#and shes gonna ambush me about it later | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

silantryoo · 1 month

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baek harin x reader

WARNINGS ; TRIGGER WARNING! heavy manipulation, love bombing, possessiveness, gaslighting, physical and emotional abuse, spoilers up to episode 8 of pyramid game

your thoughts ran wild.

harin probably already knew. somehow, she always figured out what you were thinking, as if you were an open book. she could tell your worries and your fears by glancing at you.

you did well. you knew that she would be proud of you, but still...

you shook your head. now wasn't the time to be nervous.

smoke wafted around the baekyeon heiress as you approached her, her eyes drifting in the distance. in her hand, a cigarette, laced with gold and stuffed with toxins that harin always seemed to indulge herself in.

her head tilted towards you, a dull sparkle in her eye.

"so?"

her voice was monotone, carrying out a sense of boredom that she only showed to a few others.

you watched her in all her beauty, the curls of the fog shaping the area around her. the heiress was stunning, and it always took you a couple seconds to reel yourself back to reality.

harin rolled her eyes as she approached you, tapping the side of her smoke as a warning.

instinctively, you straightened, your eyes wide as she smiled.

there was something so addictive about frightening you, something that was true genuine fear laced with an undying loyalty. you were impossible to replicate, a faithful dog waiting by her bedside.

you took a deep breath, inhaling the smoke through your nose. "i got ambushed by jaeun, suji, and them."

"i thought so." another puff of smoke exited her mouth. "did they mention anything?"

anything else?

you bit your tongue, your face ridden with guilt.

you were tired of the game, tired of getting hurt. as much as you yearned for harin's happiness, the exhaustion was getting to you. you just wanted one day to yourself, without eunbyeol and harin breathing down your back.

"no."

harin's eyes hardened, her gaze trained on you like a hawk. her pupils took in the sight; your quivering mouth, your avoidant stare...

she smiled.

"why don't i believe you?" harin clicked her tongue, pointing the end of her smoke near your cheek. "is it because you're lying to me?"

she knew. how did she know?

"no, i just..."

("join us.")

you never questioned why class 1-5 were in the middle of nowhere.

the building was nice, decorated with marble columns and sleek white paint. the washrooms were clean, close by, and rarely messy except for the occasional tissue lying on the ground.

it felt as if you were purposely isolated, the twenty-four other girls in your class being the only ones in reach.

sometimes, you even forgot other classes existed.

"harin's a fucking bitch."

you paused. kim dayeon?

a girl like her wouldn't be caught dead in the library. there was no reason for her to be here, much less talk shit about the heiress of the entire school.

you kept your mouth shut as your thoughts wandered to the girl in question.

baek harin.

pretty, intelligent, soft-spoken. from what you've seen, all those things were right. you were always too shy to approach her, your thoughts clouded by the beauty that she held. from what you heard from others, she was the embodiment of niceness, going out of her way to lend others money with nothing in return (yet).

why would dayeon even say these things about her?

"god, you think she's all high and mighty." dayeon muttered, her feet shuffling as she paced back and forth. "that psycho probably wants us to worship the ground she walks on."

psycho? baek harin wasn't a psycho.

"a hierarchy game?" dayeon could already see it in her head. she had no choice but to agree at that moment, wanting to spare herself from her father later that day, but when harin had mentioned it... "is she demented?"

"pyramid game, dayeon." seo doah. that made sense as to why dayeon was here. "if you're gonna insult it, at least name it properly."

"shut it."

"you might also wanna check if anyone else is in the library." your throat ran dry as doah stood up, staring at you across the room. "right, y/n?"

you shot up, your eyes wide as dayeon stared at you. there was something in her eyes that was unfamiliar.

fear? what was she scared of? surely, it wasn't harin.

"um..."

"fuck." your eyes widened at her words. never in your life would you have thought that the eccentric kim dayeon would swear like a sailor. "don't you dare say shit, you understand me?"

you shook your head, your body stiff. "i won't-"

"you don't know what the fuck is at risk here." dayeon's anger roared throughout the library, her fist shaking. dayeon wouldn't hit you... right? "open your mouth and i'll stitch it shut."

you nodded, trembling as you packed your things to leave.

"jeez, dayeon..." doah shook her head.

you stood up, your bag half open, and your textbooks barely inside. in your arms, you gathered everything that you could, arms shaking as you rushed out the room.

a spark of fear lighted up inside you when you saw daeyeon fingernails imbed themselves into the soft skin of her palm. the crescents swelled a bright red, and you knew that she wasn't joking.

she was gonna hurt you. was she gonna hurt harin as well?

you needed to get out of here, maybe even tell harin how insane and dangerous her friend seemed.

how was that even possible? how could someone like dayeon hold a rage inside themselves like that? you could understand it from that suck up, wooyi, but dayeon?

you stumbled slightly as you turned the corner, the books nearly falling out of your bag as you collided with someone. a strong, sculpted hand grabbed your elbow, electricity shooting up your arm.

that feeling...

"is something wrong?"

her breath smelt faintly of nicotine, her perfume - one you assumed cost at least a couple hundred dollars - blocking the scent enough to not register in your brain.

you bit your tongue. "no..."

"you can tell me, y/n-ah." your heart leaped at her words, a cloud of affection and care seemingly coating them. "i don't bite."

harin's smile seemed so soft and elegant, like the status she so desperately upheld. her eyes gleamed gently (and if you looked any closer, void of life) as her cheeks dusted in a costly blush.

don't snitch. you thought as her worried gaze peered into your soul. why should i protect dayeon?

you bit your tongue, your chest bursting with guilt at the thought of dayeon laying a finger on the heiress in front of you.

"dayeon..." you whisper as an eyebrow on her pretty face raised. "she, um, she might hurt you."

you waited for harin's face to shift into worry, into fear, into a normal reaction. you waited for her lips to part and ask 'why?', to ponder what your words truly meant.

instead, she laughed, as if the thought of dayeon hurting her was a part of some greco-roman comedy and not a tragedy.

harin let go of your arm, moving your hair out of your face as your eyebrows furrowed.

"so i'm guess you heard about my game as well?"

you nod. you had forgotten that those threats had stemmed from some game dayeon had mentioned.

a hierarchy game... a pyramid game.

"what do you think about it?" harin's eyes shone in a playful demeanor, full of curiosity and excitement. you couldn't fathom why or how she wasn't worried. "doesn't it sound fun?"

the air shifted around you as her irises seemed to blacken. a heavy burden settled on your chest as she face twitched into a smile, and you felt compelled - forced - to agree.

"it does," you chuckled awkwardly. "i guess."

a soft hum escaped her mouth, her eyes glancing at your face, taking in the fear that had shifted from dayeon to her. behind your eyes, she saw something... something exciting.

the heiress smiled.

"i hope you're in 'a' with me." you had no idea what she meant, but the thought of being near baek harin made the room spin. "it'll be lonely without you."

she stepped beside you, a gentle touch on your shoulder. her breath wafted close to your ear as she spoke with a stiff voice, one you wouldn't recognize as harin's.

"thanks for the heads up about dayeon." you shivered, a cool line shooting up your spine. "i'll deal with her."

she walked away as a deep pit in your stomach emerged.

deal with her?

you gripped your books tighter as you listened to the fading footsteps, and the soft "hello, can i speak to mr. kim? it's harin." in the distance.

you didn't know why, but somehow, you made the wrong decision.

you were never scared of blood.

it was a liquid that flowed inside you and every person's body, just like how water seeped from the sky and into the ground. blood was a natural process, nothing more and nothing less.

but when you saw that knife, drenched from your classmate's fresh wound...

you shivered at the thought, while harin's soft hands fiddled with a strand of your hair.

"do you feel bad for her?" harin's smile never disappeared, not since the game started. it didn't disappear when crimson dripped onto the floor, either. "woori?"

her lifeless eyes bore into yours, jolts of electricity and fire rising throughout your fingertips and cheeks. her hand, close enough to feel your breath, paused as the rest of harin's body stilled.

all of her stopped, as if so curious about your thoughts that each cell of hers had to still.

"you can be honest." her breath laced in nicotine once more, her perfume no longer covering the overwhelming scent. "i wanna know."

woori was an 'f'.

being an 'a' yourself, you had the right to torture her, to manipulate and ridicule her.

you never did, leaving it up to dayeon to do whatever she pleased with her. part of you still felt bad for what happened earlier in the year, and each time you blinked, you remembered the heavy-handed bruises left on dayeon's face the day after you had told harin about the library incident.

you understood woori, though. the mental toll it must've taken, being bullied throughout the day, months on end without another student looking your way. telling the teachers only resulted in a beating at best, and at worst...

your eyes clenched tightly as your brain replayed that video.

"a little..."

harin chuckled, pulling her hand away and fishing out a cigarette.

"you saw her cut jaeun up." harin muttered through her smoke, her delicate fingers wrapped around the golden band.

you remember the marble on the classroom floor stained red in a way that you didn't think it would.

blood wasn't scary. fear was.

"i did."

"and you still feel bad." harin inhaled, smoke leaving her nostrils as she looked you up and down. "interesting..."

as of late, harin had been smoking around you more and more often. whether it be behind the shed or simply just the two of you in the library, clouds of smoke seemed to follow her, and in turn, you.

the first time it had happened, you had coughed violently, taken off guard as the heiress smiled. your tears were exciting to her, much like your overwhelming sense of loyalty clashing with your morality.

she had never met anyone who was so inwardly conflicted.

"did she really drop out, harin-ah?"

harin blinked, standing up from her chair as she snubbed the end of her cig on some random book cover in front of her. she threw the smoke onto the floor, grinding it with her heel. her eyes were cold, and dark, and you knew that you had messed up again.

you didn't cough this time around. she had no reason to be mad.

the heiress gathered her belongings, sparing not a single glance your way.

"y/n?"

your heart skipped a beat.

"yeah?"

"my name's harin." she glanced at you, unamused. "don't call me that again."

seong suji.

the girl was nice, a little naive to the happenings of class 2-5. you could tell from a mile away that the girl wanted to stay low and let time pass its course, but you knew better than anyone that she had a target on her back.

everyone's attention had been on her from the moment whispers spread about a new girl transferring into the class. the moment she stepped into the room, you watched as harin's eyes lit up, and a fire blazed inside you.

you didn't know whether it was guilt or jealousy.

"are you stupid?" harin clenched her teeth as she hovered over you, her eyes hardening like coals under pressure. "telling the new girl about my game?"

suji didn't hear the predators hiding in the tall grass. she didn't see their eyes, nor did she notice their bloodlust-filled gazes, but she felt it, and there were only two people in her mind who seemed to lack the barbarity that lingered in the empty halls of the complex.

"look at me!"

your eyes snapped to harin's, anger exuding from her lips as puffs of smoke filled the air and ashes fell onto the ground.

you winced.

"harin..." you had never seen this side of her, not directed at you. you had always watched from the distance as opposed to being the target. "i just thought-"

"did you?" harin's lips curled in a way that could only be described as disbelief, your utter incompetence boggling her mind. "or are you just as stupid as your dropout brother?"

you winced, the low blow winding your self-esteem.

"she looked confused." you tried your best to reason with an iron wall. "i didn't want her to feel like-"

harin's eyes widened, and her usual curiosity morphed into an unfiltered rage.

"like who? woori? jaeun?" she exhaled another cloud, your face getting covered in smoke as you struggled to breath. "you're so fucking stupid."

you felt the heiress lean closer, the tip of the cigarette centimeters away from your cheek.

"i'm sorry."

"you're sorry?" harin could feel her blood boiling. everything was ruined. "i had a plan. you ruined it for me. you ruined my game, y/n."

you closed your eyes, trying to drown out the sharp words and the blanket of burden that harin enveloped you with.

you just wished harin would go back to being curious and playful, and leave you ignorant to the fact that deep down, she was the monster dayeon had implied many months ago.

with a weak voice, you tried to reason. "i didn't mean to..."

"you didn't-" harin backed away, ripping the smoke from her lips and into her fingertips. "give me your hand."

your eyes widened.

"harin-"

she grabbed your wrist with a surprising amount of strength. her nails dug into your arm, your teeth grinding together at the dull pain. the heat of the cigarette hovered over your palm as you struggled to pull back, and you couldn't help but choke out a strangled gasp.

"harin, wait-"

the smell of flesh burning invaded your senses as your arm shook from the pain. lightning seemed to replace your veins, as a fire replaced your blood. your vision fuzzed, the tears in your eyes falling down your chin.

harin glanced at you, a small smile replacing her grimace. you were always so pretty when you were in pain.

"remember this." she threw her smoke onto the ground, her grip on your wrist tightening. "you mess with my game, you upset me. you don't want that to happen again, do you?"

the last thing you wanted was to see harin frown in your direction.

"no."

harin smiled, glancing at how your lips quivered and how your eyes held an intoxicating mixture of fear and want. quietly, she wiped a tear with her free hand, chuckling as you flinched at her touch.

"then stay away from seong suji." she leaned in, her voice soft except for the threatening undertone. "if i see you even look at her without my permission, i'll make your life hell."

her grip loosened, harin's eyes softening as she looked at you with what seemed to be worry and understanding.

"i..." you blinked, agreeing like an obedient dog. even now, you couldn't help but wonder which harin was the real harin, but all you knew was that you didn't want to disappoint her. "i understand."

harin sighed, glancing at the burn in your hand with contempt. "i don't like doing this to you."

you paused, your face brightening as the smell of tobacco stuck to your blazer.

"you don't?"

harin smiled. it was like catching a mouse in a well placed trap. you were predictable and easy to please. a couple right words and you'd be under her spell all over again.

"you think i do?" the heiress frowned, biting her tongue.

she loved it.

"no..."

with a giggle, she took your wrist, much more gently than before.

"let's get you patched up."

harin liked putting on lipgloss around you.

she liked the way your eyes darted to her mouth for a split second before they looked anywhere else in the room. the redness of your cheeks delighted her in the sense that she knew that no matter what, you'd be stuck under her thumb.

you were her stupid, little puppet. your strings strong and unwavering, and your heart tainted with a loved one that you thought she didn't see.

it was adorable, like a puppy chasing its own tail, or a whale, no longer strong enough to go up for air.

harin liked to send you on mindless errands.

it was a good way to keep you in check, much better than instilling fear. she could sense that someone like you liked to feel needed, even if it's something as simple as fetching her more of her favorite brand of smokes or picking up items that she used for bribery.

it gave her a good laugh when you would come back, beaming as if you accomplished something when in reality, one of her maids could have easily done the same.

you were none the wiser, currently on your way to getting her more coffee (well, to get doah coffee per harin's demand).

you were just about to leave the campus, but a strong yet gentle hand yanked you aside, dragging you out of sight from the windows of the complex.

"sorry, y/n-ah."

you tried to shake her off, but she was too strong.

"jaeun, let go." why was she doing this? more importantly, why was she taking you to the nearby convenience store. "i can't be talking to you. you know that."

jaeun stopped, and you thought that she had finally gotten tired of you complaining so much. instead, you looked at the scene in front of you, two girls sitting in the shade of a foldable umbrella.

harin was gonna burn you alive.

"harin's pet?" jaehyeong shook her head, staring at the taller girl beside you. "jaeun-ie, are you sick? do you have a fever?"

you frowned. you weren't 'harin's pet'. so what if you liked being around her?

"she's nice." jaeun muttered, ushering you to the other girls. you tried to turn away, but she moved you in such a way that you couldn't escape. "she helped suji out."

"that was a mistake."

suji raised an eyebrow. she didn't know what was wrong with you. how could someone change so much in a matter of two months?

her eyes wandered your figure, stopping at the burns that littered your right hand.

oh. that makes sense.

"hey, y/n-ah."

"yerim?" you turned around, your jaw hanging open as the trainee sat with the girls, sipping on a can of coffee. you glanced at her phone, watching as she scrolled through eunjeong's instagram. "what the hell is going on?"

you looked around, their eyes glancing at suji with hesitation.

"you're not gonna convince her, suji." yerim shook her head.

being in rank 'a' herself, she knew firsthand how you followed every word harin said. she could tell from a mile away what it was, yerim herself victim to the feeling with a certain swimmer.

but there was a difference between the two of you, one that could prove to be detrimental.

you needed someone to follow, while she didn't.

"i can." suji glanced at your hand again. "i know i can."

"convince me?"

you felt a lump in your throat, praying that somehow, in some way, harin would come barging in and save you from whatever was going on here.

you took a deep breath, and sensing danger was near, gripped your wrist for safety.

jaeun frowned.

"i was serious about bringing down the game, y/n."

the pyramid game.

that stupid game that harin focused all her energy into, hellbent on keeping the perfect hierarchy intact. the one where you watched your classmates get beaten to a pulp, bloody and broken to the point of mental disarray.

you had never spoken it out loud, but you were tired of it, watching everyone you know either do the hurting or get hurt (most times both).

but this was harin's game, and you'd rather hurt yourself than upset the girl you loved.

"harin'll be pissed."

yerim chuckled, a knowing smile on her face. she didn't expect anything less from you.

"aren't you?" suji glanced at your hand, one you held for dear life, as if you were afraid it would get burned again. "after everything you've done for her, she still burns you."

you frowned.

harin did it with good reason. she needed to keep you in line, to keep you from lashing out. she did this to you because, unlike wooyi or dayeon, she trusted you enough to understand.

harin did it out of the pureness of her heart.

"that was an accident."

"an accident?" suji could feel your doubt starting to seep through. that was enough for her, to see the light beyond the cracks of your love. "hurting you multiple times the same way was an accident?"

was it an accident? it had to be, otherwise, harin was just hurting you to hurt you.

you shook the thought out of your head, missing the way the girls looked at each other, satisfied.

"what do you want, seong suji?"

there was a beat in the air.

"join us."

she knew. how did she know?

"no, i just..."

you liked harin, even when she suffocated you with her smoke, staining your white shirt with the ash of her cigarettes. her eyes wandered yours routinely, and it felt as if she was trying to dig deep as if she needed you.

"i figured out a way to get to them."

harin's eyes sparkled. she would have never thought that you, docile and timid, would ever think of something other than her and school.

it was... exhilarating.

"sim eunjeong." you rattled out a breath, your eyes clenching at the very thought of what you were doing. "yerim... likes her more than we think."

the heiress laughed, the excitement in her chest bursting at the thought of you ignoring your morals just to please her and only her.

she leaned close to you, her face in front of yours as she moved a single lock of hair behind your ear. shivers ran up your spine.

"do you feel bad, y/n-ah?" harin hadn't felt this happy in a while. "ratting them out to me must be so heavy on your consciousness."

she looked you up and down, your eyes avoiding hers. your cheeks were tinged in red, and the guilt written all over your face didn't help the giddiness that was starting to overtake her.

"you're fun, y/n."

you'd do anything for her, even when she hurt you. even when everyone screamed and yelled at you to leave, ignoring the bright red stop signs.

"i like you."

> main masterlist.

#pyramid game x reader #baek harin x reader #kdrama x reader #wlw #silantryo

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nonotnolan · 2 months

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The Ends Justify The Means

As always, this February story is dedicated to my valentine, @mergeman

"Okay, but did we have to add him to the Hivemind?" Jordan said, looking at his unconscious boss with a look of resigned disappointment. "If I end up with an old man's vocabulary because of him, I'm gonna be so upset. This body looks too good to sound like a geezer." He tossed his shirt to the ground and gave me a flex. "See what I mean?"

I couldn't help but roll my eyes. Some humans stress-tested my 40% Free Will rule, and Jordan was definitely one of them. "One, bringing him into the Collective is the only way to bend his authority to our will. Two, the symbiote doesn't change our speech, it just enhances our knowledge. And three, the eventual goal is to overtake most of humanity anyway. We were gonna have to add Shaun sooner or later."

Jordan nodded, though I doubted he was paying any attention me. He was one of the part-time workers I had converted within the past two hours, and so his symbiote half was still checking out his new body. I can't blame it, I suppose.

I wasn't sure this plan was even going to work, so I was glad we managed to succeed. Capturing the part-time college students who worked here had been easy-- a bit of flirting from a tempting body, a kiss to introduce the symbiote, rinse and repeat. Shaun had been much more difficult. We had to resort to ambushing him in the bathroom where there we no cameras. Jordan's strength held him in place while I pried open his jaw to insert the new symbiote. It was far from elegant-- Shaun was stronger than he looked-- but at least it worked.

Shaun finally opened his eyes, and looked at me with a wry grin. "Alright, sir. I know we have a lot to talk about, but let's retreat somewhere else, shall we? It's cramped in here, and I think Jordan is a few moments away from whipping his dick out."

"You're not wrong," I said, shaking my head. "We should probably leave him to it. If nothing else, it will be nice to talk things over someplace a bit... less pungent. I assume you know what is going to be expected of you?"

"I do," Shaun says, crossing his arms. "Although I was hoping to talk to you about that one. I scheduled Darren to work Valentine's Day because I haven't had that day off for the past three years. This body's wife is threatening to make life miserable if I still have to work the holiday despite my recent promotion. I have a proposal for you."

I smiled at the audacity of this symbiote. Clearly its host body had a lot of confidence.

"Darren will still get the day off, of course," Shaun said. "But instead of working the day myself, I'll just tell Jenn that she's going to have to handle the shift solo. We don't need two store managers tomorrow night-- no one goes furniture shopping on Valentine's."

----------------------------------------------

"You'll never guess what happened today!" Darren said, greeting me when I arrived home. He and I had been dating for a few weeks now, ever since I was granted control over this host body. Unlike the symbiotes who were mostly extensions of my mind and my personality, I had full control and full autonomy over my decisions. Coming out of the closet was one of the first changes I made to this host's former life.

"Your store is actually closing for a holiday?" I guessed, walking up to him and hugging him from behind. I held him close, feeling the heat of his body against my borrowed chest. Humans were very big on physical contact, and it was a ritual I was more than happy to join.

Darren chuckled as he turned around for a quick kiss. "Okay, so it wasn't a miracle. But it was still pretty crazy! Shaun texted me, and approved my vacation time for tomorrow. Can you believe that? I've never known him to change his mind like that before."

I just smiled at him. "Maybe your District Manager yelled at him about it? You did submit that request a few months ago." As much as I hated feeding white lies and omitted facts to my boyfriend, I couldn't justify telling him my full truth this early in the relationship. Anyway, the only way I'd be filling him with a symbiote would be if we broke up and he posed a risk to my secret. I wanted a relationship with an equal, not a masturbatory fling with a clone of myself. Anyway, what was the phrase? The ends justify the means.

"Well, maybe." He paused a few minutes to consider this possibility before shrugging his shoulders. "I don't know, and I'm not going to question it. I'm just glad you kept those dinner reservations! I'm looking forward to tomorrow's date!" He smiled, and I could feel my heart melting. I would do anything in my power to make him happy.

#male body merge #male possession #alien possession #hivemind #gay male story #queer romance

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lovingmattysposts · 4 months

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You don't know me 6

P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 P6 P7 P8 P9 P10 P11 P12 P13 P14 P15 P16 P17 P18 P19 P20 P21 P22 P23 P24 P25 P26 P27 P28 P29 P30 P31 P32

pairing: y/n and Chris sturniolo

summary: you and Chris came from two different sides of the spectrum when it came to the social scale. You had the perfect life, the perfect boyfriend, the perfect parents, but when you start to peal back that layers things got messy. Your life was set and stone, your future was set and stone. That was until he comes and changes everything.

warnings: mentions of a toxic relationship, mentions of self-harm marks

chris pov

I turned onto the street that Nate lived on and saw him sitting on his front porch, reluctantly. I sighed as I pulled up and his eyes met my car. He looked down at his feet as he walked to my car and attempting to shield his head from the rain falling from the sky. He opened the passenger side door and didn't say anything as he slid into the seat.

I pull away, still in silence before I couldn't take it anymore. "You're still mad aren't you?" I asked him after a few minutes of silence. He huffed and looked out the window. I glanced over at him. I shook my head. "I'm coming to your game, you know I was always gonna go" I said glancing from him to the road.

"You only want to go because pinky pie is going" Nate stated harshly. These nicknames he's got going for Y/n are getting more creative by the day. I let out a laugh. "You're my best friend Nate, I'm coming for you" I said looking at him. He looked over at me. "You mean that?" He asked. I rolled my eyes and smiled.

"You're lucky I picked your ass up this morning, causing a scene in the middle of the parking lot yesterday. I should kick your ass" I said looking at him. He smiled and shook his head. "I really didn't think you were going to show up" He laughed lightly. I shook my head.

At least Nate's not mad at me anymore, checked that one off on the list. Feels like the list keeps adding on to itself. Ever since Y/n came over yesterday. Ambushed me in my own home, drinking lemonade with my Grandpa. It was kinda of cute, but I would never admitted it out loud.

I wanted to think about how I admired her ambitious for quite literally showing up at my house, or the fact that the skirt she was wearing was so short I had to keep myself from glancing down every time she stood up, but I couldn't. Not after seeing those marks on her wrist. They were faint, like they were from a long time ago, and there were only two of them.

Still, it made me want to question her. It's a nagging feeling that I couldn't shake even after she had left, but I knew she didn't want me to ask from the way she pulled away so quickly and looked ashamed. So I didn't push it, just like she didn't push me on my past. We all have demons. We all handle them differently.

The hockey game was tomorrow. I was dreading it--sort of. I was dreading the three hour drive in gas money, but I wasn't regretting being able to see and possibly talk to Y/n. I don't know for sure if she's coming, but it at least gets me through my day. After all Nate did really want me to be there.

We pulled up to school a few minutes later. The day was long, boring, uneventful. Like every other day in high school that was until I finally saw her in the hallway. She was wearing Levi shorts, not the distressed old look, but the newer ones with a lighter wash that fit her just right. Like it was illegal to be looking at her while she wore them.

Her top hung low. It was a cut t-shirt that had hole in it, for design, and showed her stomach slightly and her bra strap. I scaled her body, I shouldn't be looking at her like this. It wasn't right. I almost turned away when I saw Max approach her. He smiled down at her and pulled her against him by her belt loops. She smiled up at him, pecking his lips. I breathed in, suppressing my anger. That could have been me last night, if I didn't have morals.

Why does she like him? Why is he so special? Is there something so amazing about him that I'm not seeing?

I shook my head turning and walking the other direction. What was I thinking? Friends? I can't be her friend. I cannot be her friend. I don't look at at Nate the way I look at her. The way I think about her. Something about her presence overwhelmed me and I wish I wouldn't. I wish I could just dismiss her from my mind. Group her in with the rest of them and move on, but I couldn't. I didn't know why.

I haven't even looked at any girls here. They were the last thing on my mind. Until she kissed me al least. I closed my eyes, I have to stop. I turned into the boys bathroom, looking at myself In the mirror.

I felt guilty almost. For feeling the way I did. Not because she had a boyfriend, or anything about her relationship, but because I liked her. It made me sick to my stomach in guilt. I turned my arm around in my mirror and looked at the rose on my bicep.

"Fuck" I cursed myself. I couldn't like her. I just couldn't.

I didn't really feel like going to class. I sighed. I should probably go to class. I turned and looked in the mirror, straightening out my hair. I actually put some products in it today to make it looks less shitty. Nate gave me shit for it this morning, but ended up agreeing that it looked better than before.

I turned and walked out of the bathroom, but right as I did I ran into someone hard. Everything they were holding went flying, including the coffee they were holding. Spilling all over the floor next to us, alongside their books.

"Fuck"

"Shit"

I reached out and steadied them as they tumbled over. The girl looked up at me. I almost smiled when I realized it was Y/n, but then I noticed her face. Her cheeks were flushed and stained with tears lines and her eyes were burned red. She was crying. I felt my heart drop. I let go over her arms and I looked at her.

"Hey, hey, hey. What's the matter?" I asked trying to look at her but she looked down at her feet. She was sporadically breathing, like she couldn't catch her breath. "I-I-" She tried to say, but she was shaking her head. The final bell rang above us, indicating we were late for class. She looked up. "Fuck" She cried. I reached down picking up her books and then handing them to her.

She took them out of my hands, trying to catch her breath.

"Here, follow me" I said looking around before grabbing her arm and leading her out to an exit. She followed behind me as I opened the door to the outside. She threw her books to the ground and walked over to the wall, placing her hands on her head as the door closed. "Fuck" She said again, looking up towards the sky. I stood from a distance for a second before I walked over to her.

"Hey, talk to me. What happened?" I asked looking at her. She was fine three minutes ago, laughing in the hallway. What could have possibly happened? I looked at her trying to get a read on her face, but she kept turning away from me. She hid her face in her hands.

She wiped under her eyes and attempted to take a deep breath, but she start to cry again into her hands. I reached forward grabbing her arm and pulling her into my chest, wrapping my arms around her as she cried. I didn't know why she was crying, but I knew it probably wasn't good.

She sighed and dropped her hands and leaned her head on my chest. I put my hand on her head, rubbing her hair. She groaned and sighed. I leaned her back from me. She stopped crying but she looked up at me sadly. I reached down and wiped the tears under eyes with my thumb, without thinking. My hand froze on her face and I quickly retracted it.

"Sorry" I whispered. She smiled and looked down. I smiled from her smile. She sighed before walking over the side of the wall and sliding down it until she sat against it. I frowned and walked over to her sitting down next to her. She just looked forward out onto the parking lot.

"What'd he do?" I asked looking at her. Assuming that her dickhead of a boyfriend did something. She smiled and looked at me and shook her head. "I didn't say it was about Max" She whispered, pulling her legs up against her chest. I looked at her, pursing my lips.

She just looked back at me. It killed me to see her like this. To see her upset. Even though one of my favorite activities is to get under her skin. I never wanted to see her cry. She looked down at her feet.

"I'm suppose to go to dinner with Max's entire family tonight" She breathed looking down at her feet as she spoke, but my eyes were locked on her. My heart was beating out my chest as I looked at her. She took a deep breath.

"He asked me who let me walk out of the house looking like this" She said looking down still. "That I was dressed like a hooker. That I was a Labraut and I better start acting like one" She said shaking her head. I felt anger start to rise up in me. My jaw clenched.

"He said that he couldn't be seen with me, not while I was wearing this. That he had a status to uphold" She said starting to cry again and rolled her eyes. "He said he didn't want people to think that he allowed me to dress this way and that if I showed up tonight wearing something like this it would embarrass him in front of his whole family and I should just not come at all" She said her lip quivering and leaning her against the wall.

Wow I could kill him. No, I'm going to kill.

I looked forward clenching my jaw. Feeling my hands start to clench up into a fist. I let out a breath, before starting to stand up. She reached up grabbing my arm. I looked down at her. Tears started streaming down her face.

"No, please. Don't" She said looking at me. Like she knew what I was going to do before I said anything. I sighed looking at the door and then at her. She shook her head.

I don't think beating up her boyfriend would do her any good. She probably needs me more here right now than hunting Hastings down in the school. I sighed and sat back down next to her. I grabbed my bag that was near us and reached into it grabbing some napkins I put in there earlier and handing them to her. She took them.

"Thanks" She sighed wiping her face with it. She looked at me. "Why do you have napkins in your bag?" She asked looking at me. I smiled and shrugged. "Just incase you forget my address and needed it again" I said looking at her. She smiled and me and then at the napkin, before leaning back against the wall.

"Why are you with him?" I asked suddenly. My mouth just saying what it wanted. She sniffed, wiping her nose. "I love him" She said quietly. My eyebrows furrowed. "No, you don't" I said looking at her. She looked at me. "Yes, I do" She said back angrily.

"Y/n, look at you. You can't love someone who treats you like this" I said looking at her. Her jaw tightened. She slapped the napkins down before standing up. I watched her as she grabbed her bag. "Thanks for the napkins, asshole" She mumbled starting to walk away. I hated watching her walk away.

I sighed quickly standing up. "Y/n wait" I said walking towards her. She stopped and looked at me. "I didn't mean to make you upset" I sighed. She bit her lip and looked down. "I just don't like seeing you like this" I said looking at her. She sighed, wiping her eyes again.

"I've got to get to class" She whispered leaning down and picking up her books. I leaned down to help her, handing her down the last one. She smiled and took it. I reached into my pocket taking out a pack of cigarettes. She looked down at my hand before reaching down and taking them out of my hand. I looked up at her before she threw them in her bag.

"Hey" I said glaring at her. "Stop smoking these, they are bad for you" She smiled slightly. I bit my lip and shook my head before she opened the door disappearing into the hallway. I sighed and leaned back against the wall outside.

Y/n pov

"Are you done?" I finally snapped. Max looked down at me shocked as we walked to his car. I know I shouldn't have said it, but God if I had to listen to him say one more thing I was going to do a lot worse than just snap at him. He scoffed and shook his head.

"It's just-i've never seen you wear anything like this before. The shorts are ridiculous" He said. My jaw clenched. His words earlier upset me yes, but now he was just pissing me off. I bit my tongue as we approached his car. He popped the trunk to his car as I started to walk to the passenger seat.

"What the fuck?" He yelled causing me to stop and turn around. He looked pissed. He moved stuff around in his trunk before slamming his bag down I jumped from the movement and looked at him.

"Are you fucking kidding me? I just put those extra pucks in my car. Where the hell are they?" He yelled looking at me. I bit back a smile as I looked past Max and saw Chris leaning up against his car, with a devilish smile plastered on his face. I shook my head and smiled at him. He just smirked before opening his car door. Of course, Chris.

"Coach asked me to pick them up before the game tomorrow, he's going to kill me" He groaned placing his hands on his forehead. I put my hand on my face, acting like I was rubbing my face but in reality was hiding a smile. I leaned on Max and laced our arms together.

"It's okay babe, the games not until tomorrow. You still have time" I said. He shook me off him and then slammed his trunk shut before walking over to the drivers side door, mumbling to himself. I rolled my eyes. He's so dramatic. I walked over and got into his car.

An un harmful revenge. Well played Chris.

We drove a little bit down the road before Max finally calmed down enough before speaking again. "What time do I need to pick you up tonight?" He asked as he stared off towards the road. I crossed my arms over my chest. "Don't worry about it, I'm not coming" I breathed, not looking at him. His head snapped towards me, but I didn't look at him.

"What are you talking about Y/n? You are coming" He said almost as a command. I scoffed. Normally I would never say anything like this to him, but recently I've felt the need to stand up fro myself. If I want things to get better for Max and I, I had to stop letting him push me around. Because I care about this relationship, I'm changing it.

"No I'm not, you told me you didn't want me to come, so I'm not coming. Plain and simple" I stated looking at him. His jaw clenched. I probably shouldn't have decided to start standing up fro myself on a day like today, when he was this angry, but my mouth couldn't catch up.

"I said I didn't want you to come if you showed up wearing that, I assumed you would change before tonight" He said harshly. I shrugged, looking out of the window.

"What the hell is up with you lately? Why are you acting like this all of the sudden?" He questioned me. I looked over at him, starting to get angry myself. "Maybe I'm tired of you pushing me around Max. This relationship goes two ways, I'm tired of you treating me like someone who just stands beside you to make you look better." I spat at him. I was. It was true. He rolled his eyes.

"You're acting like a child" He said. I shook my head. Maybe I was acting like a child, but he was the one treating me like one. Better to just play the damn part. Chris didn't treat me like a child. He treated me like an actual person with feelings and ideas. I stared back out of the window, just wanting to be home.

There was this long windy road that we had to take in order to get to my house, there was normally never anyone on them. I watched as we passed the trees lining the road. The tress started to move faster. My eyebrows furrowed. And faster. I looked over at Max but his face was hard and he was looking straight forwards. I looked up as I realized just how fast we were actually going.

"Max" I stated as I looked back at him. There was a turn coming up that he would never be able to make if he was going this fast. He didn't respond. I swallowed. I heard as he pressed on the gas harder and the engine revved louder in response. I grabbed his arm.

"Max stop!" I yelled as I held onto his arm. No response. The turn was getting closer and my heart was beating out of my chest as I looked over at the speedometer going up by the second. I felt tears start to brim at my eyes as the trees were passing us so fast you couldn't even make them out anymore.

"Max stop please! I'll go, I'll go! I'll change! Just please slow down!" I cried loudly. Suddenly his foot let off the gas and he slowed down enough to be able to make out the trees again and enough to make the turn at the end of the street.

I let go of his arm and fell back into my chair. I crossed my arms and looked out the window and wiped a tear that fell down my cheek. My breathy was unsteady as I grabbed the seatbelt waiting until I arrived home, but even then my heart was still beating.

I closed my eyes and thought of Chris. I thought of how calm he made me. How I felt safe with him. How he would never make me feel this way.

A few minutes later we arrived at my house. I opened the door and grabbed my bag. "I'll pick you up at 6" He said. I just looked at him before stepping out and slamming the door to his car. I shook my head as I walked up to my house.

I can't believe he put me in a position like that. He's never scared me like that before. I walked up the steps to my house, successfully escaping my parents. I laid down on my bed, finally being able to return my heartbeat to normal. The one time I try to stand up for myself. I guess my mother was right.

The dinner was boring. I was bored at least. I didn't want to be there at all. I wore a dress that went down past my knees and had a high neck line. Max was pleased at my choice of outfit. His mother complimented me as well. I didn't eat much, just stabbed the piece of chicken with my fork over and over, sometimes pretending it was Max's face.

"Y/n" Max stated beside me. I looked up at him. "My mother asked you a question" He said looking at me. I looked from him to his mother that was across from us. She was fancy to say the least. It was a Friday night on a random weekend in October and she set up the table and dressed like the queen was coming. I've never seen a dish or a hair out of line in the sight of Anne Hastings in my life.

There was never a linen out of place, or dust whatsoever on any of the counters. Their house was always in impeccable shape, much like mine. She was just as a clean freak just as my mother.

So when I came here I felt like it was my house all over again, but this time I had someone to try and impress. Someone to walk on egg shells with, Max's parents. At least at my house my parents don't give a shit what I'm doing as long as I don't make myself known, but here it's different. It's dare I say, worse than my own house.

His parents always loved me. Though, I never knew if they loved me, or who I was. I try not to read into too much though. I'd like to believe they like me for the sweet girl that loves their only son, not the fact that if we get married my father might pass down the family business down to him, since I wasn't a boy to take it over myself.

"Are you excited about Max's regional tomorrow?" She asked smiling at me. She was only eating a salad of course. I thinks she's vegetarian, I've never seen her eat meat. I don't know why she cooks it then. I have a lot of questions about this women now that I'm realizing it. I've also noticed that her husband doesn't sit next to her at these dinners, he eats at the head of the table. I think that's weird, but my family doesn't even eat together so I guess that this at least a step.

"Yes, he hasn't shut up about it for a week now" I laughed lightly. She smiled. "You know Max, we really wish we could come, but your father has a business meeting in Atlanta he can't miss" Anne said to him. He nodded and looked down at his plate. "I know mom, you told me" He said looking up at her.

"Max, you know your mother would love to come. We can't swing it this weekend son, there's no need to be hostile" Henry, his father said from the head of the table. Max and his father bump head a lot. I can tell why. Both huge egos, like father like son. Yet, every time I brought it up he would act like I was disrespecting his father like he was the king of England or something. It was weird.

"I know Dad. I wasn't being hostile, I was responding" Max said with a clenched jaw towards his father. Silence fell over us and the only sounds that were heard were the sounds of the forks against the plates. I cleared my throat. I wondered if Max was still upset about earlier. I really hope he wasn't. I looked up at Max.

"Did you ever figure out what happened with those pucks?" I asked him. "What happened to the pucks?" His mother quickly said. "Is she talking about the ones Coach Smith asked you to pick up? You know that that's a huge honor for you as an underclassmen, he might make you captain for your senior year. You better not have messed something up" His father said looking at him and putting his fork down and looking at him.

Max pursed his lips and looked over at me, glaring hard. I looked down feeling my face go red in defeat as I looked at my lap. Yep, he was going to give it to me later for mentioning that.

"No, I didn't mess something up. It looked like someone messed with my trunk. I was just going to get some new ones tomorrow morning before we left" Max explained. I still didn't look up. I pushed my plate forwards, I wasn't hungry anymore.

"You can't just blame everyone else for your mistakes Max. If you want to be captain you're going to have to start being more responsible than that" His father shook his head as him. I swallowed. I reached over and laid my hand on his knee in comfort. He pushed my hand off of him. I looked up at him. Really fucked his one up didn't I?

His mother cleared her throat.

"Y/n" She said making me look up. "Have you started to look at formal dresses yet? The dance is in a month" She smiled at me. I forced a smile. Formal? How has that completely slipped my mind. I forgot that existed with everything going on in my mind these past few weeks. Sydney hasn't shut up about it.

"No, not yet. Schools been hectic" I lied as I shook my head. She nodded. "I would offer to take you shopping this weekend if we were flying out" She said looking at me. I shook my head. "My mom's been begging to take me for weeks, were suppose to go sometime next week" I lied right through my teeth. My mother could care less about formal. All she cared about were the pictures so she could hang a new picture of me and Max somewhere in the foyer. She nodded.

"You know, your father and I were named king and queen at our Formal" She smiled looking over at her husband. He smiled at her. I looked down at my plate. "Are you guys running?" She asked looking at us. I looked at Max, his eyes were glued to his plate.

"I don't know, we haven't decided yet. Cayden and Syd have been talking about running" I shrugged. Max looked up at me. "What are you talking about Y/n? Formal king and queen has been all you've been talking about since school started" Max said looking at me. He was right, I was obsessed about the idea of being named queen, but lately that's the absolute last thing on my mind. I could care less about a plastic tiara.

"Right" I breathed looking at him. "You guys have time to decide" His mother said. I nodded and looked down. The rest of the dinner was small talk that I wasn't interested in. His mother stopped asking me questions. A few minutes later, Max and I were in the kitchen cleaning up. He was washing the dishes and I was putting them away into the dishwasher.

"I'm going to Cayden's tonight" He said suddenly. I looked up at him. "Okay, Is Syd going to be there? Do you want me to come?" I asked quietly, still stepping on eggshells. He handed me the next dish. "Sydney's not coming. It's a boys night. I think Mitch and Cooper might come" Max said quietly. I nodded. Mitch, the guy from the party and another one of his friends.

"Are you guys drinking?" I asked looking at him. He looked at me. "I don't know? Maybe?" He said shaking his head. I swallowed. Eggshells.

"Are you guys planning to go anywhere? Or are you just staying at Cayden's?" I asked. He slammed the plate down into the sink. I just watched him. "God Y/n, I don't know? Why are you asking me a million questions?" he asked looking over at me.

I stepped back. "I just want to make sure you're safe Max" I stated back to him. he shook his head. "I'm a big boy Y/n, I've got it under control" He rolled his eyes. I nodded and leaned against the counter. I didn't know why he was mad at me, but he was. And I didn't know what to do to fix it.

Thankfully I didn't have to say anything else because his mother walked into the kitchen. We both looked up at her. "Hey Max, your father asked you to get the suits out of his car for tomorrow so he can pack them" She said looking up at him. He sighed before walking out of the room. It was just me and her in the kitchen now.

I wouldn't chose to be alone with Max's mother most times. I don't feel like we have a lot in common. The small talk was always painful, I hated small talk. She walked over to me. "Can I ask you something?" She asked quietly under her breath, almost a whisper. I looked at her and then nodded.

She turned and looked around before looking at me, with a worried expression. "Max. Is he good to you?" She asked. My heart dropped. Why is she asking me this? I would never expect her to ask me this question, much more I didn't know how to answer it. It caught me off guard and she could tell.

"I just-" She sighed. "I'm just worried sometimes that he's got his father's temper" She said looking at me. I just watched her. "There's a lot of great things about his father, but I wonder sometimes if Max only got the bad parts. I felt like something was off at dinner, I just-" She said looking at me. I just blinked at her. Like a deer in headlights. I shook my head.

"Max is good to me" I said to her. She just looked up at me. "He's loyal to me. He treats me well. I love your son" I said to her. She was staring at me as if she was questioning if she wanted to believe me or not, I was wondering that myself. Was I telling the truth? I loved him, I did. He was loyal, yes. But did he treat me well? Most times, sometimes.

She leaned up off the counter. "Okay, well thank you for telling me" She smiled lightly. "Don't tell Max what we talked about" She said looking at me. I nodded quickly. Max suddenly walked back into the room.

"There were no suits in Dad's car" Ashton said setting the keys on the counter. She looked over at him. "Right! I must have gotten them out this morning" She said looking at him. He rolled his eyes and sighed. My eyebrows furrowed.

She wanted to ask me that in private? That was weird. Did his own mother have to question whether or not his son was a good person?

Max walked up to me. "Come on, I'll drop you off on the way to Cayden's" He said as he passed me. I nodded and followed him before turning around and smiling at his mother. That whole interaction made me uncomfortable. Does she not even trust her own son? Should she in the first place.

About 15 minutes later, Max pulled into my driveway. He stopped the car and didn't say anything as I unbuckled my seatbelt. I looked over at him and he didn't look at me. "Are we okay?" I asked quietly. He looked over at me.

"Yeah, I'm sorry I've just been so stressed about this game, I really didn't need my dad on my back about it" he said leaning back against the seat. I bit my lip and nodded. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bring it up" I apologized looking at him. He nodded. I swallowed and looked out of the window.

"Are you gonna kiss me?" I asked quietly. He always used to kiss me goodbye. He let out a breath. "Not tonight Y/n" He breathed. I looked down in my lap, my heart dropping. Why was he acting like this? "Max I'm sorry" I whispered again. Silence was in the car.

"I know you are" He said finally. I looked up at him. "You always kiss me goodbye" I said quietly, almost inaudible. He just looked at me. "I'm late for Cayden's babe" He said placing his hands back on the steering wheel. I nodded and then reached for the door handle, pushing the door open. I shook my head as I got out of the car and then slammed the door shut. Not too aggressively though.

I crossed my arms over my chest as I walked up to my door, tears in my eyes. I walked up to my room and looked out of the window to find Max's car gone. I laid on my bed and pulled out my phone. I needed someone to talk to or I knew i'd just get more upset about whatever was going on with me and Max. The boys were having a boys night, maybe Sydney and I could have a girls night. I needed some distraction.

I pulled out my phone and texted Sydney.

to: syd 💙 8:42 pm

Hey, want to come over? We could watch that new thriller on Netflix you were talking about :)

I tapped my finger on my leg as I waited for her to respond. The three bubbles popped up after a few seconds indicating that she was typing.

from: syd 💙 8:43 pm

Hey! I'm over at Cayden's. Max said you had some family commitment you couldn't get out of or something? Did something change? Mitch and Cooper just got here.

I scoffed at the phone. Of course he did. That liar. This just made me feel worse. I wanted to throw my phone. Cuss Max out, but I knew I couldn't and I knew I shouldn't. It would just make the situation worse. Why couldn't he just tell me he didn't want me to come? That he needed space? Why did he have to lie to me and our friends?

I typed back a few minutes later.

to: syd 💙 8:46 pm

Right. I forgot, my mom just came up here to remind me. Love you, have fun.

Sydney hearted the message a few moments later. I couldn't admit to her that Max had told me it would only be boys there, that would be humiliating. It would also start rapid question fire from Sydney asking what happened.

Great. All of my friends were out having fun without me on a Friday night and I was intentionally uninvited by my own boyfriend. This was ridiculous. Maybe we did need some space tonight.

I set my phone down and got up. Hell I wasn't just going to sit here and let him win. I looked out to my balcony. Thoughts raced through my head. I sat back down on my bed. No. Y/n no. You agreed that you would be friends. Not be locked in a room together, only see each other if necessary and be friendly. I sighed.

Maybe this was necessary, though. I've had a shit day, I needed a friend. Chris's a friend. We've established that. I stood back up. This wasn't wrong. This was a friend needing a friend to talk to, that was it. I convinced myself enough to where I was now climbing down my tree and walking down the street towards Chris's.

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#sturniolo fanfic #sturniolo smut #nick sturniolo #matt sturniolo #christopher sturniolo #spotify #sturniolo x reader #chris sturniolo #nicolas sturniolo #sturniolo triplets

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crabcollectorskykid · 1 year

Note

May I request a fic about vet!skykid reader and the sully family, where reader goes out with the kids and spider, when they get ambushed by Quradrinth (idk if I spelt it right), and they get taken with spider. And Quradrinth’s crew starts to run experiments on them to see what they are. Later they end up taking reader with Spider when they hunt the Tulkun. Then when Lo’ak and Neteyam go back for Spider, they save reader as well. (Also, Neteyam doesn’t get shot.) Everyone goes back to the Metakiyan clan and gets patched when the Sully see that reader has a lot injuries from the experiments?

"I wanna go home.."

Sully family + spider x vet!reader

Genre: angst/comfort

Warnings: violence,death threats,experiments,war?,near death,lots of injuries,swearing,a bit brutal about a certain procedure for (___)

Pronouns: they/them

You guys...I love you guys so much, I absolutely love this kind of angst request where reader gets hurt. I like torturing people in fanfics so this is perfect but I'll try not to make it too brutal with the experiments, ENJOY THE FOOD ANGST LOVERS. Also note that the reader will be a bit shorter than spider

"where's spider and (___)?" Jake asked kiri who was crying "they took them. They took spider and (___)." Kiri sobbed between the sentence, neytiri was comforting her by hugging her "...shit."

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"STOP IT YOU'RE HURTING THEM!" Spider yelled witnessing the crew doing experiments on (___) who was chained on a bed. What kind of experiments you might say, well glad you asked it involves using sharp tools,needles,lots of blood samples,and other things you don't wanna know. "STOP IT PLEASE" spider begged trying to get out of the chair he was strapped into, they eventually stopped the experiments but (___) was barely moving hell I don't think they're even concious, spider quickly went to their side trying to wake them up "s-shit, dude wake up don't die on me just yet. C'mon stand up!" Spider panicked, he didn't wanna lose you yet. You were the only person he knows in the room. Once again they took spider and strapped him in the chair, they took (___) and strapped them in a machine. They turned it on and the things infront of him started circling and the fact it has lights made it worse since a headache started occuring, not even just a headache it felt like your head was about to explode so you started doing everything you can to get out of the machine. The lady with a hat started talking "where is Jake sully?" She said hoping to get an answer but you didn't talk you can't.

"stop it please!" Spider pleaded, the longer you were in that machine the harder for you to stay up "y'know this will all stop if you just tell us where he is." The lady said but you barely heard the words she said, everything EVERYTHING was barely there you can't see,hear,or even comprehend clearly, not with this thing on you "their mind is blank, it's all blurry." The lady said looking at the hologram of your brain". "THEY CANT TALK, STOP IT YOURE GONNA KILL THEM!" spider pleaded again noticing that (___) was moving in and out of consciousness, they also stopped struggling which was very weird. Quaritch can't bare to hear spider again and stopped the machine, this made the lady look at quaritch with a look of confused and a bit of anger. (___) was unconscious and had a nosebleed, spider managed to get out of the chair and went to (___) side who was on the ground in a bad condition. "general, let me handle these." Quaritch said the general looked a bit shock and said "this better be worth it."

Spider was in a room with a table in the middle, he went under it somewhat giving him comfort that he's safe but what he is worrying right now is (___) they were nowhere to be seen and that made him worried what could've to them. Were they dead?are they alive?are they doing experiments on them again? All those questions were not helping him in the current situation he is in. The door opened which made him defensive and hugged himself, the person crouch down and saw it was the guy who stopped the machine but even tho he did that he was not gonna trust him that easily. Once he saw he was going to the other side of the table he took the chance to try and escape but unfortunately the blue caught caught what he was doing and quickly grabbed him from going further "whoa whoa, easy tiger easy." He said putting him on the table that was weirdly gentle since he thought he was gonna be rough, spider was about to do it again but a big blue hand stopped him from doing so. He tried escaping the hand by lashing out trying to push his hand out of the way but he was much bigger and stronger than him so it was quite impossible to do so. So he calmed down a bit, the blue guy raised his hands showing that he wasn't gonna show harm "we good?" He asked, spider looked everywhere BUT him.

*timeskip to where they save spider because I'm in a hurry*

"dude c'mon hurry!" Lo'ak said to spider "wait, (___) is still in there we need to go and get them!" Spider said running inside the ship "lo'ak let's go, like spider said they are still in there!" Neteyam said grabbing lo'aks hand dragging him inside the ship, spider opened a door which leads to the lab (___) was in. They were tied on a wall, they looked weak and in pain so they quickly got them out of it "hey Birdy, don't worry we'll be out of here." Neteyam said cutting the ropes helping you stand up "C'mon let's hurry up or else-" "oi! What are you do-" before the crewman get to finish finish his sentence (___) quickly took the gun from lo'aks hands and shot him "...damn good aim bro." Spider said, all four of them quickly running to find an exit but some of quaritch's crew found them so they quickly his behind the pipes near an open water but they can't just go into it or else they'll get shot, neteyam was trying to shoot the crew "GO GO!" Neteyam yelled spider and lo'ak quickly jumped but (___) stayed not wanting to leave neteyam. Soon after the bullets ran out and they had to jump "when I count to 3 we jump." Neteyam said looking at (___) who nodded "1,2,3!" Both of them quickly jump, the crew trying to shoot them. "There you guys are, c'mon hurry up." Spider said swimming lo'ak was about to follow him but saw neteyam holding (___) up "w-whats wrong?" He asked knowing damn well what happened "they got shot." Neteyam said holding (___) up more since it looks like they were starting to choke on the water "hurry, over here!" Tsiyera said who was riding her ilu, neteyam quickly swam towards it and laid (___) there. He quickly started to look for the gunshot wound and in relief that they just got hit in the shoulder and not somewhere major.

"kiri and Tuk is still there." Tsiyera said lo'ak looked a bit hesitant and said "we can't go back." He said the iku swimming faster.

The gang saw Jake landing on a rock which made them shout at him so they can get his attention "Dad! Help!" Lo'ak said making the ilu go towards him, neteyam was at the back holding (___) up while putting pressure on their wound "Please!" Tsiyera pleaded, you looked young, too young and you were losing alot of blood, you are not gonna die young. Once they were close enough Jake helped them get (___) of the ilu and made them lay on the rock, Jake gentle looked at (___)'s back and sighed "the bullet didn't went through, t-that's good." He stuttered a bit stress by the situation "lo'ak put pressure on the wound to stop the bleeding." He said, lo'ak quickly followed his demand putting pressure on the wound, he saw that the gunshot wasn't the only thing that harmed you but cuts and bruises were scattered around your body making him worried what quaritch had done to you, he looked at spider and asked "what happened to them, why are they covered in bruises?" Spider looked a bit puzzled and said "i-i can expl-" but before he could finish his sentence neytiri went down on ikran and went by Jake side "what happened, are they ok?" Neytiri asked a bit worried, neytiri considered as one of her own she basically raised after you lost your own home and kept you under her wing, she watch you grew and seeing you in this state made her angry on who hurted a "harmless" angel like you "kiri and tuk are still in the ship." Tsiyera said, Jake and neytiri looked at eachother and nodded neteyam was about to tell them that he's gonna follow but Jake beat him to it "all of you stay here and monitor (___)'s condition." Jake knelt down on one knee infront of lo'ak and neteyam "right now I need you guys to protect (___) from any harm, that is an order. So please, don't fail this one mission for me." He said rubbing both of lo'aks and Neteyam's head.

*timeskip to the village*

The family reach the village and saw tonowari and Ronal who were waiting for them tonowari was about to speak but Jake quickly stopped him "I need you to help them please" Jake pleaded, Ronal quickly led them to a marui where medical stuff were prepared. The metkayinas watch as Ronal patched up the cuts and bruises you had but she was frustrated at the gun wound, Tsiyera was hugging lo'ak looking away from the scene because she can't seem to ahndle seeing (___) in pain afterall you were simply a child "the gun wound is too deep, I don't have the right equipments to get it out and it looks like they don't have much time if the gun wound isn't treated." Ronal said looking at Jake, neytiri closed her mouth and cried. Jake quickly thought and said "I need my friend norm to come here and help me with this." Jake said to tonowari who was a bit hesitant whether to say yes or no "please, I need them alive. They are still too young to die." Jake pleaded again, tears was pricking up in his eye, tonowari looked at Ronal for an answer who suprisingly nodded her head "alright." Tonowari nodded.

"give me the tweezers (I think that's what they call it)." Norm said as they quickly handed it to him, he hesitated a bit and Jake noticed it "w-whats wrong?" He stuttered not liking on what's going to happen, norm sighed and had a stern look. "Kiddo, what I'm going to do will be a bit painful. Can you take it?" Norm asked he didn't want you to die but this was gonna be painful without anaesthesia, once he saw you slightly nod he prepared them "take the children away-take them away!" Norm yelled at the metkayinas and neteyam who had Tuk, norm rarely gets serious like this so Jake was a bit nervous "I'm gonna count to three. 1,2,3!" Once he finished counting he put the tweezers inside your shoulder trying to find the bullet as quickly as he can, the tweezers touching your flesh,nerves,and bones made you feel an unbearable pain. You tried to hold it in but you can't you simply just can't, all you could do was let out a blood curdling scream that made the na'vis have goosebumps from. Neytiri and Jake was affected by it the most since you were like their child after they started taking care of you, lo'ak had to take Tsiyera away because of how much she was crying. The other metkayinas also went away because they couldn't handle seeing a child let out a bloody scream, some even covered their mouths, and some even muttered pitiness.

You were mumbling 'stop' 'please' 'it hurts' but they can't do anything, neytiri was crying as she was trying to comfort you and calm you down. All of them felt helpless,useless as they watch you experience the pain, hell even Ronal felt sorry for you and as for tonowari he had the look of horror. You might be thinking, is it really that bad? Yes, yes it is. I could animate but I simply cannot animate something disturbing but finally norm took out the bullet, he quickly instructed them clean the wound and patch them while he prepares for the sedate. Ah I see, why did he not do it in the first place? The dumbass helicopter just arrived with it, that's what.

Jake and tonowari talked to eachother while Ronal and neytiri was talking to each other, Ronal was comforting neytiri after the experience (look man, I want them as besties not enemies-). "Gosh for once I'm glad I was not there to experience that." Neteyam said after lo'ak explained the situation about the procedure, aonung looked like he was about to puke "was it really that bad?" Lo'ak asked he didn't get to see the whole procedure because he went away, aonung shot a glare at him and puked "bold of you to say that, I EXPERIENCED THE WHOLE THING!" he yelled the last part before puking again "the poor child, what had they done to experience that? They looked too young too!" Tsiyera said wiping her tears, she sent a glare towards aonung and said "aonung, don't you dare make fun of them unless you want me to snitch you on mom." She said, even if her eyes were full of tears when they were walking away she still saw a glimpse of her mother's face which was filled with sadness and horror "don't worry I won't, not after they went through that." He responded

After all of them calmed down, the sully and the tonowari's family were talking to each other, you were in a small mattress and a pillow was on your head and kiri&Tuk was by your side doing your hair, something comfortable is important after experiencing something like that "spider, can you tell me what happened to (___)?" Jake asked once more and spider sighed "They kept on experimenting on them trying to find out what they are,they kept putting strange liquids in their body and basically tortured them if they didn't talk. The cuts were from the experiments and the bruises were from uhm, quaritch's crew beating up (___) if they didn't talk.." the explanation made Jake furious he was quite literally muttering threats under his breath but neytiri calmed him down "ma'jake, it's ok they are gone now. They are dead." Neytiri said silently happy that she didn't held back her anger when they were fighting in the ship finding their daughters. Spider had a look of guiltiness but no one saw that, I don't think he has the courage to say it afterall, he doesn't wanna be skinned alive by the sully family after they found out he saved their number one enemy.

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boozenboze · 1 year

Note

*distant shouting once again*

You have full ability to reject this!

Can we get a Task Force 141 with Male Reader that's a Naga (basically a person that has a snake body below the waist instead of legs) They can transform their body from human to Naga form

The Task Force gets sent to retrieve info, while they're told someone was the demolition with no other info then their callsign being 'COBRA', yes in all caps, and not to attack the one with a blue (darkish) vest.

They run into them just ripping someone diagonally in half with their bare hands. After tearing out their victim's vocal cords with their mouth. While crushing someone into a pancake with their giant tail.

The reader is really nice btw, just a sweet Boi.

Thank You great work btw!

Snake

TF 141 x Naga!Male reader

COBRA a man in a deep blue vest.That was some of the only information that 141 had received from Laswell before leaving for the mission.The man had no other information,no name,no picture,anything that you’d expect to be on a persons file about them wasn’t there.

“Your saying not to attack this guy,why exactly?”Gaz asked as Laswell sighed on her end.

“I’ll explain later,and just a heads up if you hear slithering at any point just stay low alright?”Laswell spoke in a firm tone which made them know she was being dead serious.

“Alright Laswell,were going out.”Price said as Laswell didn’t respond, seemingly had left her laptop.

“Alright y’all heard the woman lets move.”Price said as Gaz walked swiftly behind him as well as Ghost and Soap.

“Laswell said we have to get to third floor,thats where the documents should be eh?”Gaz asked as Soap responded.

“Yeah she did.Say don’t ya think its weird we haven’t any enemies?”Soap asked as the four of them hid behind a corner.They were about to keep going until they heard a few screams,a slam and gunshots.

Ghost had peeked down the hallway they previously came from and heard a faint slithering sound.

“What the hell...?”Ghost muttered as he saw something in the corner of his eye.A tail, a snakes tail to be exact.The thing sbout it was that it didn’t look like a normal sized one it was huge.The tail moved making it’s way down the other hallway of the building.

“Captain there something(someone) over there.”Ghost mentioned as Price turned his way.He waved his hand signaling them to follow him as they wen back down the hallway they had came from.They were about to ambush the person but froze in place at what they were witnessing.An h/c haired male holding a soilder upside down,as another soilder was being crushed by the mans pure black tail.

“Just tell me where the files are and I may let you die painlessly.”COBRA spoke with venom lacing his voice.The guy didn’t say anything and only stared in fear as the males pupils sharpened before grabbing his other leg and ripping him in half.His intestines and guts all spilled out of him and 141 watched in horror.The man in the dark blue vest,standing right in front of them just ripped a fully grown adult in half.They could only watch as the other soilder continued to squirm in the males grip.COBRA tightened the grip he had with his tail as the mans face visibly turned red.Blood poured out of his eyes before his head blew clean off.

“I think im gonna throw up.”Gaz whispered as he covered gis mouth and clenched his stomach in nausea.Soap wanted to pass out as Ghost could only stare with wide eyes.Price never saw anything like this.A man whose lower body is built like a snake wasn’t anything normal.At least it wasn’t normal to him.The man let out an audible sigh as his form began to shrink.He was now normal sized,previously standing at atleast 7 feet tall and now being 5’6, now that his build was more human like.The male stood there for a moment before turning around only to be met with looks of horror,awe and confusion.

“Uhh....Hi?”

I’ll be making another part to this

#gay #male reader #cod x male reader #gaz x male reader #lgbtq #male y/n #mw2 x male reader #soap x male reader #captain price x male reader #ghost x male reader

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chubbyheadquarters · 2 years

Note

Can I have a Request about Monkey King Reborn Wukong x Tall Female Demon reader, she's gentle, soft-spoken and kind demon. She met the crew during a heavy rain, she invited them in but of course because she's a demon they can't trust her. But she explained she's not interested eating the monk so they accepted the invitation but the disciples keeping eye on her just to make sure. Sooner or later they'll get her trust, especially the monkey king himself 😏

Genre: Romantic

Pronouns: Female

TW/CW: None

Character(s): Sun Wukong

You happened to hear them yelling about the sudden change in weather and seeing them trying to find shelter. So, being the kind demon you were, you called out to them and offered them a place in your home. They decide to take it, but are very wary of you, other than Tang Sanzang, who's thankful. You allow them to stay however long they need to, since your home has plenty of room along with the rain seeking to stay for a while. The monk accepts, much to the displeasure of Sun Wukong.

While Zhu Bajie's already fawning over you and Sha Wujing trusts the monk judgement, this grumpy monkey is the only one with common sense to be wary. He's shown to be the most cautious, so of course, he's gonna keep a close eye on you. While picking rooms and clothes for them, he's checking for anything dangerous, but finds nothing so far.

During lunch, he notices that you've got plenty of food that specifically pertains to them and Tang Sanzang, so he questions you. You explain that there's been a lot of monks and non-meat eaters heading your way, so you had other food in advance. Wukong not so subtly asks about the Golden Cicada, but you tell them that you're not into fighting or immortality, but instead, wished to live a nice, tranquil life.

Of course, Monkey King SLOWLY warms up to you. He's had demons go so far just to be able to trick them and kidnap their master, so he'll be extra guarded! Until he sees that...not once have you taken the time to get Tang Sanzang alone or spin a 'woe is me' tale to make them feel bad for you. You're just vibing and doing your own thing, tending to your little fruit and veggie garden, doing your own hobbies, helping the others out when they need it.

Your "disgustingly" as Monkey King would put it kind personality helps your case. Not once has he seen you blow up at anyone, and you always speak in such a calm and soft manner. Always willing to lend a hand and help someone out. Even to him, the being who didn't trust you- It was a weird feeling to him. Your kindness being directed towards him made him feel...warm.

And it isn't until after his initial weariness that he notices how tall you are. Like, yeah, demons are usually taller than humans, but you're...really tall. No wonder the roof seemed higher than usual. And because of the house structure, people usually ask you to get something from a higher shelf, which you're happy to help with. Zhu Bajie does it the most, and it urks the monkey more than he'd like it to.

Seeing that, Wukong finally accepts that, okay, you're not a bad demon, and watching you take care of him and the others has you falling in his good graces. You complimenting his skills also boosts his ego, much to the chagrin to Zhu Bajie, and then they're both showing off. Off course, Tang Sanzang apologizes, but you're happy to have them around.

Let's say that another demon ends up staying at your home, and finds out about Tang Sanzang. They're quick to devise a plan and ambush the monk, but you're there to rescue him, and boy do you look pissed. You've got your hand around their neck, staring them down before telling them to "Get out of my house." And Wukong's just kinda like- 👁👄👁 That was kinda hot-

You're apologizing over and over to the monk, becoming soft spoken and shy once again, but he's quick to accept your apology. Sha Wujing is quick to ask about your switch, and you simply state that "I said I didn't WANT to fight, but I never said I didn't know HOW to. I just don't like using violence, especially when it unnecessary." You've officially won the monk over. Finally! Someone who understands that violence isn't everything!

Wukong, on the other hand, wants to see more. He's prodding for you to train with him, and after a little while, you give in. It's a daily thing becomes something he looks forward to. Sometimes it turns into rants on how annoying Zhu Bajie can be and how he has to carry the whole team, with you giving him pieces of advice.

He'll start following you around-Heck! He'll even help you out, but it's mainly so you can compliment him. Of course, Zhu Bajie notices and teases the poor monkey about how soft he's gone. He's going to deny it each and everytime, making excuses that you we're bored without him or that you NEEDED his help. It causes so many fights between the two.

He'll start to wonder how you'll react when they leave. Will you be sad? Will you cry? Will you be sad for everyone leaving? Or will those tears be just for him? He's not really sure how you feel about him, but he's sure you're smitten with him. What, with the way you look at him and blush in his presence-

And he's absolutely right! A lot of people would be mad at him for interrogating them, but you knew he was just trying to protect the monk. And he started becoming nicer to you, helping you out, even talking to you for long periods of time! His attractive voice and quick touches has you melting each and every time.

You become upset, knowing that he'll have to leave as soon as the rain let's up. You wished that you could go and run off with him, but you had to stay take care of your home. Of course, the others were nice company too! But Wukong was different... You both spent the most time together, getting to know one another... Even so, you had to send them off with a smile! No tears when they leave!

So when the rain stops and allows them the chance to continue their journey, you expect a simple goodbye. But Wukong comes up to you and states that he's gonna come back for you, so you'll have to be here when he arrives. You're shocked, but welcome his words with happy tears. "Just be sure to come back safe and sound. That's all I ask." And with that promise, he goes off, hoping to finish the journey quicker so he can come back and see you.

Sorry for any spelling/grammar errors!

#chubby reader #x chubby reader #sun wukong x chubby reader #sun wukong x reader #wukong x chubby reader #wukong x reader #monkey king reborn x reader #monkey king reborn

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wolfoftheblackflames · 1 month

Text

Hey misfits! Here's more of my new fic! Enjoy more of this tasty meal ^^

The Devil and the Innocent: Pt.2

It was later Vaggie, after sending off her mentor's daughters, heard a whinny. “Diablo…?” She stared at the stallion who stomped around frantically. His reigns were still on. “Whoa hey, where's Ms Carmine?!” The Latina asked, grabbing the reins.

Diablo panted softly looking back at the woods. Vaggie blinked but nodded and hopped onto the bare back of the stallion. The two went back into Hellfire forest only to spy the broken cart. “Ms. Carmine?!” Vaggie shouted looking around. Diablo reared and knocked Vaggie off his back. “Ow, damn it Diablo!” She hissed but then quickly grabbed the reins. “Steady boy, steady!” She hushed the frantic stallion.

Vaggie managed to get Diablo to take her to wherever Carmilla was. Her eye blinked, seeing the sky suddenly go red. “What is this place…? Diablo, wait here, ok?” She looked at the stallion who nodded.

“Well that was fun.” Alastor hummed, looking pleased.

“You had to help that woman didn't you?” Husk glared at Angel.

“What, I thought it'd be harmless dumbass!” The candlestick growled but blinked hearing the door.

“Hello?” Vaggie asked, looking around only to spy one of Carmilla's boots on the ground. “Are you there, Ms. Carmine?” She kept her spear up ready for any ambush. She wandered around the place, looking around as Rosie was getting a bath ready.

“There's a flat chested woman in the castle.” Niffty stated before being dumped into the soapy bucket.

“Hush Niffty dearie, it's time for your bath.” Rosie replied but blinked seeing a wooden snake come over.

“Miss Rosssie dear, the little one isss right. I sssaw her wandering around.”

“See, even Pentious saw her.” Niffty chimed in.

Back with Angel and Husk alongside Cherri, who smirked. “Hello?” Vaggie asked, looking around, her hand never once slacking on her spear. She walked past the trio, scanning the area.

“Oooh? Did ya two see that?”

“A girl?” Husk blinked following the two as they went to get a better look.

“She kinda fiesty. I like that.” Cherri smirked, noticing the spear.

Angel smirked, rubbing his candle like hands together. “This is perfect, a new friend for the blondie!” He grinned with his pink handle glistening.

“That's not a bad idea. Who knows, maybe our old princess might come back?” Husk rubbed his chin.

“She might also be able to break the spell on us, I can't wait to have my glorious legs back!” Angel grinned rushing after Vaggie with Husk and Cherri in tow.

The trio made small noises to alert Vaggie, making her follow them while keeping her guard up. “This place is giving me the creeps…” She muttered before stepping into a large dungeon-like area. “If anyone is there I'm looking for Ms. Carmine?” She asked before walking past a pink and white candle stick.

“Vaggie?” Carmilla blinked, causing the latter to rush over. “What, why are you here?! You need to go now!”

Vaggie blinked and growled. “Not until I find out who did this to you.” She handed back the boot. “They're gonna pay..”

“Vaggie there isn't much time to explain, please you must go, you don't stand a chance against it!” Carmilla stated in a stern tone.

“I won't leave you behind Ms. Carmine.” The smaller woman stated and got up growling hearing footsteps.

A growl was heard as the spear was knocked out of Vaggie's hands by powerful black claws. “Why are you here?!”

“What the fuck?! Who are !” Vaggie winced but tried to go for the spear.

“The mistress of this castle.” The Devil growled moving around as Vaggie picked up the spear and held it at the ready.

“I'm here because you have my mentor. Release her at once!” The smaller woman snapped standing in front of Carmilla like a protector.

The Devil blinked curiously though she snarled. “She trespassed and must be punished!” She snapped back, moving around in the dark again.

Vaggie growled but noticed this thing didn't dare step into the red light. “How about a deal then.” She stated lowering the spear.

“A deal you say?” The Devil growled but looked at Vaggie curiously.

“No Vaggie don't!” Carmilla snapped, but the Latina smiled warmly at her.

“It's my turn to help you this time.” Soft jade looked at the older woman before becoming fierce as she looked around for the Devil. “Let me take her place. Unlike her, I'm expendable.” Vaggie stated with her tone stoic and cold.

“Interesting. You'd give up your own freedom for hers?” The Devil blinked almost sounding soft. “You…”

“That's right, so do we have a deal?” Vaggie growled, holding out her hand.

“Her freedom, for yours… However the deal is you must stay here forever.” The Devil growled softly, her frame almost going into the light.

Vaggie looked at Carmilla but then stepped into the light to show the Devil her face. That lone jade eye held the gaze of someone kind and someone who wished to protect their loved ones. “Come into the light… Then we have a deal.”

“Vaggie, por favor no lo hagas!” (Please don't do this!) Carmilla stated but was surprised at how much she cared. “That's the Devil you're dealing with!”

“Who cares, I owe you for saving my life so it's a small price to pay.” Vaggie replied, still remaining stern.

The Devil gave a soft look, looking down at her claws. She then kept her face stern and approached Vaggie.

Vaggie blinked seeing a pair of black claws and a blonde paw-like hand extend towards her own. It gripped it as magic surged but with that a wolf head and horns started coming into view. “You're really… The Devil…” She was shocked and stunned.

“With that the deal is sealed…” The Devil moved past Vaggie and proceeded to open the door. “Say your goodbyes now. I won't let you have another chance.”

Carmilla instantly ran to hug Vaggie, that devil horn style now a messy down look that reached her ankles. “Idiota…” (Idiot) She stated as Vaggie hugged back.

The Devil looked away at the familial moment. “Enough of that… Go now!” She growled as Carmilla glared.

“I'll be back for you…” Carmilla whispered and moved back only to be carried out by the Devil.

Vaggie gritted her teeth but nodded. She had made her choice, it was fitting given how many innocents she's killed. A monster like her deserves to be locked away forever.

The Devil pushed Carmilla into a rooted carriage and slammed the door. “Forget about her. She made her choice. Now, never come back again!” She roared as the carriage sprang to life. “Take her back to the village discreetly..”

And with that order, Carmilla was soon brought back home. Rage surged inside her being, but the business woman knew no one would believe her even if she told them what happened. That night was the first night she was glad her daughters were away so they wouldn't see her cry and roar in frustration.

(Thanks for reading guys! ^^ I hope you enjoyed it, and if I can figure out to do the parts stuff I will put them here hehe)

#hazbin hotel #charlie morningstar #vaggie #chaggie #cute as fuck #angel dust #starmoth #awkward vaggie is fun #beast charlie #belle vaggie #flustered charlie is fun #beauty and the beast au #human au #husker hazbin hotel #alastor #cherri bomb #sir pentious

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msbigredmachine · 7 months

Text

TARGETS - EPILOGUE

Roman Reigns is an agent in the secret organization The Authority and one of the world’s deadliest assassins. When he crosses paths with a mysterious woman during an assignment, he makes a life-changing decision that switches his role from the hunter to the hunted. (AU Espionage Story)

TARGETS MASTERLIST

--------------------------------

BOOOOM!

“First C4 activated! Release the teargas, now!”

“Got it, Uce. Put on your gas mask, man. You and Rollins in yet?”

“Affirmative. Ambrose and I are in."

"Hey, I see ‘em.”

“Both of ‘em?”

“Yeah. Both packages located, we got ‘em. Shit, they’re hurt.”

“Hold on, Ambrose, we’ll patch them up later. Twins, get us outta here, asap!”

“There’s a loose vent on your nine that leads right outside. You got ninety seconds to evacuate, then the rest of the C4s blow.”

“We found it. We’re getting outta here. Man, we owe you guys. Both of you.”

“Naw, Uce. We’ll collect soon, don’t worry about it.”

-----------------------------

Sixty three days later…

Montego Bay, Jamaica

"So this is it?"

Dean nodded, handing the object he was holding over to his dark-haired friend. "Yep."

Seth held it up, scrutinizing it carefully. "You think she'll like it?" he asked, looking wearily at Dean and hoping he didn't sound as panicked as he felt.

"Course she will, look how pretty it is," Dean said, "Chicks dig stuff like this, anyway."

"Ah shit, I should have just brought Roman along with us," Seth whined.

"So what, my opinions mean shit to you?" the ex-Authority agent challenged, offended.

"It's not that, man, it's just...he seems to be really good with this stuff. The romance and all. He’s had a lot of experience with Jasmine."

"Well, he's probably with her right now...would you like to call him and fuck everything up in the process?" Dean flattened his eyes at Seth, who sighed heavily. "Now's really not the time to bitch at me, Ambrose. I’m just a little nervous for him, that’s all."

Dean started to say more, but decided to drop it when he noticed the apprehension on his friend's face. He reached up and patted his shoulder reassuringly. "It's gonna be fine, Seth. Trust me. Trust both of them. After all the shit they have been through together, I don't see any other outcome."

Seth looked at his friend with a smile. It seemed like only yesterday that he and Dean came to Roman and Jasmine's aid at Lagoon. The two men never went to Jamaica, at least not immediately. When they discovered the Authority and F.L.O.R.A’s plans to ambush the couple, they sought out Jimmy and Jey and begged for their help, to help them interject themselves under the guise that they were working under The Authority's orders. With the twins pulling the strings, Dean was able to rig the entire shopping mall with explosives, detonating them all and bringing the building down on all the agents. Seth rescued a gravely injured Roman and Jasmine through a vent that was initially to be used to dispatch their corpses, and got them out of there before the building was razed to the ground. Together, the four smuggled their way out of the States and took a one-way trip to the Caribbean.

As beautiful and serene as Montego Bay seemed, adjusting to life as civilians was a tougher process than all four of them thought. The rules were different, an uncomfortable contrast from what they were used to. The need to hunt, to kill, still lingered. The threat of the remnants of what was once their lives still hung over their heads, and at times paranoia set in. To stay sane, the four of them often had dinner together at Roman and Jasmine's overwater bungalow, which was a short distance from the little town they resided in, isolated and surrounded by bushes and beaches. For the first few weeks, they took turns staying awake, keeping watch over the house while the others slept. As much as they knew that most of F.L.O.R.A. and The Authority had been wiped out, none of them was naive enough to be assured they were gone for good. Perhaps the paranoia was destined to be ingrained in them, but they were better safe than sorry.

The twins had unfrozen the accounts of Roman and Jasmine, and with Seth and Dean’s own contributions, all four were set for life as multimillionaires. However, they chose to lay low as ordinary middle class foreigners. The three men set up an auto shop and began making a living as mechanics, while Jasmine became a bartender at a popular local bar. It was a smart strategy, allowing her to sniff out anyone suspicious as well as collect information on the goings-on around town. Of course, it wasn’t all about work. The dating scene was kind to Dean and Seth in varying degrees. Dean was, as expected, sowing his wild oats, while Seth had fallen for a Jamaican girl named Portia who worked at the bar with Jasmine. She, Roman and Dean approved of her – after a quick background check of course, and Roman told Seth he hoped he would find the kind of happiness he was enjoying with Jasmine.

Checking his watch, Dean looked over at Seth. “Where the fuck is that big goof anyway? He’s supposed to come over and pick it up. He knows I got a date in like an hour. What’s taking him so long?”

------------------------

Roman expelled another primal grunt as he uncrossed Jasmine’s ankles and shoved her knees into the mattress. As he thrust deeper inside her impossibly wet, tender pussy, she cried out and squirmed underneath his big body.

“Fuck! Wait, wait baby, I just came again,” she whined with a push of his hips, forcing him to halt his movements so she could catch her breath. Chuckling softly at her declaration, he leaned down to kiss her cheek, feeling her sexy little body shiver against him. His lips then touched hers in sweet, gentle kisses, making her moan for him. His tongue played with hers, making her taste his breakfast from earlier, which just so happened to be her.

“I ain't done. C’mon,” he drawled, giving her another kiss before sitting back up and moving again, albeit less roughly this time. He hissed with delight when he sank into her, thrusting in and out, meeting nothing but warm, tight wetness. “Yeah, that’s it mama, take it, grip my dick…” he groaned softly, closely watching her pretty face.

“Unnnhhh, shit,” Jasmine moaned, looking down at his flesh weapon, glistening with her nectar, digging her out, with her legs now wide open and pinned down by his huge hands. “Damn, your dick is so big…”

“I know, baby, you take it so well. Am I gettin’ your sweet spot? Huh?” he asked, his voice so thick and sultry that she moaned again.

“You are, Daddy, you’re all the way in. So good.” She’d never felt this full before and it felt incredible. His dick had her pussy slick and stuffed, and even then she gripped him tighter with each luscious stroke.

“Mm-hmm, I can feel it, baby. Let me pound this pussy till you squirt all over me.”

“Oooooh,” she answered weakly, her eyes rolling back when he began to fuck her harder. She was on the verge of passing out from the incredible pleasure. Her palms slid down his broad back to squeeze and grip his ass cheeks, her toes curling in the air, her throaty moans lost among the sounds of slapping skin and the outdoors morning breeze as he fucked her into the bed with his deep, ruthless stroking.

Roman cupped her bouncing breasts and massaged them in his large competent hands, the scrape of his fingertips over her nipples prompting her walls to pull greedily on his dick. “Unnhh, you got me drunk off this pussy, baby, so tight and wet for Daddy,” he rasped, biting his lip when she fluttered around him again. Getting praised turned her on; he knew that all too well and did so as often as he could because it made her feel good and his girl deserved it.

“Fuck, right there Daddy, right there,” her mouth fell open and her eyes fluttered shut as he flexed his hips, sliding his heavy dick right up in her stomach. He was taking his time, making her feel every inch of him all up in her guts, the base of his cock grinding against her clit. Her fingers slipped down between her open legs to rub the swollen bud in quick, frantic circles. “Ooh, shiiiit, I’m gonna come again…”

"Look at me. Let me see them pretty eyes when you come," he groaned, and immediately her eyes flew back open; she could see the whites of his own, his pupils onyx black and dilated, reflecting the passion she was feeling. She pulled him down and wrapped her arms around him. The sweat slid between their bodies as he pounded her out, his hefty girth swelling inside her, expanding her walls, his growls and moans ringing in her ears as he also neared his end, causing the heat in her belly to amplify to seismic proportions.

“Oh fuck, oh, ohhhh,” And then she was struck dumb as this orgasm crashed over her with brute force, every part of her burning feverishly from the explosion of her body, flooding Roman's dick with her juices just like he wanted.

Tucking his face in her neck, another needy groan escaped from Roman’s lips as he pumped away on top of her, his breathing getting heavier and heavier. Then, with one more deep thrust, the big man came apart with a harsh moan, his entire body going rigid as he pulsed inside her. He tried to rock his hips again, but then froze because he was coming so hard, his dick twitching and spurting cum deep inside her walls. Jasmine lowered her long legs and wrapped them around his waist to keep him close, threading her fingers through his hair and pulling his face to hers for a kiss. She loved how he moaned into her mouth, sharing his pleasure with her as his orgasm continued to ravage his two-sixty-plus-pound frame. Every dizzying second was amazing, and they savored the moment of bliss together, feeling serene and replete.

“Fuck, I can’t move,” Roman half-groaned, half-chuckled, drawing a giggle from Jasmine as she wiped the sweat off his brow.

“Then don’t,” she told him, recapturing his mouth for more deliciously noisy tongue-kissing. “Mmm, baby, what a start to my morning...”

Her little purr, along with her delectable tongue lapping his mouth and her hands kneading the firm flesh of his backside, caused his dick to stir inside her again, tempting him with yet another round. He placed one more sensual kiss to her lips before managing to slide out of her and collapse onto his back with a satisfied moan. As Jasmine pushed herself upright and tugged her neon-green bikini top back over her breasts, his eyes narrowed, as though seeing her chest for the first time. “Is it me or are your titties bigger?” he asked.

Jasmine giggled and pushed them together for his hungry gaze. “It’s possible. I’m getting thicker everywhere. Must be all the good Island food.”

“I ain’t mad at it, baby. If anything, you look hotter every day,” he complimented, reaching out to squeeze her ass when she rolled over to search for something on her side of the bed. Checking the time on his phone, he cursed and flew out of the bed in all his naked glory. Luckily there was no one in sight of the expanse of clear blue sea their bedroom overlooked. “Fuck! Ambrose is gonna kill me! I’m meant to have met him ten minutes ago!” He grabbed his shorts from off the floor and hopped clumsily into them, commando and all.

“When will you be back?” Jasmine asked, putting on her sunglasses.

“Soon as I can,” he said, throwing on his white t-shirt. “I shouldn’t be long. We’re going out later this evening, by the way, just me and you.”

“You don’t wanna stay in tonight?” she pouted.

“We can, if that’s what you want. But then you’ll miss out on the special surprise I got for you.” Sitting down next to her, he reached behind her to gently massage the back of her neck as he peered at her. “You okay, though?”

“Yeah, everything’s fine,” Jasmine smiled sweetly at her boyfriend. “Don't be gone too long. I want more sex.”

"Damn, my girl's been horny as hell for me lately. Not that I'm complaining."

Her nonchalant shrug couldn't hide her blush. "Yeah, well, you're smoking hot and I like the way you fuck me, so..." she said simply.

Roman chuckled at that. She really knew how to stroke a guy's ego...among other things. "A'ight, then. Anything for you, my baby girl. I’ll be back asap. Love you.”

“Love you too,” she replied. With a tender kiss to her lips, he stood up and slipped through the curtained entrance, leaving her by herself. Once she was sure the coast was clear, Jasmine took a deep, nervous breath, staring out into the horizon, her mind traveling in several different directions.

-------------------

Hours later

The beauty of the sunset was unmissable, and Jasmine and Roman were glad to be out to see it. After a sumptuous early dinner in one of their favorite restaurants, the couple strolled along the beach, arms comfortably around the other, lost in their thoughts. They had become more reflective ever since their narrow brush with death back in the States. A lot had changed, and it led to a new, albeit uncertain future with scars of their recent past. Fragments of bullets remained in Roman's left leg, leaving him with a permanent limp, while Jasmine sustained third-degree burns on her body that left her physically scarred. Despite the physical – and mental – injuries they endured, the couple never forgot that they owed Seth, Dean, Jimmy and Jey their lives.

Their relationship continued to grow. They often took long walks on the beach situated close to their oceanfront residence. They'd had dates and parties there, and it was also their place of mourning after learning of Rose and Leona's deaths. The couple grieved – each in private, and together, sharing their sorrow over the loss of their good friends.

This evening though, there would be no mourning. At least Roman hoped not. As the moment of truth approached, his insides began to twist in knots. He couldn't remember the last time he was this nervous about anything. Stopping, he turned to look at his girlfriend, hoping to draw confidence from her, and what he saw blew him away, like always.

Perfect. That was the only word he could think of to describe her. Absolute perfection. Every curve, every inch of her was exquisite. From her hair, currently styled in long, beautiful goddess locs, to her eyes, the color of hot chocolate on a cold Christmas morning. Her hands, when they touched him, made him surrender without a fight. She was his weakness. She was his strength. She was his love.

Locking eyes with her, he returned her smile when he pulled her gently to him. Cradling her face with both hands, he kissed her deeply, tenderly, feeling her arms curl around his waist as she kissed him back.

"I love you so much," he whispered, brushing his knuckles over her cheek, his head tilting for another taste of her sweet lips.

"I love you more," Jasmine replied, her voice as soft as his. The way he looked at her was enough to tell her he loved her; with such affection and awe and appreciation. Roman was the only man for her, the only man who could set her heart racing with just one look. His strength, his spontaneity, his passion for life, passion for her, melted her heart. For the first time in her life, Jasmine was in love, truly in love.

He took both her hands in his and held them to his chest. Her eyes widened at how fast his heart was beating. “Baby, are you okay?” she asked, concerned.

Roman merely smiled softly. "Jasmine...it's been just over a year since we first met, and during that time I've searched for ways to express just how much I love you." As he spoke, he felt his nerves begin to fade away. Again, her eyes. One look into them and everything became right with the world. "But I realized that words will never be enough," he went on. "I know it hasn't been the longest relationship, or the most conventional one for that matter, but I think I fell in love with you the moment I saw you in Miami. To say that night was the greatest night of my life will not be an exaggeration."

He watched the tears pool in those beautiful eyes and he took a deep breath. "I love you. More than my own life, my own breath. I can't imagine a life without you and I don't even want to try. We've been through so much together…hell, we almost fuckin’ died together. But I believe there’s a reason we’re still alive, and it’s for this very moment, and I couldn't let it pass by without letting you know I want to spend the rest of my natural life with you…as your husband."

Jasmine stood, dumbfounded, as he smiled a tiny, nervous smile and took a step back. Her eyes grew wide as he slowly descended to one knee. She brought her hands up to cover her shocked gasp, her heart pounding uncomfortably as he reached into his pocket and took out a small velvet box.

Oh god. Oh my god. Tell him! Tell him now! "Wait!" she blurted out.

Roman stilled, staring up at her with an uneasy expression. "Is something wrong?"

The answer to that question depended entirely on him. "I...I need to show you something." Letting her gaze linger on him for a second longer, she brought a long, thin object out of her little shoulder bag and gave it to him with a trembling hand. Roman took it, and holding it up curiously, his face paled.

It was a small, long white stick, and printed at the end of the stick were eight letters.

She swallowed hard as she watched the comprehension dawn on his handsome face. "I took three tests yesterday, they were all positive," she rambled. "I was looking for the right time to tell you..." When she found out, she was terrified. She didn't know what he would say, how he would react, so she had kept it from him and chose to confide in Portia instead. She had encouraged Jasmine to tell him tonight. But now, as she gauged the look on his face, she wished she never did. Her heart sank at his unreadable expression. He hadn't said a word, instead just kept staring at the pregnancy test. It felt like a hot knife through her chest and for a moment she couldn't breathe.

"I...I’m keeping the baby," she barreled on with a shaky voice, fighting back tears. She tore her gaze away from him. She couldn't bear to see the rejection on his face, or hear him disown the one thing she thought they'd created out of love. "You don't have to be involved in its life if you don't want to-"

"What?!" Roman exclaimed, surprised. "Why the fuck would you think I don't want anything to do with my own child?"

There was a pain in his eyes Jasmine had never seen before, and in that moment she felt stupid for thinking the way she did. "I...I don't know...I didn't know how you would feel about being a father..." She tried to defend herself and ended up succumbing to her tears. "I remembered everything you told me in Vermont, how hesitant you were about having children. And then this happens and I thought...I just thought you would say you weren't ready, and then you would leave me-"

“Leave you? Over this? Are you fuckin’ kidding me?”

“I don’t know what to think, Roman! I’m scared, okay?”

“Well, think about this.” Tugging her back to him, he silenced her with a kiss so tender, and yet so passionate, that it sent shivers down her spine and made her forget her name. She was certain she was still standing only because he was holding her. When he pulled back, her eyes were still closed, but the tears streamed down her beautiful face, strangely enough, making her look even more beautiful if that was possible. Roman gently pressed his forehead to hers. "Baby, look at me."

When she did, his heart skipped at the sadness that looked back at him. She had him terribly mistaken and he was going to clear that up right now. "My baby girl, you don't realize how much deeper in love with you I've just fallen," he told her softly, sincerely.

At his words, Jasmine choked back a sob, more tears trickling down her cheeks. Roman didn't hesitate to wipe each one away. "I will never leave you for anything," he promised. "You never need to worry about that. I belong to you. I'm yours for as long as you'll have me. That is my child growing inside you, our child. And I'm going to be there for him or her. Every step, every moment, I'll be here by your side. There's nothing else I'd rather do with my future than watch our babies grow old together."

The words were so heartfelt, so sincere. How could she ever have doubted this incredible man?

Reaching back into his pocket, Roman retrieved the small velvet box and opened it up. Jasmine's breath caught at the piece of jewelry that shone at her. It was the most exquisite thing she'd ever seen.

"Jasmine...my love, my sweetheart, the best partner I’ve ever had," Roman said softly, his heart in his brown gaze, "This news you just shared with me has made me the happiest man on earth, and there's only one thing that would make me even happier." Smiling at her, he held up the box to her. "Marry me."

A knowing smile spread across her features. "Mr. Reigns...Are you asking me to be your wife?

Roman's grin matched her own. "Yeah. I guess I am."

"Mrs. Reigns." Jasmine grinned. "I like the sound of that."

The words were familiar – they had this exchange when he'd asked her to be his girlfriend – and he was just as ecstatic as he was back then. "Is that a yes?"

"Of course! Yes!" She could barely see through her tears as he slid the diamond ring onto her finger. She threw herself into his arms and crushed her lips to his. "I love you, Roman." She would never be tired of saying those words to him.

"I love you more." His heart swelled with happiness. This felt like a dream. He was engaged to Jasmine. He would get to spend the rest of his life with her; his lover. His wife-to-be. The mother of his child.

Wow. His child. He was going to be a father.

"Man, it all makes sense now. The vomiting...I thought you were just seasick...Your thicker body, you tryna fuck me every chance you get," he smirked, wiggling his eyebrows.

She hit his arm. "Shut up," she said playfully, laughing when engulfed her in a big hug, burying his face in her neck. They stood there together for a long time, not saying a word, letting it all sink in.

"I'm so fuckin' happy right now. I never thought it was possible to ever feel like this, babe," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion.

Jasmine stroked the back of his head, the tears returning. Happy tears. "You deserve happiness, Roman," she assured him. "We both do." She took his hand in hers. "Darling...I know we're here, and it seems safe, but we may never really be safe, you know?" She looked up at him, her eyes tinged with skepticism.

"I'll protect you," he vowed, placing a gentle hand on his fiancée's belly, only just realizing that it was indeed a little rounder thanks to the changes happening inside her. Even after everything she had been put through, the baby had stood firm. He couldn't help but be proud. His baby was strong, just like its mother. "I'll protect you both."

Jasmine covered his hand on her stomach with hers and kissed him. She believed him. He had not let her down, not yet broken a promise so far. As they broke apart, he kept his hands tight in hers, his smile so wide and happy. His joy was infectious. Jasmine wanted to see him look that way forever. Together, hand in hand, they resumed their walk along the shore, returning home.

"I do have one ground rule though," she spoke up, "No guns around the baby."

He laughed. "We should be telling that to the uncles, Seth and Dean. They'll call dibs on who will teach the baby first."

Jasmine gasped, horrified. "No, no, no guns at all. And certainly no explosives! I'm serious!"

"Well, we'll discuss all of that in fine detail. We've got the rest of our lives to do that, after all," he smiled, squeezing his new fiancée's hand.

Returning his smile, she felt her heart warm, the joy she felt inside radiating through every pore. "Yeah, we do."

The rest of their lives with each other. It sounded good. It sounded really good.

----------------------------

“I can pull the trigger right now, Uce. Say the word.”

“Now why do you like gettin’ your hands dirty? Leave that shit for the primitives. You gonna off an innocent unborn baby, dude?”

“It ain’t born yet, so it don’t count.” Jey put his rifle away. “Man, I’m bored. This shit ain’t what it used to be. Everything’s been fucked up the last three months.”

Jimmy rolled his eyes. “It’s fucked up cuz we allowed it to happen, Uce. And look at us now. We run F.L.O.R.A and the Authority. Chill.”

Jey mulled it over. His brother had a point. “A’ight. So what’s the plan?”

“We wait for the best offer and only at the right time. When that time comes, we serve ‘em all up to the highest bidder. We’re looking at half a billion dollars, brother. That kinda bread gives us unlimited access to the most secure cybersystems in the world."

"Not to mention feed our families for life. Whose names are in the hat?”

“You won't believe it, bro. Trick and Melo Gang, the Latino World Order, Tony D and Stacks…the McMahons…”

Jey’s eyes widened. Those names belonged to some of the most dangerous crime families and syndicates in all of North America, all of whom had been slighted by either Jasmine, Roman, Dean or Seth. “Oh shit. I like the sound of that,” he said with a big grin on his face.

Jimmy’s glinted menacingly. “Exactly. The fun’s just getting started, Uce. Sit your ass back, be patient and relax.”

“Ya know what, big brother? Maybe I will.”

And with that, the twins continued their surveillance on their former colleagues, their targets, their meal tickets, their chance to take over cyberspace and wreak havoc on the world like they really wanted to.

After all, the waiting game was the fun part. It made eliminating the targets much sweeter.

THE END

-------------------------

And so ends Targets. What a ride it's been.

Thoughts?

Who was your favorite character? Favorite chapter/quote/scene?

Thank you all for your amazing support! I'll be on vacation in like a week so expect more stuff from me hopefully soon!

#roman reigns #roman reigns fanfiction #roman reigns smut #roman reigns imagines #roman reigns fics #the bloodline #roman reigns x black reader #roman reigns x black oc #roman reigns fanfic #roman reigns imagine #roman reigns x oc

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kitty-kei · 1 year

Text

Fiery Familiarity - Part 3

hey guys!! sorry it took longer than i expected to get this part out, i’ve been busy at work lol. also i realized i forgot literally like 3 paragraphs at the end of part 2 ;; they’re there now and they’re not crazy important but it’s something lol. enjoy part 3!!

words: ~1.9k

prologue | part 1 | part 2 | part 4

You resorted to carrying Toph, having her bend through the ground to tunnel closer to the camp. You stumbled out and fell to the ground, holding her defensively to shield her from more harm. “Katara, we need some help over here!”

“Toph, Y/n! What happened?” Katara cried, crouching at Toph’s side.

“My feet got burned!”

“Oh no, what happened?”

Toph’s sass started to come back, “I just told you, my feet got burned.”

Katara glared, “I meant how.”

Toph hesitated, “Well… We kind of went to see Zuko last night.”

“You WHAT?!” Aang yelled.

“Zuko?!” Katara cried incredulously.

Sokka let out a noise before Toph continued, “I thought he could be helpful to us.” Katara began to heal her feet. “And if I talked to him, maybe we could work something out.”

“So he attacked you?” Sokka asked.

“Well, he did, and he didn’t. It was sort of an accident.”

Aang had to ask, “But he did firebend at you?”

Toph sighed, reluctantly responding, “yes.”

Sokka started again, “See? You trusted Zuko, and you got burned. Literally!”

You needed to say something. “It wasn’t all his fault, Sokka! He was asleep and thought we were someone coming to ambush him. He tried to apologize, but she’d already been hurt.”

“It’s gonna take a while for your feet to get better,” she paused her healing, putting her water away. “I wish I could have worked on them sooner.”

“Yeah, me too,” Toph grumbled.

“Zuko’s clearly too dangerous to be left alone. We’re gonna have to go after him.”

You stopped listening as Aang and Sokka spoke, choosing to help support Toph and carry her to the fountain for some rest. But of course, you couldn’t get a moment's rest, as an explosion sounded moments later.

You all panicked, grabbing Toph protectively.

“Stop!” You all turned as you heard Zuko’s voice. “I don't want you hunting the Avatar anymore! The mission is off. I'm ordering you to stop.” Zuko tried to block Combustion Man, only to get shoved aside as he let off another explosion even closer to you.

You watched in vain as Zuko tried to stop him. When Combustion Man turned, you felt like everything went in slow motion. Your heart stopped as the explosion pushed Zuko off the ledge, you couldn’t help the scream you let out.

“Zuko!”

Sokka forced you down behind the fountain, only letting you back up once the explosion passed. You almost cried in relief when you saw Zuko had managed to catch himself on the roots hanging between the rocks.

As Aang and Katara used their bending to shield the group, you helped Sokka carry Toph behind the pillars as fast as possible.

“He's going to blast this whole place right off the cliff side!”

Katara tries to peek out, only for another explosion to set off, “I can't step out to waterbend at him without being blown up and I can't get a good enough angle on him from down here.”

You see Sokka’s eyes light up, “I know how to get an angle on him!” He grabs his boomerang, watching before aiming and winding up. “Alright buddy, don't fail me now!”

The boomerang whips into the distance and you hear Sokka cheer as it hits Combustion Man in the forehead. He tries to set off an explosion, but it backfires, and he only succeeds in blowing himself up along with a whole pillar of the air temple. You watch with bated breath, only releasing it when you see Zuko climbing up the root and onto stable ground.

You wait with the others as Zuko makes his way to you.

Aang looks up, “I can’t believe I’m saying this but… Thanks, Zuko.”

Sokka poses as he speaks up, “hey, what about me? I did the boomerang thing.”

“Listen, I know I didn't explain myself very well yesterday, I've been through a lot in the last few years, and it's been hard. But I'm realizing that I had to go through all those things to learn the truth. I thought I had lost my honor, and that somehow my father could return it to me.” He paused, looking down before continuing. “But I know now that no one can give you your honor. It's something you earn for yourself, by choosing to do what's right. All I want to do now is play my part in ending this war, and I know my destiny is to help you restore balance to the world.”

Aang’s face softened with those words, and you could feel hope rising in your chest at the sight.

Zuko turns to Toph, “I'm sorry for what I did to you.” He gave her a bow, “It was an accident. Fire can be dangerous and wild, so as a firebender, I need to be more careful and control my bending, so I don't hurt people unintentionally.”

You could tell that hit Aang in the heart, the memories of his first attempt rushing to the surface as his eyes widened and he looked down in quiet contemplation. He looked up, “I think you are supposed to be my firebending teacher. When I first tried to learn firebending, I burned Katara, and after that, I never wanted to firebend again. But now I know you understand how easy it is to hurt the people you love.” Aang bows to Zuko, “I'd like you to teach me.”

Zuko smiles, bowing back. “Thank you. I'm so happy you've accepted me into your group.”

“Not so fast. I still have to ask my friends if it's okay with them.” Aang turns to Toph, “Toph, you're the one that Zuko burned. What do you think?”

She grins, pounding her fist to get palm jokingly, “Go ahead and let him join. It'll give me plenty of time to get back at him for burning my feet.”

Aang smiles and looks at you, “Y/n?”

You hesitate, looking into Zuko’s eyes as you speak. “I know that there is good in his heart. He deserves a chance to show it. He’s the best shot you have at learning firebending.”

Aang nods, looking to the left, “Sokka?”

Sokka shrugs, “Hey, all I want is to defeat the Fire Lord. If you think this is the way to do it, then, I'm all for it.”

Aang nods once more, looking at the final person. “Katara?”

You watch sweat roll down Zuko’s face, a look of pure hope and fear in his eyes. She glares as she speaks, “I'll go along with whatever you think is right.”

Tension bleeds from Zuko’s shoulders as he steps forward. “I won't let you down! I promise!”

You carry Toph as the group bleeds out of the area, watching as Sokka tells Zuko to grab his things.

You hear Sokka calling to Zuko, something about lunch, after he shows him to his new room. As he slips out of the room, you watch Sokka turn to Aang and say, “Okay, this is really, really weird.”

You slot yourself behind a pillar, watching silently as Zuko pulls a photo out of his bag. You stay quiet for a moment as you watch his thumb rub against it. You see Katara lean against the doorway, his head whipping up as he feels her eyes on him. He stands as she begins to speak.

“You might have everyone else here buying your... transformation, but you and I both know you've struggled with doing the right thing in the past.” You watch as she walks toward him, standing inches from his face as she sneers, “So let me tell you something, right now. You make one step backward, one slip-up, give me one reason to think you might hurt Aang, and you won't have to worry about your destiny anymore. Because I'll make sure your destiny ends... right then and there. Permanently.”

You watch as hurt blooms on his face, his eyes wide and sad as he watches her leave. You hide behind the pillar as she slams the door. You wait until her footsteps and mumbled curses subside before you approach the door.

You knock on the door softly, “...Zuko?”

You hear shuffling before the door opens, a disheartened look on his face.

“Have you come to give me a piece of your mind, too?”

Your eyes softened before you shook your head. “Can I come in?”

He watched you with an indiscernible look before he stepped to the side and opened the door, giving you more than enough room to step inside. You slid in, taking a deep breath before you spoke up, “I’m sorry for Katara’s… outburst. I’m sure you can understand it comes from a place of love for her friends, but her protective nature comes out more threatening than it needs to.”

He looks down, “No, she has every right to be angry. After the things I’ve done, what my nation put them through… I don’t blame her for being mad at me.”

You nodded sadly, trying to find something else to take his attention off of the past. Your eyes lit up as you looked down at the bed, “Is that your uncle Iroh?”

His eyes snapped to meet yours, “I… Yes, it is.”

You picked it up gently, studying the painting. “Tell me about him.”

You could feel Zuko’s eyes studying you, but when you turned to meet his eyes, they were focused on the photo. “He is… the closest thing to a real father that I’ve ever known. He stood by me, no matter how childish, stubborn, or foolish I was. He cared for me in a way that my father never could. He is crazy and wise and tea obsessed, but I wouldn’t have made it this far without him. He loved and supported me, and I still couldn’t see it. I just wish I could go back and make things right.”

You studied his face as he spoke, awed at how beautifully he’d grown into himself. The sharp cut of his jaw, the gentle slope of his nose, the way his hair fell perfectly, long enough but somehow not in his eyes. And his eyes, Spirits, his eyes shined like gold, even in the muted sun. He looked ethereal. You could still see the youth in his face, just the slightest bit of softness left in his cheeks even with how active he was. You could see how the years had worn him down, his face full of worry lines even at 16. Even his scar, the skin now healed and rough, his left eye permanently squinted just so. He was perfect.

You realized he stopped speaking, looking at you with a sadness in his eyes you couldn’t bare. You traced the edge of Iroh’s portrait softly as you whispered, “You really love him, don’t you?”

Zuko inhaled sharply, his eyes widening as he searched your face. He smiled almost imperceptibly, “I guess I do.”

You held your breath, wanting so badly to hug him, reassure him that Iroh would forgive him, that everything would be okay… but you didn’t know him that well, not anymore. So you settled for a reassuring hand on his shoulder as you handed the portrait back. “The next time you see him, tell him. I’m sure he feels the same.”

You paused for a moment before slipping your hand away, beginning to trail towards the door. His raspy voice made you pause.

“What was your name again?”

You stopped in your tracks, inhaling sharply before casting a glance over your shoulder. “Y/n.”

You walked out before you could see his reaction.

taglist:

@mochminnie

#avatar the last airbender #avatar the last airbender x reader #zuko x reader #zuko x y/n #zuko x you #firebender reader #atla #zuko

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merakiui · 3 months

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oh my god… i just read ‘the most dangerous game’ on ao3 and while i was at the part of where jade pretends to be floyd while they… ya know 🥴

i was listening to phantom of the opera’s ‘medley : down once more / and track down this murderer’. and i just wanna you to know the heavenly experience i had cause OH MY LAWD

(~5:35 in the song, which is the duet/ trio between the phantom, raoul [love interest] and christine [main girl] )

and i LOVE how beautifully it connects. with reader’s confusion about their sudden flooding thoughts of jade. why they keep thinking about him even though they’re WITH floyd

while jade is going to the ‘point of no return,’ he literally cant go back. hes pretending to be his brother to 1. plant more jade shaped seeds in their head & 2. HES LITERALLY FUCKING THEM AS HIS BROTHER WHO HE KNOWS THEY HAVE A CRUSH ON. so yeah: he’s literally crossing the ‘point of no return,’ and he knows that. that this will either work out, or horrifically blow up in his face. but that’s only if you found out ☝️😲

my favorite part is that when christine sings about the ‘angel of music.’ the man [phantom] who was there in the shadows supporting her, yearning for her, loving her obsessively to the point it scared her (jade was much more discreet but that’s not the point)

a bit later in the song she sings ‘angel of music you have deceived me’ and i LOVE how it timed up when i read it. and she goes about how ‘she gave her mind blindly’

cause that’s EXACTLY what happened. jade played and deceived reader like she was a piece on a chess board. she literally let him into her mind because she wanted floyd so badly. he literally took over her mind as her thoughts slowly started contain less floyd and more of jade.

also, in the way he deceived her; jade never was going to help them with floyd, and made that ‘contract’ under false pretenses cause this was him making his attack. (ambush hunter, and you know that man was cooking shit up for months too, maybe it got sped up when reader wanted a job at monstro)

(this song also came again when reader and jade were in the ocean 🕺🏻💃🏻🕺🏻💃🏻 and ARGGHHH. i’m gonna lose my sanity im in love)

but also. the song before this is literally ‘the point of no return’ and reader the floyd part while listening to it was just spine chilling. but the icing on the cake for me was the medley 🤤

sorry for the long ask, but i just- i’m literally in love with your writing, the planning that goes into is just awe-inspiring. i love how you give us readers things at face value before revealing smthn HUGE but if you go back and reread you’re like ‘how the FUCK did i miss that’, or when everything gets packaged in a nice little bow (so coquette 🤭🎀)

any ways, just wanted to share this with you! keep up the great work‼️ (i’m foaming at the mouth for more jade)

:O :O :O :O !!!!!!!! AAAAAA THAT SONG AND THOSE MOMENTS FROM IT CONNECT SO PERFECTLY..... "plant more Jade-shaped seeds" omg that's so true. >_< he really did surpass the point of no return in that scene just to ensure you slowly but surely thought less of Floyd and more of him throughout the time you spend together. It was so high-stakes, too. Either it works wonderfully or, as you noted, it completely blows up in his face.

And you're right!!! Jade was never going to help you get closer with Floyd. He was willing to entertain and enable your obsession, but that's as much as he'll do. He's just in it for his own benefits and to hopefully twist your perception so that you might fall for him instead. He really was cooking that plan up months in advance. T^T what an evil eel... I love the Phantom of the Opera and its soundtrack,, <3 your ask reminded me of just how brilliant it is!!!! I need to listen to all of the songs again. >w<

Thank you for reading and enjoying tmdg!!!!! I'm happy you like the way I write. One of my favorite things to do is write scenes in which you can glean new information after a reread. >:D there are so many tiny details sewn into tmdg and topped off with a pretty bow!! Very coquette indeed!!!! (˘ ˘ ˘)💖

#sweet messages #i too foam at the mouth for jade... orz he's so !!!!!!!

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thewritetofreespeech · 10 months

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Bleach Headcanons of Ichigo with a female S/O who has a younger sister who is exactly like Miri from buddy daddies..S/O clearly worries enough about her because she has very little to no awareness of danger (she almost got ambushed by a hollow) . S/Os younger sister is six and half. How Ichigo helped his S/O with a sister like that..

Ichigo Kurosaki + Protective Older Sister reader

“Ok sweets. I’m gonna be over on the bench with Ichigo. Try to be careful, ok? No daredevil moves.”

“OK!” Your little sister chirped. Already making her way up the jungle gym, and barely paying attention.

You sigh, but let her play, and head over to the bench like you said. “She’s gonna break her neck one of these days.”

“She’ll be alright.” Ichigo assured. “Kids are pretty tough.”

“Tough is one thing. Indestructible is another.” You feel your heart leap in your throat as you watch your sister already upside-down on the beams. Laughing in between bouts of monkey sounds. “She’s gonna give me a heart attack.”

“Relax [Y/N].” The red head replied. Leaning back against the bench with his arms spread wide. “I swear, she’ll be fine. When Karin was that age she did way crazier stuff. She turned out ok.”

“My sister isn’t your sister, and Karin has a good head on her shoulders. Besides, it’s not just the jungle gym I’m worried about.” Ichigo looked over at you curiously and you sigh. Not in your nature to be cryptic. “With everything going on, it seems that there are just more and more hollows popping up. Even if they are just small ones.” There seemed to be a new one drawn into town everywhere they looked. Ichigo did a good job of keeping them maintained, with your help and the help of the rest of his friends. But…“for someone like her, with no abilities or sense of guile, they can be very dangerous for her. I just want to make sure she’s protected.”

Ichigo pulled his arms off the back of the bench and folded them in his lap as he leaned forward. “I know. I try not to think about it but Karin & Yuzu aren’t like me. They got the short end when it came to powers from mom and dad. Somedays I’m grateful for that. Others….I worry if I’m not there to protect them, who will? That’s why I fight so hard to keep everyone safe.”

You smile softly at Ichigo’s words. Knowing that he was passionate about fighting, not for the sport of it but the need. “I guess we both have an ‘older sibling’ complex.” Ichigo smirked back at you and leaned back against the bench.

“Thanks for coming to the park with me and [L/S]. I know this isn’t the most interesting date.”

“That’s ok. The park is pretty cool.” He replied with a shrug. “Plus, there’s ice cream later.”

Somehow, across the park and over a pack of screaming kids, [L/S] heard the words ‘ice cream’ and came running. Maybe she did have some kind of sixth sense after all.

#;ask and ye shall receive (request answers)#ichigo kurosaki #ichigo kurosaki x reader #ichigo x reader #bleach #bleach imagines #bleach scenarios #bleach tybw #scenarios #imagine

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catierambles · 6 months

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Feral Instincts Ch.24

Pairing: The Rogue’s Gallery (Geralt, Syverson, Mike, August Walker, Walter Marshall) x Stephanie Daniels (OFC)

WC 1036

Warnings: uhhhhhhh *vague i dunno sounds*

She could hear Sy talking on his phone as she lay in bed on her side, staring at the window.

“Yeah, I’m gonna be here for a few more hours. She and Walker had a showdown and she ripped him a new one. Nah, Walt, it’s fine, I got it. No, Geralt, she’s not pissed at you, too. She’s okay with what you do, but she made some damn valid points about what August does. I’ll talk to you guys later.” He pushed into the room, but she didn’t look at him. “Doll?” She just hummed at him and he sighed. The bed dipped slightly as he sat down on it to take off his boots before he laid on it with her, wrapping his arm around her waist and pulling her back against his chest. “Not sayin’ you’re wrong, because you ain’t. What the Council pulls with these “Cleaners'' is shady shit to be sure.”

“But?”

“But if he’s right about what these packs are doin’, child marriages and the like…depending on the state, the most they’d get is a slap on the wrist and a “don’t do it again, mister”.”

“Frank got blacklisted for what he did to this pack before I took over. Can’t lead a pack, can’t own territory. They could do the same thing to them when they got out of whatever sentence they received.” She said, “And weapons stockpiling isn’t technically illegal. You can own as many guns as you want. But he said that it was “some” of them, not “all” of them. Hurting the Council’s fee-fees by telling them to fuck off isn’t illegal, and it makes it sound like the Council just doesn’t like not being in control of everything having to do with wolves. They’re taking out their butthurt by sending Cleaners, like August, to kill these people. If the US Government sent out hitmen to take out everyone that criticized them, a “shit storm” wouldn’t even begin to describe it. You know who does that? Dictators. Stalin did that, Mussolini did that, and they didn’t exactly live long and full lives.”

“If these anti-wolf groups heard about what these packs are doin’--”

“It would give them ammo, yeah, but it’s not just wolves that do it. Humans do terrible things too. Wolves are wolves, but they’re also people and people suck.” She said, “He said that the Council doesn’t want a Waco incident. Waco was because of humans, that cult was run by a human. If these groups try to pull “see? Wolves are terrible” you can just list all the shit that humans have done. Hilter wasn’t a wolf, Pol Pot wasn’t a wolf, Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer weren’t wolves. Charles Manson, not a wolf. I can go on.”

“Point made, babe.” He said, “You know, I don’t think there’s a single female Alpha on the Pack Council. I think it’s all a buncha guys.”

“Maybe there should be.” Stephanie said and he picked his head up to look at her.

“Thinkin’ about goin’ into politics, doll?” He asked and she snorted.

“No, I’d be terrible at it.”

“You’d have some weight behind you. Geralt is their best Tracker, if I’m rememberin’ right and August is notorious enough as a Cleaner where he’s basically the bogeyman, apparently.” Sy said, “Get a few others on your team and you’d be a contender. I also think they’re all born wolves, not a single infected among’em, so they don’t have that human perspective. You see shit from the viewpoint of both worlds, they only see it from theirs.”

“Question for you, though.”

“Hit me.”

“You said you worked with August on a mission once when he was still with the CIA.”

“How we met, yeah.”

“Did it have anything to do with what he did with the Agency?” She asked and he sighed. “Markus.”

“Rogue Intelligence Agent was sellin’ intel and advanced arms to an insurgent faction in Iraq. We kept gettin’ blindsided, our boys ambushed on ops that were supposed to be classified.” He said, “August rocked up and gave me the rundown. I worked with him to take care of the faction, while he tracked down and got rid of the Agent. There was a lot of downtime between intel drops so we got to talkin’. We recognized each other as Alpha wolves right away and this was before the Council made the decision to go public, so it was something we bonded over. That and cards. Man’s terrible at Texas Hold’em. I think he still owes me fifty bucks, thinkin’ about it.”

“Make sure he pays up.” She said with a snort.

“Now, baby, I’m gonna need you to stop thinkin’ about another man while you’re in bed with me. Ya hear?” He asked and she laughed, rolling over onto her back partially to look up at him as he propped himself up with an elbow.

“I love you.” She said, reaching up to touch the side of his face gently.

“Love you more.”

“Not possible.”

“Babe, when Mikey was tendin’ to your arm after you first showed up, Lewis came at me tellin’ me to give you back, that you were his. You know what I told’im?”

“What?”

“Not anymore.” He said, “I wasn’t thinkin’, I just said it. You weren’t his anymore, you were mine. Geralt knew you were his Mate when you first pulled at his wolf, but I think I knew sooner than that, it just hadn’t sunk in yet.”

“I wonder when Walter knew.”

“You’d have to ask him sometime.”

“And August.”

“Nah, he probably knew the moment you told him to go fuck himself holdin’ a middle finger in his face.” He said and she snorted, “Don’t know how I didn’t declare my undyin’ love right then and there.” She didn’t say anything, tuning back onto her side and Sy settled again, his arm around her waist.

“You know what?” She asked and he hummed. “I think I would have preferred it if he had been doing porn.”

“Really?” He asked, a laugh in his voice.

“I would have sent the ladies a gift basket.” She said, “And a note saying “yeah he’s just kinda like that”.”

#henry cavill #captain syverson #walter marshall #august walker #hellraiser mike #geralt of rivia #feral instincts

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illarian-rambling · 13 days

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🐹 for the OC ask game?

Confession: I've never played a Pokémon game in my life. I just had the cards as a kid cause I thought the art looked pretty, so I'm not really sure how to answer this one.

In lieu of that, I'm gonna answer about a game I know way too much about: dnd!

🎲 If your OC played a pen and paper RPG, what class would they pick? Warrior, mage, thief, ranger, cleric, paladin, druid, necromancer, bard (or other, if that’s not enough).

Izjik would be a gloomstalker ranger with a 3 level dip into battlemaster fighter to help facilitate that melee build. She'd have good strength, dex, and con, but abysmal everything else. Her maneuvers would be tripping attack, goading attack, and ambush.

Sepo would be a swashbuckler rogue with expertise in stealth and intimidation. His charisma would be high just for that intimidation, and his panache ability would just be him giving people a death glare. He'd duel wield daggers.

Twenari - despite being in Illari terms, a sorcerer who gets magic from her blood - acts much more like a wizard in the practical sense. She'd be an evocation wizard with the warcaster feat. Later on, she'd probably take a dip into artificer.

Djek would be a thief rogue/shadow sorcerer multiclass with high dex and charisma, but low strength and con. I thought about making him an arcane trickster, but he does damage with his magic that would fit closer to a sorcerer. He'd definitely be higher into rogue than sorcerer.

Astra would be an artillerist artificer, despite fighting like a full caster, rather than a hald caster. The arcane cannon ability could be reflavored as her ribbon coat, while her infusions are all the gadgets she makes. She'd probably take the skilled feat.

Mashal is pure battlemaster fighter. He has high strength and con, but utterly terrible wisdom. His maneuvers would be bait and switch, disarming attack, and riposte. He'd also have the mage slayer feat.

Ivander would have one level of celestial warlock for flavor, then the rest would be in inquisitive rogue, as he doesn't really use magic all that much, but he is one hell of a detective. He'd abuse tf out of steady aim and probably take the gunner feat.

Elsind's main battle strength is being slippery and they fight without weapons, so I guess that makes them a monk? I'd say way of long death monk because they're pretty tanky, but he's too nervous to do much fighting.

Avymere, as much as I love making fighters, fits way too well to be anything but an oath of devotion paladin, even if they have no divine magic in the actual story. I feel like they'd have the sentinel feat as well.

Thanks for the question, and forgive me for derailing it, I just love talking about dnd :)

#writing #writerscommunity #writblr #my ocs #writing ask game

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averagewriter-inthedark · 1 year

Text

When It’s Cold, I’d Like To Die 🌨 | TGM Imagine- Apocalypse AU

Set in an alternate world during a zombie apocalypse

TGM masterlist

Characters & Pairings: female!reader x Dagger Squad (platonic), slight Bradley Bradshaw x female!reader (implied romance), sister!oc x female reader (platonic/sisters)

Content Warnings: MAJOR angst & MAJOR character death (read at your own risk). Profanity. Emotional, sad, light fluff at the end (sorta a happy ending), apocalypse!au, light spoilers for TLOU (one scene is loosely inspired by one from Ep.2) | female!reader (she/her) wc: 7.5k

Premise: 2019 was the last year humanity could laugh and have fun without a care in the world. Then in November the world was turned upside down when a deadly virus swept though causing humans to turn into beings they only saw in movies. Seven years after the outbreak, the Top Gun special detachment have remained a team, but in the way they predicted obviously. They’ve survived things no training from the Navy could’ve prepared them for. Now years later, they’ve wondered to Seattle with hopes of returning to California by down….but for a couple of them, it’s their last stop.

Note: I’m sorry. Again. - Bee 🐝

———————————————

Date: 30 November 2026 –7 Years, 0 Months, and 20 Days since the outbreak

It’s been 12 hours. Another 12 and my brain will be consumed by the virus making me one of the things I’ve spent years fighting. No one knows. Everything happened so fast after the ambush that I rushed to get my gloves on before anyone could notice the bite mark just below my thumb. The veins have already started to appear, my muscles aching with light spasms I try to hide when no one is looking. So far they’ve only reached my elbow…but once they reach my neck It’s rapid from there. Then the foam will leave my mouth, my pupils will dilate to the point you can barely make out the white. I guess I should start figuring out what to do before I either lose my mind or end things before it gets worse.

I fear Maverick is onto me, but maybe he fears I’m onto him. His behavior has changed just as mine, becoming drawn away from the rest as we set sights on heading south for the winter. When he thinks I’m not looking I catch him fidgeting with his pant leg. Like he’s trying to make sure it’s covering his skin…..Maybe I wasn’t the only one to be bitten—not sure if I should find comfort at the fact I may not have to go through this alone, or just as hopeless with the fact it’s Mav. Once the others discover our my secret I’m scared they’re gonna lose faith. We’re so close to the rumored safe haven—so so close that we could get there by the end of the week…..but it looks like they're gonna have to continue without me.

We’ve been together as a team for seven years—before the outbreak even happened. I still remember the smell of the ocean and the feel of the felt on the pool table against my fingertips. The taste of draft beer that I once hated almost seems nostalgic since I haven’t had it in years. I can still hear the laughter from Bradley and Javy when Jake tried chatting up a pretty blonde who turned out to be married to an admiral. I wonder what happened to her….did she survive that night? Did she last a week? A year? Is she out there now wondering about the country like us?

With my eyes closed I can still picture the news coverage. The initial confusion filling my veins followed by a rush of anxiety that what I was witnessing was real. Then the panic erupting from everyone in the bar. Some rushed out immediately, likely rushing to get to their families. All of us who stayed did our best to board up the windows and doors with whatever we could find. Those of us with weapons in our cars were all so nervous about using them for the first time. Poor Bob didn’t know how to handle his gun and Mav being the saint he is, helped Bob when chaos was happening around them. Just picturing myself that night…shooting a person that didn’t even look human trying to break through the barrier. The revolver in my hand shook by how horrified I was and when I looked at Nat she mirrored my expression. I forgot what happened to my little revolver…it lasted me a good six months into the outbreak before we snuck on base and stole everything we could.

It’s crazy how everything changed in the blink of an eye. One second we’re all celebrating the success of an impossible mission, the Navy’s best fighter pilots. The next…we’re fighting for our lives in a war we only saw in movies. For the first year as humanity attempted to adapt to the new reality, we all traveled across different areas of the country to find our families. Radio and communications were lost early, with the only relying source was to go to our homes and see if they were there. Unfortunately, we never found most of the team’s loved ones. And those we did were already turned or on the brink of. I’ll never forget Javy’s face having to put his parents out of their misery. Same with Nat to her siblings. The only people we found who were healthy and joined our expedition were Bob’s cousin, Mickey’s brothers, and my sister, Jamie. While there was joy finding them, it came with heartbreak.

We lost Omaha first, then Harvard and Yale in one night. Fritz was shortly after marking one year of the outbreak when we thought a building was clear and turned out a stray was lurking underground. Every now and then I’m surprised Rooster and Hangman haven’t killed each other. In the beginning they were always butting heads on what to do, with a knife being pulled out one time that ended with Mav threatening to send them on their own if they couldn’t get their act together.

I’m still mad about losing Hondo, Halo, Penny, and Amelia—It wasn’t even one of the bastards who got them, the damn war between the army and these militia groups has taken more lives nowadays than the virus. The large cities are where most of it happens—and unfortunately we happened to be passing Vegas during turmoil. The conflict arose in the months after the outbreak. It’s understandable really—everyone was pissed that the government failed to prepare after it was revealed they had knowledge that a possible deadly virus would be on the loose. But it’s gotten out of hand. Too out of hand.

I know Mav hasn’t been the same since Penny died. Maybe that’s why he’s not looking too panicked at the idea he could be reuniting with her by the end of the day.

Nothing good came out of that night besides stealing military armored vehicles. That’s made traveling from coast to coast easier with the new jobs we’ve taken up. Fightertown, the once home of Top Gun, is now our base of operations. We’re currently in Seattle with the plan to leave for California tonight, but I won’t be making that drive. Not when I’m already feeling the changes in my psychological well being shift. Jaime is now 16 and I want nothing more than for her to survive this damn apocalypse—to go on and actually live the life she deserves. Not waking up every morning with the fear it would be her last. She’s been traumatized enough with everything she’s seen and I know it’s going to be difficult for her without me. But she’s the strongest girl I’ve ever met. She can survive this all. And I know the squad will take care of her. They’ll keep her safe until their final breath.

That last mission I’ll keep close to me even after I’m gone. They’re my family—my only family I’ve known for the last seven years. We’ve survived so much together. And I pray that whoever stands above all will keep them safe from here on out. Maybe one day they’ll see the world how it once was. That’s my last wish for them.

To find peace.

6 Hours later

Twirling the match box in her hand, Lt. Y/n ‘Pepper’ L/n, relished in watching the sun make its descent on her final day of life. The colors were beautiful, painting the sky an array of pinks and oranges. Sunsets in the Pacific Northwest were always beautiful. She was glad she got to witness another one last time.

She was sitting on the steps of a courthouse, the others inside behind her going over plans or packing the vehicles. Jaime was tossing a ball she found with Mickey’s brothers, giggling when it accidentally hit one of them in the head. Trying to remain composed, she closed her eyes and breathed in the air. It almost felt fresh and clean. Not the polluted with lingering decomposition of human flesh scent she was accustomed to.

No. Tonight it was nice. Actually comforting with the cool breeze of the wind.

“Twenty minutes we’re out,” Jake called from the doorway. “Pep, we need ya in her’.”

“Alright,” she signed, pulling herself up and putting the match box in her jacket pocket. Making sure the clothing was zipped all the way, Pepper cranked her neck to make it look like she was stretching, all while fighting the urge to twitch. Adjusting her gloves next she grabbed the canteen of water off the step and moved inside where the team were holding up. The teenagers behind her raced in after, only to receive some looks when they made a lot of noise.

When scouting the area for refuge the squad checked the surrounding proximity for any undead. Big cities were hives for them, and one loud noise such as an explosion or a simple blast of a shotgun could trigger a mob. Since they started their cargo transport ‘business’ they’ve mastered avoiding the undead when traveling to populated cities.

A moment passes, everyone glancing around for the sounds of disturbance. When nothing happened they visibly relaxed and signaled it was okay to talk.

“Sorry,” Ray, the oldest of Mickey’s two brothers, mumbled.

“It’s okay, buddy,” he told him, “Just remember to be careful next time. Okay?” The teen nodded, moving to sit next to Sammy, and Bob’s cousin Allison.

“What’s it looking like?” Nat was the first to ask, Bob coming to stand in front of the table with the large map displayed.

“The gas we have in the trucks will last us till the Oregon-California border. Portland is four hours from here, and then it’ll likely be another four or so to the border if we don’t run into any trouble. We’re gonna have to stop to refill the takes and then we can either decide to haul it to Sacramento— where I’ve already notified the base camp there we’re planning to stop so they’re getting stuff ready for us—or we can try to find a place at the border to rest.”

“I say we go to the base,” Javy said, rummaging through his pack for a snack. “I wouldn’t trust the border—could be scavengers hiding out for passerbyers.”

“Yeah, but Sacramento’s being hit with conflict,” Payback pointed out with a tired sigh.

“But if we haul for the long run tonight then it should die down by morning. You know how it is…It’s at night these things usually happen.”

“Both of you are right,” Rooster steps in, frowning down at the map with his arms crossed. “We stop at the border we could be ambushed, but if we go to Sacramento we’ll walk right into a war.”

None noticed how quiet Y/n was, fidgeting with her thumbs as they discussed. There was no need for her to give input. Not when she was gonna be likely dead within the hour.

“Well we need to decide,” Nat says sternly, the exhaustion evident in her tone. “I want us to be out of here in fifteen minutes—so either we vote, you two rock, paper, scissors it or we flip a coin.” Rooster almost considers it but then turns to the oldest member of their squadron.

“What do you think, Mav?”

The former pilot blinked several times, not realizing his name had been said and quickly recovered. Pepper’s anxiety rose…he was showing signs. “I-I yeah..I think you-we, we should go to Sacramento.”

‘Fuck,’ Y/n dropped her head in silent thought.

The others didn’t seem to notice the slip up and continued on. “Well that settles it,” Jake clapped his hands, “Let’s finish packin’ up and get the hell outta her’.” There was distress expressed by those who were worried about what lay ahead in Sacramento. For Y/n, her heart was racing by what she needed to do next.

“Jaime,” she called her sister over softly, the teen coming to stop in front of her. “How are you doing tonight?”

“Fine,” she drawled with a shrug. “Not looking forward to being cooped up in a van for the next eight plus hours…but I plan to sleep the entire time.”

“Good,” Y/n brushed some hair behind Jaime’s ear, letting her gloved hand softly liner against her cheek. It was shaking lightly, but Y/n managed to not let her sister notice. “Me too. That sounds like a good plan. I uh—,” she reached into her pants pocket, removing a small booklet. “I’ve been hanging onto this for a while and I thought you should have it. Maybe you can keep it safe since I almost lost it when we were in Denver.”

Jaime took the booklet, examining it. “What is it?”

“Open it and find out.”

Doing so, Jaime felt tears spring in her eyes when the booklet revealed Polaroid photos of not just the team from the past years, but ones of her and Y/n’s family. “W-where did you get this?”

“When we found you back at the house and after I….I won’t say,” she was referring to having to shoot their parents and brother who had turned. Jaime was hiding in the attic when they found her, malnourished and living off of rice cakes and water. “But I went through the house to find things that were sentimental. And well, I made sure to grab photos so we could always remember what they looked like.” Y/n felt a bile of emotion in her throat, swallowing it down. “It’s yours now. Take care of it.”

Jaime closes the book and wraps the thread around it to keep it together. Then her arms go around Y/n’s waist, causing her to stumble a bit, but hold her sister nonetheless. “Thank you,” she said. “I’ll keep it safe. I promise.”

The booklet was the last piece Y/n had of their family. All it contained were the photographs. Keeping their memory alive as a happy one rather than the painful last image of having to execute them to put them out of their misery. Only a few times a year Y/n would flip through the photos, and read over the handwritten notes of her mother and father she found. Now it was time to pass them to Jaime. So she could have them and also remember Y/n.

Pulling away from the hug, Y/n places her hands on Jaime’s shoulders and looks deep into her eyes. “Promise me something, kiddo.” The teen gave a short nod and Y/n took a sharp breath. “Promise me that whatever happens to me, you’ll always fight. You’ll move forward and continue to survive. Promise that you won’t give up no matter what happens okay?” Jaime appeared taken aback by the request, not liking the idea she may have to one day continue without her sister. “Promise, kiddo. I need to hear you say it.”

“Why are you asking me this now, Y/n?”

“Because It would bring me peace knowing you are going to be okay,” Y/n offers a small smile. “I want reassurance you would never give up just because I’m not there. You’re stronger than that. And I need you to promise me you will be.”

Eyes still watery, Jaime sniffs and gives her sister a nod, “I promise I’ll try.”

“That’s all I can, kiddo. For you to try,” she brings her into another hug, feeling eyes on her and looks up to see Maverick with a sympathetic expression.

He knows.

“It’s you and me against the world, right?” Y/n holds her close, resting her head on top of Jaime’s, who then repeats, “You and me against the world.”

“Go wait in the van with the others while we finish up here,” before sending her off, Y/n places a comforting kiss on Jaime's head with the soft whisper of ‘I love you.’ The teenager wanted to question her sister’s behavior, but followed the order anyway despite the feeling in her gut starting to form.

Once Jaime, Sammy, Ray, and Allison were outside, leaving just the squad, Y/n’s voice echoed against the silence, “I can’t go with you.” Everyone stopped what they were doing, Maverick off to the side with his hands on his hips and all of them waiting for the former pilot to say she was joking. Holding her hands together, she keeps her gaze on the floor.

Jake scoffed, “Now’s not the time to joke, Pep. We’re leaving in five—.”

“I’m not going,” she snaps, “I can’t go.” Her arm twitches, catching the attention of Rooster, who unconsciously takes a step forward causing her to move back. “Don’t get close to me, please,” she falls to a whisper, letting her eyes drift up to find the mixed reactions from her friends. Some were ashen—already understanding what she was trying to say while a couple appeared confused, not yet catching on.

“Y/n…” Nat’s tone becomes strained. Not wanting to accept the possibility.

“I’m sorry,” she looks at each of them, but Jake just shakes his head and demands, “Show us.” Removing the gloves first, Y/n’s hand trembles as she reaches up to unzip her jacket, shrugging it off her body to reveal the veins taking up the entire right side of her body. Her tank top showed where it was heading. They crept just halfway up her neck, meaning she was far into the infection that she only had a few hours before she fully succumbed.

“Fucking hell,” Jake turned away as Mickey and Bob immediately went distraught. Rooster and Nat simply remained frozen.

“When did this happen, Pepper?” Payback gently asked, trying to contain his reaction. All of them were already feeling the impending loss, and were all thinking the same thing: Who’s gonna be the one to do it?

“Eighteen hours ago…”

“During that ambush at the Hospital?” Javy was next to question her.

“Yeah,” she sadly replied, moving her hand a bit to show the bite. “Fucker that tackled me from the side got me as I was knifing him.”

“And you kept it from us?” Jake shouted, anger in his eyes. Y/n remained calm, knowing his reaction was justified. “This whole time you knew you were infected. And you didn’t say a word until now. Why?”

She tilted her head like it was obvious, “what the hell was I supposed to do, Jake? What would have you done? Shoot me right there?” She saw him still, making her scoff, “Forgive me for wanting a few more hours of peace with you guys and my sister before I end things.” Now that had everyone, minus Mav, eyes to go wide. Again she scoffed, “You really think I was gonna let it consume me? Or put one of y’all in the position to kill me? No,” she shakes her head, “no, I wanted you guys to be off to California before that happened. Honestly I would’ve just left hours ago with no word to spare you all, but…you probably would’ve searched for me.”

Some had to look away at that. She was right, they would have come looking for her. Even if they feared she had turned they’d at least want closure instead of wondering what happened.

“Seven years though,” she tried to laugh. “Not bad when you think about it. Would’ve hoped to make it to ten but life surprises you in mysterious ways. Now I’ll just have to root for Y’all on the side lines. I’ll kinda be pissed though if they somehow find a cure within the next month.”

No one knew how to respond. Quite frankly they didn’t want to. They were all dealing with having to adjust without Y/n going forward. Some didn’t want to accept it.

“Pep, we can try to figure something out—,” Nat tries to say, but Y/n spins to face her.

“What? figure out what, Nat?” She gestures to her arm. “I’m too far gone, okay? I have less than six hours at most—I won’t make it to Sacramento. And even if I were to….they’ll shoot me the second they see me. I’m not letting Jaime see that.” Y/n faces Rooster with a desperate look, tears threatening her eyes. “She doesn’t know,” she could see the heartbreak in his gaze.

Over the years Rooster and Pepper had grown close. At first it was just solely due to the connection they formed in the Navy which grew more at Top Gun. But when the end of the world is happening and there’s not many people in your life….things tend to happen.

They never put a label on it. At no point referring to the other as their ‘partner/significant other,’ but at night they’d bunk together. Rode in the same trucks. Had each other’s six. Sometimes they’d get involved in more intimate scenarios….. Maybe one can call it love, but they had a deep respect and admiration for each other.

“Take care of her for me,” she tells him. “Promise me you will.”

Rooster doesn’t hesitate, “I will.” Y/n swallows, nodding with thanks before adding, “She may fight you when she realizes you’re leaving without me. Sedate if you have to. Keep her from trying to come back.”

They had just gone to an abandoned hospital to retrieve supplies. It was where Y/n, and possibly Mav, got bit. In their search they got plenty of medical equipment including sedatives.

“I’ll do it,” Nat says, bringing a hand up to wipe her eyes. There were tears already escaping. The woman goes over to one of the backpacks and pulls out a bottle with a syringe to prepare it just in case she had to use it. Her hands were shaking, and before she knew it Mav was crouching beside her to take the syringe and do it himself.

“Here,” he hands it back to her, now full of the liquid. She thanks him softly before placing it in her jacket pocket.

At that moment an ugly screech fills the space, many reaching for their weapons in time to light up the undead that wandered in. Another one followed, and lastly a third, all dropping to the ground with bullets filling them. The rapid fire of the sound had Ray come rushing in to which Mickey yelled, “get back to the truck now!” They could hear faint noise in the distance, coming from the direction the three had run in from.

“There’s gonna be more. They must’ve snuck in from the sewers and came through the back,” Payback said in a rush, scanning for any more that could be lurking. “We gotta go.”

“But—,” Bob raised a hand to Y/n, who cut him off by saying, “I can hold them off. Buy you some time,” she paused a bit, looking at her shotgun and then said, “Leave the diesel.” She was referring to the large containers of diesel gasoline that had been on the streets. They didn’t know what to do with them since none of their vehicles took that type of gas. Y/n saw them and instantly thought of a plan.

“What the fuck are you on about?” Jake asked when she started to cut into the containers to let the liquid leak onto the floor.

“I’m gonna drown them in diesel,” she says sarcastically, making him glare. “I’m gonna fucking blow the place up, Jake. Do you want to sit and watch or are you gonna get your ass in that truck and make it tomorrow?”

He doesn’t answer, instead he marches up to her and pulls her into a near bone breaking hug. “I’m gonna miss you, Pep. You’re the best fucking wingman I could’ve asked for.”

Y/n’s lip quivered, hugging him back. “Don’t get sentimental on me now, Seresin,” she attempted to joke. “We both know you’ve been wanting to get rid of me for a while.” She feels him shake his head, though he chuckles.

“Never. You’ve been the glue of this team. I don’t know how we’ll get through this hell without ya, but we’ll try.”

“Thank you,” she pulls away, seeing a stray tear fall from his eyes. “Take care of each other.” He squeezes her shoulder that’s not covered in veins, patting it before stepping away.

“Let’s get a move on.” Everyone takes turns saying goodbye to Y/n and gathering their packs. There’s not a dry eye in the room, Nat holding onto her tightly and not wanting to let go.

“C’mon, Phee,” Y/n’s tone is soft, “you rise from the ashes. You’ve been doing it since I’ve known ya. You’ll get through this. I know you will.”

Nat whimpers, wiping her face as she says, “You better save me a drink up there. Because we’ll have a lot to discuss when I join you.”

“That’ll be years from now,” she assures her, pulling away from the hug, “But I’ll have your favorite ready to go when that happens.”

It was hard with each goodbye. Reuben and Javy understandably made theirs quick. Mickey said how he was gonna miss sharing the excitement with Y/n when he would find an old comic book. Sweet Bob’s face was bright red as the tears ran down his face unapologetically. “I’ll never forget you, Y/n.” She choked back a sob as she replied, “I would hope not, Bobby Boy.”

Rooster’s hug lasted longer than the others, kissing the side of her head lovely as he whispered into her ear, “Thank you for everything. I promise I won’t let anything happen to Jaime. You can count on it. And Y/n…I-I just want you to know that I lo—.”

“I know,” she cups his face, staring into the beautiful hazel eyes she adored. “I know, Roo. I’ve known for a while. And I feel the same, always have.” He wanted to kiss her one last time, but the infection had a chance of transferring through saliva and they couldn’t risk him getting it. It pained him that he couldn’t offer one last kiss to her.

Movement in the corner of his eye caught his attention, making them narrow in confusion. “Mav, what are you doing?” The question came at the sight of the older man cutting into the containers and bringing the gas further out to the hall where they could hear the approaching noise increase. They had maybe less than two minutes before they had company.

Mav threw his bag down as he pushed away the empty canister. “I’m staying.” The reaction was immediate.

“The hell you—!”

“I’m infected too,” at the gasp from Nat and stunned looks from everyone, besides Y/n, Pete bent down to pull up his pant leg. When he did the same ugly veins coated his skin. Then he lifted the end of his t-shirt, revealing more. “I don't have much time either.”

The reaction from Bradley could best be described with one word: agony.

“No,” he rubbed his face before his hands went to his hair. “No. This can’t be happening.” He wouldn’t accept it. Losing Y/n was one thing, but also losing Mav—his second father, in the same night? His entire soul was being ripped apart.

“Bradley—.”

“This can’t fucking be real!” Rooster shouted, not caring the tears were falling from his eyes. “Not you too!” The sounds from the distant hallways were getting louder, Payback and Jake rushing to close the doors of the room they were in to block them off before pushing desks and tables in front of them. It wouldn’t last much, but it’d at least buy them some seconds.

“Guys we really need to go,” Jake rushed out, pushing Coyote to the door. “Now! We can’t stay here!” It was a scene of distraught. They were now faced with the reality of losing both Y/n and their team leader. Fear of the incoming undead is what made them not break down right then and there. Nat knew once she got in the van she’d would lose it.

Rooster was already starting to break down. His face was red and riddled with tears, breathing heavily as he tried to fight back against Payback and Bob’s grip. “Don’t do this to me, Mav! N-no! Fucking dammit-I’m not leaving them! Mav! Please!”

“I’m sorry, kid,” Pete removes his dog tags and tosses them to Bradley to catch. He doesn’t know how he caught them, but the action hurts him even more. “You’re gonna be okay. I’ll see you again one day.”

“Don’t fucking tell me that! I don’t want that, Mav. C’mon—we were supposed to survive this together!”

“I know,” Mav sighs, green eyes red from crying. “I’m sorry, Bradley. But you’re gonna have to do it without me.” The former pilot releases a heartbreaking sound, making Y/n put her hand to her mouth to cover her sobs.

“Rooster, we have to go!” Reuben tells him sadly, practically shoving his friend backward. “I’m sorry, man, but it’s over.”

“Don’t make us have to sedate you, Bradshaw,” Jake threatens with an unreadable tone. He hated doing so, but if they didn’t leave in the next ten seconds they were about to be sitting ducks for a mob of undead.

“Mav!” Bradley screams as they finally get him out the door and out from their sights. Y/n is having to catch her breath from how hard she was crying. Seeing the man she loved in such a state did absolute destruction to her heart.

“Give these to Jaime,” she removes her own dog tags that were around her neck. She passes them to Natasha, who was the last in the building and fighting back the urge to collapse. “I love you guys so much.”

“We love you too,” Nat sobs, glancing between Pepper and Mav. “Both of you. I-I’m so sorry. This shouldn’t—this shouldn't have happened.”

Y/n just sighs, trying to smile at her friend, “It was an honor serving with you, Nat.” She sees the woman let out a shaky breath, nodding before turning on her heel and racing out of the building. When the trucks started she felt some relief, feeling more of it when the sound of them driving off could be heard.

Now it was just her and Pete.

“When did you figure it out?” She hesitated to ask, finally looking up from the ground she had been staring at for a good five seconds.

“When I noticed you were quieter than usual,” he replied, then asked, “What about you?”

“When you kept messing with your pants and checking if someone noticed.”

“Yeah,” he cracked his neck, then said, “I take it you got something to light this place up?” Instead of answering, Y/n removes the match box from her pocket.

Together they pull two chairs into the middle of the floor, facing the doors the undead were currently running for. A loud bang indicated they breached whatever obstacle in their path. It would be maybe thirty seconds before they arrived. Sitting down, Y/n opened the match box to find two cigatters hidden with only one match.

“How fucking ironic,” she chuckled, removing one to place between her lips before offering one to Maverick. Though he didn’t smoke, the occasion called for it so he took the tobacco and allowed her to light it with the last match before doing the same to hers.

Leaning forward in her chair, Y/n inhaled deeply before releasing the smoke, “What do you think we’ll find?”

“Hopefully…peace,” he breathes out, smoke filling the air. “But I hope to find my parents, maybe Ice and Goose. Hondo. Penny and Amelia,” his voice turns softer at the last couple names. “But mostly I hope to find peace. You?”

“The same,” she gives a small smile, leaning back in the chair as the noise gets louder. Fifteen seconds. “I sorta hope to find The Hard Deck. Maybe that’s where everyone is waiting for us.”

“That would be nice,” Mav agrees. Ten seconds.

Y/n gulps, “Mav?” The growls and moans were closing in.

“Yeah,” he says calmly. Five seconds.

“It’s been an honor serving with you.” He takes her hand in his. Three.

“The honor is mine, Pepper.” Two.

The cigarette bud flicked from her hand at the same moment the doors busted open. One.

Nothing could describe the flooding of anxiety that filled Jaime L/n when she heard the commotion from inside the courthouse, followed by the guys practically dragging Rooster out. Javy, Jake, and Mickey hopped into the armored van in front of the one she was in where Mickey’s brothers were. Meanwhile Bob, Payback and Nat were coming to the one she and Allison were in, hauling Rooster who was in evident distraught.

“What’s happening?” She said aloud, receiving no answer as Bob and Payback threw Bradley into the back seat, with Nat hopping in after them. Payback immediately got into the driver's seat with Bob in the passenger. Turning around to the courthouse, Jaime awaited Y/n to run out with Maverick. But neither came and she realized Payback was starting up the vehicle. “Where’s Y/n? And Maverick?” When none answered, only hearing the light cries from the former pilots.

This time with her blood running cold, she asked in a more demanding tone, “Where’s my sister? Wha—what are you doing!” She shouted when the van started to move, following behind Jake and the others. “Wait!” She turned in her seat, still no sight of the two. “No! What are you doing!? Stop—my sister’s still in there!” When Jaime turned back to scream at Payback to stop the van, she was met with the heartbreaking eyes of Natasha, who simply extended her hand over the seat to hand over something. Snatching it, Jaime felt her entire world collapsed seeing it was Y/n’s dog tags.

“N-no,” she croaked, lifting her gaze to Nat to find she was shaking her head. “No…”

“I’m sorry, Jaime. She was bit—.”

“NO!!” Jaime screamed, turning to look at the courthouse in hopes it was a joke and Y/n would run after the van. “You’re lying! She would’ve said something.”

“Honey, she didn’t want you to know—s-she was gonna have to leave us eventually.”

The teenager wailed at the news. Not wanting to believe her sister would send her off without saying. Not without a goodbye. Now it made sense why she was asking her to promise her all those. It was because she knew it would be the last time they saw each other. Jaime cried at the realization.

She slapped the seat, “Go back! Go back now! I won’t fucking leave her there! Ple-ease!” She hiccuped, beginning to crawl over the seats so she could get to the doors. Immediately Rooster was taking a hold of her, causing her to thrash. “No-fuck you! Let me go! That’s m-my sister! Please, Rooster—we have to go-oo back!”

“I’m sorry, kiddo,” he shot Nat a look when she removed the syringe, mouthing, ‘not yet.’

“No-no-no-no-no-nooo,” she cried, fighting against him but to no avail. “Please! Don’t leave her—go back!

They were some distance away, but still in sight of the courthouse when an explosion rattled the ground. Jaime got enough away from Rooster’s grip to look up and see the building was on fire. “NOOO!!!!” She broke down in despair, falling against the man who just held onto her as his own tears rolled down. Everyone in the van was in the same state, Payback was gripping the steering wheel so tight and Bob had his head in his hands.

Jaime just kept screaming and crying, occasionally fighting against Rooster and at one point her panic attack became too much that Nat had to sedate her when she actually threw a punch at him. He wasn’t angry or upset of course. He understood exactly what she was going through.

Both of them just lost the only family they had.

It would be an image that would haunt them forever. The ablazed courthouse where their friends layed. They didn’t want to picture what they looked like, instead focusing on their final days. Where Y/n was dancing with Mickey to an old song that came on the radio. Where Maverick was showing the teenagers how to change a tire in case the vans were to break down. The nights by the fires reminiscing on what it was like before the outbreak. Shooting pool and darts at the Hard Deck, before it became a graveyard to the undead.

Those things are what they would remember. The feeling of warmth and nostalgia from reliving those memories would help them in their grief. They were in denial at first, then angry, followed by bargaining as they asked, “it should’ve been me.” The depression lasted a long time. Mostly for Rooster and Jaime who had trouble adjusting to life without their loved ones. The nightmares were horrible, keeping them from getting sleep. Jaime went from an optimistic, bright, teenager to cold and detached. It took some time before she reached the final stage of grief: acceptance.

It was roughly two years after Y/n died that she understood why her sister didn’t tell her during that final conversation. Why she made sure she was out in the van before she realized Y/n was staying behind. It was so Jaime could remember her in a healthy, happy, light. So she wasn’t faced with the devastation of seeing her become undead.

Everyday she wore her dog tags, fiddling with them whenever she became anxious. The days she felt lonely and depressed she’d glance through the booklet with all the photographs Y/n had gifted her. Shortly after the incident Jaime discovered Y/n’s notebook with all her entries starting from the day after the outbreak, to the most recent being the one six hours before she died. Jaime felt her heart break and repair each time she read an entry. She cried a lot at the one detailing the day the squad found her, where Y/n spoke of how she had to execute their infected parents and brother. There were entries that made her laugh, some made her angry—especially one talking about the night they lost Halo, Hondo, Penny, and Amelia. It was so unfair how it happened. The team was just trying to get through Vegas and bombs were going off due to the conflict between the army and rebelled militia groups.

The last entry, Jaime trailed her fingertips over Y/n’s handwriting, hoping she would feel closer to her sister. Feel her warmth again, hear her laugh, see her smile. She wasn’t the only one. Every now and then Jaime would catch Rooster looking at his own Polaroids with Y/n and Mav.

Years passed. Summers turned to fall and then winter and spring. The tenth anniversary of the outbreak came and went, with their group losing Javy, Ray, Bob, and Allison along the way. Jake died around the fifteenth, with Mickey not too far behind due to an injury to his leg. They finally decided to stop their ‘transport’ business when that happened, no longer able to do the work they once were able to as Bradley, Nat, and Rueben were all approaching their fifties. Jaime was now in her thirties and had met a nice man on their travels, falling in love when she never thought it was possible.

She wasn’t the only one to find love. Nat married, so did Payback though neither had children. Rooster was the only one to not do so. Even when it was obvious men and women they met in their travels expressed attraction to him, Bradley denied their advances. When asked he simply said, “I had my love. There wasn’t anyone like her and my heart won’t belong to someone else. She took it with her when she left.”

Rumors started to spread around the twentieth year that the new generation of children being born were immune to the virus. Pregnant, Jaime felt a mix of fear and hope at the thought her baby was immune. Hope that maybe a cure could be discovered, but fear at what the government planned to do with the children. Surely they were ripping them from their families to be taken to testing locations. Immediately Jaimie, her husband and the remaining squad members with their loved ones they found and created all went into hiding in Fightertown.

Humanity began to rebuild in the 25th year. An announcement was made just shortly after the outbreak anniversary that countries working together were able to create an effective vaccine. It was to be distributed immediately, with no human being denied the access to be cured. Jaime had just had her second child when they got it. Within six months every remaining human had received the vaccination.

Finally, after 25 years. They could breathe a sigh of relief.

The team remained in contact despite going their separate ways. Rooster traveled back to Virginia where his parents rested, sending a vintage postcard to Jaime when he arrived. Nat and her husband remained in San Diego, Reuben and his wife traveled to Colorado. Jaime, having seen every inch of the country, ended up landing in Washington state. She didn’t go to Seattle, it was still too painful, but she went close to the Canadian border.

The reason: the sunsets.

“Look at how the sky just lights up. So many colors—a beautiful array of orange and pinks,” she heard Y/n’s voice when she closed her eyes the first time she sat on the porch steps of her new home, the sun descending on the horizon. “I’ve seen many sunsets in my days, kiddo. But nothing compares to the ones on the PNW. They by far are the most mesmerizing to look at.”

Breathing in the fresh air, the most refreshing she’d ever inhaled now that she was away from most of civilization as the cities were being rebuilt, Jaime felt the weight finally lift from her shoulders. “You and me against the world, right kiddo?”

“You and me against the world.”

Acceptance. It was finally here. Jaime thought she had accepted her sister’s death ages ago, but really she had pushed it to the back burner to focus on other things. Never did she truly accept Y/n’s death, she just adapted to it like everything else.

Being able to come back to Washington, the place she lost her sister, and watching the sunsets she knew Y/n loved is what really brought Jaime peace.

She finally reached the final stage of grief.

40 years later

The bright welcomed Jaime with warmth spreading throughout her body. Gasping, she opened her eyes and glanced down to find she was no longer sleeping in her bed with her children holding onto her hands. Instead she was wearing an old flannel she remembered she loved as a teenager, with light wash jeans and converse. Her hands were no longer wrinkled and rail, she felt like she was back in the body of her young self.

Ocean waves filled her ears, and when she turned around she found the sea ahead with a familiar building she only knew by the memories her sister would tell her.

The Hard Deck.

All around was a hue she couldn’t explain. It was bright, almost luminescent with the sun’s rays beating down. Something in the building was calling to her.

“Go,” a voice said. She didn’t recognize it, but it was telling her to go inside. “They’re waiting for you.”

Her feet carried her across the parking lot. No cars were there which made it unusual for a bar that read ‘open’ on its glowing sign. Still Jaime approached the door, hearing the faint sounds of conversation and music. When she pushed the door open, the music stopped and she was frozen at the sight before her.

The whole Dagger Squad were dressed in their service khakis looking the same as they did the night of the outbreak. Penny and Amelia were behind the bar, where Mav was seated with Hondo, Warlock, and Cyclone. Ray, Sammy, and Allison were by the jukebox, beaming at Jaime and her heart picked up at the sight of her husband of nearly 50 years beside them. The Dagger Squad were smiling. Especially Rooster who looked young and handsome again, throwing Jaime a wink as if to say, ‘about time you showed up. We’ve been waiting ages.’

Heart beating, she felt the emotion surge in her causing tears to prick in eyes. Jaime’s eyes drifted over, bringing a hand to her mouth when they landed on her parents and brother seated in a booth, her father standing from his seat.

She wanted to rush over to them but something was stopping her. Almost like she needed to see one last person before she could.

And there was only one missing.

Before the name could leave her lips, Jaime heard her voice. After years of wondering if she had found peace, the answer came with a simple greeting of, “Hey, kiddo.”

……………………….

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