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cloudwhisper23 · 2 months

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Back into Grumbo Month (12 days late, but that's irrelevant). Since I had no idea how to do this prompt, I kinda winged it, but I am very pleased with how it turned out. Hope you enjoy! Check out the event creator's blog @grow-bettah too!

Day 2: Alternate Universe

The light was flickering again. Grian glared at it as he ate, knowing that any attempt he could possibly make to solve the problem would only make it worse. He’d probably electrocute himself in the process, actually.

Pearl would tell him to hire an electrician. Someone who would fix it easily while Grian focused on his degree. The degree that Grian seemed to change his mind about every day.

He had taken an electrical class a few years ago, back when he was going to major in interior design and architecture. Like most of his endeavors, it hadn’t stuck.

But the flickering light… Grian scowled. Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to take a tiny peek? Something had to be messing with the circuit, surely.

A few minutes later, Pearl arrived, a vaguely familiar man in tow. Pearl brought home a librarian. Not just any librarian though. She’d brought home Mumbo Jumbo, the man Grian had been going to the library to catch glimpses of for the past few years.

“I found an electrician willing to take a look, Grian- What are you doing on the table?”

“Oh dear,” Mumbo said quietly.

Grian glanced over, his face quickly warming up. “Umm… I thought I could fix it myself?”

“You are more accident-prone than anyone I’ve ever met. Put that light bulb down, and get off the table.”

“Yes ma’am,” Grian replied weakly.

Mumbo took over after that.

Pearl shook her head. “How did I know you were going to do this?”

“Family intuition?” Grian guessed. “Or maybe you just know me.”

“You took one class. One.”

“I didn’t get myself killed,” Grian said defensively.

“But you could have,” Mumbo interjected, eyes darkening. “Look, mate. You didn’t even turn the light off.”

Grian rolled his eyes. “I don’t need a second lecture.”

“You’re going to give me grey hairs.” Pearl shook her head.

“You can just pretend they’re silver. Give you a fancy aesthetic.”

“Hmm.”

“All done,” Mumbo flicked the light back on, and it no longer flickered.

“Brilliant!” Grian grinned. “That light was driving me mad.”

“It would drive anyone mad.” Mumbo fiddled with his mustache. “Next time something like this happens, how about you call me, yeah?” He offered Grian a business card.

“How much-“

“No charge. I’m not actually legally allowed to do stuff like this. It’s a hobby more than a career.”

Grian didn’t know what to say to that, so he glanced down at the business card. “Electrical work as a hobby?”

“You’re a freelance photographer who does three years of a degree program before changing pathways. You can’t talk.” Pearl elbowed him.

“Right, okay. I promise to not do any more electrical work without consulting you first.”

Mumbo raised an eyebrow. “Not what I was going for mate.”

“I won’t do any more electrical work?”

Mumbo nodded. “And if you have any problems, call me.”

“Yeah, sure.” Grian pocketed the business card.

Running to the library to get a book for class was nothing new for Grian. He was more than familiar with the place, and more than once he’d been jokingly offered a job as an assistant.

But Grian wasn’t ever just here for a book.

Looking around, it wasn’t as easy as Grian had initially hoped to find Mumbo. Sure, the man was tall, but that didn’t mean anything in the library. The shelves were even taller than Mumbo.

“Excuse me,” Grian said to the woman at the counter. “Do you know where I can find Mumbo Jumbo?”

“He doesn’t work today,” she replied easily. “Can I take a message for you?”

“No, thank you.” Grian set his book on the counter. “I need to check this out, though.”

“That I can do.”

Grian walked out of the library slightly disappointed. He’d been thinking a lot lately. A bit too much about his encounter with Mumbo if he was honest with himself. He was a mystery to Grian. Why would a librarian offer to fix a flickering light in a house he’d never been in before?

He couldn’t imagine it. Still, even without knowing how to solve the mystery of Mumbo, he had things to do.

The bakery was warm, as it always was. Scar didn’t ever seem to stop baking, even though his shop had closed hours ago. He smiled at Grian, dropping a plate of cookies on the table.

“You seem busy.”

“Not as busy as I could be,” Grian replied, taking a cookie. “You need to stop feeding me free samples. I’m going to get pudgy.”

“But that’d be a crime! Besides, these are experimental cookies.”

Grian looked at his friend skeptically. “No. These are the cookies you make when you’re stressed out.”

Scar’s smile thinned into a line. “It’s nothing for you to worry about.��

“What happened, Scar?”

“I… may or may not be living out of my bakery. But! It’s not because I lost the house or anything. It’s just…”

Grian tilted his head. “What is it?”

“There’s nothing wrong with the wiring at home. Nothing at all! I just… I can hear it, Grian, and I can’t hear it here. It’s easier to sleep when I can’t hear it.”

“Have you called an electrician?” Grian asked.

“They can’t hear it, so they tell me nothing is wrong. And everything works just fine. It’s ridiculous.”

The business card in Grian’s pocket felt heavy all the sudden. He dug it out, typing the number into his phone and dialing before Scar realized what he was up to. “Grian, don’t-“

“Hello?” Mumbo’s voice came through the phone.

“Hi, Mumbo. It’s Grian. The guy you fixed the light for last week?”

Scar raised an eyebrow. Grian made a face at him.

“Ah. Haven’t electrocuted yourself since then, I see.”

“Not as if I haven’t tried,” Grian replied with a faint smile. Scar munched on a cookie, watching with amusement. “Are you busy right now?”

“Another electrical problem? Or do you need my services as a librarian?”

“Electrical problem.” Scar shook his head, a smile gracing his face. “Got a friend who has something weird going on. Noisy wires.”

“How odd. I’m not too busy right now. Could you send me the address?”

“Yeah, sure thing.” Grian told him the address and packed up his stuff. “We’re going to get this sorted out, Scar.”

“Mumbo Jumbo, huh? He’s some kind of electrician as well as a librarian. You certainly don’t pick the easy ones,” Scar replied, but he helped clean up.

“Shut up, Scar.”

Mumbo considered himself to be a patient man. He could help sort out a mess in the library or come up with a new, albeit complicated, way to solve any electrical problem he came across. It all just took time, and Mumbo was fine with that.

He did not realize that no one would be home when he went to the address Grian sent him. Idly, he leaned against the wall, trying to hear the noisy wiring he was meant to be fixing.

There wasn’t a sound to be heard.

Frowning, Mumbo pressed closer to the wall. Maybe it just couldn’t be heard unless you were in the house? Or maybe it was a higher pitch, and it was just harder to discern.

Mumbo pulled a small device out of his bag and fiddled with it for a few minutes. The light on the side of the box lit up when Mumbo brought it closer to the house. So, there was a noise. It was just one that Mumbo couldn’t hear.

“Wow, you’re fast. Mumbo, right?” An unfamiliar man came up the sidewalk alongside Grian. “I wasn’t expecting you to get here before us.”

“I did say I wasn’t busy,” Mumbo replied.

“Not busy usually doesn’t mean ready to leave at a moments notice,” the man pointed out. “And you’re all dressed up! I’d hate to have torn you away from something important. Especially considering how I told Grian it wasn’t a big deal.”

“If you keep avoiding going home like this, Scar, it is a big deal.” Grian shook his head, fiddling with the strap of his bag. “Just let him try.”

“I did identify an odd frequency, even without going inside,” Mumbo replied, grateful about the subject change.

He didn’t want to mention that he’d been stood up on a date and really needed something else to think about. Grian’s phone call had come at the perfect time, really.

“Wait, really? You’re better than the other guy I called about it. Thanks Mumbo!” Scar was already beaming, green eyes twinkling.

Grian rolled his eyes. “He’s done the bare minimum, Scar. I don’t think he’s going to leave just after figuring out there is a problem.”

“Well, he’s the first one to believe me.”

“I believed you.”

“I know you did, Grian. But you have to believe me. Oh, Mumbo, do you want a cookie?”

Mumbo blinked. There was suddenly a tin of cookies in his face, and he couldn’t help but recoil slightly. “Um-“

“Give the man some space, Scar.” Grian snorted, a faint smile on his face.

Mumbo couldn’t help but stare. He’d found the man attractive the first time he’d met him, standing on his kitchen table with a light bulb in his hand and static electricity making his hair stand on end. But seeing him in other contexts was incredible as well.

He wanted to be the one to make Grian smile.

Shaking himself out of his thoughts, Mumbo set to work on figuring out what was making the noise that drove Scar out of his home. He got familiar with the sound of Grian and Scar holding their own conversation in the background.

“This is amazing,” Scar said softly as Mumbo double-checked his sensor. “The sound is completely gone.”

“I’m glad to hear it,” Mumbo replied, walking over to the sink. “Do you happen to have dish soap I could borrow?”

“Oh, right, yes.” Scar set the soap out. “How much do I owe you for this?”

“I don’t charge,” Mumbo replied.

“I still owe you something for this. Do you accept cookies? Oh! I can buy you dinner or something-“

“That won’t be necessary,” Mumbo pointedly did not glance over at Grian. “I’m happy to help.”

“He didn’t let me pay either,” Grian said.

“How very kind of you, Mumbo Jumbo.” Scar continued to smile. “Really. Are you sure I can’t do anything for you?”

“It is no trouble at all.”

Scar shook his head. “I’m not taking no for an answer. Tell you what, have a tin of cookies. Freshly baked from my bakery! On the house.”

“I couldn’t-“

“He bakes as a hobby as well as his job. You’d actually be helping him by taking some,” Grian said, glancing up finally. He had an amused smile on his face as he stretched in the chair. “There’s only so many times he can send me home with four containers full of cookies before it’s my problem as well as his.”

“Yeah! You’d be a huge help if you took some. Really.”

And so, Mumbo left the house with a tin of freshly baked cookies. Feeling a little disjointed, he turned and stared back at the house. Scar waved at him.

Scar was texting someone when Grian made it to the bakery the following week. “Finally join a dating app?” Grian asked.

“Haha. No. I’m talking to Mumbo.”

Grian paused, his bag barely over his head. “Do you have more issues with the wiring? Are they being loud again?”

“Don’t be silly, Grian! Mumbo is my friend.”

“You’ve known him a week.”

“Yes, but I’ve known you much longer. And you happen to have a type.”

Grian’s face burned. “I’m not-“

“Look, Mumbo seems like a great guy, from what I can tell. He’s just a tad lonely, that’s all.” Scar took Grian’s bag and set it on the table. “You can’t tell me you haven’t at least thought about it.”

“First Pearl, now you. Is a man not allowed to focus on his studies?”

“Come on, G. The only time I’ve ever seen you focused is when you’re taking pictures. You don’t even need a degree to be happy.”

“Yet you think I need a boyfriend.” Grian glanced skeptically at Scar. “What are you two even talking about?”

“Passed relationship failures. Did you know he was actually on a date when you called him?”

“What?”

“Well, not an actual date. The man he was meant to be meeting up with stood him up. We rescued him from a sorrowful night, Grian. Which you would know if you’d followed up like I did.” Scar grinned at his friend.

Mumbo had been on a date? It certainly explained the suit and tie. Grian shook his head. “Don’t be silly-“

“Grian, you’ve been pining after this man for years. Years! And now you’ve talked to him and have his phone number. It really couldn’t hurt to try, you know.”

Grian didn’t have a comeback to that one. He pointed at Scar, “If you tell him-“

“Wouldn’t dream of it! But I will keep bothering you about this if you don’t act on it.” Scar messed with the zipper on Grian’s bag. “He asks about you a lot, you know.”

“No he doesn’t,” Grian replied, refusing to believe it.

“How would you know? I’m the one who’s friends with him.”

Grian found himself scowling the next day. He couldn’t get what Scar said out of his mind. Was he overthinking this? It wasn’t like there was much of a friendship Grian could destroy at this point.

Going to the library would certainly be more awkward if he tried and it didn’t work out. Maybe he would just give up on college if that happened. He did already have an apartment and a job, after all.

Lost in his thoughts, Grian didn’t notice when someone sat down across from him. “Associated Press? I thought you were a photographer.”

Grian jolted, his knee banging against the underside of the table. Pain flared up his leg, but he ignored it to stare at Mumbo. Mumbo, who’d picked up the styleguide Grian had been staring blankly at.

“I am a photographer,” Grian replied slowly.

“So you’re just curious about everything then, huh?” Mumbo’s mouth curled up in a smile as he slid the book back across the table.

“Something like that.” Grian shrugged. “I’ve only changed my major half a dozen times.”

“That’s right. Your sister mentioned that when I was fixing your light.” Mumbo tilted his head. “Indecisive?”

Grian shrugged again. “That does appear to be the case.”

“Did you ever try photography as a program? There’s an excellent photography program in the journalism department.”

“Hence the Associated Press styleguide. I am majoring in Journalism. We’ll see how long that lasts.”

Mumbo nodded, straightening his tie. Wait, he was wearing a tie? Grian blinked, taking in the outfit. Mumbo typically wore button-ups, sure, but the layering he’d done today made it seem like maybe something else was going on. This was more dressed up than Mumbo typically was at the library.

“Got a hot date later?” Grian asked, half as a joke.

Mumbo blinked. “Oh, I don’t think so. The last time I tried dating, it didn’t go so well.”

“Scar said you told him you were stood up,” Grian replied, suddenly curious for more details.

Mumbo shifted uncomfortably. “Yes. But I suppose I wasn’t counting that time. At least then my night ended with a tin of cookies.”

“That’s Scar for you.” Grian shrugged. “Glad we were able to take your mind off it, at least.”

“Yeah…” Mumbo shifted again. “How about you?”

“Not really looking for anyone,” Grian answered. He fiddled with the stylebook, avoiding looking at Mumbo.

“Fair enough. There are some strange people out there.”

“But you never really answered my question. Why are you all dressed up today?”

“Ah. That. Well, I have been once again pressured into attempting to go on a date.”

Grian looked at Mumbo, surprised. “Is this some kind of family obligation? Scar and Pearl are always pressuring me to go on dates, but I never really feel too bad about not going.”

“Ah. I suppose I need to learn how to get around Scar, then. He’s the one who pressured me into this, really.” Mumbo scratched his neck, seeming even more uncomfortable. “Another blind date. Hopefully it goes better than the last ones I’ve been on.”

“You don’t seem to have much hope of that,” Grian remarked, silently fuming at Scar in his head. This was the quickest way to make Grian jealous, and Scar knew it.

“I’m trying to be optimistic, for Scar’s sake, but it feels like this will never go well, even if he seems to think he can help in some way.”

Grian shrugged. “If you’d been more careful about how you approached this, you could’ve pretended to have a partner.”

“Yeah, but Scar was so genuine when he asked me about myself. I didn’t realize he was a matchmaker who had been failing to make matches!”

Mumbo glanced around. “Actually, maybe it’d be best to leave the library for this conversation. Don’t want to get into too much trouble.”

“Probably for the best.” Grian packed up his things. “Hang on. Are you implying it’s my fault you’re stuck with a date tonight?”

“Maybe.”

“Harsh words, mate.” Grian pressed his mouth into a thin line. “And to think I was going to help you brainstorm ways to get out of your date.”

“You were?”

“I don’t know… maybe I should leave you to suffer.”

“But you know Scar better than I do. Surely you could-“

“Just because I could doesn’t mean I will.” Grian clenched his teeth to keep from laughing. Mumbo wasn’t in a good enough mindset for the date to go anything more than terribly. He was going to suffer for a few hours, sure, but that was the price he had to pay to lean into this a bit more.

“Please?”

“Maybe next time. If you aren’t blaming me for all your problems.”

“I’m not blaming you for all of my problems. Just the Scar related ones.”

Grian snorted. “That’ll become a majority of your problems if you’re not careful. I’ll sit this one out, thanks.”

“Grian!”

“Mumbo.” Grian finally let his grin loose. “Disappointed that you can’t pressure me the way Scar can pressure you? I’m unbreakable.”

Mumbo blinked, stopping in his tracks. He just stared at Grian for a moment. Grian paused as well. “What? Is there something in my hair?”

“No, I just thought of something. I have an idea for how I can get out of my date! Thanks, Grian!” Mumbo patted his shoulder and hurried off. And if Mumbo was blushing a little bit as he ran, Grian didn’t see it.

“Scar.” Mumbo said, slightly out of breath. “I can’t go on the blind date tonight.”

“You can’t? Why not?” Scar continued wiping the counter.

“Because whoever you’re setting me up with won’t compare to Grian.” Mumbo’s face burned as he said it, knowing this was a risky move.

Scar paused to look at him. “You’re interested in Grian?”

“I am. So, I cannot go on that date tonight because it wouldn’t be fair to them.” Mumbo swallowed harshly.

Was it too soon to say he was interested in Grian? Was it too early in his friendship with Scar? Would Scar tell Grian what he said? It was a risk, but Mumbo accepted that. Every encounter he’d had with Grian just made him more interested in the man. He’d give it his best shot if Scar decided to pressure him into taking action.

“Well, that’s good news! I’d hate to send you on a date with him if you weren’t remotely interested.”

What? Mumbo blinked. And then he blinked again. “The date tonight is with Grian?”

“Of course, of course.”

“How’d you manage that? Grian told me he’s not interested in dating.”

“He’s not. But Pearl and I can be really sneaky when we want to be. If I’m honest, he doesn’t actually know he’s going on a date with you tonight. It’s a surprise!” Scar grinned.

“What if this ruins how he views me?” Mumbo scrunched his eyebrows. “If he’s tricked into going on a date, he’s going to suspect that I had something to do with it.”

“Oh, no. Not at all. Grian’s a smart cookie, and he’ll know it was all me and Pearl. Well, mostly Pearl since this whole thing was her idea, but he won’t blame you for it. Promise.”

“Alright…” Mumbo hesitated. “If this goes badly, you’re going to owe me a lot, buddy.”

“Oh, don’t I know it.” Scar sighed. “If this goes badly, you understand that Grian will also be mad at me for being a part of it. I have nothing but hope that this will go well. For all of our sakes, Mumbo.”

Mumbo’s mustache twitched, but he tried to relax. Only a few more hours. You won’t mess this one up.

“What are we thinking for tonight?” Grian said absently, putting away his camera bag.

“I have reservations for us at that new restaurant downtown.”

“Reservations?

“You were the one who said we need to experience the community more. So, I’m not cancelling.” Pearl wrinkled her nose. “You would’ve ordered fast food if I hadn’t done it. This is significantly better.”

“Uh huh.”

“Actually, it’s about time that we head there. We will need time to order, after all.”

“Sure.” Grian ran a hand through his hair. “Good enough?”

“It never gets better for you,” Pearl replied.

“Hey!”

Pearl dragged Grian downtown rather quickly. “I made the reservation in your name, by the way.” She glanced at her phone. “You can go get the table. I need to take this call.”

“Right.” Grian shifted uncomfortably, but he walked into the restaurant, grateful it wasn’t too formal.

“Reservation for two. Under Grian?”

The server nodded. “Back here.”

Grian studied the menu, thinking about what he was going to get. He knew Pearl would expect him to pay this time, as she’d paid for the last meal they’d shared.

“Hi.”

Grian nearly jumped out of his skin. “Mumbo?”

Mumbo gave him an embarrassed smile. “Didn’t mean to startle you. Sorry.” He pulled out the chair across from Grian.

Grian put the menu down slowly. “They didn’t.”

“If by that you mean Scar managed to successfully set us up on a blind date with each other, then yes, they most certainly did.”

“Pearl…” Grian pressed his palms into his eyes. “I can’t believe I didn’t see this coming.”

“Neither of us did, mate. But if it makes you feel any better, I bullied Scar into paying for dinner.”

Grian’s hands retreated. “You did?”

“I told him that it’s his head if this goes wrong, and if it goes badly because we start arguing about who is paying for it, it’s completely his fault.”

“Wow.”

“I aim to impress,” Mumbo replied cheekily.

“You certainly did that.” Grian blushed slightly. “So, this is a date, then?”

“Afraid so. We have to at least try. For Scar’s sake, of course.”

“Of course.” Grian swallowed harshly.

After the initial moments where they both struggled to come up with things to say, the date went well. The food was good, the conversation was good, and Grian could almost convince himself that Mumbo had blushed at his attempts to flirt.

Eventually, the night came to a close, and Mumbo offered to take him home.

“Oh, that’s not necessary, Mumbo.”

“Isn’t it?” Mumbo smiled mischievously. “I believe it is my duty as the man who took you on this date to also be the one to take you home.”

“Don’t be cheeky. The reservation was in my name.”

“I still want to take you home,” Mumbo replied.

Grian’s face burned, but he still shook his head. “If only I was willing to make it that easy for you.”

Mumbo put his hand on Grian’s shoulder. “Well, if I can’t take you home, I can at least do this.”

Grian looked up, preparing to ask what exactly Mumbo meant by that when Mumbo kissed him. He froze, unsure how to react for a moment before melting into the kiss. Mumbo’s facial hair tickled his face, and Grian quietly loved it, using Mumbo’s tie to pull him even closer.

Mumbo laughed against his mouth when they pulled apart briefly. Grian pulled him right back in for another one, and Mumbo made a delighted noise as Grian’s hand wove its way into his hair.

“Scar’s going to be so smug about this,” Grian said quietly, nestling up against Mumbo on his couch.

“We’ll never be free of the teasing,” Mumbo agreed.

“He’s been trying to convince me to ask you out for years at this point,” Grian replied.

“Has he?”

“Yeah. I spent too much time in the library for Scar to not get suspicious. And he knew you were my type.”

“Ah.” Mumbo’s face grew warm. “So, when you called me, he knew exactly who I was then.”

“Yep.” Grian made sure to pop the ‘p.’ “If it makes you feel any better, I don’t think he figured out how you felt about me until you told him. Otherwise, I would’ve heard about it.”

“I was very aware of that, believe me. I think he was starting to figure it out though. I asked about you way too much.”

“Very suspicious,” Grian mused. “But very worth it, don’t you think?”

Mumbo wrapped his arms around Grian to squeeze him in a tight hug. “Very worth it indeed.”

#grumbo month #grumbo #hermitshipping #grian #mumbo jumbo #pearlescentmoon #goodtimeswithscar #cloud writes

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delta-pavonis · 10 months

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July Kinkfest Days 4 & 5

The Sandman || Dreamling (Dream of the Endless/Hob Gadling) || Rated E || 939 words

Prompts: Possessive Sex | Body Worship | “I had a dream about you.” - Exhibitionism | Aftercare | “I’ve always wanted to try this.”

Warnings (in addition to the prompts above): getting together, jealous Dream, rough sex, biting and other post-sex superficial injuries

Author's Notes: Two days combo platter! Five out of six prompts! Whoo!

As his lover dozes, Dream traces the marks left on Hob’s skin. Not the scars, but the recent ones, bruises and welts and scrapes, left not so long ago by Dream’s fingers and lips and teeth. And as he touches each one he checks that it is superficial, urges each gently into healing, and memories float to the surface.

It started with one of the New Inn’s regulars, Eliot Sutton, a New Yorker at the end of two years of post-doctoral work in astrophysics and cosmology, who had sought work abroad as he was fleeing his broken engagement and family strife. Dream knows these details immediately upon looking at the man, but what actually matters is that he and Hob are in the back of the pub, sharing a table and a pint, papers and books spread out before them, working in a familiar and companionable silence.

On Hob’s hip, long finger-shaped bruises are starting to purple. Dream can hear the echo of Hob’s sob of pleasure, of relief, as Dream finally sinks his cock into his loosened, slick hole. “Yes! Sweetchristyes!”

As Dream gets closer to the table he learns more: Eliot Sutton has a black cat back at his apartment that he adopted from a local shelter because she was twelve and looked like she needed a friend. He has a collection of old manuscripts on Babylonian astronomy that probably should be in a museum. The man reaches to take a sip of his ale and spends a moment staring at Hob. Dream picks up the edges of an erotic daydream, no the memory of a dr-

“I had a dream about you last night.” The man interrupts Dream’s thoughts as much as Hob’s work and both stop mid-movement.

Long red welts along Hob’s back are receding, no longer as sharp-edged and raised as when Dream’s nails made them, scrabbling for purchase as Hob bent the Dreamlord in half as he fucked him with deep, rolling thrusts. “Let him see. Fuck, invite the entire college, the entire city… let them all see how I lose myself in you. Only you.”

“Did you now?” Hob takes his own pint in hand, downing a large swallow. “Let me guess, a nightmare about me, a lowly history professor, grading your uni papers?”

Eliot very clearly lets his gaze get dark, his voice suggestive. “Not quite. Although it did involve a desk.”

Hob blushes. “El…”

More nail marks, clear crescents in sets of four, overlap each other across Hob’s shoulders, a few crusted with dry blood. Dream cleans them with a careful touch and hears his own growls in his ears as Hob drops to his knees in front of him. “Is this how the most devoted priests feel when faced with their god?” He nuzzles into the base of Dream’s leaking cock, licks tentatively, making them both shudder. “Willing to exalt, to glorify, to praise, with mouth and tongue, with words and breath, with body and soul…” He presses the flat of his tongue to the underside, making Dream gasp and claw into his shoulders as he licks a line up to the tip. When next Hob speaks his lips brush the head with each word. “I would worship you, my Dream.”

Any further answer is interrupted when Hob catches sight of Dream in his peripheral vision and his face breaks into a smile wider than any he has seen directed at Eliot. “My friend!” Hob stands to greet him, to bring him to the table with a hand on his shoulder. “It has been less than a week since we last met! I was not expecting to see you so soon! Not that I am complaining, mind you – I welcome your presence, day or night.” Hob turns to his table-mate. “Eliot! This is my oldest and dearest friend D-”

“Morpheus.” Dream interrupts, putting out a hand to shake as is current custom. Hob blinks at Dream, confusion passing across his face for only the slightest moment, before he motions for Dream to sit with him in his side of the booth.

Eliot shakes Dream’s hand amiably enough, but his eyes narrow at how close Dream slides in next to Hob.

Smaller bruises litter the top of Hob’s shoulders, his collarbones, underneath his jaw. Dream touches each one and remembers its unique taste, remembers making them with his hungry mouth as he unbuttons Hob’s shirt. They are barely inside his flat, crowded into the corner behind the shut front door. “Oh fuck,” Hob moans, arching into Dream’s touch, tugging at Dream’s hair. “If only I had known, love… I would have ventured to make you jealous sooner!”

Eliot leaves not ten minutes later and Hob gives Dream a pointed look. “Was that really necessary?”

Dream stares right back. “He dreams of having you. Not just carnally. Intimate in all senses of the word.”

One of Hob’s eyebrows makes a break for his hairline. “And that is a problem because…?” But he must see something in Dream’s expression, because Hob leans in. “Does that make you…” Hob licks his lips and Dream’s eyes follow the motion of their own volition. “... are you jealous, Dream?”

The last bruise is a nebula of colors along the side of Hob’s nape, created through repeated attention from Dream’s mouth as he fucks Hob through another of his own orgasms. Hob’s cock has long since been exhausted, but still he pleads for Dream to take him, to fill him, to use him. Still he wishes only to be a vessel for Dream’s pleasure. So as Dream drifts downward, finally sated, he purrs into Hob’s ear. “Mine.”

#julykinkfest2023 #Dreamling #nsft #read the warnings #Pavonis writes

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mouthfullofmunson · 1 year

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Okay but rockstar Eddie

Let’s talk

Bc I’m obsessed with this idea

He absolutely hates the paparazzi

But they seem to be so obsessed with him

Catching him while he’s shopping, while he’s at dinner, while he’s driving down the road to go back to his house

Even at his house- and that’s the time they also got photos of him in handcuffs after he had to fuck up a pap for sneaking photos of his wife through the window

Even catching photos of him and his wife fucking in his car, or on the tour bus- which sold for a good chunk of change

And dispite how rude he was to the paps he was actually the biggest sweetheart

Anytime a fan stopped him when he was out he was happy to have a conversation with them and give them a quick hug

And when the little ones come over to talk to him he’s always so happy and always poses for a photo with them

But he’s also like “oh my god why does this little thing know who I am?” Extremely worried bc kids shouldn’t know who he is

And when his fans ask him to sigh something he’s so willing “of course I’ll sign it for you sweetheart, who do I make it out to? Kelly, okay and that’s k-e-l-l-y? Gorgeous.”

And y/n is usually not jealous of fans, she’s been with Eddie for years and years and they’ve been married for a few years- he’s never really given her a reason to get jealous either

But when he’s extra nice to fans or lets them get in too many hugs or lets them get away with too many cheek kisses she’s definitely a little jealous

And she knows she’s being dramatic

Those are the times they get caught fucking by his tour manager, his band mates, or the paps

By now the paps has probably hundreds of photos of Eddie’s foggy car windows while they fuck

And his band is so traumatized from the amount of times they have walked into the tour bus only to be met with y/n sitting on Eddie’s face, or Eddie fucking Y/n while her mascara is running down her face, y/n on her knees for Eddie while his eyeliner is all rubbed off and smudged across his eyes

And before a show he always gets a little nervous because if one person fucks up the whole show is fucked

But after a show goes perfect, like always, he’s on fucking fire

And most nights he’s on one

So he runs back to the only “room” on the tour bus (the guys probably didn’t put up a fight bc I imagine Eddie is the only married one bc they are all still desperate to live out their rockstar dream)- where his wife went as soon as the show was over and he’s like “c’mon, I’ve got to fuck you. If I don’t fuck you in the next two second in going to explode”

And he’s peeling off her see through red dress she wore to the concert (I think y/n would wear stuff like that often, all see through so he could see her tits from the stage with her lace panties under it, her tits bouncing while she dances) and he’s instantly pushing her into the bed and shoving his pants down frantically before he fucks her like he hasn’t seen her in a year

Making the bed squeal loud as fuck while he pins her down, her legs dangling around his hips while hHe leans over the bed and fucks her, his pants pooled around her ankle where he stood

And he doesn’t stop until they are both almost ready to pass out

And he flops on the bed before he lights up a joint, the tiny window open wide while he sits with his wife, both of them completely naked while he wraps his arm around her shoulders and shared a quick joint with her

And then they are out for the night

I also think he does not care about pda

If he’s trying to tongue down his wife and someone is uncomfortable they can just look away, he’s busy trying to make out with his wife

He’s constantly sitting her on his lap

And he’s got to either hav ran arm around ehr shoulder if they are walking next to each other, or his hand on her ass

And if they are out to dinner together he’s going to have his hand on her thigh, or occasionally he’ll shove his hand up her shirt and grab at her tit

And parties? Yeah, he’s in the corner trying to fuck his wife because she’s probably wearing something a little slutty, see through, tiny, anything that shows off some skin

I think she dresses a lot like him though

Baggy black boyfriend jeans, cropped Guns N’ Roses shirts, Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, Metallica, but usually it’s a corroded coffin shirt and Eddie even convinced the merchandise team to make every shirt in white so when y/n wears them he can see her tits through them

Then its stolen things from Eddie’s closet

And skimpy little dresses

Lots of slip dresses

She basically just wears lingerie anytime she has to dress up for a show, a party, an award show, anything like that

And Eddie loves it

He loves knowing everyone can see but he’s the only one that can touch

They definitely have the most disgusting sex

Especially after y/n throws her panties up on stage or something stupid to see him smile

Spitting in each others mouths, spitting on each other, pee, Eddie doing anything he can to get her to squirt all over him, Eddie cumming all over her face and tits, cumming all over her pussy

I think Eddie would do basically anything for his wife to pee on him or in his mouth

And he doesn’t hide the fact that he’s into piss either, he’s loud and proud

Oh and period sex, Eddie is obsessed

Eating her out and getting his face all messy with her blood before he comes up and fucks her, sitting a towel down on the bed first of course, he’s not completely messy!

But after he would shove his boxers back on and walk out of the room just to see the other boys half terrified

“What?! You look like you saw a ghost.”

“You’re covered in blood”

Eddie just laughs.

And in interviews he gets a little loose lipped so y/n has to stand with Eddie manager and lawyer to make sure he didn’t say anything that crossed the line

Because a few times he’s “jokingly” talked about drinking his wife’s piss or “jokingly” said that he puts his wife in a collar or something

But they weren’t jokes

And everyone knew that

And once they pop out the first munson baby and eddie gets questioned about it he’s like

“Well, the little shit was an accident- you see it was after a show and we were super h-“

Y/n gives him the look

“But I love ‘em to death. It’s so bad ass to be a father, I’ve got a wife and a baby to look after and I’m still doing my shit and touring and whatever.”

all the thoughts i have 😢

#rockstar!eddie #eddie munson x reader #eddie munson headcanon #husband!eddie #Eddie munson smut #stranger things #eddie munson #eddie stranger things #eddie x reader #eddie x y/n #perv!eddie #Eddie munson piss kink #piss kink #my post

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coleskingdom · 3 days

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Hall Pass

Jay White x Female Reader

NSFW Minors DNI 18+

@midwestmade29 @madhatterbri

You need these” Jay handing me his sunglasses even though we were just sitting down for lunch in catering. “What? Why?” my attention drawn elsewhere. “If you’re going to stare at golden boys ass like that, at least do it from behind the glasses.” there was no humor in his tone. Just then Mariah walked in Jay reached back for the glasses putting them on as his head slightly followed her across the room.

I roll my eyes dramatically at him “I’ve lost my appetite.” pushing back from the table. “Sit, Sweetheart. If I didn’t eat every time you stared at golden boy , I would’ve starved to death by now.” he growled only low of enough for me to hear. I glared at him, as I took a bite. “A lesser man would’ve left you for your disrespectful eye fucking of golden boy. I however am not a lesser man. In fact from what I hear a romp with him isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.” his wink and smirk had me wanting to stab him with my fork.

“ Why are you so ruffled? I saw that flash in your eyes. I’m a fair man, if you want a night of being pounded in to and being called Bruv, I’ll say yes, but you’ll have to say yes to me taking Mariah back to the hotel, but I know what I’m getting into. Those stardom girls are something different all together.”he made the chefs kiss motion. “I’m done here.” pushing back from the table and walking out of the room I heard his laugh as I left , Mariah taking a seat next to him as I glanced back.

“Ugh, I fucking hate him” slamming the door behind me entering into the Bullet Club Gold locker room. “ Who do you hate?” the unmistakable voice of Skye asked sitting up from the couch in the room. “What the fuck?”completely caught off guard staring at her. “ Hey now, Jay said I could lay down in here. He’s a real sweetheart. Seriously though, are you okay?” as she made room on the couch. “ No, yes, maybe. Jays the nod infuriating man I’ve ever met.” Sitting down “ But what did you do?” Nudging my shoulder playfully. “ Apparently I was staring at Wills ass.” she laughed “Its not funny. He then started staring at Mariah. Who the hell can compete with that and she just sat down with him as I left.” I put my head in my hands. “ It’s funny I got in the same situation twice with Kyle. Once for Will and once for Jay.” I looked at my jaw dropped .”Come on, look at him, he’s all abs and attitude. You know what you have. Don’t act shocked that I looked at him.” Smirking at me. “So why Will? Aside from his God like body. I get to say that because I’m sharing an apartment with him and Kyle. What is that keeps pulling your attention away?.” I hesitated “I’m your best friend just tell me.” Her hand taking mine. “ You’re right about abs and attitude with Jay. I don’t know he’s like that golden retriever puppy he’s just so fucking happy and nice. I’ll be fine and I’m gonna stop looking at Will. Jay thinks it’s all about that and I quote be pounded and called bruv. When it’s more like I want to have a burger and a laugh.” I sighed “ I trust Jay implicitly and I get why he did what he did, but he offered me a hall pass for Will if he could have one with her.” looking at my bestie “ Holy shit what did you say? Is Jay really okay with that ?Everyone knows he’s batshit crazy over you.” I got up and began to pace “ I didn’t say anything what the hell could I say, I was pissed and hurt that he’d actually say that. Maybe he’s tired of me, maybe it’s closer to being over than it is for forever. Fuck if I know. I’ve got to get out of here before he comes in here.” moving toward my bag. “Want my opinion I think you are handling too much of his shit? But I’m gonna say this because I love all three of you. Don’t take the hall pass and don’t give him one either. Will’s not for you, but if you want that burger and a laugh come out with me and Kyle, Will, and Mark I can make that happen.” She stood and hugged me. “I’m gonna head out I think you and Jay have some shit to talk about.” she left just as I was debating about following her.

“Sweetheart where are you headed?” Jay’s mocking tone filling the room as he and Skye passed each other. “ None of your fucking business.” walking towards him. “ Tsk tsk you know our rule we don’t leave each other mad. Besides the best part of fighting is the fucking afterwards.” he stalked me till my back was up against the wall. “ So are we done fighting?” his hand tracing my face the other one finding my hip.

“ Mariah not available?” I seethe but my body craves his touch. “You’d look so pretty wearing my hand as a necklace “ his fingers tracing the side of my neck his thumb pressing lightly causing me to gasp. “Sweetheart, there’s no one, that I want or need more than you.” his kiss sure and deep, his hand keeping my focus only on him. “ Keep looking at me like you want to fuck me but you also want to kill me." His hands thread in my hair, as he continues to kiss me. His hips move and he growls a bit of delight in the back of his throat. His hand pulls my hair harder, and it's like I'm completely swallowed by him.

I fall into that kiss, tumbling deep into this moment, forgetting about everything.

His fingers keep dip below my waistband stroking my pussy over my panties, the other hand gripping my ass. His hard body pins me against the wall and I wrap my arms around his neck, going insane with bliss. "You're fucking soaked," Jay’s voice amused. “You're touching me of course I am.” His mouth buries mine, hungry now, and his fingers slip underneath and tease up and down my slit. I'm moaning into his tongue and I don't care anymore as his fingers slide inside of me, fucking me nice and deep. Oh my god, he presses against that spot inside me . My knees go limp and he's supporting my weight as his fingers stroke in and out, hitting the spot over and over. My eyes roll back, l'm moaning, mindless, insane with pleasure, and he's not stopping.

He bites my lower lip and whispers, "Come for me, sweetheart, come on, you need it, don't you?"

"Yes," | gasp, shaking as I shatter on his hand. I come in a sudden rush, my fingers digging into his back, my cheeks tingling. "Good girl”he whispers my head resting on his shoulder.

“Jay, I’m…” his finger on my lips silenced me. “ I took it to far I’m sorry.” kissing my forehead. “Just the idea of you..” I put my finger on his lips this time.

#aew smut.#aew smut #aew fanfiction #switchblade jay white x reader #jay white x you #jay white fanfiction #jay white smut #switchblade jay white smut

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love-islike-abomb · 2 months

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Since you’re one of my favorite AU writers, I’ve been thinking about asking you for a while for Superman!Roman, anything your wonderful mind thinks of to write for the prompt, I am willing to support and read! 😁❤️

I got you nonnie!! I love this idea!!🫶

_______

Holding out for a hero

AU Superman Roman Reigns x Kyrie (OC)

I had originally planned to make this an actual superhero au story but I remembered superman had an evil counterpart and I remembered a saying... "A hero will sacrifice you to save the world but a villian will sacrifice the world to save you!" I guess I kinda made Superman an anti-hero in this🤷

Warnings: violence, angst, fluff, smut, evil villain things, I'm using their real names, Jimmy is the villain (sorry🤷) , errors I may have missed.

Tag list: @reignsangel444 @acknowledge-reigns @mzv11 @marchm-langdon @mandeelemons @pittieprincess22 @queengreenarrowmia89 @romanreignshairdresser @undisputedjf

____

"where is she!?" His voice bellowed, the small man held against the wall wiggling his legs trying to get free, almost looking pathetic. "I don't know! All I know is she was taken to a warehouse! Please just let me go!" The man screamed.

He set the terrified man down and slowly walked away leaving the man shocked as to why he got away so easily. The man walked around the corner of the building they had just been standing behind and was met with heat beams to his forehead, instantly dropping him to the ground. "Next time don't lie to me!" He yelled, flying off to find his beloved.

____

They had broken into their house in the middle of the night. He was fast asleep and heard a crash! They shattered the window, caring only about their target. 3 men in full combat gear with gas masks grabbed her, knocking her out. He stood there held by the last man who had Kyotonite around his neck. It rendered him helpless to save her. They carried her off, Knocking her out cold with the back of a rifle. "Kyrie!" He screamed. "who are you?! What do you want with my wife?"

"I think you already know who I am!" One the masked men said pulling his mask off "Jonathon?" He asked "why?"

"you let my wife die!" He yelled.

"Jonathon I tried to save her! It was to late!" He yelled.

"no it wasn't! I've nightmares for months hearing her screaming for me! Hearing her calling out my name and I wake up and she's not there! She's not in bed next to me!" He said, the hurt and anger in his voice growing more intense as he spoke.

Joe didn't know what to do. He had tried to save Trinity but when he got to her her injuries were to severe "please just bring my wife back!" He said, desperation evident in his voice.

"no! Your gonna feel EVERYTHING I felt! The pain, the helplessness, everything! I may even kill her just like you did my wife!" Jonathon said

"if you harm one hair on her body I swear i-" Jonathon cut him laughing "you'll what? You ain't gonna do SHIT!" Jonathon laughed.

Joes eyes glowed red and Jonathon stepped back in fear. He looked at his hired henchman "put her down!" He yelled his voice shaky.

The henchman looked back at Jonathon only to see joe's eyes glowing pure red. He set Kyrie down and ran leaving Jonathon to deal with the mess he created "uce I'm sorry! Please!" Jonathon begged. His eyes full of fear and regret.

"you tried kidnapping my wife because of something I couldn't control and broke into our house in the middle of the night and you're sorry? I'll make you sorry!" Joe growled, his voice full of anger. Kyrie woke up "Joe don't!" She yelled. The red that had flooded his eyes softened and soon his brown eyes returned "Kyrie! Baby girl!" He said happy to see her being ok.

Jonathon took his opportunity and snatched Kyrie up and ran off. "Joe!" Kyrie screamed.

"Jonathon if it kills me I will find you you make you regret ever existing!"

_____

Every place he'd searched for her had ended up a dead end until he remembered the one place he hadn't looked. A bunker that they had made a long time ago when Joe tried to save Trinity.

"when Joe finds you he'll kill you Jonathan!" She screamed "let me go!"

"what's he gonna do? Shoot his little Lazer eyes at me?" Jonathon mocked

"no but she's right I am gonna kill you!" Joe said

"h-how did yo-" Jonathon stammered before Joe shoved him into the wall "you kidnapped my wife to prove a point!"

"uce I'm sorry!" Jonathon yelled.

"Kyrie get out of here! You don't need to see this!" Joe yelled, warning his wife of what he was about to do. Kyrie ran out of the bunker and shut the door, grateful it was soundproof so she didn't have to hear Jonathan's screams.

A few moments later joe came out of the bunker "baby girl!" He smiled.

"Joe!" She smiled wrapping her arms around him.

"let's go home!" He smiled as he flew off with her in his arms, the love of his life save with and he as gonna show her just how much he missed her.

____

He turned on the shower, his back stiff but when he felt her touch his muscles instantly relaxed "I thought I was never gonna see you again" he said pulling her to him and wrapping her in his arms. She put her head against his bare chest, his scent filling her nose "I need you baby girl!" He groaned.

"I'm all yours" she smiled. He lifted her up in his arms and set into the shower, pinning her against the cold wall. His lips attached to her neck as he slid inside her, both of them groaning at the feeling of each other "oh fuck I've missed this pussy" he growled. the sound of their moans echoed off the shower walls. She buried her face in his neck to hide her moans "no baby I wanna hear you!! Let everybody know it's me who fucks you this good!" He growled.

"oh fuck! Yes!!"! she groaned.

"give it to me babygirl!! Cum on daddy's cock!" He growled "uhn with the way that pussy is gripping me I know your close! Let it go baby!"

His words sent her over the edge "that's it baby uhn! Yes! Milk my cock! Make me fill that pussy!" He growled, his own orgasm following hers. He leaned against her, giving her a sloppy kiss "I love you" she smiled "and I love you baby girl!" He said bringing his hand up to gently stroke her face "you are my everything!"

#roman reigns #big daddy uce #the only daddy☝️😩🫦#wwe smackdown #wwe #roman reigns fanfiction #wwe fanfiction #wwe smut #roman reigns smut #roman reigns fic #roman reigns imagine #au story

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aaron-m-geist-ff · 2 months

Note

I’ve been eating up all these zodiac matchups so far and I’ve decided to finally put my big girl pants on ask for one of my own. I think I mighta mentioned it in a comment but I’m a taurus girl ♉️ ✨

The thought of a food kink jjk imagine has been plauging my mind lately so I thought I’d pass on the idea if that’s something you’d like to include

-love, June 💗🍓

Hey there, June bug! I was waiting for you to finally send in a request and I am so happy that you did 😄 obviously I had to let you cut in line to the VIP section because you have been supporting me for so long ;)

(don’t worry everyone, I will get to the rest soon! I love answering these match-up requests and thank you to everyone who sends asks 😊🩷)

And oooh a food kink? Naughty.

_______________________________________________

You got…🥁🥁🥁

Mahito! You’re welcome

“M-mahito… It’s intense-“ your voice came out in a soft tone. You were hesitant to hear yourself speak, hating how weak and compliant you sounded. It could actually be quite difficult for you to relinquish control. As a Taurus woman, you can be quite stubborn and strong-willed. You don’t want anyone to see you in a vulnerable state. You desperately tried to hide your blushing face, covering your lips with your hand. You felt ashamed for enjoying this.

Mahito met your vulnerable eyes. He kept a cool and focused expression as he shook the whipped cream can again. At first, this started out as a joke. The two of you had been laughing and spraying the cream onto each other. But now?? Mahito was extremely serious about it. He had you lying upon the mattress, straddling your hips to make sure that you couldn’t get up.

“Calm down.”

Mahito’s tone was firm. He gave you another serious glance.

“I want to lick these pretty tits of yours, fleshlight.”

He began to spray the whipped cream onto your chest. The cool sensation caused you to whimper, squeezing your eyes shut as you felt your nipples get covered completely. Mahito’s tone of voice made your arousal spike. He was being extremely dominant with you. It made your mind short circuit, torn between being stubborn and submitting.

You chose the latter.

“Mh!” You moaned when you felt that warm and slick tongue roll over one of your sensitive buds. It swirled around it, lapping up the creamed sugar effortlessly. Mahito latched onto your nipple then, sucking on it gently.

“M-Mahi,” you whimpered. “Please-“

You had no idea what you were begging for. A part of you wanted him to stop. It felt so fucking intense, your breasts were extremely sensitive from how turned on you were. But the other part of you wanted him to continue. It felt good in some ways.

“Shhh,” Mahito hummed. “No stopping right now.”

He began to seductively lick the cream off of your chest, flattening his tongue against your warm skin. You nearly cried from what he said. Mahito didn’t intend on giving you a break any time soon. That scared you. Your nipples could get very sensitive from too much attention. He was being sweet about it right now, but you knew Mahito too well. He could be very sadistic at times.

“This cream is so good, y/n. Even better than your little human pussy.”

Mahito said it so nonchalantly. His words felt like a stab in the back. You started whining wordlessly, a hand still clasped over your mouth. You couldn’t handle this. You needed praise, and Mahito knew that. He knew what he was doing, that manipulative sadist.

“Oh? She doesn’t like being insulted, hm?”

Mahito had moved his hand to cup your pussy through the fabric of your panties. He squeezed you there carefully, which made your clit throb with need.

Goddammit. Why was it so hot when Mahito would give your genitals pronouns?? You were starting to think that there was something seriously fucked up about yourself.

“N-no…” you choked. You tried to thrust against Mahito’s hand, attempting to get some more sensation. But Mahito withdrew from touching your special place.

“Such an impatient girl. Maybe I should get a chastity belt for you next time. That way your needy pussy can’t interrupt me when I’m trying to enjoy my snack.”

Mahito grinned, poking out his tongue to lick another long stripe up your exposed chest. You couldn’t believe what you were hearing. A..chastity belt?? Your face heated up so fucking quickly. You had never felt so embarrassed in your life.

“N-no chastity belt,” you begged. “Can’t take that…”

Mahito sighed. He ran a single finger over your panty-clad pussy to tease you. You shivered and flinched from the soft touches.

“Well,” he began. He sounded incredibly logical as he spoke.

“Your little clit is to blame for that. If she gets too impatient, then I will have to punish her. Understand?”

Goddamn. You were so fucking wet. For some reason, this was all turning you on so much. It felt scandalous and wrong, which made your heart race from the thrill of it all. You nodded, gasping when you felt Mahito’s tongue gathering the cream around your other nipple.

“I…understand!”

#ahhhh shit #i dont know how i ended up with the chastity belt idea #oh well! 🤣#mahito x you #mahito imagines #mahito headcanons #yandere mahito #mahito smut #mahito x reader #jujutsu kaisen mahito #mahito jjk #mahito

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spartanguard · 10 months

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sons of love and death, 2/13 {CSSNS 23}

Summary: After the Final Battle, Killian Jones had finally settled into his happily ever after with his wife and family. Until a new foe arrived in Storybrooke: the infamous Dorian Gray, who looks rather familiar—one might say identical—to the pirate, and he’s on a mission: to claim the powers of the Dark One for himself. There’s only one problem: the Dark One no longer exists. What follows is a journey of vengeance, revelations, magic, and finally facing down the darkness within himself that Killian thought he’d finally put to rest. [roughly canon divergent from 5B, though set post-canon]

A/N: Time for the next chapter of this year’s @cssns story! (I plan to update every Wednesday :D ) Thank you for the warm reception to the first part; hope you enjoy this next one as well! Also: A shout-out to my writing crew on Discord; thank you for all your support as I've worked on this!!!! (And eternal thanks to the best beta, @optomisticgirl!)

rated M | 2.6k words | AO3 | 1

"That's not Killian."

"Are you sure?" David sounded skeptical of Emma’s statement, but she had no clue why.

"Of course I'm sure; he’s my freaking husband. That's not him," she insisted, pointing to the (admittedly handsome) stranger in the cell.

For starters, Emma had literally just left Killian at the library; there was no way he'd have had the time to start a fight with Leroy at Granny's AND get arrested in the span of 5 minutes. (At least, not anymore.)

Second, she would know him anywhere, any time, in any world. Even the haggard version of Killian she’d met in the Wish Realm was undeniably him.

So while this clearly hungover man looked and sounded like Killian, she knew it wasn't. There was nothing but anger deep in this man's eyes—a look Killian hadn't had in ages. She briefly entertained the possibility he was cursed, or that this was some kind of glamour spell or time travel, but then she took a closer look at his face: the scar was all wrong—it was deeper and cut a jagged line into his left cheek; Killian's was light and curved down the right side. And to top it all off, he had two hands.

But that only raised another question.

"Who are you?"

"Finally, one of you idiots doesn't pretend to know me." A chill went down her spine; it was Killian's voice, alright, but with more venom and spite than his ever had in the time she’d known him. And the accent was ever so slightly different—less of a lilt and more of an edge.

"I'll ask again: who are you?" She'd gotten pretty good at reading Killian, but it was proving near impossible with this guy (further proof that it was not her favorite pirate).

"How about you tell me who everyone thinks I am?" There was a challenge in his tone.

"Nope." No way was she letting him find out about Killian if he didn’t already know. "Why are you here, then?"

"That's my business." His face suddenly turned dark—well, darker—and she grew fearful. Because even though she knew he was a different person, he was starting to remind her an awful lot of the man she found hiding under some bodies in the Enchanted Forest, who was willing to burn heaven and hell to get his revenge.

"You made it our business when you came into this town," David supplied. "Either tell us why you're here, and maybe we can help you, or let us escort you out of town."

A sudden rage came over the man, and he jumped up and grabbed at the cell's bars. "I'm not leaving until I've taken what's mine!" A fire burned in his eyes as he shouted.

No, wait—that was actual fire. His hands began to glow a hot red-orange and she heard a distinct hissing sound. Two jaws dropped as the man melted the metal in his hands and then some, giving him an easy exit.

He angrily stepped through the hole he'd just made and began to stride out of the station. David attempted to grab him, but the man twisted away and turned to give them both a menacing look.

"Stay out of my way and leave the Dark One to me," he warned. A moment later, he appeared to be engulfed in flames, and the next, he was gone. Emma exchanged a look of shock with her father.

"Definitely not Hook."

“Duh,” she deadpanned. But she was stuck on something else. "The Dark One?"

"He must not know."

They didn't get a chance to process the encounter before the station phone was ringing. David answered it and hung up not a minute later, sighing.

"Speaking of."

"Gold?"

"Yeah. Turns out his shop got ransacked last night."

"Shit. And I bet we know who did it."

★・・・・・・★・・・・・・🗡・・・・・・★・・・・・・★

So he had a doppelganger in this town; that was why everyone seemed to know him. He had transported to a spot down the street from the pawn shop and was mulling over this new detail as he made his way there, lighting a fresh cigarette as he went. He relished the fact that he'd made some trouble for his lookalike. And maybe he could use that to his advantage here.

The door still hung ajar at the pawn shop when he arrived and he could hear someone shuffling around inside. He had to pause and take a moment to calm himself down—after centuries, he was finally only feet away from his quarry; he couldn't let his hot temper get in the way right now.

As quietly as he could, he stepped toward the entryway and looked in. A graying man was poking around and muttering, leaning on a cane and inspecting the damage. Why didn’t he just wave his hand and fix it all? Surely the Dark One would have no issue with magic as small as that.

A horrific thought entered his mind: what if the power of the Dark One was void in this realm? And that was why he had a hard time sensing it? He finally got a glimpse of the crippled man’s face: it was definitely Rumpelstiltskin. But he’d yet to pick up any full traces of that dark magic.

“I know you’re there, dearie,” a voice with a distinct brogue called out. Smirking, he stepped through the threshold.

He finally stood to face-to-face with his longtime prey. Rumpelstiltskin stared back; he looked nothing like how a Dark One should appear, though—he was utterly and completely normal.

“Captain, this is highly unusual.” In his reverie, he missed the look of recognition in the Dark One’s eyes.

Captain? Well that was a juicy little tidbit. Perhaps there’d be an adjoining vessel with which to hightail it out of here. “Just seeing how you liked my handiwork.”

Only a few feet of rubble-covered wood floor separated the two. “Are you here about your hand, or is there some other reason you’ve decided to break into and ransack my shop? I thought we were done, for good.”

Hand? He quickly thought back to the appendage in a jar and made sure both of his were out of sight as he meandered across the shop, pausing to lean against the counter. “I think there’s something else you can help me with, Dark One.”

“Really? Still using that title.” Rumpeltstiltskin gave a self-satisfied smirk that looked far too natural on his face.

Careful to use his right hand (the one in the jar was a left, he’d noticed), he took the dying cigarette from his teeth and put it out in the wood of the counter. Anger rose in his chest at his foe's cockiness and lack of fear—that wasn’t something he was used to. “Where is the dagger?” he asked, voice low.

“The dagger?” Rumpelstiltskin bore an incredulous expression, but the confusion only set off his own anger (so much for trying to collect himself). In a flash, he was at the other man’s throat, the beginnings of a ball of fire forming in his palm just inches from the Dark One’s face.

“Where is your dagger?” he growled again, emphasizing each word.

A stream of emotions flitted across the apparent Mr. Gold’s face: confusion, anger, fear, and finally realization.

“Who are you?” he sputtered out.

“The man who’s going to take your power.” His voice was barely more than a rasp at this point; he was too close to back down now.

To his utter shock, the Dark One laughed. It took him by surprise, and the fireball fizzled out before it had even finished forming.

But he regained composure. “You find your demise funny?”

“I know who you are; you've been dogging me for years. But you’re too late, by quite some time. There is no Dark One; not anymore.”

He pulled back, jaw slack. Out of all the scenarios he’d envisioned, he hadn’t even contemplated this. “Impossible.”

“I’ll let the sheriff explain.”

Seemingly on cue, Emma from the station barged through the open door, gun raised and leveled at his chest. As if that would do anything. He was about to knock back the weapon with a wave of his hand, but something in her steely gaze gave him pause.

She didn’t fuck around, he could tell. But he wasn’t about to let some small-town cop spoil his quest. He guessed she had been nothing more than a jailer back in the Enchanted Forest—he knew well enough how the curse worked. So she was certainly no match for him.

"Look, darling, like I said—this doesn’t involve you.” He walked toward her, adopting a softer tone, as if speaking to a pet. “Now, I’d hate to ruin that pretty face of yours. But if you won’t leave me be, sweetheart, then you leave me no choice."

Another fireball appeared in his hand and he shot it toward the sheriff. But she deflected it with a jerk of her arm and a pulse of white light. Of course the law enforcement had magic, he thought with a sigh. Just then, the male sheriff arrived; could he do the same?

"Who the hell are you?" she asked with a confident but stern voice.

"Well ain't that the question of the hour." She was staring daggers at him. "You can read my name when it’s engraved on the Dark One’s dagger," he threw back, gesturing at Rumpelstiltskin. "Run along now; this is between us." He waved her off.

She wasn’t fazed. Instead, she smirked, taking a thick black bracelet her partner offered. "You know what this does?"

"No clue." He didn't have time for games, but before he knew it, she'd slipped it onto his wrist.

He tried to conjure it off—burn through it, melt it, anything—but nothing happened; it was as if his magic was blocked. "What the fuck?" Tugging was no use, either. "What did you do?" he roared.

Smoothly, she cuffed him—with actual handcuffs this time. Before they left, she looked over at the former Dark One. “Is there any way to tell—”

“Yes, indeed.” A yank of his head and a prick of pain on his scalp told him that Rumpelstiltskin had taken some of his hair.

“What the hell do you need that for?” His query fell on deaf ears.

“I’ll require the Captain’s, too,” his foe told the sheriff, who nodded in assent.

He was unceremoniously shoved outside and into the back of the squad car. “Don’t you have to read me my rights in this country?” he protested.

“Yeah. You have the right to shut up.”

Surprising himself, he complied. The weight of what he’d been told moments earlier was just beginning to settle in: there was no more Dark One. As preposterous as it sounded, it made sense: there were no traces of the Darkness, or even magic, on Rumpelstiltskin, and nothing as dark as what he sought anywhere here. A sense of emptiness consumed him as he realized his life's purpose, his lone goal, simply ceased to exist.

What now?

★・・・・・・★・・・・・・🗡・・・・・・★・・・・・・★

The wail of the siren was a rude and somewhat jarring intrusion on the peace and quiet of the library. Killian nearly dropped the book he was reshelving—part of his new role as assistant librarian—and Belle was interrupted from her processing of returned items. Both watched the squad car speed by, then exchanged a concerned look.

"They...they were coming from the direction of the shop," Belle stated, shakily. After everything had been resolved with the Darkness and everyone returned to the land of the living, he and the former Dark One had come to an uneasy peace, mainly for the sake of Belle. She was his closest friend in town, outside of his in-laws, and they would always share a unique bond in their love affairs with the Dark One; hers was far longer than his, although his own dabble with the Darkness made his (and Emma’s) a bit more intense.

And in the varying events of their lives since—Gideon’s (traumatic) birth, his and Emma’s wedding, the fight against the Black Fairy, Henry’s departure, and everything else—they’d been by each other’s sides, even going so far as to work together at the library. (Emma had offered him a position at the station, but was more than understanding when Belle’s counteroffer won out, knowing how it would sate his constant craving for knowledge.) Belle was like the little sister he’d never had, and he felt protective over her.

So that was why, without hesitation, he set the books down and stepped toward the door. "Shall we?"

She quickly joined him and they raced outside and down the street to the shop. He wasn't surprised to see the door hanging open, but the lack of a doorknob altogether was surprising, as well as what looked like puddles of solid metal on the ground.

"Rumple! Are you alright?" Belle shouted as she ran into the arms of the man in question. Glass crunched underfoot and Killian had to admit, it was an impressive mess.

"Who came to exact their revenge this time?" he asked dryly. He never agreed to liking his former adversary—only the barest level of civility.

"Ahh, of course you'd know the signs of vengeance anywhere," Gold snarled back. In a few surprisingly short strides, the man was in front of Killian and reached up to yank a few hairs from his head.

"Rumple!" Belle admonished.

"What the hell was that for, mate? It wasn't me." Killian cursed Gold further internally while rubbing at the now-sore spot on his scalp.

"I know that. But there's something else we have to figure out." Rumpelstiltskin placed the hairs in a vial from his jacket, which had a few others in there already. "Belle, my darling, will you help me with something?"

"Of course," she immediately replied, but Killian could see confusion and a bit of worry on her face. Her husband may have lost his powers and was no longer under the influence of the darkness, but it had still shaped his personality over the centuries and no one but Belle knew if he had any true remaining malevolence.

"Now why don't you run along to the station, Captain. I think there's something there of interest to you." Killian didn't like the threatening tone that came his way, but he nodded his assent and bid Belle goodbye.

As he rushed across town, he felt uneasy about what was waiting at the station; regardless of what he'd been told, his concern was directed at Emma before himself. He couldn't bear the thought of some evil attaching itself to or going after her again, and it was nothing good that melted that doorknob and trashed the store.

By the time he was within a block of the station, he was sprinting, fear consuming him as his imagination ran faster than his feet. "Emma!" he shouted as he threw open the station door and ran in.

To his relief, she seemed untouched, and was deep in conversation with David and whoever was in one of the station's cells.

"Hey, is everything alright?" she asked as he wrapped his arms around her.

"If you're fine, then yes," he sighed into her hair. "Gold told me to come here; I was worried."

She pulled back to study his face, and he could see the trepidation on her face. "Swan, what is it?"

Before she could answer, a familiar voice called out from the cell—perhaps too familiar. "What the actual fuck?"

Killian looked at the prisoner and began to wonder if his eyesight was finally failing him or if there was some kind of magic afoot, because he may as well have been looking in a mirror at the form identical to his behind the bars.

"Bloody hell."

★・・・・・・★・・・・・・🗡・・・・・・★・・・・・・★

thanks for reading! (longer chapters to come!) tagging some peeps (let me know if you do/don’t want a tag!) @kat2609 @xpumpkindumplingx @shipsxahoy @mryddinwilt @cocohook38 @annytecture @shireness-says @ohmightydevviepuu @wistfulcynic @pirateherokillian @colinoeyebrows @wingedlioness @word-bug @thisonesatellite @wellhellotragic @welllpthisishappening @let-it-raines @killianmesmalls @thejollyroger-writer @ineffablecolors @ive-always-been-a-pirate @nfbagelperson @stubblesandwich @phiralovesloki @athenascarlet @kmomof4 @ilovemesomekillianjones @whimsicallyenchantedrose @snowbellewells @idristardis @scientificapricot @searchingwardrobes @donteattheappleshook @jrob64 @the-darkdragonfly @stahlop @klynn-stormz @resident-of-storybrooke

#cs ff #killian jones ff #cssns 2023 #captain swan supernatural summer #sons of love and death #my ff

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pennylanefics · 1 year

Text

The Cattle Driving Stranger - Cowboy!Danny Wagner

a/n: i wrote this amongst the AI images trend and tbh i kinda like cowboy danny 😌 also this idea comes from @maud-gone and she's also the one who told me i should post it so here we are :)

summary: a stranger accidentally stumbles onto your property and your father takes advantage of this. however, you can't help but fall for the tall, mysterious cowboy

warnings: mentions of guns (one character pointing one at another), mentions of blood/wound

word count: ~ 5.5k

Ever since your father injured his leg, he hasn’t been able to herd the cattle that you own very well. He started off by having a family member do it for free, but after a few times, they decided they wanted to be paid, and your father couldn’t do that right now.

You were working your own job at the local diner, so that was helping some income, but times were tough at the moment. Until a random stranger stumbled upon your property.

You were coming home from your day shift, when you see your father on the porch, with his gun drawn, pointing it at a man mounted on a horse. His hands were in the air, letting you know he wasn’t a threat to anyone.

“Who are you?!” Your father shouts. The man dismounts his horse, keeping his hands in the air.

“My name’s Danny. I’m lost and not sure where I’m going,” he says.

“This is private property, young man.”

“I wasn’t aware, but now that I am, I will leave as soon as I can. But I ask one thing, if I can clean the wound that I sustained while riding through the night.” He points to his bicep, where the linen cloth of his undershirt has been sliced open, revealing a nice gash that was bloodied.

Your father lowers his gun and takes a seat back in the rocker.

“Come on in. But now it’s my turn to ask you something.” Danny walks up the stairs cautiously as you stay put on the side of the house, out of view from him. “Ever herd cattle?”

Your eyes roll at your father’s desperation, until you hear Danny chuckle.

“Yes, actually. I was my family’s herder until they sold the farm and cattle. Ever since then, I’ve been roaming, trying to find a place to settle down, and haven’t found one yet.”

Because you were already exhausted from this morning, you decide to make yourself known to get into the house and settle down for the day. You walk around and come into view of your father and the stranger, and immediately, Danny is entranced by you.

He has never seen a woman so beautiful, so perfect, even after a long and tiring day of work.

“(Y/N), this is Danny. Caught him trespassing and it looks like he’s gonna be staying for a while.”

Both you and Danny look to your father in confusion.

“I can give you a place to stay if you’re willing to be my new herder. I’ve been unable to get around with his goddamn ankle, so if you wouldn’t mind helping out around here, you’re more than welcome to stay in the guest room.”

“Thank you, sir. I appreciate the sentiment very much.” With that, you walk inside, past Danny, leaving the two men to sit and converse on the porch until it was time for dinner.

You didn’t see much of Danny that night, he stayed in his room to eat dinner and kept to himself; though you expected this, really, what was he supposed to do? Suddenly open himself up to you guys, when your father had his gun pointed at him when they first met?

In the following weeks, Danny finally starts to feel a little more welcome. Your father was warming up to him a lot and they had been getting along really well. You liked the fact that your dad had someone else besides you to talk to, and you were very thankful for all the work Danny did to help him out.

However, you remained weary of Danny. You didn’t really know his true intentions, if he was going to just up and leave one day after he gets tired of staying in one place for too long. You feared he was just like the last few cattle drivers, leaving your father with no warning, and going back to square one.

But he reassured you that Danny was here to stay at least for a while. He boasted every second he could about how good of a herder he is, and how Danny loves it here.

So, on one of the days you have off, you stood on the porch and watched Danny in action. And sure enough, he rounded up all of your cattle with ease, doing it so effortlessly, like it was second nature to him. He concentrated hard with every move of his, and the cattle listened to him with no issues. You were very surprised at this, and soon, this became your norm.

You spent most of your mornings with your dad on the porch, watching Danny herd, and it never got boring. Every day was the same, but with each time, you could feel your attraction for Danny deepening. And you never realized, but he always took a moment to admire you from afar as well.

One morning, it was nice and cool out, compared to the recent heat. Danny was out there, as usual, gathering all of the cattle towards the small open gate. With every single cow through, he locked the gate and rode back to the stables to put his horse back. Finally, he emerges and makes his way towards the house, walking up the steps where you were holding a glass of water for him that your dad asked you to get him.

“Thank you,” he mumbles, taking the glass from you. He drops into the second rocker, taking his hat off and wiping the sweat away from his forehead, and your dad stands to pat his back.

“Nice work today, young man. Now I have to go into town to visit my doctor, and he’s going to be assessing me over the next couple days, so I won’t be home until Saturday. (Y/N), don’t scare Danny off. There’s some leftover soup for dinner. I’ll see y’all later.”

With that, your dad hops in his car and drives into town, leaving you and Danny alone for the night. Something that has yet to happen. It made you nervous, but Danny was a good guy, right?

Dinner was filled with an awkward silence. You had no clue how to converse with Danny, being alone, you weren’t sure what his likes and dislikes were, or if he even wanted to talk at all. So, you stayed quiet, reading the newspaper that your father left on the table.

Once the sun had set and the moon appeared, and a cooler temperature had replaced the desert heat, you step out onto the front porch to clear your head. Your mind was reeling with nerves and feeling like a terrible host for possibly making Danny feel uncomfortable.

“Is it always this peaceful out here?” A voice interrupts your moment. Turning, you find Danny, dressed in the night clothes that your dad had given him.

It was a simple old linen nightshirt, and he was also dressed in just his briefs. Something you tried not to focus on, but it was really hard to ignore. His thick thighs fully on show for you, how could you not look? Respectfully, of course.

“Yeah. It’s a great way clear your head after a long day.”

Danny cautiously leans against the railing next to you, staring out into the vast land that was your home. He takes in the sight of the cattle barn, where he would be next morning, letting all the cattle out to graze and get some space for the day.

“How long have you been a herder?” You ask him, keeping your eyes forward. Danny, however, looks over at you with a small smile on his face.

Ever since he was given the chance to stay, he had become so taken by you. He wanted to talk to you, but you always gave off the energy that you didn’t want to get to know him. He understood of course, a random stranger is suddenly staying with you after all you’ve known is just you and your dad, he wasn’t expecting you to trust him right away.

He also hated feeling like he was intruding on your lives, but your father reassured him that it was just because you were shy and closed off in general.

So right now, and especially after how dinner went, he was susprirsed to hear your question for him.

“Ever since I was young. My father was a farmer and he taught me from the age of five how to herd. Since then, I’ve learned to do it on my own and became the family’s driver.”

“You said they sold the farm and everything, why was that?” Danny shuffles his feet a little, his mouth falling open but nothing coming out, and right away, you knew you crossed a boundary. “I’m so sorry, I shouldn’t have asked that.” Danny shakes his head, and offers you a small smile.

“No, don’t worry about it. It’s okay. It’s something I haven’t exactly had time to really process or talk about with anyone, and I’m not entirely sure how to even explain it.” You nod awkwardly, feeling your heart race due to the anxiety pumping through your body.

“Um, what happened to your arm?” You ask this time, wanting to steer away from the previous topic.

“I got scraped on some barbed wire while trying to get through someone else’s land. They chased me off, and I ended up here.”

“It’s all healed now, though, right?” Danny smiles and you finally look at him. You try hard to keep the gasp in that was threatening to escape.

He was incredibly beautiful, although this was something you knew, but actually taking his features in, you realized just how gorgeous he is. Especially in the moonlight. The curve of his nose standing out against the night sky, the light from the moon casting onto it, only adding to the beauty. His pink cheeks and structured jawline, and not to mention his curls that were always hidden under his hat and pulled back during the day.

You don’t notice how long you’re staring at him until he clears his throat awkwardly. You softly apologize and Danny just chuckles in response. You couldn’t fall for this man. You barely knew him, but he was so pretty.

“Um, would you maybe want to, uh, join me in herding the cattle tomorrow? I mean, taking a horse out there with me and watching from up close rather than ogling at me from the porch?” Your cheeks feel like they’re on fire at this point.

So he’s noticed. Great.

“Well, I would hate to get in your way, I don’t know much about herding and I don’t want to mess up how you work with them.”

“Sitting on a horse out of the way ain’t goin’ to mess with them, darlin’.” Your heart flutters at the nickname and now you are feeling very drawn to this man.

“Sure,” you agree after a couple more minutes of him explaining how it would even work.

“You don’t hav’t do anything, just sit there and look pretty. Maybe we can also go for a little ride after.”

“I’d love that, Danny.”

Just as planned, you got up bright and early, dressing in your favorite outfit, and headed downstairs to find Danny preparing breakfast for the two of you. He had made some eggs with toast, scrambled, just the way you like them.

After breakfast, he brings you out to the stables and takes his horse while you let out the horse that you always take out riding, Sunshine.

You follow him over to the cattle barn where he begins his work, letting out all of the cows and bulls that you and your father own. He does his job of letting them into the open area for the day, closing the fence with ease once they all get through.

He rides back over to you and you follow him away from the land, down a little trail that leads to an open field. Your eyes remain on the back of his form, the way his loose curls bounce with every gallop of his horse, and just the way he looks overall.

You continue riding until you come to a huge tree with a shaded area. Danny dismounts his horse, you doing the same. He ties both horses to another nearby tree and allows them to graze and rest while he sits down against the trunk of the larger tree , motioning for you to join him.

“Did I do a pretty good job?” He wonders, referring to his herding. You giggle and nod, looking out at the open space in front of you.

“I’d say you did. I can see why my dad has kept you on for as long as he has, and with no pay.” Danny hums in response, knowing that it would come up sooner or later.

“Right now, I’m just happy to have a roof over my head. And I’m happy to help out your father when he’s unable to do the work himself.”

“He’s very thankful for that, and honestly so am I.”

Danny’s eyes fall onto your face as he waits for you to continue.

“We’ve been struggling quite a bit, with my job at the diner being the main source of income and from the few cattle we sell and trade for. But it’s been hard finding people to buy your livestock when they haven’t had a chance to properly graze or roam around in an open space. So the fact that you’re helping out, I’m sure he’ll give you a cut of the money.”

“I don’t care about the money. I never have. The way he explained how difficult it’s been, I’m just glad to help out any way I can, and again, for him to give me shelter, I don’t need anything else in return.”

Silence falls between you, but not like the silence from dinner the previous night. This feels comfortable, like neither of you have to say anything to fill the void. It was nice.

“My family lost our home,” he quietly says. Your head whips to him in confusion, he’s really going to tell you this now? After last night and how awkward it was?

“Oh, I’m so sorry.” He nods and looks down at his hands, fiddling with them awkwardly.

“My father left us when I was ten, and my mom struggled raising three kids on her own. But she never said anything. So just a couple months ago, she sat us down and told us she sold everything because she wasn’t able to pay for the house, the farm, the cattle, and feed all of us. I got angry, took my favorite horse before she was able to sell them, and left. I’ve been roaming around ever since, managing with the money that I had of mine from my job back in my town, and somehow made it this far.” You could tell he was feeling very vulnerable at the moment, and you really didn’t know how to respond.

“That must’ve been super hard to hear,” you murmur. Looking over, you see Danny’s hands shaking slightly, so you reach over and grab them in yours, to let him know everything would be okay.

He smiles affectionately at you and you do the same. His beautiful brown eyes shine in the sunlight, though shielded by the brim of his worn-down hat. A scarf adorned his neck, amongst three silver necklaces, resting perfectly against his exposed tanned chest.

He was definitely a sight to look at, and you could spend hours telling him how beautiful he is.

“It definitely wasn’t easy, but I’m finally starting to move past it, thanks to you and your father for takin’ me in.”

“So, you plan on staying for a while longer?” Danny chuckles lightly and knocks his knee into yours.

“Yes ma’am. Why? Don’t wanna see me go so soon?” His tone is lighthearted and you can tell that he’s joking, but your expression soon shuts his laughter down.

“We’ve had a few cattle drivers in the recent weeks before you showed up, that helped him, but when they realized there was no pay and not much else, they left. Didn’t even let my dad know. I really don’t want him going through that yet again, it’s why I haven’t been so…open to getting to know you because I was expecting you to just up and leave at some point.”

Danny’s hand falls to your thigh, softly rubbing the cloth of your pants.

“I’m not leaving, I promise. I have more than one reason to stay.” Smiling softly, you gaze into his eyes, and for a moment, they flicker down to his plump lips. Your mind doesn’t even register your actions and before you know it, you are kissing Danny as softly as ever, but just enough to let him know that if this isn’t okay, he can stop it at any moment.

But his reaction is something you were not hoping for. When you pull away, your eyes flutter open, and you were expecting Danny to reciprocate it. However, he instead rises to stand and mounts his horse, riding away as quickly as he can.

You sit there, dumbfounded, feeling so incredibly stupid for what you’ve done. You were now convinced you fucked everything up, specifically your father’s chance at having a herder. And you had no one else to blame but yourself.

You read into the signals Danny was merely sending you, you played too much into your little crush on him, and now he was probably gone for good because you once again, overstepped a boundary that you knew you most likely shouldn’t have crossed.

When you finally make it back home, you guide Sunshine into the stables and remove the saddle and everything, allowing her to relax. Though you notice Danny’s horse was not there, meaning he was still gone.

The rest of your day is spent alone, you make your own lunch, though leaving some left overs for Danny, whenever he returns, if he does.

Dinner was the same. A silent house, the only sound being the wind, making the wooden boards creak. Before you know it, the sun has set, and Danny has yet to return, or at least make his way into the house, as far as you know. Which also means the cattle are stuck out there for the night.

Retiring to your room for the night, you take out the book you have been reading and curl up under your covers. Though it’s not long before you hear the front door open and close. You knew it was Danny, but you didn’t really want to face him at the moment.

Unfortunately, he decided it was time to face what happened, because a few minutes later, there’s a knock on your door. Your heart beats out of your chest as you carefully bookmark and close your book, and stand to answer the door.

“Listen, Danny, I am so sorry for what happened earlier, please don’t let that get in the way of-” you are cut off by Danny’s soft lips crashing into yours. He practically knocks the wind out of you, making you gasp as he takes a hold of your face to keep you close.

You reciprocate the kiss with just as much fervor, holding onto his forearms to steady yourself.

“Mhm, Danny?” You mumble against his lips, breaking the kiss for a moment.

“Shh, I’m so sorry for how I reacted,” he coos, his voice low and sorrowful. “I was…I was terrified.”

“Why?” He sighs softly and takes a seat on your bed. You close your door and then sit as close as you can next to him, your legs pressed against one another’s.

“I was scared that…kissing you back could potentially ruin all of this.

“I’m sorry for kissing you,” you immediately reply. Danny can’t help the laugh that escapes him.

“Why are you sorry? I wanted to kiss you too, darlin’, but…I was scared about your father finding out.”

“He’s not gonna shoot ya for kissing me, you know.” Danny shakes his head and grabs your hand.

“That’s not it. I was worried about him kicking me out, firing me, or you know, not allowing me to be a driver for him anymore.”

“He’s desperate for help, he’s not gonna kick you out anytime soon, let alone for kissin’ me,” you let him know. “And besides, I’m sure he would love you taking me out, or just bein’ with me. He talks so highly of you and tells me what a wonderful man you are, I don’t think he’d mind, knowing his daughter is in good hands.”

Danny looks over at you with a fond smile on his lips. His eyes quickly avert to your lips, and he leans in ever so slowly.

You take this as a sign that he wants to kiss you again, so you lean in as well, meeting him halfway. Though this time, the kiss is filled with much more hunger, more lust than the previous.

Turning your bodies so you can face each other better, Danny grabs your neck to keep you close to him, his fingers gently massaging the muscles in the area.

You softly moan into his mouth before he stands and breaks the kiss.

“I don’t…I don’t wanna do this tonight,” he mumbles awkwardly. Embarrassment fills your body and you shrink back onto your bed, your face on fire at this point.

“Oh, I’m so sorry, but I wasn’t wanting that tonight either,” you try and reconcile, not wanting to ruin this moment. “It’s…it’s just that I’ve thought about kissing you ever since we first met, and I guess I got a little carried away.”

Danny chuckles lightly and sits back down next to you, taking a hold of your hand.

“I’ve thought about it too, sweetheart. You are the most gorgeous girl I have ever seen,” he quietly flirts, a certain gleam in his eyes.

“Would you…um, would you want to stay with me tonight?” You ask him, though you avoid eye contact with him, your eyes instead trained on your entwined hands. However, his free hand lifts up to your face and tilts your chin up so he could see you.

“I would love that. Let me shower first because I just got home, and I’ll be back as soon as I can. Don’t fall asleep on me.” He winks at you and kisses your cheek, then stands to walk out of your room.

You take this time to finish reading the chapter you were on, and before you know it, Danny returns to your room, dressed in a pair of long pajama pants and no shirt. A small grin pulls at your lips, and you try to hide it from Danny, but it’s no use.

“Like what you see, huh?” He teases, eliciting a giggle from you.

His hair was still slightly wet, not to the point where it was dripping, but you could see his curls already forming and framing his face. He lays beside you after you set your book down, though you keep your bedside light on for the time being.

“Have I told you how pretty I think your nose is?” You tell him, reaching up to drag your finger down the bridge of his nose. He chuckles and watches you focus on his features.

“You haven’t, but thank you, darlin’. And your little nose is just as cute.” He taps your nose gently, making you scrunch it up in response.

You snuggle up into his side and his hand falls onto your back. Gently and almost like he was asking for permission, his hand slides under your nightshirt to feel your skin. When you don’t push him away or question it, he figures that he is okay to continue, so his touch gets a little more heavy, but in a relaxing way.

His touch was enough to put you to sleep, and the way his calloused fingers felt so rough yet so tender against you, it was a feeling you would never grow tired of.

“So, what do we tell your dad if he finds out?” Danny wonders after a few minutes of comfortable silence. You hum and shake your head, eyes fluttering shut as you start to lose consciousness. Your hand mindlessly traces along his bare chest, taking in the soft, warm skin beneath your fingertips, drawing shapes and patterns onto the area.

Gazing up, you find him staring down at you, adoration filling his eyes. He grabs your hand and brings it up to his lips, pressing light kisses to your fingertips and knuckles.

“Let’s cross that bridge when it comes,” you say. He nods and snuggles you closer to him, laying down with you and pulling you into his arms as you finally drift off to sleep.

The next morning, you wake up, your face pressed against Danny’s chest, and his arms tightly around you. Smiling to yourself, you could tell Danny was still asleep by the way his shallow and even breaths fanned out against your hair.

You didn’t want to move from your position, but seeing the clock on the wall, you knew it was time for him to get up and herd the cattle out. So, you kiss his neck, hoping to wake him up. Sure enough, it works and he groans, stirring at the feeling.

“Well that’s a way to wake up,” he jokes. You laugh and sit up, looking down at his sleepy figure.

“You should get up and go do what you’re here for.”

“Waking up to and kissing the pretty daughter of the farmer I work for?” He jokes, leaning down to quickly peck your lips. Smacking his chest, he laughs and sits up, falling away from his body, which you miss instantly.

“Come out with me again?” He asks, caressing your cheek with his hand. You fall into his touch, shutting your eyes for a moment to relish in the feel of his hand before nodding in agreement.

After making breakfast together, you sit and enjoy some coffee before heading out to the stables to do the same as yesterday.

You follow him out on horseback, keeping your distance as he lets the cattle into the open field. He finishes and heads back inside to rest for a little while you start on lunch.

“Wanna head out to the spot we went to the other day?” Danny wonders, coming up behind you with his hands on your hips. Chuckling, you nod and quickly made the lunch to go, so you could enjoy it out there.

Danny has different a different idea to get out there. Instead of taking your own horse, he has you ride with him, in front of him of course, so he could hold you against his chest. The entire ride down the trail is spent with him singing some tune in your ear and running his thumbs along your forearms.

Reaching the tree, he hops off then helps you down. And for the rest of the afternoon, after you enjoy your lunch, you lay adjacent to him with your head in his lap, his hands playing with your hair as you talk about your lives, getting to know one another for the first time.

Kisses are shared as well as stories that you’ve never told anyone else. You have no clue why you feel so comfortable around Danny now, but his presence makes you feel safe. He tells you all about growing up on a farm, and you are able to bond over similar events you have dealt with.

You head back a little bit before dinner, which Danny offers to make after he herds the cattle into the barn for the night.

“Come with me,” Danny stands after finishing dinner, holding his hand out for you to take. Cautiously, you place your hand in his and he brings you out of the house, pausing and telling you to stay on the porch.

He quickly runs to the stables and retrieves his horse, riding over to you once he has her. Like earlier, he helps you up onto the saddle and gets on himself after. He kicks his heels and the horse takes off through the gates where the cattle grazes and up to the top of the hill.

It’s a place you’ve spent many days, the view absolutely incredible, the wide open space of the west, rolling plains and deserts for miles upon miles. However tonight, the sunset was unbelievable.

The clouds made the sky very dimensional, and the colors were indescribable. Oranges mixed with pinks and reds, and part of the sky that was already turning blue was thrown in as well, some of it appearing purple.

“Wow,” you breathe out. You’ve seen sunsets on this hill many times, but this one was out of this world. Danny glances over at you and smiles, admiring the way the light bathes you in such a way.

“I’ve never seen anything more beautiful,” he says. You nod, still staring at the scene in front of you.

“It’s heavenly,” you reply. Danny doesn’t say anything else, catching your attention. You quickly avert your gaze to him and that’s when you realize that he is staring at you.

“It is,” he whispers. Your cheeks heat up as Danny’s hands grab your hips and he faces you fully. You reach up and tilt his hat away from his face so that the dimming sunlight catches his features as well. A smile stretches across your lips when you take in his astonishing brown eyes.

“Were-were you talking about the sunset?” You ask. Danny chuckles and leans down, his nose rubbing your cheek in such a tender way, it makes your heart flutter. He trails a line to your ear, where he presses a light kiss to the shell of it, before whispering into it.

“It is a sight, but I wasn’t talking about that,” he whispers, making his way back to your face. His eyes remain closed and he moves to kiss you, as sweetly as ever.

Your hands tangle in his curls that weren’t covered by his hat, a soft moan bubbling in your throat. Kissing Danny was addicting, and you hoped that he would stay with you for at least the near future; you couldn’t get enough of him.

Neither of you were expecting your father to be back around this time, but he arrived onto the property and got out of the towncar carefully. He takes a quick glance at the sunset, but something catches his eye. He sees the silhouettes of the two of you, kissing, completely caught up in your own world.

He tries not to watch, out of respect for your privacy, but a sense of pride and love washes over him. Danny proved himself to be a good man, and you had struggled to find that all your life. He can’t help the grin that tugs at his lips, knowing that you’re in good hands.

Once the sun has set, you and Danny spend just a little bit longer on the hill together before deciding to ride back, when it finally started to get chilly.

As soon as you step foot in the house, you see your dad sitting at the kitchen table, sipping on a glass of iced tea, waiting for your return. His presence makes you and Danny freeze. Danny awkwardly removes his hat, almost as if he feels like he doesn’t deserve to wear it anymore.

“Where’ve you two been?” He asks, crossing his arms. Though his expression holds a knowing look. Gulping, your eyes drop down to the floor. “Enjoying the sunset?”

“Dad, it’s-”

“Sir, it was me. She ain’t in the wrong, I fell for her and I know I shouldn’t ‘ave, but-”

“Young man, I was gonna say I give y’all my blessing,” your father cuts him off. Your head shoots up, your eyes wide in shock.

“What?” Your dad finally breaks his hard exterior and smiles widely. He gets up and makes his way over to the two of you.

“Danny, you’re a good kid. I hav’nt seen a man like you for quite some time. I know you’re good for my daughter. I was wonderin’ when it would happen anyways!” He teases, hugging you tightly before moving to shake Danny’s hand.

Danny was still so taken aback that he really didn’t register what happened until your dad was out of the room and walking towards the back porch, where he has been going to clear his mind most nights recently.

“Hey, you okay?” You pat Danny’s chest. He lets out the breath that he had been holding, which turns into laughter.

“I guess that bridge was easy to cross,” he says. You laugh with him and step closer to him, curling into his side.

“See, I told you you had nothing to worry about.”

Danny’s arms wrap around your body as his head nods against yours.

“You’re always right, aren’t you?” He smirks, leaning down to kiss you. You happily hum against his lips, eyes fluttering closed as you melt into his touch.

“Mhm. I am. And I think I’m going to be right about you staying with me again tonight?” Danny raises his eyebrow and tightens his grip on your waist, his fingers digging into your hips.

“Oh you are. But it ain’t gonna be innocent.”

–

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save-the-villainous-cat · 1 year

Note

Oh hon'rable moth'r! Wouldst thee beest kind enow to blesseth this po'r soul with some wlw angst?

It wasn’t like she didn’t have anything to say about the situation. There were millions of thoughts racing through her head but not even a single one was willing to manifest into an actual question.

At the end, it was the villain who broke the silence.

“You look well,” she said. The hero looked up from her steaming coffee. Cruelly enough, it was a wonderful day with sunlight kissing the spring leaves and soft clouds passing by. The city was calm, peaceful even and though the hero truly missed those days when she had been needed, she knew that it was better this way.

“Thank you. I’ve been trying more to take care of myself. You always encouraged that,” the hero said. The coffee shop was cozy and not even that bad but the hero wasn’t really focused on that. They weren’t even focused on anything in particular, not even the villain who looked oh so beautiful today.

“For the record, I still encourage that.” The villain smiled sweetly, maybe even a bit absentmindedly but the hero felt sick nonetheless. Meeting her seemed wrong. Especially after a year of no contact.

A long silence stretched between the two of them with nothing but the sound of spoons clinking on dishes and baristas using the machines in the background. There was some kind of eeriness in the air, something she could not put her finger on.

“I asked you to come here because I wanted to thank you,” the villain eventually said. “You know, sometimes people come into our lives and it changes everything. There is nothing we can do about that.”

Her smile was genuine, compassionate. The hero didn’t know what to do with that. The implications were clear: the hero had taught her that compassion.

“You have changed me, too,” the hero said. Why did she feel choked?

“I am so proud of you, you know? You saved the world. You achieved everything you ever wanted,” the villain continued. The hero bit her lip.

“I didn’t,” she said. She took a sip of her coffee and when she saw that the villain had raised her eyebrows, she cleared her throat. “I didn’t achieve everything I wanted.”

“Isn’t saving the world kind of a big deal?”

“Well, I didn’t get the princess in the end.” Suddenly, the coffee seemed to taste more bitterly and the villain avoided eye contact.

“I think we were on good terms when we broke up,” the villain said. “We got very lucky.”

“That doesn’t mean it didn’t hurt.”

“No, it clearly doesn’t.”

“I wanted a future with you.”

“Listen, I wanted that too, I—”

“I didn’t know you got married,” the hero finally said, her eyes dropping to the villain’s ring. Everything got quiet and it felt like the break up all over again. Like her heart was being boiled for fun. “You didn’t even invite me to the wedding.”

The hero had thought she was fine. She’d thought she was living a new chapter of her life, leaving everything behind her without big regrets.

But that wasn’t true. It was all a lie, strings attached everywhere, pulling on her nerve cells whenever the tiniest thing triggered her. She was still the same: scared and lonely.

“Would you have come?” the villain whispered. There were tears in her eyes.

“No,” the hero said. “In one year someone else gave you so much more than I could in five. I would have scratched out their eyes.”

The hero downed their coffee and it burnt her throat. She welcomed the pain calmly.

“I really loved you,” the villain said. “It was just not the right time.”

She stared at the villain. And then she broke her own heart.

“I wish I’d never met you.”

#writing snippet #heroxvillain prompt #heroxvillain snippet #heroes and villains #hero #villain #heroxvillain #hero x villain #request #an answer for an ask #happy slay month #wlw #female hero #female villain

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omg-im-such-a-masochist · 2 years

Text

No Good

Summary: Based on the song You Know I’m No Good by Amy Winehouse

Word Count: 1657 words

Pairings: Jay White x Reader x David Finlay

UNEDITED (Wrote as the sudden inspiration hit me so ignore whatever mistakes you find)

Tag: @theworldofotps , @writtingrose , @letsgivethisonemoreshot , @aerynscrichton , @daddyhausen , @damnnhausen , @starwithaheart, @unoficialy-married-to-ace-austin , @sophiewolfheart-blog , @sultryfandoms , @new-zealand-chic , @crowleysqueenofhell , @thealliasylum , @legit9thlunaticwarrior , @baysexuality , @josiewrites , @seeingstarks , @sldghmmr , @irish-newzealand-idian-dutch , @whenimakeitshine1234 , @blaquekittycat

Meet you downstairs in the bar and hurt

Your rolled up sleeves in your skull T-shirt

You say "what did you do with him today?"

And sniffed me out like I was Tanqueray…

Five fingers wrapped around her upper arm, pulling her towards the dark corner of the bar as soon as she got in. The loud thumping of boots followed his footsteps, and the people stopped to stare at them as they walked by. Listening to him curse through gritted teeth while she only smirked and giggled.

Her back met the cool concrete when Jay pushed her towards the wall. “Where the fuck were you, huh? I've been waiting for over two hours!”

She blew a strand of hair out of her face before answering with boredom “Busy”

“Busy?” His voice dripped with venom and a feeling of rage instilled in him with her unfazed behavior “You were with him, weren’t you?” Jay shook his head vehemently “Here I am, waiting for you while you were too busy fucking him! You fucking cunt, I can smell him on you, you make me sick!”

“Then I guess I should just go back to David then. He didn’t want me to leave in the first place anyway” She shrugged and dared to take a step away from him, which only made Jay growl before pushing her back towards the wall, trapping her there with his body.

“You’re not going anywhere! Let alone back to that prick.”

…’Cause you’re my fella, my guy…

Jay towered over her, thick knuckles brushing her hair away from her eyes, gray orbs stared down at her, searching for something. The pad of his left thumb brushed across her plump lower lip as his forehead pressed against hers “Don’t you think this is enough, huh? You’ve had your revenge, I’ve learned my lesson, I’m not seeing anyone on the side and you know that. You have access to everything: my social media, texts, e-mails…Why don’t we stop this?”.

Easier said than done, though. At least to him. When she first found out he was cheating on her, her world collapsed. It became even worse when she learned that everyone knew except for her. Besides their relationship, Jay had two other girls - and one of them was currently pregnant.

Both women broke up with him the minute they found out they were not as exclusive as they thought but she, on the other hand, couldn’t. Learning that Jay didn’t care about her - or anyone else’s - feelings had her wondering who she was having a relationship with for over three years.

She knew the wise thing to do would be to leave him and move on with her life, but the problem is, she wasn’t someone that got hurt and moved on, no. She wanted to inflict pain back as much as she could! That’s why when David asked her out on a date - even though he knew who her boyfriend was - she immediately agreed.

And that’s how it all began, she started to cheat on Jay with David as a payback and Jay stopped cheating because he wanted her to stop screwing David.

If only things were that easy…But they aren’t. In the meantime - during their payback - her and David developed true feelings towards each other. Feelings that went beyond the will of hurting Jay White. And Jay found out that he - shockingly - actually loved her and wanted to be with her.

So this was the problem now: Her and David’s payback backfired and Jay was willing to put up with anything she sent his way to prove himself worthy of having her trust again.

…I cheated myself

Like I knew I would

I told you I was trouble

You know that I’m no good…

“Why don’t we stop this?” She laughed at his words “Why? Because you’ve had enough? Because you’re the hurt one now? I already told you, Jay. If you’re not happy with it, then leave. Let’s break up!”

“I’m not leaving you! You know that I love you and only you, honeybee” His lips brushed against hers, instantly tasting David’s spearmint gum on her flesh.

There was a time where the only thing she’d like to hear from Jay was a simple “I love you” or “I’m sorry”. But nowadays, such words have no effect on her heart anymore. No matter how real they actually were, she was afraid she simply didn’t care any longer. Not after everything he did.

“Stop it” She pulled her face away from his grasp and her palms pressed against his chest, slightly pushing him back.

“What’s wrong? Don’t you want me anymore?” Jay’s voice was filled with desperation as he tried to cup her face again “You still love me, right? Look at me, honeybee”.

…You say, "When we married"

'Cause you're not bitter

"There'll be none of him no more"...

As she stared up at Jay, her mind took her back to that afternoon in David’s hotel room. His fingers traced lazy letters on her skin, from her ribs to her hips. When she paid enough attention, she realized he was writing his name on her skin. “What are you doing?” She giggled. The small sound earned her a full smile from David “I’m marking you as mine, sparkles”.

The sweet nickname made her laugh “Why do you call me that?”

“Sparkles?” He asked and she nodded. “Well, because that’s what you are. You’re like a bright sparkle that lights up my life. It doesn’t matter if I’m having a bad day or feeling unhappy, the minute I see you and you smile at me, you make all the darkness and sadness go away. You’re like my own personal little lightbulb” David teased her with a soft tickle and she squealed before laughing loudly.

“I wish I could stay here with you all night long” She whispered against his shoulder as he played with her hair.

“And you can! All you have to do is lay down here with me until the sun comes up” David pulled her closer to his embrace

“I can’t. I have to meet up with Jay at a bar downtown”

David’s expression grew serious before he said “Can I ask you something? But I need you to be honest with me”

“Sure”

He changed his position so he was now laying on his side, looking into her eyes “Why do you keep doing this? Who are you trying to fool? You know that you’re hurting you and myself in the process, right? Not just Jay”.

“I’m sorry” Her voice was filled with guilt and shame

“I don’t want you to apologize, sparkles. I want you to realize the proportion that this whole thing is taking. Look” David caressed her cheeks with his knuckles “I love you and I understand if you still love Jay, but if you’re still doing this out of spite, I’d advise you against it because it’s starting to affect us too. I get that what he did to you was horrible and I understand why you wanted to make him get a taste of his own medicine, but the only thing I’ll ask you is this: if you don’t love him anymore, if you’re still with him just to see him suffer. Try to think if it’s worth it. Is it worth wasting your time with someone who made you feel like shit? Or would you rather spend time with someone who treats you well? Someone who wants nothing more than to spend the rest of their lives with you?”

…I told you I was trouble

You know that I’m no good…

“Honeybee?” Jay called, bringing her mind back to the present. Her eyes focused on him, her mind replaced the bright blue eyes with Jay’s gray orbs and she felt her chest tightening.

“Yeah?”

“Are you feeling ok?” Jay frowned at her frightened expression “Do you want to go outside for a minute?”

She only nodded and Jay escorted her out of the bar and into the warm night. The salty sea breeze worked like a security blanket over her senses. Easing her anxiety and worries enough to allow her to take control of her emotions back again - even if momentarily.

“What’s wrong?” Jay cupped her cheeks, eyes searching for hers, in a desperate attempt to read what was happening inside her mind.

At that moment she saw him again. Glimpses of the old Jay, the Jay she fell in love with, the same one that would never think about cheating or lying to her. The very same she wanted to build a family with. The old Jay that filled her heart with promises of happiness and a lifetime together.

…You shrug and it's the worst

Who truly stuck the knife in first?...

“I’m sorry” She whispered the same words she spoke to David earlier that afternoon.

“Why are you apologizing? What’s wrong, honeybee? Please talk to me”.

Jay’s features appeared blurry in front of her eyes. Chestnut brown strands became blonde and blue and gray orbs seemed to mix between them.

“I miss the lip ring” She touched the corner of Jay’s bottom lip

“I’ve never had a lip ring, bee” Jay’s mouth moved but for some reason she only heard David’s voice.

“Why did you do it, Jay?”

“Why did I do what?” He whispered

“The other women…why? I wasn’t enough?”

“You’re more than enough, honeybee! You always were” Jay’s lips brushed against hers, a desperate attempt of making her understand.

“Then why?” She pulled back to look into his eyes

Jay was speechless for a moment, trying to search for the answer within him. But when he found nothing, he simply shrugged and that was her answer.

After all this time she finally knew what to do to close the open wound inside her chest.

At last she finally knew who to choose, she just hoped she made the right decision.

#jay white fanfiction #jay white imagine #jay white x reader #switchblade jay white #jay white #david finlay #david finlay x reader #david finlay imagine #david finlay fanfiction #njpw imagine #masochist writes #Spotify

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gifted-loser · 2 months

Text

My Son Absolutely Destroyed a Relative’s Transphobic Tirade

And it was the most eloquent yet brutal flaming I’ve ever seen.

Imagine you had a relative you weren’t close to who’d never met your children before. Now, imagine this relative had formed a negative opinion about one of your children based on their own bigotry and skewed world view — and then actually had the nerve to confront your child the very first time they were introduced.

Oh, I know. The audacity.

Now imagine right before you interjected to put this relative in their place, your child countered their hate speech in such an eloquent, adult, and factual manner as to leave that person so thoroughly outmatched, they collapsed into a fit of childish rage. Reduced to a shrieking harpy, red faced and howling.

I lived this reality a couple years ago when my trans son was just 14 years old.

Ihave a first cousin who’s well known as a religious zealot, saving her brutal judgements for everyone save her own self. We’ve never been close as we lived in different states and are different ages, but I saw her during some holidays growing up and our interactions have always been cordial.

At this particular time, I hadn’t seen nor spoken to her since her sister’s wedding a decade earlier. So, I was surprised when she sent me a message via Facebook and asked for my number. I was even more surprised when she Facetimed me immediately after I sent it to her. What fresh Hell is this? was my first instinct.

I should have listened to it.

We made small talk and she blabbed about her life for a while before approaching the topic she really had called me for in the first place. She noticed my oldest kid going by his new name, Ollie, on Facebook recently and saw a picture I’d posted of the two of us. She wanted to know how I’m “dealing with all that.” Oh, brother.

Before I could answer she launched into the explanation that the oldest of her eight children had come out as trans as well, and that their family was not having it. They would not acknowledge her oldest as anything but the female she was assigned at birth, and their oldest child’s girlfriend was not anything more than a “friend.”

I would’ve loved to just nope out of the conversation and hang up, but I felt so bad for her oldest baby. I thought, maybe she does want advice and I can help her see things in another light.

Before I could get in a word between her blabbing, however, my son stuck his head in my bedroom door to say goodnight. Before he could duck back out, my cousin demanded, “Is that your oldest? Turn the phone around and let me see!”

I knew how this was going to go, and I kind of even willed it to happen. So, I turned the phone around and introduced them. Ollie greeted her and said, “I love your red hair!” commenting sweetly on my cousin’s natural orange-red curly mop of hair. To which my cousin thanked him and said, “You’re so pretty.”

Ollie took the comment with grace and thanked her politely. Then my cousin took it there.

“Yep, so very pretty. Definitely a girl. A beautiful girl. Why would you ever want to be anything else when you’re so gorgeous?”

Ollie’s polite affect dropped like a stage play curtain after the final act. He saw what game was being played, and he could play too.

He flatly replied, “It has nothing to do with wanting to be anything. I am who I am.”

I wanted to pipe in, but I knew he had this covered. I’d had many conversations with him about people like this, and was confident he could handle this conversation with more integrity than I could. I waited.

My cousin let out a sarcastic laugh before commenting, “Oh, I know, everyone just wants us to accept it but no one wants to talk about it.”

“Oh, no. If you want to talk about it, let’s talk about it.” Ollie looked up at me and without a word I knew this was him asking for permission to speak freely. His eyes said she wants to go there, am I free to drop her off at school?

I smiled and nodded, and he continued.

“What would you like to talk about?” he asked her in the same sweetly sarcastic tone she’d been using.

“Well first of all, you know there are only two genders. I can tell you’re smart. You are either born a boy or a girl. You can play pretend all day, but that will never make it true. I can pretend to be a duck all day and quack, but at the end of the day, I’m not a duck!” was her well thought out point. I cringed inside.

Ollie didn’t miss a beat. “Gender and sex are two different things, but let's set that aside for right now. You say there are only boys and girls. I would point out that’s scientifically not true. What about intersex people?”

“That’s such a rare occurrence. It’s not relevant because the percentage of truly intersex people is so small,” she shot back, unprepared for the slam dunk he’d set himself up for. “It’s too rare to even count.”

“Actually, it’s about as rare as being naturally red headed like you. The percentage of intersex people and red-headed people are right around the same. One you can see and the other you can’t, which is why you don’t realize how common it is.”

And BOOM goes the dynamite. I could’ve screamed. She was so taken aback by this 14-year-old that had just made her sound like she didn’t know what she was talking about. She was starting to anger, and her next point had no relevance to the conversation that she wanted to have in the first place. Her voice went up a couple of octaves.

“See — all you kids these days know about is “’science’ and ‘facts!’” she said, as if that were a bad thing. “I bet you can’t even name the first ten books of the Bible, though, can you? That’s the real problem.”

Now, I could not list the first ten books of the Bible if you held a gun to my head, but my kids went to church with my in-laws for years. I let them go to make up their own minds on what they believed, and to do that you need to hear all the sides of the argument. When they did not want to attend any longer, I didn’t make them go. Because my cousin knows I’m not a religious person, she believed I’d indoctrinated my children to my own beliefs — or lack thereof — because that is what she did. She thought this was a sure “win” for her.

Not just irrelevant, though it was that. Also, wrong.

“Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians”, Ollie replied with a smile, while counting them off on his fingers. “Would you like the first 5 of the Old Testament while we’re at it? Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy. Though, I’m not sure why or how that is relevant in any way.”

Oh. My. God.

Excuse the expression, but that was a flawless victory if I’d ever seen one. I stifled back my laughter. Someone, however, did not find it as amusing as Ollie and I did.

“You think you’re so smart!,” my cousin shrieked in rage. Her face was fully red, and she looked like her pointy little head was about to explode. “You’re just a smart-ass kid. I’m an adult! You don’t know anything about life yet! You know I’m right!”

This is when I stepped in, turning the phone back to me.

“Oh, no, sweetie. What we’re not going to do is all that disrespectful screaming and rudeness,” I said, curtly. “Just because you’ve been outmatched by my teenager doesn’t mean you get to call me after a decade and scream at my child who you don’t know — and will never have the pleasure of knowing.”

“I understand you’re having hard time coming to term with reality pertaining to your oldest child, but I’m pretty sure you’re projecting your problems with him onto me and my child. That seems like something you should really reflect upon, honestly. In private.”

I could hear her shrieking intelligibly as I pressed the button that ended the call. I looked up at my kid and smiled. He smiled back.

Me n My Minnie Me <3

#transgender #lgbtq #lgbtq community #parenting #gender stuff #love #roasted #trans pride #lgbt pride

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angstyandromanticwriting · 3 months

Text

Harley Quinn X FemWerewolf!Reader Angsty, Cute and Fluffy Prompt

• Occurs after the events of the third film (The Suicide Squad - 2021)

!TW: Implied suffering from depression + anxiety + separation anxiety, implied being poorly treated + abused by father + implied being previously abused, mention of a previous near death experience, mention of previously attempting to sacrifice one’s life to save another, previously being wounded, mention of previous violent themes, implied abandonment, wanting to die, self put-down(s) + implied self-doubt, swearing, violence in general, injury detail, suicidal intentions + considering + a suicide attempt - if I’ve missed any, let me know ❤️!

“I thought you would’ve-.. or had found someone else, s-since it seemed like you weren’t coming back,” Harley admitted, and you would falter, a hurt look on your face whilst you glanced up at her, and appeared crestfallen; you’d never thought that she’d believe you hadn’t been intending to return to her, especially not with someone else; you couldn’t hurt her like that, and knew for a fact you could never love anyone else the way that you loved her - always had, and always would. “I - I mean, I tried to move on, but-.. nobody is you,” she mused dejectedly, and would falter when she noticed the look on your face, her heart sinking alongside your’s whilst it began to ache excruciatingly, “I’m - I’m sorry, little wolfy, I really am, but-.. I just couldn’t take it anymore; couldn’t take waiting for you when it started feeling like you weren’t there-”

“But-.. Quinzels, you-.. you promised,” you reminded her, your voice barely audible, and close to a shaky whisper; you were verging on breaking down, and Harley couldn’t take it, feeling awful for what she’d done, after everything you’d both already been through, together; she hated hurting you, after you’d already been hurt enough by your father, and let down by your pack members who’d left you to die after you’d got yourself wounded whilst fighting with a group of Omegas to save Harley’s life.

“I know,” she expressed weakly, finding herself trying not to cry alongside you, and you would bow your head, not sure what to do anymore; you felt lost, and broken, all over again; the way you’d felt before you’d both first met in the college you’d been attending together, a few years ago, now, “I’m so sorry-”

“First, my - my mum left me,” you murmured, whilst stray tears began to slowly run down your cheeks, and you had begun to fidget with your hands, avoiding eye contact with her as much as you possibly could, though you longed to meet, and get lost within her stunning icy blue gaze, “t-then-.. the pack who I thought cared about me left me to die, a-and then - you-..” You would falter, unable - even - to continue, as you were sure you would break down, if you tried, whilst a strained sob would fight to escape your lips; you couldn’t take the pain anymore, and wished she’d just let the others - who weren’t members of the Birds of Prey - kill you, as you doubted the Birds of Prey would be so willing to do so after you’d been helping them alongside Harley, the previous year, to fight against the Omegas, before the last fight had gone downhill following the group realising that the Prime Minister at the time was an Omega, and now that he knew - after you and Harley had visited him to discuss the situation, he had been after the group for a while. That last fight you’d experienced - before going over the cliff in yet another attempt to save Harley’s life, even after you’d both fought a couple or so hours, before - was the one in which he’d actually sent hunters to fight the group alongside the Omegas, and it was certainly a much harder fight than it usually was as the group were outnumbered, and still managed - somehow - to survive, though you’d not been so lucky in your attempt. “Maybe I’m meant to be alone,” you managed shakily, and Harley would falter, a pained expression on her face, before she hastily shook her head, and would shyly inch closer to you whilst you anxiously watched her, wondering what she was planning on doing, whilst you also found yourself hoping that this would be the moment in which she’d finally put you out of your misery, but that was something she was certain she could never do to you, no matter what had previously occurred between you both, before - and after - you’d gone over the cliff with the Omega you had been fighting to save her.

“T-That’s not true, Alpha,” she contradicted, before carefully lifting her right hand up to your left cheek, and you would subconsciously melt into her touch whilst you blissfully locked eyes with her, and your heart had begun to race alongside her’s in the best way possible again, like it often had, before you’d both been separated from one another again, “I-.. I never stopped wanting you; could never stop loving you the way I always have, a-and always will, I promise: you’re my soulmate, Nugget - you always have been, e-ever since we first met you were, a-and still are.”

You would appear shocked; you hadn’t been expecting to hear that she still felt that way for you, even after you’d last seen her with a strange-looking man who you recalled held the surname of ‘Luna’. You’d thought that maybe she’d forgotten about you, at that point, as she’d not responded the way that she usually had to the howl you’d desperately sounded out, followed by one which sounded more crestfallen, and as if you’d lost everything, following the moment you’d heard her consideration, and seeming elation at possibly marrying him, and earning the name ‘Harley Luna’; the howl had pained you more than you thought anything ever could, and left you feeling numb whilst excruciating pain radiated throughout your body, to the point you felt as if you could no longer keep walking, and the pack would have to try and carry you; you felt as if you couldn’t go on without Harley by your side, and the possibility of losing her for forever had truly broken you again, especially when you found yourself recalling how you and Harley had always promised that you’d marry one another, once the Omegas were gone.

Harley would then smile softly over at you, finding your reaction to her confession cute whilst she slowly hooked her left arm around your waist, and would affectionately connect her forehead to your’s, making you feel warm and fuzzy whilst your fangs would begin to unfold, and your irises would flicker a little between their usual colour, and a bold red colour; you couldn’t help, but imagine what it would be like for you both, if you ended up changing her, deeming her your official mate by turning her into a werewolf, like you, something she’d also requested for you to do a few times, before, that you had always been reluctant over, but had still promised her you would do it all the same, as long as she agreed to marry you, in the future, a given as you’d both always been planning on getting married, since you were both smaller and in College together.

“I have a feeling we should kiss,” you mustered, unable to stop yourself whilst your gaze occasionally flickered down to her lips, and Harley would smirk, before tilting her head partially whilst her eyes began to glint mischievously.

“Is that a good feeling-” She began slowly, whilst inching even closer, prompting you to tense up a little; she was closing the gaps between you both, and the wolf within you was fighting to escape, desperate to claim her, “or a bad one?”

You would hesitate, not sure, until her scent would flood your nostrils again, and you would falter when you noticed that it was still partly tainted by the man she’d briefly - unbeknownst to you - been with; you evidently thought she was still with him, and the reminder would prompt your heart to sink, and to begin to ache further whilst she would frown, noticing the pained expression on your face; she hated seeing you like this, and wished she could have done more to avoid what had happened between him and her, whilst you’d both still been trying to find one another again. “Isn’t this like - illegal?” You inquired, and Harley would appear puzzled, wondering what you meant.

“What-? Me loving you? Probably,” she answered, and you would shake your head subconsciously whilst you stared down at the ground, wondering why she still wanted you after everything the both of you had been through together, and how you’d ended up killing Max for hurting her the way he had; you couldn’t help, but believe - still - that you were nothing more than a monster; a beast which should simply be executed, allowing Harley to find someone better than you, like you had been hoping - and believed that she had been trying - ever since you’d gone over the cliff, when really she’d met the guy unexpectedly without being in hopes of finding anyone else who wasn’t you. “I bet the Prime Minister hates it,” she remarked playfully, before falling quiet upon noticing the look on your face, prompting her to feel guilty all over again for what had happened. “Y/n-”

“W-What are you talking about, Harley?” You questioned, your focus briefly trembling whilst you did, and she would fall quiet whilst you glanced up at her again, and she would then notice that you’d begin to cry, further paining her somehow more than she thought the sight could; it was excruciating, and radiated throughout her body like the howl you’d sounded out had, that time you’d finally found her, only to discover her with the man whose first name eluded you, and you were glad it did. “You - You can’t still love me,” you managed, and she would shake her head hastily, evidently desperate to protest against your statement, but you would continue weakly before she could, feeling as if everything within you were collapsing, leaving you with nothing left, but the pain you’d been trying to fight back against since you’d gone over the cliff, and been separated from her again, “you’re married!”

Harley would appear taken aback, wondering where you’d gotten that idea from; she’d never got married to anyone, and never wanted to marry anyone, if they weren’t you. “Married-?” She mused, and you would appear surprised by her reaction, but would try not to let your hopes soar too much, though you doubted she’d ever want to marry you, anymore, after everything that had happened between you both, before you’d been separated again, and after when you’d found her with someone else. “Since when?” She questioned, and you would gesticulate to the ring on the wedding finger of her left hand, and she would glance down at it, before smiling softly, unable to stop it whilst she began to blush a little, recalling the moment you’d given it to her, and promised her that nothing would ever be able to separate you both, on the night of the college prom, and after your father had ended up beating you again for returning home later than you usually did, meaning you’d forgotten to prepare dinner for him. “Oh come on, Y/n,” she began, glancing up at you whilst her eyes would begin to glint, “don’t tell me you don’t remember the ring that you gave me?”

You would be surprised; you didn’t think she would keep it, after she’d found out about what you had done to Max. “You kept it-?” You mused, your voice close to a whisper, and she would nod whilst she beamed over at you, prompting your heart to skip a beat, before it began to blissfully race alongside her’s in the best way possible. “W-Why?” You asked, and she would frown, before affectionately connecting her forehead to your’s again.

“You know why,” she replied, and you would shake your head gravely, evidently angling to hear her coo the significant three word phrase to you.

“I’m not sure I do, anymore,” you claimed, and Harley would appear disappointed, a pained expression on her face - you evidently had thought that she no longer felt the same way for you, anymore, after what had happened before you’d both been reunited during the last fight between the new group she was apart of, the Birds of Prey against the Omegas and the hunters again; the Omega Prime Minister was evidently eager to get them out of his way. “It felt like-.. t-the whole of that last year.. everyone just forgot I existed,” you expressed, and Harley would realise, a hurt look on her face; she wished she could have done more to try and save you, before you’d gone over the cliff whilst brawling viciously with the Omega that had tried to kill her after parting her from her circus hammer to try and make her an easy kill, evidently forgetting about you being another of her willing weapons, until you lunged at it, and sent yourself and it down the slope toward the cliff edge.

The memory would prompt her to falter, and tense up a little whilst her grip on your shoulders grew stronger; she was afraid that - if she let go - you’d disappear, and she’d never see you again. You would subconsciously - upon sensing her distress, ease her closer to you in a comforting embrace, prompting her to relax instantly, and to bury her face into the crook of your neck whilst she revelled in you being this close to her again, after you’d been separated again for another painful year. “I never forgot about you,” she cooed, and you would express relief, glad whilst you began to feel warm and fuzzy alongside her, as if you hadn’t been in pain, before, “I never could, n-not that I’d ever want to; I thought about you every day, s-since..”

“You aren’t blaming yourself for what happened last year, are you-?” You inquired, appearing worried whilst your eyes searched her stunning icy blue ones, and she would hesitate; she had been, feeling as if she could have somehow stopped you from risking your life for her like you had, and you would shake your head, not wanting her to feel as if she were to blame for what had occurred. “It was my fault, Harley,” you stated, and she would shake her head hastily, but you wouldn’t let her try and say otherwise, not wanting her to be burdened by it again, “all mine; I should have been more careful, a-and-.. I - I’m so sorry, I really am; I just-.. Quinzels, I - I couldn’t let you die; I wasn’t thinking; I can’t think when - when the love of my life is in danger, like you were, that day.”

She would try not to appear flustered upon hearing you referring to her as the ‘love of your life’, prompting her heart to skip yet another couple of beats whilst it overwhelmingly pounded alongside your’s, to the point she was sure you could hear it, which you could, and would appear surprised, wondering why she still felt that way for you, after everything that had happened, since you’d both met. “So I’m still the love of your life, huh?” She mused, and you would nod hastily without hesitation, prompting her to smirk whilst she glanced down at your lips, before allowing her gaze to lock with your’s again; she missed how it felt, to kiss you, and had been yearning for you to kiss her ever since you’d gone over the cliff. “Guess what? You’re still mine,” she returned, before shyly leaning forward to delicately connect her lips to your’s, and you would falter, moving away before she could, prompting her to appear dejected.

“H-Harley,” you murmured gravely, “I.. I’m not what you need, anymore; I’ve only been hurting you, I - I see that now-”

“That’s not true,” she contradicted, desperate for you to change your mind, “Y/n-”

“It is,” you interjected weakly, “please, Quinzels, d-don’t waste your time on me again-”

“But that’s all that I want to do, little wolfy,” she continued, “I love you-! Please! I can’t take being away from you anymore, Nugget, I - I just can’t; I need you, b-by my side again - I can’t take the loneliness anymore; the pain of having - having to live with what I did with-.. t-that guy.. when - when he means nothing to me, I swear-”

“It’s okay,” you cooed gently, before hesitantly wrapping your arms around her again, and using your right hand to stroke her hair, soothing her instantly whilst she subconsciously leaned into your touch, and a stray tear would manage to escape, before running down her right cheek, prompting your heart to sink as soon as you’d noticed it, and you would delicately brush it away with the thumb of your right hand affectionately whilst your own eyes began to glisten; you hated seeing her upset, “l-look, I just.. need some time, but.. I.. I’m doing this for your benefit, Harley; I’m trying to protect you from me-”

“I don’t need you to protect me from you,” she whined, and you would grimace, before shaking your head gravely, and releasing her from your hold again, prompting her to begin feeling empty all over again, “I trust you, m-more than anything; more than I’ve ever trusted myself. Please, Nugget, j-just give us one more chance, please.”

You would reluctantly glance back at her, your expression softening once you’d noticed that she’d begun to cry quietly, and was trying to hide it from you, prompting your heart to begin aching again, and you would sigh, before nodding, and slowly walking up at her; you didn’t want to see her in pain anymore, and decided that maybe you should try and make her happy again by giving her what she wanted, though you still feared that you’d only end up hurting her, if you tried. “Okay,” you whispered, before embracing her again, and she would melt into the hug, before returning it without hesitation, and lovingly connecting her forehead to your’s, “o-one more chance, but if I hurt you, Quinzels, I-..” Your voice would fail you, and you would try and fight back a strained sob whilst you drew in a shaky breath, and would try and recompose yourself for her.

“You won’t hurt me,” she tried to reassure you, “I know you won’t - I promise.” She would then playfully boop your nose with the tip of her’s, prompting you to giggle softly whilst you smiled warmly over at her, and she would beam back at you, glad that you were both finally together again, like she’d been hoping you would be every day, ever since she’d lost you again last year. “I missed you so much,” she mused, “you know that, right?”

“I missed you, too,” you returned, before delicately connecting your lips to her’s, and she would instantly melt into the kiss whilst she began to feel all fluttery all of a sudden, and as if she were whole again, like you did, too, alongside her, “I - I love you so much, Harley.”

“I love you, too,” she managed, her voice briefly trembling whilst she did, “h-hey, would you - wanna meet the others? I’m sure you’d like them.” You would hesitate, appearing doubtful, whilst Harley silently begged you to let her introduce you to them; she was eager to show you off to them, and to cuddle up with you on the sofa whilst they all watched a movie together, and argued over it as she’d not been able to do anything like that with you for a year, now. “Please,” she begged, and you couldn’t help, but smile lovingly over at her, finding everything she did to be adorable, like you had ever since your gaze had first blissfully fallen upon her.

“Sure,” you replied, and she would cheer, prompting you to giggle whilst you beamed over at her, and began to feel warm and fuzzy again; she made you feel happier than you’d ever been before, whenever you were with her, and you loved it, “I wanna do everything that you wanna do, Quinzels.”

She would then blissfully intertwine the fingers of her left hand with the fingers of your right one, prompting you to appear flustered whilst blood rushed to your cheeks, but she wouldn’t tease you as she could feel that she had begun to blush again, alongside you, and knew you’d tease her if she tried to tease you about your blushing, something which would most likely result in her only blushing even more than she had, before. “Good, because I wanna do everything that you wanna do, too,” she expressed, “c’mon, they’re probably all arguing in the front room again, but I’ll shut them up for you, if you want me to?”

“I’d love to see that,” you remarked, before smirking over at her, and nodding, “sounds like it’s gonna be sexy, like you always are.”

She would grin, evidently amused, before nodding, and kissing you again a little more passionately, and you would subconsciously melt into the kiss whilst your heart raced alongside her’s again in the best way possible, perfectly synchronised. “You know it will be,” she chimed, before beaming victoriously over at you again, “oh - by the way - we’re having a party tonight, to celebrate us finding you again - are you up for it?”

“I’m up for anything,” you answered, prompting her to express relief, before she smiled brightly back at you, glad.

“Good-!” She chimed, before rushing you into the other room, and introducing you to the others - many of whom would still appear apprehensive and skeptical of you, namely Bloodsport, and Winter, whilst the others - including someone you didn’t recognise named Cleo, and the members of the Birds of Prey alongside Cane would all appear elated to see you again, after they’d been worried that they’d lost you, for forever, and were glad to find that you were alive, and were here to stay again to help them fight the Omegas, and to free the city of Gotham from them to the best of their ability.

“I hope you’re ready for the party-!” Canary chimed, and you would wince, remembering - they were throwing a party for you, and you would have to try your best to fit in, something incredibly hard for a werewolf like yourself to do, but Harley certainly helped you through it, and you were glad for that; you would always be glad for her, and wished you could find a way to try and repay her more than you could, now, so you would vow to do all you possibly could to repay her and spoil her for making your life so much better than it had been, before you’d first met her, and fallen deeply in love with her.

🜚

Throughout the party, you would linger at the side, and Harley would stay with you, content with where she was until she got drunk, and you would find yourself being extra protective of her as a result of that fact, worried about someone possibly trying to hurt her whilst she was in this vulnerable state, mostly because you didn’t trust some of the others in the room who you’d never met, before, excluding Winter who you feared might try and take advantage of Harley, given that Winter had previously had a crush on her, and had briefly been going out with her the first time you’d both been separated from one another.

“Can we dance?” Harley requested, and you would tense up, not sure; you’d only danced once before, on the night of the College prom, but since then you never had, and were afraid of embarrassing yourself in front of her, and the others.

“Maybe another time,” you answered, “b-but - I think maybe we should call it a day, now-”

Harley would appear bewildered, a pained expression on her face whilst she pouted, glancing over at you. “W-What-? Why? It’s still early-”

“Because you’re really drunk right now, Quinzels,” you explained, and she would grimace, evidently disappointed by your reaction to her being drunk, “a-and I don’t think you’re gonna remember any of this, anyway-”

She would giggle, before wrapping her arms around your waist whilst you instantly returned the embrace, and would affectionately connect your forehead to her’s. “I’m not drunk at all,” she claimed unconvincingly, “you’re just blurry.”

“Really?” You replied, appearing surprised whilst she nodded, and would giggle again, amused by your reaction. “Are you seeing more than one of me, right now?” You inquired, and Harley would act as if she were counting how many of you there were in front of her, prompting you to grin over at her, amused.

“There’s about - five of you,” she answered, and you would appear surprised again, not expecting that, whilst Winter - unbeknownst to you both - watched you, a plan forming in her head that she could use to try and separate you and Harley again, so she could try and steal Harley from you. “Shit,” she then uttered, leaning heavily against you, and you would appear worried about her, wondering what had happened whilst you eased her closer to you protectively, and would try and stabilise her against you.

“What is it, Q-Quinzels? Are you okay? Do - Do you need me to get anything for you?” You questioned, terrified of something happening to her, and she would smile warmly, as well as weakly, up at you, flattered by how much you cared about her.

“You’re adorable,” she remarked, and you would appear flustered, for a moment, until she whimpered softly and would bury her face into your left shoulder, evidently in pain whilst you anxiously awaited a response from her, and would stroke her hair with your right hand, knowing she liked it whenever you did, and that it helped to soothe her. “I-.. I need to go to the toilet,” she managed, and you would understand, nodding, before you slowly and carefully would lead her over to it, and you would subconsciously make to go in there with her, but she wouldn’t let you, not wanting you to have to see her being sick, something which disheartened, as well as panicked you a little as you wanted to go in with her to make sure that she was okay, worried about her more than you’d ever been worried about anything, before, as you were terrified of somehow possibly losing her, leaving her alone in the state that she currently was in.

You would - instead - stand by the door protectively, and anxiously wait for her to emerge from the room, especially when you noticed Winter making her way over, prompting you to subconsciously growl quietly, whilst your fangs would unfold, and irises would flicker between their usual colour, a bold red colour, and an acid yellow; you were threatened by her, and were still worried about her doing something to Harley whilst she was in the vulnerable state that she was currently in. “If you’re looking to speak to Harley, she’s not well right now,” you mustered firmly, and Winter would smirk, amused by your reaction to her appearance.

“Actually - I wasn’t looking to speak to her,” Winter claimed, and you would lift an eyebrow, doubting that, “because I was hoping, actually, to speak to you.”

You would appear surprised; you’d evidently not been expecting that from her. “Wait, what?” You replied, but before you could continue, or move away, she would suddenly pin you against the wall, turn you around to make it look like you were the one pinning her, and kiss you, and she must have heard that Harley had been about to come out of the toilet as the door then opened, and she would falter when she noticed you both, a hurt look on her face. You would shove Winter away from you once you’d recovered from the shock, before turning to Harley, your eyes wide with fear. “Quinzels-”

“Save it,” she spat, before turning to storm out of the room; she couldn’t believe you’d do that to her, and you would rush after her, desperate to explain what had happened, and to ensure that you wouldn’t lose her again; you couldn’t imagine your life without her in it again, and knew that - if you lost her once more, you wouldn’t be able to take the pain of being away from her anymore.

“Harley, w-wait-! Please!” You begged, but she wouldn’t stop, until you managed to catch her right arm with your right hand, prompting her to stop, and force her arm from your grip whilst she glared back at you, and was trying to fight back the tears invading her eyes to the best of her ability, prompting your heart to sink as soon as you’d noticed that she was on the verge of breaking down again because of you, making you feel worse; you hated hurting her, and wished you could take back the time and stop Winter from kissing you like she had. “I - I love you-!” You cried, and she would scoff, before gravely shaking her head, and looking away from you whilst she tried to swallow the lump that had formed in her throat, and tried to ignore the excruciating pain currently residing within her heart after she’d seen you and Winter together.

“I don’t understand you,” she uttered dejectedly, and you would falter, whilst your tears slowly began to run down your cheeks, and your head would ache excruciatingly alongside her’s, “you gave us another chance, and then-.. you just-.. you just used it to - to stab me in the back-! How could you?”

“I - I didn’t know she was gonna kiss me like that, I swear-!” You expressed, but she would appear doubtful, not sure what to believe anymore. “Please, Harley, I - I never meant for it to happen,” you continued, desperate to keep her with you after you’d lost her again for yet another year, and knew you wouldn’t be able to take another one, or longer, if you ended up losing her again, “I love you, m-more than anything-”

“I wish you’d stop lying, a-and finally be honest with me for once,” she interjected, whilst you fell quiet, struggling to stop yourself from breaking down in front of her whilst you began to cry quietly, bowing your head to try and hide it from her, but she had noticed, regardless, and would find herself trying not to feel guilty, though she hated seeing you upset like you currently were, even though you’d supposedly kissed Winter whilst she had been in the toilet, “just-.. leave me alone! I never want to speak to you again, s-so don’t - don’t even try to talk to me anymore.” She would then remember the ring that you’d given her that Prom night, and would grimace, before taking it off, and dropping it at your feet, whilst you stared down at it, feeling empty again, and as if you’d suddenly lost everything. “You can marry Winter, I - I don’t care what you do anymore,” she hissed, before dragging herself away from you again, whilst you would begin to struggle to fight back the strained sobs longing to escape you whilst you sniffled, and your face would contort a little whilst you cried into your hands, not sure what to do with yourself anymore; you were nothing, but a monster, without her, and loathed yourself more than anything, especially now that you’d managed - after you’d basically just been properly reunited with her, and had got her back as your mate - to lose her again the very same day.

Once you felt able, you would take up the ring again, and make to go back to the room you had been staying in, recently, faltering when you noticed Winter smirking over at you, stood a few paces away from you. “Feels like shit, doesn’t it?” She guessed, and you would bow your head again a little, before nodding gravely, and subconsciously fidgeting with the ring in your left hand whilst you wondered why things kept going wrong; why you both hadn’t managed to marry one another, yet, when you’d been talking about doing so ever since the night of the college prom which had occurred a few years ago, now.

“Do me a favour,” you murmured, and she would lift an eyebrow, surprised that you were daring to ask anything of her, especially after what she’d done to you.

“Depends on what it is,” she replied, and you would nod faintly again, before walking up to her.

“M-Make-.. Make her happy, again,” you requested, “here - you-.. you might need it, unless you’re.. planning on buying a new one.”

You would offer her the ring, and she would burst out laughing, before shaking her head. “No thanks,” she remarked, before closing your hand gingerly over the ring, prompting you to wince, but you wouldn’t withdraw your hand, believing you deserved the pain for hurting Harley yet again, “I’ll be buying her a ring much nicer than this one - ciao!” Winter would then meander around you, evidently in search of Harley, and you would draw in a shaky breath whilst pain radiated throughout your body again, before you continued to walk slowly back toward your room, feeling weak, and numb, as if you could collapse and shatter to millions of tiny little pieces following any passing second, now, and you’d let it happen; life wasn’t worth living any longer, if you had to spend it separated from her again, so you would decide to do what you’d been thinking about doing for a while now; you would try to take your own life, unable to take the pain of being away from her any longer, and nor could you take the pain of being reminded of what you’d previously let Winter get away with doing, hurting Harley again.

“There you are-!” Winter exclaimed, upon finding Harley sat outside, a pained expression on her face whilst she stared down at her currently trembling hands through her currently tearful gaze. “I - I just wanted to say I’m so sorry, f-for what - for what happened,” she claimed, and Harley would grimace, before shaking her head gravely. “I swear I - I wasn’t expecting it,” she continued, “and I won’t ever let it happen again, ever.” Harley then couldn’t hold it back any longer as a strained sob managed to escape her lips, before she buried her face into her hands, and Winter would tilt her head partially, whilst trying not to feel guilty for what she’d previously done. “Hey, don’t - don’t cry, Harls,” Winter cooed, “do you want me to get you anything-?”

“No!” Harley cried, before suddenly getting up, and shoving Winter away from her whilst pain radiated throughout her body, and she found her heart aching excruciatingly whilst it longed for your’s to be beating alongside it again. “I don’t need or want your help, Winter! I just want the pain to stop!” She expressed shakily, whilst Winter would frown; she’d never seen Harley like this before, and she began to feel awful for hurting her like she evidently had. “Let me guess - you’re tryna hook up with me because me and Y/n basically just broke up, right?” She hissed, and Winter would falter, whilst she tried not to wince, evidently surprised that Harley had worked it out that quickly. “Well guess what? I’m not a play toy, Winter! So we can be friends, instead, a-and never anything more, again - how’s that?” She asked firmly, and Winter would appear dejected, evidently disappointed that her plan had backfired on her like that.

Harley would then make to go back inside, but Winter would hastily continue, before she could escape her. “Y-Yeah, of course,” she began, and Harley would hesitantly turn to face her, standing by the door, “I just-.. can I ask you something?”

“I guess,” she uttered, after shrugging, and looking down at the ground again; she didn’t dare meet Winter’s gaze whilst she found herself verging on breaking down again; she hated how it felt, the moment after she’d fought with you, and recalled how it had made you act recklessly whilst you tried to save her life last year, and went over the cliff as a result of it, and she would then feel it - a pang of fear; pure panic - what if you were being reckless again? What if you’d hurt yourself, or were trying to do something worse?

“I don’t remember a fight, or a reason,” Winter mused whilst Harley anxiously looked around her, desperate to go and find you, and make sure that you were okay, even after what she’d seen, a few moments ago; she couldn’t lose you again, “so what happened? Why did we break up? A-And why do we hardly talk anymore?”

“That’s not true - we do talk,” Harley contradicted, and Winter would hesitate, before nodding gravely, not wanting to protest against her as she feared possibly upsetting her further, somehow, by doing so, “I mean - we’re talking right now, aren’t we?”

“Yeah,” Winter answered, sounding doubtful whilst she rubbed her right arm timidly, “but - we haven’t really-.. caught up properly, yet, since-.. since I got here - at all.”

“Okay, and-? What do you want me to do about that?” Harley questioned, and Winter would think about it for a moment, before smiling softly, and glancing up at her again whilst Harley would appear worried again, wondering what it was that Winter was planning.

“Can I at least buy you a coffee? For old times sake?” Winter requested, and Harley would think about it for a moment, before shaking her head.

“I’m sorry, Winter, but-.. I.. I can’t,” she answered, and Winter would falter again, a hurt look on her face, but Harley would try not to feel guilty, reminding herself of the bad feeling she’d recently got, and of how you’d acted last year, after you’d both fought again, and she’d lost you for yet another year as a result of you going over the cliff to save her whilst you fought with the Omega that had been threatening her, “I don’t know how - how I.. can ever trust you again, after what happened.”

“Fair enough,” Winter replied dejectedly, “well - I’ll see you around, Harls. I’ll be in my room, if you need me.”

“See you,” she returned, and Winter would then drag herself away from her, whilst Harley took the opportunity to flee from the area, and toward your room, desperate to make sure that you were okay again. “Y/n-?” She called, whilst she began to knock on your door frantically, but you wouldn’t open it for her, and she couldn’t hear anything going on within it, panicking her whilst she knocked on it again, and would try and force the door open. “Y-Y/n, it’s me - please open the door,” she begged, “o-or just say something, anything, please!” She would then recall that she had been recently carrying a small pen-knife, and would hastily take it out, accidentally leaving a small cut on the palm of her left hand as a result of her haste, prompting her to wince, but she wouldn’t stop what she was doing, using it to unlock the door of your room, before she rushed into the room, and into your bedroom after she found she couldn’t find you in any of the other rooms. As soon as she had entered the bedroom, she would falter, stopping dead in her tracks; you had tried to bang yourself, and a strained sob would escape her lips, before she rushed up to you, and wouldn’t waste any time cutting you down, and easing you down into the ground whilst she cradled you, and would remove the noose from around your neck. “Y/n,” she whined, whilst she stroked your hair with her right hand, and would affectionately connect her forehead to your’s whilst she began to cry; she couldn’t believe this was happening, and couldn’t take the pain of it; it was excruciating, and she couldn’t help, but despise herself for driving you to try and take your own life, whilst you believed that everything that had previously happened was your fault, and nobody else’s; you could never blame Harley for anything - you loved her too much to, always had, and always would, no matter what. “Talk to me,” she pleaded shakily, “p-please - I-.. I love you, just-.. just say something; I can’t live without you, Y/n, n-not again - please. S-Stay with me.” She would express relief, noticing that you were still very faintly breathing, and that she could hear that your heart was beating relatively weakly whilst she rested her head on your chest, and would cry quietly, wishing she could take back the time, and react differently to what she’d seen. “L-Look, I.. I don’t care if-.. if you didn’t or did mean to kiss Winter, I just-.. really need you to stay with me, this time,” she managed, and you would then begin to splutter a little, prompting her to instantly lift her head, whilst you would gasp for breath after previously restricting yourself from doing so. “Y/n-!” Harley chimed, before she threw her arms around you, and would bury her face into the crook of your neck, surprising you; you didn’t think she’d want to see you again after what had previously happened. “I-.. I thought I lost you,” she whined, and you would frown, your heart beginning to ache alongside her’s again; you hadn’t intended for her to find you like that, and had been hoping - more than anything - that she wouldn’t; that nobody would find you, like you didn’t think anyone would, at the time, before you’d hung up the noose, and tried to rid yourself, and Harley of the pain you’d both been feeling, ever since you’d first revealed to her what you were.

You would then try and speak, but would find yourself struggling to do so, your lungs paining you, and vocal chords failing you. “W-Why-?” You rasped, your voice barely audible, and Harley would appear puzzled, before shaking her head, and connecting her forehead to your’s again affectionately to try and provide comfort to you, whilst you couldn’t imagine why she would do so, after what had happened, earlier, with Winter kissing you. “Why do-.. do you.. still-.. care about me-?” You inquired, and Harley would frown; she’d thought that maybe you already knew why.

“You know why, Alpha,” she cooed, before lifting her right hand up to your left cheek, prompting you to instantly melt into her touch whilst she smiled feebly down at you, and would try not to cry again, “I love you, a-and - I.. I just-.. I can’t live without you anymore, Y/n; I need you, a-and if you don’t feel the same way for me anymore, t-then that’s okay - I-.. I don’t-.. I don’t want you to feel like you have to try to act like you do-”

“I’ve never had to try,” you managed, though your voice was still weak, and lungs were paining you more than anything ever had, making it hard for you to continue speaking, but you wouldn’t give in, wanting her to know how you felt about her, and always would, no matter what, “b-because I love you, Harley-.. I always have, a-and I always will, n-no matter what, and that kiss.. it didn’t mean anything, I swear-.. I.. I never even planned for it to happen; Winter just suddenly kissed me, a-and I panicked; I was shocked, a-and then you - you came out and saw us, and-.. I’m so sorry - if you don’t want me anymore t-then - I don’t blame you, a-and hope that whoever you decide you want to be with makes you happy, a-and treats you like the princess you are, and always have been.”

“Then you better get ready to spoil me, ‘cause it’s you, Nugget,” she replied, “it’s always been you, for me, so I choose you, and I always will; I love you, Alpha, m-more than anything; more than I could ever love myself.” You would appear surprised, your heart skipping a beat, before you would smile lovingly back up at her, unable to stop yourself; you were elated, as well as flustered in the best way possible, to find out that she felt the same way for you, still, and didn’t hate you like you had been worried that she would, after what had happened earlier. “I was worried you’d move on from me,” she admitted, “that - that you wouldn’t feel the same, after-.. y’know - Winter-..”

“Seriously, Quinzels-?” You replied, evidently disappointed, and she would nod gravely. “Do I look like I could ever move on from you? I - I love you so much,” you reminded her, “you’re everything to me, Harley; you always have been, ever since I first saw you in the hallway that day; you’re my soulmate, and I knew that as soon as I saw you - why do you think I gave you my stone wolf, for your birthday?”

“I know, I just-.. I don’t know; I was terrified, Y/n, I thought-.. I thought I’d lost you; that I’d never see you again, o-or worse - that I’d have to see you with Winter, a-and that would have been painful,” she answered dejectedly, and you would frown, a hurt look on your face; you didn’t like to think that she would be worried about something like that, when you were solely devoted completely to her, and couldn’t ever be devoted to anyone else.

“Well, that’ll never happen, I promise,” you tried to reassure her, and she would express relief, before smiling down at you again, and then leaning down to delicately connect her lips to your’s, and you would instantly melt into the kiss whilst you wrapped your arms around her waist. “I love you so much,” you blurted out yet again, unable to stop yourself, and Harley couldn’t help, but giggle, amused by your reaction to her kissing you.

“I love you, too,” she returned, “and I always will - n-no matter what, don’t - don’t ever forget that.”

“Don’t worry, Quinzels, I - I won’t,” you mustered, “h-hey, erm - can - can you kiss me again?”

“I’d love to,” she remarked, whilst a mischievous glint formed in her eyes, “but - I think maybe it would be more comfortable if I kissed you on your bed, rather than on the floor - what do you think?”

“I like the sound of that,” you corroborated, and she would beam victoriously down at you, whilst you smirked back at her after she’d managed to chime a flustered ‘good - I’m glad’ in reply, and you would giggle whilst she picked you up off of the ground, and would carry you into your bedroom whilst she kissed you both passionately and delicately again.

~~~~~

Hope you enjoyed it! ❤️

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celestiall0tus · 6 months

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Miraculous AU - Chapter 31 - Copycat

Beginning || Previous || Next

Chat leaned on the rail guard of the Eiffel Tower. He looked out at the city while he waited for Ladybug. He had managed to slip away earlier than expected. His father had retired earlier than usual. Said something about crunch time and hurried off. He didn’t question it. It meant he could meet Ladybug sooner. She was always fashionably early. Sure enough, he heard the whirl of her yo-yo. He turned as she landed on the platform.

“Evening, meow lady.”

Ladybug giggled. “Fashionably early, Kitty?”

“Learned from the best.”

“Careful. I can be a negative influence.”

“You? How could you?”

“Hey! I have my moments. I can be a bad little girl.”

“Like Alix?”

Ladybug snorted. “Oh dear, not like that. Alix is unhinged. She Sparta kicked that kid off Notre Dame today.”

Chat laughed. “Wait, really?”

Ladybug sat up on the guard rail. “Oh yes! I got a front row view. Alix honestly doesn’t give two fucks. As Souris got me away, Alix just charged right on in.”

“Sounds like Alix was almost willing to kick you off too.”

“I wouldn’t put it past her. She worries about the details afterwards.”

“I saw some of that with her and that guy. Who exactly were those people?”

“Oh, the guy that Alix was fighting was Kim. They’re both the athletic, sports types, just different. Kim is your more traditional athlete while Alix is the rebel skater girl. They’ve always had this friendly rivalry. Aside from Kim, there was Ondine, his girlfriend. She’s a swimmer and a runner. She’s really nice, just over-the-top at times. And the guy talking with us was Max. He’s the smart guy of the group and is good friends with Kim.”

“You’ve got quite the friend group, wouldn’t you say so?”

“I would. Keeps things interesting. Never a dull moment.”

“Never? Are you sure?”

“Of course. It’s never a dull moment with you, Princess Kitty.”

Chat’s ears flicked. “I’m not going to live that down, am I?”

“Don’t worry. We’ll wear the princess title together. You weren’t the only one kidnapped.”

“No. Just the only one that needed to be woken up by love’s kiss.”

Ladybug rested her chin on her hands. “Are you ready to talk about it?”

Chat sighed and looked away. “Not really, but we need to talk about this, don’t we?”

“We should, and I’ll go first. I really like you, Chat. I know you’re still discovering yourself and you’re unsure of a lot, but at the same time, there’s a certain charm to you. You’re fun, kind, and a pleasure to be around. You’ve done nothing but make me smile since we met, and it’s been wonderful. Despite it all, I’m still scared of these feelings. I’ve never actually been with someone romantically. But I would like to. Y’know, be with you.”

Chat blushed. “I… I don’t know what to say. How do you… how are you-.”

Ladybug smiled. “Would you believe I’ve been practicing that all day?”

Chat laughed. “If you believe I’ve spent what time I could pestering Mayura about all of this. How I’ve been feeling. What I should say and so on.”

“And what did she say?”

Chat straightened. “To just be honest. I just don’t know where to start.”

Ladybug lifted her head and leaned closer to Chat. “Take your time.”

Chat sighed. “Everything is different. I don’t understand what’s happening to myself. I’m feeling things I never did before. Experiencing life in ways I didn’t think possible. And I don’t understand everything, but I know when I’m with you, it’s different than with all the others. I want to discover what these feelings are. To experience what love can be with you.”

Ladybug smiled. “And we’ll do it one step at a time. For both of us.”

Chat smiled and moved closer to Ladybug. “This is going to be one crazy ride, isn’t it?”

Ladybug laughed. “Has it not been since day one?”

“It certainly has. One-.”

A high-pitched white noise cut Chat off. He gritted his teeth and placed a hand on his head. He stumbled back with both hands on his head. Ladybug’s voice drowned out as a different voice came in and out. After a few moments, Souris’ voice came in clear through the noise.

“Watch out! He’s coming for you! Keep him busy until I get there, please!”

Chat blinked as the noise and Souris’ voice faded.

“Chat, are you okay? You just… and there was a bunch of howling… and-!”

“Souris, a warning from her. Someone’s coming.”

“What? How? Who?”

“I don’t know. She said, ‘he’s coming. Keep him busy until I arrive.’”

“He? Oh no.”

“Oh no?”

Chat’s ears twitched. He turned as Luka vaulted onto the platform. He grimaced when he saw Luka as if he was Plagg’s holder with Souris’ whip in hand. His instincts kicked in as he grabbed Ladybug and jumped. He extended his staff and slid down it. Once on the ground, he put Ladybug down and retracted his staff, ready for a fight.

“Are you ready, Ladybug?”

Ladybug took out her yo-yo and spun it. “Just keep him busy, right?”

Chat nodded. He watched as Luka leapt from the tower. “Keep him busy.”

Luka landed and stood. Chat gulped and faltered under Luka’s gaze.

“What’s the matter, Noir? You’re not scared, are you? A pity. I expected more than just a sniveling kitten.”

Chat hissed and charged at Luka. Ladybug shouted out, but her cry came too late. Luka used the whip to disarm Chat, sending his staff flying across the area. Chat swung wildly, but Luka dodged him with ease. Luka moved to strike Chat but was caught by Ladybug’s yo-yo.

“Stay out of this, Ladybug.”

“Luka, please. This isn’t you.”

Luka sneered. He grabbed the yo-yo string and yanked Ladybug to him. “What do you know about me? You’re not Juleka.”

“No, I’m not. But, I know enough, Luka. We’re friends. That doesn’t change because you became a monster. Please, let us help. We’re here for you.”

Luka sneered. “I don’t need your help!”

Luka released the yo-yo and reared back his arm to strike Ladybug. She held up her arms in front of her face. The punch hit her arms and bounced off her. She moved and grabbed his free arm.

“What changed, Luka? Because the Luka I know would never do this.”

“What changed? She did. She decided I needed help. She decided to leave me behind and play hero. She ignores the danger she puts herself in. She is leaving me behind.”

“Open your eyes, Luka. She’ll always need you. That’s why she fights. Because she fears she’ll lose you. You, her brother, her twin. C’mon, Luka, look at yourself! You’ve become the very thing she feared would happen!”

Ladybug watched the realization hit Luka. He looked at himself, then Ladybug. When he looked at Chat, the anger returned. He snarled and grabbed Ladybug. He hurled her into the air, but she used her yo-yo to catch herself. She looked down as the boys resumed their fight. She grimaced as she watched Chat being backed into a corner. Despite his training, there was something Luka possessed in this moment that Chat lacked: ferocity and bloodlust. Everything Luka would never be.

Ladybug moved onto the lower portion of the Tower. She followed their fight as she considered what to do. Chat was getting backed into a corner, but he managed to hold his ground well enough. Neither could get the upper hand directly, but it was only a matter of time. She looked at her yo-yo and considered. She could put him in chains or in a box, contain him. It could work and keep him restrained until Juleka showed up. That, or he could break out. He appeared to be a copy of Chat, so that could mean his powers too. If he could destroy it, she’d be at a disadvantage until she got her yo-yo back.

Ladybug clutched her yo-yo and threw it around Luka. “Creation!”

Ladybug’s yo-yo transformed into chains that restrained Luka’s arms. He took a step back as Ladybug joined Chat.

“Why do you keep getting in the way?” Luka demanded.

“Because I won’t just stand aside and let you hurt Chat.”

Luka growled. He activated his own Destruction powers and ran a hand along the chains. They rusted and fell apart into her yo-yo. It fell at his feet, and he grabbed it. He hurled the yo-yo into the direction of the Seine, into the river. Ladybug braced herself as Luka turned on a heel and cracked the whip at her. It wrapped around her, and Luka flung her into the base of the Tower.

“Ladybug!” Chat abandoned the fight to check on Ladybug. Luka caught him with a slash to the face. Chat yelped and staggered back. Luka grabbed Chat by the throat and lifted him up.

�� “Pathetic. How could someone as weak as you be worthy of being a defender of anything?”

“Why are you doing this? What do you want?” Chat demanded.

“I want your ring.”

Chat gasped. “What?”

“I want you to renounce your hero status and relinquish your ring to me.”

“Never! I’d rather die than lose Plagg.”

Luka grinned that sent chills down Chat’s spine. “That can easily be arranged.”

Chat’s heart raced as Luka’s hand moved on his throat. His breathing came in short bursts as Luka brought his other hand up, claws at the ready. Chat grimaced as he remembered an ability Mayura had taught him. When they had claws or other sharp appendages, they could dull and sharpen them should they be needed as a weapon. He had seen her do that with the armor on her gloves and boots. The only downside was the strength of such weapons was dependent on the relationship between kwami and holder.

“One last chance, Noir. Surrender your ring.”

Chat gritted his teeth. He hoped his relationship with Plagg would be enough. He sharpened his claws. He shut his eyes and ran his claws from Luka’s hand to his elbow. Sharp copper hit his nostrils that made his stomach turn. A horrific tearing noise followed by a bloodcurdling shriek. He hit the ground and opened his eyes. He gasped when he saw the blood that covered him. He turned and saw what he had done.

Luka’s right forearm was a bloody mess. Chat had sliced through the imitation suit into the skin and muscle. It hung limp at Luka’s side. Blood poured from the wounds and streamed down until it pooled at Luka’s feet. Luka fell to his knees as he gritted his teeth against the pain and lightheadedness.

Chat looked away at his hands. His chest and throat felt tight as he stared at them. The predatory, savage claws that dripped with Luka’s blood. His stomach knotted, twisted, and flipped as he inhaled the copper scent of Luka’s blood. His heart pounded and breath was quick and shallow as everything sank in. He’d done this. He severely wounded Luka. He hadn’t meant to, not intentionally. He thought he’d just give Luka a cat scratch, not gouge Luka’s arm. He was a monster

Chat jumped when arms fell around him. He looked and saw a familiar black-spotted red glove. He turned as Ladybug rested her head on his shoulder.

“Take it easy, Chat. Just breathe. In and out.”

“But, I-.”

“I know. You’re not to blame though. You were defending yourself.”

“I went too far. If I had known-.”

“It was an accident, Chat. You’ll know for next time.”

Chat looked away. “Right. Next time.”

Ladybug hugged Chat tighter. She rocked him back and forth while she hummed. She glanced over at Souris, thankful for her arrival.

Souris’ ears twitched and she looked back at the scene. She felt for Chat. She believed that he hadn’t meant to do this. Even though she wanted to hate him for this, she knew better. It was her fault. She pushed Luka into this monster, and he was injured because of her. However, she had no intention of wallowing in pity. She had to help him.

Souris knelt and put her hands over Luka’s eyes. “Bend.”

Souris worked a hallucination into Luka’s mind. She numbed him to the pain of his arm and worked in a memory they’d walk through together. When they were younger, playing their silly little games. She removed her hands, surprised by the change in his eyes. The vibrant green the same pink as her own. The change intrigued her as she wondered if this always happened.

Luka blinked as tears welled in his eyes. His harsh expression softened. “Juleka? Is that you?”

Souris smiled. “I found you.”

“That’s not fair! I was looking for you.”

Souris giggled. “You always give up too easy, Luka.”

Luka pouted. “I don’t like these games, Juleka. I can never find you and you always win. I mean, what if something happens to you? I’d never be able to find you.”

Souris sat beside Luka. “But, if they can’t find me, how would anything bad happen to me?”

“I suppose. How do you do it? Hide so well?”

Souris shrugged. “I guess people just don’t look for me. I’m invisible.”

“But I do. And I still can’t find you. And I worry.”

“About what?”

“That I’ll never be able to find you again. That when you leave, I’ll lose you forever. That you’ll just… disappear.”

Souris pressed her hand against Luka’s cheek. She swiped her thumb near his eyes as she deviated from the memory. “I’ll always be here, Luka. Even if you can’t see me, that doesn’t mean I’m gone. I’m always watching you, just as you watch me.”

“Really?”

Souris nodded. “I actually have something for you.” She took off the snake bracelet and held it up.

“What’s that?”

“A promise, a reminder, and a good luck charm. A promise that we’re in this together, through thick and thin. And a reminder that I will always be there.” She slipped the bracelet around Luka’s left wrist and removed the one with the akuma.

“And the good luck charm?”

“If you ever feel scared or worried, you need only speak the phrase: ‘Sass, scales slither.’ Once you do, all your worries will vanish.”

Luka smiled. “Thank you.”

Souris smiled and pulled her hand away. She flicked her thumb again and ended the hallucination. She ran over to Chat and placed the bracelet in his hand.

“Bring this nightmare to an end.”

Luka blinked as the world blurred around him. The memory of childhood faded, and he saw a vision of the lights of the Eiffel Tower bright overhead. Three people sat far from him, dressed like animals. One a white mouse that he knew was Juleka. There was anger and pain that mixed with betrayal. He reached out and paused when he saw the black bracelet. Regret crept up as the suit dissipated along with the anger. Tears fell from his eyes as he remembered the promise. The promise he broke many times over, but not as severely as when he became that monster.

Fear gripped Luka as he fell back. His body numb to the impact as everything faded in and out. He tried to move his right arm, but he couldn’t feel it. Panic mingled with the fear as he struggled for consciousness. He raised his left hand as his eyes fell on the bracelet once again. He remembered the phrase Juleka once told him. One he never needed, until now.

“Sass, scales slither.”

Souris watched with bated breath when Luka uttered the transformation phrase. The bracelet turned green with a snake head on it. Luka’s right arm was mended as he was transformed into a basic snake-themed hero. She rushed to him and examined him closer. She pressed her ear to his chest until she heard a heartbeat. His breathing was slow and even as if he was asleep. She looked up at his face and saw he was.

“How is he?” Ladybug asked.

Tears fell from Souris’ eyes. She smiled as she looked at Ladybug. “He’s alive and he’s sleeping. Thank you.”

“We just kept him busy. You’re the one we should be thanking. You were the one that saved him.”

Souris shrugged. “I had to do something, right? I accepted this hero gig to save him, and I did just that.”

Ladybug smiled. “That you did. So, what now?”

“I’ll continue to be Souris Blanche, with Luka, whatever he’ll call himself. We’ll join you both in taking down that butterfly mother fucker. He’ll pay for all of this.”

Ladybug reached out her hand. Souris ran over and took it. The girls pressed their foreheads against one another. “Call if you need me. I’ll be here.”

Souris nodded. She let go of Ladybug. She grabbed her whip, then scooped up Luka. With one more look at Ladybug, she headed back home. Ladybug smiled as she watched Souris vanish.

Ladybug turned to Chat. “Hey. How you holding up?”

Silence.

Ladybug sighed. She held one of his hands. “Take your time, Chat. I’m here for as long as you need me. I won’t leave you alone.”

Chat stirred slightly. He blinked when he saw Ladybug’s hand in his. Tears welled in his eyes. They fell one by one before they all fell. He turned and buried his face in Ladybug’s shoulder as he hugged her tight. She held onto him as he sobbed.

“It’s ok. Let it all out. Don’t hold back.”

Chat wailed. He dug his claws into Ladybug’s side as he clung to her. She turned, relieved to see the claws hadn’t cut her suit.

Ladybug held onto Chat tighter. “I’m here. And I’m not going anywhere.”

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fullregalia · 4 months

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and i took that personally.

I actually was going to use this headline for 2022, but (Taylor’s Version) seemed a better fit at the time, and looking back on ’23, well, I really did take this year personally.

One charge I am not beating is that I quote The Tempest every time I write about the ups and downs of aging: “Nothing ... doth fade, / But doth suffer a sea-change / Into something rich and strange.” However I’ve yet to find something that captures how bizarre life is better than the phrase “rich and strange.” This year was certainly no different. If you couldn’t tell from the abstruse posts about feeling insecure online, I definitely Went Through It (or at least lower case went through it, lest I be too overly dramatic here) with a strange friendship with a semi-notable person this year. It burned bright and fast and like all other normies who come into the orbit of people with a modicum of notoriety, even if you can hang, it hurts to get dropped for a shiny new thing. The best thing for me to do was to step away from Twitter in August and never look back. Sometimes I miss knowing what stupid thing is going on online (#GagCity) however, if I ever get around to finishing my novel, it’s great fodder for plot. (“How do you serve cunt in a roman à clef way?”)

Besides that personal drama, which wasn’t too bad (frankly, I just got caught up in a one-sided friend crush that took up a majority of Qs 2 and 3), the year was filled with so many interesting things: The movies are back, baby! Country music’s revival won me over. I went to Germany, Switzerland, England, Ireland, and I met a special needs Alpaca named Waffles in Litchfield, CT. Succession ended (RIP Kendall I could fix u), and The Bear’s Copenhagen episode made me cry. I read 30 books, and not all of them were garbage (though some of them truly were). I discovered a brown butter buttermilk cake recipe that I can't quit. It felt like live events were properly in the mix again too; I was able to convince more people to go to Cyclones games with me, but I’m still hitting up Lincoln Center solo (don't men know this is a big date flex??). And how could I not brag about seeing my favorite artist, Ed Ruscha, in the flesh at the opening night of his retrospective at MoMA. But I’ll get into all of that and more below.

Since this annual recap is not a tradition I’m willing to step away from and never look back (yet), here are my highlights of 2023:

Books

Thanks to my SAD in the winter, I plowed through the bigger novels in Q1 (e.g., Confederacy of Dunces, I Have Some Questions For You, Birnam Wood). Though the best books I read this year were slimmer like Big Swiss, Cleopatra and Frankenstein, and Trespasses. I believe someone tried to trendcast this, but I think short books have been a thing since ... checks notes ... people started reading? I am still trying to figure out if I cared about The Guest, but I suppose a sense of low-lying dread and hating the narrator meant it worked. I tried to add more urban history into the hold list (NYC, LA, and Palo Alto), but couldn’t get through the latter two before year-end so that’s going on next year’s reading challenge. Seeing as I do LA every January anyway, I’ll save the California books for the West Coast.

I’m a little disappointed that there weren’t many novels I couldn’t put down this year. But I really did focus on contemporary fiction and I think next year I should spend more time on both nonfiction and “canonical” works that I still haven’t gotten around to yet. That is, it may be time to start reading like my dad.

Music

If Spotify is to be believed (it is), I was in.my.feelings. this year (I was). My erstwhile friend crush was a huge Country head, and I am grateful that brief friendship brought more Country--both classic and contemporary--into my life. (I have joked that women will inhale an entire discography/filmography/oeuvre in a weekend for a crush, but honestly show me the lie.) I’ve always been into Americana and bluegrass, but it was good to dig deeper into true country. At the pottery studio I would start with Johnny Cash and just let the algo take it from there for the next 3 - 4 hours. Beyond the musicians I was already listening to a lot (John Prine, Willie Nelson) I listened to more Townes Van Zandt, Nikki Lane, Jess Williamson, and Tyler Childers.

But of course my top artists were the same as every year: Coltrane, Paul Simon, Prokofiev, Steely Dan. Dean Wareham came up huge for me because I think I played “The Last Word” maybe 400 times this year. You get to the 2:53 mark with the sun shining on Memorial Day Weekend? That’s heaven on earth.

Music was my sanity this year more than it usually is. I had my sad playlist (Jeff Buckley, The Smiths, SZA) for the myriad breakup walks; my Drake playlist for running; my jazz playlist for cooking; and my work party afterparty playlist was even dowloaded by the bar for future use because I spent HOURS figuring out the best arrangement of Beyoncé into Fleetwoord into Dua and they got it.

I also spent a lot of time behind the wheel with the windows down listening to prog rock, too. Told you I was going through it.

Movies

As the year progressed, my already incoherent listening habits became very movie-forward. That is, I started putting on more movie soundtracks to work to (Nebraska hive we stay riding!! Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross run me over with a truck!!!) and I basically only ended up listening to podcasts about movies (Big Pic, Blank Check, Rewatchables). But the synergy between music and movies was strong this year, as evidenced by the thrilling re-issue of Stop Making Sense and the Eras/Renaissance films. (As always, I implore you to listen to Wesley Morris about everything, forever.)

After leaving Twitter, Letterboxed became my primary Social Network (lol). Thankfully it’s helping me keep track of what I watched this year. I did a lot of back-list catching up: I watched all the Miyazaki Studio Ghibli films in time to catch The Boy and the Heron the week after I got to The Wind Rises. In no particular order, my favorites: American Fiction, Oppenheimer, No Hard Feelings, Fallen Leaves, Past Lives, Maestro (but that’s because of Lydia Tàr), and because I quite sensibly spent most of this year catching up on Tom Cruise’s entire filmography, Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning, pt. I. This man will do anything to save cinema! I love it!!!!

The Lawyer Movie Draft match up of Blank Check and Big Pic was one of my favorite podcast episodes of the year. I definitely re-watched The Firm and The Pelican Brief after it. Luv u too, Michael Clayton.

Odds & Ends

My two goals this year were to leave NYC once a month and see a concert/show once a month. I was close to 100% on both, which was nice. If you go to Dublin, be sure to check out Bar 1661. I had an amazing lunch at this Italian place in Bern, Switzerland. If you are in London, I demand you go to Fortitude Bakehouse. As always, the BEC on a croissant at Arethusa is a religious experience. And Zapp’s chips + oysters + wine + this view in Maine = I can die happy.

I saw three live podcast tapings--my second time seeing both Odd Lots and Who? Weekly and my first time seeing How Long Gone (I’m not proud of it, but I love those two bros and John Early was a great guest). Relatedly, Kate Berlant's one woman show lived up to the hype and Just For Us made me laugh enough I told my folks to see it. I finally saw ABT do Romeo & Juliet at the Met, and there were too many classical concerts to count (highlights being: the Made in Berlin string quartet at Lydia Tàr's Berlin Philharmonic, the Emerson String Quartet performing Shostakovich No. 12, and Chamber Music Society presenting the full Brandenburg Concertos).

On the TV front, for what I lost in Succession this year, I look forward to getting back in Industry next year. My "Smooth Brain Award" for best background streaming goes to And Just Like That and Suits for being too dumb to function. A friend has promised to watch The Curse with me, but that has yet to materialize. At some point I'm going to have to get Apple TV back so I can finally watch the new season of Slow Horses, the first two seasons of which I binged in about a week in February.

Since I’m not actively tweeting, I’m going to put my in/out list here. I was actually on the money with some of my predictions from last year (all light yellow everything and bankruptcy is chic again) however none of you fools got on the “friends holding hands in an 1800s novel way” and I didn’t see enough old bay fries at the bar to make me happy. Let’s see if I can improve my trend casting odds for 2024:

IN: robin’s egg blue, Acting Like You've Been There, cassis and soda, Harvey Wallbangers, Meg Ryan's curly hair in When Harry Met Sally, pretending you know how to sail, whistleblowing, marbled paper, voice notes.

OUT: hard seltzer, oversize blazers, Substack, the pop punk revival, calling things “transcendent,” renter’s insurance, engagement announcements on social media (just get married), Reykjavik, Threads.

I’m probably wrong on all fronts! This take on my predictions is likely also my mantra for 2024. Happy New Year, and to the two to three people who read this whole thing, may it bring you peace and prosperity. Praying the world becomes a little easier to be alive in next year, though I’m not sure that’s how things work these days. If I don’t abandon this effort entirely next year, I’ll be sure to recount what rich and strange experiences came about...

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