#anyways now i have to finish my fic before i never have the motivation again

[earthtooz]

how would you write wriothesley needing reassurance?

x : TO LOVE A GOOD THING :*+ﾟ

in which: wriothesley thinks he loves you more than you love him.

warnings: 1.4k words, reverse hurt/comfort with angst, wrio being insecure sorry, gn!hot-headed!reader, reader gets into a fight, wrio patches you up.

a/n: thank u @sixosix for helping me out during my my hard times. this fic was already half written before I got this ask but then it was like the stars aligned and anon came to save a fic that might have never made it out of the drafts. anyways, idk if the writing is good, but i came, i saw, i conquered. enjoy!

Wriothesley thinks he loves you more than you love him.

If he voiced these thoughts to you, you’d shut him down without another breath. He can almost picture it now, the way your nose would scrunch as a precursor to all the statements you will make rejecting his. He can hear all the things you’d say, insisting ‘that’s just not true!’, and then he’ll laugh to cover up the way his chest will swell with pure adoration. 

But it is true. 

Loving you is easier than breathing. The heart that sits in his chest beats harder for you than the circulation of oxygen in his lungs, but he breathes because it keeps him alive. If he’s alive, then he gets to see you, the best thing that’s happened to him his entire, unfortunate life. 

He thinks he loves you more than you love him because you once told him your favourite flowers were glaze lilies. However, when you complained that they only bloomed during the night, Wriothesley knew that he would wrestle the sun just so the moon could shine a little longer. 

He thinks he loves you more than you love him because you linger in the crevices of his mind. Down in the Fortress of Meropide, the days may pass excruciatingly slow sometimes and the only cure for him is yearning for the one he loves most. Perhaps if he wishes hard enough, you’ll burst through those doors with a declaration of a new discovery and sit on his desk, avoiding the paperwork. 

Most times, his wishful thinking doesn’t work out. On the rare occasion it does, Wriothesley will be fortunate enough to end the work day with your palms on his cheeks, gently motivating him to finish what’s left. 

You’ll peel stickers off his body, ignorant of the fact that he saves them up just for an excuse to feel your hands on him, then he’ll kiss you in thanks, eyes fluttering closed. Near you, he can finally let his guard down, let the gauntlets and coat fall as he sinks into you. 

Wriothesley already feels bad whenever you come down to a place so unforgiving and confronting. He tries to brighten up the place sometimes, but metal can only shine so much before it rusts again. 

Is it pathetic to want to better yourself for another person? Or is it love?

Wriothesley thinks he loves you more than you love him, and he’s perfectly fine to continue living with that fact. As long as he’s the one you return to every night, he’ll be fine to live with whatever burdens you press onto him.

He just didn’t expect that one of said ‘burdens’ would result with you, Sigewinne’s infirmary, and your face littered with cuts and bruises. 

“You should have seen the other guy,” is your poor attempt at humour as your lover frets everywhere, pacing back and forth as the small nurse tends to you. His heavy boots resounding against metal floors.

“Seriously, Y/n, what were you thinking?” The warden clearly isn’t amused by your joke, the only thing keeping him back from completely lecturing you is Sigewinne and that stun gun of hers. 

A small yelp slips past your lips when she applies some balm on your sore knuckles and Wriothesley winces, as if feeling your pain. “They were talking bad about you, Wriothesley, what did you want me to do?”

“Nothing!”

Sigewinne gives him a look. He immediately shuts his mouth. “I can’t do that,” you insist.

“You can, and you should’ve. I can defend my own honour. Besides, you didn’t need to lower yourself to the level of crooks just to prove a point.”

“But-”

“-The guys you beat up were just admitted here. Normally after receiving a life’s sentence, the first name that’s slandered is mine as an outlet for anger. This is normal, Y/n, they’ll continue on to realise that the Fortress of Meropide is not their standard prison and reform. You, however, might have just set back their progress.”

Your head drops, a little in shame, but mostly because you don’t have anything to say in retaliation. Silence envelops the dim space, none of you brave enough to break the tension that came from Wriothesley’s scolding. With a few final words from Sigewinne about what medicine to apply, when, and what not to do, she leaves the room quite hurriedly, as if eager to let you and Wriothesley talk about it alone.

Immediately, he crosses the room to where you sit, closing in on your personal space. 

“The things they were saying about you were unforgivable. Meropide’s great duke may forgive, but I won’t.” 

“Nothing is as unforgivable as you getting hurt.” Care laces his voice this time when he talks to you. 

“You won’t throw me in prison for this, right?” You ask with a bashful smile, one that sends him reeling.

“Not prison, no,” he coughs. “However, I can’t not reprimand you.”

“Fine. I guess this just means that I love you more.”

He knows you’re kidding, that you’re only trying to make him feel better because the grin on your face is nothing short of mischievous. Part of him falters, cracks like an earthquake splitting the land apart and pulling him under. To stabilise himself, his rough palms find purchase on both sides of your jaw and his forehead is pressed flushed to yours.

(You don’t love him more, how can you love someone as ragged as him?)

“Impossible,” he murmurs against your mouth. 

“Really, let these bruises be a reminder,” you chuckle. His thumb ghosts over a bruise on your cheek and his heart aches at the way you wince, even if just slightly. If it weren’t for him, you wouldn’t be here, sat on a hospital bed with wounds he inadvertently caused.

You wouldn’t be here, in a dingy, dreary Fortress that you’re only obligated to visit because of him.

(Oh, but he hopes you never leave. The day you go and never come back is the day Wriothesley will turn all of Teyvat upside down just to search for you. Where is his place if not by your side?)

There’s a warm poke to his cheek that’s quickly followed by a damp residual. Wriothesley quickly realises that you wiped a tear away, and he curses the following few that spill. You shouldn’t waste your efforts on him: a man half-coherent, and wholly undeserving of you.

“Love, oh, love,” he whispers, pressing a kiss to the bruised area. “Why did you do this?” 

“I already told you,” you hum. “Because I love you.”

“I’m not worth it.”

Your hand stills. “What do you mean by that?”

“This happened because of me,” there’s pain in Wriothesley’s voice when it cracks. “You didn’t need to harm yourself for me, I’m more of a burden than you think, Y/n, nothing good will come out of loving me too much.”

For a second, everything stills. The beating of his heart, your breathing, the dull humming of the fortress’ mechanics, it all becomes silenced. The world only kicks up again when you speak.

“How could you say that about yourself?” You reprimand, shaking his face lightly. “A ‘burden’? Are you hearing yourself right now, Wriothesley? You’re not making any sense right now!”

There’s a passionate look in your eyes. One he doesn’t think a man like him deserves.

“I do not love you for ‘good things’ to come out of them, I love you because you are the good thing, and I will do anything for you to remain the way you are.”

Oh, he might cry again. Are there tears in the corners of his eyes? How can he help it when you’re the best thing that’s ever happened to him?

“Don’t write me off as some poor soul whose subjected to your love,” you whisper, but he hangs on to every word you say. “Your love is not a burden I bear, but rather, the most fortunate thing I’ve ever had the luxury of cherishing.”

Unable to hold himself back any longer, Wriothesley presses his lips to yours in an all-consuming kiss. He drinks up all of your praise and lets it settle in his gut to bloom, untethering himself from the chains that rubbed his wrists raw. You love him, you love him more than he thought possible. 

How lucky he is that you pull him closer, selfishly taking all of him.

© EARTHTOOZ 2023, do not steal, translate, repost my fics and do not recommend my fics onto any other site.

#earthtooz: genshin impact #wriothesley x reader #genshin impact x reader #genshin x reader #wriothesley fic #wriothesley x you

[springwitch26]

hots for teacher (melissa schemmenti x fem!reader)

part 2

summary: you've been infatuated with melissa schemmenti ever since you worked under her as a student teacher. what will happen when you meet again a few years later?

warnings: NSFW content, implied future smut (part 2 on the way??), praise kink, age gap idk

notes: hi everyone! my name is april, and this is my first ever fanfiction. i wrote this for fun and then decided to share it with the community, because i love the little gay women in my phone! i've been reading fics on tumblr for as long as i've been on the internet, so this is a strange experience for me. anyway, enjoy, and let me know what you guys think!

tonight you looked sexy, and you knew it. you wore a sinfully short black dress with colorful butterflies. it was one of your favorites; it showed just the right amount and hugged just the right places to be tantalizing. your eyes were painted with thin black wings and soft, glittery eyeshadow that made you look like a sweet dream. your lips glistened and your hair was tied up in two dutch braids. you were a vision.

all this meant that you were not the least bit surprised when a deep, sultry female voice sounded from behind where you sat at the bar.

"it should be illegal to look like that in public."

you smiled coyly and turned around to face the stranger.

"why? see something you like?" when you turned to face her, however, you were met with a familiar face. it was a face you'd seen in your dreams time after time: your former boss, melissa schemmenti.

you had been assigned to work with melissa as a student teacher while you were in school for your teaching certification. at the time, she was teaching two grades simultaneously, so she was grateful to have you there to ease the burden. it didn't hurt that you were always so eager to please. you wanted to learn and become the best teacher you could be.

of course, your motives weren't entirely pure. you were attracted to melissa from the moment you saw her. you remembered it like it was yesterday: her flaming red hair was slightly messy from trying to wrangle her double class, and her glasses sat askew on her nose. then you came along and turned everything around. she would give you to-do lists, and you would finish them before lunchtime the same day.

"great job, hon! you're so good, don't know what i'd do without you..." she'd say each time, beaming with pride at her new prodigee.

"o-of course, ms. schemmenti. what else can i do for you?" you'd respond, blushing profusely at the praise and struggling to hold her intense gaze.

within a week of having you, melissa was caught up on all her work. she couldn't help but feel like you were an angel, or some kind of gift from god. whatever you were, she cherished you. as the two of you spent more time together, she started to want you more and more. every project, every conversation, every smile you two shared only added to your chemistry.

she had fun with it--teasing you with special pet names and praise, watching you get all flustered and squirmy. she knew you liked her back. you weren't the most subtle about your desire.

melissa would never act on her feelings, though. you were a doe-eyed twenty-something with big dreams, and she was your much older boss. getting involved with you would be too messy. but she always held out hope, even after you left abbott, that one day you'd meet again.

you studied melissa's sly smirk for a moment, in disbelief at your luck. it had been two years since you left abbott. you had your own big girl job now, and you were a bit more mature. there was nothing stopping you from acting on your desires.

"oh my god, ms. schemmenti! please, have a drink with me. it's been a while." you hoped you didn't sound too desperate, although you definitely looked desperate once you got a good glance at her.

her look was striking. your breath hitched in your throat as you scanned her form, dressed in red leather pants and a button-down shirt. her arms were visibly muscled, even through the jacket. the black button-down shirt she wore was unbuttoned just enough to tease her cleavage. around her waist was a thick black belt that you wanted to pull on. her fiery hair was tied back haphazardly in a high ponytail, just messy enough to be sexy. and her hands—god, her fingers were long and ringed and—

"whatever you say, kid," she shrugged and sat down next to you, giving you a playful smile. "and you can call me melissa now."

she had a mischievous glint in her eye, probably knowing how you felt just by the wanton way you stared at her. when she sat down beside you, you felt your whole body heat up. your thighs were almost touching from the proximity, and you could smell her intoxicating perfume with each inhale. feeling her body so close to yours had you more drunk than the alcohol. it didn't help that her eyes now roamed over your body shamelessly, taking in your glistening lips and lingering on your soft cleavage. you tried your best to play it cool.

you talked for a while, catching up on everything. you told her about your new job at a suburban elementary school, your volunteer tutoring on the weekends, your summers in the mountains. she beamed with pride hearing of your accomplishments.

"that's great, y/n! sounds like you're goin' places."

"thank you! i think i owe a lot of my success to my student teaching experience—everyone at abbott was great, including you. especially you," you looked at her with an intense gaze, feeling your desire catch up with you.

"you were such a passionate mentor. you just had this way of getting me excited..." you trailed off as you fixated on the stirrings of a smirk on her face.

"...excited about learning," you finished shakily.

"mm-hmm," she chuckled.

maybe it was the alcohol, or the simple fact that she was right next to you and seemingly devouring you with her eyes, but you became bolder then. you only had one shot at this.

"i mean, you really touched me in a way that nobody else could," you leaned in, dragging out your syllables for emphasis. "i worked so hard because i just needed to be good for you."

now she was the one shuddering. you had the upper hand, if only for a moment. but she quickly got her boldness back.

"i noticed that. always so bright and attentive. i bragged to all the other teachers about what a good girl you were." to top it all off, she punctuated her sentence by placing her hand firmly on your knee.

you thought you were going to explode right then and there. your skin erupted in goosebumps at her touch, and you spread your legs ever so slightly to indicate your consent. her face split into a smug grin and she began to crawl her fingers up your thigh, agonizingly slowly.

your response came as a shaky whisper. you were sure you must have soaked through your panties just from her teasing touches.

"it's good to know that you thought so highly of me. i looked up to you a lot," you said sheepishly. "um, i'm a bit embarrassed to admit it, but i did have a bit of a crush on you..."

"oh, yeah. that doesn't surprise me. don't be embarrassed, hon. you can't help what you feel," her hand had stalled at the midpoint of your thigh, and she looked at you with sincerity.

"it doesn't surprise you?" you asked, struggling to get the words out once she resumed stroking your thigh.

"i had my suspicions," she said with a knowing smirk. "i'm sharper than i look, ya know."

her darkened eyes sent shivers down your spine. you felt your core heat up at the humiliation of knowing she knew exactly what you thought about her.

"am i that obvious?" you asked, somewhat breathily.

"oh, sweetheart," she laughed. she leaned in close and you could smell her perfume, feel the warmth of her breath on your skin. her fingers pinched the skin of your thigh as she whispered to you. "you sat five feet away from me for months, always wearin' those little black skirts. you think i didn't see you rub your thighs together every time i gave you praise?"

her hand now caressed your inner thigh softly, teasingly. you failed to respond, trying to process her words but finding yourself unable to do anything but whimper almost silently.

"so soft here. mhmm," she husked into your ear. there was a hint of giddiness in her voice, as if she was pleased with herself for taking you apart so easily. "does that feel good, princess? do you like it when i touch you?"

"yes!" you said, almost too loudly for the public setting. "yes, i like it very much."

"good," she whispered as her fingers found the edge of your panties. your thighs spread even wider, and you let out a small gasp.

"we've got lots more to catch up on, don't we?" she continued, her fingers drawing feather-light circles over your clit through the fabric. you wondered if she could feel you throbbing for her. your hips bucked up to meet her hand, and she slapped your thigh in warning. "if you wanna keep talkin', we can head back to mine..."

you turned to her with big, glazed-over eyes. still whimpering, you nodded rapidly, earning a laugh from the older woman. she grabbed your hand and guided you out of the packed bar.

"i'm gonna wreck you, hon," she mumbled without looking back at you.

#melissa schemmenti x y/n #melissa schemmenti x reader #melissa schemmenti #melissa schemmenti/reader #melissa schemmenti x you #wlw ns/fw #kinktober #abbott elementary #fanfic

[otomiyaa]

nice.png

(literally how I named the image, couldn't think of something else)

Hi guys :') To my followers and tumblr friends, I'm really sorry if my sudden disappearance scared or upset you. It wasn't quite... planned. And today was a busy day and I needed some time to consider what I wanted to do.

Short version of the story:

My tumblr account got terminated for copyright infringement. A certain Mr. Green got me in unlucky trouble (ref 1, 2).

I won't get it back, or try to get it back. It's gone.

Needed a moment to consider 2 options: ask Mia to extend my dramatic farewell letter and stay gone, or make a new blog.

Not planning to post new writing here. I won't be using words like 'never' or 'forever' because I'm a known clown with things like this, but the intention is to no longer post fics. I will finish Tickletober on AO3 and then take a break from writing. So yes, I cancel the swiftscribbles event too, sorry!

When I opened my laptop, I could see my old blog in its final hour lmao (I found out about the loss on my phone). So that's what the snap is from on a fitting grave. It was fun while it lasted!

Long version of the story:

Losing my blog(s): My Tumblr account with main blog + sideblogs got terminated overnight, it was quite the surprise! I've either been reported or tracked by bots. The posts are a bunch of numbered URLs I can't open, but the message is clear: for including anime content, genshin impact or media from other sources (whether it's videos, screenshots, official art, gifs or even fanwork) you technically can get a strike. Upon googling the claimer I quickly found this first, and knew it was a lost cause. Although it feels shitty and unlucky, I am in no place to appeal. It's like when I used to make AMVs in the past, you never knew whether a song or even anime footage was going to give your YT account a copyright strike or even a ban, it was a gamble. I have lost YT accounts before, and now I lost the Tumblr one. With 7+ years of tickle trash content and a bunch of sideblogs. But oh well, moving on!

Starting a new blog: It was a serious consideration whether this was my ultimate chance to do what I've always said I wanted to do eventually - quit my blog. My first thought was to ask Mia to share my explanation and literal goodbye with you guys, and stick to my chaos of a Twitter account to indulge in fandom stuff. But then I thought of how happy Tumblr made me, even without the fic writing, but just.. reblogging things, getting random asks, shouting about life and of course, about tickles. I decided to make a new blog after all, but also decided the following:

The 7K+ milestone swiftscribbles event is cancelled, for which I apologize! The follower milestone, together with the motivation to write the fics, and even the asks with the requests I got, all died with my former blog.

I will see how long I can survive without posting a new fic or drabble. A loose headcanon or two might fly around sometime. And if necessary, a link to a new fic on AO3.

Tickletober? Hell yes I'll finish it, I would cringe in bed for 49 days at least if I would stop. I just won't post the fics here, but on AO3.

Reposting/reblogging my old works? Undecided at the moment but I'm tired and lazy. I don't feel too upset since most of my fics are still on AO3 at least and not completely gone.

Anyways, I'll see what happens and how long I can enjoy this nerfed version of blogging.

Surprisingly I'm not upset about losing my other blog, there were a lot of memories but it was also very cringe. I'm gonna be just as cringe here, but at least I feel cleansed.

For those who choose to follow me again, thank you, but please know that there won't be much original content coming from me, for now!:)

#tickle community #otomiya-tickles #announcement

[albed-hoe]

i have finally arrived 🤭🤭

OKAY I’LL GIVE U A FEW SCENARIOS I GOT IN MIND AND YOU’RE FREE TO EXPAND ON WHICHEVER ONE YOU WANT TO (idm gender neutral reader but was hoping for male :D )

REVERSE COMFORT: m!reader comforting poor lyney after the most recent 4.1 archon quest. (SPOILERS: after freminet has been moved the the medical area)

so lyney is really worried for his brother (it takes place before he’s fully up) and we’re jus hugging him and reassuring him that he’ll be okay bc we’re husband material like that 💪🏻

˚₊‧꒰ა💉໒꒱ ‧₊

FLUFF: i was thinking maybe the m!reader is a popular fontainian singer/popstar/dancer or anything that gains him popularity, and hence builds up a mass fanclub of ladiessss (if yk where i’m goin w this🤭)

so maybe we could get some jealous lyney up in here and m!reader feels bad for him so after the performance he takes lyney up on stage and gives a smooch on the cheek 😭

˚₊‧꒰ა💉໒꒱ ‧₊

ANGST (with comfort bc my heart cannot physically take angst with no comfort): OKAY KINDA INSPIRED BY SOMEONE ELSES IDEA BUT KINDA DIFFERENT!

m!reader got those richly rich strict ass parents who don’t approve of him dating someone as low as a magician (he’s also a guy but i’m taking this down a different root) and they aren’t abusive but they are pretty neglectful and strict on him.

reader finally had enough of their bs tho and him and lyney (with lynette & freminet ofc) run away to snezhnaya and have the reader work for the house of the hearth w them.

AND (bc i never shut up) then a few years pass when lyney finally takes over for the knave they waltz back into fontaine together with m!reader being his 2nd in command (once again, alongside freminet and lynette bc wherever he goes they go)

˚₊‧꒰ა💉໒꒱ ‧₊

PERSONAL FAVOURITE (i think abt this idea a LOT)

FOUND FAMILY /W COMFORT (heavily with freminet bc i love him sm HSNFEMCJEM)

basically m!reader went for a lil dive to get lyney some new flowers for his magic show later and he runs into freminet crying under the water

and ofc big brother instincts kick in 💪🏻 and we take him above shore and coddle him like how lyney would to freminet

AND THEN WE TAKE HIM HOME AND WE MEET UP W LYNEY AND HES JUS LIKE “OMG IF THIS MAN DOESNT PUT A RING ON MY FINGER RN IMMA LOOSE MY SHIT” because he adores the way m!reader looks out for his siblings the way he would.

(I HAVE ANOTHER VERSION OF THIS RQ WITH LYNETTE IF YOU EVER WANNA HEAR IT BTW)

˚₊‧꒰ა💉໒꒱ ‧₊

SPICY 😏😏😏:

i actually don’t have anything to much for this category but some simple spicy hc’s with a sub!lyney would be great (let’s be real this man isn’t dominating anyone). (he also has a breeding kink GOODBYE)

Found Family (Freminet ver.)

Characters: Freminet & Lyney x M!Reader

Summary: After bringing his younger brother home, Lyney thinks he’s found his husband for life

Warnings: Slight angst to comfort, Freminet crying, Lyney being hopelessly in love and shyyyy

Word count: 767

A/n: Okay first of all I’m so sorry for disappearing for like a year and a half… I totally lost motivation and finished university in the meantime and now I’m looking for a job but no one is hiring me so yay? TYSM FOR THIS REQUEST LY LOTS🤩 I might write some of the other ones too? Might make a poll for which one to do next cuz I’m undecided… Anyways THIS ONE GOES OUT TO THE MALE READER COMMUNITY!!! I fell in love with Lyney and still (I think?) have yet to come across a Lyney x male reader fic😫 So here is my contribution! I ALSO HAVE REQUESTS OPEN SO FEEL FREE TO REQUEST LYNEY X M!READER STUFF PLS AND TYYYYY

It was a warm afternoon as you got your scuba gear on, preparing to dive in the depths of Fontaine on a mission to look for flowers for your beloved boyfriend, Lyney’s, magic show tonight. You latched in your helmet and dove below the surface, sighing in satisfaction at the cool water enveloping your body after having been sweating all day. The fish danced around you happily and the rays flapped their wings gracefully on their way to find places to float around.

You reached the seabed, swimming around and beginning to collect the flowers that your boyfriend had requested. You stop after a few seconds to listen to a sound you could not initially identify. Listening closely, you follow the sounds of what seem to be sniffles over a ridge of sand. Peeking over the edge, you see a little blue form with a diving helmet on, balled up with his head in the pit of his elbow.

“Freminet?” You swam up to the form, recognizing Lyney’s younger brother, a sad expression on the screen of your diving helmet. You begin to rub circles into his back as he sniffles, embarrassed to have been found crying alone. “What happened?” You offer him a warm smile, encouraging him to confide in you.

“*Sniff* I- I made a fool of myself in the Court of Fontaine today… I- *sniff* I fell and dropped a whole basket of peaches…” Taking pity on him, you ask him if he wants a hug, then you pull him into your arms and rub comforting circles on his back.

“Wanna go back up? I’ll walk you home.” The boy nods and you swim back up with him in your arms.

Arriving on the beach, you take off his diving helmet and reveal his red, puffy eyes. You internally coo at how cute he looks but remember that he is in a vulnerable state and mentioning what he looks like would likely not be appropriate at the moment. So, after cupping a comforting hand on his cheek, you take his hand and walk him home.

Arriving at the triplets’ door (I know they aren’t all related, but for simplicity’s sake…), you knock and wait for the light pads from inside to reach you. The door swings open to reveal Lyney in his pajamas with a surprised expression.

“Y-Y/n! And Freminet!” He blushes slightly at having noticed you before his own younger brother and at having been seen in pajamas by someone he has been trying to impress. You gently push Freminet in front of you, handing him over to Lyney who hugs him shortly, ruffles his hair, then passes him on to Lynette who takes his hand, nods at you thankfully, then takes him into the home. Lyney steps out onto the porch and closes the door behind him.

“Uh… Thanks for taking my brother home. He can disappear better than myself, sometimes…” He rubs the back of his neck, a little embarrassed at the situation. You had only declared each other officially boyfriends about a month prior, so the whole relationship thing was a new concept to the ‘suave’ Lyney the public knew. It pleasantly surprised you to discover that he was actually very easy to fluster, making for a very cute boyfriend to tease occasionally.

“Yeah, no problem. I found him on the seabed crying while I was looking for your flowers, so I comforted him and brought him here. Oh, here you go by the way.” You hand him the flowers he needed for his show while smiling warmly at him. The tips of his ears immediately reddened, both at his immediate thoughts of marriage and at what the offer of flowers looked like. He knew this was not a love confession or anything of the sort, but the current situation could have fooled an outside observer.

He stepped forward and threw his arms around you, sandwiching the flowers between the two of you. He buried his face in your neck in an attempt to hide his face exploding with heat.

“… I love you…” That was all he managed to say after a few moments. You laughed, placing a kiss on the top of his head.

“I love you too, but… Watch the flowers.” He pulled himself away from you immediately, realizing he was damaging his precious show flowers.

“AH! Sorry! Uhm… Did you wanna come inside for a bit?” He looked into your eyes with a shy smile on his face, his cheeks and ears still red from before.

“I’d love to.” You said, your eyes locked on his.

Aur my gawdddd this was my first fic in a loooong time I’m so sorry if it was ass… THIS WAS CUTE AND I LOVE FREMINET TOO, PLS LEMME HEAR THE LYNETTE VERSION OF THIS😎

#genshin x reader #genshin impact x reader #genshin x male reader #genshin impact x male reader #lyney x reader #lyney x male reader #lyney x y/n

[shujilovedive]

Matchmaker

Baji x Reader / Mini Fic

cw: Slight sexual tension or implication?, Fluff, Romance, Sfw

Description: Emma recruits her brother to play match maker for you after you tell her about your crush on one of Mikey’s friends. This takes place in a au where all the characters are still alive. They are all around eighteen because I’m not very comfortable writing romance for their middle school ages unless it’s like a flashback or pure fluff. But this is fluff anyways so it doesn’t really matter.

Notes: This was originally gonna be more than just Baji but I don't have the motivation to finish it so I thought I'd post it as a cute fluffy, funny mini fic.

If your mother could see you now, she would scold you for the reckless behavior you were exhibiting in your new yukata. In fact she would scold you for how unladylike you were being in general. Climbing down the side of a small hill situated near the Musashi shrine. Your feet slipped slightly against the mud that had been left behind from a previous rainfall that day. Thinking clearly about what you were doing, it was a bit dramatic, but you couldn’t turn around now with your attire all muddy and messed up. The flower that Hinata had placed in your hair was threatening to slip out, hanging out by a few threads.

“Y/n!”, Emma’s voice carried through the tree line, making you jump ever so slightly and almost slide completely down the hill. Curse that girl. How did she have time to meddle so much in your romantic life, shouldn’t be trying to cozy up to Draken right about now? How could she be so nosy. You wished you had just confined in Hinata like you had meant to, but Emma had insisted you share the secret with her as well.

“Come on! It’s not fair if you tell her and not me!” Emma nagged you, taking a seat beside you on Hinata’s rug while Hinata herself messed with her hair in the mirror of her dresser. “Please! I don’t wanna be left out.” She leaned in front of you, frowning at your flushed expression. Hinata gave you a pitiful smile through the mirror, knowing that Emma would not let this go.

Of course you wanted to tell Emma as well, but you knew she wasn’t the best at keeping secrets. She also had a habit of getting involved in situations that didn’t completely involve her.

“Fine!…Okay, okay!”, You gestures your hands out in front of you, sighing in reaction to Emma’s persistence. Emma immediately lit up and squeezed the edge of her yukata, leaning close to you. “So what is it?”

“I like one of the guys- but I don’t know him! So, I don’t actually know if I like him.” You were quick to try and smooth Emma but it didn’t do much, because she was already rocking back and forth in excitement, giggling like a little school girl. “You like one of my brothers friends?”

“Why does it have to be labeled your brothers friends?”

“Because that’s what they are! Which one?”

“….Baji.”

“Ew.”

Hina began to laugh, looking back at the two of you on the floor. Emma had a look of disgust on her face as she leaned back. You on the other hand were completely baffled by her response and you scolded her, leaning forward and poking at her chest.

“Ew?! Who did you think I was going to say!”

“I don’t know! Someone respectable! Maybe Mitsuya? Baji is a idiot!”

“A handsome idiot.” Both you and Emma whipped your gaze over to Hinata who was giggling softly into her palm now. “What? He is.”

Emma frowned at her, scoffing softly under her breathe,”Still a idiot nonetheless.”

You crossed your arms and smiled at Hina triumphantly before looking back at Emma. “Like I said, I’ve never spoken to him. So I don’t even know if I actually like him, he’s seems cool though.”

Emma clicked her tongue, rolling her eyes at the attitude you were giving her, and tapped her fingers on the ground slightly. After a moment, a sly grin slipped onto her angelic face and you felt your heart dropped as she turned to look at you again.

“Ya knowwwww…., Baji will be there tonight.”

Your mouth dropped open slightly as you look at her, eyebrows furrowing. “Of course i know that, don’t you dare do anything Emma. I don’t even know if I like him!”

“That’s because you haven’t tried talking to him! Then you’ll see he’s an idiot and you’ll get over it.”

“No! He’s too intimidating.”

“Oh, please. You just think that because he’s handsome, to you.” She really sounded out the last two words, trying to make it abundantly clear that she found nothing attractive about Baji at all.

“Besides, my brother is his best friend and I’ve known him since we were young. I could put in a good word for you and so could Mikey. Mikey likes you! He says your hair reminds him of Dorayaki.”

“How?” You looked at her in confusion and Hina shared your expression. Emma was right about one thing, her brother really was a bit of a idiot.

“I don’t know, but it does. Baji will probably agree cause he’s also stupid. They share a brain cell. Come on! Let me put in a word for you!”

“No!”

You thought you I had gotten through to Emma back at the house but it became apparent that you hadn’t, halfway through the festival. You were spending your time with Hina and Takemichi when you heard Emma’s familiar voice call out to you.

“Y/n!”

You turned your head in the direction of her voice, only to see her pushing through the crowd towards you. Behind her was Mikey, dressed in a junbei, stuffing dorayaki’s in his mouth and beside him was Baji himself. Baji’s hair was pulled up in a bun and he was also wearing a junbei, hands in his pockets as he followed Emma through the crowd.

The look of horror that crossed your face must have alerted Hinata and Takemichi to what was going on, because Hina immediately put her hand on her mouth and looked at you in pity. “Sorry, Y/n…”.

It really was a split second decision, to bolt away from your friends towards the tree line, through the crowd of festival goers. Baji was just another guy at the end of the day, but for a on looker like yourself, he was unreachable. You had watched him fight before, he thrived on the violence and recklessness of it all. Even when he wasn’t punching people for thrill, he demanded attention. You didn’t even wanna think about his voice. There was no way he would return your attention or admiration and you were hoping that if you found a place to hide, you could save yourself the embarrassment.

That’s exactly how you had gotten halfway down this muddy hill and you were starting to regret your decision. Sticks, thorns and weeds stuck out of the ground, threatening to latch onto your yukata and hold you in place. And your attire was already stained with mud at the bottom from dragging along the ground. You held onto a branch as you took another slippery step down the hill, letting go of the branch to slowly descend towards the bottom. When suddenly a tug on your yukata held you in place. You turned to pry at the fabric but you must have underestimated your own strength because the fabric ripped and you slipped on the side of the hill, falling flat on your butt in the mud.

Now you were DEFINETLY in trouble with your mother and even worse, your dress was still stuck on the branch. You had managed to twist the fabric in place and once you stood up, even with all your tugging and efforts to untangle it, you were still unsuccessful in freeing yourself.

“Y/n?“, You slowly glanced up, eyes landing on Emma and the two boys, staring down at you from the top of the mud slicked hill.

It was kind of a funny sight. Emma stared down at you, mouth completely a gape, completely shocked by the situation she had found you in. Meanwhile, Mikey stood next to her, nonchalantly munching on a festival snack while watching you as if this was the most normal thing he has ever seen. Baji also looked shocked but after a moment he was unable to swallow down a wolfish grin that formed on his face.

“This isn’t funny.” Emma snapped her head over to look at him when she heard him begin to laugh, eyes narrowing in his direction. He covered his mouth and shook his head, still eyeing you with a glint of humor in his eyes.

“My skirt is stuck.” You mumbled, looking back down at the fabric in a attempt to hide your flustered expression. Your cheeks were burning and you found yourself wishing to simply be anywhere else.

“Help her!”, Emma scolded the two boys, wacking the back of Mikey’s head with a bag of goodies she had attained from the festival.

“Let me finish my dorayaki real quick….”. Mikey mummbled, chewing away at the treat in his hand.

“Excuse me?! You are an idiot!” Emma began to barrage Mikey with insults, yelling at him as he watched her with a slightly amused expression, still eating his dorayaki. Meanwhile, Baji had begun to slowly slide down the hill towards you, grabbing onto branches to keep his footing as he made his way down. He found his way down to you with ease compared to your messy attempt to climb to the bottom of the hill. Heels buried into the dirt, he used both his hands and began trying to untangle your skirt, head hung low with tiny hairs falling forward out of his bun in front of his face.

You cursed yourself for even noticing the bit of hair slipping loose from his hair tie and you averted your gaze away from him. “Why are you even down here? Did you slip?”, He raised his eyebrows up at you, removing his focus from the skirt for a moment to look at you. Baji wasn’t stupid, he was quite aware with what was going on. Emma had informed him that she had someone she wanted him to meet, the moment he met up with her and Mikey at the festival. He thought your embarrassment was kind of cute, even if your reaction had been a bit overboard.

“No, I’m trying to get a way from her.” You pointed up at Emma who was still scolding Mikey, face red and puffy. “She brings bad luck.”

Baji grinned slightly, one of his fangs slipping out of his mouth and pressing against his bottom lip. It was one of those things that was so effortlessly attractive about him and you wondered if he even knew how good looking he was. Or if those things just simply never crossed his mind.

“You really got yourself stuck.” He muttered, digging his heels deeper into the mud before looking up at you. “It’s already damaged, do you care if I just rip it?”

For some reason this question sent more warmth to your cheek, you nodded with a bit of reluctance. “Just try not to rip it too high…”

“I won’t, promise.” He glanced up at you with a smile before getting a tight grip on the bottom of your skirt. He began to tear and pull at the fabric, leveraging the force he was able to with his heels buried in the mud. Every little sound of ripping fabric made you cringe, grieving the loss of your brand new clothes.

“There. You’re free.” You nodded your head in thanks and began to stand up straight again now that your dress was free. It seemed like you weren’t out of trouble yet though, as the climb back up the muddy slope was going to be even harder than the way down. You awkwardly turned around towards the hill and Baji held his hands out slightly, making sure you weren’t going to fall.

“Here.” He offered you one of his mud stained hands, using the other to grab onto a nearby branch. You took it without hesitation, fearing for your footing and trusting him to guide you up. He was patient with you, going slowly up towards the top, unlike the way he has masterfully made his way down the hill.

His hand remained tightly gripping your hand as you made it up to the top of the slope. Once he got up onto flat land, he reached down with his free hand and grabbed onto your other hand, pulling you up as well.

Baji didn’t seem to mind the dirt on his attire or on his hands and instead did his best to make sure you were completely fine. Emma began to fuss over your outfit and try to salvage as much of your hair as possible before eventually giving up.

“Both of you are a mess. Are you really going to attend the festival looking like that?”.

You shook your head with a somber look, still feeling the embarrassment prick at your face. Baji put his hands in his shorts and shrugged slightly, glancing your way with a toothy grin. “Festivals halfway over anyway and it’s not really my scene. Want me to drive you home?” Again with that effortlessly attractive smile, even covered in dirt and mud, he was somehow charming and you didn’t even need time to consider his offer.

“I’d appreciate that, if it isn’t too much trouble.” Dipping your head, you couldn’t help the bubbling excitement in your chest at the idea of riding on Baji’s motorcycle with him. A fantasy you had played in your mind before, now coming to fruition after you thought you had made such a fool of yourself. Emma also seemed shocked by the way everything had turned out, but her look of disbelief soon faded into a smile due to the sweet outcome. Even if she still thought Baji was as dumb as a rock.

“Oh, by the way. Baji this is Y/n.” Mikey interrupted, munching the last bit of his snack between words. You, Baji and Emma all turned to look at him, questioning how he could be so out of tune with the vibe of the conversation, but the silence quickly erupted into laughter. Mikey blinked in confusion, glancing over at Emma who was giggling into her palm.

“Didn’t you want me to introduce them? Emma? What’s so funny?!”

Baji was definitely planning on taking you home, he just had a longer route in mind.

#baji x reader #tokyo revengers #tokyo revengers x reader #baji x you #baji #baji keisuke #mikey #manjiro sano #baji fluff #tokyo rev x reader #emma sano #baji x y/n #tokyo revengers fanfic

[divine-knight-hand]

Worshiping the Masterpiece

Loki Masterlist || Full Masterlist || Read on AO3

Pairing: Loki x Female Reader

Summary: Loki’s lover finally gains the courage to ask him about his Jotun form. When he lets her see it, she takes the moment as an opportunity to help him do a little confidence building… by kissing… and touching… and praising…

Content Warnings: Sub!Loki (but hints of him being a switch), Soft Dom!Reader, themes of insecurity, [heavy appreciation of] Loki in his Jotun form, handjob in front of a mirror, lots of praise, no oral (but just a little taste of cum!), and explicit consent

Notes: (Prepare for lengthy notes with mushy sentiments! Hehehe!)

Happy birthday, @sarahscribbles!!! I’m still pretty new-ish to this whole tumblr-fanfic-writer thing, and I ended up gravitating to her as one of the blogs I look up to the most (specifically in terms of Loki content). So, happy, happy, happy birthday, Sarah! Remember that your community loves you very much. May you get lots of presents, cake, and Loki love~

This piece was written as a contribution to her Birthday Celebration. I originally started writing using some of the prompts from the original post, but I soon lost motivation, only to remember that I had this idea on repeat in my mind sooooo long ago, and it resurfaced just in time for me to finally put it to paper. So, I didn’t end up using any of the prompts, after all. Maybe someday I’ll finish what I originally started for this challenge and post it anyways. Maybe…

All in all, it was kind of refreshing to be able to write a fic about Loki. I don't really write about him as much as I would like to, so this writing event gave me the perfect motivation to just jump right in. So, without further ado, here we go!

Word Count: 3,547

Dividers by @cafekitsune

“Absolutely not.” Loki’s eyebrows furrowed at my daring request. “I refuse to burden you with that monstrous visage.”

Loki’s response to me asking to view his Jotun form again was that of pure terror. He sat next to me on our shared bed, eyes frantically avoiding mine. He seemed a lot more timid than his usual confident disposition allowed. His hands were folded over his lap, fidgeting out of obvious discomfort at the idea of me seeing him resemble a frost giant.

The first time I saw Loki in his Jotun form, it was an accident. He was taking me on a tour of the castle vault, and all was well until I was left to my own devices. I wandered around the vault, admiring the architecture, as well as the artifacts, when I found myself walking backwards into the stand that held the Casket of Ancient Winters atop it. Loki happened to be in perfect range to step in and catch it as I knocked it off its pedestal, at the cost of revealing his birth form.

Amidst the chaos his panic created, he didn’t notice me watching the way his skin changed, or admiring the raised marks that accompanied its cerulean hue. I knew Loki was born on Jotunheim–and I knew of all the trials and tribulations this fact created throughout his childhood–but I’d never even heard Loki so much as mention the possibility of having another form connected to his Jotun roots. This was new to me. He replaced the Casket and rushed out of the vault before I could even form the words to tell him how beautiful he looked. How odd…

Since that day, I was determined to see him change again. It was like an obsession to me, the way it was constantly on my mind. I had to see Loki’s Jotun form again. I just had to. Now that I’d seen it once, I knew there was a part of him that I wasn’t experiencing all this time. I felt that I was missing out on sharing something important with my lover, and that didn’t sit well with me.

There were times I tried to hint at it subtly, only to get confused and alarmed looks from him in return. I should have expected him to catch on. Nothing flies over the head of the God of Mischief. There wasn’t any point to beating around the bush anymore. I decided to finally outright ask him to change forms, and this was the exact reaction I feared.

“Don’t talk about yourself like that.” I asserted. “Nothing about you is monstrous. Nothing. Do you honestly think that I could love a monster?” Before he even had the chance to sarcastically respond to my rhetorical question, I beat him to it. “No, because I don’t.” I reached over and grabbed his hands in mine. “I love you, and I want to experience every part of you. Every single one. Because, I want to be able to love every single part of you.”

I could almost see the gears turning in his mind as he began to consider the idea. “I don’t believe you understand the true nature of my birth form.”

“Then show me.” I insisted. “Teach me everything I don’t know about you. Please… I don’t want you to feel like you have to hide from me.”

“You will regret this, love.” With a defeated sigh, Loki conceded.

He made sure to remove my hands from his before the familiar green flash of his seidr marked his transformation. My breath hitched at the sight of all the changes to his appearance.

His skin turned an icy blue, and his face sported markings in the form of raised lines. His eyes, formerly a similar blue, now watched me intently with a ruby red, awaiting my response.

“Loki,” I breathed, my heart swelling with the joy of finally being able to see him like this again. “You’re absolutely gorgeous.”

He quickly looked away, ashamed. “As sweet as your lies sing to me, please don’t.”

“I would never lie to you.” I leaned in and slowly reached out my hand.

He flinched at first, but allowed me to cup his face, the chill of his skin cooling my hand. “How do you not hate this?”

“I’ve said, already,” I smirked at him. “I love you, and if this is you—which I know it is—then I love this, too.”

“But, I’m a monster…” Loki’s eyes began to glass over with tears, but none dared to spill over his cheeks.

“No, you’re not.” I leaned in until I could feel the chill radiating off of his face against my own. “You were only told that for far too long.”

“It’s all I’ve ever known.” He sadly confessed.

My heart shattered for him. It wasn’t fair that he had to face horrible treatment just because of where he came from. Growing up, he was constantly dehumanized by his own father. Politics didn’t exactly allow Asgardians to empathize with Jotuns. Loki didn’t have a clue as to why he was treated so poorly his whole life until his adult years. No wonder he hid himself for so long. He didn’t deserve to live like that. Not at all. I was determined to make sure he would never experience that kind of pain again.

“That’s awful.” I frowned. “I promise you that I’ll make you feel loved, no matter what you look like.” I leaned in and pecked the tip of his nose. “I guarantee it.”

I brought my other hand up to cup the other side of his face before pulling him into a kiss. I felt him tense up for a moment, but a sudden chill on my back accompanied the motion of him wrapping his arms around me and pulling me closer to him.

When he deepened the kiss, it was colder than I expected it to be. Every point of contact I had with him sent a chill into my body, but I wasn’t cold. It was a comfortable chill. It was authentically Loki, and I wanted to explore this as far as I could go.

He pulled me onto him in a straddling position, our bodies crashing together as my hands wandered along the leather covering his back. I wanted to feel all of him. Since he swapped forms, it was like I fell in love all over again, and I was once again kissing him for the first time.

I was ravenous, wanting to touch as much of Loki as I could get my hands on, but I was also careful, fearing what could make him uncomfortable. My worries were put to rest when I felt a light twitch underneath me, and my own ache to have him began to build within me.

As we pulled apart, I left my hands cupped around his face, slowly tracing his markings with my thumbs. He’s just so beautiful~

“My desire for you could drive me to madness, darling.” He breathed, a smile ghosting his lips. “I do hope you’re aware.”

“I am.” I softly giggled.

“That being said, I have to have you, my dear.” His voice deepened to a growl. “Just give me a moment to return to my usual appearance.”

“Wait!” I interjected. “Why can’t I take you like this?”

“Are you off your rocker?!” Loki fired back, terror creeping back into his eyes.

“Maybe I am,” I retorted, “But I know that I want you like this, and you can’t change my mind on that.”

He just stared at me in utter shock, unmoving and unspeaking.

As the silence hung between us, an idea slowly crept into my mind. “There’s actually something I’d like to try, if you don’t mind.”

Loki let out a deep sigh, the shock in his expression lessening.“If you’re absolutely sure you want this, then I’ll be at your mercy. But, the moment something happens to you-”

“It won’t.” I cut in. “Because I know you won’t let anything happen to me.”

Loki frowned in disbelief, muttering, “Your optimism is dangerous.”

I stood up off of the bed, beckoning for him to follow me. “First, I want to see all of you. Would you mind stripping?”

“As you wish.” Loki lowered his head, his seidr removing his clothes with a flash.

I let out a soft gasp out of awe at the view. The icy hue continued from his head to his toes, as did the raised markings in his skin. They decorated his shoulders, chest, legs, and even his-

I felt arousal begin to pool between my thighs at the sight of his ornate length. “Loki…”

He looked back up at me, clearly anxious for my response. “Is this what you wanted?”

I quickly approached him and cupped his face in my hands, kissing him again. “It’s everything and more.” Loki’s cheeks blushed a light purple as I took him by the hand and led him across the bedroom to stand in front of a full-length mirror. “Do you trust me?”

“I trust you with everything I have, just as I’ve always done.” He responded, and I just knew he was being genuine. I could almost feel it emanating from his words.

“Kneel, my love.” I softly commanded.

Loki knelt in front me, exactly where I placed him. I smiled warmly down at him, stroking his cheek before moving to sit right behind him, looking over his shoulder at the mirror.

I looked over his reflection, my eyes lingering at how he instinctively spread his thighs as he sat on his heels, allowing his semi-erect cock to hang in the middle of the sinful display. He was almost ready, and fully accessible to me. I felt my ache for him thrumming between my thighs, but I quickly refocused on my mission when I noticed that he refused to meet his reflection’s gaze, instead looking away from me and the mirror entirely.

“Look, Loki.” I lightly coaxed his face back towards the mirror by his chin. “Look at how beautiful you really are.” I dropped my other hand near his inner thigh. “May I?”

“Please,” I could see eagerness flash in his eyes as he glanced at my reflection before looking back at his own.

I began to lightly rub along his thigh, my heart fluttering at his resulting shiver. “I want you to see how perfect you are as you’re overcome with pleasure.” His eyes fluttered closed as he shivered again, and I paused my motions. “Watch.” I reminded him.

His eyes flew open at my command. “Yes, of course.”

“Yes, what?” I felt a proud smirk tugging at the corners of my lips.

“Yes, mistress.” He corrected himself.

“There’s my sweet prince.” I sighed my praise as I resumed my motion on his thigh, noticing the twitch of his cock at my words. I began kissing him messily along his neck as my hand continued to tease him. When I brought my free hand up to trace the marks on his chest, I noticed the tension in his shoulders slowly melting away.

“M- Mistress, please…” He let out a low moan. “Please, I need more…” A bead of precum gathered at the tip of his fully grown erection, which now began to shine with a deep blush of purple, similar to that of his cheeks.

I moved from his neck to whisper in his ear, “If you want it, then you’ll have it.” I stroked his face with my free hand. “A work of art like you deserves to be worshiped and praised.” I lightly nipped his ear. “And I’ve been blessed with the privilege to make sure that you are. Now, sit tight, my prince.”

I rose to my feet and moved, swift as the wind, to our dresser for lubricant to cover my hand with before returning to my original place with Loki in front of the mirror. “Tonight, I plan on fucking you with my hand, leaving your whole body on display for the both of us. I want you to see that you are no monster. You’re a masterpiece, and deserve to be treated as such.” I gave his shoulder a light squeeze with my free hand. “If you wish to stop at any time, you can always use our safe word. You remember it, don’t you?”

“I do.” His words were just above a whisper.

“Very good.” I kissed him on the cheek. “Then let’s begin.” I started to slowly stroke his cock with my lubricated hand, earning another shudder, accompanied by a contented sigh, from him. “I just have one rule for you…” Loki turned his head to look at me with curiosity before I softly turned it back to the mirror with my free hand. “You have to watch the whole time.”

“Ah- Mmm…” He let out a clipped moan before responding. “Yes, mistress.”

“Very good.” I slowly stroked all the way from the base of his cock to the tip before swirling my thumb in small circles on the head and stroking back to the base. Each time I teased the head, a small growl emanated from the back of his throat, only to crescendo into another moan when I stroked back down to the base.

I felt each of his markings against my hand with every stroke, and I wondered for a moment how they would feel against my inner walls. I felt arousal thrumming between my thighs again. Focus, damnit!

But, focusing was difficult. No matter how I looked at Loki, my eyes always returned to his elaborately decorated cock. It was as if I walked into an opulent dining room, only to end up staring at the shiny centerpiece all throughout dinner. It was the center of attention in an already artistic scene. I struggled to find the perfect words to convey these thoughts, so I kept my praise simple.

“You have such a pretty cock~” My words were a sultry whisper against his skin, accompanied by the kisses that I peppered along his jaw. “I can’t wait to pleasure it in every way I know how. Would you like that, my prince?”

“Y- Mmm… Yes, mistress.” Loki struggled to respond between moans.

“I would like that, too.” I peeked up at the mirror to make sure that he was still looking. He was. How obedient~

Not only was I filled with the pride of seeing him willing to do as he was told, but I also noticed the way his chest moved with each heavy breath he took, which it typically did when I dominated him. His breathing would grow labored as I teased him before he finally found the words—or word fragments—to beg me for more.

His hair also didn’t change. It tumbled down his angular face in its usual raven locks, the smallest of curls lying slick against his forehead as a sheen of sweat glued them there.

And just under it were his eyes. Though they shone a bright red, his pupils were blown wide with lust, leaving a sliver of red around the edges. Save for their usual blue color, his eyes looked exactly the same as they usually did. It was comforting to see that even though he changed, there were familiar parts of him to remind me that he was still my Loki.

Although, change is nice~ I thought as I allowed my free hand to roam his chest again, tracing the markings until I approached his hips. I reached down and began to fondle his balls, still keeping pace on his cock with my lubricated hand. His eyes were lidded as he quickly neared an ecstasy-born stupor. He used one of his hands to steady himself on the ground as the other wound into his hair, ruffling it with each pass he made with his fingers.

“Yes, I would love to please you.” I continued my earlier thought. “To worship you like the god you are. You deserve that. You deserve to have someone willing to offer you their service. Even as your mistress, I wish to satisfy you.” I sped up the pace of my hand on his cock, and a whimper escaped his throat. “You look so regal, my love. Do you see it? Do you see how, even as you sit bare in front of me, you still look elegant enough to sit upon the Asgardian throne?”

“N- no, mistress…” Loki’s voice cracked as he let out another moan.

“Hm. That’s unfortunate.” I mused. “Maybe someday I should suck you off as you’re seated upon it. I’m sure that would help you see what I see.”

Loki bucked his hips into my hand. “M- mistress…” His voice curled into a light sound that almost resembled a whimper. “Feels good… Feels so- Mmm… good…”

“It’s about time you felt something other than pain while showing this part of who you are.” I trailed kissed back up his neck to his ear before whispering, “You’re still watching?” I glanced at the mirror to see him still looking, just as I’d asked him to. “That’s my sweet prince. I’m so glad you’re heeding my directions tonight. This is all for you, after all.”

“Yes, mistress.” Loki gritted his teeth, his eyes squeezing shut in pleasure before they shot back open as he remembered my command. “M- Mistress…?”

“Yes, my love?” I felt a small surge of concern rush through me. “Is something wrong?”

The soft whine he let out clued me in to what was happening before he even responded. “I- I’m close… Mmm- May I cum? …Please?” His last plea was no more than a breathy whisper. He needed this. Desperately. And who would I be to deprive him of it?

“Cum for me, my prince.” I purred. “You’ve been so good tonight. You deserve to. Come on, show me how your pretty cock looks when it’s dripping with cum.”

“Ohhh, mistress… Ah-” Loki practically screamed my name as his eyes rolled back, ropes of cum painting his thigh in a milky white.

I helped him ride out his high as his cock twitched in my hand, spilling his seed. Every time I thought he’d finished, he’d release what seemed to be another load with a roaring moan and a full-body shiver. I just kept stroking his cock while softly kissing along his neck and praising him until the last of it slowly dripped out over my fingers and he was left panting.

“That’s it, my prince.” I sighed against his neck. “You were so good for me. I’m so proud of you.” I finally let go of his cock and brought my hand to my mouth to slowly lick the cum off of my fingers. “Mmm, and you taste so good~”

“Mmm, darling,” Loki’s voice wavered as he took on a cautionary tone. “If you carry on like that, I just might grow hard again.”

“Then I’ll have no choice but to take care of you again.” I playfully walked my now clean fingers up his shoulder. “And again… and again… and again…”

“I like the sound of that.” He chuckled softly as our eyes moved back to the mirror in front of us.

I looked him over again, my eyes lingering over each part of him, almost as if my brain could take a snapshot his beauty. His hair was thoroughly ruffled, sweat shone on each curve of his skin, and his cock hung limply between his thighs once again, having spent its cum onto one of them. I watched as it began to slide down his thigh, following the raised markings before nearing the floor.

“You truly admire this, don’t you?” Loki’s question interrupted my thoughts.

“I do.” I answered without hesitation. “And I won’t be satisfied until you do, too.”

“You stubborn woman.” Loki lightly chuckled. “I will say, if this is the treatment my Jotun form entitles me to, then maybe it’s a sight I could get used to.”

I couldn’t keep back the cheesy grin my mouth curved into. “I’ll take it.” I crawled around him to sit between him and the mirror, holding my hands out to him.

He smirked and took my hands in his. “I feel compelled to thank you.”

I cocked my head in curiosity. “Hm? What for?”

He leaned closer to me, and I leaned in to meet him in the middle, electricity crackling in the air between us. “For loving the ugliest parts of me, and cherishing the things that I’ve only ever frowned upon.”

“Oh, Loki,” I squeezed his hand. “You take yourself too seriously. As soon as you stop criticizing yourself, I know you’ll lead a happier life.” I brought the same hand up to my lips to brush a soft kiss onto it. “Now, come on. You must be tired. Let me clean you up, and then we can cuddle for the rest of the night.”

“Of course.” Loki’s eyes conveyed a sweet sense of innocence… It was too sweet. He must have had other plans.

My suspicions were confirmed when he leaned in towards my ear and whispered. “Though, I believe I still have some dues to pay before we carry on with our night. Don’t you?”

I felt my ache for him quickly returning all at once. “Oh, you-”

Before I could finish my teasing remark, Loki had me trapped in another kiss.

#loki laufeyson #smut #marvel #marvel fanfic #loki fanfic #loki #loki x reader #loki x y/n #loki x female reader smut #marvel smut #loki mcu #mcu loki #mcu fanfiction #loki fic #loki smut #loki fanfiction #loki odinson #smut fanfiction #fem reader

[ghastlyfilters]

BETRAYAL !

— “AND I HELD YOUR HAND THROUGH ALL OF THESE YEARS, BUT YOU STILL HAVE.. ALL OF ME.”

pairing; billy loomis x fem!reader

summary; what if your biggest betrayal was by someone you’d held the hand of for so many years? billy loomis was supposed to be a pleasant never ending dream, not a soon to be distant memory turned into your one, true nightmare. (reader is replacing the role of sidney)

author’s note: HI. (i was half asleep whilst writing this and found it in my drafts. fuck knows where i was going with it. after reading it, i’m gonna guess it’s something about the whole ‘betrayal’ thing and the reader not knowing the darker truth behind billy’s motive if he is actually the killer? little does she know lmao. but anyway, take this whilst i go finish some requests and write other content. more reqs are open as always. even when i’m busy, i like writing requests here and there. or i’ll leave them for a bit and come back to em! enjoy this fic that i honestly don’t know why my half asleep self wrote💀)

PLEASE DON’T READ IF MENTIONS OF BETRAYAL, DEATH, OR ANYTHING HORROR RELATED AFFECTS YOU!!

𝐌𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐓

A shiver ran down your spine as flashbacks of hearing about the deaths of Casey Becker and Steve Orth came creeping back into your head. Had the killer intended for you to be next? Or were you just another random teen fit into this psycho’s cruel joke.

Everything was happening all too fast. Yes, you were now sat in Woodsboro police station after being taken in for your own safety. But did you truly feel safe?

No.

“Y/n?” A voice called out.

“Y/n??”

You quickly snapped out of your unpleasant thoughts, looking up to see Deputy Riley standing over you, holding out a small cup of water.

“Thanks, Dewey.” You whispered with a weak smile, accepting the water and placing it down beside you.

Dewey let out a small sigh as he put a hand on your shoulder. “Try not to overthink things, hm? We’ll have this all sorted out soon enough.”

You ran a hand through your hair, wincing at the sickly feeling you had in the pit of your stomach. You’d been incredibly nauseous ever since you arrived at the station. No wonder. You were probably still in shock after the events of tonight.

“Y/n, please. If you stress you’ll just make yourself even more shaken up than you clearly already are. Do you want me to get the nurse to check you over again?” Dewey asked.

“No, it’s alright. I’ll be fine.”

Dewey gave you a small pat on the back as he cleared his throat, slowly beginning to walk away.

“I’ll take you and Tatum home soon, kay?” He said, turning around one last time before heading back over to Sheriff Burk.

You resumed to wandering back into deep thought. Yeah, you were shaken up from the whole ‘killer’ part of tonight, but that wasn’t what hurt most.

Billy.

His name was beginning to feel like a distant memory, waiting for you to finally let go of.

‘Expect the unexpected,’ Most would say. But had you really imagined the one whom you thought you could trust the most would dare to hurt you?

Never.

After fighting for your life as the suspected killer tried to make it come to a brutal and bloody ending, Billy came out of nowhere, sneakily checking up on you every night as he had done for the past two years.

His timing was off. Way, WAY too off.

But the minute that damn phone fell out his pocket, you felt your heart stop immediately.

One hour ago, 34 Elm Street:

He was after you.

He was after YOU.

You yelped as Woodboro’s newly, anonymous killer made his move on you. He viciously kicked you to the floor with his large black boots, ready to gut you any second now.

Struggling, you desperately tried to pick yourself up, but it was no use. The killer grabbed a fistful of your hair, bashing your head against the laminate.

All you could think about was your upcoming cruel ending. How you were not going to see the ones you loved ever so dearly again. Tatum would never get to have late night movie sleepovers with you, Stu wouldn’t be able to make you giggle with his constant cheesiness, Randy and his little sister couldn’t ever see that bright smile of yours again whenever you’d go over to their house, and Billy, oh, Billy..

Your Billy.

You’d never get the chance to hear that soft voice of his ever again, almost as light as feathers themselves. The feeling of his undying love would soon be nothing. All the blissful memories you once shared were about to be over. Forever.

Finally, the monster behind the mask raised his sharp blade above you, ready to finish you off once and for all.

You quickly pushed him off you, sending the killer flying to the wall. Adrenaline had began to kick in. You couldn’t just be so defenceless and let him end you like that! You HAD to see your loved ones again. And you made sure this fucker wouldn’t prevent you from doing that anytime soon.

Quickly scrambling to the front door, you rattled the chain only to find it locked. Fuck. He could easily get back up in time whilst you tried to fix the lock. It wasn’t worth it.

Without hesitation, the killer got back up once again, launching himself at you. You ducked under him as he had clumsily managed to get his Buck 120 knife stuck in the door.

You headed for the stairs but knew he was hot on your heels. It didn’t take long for you to reach your bedroom, running over to the phone beside your bed desperately trying to dial 911.

“Shit!” You cursed. That bastard was still on the other end of the line.

Your only option was to contact them through the shitty computer you’d had for years now. The thing was slow, but you hoped it would be fast enough for you to alarm the police in time.

You whipped your head around only to see that the masked murderer was.. gone?

Before you could even stop and think for a moment, Billy rushed up to your window, climbing into the room. Oh dear god, it was like your prayers had finally been answered.

“Billy!” You breathed deeply, rushing towards him as if you were a small, frightened animal looking for your mother.

“I heard screaming,” Billy panicked. “The door’s locked. You all right?”

He watched you struggle to breathe properly out of pure fear. Fast, uneasy breaths. You clung to him, not letting go. Your sharp nails digging into his back. Not that he was bothered, that is.

“The killer’s here. He’s in the house! He’s in the house, he’s got a knife!” You cried, breathing in Billy’s cologne and masculine scent.

“He’s gone.” Billy said with a faint whisper, shushing you as you whimpered in his ear. “He’s gone, it’s alright.”

You were safe. You were in Billy’s arms for crying out loud! Everything was going to be fine.

A crash was heard as something had fallen out of your lover’s pocket, heading straight to the floor. You slowly turned your head around, staring directly at the item that had fell.

The phone.

You felt your throat close as it gave you that sickening, nauseating tingle you’d always hated. Your heartbeat became slower and slower. All you could do was stay in Billy’s arms, frozen out of fear before realisation truly hit.

Billy could feel the difference in your bodily functions, and cocked his head as you looked at him in horror, backing away.

“What?” He asked, his tone concerned.

You stared at your lover with pure disgust. Watching as he grew more and more confused. Your mind and mouth did not respond to his series of questions, demanding to know what was wrong and why you were looking at him with such terror.

Everything appeared to soon be ignored as you were only focused on one thing and one thing only.

Betrayal.

Your heart rate finally picked back up again, causing you to run out of the room. Billy followed behind, but you didn’t care. It wasn’t now until he realised you weren’t just running away, you were running away from HIM.

“Whoa, whoa, wait, wait! Wait, Y/n, wait!” Billy yelled, now full on going after you to get his answer.

You managed to get halfway down the stairs before he stopped chasing you, you could hear him screaming for you at the top of the staircase, leaning heavily onto the banister.

“Wait, wait, wait, WAIT! What’s going on?”

Your heart was in your throat whilst you could not believe what was happening right now. Too much, too soon.

“Y/n, come back!” He shrieked.

“Y/N!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

Now, Woodsboro Police Station:

Tears welled up in your eyes as those dark memories of tonight replayed, ones that would never quite leave your head.

“Y/n!” The same voice from your flashback called.

You looked up, slightly wincing at who you saw through the window of Sheriff Burk’s office.

Him.

Billy stared intensely at you from afar through the glass, his eyes filled with nothing but anger and never ending thoughts of confusion.

Yet, something else hid behind those eyes. A dark type of mystery you weren’t ready to know yet.

It was as if your lover felt the same feeling of betrayal you were experiencing yourself. But not betrayal because you’d suspected it was him trying to kill you, something else that was far different. Something worse.

I mean, you hadn’t did anything, right? It was Billy who had made himself look as guilty as he did. Far too suspicious for anyone to believe for the time being. Yet, his aura practically told you he showed no signs of guilt..

You began to sweat nervously as he continued to stare. What if, it truly had nothing to do with Billy? Had timing been your saviour tonight? Was he innocent enough to prove he had only arrived to your house to see you again?

A darker truth lay untold for now. The feeling of betrayal was mutual, but something else just told one a devious message about the other.

Something was coming.

Something, bad.

Something that in reality, was already here..

B

E

T

R

A

Y

A

L.

#scream #billy loomis #billy loomis x female reader #fem reader #scream 1996 #skeet ulrich #angst #scream angst #ghostface #billy loomis fic #tatum riley #stu macher #dewey riley #deputy dewey #randy meeks #reqs open #billy loomis x reader

[commander-rahrah]

Talking to the Moon: Part VI

Pairing: Astarion x GN!Reader Word Count: ~4800 Warnings: slightly suggestive, swearing, blood, non-con touching (Cazador touching reader), some borrowed in game dialogue, canonical warnings apply!

archiveofourown: here

masterlist: here

part I: here part II: here part III: here part IV: here part V: here

Summary: Set in Act III, after you arrive in Baldur's Gate and have met some of Astarion's siblings but not yet confronted Cazador. Astarion struggles with inner turmoil as he is suddenly thrusted back into the clutches of his old master's influence.

Notes: Long time no update! Long story short December was the month where everything was bad and everything hurt - ER hospital visits and many, many days laying in bed and on the couch very unmotivated and just wanting to feel better! I am very grateful to be feeling better and up to writing as my fics is one of my favorite creative outlets! So thank you for being patient between updates! I really appreciate it and any kind of interaction like a reblog, like or comment truly makes my friggin' day!

So this update and the next chapter will be focused on confronting Cazador! I have had these thoughts and ideas to add more to the in-game scenes since the very first time I played it! I was doing a multiplayer save with my fiancé and the second we finished Astarion's quest (I sobbed the entire time btw) I stayed up all night writing all my thoughts onto my notes app. I didn't even intend to write into a fic back then, I just wanted the outlet of writing it all down to help with how emotional I was feeling about it all! And now a few months later, I have a fic with over 30k words. Aha... whoops!

Anyways, I really hope you enjoy this update and the slight changes and add-ons I've added to this final part of Astarion's quest. I honestly teared up writing parts of it, because Astarion and his and my Tav's story means so much to me, I couldn't help it. ALSO, I don't plan on these being the last updates since it is the "end" of Astarion's quests. I still have plans for this Tav/Reader and Astarion yet. Not enough kissing and happiness had happened yet!! Just some angst and pain has to happen first.

As always, reblogs and comments are very very appreciated ♡♡♡

·:¨༺ ༻¨:·..·:¨༺ ༻¨:·..·:¨༺ ༻¨:·..·:¨༺ ༻¨:·..·:¨༺ ༻¨

You had wandered the streets of Baldur’s Gate before. Long before the nautiloid, in your time living in the city you had explored as much of the exciting city as you could. But never like this.

Your party had taken every cobblestone street, every back alley and shortcut. Astarion lead the way for most of them, pointing things out and sharing antidotes with you.

But you noticed how his smile strained at times, that he was wearing down the stitches on his leather pants from his fingers picking them nervously. At night when you slept side by side you’d wake to him trembling and muttering through a nightmare, which had become more frequent since you stepped into the city boundaries.

The vampire has been so sure of the next step in the Shadowlands and Wyrm’s Crossing. But now anytime you neared the streets leading to Cazador’s castle, he was turning on his heel and looking at one of your companions to ask what they needed to do instead.

Meeting his siblings days ago had been eye-opening. You thought you understood what he had gone through, that the memories he had described to you, and even shown you through the tadpoles, was enough. But after seeing how controlled and manipulated Petras and Dalyria had been… What they were being forced to do…You couldn’t bring yourself to picture Astarion like that.

You couldn’t imagine the turmoil and anguish going through your lover — seeing his siblings, being in the city again in a way he never thought he would, being so close to seizing power that could change his fate forever. You hadn’t voiced that every time he mentioned taking the ritual for himself fear stabbed in your belly. You knew what was motivating him to even consider the choice — outright fear and the call of power that was easily addicting. But too many things in his life has been decided for him… so you didn’t voice that to him, instead insisting that you only needed for him to be safe and happy. You trusted him to make the right choice.

You did trust him. You loved him.

And you showed him as such — throughout the day as you laced your fingers through his, as you rolled your neck for him to feed, as you curled into each other to sleep.

And he had been returning that trust and love back.

He had continued to expand his boundaries with you, slowly but surely as the days went on. Your quiet time together after a long day, you were a reprieve he sought out over and over. You whispered and giggled with each other between kisses in your shared bed in the Elfsong Tavern — tucked into the corner and hidden behind privacy screens. Privacy screens that Karlach had loudly dragged over before giving you both a very unsubtle wink. Then she did the same for her and Shadowheart.

The teasing had been relentless.

You still hadn’t taken those final steps, and you were in no rush too. Astarion’s happiness and agency was the most important to you, always. Yet, you couldn’t help the way your heart thundered and breath got higher as he slowly explored any kind of touch and intimacy with you again.

You were laid together now, draped across each other — you only in your night clothes and Astarion in very thin linen pants. You were pressed gently on top of him, your voice and lips whispering across his pale skin as he pointed his fingertip to various parts of his body. His new game he had started that night — seemingly convinced that he would find a part of himself that you did not love.

Utterly impossible — but you indulged him anyways.

“Even this? You like this?” He pointed to his knobby elbow.

"Hmm,” You hummed approvingly, pressing a gentle peck to the bare, taut skin of his bent joint.

His low laughter rumbled through both of you, shaking you slightly. “I’m running out of ideas.”

You eyed him greedily, “I’m not. You’ve missed some of your best parts.”

“Have I?” He cocked a brow, a smirk spreading across his face. “Alright, go on then.”

“I can—?”

“Mhmm,” He nodded his head against the silk pillow, settling himself deeper into the mattress under your weight.

Swallowing, you took him in underneath you and felt your mind start whirring. Slow, patient, soft — you reminded yourself. You gently touched his jawline, the tip of your finger following the strong line. “Here.”

Then your forefinger and thumb rubbed the cartilage on the tops of his ears, “Here.” His mouth fell open deliciously with that one.

“Here,” You caressed the mole on his cheek with a swipe of your thumb.

You continued your movements, so drawn into him that you didn’t notice his red eyes blazing as they flickered between watching your hand and watching your face.

Your fingers gracefully dragged across him. His Adam’s apple. His knuckles. Collarbone. Inner wrist.

“I told you, there is no part of you that I do not like. Every inch of you I want to—“ You cut yourself off. Perhaps that was too much. This was a fun, teasing game — exploratory and gentle. You hadn’t meant to make it about your own desire and arousal.

He swallowed, his mouth hanging open slightly, “You want to what?”

You let out a fake cough, lifting yourself off of him slightly with a blush crossing your cheeks. “Well, I—“

A grin spread across his face, “Oh, I love it when you get all coy.” He purred, pulling you back before you could fully get away. “Tell me, please.” He whispered.

“There isn’t an inch of you that I don’t wish to kiss. To taste.” You admitted huskily, the heat on your face spreading to your neck.

The groan that escaped him made the fire in your belly sputter even hotter.

“Show me?” He asked softly, but his tone was slightly more sultry than before.

“Sho—show you?”

He nodded before fidgeting under you to display himself more — stretching out his neck, spreading his arms out.

“May I—“

“Darling,” He said the pet name a tad exasperated as his slowly closing eyes snapped to yours. “This was my idea. You don’t have to ask every time.”

“Yes, I do.” You insisted.

He rolled his eyes playfully, shaking his soft curls, “Really—“

But you cut him off. “Astarion, I do. I will continue to. It’s important to me. I never want you to do something you don’t want. I never want to make you feel like that with me.”

“You haven’t. I know you wouldn’t.” He trailed his pale fingers through the hair hanging in front of your face as you hovered over him. He tucked it behind your ear.

“I know it seems like a silly question, especially between us but I want you to know you can—“

It was his turn to cut you off, silencing you with a reassuring kiss. He was looking at you with astonishment when you finally opened your eyes from the deep kiss. “What ever did I do to deserve you my lovely moon?”

You smiled tenderly down at him, “Perhaps it was fate.”

“Hmm," His red eyes blinked slowly, "I used to despise that sentiment.”

“And now?”

Astarion gave you one of the most tender smiles you'd ever seen. “I think you might be right.” He ran his fingers gently down your cheek before letting out a dramatic puff. “Now, stop turning me into a sappy lovesick fool and kiss me already.” He growled playfully.

"As you wish, love." You mumbled as you pressed your lips to his.

• • •

You woke with a stir, the weight of the mattress shifting suddenly and then the sound of scuffling feet. Astarion was standing in front of the bed — in front of you defensively, still only in his night pants with his bare chest rising and falling quickly. A dagger was closed in his fist, aimed in front of him of threateningly. “Stop right where you are.” His voice was commanding like it had never been before, but you could still hear a twinge of uncertainty in it.

“You know why we’re here, brother.” A low, masculine voice said — seemingly coming from the dark shadows in the corners of the large suite.

Astarion's stance grew wider, his grip on his dagger tightening until his already pale knuckles turned white. “Come any closer to us and it will be the last thing you do.”

Peering over your lover's figure, you found four pairs of glowing red eyes studying you intently. The hairs on the back of your neck and arms started to stand up.

"I mean it - get the hells away from us!" Astarion growled again, his hand blinding reaching back for you. You laced your fingers through his and a protection spell was on your lips seconds later, muttered quietly until you felt the magical aura surround him.

The rest of your companions were up on their feet after Astarion's shout, pushing in towards your bed, edging around it in a protective semi-circle. Most of them were scantily clad in only undergarments and nightclothes - but all of them had their hands glowing with magic or weapons drawn. Fury was etched on every one of their faces from the intrusion and threat.

One of the female vampires eyed the rest of your group, counting and calculating. Then she raised her hands up, "We come in peace, brother."

"You call this peace, Aurelia?" He frowned at her. Your grip on him tightened as you stood up and tried to go to his side, but he stepped in front of you protectively once again.

A male stepped forward slightly, his mouth and eyes ruby red with deep scars carved over his skin, trailing down his chin. It was a terrifying sight. But his voice did not match his appearance, and instead was laced with desperation and hope. "The master needs all seven us for the ceremony. Come with us and be reborn. We'll live again."

The suite remained deadly silent. Like you all were waiting to see who would make the first move, who would let loose a spell or swing a blade first.

But it was your meek voice that broke the silence, "How did you find us?"

Their red eyes snapped instantly to you, but it was one of his sister's who spoke. "Master Cazador has known where Astarion was this entire time — where both of you were. He has been watching carefully since you arrived in the city."

"You know what our master will do to them.” His scarred brother warned, nodding his head towards you. His eyes almost looked... sad.

“He won’t get the chance, Leon.” Astarion snarled back.

Leon raised his hands defensively, "We aren't here for them. We are here about the rite. The master needs you. You must attend."

Astarion scoffed, "Oh, I am well aware of what the master needs. But don't we all deserve better?" His features were contorted in a strange mixture of emotion. "After these centuries of torment, I know what you all want. More then power. More than to walk in the sun. You want to see him dead."

The desire for revenge, for Cazador's death, did not surprise you. He had said as much, and bluntly too. You had agreed that Cazador deserved such a fate after the years of abuse and exploitation he had forced upon Astarion.

"If you think I will be a willing sacrifice for him and his deranged ritual, you really are stupidly blinded by him."

"Sacrifice?" Aurelia stepped forward, shaking her head. "No, this is our way to cheat undeath."

"Is that the lie he told you?" He sneered.

"I-"

Astarion's lips curled up, "You're all fools. You think he cares about us? You think he will grant us such power? We are nothing but pawns to be slaughtered for the king — one final, grand maneuver so he can win the game."

His four siblings shook with disbelief. "The master doesn't need to lie to us. He controls us, fully. Why go through the trouble of giving us hope..."

Leon got there first, his face crumbling. "Because its more cruel... shit."

The vampires exchanged a look — a look between siblings that you knew well. One that you had shared with your own brother many times. A silent conversation had happened between them in an instant.

"That manipulative bastard." The other female finally spoke, her words a hiss between her fanged teeth.

"How did we not see this?"

Leon squared his shoulders, moving his red eyes to look back at his free brother. "Astarion is right... because we are blind fools."

"We must go before he compels us too— agghhh." Aurelia grabbed her head, her expression one of excruciating pain. "Aggghhhhh!"

"Take her." Leon commanded the other siblings who looped their arms around her, dragging her away as she fought them. But he lingered behind them for a moment, stopping to look over his shoulder and study the pair of you. To look at the rest of your companions surrounding you defensively. "Help us, brother." His voice was a whispered plea, his terrifying, red eyes wide and shining. Then with a loud crack and a sudden puff of red, they were gone.

A collective sigh escaped your party as they disappeared, spells extinguished and weapons dropped down to their sides before they turned to face both of you.

Astarion’s shoulders sagged as he realized his family had indeed left. He all but collapsed into your side, burying his face into the crook of your neck as you held him back. Really, as you held him up.

You stroked his hair as he murmured into your shoulder, “Tomorrow. This ends tomorrow.”

“Okay, my love. We’ll be with you the whole way.” You whispered into his pointed ear, returning the concerned expression of your companions watching as your hold on Astarion tightened a bit more.

• • •

Whatever you do... I just don't want to die down here.

Sebastian’s voice was echoing in his ears, his mind, and creeping down into parts of him he had just barely started to recognize again. Parts of him that a few months ago he had deemed long dead. He had to force his pink lips into a firm line just to stop them from trembling. 

This place, his so-called home was his personal hell. Every step through the fading carpets and ostentatiously decorated rooms had gotten harder and harder — until he had started to feel physically ill. Bile was rising in his throat, his back and palms of his hands turning clammy. And now, standing in the secret, buried crypt beneath — it felt like the castle above him was pressing down, screaming at him of what a luxury it had been that he was a prisoner up there and not down here. That voice in his head, that ringing, echoing voice. Gods, he wished it would stop. 

And you... you had been so uncommonly quiet. You who had lent him your strength since the moment he met you, you and your presence a steady reassurance that he had come to depend on. But his little moon who was usually so chatty and poetic, was so quiet. Your eyes were wide as you followed him through Cazador’s castle, your steps clumsy and dazed like he wasn't the only one walking through this twisted nightmare. Perhaps it was for you — realizing the realities of what he had been through.

When Astarion's composure had really started to shake, you snapped back to reality and were with him in an instant. Your warm fingers threading through his icy ones. Your voice, your soft, hushed voice using the smallest amount of words to try and put his cruel mind at ease. The words you had used were choice, but powerful. You insisted that all of this was Cazador's cruelty — not his. 

But how could he believe that as he stood in front of the cells filled with people he had brought his master? How could he deny the role he played in all of this when he could stare into the eyes of all of those victims — the stupid, innocent fools who in a fleeting moment fell for him. 

Especially when he realized how fortunate, how damn lucky, it was that he never stumbled on you on the streets of Baldur’s Gate the past year you'd lived in the city. 

Astarion stood before the precipice of Cazador’s ritual room. The grand doors that would lead to these final moments just a few steps away from him.

The fine outfit he picked for himself suddenly felt unbearably tight and itchy. The lacy neck scratching and digging into his skin, his leather shoes too restricting. He had wanted to use the clothes as a symbol to his old master — look how well I’ve done without you, look who I’ve become without you. His hands became fists at his sides, his knuckles white and half moons appearing on the soft skin of his palms as he squeezed tighter and tighter. The only way to stop them from trembling — with both fear and rage. 

“I'm here for you, love.” You whispered gently, your warm fingers ghosting the sides of his wrists as you stepped in beside him. His fists unclenched slightly as he breathed in your familiar scent, as he savored the soft caress of your skin on his. He pushed down the building sob climbing up through his chest, the urgency of the cry growing as he felt your presence surround him. "Just... remember who you are, Astarion." 

Who was he? It felt even blurrier in this sadistic crypt under the castle he used to call home. Though it never was one. A prison, that's what it was. 

And what version of him did you see? Could he really be what you thought you saw? What you thought he could be?

Astarion had left Baldur's Gate against his will — a tormented, violent, broken thing. A puppet. A slave. He thought he had returned to this city anew — a free male, softer around the edges but no longer a thing to be used. His own person.

Yet the second he felt the influence of Cazador's control, the moment he felt that familiar threat he felt as if he was falling backwards. Being backed into a corner, corralled into the cage and slapped into chains that he had rotted away in for two hundred years. 

He would not go back. 

A shudder went through him as he tried to compose himself once more, taking a deep breath that he knew he did not truly need. Looking sideways at you, he gave you a final nod. "I'm ready for this to be over." 

Something flashed in your eyes, but it was gone as fast as it appeared. You nodded, before following him through the grand doors with the rest of your companions trailing behind. 

The descent down those stairs was brutal. Time seemed to drag to such a slow that it was almost like the scene before them was frozen in time. Astarion could recognize the familiar silhouette of his master anywhere. It had haunted him long enough that he had memorized every harsh line and angle. He loosed a breath as he counted six figures bound and hovering by some form of magic — a seventh spot on the top center left open and waiting.

For him. 

"Could it be?!" The voice that plagued his thoughts, his nightmares and memories echoed throughout the large chamber. It sent hundreds of different feelings throughout his body, his flesh getting goosebumps and steps faltering for a moment on the stone stairs.

"Our prodigal son returned to us!" Cazador's voice was jovial, but there was no mistaking why. The final piece to his game had just delivered themselves to him, the sacrificial lamb for slaughter had seemingly come with no ill intent. 

Astarion would make the vampire bastard regret underestimating him.

He could hear you just steps behind him, the pads of your feet, the familiar thrum of your heart increasing as you both stepped closer and closer to Cazador's place on the central dais. He gritted his teeth, his back molars clenching down so hard he swore he heard a crunch in the back of his mouth. He lowered his head, looking up at the monster that had ruined him through his eyebrows. 

"Do not slouch before me, boy! Have you no respect for yourself?" Cazador snapped, waving his hand dismissively at him. "Look at you, crawling back after abandoning your family. You should be begging for our forgiveness."

"I will do no crawling, nor begging." Astarion snarled, baring his teeth slightly. "And forgiveness? Really? You have never forgiven anything. Every mistake, every slip was punished."

The bastard had the audacity to roll his red eyes, "I strove for perfection in all things — even those as imperfect as you. A pity you amounted to so little, despite my efforts." 

"No!!" He roared, stepping forward once more as he pointed his finger. "No, fuck you and fuck everything you've ever done to me!" 

Cazador raised a single dark brow before letting out a humorless laugh, "You stupid, little boy."

"You son of a bitch!" Astarion couldn't stop the explosion of anger that coursed through him and he charged forward. His pale hand formed a fist as he launched himself at Cazador but a flare of red magic suddenly froze him in place. His body stopped completely, caught mid-lunge with his fingers still curled in a punch. 

He heard a strangled whimper from behind him. It was you, the sound one he had rarely heard — one of you paralyzed from fear. 

But the master mercifully ignored you, only having eyes for his spawn. He smirked as he surveyed Astarion trapped in the swell of magic, "Tut, tut." He clicked his tongue, "Did you think it would be that easy?" 

Astarion let out a groan of pain as he tried to resist the red binding power that started to form around him. Tears began to prickle in the corners of his eyes as they began to squeeze and cut into his skin, seeping into him slowly like a dreadful poison. 

"Astarion!!" His name ripped out of you at his pained cries, stepping forward onto the dais to intervene. The agony in your voice was more unbearable then what he was currently suffering. 

He was a fool to bring you here, to ask you to help him. He had served them all to Cazador on a silver platter.  

“Oh?" The ancient vampire's voice had a hint of wicked glee in it as he turned on his heel and set his eyes on you, with the rest of your companions lingering just behind you. Like he had just finally bothered to notice your presence. "And who do we have here? Your little pet, Astarion?” 

You froze in place, but stood up slightly taller. He watched as you jutted your chin forward, setting your shoulders back as you refused to cower in front of him. Even if he could scent your fear from here.  Then the old master slinked around you, his chest almost brushing your back as he inspected you head to toe. Your jaw set as he circled behind you where you could not see, but you did your best to keep your face neutral.  “And what’s this?” Cazador asked with a flicker of false humor. 

Astarion hissed as the vampire stepped even closer, bending down to eye his puncture marks that had scarred on your neck. “You finally gained enough courage to feed from a being capable of thought? Congratulations, spawn.” Then he took in a large inhale, “And quite an appetizing pick too, they smell absolutely delicious."

His glowing red eyes snapped back to Astarion as he remained behind you, looming over your shoulder. He was gauging every reaction from both of you, he knew.

Studying. Calculating. Deducing. 

Like any manipulative vampire would.

"But it seems my dear boy, you’ve been double dipping with this one haven’t you?” He made to grab your silver hair and Astarion felt his mind go berserk.  “DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH THEM!” He roared, pulling hard enough on the magical red tethers around him that they flared and flickered for a moment. 

An evil grin contorted his master's fingers as he still put his long fingers through your hair and pushed it behind your ear. The action revealed even more of your neck so he pressed his prominent nose against your pulse point, inhaling deeply. “Your scent is all over them.” You shuddered involuntarily, your face wincing and flinching away at his cold touch.

Astarion growled, his fangs barring and snapping at his old master. “Oh, so upset. They are your favorite little pet aren’t they?" A long finger nail dragged down your jaw. Astarion's eyes were glued to yours, your body seemingly immobilized from fear — for both yourself and him. Cazador cocked his head as he watched the pair of you before letting out a scoff. "You fool, you fell for your snack instead. What a pity... for once I was almost proud of you.”

He finally let you go, wiping the fingers that touched you off on his jacket like you were a worm he had picked up from the dirt. He licked his lips as he approached his spawn again, still frozen with his scarlet magic that buzzed and echoed with authority throughout the entire chamber.  “Well, I can give you one last comfort, since I am such a generous master." He whispered into Astarion's ear, both of their eyes locked onto your worried expression. "Once you and all your siblings are nothing but pulp... I’ll treat your special love extra carefully. I’ll be so lonely since the rest of you will all be gone. But this one… they will make for a delectable companion."

Another growl escaped from deep in his chest, but the sound was caught as Cazador wrapped his long fingers around his pale throat. “It’s a pity I have to lose you. So much work, so much time... gone. But my new companion will do a much better job than you, with a pretty face like that no one would resist? I mean, even you didn’t.” He hissed in his ear. 

"ENOUGH!” You barked, stepping forward closer to him with your mouth and brow set in a hardline. "Release him, Cazador, at once."

The bastard only smirked and snapped around to meet you, "Ha. Or what?"

"This all ends here. You end here." You did not stutter or stumble. Your voice was strong and carried across the chamber. Your companions stepped up behind you, hands moving at their sides as they readied their weapons and spells at your word. 

"Is that so? You are willing to risk death for him? A wasted, mistake of a spawn? A stupid, little boy?"

Your nostrils flared, your eyes shining with familiar power that was now coming off of you in waves, "I would do anything for him."

"Stupid mortal." Cazador barked, his lips curling in disgust. "I forgot how foolish you can be when you fall in "love". But not to worry... I'll train that right out of you." He twirled back around dramatically, looking at Astarion as he held onto his staff tighter. The red magic swirled and brightened around Astarion, squeezing him so tightly he felt as if may be crushed from the inside out. "You truly forgot my power, Astarion. You truly thought our bond as creator and creation was all that stopped you from killing me. You are weak, my child. You are a small, pathetic little boy who never amounted to anything. But today, you will finally do something worthwhile. You will burn, and I will ascend."

The vampire master flicked his wrist, and Astarion was soaring across the room — completing the final spot in the ritual circle. The entire chamber room suddenly lit up with the red light, a enormous sigils swirling underneath Astarion and the rest of his siblings as they hovered in mid air. Their tops suddenly shredded from the force of the spell as their naked, scared torsos were revealed — the scars littered across them glowing the same scarlet as the patterns beneath them.  

"ASTARION!" His name was a roar from your lips again as you surged forward, hands outstretched for him across the ritual floor.  

"Witness the birth of the Vampire Ascendant! Ecce dominus!" Cazador's staff slammed down onto the marked stone floor. 

And pain like nothing Astarion had ever felt went through every part of him. 

Read the next chapter: here

#bg3 fanfiction #astarion ancunin #astarion x reader #astarion x gn reader #astarion x tav #astarion/tav #astarion/reader #astarion fanfic #bg3 astarion #bg3 fanfic

[candy8448]

For the write fic ask game: Wind discovers swear words!! hehe x)

This has been in my inbox forever and guuess what! Finally got tge motivation to finish it!

Wind discovers swear words

A hehe crack fic

With Wind and Wars

Go read it, i dare you

===============

Warriors had just finished berating wind on having such a pottymouth, "and where did you learn any of these swear words from anyway?"

Wind winced and looked up at him

"What?"

=====

Their time traveling adventure was over.

The captain walked along the corridors. They had all been sent back to their own seperate eras, never to see eachother again, being centuries apart; or so they thought.

Turns out the evil sorcerer Cia owed him a favour for the war she caused to get him and soon after the adventure was over, he decided that he would propose it and confront her and redeem it.

A devise to chose which era you wished to go to, Lana began working on it right away, and now it was ready. Wars would see his brothers again.

He breathed out as he pushed open the double doors and there stood Impa and Lana, on the table in front of them a pillow with a device laid on top.

"Captain Link," Impa started, "here it is as you've requested, but i must warn you to be careful. You more than anyone should know the dangers of time travel" Warriors nodded, turning to face Lana, who gave him a quick briefing of how to work it. He slipped the clubky blue bracklet onto his right arm and adjusted it tightly with his left. The two waved him off with a "good luck," and, "come back safe!"

Wars knew which of his brothers he would visit first, the one he grew closest to, the one who was glued to his side during their adventure,

The sailor.

Wars set his focus on the yougest and clised his eyes, feeling a familiar magic pull him in.

=====

Link, a little boy who had never left the sands of outset, sat in his house, counting down the days until his tenth birthday only a few days away now. He was alone in the house, Aryll, his five year old little sister having gone to play with the seagulls and Grannie going down to the beach, leaving Link to his own as he waited for them to return. Link hummed to himself as he finished folding the last of their clothes and placed it down when he heard the whirring behind him. He spun quickly to find on the other side of the room a man clad in armour and a blue scarf appear through a swirling purple cloud.

The two stopped and stared at eachother in a stalemate until Link broke the silence with an exadgerater quirk of an eyebrow that he recently learned to do and loved to show off, "Hello-"

"-SHIT!" The man cut him off suddenly, he seemed to recoil before freezing again, almost as if in a flashback before he whispered to himself, "Fuck..." before promptly dissapearing again in the purple...

Link blinked one, twice, before he moved. He had no idea what just happened. He shook his head as he tried to figure it out. His mind however, settled on the two words the he said. He didn't know what they meant so they must be important!

Link started climbing down the ladder quickly,

"GramGram! What does 'shit' mean?"

#very short but silly idea i thunk up #i do a little fanfic #ask game #lu fic #fic #fanfiction #lu fanfic #lu fanfiction #crack #crack fic #lu wind #lu warriors #loz #the legend of zelda #linked universe #lu

[velvetlilacsdaisies]

Good morning😮‍💨🩷 (it’s 4:45pm and I’m waking up for work lmfao)

But I want to get out some updates today bc the next couple weeks I will be extremely busy w my personal life with Easter and the start of my spring/summer plans fiasco!! 🐣🪺

Houskeepinggg WIP bc I’ve gained a lot of new follower in the last few days!

Part 2 to Flames & Weapons w/ @garricks4thwingqueen

Hehehe so excited for it bc this fic is so self indulgent and it’s fun to write about the other bits of the Empyrean series and having to world build

Part 5 to Shit at Feelings

Again I’m so excited for everything, but I’ve had bits and pieces drafted for this part and they can finally come together and collide for this Uber angsty part. SPOILERS goes back to canon plot line of Iron Flame ish

Ridoc x Dain’s little sister imagine

I had a Valentine’s Day theme and wanted to post around then, but better late than never?? My time management is out the window but I love the concept—I still want to post it when I can get to it

Headcannons: nicknames for him part 2 ft Dain and Ridoc & a smutty one ft. Possibly all men

Kinda struggle w HCs lowkey lmfao. My brain is just always too much w details and can’t get straight to the point

Liam Mairi smut

I’ve been cooking on this one for a whileeee 😮‍💨 since I read fourth wing last year actually

Fourth Wing AU fic

I’m researching for this one bc one: new to the hockey world(I’m a devote football girly, but I love sports bc I can hoot and holler), trying to be realistic when I write this and am waiting to finish SaF series first before committing to another fic. What I will tell you all it is going to include bc I’m considering writing from multiple character’s POV (canon x non canon)

Brother’s best friend trope, enemies to lovers, and my usual platonic friendship banter 😅

A surprise imagine

I’m not giving details about this one yet sorryyyyy

Garrick Tavis smut

A request for my dear friend, Al 🫶🏻

The rebrand of my ACOTAR era

Like i said i came back on tumblr as an ACOTAR girly original account was @k-daydreams , and actually was able to get into my old account that for past several months i was locked out of (my list of passwords go crazy oopsie), but im going to bring all my fics I posted on there to this acc

Anyway if you read this or made it this far… that’s all I got for now! Thank you for enjoying the work I put out sm! And always feel free to yap w me bc that really motivates me and strikes inspiration in my scrambled eggs brain 🤭🫶🏻

Love yewwwww ✨

#k rambles #bodhi durran x reader #liam mairi x reader #ridoc gamlyn x reader #dain aetos x reader #garrick tavis x reader #azriel shadowsinger x reader #rhysand x reader

[bonesandthebees]

You don’t have to answer this but I’ve always been hugely inspired by your writing and I’ve always wondered how you keep yourself motivated?

Not just on the bigger fics but even the one-shots. What keeps you going? My biggest struggle lately has been motivation after going through a bit of a mental health struggle and as I’ve been trying to come out of it, I feel like my writing is no longer as good as it used to be. I used to write all the time and it felt like I could turn anything into content but now it just feels like everything I write goes nowhere.

I feel like maybe I’m just putting too much pressure on myself to put out content rather than just enjoying it like I used to but I’ve felt a lot of guilt from not putting anything out in so long.

Anyways like I said, you absolutely don’t have to answer this but I thought I’d throw it out there to see if you had any advice you’d want to share, it would be hugely appreciated.

this is a really good question! unfortunately my answer I think only really works for me and not most people. part of the reason I write so much is because writing is my escape from whatever is going on in my life that's stressing me out. the busier I am, the more I want to write. and when I don't have the inspiration/energy to write for too long, my mental health gets worse as a result.

truthfully, a lot of the time it's easier for me to process a fictional character's emotions than my own. so when my mental health is bad or I'm getting too sucked into my own head, writing isn't just something I do for the hell of it. I need it to keep me from spiraling too deeply into my own head. (of course this doesn't always work and it depends on what I'm writing about, but this is true for the most part)

so for me, the way I keep my motivation up is that I know I'm going to feel like shit if I don't write. I find joy in plunging myself into fictional worlds and characters and, as I said, I use it as my escape. while I know not everyone uses writing as an escape like I do, the one bit of advice I think you might be able to take from me is to try and find the joy in it. don't force yourself to write something you don't want to. don't write something just because you think it's what other people want to see.

I completely understand the pressure to write for content rather than your own enjoyment, especially when you have unfinished works. but you have to remind yourself you're not obligated to update anything. you're writing fanfiction for free. you don't owe it to anyone.

and I also totally get feeling like your writing is worse now, and while I doubt that's true, even if it is, you gotta push through. the only way you're going to get back in the groove of writing is by doing it.

honestly if I have any recommendation for you, write something to post anonymously. sure, you're not updating whatever you have ongoing, but again you don't owe it to anyone. sometimes you just need to get back in the saddle. maybe you can use this as an opportunity to write an idea you weren't sure your audience would react well to. or maybe you can just use this to start a project you feel like you won't finish, but want to put out in the world anyway. I've done this before and it definitely helps to get me back in the writing mindset. you don't have to feel embarrassed for posting this other thing instead of your ongoing wips on main, because no one will know it's you.

I hope this helps! I know it's not easy letting go of the pressure and tbh it never leaves entirely, but just try to find joy in writing for writing's sake rather than content.

#ask #anon #bones writes

[froizetta]

Since it's WIP Wednesday, I've decided to post an excerpt from a longer WIP to motivate myself to write it! If it's technically on the internet, I can't just not finish it, can I? Right??? Fingers crossed I can make this a regular thing with other WIPs...

So anyway, here's part of chapter 1 from my early-career superbat identity porn fic!

“The thing you’ve gotta remember,” Jimmy said firmly with a slightly overenthusiastic wave of his jack and coke. A little bit of liquid sloshed out onto the countertop. “The thing you gotta remember. Is.” He blinked. “Ah, cripes. What was it again?”

Clark absently took a sip of his own drink. The whisky was at least a pleasant burn in his throat, even if it wasn’t exactly his favorite flavor. “Gee, I don’t think I can help you with that, Jim.”

Jimmy beamed. “Oh yeah! The thing you’ve gotta remember is, that there’re plenty of fish in the sea.”

Clark couldn’t quite suppress the wry quirk to his smile. “Wow. That’s some original advice right there.”

“No, but for real though!” Jimmy insisted, slamming an emphatic fist on the table. “Just. So many fish. A whole ocean! Of women! And, uh, also not women!”

“That does sound like a lot of people.”

“Exactly,” Jimmy said, nodding sagely. “You’ve just gotta widen your net, is all. To more than, like, one fish-woman.”

Ah, yes. Clark was honestly a little surprised it had taken him five drinks to bring it up. Apparently, Jimmy had needed some Dutch courage before embarking on the ‘romance advice’ portion of the evening.

Clark could humor him on it, at least. “You mean Lois?” he asked.

“Yeah I mean Lois! Don’t get me wrong, Lois is great. But she’s just one fish,” Jimmy said emphatically. “Like, sure, maybe she’s a really cool fish. Like… Like koi or something. Koi are actually pretty amazing, did you know they—” He paused and then shook his head. “Wait, no, this isn’t the time for fun fish facts. What I mean is, just because koi are cool, doesn’t mean there aren’t equally cool salmon. Or tuna. Don’t let the koi blind you to all the…the really hot tuna around you. You know?”

Jimmy looked concerningly pleased with his increasingly labored metaphor. Clark charitably chose to blame this on the alcohol rather than Jimmy’s abilities as a writer. “Maybe you’re right, Jim. I guess it’s pretty silly to be so stuck on her, huh?”

Jimmy frowned. “Well, I wouldn’t say that. I think you guys would be great together, you know that.”

“I’m not sure her new fella would agree with you,” he said. Embarrassingly, the glumness in his tone wasn’t entirely feigned.

“Don’t be so pessimistic,” Jimmy said insistently. “We don’t know that it’s like that. Maybe it’s just a pity date?”

It wasn’t just a pity date, Clark was pretty sure about that. Lois had been wearing the perfume she wore whenever she wanted to impress someone. And yes, that was a creepy thing to notice, but he couldn’t help it, okay? Super-senses make a lot of things really hard to ignore.

He shrugged. “Maybe. But it’s none of my business anyway. I know she doesn’t see me that way, and that’s fine.” And it was. He knew that to Lois, he was just a coworker – and a bumbling, awkward, country bumpkin of one at that. Even though he definitely hammed up the act to create distance between Clark Kent and Superman, the real Clark Kent still wasn’t the kind of guy who would appeal to someone like Lois. She’d want someone classy and sophisticated. Someone like her.

Probably someone like whatever guy she was on a date with right now, in fact.

“And, I mean… it's Lois,” he added, as neutrally as he could manage. “She’s out of most people’s leagues. It’s not— I mean, I never really thought I had a shot with her, you know? So I’m not about to get all bent out of shape because of one date. Honest.”

Apparently, this wasn’t what Jimmy had wanted to hear, at least judging by the way his face fell. “What? No no no, that’s not what I— Look, I’m not trying to say you don’t have a chance there. In fact, I think she’d be lucky to date you. But what I mean is, it’s not the end of the world if she doesn’t see that. You’re an awesome dude! I just think you deserve to be happy, with or without Lois.”

“Oh,” Clark said, then blinked and ducked his head, taken aback by how hard that had hit him. Jimmy really was a great friend. He suddenly felt guilty for spending their evening together daydreaming about eating pizza on his couch. “Shucks, Jim, that’s…that’s real nice of you to say.”

“I’m not being ‘nice’, I’m being honest. Listen veeery closely, Clark.” Jimmy set his glass down and grasped Clark around the shoulders, looking him straight in the eye.

Clark tensed. “Um. What’s happening.”

“Shush,” Jimmy said. “You’re listening.”

“I am?”

“You are. Now focus and take this in. Really internalize it.” His gaze was a little unsteady, but still intense and undoubtedly sincere. “You – Clark Kent – are a bona fide catch.”

Clark couldn’t help but let out a snort of laughter. It would be easier to take Jimmy seriously if he wasn’t starting to slur his words. “A ‘catch’? Are we still on the fish metaphor?”

Jimmy blinked. “What? No, no. Look, you’re smart, you’re a successful reporter. You’re probably the nicest guy I know. And you’re tall, like…what, 6’1”? 6’2”?”

“Something like that,” Clark half-lied with an easy smile.

“Yeah, so. Tall. Trust me, as a short guy, that’s a big plus. Everyone loves tall guys. You’re, you know, the tall, dark and handsome type. Like Superman!”

His smile froze. “Oh?”

“Yeah! Chicks love Superman. Not saying you look much like him, of course—”

“Of course,” Clark agreed.

“—but you’ve got, like. A similar appeal.” He squinted up at Clark. “You know, I’m not the best judge for this type’a thing, but if I feel like you’d clean up real nice if you made the effort.”

“Hm. I dunno, Jim…”

Jimmy was insistent. “You could change up your style, maybe. You ever tried contacts?”

“I’m afraid they don’t really agree with me,” Clark said apologetically. Which was true, in a sense. The glasses were pretty integral to the whole secret identity thing, after all.

“Shame,” Jimmy said, finally letting go of Clark to lean back. But as he did, something over Clark’s shoulder caught his eye. He grinned. “Oh, hey, my first piece of evidence that you’re a catch: I’m 90% sure that guy is checking you out right now.”

“What?” Clark said and made to look behind him.

Before he could turn, Jimmy grabbed his face in both hands. “Shhhhh!” Jimmy said urgently, even though Clark wasn’t saying anything. “You can’t just look. That’s waaay too obvious.”

Clark was pretty sure Jimmy was being more obvious than looking himself would have been, but he stayed obligingly still while Jimmy peered over his shoulder at the mystery man.

“Okay,” Jimmy said eventually. “So I’m not great at telling when guys are hot, but I’m pretty sure this guy is hot. And, again, definitely into you. I’m 95% sure.”

“I thought it was 90%?”

“Sure, but I’ve accumulula… accumama…” He frowned and shook his head. “I’ve got more evidence since then, see? So I’m surer now!”

In retrospect, he probably should have insisted on Jimmy eating something more substantial than bar snacks over the last couple hours. “Sure, Jim,” he said gently. “It’s, uh, getting pretty late, though. Maybe we should head home soon?”

“It’s—” Jimmy squinted his watch and balked. “It’s only 10:30, so no way! I’ve got a new mission now, and it’s to wingman you with this probably hot guy. Trust me, I’m a great wingman.”

Clark raised an eyebrow. “Are you? What would you even do?”

“You know, the usual. Hey, have you met my friend Clark? He’s like 6’2” and a hotshot reporter at a big newspaper. And then I just slide out—” he made a slow swoop with his hand “—and just like that, bam! Take that, Lois! Clark’s got a hot date of his own!”

Clark raised the other eyebrow. “That’s…not particularly subtle.”

“Well, subtlety isn’t a part of the Olsen Wingman Experience. But it works!” Jimmy said brightly. “I even managed to wingman my ex-girlfriend while we were still dating, although that was mostly an accident. But it was still very effective. Thanks to that, I know for sure it works.”

“Oh!” Clark said. And then frowned. “Oh. I’m, uh. I’m sorry to hear that. Do you wanna talk about—”

“Nope,” Jimmy said firmly, decisively. “Tonight isn’t about my borderline traumatizing romantic history, tonight is about you. You and this totally hot guy who I’m, like, 99% sure is into you.”

“Mm. I see you’ve accumulated more evidence.”

“Yeah, actually! I—” Jimmy’s eyes widened. “Okay, crap. It’s 100% now. He’s coming over here.”

Clark blinked. He’d been half-convinced Jimmy had just been imagining things, but… “He is?”

“He is! Just be cool, okay?”

“Jim,” he began in protest, but before he could say anything else there was a presence at his back. Clark turned to greet the stranger. And stared. Because— Huh. Huh?

Either those whiskies had been a lot more effective on him than he’d thought, or that was Bruce Wayne leaning ever-so-casually against the bar next to him.

#superbat #clark kent #my fic #not tagging bruce because he doesn't have any lines yet lol #I don't wanna post the chapters I've already written yet #since the outline is still in progress and bits might change #but I figure no-one's gonna see it on here anyway so that won't matter as much #yolo etc etc

[eventinelysplayground]

Checkmate

This is the first fic I've finished for my 50 follower event and the idea was submitted by @reenrabbit. I posted her exact ask yesterday for anyone who wants to read it. This is one where I got the idea and it never changed, I hope it meets what you were looking for as it's my first request I have finished and posted 🙂! Time has passed and it is now the final move of Chevalier and Gilbert's game. WC approx 1745.

The nondescript carriage traveled down the road at a quick yet steady pace. Inside it's passenger stared intently out the window, a letter held between two of his fingers.

‘I invite you to come and visit me, alone of course. You made me a promise after all.’

The letter had been purposely short and vague. Although he was intrigued it was not the letter itself that made him decide to take the risk, it was the tiger insignia that accompanied it that made his decision for him.

It seems this game will be coming to an end soon, as expected my most valuable piece still remains in play.

Chevalier leaned his chin on his hand. When he had first laid eyes on Belle he was intrigued by how she could manage to take action when others couldn't, how she met his gaze even with his sword drawn and pointed at her throat. When Gilbert showed interest in her he knew that if he could persuade her she would be a valuable pawn.

It was never without risks but she has performed above my expectations.

Truthfully before the end of that fateful month she had been turned from a simple pawn into a queen. She moved freely around the board, never under either side's complete control it seemed. Not until that night in the chapel when Lucian announced she was returning as Empress of Obsidian. That move had been unexpected and had taken his most valuable piece out of his direct control.

Chevalier disliked it but in the end he relented for the good of the kingdom as he always did. He had been prepared to give up many things for the security of the kingdom; however, to give up the only person who ever saw him for who he truly was, the only one who ever took comfort in his presence, the only woman he would ever love… The events at the ceremony on White Rose day and Gilbert's subsequent actions made any other move impossible at the time and so he would make sure this loss of his most valuable piece was only temporary.

I did not like being manipulated into having the game go in his favor but I will still emerge the victor.

It was dark when the carriage reached the iron gates of the castle. They encountered no opposition along the way and the driver only had to state they were summoned to be granted entry. They were directed to a side door outside of which stood a man with curly hair, his expression one of exasperation. The driver of the carriage alighted from his seat and opened the carriage door.

“Never thought I'd be here again.”

“You will be fine on your own.”

“Depends on your definition of fine.”

A slight smirk touched Chevalier's lips.

“I may not be clear on his motives but I doubt eyepatch’s plans are for harm this time. Plus I promised my fool brother I would return you in the same condition you left in.”

“Great.”

Chevalier stepped out of the carriage and looked at the driver.

“Still, do not let your guard down Red.”

“Understood your Majesty.”

When the waiting man caught a glimpse of the guest he sighed. It was clear he was not informed on who he would be greeting, it was also clear this man was not a soldier despite his uniform.

“King Chevalier, if you'd follow me please.”

The man gestured towards the door and Chevalier inclined his head.

“Proceed.”

I have waited long enough for this already.

The two men walked silently down twisting corridors until at last they came to a halt in front of a heavy door. The man hesitated to open the door and Chevalier sighed.

“You need not worry about me yet.”

“Oh that's comforting! Just what is wrong with the two of you anyways?”

Chevalier made no reply. The other man let out a frustrated groan and opened the door.

“Your guest has arrived.”

“Oh good, make sure to bring the driver a meal. I'm sure he's missed our food if nothing else. Now leave us.”

Gilbert stood in front of a bookcase, his voice chipper and his smile the same as it always was yet Chevalier knew immediately that this was all an act. The curly haired man hesitated, looking as if he wanted to speak.

“If you don't want to listen then that's fine, time to kill you.”

“Alright I'll go, but I'm just delivering the food then coming straight back here. And you better be in bed once I get back!”

“Yes yes.”

Chevalier watched Gilbert wave the man off with a smile on his face. As soon as the man had gone he turned his attention to a still smiling Gilbert.

“Did you have a nice trip, Chevalier?”

“Why have you called me here?”

“Not even a hello for your old friend? You're cold.”

Chevalier made no reply to which Gilbert merely shrugged his shoulders.

“I’m certain you've been keeping well informed about what's going on in my country lately.”

So, it is as I have suspected and they have started to move.

“I really should have moved faster, but I admit I've been preoccupied with more pleasant things lately and now…”

The smile fell from Gilbert's face as he let out a violent cough and moved slowly towards the bed.

“And now it seems I’m out of time.”

“Just how out of time?”

“You wouldn't make it back to Rhodolite before receiving notice of my death.”

Gilbert sat on the edge of his bed resting his hands together in his lap.

“What of fake eyepatch?”

“Unfortunately he's dead, natural causes.”

Chevalier let out an annoyed huff.

“You took care of those natural causes I assume?”

Gilbert only smiled at Chevalier's words.

The issue must be more complex if they were even able to get to someone so skilled. Though I am not surprised, it is the price all us beasts must pay.

“My plan had been for Roderich to take my place when the time came, however now I need a new plan, and soon. The government can run without me but the Empress will need an imposing ally while she rules as regent.”

“And this concerns me how?”

“Oh? Are you really going to pretend you don't know?”

I know far more than you believe I do.

“You want me to protect the Empress based on an agreement made years ago?”

Just how much do you assume to know?

“No, I want you to protect the Empress because you're still in love with her.”

Chevalier said nothing but his ice blue eyes wavered slightly and that was more than enough.

“That’s why I asked you that favor back then after all.”

“Ridiculous.”

Chevalier scoffed which only made Gilbert smile.

“What's ridiculous is that even after the late Queen died without producing a child you refused to take another woman into your bed.”

“Why would I want to take more scared prey into my bed?”

“Producing heirs is one of the most important responsibilities or royalty and yet you ignored it.”

“My brother's have produced children.”

“And if their children prove to be unfit?”

“I have time.”

“That's the only part of what you've said that isn't a lie. We both know the truth, Chevalier. Be honest with your old friend one last time, please?”

What exactly is it that he’s after?

Chevalier looked at Gilbert, a sad smile across his once friend's face. He decided that just this once he could give into the conquering beast.

“It was not the only truth. There is no point in taking scared prey to bed, even if they can perform as required, what would come about as a result? None of the women thrown at me could ever look me in the eye, instead they all trembled in fear.”

“But my little rabbit never did, even after she saw you covered in blood.”

“No, she continued to approach me even after seeing what a beast I truly am. I wondered if she was really just that simple at first. However she proved to be quite capable, in her own way.”

She may be a simpleton but her heart is strong. She will survive both of us in the end because of it.

“I agree, the Empress is very accomplished and well loved by many here. Truthfully it annoys me as I would have preferred to keep her for myself-”

“Yet now you are giving her to me?”

“Only for protection, nothing more will ever happen no matter how much you want it to.”

You believe you can still control the game when you have no moves left to play?

“Are you certain of that? She clearly has a preference for beasts.”

“Hahaha, do you really think you can beat me? I'm the undefeated general after all.”

“I don't have to beat you.”

I set the pieces in play for just this moment almost from the start, all I needed was patience.

“You don't?”

“No, time has and will continue to do that for me.”

“Has this been your plan from the beginning?”

Chevalier did not answer Gilbert, there was no need to and he smiled as he recalled a not too distant memory.

‘You made sure everyone would treat us well while we were here didn't you?’

‘As the Princes of Obsidian your children are valued guests even at their very young ages.’

‘I know that but…’

‘But?’

‘I’ve been one of them for a while now and yet you treat me the same as you always have, why?’

‘You are the most valuable piece in the game with eyepatch.'

'Oh, I see.'

'It is also to lay the foundations for them to accept your continued presence in the future.’

‘For easier ongoing diplomatic relations?’

‘Partially but also because you are mine.’

‘What... what are you saying?!’

‘Emma, when the time comes and the board is to be reset…'

Chevalier's smile was not missed by Gilbert and what he saw in that smile made him frown.

“It appears you've been several moves ahead of me this whole time. Well, if you think you can make my little rabbit fall in love with you once I'm gone then go ahead and try but you're going to be disappointed.”

“Unfortunately for you, you will not be around to see which of us is correct.”

Emma, when the time comes and the board is to be reset, no matter how far she has moved or how close she was to the black King, the white Queen always returns to her place by the white Kings side.

#ikemen prince #ikepri #ikemen prince chevalier #ikemen prince gilbert #ikepri chevalier #ikepri gilbert #ikepri emma #chevalier michel #gilbert von obsidian #50 followers #ikepri fanfic

[oonajaeadira]

State of the WIP Address

Okay, y'all, I've been in a really weird place where I've been avoiding...pretty much a lot of stuff. Dunno if I have to talk to my doctor about upping my meds or what, but this is why I actually went on them--my depression manifests not in laziness, but avoiding things I need to do and things I actually WANT to do. Then I don't do them and it all starts building up. And then the to do pile feels insurmountable, like I'll never get to finish all these wonderful things. So I just...freeze up and roll over. Like a fainting goat. You'd think I'd be like "yay! lookit all the things to look forward to! I have years ahead of me full of things I really want to do! I should never be bored again!" But no. Can't do them Right Now? Fainting goat. It's weirdo. We've all got our weirdo and this is mine.

I only mention it here because I do State of the WIP Address to be accountable. Now, the weird thing is, I don't actually expect anyone to read these posts--they're boring and personal and totally for my own motivation. I just know myself and know if I put something out there, I'll feel bad if I don't do it and that should motivate me to actually do it.

But here's the thing....it doesn't work anymore. I'm no longer fulling for my own snake oil. The placebo has run out. If I know it's inconsequential, then my brain tricks me into thinking that I'm accountable to no one. And, in reality, it's true that I'm actually accountable to no one so the trick doesn't work.

Anyway. Welcome to Adira's brain where she finds her own thought patterns a fascinating psychological study and the lab results are inconclusive.

So I'mma try to twist the experiment a bit. Rather than list the things I know I can't get to right this second and feel bad about it, we're gonna let promises go and do it this way. It's not interesting to anyone but me and anyone who nerds out on process. But rather than listing the things I'm not working on, I'll talk about the ones I am, how it's going, what's in my craw about it, and maybe in my ramblings I'll clear the gears to start rolling again.

This isn't interesting to anyone but me unless you really wanna see how seriously I take my fic writing. Cringe if you want. I'm just being honest with myself. My fic isn't high art, but as with anything I create, I can't half-ass it either. It's "be satisfied with it on my terms" or bust.

STATE OF THE WIPS

I have one million projects happening, but these are the pieces I'm actively thinking about and working on at the moment.

SECRET SANTA Where it's at: I'm writing for someone I think is a wonderful person and want to do right by them, so the pressure's on. But at the same time, it's not. Because I know how accepting and lovely the person is and they gave me a lot of prompts and options and like a lot of the things I do and seem to like a lot of the types of things I like to write. I also know that this doesn't have to be over-complicated, that I can write my heart and it will please both of us. While I haven't actually opened up a doc to start, I know that it's the type of thing that if I have a little uninterrupted block of time, I can just sit down and it will flow. I won't say much about it here, but I will say that while it can 100% be read as standalone, it hits on a character/series I'm currently writing and acts as a kind of prequel, a reason for loving the reader as he does. It's something that is kind of missing in the planned series and I think this would be a nice opportunity to explore it before moving forward (and maybe helping propel that series a little) while also touching on one of the characters my giftee likes, a genre they are interested in that I hadn't considered with this character, and it will have a tone I think they'll appreciate. So while it's for them and being written with their likes in mind, I thank them, because it's also a little gift for me and my yearnings. What's stopping me: Time constraints and general anxiety.

TROPE FIC: MODERN DOM!PERO Where it's at: This one got a little sloppy and I'm working on it. I've been following @max--phillips' entries about what defines certain types of kinks and while my thoughts on dom!Pero started as true dom, they swung wrong when I started working on this, and now I'm just thinking myself back to the definition of dominant. And while I may still be missing the mark, it's helping me to think more about how I want to explore and frame this dynamic. It's also giving me a little trouble in that it's not coming out chronologically which causes me to waste time jumping around and retrofitting things. What's stopping me: I put this one on hold to start prioritizing the Secret Santa piece.

TROPE FIC: SEX POLLEN!OBERYN Where it's at: This piece is flowing chronologically. It's going to be longer than I anticipated and the first draft is about 1/3 done. I already know that after the first draft I'll have to do some shaping and I think maybe I got overwhelmed with the task I set for myself and that triggered my avoidance. I know where it's going, I'm excited for it, it will flow easily if I let it, I just have to do it! What's stopping me: I put this one on hold because I got distracted by tasty Pero thoughts. I blame @perotovar for the thots, but not the stopping. That's all on me.

TROPE FIC: ALPHA!JAVI Where it's at: I'm about 1/2 done with the first draft. Again, this one will be longer (and also more angsty) than I anticipated. I love love love where it's going though and reader and Javi's history is beautiful and sad and complex; I really love that half. I'm just now switching into the modern day section of it and have to make a few decisions about how I actually want it to go. My mind is over-complicating the story and I'm trying to wrestle it down a softer path. What's stopping me: I got distracted by the Oberyn story which is why this one's on hold and now this is all Inceptioning on itself.

GOOD. THINGS. TAKE. TIME. Where it's at: The asks are all sorted, there are only a few more sessions left before chapter 4. I just have to write it. What's stopping me: Here's the thing about PATS. If I was out for notes, I'd be pounding on this series, because it's my most popular one. But... really, I'm just here to dream up stories I like to tell. I put PATS down not consciously and not because I don't love him, but I got excited by other ideas. I want to finish it because I don't like having a bunch of unfinished projects lying around, but I also don't want that to be my #1 motivator for writing him. I want to enjoy it. I did enjoy putting the latest installment out, but I also don't feel like I'm letting anyone down if I don't hurry it, just because engagement is low. Again, I'm not here for the notes, I truly love the connection and the squeeing and sharing a yearn. We're all so busy now that it's tough to get to everything and the mutual timing is a bit off. That's okay. It's planned out, it'll get done, I just have to do it when I'm feeling it.

LEAVE OFF YOUR WANDERING: WINTER Where it's at: Finished plan. Yet to begin writing. What's stopping me: I was wrestling with this one for a bit because I had two directions it could go--soft and fluffy without much meat, or weaving all the details together and serving a story that gets rather dark, a little sad, and serves as a fix it. On one hand, I felt like I would be betraying readers by not keeping the euphoric escape. But I would also feel like I built this whole backstory that needed to manifest itself in a test for Joel and Meadowlark, as well as the fact that--other than backstories--there hasn't been any canon hardship or violence displayed. It's like I'm missing a huge chunk of who Joel and Meadowlark are. In the end, that's where the story wants to go, so I'm going there. And I have to not think about what anyone else wants, just me. Not just for selfish reasons, but I know that's when I do my best. It doesn't mean there won't still be fluff and a happy ending. It just means I have to write darkness and perhaps it will serve me better to do it in the season in which it takes place.

#state of the wip address #wip wednesday

[webbo0]

*Cowboy voice* “I Ain’t Quitting You”

Holland March x Jackson Healy

AO3 link

Length: 2,183 words

Summary:

"In my psychology class, we talked about something called an Oral Fixation; Freud made it up. Maybe you just need to have something else to like, chew on and stuff." "Sweetheart, we’ve talked about this —" "Oh my god, Dad, just get some gum or whatever!" AKA 7 things Holland March tries to help him quit drinking, plus the 1 time Jackson Healy helps him out. AKA Holland does NOT have an oral fixation, Thank you very much

Content/Warning: Idiot to lovers, Oral Fixation, Kissing, Friends to Lovers, First Kiss, Implied/Referenced Alcohol Abuse/Alcoholism, Smoking, Sobriety, Quitting Smoking, Post-Canon, chosen family, 5+1 Things, technically it's 7 + 1 things, slight angst, Mature Content, implied/referenced sexuality

Authors Note: This is actually the first fic I ever published back in September '23, but I never posted it to Tumblr, so here ya go!

Original Notes:

Welp. I finally did it. Almost a decade in fandoms and it was Ryan fucking Gosling that made me cave and finally write fanfiction. Shoutout to the Goosecord for the motivation/encouragement to write this and for the feedback, especially @sandpapersnowman for helping me format this for AO3!! Y'all are the best!!

Anyways enjoy!!

***

"March, we gotta talk."

Holland jerks up and immediately regrets it when his head pounds and everything tilts about 270° too far to the left. He groans and falls off the bed. Bed? He doesn’t remember getting there. Or undressing, apparently, because looking down, he quickly realizes he’s wearing nothing but some embarrassingly old boxers. And Healy’s standing above him. Holland scrambles back into bed and covers himself in a blanket.

"Stop pretending I haven’t seen you half-naked before. You’re acting like a Victorian duchess."

"A man must preserve his — hrrk — dignity," Holland retorts back in a bad British accent, having to pause and suppress a wave of nausea halfway through his sentence.

Healy scoffs

"Dignity, my ass! Holly found you passed out on the diving board. You could’ve gotten hurt! Again!"

Holland feels suddenly defensive. "And why do you care? What are you, my fairy drunk-mother?" Not your best comeback there, March, he thinks.

"You’re my business partner; I have a vested interest in having an income, so forgive me if I want my co-detective alive to work with me. You need to stop drinking."

Holland rolls his eyes. "I’ve got it under control, Healy. I’m a big boy, y’know?" God, he wishes he could take a nap right now.

"March, I’m serious; you’re going to do permanent damage to your liver. Plus," Healy hesitates as if he’s trying to figure out a way to finish his sentence without sounding like an asshole, "it’s not fair to Holly. You’re the only family she’s got left; you have to be there for her. She’s a teenager now and needs someone to guide her through adolescent idiocy. You’re her dad, you owe it to her."

That wakes him up. He’s always pushed down the guilt he has over his behavior, but when Healy lays it all out in front of him like that? He knows he’s deluded himself for years into thinking Holly wouldn’t notice, but she’s not a kid anymore. And the thought of her as an impressionable teenager following in his footsteps makes him nauseous for a whole different reason.

He sighs.

"Alright, alright, cut my balls off, why don’tcha? But fine, I get it."

"Thank you," Healy looks relieved.

"I can’t just quit cold chicken, though, withdrawals can be dead—"

"Turkey"

"Hm?" "The phrase is cold turkey."

"No, I’m pretty sure it's chicken."

"Why would it be — never mind. And yeah, it would be pretty dangerous to just stop altogether. What if we cut it down to one drink a day?"

"One? No way, pal, three a day minimum."

"Three?! There is something seriously wrong with you, March."

"Hey!"

An hour of negotiations later, they settle on a begrudged compromise.

That was a month ago, and Holland was regretting ever saying yes to the whole stupid plan. To substitute for the flask he always took a swig from whenever he needed to calm his nerves, he kept an extra pack of cigarettes, so he was smoking twice as much as usual. And Holly isn't a fan of his new habit. It’s a Monday morning, and Holland sits at the table, sipping his coffee, while Holly gets ready for school. Healy had stopped by to drop off some paperwork for their latest case, and now, for some inexplicable reason, is making them all pancakes. He bites back a comment about him making a great housewife and instead turns to Holly, arms out for a hug. She had a big test today and has insisted on the Mandatory Good Luck Hug before tests since kindergarten. She makes a face at him.

"Ugh, Dad, you smell gross!"

Tchk. Teenagers. "Holly, it’s rude to say that to someone’s face."

"It's true, March, you smell like an ashtray had sex with another ashtray," Healy comments from his place in front of the stove, not even turning around.

"Yeah, and then their house burned down." Holly adds, "You do know those will kill you one day, right?"

"Pfft, no way! Doctors used to give these to you! My own father had a prescription for a pack a day!"

Healy turns around. "Didn't he die of lung cancer?"

"Yeah, why?"

Healy pinches the bridge of his nose. He looks like he has a headache brewing.

Holly waltzes into the kitchen and steals a pancake from the ever-growing stack.

"In my psychology class, we talked about something called an Oral Fixation; Freud made it up. Maybe you just need to have something else to like, chew on and stuff."

"Sweetheart, we’ve talked about this —"

"Oh my God, Dad, just get some gum or whatever!"

She still leans in for a half hug while wrinkling her nose, because tradition is tradition. As she walks to the bus stop, Holland considers her words. Was he obsessed with things in his mouth? He took a sip of coffee before anyone could notice his face flushing a lovely shade of magenta.

The first thing he tries is Holly’s initial suggestion: gum. He gets a shit ton of flavors to try to find one he won’t get tired of. He settles on Bubblicious watermelon wave. The idea is largely effective, and Holland's smoking is cut down to what Holly decides is a "normal amount."

Unfortunately, Holland has the manners of a barn animal, so after only nine days of chewing with his mouth open non-stop, Healy is about to strangle him.

"March, buddy, I’m glad this is helping with your ‘mouth thing’," he starts. Holland opens his mouth to protest before Healy quickly cuts him off to finish. "But we have to figure something else out before I make the ‘arm incident’ look like a harmless prank."

Holland shuts up. No problem, he’ll find something else. He was getting tired of the gum sticking to his teeth anyway.

Holland’s next plan; a toothpick. More similar in shape to a cigarette and they last much longer. Bonus points: Holly thinks he looks “far out”. This plan lasts about 3 seconds before he gets a splinter in his gums. Toothpick is out.

Plan C is to just chew on the end of his pen as he works. Holland thinks it makes him look distinguished. Healy’s just kinda grossed out. Everything is fine until he finds a break in their case, jumps up in excitement, and promptly inhales the pen cap. Healy has to use the damn Heimlich maneuver on him, frantically grabbing him and squeezing harder than Holland thinks is necessary. But what does he know? And, wow, he definitely isn’t thinking about how Healy's strong arms feel around him.

When Healy silently hands him a teething ring meant for fussy toddlers, Holland almost punches him (attempted sobriety has him more on edge than usual). But hearing Holly’s muffled hysterics around the corner instantly dissolves his irritation. Something about Jackson and Holly working together just makes his heart flutter.

And sometimes, when he’s sure no one is looking, he’ll hold up the ring on a chain around his neck to his mouth. Softly, not biting or chewing, just letting it rest between his lips. And no matter what Jackson softly asks him one night, tears are not falling down his face. Those are the nights he really regrets cutting down on his drinking.

It’s when he starts keeping a lollipop in his mouth most of the day he notices Healy acting… Different. When Holland’s doing his work, going over papers and poring over phone books, he lets himself loosen up. Often he’ll tap his pen in random patterns, or jiggle his leg up and down (which drives Healy crazy), or more recently, he’ll hold his lollipop between his fingers like a cigarette and slowly lick circles around it. It’s a mindless behavior that helps him concentrate, but for some reason, Healy doesn’t like it. March can tell. He notices Healy glance at him and then darts his eyes down as if it weirds him out just to witness it. It hurts; Healy knows how much Holland is trying to be better, why would he judge him for how he’s coping? He tries to brush it off, wondering why it bothers him so much; he should be used to people not getting him by now.

They’re sitting next to each other on the couch in Holland’s living room, working on their latest case. It’s late at night and Holly is sleeping at a friend’s house for a birthday party. Holland is losing himself in the details of this case (who kidnaps a pet snake??) when he senses Healy’s attention on his mouth, which he currently occupies with a new blue raspberry lollipop.

After the fifth time Holland catches Healy staring at his mouth he snaps.

“I know I’m a fuck-up and everything but can you at least try to hide how much you —"

He’s cut off when something covers his lips. Oh. When Healy covers his lips. With his mouth. Oh. Holland’s brain takes about three seconds to catch up with what’s happening. Jackson’s kissing him. Holy shit.

Holy shit.

Jackson must’ve taken his frozen state as rejection because he quickly pulls back. Holland almost whines from the loss of contact.

“Fuck. Fuck! I shouldn’t have done that, I’m so sorry, Holland,” Jackson runs a hand through his hair, clearly panicking, “You’ve just been such a goddamn tease with the fuckin’, whatever it is you’re doing with those lollipops and I couldn’t hel—”

This time he’s cut off from finishing his sentence by Holland grabbing his face and kissing him so hard he’s distantly worried about breaking Jackson’s nose. Holland’s hands rest on the side of Jackson’s face and cup the back of his neck, bracing himself in a desperate attempt to hide how much he’s shaking. Jackson’s lips are firm and his 3-day-old stubble is rough against his skin; one of his hands automatically threads into Holland’s hair, and the other hovers over his side before settling on his hips. He squeezes and the feeling goes straight to Holland’s dick. He lets out a wet groan into Jackson’s mouth who responds with a deep rumble.

“Fuck, you have no idea how long I’ve wanted to do this,” Jackson growls, pulling away from Holland to let him catch his breath.

“Tell me,” is all that Holland responds, dipping his head and latching his mouth to Jackson’s neck, drawing out a strangled gasp.

“Since the day you fell asleep on my shoulder during that stakeout, and grabbed onto me like a fucked-up koala. I couldn’t keep my eyes off of you,” Jackson is visibly struggling to keep his composure as Holland's fingers move to the buttons on Jackson's shirt, frantically undoing them and pushing his hands under the cheap cotton. Holland moves his mouth down his neck, biting and sucking and doing things with his tongue that must be good because Jackson is making sounds that frankly should be illegal.

“Maybe Holly’s right, you really have a fixation on —”

Jackson yelps before he can finish his thought because Holland bites down hard into the soft skin of Jackson’s shoulder.

“Please don't mention my daughter while I’m giving you hickeys, it’s weird,” Holland mumbles while sucking what is sure to be a large dark splotch into Jackson’s collarbone.

“What I’m saying,” Jackson starts, as he grabs Holland's hair and jerks his head up to look him in the eyes, pupil’s blown. Holland would’ve whined from the loss of contact if he wasn’t moaning from Jackson’s hand tugging against his scalp.

“What I’m saying, is that maybe you just need to be doing something useful for once with that pretty little mouth besides drinking and talking non-stop.”

“And smoking, can’t forget all the smo—” Jackson shuts him up by shoving the thumb of the hand not tangled in his hair into Holland’s mouth, pressing down on his tongue. He moans around his hand in a way he knows must sound obscene. Jackson curses as Holland simultaneously starts sucking his fingers like it’s his job and fumbling with the buckle on Jackson’s jeans.

“God, you are something special, Holland,” he murmurs softly, and Jackson says his name with such reverence that if Holland doesn’t get the other man’s pants off immediately, he might explode.

He drops to his knees between Jackson’s thick thighs, because if everyone and their mother were so insistent he has this ‘mouth fixation’ or whatever, he might as well blow their expectations out of the water.

Heh, blow. Good one March.

He stares at the crotch of Jackson’s jeans, already starting to drool.

___

After that night, Holland sticks with the lollipops (now sugar-free, because his dentist nearly had a conniption when he last went in for a cleaning). No longer worried about Healy’s judgment, he loosens up and allows himself to fidget weirdly in peace. And if he and Jackson are alone on the nights when needs a little help with his mouth thing (because fine, yes, he might have a little fixation. Sue him), and he’s having a particularly hard time not turning to his vices? Well, that’s between him, his gag reflex, and Freud.

***

Hope y'all enjoyed!!! You get bonus points if you find all the other Ryan Gosling movie references Again, this is the first full fic I've written so any and all feedback is welcomed!

#the nice guys #holland march #jackson healy #holly march #Holland x Jackson #the nice guys fic #holland march x jackson healy #the nice guys fanfiction #holland march fanfic #ryan gosling #healland #Holland March fanfiction #fanfiction #ryan gosling fanfic #my writing

[mylifeisactuallyamess]

Chapter 23: Silence

A/N: I’ve had a really rough week I’m so sorry. This heat is a killer! (Yes I’m British, we hate it.) it’s just utter sensory overload and I can’t concentrate.

Anyway, little update on this fic.

Firstly, I’d like to say I promise I am going to finish it and I’m grateful for all the messages and comments I have got about this fic. It really is one of my favourites.

Secondly, I’m sorry for this chapter.

Thirdly, I need a little break from it. My motivation has tanked and I’m struggling with not having many details about the next stage of the Batch’s journey. So I do think once season 3 aires this will become my new fixation yet again. I do have a vague idea of where I want Stitch’s story to go so I will keep adding bits here and there when the fancy takes me. Again, I promise this fic will be finished!

Warnings: 18+, Mentions of ND behaviour, feelings of jealousy, food, smut (but only a light sprinkling of thigh riding and a lot of making out.) fighting, canon violence and destruction.

Word Count: 12.3k+

Masterlist

Tagging: @idoubleswearimawriter @ravenclawbitch426 @dreamqueenkala @moon-wrecked @mandinlore

You sat on the nose of the ship, leaning back against the transparisteel, tucked into Tech’s side as he took it upon himself to educate you on the positioning of the stars that filled the sky. He pointed out which were stars and which were planets or moons, even tracking a meteorite as it streaked through the sky.

You drank it all in, wishing this moment would never end. Vowing to yourself that you’d never leave Tech’s side again. Your thoughts drifted away from the stars began to focus on the way his body felt. Absently you played with the padding that protruded from his chest, tracing the oblong shapes. You had thrown a leg over his a while ago, turning your body to be flush with his.

“Stitch?”

“Mmm?” You looked up at him.

“Did you want to sleep on the ship?” Your heart gave a couple of quick beats and you hoped the darkness covered your eager expression.

“I don’t want to move. I don’t want to be…parted from you right now.” You settled back against his shoulder, feeling him rest his cheek on the top of your head.

“You would be asleep and unaware if my presence was there or not,” he murmured.

“I am always aware of you.” His fingers tightened on your shoulder, making you edge even closer to him. Stars, he smelled good. So familiar and comforting. He barely moved as you trailed your nose along his neck, bravely kissing his sun warmed skin.

You wanted him to touch you, there was an uncomfortable feeling between your thighs that you’d never explored before but you suddenly couldn’t ignore it. You shifted your body, heat racing up your spine as he tensed his leg against your motion, nudging you right at the spot where you ached.

A frustrated sigh pushed from between your lips. You wanted more, but you didn’t know how to ask for it. Would he even understand? Did he even want more? Were his thoughts as tortured as yours or was he able to just enjoy being close to you?

Holding back another sigh you sat up, kneeling over his leg and already yearning to be back against him. He sat up, watching you with those eyes you loved so much. The pair of you stared at each other, not knowing what to say as the air grew thick between you.

A tingling started in your fingers and you reached to touch his face, hesitating and curling them for a brief second before settling your touch on his cheek. He leaned into it, bringing one of his own hands up to rest on your hip, his eyes wide as they travelled down your body and back up to your face.

Your legs spread, slowly falling from resting on your knees to settle yourself on the hardness of his thigh. This new position had you swallowing down a whine. Bending at the waist, you brought your face to his, touching foreheads before letting your lips meet. Tech exhaled delicately through his nose, drifting warm air across your skin as his lips melted against yours. After a few seconds you broke the kiss, not wanting to overwhelm him but his hand didn’t move. Instead the pressure increased, drawing you back to taste him in an even deeper kiss.

Tech was everywhere. He filled your mouth, soaking through your senses until you were sure nothing else existed, except him. Hands held onto your waist, fingertips burning into your heated skin. Stars erupted behind your tightly closed eyes, lips caressing in the dead of night as unspoken whispers passed between you both.

Neediness marked your motions, a desperation so obvious yet neither of you seemed to want to acknowledge it’s presence.

Moaning quietly into his mouth you let him lead, your head spinning from the intoxicating feeling that kissing him gave you. It hadn’t happen often, but when it did, it was toe curling.

His leg lifted between your own, the subtle movement lifting you closer to him and you whimpered softly against his lips. Your hips automatically rolled along the strength of his thigh, catching you at just the right place, extracting a strained moan from your chest.

To your regret he broke off the kiss, his eyes tracking heavily over your face and you tried to hide how flustered you were.

“What’s wrong?” You asked, noting the husky tone that spilled from you as the warmth from your lower belly spread through your body. You wanted to move, to feed the fever he created inside but you also wanted to go at his pace. Just because you were ready didn’t mean he was.

“Nothing is wrong, you’re just…different.” He watched the way you worried your bottom lip. “Have I done something?”

“No, no Tech. I just,” how could you explain this? “Doing this, with you makes me feel good and I’m not…” you didn’t want to bring up your past right now and sully this precious moment you were having under the stars, so you stopped. Maybe it was too soon after all.

He brushed some hair away, watching the motion of his hand as it delicately traced the edge of your ear before bringing his eyes back to you. “Do you want to continue?” His own voice was hushed and that was the first indication you got that he was feeling anything remotely like you were.

“Yes,” you breathed, dropping your gaze to his mouth as you imagined him kissing his way down your body.

He pulled you back to him, fingers burying in your hair as your lips met with more urgency than before. Gone was that hesitant barrier, the heat of his tongue was searing and it spurred you on to find some friction again. This time he didn’t stop, instead you felt the tensing of his thigh to hold your weight as you ground down on him. You freed a hand to slam onto the transparisteel of the canopy, giving yourself more leverage.

You felt Tech move beneath you, his own hips seeking out some friction as he took his cues from you. Your kisses became more heated, your breaths mingling in the quiet of the night when you gasped over each others faces.

Your mind got lost quickly, nothing else mattered but growing the warmth that blossomed between your legs and stroking the neediness that resided there. Tech became more insistent, his hands moved down to your hips, tugging you closer so he could grind against the hardness of your own thigh.

You moaned at the feel of him, the bulge was evident and almost painful as it imprinted through the thinness of your clothes. You forced your eyes open, enjoying the way he looked down at where your bodies were connected, his mouth hanging open, eyes fluttering at each rub of his cock in the confines of his own clothing.

When he moaned for the first time it nearly sent you over the edge, your hips stuttering at the sound that he barely knew he’d made, so lost in the feel of you. His kissed you again, this time it was sloppy and hurried, like he knew he needed to do it but wasn’t concentrating on it.

You could feel something creeping up your spine, a shiver that had you inhaling a needy cry. He brought you impossibly closer, cradling the back of your head and you buried your face into his neck, sliding your arms around his quivering form.

His cries were muffled by your shoulder as he began to curl into you, his arms tensing with every jerk and you instinctively knew he was coming to his end. You worked your hips faster, sensing the threads that held your body together tugging until they were ready to snap. You whimpered into his neck, quivering in his grip as you brought yourself right to edge of oblivion.

Tech’s arms flexed painfully against your body, his cries came quickly as his hips jerked along your thigh and that’s when you unraveled above him. It flooded through your body, making you tense and relax at the same time, chased by a numbing sensation that had your lips curling with relief.

You stayed tightly in each others embrace as you both faced what had just happened. Tech heaved a few breaths into his chest, his fingers curling and unfurling against your back as he brought himself back from the intense pleasure, eyes blinking and clearing the fake stars away.

Your mind was shattered, the scent of him filled your nose as you nuzzled tentatively into his neck. You kissed him under his ear, hoping you were letting him know he was ok. He turned his head and sought out your lips, which you were only too happy to offer, noting the kiss was more controlled this time, but just as gentle and loving as before.

A giggle bubbled up inside you, breathy and relaxed, you still felt the tendrils of pleasure as they skitted up your spine. There was no feeling of shame, no pain, only comfort and safety and it made you limp against him. Resting your head on his chest you could hear his heart beating faster than normal, his arms came up around you, squeezing you close with the silent promise he was never going to let you go.

You had a shower. A real shower. Not something that spat lukewarm water at you but an actual shower that was able to make you feel clean for the first time in weeks.

So you took your time. Reliving the moment with Tech last night, teeth scraping your lower lip as you remembered the way he blushed in the light of the Marauder. You’d spent the night on the ship and it had been awkward at first. Neither of you used to sharing a sleeping space so you’d stared at each other as you both worked out what you wanted.

In the end you had taken his hand and guided him to the bunk asking if he was happy with you laying on his chest and he’d nodded. His arms around you.

It was the best sleep you’d ever had.

Tech was so steady, his surety was something you really latched onto and it kept you steady with him. He filled the dark blot inside you with something warm and delightful.

Tech was everything to you…and now you could admit that fully to yourself.

You hoped the way you felt shone out of your eyes when you looked at him, you hoped he noticed.

The walk back to the house this morning had been quiet, thankfully the others were still asleep and Tech had shown you to the bedroom where there were clean clothes waiting for you.

Stepping from the shower, water dripped all over the floor and you breathed in the steamy mass that surrounded you. This could be a life you could get used to.

Quickly you changed, brushing your hands over the soft material, captivated by the way it flowed between your fingers. You hadn’t had many clothes in your possession before, even at the Academy it had been medics tunics and one gown for formal purposes.

The clothes you wore now were a deep green, the hem of the tunic settled around your thighs, the belt pulled it in at the waist and the trousers were form fitting and soft. The material was light, something to help cope with the heat of Pabu. You were grateful for the long sleeves, liking the way the point ended in a loop that went over your middle finger. It kept them in place and covered all the reminders that marked your body.

You cracked the door open, listening to Omega talking downstairs as they discussed what they were doing today. You made your way down, trailing your hand along the wall and pausing at the bottom of the stairs.

It hit you how domestic this was. Wrecker was leaning back in his chair, hands interlaced behind his head as he declared he was going to go fishing today. Hunter stood leaning against the counter, a small smile on his face and a cup of caf in his hand. His gaze lifted, seeing you he nodded at the table. Omega was talking about playing with her friends and your heart swelled at such a statement. You’d been gone a few weeks and they had all transformed into these relaxed, citizens.

Tech was on his datapad, absently chewing as he concentrated on the screen in front of his face. Stepping down the last stair made Wrecker turn around and he gave you a beaming smile.

“Stitch!” Omega all but squealed, patting the chair next to her. Their gazes flicked between you and Tech, feeling their sense of anticipation at a reaction from their brother at your arrival.

“Good morning,” you said as you sat down.

“I saved you some of Hunter’s waffles!” Omega reached for a plate that had been under a cover and Wrecker groaned loudly.

“That’s not fair! If I had known they were there I’d have eaten them,” he muttered and Omega shook her head.

“Stitch hasn’t had any yet.”

“You cook now?” You turned to the tattooed clone and he shrugged, tucking his hand under his arm.

“You haven’t tried them yet. You might hate them.”

“I tell him they’re the best thing I’ve ever eaten but we’ve lived off rations for most of our lives,” Omega said, her face growing serious for a second and her voice wiser than her age. “Most things taste good to us.”

“I don’t think my experience is any better,” you reminded her but you ripped a piece off anyway. You felt slightly shy as they watched you, even Wrecker leaned in, waiting for your reaction. “They’re good,” you said out the side of your mouth and Omega beamed.

“I told you!” She shot at her brother who held up his hands in defeat.

“Of course, Stitch’s opinion sets the tone,” he teased and you grinned up at him.

“There are added benefits to rations,” Tech suddenly spoke up. “They were designed to provide the body with exactly what it needs to get through a day. Flavour was not the goal when the Kaminoans developed them.”

“I don’t think I could eat one ever again,” Wrecker said, scrunching his face in disgust.

“What are you doing today, Stitch?” Omega suddenly asked and you automatically looked at Tech but he didn’t even acknowledge the question. It wasn’t aimed at him.

“I don’t know,” you admitted now glancing up at Hunter for some clarity. Hunter leaned forward and slapped Tech on the shoulder.

“I am going back to the Archium. I have more artefacts to catalogue,” Tech replied quickly.

“You can come with me,” Wrecker told you. “I can teach you to fish and hopefully we can get that really big one I’ve seen down by the docks.”

“My friends would love to meet you!” Omega grabbed your hand and you felt pulled in all directions. You wanted to Tech to ask you to join him but he didn’t even look up.

“Well I suppose I could,” you told her.

“I’ll be about,” Hunter mumbled and you focussed on him for a moment. Cocking your head as you watched him swill the last of his caf round in his cup. You were about to say something when Tech got up, barely casting a glance around as he made his way to the door.

“You know where I will be.” And then the door was closing and he was gone.

“Come on!” Omega tried to tug you up but you slipped your hand free.

“Go and get your friends and I’ll meet them at lunch time? I just need some time to…adjust.”

“Ok! Come on Wrecker!”

“Comin’. I’m comin’.”

As soon as they left the mood deflated, Hunter’s melancholy was more evident and it fed your own. You began to clear the table picking up Tech’s cup and plate and staring at them for a second.

“What do you do in this paradise?” Hunter sucked in a breath at your question, blowing out his cheeks and widening his eyes.

“My skills haven’t been found a good use yet. Not like the others.”

“Fishing not your thing?”

“Wrecker enjoys the quiet,” he replied. “Me, not so much.”

“Thought about helping Tech?” You stood beside him, shoulder to shoulder as you looked around the small open plan house.

“Tech doesn’t need my help. Phee brings him new things and they discuss where it’s from and how old it is. Again, not really something that I find…is a good use of my time.” You put the plate and cup in the sink, your heart fluttering against your ribs and you turned to study Hunter’s side profile.

“Who is Phee?”

“One of Cid’s contacts. She comes across as a pirate and a treasure hunter but she was the one that brought us here.” Your brain was lagging. She? A pirate? Someone connected to Cid…

“Can we trust her?” Hunter shrugged and turned to dump his cup in the sink before you.

“She hasn’t given us any reason to think otherwise.”

“And she works with Tech? In the Archium?” Your voice wavered and Hunter focused on your face, reading you instantly as you gazed at him with pleading eyes.

“They just have a common interest. It allows Tech to mind numbingly chat to someone else.” You nodded, not liking the sickness that rose in your throat. Replaced. You’d been replaced. What were you now? It almost felt like last night hadn’t happened and you backed away. “Stitch…” Hunter went to touch your hand but you snatched it away. A motion all too familiar as you realised good things really were too good to be true.

“I’m ok. I just need some air.” You burst from the door, grateful that he didn’t follow you. Looking up you could see the tall building that stood at the top of the island, rising high into the blue sky. The sea breeze whipped around you, snagging on your clothes before pillowing in your back and almost urging you to head in that direction.

You were scared. What if you went and your fears were real? But you couldn’t leave it. As you headed up the steep path you fought with yourself, it was illogical. Tech barely showed his emotions and feelings to his brothers, men he’d known all his life. You had felt honoured last night, being with him in such a vulnerable state and sharing that experience with him…clearly meant more to you than him.

The dark thoughts became worse the closer you got to the Archium. They were crippling as your demons shadowed everything making you lose your nerve. Diving into the Marauder you settled in your usual place. Gonky waddled over, tipping forward to peer at you huddled on the floor.

“Hey buddy. I just need a minute.” He honked in reply, shuffling round so he could wedge up against you, giving you the pressure of a hug without being hugged. You leaned against the droid, realising you actually missed Beetoo. “I wonder what she’s doing…I feel bad for upping and leaving Tesama. She must be worried.” The droid didn’t respond and your mind wandered even more. “I’m assuming we’re never going back?” You were more talking out loud to yourself than needing a response and you frowned. “What about all the data?” The droid shifted a little and you looked at the console. “Do you think Tech could remotely wipe the information stored in the medcentre’s records? If it gets into the Empire’s hands…” What if Cid got her hands on it? You got the impression the boys had upped and left Cid high and dry and you didn’t trust that Trandoshan as far as you could throw her.

“I have to go!” You squeezed past the droid and left the ship, almost running across the courtyard and drawing the attention of the few people dotted about. You found Tech easily enough, but how you found him made you stop in your tracks. He was leaning over a crate, head almost touching the other person he was with as she leaned from the other side.

To your dismay, she was gorgeous. Dark skin and thick hair that would be the envy of anyone. She was watching him reach into the crate, leaning over the side as close as she could get.

Your brain stuttered to a stop, the words this is a Keldabe Kiss, replayed in your mind and you felt a wave of despair that he was allowing someone else do something so intimate with him.

“Impressive isn’t it, brown eyes?” Her voice was delicate when she spoke to him, like a soft caress and you had to fight back tears when he responded almost immediately. He hadn’t even acknowledged you this morning. “You joining us?” Your attention centered and you found them both looking at you.

“I had assumed you were with the others,” Tech said, adjusting his goggles as he spoke.

“I had…” embarrassment and lack of trust made you clam up and you began to step away. “I’ll discuss it with Hunter. You’re clearly too busy.”

“Stitch!” Tech’s voice followed you out but it was Phee’s that clung to you.

“Oh. So that’s Stitch…” the condescending tone broke you, the way she said your name made you feel worthless and you wandered blindly through the streets.

You cried, feeling the cracks that marked your heart begin to widen once again. Stupid. You were so stupid. You knew opening yourself up meant you got hurt, you had hoped it would be a while before it happened though.

“Hey.” You jumped, shrinking into yourself when Hunter approached. His hands were up, his steps slow as he read your tense form and paused a few paces away.

“How did you find me?” You asked wiping your cheeks and looking around. “I don’t even know where I am.”

“I have my uses,” he commented softly. He was brimming with concern, his caramel eyes fixed on your face but it’s just made you feel more vulnerable.

“You’ll wish you hadn’t found me,” you warned him with a shaky voice.

“I’ll take my chances. Tech said you were looking for me.” That wasn’t true. Of course he’d send his brother rather than coming to look for you himself. You were having a moment, and Tech didn’t do well with feelings as it was. There was a time he was the only one that could handle your emotions. He knew what to say, he could get you to calm down, he understood. Or he acted like it at least.

Hiding your face in your hands, the sobs slipped through your fingers and you felt Hunter come closer. “Did I say something? Did Tech do something?”

“He’s replaced me,” you whispered. He was right beside you now, you could feel the heat of his body and you fell against him, seeking out that contact. Automatically his arms came up around you, pulling you close as you buried your face in his chest. He didn’t say anything, he waited you for you to work it out of your system, standing and looking out at the sea.

“I realise I could be over reacting,” you finally said.

“I am not here to tell you what you’re feeling,” Hunter rumbled. “But no one could replace you in Tech’s eyes.”

“You’re just saying that…”

“I know that.” You pulled away, his arms dropping down and you looked into his face. You could sense he felt sure in what he said, he firmly believed that.

“How?”

“Apparently the wine here was stronger than he anticipated and it makes him extraordinarily…vocal.” Hunter smiled at the memory. “Of course, he doesn’t touch it now. I’m not even sure he remembers exactly what was said.”

“You found her.” Hunter turned and you peered at Tech who was standing a few meters away, looking at the pair of you with a blank expression on his face.

“I did,” Hunter planted a hand on your shoulder and forced you to walk towards Tech. “And she’s all yours.” The last few paces you had to do alone, gazing imploringly into his goggles as he watched you come closer. “Don’t com me until you’ve sorted whatever this is. That’s an order.” Tech almost blanched, giving his brother a jerk of his head to show he had heard and then you were alone. The path was empty with just you two on it, standing awkwardly as your feet shuffled.

“Shall we walk?” You suggested, feeling the urge to move.

“Yes.” The silence stretched, rising and ebbing like the waves below. You managed to work up the courage to say something, only to glance at his face and realise you couldn’t get your words out. And so the cycle continued. Even when people started to appear around you, each step taking you further and further round the island.

You saw some animals, the first ones you’d really noticed and forgetting yourself for a moment you grabbed his forearm.

“Look!”

“Moon-yos,” Tech said on reflex. You left his side to approach the tree, gazing up into their wide orange rimmed eyes. They chittered, gathering to give you the same treatment as they leaned out of the branches. You offered your finger, smiling and momentarily forgetting your whole situation as one grabbed your hand.

“Mischievous little guys,” you breathed with a chuckle. Their awareness came through, highly intelligent creatures that had strong family bonds with one another. They weren’t afraid, living easily alongside the people of Pabu. You turned your finger so you could could look at the clawed hand that held onto you, only three digits ending in a sharp claw that looked like it could work it’s way under bark or the hard shell of a fruit.

Your finger was released when they got bored and they filtered up into the tree at a silent command. You retreated, accidentally stepping back firmly into Tech’s chest and he placed his hands either side of you to keep you upright.

“S-sorry,” you stuttered, turning to face him and noticing he kept his hands on your arms.

“Why?” You could he was genuinely asking, the quizzical frown appearing on his brow.

“For bumping into you.”

“Nothing that requires an apology.” Still he didn’t move, standing there with his hands burning through the thin material of your clothes as his gaze roamed over your features. “Have I done something?” He asked, snapping his mouth shut like he hadn’t meant to ask it out loud. Now guilt rose in you. He was in turmoil, the longer he touched you the more you were able to read him. His feelings were just as real as yours and you hesitantly reached to touch his top. Your fingers curled in the material and he didn’t move, just continued to watch you until you were ready to explain.

“Last night…” you whispered, swallowing back the limp in your throat. “I’ve never…it’s…I haven’t.” Fierfek. This was hard.

“Neither have I.” Your gaze rose to meet his and you let him draw you in closer.

“Tech…” you could feel the tears pricking the corner of your eyes. “I am scared.”

“I scare you?”

“No! No…this and what it means. I’m…I’m drowning here,” you admitted. You lowered your eyes, hating how frustrated you were getting with yourself because it was difficult to express. Did you talk about what he meant to you? How could you put that in words?

A gentle touch on your chin had you glancing at him with wide eyes, his curled finger keeping your head up so he could look at you.

“This is new for me too.” Your breath hitched when his eyes dipped to look at your lips. “I am not good at expressing…” his words filtered off into silence.

“What do you want to do, right now?” You breathed. Your heart was thumping, the beat of it filled your entire body and you were getting increasingly warm. His other hand trailed over your arm, the material of his gloves brushing the sensitive skin on your neck as he gently swept some hair behind your ear.

“Do you want me to try and tell you or—show you?” A shiver ran down your spine, his breath danced over your cheeks and that’s when you noticed he was so close, close enough to kiss.

“Show me,” you whispered. He reacted instantly. Capturing your lips with his in a kiss that had you melting into his chest. His touch left your chin, his large hand covering your throat as his thumb trailed down the front of your neck feeling the moan that bubbled up. You tightened your grip on his top, trying to tug him closer, inhaling sharply as he deepened the kiss. His lips chased yours and you gasped into another’s mouths, forgetting where you were and who was around.

You never wanted it to end but accepted his forehead press into yours. You studied his face this close, tracing the line of his goggles and sucking your lip between your teeth.

“I want to do that all the time,” you admitted softly.

“We wouldn’t get anything done,” he replied and you surprised yourself by laughing. He straightened, a happy smile finally coming to life on his face as you giggled with a mix of joy and embarrassment.

People moved around, seemingly totally unbothered by the display of affection they’d just witnessed. Your hand slipped into his and you both began to walk again, your arms knocking into one another as you tried to stay as close as possible.

“You wanted to tell me something…earlier?” He prompted and you swallowed down whatever lingering sense of doubt was left.

“Oh. Yeah.” You tried to organise your thoughts and get it all straight in your mind. “I take it you’re not returning to Ord Mantell?”

“No, we are not.”

“Then we need to ask Tesama to erase the data in the medcentre records. I’m worried Cid will get her hands on it.” Tech frowned, his hand gripping yours tightly as he came to a stop. You could see him trying to work out what would be so dangerous in the records and why that would benefit Cid. “There are records of samples, I’ve treated you all for something or other and all your details are sitting there. All she has to do is log into the system and hand it over to whoever she chooses. Omega is on there,” you stressed.

“I did not consider this. Leaving such information within Cid’s grasp could ultimately back fire on us,” he muttered.

“Can you erase it remotely?” His golden brown eyes were darting all over the floor, his chest heaved a little and he seemed deep in thought for a moment. You watched his expression, running a hand up his arm to keep as much contact with him as possible.

“That is a valid idea but no. Someone would need to do it planetside.” He tugged you along with him, refusing to let go of your hand as he brought up the com on his wrist to his mouth.

“Hunter. Meet me at the ship, we are on our way.”

“Tesama. Do you read me?” The static frustrated you the most. Not Hunter pacing or Wrecker standing ominously in the corner. Omega sat in her room, her knees hugged tight as she watched you all try to fix this.

“Try again,” encouraged Tech after he made some adjustments. His hand settled on the back of your chair and you were grateful for his razor sharp focus on this.

“Tesama. This is Havoc-medic. Do you read?” Static.

“What’s happenin’?” Wrecker asked. “Why isn’t it getting through?”

“Someone could be jamming the signal. I don’t like this,” Hunter stressed.

“There is no record of an Imperial presence on Ord Mantell, I do not understand who would be stopping transmissions to a medcentre.” Tech was still desperately trying to figure this out, his attention was split in half constantly and it showed in his delayed responses.

“It’s a trap,” muttered Hunter. “Cid threatened us in the last transmission.”

“We have no idea what’s going on,” you sighed, massaging a temple as you tried to ward off a headache. You had been through so many emotions today you knew you needed to meditate. Or train. “I say we go. Drop me off if you have to and let me do it all. She’s after you guys, not me.”

“She’s right you know,” Wrecker agreed.

“Maybe. Doesn’t mean I have to like it.” Hunter came to a stop with his arms crossed.

“You know it needs doing. I won’t be able to rest until it’s erased. It’s my fault it’s all on there,” you told him quietly and his expression softened a little.

“You were doing your job. No one could have foreseen the circumstances that we are i-in—.”

“So this is where y’all hiding!” Tech stuttered to a stop when a voice cut through the conversation and Phee made Hunter move aside so she could come aboard. “Oh…am I interrupting?” You couldn’t help it, you glared at her for showing such familiarity, for the way her gaze lingered on Tech just that touch too long.

“Actually…” Hunter began but Tech stepped forward.

“We have a mission. I need you to continue cataloguing the artefacts in the Archium.” She recoiled slightly at Tech’s business like tone, blinking as though she’d never heard him speak like that before. “Here is the datapad. I cannot say for certain, when we will return.”

“But this is yours?” She gazed at him with wide eyes and you shifted in your seat, highly aware of the tenseness that came off Wrecker and Hunter.

“It has nothing personal on it and therefore I shall not miss it. I reprogrammed this one for the Archium. Take it.” She reached for it, looking around the group as she did.

“You all just flying off without a goodbye?” Omega moved, running towards her and wrapping her arms around her middle.

“We’ll be back,” she said happily. Hunter crouched down and you could feel what was coming.

“Maybe you should stay here,” he suggested gently.

“But I want to come with you,” Omega pleaded. “What if you don’t come back?”

“What kind of mission is this?” Phee asked with a narrowed glare but no one answered her. She patted Omega’s shoulder and it seemed like she was stalling.

“When did you want to leave?” You stood up, leaning into Tech, his eyes widened at your closeness but he didn’t move away, turning to look at you when he answered.

“As soon as possible. While we possibly have the element of surprise. Though that window may be closed already,” he stated firmly and shifted his gaze to Hunter.

“Do you need an extra pair of hands? You know I’m good in a tight spot.” She was desperate to come along, her curiosity was burning and you felt slightly smug that they were keeping her out of the loop.

“We’ve got all the hands we can manage,” Hunter told her. “I’m sure we’ll see you in a few days.”

“All right,” she sighed, giving Omega a smile before she untangled herself. “Just make sure you come back to me in one piece.” She didn’t name anyone but you knew she aimed that at Tech and you bristled.

“I’m used to putting these boys back together,” you said, surprising yourself with the sickly sweet tone you used. You planted a possessive hand on Tech’s chest, feeling the inhale from him as you did and smirking a little at his reaction. You’d never get tired of hearing his breath hitch. “They’ll be fine.” You felt pressure on your lower back, your face warming when you realised Tech was gently touching you as a form of reassurance.

“Looks like you’re in good hands,” Phee responded a little stiffly and she began to back out of the ship. “I won’t muck up your system.”

“I can correct it when I return, if you do.” Tech gave her a nod and headed for the cockpit, you felt his hand trail from your hip and across your stomach. The touch was fleeting, but it meant everything.

“Bye, Phee!” Omega called from the hatch.

“Ah, yeah. Bye, Phee.” Wrecker and Omega waved at her and she waved back. You didn’t wait to see her off, but you knew she would watch the ship until it disappeared. Hunter activated the ramp just as Tech called for Omega.

“Now would be a good time to practise your flying skills, transitioning from atmospheric pressure to the vacuum of space.”

“Yes!” You smiled in the face of her excitement, relieved to be leaving Pabu behind. You knew they’d want to come back and you’d have to deal with Phee eventually.

Pabu dropped away, the Marauder’s shadow distorted as it glided on the surface of the sea. The sun streamed into the cockpit and you squinted slightly from the glare.

“Easy on the thrusters,” Tech warned as Omega guided the ship into the upper atmosphere. “We need to conserve our fuel and while I have calculated for some inevitabilities, it is not possible to factor in all of them.”

“Ah, you’re doin’ good, kid.” Wrecker pressed a huge hand on Omega’s shoulder and she glanced up at him with a beaming smile. You made your way to the hold shortly after the ship broke into the black, finding Hunter highlighted by the console screen.

“You’re not happy about this,” you pointed out, sitting down next to Gonky and giving the droid a gentle pat.

“I’m not. But anything to tie up loose ends and leave that planet behind for good,” he said darkly. “We will set you down in the spaceport and then when you’re done, you can hail us and we’ll come and get you.” You chewed on your lower lip, using your fingers to really press it into your teeth.

“Plan A,” you muttered.

“Plan A?” Hunter swivelled to face you. “It’s our only plan.”

“Fi says we should always plan for anything, and that’s why we have the rest of the alphabet to work with.”

“Luckily for us I am good at making a plan to suit our, unique situations,” he grumbled.

“You’d like him,” you said absently. Your gaze was vacant and fixed on a point on the hull wall as you remembered. “I hope they’re ok.”

“Rex has got them,” Hunter reassured you. “If you can trust anyone, it’s Captain Rex.” Bitterness flooded your mouth and you regretted not being there anymore. It was good to be back with the Batch, to see them happy and healthy but…you couldn’t help worrying for the clones you’d left behind. Was Echo taking his pain meds? Was Fi doing his exercises and not beating himself up when he forgot what he was doing next? Was Rex drinking enough? How was Howzer settling in?

“You’re brooding,” Hunter muttered and you smirked.

“Takes one to know one.” He scoffed at your remark, keeping his gaze fixed on the screen.

You felt the lurch of the ship and the cheer from Wrecker as Omega pushed it into lightspeed for the first time. So began your journey. The next stage…the next chapter…and you had no idea what was going to happen.

You loved it when the ship was this quiet. But you hated it at the same time. You were sat in your usual place, your eyes burning from tiredness as everyone else slept around you. How you’d reacted to Phee was making your stomach churn…that wasn’t who you were? Was it? Didn’t you trust Tech? Whatever was happening with you two was so new, so tentative and then you were away from him. And that hurt. He understood your choice to help Rex and Echo and you didn’t regret it. So why did you feel this way?

Standing up, you stretched your back with a soft grunt, reaching for the ceiling of the hold and then relaxing to a slight boneless feel. Padding quietly into the cockpit, you saw Tech surrounded by items you couldn’t possibly begin to name.

“Have you slept?” You went to put a hand on the back of his neck and thought better of it, choosing to sit in Echo’s seat.

“I have not. I cannot rest until I have programmed this datastick with the exact files you need. All you will need to do is put this into the main port. I have no doubt it will work perfectly.” He glanced up from his datapad, eyeing you for a moment as you gently trailed your fingers over the console. “Was your sleep unsatisfactory?”

“That implies I slept, Tech.”

“Ah.” He adjusted his goggles a little but you saw his fingers had stopped tapping on his pad.

“What is it?” He wanted to speak, oh stars, you could feel his urge to say the words and his frustration was like a whip through his presence, but he gave no outward sign he was suffering.

Going on instinct you got up, kneeling beside him and putting your hand in his. Immediately he gripped your fingers, his eyes coming down to watch the contact between you, almost as if he had to see it to believe it. “I’m sorry I reacted the way I did—earlier.” Your sudden admission had him frowning with confusion, his gaze lifting to meet with yours.

“I do not understand why you are apologising.” He was going to make you spell it out. Sighing quickly you rubbed a hand over your face only to see Tech still watching you closely as he waited for your explanation.

“I realise I did not…I assume she’s your friend? Phee?” You asked, desperately trying to keep your tone light.

“I have never had friends before you. It is not something I am familiar with or realise the…parameters of. I do understand we are now…more than friends.” Your breath quickened, your heart was pressing on the inside of your ribcage and it felt like your entire body was tingling.

“A few kisses will do that,” you whispered, swallowing sharply and steadying your breathing.

“Our brief physical interactions express our affections outwardly. I want you to know what happens to me—inwardly.”

“Tech, no one can know really…”

“I understand you are not a mind reader. I have been thinking about last night for a considerable amount of time, and I came to the conclusion that my feelings for you transcend anything I have ever experienced before.”

“Tech…” but he squeezed on your fingers so he could continue.

“All I have ever known is war. War and survival,” he carried on, his eyes tracking over the console with all his stuff on as the ship sped through hyperspace. His expression was pensive, highlighted by the twisting lights that gave way to the ship with ease. “You have shown me there is more to this Galaxy than the next objective. You—you slow me down, Stitch.”

“Slow you down?”

“It was an analogy that made sense to me,” he sighed and his sense of frustration came back. Before he could spiral from laying himself bare, you reached to touch his face and turned him to look at you.

“I would not be alive today if it wasn’t for you, Tech. You keep me going…when you look at me, you really see me. When you hold my hand I feel as though, everything I have been through, everything that tried to tear me apart, is gone. And all that exists is you and me. For a brief moment,” you whispered. “It’s all that matters.” He didn’t know how to respond and that was ok. He had already said more to you than you could ever wish for.

You stood up, fully expecting him to let you go back into the hold when his hand gripped yours and the cockpit door slid shut. You heard him rise behind you, turning your head slightly, you saw him out of your peripheral loom behind you.

Tech’s hand drifted up your arm, his fingers tentative in their caress and you shivered slightly. You leaned back into him, his face coming down to rest in the crook of your neck. You enjoyed his closeness, lifting an arm to brush the hair at the base of his neck.

“You quiet my mind,” he whispered against your skin. You felt his other hand ghost up the front of your body, coming to grip your chin so he could manipulate you into a kiss that had your head spinning. There was something different this time, an awareness on his side as well as yours that collided and smashed your barriers down so much quicker.

Turning your body you pressed into his chest, pulling on his neck to make him lean more into you. His arm encircled your waist, making your back arch until you almost lost your balance. You tipped back, taking him with you but he had already preempted this situation. Reaching out with a hand he stopped the fall against the door of the cockpit, walking you backwards until you were wedged between him and the cold durasteel.

Tech mouthed his way down your exposed neck, his breath heatedly dancing over your skin when he gasped. His hand was planted beside your head, fingers curling with nothing to grip onto.

Tech’s sudden confidence had your mind emptying of all logical thought. Maybe this was a dream? A vision? If it was…it was a damn good one, for a change.

His lips found their way back to yours, absorbing every little gasp he could extract from you as your body began to heat up. The burn was slow, gently licking up from your belly to warm your chest. You wanted him to explore, to touch you in places you’d never wanted to be touched before.

But now wasn’t the time.

“Tech…Hunter can hear us,” you whispered and he paused. His sigh was heavy and you grinned, pressing your face against his to give him a swift kiss on the cheek. “When we come back. I promise.” A nod was the only response he could give and you moved away from him. Taking his hand you led him back to the pilots console and he sat down again. You were about to sit back in Echo’s chair when Tech pulled on your arm, forcing you to topple into his lap.

“I can work perfectly well with you sitting here.” He left no room for discussion, so you stretched your legs over both of his, resting your head on his shoulder and he could reach round you to work with both hands.

You found yourself drifting into sleep, Tech’s repetitive motions were a comfort as was the beat of his heart and the sensation of being wrapped in his presence.

The ship barely touched the ground, allowing you enough time to leap from the ramp. Lifting your arms up you protected your face from the ships down draft, smelling the dump of fuel as it took off again. Your tunic slapped in the rush of heated air, rippling against your skin as you looked up into the sky, watching until the ship shot away and they were out of sight.

You hadn’t said goodbye. You didn’t need to. They were coming back in a couple of hours when you’d wiped the systems and erased everything you could from the database. Tech gave you detailed instructions and you could hail him if needs be, he still had his com that was connected to yours back at the medcentre.

Ord Mantell felt just the same. There were people everywhere, hustling and bustling on market day, laughter floated through the crowd and you felt a weird heaviness lift off your shoulders. You realised it was the worry of the boys that had been pressing on you. You couldn’t blame them, coming back here after they’d all but shunned Cid, was a risk. Hence why you here alone.

The sun was shining, it was warm and you basked for a moment as you walked, surprised how unaffected by the amount of people you were. It was familiar. After all the upheaval recently it was like your brain was happy to be in a place it knew and you appreciated that.

Something niggled at your awareness, making you come to a sudden stop and change direction. It was odd, a pulling sensation that felt you like you had an internal compass telling you were to go. Curiosity got the better of you, remembering what Hunter said about always trusting your instincts and you began to head away from the medcentre.

The crowds grew thicker but you held onto the fact it felt like you were going in the right direction…then you saw her. The familiar pair of lekku had you smiling and tears rose unbidden to your eyes. You forgot you’d need to say goodbye.

“Tesama!” You waved at your friend and she waved back over the heads of everyone else. Worming your way through the crowd to reach her at the stall that was selling droid parts.

“This boc’ara, is charging me too much for Beetoo’s replacement parts.” You frowned at the seller, a Bith called Hezo that you knew well.

“What’s going on?” You asked him, pointing at Tesama and her chain code card. “You know who we work for.”

“Cid told me not to give you any more discount. She said you’ve had enough,” he held up his hands and refused to look directly at you both. “Take it up with her.” He went to deal with someone else, Tesama cursed again in her own language.

“What is going on?” You muttered.

“I don’t know, but I am so glad you’re back. Everyone has been acting strange,” she told you angrily. “I’m fed up if it, I feel I’m on the outside. Please tell me you’re staying and the boys are coming with you because Cid’s moods are awful.” You smiled at her, not really sure how to deal with it all. You weren’t staying, the boys weren’t coming back and you felt guilty for leaving Tesama here.

The Twi’lek carried on chatting, bringing you quickly up to speed on what had been happening as best she could, seemingly desperate to get it all off her chest. But you couldn’t concentrate, there was a weird fuzziness to your thoughts and you stopped at the edge of the market.

“Head back to the medcentre…” your voice trailed off as a sense of dread trickled down your back like icy water.

“What? Stitch?” The words got stuck, refusing to come past the tightness in your throat as pure fear washed over you. Tesama’s eyes rose to look at something in the sky behind you, widening drastically when she saw what you were sensing.

You didn’t need to turn around. The screams of the citizens around you were confirmation enough, followed by the vast shadow as it moved to block out the light from the sun. Moving at a steady pace, the shadow devoured everything beneath it, blanketing the market in a darkness that held a threatening chill.

“They’re here!” Tesama cried. “They will find me and make me a slave!” You snatched at her arm and pulled her close, making sure she could hear you over the rising panic.

“Run. Hide, they’re not here for you. Don’t give them an excuse to find you. I’ll head back to the medcentre and erase any trace of you. Ok?” She nodded, her lekku bouncing and you released her. “Go!” The howling roar of TIE fighters drowned out your word but she understood, turning and running.

You had no time to dwell on the fact you’d never see her again.

Panic rose and along with it the cacophony of noise. You were shoved between beings, your own anxieties trying to overwhelm you as well as absorbing the heightened emotions of everyone around you. When you slipped down the alley you were able to breathe, clutching at your throat as you forced yourself to keep walking.

They were here.

You ducked in the street as the pressure of the TIEs passing over made you want to press into the ground. Their hellish screams sounded like demons reawakened from the deepest of slumbers and all you could feel was the crawling sensation over your skin. The medcentre was so close and you forced yourself to run the rest of the way.

You locked the door. Racing into the bays you yelled for Beetoo who appeared, her photoreceptors blinking.

“You’re back. About time because I have had that Trandoshan female questioning me everyday.”

“The Empire is here!” You gushed at her, still trying to catch your breath as you remembered everything Tech had said to you.

“Is it true?” She asked. “The Empire is here?”

“Yes.” Time was running out as your fingers flew over the screen of your datapad, erasing Tesama’s file just as you promised. You inserted the data stick Tech gave you, letting it riot through the system and delete every trace of you and Batch as you darted into your bedroom. You picked up the blaster that was in your safe, locking the door and covering it back up. “In the supply cupboard,” you demanded.

“What?”

“Just do it Beetoo!” You shot the control panel for the front door and then locked yourself in the supply cupboard with the disgruntled droid, shooting that panel off the wall as well.

“Well now we are stuck,” she stated calmly.

“Stow it,” you snapped. Your steps were loud in the small space as she watched you walk backwards and forwards. They were here for you. It was that clone, Boba. Tapping the grip of the blaster against your forehead you tried to think of what to do.

“I have this.” You stopped and looked over at Beetoo as she produced the tracker Tech had given you at the Festival. “They would have jammed transmissions by now but judging by the programming on this, it would get through.”

“Beetoo…how?”

“I am a military, medical droid,” she stated as though it was obvious. “When I was remade he did not take that away from me.” Tech, oh Tech. You nearly collapsed as your breath stuttered at the thought of him. Echoes of your vision taunted you, the very real realisation that your visions held weight frightened you. But Tech saved you then, he could save you now…except it put them directly in the path of the Empire. The one thing Hunter, rightly, did not want.

“Use it.” You were close to tears, ripped apart by this decision as you felt them getting closer with every passing second.

“What if they get caught trying to save me?” You whispered.

“The odds are high in that regard. But there is a still a low chance they won’t.”

“And yet. You’re telling me to use it?” You scoffed, wiping your face.

“Yes. I will not survive this encounter. But I will go into it willingly knowing you have a chance of being found and rescued.”

“Fierfek,” you sobbed. Not able to hold back the emotion any longer.

“Record a message, I am just a droid they will destroy me.”

“But if they destroy you…” You asked, feeling a surge of something other than despair. The lights flickered, and the ground shook beneath your feet. Medical equipment slid off the shelves and you lurched to hold onto one. You could hear the faint explosions as they trapped people within the city, cutting off all escape because they were hunting for someone. For you.

“He will still be able to extract your message if I cannot deliver it myself,” she stated calmly, setting her feet slightly apart to stop herself falling over. The hissing of settling dust filled the room and you looked up at her from where you were holding onto the shelf.

“You would be able to do that?” You breathed, oddly calm in the face of imminent discovery or death.

“I would not have suggested it otherwise.” Now you laughed, grateful for that little glimpse of Tech as you nodded.

“Do it.”

Hunter felt uneasy. He couldn’t explain it. The restlessness could usually be nullified by twirling his knife, or pacing but nothing was working. Entering the cockpit he tried to find something comforting in the still lights of the stars only to come up with a blank. Ord Mantell was below them as they orbited. He eyed the planet wearily, as though expecting Cid to appear on the hull, demanding to know where they’d been all this time.

“You are not yourself,” Tech observed.

“Something feels…wrong.” It was the only way Hunter could explain.

“Nothing is wrong,” Tech said nonchalantly as he worked on fixing a loose connection.

“Yeah.” No, something was wrong. But if he couldn’t explain it, how could he make his brothers see?

Rex had promised he’d covered his tracks, the Bounty Hunter had been distracted and you were on Ord Mantell. And safe.

Safe.

So he wasn’t prepared when the proximity warnings went off and a Venator burst out of hyperspace right before them.

“That is unexpected,” Tech announced. He flipped a few switches. “We must contact Stitch before they cut our communications.” Hunter could already tell it was too late. He felt the deadness of the connection before Tech had even keyed in your com and typed his message. “They are jamming our transmissions. We must extract her.”

“Wait,” Hunter suddenly said. “How would they know where to find her?” No one answered his question, because no one knew, not even Tech. “Even if someone had seen her…it meant the Empire was nearby and monitoring coms to react this quickly.” Tech reacted, turning all the systems off in the ship and plunging them into the dark and cold so they were dead in space.

“Wha’ are you doing?” Wrecker asked, his voice almost too loud in the dead quiet.

“They cannot detect us, with all our systems switched off,” Tech explained as he peered forward. “Allowing us to pass directly beneath them.” The Venator was practically on top of them, all it would take was for someone to look with their own eyes outside, but the Imperials were arrogant. Relying on technology that could be blinded if you knew how.

“It’s c-cold!” Chattered Omega to which Wrecker responded by wrapping her up in a blanket and sitting her on his knee.

“We cannot warn her, or extract her,” Hunter’s words were punctuated with stress. “Unless anyone has any ideas?” Tech was rigid, Hunter could see him working through everything at once and coming up with the same conclusion every time. Their hands were tied. The risk of capture was too great.

“They don’t know she’s here though,” Omega added quietly from the crush of Wrecker’s arms. “Right?”

“That, I could not tell you for certain.” Hunter stiffened, he really wished Tech would soften his blows sometimes, especially with Omega.

They found you just like in your vision. Black lifeless visors and demanding voices; rough hands that took you right back to your darkest days and you curled up on the floor. But when they dragged Beetoo out and threw her on the ground a haze descended over your vision. You didn’t care about the medbay, the noise of your shattering equipment faded against the throb of your raging pulse and you screamed.

Kicking the legs out from under one trooper, you used him as a shield as they fired upon you, tossing his spent body aside you collided with another. Taking him down and rolling to the side only to swiftly get up and jab your elbow in the throat of another. You could feel them in the force, their weak points like beckons to you.

You took down two more with your bare hands, mainly going for the spot under their chins and choking them by landing a slicing blow and then swiping their feet out from under them. More troopers entered and you readied yourself, balling your fist and twisting your wrist only to realise you didn’t have your armour on. Just your normal medic, civvy clothes.

You didn’t even have time to dodge the bolts, taking them firmly in your chest and the power they released encapsulated your entire form, bringing you heavily to the ground and shattering your mind.

Pain. Your old friend and ever constant companion danced over your skin as the electricity coursed through your body. If you could have given up in that moment you would have.

It stopped and your body relaxed, your vision was blurred but you could still see Beetoo smashed on the floor, her parts littering the ground like silver rocks.

They were trashing your medcentre, your home. White boots stomped around your fallen body. Items fell and crashed, equipment was ripped apart, circuits sparking in protest. But you saw none of it.

Concentrating on the grey boots that stepped over the broken corpse of your droid. Boots you had worn when you were small, trying to make Jango smile as you clomped about the cockpit of the ship.

Your mind couldn’t process, it couldn’t separate Boba and Jango even with the change in colour on the armour. He crouched down, completely unbothered by the destruction that reigned around him while the Troopers tore through your place. He sighed, almost disappointingly as he regarded you through the helmet you refused to look at.

“This would have been much easier if you had come with me on Coruscant,” he murmured in that velvet smooth voice.

“Then you wouldn’t have had the joy of coming here.” It was effort to talk but you didn’t want him to see how weak he had made you, or how helpless you really were. You felt his gloves on your fingers, you tried tightening your grip but he was far stronger than you. Bending your fingers back to pull the tracker away, holding it up and admiring it in the flickering lights. “Can’t have anyone following us now.” He shattered the tracker, killing the signal and adding it to the debris on the floor. “Take her.”

You found some fight. Making yourself punch and kick only to be met with the firm plates of plastoid that ricocheted your hits off them with ease. Your throat was tired from screaming, only able to give you wracking sobs as they dragged you out of the front door.

Your eyes stared up at the sky, the Venator loomed over the city like a death knell, it’s underbelly almost touching the tallest building. Oppressive, forceful, overpowering. The noise of such a ship filled the air, the roar of the engines to keep it level in the atmosphere, the heady smell of fuel as it dumped out copious amounts of waste; even the heat from the engines as it burned the air around. It was suffocating.

It’s what the Empire did. Descended on planets and suffocated them until there was nothing and no one left.

None of them could stop watching.

Three more Venators arrived to create a blockade and the four of them stood and watched in horror as TIEs poured from the ships. The first Venator lowered into the atmosphere, lasers firing unrelentingly on the city below and there was nothing any of them could do.

Ships fled the planet surface, getting caught in tractor beams or were chased down and destroyed by pairs of TIEs when they didn’t cooperate.

Tech gripped the back of his seat with tense fingers, telling himself over and over again you would have found a place to hide until they could get to you.

“We can’t just sit here!” Wrecker suddenly blurted out.

“We have to,” Hunter told him wearily, the weight of this decision was crushing him.

“Wrecker’s right,” Omega sobbed, casting her tearful gaze up at her brother. “We need to find her!”

“No!” Hunter snapped and they both looked away from him. “I am protecting…you, us, our own.”

“Stitch is our own,” Tech stated quietly. “And we do not leave our own behind.”

“If you have something to suggest, Tech,” Hunter crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow almost as a challenge. His brother didn’t answer, planting himself back in the pilot seat as he woke the ship up.

“What are you doing?” Hunter growled as Wrecker shoved past him to get in the copilot seat. “We’ll never make it past the TIEs and the tractor beam!”

“We have to try!” Cried Omega as she grabbed Hunter’s arm. “We can’t leave her!” He crouched to her level, gathering her to him as he prayed to whatever crazy force that ran this galaxy. Omega shook in his arms, she was terrified and he steeled himself for the battle ahead.

“You stay close to me at all times,” he said gruffly, holding her steady as the ship tipped dramatically. The hull creaked and they all jolted as they took a hit.

“They’re firing on us,” Tech relayed calmly.

“What gave you that impression?” Hunter sourly replied. Omega was tucked tightly in his arms as he moved to a seat, but still she watched the light show outside.

The Marauder spiralled in Tech’s expert hands. Flying them into the atmosphere and away from the Venators.

“You’re going the wrong way,” Wrecker growled.

“We have TIEs on our tail. Clear those and we can double back without getting shot down as we land.” Tech explain sharply. There was nothing Hunter could do. He trusted his brothers explicitly, he knew they’d get to you eventually but he couldn’t help the feeling of each second passing him by, as they struggled to shake the Imperials. Every now and again he caught a glimpse of Ord Mantell, the plumes of smoke rising from the now shattered city and he just hoped you were holding on.

“Aww yeah!” Yelled Wrecker as he exploded a TIE and Tech shot the ship through the debris.

“One more…it’s heading back the Venator,” Tech said as he pushed the ship forward.

“Don’t get too close!” Hunter warned them. “If it’s returning…”

“They are pulling resources back,” Tech announced. “It means they have what they came for.” The implications of such a statement were heavy and none of them wanted to dwell on it.

“Look!” Omega pointed and all their attention zeroed in on the larger ship. Sure enough the engines were flaring, the roar of such a large ship in atmospheric pressure reached them through the hull of the Marauder and Tech pulled up to watch it leave.

“Should we go after them?” Tech asked. “If I can attach to their hull we should be able…”

“What if we go with the ship and Stitch is here?”Omega asked quietly.

Ord Mantell was smoking and broken from the bombardment of the ship. The ship that was now leaving. “Why would they do that?” She whispered, expressing the horror they were all feeling.

“Because they come in, destroy, take what they want and leave.” Hunter replied grimly, with a disgusted twist to his mouth.

“Their hyperdrive is activating,” Tech announced as the engines flared. “It is now or never.” But Hunter didn’t respond and the ship disappeared in the blink of an eye.

There was a beat of silence, a held breath as they all stared at the trail left in the atmosphere.

“Tech, get us down there.” But it was a needless command. Tech had already started guiding the ship back to the city, his fingers sure and precise on the controls. Omega settled back into his arms, her small body trembling and he just hoped there weren’t any Imperials left. If there were, they’d soon be wishing they left with the ship.

The Marauder had barely completed its landing cycle before the ramp was opening but Hunter stopped both Tech and Wrecker with a hand to the chest.

“Covertly. We do this covertly.” He said quietly. “We have no idea if there are Imperials nearby.” Hunter made them pause for a moment longer before moving aside. Tech disembarked first, his visor taking in everything as it tracked his eye movement.

The devastation they were greeted with was immense. Rubble lined the streets instead of people. Buildings were blown apart, carbon scorching marked the floor, edging the craters with a black dusting. But what really got to the group was the silence.

Ord Mantell had never been this quiet, even at night time. Not a single being could be seen moving, there was no music, no hustle of market day. It was like a ghost town and Hunter tried to shake off the feeling of dread that tiptoed up his spine.

Wrecker was breathing heavily into his helmet, struggling with the scene laid before him. They had seen devastation before, but this had just happened, it was still so raw.

“Look out!” Tech pushed Hunter out of the way, snatching at Omega as a wall began to give way. The ripping of stone rendered the air as it crashed to the ground, right where they’d been standing. Dust kicked up, creating a thick cloud that made them all cough.

“Eyes up!” Hunter wheezed. The group collectively raised their blasters only to come face to face with citizens covered in dust. Their eyes were wide with fear as they skirted around the armoured clones, footsteps fading all too quickly in the silent city.

“This is eerie,” Omega whispered as they slowly made their way towards the medcentre. Tech checked his datapad, making sure they were heading in the right direction.

The destruction lessened and Hunter slowed the group down. He was weary, why was this part of the city untouched but the rest was pretty much in ruins? He sighted round the corner, gesturing to Wrecker who went wide and scoped out the street.

“Clear.” The big clone commed quietly. Hunter motioned to Tech who headed straight for the medcentre doorway and opened it with ease. The grating noise was loud and all their blasters pointed into the darkness. Occasionally it was broken by a sparking light cell overhead but the whole place had a silent, ominous feel to it. Nothing moved. Nothing made a sound.

Hunter gestured again and this time Tech entered the building, the rest of them following.

It was dark, too dark. Tech clicked his torch on, ignoring the way his breath hitched when it lit up the hallway. Resting his blaster across his other hand, he advanced.

Tech turned the corner quickly, his finger squeezing the trigger ready to shoot at anything that moved. Immediately he found it difficult to breathe. He was barely aware of Hunter ordering Wrecker to check the rest of the place as he surveyed the damage that had been done. Omega stayed close to Hunter, peering round into the bays with fearful eyes.

All the equipment they had fought tooth and nail over was strewn across the floor, beds bent or marked with blaster shot marks littered the area, your medbay curtains were burnt and torn. Beetoo, lay half crushed on the floor, her inner circuits leaking out of her torso. Your office door was open and Tech could see the destruction trailed into there. The beam of his torch shook and it took Hunter a few times of calling his name before he realised he hadn’t moved.

“Tech. She’s not here.” Hunter put a hand over Tech’s arms, making him lower them before he accidentally shot something.

“Look a’ the mess,” Wrecker gasped, his fists curling until he knuckles cracked.

Tech finally moved, crouching beside Beetoo as he tried to make sense of everything. To his shock her photoreceptors lit up.

“Tech?” Your voice was unmistakable. Small and terrified. “If you’re listening to this, they found me.” He could hear the despair in your tone, the sniff as you fought not to cry. “Tech. I used the tracker but I know you can’t come and get me. I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” His hand reached out to hover over the droid as you finally gave in and sobbed. “I’m hiding in the supply cupboard, they landed not that long ago and I know they’re here for me. They know w-who I am. Wh-what I am.” You cried again, gasping a little and he imagined you wiping your face in frustration. “Don’t come after me, Tech. I’d never forgive myself.” He jolted at the abrupt sound of blaster fire. “They’re he—.” The recording was cut off.

Silence reined as Beetoo’s power finally gave out. Tech’s hand shook, still balanced on the balls of his feet in a crouching position as he reeled from what he’d just heard. Hunter and Wrecker stood just behind him, their heads bowed as circuits sparked somewhere in the depths of your place. Omega wept silently, pressing her face into Hunter’s side and he curled an arm around her in some form of comfort.

Tech held his breath, eyes picking out the pieces on the ground as he named all the debris automatically. He knew what this used to be. His fingers gently picked up the chip board that was exposed in the shattered casing, letting the pieces fall to the floor with a soft clatter…this was the remains of your tracker.

Hopelessness was a heavy cloud, hanging in the air like a noxious gas. Everything they had done to keep you safe had been for nothing, they still lost.

“We need to leave.” Hunter said.

“Like this?” Wrecker asked.

“Yes. We won’t be coming back. She’s gone. Tech?” He could feel Hunter’s hand on his shoulder, the pat of it through his armour but still he couldn’t move. “We need to go.” Tech pulled a datastick from his pouch, pushing it into the port at the back of Beetoo’s head, he downloaded everything from the droid. He just hoped it was enough.

#sanctuary #tech x f!reader #tech x reader(stitch) #tech x reader #tech x you #tbb tech x reader #the bad batch