#because nobody fucking drives carefully over there it’s not the deer

[smol-and-grumpy]

To Be Free - CH01

Pairing: Dean Winchester x Reader

Summary: Escaping and hiding away, that’s what she wants to do. Her parent’s remote cabin in the mountain sounds like the best place for it. There, she meets someone from her past — a green-eyed mountain man.

Chapter Warnings: A little back story, cheating (not Dean), language, threats being made, car accident

WC: 2481

Beta: @winchest09​ <3

A/N: So, this is the beginning of the Mountain Man!Dean AU. I hope you’ll like it!

Read ahead on Patreon!

Series Masterlist ~ SPN Masterlist

The phone buzzes on the seat next to her. Again. 

It hasn’t stopped ringing since Y/N had gotten into the car and drove away. She’s so close to just throwing it out of the window but then again, the rational side of her brain tells her that she would endanger the automobiles around her on the highway, and she doesn’t really want to cause any damage, or accidents, if it can be avoided. 

“You’re a goody-goody.” Mick always used to say, “It’ll get you in trouble if you don’t toughen up.” 

Perhaps Mick was right. She probably was not made to work in that firm where she has to help fucking criminals. But then again, he made it seem so plausible and she can’t believe that she fell for it all. Y/N had fallen for the prestige, for the fame, and most of all, she had fallen for Mick, and that was the worst fucking mistake. 

The events of that night flash before her eyes once more. 

It’s 9 PM. Mick usually doesn’t have a reason to work so late unless he has a meeting with the mob family that they have under their wings. She never liked to go to their meetings, always found an excuse to opt out. The way the men always stare at her like she was a piece of meat rather than a woman with a brain, always sent a chill down her spine. 

When she stepped out of the elevator, the floor was dark. There’s only minimal light coming from the reception area that’s vacated at this time of the night. Y/N never liked to be here after hours but it’s the only place she thought she could find Mick. He didn’t pick up his phone when she called him which was highly unusual. Somehow, she was a little afraid of what she would find. It could be him just laughing and joking with the mobsters, but it could also have been him bruised and beaten beyond recognition because the Family wasn’t happy with his work, or it could be worse. He could be dead. Today was his birthday too and she even ordered catering for the both of them to enjoy at home. She guessed that she would have to pop the dishes into the microwave because by the time she decided to check here, it was already starting to turn cold.

Walking further along the hallway, she noticed that the lights in Mick’s office are still on and a sense of relief washed over her, while the sense of dread built up in the pit of her stomach at the same time. 

“Oh god, Mick.” 

There was a faint moan that carried through the hallway of the offices. It made her blood freeze, but it forced her to walk faster.

“Mmh,” she heard Mick humming. “Always so fucking tight for me, Eve. Such a good pussy.” 

“Better than Y/N, I’d hope.” 

Mick chuckled, “I’d rather you not talk about her while I fuck you. You know you’re my best girl, baby.”

The dread in Y/N’s stomach intensified and something began to churn inside of her. She had to clutch it so as not to just hurl out the whole contents into the next pot plant she could find. 

Eve was her friend. Her best friend since she moved into the city two years ago. She was even the one who helped Eve to get a job at her boyfriend’s firm. 

Well, not her boyfriend anymore, she guessed. 

She reached the door, fingers clutched around the frame for purchase as she took in the image before her. Eve was bent over the table, Mick half undressed, fucking into her from behind. 

He threw his head back as he closed his eyes. When he opened them again, he turned his head and their eyes met. 

For a brief second, she thought she saw a smirk twisting at his lips when he noticed her. He kept on pounding into Eve, though, his pace never faltered. 

Y/N retreated, tears pooled in her eyes and she moved on autopilot. Before she knew it, she found herself in her office, packing the things that she needed into her laptop bag. 

‘Stupid! So fucking stupid!’ she thought. She should have seen it. Why hadn’t she seen it? The red flags were always there. Mick always gave her assignments that would see her traveling all over the country for a long stretch of time. She would find receipts of hotels laying around in the apartment, or when she did laundry, but he always had a good reason. They hadn’t been intimate for a long time, too. Mick was always too tired and if he wasn’t then she would be. And if that happened, he would get out of bed and said that he needed a drink and was out of the apartment before she could even say anything. She was so engrossed in her work and too oblivious to what was going on, that she ignored all the warning signs. 

She was crying now, the tears not stopping. But it’s not over Mick. She would never cry over a man who had treated her like this. She cried for herself, for being dumb enough to let someone play her. 

Bending down to pack the remainder of her things, she opened her last drawer, revealing a little safe that was neatly tucked inside. Without hesitation, she punched in the combination and it sprang open. It contained a single USB stick. 

Picking it up, she clutched it in the palm of her hand. She had forgotten about the small device and now she knew why Mick kept her around. She was the only person who had a copy of the shady business his clients are doing, because she was involved as much as Mick. He was never going to give her up because if the information got leaked, he'd be taking the fall. 

There were footsteps along the hallway, the thumping sounds getting louder as someone rushed to her office and she quickly let the stick slip into her jean pocket. 

“What are you doing?” he asked too casually but with a bitter undertone, acting like he hadn’t just fucked her best friend. 

“What does it look like?” she snarled, patience wearing thin. “I quit. And don’t even come by my apartment anymore.”

He walked in further; his hair was ruffled and the buttons on his shirt were hastily done up, the material lopsided as he had fastened them wrong. She was so disgusted by his appearance.

Mick rubbed his hand over his chin, carefully thinking about his next words. “I need the USB stick before you leave.” 

She snorted. That’s typical. All he could think about is his fucking business. “I don’t have it.”

“Liar!”

“Oh, look who’s talking.” Maybe, just maybe, she shouldn’t anger him but screw that.

“Y/N.” Mick rounded up around her desk and came to stand right before her. The scent of sex hit her nose in waves. It made her nauseous. “You’re going to get into so much trouble if they know that you have it and believe me, if you walk out of here, they will find out because I will tell them.”

“I’m not scared of those men.”

Mick laughed. Fucking laughed. 

“They’ll come for you, Y/N. Those men are not to be fucked with.” He was still chuckling when he said, “They will find you and they will kill you.”

She cocked her eyebrow, and maybe she should have been scared of Mick and his threats but she’s still got the upper hand. If she got to expose him first, she has bargaining leverage. Maybe she’d get to be in a witness protection program. By the time it hits the fan, she will hopefully be long gone. 

“I don’t have it,” she said again as she bumped her shoulder against his on her way out, shoving him to the side. 

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you!” Mick called after her, his voice echoing in the almost empty hallway. 

With her head held high, she descended the stairs, too impatient and not to say scared to wait for the elevator.

 The phone buzzed again after having only stopped for a short time. It actually hasn’t stopped ringing since she drove back to her apartment to pack her duffel with enough clothes that should last her for a couple of days. She wanted to get out of here, clear her head, think about what to do next. 

It’s after she stopped for gas that she remembered the remote cabin that belonged to her parents. They hadn’t been up there for a while as the health of her father was deteriorating but she knew where they kept the spare key, and it’s the only place she knew nobody would come looking for her because she hadn’t been with Mick long enough to let him in on the existence of the cabin, nor on the memories the place held.

Buying enough food that would last her a couple of days, she drove towards the foot of the mountain. 

It was February and the roads were icy as it had snowed just last night. She hoped that her car would have enough power to get her up there, as she didn’t have snow chains with her. Not that she knew how to put them on in the first place. If worse comes to worst, she’d have to abandon her car and hike up the last bit, which was totally fine with her too. Anything to get away from civilization.

As she made her way up the snowy road and rounded up the twelfth bend in the street (There were fourteen - she had counted them from the drive up there every winter), her phone buzzed again. 

She glanced over to the passenger seat to catch the caller ID. It could be her mother for all she knew and that one, she would pick up. Y/N would maybe tell her that she was on the way to the cabin so that they wouldn’t be too worried if they can’t get a hold of her, because the reception could be pretty spotty up there.

But no, it’s fucking Mick again. She rolled her eyes upon seeing the name flash on the screen before turning her gaze back to the snow-covered street in front of her, but it was already too late. Out of her periphery, she caught it. The deer that ran out of the woods, its eyes wide when it saw the headlights of her SUV. Her foot hit the break immediately, but it was too late. The car swerved on the icy ground and she hoped she didn’t hit the animal before her vision goes black.

  Dean was sitting in his recliner in the cabin while he enjoyed his glass of bourbon. It’s his downtime, one of his favorite pastimes, next to spending his days out with Stevie, his Bernese mountain dog.

He had been coming to this cabin since his early childhood, having only missed one Winter out of the many. There were times where he would only spend a week up here but also there were times where he would be there for the whole winter. It’s his favorite place, always has been. 

The cabin is not as big as the ones that surrounded it, but it’s enough. It has only one bedroom, yet it was cozy. He remembered back to when he was younger, when he and his younger brother would sleep on the fold-out couch while his parents took the bedroom. Sometimes if Sam was upset with him, Dean would spend the night on the rug in front of the fireplace instead, and it was the best thing. He almost felt bad for wanting to get into a fight with Sam more often so that his sibling wouldn’t look at him funny when he wanted to spend the night on the floor instead of on the worn-out couch.

Once his parents stopped their annual visit up there, and they wanted to sell the cabin, Dean had saved enough money to buy it from them. There were just too many memories tied to the little property, too many of them that he wasn’t willing to just forget. 

While he took a sip from his tumbler, Stevie lifted her head and twisted her ears. 

Dean noticed, and immediately reached down to pat the dog's head, “What's wrong, Stevie?” 

The dog ignored him to get up and walk over to the door, letting out a whine as her nails started to scratch at the wood. 

“Easy, girl,” he soothes the agitated dog. “You wanna go out for a walk again?” 

Stevie whined some more, her scratching becoming more frantic. 

“Right,” Dean sighed as he got out of his seat. He took his time to empty his tumbler before setting it down on the coffee table. “Let’s go then.” 

The snow had started to fall again as they got out of the cabin, and he ducked inside once more to grab his hat that’s hanging on the hook right behind the door. Stevie was not impressed that it was taking Dean so long to get ready and started to bark.

“Easy, Stevie,” he chuckled as her wet nose nuzzled against his palm. He reached down to scratch behind her ear, a motion that seemed to calm her down. “Good girl.” 

They made their way down the street. The old snow crunched underneath his boots. Fresh layers of the white powder would cover over it soon enough, erasing their prints when it settled. He thought about doing their usual nightly walk around the perimeter, wondering if maybe they’d see a deer or two. Stevie had a way with deer. They love to meet her and Dean’s always mesmerized by the unusual bond they had. Stevie was always good with other animals and people, the dog’s sense to protect everyone is highly admirable, and Dean really couldn’t wish for a better companion.

As they rounded up the second bend in the road, he saw the car. Its headlights were still on but the front was wrapped around a tree which was the only thing standing between the car and the abyss. It was not a strong pine and the wood was already creaking under the weight.

Stevie rushed forward and Dean followed suit. The tree was going to give in at any minute, he just knew and if he couldn’t save the car, maybe he would be able to save whoever was stuck in there.

Dean thankfully reached the vehicle in time, yanking the driver’s door open and the sight of the girl slumped over the steering wheel made his blood run colder than the icy road he was standing on. 

“Y/N?” 

CH02

Please share your thoughts with me, I’d love to hear your feedback.

​

#to be free #dean winchester #dean winchester x reader #dean x reader #dean winchester fic #dean winchester fan fic #dean winchester fan fiction #mountain man!Dean #nathalie writes

[yourlittl3ang3l]

Just one of the chapters from my story :Rare Hybrid?':

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Hyunjin and Chan talked back forth after Hyunjin had calmed down and learned a more about each other as the ride continued. Hyunjin looked out the window and caught a glimpse of the most beautiful beach he'd ever seen, " Holy. . .shit." Hyunjin muttered as he followed the beach until it was out of sight.

" I see you saw the surprise already, huh, Bambi?" Chan grinned as he followed the directions down to the parking lot next to the beach.

Hyunjin nodded, forgetting that Chan couldn't see his face. Chan smiled, pulling into the empty parking lot, Chan parked and looked over at Hyunjin. When Hyunjin noticed that Chan was looking at him he just smiled sweetly, Chan's heart melted instantly and he sent Hyunjin a bright smile in return.

" Let's go?" Chan asked.

" Yes!" Hyunjin cheered, quickly moving to just get out of the car. Chan chuckled and opened his door as he chased after Hyunjin, not forgetting to lock the door.

Once Hyunjin entered the beach he started to laugh, it was fucking gorgeous and Hyunjin was in love. Hyunjin looked over to the beautiful blue waters, met with clear water and happy looking sea animals, happily swimming around the reef.

" Beautiful isn't it?" Chan asked as he stood next to Hyunjin.

" It's gorgeous, Chan." Hyunjin replied, smiling at Chan with one of the purest smiles Chan's ever seen.

" It reminded me of you when i first found it. Bright, beautiful and calm." Chan blurted accidentally, " I-I meant-"

Hyunjin blushed and just hugged Chan. " Thanks, you know you're pretty too, right?" Hyunjin asked, his voice a bit muffled from Chan's shirt.

" How could I, when I have you to remind me?" Chan chuckled as he hugged Hyunjin back.

" Stooppp!" Hyunjin whined, clutching Chan's shirt tightly.

" Okay, I will, I will. . ." Chan surrendered, 'for now' Chan thought to himself with a smirk.

" Good, now. . .Let's get in the water?" Hyunjin questioned, looking up at Chan.

" Bambi, we don't have any swimsuits. . ." Chan replied, Hyunjin just smiled before detaching himself from Chan.

" I know." Hyunjin giggled, taking off his shirt and shorts. Chan blushed a beet red as he watched the deer strip in front of him, " Wh-What are you doing?" Chan asked, Hyunjin looking over as he walked over to the water.

" Taking off my clothes?" Hyunjin replied as he walked into the ocean waters. " Gonna join me?" Hyunjin asked as he looked past his shoulder, his eyes staring into Chan's.

Chan took a while to think about it but decided to just go for it, Chan nodded at Hyunjin and said boy smiled before taking a dive. Chan started to take his clothes off, facing away from Hyunjin, Hyunjin secretly came back up and stared at Chan. Hyunjin blushed as he saw Chan's back, 'Holy shit, was he chiseled by god himself?' Hyunjin asked himself, quickly going back under as he watched Chan start turning around.

Chan made his way into the water, swimming once he was in deep enough. Hyunjin had resurfaced and swam closer to Chan, ignoring how warm his face was. " Hyunjin!" Chan grinned, Hyunjin just smiled up at Chan, slightly waving. Hyunjin did not trust his voice at all, fearing he would start stuttering.

Chan and Hyunjin spent most of the day together just swimming and playing around, splashing each other and laughing. The two had found a rock by the shore and decided to climb up on it, lounging on it as they talked to each other.

" Did you know that Felix used to have a scratching post in our room? I remember when he used to stay up every night just scratching it." Hyunjin giggled, remembering when they were younger and stayed in kid strangers houses because they didn't have their own, all those humans were so sweet. (Humans and Hybrids lived as equals, nobody owned anyone as pets)

" No I didn't but it totally seems like something he'd do." Chan chuckled, looking out at the beautiful sunset, " Woah, how long have we been here?" Chan asked, surprised at the lovely sight. Hyunjin looked where Chan was looking and his eyes widened.

" I don't even know." Hyunjin replied, moving closer to Chan, which went unnoticed.

" Do you think we should hea-" Chan was about to ask but his words died in his throat as he looked at Hyunjin, Hyunjin looked fucking gorgeous in this light and Chan couldn't stop his eyes from looking at Hyunjin's lips. Chan had wanted nothing more then to kiss him when they first started hanging out without the others around.

Hyunjin looked at Chan confused as to why Chan had suddenly stopped speaking. Then he noticed that Chan wasn't looking at his eyes, but more down. Hyunjin blushed and poked Chan gently, " Uh. . .Chan?" Hyunjin asked sheepishly, a bit flustered from Chan's staring.

Chan snapped out of it but blurted something he did not want to say at the moment.

" Can I kiss you?" Chan asked, then both of them went bright red.

" I- I'm so so-sorry! I didn-" Chan started to stutter

" N-No I-I'm completly fine with that- shit- I-" Hyunjin waved his hands in front of his face, Chan stopped and Hyunjin froze.

" What was that?" Chan asked, getting closer with a small smirk.

" Uhm- I-I said. . . I sa-said. . ." Hyunjin his voice getting quieter with every word he said.

" What Bambi? What did you say?" Chan asked again, his smirk only getting bigger.

" I'm completely fine with that?" Hyunjin whispered, his face way too hot for his liking.

" You're fine with what?" Chan asked.

" Y-You, kissing m-me." Hyunjin replied.

Chan grinned, gently holding Hyunjin's chin bringing him closer to him. Once their lips connected, Hyunjin felt as though he could cry, he was kissing thee Bang Christopher Chan. Hyunjin moved from his laying down position and onto Chan's lap, wrapping his arms around Chan's neck, deepening the kiss. Chan smiled into the kiss, resting his hands on Hyunjin's hips, Chan loved how Hyunjin's lips felt against his own, it was like heaven and Chan never wanted to leave.

Once they broke away, they took heavy breaths, breathless from kissing for so long. " Hyunjin, I love you." Chan whispered into Hyunjin's ear. Hyunjin blushed as got shy.

" I love you too, Chan. . ." Hyunjin replied with a small smile, Chan smiled and the two hugged.

" Uhm. . . C-Can we kiss again. . .?" Hyunjin asked sheepishly, hiding in the nape of Chan's neck.

" Do you even have to ask?" Chan grinned, connecting their lips again. Hyunjin hummed happily and the two lost track of time, not noticing the sky changing from bright oranges and yellows to a mix of blue and purple, the millions of stars shinning brightly in the sky, the moon hovering over them.

( Somewhere else)

" Where are those two?" Minho asked as he and Jisung sat with Changbin and Felix.

" I dunno? Hyunjin had told me they wanted to hang out alone with each other." Felix shrugged, telling Minho what he knew.

" Those two? Alone? Oh that bitchlet better tell me the details or else I'm throwing a bitch fit." Minho grumbled, Jisung gently placing his hand on the older's shoulder.

" I swear if they have their first kiss, I'm making Hyunjin tell me everything." Felix grumbled as well.

( With Hyunchan, and yeah i know they said I love you, but i don't give two shits 😘)

" Holy shit, we gotta head back, They'll be so mad." Chan worried, Hyunjin whined a bit as he just snuggled into Chan more.

" I don't wanna go back yet" Hyunjin whined, " Can we stay a bit longer? Just one more kiss?" Hyunjin asked, using his puppy dog eyes on Chan, a small pout appearing on his lips.

Chan froze, knowing he could never say no to Hyunjin. " Fine one more kiss, but then we have to go back, okay?" Chan gave in, Hyunjin grinned and kissed Chan one more time before they had to leave.

Once the kiss ended they carefully avoided the water to avoid having sand stick onto them, and got dressed again. The two ran back to Chan car together and started to head back, Hyunjin and Chan talking even more.

" We should do that more." Hyunjin stated.

" Agreed" Chan replied.

The rest of the ride consisted of Hyunjin and Chan talking, nothing about 'mates' though, the two not really ready to talk about that yet. Somehow though their conversation shifted to entertainment, singing, rapping and dancing.

The two talked about what they were confident about for themselves and what they thought they should get better at. When Chan pulled up to Hyunjin and Felix's house they looked at each other, Hyunjin smiled.

" One more kiss?" Hyunjin asked with a giggle, Chan's eyes softened at the adorable deer boy and kissed once more, the kiss short and sweet.

" Bye Bambi, sleep well." Chan waved at Hyunjin, Hyunjin saved back as well.

" I should be the one saying that."

" Yeah, yeah, have a good night Bambi!" Chan shouted before he started to drive back home.

" *sigh* What an amazing day." Hyunjin whispered to himself as he opened the door, whenhe did he was met with a curious Felix and tired Changbin.

" Did you guys kiss? You were gone for way too long for it to just be innocent! Did he mark you? Let me see!" Felix rambled on, not letting Hyunjin breath as he tugged Hyunjin down and checked his neck and shoulders, letting out a sad sigh when he couldn't find anything.

" We were at the beach and. . .we might've kissed a little bit. . .but we didn't do anything else!" Hyunjin answered, tugging his shirt back into place.

" You KISSED!? OH MY GOD YESSSS! I'M TELLING MINNIE!" Felix cheered, Hyunjin's eyes widened as he ran after Felix.

" WAIT NO DON'T" Hyunjin shouted as he tried to catch Felix, but Felix was too fast for him.

" I'M TELLING HIM AND YOU CAN'T STOP ME!" Felix shouted back as he quickly grabbed his phone and stopped moving. Big mistake. Because Hyunjin WWE type tackled his ass, and tugged Felix.s phone into his own hands and held up above Felix's head.

" OH YES I CAN! TRY ME BITCH, I WAS WATCHING WWE ON HE FUCKING WEEKEND DON'T TEST ME!" Hyunjin shouted.

" HAH! I GO TO TAEKWONDO LESSONS WITH CHANGBIN, ANGEL!" Felix shouted back, the two fought as Changbin slowly woke up. When he saw the two omegas fighting over Felix's phone he couldn't help but groan, he threw a pillow at the two, gain their attention.

" Could you two stop! I'm trying to sleep!" Changbin asked, raising his voice, effectively stopping the two. " Thank you."

Hyunjin and Felix both groaned as they went to go sit down in the couch as well.

(Chanho👌)

" YOU BITCHLET, IF YOU DON'T TELL ME YOU MARKED HIS ASS RIGHT NOW IMMA BE ANGRY AS HELL!" Minho yelled.

" WE KISSED AND THAT WAS IT! WWE'RE NOT READY TO TALK ABOUT THAT SHIT YET! CALM THE HELL DOWN!" Chan yelled back, dodging pillows that were being thrown at him by Minho.

" DAMN IT! I JUST WANNA BE A GOD FATHER ALREADY!" Minho yelled, slamming his fists on the table.

" WAIT A FEW YEARS! DAMN!" Chan yelled back, " WHEN WILL I BECOME ONE? HUH?" Chan yelled.

" I- good point." Minho spoke, as he calmed down.

" Shit." Chan whispered.

" Oh yeah, your food's fucking cold." Minho stated, crossing his arms.

" I'll just heat it up, I'm not helpless." Chan huffed, Minho chuckled.

" Just eat." Minho replied.

[kewltie]

His office door slams open and a familiar voice comes through the doorway. "Boss! There is a horde of children, a horde of them," Nagai gasps, "outside looking for you. What did you do?!"

Katsuki doesn't even look up from his paperworks. "Do half of them look like they will eviscerate you if you get within ten feet of the group?"

A beat, and then, "Well, yes," Nagai admits sheepishly. "The oldest girl had stared me down like I'm the scum of the earth and I'd never felt so emasculated by a child before."

Katsuki slides out of his seat and stands up. "Yea, those are my brats alright."

"W-wait, what?" Nagai squeaks, face running through a gauntlet of horror. "Yours? You mean as in yours-yours like they're your kids? You reproduce? How does that even work—?"

When Katsuki gives him a searing glare, Nagai has the grace to look apologetic even as he doesn't retract his words. "Do I have to go over basic sex education with you?" he seethes as he walks up to Nagai.

"Uh, no, sir," Nagai says, shaking his head rapidly like a wet dog. "It's just, well," he scratches his cheek, "we never saw you with anyone before. Half of us either thought you were celibate and just obsessed with your work, while the rest thought you were, um," Nagai looks like a deer in headlights, "impotent," he finishes in a rush.

Katsuki swats him in the back of his head. "Stop fucking gossiping with the interns."

"Sorry, boss," Nagai says with a grimace. "We're just surprise that you didn’t just have one but several secret children running around and nobody even had a clue."

"I didn't contribute to their genetics," Katsuki grinds out, because he’s tired of going over this, "but those brats are mine in every sense of the word."

"Oh," Nagai says, brows furrowing. He opens his mouth as thought to say more but quickly closes it when Katsuki shoves pass him and heads out of the door. But it's not long before he starts it up again. "I guess that would explain why they don't look like you at all."

"What clued you in, genius?" Katsuki says dryly. "Is it their white hair or grey eyes?"

"Well, one of them, actually have green hair and eyes instead," Nagai points out, which earns him another swat. "Ouch."

Katsuki roll his eyes. "Shut up, you fucking baby. You're made of steel."

"Boss, your fist of fury can blow a hole through steel, so yea, I'm concern," Nagai defends as they make their way from the back of the agency to the more communal area because Katsuki prefer to keep them far apart as possible. Privacy is valuable commodity that he wouldn’t spare for anything less than absolutely. “I’m actually extremely concern when your hand land on any part of my body."

Katsuki snorts. Fuck HR and everyone who thinks fear can't be a good foundation to a build a work relationship on. His subordinates need a healthy dose of fear to get motivated to do their fucking jobs.

Or else they become useless like this—he curses inwardly.

As soon as they step into the main open area of the agency, there's a cluster of front office personals, interns, and off-duty heroes crowding over several small figures.

Their voice drown out all other noises in the area.

"Are you the Boss' children?" someone asks.

"Where did you come from?" another presses.

"Who is your dam?" A curious excited tilt to their voice.

"Awe, you're so cute!" A coo.

"This isn't a daycare," Katsuki snaps, raising his voice above the crowd. "Get the fuck back to work. I don't pay you all to stand around and do nothing." A series of whine escape but they quickly disperse back to their corner, but he can still their heavy gazes on him. Noisy fuckers.

"Um, I'll just go do something over there then," Nagai says, making a run for it before Katsuki can bite his head off also. Katsuki sighs, feeling a throb stirring in the back of his head. He turns his attention the real source of his headache—three menacing little shits.

They make quite a scene. Like pretty dressed up dolls, standing closely together with held hands as they present a united front against the world. Hikaru, protectively bookend by his older sisters, is wearing a baby blue hoodie with rabbit ears and white pants. It's fucking precious. If Hikaru is supposed to soften the world up for the slaughter then his sisters go right in for the kill. Yuko carries herself like a queen in her red laced dress, mary jane shoes, and a black beret on top of her head. Close by Akira doesn't settle for second best either. She has on a Ground Zero team jacket on with a GZ baseball cap on her head, a another GZ piece of merch on her feet adorned in his signature colors, and a plaid skirt around her hips. The brats are out in style.

It's an overkill, but fuck do they look good doing it.

Ironic, though, that Izuku can barely dress himself, but he always makes sure the brats look good enough to kill when they go out. No wonder they always catch attention no matter where and what they do. A sense of pride sweeps over him, because, yea, they're his brats too.

"Numbers," Katsuki greets them with a short wave.

"Kacchan," they say in unison. Yuko in her cold, detached tone. Akira chirps it excitedly. And Hikaru's voice is soft and sweet. They drop hand so Hikaru can wave shyly at him, because his sisters are too cool for that shit.

Hikaru quickly breaks rank and slams right into Katsuki's leg. "Hi," he murmurs, looking up at Katsuki with warmth eyes.

"Yo," he says back, bending down to lift Hikaru up and holds him over his hip. "What you monsters doing here?"

"Delivering Papa's bento to you!" Akira informs him.

A chorus of oohs and aahs echoes throughout the space. Katsuki snaps his neck toward the noise and glares at them to quite frankly shut the fuck up as Hikaru tucks his head against Katsuki's chest. Unlike his older siblings, Hikaru doesn't fair well under the spotlight.

"Papa requested that we bring your lunch to you," Yuko explains, words carefully enunciated and poised as though they can be pluck off of her tongue. Yuko always come off much older than she really is and maybe that's the burden of being the first born. All the responsibility and pressure, but none of the advantage. She got three younger siblings behind her and another on the way; she can't relax at all. There's an air of unapproachability around her that is indifference to the world but doting to her younger siblings and dam.

Katsuki and Yuko aren't close compare to the rest of the numbers, but a mutual respect is share between them. He's the one providing her family with a roof over their head and food on the table, and she holds her tattered family together with nothing but sheer determination.

She's good girl; Izuku had raised her right.

Yuko looks pointedly at a wrapped bento box that had been tucked to her side the whole time. "He made mentaiko for you since he’d said you like it."

"His first time too!" Akira adds with a grin.

Yuko scowls, bumping her sister shoulder. "Don't tell him that!"

Hikaru lifts his head up and leans closely to Katsuki's ear. "I’d tasted it earlier," he makes a face, "and it's not very good," he confesses, hush and guiltily like a prisoner on deathrow. “I didn’t like it at all.”

"Hikaru, you traitor!" Akira snaps as Yuko drops her face into her hand in exasperation. “Don’t go exposing Papa’s secret!”

"You shouldn't be yelling at him when you're just as bad," Yuko accuses.

Akira huffs. "I would never say anything mean about Papa!"

"It’s always you and your big mouth," Yuko seethes as thick black tendrils crawl to the surface of her skin like living tattoos. "This is where Hikaru had picked his bad habits from. "Inky shadows seeps from her feet and spread across the floor, pooling beneath her as several pointed pillars rise from it.

"You're so bossy, nee-chan!" Akira narrow her eyes, spread her stance, and raises her fists, lips curling in a sneer. "Maybe someone should teach you a lesson instead."

"Fucking hell," Katsuki grumbles, stepping forward to get between them. "Hey, hey, cut that shit out, you brats."

He slightly nudges Hikaru in the back to help him out and Hikaru, who is clearly the best child ever, begs urgently, "Yuko-neechan, Akira-neechan, please don't fight."

Yuko draws in a long breath before closing her eyes, finding that zen within her as the inky black tendril recedes back into her body. "I apologize for such an uncouth display," she says coolly, opening her eyes. It's a calm pool of grey once more. "That was rude of us."

Akira relaxes her tense muscle and drops her fighting stance. "Sorry," she says chagrin, but not completely appeased because despite being the only quirkless individual among her overpower siblings, Akira has enough gutso and blind bravery to fight anyone and everything. Sometimes even her own siblings. It's one of her worst and best qualities; she just doesn't know her own limit. "We'll be good now."

"Don't bullshit me, no. 3," Katsuki scolds. "You four exist just to drive me to an early grave."

Akira grins, rocking back on her heels. "But you loooooove us anyway."

"God, knows why," he says, pulling a disgust face at himself because fuck him does he love these little shits and all their complicated neurosis and hang-ups.

"And we all love you too," Hikaru adds, because he’s the best kid .

"Some of us do," Yuko corrects with an up turned nose, because praise from drawing blood from stone. “I may have accepted him, but doesn’t mean he is our father yet.”

Akira's head snaps to her sister as she opens her mouth to give another vicious barb, but just before that Katsuki quickly cuts in: "Okay, just tell me where are Deku and no. 2 first. I'm sure he didn't come alone and I already miss no. 2's death glare drilling a hole in my head."

Kouki’s zero tolerance for anyone’s bullshit, even his siblings, would be fucking awesome right now.

"Oh, Papa is outside waiting for us," Akira says as Yuko frowns beside her. "And Kouki-niichan is with him to make sure no alpha harassed him."

"What the fuck," Katsuki says, annoyed and beyond confused. "Why don't they just come in with you instead of sending just you brats?”

"Papa's shy," Hikaru whispers in his ears. "He doesn't want to bother you or cause you problem at your work place if he were here."

"You guys aren't mate or married so it would improper for him to visit you without causing sordid rumors," Yuko argues.

"And the fact that you three are here, isn’t either?" Katsuki demands dryly, gesturing to the three menace wrecking a havoc in his agency and the ears and eyes that had been training on them since their appearance here.

Yuko grimaces as Akira gives a sheepish smile.

"Mad, Kacchan?" Hikaru asks, mouth drawn tight as his voice quiets out.

"No," Katsuki answers, pinching Hikaru's cheek. "I'm actually fucking stoke." He turns to the other two and orders, "No. 3, go get Deku and no. 2 and tell them to get their ass in here."

Akira’s eyes light up and she grins. "Yes, sir." She salutes him and runs off.

"Here is what’s going to happen when Deku and no. 2 get here: we'll go to the lounge, grab a table, and you're all going to watch me eat your Papa's shitty food and hope I don't fucking get food poison, alright?" Katsuki tells the remaining two as Yuko makes a face and Hikaru giggles in his ear.

#bakudeku #stepdad au #series: numbers #or how alpha prohero!bakugou took in the widow of supervillain and HIS HORDE OF KIDS #fic snippet

[reddogf13]

Covenant ch 13

summery:  They did it, IT was left to die alone in the tunnels under Derry. months have passed and the losers thrived after what seems to feel like a curse lifting off the town. if only Beverly had not decided to make a last minute deal with IT on its death bed. will her choice to let IT live destroy all that she holds dear?

status: complete

rated: M - fowl language and gore

prev chap: Covenant ch 12

next chap: END

_____________________________________

~ch: 13 Farewell~

“rich, c-c-call mike. Emergency pick up!”

“how are we all going to fit in the car?! We barely fit as is unless were attaching him to the front like a dead deer!” doing as he was told despite the truth to the mentioned issue.

“s-s-some will have to walk. Bev, me, and Ben w-w-will hold him in the car back seat. Stan can sit in the front for back up.

“why do we gotta walk?!” Richie argued while waiting on the phone.

“n-n-n-not the time!” bill snapped. Digging through the principal's desk. Happy to have found a roll of duct tape. Coming over to start wrapping the man's arms while Beverly covered his mouth.

The bell ringing again through the halls announcing the assembly was over. Hearing kids pass by the office. Stan bringing up their next problem. “are we really going to drag him through the school halls and out to a car?!”

“could we do it like that movie “Weekend at Bernie's” and puppeteer his body around?” Richie got out between talking to mike.

“uhh, we can put him on the chair and cover him.” Ben suggested.

“thats t-t-t-oo obvious. Teachers could stop us.”

“what about those film class carts with the dark tarps?” suggesting next.

“y-y-yeah. That could work.”

“I'll go! It's on the way to the nurse so nobody will stop me.” Eddie rushed out the door.

“mikes on his way!” Richie hung up the phone. The group left to wait as Eddie ran back with a film cart. Slipping back into the room with the dark cart. The cart resembling a box with a low level toward the ground and a higher top. Making space easy to transport large camera equipment or lots of heavy boxes.

They picked up the guys body to shove him in the open box. Taping him to the box to hold him as they slipped on the dark tarp cover meant to protect electronics from the sun. Eddie peeked back out into the now empty halls waving them to go forward. They rushed the hidden principal out to the back exit to the staff parking lot. Meeting up with mike to help them shove the scarred man in.

“my moms gonna kill me when she gets a call from school about ditching class.” Eddie spoke between puffs of his inhaler.

“who's gonna call her? The principal?” Richie chuckled.

“uh, aside from the fact were kidnapping your new principal. Rich was very vague on what the hell is going on.” Mike growled out huffs of air as he helped hoist the man into the car.

“he's the one who attacked me at the river, but got clawed by Pennywise. We're taking him to Pennywise to get answers out of him.” Beverly explained.

“oh boy. Well, that'll definitely work.” shutting the car door for them.

“meet you at the drainage pipe!” Eddie shouted. Running off with Richie on their own path to the drainage pipe.

“park by the bridge. We'll walk from t-t-t-there.”

as soon as mike stopped the car they hoisted the man from the car. Taking long enough getting down the rocky river hill for Eddie and Richie to catch up. Joining in on helping to drag the man down river.

“cant the clown come out and take him?!” Richie grumbled as they went down the piping.

“Richie less w-w-w-whineing more hoisting.” bill grumbled back. “AHH, FUCK!” he yelped after getting a kick to the face. They all dropped the newly awakened struggling man. The small rings of duct tape snapped off in the man's fight.

“what the hell is wrong with you kids?!” the man roared. Seeing the determination in their eyes to recapture him he fled down the piping. Not realizing the kids were chasing him down a certain path. Or even stopping to check why the floor was covered in a webbing material.

He slowed his run past the mountainous pile of toys. The back of his mind screaming something was wrong. That he should run the other way. The thoughts mistakenly pushed aside in assumption that only the kids were hunting him. A harmless group of kids who at most would tie him up. Not noticing the large movement crawling out.

A large black clawed hand stretching from the pile swiftly swatted him down. Pinning him down like a mouse trapped under a cats clawed paw.

The kids catching up. Beverly in the lead shouting. “don't eat him!”

“he's that male from the river cliff side.” IT hissed down at the pathetic human trapped under his claws.

“I know, but we need answers from him first.” looking up to IT back down to the pinned man.

“where are all the kids taken?” questioning him.

He stayed silent. Nervously looking between the floor and up to IT. The large creatures having multiple eyes appear across its face to stare down the male. Refusing to answer Beverly's question had IT literally pushing for one. Crushing his hand down to the point the man couldn't breath. Releasing to let the man wheeze in desperately for air.

“answer!” IT demanded.

“they're in the quarry.” begrudgingly answering in the most generic of ways. Receiving another painful crushing under the hand. “fuck, fuck, stop!” the man yelped as IT grew more precise in its crushing. Aiming to snap a few ribs or a couple limbs. “there's a new mining tunnel! We made one to branch off straight out of Derry. It'll be finished soon and all the kids will be taken out by the truckload.”

“where?” Beverly asked next.

“ugh!” the man hissed under the painful weight above. “its hidden behind the offices, blockaded by fake rubble.”

“hear that?” she looked to the others. “time to go.”

“no! I'll be going. You stay here!” IT protectively ordered.

“what?! We have to go! We can help!” she argued.

“no!” IT snapped. “stay here, or go back to school. You're not allowed near the quarry until this snake infestation is cleared.” picking up the scared man in his grip. Keeping a crushing hold on him as the large insect left through the tunnels. All the kids were sure the man wouldn't last long out of their view.

“why does IT treat you like its your mom?” Ben looked to her.

“I think it's because … I found it next to …. some … eggs.” she admitted.

“eggs?! IT h-h-had eggs?!” bill questioned.

“ITs a lady?! We beat up and ugly women?! Hear that Edds?! We beat up an ugly pregnant lady!” Richie half joked in shock.

“yes, eggs and ITs not a girl. ITs whatever it wants to be.” she answered.

“w-w-w-where are the eggs now?! Are they going to h-h-h-hatch soon?!”

“no, they were definitely dead. Some were shriveled up and others were popped open to leak rotten ooze.”

“I think I knew.” Stan mumbled. Attention turned from Bev to him.

“y-y-y-you knew?!”

“sorta?” he spoke a little more clearly. “animals eat away from their resting places so they won't be found. There's only one reason they start hoarding food around the nest. A need to feed something that cant get food on its own.”

“why didn't you s-s-s-say anything?!”

“I didn't think it would matter. IT was dying. In the end it didn't since Bev says the eggs are rotten now.” shrugging without knowing what else to do.

“IT adopted you because the eggs died?” Ben bringing the conversation back around.

“animals are more likely to adopt other young if their young recently died.” Stan answered for Beverly on the subject.

“yeah. That's what I guessed.” she gestured to Stan.

“why does Bev get to be the killer clowns golden child? Lucky bastard.” Richie getting a light smack on the arm from Eddie.

“we can talk more about this later. Let's get the quarry!” Bev heading out.

“IT said we had to stay!” Eddie shouted.

“ITs not the boss of me!” she shouted back. Seeing she wasn't going to stop the rest of them followed. Squeezing back into Mike's car to drive down to the quarry. Heading straight for the broken down offices placed around.

“that's the only pile of r-r-r-rubble around here.” bill pointed to a large heap behind one of the large offices.

“how do they move it? It all must weigh a ton!” Richie spoke as they stopped the car.

“he did say it was fake.” Mike reminded as they walked up to the pile.

Richie running up ahead to the large pile. “looks pretty real to me.” hitting one rock with a light kick. The rock letting off a crunch as it split in half. The rocks insides showing it to be a carefully painted Styrofoam. Kicking a few more showing the same.

“stop before somebody hears you!” Eddie whispered to stop Richie from kicking another false rock. Bill stepping over to pick up one feeling something heavy attached below. Everyone stepped in to help pull the “rubble” up.

“pfft, looks like a weird theater background.” Richie commented. The fake rocks attached to a hidden chain link fence making up the pile.

“no wonder we couldn't find it. They did a lot of work to cover this place.” Stan looked over the hidden entrance. Letting others pass by him to lead inward.

“keep your voices low. We're only going in to save the kids then get out.” Beverly looked back to them all. The group freezing at a loud boom shaking the earth underneath them.

“what was that?!” Eddie asked.

“sounds like a demolition down the tunnel.” Ben answered. “we have to be extra careful of a cave in.”

“he also mentioned the tunnel almost being done. They must be hiding the kids here until the tunnel is finished.” Mike looked around as they went forward.

“thanks captain obvious.” Richie rolled his eyes.

“what I meant is that if the tunnel is finished today those kids will be gone forever. No one will hear us or them yelling. Or even the loud trucks driving in and out with them. Nobody's been hearing the demolition they've been doing for like a week now. This tunnel will turn into a direct hidden line to smuggle out kids all day and night.”

“l-l-less talking m-m-more hurrying!” bill rushing forward a bit faster down the tunnels.

“we should go slow!” Ben urged as he ran up behind bill. The group stopping at another earth rattling boom. Pausing in case any rocks fell off the roof from the quake. Slow steps turning back into a walk. Bill stopping at a corner edge. Signaling the others to stop, stay quiet, and to carefully approach the corner. Bill backing up to allow others a chance to peek around the corner.

A large carved out room filled with a line of semi trucks by another large line up of metal barred cages. Filled with sorrowful kids neglected. Half of them emaciated, some who were crying being used in torturous sport fighting. Groups of men taking bets on the fighting. Most working on breaking a large wall down using pounds of dynamite.

They all flinched back when a man walked a little too close in passing by. “all the payments accounted for?” the man shouted toward the group organizing the sport fights.

“yeeep. The last of the vans received the cash payments in the night.” another answered.

“are all the kids sold?”

“all of them. They're being sold faster then we can restock. Soon as the tunnels finished we can ship them all off to the traders.”

“oh man.” Richie mumbled. “what should we do?” Their attention pulled by loud gunshots and screaming down a branching tunnel. The men's attentions being caught as well to stare to the other tunnel.

One asking “what was that?” some branching off in a group to go investigate. Kids bloody from fighting locked back into their overcrowded cages like cattle. The rest of the men back to demolition.

“now or never.” Ben pointed to the cages being clear of guards. Beverly nodded before swiftly moving into the large room behind the line up of semis. The losers following behind one by one. They navigated their way over to the cages. Beverly going up to one needing to shush all the kids begging for help. All the children being under or barely the age of 13 making it harder for them to quiet down. Almost getting caught when their new found desperate crying annoying the men by the wall.

“shut up!” a few of them shouted down the way. Scaring the kids into being silent.

“these locks are fucking thicker then the schools shitty gravy!” Richie whispered as he looked over the silver hanging.

“Richie!” the other losers snapped at him. for using such language in front of a mass group of really young kids.

“where's the key?” Beverly gently asked the children. Getting the answer she hoped she wouldn't. That one of the men had it on them.

“I have to go find Pennywise. He'll help me get the key.” looking to the others.

“you need any help?” Eddie offered.

“no, you all try other ways to get them free. I don't plan on taking long, but that could change.” sneaking off down the tunnel to follow the same path of the armed men.

Slowing her steps in the darkened place. Calming her breath to something unnoticeable while sneaking. Realizing how easily she could get lost in these dark tunnels. So many branching paths with the carved walls all looking the same. No equipment or signs that could point toward the entrance. The silence of the tunnels being the worst. Jumping at the screams blaring out further forward. Gun shots ringing scaring her into ducking down around a corner.

When the sounds stopped she peeked around the dark wall. Keeping a hand on it to have some sense of from where she was walking to where she was heading. Tempted to call out pennywise's name, but with all the armed men around it was decided against doing. The sound of scratching gravel being stepped on whipping her head around.

Seeing the silhouette of an armed man, that had not spotted her yet, in the darkness. His breathing heavy through his panic. Speckles of red blood shining in the minor light reflecting down along the white tunnel walls. Shining his flashlight around to desperately get sight of something. A wave of it flashing over Beverly having her flinch back. Unintentionally attracting the unwanted attention directly onto her. The bright light shining spot light locking onto her.

“who are you?!” the man questioned. Beverly locked up against the wall when his loaded gun was pointed at her. Too afraid to answer his question.

He stepped forward, hand reaching out to grab her. A roar of open jaws rowed with teeth dropping down from the roof ending his actions. In one swift motion the man was crushed in the mighty jaws. Swallowed down without a chance to be chewed. IT turning its attention toward her seconds after swallowing down a whole human.

“what did I tell you?!” ready to scold her already.

“I know, I know, but I couldn't sit by. we need to get the kids out, but one of the men have the key to all the locks.” pushing the conversation.

“ugh! Child, you'll be the death of me! Leave this place before you're injured!”

“no! Please, let me help!”

“I will not allow you to die after I have lost so many from my decisions!”

“I am not here because of your decisions! I am here for mine! I want to help!”

“it'll be my decision to let you stay or not! And I will not!”

“how will you handle all the kids? They'll flee at the sight of you! I can lead them out in that case I don't want to deal with the men! I'll leave, but let me lead the kids out to!”

the large insect growled something to itself. Clacking teeth out of frustration that his child was causing. Snorting when coming down to some conclusion. “I have not seen keys on any of these men. They look to be only the armed guards.” waving its head in a gesture to the space around him. “are all your friends here as well?”

happily answer as he allowed her to help. “yes, they're trying to find other ways to break the locks!”

“hmm, I can cause a distraction and break the locks. While you all lead the children out.” suggesting a plan.

“that'd be perfect!”

“first you head back to your friends, be careful, and wait for me. I'll create a distraction first to lead all the men away. Giving you all the freedom to move. Then I'll free the locks. From there you should all make a clean run for it.”

“okay, will you be okay?”

“I will be fine, child. I do not crumple so easily in this form and these tunnels may as well be my playground. Now go off before they finish the tunnel demolition.” gesturing its head back toward the way she came. Twisting around on itself to disappear upwards into the black tunnels. Beverly turning to hurry down the tunnel she was directed. Slowing down to sneak back by the men to where the guys were hiding.

“found the key?” Ben asked

“no, I assume you guys couldn't break the locks either?” seeing the lack of kids free from their cages.

“no.” Ben answered with everybody behind shaking their heads.

“even though I didn't find the key I spoke with IT. He'll cause a distraction for us and unlock the cages. While the men go after him we can all leave together.” repeating back the plan. They waited until the men weren't looking there way. Spreading out to each of the cage gates in readying to open the doors.

The far off screaming between bullets flying had died off. The men who stayed back nervously pacing from the quiet. Many calling over radios for some kind of answer. Receiving only noisy static to answer their calls. One splintering off from the group to gaze down the pitch black tunnel. Shouting a few names down into the void. He turned back to look at his teammates for an answer on what to do. They looked between each other and shrugged.

Jolting to look forward as their team member was snatched by a large creature to be dragged away. Leaving behind a bloody smear for them to run after. The men fully distracted away had the iron bar locks snapping open for the losers to undo.

Rattling chains to untie them from around the barred doors. Opening them had children flooding out in a panic. Forcing Beverly and her friends to quickly round up the kids before any of them ran down the wrong tunnels. Mike figuring out a way to round up kids in little herds with at least one of them in charge of the small groups. Each working to rush along the mass group of kids down tunnels. Younger kids needing more coaxing to head down the dark tunnels. Needing to stop the whole group to get some kids to continue.

It was only a matter of time before the men realized something was wrong. They had returned to discover the children all missing. Following the massive crying echoing down the main tunnel.

“hey! Where are you going?!” surrounding the large group. Guns pointing threateningly at them all. One being so thrilled to shut the kids up by shooting near their feet. Scaring them back the way they came. The 7 oldest looking to one another on what to do.

The men's attention turned on the obvious older ones. “these older kids ain't ours. Should we sell them next?”

“the girl, yes. Kill the rest, they won't be worth much and will be a pain to sell with how old they are.” the men startled back by ITs appearance holding crooked rows of bared teeth at them.

Letting out a furious hiss. “how dare you!” aggressively approaching. The men took a couple shot off against ITs approach. The bullets crumpling against its hardened scales to drop to the dirt floor in small piles. A lunge ended up with one man crushed instantly to bloody mush. A clawed hand crushing down another with the last smashed into the wall by ITs mighty tail. Leaving the body sticking to the stone wall.

The losers heavily working to keep the kids calm at the terrifying scene of death. Settling to have the kids run fearfully past toward the only exit outside. It was the better option over them running back to be lost in more tunnels branching off. Mike running ahead to corral them outside where they would calm down under the bright sun.

free of the dark tunnels they regrouped the kids. Calming them as best they could after the events inside. Not letting any child run off to be harmed in the quarry. Sitting them all down to rest their tears away. The losers grouping together for a short meeting.

“w-w-walk them back to town now?”

Beverly taking a breath she hadn't been able to this past half hour. “only thing left. Straight to the police office. They'll take them all from there and call the families.”

“thank god.” Richie praised toward the sky.

“think they can give us excused from school slip?” Eddies worry's springing up.

“who cares about that! We're gonna be on the news as heroes of Derry!” hugging the worried boy.

“kids first guys.” Beverly turned them back to rounding up kids. Managing down the long thin pathways in small groups at a time. Helping one another to keep kids away from the steep drops. The long walk to town seeming longer as the kids were exhausted.

“I don't think some of these kids can go any farther.” Mike brought up to bill and Beverly. Both agreeing at seeing how bad the health of some kids were. Leaving mike, Stanley, and Eddie to watch over half the kids too sick to continue. The rest walking onward to the town, happy to discover a ranger station half way on their exhausting walk. Police were called to meet at the station. Some rangers taking cars to pick up the other children in groups.

Parents arriving after getting calls while others rushed over without needing one in hopes of finding their lost children. News stations soon grabbing people left and right for interviews. Richie eating up all the attention as he hugged Eddie in the spotlight. The boy waving “hi mom” into the camera with a puff of an inhaler. Ben shyly standing with Stan as they were talked with. Bill and miked interviewed by another news crew. Meanwhile in all the fluster Beverly slipped off from the chaotic crowd.

Wanting to check on someone else without cameras following her. Following the river glittering under the noon sun. seeing clearly through the water straight down to the sands below. Leading up to the drainage pipe she knew now as almost a 2nd home. Traversing to the inner core right up to the nest that was once a grave for children like her.

Happy to see he was there by his tail going outside the wagon. Her happy visitation to talk over what happened faltering at hearing him wheeze. Stepping into the inner nest quietly around to check on the poor creature.

“pen, are you okay?” asking gently to the wheezing insect.

“I am fine, child.” he wheezed.

“... do you need more food? … you have to go? ...”

“yes … I've been awake for far too long.”

“will you be okay? Are you sure the men didn't hurt you? I can-” checking over him for any injuries.

“no, there is nothing. I am fine, it is simply time to rest.” raising its face up to hers. Being brought into a tight hug by the young girl holding back tears.

“I am actually going to miss you.” sniffling back her tears. “I'll make sure to visit after 27 years.” chuckling with him.

“that is quite a time for you child, but I'll happily wait for that day.”

“should I have the guys visit to?” laughing at the sour expression he gave.

“I shall say, they are more of a … tolerance for me.”

“okay, solo visit first then.” gently patting the end of his snout.

“stay safe, and don't get into anymore trouble.” pressing its face against hers for another hug.

“no promises.” she chuckled through her tears giving one last tight hug goodbye. Leaving for IT to enter its long needed hibernation.

Assuming where the guys could be she went straight to the main police station in town. Right as she joined up with the guys they were all swarmed again by news stations. Taking the opportunity to grab another interview not yet recorded. The reporters shooed off by police to give the young kids privacy after all they've been through.

“police checked the q-q-quarry. All the men died in rocks slides o-o-o-or cave collapses.” bill caught her up on the “story”. “w-w-where did you go?”

“check on Pennywise over what happened. I caught him right before his hibernation would start.”

“he's gone?”

“for now.”

“hey, did you hear?!” Richie barged into the conversation. “they're giving us medals for action, or some shit like that!” he excitedly told.

“come over here! They want to grab a group photo!” Stanley waved for them to come over. Directed along by some officers on where to stand among the group for the large photo. One that would be posted in all papers on how a lucky 7 broke the curse of children going missing in Derry.

The End

#It (2017) #pennywise #beverly marsh #bill denbrough #eddie kaspbrak #richie tozier #mike hanlon #stanly uris #ben hascom #covenant ch 13

[hunter-the-sad-skeleton]

Spoilers

(One Of My Favorite Parts Of Chapter Two Of My Hazbin Fanfic! Note That At This Point, Vox Only Came To The Hotel By Process Of Elimination, So He Doesn’t Know She Works There Yet!)

“Good morning, Ebony!” Charlie greeted, waving from the kitchen as Ebony walked downstairs.

“Morning, Charlie…” Ebony yawned.

“Tired again?” Charlie asked.

Ebony nodded, yawning again. “Late night at work….” Ebony yawned.

“Ebony, you NEED to be better about getting to bed on time!” Charlie scolded.

“I know, Princess…” Ebony yawned, sitting down on a couch by the entrance.

“I mean it, Ebony! If I need to track you down using your phone’s location, I’ll DRAG you back here to get a good night’s rest!” Charlie lectured.

“NO!!!!” Ebony blurted out, spooking Charlie with the sudden volume shift.

“Yipes!” Charlie yelped. Ebony’s eyes shrank and she shook her head.

“I-I-I-I-I-I-I mean no, that’s not necessary! I-I’ll get better about it, I-I-I promise!” Ebony stuttered.

“Isss….Everything okay, Boney?” Angel asked.

“I asked you to STOP calling me that, Angel. And I am FINE!” Ebony sighed.

“Are you sure?” Vaggie asked. Ebony nodded violently.

“Perfectly fine! No problems here, folks!” Ebony nodded vigorously.

Angel raised an eyebrow. “Ya sure?”

“Yes!! Positive!!” Ebony snapped.

“That’s what she said.” Angel chuffed.

“You’d know, Plug-and-play.” Ebony scoffed.

“Whoa! That’s harsh! SOMEONE woke up on the wrong side of the bed!” Angel snuffed.

“I went to bed at-” Ebony started.

“A reasonable time last night~! she’s just grumpy she didn’t get to sleep in~!” Alastor interjected, walking downstairs.

“But didn’t the clock say it was-” Ebony started.

“The clock was turned off, deer~! Who’s gonna watch it if nobody’s awake~?” Alastor interjected.

“Fair enough.” Ebony shrugged.

“What’s on the docket for breakfast, dear~?” Alastor asked Charlie.

“Waffles and eggs!” Charlie grinned.

Alastor hummed. “Sounds delicious~!”

Ebony nodded, tummy rumbling. “That’s right, I didn’t manage to get any dinner last night…” Ebony sighed.

“How late were you out? All diners close at like…….12:00……” Vaggie narrowed her eye.

Ebony went to speak before getting cut off by Alastor again. “That is not what matters~!”

“I think it does, because she seems to be tired all the time!” Vaggie objected.

“It doesn’t, as the past is the past~!” Alastor countered.

Ebony got up to walk away, still hobbling slightly. “Hey, uh, has Ebony always had a hobble that bad?” Angel asked. Ebony froze.

“I, uh….Just...ran into a garbage can last night. Still recovering.” Ebony responded quickly. Angel quirked an eyebrow.

“You’re all reading into this too much!” Ebony growled.

“I think you’re hiding something.” Vaggie glowered.

“What, do ya think I’m like...A secret prostitute or something?” Ebony scoffed.

“Uh….” Vaggie froze.

“Well, I’m NOT.” Ebony frowned. “You’re all starting to sound like conspiracy theorists!” Ebony frowned, crossing her arms.

“We’re concerned, Ebony! You spend a lot of time working-It’s unhealthy!” Vaggie argued.

“More like it’s nonya business.” Husk grumbled, making his way downstairs.

“Husker, my good sir~! Welcome back to the land of the awake~!” Alastor greeted.

“Look, what she does is none of your business unless ya have a deal with her.” Husk growled. “Ya know what, show of hands; who has a deal with Ebony?” Husk grumbled.

Alastor brushed his hair out of his face as everyone’s hands dropped, dropping his as Husk facepalmed. “Oh boy, more intrusive people, great….” Husk grumbled.

“Look, is it being paranoid when your friend is doing herself more harm than good?” Vaggie asked.

“Look, if she says she’s fine; leave her the fuck alone. Even if somethin’ were wrong, wouldn’t she have fuckin’ told ya?” Husk grumbled.

A silence fell over the room. “T’ be fair, she wouldn’t cause she doesn’t ask for help when she needs it.” Angel said.

“That doesn’t fuckin’ matter. What matters is that ya respect her choice to not explain anything. She clearly doesn’t want help, and you all need to respect that.” Husk lectured. Everyone nodded.

“Thanks, Husk….” Ebony thanked.

“Yeah, yeah, don’t mention it.” Husk shrugged.

Ebony smiled slightly.

“Breakfast is ready!” Charlie called.

(Timeskip to after it’s been dished out.)

“It’s good, Charlie!” Vaggie complimented. Everyone else hummed in agreement.

Ebony nibbled on a waffle, getting interrupted by her phone vibrating, grabbing Alastor’s attention. Ebony sighed, putting her waffle down and walking to the kitchen.

As Ebony got in the kitchen, she checked the text. “You’re going to be late again, Ebony. Kick it in gear.”

Ebony sighed heavily, texting a response. “IT. IS. 7:00. IN. THE. MORNING. I. AM. EATING. YA KNOW, THAT IMPORTANT THING WE HAVE TO DO TO SURVIVE?!?”

Ebony waited a few moments before getting a notification. “✔️ read; 7:00” Ebony froze.

“Wait. I forgot he has a TV for a head….!!! I may have sealed my fate.” Ebony whimpered. Ebony headed back out to breakfast, putting her phone on silent.

“Everything okay, Eb?” Charlie asked. Ebony nodded.

“Dad being Dad again.” Ebony sighed.

“Haven’t ya talked to him?” Charlie asked sadly.

“Fifteen times now. Still the same answer.” Ebony frowned.

“Well, I-I-I’m sure that he’ll lighten up soon!” Charlie assured.

“Probably not...He has tunnel vision, I swear to heaven….” Ebony slumped, resting her head in her arms.

“Oh……..” Charlie frowned.

Ebony shifted nervously, gaze drifting down. “Something wrong, deer~?” Alastor asked. Ebony jumped, nodding in silent confirmation. Alastor tilted his head in confusion. Ebony shrugged, sadness clear in her eyes. Ebony jumped and yelped, feeling her phone vibrate at an intensity that she didn’t know it could reach. Ebony checked her phone quickly, reading the text in a panic.

“F$#% IT, I’M COMING UP THERE TO GET YOU!!!!!!!!’ Ebony whined as she read the text, tears gathering in the corners of her eyes.

“Ebony…? Is everything okay…?” Charlie asked. Ebony nodded shakily.

“You’re crying, Boney…” Angel remarked. Ebony wiped the tears away.

“I-I’m fine…!” Ebony sniffled.

Ebony got up, running up to her room to pack her backpack. “Ebony? What’s going on?!” Charlie called. Ebony ran down fifteen minutes later, rushing to the door, shaking violently. Ebony opened the door, going to rush out before running into someone.

“Ebony, what’s-” Charlie started, freezing as she realized who Ebony ran into. Vaggie rushed over to see what scared Charlie, snapping her spear out as she realized who it was.

“What’s got you two frozen like deer in the headlights~?” Alastor asked, sauntering over. Alastor stopped in his tracks as he caught sight of them.

“Radio Demon.” Vox growled.

“Marx.” Alastor insulted.

Vox sighed heavily. “Look, I’m not here to fight; I’m here to collect what belongs to me.” Vox grumbled, looking around at everyone.

“Well, I-I’m sure that it-it’s not here…!” Charlie assured fearfully.

Vox chuckled, confusing everyone. “What’s so funny…?” Charlie asked carefully.

“I’m not looking for an ‘it’, Princess~!” Vox grinned. Ebony whined, hiding behind Alastor.

“Oh, really? Well, I doubt that they’re here…!” Charlie assured. Vox laughed again, Ebony cringing, knowing it wasn’t a happy sound.

“No, no, no, Princess, you misunderstand~! I know who I’m searching for, and I’ve already seen them~!” Vox smiled maliciously. Ebony whined, hiding behind Alastor more.

“Oh? Wh-Who is it…?” Charlie asked.

Vox gestured at Ebony. “The little failure Ink Demon of course~!” Vox grinned. Ebony whimpered, breaking eye contact.

“Oh! Ebony? Okay! Ebony! Vox is here to pick ya up!” Charlie called. Ebony shook her head no.

“Nuh uh!!” Ebony objected.

“Ebony, come on, he just wants to take ya…..Wherever he wants to take ya…!” Charlie smiled nervously. Ebony shook her head violently.

“No!!” Ebony frowned.

“I can handle this, she...gets like this.” Vox’s smile faltered for a moment. Vox cleared his throat before speaking.

“Ven aquí, juguete inútil de una puta.” Vox growled, pointing to his side. Ebony whined, ears pressing to the side of her head at the harsh words. Vox frowned for a moment before returning to his usual smile and Ebony hesitantly walked over.

“I….Actually don’t know about this, Charlie...What he said-it wasn’t a friendly combination of words…!” Vaggie worried.

“It’s fine, Vaggie…!” Charlie waved off. Vaggie’s face was full of worry.

“I-I don’t wanna go….!” Ebony whimpered.

“We can discuss this on the ride back.” Vox growled.

“Y-Yes sir…” Ebony frowned.

“Thanks for giving me her, it is much appreciated~!” Vox bowed, dragging Ebony out by her arm, getting some pained protests from her, door closing behind him.

Ebony was shoved into the car carelessly, Vox sliding in soon after. “Owie…!” Ebony whimpered.

“What the HEAVEN was THAT?!?” Vox snapped as the drive back to the studio started.

“Was what-” Ebony started.

“WHAT HAVE I FUCKING TOLD YOU ABOUT LEAVING THE DAMN STUDIO?!?” Vox yelled. Ebony winced, ears pressing against her head at the loud voice.

“I-I was just-” Ebony started

“ ‘I-I was just-’ SHUT THE FUCK UP WITH THAT HORSESHIT!!!!!!! I KNOW YOU SNUCK OUT ON PURPOSE!!!” Vox yelled.

Ebony whimpered, hugging her legs to her chest, tears starting to trickle out of her eyes. “I-I was just…..I just got restless…” Ebony whimpered.

“SO WHY DIDN’T YOU ASK ONE OF US TO GO OUT WITH YOU?!?” Vox fumed.

“I….I knew you’d say no….” Ebony sniffled.

“SO YOU WENT OUT ANYWAYS?!?!?” Vox hissed.

“I almost didn’t….” Ebony whined.

“BUT NOTE THE ‘ALMOST’!!!!! YOU DISOBEYED A FUCKING DIRECT ORDER!!!!” Vox growled.

“I-I told Velvet....!” Ebony whimpered.

“SHE NEVER FUCKING IS ABLE TO HEAR ANYONE!!!!” Vox barked.

[write-the-tea-blog]

Born to Beg

{word count: 1320}

I grip his hand tighter, colours flickering, fading, waxing, waning. It’s cold. Too cold. I can hardly breathe and neither can he, chest struggling to keep his lungs full, dried blood (his blood. my fault) coating his mouth, a crusted trail from his soft, bluing lips down to his chin. I choke back my tears (my fault my fucking fault) and gently brush his cheek with my other hand. I want it to be warm, I want him to feel what I’m feeling. I want to see the chocolate of his hair, but the colour is draining from it as each precious second passes.

“Patroclus, please,” I say in a chocked whisper, turning away to catch my breath. 

I should never have listened to him, never have given in to that warm smile, those soft arms, his slim waist. Oh, philtatos, how could I have been so stupid? I sent you to your death and you went with all the loyalty in Greece. 

The dark, sweat-soaked face of Automedon pushes through the covering of the tent. 

“Get out!” I yell, accusing, “Get out of here! He’s... he’s... because of you!”

(no achilles, no. you know this is all you. all i had to do was deny him, to be as brave as the songs will remember me. to go out and fight the war i was destined for. and because i thought i could, what? hide from the fates? curl in on myself and and hope they don’t find me? and now the only person i’ve ever loved is paying for my mistakes, the weight of my actions crushing him. idiot.) 

But it’s that much easier to blame others. Blame Automedon, our best friend, the one who steered my chariot whilst brave Patroclus stood holding my spear, wearing my armour. Blame Hector, the enemy, who stabbed him thinking he was me. Agamemnon. Whose arrogance drove me into our tent in the first place. 

Blame the Gods.

Oh, how easy it is to blame them when you have nothing left to lose. Where was Pallas, sworn to protect us? Where was Thetis, where was Poseidon? How could they let Phoebus’ cruel hand undo the armour I had placed on him to protect his gentle heart? What were they worth? 

But blaming won’t wake him. The scarlet (black. no.) stain still spreads across his chest, like a weed that keeps growing back every time you pull it out. The spear anchored in him, a trophy, evil and sneering. I want to pry it loose and hurl it across the dusty ground, cover him with cloth and crawl into bed next to him, letting his gentle, fleeting breaths lull me to sleep, my arms wrapped around his torso. 

(small, cautious steps. rabbit or deer. even with the thunderous stampede of battle, i’d recognize those footfalls anywhere. my heart leaps in spite of myself. home. he’s safe. i rush to greet him as soon as he opens up the tent. his muscles under his clothes are taunter than they were the year we sailed here. his lips more familiar than the journey home. his mouth holding on to the taste of fruits and olive. of late nights and early mornings. i never want to let him go. much rather i trace his collarbones, his shoulders, his spine with my fingers infinitely, but he pushes me away gently with his quiet smile.as if here were ashamed by his own happiness. i swear i didn’t know what i was doing. i swear by the gods it would have been different if i had only known.

the best of the greeks? my gentle patroclus? to me, of course. but i could never have predicted the fates shared my sentiment. 

‘they need you. you’ll win this for us,” he begged, on his knees, gripping the hem of my tunic. one move away from supplication.

“don’t. stand up.” i pull him to his feet and he collapses into me, soul fracturing.

already as good as dead. 

“we both know i can’t go out there.” i kiss him. just below his eye.

he nods. eyes averted. we thought the fates meant me, and i couldn’t face the thought of hades receiving me without him.)

A violent cough, the first sign of life from his cold body coaxes a whimper from his throat and shocks my world into brilliant iridescence before heartlessly sucking it back into the ground. Tiny, malevolent tendrils of colour remind me of his struggle and that it really is blood threaded through his hair and dripping over the curves of his stomach. 

(stripped almost bare in front of me, arms held out expectantly. the last thing i want is to cover him again in my cruel, foreboding armour. it takes everything i have to remind myself that this is what he wanted.

“you’ll stay in the chariot, won’t you?” i plead, securely fastening and re-fastening the breastplate. he shifts, adjusting to the unfamiliar weight now resting on him. his hand grips my shoulder.

“you forget. i have trained. for eight years into this war i have studied with odysseus, fought with diomedes. thrown spears with ajax. i am nearly as capable with a horse as automedon.”

“and me?”

he grins in reply. cheeky. a promise, but quickly he’s serious once more.

“all they need is a reminder of the weapon on their side. you’re the best of us, but they need you as a symbol more than a man. your helmet, your chariot, it no longer matters who’s with them.”

“you’ll stay in the chariot,” i repeat, “automedon will drive you through the battle and back. you don’t get out. you don’t kill anyone.”

he kisses me quickly, a kiss i would have held on to if i had known it to be our last. a kiss i would have followed up with a goodbye. instead, i didn’t even watch him leave the tent.

i had known him since we were children. and in all that time, all those decades, not once did i tell him i loved him.)

Briseis is the only other person I will allow near his body. They had always been close, but the only reason I contend with her presence is that she blames me, too. More than I blame myself. She dribbles strong cordial down his throat, but the wet, gasping sound that ensures moves me to retaliate.

“You’ll kill him!” I cry, shoving her away.

“He’s already dying! Are you too blinded by your own pride to see even that?” She glares at me, voice of a viper.

(death was not in my thoughts at all when Apollo stripped the armour from his fragile body. i had no reason to see it coming closer when Hector’s spear pierced his unprotected flesh.

I ignored the startling second colour was stolen from me, pinning it on the lack of sleep and excess of nerves.

his dinner reached a comfortable temperature when the hand pulled back the entrance of the tent.

“just in time.” a nervous laugh, smothered by relief, “i thought i would have to eat alone but...”

the hand i reached for was not his.

the pain bored into the eyes of antilochos was enough to make me stumble.

“achilles -”

“he’s not. he stayed in the chariot. protected by my armour. nobody would have been able to reach him. you’re confused.”

“i’m sorry, achilles.”

“stop! stop acting like he’s dead! he’s not! he’s not... wait here. he’ll be back soon. and you’ll see, you’ll see!”

our best soldiers are defending him as we speak, bu there’s no telling how long they’ll be able to hold out against troy’s forces. you have to come with me.”)

His eyes fluttered open and my heart skipped a beat.

“I’m here, my love, I’m here. I’m not leaving you.”

Brisies frowned, but I ignored her air of confusion. I watched her leave the tent, colours dimming further with each footfall. (dimming? why dimming? he’s alive. he’ll be okay.)

“Achilles,” he spluttered in a hoarse whisper, his rapidly constricting lungs prohibiting him from continuing. Carefully, I lifted his head into my arms.

“I know. I know. Me too.”

Tenderly, my lips pressed against his clammy forehead.

“You can rest now,” I spoke through the kiss.

The moment I broke contact, both his world and mine were plunged into permanent monochrome.

I wouldn’t want to live in a world of colour without him anyway. 

#achilles #patroclus #writing #writlbr #born to beg #greek #mythology #retelling #trojan war #achilles and patroculs #love #death #homer #the song of achilles #history #sad #black and white #words #short story