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rottenroyalebooks · 8 months

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It's a bad idea, right?

Series: The Mortal Instruments

Pairing: Jace Wayland x Fem!Reader

Genre: Angst to Fluff, Friends to Lovers

Warnings: Possibly OOC Jace, slight description of Reader (mainly that Jace is taller than her), use of Y/N. All characters are aged 18+.

Summary:

Y/N has a Warlock ex that seems to have her under his spell, metaphorically speaking, and every time he calls, she answers.

Jace has had enough of watching her go back to him repeatedly. Because they're friends, definitely not because he's in love with her or anything.

A/N: Guys, I have finally caved into my desires and am diving deep into the world of The Mortal Instruments. I watched most of the show a few years ago and saw the movie a few days ago, which led me to buy a box set of the 6 Mortal Instruments books. I am just about halfway through The City of Bones, so I still have a lot of learning to do. Forgive me if I need to correct something.

Also, I love all the show characters, but Movie Jace feels closer to Book Jace than Show Jace, so I am committed to Movie Jace for visual representation and Movie Jace only.

Does that make sense to you? Yes? Cool.

"You were where last night?" Izzy asked her a bit too loudly as she and Y/N walked into the weapons room where Alec and Jace were working on cleaning their weapons used from the previous mission.

Y/N shushed her as the two boys looked over, "Seriously, whatever happened to private girl talk?"

Izzy rolled her eyes, speaking lower than before so the guys wouldn't hear, "What ever happened to cutting him out of your life? Finding a new guy to get in your bed to get over him, that's why we went to Pandemonium last night, remember?"

Y/N huffed in response. Of course, she knew that's why Izzy and Clary dragged her to Pandemonium. It was a plan that she had yet to be very keen on. Izzy had gone to powder her nose, and Clary went to dance when Demetrius Black approached her on the dance floor, convincing her to leave with him.

It never took much convincing. He never went to Pandemonium, so she thought it was safe, but alas, she woke up in his bed again with her favorite tea made just the way she liked it on the nightstand next to her. He was nowhere to be seen.

Izzy rolled her eyes at the lack of response, "I need to put a tracker on you, like an outdoor cat." She turned on her heels and walked away.

Y/N sighed, running a hand through her hair before leaving the weapons room. She needed to punch something, so she soon found her way to the training room, where a punching bag sat calmly in the middle.

Then she beat the shit out of it.

"Stupid Demetrius and his stupidly charming attitude."

One Two.

"Stupid me for falling for it, again."

One Two Three.

"And stupid Mundane girl who couldn't keep her grimy hands to herself!"

With enough force of one last punch, the bag flew backward, hitting the wall as she let out a long groan of anger.

"Do you wanna talk about it?" Jace's voice appeared behind her making her jump out of her skin.

"Jesus Christ,"

"Not exactly." He smirked, but she ignored his comment.

"Do you feel the need to scare everyone or just me? Am I that special?" Sarcasm dripped from her lips as she began walking over to the punching bag so she could put it back in its usual location.

"Stop dodging my question. Do you want to talk about why you punched the bag across the room?"

She signed, letting the bag stand back up, "Will you try not to make fun of me for at least ten minutes if I tell you."

He chuckled, leaning against a pillar with his signature smug look, "I'll try my very best."

She couldn't look him in the eye, but she told him everything. From Izzy's plan to it failing when she left her alone for not even five minutes to waking up in her ex's bed again.

His expression was stoic throughout the entire time she was speaking; all of Jace's smugness and ego quickly flushed away as envy flooded his veins.

She didn't notice his change in expression because she refused to look at him.

"I know it's stupid, but it's like he put a spell on me."

"You have a permanent ruin to block any Warlock from using that magic on you."

She groaned, "I meant metaphorically." She plopped down on the bench and ran a hand through her hair.

"Well, I don't even know what you see in the Warlock-"

"Alec is with Mangus, and you never have anything to say about that, but when I date a Downworlder who has helped us just as much as Mangus has, you suddenly have an issue?"

He didn't have a chance to think before he spoke, blurting out, "I can't stand to see you hurting yourself with someone who doesn't deserve you."

Her head snaps to finally make eye contact; she lets her emotions talk without knowing what to think, "You don't get to decide who deserves me, Jace. You're not my father, and you're not my brother. Don't act like it."

He stepped closer to where she was sitting, "He cheated on you. Remember that? You cried to Clary and Izzy for days about it, then you cried yourself to sleep after all that," He saw the shocked look on her face, "We share a wall, remember? The same wall both of our beds are up against. I heard it all and witnessed you tear yourself apart from all the insecurities he gave you. So yes, I may not be in a position to say it, but I can say for certain that he doesn't deserve you."

The tension between the two shadow hunters was so thick that you could cut it with a knife. Neither of them said anything else, just stared at each other until she stood up and brushed past him.

"Thanks for the reminder."

Jace only watched as she left the room, wanting to walk after her but feeling paralyzed where he stood. He cursed under his breath and looked down at his feet.

It was his turn to send the punching bag flying across the room.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

That night, the group went on a mission to track down a Vampire, killing humans left and right. Clary had poked around through the different nests in the city with Alec and Izzy, but none of them seemed to be acquainted with the rouge Vampire.

Jace and Y/N were tasked with searching Pandemonium for the Vampire or any information retaining it.

Things between them were still tense, and the others could see it, but Jace had been the one to wordlessly follow her to Pandemonium. The music was loud and beating through her head, making the memories from the night prior resurface, but she shook it off as she looked around for any suspicious Downworld behavior.

She and Jace had split up in the crowd, which meant she was alone when she felt her phone buzz in her back pocket. She pulled it out seeing a text from Demetrius:

Demetrius: I can tell you're working from how you dress tonight, but meet me at the bar. I might have the information you are searching for. ;)

Tensing up, she looks over at the bar seeing Demetrius leaning against it in all his glory, smirking knowingly at her. She pushed her hurt deep down and walked over to him.

"Well, you look lovely tonight, darling." He said, reaching out to touch her hair when she stopped about two feet away, but she smacked his hand away quickly.

"No time for pleasantries, Demetrius. Do you know anything about a Rouge Vampire, or are you wasting my time?"

"Playing hard to get tonight? Let me buy you a drink." He said as he waved to the bartender to get his attention.

She scoffed, shaking her head, "I knew this was a waste of time--" She stopped speaking when she backed into someone's chest; she didn't even need to look up to know it was Jace. She didn't realize he found them.

Jace didn't move at the contact; he only stared at Demetrius, who noticed he was standing there because she had stopped speaking.

"Oh look," he commented, bored, "It's the guard dog. Don't you have anything better to do than following her around like a lost puppy?"

"We're working, Demetrius." She spoke as Jace opened his mouth, cutting him off before a fight could break out, "Since you don't actually have any information for me, I am going to leave."

She brushed past Jace, leaving the two boys at the bar and disappearing into the crowd.

Jace followed her with his eyes until he knew she was out of earshot. Looking back at Demetrius with a glare that could kill a thousand men, he said, "If you come near her again, I will not hesitate to track you down and kill you myself."

Demetrius smirked, taking a sip from his drink, "And break The Clave's precious rules? From what she told me, you are one of those who respect the Covenant more than anything."

Jace took two steps forward, standing toe to toe with the Warlock, a look of pure hatred in his eyes, "I would break a thousand rules if it made her happy. I would break a thousand rules to make sure she is safe. Don't test me, Warlock."

Demetrius took another sip of his drink, "I always knew, from the moment I had the displeasure of meeting you, that you were in love with her. I watched as you protected her like a lovesick puppy even though she was head over heels in love with me. Now that she is single, why haven't you swept her off her feet to prevent her from falling into my bed?"

He leaned close to his ear, saying just above a whisper, "Maybe it's because you know she will never love you back."

Jace shoved him away, stalking off to get back to work. Only to watch as she left the storage room and in his direction; as she passed him, she said, "Threat has been neutralized, let's get out of here."

She was annoyed. Mostly at herself for thinking he wouldn't come back to her favorite club to antagonize her, but also at the fact that she had to take on a Vampire by herself because Jace decided to have a little chat with her ex.

At the same time, she was proud of herself for finally avoiding Demetrius' charm like the plague. Progress is Progress.

As she exited Pandemonium, she pulled out her phone and started texting Clary to let them know the Vampire was found and taken care of, but Jace pulled her phone out of her hands.

"I'll take that." He said as he went to her contacts lists.

Her jaw dropped, "Jace! Give that back!" She snapped, watching him smirk at her phone as he tapped the screen a few times before giving it back to her.

"First step, blocking your ex's number."

She rolled her eyes and brushed passed him. Raising her hand, a cab drove up to her almost immediately.

"How do you always get cabs so quickly?" He muttered loud enough for her to hear as he stood behind her protectively.

"It's a gift," she said flatly, getting into the cab and scooting over so Jace could get in, even though she wanted him to get his own taxi.

"You cant just avoid me forever." He said into her ear once she got comfortable after telling the driver where to drop them off.

She crossed her arms, staring straight ahead, "Watch me."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Jace, let you fight the Vampire by yourself?" Izzy asked her in the kitchen of the Institute, snacking on popcorn with Clary on the opposite side of her as the three girls usually did after a hunt.

"He didn't let me; he was at the bar talking with Demetrius. I thought he followed me into the crowd when I left the bar, but he wasn't behind me when I found the Vampire and pointed it out to him." She ran a hand through her hair and looked down, "I didn't want to lose him, so I followed the Vampire into the storage room, scared off the mundane that was with him, and killed the bloodsucker."

Clary laughed, "And you did it by yourself."

Y/N shrugged, "It was easy because he was a new Vampire who didn't have anyone to guide him."

"What did Jace say when you told him you took care of it?" Izzy tossed another piece of Popcorn into Clary's mouth, and she caught it successfully.

"He didn't react, just followed me out and got rid of Demetrius' contact on my phone."

Clary nearly choked on her popcorn before swallowing it, "He did what?"

Sighing, she nodded, "Yeah, talk about quitting cold turkey."

Izzy giggled, elbowing Clary lightly. "Maybe Jace will finally start courting her."

Y/N raised an eyebrow; Jace was into someone? That was new information, "Courting who? We don't come into contact with many shadow hunters unless he has a secret Mundane lover."

Blinking, Izzy looked from Clary to Y/N and back to Clary, "Is she serious?"

"I think she is."

"Okay, what are you two going on about?" She asked, crossing her arms over her chest, blinking at the two of them.

"How do we put this nicely-" Clary began speaking, but Izzy cut her off, "Jace has been in love with you since we were thirteen."

Taken aback, all Y/N could do was laugh, "What? No! You guys are crazy. The only person Jace loves is himself." She rolled her eyes, grabbing a few pieces of popcorn.

Clary spoke up, "When I first learned I was a Shadow Hunter and Jace brought me to the institute, I thought he was cute, but then I saw the way he looked at you, and I thought you two were a thing for a whole month until I saw you making out with a mundane near Pandemonium."

"I remember that!" Izzy giggled, turning to Y/N, "Clary freaked out and came running to me saying that you cheated on Jace and that we needed to tell him. It was so funny trying to explain to her that the two of you weren't a thing."

"My point is," Clary interjected, looking at Y/N, "Jace Wayland has been pining over you for so long. He's extra protective of you. When you came home crying a few months ago because the dirtbag cheated on you, Alec had to stop him from hunting him down and killing him without a second thought."

Y/N sank in her chair, blinking, "I had no idea."

"You're just a little oblivious; it's okay," Izzy said, patting her head.

She shook her head, "It's late. I'm going to bed."

She exited the chair and said goodnight to the two girls before leaving the kitchen.

She was going to bed, but then her feet decided to take her to where she knew Jace would be at this time of night.

The garden.

She opened the door quietly, searching for the blond among the flowers and plants, when she spotted him sitting on a bench. He was reading a book that she couldn't read the title of because of how old it was. She walked over to him and placed her hands in her sweater pockets, "You know how to read?"

He looked up at her from his book, "Sneaking up on people is supposed to be my thing."

"You'll have to learn how to share. May I sit?"

He nodded, closing the book with a bookmark between the pages, and moved to one side of the bench to make room for her to sit, "Are you okay?"

She nodded, "I will be. Thank you for being there for me back at Pandemonium and in the training room earlier today. I needed to hear the truth. Even though my stance on the fact you need to work on your comforting skills stays intact." She teased him lightly, making him chuckle.

"I'm sorry you had to deal with the Vampire alone while I was defending your honor; it won't ever happen again."

"It better not." She chuckled, leaning back and relaxing on the bench, stifling a yawn, "Because I might just have to kill you myself, then."

"As if you would dare lay a mark on my greatest asset." He gestured to his face making Y/N roll her eyes and slapped his hand away.

"That ego of yours is going to be the death of me one day. Do I have to worry about you falling in love with your own reflection and drowning because of it like Narcissus?"

Letting out a laugh, Jace shook his head, looking up at the time on his watch, the very one she had gotten him for his last birthday, "It's getting late. You need rest."

"So do you," she fired back, standing up and glaring at him, "We need you at the top of your game, come on."

He chuckled, standing up and holding the book against his hip as they left the garden together and walked through the Institute.

"Do you need some tea to help you relax?" She asked, tilting her head up at him.

He smiled down at her, "No, I can manage."

They approached their rooms silently, he walked her to her door, and she nodded, "Goodnight, Jace."

He watched as she disappeared into her room, closing the door behind her, but he didn't move to his room next door, even though he should have.

No, he thought about how he realized Demetrius' words were true. He loved her and didn't know what to do with this information.

He raised his hand to knock on her door again, wanting to get the rejection over with, but just before his fist could make contact with the wood, the door opened, followed by her voice saying, "Jace, wait." before getting cut off by realizing he was standing there still.

The two stood there wordlessly, staring at each other. No one knew who made the first move that night, but soon Y/N felt his hands cupping her face as their lips touched.

It felt right, kissing Jace; he was gentle yet passionate, as if he were making up for the lost time, which he was. As it turned out, so was she.

When they broke apart for air, nothing could stop their mutual smiles from appearing on their faces as Jace rested his forehead on hers.

"Sleep in my room tonight? We can talk about this in the morning."

He nodded, picking her up over his left shoulder, causing a light squeal to leave her lips as he walked into the room, closing the door with his foot.

#writers of tumblr #fanfiction #rottenwrites #shadowhunters #the mortal instruments #jace wayland #jace wayland x reader #alec lightwood #isabelle lightwood #clary fairchild #shadow hunters fic #x reader #i don't know if i like this but I'm posting it anyway

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octuscle · 8 months

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Blonde by FaceTime

Alec has always had a bit of a crush on his friend Van. Actually, ever since they played together in the sandbox. But even then, Alec was the little chubby one. And Van the sweet heartbreaker. Van went through the usual stages to captain of the football team of an alpha career. And now he had his MBA cum laude and was about to embark on a stellar career.

Just to be close to Van, Alec had also studied business. At the same college. Although with his grades, he could have gone to a much better college. And even though he had always wanted to study medicine to become a pediatrician. And now it was all for nothing. Van had moved to Chicago a week ago to become a product manager for an online platform. And Alec had gotten an offer to go to work for an engineering company from their hometown to their branch in the Czech Republic. Alec had paid a high price for his hidden, never-expressed love. Getting a great georgraphic distance from Van now was probably the best solution.

Even now, when Van had become almost unattainable, Alec held on to him. He had gotten a deer, Van's nickname since childhood for some reason, inked on his forearm. And he started running to get closer to his own ideal, Van's athletic body. Today was the first fun run he participated in. He had already lost a few pounds. He was proud of that. So he had a colleague take a picture of himself and sent the Van "Miss you pal" was the caption.

Almost immediately his phone rang. Facetime video call from Van.

"Hi bro, damn you look good! How's life over in old Europe? It's still the middle of the night here, I was just getting in a quick work out before work."

Van turned the view and showed a picture of himself from the mirror. Alec had to swallow and got a dry throat. He didn't know what he was doing. The devil was riding him. So an "I love you" came out of his mouth.

For a second there was silence. "Dude, you better keep your massive cock under control. I would never be able to tame your monster" Van replied laughing. Alec laughed along with him. He was relieved that Van had taken it that way. Yes, the dick comparison had been the only contest with Van in which he had regularly won.

"Hehehehe, it's tough with all the hot studs here at the start."

Indeed, the bulge in his tight running shorts was scary. Many participants in the run, as well as spectators, had already been staring at him and whispering.

"That's what I think, bro! Is your stay successful then? What is the news on the market of nutritional supplements? Can't wait for you to bring back some cool new stuff."

Arec talked a bit about the fitness trade show here in Brno. In fact, there were a few things he wanted to include in the lineup of his fitness startup. He could use a little breath of fresh air for his business. True, he was a genius when it came to marketing and app development. And in theory, he knew everything about crossfitting and bodybuilding. But he just didn't have the body to make it believable. Fortunately, Van was regularly available as a model. When he posted something on Instagram, his sales went straight up.

Van replied that he had seen videos from the show on YouTube. "Dude, you did great on stage. Arac laughed and held the phone so that you could see as much of his biceps as possible. "Bruh, it was just a spontaneous idea. Several people had approached me. Actually, I don't feel in shape for competitions at all" "Honey, I don't think you need to be fishing for compliments right now. Come on, make your tits dance for me!" Arac didn't have to be asked twice. He loved this. The moment when Van had shown him how to do it was just awesome. Today his pecs were almost bigger than his friend's. A few people around him applauded. He had almost forgotten about the conversation with Van that he was standing in the middle of the fair among all the other visitors.

"Did you read the comments on your performance. They called you 'the blond angel'. Suits me, bro." Arac stroked his hair. He loved his blond hair. He had been blond since he was a kid, unlike Van. In pictures of the two of them from kindergarten, Van had always been the one with the darker hair. Today there was hardly any difference between the two.

"Bro, did you write down what all you are supposed to bring. I mean, we both know you can't remember anything with that birdbrain stuck in that hot skull of yours."

"Bruh, i may not b as smart as u, but i can still read ur emails" Arad laughed boomingly. A few guests at the fair took pictures of him. As best he could while talking on the phone, Arad did them the favor and struck a few poses. In his head, he frantically went over what all his duties here were. Fuck, he just forgot everything. And a few tasks, if he had to be honest, he didn't understand at all. He'd graduated from college with difficulty and on an athletic scholarship. He was glad he had Van as a mentor, Van had always been the smart one of the two. "Fuck, bruh! day all speak czech or german here. N english with uh nasty accent. I'm really lost here without uh brain like you!" "Goldilocks, you should have used your head for something other than growing a Viking mane for the last few years." Van laughed. "Don't worry about it, as long as you come back safe and sound!" "Wait uh minute, deer! I've got some selfies to take right now." A couple of the local bodybuilders and a bunch of chicks had already lined up. Arad let them take their selfies with him and turned back to Van.

"Deer, I miss you! When will I see you again?" "Dumbass, I'm already in the locker room. I'll be on the training floor in a minute. Did you clean up and tidy the gym properly? It would be cool if you could at least get this job done."

Brad looked around. Yes, he had carefully worked through the piece of paper with his work instructions. Damn, there sure were a lot of things he had to do in the morning before the Gym opened. He had already secretly let Van in before he officially opened the doors right away. On the one hand, Van could work out before the others, and on the other hand, he had someone to check if he had done everything right. Brad wanted to do this job well. Van earned enough for the two of them, but he didn't always want to be just the decorative accessory. Oh what was he kidding himself. He had turned Van into a fellow who was almost as hot as Brad himself. And now he was making sure they both ate the right diet, that the apartment was tidy. And that Van got to work out before the others. He looked around him. All set, he could open the doors. The door opened and Van came out of the locker rooms grinning.

"Honey, you already know you're not allowed to work bare-chested" "Hehehe, it's not just me who would be happier with that." Van laughed and threw him the T-shirt with the club logo. Before putting it on, Brad gave Van a passionate kiss. Something he had to do now…. Right, unlock the door and let in the members who were waiting outside.He was so glad he had Van.

#male tf #muscle tf #reality change #male transformation #muscle transformation

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klarolineashur1919 · 4 months

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La Tua Cantante Series

Airpods Save Lives

Demetri Pov

"The meat smells divine today" Felix practically hums out. Whenever the tours came it gave us some kind of excitement. Not that any of us would admit it, we were all so bored. I in a way admired Felix's ability to make excitement from anything even though it could be immature at times. Alec and Jane kept themselves preoccupied in ways that I could tolerate but took years to stomach. I on the otherhand kept myself satisfied with the best thing the world has to offer..women. But even that lately has not had the same effect it usually has for me.

"Hmm" I merely acknowledged until I stopped in my tracks when I smelled the group that was coming. It did smell divine but not how the tours usually smell.

This was different.

It was also extremely overpowering. I wanted to search for and ravish whoever the smell belonged to. Fresh oranges, sweet wine, lavender and ink.

"You can tell someone from this group is rather tasty can't you" Could Felix smell it? Did he feel as I did at this moment? The craving of something unknown. But we were about to find out as the group entered the hall. Me and Felix moved to the side by the assistants desk. The group strolled in with Heidi at the front as usual.

"Demetri" She said sultry trying to get my attention as I didn't even spare her glance worth while. I scanned the group it felt like it went on forever of unwanted faces until my eyes found her.

It was her scent. She wore a orange scented perfume, she just had a glass of wine for lunch, her floral flowy dress was lavender scented from cleaning and she had small smudges of ink on her almost spotless delicate hands.

It all made her so intoxicating.

She was stunning. With her long, slightly wavy blonde hair, blue eyes, and a curvy hourglass figure that was complemented by her slender frame.

"Now she's a tasty little thing" Felix said a little too loud that she had to have heard it but her expression did not change from the somewhat bored one she had. I realized she wasn't in awe nor had the enthusiastic interest that everyone else in the tour group had by Heidi's power of persuasion. Then I watched as her eyes darted to something in the side hallway making her leave the group.

"Well thats rare" Felix somewhat interested in the human making a move in her direction before my arm shot up.

"I got it, I'll meet you in the throne room" Without looking at him I make my way towards her.

I watch her as she is analyzing or I should say scrutinizing the Portrait of a Young Man painting. It wasn't my favorite painting of Raphael's but I didn't think it deserved the amount of scrutiny she was giving it. Her nose scrunched, the lines on her forehead and her eyes almost closed by how hard she was trying to see the even smallest details of the painting.

"Give peace a chance..Let the fear you have fall away" I jumped slightly at the sudden angelic melodic voice that came from her as she stepped back trying to look at it from a different angle. Her hands rested at her bag that laid on her hip preparing to open it. I faked a cough to make my presence known but she did not turn to me as she took her phone out from her purse. I moved towards her quickly taking her phone from her before she was able to take a picture.

"Umm excuse me" She said in a sweet surprised voice as she turned to me. If I had a breath it would have stopped as I looked into her eyes.

They were so blue they reminded me of the Aegean Sea.

They reminded me of a home I once knew and I thought long forgotten.

"What's wrong with your eyes?" She said gently grabbing her phone from my hand. My eyes looked like hers once I think. Now they're not as pretty.

"It's a medical condition...you shouldn't have left the group" She placed her hair behind her ear showing a white plug in it. She took it out.

"Is this real?" She pointed to the painting. She hasn't broken eye contact from me nor my eyes from her. This was quite an anomaly for me.

"Yes what makes you question the authenticity?"I say amused by this creature. I usually take human girls in the privacy of dark corners and be done with it. But her...I wanted to make this last.

"Well for one it's been lost for almost a hundred years, this is a Raphael painting correct?" She says trying to be polite but about to burst from this discovery she found.

"Correct, artist are you?" I said conversational but she precedes to put the plug back in her ear. She turns from me much to my displeasure as I watched her hips start to sway away from me.

"Architect major with an art history minor" She said walking in the opposite direction of where she should be going but stopping in her tracks almost immediately at the next painting. She does the same act as the last much to my amusement. She starts huffing in and out analyzing every detail of the Nativity with St. Francis and St. Lawrence. I make my way over to her. My shoulder an inch from hers as I stood facing the painting as she did. She gives me a side eye understanding I wasn't going to leave her. She goes to her ear pressing on the plugs.

"Is this a replica?" She says now finally suspicious of her surroundings if she wasnt before.

"They're all real...love" I stare down at her as she comes closer to me. Every fiber of my being was restraining myself from ending this. I wanted to relish this, savoring it like one does a fine wine.

"Are you in the mafia?" She whispers and I laugh heartily at the question.

"Now what would give you that idea?" I say coyly as I lean closer to her, my eyes landing on her slender neck. Her pretty little neck.

"Because this painting was supposedly stolen by the mafia" She said matter a factly moving from me realizing how close I was to her. I clenched my jaw at the distance between us. I wanted us closer. I had the feeling even if I skin to skin with her wouldn't be close enough for me. But she seemed absolutely uninterested in me, enamored with what was around her.

"Violet, blue, green, red to keep me at arm's length don't work..You try to push me out..But I just find my way back in...Violet, blue, green, red to keep me out...I win" She gives a mumbled hum of the words not fully singing them out knowing that I'm there close behind. She accepts that fact along with that all the paintings she sees are real. She doesn't analyze them viciously like she did before. Now just taking them in like they should be. But I am analyzing every detail of her. The flutter of her eyelashes, the curve of her hip and the way her hair bounces as she walks. She turns her head to me behind her, giving me an excellence view of her perfectly structured jawline.

"Are you art thieves?" She says innocently genuinely curious. I chuckle at her guess. I look at her ear looking at the plug realizing sound was coming from them.

"What are those things?" She looked at me confused. I lift my hand slowly towards her tapping the back of my finger lightly against one of the plugs.

"Oh..they're airpods" She looked at me like it was the most obvious thing in the world and I had absolutely no idea "they're like earplugs or headphones." I mouthed a little "oh" as she let out a little giggle at my ignorance.

"I'll have to warn Heidi about those" I say more to myself as me and her walked side by side down the hall, further and further away from the throne room. We're getting close to a intersection, one hall leads to a cellar and the other leads to an exit. Decisions...Decisions.

"Was Heidi the lady in charge of the tour?" I simply nod while I think of the fact this girls life is in my hands. Do I truly want to snuff out the sun? I'm quite thoughtful about the decision as I firmly placed my hands behind my back.

"She's kinda an airhead isn't she?" I whip my head towards her uncontrollably crackling at her statement.

"Heidi?" I say absolutely bewildered by the statement. I don't think Heidi has ever been described as an airhead?

"Well I know that is kinda mean. I really am not into girl shaming but..she has all this to show"She twirled around then kept walking "and she said a lot of words with really nothing of substance behind them. I did listen a little to her in and out...I don't know I preferred music over her" My hands tighten behind my back as I stare at her. Her hair when she spun I got a delightful whiff of her shampoo.Citrus. Fresh oranges. Her blood would taste so sweet.

"Like this castle has to be from the 12th century-" She looked at me curiously as I stared at her clavicle. That would be a wonderful place to take a first bite.

"11th" I muttered out. We made it to the intersection, cellar for a drink or exit for her life.

"Oh" She tilted her head up to the ceiling an spun slowly on her heel around "I can picture that..there is some roman designs" She smiled to herself. Her eyes sparkled. It's funny I lived in this castle going on a thousand years and always found it a dull place mostly except when we used to have parties. But in one day she saw the beauty in it.

"Are you a lover of Artemisia Gentileschi?" I asked as she was about to turn down the hallway to the cellar, stopped to look at me.

"Yes...why?" She smirked cutely. I smile at her for giving me that answer. I take her hand in mine and lead her through the hallway with the exit.

"Hey how do I know you're not taking me in some dark room to have your way with me" She said half jokingly. I just smirk to myself. She would be so delicious but for some reason it seems like it would be a waste. It wouldn't even be a minute before her life would be gone and she would be gone. Her beauty, her smile, her voice..everything about her I could just take in an instant if I chose to.

"Your hand is so cold" She did a little tug on it. I turn to her and say nothing. I stare in her eyes for a moment and she looks at me amused.

"So if I'm ever found alive and they ask me the name of the assailant, what should I tell them?" I winced as she dropped her hand from mine before the question. I wanted her to touch me.

"Demetri"I slowly drawl out "And when I see your face on the news what name will I see?"

"Nina" It almost came out as a whisper but I heard it. As I also could hear the screams start but she didn't seem to hear them.

"Here we are" I stop in front of our designated painting and she started to laugh at it. The Madonna and the child was one of our many Artemisia Gentileschi paintings but Jane had all of her famous ones on the other side of the castle that was where I didnt want her to be.

"Really out of her paintings this is the one you have?" She giggles as I just look down at my shoes like a boy. She does stop giggling to appreciate the painting eventually.

"She looks so tired" She says more to herself than to me. Then I really look at the painting myself to see what she means. I see it too in the mother's eyes. I never noticed that before probably never cared. I watch her as she looks over the painting really taking in ever detail of it.

"You should paint me it would last longer" I look down again with a smirk.

"Can I?" I say more flirting than serious. She turns to me blushing and my smirk deepens.

"What am I going to be your Rose to you Jack?" She leans closer to me making start to tense even though I was taken back by the reference. I need to brush up on current entertainment.

"Ahh-" I freeze as I can sense someone coming.

I look behind me seeing the reason why we're here..the exit.

I take her hand and hurry her to the door. We go down stairs and stairs. I have to be mindful of my speed seeing I had to keep a human one. Something came over me that I had to get her out that was my only thought at this moment.

"Where are we going?" But her question is answered when I open a door to the outside practically throwing her out. Then the sun light making me step back into the darkness.

"Wait" She places her hand on the door before I close it and I didn't want to hurt her.

"Will I see you again?" She almost whines out.

"Yes but don't come back here..meet me at the front of the clock tower at night fall...goodbye" I said it quickly as I slowly closing the door.

"Goodbye" I heard quietly right before the door closed. I regretted how it ended but there was reasoning behind the abrupt departing.

"Well this is quite unusual behavior...for you" Felix leaned against the wall at the top of the stairs.

"The girl didn't hear or see anything, no laws were broken" I say stiffly making my way past him.

"That may be but the why is what I'm curious about" he hanged his head over my shoulder mischievously. He wasn't going to let this go.

"It just felt like a waste" I shrug looking almost dazed not wanting to think what I had just done and the why.

"A waste...yes a waste of food. Bloody Demetri if you didn't want her you could've given her to me. But Im surprised why didnt you want her?"He was going to nag and nag until he got an answer to his liking.

"I wanted her...but it just felt as it would have been to quick" This was making me nervous. I haven't felt nervous since the incident with the Cullens. But this was a different kind of nervous, I was worried for her.

"Fine then I'll meet her later at the clock tower-" If on instinct I slammed Felix against the wall my hand around his throat.

"She's mine...I'll take care of it" I shove him back stalking away.

She was mine.

I hated to admit it but I knew it to be true.

She is my cantante.

#demetri volturi #demetri volturi x reader #demetri volturi imagine #twilight imagines #twilight #twilight saga #the twilight saga #twilight fanfiction #Demetri volturi x oc #volturi fanfiction #volturi x reader #volturi imagines #volturi guard #the volturi

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aquanova99 · 4 months

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Hellooo how are you??? Could I request a Alec Volturi x fem! Mate/gf! Reader where Jane hates(despise) reader thankss don't forget to rest!!♡♡

I did do a fic like this here, but I am trying to start rewriting my old work in hopes to make them better 🤞

I think at the beginning he is going try and hate you. If his sister dislikes you it must be for a good reason. It will be in fact solely due to the fact that the volturi took you in almost instantly due to your own gift (anything mental, asphyxiation, matter manipulation, literally anything)

In fact he will be straight up cruel to you, and if he is extremely attracted or interested he will ignore you entirely

You have to offer no reaction or they will think they are in the right.

He would definitely not admit to Jane that he likes you in any way

He’s listening to your conversations, waiting for anything to prove you couldn’t possibly be as amazing as everyone seems to think.

But as he waits and waits he doesn’t see anything that would give him an actual reason to hate you

So he slowly starts to be in the same areas, at first he only speaks to the others. He finds he’s annoyed you aren’t speaking to him, but soon Jane comes and throws more vitriol your way and he sees why you would be wary.

He hates that when he goes near you you leave if there’s no one around, and he hates even more that you’re all he thinks about when he’s alone.

He eventually decides to at least try and be cordial when he is around you and see if anything changes

You only offer short responses, why would trust anything he says right now. You try to not let his hurt expression get to you, neither of them has been shy about threatening to use their abilities on you. They were lucky you didn’t use your own gifts on them for all the shit talking they did

Unfortunately one of these curt responses is caught by Jane, “I suggest you be more respectful to my brother.”

You roll your eyes and continue about your business, you’re surprised when you hear Alex speak up, “sister please. Everything is fine.”

“I don’t need you to fight my battles.” You start to walk away but then the pain wracks your body somewhere you hear a voice

“Jane. Enough.” Alec fails to hide the urgency in his voice. Jane stops immediately and while she knew some of the others would check on her Alec being the first next to her, the concern on his eyes infuriated her. She believed you were a poison. First the leaders and now her brother

Unfortunately for Jane this is probably when you’ve had enough and you give her a taste of her own medicine and when Alex says nothing to this well… the only reason she doesn’t try to kill you is because of the leaders fr

After that Alex apologizes for his part in what happened, and you decide to try and let him in, after all maybe he can help you not have Jane hate your guts

He starts putting more of an effort and as much as you’re wary he can be very charming and you can “fix” him

Then as for dating it’s mostly this once he is comfortable

Jane doesn’t try anything as long as Alec is there besides glare at you but Alec is hardly ever not with you and he knows he to have an arm around you and glares back. Jane is tempted to use her gift on him a few times but she knows better

The siblings have several arguments but at the end of the day you’re off limits now. He does try and get her to apologize but for awhile the best you’re going to get is indifference from her.

You’re going to have to save Alec’s life before she considers you a person so sorry, but while Alec still loves his sister he’s been waiting for and dreaming of a connection like this his whole life

He never thought anyone would see him as anything more than a witch twin and he is obsessed with you

#aquas asks #alec imagine #alec x you #alec volturi x you #alec volturi x y/n #alec volturi x reader #alec x reader #alec volturi imagine #volturi alec #alec volturi

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simurghed · 5 months

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taylor: repressedly bisexual but the repression itself is also repressed in that she subconsciously feels the way she thinks abt women is strange (bc she subconsciously feels / fears / believes that she herself is inherently strange) but justifies & then re-justifies it to herself every few weeks .. to everybody else this just looks like her glancing at lisa’s tits & then thousand-yard staring off into the distance for a solid five minutes .. wildbow made her a trans girl on accident (like he did w most beautiful & true things in worm) but nobody tell him because he does not deserve to know

brian: i do legitimately believe he is both straight & cis bc if he wasn’t he would palpably b much stranger abt manhood & masculinity than he already is in-text .. he has considered kissing a man at least once but figured after hefty deliberation that sort of thing just wasn’t for him .. however i do think cherish should have called him gay not bc he rly is but bc it would have made him pause & afterwards fall into a period of rumination & actually i think this is how his summer of the forest could have happened

lisa: in love w taylor in every sense of the phrase but i wouldn’t say “attraction” itself is a factor there / that love isn’t predicated on romance or attraction or what one might typically attribute to love .. sexuality isn’t something she herself would rly care to put labels on nor something i think has much merit here but for shorthand i would just call her an arospec / acespec / etc lesbian .. cis but i think the only value gender has to her is wrt its social connotations (in business & persona) .. if she woke up one day in magical boy universe i think she would just adapt & adjust but she would grieve the loss of being able to go “look at this sweet face! would this girl lie to u :(” when that girl is in fact lying to u

rachel: butch lesbian & it is embedded into every aspect of her character & i will never ever ever ever listen to that foul man’s words he doesn’t know her he doesn’t even know her he is nothing he is nothing he is nothing he is nothing he isn’t real he can’t hurt me he isn’t real he isn’t real & canada is an elaborate ploy by the first pioneers of the parahumans wordpress to account for worm’s esoteric undetermined origins

aisha: bisexual (for realsies apparently) but i don’t think it rly comes into play much other than as cudgel for her jests & japes bc she will b hung up on her best friend from when she was 13 until the day after she dies .. whether or not she was srs when she rated cherie fuck in fuck marry kill is up to u tho i do think she has a tendency to either dramatise or just completely make things up when talking abt her own attraction / preferences for eeshy reasons (see: asking defiant is the robot pussy was rly that good) .. gender is whatever she feels like in the moment

alec: i think i have to delegate to lakesbian here seeing as they r his professor / lawyer / doyen / ambassador .. my only thoughts on this matter r i don’t think u could even call him a hedonist sexuality-wise bc there is absolutely zero demonstration of him expressing attraction / engaging in any romantic or sexual pursuits based off sheer opportunity & desire for pleasure besides vague comments abt his sexual abuse as a child

#liable to dispute except for rachel #wildbow will not survive the rapture #undersiders

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buckys-loverman · 2 years

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cooking lessons - jeremiah fisher

you and jeremiah have been best friends since you were children and he has taught you everything you know; but he’s not done with all his lessons

warnings: smut, finger banging, minors DNI, 18+ appropriate, praise kink, vulgar language

pairing: fem!reader x jeremiah fisher

A/N: hi guys! this is my first time writing on tumblr so pls be nice to any mistakes that i make this time around. not my gif & hope you enjoy!

You and Jeremiah had been childhood best friends since preschool, along with Conrad, Steven and Belly. It was tradition for you to join along on their summer vacation to Cousins Beach.

Every month the two of you liked to try new recipes to cook, it helped the both of you learn something new and allowed you to spend uninterrupted time with Jeremiah. Your stomach twisted and turned each time he guided your hand while cooking, his laugh echoing in your ear as your cheeks turned pink.

You weren’t allowed to think about him in that manner, he was your best friend and you just had to ignore the way his fingers would glide into his mouth as he would taste test the batter you made for the lemon cake you both agreed to make that day. How you could see his tongue swirling around his fingers, swallowing every drop as he stared intensely into your eyes. Your stomach had tightened in knots watching him, your panties slowly getting soaked as you tried squeezing your legs together and starting up a conversation to distract yourself from the boy in front of you.

“So, are you going to the bonfire tonight? First one of the season.” You smiled as you picked up an egg to add to the mix.

His voice got closer to your ear, “Depends, will you be accompanying me again this summer?” His hands lightly wrapped around your waist from behind, his veiny arms on full display as you could see his smile from the corner of your eye.

“I-I’m not sure-” You cleared your voice, “Someone actually asked me as their date…” You whispered the last part, hoping that he either wouldn’t hear or wouldn’t ask you any questions.

“What?” His arm moved away from his previous hug and landed on the sides of your waist as he flipped you around to face him, your body pushed against the counter. “Who?” He asked as his arms have you trapped, an angry and confused expression smeared across his face. God he looked so hot when he was angry, especially at you.

You snap yourself out of your thoughts and you take a deep breath, “Um Alec, the one from the club. You remember him right? Taller side, likes to surf-” But Jeremiah stopped you before you finish, “No.”

“What?” You blinked a few times as you thought Jeremiah would be happy that you finally got your own date to the bonfire, you wouldn’t be his best friend that just stands next to him all night feeling like a burden that he can’t go flirt with other people.

“I’m not letting you go with him, he’s a total fuckboy! He’s just trying to take advantage of you.” He spat in disgust, his eyebrows wrinkling together as his fists began to grip on to the counter behind you.

“I’m sorry, did you ever consider that maybe I know about his reputation?” You crossed your arms, never breaking eye contact with him.

He shook his head, “If you know then why go with him? He’s just trying to fuck you like the rest of the girls in Cousins!” His face turning red as he moves closer in, his breath mixing in with your own.

“Because I want to! Jesus, wrap it around your stubborn head that maybe I want to fuck somebody and if that means Alec, then I’ll do it!” You raised your voice as you uncrossed your arms and shoved Jeremiah away from you, the anger in your body beginning to take over your emotions.

Jeremiah looked taken aback at your sudden shove as pure anger crossed his face as he grabbed you by the waist and re-pinned you against the counter top, a gasp coming out from your mouth as he lowers to your level.

“Do you even know how to satisfy someone?” His low voice and lust filled eyes sent shivers throughout your body as his hands slowly move down your waist.

“Maybe not, but I can try.” You gulped as both your faces were just inches apart from one another.

A small smirk spreads across his face as he tilts his head towards your ear before whispering, “Then I’ll just have to show you.”

In one swift moment your body is lifted off the ground, a gasp escaping from your mouth as he places you on top of the counter, placing himself between your legs as he grabs the back of your neck, forcing your lips to smash into his.

The knots in your stomach soon turned to ash as you wrapped your legs around his back, pulling him in as your fingers moved through his hair, tugging at it. A groan escaped his mouth, lips still attached to yours as the two of you moved against each other’s bodies, knowing what the other one wanted.

His fingers moved agaisnt the small of your back as it made it’s way down to your pussy, that was surely drenched from his touch. He rubbed your clit over the thin material of your panties, causing a muffled moan from you. In a sudden movement he harshly pulled your underwear to the side, causing a loud rip, “I’ll buy you new ones.” He grunted.

His long and thin fingers moved up and down your heat, him teasing you with his touch as he plays with you, a smirk reappearing on his face as he watches your body twitch with this new overwhelming feeling that is taking over your body.

“Jere please-” You beg as each breath becomes harder, “No more teasing.” Your fingers now clench the counter that he did previously, your stomach feeling on fire.

He licks his lips as he smiles, “Fine, but only since you’ve been such a good girl.” He slips in a finger and you instantly feel your walls closing in around him, god it’s like he knows what makes you weak.

You moan as you tilt your head back in pleasure, his other hand reaching for your chin as he moves it forward to look at him while he finger fucks you, a second finger entering, stretching you out in pleasure.

“Fuck!” You say as you can feel the tips of his fingers curling inside of you, instantly hitting your g-spot, something you had never been able to reach yourself. Your body floods with another wave of euphoria as your toes curl inside your shoes, your breathing irregular as his fingers thrust deep into you.

“Tell me how it feels darling.” His eyes moving between your eyes and your pussy, now on display in the kitchen you two were once cooking on. The thought of it causing his cock to flinch at the thought of fucking your tight little pussy right there so he could show you that no one could ever fuck you like him.

“G-good Jere, it feels so good.” Another moan threatening to break free as his free hand moves over to your pulled up skirt, his thumb rubbing sweet and light circles over your clit. His touch sends you into orbit as your nails dig his shoulders, surely to leave a mark.

“Take it all in, there you go angel.” His stupid smirk never leaving his face, “Now tell me you’ll go to the bonfire with me.” His fingers continued to speed up inside as he adds more pressure to your clit, driving you closer to your first orgasm.

You can barely speak, better yet answer him as waves of pleasure continue to suffocate you. The way his fingers glide in and out of you, the delicate touch of his thumb rubbing over your clit as his baby blue eyes continue to stare deep into you.

“Jere-” You gasp as he slides in a third finger, your body beginning to twitch in pleasure as moans escape your mouth before you can stop them. Your knuckles turning completely white against the counter from your grip.

“That’s not an answer princess,” His deep voice feeling like an echo, “I want to hear you say yes. Think you can do that for me?”

You quickly nod as you feel all this pleasure finally catch up to you, causing you the fall flat on your back against the kitchen counter as a shock runs through your entire body, your back arching as you push your head deeper into the counter and your eyes roll into the back of your head. His fingers continue to slip in and out of you as your orgasm flashes through your body, your breathing becoming jagged as you slowly begin to come down from your high.

You feel light headed as he pulls his fingers out of you, sticking all three into his mouth as he continues to stare at you, the way he did earlier with the cake batter that was now spilling off to the side.

You sit up to your elbows to face him, “You know…” He began as he pulled his fingers out his mouth, “You never gave me the yes that I asked for.”

Your eyes widened in realization as you opened your mouth to respond, but nothing would come out as he began to unzip his pants, his hardened dick peaking out from the top as it stretched the fabric of his shorts.

“So it looks like i’ll have to fuck it out of you.”

——————————————————————————

hello everyone!! i really hope you enjoyed and if you have any more suggestions for new stories or want a part 2 then please comment, thank you all <3

#the summer i turned pretty #tsitp imagine #tsitp jeremiah #jeremiah fisher #conrad fisher #fisher boys #the summer i turned pretty x reader #jeremiah fisher smut

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denaliwrites · 5 months

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An Art to Life's Distractions

Alec Hardy x GN!Reader

Summary: Alec finds your secret stash while helping you move and has a word with you about what he's seen.

Soundtrack: Someone New by Hozier

Requests: Open!

Warnings: Alec has Silly Guy Syndrome, again.

Moving into a new home had maybe not been your best idea, but it had ultimately been rather necessary -- neither your previous place nor Alec's really had the space for three people, and although Daisy didn't live with her father full time, it was still important for her to have a room of her own. So, the two of you had decided on a nice little four-bedroom cottage on the outskirts of Broadchurch.

Alec and Daisy had been the first to move their things in, mostly because Daisy was out of school for the summer and had nothing better to do (well, besides hang with friends). Alec did what he could in the little free time he had. You, too, worked a full-time job, making it hard to set aside time to pack and take things over to the new place.

Eventually, though, it was your turn to gather your boxes up and get them to your new home. Alec, thankfully, had a weekend off and offered to help you move your things. You accepted gratefully, and for the most part, everything went rather smoothly.

That was until it came to the unpacking bit.

You'd left Alec alone in the room that you'd designated as the office, and you didn't think anything of it as you grabbed a bottle of water and a sandwich you'd had the blessed foresight to pack ahead of time. You continued not to think anything of it as you went back upstairs, and as you turned into the office.

You only thought something of it -- and something bad, at that -- as you realized mid-bite that Alec was holding a handful of extremely old, battered crime novels.

Mouth suddenly dry, you swallowed your bite of sandwich with difficulty and rushed to grab the books from him.

He jerked his hands out of your reach, looking up at your blushing face with a bemused expression.

"Crime novels? Really?" he asked.

You blinked with owlishly wide eyes before giving a slight nod. "Th-they, erm..."

"Ye?"

"They... they're fun, okay?" you whined, expression falling into a pout. "I like them..."

"Oh, darlin'," he said with a chuckle, pushing forward to plant a kiss to your lips. "Ye could just ask me to tell ye about some of my cases."

"I don't want real stakes," you said, motioning to the books he held, and the books still in the box. "No real people get hurt, no real evil people get away with horrible crimes. Even when the story doesn't go the way you want or expect, it's... it's not real, so it doesn't matter. It's just a fun read in the end. Harmless."

His expression softened, seemed even to be understanding, and when he kissed you again it was much gentler. "I see," was all he said at first.

The two of you fell into silence, with him putting your books up onto one of the shelves and you finishing your lunch.

When he finally spoke again, he looked thoughtful. "Y'ken, maybe I should read some of these."

"Why would you do that?" you asked, looking up at him with a blink.

"Well, maybe I'll be a better cop for it," he said with a smile.

You couldn't help but laugh delightedly. "What, and give up your title of Britain's Worst Cop?"

"Hey, now, I didn't say they'd fix me!"

#alec hardy x reader #alec hardy x you #alec hardy fanfic #alec hardy #david tennant #broadchurch #broadchurch fanfic

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eris-snow · 2 months

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9. 𝐏𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐧: 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐭

Tags: bakugoux fem!reader, juxtaposition, angst,fluff

Revelations uncovered and questions unanswered. Sometimes, when you move two steps forward, you move 3 steps back.

Country to popular belief, Katsuki has done many stupid things before.

He once created an entire backstory to back up one of his egotistical lies. What’s stupider is that everyone believed him. Another time, he’d played the knife finger game and gotten his first scar on his index finger. And then, there was Deku, which was just a huge bombshell of bad decisions all ending with a ‘you fucked up’ at the end.

But sitting in a hero dropout’s house in a crusty living room was not what he expected character growth would do to him.

Just saying.

“How did you find the log?” Saito asks, shifting the packet of Doritos out of the way to make space on the beanbag. Katsuki and you sit stiffly on the couch, as if held at gunpoint.

The apartment was poorly decorated, and not exactly the cleanest, but Saito’s down-to-earth character and overall demeanour was enough to smooth the edge Katsuki was on.

“I found a yellow thread. Led me to the back of the library.”

You frown at him. “You didn’t tell me that.”

“You didn’t ask.”

Not rising to the bait, you reply. “Found it on my first day. I tried to show it to people, but they’d just forget. I placed it back where I found it and gave up after a month.”

Saito glances between the both of you, before nodding in understanding. He turns to Katsuki, “So you’re the Savior,” and then turns to you. “And you’re the Target.”

“Yeah, thanks Captain Obvious.” Katsuki mumbles. You nudge him, and he gives you a scalding glare, but he bites back the rest of his statement.

“Can you help us? Tell us about you and…your friend?” Your tone is neutral, but there’s hope behind it. You’re so close.

Saito looks directly at you both, and Katsuki can almost see a hint of Aizawa in him. Tired, worn out by life, and beaten down.

For as tall as the man is, he sure likes to make himself look small.

“I can tell you what happened. But speaking from experience, the phenomenon must be broken by you two alone. I can’t help you with that.” Inhaling deeply, Saito closes his eyes. “The cause of your invisibility is not based solely on a Quirk; this is far greater than that. It’s a phenomenon. The science experiment on Quirks those decades ago was like wood to the flame, and when it went wrong, everything did.”

Saito shrugs. “Kenji and I dubbed the phenomenon Reset, ‘cause of how far back it put our friendship. Hurts to think that I didn’t…” He trails off, before starting again. “We spent a year picking for clues, and that log has all our research in it.”

“Were there more pairs?” you ask. “Like us?”

“Allegedly,” Saito replies. “But Reset doesn’t happen just for the sake of it, kid. It chooses; it’s specific. I tried tracking down most of the pairs—wasn’t helpful. Most were dead.”

He let that statement hang there for a while; just to let it soak up the silence it left behind.

“We talked about what would happen after we got out of this mess. Kenji told me he wanted to start an agency together, and I agreed. We hit off the moment we stepped foot into that class.” Saito’s expression is fond. “We were like brothers. Sure, we didn’t go through a war, but we were close. That smart alec was always smarter than me, faster than me—he would have made a fine hero.”

Katsuki and you suck in a breath in unison.

Time to rip off the band-aid. Katsuki closes his eyes.

“So he’s dead.”

There’s a beat of silence.

“He faded away.”

Well, he might as well have compressed the room with a piston, because now the tension is really thick.

“I was on track to debut right after graduation. There was an internship and heroes—they still wanted me. But after that? After watching my friend fade in front of me like that?” The man shakes his head and pulls his hair. His voice fights to keep steady. “If I couldn’t even save my best friend, what kind of hero would I make?”

Katsuki has heard those words before. It’s the same words he repeats to himself every day, 24/7, like a broken recorder.

No wonder this guy dropped out.

Your face is fighting to keep expressionless, so when your eyes start to water, you wipe them away.

Katsuki had to be strong on the battlefield. He has to be strong now, even if it’s on a couch in a pigsty.

Strong not for himself, but for you.

With slowed breaths, Saito looks up at the both of you and swallows. His eyes are rimmed red. “ There was an article I found about the experiment the day Kenji faded away, but it looks like he got to it sooner.” the man’s eyes are hollow.

“It was on the guy’s Quirk used for the experiment: Undetected. The person who wielded the Quirk was able to make people invisible, but at the price of taking away his senses, bit by bit. It starts with your eyesight, and when you’re fully blind, it starts to take away your hearing, and so on. Can you imagine being cut off from the world like that? It’s horrifying.”

What a curse of a Quirk.

Bile rises to his throat, and Katsuki forces himself to stay on task. “So can we fix this? Or are we fucked?”

Saito smiles sadly. It looks as if he went through the entire cycle of grief and he was at the last stage: acceptance. “Even though it might seem random, Reset happens for a reason. You must see the unseen and find what has been lost. Do that, and you will break the phenomenon.”

You look close to tears. “Please don’t play word games with us now—”

“The breaking of the phenomenon is different for every pair. Tailored by the strings of Fate herself, customised and thoughtfully crafted. What I was going to do with Kenji isn’t going to work for the both of you.” With a shake of his head, he continues. “The faster you do it, the better. How long have you known each other?”

You’re wrecking yourself inside out, so Katsuki scoots a little closer and answers for you (even if he was dreading the reply). “3 and a half months.”

Saito’s lengthy frame curls into itself even more as the man lets out a depressing sigh. “The day of the science experiment was November 16th. I met Kenji again on the same day, 15 years back. Guess what day he faded.”

Saito doesn’t wait for an answer that doesn’t come.

Fate has a cruel way of tying her strings.

“It was exactly one year later.”

Katsuki sucks in a breath, and beside him, you completely broke.

The day he pulled that curtain and locked eyes with you…

Katsuki funnels through his thoughts and grasps for the date.

November 16th.

The world must have stopped turning.

With a crooked, shattered look, Saito cracks his last statement. “Your days are numbered. Use them wisely, kid.”

—

Katsuki finds the last unwashed mug in Saito’s cabinet and digs out the coffee powder from behind capaciously placed condiments. If he’s going to get through this rationally, then coffee is a much-needed requirement.

There’s a creak in the floorboards, which makes Katsuki’s eyes snap to the doorway to meet cobalt blue.

Saito lets himself into his own kitchen. “You look like a startled cat.”

There’s no reply.

Flicking the tap on, running water gushes out of the tap as the lean man grabs a sponge. Katsuki pours boiling water into his cup, and watches it simmer.

“Where’s L/n?”

“On the balcony.”

Katsuki whips his head to Saito, teeth bared, eyes flashing.

“I told you to watch her—!”

“And I told you she needs to be alone.”

Annoyance creeps up his spine at that remark.

“You don’t know L/n,” Katsuki says, and there’s venom infused into it.

Saito doesn’t respond immediately, choosing his words wisely. “I’m not here to argue with you.”

Katsuki’s glare is sharp as he tears a hand through his hair. Irritated with himself, he rips his eyes away from the hero dropout.

You’re going to die.

The thought repeats, and his blood is cold.

You’re going to die.

“How do I save her?” Katsuki says, voice low, dumping the coffee powder into his boiling water. “See the unseen? Find what has been lost? There are two parts of this wannabe Shakespeare, and we have nowhere to start.”

Blue eyes flicker to red, and all the sounds left is the sound of the fan in the living room.

“I don’t know,” Saito admits.

Katsuki’s fingers curl into fists as a wave of helplessness, uncertainty, and anger courses through his veins. He’s frustrated and so, so tired of running around in circles.

When one solution presents itself, another problem lands right on his lap with vague words strung out by a toddler who thought he was smart. You’re not a means of passing time anymore.

You’re important to him.

And he doesn't want to see that horrified, let-down expression on your face ever again.

“Kenji was my first friend, ever.” Saito’s voice is thick, like he’s trying to push back a wave of tears. “And when he finally told me about his situation, all my memories came back to me. I felt horrible for forgetting somebody like him,” Saito shrugs. “We may not be related by blood, but we were brothers. And I failed him by being too late.”

Katsuki’s coffee sits untouched, as heavy silence hangs between the both of them.

“We had to go back to the tree we used to sleep under in the nearby forest. I’m sure you know it. The one the government cornered off.”

Katsuki brushes aside the memory of Deku’s outstretched hand and the sound of running water.

Focus. He needs to focus.

”There was something we lost there.” Saito continues. “To break the phenomenon, we had to find Kenji’s watch.”

The words pluck the air as Katsuki blinks.

“To break the phenomenon,” he repeats slowly. “You had to find a watch.”

Saito looks at him dead in the eye. He’s not joking. “Yes.”

See the unseen, find what has been lost.

With a scoff, he utters frustratedly. “What kind of significance can a watch hold—”

He stops short when he sees the sorrow deepen in the man’s eyes.

“You have no idea.”

Whatever importance that watch held, it was evident even after more than a decade’s worth of grieving, it was still tearing him up inside. And by the looks of it, it was a story that Katsuki did not want to be told.

“Oh, and one more thing.” Saito turns off the tap and returns the last plate to the dish rack. “That yellow thread you mentioned? It’s a guide, so follow it.” Katsuki gets a bitter smile, and a pat on the shoulder.

“Mine was blue, but that isn’t the point. It led me too.”

—

Your fingers are numb on the cold railing of the balcony.

The temperature is rising, albeit still being cold, but you don’t exactly care for your body’s shivering or the sting in your chest.

You wish you could numb your brain, too.

Light footsteps shuffle against the concrete, and in the next second, you find Katsuki standing next to you, red eyes focused on an invisible point off in the distance.

He doesn’t say anything, and you don’t either.

He does, however, lean in closer to you, warmth radiating from his body.

Wordlessly, you do the same.

You were going to die in less than a year.

If Katsuki could move boulders, defy the odds and save the world, Katsuki could break a stupid phenomenon.

You know he can, and you know he will because as much as he likes to deny it, he has a good heart.

Suddenly, you really want a hug right now.

A glance at Katsuki is all it takes, and with a slight nod, he lets you in.

It feels almost too sinful to be in the embrace of the one you used to love, that it rekindles your feelings with a spark. You extinguish it and squash your hope.

Priorities.

Survival first, feelings later.

#juxtaposition (Bakugou)#mha #mha fanfiction #my hero academia #bakugou katsuki #katsuki bakugō #bakugo x you #bakugou x y/n #bakugou katuski x reader #bakugou x reader #angst #bakugou angst #bakugou fluff #fluff

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lakesbian · 6 months

Note

How do you think Alec would have handled getting the Valkyrie treatment? Being made into a puppet in the same way that he did to other people, his sacrificial suicide being subverted by another cape who uses people as tools but in a much more complete and permanent sense, coming back wrong and having his cape identity irrevocably a part of his body and self, and no longer being able to take off the mask, is this anything?

see i've rotated this extensively in my mind before because i think coming up with how a cape's design would turn out if they got glastig uained is a really fun exercise (do that shit to lisa for some Fun eyeball body horror!!) but i'm struggling to come up with what would happen to alec :( the most obvious answer is the crown becoming like. Attached. to his head. but id ont know if that's too far out there. there's also the concept of having his face frozen in a permanent smirking expression but i feel like that would go Too tragically counter to the point of a 'surprise hes back again' au wherein he would be expected to. yknow. realize and experience some of his feelings again at some point. so yeah i'd need someone else to help me figure that one out.

anyway the actual experience of being glastig uained. if i recall correctly in ward brian says it was basically just like waking up feeling like everything from before he died was just a few days ago not Years ago so i don't think alec would care that much that someone was using his ghost or whatever for shit while he was dead, relative 2 all the other problems in his life. wouldnt even notice with the type of shit hes got going on. the big reason why this au doesn't really work is that it's just Wildly Unproductively Depressing. it seems like ciara only starts bringing random people back by the time aisha is like. what. 20?

it works Fine and Actually Thematically Interesting Well that brian is like oh FUCK youve GROWN UP when he gets back because it's relevant 2 their sibling dynamics. but it does. it does not work if alec gets back and aisha is like 20. it's just depressing. from alec's PoV it would be "congrats you've been brought back into a world where your best and only friend is too old and character-developmented for you to actually have a close connection with even though for you it feels like she was still your age only a few days ago and also your fucking shit ass siblings are here too and btw the world ended so all of the nice luxuries you were enjoying previously are not options anymore. go feed the earth gimel sheep boy." and from aisha's perspective her best friend would be back but in a monkeys paw way where he did not get to grow up with her and he's still little and sad and fucked up and more like one of his siblings that she's caring for/trying to help vs the equal best friendship she Wants but Can't Have because he is Fifteen. so now everything sucks and is sad for everyone involved. :(.

i would say "on the 'up'side this is a hot new contender for scenarios wherein lisa could feasibly decide alec is her new sopping wet fixer-upper" but she already has an even more absurd and unstable option (that one cop) so as usual alec remains background. btw he would be offended on taylors behalf that lisa had replaced taylor with victoria (who he does not like because shes annoying) and entirely oblivious that taylor had ever thought or said anything about him being sucks and utterly lacking in interiority. AUs that have potential to be funny wrt alec's interactions with the other undersiders but are wildly fucking depressing when you get to his interactions with aisha.

if we fudge a bit and say ciara brings him back like riiight after gold morning aisha would only be a bit over a year older than him so that's more doable in terms of character development and eventual reconnection but it'd still be a mess. i'm not articulating my explanation of how aisha's character development works rn and i don't feel like saying something wrong so i'll just leave it here but trust me it'd still be a mess. maybe an interesting one but a mess

#ask #worm spoilers #scarf don't look

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rinadragomir · 4 months

Note

Ok, I want to start off by saying that I am a fan of all arts and am so appreciative of the time, passion, and work that goes into any kind of content creation.

I am also very particular about when it comes to art. There are mangas, comics, animated works that I have difficulty reading/watching or will not read/watch if I'm not a fan of the art style.

And as an artist I understand that art is subjective and not everyone likes it. Just as I recognize that not everyone likes my particular art style and that's ok. (Not trying to have people come for me like I’m trashing Charlie’s art cuz I am 10000% not.)

Charlie does amazing work and I like it, but it's clear that her style has changed (as most content creators do) since the TLH portraits she did and the pieces that are going in the journal for CC's new kickstarter. I'm a self- taught artist so terminology isn't my best, but her style now is giving semi cartoon realism, but airing on the side of the cartoon more now.

I feel that my unpopular opinion is that I'm not a huge fan of it. I really like the TLH portraits she did of Matthew, James, Christopher, Thomas, ect, but idk there is something about these new portraits in her style that I'm just not liking. Her lines are much sharper now, darker, more profound and it feels like all of the face shapes/ jaw lines are basically the same (and I know I have no room to talk since I draw in an anime style so one could argue all my lines look the same).

and I'm NOT saying that they are carbon copies. Jem clearly looks different from Will down to his eye shape which is amazing and looks great. But idk...maybe part of my disliking is also the inconsistencies? and I'm using that term lightly...but like

Clary's hair looking straight when it's very canonly curly. Alec and Magnus having basically the same haircut... (I’m not the best person to speak on Dru…but CJ’s flower card is different and feels more like how she’s described on the book). The lack of and absence of runes... and I know all of that can be personal preference/stylistic choice. After all, art is subjective and based off of the artist's interpretation (for the most part anyway) but I'm a stickler for details so it bugs me…

And I just liked the softness/ more realism style of the previous portraits Charlie has done for TSC than these newer ones. These new ones are nice and I do like them…just not as much…and there are some that I don’t like at all.

Thanks for reading my ramble 😂 I hope it made sense

Summary: I like Charlie’s work, but am not a huge fan of these new TSC portraits.

BESTIE I'M ABOUT TO CRY😭THE WAY I ASKED YOU MYSELF TO EXPRESS YOUR FEELING IN MY ASKBOX AND THEN FORGOT ABOUT IT

Okay okay, SO! You're so brave for saying this, LIKE YES WE'RE BEING FED, thank you for the content for our dying fandom, but damn...

Allow me to also start with: WE LOVE YOU CHARLIE, WE JUST LOVE TO COMPLAIN🥺

I can understand Clary's hair, she could have styled them, I understand few runes on James, maybe Cassie didn't clarify that BUT WHAT ABOUT THESE😫the first one looks like a dream and the second one... I'm not sure, it feels like sth is wrong about it but I'm not an artist and I can't say what exactly is off

BUT SOMETHING IS OFF RIGHT?

One time she nails the character completely and the next time BOOM JUMPSCARE

Is it Cristina? Is it... who's it😳 it can't be Dru

But also I can't blame Charlie, I mean I also prefer her old style, but I'm mostly confused by Cassie. Like...you paid for the work and had a chance to correct the artist or clarify some details about the characters but...you saw this and went YEAH THAT'S WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR, NO, NO NEED TO FIX ANYTHING IT'S ALREADY PERFECT

Girl—

#cassandra clare #damn i love this woman but in case someone might say I'm hating EVEN THOUGH I'M NOT #I'll put this🫴🏻#anti cassandra clare #just in case #charlie bowater #nothing against you #we love you 🫶🏻#tsc #tlh #the last hours #twp #dru blackthorn #wessa #chain of thorns #malec

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fandomxpreferences · 1 year

Text

Violence For Violence Is the Rule of the Beasts

Pairing: Bradley Bradshaw x female!reader

TW: verbal and physical abuse, mentions of blood and injuries, heavy violence, ANGST, toxic relationship

Summary: Bradley knows that your boyfriend mistreats you. But what is he supposed to do when you're convinced he'll change and you keep running back to him? (Based off Devil Doesn't Bargain by Alec Benjamin)

Word Count:5.3k

A/N: if you’re stuck in an unhealthy relationship please don’t wait to seek help. Recognize red flags early and run at the first sign of abuse. I promise you deserve better. Please take care of yourselves.

You and Bradley have been best friends since high school. You were there for him through his mother's diagnosis and subsequent passing and even attended UVA with him to stay close. You've been a constant in his life for almost half his life and nothing has ever been able to keep you apart.

That's exactly why he's so hurt and confused when you suddenly start canceling plans with him and dodging his calls. He even went so far as to show up at your house one night, but either you weren't home or you just refused to answer the door.

You stopped going out with the squad, which left them all baffled as well. You and Bradley have always been a package deal and they accepted you as part of the team without hesitation. As far as everyone knows, no one did anything to upset you. If they had, you didn't express it and now they can't even get ahold of you to get answers.

Your phone seems to always be off now and your social media has been radio silence. The only reason they even know you're alive is that Bob saw you at the grocery store but you had quickly turned and gone the other direction when he waved at you.

It hit him one night that this all started when you became more serious with your current boyfriend. In the beginning, you brought him along to your weekly outings at the Hard Deck and everything seemed fine. Bradley never liked James, and he had expressed concerns to you after meeting him for the first time.

He couldn't quite place his finger on it but something seemed off. It definitely didn't have anything to do with the fact Bradley has spent almost your entire friendship head over heels for you. You'd had boyfriends before and he was always supportive regardless of his own feelings.

This time is different. He doesn't like the way James looks at you or talks to you, and now that he thinks about it your demeanor shifted right before you cut contact. You started going out less often, and when you did you seemed quiet and withdrawn. James was never more than a few feet from you and every time he looked at or touched you, you almost seemed scared.

He mentioned it a couple times but eventually dropped it when you snapped at him. You'd never done that before and it should've been his first clue that something was wrong. He watched as your light slowly dimmed and you became a hollow shell. Your once bright smile no longer reached your eyes and your contagious laugh became timid and unrecognizable.

Still, he gave you space. He had suspicions but you were always so headstrong. He didn't think any man would ever be able to break you, and he assumed if something was ever wrong you would tell him. That was his first mistake.

His second mistake was overlooking the night that he saw you crying in the parking lot as James screamed at you. He chalked it up to a nasty fight and told himself it was none of his business. Ultimately he knew that if it involved you, it was in fact his business but he didn't want to push you further away. That was the last night he saw you for three months.

Then you showed up at his house unannounced shivering in the pouring rain. There's a loud crack of thunder and Bradley frowns when you nearly jump out of your skin. His heart shatters at the sight of you looking so small and fragile on his doorstep and he moves to let you in.

You accept the invitation silently, stepping inside and shifting on your feet awkwardly. What once was like home to you now feels foreign and you feel out of place. Your eyes dart around like a scared animal and the fact that everything is exactly the same makes your heart clench. The house and man in front of you haven't changed a bit, but you have.

"I hate him." You whisper and Bradley watches you carefully. "He's a liar and a cheater. I know he's manipulating me, and I let him. Why do I let him?" You ask and he really doesn't have an answer.

"You have a big heart and always try to see the best in people. It blinds you sometimes." He finally responds and you blink up at him.

"Every time I try to say something he just screams and belittles me until I lose the will to fight. I don't even try anymore." You confide and Bradley wants nothing more than to close the distance between the two of you and whisk you away somewhere safe.

Instead, he stays in place and nods his head. "Is that why you've been avoiding everybody? Avoiding me?" He questions and the tremble of your lip answers for you.

"He's isolating you. You need to get out before it's too late." He tells you and you wipe your eyes, trying to keep the fresh tears at bay.

"I know." You tell him and he finally pulls you into a hug. You melt into him and sob, unable to control the violent tremors wracking through your body.

He calms you down and you spend the night curled up in a blanket, an empty look in your eyes as you stare at the wall.

By the time midnight rolls around, you're leaving to go back to James' house. Bradley tries to convince himself you'll come to your senses, but he doesn't really believe it. You're already caught in the riptide of abuse, and he knows you're more likely to drown than swim.

When he doesn't hear from you for a week, he decides to go to your house and check on you. He knocks for several minutes and doesn't get a response.

Worry clouds his judgment and he walks around to peer into a side window. He feels bile rise in his throat when he sees the inside of your home that was once warm and inviting.

There's broken glass from a mirror on the ground and several fist-shaped holes in the walls. Your coffee table lays on its side, the decorations that usually adorn it scattered on the rug. He doesn't even want to know what the rest of the house looks like.

Obviously, he knew your relationship with James is toxic. You'd snuck off to meet him a couple more times after that first night when it was really bad. No matter how hard he tried to convince you it wouldn't get better and that you can't change him, you always go back.

If James is destroying things and punching walls, he knows it's only a matter of time before he starts taking it out on you. That is if he hasn't already. The thought makes him physically ill and his heart hammers in his chest as his thoughts are consumed by the need to find you.

He hears crying inside and he shuts his eyes, trying to stay reasonable. His fists are clenched at his side and he debates whether he should try the door again or hunt James down and kill him.

He decides you're more important and moves back to the front of your house. He rings the doorbell a few times and tries to yell loud enough for you to hear him.

"Y/N, I know you're in there. Let me in." He considers telling you he'll break the door down but the last thing he wants is for you to get scared. You don't answer and he suddenly remembers that he has a key.

He's never had to use it before, you've always left the door open for him. He pulls it out and unlocks the door, thankful it worked.

He makes his way toward your whimpers, feeling sicker with every step. Your home is completely trashed and he wonders if this is an accumulation or the result of a single rage fit.

He finds you on the bathroom floor, surrounded by shards of glass, and shakes his head. What has James done to you? This isn't the woman he knows.

Sobs rip from your throat when you see your best friend and he silently bends down and scoops you up. You have too much skin exposed and he's already concerned that you might have cuts and scrapes.

He carries you to the living room and sets you down gently. His hands roam your skin as he looks for any sign of injury and you let him. He breathes a little easier when he sees you're unscathed, but his chest still feels like it has a boa constrictor wrapped around it.

"You have to leave. He's taking his anger out on objects because he wants you to know how badly he wants to hit you. Sooner or later it won't be enough, and he will." He whispers and you feel your throat burn.

"I know you think you love him, but this isn't love. I'm not trying to overstep, but I'm begging you. Please leave before it gets any worse." He pleads and you nod. You break it off that night and for a couple weeks, things almost seem normal again.

Then James starts making tearful promises and sending you expensive gifts. He swears he'll get help and change, and you believe him. Bradley watches helplessly as you go back to him once again, and slip back under his control.

Bradley doesn't see you for another month, and this time when you show up in the middle of the night your face has a red hand print that's swelling and there are bruises in the shape of fingers on your bicep.

"You were right." You cry and Bradley silently wraps you in his embrace. He feels his own tears slipping down his face as he holds the battered woman he loves. He feels whatever you go through and right now it feels like someone has punched him in the gut and sucked the air from his lungs.

"Come stay with me. Please don't go back again. You need to leave for good before we have to bury you." He cries and you nod into his chest.

"Okay, I promise." You whimper but this time it does nothing to comfort him. He wants to believe you but he's heard it all before. He fears it'll take something drastic to get through to you, and his worries are confirmed.

Two weeks later you're back in James’ arms. The squad watches Bradley wither away right alongside you. There are bags under his eyes now, the stress and insomnia taking their toll. Every night he resists the urge to go to you, staring at the ceiling and wondering if you're okay before the exhaustion consumes him.

When you come crying to him again a week later with a busted lip he reaches his breaking point. You're barefoot on his doorstep and every word feels like acid on his tongue as he blocks you from coming in.

"I can't keep doing this, it's killing me. I know I can't make you do anything, but he is never going to get better, sunshine." He begins and you feel a fresh set of tears at the nickname he always calls you. "You can't change evil. I just want what's best for you, and I can't keep watching you run back to someone who breaks you every single time. If you decide you've had enough, I'm always here. But until you're really ready, I need you to stop showing up here."

Every fiber of his being is screaming for him to take it back, to just bring you inside and keep doing this dance even if he knows how it ends. But he doesn't, and you stare up at him with a heartbroken expression.

He's hoping and praying that you relent, tell him that you choose him and you'll really stay away this time. Instead, you swallow thickly and nod before turning on your heel and leaving.

The second you're gone he shuts the door and slides down to the ground. He doesn't know how long he sits there, sobs ripping through him as the gravity of the situation crushes him. He's lost everybody he cares about, and he just watched you stroll out of his life knowing there's nothing else he can do.

He swears he's aged ten years in the span of a few months. It's been three weeks since that night and he hasn't seen or heard from you. His heart drops every time his phone goes off, scared out of his mind that it's going to be his worst nightmare realized.

Phoenix watches as Bradley picks up his phone and answers an unknown number. "Hello?" He greets, confusion clear on his features.

"May I speak with Mr. Bradley Bradshaw?" A woman asks and his frown deepens. "This is him." He answers with a shrug as Phoenix mouths 'who is it?' across the table at him.

"Hi, Mr.Bradshaw. I'm a nurse at UC San Diego Medical Center. We have Y/N Y/L/N here and you're listed as her emergency contact. Are you able to come in?" She rambles and Bradley stutters out a yes before hanging up as blood rushes in his ears.

He immediately stands and rushes outside, emptying the contents of his stomach into the sand. He tried to tell you and you didn't listen. Now look where you are. Phoenix and Jake are hot on his trail and their hearts drop when they see Bradley stand back up with tears rolling hot and heavy down his face.

He doesn't say anything as he makes a beeline for the bronco and they follow him wordlessly, climbing in. They've known Bradley a long time. He's been through intense situations and never once reacted anywhere close to this. They know immediately that something bad has happened to you. You're the only thing that could ever have this sort of effect on him.

They sit silently as he speeds to the hospital, and their fears are confirmed. They know about your relationship and were praying it would never get to this point. They take off after Bradley as he sprints inside and find him talking to the receptionist.

She gives him a room number and he immediately races to find you. Jake and Phoenix take a seat in the waiting area, knowing that this is something Bradley has to do alone.

He braces himself as he grabs the door handle and swings it open. His breath hitches when his eyes land on you, nothing in the world could have prepared him for this. He has tunnel vision as he stares at you, unsure how to proceed.

You're hooked up to IVs and you look like you've been through hell. He supposes you have. There's dried blood on your nose and your eye is almost swollen shut, painted in dark purples and blues. His eyes rake over you and he notices older bruises, pale yellow and clearly in the last stages of healing.

He hears your heart monitor speed up and takes a step forward. The despair in his chest is immediately filled with rage when he sees James sitting in the chair next to the bed. This piece of shit has the nerve to do this to you and then play the role of concerned boyfriend?

His jaw clenches so hard he thinks he might break a tooth and you look up at him. If James is here then why would they call your emergency contact? Unless you told them to.

"What happened?" Bradley growls and you break eye contact.

"I fell down the stairs." You murmur and he scoffs.

"Fell or was pushed?" He asks bitterly and your scared expression causes him to soften.

"Fell." You reiterate and his eyes bore into you. "We both know that's a lie."

He hears James stand up and tries to remind himself that smashing his face in right now won't help. The man goes to speak but Bradley beats him to it.

"Leave." He spits and James laughs. "She's fine. You can go." He snarks and Bradley squares his shoulders.

"Do I look like I'm asking? Get the fuck out. I'm five seconds away from making a scene until the cops are called and I think we both know you don't want that." His voice is dripping venom and James stares for a few seconds before storming past him.

He waits until the door shuts and approaches you carefully, afraid if he moves too quickly you might shatter right before his eyes. He sees you visibly relax once you're alone and it makes his heart clench.

"He's going to kill you. It's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when." He says softly and you lick your lips.

"I know. He took my phone so I pretended to be injured enough to warrant a hospital visit. I told them to call you." you explain and he feels tears prick his waterline. How the fuck did he let it get this bad?

You can see him internally struggling, placing the blame on himself and you reach out to him.

"It's not your fault, Roos. You did everything you could. Thank you." Your voice is so quiet and his knees almost give out upon hearing his nickname in that sweet tone he missed so much.

He takes your hand and presses a soft kiss to your bruised knuckles. You tried to fight back. He doesn't know if that thought makes him feel better or worse, so he pushes it aside.

"Now that he's gone you can tell me. You didn't fall, did you?" He confirms and you shake your head slowly. He already knew the answer but finally having you admit it makes him want to throw up again.

You stare up at him with that soft adoration that you've only ever held for him and blink your lashes at him. "I need help. I'm ready."

Outside, Phoenix kicks Jake's foot to get his attention. He glares at her but quickly turns to look when she nods toward the door with wide eyes. James looks like he's on a war path and Jake stands without thinking.

His feet carry him toward the man and he intercepts him just before he leaves. "James? Fancy seeing you here. Everything okay?" He asks with mock sincerity and James plasters on a fake smile.

Phoenix quickly takes out her phone and shoots Bradley a text.

Jake is squaring off with James. Why the fuck is he here?

Back upstairs you and Bradley are trying to formulate a plan when his phone goes off. He reads the message and you see his features darken. He leans in to kiss your forehead before taking off and you call out after him.

"Where are you going?" You ask and he looks back over his shoulder.

"To take care of this shit once and for all." He answers and your heart leaps into your throat. What the hell is that supposed to mean?

Bradley stalks downstairs and is met with Jake blocking James from leaving. He grabs him by the shoulder and whips him around with such force the man stumbles a bit.

"Outside. Now." He barks and Bradley smirks at the flash of fear in his eyes.

"I'm leaving man." He tries to reason and Bradley chuckles darkly.

"Not now, you're not." He doesn't give James a chance to protest as he grabs him by the back of the neck and literally drags him outside. He keeps walking until he finds a more secluded place and the second James turns to face him, his fist connects with his nose.

James stumbles back as blood starts pouring down his face and looks at Bradley like he's lost his mind. Maybe he has, but that's not going to stop him. James sees the crazed look in Bradley's eyes and turns to run, but slams into Jake's sturdy chest.

"I don't think so." He smirks and grabs James to turn him back around. He holds him in place as Bradley lands a blow to his stomach before letting go. James drops to the ground with a loud groan and Bradley is on him in an instant.

He vaguely hears Jake telling him to stop, but he's too far gone. He thinks about that first night and the fear in your eyes. Right hook to the jaw. Then he remembers when you showed up with a busted lip. Another blow to his mouth and blood starts gushing. Images of you lying beaten and bruised upstairs flash through his mind and all Bradley can think about is making him feel the same pain.

His fists alternate as blood goes flying and Bradley moves to hit him in the stomach and ribs. Left, right, left, left. The blows just keep coming and it's not until Jake is able to pry him off that Bradley even realizes what he did.

"Bradshaw, stop. You're going to kill him." Jake shouts, hands coming up to shove him back.

Bradley blinks a few times and realizes just how close he came to actually committing murder. What scares him is that that doesn't scare him. He doesn't feel an ounce of remorse. In fact, all he can think is that James deserves to die.

He looks down at the man as the adrenaline slows down and takes in the sight. James is barely recognizable, his eyes already swollen shut. Bradleys not sure when he went unconscious and he really doesn't care. Blood is pouring from several gashes and Jake turns him on his side so he doesn't choke.

Jake didn't even know Bradley was capable of this level of violence but he doesn't blame him one bit. He knows he would've done the same thing.

"You need to go shower and change. I'll tell the hospital that there's a guy who needs help." Jake says and Bradley frowns. Jake nods his head towards Bradley's shirt and hands and he looks down.

James' blood is splattered all over his white henley and his hands and forearms are no better. Bradley hands Jake his keys and sighs.

"Pull my truck around, I can't walk through the parking lot like this." He says and Jake nods.

Bradley drives back to his house in silence, mulling over everything in his mind. He knows he should feel at least a little regret and he wonders if he should be worried that he doesn't. He knows his hands are going to be fucked, but the throbbing in his knuckles is nothing in comparison to what you went through.

He'd do it a million times over. In fact, the only regret he does have is that he didn't do it sooner.

He rushes inside and throws his shirt in the trash before hopping in the shower. He doesn't bother washing his hair, instead focusing on the blood-soaked areas so he can get back to you sooner. He watches as blood goes down the drain and smirks to himself.

There's a certain level of satisfaction in it, and he wonders how many times your showers looked like this. How many times the water ran red with your blood. The thought is enough to stave off any idea of feeling sorry for James. He deserved it.

Bradley hops out and gets dressed quickly, before wrapping up his knuckles. They're busted and bleeding lightly, already dark purple. He winces slightly as he grabs his steering wheel but presses on, desperate to be by your side again.

He's only seen you a handful of times over the past few months and not one of them has been pleasant. He pulls up to the hospital and parks, watching as James is wheeled in on a gurney. He waits until he's inside before getting out and starting towards the building.

Jake and Phoneix are still in the waiting room and he gives them a nod in passing as he goes straight to the elevators. He walks into your room a little more confidently this time and guilt wells in his chest when he sees how worried you look.

"Where the hell did you go?" You ask and he clears his throat. Your eyes dart down to look at his hands and realization dawns on you.

"Bradley," You whisper so gently it almost makes him cry. "What did you do?"

He shuffles over to sit where James was and takes your hand. "What I should've done before it ever got to this point. Nobody will ever hurt you again." He promises and you study his face.

"Did you kill him?" You ask, voice barely audible and Bradley laughs.

"No, sunshine. I don't look good in orange. Besides, how would I see your gorgeous face every day if I'm in prison?" He jokes and for the first time in what seems like forever, you laugh.

It's a real genuine laugh and Bradley's heart soars. A bright smile splits his face and you return the gesture. "There she is. There's my pretty girl." He hums and the beeping on the monitor speeds up.

You've been in love with Bradley since you were seventeen years old, you just never thought he would return the feelings. Sitting here now as he looks at you like you hung the moon after nearly killing a man for hurting you, you're not so sure.

"Hey, Roos?" You say quietly and he peers up at you. "Thank you."

He leans forward to press a kiss to your temple and you revel in the feeling. "Anything for my sunshine."

You're held for observation overnight and the next day, Bradley takes you home. He walks you inside and you frown when you see your house has been cleaned up. You look over at him confused and he gives you a small grin.

"I had the squad come over and take care of it. The last thing you need is a reminder, and you're in no condition to be cleaning." He shrugs and you stare at him with a slack jaw.

He quirks an eyebrow and pokes your side. He's about to make a joke about a cat having your tongue but the words die in his throat when you wince. His smile drops and he takes a step toward you.

"Take your shirt off." He instructs and you laugh nervously. "That's a bit presumptuous don't you think?" You try to tease but he gives you a stern look and you know you can't get out of it.

You sigh loudly as you pull it up and over your head before dropping it to the ground. Bradley doesn't even have a chance to enjoy the fact you're topless in front of him because his eyes immediately land on the area he just touched.

There are large black and blue bruises on your ribcage and abdomen, accompanied by a few small scars. He looks up at you with sad eyes and you avoid his gaze. He takes your chin between his index finger and thumb, guiding you to look at him.

"You didn't fake being injured enough for the hospital, did you?" He breathes and you shake your head.

"No," you answer and his heart sinks. "I was worried I had broken ribs and internal bleeding."

His fingers brush lightly over the area and goosebumps prickle your skin. "And the scars?" He whispers, not sure if he wants to know the answer.

"From broken glass." You tell him and he pulls you into a hug. His hand comes up to rub your hair as your head lays on his chest, and he holds you as if he's afraid you'll vanish into thin air.

"I'm so sorry." He chokes and you squeeze him tightly. "For what?"

You hear him sniffle and a tear lands on your hair. "I should have helped sooner. I never should have told you to stop coming. Hell, I never should have let you go back the first time."

You shake your head aggressively and reach up to cup his face in both hands. "Look at me." You demand and his gorgeous hazel eyes that you love so much meet yours.

"You didn't let me do anything. There's nothing you could have done to stop me. It was a lesson I had to learn on my own. I just wish I wasn't so damn stubborn." You assure him and he swallows back a sob. "I hid it from everybody, especially you."

"No, I knew something wasn't right and I ignored it. I could have done something, anything." He argues and you scowl.

"You did do something. You came when I needed you. You protected me." You breathe and he's suddenly aware of close you are when your breath fans over his face.

Your eyes glance down at his mouth and his tongue darts out to wet his lips. Before you can consider if it's a good idea, you press your lips to his. He melts into you instantly, and the two of you fall into a gentle rhythm for a few minutes.

Finally, he pulls back and you look up at him with doe eyes. "I'm in love with you." You blurt out and his breathing hitches. He searches your eyes for any sign of deceit but all he finds is that pure adoration that's reserved just for him.

"It's about damn time." He mutters and you mock offense. "Excuse me, what the he-" You start but he cuts you off.

"Shut up." He whispers and his lips are immediately back on yours. Your hands tangle in his hair and his hold on your waist is so soft that if it wasn't for the heat radiating off his hands, you wouldn't even feel them.

You pull back gasping for air and he rests his forehead against yours. "I've been in love with you since I was seventeen years old." He confesses and you laugh lightly.

"We're fucking idiots."

Bradley laughs along with you and you can feel the pieces coming back together. This is where you've always belonged, safe and secure in the arms of Bradley Bradshaw.

The next few months are rough as your body heals and you start therapy to help with the nightmares. Bradley never leaves your side, helping you through every single second. The two of you started officially dating that night and besides the obvious, it's been bliss.

James was in the hospital for a couple of months and you heard through the grapevine that as soon as he was out he packed up and left the state. Probably a smart move on his part.

Things fell back into their old rhythm with the team, weekly movie nights and drinks at the bar a regular occurrence again. Sometimes it still breaks Bradley's heart that you went through that pain and abuse.

Mostly when he gets glimpses of that broken girl on the bathroom floor. You're mostly back to your old self, but you still flinch around loud noises and shrink back if someone moves too suddenly. It's getting better with time and help from Bradley but he doesn't know that it will ever fully go away.

He doesn't mind, though. It's not hard for him to treat you gently. He's always talked kindly to you and been soft. When he does get loud while playing darts or doing something with the team, he immediately recognizes it and apologizes.

You've told him time and time again that he doesn't have to be sorry, that you could never be scared of him. But still, he sees that battered and bruised version of you and buys you flowers as an apology anyway.

Bradley loves you wholely and fiercely, the way that you deserve. He holds you at night and keeps you tucked into his side whenever you're out. He cooks dinner and buys you little things that remind him of you just because.

You're his sunshine and he's your protector. You bring him warmth and he brings you peace. He's everything you ever wanted and finally, you got your happy ending.

@drakelover78 @manyfandomsfanvergent @ssprayberrythings @disturbedbeautywrites @desert-fern @one-sweet-gubler @callmemana @luckyladycreator2 @bookchik26 @taytaylala12 @michalkasimp @xoxabs88xox @loveless-simp @withakindheartx @formulapierre @ccristata @shanimallina87 @k-k0129 @izz-ayes-world @kajjaka @oxxolovemelikeyoudooxxo @phantomxoxo @rosiahills22 @gspenc @chair-things @benhardysdrumstick @cookielovesbook-akie @dempy @wellshit6

#top gun maverick #bradley bradshaw #top gun imagine #rooster top gun #bradley bradshaw imagine #bradley bradshaw top gun #bradley bradshaw angst #bradley bradshaw x reader #bradley bradshaw fic #protective bradley bradshaw

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thelostgirl21 · 1 year

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I think one of the reasons why I absolutely adore Magnus and Alec's first time together is because, as Magnus once said, Alec is just so... innocent.

I know that fans are often equating him sort of pouncing on Magnus to passionately kiss him (as soon as he learned they had the apartment to themselves), and later eagerly pushing him towards the bedroom while starting to unbutton his shirt, as him being anything but "innocent".

But, to me, having the confidence to express his desires, going after what he wants, and taking charge of a situation - even one filled with some unknowns - is not something indicating a lack of innocence on Alec's part.

Part of it likely comes from his own temperament. Like Izzy said, he has a tendency to overthink things.

He can make brash and impulsive decisions, at times, in an effort to quickly fix issues causing him a great deal of emotional distress, true. But otherwise, he usually tries to look at a situation through as many angles as he can, collect data from a number of different sources, ask for other people's input, etc., before reaching a conclusion.

Once he does commit to a given course of action, however, he fully commits!

Not blindly (i.e. the feedback he receives from his environment will make him change course if he notices something's wrong and he's no longer sure that he's doing the right thing), but with an impressive amount of drive, willpower, and determination.

What makes him such a formidable leader, IMHO, is that he's got the strength of his convictions, while said convictions remain flexible and adaptable in light of any newly acquired information.

Whenever he realizes he's made a mistake, he's able to own it, figure out / explain why he made that mistake, learn from it, and work on solutions to prevent making those same mistakes again.

And it is a really, really good thing. Because, driven as he is, if he was remotely dogmatic in his beliefs or unable to cope with the idea of being wrong, he'd truly be dangerous - crushing anything and anyone in his path to reach his objectives.

But the point is that Alec is someone that typically tries to measure the potential impact of his actions before he reaches a decision.

And, since all of his concerns have been dealt with before - during the "overthinking phase" - there's often no longer any need for him to hesitate or hold back while acting on it.

In this very instance, it was rather clear that becoming sexually intimate with Magnus was something that he'd had the chance to think long and hard (no pun intended) about.

Since - given he'd already been with approximately 17 000 lovers before - the likeliness of Magnus being comfortable having sex with him was rather high.

From Alec's P.O.V., I'm guessing that the only one "reasonably holding them back" from being sexually intimate with each other, technically, was Alec himself.

I have a feeling that he already knew that, deep down, he felt ready to have sex with Magnus when he went to ask Izzy for advice.

He just needed to be sure that his lack of experience wasn't making him overlook any important variables before fully "going for it".

For example: Is there anything that Izzy wished she'd have known before she had sex for the first time that she didn't? Anything specific he should be made aware of? Anything he (or Magnus) could regret?

And she basically lets him know that - since Magnus and him genuinely care about each other - it's going to be fine.

If the thought of having sex with Magnus is something that Alec wants, if it makes him happy, then the best thing for him to do is to stop worrying!

She's making it rather clear that her own experience with sexual intimacy is - thankfully - not something she regrets, and there's no reason why Alec might regret it, either.

If it is something that he does yearn for, and since he's with someone that genuinely cares about his well-being and safety, then the only thing that might ruin this for Alec is Alec himself worrying about what could go wrong.

So, Alec pouncing on Magnus - going right after what he wants and what makes him happy with pure abandon once he's sure of his decision - to me, is extremely typical of the way Alec behaves in general.

But, most importantly, I see it as a sign of complete trust in his partner.

He's comfortable enough initiating the physical intimacy and openly expressing what he wants, regardless of his own inexperience, because he trusts Magnus to guide him through the process.

As it turns out, however, Alec had overlooked some variables - namely Magnus' own fears and insecurities. And this is where Alec displays traits that really show how innocent he is, too.

He sees Magnus as someone that loves him unconditionally, and that couldn't possibly seek to hurt or take advantage of him.

Alec is in love with him, he feels loved by him, and he's got no tangible awareness, apparently, that there is a significant power imbalance between them that Magnus (thankfully) remains very aware and respectfully mindful of.

I say "thankfully", because the fact that Magnus worries about taking advantage of any situation with Alec is a good sign that Alec's trust in him isn't being misplaced.

I believe that Magnus is fully aware that, his whole life, Alec has been conditioned to meet the expectations of those he loves and depends on to feel safe.

And, while they eventually did see the errors of their ways, his parents did use how they expressed or withheld love and approval towards their children as motivational tools to get them to act certain ways, and make certain choices.

Alec was even willing to go as far as marry Lydia because he felt responsible for fixing his parent's mistakes and restoring his family's honor.

He has a tendency to readily sacrifice his own wants and needs for those he loves - to put himself second.

And Magnus knows that he's always been very honest with him regarding his past sex life history.

From appreciative "name dropping" (Michelangelo was "excellent in bed", Casanova was "brazen"...) to him having been with "men, women, seelies, warlocks, vampires... a djin or two" (about 17 000 of them!), he's made it rather clear that sex is something he enjoys indulging in every now and then.

So, it wouldn't be far fetched for Magnus to worry that Alec would have interpreted his openness about sex in general as being something that he would absolutely need to have in a relationship in order to continue being interested in his partner.

It makes sense that Magnus would be concerned that he may have unwittingly offered Alec the impression that, if he took too long before being able to "give him what he needs" to be happy or feel fulfilled in their relationship, then he might decide that being with a 20-something inexperienced virgin Shadowhunter wasn't worth it, and/or go seek "his pleasure" elsewhere.

I mean, from what I understand, Magnus himself has often been made to feel like what he had to offer was either too much, or not enough, too. He even apologetically told Alec in the beginning of their relationship "I know I'm a lot to get used to".

So, his own ability to clearly express where he stands and what he wants or needs - and have his partner understand it - has been something that he's been made to feel very insecure about.

And the last thing he wishes to do, I believe, is hurt Alec or take advantage of him; to have Alec feel like he should be sexually active with him based on any wrongly interpreted signal that Magnus might have been unwittingly sending him simply by being open and honest about his past.

And if you do force yourself to have sex with someone without truly wanting it - for fear that you might be losing them if you don't - there's a very high likeliness of your own body responding to the sexual act as some form of aggression.

Sadly, once your brain starts making associations between the feeling that some of your personal boundaries having been violated and the person you were with when that feeling occurred, you may instinctively start withdrawing from them and be uncomfortable being generally intimate with them.

So, Magnus being instinctively cautious, and refusing to immediately take Alec's eagerness to be sexually intimate with him at face value makes sense and is extremely reassuring in its own way.

Alec also display some measure of innocence in the way he responds to Magnus attempt at slowing him down, too.

It goes from this sort of still somewhat eager open confusion where he's just verbally clarifying what he wants (Okay... I thought pouncing on your significant other once you've made sure the way is clear might convey "I want us to sleep together! Let's do this! I'm ready!"... Did I miss something? Damnit, Izzy, I swear if I learn there's some sort of mating ritual you're supposed to go through first, and you never thought to tell me, I'll be so pissed!)...

...to extremely focused on Magnus when he starts expressing his own concerns with Alec's wish for them to become sexually intimate together so soon into the relationship.

Alec's not just listening to his words, but appears to be actively looking for clues in Magnus' gaze and in his behavior to help him figure out what's happening, and what he might have been missing in all of his prior "overthinking".

While Alec doesn't seem to fully "get it" (apparently totally unaware that having sex with someone before you are fully ready might put a strain on a relationship, and/or just how easy it would be for someone to take advantage of the way Alec is so openly offering himself to them), he does appear to get that Magnus is scared that he is making the decision to please him, rather than because he truly wants to.

So, to me, having Alec clearly tell him "You have nothing to worry about, I want this", right before confidently pushing Magnus towards the bedroom while starting to unbutton his shirt, doesn't translate as a lack of innocence on his part, either.

I see it more as Alec's way of reassuring Magnus that he is genuinely ready for them to be sexually intimate together. It's him trying to make Magnus feel that he's doing this for himself, first and foremost.

It's Alec wordlessly saying "I may be inexperienced, but I don't see why being inexperienced should make me apprehensive about being sexually intimate with you. I trust you, I believe I'm making the right choice for myself, and I need you to trust me, too."

Alec's innocence also shines through in the way he initiates making love with Magnus like someone that's never been hurt in love before.

In the way he doesn't seem to have any specific expectations besides sharing something that's supposedly wonderful and fun with Magnus.

His guards are completely down, and he's just this happy, giggling, fumbling mess feeling his way around and trying to figure out the steps as he goes...

When Magnus teasingly remarks "that was graceful" (referring to how they both lost their balance several times while making their way to the bed - trying to remove pieces of clothing at the same time - to finally clumsily topple together on top of said bed), Alec gets in on the humor by happily replying "Shadowhunter" while gesturing to himself, then passionately dives right back in all the kissing and groping.

It doesn't seem to occur to him - not even for a second - that some sexual partners have a tendency to take sex very "seriously", and are unable to keep their concentration when the other person is constantly giggling and laughing or even *gasp* joking.

He's not acting like he's scared of messing anything up by not knowing what he's doing, either.

He's not worried about the possibility of Magnus gossiping about having slept with a Shadowhunter, while mocking his lack of experience or "technique" with fellow Warlocks.

There isn't the slightest notion in his mind that any of this could be about Magnus' wishing to add a Shadowhunter on his already impressive list of "sexual conquests".

Until Magnus interrupts them again, there's not a single tiny bit of concern being expressed by Alec about his ability to "offer a good sexual performance", and/or "living up to his partner's expectations", either.

He's just this happy, carefree, loving partner having the time of his life, exploring something new and wonderful in his relationship with the man he loves - something that he never believed he could ever have for himself - and staying in the moment.

He's (rightly) assuming that, because Magnus saw him when it seemed no one else did, told him that being "different" was a good thing, has since been able to set up clear boundaries with him and hold him accountable in the relationship without targeting his ego, and has never tried to make him feel like he's not "good enough" for him, there's no reason why Magnus should expect him to offer anything other than himself.

There's no use for Alec to attempt to pretend he's this amazing lover when he's never been in the position of being a lover before, and Magnus has clearly told him that "he doesn't care how many people he hasn't been with" already.

Magnus makes Alec feel safe, unconditionally loved, supported, and gives him confidence.

Generally speaking, in virtually any context, he uses his own power and experience to empower Alec and help him reach his own potential, rather than seek to dominate him and make him feel small.

He's someone that Alec feels comfortable being emotionally and physically "naked" with.

I remember that the first time I heard and watched the way Alec proudly answered "Shadowhunter" - then immediately grabbed Magnus to kiss him some more (barely giving him any time to process the comment) - I was just totally overwhelmed with "feels"!

Alec is just so blissfully happy and adorably confident and way too pure for this world in this moment! And it's such a delight to watch Magnus positively respond to him and savor those moments with him.

Being innocent, in a sexual context, is not something that I personally see as turning 3 shades of red and starting to giggle nervously because someone said the word "penis" out loud, or freezing at the thought of seeing or touching a bit of skin.

I mean, seeing how comfortable Jace was with Alec walking in on him while he was in the middle of foreplay with a member of his "book club", I'm guessing that it's not the first time something like that has happened between them.

Alec himself appeared to be more irritated with Jace's blatant lack of shame or sense of interpersonal boundaries, rather than traumatized over what he saw was about to happen.

And then, there's Isabelle that, if I remembered correctly, complained about how she was constantly talking to Alec about her love/sex life, while he kept everything to himself.

So, there's no question that Alec knows what sex is, and likely sees sexual activity as something natural that is nothing to be ashamed of.

Being in his early twenties, you would sort of expect him to be surrounded by openly sexually active people and understand what's usually "going on" in a bedroom, not to mention having been given plenty of time to explore his own body.

Thus, what makes him innocent, in the context of a romantic and sexual relationship, to me, really is how he approaches lovemaking with such an open and trusting heart, while laughing, stumbling, trying to connect with his partner and focusing on them being happy together without any hint of concern or fear of being hurt in the process.

And Magnus offers Alec a safe space to be himself and fully enjoy the moment they are sharing by letting Alec set the pace and following his lead. He's stumbling, giggling, and allowing himself to be blissfully happy right alongside him, approaching the whole experience as something new and exciting.

And it is. Each partner you share a bed with is unique, and you will need to find your own shared rhythm with them.

Magnus, however, could easily have ignored all of this and spontaneously taken the role of "the experienced mentor" that will teach the "newbie" everything he knows about sex, including the "best, most pleasurable way to do it"! But he didn't.

And if you're laughing at the statement I just gave, you'd be surprised with how many partners I've had, in my teenage and adult years, that approached sex as some sort of competitive sport, boasting at their own skills and experience, and immediately tried to "take you under their wing" to "teach you all of their trade secrets" as soon as they learned that they were the most experienced out of the two.

Thankfully, my very first experience was with a guy one year younger than myself, that had only had one sexual partner before me, and who was just the sweetest, most attentive partner any virgin could have asked for.

He made the whole experience be about me being comfortable with what was happening and about us being and figuring things out together; and that was exactly what I needed at the time. He never made me feel like there was any rush for us to get anywhere specific together.

Sadly, not everyone is as fortunate. Some experienced partners appear to care way more about showcasing their skills and being praised for "giving you a good time", rather than achieving any sense of partnership.

I really believe, however, that the most experienced partner's role should always be to put themselves at the least experienced partner's level at first, so that they can then build something together from there.

Perhaps the least experienced one will be delighted to have the most experienced partner "show off" what they can do and teach them new things!

But the point simply is that it should be a choice they make, and not something that's being imposed on them from the get go on the assumption that "my job is to show you a good time and teach you stuff".

Immediately taking charge without first confirming that this is something the other wants or needs is the best way to damage the least experienced partner's confidence, make them feel like what they have to offer you with their current level of skills and knowledge isn't enough, and make them become overly fearful of taking initiative and just experimenting with different things in the bedroom.

And this is true whether the person you are with is someone you care about, love, and wish to develop a relationship with, or someone you just met at a bar and may never see again in your life.

Even if the goal of the sexual encounter isn't to build a more in depth relationship, the moment you are spending together is an intimate act where you are supposed to be partners. It's a moment where you need to make sure that you both (or all, should you be more than two) get something out of it, and feel like you are contributing to what's happening.

I have friends involved in BDSM - some of them enjoying the occasional company of a complete stranger as they feel it adds something exciting to the experience.

Anyone with a healthy approach to BDSM would tell you how important it is for any dominant/submissive dynamic to be consensual and include limits that all partners have discussed and agreed upon.

There's nothing wrong with the more experienced partner taking the lead in any sexual context, but they always need to make sure that this is what the other(s) want. Trust and communication are key - including paying attention to the non-verbal.

Thankfully, in this context Magnus handles Alec's innocence and inexperience absolutely beautifully, and is more than willing to make the moment about Alec and about the two of them.

Actually, Magnus is so skilled at matching Alec's own rhythm and sharing the experience with him, that he instinctively finds himself letting his own barriers down.

Apparently, Alec makes love with such an open heart and soul - hiding no part of himself in the process - that Magnus can't maintain his own glamour to hide any part of himself from Alec, either.

And, just like that, the power dynamic is changed!

In the Shadow World, Shadowhunters consider themselves the superior race since they share blood with the angels.

They are warriors of light imbued with Heavenly powers that proudly display their runes for anyone (except Mundanes, obviously) to see!

But the Downworlders - that share blood with demons - are taught to hide their "shameful demonic heritage" and are expected to constantly fight against their "demonic nature" that makes them "naturally more prone" to violence, decadence, evil actions, and so forth.

Warlocks may be the most powerful species of the Shadow World, they also are the literal children of demons - hybrids that can't even have their own children and who are carrying a physical mark that reflects their demonic parentage.

Some Shadowhunters apparently used to take those marks as trophies (it's pretty clear that Circle members still do), and it seems to be one of the ways that Shadowhunters sometimes use to confirm the identity of a warlock.

Later, we also learn that Magnus has been vulnerable to Asmodeus' influence as a child because he was the only other person he'd ever met with "eyes like his".

Magnus' eyes are tied to a lot of shame, early rejection (including his mother killing herself and abandoning him, when he was nine, when she finally realized what her son's cat eyes meant), and overall bad memories.

I think that the only times, until then, that we'd seen Magnus with his glamour down on the show was when he was trying to drive people away / intimidate them / remind them of how powerful and potentially dangerous he (or a spell he is performing) is.

It's when he wants people to remember that he's also "part monster", that they would do well not to get on his bad side, or make sure that someone requiring his services understands the type of forces they are dealing with.

Jocelyn Fairchild knocking at his door to get Clary's memories removed, those Circle members in the club, the one Magnus was fighting in his apartment...

They are all people that Magnus wanted to send some form of warning to, whether the warning was hostile, or not.

And suddenly, those "monster eyes" are on full display for Alec to see in a context where he wishes to make Alec feel safe and avoid anything that could ever drive him away.

Thanks to him having lost control over his glamour, Alec is now concerned that he's done something wrong...

And, although Magnus is quick to reassure Alec that his current reaction has nothing to do with something he did - or with him not wanting to share this intimate moment with him - he's still avoiding Alec's gaze, seemingly withdrawing from him, and offering no coherent or clear explanation as to why.

But, try as he might, Magnus can't bring the glamour back on, so he's essentially got two choices...

He can either trust that Alec won't leave once he sees his warlock mark, and that he'll be able to accept that it is a part of him that he can't always control (apparently).

That, should Alec find his eyes' appearance unsettling, they'll find ways to manage the situation until Magnus becomes better at maintaining his glamour around Alec while the two of them are being intimate with each other. Maybe get creative with the use of blindfolds?

Or he can continue to let Alec worry over what's happening while stubbornly keeping his eyes closed and refusing to look at him until he gets the glamour back on, thus maintaining a certain form of "barrier" between them.

Magnus thus chooses to take the risk of allowing himself to be vulnerable with Alec once again - allowing him to see him without any glamour - so he'll understand that his reaction wasn't caused by anything Alec did.

Or actually, maybe it was caused by something Alec did; just not by something Alec did wrong.

And I also love the way that Alec's expression doesn't change right away once Magnus finds the courage to turn around.

I love that Alec briefly continues to just look at him like he's still trying to figure out what's wrong with Magnus now that he's FINALLY able to look in his eyes - steadily searching for the answer there like he did earlier.

I like to think that Alec sort of initially just mentally went: "Okay, that's good, I've managed to get him to look at me. Now, I just need to convince him that it's okay for him to tell me what he meant by "los - OH!"

That the moment he realizes the eyes he's been looking into have changed color and appearance, he breaks into that slightly amused smile (mostly amused at himself for having been too focused on trying to read the emotions written there to immediately notice the change); relieved to know that Magnus and him will be okay.

Because, just like Madzie's gills looked incredibly cool, Magnus' cat eyes are absolutely gorgeous, and Alec knows he's just falling in love with his boyfriend's eyes all over again, gladly getting lost in their depth.

Alec can only hope that Magnus will believe him when he tells him that they are beautiful, that he's beautiful... That it will help relieve some of the pain, fears, and concerns he sees reflected in them...

Meanwhile, Magnus watches Alec go from being a concerned, confused, and inquisitive puppy; to a relieved, mesmerized, and adoring one in a matter of seconds!

Next thing he knows, there's a warm, gentle hand against his cheek; and a pair of open, steady, loving hazel eyes staring right back into his own, tenderly anchoring him there while Alec is calling his cat eyes beautiful, telling him that he's beautiful - all of him - with all the love and sincerity he can muster.

Magnus can allow himself to relax, lovingly reach up to caress the hand resting on his cheek while lazily blinking back at him in wonder.

His cat eyes - that Magnus had usually used to inspire respect and fear, to remind people of his powers and appear more intimidating - aren't driving him away.

For some reason, they appear to be drawing Alec in instead, inspiring him to move even closer to him rather than farther apart. And perhaps - just perhaps - if Alec can love them and see beauty in them, he might be able to learn to love and fully own that part of himself, too.

One of the things that fascinate me about Alec is that, once he found out that his parents and the Clave had lied to him his whole life about their involvement in the Circle, it's like he made the conscious decision to bring all of his perceptions of the Downworld back to factory reset.

He was able to recognize that all of the prejudices he'd ever had about warlocks, vampires, and other Downworlders weren't based on facts, and that there was no actual evidence that Downworlders were better or worse people just for having demon blood.

Instinctively, we fear what we don't know or don't understand - what we haven't been familiarized with when we were young. We perceive what isn't "like us" or "a part of our usual environment" as potential threats.

ROBERT: [Magnus]'s reputation precedes him. And even for a warlock, he’s a bit of a lothario. Alec, there’s so much that you don’t know about him.

ALEC: Well, then I plan to get to know him.

Alec's not denying that there are tons of things he doesn't know nor understand about Magnus, simply stating that he's not going to let that lack of knowledge make him treat Magnus as inherently "bad" or dangerous because of it.

He's going to take the time to get to know him - seek to better understand him - and he'll adapt his opinion of him based on what he sees, learns, finds, and experiences, rather than the opinion of people that have never bothered spending time with him, nor made any efforts to get to know him for who he is rather than what he could potentially do "as a warlock".

Better yet, he's going to start exploring the rest of the Downworld and getting to know their people as if he was experiencing their world and taking a look at them for the very first time, too.

When it comes to Magnus and the Downworld, Alec is choosing to leave himself open and trusting in the face of the unknown, rather than risking to unfairly treat them as threats to keep himself and fellow Shadowhunters "safe" from things they don't understand, yet are too fearful to go explore.

And, unlike Aldertree, he's wise enough to avoid treating anecdotal bad experiences, no matter how tragic or terrible they may be, as facts that can be generalized to all of the Downworld.

Just because the breaks of your car have malfunctioned and caused a crash doesn't mean that every car you'll climb in is ill-fated to have malfunctioning breaks and crash.

Alec is obviously not "innocent" all the way through. He grew up in a world of politics and is perfectly aware of the mind games and power plays that can and often occur there.

He was also emotionally and psychologically abused by parents that used his feelings to get what they wanted out of him (they may have thought they were doing it to protect their children from their past and the Clave, their behavior with their children was still controlling and abusive, even putting Jace, Isabelle, and Alec in the roles of the golden, invisible, and scapegoat child, respectively).

And that's sort of the point. Now that Alec has snapped out of it, he's very perceptive and typically good at noticing and identifying patterns of emotional manipulation, and/or when someone's motivations and goals go against the welfare of those they are supposed to be protecting.

And treating Downworlders as people also means avoiding to fall into the trap of idealizing them by believing that none of them ever would abuse their powers, among others.

Alec may have decided to start trusting and valuing Downworlders with an open heart, and utterly be refusing to see them as a threats based on their reputation and everything he doesn't know about them, but he still allows himself to have an opinion of each individual he meets.

Be they Shadowhunters, Downworlders, or Mundanes, if the individual's actions and motives appear to be self-serving, and/or threatens to bring harm to others, he won't trust nor support them.

But Magnus himself is the one that helped him realize that the way he'd been raised was wrong, and "snap out" of the manipulation and abuse he'd been the victim of. He's the one that inspired him to start questioning the "truths" he'd been blindly taught by the Clave, and to follow what he knew in his heart was right.

Magnus is the one that, while holding Alec accountable for his actions and letting him know when he didn't approve of his behavior, never tried to minimize what Alec was going through nor pretend that he was wrong for feeling the way he did.

In some ways, Alec is far from being innocent, but in others, he truly is.

He's never been in romantic relationship nor had sex with anyone before, he gets upset over the poor tunas being described as "fatty" on the menu of a sushi restaurant, he grew up being pretty sheltered from everything that exists outside of the Shadow World...

And, with Magnus, he doesn't need to pretend that he knows more than he does, nor hide any of that innocence from him, because he knows that he won't be judged for it, mocked about it or, especially, taken advantage of because of it.

He can afford to let his guards down and embrace that side of him that is filled with innocence and wonder because Magnus respects, values, and nurtures it.

What Magnus receives, in return, is the love and acceptation of someone that refuses to let other people's opinions or even blood connections dictate how he should see the world and others, takes the time to truly look at him, and openly tell him what he sees.

Alec doesn't care what warlocks marks are "supposed to mean" according to the Clave. Madzie's gills are cool-looking, so why shouldn't he compliment her on them?

Magnus' eyes are beautiful and he loves them, so why pretend otherwise?

"There is nothing ugly about you."

"I don't care who your parents are. I care who you are."

"You are the furthest thing from a greater demon."

After all, Alec's parents used to be Circle members, and he's the furthest thing from being Circle member, too.

All I can hope is that telling Magnus out loud that he shouldn't carry the burden nor shame of his parents' actions, or the fact that someone took advantage of him at his most vulnerable to try to turn him into someone he's not, is helping Alec truly internalize the fact that his family's crimes and mistakes aren't his to fix, and the way he'd treated or behaved with Downworlders before he realized how wrong his parents and the Clave were isn't something he should feel guilty about, either.

Take steps to make up for his mistakes and show proper responsibility for Downworlders who are under his people's protection, yes. Acknowledge what he did wrong and why it was wrong, absolutely.

But it doesn't make him a terrible person nor puts him at fault. He still deserves to be loved, cherished, put first, and be reminded of how beautiful he is, too.

I think what makes Malec such a beloved pairing is the amount of love and acceptance they have for each other, and their willingness to emotionally empathize despite their very different backgrounds and experiences.

Relationships do take efforts, but it is important not to overlook the type of efforts they require.

Relationships aren't about making the effort to change the other person to better suit yourself, nor to change yourself to become what the other person wants.

Because, while healthy relationships do, indeed, inspire people to change and (hopefully) become better; they do so by "unlocking" parts of ourselves that we didn't dare acknowledge, explore, develop, and/or express until then.

They do so by offering a supportive, loving, and safe environment for certain aspects of our personalities to hatch, take root, and/or grow.

But those are changes that come from within.

You can offer a romantic partner opportunities for change as much as you want, if they do not feel like they have anything to gain by embracing them (or worse, if their goal is to dominate and control the relationship), nothing good will come of it.

Those efforts, instead, are about learning to know and understand each other, finding the right balance between your partner's needs and your own, leaving your ego at the door while trying to resolve conflicts, admitting to being wrong when you are, showing appreciation and respect towards your partner for taking responsibility for their mistakes when it turns out that you are right, and seeking to come out of any conflict or difficult situation with the two of you having gained or learned something out of it, and with your partnership having ideally grown stronger from the experience.

Those efforts are about being willing to pool resources together to support and make each other stronger. They are about finding how to make your respective differences work in such a way that they complement each other, and accept that there are aspects of your lives where you'll need to agree to disagree.

Relationships take efforts, but they require healthy efforts.

And some of those efforts, thankfully, turn out to be more rewarding than anything else.

Because, while Magnus does have to make the effort of being mindful that he's Alec first romantic and sexual relationship, and he does have to make the effort of giving him space to explore, take risks, and set the pace for the both of them, he seems to be enjoying every single second of it.

Since Alec grew up in such a very sheltered environment, there are tons of things in the Mundane world - and even just life in general - that he's yet to have tasted, touched, seen, heard and experienced.

By loving him - by emotionally connecting with Alec - he gets the chance to re-experience many of the things he loves with him for the first time, too.

I have absolutely no trouble imagining Magnus bringing Alec to his favorite restaurants not so much for the food itself, but to drink in the sight of Alec tasting it and listening to him commenting on it - regardless of whether he ends up enjoying the same foods he does or not.

When they walk hand-in-hand in the streets of a foreign city, Alec is likely to pay attention to things that Magnus himself may never have noticed before, and appreciate details that he may have grown to take for granted over time, or stopped noticing after a while.

And, after having grown up with parents that - in Alec's own words - have drilled into him that he was never good enough, Alec has met someone that finds delight and joy in almost everything he does, and who treats him like he's the best thing that has ever happened to him in hundred of years!

Somehow, their respective needs and wants work together in a very beautiful and organic way.

They are different and they do come from different worlds, but their core values, personalities, ability to derive genuine happiness from their partner's own experience of it, and their desire to treat their relationship as a true partnership makes it work and allows them to overcome challenges together.

Magnus offered Alec a world he never thought he'd ever be allowed to have and experience.

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Alec offered Magnus the key to opening his heart and fully emotionally connecting with all the wonders and joys of their world.

Magnus' powers is the magic he was born with, but Alec's love and innocence is the magic he chose to bring home with him and keep safe.

#Malec #Magnus Bane #Alec Lightwood #Alexander Lightwood #Shadowhunters #My thoughts #My stuff #Except for the video at the bottom from YouTube #Videos #My Post #Apparently Alec isn't the only one that tends to overthink things...#I just have way too many feels about these two lately #The art of coming in late to a fandom...#And word-vomitting meta upon it...#I might recover from that pairing...#One day...#Or maybe never...#Yeah never's good...

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