#all our cold boys locked up north

[croziers-compass]

The Terror

#the terror #the terror amc #francis crozier #james fitzjames #the franklin expedition #sir john franklin #all our cold boys locked up north #all our sweet babies #love them all

[bagopucks]

N. Hischier - Wishing For Angels

✄————————————

Nico Hischier x Fem!reader

Word Count: 1.4k

Warning(s): little bit steamy, but also really not. Just pure fluff with Nico!

—————————————

“Hey Oatie.” I bent over to pet the orange and white long haired cat. My joints ached, and my body was tired, but at least I was home. I hated night shifts. Nothing was longer than an evening at work waiting for the hours to pass by so one could close and drive home. Praying that I won’t hit an animal. Or god forbid another car. It had been pouring outside, the thunder cracking in the sky above. The moisture was exactly what New Jersey needed, after collecting so much smoke from the wildfires up north.

My mind wandered to Nico. The cat came to see me. I had to assume my boyfriend was asleep. I felt Oatie weave between my legs, chuckling softly at his purring. The whole reason Nico wanted him was because he sounded like a tiny motorbike engine when he purred. So loud.

“Oats?” I jumped at the sound of my lover’s voice, looking up from the cat to spot Nico peeking through the kitchen doorway. He certainly looked like he’d been asleep.

“Evening.” I spoke just above a whisper. Nico flashed me a smile. We crossed the floor to see each other, arms sliding around one another’s bodies, lips colliding. Oatie followed, snaking between our legs and crying for attention.

“Get lost.” Nico mumbled between passionate kisses, stepping away from the cat. I laughed quietly when Nico pulled me with him, though my voice was silenced when he pressed me into the wall. It wasn’t rough or needy. It was passionate and gentle. Delicate in a way that only Nico could be.

“Poor Oatie.” I broke from the kiss as I spoke, watching Nico’s lips purse.

“He’s fine. We cuddled all night.”

“You boys are always jealous of each other.”

“And?”

“Maybe he wants some time with me.” I tried to slip past Nico ducking beneath his arm, but the moment I got around him, he spun around and wrapped his arms around my back.

“You’ve been gone all day.” His body fell back into the wall, tugging me along as I leaned into his chest.

“That’s what Oatie says too.” I reasoned playfully, earning an unamused squeeze from Nico.

“The cat is fine.” Nico argued, dipping his head into my neck to press a few quick kisses there. I leaned my head against his shoulder opposite of the one of my own his neck rested on.

“You may have a compelling argument, Hisch.”

“Finally.” Nico groaned, leaning forward and steadying my body. He reached for my hand and turned for the bedroom.

“Don’t tell me you’re gonna lock him out of the bedroom.” I moaned in agony for our poor cat. Nico looked back at me with wide eyes. He simply couldn’t win.

“Please.” He insisted, tugging me along, and I followed to spare his mind some ease.

Nico was known to be cuddly and needy when we had time alone. Part of that youngest child in him craved the attention and love. One would think he didn’t get enough of it in his youth, but stereotypes did not apply to the Hischier siblings. They had all been loved equally. Though Nico did like to tease the two others that he was the favorite. And if the saying, ‘absence makes the heart grow fonder’ was true, then Nico being in America certainly made his mother the most joyous when he visited home.

I was led into the darkness of our bedroom, lit by a tall lamp in the corner. Nico had already laid out a pair of pajamas for me.

We had been known to sleep practically naked together. Something about the skin contact always felt most comfortable to us, but there were cold nights, like these, when we both wanted to hunker down in our matching plaid pants and cuddle up beneath a mountain of blankets.

And since we didn’t get many of these cold summer nights often, I knew Nico was itching for one. Judging both by the fact that he already had his set of matching pj’s on, and the fact that I could hear the familiar script to one of my favorite Christmas In July Hallmark movies playing on the tv.

Nico released my hand only to disappear from my side. I heard the door shut, and a very displeased meow from the outside of our room.

“Nico,” I scolded, beginning to turn to look at him, only to be stopped in my tracks by his swooping figure. He wrapped a red blanket around my shoulders, pulling me back into his body. My own ached for rest. I craved it even more so knowing that it would be coming soon, as opposed to the hours before when I had been at my desk, able to distract myself with work.

Oatie meowed once again.

“Nico, he’s gonna cry all night.” I opened my previously closed eyes, a sigh heaving from my chest. Nico did not release the grip he had on my hips.

“Just ignore him,” his smooth voice suggested in a pathetic but nonetheless sultry whine.

“How?” I closed my eyes again.

“We’ll just turn the movie up.” With that simple sentence, we went waddling across the floor. Myself too tired to leave his grasp, and himself too satisfied to release me. When we got to his nightstand, Nico unwrapped an arm from my waist to grab the tv remote, making quick work of increasing the volume. Not too disturbing, but loud enough to hopefully get the message across to our poor feline friend.

I hummed happily at the background soundtrack that played from the movie. I watched Nico’s dark eyes trail across my face before I closed my own once again.

“I don’t even know who you are.” The words fell in a whisper from my lips, the mediocre mid-Atlantic accent causing a smirk to form on my face.

“You prayed for an Angel.” Nico repeated the male love interest’s line’s far more perfectly than anybody ever could on the silver screen. He liked to complain about Hallmark movies, but I knew deep down he enjoyed them.

“An Angel?” I opened my eyes, wide smiles painting our faces in anticipation of the next line. “Why you’re short enough to be an elf. Are you sure you’re not an elf?” Soft giggles soon followed. Nico wrapped his arms around my shoulders, still behind me, slowly turning so his back faced the bed.

“I am not.” He feigned the offense of the actor as he sat down, and I rested in his lap.

“Are too..” I kissed his hands that rested just above my chest. Nico laid back, and I laid down on top of him, my head resting just on his collar. I tilted it upwards to get as good of a look at his face as I could, while he craned his neck downwards to look at me. “How did you hear my prayer anyway? I thought my balcony was to be private.”

“I patrol that street every night, ma’am.” Nico unwrapped an arm from me to play with my hair. “And every night I stop to listen to you, because you and I wish for the same things.”

“Angels?” I closed my eyes, overwhelmed with a feeling I didn’t know. We were merely reciting lines of a movie that held no meaning to us. About a soldier and a general’s daughter, falling madly in love. It had nothing to do with us, and yet it felt like maybe it did.

“To take us far away from here.” The actor -and Nico- finished the woman’s thought. “Let me be your Angel.”

“I couldn’t possibly.”

“We’ll go somewhere beautiful.” Nico whispered in my ear now.

“Not before Christmas. My family would be devastated.” The woman always listed her reasons as to why she couldn’t go. I always wished she would simply say yes from the get-go. Yet I loved to hear the man in the film list his ideas endlessly as if she didn’t continually refuse. Only now Nico went off script.

With beaches as far as the eye can see.

“With forests, and all the wild flowers you could pick.”

Where nobody knows our names.

“My mom misses us both.”

I’ll pick up a simple job.

“You deserve a vacation.”

We can be happy. Together.

“All I need is you.”

With you by my side.

“I want you to go with me.” I had closed my eyes again, wrapped in a warm blanket and in Nico’s embrace.

“To Switzerland?” I asked, yawning soon after.

“Whenever you’re ready.”

“I’ve never been more ready.”

✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩✩

#nhl imagine #nhl x reader #nico hischier x reader #nico hischier blurb #nico hischier imagines #ella’s inbox #ella’s updates #ella’s asks

[tracingpatternswrites]

Family Week | Married at First Sight

(Read the whole fic from the beginning here)

It’s time for yet another episode of Married at First Sight. Last week, our couples took their relationship to the next level when they practised being vulnerable with each other. After an emotional week, the couples deserve some time off, and what is better than some relaxing family time? The weddings were a quick affair, and now the time has come for our couples to introduce their spouses to their families for real. Welcome to Family Week.

Read on AO3.

Snippet below the cut.

Seeing someone in their natural habitat was very different from seeing them anywhere else; Sirius realised that now that he saw Remus in his childhood home. It wasn’t until this moment that he fully understood how much pressure Remus must have been under when he moved into Sirius’ house.

Time had been moving so quickly, just one thing after another since the wedding. The honeymoon, moving in together, confession week and intimacy week. Sirius felt as if he had barely had time to catch his breath. Intimacy week had flown by, and the help that they had received during it had been good for them. He felt as if he and Remus were in a good place right now, but it felt fragile, it was as if he was walking on ice, and like it could all go wrong any minute.

If it was up to him, he would’ve stayed in London with Remus. He wanted to lock the rest of the world out until they figured everything out, but as it had become painfully clear during this process, it was never really up to him. Every time they received another one of those fucking golden envelopes it was as if everything was flipped upside down again, Sirius lost his footing and he and Remus had to start all over again.

This time it had been about family, something that had left a cold and hard stone in the pit of Sirius’ stomach. However, Remus had been excited. They had discussed it together and decided that they would start their week by making the short trip up north to visit Remus’ parents.

Sirius had been a nervous wreck for most of the drive up, a churning feeling in his belly, and it hadn’t been made any easier by Matt’s reappearance. After a few conversations with Marlene and Remus’ parents, it had been decided that it was better to bring the cameraman with them rather than fitting cameras all around Remus’ parents’ house. It made sense, probably, but Sirius found Matt’s presence grating.

It had been awkward enough the night that they had arrived, but this morning’s breakfast had been almost unbearable. It wasn’t because of Remus’ parents, they were both making an effort, but Matt operating the camera seemed to put everyone on edge and Lyall kept looking straight at it which had them repeating each exchange about ten times for continuity. It wasn’t the best basis for a naturally flowing conversation.

The cottage was small but homey, much warmer than the gigantic house where Sirius had grown up. From what he had seen of Remus’ parents they were kind and loving, even if his father seemed sceptical of the experiment. Sirius didn’t blame him, he would imagine that his own parents would have a thing or two to say about the whole thing if they caught wind of what he was doing.

Remus’ parents were sweet though. Hope reminded him a little of James’ mother, not because they were very much alike but because they had the same natural warmth to them. Nothing like Sirius’ own mother, of course. Hope had welcomed Sirius into their home, and she had already questioned him about his favourite food and what he wanted for breakfast.

Remus’ father was quieter, but not really in a standoffish kind of way. He didn’t speak much though, and sometimes he sounded a little rough, but he was never outright rude. Sirius did have a nagging feeling that perhaps Lyall thought he was a bit of a soft city boy, and a southerner on top of that, which meant he still felt as if he had something to prove when it came to his father-in-law.

So far he hadn’t been very successful though. He had tried to clean up after breakfast, but Hope had shooed both him and Remus out of the house. Instead they decided to go on a walk, Remus had wanted to show him around the area where he had spent his childhood. It was great to finally get some time for themselves. Or, almost for themselves, Matt was still trailing behind them at all times like some documentary-obsessed chaperone.  

“D’you think we can outrun him, if we try?” Remus muttered out of the corner of his mouth, nodding his head a little in Matt’s direction.

Sirius snorted a laugh.

“Me? Probably. You and your fucked up knee? Not likely.”

Remus barked out a loud and surprised laugh, the sound of it making Sirius’ heart do a little stutter in his chest.

“Smug git,” Remus muttered, but he was grinning even as he shouldered into Sirius. “You saying you’d leave me behind, then?”

“Never,” replied Sirius quickly, his arm sneaking around Remus’ waist to keep him close and he felt a little thrill down his spine as Remus melted against him instead of pulling away.

Continue on AO3.

#mafs #mafs wolfstar #sirius black #remus lupin #reality tv au #muggle au #my writing

[silly-boio]

Ya knowww, if me and a cute boy were long haul sailors we might just HAVE to share a bunk. And yk those trips through the north sea can get bitterly cold, even when you're all bundled up, we might have to share a blanket for warmth.

And in those close quarters I might let slip how much I'm a fan of cute boys. I might let it out that I think you're absolutely adorable, especially when a loud noise echos through the ship and you shudder.

Of course I wouldn't be a good crewmate if I didn't let you hold on tight to my sweater when you're scared. And of course it would just be natural after that if you buried your head into my chest so you could feel nice and safe. It's alright, no one else is around, I got you.

And I might just coax it out of you that sometimes when you've got your face in my chest, my light musk makes your lower extremities a little excited. And then I might ask to feel you to see if that's the case.

Then of course I might just have to tease you a little for getting excited while you're so close to your shipmate. Then, to be a good friend, I might just have to slowly stroke you down there while you buried your moans into my shoulder. Of course, I couldn't just leave you in silence, I'd have to tell you how handsome and pretty you are, and how good of a job you're doing for me, and how your moans are just adorable, and maybe you're getting me a bit excited too.

And of course, we might drop the pretext of being cremates right there. I might drop your pants and just tease the hell out of you with my mouth, sucking and licking and kissing, and lubing you up. Then I might call you a good boy, and gently sink my cock into your hole, holding your hand and telling you it's alright the whole time.

Then I might just hold you close and fuck you till you cum all over my dick. And of course I'd be close behind, till I fill you to bursting with my cum, and I had been saving up for an encounter just like this one.

And then I'd just have to pull you into a blanket and hold you and give you kisses, my juices slowly leaking out of your hole. And it would only be natural to lock the door and make sure you're all warm and loved till our next shift on deck. <3

#gay nsft #queer nsft #queer #trans nsft #boysmell

[hyuwunjinie]

Blood in the Snow (pt.2)

Characters: Hyunjin x afab reader (ft other skz members)

Genre/warnings: Royalty AU, Arranged Marriage to Lovers, Romance, Smut, Angst & Fluff, Hurt/Comfort, Mutual pining, Toxic Parents, Misogyny (Period accurate)

Explicit sexual content. This work portrays elements/themes that may be triggering, proceed with caution. Minors DNI.

Word count: 1,479

Summary: You thought you were engaged for eternity, destined to live your princess' dreams in a grand castle. But the moment you close your eyes, all you can see is the blood in the snow.

—

“My Ladies ! We have reached our destination.”

Your semblance of shared peace was disturbed by your handmaid who had knocked gently on the carriage door, and a looming sense of dread filled the pit of your stomach. 

“I think I’m gonna be sick,” you murmured to your mother’s ear. 

“Y/n. I know this is difficult. I’ve been here before and I feel your pain. But this is normal, and all young girls go through this step once in their life. You will be okay, like I have been.” She reassured you at the best of her ability. “Now, now, Let’s meet that Hyunjin boy, alright ?”

You chuckled childishly. It wasn’t often your mother indulged in more familiar language, and it always made you laugh to hear her talk like this, because you knew she did it to calm you. And it worked. Your mother was obviously your parent, but she often felt like a close friend to you and you were glad to have that close bond with her. 

“Alright, mother… you have to let me go now, or else my hair will be all messed up !”

She held you closely a few seconds more, before releasing you and kissing both of your cheeks. 

“You’re my gorgeous, wonderful and smart daughter. Now, go steal his heart.” 

And she left you, leaving the carriage first with the help of the handmaid. Suddenly very aware of your appearance, you made sure any wrinkles of your dress was flattened, and that your makeup didn’t run around your eyes. Counting to three in your head, you opened the door, and was met with the biting cold of the wind as your handmaid helped you get down the steps. A distinctive crunchy sound startled you. It was the first time you stepped in snow. The white mantle was only a few centimeters tall over the ground, but you found the noise extremely satisfying. You decided you liked winter in the North. 

Shielding you from the wind, your maids escorted you towards the front door. The Hwang manor was tall and imposing. Dark marble pillars and grand windows, the estate was bigger than what you could ever imagine. It must be at least three times the size of your parents’, you thought. Around you and as far as you could see, the landscape was covered in white. You barely had time to take in the sights, though, as the cold reminded you, and you made a beeline for the small salon dedicated to greet the guests.

“This is such a delight to finally meet you, Lord and Lady y/f/n.” A stranger’s voice resonated behind you. 

You turned around, to see your parents making a curtsy before who you guessed were the two estate owners, Lord and Lady Hwang. A small push on your back from your handmaid prompted you forward, and you joined your parents in their curtsy. 

“And if this isn’t Lady y/n ! This is an honor to receive you all under our roof, please, be at home here.”

“The honor is ours, My Lords.” your parents said simultaneously. 

You waited until your parents got up before following them, and sported your best polite smile as you took the time to look at your hosts. 

Lord Hwang was tall, taller than your father, for sure. He has pinkish cheeks, and a smiling face enticing everyone to listen to his words. His posture seemed relaxed and open. A stark contrast with Lady Hwang, who, you realised, had been staring at you intently ever since you entered the room. Eyeing you from head to toe, she was gauging you.

You felt it difficult to concentrate over your parents and Lord Hwang’s words with her gaze locked into yours. You decided to break eye contact first, disturbed by this display. This seemed to please Lady Hwang, as you could see a small smile etched on her lips as she greeted your parents herself. 

“We hope you’ve had an uneventful journey ? The road can be tricky and troublesome.” She spoke in a calm and collected manner, joining her hands on her front. 

“We did, my Lady. Your estate is a sight to behold with all this snow !” Your mother answered, cheerful. 

“You must be exhausted, let’s discuss business after dinner, shall we ?” Lord Hwang suggested while the handmaids and butlers were busy bringing all the pieces of luggage to your family’s quarters. “Miss Ahri, could you bring Lady y/n to the library ?” He continued. “There’s someone she’s ought to see.” 

The pit of dread at the bottom of your stomach reignited, and you could feel the stress and adrenaline coursing through your whole body. Finally. You have been waiting for this moment ever since you were born. Seventeen years of waiting. Seventeen years of letters for this instant. 

You followed Ahri -headmistress of the estate, you learned from your mother’s lessons- through another corridor, passing by several halls and rooms that were unknown to you. The tapestries were refined with rich colors and details, and the whole mansion was lit with gorgeous candlelights. 

“You needn’t worry, my Lady. Young Lord Hyunjin is a kind soul, albeit a little timid. I’m sure he will like you.” Ahri spoke in a shy voice, eyes still facing forward.

“... Thank you, Ahri. That’s nice to hear. I hope you and I will form a close partnership.” You said in a formal voice. She chuckled lightly.

“I’m sure we will, my Lady. But if the advice of a headmistress is of any value to you, you should focus on yourself, today.” She added, a glint of amusement in her eyes.

Ahri was a gorgeous woman in her thirties. Her hair was tied up in an intricate bun and she sported a fine handmaid dress, made from good and rich fabric. The small marks of age added a certain charm to her demeanor and you felt completely at ease in her presence. 

You barely noticed that you had already stopped walking and reached your destination. Standing in front of the double door. You took a deep breath, trying to ease your nerves. Ahri looked at you, waiting for your call, and when you felt finally ready, you nodded, signaling her that she could proceed. 

She knocked lightly on the door, and a stuffed voice answered positively from behind the door. Turning the handle, you almost forgot the release your breath and you took in the sight of the library as Ahri opened the door for you, holding it patiently. 

One, two steps inside, and you were in awe in front of the marvel of knowledge resting in front of you. Meters of shelves going up, covering two floors completely, and a wonderfully tall window that brought in enough light to illuminate the whole room. Various plants and trinkets adorned the tables buried under piles and stacks of tomes. 

It didn’t took you long to notice the figure standing on the right, basking under the golden light of the sun, sitting on what seemed an especially comfortable couch. His long, black hair made a nice contrast with the white shirt he was wearing. Hyunjin was reading, and it took everything in you to not speak up. 

“Yes ?” He questionned lazily.

Ahri cleared her throat, and Hyunjin was probably expecting anyone else but you considering the surprised face he made when he turned his head around. dark almond eyes and slightly parted full lips looked at you in disbelief, if only for a second before he stood up, making his book fall on the ground, and made a curtsy to salute you. 

“L- Lady y/n ! It- It’s- a pleasure to finally meet you.”

Oh, and he was blushing now, probably embarrassed by his previous display. You were no better, though. You had since then put your hands in your back to stop fidgeting incessantly, and this dress was becoming way too stifling. 

“That pleasure is shared, Lord Hyunjin.” You made a curtsy as well, your doe eyes looking up to him slightly.

Picking up his book and holding it close, he approached you closer, taking in the sight of you.

“It’s nice to finally be able to see you, not just, the idea of you. I hope you’ve enjoyed my letters, all this time.” He murmured. 

“I did, Hyun- I can call you Hyunjin, right ?”

“Of course you can… y/n.” 

“To answer you, I did enjoy them. I hope you’ve been enjoying mine. And that the dried flowers weren’t a bother.” You chuckled, kinda embarrassed to have that conversation in front of Ahri whom you just met. 

Hyunjin didn’t answer directly. Instead, he took his book and showed you the title. Languages of Flowers of the garden. He opened it, and you gasped silently at the sight in front of you.  Used as a bookmark, was a dried sunflower.

#hyunjin #stray kids writing #stray kids x reader #hyunjin x reader #stray kids #stray kids smut #hyunjin smut #stray kids au #stray kids imagine #stray kids scenario #stray kids fic #stray kids series #hyunjin au #hyunjin imagine #hyunjin scenario #hyunjin fic #fic: blood in the snow

[wsknbfanaccnt]

I still have a few scenarios written from a few years ago so I thought why not post here lmfao

but damn I realized this one did not age well at all

im too lazy to proof read this

Panic Buying for Covid with Kuroko, Akashi and Midorima

You and Kuroko entered the grocery with a big list in hand. He pushed the cart while you took care of the stuff on the list.

“Okay, first things first. We need milk…” You ran off to the dairy section with Kuroko following behind you. The cold of the freezers made you shiver. You quickly lifted two half gallons of milk and ran away from the “North Pole”. You sighed in relief as warmth took over you. You looked around and realized Kuroko wasn’t there.

“What the… jeez, that was only two minutes and I already lost you. Tetsuya!!!” you called out, hoping that he was just near. You tried to search every inch of the store but found him nowhere. You leaned against an aisle in frustration.

“(F/N)-chan,”

“GAH! Tetsuya?! Where the hell were you?!” you shouted. His eyes seemed to widen a bit in fear.

“I was just in the bathroom. I told you but you already ran off…” he said calmly. You sighed.

“From now on, we’re doing this together, okay?”

“...alright then, (Y/N)-chan,”

“Hey, Sei?”

“Yes, my empress?”

“Do you think we need to panic buy? It seems coronavirus is spreading really fast.”

“We can buy, but no need to panic buy. I can ask my servants to buy it for us, love,” Akashi said. You scoffed, but you trusted him anyways.

“Can I make a list at least? I want to help them at least a little bit…” you pouted. Akashi chuckled.

“If you insist, my empress. But whatever you do, do not go outside. That’s an order for your safety,” he demanded.

“Yessir~” you said and proceeded to make your list. The first thing you thought of, you wrote on your list.

~~

When you were finished, You called Akashi and gave him the list. He glanced at the top of your list.

Toilet paper.

Akashi called his servants and told them to shop for everything on your list. The moment they read it, they took off.

A few hours later, Akashi received a call.

“Hello?”

“Akashi-sama, we cannot find any toilet paper,”

“What?!”

“We went to 15 different stores with no luck,”

He looked at you and you started laughing, the boy sighing.

“Check again.”

“Yes, Akashi-sama,” then he slammed the end call button. He looked at you once again as you giggled, Akashi shaking his head with amusement

“Toilet paper. For goodness’ sake..."

“You do it yourself, nanodayo,” He said after you asked him to panic buy with you.

“Shin-kun, you’re going to leave your own girlfriend in the dangers of the Coronavirus?” you said, with your cutest pout ever.

“It would be your fault, nanodayo. Not mine,” he said, turning away from you. You sighed. What would be something that would persuade him to go outside? You looked around, as if the answer was in front of you. Then, your eyes locked on Midorima’s lucky item; a pillow. It was right in front of you.

“Shin-kun~” you said. Midorima gave you a stern look.

“What is it this time, nanodayo?”

“What about your lucky items? Didn’t Oha Asa post a picture of the next months’ lucky items on their website?” you said teasingly. His eyes narrowed. Panic was racing in his head. He suddenly stood up, grabbed your wrist, and dragged you outside.

“Let’s go, nanodayo,” he said. Your plan worked!

“Wait, Shin-kun. I need to get my coat,” you chuckled, pulling the away. He released his grip and you got your coat.

~~~

When you arrived at the grocery, you saw that it was packed with people. You sighed and went in. Good luck to us... you thought. You squeezed through people and navigated inside the grocery with Midorima pushing the cart and tailing behind you. You managed to get everything on your list, so it was Midorima’s turn. The lucky item for tomorrow was toilet paper.

“Oh, that reminds me. We’re on our last roll. I forgot to put it in the list, hehe,” you smiled innocently at him. He responded with a “hmph”.

When you were in the toilet paper section, Midori-

“WHERE IS ALL THE TOILET PAPER, NANODAYO?!”

Calm down Mido-kun, you didn’t even let me finish.

As I was saying, he was horrified when he saw the shelves empty.

“I need it as my lucky item, nanodayo!!!” He yelled.

“You’re worried about that?! We literally don’t have any more toilet paper for our personal use and you’re screaming over that?” you yelled back, rather frustrated.

“But-“

“FINE! When we get home, I will give you a single sheet of toilet paper and keep the rest in a safe so that you don’t have access to it. Understand?!” you bellowed. You roughly took the cart from him and made your way to the cashier. There was complete silence from then on. He opened his mouth to say something, hesitated, and closed it again. This happened a couple of times.

When you got home, you stomped inside with the groceries, still toilet paperless. You broke the silence.

“Shintaro. Go outside and don’t come back until you find toilet paper. Got it?” you hissed, still mad. You handed him the car keys and he sighed, but went off.

A few hours passed and he still hasn’t come home. You became worried. What if he was harmed? What if there was an accident? It was already dark.

Suddenly, you heard a car park in front of the house. Midorima entered the house with his hands behind his back.

“Shin-kun, it's late...! What-“ he looked away as he blushed and handed you something that you never expected.

A bouquet of toilet paper. Literally.

“I-I d-didn’t k-know how to m-make i-it up to y-you s-so-“ you started laughing in disbelief.

“W-What’s so funny, n-nodayo?!” he said, pushing up his glasses to hide his embarrassment.

“You’re hilarious, you dork,” you said still laughing. You took the toilet paper from him and took his hands in yours. You stood on your tip toes and gave him a peck on the cheek.

“I forgive you~” You said. Midorima sighed in relief. You soon realized that he wasn’t holding anything else.

“Wait, Shin-kun! What about your lucky items?” you asked worriedly. He turned his head to the side

“I don’t need them because you’re my lucky item, nanodayo..."

#kurokosbasketball #kurokotetsuya #kurokonobasuke #the basketball which kuroko plays #kuroko no basket #kuroko no basuke #kuroko's basketball #kuroko tetsuya #akashiseijuro #midorimashintaro #akashi seijirou #kuroko no basket scenarios #midorima shintarou #midorima scenarios #akashi seijuurou #midorima x reader #akashi seijuro #knb akashi

[dakotakazansky]

Ghost • Ten

Previous | Master List | Next

Warnings: 18+, Fluff, Angst, lots of Dumb Bitch Juice, Some Smut

Pairings: Jake ‘Hangman’ Seresin x OC & Javy ‘Coyote’ Machado x OC

Word Count: 1,419

Kota

Monday came and went as another lazy day spent with Jake and talking on FaceTime to my parents. I knew Ice already knew what was going on but if I didn't explain it again so my mother Sarah could hear it, I'd have never heard the end of it once I returned home. 

It was now extremely early on Tuesday morning. I made some coffee while I jumped into the shower, and did my morning routine, before putting my hair into two French braids that eventually lead into one bun at the base of my skull.

Jake would be getting here shortly so I got him a cup of coffee ready, and wished that he would have stayed with me again last night instead of going home. I didn't sleep well at all last night and I'm 99% certain that I would have definitely slept better had he stayed. I started to get into my head again about this mission, when I was snapped out of it by Jake knocking on my door. 

I opened the door letting him in, and once we were both inside, I looked over to the clock, 5:00am. This gave us 30 minutes to savor our coffee, and then head over to base. When I wasn't rubbing my forehead or face nervously I was tapping my fingers on the counter.

"Kota." Jake said, placing his hand over my hand that I was tapping on the counter with, "It's going to be alright, it's just like we've been practicing with the squadron over the last week."

I sigh looking up to him, "You keep saying this, and I really want to believe you, trust me I do, but I don't know, I've got a bad gut feeling about this mission." He takes my hand in his and rubs the back of my hand softly,

"Kota you've got me up there with you, when have I ever let you down." I shake my head no, "Never, you've never let me down, but I just can't shake this." 

While on FaceTime with my parents yesterday I explained to them that to be able to continue to fly ice cold, calculated, and safely that I would be texting my dad one final message before turning my phone off and locking it away with my Commander.  

Jake and I eventually made it to base, where we saw all the families saying goodbye/see ya later to their respective pilots. Jake's family being in Texas couldn't make it here so they had settled for a see you later through FaceTime.

My mother knew she was going to be a blubbering mess, and didn't come along but there off on his own, stood the Commander of the Pacific Fleet. I elbowed Jake in the side, "Hey come with me, he'll give you the family send off like I know you wish you were having." Jake and I both walked over to the legendary Iceman. 

Once we got close enough, I ran into my father's arms. "Hey." I smiled at my dad. "Hey there Koty, couldn't miss your big day, who is this?" He says looking at Jake.

"Dad, do you remember my friend from the Naval Academy, Jake Seresin?" He nods to me, "Well his family couldn't make it today to send him off, I knew you wouldn't have minded if he joined us." He nods and chuckles, "You're definitely right about that Koty. Come here Jake."

Jake finished walking over to Ice, and Ice opened his arms to Jake, once Jake closed that gap Ice wrapped his arms around Jake giving him a warm and tight hug. They released each other, and Ice spoke sternly, "You both are each other's wingmen, take care of each other and both of you come back to us." 

Jake and I both nodded to my father.  We heard the announcement that we need to meet up in the hangar now to get ready for our flight down to North Island to board our carrier. 

We both saluted to Ice before he saluted back to us. As we walked to the hangar, I saw Tate and Coyote in a passionate kiss. I elbowed Jake one more time, "Pretty boy, you now owe me twenty dollars." We both laugh, "That I do now, I'll get that to you as soon as we get back from this mission."

Once we are all in the hangar we finish loading up our plane. We fly from Lemoore to North Island. As soon as we got off the plane, I sent off a few messages. 

Lights out, it's what Ice and I always said to each other when we decided we needed no distractions while flying. It's also my way of letting him know my phone is now being powered down until I return home. 

After a while of unloading our gear from the plane, we load it all onto the carrier, we get assigned our rooms on board, I'm thankfully bunking with Villain and Hangman. I couldn't be happier to be in a room with both my wingman and my WSO.

The first few days spent on board were discussions on how we wanted to formulate our plan of air support, and just making our way to the last known location of the carrier that we've lost communications with. I'm finally sleeping better on board the carrier than I did the night before leaving, still not the best as I did when I was cuddled up into Jake's side, but at least he's very close by in case I need him. 

By the time we wake up in the morning we'll have made it to the carrier's last known location, and I am not finding sleep to come easy tonight. I'm sitting awake in my bed just thinking over what we've been discussing the last few days, while Tate is sleeping in the bunk above me and Jake is off to the side of us.

After about a half hour of sitting awake, Jake stirs awake, sits up and whispers to me, "Hey have you gone to sleep yet." I shake my head no, but then realize how dark it is and whisper, "No, I still can't shake this feeling I have and it's not letting me sleep."

Jake lays back down, and although we could get caught and into some big trouble, he opens up his blanket to me, "Come here darlin'." He says sleep laced in his voice, that southern twang more prominent now than when he's awake. I crawl into his bunk and tuck my head into his neck, and whisper, Thank you." He wraps his arms around me, and softly rubs my back until I fall asleep only a mere minutes later. 

The next morning I'm awoken to a bright flash, and a slew of whispered, "shit shit shit" from Tate. Sleepily I grumble, "Tate what are you doing?" She smiled sheepishly at me before turning her phone screen in my direction, showing me the photo she took of Jake and I snuggled up with each other. 

She whispers, "Sorry Kota, you both just looked so adorable, I wanted to grab a photo for you, to have later." I sit up rubbing the sleep from my eyes and yawning, "It's okay." At the movement of me sitting up, Jake wakes up as well. 

"Well we might as well get ready for the day now that we're all up." I say yawning once more before going to put my flight gear on while the other two do the same. 

Once we were all in our flight gear, the three of us made our way to the crew mess for some breakfast and coffee before making our way to our makeshift ready room. There we sit and wait to find out the course of action for the day. Slowly more and more pilots file in and take their seats as time passes. A half hour after the last person enters the room, Jaws walks in to finally update us on our plan of action.

I know something is up when I see his face painted with concern. He wastes no time immediately getting to the bad news, "Unfortunately our simple air support mission has gone south. We are the only other carrier in the vicinity. This mission has now been upgraded to a Search and Recovery mission." Where there once was ambient chatter among all of us pilots, it was replaced with a deafening silence.

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Taglist:

@mayhemmanaged @roosterforme @startrekfangirl2233 @desert-fern @roostette @cassiemitchell @sarahsmi13s @lavenderbradshaw @lovinglyeternal @bradleybeachbabe @roosters-girl @thedroneranger @cherrycola27 @twsssmlmaa @bobby-r2d2-floyd @that-one-random-writer @horseshoegirl @footprintsinthesxnd @genius2050 @djs8891

#controlled chaos squad #callsign Loki #callsign-Loki #aviator #bradley bradshaw #coyote #enemies to lovers #ghost #fighter pilot #friends to lovers #jake hangman seresin #hangman #jake seresin #jake seresin x oc #iceman #tom Kazansky #dakota kazansky #kota #javy machado #maverick #DakotaKazanskyStories #top gun imagines #jake Seresin imagines

[where-pain-is-so-pretty]

December Project 10

- Everything you could have asked for

Pairing: Aleksi x Reader

Category: Fluff

TW: none

Word Count: 1160

Request:

"Fluffy request for Aleksi for the December project (if its still available)! Being wrapped up in his arms, with Rilla beside you, watching the snow gently fall during a storm on a cold, dark day"

Requester: anon

Note: I'm back at it! (Please, don't get used to it) I'll try my best to finish some more fics before my vacation but I can’t promise anything. The year coming to an end is stressing me out so much!

Anyways have some long overdue fluff with Aleksi and Rilla 💜

You had not seen Aleksi much in the past few months, so, him and you had decided to go on a short vacation before you would visit your families for the holidays. He had been on tour all around the globe with his boys for most of the year, and when they were not touring they were working in the studio. You supported him and his career, but sometimes you missed him terribly. Messages and (video)calls just were not enough sometimes, you needed him by your side falling asleep and waking up, his arms wrapping around you and pulling you closer whenever you tried to leave the bed early. You had missed having breakfast together before work or your late dinners when you came home from work and he from the studio. That's why you had suggested driving up north to stay at your family's cottage for a few days. Just the two of you and little Rilla.

It was still early in the morning when you climbed out of bed. Aleksi was already outside on a morning walk with Rilla; she had woken you up some minutes ago and Aleksi had volunteered to go. And you probably would have joined them, but the bed had felt way too warm and comfy this morning. But now that Aleksi was not beside you anymore, the bed felt a little empty.

Once you got dressed you went over to the small kitchen starting to prepare your breakfast. Freshly brewed coffee and self-made pancakes and some fruits. While you set the table for the two of you, you peeked out of the window. The sky was grey and tiny snowflakes twirled through the air. So, the weather app had lied once again about getting at least a few rays of sunshine.

You were about to place two cups on the table when you heard the door being opened and instantly rushed over to greet Aleksi and Rilla.

"We are back." They both were a little soaked, Aleksi's cheeks and nose pink from the cold. Rilla was dripping wet from the snow, but she looked very happy and proud once she had covered the legs of your sweatpants in mud and water. "Stop silly!" You laughed leaning down to pet her wet fur. Aleksi smiled at the two of you and got rid of his shoes and jacket.

"Let's get both of you a towel!" you suggested and Rilla barked in agreement as she followed you to the bathroom. You handed one to Aleksi, so he could dry off his hair, and then you bowed down to rub her dry.

"You made breakfast for us?" Aleksi noticed now that he had stepped into the small living room. "Yeah, your favourite!" You waved him a warm smile, letting go of Rilla, before you joined Aleksi at the table. Walking past him you could not resist the urge to ruffle through his messy black hair. He looked up at you with soft chuckle and locked his blue eyes with yours. You bend forward and placed a quick kiss on his forhead, then you sat down across from him.

"There wasn't supposed to be that much snow today!", Aleksi stated halfway through breakfast, pointing out of the window behind you. Turning your head you realized that the sky had gotten even darker and the snowflakes were bigger than some minutes ago. "Hm, maybe we should cancel our plans for today?!" You said nipping at your coffee, watching Aleksi over your cup. You two had planned to go on a little nature walk to the lake nearby, but with all the snow it wouldn't be a good idea to walk through the forest. "Yeah, probably the best! I just checked and they have forecast a snowstorm, nothing major but it's going to get pretty windy." He said looking up from his phone. Not exactly the weather the two you had hoped for and definitely not the weather to go out and explore nature.

After breakfast, Aleksi helped you with the dishes and added more wood to the oven. The cottage had heating, so, the fireplace was more for atmospherical propose, but you had always loved the light and smell it created. Everything looked more cosy illuminated in the flickering light of the fireplace. And now that you would spend a lazy day inside a little extra warmth seemed like a good idea.

While Aleksi began to gather blankets, snacks, and drinks in the living room, you went outside again, to quickly check on the car and to make everything stormproof.

When you stepped back inside and kicked off your boots, you saw that your boyfriend already had settled down on the couch. He smiled invitingly and opened his fluffy blanket for you to join him. You slipped your jacket off in one quick motion and threw yourself into his arms, shoving your cold hands under his shirt. "So warm and soft." you purred as you cuddled into him, your hands rubbing over the skin on his stomach, making his hairs stand up. Aleksi gasped under your cold touch but he did not push you off, instead, he turned his head to face you and pecked your lips. You pulled him closer, your hands wandering to his hips, deepening the kiss. He still tasted like coffee. A quiet whimper made you part from each other. You both turned around and saw Rilla looking up at the two of you with her best puppy eyes.

"Aww, look who's jealous!"; Aleksi giggled softly, pecking your cheek and causing another whimper from Rilla. He laughed as you both made room for her on the couch, Aleksi now spooning you, so Rilla could lie down beside you. "Come here, sweety!" you patted the spot in front of you and she happily wiggled her tail before hopping on the couch. She settled down next to you, her big brown eyes fixating you as she waited for you to pet her. And of course, you did, you let your fingers stroke through her fur until she dozed off. Aleksi nuzzled your hair, lowly humming as he took in the smell of them. With a satisfied sigh, you placed your hand on his and pressed your back further against his body.

His hair brushed against your neck as he placed a light kiss there. "Wanna watch a movie?" he asked from behind you and reached for the remote. "Later, I wanna watch the snow for a while." You whispered, taking the remote from his hands and gazing out the window. The wind had gotten stronger and made the snowflakes twirl through the air in every direction. You felt Aleksi slightly nod before he placed another soft kiss on your neck. This was perfect and everything you could have asked for. You wrapped up in Aleksi's warm embrace, sweet little Rilla curled up beside you, a cosy fire illuminating the room, as a snowstorm raged outside.

#blind channel rpf #blind channel x reader #aleksi kaunisvesi x reader #alex mattson #aleksi kaunisvesi #fluff #december project

[mistical52]

Stomping on Trodden Ground - Chapter 1

Fandom: The Walking Dead

Pairings: Rick Grimes/Daryl Dixon (It's not a major thing for this fic), Rick Grimes/Lori Grimes, Lori Grimes/Shane Walsh

Fanfic Blurb: Rick grouped up with his people once it was clear and looked at the people they saved. Rick’s muscles locked in place, and his gaze sharply moved to one of the men who came into camp part way through the attack. The man stepped forward with a young boy on his hip.

“Thank y’all for your help. You saved my family and a lot of people here,” said the man as he took another step forward and held out his free hand, “I’m Rick Grimes.”

Every muscle in Rick’s body was coiled and ready to move. Rick couldn’t help but stare at the man who had introduced himself as ‘Rick Grimes’. The man was clean shaven and wearing his deputy sheriff’s uniform. On his hip was Carl, a young Carl who couldn’t have been more than twelve.

AO3 Link. (The complete first part, chapters 1-5, is currently up there)

Art that I did for this chapter.

~~~

Rick groaned and heard leaves crunching as his weight shifted to his side. His head was pounding and he had no idea why. Rick slowly sat up and opened his eyes to a cold dark forest. Rick could only see vague shapes from the moonlight that filtered through the branches.

A groan next to Rick had him reaching for his knife. Two more sounded near him, but this time he heard a huff of a breath and a quiet 'fuck'. Rick relaxed slightly at the sounds of life.

               "Everyone ok?" Rick asked in a hushed tone that didn’t travel beyond the people near him.

               "Fine," came Daryl's gruff response.

               "I'm ok," said Carl as he adjusted his hat.

               "I'll live," said Carol, "But I have a killer headache."

Daryl grunted an agreement.

               "Same," said Carl.

               "So do I," replied Rick.

With everyone accounted for Rick eased himself into a standing position. "Looks like we've lost our daylight," he said before helping everyone to stand.

               "Yeah. That was an awful earthquake we had. We were lucky that no walkers came across us while we were passed out," said Carol, accepting Rick's hand and then dusting herself off.

Rick remembered the earthquake they experienced that caused them all to fall over and be knocked unconscious. It was strange. But Rick couldn’t dwell on that.

Rick sighed, "We're better off heading back to the van. It’s too dark to find the cabin now. We can camp in the van for the night and look for the cabin once it’s light.”

Rick spun around trying to figure out which way it was back to the van. After a few moments, he turned to Daryl to get him to point them in the right direction.

Wordlessly Carol passed Daryl her torch. Daryl turned it on and used a hand to shield the light, minimising who, or what would see it. Daryl did a lap around where they were standing, looking into the bush nearby and the ground around them. Then he did a second lap with a frown on his face. After a third lap, Daryl looked towards the sky, his eyes tracking the stars that were visible through the trees.

               “You know which way we’re heading?” asked Rick. He felt a twist in his stomach even as the ache in his head was dying down. With how much Daryl was looking they might be lost, which was concerning since Daryl was never lost.

               “The van’s north of here, and that way’s north,” said Daryl pointing behind Rick, “But I don’t see no tracks. No footprints, no broken bush, no crushed leaves, nothing. It’s weird, ‘specially since you two are with us,” said Daryl pointing at Rick and Carl, who weren't the best at hiding their tracks or travelling undetected in the forests. “It’s like we dropped out of the sky.”

               “But we didn’t. We walked from the van,” said Carl sounding slightly confused. He pushed his hat up and even in the dim light, Rick could make out the bandages covering his missing eye. “Then we fell and got knocked out by the earthquake,” finished Carl.

               “I don’t see no tracks from where we walked. This forest looks different than before too,” said Daryl with a scowl at the surroundings.

               “We were moved?” asked Carol shifting her rifle on her shoulder.

Daryl took one last sweep of the area with the torch before passing it back to Carol, “Nah, I don’t see nothing. No tracks at all. No one’s been through here.”

               “Like we just dropped from the sky,” said Rick, repeating what Daryl said earlier with a thoughtful tone.

Daryl nodded.

Rick ran a hand through his hair, “We were heading south of the road. So long as we head north we should hit the road and we can find the van from there,” said Rick, then he pointed behind himself and looked at Daryl, “This way was north right?”

               “Yeah.”

Rick nodded and started moving, “If we can’t find the road in forty minutes then we’ll look for a spot to make camp.”

They couldn’t find the road. They’d walked for about forty-five minutes north of their previous location. The road should have been thirty minutes from their location. Rick had glanced back at Daryl at the thirty-five minute mark to make sure he hadn’t gone off course, but Daryl just nodded him forward. Rick felt his gut twist again. They should have at least come across the road by now. What Daryl said before concerned him. How could there be no tracks? Rick and Carl were not good at hiding their tracks in the forests, and none of them were even trying to hide them in the first place. So Daryl should have been able to have seen at least his and Carl’s tracks with the torch.

Rick slowed to a stop and the others gathered in close around him.

               “It’s been forty-five minutes. We haven’t come across the road. Look for a spot to camp. It’s cold but we’ll have to live without a fire tonight. We don’t have anything for noise traps so watch will be taken in pairs.

Everyone stated their understanding

Rick started moving forward again with everyone else fanning out around him, looking for a good spot for the night. If there was such a thing. They all stayed well within hearing distance in the quiet forest.

A soft quiet whistle asking for attention came from Carl. Carl stayed where he was while the others gathered around him. Once they were all close Carl spoke up in a soft whisper.

               “There’s a light ahead. I think it’s a camp,” he said pointing ahead.

Rick looked and could see the faint light Carl had spotted. On closer inspection, he realised that there were a few of them.

               “I think Carl’s right. It looks like a camp with a few people in it. We’ll get a closer look. If they seem friendly then we ask to stay the night. If they’re not then we take them out,” said Rick in a hushed tone.

               “What if there’s too many?” asked Carol.

Rick knew that the likelihood of the camp being too much for the four of them to handle was low, no matter how armed they were. Their chances were even higher with surprise on their side.

               “Then we avoid them and search for another place further out to camp,” replied Rick.

Carol nodded her approval of the plan.

With the plan set, Rick walked closer to the camp with his gun up. His footsteps were almost silent as he approached. Rick could hear Carl’s soft steps behind him, and while he couldn’t hear Carol or Daryl, he knew they were close.

Through the gap in the trees, Rick could make out two dozen or so people sitting around a few fires. The camp had a few vehicles parked around and an RV at the back of the camp with tents scattered around the middle. Rick couldn’t properly make out their faces from the distance and low light, but he could see a few children and elderly around the fires. Rick couldn’t see anyone on watch, but he did see a noise trap just ahead. Rick looked back at his group and knew they saw the same, an underprepared group. If they wanted they could easily take them. But the camp had elderly and children, so Rick planned to talk first and leave if the camp wouldn’t let them stay. There was no need for a fight if this group was protecting children and elderly.

Rick lowered his gun and nodded to the others. They all nodded back. Daryl levelled his crossbow, Carol hefted her rifle and Carl brought up his handgun.

Rick was going to go in alone and ask to stay the night. If the camp accepted, the others would come out and stay the night with two people keeping an eye on the group and acting as lookouts for walkers. They would take it in shifts and head off as soon as it was light. They might mention Alexandria if they felt the camp was safe. If the camp refused to let them stay, then they would leave. If the camp tried to take a shot at Rick then the others would cover him while he got out.

Just as Rick was about to step towards the camp he heard shuffling steps and moans.

Rick saw a walker break the treeline and head towards the camp, with other walkers following behind it. The walkers were spread out and coming from multiple sides of the camp.

               “Fan out, go!” commanded Rick quietly.

As one the group surged forward, jumping the noise trap and started quickly taking out walkers. Rick used his hatchet to split the skull of a walker that almost took a bite out of an elderly woman. A second later Rick saw a crossbow bolt take down a walker that grabbed a woman who just stepped out of the RV.

The woman saw the walker drop and let out a scream. At the same time, the elderly couple yelled for help, looking up at Rick with fearful eyes.

Rick hauled the elderly woman up, “Get to the RV!” he hissed as he pushed her in that direction and did the same with the man.

The fighters of the camp stood up and grabbed their weapons.

               “Don’t shoot! We’re here to help!” called Rick, “Get everyone to the RV and form a circle!”

               “You heard him form a circle!” ordered one of the camp’s men.

If Rick wasn’t fighting walkers he would have frozen. The man sounded so much like Shane.

Rick buried his hatched in another walker as he stalked towards the RV. The camp fighters started shooting walkers but didn’t shoot Rick or his group.

A walker in front of Rick dropped, hit by a silenced shot. Carl gave him a nod and turned towards the outskirts of camp where a couple of walkers were exiting the tree line.

Carol knifed a walker and ushered people towards the RV, taking down any walkers that got too close to the handful of people she was protecting.

Daryl shot another walker that stumbled towards the RV and stabbed another near him.

Rick was almost at the RV, knocking down a walker that was trying to bite the elderly man. The sound of more guns being fired drew Rick’s attention to the dirt road that led into camp. Rick tensed and pulled out his Python, however, the camp members didn’t react to the four new people running into the camp and shooting up walkers as they went.

Most of the camp made it to the RV and with the help of the four newcomers, the walkers were quickly finished off.

There were tearful reunions with the newcomers who entered the camp and Rick ignored it, making sure that all the walkers he could see were dead for good.

Rick grouped up with his people once it was clear and looked at the people they saved. Rick’s muscles locked in place, and his gaze sharply moved to one of the men who came into camp part way through the attack. The man stepped forward with a young boy on his hip.

               “Thank y’all for your help. You saved my family and a lot of people here,” said the man as he took another step forward and held out his free hand, “I’m Rick Grimes.”

Every muscle in Rick’s body was coiled and ready to move. Rick couldn’t help but stare at the man who had introduced himself as ‘Rick Grimes’. The man was clean shaven and wearing his deputy sheriff’s uniform. On his hip was Carl, a young Carl who couldn’t have been more than twelve.

Behind Officer Grimes stood Lori, and that alone took Rick’s breath away. Next to her stood Shane, Carol and Sophia. Beside them was T-Dog, Amy, Andrea, Dale, Jacqui and Glenn. God Glenn, he looked so young. He was barely an adult. Rick could see the younger Daryl too, crossbow up and standing slightly apart from the group. There were other people too, the Morales family, the elderly couple whose names Rick never learnt, Jim, and a few others that died last time during the attack.

Finally, Rick managed to form words and directed them at his group without taking his eyes off the members of the camp, “Y’all are seeing this right?”

               “I see it, I just don’t believe it,” said Carol with a shaky voice. Rick didn’t need to guess where Carol was looking, his own eyes flicking over to the living Sophia.

Carl started to take a step forward but Rick put out a hand in front to stop him. Carl glanced at him but stayed put.

Rick’s eyes kept drifting over the group but they kept lingering on Lori, Shane, little Carl, and Glenn.

After another few moments of silence, Dale spoke up.

               “Thank you for saving us. I’m Dale. Can we get your names?”

Rick raised a brow, “I’m surprised you don’t recognise us.”

               “Dad, none of them know what you look like with a beard,” said Carl with a smile.

Rick chuckled and glanced at his son, “I suppose not,” he said, then Rick turned to face Dale and the rest of the camp, “I suppose we should introduce ourselves. I’m Rick Grime, this is my son Carl,” he said pointing loosely to Carl, “That’s Carol Peletier, and Daryl Dixon,” Rick continued pointing to his group.

Immediately confused murmuring started.

               “Now you see why we were a little confused. ‘Cause this looks like the quarry and we haven’t been here since the beginning,” said Rick.

Silence started up with those words. ‘The beginning’ seemed to really quiet people down.

Little Carl wriggled in his father’s grip and Officer Grimes had to let him down. Little Carl took a few steps towards the older Carl, looking up at him curiously.

               “So you’re me?” asked little Carl.

Carl laughed and took a few steps forward, crouching down to little Carl’s height, “Yeah, I guess I am.”

               “This is so weird. It’s like one of my comic books,” said little Carl.

               “I know right! Honestly, I thought I was just in a cool dream,” replied Carl.

               “This would be a super cool dream,” agreed little Carl, “Hey, is that dad’s hat?”

Carl grinned and tilted his hat up, illuminating his bandages in the low light, “Yeah it is. But it’s mine now.”

               “Can I try it?” asked little Carl.

               “Sure, but I want it back. If you want your own you can ask your dad for his,” said Carl as he put his hat on little Carl and pushed the brim down.

Little Carl giggled and pushed it back up so he could see once again.

               “Carl,” said Grimes, his voice shaking as he slowly stepped forward and kneeled in front of Carl. Grimes lifted, shaking hands to Carl’s cheeks, fingers brushing the bandages, “Carl, what happened?”

Carl’s smile fell and he closed his eye for a moment, then took a breath. When Carl opened his eye he put a hand on Grimes’ shoulder.

               “I’m fine dad,” said Carl with a small reassuring smile.

               “What happened?” asked Grimes, gently repeating the question.

Carl just shook his head, “It’s nothing I’m fine.”

Rick could hear Daryl’s angry snort.

               “Carl,” Grimes tried again. But when Carl said nothing he turned pleading eyes onto Rick.

Rick was stone faced. He couldn’t say it. He couldn’t bring himself to say it.

Grimes kept looking at him with pleading eyes as he held Carl.

               “Some little shit shot him,” said Daryl, breaking the silence.

Rick kept his eyes on Carl and his younger self. He saw the worry, then the fury wash over his younger self before it settled into anguish.

Lori’s gasp was clear to hear and Rick saw Shane put a hand on her shoulder while the other fist was clenched so tightly his knuckles were white.

Grimes gathered Carl up in a hug, “I’m so sorry Carl. I’m so sorry. I never wanted this for you.”

               “It’s not your fault dad. It was never your fault,” said Carl as he hugged Grimes back. As Carl said the last part he looked over his shoulder at Rick.

Rick felt his shoulders drop and his expression becoming a mix of weary and sorrowful.

Rick felt something gently tug on his shirt sleeve. Automatically Rick looked down and his breath left him as he saw little Carl looking up at him from below the rim of his old hat. Little Carl slowly reached up and instantly Rick bent to scoop up little Carl and hefted him to his hip.

Little Carl grabbed at his beard and Rick let him, far too used to Judy doing something similar, but with a lot more tugging. Rick instantly felt calmer holding his child, even if it wasn’t quite his Carl.

               “It’s so strange to see you with a beard,” commented little Carl.

Rick raised an eyebrow, “Good strange or bad strange?”

Little Carl hummed, “I don’t know.”

Rick gave little Carl a sly smile, “How about I help you make up your mind?” he said just before he shoved his chin onto little Carl’s cheek and moved his chin side to side. Judy always seemed to enjoy it when he did that. Just like Judy, little Carl giggled and lightly pushed against Rick’s face.

               “No stop! It’s spikey!” said little Carl, laughter breaking up the words.

Rick stopped his attack and gave little Carl a huge grin. Little Carl returned it, with his own blinding smile.

Rick walked over to his son and Grimes. They had pulled back a bit but still had hands on each other's shoulders, and were looking at Rick and little Carl with soft smiles. Rick placed his free hand on his son’s head and returned the gentle smile.

With that Carol stepped forward and made her way to her younger self and Sophia. The camp let her through, watching with confusion and shock. Carol gently grabbed Mrs Peletier’s hand and gave her a pure sunny smile, one Rick knew was real and not fake. Mrs Peletier gave a shy smile back and Carol wrapped both her and Sophia in a hug.

Daryl stood back, his eyes sweeping the members of the camp but lingering on Glenn.

Rick caught his eye and tilted his head in a subtle ‘go on’ gesture.

Daryl hesitated for a brief moment, then steeled himself and stomped confidently through the crowd up to Glenn.

Glenn looked up at Daryl, his weight shifting from side to side.

               “You do good man,” said Daryl, clapping Glenn on the shoulder.

Glenn looked ready to bolt when Daryl put a hand on his shoulder, but managed a nervous, “Thanks, man.”

Daryl gave Glenn a final clap then turned to Andrea, “Just don’t shoot me this time.”

Andrea’s eyes widened before her expression turned into a grin, “Can’t promise anything,” she replied.

Daryl huffed out a laugh.

               “How is this possible?” asked Dale as he approached the Rick’s and Carl’s.

               “I have no idea. But it’s about as strange as the dead walking so I’m not even gonna question it,” said Rick honestly. He had no idea where to even start questioning it. Eugene might have had a theory, but he wasn’t here.

               “That earthquake from before was weird. Maybe it had something to do with that?” suggested Carl.

               “I told ya’s the forest was different,” said Daryl gesturing with his hands towards the forest.

               “Pookie, you also said ‘it was like we dropped out of the sky’” quoted Carol.

               “Well there weren’t no signs we were there before, and now we know we weren't,” retorted Daryl, “We didn’t walk into this forest.”

               “Where were you before?” asked Shane.

Daryl turned a sharp gaze to Shane and Rick decided to intervene before that look led to blows exchanged.

               “We were closer to D.C. A few days out at most. We went out on a run trying to find a cabin we got word about,” informed Rick.

Carl let go of Grimes and stood up next to him, “It was supposed to be a quick and easy run, so much for that.”

Carol shrugged, “Nothing much we can do about that now.”

               “It’s too dark to do much of anything now. Do y’all mind if we stay here for the night?” asked Rick.

               “You saved people here, so I see no problem with it,” said Grimes then he turned to look at everyone else.

               “They helped, I say they can stay,” said Glenn with a shrug.

               “They saved Amy, if they want to stay then they can,” added Andrea, tightening her grip on her sister.

Amy gripped her arm at the same spot the walker grabbed her, “I’d like them to stay. Thank you, for saving me.”

               “They took out a lot of those things. I think they can stay,” said T-Dog with a nod.

               “I think it would be good for you to stay the night. It’d be rude to throw you out after you all helped us,” said Dale, turning to look a little pointedly at Shane who had said nothing during the exchange.

Shane looked back, then shrugged, “They saved our asses, they can stay if they want.”

Dale looked like he was about to speak again but Lori spoke up before he could.

               “Carl, baby come here,” said Lori quietly looking at little Carl on Rick’s hip. Her expression was tight. She was worried.

Little Carl passed Rick the hat and started to squirm but instead of setting him down Rick just walked over to Lori and handed him over.

               “Thanks,” said Lori with a small smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

Rick just nodded and went to stand by his Carl, who was looking longingly at the interaction. Rick tapped his arm and passed Carl his hat. Carl took it with a small smile and put it back on.

They would need to talk about this later. Rick needed to talk to his whole group about this and where they were going with the whole situation.

Dale turned to Rick, “Do any of you need anything?”

               “If you can spare a tent that would be nice, we’ll share,” answered Rick.

Dale looked around at the carnage of the camp, his shoulders slumped, “We can do that. If you don’t mind taking one of the recently vacated tents. I’m sorry but we don’t have any other spares.”

               “That’s fine. Thanks, Dale.”

               “What are we going to do about our dead and the walkers?” asked Jacqui softly.

               “That can wait till morning. It’s best to get some sleep while you can. You can bury the dead then and burn the walkers,” said Rick trying to be gentle, “It’s best to set up a watch to make sure there are no more of them. There wasn’t last time, but it won’t hurt to be sure. That was a lot of gunfire and it tends to draw some attention.”

Grimes nodded, “Good idea.”

               “I’ll check the perimeter,” said Daryl, taking his crossbow off his shoulders.

               “I’ll go too,” said Dixon, looking at his older self with an expression that Rick knew. Dixon wanted to talk.

               “No, you’re not going,” said Shane firmly.

               "Why?" asked both Daryls' so in sync that it seemed to surprise even them. They both glanced at each other before the older Daryl spoke up again.

               “I know what I’m looking for and I can secure a camp,” retorted Daryl.

Shane scoffed, “You’re probably going to sneak out and look for your brother again.”

               “Hey! I didn’t sneak out!” exclaimed Dixon.

               “Merle is one of the toughest sons of a bitch I know, he cut off his own hand but he’s still kicking,” said Daryl.

               “He is?” asked Dixon quietly.

               “Yeah, he is. If we stick around long enough I’ll help you find him,” replied Daryl.

               “We will,” added Rick, speaking up. The group would need to talk about it, but everyone knew how important Merle was to Daryl. Rick knew they’d all do it if Daryl asked.

               “But not now. We have other things to do if Officer Stuck Up here will let us,” said Daryl with a bit of bite in his tone.

               “T-Dog you secure the perimeter, Dixon you stay here,” ordered Shane.

Dixon glanced over at Daryl, “Which one?”

That seemed to momentarily trip Shane up, “Long haired Dixon. Short haired Dixon, you help T-Dog.”

               “T-Dog’s beat and I don’t take orders from you,” said Daryl shifting his stance slightly and lowering his crossbow in preparation to throw it out of the way.

Rick put a firm hand on Shane’s shoulder, “Shane, brother, I trust Daryl with my life. He’s saved it more times than I can count. If you want someone to secure a perimeter then Daryl’s got it covered. Both of them do.”

Shane looked into Rick’s eyes for a long few moments, “You vouch for him?” Shane asked.

               “I do.”

Shane’s gaze drifted back over to both Daryl’s, “You say you can do it? Then do it. T-Dog stay and get some rest.”

Rick gave Shane a nod and took his hand off his shoulder.

Both Daryl’s left and Rick could almost hear Dixon’s brain ticking over with questions.

Once they were out of sight Rick turned to the camp, “Right, collect the dead and put them on this side of the RV, the walkers on the other side. We clean up and make sure that all of our dead don’t come back then we can get a few hours rest and continue this in the morning. The kids sleep in the RV tonight. Anyone with injuries gets them looked at first.” said Rick automatically giving directions, “Carol, can you help the injured then please find us a tent? Carl with me, we’re clearing the walkers.”

Rick moved to the nearest walker and grabbed under its arms while Carl grabbed its feet. They moved with practised ease together and dropped the walker on one side of the RV before quickly moving on to the next.

Grimes was quick to follow along with T-Dog and Glenn. Shane hesitated for just a moment before he started doing the same. Jim and Jacqui teamed up to move their dead into a line in front of the RV while Andrea and Amy collected blankets to cover them with.

Dale, Lori, Mrs Peletier’s and Mrs Morales ushered the kids into the RV. The elderly couple followed them in.

Morales went over to every walker they dropped by the RV and made sure it was dead, stabbing a small knife into each head that looked too intact.

The other people, who Rick didn’t remember, split between collecting their dead and cleaning up the camp.

A few people did go over to Carol for injuries, but it looked like they were mostly scrapes and cuts rather than bites.

#the walking dead #twd #twd fanfiction #the walking dead fanfiction #Rick Grimes #Carl Grimes #Daryl Dixon #Carl Peletier #Shane Walsh #Lori Grimes #there's so many people I'm not going to tag them all #This is set between season 7 and season 8 #canon typical violence #canon typical language #Character death/mentions of character death #time travel #they're mostly fine because of time travel stuff #comunication #they actually talk about their shit #sorry for all the tags #this is better tagged on ao3 #but I still didn't want anyone stepping into this without some warning #it's relatively time though for twd #Stomping on Trodden Ground #sotg au

[the-deeds-to-shibden]

Saturday 18 July 1840

[up at] 4

[to bed at] 10?

fine morning too [written on] Tuesday 21 July much bit to sleep comfortably – otherwise pretty well of – Off from Outséré with an escort of 4 men picturesque little village on right bank of Rion at 4 3/4 – impossible to get any information thro’ George and Adam – Dubois ii. 406, says Tchiora is 12 versts from Outséré – our prince mourave of Outséré came to see us off and says it is 3 hours (from Oni I suppose he means) to Rêbi pronounced like Raby (castle) not Ghébi as called by Dubois – at the little old church (left) as 5 10/.. and in 3 or 4 minutes more walked (scrambled) up the hill to the gaz – much stronger than that near us at Oni – nice chalybeate rather acidulated spring 6 or 7 yards below   1/2 a dozen women at the gaz inhaling it thro’ a reed, (no! a hollow stem of some plant) 10 or 11 inches long – they cover the little hole in the ground at which the gaz issues with leaves, and stick the pipe in among the leaves and may thus imbibe enough to make them sneeze, or feel a sort of intoxication – It was something of this sort that was so famous at Delphi? the gaz issues on steep grassy, corny hill side, perhaps 50 feet above the level of river foaming down below – off from gaz at 5 20/..

1st bridge over the Rion at 5 35/.. to left bank of river – beech and spruce and birch?

2nd ditto 100 yards off                                                     alder grove along the river –

3rd ditto not much farther at 5 42/.. – the old castle on little knoll of rock in the bottom – irregular roundish with 2 square towers – not large –

4th ditto at 5 46/.. and here the pine-wooded dark defile reminds me of our return from Panticosa (Penticouse to Cauteretz) – schistose rock – bare rugged mountains close us up in front, in the distance – a bit of green barley close to the river – some very fine beech and spruce in the bottom –

5th ditto at 6 1/.. all rocking under us and picturesque group of 4 men and a boy lying or sitting round a fire and a lock of goats browzing by    at 6 10/.. rocks high – bare spots, and pointy and piny – very fine – common laurel underwood – snowy mountain full in front – Tola our guide of last night calls it – he came with us from Oni I know not why and seems inclined to go the whole way with us – small remains of 2 broken bridges at 6 25/.. perhaps about 100 yards from each other and between them a wooden corniche about 5 feet wide against the rock over Rion, hanging over the foaming water about a couple of feet above it – fir poles laid side by side – with a little low slight single

6th ditto rail parapet – at 6 40/.. blue writing-slate rock left and another bridge and 50 yards farther remains of broken bridge – at 7 5/.. change our escort for 4 other men (ready waiting) in 3 minutes and give them 2 abasses – satisfied –

7th ditto at 6 29/..

8th ditto at 7 10/.. and thro’ thick wood of spruce and beech and elm and alder –

9th bridge at 7 20/.. (had just eaten a hard boiled egg) – and turn left – back – close along the river for a little way thro’ wood, and another egg – foolish to have left Outséré without taking something especially as a woman had brought milk – but Ann would not have any and therefore I foolishly followed her example – she had just taken a glass of the acidulated water – a spring of it at Outséré – or somewhere near – the water brisk and very pleasant – tasted it last night – they brough us a little keg of it on arriving –

10th ditto at 7 29/.. the first without any parapet, just below confluence of Glogatskali (Gloga river) and we now turn left again – at 7 55/.. sun, and nice little air, and pleasant   I sleepy thro’ this pine wood – enlargement of valley – at 8 5/.. stop under great spruce to breakfast and bait the horses, the river roaring below 30 or 40 yards off – breakfast over at 8 50/.. – Ann had had 2 yolks of egg beaten up with water and a little of our Koutaïs bread – I with my 2 hard ebbs before had cheese and Baragone thin bread and water and a little cold tea – going almost due north – very little east of North   Reaumur at foot of one great spruce (in shade) 15 1/2° at 8 55/.. and Reaumur 29° at 9 1/4 lying under the tree on the other side with glimmer of sun – 9 10/.. had had large thick motion and little bit afterwards   little motion yesterday bowels very good now   this was just at the river over rapid – fall of 6 or 8 feet – one continued rapid here – almost all spruce pine here – how beautiful its dark points on dark-hoary schist – one spruce fir tree circumference 2 feet from ground = 196 inches 5 breadths – 6 inches for 1 breadth of my pelisse = 40 inches) = 16 feet 4 inches and many trees as large as this – some larger – By spruce, do not exactly mean what we call spruce at home – but of that kind of leaf – sapin not pin – the pine trees here are more like what we call the silver fir than spruce but spruce is a short generic term – 

Off again at 9 40/.. 5 hours from Rêbi – Rock right (on left bank Rion) white – calcareous – how fine this defile! we hear the roaring Rion but see it only now and then peep thro’ the thick wood – much hazel – very little beech now – spruce very large – big-stony, wild, mountain road – in 1/4 hour (at 9 55/..) Rion broad, streamy, shallow, and comparatively flowing quietly tho’ we hear the roaring as ever – village of Tchiora on plateau at foot of mountain-hill – at foot of green wooded mountain – on the other side (left bank) Rion – 2 or 3 versts off? – only see 2 towers – high and tapering -now ride thro’ cornfields – low, thin barley – big pear trees scattered singly and parkishly over the fields – beech, alder, poplar, and willow in the bottom (the poplar aspen, and black abeal? /abele/ the white abeal poplar not common in the Ratchas) and now birch on the mountains (close left) and in the bottom soon after – the mountain mixture of spruce beech and birch very picturesque and beautiful – little enlargement of valley opposite and before Tchiora – good looking village en face at 10 1/2 – all stone houses white washed – 2 towers – Rion fordable – now at 10 1/2 valley bottom 1 verst wide? and broad boulder bed of Rion takes it all – little mill in our road and terrible getting past it – cross the river and some time in its broad bed – our escort scrambling along the hill-side till at 10 42/.. get into good grass-land shrubbed with hazel and little green cornfields (right bank) as before – Tchiora charmingly situated – parky, green, pretty recess behind it up into high mountain – the terrible tangle of hazel alder etc. etc. a wild cherry tree hanging over me furnished a few red cherries about the size of the head of an old fashioned hair-pin – about the size of the largest shot – at 11 1/4 Rêbi at a little distance en face, at foot of high sillonné wooded (not pine) mountain – very picturesque – 2 villages white and with towers, one on one side the river the other on the other very picturesque – 8 or 9 long white towers and whitewashed stone houses other side (left bank) river, and tower in the wood and 2 or 3 whitewashed stone houses on this side – Dubois has given the towers of Rêbi to Tchiora – now at 11 27/.. very hot sun – Rêbi backed by snow mountains – broad boulder bed of Rion right and but little water in comparison – road along the river-bed receiving 2 or 3 torrents from the left – 

at 11 42/.. alight to walk over 5 feet wide unparapeted rocking bridge over Rion to Rêbi – at the village – and top in the grande place under shade of walnut tree at 11 50/.. – all the people men women and children gathered round us – very difficult to get any information amid all the noisy talk – but they say, it is one day from here to the foot of the mountain, then one day on foot (much snow) to Vladicavkas – must have a good escort – Gloga 5 hours from here – source of Rion 6 hours off – Ann poorly and out of sorts – could not bear the noise of the crowd assembled around us – rode off to another neighbouring walnut tree (neither tree large) wanted milk – got some from the Kelossan – I followed the man – went into his house in the higher part of the village – steep ascent to it on high rocky bank above the river roaring at a little distance below – Adam had come with me – sent him for Ann – she took a little more milk but not in sorts to relish anything – I had 2 bottles of milk and gave the Cossack 1 with Ann’s 2 bottles = 5 = perhaps about 2 pints or rather more – for which and 1/2 a cake for myself and Adam and the Cossack had the other 1/2, gave the woman ./25 silver = 10d English with which she seemed très contente – take fresh escort here – but only two men – what to be done? Ann supposed I was determined to go to the source (of the Rion) – no! I would do whatever she liked – but something must be decided – I would give up the source – go to Gloga to sleep, or return to Outséré – I would do whatever she liked – make the best of our way back to Koutaïs and home if she wished it, or thought it best – she would go as far as she could towards the source and if she could [not] go forwards would turn back – I took the precaution to see for a place where we could sleep, if we returned – the Kelossan shewed us an empty sâcle much such as last night, but not quite so comfortable a divan or broad bench for sleeping – obliged – 

off at 1 5/.. for the source – river bed takes up all valley – pleasant ride up the valley and good road till bad in the river (to avoid steep up hill into the wood – Adam’s doing for the nearest) and cross the rapid stream 20 yards wide at least – I got rather giddy – and then recross all the streams – at 2 10/.. semicircular enlargement of valley (right) corn fields and meadows and several little log huts, or barns or cattle places and stream and gorge up to the snow mountain (right) the Choda of Dubois? nobody knows the names of particular mountains – all the answer is, Cavkas – but mountains and rivers are called after the villages; and these people who as it seems seldom know much beyond their own village can rarely give one the name of any mountain – the names of Choda and Zoropa (vide Dubois ii [gap]) seem unknown – at 2 25/.. alight at one of the log huts – a new unused low cow house with low loft over it and our little place (room) at the end, entered by separate door – a good meadow (plot of good grass) here, amid the corn; and the horses had need of something to eat – Ann terribly out of sorts – at last (I had crept thro’ the little hole out of the little room and opened the cowhouse door) persuaded her to lie down in the cowhouse – nice clean board floor hardly finished the chips lying in one corner – she slept 1 1/2 hour till 4 10/.. – very hot sun – and then had an egg (beaten up with cold tea or water) and was much better for it – we might sleep here very well – think of it – the air coming in between the logs, is nothing – 

Off again at 4 35/.. – at 4 3/4 cross narrow frail wood bridge over rapid Rion and the valley narrowed again with stream and gorge from right – hills rounded sillonnés – beautifully wooded – very fine – almost all in wood the last 1/2 hour now 5 1/4 and get water – just passed beautiful blue iris and symphitum asperrimum everywhere wild here in the woods – at 5 35/.. beautiful combe of rich pasture shut in by wooded (not pine) hills and some fine bare mountain (left) at top – steep bad descent to level (almost of river and then another little corny combe and high mountain (right) at 5 3/4 – at 6 5/.. Passmta capped in cloud full before us seen thro’ cleft

Pāssĭmtā as seen at 6 5/.. p.m. –

between two hills – on my asking if it was Pāssĕmtā, yes said on[e] of 2 escort men Pāssīmtā   several piles of peeled poles and road thro’ the wood evidently much used – surely we must get to the guard or somewhere by 9 p.m. tho’ Adam a little while ago said we could not reach Carraous tonight – and there was no house or hut by the way – he thought it right to warn me of this – there is a guard of 40 men, George said, at the source – Dubois says the source is a few versts from Rêbi – surely we must arrive there by and by – merely answered nous verrons, and rode on – river deep below but rapid and narrowish – at 6 1/4 alight – steep bad ascent – cross affluent broad bedded but now on or 2 streams one can skip over from stone to stone mountain torrent – at the Rion at 6 27/.. – abundance of yellow turncap lilies – and wild sunflowers? in the woods – at 6 35/.. very bad bit – one of our 2 escort men rode my horse thro’ the rapidy river and I scrambled honeypot down by the side – would not let the men talk but said nothing against their singing (picturesquely well) for the last 1/2 hour – 

Carraoule (Cār-răh-ōōle) in sight at 7 50/.. on knoll of hill on other side river looking like little white buildings – I wondered that we went on so far without crossing the river but concluded we were obliged to make a detour – met 17 or 20 men by our wayside – all native mountaineers armed and clad armed like our escort with gun and some of them a sword and kindjal and Tchok – a few words of conversation – some went on before and we and the rest followed till halted at 8 1/4 – a few long small poles set up meeting in a point and a few small leafy branches thrown over them to the north and a fire in front and this our bivouac for the night – why had we not crossed the river to Carraoule? no bridge or merely a tree over the river – we could not cross – why did not Adam tell me this before? – angry at him – I had thought of an officer commandant and 40 Russians (for George had said 40 soldats – no danger) and supposed there must be some women and that we could get milk and be tolerably comfortable – and that my horses loose shoe could be fastened on – I kept my thoughts to myself set the Cossack to bring 3 pieces of wood, and arranged Ann’s bed very fairly – she said she was comfortable – no wood conveniently for me so spread my burca and saddle cloth on the ground put on my light cloak, and wrapped myself in my mackintosh for the night – shall be not so much bit – tho’ the biters fleas, etc.? are carried about with us in our clothes – Ann had an egg and I my Rêbi cake and my last 1/2 of little cheese and supped very well – very fine day – unluckily never thought (in my disappointment and anxiety at such a bivouac for Ann) to look at thermometer or compass – I think it was about 10 when I lay down – Ann asleep at the time –  

 Anne’s marginal notes:

off from Outséré.

old church and source gazeuse delayed us 1/4 hour

acidulated spring at Outséré

spruce fir.

2 days from Rêbi to Vladicavcas –

WYAS pages:  SH:7/ML/E/24/0156        SH:7/ML/E/24/0157        SH:7/ML/E/24/0158

#anne lister #ann walker #anne lister code breaker #gentleman jack #diary1840unannotated #russianempire1840 #georgia1840

[ontariocoldcasesthepodcast]

(via Ontario Cold Cases - The Podcast: Specials 4 & Feb 11 S2-EP6 Trailer | Patreon)

Specials 4 & Feb 11 S2-EP6 Trailer

S2-EP6 Cassandra Do & Lien Pham Trailer

Hello, I’m Jay Nicoll of Nicoll Investigations and I’m here to tell you about our next episode of Ontario Cold Cases - The Podcast, coming this Sunday, February 11.

On August 25, 2003, Cassandro Do, 32, was found in her bathtub sexually assaulted and murdered in her 60 Glouster Street apartment in Toronto by police who were responding to a call.

An autopsy showed she was manually strangled. She had been scheduled to meet a client that day.

Do, a preoperative transsexual who had once worked as a nurse, was saving money for her operation, and working as a prostitute in the Gay Village. Do, who also went by the name Tula, solicited clients on her website and ads in the back of weekly Toronto newspapers.

Do’s death occurred within days of two other women’s deaths, prompting concerns from citizens and the media.

The body of Lien Pham, a prostitute, who's working names were May-ling and/or Kim, was found at her apartment at 24 Mabelle Ave., Apt. #1817, in Toronto, on Monday, October 13, 2003.  

Mayling was strangled.  

There are similiarities to the death of Cassandra Do.

Both were Asian, both were strangled, both were incalls and both were found dead in their bathtubs.

Also neither women's apartment building had video surveillance in the lobbies.

After a description of Cassandra Do's killer had been reported on CFTO TV on October 6, 2003, four sex pro's contacted the station to report that they too, had been beaten and sexually attacked by a guy meeting the description of the suspect from the broadcast.

As of today, neither murder has been solved despite DNA evidence.

Ontario Cold Cases - The Podcast: Upcoming Episode! Tracy Bruney

At 1 p.m. on Wednesday, May 14th, 1975, a teenage boy walking through Marie Curtis Park found the body of 5-year-old Tracey Ann Bruney in 18 inches of water near a bridge in Etobicoke Creek, 15 km from the youngster’s home.

She had died of drowning, but there were cuts and bruises all over her head and neck from a beating administered by her killer. An autopsy showed she had not been sexually assaulted.

She was last seen alive by her mother at 9a.m., when she was dropped off at St. Clare Catholic School on Northcliffe Blvd. On the weekend, Tracey’s purse was found in a yard on Northcliffe Blvd., suggesting someone forcefully pulled her into a car near the school.

Ontario Cold Cases - The Podcast: Upcoming Episode! Simon Wilson

Nine-year-old Simon Wilson of Willowridge Rd. in Rexdale, a northwestern section of Toronto, disappeared on Wednesday, January 29th, 1975 while walking to his school, Parkfield Elementary, which is on Redgrave Dr., less than 1 km from his home. Simon was described by his parents as very independent and adventurous, and in the initial days there were fears he had either fallen into shallow Mimico Creek, which runs behind his home, or was playing hide-and-seek with searchers in the area’s extensive sewer tunnel system. Searchers heard voices in the tunnels, but could not locate their origin.

Despite weeks of exhaustive searching by police and volunteers, no trace of Simon Wilson was ever found.

Ontario Cold Cases - The Podcast: Upcoming Episode! Cheryl Hanson

On Friday, May 31st, 1974, seven-year-old Cheryl Hanson vanished while walking east along Bloomington Sideroad near Yonge St. in the town of Aurora, about 35 km north of downtown Toronto. Her parents had permitted her to walk to her cousin’s house for a sleepover, and the little girl left her home at about 6:30 p.m. Her route from her home to her cousin’s would have taken her about one kilometre east along Bloomington Rd., at the time a dirt road dotted with the odd residence or farm.

Despite massive searches, no trace of Cheryl was ever found, however the presumption is she was murdered. In 1976, a mental patient locked up for other crimes against young women confessed to murdering her, but his story was unable to be verified.

Please consider subscribing to Ontario Cold Cases – The Podcast on Patreon, Spotify, YouTube or Apple Podcasts.

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[the-firebird69]

A lot of things happening today but mostly they're lining up what's going to happen tomorrow there's a few things and we mentioned a bunch of them but they're a couple more that to Hera and Zues went over.

What is there's a large number of people bothering him and the pseudo empire is going to actually stop them from doing it by grabbing them and holding them they're getting small enough for them to do it not yet but they will be they're intending on pretty good scale tonight and they'll probably try a few times and the others are going into the city to get gold and they're going up to the ships and their first and they're going to get clobered

-there are several other things that will happen because they're doing that they will start attacking them then tell them not to do it and it's going to go on for some time it is a huge deal and it will become much bigger later tonight when it starts happening and they are trying to grab our son as our the clones and even some Max it's really gross we have to stop them all it's gotten to a point of ridiculous but that's what they chose to do

-feel several other things happening and it's very upsetting they are putting together a lot of people to go by and bother him tonight and it's going to be gross and we're going to stop them cold and the pseudo empire is too can't believe how bad they got and it's getting worse. During the attack they plan to send teams into the area where the campground is so the boy scouts in North Carolina near Virginia border to make it look like they got in and they are going to meet up there and they'll have a problem and then there's going to be a lot of bloodshed and a lot of them will be dead and stars will die and it will be horrible.

-she also mentioned that we are preparing to embark on a huge huge project and we are and we need personnel it is Pluto some people call it serious but that's really a different planetoid and this is a planetary but it's pretty big it's half the size of Earth and people tried to get there forever and they can't do it and she also mentioned

-Battle of hoth and it's heating up right now as a matter of fact the Battle of hoth is becoming very big. People are planning to go there the empire the pseudo empire the morlock in there is a plan in place and the warlock are going to be there ahead of people even ahead of Bill he's trapped in the hospital and he's trying to get out of there and people are holding him no but he knows where she is and they're trying to figure out his code but they don't have to they can look at the movie and they figure that out they're going to up there and injure her and she's going to be mad and yeah she is splitting too the second half is around there somewhere and she can't get together and she is in trouble and lost her fleet a while ago what's going on soon. There's other things that are also happening that hoth is huge with us and huge with our son and daughter it is a massive film and it is much bigger now in a way because of why it's happening it makes more sense and it's not haphazard and then after the embeds or both of theirs it is happening with others and they say that a bunch went up there no some days there was a big fight over some that went to Titan and they still don't have them that would be Arnie and d.

-still more there are plenty of fools here staring bothering harassing and basically not having any fun or any idea what they're doing wrong writer and different it's damned annoying but it's getting air and he needs it

-several other items that were mentioned there is a huge strike on the bases that are around the ship areas of the clones and the mega ships also the Mac mega ships are people are going down there mostly more lock and they're going to draw fire why to attack leadership gain access and it's going on now that they're getting ready to do so these ships are a pain and they're sitting there still but tonight just going to be a large assault if they don't launch they make it stuck right now they are attacking all five bases but three of each of the five are at about 10% and they're going to fall shortly and they will then only have two and those will be under severe assault and then it will be the ships and a certain point they won't have enough people to run the ship tonight it's going on now they're attacking the final two bases they're already down to about 70% and the small ones are under severe attack they won't be too long

He says we should publish this tons of stuff so I'm going to get it out there

Thor Freya

Zues

And that is the woman who is taking care of my tongue she's doing it to say nasty things about you I don't like her I don't want to hear you instead of pain in the ass

Hera

Ok then

[goldenngore]

❛ it’s my fault, isn’t it? ❜

@wntrbird

A stern yes sat on the tip of his tongue when Sansa finally spoke. Bandits didn't care for writs of passage signed by disgraced lord commanders; they only wanted whatever they could take. And if Loras hadn't been nearby, the girl would likely no longer be a maiden, if she even was to begin with. But then he thought of Margaery, locked up and alone in a cell of pitch black. He needed to get back to her. Nothing else mattered, so his response softened somewhat but retained a slight snap. "Maybe, maybe not." Tenderness with words had never been his forte, at least not for those who were near strangers to him, and the mind to pretend that courtesies were a part of him as the sun was to the sky had long passed.

Crouching at a riverside, Loras cleaned the blood off his sword and face, welcoming the cold after such a relentless fight. "I did say there were bandits in the area and that you shouldn't wander far. But mayhaps they were already in our pathway. We'll never know, so what difference does it make to wonder?" Vaguely, Loras recalled saying similar to her once before, not that it mattered, but the past brought many pains with it. He rose, placing the blade back in its sheath. The knight stood much taller, broader than the boy who once handed her a rose a tourney. That day seemed like a lifetime ago, like a dream turned nightmare. All he remembered of it became melancholy, reminding him that Renly was gone from the world, and maybe his sister, if Cersei had her way. Loras thought it a long shot that the North would lend them arms against the crown if Ned Stark's daughter was returned to her rightful place. But he'd do anything for his sister; any risk was worth her freedom. Margaery couldn't become his past, too.

"Come. Hopefully, the horse hasn't gone too far. We might still reach the new town before nightfall." Sighing, his vexation turned to dour gloom. He didn't have time to stand around bickering with Sansa about blame, not with so much at stake for them both. After all, Cersei would've liked them as damned as his dear sister.

#x. ANSWERED. ⚔️ #wntrbird #the plotholes here are gaping #but lets ignore that #sansa: ur grandma framed me #loras: ??????

[wytfut]

Part 2 of I80 as a neighbor

Another time,  I was leaving to deliver my oldest to a buddy’s house, when I noticed a Jeep wagon just pulling over on the shoulder of the interstate. It was a nasty icey spitting windy day. Figured I better pull out into the field by the fence at the interstate, to see if things were ok.

Lady and a young woman in the car. I’m standing at the fence, and they’d roll down the window a crack and yell all sorts of stuff I couldn’t hear. I said come to the fence.... Jeep wasn’t running.

Again lots of voices that couldn’t be heard. I jumped over the fence and as I walked up to the Jeep wagon, I heard the door locks go. I got to the Jeep and they cracked the window even less. I had to stick my ear right up to that crack to hear. I also noticed that they were hiding a very young girl between them.

“Everything is fine, My husband is right behind us.... he’ll pick us up....”   I told them ok.... that’d I take a quick look if they wanted....    “no we are fine.”

I told them they are more than welcome to jump in my truck, and I’d take them to the house so they could get warm. “no no no... the mechanic is right behind us, we are fine”...

Husband and now mechanic.... they are spooked!! They feel I’m a threat. wow

Some more conversation.... “I know you farmers are good people.... I trust you but...”   ..... “lady I’m no farmer” before I could finish my sentence...   “well you look ok....”    I’m a fireman....”  “ I know you fire men are good people” .... “ and a linesman” ....   “no we’re fine, they’ll be along any minute”.

Eventually I had to give up, she wasn’t having anything to do with what I was selling, as I’m some sort of interstate day light child rapist. “lady, I’m going to be gone for 45 minutes, if you are still here, I’ll come back out” ....   “ok”      it really was chilly out there for the 3 of them, but what ever, and no heat.

Got back from boy delivery, and there they still were. I drove out to the fence again across the field. Climbed the fence again. Again she cracked the window...  pretty much all 3 cold now. She hands me a piece of paper, and says “ this is our mechanic/neighbor, he knows us, call him and tell him where we are, and we need help....”    Again I invited them to the house to warm up.... No no no... we are fine.

I got to the house, called this guy. I gave him her name. He had no idea who she was, but said he’d drive the tow truck out there.

Traffic was pretty slow on the interstate with they blowing icey rain. So it wasn’t hard to see when their help finally showed up.

An hour and 30 minutes later, a tow truck putts down the interstate and jumps across to their side.

An hour and a half.....    somebodies kids got really cold.

One warm summer night, I was listening to my scanner in the living room, and heard of a chase, being performed by the State Troopers. Sounded like they were coming our direction.

Sure enough, they were chasing a Chevy S10, at a slow rate of speed. I’d say there were 8 Troopers following this pickup.

Suddenly the S10 slammed on his brakes. Trooper slammed into the pickup and another knicked that car, and headed for the median only to hit another Trooper ...    

S10 the reversed direction.... and the circus drove off to the west of us...

One fall evening, I was gone somewhere... not sure where, when a Guy all hopped up on “meth” came to the back door.

He was a mess, hallucinating, jerky, crazy stories, etc.   Patti answered the door with Norton and Gertie. These huge dogs freaked the guy out a lil bit. He went on with his crazy, and Patti handed him a phone.

In the mean time, she called me on her cell phone. I’m blazing a trail home, to help.

I arrived and the only thing I could think of was to get this guy loaded into my truck and off the property. Some how with a conversation I convinced him to get in, and I hauled him to Lincoln north edge, to a run down motel.

Turns out he wasn’t really a threat, although scary to be around, he was terrified himself of what he had imagined happened to himself on the interstate.

Also Patti or I got a call in to 911. They responded to my house, where I had already picked up the guy. They called me in my truck on my way back from delivering this guy.  I told them where I had  left him, and they headed to Lincoln.

Here’s a sadder story to finish this up....

This was fathers day. Directly in front of my place, an older car broke down. I had seen Driver and Lady trying to work on it several hours. He came over and borrowed a couple simple tools from me and my neighbor.

Car was older and run down. 

He finally gave up, and gave me the story. Being it was fathers day he and his girl friend were heading to the Womens lock up in Lincoln to see his daughter. He didn’t have a car, so he had to borrow one, and it failed obviously. Personally I wouldn’t have taken that car on a test drive let alone from Omaha to Lincoln on the interstate.

Their clothes were clean, and it looked like they had made a hard attempt at looking presentable. But you could tell they didn’t have a penny to their name. Teeth missing, language, .... well you got the idea.  The guy was deflated, as he knew he wasn’t going to see his Daughter. 

Had to help them out. I ended up hauling them to their home in Omaha. Dude was so overwhelmed with my help he insisted that I take one of his new puppies. Pit Bull. Now everyone loves puppies, and they were a handsome litter. But I have no use for a Pit Bull (great breed or not). I think I hurt his feelings on not taking one. 

It wasn’t a good day for this guy,.... but I got him home.

I’m sure there are more stories but none come to my memory... I’ll likely add to this as I remember...

[gallawitchxx]

a smöl 7x10 pre-dock scene mickey ficlet... if you want...

💌

The old dock looked as if no one had walked on it in fuckin’ years, the graying wood of the drawbridge now leaning precariously to the right. Still, Mickey leaned against it--always one to take his chances--absentmindedly lighting up yet another cigarette, letting himself wander back to some other structure of dilapidated wood: a staircase outside 2119 North Wallace.

This is it… This is you breaking up with me. He heard himself say, the ghostly prickle of tears blurring the past and present. Really? Fuck.

He took a drag, feeling the familiar sting in his lungs, followed by the brief buzz of the nicotine. He wished it were enough to carry him through this part of the night.

The waiting.

Waiting was not a word that Mickey wanted to spend too much time with tonight. It’d already been his bedfellow for years--company that provided no warmth and no weight, save for the fuckin’ pressure of easily broken promises made through gritted teeth and dodged glances.

Mickey was done waiting.

If he were honest with himself, he didn’t even know if Ian would show. He’d come earlier, sure, when Damon and his guys had helped him get to where Mickey’d set up shop.

You like the high school bleachers? Our spot, man.

Fuck, Ian had looked good in his uniform. All official and shit, which Mickey hadn’t been expecting. But more than that, he looked good. Healthy. His face full of color and his red hair bright, glowing in the midday sun. He looked like himself again, the guy Mickey knew before diagnoses and break-ups and trials and lock-ups.

He looked so good that Mickey regretted not giving himself a fuckin’ haircut before his big escape.

But there was no telling if Ian would show again. Besides his new gig, Mickey didn’t know much about his life nowadays. When Svet did visit they stayed away from all mentions of orange boy. Now, suddenly, allowing himself to have the thought for the first time, Mickey worried that he maybe didn’t want to see Mickey, maybe he had moved on, maybe he was even seeing someone.

He shuddered, tugging at his beanie with FUCK-branded fingers.

He couldn’t think about that now, not when he’d risked so much to be here. Not when they’d already been reunited once. Not when he’d palmed Ian’s pale face and felt his hot breath on his own, lips just inches from the finish line. Just the thought of it now--the brief tussle followed by that moment of pure want--made his belly flip and blood rush to his cock.

He sucked in some more smoke, tonguing the filter as if it were something else, thumbing at his eyebrow until he had to will himself to stop.

Ian had to show. If only to fuck Mickey senseless. To steal the very breath from his lungs. But of course, he hoped for so much more--beaches and sunsets and Mexican beer. Icy blue eyes counting sun-kissed freckles. Cold, midwestern feet in warm, golden sand.

The cigarette, like Mickey’s nerve, was getting down to it. He finished it off, flicking it into the harbor as he grabbed for the burner phone in his pocket. The one that only Ian had the number to. Nothing new to report.

He thought about calling again, but he wasn’t some bitch. He’d called enough. He’d made his intentions clear. The ball was firmly in Ian’s court, but the clock was running out. Ian’s choice would soon be made. Shoot or pass.

Mickey licked his lips and shoved the phone back where it came from, both burying the bastard and willing it to speak. Just put him out of his fuckin’ misery, one way or another.

Ding.

Fuck yes.

Game time.

Game face.

Game on.

#dock scene my beloved #somehow we got to sports metaphors? #truly not sure why but i hope you like #7x10 supremacy #7x10 #gallavich #gallavich fanfic #tumblr fic #ficlet #ian x mickey #mickey milkovich #my writing #shameless

[darkficsyouneveraskedfor]

Northern Exposure | Something in the Air

❄ Part 1 of the mini-series ❄

Warnings: non-consent sex and rape (series); violence, creepiness on part of our boys, predatory behaviour, Bucky’s an asshole, they’re all too lonely and too desperate, mistaken identity.

This is dark! fic and explicit. 18+ only.  Your media consumption is your own responsibility. Warnings have been given. DO NOT PROCEED if these matters upset you.

Pairings: Sam Wilson x Reader, Steve Rogers x Reader, Bucky Barnes x Reader, A Bad Time x Reader

Series Synopsis: You’re a nature photographer stationed up north but the arctic isolation comes to an unexpected and unpleasant end.

Note: I started this ages ago and finally got the energy to finish, it’s four parts and provided my life doesn’t continue to fuck around I should have em all up in the next days. Also as always, cracking away at all the other fics I’ve hooked you into.

Thanks to everyone for their patience and feedback. :)

I really hope you enjoy. 💋

<3 Let me know what you think with a like or reblog or reply or an ask! Love ya!

The days were short and the nights long. So far north, time seemed not to exist as you chased the fleeting sun with your lens. Your existence was only demarcated by the fortnightly delivery of supplies left at your door as you were often out pursuing an elusive snow fox or wakeful owl. The world seemed small up here and you felt like the only person left alive.

Perched up on a branch precariously, you teetered as you focused your camera at its end. It was the perfect composition, snow blurred in the background as you focus on the scratching along the bark, the remnants of some owl or smaller critter. An abstract in your series, certainly, but interesting nonetheless. Besides, your editor would be happy enough with the close up you’d captured of a reindeer, its antlers the focal point of the shot.

Content, you climbed down, barely keeping yourself from slipping entirely down the trunk to a crash landing. Back on the ground, your boots sank into the snow, halfway up your calf, and you capped the lens of your camera. You tucked it under your parka and glanced around at the sparse grey trees.

Your eyes flew up as you heard a snap in branches not far from those you stood beneath. You held your breath and listened. It might be another opportunity. The early flight of an owl. You followed the sound, your steps muffled by the snowy carpet below. But that natural silence of the arctic returned and you ended up searching for air. Not a noise.

You sighed and turned back to look at the horizon. It was growing dark and you were best to return to your little cabin before long. It would be a moonless night and without the silver guardian above, it would make a nocturnal trek even harder. As you took a step, it seemed to echo and you stopped again. Your ears perked up and you shifted your hat to hear a bit better. 

There was nothing. You frowned and turned. Only the snow and the trees against the greying sky. You shrugged off your unusual paranoia and carried on. You took the treacherous path back to your remote habitat. It was just you and your cameras; you and the north. An assignment you’d loathed at first but come to cherish. Isolation had a keen way of introducing one’s self to them.

You stepped up onto the small porch, the aluminum roofing and the tarnished and dented siding made it seem like little more than a lost shed. There was a single room inside, a small bed with a woven blanket, a wooden counter with an old basin and a stove top run on gas. The out house was further back, hard to find in a storm, but as long as you counted your steps, you rarely got lost.

You pushed through and turned the wooden latch that held the door shut. You untied your boots on the salt-stained rubber mat and left them there as you hung your damp, cold parka and shed your thick snow pants. You took off your hat and gloves and left them on the small shelf beneath the hook.

You took out a can of chili and dumped it in the small scratched pan. You lit the burner and sat on the single chair built of logs as you waited for it to warm. The wind swept up outside the shuttered windows and you shivered. You went to the small woodstove and twisted the iron handle of the door. You carefully built a fire as the smell of your dinner filled the cabin.

You left the door of the stove open to heat up the place and turned off the burner. You moved the pot onto the counter and took a bowl from the cupboard. A distant clatter sounded from outside. You frowned and kept yourself from grabbing the pot. You sighed as the noise repeated.

Several times before the wind had torn open the outhouse door and slammed it back and forth throughout the night. One time, it had been a curious bear. You hoped for the former as you shoved your feet into your boots and haphazardly pulled on your jacket. In and out. You’d secure the door and be back for your dinner before it got cold.

Outside, the sky had almost darkened entirely. You clicked on the flashlight you kept by the door and shut it behind you. You stomped down into the snow and squinted at the circle of light as you rounded the edge of the house. You neared the outhouse and sighed as you found it locked up tight. It couldn’t have been your imagination; you’d heard something.

You huffed and turned back. You swept the flashlight back and forth as you searched for a creature sneaking around or whatever item the wind had tried to carry away. There was nothing. You followed your footprints back to the house and climbed up the steps. 

The door was open and you noticed the much larger puddled footprint on the porch too late. The fire had been snuffed and the single lantern was dead. Your wrist was grabbed as you tried to angle the flashlight around the room and you were drawn inside and pinned against the door. 

A cold barrel pressed to your chin and your eyes widened. Your arm was twisted up until the flashlight blinded you and lit the unfamiliar face before you. You blinked and shook your head helplessly.

“Quite the hiding spot,” The deep voice added to the icy nip of the air.

“What--”

“Don’t try to act dumb. It might’ve worked with Wilson but not me.” He snarled and you released the flashlight as you tried to wriggle free. “Stop!”

The light fell to the floor and bounced as he wrenched your arm up and pushed the gun harder under your chin.

“I have orders to take you alive… if I can,” he sneered, “doesn’t mean I will.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” you grunted as he had you on tip toes against the wall, the flash light rolled on the floor and sent shadows around the room, “I’m not… I’m not whoever you think I am.”

“Save it, Ursa,” he hissed and pulled you away from the wall, gun still taut to your skin, “0r should I say Astur.”

“No, no, it’s not me,” you pleaded, confused as he turned you away from him and angled you towards the bed, the muzzle now pressed to the back of your head. “I’m just a photographer. You’ll see. Look through my stuff. It’s just cameras and photos. It’s--”

“Shut up,” he pushed on the back of your knees with his, “on your stomach.”

You got down, barely able to see and unwilling to resist with a bullet waiting behind you. He pushed you into the mattress until you were still. He pulled back the gun and planted his knee on your back as he held you down. He holstered his firearm then pulled your arm back behind you and then the other. He used a zip tie to secure your hands there before he did the same to your ankles.

He carefully stepped back and you turned your head to watch his shadow. He didn’t bother with the flashlight as he closed the door. Then he turned and kicked the light so it cracked and the bulb died. He sat in the chair, it groaned dangerously under him.

You could see little of him as all light was gone but for the sudden glow of a screen before him. You only saw the glint of his blue eyes before he put it against his cheek. You turned onto your side and he growled.

“Don’t even think of moving,” he warned. “Hey,” he spoke into the speaker. “I just sent the coordinates. Target secured.” He listened, “by morning?”

He pulled the phone away and dimmed the screen. You could only hear the wind as he sat there and you sensed his unwavering gaze in the dark. With your jacket undone and your boots untied, you felt the draft that blew through the cabin walls. You shivered and he let out a thick breath. A snarl almost.

“I really don’t know what’s going on,” you said.

“Shut up,” he snapped.

“I mean it. You have to look. Look around, you’ll see,” you pleaded.

He snorted and didn’t move. You rolled your eyes helplessly and another chill ran through you.

“Please--”

“I already looked. When you were out climbing trees,” he intoned. “I saw the photos. Very thorough reconnaissance.”

“What? Pictures of birds and snowflakes?” You uttered. 

“You’re good. That whole innocent ploy is convincing,” you heard his boot drag over the wooden floor, “almost.”

You deflated, your wrists chafed and your teeth chattered.

“You gonna wait all night… for whoever that was?”

“I’m tired of telling you to shut up.”

“You leave me like this, I’ll freeze to death. You too.”

“I won’t,” he said, “you might.”

“You said you had orders.”

“Circumstantial,” he countered.

You exhaled deeply and bent your legs as you tried to curl into yourself. He tutted and stood, the floor creaked. The stove door whined and you heard the iron poker against the kindling. He mumbled as he relit the fire and stirred it until the biggest log caught. He rose and set aside the poker and resumed his seat. 

The fire’s amber haze limned his figure in the dark. His broad shoulders were wider than the back of the chair, his long hair poked out from beneath a wool cap, and his hand formed a tight fist on the arm. He leaned his head back and sniffed.

“There,” he said sharply, “nice and cozy.”

You wiggled on the bed, trying to get comfortable. You pulled on your wrists and ankles and only caused your hands and feet to throb. You grunted and relented, resigning yourself to lay listless atop the thin mattress.

“You’re wasting your time--”

“I’m about to shove your sock in your mouth so I suggest you shut the fuck up,” he barked.

You gulped and closed your eyes in surrender. Well, maybe his friends would realise his mistake. Or maybe they’d just add to your predicament.

❄

You didn’t really sleep, you languished. The man didn’t either. You could tell. He just watched. Frighteningly patient as the night critters made a ruckus outside. He barely even moved as you fidgeted, your shoulders sore and your legs cramping. 

Then there was a sudden change that even you felt. A heavy pair of boots climbed up onto the porch and the handle jiggled, the door stopped by the wooden latch. The man rose and crossed to the door. You heard the subtle brush of fabric and metal as he pulled out his gun. He pulled open the door slowly, at the ready, the slightly lesser dark seeping in.

“Sooner than I thought,” the man greeted his comrade. Your heart froze as another set of footfalls followed. A third man entered behind the second.

“Jesus, why are you sitting here in the dark?” The third man asked, “there a light or something?”

“She’s on the bed.” The first man grumbled. “Only a rifle hidden under there. I already disarmed it.”

The sudden electric glow of the lantern bloomed to life. Your eyes slowly adjusted as you stared at the three men. There were all big, all broad-shouldered, all stood like soldiers as they communed around the only chair. The third, the one who’d clicked the lantern on, neared you.

“She’s putting on a front, but--” the first man began and the third one raised his hand to silence him as he knelt by the bed.

He had a kind face, his brown eyes were warm, and the finely trimmed goatee lent him a sense of lightheartedness. His expression however was hard and turned to confusion then disappointment as he held the lantern close and grabbed your chin, turning your head back and forth.

“Not her,” he released you and stood, “fucking Christ, Bucky. It’s not fucking her.”

The second man snorted, “really?”

“It’s gotta be--” the first insisted, “the gun--”

“For hunting,” you said dully, “not that I do much of that. I use it to scare away the wolves.”

“Shut up.” He snarled and crossed his arms as he turned his back to you, “you’re sure?”

“I wouldn’t forget the woman who nearly slit my throat. Twice.” The other said, “and really? A single rifle? You think that’s all she’d have?”

“She has photos too. The bunker, due north. She’s got dozens.” The first insisted.

“Bunker?” You whispered.

“I’m not going to tell you to shut it again,” the man turned as he raised a hand and the blond, the one who hadn’t said much at all, caught his wrist.

“Hey,” the other man warned, “she’s innocent. She probably has no idea what she was taking pictures of.”

“Yeah, but now she knows our faces. No doubt recognizes you, pretty boy,”tThe third offered, “and idiot here assaulted her and tied her up.”

“All the way up here? Who’s she gonna tell?” The blonde returned.

“She has a radio,” The first, Bucky offered. “It’d be enough to give us away.”

“They’d believe her? If she’s been up here long, they might not.” The blonde glanced over the others shoulder, “you apologize and we can--”

“You really wanna leave another loose end?” Bucky challenged as he blocked his gaze. 

“You should’ve confirmed before you jumped,” the third huffed.

“If we’re not gonna leave her, what do we do?” The blonde asked.

They all went silent. They looked at each other and then you. Bucky raised his gun, still in hand, and the blond caught him again. He shook his head and tisked.

“Are you crazy?” He pushed his hand down, “We’re not killing her. She didn’t do anything.”

“I agree, she shouldn't die because you’re stupid,” the other chuckled.

“Well, Einstein,” Bucky snipped, “what do you suggest?”

The third man’s brows raised slowly and he tilted his head. He glanced at you again then back to his comrades. He shrugged and a grin spread across his face.

“The bunker. It’s empty. Safe.” He said quietly, “How much of a fight did she put up?”

“Enough of one,” Bucky muttered.

“She’s… not bad. She’s all alone up here. Even if someone noticed she went radio silent, it’d have to take a while,” he explained.

“What are you saying?” The blonde frowned.

“If she has the photos, if she knows where the bunker is and this moron’s blurted out some intel, I just know it,” he continued, “we can’t let her go. He’s at least right about that. So… we don’t wanna kill her, we keep her.”

“Keep her? For what?” Bucky scoffed.

The man was silent and winked at them. The blonde peeked over at you and Bucky dropped his head as he gripped his hip. 

“Come on, you guys,” he threw up his hand as the blonde shifted on his feet. “It’s fucking cold up here and it’s been awful lonely everywhere else. We’re running around with no finish line in sight and… well, I’m about to stab one of you and I’ve seen the way you,” he pointed at Bucky, “look at me. I don’t trust that.”

“You can’t mean--” the blonde muttered.

“She’s better off dead,” Bucky insisted.

“Just because you’re a monk, doesn’t mean the rest of us need to be.”

“Hmm,” the blonde tapped his toe.

“You’re not really considering this?” Bucky sneered.

“Well… why not?” He rasped, “She’s… alone and… not too bad on the eyes.”

“And I have ears!” You sat up awkwardly, “You want me to keep my mouth shut. Done. I’m up here trying to catch a few birds on a roll. I’m not here to get mixed up in whatever it is you three--” You blinked as the lantern shone in the blond’s face as the three men turned to you, “shit.”

Captain America’s eyes sparked with recognition as your head did the same. He knew you knew who he was; likely he saw that look every other day. There was no hiding it.

“I told you,” the third man chided, “that mug is hard to forget.”

“No, no, I don’t-- I won’t tell a soul. I swear. Please just whatever you’re thinking, don’t. I’m some dumb photographer they sent up here to document the snow. You really think anyone cares that much--”

“Not so much about you but those photos are pretty interesting,” Bucky neared and shoved you down and you barely kept from hitting your head on the wall, “don’t tell me you didn’t know what you were doing.”

“People go missing up here all the time. That’s why no one’s here,” the brown-eyed man said, “she’ll just be another and we’ll have a nice companion to keep us from killing each other.”

“No,” Bucky turned, “it’s my mistake. I’ll take care of it.”

“Put the gun away, Buck,” Steve Rogers ordered, “it’s not right. We can’t kill her. Even if she isn’t entirely innocent, even if you’re right about those photos. She’s better to us alive.”

“Don’t tell me you’re going along with this--”

“I’m the captain,” Steve insisted. “I’ve made up my mind and I’m giving you an order. Sam’s right. She’s more use alive. If she has information, we’ll get it out of her. And if she doesn’t well, we can find something else to do with her.”

Bucky swore and pushed his gun into his holster. He stepped away from you and shouldered past the one called Sam.

“Yes, captain,” he said dryly. 

“Sergeant,” Steve retorted and nodded to Sam, “get her up. We should leave before the sun rises.”

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