#but coming to that conclusion when he's probably had no time to heal

[ascesabo]

sometimes i want to reach through the screen and shake sabo by the shoulders because. god. there's just so much going on with him.

he's first introduced through the veil of luffy's memories- here he's just another feral jungle kid, sticking it out with ace and luffy, the 'nicer' brother in young luffy's eyes. and then boom. you find out he's a runaway noble trying to escape his abusive, neglectful family- and this changes nothing, they still get to become sworn brothers, but just as quickly as this is resolved, his asshole of a dad takes the three of them hostage. and what does sabo do? he gives up the little sliver of freedom he'd fought for, is willing to become miserable and lonely again if it means ace and luffy are spared. and then he comes home to find that in his absence, his parents have already found a replacement! great!

and he doesn't even get to address how fucked up that is, because stelly runs his mouth and now sabo's too busy trying to figure out how to stop his brothers and their home from getting burnt to the ground. he never gets to give them a proper goodbye- he exhausts himself trying to reach them, but he can't because. you know. he's ten. so where does this leave sabo? ten years old, with nowhere to go- he sets out to sea to try and start over, and for the crime of wanting to escape a terrible life, he's punished with an explosion to the face. he loses his memories, his brothers lose him- and so the cycle continues.

then the army saves him, takes him in; he's essentially a child soldier, with how prodigious of a fighter he is from the get-go. but hey, he thinks he's finally found his footing, even if his past's a blur to him- then it all comes flooding back. in the worst way possible. he sees his brother's corpse and he remembers, but it doesn't matter, does it? he's too late, ace is gone, and sabo's lost ten years of a life he could have shared with his brothers. we don't even know how (if, even) he recovers from this- except for a single passing statement from koala, asking him if he's 'had that dream again' because he'd been crying in his sleep. this is never brought up or addressed again. great!plus, we never do find out if getting blown up at the ripe old age of ten could have left any lasting fire-related trauma; and if it does, what does that mean for sabo, who's pretty much made of it, now?

both of these questions are answered at once- sabo treats the fire as if it's ace. it's ace's legacy he's carrying on, and it's ace he seeks freedom for. he copes by making sure ace lives on in his flames, and how can he ever hate the fire living in him if that fire is all he has left of the brother he never got to see again?

i just have to wonder about him, because he's got so many Issues that just. don't ever get addressed? every time we see him deal with his grief (episode of sabo, his own retelling of events in dressrosa) we never really discover anything about him. i wonder how it felt to finally remember the childhood that eluded him, just to find out he was an unwanted, replacable child. how he feels, living with the knowledge that he could have done something to save ace, that he'd failed to remember the two people he loved the most? i wonder just how terribly that guilt must weigh down on him- because where luffy's already begun to heal, sabo still sees ace in everything he does. his title of flame emperor is a direct callback to ace's final attack in his fight against blackbeard. he talks to his goddamn fire like his brother is still in front of him, which is sweet and heartbreaking and, considering his backlog of unaddressed trauma... incredibly unhealthy. i know these will probably be left unresolved for the sake of moving the story forward- but god, sabo, are you okay?

#one piece #sabo #asl brothers #portgas d ace #revolutionary sabo #i cannot stop thinking about him #his grief is so. silent #blink and you'll miss it #i wonder if he'll ever be able to reconcile the person he is with the person he never got to be #or if he's just. going to brush it off because Everything Is Fine Obviously #i know he's explicitly stated that he won't live in grief because ace wouldn't want him to #but coming to that conclusion when he's probably had no time to heal #just looks a lot like him holding his fraying edges together with duct tape #my poor sabo #my princess .... #anywayyyy this is just me rambling pls dont mind

[percyjavksongf]

𝐇𝐞𝐲 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫!.•❀

➤𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤!𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐲 𝐉𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐱 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

➤𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭: 𝟐’𝟖𝟖𝟓

➤𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬: 𝐛𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐣𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐲 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐲, 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐥

“𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧’𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫“ 𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐦𝐞 “𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮“ 𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐝,

“𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫“

𐮜𐮜𐮜𐮜𐮜𐮜𐮜𐮜𐮜𐮜𐮜𐮜𐮜𐮜𐮜𐮜𐮜𐮜𐮜𐮜𐮜𐮜𐮜𐮜𐮜𐮜𐮜𐮜𐮜𐮜𐮜𐮜

Somewhere in camp, Percy was probably off teaching younger campers how to properly wield a sword, and you? Well your contribution to Camp Half-Blood was keeping your pouting face hidden in a feather filled pillow.

You thought of dragging your tired legs off the bed and going out, doing something productive with your last few days at camp before the summer was up, but then you’d feel sick at the thought off speeding up your day by doing something productive, so you’d just sigh and roll over in your bed. Your internal fight to leave bed lasted for an hour or so before you came to the conclusion that at least sitting up in bed would be better then slowly suffocating in your bed sheets, so you did just that.

You groaned at the pop your back made when you finally pulled yourself up, gods you really needed to get out of this bed. Although you understand it probably makes a hell of a lot of more sense to actually achieve something on this crisp summer day, like run through the strawberry fields with Selina nipping at your heals, squealing with happiness as the sun beats down unforgivingly against your sweating skin. Or maybe you’d be sneaking around with Connor, he always knew how to put an honest smile of your face, even if others found him annoying, you believed he had a hidden sweetness to him that he covered up with stupid jokes and wild pranks.

You flipped through your thoughts for awhile, humming the familiar tune that drifted through the air of your mother’s cabin, Demeter, admiring the wildflowers that seemed to almost dance along with the tune. A knock at your Cabin door had you reluctantly removing your eyes from the ballet of the wildflowers and staring curiously at the door, you weren’t expecting anyone so you almost considered ignore the noise, that was until they started knocking furiously on the door and forcing you up from your comfortable position. You walked over to the door quickly in hopes to stop the awful banging that disturbed the plants and swung the door open.

“you wanna get drunk?”

Pollux.

You send him a false look of annoyance and let your eyes travel down to the pitcher of grape flavoured cool aid in his purple stained hands, he must’ve just made it.

“drunk?” you questioned incredulously, “have you finally done it? Turned water into wine! Oh you’re a little Jesus in the making!” you cried out dramatically and reach for the pitcher. Pollux, picking up on your tease right away quickly moved to hold the pitcher away from you

“ha ha, very funny. I’m obviously still working on completing that miracle, but in the mean time we could go get a sugar rush” Pollux peered behind you, raising a brow at your obviously recently occupied bed “or are you too busy?” you rolled your eyes and put a hand to Pollux’s chest, pushing him the rest of the way out of your cabin’s front door and turning to shut it behind you. You supposed it wouldn’t be much harm to spend an hour out in the fresh air.

An hour turned into five and the sun was starting to set on yours and Pollux’s makeshift dining area, the once filled pitcher was now discarded, empty and resting on it’s side. Pollux and you had moved to rest against a rough tree and people watch, making comments on possible up and coming romances in the camp.

“you know I’ve heard a few rumours about you” Pollux stated matter of factly and you gasped, turning to face him in an instant. “you have to tell me”

“no I don’t” Pollux grinned, obviously enjoying the power he had over the topic

“yes you do, you can’t bring it up and then not tell me” you state seriously, causing Pollux to grin wider “actually I just heard from the department of hidden information and yep, uh huh, ok yeah I’ll let them know. No, I don’t have to tell you” you stared unimpressed at the skit Pollux played out for you of him answering the phone to deny your request, you looked away from him and stared off at the sunset, “thats fine smart ass, I’ll just have to let Mr D know about the time you actually got drunk, and how it wasn’t done by any miracle but more so by a lie his devious son managed to get away with”

“It’s about you and Percy”

A laugh burst out of your chest at how quickly he confessed, and you failed to notice boy’s stare burning into your skin, and the slight blush forming on his face. You laughter had died down and you finally registered his rushed words.

“Percy and I? What about us” you questioned curiously. Percy and you had been joined at the hip since you first came to Camp Half-blood, both having a peculiar love for blue food and the ability to get yourselves into all sorts of trouble. You’d say you became close friends after the fight of Manhattan, you had taken a nasty blow to the head that left you unconscious for a couple of days, when you had finally awoken in the camp infirmary the first thing you noticed besides the pounding in between your ears, was the exhausted face of Percy Jackson sitting in the chair beside your bed, his restless hands fiddling with your bed sheets. Since that day Percy almost seemed to make a habit out of making sure to see you every single day. The thought snapped you back to the present, surprised you hadn’t already realised it, you hadn’t seen Percy today.

“just something about you two spending a lot more time together, thats all. You know how people around here gossip over nothing” you frowned at the bitter tone of his voice and looked back towards the camp, where was Percy?

“have you seen Percy today?” you replied, forgetting the topic of your conversation mere seconds earlier. You tried to ignore the small frown that appeared on Pollux’s mouth at the mention of Percy. Over the past few months you had noticed Pollux’s opinion of Percy shift every so slightly, he used to be overjoyed by the mention of Percy but now it seemed to be the worst thing you could talk about with him, and you weren’t really sure why.

“probably somewhere showing off his sword fighting or something” Pollux grumbled and leaned back on his hands “never mind him, lets just lounge in the sun and pretend we had a productive day”

“let us live as flowers, wild and beautiful and drenched in the sun” you grin and look over to Pollux, knowing the quote will earn you an eye roll

“yeah ok flower power, just change the last part to drenched in wine and I’ll accept it” an eye roll or a dumb comment.

Your gaze returned to the camp once more and to your surprise you spot Percy only a few feet away from you, walking over at a comfortable pace. That was always something you enjoyed about Percy, he always seemed so laid back. You let a smile bloom over your face and lifted you hand up to block out the dying sun,

“hello miss wild and beautiful and drenched in the sun” the shit eating grin that graced Percy’s features maked your heart flutter,

“you’re here to eavesdrop I see” you quickly take note of the new freckles that decorate his sun kissed complexion, and the gentle stream of red that’s flowing on his upper arm that makes you frown and get to your feet, at his side in an instant “Percy your arm-”

“it’s fine, really. Just comes with the job of teaching twelve year olds how to use a sword” you carefully brush your thumb over the skin just beside the cut, it was just a nick but still was un welcomed by you none the less.

You hummed and removed your hand from his skin, it almost felt like your palm was burning as it drifted away from Percy, itching for the contact once again. A forced cough from behind you steals your attention, Pollux had gathered his pitcher and gave you a tight lipped smile, “I’ll leave you to it, see you around” you gave him a smile wave and thanked him again for the cool aid, you turned away from his retreating form you’re met with another unimpressed look.

“you better hope the wind doesn’t change, Perseus”

Percy’s burnt nose wrinkles from the name, only his mother calls him by his real name.

“what have I done to deserve a full name?” he scoffed

“give me that look” you replied matter of factly

Percy’s frown deepened for a moment before springing back up into a soft smile, the wind had picked up and you watched as his hand reached forward to tuck away a strand of your hair that was moving lazily in the breeze. You stared up at Percy through your lashes, uncaring of the heat that bloomed on your face. Percy knew the effect he had on you anyways.

“Pollux doesn’t like me” Percy said, moving his hand to rest against your cheek, his calloused thumb drawing soft circles on your skin. Your eyes scan your surroundings, hoping to the gods that no one was around to disturb your moment of piece, where the cloak fell off and left Percy’s love for you proudly displayed. Percy’s other hand playfully pinched the exposed skin on your waist and your eyes fixed to his once more. “don’t worry about them, let them see us”

Your eyebrows raised unintentionally at that, Percy and you had decided to keep your budding romance to yourselves when it first began, when the war had just ended and you felt it was best to leave that detail out, more focused on the loss of your fellow campers and dealing with that grief. But as the months went on you had still stayed the same, secret meetings after the camp fire had died down, sneaking into the lake with the help of the Percy’s air bubbles, only the fish that inhabited there knew of your love for each other. Sometimes during a particularly serious game of capture the flag, one where you and Percy were on different teams, he would manage to sneak up on you a steal a quick kiss before running off with a laugh in attempts to through you off your game. You’d always return the kiss later after your team won.

“why do you think Pollux doesn’t like you?” you questioned

“because he likes you” Percy replied much to your surprise “it’s all anyone at camp can talk about these days, they swear he’s going to ask you out any day now” it’s hard to miss the slight grumble in his voice as he goes on about how Pollux has been flirting with you for months, but you honestly hadn’t picked up on it. Right now you were more focused on the way Percy’s eyebrows furrowed slightly at the mention of Pollux trying to woo you. You’d had reached the wooded area of camp and reached for Percy’s hand then, your fingers intertwined and you positioned yourself in front of him, now walking backwards to face him as you spoke. Percy seemed to be more focused on guiding you away from any trees unknown to you.

“I don’t think he dislikes you, Percy. He’s never said anything bad about you” you said, Percy hands moved to your hips to side step you away from a fallen branch.

“he’s never said bad about me to you, probably” Percy said

“probably, see it’s not definite” you attempted to reason, any other words leaving your mind in a heartbeat when you feel the scratchy bark of a tree pressed against your back. You eyes stayed glued to Percy’s as he stepped closer to you, his hands drifting up to your waist. You looked around then to see if any campers, or gods forbid, Mr D, were taking a stroll through the woods at this time. Percy’s fingers resting on your jaw beckoned your attention back to him “always looking around” he spoke lowly, his words for you and you alone.

“are you sure you want to make this known?” you’re unsure why you whispered it, there was no one around anyways. But you still felt nervous, it only took one person to see before the news would spread like wildfire, and you would be bombarded with invasive questions and ‘how could you not tell me!’ from your siblings. Too be honest you kind of liked being a little secret, knowing you had Percy all to yourself. But you knew how much better it would be to not have to sneak around everywhere, the teasing would die down eventually and your relationship would be common knowledge.

“I think we’ve hidden this away for way to long, I want everyone to know you’re my girl”

you can’t contain the smile that his words bring you, his girl.

“we’ll only if you’re ok with that, of course” he followed up with quickly

“yeah I think it’s about time I explain to Miranda why I keep waking her up at three in the morning to let me in through the window” you laughed, imagining the look on her face when you finally spill the beans to her, she’s undoubtedly by excited by the news, but probably also scold you for keeping it from her for so long.

The sun’s golden rays poured down through the dancing leaves that dressed the trees and sunk into your skin, you watched as Percy’s eyes almost seemed to glow in the light, he was summer’s child.

You relaxed against the tree and pulled Percy closer to you, and for a moment you let the world consist of just the two of you. You never thought it ever would, even though the two of you had been friends since the age of twelve there was never a time where you could just breathe together. there was always a quest, or a battle, or a four thousand year old girl who Percy vanished with for two weeks, that one had caused a raft between you for a few weeks.

But now you simply exist together, and it makes everything worth it.

You brought a hand up to rest against his upper arm, revelling in the heat that was coming of his dirt covered skin, you made a mental note to tease him about it later and send him off to the showers. Your hand continued it travels upwards and you finally landed in the space between his shoulder and his neck, running a thumb against the underside of his jaw.

“you in love with me or something?” Percy teased, drawing a hum from you in response

“I might just be, Jackson” you grinned, before letting out a gasp as Percy dipped his head quickly and kissed you. It started off heavy and warmed you up like nothing else, it slowed down into soft pecks before Percy drew away, not without pressing on last kiss to your redden lips.

“I might just love you too” Percy breathes out, dipping back down again to press his lips to the side of your mouth, “my sweet girl” he mumbled against your lips finally before pressing one last kiss to them.

“Percy” you whispered, putting a hand against his chest to create some distance as you flushed at the realisation of how exposed the two of you were. Percy took a step back with a smug grin, his hands never leaving you.

“you are though” Percy continues, causing you shove against him gently in protest “my sweet girl, or do you prefer my girl, cus you know both statements are true-”

“shut up” you whine out in embarrassment, he was so shameless. Percy laughed at your protest and took your hand in his, pulling you towards the rows of cabins.

“what’re we doing?” you said, letting him lead you away from the shade of the trees, Percy only smiled at you before continuing ahead

“we’re going to hang out with the rest of the campers, maybe your friend Pollux will be there”

you give him a deadpan look at the mention of Pollux, still wondering how a man like Percy could be jealous of your friendship with Pollux, it was obvious you only had eyes for him.

“and why are you so eager to get us there?” you questioned curiously

“cus I want them all to see that you’re my girl” he stated back as if it was the most obvious thing in the world, bringing your intertwined hands up to his lips to press a quick kiss against. You sighed and made a show of dramatically rolling your eyes.

I guess he was sticking to that term, his girl.

...

a/n: helloooo, wrote this in a couple of hours so it's rushed like all of my works <3 my first non christmas inspired percy work so i hope yous like it!!!

#percy jackson #book percy jackson #pjo #percy pjo #percy jackson x reader #percy jackson x y/n #x reader #pjo fandom #fanfic #connor stoll #selina beauregard #pjoverse

[ilguna]

☼ lovestruck, lovesick, lovelorn pt2 (Finnick Odair) ☼

summary; Finnick has a hard time keeping up his façade, especially since you know that what he told you was a bunch of bullshit. he's not able to confirm it until weeks later, when you've healed from the capitol abuse.

warnings; swearing, death mention, death, gore for sure, blood, weapon usage, mention of prostitution, needle mention, strangulation, abuse.

wc; 6.5k

part one.

--

“Sponsor gift.” Johanna interrupts the silence.

You look over from where you’re standing the water, finding the silver parachute slowly making its way down to the beach. It seems that Katniss has finally woken up, as well. She’s leaning forward on her crossed legs, rubbing one of her eyes.

Johanna catches the gift in her palms, the parachute falls away to reveal that there’s another pyramid of rolls. It looks identical to the batch you’d received last night, which is confirmed by Finnick after he meticulously counts each one, and tells them that there’s twenty-four of them.

They begin to divide the bread, you turn away, not wanting to be included. You would eat, if it meant that you didn’t have to sit in a group with them. Namely Finnick, who’s kept a close eye on you since last night. Especially since you refused to lay down with the others, choosing to pace the treeline.

You would’ve offered to take Peeta’s spot behind Finnick to take watch, but you’re not really interested in being in close proximity with Finnick. It’s partly the embarrassment, and there’s also the fact that he was lying to you. You saw the look on his face, you heard it in his voice. He fed you bullshit. 

And now he must be waiting for you to make your escape. It’s not going to happen, though. You made a commitment, you have a plan, and you have the full intention to execute it tonight. After all, it’s the third day. All you have to do is make it fourteen more hours, and you’ll be free of this arena.

“(Y/n), do you want your bread?” Johanna asks.

“No, I’m fine.” You tell her without moving.

They spend the next few minutes eating, before Katniss takes Peeta into the water to teach him how to swim. You back away, heading to lurk along the treeline of the jungle again. It’s close to where Johanna and Finnick are, as they try to stay occupied. Johanna’s keeping her eyes on the two in the water to ensure that they’re not getting up to no good, while Finnick begins to weave himself another net.

“You said you had a plan last night.” Johanna says, looking over her shoulder at you. “Are you ever going to let us in on it?”

“The Careers are probably watching our every move, waiting for the right moment to attack.” You tell them, a conclusion they’ve likely already come to, themselves. “They won’t do it until we’ve split up.”

Finnicks hands have paused, waiting for you to suggest that you should go off alone to attack them. 

“They’re outnumbered if we stay together.” Johanna says.

“Right.” You say, “We all know Katniss, though. She’s not going to want to be in this alliance much longer. She’ll probably stay until the Careers are dead, because that just leaves us.”

Johanna’s nodding, following along.

“I say that we kill them tonight, at midnight.” You stab the sword into the grass, leaving it there when it sticks. You move to stand in front of them in the sand, hands on your hips. “And we do it Beetee-style. We can electrocute them on the beach, assuming that they come out here to refresh when we go into the jungle for the night.”

“How?” Finnick asks, you look him over.

“The sun goes down, making it slightly cooler. The wave will hit at ten, making the beach wet. All we’ll have to do is wrap the wire around the lightning tree, and get two people to walk the wire down to the beach to bury the spool before the lightning hits.” You hold up two fingers, “This causes the group to split two to three, and by then, Enobaria and Brutus will be on us like flies to honey. And that’s when I’ll split away to kill them before they can do any real damage.”

“So, really, whoever has the wire will act as bait?” Johanna asks, face twisted. “And what makes you think you can take out two Careers?”

You half-shrug, “Because I’ve done it before. If you got any better ideas, I’m all ears.”

She shakes her head, “I don’t. It sounds like it’ll work out fine.”

When you both turn your attention to Finnick, you find that he’s nodding, eyes on the sand. 

“Well, if we’re in agreement, then we can tell those two,” You jerk your head towards the water, “Later. We can’t do anything until the wave hits, anyway.”

When neither of them say anything else, you go back to where your sword is, pulling it out of the mushy dirt. There’s a deep slice from where you’d stabbed it. As you’re about to wander away, Johanna says something about her going back to sleep in the meantime, since she didn’t get much sleep last night.

Finnick continues weaving his net out of the jungle vines. You watch his progress between glances each time you turn to move the other way. You could probably just stand here, staring into the jungle, but you said so yourself last night—the Careers aren’t going to attack until nightfall, when they’ve got cover.

However, there’s always a chance that you’re wrong, and they decide that they’d rather take the five of you head-on. This is why you refuse to rest. If they get the jump on you, you won’t be able to keep yourself together any longer. You’ll chase after them, and they’ll end up dead before midnight.

“Hey, Finnick, come on in!” Katniss suddenly calls. You pause long enough to see her waving. “We figured out how to make you pretty again!”

Finnick ties off the net, which looks like it’s pretty much done, anyway. He leaves his trident behind, going over to see what they mean. From what you can tell, they’re taking handfuls of wet sand to rub against the scabs that are peeling from their skin. You would need to do the same, if you hadn’t been picking at them all last night.

When they’re done, they come out of the water to apply another round of ointment. Katniss offers the tube to you, which you take gratefully. After a small squeeze on your hand, you rub it along the places where you’ve been affected. For the most part, you were able to say ahead of the fog, even when you were helping Finnick carry Peeta.

“I’ve come up with a plan.” You tell Katniss and Peeta once they’ve settled in the sand. “I already told Finnick and Johanna about it while you were in the water.”

Katniss places the bow in her lap, fingers pinching the string. “And they liked it?”

“Enough.” You say. “There’s only two threats left in the arena, and that’s Enobaria and Brutus. So, we need to take them out. Except, we can’t hunt them down because they could be anywhere, and it’d take all day.”

“Do you think they’ve figured out the clock?” Katniss asks.

“If they haven’t, they will soon.” Finnick says.

“I want to set a trap tonight.” You dig the toes of your left shoe into the sand. “Enobaria and Brutus won’t attack again until it’s dark out and they have cover, that’s a fact. Which means they’re not going to come out here, onto the beach, until they’re sure we’re done.”

“You want to stay in the jungle tonight?” Peeta asks, “That’s dangerous, how will we know what sections we’re in?”

“That’s not what I’m saying.” You shake your head. “What I want to do is kill them when they step foot on the beach. And the only way to do that is with this wire.” You point at it.

Katniss’s face twists. 

“The wave hits at ten, making the surrounding beach damp. If we connect this wire to the lightning tree and bring it all the way down to the beach—or even into the water—that first strike will electrocute anything in contact with the sand. It’ll kill them.”

It’s quiet between the four of you, as they mull this over. You can see that Finnick is looking at you, but you keep your eyes on the Twelve tributes. They need to agree to this plan, in order for you to move on and worry about greater things. Like how you’re going to take down Enobaria and Brutus at the same time. Or if you’ll be able to split them up, too.

Peeta’s mouth pops when he opens it to speak. “How do we know that the wire won’t just burn up when the electricity passes through it.”

“It likely will.” You say, “We probably only have one shot at this.”

“So there’s a possibility that we won’t even get them?”

Finnick sighs, “Yeah.”

“But all the seafood will be cooked.” Peeta says.

You nod, “It will, but we found other things in the jungle.”

“Nuts and rats.” Katniss says, you think you’ve got her on board. “And we have sponsors.”

“It’ll be a pain if we fail.” You tell them, “There’s always other options, after this.”

Katniss meets your eyes. “Why not? If it does fail, there’s no harm done. If it works, there’s a decent chance we’ll kill them. And even if we don’t and just kill the seafood, Brutus and Enobaria lose it as a food source, too.”

“I say we try it.” Peeta agrees.

When you’ve lost the attention of the Twelve tributes, you look at Finnick, giving him a smug look. You told him that you’d figure out a plan, and it’s not half-bad either. You’re sure Beetee would’ve said the exact same thing, just with more technical nonsense. You make a pretty good filler, if you say so yourself.

“What should we do until then?” Peeta asks.

“We could take a hike up to the tree to get a look at it.” You suggest, but you’re thinking about surveying the area on the way up. The better you know the jungle, the more you’ll be able to sneak around in it.

“I’ll get Johanna up.” Finnick says.

You back off, Katniss and Peeta gather their belongings, getting on their feet. Finnick catches Johanna up to speed, telling her that the plan is on, and you want to go take a look at the tree. She sighs, getting up from where she was laying.

You pick the wire out of the sand, throwing it over your shoulder to hold while you walk. You move over a couple sections, and Johanna makes the way into the jungle first. You follow after her, not wanting to have a debate with Finnick on whether or not you’re allowed to be behind them. 

The air is thicker in the jungle than it is on the beach. It must have something to do with the vegetation, or possibly a hidden water source, making it humid. Between the incline and the heat, you’re sweating in a matter of minutes. Even though all you’re wearing is the undershirt and shorts that were provided with the wetsuit that you abandoned yesterday.

You focus on your breathing, and the steps you’re taking to keep from tripping. Not the fact that Finnick is close enough for you to hear his breathing. You wish he would stay a few steps back, so you can pretend that he’s not there entirely. 

As if he’s reading your thoughts, he says, “Can you walk faster?”

“Maybe you should be in front of me if you don’t like my pace.” You snap.

“That’s not happening.”

“Then shut up and deal with it. And stop walking so close, while you’re at it.”

He makes a noise, “There’s three feet between us, that’s plenty.”

“Yeah, I’m sure you think so.” You mutter.

He must hear you, because he doesn’t walk for a couple of seconds, letting the distance grow. You laugh, unbelievable. This is why you don’t believe what he said to you last night. He can deny what you said as much as he wants, but a part of it has to be true.

However, the more he denies it, the more you feel yourself slipping. Why do you like him in the first place?

“Katniss should take the lead, Johanna. She can hear the forcefield.” Finnick calls from behind you.

Johanna pauses, turning around for you to see her. There’s a bead of sweat running down the side of her face. “Hear it?”

“Only with the ear the Capitol reconstructed.” Katniss says below.

“Go ahead, then. I’d rather you get electrocuted to death than me.” She motions.

Katniss passes the line, taking the front. When you glance behind you to see who’s taking up the rear, you see that Finnick and Peeta have switched places. Which makes sense, but you still shake your head. 

Katniss brings you to the towering lightning tree, making you wait a few feet back while she gathers nuts to throw ahead to see how far away the forcefield is. She tosses a few of them, and you know when she’s found the field when it sizzles on impact, jumping at her.

“Just stay below the lightning tree.” Katniss tells you.

With it being only nine—almost ten—it’s quickly decided that you’ll stay here for the next hour or so. They divide responsibilities between each other, leaving you out so you can figure out the tree and how the plan will work. Naturally, they stick Finnick with you, while Johanna taps for water, Peeta gathers nuts and Katniss goes hunting for the tree rats.

You go back and forth, looking at the tree, guessing how far around it is, and then looking at the wire, thinking about how much you’ll have to use. There’s easily miles of the wire wrapped around the base, so you’re not worried about running out of it. It’s how thick you need to make it on the tree.

You make a noise, biting the inside of your cheek. This is where Betee would come in handy. You can make a plan, but executing it correctly is a different subject. Either way, you need to make this work.

“You can’t figure it out.” Finnick says, it’s not a question.

“I’m thinking about how much wire I need to use.” You eye him, “It’s figured out.”

And if it isn’t, it will be by tonight, you think.

The ground begins to shake beneath you, as the sound of the wave crashing through trees fills the momentary silence. You have an hour and a half before you need to get back down to the beach in order not to get caught here in a lightning storm.

Katniss comes crunching out of the trees, holding three of the rats in one hand, the bow in the other. She stops next to Peeta, dropping the animals next to him, and then draws a line in the dirt a few feet away from the forcefield.

She cleans the kills, cubing the meat, and roasting them by tossing them at the forcefield. She catches each one in a free basket that was made by Finnick yesterday. Peeta follows her movements with the nuts, dropping it in the same bowl as her.

“Figure it out?” Johanna asks you, setting the water on the ground behind Katniss. She holds the spile out between her fingers in Katniss’s direction.

Katniss reaches up to take it, and secures it on the vine attached to her belt.

“Pretty much.”

By the time Katniss and Peeta are done, the next hour is up. You know this when the clicking in the section over rises. You heard some of it last night, but it wasn’t very loud because you were on the beach. Here, it sounds so close.

“I think it’s an insect.” Katniss says. “Maybe beetles.”

“Something with pincers.” Finnick adds.

The sound swells in reaction to their voices. 

“We should get out of here, anyway.” Johanna says. “There’s less than an hour before the lightning starts.”

At that, the food and water are gathered, as well as weapons. You don’t go very far, only to the rain wedge next door. The food and water is placed on the ground, where you squat around the bowls to pick out what you want. This is when you finally eat, because it looks fairly appetizing. Still, you don’t take much from the pool, only enough to be full.

When you’re done, you make your way back down to the beach until nightfall. The sand is smooth from the water, sinking under your weight, leaving footprints behind. 

Johanna offers to take watch to allow the rest of you to sleep if you want to. They take her up on the offer, but you sit up, fingers laced in front of you. None of them nap for very long, because they’d gotten a fair amount of sleep last night. The only person it would benefit at this point is you, except you haven’t been tired since yesterday afternoon.

Well, that’s what you think until Finnick switches off with her. He lowers himself next to you, back to the water, eyes on the jungle. He’s less than a foot away from you, off to your left. For someone that doesn’t like you, he really sticks close, doesn’t he?

“I’m going to sleep.” You mutter, getting to your feet.

You find a nice place in the sand that’s covered by a tree in the jungle. It’s not easy settling in, you think that you’d rather fight with a rock-hard bed, but you don’t really have a choice. You close your eyes, forcing yourself to take even breaths to relax, feeling the drowsiness creep up on you.

–

The heel of your shoe is kicked, jolting you awake. You grab the knife that you’d placed next to you, rolling over to see who it is. It’s Finnick, he’s holding his trident in one of his hands.

“We’re about to clean the seafood, come join us.”

You squint at him, wondering if you should strangle him for waking you up like this. It wouldn’t be that hard to, and you’d likely get over him quicker. And you would probably do it, too, if it weren’t for your allies a few feet over, talking.

“Sure.” You say, he walks away, going to resume his place in the circle. You sit up, heels of your hands massaging your temples. You should’ve just stayed awake, now all you are is tired and irritated.

You scoot over, finding a place between Johanna and Finnick. You look over all of what they’ve collected, which is fish, shellfish and oysters. You sigh through your nose, reaching forward to grab a fish, as you begin to slice into it with your knife. It takes you about two minutes to successfully clean it, tossing it in the next basket.

Peeta pries open an oyster, laughing slightly. “Hey, look at this!” He exclaims. You look up from your next fish to see that he’s holding up a pearl. “You know, if you put enough pressure on coal it turns to pearls.”

“No, it doesn’t.” Finnick says. Katniss laughs.

Peeta rinses the pearl off in the water, handing it to her. “For you.”

“Thanks.” She says, closing her hand. 

You toss another fish in the basket, Johanna gives you a look. “No wonder why Finnick woke you up, you’re faster than he is.”

Finnick gives Johanna a glare, “That’s not true.”

“I don’t want to make this a competition.” You tell both of them. “I’m not in the mood.”

“I can see that.” Johanna says, “Bad dreams?”

“I just want to get the fuck out of here.” You make a clean cut through the fish, looking at her. 

She sighs, “Don’t we all?”

“The locket didn’t work, did it?” Peeta asks. “Katniss?”

“It worked.” She says.

“But not the way I wanted.” He says, looking away from her. That’s the last thing you hear from him for the next fifteen minutes.

With your help, they finish preparing the food pretty quickly. They give the seafood a final wash to get rid of any of the sand, and right as you’re about to eat, a parachute comes down from the sky, landing next to Finnick. The first one is a pot of red sauce, the second one being another set of District Three rolls. When counted, the number turns out to be the same as it’s been the last couple of times.

You take a strip of the fish, dipping it into the red sauce, and then dropping it into your mouth. The moment your tongue realizes that it’s tasting more than just raw fish, your mouth begins to water. It’s spicy, and so good. You hum, giving the others an approving nod.

The five of you begin to eat, actually enjoying the meal. While they gorge themselves, you take it slow, not wanting to be too full for when you fight the Careers. It’ll slow you down. When they’re done, there’s still a lot of leftovers, but you’re not able to keep them. They toss the food back into the water, so that when you leave, the Careers won’t be able to have it.

Katniss and Peeta go to sit by the water together, holding hands. You, Finnick and Johanna stay where you are, passing around the water shell. There’s still a couple of hours until the wave, you could probably an hour or so in, but if you try to get any more sleep today, you won’t get up the next time they try to wake you.

The anthem plays, no faces show up in the sky. The sun has officially set, and you can’t sit still any longer. You get to your feet, sword in your hand while you go back to pacing the treeline. 

When Katniss and Finnick agree that it’s about nine, you move on from the beach, taking only what’s necessary. Katniss leads the way this time, Peeta in front of you, with Finnick and Johanna at the very end. This time, Finnick leaves a safe distance between the two of you, learning from his mistake.

When you get to the tree, Finnick is assigned to help you. And before you can object and ask for Johanna, they’re already walking away to find their places to watch the trees. You stick your sword in the ground, and then crouch down to begin unrolling the wire. You set several yards aside, making Finnick wrap some of it around a broken tree branch, which you leave aside.

After that, you and Finnick stand on opposite sides of the lightning tree, passing the spool back and forth. You form an X, watching as it grows thicker, before you begin to wrap it around the middle. This goes on for about an hour, until you hear the wave begin. You wait for a while longer, and decide to stop once it’s thick enough.

When Finnick hands the wire back to you, you clear your throat. “The wire needs to be brought back down to the water.” The three taking watch turn to look at you, waiting. “Katniss and Johanna will do it.”

“I want to go with them as a guard.” Peeta says immediately.

“You don’t move fast enough.” You tell him. “Which is a result of you hitting the forcefield and your prosthetic leg. You’ll stay here with me and Finnick. Katniss can guard, because she’s got her bow.” Peeta’s shaking his head. “We don’t have time to argue, they need to leave, now.”

“It’s okay.” Katniss says after a moment. “We’ll just drop the coil and come straight back up.”

“Not here, we’ll meet you two in the next section over.” You remind her.

She cups Peeta’s face. “Don’t worry. I’ll see you at midnight.” She kisses him, you avert your eyes, and land on Finnick, who’s staring. You squint at him. Katniss moves away, “Ready?”

“Why not?” Johanna shrugs, coming over to take the wire from you. “You guard, I’ll unwind. We can trade off later.”

Katniss walks off first, with Johanna following. You keep a careful eye on the sliver of wire that hangs through the air as they go down. If you try to pass through that area, you need to be mindful that it’s there.

You grab your sword out of the ground, while Finnick divides the area into three sections for you to stand in. You’ll give it about fifteen minutes before you take off with some sort of excuse, because there’s not a single doubt in your mind that the Careers are out here right now.

Over the fifteen minute period, you shift your weight from foot to foot, trying to make it seem like you have to use the bathroom, restlessly moving around. You let out a loud sigh, “I’m sorry, I have to pee. I’ll be right back.”

“That’s not a good idea.” Peeta tells you, “Finnick should go with.”

“He’s not standing over me while I pee, and you’re not either. I’ll stay within earshot.” You say, looking at Finnick. You raise your eyebrows, Finnick gives you a slight nod. He better keep Peeta distracted enough to the point where he doesn’t realize how long you’ve been gone. 

You duck under the wire, heading into the trees with your sword. You walk a few feet, occasionally glancing behind you to make sure that neither of them are looking, before you make your escape. The wire is close enough for you to see it, still suspended in the air. 

You move quickly down the slope without having to wait on anyone, searching the area ahead for anyone. Katniss and Johanna have got to be more than halfway down by now, it’s going to take you a minute to catch up with them. But if Enobaria and Brutus are smart, they won’t stick that close, because Katniss is paranoid.

The sound of rocks rolling on one another makes you stop behind the tree you’re passing by. It came from the left, from the other side. You lower yourself to the ground, peering around the trunk and through bush leaves to see if it’s them.

You find Enobaria creeping out of her hiding place, knife in hand, blade glinting in the moonlight. With a swift motion, she cuts the wire, sending both ends in different directions. She chases after the end going down to Katniss and Johanna, and that’s when you can see Brutus, following after her.

He’s limping. This will be easy.

You stalk them, trying to be quiet. The wire is gone, completely out of sight. It’s probably already bunched up at the bottom. Which means that they know that something—someone—has come between them and the lightning tree. And vice versa for the top of the hill, where Peeta and Finnick are going to realize that the girls are in some danger.

You were wrong about how far down Katniss and Johanna were, because you come across the coil of wire a minute later. Katniss is laying on the ground, eyes shut, forearm cut where the tracker should be. 

“She’s as good as dead! Come on, Enobaria!” You hear someone shout.

Your head whips in the direction, forgetting about Katniss. She’ll pick herself up soon, and if she doesn’t, someone will come for her. You pick up the pace to follow after the heavy footsteps. They have to be targeting Johanna, because she’s nowhere to be seen in the area. She’s drawing them away, taking the focus off of the girl who scored a twelve.

You see Brutus moving through the trees, trying to keep up. You switch the sword into your non-dominant hand, grabbing out a knife. You draw your arm back, and with every ounce of strength you have, you send the knife flying at Brutus.

It hits the back of his head, a cannon blasts immediately, his body falling into the greenery. If it wasn’t a frenzy before, it will be now that someone has died. 

Enobaria, who was a few feet ahead of him, stops in her tracks, turning to look at you. You walk toward her, a smile spreading over your face. “Hi.”

“You’ll regret that.” She snarls, throwing a knife at you.

You see this coming, twisting just in time for it to miss you. She charges forward, you switch the sword into your dominant hand, swinging at her. She blocks, blade clashing against yours, the sound of metal sliding on itself fills the air.

“Stupid plan you made.” She says between breaths, baring her teeth.

“You fell for it.” You grin, sweeping her legs.

She falls, you stab down at her, she rolls out of the way. She doesn’t have time to stand up, you’re swinging at her, getting closer each time.

“(Y/n)!” A voice calls, you halt, just for a second, eyebrows twitching in.

Finnick.

“Playing house?” Enobaria sneers, right before she swings at your hand.

You drop the sword, but still get cut across the back of your hand, up to your wrist. The blood begins to leak out, making your skin slippery. You hiss, reaching for your knife when Enobaria gets to her feet, coming for you.

She gets you several times across your body, you’re off beat by a second. You’re not thinking about the fight anymore. Your mind is on Finnick, who’s supposed to be watching Peeta at the lightning tree, but instead he’s out here, looking for you.

He knew the plan, he knew you’d go after the Careers, that was the whole point of splitting up. The sooner you get rid of them, the better. There won’t be a threat in the arena anymore. You’ll be able to cut out the trackers in your arm freely and wait for the rebels to get you. You could even let Katniss and Peeta in on it, because by then it’ll be too late for the Capitol to intervene.

Enobaria steps too close, snapping you out of your thoughts. You grab her shoulder, holding her in place while you slam the knife upward, into her stomach. You stare at her, watching as her mouth drops open, struggling to take a breath in.

“How the mighty fall.” You murmur.

Her eyes meet yours, “Go fuck yourself.” She wheezes. “You’re next.”

“We’ll see about that.” You tell her, pushing her back.

She stumbles a few steps, you drop low to pick your sword out of the grass. She’s shaking her head, a plea forming on her lips, when she jerks forward, and she falls to her knees.

Johanna stands on the other side, her axe now embedded in the back of Enobaria’s skull. She gives you a little smile, “You killed Brutus?”

“It was easy.” You tell her. “We should get back to the tree. The lightnings going to strike any minute now, the beetles are getting quieter.”

Johanna nods, you begin to lead the way, climbing as fast as you can. It’s difficult with the cuts that Enobaria managed to land. They’re in the most inconvenient places, as if she was doing it on purpose. Maybe she thought you’d run, and this way she’d slow you down.

“Katniss!” You hear a voice call, it sounds like Peeta. He’s not supposed to be out here, Finnick should’ve had him on a leash. “Katniss!”

“Is Chaff still alive?” You pant, “There’s only been two cannons, right?”

“Yeah, he should be.” Johanna says.

You’re just nearing the top, the clicking is practically nonexistent, until it suddenly swells. Your eyes pan down, afraid that you’ve stepped into the wrong territory, but there’s nothing on the ground. That’s when a scream erupts from your left, drawing out for a minute.

And then a cannon goes off, there goes Chaff.

You turn, wanting to make sure that Johanna’s still following. She’s leaned over her knees, breathing deeply. 

“Katniss!” Peeta’s voice is close. You look up, and barely find him through the trees. He must see you, too, because he starts to come down. His eyes are bouncing between you and Johanna. “Where is she?”

“I don’t know.” You shake your head. “Is she at the tree? And where’s Finnick?”

“Johanna?” Peeta insists, ignoring you.

“The Careers split us up.” She lies, “I had to draw them away.”

“Is that who died?” He asks.

“Brutus, Enobaria and Chaff were the cannons.” You tell him. “Let’s get back to the tree to regroup.”

He nods, Johanna stands up. The three of you are beginning up the slope once more, when the dome of the arena bursts into a blue light. You watch as the first fiery explosion breaks it, throwing bits of debris into the air. 

“Shit.” You say, “That’s not good.”

The hike up the jungle is torturous enough in the heat that’s provided by the Gamemakers. It grows worse when the trees surrounding you are suddenly set afire by the bits that land on the ground, causing small earthquakes. Several times, you have to hang on to a tree to keep from falling over, as the dome falls apart.

You keep an eye on the growing hole, and the sky beyond it, waiting. You watch as the hovercraft materializes out of thin air, above the lightning tree. A second later, the claw is being dropped to retrieve those who are by it. You’re hoping it’s Katniss, because that was the whole goal of this plan. Anyone else was just an added bonus.

It secures around someone, and pulls them out of the trees. You’re not that far, you might even be able to make it. The claw drops a second time, for one more person, pulling them up. It’s hard to see the hovercraft through the thick branches and leaves. 

You’ve about five yards from the lightning tree when the hovercraft disappears in the air. Your pace slows, as you let out a breath. When you look at Johanna, you find her shaking her head.

“There goes being saved.”

“What?” Peeta asks, looking between you two.

“I’m sorry, Peeta.” You say, locking your fingers and placing your hands on the top of your head. “The good news is that you got what you wanted.”

“What do you mean?” He asks.

“She’s safe.” Is all you say.

You don’t bother telling him that the three of you are screwed. While Katniss and presumably Finnick, get to go to District Thirteen, where they’ll be safe. You’re going to be taken by the Capitol, and there’s not a doubt in your mind that they’ll try to tear you apart to get information about the rebels.

This is where the real test of strength begins. 

—

A knock on the window makes you look up from where you’re staring at the IV in your arm. Your eyes land on Finnick, who’s not standing at his full height, playing with a small piece of rope in his hand. There’s a slight frown in his lips, eyes tired. He’s been visiting you these last couple of days, and you’ve been doing your best to avoid him.

Usually, you have a visitor in here, which makes it easy to cast him out, but you’re alone tonight. Johanna’s finally grown tired of bothering you for hours on end, talking your ear off. It’s been a one-sided conversation these past couple of weeks while your throat healed.

Recently, the doctor cleared you.

You stare at Finnick, really not wanting to let him in. He’s no doubt heard the news, too. Which means that he’s looking to actually talk to you. You take a small breath in, chest aching. You rub the area over where the pain is, lifting your other hand to motion Finnick in.

He opens the door slowly, closing it behind him. He doesn’t say anything as he grabs the chair from the corner of the room, dragging it next to your hospital bed. You watch him sit down, elbows on his knees, eyes on the floor. 

You thought that since Katniss and Finnick were saved by the rebels, they’d be in better condition than you, Johanna and Peeta are. It seems to be the other way around, though. Despite Snow having you strangled and deprived of oxygen for as long as humanly possible without doing major brain damage, and Johanna being repeatedly electrocuted in water, the two of you are relatively normal. You wish you could say the same for Peeta, but he’s up in the air right now. They won’t even let you see him, although you’re not sure what that would do exactly.

Finnick has been torn apart, like being in District Thirteen is a form of torture, in of itself. The light in his eyes is gone, voice quiet, “Mags told me about the ultimatum that Snow gave you.”

“Huh?” You let out.

Finnick looks up from the tile. “After the jabberjays, you asked me what changed.” He reaches over, placing his hand on top of yours. He’s warm. “It was before that. When Mags told me that you’d agreed…” He trails off, “You’d agreed to be a prostitute if it meant my family lived.”

You try to shake his hand off. “Whatever.”

He grabs on with both hands, squeezing your fingers. “She told me that you would volunteer to take some of my nights in the Capitol, because you saw how tired I was.”

“Get off me.” You murmur.

“My family was in the Capitol and you protected them,” His voice wavers, you get sent back to that night in the jungle. When he denied the fact that he had feelings for you. “Again. You protected them again. You let Snow do this to you.”

“It was the right thing to do.” You shake your head. 

“I heard you talking the day of the reaping.” He breathes. “How you told Mags that you wouldn’t let her volunteer because you know how much she means to me. You said that you’d rather risk your life and go back in the arena than put her in danger.”

“Anyone would’ve done that.” You tell him, impatient.

“Annie couldn’t. Librae wasn’t going to. I was sure you weren’t, either.”

You sigh, “Will you just leave me alone?”

“I was wrong about several things.” Finnick stands from the chair, letting go of your hands to reach for your face. His thumbs running over the skin beneath your eyes. “I do care about you.”

“No, you don’t.” You push his arms.

“Listen to me.” Finnick says, his face is so close to yours. You can feel the warmth of his breath tickling your nose. “I was looking for you during the jabberjays, I was looking for you the night the dome went down, and I haven’t been able to breathe since you were taken.” He closes his eyes. “I care.”

“I know.” You breathe, “I know you do.”

#ilguna #finnick odair #finnick odair imagine #finnick odair oneshot #finnick odair fanfic #finnick odair x reader #finnick odair x you #finnick odair x yn #finnick odair x y/n #finnick imagine #finnick fanfic #finnick x reader #finnick oneshot #finnick x you #finnick x yn #finnick x y/n #thg #the hunger games #angst

[jacks347]

So I was relistening to Sam for the billionth time and once again came across David lecturing Darlin for being dumb.

Now, this episode gives me...mixed feelings. It always has. And the point I'm about to make was actually one of the first I ever made on the Discord but y'all know me, never missing a chance to restate and overexplain.

I'm most definitely not the first person to point this out but Darlin's first interactions with Sam that get them chewed out are extremely similar to Milo's first interactions with Sweetheart. They both meet somewhere where the listener shouldn't be, they come to a tentative agreement, then fight something that gets them fucked up and was kind of stupid. The difference is, as far as we know, David never finds out about Milo's stupid mistake. And, if you ask me, a shade is far more dangerous than a couple of vampires.

Can you imagine that pack meeting? Darlin getting read the riot act, Milo sitting there knowing he did something just the same but got away with it. Do you think he called them out? Or do you think he stayed quiet, knowing he had no room to talk?

And more so, how do you think Darlin reacted when they found out the story of how Milo and Sweetheart first met? The indignant rage of knowing what he did and got away with, the memory of the burning shame they had to sit there and endure, the humiliation they felt getting lectured like a child. He did the same thing and got none of that. I always imagined that when Sweetheart told them that they had to go take a walk for a few minutes in order to keep a cool head and not explode and then refused to talk to Milo for three weeks so that the rage would calm down and they wouldn't have to suppress the urge to break his jaw whenever they spoke to him.

The point I first made was "Do you think Darlin holds a grudge against Milo for not getting the same lecturing that they did?" Maybe it's not a strong one, but it's there.

It's interesting how the same event characterizes people differently. In Darlin's case, we see them as reckless and stubborn, someone acting out without a plan. In Milo's case, we see him as strong and protective, wanting to help keep someone safe. How can the same even paint one character as a hero and one as a villain when they did the same thing?

Because of connotation, my friends.

Milo has been painted as the smart-mouthed but fiercely loyal and protective friend, so we (including the rest of the pack) want to see his actions in the same light. Darlin has been painted as a brooding, emotional outcast, someone who acts rashly but with good intentions, so we see their actions similarly. But that's not fair. It's not fair to Darlin, who just wanted to protect their friends, and it’s not fair to Milo, who needs to be reminded that him throwing himself in the problem headfirst in life or death situations isn't the solution.

In conclusion, Milo deserves to have his little excursion with Sweetheart revealed and be reprimanded out of respect for Darlin cause that shit ain't right and it bothers me.

(Also, one more thing. In Sam's first healing audio after the double vampire fight he asks why Darlin wouldn't just tell a healer to shut up and heal them when they started asking questions. But in reality, the healer that Darlin would've gone to while running on instincts probably would've been Marie and yeahhhh I'd like to see anyone tell that woman to shut up and do something. Don't fuck with Mama Greer.)

#this got out of hand #once the thoughts start #they dont stop #and now we're here #but yeah #i've held this in the back of my mind for almost 2 years #justice for darlin #asmr roleplay #redacted audio #redacted asmr #redacted darlin #redacted milo #redacted david #redacted shaw pack

[yuesya]

Ryomen Sukuna, the double-faced specter. The undisputed King of Curses, who had claimed the title of Strongest in his time.

… Versus Gojo Satoru. The Strongest sorcerer of the modern age –the strongest by a wide margin. In this world, at least. Back in his own world, where everything (hopefully) hasn’t gone to hell in a handbasket, Geto Suguru can confidently say that it’s Gojo Satoru and Gojo Shiki who hold the title of ‘Strongest’ together between the two of them.

Suguru had never paused to think what the world might be like without them. Either of them. And in this strange new world that he’d been thrown headfirst into without any warning, in this world where Shiki doesn’t exist and Suguru himself is dead and Satoru is left to carry everything alone, it…

It means that Satoru says that he will face Sukuna by himself, and everyone else nods along to this like it’s a foregone conclusion. As if it’s only natural. And perhaps it is, and Suguru knows that Satoru has always enjoyed a challenge, but–

It’s not the same. It’s not the same. Even though rationally, he knows that the Gojo Satoru in this world isn’t his Satoru, Suguru can’t help but worry for him, even despite the smooth confidence that the other man wears like a second skin. His friends and students in this world worry too, but Suguru can see how a not-insignificant number of them also look like they can’t fathom the thought of Gojo losing.

Because Gojo-sensei is the strongest. Invincible. Immaculate and utterly untouchable, and there is no one else who comes close to approaching him.

(“Stay with us, Suguru?”)

… Suguru worries for him.

It’s why he remains at the outskirts of the battlefield, when Gojo clashes with Sukuna. Hovering, watching, as the two sorcerers tear apart their surroundings; bridges collapsing and buildings ripped apart like wet paper. Suguru himself is a Special Grade sorcerer, but the level of a fight like this remains a cut beyond him, still. Just the multiple back-to-back Domain Expansions alone would’ve been more than enough to kill him several times over. He can feel the hairs rising on the back of his neck at the cursed energy saturating the air, and the sheer power that they throw around so easily…

It’s something that he’s only ever witnessed from Satoru and Shiki before.

…

He doesn’t know how to describe it. In the aftermath of the single most destructive release of Hollow Purple that Suguru has ever seen, Gojo’s victory appears imminent. But even riddled with injuries and missing half his body as he is, Sukuna looks up with Megumi’s face and smiles, baring his teeth as he brings his hand up in a sharp slashing motion, and–

And something inside Suguru twists, blood thundering in his ears, and his reaction is entirely instinctive. Probably the result of one too many heart attacks that Satoru and Shiki have put him through over the years, if he’s being honest here–

Rainbow Dragon, the most powerful defensive cursed spirit in Suguru’s arsenal, falls to the ground in a spray of red-violet blood, sliced in half. It does not move again, and Suguru knows that it will never move again –his connection to the cursed spirit had been severed instantaneously.

But it’s worth it. Because this means that, instead of having his upper torso separated from the rest of his body, Gojo is only missing an arm and a good portion of his shoulder. It’s his right arm, though, which isn’t good; he’ll need to regenerate the limb in order to form seals for his techniques with his hand–

“… Geto?”

“Gojo,” Suguru returns breathlessly, and then there’s no more time for idle talk. Not when Sukuna laughs, and falls upon them, already having healed from his own wounds –grievous wounds that would’ve killed any other sorcerer three times over. Not when the demon is somehow able to cut through Gojo Satoru’s Limitless technique, how is that possible?!

They struggle, and fight, and do their best. It’s not enough. Suguru and Gojo aren’t as in sync with each other as they need to be against an opponent like Ryomen Sukuna. And while Suguru is a Special Grade sorcerer, he’s not a Special Grade the way that Gojo and Sukuna are–!

Even so, Suguru grits his teeth and fights, tooth and nail, because the only other alternative now that he’s well and truly involved in this (as if he could turn his back on Satoru, any version of Satoru) is to give up, and Suguru refuses to do that.

… Is this how I’m going to die?

…

In the brief instant right before Suguru knows that he is about to face certain death, when his mind is only full of an endless refrain of Satoru, Shiki, somehow–

Sukuna stops.

The monster puppeteering Megumi’s body freezes, and looks upwards. It takes a moment for Suguru to register this odd, odd reaction, and he…

… he can’t exactly blame him.

Because when Suguru decides to take his chances and glances upwards himself to see what suddenly caught Sukuna’s attention, it’s abundantly clear that there’s something wrong. The sky –pulses, for lack of a better word. A strange sort of ripple that materializes in this space without any rhyme or reason, before it stretches open, a yawning circle of something–

Something–

Nothing.

Everything.

… What opens up in the sky in this moment is a chalice of purest darkness, overflowing with brilliant light. The frozen dawn, wrought with evening stars. There are flames curling within ice, meteorites shattering into dust, entire galaxies that wither and bloom–

It doesn’t make any sense. It’s utterly incomprehensible. Suguru stares up at the yawning, gaping maw of– of something, surely, but at the same time he doesn’t know what he’s seeing at all. Infinite possibilities, finite endings. Suguru stares and stares, trying to make sense of what he’s seeing, but the more he peers into that unfathomable void in the sky, the less he can decipher from it.

It’s… almost as if his mind simply refuses to register what he’s seeing.

Then, there is a hand.

A pale, white hand, reaching out with open fingers splayed into the air. And he does mean white, alabaster-white. The hand is followed by a slender wrist, than an entire arm, and a shoulder–

… It’s a person, that much is evident from the humanoid form. The towering creature that emerges from the hole in the sky is most certainly not a person, though. In terms of size, it’s probably large enough to rival Mahoraga. And in terms of color, their coloring is wrong.

White. Solidly stark-white, like a statue carved from marble. A flawless and unblemished human form, to be sure; a distinctly androgynous work of perfection that cannot be mistaken for anything other than unnatural.

Two arms fall down at its sides, while two more sweep out with palms faced upwards. The creature also has two heads. One is attached normally to the body as a regular human would be, while the other is offset slightly above it, much like an attentive brother overlooking his sister from behind, for all their eerie similarities–

–hold on just a fucking moment.

That’s… holy shit. Holy shit. Suguru knows those faces, would know it anywhere, even on his deathbed–!

His mind promptly short-circuits at the mind-shattering revelation. It takes a solid moment, before he’s finally able to loosen his tongue enough to speak again.

“… Satoru,” Suguru whispers disbelievingly, hoping against hope and knowing what he sees down to his very soul. “Shiki?”

What the hell. What the hell.

Suguru, his beautiful, beloved, utterly mad lunatics say to him, voice sweet and ringing with dual-toned laughter. Never play hide-and-seek with us like this again.

#Writing #zenith of stars au #twin cannons au #since it's kinda been mentioned here and there in various asks before #ta-da! #i did my best to make this thing [REDACTED]-free #eldritch abomination sato-shiki lands in twin cannons-verse #well-timed entrance in their search for suguru haha #this would be the sato-shiki that truly has a cult following #suguru: i left you guys alone for a month and you got a cult??

[sopiao]

Hiyyyyyaa, how would the 141+könig react to military y/n being a goth girl? But they didn't know because she doesn't wear her piercings or makeup due to stranded military rule regulations, until they all meet up at the pug. Please and thank you. Take your time.

EHEHEHHE I LUV DIFF STYLE REQS LIKE THESE ^^

i tried my best 😭

Being apart of the task force was probably the best decision you made, you like the people, you have fun, and it pays good. Only downside of having to take off each of your piercings each time, especially if their fresh or barely healed, which could be dangerous (don’t do that kids) but rules are rules.

You never really told them about your style or anything since you didn’t really think it would be important, or if it would even matter.

When Soap reaches out to everyone and suggests to all meet up at a pub, you were more than willing to come. You had more than a handful of missions together and spent quite some time with them, but have never seen your teammates out of work before.

You’re the last to arrive since your time management is shit, you were stressing and messing up your makeup, but hey, at least you came. Parking your motorcycle and kicking the stand, leaving your helmet on the handle. At this point you realize that none of your comrades has never seen you in your attire, with all of your piercings in.

Entering the warmly lit and semi-busy, you saw them at a wooden table off to the side, laughing and talking about whatever has been going on in their lives, you see six drinks assuming they bought one for you. You decide to fuck with them since this’ll be the first time they see you in the full get-up.

“Boo!” At first their startled, then confused. Soap interested, he’s never been with a goth girl before, he’ll try anything— or anyone— once. Gaz is the first to realize who you are

“[NAME]?!!” Gaz shouts, making everyone look at him then to you, all making the same conclusion at the same time, Soap a little slower, but that’s normal. You chuckle, smiling as Price scoots to the side to make room for you, pulling out the chair next to him. It’s regular for him to want to sit next to you, he even had his jacket draped over the back rest to save it for you.

“You look sick” Gaz smiles, it soothed you. At first, you were worried how they’d think of you looking like this, but seeing his genuine expression eases you a little more. They wanted to say something, a comment or compliment, but they didn’t know how to say it properly without making it sound weird, not wanting to make you uncomfortable.

“Oh! We got you a drink” Soap slides over your drink, a fruity strawberry Cosmopolitan. It was all new to them but familiar at the same time. They always kinda pictured this look on you but never thought they’d actually see it. In a way it kinda reflected how you are in the field.

“Did it hurt?” Ghost speaks up from beside you. Of course it hurt. But you were glad that he was interested, especially because he is almost never interested in anything.

“Some more than others” You shrug, hands resting in the pockets of your DIO sweater. Ghost leans forward, arms crossed and resting on the wooden table, slight nod of the head signaling for you to continue.

“Top 5?” Price asks, his arm wrapped behind you to rest on the backrest of your chair. You’re surprised that they’re even this interested, you kinda expected them to just accept it and move back into the conversation.

“Uhh.. I guess the first would be these. Took a while to stretch these out” Turning your head to show the others, poking the tip of your finger through the hole of your gauges. Chuckling awkwardly until you heard oohs and aahhs from them.

“Industrial is second, couldn’t sleep on my side for a couple months” Turning your head to the other side to show the metal bar coming between the shell of your ear.

“But this put me through hell, couldn’t talk or eat for a while. Lived off of smoothies for like forever” Sticking your tongue out to show the small metal star on the center of your tongue. Ghost’s eyes slightly widened, he had one too (i luv referencing my other stuff) but didn’t wanna mention anything yet.

“This hurt, but after a week I didn’t even feel it” Twisting the metal bar of your bridge, careful not to smudge your makeup.

“Didn’t even feel this, my lip was a little swollen for a while though” You pull your lip down to show off your snake bites. You didn’t really notice this until now, they were intently listening, not just hearing you but actually listening. Not expecting them to be this interested since people either were a little weirded out or just a dick about it.

“Wow… And I’m too scared to even get my ears pierced” König chuckled nervously, hand unconsciously coming up to lightly pinch his smooth and un-poked ear lobe.

—

“It was nice seeing you guys again” Grinning warmly as you all stood outside of the pub. The snow made you wanna leave already, but the company of your friends made it bearable.

You give Gaz a kiss on the cheek. A simple and platonic act of affection. Forgetting you had black lipstick on, seeing the black mark on his cheek made you embarrassed. Especially with Soap’s teasing.

“Hey, give me one, too” He bent down and tapped his cheek, with a cheeky grin. Laughing it off as you planted one on his cheek. Price leaned in too, wordlessly asking for one.

König was still not ready to lift his mask up that high yet, but he still wanted a kiss. So you just settled a smooch on the back of his hand like and prince would do to his fair lady. After you left a kiss mark on each of them they all looked at Ghost, waiting for him to lift his mask up for one.

He looked around with a shrug, then shaking his head with a sigh, as he uncrossed his arms and lifted the side of his mask only up to his nose. Making sure to press with a little more pressure with him since there was less lipstick on your lips since it was faded.

—

Extra:

Omg. Imagine like showing off cool but weird tricks. Taking off one of your lip piercings and showing off how you can squirt out water from the opening. Soap wondering if you could slurp spaghetti through it.

#call of duty modern warfare #cod fanfic #cod mw2 #task 141 #ghost mw2 #soap mw2 #price mw2 #gaz mw2 #cod headcanons #cod modern warfare #ghost x reader #soap x reader #john price x reader #gaz x reader #simon ghost riley #john soap mactavish #john price #kyle gaz garrick #simon ghost headcannons #john soap headcannons #john price headcanons #kyle gaz headcannons #ghost headcannons #soap headcanons #price headcanons #gaz headcanons #i love goth girls #konig headcanons #konig x reader #konig headcannons

[the-primordial-archivist]

(I promise I reach a conclusion at the end bear with me)

Something I've really noticed is that whenever people are around, Apollo gets really queasy when it comes to the human body. An example is The Grey Sisters' eyeball, he immediately got squeamish and screamed about how gross that was. He becomes an awful doctor/healer, randomly prescribing aspirin to everything.

But the moment there isn't someone around or a healer in sight he immediately becomes the best doctor in the world??? He got grossed out by an eyeball but as soon as he saw Lu's cut-off and mutilated arms, he didn't flinch and healed her almost fully with a tiny speck of godly power and a first aid kit.

Same thing with Frank he panicked and went straight to business as he realized that action needed to be taken immediately and cutting off his reunion with Artemis.

And I say he does this on purpose to encourage maybe his children to take action in situations he knows they can and he won't show off vital skills just like that. Apollo lets people do it because they need to learn this in order to survive, and my guess is he's been doing this for millennia to let humans and demigods alike to grow more proficient and confident in their skills so that they do not need him.

When Artemis said Apollo wasn't as good as Asclepius in healing because he didn't really practice and didn't care and that it would take too much time, she was wrong. He probably worked on his healing ability for centuries and just wouldn't show it. When Frank fainted, immediately his reflexes kicked in to save him which is an obvious sign.

Not only that, he said so himself that he had collected the spit of so many animals to check their healing properties in the first book, and unfortunately did not do lions. That just shows commitment.

What am I trying to prove here? Not a clue, just that everyone's wrong about him and he's an actual healer god, one of the best there is, but just doesn't show it to encourage others to become doctors and save people, which is literally the best thing they can do in life. Apollo is gifting them a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to do so much good.

The main point of ToA is healing and recovery. Mostly from Zeus' abuse in this case and how he tried to save everyone unlike the god of destruction everyone thinks he is.

My belief is that Apollo's main domain is healing and all his other ones are kinda a part of that. Music no need to go into, the sun is rejuvenating and represents a fresh start, prophecies are all about knowledge, which can also be healing, plague is needed to balance it out and is needed sometimes for recovery, and archery connects with the plague which shows death is needed for life and is in fact vital.

Apollo is the god of healing.

#lester papadopoulos #trials of apollo #toa apollo #toa #apollo #pjo apollo #healer apollo #make this a thing guys #wow i can't believe i reached a suitable end #what a weird rant #HEALER APOLLO!!!!

[serendipityandbenevolence]

I gotta say, when I passed out last night after writing this post, I didn't expect to wake up to people actually liking it. but hey! thanks for the support. As per my little footnote (if you didn't read it then sucks to be you ig) the people who commented got first choice of which characters im going to write. love y'all by the way <3 which means that first up is... Dottore! (as requested by @amber-sekio and @gallantys)

(I am not playing rn when I say that I spent a large amount of time reading Dottore x reader fanfic so I could figure out how the hell to write him and this is probably still ooc but i did my best)

Contains - Yandere behavior (kept to a minimum though) dottore being a charming ray of a human (he mentions enslaving other countries), discussions of blood and injuries

"Dottore?"

The silence from the hallway was almost deafening. The sudden intense quiet was broken only by the gentle crackle of the fire, a welcome reprieve as your words hung in the air. Perhaps it was stupid, to call for a person who may not be there and who, of all the Harbingers, might be the most likely to still attempt to kill you. A foolish whim, but nearly dying does funny things to a person's rational.

Your door slid open silently, revealing the Doctor himself peering in at you. He did not appear to be wearing his mask, but with the low light and strands of blue hair covering his face, you couldn't make out his features well.

"Yes? Can I help you?"

Something was wrong. His voice was too soft, his words too gentle, the whole demeanor was wrong. You knew he had segments that acted differently, but you couldn't imagine Dottore ever being that kind sounding. But you were in too deep.

"Can you come in here, please? I need to ask you a question."

A few murmurs struck up behind him, but Dottore simply nodded and stepped into the room, turning his back to you as shut the door.

"You know..." he mused as he clicked the lock shut.

Ah, there it was. With the door closed, his voice changed, with that hint of cruelty and mania that you had come to associate with him lacing his words. His blood red eyes bored into you, a sly smile creeping across his face.

"Oh, what's with the expression? You seem a little scared of me, Divine One. Am I not as nice as you assumed?"

He didn't allow you to answer, pacing closer to where you lay, buried beneath the pile of blankets.

"There's really no need to be scared of me. After all, I was the one who nursed you so lovingly back to health when you were brought here out of the cold. Aren't I so generous?"

"You healed me?"

You didn't bother hiding your concern. You kicked off your pile of blankets and assessed your body, trying to see if any of your organs were missing.

"My my, do you have such little faith in me? I am a doctor after all. One of the best I'll have you know."

He leaned against the wall by your bedside, giving you a rather unnerving grin.

"Well, you have my undivided attention. What was it that you wanted to ask me?"

You were starting to think that it was a very bad idea to ask for Dottore, but you also suspected that saying you wanted to talk to someone else would go over even worse.

"Yes, I just...wanted to know what I missed while I was asleep. You know, with the other nations."

"Ahh, of course! Well, upon some reflection they seem to have come to the conclusion that you are the actual creator and not a 'fake' as they so cruelly labelled you. Needless to say, quite a few letters of apology have been sent begging for your forgiveness for their dreadful ignorance. Including-"

He reached over to you, laying a shockingly gentle hand upon your bandaged side.

"-the one who nearly killed you."

"You know who it is?" you asked in surprise.

"But of course! Simply assessing your wound, I could tell the weapon and the particular style of it, which made it rather easy to cross-referencing that with the time and location that you were attacked and deduce your attacker with little difficulty. "

"Really?"

He scoffed. "No, of course not. They mentioned in their letter that they were the one who harmed you."

Dottore stepped away from you, pacing towards the door as he pulled a crumpled note from his pocket and tossed it onto the end of your bed.

"You should read it sometime, it is truly a delightfully pathetic read. They only made one mistake."

"Mistake?"

He turned to look at you and you saw that all of the cruel humor that had covered his face was gone, replaced with an infinitely scarier coldness.

"They signed their name. So now, I know exactly who will be my next experiment, when we invade the other nations."

There was silence for a moment, before his features softened and he let out a soft laugh.

"You should sleep. It's the best medicine after all. We can discuss this more in the morning."

Dottore went to turn from you once more, but paused as you opened your mouth.

"Dottore, burn the letter. I don't want to read what they have to say."

A wicked grin flashed across his face as he snatched the letter back up and strode towards the fire.

"You know, I think-"

He tossed the letter into the embers and watched as it instantly caught alight.

"-that you and I will get along very, very well."

Dottore pulled the door open and gave you one last comment before leaving, not even turning his head.

"Sweet dreams, Your Grace."

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

That took me so long to write guys 😭 but anyway i hope you liked it! like i said earlier, i struggle a bit with dottore because he has all his different segments with different personalities but i think this turned out okay.

Also, the order for the next few harbingers will go as such

Tartaglia- requested by @gallantys and @followingyou247

Pierro - requested by @mistresssasori

Capitano - requested by @moonlite-drabbles @megsthings and @legendarysacrificer-blog (yall really love him clearly)

If you guys want to help me pick the order after that, go ahead in the comments!

also tagging @heizoubeloved in this because you mentioned wanting to see more!

#yandere genshin #genshin x reader #genshin impact #genshin sagau #dottore x reader #fatui x reader #fatui harbingers

[i9fairy]

ship: leon kennedy x neutral reader

sinopse: just leon and you in a intimate and very private situationship.

n/a: Sorry if there are any mistakes! English is not my main language And this is my first time writing something like this.

It was a Friday night when I saw him again, standing at my door. With his face bruised, with its blonde strands falling over his face like a jigsaw puzzle, there were scratches on his arms that could be seen with the naked eye. When he saw that I was looking there, probably with my face of silly concern, he spoke.

"I'm fine," he said. I didn't believe him.

But what else could I do? I let it go.

Leon Scott Kennedy and I had been at this routine dance since we finished. He would come home, his house in fact, after each mission. I would pretend not to see his red and white scars (the ones that had already healed) and we would hang out. As a bonus, I pretended I didn't feel his presence sitting on my bed when I retired to sleep. I pretended not to feel his arms when he hugged me while I, supposedly, slept...Ours was complicated. we broke up after he went to Spain and when he came back... His nightmares consumed him and consequently his traumas swallowed our relationship. What followed were days of discussing what was going to happen. I lived, well, I'm still living, alone with him. We both decided to keep things as they were, to let our department just stay that way. He paid for it, because his secret work, which he couldn't tell me anything about but which on more than one occasion had made him almost never return, left a good pay, even if it was at the expense of his mental health. In addition, it had already been difficult enough to enter the market of looking for a job despite my university career, even more difficult was going to be the fact of getting a job as an infant teacher and with my salary... No, no way. Leon had been kind enough to that and I will always be grateful to him.

And my way of thanking him was by making him homemade cookies, Leon loved it when I cooked for him, and healing his wounds by changing his bandages. It was routine, it was simple, it was quiet. What Leon needed after the hell he had lived through, although I couldn't even imagine it. At that moment we were both on the couch, here was our tacit deal: he would buy me whatever I wanted (even if I didn't tell him, because I still had pikes of shame in me) and I wouldn't ask about what happened. Nothing at all. I was just assuming or drawing conclusions about how bad it had been this time because of the number of injuries.

And here was my conclusion this time, it had been moderately bad.

"did you try a new method?" he questioned, looking at my cookies. I wasn't stupid, of course I wasn't, I knew Leon thought I was, but no sir. I had looked at files on his computer and... I remember not eating that day. It was horrifying. "Why? Did you notice that they are more delicious this time?" I asked. "mh... maybe worse than last time. bug don't worry, you're going to get better at your cooking skills," he teased and we both laughed. I did it against my will. In those moments I wondered, why had we broken up? Our inside jokes were still intact and he made us both smile like the first day we had thought of it, our chemistry was in the air and I saw him like pink hearts around him even seeing him in all the ways you could see a human being and still love him... My love for him was intact, I knew that his love for me too otherwise, he would not return to my arms every time.

After we both fell asleep on the couch, he returned to his work a week later. And he came home months later, maybe two or three. I never counted them because I was too nervous.

When he came back, I saw that the refrigerator was missing beers, I saw that there were drops of blood from my refrigerator to the bathroom and I heard the shower running.

There, there was the reason why we broke up. Again he had relapsed.

Because that was the thing with Leon Kennedy, living with him wasn't difficult at all. The really difficult thing was to live with his footprints.

#resident evil x reader #leon kennedy imagine #leon kennedy x fem reader #resident evil x you #fluff #angst #midly angst #I don't know this is my first time #leon kennedy x reader #leon x you #leon x reader #leon kennedy #leon imagine #leon scott kennedy

[faulty-writes]

hi hi! i’m the anon who asked for the sir nighteyes daughter!reader x iida a while back, and i want to say i felt honored to have a fic, let alone a two-parter!

i was wondering if you could do and iida x fem/gn!reader where the reader helps him when he has to pull out his engines in order to grow new ones (if you didn’t know it’s a thing in their family and ripping them out means they’ll grow back stronger) just fluff and comfort!!!

Oh yes, I’m glad you enjoyed it. Sorry, there wasn’t much mention of Sir Nighteye, but I figured it was best to have the piece start after his death. Still, I always love a good Sir Nighteye request. As for this new request, I think I remember reading that in the manga. Tensei tells him about it because their grandfather or someone else did it and it’s like some Iida family secret. Anyhow, that sounds good. I love fluff, comfort, and a little pain. It’s been a while since I’ve done a Tenya piece, so let’s get started.

You didn’t expect Tenya to stop you at the end of the day to ask you something like this, and your lips were spread out in a thin line, processing what you could say in response. You shifted on your feet, adjusting your posture slightly before tilting your head to one side.

Yeah, this was awkward but there was only one way to make it…less awkward. “Uh, heh heh…” you chuckled, and sweat beads began to form across your forehead. It was one thing not to understand Tenya when he was talking about everyday things.

But this…this was not that. In fact, you were a little unclear as to what he was asking, why he was asking it, and why he wanted your assistance with it. Not that you could deny a fellow hero and friend’s request, but you had one little question.

“C-can you explain what you want me to do again, Iida?” Despite knowing that he hated repeating himself, you just wanted to make sure you 100% accurately understood what he was asking in the first place. He took a deep breath, sighing softly, and you frowned.

It wasn’t hard to tell he was annoyed with you, but even so, you knew he would be polite. “I see,” he replied, clasping his chin, “your lack of understanding is quite acceptable.” Well, he didn’t have to point that out so bluntly. Regardless, you remained quiet as he continued to speak.

“I do realize that my request is rather strange, and under normal circumstances, I do not believe I would ask for assistance,” although he was aware he would be invading your personal space, he took a step forward. “Uh,” your eyebrows knit again, and the faintest flush filled your cheeks.

You weren’t shy about others invading your personal space, but Tenya towered over you. In addition, despite knowing him well, he still had an intimidating aura about him. This was evident from the serious glint in his eye as if he were staring straight into your soul.

“However, I find your presence rather comforting, and I understand you have a history of helping others similar to Midoriya and Asui,” he explained, chopping his hand lightly in the air. “Um…” you took a step back and turned your head to the side.

It was a little weird that he had come to that conclusion. Then again, you had taken the time to train yourself under Recovery Girl, learned a few things about first aid, and enjoyed helping your fellow hero students heal their wounds when needed.

This mostly involved patching them up with bandages or wraps after having properly cleaned their scrapes and bruises. Still, you didn’t think that Tenya paid that much attention to you. Granted, he was class president and tended to take that role too seriously. As such, he probably observed everyone and categorized them in his head.

“Please,” his voice snapped you out of your momentary thoughts and you glanced back at him. Your throat tightened and your mouth felt dry when you noticed the expression he was wearing. His eyes sparkled with that same unwavering seriousness, and his square and masculine jaw was set firmly.

Although his shoulders appeared tense, his posture was upright and composed, contributing to the sense of authority that dripped from him like a rapid waterfall. You weren’t sure if the rush of warmth that once again illuminated your cheeks was because of his appearance or the sense of masculinity that surrounded him.

“Hm!?” You flinched when he suddenly bowed, his hands pressed firmly at his sides. “Uh,” you blinked again, your lips parted in awe. “I wish for your assistance with this task,” he stated, “I am quite aware this will cause a moment of discomfort,” perhaps for the both of you.

“However,” he leaned back up. “If I am to reach my desired goal as a hero, this is necessary. Once my mufflers are extracted, my body will provide new ones,” he explained, even though it pained him to see that pitiful and concerned look on your face.

He clenched his hands into fists. Yes…he knew that you despised seeing others hurt, especially if it was self-injurious or self-inflicted. But he was not doing this to have some short-felt relief from his troubles. Rather just as he stated, he was doing this to reach his goal of becoming a worthy hero.

“I will become stronger, and more reliable,” he stated, his voice growing deeper, and his eyebrows slanted. “Just as a worthy hero should be,” his goals and the lengths he was willing to go to achieve them were admirable and, in a way, made you feel insignificant.

However, you knew this was not his intention, and as he stepped closer, you could feel the heat radiating from his body. Your heart began to beat wildly as you looked at him, not daring to break eye contact. Why was it that he could draw you in so easily?

“I wish for you to assist me in accomplishing that goal,” your breath hitched, and your eyes widened yet shined with such warmth a smile came to his face. He knew your answer, however, he remained quiet and waited patiently for your response.

You swallowed hard, trying to rid yourself of the lump in your throat. Your heightened heart rate echoed in your ears like a melody, urging you to speak before time was up. His eyebrows raised when you let out a slow, deliberate exhale as if you were trying to gather your thoughts in anticipation of the response he was waiting for.

Your stomach twisted knowing that what you were about to agree to help him with would cause him pain. Yet, you gathered your courage as a hero should. “Okay,” the word felt heavy on your tongue, and you glanced toward the floor, finding your shoes more interesting than Tenya right now.

However, despite your momentary shyness, he continued to smile and leaned down. “Pardon,” he said, gently laying his hands on your shoulders. “Huh?” Your eyes widened, his gentle grip was comforting and compelled you to raise your head.

The smile he was wearing illuminated his face, like the sun kissing your skin with its golden rays, his happy expression bathed you in security. “Thank you,” he said, causing you to chuckle and turn away from him. He really didn’t have to thank you, or at least you didn’t think so.

Then again, that was Tenya for you. Always kind and considerate. “Um…” the rubber sole of your shoe created a soft squeaking sound when you grazed your foot along the floor. “You’re welcome?” You’d regret helping him with this, wouldn’t you?

That thought aside when Tenya dropped his hands from your shoulders, you looked back at him. “Um, so w-where are you going to do this?” You asked, noting that his eyebrows rose at your question. “Hm…” he hummed lightly, clasping his chin in contemplation.

“I had planned to perform it at the Iida Estate,” he replied, feeling as though doing it at his home would be ideal and less risky than doing it on student campus grounds. “Huh?” You knit your eyebrows, his house? It’s sad to think that you haven’t been to any of your classmates’ houses before.

Not that you weren’t friendly, you had plenty of friends. Some in the hero course, some in general studies, and even in the support department. But maybe there was no need to visit one another’s houses because the students of Yuuei lived in the provided student housing.

“O-oh...I mean uh,” you tapped your lips, your eyes shifting back and forth. “If…that’s what you want, that’s fine,” even though you were worried about how well his family would react to your presence. If they were anything like Tenya, social class didn’t matter.

“Hm?” He narrowed his eyes, sensing your discomfort. “Apologies,” he said, pressing a hand to his chest. “Hm? What are you apologizing for?” You asked, placing your hands on your hips. “You seem rather hesitant. Would you prefer this…activity be performed in another location?” he asked.

“No, no, no!” You held up your hands, waving them like mad. “I-it’s just that I h-haven’t been to anyone’s house since enrolling at Yuuei, hah hah!” You rubbed the back of your head awkwardly despite the pathetic smile on your face. His eyebrows lowered as he stared at you, finding your reaction rather strange.

“I see,” he replied before taking a breath. Perhaps you were nervous, as one should be when entering unknown territory. “I can assure you that you do not need to be anxious,” he stated, lifting his hand to rapidly chop it through the air again.

“The Iida family prides itself on mannerisms and heroics!” He announced proudly. “As such, I can assure you that you will not face any judgment nor criticism while at the Iida Estate,” honestly, if being a hero doesn’t work out, Tenya could easily make a living as a motivational speaker.

“Heh, i-is that right?” You replied, your cheeks colored a soft red. Tenya certainly had a way with words, and it made you happy to see someone so passionate about something, even if it was considered insignificant by most.

Knowing he was saying all this to make you feel comfortable in his house was also very sweet. “Yes,” he said, smiling. “I do hope we are in agreement then,” you closed your eyes, feeling a smile come to your face. “Yeah,” you said, chuckling.

“I’ll help you, and we can…do, uh, what you wanna do at your house,” you replied before making sure your locker was shut. “So, when did you want to do this anyway?” You asked, turning your attention back to him before you walked toward the exit.

Your classmates had already left, but you knew Tenya’s friends, Izuku and Uraraka, would no doubt ask you questions when the two of you returned to the first-year dormitory. Not that you minded, even if it was a bit annoying, they were only looking out for Tenya’s best interest as friends should.

“My schedule is quite clear on Saturday, perhaps yours is as well?” He suggested, and you couldn’t help but snicker. You can only imagine what he’d sound like if he tried asking someone on a date. The crisp air caressed your skin as you stepped outside, and the earthy aroma of damp soil and fresh flowers filled your nostrils.

A certain tension seemed to roll off your shoulders, more than likely your body relaxing from a hard day’s work at school. “Yeah,” you replied, tilting your head to look at the sky. It was bathed in a soft blue color with seldom clouds that floated along without a care.

You paused and turned to Tenya who was diligently following you. “Hm?” He stopped short, and the sound of gentle birds chirping, and distant traffic enveloped the air for a moment. “I can do Saturday,” you confirmed before resuming walking.

Tenya was certainly someone to be admired, and although the rest of the walk was done in silence, there was an odd comfort that lingered between the two of you. Knowing what he wanted to do but that he was doing it for selfless reasons made you wish you could be that selfless.

Of course, while it’s good to admire someone, you shouldn’t try to be like them. Rather you should use their kind acts as a source of inspiration, and if helping Tenya with this task was your way of performing a kind act, then you’d do it to the best of your ability.

That’s right, Tenya won’t know what hit him! You’ll be the greatest source of comfort for him when he…pulls out his engines. Yikes, that does sound painful, but there was no backing down now. Luckily you had a few days to compose yourself, even though the closer Saturday came, the more nervous you felt.

Still, time stopped for no one, and when the day finally arrived, you tried your best to gather courage when you found yourself standing at the front doors of the Iida Estate. Tenya was by your side, and he turned to you, offering a kind smile.

“Heh…” you awkwardly chuckled and tried your best to return it. Luckily the sound of a lock clicking, and the loud squeak of the front door distracted you. “Hm?!” Your body tensed up, and you slowly turned to look at who was standing in the doorway. You expected a butler, a servant of some kind.

Instead, you were greeted by the sight of an older woman. She had soft, coal-colored eyes and like Tenya, wore glasses although they were oval-shaped. Her hair was ear length and dark with bangs that fell perfectly across her forehead.

You noticed the smooth white top she was wearing matched perfectly with her soft blue cardigan. A dark-colored skirt with Mary Jane’s completed her outfit. She had a kind and gentle aura, and her eyes sparkled with recognition when she looked at her son.

“Tenya,” she said, embracing him in a hug. He returned the gesture, wrapping his arms protectively but carefully around her. “It’s wonderful to see you,” she said, smiling as she leaned back. “Yes, it’s wonderful to see you as well, mother,” he stated before looking at you.

“This is Y/n,” once again, you chuckled awkwardly before lifting your hand. “H-hello,” you said, half-heartedly waving. Mrs. Iida’s eyes widened, almost like she was misunderstanding your greeting, but she soon smiled and approached.

“Yes, Y/n,” she stopped in front of you and reached out, gently taking your hands. “Tenya has informed me about you,” she said casually, making your eyebrows knit. “O-oh?” You glanced past her to Tenya who seemed to be standing as confidently as ever.

“That’s correct,” he said, walking over to the two of you and laying his hand gently on his mother’s shoulder. “I do hope that is alright, I believed it would be most appropriate to inform mother about you beforehand,” he confessed, and she nodded in agreement.

“Yes, it’s so wonderful that Tenya has someone like you to help him with this task,” she said cheerfully. “Uh, r-right,” you replied, wondering if you were just making a fool of yourself. But you did promise you’d try your best to be a source of comfort for Tenya, and if his mother approved of you, that was a good thing, right?

She continued to smile even as she released your hands, then she turned to Tenya. “I also informed your father. He won’t disturb the two of you,” she assured, and he nodded. “Very well, thank you,” he said before looking in your direction.

He then walked around his mother and stood in front of you. “I will show you to the courtyard,” he said, and your eyebrow twitched. ‘This house has a courtyard!?’ You were used to living in such small spaces, you couldn’t imagine if you ever owned property with a courtyard.

Nevertheless, you followed Tenya and as the two of you walked away, his mother exclaimed, “Lunch will be ready soon!” You couldn’t imagine yourself having an appetite after this venture was over, and that would probably double for Tenya considering he’d be in the most pain.

Then again, he did have a stubborn underlying nature about him and more than likely would feel it appropriate to eat so he could give his body strength after putting it through such an ordeal. Regardless, your stomach was twisted into enough knots right now, and it was unlikely that you’d be able to keep food down.

The sun was shining, bathing everything in its gentle glow. Like before, the sky was clear apart from the few clouds that passed by. The courtyard was rather large with lush green grass that crunched underneath the weight of your foot.

“Wow,” you said, feeling a soft breeze kiss your skin and ruffle your hair. “It’s beautiful,” you turned to Tenya smiling, and he nodded. “Yes, I suppose it’s quite pleasing,” he replied, although having grown up in the Iida Estate, he knew that at times he was blind to the treasures he had.

However, that was not his primary concern now. Rather it was what he had set out to do, what you had agreed to help him with. “Please follow me,” he instructed, motioning with his hand. “Huh, oh…right,” you said, slumping your shoulders.

Regardless, you did as requested and noticed that he had guided you to the spot where a large tree and a wooden box sat. You raised your eyebrow when you noticed that a first aid kit rested against the tree and looked at Tenya who was rolling the legs of his Yuuei gym uniform up.

“Um, what’s the…” you lazily pointed at it, and Tenya paused, following your pointed finger. His eyes lingered on it before drifting back to you. “You are skilled in first aid, correct?” He asked, making you tense up. “Uh…” you rubbed your opposite arm.

“Y-yeah, but…” How intense would this be if he had a first aid kit on hand?! Your stomach was now overwhelmed causing you to feel nauseous, but you squeezed your eyes shut and swallowed, forcing the unpleasant sensation down. ‘This is a good thing,’ you tried to remind yourself.

It means he trusted your abilities to patch him up if something went wrong. He raised his eyebrow. “Yes?” He replied, urging you to continue. “Mm…” you mumbled and looked at him with half-lidded eyes. “N-nothing,” you said, shaking your head.

“Uh, thank you for trusting my abilities, I won’t let you down,” you promised and although Tenya found your words strange, he nodded. “I did not expect your abilities to be inferior, rather I believe you were the best choice in such a matter,” your heart skipped a beat at his words.

Best choice!? “Heh, uh, right, yeah,” you replied before taking a deep breath to calm your racing heart. Tenya lowered himself to a sitting position and propped one leg onto the wooden box. You watched his calve expand, and six exhaust pipes appeared.

‘Just how far are those things embedded into his body?’ You shuddered to think about it and shook your head, clearing your mind. ‘Well, I guess that doesn’t matter, he’s going to do this whether either of us likes it,’ you gazed at him, his tense expression, the anticipation of pain he was awaiting.

More specifically, you noticed the way he was clenching his jaw, and more than likely that would result in more pain when he began removing his exhaust pipes. His fingertips grazed the bottom of one, and his body tensed up when he slowly wrapped his fingers around it, making sure he had a good grip.

He could feel his teeth giving slight resistance, aching softly as they were forced to press against one another. Of course, this was ignored by him, and he was prepared to pull when your hand grasped his shoulder. He jumped in response and turned to look at you.

“Wait a minute,” you said, holding one finger up. “You can’t just start pulling those things out without taking a few precautions,” you pointed out, trying to reason with him. “Give me a moment,” you urged, walking to the first aid kit.

You carefully opened it and took out a chuck and a white cloth. “I know it’s just grass, but I’d prefer any blood get on the chuck,” you said, laying it underneath his leg. “It will absorb any blood that comes and make less of a mess,” you clarified before folding the cloth into a small square.

You crouched down and presented it to him. He raised his eyebrow, and you couldn’t help but laugh. “It’s for you to bite down on,” you explained, “so you won’t hurt your jaw.” Or at least not as much. He seemed hesitant, but after a few seconds, he took it from you.

“Thank you,” he promptly placed it in his mouth, allowing his teeth to sink into it like an animal into a fresh kill. You smiled and walked around him. You wanted to bring him comfort, but how would you do that while he was ripping those pipes out?

“Mm…” you tapped your foot against the ground a few times as a couple of ideas floated through your head. Tenya wasn’t one to refuse affection, although he was one to respect another’s personal space, at least most of the time, and more than likely he expected the same.

But he asked for your help, right? So, did that give you the right to supersede his personal space boundaries? You were so lost in your thoughts that you failed to realize that he, yet again, had grasped one of his exhaust pipes securely.

His body resumed its tense stance, and a small amount of saliva began to drip from the corner of his mouth, no doubt a natural reaction from how intensely he was biting into the cloth. His muscles strained and a muffled scream sounded when he began to pull said exhaust pipe out.

As expected, blood began to drip down the metal structure, staining Tenya’s hand and landing on the chuck. Your heart ached when you heard the muffled scream, and the sight of the blood-stained chuck sent your worries spiraling.

Your knees gave out, and as if acting on their own accord, your arms wrapped around him. You made sure your grip was secure, but not restrictive in case his body jerked. Still, you hoped your embrace was comforting even in his moment of pain.

You swallowed thickly, wondering what else you could do. Yes, hugging was fine. But there had to be something else, you couldn’t just hug him and patch him up after everything was over. Your lip trembled, forcing you to press your teeth against it before drawing it into your mouth.

You nervously chewed on it, feeling Tenya’s body tense up when another painful groan came after he finished pulling out the first exhaust pipe. Crimson lines continued to drip from its metal surface, further staining his hand.

His jaw was aching, and his eyes overflowed with tears, he certainly underestimated the pain this would cause him. But now that he had begun, he couldn’t stop, and your warm embrace only reminded him of why he was doing this.

Yes, he needed to be stronger. A better hero for you and everyone. You heard him audibly swallow accompanied by the sound of him dropping the exhaust pipe onto the chuck. His body relaxed for a few seconds before tensing up again when he wrapped his fingers around the second pipe.

‘What can I do…’ you thought. ‘He’s done so much for everyone, and whenever he talks he-’ Your eyes widened. Wait…that was it! Of course! Why didn’t you think of that before? Your nails dug into the front of his uniform, and you brought your lips to his ear.

“Focus on my voice, okay?” You whispered, your tone gentle and inviting. His eyes widened, and he couldn’t help but tremble when your hot breath brushed against the skin of his neck. Although he was currently unable to speak, he nodded.

Your heart began to quicken, and instead of a nauseating feeling, you felt a burst of butterflies in your stomach. You could hardly believe what you were about to say, but if it helped him then you had no choice. “You’re strong,” you whispered, “I know you can get through this and be an amazing hero.”

Cheesy, yes. Effective, also yes. You could feel his body relax, and although you couldn’t tell, your words struck a chord in him. “I believe in you and your ability to overcome this obstacle,” despite having the cloth in his mouth, Tenya gave a twisted smile and began pulling out the second exhaust pipe.

Like before, blood began to spill but he continued to the next one. “Remember, every challenge you face makes you stronger, more resilient…” you said, cheering him on with positive affirmations. However, this didn’t cease the tension in the air, and for good reasons considering this was a very intense situation.

Tenya managed to push through and as he was removing the final exhaust pipe, you smiled. Was it strange to feel a sense of pride watching your friend finish what he was doing? You decided it was best not to think about it, and instead, nuzzled your face against the top of his head.

Your hands were now firmly placed on his shoulders, and with one final affirmation of, “You’re my hero Tenya,” the task was complete. He pushed the cloth which was now damp with saliva out of his mouth and his soft pants came.

His muscles finally relaxed, and his shoulders slumped, more than likely he’d need some time to recover. You firmly pressed your head against his for a few quiet minutes. “Let me get some supplies from the first aid kit,” you said, breaking the silence when you leaned away from him.

“I need to patch up that leg of yours, okay?” You offered him a smile when he turned to look at you and proceeded to get disinfectant, another chuck, bandage wraps, and so on. “Here,” you rolled the bloodied chuck up before placing the new one down.

“Now…” you smiled and slipped a pair of medical gloves on before you instructed Tenya to lower his leg from the box. Once that was done, you carefully wiped the blood off his lower leg and hand before disinfecting the fresh wounds on his leg.

Finally, you dressed it and carefully gathered your used materials up before throwing them away. “There,” you said, now sitting next to him. It felt like hours had passed, not that you minded. While this experience was a little intense, you were glad he asked you to help him.

The two of you sat in silence again, and you looked up at the sky, watching the clouds pass by. You seemed oblivious that Tenya was staring at you with a smile on his face. He was truly grateful to you; surely, he’d need to repay your kindness.

“Heh,” you chuckled, making him raise his eyebrow. “Did my positive affirmations work wonders for you?” He knit his eyebrows, somewhat confused by your question, and focused his attention forward. “I suppose they did,” he replied, feeling almost nervous about the next set of words he was going to speak.

“But…that is not the only thing you performed that aided me,” he clarified. “Huh, what do you mean?” You asked, turning your attention to him. Although you were a little worried when he placed his hand on the grass next to you and leaned forward.

“Uh,” you leaned back instinctively, but that’s when Tenya’s arms shot out. “Pardon,” he said, and your breath hitched when he embraced you, pulling you into his chest. Your eyes widened, and your nose was immediately filled with his musky scent that resembled a warm blend of cedarwood.

Although your body was tense as you were not used to this kind of embrace, you found yourself relaxing after a few moments and brought your arms up, half-heartedly returning the hug. Your breath hitched again when his hand tangled itself into the back of your hair.

Your eyes widen at the realization that he could be this affectionate. “The way you embraced me,” he said, almost hesitantly, “helped greatly as well.” Your heart fluttered at his words, and you lifted your head, locking eyes with him. You noticed they held as sincere of a glance as ever and smiled.

You lowered your head down and resumed nuzzling your face into his chest. Sighing contently, you said, “I’m glad.” His hands slipped through the back of your hair again. “As am I,” his voice was soft, just above a whisper, but he could not deny the happiness he felt at this moment.

If you were being honest, you could probably stay in Tenya’s arms forever. Unfortunately, this was unrealistic, and your head popped up again when you heard a door sliding open. You looked past Tenya toward the veranda where his mother stood, her lips parted in awe.

To think she’d see her son embracing another was certainly a sight to behold, but she tried to remain calm and folded her hands in front of her. “Apologies,” she said, trying to hold back laughter. “I wanted to inform you that lunch is ready,” with that, she turned and walked back inside.

“Huh…” you blinked, somewhat confused by her reaction, and looked at Tenya. “Perhaps it is best if we have sustenance,” he stated, dropping his arms from around you. Although he winced some when he stood up thanks to the dull ache that coursed through his freshly dressed leg.

However, it was nothing compared to the pain he felt when he removed his exhaust pipes. You frowned when you heard him wince but knew that he would put up a brave front. You were also disappointed that the hug ended but quickly shifted your focus to his outstretched hand.

“Shall we?” he asked, making you raise your eyebrow. “Are you sure you can walk with your leg bandaged up like that?” You asked, pointing to it. He frowned in response to your question, not that he wasn’t grateful for your concern. But you had helped him enough today, and he did not wish for you to worry any further.

He also knew this was impossible. So, he took a deep breath. “I…am certain I can walk. However, I would not be opposed to further help,” he confessed, flexing his fingers slightly to indicate you to take his hand. “Mm…” you hummed in response and allowed him to help you stand up.

Once you were on your feet, you placed your hand on his back. His steps were slow, but you were happy that he wasn’t pushing himself that hard. Especially after what had just happened. As you walked inside, the sweet scent of rice and charred fish skin filled your nostrils and made your stomach growl.

“Wow smells good. Let’s go,” you said, laughing as you began to walk down the hallway toward the dining room. However, before you reached it, Tenya asked, “Will you perhaps perform the same set of actions when I remove the exhaust pipes from my opposite leg?” You stopped and looked at him with your head tilted to one side.

“What?” You replied. Unlike before, he didn’t seem annoyed by your response or the fact that he had to repeat himself. Rather he smiled. “When I remove the exhaust pipes from my opposite leg, will you embrace me as you did and whisper positive affirmations into my ear?”

It was such a strange request, but could you honestly deny him? You chuckled. “If that’s what you need,” you replied. “But why don’t you give your body a day to rest before putting yourself through that again?” You suggested, and to your surprise, Tenya nodded. “Yes, perhaps that is best,” he replied, and your heart fluttered.

It was nice to know that he appreciated your insight and would do what was best for himself now. “Great, now let’s go eat. I’m sure you’re hungry after that fiasco.” Before he could say anything, you resumed guiding him to the dining room and helped him sit on the provided floor cushion.

“There, now make sure to eat all your food,” you said, sounding more like a mother than anything. Mrs. Iida, who happened to walk into the room, chuckled. “Removing his exhaust pipes was successful?” she asked, and you offered her a smile.

“Yes,” you replied cheerfully, “I’m glad I was able to help him, but he agreed to rest before removing them from his other leg,” you turned to Tenya. “Right?” he nodded and looked at his mother. “Yes, Y/n was quite helpful, and I am grateful they are willing to help me again,” he said, smiling at you.

“How wonderful,” Mrs. Iida said before walking over to the counter and preparing some tea. “I’m so glad Tenya has someone that will help him with this,” even though Tensei, Tenya’s older brother, could have helped. It seemed like you were better equipped for the job.

Once the tea was done brewing, she placed two mugs on a tray and carried it over to the table where you and Tenya sat. “Here you are,” she said, placing them in front of you. “Your father is eating his lunch in his office,” she informed him before walking away.

“Thank you, Mrs. Iida,” you bowed your head before turning to Tenya. “Wow, your father is a busy man, huh?” You asked, taking a bite of rice, and chewing it greedily. “I aspire to gather such dedication for my future endeavors as a hero,” he confessed.

“I’m sure you will, especially knowing the lengths you’re willing to go now,” you said before grasping your mug of tea. It felt warm in your palm and the earthy, bitter aroma made you smile. Then you turned to him, holding said mug out to him.

“To your future heroics,” you said, proposing a toast. Tenya raised his eyebrow, finding your antics rather odd. But nonetheless, gently grasped his cup of tea and carefully clinked it against yours. “I do believe our future efforts are quite commendable,” he replied.

“Uh huh,” you took a sip of the tea before taking another bite of your food while heplaced his tea back on the table and grabbed his chopsticks. His eyes gazed over the food in front of him, and he tried his best to ignore the faint throbbing of his leg.

He thickly swallowed before looking at you. “Y/n,” he said, and despite having pieces of rice sticking to your lips, you gave him your attention. “Yeah?” you replied, lapping your tongue across your lips to collect said pieces of rice.

“May I ask you something?” You raised your eyebrow, you always hated when people asked that. Was there any harm in asking anything in general? Still, you knew better than to respond sarcastically, and so you nodded.

“Yeah, of course,” you said, taking another sip of your tea. “Forgive me if this is out of your expectations, but…” he paused, attempting to gather the right words. “I would be grateful if my future heroics featured you,” he said, making you raise your eyebrow. He sensed your confusion and cleared his throat.

“Please allow me to explain more clearly,” he stated. “I believe what I am attempting to communicate is simply that I wish for you to be a part of my life,” he said, “your kind and helpful nature in addition to medical knowledge would be most useful in the future.” Well…guess that was a good thing.

“You can just say you want my support always Iida,” you replied nonchalantly and snickered when he appeared flustered, his cheeks filling with a soft red color before he looked away from you. “I…I suppose that is…a more accurate description of what I desire,” he admitted.

“Heh,” you smiled and reached over, gently laying your hand over his. “Of course I will,” you responded, and once again chuckled when seeing his eyes widen, and his lips part in shock. Was he not expecting you to say that? “I…I…” he quickly shifted his gaze from you to his plate of food and cleared his throat.

“I see…” he replied, almost feeling shameful that he was acting in such a way. Still, he couldn’t help but feel happy knowing that you would be there when he needed you. He lowered his head, “…thank you,” he said in a soft voice, and you smiled. “You’re welcome.”

#tenya x reader #bnha x reader #bnha x you #bnha x y/n #iida x y/n #iida x reader #tenya x y/n #tenya x you #iida x you #faulty writes: tenya iida: 24 #faulty writes: tenya iida: request 24 #faulty writes: tenya iida: one shot: 24

[thebeast-dennis-etcetera]

An Unlikely Pair

Your knee bounced up and down in nervousness as you waited for news in the little lobby. A little trembling chihuahua was on the left of you and a 3 legged Dalmatian on your right. It seemed to be a busy day for sure at the clinic as even more clients started coming in.

“Y/N?” the vet tech called from the door. You stood up and followed her as she led you to another little room where the vet and the little kitten you found this morning waited.

“How is she?” you asked. When you had dropped her off, she was absolutely filthy, barely breathing and couldn’t open her eyes. Had you not decided to go for a run this morning, you never would’ve found her. You figured some horrible person must have abandoned her there. Now, she looked completely different. Her bright fluffy orange coat was clean and her green eyes were alert.

“She’s good now. Just needed a good bath, warmth and a little food. She’s got a couple scratches on her face but those will heal with time. You said you found her in a park?”

“Yeah. I took a morning run and heard meowing from the bushes. She was tucked all the way in the back, I honestly thought she wasn’t gonna make it.”

“Well cats are pretty resilient. Were you planning on keeping her?”

You thought about the question and knew the dilemma. Jethro was not a cat guy. He loves dogs, doesn’t mind plants, but definitely doesn’t like cats. But if you didn’t take her, she would just end up at the shelter.

“We do have an onsite shelt-

“No, I’ll keep her,” you impulsively blurted out.

Crap, Jethros gonna kill you.

————

You sat on the couch watching tv when you heard Jethro come home. Quickly, you threw the blanket over the kitten in your lap.

“Hey hun. Dinners in the oven, you just gotta heat it up.”

He came over and gave you a kiss before going into the kitchen and preparing his food. Upset that she was being smothered, she let out a small meow. You just turned up the volume slightly on the tv. You at least wanted Jethro to eat before you broke the news to him.

Once he heated everything up and sat at the table to eat, the kitten let out another meow.

“What was that?” he asked, looking around.

“The tv,” you lied smoothly.

Thankfully, the kitten decided not to make any more noise while Jethro finished eating and cleaned his plate.

“So you’ll never believe how my day has been going,” you started. “I was going for a morning run because I wanted to see if I could beat my personal best, which by the way, I’ve come to the conclusion that I could probably beat Torres in a foot pursuit. And as I passed by that park over on Downey St, I heard something crying.”

Jethro stood in front of you, drying his hands with the kitchen towel, attention now fully on you as he listened, making you nervous.

“Normally I wouldn’t investigate a weird noise at the park, especially because you could find a person sleeping in the bushes or some rabid raccoon, or-

“Sweetheart, you’re rambling. What did you find?” he pressed, wanting to speed the conversation up.

Instead of explaining, you just pulled the blanket back and showed him the little ball of fur. She looked around before seeing Jethro and pulled her ears back in displeasure before giving him a tiny hiss.

“No,” was all he said before walking off to the bedroom. You put the kitten down on the couch and followed him.

“Honey wait. I know you dont like cats but this one is so cute. And I rescued her. I couldn’t just leave her there to die. And I couldn’t give her away to the shelter. Who knows if she ever would’ve found a home.”

He stopped at the stairs and turned to you.

“She’s already up to date on vaccines, the litter box will be in the laundry room, and she’s so tiny you won’t even know she’s there. Please Jet,” you pleaded.

He sighed and you knew right then, you already won.

“If she scratches up anything, she’s out,” he threatened.

You beamed with joy and wrapped your arms around his neck in a hug.

“You’ll come to love her, you’ll see.”

————

It was a love/hate relationship between the little orange cat and Jethro. Mostly because every time Jethro tried to get close to her or you, she would give him a swat and hiss. She loved messing with him and knocking all of his stuff off the shelves when he accidentally left the basement door open. There has been multiple times that he’s had to pick up broken jars fulls of bolts and nuts off the floor. The only love part of the relationship is for you when he sees how happy she makes you.

The sound of Jethros heavy footsteps coming up the stairs woke you up from your sleep. Looking at your phone, the time read 2am. You didn’t move from your spot as he came in quietly and got changed.

“You’re gonna have to move your little gargoyle out of the way,” you heard him grumble after a minute. Smiling, you turned on your side and saw your kitten giving Jethro a glare that might equal his own.

“Just tell her to move hun.”

“She doesn’t listen. Something you two have in common.”

Rolling your eyes playfully, you picked up irritated kitten and brought her to the other side of the bed so Jethro could get in.

————

Pulling into your driveway, you parked right behind Jethro’s truck and made your way to the house. As you opened the door, you were greeted with a little bouquet of flowers and a little note that read Welcome Home. You smiled at his sloppy writing and figured he was down in the basement building that boat of his, so you dropped your bags by the couch and walked downstairs.

What you saw, you weren’t expecting at all. Jethro was busy vice gripping different parts of the boat while his furry nemesis laid lazily on top, watching him curiously.

“How was your mother’s?” he asked, grabbing a tool right next to your kitten who didn’t even make a move to swat or hiss at him.

“Uh, it was nice. Got to see Dad’s newest addition to his pocket watch collection.”

He chuckled as you walked over and gave him a long hug.

“When did you two become friends?” you inquired, pulling back and motioning towards the small feline.

“She climbed the living room curtains and got stuck. Ever since I helped her, she won’t leave me alone,” he explained.

“Awe, she connected with you. You’re her savior honey,” you teased, watching as Jethro reached out to pet her and she accepted it happily while purring.

“Yeah well next time she decides to use our curtains as a vine, I’m not saving her.”

You laughed and gave him a kiss. You knew sooner or later, he would warm up to her.

Note: I purposely didn’t give the cat a name because I wanted to leave that up to the reader but gave it a color because I just feel like Gibbs and orange tabbys have the same vibe. 😂

#gibbs x reader #leroy jethro gibbs #ncis #ncis fanfiction #agent gibbs #mark harmon #ncis request

[hauntedhokage]

Yes, Lord Hokage

Kakashi Hatake/F!Reader

Summary: Kakashi has a need, and it happens to be entertainment from one of his Anbu captains. Cross Posted to AO3

Word count: 2.5k

Warnings: uneven power dynamics/play, unprotected sex on his desk, a little bit of dacryphilia, dirty talk, degredation, humiliation, dub!con (because of the power dynamic), mean(ish) dom!Kakashi, m!receiving oral, gagging, choking, breath play, clothed sex, fingering, could be perceived as role play

Note: I haven’t watched far enough to see Kakashi become Hokage for realsies but I know it happens and am obsessed 

The morning had been quiet, something that he’d usually be okay with. Usually being the key word. No fires to put out meant that he had very little to be concerned with aside from the paperwork. No fires also meant that he was quickly growing bored as the morning continued. One of the Anbu teams should be returning soon from a mission, that would be enough to get him through the morning considering the Captain happened to be one of his favorites. 

There was something about how uncertain you still sounded despite being one of the highest ranked shinobi in the village. Maybe it was an authority issue and he was the only recipient of the soft, questioning tones and avoided eye contact. Even behind the fox designed mask he knew you looked to the windows behind him or the desk in front of him when you delivered your reports. It was adorable, really, but also intriguing because you were selected as Captain because of your ability to maintain your composure and command authority. It was probably him, which only added to the interest. You probably didn’t even realize you did it. 

As soon as he’s informed that your team has returned, the summons is sent for the Captain alone to report in. He didn’t need an audience, just his Captain. 

“Lord Hokage.” And there you were, appearing before his desk like the obedient little Anbu that you were. 

“Good morning, Captain,” he greets, watching as you look up from the floor. The mask is in place as he expected. How you loved to hide, which was probably why you performed so well within the Anbu Corps. “Report?”

Your report is about what he’d expected, successful tracking and elimination of the target. One of your team members sustained a serious wound and reported immediately to the hospital for treatment upon return to the village - that part was bothersome but such was the way of life when you were in a tracking and assassination unit. But he’d expected nothing less from your unit, a very accomplished team with an impressive leader, success at any cost was the expectation. 

“Recommended rest period for your unit?” 

“Five days minimum, to give him time to really heal,” you suggest, shoulders relaxing as you move from your spot in front of his desk to stand beside it. “Is there a reason you summoned only me? Usually these are a team affair.”

“I wanted to see my favorite Captain, hopefully on her knees for me while she’s here.” The comment has you pausing, biting your lip as you process that. Here? Now? Where anybody could come in? “I know there’s a pretty face behind that mask, and I’d love to see it.”

“L-Lord Hokage?”

“Humor your Hokage, Captain.” It wasn’t a request, this was an order, and that has you dropping to your knees and removing your mask as he hums. “Oh, there she is, the prettiest shinobi in the village. Shame we hide that face behind a mask all the time.”

Gentle fingers trail along your jaw before he stands, and your eyes stay on his as he squats in front of you. This was your Hokage, your superior, and he was clearly having fun with that fact. 

“The mask has its perks,” you murmur, looking away from his curious gaze to where your mask sat on the floor beside you. 

“It does, I like being the only one who sees how flustered you get in my office when I force you to make eye contact with me. Does the Captain have an authority issue?” The question has your face warming, not sure how he would come to that conclusion while you were literally on your knees in his office, and the not-so-gentle grip on your chin forcing your gaze back up to him tells you that he was definitely going to be enforcing his authority as Hokage this morning. “We can fix that easily, though. Would you like to fix this issue?”

“Yes, Lord Hokage.” You nod to the best of your ability, not wanting to further his perception that you had an issue with his authority. You were certain that you’d more than proven that you were very comfortable with his leadership by serving as one of his Anbu Captains, but maybe not. “I’d do anything to correct this.”

“Anything, hm?” He stands, hands going to his pants and you keep your eyes on his as he pulls his already hard cock out. You don’t know if you should continue to look at his face or his cock, but you open your mouth when he tells you to. “Eyes on mine, Captain. We’re going to work on your eye contact.”

You don’t want to further disappoint your Hokage, keeping your eyes on his face even as he guides himself into your mouth. Holding his eye contact was difficult when he was limiting your ability to breathe, you wanted to close your eyes to better focus on what you needed to ensure that you actually provided decent pleasure to your Hokage. But your order was to keep your eyes open, so they’d stay open even if it hurt.

“Look at you,” he coos, pulling out of your mouth almost completely before he pushes himself back in. The slow pace allowed you to adjust to this intrusion, but the depth that Kakashi pushed for had your eyes welling with tears. The fact that you hadn’t yet gagged was something you were proud of, but you feared what would happen when it finally did. “So eager to comply, so excited for my cock that you’re crying about it.”

You aren’t able to really respond, his hand on your head keeping you in place as he begins to thrust into your mouth at a faster pace. The hand not holding your head rests on your shoulder, and you find a small amount of relief at the connection point that would help keep you in position as he has his way with your mouth. 

“Keep your eyes open, Captain,” he instructs as he stills, his cock practically down your throat and your nose is pressed to the cool fabric of his vest as you continue to stare up at him. “I want to see those pretty tears.” 

It would be easier if you could see his face, so that way you could know if you were actually providing him the pleasure he sought out in teaching you this lesson, but the only mask that had been removed was your own and you felt very exposed without it. His hand moves from your shoulder to pinch your nose closed, and your eyes widen at the blocked airway. Any training you may have sat through didn’t exactly apply to having your Hokage’s dick down your throat, so you really didn’t know what to do here.

“Breathe, Captain,” he requests, releasing the hold on your nose while also fully removing himself from your mouth. “Maybe we need to review the Anbu training, if even a Captain struggles to hold her breath.”

“Forgive me, Lord Hokage,” you breathe out, feeling the shame at having your leader be so disappointed in you. “The situation shouldn’t impact my ability to abide by my training.”

“That’s right, Captain, but you can make it up to me.” How, you don’t know, but it doesn’t matter.

There’s a knock on the door and he pauses, pointing to the space beneath his desk and you move accordingly, watching as he doesn’t put his cock away before he takes his seat. Instead his hand finds the back of your head to bring your mouth back onto his cock and he holds you there as he provides the all clear for the visitor to enter. 

“Lord Hokage, we have the intelligence you requested from that last reconnaissance mission.” 

“Go on.” The fact that he would be willing to accept a mission report while he had your nose pressed to his pelvis and was holding you in place was cruel to you but also very telling. He did not care if there had been a sensory type among the group, able to sense your presence there as well. He was the Hokage, after all, he could do what he wanted, and you were the Anbu Captain whose job was to obey the Hokage.

The growing dampness into your own pants tells you exactly how you’re feeling about the visitors, and you carefully work to remove one of your arm braces and set it aside so you could push your hand into your pants to relieve some of the ache in your own core. You were wetter than you had expected to be, and that made you almost mortified that you had enjoyed being under that desk where all it took was somebody paying attention to their surroundings to realize you were sitting there with the Hokage’s dick down your throat as he continued to work. 

“...I’ll have to escalate this to the Anbu to be dealt with. Thank you, you’re all dismissed.” As soon as the door is closed, his chair is pushed back and you’re pulled from under the desk, only to be pressed against it as Kakashi presses his forehead to yours. “And how wet are you, Captain?”

“I’m very wet, Lord Hokage,” you whisper, keeping your eyes on him even though you so desperately want to look away and hide in your shame. But that wouldn’t do, not when he was so clearly smiling beneath that mask of his at your admission. 

“The thought of being caught under the Hokage’s desk was that thrilling? Quite a naughty young Captain, aren’t you?” It’s a question that needs no answer, he’s pulling at your pants before he’s feeling for himself just how wet you were. An amused hum leaves him, and you’re biting your lip at the feeling of his already slick finger gliding over your clit with just enough pressure to have your eyes fluttering shut. “I said eyes on mine, didn’t I?”

“Yes, apologies M’lord,” you breathe, forcing your eyes open despite the continued teasing of your clit. He’s toying with you in the best way, and your hand grips the desk behind you to keep yourself balanced. 

“If you can’t follow simple orders from your Hokage, should you really be a captain?” 

“T-That’s not- I follow all of your orders!” Your argument has him chuckling as he continues to play with your clit, and you feel yourself growing more upset with how condescending and unfair he was being. 

“And you’re crying again, very cute.” There it was again, the familiar feeling of shame rising one more as his fingers move inside your cunt. This man was degrading you and your work, and you were letting him finger you in his office while he did it. What was wrong with you, you didn’t know. But your Hokage was being very mean and you should have been trying to remove yourself from the situation. Instead you were welcoming it with sustained eye contact and a dripping pussy. “Anbu Captain reduced to tears because her Hokage isn’t being nice? Poor thing.”

The his fingers are gone, his hands are on your hips to turn your body around so that you’re facing the desk and bent over it slightly, with one of the Hokage’s hands remaining on your hip as he lines the tip of his cock up with your entrance. 

“Don’t cause a scene, Captain,” he warns, and you nod your understanding of the request before he slowly pushes himself in. You bite your lip, hand shooting toward the edge of the desk so you’d have something to hold onto (and accidentally knocking a stack of paper off the desk as you moved). There’s only a chuckle that leaves him as he leans against you, his body over yours, his lips by your ear once more as his hips repeatedly slammed into you. He kept one of his hands on your hip but the other came to rest on your neck to apply just enough pressure so you knew he was in charge here. “You can come whenever and however many times you’d like, that’s not my concern. Understood?”

“U-understood.”

“Understood, who?” A warning squeeze against your throat, and you shut your eyes tightly as you try to refocus yourself on the situation. 

“Understood, Lord Hokage.”

“Better, Captain. Clearly, you’re learning,” The praise has you relaxing against the desk as he continues to thrust into you, you’re sure the desk has nudged forward a couple times against the hard flooring but clearly he cared as much about that as he did the paperwork that continued to fall to the floor. That didn’t matter much to you either, all you could think about was the way his thumb would gently press into your neck every time he bottomed out, the soft grunts and groans of praise in your ear, and how it felt to have the Sixth Hokage fucking you on his desk in the middle of the morning where anybody could barge into his office and find you there. It was all a bit overwhelming but still adding fuel to that fire in your core. 

His hand moves from your hip to your clit and he presses his thumb hard enough to have you biting into your arm hard enough that you were sure you would have bled if not for your sleeve. Your knees buckle, and you collapse against the desk before he pulls out and guides you back onto your knees in front of him. Your eyes meet his again, your unfocused gaze meeting his amused look as he begins to stroke himself. You knew he was close, his hand was focused yet frenzied until finally hot ropes of his cum shoot out and onto your face. You manage to keep your eyes open despite your immediate reflex being to close them, and you earn yourself a gentle hand atop your head while he uses his other hand to fix his pants. 

“You always do so well, Captain.” The praise has you smiling, your eyes fixated on him as he moves to pick your mask up from the floor beside his desk. Your mask is put back on to cover your face and the mess that he’d left on it, and he gives it a gentle tap on the nose before telling you to get home and get some rest. “I expect to see you tonight, am I clear? I don’t think we’ve truly handled this authority issue.”

“Yes, Lord Hokage.” 

A bow and then you’re off, and he’s dropping back into his chair to take in the mess that you’d made of his office. Maybe he should’ve kept the Captain back a few minutes to clean up the mess you’d made, but he couldn’t just summon you back - you’d think you were actually in trouble and he couldn’t have that. 

He’d need a few minutes before he could get that cleaned up, though. 

#kakashi hatake/reader #kakashi hatake/you #kakashi hatake/f!reader #kakashi hatake smut #kakashi x reader #kakashi x reader smut #kakashi smut #kakashi x you #kakashi x f!reader #kakashi x y/n

[blueraineshadows]

No Light Without Darkness - Part Three

Part One / Part Two

Sebastian Sallow x F!MC - Request, dark, angst, mild smut NSFW 🔞

After the third day of no appearance, Sebastian had come to the conclusion that MC really had taken his words to heart and she would never return. He had meant it at the time, but as he sat and stared at his cell wall, he realised that he missed her daily chatter. She had been a glimpse of light, and now he found he wanted it back. Without it, the darkness was more suffocating than ever before.

....*....

The first thing MC noticed on waking was the stiffness. Her body felt like it had seized, her limbs uncooperative and heavy. She blinked against the light streaming in through a window, struggling to sit up. Where was she?

Hands pressed gently to her shoulders, urging her back against the pillows. It was a nurse from the look of her uniform, her face kind as she told MC to relax.

"Where am I?" MC croaked. "What happened?"

"You had an unfortunate accident and you are in St Mungos hospital. Now, lay back, you still need your rest." The nurse was firm but spoke kindly. "You took quite a hit from a barrage of curses, but you're healing up nicely. It's good to see you finally awake."

MC frowned, looking down at the bandages on her arms, the tight feel of one around her middle. "How long have I been here?"

"Almost a week, dear. Like I said, you took quite a hit."

MC's stomach clenched then rolled. Sebastian! She felt the nausea grip her and bolted upright. The nurse was quick and had a bowl to hand. It was over quickly, her stomach empty after days of being out cold.

MC trembled in her shock, memories beginning to surge in of the raid on the Ashwinder camp. It had gone bad, their numbers greater than anticipated. MC hadn't been on her best form, the call to finally go and drive them out coming the day after she had last been to Azkaban.

Her mind had been consumed with Sebastian, her concentration lacking from no sleep and emotional stress, and she had fucked up.

MC groaned and lay back against the pillows, exhausted. What a mess.

"When can I leave?" She asked. She needed to get to Sebastian. She had left him alone with all those Dementors, defenceless and in a terrible state.

The nurse gave her a stern look. "Not for a few days yet. And, dont even think about sneaking out of here. I know you Aurors, and I'm not going to stand for it."

After a long nap, MC awoke to the sight of Jenkins sitting in the chair next to her bed. MC saw the tight expression on her superior's face and felt her insides sink miserably. She was in so much trouble.

She moved to sit up. Jenkins stood and helped to adjust her pillows. He gave her a pained smile. "I've gotta say, MC. It's a bloody relief to see you awake. Thought we'd lost you there for a bit."

"I'm so sorry..."

Jenkins held his hand up, stopping her apologies. "Nope, none of that. Although, I have to say, you have been performing well below par recently. It's not like you to be so slack, which is why I paid a bit more attention to what's been going on."

"What do you mean?" MC shifted, getting comfortable.

"I was hoping you could tell me," Jenkins said. He sat in his chair, hands clasped. He gave her a look. "How about we start with an explanation as to why you've been sneaking into Azkaban prison to visit a prisoner named Sallow?"

MC gaped, her mouth dropping open in shock. He knew!? Oh my, she really was in trouble!

Jenkins frowned. "Yes, I know about your little visits. I took the liberty of looking in to this Sallow chap, wondering if perhaps he was a lead on the Ashwinder case, but no. It seems he is banged up for the murder of his own uncle, and, what's even more intriguing, he was one of your closest friends at Hogwarts School."

MC closed her eyes, her shoulders slumping as she sighed in defeat. Jenkins was well connected. He would have had no trouble digging up the information he wanted. He probably knew even more than he had said.

"Care to explain, MC?" Jenkins folded his arms.

MC looked at him. He didn't look angry, just curious. She nodded and took a steadying breath, and then she told him everything, from her arrival at Hogwarts, to meeting Sebastian, and their desire to cure Anne. It took a while to tell her story, especially when some parts had brought forth tears and she had to stop to catch her breath.

Jenkins listened intently, brow furrowed, asking a question every now and then. When MC finally finished, ending with her last visit to the prison and the state Sebastian had been in, she was wrung out, collapsing against the pillows with a sigh.

"I vaguely remember Solomon Sallow," Jenkins said. "Grumpy bastard he was. He left the force after some bad stuff went down, he got caught with his feet on the wrong side of the tracks so to speak. I'm not surprised he came down hard on youngsters like that, but it doesn't excuse murder, MC."

"Believe me, it was never the plan to kill him. I was so shocked when he began to attack us," she said. "But if Sebastian hadn't taken him down, then I wouldn't be here now, or it would be me in that prison instead, because Solomon had no intention of stopping. He would have killed me if Sebastian hadn't stopped him."

Jenkins nodded thoughtfully. "Indeed, it does sound like a case of self defence. And two kids against an Auror no less. I don't like it. Something stinks here. Why didn't you stand witness before the Wizengamot?"

"I was a minor still, and a girl," MC said. "There was so much other stuff going on too, what with Ranrok and the loyalists, and Sebastian had been taken away before I even had a chance to try and explain. Professor Black wouldn't have another word said about it, already too concerned with covering up the fact that a student under his care had turned murderer."

Jenkins' face tightened further. "Hmm, I don't like this, it sounds like the whole thing was tidied up too quickly and neatly," he said. He leaned forward and gave her hand a pat. "Leave it with me. I'm going to do some more digging."

....*....

Footsteps at his cell door made Sebastian's head turn, a flicker of hope springing to life in his chest. Had she come back after all?

No, it wasn't her. The man who stood at his bars was tall, stern, dressed smartly and staring at Sebastian curiously. With a flick of his wand, the door slid free and he entered the cell.

Sebastian swallowed, shield firmly in place. He had never seen this man before and he was not a prison ward. He looked up at this stranger from his perch on the filthy bed.

"Well, Mr Sallow, you are a lucky man indeed," he said. "On your feet, son. You've got a trial to attend."

Sebastian's limbs jerked in shock. It was the only evidence he had heard the words spoken. His face remained blank. He stared at this stranger, finally convinced he had gone off the edge into craziness.

"I'm Jenkins. I'm head of the Auror department in London, and MC's boss," Jenkins said. "I reckon you might recognise her name."

Sebastian's chest began to rise and fall with quickened breaths. What was happening?

Jenkins leant forward to help Sebastian up. Sebastian immediately flinched, pressing up against the wall behind him. Jenkins held up both hands. "Alright, son, easy, it's alright," he said, calmly. "I'm not going to hurt you. But, I do need to shackle your wrists. I will escort you to the Ministry for the trial."

Sebastian blinked up at him. He licked his lips. "What trial?"

Jenkins gave him a wink. "We're going to get you out of here, son," he murmured, quietly. "Come on, up you get. There is a very anxious young lady waiting for you back in London."

....*....

Sweat beaded on Sebastian's brow as he stood inside a tight black cage in the centre of the court room. The benches arranged in a circular shape around him were filled with the robed officials of the Wizengamot. Their faces were a blur, a mass of colour that burned his eyes. Such noise and confusion were strange and he felt his shirt sticking to his back. He was hot, uncomfortable, overwhelmed. Unaccustomed to all these sensory stimulants.

The Minister banged the gavel on his desk and called order. Sebastian kept his gaze on the one person in the room he knew. MC looked beautiful, but pale, her face strained. There were purple shadows of exhaustion under her eyes. She looked unwell, her lips curving into a tremulous smile as she met his gaze. She nodded, trying to offer reassurance. Sebastian couldn't force his mouth to move to return that smile. He was still trying to process what today was throwing at him.

When it was time for MC to stand and give her statement, Sebastian felt his shield begin to tremble as she retold the events that had led to his imprisonment. Hearing her defend his actions made his eyes burn. Words like 'self defence' and 'neglected minor' being spoken around the room made a stray tear escape and track down his cheek.

When the time came for the court to vote, he watched as arms were raised in his favour. Disbelief shook him to the core.

When the Minister slammed his gavel down and declared that he was free to go, Sebastian felt his legs go weak. No more cell, no more darkness. How was this happening?

....*....

The sun was beginning to set as they left the Ministry. She had taken a very stunned Sebastian to her apartment to bathe and let him change. He hadn't spoken, and she didn't push him. She was here for him when he was ready and told him so.

He sat on the chair near her window, hair still damp from the bath and curling up around his face. He was looking out at the world, his eyes drinking in the life and bustle of London. MC couldn't help but stare at him, here, in her space.

She made him some dinner, and he ate a little of it, still not speaking any more than a polite, muttered thank you. She made light chatter for him to listen to, making sure he was comfortable. She could feel his eyes on her as she moved around the room, and tried to hide the way her hands were trembling. Having him here, safe, and in such close proximity was doing things to her heart.

At bedtime, she said he was welcome to sleep in the bed, but he shook his head. As she lay under the blankets, she peeked over at him in the chair, wide awake, still looking out her window.

"You won't disappear while I'm asleep, will you?" She asked.

"Where would I go?" His words were sad, lost.

"You're always welcome here. With me."

He swallowed and bowed his head. "You've done so much..." He put his hands over his face, a deep shuddering breath leaving him. "I'm out of that place. I'm..I'm really free."

MC slid quickly from the bed, padding softly across the room in her nightgown to kneel at his feet. "Yes, you're free," she said. "And I would do it all over again if I had to, Sebastian."

He removed his hands from his face and turned to her. "I owe you my life."

She gave him a little smirk. "Maybe I like having friends in my debt."

His gaze travelled over her face. "Friends?"

"If that's what you would like," she whispered. "I just want you to be able to find some happiness, Sebastian. You deserve it."

He didn't look convinced. But, he lifted a hand, his fingers hesitant as he reached out towards her. MC remained absolutely still as he brushed one finger tip across her forehead, sweeping her hair back a little. Goosebumps spread over her skin at the feather light touch.

He withdrew his hand and she couldn't help but feel disappointed. But, she had to be patient. She had to give him time.

For the next three days they found a little routine, simple, easy. Shared meals, quite time by her fire reading, she made small talk but let him set the pace. He wasn't ready to go out into the world yet and she wasn't going to force him.

"When do you return to work?" He asked her on the third evening.

"Jenkins told me to take as long as I need," she said. "He understands."

"You don't need to put your life on hold for me, MC," he said.

She stared at him. He was standing by the fire, watching the flames flicker and dance, a glass of whiskey in his hand. Swallowing down her nerves, she moved towards him. Tentatively, she slid her fingers into the hand that hung at his side. He looked down as she wrapped her fingers around his.

"My life isn't on hold, Seb," she said. "This is my life, and I want you in it. I always have."

"Because you love me," he said.

Her eyes lifted to meet his. His gaze was softer, the hardness was slowly fading from his face. The trauma was still there, but something was easing it. There was warmth in his eyes now as he looked at her.

She managed a shy smile. "Well, I broke the rules to come visit you, almost died because I couldn't stop thinking of you, and somehow, I managed to convince the Ministry to let you out. So, yes, I love you, Sebastian. I love you a whole lot."

He thought a moment. "You know, I remember the first time I ever really looked at you. There was this moment, when our eyes met, it was strange. I had this really odd feeling that you were going to have some kind of impact on me, I didn't know what at the time, but I guess it was this. You were going to save me, in more ways than one, and I'm not entirely sure I deserve it. But, I will take it all the same."

MC stared at him. It was the longest speech he had given since she had stumbled upon him in the prison that night. She squeezed his hand a little tighter. "Well, I think you deserve it."

His eyes shone with unshed tears. He placed his glass of whiskey on the mantelpiece and turned to fully face her.

Slowly, gently, he brushed his finger tips across her cheek, sliding his fingers into her unbound hair. His thumb caressed her cheek, savouring the feel of her skin. He bent to press his lips against hers in a feather light kiss before whispering against her mouth. "I love you."

She stared up into his eyes, their faces almost touching, the close proximity stealing her breath. "Don't sleep in the chair tonight," she whispered. "Come into the bed. With me."

His thumb brushed her lower lip. "I'm not sure if I will be able to," he rasped. "Having you so close like that...the temptation..."

She stepped backwards, pulling him with her by the hand, a smile curving her mouth. He let her tug him along, across the room towards her bed.

"MC..." There was a dark edge to his voice.

She held tight to his hand, refusing to let him go as she climbed up to kneel on the bed. She drew him close, her hand smoothing up his chest to his collar. "Kiss me," she ordered, softly.

His eyes burned into hers. She moved to pop the first button free on his shirt. She saw his throat work as he swallowed, a dark burn growing in his eyes. She felt the answering call of her own body. She wanted him, desperately.

His kiss was soft, a searching taste of her lips. She returned his kisses, her hands continuing to open his shirt. As she slid her palms over his bare chest, she parted her lips, welcoming him deeper. The soft swirl of his tongue against hers drew a low moan from her throat.

Slowly, almost reverently, he began to remove her clothes, his eyes drinking in every inch of skin as he exposed it. He trailed his fingers with devastating softness over her collar bone and down to caress her breasts. She arched into the touch, craving it, sighing with pleasure as he pressed his lips to her throat.

Laying with him brought a new sense of intimacy, their skin available to each other for soft touches and hot kisses. Sebastian trailed his hands over her scars, his mouth pressing soothing kisses against the old hurts. The feel of his body pressed against hers felt like the most natural thing in the world, she clung to him, desperate to wrap her warmth around him. A fierce need to protect him made her hands greedy, palms smoothing over his flesh, learning every hardness, every sensitive softness.

When he finally entered her, joining their bodies completely, she pulled his face down to hers, pressing kisses to him. Whispering her love to him through her moans of pleasure.

His intensity grew, his face tight with his need as he began to move faster. His fingers clutched at her, grip tight and hungry. His hips thrust harder, groans spilling from his parted mouth as she gripped his hips, tilting her pelvis to get just the right angle of friction. The sounds of their pleasure filled her room, the bed beneath them protesting under the urgency of their desire.

The sight of him so lost in her made the tightening coil of her pleasure snap, and she clenched around him, bearing down against his thrusts as she climaxed, his name ripped from her throat in a desperate cry.

He joined her, snapping his hips, before burying himself deep, his cock throbbing with violent release. He fell over her, breathing hard, a sheen of sweat glistening on his pale skin. She held him, her fingers sliding lovingly through the tumble of brown locks on his head. She never wanted to let him go.

....*....

Over the next few weeks, Sebastian learned how to live again, and MC was his reason for all of it. The days became easier as his confidence grew, and the nights were spent lost in the heat of her embrace. He worshipped her, savouring the feel of her kiss, losing himself in the haze of desire that consumed him as he took her for his own.

Eventually he began to brave the outside world, one of the first stops being a trip to Ollivanders for a new wand. The bustle of the city was overwhelming at first, but soon he found himself linking up with old habits. The feel of a wand in his hand a huge step into finding himself.

One afternoon, MC held him close, tight, and Apparated them into the Forbidden Forest. Sebastian took a moment to savour the sights and sounds of the trees, the scent of Highland air, filling his lungs with it.

She led him to a clearing and took up a duelling stance. He lifted an eyebrow at her. "Oh, and what's this?"

She grinned, her face alight with excitement, her beauty hitting him full force. He always had got a kick out of watching her duel, the very stance she was in tickling the deepest pits of his lust.

"I thought we could have a little bit of fun," she said. She flicked her wand teasingly. "Come on, let's see if you've still got it."

The old, familiar buzz of a challenge rushed through him, and he slipped his wand out, adjusting it in his grip as he began to circle her. At the first cast she was keeping him on his toes. It had been a long time, his muscles were stiff and out of practise, and he was soon putting up a sweat as he defended against her. And she wasn't going easy on him either.

It felt good. He felt alive. As she hit him with Levioso, and then used Accio to tug him closer towards her, he began to laugh. The joy of the moment bubbled up and out of him, the sound of his laughter spreading out around the clearing. She grabbed at him, pulling him down until he was on the ground, her arms snaking about his waist. She smiled up at him, her face flushed and happy.

He felt a warm glow, a surge of delight at doing something he loved, of being with someone he loved.

"Marry me," he said. The words bursting from his mouth.

She looked surprised, her eyes widening, and then she was squeezing him tightly, her face buried against his chest as she burst into tears. "A thousand times, yes!" She cried.

He lifted her off her feet, swinging her around before crushing a fierce kiss to her lips.

That tiny part of himself that he had hidden so carefully was now filling him completely, his heart full with her, with the freedom of the air around him. Now, it was the shadows that he squeezed into the corner, for they would always be a part of him. Without those shadows, he wouldn't have this light. Without the darkness, he never would have found her again. And he knew, without a doubt, that there was no living without her.

He had been given a second chance and he didn't want to waste it. He would spend the rest of his life proving to her that he was worth the risk, that he was worthy of the love that she had shown him.

MC was his light in the darkness.

Thank you so much for reading! 💜

#hogwarts legacy fanfic #sebastian sallow #mc x sebastian sallow #sebastian sallow fanfiction #blueraineshadows #sebastian sallow smut

[topguncortez]

its been a couple of days since i made the tough choice to cut ties and temporarily walk away from a place that i love really really deeply.

but i’ve had some time to reflect and come to some conclusions about myself.

now excuse me while i vent out loud:

1) the phrase “once an addict, always an addict” is true. just because i don’t take pills anymore doesn’t mean i haven’t found a way to feed the craving of being addicted to something. im not 100% sure what that addiction is; maybe it’s that im a sucker for pain, maybe it’s i can’t walk away when i know i should, maybe it’s fucking caffeine (it’s 97% caffeine).

2) everyone heals and handles things differently. again, back to my past with addiction; some addicts can heal with still being able to be around the thing they are addicted to. i learned a long time ago, i am not that person. i have a hard time knowing when to walk away, but once i do… its like breathing fresh air. it hurts like a bitch sometimes but its also one of the best things for you. sometimes we get so blind with those rose colored glasses on, that we truly can’t see our own faults until we step back and reflect

3) i’m an angry person. i always have been and probably always will be. i’ve dealt with a lot of shitty things in my life. i’ve lost people who didn’t deserve to be taken away. i’ve watched some of the most vile humans get away with horrible offenses. i have been abused and assaulted. i’m angry. and there’s little i can do to shake that anger. however, i can control it. i can lock it away and deal with it in a healthy manner than just let it explode all over the place.

4). God knows what’s best for you. now, i don’t mean to get all religious on yall. i have struggled with my faith for years. I went through a period of time of questioning who God is and what his intentions are. If this great and almighty God sent his son to die to end our suffering… why are people still suffering? I still struggle with my faith, but i am relearning to put my trust in him and know that He is putting things in my life he knows I can overcome.

And finally,

5) never feel bad for doing things for yourself. i have been so well trained to put other peoples feelings above my own. for years, i have bit my tongue and told myself “i can’t say that, that’ll hurt their feelings” and let people continue to roll over me. believe it or not… i hate conflict. i hate awkward situations. i hate feeling like im being suffocated and i can’t breathe. i have become more vocal (good and bad thing) in speaking up when i have been hurt. it’s a slow learning process and sometimes it comes back to bite me in the ass cause i’m thrust into another situation i don’t know how to handle and the anxiety builds and then there’s tears and all that shit. but i have learned i should never feel bad for doing things for myself.

anyway, i know this is just a long ass vent that nobody is gonna read, but i hope maybe, just maybe this reaches someone who has been feeling the same way i have these past couple months.

i know not everyone has a great support system in real life that they can rely on when things get hard. i can honestly tell you that without some of the people in my everyday life and online life being there and helping me and offering me an ear to listen while i vent and scream at the world… i don’t think i’d still be here. but i want yall to know, if you need a place to vent and scream at the world, i am here for you. and i’ll do whatever i can to get you the help and resources if you need it. or if you just wanna get shit off your chest.

i’m here for you.

[glitteryinknotes]

This face haunts me.

Sebastian.

This poor sweet soul, no different than the unnamed "darling boy". The only difference between them being that when Astarion got to him - he didn't have it in himself to disobey his master's commands anymore.

Sebastian. His life, his joys, his innocence stolen from him. Who was he? Who did he wish to be? Who could have he become in his time? We will never know. He will never know.

This moment in Astarion's storyline hit me in the face unlike any other. More than the hug and the confession. Not only because this is the moment we truly see the abhorrence of our lover's past deeds, but because Sebastian is presented as someone we - as the Tav romancing Astarion - are supposed to relate to personally.

We may not be exactly the same. Astarion's goals may be different, we may not be as naive, circumstances might be different alltogether. We may be smarter, more powerful, more experienced, more careful, whoever you headcanon your Tav to be and how their relationship with Astarion looks like in detail.

But it doesn't change the bottom truth.

We are the same fools who acted with kindness, benevolence and trust when it made no sense to do so. We are the ones who extended our trust and affection without any solid reason to. It paid off in our case - Astarion eventually trusted us, opened himself to us, allowed the morality and conscience he still had in himself to guide him for once, and showed willingness to be a better person - but we didn't know that he would when we invited him to our neck, followed him into the forest and in the first place - invited someone who just threatened us with a knife to our party.

We are the same fools who came to love and trust someone - objectively - probably undeserving of genuine love and trust, as things were back then.

Sebastian is one of the few true innocents Astarion seduced. Not a street drunk, minor criminal, brother patron. Not a degenerate from the city's underbelly. He is the true face of the horror Cazadorr unleashed through his vampiric pawns. This is what we choose to look past, forgive and take upon ourselves as someone caring for Astarion. This is the responsibility we must bear, the burden on our conscience we must now live with. If we truly care for him - and wish to think about ourselves as a person of any morals or a kind heart (which is the type of person who, storywise, pushes Astarion to be better than he was as we first encountered him, better than he himself ever thought he could be) - this is the "burden" that comes with the man we believe in and choose to be with, who we choose to see as someone better than everyone else sees him).

The seven thousand ritual - bound souls are now our burden as well. Our responsibility.

I personally believe that the choice to seek & aid the spawns in the Underdark is the only right choice for Tav & Astarion's story conclusion. To deal with the consequences of our choices; for Astarion to prove (if only to himself) that he indeed "can be better" than the one who made him and creatures like him; to finish doing the right thing. Cazadorr's end is a pivotal moment for Astarion, but even more for all the other unfortunate enslaved souls. For him is the final, decisive step towards healing and growing, for them... It's entirely up to you.

You and Astarion have all the time you need, in his own words. You can travel the world, engage in every kind of delicious debauchery Faerun has to offer, find a way to reverse vampiric curse, settle down in luxury and enjoy each other, probably all of the above, but I myself have been convinced, since the moment I saw Sebastian that tthe spawns should come first.

Help them the best you can. Make sure they have any joy in their tragic unlife, community, guidance, stability, safety, future, if that's even possible. Find a better place for them to settle down than the Underdark. Possibilities are endless, nothing is impossible in a magic - filled realm like Faerun. If Astarion has been lucky enough - they deserve a chance as well. If Sebastian - and those like him - deserve a chance, so do the other seven thousand.

And then you can go and have every fun awaiting two people happily in love.

#astarion #baldur's gate astarion #baldur's gate 3 #baldur's gate 3 astarion #baldurs gate astarion #bg3 #bg3 astarion #astarion bg3 #baldurs gate 3 #baldur's gate 3 sebastian #bg3 sebastian

[spicycinnabun]

No Take-backsies

WC: 2810 💊 Rating: T 💊 Written with the lovely @batty4steddie ~ Read on Ao3!

The bats were attacking him again. Clawing at him, biting, screeching while he writhed on the ground, frantically trying to paw them off. But he could barely move. Their fangs dug deeper, tearing him apart. He stared at the blood-red sky and screamed.

Eddie woke with a gasp, soaked in sweat, heart racing like he’d been running for miles. His sweat quickly turned cold, and then the tremors started, his head still filled with visions of flapping wings, gnashing teeth, and his own demise.

He glanced towards the other side of the bed where Steve slept peacefully, unaware. Started to reach out like he could shake Steve awake, and Steve would make everything okay again. Paused and retracted his hand just as he was about to touch him. No. Only kids needed to be comforted after a nightmare.

Eddie got out of bed. Carefully extracted an old Altoid tin from his nightstand, making sure the contents didn’t rattle. The drawer was right beside Steve. They weren’t Altoids. He dry swallowed two pills, one square and white and one round and yellow, staring at himself in the mirror with an ugly frown.

He looked so scared. It was disgusting. He washed his face in the bathroom sink vigorously to snap out of it and returned to bed, curling up against Steve’s back until the shaking stopped and the drugs took him down for an easier, dreamless sleep—the coward’s way.

Steve didn’t know how long Eddie was going to be gone. He felt slighted ever since Eddie had ransacked his room and found those fuzzy joke handcuffs. Granted, they finally got some use after that, but now Steve felt like digging around, too. Maybe he’d find something fun they could play with.

At first, all he could find were dice, guitar picks, playing cards, some coins… and a top hat? Okay, Eddie must have been a magician in his free time. After finding a mint tin in the nightstand drawer, Steve sat on the edge of the bed and shook it curiously just as Eddie walked in. He opened it expecting some tasty mints but realized the two different colors and shapes weren’t mints but a surplus of pills. He thought Eddie had stopped selling drugs.

Steve looked at them, confused. “Hey, what are these?”

Eddie froze when he saw what Steve was holding. Jesus Christ, he’d forgotten to hide them. (He should’ve known Steve would get him back for the fuzzy handcuff incident—a delightful surprise for Eddie that he’d teased Steve mercilessly about before playing with him equally mercilessly—and would search his drawers.)

“It’s not what you think,” Eddie said, tight-lipped. “I’m not dealing.”

Steve was wearing an expression Eddie hated. It wasn’t angry; it was confused and disappointed, which was even worse. Like Eddie had let him down. He never wanted to let Steve down. He had promised he’d stopped buying.

Eddie looked away, folding his arms across his stomach. His wounds, long since healed over, or so he’d told everybody, throbbed like they knew he was thinking about them. The scar tissue still hurt, still twinged deeply inside, all the damn time.

Rick, recently released from prison, had told him it was probably psychosomatic when Eddie had come to him in desperation, asking for something to take the pain away. It was driving him insane, and he could barely hide it from Steve any longer. Rick had sold Eddie two bottles somewhat reluctantly. One for when the pain was unbearable, the other to help him sleep. His nightmares were getting worse.

“They’re for me,” he admitted lowly, shame making his voice quake slightly.

Steve could physically feel Eddie withdraw from him as he spoke. His crossed arms felt like a barrier, keeping Steve out. He closed the tin, feeling his nose burn with hurt that Eddie was keeping this from him. Steve tucked the box back in the drawer and shut it.

He hadn’t jumped to the conclusion that Eddie was assuming. He hadn’t even given Eddie an ultimatum to stop selling drugs. Eddie had told Steve he didn’t want to do them anymore.

Eddie still wasn’t looking at him, making Steve feel queasy and uneasy. Eddie really wasn’t as okay as Steve thought he was. It must’ve been bad for him to be secretly taking pills.

“You’re not doing okay?” He stood up to ask, feeling struck with the same amount of guilt Eddie felt in shame. He touched Eddie’s face to get him to look at him, needing to hear the truth.

Eddie didn’t know why just hearing Steve say not and okay in the same sentence triggered such a strong feeling in his chest, his heart constricting painfully beneath his ribs and making his next breath hitch suddenly, unevenly. His face burned under Steve’s palm from the rush of heavy, unexpected emotion. He met Steve’s gaze because he wasn’t a coward anymore. (But why did it hurt so fucking badly?)

“I’m gonna be. I’m gonna be okay really soon, Steve. Won’t be long.”

“How long has this been going on, Eddie?”

It had been happening since they’d escaped the Upside Down, but Eddie couldn’t voice that.

“Couple more—couple more days, and I’ll stop,” he promised, eyes filling with tears despite his forced confidence. He didn’t blink, not wanting them to fall. He didn’t want Steve to worry about him. “I’ll stop taking them.”

He was disappointed in himself. He didn’t want to rely on pills or, even worse, crawl towards an addiction. He wasn’t going to let it get to that point. He was cleaning up his act this year completely. No more low-life shit, no more drugs. It was a vow he’d made not only to himself after his life had been spared but to his friends and Uncle Wayne and his mother, six feet under.

Steve had gone through so much more. Steve had gone to the Pain and Trauma Olympics each year and probably came out on the first-place podium. Eddie had just been attacked by some fucking bats. It was pathetic how he wasn’t coping, how his face was two seconds away from crumpling from a simple question. Not the way any hero should act.

“Just a couple more days,” he repeated, rubbing his hands against his thighs, using the rough friction of his jeans against his fingers to try and ground himself, to get himself together before something bad happened (like he fell apart).

Steve blinked and let his hand fall from Eddie’s face. Eddie really hadn’t been planning to tell him.

Steve wasn’t insensitive. He could tell now that Eddie wasn’t okay. It was heartbreaking to see the pain in Eddie’s eyes, but everything he was saying felt like bullshit. Eddie’s words felt like an aftershock, the way the ground would shake before and after the Upside Down split Hawkins in half. Steve’s heart was split, too, half aching for Eddie and the other half angry at him.

In utter disbelief, Steve’s brow furrowed, expressing a mix of anger and confusion. “A couple more days. You didn’t even... talk to me. You’re not talking to me now. I fucking asked you if you were okay. I thought you trusted me. I trusted you, and now… now I’m not so sure why I did.”

Steve was angry—anger Eddie could deal with. It was effective in the way it solidified him, turning him back into a functioning being again. He sniffed, composed himself, crossed his arms and leaned back against the door frame.

Trust? It was an impossible thing. Eddie had never trusted anybody one hundred percent. Not since he was a naive kid trailing after his dad. It was a recipe for disaster. He saw the worst in people. It hadn’t always been that way, but it was now. Steve was too trusting if he’d trusted Eddie.

“I didn’t want to tell you.”

He knew Steve wasn’t Mr. Perfect, that he had been affected too, but it sure seemed that way sometimes. It had been weeks since they’d been in the Upside Down, and Steve didn’t appear to be having any of the same troubles Eddie was. Eddie didn’t like the power imbalance. Pretending he was as happy as Steve, as okay as Steve, had seemed like the best option.

“But I do trust you,” Eddie continued, voice low and no longer at risk of trembling. “I trust you as much as I’m able to. I didn’t believe you wouldn’t think less of me and treat me differently if you knew.” He shrugged and admitted plainly, “I didn’t think you’d like me anymore.”

Sure, Steve would never say out loud he thought Eddie was weak or a loser, but he might think it. It might linger in the back of his mind whenever they did anything in the future. It would be natural, anyway. Eddie was both of those things. He was weak, and he was a loser.

Steve more than liked Eddie. That was why he was angry. He’d been vulnerable, too. They’d made it through the town. Their lives had literally fallen apart. They both had physical scars now, but they also had each other.

He was mad, mostly at himself for thinking that he would be enough. He thought that Eddie would confide in him and come to him when he was in pain instead of turning to drugs. Steve couldn’t comprehend the pain Eddie had felt for him to feel the need to hide it until Eddie told him what he was afraid of.

The fear of not being liked or loved Steve had faced head-on. To a fault, he was a fixer. A go-with-the-flow type and a people pleaser. All he wanted was to be loved. Steve would do or say anything. Despite doing all the right things, his dad had never told him he’d done a good job or that he’d loved him. Nancy hadn’t told him she loved him either because she hadn’t at all. Steve had figured that out and moved on.

Steve took his own resilience for granted and expected others to be resilient. He’d expected it from Eddie; the intense but invisible amount of pressure he put on himself, he’d put on Eddie, too. He realized that his reaction had been all wrong.

“I love you,” Steve said. It was his best ammunition to confront Eddie’s fear. “I have and still do. That’s never going to change.”

“You love me?” Eddie repeated. His voice was faint. Hopeful yet disbelieving. Ecstatic yet scared. He was glad he was leaning against something. His legs threatened to wobble. “Stevie…”

They’d never said that to each other before. How was it possible Steve loved him? (Him, Eddie, a no-good Munson? They weren’t deserving of love.) Even now, after he’d learned Eddie had been keeping a secret from him. Maybe the universe was teasing Eddie like it sometimes liked to do. Dangling something wonderful in front of him only to rip it away later. That was the only logical reason someone as good as Steve would fall for him.

As for Eddie’s feelings… Could you truly love someone when you couldn’t trust them fully? Of course you could. You just loved them and also possessed a constant fear they would change their mind and leave you as soon as they discovered they didn’t like something about you, or you couldn’t provide them something they wanted, or you disappointed them.

Eddie swallowed. It was his turn to move forward and cup Steve’s face with a gentle hand. His palm and rings were cold against Steve’s flushed skin. When Eddie experienced intense emotions, his body usually went frigidly cold. Steve’s, he’d learned, did the opposite.

“I love you too, sweetheart,” Eddie said. It was the first time he’d ever said that to someone romantically, and he found it was the easiest thing in the world to confess. “How could I not? You’re such an amazing person. You have so many beautiful qualities I fucking adore. I just…” He shook his head and tried on a signature Munson smile, but it was crooked and didn’t sit right. “Are you sure? Never is a big word. Final chance to opt out before I enforce the no take-backsies rule.”

That was a joke. A very, very weak joke. Of course Steve could opt out of loving and liking him whenever he wanted to. That was the whole point.

Steve blinked. He felt extremely warm—his face burned—but Eddie’s cool touch calmed him when his heart sped up. Part of Steve worried. Had Eddie said I love you back just because Steve had said it first? But when Eddie went on a mini rant, much softer than his normal rants (he was praising Steve too much), Steve had to laugh. Eddie was so cute that it made Steve smile so big his eyes crinkled. His expression softened.

Eddie pressed their foreheads together, looking into Steve’s eyes for a moment before closing his own. “You wanna keep me even though you deserve better?”

Steve found himself nodding automatically. Of course he did. Steve loved Eddie. He thought Eddie knew that even though Steve hadn’t told him. Steve felt it from Eddie, too—every day—and thought about it pretty much constantly. Even (maybe especially) when Eddie was being annoyingly nerdy. Had that not shown?

Steve was worried, but it felt good to have finally said it out loud. He hadn’t been holding the words hostage. He was just waiting, wanting it to be special and meaningful and not let it slip out during sex.

“I don’t know what I’d do if I lost you,” Steve murmured. “My love for you isn’t just going to vanish.”

Steve didn’t understand why most men in his life, besides his dad, put him on such a fucking pedestal. It was like he couldn’t live up to the man, the myth, the legend King Steve. There was nothing wrong with Eddie. Steve loved how sweet, talented, kind and passionate he was. Eddie had given him everything he’d been missing and hadn’t even known he’d wanted.

Steve pulled back so he could kiss the top of Eddie’s head. “I’m going to keep you for as long as you let me. You deserve to not be in pain and to be loved by me, even though doing that can’t stop you from hurting. I wish it could. I’d take all your pain and stomp it out.” Steve moved his hand to rest over Eddie’s heart.

Eddie made a noise from his throat. It was a weird, spastic, almost frustrated sound, but it was really just a reaction to information he was trying to process and believe and was unable to process and couldn’t believe, and it almost hurt how good it felt. He breathed deeply to get a hold of himself. “If you don’t get in bed and cuddle me this instant, I’m gonna call 911,” he declared.

It was a ridiculous response to such tender words, but Eddie was Eddie. He hustled Steve onto the bed gently but bossily because, honestly, he needed it, and Steve was giving off heat like a little space heater, and Eddie was still trembly like he got whenever he went too long without a cigarette. His adrenaline was kicking hard from Steve’s declarations, and he needed a nice, really motherfucking tight squeeze to contain all the feelings that were trying to explode out of his body like a bunch of wacky waving inflatable arm-flailing tube men.

He knew they still had to talk. He had to open up to Steve about what was going on with him, but maybe they could put that off just a little longer and do it tomorrow.

Although their conversation was heavy, and confessing their love for one another for the first time was something special, Steve felt relieved with the reprieve of Eddie’s everyday silliness. Getting ushered back to the bed was just what he needed.

He couldn’t be mad at Eddie. Not really. He didn’t like what he’d discovered, but at least he knew now. Steve instantly wrapped Eddie up in his arms and squeezed him tightly. He wanted Eddie to feel the love. When that didn’t feel like enough, Steve wrapped his legs around him, giving him the biggest full-body squeeze he could and breathing him in.

Eddie shuddered in relief and made another noise from his throat. A soft one, a grateful one. All their tension melted away together, and Steve finally relaxed his love (death) grip and kissed Eddie reassuringly on the mouth.

Steve had never been addicted to anything—not really. He didn’t have to drink or smoke. He could live without it. The closest thing he'd ever been hooked on was Eddie, and he intended to keep it that way. Steve couldn’t live without him.

#fic #steddie #steddie fic #steve x eddie #steve harrington #eddie munson #stranger things #angst #batty4steddie #hurt/comfort #tw drugs #tw ptsd