lay in bed that night thinking. She knew down to her bones that her foundation was stronger than his. It was not due to any fault of his own. Her home had been filled with safety and love. It was her nature to be a perfectionist, but even when she failed she knew that she had intrinsic value as a person. What she lacked that Carmen had was the courage to be vulnerable. He was open to her about Mikey within the first few weeks of their meeting despite not knowing how she would respond. This and his consistent effort to know her, drew her in despite the chaos of early days at The Beef. She knew that he would actually listen and give her an opportunity to grow. There was another intangible factor, which scared and thrilled Sydney. When she often found him gazing at her, there was a feeling that he was not only moved by her beauty, but for who she was. It reminded of her of how her father looked at her mom, even when she was sick. It was one of her few memories that hadn't faded. She also knew there were no strings attached when he promoted her to CDC, but her heart demanded more with each passing day. She wanted to be Carmen's refuge and release in every way. This knowing was overwhelming and she was grateful that he moved slowly despite the hunger in his eyes.

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The next day Natalie was working on-site when Carmen came into her office and closed the door.

"Hey Carm, how are you?"

"I'm good. Sorry, I didn't respond to your text last night. Baby PJ looked very cute in his White Sox outfit"

"Well, at least send a smiley face or something! But what's up?"

"So, I don't know if you've noticed but I'm interested in someone who works here."

"Oh, bro I know…so are you and Sydney official?"

Carmy brushed his hair back with his fingers and shook his head.

"Were you never going to say anything?" he asked.

"The best thing a sister can do is stay out of it. It's brothers who get involved with their sister's romantic choices. Thank God, you couldn't run off Pete."

"Okay. No, we're not rushing into anything. So far, she allows me to walk her to and from work. And we talk everyday."

Natalie clutched her chest and sank down further into her chair.

"She allows you to…I CAN'T! I had no idea my baby brother was this sweet!"

"SUGAR, the point of me bringing this up is that some of the staff have been going behind my back to talk to her, icing her out, and there's been a rumor that we live together. I won't have it! Anyways, I figure you know the corporate way to handle it."

"Okay, we were going to discuss health insurance options for the next enrollment period during family service, but I can slide in a talk about relational professionalism."

"Thank you."

Natalie sighed and squeezed Carmy's hand.

"She allows you to walk with her! Oh, Pete is going to melt."

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For old time's sake Sydney prepared Mikey's spaghetti recipe for family service. Carmy saved her a seat and she sat down next to him feeling Anna's bitter glances and Richie's disapproval. Marcus ignored them. As they ate Natalie gave the insurance presentation and then her politically correct professionalism talk. She took care to make it not obviously about Sydney and Carm. When she was done and people started to file out, Carmen asked for the original Beef staff to remain behind. They took their seats again looking intrigued.

He moved to stand at the head of the table.

"Alright, great…Okay. So I asked Natalie to give that talk. And thank you Nat, but I have something I need to say. too"

"So, You've all been here a long time. Before I came you already had each other's backs and then I took over. It was an adjustment. Then Sydney came and I had a partner from my world. There more changes but somehow we found a way to work together. Then we found the money and we started this. You all choosing to stay and gain new skills, means so much me and I know it does to you too.

The Bear is a special place because it's a family business. And not just because of Natalie and I, but it's all of you too. The thing is we got to have each other's backs. It's not enough to to get through service, get the reviews, a star, whatever, but we got to respect each other. You know that without Sydney and Natalie giving it everything they had during the reno, none of this would have happened. Where we're sitting would be a parking lot or a Dunkin's. Anyways, I'm disappointed that some in here saw everything Sydney did to help get us here and they're giving her crap because I like her. In HERE I respect all of you, everyone is paid fairly, given opportunities, and I care about you…your lives. She didn't do anything, but her job and she deserves your respect. Out THERE I hope to spend as much time with her as she'll let me. But in HERE we're a business and we're a family.

The silence was palpable. Sydney's eyes never left Carmy's face while he spoke and when he took the courage to meet them, he saw admiration there and her beautiful smile.

Tina broke the heavy mood.

"So, Jeff. Are y'all together? Are we what they a call a "mom and pop" now?"

Carmy grinned, still looking at Sydney.

"I'm working on it."

#the bear #sydcarmy #sydney x carmy #sydney adamu #carmy the bear #carmen berzatto #carmy x sydney #carmy berzatto #fan fiction #syd adamu #syd x carmen #syd x carmy #mushy stuff #fan fic

[shady-lemur]

Stargirl ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*

I made a poll asking if you guys wanted smut in this part and everyone who voted said yes so I hope this is good 😇

Part 1, part 2, part 3!!

Ellie x reader

You and Ellie are friends. You're hanging out with your other friends again. You've even meeting new people. Everything's working out for you finally. But you aren't fully over Ellie, and after a certain night at her apartment you don't think you ever will be.

Content warning - jealousy, sexual themes... Use of a strap-on, a little bit of mean Ellie 🤭!!

You check yourself in the mirror one last time before opening the door, nervous about your second date with Abby. She's standing there smiling, with a small bouquet in one hand and the other in her back pocket. She's wearing some jeans and a plain white tee-shirt.

"Hi" she says, handing you the bouquet, "you look amazing."

You smile and take the flowers from her, "thank you Abby. You don't look too bad yourself." You wink and open the door further, inviting her to come in while you put the flowers in water.

She follows you to the kitchen and seat on one of your barstools. "Are you excited? I heard this place has such good pasta and lobster." You nod and rearrange the flowers in the vase before looking up at her.

This was only your second date and you guys weren't dating yet. But Abby has already spoiled you so much.. with that surgeon salary 😋😋

"You ready to go? We should make it before the dinner rush." You hum and smooth out your dress before following her out to your car. Making sure to lock your door on the way out.

She opens the passenger seat door for you and helps you step into the car. She gets into the drivers seat and starts to drive to the restaurant.

"So, you like to read?" Abby asks after a few minutes of silently eating. You look up at her and nod, "yeah.. I've loved reading ever since I was little."

She smiles, "I was never much of a reader. I love to listen to audio books in the car though." You hum in understanding and take another bite of food. "This is so good. I gotta take a picture of this." Abby laughs as you pull out your phone and snap a few pictures of you expensive meal.

"Tag me in those!!" She says playfully pointing her finger at you. You smile, "yes sir."

You quickly post a picture of the food with her tagged on your instagram story before turning off your phone and getting back to your conversation.

Ellie was happily getting high and scrolling on her phone until she saw your newest instagram story. Who was this Abby girl 🧐🧐🧐🧐🧐🧐🧐🧐🧐🧐🧐🧐🧐🧐🧐🧐

Ellie had clicked on her username and was scrolling through her posts. She had recently graduated and became an official surgeon, she was at a pride festival in June so she's fruity, and she was super fucking buff.

Ellie scoffed. She doesn't even have the right to be jealous. You guys were friends. You made it very clear that you only wanted to be her friend. But Ellie couldn't help the way her stomach turned when she saw the fancy table with the expensive food and the buff lesbian in your picture.

She took another hit of her blunt before opening your messages.

heyyy, are you free tonight? i want to finish the ultimatum

She didn't even know why she was texting you. Was she trying to prove that you didn't need Abby? Did she actually just want to finish the season you started watching together? Or was she just needing your attention after you went out on a date? Ellie didn't fucking know, all she knew was that she wanted to see you.

After a few minutes you respond.

Hi els that sounds perfect. I can be there around 10 if that's good for u

mkay, i'll see you then.

Ellie smiled at the messages and decided to get some snacks ready.

You sigh as you close your apartment door. Your dates with Abby have been fun, but you haven't been connecting romantically. She tried to kiss you goodnight and you literally swerved so she'd kiss your cheek instead...

It just felt wrong for some reason. It was hard for you to put yourself out there ever since you and Ellie broke up and Ellie texting you in the car wasn't helping. You can't help the butterflies you get when she texts you asking if you wanna hang out 💁‍♀️

Just you and her..

You felt like how you felt when you first met Ellie. 18 years old and so in love. But you were 24 now and Ellie and you were just friends.

Buuuuut, wearing a matching set under your shorts and t-shirt never hurt anybody.. (and wearing one of the t-shirts you never returned to Ellie 🤭🤭)

You get changed and wash the makeup off your face before getting a tote bag and putting some extra clothes and a phone charger in it.

You catch yourself GIGGLING on the way over to Ellie's..

Jesus christ....... you were so beyond saving.

You make it to Ellie's after a 10 minute drive, knocking on her door softly.

When the door opens you're met with a smiling Ellie who def looked a little bit faded..

"Damn. You couldn't have waited to share?" You fake a pout and Ellie snorts, "shut up, I was bored waiting for your ass."

You laugh and come in her apartment, you take your shoes off before following her into her room and getting comfy against her pillows. She throws you the remote so you can turn on Netflix and goes to get the snack from the kitchen.

"So what were you up to today?" She asks as she walks back in with some popcorn and you favorite candy. You get under her comforter and pat the spot next to you. "I had dinner with someone."

Ellie nods and puts down the snacks to get cozy next to you, "someone I know?"

You shake you head, "I met her on a dating app. Abby, she's nice."

Ellie scowls slightly, even though she already guessed all of this. But her scowl makes your butterflies double.

"Ready to press play?"

You say yes and play episode 9 as you snuggle closer to her.

"What the fuck did I just watch?" Ellie looks over at you but you sit there with a shocked face.

It was now 12:53 and you and Ellie had finished the season. You were both flabbergasted to say the least.

"I can't believe she was even allowed to be there.. whatttt.."

Ellie shakes her head and leans on your shoulder, "I'm so glad that no matter how much shit we put each other through we never tried to get on this show."

You laugh in agreement before sighing, "do you think we could've worked?"

Ellie turns to look at you and smiles sadly, "I think we were only hurting each other by the end. We needed to seperate so we could grow without each other for a while."

You look her in the eye and nervously mess with the blanket. "Do you think we could work now? Now that we've healed?" You watch as Ellie's eyes widen and she starts to pick at her nails. You grab her hand to stop her.

"Ellie?"

She looks down at your hand on hers and takes a deep breath. "I don't think we'd know until we tried."

You get move so your sitting in front of her and get closer, "can we try?"

Ellie gulps and looks at you, her eyes trail down to your lips before she runs her hand up your arm and pulls you into herself. You squeak as her lips meet yours. One of her hands rests on your back and pushes you closer to her as the other holds your cheek. Your arms wrap around her neck so you can move to straddle her lap.

Ellie moves one of her hands down to squeeze your thigh, you moan and she uses that as her invite to explore your mouth with her tongue.

You pull away after a while and immediately feel her lips start to attack your jaw. "Ellie, please.."

She smiles and continues to press sloppy kisses against your neck, "please what?"

You whine and grind against her thigh, "I need you.. needed you for so long.." You slide your hands up to lightly pull on her hair. Ellie moves her hands down to your hips, helping you move against her. "Really baby? Has my poor girl not been getting fucked enough?"

You bite your cheek and nod, "els, you're the only one who knows what I need." Ellie kisses you again and flips you over so she's hovering over you.

She pulls at your t shirt, "can I take this off baby?" You nod eagerly and help her as she slips it off your body. She takes a second to stare at your figure before going back to kisses your neck, gently sucking in the places she knows make you whine.

You buck your hips up to meet hers as she trails her lips all the way down to your waistband. She presses one last kiss on your stomach before touching your shorts, "these too?"

"Please-"

She immediately pulls your shorts down, noticing your matching lacy underwear and bra. "You fucking whore." She laughs, "you had this all planned? Wanted me to see you in your set? Even chose my favorite color." You squeal when she pulls on your under wear band and watches it snap back against you skin.

"Please els, only for you.."

She licks her lips and looks at the needy expression on your face. "Want do you want first pretty girl?"

You look down at her and try to rub your thighs together but she keeps them open. "Your mouth, please els"

She smiles up at you and starts to pull down your underwear. "Take off your bra for me sweets." You obey her and unclasp your bra, tossing it in your pile of clothes on her floor. She bites her lip as she looks down at your figure, "fuck baby, missed you so fucking much." She brings her hands up to squeeze your tits as you whine and buck your hips up again.

"Missed you too el-" you're cut off by Ellie's hands leaving your chest and her tongue on your cunt. You moan at the feeling.

You've had hook ups since you and Ellie broke up, but no one has ever managed to get you to cum the way Ellie can.

Ellie starts to kitten lick your cunt, bringing her lips up to close around your clit. She starts to suck your clit as she teases you with her finger. You grab onto her hair with on hand, pushing her head deeper into your pussy while your other hand gropes your tits.

"Ellie.. Oh my god.." She grins into your skin and pushes her middle finger into your tight hole, she feels like it's getting pulled deeper and deeper inside of you. You bite down on your lip due to the pleasure.

Ellie continues to eat you out like she's been starving. She tongue circling your clit as she's adds another finger, pumping then in and out of you at the same pace of her tongue. You moan as you back arches off the bed, "please els! 'M gonna-"

She works her fingers faster and moans against your cunt, "do it baby, cum on my fingers." You feel her start to suck on your clit again and you reach your breaking point.

You feel the chord in your stomach snap and Ellie works you through it as you come down from your orgasm. Ellie smiles up at you and pulls her fingers out, politely cleaning up your cum with her tongue.

"Fuck Ellie" you try to catch your breath, pulling her head away by her hair. She comes up to straddle you, kissing you passionately as she runs her hands up and down your sides.

She rests her forehead against yours once you break the kiss. "Was that okay? I didn't do anything that made you uncomfortable?" She asks as she traces shapes into your skin. You shake your head, "no you were perfect. Do you want me to return the favor?"

Ellie smiles at you and perks her head up like a dog, "do you feel like you can ride?"

You playfully roll your eyes and hit her arm, "of course that's what you want."

She shrugs and pecks your lips again. You laugh and nod, "just give me a minute."

Ellie's smile gets bigger and she gets off of you, going to her night stand to get out the purple strap 😈😈👽😈😈

You watch as she strips in front of you. Showing off her toned body and cute black sports bra and boxers. You sit up and watch as she sits back down on the bed and lubes her fake dick. "Ready baby?" She smiles as you get closer, nervously hovering over her strap. "It's gonna hurt els."

She kisses your forehead, "promise I'll help you babe, we don't have to use it tonight if you don't wanna." You shake your head and wrap your arms around her neck.

"I want to."

Ellie squeezed your ass and grabs your hips to help guide them down, "that's my fucking girl." You whine as you start to feel her strap stretching you so well. You nails dig into Ellie's back as she helps you bottom out. You bite her shoulder to help you as you start to tear up. Ellie moans at the pain.

Once she's the full way in she kisses you, moving her tongue against yours so perfectly. "Did so good, pretty girl. Are you ready to move?"

You nod and start to lift your hips, Ellie helps you form a rhythm as you kiss her neck. Her strap is filling you so perfectly as you hear her praises. "So good baby, feels so good." You start to speed up, making sure to grind against her a little bit every time you bottom out so you can see her reaction every time you bump her neglected clit. "Oh my god els" you whine.

Ellie smiles at you and starts to meet your hips as she trusts up into you. One of her hands move from your hips and you bite your lip so hard it starts to bleed when you feel her fingers start to rub circles on your clit and she takes one of your nipples in her mouth.

All you can say is her name. She smiles at you and slaps your ass. "You think Abby could make you feel like this?" She brings her hand up to force you to look at her. You moan, "els!!"

She slaps your cheek. "Answer me."

You whine and shake your head rapidly, "no!! She couldn- Els!! 'M cumming!"

You slam your lips into hers as she helps you ride your second orgasm. "So good baby. You did so good. Everything okay? Did I go to rough?"

You shake your head as you come down and kiss her shoulder, your eyes starting to droop."I love you els."

She wraps her arms around your sides and gives you a kiss. "I love you too y/n. I think you need some water and some sleep. We can talk more about us tomorrow?"

You shake your head, "what about you els? I want to make you feel good too.."

She laughs and slowly lifts you up off of her and onto the bed. "Don't worry about me right now pretty girl. All I needed was to see you." You smile at her and she kisses your temple before getting off the bed and leaving the room.

You eventually get up and go to the bathroom and when you come back into Ellie's room you see her sitting in bed with a cup of water for you. She's in a new shirt and boxers and has laid out your pjs that you packed in your tote bag.

You smile at her and change before getting in bed and immediately hooking onto her side. She kisses the top of your head before turning off her lamp and laying her head down. "Good night gorgeous."

"Night els."

That was my first time ever writing smut..... Lmaooo I hope it wasn't awkward 😭😭😭

Raaaahhhhhh they kissed!!!!!!!! And fucked but that's irrelevant. Part 4 is gonna be the last part I think!!! Should I might it a time skip? Tell me if you wanna be added to the taglist for the next part my loves (^з^)-☆Chu!!

Taglist <3

@gold-dustwomxn @catostrophiclesbian @ellieswifee @unstablefemme

#ellie tlou #ellie williams #tlou part 2 #ellie x fem reader #tlou fic #tlou smut

[yankstrash]

what if meels missed an important event or game that she promised to be at and it starts a fight between them

she wanted to be at his game, she really did. however, she had an important exam monday morning and despite her studying for it all week, amelia was still unsure she understood the material. so as much as she didn't want to, she stayed home from the game vs boston university to study.

it was a very last minute decision. she fully intended on putting her studies aside for a few hours to go to gabes game, which she knew was extremely important because they were playing their rival, but when 4 o'clock came and her head was still buried in her books, she ultimately made the decision to stay home.

she hadn't seen her boyfriend yet today, intending to meetup with him at the arena right after the game. gabe was already at the arena for warm ups, so there wasn't much else she could do besides send him a text that she wasn't coming and hoped he'd see it before taking the ice so when he looked up in the stands and didn't see her, no panic would occur.

from: meels 💗

"hi baby, i'm really sorry but i need to stay back tonight and study :( i know you really wanted me at this game, i know it's important but i'm in a crunch. i'll be cheering you on from my desk with the game on my phone, kick ass!!!! i love you, see you later ❤️"

she waited for a reply, but never got one. that made her anxious because gabe was already nervous about the game seeing as it's so important, and she did not want to add to his anxiety by him not seeing her in the stands. unfortunately, there was nothing else she could do. she texted him, and whether or not he sees it before taking the ice is out of her control.

hours went by and suddenly it was 10 pm when amelia finally decided to call it a night on studying.

wait.

it was 10 pm.

shit.

she hadn't looked at the time since she put her phone down after texting gabe

gabe..

the game...

shit....

she completely forgot to even turn it on and watch it.

any of it.

she missed the entire game after blowing off going.

she quickly reached for her phone and opened her espn app to check the score.

boston college lost 5-1.

shittttttt.

gabe never responded to her text earlier. amelias heart sunk at the thought of this all. she was about to send him another text when there was a knock on her bedroom door.

she voiced a "come in" and in walked her boyfriend with messy, wet shower hair and a less than pleased look on his face.

she weakly smiled when she saw him and got up to give him a hug.

"hi baby." she said as she wrapped her arms around his torso.

even in his worst moments, gabe always gave her a tight hug back. however, she could barely feel his arms around her as he hugged her back, if you could even call it a hug.

she rested her chin on his chest and looked up at him. "tough game?" she asked, trying to keep light of the situation.

gabes face showed zero emotion as he said, "not at all. we only got our asses kicked by our rivals in the most important game so far this season and my girlfriend blew off coming barely 2 hours before puck drop after she promised me she'd be there. but no, it was a great game meels!"

amelia did not miss the sarcasm laced in his voice. but there was something else there too.

hurt.

amelia sighed as she kept her lips in a tight line.

"baby, i'm sorry. i am sorry, i really wanted to be there, i did and i was planning on going but-"

"but you just couldn't put anything else aside for a mere 3 hours to come support me in a big moment. i get it." gabe said as he released his arms from around her and sat down on her bed.

she knew he was upset, and he had every right to be, but the cheap shots he was taking were not gonna slide with amelia. he's acting like she didn't care one bit and-

"please tell me you at least watched the game here?" gabe interrupted her thoughts.

amelia went stiff at his question, and her reddening cheeks and lack of response was gabes answer.

he pursed his lips and nodded his head before shaking it.

"so you couldn't even watch it either? seriously amelia?"

oh he was upset.

the use of her full name was a dead give away.

"gabe, baby, i'm sorry, okay? i intended to go to the game and when i decided i couldn't i intended on watching it but-"

"you mean decided what your priorities were."

this comment made amelias blood boil.

yes, her priority was school. her priority will always be school. that's why she's here in the first place, isn't it? amelia has always done her very best at prioritizing school, the reason she is here, while also making time for gabe and being in a healthy, thriving relationship.

she has one slip up and suddenly he's eating away at her for it?

not fair.

"okay, i let you get away with quite a few jabs there but that one i'm not gonna let slide." amelia said as she went and stood right in front of gabe with her hands on her hips.

"yes, school is my priority, gabe, but that does not mean you aren't also one. unfortunately tonight i had to put one in front of the other and ultimately it had to be the one that you don't like and i apologize if that hurts you but it is what it is, honey."

the couple stared at each other for a few moments before someone spoke up.

"i can deal with my girlfriend missing a game and i can deal with her not being upfront about it to my face even though she knows how important it is, but i am very upset that you still made no effort to even turn it on while you were here and all i get is a lousy text 2 fucking hours beforehand saying you won't be there. that made me feel like shit, meels."

amelia threw her hands up as she said, "at least i told you! i could've blown you off completely. and as i was trying to say earlier before you cut me off, i had every intention to turn it on while i was studying but i got caught up and it just didn't happen and i'm sorry! but it's one game, gabe! one! you can't punish me for that when this is literally the first game of yours i have missed since we started dating!!"

gabe sighed heavily at her words, turning his head to not look at her before pinching the bride of his nose in frustration.

"i texted you early enough so you could at least see it before you took the ice. did you not see my text until after the game?" she asked in a calmer tone.

gabe chuckled slightly and crossed his arms over his chest as he said, "oh i saw it before the game."

that made amelias head spin with frustration.

"so you just decided not to answer and leave me here worrying that you'd panic right before your game about not seeing me in the stands?"

"i decided not to answer because i was pissed off." he says bluntly.

she was about to respond when gabe spoke up again. "and i know it was only one game and i know it's the first one you've ever missed, that's not why i'm upset. it was the game. if you had missed every other game this year and only came to this one i would've been less upset than i am now. but amelia you know how big of a game this was and how badly i wanted- no, how badly i needed you there! and you promised me you'd come! i'm trying so fucking hard not to sound like a selfish asshole right now because i know school is your priority, but fuck baby i really needed you there for me tonight and you weren't and the whole game was shit and the very last thing i was hoping for to make this whole thing not as bad was that you would've at least watched the game, but you didn't! the very least you could've done after breaking your promise and blowing me off! at least then i would've felt like you didn't completely not care."

at this point amelia was on the verge of tears at how upset her boyfriend was.

he wasn't mad.

he wasn't annoyed.

he was upset. really, really upset.

upset because he felt like he was completely placed on the back burner tonight despite voicing the importance of tonight and how badly he wanted his girlfriends support.

and he would've accepted the bare minimum, and she couldn't even deliver that.

would gabe have been this upset if the game had gone their way and they would have won? probably not, he probably would be going a little easier on her, but considering they got crushed by their rivals at home on top of everything else, she understood his meltdown.

amelia sighed as she put her head in her hands, trying so hard not to cry.

she didn't want gabe to think she was crying so he would crumble and comfort her at the sight of her tears, because if anything she should be the one comforting him right now.

she went and sat next to him on the bed. he let out a sigh as he looked over at her.

"i'm gonna get this out of the way and say i'm not gonna apologize for staying back to study. sorry, but i'm never going to apologize for putting school first. however, i do apologize for how upset i made you and i understand that you feel like i let you down and that i couldn't even give you the bare minimum for something i did promise to do and knew how important it was to you. you're right, i should've at least watched and i should've been more on top of that instead of getting distracted. and yes, i could've taken a break and driven the 10 minutes to the arena to tell you face to face because i know how important tonight was to you, but i didn't and i let you down and i am sorry."

for the first time since he got here, gabe tightly wrapped his arm around amelias shoulder and pulled her into him. she couldn't hold herself together anymore as she began to let tears slip out and fall onto his sweatshirt.

"i am never gonna be so selfish and sink as low as to ask you to prioritize me over school. i don't blame you for not apologizing for that, i would never expect you to. however, i do feel a bit let down that you didn't give me minimum effort for something so important and something that is my priority."

amelia nodded her head on gabes shoulder, understanding his point of view.

"i'm sorry i let you down and broke my promise. i never intended to do either of those things, but everything just got overwhelming and you ended up getting hurt by it and i'm so sorry, baby." amelia said, finally looking at gabe.

gabe pursed his lips as he said, "it's okay, princess. the game happened and now it's over and it's time to move past it. however, i am going to be selfish here and plead for your presence at the rest of our home games because genuinely, i need you there. i don't care how pathetic it sounds, i need your support with me meels. i am not my best without you."

amelia smiled and nodded her head, agreeing to that.

"i can make that work. and to make it up to you, i will be at the game when you play BU away. no matter what's going on, i will be there. i promise, and i'm not breaking it this time, or ever again."

amelia thought about that statement before revising it.

"well, if i have to break it i promise to put more than bare minimum effort in to make up for it."

gabe smiled at her, pulling her in closer to place a kiss on her head.

"works for me, baby."

#princess!gf x gabe perreault #g + m imagines !

[persona5butitsincorrect]

Got my Haru headcanons, cause let's be real they did her dirty with the lack of screentime

Oooh I absolutely adore Haru so of course

(w a lil okujima 🥰)

Her mother was French. Though she never knew her that's probably what subconsciously drew her to the language (she's fluent) and interest in it's culture. As well as literature. This is something her and Ren surprisingly bonded over, often discussing it over coffee.

^^^(Makoto has occasionly joined them on these outings and found herself stumped on the topic for once. The one time they convinced Ryuji to come he near fell asleep, though surprisingly seemed to take some of it in.)

She had a very brief crush on Ren when she first met him. Though honestly, looking back she thinks it was more the idea of him. At the time she felt this need for some sort of saviour white knight figure and he seemed to fit the bill. He turned her down pretty quickly because his interest lied elsewhere. And she soon figured out hers did as well, the two wound up confiding in eachother about it.

Despite her father having had her tutored in pretty much every subject, the one thing she never quite seemed to master was an instrument.

After her father's passing, she had real trouble returning to that big house all alone. Not the mention the way it already made her feel, boiling up memories of his last few years she'd much rather forget. Knowing that, Makoto had offered to let her crash at hers. Which she did one night, then two, until it came to the point she essentially never left. With that said, it took Sae a good two months to realise there was a third person living in their apartment and another few months to actually find the time to actually take the time to speak to her.

It took her twice as long to realise the two of them had started dating. That had happened around the beginning of the Phantom Theives infiltration of Sae's palace. Noir had constantly been flirting with Queen back and forth whenever they were in mementos. It took Makoto a concerning amount of time to realize Haru wasn't just messing around with her.

It seemed all the Phantom Theives were all being truer versions of themselves while I the meta verse, but for Haru it was all the more extreme having been forced to suppress everything to spare her father's public image. She hadn't realised how embedded into her subconscious it was. It was only really with Makoto she'd managed to feel comfortable expressing herself that way all the time, and over time she became more comfortable with the others too.

Feeling bad for essentially lodging in Sae and Makoto's house Haru tried to contribute to cleaning and cooking. Only she, of course, had never done either a single time in her life and somehow was prolifically bad at both. Causing more mess than she aimed to clean and creating food that might have actually been radioactive.

Makoto offered to teach Haru how to cook a few basic meals. At first these often resulted in some sort of fire or terrible mishap. But slowly and surely her food became somewhat edible.

She became a little too confident too quickly and decided to make all their friends the most insanely spicy curry known to man on a night in at leblanc (albeit, her own taste buds seem to be immune to spice, so that may be the only place the error lies). Makoto gave everyone a heads up to "please just be nice", and so they had prepared to hold in any I'll feeling. But it was just to much for Ryuji and Ann to handle, both of them throwing up into the nearist container (being a plant pot and a half full bag of coffee) and screaming about it for a solid 10 minutes.

(both of them felt immensely guilty afterwards)

On the topic of Ryuji, the two of them surprisingly became incredibly good friends. It started because Haru had wanted to start training in the gym to build some more strength up and feel more secure after everything. Ryuji had offered to go with her, honestly missing having a gym buddy since Ren moved back to Tokyo. There schedules happened to line up pretty well so it round up becoming and regular thing. Sometimes they head down Ogikubo for some ramen (which is usually Harus treat).

She often gets frustrated just hearing about Yusuke's living situation and just shows up with bags of groceries to make sure he's eating right. Thing is he's not exactly a pro cook either and has been seen eating whole bell peppers and calling it a meal.

It was with Yusuke and Ann on a random shopping trip they round up bumping into Sugimura. It was only for a moment, he hadn't ever tried to speak to her. But just seeing him knocked her out of spirits for the whole day.

Things like that happened quite a bit, something would cross her mind. About him or her father, or the dozens of other investor friends who'd make a crude or sleezy comment about her he'd just let slide by. The others had learned to clock it from the way she'd get all quiet and seem to leave the room mentally. Thing was, most of them didn't really know what to do to help her. Other than Yusuke of all people, partly because he had similar moments himself. The two discuss it once and a while.

Despite everything, she still has an incredibly hard time expressing herself whenever somethings wrong. So much so she often doesn't and winds up bottling everything up or keeping important things to herself. She doesn't even realise she's doing it until someone calls her out on it, usually Makoto. At first she doesn't quite get Why Haru is doing it and winds up getting upset, which only serves to make everything worse. It takes a pretty big argument for Makoto to realise this is partly stemming from the trust issues Haru has and a fear of abandonment that isn't at all surprising. They managed to work through it though it's inevitably still hard for Haru to feel safe making herself vulnerable like that. But Makoto is constantly reminding her she's not going anywhere.

She's getting mentoring from Sojiro on how to run a cafe. She works in Leblanc on her days off college. Futaba usually comes around to pay her company when she is, which annoys Sojiro as she's "Distracting his staff" from the two customers they get every 3 hours.

Sae also pops in there most nights after work and offers to give her a ride home. The two of them get along quite well. One of these late night drives home, Sae hadn't had a chance to eat due to being busy with work all day and her stomach was growling embarrassingly loud. Whilst she apologised Haru simply suggested they stop by a Big Bang Burger drive through. They eat Burgers in the car but forgot to get one for Makoto, so tried to hide it when they got home. Which they failed at immensely, which Makoto sulked about just long enough for Haru to make a phone call for someone to deliver them one of the ridiculous big bang challenge burgers. Only for her to suddenly turn around and say she didn't actually want a burger and was just sulking for sulkings sake. It got Haru really vexed, which was probably part of the goal. As admittedly Makoto found it cute when her girlfriend got in a tissy about something stupid.

At some point Haru had gotten to calling Makoto and Sae's house "home". Even though she had her own home only a couple miles away she seemed to not only enter when she needed something from her room or needed somewhere to discuss important matters about her father's company. Though she'd chosen to take a backseat every now and then there was a matter she'd need to approve on.

When she did stay at home she usually took one of the dozen shirts of Makoto's she'd claimed to sleep in.

At one point before Ren left they all had a big sleepover in the house. Having everyone else there made it feel warm again. Since then she's felt a lot more comfortable being there for longer periods when she needs to be.

The house has a home cinema they of course chose to use. But they made the mistake of letting Haru pick the film, every single one of them scarred for life by the gore fest she put on. Other than Yusuke, who was just offended by the bad composition of the cinematography.

The home cinema is of course fully stocked up with the most gruesome horror flicks ever put to film, as well as her father's old Sci fi collection she happily donated to Futaba, who'd geeked out over it immensely.

Futaba had gotten Haru into video games as well. Something she hadn't had the chance to indulge in before. Theyre usually talking on headset together wile playing some first person shooter all night while Makoto's still studying. Haru gets just a little too into it sometimes (it brings out her sadistic side) and starts cussing out and screaming at the screen. Which cracks Futaba up every time.

The Phantom Theives gc is always full of voice notes of Haru yelling "Just Die you f**ing f***face" and alike out of context at 2am through the low bass crackly sound of Futabas headset speakers.

A lot of the time her and Ann go out clothes shopping. Though their taste is vastly different. Yusuke tends to tag along to people watch, because Ann told him he can't go and do that by himself without coming off as a creep.

There's a particular set of photos they all took in a booth together Haru has hung on her (Makoto's) wall. In which Yusuke just looks rather bewildered at what's happening until the last shot. It makes her chuckle every time she sees it.

She misses Morgana a lot when he goes with Ren back to his hometown. Mainly because he can't exactly type her a text. Ren winds up saying he'll help him sned her voice messages, which winds up taking up so much of his time he just sacrifices his phone to the cat to sit on call for 2 hours once a week. God knows how he has so much to talk about,, being a cat. It gets a few odd stares off of his parents.

(I may possibly have more of these to add in a later post, so let's call this part 1?)

#Haru okumura #okumura haru #Persona 5 #persona 5 headcanons #Headcanons #Haru okumura headcanons #P5 #Persona 5 royal #Persona 5 strikers #makoto niijima #Ryuji sakamoto #Ren amamiya #Akira kurusu #Ann takamaki #Yusuke kitagawa #Futaba sakura #Sojiro Sakura #Sae Niijima #okujima

[akkaweo-akkaweo]

Rare Encounters

Na Goeun x F!reader

Tags: scissoring, thigh riding

WC: 3.6k

—————

Everyone at school loved Na Goeun. No one knew how she could handle it all: being in student council, joining the drama club, and still managing to almost make it as class valedictorian (rank 2 isn't half bad though). She never had a bad rep or record, except that she had rejected almost every boy that asked her out. On the few occasions she did indulge in a date, that would be the last of it.

Something about that drew you to her. She was already nice enough to help you out in the few lab activities you got paired together for. She even got you some candy on the last day of class, which, while she did give to several other people, probably meant she remembered you enough to give one to.

Fast forward to today, and... actually, you don't know what happened to her. No one did.

It wasn't something bad or negative though; it's just that she had fallen off practically everyone's radars. Some say she got into a prestigious college under a pretty tight scholarship; others say she auditioned and is training for some entertainment company given her drama background. But the fact was, no one had a definitive answer.

That was, until your class reunion.

The buzz spread like wildfire. Your phone with a dozen different groupchats couldn't stop vibrating when someone sent a screenshot of the LINE message inviting everyone to come. Clear as day, Na Goeun sent a reaction.

"You think she'd actually go?," asked Ireh, sitting beside you and your friend Dosie at a cafe nearby your old school. The three of you still kept in touch, and just as you frequented this small coffee shop back then, you found yourselves coming back to it when everyone had the time.

"Beats me. Maybe she's so busy she butt pressed it and hasn't seen it.," Dosie remarked.

"Come on," you added. "That's so unlikely. Besides... it should be impossible for her to not be interested. It's Goeun. She had friends everywhere."

"Sometimes, an introvert can look a lot like an extrovert. Maybe we just never saw her being exactly that," Dosie replied.

"I suppose that makes sense," Ireh said. "Still wouldn't explain how she managed to stay introverted for 6 years."

Ireh and Dosie were both on a break from training at different arts schools. You on the other hand were taking a science course – likely thanks to Goeun for making it not as intimidating to you in the first place – and so when the two had to return to their dorms, you stayed on. The store owner knew you by now since you would often work quietly in the corner until the shop closed at around 10:30PM.

Tonight, however, someone new entered just before the store closed shop. It was a petite woman with long, jet black hair, with an aura and poise you almost couldn't believe you were seeing for the first time in years.

It was Goeun, in the flesh. And seeing her just as beautiful as before sent your chest in knots.

See, what no one really knew was that while it was primarily guys that had crushes on Goeun, you're pretty sure girls, like you, did too. You never threw away the wrapper of that candy she gave you. You cherishes every day marveling at Goeun tutoring you every lab session. And everyone's collective investment on whether she would be at the reunion did nothing but rekindle those feelings.

Now, Goeun existed in your world and only yours. Despite that sounding a lot creepier than it actually is, it was the truth. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to be the only one with her, just this once.

"Goeun-ssi," you said softly, hoping she'd turn around. She didn't.

You slink back in your chair, embarassed. Maybe it's not so good an idea to bother her? Like Dosie said, maybe she just never was the type to socialize, and the last thing she'd need at 10PM was some random person to bother her night munchies.

What you don't notice as you hide yourself in your hoodie and close your eyes as you think of that is that, as Goeun finishes placing her order in, she turns around as she jams to the music she's playing on her AirPods. And right as you open your eyes, she looks up from her phone.

"Wait," Goeun said. "You look familiar."

You reply nervously. "Yeah, uh... we were lab partners a few times. Under Baek-seonsaengnim?" You realize hiding in your hoodie might be making it harder for her to remember, so you lift your hoodie and remove your mask.

"Oh!," she exclaimed. "It's you! Hi! Oh wow, I'm so sorry I didn't recognize you! How have you been? Pardon me." Flustered, she put her earbuds away.

"No it's okay! I was just about to head home," you respond, closing your notebook and laptop quickly. "I don't want to keep you."

"No, please, don't worry about it! I just happened to come by the area. Before the reunion," she added.

So she did plan to go. Guess Dosie was wrong.

"Tell you what," she said. "Do you still live nearby? The apartments just up the road?"

"Not too far from that, you turn left by the convenience store instead of going straight," you respond.

"Oh neat! I'm not that far from you then. Why don't I join you for a bit?," she replied.

"It's okay! I can manage," you add shyly.

"Nonsense, it's late. I got you," she rebutted. "Besides, it's nice to see you again! You have to tell me how you've been."

You warm up a bit, and open yourself to being a bit more chatty. "Same here."

Waiting for your coffee, you try and make the first move. "Funny, I was just with Dosie and Ireh a few hours ago."

"Really! How are they? They still into performing?," she asked.

"Yeah. They're not classmates though, but I think they're both going to try out at the same theatre group when they graduate soon."

"That's great! Wow, it's so nice to actually hear from our classmates nowadays."

"Wait, so you haven't met anyone? None at all? In six whole years?"

"Well... I did spot Chaein from afar, you remember her right? From my section? Anyway, there was a time she saw me from afar while I was waiting for a bus, but before she could say hi, I had to go. Otherwise, no, probably just some random guys I actively tried to not run into when I caught them," she replied. "And, well, you! Right now!"

As you both step out of the cafe with fresh cups of coffee in hand, you head the way home. It's finals week for first semester, so the air is cold and damp.

After a few seconds of silence, only disrupted by the crunching of feet on asphalt, Goeun speaks up. "So... I'm pretty sure you're gonna ask me where I've been."

"Well... yeah. But I figured you had your reasons. I mean... you did, right?," you asked. "Not that it affects me or anything, it's just... I always thought you would, I don't know, be an actress or an idol, or literally anything–"

"Wah, jjinja?," she exclaimed. "Gosh no, I don't think I could make singing and drama my entire life."

"So what was your life then?"

"College."

What you thought was a pause turned out to be a full stop. "Wait, that's it? No scholarship, no special gigs? Just college?"

"No, of course not! Seriously, why does everyone assume I just get these things?," she laughed, seemingly shocked by the assumption.

"Because you were THE Na Goeun?!," you said incredulously. "Everyone thought you'd be out there in the world, not disappearing off the face of it," you retort.

"Hey, for what it's worth, I finally got to do some things I couldn't before. Jog more frequently, record songs instead of just performing, go skiing during winter. It's fun."

"But did you not miss any of it?"

"Any of what?" she presses, looking puzzled.

"The attention? The social life? Being loved by everyone?"

She looks up for a few seconds pondering on her answer. "Well, that's a lot to answer. First... I guess I did miss it a bit. Not enough to seek it out though, as you can tell. And second, I honestly just step away from it all, you know? I wanted to lay low, just excel quietly without getting attention, graduate, and do whatever it is I have to do to earn money nowadays. Does that answer your question?"

"I... yeah," you reply, shocked by both how much and how little you know of Goeun.

"But for the record," she glared at you, eyebrow raised with a smirk, "I succeed for no one other than myself."

You clicked your tongue and pointed at her. "There's the Goeun I know."

You both laugh as you share stories, struggling – and barely succeeding – not to wake up all your neighbors. You must have failed either way, because right in the middle of your conversation, rain suddenly pours, drenching both you and Goeun. You run to your porch, fortunately only about a hundred meters away, and laugh even harder when you both process what just happened.

"Don't even think about going home in this rain. I'm so sorry!," you said.

"Are you kidding? This is the most fun I've had in a while!," she replied.

"Please, dry yourself off inside! You can stay over until the rain subsides."

Walking Goeun up the stairs provided an all-important reality check: you were bringing your high school crush, who until now remained a mystery to everyone else, and is still pretty as hell even drenched, to your place, alone?

You power through the growing anxiety and successfully reach your apartment. It wasn't the biggest, considering your parents were the ones fully paying for it, so having a second person already made the place feel twice as stuffed.

You point Goeun to the bathroom to freshen herself up first, while you search for some spare clothes you could lend her. The flannel and jeans you were wearing sent sharp sensations of cold all over your body, so you instinctively remove them, leaving you in your underwear. In your rush to find clothes for Goeun, you miss her unlock the bathroom door and step out, herself also in just a sports bra and her underwear. When you turn around, you give a slight yelp.

"Ai, I'm sorry!" Goeun said, hiding behind the door. You both shuffle around awkwardly trying to find a way to get dressed, but, perhaps to break the awkwardness, she adds, "You have a nice body, you know that?"

You feel your body scrunch up a bit, trying to hide yourself. But Goeun walks up to you, grabbing towels you hung on a chair to cover both you and herself up. As she wraps your shoulders in a towel, she places a hand over the arm you've placed over your chest, trying to ease you up.

"Hey, it's okay," she reassured. "I know we're not close, but you don't have to be so shy." She looks at you, and your eyes meet. She always had very pretty eyes, accentuated by their size and the way they glisten in the light.

"If only I was as pretty as you, maybe," you blurt out suddenly. When you realize what you just did, you take your other hand and cover your mouth, shocked and scared. Even she looked surprised, and the two of you stared at each other in silence for a few seconds.

Both of you were trying to formulate whole ideas, but Goeun is the first to get a word out.

"I... think you're pretty too," she said.

Another round of staring. You barely notice it, but now you're almost up to each others' bodies. Fuck it, here we go I guess.

"I thought you were pretty ever since high school," you add. "I even kept that candy you gave me on the last day of school."

"Did you really?," she giggled. "You know, I gave you that because I remembered you as a lab partner."

"Why, was it because I barely helped? I'm sorry if I was too much for you to carry."

"No no, not like that... because back then, I'd see the way you look at me with those eyes, and it was cute. I remembered that."

You aren't that much taller than Goeun (maybe less than half a head), but you can feel yourself having to look down a bit more as you move your body closer to her.

"Goeun...," you whisper, "every time some guy asked you out and you rejected them, I always thought I'd actually be able to make you happy. But I also accepted I'd never be able to tell you that I liked you."

"Well," she says, as she tipped on her toes and plants a kiss on your cheek. "now's your chance. Do you perhaps... still like me now?," she asked innocently.

Your heart thumps all the way into your eardrums, but, with how close she was to you, you could feel her heart beating quickly as well. You're lightheaded, but at the same time aware of everything around you, most especially Na Goeun looking into your eyes with a smile.

You press your forehead into hers and close your eyes. No point hiding anything now.

"Yes, Goeun-ssi, I still like you."

She chuckled again, though sounding a bit nervous. "Please, I think we're past the point of you calling me that way. Just call me Goeun."

At that moment, a switch flips: literally, in that both of you have unwittingly backed into a light switch in the room; and figuratively, in that after exchanging a quick laugh, you both lean in together for a kiss. It was soft, gentle, and also unsure, but a second kiss erases all that fear.

Every moment your lips parted came longer than the last. You were immersed in the warmth of someone you've dreamt about in the past, and that's all that mattered then and there.

You break your kiss, and guide her to the edge of your bed. Goeun stares at you, for once seemingly unsure of what to say, and you move your hands to the sides of her chest. She gives a quiet nod, and you work her bra and panties off her. She does the same, moving her hands to your hips, and you nod in return. You both had a language only both of you could understand, and it burned you up inside.

When you pull her to the bed however, Goeun is just staring into your eyes still, like she's trying to say something.

"Is everything okay? Am I going too fast?," you ask, trying to calm her.

"No, it's just... this is my first time with a girl, and I haven't done anything like this in... I don't even remember," she replied.

You give a warm, reassuring smile. "Don't worry, this is my first time too. We'll... figure this out together I guess?," you added. She closes her eyes and smiles, looking more relaxed than a minute ago. She always was a perfectionist.

"No one's ever told me that before," she said, looking shocked from the statement. "Okay."

Both of you resume making out. Still not intense nor heavy, just enough to focus on each others' lips. Time to time, you or Goeun would pause to just look at your other half, and continue. Every pause you snuggle closer – perhaps still cold from the rain pouring outside. And, when your eyes lock, you giggle and keep going.

She breaks the rout with a light kiss on your nose. "You're cute when you have nothing to say."

You feel your cheeks flush. "If you're going to tell me you've been flirting with me ever since lab, I'm going to freak."

"If I managed to learn to flirt between then and now, it's a miracle," she replied. "But I mean it. You're cute in a way other guys can't be."

You place a hand over her cheek, rubbing it with your thumb. "I really hope this isn't a dream," you say, before kissing Goeun again.

"I don't think dreams would feel this real," she laughed.

You start making out again, your hands now straying to different parts of each others' body. Goeun's hand slides down your chest, pausing between your breasts, your hand works up her spine to the back of her head.

You pull her in closer, sliding your leg between hers, and hers between yours. You can feel the warmth of her core, and you're sure she can too. Both of you connect with a jolt; you feel Goeun's breath stagger. She looks at you again, with a look that said "it's okay, I'm yours."

You start to rub yourself on her leg, and she follows suit. Slick builds up on your thigh, and deep breaths trail behind. You can't hold back your moans, but neither does Goeun; her whimpers of pleasure are fed straight into your ear. The harder both of you grind, the harder you pull her closer to you, as if wanting to experience your stimulation as one whole.

"Does it feel good?," you ask under your breath.

"Yes, shit, I want more."

You're now determined to do one thing and one thing only: make Goeun feel good. You prop yourself up on a knee to get on top of her; her petite body rises and falls with her heavy breaths. She tries to get up on her elbows to meet you, but you place a hand on her chest. "Let me," you whisper, and she plops back down.

You feel around her folds, glistening and sticky from the stimulation you gave her. You give her one last glance, and her eyes are closed, ready to take you in. You slide a finger in, and Goeun gasps, feeling all of you in her. Her breaths are giggly, trembly expressions of pleasure, and it unsurprisingly turned you on. You reciprocated the pleasure with a second finger, causing her to lurch her back in ecstasy.

"Hah, that's so good! Please don't stop!," Goeun begs. You have never imagined her to be on the receiving end of anything, much less this, but you're committed to make her keep begging for more – as a metric of her enjoyment, of course.

You didn't anticipate, though, how much of a quick study Goeun could be, as she forces herself up and reaches a hand towards your groin. You feel a finger graze your clit, causing you to squeak, and Goeun continued to go crazy on it. Both of you are staring deeply and longingly at each other, legs crossed between each other – and of course, now fingering each other.

You couldn't take it anymore; you needed more of Goeun, and you wanted to give her more of you. You grab her hand out of your pussy and guide it to her mouth, and you do the same to your own. Your moans and movements at this point are so synchronized that when you drag her closer to start scissoring her, you're surprised to slam right into her juicy warmth without much distance covered.

Just like tides slamming and receding back, you and Goeun rub your pussies into each other. Waves of pleasure ripple across your body, and you can feel in the way she trembles in your grasp that so is Goeun. You're hungry for her, and the look in her eyes confirm she wanted to know exactly that. As you creep closer to your edge, a dam bursts open inside your chest, and you grip ever more tightly on to Goeun. She holds on to you just as tightly, enough to be moaning right next to each others' ears yet again.

Suddenly, you couldn't stop yourself from blurting everything you've ever thought about Goeun to her. "Fuck, Goeun, I've always dreamt this, I've touched myself to this dream so many times, please don't leave me! I'll do everything to make you stay! Please don't let me go! I just want to be yours!," you cry out in desperation.

"Yes, yes, yes, baby! You're mine! I'm not letting you go! I want to cum together! I'm so close!," she screams in reply. Those sweet words were enough to finally you make you tremble and leak, just before squirting all over her hips. Your orgasm in turn brought Goeun to her climax, your fluids mixing with each other, consummating your newly forged commitment to each other.

Together, you tip to the side, still locked into that embrace, catching your breath. The moans hidden beneath her breaths are soft but unabated, and you feel satisfied knowing she most definitely enjoyed herself.

When Goeun comes to, you stare at her and give her a kiss on her nose. "You're cuter when you're relaxed."

The gesture appeared to have jolted Goeun to her senses, as she gives a faint smile.

"I'm lucky I found you tonight of all nights," she whispered. Your softest voices were now audible, as the rain had finally subsided.

"And I'm lucky the rain kept you here," you reply. You look outside, thinking what comes next after this, and Goeun responded immediately by using her forehead to pull yours in.

"I'm not going anywhere," she reassured.

"Not even the reunion?," you taunt, giving a childish pout.

"Of course I'm going to that, silly," she giggles. "Only if you promise to come with me."

"It's a date then," you reply. "Finally."

—————

A/N: hope this one surprises the few plorys out here in the wild. hopefully i get to make for kween dosie next

#girl group smut #kpop smut #female reader #purple kiss smut #goeun smut

[axcel-lucci]

Secret...?

Trafalgar Law x fem!reader

Part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, part 5, part 6, part 7, part 8, this is part 9, part 10

Night soon had casted upon the island, it was rather cold, even the inside was chilly.

But it wasn't something (y/n) was never used to.

Of course, if one grew in a winter island, wouldn't one be accustomed to it?

She walked through the dark halls, not knowing where or what to find... But ended up by the big garden backgard then at the gazebo out there

"The snow has started to fall..." She muttered to herself as she walked towards the chairs and table inside the gazebo.

Humming to herself, she looked at the side of the manor and observed how, through the old time, vines growing, almost engulfing a whole side of the house in a beautiful nature way...

Though she'd remember, every "spring", even though it was winter all year around, the flowers would still grow as if the snow covering the ground never existed...

The vines would be filled with red flowers, she'd always pick them and give them to Dice, and Dice would always, ALWAYS, place them in the same vase...

The flowers would wilt in a few weeks but... Dice cherished them.

Then Lucifer would even climb the tallest trees just to pick a single apple, a SINGLE APPLE.

But hell, that apple was crispy and sweet...

(Y/n) smiled to herself as the past memories flooded her mind like it happened yesterday, still clearer than the purest water in the sea...

Though she did frown whenever she remembers how Lucifer would usually climb anything climbable only to get stuck at the top and her having to get him.

She then jumped when a thick warm coat draped around her shoulders; "What're you doing out here? It's cold." Lucifer chuckled as he walked to be beside her

She huffed a bit but moved a little farther away.

If the silence and tension was describable, it would've been like hell. Literally.

Lucifer did want to turn back and leave her to her devices but... His parental instinct told him to stay to make sure she doesn't pass out from the cold and get hypothermia or frostbite...

(Y/n) took a deep breath, "father..." She called lowly, hoping he wouldn't hear.

It made Lucifer jump with pure joy that she called him that again, after all these years but remains calm, at least as calm as he can when he hummed in response. Though he cursed himself for not saying anything in the now silent and tense atmosphere.

"You know how it's been... Five years since I last had a talk with you... Right?" He hummed once more, "I've been thinking... I guess I was being a little unfair... Cutting you and dad off like that after raising me all these years..."

"It's... Alright... We understood why you did that and stuff..." he muttered, still a bit overjoyed at how she's now speaking to him like this.

"Still... I think dad deserves an explanation... Especially you... Father..." She mumbled, "you took care of me the most, after all..."

He frowned at the rememberrance of the past, "I... I guess I do..."

"It's just... When you told me to either betray this crew or not come home at all... It deeply hurt me... I thought... I thought you'd understand... But instead you-..." (Y/n) could feel herself start to choke on her own words and tears started to form

"Dear... You know how much I..." He sighed a bit, "I know... It sounded... Harsh, I will take full blame... But I didn't mean it to sound that way, I promise...!"

"But still... You suggested I betray this crew... It..." She sighed shakily, "it stabbed me deeply..."

Lucifer could feel himself weaken...

The strongest demon to ever exist on land getting weak when he sees even just a droplet of his own child's tears, even he couldn't believe it.

"I'm... I'm so sorry... I know that no amount of apologies would ever sustain the words I said in the past... I am willing to take everything you want to inflict on me... As long as you are willing to forgive me, even not now... But... Maybe in the future... I hope... You can forgive me..." He said as he swallowed thickly and kneeled in front of her.

It surprised her that he would stoop this low just for her mere forgiveness. It was shameful, but he didn't care.

He placed all four of his hands flat on the floor and looked at her, "I am sorry... Hurt me if you want, I don't care... Please... Forgive me..." And with that, he cried black tears before having his forehead stuck to the ground as a sincere apology, "I know I was being unfair myself... Putting you in such a choice... I let you join the gang in the first place, I didn't... Protect you from your uncles and aunt... I'm sorry... I couldn't be there for you when you needed me. I am so sorry... Please... Forgive me."

"F-father... Please..." She could feel her eyes start to water even more, "don't do this to me..."

"I know I probably don't deserve your forgiveness, but please... At least give me a hope that we can be like we used to be... Please..." He cried

(Y/n) cried.

Both were inconsolable at this point before (y/n) shook her head and kneeled down in front of him.

"Father, get up... You're shaming yourself"

"No. I don't care... I deserve this shame..." He huffed,

She scoffed in response and held his face in her hands to make him look at her, "please... Get up..." She mumbled before smiling softly despite the tears drying up; "I... I forgive you, papa."

Lucifer couldn't help himself and slowly grin before jumping at her and immediately hugged her really tight with all four of his arms, "oh! You don't know how happy I am...! I am so happy...! I could explode!" He laughed loudly, still hugging her

"Lower your voice down! People are sleeping...!" She laughed, still crying and hugging him back

"I missed you so much... Dear... I am so happy... That you forgive me after all these years..." Lucifer smiled, "oh! Dad should be known of this! Oh Dicey-boo~~~!"

"Shhh! People are sleeping!" She laughed as he apologized again but called Dice in a whisper yell tone.

...

Lucifer went to their bedroom with (y/n) in his arms, still laughing at how fast Lucifer ran from the gazebo outside to their room on the fifth floor.

He closed the door behind him and placed (y/n) on the ground

"What's going on...?" Dice frowned as he came out of the bathroom wearing a robe, only to realize that (y/n) and Lucifer may or may not have reconciled.

"Dad..." (Y/n) called after taking a moment to breathe

Dice could feel his throat tighten into a small sob as he walks up to her slowly, "say that again... Please..."

"Dad..." She smiled at him, small tears pricking her eyes, "dad... I'm... I'm sorry I have-"

(Y/n) was cut off by Dice hugging her really tight.

"Hush up. Now." He said as his arms tighten around her, "I am so happy... I don't care about your apology... I don't care what happened... I'm just... Happy..."

She smiled, and started to sob uncontrollably as Dice did too, but he was more formal.

"You don't know how happy I was to have always read on the paper of your deeds.... Knowing you're alive and well... Your wanted posters indicating you're getting stronger... You... Right here... All safe and sound... All of which... Even without us... I am so happy" Dice sobbed a bit, "I am happy... You're here... With me... With us..."

Lucifer could feel himself get emotional again and hugged them both real tight making them laugh so loud.

The next day, Dice had woken up earlier than the rest to make breakfast, mainly because he's so giddy and excited as well as him being happy and able to make stuff for (y/n) again without her ever judging it.

Or he just woke up really early because Lucifer has a very loud snore.

A few moments later though, Lucifer woke up and started to get ready, though he didn't have any agendas today so he mainly wore a baggy sweatshirt and some pants

"Morning Dicey-boo~" Lucifer cooed as he walked up to Dice and hug him from behind, despite the height difference, Lucifer felt quite comfy like this.

"Seriously? Like- seriously? It's barely 7 am. Doofus." (Y/n) groaned.

She has always despised how these just had like- perfect PDA in public and are really confident about it even though they were the most famous mafia gang leaders.

Law walked in beside her with a chuckle

"Bitter bitch." Lucifer turned to her with a pout

"Says the one who sulked when he first found out about my engagement." She rolled her eyes

Lucifer and (y/n) glared at each other before sticking their tongues out like little children

Dice shook his head with a smile, "children..."

"Seems like you two got along?" Law asked (y/n) as she turned to him

"Yeah..." She sighed softly, "took your advice and uhm... Thanks" she smiled at him as Law smiled back.

"I'm glad you did..."

"Wait, what?! You're here bitching about our PDA then you're right over there having a PDA moment!" Lucifer complained

"At least ours isn't so fucking obvious!" She answered

"Guys, it's barely 7 am. Get a grip" Dice rolled his eyes

"He/she started it!" Lucifer and (y/n) said in unison.

Dice sighed inwardly, 'sometimes I wish they didn't get along so perfectly...' he thought

_______

@jadedrrose ahhhhh I'm almost done I promise!

#random #night thoughts #trafalgar law #law x reader #trafalgar law x reader #law x y/n #one piece #trafalgar d law x reader #trafalgar d water law #trafalgar law x y/n #trafalgar law smut #trafalgar d law #trafalgar one piece #trafalgar law x reader smut #trafalgardwaterlaw #law smut #law x reader smut #law x you #one piece law #one piece trafalgar law #one piece x y/n #one piece x you #one piece x reader

[ashwhowrites]

fluff prompt 35 with Robin? 🥺

Finally fluff Robin! I'm tired of always breaking her heart 🙂

"We’ve been celebrating our wedding anniversary on the wrong day for the past nine years."

Robin and Y/N have been married for around 9 years. They fell in love during the whole upside down fiasco. Y/N was an old friend of Steve's when they all first discovered the upside down. Once it was all settled she moved to California, hoping to leave it behind her. But when Steve called a few years later saying it's worse than ever, she was right back in Hawkins. She figured she'd kill some creatures, gain new fears and be done with this shit. But what she didn't expect was to fall in love during the worst possible time.

The second Steve introduced her to a loud, fast talking, and sarcastic girl, she was screwed. She learned her name was Robin and a new friend of Steve's. A friend that Steve made very clear, with a horrible wink, was definitely gay. Y/N remembered punching Steve but secretly thanking him for giving her a heads up.

Fighting vecna and trying to stay alive was most important, not trying to flirt with the gorgeous dark haired and blue eye goddess she got partnered up with. Once again, thanks to Steve. But that didn't mean Y/N couldn't look at her from time to time. She even went as far to throw herself around Robin when the ground began to shake. Steve watched with a smirk as both girls blushed a deep red.

When Y/N was saying her goodbyes and heading back to California, Robin asked her on a date. Robin knew she'd hate herself if she never went for it. Plus Y/N saved her life twice in the upside down, she deserves to buy her dinner, right?

Before they knew it Robin and Y/N were calling each other daily. Sending love letters day after day. Planning trips to visit each other. Months went on and turned into years. Steve annoyingly takes credit for their relationship, and makes sure that they both know it.

Their engagement was slightly different from others. Both girls wanted to propose to each other in different ways. Y/N had Joyce helping her and Robin had Steve. All four making the most special and romantic proposal ever. But Y/N and Robin ruined it for each other. Both were getting too excited to wait, and accidentally proposed too early, at the wrong place and at the same time. Joyce and Steve wanted to be mad at all their hard work going to waste. But when both girls showed up with two diamond rings on each other's fingers with the biggest smile they've ever seen, they let it slide. They decided they didn't need a big proposal for each other. Asking at what felt like the right moment felt more like them.

At their wedding, Steve's whole speech was how he planned it all out for them. Both brides rolled their eyes but laughed along. They did owe Steve, because without him they never would have fallen in love.

~~

"baby, which restaurant do you want to go to for our anniversary?" Y/N asked as she sat next to Robin on the couch.

"tough call. Maybe the same place we've been going to for the last 9 years." She laughed as she pretended to think.

"I can't believe it's been that long. I think Steve's payment plan of marrying you is coming up around the 10 year mark. Better soak it up now." Y/N joked.

Robin faked laughed, "haha funny." She said with a smile. Smacking her wife's shoulder.

~~

As Y/N waited for Robin to finish getting ready, she looked through their wedding book. Smiling at the memories.

"I can't get over how fucking beautiful you looked this day." Y/N sighed as she stared at her wife's beaming smile in her white suit.

"just that night?" Robin asked, clipping her necklace as she walked to sit next to Y/N.

"you know you look beautiful all the time." Y/N kissed her cheek. Laughing as her red lipstick stained Robin's cheek.

Together they looked through the book. Stopping in confusion at their wedding invitation.

"wait Rob, the date, is that right?" She asked, showing Robin the piece of paper.

Robin looked at it closely with scrunched eyebrows.

"that can't be right. We got married on October 13th!" She said, snatching the book and looking at it closer.

"the invitation says the 15th Robin! There's no way that's wrong. It's the actual invitation we sent out." Y/N tried to explain.

"Are you saying that we’ve been celebrating our wedding anniversary on the wrong day for the past nine years?" Robin asked

"babe, I think we have."

Both erupted in a huge laugh. Eyes watering and gasping for air as they held their stomaches.

"only us baby. Only us." Y/N sighed out, stomach still in pain from laughing so hard.

"well shit, do we start celebrating on the 15th instead?" Robin asked

"nah, the 13th will be our always." Y/N said with a smile.

Both not knowing their anniversary just made them even more perfect for each other

#robin buckley x female reader #robin buckley stranger things #robin buckley x reader #robin buckley #robin buckley fluff #robin Buckley fluff x reader #robin buckley requests

[mollybecameanengineer]

The Joy of Cooking

MSR | Season 10 | 949 Words | tagging: @today-in-fic

Scully had first noticed it a month after they started working together again. 

Rather than a hastily put together sandwich, leftover Chinese, or something greasy he’d just picked up, Mulder had real food nestled in a glass storage container for lunch. It looked like chicken with mushrooms, green beans, and a yellow purée. She wondered where he’d gotten it. 

Over the following weeks, similar dishes appeared. Steak with veggies and chimichurri. A white fish over rice with Chinese broccoli. Chicken and delicata squash over greens. 

The man she’d spent most of her adult life with wasn’t a great cook, though he had managed to put dinner on the table for most of the years she’d lived with him. But it was never this imaginative. Or healthy. Or varied. They’d eaten a rotation of the same dozen or so dishes for years. 

If she didn’t know better, Scully would have thought Mulder had someone at home making him dinner every night. At least, she was pretty sure she didn’t know better. 

“Mulder,” she began, on a day when she was feeling brave. “Have you, you know, dated at all since we…” she waved her hands around rather than finish the thought.

Mulder laughed out loud. “I haven’t been on a date since the early ‘90s. Or maybe late ‘80s. Unless we went on dates. Did we go on dates?”

She shrugged. “That night in Hollywood was pretty date-like.”

He smiled at the memory. She had to admit it was a pretty good one. Other than having to sit through that movie. “Ah, yes. Well then, last date was around the turn of the millennium. How about you?”

She kicked herself. Of course he’d return the question. She’d tried hard, when they’d first broken up, to get over him. She’d made an online dating profile and went on around a half a dozen first dates. They all sucked. After having a disappointing one night stand with a man she'd picked up in a bar, she’d come to the conclusion that she was still in love with Mulder and no amount of fucking strangers was going to change that. She deleted her profile and started seeing a therapist. “A few dates. Nothing serious.”

“Ah.” Mulder pushed his chicken, mashed potatoes (or maybe mashed cauliflower!?), and Brussels sprouts around the container. “It’s a shame I didn’t take you on more dates. Do you want to come over for dinner? You know, as a makeup for the hundreds of dates I didn't take you on?”

She froze. They’d been working together, successfully, for several months now. Growing close as friends again. But she’d been careful to draw a line in the sand with respect to their previous romantic entanglement. 

He must have sensed her discomfort. “Just as friends, Scully. Don’t overthink it. I have a salmon thing at home I think you’d like.”

Well, if it would get to the bottom of this food mystery. She agreed. 

When she arrived at their (his!) house, it was already filled with the smells of dinner. “Perfect timing!” Mulder said from the kitchen. “It will be ready in about 10 minutes.”

“Can I help?” she asked, setting down her bag and hanging her coat. 

“Nope. It’s pretty easy. But you can break open the wine.” He nodded toward the already set table, where a wine bottle was sitting.

She went into the kitchen to get the corkscrew. “What are we having?”

“Uhhh,” he said, leaning to read something on a piece of paper while also tending to a pan. “Salmon with sun dried tomato sauce over couscous.”

“Couscous! Mulder!”

He looked at her. “What? You like couscous.”

“I know I like couscous. What I don’t know is where you learned to make any of this!”

“Oh.” He chuckled as he handed her the paper. “I didn’t. I signed up for one of those meal delivery services. My, uh,” he cleared his throat and returned his attention to the stove, “my psychiatrist thought that a more balanced diet might help with, you know.” He stirred the couscous more vigorously than necessary. “And as you know, I have a limited repartee, so she suggested this as an easy alternative.”

Scully ran her eyes over the paper he’d handed her. It had clear instructions and little pictures showing how everything was supposed to look. Including the plating. 

“Do you think it’s helped?” Once the words were out of her mouth, she realized they were too intrusive for their current relationship. “Sorry, you don’t—”

He cut her off. “No, I want to share with you.” A timer went off and he started plating the couscous and salmon, just as shown in the little picture. “I mean, the meds really helped, once we got them right. And talking about… everything.” He carried their plates over to the table while she opened the wine and poured. They sat, again in the places they’d always been.  

He continued, once they were settled, “But getting back to exercising and this whole new diet thing have been good, too. If nothing else, my pants fit better and my cholesterol is down.”

“I’m glad.” She took a bite of the dinner, and was surprised by how good it was. While she’d known these services existed, she’d not understood why anyone would pay for them. But it did seem perfect for Mulder. “This is really good,” she said, taking another bite. 

“I’ll let the good people at Eaters know.”

She smiled and raised her wine glass to her lips, but paused before taking a drink. “A toast.” She raised her glass. He put down his fork and did the same. “To health.”

He clinked her glass. “To life.”

#x files fanfic #the x files

[cami-stuffs]

Pushing Towards You

Chapter 7: Life Changing

"I guess you'll get tired of the school, mum. You're coming here every day." Ártemis passed her arms for her mother's shoulders and kissed her head. 

They were heading to the yard. It was a Sunday, and the next day, faculty members would be back. Larissa thought it would be nice to have a last feast outside. 

"I'll never get tired of Nevermore." Calista looked around and spotted Larissa and Gaia at the table, chatting before dinner. "Good evening, ladies."

"Good evening." Larissa and Gaia cheered in unison as Calista sat beside Larissa with Ártemis beside her and between her mothers.

"Did you get some rest?" Larissa whispered to Calista.

"I did, thank you. What about you?" Calista wanted to know.

"I did. We'll start the planning week tomorrow, so I decided to take this last day off." Larissa sipped her wine and winked at Calista.

"Do you have any plans for tomorrow, Mumma C?" Ártemis crossed the conversation. 

"I don't. Do you? Would you like to do anything?" Calista was willing to lie on the sofa and watch a movie all day. But, if Ártemis was up to something, she'd enlist.

"No, I don't." The girl answered. "Thanks, God!" Calista thought. "I plan to spend my day in my room and organize myself. Maybe I'll go to the library. Do you care? If I stay here tomorrow, I mean."

"Not at all. By the afternoon, we can have some food at The Weathervane. What do you think? Gaia and Larissa could come with us if their staff meeting ends." Calista suggested to the group.

"Good idea, but I'm depending on the Principal?" Gaia said jokingly, glancing at Larissa.

"Well... We have a meeting right after lunch, but as if it is the first day, I won't take your time too long. We can meet you two at The Weathervane." Larissa agreed.

That night, Gaia went to bed earlier. Calista didn't mention it, but she knew the woman was nervous about meeting her colleagues the next day. Ártemis followed Gaia minutes later. The girl had a full week.

"Shall we move it to my office?" Larissa suggested as she and Calista remained at the table having their wine.

"Sure. Let's go." Calista went after the blonde.

Calista could look properly at Larissa's office without the pressure of the first meeting. The structure was the same as in her time, but the furniture was more stylish now. The room smelled Larissa's perfume mixed with the wood materials. The fireplace was lit up, and light also came from the lampshades. Calista chose one of the chairs in front of Larissa's desk. To her surprise, Larissa sat right beside her in the other chair. 

"I was trying to come up with a conversation starter, but after seeing you every day for the past week, I have to reach the point." Larissa sat and reclined in the armchair. "What happened that night? After the school reunion. Why you left me? We had a perfect night, and the next day, you're gone even before I wake up."

"We did have a perfect night, and that was the problem." Calista began. "After 10 years apart from you, my feelings were unchanged after graduation. I wanted to be with you. But you were doing so great in your career. That night, you didn't mention Morticia even once. You were all about your job and research."

"Well... I was succeeding. I was proud of myself. Did that bother you?" Larissa was in defense mode now.

"Not at all. I could see you were happy." Calista resumed, taking Larissa's hand. "Larissa, I've never hidden from you that I thought you were brilliant. And if you can remember, being shadowed by Morticia was always an issue between us. That night, at the reunion, you seemed free of all that judgment and comparison. I saw the real you."

"Okay... But why? Why leave?" Larissa anticipated. 

"I spent the night awake. I wanted to be with you, but I couldn't ask you to stay and leave all behind. And, honestly, I was not ready to give up my profession and go after you wherever you were." Calista admitted. "So, I decided for both of us. At school, I couldn't have you because of Morticia. Then, I couldn't have you because you were finally showing yourself to the world. And trust me, the world needed you."

"I must say it was selfish of you." Larissa has a saddened voice. "I've called you many times after that. I would have stayed, you know that." She lowered her eyes from Calista.

"I know. That's why I never answered your calls. I know you'd leave all your life behind and follow me. But, I guess I didn't want that responsibility, you know? Making you give up on your job, and eventually, you'll regret it." Calista finally gets to the end of it. "I could not deny that to you for my benefit."

They felt silent. Calista could see Larissa battling inside her mind. Her selfish decision led to this moment. Larissa was the Principal at Nevermore, but she was also lonely. Calista had a family instead. 

"Have you ever imagined how it would be if you didn't flee from us that day?" Larissa kept her eyes on the fireplace. "If you have allowed me to make my own decisions." That was bitter, even for Larissa.

"Every single day since that morning," Calista confessed. 

They looked at each other, and there was nothing left to say. Twenty-two years were clarified in minutes of conversation. From now on, they were a blank page. None of them could tell what would happen. Suddenly, withdrawing them from their thoughts, Calista's phone rang. It was Ártemis.

A: Hey, mom. Are you still at the school?

C: Hey, babe. I'm at Larissa's office. Why? What happened?

Larissa looked up, concerned.

A: Nothing happened. I'm fine. I was just wondering if you can stay the night. Here, with me.

Calista heart sank.

C: Hold on. I'll put you on the speaker, and you ask permission from your Principal.

Ártemis repeated the question to Larissa.

L: Of course, darling. Your mother can stay the night with you.

Larissa gave a soft smile to Calista.

A: Thank you, Ms. Weems. I'll wait up for you, Mum.

C: I'm on my way, precious.

"I think it's better if I go now." Calista stood up. "Good night, Larissa."

"Good night, Calista," Larissa answered, still on her chair.

Calista turned around and headed to the door. She put her hand on the doorknob, and before opening it, Calista backed off and went in Larissa's direction. The blond kept an eye on her, unable to make a move. Calista then straddled Larissa's lap with one leg on each side, cupped her chin, and kissed her. That kiss was a passionate one. It was from two people who were held apart from each other for a long time. 

Larissa kissed Calista in return, putting the hand on her back and pulling them closer enough so their front touched. They sustained the kiss until they reached for breath.

"Could you shift now?" Calista asked, panting, touching her forehead to Larissa's.

"Shift?" Larissa was puzzled. And then, she realized. "Wow...shift. Are you sure?" Larissa smirked.

"More than sure, Riss." That was the push Larissa needed. The pet name. Larissa always enjoyed it when Calista called her 'Riss.'

"Remove the pants and undergarments for me, darling," Larissa said between kisses. And so Calista did it, standing up but keeping her lips on Larissa's, making the blonde lean forward.

As she did it, Larissa took the opportunity to lift her dress and lower her panties. And there it was where it should be Larissa's wet slit was a height-matching knob.

"Let me lube it up for you." Larissa was about to spit on her hand when Calista sat, letting it slide inside her.

"There's no need for lube," Calista said with a smirk. She kept still for a few seconds to adjust before it became unsustainable; she started grinding.

"Oh, my goodness, Lis, I've forgotten how wet and tight you were for me, darling." Larissa was with both hands on Calista's hips, helping her on the riding. "I won't last long." She was breathing heavily in Calista's neck crook.

"Oohhh...me neither." Calista was speeding her movements. She was feeling something rise from her core. Her muscles were contracting while the orgasm was being built. "Riss... I'm gonna cum."

"Could you hold on, babe? I'm almost there." Larissa quickened the pace even more, forcing Calista's hips down. "Oh, Lis, I missed so much." She panted. 

"I missed you, Riss. With all my heart." Calista said back, grabbing Larissa's shoulders.

That was it. This tenderness exchange was enough for both of you to cum together. Larissa embraced Calista and put the head on her panting chest. They kept it that way for a few seconds, feeling each other's body. Calista felt the emptiness when Larissa shifted back. 

"That was..." Calista started.

"Heaven." Larissa completed, making the other chuckles.

"Yeah...That was." Calista whispered. "I'm afraid I have to go. Ártemis is waiting for me." She stood up, putting her clothes back. "Thank you." She pecked a kiss on Larissa's lips, smiling softly. 

"My pleasure," Larissa smirked, rubbing Calista's cheek with her thumb. "I'll take you to the door to enjoy more of you."

Larissa embraced and lifted Calista from the ground. Calista seized the chance to intertwine her legs around Larissa's waist. Larissa giggled and carried the woman between kisses to the door.

"I'll see you tomorrow, then," Larissa whispered, rubbing her nose on Calista's as their forehead touched.

"Yeah...Good night, Riss." Calista said softly as Larissa put her on the ground.

"Good night, darling." Larissa kissed Calista's lips one more time.

It came to a hand that Calista knew the school corridors. She could not remember how she managed to get to Ártemis quarters. In a blink, Calista was knocking at the girl's door.

"Hey, Mum." Ártemis received her mother by the door. "Sorry to call you at the last minute. I was just fancying your company tonight." She hugged Calista tightly. 

"Ohh...babe, that's okay." Calista kissed Ártemis' head, and the girl put it in her chest. Despite the height difference, Ártemis knew exactly how to bend and suit Calita's embrace. "I would have come even if I were in Jerico already."

"I love you," Ártemis said.

"I love you too, my precious." Calista was caring for the girl's hair. "I'm glad that you are taller than me, you know. Because I'll have to borrow your clothes to sleep."

"Haha...Yeah. You can choose from the wardrobe. Would you like to take a shower? You seem hot." Ártemis looks intensively at her mother's cheek. It was reddened.

"Yep. I need a shower, indeed." Calista smelled Larissa's scent and could not say if Ártemis could too. "Wine makes me feel hot."

Calista was lightheaded. All she could think of was Larissa. After 22 years, they finally repaired the misunderstanding, and now she was eager to know what the future reserved for them. Calista was conscious that this future depended on the job application. If she stayed in Jericho, she and Larissa could figure out what kind of relationship they would like to have. But, if she didn't get the job, she could not tell if they would like to have a relationship from a distance.

"Good night, my pretty girl." Calista returned from the shower and sat beside Ártemis. "Thank you for the invitation to stay with you."

"Good night. I'm glad you're here, Mum." The girl answered. "I wish you could stay for good."

"Me too, honey." Calista held her tongue to not tell her about the job. She didn't want to give hope to her daughter. "Sleep tight, Angel." She kissed Ártemis' on the forehead and lay on the spare bed.

Before set to sleep, Calista checked on her phone. Once it was Sunday, her job application didn't receive feedback. Nevertheless, she was expecting exactly what she found. A message from Larissa. 

L: I can't stop thinking about you.

It was sent minutes before she went for a shower. So maybe Larissa was already sleeping. 

C: That makes two of us.

Calista was not waiting for a reply, but gladly, it came.

L: I wish you could be here by my side. But I'm glad I'll be able to see you first thing in the morning. See you tomorrow for breakfast. Sleep well. Xx

C: See you tomorrow, Riss. Sleep tight. Xx

And then, Calista hit the bed.

The next morning, Calista was preparing herself for breakfast and waiting for Ártemis to finish her mourning routine when she saw an income e-mail in her phone notifications. It was from the job application. They would like to see Calista for a meeting lunch that day. It has to be a good sign, isn't it? Calista wondered.

Chapter 6 | Chapter 8

#f/f fanfic #larissa weems #larissa weems x ofc #lesbian fic #original character #wedneday #wlw #calista cosanto #gwendoline christie #pushing towards you series #sapphic #lesbian #principal larissa weems #principal weems #lesbian smut fic #nevermore academy

[the--morning--room]

RESURGAM (Arthur Harrow x F! Reader) Chapter 15: A cold, solitary girl again

"That bitter hour cannot be described: in truth, 'the waters came into my soul; I sank in deep mire: I felt no standing; I came into deep waters; the floods overflowed me.'" -Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre

Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14

AO3

I don't know if you're aware of this, reader, but the human body is quite poorly made. The temperature in the desert that night was not nearly low enough to freeze one to death, but it was enough to harden the Thorn's joints until she could no longer move her fingers to wipe the sand from her eyes and mouth. Her breaths came painfully and haltingly, and once her knees failed her she knew she had no choice but to rest. She clutched the thin, whitish hairs of the jackal and let it lead her, half-crawling like a primordial beast, to the relative safety of a cliffside, where she sandwiched herself between the chilled, sandy rock and the jackal's body.

"Thank you," she told it, and patted its slimy head.

There was a faint silver line along the edge of the horizon. The coming dawn, or the distant Cairo skyline? Either way, why was the light growing so quickly?

The whiteness expanded until it enveloped the sky, erased the desert and the jackal, and the Thorn knew nothing but white.

She'd been here a while, she thought. Of course, she'd just gotten there, but she knew that place, didn't she? The columns, the checkered floor. The information desk, where a "Tomb Buster" poster sat upright in a swivel chair. The gift shop with its window full of ushabtis, standing like a tiny army. And of course, the art. Stacks of prone statues, safely mummified in protective wrapping.

Everything was white and silent.

"...And here we have—oh, you! Yes, you. I'm supposed to come and find you. Hellooo..." The friendly Scottish voice cut through the quiet, and an arm was waved in front of her face. That tattoo looked so familiar. She turned to him.

"Billy!" The relief nearly knocked her over. She threw her arms around him, and was met with a sickening squelch.

"Oof. Sorry, love. This happens," Billy said, red-faced, as his stomach fell open and spilled its slimy contents onto the pristine floor. The two visitors he'd been leading, a crocodile and a hippo, exchanged annoyed glances before turning and walking away. Both wore tutus and oversized pointe shoes.

"Can I, um...get someone for you?" the Thorn asked awkwardly. "A doctor, maybe?"

"'S fine. Just something I have to get used to," Billy replied, gathering up his intestines. "Reading room's back that way," he jerked his head, "through the armory, then take a left."

She followed his pointing finger, wove through the suits of armor and past one massive, silvery-gray getup made of material resembling a mummy's wrappings. It was holding a sign: "Reading room this way," then the Thorn's name and an arrow.

Thoroughly creeped out, she followed the arrow. What other choice did she have?

A rush of book-smell swept over her as she crossed through the doorway. It was a wide, cylindrical room lined with shelves of books and a staircase that spiraled endlessly into a ceiling of clouds. Despite the seemingly infinite shelf space, the floor was crammed with stacks of even more books. For once in her life, however, the Thorn had no interest in books. She could only stare in astonishment at the man in front of her.

He said her name, smiling through his beard. "We meet in person at last!"

Indeed, she had never seen his face outside of a computer screen. She knew him, though. The beard, the glasses, the smile that radiated both kindness and intelligence, and that fuchsia scarf he was never seen without. She remembered the first time she'd seen him, years ago, presenting a paper to a livestreamed conference. He had been wearing a simple blue suit, and the bright, cheerful color of his scarf was a welcome contrast to the general stuffiness of the event.

The last time they'd spoken was over email. He'd sent a letter of recommendation to Lowood, he wished her luck and promised to meet her in person the next summer. That never happened, of course. Dr. El-Faouly was dead before summer.

He was dead, and yet there he was now, standing before her. In order for this meeting to be real, one of them must have traveled between worlds. The Thorn knew which of them it was more likely to be.

"Is this the Duat?" she asked.

"You figured it out much more quickly than I did. But, of course, I am actually dead. Well, fully dead. There might be a difference in the way one's consciousness reacts to the change if—"

"Wait, I'm not 'fully' dead? What does that mean?"

He pursed his lips sadly. "Your hands."

She looked down to see her fingers flickering. Invisible—then not. Gone—and back again. She blinked, and in that tiny fraction of a second she felt a shock of excruciating cold, her body crying out with hunger and thirst, her heart wailing its brokenness, and sand everywhere. There was even sand in her throat—had she tried to eat it?

"Your body is unconscious," Dr. El-Faouly explained. "Your only hope now is to be rescued, but I'm afraid at this point it would take a—"

"—Deus ex machina." She blinked again, and heard the roaring of the desert wind. Her fingers were frozen.

"Yes."

She let out a hopeless laugh laced with tears. "I think the gods might be a little busy right now," she said. "I'm probably the least of their worries, especially since..." Her voice caught." Since I helped...I helped Arthur..." She broke down.

He looked at her with weary eyes. He said her name, lifted a hand to her shoulder—it passed through. She felt no comforting touch, only cold and wind and sand and hunger.

"Come," he said, and two plump chairs appeared nearby.

They sat. The Thorn pulled her flickering knees into her chest, sobbing into them.

"It's peaceful here," Dr. El-Faouly said. "You're in a good place. Don't cry."

"My scales are unbalanced," she said through a curtain of messy tears. "I won't be staying here."

"Who told you your scales lack balance?"

"Well, Ammit."

"And you know better than to take Ammit's word as law, don't you?" He laughed scoffingly. "For goodness sake, the Ennead doesn't even regard her as a proper goddess."

The Thorn's lips quivered with a sudden, familiar need to defend her goddess. No—not her goddess, not anymore. "Praise revoked" and all that. She looked down at her flickering forearm (the flickers were fewer and further between now). Bare.

"The goddess Taweret weighs hearts on the scales of Anubis," Dr. El-Faouly explained. "Ammit has no say in deciding the fates of the deceased." He smiled. "Your heart is safe."

"Even without Ammit, I don't think my scales are going to balance," the Thorn confessed.

"Why do you think that?"

She dragged a hand across her face, and it came away slick with tears. Her flesh was completely solid now. "Like I said, I helped Arthur. I found the scarab for him, I protected him from Marc and Khonshu. And," she heaved a wretched, shuddering sob, "to be honest, I don't regret any of it. I don't regret loving him, no matter what I did for him, what I let him do..." She covered her face, drowning in shame.

He looked thoughtfully at her. "Do you regret leaving him?"

She nodded, sobbing violently.

"Even after he betrayed you so terribly?"

She paused to try and breathe, disgusted by the feeling of so many sticky tears racing down her hot cheeks.

"You didn't want to be Ammit's avatar, did you?" he pressed.

She sniffed. "Of course not."

"Well, that was Arthur's plan for you. Do you think he would ever change his mind, regardless of how artfully you may have argued against him?"

"Never," she admitted, wiping her eyes.

"Then what exactly do you regret?" he asked kindly. "Sparing yourself from a fate you would have hated?"

"I could have handled it," she said sullenly.

"Really? You could have handled committing murders in the name of a deity whose cause you don't believe in? You could have handled living under her abuse?"

"I could have sucked it up," she said after a stubborn pause.

"You have done more than enough 'sucking up' in your life," he frowned. "No more. You deserve to be treated well, to make your own choices and live your own life."

"What about love? I deserve that too, right?"

"Of course you deserve love, but not if it comes at the cost of your freedom."

Freedom. What was it she'd said to Arthur about freedom? "I have a free, independent brain." She pictured herself as a bird triumphantly escaping its cage, soaring out into the bluest of skies only to find itself promptly shot down. Would that little bird miss the safety of its cage as it plummeted to its death?

"Will he be okay?" she asked. "If he really loves me like he said he does, and he finds out I died while leaving him..." Her eyes were drowning all over again.

Dr. El-Faouly reached out and took her hands. Her flesh was solid now, no more flickers. "You are not responsible for his feelings toward you."

"He was always trying to protect me," she said. "He's going to think he failed."

"It's not your responsibility," he repeated, gripping her hands. "He's a grown man; he can take care of himself."

"But what if he..."

"He will grieve, he will recover, and he will move on. And you will do the same."

"I can't." She shook her head at the wall of books, unable to look her mentor in the eye. "I can't."

"I said the same thing when I arrived here, knowing I was leaving my loved ones behind. I worried so much for my daughter, thinking she would never be able to move on. But of course, she did. She had to."

"You don't know Arthur. He's," she interrupted herself with a high, panicked laugh, "he's a professional sufferer. He never gets over anything. He needs—"

"He needs a kind of help that you were never equipped to give him. Either he gets that help, or he doesn't; either way, it has nothing to do with you. You renounced his love. He is no longer yours to worry about."

She was remembering the nights she spent pulling shards of glass from Arthur's shredded skin, and how each shard would leave a sickening deluge of blood and pus in its wake. That's what Dr. El-Faouly's words had done to her heart—not that she herself hadn't caused the wound. She had left Arthur behind. She had rejected his goddess and broken off their engagement.

He would never have abandoned her. She would have only had to stay by his side, loyal and silent, and let him make her Ammit's personal killing machine. In return, he would have loved her, cared for her, kept her company for the rest of his life. A few million sinners' blood on her hands, in exchange for a lifetime of romantic bliss...if that wasn't a fair trade, what was?

No. No, she would have hated it. It would have been hell, serving Ammit, and living with Arthur would have been even worse. Didn't his goddess always bring out the worst in him? Ammit would have been a plague on their marriage. The most loving, sincere religious fanatic is still a fanatic, and even his most passionate kisses would never have been able to love the sticky sheen of guilt off her heart.

She bent her body into a pathetic curve and let out a long, slow wail into her knees. Waves of hot sand beat at her dying body. She could feel the brightness of the sun behind her closed eyes. There were voices, two of them, arguing above her.

"What if I hurt her?"

"Steven, look at her. You carrying her to the car isn't going to damage her any more than the desert already has."

"I just don't know, she looks so frail..."

An exasperated sigh. "Fine, let Marc do it then."

"No! Wait! I can do it, just let me—"

Her hands were disappearing, blinking away before her eyes. "I'm going back," she said. "No, I don't want to. No, stop," she cried in a panic, unsure of who or what she was pleading with. "Let me stay here, I want to stay here!"

"It looks as though your body has other plans," Dr. El-Faouly said. "We'll see each other again someday. Say hello to my little scarab for me."

"Your what?"

He smiled. "She's right next to you. Tell her—"

She blinked, and was alive.

The first things she knew were yellowness and hot air, then a sliver of morning creeping in through a pair of thick curtains. There was just enough light for her to note that nearly everything in the room was broken, and the various pieces of things had been scattered across a loveseat in the corner. Someone had apparently begun cleaning up, but never finished the job. A cracked mirror across from the bed showed the Thorn that she was in a white bed, and wearing white clothes: A man's T-shirt and baggy shorts. Her hair felt clean, and smelled like an unfamiliar shampoo. Nearby, another woman sat cross-legged on top of the bedside table. She was balancing a laptop precariously on her knees, and seemed either unwilling or unable to look at the Thorn. The light from the computer screen exaggerated the pronounced circles under her eyes.

"Morning," said Layla.

"Little scarab." The words slipped from the Thorn's mouth so unexpectedly that she almost felt as if the words weren't her own.

Layla slammed her laptop shut with a ferocity that left the cracked mirror vibrating like a cowering animal. Her face was stony. "If one of you people," she growled, spitting out the word people as if it were a deadly curse, "ever calls me that again..." Wet bullets of grief shone in her eyes.

"I'm sorry," the Thorn said reflexively. "I don't know why I—"

"Just stop." Layla shook her head and put a frustrated hand to her face. She took a single loud, tremulous breath, lingering on it as if considering making it a sob. She stood up suddenly, nearly knocking the small table to the ground, crossed the room in a few staggers, and flung the thick curtains wide to reveal a stunning panopticon of Cairo, pyramids and all.

"Wow," the Thorn breathed.

Layla paused in front of the window, her back to the Thorn. "Yeah," she agreed, apparently with some reluctance.

"Thank you for, uh," she could think of no less awkward a way to put it, "saving m—"

"Thank Marc," Layla said curtly. "And Steven. One of them, can't remember which, but he saw you in the sand when we went back to get some stuff we left in that car."

"Are they here?"

"No." She moved away from the window, started to sit on the sofa only to note the mess covering its cushions, and sank down to the floor instead. "No, we're...we're kind of taking a break."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be."

Layla's face was shifting oddly. Sometimes the shadow of a beard, the glint of a pair of studious glasses, and the shout of fuchsia-colored fabric around her neck would appear, just for a glimmer of a fraction of a second. It seemed to the Thorn that she had yet to entirely leave the Duat—or maybe the Duat wasn't ready to let go of her. Or, it could simply be the ghost of Dr. El-Faouly materializing around his daughter. Of course, she could also have been hallucinating. Even I'm not certain what the truth was.

"Well," said Layla, "don't you want to know what happened?"

A clump of dread had been growing in the Thorn's stomach, anticipating this subject. Clearly, Layla and Marc had survived Ammit's wrath. That fact didn't bode well for Arthur.

"I don't know," she said.

"He's alive," said Layla. "Does that help?"

A tear slipped down the Thorn's cheek and hovered saltily on her upper lip.

"You were supposed to be Ammit's avatar, weren't you? Is that why you left?"

Avoiding Layla's gaze, she nodded.

Layla mirrored her nod, an infuriating knowledge in the way she pursed her lips. "Yeah," she said, "I saw that one coming."

"You did?"

She shrugged. "I always thought something about you and him together didn't really add up. It seemed wrong. And this explains it."

"What do you mean? Are you saying you don't believe he could love me?"

"No. Well, maybe. I find it hard to believe he could love at all."

"And what gives you the right to make that judgment?" the Thorn retorted wildly, her voice climbing in pitch. "Who do you think you are, saying something like that about another person's relationship? As if yours is so perfect."

Immediately she felt herself tense and recoil, shocked by her own cruelty. Layla, however, only hardened her jaw. A deadly silence followed.

"I guess that's fair," Layla said. "But I do know what it's like to be lied to."

The Thorn, of course, wasn't sure what Layla was referring to—but she nodded anyway, wary of opening her mouth for fear she might let loose another needless barb of cruelty.

"I had to hear the truth from Harrow before Marc had the balls to tell me himself. How fucked up is that? To have to learn something like that from the man who shot my husband?"

The Thorn swallowed. "The man who what?"

Layla closed her eyes. "It was so loud," she said, "and the echo...and the blood on his white clothes..." She was shaking.

"He shot Marc?" the Thorn heard herself say. "Arthur did?" His name had never felt less pleasant in her mouth.

Layla nodded, swallowing a sob. "I wanted to kill him."

"He would have killed you first."

She let out a short, mirthless laugh. "Yeah. For sure."

From there, she told the whole story, up to and including the battle between the three avatars in Cairo.

"Stop," the Thorn said suddenly.

"Really? Now?" Layla had reached the point in the story where, sutured to the side of an overturned van by one of Marc's crescent darts, she watched Arthur approach Marc's prone body while Ammit and your humble narrator tangled in combat on the horizon.

"I don't want to hear any more." Tears were dripping from her chin and staining the white sheets between her legs. "Not yet." Never, she thought.

"Suit yourself," Layla said with a tired shrug. "You probably want some food or something, right?"

The Thorn shook her head. Her stomach cried out pathetically, earning an unamused look from Layla.

"I'm getting you some food," she said. "After all that's happened, it would be really stupid if you died of hunger now."

She left, and the Thorn let her body descend into convulsive sobbing—but not before crossing the room to yank the curtains shut. The pyramids would not be a witness to her suffering.

#moon knight #moon knight 2022 #moon knight fanfiction #moon knight fanfic #marvel #mcu #arthur harrow x reader #arthur harrow x f!reader #arthur harrow #layla el-faouly #khonshu #the morning-room #resurgam tmr #resurgam ch15

[grumpygreenwitch]

The Witches and Wizards Job 23-24-25

Advance warning, the wizard cuts a little bit loose here. Tagged for some fantasy violence.

I'm aware the links to the back chapters are borked up, but it's nearly midnight right now and I just finished uploading everything to the queue. I'll try to fix them between Thursday and Friday.

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TWENTY THREE

I think no one expected to get together that night and count nothing but wins. But no one was hurt and our knowledge of the situation had grown by leaps and bounds - at least, that was what Ford claimed.

"I'm not happy that you all have Dresden working on the side," he told the room, throwing me a quick look.

I put a hand up; I really didn't mind. I was still trying to digest the truth both Eliot and Hardison had offered me. I'd done my job, and I'd done it well, and with their help I'd done it so quick I was still trying to get used to the fact that both cases were done, had been done nearly as soon as they'd been picked up. But the technology Hardison had used just wasn't something I could ever, would ever, have permanent access to. On the other hand, my expertise, my knowledge, everything I knew about magic and the creatures of that world, was information to be found in no database, no internet search. It was maddening.

"But it's done, so we move on to the auction. Odds are both our targets, as well as the mark, are going to be there: the lady, the portrait and the man in black."

The last bit seemed to startle the night's guest, who'd been lounging sedately on a brand-new couch near mine while nursing a vodka neat. Ford had introduced him as the client. He'd introduced himself as Vanya Fedorov. His accent had introduced him as part of the Russian mafia. Mouse had lifted his head from the moment the man had walked into the loft, and he'd never once looked away. Between him and my dog, I was getting more than a little nervous.

"Nate, there's a problem with the auction," Hardison pointed out as he rejoined us around the coffee table with its sharpie'd circle and anti-tracking ward, as well as a few other newly added protections. He'd left his phone behind by the row of desks after sorting out the delivery of the selkie skins, and he gestured at me.

"Most of the people attending aren't human," I informed the room.

Fedorov's drink paused on the way to his mouth. "My uncle is a hard man," he said levelly. "But his first loyalty is to our business. He knows I am good for it. He would not betray me."

"I don't think he has," Sophie replied. "The bird-woman, the -"

"Alkonost," he supplied.

"She wasn't there to harm you. She was there to protect you."

I was still trying to wrap my head around the fact that this gorgeous woman had decided, on the fly, to bluff one of the most powerful creatures of Russian lore, and she'd stuck the landing. God but I could only hope Ford knew how lucky he was.

"We were immune thanks to Harry," Sophie pointed out, "but you weren't affected at all. She did come looking for you, but to keep you safe."

"Safe from what?" he demanded restlessly.

"The man in black?" Eliot suggested.

"He doesn't want Fedorov hurt." Ford said mildly. I was beginning to recognize that tone as a warning signal. "He very nearly derailed one plan already for you," he told the Russian.

"For me?"

"The museum!" Parker exclaimed in sudden realization.

Nate nodded, then looked at Fedorov. "You made plans to go visit the Sokolov collection. Made them in advance. I had a look at your electronic ledger. You did have plans - for the day after, the last day of the exhibition."

"I did," the Russian admitted readily.

"You changed those plans when someone told you we were there."

Fedorov grinned ruefully. "I thought to press my case and enjoy Sokolov's work. Two birds with one stone. It seemed efficient at the time."

Nate nodded thoughtfully. "See, I was wondering about that. Because our presence there wasn't really important enough to merit derailing anyone's plans. It was you. When he came up to the room, it was to make sure you were there and he had to cancel the plan. You weren't supposed to be there that day."

"But then he did come up, and saw Grandmother," Sophie pointed out. "And getting her was worth more than protecting you."

"Mm," Nate nodded. "It was a rush job; the sort of rush job that happens when someone first says 'go', then 'stop', then 'go' again, and tempers are getting frayed, the timeline is off, everything just this much out of whack…" He waved a hand at us all. "You know the sort."

I did know the sort; I couldn't help but be amused that, from the look on their faces, so did the rest of the Leverage team.

"Explains why the guy was still there fiddling with the system when I got there," Eliot muttered. "He was waiting to put the Witchwell back in place. That's why the nitrogen tank was attached, but still closed."

"How do you know all this?" Fedorov demanded.

"The cameras," Ford replied. "Our… consultant pointed out that it's only the presence of beings like the man in black that blows up technology, and Hardison has created a number of failsafes so we can tell when a screen is about to fail. Turns out you can track someone by their absence nearly as much as by their presence."

The Russian took all of this in slowly, carefully, and finally frowned minutely. "I don't think I care for the Blackbird's interest in me. Or my family. Or my business."

Ford said nothing, but I could see in his face that he was holding back. I risked a glance at the other deadly intelligence in the room. Sophie was looking at the mastermind very closely. She caught my eyes and shook her head tinily.

I said nothing. I had just noticed that, behind Sophie, Parker was frowning, staring at nothing. Apparently Ford was contagious.

"I think your uncle's loyalties are a matter between you and him. For what it's worth, I believe he honestly thinks meeting with these people will help you take over from your father."

"By binding the family to these creatures." Fedorov scoffed. "What do they know of the family business?"

I didn't need to see the look Ford shot me to recognize a cue when I heard one. I picked up the printed photographs next to me on the couch and started handing them out one by one. "The lovely lady in white? Fey. Specializes in erasing evidence. The man next to her in red? Also fey. Specializes in erasing memories." Another picture. "Fat toad-looking man? He's actually a toad. His people love toxic waste. If someone gets a contract with them, they'll never see another fine for dumping again. The gorgeous thing next to him might be the deadliest we've identified so far. She's from Bangkok. Jade Court. Vampire. Human trafficking. This one? I'm not sure, but gosh, things sure do seem to catch on fire whenever he's around, mostly out at sea. Mostly when they're well-insured."

Between Hardison and me, while the 3D printer churned away and I stuck mirror-masks to everything it was spitting out, we'd sifted through enough information to identify thirteen of the twenty four people who we knew were going to the auction. It had been risky, using Koschei's invite to create a resonance spell that would let me find where the other invites were, but God it had paid off so well. We'd done weeks, maybe months of footwork in one long afternoon and half an evening.

It was enough to impress Fedorov - and to worry him. "No. I will not deal with these creatures. They are no better than the Blackbird, and if he's involved then each of them is a trap."

"I'm not telling you this to impress you," I corrected him. "I'm telling you to warn you. They might wanna make it look like you have no choice but to agree with whatever they say. You need to be prepared."

Fedorov took the stack of printouts and stared sightlessly at them. He looked oddly familiar at that moment, as if a touch of deja vu had come at me out of nowhere; he looked like something out of antiquity, like one of the paintings I'd seen in Hardison's screens while he studied Sokolov's work. "Can they die?" he asked.

Ooops, nope, we were back in mafia mentality. "Depends what you shoot them with. And in some cases, where."

"Then I believe you and I should speak, wizard." He shook his head and gestured impatiently. "He just stole the damn portrait. Why is he turning around and selling it already?"

"Because after the auction he won't need it anymore. Or at least that's what he thought, until he met Parker and she stole his key, and all of those." He waved a hand idly at the table's worth of knick-knacks. "So between now and the end of the auction he has to get that key back. You," Nate told Fedorov, "are going to trade it for the portrait. Make sure to tell them that when you RSVP."

"You are sending me into a den of monsters alone, Ford," Fedorov gritted out. "If you want me dead have the decency of doing it yourself."

"Not alone, no. You're bringing Sophie with you. If Dresden can get the tracker off of the other invitation we have, we'll even send Eliot in with you. And we will all be nearby to provide support. We don't want another 'situation', Fedorov, no one wants that."

Fedorov eyed Eliot, who shrugged calmly. He eyed Sophie, who smiled at him. "No offense," he told Eliot, "but I will feel safer with her."

Eliot beamed at the man. "None taken."

I had to agree with both of them, honestly.

"What about Grandmother?"

"She'll be there," Ford assured him. It was the only part of the plan I didn't like, because Ford had no explanation, no reason as to why he believed Baba Yaga would show up at the auction when Koschei was sure to be there. Last I'd checked, and from all Bob had taught me, those two were not on speaking terms, and got along about as well as fire and gasoline.

Fedorov looked thoughtful. "Wizard."

Oh, I did not like where this was going. "Uh."

"Since you are taking jobs on the side, will you take one more?"

"Uh." I looked at Ford, but he said nothing. He was giving me a keen, level look. I liked that even less. "That depends on the job."

Fedorov grinned at me. "He has tried too many times to harm Grandmother. Perhaps to kill her outright. I don't know if this is possible, if he can do this thing. I know he's trying, and I do not like it. I will pay whatever you ask, wizard. If you're there and do your best to protect her."

I felt as if the silence in the room were crushing me. "You want me to protect Baba Yaga."

"You are what I have."

"This is Baba Yaga. Grandmother Winter. Close to a living god as it gets. Not to mention I've already met the Blackbird. He won both times, in case you weren't listening."

"Did he? You walked away and he did not follow. Twice. The way I see it, you won the only victory that matters."

I wanted to scream. To walk away. I would have laughed in Fedorov's face but the truth was, I was scared. He was asking me to stand between what I saw as an unstoppable force and an immovable object. However, and I hated that he was right, but he uh. He was right. I'd stood up to Koschei twice, and I'd walked away both times. Either the man sucked at killing people, and I knew that wasn't true, or I was doing something right. I just didn't know what.

I felt as trapped as Fedorov did, but I could also see his reasoning. Koschei was an asshole. An unparalleled one. No one disagreed on that. But Baba Yaga, even if she was mercurial, alien, inhuman, still cared about the land and the people in a way her pupil didn't. If there was a line on the sand, I knew which side I was on. "I'll do what I can," I couldn't make the words come out civil, but at least I could make them come out.

Fedorov nodded at me. "In that case," he grinned minutely, leaned forward and picked up one of the chicken bones and the little carved wooden cup from among the many knick-knacks on the table and dropped the one inside the other. The bone let out a little rattle. "Let me tell you a fairy tale about Koschei and Grandmother."

TWENTY FOUR

The leshy came back that night, and they brought friends once again.

I was dead asleep in spite of every thought and worry wrecking chaos in my mind. I was worried, and I was pretty sure I had a right to be. We were about to throw a bluff in the face of some of the deadliest, smartest monsters ever to come out of the Nevernever, Leverage also wanted to steal from them at the same time. There was just so much going on that I'd given up trying to keep track of it all, and resigned myself to doing my part of it and never figuring out what, other that stealing, these people did.

Mouse's low growl woke me up as if someone had punched me. He'd been asleep at the foot of the bed, which was big enough for five of me or two of him, and when he stood up I could see his ruff standing up on end, outlined against the faint light coming in through the window. I sat up just in time to hear a muffled yowl of pain, and the creak of the door swinging open.

They'd found me. Of everything we'd picked up, all the trinkets, all the traps, I was still the easiest source of magic to find. I just hadn't known if they'd be willing to gamble that Koschei's stuff would be with me and not in a vault somewhere, or with the Leverage people.

The house had no lintel to speak of, no doorway. It was a safehouse, a fancy storage unit where I'd spent two nights. I'm sure the leshy had expected some trouble getting through the door, but I already knew they had humans in the roster, and humans could pick a lock or break a window, slip inside and invite the leshy in. There wasn't enough of a presence in the house, mine or otherwise, to kick up a passive defense out of habitation alone.

Which was why Eliot had lined every doorway and windowsill with iron nails.

Another muffled yowl and I was quietly on my feet, reaching for my shirt and my duster. There were a few traps between the leshy and what they sought, but once again I was counting mainly on them not being able to use magic to find the stuff. I drew a deep breath, stepped back from the bed, called Mouse to me, and flicked a throw blanket on the bed.

I'm not good at Veils. I know people who can hide entire stadiums worth of people, sight, sound, scent, every sense. Me, I was counting on it being dark so that when the leshy came up, as they must, it would look like I was still asleep on the bed. It didn't make sense for them to risk waking me up while they tore the place apart, which they'd likely do. Not to mention they could always ask me where everything was, and provide all sorts of incentives for me to tell them.

I managed to get my sneakers on before I heard the stairwell creak minutely. I fell back into the shadows of the closet, Mouse by my side, staff on one hand and wand on the other, and waited.

The door to my bedroom opened very slowly. The same dim, reflected streetlight glow that had shone on Mouse showed me the paw-like hand of a leshy as it stepped forward, sniffing the still air in the room. Its eyes locked onto the bed and it moved forward with a little more confidence. It cleared the door and another one came in behind it. They moved to flank the bed. A third one came in.

The moment it was clear of the door I surged forward, slammed the door shut, and pointed my staff at it. "Forzare."

It might have come out a little angry. I was getting real tired of leshy, to be fair. The blast of force threw the leshy through the window in a shower of glass and wood; it screamed as it went, the iron nails on the windowsill scraping it raw.

Mouse flew at another leshy with a snarl. Its nature betrayed it; not only was my dog very big and fairly terrifying despite his youth, leshy were creatures of the field, their nature very close to rabbits, to hares, to moles. It shrieked in immediate terror and went down, scrabbling and writhing, all the fight gone from it, wanting only to get away from its natural predator.

The last one didn't stop to think. It leapt up and kicked me in the chest. I went through the bedroom door like the old oak wasn't even there. The pain was immediate, immense, blinding. Next thing I knew I was on my knees out on the hallway, and I couldn't breathe. I'd be lucky if nothing was broken. Leshy kick like the hares they look like, and the fairy-thug's reaction had been so quick I'd had no time to summon my shield.

Mouse was barking furiously in the bedroom; I couldn't get wits or breath enough to get back on my feet, but I had just enough of them to see motion coming up the stairs. I swung my wand around and let a stream of fire blaze out. The figure in front shrilled inhumanly; behind it, someone cursed entirely too humanly.

I had to get up. I had to move. I was easy prey if I didn't. I got one leg under me just in time for one panicked leshy to come sprinting out of my bedroom, and we both went down in a tangle. It tried to bite my face, and I just barely put an arm up. Its teeth caught it, but couldn't quite punch through the duster's defenses. It didn't feel like roses, though, and someone let out a very undignified howl of pain. Couldn't have been me.

I'd lost my wand when we'd gone down, and I didn't have enough room to bring my staff to bear, so I let go of it, put my free hand on the leshy's face, and let go with all the electricity I'd collected the past day. I didn't have the breath to call it - the words aren't part of the magic as much as an exercise in focus, a visualization aid. I could throw everything around without them, but I'd been using the word to try not to get zapped myself. It was a sacrifice I was willing to make.

Electric fire lit up the leshy's skull from within, made its ears stand up on end; it rolled down my hand and up my arm, but I was far more interested in the fairy-thug not getting another bite in. Fortunately, it crashed down limp on top of me, smoking faintly.

I shoved it aside and groped around for my staff. The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end and I threw my shield up instinctively.

A net crashed over it and came to rest on the gleaming half-bubble, and I was in trouble. The net had magic, unknown magic, probably meant to counter mine. I couldn't let go of the shield without getting caught in the net. I couldn't do magic without dropping the shield. The hallway was narrow, and they couldn't get to me any more than I could get to them, but that left them free to tear my house apart.

Which was apparently the going plan. The leshy I'd singed on the stairwell called out something to the human behind it, who shouted in Russian down the stairs. I heard the door to one of the rooms slam open, and a crowbar start work on the crates.

I forced myself to draw a deep breath. Mouse was still engaged with the last fairy-thug in the bedroom. My ribs were still screaming. My lungs had mostly forgotten how to work. But I needed that breath, I needed the focus of it.

At the peak of it, I dropped to a crouch, dropped the shield and called out, "Ventus!" more or less at the same time.

Have I mentioned I'm a hammer when it comes to magic?

Wind roared out, coming out of me in every direction. It threw the net for parts unknown, it sent the people on the stairwell flying back, stumbling down the steps with startled squawks and something that sounded very much like cursing. I wouldn't know, I don't speak Russian. I found my wand under my foot, lifted my staff and for good measure threw a second gout of wind down the stairwell. "Mouse!"

He came charging out of the room. I peeked in. The leshy was crawling away for the gaping hole in the wall that had been a window, both legs a ruin of greenish blood. I closed what was left of the door between it and us and began to inch my way down the stairs.

There was a hissed, angry argument going on at the bottom of the stairs, probably wondering if I was worth the trouble. Oh, I was not. So many people could've told the thugs, I'm very much not worth the trouble. I'm a burr, and at that point I was an angry burr, and to compound their misery I was an angry burr that could do magic.

Someone shouted a warning in the dark of the first floor. I threw my shield up.

Three bullets bounced off it, along with a shower of sparks. Oh, ok. Uh. I hadn't expected them to decide I was that kind of trouble. Hell's Bells. Boston had powered up my shield, but I'd apparently finally hit on the limit of what the damaged bracelet could do. If it hadn't been made to hold back more mundane threats as well as magic, I would have been very much in trouble.

I could see, vaguely, four of them gathered in what was supposed to be the living room. I was pretty sure there was at least one more crashing and wrecking one of the rooms. I saw one of them grab and yank at another, and some tiny part of me was glad to know the leshy themselves didn't want me shot, but that didn't mean one of their number, likely one of their human buddies, didn't have a gun he was entirely too willing to use. I had to finish this quick, before someone else got trigger-happy.

I dropped the shield. Mouse leapt the moment it was gone, with a snarl like a roar. I love my dog. I know my dog. At that moment I was absolutely terrified of my dog.

So were the thugs. I slammed the butt of my staff on the ground before any of them could get any ideas. "Forzare!" The shockwave sent two of them tumbling - the humans. The leshy tottered, but managed to stay upright. One of them immediately went down with a panicked screech when Mouse slammed into it.

The other twisted one hand sharply and threw something at me that glittered in the dark. I threw my shield up automatically.

The night's breath powder settled on it and began to burn.

I heard a howl, realized belatedly that it was mine; my shield-bracelet had gone instantly white-hot while it tried to defend against the very thing that was attacking it. I dropped the shield, felt the poison sink into my magic. The leshy charged me, as aware as I was that I couldn't throw magic around wildly anymore; I could very well run out of energy mid-fight.

So I swung the staff at it as hard as I could.

The impact drove it into the wall and it staggered back, dazed. I stepped into its space and punched it. Hey, it worked for Eliot. It went down on its knees with a cry.

But the two human thugs were getting up, and one was lifting his arm in a familiar fashion. I couldn't gamble, I called up my shield, gritting my teeth against the pain. The goon slammed the taser into it, electricity arcing from it over the roiling surface of the half-bubble.

I put my hand out, the one with the wire bracelet, dropped the shield and called the electricity to me. It burned down my already singed fingers, and into the bracelet, and I threw it at the other man before he could get it into his head to start shooting again. He made a sound like a broken police siren and crashed down, twitching.

I'd been keeping my eye on the group in front of me and that open bedroom door, but in the middle of the chaos I forgot that leshy are like roaches: there's always more than the ones you see. Something came at me from the kitchen and hit the back of my head. It wasn't even painful; it was just instantaneous darkness; everything shut down. My cheek hit the floor, but I didn't feel it so much as vaguely registered that my perspective on things had changed radically. I heard Mouse snarl, and someone screamed - the natural order of things.

Things went blurry and uncertain for a while. I heard the group talking, and Mouse barking furiously, but I was only aware of it because it was Mouse, and I was worried that they'd hurt him. The night's breath had settled on me like the weight of the world, burning, hissing in a way only I could hear. I felt crushed. I couldn't breathe. My magic felt sluggish and foul, like blood poisoning.

"It's not just the circle, he's got a ward of some sort around them," a man's voice said in English. Someone else spoke in Russian. I was beginning to understand Hardison's comment about learning a language by infection.

"Koldun", a hoarse, gravelly voice said. Something grabbed my face and picked me partially up, talons prickling my cheeks. "Wizard," the leshy said in terrible English. "You hear me?"

"I thought leshy didn't speak." I was trying to get myself in the game, but the night's breath was burning into my bones, my ribs hurt like someone had kicked them out of my chest, and my head was pounding.

The leshy growled - its way of laughing, I realized. It said something to one of the people around. We were in my basement. There were glow-sticks all over, illuminating my work: the brass circle on the concrete floor, closed and holding strong around a small shoebox full of Koschei's knick-knacks. Inside the circle were two more wards: the tracking foil I'd copied from the key, and a little bubble of force, very much like my shield, meant to keep things and people from this side of the Nevernever from getting through.

See, I could learn. I'd remembered that the leshy had been working with humans back at the museum, and I'd been ready.

"He says, 'the world changed, we changed with it'." It was the man who'd shouted a warning earlier, likely the one who'd shot at me. He was wearing all black, the better to be impossible to distinguish from the rest of the group. The leshy growled something at him. "You will dismiss the circle and remove the rest of your protections."

I gritted my teeth. Those talons were like shoe cleats, sharp and solid, and the fairy's grip was incredibly strong. They'd stripped me down to my pants and tee, and I was pretty sure they'd taken off anything that wasn't nailed down. I couldn't even feel the familiar weight of my pendant around my neck. My arms were bound behind me and my shoulder was really unhappy about that. They'd even taken my shoes off. "Bite me."

The leshy growled again and it occurred to me that it probably wasn't a good idea to invite him to do that. It said something a little longer this time. I was trying to figure out if I could use their ignorance to my advantage: the outermost circle was just that, a circle. Any of their human buddies could have made it past it. But because the leshy knew magical circles to be impregnable, they apparently hadn't thought to have the humans try.

"You will dismiss the circle," the translator said. "Or we will shoot your dog."

My lunge was instinctive. And pointless. The leshy stopped me before I could get an inch closer and slammed me back against a wall. It was just hard enough to be painful, but not enough to knock me out again. He even gave me a few minutes to find the wits he'd just send scattering all over with that casual bit of controlled violence.

"I drop the circle, you shoot us both."

The translator spoke. The leshy examined me, head cocked, golden eyes throwing an occasional red gleam when the light hit them just right. He said something long-ish.

"He considered it," the man translated. "But is not worth a death-curse, and you obviously love dog. What assurance can he provide?"

"Lock my dog up in the bathroom. Everyone else waits outside. I'll break the circle for him, and him alone."

"Nyet." The leshy wasn't stupid, though I'd hoped. He spoke at length, the translator asking a couple of questions.

"The dog stays in the net, goes in the bathroom. Three of us stay here. You drop the circle, remove the wards. We take you to the bathroom with your dog. You do not follow."

"I get your gun, you keep the bullets," I added.

That created a brief argument between the man and the leshy, but the translator caved eventually. Not that I didn't think they had a dozen other ways to kill me and Mouse, but the gun was the quickest one.

"And I'll need my hands free."

The leshy didn't wait for the translator. "Use feet."

"Fine."

He dragged me to my feet. Off to one side I could see Mouse, all but wrapped into a net, bound up inside a blanket that had been secured with duct tape. Ah, the net hadn't been for me, it'd been meant for him all along. He snarled, but didn't bark, probably out of pity for my throbbing skull. In the basement the sound would have echoed like thunder. Two humans picked him up warily, and while he tried to snap at them, he couldn't do more than twitch and drool. All but two leshy and the translator followed them out of the basement.

The translator pulled out the gun, removed the clip and the loaded bullet, and I twisted so he could give it to me. He didn't look happy. I made a show of muttering under my breath and calling up some magic. The effort bent me over double and I nearly felt my legs go to jelly. Bile rose up in my throat, and the lead leshy had to hold me up. I had to make it look like I was doing something, though, otherwise the leshy would catch onto my bluff about the circle.

But Boston, ah, Boston. The night's breath couldn't corrode what the city was giving me fast enough. If I could just get away, purge all of the corroded magic, I'd be fine. As it was, I had the power to throw a punch, I just had no way of knowing if it was going to blow up in my face or theirs.

I took a couple of deep breaths, tried again, and scuffed my foot over the circle and the two wards beyond it. And very calmly said, "Ignitum".

The circle broke. The lead leshy gestured the other two forward. The shoebox was plain, empty of anything but the rough dozen or so things Parker and I had got from Koschei. Everything was there, even the feathers and the invitation.

Except for two things.

The leshy grabbed me by the throat. "Key, koldun." He snapped at the translator.

"You are missing things. Where are they?"

"I only agreed to break the circle. It's not my fault if you didn't check your shopping before you paid the bill."

The leshy didn't like that. It slammed me against a wall and snarled. The translator opened its mouth -

The other leshy, who'd managed to grab the box, squealed in pain when something hot dripped down on it, then shrieked, clawing at its shoulder as a sizzling sound and the smell of burning fields began to fill the room. One of the ceiling tiles crashed down.

Everyone looked up. I just grinned at them.

Eliot had set up the trap for me, and he'd honestly had a blast doing so. The basement was bare concrete in every direction; to hide the fact that he was putting iron everywhere he could reach, he'd put up styrofoam ceiling tiles. He'd glued them to the concrete.

He'd laced the glue with iron filings.

Throwing a magical punch? Fifty-fifty. Melting fresh silicone that wasn't even hard yet? Child's play.

The lead leshy barked an order. The translator started for me. While they were both distracted I balanced myself on one foot, lifted the other, and kicked the leshy as hard as I could in the gut. He went sprawling back and crashed down on the floor. I snapped out the word of command. The circle snapped into life and cut him in half.

I dropped to my knees, most of my focus on not throwing up. The rest I channeled into forcing all the corroded magic the night's breath had poisoned out of me. I didn't even bother giving it shape, I just threw it out. It flattened the last two thugs and sent me crashing down on my face, even as I tried to force myself to get up, get to the box, I couldn't let them have the box -

More melted silicone dripped down. The last leshy squalled something that didn't sound nice, and the one human cursed. He came at me, trying to take his gun back. I drew in a deep breath and threw what little clean power Boston had given me in his face as a flash of light. He staggered back, blinded, swearing.

His buddy caught him and they both ran out of the basement, and I was left there, breathing hard, wondering if I should pass out. Or throw up. Or both, maybe. Somewhere above me Mouse was barking fit to bring the house down.

Passing out it was.

TWENTY FIVE

The gunshots woke up the neighbors. The neighbors woke up the cops, who expected to be summoned to such an address to bar brawls or petty theft, not to shots fired in a staid, elderly Boston neighborhood.

The gunshots also roused Nate. He came sprinting down the block to find half a dozen people peering out nervously, each one demonstrating vividly what they considered a safe distance, and none of them agreeing. The mastermind, who knew exactly how far a bullet could travel on kinetic energy alone, never mind inertia, didn't want to think of what would happen if there were more shots. He began taking stock of the problem by waving his phone at three of the people on the street. "Did someone, uh, did someone call the cops?" When the neighbors confirmed, he let out a long breath. "Good, good. Hey, those weren't gunshots, were they?" he asked as he dialed. "Hardison."

The Leverage team roused like a nest of wasps. A Crime Scene van and a two-man team nearly beat the cops to the site; the truck from Animal Control rolled in with them, and the one man joined the two masked people at the door, the cops making a path for them. All three of them winced as they walked in, pausing to yank their earbuds off.

"He's here," Eliot confirmed to the other two as they lit their flashlights, everyone taking a moment to hold their breath and see if they held - which they miraculously did. "You go ahead with the distraction, I'll find him." They had to find Dresden, get him out of the line of fire, and set up something appropriately gunshot-like but wholly accidental before the cops started looking in earnest. At the moment they weren't setting foot in the house, but Leverage could only guess as to why, rather than confirm.

"I need three minutes in the kitchen," Hardison said from behind Parker.

"I need two in his bedroom."

"I think we can buy you that," Eliot assured them.

"We?"

Despite the worry gnawing at him that the wizard had gone and gotten hurt (again), Eliot could only smile faintly. He whet his lips and whistled lightly.

From somewhere in the dark Mouse started barking immediately in response, a sound like thunder. Nate and Sophie, part of the crowd outside, saw every cop wince and twitch away. None of them went for their guns; none of them looked willing to go into the house. The crowd shifted restlessly, and stepped back without being urged to it. They crossed a look, but said nothing.

Parker threw a clean suit and a mask at Eliot and they split up. Alone in the dark, Eliot launched himself to the guest bathroom, just to one side of the stairs. "Harry!" When he got no answer he tried again, just a little louder. "Dresden!" No answer. He sniffed; there was a faint, familiar scent in the air that he couldn't readily place, but which left his gut tightening in anticipation of a punch he couldn't see coming. That, however was immediately set aside when he opened the bathroom door and found Mouse trussed up like a Bolivian hostage. "There you are."

Tied up or not, the Temple dog wagged his tail at him. Eliot started sawing on the duct tape, then paused; there was something sticky on either the ropes of the net or the blanket. Or the dog. Eliot considered shining the light on it, then decided he was better off not knowing. "We need to be quiet," he told Mouse, who whuffed nearly soundlessly at him. "And we need to find Harry, fast."

The moment he was loose, the mastiff sprang up on his feet and charged out of the bathroom. Eliot followed him down the stairs to, where else, the basement. The air was hot and full of the scent of burning plastic. Styrofoam tiles had fallen and shattered, leaving the tidy space a wreck. Eliot smelled rotten candy and recoiled. "Mouse, don't!"

The dog froze, and stepped back, whining.

Eliot knew that smell. He'd only smelled it once before, but sometimes that was all it took. He'd smelled it again, faintly, by the stairs. Rotten candy. Burning licorice. The basement cloyed his senses with it. Someone had come in prepared to take down both wizard and dog, and the hitter gritted his teeth. "Night's breath," he murmured, looked down at the dog. Moused looked up at him, ears perked. "You gonna be alright in there?"

Mouse eased himself gingerly into the basement. Paused. Whuffled.

Eliot followed. "Harry?"

A groan answered him, and he charged in. His boots squished on something very much not blood, but he didn't stop to check what it was. "Harry!"

"I'm gonna be sick," the wizard moaned. Eliot found him slumped in a heap against one side of the basement, tied up very efficiently, looking ashen under the light of the flashlight, Mouse licking his face enthusiastically.

"Place reeks of night's breath, man."

"That was me," Dresden admitted as Eliot worked to free him. "Someone dosed me upstairs. Burned it off here." He let out a vague sound of pain when his hands came loose and he started working feeling into them immediately. "They took the box."

"Who's surprised," Eliot grimaced when he nearly lost his grip on his knife sawing at the ropes around Harry's feet. "What… Why is everything slimy down here?"

"That was me, too," the wizard admitted. "I killed one of the leshy. Things from the Nevernever kinda melt when they die."

"They m- You mean- " Eliot found himself suddenly realizing he was, apparently, wading knee-deep through someone's equivalent of bodily fluids. "You mean we're covered in fairy blood?"

"Blood, guts…" Harry waved a hand to encompass a nebulous whole.

Full of violence as his life was, Eliot definitely had feelings about the situation, and none of them were good. "Damn it, Dresden!" he snapped as he helped the wizard to his feet and dragged him up the stairs.

"It'll evaporate to nothing soon!"

"And what part of 'don't get hurt' didn't you get?"

"You also said 'make it believable'," Harry protested wearily. "And they had humans with them. Again. And the humans had guns so. You know. The night's just been full of surprises."

Eliot hissed a breath out. Of course they would. "Alright. Get dressed." He thrust the clean suit and the mask at Harry. "We're going out the front door."

"Out the - They're gonna notice there's more people going out than came in."

Parker choose that moment to pop up next to them, making them both jump. "I'm not going out the front door." She had Harry's duster on, which made her look even more elfin than she already was, and looked terribly pleased with herself. "I found everything. They had it all stashed together. Amateurs."

Eliot merely imagined strangling the thief. Only a little. Just to soothe his rising temper. "They weren't thieves, Parker." When she gave him a pointed look the hitter realized what he'd said. "Ok, yes, they were thieves, but they weren't here to rob Harry!" Her brows went up. "You know what I mean! Is Hardison done?"

"I'll go check." She turned to look at Harry, and frowned minutely. "Are you hurt?"

"If I answer that, Eliot will get mad at me," he told her as he zipped up the clean suit.

To the hitter's chagrin, she took in that answer solemnly, nodded, and raced off for the kitchen.

"You are hurt," Eliot accused mildly.

"Leshy like to kick."

"Is anything broken?"

"No." Dresden breathed in, deep and very slow. "I don't think so. I'll get back to you on the concussion, though."

"You have a helluva sense of humor for someone I just found hogtied in his own basement."

Eliot saw the wizard grin, hard and bitter. "Eliot, I'm used to going down. I'm also used to waking up in a cell of one kind or another after." He popped the medical mask in place and put up the hood. "This is a distinct improvement."

The hitter had to pause at that. "Harry, don't you have anyone? Anyone that has your back?"

The wizard paused, went very still. "People… don't do so good when they get involved in a wizard's affairs," he admitted slowly, and the burden of pain and guilt and regret in his voice brought Eliot up very short. It had been years since he'd heard such a refined, complex mix of exactly those emotions from someone, but he remembered the day well enough.

He'd been staring in a mirror at the time, and he'd been horribly young.

"And not a lot of people accept that 'men in gray and big swords' trump a lot of the answers they sometimes want out of me."

The hitter caught the wizard's good shoulder. "Harry, for what it's worth," he said evenly. "I know it's hard. I know how it is when you've drawn a line on the sand and no one sees you holding it. Me, I'm here to keep my team safe. Twice, so far, I wasn't there - but you were. And that's enough for me. Thank you."

Dresden blew out a long breath. "Don't suppose you guys want to move to Chicago?"

"No more than you wanna move to Boston." Eliot looked up to see Hardison coming out of the kitchen, passing his backpack to Parker and taking hers in exchange. "Come on. The timing Hardison cooked up is tricky."

They marched out, the Animal Control guy first, leading the friendliest, most gigantic and slobberiest ball of fur out, leaving all the cops vaguely embarrassed that they'd been afraid to step into the house. Mouse hammed it up, tongue lolling to one side and tail wagging cheerfully. The crime scene people cleared out, the cops poured in, and everyone jumped into their respective vehicles.

It took a while to put both the Animal Control pick-up and the Crime Scene van back in place, none the worse for their small adventure, and everyone reconvened back at the loft. Sophie reported that there had been plenty of cops in the kitchen when the same security system that had destroyed the bedroom window interacted badly with an ancient electric board, entombed in the walls. The system had blown the garden door out onto the overgrown grass, and the antique board had gone off like a gun once again. A report had been written; fines would have to be paid. The owner had been summoned, and she'd been most grateful for everyone's prompt response, gracious and elegant even in her concern. Everyone had gone home somewhat disappointed and secretly reassured that life could go back to what it should be: quiet.

While Sophie soothed the mood at the safehouse, Nate came to see Dresden as Eliot, once again, patched up the wizard in the small spare bedroom behind the kitchen. Harry's entire chest was a rising, ugly bruise. When Eliot moved away to wash his hands, he spoke very quietly to the mastermind. "You know, when I said I'd like a job where I wasn't a punching bag, this wasn't what I meant."

"I know." Nate's mouth was pressed to a thin line. It wasn't just the injuries, or the attack. Violence threatened them all, that was just part of the job. But the violence that kept coming at Dresden was unpredictable and far too big for any countermeasures to readily work. "He's getting more hurt than you have in our worst jobs," he murmured quietly at the hitter.

"He's a civilian, Nate."

"So are you," the mastermind pointed out. "But I know what you mean."

"He doesn't have the training, he doesn't have the mental firewalls."

"Can you teach him?"

"In what, two days?!"

Nate gave the hitter a very keen, very level look. "I think he'd be grateful, and better off, with whatever you do give him." He pitched his voice to carry. "Dresden, what did they get?"

"Everything," Harry replied, testing his arm until Eliot flung a sling at him. "Everything but the key and the Witchwell."

"Mm. But he doesn't need those two back nearly as urgently as everything else. Not once Fedorov's offer gets to him. And he already has the portrait, he doesn't need help stealing it."

"He does if the Witchwell's not his and he needs to return it to the proper owner," the wizard pointed out, frowning thoughtfully.

"Does he?"

"He might. I'm guessing," Harry admitted, "but I don't think it's his. It's too modern, it doesn't fit what we know of the guy."

"I agree with Harry," Eliot added.

"So do I," Nate replied. "His reaction at the bagel shop was very telling. But the man in black has to know we can't destroy it, and he has to know it'd be much easier for him to recover it after the auction." He seemed momentarily lost in thought. He was wondering if Koschei would think of the many ways in which the Witchwell could be turned against him; if that potential danger would force him to divert attention and effort to its recovery.

And in three days' time, I will grant you and your people your heart's desire.

"He'll wait. He'll wait until he can simply take it back."

"He could take it back right now," Harry muttered.

"Could he? That's twice you've faced his hired thugs, and twice you've survived, Dresden. Twice you've almost won, until an external factor stepped in. Have a little faith in yourself. From his side, his odds don't look good."

Eliot understood. "He doesn't gamble. When he wins, he likes it to be by overwhelming force."

The mastermind nodded. "And every time Dresden steps in, it doesn't matter what the man in black throws on the field, it never ends up with a clean victory for him. He'll wait. We go on with the con. Get some rest, Dresden. You're no use as a monkeywrench if you're in pieces."

"I live to please, boss," the wizard declared wearily.

#the dresden files #leverage #my writing #fanfiction #crossover #harry dresden #alec hardison #nathan ford #parker #sophie deveraux #eliot spencer #urban fantasy #fantasy violence

[mozart-the-meerkitten]

CW/TW- Pet Death

So last night I asked for prayers for me and my parents because we'd had a really rough and emotionally trying day. I will now explain. This is, unfortunately, also a Kitten Update on my Bengal kittens, so if you've become emotionally invested in them and aren't up for reading this right now, look away and come back to it another time. Or just don't come back to it. Alright, disclaimer over, you've been warned.

Alright, I'm going to keep this as succinct as possible to try and limit how much I end up crying.

We took the six girl kittens to get spayed yesterday.

Tulip, the littlest kitten, Leeli's runt, had a heart condition we didn't know about. It's all but invisible, there are barely any signs and there is no way to know it exists without special tests being done which we never even thought to do because we had never had an issue with it before and we have had Bengal cats for a long time.

They put Tulip under anesthesia and during the procedure her heart just... stopped. They did everything they could to revive her, they gave her CPR, they gave her epinephrine, but it didn't work. She died.

The vet said she likely had a heart condition where the heart walls thicken and it takes more and more effort then for the heart to beat. My mom looked it up and usually by the time symptoms are visible the cat only has 3-6 months to live. There is no cure, all they can do is slow it down/improve symptoms.

I realized, and shared with my parents, that Tulip was already showing symptoms. She always tired out before the other kittens, she slept more than them, when she was littler she'd come and fall asleep on me because she knew I'd keep other kittens from pouncing on her. Two days ago I'd left Madia and Tulip in my room for maybe 10-15 minutes and they were waking up from a nap, so I assumed they'd be tearing around when I got back. They were curled up on my bed again and I thought that was odd, but...

But Tulip was little, she was the runt, there was no reason to question these things because they're not uncommon behavior for runts (being smaller they have less energy/stamina). And she was as fiesty as any Bengal kitten we'd ever had. A few days ago I saw her attack Farid, her brother, who is over a FULL POUND heavier than her, and start beating him up. She gained weight, she ate well, she acted like a normal kitten!

She was already showing symptoms at 4-6 weeks old, maybe earlier. 3-6 months to live (usually) after symptoms show up. Her heart stopped when she was 4 months old.

It was basically as if we'd had her put to sleep. She felt no pain, she didn't even know. She just fell asleep.

There was no happier kitten in existence than Tulip. That little baby would purr like a MOTOR if you were in the ROOM with her, not even if you were holding her, petting her or playing with her. She just purred ALL THE TIME. She was such a sweet little bug that you couldn't get mad at her. All she knew was happiness and love, and like my mom said, there aren't many cats or people that's true of. She had the happiest kittenhood, the happiest life that any cat could ever have. Her siblings knew that their baby sister needed extra TLC so they made sure to always snuggle around her, Madia went slower so her baby sister could keep up, they loved her, they loved her, they loved her.

Tulip was going to die soon, we just didn't know it. At least this way, God gave us some answers and reasons as to why. I told my mom yesterday that this was simply her span of days, and it was short but very bright.

I named her after a spring flower. Tulips have a short season and then they fade. Tulip's season was short but vibrant and full of life. And when I thought about it today, about if I would have rather had her just not be born alive so I didn't have to go through the grief of losing her after I'd known her...

I couldn't imagine a world where I hadn't experienced that baby's life. I'd do it all over again. Her span of days was short but bright and I was with her every day of her life. I was her forever. And I loved her and I loved her and I loved her.

This was not my fault, I did everything right, I have no regrets. Sometimes things happen that are out of our control. She would never have lived long, but I gave her the best life any kitten could ever have.

Tulip is buried in my Hideout, in the Gnarled Forest, next to Dora. There is no higher honor I could give her than that.

All the others kittens came thought surgery fine and are recovering.

#cw pet death #tw pet death #bengal cats #kittens #tulip the kitten #tulip #my heart is broken #but I literally could not imagine a world where I didn't know her #there would have always been this little hole in my heart where tulip should have been #her life was so so happy #madia is the most sensitive kitten and so OF COURSE she would notice tulip needed extra tlc #OF COURSE she would slow down and specifically play with her little sister #so she didn't get lost in the shuffle of eleven kittens #I have video of tulip purring she just- #she purred when we PUT HER TO BED AT NIGHT #she purred when I PUT HER IN HER CRATE TO GO GET SPAYED YESTERDAY #I scooped her up and cuddled her a minute because she was just PURRING #I just feel so wrung out today #I should be bawling but I think I cried all my tears yesterday #I just feel kind of hollow and sad now #on the flipside though everything makes sense #the little promptings I've been feeling about her since I could distinguish her from her siblings #how much attention I gave her even though she wasn't the kitten I was keeping #I have SO MANY pictures of her #I have more thoughts but I don't have the energy to dissect them all right now/ #I think I should make a post specifically about them #anyway #this little baby was so precious and she will NOT be forgotten #I had already had thoughts about a book series where she and madia were the main characters #she will NOT be forgotten

[scienceoftheidiot]

🌩️🌈

Thank you for asking !!! That's when I realize my last WIPs are really oriented over angst and hurt/comfort 🙈 those were hard to find !

🌩️ Share something funny/cracky from your WIP.

WIP : "dismissed Roy" I think I had already shared part of this scene, so have a little more of Rebecca trying to find a boyfriend for Riza... Who already has one 🙃

Could she really say it? At least Rebecca would leave her alone. But she’d want to know who – but she would, eventually, right? They couldn’t hide… especially if… Riza. Coward. “I’m…” She could feel her cheeks getting hot. She must be crimson. She hated herself for that. “I’m actually… seeing. Someone. I think.” Not that they had talked about it. Roy had been very tactful, clearly trying not to push her, yet showing her he was… he wanted something. It was… weird, and exciting and scary and exhilarating. She'd tried to show him she did want it, too. Just didn't know how. “WHAT?” Rebecca almost let her cup fall on her knees. She hastily put it down on the table and leaned again towards Riza, half curious and half furious. “And you didn’t tell me?” “I said I… it’s complicated.” “Oh, of course it is. Damn, Riza, when is something uncomplicated for you on this matter?”

Riza shrugged.

“So. Who is it? Is he more handsome than Enfield, then? Oh my, that both means Enfield is free and that I could have found better, now I’m jealous.” “I don’t… think he’s your type.”

Careful, Riza, careful. She hid behind her coffee cup, trying to think. But Rebecca would not let her.

“Is he in the military? I don’t see you with a civilian, I must say.” “He’s… He…” “Gosh, Riza. You really must be smitten,” Rebecca laughed. “I’ve never seen you as red, and stuttering like that. I can’t wait to meet the guy. How come you’re not with him right now?” “I –” Riza looked at her watch. “I should go, actually. I’ll pay for the next coffee we share. M- Mustang’s gonna be waiting for me and I don’t want him to –” “To hell with Mustang!"

🌈 Share something soft/fluffy from your WIP.

Same WIP 😇 (spoilers, but... I mean this is a Royai story and it's only in the 5th chapter over probably 10 so eh)

Once he understood she had her back to him, he shifted closer to her, spooning her, sliding his arm over her side, burying his nose into her hair. The feeling of plenitude that took him as he once again realized he was huddling against her, it was her hair, her skin, her smell, almost brought tears to his eyes. He nudged his head closer against the base of her skull, his nose breathing against her neck. Riza brought her shoulders up with a shudder. “You’re tickling me, Roy.” “Sorry.” Ticklish Riza. That was something new. But instead of acting on it, he stored it in his memory for later. For now, he just wanted lazy cuddles. Just her warmth against him. “Didn’t want to wake you up.” “It’s okay. I’ve been awake for a while.” Riza took his hand and intertwined their fingers, and Roy let out a sigh. “In fact, I was wondering if I should wake you up.” Roy nudged his nose along her neck, placing a kiss behind her ear. “Mh. You should have, indeed.” Riza huffed, let his hand go and turned around in his arms, until she was facing him. “Not for that, idiot. We need to talk.” “About last night,” Roy purred, adjusting his head on his pillow. “Yes, but judging from your face we’re not thinking about the same thing,” Riza’s tone was far from wooed. “What’s wrong with my face?” He frowned. “Smugness. You’re so happy with yourself, it’s… frightening.” “I’m not happy with myself. I’m just happy.” Roy let his eyebrows shoot up, keeping his eyes closed, the very face of innocence. At least he hoped so.

#ask game #wip #wip game #goneadrift

[artemiseamoon]

Preview: Don’t go alone

Platonic! Steve Murphy & ofc , mentions of both Javier & Connie ft & a hurt CI oc

Words: 1,570

Part of whumpril 2023 | the prompts | my Whumpril masterlist

Warnings: whump canon stuff, hurt, injuries, surviving danger, a dead guy, a sex worker, a person gets badly beat up when interrogated (off screen, not described), see the prompts for more.

About: After getting a tip, Avery goes out on her own to check it out. By the end, she's bruised and bleeding, with one bad guy under her belt. After reuniting with Steve, she gets a call from her main CI who desperately needs her help.

Whumpril 2023 days: 8, 9, and 10 | Prompts: Nausea, comfort food, pinned down, bruises, “who did this to you?”, shiver, breathless, “I’m scared” | Other prompts used: (injury) “can you walk?” “lean on me” “I’m staying with you.”

Prompts used from this list

Below is a preview | read in full on A03

Avery splashed her face with water then looked at her reflection in the mirror. Her eyes fixed on the fracture right in the middle where someone must have used their fist, there’s likely still blood in the cracks. Not that she could see it, she could only see the nasty cut over her left eye, the new line of blood coming to the surface, and the blood in the sink mixing with water from her left hand.

Shit got dicey real fast. With a deep sting of regret, she turned the water off, checked her ammo, then limped out of the room, using the wall as support.

“Murphy's gonna fucking kill me - “

And if Javier was still here, even worse. But Javiers not here anymore, he fucked up big time and was sent home a week ago. It's been seven lonely days without her favorite person. Seven days with her bed empty and his scent fading from the sheets. She'd feel his breath on her skin, against her hair - that deeply comforting sound of his voice. She'd smile at the way he was the only person she didn't mind calling her Red, the nickname she got her whole life because of her hair. She liked it when he said it.

It feels like part of her has been ripped away, a feeling Steve shares even though they don’t talk about it. The both of them walking around like half versions of themselves, for Steve, even less with Connie back home too. He never really came back from that, part of him was always back in the US with her. At work he stepped up, kept it together, but Avery knew her friend was struggling.

Like Steve, Avery threw herself even harder into work, and the biggest mission of all; to take out the devil. With all the shit going on, and how demanding their job is it makes it easier to stay busy and push other emotions deep down. Until night comes, until she’s alone, until her eyes catch things in her apartment she connects to Javier. The hardest part wasn't saying goodbye, it was not knowing if that was the last time, she'd ever see him. Something about that moment at the airport felt final, like their bond also stays here, not strong enough to make it past the finish line and a post-work reunion.

Needing a moment, Avery pressed her back to the wall, and stared at the one across from her, then up at the ceiling; peeling paint on discolored walls, water stains on the ceiling, spiderwebs in the corners. The smell of cigarettes stuck to the walls, though it’s clear no one has lived here in years, not officially anyway.

The rundown apartment was a piece of shit, with mismatched furniture about, torn curtains on the window, rust on the bathroom sink, the dead criminal in the middle of the hallway floor. The tip was good, she got one of them, an important one, one more asshole to cross off the board.

The other three were on their way out when she snuck up, thankfully, those odds were shit and she would have been fucked, 4 to 1, it doesn't matter how well-trained she is, or how fast on the trigger. The asshole on the floor, high on coke, mind as well as been two men anyway, it took a lot to kill him.

She could feel her arms ache, where he had her pinned down, bruises are surely not far behind. No longer breathless but still struggling to breathe normally, she took another moment and then pushed on down the hall. She could hear the leaky kitchen sink and the busy streets down below, and further in the distance a dog barking.

Using the back of her hand, she wiped her eye, trying to keep blood out of it as she figured out the next steps. The other guys may be on the way back, there was no way to know.

“Shit, I need to call Steve - “

Above was a preview | keep reading here on A03

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A03: artemiseamoon

Just some more Avery, a style aesthetic board I made for her last year, I’ve been holding on to her for a while. As I thought up this idea, and imaged my oc visually, I kept thinking “hmm I think I want a redhead” and now she’s finally being used. :) one thing tho, I imaged Avery with brown eyes not blue. I know the look is more modern, but ignore that detail. I almost put her in a different fic, hence the modern clothes. But this is pretty much Avery, just imagine brown eyes.

#Steve Murphy #Steve Murphy & ofc #Connie Murphy #Javier Peña #whumpril 2023 #whumpril days 8 9 and 10