#and win must be worried in one corner of his mind but trying not to express it too much bc he KNOWS if he does

[psychedelic-ink]

𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐓𝐓𝐘 𝐆𝐈𝐑𝐋𝐅𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐃

pairing: joel miller x f!reader

genre: explicit smut, minors dni, childhood bestfriends to lovers, tlou'verse, jackson era, mild hurt/comfort

word count: 4.9k

summary: When your boyfriend is desperate to win back what he lost, he bets on you this time without your knowledge. And everyone knows you don't go back on your word when it comes to Joel Miller.

warnings: okay so technically not cheating because your boyfriend literally gambled you buuut if that's not your thing I totally get it, piv, dirty talk, choking, spitting, size kink, soft!joel & feral!joel, he likes hearing how big he is, affectionate whore calling™, a hint of analplay, oral (receiving and giving)

a/n: another joel fic inspired by p.orn, we love to see it

a special thank you to @nothoughtsjustmeds for the beta! 💕

Joel was never that into gambling. 

Back before everything had gone to shit, that had always been more Tommy’s forte than his own. Joel doesn’t remember the amount of times he’d had to bail his brother out, either by protecting him while putting himself in the middle or by giving him loans he’d never ever see again. Joel hadn’t minded. Tommy was his baby brother after all. As long as he was safe Joel was happy—annoyed, for sure, but happy. 

He was surprised when he learned that Jackson had a pretty heavy gambling scene and that Tommy wasn’t a part of it. He didn’t know why that was, because even on the nights where he had to go bail him out and bring him home all bloodied and bruised, Tommy just made the same mistakes. Not even Sarah’s worried expression, while she peered from between the wooden stair railing, deterred him from it. 

Guess it was different when your own kid was on the way. 

However, despite his lack of interest in gambling, he found himself betting away what little he had for someone else—someone he thought he would never see again. But honestly, he wasn’t half bad at it so he didn’t mind it that much. His only complaint was when he had to get messy hunting down those who didn’t pay up. 

One by one the men around the table folded, only leaving Joel and Liam. A huge stack of weaponry lies in the middle of the table, Liam’s eyes constantly flit between the stack and Joel. They stare at each other long and hard. Joel knows that he’s going to win. He usually did with these face-offs. 

Liam folds. 

A small smile tugs at the corner of Joel’s lips. There’s nothing better than to take what someone he absolutely detests wants. 

“Let’s go again,” Liam grunts, his forehead shining with sweat. 

Joel raises an eyebrow, “You don’t have anythin’ else to bet on.” 

“Come on now, Miller,” Liam leans back into his chair. “There must be something that you want.” 

Joel’s eyes bore into his long enough for the man to grow uncomfortable and nervous. Only then did he speak. 

“You still have that pretty girlfriend?” 

Someone Joel didn’t bother learning the name of pipes up from his right, “I thought we were only betting huntin’ supplies this time.” 

“Come on, let the man try to win his rifle back.” Joel grins. 

“Fuck you, Miller.” 

“Careful now,” he slowly places his elbows on the old table, his weight on it enough to let out a threatening creak. He cocks his head to the side, his smile small but still there. “My kindness wears thin.” 

Liam’s an addict. And of course, he says yes. 

“You fucking gambled me away?!” your voice is shaking, body trembling all over as you pace back and forth in front of the couch Liam was nestled on top of. At least he has the decency to look guilty. “What the fuck is wrong with you, Liam? I’m your girlfriend, not some kind of deer hide you can put on the table.” 

“Look I said I was sorry alright?” He stands up fast enough to make you flinch. He holds you by the shoulders, thumbs moving in a soothing manner. “Won’t happen again, I promise.” 

You scoff, “We both know that’s a lie.” You lift your chin up in defiance. “I won’t do it. I have free will. You can’t make me.” 

That makes Liam sweat. You can’t blame him, you’ve heard of Joel’s. . . outbursts. But honestly, that’s the least of your worries. You’re mostly confused as to why Joel asked for you specifically. You’re positive that he’d been avoiding you ever since he came into Jackson, only talking to you a handful of times. Why now? And why like this?

“Baby,” Liam whines, snapping you away from your thoughts. “You have to. He’s crazy, he’ll kill me.” 

“You should’ve thought of that before.” 

“Please. All you’d have to do is entertain him for the night, make him happy.” 

“So to be his plaything? Is that what you want?” 

“Maybe he’ll ask you to cook him dinner, hell if I know.” 

“Sure,” you roll your eyes. “I’m sure he’ll just want something to eat.” 

You give him one more look before slipping away from his gentle hold. Your heartbeat is slow, hours spreading across every beat, making your chest feel heavy and lightheaded.

“Fine,” you cave, wrapping yourself with your shaking arms. “But after this, I’m done, Liam. I’m so tired of bailing you out.” 

“You can’t leave, where would you go?” 

The soft tone he used while begging you to spread your legs for Joel quickly turns into a tone with sharp, dagger-like edges. You don’t say anything. Don’t answer him or agree with him. You’re lost in a broken world. 

And now, amongst all the things you’ve been through, you have to see the pity in your childhood best friend’s eyes. 

You don’t want to be here. You don’t. It’s embarrassing. 

Your boyfriend is in the other room, brooding on his couch, examining his life choices. You’re not doing any better. Your robe loose over your shoulders, the chill of the bedroom settling over your skin. It’s especially embarrassing because it’s Joel for crying out loud. You’ve known each other since you were kids causing mischief all around the neighborhood. You still remember the time you fell and scraped your knee, how he kissed it better and placed a pink bandaid over it because it was your favorite color. 

Why the hell had he asked for you? To humiliate you? Well, he definitely succeeded. 

The door opens and you jolt. His presence is large in the room, making you shudder despite yourself. Your pulse quickens. You shouldn’t be afraid of him yet here you are, trembling like a newborn doe. He closes the door with a gentle click, the wood creaking and solidifying your fate. 

You haven’t known him for years. Even before the outbreak had torn the world apart. You had moved away two years prior and after everything went down you never expected to see him again. When he showed up in Jackson you barely recognized him. He looked rugged, more salt than pepper in his beard, his eyes drained of life. He had scars that ran deep and he had found a kid along the way. You were surprised but relieved to see he still had a big heart. 

You were ashamed the first time you two sat down after years. Everyone knew of Liam’s gambling problem, he couldn’t help it, and you knew that Joel knew. You hated the idea of him pitying you, of him seeing the world weighing down on you. You’ve heard from around that Joel also started to place bets. Nothing too big though, unlike your boyfriend who would bet on almost anything in the house. You knew those bets could turn out violent and people feared Joel. Even in a safe utopia like Jackson, the kind of man he’d become traveled from ear to ear, striking fear. And when someone that owed him money ended up with a bloody nose and broken jaw. . . no one dared to deny him of anything. 

And it seemed like you were no exception. 

Joel stands in front of you, his sleeves pulled up to his elbows, exposing sinewy muscle. He stands close. Close enough that you feel his breath on your lips. Your eyelids flutter before you avert them, tears stinging the corners. 

You drop the robe, the old fabric pooling at your ankles. You’re left in a decent enough-looking bra and somewhat matching underwear. 

“Not interested,” Your entire body goes taut, eyes wide. You hear the blood rush in your ears. Joel moves past you and takes a seat on the bed, crossing his arms over the expanse of his broad chest. You stare at him and a thick knot forms in your throat. He gives you a brief look before explaining. “I only wanted to teach your boyfriend a lesson. He’s reckless. One of these days he’s gonna be in real debt to me and, darlin’, I don’t want you gettin’ caught in the middle.” 

Your heart drops. You don’t know what you’ve been expecting but it certainly isn’t this. Tears blurring your vision, you quickly bend over and scoop up your robe, throwing it over your shoulders. Somewhere along memory lane, you forgot to remind yourself that Joel was your first; first crush, first love, first kiss, first time. But it just hadn’t worked out. You had stayed close friends until you moved away, he had Sarah, you had a promising career. You were planning on getting back to him. It just never came to be. Liam didn’t know you knew Joel, only Tommy knew about the connection you two had, mainly because he was there. 

And now you had Liam—Boyfriend who calls you names because he hates everything, Liam. Shitty boyfriend, Liam. Boyfriend who put you up as a prize, Liam. 

It’s just too much. All of it. Your heart can’t handle how unfair it all is. The pity Joel shows you, the way Liam treats you. He loves you, you know that much, but he just doesn’t care enough to treat you right or tend to you when he’s so broken himself. He doesn’t understand that you would take care of him just as much. 

And now you’re just a shell. A shell of your former self. 

The first salty tear slips from your lashes, it’s followed by another and then another. 

You manage to reach the end of the bed on shaky legs, collapsing, you cover your face, heaving silently into your palms. You don’t want Liam to hear you cry, deep down you want him to think Joel is fucking you this very instant. You want him to feel guilt, or at least a sliver of the way you feel. 

There’s a gentle hand on your shoulder. Your brain doesn’t even register that Joel is pulling you into his chest, wrapping solid arms around your shaking frame. He holds the back of your neck, squeezing tenderly just like he did when your mom yelled at you and he wanted to calm you down. 

“Why are you cryin’?” he mumbles. “I told you I’m not gonna do anythin’ to you. Or to him. I just wanted him to think before he put you in any danger. What if it wasn’t me there? Not everyone is as they seem in this town.” 

After all this time Joel Miller is still looking out for you. 

“It’s not that,” you answer, between sniffled and muffled hiccups. “I’m embarrassed and so fucking tired. I don’t want you thinking I’m some damsel in distress, even though me crying isn’t really helping,” you take a deep breath and peel yourself unwillingly from his chest. “I don’t feel good about myself. I never do with him. I just feel like shit with some more shit thrown over. And well. . . now I know that you don’t want me either. It’s just too much. But I’ll be okay, thank you for looking out after me even though I’m a mess.” 

He suddenly grips your chin and pulls you close enough that your noses almost touch, “What the hell makes you think that I don’t want you?” 

“You. . .” with a sigh, you look away. “You didn’t want to fuck me.” 

“You want me to fuck you, sweetheart?”

Squeezing your chin, he forces your gaze back to him. His lips are parted, pupils wide enough to hide the chocolate brown of his eyes. He seems just as surprised as you feel. Arousal pools between your legs, heat dripping down the curve of your spine. You press your thighs together and swallow. 

Joel’s hand moves up to your cheek and cups it gently, thumb toying with the corner of your lip, “I just never thought you’d be interested if I’m bein’ honest. Especially not after. . . everything I’ve done.” 

“You’ve done what you’ve had to do to survive,” you kiss the curve of his palm and he shifts, coming even closer. “I always wanted to come back to you, you know? You’re my first love, Joel Miller. Deep down I always wanted you to be the last.” 

Joel was never an emotional guy. He always had trouble expressing what he thought and felt, thinking he always had to hide behind large invisible walls. The outbreak had put a magnifying glass over that quality of his. You can only tell that your words affected him by how the crease between his brows softens and his cheeks gain a subtle red hue. 

He only grunts as he forcefully brings your hand to his crotch, his cock hard and throbbing under your palm. His lips skim down your neck, kissing where your pulse beats frantically. Joel grinds into your palm, “You still want to fuck with your boyfriend waiting in the living room?” 

“God, yes.” 

You stand up and he parts his legs for you, allowing you to take your rightful place between them. Looking up, his fingers dance up your shoulders, pushing off the robe so it once again pools at your feet. The fabric of your bra has worn away with time, meaning that your nipples meet no resistance as they stiffen under his gaze. Joel licks his lips and brings both thumbs to the peaks, rubbing them until they’re fully hard. 

Then he suddenly shoves you closer to him, your aching nipple met with his wanting mouth. He sucks through the fabric. Saliva darkens the color. He sucks and moans each individual nipple until both are hard like diamonds and only then do you find yourself on the bed, his mouth still on you, starving for more. Your back forms the perfect arch, the sheets feeling like silk against your skin despite them being years old—almost rotten.

He drags his lips down your body, rough facial hair tickling your skin, your hips helplessly stutters into the air. Two large hands pin your hips down. You can’t help the noises that tumble from your lips. For the first time, you’re feeling whole. He lays soft kisses against your inner thighs and finally, he reaches where you want him most. 

Joel sucks your clit through the fabric and your body jerks, seeking the heat of his mouth against your bare cunt instead. He smiles, digging his blunt nails into your flesh. 

“Patience,” he licks a stripe down your clothed folds. “I want you to be loud, sweetheart. Make noise for me. If you want me to fuck you, that’s my price—your sounds.” 

Liam never liked the sounds you made. Unless you were mimicking porn and whispering how close you were, which was a very rare occasion. 

Joel slides his hands up to the softness of your stomach, squeezing gently. Like you might fade away at any given second. He kisses the lips of your pussy and his eyes flutter closed. 

“Doesn’t it feel good,” he begins, his southern drawl more prominent as his voice grows deeper. “To have that prick in the next room listenin’ to me fuck you, riddled with guilt because he bet on his pretty girlfriend?” 

It does feel good. “You think I’m pretty?” 

“‘Course I do,” his brows furrow, eyes finding yours. “Prettiest girl I’ve known since the first day my dick got hard.” 

The words send a tingle up your spine but Joel doesn’t allow you to linger on them for long. He slides your underwear to the side. The fabric sticky with slick, he immediately presses his lips deep into your cunt, tongue swirling around your entrance and teasing it by pushing in the tip. You cry out and grip his head, your legs pressing against his ears. Your heart hammers within the confinements of your ribcage. 

“Gonna ruin you,” he groans, licking himself deeper and rutting the bed. Your eyes roll back, your body melting with every fat stroke of his tongue. 

Joel takes you apart slowly. His jaw moves, head lazily going from left to right. You feel so wet, soaked, from both his mouth and your slick. It’s almost like he goes slower the more soaked you are. He draws various shapes around your throbbing clit. You're left withering under him, shaking, begging, and moaning his name loud enough that the entirety of Jackson could probably hear. The wet smack of his mouth is followed by loud slurps and groans, and your stomach coils tight. 

After all these years, Joel Miller had certainly learned a few new tricks. He wasn’t that same teenager anymore, though, neither were you. He feels different, yet he also feels the same. Like a familiar wind stroking your skin. 

“So damn wet and sweet like honey, fuck.” 

He moves away and you nearly cry out of frustration, fingers burrowing into the old sheets. You only move when you hear the deafening sound of a belt buckle coming loose. Joel’s pants drop to his ankles, cock painfully hard and slightly curving to the side. Your mouth waters, “No underwear?” 

“Got too lazy to wash’em last Sunday,” he lazily strokes himself. Today is Tuesday. He’s been going commando all this time. More saliva fills your mouth, you don’t know why but the thought excites you and he seems to notice. “You always did get turned on by the weirdest things,” he mutters. “Now get on your knees, sweetheart. Been waitin’ a long time to feel those lips again.” 

You pout, “Forearms are sexy, ask anyone.”

Joel sighs and shakes his head, his dark gaze makes you clench around nothing. He ignores your comment entirely.  “Don’t make me say it again.” 

You sink to your knees immediately after that. 

He’s so much thicker than you remember. The bulbous head a beautiful shade of red, shiny beads of precome gathered at the slit. You notice the vein meandering down the underside of his cock and you trace it with the tip of your tongue. The blood pumps harder in response, his length twitches and smears the shiny pearls against your cheek. 

You moan as you finally take him between your lips. The corners of your mouth sting from how wide you need to open to accommodate him. You manage to take him half way in, swirling your tongue, you hollow out your cheeks. 

“That’s it—That’s it, fuck—suck me harder, sweetheart, please—” his hips rock forward, his cock filling your mouth until the head is hitting the back of your throat. You choke on him and his head falls at the way your throat constricts around the width of him. He then pulls out, prompting you to look up. His hair is a mess, lips swollen and parted. “Use your spit, need you to wet my cock good if you want me to fit darlin’. I ain’t that teenager anymore.” 

You kiss the soft crease between his balls, rolling them with your tongue. You’re delighted to witness how he shudders at the soft caress of your lips, “I can see that.” 

“Get on with it then.” 

Joel sounds almost annoyed—no, not annoyed, but eager, desperate—to have your mouth wrapped around him with Liam in the other room. You don’t want to make him wait so you slowly allow a thin line of saliva to drip from between your lips. His thighs tense when it touches the head of his cock. 

“Is his dick as big as mine?” he asks, jaw locked, words bouncing off of clenched teeth. 

“No,” you gasp, dragging your lips down the length of him while staring at him through heavy lashes. “No, it’s not as big as yours.”

Suddenly you’re lifted to your feet, your body nothing but a ragdoll as he pushes you to the bed, the old mattress creaking with protest at the added weight.  

“Play with that fuckin’ pussy for me, I want to see it.” He wraps a hand around his weeping cock, his strokes hard and calculated. Your breasts tingle as you push a hand between your thighs, he clicks his tongue in disapproval, approaching the end of the bed. “Spread your legs wide, honey.” 

As soon as you open your legs and spread your folds for him to see how soaked you are, he’s quick to climb up the bed. Turning you to your side, he gets right behind you. Joel wets his own fingers, sucking on them with a loud groan before replacing yours with his own. He rubs your clit with precise movements, each stroke hitting the mark and making you see bright, dazzling stars. Your body moves on its own. Heat pools between your legs, your hips grinding back to feel the heft of him on your ass. 

“Joel, please,” you whimper. “Please, fuck me, please—” 

His lips touch your cheek and he breathes heavily, his chest heaving and rattling with every exhale. You feel the head of his cock slowly sinking into you, stretching you wide as his lips decorate your sweaty skin with fleeting kisses. 

“You’re takin’ me so fuckin’ well, honey,” your eyes roll back, a mild pain blossoming from where you two connect. He brushes his fingers over your clit, the sharp pleasure shortening your breath. “That’s it. That’s my girl takin’ my big cock so well. So good. So good for me.” 

Your jaw drops as you take him inch by inch. He continuously plays with your clit, kissing you and whispering words of praise while his tongue plays with your earlobe. You feel like mush. Like dough that only he can mold. Your lashes grow wet with tears, your heart beating so wild that you swear he can hear it as well. Joel slightly pulls back his hips and pushes back in, your breath catches in your throat, and soon enough he begins fucking you with shallow thrusts. 

“Is this what you wanted, huh?” he mutters into your ear. You nod helplessly, your body burning from the inside out. “Tell me, louder, come on,” a smack echoes in the small room, and pain blossoms over your ass cheek. “Come on, louder.” 

“Yes!” you cry out. In a weak attempt to meet his thrusts, you roll your hips. “Yes, this is what I wanted. I’ve never stopped thinking about it—never stopped thinking about you.” 

“Is this pussy mine?” 

“Yes, it’s fucking yours.” 

Your voice must’ve come out too much like a whisper because Joel’s pace quickens. He fucks you hard, deep, hammering into you until you’re struggling for air. He wraps thick fingers around your neck, squeezing until there’s pressure building under your eyes, your lungs burning. 

He loosens his grip around your throat, “I wanna hear it, come on now, don’t make me beg for it. Tell me, is it mine?” 

“Yours! It’s fucking yours!” 

Suddenly Joel is underneath you and you’re on top, his hips relentless as he snaps his hips up into you. It feels even better now. The way his cock massages your walls shooting crackles of electricity up your spine. He holds your ass with both hands and spreads you for his liking. 

You moan his name and when you look down, seeing him staring at your face, a sudden gush of embarrassment overwhelms you and with a small whimper, you cover his eyes with both your hands. Joel grits his teeth at that. He fucks you harder, the vicious way he presses inside making you gasp and drop your hands so you can brace yourself by flattening your palms over his chest. His eyes flash with anger. 

“Why the fuck—” he growls, “would you cover my eyes?” 

“I–I got embarrassed—” you squeeze your eyes shut and open them back again. You push down your hips, taking him to the hilt as a form of apology, but he doesn’t seem to accept it and holds you still. Your head falls back with his every thrust. 

“If you ever pull that stunt again, I’ll take you over my knee,” he rasps, ignoring the way your pussy clenches at his words. 

His finger teases your asshole and beads of sweat gather at your tailbone. Joel’s grin is dangerous, something you’d run away from rather than run towards. But you can’t help it. A wanton moan rattles your throat, your pussy clenching hard around his cock. He presses forward, burying his finger down to the first knuckle. You shudder over and over, your body building tension and releasing it simultaneously. 

“You like that, wildflower?” he groans, thrusting his finger in and out while snapping his hips up. “You enjoy it when I play with your tight little asshole?” 

“Fuck, fuck—Joel—yes, yes I do.” 

His other hand snakes around the back of your neck and yanks you down. His damp lips touch your ear, “Gonna fuck this hole one day, pretty thing. . . gonna fuck it so hard you’re not gonna be able to stand for weeks.” 

Before you can catch your breath, you’re being hauled towards the closed door, the emptiness you feel sudden and cold. He pulls your hips up, presses your cheek against the barely standing wood. Your hard nipples graze against the surface, a jolt of pleasure shooting up your spine. Again, Joel thrusts forward, filling you to the brim. The mild pain tingles within your lower abdomen and you melt against him, eyes rolling back as you wiggle your ass for him. 

With every rock of his hips, your body hits the door with a thud and you’re sure Liam can hear every forceful fuck, “Tell him how fuckin’ bigger I am than him—I wanna fuckin’ hear, it come on.” 

“He’s so much bigger than you!” you groan, bracing your palm against the door. “You hear me, Liam? Never had a bigger cock in my life, I’m soaked.” 

Liam’s muffled voice follows through, “Jesus fucking Christ, what the hell is wrong with you? You fucking whore!” 

You know it shouldn’t, but his words still jar you. 

“I’ll fuckin’ break his hands for that, don’t you worry darlin’,” Joel mutters into your skin, his words marking you as something untouchable. “And I’ll make it fuckin’ hurt.” He then kisses your shoulder and shouts towards the door, slamming especially hard this time so the thud of you hitting the door echoes. “You’re the one who gambled her like some kind of prize you dickhead. Don’t blame her for feelin’ good about it!” 

“You could never satisfy me,” you say barely above a whisper, like you’re not entirely sure you’re allowed to feel good about this. About finally having him all to yourself. 

“That’s it, tell him,” Joel growls, pushing his cock even deeper. You swear that if you looked down at your stomach, you’d see a bulge, as impossible as that sounds. “Tell him.” 

You desperately grab at Joel’s forearms, feeling the sinewy muscle tense. Your slick drips down his length and wets the inside of your thighs. With a loud moan you repeat your words and it feels delightful. 

You only smile when you hear the outer door close shut. Liam is gone. 

“Yes yes yes,” Joel murmurs into your neck, ramming into you harder. “That’s it, come on my cock, sweetheart, please—I wanna feel it—” 

Your breath catches in your throat, body seizing, “B—Bed,” you manage to choke out. 

If he pulled out, you’re not aware. His body is a constant presence against your back, lips always latched on to a patch of skin, tasting the salt. Joel lays you down gently and pushes your legs high enough that it grazes your forehead with every desperate snap of his hips. 

“Is this what you want?” he groans, the wet noises of him fucking into the tight fist of your cunt bouncing off the walls. 

“Yes, Joel— this is what I want.” 

“My whore,” he leans over and grinds into you. He slips his tongue into your mouth, sucks on your tongue. The back of your thighs ache with protest but you whimper into the kiss anyway. Breaking the kiss, Joel breathes into you, “My good sweet little whore,” and another kiss. 

Your eyes roll back, “So deep,” you groan, breaking the kiss. 

“Deeper deeper deeper,” Joel mocks you by mimicking your dazed tone with his drawl. He slowly pushes in, holding himself there, he halts your breath. “How’s that, wildflower? Deep enough for you?” 

“Oh god, Joel—” you choke. You fist the sheets, your cunt fluttering and throbbing. He doesn’t move, he flexes his cock and the pressure of that is enough to break you. 

Joel wasn’t expecting it, this much your muddled brain is able to realize from the shocked groan he lets out. His lips find purchase on your forehead, kissing and mumbling praise as your entire body clenches and releases, your pussy gushing around him. You feel the trickles of fresh wetness ripping out of you and all you can do is take it when Joel resumes his thrusts, fucking you through your messy orgasm. 

Despite your insistent begging of wanting him to come inside, Joel pulls out, coming undone instantly as he does so. He rubs himself over your mound, thick ropes of come spurting across your stomach and even the underside of your right breast. He releases your legs and they fall limply to his sides. 

Joel kisses you long and deep, his weight comforting above your trembling body. When he finally pulls away, he lets out a low chuckle and brushes your noses together. 

“I think he left, sweetheart.” 

“Good,” you mumble and press a quick kiss to his flushed lips. “All I want is you.” 

Liam’s not your boyfriend anymore. 

#joel miller x reader #joel miller x you #joel miller x f!reader #joel miller x fem!reader #joel miller fanfiction #joel miller smut #joel miller fanfic #tlou fanfic #the last of us fanfiction #pedro pascal characters #pedro pascal character fanfiction

[cosmicsully]

OBSESSED WITH YOU

aged up!Neteyamx aged up!human(f)!reader

Summary: In which…. Neteyam crosses paths with a human, but what is that sudden obsession with her, where did that need to protect her come from?

Word count: 3.1k

Warnings: fluff, Y/N’s personal space is quite literally violated by Neteyam, Y/N is the first Human Neteyam has ever seen, Neteyam barely speaks/understands English, kissing, slight make out, lowkey unrealistic storyline lmao

My Masterlist <3.

What are you called? = fyape syaw fko ngar Stay calm = mawey beautiful: (of people) = sevin take it off = kämunge tsal I want to see = Oe new ne kame hurry up = win säpi nefä so soft = nìftxan 'ango

I hope you enjoy! If you do, feel free to reblog, I might consider writing more parts to this :) <3

I can still remember how it happened. The day that I met Neteyam still lingers in my mind, the young Na´vi boy consuming my attention at all times.

About a week ago, I can still feel the soft breeze of air flushing against my legs, I remember smelling the green plants that had just been drowned in the heavy rain the previous night. The loving light of the warm sun embraces my figure as I walk across a muddy path, trying not to step on any kind of animal. I was outside although I was not allowed to leave the lab. Secretly slipping out of the back door, the mask that is pumping oxygen into my lungs well secured on my face, as I made it my new goal to explore Pandora further.

It is a memory I cherish. The adrenaline that runs through my veins as I took one step after the other, putting as much space as possible between me and the lab.

With the feeling of well-secured safety and no one having caught me fleeing from my home, I slowed my steps, taking in my beautiful surroundings. All kinds of exotic colorful plants surround my form, my eyes darting to one and then another, trying to see everything all at once. My ragged breathing slowed down as I sprinted across the mud, my feet now slightly covered in it.

I can’t help but feel joy consume me whole.

The beauty of Pandora yet again swallowed me, pulling me in. I let my feet work on their own, deciding on taking a small walk to find new interesting and unexplored corners. My fingertips glide against a pulsating bluish plant, as it vibrates against my hand in return, letting myself smile at the uncommon feeling.

This world is so alive.

It is beautiful, I hope its owners treat it well, with respect and cherish it just as I do. Although from the stories I have been told, Na’vi are very spiritual species who inhabit these forests. And now that I think of it, I have never truly seen a real Na’vi.

Dreamwalkers don’t count.

Not letting my mind linger on the thought of facing a real Na’vi, I continued my exploration, It felt like mere minutes, but because it was slowly becoming darker around me it must have been at least a few hours. The only sound that reaches my ears is my breathing from behind the thin glass that is covering my entire face, and the nature that I’m currently moving in. Deciding that I have seen enough for today and that Norm is most likely worrying about my well-being, I take a turn and walk to the path I have been walking all along and slowly but surely make my way back to the lab.

Just as I took a few steps, I heard a quiet huff and leaves moving behind a tree a few feet away from me.

Midway through me turning my head, a blue figure emerges from the bushes. There he stands. A tall male Na’vi. His stripes-covered skin glows underneath the small amount of light that is still falling on Pandora.

He is beautiful.

So beautiful the nature around me is no longer on my mind. All my focus and attention is now drawn to him as I see his fist tightening around a weapon that is firm in his right hand.

With quick movements, he is pointing an arrow at me.

“Wait- Wait- Wait-“ I start as his face wears an angry expression, his frown-covered face facing my direction. I can see his ears perk up at the words that left my mouth. The foreign language fills his head as he decides on killing or spearing me.

“fyape syaw fko ngar?” he hisses, flashing his fangs at me. His white teeth sparkle in the sun as he takes a big step closer to me. His sudden movement made me trip over, my backside making contact with the now slightly dried ground. Him now towering over me even more, his height is scary.

“I- I’m sorry I don’t understand you, please talk slower,” I say, trying to speak slowly, he probably doesn’t understand my words. He tilts his head in confusion, his eyes widening as he takes in my form. Here I am, halfway sitting up in the slightly muddy forest of Pandora. My eyes are fixated on the Na’vi that is towering above me.

“fyape. syaw. fko. ngar?” he repeats, now trying to talk as slow as I did. His pronunciation is now much clearer, his eyes squinting close as if he can see the wheels whirring behind my eyes. This situation throws me back multiple years, remembering the Na’vi lessons we were put through at the mere age of ten. He must have said something about me. Asking about my age? No that would not add up to the situation I’m currently in. Maybe he asked what my name is. That makes way more sense, him emerging from the forest, probably taking me in as a threat.

Slowly, I raise my hands on either side of my head a little, to show that I have no weapons on me, and don’t mean any harm to anyone. At my gesture his ears stand up, their previous position flattened against his head long gone. While doing so, his curiosity must have grown, he lowers his weapon, no meaning to harm me for now. The unknown Na’vi male lowers himself into a crouching position, as he fixates his bow on his back and secures the arrow back in its holder. With me still staying put on the ground, he starts to crawl over my much smaller form to take in my face.

His expression is still confused, but the curiosity must be getting a hold of him. He slowly makes his way above me, his face getting closer to mine, I can feel his warm breath hitting my cheek, his sparkly yellow eyes boring into my own. Pupils now grown bigger and bigger with each second that passes.

“What are you doing?” I whisper, my questioning tone must have shown him that I asked a question. He shakes his head in a way to tell me that he has no idea what I just said, but he doesn’t leave his current position, instead, he’s only inching closer to my body. His face slowly moved to the left side of my face, flattened nose touching my cheek and slowly moving down to my neck. His way of moving and actions remind me of an animal, I can feel him take a deep breath through his nose when it hits my pulse point. It’s like he’s taking in my scent, trying to burn it into his brain to never lose the smell of me.

His actions makes a shudder run down my spine, a shaky breath leaving my mouth only now realizing that I have been holding my lungs oxygen-free for the past minute, them now aching and burning for more.

He breathes me in again, this time with eyes closed, my scent filling his nostrils. My breathing stays unsteady, his presence making my heart quicken in my chest, he seems to notice that, his eyes now fixated on my chest, watching it rise and fall again. When my eyes caught his never leaving my chest, a frown forms on my face, my mouth gaping at him and my arms moving to cover my chest. Slightly uncomfortable under his stare that is on one of my most intimate parts.

He quickly shakes his head and uses one of his three-fingered hands -that is at least twice as big as mine- to move them away, his now gained free access to my chest making him move his head closer, the side of his face making contact with me, his ear hovering above my heart. My heartbeat echoes in his head, its beating pumping hot blood through my veins. Although he does not seem to have the intention to hurt me in any way, my heart doesn’t slow its fast beats. His heavy head makes contact with my chest, I can feel him resting his head completely.

He stays put for a few seconds, the sound of soft breaths leaving his nose hit my ears. My heart still hammers in my chest, continuing to reveal my unsure feelings about the moment and this stranger who is quite literally breaking the definition of personal space. He stirrers up removing his ear from my chest, now much softer yellow eyes meeting mine.

“Mawey.” he whispers. His soothing voice makes it seem like a sweet gesture, the way he talks, the way his eyes move from me to my chest, no, to my heart, its like he wants to tell me to relax. The next thing that catches his attention is the oxygen mask that covers my slightly blushing face. With one of his fingers he taps against the glass, the tap rather harsh as it shoots through the glass and right to my ears echoing softly.

"Neteyam." he speaks up, the pronunciation lingering in my mind. As he speaks, he points the finger that just tapped my mask to his chest, gesturing to himself, it seems to be his way of introducing himself to me.

"Y/N." I say telling him my name. His ears perk up as my voice hits him.

"Y/N…" he tries to pronounce my name just like I did, but fails miserably. I can´t help myself but let a giggle slip past my lips at his terrible attempt at pronouncing my name, squinting my eyes closed in the process. He doesn´t exactly laugh at my reaction, but what seems to be a small smile makes its way across Neteyams face. I like the way my name sounds when he speaks.

"Sevin." he whispers pointing at me again. His hand glides downwards to my own and he takes a look at it, his eyes fixated on my little finger. He slowly but surely wraps two of his fingers around it, completely engulfing my pinky with his. His hand is huge compared to mine. If he wanted to, he could cover my entire hand with his and nothing of my hand would be visible.

"Sevin?" I ask, questioning his last words, why did I barely pay attention when we were told simple words that are commonly used by Na´vi?

"Beautiful?" he now repeats, his accent thick as he tries to translate his words.

"You mean me?" I ask a little unsure, it is not unknown in the lab that Na´vi and humans don´t usually interact with one another, let alone find any interest in each other. He points his finger against my chest again, still trying to get me to understand that he thinks I´m pretty.

I can´t help but blush at his actions, not quite used to being complimented by someone.

"You´re beautiful too" I answer, already aware of the fact that he probably doesn´t understand what I just told him. So I point my finger at his chest just like he did to me and say

"Sevin."

His eyes fall to my pointer finger that is currently resting against his chest, his hands now following his eyes, a blue hand yet again engulfing my own. I feel a certain warmth spread through my chest.

Am I supposed to feel like this?

Probably not.

No, definitely not.

Then why does his presence feel so good? Why do I feel this special security with him? When his warm eyes meet mine?

His attention is now back on my face, the way he is now directly in front of me, allows me to take a closer look at his facial features. His yellow, big, cat-like eyes are pulsating with warmth and softness, his slightly flattened nose wrinkling when he senses new smell. He seems to be studying me just as I do him.

"kämunge tsal" he whispers, now again tapping against my oxygen mask.

Although I could not exactly translate his spoken words in my head, it must have been something about my mask. I shake my head hastily, if his intentions are about me taking it off he can forget it.

"Oe new ne kame" he urges me on, his eyes filled with curiosity and desperate pleading.

"Off," he says quickly his demanding tone fitting to his accent, his hand already finding the bottom of the mask and lifting it off of my face. His sudden actions make me gasp and quickly breathe in, to catch another wave of oxygen.

The mask is now all the way off, Neteyam places it on one of his muscular tights, but his vibrant eyes are darting across every moving muscle on my face. He studies me carefully as if he is afraid of breaking me with a grip that might be too firm for my body.

His left-hand moves to the right side of my head, the warm palm of his softly meeting me. His palm swallows half of my skull, it’s like a puzzle fitting, his piece connecting with mine. A few seconds later I have a sort of ticklish feeling against my upper thigh, his strong tail curling twice around it. The movement makes me blush, I feel my cheeks and half of my neck warming. It’s like Neteyam is trying to be as close as possible, though I can not really tell why.

His face inches closer to mine, he’s so close again that I can feel his breath on my lips, his eyes dare to look at them for a quick moment but just as he meets them he averts his gaze again. I can’t help it but copy his movement, my eyes darting down to his lips.

I can feel the atmosphere between us get turned upside down within one quick glance at his lips, a sort of tension building up.

What I’m doing here is insane.

I should be home by now.

Just as I can feel him getting even closer, the need for oxygen is growing and growing, my lungs aching for relief. My eyes shoot down to his leg hastily grabbing the mask that my body so desperately seeks. The moment it hits my face I take a deep breath, my heart beating at a quickening speed. Neteyam groans in response his hand falling from my head, instead both of his hands land on either side of my waist. As I try to steady my breathing, he pulls my smaller form into his lap.

"win säpi nefä" he lowly whines, making my eyebrows raise in confusion at his whining. He waits a few seconds for my chest to raise at a normal speed again, his eyes boring through mine as if he is asking for permission, although I can not quite tell for what.

"Enough" he orders now quite needy ripping the mask off my face, but before I can respond in annoyance, warm lips are pressed against my very own. My eyes widen at his sudden actions, I can`t hold back the quiet unexpected sigh that sounds like a soft moan leaving my lips.

Neteyam responds eagerly, his tongue now parting my lips ready to claim my mouth, the taste of me lingering on his tastebuds, he pulls me closer by my hips, the close proximity making him groan. The kiss quickly becomes feverish and passionate as his desire for more keeps growing. His hand moves to the back of my head keeping me in place to continue his almost assault on my lips. His rough palms skim down my waist to hook around my hips, pulling me flush against his chest.

It is something I have never felt before, the adrenaline coursing through my veins making my head dizzy. Or maybe it was the lack of oxygen that was making me feel lightheaded.

I can´t help but try to pull away from him, his much stronger grip on me only tightening in response, in order to gain focus again I let my fingers tangle into his braids, softly tugging his lips away from mine. Neteyam growls in protest, chasing my lips with his but I lean back and reach down to put the mask that dangles down my body back on my face. As I keep filling my lungs with air, I look up through the thing glass with heavy-lidded eyes, my chest still heaving and my heart thrumming in my chest.

Neteyam pants softly, just as breathless as I am.

Behind Neteyam I can see his tail swaying with excitement from side to side, his own heavy eyes now focused on a part of my neck. He quickly connects his lips with my neck, softly coating it with open-mouth kisses. With his other hand, he gently tugs on my hair to expose my neck to his mouth. Not caring about the noises that could slip out of my mouth, I let a soft moan leave my lips at the feeling. That seems to urge him on further, his lips traveling from my neck, to my collarbone and lastly to my pulse point. It is the place he breathed me in earlier, he growls at the memory, lips quickly working at sucking on my delicate skin.

I close my eyes at the feeling of his soft but rough lips as they work against my sensitive skin, my mouth slightly agape at the pleasure that is shooting through every inch of my body.

"nìftxan 'ango" the Na´vi male moans against my neck, at the sound of a twig breaking somewhere in the distance, Neteyam quickly breaks away from my sensitive skin. His tail tightened around my thigh in a protective manner.

"Come" he hushes at me, now raising to his feet and full height, With one swift movement he claims my wrist in his hand sneaking around it in a soft grip. He pulls me up in no time as if I weigh nothing to him. I can feel myself hovering over the ground for a split second before he lets go of my wrist now fully placing me back on the ground I was laying on only minutes ago.

#neteyam #neteyam x reader #neteyam sully #avatar #neytiri #avatar twow #neteyam x y/n #neteyam x human reader #loak sully #cosmicsully #fanfiction #imagines #avatar x reader #jake sully

[byeuijoo]

amusement park 𐀔 &team

genre : fluff ⋆ warnings : none? ⋆ word count : 0,9k

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⭒ k

he's the kind of guy who, when he notices you're cold in line for an attraction, will open his coat for you to cuddle up to him for warmth. expect him to place kisses against your forehead and temple, gazing at you with such adoration that the people behind you will watch you with envy. often lures you into hidden corners to steal you a kiss or two, then runs away to avoid you hitting him in embarrassment. he always tries to make you laugh and see you smile, but he also loves to scare you when you're both in the haunted house.

⭒ fuma

makes sure you're not afraid every time. places his hand in front of you on thrill rides, as if to protect you, even if there's a seat belt. do everything in his power to win you a really big plush toy (and to prove to you that he's the best at the same time). he's really your superhero — he guides you around the park like a pro and avoids people pushing you around at all costs. your safety is his top priority.

⭒ nicholas

he's so calm, you're always the one talking and showing him everything that catches your eye around you. he approves and accepts absolutely all your ideas : you want to ride the ghost train three times in a row? no problem. you want to go to the ride with the longest wait? he's already in the queue. leans in to chat with you, your hand always in his, the latter concealed in his coat pocket. at the end of the day, you've spent more time walking around than riding anything, but who cares as long as you're together? (but, all the girls around you are jealous that he only has eyes for you.)

⭒ euijoo

he's such an angel, and you're the one who can't resist him and his pretty smile. he loves doing things with you, and if running around in a crowded amusement park made you happy — then he will follow you to the end of the day, always smiling. but don't worry, he's having fun too, especially when you've bought matching headbands featuring the park's mascot before taking photos together. but his favorite thing to do with you, was the ferris wheel at the beginning of the evening, when the sun begins to set and the sky takes on a rosy hue, and you're snuggled up in his arms, eyes fixed on the same horizon.

⭒ yuma

he absolutely don't want to go, but you ended up convincing him anyway. so at first, he tries to make googly eyes at you to convince you to go back home, but when he realizes he won't be able to change your mind, he decides to put a little more willpower into your date. but you must follow one rule : no thrill rides with him. he's up for the chill rides, the flying chairs and the laser game, but not for rides that go as fast as the speed of light and make him dizzy. in the end, he decides to let you win just to see you smile in victory (or he just sucks but won't admit it).

⭒ jo

if you thought you'd come with jo to the amusement park to ride the rides, you were sorely mistaken. you're here to try out all the sweets and restaurants in the park, one after the other. lucky for him that you like to eat as much as he does — so you don't mind coming to the amusement park to taste the good stuff. nonetheless, you still manage to do a few not-so-sensational attractions — like the little train that circles the park like a guided tour. it's one of your favorite things : eating delicious mochis while observing the surroundings without walking.

⭒ harua

he will acts like a shy child but don't hesitate to do all the attractions with you. at first, he'll be a little reserved, but within an hour, he'll be guiding you through the amusement park and getting you to do exactly what he wants. what he prefers to do is the giant cups spinning at high speed, giving you the impression that the world is spinning around you when you put your foot down again. he always makes sure you're having fun, and if he sees you're not enjoying it, he finds something else to keep you entertained. at the end of the day, he takes you to a nice restaurant where they serve your favorite dishes to thank you for the day.

⭒ taki

he's kinda afraid and didn't want to come in the first place, but when he saw your excited expression, he couldn't resist you. he follows you around the park like a lazy child, walking in slow motion to keep you both as far away as possible to the thrill rides. but he's willing to go to the haunted house with you, promising to protect you even if he's the one who ends up screaming and running away, abandoning you to ghosts and demonic apparitions. but to make up for such a betrayal, he'll always buy you your favorite ice cream, which you'll enjoy while sitting next to each other on one of the many pretty benches.

⭒ maki

too much energy duo : people watch you run around, hand in hand, trying not to get lost, to do as much attraction as possible in as little time as possible. you also battle to prove which of you screams louder in the ghost train and pirate ship. competition is something serious between you two, so much that even the animators of the various attractions take to the game and encourage you both, in their own way. one time, you stood on either side of the pirate ship, challenging the other participants in the attraction to shout along with you, and the one whose side screamed the least, paid the other one a barbapapa. (spoiler alert : your side win.)

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reblogs & feedbacks are highly appreciated !

taglist ౨ৎ @wtfhyuck @yuma-is-mine

#&team #&team imagines #&team scenarios #&team reactions #&team headcanons #&team drabbles #&team timestamps #andteam #andteam imagines #andteam scenarios #andteam drabbles #andteam headcanons #andteam reactions #andteam timestamps #&team maki #&team taki #&team harua #&team yuma #&team ej #&team jo #&team nicholas #&team fuma #&team k #euijoo imagines #nicholas imagines #k imagines #jo imagines #harua imagines #yuma imagines #fuma imagines

[caffeinatedrogue]

it all started with my headcanon of Vincent being good at pool and teaching Kerry, hence having to eject it from my brain in some form,

...then I got sentimental about lore BIG TIME so I did something unthinkable and I ....wrote :tm: !!! 100% forgetting that I am no native speaker and I can't write for shit so venture forth at your own risk (fluff, it's fluff, andthere's a funny pic at the end)

Curved over the green woolen surface, his brow furrowed in concentration, V. held his breath - then arm and cue moved in a smooth stroke. The white ball hit its target with a sharp ‘knock’, sending the 8-ball rolling straight into the pocket. Nice.  He didn’t have the time to smile however, as a frustrated exclamation came from somewhere behind him. 

“Ugh…goddamnit!” Perched upon his stool, Kerry smacked his thighs in a show of disappointment.  “Looks like I’m gonna have to pay  for yet another round. Fuckin’ awesome, really.”  

Vincent, still hunched over the table, quickly turned in worry - only to see that the man was actually amused, a cheeky grin upon his face. Relieved but still trying his best not to look too chuffed about having landed the winning shot he straightened up and did a little stretch before fetching the glass he’d left on the table rail. 

“Whev, you almost had me. For a second I thought I had really hurt your pride”. He gave Kerry a little wink and took a sip of whiskey. “Gotta say, you put up a fight this round”.

“Well, I’ve got a very good teacher…and he’s quite the looker, too.” Kerry hopped off his seat and walked up to him. “But seriously, how come you’re this fuckin’ good at it?’’

 Vincent gestured at the other tables. “See for yourself. Take a look around and watch who else is playing.’’

Kerry craned his neck. He had not given the other customers much thought until that moment, but now he could see it - little groups of youngsters in dusty leathers and bomber jackets were gathered all around, chattering and having a pint -  some of them bearing Aldecaldos patches. 

“Riiiight. Nomads. Heh, makes sense. Guess you had many a night like this.”

Leaning against the wooden edge of the table, V slipped a cigarette between his lips and lit it. 

“Yep”, he said between puffs of smoke. “This is pretty much the best you can find in terms of nightlife, if you’re not from the big cities. Booze is decent, people are nice save from the occasional fight, and you get to wind down away from camp after a hard day of work”.

He looked down into the glass as he spoke, swirling his whiskey. Kerry could see something - nostalgia, or something else? - suddenly cloud his eyes, lost in distances only V.’s mind could see. It only lasted a moment before he snapped out of it, quickly turning his gaze back on Ker.

“Anyway that’s the secret: hundreds of matches - half of those, I played drunk as a skunk.” he quipped with a little smile, wrapping his arms around Kerry’s waist. Then his voice turned soft. “Though for city folks this kind of thing must grow old very quickly, I guess. I hope you’re not…well, bored?”  It was there that it truly hit Kerry - those nights were not only about leaving the City and all its weight behind for a few hours, looking for something different - letting their hair down at some roadside bar where nobody gave them a second look or cared about who was who. Him - he could simply drive around NC and have a tale to tell for every corner of it: crashing the car with Johnny, playing this or that gig, hell, even where his favorite record store in the 30s used to be. Meanwhile, severed from it, all Vincent had to show for his past were an old car and a bunch of sun-faded pictures on the wall near his bed. A night on a highway across the Badlands was as close as V. could get to showing him something of it, a semblance of his world and the places he’d loved, or what his life had been like: in short, who he was. And hoping Kerry would like it - would like him as he truly was, with his lack of frills and sophistication, one who found joy in the little things. A bittersweet act of vulnerability: those nights together - he’d  be cherishing them even more now, Ker thought, pressing himself against V. He nuzzled his neck, kissing one of the roses inked on his skin. “Not a chance. ‘Sides, even an empty room could be my favorite place, if it had you in it. But now…” he looked up at V mischievously, playing with the bullet pendant on his neck. “...I was thinking you could give me a few more pointers, y’know. Not quite sure my grip is quite right yet… and my uh… posture…”. Kerry stepped backwards, tugging flirtatiously at the neck of V's shirt while he did so. “Gotta get good, so you can stop missing easy shots to make me feel better.”.

 Vincent’s eyes widened. “I don’t –” “Yes, you do. And it’s goddamn sweet, you gonk.” 

His gaze never leaving Vincent’s, he retrieved the cue stick he’d abandoned against the stool, then slowly made his way back to the table and curved over it right next to V, playful eyes looking up to him from over his shoulder, his smirk an invitation. 

“So, whatcha waiting for?”

The merc put down his glass. A moment later he was behind him, and Kerry welcomed the feeling of V’s chest pressed against his back, of his hand on his waist pulling him back. Nothing in Night City, hell nothing in the world could ever come close to the way he made him feel just standing next to him: transformed, new, fearless, alive with feelings he had no names or words for yet. He shivered: V’s breath caressed his neck as he whispered in his ear.

“Farther from the table. Find your footing, you gotta distribute your weight. And… bend down lower, sunshine.”

if you made it to here ty T_T and have a bonus pic that shows another reason why Kerry enjoys pool so much (sorry but the inherent homoeroticism of it compelled me ok)

#kerry eurodyne #kerry x v #kerry x masc v #cyberpunk 2077 #art tag #cringe but free my psychologist is gonna be so proud of me for doing stuff I can't do and just yeeting it out #oc: v for vincent

[joka13]

Hiya feel free to ignore this if you’re not doing requests but i was wandering if you could do a george weasley x reader where they’re in a secret relationship and maybe one of George’s siblings outs that the reader has a crush on George in front of them both then george kind of teases the reader for it afterwards ?

Thank you :)

Hello, I do take requests! And thank you for requesting; this was so fun to write! I hope you won't mind that I added just a few more background details to what you specified😁 Enjoy!❤️❤️❤️

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Dear Reader,

As you may or may not know, I post extensive, multiple part fanfiction stories. I must remind you or clarify that I do not consider any requests I write as parts of those stories. Thank you for reading❤️

FANFICTION (REQUEST): George Weasley x y/n Malfoy

WARNINGS: passionate kissing

It had been a long while since you began your concealed, romantic relationship with George Weasley. It was a rather difficult situation to maintain, but it definitely had its advantages. You're a member of the Malfoy family and wouldn't be caught dead associating yourself with a Weasley, for if you were indeed caught associating yourself with a Weasley, it'd be the end of you. Your father, the infamous Lucius Malfoy, viewed every one of them as nothing but muggle-loving blood traitors. You once considered briefly the possibility of your father accepting George as your boyfriend because George was, still, technically a pureblood. But, in the end, you decided to play it safe, to stay quiet about the whole thing. Your father wasn't the only person you worried wouldn't take it well. You greatly admired your older brother, Draco, and feared you would lose his respect forever if he ever learned of your feelings for George. And so, when George Weasley expressed his similar feelings for you and you couldn't bring yourself to reject him, you promised to be George's girl as long as he did his best to keep it a secret.

George was entirely willing to pay the price. He'd been aching to have you for so long; there was nothing he wouldn't do for you. You enjoyed it immensely as well. Butterflies came to life in your stomach every time he took your hand and led you away to some new corner of the Hogwarts castle when no one else was watching. You'd kept secrets before, but this one was different. It was shared, special, personal, and intimate. But there are just some people you can't keep secrets from forever.

You and George played a silly game you called "Straight Face" while lounging on the couch in the Gryffindor common room (this would have been self-sabotage if it weren't for George "borrowing" Harry's invisibility cloak, under which you both sat; it was also late at night when everyone, including the two of you, should've been in bed, so there wasn't much risk of getting accidentally sat on). The goal of the game was to simply get the other person to smile and keep yourself from smiling when it was their turn to try and get you to smile. George almost won every time you played against him, though it didn't really matter to you. The end always resulted in at least one person smiling while the other won the game. It was, almost literally, a win-win situation.

It was your turn, so you pulled a funny facial expression. The corner of George's mouth twitched slightly, but he did not smile. For his turn, George performed for you a rather accurate voice impression of Professor Snape that easily broke you.

"Oh, bugger!" you laughed as George grinned smugly. "You're too good at this game!"

"Alright, alright, it's your turn. Show me what you've got," George chuckled.

George returned to his blank stare while you thought of something to do to make him smile. You then shook your head with a knowing smirk as an idea formed in your mind.

"You've left me no other choice," you sighed, looking up at him through your lashes. George raised a red eyebrow curiously, but otherwise didn't budge. You glanced down at his lips.

You, very slowly, leaned forward towards George as if you planned to kiss him. Then, just before your lips could touch his, you froze in place. When you observed no reaction from him, you looked up to find George staring coolly down at you.

"Come on. Where's that handsome smile of yours?" you encouraged quietly, giving him your own best smile. You slid your hands gradually up his arms, feeling his muscles flex in anticipation. Touching was actually against the rules of the game, but George wasn't complaining, so you proceeded to wrap your arms around his neck.

"He's a little shy," George replied. His face might have been blank, but you could tell he was enjoying himself.

You chuckled. "Well, then what's it going to take to have him show?"

You pretended not to realize how fast your heart was beating when you moved to sit on George's lap, still holding your face so very close to his. As you settled in, George exhaled heavily before placing his hands around your waist. He didn't verbally reply to your question, but looked at you in a way that said, "You know what."

And so you kissed him. You kissed George and was taken to cloud nine when you felt his lips smile against yours. He chuckled, then began to kiss you back earnestly.

George's hands cradled your body, laying you down on the couch cushions behind as he smoothly advanced toward and onto you. You giggled helplessly when he moved his face away from yours to nuzzle his nose affectionately against your neck.

"I love you, y/n," George breathed, and his words meant the world to you.

Suddenly, something sort of like a gasp sounded from the stairs to the Gryffindor girls' dormitories, causing your stomach to drop with dread. You couldn't see what was happening from your position, so you watched George's face as he slowly propped himself up higher above you to get a look at the intruder.

His eyes widened, and George glanced down at you. "It's Ginny," he mouthed silently, then looked back up. You and him both remained quiet and unmoving, hoping Ginny would eventually go away.

You heard some shuffling footsteps, and then Ginny spoke. "George? Fred? Who's there?" her voice sounded closer now, much too close for comfort. You gripped the fabric of George's sleeves absentmindedly in fearful suspense.

"Aha!" Ginny exclaimed, and you knew you'd been caught. "You're using Harry's invisibility cloak! And you've left your foot uncovered." You saw a small hand reach over the couch's arm rest, over your face and grasp a fistful of Harry's cloak. George's expression was more annoyed than fearful as Ginny yanked the cloak off of the two of you and gasped in alarm once more.

"Malfoy?!"

George moved off as you quickly sat up. "Er, hello, Ginny," you chuckled gingerly.

Ginny looked back and forth between you and George in shock. You thought for sure she was going to faint or scream, but an ecstatic grin quickly filled her freckled face.

"My brother and y/n Malfoy!" Ginny squealed, clapping her hands together cheerfully.

George shushed her. "Pipe down!"

Ginny lowered her voice. "Sorry, sorry. Merlin's beard, I can hardly believe my eyes! Well, now I can." She giggled and waved the invisibility cloak about. "I was beginning to think you'd die alone, Georgie! How long has this been going on?" You and George looked at each other uncertainly, but before either of you could answer, Ginny continued to spout.

"I'm guessing it all began three months ago. That's about the time I started noticing Fred standing all by his lonesome. It must not have been much of a bother to him, though. He's had his fair share of slinking off with that Johnson girl. Am I right? It doesn't matter. I'm just so happy that you found someone... even if she is a Slytherin, let alone a Malfoy..."

"Ginny!" George scolded. You merely shrugged. You had expected a much worse reaction.

"I'm only joking," Ginny laughed. She sat down on a nearby ottoman. "Honestly, I think it's the perfect match!" Ginny turned to you. "I've always thought that if Fred and George weren't sorted into Gryffindor, they would have been put in Slytherin," she chortled.

You laughed, "I've said the same thing!"

Ginny laughed with you while George rolled his eyes, smiling.

"I know I probably don't need to say it," George said. "But if you wouldn't mind keeping quiet about y/n and I..."

"Of course!" Ginny scoffed. "Anything for you, George." She stared at you and George contently.

After a moment, George cleared his throat. "It's 'bout time you got back to bed, Ginny."

"Oh, if you say so," Ginny sighed, standing up reluctantly. "I know that you two will just go on snogging again."

George snorted.

"What'd you come down here for anyway?" you asked quickly to change the subject.

"Oh, yeah! Thanks for reminding me." Ginny went over to the side table, opened its single drawer, and pulled out a tattered, black book. She tucked it under her arm. "Goodnight, you lovebirds!" Ginny said, then headed back up the stairs to the girls' dormitories.

You and George sat in silence for a short moment before he began to chuckle.

You blinked in confusion. "What?"

"I just can't believe how scared you were," he snickered. You shoved George playfully, causing him to laugh harder. "Terrifying, little Ginny!"

"I didn't want to be discovered, same as you!" you giggled, slightly embarrassed. Your smile drifted away as concern filled your mind once again. George stopped laughing when he noticed your mood faltering. "You really... you really don't think she'll tell anyone?" you asked timidly. You had a suspicion that Ginny might be one to gossip.

George smiled caringly, lovingly, and pulled you closer into a warm embrace. "Yeah. I trust her. And..." He stroked your hair as he carefully chose his words. "I've been meaning to... this was good timing. I think it's about time you met my family anyway."

You pulled away slightly so you could look George in the eye. "Do you really mean it? Even if you don't meet mine... just yet?"

"I do," George replied, then sweetly kissed the top of your head.

#george weasley #george weasley x y/n #george weasley x reader #george weasley fic #george weasley fanfic #george weasley fanfiction #harry potter fanfiction #harry potter #wizarding world #reader pov #pov #weasley twins x y/n #fred and george weasley #fred and george #fred weasley #weasley twins #weasley twins x reader #slytherin girl #slytherdor #gryfferin #slytherin #gryffindor #lucius malfoy #malfoy family #malfoyfamily #draco malfoy

[pavlovianfuckery]

catch me if you can or whatever

basically what it says in the title. make silly bets, get silly prizes, like creature-dick and the worst cardio session ever

This is a nightmare. Your lungs are burning and your legs ache, but still, you run. If you had known that one childish impulse would get out of hand like this, you might have thought twice before teasing him the way you had.

It had started as something silly, trying to pry him away from his work for a few minutes, nothing more. A quip about him needing to lighten up hadn't been quite enough, so in the spur of the moment, you had simply snatched the book he'd been reading right out of his hands, absconding deeper into the library with a barely suppressed laugh. You hadn't expected him to chase you, though. Granted, it wasn't in any great hurry but pursue you he did, finally cornering you between the towering bookshelves.

"That was juvenile, even for you. Do I truly bore you so?" The way he'd chided you lacked any real heat though.

"Is it so terrible to want your attention for a few minutes? You have all the time in the world to work." Fiddling with the folds in his coat, you gently nipped at his bottom lip. "Surely you can do the rest later?" It was not much use though.

"As much as I'd like to indulge you, I cannot, not tonight. Although..." he'd paused, thinking for a moment, "if a chase is what you're after, why not make it something a bit more exciting than these childish antics in my library?"

"I'm listening."

"How about a small wager? If you can evade me until sun-up tomorrow, by any means you can imagine, you may ask me for anything you would like." That piqued your interest. He'd humour you from time to time, that wasn't uncommon in itself, but he was usually so serious.

"That doesn't sound so hard. What's the catch? With you, there is always one of those." Which was true, for all that he might have accommodated you in the past, he would usually find some way to be a bit of an ass about it. If you didn't know better, you might have mistaken him for a fae. Your scepticism seemed to amuse him.

"Should you fail, I will do with you as I will, whatever that might entail." That hadn't sounded bad at all, butterflies filling your stomach at the way he'd smiled at you, just a hint too sharp."It may not be as pleasant as what you might be imagining, I'm afraid. After all, what would be the point of this little game if you were simply planning to let me win?"

"I'll make you work for it, don't worry." The words had come out a lot more confident than you felt, but you weren't going to let him know that.

"Good. I will even give you a headstart." You'd started protesting about not needing him to do you any favours, but he'd simply covered your mouth with his, cutting you off. Judging by the way he had kissed you until your knees felt like jelly, he perhaps hadn't minded being pulled away from his work for a while, after all. When he finally let you up for air, you'd noticed that he'd stolen his book back.

"Hey!"

"I'll be waiting. Now, wake up."

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

In hindsight you're kicking yourself for agreeing, it had been so stupid. At first, you simply tried to hide, mostly to see what he would do. By any means you can think of, he had said, and being in the Dreaming made it easy to let your imagination run free. It seemed like as good a start as any, disguising yourself as a butterfly and joining one of the great swarms in the palace gardens, doing your best to blend in. Evidently, it was not as smart as you had thought, because he found you in barely any time at all.

"That's very clever, my love. You will have to do better than that, though." He paused, considering. "I did promise you a head start, did I not? Five minutes should be plenty, I believe."

Did he think you were that slow? Your dismay must have been apparent even in this form, a hint of a smile forming on his lips.

"Which is it going to be, my sweet? Are you going to waste time sulking, or are you going to run?"

You run. Or fly, rather. You're not quite sure what exactly you turned into this time other than "bird", but you're small and fast, and that's all that matters. In no time at all, Dream is nothing but a dark smudge against the grass, rapidly shrinking. The speed is exhilarating and for a moment you forget the bet, the silly little game, all of it. Not for long though. Silhouetted against the sky like this you make an easy target, so you dash for the only cover you can find.

In the Waking, it would be cold and wet and miserable, but not here. Here the clouds are warm, covering you like a soft blanket as you make for the nearby forest, the treetops barely visible through the mist like an untidy fence off in the distance. It's not too far, and if you hurry you will have enough hiding places to have a fighting chance, so you pick up the pace. And then something moves above you, dark wings parting the mist in great rolling waves. It's hard to see much, but you can tell that it's big, whatever it is.

"Is this the best you can do? I was expecting you to take this a bit more seriously." There is no way that it has been 5 minutes already, but before you can call him out for cheating, great talons are raking through the air. They miss you with barely an inch to spare, ruffling your tail feathers. He is seconds away from catching you and by the sound of it, you might get a bit more than you bargained for if you let him do that. You dive.

Despite the breakneck speed, he's all but nipping at your heels the entire way down, leaving you no choice but to hit the ground running. The grass is slippery with dew, turning your landing into a slide and making you lose your footing. Not for long though, strong hind legs and claws of your own giving you grip and a burst of speed as you launch yourself into the tall grass. A hare might not have been your first pick, but it's not like you had time to think. It makes gaining ground easy though, darting this way and that towards the treeline, narrowly evading the grasping talons.

You make it into the forest, the dense undergrowth giving you enough cover to shake him off. The thick layer of fallen leaves deadens every sound, and it takes you a few seconds to realize that he's not behind you anymore. In fact, you can't see or hear him at all. It's not likely that he would have given up that easily, but your legs feel like over-cooked noodles so you stop to catch your breath. Finally yourself again, you sit down heavily on a tree stump, lungs still heaving like bellows. Since this is all technically a dream, it feels deeply unfair that you get winded at all. You remind yourself to ask him about that later, but you suspect that running in your dreams does not count as cardio.

Dawn is still hours away, and you have no clue how you're going to make it until then. At this point, it feels like you might as well give up. You're pretty sure he wouldn't do anything too bad, and there is no way you can keep this pace up for much longer. The sound of a dead branch breaking nearby is loud, taking you by surprise.

At first, you're not entirely sure what you're looking at, except that it's not any kind of animal that you know. It's pale, with a starved look about it, all sinew and bone. Between the dark tufts of fur and the gangly, oddly proportioned limbs, it is entirely alien. Even the way it moves is unsettling as its antlered head swivels in your direction, its eyes fixed on you. Black eyes.

As it turns out, you do have the energy to keep running after all.

For a few fleeting seconds, you almost think he might let you go. But then he chases after you, more branches breaking. It's over in less than a minute. If you hadn't tripped it might have been one and a half, maybe even two. But soon, a clawed hand pushes you down onto the ground, leaving you splayed out like so much prey. Wriggling only makes him put more of his weight on you, claws pricking your skin.

"Be still." His voice is almost felt rather than heard, reminding you of gravel being ground underfoot and the bubbling of mud, nothing like his usual smooth velvet. There is a gibbering at the back of your mind, every base instinct telling you to flee, to get away by any means possible before you're eaten."Or would you deny me my prize?"

For a moment you consider it, calling it off. He hasn't held that against you in the past, and he wouldn't now. And despite appearances, you're pretty sure he wouldn't actually eat you. This close you can't help noticing the disconcerting amount of sharp-looking teeth though, so you take a deep breath to try and calm yourself.

"No." Your voice isn't quite as steady as you would have liked it to be but you reach out to touch him all the same. His skin is warm and dusted with fine, almost invisible hair. It's a strange, almost sticky feeling, and when he pulls away to move down your body, you half expect it to coat your fingers like moth scales. When he reaches the apex of your thighs he nuzzles there, drawing your scent deep into his lungs with a low rumbling sound.

The way he picks at your clothes with the tips of his claws is almost dainty, the fabric giving with little ripping sounds as he works your legs free, leaving you bare. When he spreads your lips to expose you to him it's with the gentlest touch, careful not to scratch you. Aside from his eyes, the way he works your clit is the only familiar thing tonight, teasing you until you can hardly stand it. When the tip of his tongue probes your entrance your eyes drift shut, anticipating what's to come.

"No, look at me." Once he's satisfied that you're watching he slides his tongue into you, inch by slick inch, not stopping until his teeth prick your skin. He could swallow your entire cunt whole like this, easily fitting all of it in his mouth with room to spare.

The movement of his tongue is a slow, undulating thing as he fucks you with it, drinking down every drop of your juices as he massages every sweet spot at once. It's a wholly new sensation and it's got you craving more of it, making you grab hold of his antlers to better grind yourself against him, but he just gives a low growl and splays one huge hand across your stomach, keeping you still as he feasts on you. Craning your neck you can only just glimpse his length, massive and ridged, the broad head already leaking and turning the dark fur between his legs sticky.

"Gods, Dream, you're not planning to fuck me with that?" He doesn't respond right away, so intent on devouring you, not stopping until you're trembling.

"Remember the agreement, my love. Do not refuse me now." His expression is harder to read like this, but the want in his voice is plain enough. Stroking your sides soothingly, his voice turns almost cajoling as he continues, "Turn over."

Perhaps against your better judgement, you do as he asks, your stomach fluttering with equal parts desire and trepidation. The smell of decaying leaves and trampled undergrowth is thick in your nose as he puts you on your hands and knees, face nearly touching the forest floor. It's hard to stay still as he starts slowly pushing inside, careful not to crush you under his weight as he mounts you. He makes it less than an inch before you tense, certain that he's going to split you in half somehow.

"Wait, I don't know if..."

"You can take me." He presses against you another fraction of an inch, not bothering to let you finish talking. "You will."

At first, it feels like he's demanding the impossible, but gradually you manage to relax. He takes his time working his way inside of you and when he finally bottoms out it's with a guttural sound, his breath ruffling your hair as he pants against the back of your neck. You half expect some form of "I told you so" but it never comes. Instead, you simply breathe together for a few moments as he gives you time to adjust.

When he moves it's so slowly, like he could break you somehow. When you don't, he gets bolder, pulling nearly all the way out and then thrusting back in, making sure you feel every ridge and bump. Every noise you make seems to egg him on until his teeth are at the back of your neck, not quite drawing blood.

He takes his time, holding you steady as he claims you utterly. Even when his teeth nick your skin he doesn't falter, probing at the cut with his tongue until saliva dribbles down your neck. Even the way he tightens his grip on you is entirely other, leaving you unable to do anything but wriggle in the dirt, black spots dancing across your vision.

"Dream, please!" Everything is pressure and a gasp is all you can manage. You can feel him swell inside of you in response to your pleading, and then one huge finger settles over your neglected clit, the claws a reminder of just how easily he could rip you apart like this.

In a way he does, rubbing at you until your release is so close that you can nearly taste it. Teetering right on the precipice, you're not sure if there is even room for you to come, he's got you stretched so wide. He's insistent though, trapping you between his hand and his cock, not letting you squirm away no matter how much you try.

In the end, he reaches his peak first, jaws locked like a steel trap around your neck as he spills deep inside of you. It feels as if it might never end as he pulses over and over until his release is running down your legs, black like tar. Even then he manages to keep up the slow, full strokes, refusing to stop until you hurtle over the edge.

When you finally do, it knocks the breath out of you, leaving you no air to even scream. The girth of him makes your cunt struggle to clench and as he fucks you through it, he very nearly gets pushed out. He doesn't let up until you almost collapse under his weight, utterly spent. Even as he lays you down on your side he doesn't withdraw, just pulls you close and curls in around you with a sound that while strange, sounds content enough. It's oddly cosy like this, his deep rumbling breaths against your back, and for a few moments neither of you says anything. As the light-headedness starts lifting and your heart stops pounding like you've run a marathon, you can't quite hold back a sigh.

"Something troubling you, my love?" Even distorted, the amusement in his voice is apparent.

"Were you ever going to give me a fair chance to win?" With the soreness setting in, it's difficult to keep some irritation out of your voice.

"Perhaps." This time he doesn't bother to disguise it, and you're grateful that you have your back turned so you don't have to see the smug expression on his face. "As I recall, you agreed to the terms."

"You cheated!" You emphasize the words with an elbow to where his stomach should be, though not very hard. It barely connects, and you're too worn out to stay annoyed. There is a crick in your neck and you wince, hoping it won't follow you into the waking world. "Next time, remind me not to interrupt while you're working."

At first, he doesn't respond and you think he might be having a coughing fit. For a second you wonder if an Endless can even get sick, or if something else is wrong. Then he nuzzles your neck and you realize that the dreadful noise is him laughing at you. Not very loudly, but still. By the time you wake up, you still haven't decided whether you should be annoyed at the cheek of him, or just be happy that you heard him laugh for the first time.

#dream of the endless x reader #morpheus x reader #sandman x reader #sandman x you #sandman smut #dream of the endless smut #the sandman fanfiction #my shitty shitty writing (affectionate)

[writingoddess1125]

HOCKEY BUGGY HAS ME FLOATING 😭😭🤍🤍🤍

I'm glad!

Unexpected

They had Won!- The Big Top Hockey Team had actually fucking won!

The team screaming as they hugged and batted at one another in pure happiness.

Buggy still exhilarated from the hockey game, rushed into locker room with the rest of the team, needing to get out of his uniform as quickly as possible- He felt like he was on fire from first of all actually exercising and second the adrenaline.

"Holy Fuck! We actually won!" He yelled out, Cabaji nodding in agreement as the Goalie also went to peel out of his clothes as the rest of the team cheered and went to grab the secret stash of alcohol they kept.

"I gotta see (Y/N)!-" The Bluette said, wheezing as his mind was trying to process all this at once. You'd accepted his offer and he'd won a game! He'll must be freezing right now!!

However, in his post-game enthusiasm, he had forgotten to change into his regular clothes and was standing there in nothing but his jock underwear still holding the winning stick.

You turned the hallway corner, trying to find the male- However the second you spotted him was the same moment he realized his mistake.

As he spotted (Y/N), his face turned a deep shade of red like his nose. "Uh, hey (Y/N)," he stammered, trying to cover himself awkwardly with his hand and the hockey stick.

"I, uh, got a little caught up in the game and forgot to get dressed- I wanted to see you-"

....

You burst into laughter after a few seconds, finding the situation just too damn amusing. "Well, someone's eager to celebrate the win," you teased.

Buggy, feeling a mixture of embarrassment and amusement, couldn't help but join in the laughter. The two of you hared a lighthearted moment, making the unusual encounter more memorable than any victory on the ice.

"Wait do those not have butt cheek covers?" You questioned noticing the straps that seemed to disapear from the sides. Buggy waving it off-

"Don't worry about it-"

#x reader #one piece #one peice x reader #one peice live action #buggy one piece #buggy the clown x reader #buggy x reader #Hockey Buggy #hockey au #modern buggy #shorsey

[arealphrooblem]

Terms of Surrender Part 6

Synopsis: The queen of a doomed city makes the deal her husband refused to make with the conquering warlord outside her city's gates

Part one Here

Part five here:

CW: violence, mentions of blood

A few weeks passed by. The air started to thicken, the summer heat starting to roll in like a fog. The Queen became intensely grateful that propriety no longer dictated the heavy, cloying dresses befitting her former rank. The linen shifts and simple braid kept her cool enough; some days she didn’t even bother changing out of her nightgown, throwing on her lightest housecoat when the Warlord visited.

Such improper dress did nothing to phase him; he responded in kind, showing up some evenings in flowy linen pants and short sleeved shirts. In fact, the heat did not seem to phase him at all. The sun loved him, darkening his tawny skin until it glowed sepia in the setting rays. His hair shone like a raven’s wing.

In the growing humidity it had started to curl and the Queen found her gaze catching on his fingers when he ran his hand through it, wondering how soft his hair might feel. It was one of many distractions and they left her win-loss record in chess in shambles.

“Does something trouble you?” the Warlord asked as he tipped over her king. “You have played rather abysmally as of late. Each of my victories are becoming more and more embarrassing.”

How can she explain that the sight of his bare forearms as he reaches across the board, the elegant grip of his calloused fingers, the errant curl that sticks out above his right ear, is  driving her faintly mad?

“It is the heat,” she said instead. “I don’t see how you remain so unbothered by it.”

He smiled. “This is nothing. It gets much hotter back home.” Then his brow furrowed. “Are you uncomfortable? Is there anything you need?”

“I am the most comfortable prisoner in the world,” she said with a smile and a shake of her head.

“So you say. But I have a feeling you would not tell me if you weren’t.”

The Queen laughed at this. “Are you worried you’re a bad host to a prisoner of war? Everything I have is more than anyone in my position deserves or receives. It’s absurd that you should worry so much for my sake.”

He opened his mouth to retort and then closed it with a pensive look. “You’re right. Yet I seem to worry anyway.”

The warlord’s brow furrowed, as if this thought bothered him. She could only guess at the possible discomfiture at feeling guilty over a necessary imprisonment, the price paid for owning what he took. A potential weakness.

She would not want him to dwell on it, for multiple reasons.

“Do you miss home?” she asked.

He pondered over a rook. “Sometimes. Home is so entwined with my father and his rule that it hasn’t felt like mine. I’ve always been drawn to this place, though, and not just because none of my ancestors managed to successfully capture it before me. It’s a beautiful city, with much to envy. I visited once as a child and could never stop dreaming of it.”

“You came here?” she asked, surprised. “When?”

“I was but a boy — perhaps nine or ten years old. I came with my father and grandfather.”

He is not so much older than her that she wouldn’t remember this. But the past remains vague in her memory. She vaguely recalls such a visit, the peculiarity and anxiety around it, as his country and hers did not often have cordial visits after so much history of war.

“I must have met you but I don’t remember,” she said softly.

The corner of his mouth lifted up. “I didn’t either at first, but I do now. We met only once, at the first dinner. You were very shy and I didn’t speak your language so well then.  Your father sent you and your mother away for the rest of my trip. I think we made him nervous.”

The memory began to crystallize in her mind. She could recall a dark-eyed boy in strange clothes sitting across from her.

“Did I . . .help you ask for more water?” she says slowly, trying to grab hold of the memory before it slipped through her fingers again.

“Yes, And a smaller knife.”

She gasped. “I remember that. That was you?”

 It changed things, somehow: that he could have been a familiar face that night in his tent. That he recognized her even now. That she knew him before war had changed him.

“Is that why I’m . . . here?” she asked.

“You’re here for a number of reasons,” he replied. “But I can’t . . .discount that memory as a factor. You have not changed much from the kindness that I remember.”

“It was not kindness so much as common decency,” she pointed out, uncomfortable with the flattery.

He gave her another smile, this one tinged with sorrow. “You are not common. Not in my experience.”

More and more often the Warlord brought her matters of state to gather her advice on. He kept the specifics vague; she often did not know who he was dealing with. But she informed him of past decisions her father and husband had made, how they affected commerce and politics, the successes and failures that she could predict. It flattered her that he valued her insight so much; it also gave her hope that such value would become a guarantee to continue living.

Each morning her fears diminished. She found peace and contentment in the quiet monotony of her days. With no husband to monitor, no divided court to appease, no ever-shifting responsibilities, no appearances to keep up, the Queen experienced true happiness for the first time in her life.

Perhaps that was why she failed to notice the new face among her guards that day, or the way he slipped in her rooms after the maid delivering dinner stepped out.

“Come, my lady. We have little time,” he said, stepping close.

The queen blinked, uncomprehending.  “What?”

“The Warlord is on his way to join you. We must leave before he gets here.”

He took her wrist and tugs her towards the door to her bedroom. She resisted, planting her feet, her other hand gripping the back of the chair.

“Who are you? Where would you take me?”

Anger flashed in his eyes. “I’ve been sent by a friend of your husband and we are running out of time. Would you stay in this captivity until he executes you? Or would you have your freedom and take your country back?”

Her freedom. She could almost laugh in his face. What freedom could be found in becoming someone else’s pawn for the throne yet again?

The guard did not wait for her to answer. He gripped her roughly and dragged her across the room. She allowed him to take her as far as the door between her room and the Warlord’s before she threw her entire weight backwards, hard enough to send her tumbling to the ground and breaking his grip.

She scrambled to her feet and dashed back towards the sitting room, but the guard was both stronger and faster than her. His hands closed around the back of her dress and yanked her backwards, the neckline choking her. In an instant he had her pinned against the wall, wrists twisted behind her back, knife at her throat. The blade nicked the skin of her neck.

“You have sat in a gilded cage while your peers have suffered and foreign filth taints our home. You may be content with that, but they are not. I am taking you to the resistance by force or by choice, but I am taking you nonetheless.”

His bruising grip did not lessen as he led her through the Warlord’s chambers, out of the servant door and into an empty hallway. The queen debated fighting again, but she knew these halls more than him. It would do better to wait for a better opportunity to slip away.

That hope dashed to pieces when the guard pulled her into a scullery filled with at least six other men. She could run from one man, but not all six.

“Watch her,” the guard warned as he locked the door behind them. “She has sold her kingdom out for a pretty cage. She will run at the first opportunity to return to it.”

The hopeful expressions of the men disintegrated into something ugly and resentful. They surrounded her on all sides as they led her into the back kitchen gardens. By now the late evening sun had slipped behind the castle walls, keeping the gardens in rapidly growing darkness.

With every step her hope of escape died a little more. The list of men who were both honorable and counted among her husband’s friends was short and full of the deceased. The thought of being turned against the one man who had never seen her as a tool made her sick, and the thought of marrying another power hungry fool made her want to draw blood.

“I think you have something of mine.”

The sound of the Warlord’s voice, soft and quiet, stopped everyone in their tracks. The sounds of swords yanked from their scabbards followed quickly after. Out of the shadows the Warlord stepped forward, almost as if they had borne him.

“She was never yours, you filthy, sand-stained mongrel,” growled the guard who took her, shoving her behind him. “And we will not let your heathen ways taint her any further.”

The Warlord’s eyes flickered to hers. Even in the fading light the coldness of his gaze froze her to the spot.

“Do you feel tainted, my lady?” he asked mildly.

She wanted to scream her denial all the way up to God. She wanted to fight and shove her way to him. But the look in his eyes dried up every word before it could escape.

It was a look of death and ruin.

Countless stories of the Warlord’s terrifying, blood thirsty ways circulated viciously during the war. None of it could compare to seeing it in person. Despite the odds, the dying light, the Warlord cut down each man with brutal, excruciating efficiency. And when they all lay on the ground, he stuck his sword through each of their heads through the eye.

It was over in a matter of seconds. The Warlord stared at her, blood in his hair, dripping down his neck, soaking the front of his shirt and none of it his, and terror quite unlike anything she had never known seized her.

“Explain,” he said.

Fear had stolen her words. She couldn’t piece them together, couldn’t stop shaking.

He took a step forward and she stumbled backwards. Blood coated the blade of his sword.

“I will not ask you again,” he said. His voice shook with barely repressed rage.

“I — I didn’t go willingly,” she said hoarsely. “He came in with — with dinner. He said he was with a friend of my h-husband. He took me. I - I didn’t know how to get away.”

Her voice broke on the last word. And the cold fury of his gaze shattered into heartbreak.

“You are a fool for thinking I would believe that,” he said sadly. “But I am a bigger fool for wanting to.”

He did not take her to the dungeons himself. After his men appeared to collect her, he did not spare her another glance.

Part 7 here

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Gomez Addams was walking through an empty hall at Nevermore Academy. All was silent... until Gomez heard one faint sound of movement for a second. Gomez stopped moving his feet, as he turned his head to inspect his surroundings. Then suddenly a figure in a black cloak jumped down from the ceiling holding a small dagger in their right hand. Gomez dodged the cloaked figure's attack, and immediately grabbed his own small dagger (which was attached with velcro to the bottom of his right shoe). Both Gomez and the cloaked figure swung their daggers at each other several times; each dodging the others' attacks. Then Gomez finally hit the wrist of the cloaked figure hard, causing the figure to drop their dagger. Gomez then made a big happy grin as he said, "Very nice. You almost had me... brother."

Then the figure took off his cloak, revealing himself to be Gomez's brother: Fester. Fester then made a big smile as he said, "And I can see this school hasn't softened you yet." Then Gomez and Fester, in the midst of excitement - bashed their foreheads against one another. The two young men laughed, as Gomez said, "Ha ha. Your skull is still as strong as ever Fester. But why are you here? I've been at this school for less than 24 hours." Fester made a sad sigh, and then looked at Gomez as he said, "And it's been so boring for me back home. I've got no one around the house to electrocute or try to stab now. So I thought I'd check out your new pad." Then Gomez padded Fester on the shoulder as he said, "Well, it's good to see you brother. However I must go. I promised someone I would help our dormitory win a special school competition today known as the Poe Cup." Fester suddenly looked cross as he said, "You're gonna ditch family for a new friend?" Then Gomez grinned as he said, "Not a new friend at all. Just another member of the family."

Then suddenly a large stack of walking hair appeared around the corner, and rushed over to Gomez as it said, "Hdsads sfgfgth gffgfdgf dmfddn." Fester immediately looked very excited as he said, "Cousin Itt! That's right. I heard you were attending here as well. How are things going?" The Cousin Itt immediately sounded upset as he said, "Yhfddf dfdss dfhkdk fbdfba pdmssd." Fester then with a caring voice said, "Oh. I'm sorry you're down a man for the Poe Cup. Hey! I know I'm not a student here, but do you think they'd let me join your team and help out?" Then Cousin Itt excitedly said, "Rmfd ffdssldk nfdu amvdb." Gomez then happily patted both Fester and Cousin Itt on their shoulders as he said, "Excellent. With three Addams men together, we are sure to meet victory today!"

***

Near the river that came close to Nevermore Academy, many students were gathering in preparation for the Poe Cup. Several boats were being placed into the water by teams wearing different matching costumes. Amongst them were Morticia and Larissa (wearing black cat outfits) who were pushing their boat into the river. As the two women checked on the condition of their boat, a smiling Larissa said, "So Morticia... ready to lead us to victory again this year?" Morticia looked a bit preoccupied as she said, "What? Oh, um... yes, of course. Sorry Larissa. My mind is... elsewhere in this moment." Larissa made a sympathetic smile as she said, "I know what's on your mind Morticia." Morticia suddenly looked worried as she said, "You do? How!?" Larissa then calmly said, "It's Raine. We're all worried about her too. However she's with the best doctors in town now. There's nothing more we can do."

Then Francoise walked over to the two ladies as she said, "Looks like the principal let one of the boys dorms get some new participants last minute. Is that allowed?" Then a curious Morticia asked, "Which boys dorm?" Then Francoise motioned nearby as she said, "That dorm." Then Morticia and Larissa noticed Gomez, Fester, and Cousin Itt pushing their own boat into the river. Gomez and Fester were dressed as pirates (which included black pants, white shirts, and black vests), while Cousin Itt only wore an eyepatch tied around near the top of his body. Larissa made a warm smile as she said, "Ah, it looks Gomez is joining Itt's team this year; and they must be dressing up as Captain Kidd and his pirate crew. I suppose that works since they were used in one of Edgar Allen Poe's stories. So nice to see Gomez is getting so involved in school activities already. He certainly is a respectable man. Wouldn't you say so Morticia?" Morticia however looked like she was a bit lost for words as she said, "Um..."

***

*Several Hours Ago:

Morticia stood surrounded by fog in the cemetery as a shadowy female figure walked towards her. Morticia looked confused as she said, "What is happening here? I demand to know your name!" Then suddenly emerging from the fog was a girl in a black dress and dark braids. The girl then glared at Morticia, and while keeping an emotionless tone to her voice she said, "My name is Wednesday Addams... and I've traveled from beyond to assist you in this important turning point of your life... mother."

Morticia stood in complete shock as he said, "You.. you called me mother... but how can that be? I was told people with my abilities could sometimes be contacted by the spirits of our ancestors... but how can I be contacted by the spirit of someone who has not yet been born? This makes no sense!" Wednesday then stepped towards Morticia as she said, "Desperate times call for desperate measures mother, and the next 24 hours are a crucial fixed point in the space time continuum... which is slowly starting to become 'unfixed'. Needless to say: if my existence, and the existence of so many others are to be preserved, it is imperative that I ensure your future marriage is to occur as history says it should."

Morticia then began to look a bit worried as she said, "Wait. You said you were my daughter from the future, and that your last name is... Addams. Then... does that mean..." Wednesday nodded her head as she said, "Yes. Gomez Addams is to be your husband one day, and my father. It's hard to explain, but there are forces at work that are trying to erase your marriage to him, and erase my very existence. However I cannot allow that to happen." Then a frustrated Morticia asked, "But why him? Why not follow my own heart? Am I to be forced to marry a man just because a fortune teller says so? Why should I marry Gomez Addams!?" Then Wednesday looked directly at Morticia with cold eyes as she said, "Because there is no soul more perfect for Morticia Frump, than the soul of Gomez Addams." Then Wednesday walked away as the fog around Morticia got thick again. Morticia began to feel a bit dizzy as she fell to the ground. Then the fog began to lift away... and a confused looking Morticia stood up.

***

In the present, Morticia looked lost in thought as she stood near the boat. The Morticia turned her head to look right at Larissa while saying, "Any woman would be fortunate enough to have a man as noble as Gomez Addams in their life." Then Larissa smiled as she said, "Any woman would be fortunate enough to have you in their life." A confused looking Morticia then asked, "What do you mean by that?" Then Larissa blushed as she nervously said, "I meant... never mind. Just silly words coming out of my mouth." Then both Morticia and Larissa heard Francoise say, "Do you both find it hard to control your urges when that person you find so attractive is right near you?" Suddenly, both Morticia and Larissa looked very nervous as Morticia said, "What do you mean?"

Then a smiling Francoise looked away as she said, "Itt... he's so handsome. That big hairball look is just magnificent. I'd try to take a chance with him... but he already has the eye of too many." Then the three girls noticed that nearby: Cousin Itt was surrounded by twenty attractive female students that were all gently petting his hair. Cousin It sounded very happy as he said, "Tsdfdn fdksldm dsgdos mfsm." Then one of the attractive female students petting Cousin Itt said, "Oh Itt, you and your naughty jokes. So... are the rumors true that you never settle for less than ten girls sharing a bed with you at one time?" Then Cousin Itt wiggled his body around as he playfully said, "Rdsd lknds fgbu aznk." Then all of the girls surrounding Cousin Itt began to giggle. Morticia meanwhile looked a bit confused as she said, "Frankly, I don't see the appeal... Not to say I'm hairball-phobic... as I do consider myself an ally."

***

A short time later, all of the teams competing in the Poe Cup were in their boats, and ready to go. The female school principal then proudly stood near the water as she loudly said, "Welcome everyone to the Edgar Allan Poe Cup; one of Nevermore Academy's proudest annual traditions. Today, we shall watch as each team here shall row to Raven Island, pull a flag from Crackstone's Crypt, and then return here. Aside from making sure their boat is not sunk, no other rules apply. First team to successfully make it back with a flag: wins the cup, along with bragging rights for the rest of the school year. Now then... let the Poe Cup begin!" Then immediately all of the boats with different students took off down the river.

***

Near the water, a female siren stood on a small beach as she took a small lizard creature out of her bag. The female siren smirked as she looked at her small lizard while saying, "Now my tiny little beast. Swim through the water, bite through the wood of all of the boats that do not belong to our sisters, and then we shall win..." Then suddenly a figure with a shovel hit the female siren in the head from behind, knocking her out. The figure then emerged from the shadows as Ansel Gates, who immediately tossed his shovel down. As Ansel's son: Garrett followed behind him, he looked concerned as he said, "Dad, did you really need to knock her out?" Ansel then casually picked up the siren's lizard creature as he said, "It only takes a siren one second to brainwash you Garrett. Couldn't take the chance. Now did you bring the formula?"

Garrett then reluctantly handed a bottle with a strange formula in it to his father while saying, "Yeah dad. It's here. What is this stuff anyway? Some magic potion?" As Ansel opened the bottle, he said, "No. Just science. If you want to outsmart the outcasts, you have to out-think them. You see I've been doing research on not just the outcasts of Nevermore, but also some of their ridiculous pets... and I learned of a formula than can add a little more growth to these pets some sirens have." A skeptical looking Garrett then asked, "Are you sure we should be doing this dad?" Ansel smirked as he said, "Just a little prank Garrett; that's all. But if it gets out of hand... well... sometimes unexpected things just happen in life." Then Ansel immediately dumped the strange formula out of the bottle, and onto the small lizard creature.

***

Gomez, Fester, and Itt had their boat reach the island in the middle of the river first. The three then jumped out of the boat as an excited Gomez yelled, "To the flag men, and then to victory!" Then Gomez's foot immediately hit a wire that was on the ground, and then suddenly a large net sprung up from the ground and captured Gomez, Fester, and Itt inside of it. As Itt struggled to get free, he yelled, "Edssa dngral dhenl!" Then Fester angerly said, "You said it Itt! Whoever did this to us, deserves to be shot in the back!" Then suddenly the three heard Morticia's voice say, "Maybe we can play that game later." Then the three men turned their heads, and saw Morticia, Larissa, and Francoise walking towards them with smiles.

Gomez then began to look very happy, and made a warm smile as he said, "Hello Morticia." Morticia smiled a bit as she said, "Hello Gomez." Larissa however stood proud and composed as she said, "As you can see, it's not always smart to be ahead at first. Morticia spent quite some time last night putting this trap together. Now then, Morticia - you get the flag. Francoise and I will stand watch and make sure no one sabotages our boat." Morticia nodded, and then ran off. Fester however looked annoyed as he said, "Aw come on. Being detained in a trap set up by some girl... this is humiliating." However as Gomez saw Morticia running off, he smiled while saying, "On the contrary Fester... I'm quite impressed."

***

Morticia was running in her black cat suit through the woods. She soon saw the location where the flags were set up for the teams to grab. However, just as Morticia grabbed one of the flags: she saw smoke appear, which began to slowly surround her. Morticia paused for a moment as she felt her head begin to feel a bit dizzy. Then from the smoke: Wednesday appeared glaring straight at Morticia. Morticia looked confused as she said, "You're returned. Why?"

As Wednesday kept a very straight face, she folded her arms while saying, "The timeline is beginning to become undone. I have come to tell you that you must repair it by..." Then Morticia angerly glared at Wednesday as she quickly said, "No! You will not tell me who to love, who to marry, and who to have children with. I decide my fate! The future is always filled with possibilities, and who is to say that by creating a destiny that is different than what you speak of could not make a better world."

Wednesday then stepped towards Morticia as she angerly said, "You don't understand though. If you break the sacred timeline... then you will also break yourself." Then suddenly more smoke began to surround Morticia as she began to cough. Wednesday then disappeared into the smoke, while Morticia fell to the ground and began to pass out. Then as the smoke slowly began to disappear, a large lizard monster appeared walking towards Morticia.

***

Gomez, Fester, and Itt freed themselves from the net as a happy Gomez said, "Excellent. We're free. Good work Fester." Fester meanwhile was chewing part of the net in his mouth. Then Fester stopped for a moment, smiled, and said, "My pleasure. Chewing through rope that I'm tied up in brings back lots of fun memories of my first, third, and twelfth girlfriends." Then suddenly the three men heard a strange roaring sound from nearby. A startled Itt then yelled, "Rfsdn fpfhy xldsh!" A concerned Gomez turned to look at Itt while saying, "I don't know Cousin Itt, but that noise is coming from the direction that Morticia was running in. So I say we investigate!" Gomez, Fester, and Itt then quickly ran through the woods... but stopped when they saw a 16 foot tall lizard monster was knocking over trees, roaring... and holding an unconscious Morticia in one of its claws.

Gomez had a worried look in his eyes, but then turned to look at Itt as he said, "Itt, go find us allies to help us stop this beast. In the mean time, Fester and I will do all we can to vanquish this creature and save Morticia." Itt nodded as he said, "Ythsd dfkdd!" Then as Itt ran off, Gomez turned to look at Fester while saying, "Fester, remember that fun game we played at Uncle Macabre's wedding anniversary?" Fester made a big grin, nodded his head, and then said, "You got it Gomez." Then Fester suddenly grabbed Gomez's body with his arms, and then threw Gomez high into the air. Then Fester shot small bolts of lightning out of his hands at the lizard monster while yelling, "Hey ugly! You remind me of my fourth girlfriend's hot mother!"

Gomez meanwhile, while flying into the air, grabbed a hold of a long strong vine attached to a tree. Then as the lizard monster was distracted by Fester, Gomez took out a sword that was hiding behind his back. Then as Gomez swung towards the lizard monster, he yelled, "Unhand that damsel you foul beast!" Then Gomez had his sword make a deep mark on one of the lizard monster's hands. The lizard monster shrieked in pain as it let go of Morticia. Gomez then swung quickly on the vine, and grabbed a hold of Morticia. Fester meanwhile kept the creature distracted as he shot more lightning from his hands at the beast.

As Gomez reached the ground safely with Morticia in his arms, Morticia slowly opened her eyes. Morticia, seeing the scene, quickly looked confused as she said, "What's going on? What happened to me?" Gomez smiled as he said, "A beautiful but dishonorable creature grabbed you with its foul claws Morticia. So I came to save you." Then Morticia calmly said, "Oh my. I thought I was being squeezed by my pet cobra I keep in my dorm room. I should've known better though, considering my body didn't feel quite as near death as it typically does during my usual mid-day naps." Then a confused Gomez asked, "Do you know where that creature came from?" Morticia looked curious as she said, "It looks like a pet of one of the sirens I know at school. However it's obviously grown quite a deal. I am confused though, as that species of creature isn't typically violent."

Then as Fester continued to shoot bolts of electricity at the lizard monster, the creature grew angry and had it's claws punch at the top of a large hill that contained a cave under it. Suddenly, many werewolves in the cave ran out howling with anger. The many werewolves immediately tried to attack the tall lizard creature, but the monster began to easily swat away the many werewolves in its' path. A concerned looking Morticia then said, "Oh dear. That creature is attacking those poor werewolves. Oh, I do love hearing them howl every full moon. It would be a shame for their howls to never be heard again." Then a grinning Gomez said, "Then we shall have to put that beautiful beast out of it's misery. Do you need a spare sword?" Then Morticia suddenly revealed that she was hiding behind her back: her own very large sword; which she immediately held out proudly as she said, "Oh, I am quite prepared." Gomez made a large grin, until the lizard creature immediately ran at Gomez and Morticia with its' claws out.

Gomez and Morticia then immediately moved in unison together as they ran around the creatures' sides. Then the two ran under the creature; with both of them striking their swords at the monster's two legs in the same moment. The lizard monster roared in pain, as Gomez and Morticia ran over to a nearby tree. Gomez and Morticia immediately realized the strange tall tree before them had no branches for the bottom 40 feet of its' trunk. However Morticia immediately took out a small rope from her pocket, held it out around the tree, and then gave one end of the rope of Gomez (while holding onto the other end herself). Without any time to talk or look at one another, both Gomez and Morticia ran up the tree; holding the rope with one hand, and using their other hand to hold onto the others'. Both the rope and the others' body helped balance Gomez and Morticia's bodies as they ran up the tree.

Then once Gomez and Morticia reached a set of strong branches they could stand on, both of them immediately found a strong vine they could grab onto. Morticia and Gomez gave each other one look, smiled, and then swung off the tree while holding onto their respective vines. The creature looked confused as Gomez and Morticia swung around it multiple times... until the two each grabbed onto their vines tightly, and the creature realized (too late) that the vines were now wrapping around it's neck. Then Gomez and Morticia each threw a sword into one of the monsters' eyes, blinding it. Now unable to see anything, the large group of werewolves were able to run at the lizard monster, and began biting at its' legs. Then the lizard monster finally fell to the ground. Fester immediately shot a large bolt of electricity from his hands at the creature's head... and then finally the monster was dead. The werewolves immediately made a victorious howl into the air, while Gomez and Morticia together happily said, "We did it!" Then Gomez and Morticia immediately upon instinct hugged one another with happiness and excitement all over their faces... but then after a moment, the two let go of each other, looking a bit nervous.

***

A short time later, police had arrived on the scene and were preparing to remove the body of the dead lizard monster. Morticia and Gomez meanwhile stood near some of the werewolves (who had all recently transformed back into human form, and were now wearing loose clothing). A young werewolf man then approached Gomez and Morticia as he said, "Thank you for helping save my pack. If you hadn't injured that creature in those strategic points like you did... some of us may not have survived." Gomez made a warm smile as she said, "We were just happy to help my werewolf friend." The young werewolf man then said, "I must say though... your methods may have been different... but you battled as if you had inner werewolf spirits within you. Where did you both learn to combat like that?" A smiling Morticia then said, "Well, I can at least say that much of my training comes from the self-defense courses taught at Nevermore Academy. I am just one of a very large number of students there that are well trained in many forms of combat."

The young werewolf man looked impressed as he said, "Interesting. Werewolves are often taught that our ways are superior to all... but perhaps if I have children of my own one day, I shall send them to Nevermore Academy where they could perhaps benefit from the teachings and culture of your school." Then a smiling Gomez said, "Well I've only just started attending the school myself... but I can say with great certainty now that it has already proven to be quite life changing." Then as many of the other werewolves prepared to leave, a young werewolf woman yelled, "Come on honey. Stop talking to those wimpies. We have to go!" The young werewolf man made a little sigh, and then said, "My newlywed wife. She became so demanding immediately after the wedding. Anyway, I must go. It was a pleasure to meet you two." Then before the werewolf man could leave, a curious Morticia asked, "Sir, before we part company... can we ask you your name?" The young werewolf smiled as he said, "The name's Murray... Murray Sinclair."

***

Meanwhile, far away... Ansel Gates was standing behind a tree as he was watching the police take away the body of the dead lizard monster. Ansel immediately looked incredibly angry as he said, "Those damn outcasts... they're like cockroaches. Not even a lizard monster can eliminate them. Well... I suppose it's finally time for my endgame plan."

***

Gomez and Morticia were walking back towards Nevermore Academy together as a grinning Gomez said, "Oh, that battle was magnificent. Morticia: your skills and your grace... I never thought I'd ever meet a woman with abilities as amazing as yours." Morticia smiled as she said, "You really think so? You know the very few boys in my life I fancied found my interests and skills to be... too overwhelming for them to handle." Gomez however looked at Morticia with awe as he said, "Then they can't see the perfection that I view before me." Gomez and Morticia then paused for a moment as they found themselves just looking into each other's faces. Then the two looked down... and realized that somehow by instinct, they were holding the others' hand. Then the two found their faces slowly moving towards the others'... until they heard Larissa say, "Morticia!" Gomez and Morticia then both nervously turned their heads and saw Larissa running towards them. Larissa however had just seen what had happened, and had a nervous look in her own eyes.

However Larissa tried to remain calm as she said, "It... it's good to see you're all right. I heard about what happened with that creature. However... no one has returned to the school with a flag yet, thus technically the Poe Cup isn't over. So I must ask... did you grab the flag from Crackstone's Crypt?" Morticia then quickly took a flag out of her pocket while saying, "Why yes, I did." Larissa then quickly took the flag from Morticia, and ran off with it... while she had a few tears in her eyes. Morticia then looked at Gomez briefly as she said, "I should join the other girls from Ophelia Hall now." Then Morticia walked away. Meanwhile Fester ran over to Gomez holding a flag out as he said, "Gomez. I got your team's flag! Quick! Lets get it to the finish line before that girl does!" Gomez however remained perfectly still and happy, and as he watched Morticia walk away - he said, "Fester... for the first time in my life... victory means nothing to me... for only she does now."

***

Many students were partying right outside of Nevermore Academy, as two girls from the Ophelia Hall dorm proudly held up the Poe Cup trophy. Morticia meanwhile stood off to the side, smiling as she watched the festivities. Suddenly Garrett appeared from nearby. The young man smiled and approached Morticia as he said, "Hello Morticia." Morticia looked troubled as she said, "Garrett, what are you doing here?" Garret then put his hands up calmly as he said, "I just wanted to make sure you're okay. I... I didn't mean for things to get out of hand the way they did." A confused looking Morticia then asked, "What do you mean? Regardless, you must leave now. This is not your school. You are trespassing... which isn't smart considering many police officers are currently on the school property due to what just happened." Then Morticia saw a police officer nearby, as she yelled, "Oh, officer..."

Garrett however looked angry as he said, "Enough! You think that scares me? My father has the sheriff in his pocket!" Morticia looked a bit nervous as her body began to tremble... but then she quickly blurted out, "I've found someone else Garrett. There's another man I've fallen in love with. If you really care about me, you'll accept that and leave." Garrett suddenly had a heart broken look in his eyes. Then upon seeing that several curious police officers were coming his way, Garrett ran off with tears in his eyes. Morticia then turned and walked in the opposite direction... not realizing Larissa had been standing not far behind her, and had heard everything that Morticia had just said as well. Then Larissa turned away with tears in her own eyes.

***

Morticia was walking towards her dorm as she walked through one of the hallways at Nevermore Academy. However Morticia suddenly felt her head feel disoriented as smoke began to surround her. Then from the smoke, Wednesday showed herself as she said, "There are things we need to discuss." Morticia nodded her head as she said, "Yes, there are." Wednesday then looked directly at Morticia... then paused as some uncertainty appeared on her face... and then said, "It was wrong for me to push you to follow the destiny I set out for you. You do deserve free will... as I simply should have aided you in discovering your destiny, rather than directing you to it."

Morticia then looked at Wednesday with loving eyes as she said, "Thank you. However the truth is... I do love Gomez. I've loved him since the moment we first made formal introductions with one another. But... I don't know if I can be good enough for him. I don't know if I have the ability to truly fall in love with a man, become a housewife, or start a family." Wednesday raised one eyebrow, and then said, "No one truly ever thinks they're good enough to take on a new role in life... but if you act like you are long enough... then the act may soon enough become real." Then Wednesday walked back into the smoke as Morticia began to feel disoriented again. Then within a moment: Wednesday was gone, and soon the smoke subsided again; leaving Morticia all alone again in the hallway.

***

Larissa sat in Nevermore Academy's garden with a sad look on her face. Francoise then walked into the garden, and immediately saw how upset Larissa looked. Francoise then sat down next to Larissa as she said, "For someone whose team just won the Poe Cup a few hours ago, you don't look happy." Larissa looked down as she said, "Maybe I helped win the Poe Cup... but I feel like I've just lost something important." Then Francoise casually said, "You mean Morticia?" Larissa suddenly looked nervous as she said, "I... I... How did you know?" Francoise then made a warm smile as she calmly said, "I have my own side that I keep well hidden, so I know what disguising one's nature in plain sight looks like. So... have you ever tried to tell Morticia how you feel?" A few tears appeared in Larissa's eyes as she said, "It's not proper. It's not appropriate for a woman to have these types of feelings for another woman." Then Francoise nudged Larissa as she said, "What are you talking about? Nevermore was created as a safe haven for all outcasts to learn and grow, no matter who or what they are... and that doesn't just apply to special abilities, you know."

Larissa just looked down, and began to wipe away tears that were appearing in her eyes. Francoise looked up for a moment... and then looked directly at Larissa again as she said, "Look... right before Raine disappeared yesterday... she told me how she always felt comfortable visiting you and Morticia in that dorm of yours. According to Raine... she sensed that one day a great love would be born in that dorm room. She didn't say from whom that love would be born from... but maybe you should see if Raine was perhaps referring to you and Morticia. I mean... Morticia can't decide how she feels about you if she doesn't completely know the real you. You should take the plunge." Larissa took a deep long breath... and then stood up, smiled, and looked directly at Francoise as she said, "Thank you Francoise."

As the sun began to set, in another outdoor area of Nevermore Academy: there was a large outdoor train set located under a pavilion. Gomez was standing near the train set, as he was controlling several of the model trains. From nearby, a smiling Morticia walked over to Gomez as she said, "Why hello Gomez. I see you found the school's model train set." Gomez smiled as he said, "Of course. Designing and playing with model train sets is a hobby of mine." Morticia happily grinned as she said, "Really? Me too. Well, I did prefer more to chop off my dolls' heads when I was young. However, my father would always ask me to play model trains with him every Sunday evening growing up. Those trains always took my mind away from so many of life's more difficult challenges." Gomez smirked as he said, "They certainly do that. Come. Join me."

Gomez then moved to the side, and allowed Morticia to take a turn with the controls that operated the model trains. As Morticia operated the trains, she looked at Gomez somewhat nervously as she asked, "Gomez... the Raven dance starts in about two hours. Have you already made plans to go with anyone, like Larissa?" Gomez turned his head and then said, "No. Larissa is nice... but she's not the girl I have my eye on now." Morticia then turned to look at Gomez, and immediately the two paused as they looked into each other's eyes. The two then slowly moved their faces towards one another... but then Morticia nervously pulled her face away, and turned her eyes back onto the model train set while saying, "I just had an idea. Wouldn't it be more fun if you had the two trains on this model set crash into one another?"

An excited Gomez's eyes lit up as he said, "Brilliant idea Morticia! In fact... why not take it a step further, and blow them up just as they crash!" Morticia's face then became very excited as she said, "What a splendid idea!" Then Gomez took a hold of the controls, and changed the directions of the two small trains on the model set. Then Gomez turned to look at Morticia as he excitedly said, "When they meet at the bridge, you hit the explosion switch!" Morticia made a giddy smile, as she prepared herself. Then just as the two model trains began to crash, Morticia pressed a button - and then the two model trains were destroyed in a large fiery explosion. Gomez looked at the explosion with great pleasure in his eyes, while a very happy Morticia exclaimed: "C'est merveilleux!"

Suddenly Gomez's face looked like it was caught in a trance as he said, "Morticia... you just spoke French. Somehow... it caused me to feel... things I have never felt before." A curious Morticia then asked, "Like what?" A confused but smiling Gomez then said, "I'm not sure. However... could you speak in French again... please?" A confused looking Morticia then simply said, "C'est merveilleux?" Then a very excited Gomez put his heart over his chest while he said, "I... I feel something strange coming over me. For the first time in my life... everything feels so clear." Then a smiling and happy Morticia said, "Si magnifique."

Then suddenly Gomez's eyes widened, and then he gently grabbed Morticia's right hand and kissed it. As Gomez looked at Morticia's face briefly, he said, "I'm sorry Morticia. I don't know what I'm doing... but I can't help it." Then Gomez began to make kisses up Morticia's arm; while a smiling Morticia said, "I can help it... but I don't want to." Then a very excited Gomez looked directly at Morticia as he said, "Morticia, say something else in French. Say anything in French! Excusez moi. Soup du jour. Moulin Rogue. Anything!" Then Morticia made an excited smirk as she simply said, "Wala."

Then an over-excited Gomez immediately grabbed Morticia in his arms... and immediately the two teenagers kissed one another, while holding the other tightly. Then after a long moment of kissing, the two had their lips part (but still held the other close) as a passionate Gomez said, "Morticia... ever since the moment we made formal introductions with one another... I've felt deeply romantic feelings towards you." A smiling Morticia then happily said, "And I have felt the same. I didn't wish to speak of it at first because I thought you'd find me mad for having such intense thoughts for someone I just met." Then a happy and passionate Gomez said, "Then let us be mad together!"

Then Gomez grabbed a hold of Morticia once again, leaned her back, and the two teenagers kissed once more for a very extended period of time. As their long kiss continued: the sun set behind them, while the moonlight began to shine over them. However as Gomez and Morticia continued to kiss... Larissa came walking around the corner with a smile on her face. However as soon as Larissa saw Morticia and Gomez kissing... sadness entered her eyes, and she immediately walked away. Also in the same moment, from another direction - Garrett came sneaking in behind a bush. However Garrett too stopped as he saw Morticia kissing Gomez. Pain entered his face... and then Garrett reluctantly left the scene.

Eventually Gomez and Morticia stopped kissing, as a smiling Morticia said, "Oh Gomez... I've never felt my spirit so lifted before in my life." Then a grinning Gomez said, "I could say the same. So with that being said..." Then Gomez got down on one knee, and took a ring out of his pocket as he said, "Morticia... will you marry me?" Morticia's eyes widened in surprise as she said, "You're asking for my hand in marriage after knowing me for just a day!?" Then Gomez casually said, "Well it worked out for Romeo and Juliet, and they had a wonderful life together." Morticia smiled as she looked up briefly, and then said, "Ah, yes. Three days of marriage before committing suicide and having their remains lay together for all eternity. However... as delightful as that sounds Gomez... I would prefer to have some time to consider your proposal before answering." Gomez then stood up as he said, "Of course. Take all the time you need. But... could I at least request you be my date to the Raven dance tonight?" Morticia happily smiled as she said, "But of course."

***

In the mansion of his home, Ansel Gates was mixing together a blue formula in the kitchen. Just as Ansel poured the contents of his blue formula into a small vial, Garrett walked into the kitchen looking very sad. Ansel only casually looked at his son while saying, "Garrett, get your coat. It looks like it's about to rain, and we're going to be out tonight with work to do." Garrett then sat down in a chair looking devastated as he said, "I can't father. Morticia Frump... she's fallen in love with another man... who stole my love away from me!" Ansel rolled his eyes as he said, "Well good riddance to bad rubbish. I was already planning to have her be the first outcast we eliminated tonight after she and her friends made all those annoying calls to the police." Then Garrett looked down, with deep sadness in his eyes, as he said, "I just don't get it. How could Morticia pick Gomez Addams over me?"

Ansel suddenly had a furious look in his eyes as he said, "Addams!? Gomez Addams is at Nevermore Academy right now!?" Garrett looked up at his father with a confused face as he said, "Yeah. What does that mean to you?" Ansel then prepared to get his own coat on as he angerly said, "Gomez Addams is a direct descendant of Goody Addams: the outcast witch that murdered Joseph Crackstone and took our family's land from us! But on top of that... that psychic outcast I kidnapped yesterday, wrote down a vision she had that said Morticia Frump would marry Gomez Addams one day, and have a daughter that would be the one to end our family's work. I had already put multiple plans in place to prevent that from happening... only to realize now that I have to step up the time table of my game plan." Garrett meanwhile just look more confused as he said, "Wait. Are you say you kidnapped Raine yesterday?" Ansel then threw a coat at Garrett as he said, "Garrett, the future of our family and town is at stake. So get in the car and do as I say, now!"

***

The Raven Dance was beginning at Nevermore Academy in a large social hall. Many students walked into the event together, and many immediately went off to dance, eat, drink, and talk. Gomez and Morticia meanwhile walked into the dance room holding hands while smiling. Gomez was wearing a refined black suit, while Morticia was wearing a long black dress, with her hair running fully straight down her back. Gomez looked at Morticia with awe as he said, "The way you dressed and did your hair tonight Morticia... it's so hauntingly beautiful." Morticia blushed as she said, "Why thank you Gomez. Now then... do you know how to waltz?" Gomez grinned as he said, "Doesn't every man?" Then Gomez took Morticia's hand, and immediately led her into a slow waltz on the dance floor. As the two danced together, a smiling Morticia said, "You should be glad your cousin isn't here. He usually steals the show with his wild and elaborate dance numbers." Gomez chuckled, and then said, "Well then I suppose I should be glad Cousin Itt was suspended this afternoon after one of the teachers discovered him having a wild sex party with thirty girls in his dorm room." Then Gomez and Morticia brought their bodies even closer together, as their waltz continued.

Suddenly Larissa walked into the dance alone with pain in her eyes. She didn't talk to anyone, and just kept on walking to the middle of the dance floor where Gomez and Morticia were having their waltz together. Larissa then stopped right in front of Morticia and Gomez as she angerly said, "Having fun you two?" Gomez and Morticia immediately stopped dancing, as Gomez suddenly looked guilty while he said, "Larissa, I'm sorry. I hadn't told you for sure if I was still interested in being your date for the dance or not." Then Morticia looked guilty as she said, "No Gomez, I believe Larissa is mad at me. The two of us had come to the dance together as friends the last three years, and I hadn't informed her yet that I was planning to break our tradition." Larissa meanwhile simply looked furious as she said, "The fact that you don't even know the real reason I'm upset... is why I'm even more upset... or perhaps I'm upset because maybe this is all my fault really. Errgh. I... I hope you two are miserable together."

Then Larissa furiously walked off to another corner of the dance room. Gomez kept a calm face though as he said, "What a kind thing to hope for us. Although... I'm not sure she was completely sincere about it." Morticia then looked right at Gomez as she said, "Gomez, perhaps we could leave the dance. I'm not sure why Larissa seems so troubled, but I think we're causing it. We should create some space with her for now to give Larissa some peace of mind." Then a confused Gomez asked, "You want to cut our date short?" Then Morticia made a big smirk as she said, "I said I want us to leave the dance... I said nothing about cutting our date short. Perhaps we should go outside to catch our breath." Then Gomez made a big happy grin as Morticia motioned for him to leave the room with her.

***

As it started to rain, a car pulled up outside of Nevermore Academy. Inside of the car was Ansel and Garrett sitting beside one another. Ansel then tried to hand Garrett a small vial of a blue formula while he said, "You've broken onto these school grounds before, so do it again. I used the notes given to me by that psychic girl I took in yesterday to finally crack the formula to create Nightshade Poison in its' most deadly liquid form. That dance they're having tonight with all of those outcast scum gathered in one room will give us the perfect opportunity to sneak something special into their drinks. It'll take awhile for the symptoms to kick in... but by the time the outcasts realize they've been poisoned... it will be too late." Garrett however looked nervous as he said, "Dad, I... I can't. I can't kill Morticia."

Then Ansel suddenly looked furious as he said, "My God Garrett! Your little sister is more of a man to you. When I give Laurel a long list of instructions, she follows each command to the letter like a good soldier. Errgh. Listen to me Garrett. Those outcasts will only hurt you in the end. Just like with our ancestors, they will do more than break your heart. They'll eventually take our home, just like they did our family's original land; and sooner than we think... they'll end our lives! It's us or them Garrett! We can wait for them to make normal people like us an endangered species, or we can exterminate these vermin from our lands after hundreds of years tonight!"

Garrett however had tears in his eyes as he said, "I... I can't dad. I... " Then Ansel slapped Garrett hard in the face, and then yelled, "Prove to me you are still worthy to be called my son! Kill all those outcasts! Sneak into that dance and spike the punch bowl! End them... or I will end you. Understand!?" Garrett then took the vial with the blue formula from his dad, nodded his head while looking deadly afraid, and then said, "Yes father." Then Garrett stepped out of the car, and walked towards Nevermore Academy. However as Garrett put the vial with the blue formula in his pocket, he slowly said to himself, "Fine father. I'll kill the outcasts... but not before I kill with my own bare hands: the one who ruined everything for me first... Gomez Addams."

***

In one of the dark halls of Nevermore Academy, Gomez and Morticia were in the middle of kissing one another. Morticia then stopped kissing Gomez for a moment, as she happily said, "Un si bon embrasseur." An excited Gomez then said, "Oh Tish. The way you speak French terrorizes my soul in all the ways I love." Then Gomez and Morticia grabbed a hold of one another, and began to passionately kiss once more. Suddenly from nearby though, an angry Garrett ran up a set of stairs towards the two. With his hair wet, and murderous intent showing in his eyes, Garret yelled, "Addams!" Gomez and Morticia, clearly seeing what Garrett's intentions were without any other spoken word, slowly backed away. Morticia then glanced at Gomez as she said, "Go. Get out of here. He won't hurt me." Gomez then began to run up a set of stairs, as Morticia tried to stop Garrett. However Garrett immediately went right past Morticia, grabbed a sword from a nearby display, and ran towards Gomez with it.

Gomez then reached a higher floor of the school which was under construction (and missing a wall). As Garrett lunged at Gomez with his sword, Gomez grabbed a nearby pipe and stopped the sword. Garrett then tried to swing his sword at Gomez several times, while Gomez deflected each attack with the pipe. As Garrett swung his sword, he yelled, "Morticia was supposed to be mine! When you took her away, you ruined me, my family, and everything!" As Gomez defended himself, he looked at Garrett with compassion as he said, "You may wish to murder me Garrett, but I have no wish to murder you. A man with wonderfully sadistic passion like yours could still find a woman to have a long miserable life with. I would never want to rob someone like yourself from that." Than a furious Garrett swung his sword at Gomez again as he screamed, "Will you just shut up!" Gomez continued to defend himself with his pipe; but as he did, he looked at Garrett with pity while saying, "Garrett, I may be madly in love... but you are mad in hatred and fear... and that is a type of madness no man should bury his soul in."

Then a raging Garrett kicked Gomez in the chest, and then swung his sword towards him. However Gomez was finally able to knock Garrett's sword out of his hand, and pushed his body hard into a pillar. However, moving quickly: Garrett was able to use his fist to punch Gomez hard in the face, and then shove him to the ground. As this occurred, Morticia walked up the stairs and saw what was happening. As the battle between the two young men continued, Morticia yelled, "Garrett, no!" However Morticia's words could not be heard by the two men, as Garret got on top of Gomez, and began to throw punch after punch at his body. Morticia meanwhile stood unsure of what the best course of action to do would be as she yelled, "Garrett! Garret, stop! Leave him alone!"

However Gomez was able to get the upper hand, and then pushed Garrett off of him, and then tried to get on top of Garret's body. But then Garrett got the upper hand again, and pushed Gomez off of him, causing Gomez to roll several feet away. As Gomez laid on the ground hurt, Morticia ran to his side. However at the same moment: Garrett stood up and looked directly at Morticia and Gomez with primal rage in his eyes, and foam starting to appear from his moth. Then Gomez and Morticia looked at the fallen sword laying right near their feet. Both Gomez and Morticia then looked into each other's eyes with reluctance for a split second. Then a crazed Garrett quickly ran at Gomez with a growling sound coming from his voice. Then... the sword from the ground was lifted up...

***

Larissa was preparing to leave the Raven Dance, as one of the other students said, "Larissa, you're already leaving? The party only just started." Larissa simply had an upset look in her eyes as she said, "I didn't get enough sleep last night, so I think I'll turn in early." Then Larissa put on her coat, stepped out of the dance, took out an umbrella, and then walked into the school court yard. But then suddenly without any warning... the body of Garrett Gates fell down to the ground right before Larissa's feet. Larissa immediately screamed in terror, then looked up... and saw standing on the unfinished top floor of the school... was Gomez Addams holding a bloody sword in his hands.

***

Within an hour, many police officers were on the grounds of Nevermore Academy investigating the scene. Garret's dead body was already being put in a body bag as Sheriff Walker was talking to Larissa. As Larissa had a troubled look on her face, she had difficulty looking at the sheriff as she said, "I think he had a sword... and they had certainly had issues." Then Larissa suddenly found herself able to easily look at Sheriff Walker in the eye as she angerly said, "I don't like to tell tales Sheriff Walker... but it's all Morticia Frump's fault. They were fighting over her."

***

Within minutes, Morticia was right outside the school as she stood before a police deputy while saying, "I saw the whole thing. It was all an accident. I swear. My boyfriend... he wasn't trying to harm anyone." Then the deputy rolled his eyes, and said, "Yeah, and I just heard he's still a suspect in the investigation surrounding his own cousin's death. I wonder what other bodies your boyfriend's trial will turn up." With a pleading voice, Morticia quickly said, "All I know is that he couldn't have possibly done..." Then suddenly another deputy began to walk by while pushing along Gomez (who was in handcuffs). Gomez then turned to looked at Morticia as he said, "Tish!" Morticia then turned to look directly at Gomez, and tried to put on a calm brave face as she said, "I don't know what to say Gomez. Seeing you in handcuffs... accused of murder... I've never loved you more." Gomez made a little smile as he said, "Cara mia..." Then the deputy next to Gomez said, "All right, that's enough Addams. Lets go." Then Gomez was shoved into the nearby police car. As the police car was turned on, Morticia made a strong brave face as she said, "I'll wait for you Gomez! No matter how long it takes, I'll wait for you!"

Then as the police car began to drive away, Morticia stood still as she watched the back of Gomez's head (through the police car rear window) slowly begin to disappear from sight. Then Larissa appeared walking over to Morticia from nearby. An angry Morticia then turned to look at Larissa as she said, "How could you tell the police that Gomez murdered Garrett out of hate and spite!? I thought you were my friend Larissa!" Larissa's face, which had been filled with anger for the last several hours... suddenly was filled with a realization of the sadness her friend was feeling. Larissa then turned her head to the side as she said, "I... I'm sorry Morticia." Then Larissa walked away, just as all of the other police officers left the scene. Morticia stood alone looking brave for a moment... until her brave face broke down with sadness and tears. Morticia now began to look horrified and distraught as she began to walk into the nearby woods alone.

Suddenly though, smoke began to appear as Morticia felt momentarily disoriented. Then from the smoke... Wednesday emerged as she said, "Hello mother." Morticia then angerly looked at Wednesday with tears in her eyes as she said, "What is going on!? I thought it was my destiny to marry Gomez. Now he's being sent to jail, accused of murder; a murder that he didn't even... Errgh. Why is this happening!?" Wednesday then stepped towards Morticia as she calmly said, "You need to calm yourself mother. I know things may seem confusing, but this is all part of a greater plan." As Morticia looked up at the sky with sadness in her eyes, she said, "What great plan? Was I to fall in love with a man on this day, only to have but a few mere hours of pure happiness before he was taken from me?" Wednesday then stood behind Morticia as she said, "I understand that your young hormonal feelings for Gomez Addams, combined with my prophecy I shared with you: have confused your senses and clouded your judgment. However there was a reason for that." Then as Morticia closed her eyes, tears still came from them as she said, "And what reason would that be?"

Then without any warning... Wednesday took out a sword and stabbed Morticia through the back with it. Morticia's eyes widened with great confusion as she fell to the ground, while blood immediately began to flow out of the gaping wound in her body. Then Wednesday stood over Morticia while smiling as she said, "And you thought this night couldn't get any worse." Morticia looked up at Wednesday with pain in her eyes as she said, "How can you stab me? You're supposed to be just a spirit." Then Wednesday rolled her eyes as she said, "Actually, no. That smoke that always appeared when I showed up... I had it laced with mild hallucinogenic gases to confuse your senses. Apparently you've only just started to get visions, so that provided me with the ultimate opportunity to show up in a little puff of smoke pretending to be your daughter from the future. So glad we had notes and a drawing from the prophecy about your actual future daughter to help make me more convincing." As Morticia began to feel weaker while more blood flowed from her wound, she said, "I don't understand. Who are you Wednesday?" Then the dark girl with a pale forehead and long braids stood over Morticia as she said, "I am not Wednesday Addams. My name is Laurel Gates... and tonight Morticia Frump, is the night you die!"

TO BE CONTINUED...

*Cover art by @emeriart. Additional art by @annietheartsyartist.

#wednesday #wednesday fanfiction #addams family #gomez addams #morticia addams #gomez x morticia #gomez and morticia #morticia and gomez #addams family fanart #wednesday fanart #wednesday netflix #emeriart

[kahlanmars]

BAD FEELING part. 4

I know I'm a bit early but I'm so happy about this fic.

As usual, english is not my first language so please have mercy.

Comment if you want me happy! *gif not mine*

part. 3

4. Princess Daisy

When the parade starts you quickly realise it's easier than expected to be up in the chariot. You wave at the crowd and you can't help but notice a lot of people are screaming your name. Some adds "Princess". Princess Daisy. 

When you begin to move fast, you have a black glitter trail behind you. Once again Portia is a genius. 

Clark is glittering too, but he doesn't want to wave or even smile. His strategy must be something else, something he decided with Haymitch. You don't have any right to be jealous, you are well aware, and yet you are, especially when the two men talk about the games without you. It's like Haymitch and Effie are yours and Clark is someone else's, but he has every right to be protected too. 

The parade ends in an hour and you all go to a new building, a penthouse (because the last district is the highest one), to get prepared for the party.

The penthouse is fabulous, very modern and large, you think eight houses of your district could be in this penthouse. It makes you sick, but also you have to live there for a week and then you have to die, so it's not your place to have a conversation about welfare. You might as well enjoy what you have now.

You are going to your room when you are blocked in a corner. 

«I'm fucking sick of Princess Daisy»

Clark has his bare hands on your throat, and he squeezes and squeezes more and more. 

«Pl-please.» You panic, trying to breathe. You don't have much time. You gasp for hair, and without even thinking you raise your knee and kick his nuts. 

He screams in pain, and you remember that Holly always used to say "When you are in trouble, be sure that whoever wants to hurt you won't get up". And so you use your stilettos to kick him in his chest.

At this moment the elevator opens and Haymitch and Effie come in, shocked.

You are quick to run to Haymitch. The first one who speaks wins the game, like in school.

« What the hell is going on?» He asks, but he still accepts your hug.

«He tried to strangle me!» you say, trying not to scream. Not only because your throat and neck hurts, but also because you want to be calm.

«Is it true?» Effie asks in a concerned tone as she approaches him. 

«She is a degenerate!»

Haymitch looks at you worried and examines your neck. «Are you all right?»

You manage to smile at him. «I fought back.»

«Does she have a scar? A mark? Is she okay for the party?» Effie wants to know. «You two, on the sofa. It's time to explain.» Effie is strangely scary when she’s assertive.

You obey, but you don’t want to sit next to him, you are scared. Like she reads your mind, the woman comes close to you. You always have to thank her for something. She is so sensitive for someone who always lived in luxury. 

«She is-» Clark starts, but Haymitch shuts him with his hand.

«In pain because of you. She tells us first.» Then he mumbles to himself «Unbelievable, like teenagers.» 

He doesn’t listen, though, and speaks first. «She seduced my sister. She is a degenerate, wicked.» 

Effie lets out a gasp. «Is it true?»

«We were fourteen.» You really don’t want to cry, it would make you look weak, again. «We were friends, and we kissed once. We didn't even know what we were doing. His father beat the shit out of me for that.»

«She is a deviant. She corrupted Dianna.»

«Dianna and I liked each other!» You snap, «And I never saw her again!»

«She’s at home, where she can’t be impure.»

You begin to cry silently, feeling judged by everyone. The fact that neither Effie or Haymitch are defending you is a weird confirmation that you are, in fact, corrupted. You don’t have the courage to look them in the eyes.

«I think I’ll prepare myself for tonight.» You say, after a minute. «And Clark, if you try again to do something like that I’ll kill you before we arrive in the arena.»

The dress Portia made you for the party is simpler, light blue with puffed sleeves and again a low cleavage. Portia must be thrilled she has an adult this year. You find the outfit adorable, but you are not in the mood, the only thing you want to do is go to the bed and cry.

Unfortunately it is not an option, so you try your best to smile for the scene and you get into the car with your escort, while Haymitch and Clark are in another one. You never got into a car before, and you would be so excited in another circumstance. 

«I wanted to apologise, Daisy.» Effie begins to say. She looks concerned. «I just didn’t know what to say.»

«It’s ok, Eff.» You say, trying your best to ignore the tears you want so bad to let go. You know that Panem doesn't allow even talking about that, so the escort must have been upset.

«No, it’s not. I was just scared. He hurted you and we didn’t want to… I don’t even know what we didn’t want to do. Make favouritism, I think.» 

«I understand.»

«Haymitch is talking to him right now.» She caresses your hair. «We will protect you from now on.»

You let out a sigh as you rest your head on her shoulder. You won’t protect me in the games and he is going to kill me.

You have to admit the party is marvelous. Rivers of champagne, bizarre outfits and a lot, a lot of food. When your mentor gets close to you he places a hand on your wrist and he never lets go, as he promised during the parade. You are confused on why, but you don’t complain. In a way or another, with the help of alcohol, you manage to say hi to everybody, smile and wave.

«You have to try the caviar!» A woman suggests, as you decline respectfully. 

«I can’t, not in this dress, I’ve eaten everything I could.»

«You can drink this.» She hands you a purple drink. «It makes you sick, and then you can eat again.»

Your smile fades. They throw up. They get voluntarily sick to eat more, while your people in your district die of starvation. You force a grin, because the woman could still sponsor you, and your mentor repays you with a nod. «I’ll try it another time.» 

«Haymitch!» An old man calls him, and he greets the victor you know as Chaff. You know Chaff because he is a friend of your mentor, but you couldn’t help but feel a little off towards him, like something is not right.

He lingers the eyes through your body and you suddenly feel nauseated. «And who is she?»

«You know who she is, Chaff.» 

«I’m Daisy Pinecone, we met each other in District 12. I used to work for him.» You explain, even if you doubt he really doesn’t know. He just wants to play, he is drunk. Your mentor is not drunk, you notice. But even in the district when he was wasted he never looked at you like that.

«He used to hide you, you mean. I wish you worked for me!» He pulls you close to him and in a second he is kissing you on the lips. He is kissing you! You push him away, clearly upset. 

«Back off, Chaff.» Haymitch warns him but you can sense he is not angry, and that makes you raging. He always protects Chaff, he trusts him, and he is betraying you. 

«Oh c’mon, she has to get used to it if she becomes a victor!» 

What does he mean? You try to ask your boss with your eyes, but he ignores you and continues to speak to the fellow victor. You immediately leave his hand, angry and scared. 

Everyone keeps eyeing you like you are a rare animal in a zoo, and you are twenty four, you know stories. You heard of victors treated badly, Holly told you about Haymitch’s family, and right now you just want to go away, in your district. All this people that is now smiling at you will see you dead in a week.

You can’t do this anymore. You begin to feel overwhelmed, let out of air, and you look for the first window open.

You nearly think that maybe, maybe, if you really don’t have any chances you could jump. It would be easier. Just a little jump. Would they pick another girl from 12? You don't think so, they already had the parade.

While you are considering it, you feel an arm against your hips and in a moment you are trapped. You begin to panic but a familiar voice whispers into your ear.

«Shh, it’s me, it’s only me.» It’s Haymitch. He can’t see your eyes, but you bet he knows you are crying. He has his nose in your hair, he is hugging you from behind and you are still shivering.

«You abandoned me.» You say angry.

«I was protecting you.» He rebuts. You snort.

«Not from Chaff.»

«I can’t let them see I care.» He explains. Not like last time? Not like with his family? Or are you telling yourself stories? 

«I can’t do this anymore.» You admit, defeated. «I hate everybody in here, I want them dead.»

«I know, sweetheart.» He caresses your arm and you take his hand like it’s the only thing that keeps you on earth.

«How do you do this?» You murmur. «How do you cope?» 

«I don’t recommend my ways.» He is an alcoholic, of course. You would kill for a drink right now, but something tells you that you need to stay in control. «You are better than me.»

«I can’t play the part any longer.» You are so scared you are not going to be Panem Princess anymore. Someone will know it’s not you, someone will ruin you and you won’t have any sponsor and die. «I can’t be their perfect princess.»

«You can. You must.» He tightens the grip on your body. «Remember who you are. Say it.»

«I’m Daisy Pinecone.» You begin. «I’m a girl from District 12. I wanted to be a teacher. I like sweets and pretty dresses.»

«You are kind.» He orders. «Repeat.»

«I’m kind.» 

«You are beautiful.»

«I’m beautiful.» 

«And you will get out of there alive no matter what.» 

«And I’ll get out of there alive no matter what.» You turn around to face him, a little reassured. «You really are a great mentor.»

«Let’s go to the penthouse, I think our presence here is no longer required and I need to drink.»

The penthouse is silent, Effie and Clark are still at the party when you arrive. You cried a little in the car, but now you are calm. Haymitch, on the other hand, is skittish. He is really trying to be as sober as he can, but he is an addict. You hand him a bottle of something, you have no idea what, you take another and you sit on the couch with him. 

«You are not drinking it.» He tries to command you, but this time you ignore him and drink without even a glass.

«Do you think I’m impure?» You ask him after a while, not facing him.

«What?» He asks, surprised, then he understands. «…Fuck Clark.»

«Fuck Clark.» You agree. «But you didn’t apologise. Effie apologised.» You point out.

«I don’t think you are degenerated, impure or all the other bullshit Clark said to you. I know you enough to see what you are.» He puts a hand on your knee. «But I have to ask you something.» 

He is smiling devilishly, so it’s not important. «Ask whatever you want.»

«Do you have a crush on Effie?» 

You gaps. «What the hell?» Are you that good of a liar? Because you thought it was obvious you had a big soft spot for your late boss. 

«You always gush on her and want to make her happy!» He argues. 

«It’s because she is a good person and she cares for me!» 

«”Effie apologised”.» He mocks you. Oh, the drinking is working you see. 

«Effie did it. Do you have a crush on Effie Trinket?» You can't help but feel a little jealous, they have to work together all the time, and your escort is stunning, they are the same age. It would make sense.

He shakes his head. «Any girl at home we can use to gain more sponsors with a big scandal?» He wants to know. He is very curious, isn't he? Especially for someone who doesn't clearly answer your questions.

You let out a sigh. «I’m not in love with any girls and, I’m telling you this even if you don’t have any right to know it, I like both men and women. We could use a guy.»

With that explanation you let out a big sigh. You are exhausted.

«You must be tired, go to sleep.» He suggests.

«I can't. If I go to sleep I'll have nightmares.» 

«You have to sleep. What about sleeping pills?»

«I tried but they didn't work.» then you have an idea. You wouldn't do it if you weren't going to die soon, but you are, and even if Haymitch is the smartest man alive maybe he will allow a little manipulation.

«Would you…» You do your best pout and puppy eyes. To be fair you are scared and you did cry. And Portia made a miracle out of this dress and you may look good tonight. «I think sleeping with someone I trust might help.»

«I can't.» He stops you. «I sleep with a knife. I can't risk it.»

He caresses your cheek with his callous hand. You melt at the gentle touch. «I understand.»

You understand, but you say it in the saddest way possible and you look at him through your lashes until he lets out an unpleasant grunt.

«Just until you fall asleep, then I'll go. And just because you need to sleep to train tomorrow.»

«You know I also walked in these high heels and my feet are killing me.»

He glances at you, not moved by your performance. «Now you are pushing it. Get up.»

#fanfiction #haymitch abernathy #haymitch abernathy x reader #haymitch abernathy x you #haymitch imagine #haymitch x fem!reader #haymitch x reader #the hunger games #haymitch abernathy imagine

[archiveoftara]

London Boy

Part 2

I found myself under a pile of bills. Utility bills, water bills, rent, things that needed to be paid but I don't even have a single penny to feed myself .

This small precious dream of mine is costing my life but I can't back out right now.

Six months ago I ran away from my toxic family, to make a living in London, to own a jewelry company but it didn't go as planned.

I banged my head on the table in frustration. What am I gonna do?

After a moment of contemplating my life, I begin to clean up the mess. Slowly picking up scattered papers when my eyes fell on an advert.

Lockwood and Co

The prestigious psychical agency requires a junior field operative and an assistant researcher. Duties will include on-site analysis of reported hauntings and the containment of same. The successful applicant will be SENSITIVE to supernatural phenomena, well-dressed, preferably female and not above fifteen years in age.

Unsuccessful applicants will include time-wasters, fraudsters and persons with criminal records. Apply in writing, together with a photograph, to 35 Portland Row, London W1.

I carefully folded the paper and rushed to my room.

33..34..ah 35. This must be place.

I check the advert again just to make sure I'm at the right place.

I fix my hair and clear my throat one more time before ringing the bell.

"Um hi-"

"Are you Arif's new girl?"

"....who's Arif?"

"Runs the corner store, usually sends someone over with donuts as you don't have any, you must be here for the interview."

I nod awkwardly. Not the best start I see

"Name?"

"Y/n y/l/n. Are you Mr. Lockwood?"

"Me? No." It seem like he is offended. "The last girl just went down but from the look of her, she won't take long."

I step inside the wide hallway, filled with artefacts, books and a chipped plant pot around the corner. This is where they keep their rapiers I guess.

"You win George. That was the last one."

"Then who's this?" The boy named George pointed at me as if I'm some alien. (and I took offense to that)

A boy with very bright, dark eyes and nice lopsided grin said "Hello, I'm Anthony Lockwood." I shook his hand and introduced myself.

"What's your talent?" Lockwood asked.

I gave a small smile "I don't have one."

For a minute I thought the time stopped. I tried to read their faces. I'm sure they're gonna kick me out.

"Well that's fine, we're looking for a researcher anyway and it doesn't need much talent, does it George?" He looked at the boy, sitting at the corner sofa.

He wiped his glasses on his t-shirt "I don't mind."

"Do you have any past experience?"

"Not really." I blushed. "But I am a fast learner, I will work hard. I really need this job."

"George will train you so don't worry." He clasped.

"This means..I got the job?"

"Yes. Welcome to Lockwood and Co"

My eyes shined like a diamond. "I'm not going to disappoint you sir, I desperately needed this job. I'll do anything, thank you so so much." I thanked them like my life depended on it and it kinda did. Lockwood and George exchanged a look (they were talking in some code word I can feel it.) It doesn't matter. I won't be here for too long.

It's been a few weeks since I've been working as a assistant researcher. We also have a new member, her name is Lucy Carlyle. She's really cool, we get along well. Lucy stays with them, they offered me accommodation, too but I refused, I still have a dream to chase.

The work is actually interesting but George makes it a bit difficult for me, he's a perfectionist. I don't blame him. I just try my best to live up to the standards. 

It's the beginning of November, the nights are chilly lately. I've just finished some papers regarding the latest case.

"We should head back it's getting late." George looks at his watch.

"Hmm?" People already left the library, it was just me and him now.

I quickly stood up but felt dizzy. I felt an arm around my waist, I felt a pair of warm brown eyes on me. His mole is cute..has he always been this cute?

"Y/n you alright?" George holds my arm.

I clear my throat "yes. perfectly fine." I quickly gathered my books and walk as fast as I could. The moment I step out of the building I was welcomed by the chilly wind hitting my face. I stood for a moment, my back against the wall. 

I feel so weird.

"Y/n, It's best we see a doctor." He frowned.

"I'm fine." 

"You wanna walk by yourself? Alright, Let's see that." George scoffed.

"Why are you so mean George Karim?" I winced.

"You're being crazy. You clearly need help." 

"George, I can manage." 

"At least let me walk you home." He insisted.

"Nope." With that I make my way home little did I know what was waiting for me.

Maybe I should've been more polite. All he wanted was to help me but I'm a big girl I can manage. It's just a little fever. I slowly made my way to the neighborhood when I felt something strange. I feel nauseas, like something rotten is near me. I felt a heaviness on my chest, something was pulling me away. Soon I felt the cold hard ground, I tried to call for help but nothing came out of my mouth that's when I heard a sound of metal drawn.

"Are you alright?" He keenly looked at me.

"What happened?" I panted. 

"You were ghostlocked. Please just let me walk you home we can argue later." He pulled me with him. 

I think my dream is gonna end before it even starts.

Hello my dear readers, first chapter is done and dusted. Excuse my crappy writing. Hope you like the chapter. Do let me know your thoughts in the comment section. I love you!!! 

Word count: 968

#fandom #lockwood and co #george cubbins #george karim x reader #george karim #35 portland row #reader x character #fanfic

[redxluna]

Hello! I'll have a "10. things you said that made me feel like shit" for Cullrian or whatever pairing you currently fancy, with a side of vinegar fries, thank you! ❤️

things you said... (didn't quite manage the vinegar fries, sorry!)

There had once been a certain sort of solace to be had in acknowledging that, after all that had happened, no one could rake Cullen across the coals better than himself. It left him, at the very least, able to brace for inevitable impact to come from certain corners. And, no matter how often Cassandra might try to alleviate the weight of it all, he was far past creating excuses for the reactions of those that heard the title of “templar” in connection to Kirkwall.

Perhaps he had (yet again) discovered the wrong way about things, however. That would certainly explain why, in those moments without either training or paperwork to keep him busy, his mind returned to some accusation hurled out under a time of extreme pressure.

It could really almost be called innocuous in comparison to the other indictments brought up against him. Except, even after everything shook out far better than expected in the aftermath of Haven, he still found himself worrying over the matter like a sliver caught in a place unable to be worked out.

Just as well then that, out of the assortment of characters the Inquisitor had recruited over to their cause, his path tended to cross with that of Dorian Pavus the least. He could only imagine how poorly his manners had come across to such a man in those rare times their paths had crossed. The remembrance of their initial encounter often left him unable to do more than stumble out a few words before launching what could only be called a retreat.

Bad enough, really, for him to dwell on exactly how the other man had felt beneath his hands for that brief span of time without it inevitably juxtaposed with exactly what the other man had seen fit to spit at him not long after.

“For a templar, you think like a blood mage!” 

All of it could truly only serve to spell out the benefits of a professional, polite distance between the two of them.

Which, of course, left for very little understanding to be had as to why, after concluding with the business Mother Giselle had requested him out for, he should hear Dorian, of all people, calling his name from across the courtyard. The dazzling quality of the other man’s smile made even less sense, although Cullen was spared the full weight of it somewhat as Dorian turned to fiddle with the chess pieces spread out across the table before him.

“A little birdie informed me you play,” he prattled on, as if unaware of how Cullen gaped. “Well, a very stocky little birdie perhaps, but don’t tell Varric I said that.”

“I…” Cullen fought the urge to twitch under how quick Dorian’s gaze was to snap back to him. Particularly when the eyes of everyone else in the courtyard seemed inclined to follow suit. “Apologies. You want me to play with you?”

It was, truth be told, more coherent words than he often managed to get out around Dorian, except, somehow, it must still have been wrong. Had to be, from how it resulted in a sudden darkening of the eyes of the man in question.

“Afraid of what it will do to your reputation?” 

The twinge of bitterness to be found in the undercurrent of such a question left Cullen frowning, feet propelled forward until he was toppling into the seat across from Dorian. “No,” he replied, moving forward a pawn with a bit more force than necessary. “I’m hardly about to give you an easy win.”

“Ah.” It took longer than Cullen would have expected for Dorian to come back to himself, although he was hardly about to complain about the length of his stare—less sharp than had been expected. “Just as well, I suppose. Wouldn’t be fitting for the Commander to lose to a mage from Tevinter.”

“Even when I think like a blood mage?”

Were it possible, Cullen would have swallowed it all back the instant it tumbled out of his mouth. Instead he had to make due with biting down with enough force on his tongue to bring the twang of copper into his mouth.

It made little sense, therefore, for Dorian to be the one to wince.

“Not the proudest of moments,” he said. “It does lend a certain insight into your intended strategy, I suppose. Shame that you can’t make a sacrifice out of the pieces proper—that’d be a sight to see. Ack! Rather, that is to say…”

If someone had convinced Cullen to set a wager upon, if the two of them would be forced to spend prolonged time together, who would be the first reduced to babbling, then he certainly would have lost that bet.

“I’ve done little to allow for a charitable view of myself.” He waved away the protestations he could already sense bubbling on the top of Dorian’s tongue as the other man’s mouth dropped open again. “But our Inquisition is supposed to be a place for fresh starts.”

If Cullen had found the smile that Dorian initially greeted him with overwhelming, it was nothing compared to the one he was bestowed with now. He would never have thought before now that eyes could actually twinkle outside of Varric’s books.

“So it is.” He made a move without even glancing towards the board, for which Cullen would have chided him had he not been busy resisting the urge to squirm under the continued weight of that too warm gaze. “Let’s hope such grace will extend towards my inevitable victory.”

“Inevitable is it?” Cullen would have been embarrassed by the snort that escaped him (rendered too loud under too many times of a nose reset) were it not for how quick Dorian was to laugh in turn. “We’ll see about that, altus.”

#answered #cap-sweet-and-salty-sadness #dragon age #cullrian #my writing #honestly i'm just happy to write again #i've had a major block lately

[promptsforyourwhumpfic]

WT #6: Made To Watch

Summary: She didn't have to watch him sleep, but Lily had made Oliver a promise she'd watch over him.

TW: drugging | withdrawal

WC: 1193

She’d watched him fight tooth and nail against other contestants; her eyes never straying from the screen that showed uncomfortable close-ups revealing conflicted emotion and pupils blown from the synthetics.

The drugs themselves were administered in pills that were forced down the contenders necks in an ugly display before the cameras, though the disgust emerged from some of the fighters reluctance to bite back. At the start of the month, Oliver had been one to fight back vehemently; biting and kicking whenever he could and contorting himself in the grips of jacked up Invigilator in any way he could. Still, they persisted; having to force gloved fingers into his mouth in order to get the pill down his throat. Every time he’d gag and spit, but eventually they’d win - and it was becoming easier for them to do so. 

Across the weeks, it was evident that he was giving up the fight, yet the fiery anger in his eyes revealed to Lily a determination far beyond physical action. 

Or so she hoped, anyway. 

Because when he fought in the Arena, mind and judgment clouded by narcotics, she knew that it wasn’t him. They all knew that the humanoid beast that was unleashed by hyper-stimulants was a distraction for those watching; the more irrational and exciting the contenders appeared, the more interest the crowd would take. And it was terrifying to watch. 

Even more so at night, as when the Arena emptied and the fanfare moved to the streets and surrounding hospitality areas, the contenders were sequestered back to their cells by the Invigilators. This was followed by a brief visit from a physician and two orderlies who did their best to patch up any wounds, wash them, dress them in clean clothes, and then leave food for the fighters before leaving for the night. While this may have been viewed as a small mercy, the action was just to get them through the next day and to make them appealing for Investors to bet on them. However if the contender was seen as a lost cause, then the physician would simply try and make them comfortable. 

After the visit, the contender was left alone to the elements of their cells. The bars of the cages filtered in the cool night air that chilled the shivering bodies to their sunburnt cores, and the bed was no more than a plastic mattress on a dusty, cobbled floor. 

Perhaps alone was a generous way to describe Oliver’s situation, as in the corner of the cell, posted just out of reach, was a camera streaming his entire existence to the world. 

He knew they were there - after all it’s what they had depended on. But it made it no easier to watch him deteriorate from a man of wiry muscle and reasonable weight to a skeleton functioning only by drugs. Drugs that had to leave the system at some point. 

From the time they’re force-fed the pills at 12:15 PM, there was a six hour window in which contenders where physically pained to exert the energy and adrenaline coursing through their systems. But this energy had to go somewhere - the drugs had to wear off. 

So while watching her love fight for his life out in the open was painful, it was even harder to watch him sleep. It was intimate; it was supposed to be his time for vulnerability but the nature of the Arena left little room for privacy. In a way she preferred to watch him sleep - to have him all to herself. She promised him as such; she said she’d keep watch. While her promise was to ease his mind, she often worried about how defenseless he must have felt; to have his insecurities and weaknesses supplied to the public so easily. Every night, she watched him toss and turn and toss again in a beaded sweat as his body came down from the effects of synthetic adrenaline. 

On his bed, he tried to keep curled towards the wall, baring his bony back for all to see. His legs were crossed at the ankles, shaking and twitching against fried nerves as the symptoms slowly bled through fresh bandages and soaked his shirt with sweat. He jolted, however, when the tremors sent spikes of agony through his stomach, and he let out a garbled yell. And then another as a domino effect of pain caused tremors of discomfort throughout his body… and he cried out once again as the tremors turned to full body shakes that opened the floodgates of previously hidden emotion. For the first time in months, he began to cry. They were ugly sobs that wracked his entire body and left him more exhausted than a day in the Arena could ever. It hurt her even more to hear that he was trying to be quiet about it - his shaking shoulders rarely interspersed with gasps and whines as his lungs protested in earnest. 

Lily watched Oliver's torment unfold in the privacy of her thoughts, her heart aching with every moment of his suffering. As she observed the raw, gut-wrenching cries escaping his trembling lips, she wished she could reach through the screen and hold him, to let him know he wasn't alone - to tell him that it was all going to be worth it if he only held on for just a little longer. He just needed to win. 

In the twin bed next to her, Gem shifted in her sleep, and Lily became acutely aware that she wasn’t alone like Oliver was. However, her tears had little consequence on her image, not when she was granted the privacy of her own bed and a slumbering roommate. In a way, Lily supposed the sobs would scare away the bidding investors, therefore leaving more room for their team to get their claws in. They had a lot riding on whether or not they were able to get in for their allotted Pep Talk time, and if Lily knew then what she did now, then she may have begged Oliver to be more vulnerable…Hindsight was always twenty-twenty, so  in the quiet darkness of their shared despair, she reserved herself to whispered promises of love and unwavering support, even though he couldn't hear her. She vowed that when all this was over, she would do her best to mend what had been broken, though the relationship healing would have to wait, she supposed, as the chamber of horrors left far more permanent scars than their argument could have ever created. 

In the end, Lily wondered if Oliver believed she kept her promise of keeping watch. Regardless. the incessant hum of the surveillance camera's machinery seemed to mock them; a constant reminder of the world's relentless gaze 

Across the better half of the late hour, Oliver's cries eventually subsided, his exhausted body finally laying still as the last dredges of the synthetics oozed away with every bead of sweat; leaving him vulnerable and depleted. 

Lily wished she didn’t have to watch him at all, but the jagged rise and fall of his chest presented a comfort far greater than any five star hotel room. 

#whumptober2023 #made to watch #surro writes: wotp #will of the people #original writing #drugging tw #forced to fight #whump #angst #withdrawal

[minniethemoocherda]

Iridescent: Chapter 11

Summary: When Jazz is promoted to Head of Special Operations, the last thing he expected was to have to work with a face from his past.

Ao3

FF.net

Jazz quickly shut off the robotic voice of his text-to-speech generator as he heard a knock on his door.

He wasn't expecting anyone. And the past few times that someone had turned up unexpectedly at his door hadn't exactly bode good news so he went to answer it with caution.

Even with all the scenarios he was imaging, Jazz was still surprised to find Prowl standing behind his door.

"Hey Commander." Jazz greeted, leaning against the doorway. "You got more paperwork for me?"

"No." Prowl stated. His expression gave nothing awayway but judging by his long pause he was clearly gathering his thoughts to say something. "Would you like to... hang out with me?"

Jazz nearly slid off the doorframe. Honestly he'd been starting to worry that Prowl was about to tell him that somebody else had died. So it was a bit of a relief. If no less confusing. But frankly Jazz didn't really care about the reasonings behind Prowl's change of heart. As whilst Jazz wasn't currently the Praxian's biggest fan, that didn't mean that he didn't want Prowl to like him back.

"Alright." He shrugged, not wanting to appear too eager. "Do you want to meet up in the rec-room for lunch?"

"The recreational room is very loud." Prowl stated.

"Well most people's shifts don't start ending for another hour so it should be pretty quite right now. I'll just finish this then we can head down if you want?"

Prowl paused, that breifly blank look crossing his eyes that Jazz had begun to recognise as when he was assessing all possible probabilities with that big battle computer brain of his. Whatever conclusion he'd come too must have been acceptable as a moment later Prowl nodded.

Jazz tried his best to finish his work as quick as possible. He avoided Prowl's gaze as he turned the text to speak generator back on but thankfully the commander didn't make any comment on it.

As soon as he was done, Jazz lead the way towards the rec room, not wanting to give Prowl time to change his mind.

Thankfully Jazz had been right in his guess that it wouldn't be busy. Besides the clashing green and red forms of Inferno and Hound taking up one of the central tables with a cyber-chess match, the place was empty.

Jazz poured a cube of energon for himself then one for Prowl, trying the get it to the same shade of pink that he remembered Sideswipe previously making for the commander. It must've been close enough as Prowl took one inspecting glance at cube before taking a sip. Jazz mentally tallied that as a win.

Despite the place being practically empty, Prowl took them to the right corner booth which would let them survey the room whilst keeping an eye on the exit. Whether Prowl was aware that he'd done this on purpose, Jazz wasn't sure but he wasn't about to complain when he would have done that same.

As soon as he sat down, Prowl sharply turned his whole body towards him.

"The weather is terrible today." Prowl stated. He then proceeded to stare at Jazz expectantly.

"Err yeah sure is." Jazz replied.

There was then an awkward silence as Prowl apparently had no idea what to say after that. Whatever was happening here, the guy was at least trying, so Jazz decided to throw him a bone.

"So how's Bluestreak settling back in?" He asked, guessing that would be a safe subject.

Sure enough, that got Prowl to brighten up.

"She is settling in well. And I am glad that she has found a friend in Bumblebee."

"Me too." Jazz said. Primus knows the kid could do with better influences than the twins. "Hey If this is too personal then you can tell me to frag off but if you don't mind me asking, what did Bluestreak mean that you weren't biologically brother and sister? Because you could've fooled me! And believe me, that aint an easy thing to do."

"As the only other known Praxian still alive, I believed that it was my duty to become her gaurdian after the destruction of Praxus."

Shit. Jazz had been stationed in Iacon at the time but like everyone else left on their planet, he had heard of the Battle of Praxus. Although calling it a battle was a bit disingenuous. A slaughter would be more acurate. Praxus had been a Neutral State up until that point so most of the casualties had been civilian. Many of the remaining neutral cities had joined the Autobots after that but in Jazz's opinion the loss of life hadn't been worth it.

"Well from what I've seen from her records she's grown into a resilient young bot." Jazz told him.

"She should not have needed to become so resilient." Prowl stated, a slight edge to his voice. "She has been through so much for such a young age. Loosing her family, deciding to transition and growing up during a war."

"Still, you must be proud of her?"

"I claim no responsibility for her strength of character. That is all her. But yes I am proud." A rare smile crossed Prowl's face. It soon vanished however when he turned his attention back to Jazz. "Do you have any siblings?"

"I did." Jazz stated before smoothly moving the subject back to Bluestreak. "Is she the reason you're doing... whatever this is?"

"Yes." Prowl sighed. "She is worried I do not talk to anyone whilst she is away and I cannot have her worrying about me whilst on a mission when a distraction could cost her life."

Okay that made sense. What didn't make sense was- "Why did you pick me? I thought you hated me!"

"I do." Prowl replied without hesitation. "But you are the only one interested in talking to me."

"Well how do ya know that for certain? When was the last time you actually tried to make friends with someone?" Jazz asked.

Prowl's eyes took on that blank look once again and judging by the fact that it was taking him this long and he hadn't come up with an answer yet told Jazz that it had probably been a long time.

"Listen if you genuinely to be my friend then I'm more than happy to be! But I don't want you to feel like you have to settle for me because you think I'm you're only option." Jazz told him.

"You are my only option."

Well with that attitude he would be. Still as he had done with Mirage all those years ago now, Jazz decided to give the bot a helping hand.

Glancing around the room, Jazz's gaze landed on Hound and Inferno, two of the friendliest mechs in the entire Autobot army.

Perfect.

"Come on!" Jazz downed the rest of his drink then held out a hand to the commander. After a moment's hesitation, he took it allowing Jazz to lead them over to the central tables.

"Heya mechs! Who's winning?" Jazz asked, dropping Prowl's hand so that he could lean on the comparitivly cooler table.

"Inferno." Hound grumbled.

The bot in question shrugged. "That's only because I've played against my Red so much."

"I've been trying to think outside the box like you're always telling me! But it's hard when you're literally playing with little boxes!" Hound faux whined, pretending to bang his head on the table.

"That's because you're taking it too literally." Jazz explained, patting his friend on the helm. "We ain't confined to black and white boxes in real life!"

Jazz then grabbed one of Inferno's pawns and ate it.

"Well I've gotta admit, I have no idea how to respond to that." Inferno stated whilst Hound banged his head against the table for real.

"I do." Prowl stated, moving another pawn to take its place.

Interested to see where the commander was going with this, Jazz moved Hound's own pawn to steal it back. It wasn't until three moves later that Jazz saw what was about to happen the second before Prowl took his rook.

Jazz grinned.

Oh it was on.

Hound and Inferno had already whittled down each others pieces so it wasn't long until the two commanders were down to two pieces each. Jazz with a knight. Prowl with a rook. And both with their king.

Within that time the lunch hour had truly begun and their little game had drawn quite a crowd. But despite the number of people, the room was oddly quiet. Many of them were probably in shock to see the head of tactics actually in the Rec Room for first time.

Being a spy, Jazz had been aware of the silent swarm starting to form, but Prowl was so engrossed in the game that he hadn't appeared to have noticed.

Jazz smirked to himself, as he placed his knight adjacent  to his opponents king.

Prowl paused, looking up to stare at Jazz with those intelligent blue eyes. Jazz gave nothing away, keeping his smirk only for himself.

Sure enough, two moves later, Prowl defeated Jazz's King and the crowd exploded.

Prowl froze as the mechs surrounded him with applause, singing his praises and clasping his shoulders.

Jazz allowd himself a small chuckle at the sight.

Perhaps Prowl wasn't a complete arsehole. Sure he was partly. But more so he was just extremely socially awkward.

Jazz allowed the crowd another minute to shower their congratulations before coming to Prowl's rescue.

"Alright I know most of ya'lls shifts have started again by now so get ya sorry afts back to work!" Jazz ordered. After a few grumbles and quick dashes for energon, most having forgotten to refuel in their engrossment, soon only the original players remained.

"Thanks for letting us joing in." Jazz grinned. "And sorry about your pawn. I'll make ya a new one!"

"Don't worry about it!" Inferno said, waving him off before perking up. "Hey I was thinking of starting a cyber-chess club. I thought it would be fun for the base! Plus it would be a good excuse to get Red out of their room." He then turned to Jazz with a pleading glint to his optics. "Just promise me you won't eat the peices when playing with them? I think it would cause another episode."

"I promise." Jazz said, holding his hand to his spark. Out of the corner of his eye, he snuck a glance at Prowl.

The Head of Tactics had a slightly blank stare on his face as though what Inferno had just asked them didn't logically make sense.

Jazz gave him a subtle nudge.

Prowl blinked, his mind seemingly now back within this realm of reality as he turned to Inferno.

"Yes, I would like to join your club." Prowl said. Jazz thought that he imagined the corners of Prowl's lips twitch in a smile.

"Thank you so much!" Inferno beamed as they started to pack away. "I'll send you both a rota for matches!"

"Can't wait!" Jazz cried, giving him and Hound a wave as he strolled towards the exit. Prowl followed behind him after a polite nod.

As soon as they stepped outside, the blast proof doors slammed shut behind them, leaving the pair in total silence.

"You let me win." Prowl stated.

"Of course. It's the only way you could win against me." Jazz said, finally letting his smirk free.

"I could have beaten you."

"Prove it." Jazz dared, his smirk now a full on grin.

"I will." Prowl told him, that monotone voice of his expressing his calm confidence.

"I'm looking forward to it." Jazz said, turning down the corridor towards his habsuite, surprised that he actually meant it.

He had nearly reached the end of the corridor when caught Prowl's reply.

"Me too."

The next morning stacked on top of Jazz's mounting pile of daily reports, was a datastick.

Curious, he plugged it into his computer where a voice recording tab popped up.

He pressed play, and was surprised yet touched to hear the words of this mornings reports read aloud by Prowl's steady voice.

#jazzprowl #iridescent #prowljazz #jazz #prowl #transformers #red alert #inferno #transformers jazz #transformers prowl #jazz x prowl #hound #redferno #bluestreak #bumblebee

[charmedtodeath]

Maybe Another Time (Part 2) | Graves/fem reader

AO3

Part 1

It has been one week since you and Graves had your little moment outside of the bar. Since then, you've tried to avoid him as much as possible and kept your conversations strictly work related and to the point.

Unfortunately for you, physically ignoring him at work didn't stop you from thinking about him all the time. You quickly found yourself imagining impossible scenarios with him. While working on mundane office tasks, you'd be picturing yourself leaning against that brick wall again, but this time agreeing to go back inside with Graves. Or instead of leaving by yourself, you'd invite him to come with you. There must have been a thousand iterations of kissing each other, each one slightly different in how it started and how it ended.

All of these thoughts were infecting your mind, and you actually considered quitting just so you could have him all to yourself and not worry about the complications that come with dating someone at work, much less your boss. Insomnia tagged along with these thoughts, and you'd toss and turn in bed wondering what Graves looked like under that dark tactical uniform or signature jeans and button up combination when he wasn't in Shadow Company attire.

Graves, on the other hand, was trying to win back your friendship at work as much as possible without pushing you too hard, afraid you'd shut down on him. He was careful to only drop off little treats during the busiest hours when it was hard to step away from your desk instead of showering you in apology snacks and sodas. The one thing neither of you thought to do was simply talk to each other and unpack what happened. You both knew that Graves inviting you back inside was not just a simple offer for a second drink, it was a way to bridge the gap between your professional relationship and a more personal one.

It was becoming more and more difficult to squash down those feelings into a tiny gift wrapped box, only allowing it to spring open once you were in your car at the end of the day. The ribbon holding everything together had begun to stretch and fray, threatening to tear itself apart in one explosive movement. You thought that maybe the easiest remedy was to take a pair of scissors and cut through it before it snapped apart on its own. In all other aspects of your life, you would consider yourself a generally confident person. Thinking about your situation with Graves made you feel small and terrified, like a third grader giving their first oral report in front of the whole class.

Graves might as well be the one to take hold of the scissors.

On the ninth day after that night out, Commander Graves decided he was okay with breaking a few rules. While Shadow Company doesn't run on a typical 9 to 5 Monday through Friday schedule, the administration employees do have the weekends off. If Graves didn't catch you today, he'd have to wait another three days to see you again.

Today is another one of those late nights for you. You'd already decided to put the overtime pay into a new pair of shoes, something leather and expensive that wouldn't fall apart after a few wears. Your extra work was wrapping up shortly after 7pm, and you spent the last few minutes tidying your desk and watering the plants you kept in your little corner of the office outside Graves' door. As you were closing out your email and the rest of the open files on your computer, Graves called you into his office.

"Just a second, I'll be right there." You shouldered your purse before heading in, eager to leave as soon as you finished whatever it was he was about to ask for.

"Did you need something else, sir?"

"Stop with the formalities." He's leaned back against the edge of his desk with his arms crossed over his chest, sleeves rolled up high enough to see the definition of his forearms. Due to all the training and repetitive fine motor movements, even the tiny muscles in his arms are strong and detailed beneath his skin. He looks as solid as an ancient marble statue, carved out by only the most talented of sculptors.

"Pardon?"

"Sir this, Commander that. I can't stand hearing you talk to me like you're beneath me."

"I'm a bit confused, you want me to stop addressing you... in a traditionally respectful manner? Maintaining rank etiquette is important here, is it not? It's a whole section of orientation." Here you are, more puzzled than ever. You thought that maybe he was about to fire you.

"Look, I think we're both aware of how things have been developing between us, would you agree?"

"I'm afraid I have no idea what you're talking about." The lie sloppily spills out of your mouth, and you tighten your grip on the strap of your bag, praying for it to teleport you out of the room. The scissors hang open with that delicate ribbon in its jaws, ready to snap shut and slice through.

"I've always admired your candor. It's one of the reasons I've come to trust you and why you got promoted to be my direct assistant. You keep me honest and give me the brutal truth if I have a bad idea. It's a damn shame you're an awful liar."

You've been caught. "I'm not following, sir."

"You squeeze your fists when you're lying. Look, you're doing it right now." You realize your knuckles are white from how hard you're squeezing your hands. "That tells me you do, in fact, know what I'm talking about."

Graves steps closer, slowly and steadily to avoid startling you like a deer in the woods. You stand your ground, prepared to lie to him again and again to shove those feelings deep down inside and pick the safe, boring option.

"I... I don't know what to tell you."

"If you don't know what to say, then I'll do all the talking. I'm very aware of how it would look if we were to change the nature of our relationship. Yeah, I'm your boss, and I don't want it to look like you're getting special treatment or I'm taking advantage of you." He gestures so casually when he talks, as if he's explaining his viewpoint on the best quarterback of all time to another football fan.

"If you're so aware of that, what's the point in bringing it up?" You're glued in place on the floor, unable to do anything but try to stop the simmer of excitement in your stomach. Graves steps closer again until he's a foot in front of your face, so close that you can see the different shades of dark blonde and light brown in his hair; the tiny creases around his eyes as his expression changes.

"Tell me to stop and we can pretend like this never happened." He slowly but assuredly brings his hands to the sides of your face, and you suck in a sharp breath as his firm and weathered fingertips caress your jaw.

This is breaking so many rules, but neither of you care to debate the policies right now. You don't want him to stop, but you know what will eventually happen if you continue. You're stuck in limbo, wanting to live your normal life with a tiny, harmless crush on your boss while also wanting to throw caution to the wind and just see what happens. This internal debate goes on in your head while the angel and devil argue on your shoulders, both giving their reasons why you should or shouldn't stop him. It seems that you're doomed to hell, because you do nothing to stop Graves as he pulls your face towards him to reach your lips.

You'd seen this man covered in blood, sweat, and dirt. You know he's killed people. It wouldn't be out of the question for him to be that rough and aggressive with you, but he isn't. The kiss is a slow river flowing over rounded rocks, gently following the curves and dips in the landscape. He's confident but cautious. When you separate again, he chuckles at the blush now decorating your cheeks.

"You have no idea how much I wanted you to come back inside the other night."

"We shouldn't be doing this. It's a bad idea," you say as your fists curl up again, now resting against Graves' waist.

"Something tells me you'll allow me one bad idea."

#phillip graves #phillip graves x reader #phillip graves x you

[give-soup-please]

I had to write this in a Google Doc for fear of me doing something just to accidentally get rid of all of it, but anyways:

Hi, it’s me, May again. 

First thing’s first: I’m so sad that I missed the whole ‘submit stuff in the ask box for conversation’ thing - I’ve been so busy that I haven’t had time to do the things I normally do… But I suppose I could submit things whenever I want, huh? Eh, I don’t like bothering people (It’s a problem) so I usually wait to send things anyways. 

Anywhosies, first I must respond to your response to my response to your response to, er,…. and so on.

1. Don’t worry, I don’t plan on revealing myself just yet. Honestly, I think I’ll only do it when you ask, you might know who I am now but pfft it’s fine. I’ll be a secret as long as you wish me to be. Plus, being anonymous just adds that boost of confidence for me to say things that I may not say otherwise due to anxiety… haha, get it, may? AAnyways. I’m glad you think I’m intriguing… Honestly I would consider myself to be FAR far from that, but thank you nonetheless. I’ll be honest with you, I don’t proofread these AT ALL. Literally. I do skim over them just to make sure I’m coherent but … usually it’s just me slapping whatever words come to my mind onto a Google Doc and then transferring it over. I like this style of writing because it feels the most like me, like my brain, like my feelings. 

Also, no, you did not sound like a Disney Villain - I appreciate a good mystery as much as you do, I think, and I probably could have kept it even more of a secret if I had simply ignored Munchies or lied, but I would have felt awful doing either so I didn’t. Anyways, I’m glad you enjoy me being a strange mystery, here to grace your inbox with overly long messages on a sporadic basis. 

2. It’s honestly a tiny bit weird to me that people care so much about such trivial things. There are other things that I find to be so much more important than things like that, that I get a bit frustrated sometimes. I do have a habit of standing up for the things I personally believe in with a viciousness and intensity that would probably scare even the most staunch of opponents but that’s usually because it’s advocating for people to just live their lives happily so… I feel like they deserve a person like that in their corner. And why wouldn’t I stand up for the things I believe in so fiercely? 

3. I can’t remember when I last submitted this ask, but I’m sure you’re practically done or SO very close to being done with it. I know that, especially during things like that, it can be insanely hard to focus on taking care of yourself, especially if you have finals and such. But I think you will do, or have done a great job of it - you made it this far, haven’t you? I’m so glad that you have a support network of people for that type of stuff, not only do you deserve it but it’s just so much easier to do well for yourself when you know that, if you can’t, there’s others in place for you to help when you need it. 

Now that that is done, I wanted to mention all of the random stuff I slapped into my notes app:

4. I also do the cupcake thing! God I love it so much, it makes it so much easier to eat them (cleaner and stuff) and also like you said the distribution is much better. Cupcake sandwich for the win! I also, without fail, get comments on it every single time. Like, seriously, they act as if I reinvented the wheel…

Other food related things: 

- I love lemonheads! So much! I keep trying to find them at the store but they never have anything for them. Not even the small boxes anymore :( It makes me so sad because they also make really good “grounding” things for me sensory wise, like a shock to the system with something sour. Not sure if THAT made sense, but anyways. 

- I’m also picky about tootsie pops, but my favorites are the red and chocolate ones - I hate all of the other ones they just taste… bad to me. I can see why you wouldn’t like the chocolate ones though, especially if you’re picky about chocolate… they don’t really even taste like actual chocolate, kind of like watered down chocolate milk but different? 

- Side question: Have you ever had “homemade” hot cocoa?? Its SO good, genuinely, amazing…. Do you even like hot cocoa? 

- Are the rolls you like the sweet Hawaiian ones? Because GOD those are my favorite, I love them so much. 

5. Honestly I absolutely adore the ocean - I would want to spend my last moments there too. My favorite and best moments in life actually have taken place at the ocean - you know those moments that, while they’re happening everything feels so real and genuinely tangible, like you had never felt real before, but you do now? I’ve only had two of them and both were on the ocean… I am super sad that I’m moving away soon, I’ll be near a rather big lake, but not at all near the ocean. 

6. I love cats more than dogs for a variety of reasons - depending on the type of cat, of course, usually they are a lot less maintenance which is really important for me for health reasons. Dogs also typically have a lot more energy than cats (at least during the day) and I could never even hope to have the energy of a dog. And also cats just remind me of me, if I were an animal I would probably be a big ol skrungly black cat. 

7. While I know that the religion post is technically about Good Omens (Great taste, by the way) - I want to say that I absolutely understand that. I always get such strange feelings about it, even with media I like (i.e. Good Omens) along with those said undefinable emotions. Even if the experience was traumatic I feel like there are layers of beauty within it, of seeing people find hope where they previously thought there was none. Too much bigotry and discrimination in most religions for my taste (cough, why I’m Agnostic cough), so it gets tainted in a lot of emotions, but there’s always those lingering feelings there. 

You know the drill by now good sir, please eat, and treat yourself (especially today) Take care of you because I would ugly cry if you were gone (no, seriously, please)

~Your friend, May

howdy, may. no worries on not being around/available during that time period. we all have our own lives, and i never expect anyone to be available 24/7.

i appreciate that you're playing along and not revealing yourself just yet. makes things more fun.

2. i think you and i feel the same about this, and i'm a firm believer in free speech and all associated pleasures/risks that come with it. tumblr discourse is exhausting lmao...

3. my last day of school before summer break is june 15th. we are definitely in the home stretch now. i have one essay, one homework assignment, and one final left... just gotta stretch myself a bit longer.

4. the cupcake method i use is the only way to go tbh. try gas stations for lemonheads, that's the only place i've found them. you're right about tootsie pops and me being picky about chocolate flavors. i have had homemade hot cocoa, and it's one of my favorite winter drinks. i like both the sweet hawaiian rolls and the regular dinner kind. love is love, bread is bread./silly

5. yeah, the ocean is one of my favorite spots as well, and i've had that exact feeling you've described. i sympathise on the moving part, when i moved, it was to be further away from the ocean instead of closer. freaking sucked. but i found ways to cope. visit the lake, maybe. it's not the same, but water always helps.

6. if i was an animal, i'd probably be a crab or a seal.

7. yeah, i'm writing a good omens fic right now on the topic of religious trauma and the complicated emotions that result. it's been a blast to write, but as per my standard tradition, it's not going to start getting published until it's more than halfway done, which is how i run all my multi chapter stories. it involves very special things, like aziraphale being a queer guardian angel, and found family dynamics.

i'll take care of myself, i promise.

#may anon