#and it would be cold to sleep with his feet uncovered youre right ;;o;; i hope it's a warm room he should have little kitty sockies

[xbruised-peachx]

Mäuschen Ch 3.

Chapter three is ready! No smut this time, just plot!

Summary: Waking up, the nightmare of questioning continues... but takes an even worse turn than you could imagine. Word Count: 10,726 Tags: Angst, tension, violence, HUGE WARNING for noncon recording and blackmail 🔞+ STORY Ch. 1 Ch. 2 Ch. 4

AO3 linky! Translations at the end of the chapter (not as much foreign language this time but ya know)

Tag list- @xncasi @m99n @uwu-i-purple-you @quiziwizi @kitty-satan1 @xxgirlscoutcookiexx @rainydayfanfic @confuseddipshit @konig-breedme​

Awaking at an unknown time felt very odd to you. Most times when you awoke, you would instantly turn to pick up your phone from your bedside table, checking if you had time to sleep in or had already slept in too much. But now, all that was beside you was the dark, dingy concrete. It wasn’t a dream. This wasn’t a nightmare. This was all very real.

He was very real.

You peeled your eyes open more, seeing and hearing the fluorescent still as grating on your senses as normal. You slowly sat up, rubbing your eyes and scratching your ratty bed head. You tried stretching your now very cold limbs to try and get your blood flowing, as well as work out any cricks that came out while you were laying on the hard floor. You actually had to do quite a few just to feel normal, feel like you could possibly stand. But then remembering last night... you blushed thinking of it and thought it would be better to stretch your legs out more.

Once you finally felt confident in your body’s ability to function, you slowly got up onto your feet, pulling your comforter up to envelop you and preserve your warmth. As it wafted over your shoulders, you smelled it in the air again. That gunpowder smell, softly mixed pine and soil... as well as a lingering reminder of what you two did... Nothing could get your mind off it. Get your mind off him. ...But you loved it. You couldn’t help the soft smile that sprung on your cheeks as you thought of it all; his loving embrace, caring enough to give you a snack, the absolute bliss you two felt.

Speaking of the snack, you almost went to grab it yourself for your breakfast but... you hadn’t even fully checked your surroundings yet. You had no clue how late it was, if it was late, and if so, if they dropped off their own breakfast for you. You squinted as you tried to adjust to the bright light that hung above, shining on the table. When you did, you did see a small plate with two pieces of toast, uncovered but at least there was one little side of unbranded strawberry jam next to it. And as you approached the table, you noticed something else that startled you much more. A man, right across from the other side, just looking at you as he sat patiently. You jumped, clutching your chest where your heart was as you yelped, “Jesus fucking Christ!”

The man, dressed head to toe in digital green camo, looked up at you nonchalantly, his wrap around shades and mask fully obscuring his face. “My apologies, I did not want to wake you. But they had me bring your breakfast.” His voice was so deep, though he was talking at a normal volume, it boomed at its low frequency. Looking down at his sleeves, you saw a patch of the flag of South Korea, explaining his rather thick accent.

“...O-okay...” You stuttered out, looking at him in confusion as you tried to parse anything about his face. At least König had eyeholes, this guy was a complete blank slate. “Well... I don’t mean to come off as rude but... why are you still here? The last girl that dropped off my food just left as soon as she could.”

“I will also be helping with your interrogation today. It would be best if I stayed here, yes? And also, I’m sure you would like some company.”

You shrugged your shoulders, pulling out your chair to take your seat across from the man. The whole time, watching you behind his sunglasses. Sure, he was right, it was nice to have company at this time but... someone who just sat there, watching you sleep? How long had he been there? And even now he just kept staring at you, unmoving, you barely even saw his chest rise and fall to breathe. You opened up the jam, looking around for any sort of plastic knife. ...Of course they wouldn’t even give you the luxury of that. You tipped the little tub over, crinkling it to get it out on one piece, then using the edge of it to slice the glob in half, transferring it to the other piece. Using the back of it, you spread it as evenly as you could, then carefully licked it clean of the remnants, trying not to cut your tongue on the sharp edges of it. Picking up the piece, you noted how cold it was, but at least toast wasn’t that bad when it went cold. Unlike the baked potato you had last night. Taking your first bite, you looked up and weren’t surprised to see him, still staring, watching silently. For someone keeping you company he certainly was... here.

“So... What’s your name?” You said breaking the silence as you swallowed your food. “Or, I suppose what people call you.” You thought back to König, still unsure if that was just a nickname.

He let out a short laugh, looking to the side before turning back to you. “You can call me Horangi. Everyone else calls me that.”

You tilted your head to the side, looking at him confused as you took another bite. “Is that your actual name? Or would you prefer not to tell me like...” You trailed off, thinking of him, but not wanting to mention him. You felt if you mentioned him a lot, more suspicions would be raised about you two.

It seemed he didn’t notice your strange cut off, instead just answering your question. “Haha... no, it’s just a nickname. I was one of the younger people in my brigade, but since they respected me, they started calling me after the year I was born. Horangi, tiger.”

You nodded, trying to recall the Chinese zodiac. Though the animals came to you easier, recalling the actual years they applied to was different. Last you knew, we were still in the year of the tiger so... 24 years ago. He was 24 years old. You smiled slightly to yourself, proud of yourself being able to deduce it yourself. Taking another bite, he had gone back to just watching you. Well... at least you were putting some effort into being some company. You glanced around the room, avoiding his unfeeling gaze. You were sure he did have some sort of emotion at the time, even if it was just in reaction to being in his own head, thinking silently. You weren’t even sure if he could see you with those dark wrap around glasses.

You finished up your first piece and started on the next. Swallowing that first bite, you look back at him, who was still staring at you, but now had his hands on the table, fingers interlaced. You tilted your head slightly and decided to speak your mind. “You aren’t too talkative, huh?”

He let out a slight chuckle, his gaze finally breaking as he looked slightly off to the side. “Yeah... I tend to just stick to myself. Stay in my own head so to say. My apologies.”

You shrugged your shoulders, taking another bite. “It’s fine. Heh... I don’t blame you for not wanting to talk to people here. I know I don’t.”

He let out a bigger laugh that time, his gaze meeting yours again. “You are not wrong. There are some people here I can at least tolerate for missions. But your case is different. You have to start talking.”

“Yeah, yeah,” you said, annoyance dripping from your voice as you repeated your words. “I’m trying, okay? They’re just asking questions about my dad and I don’t know anything.”

“I mean... that’s what anyone being questioned would say.” You could practically hear his eyebrow lift at you, doubting you with just his voice.

“And I am being honest.” You shrugged your hands at him over dramatically, like you were presenting yourself as your own form of innocence. He just chuckled again, shallowly shaking his head. You took another bite of your toast, just about finishing this last slice. “I’m doing everything as I’m told, because I do not want to be hurt. And yet I’m still treated like shit.”

He shrugged, making you slightly annoyed at his uncaring gesture. “They don’t care much for anyone, much less hostages like you.” The way his voice dropped, going more cold as he referred to you... You had to bite your tongue and avert your gaze as you glared at the ground. And here you thought he was actually going to be somewhat respectful of you, considering you actually made him laugh a bit.

Finishing your toast off, you pushed the plate to the side. He got up instantly and stiffly, quickly grabbing the plate and walking off to the door. You thought he was finally leaving but instead, he just left it by the empty side of the door. Turning on his heel, he started to walk back over. You looked down at the floor slightly, getting lost in thought as his harsh words lingered in your head. “What’s going to happen once they get all they can from me? ...When I’m no longer of use?”

His pace slowed considerably, looking down at you as he passed you. He even paused, just looking at your sadden posture for a moment before slowly returning to his seat. “I... am not sure. I’ve seen some hostages in my time here, but most times, they are military themselves. Not civilians. It’s... different releasing a fellow soldier back after we get the ransom as opposed to a civilian.”

“So you’re saying you don’t think they thought this through that well?”

You earned yourself another laugh from him. “You could say that. I think they’re just... very focused on the objective they have right now.”

Just as you were about to say something in response, the door behind you opened. You quickly looked behind to see who was entering, Horangi even poking around you, leaning to see. You wondered if he even knew what was really going to happen in terms of questioning, or if he was just backup. First you saw him... him duck under the frame of the door, putting his hand up to hold it as he passed. You smiled slightly to yourself, he seemed like he woke up today quite lighthearted. You were just happy they brought him in to question you again. The way you two talked... let your guards down in front of each other... you had only known each other a day at this point but you were sure he felt the same ease you did anytime you saw him, or even thought of him. But then someone else was hidden behind his large frame. That black balaclava, grey camo gear... the little creep contractor was back and soured your mood a bit. Three people interrogating you... this seemed... excessive. Though König was there for you, you had a really bad feeling about this.

The two of them continued in, König continuing forward and reaching the table while the contractor locked the door behind them. You looked up at König, who immediately couldn’t keep his eyes off you. Even with the bright light shining down and making it hard to see, you could barely make out his soft expression, even just feeling love and ease emanate from him. Though you both still felt slightly more at ease, it was clear you weren’t the only one who was feeling a bit more nervous about this situation, as his fingers started drumming on the table.

He broke his gaze from you, glancing over to his smaller, fellow contractor that was spinning his keys on his finger before putting them away in his pocket, all while making his way over to the table. “Good morning everyone!” He greeted everyone enthusiastically, ignoring the tension that lingered in the room. You glanced over to Horangi, wondering if he could feel it as well. Though the way his head was slightly tilted made you think he was just confused on why he was so enthusiastic. The silence hung in the air as neither of them responded, just looking at him expectantly. He rolled his eyes, gesturing for König to follow him as they went into the corner, both grabbing chairs for themselves. As he came back, he put his right next to Horangi. König followed after, about to set his chair next to his to the side of the table, but before the contractor even sat down, he started to correct him. “No, no, no. You can go ahead and sit on that side.” König looked down at him with much confusion as he pointed to the empty spot next to you, but did as he said, reluctantly tossing his chair to be next to you. You knew he didn’t want to sit next to you so you two could keep up the charade of not knowing each other. But with him being directed to do so... more red flags raised in your head. He looked at the little man, expecting another order, but instead he took a seat, looking up at König and gesturing to his seat. He did as such, sitting in the chair slowly, not breaking eye contact with the man sitting across from him. He spread his legs slightly as he seemed a bit big for the chair, his knees being a bit higher than his hips. He placed his hands on his knees, his left leg moving side to side slowly as he started drumming on it. His gaze looked determined, but he kept looking elsewhere. He was attempting to appear confident and cool, almost like he was trying to intimidate his fellow contractor, but inside his mind was screaming, in a constant flight or fight response as the silence hung in the air.

The man across returned the stare, but was able to hold much more confidently at König, only breaking it to glance at you. “I guess I’ll cut to the chase then,” his heavily accented voice cut through the silence as he took a big sigh. He put both his hands on the table, pushing himself up so he could loom over the table, for once being higher than König as he stared directly at him. “...Do you two take us for fools? Do you two really think a company like Kortac here, are a bunch of fucking idiots?!”

His stern voice immediately made your stomach sink as you shrunk back into your chair. You instantly glanced around the room, trying to avoid his glare as he shifted his gaze to look back and forth between you two. You looked to Horangi across from you, who seemed just as confused and befuddled by this development. Though you could not see his expression, you could see as he switched between looking at the man beside him, then to König, then back to the contractor with a slight head tilt. Looking over at König, you saw his chest rise as his breathing got heavier. His light drumming on his knee turned to a full grip on his camo cargo pants. And most surprising of all, though his face was full of fear, his eyes locked onto the accusatory man. “W-what are you trying to say?” He was truly trying to appear confident but the both of you were scared, confused on what was even going on right now.

“So you really think we’re stupid?” His head cocked to the side as he glared down at König. “You really think just because you can’t see a camera in here, we don't have any?” Instantly, you felt the color drop from your face, both of you glancing at each other at the same time, absolutely petrified. “You think a PMC, like Kortac, would not be able to invest in hidden cameras for our interrogation rooms? Heh... well, the tactic worked, you two thought it was safe. Safe enough to FUCK BEHIND OUR BACKS!”

He slammed his fist on the table, the loud noise plus his yelling startling you extremely. You pulled one of your knees up, keeping your foot on the chair as you sunk further back, trying to shield yourself as instantly you felt attacked. You looked over to König, though you were scared yourself, you instantly worried about him. He was as stiff as a board, not even his chest moving like he had forgotten to breathe. Instead, the grip on his leg got even tighter, his clothes crumpling as his knuckles were white. His gaze averted from the main interrogator to Horangi... who really just seemed to be a backup now, as he seemed surprised too. He had averted his gaze from you two and even from his fellow contractor to look at the floor, his hand up and holding where his mouth would be on his mask.

The silence hung in the air as tensions rose even more. “We saw it all. There is no denying it.” You felt your expression turn more horrified as the revelation dawned on you more. Though fear would normally wash any color from your face, the blood rushed to it as you were both scared and embarrassed. You mirrored Horangi, covering your mouth as it dawned on you more. “...I have to say, even though I am rightly pissed... König... you are the absolute last person I would expect to be able to pull a beauty li-”

His sentence was cut abruptly as König shot up out of his chair, the legs scraping against the concrete, grating to everyone's ears. His hands on the table, switching to gripping that hard as he loomed over his fellow contractor, challenging him directly. When he spoke, his voice was low but almost growling, striking a bit of fear even into you as you saw the way he glared down at him, eyes wide but pupils pinpricks. “Do not. Speak of her. Like. That.”

He wasn’t denying it... he wasn’t even trying to defend himself as he attempted to insult him... he was defending you, immediately. Through all the fear, as your heart raced, you felt it skip a beat in that moment. You looked up at him with care as his gaze did not break from him. You knew deep down inside, his heart was probably racing more than yours. But the fact that he chose to fight for you with his fight or flight response... you felt even more respect and trust in him.

The other man scoffed, looking up at him now. “Sit back down.” König did not break posture, continuing to hover over the man. “Now.” Completely ignoring his orders, he tilted his head slightly. The little move he does... like a hawk looking down at a rodent in a field. You weren’t even sure if he had blinked in a few moments. Just purely challenging him. “...Fine, you vysokiy ublyudok...” He puffed out his nose, speaking in what you assumed was his native language. Shaking his head, he didn’t sit down, instead just staring up at König. “At least you two aren’t putting up a stupid fight and denying it. Saves me from one annoyance at least. Because it is clear as day what I saw... had to sit through nearly two hours of...”

He shook his head again as he trailed off, more horror dawning on you as he was even correct about the time, how long it all was. “Y-you really... saw all...?” you softly and disjointedly asked, feeling more faint as this went on. You thought most of yesterday was a nightmare but this?

He darkly chuckled, shifting his gaze down to you. “That is what I said, is it not? Yes, I saw every little ‘intimate’ moment you two had. Every bit, every position, everything... Even audio. That’s why we had to review it anyway. Had to rewind but then we saw something that should have never happened in the first place. It’s good to know even though he acts big and tough, he's just as much of a whiney bitch in bed.”

“What is the point of all this?” König angrily spit at him, right as he finished his statement. “You caught us, were you expecting to interrogate us? But since you can’t do that now, you’re just taking some sick pleasure in humiliating us, like the fucking pervert you are.” His words cut through the air, and you could tell he was speaking through harshly gritted teeth as he called him out on being a pervert. He gripped the table even harder as his stare intensified.

He scoffed again, squinting as he looked up at the larger man and laughing slightly as he spoke. “Oh, that’s rich coming from you, the one who fucked our hostage. Don’t tell me you also did when you first kidnapped her...” König just stayed completely stiff, looking down at him and shaking his head slightly. The contractor’s face twisted into surprised amusement. “...You really did? Ha! You sick fucking bastard... getting with the hostage that puts out on the first man she see-”

He was cut off again, this time König snatched his wrist, holding it up so it was against his forearm. It caused him to be thrown off balance as he was still leaning on the table. König had to lean over more to counteract this, but could with ease due to his size, making sure he stayed on his feet. “What did I say?!” He growled what he said so loudly, it took you aback, practically coming out as a roar. He glared down at him even more intensely as he finally looked back up at him. “I ought to snap your arm like a fucking twig.”

He laughed exasperatedly, looking up at König with a strangely delighted expression. “Yeah, you should. Then we might be able to get your deviant ass out of this god damn company.”

König’s expression shifted to confusion, his grip loosening slightly, but just enough that his arm could actually be freed, snatching it back to himself. “What do you mean by that? Why aren’t they letting me go for this?”

Though he was still cringing from the pain, you saw his cheek turn up as he smirked under the mask. “No, they aren’t. You two still have a use. A very important use.”

“Spit it out already. I’ve had enough of you talking like you're better than us.”

His smile twisted even more, making a chill run down your spine. “I’m sure you know what blackmail is, yes? Originally we were going to just send your dad some lovely pictures of you in our facility, hoping that once he saw you, he would give up his location so he could save you. But you two... oh, you two provided something better than a photo could ever depict.”

It was as if time stopped. All your limbs felt cold as your blood itself ran cold. “...I-I’m gonna be sick.” You held a hand to your mouth both from shock and from genuinely feeling nauseated at the insinuation. He... They were thinking about blackmailing your dad with... security footage you had no clue about... of you... and him...

You felt so faint and mortified, you were stunned back to reality as you heard his big footstep slam on the ground. He had moved to the side of the table in one step, quickly grabbing the aggressor's uniform by the shoulders and picking him up with ease, lifting him nearly a foot off the ground so they could be eye to eye, but on his level. “You absolute sick fucks... Don’t tell me you’ve already sent it!”

“Hey! Hey! Put me down, idiot!” König did not, instead just glaring at him with much intensity. If looks could kill, this man would have been obliterated. He struggled, kicking his feet to try and loosen the grip, but soon realized that was futile. He looked back at the table, looking over to Horangi. He had been sitting silently this whole time, his hand near his mouth, watching all this unfold before him. “Horangi, help me out! You’re supposed to be my backup here.”

Snapping out of his stunlock, he looked up at the two of them. Looking at the contractor he just shook his head disappointedly, then looked over to König. “L-let’s put him down. I think he has more to say... and he isn’t going to reveal it when you’re threatening him.”

König broke his glare to glance at Horangi. The way he looked down at him, almost with a bit of contempt, it worried you he wouldn’t listen. Looking up at König yourself, you caught him glance at you a moment, seeing his expression soften instantly as he saw your worried but fearful face. Looking back at the contractor, he shook his head as his expression got intense again, before dropping him unceremoniously. He stumbled on his feet for a second from the fall and took a huge breath.

He instantly glared up at König. “You better sit in that fucking chair now, or I will not speak any further. I will let Kortac do the worst things to the both of you if you do not fucking listen! Got it?!” His voice was filled with pure fury as he aggressively pointed at the empty seat next to you. König looked at the chair, looking angry at it as well but then his gaze went up to you. You looked at him, pleading with just your eyes, gesturing with your head for him to sit down as well. You were just as disgusted as him at this revelation, if not, justifiably, you were way more disgusted by this. But you knew you both had to unfortunately comply to this, to play his sick, twisted game. He clearly had more he wanted to reveal but he wanted to make sure König was completely compliant before he did. His expression softened and he looked disappointed for a moment, before nodding slightly and hanging his head down as he sat down reluctantly. The contractor held his chin high, looking down at König with contempt as he sat looking up at him annoyed. “...Good boy.”

“Spit. It. Out.” König couldn’t hide his agitation at him as he spoke through gritted teeth again, having been tired of his smart comments since the very beginning.

“Keep your mouth shut and I will.” He crossed his arms, glaring at König, waiting for another interruption, but not getting it. “...So, we have the recording of you saved. We know any father would do anything to rescue his daughter from such a big, scary man. But also we know that must be soooo embarrassing for you two... even though you should have been embarrassed in the first place. That’s besides the point though, we aren’t evil here at Kortac so we are going to give you a simple choice.” You felt your stomach flip again. The idea of having to make a choice during all of this made your anxiety shoot up even more, and you hadn’t even heard the choices. “There are only two options, don’t worry. Option one is the tape, we get to send that to your dad and you, little miss, are freed from this room. You will still be at this facility but I’m sure someone can let you stay in their room...” He glanced over to König and gave him a slight wink, creeping you out even. “Option two is we don’t send the tape, saving you two from embarrassment, instead just sending him more... wholesome photos of you. But you will be under a 24/7 watch. Even if you need to go to the bathroom, we will send a woman in here to watch. And König will never set foot in this room again. He will be banned from even looking in the fucking window of this room.” 

Your stomach dropped even more, more dread and anxiety and horror setting in as the two options settled in your head. The fact that both of them were equally as awful in your mind... “You are truly one of the most disgusting, detestable groups I’ve come across in my life. And that is saying something...” He gripped the edge of the table, looking in pure fury as it looked like he was about to get up again. You quickly scooted your chair closer to him so you could lean over and grab one of his hands, startling him at the touch as you gently held it. He looked back at you, his expression stunned but soft, softening even more as you felt the tension in his hand relieved to your touch.

“König...” you said his name softly, looking into his eyes. His gaze averted as he got shy again, like a little kid being scolded. “It’s okay... I know and I agree this is absolutely fucking disgusting...” You trailed off slightly, glaring over at the contractor before looking back at him. “But, you need to calm down... or he’s...”

“If you don’t fucking listen to me, König, I will send that fucking tape out and I’ll make sure you never see her again.” He finished your statement for you, proving your point. König looked back at you, his expression sorrowful as he pulled his hand back and then interlaced his fingers with yours, drumming his fingers on your knuckles. He was so nervous, you could even feel small tremors in his hand. And the way his eyes looked at you... you badly wanted to hold him more, lift up that mask and kiss him, comfort him and tell him everything was going to be okay... that you were going to be there for him... You were going to be there for him. The contractor rolled his eyes with a loud exasperated sigh, catching your attention as you noticed him leaning over to look at you two holding hands. “Absolute fucking freaks... stop it! Can you two fucking focus?”

König’s expression switched to annoyance again, looking at him with pure contempt as he slowly and reluctantly pulled his hand from yours. “...Okay? You have my attention.” He looked up at him expectantly, gesturing with his arms wide open, showing his open attention. He responded non-verbally, crossing his arms again and glaring at König’s smart comment. Clearly he didn’t like receiving them himself.

“Well... with that, you have your two choices. However... König, you get no say in this now.” He looked taken aback by that, seeming like he was about to speak before he was interrupted quickly. “You’ve pissed me off too much. Besides... I think it’s more appropriate Y/N gets to choose. After all, it’s her daddy who might have to see her sex tape... or might never meet her wannabe boyfriend.”

He paced slowly around the table to the side you were sitting on, just leaning on it and crossing his arms again, watching you with contempt as he left you in pure silence. Deafening silence. You alone had the choice here... and more anxiety bubbled up as you thought of it. You know König couldn’t help but still you looked over to him, hoping to find comfort in him. He gave you a very sympathetic and concerned look, wanting desperately to care for you, to fully comfort you. But you both knew even holding hands would have him giving you two shit. You found yourself looking at the floor after, feeling like this was all futile. You felt so hopeless, you felt tears start to well up again. Trying to fight them off you glanced up, meeting Horangi as you did. He was still sitting there, silently, his hands clasped and elbows on the table, letting his hands meet where his nose would be. His gaze seemed fixed at the table, not noticing you even had looked at him. Like he was lost in thought completely. 

Going back to the choices made tears start to well up again, anxiety taking over as you brought your hand to your mouth, lightly starting to nibble at your fingers as you were forced to mull over the possibilities. You started with that second option, where the tape never makes it out. Obviously, you wanted that. Who would want their dad to see such a moment? And last night you two... you didn’t want to even think about that. It was so rough but so passionate... The thought of your dad seeing you like that made you want to puke. But the consequence of him not seeing it... you would never see him again. You would be stuck here, for however long it took for someone to come rescue you or your dad to release the info, and maybe they would release you... no one to support you. You could barely last a few hours by yourself yesterday. The amount of elation you felt when you saw him after feeling so hopeless last night... The idea of never feeling that again, just being stuck in that hopeless, lonely feeling... for weeks on end. It made your anxiety spike even more... in all that misery you would never feel his comfort again; not his warm arms, not his soft lips, not even his beautiful voice... saying sweet things to you and making you feel so nice and loved inside. If your dad saw the tape... at least you’d have someone there for you. Someone to comfort you through all this. Sure... your dad would kill him once he saw him but... at least he’d be by your side... And at least you two might have a chance of making it out of here.

You paused, looking up and meeting the eyes of the contractor, who was still looking at you expectantly, but surprisingly patient as you mulled this all over in your mind. You opened your mouth to start to speak, but hesitated, looking down at the floor as you second guessed yourself. You were sure you wanted him... wanted him for support but, was it worth the cost? You heard the shuffle of clothes as a step was taken toward you. Grabbing your chin lightly, he made you look up at him, taking too much pleasure in having complete control over this situation and making you feel more nauseous. “What is it? You can spit it out...” his voice cooed at you. You tried looking over at  König, but his grip forced you to keep looking at him. Even then you could still feel it, the absolute daggers being pointed in your direction.

“I...” you stumbled on your words. Feeling your chest heavy made it hard to speak, tears starting to well up as you really had to vocalize your decision. You did your best to blink them away, meeting his gaze with the most determined face you could muster as your voice croaked out, “S-send it.”

Stunned silence hung in the room a moment before König finally cracked out, “W-what?” You heard the chair start to scoot out but quickly a glare was shot his way, the chair scooting back in slowly. “L-liebing, you don’t... I’m not that-”

“I can’t do this without you, König!” You shook and broke free from the grip, quickly looking over to him, unable to look at him without some tears breaking free as well. “I... I can’t be alone... I-I need you to be here for me... and at least you will be here when it gets sent.”

His eyes were telling a whole story. You couldn’t even begin to imagine the emotions he was feeling. Concern for you and your dad seeing it, fear of your dad seeing him, appreciation that you actually cared for him... love that you chose him. It was all so much that you even saw his big blue eyes start to get more shiny... was he about to cry himself? You quickly shot up out of your seat, jumping over to his lap to hug him tightly, ignoring as you heard the contractor attempt to scold you. He held you just as swiftly and tightly, burying his head in your shoulder as you gripped him as close as you could. You felt the tears burst out as you silently sobbed, just catching your breath as you burrowed your face in his shoulder as well, gripping tighter as your emotions got the better of you. You took a deep breath, lifting your head slowly to look at him. He felt your head lift so he went to meet your gaze. Through the dark lighting you were able to tell he had in fact been crying as well, his eyes turning more bloodshot and still looking wet.

“Please... I don’t want to be alone...”

“I’m not going to, mein Mäuschen...” his voice shook as he spoke, gently caressing your face as you spoke, his thumb wiping away the tears that stained your cheek. “I’m here for you... and I will always be.”

“How sweet...” His voice broke you two’s moment, sarcasm and disdain dripping from his voice. You both glanced back at him, both of you very annoyed by his interruptions. “Well, if that is your decision, I will have them send it as soon as they can to the appropriate channels. Horangi, do you have any additions?”

“Nope.” He spoke very swiftly and shot up out of his chair. His fellow contractor reached out in an attempt to stop him, but he just stared straight forward and marched at a quick pace out the door, slamming shut behind him loudly. It left you all confused. You wondered what went on through his head during all this, as it seemed like he didn’t know any of this was going to happen.

The contractor shook himself out of his stunned look and looked back to you two, sighing loudly. “Well... you two are free to go too, I guess. I have nothing else to say to you deviants.” As you got up from his lap, König quickly grasped your hand as you stood up, slowly getting up as well. “Oh, a couple ground rules for this deal too. She has to stay in your room the whole time. You must accompany her if she needs to go to the bathroom, if you need to go to the mess hall, take a shower. The only time she is to be left alone is if you are working. And if he is asleep or you need to go to the bathroom while he’s working, tough shit. We have a camera pointed at any dorm door so we will know if you leave by yourself. And guards outside will make sure you have no chance of escape. This little deal is a privilege, missy. If you break it, not only will your father know how much of a slut you are... you also will lose your little boyfriend.”

You felt his hand grip yours tighter slightly before letting go, stomping over to him quickly. You quickly shot to look at him, seeing him just as he grabbed his right arm, the same one that had held your face before. You couldn’t even see König’s face but you knew rage had taken him over as he held up his right hand, his other hand coming back and swiftly snapping his index finger the exact opposite way it was supposed to bend, twisting it along the way. He cried out in agony as his whole body winced, scrunching up as his knees started to give. “That is for ever fucking touching her...” his voice growled lowly, bending down to his height so he was right in his face. He grasped his ring finger and did the same thing, holding it as it snapped against the back of his hand. You cringed, looking away. Sure, you hated the guy too but this was... a bit much for you to see. “And that... is for not fucking listening to me when I said to not talk about her like that.” You glanced back hesitantly, seeing König throw his hand away in disgust as he quickly grabbed it himself, trying to soothe the pain. He didn’t let him get the relief too long though, grabbing him by his chin and forcing him to look up at him, mirroring the way he had grabbed you earlier. “If you put a hand on her again, I will make sure every last bone in your hand is mangled to be unrecognizable. If you speak negatively of her again, I will make it so they have to honorably discharge you... and you will be begging for fucking mercy from your mother and from God. I will make you regret even thinking about her... even breathing the same air as her, you degenerate.”

He quickly paced back over to you, trying not to make his footsteps as angry as he felt as to not scare you. Swiftly grabbing your hand again, he took a deep breath, giving your hand a tender squeeze as he looked down at you. “I’m sorry you had to see that, Liebling...” His expression was just as soft and sweet as his voice sounded, though his voice still had hints of shaking behind it. Slowly, he guided you to the door, testing the handle and seeing it did remain unlocked. Pulling it open, he stopped in the doorway, looking back at the contractor, who was now sitting in a chair, holding his broken hand and still sucking breaths between his teeth. “Hey... you shut it in a door. Got it, Fetzenschädel?” You glanced back, trying to see his reaction, but only able to see as he lowly glared up before you were guided out.

You held the door so it wouldn’t slam too loud and kept up with König as much as you could, always remaining a little behind him. He kept his gaze to the floor as he turned the corners of the facility, and you felt his hand start to have light trembles as you continued further. You glanced around him, seeing what was ahead, or if there were any people ahead. You wondered if that’s what got him nervous... possibly being seen with you, especially right now. When you were supposed to be being interrogated, but instead you were walking down these people’s home facility, holding hands with the tall, intimidating masked man. You looked up at the ceiling, seeing some hallway splits were labeled as he turned down the “Dormitory” hall. You passed many doors, you both moving so fast you couldn’t even see the nameplates above the door numbers. He reached number 6, sure enough, his name was on the little placard above. He let go of your hand so he could fumble in his pockets for his keys, pulling them out and seeming almost comically small in his hands. Once it clicked open, he held the door open for you, looking at you softly as he gestured for you to walk in.

You immediately noticed how little there was, just the basics for him. A single bed that was sandwiched wall to wall almost. It wasn’t like a twin sized bed, you had seen plenty of those in your life, this one was a decent chunk longer. You wondered if it was custom made for him... if he was that well respected here. Or... if he was before you... You didn’t want to think of yourself like that and quickly brushed it aside. A long and short dresser was to your left, multiple vests on top were placed messily. And beside the dresser was an overflowing hamper, filled with athletic jackets, black and heather grey t-shirts, and cargo and sweatpants. To your right was a desk, many disorganized and loose papers covered it, as well as a small orange bottle in the far corner. On the other end, closer to the bed was a TV, small but flat screen, still seeming quite worn and dusty, angled to face the bed. And beside that was the bedside table, a lamp, a metal water bottle, a black alarm clock with red lettering, and a few books. All this furniture perfectly encompassed the rather cozy room, though you were sure to König it was very small for his size, though it seemed adequate to you.

You hear the door behind you click and you glanced, seeing König twist the lock and then finally look over to you. You could tell he smiled under his mask but then shut his eyes, taking a very large, shaky breath before starting to step forward. “I’m sorry, Mäuschen... if you could give me a moment...” He quickly stepped past you, heading for the bed and grabbing the pillow. He swiftly slammed it against his face and let out a loud but muffled yell, his hands gripping hard onto it as it lingered on longer than you realized any person would have the lung capacity for. You were startled by the sudden loud sound, despite it being muffled the best he could. But you also understood exactly why... he was just as frustrated as you were fully disgusted. He pulled the pillow from his face, still gripping it hard as he took a harsh breath in. “Diese Fetzenschädel! Absolut verfickte perverse Hurensöhne! Nach allem, was ich für sie getan habe... behandeln sie mich und meinen Liebling so?! Scheiße! SCHEIßE!!!”

He let out another frustrated groan, almost turning into a yell but it seemed he didn’t want to again, looking down at the pillow and throwing it to the headboard. He turned and threw himself to sit on the bed, leaning over, putting his head in his hands and gripping hard. You slowly walked over, not wanting to startle him when he was already on edge. You placed your hand on the bed first so he knew you were coming then slowly jumped up onto it. He quickly looked over to you, his eyes looking mad but softening as soon as he saw you, allowing you to see them start to well up with tears more. “...Why?” He lightly shook his head, laughing to himself as he shut his eyes. “Ich bin es nicht wert... Why, meine Maus?”

You took a big sigh, stopping to think for yourself before you spoke. You leaned up, gently cupping the side of his masked face, getting his harshly gripping hand out of the way and guiding him to look at you. He was still clearly fighting tears as he looked back at you. “König... I couldn’t stand the thought of being alone... I didn’t... I don’t want my dad to see that but... at least you’re here. You’re here right now... you can comfort me through this. With the other option I... I would’ve been stuck alone. No one could comfort me or help me. I’d just be stuck in isolation, waiting for someone to help me.”

His eyes just looked at you, shocked, stunned, but still tender. His focus started to shift, from your eyes to your mouth, switching quickly and subtly. “I... I just don’t understand...” His eyes started to shine more again as he focused on your eyes. “I don’t understand why you want me... Sacrificing that much just so...”

You cut him off as he trailed off, bringing your knees up and under you so you could be completely on the bed, and reach his height much easier so you could truly meet eye to eye. “Baby... I need you... I’ve been kidnapped and brought to a cold, heartless facility but you... you are my true hope right now. You’ve shown me kindness and passion through all this... The amount of happiness I felt yesterday when you walked through that door, hell, even when you walked through the door today! I... I feel so at ease with you... I feel like I can just talk with you for hours with how easy it is, and even that I can stop and enjoy your presence in silent moments... You are the only person I’ve felt like that for. You are the only person I have true hope for. No matter what... I’m stuck here... and if I am going to be stuck here, I want to be with you... my captor who has been sweet with me since the moment I first made him smile... my captor turned my savior...”

He just looked at you again, stunned into silence. Even his eyes were shaking, though they remained focused on you, you saw the little shakes of his iris. A moment passed, just sitting there in silence looking lovingly at each other as your words sunk in. He swiftly pulled one of his arms around your waist, putting his hand on the back of your shoulder as he pulled you in close, his other hand going up just as quickly to lift up his mask. You closed the gap just as quickly as you knew what he wanted... and you wanted it too, so, so badly. You lifted yourself up so you were just on your knees and shins, sitting up so, for once, you were slightly taller than him. With the gap closed, his other hand was free to also wrap around your waist, keeping you close as you slowly pulled your body around him, allowing your legs to straddle just around his waist and hips as he leaned back slightly. Clearly, he was enjoying this a lot, especially as he slightly hummed in the kiss. He pulled back, looking up at you, then down at your body, admiring the position, then back to you. His eyes were lust filled for a moment but immediately softened as he saw yours, the tears having dissipated now. “Mein Liebling, mein Schatz, mein Mäuschen, mein Ein und Alles...”

He quickly pulled his mask up again, and you had shut your eyes preparing to kiss just as fast, but you both heard it. A musical little knock at the door, rudely but unknowingly interrupting. König groaned and rolled his eyes, saying “Motherfucker...” under his breath. He looked back up at you, then gently patted your thighs, telling you non-verbally but just as reluctantly to get off him. You did as such, bouncing as you sat down normally on the bed, watching him as he walked over to the door. He really did make this room seem tiny. He opened the door a crack, leaning down as he peeked through. “...What is it?”

You heard that familiar, low voice distantly from the other side. “Well... first of all, I have to tell you we are working together today, just stocking the munitions. But also...” There was a pause, then his voice sounded more hushed. “Do you mind if I come in? I have to... talk.”

He paused too. You couldn’t tell his expression, you wondered if he was confused or if he was just lost in thought as he contemplated what was up. You saw him poke his head out slightly, looking around to both sides before holding the door open, his hand near the top of it. Sure enough, it was Horangi who entered, walking under König’s arm as he quickly scuttled in the room. König shut the door just as fast, crossing his arms and looking down at the man with an intimidating look.

“Alright, I want to start this by saying I had no idea what was going to happen in that room. I thought I was just going to be helping with the regular questions but... this is all a shock to me too.” His voice sounded genuinely worried. You couldn’t see where his eyes were looking though as he still wore his sunglasses.

“So that’s why you were so quiet the whole time...” König’s arms did not uncross, instead just continuing to look down at him with a slight head tilt and a raised eyebrow. “Or so you say... How can I trust you? How do I know you aren’t lying directly to my face, taking me... taking us for fools?”

You looked up to him with sympathy, understanding what he meant but... “Let’s just... hear him out, baby.” He looked over to you, slightly confused. But he seemed to let his guard down at least, uncrossing his arms and leaning on the dresser instead. “When we were in the room, he seemed just as uncomfortable with it all.”

“I was...” he chimed in, looking at you both before looking up at König. Though he was easily a foot taller than you, he still had to crane his neck quite a bit to meet his eyes. “First, them revealing they had it on tape and had watched it... then saying they want to send it?! All for a fucking location?! It’s fucked up and... I’m sorry you two are even having to go through this.”

You found yourself smiling a bit at his course language. He was clearly fluent but couldn’t kick his accent, combined with his deep voice, it at least helped break up the tension. König didn’t seem as amused though, continuing to look down at him, slightly rocking himself on his own arms supporting him. “You should show more sympathy to her. It’s her dad who’s gonna have to see our non-consensual sex tape.”

You found yourself feeling queasy at the reminder, but took a deep breath, trying to get it out of your head. You had to remind yourself you weren’t alone... this was part of the logic in your head, why you took this deal. You had him to comfort you now... you didn’t just have to take deep breaths. You stood up, right as Horangi glanced over to you, starting to speak as you made your way over to the dresser. “Right. Yes, I am... very sorry to you especially, Y/N. They shouldn’t have even considered this, let alone made you make such a fucked up choice.”

“It’s fine,” you shrugged your shoulders, trying to brush it off as you hopped up onto the dresser, brushing some vests to the side as you did so you were right next to König’s arm. He looked down at you, quirking his brow but still, you could tell he was smiling as he looked at you. You nuzzled yourself into him, letting you wedge between his arm and chest, as he took the hint, wrapping his arm around you to pull you closer. Feeling the warm comfort from him, you shut your eyes to take it all in, just letting yourself feel it. Opening your eyes you brought your left hand up slowly to his shoulder so you could hold him as well. You both locked eyes with a loving gaze. “I’m as happy as I can be in this situation... because I at least have him to support me through it.”

You both just stopped, enjoying the moment... the silence not bothering you as you leaned up so you could get a closer look at his eyes. You wanted to kiss him again but you also just wanted to enjoy looking at those beautiful blue eyes. You could look at just them for hours you felt, but you remembered the other reason you didn’t want to kiss him, glancing over to the man to your left. He bashfully glanced at the floor a second before looking back at you two. Clearing his throat, he looked back up to König. “That’s, uh, also why I’m here... I want to help you with that.”

You looked up to him to see his reaction, seeing genuine confusion again as his thumb rubbed over your bicep. “Huh? What do you mean by that?”

“I want to get in... wipe their hard drives, snap the disks, whatever they have. I want to help you guys make sure that is never seen, especially by her father.”

“I...” you paused, choking on your words a moment as you were surprised by his sudden support. “W-while I want that obviously, don’t you think it might raise some suspicion? If they find out that it very specifically was our recording... they’ll definitely connect the dots and punish us.” You looked up at König, seeing him nod in agreement and then glancing to his fellow contractor, his fingers starting to drum as they caressed your arm.

“That’s what I’m thinking too. It’s just an idea for now but... I’m sure we could figure out something.” He paused, looking to the ground as he took a deep breath. “I... I feel bad that I didn’t do anything to help you two while I was in the room. I should've spoke up... should’ve helped you beat up that dumbass... So I’m helping you now. It’s what I would want too if I was in your situation.” He looked up to König as he finished his words, seeming to look up for approval. He looked back at him, seeming to want to remain stoic but you saw the way his eyes softened, smiling slightly. He took a moment, shutting his eyes and then nodding.

“...Okay, I’ll accept it. We can discuss it more in the armory... try and cover it up a bit as we go obviously. Don’t want to say it directly. We can also talk after dinner.”

You saw Horangi perk up cutely as he got the approval. “Alright!” He cleared his throat after saying it so enthusiastically, making you laugh in response. “R-right... I agree though we should head out... I’m sure they’re watching the cameras, especially yours. They’ll probably raise suspicion if we stay here any longer.”

“Ja...” He paused, looking down at you as he slowly pulled his arm away, pushing himself to get up from the table. “You said it’s just stocking today right?” He nodded, starting to walk backwards to the door but also keep an eye on you guys. “Okay... so I shouldn’t need my vest... should just be fine like this.” He was talking to himself, looking at his clothes he had on then back to the dresser, looking at the pile of vest behind you, then back to you. His eyes saddened a moment as he did, taking a step forward and putting his hands by the sides of you, leaning and keeping his face close to yours. He let out a sigh, “I’m sorry I have to leave so soon, mein Mäuschen...”

You smiled sympathetically at him. “It’s okay... I understand.” You both held eye contact for a moment, you pushed yourself up more and he leaned down more. You wrapped your arms around the back of his neck and he lifted his hand to the bottom of his mask. Both of you knew what you both wanted, and you gave it to each other, closing the gap and letting the world wash away in the moment of a little passionate goodbye kiss. In the back of your mind, you knew Horangi was still there, but you didn’t even care, just fully enjoying the feeling of his lips against yours. You wanted to pull him closer, but you knew you had to let go. You understood but didn’t want it to end. Reluctantly you pulled back, slowly opening your eyes and seeing him do the same, pushing himself up from leaning over you.

He took a deep breath as he kept looking at you. “I’ll be back soon, mein Liebling... make yourself at home, baby...” You nodded, looking around him to the few activities in the room, figuring some way to entertain yourself for however long. He turned on his heel, walking over to meet Horangi at the door. You just watched, admiring his physique from behind as he walked away... getting a bit entranced by it, until you realized he was about out the door, and you remembered a thought you had while falling asleep last night.

You ran up, holding the door right as he had entered the hallway and as he was shutting it. You poked your head on the edge, really making sure you didn’t break the rules as you called out to him, “Hold on! König!”

He quickly turned around and lightly jogged to the door, concern and slight worry on his face as he scanned the hall. “What is it, baby?”

“Can you... while you're out possibly... ask one of the girls here if they have some extra clothes I could borrow for the time?”

Instantly his face looked surprised as he sheepishly shifted his gaze around, glancing down the hallway where Horangi was and avoiding your curious look. You could just tell his face was turning red under his mask. “I-I... I can try, Liebling... No promises on that though, I... W-we can talk about this after, okay? I can promise I can... eventually.” You looked down at your pajamas slightly disappointed, then back at him, whose face had turned sad as he looked down at them too. “I’m sorry... I just... I-It’ll probably be better if you come with me to do that. Okay?”

You nodded, putting your hand up to the door knob but then stopping a moment, right as he was about to turn again. “Wait, baby. One more thing?” He looked at you curiously, raising a brow but hearing you out. You gestured with your finger for him to come closer, and to lean down. He did as such, still remaining curious and cautious. You smiled and stood on your tiptoes, giving his clothed cheek a little peck before returning back down, watching for his reaction. His eyes widened a bit but quickly you saw the corners of his eyes turn up. “Have a good day.” You smiled softly at him as he leaned back up, his smile remaining and you could really tell he was blushing now. You had always wanted to do that. You giggled in the silence as he just looked down at you lovingly.

“Remember to lock the door, Mäuschen.”

“Okay.” You didn’t continue shutting the door, just staring up at him, not wanting him to leave but in the back of your mind, you knew you had to let him go. It seemed he didn’t want to either as he returned the loving stare. It jumped you a bit when he suddenly and quickly leaned down, pulling his mask up and giving you a quick peck on the lips. You felt yourself start to blush once he pulled back, looking at you with slightly lidded eyes.

“I really have to go,” he said with his voice hushed, his tone disappointed. “Goodbye, meine Liebe.”

He closed the door as you started to blush more. You clicked the lock shot but still his goodbye lingered in your head. Trying desperately to recall the German you knew, plus the context, plus other words he had said. Liebling was like darling... Liebe... My love. More blood rushed to your cheeks as you started smiling uncontrollably. He had called you other pet names before but this... this hit differently.

You took a big breath, a sigh of content as you made your way over to his bed, jumping up and laying face first into the pillow. You couldn’t wipe the excitement from your brain as you kicked your legs to relieve some of the extra energy you had. Lifting yourself up, you took another deep breath, turning to lounge on the big bed. Looking around the room, it set in that you were alone and had to find something to do. At least it was better than solitary confinement, you could borrow his books or watch TV. You thought about it a moment, turning and grabbing one of his books, reading the back synopsis of it. You thought it’d be nice if you’d save the TV watching for tonight, though you were sure at some point you’d need a break from reading. The idea of just being snuggled up in his arms tonight as you slowly dozed off... It brought another smile to your face as you opened the book. You thumbed to the first chapter, settling in as you were enveloped by the smell of him on his warm bed as you started reading his book.

Translations! Vysokiy ublyudok... (высокий ублюдок)- tall bastard (first bit of Russian ayyy) Fetzenschädel- (literally) Tattered skull (Austrian insult to say idiot) Diese Fetzenschädel! Absolut verfickte perverse Hurensöhne! Nach allem, was ich für sie getan habe... behandeln sie mich und meinen Liebling so?! Scheiße! SCHEIßE!!!- Those idiots! Absolutely fucking perverted sons of bitches! After everything I've done for them... that is how they treat me and my darling?! Fuck! Fuck!!! Ich bin es nicht wert- I'm not worth it Mein Ein und Alles- my everything

#könig #könig x reader #konig x reader #call of duty #call of duty x reader #cod #cod x reader #könig mw2 #mw2 #mw2 x reader #Mäuschen

[restinpeacesensei]

egg babies

#boueibu #akoya gero #arima ibushi #kusatsu kinshirou #my art #nerdgod555 ahhh thank you for your comment and always liking my posts!! im so happy you think it's cute!! ;;o;; #ironpaladont aaaa thank you so much for liking my sleeping kitten!!! ;;--;; he always sounds so cute when you describe him aaa aa >///< #I LOVE how you said hes holding the blanket like a stuffed animal omg im so glad you can tell he loves it so much;;;; he does!!! ;---; #and it would be cold to sleep with his feet uncovered youre right ;;o;; i hope it's a warm room he should have little kitty sockies #im so happy you thought he was having a nice bath in the character week too ;;w;; tysm im so glad he looks relaxed!!!! #softlilvesta waaa thank you so much for calling him a fluffy adorable akoya!! ;;-;; i love how cute he sounds all curled up! #thank you for wishing him sweet dreams waaa you're so kind!! >///< i hope you have sweet dreams too!! ;;o;; #im so happy you liked the winter akoya too!! thank you so much for all your kind comments im so glad!! ;;o;; #lidoxia aaaa thank you so much for being concerned about him;;; you make him feel so precious and loved;; ;;o;; #i think hes nervous abt being away from home and around strangers ;-; tysm im so happy you noticed the duck!!! #thank you so much for wanting to wrap him up and protect him omg he would be very safe with you T////T ty for taking good care of him waa;; #pajama-han aaa thank you for the kind comment im happy you like it!! ;;o;; #silvormoon waaa thank you so much for noticing all the little details in the kindergarten pic!! im so happy kinchan is precious ty!! >///< #AND OF COURSE HE HAS A SWAN LOLOL TYSM FOR NOTICING!!! you are exactly right a rubber duck would not be enough LOL #actually after i posted the pic i got informed that rubber swans really exist akvhs but i bet he did have a special one custom molded #to be extra accurate and not just a garden variety cartoon swan like you find on google (my excuse for not looking them up beforehand) #ravensimaginaryfriends yes a pink bath!!!! ty im so happy you noticed!!! it could be a bath bomb! all it needs is rose petals floating in it #i love how you described that it's helping his skin glow YES im sure it is!!! ;;w;; #TY FOR CALLING WINTER AKOYA AN ANGEL IM SO HONORED T////T i suppose this is another snow angel akoya...!!!! #magiccatprincess aaaa tysm for calling him a cute cookie it sounds so cuuute ;;-;; what a cute name i love it!! #mostlikelytofangirl tysm for calling him a cupcake in a bath aaaa ;;w;; OF COURSE he must have something fancier than a duck LOL i love it!! #thank you so much im so happy you love the rubber swan!! im glad it's suitably elegant LOL!!! #vagarius IM SO GLAD YOU CAN HEAR THE CRICKETS LMAOO TYSM FOR CONFIRMING!!!!! ....akoya..... but hes so happy LOL;;;; #merelatio waaa thank you so much for calling my winter akoya beautifully fluffy--!!! it sounds so beautiful im so honored!! >///< #beautiful and fluffy are basically the essence of akoya im very happy if i can capture this uwaaa;;;

[sunmoonandeddie]

as long as i’m living

pairing: bucky barnes x reader

word count: 4,097

summary: Battles are always hard, especially the aftermath and what’s left behind.

warnings: Parent death.  Cussing.  Violence.  Angst.  Hurt to comfort.

a/n:  Lmao I don’t always get the motivation to write, but when I do...  Please let me know what you guys think.

There’s a certain feeling that lingers in the air in the ending moments of the battle.  When the dust has started to settle and you’re not quite sure whether or not that was the last of your enemy or if you need to prepare for another wave.  The wariness clung to your skin like sweat as you look around, heart still racing a million miles an hour.

The scent of blood hadn’t yet been overtaken by the scent of death, but it wouldn’t be long before it did.  It’s tangy and metallic and you could just choke on it.

This particular battle was at a Hydra base, and the reptilians that you’d been fighting for hours covered the ground.

As you looked around and your eyes met a pair of lifeless orbs, you’re reminded that even though they were horrible, despicable people, they were still people.

They were human.

Their blood ran just as red as yours, their fingerprints a pattern just as unique as yours.  There would never be someone just like them.  There would never be someone with the same marks on their skin, their moles and freckles and stretchmarks.  They wouldn’t have the same experiences or memories, and the ones that the people on the ground had were gone forever.

But you scoffed as your eyes made out the Hydra symbol on an agent’s shirt.

Hydra’s members might’ve had the bodies of humans, but every single one of them had a monster’s mind.

You couldn’t bring yourself to believe there was anything human about choosing a life of killing people in the name of hatred, of taking down mankind.

But the worst part of the aftermath of a battle was when you had to comb through after to find survivors.  You had to take those that had survived in for questioning and then they were usually thrown into a prison cell for the rest of their lives.

“Honey?”

A good amount of the tension that resided in your chest and leaked out into your shoulders released as you heard the sound of your lover’s voice.

“Bucky,” you breathed out in relief as he came down the hall.

But there was protocol that had to be followed.

He stopped six feet away, taking a breath.  “How many dates did it take before I kissed you?” He asked.

A smile tugged at the corner of your mouth.  “Four.  And I kissed you first because you were too nervous.”

Security questions.  Things only you and your teammates would know.  The lot of you had been through enough cases of stolen identities and imposters attempting to infiltrate the team for you to go without them.

The hunk of a man that you called yours rushed forward and cupped your face like you were made of fine china before kissing you soundly.

Every logical thought left your head as you melted against him.  Butter.  That’s what you were anytime he touched you.  Fucking melted butter.

You had never thought that you’d meet someone that could make you feel so at home until you’d met him four years before.  It had taken you a little while to let him in, and most people were surprised when they found out that he was the one that was breaking down your walls and not the other way around.

“You okay?” He asked, even as he was already pulling back to check you over.  He lifted your arms to check for any injuries before doing the same to each leg while letting you lean on him.  A sly smile spread over his face as he then began to pat down your tummy and your back, ending with playfully squeezing your ass.

You knew part of it was actually to look for injuries, but the bigger point of it was him trying to unfurrow your brow and relax, to get you to laugh.

And it worked every time.

But a whimper cut through the air and you froze.  “What was that?” You asked as your head whipped towards the direction it had come from.

“I’m not sure,” Bucky said, his hand going to the gun that rested in his holster.  “Wait he—”

Before he could even finish his sentence, you were rushing towards the sound.

You had a gut feeling that it wasn’t an enemy.  That hadn’t been the sound of a cold-hearted Hydra agent.

“M-Mommy?”

Heart hammering, you stopped in the doorway of what looked like a mini laboratory, stopping in your tracks as you saw the scene laid out before you.

You jerked awake as you heard the sirens going off, the alarms.  You’d been through enough safety drills to know that they meant trouble.

Your mother reached for you, her loving hands picking you up and wrapping you in a warm blanket.  “There we go…  There’s my baby girl.  All nice and warm,” she cooed.

Why was she in her work suit?  You didn’t understand…  She wasn’t supposed to work until morning, right?

The only light in the room was coming from the window, moonlight streaming in and landing on your bed, where your pile of stuffed animals rested.

“Mama?” You yawned, eyes still fuzzy from sleep.  “Mama, what’s going on?”

“We’re gonna play a game, okay?” She whispered, bringing her finger to her lips in a shushing motion.  There was a look in her eyes that you couldn’t name.  It was a foreign wobble in her lower lips, a glassiness in her eyes.

The fabric of her black suit was rough as you clung to her.  “What kind of game, mama?  I’m tired…  Why can’t I go back to bed?”

She grabbed your favorite stuffed animal from the bed, a stuffed elephant named Pinky, and placed her in your arms.  “Because we gotta, okay?” She said, a tear trickling down her cheek.

For some reason, the tone of her voice got you to stop complaining, and you nodded.  In your short life, you’d never seen her so… panicked.

Your mother plastered on a smile as she carried you to the miniscule kitchen of your apartment, over to the lazy Susan in the corner.  “We’re gonna play a game of hide and seek, okay?  And we gotta win, yeah?  You like winning.”

That was true.  You’d had a bit of a competitive streak.

After you confirmed what she said with a nod, she hugged you tight, tighter than you’d ever been hugged before.  “Mama loves you so much,” she said, tears openly rolling down her cheeks as she pressed kisses all over your face.  “You know how much mama loves you?  More than anything.  More than the moon and all the stars in the sky.”

Her sadness was starting to spill into you as you looked at her, your chubby hands holding onto her cheeks.  “M-Mama?  Mama, what’s happening?”

“Everything’s gonna be okay, baby girl.  Mama loves you.  And I’m always gonna love you and I’m always gonna be here for you, okay?” She said, sniffling as she wiped at your eyes.  “No more tears, okay?  No crying in hide and seek, yeah?  We gotta win and we can’t win if we’re crying.”

“I love you, mama,” you said, feeling the overwhelming urge to tell her over and over.  “I love you.”

“I know, baby girl,” she said with a weak laugh as she kissed your cheeks.  She opened up the door of the corner cabinet, pushing everything inside back to make enough room for a four year old.  Your mother wrapped you and Pinky up in the blanket a little tighter, a weak smile on her lips.  “You’re gonna hide in here, okay?  And you’re gonna go all the way to the back, yeah?”  She set you in the cabinet, holding your face in her hands.  “And listen.  Look at me.  Look at me.  You have to be completely silent.  No noise at all, okay?  We gotta win hide and seek.”

Your brows furrowed as you started to get out of the cabinet.  “B-But I wanna hide with you, mama.  Where are you hiding?  Who are we playing with?”

She shook her head as she urged you back into the cabinet.  “Shh…  Shh…”  She glanced back towards the front door before looking back at you.  There were footsteps running by outside, but so far no one had attempted to come in.  

“Mama?” You whispered, your eyes round with fear as you glanced towards the door.  “W-Who are we playing with?”

The shaky breath she took alarmed you.  “It’s a surprise, okay?” She said as she got you to sit back down in the cabinet. “But listen.  Mama needs you to cover your ears, yeah?  And no coming out or peeking until the sirens stop or I come and get you, okay?”

A nod.  “O-Okay, mama…”

She pressed her lips to your forehead, and you could feel her tears on your scalp.  “I love you so much, baby girl.  So much.”  Your mother closed the cabinet door after urging you to scoot towards the back, Pinky clutched to your chest.

The cabinet was pitch black except for the little sliver of light that came from the crack at the bottom of the door.

Heart pounding, you covered your ears just like she said, squeezing your eyes shut for good measure.

You could hear the blood pounding in your ears.  Despite your mother reassuring you that everything was going to be okay, you couldn’t stop crying.

There were random bangs here and there, and then you heard the banging on the front door of your apartment.  There was another bang, and then a loud thud, like a door being slammed against the wall.

You couldn’t quite hear what else was happening as you sat inside the cabinet.  Pinky’s soft fur and the warmth of the blanket was the only comfort you had.

There was a commotion outside, but your mother’s words rang in your ears.  No peeking or uncovering your ears or getting out of the cabinet until the sirens stopped or she came and got you.

But this was bad.  Really bad.  You could feel it in your gut.

Your mother had always told you to trust your gut, but you could tell this wasn’t the time.

But maybe just a peek wouldn’t hurt…  You just wanted to know what was going on.

Palms sweaty, you opened the door just a crack to peek out into the kitchen.  Your blood ran cold as you saw your mother pointing a gun at a man that was standing in the doorway.

“Get the fuck out,” she snarled.  You’d always known she was a powerful woman, a lioness, but you’d never gotten to see it in person.

The man sneered, the look of the devil in his eyes as he shifted his gun in his grip.  “You’re not the one in charge here, are you?  Not exactly one to be giving orders.”  He turned his head slightly as someone spoke into his earpiece.  The look that settled over his face was horrifying.  “It’s not personal,” he said as his finger twitched on the trigger.  A loud bang echoed throughout the room, your hand slapping over your mouth as you fought the scream that bubbled up in your throat.

Blood splattered across the pristine white cabinets of your kitchen as your mother fell.  Her knees made a thud as she cried out, falling onto her side.  There was an indent on one of the cabinets where the bullet had hit after it exited her lower back.

“Like I said,” the man said with a snort.  “It’s not personal.”  He left with his boots thudding against the tiled floor, leaving the door open.

Your entire body was trembling as you pushed the cabinet door open, your heart racing.  “M-Mama?” You said as you slowly left the cabinet.  “Mama?”

She had curled up on the ground, pressing her hands to the entry wound on her tummy.  “B-Baby girl…  Y-You need to g-get back in the cabinet, okay?”

Shaking your head, you crawled towards her, not caring that your purple pajama pants were getting soaked.  Your lower lip wobbled as you went to her side.  “Mama?  Y-You’re hurt.”  You needed to get help.  You had to.

You had started to get to your feet, your legs wobbling, when she grabbed your hand.  “Baby girl.  Baby.  C-Come here,” she said.  She knew there was no way she’d be able to convince you to get back in the cabinet now.  Her slender fingers, which you had always thought were so pretty and elegant, reached up to cup your face.  “It’s gonna b-be okay.  I promise.  B-But I need you to stay right here with me.”  Your mother shifted, wincing in pain.  “My baby.  I love you so, so m-much.  And I’m always g-gonna be with you.  I promise.”

“Y-You pinky promise?” You whimpered, holding up your pinky for her.

A weak smile brightened her face for just a second as she nodded, wrapping her larger pinky around yours.  “I p-pinky promise.  Now can you come over h-here?  Get real close.”

Sniffling, you moved closer to her and let her guide your head to rest over her heart.  “I love you, m-mama…  You’re gonna b-be okay, right?”

“Yes, baby.  I’m g-gonna be okay,” she said, her voice cracking.  “I love you more than the moon and all the stars in the sky.”  Her arm wrapped around you, keeping you close as she started to softly sing the lullaby she sang to you every night.  “I’ll love you forever.  I’ll like you for always.  As long as I’m living, my baby you’ll be…”  It was from your favorite night time book, Love You Forever.  There wasn’t a single night that you could remember where she didn’t read it to you before bed.

Tears rolled down your cheeks as she sang the lullaby over and over, her free hand smoothing over your hair.  Her heartbeat was getting weaker.  You could feel it.

She was fading.

“I’ll love you forever.  I’ll like you for always.  As long as I’m living…”

Silence.

Her hand had stopped moving.  Her arm around you went limp.

“M-Mama?”  Lower lip wobbling, you sat up a little, turning to look at her face.  Your hands moved to her face.  “Mama?  M-Mama, you gotta wake up,” you said as you shook her a little.  The panic was starting to set in when she still didn’t move, even though her eyes were open.  Everyone had always told you that you’d had her eyes, but now they were strange and unnatural, unfocused.

“Mama!” You cried, literally begging at this point as you shook her even harder.  “M-Mama, you gotta wake up!  Wake up!”  You slumped against her as you realized she wasn’t going to wake up, sobbing into her chest.  “Mama…  Mama, please…  Don’t go…”

It was several hours before anyone found you.  At least four.

There were footsteps coming down the hall, but you hardly noticed.  You were curled up against her body, holding onto her hand even though her fingers had gone cold.

“Shit.”

Your head slowly turned to see several agents in the doorway.

“Hey, kid,” the one in front said after a rather pregnant pause.

Hiccups shook your chest as you looked at him.  “M-Mama’s gone.  And n-no one came to h-help.”

The man sighed, rubbing his temples.  “Come on.  Let’s get you out of there,” he said, walking over and picking you up. “NO!  NO!” You screamed, kicking out at him.  It was the most energy you’d had in hours.  “PUT ME DOWN!  I WANNA STAY WITH MAMA!  I WANNA STAY!”

“You said it yourself, kid,” he said as he carried you out of there.  “Your mom’s gone.”

There was a little girl sitting on the ground, her hair in pigtail braids.  “Mommy?” She repeated, her little voice wavering as she shook the woman that was lying on the ground.  “Mommy, wake up.  You gotta wake up.”

It was like a mirror had been forced in front of your face, and then someone had smashed your head into it.

It was jarring, being reminded that Hydra agents, just like any other humans, had children.  And when they died for their cause, those children were left behind as orphans.

“Honey…,” Bucky whispered behind you, but he stopped once he realized what was happening.

He knew your past.  Of course he did.  And he visited your mother’s grave with you every chance the two of you got.

You did always get to see her name on the Wall of Valor anytime you went to any SHIELD facility.  You could never bring yourself to pass it without kissing your fingers and pressing it to her name.

It was hard sometimes.  You didn’t really get to know her as a person or an agent.  You knew her as your mother, of course, but you wanted to truly know her.  You wanted to know who her first love was, her favorite brand of jeans, what her favorite movie genre was.

And this little girl would be just like you if you didn’t do something about it.  She’d end up in the foster system, being passed around until either someone adopted her or she aged out, like you had.

You couldn’t let that happen.

“Hi, sweetheart,” you said softly as you moved closer to the little girl.  “What’s your name?”

She jerked in surprise, backing away towards her mother as she looked up at you and Bucky with wide brown eyes.  “W-Who are you?”

A fierce urge of protection came over you as you gave her your name, crouching down and watching her closely.  “Can you tell me your name?”

You were doing your best to fight the grief that was welling up in your chest.  It wasn’t often that you allowed yourself to think about the night that you’d lost your mother, but now you were reliving it.  Colors and sounds and scents were flying through your mind at an alarming pace as you tried to focus on the little girl in front of you.

“V-Valerie,” she said after a second.  She sniffed as she looked back at the body behind her.  “C-Can you h-help my mommy?  She’s not waking up.”

Taking a shaky breath, you moved towards her.  Your shaking fingers pressed against her pulse point in her neck, and just as you suspected, there was nothing.  She was almost cold to the touch already.

Valerie was younger than you had been, but only by a few months.  Her round cheeks were stained with tears as she watched you examine her mother.

“Val, can you look at me?” You asked gently as you took her hands in yours.  Your throat felt tight as you tried to find the words to explain.  It hadn’t exactly been done gently for you.

She nodded, her soft eyes hopeful.  “C-Can you help mommy?”

A deep breath.  Count to five.

“You know…  When I was your age…  When I was your age, my mommy had to go away,” you said quietly, squeezing her hands.  “She got hurt.  And…  And she had to go somewhere better.  Somewhere she wouldn’t hurt anymore.”

“But…  But I want her here,” Valerie whimpered, a fresh wave of tears coming over her.  “Why can’t she be not hurt here?”

“I don’t know, sweetheart,” you admitted as you smoothed her flyaways back away from her face.  God, your own tears were threatening to overwhelm you.  “But my mommy is always with me, just like yours will be with you,” you said.  You pointed to her heart.  “Right here.”

You’d have to explain in more detail later on down the road, or maybe she’d just come to understand as she got older.  In all honesty, you just really hoped that she would grow to understand.

Her brows furrowed as she looked down at your joined hands.  “But…  But mommy feels better now?  S-She’s not hurt?”

Pressing your lips together, you nodded.  “Exactly.  Her body is here, but her heart and her soul is not, yeah?  And she’s looking down on you right now.”  You looked around, trying to find any sign of another parent.  “Do you have a dad?”

She shook her head, her thumb going to her mouth.

Bucky’s heart hurt for you and the little girl as you searched the suite, eventually finding birth certificates and everything you’d need.

“Bucky, can you take these?” You asked, knowing that you two needed to get back to the quinjet.  There was no doubt that your teammates were shouting into Bucky’s comm, since you’d turned yours off.  After the documents were safe in his arms, you turned to Valerie.  “Sweetheart, can I pick you up?  We need to get out of here, okay?”  It took a second for her to agree, but you easily lifted her into your arms and rested her on your hip.  “Do you have a favorite blankie?  A favorite stuffed animal?”  Once her stuffed animal was in her arms and her head was covered with the blanket, her vision obscured from seeing the carnage of the battle, you nodded to Bucky, and the three of you quickly found your way to the quinjet.

“Not a word,” Bucky warned the others as the three of you climbed on.

The others were watching in confusion as you took Valerie to one of the seats farthest away from everyone.  “Okay, sweetheart,” you said as you gently uncovered her head.  “It’s gonna be a few hours until we’re home.  You wanna get some sleep?”

She nodded, still sucking her thumb.  “W-Will you stay with me?” She asked, clinging to you.

“Yes.  I will,” you said reassuringly.  “Can I change out of these clothes first?  They’re a little uncomfy, huh, baby?”

Bucky moved over to her, quietly introducing himself as your boyfriend as you changed into civilian clothing in the bathroom.

“What are you thinking?” Natasha asked the second you emerged.  “Taking a kid?”

“We killed her mother,” you said, watching Bucky and Valerie over her shoulder.  It definitely seemed like they were getting along…

“Her mother was a Hydra agent.”

Your brows furrowed as you met her eyes again.  “And?”  Out of all people, Natasha should’ve understood why you brought the little girl along.  “She’s a child.  One that deserves a future.”  A grin spread over your lips as you moved back to the two, relaxing as you saw the faint smile on Valerie’s lips.

“I may have promised Val that we could get ice cream tomorrow,” Bucky said, giving you puppy eyes as he looked up from where he was kneeling in front of the little girl.

“Yeah?  I think we can do ice cream,” you said with a slow smile as you sat down.

The little girl immediately crawled into your lap and curled up against your chest, closing her eyes.  She was dozing on and off the two hour plane ride home, and you immediately took her to bed once you got back.

Bucky and you tucked her into your shared bed, knowing you’d have to go and get her a bed and everything the next day.  But you didn’t mind giving up your bed for her.

“I’ll love you forever.  I’ll like you for always,” you sang sweetly to her as you unbraided her hair, smoothing it away from her face.  “As long as I’m living, my baby you’ll be…”

“She’s so tiny,” Bucky whispered, looking at the little girl with a soft reverence.  “She reminds me of Becca when she was small…”  He couldn’t help but smile as he rested his chin on the edge of the bed.  “We need to get her a bed and things…”

“Tomorrow…,” you said quietly, shushing him gently.

Maybe the universe had intended for you to find her.  Maybe Valerie was meant to be your daughter, because the second you had seen her, you’d known that you’d do anything to protect her.

Just like your mother had done for you.

She was still teaching you things even now.

There was a certain feeling lingering in the air.  It was the exact opposite of what you always felt at the end of a battle.

The smell of baby shampoo.  The sound of her soft snores.  Bucky’s head resting against your shoulder.

The both of you needed to shower, but you didn’t care.  It could wait just a little bit longer.

Your eyes felt hot as you caressed the little girl’s cheek, swallowing around the lump in her throat.  “I’ll love you forever.  I’ll like you for always.  As long as I’m living, my baby you’ll be.”

#bucky x reader #bucky barnes x reader #bucky x y/n #bucky barnes x y/n #bucky x you #bucky barnes x you

[rogue-durin-16]

THINGS NEVER GO AS PLANNED (Part IV/VII)

"wrong name"

Summary: After Fred's death, George and Y/n lean on each other to carry on. This wasn't the most brilliant idea, though; George was pretty much in love with the girl, and Y/n— well, she had been dating Fred prior to the Battle of Hogwarts.

Pairing: George Weasley x Reader

Genre: angst-fluff

Tags:

Suggested by: @crispykittywitch

Things never go as planned: @just-here-to-escape-from-reality @beautyschoo1dropout @s1ut4georgeweasley @sunshineandshadowss @missmulti @accioweaslcy

Permanent taglist: @elia-the-bibliophile @randomparanoid @karlthecat15722 @thebutchersdaughtersblog @amourtentiaa

Warnings: language, mentions of Fred x Reader, brief mention of death ig (?) Feels

A/N: here's a Christmas fic that has no right to be this angsty lmao, enjoy nonetheless <3

Prologue: the aftermath

Part I: sleepless nights

Part II: candy floss

Part III: shock therapy

Part V: the perfect excuse

Part VI: the downfall

Part VII: apart

Epilogue: I still love you

Rogue-durin-16 masterlist

We apparated in the Weasley front yard together at dusk at the same time as Percy did; we greeted him with a hug and entered their old home, only to be met with more hugs.

I had only stayed at the Burrow once, arriving the night we escorted Harry, and leaving shortly after the tragic and abrupt ending of Bill and Fleur's wedding.

I had attended to the wedding as Fred's date. Even if we agreed that there was nothing serious between us, we cared deeply for one another, and I was important enough for him that he asked me to present ourselves together in front of his family.

How odd it was that the second time I was staying at the Burrow, it was because I had been asked to attend this Christmas gathering by none other than George —as friends, of course—; so odd that it made me anxious, but Arthur and Molly were way too welcoming for that anxiety to carry on longer than a minute after I stepped into their home.

"Y/n, dear!" Molly held me back while George went to greet his siblings, who had arrived earlier than us. "I'm so glad you could make it!"

"She didn't want to come." George snitched, coming back to us after hugging his father. "Said she felt like she was trespassing."

"George!" My cheeks burned when he exposed me.

"Oh, darling," Molly pulled me into the house to join the rest. "You're always welcomed here, don't be silly!"

Molly had liked me since day one, even before Fred and I became a thing. I was the one to receive her when the Weasley matriarch first visited the shop, and we immediately got along. Fred had explained to me that it was because I reminded his mother of her younger self.

"You're a snitch." I whispered into George's ear as we both walked behind Molly in the kitchen direction, his only response was to stick out his tongue, which made us both chuckle.

Molly looked over her shoulder and I caught in her eyes the same emotion I saw in Ginny's the first time she came to visit the shop after the reopening.

A profound emotion rooted in hope; a bittersweet feeling coming from the thought that, even though Fred was gone, George seemed to be coming back to us.

I felt it too, whenever he smiled. It was lovely to see him actually happy; I wished I could keep him like that forever, even in the nights, when everything would come down on his shoulders, tearing apart every spark of joy might have had in the day.

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

We weren't finished with food yet when Arthur wiped his mouth with the napkin and, clapping his hands once, exclaimed, "Alright, time for presents!" Teddy, who rested on Bill's lap, squealed, his hair turning pink; that baby was smart. "I'll get them, dear." He stopped his wife from standing up and went to get them himself.

He distributed the gifts, and I was surprised when he handed me one. "Oh! You didn't have to—"

"Nonsense!" Arthur stopped me, resuming his task with a warm smile. Everyone was happy in that moment, and I knew George's mood had a big part on that.

He unwrapped his, which turned out to be a purple and orange scarf and matching mittens. He was putting on the mittens when I tossed the wrap of my present, uncovering a cardigan formed by several tones of my favorite color.

"Put it on!" George requested excited. unbeknownst to me, it had been him who told Molly my favorite color. "Aw you look fantastic." He observed, poorly wrapping his scarf around his neck.

"Of course I do." I agreed, shifting on my chair to face him, my hands traveling to his scarf to relocate it properly.

Though we didn't notice, it wasn't the first time that more than one pair of eyes observed us that night, and it wouldn't be the last.

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

Bill and Fleur had offered to take care of Teddy since they were leaving to Shell Cottage, so Harry and Ginny could spend the night at the Burrow without the worry of the baby.

Percy was terribly tired, so he withdrew from the living room to go to sleep.

Thank goodness he did; Percy was probably the second most affected by Fred death, and after that nice evening, he wouldn't have wanted to witness what was about to happen.

Ron, Hermione and I had colonized the settee, while Ginny and George were on their feet near the table, chatting about some nonsense; Molly was cleaning the dishes. Harry had offered to help her, but she refused, so the boy decided to talk with Arthur instead.

Molly pointed with her index finger at the remaining glasses laid on the table and called for George.

The thing is, she didn't really call for George.

"Fred, darling, hand me those."

The room fell silent.

It took a moment for her to realise, but an instant later, Molly was covering her mouth with her hand, her glassy stare fixed on the wrong named twin.

My eyes frantically travelled to every single person in the room, who had gone livid. We all seemed to be holding our breaths, waiting for some kind of explosive reaction.

Then my attention was drawn to George, whose, until that instant amused gaze, had turned blank and expressionless.

"Darling—" Molly's voice shattered with a single word. As Arthur went to console his wife, Ginny led her older brother aside and whispered things only he could hear, attempting to sooth him. "It slipped..." Molly cried.

I stayed sat on the couch with Hermione and Ron, the three of us frozen; I felt like I was an intruder witnessing a very intimate family moment.

"George don't—" we heard Ginny raising her voice before her brother disapparated. "Bloody hell!" She spun around and walked to me. "Y/n, speak to him, he'll listen to you." She practically begged, nodding her head at the window, prompting me to look at George standing alone at the edge of the cornfield, already making his way in.

"I-I..." I didn't need to look around in order to acknowledge all the eyes laid on me. "O-okay." I blinked away my own tears and rushed to the door, only to be stopped by Molly's shaky hand.

"Please- tell him I'm sorry."

"I don't think he'll blame you." I reassured the wrecked mother, offering her a comforting smile before making my way out and jogging into the cornfield myself.

"George?" When I didn't obtain an answer, it dawned on me how dumb it had been to dive into that area without knowing where to go. "George?"

I yelped when something tugged on my sleeve, making my body pivot on my heel. "You know how easy is to get lost in here?" The ginger questioned in a raspy tone, the hand that had been on my sleeve going down to mine, which invited him into my hold.

"She didn't mean— I reckon she just... Saw him in you for a second."

"I know." Though his eyes did look a bit red, he was calm.

"You alright?" I inquired, taking my hand to his cheek, on which he leaned.

"I just..." Sigh. His right hand travelled up to his face to hold mine in it before pulling away. "I need a moment alone."

I nodded. "Don't take too long or you'll catch a cold." He hummed affirmatively, and I half-heartedly left the cornfield and headed to the Burrow.

I excused George, assuring them he would be okay and, though the previous light-hearted environment didn't return, the tension in the air dissipated a bit.

A few minutes later, George came in; his mother welcomed with open arms and he returned the hug, having a small conversation against Molly's shoulder before making a beeline to me, sitting by my side.

I felt my cheeks flushing as he leaned on me, putting his head on my shoulder; suddenly self-conscious at the closeness between us. Somehow it was different being that close the privacy of our flat, than outside of it. Though it felt somehow inappropriate, when his long fingers intertwined with mines, I indulged him, trying hard not to meet neither Hermione's nor Ginny's eyes —they had been staring so much that I had noticed them an hour ago.

I was completely unaware of Molly's gaze laid on us too.

George, whose eyes had been closed, sit up straighter to whisper in my ear, "Can we go back to the flat?" My eyes met his and I realised we were even closer than I had thought in first place.

"I thought we were staying the night?" I murmured, trying in vain to keep his family out of the conversation they were pretending not to hear.

He leaned a bit closer only for me to hear his words. "I don't think I can sleep in my room."

"Do it for your mum." I squeezed his hand and he sighed. "I'm gonna stay in that room with you." Another sigh, but this one was of defeat, letting me know that I had talked some sense into him.

HERMIONE'S P. O. V.

At the beginning of the evening, when George and Y/n had first stepped into the Burrow, Ginny had come to me, urging me to observe them closely.

At first I didn't know why she would say that, but after the wrong name slipped out of Molly's lips, I started to get a hold of the matter, but it seemed so surreal— it just couldn't be.

Though the way Y/n's cheeks lighted up when George took a seat between us did remind me of the way I used to react when Ron got a tad too close to me in our sixth year.

After a while Y/n seemed to forget about our presence and eased besides George, making their bodies get closer.

When we decided to call it a day and the ones left in the living room started to retreat to their rooms for the night, Y/n got up without letting go of George's hold at any moment and, thanking Molly for her hospitality, they made their way upstairs.

Had my eyes not been trained on them, I would have missed the way George's hands went to Y/n's waist as his chin fell on her shoulder.

I left the sofa and walked to Ginny before she and Harry could slither to their dorm. "Are they...?"

"Not sure." Ginny replied with knitted brows. "What'd you think?"

"I... Don't know." I confessed.

GEORGE'S P. O. V.

We entered the dark room, illuminated only by the light provided by the night sky and started to discard our clothes in silence without looking at each other.

I was the first one to finish, making my way to my old bed and catching a glimpse of Y/n's silouhette while she threw a tee on.

I was utterly, hopelessly in love with her.

I had known I loved her for quite a while, but the feeling that had made my heart swell and my stomach flutter when she got into the cornfield without giving it a second thought in order to find me, that was something else.

I had also felt it when she had found me lifeless in Fred's room a couple of months ago; that feeling had been the reason why I found the strength in me to come back to life.

I was young, but I just knew what I felt went further from only love.

"What's on your mind?" She was already slipping under the covers by my side, her arms wrapping around me and bringing my back closer to her chest.

You, I wanted to say. "Not much."

"Liar." She tugged on my shirt and I turned on my other side so we would be facing each other. "C'mon, it's just me."

Words blurted out of my mouth, escaping my control. "Do you see him when you look at me?"

And I wasn't making anything up; It was, in fact, on my mind. It had appeared during the walk through the cornfield and it hadn't left, but Y/n's scent, touch and words had backed that thought to a corner of my mind.

She wondered, tucking one of my locks away from my forehead. "Sometimes, but not like you think." She must have sensed my inquiry because she explained further. "There are small gestures, jokes— things like that in you, that remind me of him." Her eyes were roaming all over my face, her hands bringing mines to her heart. "When you're happy, like tonight— I can't quite explain it but... it sorta seems like he's still here. So yeah, you could say I see a little bit of Fred when I look at you." Her eyes finally met mines. "It's not a bad thing— you love him so much that we can still see him through you."

"Loved." I corrected her, my thumb drawing circles on the back of her palm. "He's dead." A tear rolled down my cheek, but Y/n caught it with her fingertips before it could reach the pillow.

"Love never dies, Georgie." Her replied seem to carry more significance that someone would see at first sight, but I was too tired to discern it.

I couldn't tell if she had scooted closer, or if I had unconsciously leaned on, but the tips of our noses were nearly touching.

Initially, she didn't attempt to put more distance between us, and I couldn't help but let my hopes get high. I waited for a sign, something that would let me know I could close the gap between our lips —oh, how I craved to feel her lips—, but the sign didn't come and we stayed like that for what seemed like an eternity before she casted down her eyes, immediately breaking the spell.

"Goodnight, Y/n." I whispered, turning my back to her.

"Goodnight, George." She mumbled back, coming closer to cuddle me.

#george weasley #george wealsey imagine #george wealsey x reader #george x angelina #fred and george #george weasley x y/n #george weasley x ravenclaw!reader #george weasley x hufflepuff!reader #george weasley x reader #george weasley x slytherin!reader #george weasley x gryffindor!reader #george weasley x you #george x reader angst #george x reader #george weasley angst #george weasley fanfic #george weasley fluff #george weasley fic #harry potter fanfiction #deathly hallows #fred weasley x reader

[chaos-in-bright-pink-hair-dye]

Mars AU Part 1

What if our favourite 'joys lived on Mars instead of California, scavenging for forgotten tanks of oxygen while there are S/C/A/R/E/C/R/O/W units on their tails. Night skies covered in neon colours and the cold grip of the red planet being the last thing one can feel out there millions of kilometres away from home. One last human colony called Battery city with handful of kids running on gasoline against it.

Ok just kidding they use solar energy not gasoline XD

word count: 1 368

tw: near death experience from second person's point of view

And thank you so much, @ordinary-dust for being my awesome beta tester

Jet was pissed, he spent hour driving to ruins of what used to be one of the biggest cities, hoping that its distant location would mean that it wasn’t completely raided yet like the others. And what was he rewarded with? One can of water, that has been laying around for years so who knows if it really is even drinkable, and a spare helmet that is probably older than the city itself. And as if it wasn’t enough, he had about forty minutes before sundown and the battery in his car was already running low, he will be lucky if he makes it home in time.

He just finished adjusting the solar panels on the roof hoping he could get few more minutes out of the setting sun when he noticed something that didn’t belong out there, just few meters in front of him. He did consider it nothing more than just few rocks before, nothing uncommon but now that he was closer, he could see it had too round and organic shapes to be part of the surface and he could recognize folds of fabric. As he got closer, he could recognize two people one laying on the ground, from how it seemed one was probably unconscious and the second one hunched over them probably trying to hide them from any dangers that could come.

As he stopped next to them, he could see that they were both around his age, possibly siblings? But for fucks sake how did two kids such like them get so far from the city? Based on their suits that even though not in the best state seemed quite new and like ones that Battery city's citizens or troops would wear, they couldn’t have been in the zones longer than for just few days. Sure, most killjoys wore suits like these but you pretty much don’t meet one that wouldn’t have their suit covered in patches, colourful fabric and pretty much any crap you can find out there. These two could maybe fool someone with their bright jackets that they had over their suits since that is very killjoy thing to do but when you paid even a slight attention to the way they looked it was obvious they were very new runaways.

The younger kid moved in front of the older one’s unconscious body to protect them with their own body when Jet stepped out of the car. But judging by the way they moved their oxygen was almost gone too and they couldn’t do much damage, knowing that, Jet slowly approached them. ‘Hey, I know you’re scared but I’m not gonna hurt you, okay? Look I’m not even armed’ Jet slowly showed the kid his empty hands. And for once it was true, he did leave his blaster in the car, not that it was really a gamechanger since he could take them with his bare hands but it at least seemed to work as in calming them down. He didn’t need his spacesuit either, thanks to the air field provided by the car but he could already feel the cold biting into his uncovered face and arms, he had to do this quickly.

‘Is that your sibling? They don’t look good, you run out of oxygen, right? I can help them. And I can help you, I can take you both to a safe place.’ Jet asked them to which they slightly nodded. Jet decided to take it both as an answer and as a permission to come closer. He went past the kid and kneeled down next to their sibling, the other one didn’t seem very happy about that, Jet could see they were still terrified but at least rational enough to realize that Jet was their only chance of surviving. ‘I’m just gonna take their helmet off so that I can have better look at them alright? You can take your helmet off too, there’s air around us.’ he was lightly annoyed at that point, he got that the kid was scared but there wasn’t much time left so some co-operation would be nice.

The younger sibling looked at them with very obvious distrust but they still took their helmet off, streaks of blond hair falling over their eyes. Jet took that as a sign of at least some trust and carefully removed the older sibling’s helmet too, covering the ground in bright red hair. They remained unconscious but Jet could see that they were still breathing, very mildly but there was chance for them. Just few more minutes and it would be probably too late, Jet couldn’t imagine telling the kid that was now sitting next to him, that their sibling is dead, he has seen many people die and he had to deliver the message to their families, friends or lovers too many times but for some reason this would be different, these two seemed to innocent, like they didn’t really belong into Jet’s world and yet one of them was lying almost dead at his feet. ‘They will make it, but only if you help me. We have to get them in the car and then somewhere where they can get real help.’ Finally, that was something that made the kid move, they got up helping Jet pick their sibling up. Jet still had to carry most of the weight but at least they weren’t working against him now. They quickly laid the red head down on the back seat of Jet’s car and the kid climbed in next to them nursing their siblings head in their lap.

Jet sat behind the driving wheel and got going. There was no way they could make it into his shelter in time and it wasn’t like he could help them much anyway, he had barely enough food and O2 for himself. The only option was Dr Death’s radio station. He hasn’t been there in months but apparently the universe was telling him it was time to pay his kind of adoptive family a visit again. ‘So can I at least know your names, since I’ve let two complete strangers into my car?’ Jet smirked and looked over his shoulder just to see the kid passed out too.

It was already dark when Jet arrived to the station and his breath was condensing in the cold air around. He parked right in front of the main door and rushed in. ‘Oh, look who’s back, I thought I would never see you again.’ snickered Pony without looking up from some video game he was playing. ‘Great to see you too, but where’s D I need some help.’ that seemed to get Pony’s attention ‘D’s on air right now but what’s the matter?’ he said as he stood up, his typical roller skates clacking on the floor. ‘Picked up some kids, must have escaped the city, gotten lost and run out of oxygen. One of them isn’t looking very shinny.’ Apparently, that was all he needed to hear because soon he was helping Jet carry the red head into the spare room with the younger kid right behind them, suddenly completely awake. They laid them on a mattress in a small dark room left for situations such like this one.

Jet left the room to go wait for D, leaving Pony to take care of their two guests, he was way better at it anyway. It didn’t take long for Dr Death to finish his part with Cherri taking his place. When they came into the room, they could see Pony had done quite a work, both of the kids had their space suits off and the older one was now in bed covered under several blankets while the younger one was sitting next to them holding their hand, they themselves were half asleep bundled up under a blanket of their own but they made it very obvious they weren’t leaving their sibling. Jet was really tired himself so after D stated that the kid would make it and that there’s nothing more, they could do at the moment he decided to go to sleep too, leaving the two foundlings alone. Not like they could disappear suddenly anyway.

#heck yeah I'm trying to get back into writing again!! #how many times have I tried on this account before? two times? yeah we're not talking about that #I'm not exactly sure where am I going with this one but I'll definitely make it work XD #yk just giving my favourite gays some backstory and making it sci-fi 'cause why not #well anyway hope you enjoyed reading if you have any questions about something that I forgot to explain I would love to answer them #or if you have any writing advice I would love to hear it #thanks for reading and hopefully I'll return with second part soon #killjoys #danger days #killjoys au #danger days au #ttlotfk #ttlofk #party poison #kobra kid #jet star #mars au #my posts #my writing #fjhsfhs why am I so nervous #maybe because I haven't written pretty much anything but essays for school in past few years? yeah.... #it's kinda weird writing something like this again but heck is it fun

[belit0]

Anonymous:

Can I have a scenario where Itachi takes care of his sick s/o who has a fever?

[I did it in a Itachi x reader situation because I thought you might like it better. If it is not to your liking, let me know and I can make you something different :)]

Itachi came home like any other day, on a quiet night that promises rest by your side. Being the captain of his ANBU team demands a lot from him, but one of his great motivations to execute his tasks with excellence and finish his duties as soon as possible, is to know that you are waiting for him. Being a highly sensitive person, and with unquestionable skills to read people, it didn’t take long for the Uchiha to realize that something was wrong with you.

He walked through the front door of your shared house, leaving his boots at the entrance, to walk back in his uniform to where you were. Standing in front of the mirror in your room, you watched your reflection, analyzing your face and cursing the most obvious symptoms of fever.

What your image brought back was a [Y/N] with a red face, a slightly trembling body, glazed eyes, skin bristling in the slightest breeze. Honestly, you felt really weak, and you had to cut back on your daily training to go home earlier than usual due to physical exhaustion and pain in your muscles.

When Itachi encountered this situation, he smiled weakly, and got down to business. He approached you from behind, and looked at you through the image in the glass. Even if he wanted to hug you or touch you, he wouldn’t, for in his mind is present the physical pain that must be tormenting you.

“[Y/N]… you should have called me if you are in this state.”

“It’s no big deal, Itachi, I can take care of myself you know.”

You turned around to face your boyfriend, and tried to keep your composure, even though your being begged for rest. A big hand landed on your forehead gently for a few seconds, measuring your body temperature. When he was satisfied with his rudimentary analysis, a worried look took possession of his features.

“You are really on fire. Come on, let’s go to bed.”

Without the strength to argue, and knowing that he is right, you walked to the bed where Itachi tucked you in. He did not allow you to cover yourself too much, as the high heat of your body was supposed to decrease, and he forced you to keep the blanket around your waist.

“I’m supposed to have a mission tomorrow… this is a bad time to get sick.”

“It’s never a bad time for you to take care of yourself. I’ll take care of that, and the rest. Indulge me by resting.”

With that said, the Uchiha left the room and headed for the kitchen. There, he extracted some ice from the freezer and placed it in a deep pot. Inside, he put water from the tap, and a dishtowel, which soon soaked up the icy water. Going back to where you were resting, he placed the pot on the light table that was on your side. Before starting his work, he changed his ANBU uniform for more comfortable clothes.

After that, he sat down next to you on the mattress, took the wet dishrag from inside the pot and drained it so that no cold water would drip on the floor or bed. Gently and delicately, he placed it on your burning forehead. It didn’t take a second for your skin to feel the temperature contrast. He folded the edges of the fabric so that it would not wet your hair or cover your eyes, took the book he was reading at the time from his bedside table and waited.

When the rag lost the frozen sensation of ice, Itachi dipped the rag back into the pot of water and repeated the process. This action took place for an hour, until he gave up on this procedure as the results were not as expected.

Leaving his reading behind, he got out of bed again, and went to his wardrobe. From there he took a total of six socks, and put them together with the cloth in the pot. Then he went to the kitchen, and extracted more ice from the frezeer as the current one was beginning to disappear into the water.

Leaving off where it belongs, the Uchiha made sure that all the clothes were well soaked. He sat on the edge of your side, and with silent movements, uncovered your body completely. A sense of guilt overtook him as groans of discomfort came from within, making it clear that you were suffering at the time.

But the only thing he wants is to eliminate what ails you, what makes you feel bad, because he knows how it feels to be sick to that unbearable level, where the very sheet on your skin is a nuisance and no position is comfortable in your rest. As a man suffering from a hidden disease, Itachi knows that deplorable state where your body betrays you and makes you useless. Empathizing from his own experience, the only thing he can do for you is act as he would like you to act for him when one of his attacks catches him off guard, leaving him knocked out and out of breath wherever he is. But because of his own limitations, he is unable to reveal his poor health to you, and he faces that hell alone.

This does not mean that he lets you face this condition by yourself as well. No, this man is a great partner in life. Without wanting to wake you up, he places the new icy cloths on different key areas of your body, hoping to give a more concise fight to the fever. One on your forehead, two on your armpits, two on your wrists, and two on your ankles. More often than in his previous attempt, he dips the cloths and soaks them with new ice water, repositioning them in the hottest areas of your body.

After an hour of this routine, the frustration of the Uchiha begins to grow, as your condition does not improve. He feels helpless in the face of the fact that he can’t help you, and that you’re probably facing a lot of physical discomfort while he’s feeling quite normal. He completely abandons his first fighting strategy, and goes on to execute a more frontal and less pleasant plan for you.

The high temperature has put you into a feverish sleep for several hours, and Itachi takes you in his arms as gently as possible from the bed. Without squeezing your body in his grip, he allows the cloths that covered you from head to toe to fall across the room’s floor. A little hint of concern begins to show under his always calm face.

He takes you into the bathroom, where he sits you on the closed toilet seat to turn on the shower. Closing the door to prevent air from entering, he opens the water and regulates it to a temperature between hot and warm. When he is satisfied, he goes to you, and proceeds to strip you of your clothes until you are naked. There is no sexual connotation in his actions, since he knows your body from beginning to end like a map and it is not a strange situation to see you without any garments. By undressing himself too, he places your arms loosely around his neck, and makes your legs hold around his waist, thus carrying you underwater.

The first contact with it makes your body shiver and shake, rejecting the uncomfortable and almost painful sensation of the liquid on your feverish skin. A slight moan escapes your mouth before some tears do too, but Itachi is there to hold you back.

“Hold on to me [Y/N], it will be over soon I promise.”

The only sounds you manage to make are incoherent moans accompanied by tears because of the horrible sensation in your muscles and joints, making Itachi’s presence in the background. Disturbed by your pain, all you want is to escape the water that falls on you.

"I need you to hold on a little longer, can you do that for me?”

In the absence of a response, the Uchiha proceeded to lean over the taps with you in the air and regulate the water again. By turning the hot water off a little more, the temperature dropped, without becoming cold. The new sensation stressed your being even more, and you clung to him as your body shook under what seemed like a freezing cold on your boiling skin.

After a few long minutes, the sensitivity began to diminish, your limbs stopped twisting in your boyfriend’s grip, and some normality returned to you. Itachi noticed the change in tension and attitude in you, and rested his lips on your forehead to measure your temperature under water again. More satisfied with the result, he took you both out of the shower, laid you on the floor on your two feet, and wrapped you in a towel while placing one around his waist.

He carried you back into the room, as the exhaustion was clearly visible on your face after the stressful body experience, and sat you on the bed where he proceeded to dress you carefully. After that task, you crawled under the covers, and thanked him for the relief that slowly spread through your body.

” Shall I make you something to eat [Y/N]? You should get your energy back now that your body admits it.”

With a small nod, Itachi accepted your answer, got dressed again and went out into the kitchen. You forced yourself to stay awake in gratitude for your boyfriend’s unconditional care, and when the Uchiha returned with a tray of hot soup, your heart was filled with love.

Sitting on the bed and placing the tray on his lap, he proceeded to feed you slowly so that your body would not reject the food.

“…You know, [Y/N]… I think you passed it on to me…”

#uchiha itachi #itachi x reader #itachi scenarios #itachi imagines #itachi uchiha #uchiha scenario #itachi oneshot

[fluffykitty1999-blog]

Dog of the Military- Chapter 26

Chapter 26- New Room

Hello! This is just another reminder- if you’re into my fanfictions and they bring you enjoyment, I’d super appreciate it if you could go over and leave an encouraging comment at my ko-fi here https://ko-fi.com/fluffykitty12, or even slip me $3 for snacks. 

Thanks so much! :)

The hospital was full. Or at least, that was the excuse they gave them when they were unceremoniously dumped into a second bed that'd been placed in Mr. Water's room.

The quarters were a bit tight- Roy had to relocated his plastic chair to the foot of ed's bed rather than beside it, but after settling Ed into the new bedding, the remainder of the night passed quietly.

It was around seven that morning when a knock on the door frame caught his attention.

Roy couldn't help it- he broke into an exhausted smile at the sight of Hughes.

"Finally. None of my team had spoken to me since yesterday, I was beginning to worry."

"Yeah, well, there's a reason for that. They managed to apprehend the fake judge fleeing the scene, but Banks managed to get away. They've been doing paperwork and issuing orders for the capture of Banks since then. The higher ups are eager to put a lid on this while fiasco- they're embarrassed it's even happened. How's Ed doing?"

"Seems to be alright. Except a Drachman operative broke into his hospital room last night and tried to abduct him."

Hughes jolted, looking shocked. "You're kidding!"

Roy shook his head. "I'm not."

"Mr. Mustang!" their conversation was interrupted by nurse Aubrey jogging over, holding a clipboard and looking out of breath. "I have those blood test results you wanted."

Roy cocked an eyebrow. "And what do they say?"

"Well, Ed's blood type is A+, and several of the other blood smears were found to be B-. So Edward wasn't alone in his room last night. Someone else was there. I'm sorry I didn't believe you."

Roy shrugged.

Hughes decided to make himself known, peering at the paper on her clipboard and adjusting his glasses. "Say, can I get a copy of that, please? I'm Colonel Maes Hughes of investigations- I have no doubt the military is going to want me investigating just who would try and attack a hospitalized state alchemist. I also want the room Ed was attacked in sealed off- I'll process the crime scene later."

"Of course." Aubrey hurried off to do as she was told, and Roy and Hughes sat in silence for a moment.

"So." Hughes finally spoke up, face impassive. "It appears Edward might've been onto something with his whole 'Banks is a Drachman spy' theory."

"It certainly looks that way." Roy agreed. "Either that- or Banks wasn't involved, but now that he's backed into a corner, any Drachman operatives are capitalizing on the chance to scoop him up. But why bother trying to take Ed too?"

"Ed's knowledge of Alchemy is a good enough reason as any. He knows more than most alchemists in the country- he could easily train Alchemists for the Drachman army. They've wanted to learn alchemy for decades now. And Ed's young- he's got a lot of potential, he's still forming his opinions and growing up. They'd want to capitalize on that- mold him into a ruthless killer."

Isn't that what you want to do as well? that small voice in the back of his head hissed. The same one that tortured him about Ishval at night. But Roy brushed it aside- it was lying, he cared for Ed like his own son. He was only trying to do what was best for Ed. And for your reputation, you heartless bastard.

"I know you need to be here. I get it. But your office is sorely missing you in your absence. Hawkeye is doing her best- I have Brosch, Ross and Armstrong watching the hospital starting today. No one else will come near him."

"Right." Roy ran a hand through his hair, looking at Hughes. "Can you stay with him? For a little while? I need someone I can trust with him- someone who I know can protect him." Roy thought fo all the knives Hughes kept hidden on his person. He pitied any Drachman who tried to abduct Ed from his best friend.

"Yeah, I can stay." Hughes frowned. "Where are you gonna go, though? The office?"

"Probably. Was going to stop home and at least chance my clothes first. Have a quick shave, probably."

His uniform was wrinkled from sleeping in it and smeared with Ed's dried blood. His five o' clock shadow was also getting out of control.

Hughes nodded, smiling slightly. "Yeah. I haven't seen you this bad since our last bender. I can stay half the day with him."

"That's all I need. Thank you."

"No problem. Take care of what you need to at the office." Hughes took his place sitting in Roy's plastic chair at the foot of Ed's bed. Ed was still sleeping- Roy had wet a cloth and cleaned the blood from the boy's face hours ago, and he looked peaceful, despite his circumstances.

"Alphonse is with Gracia and Elicia for the time being- he's probably going to want to see Ed later today."

"I'll bring him back with me on my way back from the office." Roy promised absently.

"Alright, thank you." Hughes smiled, and Roy returned the look.

He almost felt bad that he was lying to the man's face. Almost.

LINEBREAK LINEBREAK LINEBREAK

"You look like hell." Madame Christmas didn't parse words, sliding him a glass of cold bourbon across the bar as a way of greeting. IT wasn't even 9am yet, but Roy took the drink happily.

"You made the papers again." his aunt put down a copy of the newest Gazette in front of him- FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST SHOT IN COURT MARTIAL DEBACLE. The front page featured him clinging to Ed, trying to stop the boy's bleeding. It wasn't exactly a flattering shot, and Roy wondered briefly how the press had managed to get that picture.

"Are you alright?" He looked up to meet his Aunt's dark brown eyes at the question- she was being sincere, and he nodded.

"I'm okay."

"And that boy of yours? The prodigy they shot?"

"He's gonna be okay too. Bullet hit him in the arm."

"And yet you're here instead of watching him. Which means you need something." his Aunt tapped her long fingernails on the bar, looking pensive.

"How much have you read about the courtmartial?"

"All of it. But it isn't much. The Furher withholds most of the details- all I know is that man was facing charges of misconduct that the Fullmetal Alchemist boy uncovered."

Roy fought the urge to wince. Yes, of course the military would've white washed everything and censored it. The general population didn't need to know the gruesome scope of Bank's misdeeds.

"That Colonel Banks is still on the lamb. He hasn't been here, if that's what you're searching for." Madame Christmas said, reaching down to start polishing some glasses.

"That's not what I'm here for."

"Then what? We both know you aren't here to visit Vanessa."

"Some fellows who ought not have visited Amestris have come here. Foreign- Drachman, I think. Tried to kidnap Ed last night- and I have a feeling that they're trying to get into contact with Banks and smuggle him from the country. An outfit like that wouldn't just send one man- they'd send several. A team, maybe. Men like that go looking for girls. Have you seen any?"

Madame Christmas had stopped polishing her glass abruptly and set it down, nodding once. "Yeah. Five who'd fit your description, recently. I don't ask too many questions. What would you like to do with them? They're quite rough customers- hardly pay for their drinks, rough with my girls. So what do you have in mind?"

"I want to speak to one. Doesn't matter which, any of them will do. As soon as you can."

"You'll be delivering the usual message to someone who's unkind to my girls?"

"And then some. For trying to take my Alchemist." Roy swirled his glass, taking another sip. He was almost done.

"How soon can you deliver by?"

His aunt scoffed. "Tonight. One of those dogs is always by, at least one, every night."

"I'll speak to you soon, then." He finished his drink, placing his money on the bar and standing.

"Thanks, Auntie."

"Not a problem, my boy."

LINEBREAK LINEBREAK LINEBREAK

Roy managed to stop at the office for two hours- Alphonse had decided to walk there from the Hughes' residence- so it turned out he hadn't completely lied to Hughes when he said he was going to the office.

Either way, he was back at the hospital at one with Alphonse and a fresh cup of coffee in tow.

"What do you mean I can't leave yet!? They just gave me this whole bag of blood I have more than enough now! I want to go!" Roy heard Ed before he saw him, and he gave a tired grin, sipping his coffee as he and Al strode into the room.

"The doctors want you here another day and that's what's going to happen." Hughes said, ever-patient.

Mr. Waters was sitting in his bed reading a book on barrel-making, seemingly hardly disturbed by the commotion.

When Alphonse walked into the room, however, he looked up, eyes brightening. "What craftsmanship! I'm a welder- let me have a look at you!"

If Alphonse could've blushed, he would've. but he walked over to the bed anyways, letting the construction worker rave about how well his joints fit together and the well-placed rivets of his design.

Ed cast a glance at his roommate, watching him talk to his brother, before he noticed Roy and perked up.

"Can we go home yet?"

"What's this I heard about the doctors wanting you to stay another day?" Roy cast a glance at Hughes, who crossed his arms over his chest and nodded. "Ed did well during his blood transfusion, but he's still dizzy and tired. They want to watch him for one more day."

"Then that's final. You're staying for another day." Roy took a sip of his coffee, symbiotically absorbing the caffeine through his tongue to fortify himself for the coming outburst.

"This is stupid! I should be out there catching the bastard who shot me, not sitting around in this stupid hospital!"

"You're pale as the sheets. I hardly think another day in the hospital could hurt." Roy remarked.

"Who're you calling so anemic he doesn't even have the iron to be called a fortified cereal?!" Ed kicked his feet beneath the sheets and ranted.

Well, that's a new one. Roy thought to himself.

"You said I could sleep on the couch again! Last night!" Ed had turned back to whining, and Roy was slightly surprised he even remembered the exchange they'd had in the emergency room.

"Yes. And you can. Once the doctors say you're well enough to come home, and not a minute sooner. Speaking of fun things people said- you said a lot of things, Ed. You threatened to bite an EMT, accused him of trying to steal you leg, and said something about riding in the wee-woo wagon."

"Wee-woo wagon?" Alphonse asked, tinny vice echoing the question.

"He was too drugged up to think of the word ambulance." Roy supplied.

Alphonse and Mr. Waters burst out laughing, Hughes was grinning, and Ed flushed bright red in embarrassment, a red hashtag throbbing on his temple.

"Don't sweat it, Ed. Investigations and everyone is working hard to catch Banks and everyone else involved in this. You just need to rest up." Hughes said, standing up from his place on the chair and stretching.

"And I'm sure Colonel Mustang here agrees."

Roy nodded, taking his seat back and pulling out a large stack of papers from his briefcase. "I do. In fact, Hawkeye wanted me to stay here and do my paperwork to make sure you don't decide to sneak out of the hospital."

Ed's pout made his facial structure sag so much he looked like a pug, and he crossed his arms over his chest.

"So unfair. Why do I have to get punished when I'm the one who's been shot..."

"Cheer up laddy." Mr. Waters piped up. "'Least you ain't had a brick dropped on yer head."

#fma #fma fanfiction #Fullmetal Alchemist #fullmetal alchimist brotherhood #Roy Mustang #edward elric #Parental Roy #parentalroy #whumph #whump #hurt/comfort #hurt #comfort #dogofthemilitary #injury

[oftenderweapons]

TikTok Towel Trick

Pairing: member x reader 

Wordcount: 400 to 600 words each

Genre: fluff, mild smut

Rating: suggested 18+

He's not paying you attention? Try wearing nothing but a towel and dropping it right in front of his eyes.

Saw a post that suggested this and I had to comply. It’s a cute/fluffy/angsty/lowkey smutty (implied smut) galore. Enjoy!

Also, here is my Masterlist

Namjoon

It was a lazy afternoon, Namjoon and you had been watching documentaries on the sofa, his body comfortably sitting while your head lied on his lap, his attention increasingly shifting towards the tv. He was so focused on exoplanets or something that he actually didn’t notice the way you were staring at him, that focused look on his face sending little sparks of longing through your spine.

“Joon”. Your hand snaked around his calf and you started dragging your nails softly agains his skin. “Joon”.

“Wait a sec babe”.

And a second became twenty minutes of him clenching his jaw in concentration, his glasses continuously sliding from the bridge of his nose, and him subsequently sliding them back in that half quirky half sexy move of his. Biting your lip you decided that you might as well try something more aggressive. Standing up, Namjoon complaining because you obstructed the view of his oh-so-beloved documentary, you headed for the bedroom, a small pout on your lips. You quickly and briskly undressed and wrapped yourself in a towel. “Joon” you called one last time, a warning delivered with the most saccharine voice.

No answer. So you headed back for the living room and stood right behind the sofa where he was sitting. You cleared your throat and threw the towel right at the television, half covering the screen. “May I have your attention, sir?”

As he heard his favourite voice of yours - that bedroom voice - Joon turned, eyes wide in childlike surprise, his mouth forming a small “o” and then spreading in a mischievous smile. He carefully dragged his gaze back to your face. “Someone is being needy today” he bit his lip and his eyelids lowered in that sultry expression that always drove you crazy. He turned and switched off the tv. Still staring straight ahead he murmured. “Come over baby, let me show you what you got yourself into”.

Jin

He had promised. Promised he would stay in bed and let you make him breakfast. Instead you had woken up to an empty, cold bed and no Mister Worldwide Handsome in immediate proximity. You had been living together for six months now and you had woken up with his face on the pillow next to yours maybe four or five times. Of course, you tended to sleep in while he was more of a morning person, but still you wanted to see your boyfriend first thing in the morning, and maybe enjoy that natural tenderness of having just woken up and other things... So you thought that you might as well get two birds with one stone and drag your boyfriend back to bed while also getting yourself rid of that tendril of wanting coiling in your core. You undressed -- a bit clumsily because you were still half asleep -- and wrapped a towel around you. Feet softly padding to the kitchen -- he was obviously there -- you caught him tasting a blueberry from the plate of pancakes he had prepared for you two. “Oh, good morning honey, you headed for a shower? Maybe you should get breakfast while it’s still warm.”

Your mind quickly corrected your plan. “Maybe you could have a shower with me, Jinnie?” And batting your eyelashes you let the towel fall. “Or maybe you could come back to bed?”

Jin’s face let his confusion and shock show. When he came back to reality, he quickly closed his mouth, staring at your breasts for the shortest second in history, then shutting his eyes and focusing them back in yours. He opened his mouth a couple times as if trying to talk, but then changing his idea, closing it again.

His head kept going back and forth between you and the pancakes. “But breakfast?” He said, looking at you. You shook your head slowly, licking your lips. 

“But they’re still warm...” he whined. You let your hand graze against your chest. “You could bring them to the bedroom with some whipped cream”.

His gaze sparked up in mischief, lips curling in a small smile. Pointing gun fingers at you he said: “I really, really love you.” Then he quickly prepped the ingredients to your spicy breakfast. You simply smiled. Mission accomplished.

Yoongi

Saturday night, you wanted only ONE REGULAR SATURDAY NIGHT. Nothing big, just staying in, maybe cooking together, maybe ordering some take away, dinner together, a bottle of wine, a film and then getting to bed at a decent hour. Getting something more than twenty minutes of Yoongi guzzling his food and then disappearing into his home studio, only to reappear at three am, sliding under the covers behind you, kissing your nape and falling asleep.

And on the side, maybe you also wanted some reminder of those early days, when he would never have enough of you, completely forgetting himself and taking hours to please you. You had complete respect for his job and you would never dare complain about his work ethics, but you wanted that meticulousness and attention aimed at something different - namely, yourself. Just for one Saturday night, just a couple hours.

So after you knocked at the door of his home studio at dinner time you got quite irritated when he said he’d join you later and asked you to close the door.

At that point there wasn’t much left to do. Getting rid of your clothes you wore your favourite accessory and wrapped yourself in a towel.

Knowing it could take a while, you got comfortable on the sofa facing the door of his studio, a book in hand and some snack to quiet down your rumbling stomach. After almost an hour of waiting you heard some shuffling from within his studio.

Yoongi aimed straight at the kitchen, not even noticing you on the sofa. You were outright insulted. You might as well have taken care of yourself.

Once he arrived in the kitchen he looked around, as if looking for you. He turned and finally noticed you on the sofa. “Babe?”

“Yeah.”

“Where’s dinner?” Then he wasn’t looking for you, but just for the food. Wonderful.

You put your book down on the coffee table and stood up, your towel still around you. You ignored his question and turned your back to him, walking to the bedroom.

Once you were right in front of the door you dropped your towel, showing the lovely harness he had gifted you for your first anniversary.

“Dinner’s right here. If you still know how to eat it.” You smirked.

Yoongi got completely still, his pout a lovely, perfectly round circle. He licked his lips a couple time, he brought his hand to his mouth and when he uncovered it his characteristic side smirk emerged, shortly followed by his sinful fingers combing his hair back. He didn’t even bother blinking, his stare fixed on you.

“I’m sorry, love.” He said taking a step closer. “I’ve been ungrateful lately.” Standing right in front of you, he caressed your cheek and kissed your forehead devotedly.

“Yes, you have.” You lamented.

“Then let me make up for it.” He looked for permission in your eyes, then he briskly grabbed the central ring of your harness and turned you around delivering a quick smack on your behind. “Get in the bedroom, sweetheart, we’re gonna be there for a good while.”

Hoseok

It was rare for Hobi not to pay attention to you. Usually the moment you called his name he would look at you right away, attention undivided, eyes and ears on you.

But today wasn’t that day. Your Hobi was currently online shopping after you decided to redecorate your apartment. Not that you didn’t love designing your new space together. Actually you loved it, but with his busy schedule and your frequent work trips you had little time together and you much rather spending it enjoying each other’s physical presence than watching him get more equipment for his studio and look for the right carpet to match the white leather sofa in the living room -- which, by the way, he could show you sending you the link even when you were on the other side of the world.

So trying to get the best of both of you being in the same place, at the same time, you decided to do that towel trick you had seen on tiktok and snatch his attention away from those expensive (and absolutely superfluous) home cinema speakers.

Excusing yourself, you left the room and took your sweet time getting ready for him, putting on his favourite lotion, some excessively bright lipstick and that necklace he had bought you (and that you never wore because you were too afraid to lose it). All wrapped up in a towel you happily went back to the bedroom where he was casually typing on his computer.

“I was thinking we might need to reorganise the kitchen, you know? We could use one of those kitchenaids-- Hey, I thought we were redecorating together! No way you’re going to take a shower now!” His brow furrowed in disappointment as he saw you in a towel.

“What if we did something else together?” You said as you dropped the towel. The grin on his face was immediate.

“Oh sweetie, that’s-- wow. Wow babe, that’s-- lovely.” He quickly closed his laptop and put it on his bedside table. “Is that the lipstick? That one lipstick?”

You nodded as you climbed on the bed.

“Oh jagiya, so pretty-- so hot-- all mine...”

“Take off your clothes and then take off my lipstick, please?” You smiled sweetly.

Hoseok had never looked happier than that.

Jimin

Jimin is the loveliest, cutest creature in the world and you adore him from the top of his head to tip of his toes. Your babyboy brought joy and tenderness in your life beyond belief, his sweetness swallowing your life in spotless splendour. Still he could be needy every now and then, turning to a sour, bratty mood whenever you couldn’t meet his requests. Which is exactly what was happening. Unfortunately your boss had required you to stay a little longer for an extraordinary meeting with some foreign client, which had turned to drinks, which had turned to dinner, which had turned to you sending a text to your boyfriend to inform him that you wouldn’t make it to your weekly film night.

You had arrived at his place at almost two am, only to find his bed empty. You switched on your bedside lamp: no Jimin.

You had a mild idea regarding his whereabouts. As you slipped on a robe, you ventured in the guestroom, where he was very likely sleeping. Indeed you noticed a pile of covers in the middle of the bed. You had very highly fucked up.

He had confessed that the feeling of you nuzzling in the crook of his neck under the covers was his favourite thing in the world so, if he decided to deprive himself of that, he must have been very angry. You decided you needed a treat to get on his good side again. And you had an idea.

You set the alarm quite early for the following morning, hoping you would get in the kitchen before him. Unfortunately you woke up to a cacophony of noises, coming precisely from the kitchen. So his revenge had begun. As you got there you noticed him noisily making his fresh orange juice, the news blasting from the tv. He turned on the mixer to scramble some eggs (he was so obviously trying to be loud).

“Good morning” you said, voice calm and sweet.

“Morning” he replied dryly.

“About last night-” you began.

He set the mixer on a higher level and pointed a finger to his ear, as if saying “I can’t hear you.”

You smirked and unplugged the mixer, then started looking for the remote - which he had surely hidden.

“What are you looking for?” He said, his voice dripping in sarcasm.

You switched the tv off with the buttons hidden behind the screen.

The house was now silent. “I am sorry about last night.”

“What about it?” He replied, offended, his eyes cast downwards.

“You know my boss...”

“Yeah, I know your boss. Maybe you should ask him to keep your bed warm.”

You felt the poison but rather than being offended, you thought you might have hurt him more than what you thought you had.

Wordlessly you retreated to the bedroom. When you came back a while later, you noticed Jimin watching a film on the sofa, a pout still on his lips, arms crossed.

“Jiminie.” No answer.

Time for the treat. As you got back to the living room, clad only in a towel, you started your sweet talking. “I realised that lately I’ve been neglecting my precious boyfriend. He’s always so sweet--” you took a step toward him, your praises growing more affectionate “-- and caring. And sooooo perfect. He’s the loveliest babyboy in the world.” You were now almost in front of him, but he just spared you a side glance. “So I thought I should show my gratitude, and show how sorry I am, and how much of a good boy he is,” and that was his undoing, together with the towel now laying on his lap and your naked body right in front of him. As he extended his arms toward you, you straddled him without second thought, his arms naturally enveloping around your middle and his head buried in your chest. “My lovely, perfect man.” You said, caressing his hair.

“It’s-- I’ve been very stressed lately. I just wanted to talk to you about it and then you said you were late and then I thought you wouldn’t come at all and I felt so under pressure.” He confessed.

“I’m here now.”

Taehyung

Okay, videogames were interesting but you? You had the looks of a goddess and you were REAL! Sure, maybe your boobs didn’t explode out of your corset like those ridiculous side characters, and your hips did not match the proportions of a watermelon, but still you looked pretty good. And most importantly you had actual desires and impulses. A bit more than a binary code and some strategic character design. You didn’t have extraordinary plans for the day, but you just wanted to spend some time with your boyfriend and drag him away from his liveplay with Jungkook -- the two of them saw each other almost every day so Taehyung could as well borrow you a couple hours of his precious gaming-with-Jungoogie time. “Tae, can you please turn down the volume, I’m trying to read.”

“Yeah babe”. But still, you continued hearing Jungkook’s voice from the headset and Taehyung kept half shouting directions in his microphone, every now and then mouthing a profanity or two.

Since Taehyung was so wrapped up in his game you decided to experiment that technique he had shown you a few weeks ago.

You came back to the living room in nothing but a towel, his foot bare against the marble floor.

Taehyung’s eyes were immediately on you. He batted his eyelashes quickly then his face opened up in the most enthusiastic, childlike boxy grin he could sport, eyes wide like saucers.

“Jungkook-ah, it’s happening, gotta go.” He interrupted the game immediately and removed his headset in a flash putting it on top of the coffee table in a brisk but delicate manner.

And now you had his undivided attention. “Come on baby” he could barely hide his excitement. “Let it fall.”

You raised an eyebrow and finally uncovered your nakedness.

The childlike, enthusiastic grin immediately matured into a dark, expressive gleam of his eyes and a stern, tight line at his mouth. Biting his lip, he brought a finger to his lips, the gesture hitting a switch inside you, making your cheeks heaten under his predatory gaze.

“I’ve been trying to get you to do this for weeks.” He said, getting on all fours on the floor and slowly crawling to you. When he was almost at your feet you stopped him, placing your toe against his chest.

“You have a lot of grovelling to do first.”

“I am more than eager to begin.” He said kissing your calf.

Those big-breasted girls might look interesting, but after all you were his goddess.

Jungkook

Gaming sessions with Taehyung and occasionally with Jin were absolutely normal for Jungkook. What wasn’t normal was the fact that he was doing that while being with you. Whenever Jungkook had time with you he tried to spend it together, talking, cooking, laying in bed watching movies, listening to music, working out, anything as long as it allowed you two to bond. Sometimes you also gamed together -- which made this improv gaming sesh with Taehyung even more suspect. 

And you knew exactly where all of this was coming from. 

A few days ago you had shown him a tiktok where a girl appeared before his boyfriend naked while he was busy doing something. He had blushed and teased you endlessly about you being a perv and people being absolutely shameless, saying it was just outright crazy. But still, you saw the way his eyes roamed down your body while you asked if it was all that bad. Your boyfriend was shy and even if he acted all judgey and quiet, you could tell that he wanted it. 

And since he expected the whole towel trick to happen -- he was quietly begging you to make it happen -- you had to find a way to truly surprise him. You were in the kitchen when you heard him grumble and puff out a breath. He paused the game and came in the kitchen. “You okay, Koo?” You asked. 

His mood looked slightly sour. “Tae left the game. Said he’s busy.” He huffed. “Do we have ramen?”

You pointed to the upper cabinet and watched him reach for it. His thin white cotton shirt showed the muscles of his back stretching and from the warmth spreading on your face and chest you immediately knew what to do. 

Rushing to the bedroom -- timing is fundamental -- you changed out of your clothes and into his robe. Spying him from the corridor you watched as he kept his back to you while putting the ramen inside the microwave. As you heard the ding of the timer, you watched as he took the ramen from the microwave. Swiftly nearing him, you hugged him from the back making sure that he put the bowl down (you didn’t want him to spill it and accidentally hurt himself or you). 

“What?” He said, neutral.

“Don’t you want some of this first?” You asked, making him turn around and quickly unwrapping his robe from your body. 

Jungshook meme: unlocked. 

It took him at least five seconds to regain control of his own brain. 

“You look so good, baby. Can I...?” He didn’t know what to do with himself. 

“Don’t you wanna eat first?” You asked, a lowering your eyes and biting your lip.

“Uhm.” You had officially sent him short circuiting. His eyes were fighting between instinct and decency. “Maybe later?” He said goofily.

You smiled your biggest smile and did a cute come hither gesture that made him trot towards you, throwing you over his shoulder and placing a big, playful bite on your outer thigh. “That’s a snack.” He exclaimed carrying you to the bedroom. “Now I want the full meal.”

#bangtan sonyeondan #bts #bts imagines #bts reactions #namjoon x reader #jin x reader #yoongi x reader #hoseok x reader #jimin x reader #taehyung x reader #jungkook x reader #namjoon imagine #jin imagine #yoongi imagine #hoseok imagine #jimin imagine #taehyung imagine #jungkook imagine

[sloppy-butcher]

Waitin’ On a Superman -  Chapter 3 : Like Pulling Teeth

(The Hillbilly (Max Thompson Jr.) x female!reader)

notes: i just wanted to say thank you to everyone who has taken the time to read and enjoy what i have managed to produce so far <3 its really helps me with my confidence and such

also i have made a spotify playlist of songs that i personally listen to when getting in the mood of the story. i would like to share it but only if yall would like to hear it ahaha  er anyway, thank you again <3 

Previous ; Next 

Pulling your head free from the grasp of the hay straws felt like something akin to being born. All at once you were alive again, breathing in the cool barn air having just awoken from the land of musky earth. It was refreshing; cleansing; jarring. The dream world fell away and noise and smell bombarded you, crashing in like unforgiving waves against a wayward boat. You were confused by your surroundings, head turning around frantic for clues, until your eyes landed upon familiar yellow and you remembered everything.

You remember walking. You remember the dog. And you remember him. 

It was brighter now, your mind more inclined to function as intended without fog or muck to slow production. You remember his voice, the sound of his heavy footsteps, the way in which he spoke and how he had helped you. Kindness, even small as his was, was such a rare oddity here, strangers only being associated with unforgivable violence and cruelty. But he was kind, offered you rest and protection where others would simply chase you out. It surprised you, more now than it did when it had occurred. How strange, how very strange indeed.

As you stood up from your make-shift bed, dusting stray straws off your jeans and t-shirt, a part of you started to construct a way of saying thank you to the man. Though you had nothing to give, nothing of material value, you somehow felt obligated to present to him your utmost appreciation for his generosity. It was an ingrained and practiced habit that consumed you until you started to focus more on the man himself.

You remember feeling oddly familiar with him - something about his voice perhaps? Or the way in which he walked and presented himself? Whatever it was, it triggered something from you, a deep, visceral response that made your stomach grow heavy with lead and your palms begin to sweat. And the more you tried to identify the specifics of your sudden upheaval, bringing it to the forefront of your attention, the heavier the response became and the more panicked you began to feel. Dread crept up your back and nestled into your shoulder whenever you thought about him. Something about trying to remember him made you feel … terrified. There was simply no other word to describe it. He terrified you. You just couldn’t understand why.

You were stuck at a crossroads. A part of you wanted to find the man and personally thank him for everything, to pay forward his kindness using gestures of companionship and see how far one could push this unique experience. The other part of you never wanted to meet the man ever again, demanding you flee at once and never looked back. Each road pulled at you, neither one able to one-up the other in strength and appeal thus leaving you at an uncomfortable, pointed balance. You rub your face with your hands, sighing as you tried to sway yourself to make a decision. You wished you were back asleep.

Nothing offered itself as assistance to your plea as you paced the barn and with no other option, you relented your fruitless battle and walked out into the night. Whatever will happen, will happen - whether that be you see him again or you finally manage to escape the corn-maze, you were going to meet it head-on regardless. 

You stood on the border of the clearing between the barn safety and the yellow ocean, gazing into the sweet abyss that had been devouring you for so long. You wanted to stay at the barn, at the only sign of land where you could not drown. But you remembered his warning and with a heavy sigh you set off. Without looking back you stepped out into the field, casting yourself once more off to sea, letting go of the red barn and allowing the wind to swallow you whole and carry you to wherever it wished. However, you had only been walking for a few minutes before you heard the heavy panting of the dog behind you. So this is what has been decided. No fighting it, no running.

“Hello again.” You stopped and breathed in, gathering your confidence in the face of the beast, willing yourself not to give in to the unjustified fear.  You had no reason to be so afraid, he had done nothing to you. Not yet. “I was hoping I’d find you again.” Your voice was calmer, collecting itself in idle conversation. You slowly, careful of quick movement so as not to frighten him or yourself, roll your head around your position, trying to spot any sign of the man hiding away. “I wanted to thank you for your generosity.”

“Did you sleep?” The man answered almost immediately, somewhat throwing you off balance. From how reserved and mild he was during the previous encounter you were sure you’d have to sweet talk him a little more to get him to open up. But his eagerness was not unwelcomed and you gave yourself over to talking.

“I did. On the hay pile in the barn. It was…” You paused from a moment, all cylinders in your brain firing in an attempt to find the appropriate word to describe your rest, “...great, I suppose.” At this he paused, probably to take in your response and work out a retort. In the silence something stirred, curling itself into your already weak stomach. You shooed it away and willed him to speak.

“Donny always liked the hay. It makes a good bed.” He said finally, drawing your mind away from the coldness in your palms and to his voice. You tilt your head at his mention of ‘Donny’. Was he referring to the same pig from the other night? Or in some weird way was he calling you ‘Donny’? For now you let the confusion slide and instead pushed on with the discussion.

“Do you not sleep?” You asked, your head continuing to timidly scan your surroundings. If he was opposed to your efforts to locate him, the man did not show it and without him actively stopping you, you endured without complaint. You practically heard the man shrug.

“Don’t try to.” He mumbled halfheartedly. 

“It's because you’re stuck, like me. Right?” His perplexed quiet was enough of an indicator for you to example yourself. “I mean, you’re stuck here in this corn field. Just like me. I may not know exactly how long I have been here but I know it’s been a while.” You look down at your hands, fingernails dirty from stains you could not remember getting. “I’ve been walking through this field forever and yet I never reach a fence. Or a house. Or anything.” Speaking your fears into life was somewhat cathartic for you, reaching out to this strange person with a hand trembling and unsure made you hope beyond reason that he could sympathize with your plea. To be human and experience and understand the toils of another as if they were your own. You lifted your eyes to the corn and towards the position where you guessed him to be. You smiled, lips chapped and cracking from the stretch but persevering regardless. It hurt you to grin, a gesture you had not partaken in for so long that you had almost forgotten how to even do it. You hoped that it at least looked more sincere than it felt.

“You are stuck.” The man replied in his ever gruff and rocky voice, like stones crashing around in an engine. “I am stuck sometimes. The corn is like mud. It sinks.” 

“Sometimes?” You inquire, an eyebrow lifting as your interest peaked. He grunted, sounding as if nodding with force.

“I can leave only when Boy is called. Called by the spider in the sky.” Suddenly, you jumped and gasped loudly.

“You know about that thing!?” You twirl on your feet, spinning around the corn looking for any hint of the man. Your eyes were ablaze with glory, ironic relief washing over your body at his words. Here you found another lost soul. Another person who could feel the sky pulsing and eating. Someone who knew that there was more to this world than just psycho killers wielding axes. “I thought I was the only one who could sense it! No one else at the campfire believed me when I said there was something up there.” Your victory waned at the mention of the campfire. Your smiling dwindled and your movement stopped, eyes clouded and downcast. The campfire? The others. When was the last time you had seen them? The last time you had seen anyone for the fact? You could barely remember their faces. They were all a blur like mist on a foggy bathroom mirror, there were faces but no details. Names but no meaning. You suddenly felt very lonely and longed to go back to that horrible campfire with those equally horrible people. 

A most nasty habit that people had - the want to flock together like sheep. Though to be with people irked you, riding up with an ill-fitting pair of jeans on tender skin, there was no denying that your heart ached when it realized it was alone. You always said you liked being alone but you always hated being lonely.

“Will you walk with me?” Your voice was distant as your thoughts drifted back to the people waiting at the campfire, your tongue moving before your mind would react. “Will you walk with me to the fence?” In your stupor, the man’s reaction to your request went unnoticed. He was shocked, gawking at you with wide, disbelieving eyes and his mouth agape. He examined you from head to toe, tearing you apart with suspicious eyes, trying to uncover if you were attempting to hurt him or not. Was this some kind of joke? Were you going to laugh at him? You knew that there was no real fence, no true boundary to this place, and yet you wanted to exhaust yourself trying to find it? He was baffled by your ignorant persistence and resorted to studying you harder for any cracks in your outward appearance. Where he expected to find half-hidden malice, he only saw sadness. You were sad, he knew what it looked like on people. And it wasn’t fake sadness either, not the kind that people on the T.V wore when something bad happened. Yours was real, he could smell it. 

“I will walk with you. To the fence.” The man replied softly, speaking at a volume that was tentative and hesitant, a part of him still remaining apprehensive to your next actions. You raise your head at his confirmation, a glimmer of your former smile returning to your lips.

“Thank you.” You lowered your head in a meager bow and after a moment debating whether to let him lead or you, you walked off in a direction you presumed to be forward with the man setting off behind you.

All through the walk you racked your brain from conversation topics; lovely weather we are having? What do you think someone would do with all this corn? There were so many different options to choose from yet each fell flat when pitted against possibility. Try as you might, you just could not think of anything to say. It also did not help that that horrible, foreboding feeling had followed you out there, trailing you like a dark cloud. With the man so close your familiar fear kicked itself into overdrive. There was just something so recognizable about him, something dreadful and vile. But what? What about him had spooked you to this extent? Sure, his voice was raspy and congested and his breathing was that of a sleeping beast, but his words and the soft tones he used were all of that of a boy. A simple youth who bled this pure form of compassion and slowness. Such a contradicting feeling he gave off, to be the reason you wanted to flee yet drawing you in with a need to know more about him. You yearned for the talking of frivolous topics to distract you from the gnawing panic that resided in your stomach but the rivers ran dry of inspiration and you were left to walk in pitiful, heavy silence.   

In one last, desperate grab at distraction, you started to pay attention to his footsteps, a task made easier in the barren landscape of only corn and wind. His pace was loud and large, landing with each step in a heavy stomp. He must be very tall, you supposed. Or very big. The weight of the sound, after being taken into consideration, was not deemed as important to focus on when you noticed the odd rhythm he had. Instead of a consistent 1-2 pace that most people would have, the man had a rather jolted one. The space between thumps were uneven and gave you the impression that he had some kind of limp or poor leg. In a strange sense it almost sounded like a heartbeat.

Something flickered at your revelation. It was such a unique walk pattern that it triggered a memory in you, a vision of running and hiding away and the sound of a chainsaw. The fear flexed itself in your stomach. It did not help when the breeze shifted and you managed to catch a whiff of that previously undisclosed smell. His smell. The coppery smell of fresh blood. The coldness spread further, you mind reeling as the fingers of your panic threatened to grab you. You remember that walk. You remember that breathing. You remember that heartbeat.

You squeeze your eyes shut, mentally willing your body to calm down and stop racing to conclusions. Stop thinking about him. Stop thinking about the dog. Stop- 

You come to a sudden stop when you realize that he was not behind you anymore. Snapping your eyes open you were greeted by the sight of the dilapidated red barn and its open doors. Disappointment mingled with your fluttering chest, terror mixing well with despair in a deadly concoction.

“I really am stuck here.” You mumbled to yourself, hands falling from your arms to hang useless at your sides. “There really is no way out.”

“Not unless Donny is called.” The man, oblivious to your dawning anguish, muttered from somewhere to your right. Though you knew that ultimately that you were never going to find a way out of the fields and that even thinking about it would only cause misery, that moment when your feeble hope died you were sure your heart had stopped altogether. This was your eternity now, to barely be alive when drowned in yellow. Nothing to run for, nothing to fight towards. Listlessly you feel your body regain itself, standing tall at the edge of everything. If this was all there is, then what are you scared for?

“Donny can stay at the barn again. Boy will be here soon. Stay. Sleep and I will come back.” You heard the man shuffle to leave and before you could even think you shouted at him.

“Wait!” The world shook in the wake of your outburst, such volumes never being reached in this sea of feigned tranquility. “Wait please.” You exhale, finally feeling the full weight of the fear you had tried so fiercely to run away from, settle mercilessly upon your chest. “I know you.” With your eyes looking at the ground, you turn your head over your shoulder towards the man. “I know you so there is no need to hide anymore. If I am to be stuck here with you, I want to see your face. And know your name.” He did not respond right away, a part of you suspecting that he had simply left before you had even asked your question, unaware of everything. But you could still hear his breathing, coming now in hollow gasps. 

“No one likes my face.” He answered, voice surprisingly dangerous and bitter. You did not shy away from him however, did not give into the rising uneasiness of the mood. 

“But I already know you. And I don't remember not liking it.” That was a blatant lie and you wished that he could not see through it. There was a growl.

“No! No! No one likes my face!” He was shouting, angry words springing forth from the same person who was so soft spoken just moments before. You turn more of your attention to him, your eyes still lowered allowing yourself one last opportunity to back down. You did not. There was nothing for you to go to if you backed off now.

“Please.” You knew he could not resist your request when you presented it in such a placid manner. There was a shout, an explosion of noise and violence and you jumped at its severity. You heard the rush of footsteps leap out from the field as a shadow loomed itself over you.

“Look! Look Donny! Look at Max and laugh at him!” He was right behind you, his hot breath bursting against your neck in towering waves. Without giving yourself the chance to consider anything, you spun around and came face to face with the fuming dog, his teeth bared.

At the sight of him, your knees went weak and the floor beneath you fell away. You wanted to scream, to run away, to give in to horror and fear and go hysterical and wild. He was hideous, truly monstrous and hardly even a man at all. It was flesh at war, torrents of skin fighting itself as it connected head to neck and neck to torso. Beneath that storm was a face pushing through, with a mouth wide, teeth crooked and eyes like fiery pinpricks in the dark. He was awful to look at yet your eyes could not be torn away. He stole from you your sanity with nothing but the mere look of his being alone. 

Though your mind clouded with uncontrollable panic and fear, you could still recognize the man, his face unforgettable. It was him alright, no more denying it, no more pushing it away. You had known it was him from that very first encounter yet foolishly you had rejected everything, ignoring every piece of awful evidence that had sat itself right in front of your nose, all in favor of self desires. You wanted him to be someone else. You needed this strange man to be a good person whom you could hold on to, you could reach out for. But as the cruelest twist of fate, he was the complete opposite.

It was the Hillbilly - the monster who hunted you and the others with that wicked chainsaw of his. Nothing but a beast made of only the poorly defined form of man, a shape with no purpose other than to kill. You knew it was him from the moment you heard him behind you, breathing like that roaring engine he always did. You never forget the sound of the dog trying to kill you. You had been weak, allowing him to get close enough to you to practically have his bloody hands wrapped around your throat. 

You wanted to run, to flee and try to live just that little bit longer - give your body and soul over to inherent prey instinct. But as you looked into those blazing, hateful eyes framed by grotesque threads of dirty skin, you found that all you could do was wait. It was like facing off against an oncoming train, reckless and unstoppable coming at you at full-speed fuming with noxious smoke. You had seen this movie before and knew how the story ended - he would kill you and leave your body for the rats. 

Every fiber of your being screamed at you to leap out of its path but something stronger and more persistent held you tightly in place. He was not moving so why should you? He was not attacking so why should you run? He was talking so why should you not listen? Once again you clung to the belief that if this man was able to talk and reason then there was something human inside him, something that could be grasped and felt. Regardless of all logic and reason you sought that something and waited for him to offer you another chance to try to dig it out of him. If this was the end, then you would not die with your back turned.

“Hello Max.” You said, your voice a quiet light in the gloomy atmosphere. You saw him visibly retract at your calmness, his eyes darting around your whole body in search of something, anything that would indicate malcontent. “It's nice to meet you.” His stupor lasted only a second longer before he roared and lunged forward, hand twitching around the handle of his chainsaw.

“Donny always laughs! Donny is always scared!” He reeled his head back violently, stretching up into his full, powerful height. You sank into his shadow but did not waver in your stance. Come rain or ruin, you could not find the effort to move your feet even an inch. “Everyone is meant to be laughing at Max! Everyone is meant to be scared!” He brought his attention back down to you and you shuddered under his glare, trying beyond anything not to flinch in his presence. “Donny is always scared!” 

You waited a moment, allowing for his fuming words to cool and settle in the night air before answering with yours. “Donny is scared. They are terrified.” Max tilted his chin inwards to his chest, looking as if preparing to attack, a deep gnarl resonating forth from somewhere in that twisted body. “But not of you, Max. Donny is scared of your anger. Of your…” Your eyes drift to the chainsaw clenched tightly in his hand. Max’s own attention followed yours and for an instant you saw him relent his hold on the weapon. He shot his head back to you, had he had eyebrows they would have been furrowed with muddled anger. 

“Donny lies! You lie! You laugh!”

“But Donny is not.” You retorted, your tone never raising above a mellow reassurance. You closed your eyes for a moment, letting the blackness offer you strength as your confidence crumbled. You opened them again and, with a slow, soothing exhale, let your lips extend into the faintest of smiles. You gave him everything in that moment, putting forward all compassion and comfort you could muster into your eyes and smile for him to consume and judge. “I am not lying. And I am not laughing at you Max.” This earned a slack-jawed, wide-eyed expression from the man, his emotions, though messy under his tangled flesh, portraying clearly on his face. He was completely and utterly astonished. 

You watched as he took in your coolness, sucking from you all the serene and hushed energy you had given. He shuts his eyes, slamming his jaw closed and shaking his head vigorously as if trying to shake something loose. He roared again, a most horrible sound that carried for miles in every direction across the field, making the corn around you shake from the sheer magnitude of his power. He raised his empty hand and started pounding his fist into his ear, screaming louder and harder with each contact. You were startled by his reaction and by the way he jumped so quickly from seeking your comfort to out-right rage. Without thinking you step closer to him, a hesitant hand lifting to reach for him. 

Suddenly he jumped forward at you, coming so close that you can feel the heat of his anger eminent off his heaving chest. He stands over you, his fist, with knuckles gone white from stress, moves dangerously closer to your face and hovers there as if debating whether to choke you or not. You subconsciously gulp and take in your final breath, sure that this was the last moments of your pitiful life. You look up at him, his eyes bursting with something between uncontrollable hatefulness and a desperate pity. He tightens his fist and it shakes from the sheer force.

“Donny stays in the barn. Stays in the pen. Until Boy is gone.” His words were more rough, coming from behind gritted teeth. You nod up at him.

“Of course.” Max runs his eyes once more over you body, scanning every corner of your face for anything that he could use to call your bluff but finds nothing. With one final snarl he pulled himself away and disappeared into the corn, leaving behind no reminisce of himself to prove that all that happened was real. In the silence that filled the gap he had left you felt the universe cave in. Conflicting voices erupted in your head, your trembling legs buckling under your body weight. You felt cold and despondent, eyes lingering on the spot where he departed. While your mind wanted to stay and think, to mull over everything until you had worked yourself into a vile panic attack, exhaustion beckoned and you submissively and gratefully followed. Walking inside the barn you find your hay pile and within minutes you were floating away to the safe land of earth and nature. 

#dbd imagines #dbd fic #dbd the hillbilly #dbd the hillbilly x reader #dbd max thompson jr #dbd max thompson jr x reader #dbd x reader #long post #waiting for a superman

[hanawrites404]

Wynne's Diary - Nature with Muriel

"Muriel?"

"Hmm?"

"Can we go outside for a bit? I miss seeing nature from close" I requested him as I played with his raven hair, his head resting on my lap.

"Sure..........you can go out if you want to" He leaned onto my touch and shyly kissed my hand.

"I said 'we', Muriel. It means both of us. Along with our pets of course" I looked at him.

"I-I mean.......yes absolutely.........It surely has been a while since.........we visited the forest before we......you know" he blushed a slight pink.

"Before we got married, had a nice and long honeymoon and came back home being exhausted yet satisfied as fuck" I completed his sentence.

"Y-Yes" he blushed even more.

"So when is a better time than right now? The downpour must have ended so now we can enjoy the forest even more. A wet and misty atmosphere is something I really enjoy you know" I rubbed his bare chest.

"Yes....even I wanted to spend some time with you outside.........Inanna too wants to visit" Muriel told me.

"And so does Ichi" I eyed my turtle who was peacefully sleeping on Inanna at the corner.

"So what are we waiting for? Let's go. I'm really anticipating to see the new flowers and baby plants which recently came up" I told him.

Muriel nodded and sat straight up from my lap. I stretched my legs a bit and got off the bed.

"Ichi come on, let's make you soak some sunlight" I picked him up and kept him on my head as usual.

"Inanna you too come with us. You could use a nice walk" I petted her and she happily obliged with me, licking my hand.

I chuckled and scratched her neck.

"Good girl. Go to Papa now, I'll join you soon"

Inanna obeyed me and went away. I then quickly wear my shoes.

Muriel was standing near the door waiting for me. As soon as I came close to him, he blushed, and then offered me his hand to hold onto while turning his head away from me.

My lips curved into a smile and I cupped his face with my hand and turned it towards me. His cheeks were dusted pink and he still wasn't looking at me.

I shook my head with a chuckle.

"Ichi, lift me up please"

Ichigo does so and he makes me float in the air. I then used this to my advantage and I flew up to Muriel's height and kissed his lips passionately.

I felt him gasp but then he moaned in the kiss and pulled me closer by my waist and head, kissing me back.

I then pulled away while panting softly. Muriel's cheeks were now red and he looked so goddamn cute from close that I couldn't help but peck his lips once more.

"Ready to go, Big Boy?" I teased him.

"D-Don't call me that" He blushed more and pouted.

"Alright fine" I got down and opened the door to welcome the nature outside with open arms.

I led out a sigh of relief when I felt some leftover raindrops falling on my skin and the sun shining above, showering its sunlight through the canopy of the forest.

The weather was pleasant and cosy. I was having fun outside walking on the wet ground, the earthy smell along with the scent of wet leaves hitting my nose.

"You like it here Ichi? The weather is quite nice today" I rubbed his head with my finger and I felt him licking it.

"I'm glad that you feel the same way. And actually thinking about you, the strawberry plant I grew nearby must have ripened its fruits. So why not check on them soon?"

Ichigo squeaked with delight and I giggled.

"Then we shall go and pick some of the juicy strawberries for our dear Ichigo" I rubbed his head once more.

"Oh my? Where is Muriel?" I had realised that I had forgotten about him as soon as I placed my foot outside the house. I turned to look for him and fortunately he was not that far. He was just feeding his chickens as usual.

I then noticed that one of the baby chicks separated itself from the flock and came running to me with its tiny feet, tweeting at me cutely.

I blushed at its adorable nature and picked it up in my hand. The chick made itself comfy in my hands and chirped again.

God this fluffy baby bird was already making my heart melt......

I petted its head gently carefully as to not squish its head with my fingers. The chick settled down on my hand and enjoyed the affection, a small smile forming on my lips.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Muriel staring at me. But as soon as our eyes met, he averted his gaze and coughed awkwardly.

I chuckled and shook my head. I then approached him with the chick and crouched down with him in front of the chickens.

"They sure have grown in number. I'm happy to have so many of them. The more, the merrier"

"Yeah" He replied.

"The baby chicks which recently hatched up are so so adorable. Each of them are little balls of sunshine" I beamed.

"They sure are" he too smiled a bit as he petted one of them.

"And talking about little balls of sunshine, I was thinking about something lately" I started.

I really wanted to talk to him about this but never got the courage to. Now was definitely not the best time but I really wanted to get it off my chest.

"What is it?" Muriel asked me back.

"W-What if......You know......I......Oh god how do I say this?" I placed my hand on my forehead from frustration.

"It's ok. Take your time Wynne. Don't rush yourself" Muriel assured and I smiled weakly at him.

"Thanks......" I sighed.

Maybe I was finally ready to tell him now.

"You see.....I........I was thinking about our children"

Muriel tensed up a bit and I was actually expecting him to be. Being a parent was no joke after all.

"O-Our children..........what about them?" He asked me, concern in his tone.

"I......I am scared a bit. I think I will mess up again like I did before" I was dissapointed in myself.

"W-What are you talking about? Sonia was born as a healthy child" Muriel defended.

"Nothing was wrong with Sonia. The fault was on me instead. You do remember how I passed out in the middle of the delivery right? Sonia was really lucky to come out safely otherwise she was going to die even if she had a good health condition" I explained.

"I-I see.......yes.....I.....I do remember you getting unconscious while you were giving birth. Not going to lie but......I was really worried about you at that time" Muriel replied.

"Yeah........... Which is why I'm concerned about the future. The fact that they are twins this time would make the situation even more difficult than the previous one. What if.......what if they die because of me?.........Both of them?" I got paranoid and felt my stomach drop from the anxiety.

"H-Hey! D-Don't...... Don't think of it like that. You are a strong woman. You will be able to handle this" he cupped my face and locked his emerald eyes with mine. Concern and worry reflecting in his gaze.

"I......I don't know Muriel. I am not so sure about myself"

"But I am"

"What?.......Why?" I looked up at him. How can he have so much faith on a weak and hopeless person like me?

"It's because I......I have seen you handle many tangled situations with ease...........You..........protected the city and..........saved the people with your immense bravery and strength.........It's the thing I really........admire in you"

He then placed his hand on my stomach.

The pain of giving birth is something which I might never be able to understand.........but I know that it must have been difficult for you because it was your first time...........so give yourself some time to relax and.......take a break if you want to and..........and everything will turn out to be fine............."

"And what if it does not work fine?" I asked him curiously.

"Then I will comfort you as best as I cam.......and also take care of you if anything wrong happens...............I promise you that I would always protect you Wynne because I..............I love you..........I love you very much".

It was my cheeks' turn to heat up from his confession as I replied.

"I.........I love you too Muriel. Thank you for reassuring me. I feel much better now" I sighed from relief and smiled at him.

He blushed a deep red and rubbed his neck while looking away.

"Of course. Don't mention it" he replied.

I then smiled wider and hugged him tight, burying my head in his chest. I felt his body tensing up a bit but soon he relaxed under my hug and wrapped his arms around me, returning the embrace.

He kept kissing my head and playing with my stands of hair which made me giggle everytime. He really liked running his thick fingers through my hair, you see. One of the reasons why I prefer his hair massaging a lot.

We stayed like this for a couple of minutes, until Muriel asked me something.

"U-Ummmm.....Wynne?"

"Yeah?"

"I.......I wanted to take you somewhere......D-Do you mind coming with me?" He asked timidly.

"Oh of course I would love to join you. Lead the way Muriel" I took his hand.

He flushed pink once more but started walking without saying anything else. Inanna stayed behind to look after the chickens and so did Ichigo as he slipped off my head and joined Inanna.

I was already bubbling with curiosity the whole time. Where was he really going to take me? If I remember correctly, I knew the major areas of the forest, so what place was he talking about which I haven't seen yet and never knew of?

We did not take much time to arrive as Muriel stopped after a couple of minutes walking, but for some reason he didn't let me look at the place as he placed his big hand over my eyes, shutting them close.

"Don't look......!!" He ordered me.

I was confused as to why was he doing so but then I shrugged and let him cover my eyes.

He then takes hold of both of my hands and guides me forward. The aura of this place was surely different from what I usually sensed when I visited the forest. It felt more magical, heavenly and utopian. In simple words it felt very unrealistic however was present right in front of my eyes.

Muriel uncovered my eyes after settling me down on a rock and dipping my feet into the cool water after removing my shoes. I shivered from the feeling of pleasantly cold water wetting my warm feet which made me open my eyes.

I was amazed to see a small pond filled with crystal blue gleaming water. Many types of herbs and shrubs growing along its borders. It was similar to the enchanted lake I used to read about in stories.

"Muriel I.......This is beauteous. Where did you find this place??" I asked him, tugging onto his pants desperately like an excited child.

"I found this place by myself when I was looking for herbs.........and I thought that you would like it so.............I had saved it for showing this to you after our honeymoon........" He told me.

"Oh God, Muriel you are such a sweetheart" I cupped his face and kissed him passionately. I could literally feel his cheeks burning but I kept kissing him affectionately, expressing all my love for him in the form of kisses.

Slowly I pulled away and kissed his forehead, then his nose and then his lips. I then looked at my work and found out that Muriel had literally turned into a bright red apple.

I chuckled at his cute expression and leaned my forehead onto his.

"I love you so much Muriel. I truly do" I pecked his lips one more time.

"Gods I.......I.......I love you too Wynne.......Please be by my side always.............I cannot live without you" He took both of my hands which were cupping his face and kissed them.

"Don't worry......I will always be with you. No matter whatever happens to me" I then embraced him close to my chest as I ran my fingers through his raven black hair.

The butterflies of different kinds surrounded both of us as we held one another close, feeling each other's warmth and succumbing into the comfort and relief.......

Nature surely was blessing both of us today.......Is it because she missed me? Or is she welcoming the future generation residing in my womb?...........

Or Maybe both? But only God knows that.

The end..........

#the arcana #the arcana game #arcana mc #fan apprentice #wynne toprak #arcana apprentice #arcana oc #the arcana muriel #muriel of the kokhuri #muriel x mc #muriel x oc #the arcana fanfic #31daysofarcana #what I wrote

[queenie2297]

A PEST NO MORE

A Hellsing Smut

Warning: non-con (rape), blood, gore, death

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.

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Millenium kidnapped you, a young female, just barely eighteen, to train as a soldier to attack London. That’s all they told you. Familiar nazi party symbols were littered everywhere, bringing back memories to school and learning about the second world war.

The day brought weapons training, combat fighting and assessments.

Night brought something sinister. People would disappear, never to return to their bed in the barracks.

The night your bunkmate, Nami, went missing was when you really started to worry.

One by one, the kids who lived in the barracks were picked off, leaving you to be one of the few that were left. Rumors flew, but the commanders blew them off saying they were assigning them to different bases after they passed training, and most of them believed it, but you had other thoughts that you did not dare speak out about. So, you kept living like nothing was wrong or out of the ordinary.

But then the day came when there was a raid on base. You were shut up in the barracks, alone, hearing gunfire and explosions that seemed to be just outside the door. You took a few deep breaths and then sighed heavily wanting the raid to be over so you can go to bed.

After what seemed like hours, the halls went quiet, almost too quiet. No one had bothered to come to do a welfare check on you, so you made the decision to investigate.

It was a bad idea.

The moment you opened the barrack door, the smell of death was everywhere. Blood coated every inch of the walls. You covered your mouth, holding back a scream; or holding back vomit, you weren’t sure. You saw your commander lay severely mangled at your feet, and not too far away, your bunkmate, Nami, in the same condition.

“Nami!” you shouted, as if calling her name would bring her back to life. You held her bloody hand, not noticing that in her death, she was baring sharp teeth, sharper than any normal human.

A dark chuckle frightened you, causing you to stiffen your body. A red mist surrounded you and a disembodied voice filled the hallway.

“It seems I have missed a little vermin.” a male voice said. A tall, pale man dressed in red stood approximately five feet away from her, a gun locked and loaded onto her head.

You made the feeble attempt to shield yourself, knowing full well that it would do nothing in your favor.

You managed to lock eyes with the man and you noticed that his jet black hair was covering a pair of red eyes.

Red eyes?

The man paused for a second, lowering his gun and looking at you closer.

“How amusing. You’re not like them.”

You lowered your hands.

“What?”

His looming figure moved closer to you, his crimson eyes not leaving your (E/C) ones.

“Stand up.” He commanded.

You slowly obliged but still on guard. The man still had to bend down at the waist to meet your eyes.

“Your name?” the man said.

“(Y/N)” you responded. “Uhm.. what did you mean by ‘i’m not like the rest-”

You were cut off when the man’s lanky, but strong hand grabbed your chin and squeezed, revealing your non-sharp, plainly human teeth.

The man chuckled.

“Hmm. Just as I had thought. You’re the only one left. Do you know what these Nazi freaks were going to do to you?”

You shook your head.

“Look around you, girl. Look at your friends teeth.” He allowed you a moment to examine the teeth of Nami, accidentally pricking your finger on one of her canines. You gasped and heard a gutteral noise come from the man’s chest.

“They’re sharp!”

The man’s voice was deep, seductive and right in your ear.

“They’re all vampires, my dear. Vermin. Lucky you. You were saved from eternal damnation.”

Your eyes widened. It all made sense.

Your breath trembled as you stared down at your finger, which now had a pearl of crimson pooling at the tip of it. A cool hand wrapped around your wrist, not forcefully, but gently, pulling you to turn toward the man. That’s when you noticed his uniquely sharp teeth and you pulled away in fear.

“Do not be afraid, girl. Yes. Your thoughts are correct. I am a vampire as well. However, I was just going to ask you if you would like me to fix your wound.”

“W-what?”

“Give me your hand.”

“Tell me your name first.” you said, with an arch to your eyebrow.

The man chuckled darkly. “Alucard.” he said as he offered you an outstretched, white gloved hand.

“Alucard.” You repeated, his name falling off your lips just right. Your body was forcing you to take his hand before your mind had a second to possibly retreat..scream….run… anything, really. Alucard knelt down, his hand once again took yours gently and put your finger to his lips. His tongue grazed the flesh on your finger and you gasped softly. Your heart pounded in your ears.

It all seemed like an eternity, when in reality, this interaction was a couple of seconds. You were constantly on guard. His hand released yours and your hand fell back to its side.

“Take a look, girl.” Alucard said, gesturing toward your hand.

Your eyes met your finger, but you were surprised when you noticed that your finger was cleared of blood and the puncture wound was closed up.

You smiled softly.

“Thank you.”

Alucard’s back was to you and he was already walking away.

“Come, girl.”

Your feet moved before your body knew what was even going on. It felt like some unseen force was pushing you.

“O-oh.”

Alucard was silent, walking at a pace that you had to jog to keep up with.

“Alucard-” you said, stopping yourself. A bunch of lights of cars and helicopters surrounded the two of you.

A woman with long blonde hair stepped out of one of the cars. She seemed angry.

“Alucard! What is the meaning of this? I told you to kill everyone in that building.”

“If I may interrupt, master, you said to kill every vampire in that building. This one-” He said, grabbing your arm and hauling you forward, “was the one stray human that I found.”

The woman was just as entrancing as Alucard. Her eyes were the kind of blue that was striking and could pierce the soul of anyone she came into contact with.

The woman looked her up and down and then glanced sideways at Alucard.

“So, she’s human?”

“Yes. though she was most likely next to become one of those vermin that I slaughtered.”

The woman’s gaze softened as she then acknowledged you.

“I’m Sir Integra Hellsing. You’ve already met my servant Alucard.”

“I-I’m (Y/N).”

Integra smiled softly.

“Come. I’m sure you’ve had enough excitement for one day and I am sure you’re tired. I can take you back to Hellsing Manor so you can rest up.”

“Sir Integra, I can take her.” Alucard spoke from the shadows. “I can get her there much faster and get her settled.”

Integra arched a brow and paused.

“Alright. But no funny business. I know how you are with human females.” She turned on her heels and walked back to her car, leaving you to turn and walk in the direction you heard Alucard’s voice in the shadows. His pale skin and looming red eyes uncovered him from the shadows, his frame leaning against a tree.

“Come.” he said, demandingly.

Once again, you felt a force pushing you toward him, almost slamming your petite frame into his tall, lanky one. Your hands wrapped around his waist, drinking in his smell. He smelled delightfully of cinnamon. His arms wrapped protectively around you, and then there was mist.

*************

You had squeezed your eyes shut, so you didn’t see the tree line you were standing at disappear around you and was replaced with a warm, dimly lit bedroom; the light coming from a crackling fireplace and a lamp in one corner of the room.

You still clung onto Alucard as you opened your eyes. A small “woah” left your lips. Your eyes scanned the room and then up at Alucard, who was looking down at you, watching your reaction. Your cheeks flushed and you stepped back from him, clearing your throat.

“Thanks again...Alucard.”

“It was no problem. No problem at all.” he purred. “Get some rest.”

And with that, he had disappeared.

You felt oddly empty after Alucard left. You had just met him, yet you felt some sort of a bond connecting the two of you.

A human and a vampire. You scoffed to yourself. It’s just like the movies.

The room you were in was like something out of a fantasy storybook. There was a large fireplace with crackling wood, a golden chandelier on the ceiling in which the light from the fire was dancing on its polished greatness. Pictures lined the walls of people that she didn’t know until her eyes fell on one. It looked like Sir Integra, but pint sized. Yes, it was labeled Integra Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing. She had to have been only eleven in that picture. You thought as your eyes wandered to the canopy bed with red silk sheets.

You groaned softly, finally realizing you needed some sleep and shuffled toward the bed. You shed off your boots, army pants and black T-shirt, leaving you only in your undergarments for the night. As soon as you crawled under the sheets and your head hit the pillow, you were fast asleep.

But not for long.

****************

The fire lighting the room mysteriously blew out, leaving the only light in the room to be the dim lamp in the far corner. While you were asleep, the room grew cold and you subconsciously curled into the fetal position under the covers.

Your dreams started out lively, but quickly turned into a nightmare.

You were back at the base, your friends and commanders surrounding you, licking their lips and their sharp canines, snarling. Two of them grabbed your arms and forcefully shoved you to your knees as you finally recognized Alucard in the crowd, who stepped forward, laughing darkly.

“Let me show you what life would have been like if things had ended differently.”

You struggled against the grip of the two soldiers to get away, but they were much stronger than you. Without warning, Alucard ripped the fabric of your shirt in the way of your bare flesh on your neck and shoulder and bit down. Hard. You tried to scream but nothing came out.

Shush little one. I will show you the way of the devil.

His laughter ran in your ears as you woke up, bolting upright. You felt the burning sensation on your neck, but there was no blood or discernable wound.

You whimpered in pain and rubbed at the area until the burning subsided.

It was now dawn, so you decided that it was best that it was time to get up. As you stood up, a voice in your mind frightened you.

“Until the evening, (Y/N).”

It was Alucard.

Your heart pounded harshly in your chest as you quickly got dressed and made your way out the room. It was still early in the morning, so no one was roaming the halls as of yet in Hellsing Manor. You had to find Alucard.

A trail of red mist appeared before you and low whispers and hissing noises filled your ears.

Your legs carried you to the deepest darkest parts of the manor, down into the dungeon, where it was darker than you had ever seen before. It was quite eerie.

“Excuse me, Miss. (Y/N).”

You whirled around to find an older man with a monocle calmly smiling at you.

“Forgive me for frightening you. I am Walter, the butler in this manor. Come, you seem to be lost.”

“I-I-” you stammered. “Do you see this red mist?”

“I’m afraid I don’t know what you are talking about, Miss. (Y/N). Do you care for some breakfast?”

“I-” you shook your head free of the whispers. “Yes- that would be lovely. Thank you.”

Walter led you out of the room and back into the main corridors of the manor.

**********************

The next night, you had another dream accompanied by Alucard.

There was red mist, and the shadow of his figure stood right in front of you.

“That damn butler is ruining all of my fun with you. You so easily responded to my call, girl.”

This encounter felt so real, like it was really happening.

“Am I dreaming?”

“Yes.”

There was silence and the only thing you could hear was your own breath. In an instant, Alucard was behind you and sniffing into the nape of your neck. You gasped but couldn’t move. He was holding you down somehow.

“Your blood tasted so sweet on my tongue the other night that I have not been able to take my mind off of you.” he chuckled. Your heart beat in your ears and your stomach turned into knots and you wanted to run away, but you were still paralyzed.

“Tell me, (Y/N). Are you afraid of me? Because you should be.” Alucard whispered into your ear.

“What are you doing to me?” you whimpered.

“Answer my question.” he growled.

You paused, Alucard’s warm breath tickling your ear.

You furrowed your brow and bravely shook your head.

Alucard roared with laughter.

“How amusing. A puny little human unafraid of a vampire who can suck her dry in an instant. I’ll show you to be afraid of me.”

He growled, taking your shoulders and slamming them against a wall so hard that it knocked the wind out of you. His hands then snaked down your torso, expertly finding the nipples on your perky breasts and gave them a quick flick before hoisting you up by the buttocks, wrapping your legs around his waist. Your eyes were now level with his, your face red with trying to break free of his mystery hold he had on you.

Your body, while your head was swimming in dreamland, seemed to have a mind of its own. While you could not move in your dream, your hands were sensually exploring every part of your body. You wiggled and writhed at your own touch, as if someone else was doing this to you.

Finally, you broke the hold he had on you and your eyes flew open. Your body froze. Your heart beat twice as fast as it was supposed to, and two of your fingers were plunged deep into your slick folds. You pulled them out immediately, and while getting ready to wipe them clean on your pants, your hand flew up to your mouth and licked them spotless.

Alucard’s voice creeped into your head again.

Did you enjoy yourself, girl? Next time, look for it to be your reality.

You didn’t respond to him, but he knew you heard him just by the way your breathing hitched when he spoke.

You lay in your bed for the rest of the night, unable to sleep, staring at the ceiling and trying to control your trembling body.

************************

You didn’t come out of your room as dawn broke, and you refused breakfast. You didn’t want to have contact with anyone that day. You prefered to be alone with your thoughts.

You wanted to so badly know more about Alucard, while at the same time being terrified of him. You saw what he could do to mess with your mind and you could only imagine what he would do to you in the real world. You tried to make sense of the ache deep in your core that provided you discomfort for most of the day. You wanted him to touch you, in real life. You wanted him to fill you up, knocking the wind out of you with each thrust his cock made. You wanted to feel his sharp canines slowly graze across your collarbone.

You shook your head and sighed into your hands as you heard Alucard’s voice again.

Why did you not eat this morning?

You groaned, the ache in your belly tightening.

“I don’t feel well.” you responded plainly and flopped onto the red silk sheets of your bed.

Or maybe because I put the fear of the devil into you early this morning?

You whimpered softly.

“I-I don’t know if i’m fascinated with you or frightened of you. I need to figure it out.”

You enjoyed yourself last night didn’t you?

You blushed but didn’t respond.

While I may have influenced you by your mind, your body did the rest to itself.

Your eyes widened. So you touched yourself that night by your own free will!

“Oh.” you whispered. “Alucard?”

Hm?

“How can you control what I dream about? H-How do I feel so bound to you?”

Remember when I fixed your finger the night I found you? Your blood is now part of me and that’s how we’re connected.

“Can you read my thoughts?”

Yes.

Oh christ. He knows then. He knows how you yearn for him sexually.

Your face flushed an even harsher red than before.

“I’m sorry.” you muttered.

Alucard chuckled.

Such wanton thoughts coming from such a young girl.

You flipped onto your stomach and groaned into the silk sheets.

“Damnit.”

If you want me so badly as your thoughts seem to tell me, then come see me tonight. I’ll be waiting.

Your heart leapt up to your throat and you could hardly choke out a reply.

“Yes, Alucard.”

And then he was gone from your mind.

******************************

You paced your room for the remainder of the day, not allowing visitors or even Sir Integra to speak to you that day (much to her surprise). You were too busy in your own head and could not focus on much else. Your heart constantly felt like it was going to leap out of your chest and there were moments where you swore you were going to vomit up the contents of your stomach.

However, you held strong.

Nightfall came quicker than you had expected. Just when your small clock in your sleeping quarters struck eleven, you made your way to the door, not being able to wait much longer. Your hands shook as you reached for your door handle. When you slowly pulled open the door, you made sure no one was coming down the dark hallway. You suddenly felt Alucard’s presence within you once more. He said nothing, but there was a familiar red mist guiding you to his location.

You knew this encounter with the vampire was going to be different than the rest.

As you ventured down further and further into Hellsing Manor, it grew colder. In fact, it was so cold you could see your breath escaping your mouth.

Your arms instinctively wrapped around your body and your footsteps touched cobblestone, which made your steps echo louder than usual. You knew you were close when the red mist tapered out when you reached an old iron door with a latch.

You were about to reach to undo the latch but instead the door slowly swung open on its own.

Beyond the door was darkness.

Warm air encircled you, lifting the trembling feeling you once had. You took a deep breath and stepped beyond the threshold of the door and into the darkness, which you did not know you would not return from.

The door slammed behind you as soon as you stepped inside and the little light that you had from the glowing candles in the dungeon were gone. You could not see anything but you could sense that you were definitely not alone in this room. You knew that Alucard was somewhere in this darkness.

An invisible force grabbed your limbs and you were unable to move even a muscle while you felt Alucard’s tall, lanky body press against your back. His gloved hand grabbed a fistful of your hair and yanked sideways, exposing your neck to him.

You knew exactly what he wanted from you and it did not match what you had expected from him. Just as you were getting ready to cry out for help, you were suddenly rendered speechless. It was then you finally heard Alucard speak.

“Now, now. No need to scream. I’ll give you back your voice later when I want to hear your screams of pleasure.”

You could not move nor speak. You were helpless, meek prey for the monster behind you.

You closed your eyes even though the world around you was dark; until a sharp pain ran through your entire body, sending sparks of light into your vision. Words may have failed you, but that did not stop you from screaming in agony in the confines of your own head, even if Alucard could hear you. You fought against the restraints holding you down with no success. Alucard’s voice returned inside your head.

“How cute of you to try and break away at this point. There’s no turning back now.”

Your fighting got weaker as your blood was running thin and as one final plea, a squeak of protest escaped your lips, like a lion cub attempting to roar.

“This was to be your fate if you had stayed with Millennium. But now, you’ll be much stronger.”

The blur in your vision told you that you were going to pass out and you did not fight it. Your whole body slumped fully into Alucard’s and you could no longer hear his voice.

**********************************

The first thing you heard when you came to was the rocking of the bed and the sense of being sexually pleasured.

Then it was the feeling of warm breath on the nape of your neck and someone licking your wound clean.

When you opened your eyes, you saw the bare, pale body of Alucard curled over you.

Your mind was the last part of your body to regain full consciousness and Alucard knew right away by the mind link. It was at this point you knew what was going on.

He chuckled darkly.

“Ah, welcome back.”

He thrust his hips, rutting himself deeper inside of you. Your eyes rolled into the back of your head in response.

“You have awoken at the perfect time, my pet. We have just surpassed the painful part for you. Do you smell the blood?”

You raised an eyebrow for a moment, but then the stench of a broken hymen filled your nose, and it was particularly more powerful than you had remembered from previous menstrual blood. Your face furrowed in response.

“You-you bit me? Am I a-oh!” You seemed to involuntarily moan as you tried to speak.

“You are now a proper creature of the night. Not like the filth that those fucking nazi’s would make you to be.”

Pain shot through your body not only due to the penetration, but your throat burned and you felt as if there were thousands of spiders crawling all over you. You tried to wriggle away from Alucard, but his hands found your wrists and held them down, pinning you to the bed.

“Let me go!”

“I’m doing you a favor, making you the way you are. Saving you, of sorts.”

“I didn’t want to be a bloodsucker! Let me go!”

“Not a chance, girl.” Alucard smirked. His face was just inches from yours. His breath was cold, just like the rest of his body.

Then again, was my body just as cold as his?

His long, serpent-like tongue left sloppy trails up and down your neck as he continued to thrust sharply into you.

I’m between thrusts, he spoke to you once more.

“Once you have blood, you’ll think differently. Just a few drops will do for now.”

Alucard bit his wrist and a trail of crimson slowly crept down his arm.

“No!” You shouted and tried with a feeble attempt to break free from him, which of course failed.

The blood dropped first onto your breast, then another on your chin before Alucard forcibly shoved his lacerated wrist into your mouth, with no choice but to drink.

Your struggle suddenly stopped as the crimson hit your tongue.

Oh god, it’s so good. It’s making me feel warm again.

The warmth turned into a burn, like a fire blazing wildly. You bit your lower lip, forgetting that your canines were now sharper than any normal humans.

Alucard laughed wildly as he watched his new toy’s eyes turn the signature red color as his blood travelled through her system.

The new power that you possessed seemed to send a vibration throughout your body, because Alucard encouraged you with a wide smile, baring his fangs.

“Yes! Yes! Show me your strength!”

You managed to free your wrists and roll just right, making you the one sitting astride his lap and in control.

Your head was now spinning with lust, spewing dirty talk in your native German dialect.

“verdammt, du bist so gut! Hör nicht auf!”

Alucard’s fingers dig into your hips, as he was thrusting up into you, making you hiss. He came without warning and you did not expect to get filled to the brim.

Your orgasm washed over you unexpectedly and lust told you to dive deep into Alucard’s neck. You managed to bite down on his shoulder.

A satisfied hum crawled out of his throat as he returned the favor.

The two of you sat together, holding each other close and drinking each other’s crimson.

Alucard licked your wound closed and murmured,

“You’re mine now. More powerful than what millennium could have made you out to be.”

You smiled into his neck.

“I’m grateful for you, master.”

It was then you realized that the two of you were still attached at the hip...and that your master was still hard as a rock.

You grinned wickedly.

“Master?”

“Hm?”

“Would you like to keep going?”

Alucard chuckled darkly.

“Absolutely, my pet.”

[inspired-by-the-music]

For You: 4 O’Clock

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Epilogue: Part 1

1. No Longer

My heart is lighter than air as I mount the stairs after reading my story, my soul, to Mom and Lucas. I tuck the notebook beneath the blankets on the side of the bed closest to the window, the side that Taemin always fills. Then, I walk into the cold-tiled bathroom to shower and wash myself of all past pains, all past shames, all past fears.

Stepping into a set of canary yellow pajamas that I haven’t worn in years (because they were lost to my Rugrats phase), I decide that I will embrace life’s changes. I will no longer be afraid, and I will no longer cling to the shadows, and I will follow Taemin into the light, and there—

“No,” I correct myself as I meet my reflection after wiping the fog from the mirror. Nobody ever grows in the blink of an eye. No change forced into a single breath ever lasts past the exhale.

So why— why do I keep trying to rush myself?

I have to learn patience. More than anyone else, I should understand my fears and hesitations. If I can’t treat myself with compassion, then who will? As much as I love Taemin— which is far too much to quantify with mere words even if I write in every empty notebook filling the bookshelf— can I rely on him to love me into the person I was born to be? Should I?

I don’t know, I answer as I lay myself down to catch up on hours or lifetimes of lost sleep. I don’t know how much I should want or need Taemin’s love. But I do know how much I crave my own love. My own admiration.

It’s not that I desire my love alone; it’s just— there is no substitution for self-love. I want to meet my reflection, which I have avoided for years, with a smile for the rest of my life. The next time the wind blows, I do not want to question who I am, or who I was, or who I might grow to be.

As I close my eyes at Taemin’s texted request, I make a simple resolution that I will likely wrestle with for the rest of my days: be kinder to me. Write love letters to me. Count the stars in my eyes. Learn my virtues as well as I have memorized my vices. Love me.

Love me.

I will.

2. Touch

The door opens with a deafening BANG that stirs me from a deep sleep. Lucas’s warm breath hisses into my ear, “There’s a burglar in the house.”

As I bolt upright, he screams and I whimper. Our heads collide. While we rub at the maroon lumps swelling on our foreheads, I ask in a voice muddied by sleep, “What?” The word is unintelligible to my ears, but Lucas understands.

“There’s a burglar in the house!” He repeats, throwing my quilt onto the floor. “Come on! We gotta rescue Mom!”

Because I am tired enough to believe Lucas— or, more likely, I believe that my blissful dream about Taemin’s kisses has morphed into a bizarre nightmare— I obey. Rubbing the sleep out of my puffy eyes, I follow Lucas into the hallway. I run on the tips of my toes because the floor is frozen.

Bravery courses through my veins, warm and throbbing, when muffled voices from the kitchen reach my ears. Probably because I don’t feel awake, and therefore I am indestructible, I assert, “I should walk in front.” Lucas is shielding me with his bulky body. “You know, because I am a black belt in Taekwondo.”

“I am not letting you walk in front!” Lucas growls through gritted teeth, glaring at me over his shoulder. I don’t know what floods his mind with the delusion that he is the dominant one. I don’t know why he always forgets who the boss is (me). How many times do I have to remind him?

“Some lunatic is holding Mom hostage! I’m not losing you too!” Lucas swings a bat that I have not yet noticed. “Plus, I have the weapon!”

The bat nearly bashes and bloodies my nose, but I catch it and push it away, glaring. “You are a danger to yourself and others,” I tell him.

If my mother were being held captive downstairs (and my now awakened brain argues that she most likely is NOT), I would not trust Lucas to rescue her. That’s not entirely true. In a fairytale, Lucas would be one of those knights who fights evil with a pure heart, not with a sword. The only issue is that we don’t live in a fairytale. I wish we did, though.

Before Lucas can descend the first step, I grab the back of his shirt and use all my strength to hurl him behind me. With my hands raised defensively (in preparation for the unlikely worst-case scenario), I make it halfway down the stairs. Then Lucas, being an idiot, tackles me, and we tumble down the rest of the way.

It’s only through divine intervention that we don’t break any bones— namely, our necks. It’s only by an undeserved miracle that I don’t suffocate under the brunt impact of Lucas’s full weight.

While my face, which I had protected from the bat just moments ago, grinds into the floor, Mom laughs. (So, she is very clearly not in danger.) Lucas gasps, “Taemin?”

Great. The last person I want to catch me landing face-first at the foot of the stairs.

I lift my head to stare at him. Taemin. My Taemin.

He stands across from Mom at the kitchen island. His hands are reaching into a bag from some fast food place— McDonald’s, I think. His eyes are wide, glittering, and not blinking. His pretty pink lips are rounded into a perfect “o” shape.

Although embarrassment burns through my entire being, I do not try to hide my face. I cannot look away from Taemin. He is a dream come true breathing beside Mom. He is a dream come true wearing that hoodie he stole from my bag once upon a time in an American hotel room. He is a dream come true when his only makeup is the natural blush born on one cheek, crawling across the bridge of his nose, and pooling onto the other cheek.

He is beyond beautiful. He is beyond a dream come true. And I love him. I love him so much it hurts.

Or maybe loving Taemin doesn’t hurt at all. Maybe all that hurts is Lucas’s elbow digging into my back.

Snapping out of the drooling admiration of my boyfriend, I wheeze, “Get off, Lucas!” I only start to catch my breath when Lucas stands and I start to rub the aches out of my ribs.

Without helping me onto my feet or offering the briefest apology even as a formality, Lucas skips into the kitchen. I roll my eyes. Sometimes— rarely— Lucas is annoyingly inconsiderate. A lot of boys are, I guess. Dumb. As he plucks a fry out of the bag Taemin’s hand is lost in, Lucas asks, “What are you doing here?”

Taemin doesn’t answer, though, because his attention is fixed on me. He gawks at me, jaw hanging, as I walk into the kitchen. I do not wonder why he is staring, and I do not dare to match his gaze.

The cold air raises goosebumps on my arms, legs, and the thin strip of skin exposed between my shorts and cropped tank top. (The tank top, by the way, dons the main Rugrats characters, most notably baby Dil Pickles, AKA my favorite baby ever). This set of pajamas has always been reserved only for sleeping. Before Lucas dragged me out of bed to confront a non-existent burglar, I hadn’t worn it outside of my room because— well— it isn’t exactly comfortable or appropriate considering the rotating cast of characters (usually Lucas and Heechul) constantly roaming around the house.

Folding my arms over my exposed stomach, I try to hide my lower body behind Mom’s side of the island. The smile that I offer in the hopes of deterring her from noticing my attire is defective, of course. Mom’s eyes rake over me with an interest rivaling Taemin’s. Because he is enthralled by the overflowing McDonald’s bag, Lucas is the only person who isn’t ogling me. He has never really stared at me. Maybe that’s why we are best friends.

Pinching at both of my cheeks (as if they aren’t red enough already), Mom squeals, “You look adorable, Lei!” And I want to disappear.

Reaching across the counter-top to link his pinky with mine, Taemin winks. “I agree.” And I want to glare at him for flirting right in front of Mom. Except I don’t. Except I melt when I meet his eyes for a fleeting fragment of a second.

Ever my ally when it counts, Lucas draws attention away from me. He kicks at something on the side of the island he shares with Taemin. His eyebrows wiggle suggestively. “Is this your suitcase, Taemin? Planning to go somewhere?”

Finally, I can breathe. Taemin breaks his study of me to look at Lucas as he nods. “Yeah, that’s mine.” He steals my breath again when his eyes flicker between me and Mom with the question, “Is it okay if I take my things upstairs?”

Lucas stares at me with wide eyes. His mouth falls open. He wants to scream something like, “WHEN DID YOU PLAN TO TELL ME THAT WE ARE OFFICIALLY ACQUIRING A TAEMIN?” But he heeds my silent plea to, you know, not scream, so he bites down on his lips.

Of course, I had already uncovered Taemin’s plan to move in. I accepted it. More than that, I had been anticipating it. I had been dreaming about it— not that I ever would have divulged such a secret. However, I do not know how or even if he has gotten Mom’s permission.

She smiles when Taemin, Lucas, and I look to her for a response. It’s a genuine smile; the kind that etches faint dimples into her cheeks and lights her entire face. “Make yourself at home, Taemin!”

Mom’s lack of protest should be stunning, but it isn’t. She is the same woman who invited Lucas into our house for Christmas five years ago and allowed him to turn a guest room into his personal bedroom. She is the same woman who allowed Lucas to sleep under our roof after she started to suspect that we were dating. As a mother figure, Mom spoils Lucas rotten. As a manager, though, Mom has always set boundaries with him.

With Taemin— well, not even Mom is immune to his charms. She allowed him to share a room with me throughout the American tour. If (when) he asks, she will probably allow him to share a room with me throughout the European tour. Because she was so lax as a manager, it only makes sense that she should open the door to our home for him, too.

I think Mom has a superpower. She knows from a glance who to lock outside. She knows from a glance who to welcome with open arms and a smile. I’m glad that she uses that power to protect me. More than that, though, I am glad that she uses that power to nudge me toward happiness.

Emboldened by Mom’s grin, Taemin rounds the island. Smiling at me with his eyes and his lips, he catches me around the waist. His hands are so soft, so warm. Exactly what you would expect his touch to feel like. Heaven on earth. The kind of touch that pieced together a shattered flower in the garden.

Taemin’s smile pecks delicately at my forehead, right on the spot Lucas made red. It doesn't hurt anymore. “I brought some food if you’re hungry.”  

Then, before I can thank him, Taemin’s smile pecks at my lips. Right in front of Mom and Lucas, who probably watch this scene from my notebook breathing and alive before their eyes. Taemin whispers, “I’ll be unpacking if you need me, baby.”

Before I can decide whether I enjoy melting into his touch with an audience, Taemin releases me from his embrace. He walks to the stairs and ascends, carrying his suitcase, and my breath, and my heart with him. My heart— he has been holding it carefully, mindfully, gracefully, and I— I just hope I haven’t been too careless with his.

As I watch Taemin until he fades from view, I resolve to be more careful. No— careful is the last thing I need to be. I should try to love him more openly. Fearlessly. I want to give him the love that he has given to me; I want to give him the love he has dreamed about.

Dreaming about the future, dreaming about right now, my legs turn to jelly. I lean into the island for stability and look from Mom to Lucas, wondering what they are thinking.

Do they think that Taemin is settling into my world too quickly? Would they believe me if I told them that Taemin and I have been together in lifetimes past? Would they consider me a fool, a stranger, for believing in something like that? Do they think that I am a fool for wanting this life— for wanting Taemin— so badly?

I wish I didn’t care. I wish my mind wouldn’t twist into these labyrinths that I have only recently learned to navigate through with pen and paper. More than anything, I wish I could be like Taemin: too devoted to the idea of destiny to search for outside approval.

Soon, I tell myself, I will be confident on my own. For now, I take comfort in the smile Mom gives to the ceiling because she knows I will burst into flames with eye contact. For now, I am empowered by the smirk Lucas throws my way before he bites into a hamburger.

Nobody objects to Taemin's presence. My Taemin. And it’s because it is there on his wrist for anybody to see: we are meant to be.

3. Waiting

I assumed that Taemin would claim the guest room across from my bedroom, but I gather that he isn’t there as soon as I fill the doorway. The guest room is empty, dark, untouched. Afternoon sunlight faintly breaks through the thick black curtains lining the window.

This room doesn’t suit Taemin, I realize as I eye the black blanket and the black nightside lamp atop a black nightstand. Everything in his room at the SuperM house had been unearthly white. His room was like a castle in the clouds. He would never gravitate toward such a dark place where the light barely gets in.

His laughter trickles into the hallway and carries the sun into this dark corner of the house. Following the rays, tracing that melody, I find Taemin on my bed, wrapped in a cocoon made of my quilt. Chewing through a chocolate chip cookie, he reads my book by the light leaking in through my curtains, which have been drawn since his most recent departure.

Something about the scene makes my heart leap. It’s the realization that he is here with me, in my space, laughing because of something I wrote.

“Taemin!” I greet him with a whine as I close the door.

Like he is embarrassed that I have caught him sneaking glances at the story we promised to read together, Taemin gasps. He closes the book and tucks it under his pillow. After stuffing the small remaining bit of gooey chocolate into his mouth, he licks his fingers clean and folds his hands behind his head.

“Lei!” He smiles up at me.

Sighing, unable to fight the smile from my face, I flick the lightswitch. I walk to the bed, squinting to assess the mess he has made on my sheets with his dessert. “You got crumbs everywhere,” I fuss as I swipe those I can see into a pile on the floor.

Taemin wraps his hand around my wrist. He knows his faintest, briefest touch will inspire me to stare into his eyes where the stars have gathered. Sometimes, this is scary: finding myself in him. Always, this is breath-taking. Always, this is beautiful.

He is still smiling. Almost always smiling. Never affected by scolding. Well, never affected by my scolding. He trembled at the mere imagination of Mom’s disapproval. Maybe I should threaten to tell her about his messy eating habits, but I won’t. I don’t believe much in making empty threats. No matter how Taemin should annoy me, maybe even if he managed to break my heart into a million bloody pieces, I would probably never tell Mom. I have never been a tattle-tale.

To tempt me into bed with him, Taemin tugs on my wrist. When I resist the pull, he pouts to tempt me to kiss him. “I was gonna clean after myself!”

My eyebrows arches skeptically, so Taemin insists at a shrill pitch, “I was! I am! Just not now.” The ribbon tickles my skin as he laces our fingers together. “Now, I want to hold you.”

Subtly, I nod to the window. In a voice that is not quite mine— it is too quiet— I say, “It’s not time for you to hold me.

I don’t know why I said that. I can’t understand why my voice can betray my deepest desires when I want to lay with him, I want to be held by him, I want to kiss him, I want to melt into a more perfect being with him, I want to write another moment with him.

Remembering my promise to become his dream come true, to slowly grow into the person I have always wanted to be, I take the first step. Again, I break the habit of resisting— resisting the fulfillment of my hopes because I have too long feared the fall. Before Taemin can argue, before his eyes can narrow in wounded disappointment, before the newest bruise I might have carelessly inflicted on his heart can scar, I bend to catch his pouting lips in a kiss.

He tastes like chocolate. I heard once that chocolate makes people feel a little happier, so I waste no more time battling the urge, the dire need to kiss his lips again and again. Harder this time, softer next time, deeper this time, shallow next time. I kiss him every way I know how, every way I have ever imagined, and still, there must be more ways to discover.

Taemin tries to hold me against him. He tries to pull me into him, and it’s so hard to resist. I do not want to resist, and this time there is no champagne to share in the blame. There is only him. There is only me. There is only the need to blur that distance, that difference, until there is none at all, but I—

There will be another time. There will be a time when Mom isn’t answering calls in her office downstairs. There will be a time when Lucas isn’t roaming the halls or watching SpongeBob on the living room television or playing video games in his room down the hall. There will be a time when I am not filling some internal void with this physical expression of love. There will be a time when I am not wearing a set of pajamas donning my favorite infant cartoon characters.

When I break from the kiss for a breath, I bring both of my hands to tug down at the hem of my shirt. No matter how hard I tug, no matter how much I plead, I remain exposed. Why, then, do I keep begging? Why do I waste my energy by pleading for such an unnecessary miracle?

Taemin doesn’t understand either. He sits upright and, frowning, reaches for my hands. “Why do you keep doing that?” His brow furrows as he presses kisses to my knuckles. Then, he drops my hands around his shoulders. While I trace the threading in my old gray hoodie, wondering if and how I will ever make it mine again (if I even want to), Taemin says, “You look adorable, you know. Mom said so too.”

I crinkle my nose, and Taemin cries, “It’s true! It’s cute that the tiniest little bit of your tummy is showing! It’s nothing to hide, baby, especially not from me.”

I am blushing too deeply to meet his gaze. Numbly, I ask, “Especially not from you? What does that mean?”

“I mean that there is nothing that you should hide from me.” He smiles to comfort me, I think, and not to tease me. “Besides, this—” his fingers brush against the skin exposed beneath my shirt and spark a fire in my gut. I recoil from the flame, giggling. Only fools giggle at fire. “This is nothing I haven’t seen before.” Taemin winks.

My face flushes at the reminder of the New Year’s strip Rock-Paper-Scissors game. Never— never will we forget. Never will Taemin let us forget. He’s such a brat. I roll my eyes and grumble, “Really, Taemin—”

“We don’t regret it,” he reminds me softly, pressing a kiss to the bend of my elbow, “because there is nothing to regret. We were born to find each other. We were born to see each other. Don’t hide. Don’t hide from me.”

Shivering at the frequently recurring realization that I don’t want to hide, I never wanted to hide— I just thought I needed to hide— I nod. I try to bite through my smile, but I can’t. I can’t contain my happiness. “I know, Taemin. The thing is, I can’t kiss you with baby Dil Pickles watching!” I point to the character on my shirt, and Taemin throws his head back laughing.

His eyes are beautiful crescents when he beams at me. “Fine, baby.” He nudges me toward the closet. “Hurry and change. I’ll be waiting!”

4. It’s You

From the floor of my closet, a pile of clothes greets me, and I respond with a gasp. I am not especially attached to my clothes. By no means do I call myself a fashionista. It's just, everything in my room has a specific place.

Lucas calls my insistence on maintaining order in this one corner of the universe that is mine "compulsive control." I call it "organization," and, to tell you the truth, I don't think it matters much what Lucas says in this instance. Everything is organized in the most efficient manner and, seeing as this is my space, everyone should take my word for it and not move my stuff.

The culprit is obvious. Taemin has left my clothes, a bundle of dresses reserved for red carpet events, at the foot of a life-size Taeyeon poster. Replacing my dresses on their rack are Taemin's clothes— an unorganized assortment of plain black and white t-shirts.

It's amazing how quickly I roll the hearts out of my eyes. After stepping into a pair of pink sweatpants and pulling one of Taemin's shirts over my head, I call his name. I try (and fail) to bite the annoyance out of my voice by digging into my bottom lip.

Perhaps picking up on my tone, Taemin does not run to my side. He is probably sneaking more glances at our story as he responds from my bed, "What, baby?"

His voice is sickeningly sweet. Artificially sweet. He knows that he has done wrong, but he does not apologize.

His sweetness melts into something much more bitter when I say, "Come here!"

Huffing, Taemin fills the doorway wearing a frown. His arms cross tightly over his chest. His eyebrows knit together. "What?"

I was annoyed enough by his lack of consideration for my clothes— the nicest ones, I might add— before he started pouting like a spoiled child, like I had done something wrong. Narrowing my eyes, I demand, "What are you so upset about?"

"I remember this part." Taemin stares down at his feet. "This is the part where we have our first real fight, and I don't want to do it."

My scowl softens at the reminder that Taemin lives with the traces of our past lives together. That confusion of navigating through timelines— the blurring of the past and present— must be a curse in some ways. Maybe it's a worse curse than the perpetual fear of the future that has always haunted me. In some ways, I guess, I'm glad that I don't have any memories of past lives. In some ways, I guess, I'm glad that Taemin is here to lead me.

After beckoning Taemin to my side, I let my fingertips brush against his hand to prove that I'm not angry— at least not permanently. I allow my touch to linger to demonstrate that I don't want to fight either. I just want to understand: "If you knew that this would result in a fight, then why did you throw my dresses on the floor?"

Staring down at the pile he made, Taemin shrugs. "I'm stupid."

"You're not stupid."

His pout makes my heart feel heavy. I have every right to reprimand his carelessness, but I can't do it when he looks so pitiful. I don't want to do it. I love him too much. I only want to see him smile. I have always been like this: incapable of frowning at those I love for long. Some might consider this sort of pacifism passivity— a weakness— but I don't. I just want peace. I just want happiness.

"Don't say such things about yourself," I say with a gentle authority that reminds me of Mom. Forcing my attention away from Taemin, I start to pluck his shirts from the rack, explaining, "You would have much more space for your things in the closet across the hall, you know. Here. I'll help you move—"

"I don't want to move!" Taemin's entire body stiffens as he argues. His face pales. "I want to be with you!"

"You are. You will be, forever." I rise to the tips of my toes to press the promise to his lips. "Like you promised, we will sleep together every night. It's just— you need space—"

The color returns to Taemin's face as a deep, unnatural maroon. Skin should never turn that color. "I don't need space! I don't want space!" His voice trembles and shakes the entire house.

"Closet space, Taemin." I sigh at his undue panic— his determination to misunderstand me.

This headache forming around my temples— does it visit him when I am rattled by the slightest breeze? I hope not. The mere imagination that it does gives me all the more reason to find my footing.

"I'm talking about closet space. And if you don't need that—"

Looking very much like a child as his hands form fists at his sides, Taemin swears, "I don't!"

"Then I do." By now, all of his shirts are draped over my arms. By now, anyone who wasn't as deeply in love as I am might have lost their temper.

"This closet is way bigger than the other one though! This closet is the size of a store!" The stomping of Taemin's foot drills into my brain that his fixation on my closet has little to do with his attachment to me. He is being materialistic. And I don't like that.

"Materialistic?" Taemin parrots as he follows me on my march into the guest room. After he slams the door shut, his arm hooks around my waist and whirls me around so that my face nearly collides with his chest. Most of his shirts fall from my arms onto the floor.

The furrowing of his eyebrows should be an intimidating sign of anger, maybe, but I can only think that he looks cute. Like a little boy. I can only think that he isn't that much taller than me. He isn't that much bigger than me. He probably isn't that much stronger than me.

Rationally, it is decided: I am not afraid of Taemin. Should his grip around me tighten painfully, should the warm flame in his eyes turn scalding— and I do not expect them to— I could (and would) flatten him.

Once I decide that I am not afraid, I realize that I am amused. Everything about this seems unreal and almost comical, like his Na Jaemin induced fit of jealousy. All at once, I want to laugh, and I have to bite down on my lips to maintain my composure.

"I didn't say that," I assert. I am not confrontational or combative, but I do not like to shrink below sharpened stares. "You're using your soulmate mind-reading powers, which, by the way, is a very unfair tactic. You would learn to control that."

Taemin blinks at me. I wink at him. And I catch the faintest outline of a smile before his face hardens. He is play fighting now, I realize, and as butterflies swarm across my stomach I agree with what he once said; it is an exciting way to flirt.

"So you—" he almost smiles again— "you were just thinking that I am materialistic?"

Although I say nothing to confirm or deny that— why would I say anything to insult Taemin?— his subsequent outburst could convince anybody that I sincerely called him a selfish bastard or something. After scooping his shirts off of the floor and snatching those remaining in my arms, he storms over to the window. Forcing the curtains apart, he asks, "Would a materialistic person do this?"

"Do what?" I challenge, raising my eyebrows. "Play with the curtain?"

Taemin drops his shirts onto the foot of the bed. He grabs one, forms it into a ball, and hurls it out the open window.

Objectively, it probably isn't that funny, but I laugh so hard that my knees go weak. Luckily, the bed catches me, and I can muffle my laughter with a pillow.

"Get your face out of that pillow and look at me!" Taemin loses his battle against laughter too. By the time I look at him, though, he has forced his face into a scowl as he tosses another shirt. "I'm proving to you that I don't need expensive clothes to be happy! I don't need a big closet or a fancy bedroom! I had those things at the SuperM house, and I easily, happily, left them behind for what I do need."

I almost roll my eyes. Taemin is the cheesiest person alive sometimes, but I like that. He is a drama queen all the time, but I like that too. I like everything about him— even (and maybe especially) what might seem like flaws to others. His episodes are ultimately harmless. They inspire that side-splitting sort of laughter that paints my world anew with colors I never knew existed.

"Oh yeah?" Swallowing my giggles, I try to train my smile into an apathetic line. I can't do it. I am losing this skill that I spent so many years developing, this habit that I once swore was integral to survival. Is that a shame? Or is that a blessing?

A blessing, I decide. How many smiles have I killed in these last several years? Far too many to count. Far too many to mourn. I never again want to subdue my happiness.

"And what do you need, Taemin?"

Before Taemin can answer, a voice outside— Heechul's voice— shrieks, "STOP THROWING SHIT OUT THIS WINDOW!"

Faintly, I hear Mom retort, "Leave those kids alone, Heechul, and get back over here! You're supposed to be helping me!"

"These are men's shirts!" Heechul must look up into the window; suddenly, Taemin hurls himself onto the bed, almost landing on me with a force that would leave me gasping. "You just let the boys in this house do whatever the hell they want, Kim! Except me, of course. I have to obey a billion rules and jump through a trillion hoops, and even then I'm still. . ."

As Heechul's voice trails off, Taemin exhales loudly. He must have been holding his breath. "I guess they're working through their issues. Heechul is helping Mom and Lucas clean the pool. We should probably go out there tonight and make good use of it, huh?"

Taemin curls into my side and wraps an arm around my waist. Always, he gets what he wants. He really has charmed the universe.

Because he has charmed me too, I do not shy away from his touch. "It's freezing outside, Taem. You'll be hard pressed to find me in a bathing suit in the peak of summer, much less in the darkest depths of winter."

"I'm sure there is some setting to warm the water, Lei. We wouldn't have to freeze."

Taemin is right, but I don't tell him so. Rather than floating adrift in blissful silence, Taemin wonders, "What's your problem with bathing suits? You didn't wear one and get into the pool on tour either."

I joke, "I prefer to keep my belly button hidden from the world." It's funny, considering how many crop tops I have worn during promotions.

"You don't have to show it." Taemin presses his finger on my shirt, indicating my belly button. He draws shapes— he spells his name, I think— over my stomach. "You could wear one of those pretty one-piece suits. Or you could wear my shirt— this one, maybe. You look especially pretty in my clothes."

My cheeks burn as I thank him for the compliment. Carding my fingers through his hair, I ask, "Do you wanna hear about the last time I got into the pool?"

Taemin nods, nuzzling his face into the crook of my neck.

“When I turned eighteen, Soo and Minseokie— Kyungsoo and Minseok, I mean— threw a huge party. They invited everyone in NCT 127 plus Ten, so—” my lips curl into a smile as I tease— “you can relax, Taem. Jaemin wasn’t there.”

Taemin’s snort of a laugh tickles my neck. “Oh, great. That means I only have to be jealous that Ten, Taeyong, Mark, Lucas, and Baekhyun— Baekhyun, of all people!— have seen my beautiful girlfriend in a soaked bikini top!”

Almost— I almost point out that the bikini top is much less scandalous than the undergarments he saw on New Years Eve— but I decide against it at the last second. I gasp, “How do you know about that?”

“They’ve mentioned it!” Taemin lifts his head to show me how his eyes roll. “By ‘they,’ I mostly mean Ten. He thought it was funny enough when Johnny pulled you into the pool fully clothed. He thought it was funnier when Baekhyun yelled, ‘Take it off, Lei!’ or whatever he said.”

The memory makes me squirm. “Gee, well, I’m glad Ten remembers it fondly. Since I survived that incident, I’ve realized that it’s impossible to die from embarrassment.”

“If it’s any consolation, everyone agreed that you looked amazing,” Taemin says. It’s not a consolation at all; I squirm more. “And then Jongin told them to stop spreading inappropriate stories about our newest member.”

Finally, I crack the smallest smile. “Sometimes, it seems like Jongin is the only one truly on my side!” My dramatic whine elicits reluctant laughter from Taemin.

He wants to remind me that Jongin’s loyalty had been hard won, but he doesn’t say so plainly. “I was on your side first,” he hums as he drops a kiss on my collarbone. “I’ll be on your side forever.”

Raising my pinky, I repeat, “Forever.” This word that once sounded foreign in my voice, this word that was once too big to fit into my mouth is now all I can say when I look at Taemin.

Smiling, he links his smallest finger with mine. We stay intertwined like this for a while. Forever, maybe. We exist comfortably in silence. We aren’t even kissing. We are just laying together in a pinky promise, shrouded by the realization that there is nowhere we would rather be. There is nowhere else to be.

Taemin fills the silence. “Can I ask you a question?” When I nod, he asks, “Why do you have a giant poster of Key in your closet?”

Blushing slightly, I explain, “Key is one of my fashion icons. He’s the main one, actually. By his poster, I hang all of my eclectic, experimental clothes— the ones I’m not brave enough to wear yet. By Taeyeon, I hang all of my pretty clothes— formal wear, mostly. Then, by Amber’s, I hang all of the sporty stuff.”

“Why am I not a fashion icon?” Taemin’s bottom lip forms a pout, and I have to kiss him. I have to. I can’t let these opportunities pass.

I mutter, “Obviously you didn’t look under the bed,” burning at the thought that Taemin will likely (definitely) discover the extent to which I idolized him as a child. I will have to hide his photocards some place he will never find them.

At that, Taemin sparkles. “What?”

To derail him, to delay the inevitable, I say, “If you looked under my bed, you would have found my Key photocards. Then, you wouldn’t have to wonder why he’s my sole male fashion icon.”

Taemin’s lips purse like he has chewed through a lemon. I have seen that face only once, lifetimes ago, on that morning after I gave him my ribbon. “Well, you wouldn’t like Key very much at all if I told you that he beat my ass in a closet once. If you knew that, you might understand the dread that washed over me when that poster looked me in the eyes! You’d probably take it down!”

Instantly, I retort, “I would do no such thing!” and Taemin huffs. “Why did he beat you in a closet, anyway? What did you do?”

Taemin blinks harshly. His eyes burn into me. “I didn’t do anything!”

I find that hard to believe. Not that Key disciplined Taemin, but that Taemin had done nothing to deserve it. Regardless, Taemin will confess to no wrongdoing, so I quietly resolve to consult Key later. For now, I pack my curiosity away and kiss Taemin’s cheek.

“Now you’re gonna play sweet?” Taemin raises his eyebrows.

“It’s now or never.” I raise my eyebrows too. “Take it or leave it.”

Drawing a deep breath to expel his sudden and unwarranted surge of jealousy toward Key— Key, who I have met only a handful of times— Key, who only knows me from those days of following Amber— Taemin fits his lips with mine.

The kiss seems to remind Taemin that I love him as someone different, someone more than an idol. When he parts from my lips to kiss my cheeks, forehead, neck, and every exposed inch of skin, he smiles.

“It’s you, by the way,” he whispers in my ear. His breath is warm, but it makes me shiver. “You are who I need. Or want. Or crave. More than expensive clothes or fancy bedrooms or big closets. More than anything, Lei. My Lei.”

Once upon a time, I didn’t know how to respond to his sudden declarations of love. I didn’t trust myself to speak. But now— now I couldn’t bite back the words on my tongue if I tried.

“It’s you,” I breathe past his lips. “You are who redeems broken flowers. You are the only person in the world who can pluck the moon from the sky, and you placed it in my clumsy baby hands—”

Taemin interrupts so quietly that I shouldn’t hear him whispering, “You speak so beautifully. Write it down. Write it down so I don’t forget, please. Write it down so I can’t forget.”

Needless to say, I will do as he asks— whatever he asks— after I express out loud, “You make me fall in love a million times a day, Taemin. My Taemin.”

5. Everything Has Changed (Lucas’s POV)

Life is different now that Taemin lives here. I'm not sure how much I like it.

I like the way Taemin looks at Lei. It's the way he's always looked at her. He squints to make out her features because he knows that she is the sun. I like the way she melts into his embrace. For the first time since we met, she seems to forget (at least for a second, which is sometimes as good as forever) that someone is always watching. I like the feeling that we are living in the happy ending of Lei's book.

Lei is happy— smiling. So I am happy— smiling.

I wanna say that I don't like how Taemin kisses Lei right in front of me and Mom, her family. I wanna say that affection should be displayed privately. That's what Lei always said. But I can't say that. I've never believed that. Not when Lei first said it, and not now.

I definitely don't like how Mom's eyes sparkle when she looks at Taemin. I don't like how I have to raise my voice to get her attention. Her attention used to come for free. Now, it fades when I blink my eyes. Now, when I open my eyes, she is looking at Taemin.

And I don't like how cold it is in Taemin's shadow. I don't wanna live here. And I hate how jealousy ties my stomach in knots. I've never been jealous before. I don't wanna feel like this.

I don't like that my smile hurts my cheeks. It's too heavy. My smile has never been too heavy before.

I don't like that there is nobody to share these twisting dizzying feelings with. There is nobody to make sense of them after Lei gulps down lunch and runs upstairs to him, leaving me alone with SpongeBob.

I don't like how eager I am to get out of the house once I think about Lei and Taemin cuddling and kissing and falling forever in love in my home. It's not that I don't support them. It's no that I don't ship them. I do! I always have! Nobody ships it more than me! It's just—

I don't know. I don't really want to think about my feelings anymore. They're making my head hurt.

After stepping into my slides, I shuffle past the kitchen and into Mom's office. Quietly, way too quietly for me, I say, "I'm gonna clean the pool, Mom."  

When she looks up from her computer, Mom sees that I'm not entirely happy. That must scare her. I'm almost always entirely happy. She sets her phone down on her desk. "Okay, honey." She stands, and I smile because she has dropped a call for me. Maybe things haven't changed that much. "Let's go!"

Cleaning the pool is a weekly chore. Usually, Heechul and Lei help too. Heechul sits on a sun chair and supervises while sipping boba tea. Lei brings her BlueTooth speaker and plays music for us. Mostly SHINee. She's a good DJ.

This time, though, it's just me and Mom because Heechul was kicked out for fighting with Donghae and Lei is writing more memories with Taemin. And I miss them.

All of a sudden, I feel so sad that I can't really say anything as I do my chores. Can't really say anything unless I wanna spoil the happy ending. I don't. Lei deserves it. She has worked so hard for it. Can't really say anything unless I wanna ask Mom if I'm still her favorite son. And I'm not sure I do. I'm not sure I wanna hear the answer.

I'm kinda relieved when Mom leaves to answer the ringing doorbell. It gives me a chance to wipe at my eyes and catch my breath. I'm really relieved when she returns with Heechul following close behind.

Smiling, I wave with both hands. "Hey, Heechul!"

And Heechul waves back at me with the hand that isn't holding his boba tea. The world seems normal for a second when he rolls his eyes. "And where the hell is the girl? Doesn't Lei know that, as a member of this family, she has to help out around here?"

This family. My family. We're intact. Yay!

Mom returns to my side to help fish leaves out of the water. "Lei is busy, Heechul, so don't go looking for her."

Mom doesn't mention Taemin at first, probably because she knows that Heechul will flip his shit. He's insanely protective of Lei, and I don't think he even knows that she's dating Taemin yet. He won't like another boy moving in, especially not right after he (and Donghae) was just evicted.

So I bite down on my tongue, determined not to say anything about Taemin either. I kept the secret from Mom long enough, so I know I can keep it forever. The only problem is: Taemin starts throwing his shirts out the window like an idiot or something.

I watch, slackjawed, because I never knew Taemin would do something like that. Yeah, Lei mentioned that weird tantrum about Jaemin, but I thought she was just hyping it up for the story. I should've known better. If anything, Lei tries to downplay everything.

Heechul murmurs exactly what I'm thinking: "What the hell?"

And he runs to the window and screams, "STOP THROWING SHIT OUT THIS WINDOW!"

And I'm scared for Lei, but I kinda want Taemin to get in trouble.

Taemin doesn't get in trouble, of course. When Mom yells for Heechul to come back to help us, he scoops one of the shirts off of the ground. Taemin's Mom must write his name on his shirt tags too.

Squinting at the tag, Heechul reads, "Taemin," in an awestruck sort of voice. Weirdly quiet. Too quiet for him. His wide eyes burn into Mom. "Taemin is staying in your guest room? And he's throwing shirts out the window?"

The guest room? My forehead wrinkles. I would've sworn that Taemin would try to hang his stuff up in Lei's room. I think he's forgotten how to live without her.

Mom focuses intently on the water. The tips of her ears burn red, but she has an amazing poker face. We should go to the casino some time. With my brain and her poker face, we could be billionaires!

"Taemin will be living here from now on." She talks in that calm, even voice that I usually only hear at the studio. "Considering Lei's cleanly nature and Taemin's reported propensity for— er— passionate fits, I would assume that he is the one throwing his clothes around."

"Taemin moved in? Permanently?" Heechul's jaw drops. He doesn't even sound angry like I expected. He just sounds surprised. Almost starstruck.

Am I relieved? Or annoyed?

Mom nods, so Heechul asks, "Why?"

I expect Mom to answer again in her manager voice, but she doesn't. Smiling and swaying so suddenly that I think she's gonna fall face-first into the pool, Mom says, "They're in love!"

"Who?" Heechul bellows.

Can Lei and Taemin hear Heechul from the guest room? Or is even Heechul not loud enough to shatter their happy ending?

Heechul demands to know: "Who's in love?"

And I can't bite my tongue for another minute. I cheer, "Lei and Taemin!"

Man, I know I'm feeling too much at once. I know I'm on a roller coaster of emotions and it's hard to tell if I'm going up or speeding down, but one thing is clear: Lei and Taemin were meant to be. And I don't know how many 'meant-to-be's get to be, but I'm sure as hell glad that they do.

I don't know how Heechul can look so stunned by what must be the most obvious love in the whole world. I don't know how anyone can say that they haven't noticed Lei's ribbon around Taemin's wrist. I haven't been able to look away from it for months. I don't think I'll ever look away from it! It's like the sun, ya know? Too bright to ignore. Too beautiful to overlook.

Heechul wheezes, "Lei has a boyfriend?"

Mom nods. Her words can't make it past her smile, so I take it upon myself to correct Heechul. "Lei has a soulmate!"

Heechul blinks at me. "So let me get this straight." Sitting on the edge of a sun chair, he sets his drink down at his feet. His hand raises to pinch at the bridge of his nose. "On tour, Lei actually fell in love with her ultimate idol? The same boy she used to listen to every single night? And you—" he points at Mom— "not only did you fail to mention this to me, but then you let him move in without consulting me?"

"I don't have to run everything by you first, Heechul," Mom says coolly. "First of all, I only recently heard the sweetest love story of all time. Maybe if you didn't piss me off so bad that I had to kick you out, you would have been around to hear it straight from Lei's mouth!"

It's unlikely that Lei would have read the story in front of Heechul, I think, but I guess you never really know. Heechul's face turns red at Mom's berating.

"Anyway," Mom sighs, "who am I to stand in the way of true love?"

"You're her mother, for one thing." Heechul's brow furrows, and my eyes roll. There's nothing more annoying than when he tries to act more mature than Mom. "You're his manager AND her manager for another! How are you going to explain this shit to the agency when they have a super idol baby?"

Oh. My. God. Lucas Tue WOULD be a super idol!

At the thought of my future (inevitable) baby nephew, I drop my cleaning equipment and clap my hands. My face hurts from smiling again, but in the best way! I take it all back! Yeah, I want to be Mom's number one boy, but that doesn't mean that I don't want Taemin here. I do. I need him here because I want Lucas Tue!

Plus, I'm totally okay with losing my number one spot to Lucas Tue! He'll be everyone's favorite!

"Cut that out, boy!" Heechul huffs at me. "We don't want babies!"

"I do!" I argue with Heechul's glare. "I want a baby!"

Mom cuts her eyes at Heechul. "Stop looking at Lucas like that! And stop assuming the worst of Lei and Taemin! You know that she's much smarter and much more responsible than I ever was. If and when she starts expressing her love like that, she will be careful. Besides—" Mom smiles. She looks so much like Lei when she smiles. Pretty— "I don't subscribe to the belief that surprise miracles ruin lives."

Surprise miracles. That's what Lei was to Mom, right? I know that's what Lei was to me. She was my first friend in the agency. I think— no, I know that I've never felt lonely because I found her.

Surprise miracles. That's a kind of funny phrase. Nobody ever expects a miracle, do they? I don't know.

All I know is that Mom speaks like a poet. All I know is that I've never wondered who taught Lei to speak. They're so much alike, and I love them. I'm glad they found me. I'm glad we're together. I'm glad we'll always be together.

As I sit on the ground, I smile up at Mom. The sun breaks through a cloud and makes the winter air a little warmer. "When I drew our family tree the other day, I made a spot for Lei's future baby! I asked her to name him Lucas Tue, and I told her that we should just call him Tue. And then she said that she would talk it over with Taemin."

Smiling back, Mom ruffles my hair. "That's adorable, honey!"

Heechul is less enthusiastic. He doesn't smile. "They're already talking about kids? He's already moved in?" Heechul runs both hands through his hair. "Shit, this is moving too fast for me. Just yesterday, the girl was saying that she would never date!"

Grinning because Lei had grown past the word 'never,' I explain, "She only said that because she hadn't met Taemin yet. If you think about it, they're not moving that fast; they're just making up for lost time."

At dinner, right after Mom shoves Heechul out the door, I announce, “Mom! Since today’s special because Taemin moved in, I’m gonna drink my last beer!”

Mom gives me two thumbs up from the doorway connecting the dining room to the kitchen. So I open the fridge with a smile. But I don’t find my beer in the fridge. I find it at the table. Open. In front of Taemin, who holds a giggling Lei in his lap.

Just like that, I don't like him much anymore. I don't really care that Lei is in his lap; I just think it's a little tasteless that he presses a lingering sort of kiss to the shell of Lei's ear right in front of Mom. I think it's a little weird that Lei just lets him. But all I REALLY care about is my beer gone to waste and Mom's total lack of sympathy.

"That's mine!" I yell when Taemin reaches for the bottle, bringing it up to his lips that are swollen and red from kissing Lei all day. "I was saving that beer! I was looking forward to it the whole time we were on tour!"

Lei's blinking tells me that I should be embarrassed. I am, kinda. A little bit. I never lose my temper. It's just— those drinks are special to me! Mom orders them because she knows they're my favorite in the whole world. And now Taemin has stolen the last one! And there's no way he's enjoying it as much as I would!

"Sit down, honey," Mom tells me, "and I'll pour you some wine."

"I don't want wine!" I want to say, but I can't bring myself to talk back to Mom. I don't want her to glare at me like she glared at Donghae and Heechul before locking them out, so I just grit my teeth and obey. Life is so unfair sometimes.

"I'll take the wine," Taemin says softly. His voice doesn't sound right. It doesn't sound natural. How can he turn heads with the quietest whisper when I have to yell?

He gives Mom this eerily perfect, almost inhuman smile before holding the beer out to me. "Here. I only took one or two sips. Take the rest."

Call me a germaphobe if you want, but I'm not big on drinking after people— especially not people who have spent the day swapping spit with my (figurative) sister. I glare at the beer because I can't glare directly at Taemin. I know this politeness is an act, a scheme to get Mom to like him better. He's fake!

Lei thinks so too, judging by the look she casts over his shoulder as I cry, "I don't want anything you've put your lips all over! That's disgusting!"

Lei makes me sick. She says something cringy like, "I don't think your lips are disgusting Taem!" before kissing his pout.

I scream in disgust, but the kiss is brief. Cute. It makes something inside of me scream in joy. But that joy loses to the rage that burns in my gut when Mom smiles at their display. Joy dies when Mom ruffles my hair and sets the glass of wine before me, saying, "Share with Taemin, Lucas."

My face burns. Share? Mom has never told me to share before!

"Share," I hiss. The word is too foreign. I don't like how it sounds; especially not in Mom's voice, and especially not in my voice. I stab into a piece of beef in my bowl. "What haven't I shared with Taemin lately? I share my best friend, I share my house, I share my Mom, I share my beer—"

"Lucas," Mom says in that warning tone that she usually reserves for work as she eases into the seat beside me— the seat across from Lei and Taemin. She raises a single eyebrow at me. "Behave."

My eyes widen. Behave? Mom never tells me to behave at home!

This stupid little smile spreads across Taemin's face when our eyes meet. That smile convinces me that I can't stand him. We are enemies. Obviously, I like him as an artist. I like him as Lei's soulmate. But I don't like him as my brother. I hate him as my brother.

I swear, he winks at me as he gulps a mouthful of my beer. And if Mom wasn't watching, if I wasn't afraid of hitting Lei (and then getting my ass kicked), I would throw my chopstick at his head.

Sweetly, Mom asks Taemin, "Have you had a good day? Are you comfortable in the guest room?"

When somebody asks questions like that, you're supposed to say 'Yes and yes. Thank you, ma'am!' Apparently, nobody ever taught Taemin that.

Resting his chin on Lei's shoulder, he says, "I had the best day, but I think I would be a lot more comfortable if my closet was like Lei's."

Lei rolls her eyes as she swallows a mouthful of salad. “Taemin, we’ve talked about your closet fixation. You said you didn’t need—”

It's clear that Taemin was joking from the less polite, less eerily perfect smile twisting his lips as Lei scolds him. Mom doesn't seem to pick up on that, though. She argues, "Of course he needs a big closet, Lei! He's a pop star! If he's going to stay here, we'll have to renovate the closet to meet his needs."

A closet renovation? I've never had one of those! I mean, I've never asked, but still! Taemin gets his wish granted just because he made some stupid joke!

"Taemin—" he beams when Mom says his name— "I'll make some calls tomorrow. You'll have to room with Lucas or Lei during construction."

I give him this look that screams, "You're not rooming with me, butthead!" but he doesn't notice. He's too busy smiling at Mom and then laughing at the rolling of Lei's eyes to notice that he's made me lose my appetite. Maybe he wouldn't care anyway.

. . .

Lei finishes eating first. She pecks Taemin's forehead before excusing herself to her room. She has never stuck around at the table after finishing her meals, and I guess Taemin's presence doesn't inspire her to change that habit.

I lost my appetite during the closet renovation chat, but I refuse to leave Taemin alone with Mom. It's obvious that if I give him the slightest edge in our competition, he'll win.

In the end, Mom sends us upstairs together, despite Taemin's offer (which prompts my offer) to help with the dishes. So we see the sign pinned to Lei's door at the top of the stairs at the same time. Glittery pink letters scream, "Keep Out!"

Taemin glances at the sign before he reaches for the doorknob. Maybe he can't read English that well. Or maybe he can't read cursive. Or maybe he's never been on the receiving end of a 'Keep Out' sign. But I can, I can, and I have. So I ask, "What are you doing?"

Over his shoulder, Taemin glances at me. His hand is still around the doorknob. "I'm going to bed. Lei and I promised to sleep together every night."

I already knew all about their sleeping arrangement, but I didn't expect Taemin to mention it so plainly. So matter-of-factly, with only the faintest traces of a smile around his lips. It's weird.

I point at the sign. "It says 'Keep Out.' It looks like she changed her mind."

I'm being an asshole, and I don't like it. I know well that Lei didn't change her mind about anything, and Taemin should too. He should know that she never makes empty promises; she keeps even the broken ones. He should know that the sign is meant for me, and I'm just— I'm just sad, so I want him to be sad too, even if it's just for a second.

Man, I'm on my own nerves. I need to sleep this off.

Because I don't trust myself to open my mouth without saying more bullshit, I brush past him on my way to my room at the end of the hall.

#superm au #superm social media au #superm texts #superm fluff #superm imagines #superm drabbles #superm fic #superm fanfic #shinee au #shinee social media au #shinee texts #shinee fluff #shinee imagines #shinee drabbles #shinee fic #shinee fanfic #taemin texts #taemin fluff #taemin imagines #taemin drabbles #taemin fic #taemin fanfic #kpop au #kpop social media au #kpop texts #kpop fluff #superm imagine #taemin imagine #lucas wong texts #wong yukhei texts

[kainenmarlowe]

Deprived

It was close to midnight by the time Kainen reached his destination: a placid and tucked-away beach a few malms out from Costa del Sol. He was quick to unsling his pack from one shoulder and his polearm from the other. The former was allowed to fall where it may, the latter was thrust butt-end into the soft La Noscean sand, where it stood upright for only a second before tipping and falling unceremoniously to the ground. The display garnered only a glance over the shoulder and a roll of the eyes. At the end of a day as arduous as this, the only thing occupying his mind was the quiet swim ahead. If this didn’t clear his head, nothing would.

With a series of clicks and snaps, the buckles and fasteners of the hunter’s leather armor were released and it, too, sloughed lazily to the earth to cover his footprints. The sand could be swept off easily enough; it was the mud and dried blood from earlier which would be a chore. But that was a problem for tomorrow.

Only a few fulms out from the current reach of the tide, Kainen rolled back on his heels and fell in reverse with abandon, letting the soft sand cushion his rear. He brought his leg up with a groan to pull a filthy boot off his right foot, then again for his left. One hand then reached up to grab the collar of his undershirt and - in a swift, singular motion - he whipped the whole thing off and over his head before tossing it in the vague direction of where his armor lay. A protesting sigh followed as he lifted himself back to a standing position. The buckle at his waist was released with a ‘click’ and his pants collapsed around his ankles. The underpants, however, were staying on. Anonymity was hardly cause to abandon dignity. Besides, Halone was still watching.

At least, he hoped she was.

Kainen took a moment to enjoy the feeling of the warm air on his skin and the light coastal breeze which fluttered about the tips of his hair. The scent of salt on the wind instantly sparked his memory, triggering a poignant recollection of a better time - and for the briefest moment, his worries gave way to sweet nostalgia. The feeling was instantly fleeting, of course, but it did give him enough cause to consider the hike out a worthwhile one. He could feel his tension unwinding already.

A series of strides brought him waist-deep in the surf, and he dove forward into the first wave that greeted him. The cooler temperature, the washed-out sound, the weightlessness - it all proved to be instantly therapeutic. With a powerful stroke, he shot forward against the flow. Then again and again until the sea floor retreated below him. He curled into a ball before kicking his feet toward the surface to propel himself deeper. The water offered little resistance, for he was well-acquainted with its nature and knew precisely how to bend himself to best comply with its immutable laws. With each stroke, he sought to swim further and further out from the shore.

As soon as the changing pressure in his ears became noticeable, Kainen oriented himself skyward and had breached the surface with only a few minimal motions. The raven locks now covering his face like a mop were flung back with a swift jerk of the head, allowing him to observe the scene a significant distance from shore.

Stillness surrounded - the stars both hanging static above and dancing along the water’s surface below. A glance cast about revealed neither spoken nor creature in the visible vicinity. The only sounds were that of the water: the distant lapping of waves against the shore, Kainen’s own arms treading delicately back and forth, and the arc of droplets he had sent soaring overhead now pattering back to the sea. Significantly more relaxed, he took a lengthy breath in and rolled to float idly on his back - his gaze left to search the tapestry of stars above.

“This is not so bad,” he thought, well aware that it was only a feeble attempt to convince himself that a day slogging through muck to slay scalekin because some wine patrician wanted a unique flavor of handbag was anything but a far cry from the halcyon dream made real he had lived in Ishgard. He searched the sky, as if it would hold some sort of validation for him. The stars simply twinkled back, indifferent.

“This is...for the best,” was the justification he settled on, then. Out here, those around him weren’t susceptible to the danger which followed him. And they weren’t susceptible to his evidently harmful brand of social incompetence. Or his abject impotence in carrying out his vocation. They wouldn’t suffer for his failure any more.

“At least the populace at large knows not of my misdeeds. Not even the rest of the Order, it would seem. Only those present at the hearing know. And perhaps a handful of other individuals… Still, out here I cannot bring such hurt to the good folk of Eorzea. Or the people I considered my friends. I can simply disappear into obscurity. Indeed, this is a fate befitting a Sinner.”

Brow furrowed and jaw clenched as he allowed his introspection to run unchecked.

“But what of the impacted and afflicted in the Brume? Surely they will continue to sling their ire undeservedly at the Pillars, or worse - the Dravanians. Was it really best for the Order to have erred on the side of leniency for the sake of clandestinity?”

As the dissonance mounted, Kainen let out a heavy exhale through his nostrils - until no breath remained in his lungs. Having relinquished his buoyancy, he allowed himself to slip beneath the water’s surface and drift slowly downward. His train of thought followed.

“At the time, I was willing to let my dearest friends beg for Halone’s mercy on my behalf. For what? My inadequacy saw them punished for it. Objectively, the greater good would have been to hang me up in the central square at noon. They could place a signpost on my grave: ‘This man allowed your families to die. Sleep well knowing the Fury has wrought her justice.’ At least tensions would have eased and the people could more easily work toward the peace they deserve.”

One minute passed. Then another. The shimmering sky from before was naught but the faintest glow down here, and before long, the inky blackness had become so thick, the outline of the wispy raven hair in his periphery could no longer be discerned against the encroaching void.

Five minutes. He should have touched bottom by now. Perhaps the movement of the tide was enough to keep him suspended indefinitely, or perhaps the current had sucked him out further than expected...

Regardless, he was content to savor the sensations, or lack thereof. Heightened though they were, all of his senses had now become almost completely muted - and not just the five primary ones. His body temperature could be ice cold or feverishly hot for all he could tell. His limbs could be anywhere, or they could have simply vanished alongside his track of time. He had not drawn or released breath in some time, and his pulse had slowed to a crawl.

His inner monologue followed suit - receding into restful silence, save for a last, lingering thought:

“At least mother did not live to be disappointed. She only knew me at my best. For as inadequate as I have become, at least she could claim to have been proud until the end.”

The small comfort afforded by this reassurance was enough to tip Kainen’s mind into balance upon the fragile fulcrum that held him at the point between consciousness and lack thereof. It was this sustained twilight which he had been trained for years to achieve and maintain, even amidst the chaos of battle. Though it had been well over two cycles now since he had last slipped into this state, the deprivatory environment into which he had unwittingly allowed his own distractions to lead him ended up providing the perfect conditions for an unplanned recurrence.

In maintaining this state with no temporal articulation - allowing himself to fall neither to unconsciousness nor waking - all distinctions between now, earlier, and later had drifted away; all perception had dissolved into a nebulous, fuzzy ether; and, perhaps most importantly, his troubles, fears, and preoccupations retreated like waves from a rocky shoreline. It was in this neutral, timeless dreamscape - free of waking life’s miresome web of anxieties and pursuits - that stillness was at its most absolute. And it was at the peak of this stillness where Kainen felt a presence. It was one which had not appeared or made itself known; rather, it seemed to have been uncovered upon the washing away of corporeal sensation. The imperceptible static of his current consciousness began to coalesce into discarnate echoes; and eventually, into a synchronous, discernible notion:

“O what great cowardice is on display, with thy writhing and thy self-dismay!”

It was a ‘voice’ of the same formless quality as one’s own inner monologue, yet the thought was not his. The language wasn’t even his native and singular Eorzean, but the message was clearly understood, having come from within. The cadence was achingly slow, and its tone wholly derisive.

“Canst thou feel my ire, o knight of men? Tis not a death in service of my kin which I rue. Nay, tis my afterlife which I resent - here as part of thee, who hath since proven wholly unfit to carry my essence.”

Kainen could feel himself teetering at the brink of that familiar moment when one can feel their dream collapsing around them, yielding to a swift and inevitable awakening. But something was holding him there in that liminal space - and he couldn’t tell if it was his own force of will, or something else entirely.

“Art thou a man? Art thou a mouse? Or art thou but a foolish child, resigned to cast thy litany of laments into night after dispassionate night? Didst thou not think the warrior’s path to be fraught with the trials of thy hopes and fears laid bare upon the rocks?”

Though formless and voiceless, the presence certainly emanated a sort of hostility - one which Kainen was eager to escape from. Any attempt to open his eyes, thrash his body about, or otherwise awaken, though, was utterly futile. He was paralyzed. Senseless and unable to control himself in any manner, he felt completely subject to the will of this indeterminate entity.

“Still, thy temples stand amidst the smoulders, do they not? Art thou not capable of this selfsame resilience? Or dost thou revel in thine self-imposed exile? Tell me, knight of man, what is it that thou seek? For all which now lies in the grave of thy pride is a deplorable heap of misery.”

Kainen made a conscious attempt to speak or even to give a thoughtform reply, but it was for naught. He was completely helpless. A tightening sensation began to permeate the space and at that point, a dire realization emerged: he was still underwater.

“If thou art so resigned to withdrawal in the face of adversity, so be it. Thus is my directive, then: retreat not to thy tenuous climes of finite security. Retreat instead...inward. As thou hast done in times past. For while thy mettle hath faltered, mine burns fiercer than ever!”

“Abandon thy perceptions and surrender thyself to me!”

“Forsake thine eyes!!”

Though entirely existing within Kainen’s subconscious, the voice was thundering. Its echoes reflected infinitely off of distant, nonexistent walls, gradually morphing into a cacophonous, booming dissonance which only served to intensify the heightening sensations of pressure and exponentially increasing panic. The chorus decayed, finally, leaving in its wake an acute, high-pitched ringing that intensified in equal measure with the suffocating weight of his now-collapsing consciousness.

So this was to be it, then. This was how he was going to die. Not in defense of country or comrade; nor fulfilled and surrounded by love. It was to occur unseen and unceremoniously; an accident of absent-minded caprice and nothing more.

Indeed, this is a fate befitting a Sinner.

A cooling air could be felt caressing his skin, then. A concrete sensation, at last. Reflexively, a sharp breath was drawn in, triggering a harsh cough in turn as a mix of salty water and mucus washed back in his throat. Kainen could feel himself expelling, but into what was beyond him - at least until the small bursts of light behind his eyelids coalesced into colors, then shapes. Focus eventually came to reeling mind and body, both, and his eyesight aligned to take in the scene.

He was on the beach again; and standing, curiously enough. It was still nighttime, that much was clear - though he caught no indication of how much time had passed. A wave brushed against his heel and enveloped his foot to ankle-depth, prompting the sand to gently give way beneath. Beleaguered by stimuli, he groaned as he took a few weary steps out of the surf and onto dry sand - casting a sidelong glance to find his clothes, pack, and weapon a good distance down the shoreline. As he began the slog to rejoin his personal effects, he breathed a heavy sigh - behind it, as much relief as was exhaustion.

Though quite content to simply breathe air again, Kainen couldn’t help but entertain the thoughts and implications emerging in the back of his mind: how much of what had occurred was real, or was it entirely imagined? A hallucination, perhaps, or simply an overactive imagination?

He hearkened back to the training he had undergone eight-or-so years prior, in preparation to join the Dragonsong War. Aside from the plentiful physical honing were the mental exercises imparted by his instructors: interstitial meditation, focal release, sensory deprivation... The results were undeniable, especially when aided and amplified by the equipment and slowed physiology they had granted him. But nothing like this had ever occurred. No hallucinations. No voices. No loss of memory or consciousness. He had always been in control.

...Right?

#ffxiv #balmung #kainen #slicethecake

[blankdblank]

To Fight For Pt 3

.. Pt 1 - Pt 2 - Uses lyrics from “Someone - by Kelly Clarkson”

Requested by @deepestfirefun

All – @himoverflowers, @theincaprincess, @aspiringtranslator, @sweeticedtea, @ggbbhehe4455, @thegreyberet, @patanghill17, @jesgisborne, @curvestrology, @alishlieb, @jogregor, @armitageadoration, @fizzyxcustard, @here2have-fun, @lilith15000, @marvels-ghost, @catthefearless, @imjusthereforthereads, @c-s-stars 

  x Thorin – @evyiione, @deepestfirefun, @queenoferebor

…

Supplies were gathered and worked into a great feast where toasts were given, tales told and songs had begin to be formed. On the side of Thorin’s table you chatted with your father and Thranduil who were still being avoided respectfully by Thorin and his kin while the Iron Hills forces all stole glances at you wondering why you were being avoided as well and your kin had chosen not to join you in Erebor.

Until nearly midnight you remained in the celebrations and silently slipped out of the main hall filled with laughter and singing when your eyes began to droop. Behind Thranduil you followed straight to the Royal Wing where you joined him inside his usual apartment you would share with him, Legolas, Tauriel and your father. A warm bath was already waiting in the sunken tub fed by a hot spring with soaps already set out by the Elleth sent ahead to aid you in undoing your hair and bathing. Firmly you scrubbed the blood off your body and out of your hair, on the side of the tub you sat wringing your hair out before the Elleth helped to comb through and braid your hair back while one of the healers entered to add another helping of the healing creams to your heavily bruised ribs, knees, elbows and knuckles.

A simple pair of panties were added under a pair of knee length pants with a fresh loose shirt and vest settled around your middle on your path to your bed while the Elleth and Healer left to let you get some sleep in the freshly beaten sheets in to free it from the dust a group of Elves had readied for you in the start of the feast. Heavily you slipped off to sleep reminded of your first night in Moria by the overpowering scent of dust lingering in this mountain.

Floors below however in a glance back to his table from speaking with one of his other cousins from Iron Hills Thorin’s brows furrowed for a moment in finally seeing you had left, the sight of a great number of your Elves still lingering about gave the assumption that you had simply gone off to bed. Heavily he sighed sharing that you had gone off to bed, a few questions finally bubbled out and the set agreement between your father and Thror. The main question being how you were handling the agreement, answered mostly with a wry chuckle from Thorin followed by his alluding that you were still reluctant at his inability to forge your courtship beads just yet. That admission stirred more than playful nudges signaling him to head up to bed himself so he could wake early to head to the treasury for supplies and the forges after to begin crafting to properly adorn the future Queen.

.

Daybreak brought with it a group breakfast the Company and Elf Lords shared around you. When Thorin was off to the forges you made your way back to Dale. The chilly drizzle filled morning blooming into a storm that would blow through bringing a soft snowfall once the temperature dropped enough. Joining in with your workers, all fully rested and thankful for the food Thranduil had sent from his halls for them, they were pleased to get started on the city’s repair. All questioning how you were being treated so far and how they could help in your courtship, the eldest of them all making sure to stay near you and respectfully offer refreshers on the courtship of your Dwarven kin.

Once lunchtime rolled around you strolled back through the gates of Erebor up to the Royal Wing. There you freshened up and joined your father to eat seeing that Thranduil and his Elves had already returned to Greenwood at the distracted Thorin unable to talk terms of trade just yet in his distracted state to catch up to the steps you should be at already due to your place dwelling in his halls. Three days you continued your pattern until word had arrived of the first Dwarves to arrive on the edge of Greenwood, the shock of how early they had arrived even before Thorin having sent word to his sister rippled through the mountain. Though it was uncovered that you had sent word when the Company had fled Rivendell you were aiding their cause and to go ahead and send the first travelers.

Among them Thorin’s siblings and Mother who all peeked through the curtains on the windows of their carriage currently passing through the open gates behind the first group of soldiers returning to a round of cheers. Off to the side on an overlooking balcony beside your father you stood peering down at the awed returning numbers as you chatted about his plans to head home to see your mother soon and to be with your younger siblings again in their upcoming set of birthdays. The dates would be handled swiftly and with confirmation from Maedhros, who had been hiding out in Rivendell for ages now and through your travels had found his willingness to travel again to be near you and handle your supervision in Maglor’s absence.

The Uncle in question arrived on the back of a single horse drawn wagon with a full bag he carried through on his shoulder with the pair of trunks in the back a group of Elves hurried over to take up to your apartment while another handled the wagon and his steed. A grin eased onto his face and in an eager trot he climbed the set of stairs leading up to you bringing your location to Thorin’s attention seeing you being raised in the man’s arms in a tight hug ending with a peck on your cheek before he set you down to hug his brother. The pair in matching messes of curls pulled back into lopsided buns from the travel and work filled morning. Through your grin your eyes turned towards Thorin who was nodding his head to you while speaking with a thickly bearded Dam formerly squeezing the joy out of Fili and Kili in a tight greeting.

Bright blue eyes from the face of a stunning picture of beauty for your father’s kin was staring up at you with a curious expression no doubt from Thorin’s sharing your continued betrothal. A steady breath filled your lungs and down the balcony you strolled through the short set of turns and halls until you exited behind Thorin who turned with a soft grin. “Dis, this is Princess Jaqiearae.” He paused for a moment eyeing her shifting gown across his feet in her turn to face you fully, “My intended.”

A grin eased onto your face and at her hand extending yours eased into hers granting you both a feel of the contrasting textures of the other’s palms, Dis grinned in return proudly at her returned title now matching yours, “It is a pleasure to have a name to add to a face. Thank you for your letter, it would have taken us months to return and aid in defending our keep.”

Thorin lowly asked, “You are the one who wrote to them?”

At Dis’ releasing your hand finally you locked eyes with him lowering yours across your middle to settle on your still aching ribs, “You were bound to do something foolish, I assumed if I couldn’t talk some sense into you I imagined your sister or mother could.”

A smirk flinched onto Dis’ face matching the grin on their mother’s face behind her at your continued stoic expression as Thorin eyed it carefully through Frerin’s stepping forward to offer his hand palm up making you scan over the lighter haired longer bearded version of Thorin. Gracefully your hand rose and rested across his allowing him to raise and kiss your still bruised knuckles that didn’t phase him at all.

“Princess, I cannot wait to see how much influence you gain over my brother in time.”

You smirked back, “I have yet to gain any influence just yet and that front seems dim just yet.”

His eyes shifted to Thorin at the upwards tick of his brow then back to you with a smirk of his own, “Do not be so doubtful of the sway have. Very few could muster our trust so easily.”

You weakly chuckled as he released your hand, “Well I imagine with Durin’s Bane in Dale adds little choice in the matter.”

Diaa behind them asked, “Durin’s Bane?”

Looking at Thorin you said, “Did you prefer to tell her, or should I?”

Thorin wet his lips and turned to settle his hand on her shoulder as you nodded excusing yourself for lunch. Joining your father and uncle to head up to your apartment while Thorin filled them all in on what they had missed on the way to show them up to his apartment as their own apartments were still in need of a good scrubbing.

.

Barely an hour had passed and with your plates rinsed and placed on the rack to dry far behind you in your path out to Dale humming to yourself. The Elves chatted among themselves about the travel plans and the complaints your brothers had given at not being allowed to leave the safe borders of Moria with your uncle as your regent until the Ironfists were certain not to try and attack them as they had you. Softly in your head you sang to yourself the words of a poem in a note your birth father had left you as per tradition before marching for Azanulbizar.

 We stay in love like vacation homes

You like summers on the sunny coast

But when the cold needs a winter coat

You say you will until you don't

You wore a compass around your neck

A different North than we'd ever read

Well, did you get where you're going yet?

Wish you the worst, wish you the best

I don't know how I fell into your rearview

Paralyzed lullaby, I couldn't hear you

So I hope you were right

And next to you tonight, there's

But I hope you will find

 Someone to cry for, someone to try for

Someone to turn your crooked roads into her streets

Someone to fight for, someone to die for

Someone whose arms will hold you tight enough to be

The reason you breathe

Be the reason you breathe

 As confusing as the words seemed to be to you decades ago once your mother fell for Maglor you began to see just what you should demand from your future partner. This betrothal seemed to trouble your dreams as to how Thorin would actually be. So far even a promise of breakfast seemed above his limits right now and no matter what you said there always seemed to be some question as to why you were saying it, as if there was a script you were unaware of needing to follow.

It is true there were certain words that come with special markers or traditional levels to progress your courtship but you were nowhere close to needing those just yet. To yourself you huffed and hoped up the same broken set of steps to the main palace in the center you were helping to restore mentally grumbling at how little you had seen past the judgmental, untrustworthy, moody and assuming headstrong side to the King to whom you were promised.

Over and over you reminded yourself that surely your father must have had the best intentions and perhaps the Prince he once was could be tapped into again and just maybe he wouldn’t be like the cruel Ironfists, the only other race of Dwarves you had known so well outside your own compassionate and fiercely defensive kin. So much cruelty had been unleashed on you unfairly and knowing yourself you would not tolerate any harm or belittling, you would sooner face banishment or even have to flee for defending yourself if the worst came about and he slipped into the sickness again.

..

“How are we meant to live with that creature-,”

Thorin cut his mother off, “Amad, her people have lived with him for decades now. We’ve seen that creature shift form its peaceful goat form and into its Balrog form. It seems to be under her control somehow. The Elves give it room, as do her kin, only she is allowed to touch it it seems. Our agreement has been honored so far, the Princess seems more than willing to honor her late father’s wishes to offer a chance at her hand.”

Dis, “A chance?”

Thorin sighed, “We met when I was crownless, I was more than rude to her adopted kin and twice I have appeared to flee her company. Without my asking she contacted you, granted our kin safe passage here and set her Balrog on Smaug, on whom she dealt the final blow to. There is no reason not to trust her.”

Dis, “There is no question of trust, merely,” Dis wet her lips, “Was she aware of the betrothal? She seems, perhaps that would explain why she could be reluctant for courtship.”

Thorin, “I do not believe she was, not until I brought it up in Rivendell. It seems her adopted father would not favor arranged marriage.”

Frerin, “And yet she still agreed.” He teased earning a narrowed gaze from his brother, “You seem protective already, for such a beauty I can see why.”

Diaa tapped both of their legs, “Boys!”

Dis chuckled, “Amad, there is no competition, she is promised to Thorin she will surely not try for a second son even if she finds Thorin unwilling to court her.”

Thorin, “I am willing, more than willing!”

Dis raised a brow, “Then where are her courtship beads?”

Thorin, “I finished them yesterday, along with a hair comb and daggers for my first gifts to catch up.”

Frerin, “Good choice. I look forward to seeing her wearing them at your coronation.”

Thorin sighed and said, “Do we really need to have a full coronation, wasn’t besting a Dragon enough?”

Dis chuckled and neared him to claim the last of the cookies they had on his saucer by his tea cup, “Dear brother, what would your future Queen say if she found out you were avoiding the very ceremony Grandfather had planned for her to be fixed at your side throughout and long after. After all, if you are not coronated then how could we possibly crown her as Queen?”

Thorin sighed again, “Fine.” His hand moving to help position the pillow Dis was adjusting behind her back at the cramp her large stomach was stirring up, “When is Vili arriving?”

Frerin, “Oh, next week. Got sidetracked in Rivendell, wanted this one Elf to show him how to make the dagger he had for a birthing gift.”

Thorin stood, “Well, if you will excuse me, I have to arrange a dinner for my intended, if she will agree to it.” His eyes shifted to Dis, “Since she seems so disagreeable to me.”

Dis shook her head, “She has a soft spot for you. Why else would she so foolishly aid you in your death march.” Thorin rolled his eyes at her smirk and he turned to kiss his mother’s cheek then leave the room to make his way to Dale.

..

On his way however one matter after another got in the way and it was nearly sunset when he found himself finally passing through Dale in search of you. Up to the most inner circle he was awed at the set supports for the ceiling in the old palace miraculously only in need of a new roof, supporting beams for the second floor and a few repaired walls to pass for ramshackle. Straight to the music room he walked in a daze to the sound of an ethereal hum to a familiar tune haunting his dreams. An off pitch note from the next key halted you from your humming to stand and peek under the open hood to sigh at the worn fixture you noted on the open journal for repairs to add to the list.

“What is that song?” At Thorin’s voice your turned and his eyes followed your ponytail resting over your shoulder full of braids packed with beads all burned now, at the knowledge of your tattoo, meant they were trophies from those who had dishonored you.

“I wrote it.”

Carefully you looked him over in his wrinkled shirt and sleeve unrolling itself he forced back up to his elbow again walking closer to you wetting his lips, “I, it is beautiful,” unwilling to share he had heard it fully in his dreams as his motivation to keep going in his roughest times even unable to understand the Kurdu portions. “I understand it is late and I am behind as far as our union is concerned. As for why I am here, I wished to request your company for dinner tonight.”

“Tonight?”

He nodded, “Of course you would have time to change and bathe.” He wet his lips again and your brow twitched up, “Not that you require it, how you are now would be perfect if you wished. Plus, if you wished for a chaperone there is time to secure one as well.”

Stepping closer to him as you pocketed your journal you eyed his expression uncertain of its meaning, “It seems my work crews have already turned in for the night and Ada would come hunting for me if I do not return soon. Besides, my uncle was wondering when you would ask for some time with me.”

Thorin nodded joining you on the path back again, “Of course, I do apologize-,”

You shook your head, “You are rebuilding a kingdom. I understand you are busy we have encountered the same.”

He nodded, “Of course.”

“Though I will warn you Ada is expecting a conversation with you as well, he’s leaving in a few days-,”

Thorin, “Oh?”

“My younger sisters’ birthdays are coming up with my younger brothers’ after.”

He wet his lips, “Why not bring them here?”

You glanced at him, “How much do you know of our feud with the Ironfists?”

“I know they have shared the lands that were once yours were taken by fires that claimed most of theirs. Not much past that other than rumors your line was wiped out.” He paused then added hastily, “Of which I was thrilled to learn was false.”

You weakly chuckled, “My brothers are not safe outside our borders.”

“They would be safe here.”

Your eyes locked with his, “Not with the Ironfists marching here to aid in your defense.”

His eyes dropped to your ponytail, “This is impossibly rude to ask,” your hand rose to offer him a better view of your braids he tenderly cradled in a pause in the center of the path between Erebor and Dale. His lips parted as he counted them out, “How many clans have dishonored you?”

His eyes met yours with concern, “All of them.” Unsteadily he inhaled and you added, “I will not lie, you will not find much support from them on binding yourself to me.”

At your step he moved with you gently setting your hair back down over your shoulder again, “I do not require it.” You glanced at him again, “Our kin have been allies far greater than mine with the Ironfists, far too long they have demanded without backing up their promises.”

“You are serious?”

He stopped you with a gentle hand on your shoulder, “Yes. None of my kin were at ease hearing of the boasted end of the Blacklocks, you have my word, the first sign of aggression towards any of you will be dealt with accordingly. We are betrothed and I will ensure your entire family, even from your Ada are welcome and safe here.”

You nodded and he turned to show you onwards again, “Just make certain I am there when you tell their King that,” he glanced at you again and you giggled, “I want to see how red he turns.” Making Thorin chuckle.

The full way into Erebor and up to the Royal Wing you shared his plans for the repairs and when you finally reached the right floor talk of the coronation began. The basic ceremony came up leading up to the typical celebration after. “It all leads up to a big ball, in which I open-,” Thorin’s grin spread anxiously as you paused outside your door, then it flinched at Balin entering with a relieved sigh, “Thorin, your inspection of the armory-.”

Thorin nods, “Until supper then,” he claims your hand to kiss your knuckles.

“I suppose I am free for supper on Thursday.”

Thorin freezes, “Thursday?”

“You have a habit, Your Majesty, in Rivendell you promised breakfast, then fled. And in Greenwood-.”

Thorin cups your hand, “I will see you in one hour. I will prove to you my word can be trusted.”

Your head tilts, “When it comes to food who can be certain.” Making him chuckle at your slight teasing tone, in an exchange of bowed heads you turn to leave and Balin inches closer to learn all he could of your advancement in courtship.

Thorin went to the end of the hall then paused patting Balin on the shoulder, “Cousin, the inspection can wait.” Balin looked up at him with his lips parted, “Twice I have promised time with my intended and if I leave this hall it will be three,” he turned Balin to head back to his apartment, “There is something more important we need to discuss while I change and finish supper.”

Balin nodded, “Of course. What is the issue?”

Thorin, once his door was open passed through heading for his room, stripping along the way, “We need to discuss our stance with the Ironfists.”

Balin raised a brow, “What-?”

Tossing his shirt away he answered, “Jaqiearae’s Ada is leaving for her younger siblings’ birthdays. I offered for them to travel here, however, she informed me her kin and the Ironfists have been feuding since they tried to steal their lands before those fires. Those burnt beads in her hair are all from clans that have dishonored her.” Balin’s mouth dropped open, “If they try to harm or insult her or any of her kin I am expelling them from the council and from my favor. Too long they have been weighing down our trust in them and boasting of the end of the Blacklocks, the kin they knew I was betrothed to.”

“I see.”

“We are to be wed and I will not have my Queen feel unsafe in my halls or parted from her kin. I mean, no wonder her men chose to remain in Dale and the Elves chose to stand guard over her. I should have connected this earlier.” He groaned looking at each of his shirts, “Blue with gold or silver runes?”

Balin, “I think for initial courtship silver is best.” Thorin nodded and pulled the fresh shirt on, “I agree. Though Dain will find that tough, seeing as a third of their kin make up his southern guard in that new peak.”

Thorin, “He will understand. I believe he already agrees with my choice.”

Balin chuckled, “A great deal of the men are envious of you, quite a fine Lass for our Queen, even with the Hobbit ears,” making Thorin twitch up his brow in Balin’s chuckle, “They are adorable, frame her face nicely, our pronounced ears no doubt would be unfavorable on her with her mother’s cheekbones.” Making Thorin smirk remembering your hair tucked behind those adorable ears of yours.

A few minutes later he had his fresh outer vest chosen and pulled on with a belt to secure it before he darted to his mirror to check his hair then he rushed to check on his dinner.

.

Patiently you waited and after bathing and pulling on a simple gown you could easily wear to bed with the removal of the belt around your hips if he stood you up again. Anxiously you sat on the arm of your uncle’s chair feeling his own muscles tensing at each tick of the clock since the hour had came and went. A full ten minutes you sat listening to your Ada in his pacing, ranting about all he would say to the King unless he had a decent excuse, such as another dragon attacking Erebor that he had to fight off single handedly with a rusty spoon.

Three hasty knocks later and you stood up following your Ada to the front door of your apartment brushing your loose hair over your shoulders anxiously as the door was eased back freeing a waft of smoke into the main hall. Stepping forward with Maedhros behind you your eyes all scanned over Thorin, who gave a weak clear of his throat paired with an anxious grin at you, “King Maglor, Princess Jaqiearae, I do apologize for my tardiness, however, something seems to have, happened, with my pie.” Your brow ticked up at the lingering smoke coming off of him, “So, no pie, however the three cakes and brownies I baked seem to be holding strong. Balin and Dwalin have headed the transfer of the dishes to an empty apartment previously scrubbed with a great view from a balcony to give mine time to air out. Stove seems to be a bit testy still.”

His ranting ended and the seemingly helpless expression on his face at the three of you had Maglor chuckling in his turn to gently pat your shoulder and nudge you forward saying softly, “A decent explanation. Enjoy your dinner.”

Passing through the door you felt his eyes subtly taking in your appearance after you had stolen one of him, “I did not expect you to have so much made for supper.”

He chuckled, “I did not have it made.” You glanced at him, “My Amad would never hear of it, plus, I enjoy baking and it does not hurt to have walls between my kin and my stove. They tend to break in and steal it all a piece at a time. I do hope they haven’t resorted to thievery tonight. I doubt it, though still possible.”

A weak chuckle escaped you stirring his grin wider a twinge in his stolen glance at you seeing your subtle grin, “My younger sisters are the same way. All four of them.”

“And your brothers? You have seven, correct?”

The hint of pain in your expression made his smile flinch before you replied, “I have seven brothers.”

“I spoke to Balin about the Ironfists, I will discuss it with Dain in the morning. He will agree with my decision.” A pair of sealed doors were in front of you and in a glance back at you he grinned easing the door on the left open to allow you through.

The first thing you saw was the light from the roaring fire from the fireplace pouring into the hall also lit with lanterns on the walls. Beside him you walked with the King who showed you into the dining room mainly lit by the candles on the table as well as the moonlight pouring through the glass wall between dramatic arches. An overpowering scent of all the food he had put together wafted over to you making your mouth water in your eyeing the spread across the table. The plate of cake with a subtle dip in the side from a stolen taste made you giggle to yourself at Thorin’s scoff, carefully he eased back the chair you settled into then watched him ease back his own beside you.

Serving out the food Thorin kept stealing subtle glances at you eyeing your response, the positive grin on your face spreading his and he sat again. Uncorking the wine he brought you passed him your glass he filled carefully then returned to you then locked his eyes on yours at your saying, “You left off at your coronation.”

He nodded corking the wine he set down again and wet his lips, “Yes, the celebration opens with a dance, my first dance meant for myself and my Queen, or future Queen,” he wet his lips again giving you a hopeful gaze, “I was hoping to convince you to accept my arm for the evening?”

A grin eased onto your lips at his flustered blush and you replied, “No need for convincing. Of course I will accept your arm. I hope to make you and your kin proud.”

“You already have. Erebor is protected, Smaug dead and Moria is thriving.”

Pt 4

#Thorin x Reader OC #Hobbit #lotr

[samesongxox]

Savior: Chapter 7 (Its Been, One Week)

Summary: (Hellboy 2019) AKA Turning a New Leaf AKA Good Samaritans Need Love Too. The B.P.R.D is tasked to infiltrate a black market creature trafficking ring led by a powerful warlock. Hellboy rescues Phyrra who is found being held hostage, a slave for her magic. He must protect her as she is hunted by her master and his gang of monsters. (AU where Broom isn’t dead/Abe wasn’t found)

It will be rated M, it will include violence, swearing, smuttiness, all the good things in life.

Disclaimer: Hellboy belongs to Dark Horse Comics/Mike Mignola, I don’t own anything except the AU and my OC’s.

Hellboy walked into the library, following the sound of Phyrra laughing. Now don't get him wrong, it was quickly becoming one of his favourite sounds. Top three in front of the sound of a beer opening and a nice clean shot from a new gun. It wasn't just the sound of her laughter though, joining it was the sound of his father talking animatedly about a topic Hellboy wasn't quite sure he was hearing it.

"He was a handful alright! I remember many Christmases all Hellboy wanted was a Howdy Doody doll of his own. He was beyond ecstatic this particular morning."

He watched as Phyrra cooed over the photo in her hands. He felt the cold wash of shame. Oh on. No, no.

"Dad, Phyrra. What's going on?"

Phyrra's eyes shot up and she blinded him with her smile. This wasn't good at all.

"Oh Hellboy! You were such a cute baby! Look at your little tail!" Hellboy felt very conflicted as he found himself pleased at Phyrra's bright smile, her utter delight. He supposed he could live with some severe embarrassment if she looked at him like that.

"Thanks, dad." Trevor just shrugged, flipping the page of the photobook. Hellboy took the chance and sat down beside her, figuring she was distracted enough by the mortifying pictures.

It had been a week since Phyrra's arrival to the B.P.R.D.

Seven excellent days of being in her presence, holding her attention, being able to talk to her. Seven days of watching the elf girl graceful moves around him. Seven days where he couldn't bring himself to ask her out.

Since the trio returned to HQ, something had changed between them and they had managed to become less nervous around each other. Everyone had taken to spending alternating shifts in the library and the warehouse a day, the majority of the creatures were harmless, able to be liberated to find their homes again. Trevor had phoned up some old friends running the sanctuaries for the harpies, a basilisk. Elias had seemed to even come into the possession of a dragon, a majestic beast that was currently on its way to Northern Ireland to stay with a Mr. Li-Yang, a most generous benefactor for those types of creatures.

Last night in the library, he thought he might have found something. Some ancient elven tombs he couldn't read, he had found on the highest shelf, even he had to stretch to reach it. He had voiced his interest to her so Phyrra had come over and leaned over him to look at the book, casually putting her hand on his shoulder to steady herself. She seemed to understand some of the languages and was able to decipher. He turned his head and gasped at how close their faces were. Phyrra was busy with the text in his hands, he stared openly at her in this new perspective.

Her skin seemed so soft, so pale and supple. Her tattoos fixated him in the graceful swirls that ran down her nose and cheeks. He couldn't stop imagining himself following the trails they made down her elegant, swan neck into the blouse she was currently wearing. He had become so enraptured he continued his inspection until she fixed her gaze on him.

"This is interesting. Nórë-o i taurë…" Her brow furrowed as she seemed to contemplate something. "May I have it for a moment?"

"Y-yeah." Hellboy snapped out of his daze as Phyrra had stood there for a moment, the book cradled in her arms as she scanned the page, face still puzzled. "May I continue reading this?"

Hellboy barely nodded before she was turning back to the armchair she had often claimed in the days, placing her slight form into the mass of cushion. She was enraptured by the book all afternoon until she seemed to reach her limit. No one voiced anything as they had parted ways for the night, but something was on Phyrra's mind.

Cut him some slack here, it wasn't like he was some pro at this.

Alice was right about Phyrra being proper. She was a serene girl, amiable and respectful to a tee. She was often silent and only smiled pleasantly at Alice and his antics.

The most passion he ever saw from her was when she was in the kitchen. Dad had tried so hard to not allow her to make their meals, stating that the B.P.R.D did have the main cafeteria. Chefs from all over the world were brought in to make fantastic meals for the many staff members of the organization, but Phyrra was strangely insistent.

So he saw glimpses of it, her being carefree.

And at this particular moment. Hellboy looked from her joyful face to the horrible pictures in her hands. Moments from his past that while not necessarily bad memories, but something he didn't want the girl he was crushing on to see.

"I'm sorry not that this isn't great." Hellboy leaned over to close the album containing his childhood.

"But shouldn't we get back to the books?" Phyrra and Trevor grew silent, they had already been discussing the recent turn of events a few moments ago before Phyrra's eyes had caught the album, her curiosity a welcomed change in the subject for her, Trevor had been more than happy to show her some pictures he collected over the years.

"That one you found yesterday Hellboy," She licked at her suddenly dry lips, "It holds the answers. I believe we should focus our attention on this. It's a language I know.. Or knew."

"Oh…That's awesome, isn't it?"

Phyrra felt her lips pulling, Hellboy was right. She was becoming quite perturbed at her continuing lack of memories, but she had found the answer, it just needed to be uncovered. She should be kinder to herself.

"Yes, it is." She giggled peacefully at Hellboy's open, jubilant expression. She placed her hand on his stone hand, Hellboy was daring enough to cover it with his hand. Their eyes were locked in a sudden trance.

They didn't know who reached first, but they ended up in a hug.

Phyrra had slowly begun to seek his contact more often, she couldn't stop herself from drifting towards him when he was near, placing her hand on his arm or against his shoulder as they conversed. Hellboy was funny like Alice but much more reserved. Phyrra had soon found out sitting around just reading wasn't fun for Hellboy, she was touched that him, that every one of them, had helped out considerably with the library's extensive collections.

Hellboy was always a source of warmth, a kind that Phyrra enjoyed immensely. She didn't voice it, but the hallways of B.P.R.D were rather chilled and damp to her. She would be lying if she said she didn't seek out the feeling of Hellboy's hot skin, finding it quite delightful.

He would feel better helping her in her bed, warming. Lulling her into a dreamless sleep...

Phyrra broke the hold first, pulling back with her head down to attempt to hide her flushed face.

"I will go get it. I stayed up most of the night continuing to try and understand " The elf girl scampered away on slight feet.

Father and son were left alone.

Trevor would have to be blind, deaf and dumb to not see Phyrra and Hellboy's fledgling relationship. On one hand, he wasn't against the idea of his boy finding companionship with this elf girl, Phyrra was a lovely girl.

She had only been here a short time, but her influence was already being seen in the team, Alice was ecstatic. The Professor had never realized she might be missing female companionship, Alice was always so confident.

Ben was even starting to come around to her presence, he had voiced his concerns to the Professor the night after Phyrra agreed to join the B.P.R.D.

Ben had come to Trevor asking him if this was the best idea, they were being put in a delicate situation, the warlock would no doubt be coming for her. Trevor had laid the Major's worries to rest, was it really about the possibility of a break-in, they were more than prepared for such a possibility. If it was simply the new addition, Trevor vouched for the young elf. Now, the Major had begun to relax around the girl, letting loose a few quips that showed his easing attitude.

No one had to guess to know how Hellboy felt about it, he was infatuated with the elf girl. The feeling was mutual if Phyrra's easy smiles and glances were any indication. It was a sweet kind of naive courting that Trevor didn't expect out of his son.

On the other, it was happening rather fast, call him old fashioned.

"Hellboy I would be remiss if I didn't voice my concern,"

".." Hellboy said all the displeasure he felt with no words, he knew exactly where this conversation was heading.

"I just want you to be careful, son. Phyrra is a very special girl, but I would be bereaved if I ever saw you heartbroken."

"Come on, dad!" Hellboy stood up and started pacing agitatedly. He couldn't believe this was happening.

"Besides, you're the one who asked her to be on the team,"

"That's not the point, Hellboy. She's very unstable right now."

Hellboy gave his father a deadpan look.

"Okay, I get it, dad. I'm trying to take it slow," Hellboy did get it. Other than his cowardice, another reason Hellboy was holding back was her amnesia. Somehow it didn't feel right to be so attracted to this broken, lost girl. Not that Phyrra showed it. As far as the week went, she had been a bright light shining in the tunnels of HQ. If she was just putting on a happy face, she did not indicate cracking yet.

"I know we never actually had.. 'The talk',"

Hellboy groaned harshly, he wished he could wake up from this nightmare.

"And we never do! Please, dad, I'm begging you. Just stop." Hellboy covered his ears in a desperate attempt to quiet his father. He even went as far as to turn completely away from Trevor, in a spectacular sight of childishness.

He couldn't do this right now, it was bad enough he was starting to have dreams about Phyrra, his father discussing the possibility of them having sex was enough to make his skin turn white.

"Alright Hellboy, just... You know to be safe.." Trevor was thankfully interrupted by the alarm signalling, unfortunately, that only meant danger.

"What's happening?" Hellboy followed Trevor to the monitor connected to the security feeds, watching as the intruders walked through the hole blasted in the solid steel wall of the B.P.R.D.

"There seems to have been a break-in."

The visuals were blurry from the blast but Hellboy already knew who it was.

"Phyrra!"

-

Going into town had been an adventure. Due to the current lapse she had of her past, Phyrra had no clue if she had ever been amongst humans before. Sure the odd ones would come around to make a business from time to time, but they were certainly not treated with the best of hospitality.

It was cold here. A colder environment than she had ever been. Trevor had given her a thick woollen jacket to put on and these things called 'mittens' to place over her hands. Showing her a card before slipping it in her pocket, he told her it was a card containing her initial salary, and to use it where they were going to pay for what she wanted.

It all looked so busy, were her thoughts as she watched the scenery pass her by as they were driven to their destination. Busy as the people at the B.P.R.D. Humans always seemed to be running to and from something, Phyrra deduced. Before too long they left the car. Walking passed the mortals, she unconsciously pulled the hat down, attempting to cover her ears as much as she could. The hat was chafing them, but it was the safer option.

"There's no need for that, my dear. We are quite safe here," It had been a short walk to their destination from the car dropping them off, soon Phyrra was walking into a much warmer, filled with some of the loveliest garments Phyrra had ever seen.

"Binx may come out if she'd please." Phyrra had voiced the Professor's request to the pixie in her pocket, she with much enthusiasm, escaped her temporary confines.

"Here, I will take your coat and hat," Phyrra thanked Trevor as he assisted her in removing the now unnecessary things. There was something else about this store, it was obvious, Phyrra could practically taste the magic in the air.

Walking down the aisle that caught her eye, Phyrra found she liked pants.

He would never allow her to wear them. Her clothing was provided for her at all times, she never had a say in what she could wear. Trevor had only looked to her expectantly when they entered the shop. Phyrra was flabbergasted.

"I don't know where to start."

"Well, to be honest, Phyrra. I don't know if I'm the best person to come to for 'fashion' advice, would you be willing to have one of the workers here help?"

"Oh, maybe not," Phyrra bit her lip, her old ways of shyness welling up in her. Life was much easier to live in the B.P.R.D. Out here in this unknown world was quite frightening.

"Hey, Trevor! Long-time no see!" Phyrra was the audience to an enthusiastic woman run up and hug Trevor with no pretense.

Her pupils were too large to be human. Her skin was also slightly hued in blues. Some halfling perhaps, she looked almost mortal.

"Wow! What a beauty! " Binx watched with wary eyes as this unknown creature came up to Phyrra with seemingly no idea of manners or boundaries, hugging the small girl with enthusiasm.

"Definitely not human," the pixie acknowledged, Phyrra shushed her in the quietest way possible, whispering to the stubborn creature.

"You're being rude, Binxy."

"It's fine, she's right," Phyrra and Binx looked at the creature with comical matching expressions of surprise.

"I'm Ava. I picked up some Fae growing up, my parents ran a potions booth at the market downtown," The girl bounced from Phyrra to Binx, bowing slightly. "Nice to see some pixies still around,"

Binx bloomed like a peacock, it was her weakness. The vainness of most pixies sadly did not miss her friend.

"Please, let us get her out of these dreadful clothes,"

Phyrra was slightly miffed at her friend's sudden burning opinion, she happened to like the clothes provided for her by Sorah. She admired the B.P.R.D logo. A hand gripping a weapon, poised and ready to fight evil. Save creatures and humans alike. She looked to Trevor who smiled kindly.

"I'll let you ladies get to it, I'll be right here Phyrra." With the help of hyperactive Ava, Phyrra chose the clothes she wanted. It was very daunting, but in the end, she loved what she picked out, more-so for her ability to have been able to choose more than anything else.

Trevor had also shown what was her room now, to decorate as she pleased. Phyrra knew she was on the same floor as Hellboy and Alice's rooms.

She knew because she had been to Hellboy's, and later that same night, Alice had invited her into her room for 'girl's night'. It had consisted of them watching some human film that was about a couple in a passionate love that caused Phyrra to flush. Alice had also shown her how to 'paint her nails'. Phyrra had seen women with coloured nails but had never given it much thought.

When Alice had asked what her favourite colour was, Phyrra didn't have an answer.

"What do you think I should colour them?"

"I don't know, maybe blue like your eyes….I only have a few colours.." She muttered digging around in the drawer, placing all the vials on her vanity for Phyrra to pick, "I think pink or red would be a lovely colour on you." Phyrra had gone with the red, it was a lovely colour and contrasted with her skin nicely.

Alice had invited her to her room three more times in the week. It had been more than nice, Alice had the great talent of being very easy to talk to. Alice had told her the story of being stolen by fairies as a baby, how Hellboy had saved her, her ability to see and communicate with the dead, how she had often felt quite lonely. Phyrra had likewise confessed to her mundane, awful existence with Elias. The constant fear of punishment and instability with her surroundings.

"Thank you for sharing that with me Phyrra. But you know what? You're here with us now, you never have to worry like that ever again,"

Phyrra thanked Alice, to know this human girl was willing to protect her gave the elf girl great happiness.

The medium had expressed after the colouring nails lesson that Phyrra should remember her favourite things, it might help with her mind recovering.

She felt her memories on the tips of her fingers.

Something she wasn't telling anyone was she had been having odd dreams. Running through trees. Sitting at fires, alone and numb. It felt so real, lucid like it was her past but it wasn't making the gap to her remembrance. She was so close.

That book. It smelled of pine and gave Phyrra a pang in her heart.

Nórë-o i taurë. People of the forest.

It hadn't popped the memories in her mind as hearing Elias's name had been, but she knew that was the answer. She couldn't read all of it, but it was her language. On the borders of the pages were golden swirls, too close to the ones on her skin to be a mere consequence.

In her room, snuggled deep into the pillow, Phyrra snickered at the sight that was one very lazy pixie.

"Good morning Binxy, nice of you to wake up,"

"Hmm... I wouldn't be so tired all the time if you would get the proper sleep,"

Phyrra reached for the book laying on her new nightstand, before being startled, involuntarily throwing the book to the ground.

Alarms were sounded in the hallway, shrill clangs that caused Phyrra's sensitive ears to twinge. The elf girl wrenched her door open. Ignoring her friend's protest, she locked eyes with a frantic agent before he was blasted away from her sightline. Feeling as if she was in slow-motion, Phyrra turned her head. Her heart stuttered against her breastbone.

She stood face to face with Elias.

#hellboy fanfiction #hellboy 2019 #hellboy #david harbour #fanfiction #hellboyoc

[alphaabucky]

MY, Omega - Bucky Barnes x Reader (5/?)

It’s been far too long since I've added to this series so I hope yous like this next instalment! :)

PARTS / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 

Warnings - A/B/O Dynamics, swearing, sexy stuff, idk what else 

You skipped down the hallway, humming to yourself your favourite song as you made your way to the mess hall; the smell of French toast, oatmeal and everything else filling your nostrils and almost already putting you in a food coma, your eyes fluttering closed as a smile curled on your face in sheer bliss.

“What’s got you in such a good mood?” Natasha laughed as you skipped toward the ‘alpha table’ pulling a chair out for you to plop yourself onto, the pheromones you were emitting almost blocked out the smell of the food that was being prepared barely a few feet away across from the table. As you sat down you could feel the glare from the surrounding omegas, most likely questioning your worth, questioning why that you were being cared for by not just one, but seemingly ALL the Alphas, questioning everything and anything; this didn’t bother you much anymore, this all being anything but abnormal to you. You didn’t answer Nat’s question, only shrugging your shoulders as you plucked a grape from the bunch on her plate, placing it between your soft lips before sucking on it - it making a pop sound as it went in your mouth. “I’m always like this” you smiled, going to reach for another grape but Nat quickly slapping your hand away and rolling her eyes. “I’m pretty sure you’re lying, and that the reason Miss ‘I’m never always this happy’ is so joyful right now is making his way over here” she chuckled, raising her eyebrows and nodding her head in the direction of the god-like-built alpha that was making his way towards the table. You didn’t have to look to know who she was talking about, you could smell him from a couple miles away, his strong aura and his natural scent was strong enough to disintegrate any other opposing alpha scents in order to gain the high power of the pack.

Last night you had barely slept, you were kept awake thinking of all the possible reasons why James Buchanan Barnes, the alpha every omega lusts for, is lusting for you? Within 24 hours of knowing of one another he had already tried to mark you, in attempt to claim you but failing miserably and biting the wrong gland and his jealousy burning through everything in his path when something isn’t how he wants it; and his odd approach to asking you to be his when he demanded you to not rut with Tony anymore.

You had thought about what you would do, or more like what you should, do.

Like you obviously have a criteria on what you would want for a mate, when it came to physicality though Bucky had most definitely surpassed your ideals and sat himself quite proudly at the godly scale of hotness. But personality is what you’re stumped at, would he care for you? Be soft and warm towards you but cold and stone towards other omegas? Would he be the ‘perfect ideal man’ that every human seems to want? You don’t know. Hence you felt the need to put him through some.. trails? Trial and error. Was this morally wrong?

Probably.

But he’s had his fun, surely this gives you the green light to have your own right?

Bucky took the seat across from you “g’mornin’” he nodded towards Natasha and she replied with a lazy salute; everyone surrounding you could feel the accepting scents of yours and Bucky’s, how it complimented each other and combined into one of the most intoxicating scents in the compound, if the other omegas weren’t already wanting your head for taking away their precious alpha, my god they most definitely do now. You sneakily stole another grape from Nat’s plate, placing it between your lips again as you rested your arms on the table and your chin in your palm, batting your eyelashes at Bucky as you repeated what you did before, popping the grape into your mouth. “Sleep well, Doll? Dreamt of me again?” He smirked, he was uncharacteristically over confident today... he grabbed the unusually large bowl and began indulging in the oatmeal he chose to eat for breakfast. You snickered, rolling your eyes at him. “You wish, I dreamt about my time with Tony.. it was hot. Must do it again sometime.” You giggled to yourself, getting up from your seat, trailing your fingers up his tense bicep as you walked past him, noticing the hint of red illuminating his eyes.

You heard a growl erupt from the alpha table just as you got to the doors of the hallway, pheromones of rage encasing around you and daring you to turn around, you were scared? If he was your mate, would you want to be scared of him?

Lost in your thoughts you didn’t notice the heavy footsteps coming from behind you, nor did you notice the vice-like grip on your wrist before Bucky reached for your waist, turning you around and grabbing the back of your thighs “it’s in your best interest to jump” he growled in your ear, his hot breath fanning over your neck as his teeth grazed along your skin, causing a shiver to cascade down your spine; you did as he said, his hands now firmly gripped on your hips as he turned and pushed the doors open with his back, leaving the mess hall full of angry, envious omegas, glares burning into the back of your head... and Natasha was left there too. “Come on what takes alpha’s so long to get up.” She huffed, checking her watch and pondering how long Steve would take to fix his hair before he came to the mess hall; looking around her she wasn’t fond of being the new prey under the predatory gaze of the omega’s, all their attention now on her since their ‘main boo’ had left.

“Would you all stop staring at me like starved vultures stalking its prey? You all are making an alpha feel uncomfortable” She shuddered as she watched all the omegas blush in embarrassment and turn away. “Speak of Mr. Perfect Hair.” She waved at Steve smiling “Y/N is playing with Buck” she chuckled as he warily took the seat opposite of her. “Sounds like Y/N”  Steve joined in with the laughter, stealing a grape from Nat like you did before.

“Oh my god what is it with you people stealing my grapes?!”

Bucky kicked his bedroom door open, almost breaking it off its hinges and then kicking it shut with even more strength if that was even possible. “Did you say that just to rile me up? Grind my gears?” He growled as he dropped you onto his bed, still comfortably positioned between your legs. “You want me to lie?” You answered, innocently biting your lip and causing another animalistic growl to come from him. He started to attack your neck, sucking on the soft flesh as his fingers fumbled with the fabric of your shirt, slipping his hands underneath the thin fabric and running his fingers along your skin and up and down your torso. “I want you now..” he hummed as he ran his hands over your covered breasts as he nipped at your collarbone, goosebumps on your skin rapidly rising as your body reacted to all of his motions; both of you were perfectly in sync with each other, this wasn’t normal, how long had it been since you first met? A week? 2?

“Clearly” you breathed heavily, reaching for the hem of his shirt and pulling at it as a signal for him to take it off. Standing up and moving away from you made you almost miss the way his skin was so warm against yours, you pouted your lips as you watched him smirk down at you, knowing very much well that you wanted him, he was enjoying this way too much; Bucky practically ripped off his shirt, keeping the eye contact with you as he reached down his pants, stroking himself as he enjoyed the sight of you laying on his bed with your legs wide open. Throwing his head back and taking a deep breathe in through his nose he smelt the strong pheromones you were emitting, clearly telling him how much you wanted him to make you his as much as he wanted to. Getting on his knees he kissed your feet and slowly made his way up, making sure to leave open mouthed kisses on every bit of skin he came by, subtly nipping at the skin of your inner thighs as he got closer and closer to where he wanted to be and to where you began to need him to be.

“Didn’t know you were such a giver..” you sighed in contempt, reaching to his head and running your fingers through his soft hair, pulling at it softly earning another growl from him. “I’m not..” he chuckled, reaching for the waistband of your shorts and pulling them down. “And to think you let Tony of all people to see all this first...” he mumbled to himself, admiring the skin he uncovered as he pulled the shorts away from you and throwing them away to god knows where.

As he returned to his previous position, admiring your covered heat, you moved your foot to his shoulder and pushed him away slowly. “Doll?” “Why do you want me?” You asked, him now standing up in front of you, your foot still on his shoulder to make sure he stays put. He laughed a little, thinking of this as some sort of weird joke. “Come on Doll, I don’t need to answer that.” His smile fading as he noticed your facial expression didn’t falter. “Just because Tony’s scent is still on me? That’s why you want me? Can’t handle that another alpha made his way into me before you could?” You questioned, moving your foot away from him as you sat up.

He stayed silent, there were so many reasons why he wanted you, not just for the rut but for you to be his, his mate, his everything, but his ‘bad-boy’ facade and stone faced aura is stopping him from being what he knew you wanted him to be. “You may be some so-called sex god that every omega lusts for but being a mate means so much more, for me anyways.” You stood, grabbing your shorts from where he threw them and pulled them back on. “Show me you care, and then I’ll consider being your mate. But so far all I know is that you’re a jealous ass that wants nothing but power and a different omega to play with every night.” You shrug, going on your tip toes and leaving a chaste kiss on his lips.

“And a little hint.” You turned to him before leaving his room. “Step one is, stop fucking every omega you see. It turns me off when your scent is everywhere like an airborne disease” you chuckle, closing the door behind you as you left him dumbfounded.

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