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teyums · 1 year

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Contagious ✽ Lo’ak Sully

wc: 8.4k

pairing: lo’ak x fem! na’vi reader (characters are aged up for plot purposes)

contains: angst, slight enemies to lovers trope, some language, and fluff of course <3

warnings: none, slight hinting of intimate feelings if you squint

a/n: Requested? No. THIS IS THE CUTEST THING I’VE EVER WRITTEN. also testing out different spacing with my works so lmk if you guys like this spacing better!

“Absolutely not.”

“Hard pass.”

You both spoke in unison, immediately denying the ridiculous suggestion that came from the mouths of your mothers before you could even think about it. There was no way on Pandora you were going to spend more than five minutes, let alone three whole days alone with this man in the woods.

You refused, you wouldn’t stand for this. Your mother sighed, the shortness of her breath indicating that the decision wasn’t up for debate. “You should be open to the idea, [Y/n]. Lo’ak is a fine warrior and a skilled hunter. I think he could teach you a lot. So the two of you need to set aside your differences and work it out, just for a few days.” She said, Neytiri’s voice chiming in behind her in agreement.

You were never very interested in hunting. You harbored the skill, of course, but you much preferred weaving or crafting over shooting unsuspecting animals with poisonous arrows.

Lo’ak huffed out a humorless laugh, gesturing over to you with his hand while he addressed his mother. “Why me, Ma? Why can’t one of the others help her? Even Tuk knows how to shoot an arrow!”

“Enough, Lo’ak. It is decided.” Neytiri said, and the look in her eyes confirmed that she was not budging.

He kissed his teeth, dragging a hand down his face and covering his mouth before he could say something that would get him in trouble. As if that was the only way he could control his tongue. You glanced over at him, furrowing your brows while he only stared straight ahead at the wall of the hut— now completely detached from the conversation with a locked jaw.

You looked to your mom as a silent plea, only to receive a pointing stare back that caused you to quietly hiss in distaste. You were the first to exit the elders’ tent upon dismissal, the lanky Sully boy unwillingly trailing behind you.

Once you were far enough to make sure you were out of earshot, you turned around to face him. Trying to lighten the mood. “I guess three days isn’t so bad, right? At least we already know each other. It’s not like I’m a stranger or anything.”

“If I had a choice between three days with you, or getting yelled at by my mom, I think we both know I would’ve chosen the latter.” He grumbled, pushing past you and bumping into your shoulder in the process.

You caught your footing before you could stumble back, spinning on your heels to face him again. “Jeez, Lo’ak! Do you have to be such an asshole all the time?”

He ignored you, like usual, and continued along the path to wherever he was headed. You felt your eye twitch with a vengeance, pursing your lips and taking a sharp breath inwards to quiet the urge you had to send the wood of your bow flying into the back of his head.

It hadn’t always been like this between you two, and honestly you couldn’t understand where it all went wrong. You and Lo’ak grew up as pretty good friends, considering your mothers were the best of them. They expected you and Lo’ak to grow up and be each other’s mates. Often pairing the both of you together to complete simple tasks around the village that could easily use one person, which only helped in solidifying the strength of your bond. And honestly, you were never opposed to the idea of it, and even found yourself starting to like him.

You often explored the forest together, even when you were young. Allowing him to show you all his secret spots and hiding places he ran to when the heat at home was too much for him to handle. In actuality, you were his escape.

“Come on, [Y/n]! Try to keep up!” A young Lo’ak yelled from a branch above, laughing and dodging your attempt to grab at his tail.

“Wait for me, Lo’ak! You’re too fast!” You groaned, jumping up to grab a branch with your hands and pulling yourself up the rest of the way. You watched him hop onto a cliff and you followed, hands resting on your knees while you tried to catch your breath.

“Catch me if you can, slowpoke!” The young sully teased, darting through the vast foliage and hopping over fallen trunks.

You weren’t one to back down from a challenge, especially not from Lo’ak. Whenever the two of you would play games with each other and he’d win, he would hold it against you for weeks and rub it in your face. You lifted your head, seeing his tail be the last of him to disappear into the trees “You’re on, Sully!” You took one last deep breath, pushing off your feet and starting to run in the same direction he had.

You memorized his movements so you could go faster, ducking where he had and shoving giant leaves from your view. However, you miscalculated a step, the front of your foot hooking under a mossy log and sending you tumbling forward into the dirt below you.

Hearing your footsteps closing in, Lo’ak picked up speed so you wouldn’t be able to catch him. But as he readied himself to climb another tree, he heard a thud. He paused, turning around to look behind him and brows pinching when he didn’t seen you. “[Y/n]?” He called out, eyes widening when he heard a series of whines sound out in response instead of your usual cheery voice. “Oh shoot,” He mumbled, sprinting back to where he had last left you.

“Ow ow ow!” You cried profusely, pushing yourself off the ground so you could sit up. You winced and pulled your bruised knee to your chest, lip trembling at the sight of blood appearing from a small gash in your skin.

“Oh no,” Lo’ak’s eyes widened at the sight of you covered in dirt, dropping down next to you with a worried look on his face. “Are you okay? What happened?” His voice was soft, both of his hands cautiously holding your leg while he studied how deep the wound was.

“I tripped over a log and fell…” You whined, using the back of your hand to wipe your tears.

He instantly looked up when he heard you sniffle. “No no no, please don’t cry…” His face was tense as he appeared to be in deep thought. He exhaled in preparation, leaning forward and placing a chaste kiss to the side of your knee, away from your broken skin. “There,” He backed up, cheeks flushing to match yours. “That’s what my mommy does when I get hurt, and it usually helps me feel better… Did it work?”

A small smile spread on your lips and your tears dried up, face rosy when you nodded your head. “Y-yeah. I guess it does feel a little better. Thanks, Lo’ak.”

He flashed a toothy grin, excited that you were feeling better and rising to his feet. A small, four-fingered hand extended out to help you up, and you slid your tiny palm into his. Brushing the dirt off your legs with the other. “We don’t have to play anymore if you don’t wanna-” He said, the rest of his sentence cut off when you shoved past him, into his shoulder and darted along the path.

“Catch me if you can, penis face!” You giggled, squealing when he yelled your name and began to chase after you.

Life as best friends with Lo’ak was never boring. In fact he was the one who introduced you to having fun in the first place. You knew him to be snarky, painfully sarcastic. But never cold.

There was a sweet side to him that he would let you take a glance at here and there, behind all the name calling. Could he be aggravating at times, and maybe a little mean with the teasing? Yes, but never cold. So when he suddenly stopped treating you like a friend one day and instead no more than a stranger— saying you were confused would be putting it lightly. All you could chalk it down to was puberty. Maybe the new influx of hormones had made him… less social?

You were hurt, you couldn’t deny it. There was something different about him, something he wasn’t letting you in on, like a switch you didn’t know existed had flipped in his mind. Coincidentally as soon as you hit the age where men began to court you, he fell off the face of the planet entirely.

Losing him pained you deeply, he had always been there to help you with any issues you had. Eager to give you advice on any situation you needed another perspective on, or just cheer you up with his rambunctious attitude. There were so many times you wanted to stop and ask him what happened, if you had done something wrong. But you knew he’d look straight through you like he always did nowadays.

The walk home was silent. You were definitely not looking forward to this three day trip you had no choice but to partake in. You wouldn’t have minded if your mom chose one of the other warriors, because being around Lo’ak only became increasingly more awkward as time went on.

For someone who previously had so much to talk to you about in the past, he was awfully closed off in your presence. You shook yourself out of your daydreaming and began searching through your tent. Packing just a few things. Some extra clothes, a quiver of arrows, and spare string for your bow just in case. You grabbed the strap and slung it over your shoulder, next lifting a woven pouch over your head and crossing it over your body.

Pushing past the flaps that served as an entrance to your home. You felt the daytime breeze hit your face and a wave of peace washed over you. Until you turned your head to the side to see a particular male leaned against the outside wall of your hut, arms crossed over his chest.

“Took you long enough.”

“Oh my-” You jumped, startled by his voice and bringing a hand up to clutch your chest to make sure your heart hadn’t jumped through your ribcage. “Jesus, Lo’ak! Were you trying to give me a heart attack?”

“Nah,” He snorted at your reaction, pushing himself off and walking ahead without you. “I think you’re just a wuss.” You swore you heard the smirk oozing out of his tone. Rolling your eyes and starting off after him, having to do a slight jog to catch up as his strides were much longer than yours due to the length of his legs.

One condition to the three day trip included not being able to use your Ikrans. Your mothers insisted you hiked on foot, saying it would be a good refresher of the land. You walked next to him in silence, keeping your stare straight ahead and grumbling to yourself when the strap of your quiver began to slip off your shoulder for the third time.

He turned to look at you curiously, eyes falling to the case of arrows you were carrying. “Gimme that,” Before you could answer his hand was over your shoulders, grasping the strap in his hands and pulling it off your arm. He tilted his head to the side to swish his braids out of the way, throwing your arrows over his shoulder that was already carrying his own.

You stared at him with a confused expression, having to remind yourself to keep your feet moving. “I was perfectly fine carrying that on my own, you know.”

“Was just being nice.” He sighed, not even bothering to meet your gaze while he spoke.

“Yeah, that’s rich coming from you.” You muttered under your breath with folded arms, not missing the way his ear twitched, jaw tensing at your words. You thought you said it quiet enough, but by the look on his face, he definitely heard you. You figured you’d keep the banter to a minimum for the rest of the way to your campsite.

After about thirty minutes you arrived at a secluded part of the forest where not many animals came through. Fauna dressed with various shades of greens and browns that encased the area, the forest floor mossy and soft against the soles of your feet.

You took a deep breath and looked around, inhaling the air that seemed much fresher around you from all the vegetation. Lo’ak had already gotten busy setting up, crouching down to set your equipment against the base of a tree trunk. You plopped down into a sitting position and sighed in relief. He walked so fast that you damn near had to sprint the entire way here.

Two bows in hand, he silently walked past where you were sitting and started on his way back into the trees. Invested in the colorful wildflowers surrounding your feet, you hadn’t noticed he was no longer in front of you until you looked up to see your bows gone, as well as him. “Lo’ak?” You whipped your head around with a hint of fear in your voice, trying to figure out which direction he had went.

“Come on, hurry up!” He yelled out, your ears perking up once you realized he hadn’t travelled far. You sighed and forced yourself to stand, quickly skipping through the forest to catch up with him.

His behavior was so odd, it was only making you more agitated by the second. You angrily stared at his back, having to look away shortly after once your mind unexpectedly jumped from how annoying he was to how his muscles flexed when he walked.

It really had been long since the two of you were alone, because you hadn’t remembered his shoulders being this broad, or his legs this toned. Training with Neteyam and his father was clearly paying off.

You pointed your chin up when he turned around to hand you your bow, rolling your lips into themselves and trying not to blush at the fact that he almost caught you staring.

“Here,” He pushed it in your direction, not letting go until your hand wrapped around the curve of the wood and took it from his grasp.

You followed closely behind him, looking up to see lemurs swinging from branch to branch while the wild life croaked and screeched around you. He suddenly slowed in pace, causing you to almost stumble into his back while his knees bent slightly, taking long strides while keeping his eyes pinned on the ground below him. His head low.

You peered around curiously, trying to get a look at his face. “What are you doing?”

“Shh, tracking.” He muttered.

You paused. “Why?”

“You want to eat, don’t you?” He responded, irritated.

“I was just asking a question, no need to get your panties in a bunch.” Grumbling, you ducked your head under a low-hanging branch after he did.

“I don’t wear panties.” He huffed, swiftly equipping an arrow to the string of his bow and preparing to pull it back. He must have spotted something you hadn’t.

“Could’ve fooled me, cause for the last four months you’ve kinda been acting like a bitch-“ Your eyes darted in the direction where leaves rustled, sighing when you saw the small hexapede he was planning on piercing with an arrow skit past the two of you. Disappearing into the trees due of the volume of your voice.

“God, ugh!” He dropped his bow to his side, head snapping around to look at you with the most agitated expression you’ve ever seen him wear. “Do you ever stop talking? Like, genuinely asking here. If you had just shut up with the questions we wouldn’t have lost our dinner.”

You swallowed the spit pooling in your mouth and bit the inside of your cheek, only looking down at your feet and mumbling a nearly non-existent ‘sorry’. Had you stayed looking up, you wouldn’t have missed the look of regret that flashed across his face. You felt your heart pinch at the venom in his tone and decided against speaking up again.

Eclipse had fallen over the sky about an hour later, the both of you trudging to the campsite with a couple fish skewered onto your arrows. The journey back was excruciatingly silent. You hadn’t dared to make a peep after seeing how much you pissed him off earlier. He attempted to make some side comments during the hike to spark up a conversation, but you were so tuned out from the present situation that his words fell on deaf ears.

You now sat with your back against the bark of a burly tree, keeping yourself busy by continuing to weave a top you had previously been working on back at home. You were glad you thought to bring it with you, not knowing you would need something to occupy you from looking up and catching the pair of eyes that were boring holes into your forehead like lasers.

He sighed as he watched you, guilt burning in the pit of his stomach as if he were in hell. You forgot that he knew you, forgot that he knew you would distract yourself with random tasks just to avoid speaking on something that bothered you. He hadn’t meant to snap like that, and honestly you weren’t even the reason for his irritability. He just took it out on you on accident.

“You hungry?” He held up a freshly roasted fish, beckoning it towards you and assuming you could see him even though your gaze was downcast into your work.

“Nope.” You muttered.

“Why?”

“Big lunch.” Your movements became slightly jagged at his questioning.

“That’s bullshit. You never eat lunch.” He scoffed.

You threw the top you were working on down in front of you and huffed in frustration. Why was he acting like he still knew you as if this entire time it hadn’t been his mission to become strangers again?

“You wanna know what’s bullshit, Lo’ak? Us being friends since childhood, spending almost everyday together and then suddenly you stop talking to me at all. You treat me like a complete stranger and I don’t even understand why.” His eyes left yours and settled on the fish in front of him, as if this was suddenly his first time seeing one. He was quiet for a beat, making you huff out an aggravated breath and throw your hands up at the futile attempt to get him to speak.

“I’m sorry.” He finally mumbled.

You blinked, waiting for him to continue, eyebrows raising in disbelief when he didn’t. “That’s it? You’ve been treating me like I’m the bane of your existence for months now and all you can say is sorry? You missed my Uniltaron when you promised you’d be there for me, and now all you can say is sorry?” You laughed bitterly, standing up before he could form an answer to your rhetorical question. Eyes pinning him in place as you watched his body shift to stand. “Don’t follow me.” You held a hand up to stop him, stalking away before you could blow a fuse. You weren’t planning to go far, you just needed to be away from him for a bit.

Lo’ak sat in that same spot the entire time you were gone, his appetite dissipating while he stared down at his hands in shame. He didn’t know what he expected, but all he knew was he felt bad for hurting your feelings to this point. It was one of the things he hated about himself the most, his irrational decisions that never considered the other party’s feelings.

Honestly, he thought so little of himself that he assumed you wouldn’t be bothered by his absence. But now that he was rehashing the details over in his mind he felt like an idiot. Of course it bothered you, the two of you were attached at the hip and best friends who did almost everything together, until he let the discouraging words of others get into his head.

His previously slumped body sat up as he saw you re-emerge from the trees, guilt rushing over him once more because your avoidant eyes still refused to meet his.

He looked up at the moon, realizing it was getting late and starting to put the fire out. You lowered yourself to the mossy grass, sliding down until the soft blades tickled your back. You discreetly watched Lo’ak do the same, along with putting a few feet of space between the two of you as he could nearly feel the anger radiating off your body.

With the fire now put out, the draft that travelled through the air made small goosebumps prick at your skin. And with shut eyes you curled your body into itself to capture as much heat as you could. Lo’ak laid next to you with his back flat against the grass, hands resting on his middle and gaze glued to the twinkling stars above. He allowed his eyes to come to a close but just a few moments after they did, they snapped back open and looked in your direction at the sound of you shuffling around.

“You’re cold.” He stated. The words coming out as an observation and not a question.

“I am not.” How fast you answered made it easy for him to know you weren’t telling the truth.

“You’re a terrible liar, and I can hear your teeth chattering from over here.” He sighed, propping himself up on an elbow and talking to your back. “You know you catch colds easily, [Y/n]. So c’mere.”

Your eyes opened at his suggestion and your body tensed, but not from the brisk air blowing against your skin. “And what’s that gonna do?” Cringing at how pathetic your voice sounded. You had planned on coming off assertive and uninterested.

“Warm you up?” He looked around as if the answer were obvious, and it was. But for some reason you felt… shy. You and him were once friends, so close to the point where hugging or holding hands had became normal. You’d even sat in his lap a few times. So now that you were sure the two of you no longer favored each other, why would this feel any different?

“Come on, my mom will skin me if I bring you home sick. It’s not a big deal.” He tacked that on for good measure, clearing his throat to push down the weird fuzzy feeling that was traveling up the column of his neck when you slowly sat up. Only half convinced at his reasoning, you reluctantly scooted over towards him, daring not make eye contact.

His lips almost curling up into his usual sideways smile was a sight you tried your best to ignore, witnessing it from the corner of your eye as you moved. Having the intense urge to smack it off his face but gently laying your body down next to his in order to control yourself. He cautiously wrapped an arm around you, pulling you closer and inviting your head to lay on his chest.

You inhaled through your nose, unknowingly holding your breath when his warm hand came in contact with your skin, while he respectfully rested it just below your shoulders. You kept your arms tucked into yourself, legs laid out straight and your cheek pressed against the azure barrier between you and his beating heart.

You instinctively snuggled in closer, silently grateful for the comforting warmth radiating off his body and he could feel it when you relaxed in his hold, just like you used to. You had forgotten what it felt like to be this close to him. Soaking in the lullaby of his soft breaths and you hated how much you missed it.

The ear pressed to his chest picked up on a slight increase in his heart rate, and you threw a remark out just to keep the energy from shifting into weird grounds. “This doesn’t change anything, by the way. I’m still mad at you. I just hate being sick.”

He stared down at your body in close proximity to his, nose nuzzled into your soft hair as discreetly as possible while he mentally kicked himself for being dumb enough to ruin something like this for himself. Giving you the cold shoulder in the past just to quell his own feelings had been one of his stupidest decisions yet. “Yeah, I know.” He swallowed, his hand hesitantly reaching to stroke up and down your arm. “I am sorry though, [Y/n]. Really.” His apology was layered.

You bit your lip, feeling the urge to respond but not having it in you to set aside your pride. There was no way he was getting back in this easily, not after he had you questioning everything you knew due to his closed off behavior. “Just go to sleep, Lo’ak.” You sighed. He agreed by closing his eyes.

Fleeting sounds of chirping birds and leaves ruffling from the lemurs above your head rustled you from your slumber, eyelids slowly peeling apart to see the world sideways. You rubbed your eyes to clear your vision. You were on your other side now, and Lo’ak wasn’t in front of you.

You went to stretch, your limbs feeling a bit cramped from sleeping on the hard forest floor for hours on end. Regardless of your slightly achy joints and the lack of your hammock netting beneath you, this was surprisingly the best night’s sleep you’d had in a while. Weird.

Extending your legs outwards, you went to do the same for your back when you felt a pair of tightly wrapped arms around your middle halt your efforts. Your body stilled when you realized the hard surface against your upper back belonged to the man you were trying to make yourself despise.

Sometime during the brisk night you turned over onto your other side, and Lo’ak had pulled your slender body back into his and tucked himself into you. He was holding you as if this had been what he wanted to do for years, his light snoring indicating that he felt comfortable enough to sleep so deeply.

And as soon as you came to the revelation, all of your senses began to kick back in at an overwhelming rate. The feeling of his head snuggled into the small of your neck. His soft, parted lips just grazing the surface of your skin. His light breaths leaving temporary traces of heat on your collarbone made your ears flick with a feeling you didn’t want to put a name to. The backside of your body fit into his like a puzzle piece, flush with no room between as if he were scared you’d disappear in the middle of the night.

You felt your heart quicken in pace, cheeks flushing at how you had gone from not speaking, to being cuddled up with one another in just a day. Though the two of you interacted like you couldn’t stand each other, your bodies naturally knew you craved affection only the other could provide and they betrayed the front you tried to put on.

Would the two of you had fallen into each other so intimately, so accepting in the comfort of an embrace during the night, if you truly weren’t supposed to be like this?

You were too stubborn to care, and maybe a bit in denial, too. All you knew was that you needed it to stop because your brain was turning to mush the longer each rise of his chest moved your body in sync.

“Lo’ak!” You smacked the back of his hand and hissed his name, the action pulling him out of his deep sleep.

“Huh?” He grumbled, sharply inhaling with sudden consciousness and opening his eyes.

“Move. Your arms.” You spoke through gritted teeth, eyes flicking down to the limbs that had you caged.

He raised a brow, not understanding what you were talking about until he peered over your shoulder. “Oh shit,“ He instantly retracted his arms, allowing you to scramble away from him while he sat up and nervously watched you readjust your garments. He hadn’t meant to make you uncomfortable in the slightest, he didn’t even realize he was holding you in such a way until you woke him up— and right about now you looked like you wanted nothing to do with him.

Little did he know.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t know. I- I didn’t mean to…” He trailed off, not being able to meet your gaze and hoping you’d finish his thought for him, so he wouldn’t have to say it aloud.

You were too flustered to even think about eye contact, shaking your head and interjecting before he could continue speaking. “It’s fine. Let’s just, pretend it didn’t happen.” You mumbled, not missing the way he looked at you as if he wanted to disagree, his mouth opening just to close a second later.

All he did was nod, clearing his throat and rising to his feet while you tried to busy yourself by brushing imaginary dirt off your body.

You tried your best to make the rest of the day as normal as possible, to no avail, of course.

For some strange reason, you couldn’t seem to keep your eyes off him. After a while of him ignoring you, it had became pretty easy to do the same to him. Before this morning, at least.

You cursed your sharp, all seeing eyes. The way they caught every muscle that tensed in his strong legs when he took a step forward, or how his defined shoulders pulled apart to send an arrow plunging through the air.

Every time he turned towards you to speak, you had to force yourself to look away. The fact that you couldn’t seem to control the thoughts invading your mind without your permission was starting to piss you off. And the way his chiseled abs cut directly into a ridiculously evident v-line above the hem of his loincloth, with the rest of it hidden and succeeding in peaking your interest, was not helping you in the slightest.

What was wrong with you? How was it that you felt even more drawn to him now that he was more detached than ever? He seemed to notice your discomfort, eyes narrowing at your focused expression cast upon a boring tree trunk when you didn’t answer to your name.

“Huh?” You snapped your eyes back in his direction when he called your name again, gulping at his oddly knowing expression.

“You seem awfully distracted. Are you alright?” He said.

“Yeah, like you’d care.” You scoffed and rolled your eyes, eager to keep up your tough and uninterested front.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” He folded his toned arms in front of him and you kept your eyes locked on the scowl he wore. It was a double edged sword, either you looked away which would solidify his suspicion that something was in fact going on with you, or you continued to make eye contact with the searing orbs that were making your heartbeat bang against your eardrums. Somehow the second option seemed like the better one.

“It means exactly what you think it means. We stopped being friends a while ago, Lo’ak. That was what you wanted, and you made it very obvious.” You grabbed an arrow from your quiver and pulled it against the string of your bow, extending your arm out and aiming for the makeshift target he had carved into the tree bark with his knife a little ways in front of you.

His brows knit together, features screwing up as if you had just made some outlandish claim. “What do you mean? We never stopped being friends. I still care about you, [Y/n].”

Your heart jumped at the unexpected words that left his mouth, fingers slipping when you released the arrow. It missed the target by a long shot, landing outside and below the circle.

You bit the inside of your cheek, shaking your head and the feeling that was creeping up your throat, out and away. “Well you sure as hell don’t act like it. And I’m pretty sure friends are supposed to speak to each other.” You mumbled, digging your toes into the dirt, the soil moist along your sole while you prepped another arrow.

“I-“ He sighed, mind searching for the right words. “I promise it wasn’t personal. There was just a lot going on, and I got busy.” He moved to stand close behind you, gently raising your elbow upwards with the tips of his fingers. He pressed a hand to your stomach and pushed it against your core, a silent instruction to strengthen your stance.

Oh right. He was supposed to be coaching you on your form. So why did it feel like more than that?

You sucked a breath in through your teeth, squeezing your eyes shut to try and put out the fire his hand ignited. Your core tightened, much to his approval. But not for the reason he assumed. You cleared your throat and stared daggers into the target in front of you, the shakiness of your voice paired with your hands giving away just how flustered he was making you.

“Oh sure. Busy trying to keep me out of your life, right?” You spat, releasing your grasp and hitting millimeters from the bullseye.

You felt the heat of his firm chest against the skin of your back, a small gasp leaving your lips when his lips brushed against the tip of your ear as he leaned down. “Busy trying to keep my mind off you.” He responded, voice so low you could’ve missed it had you not been paying attention.

“What?” You turned around to face him, your faces much closer than you expected and you quickly took a step back.

“I said,” He took one closer. “I was busy trying to keep my mind, off you.”

You rolled your eyes. “Stop playing games with me, Lo’ak. You’ve confused me enough already.” This morning made sure of that.

He reached for your hands, the speed in which you dropped your bow to the ground almost comical and you allowed him to slip his fingers into your palms. “I would never say something like that if I didn’t mean it, [Y/n]. There wasn’t a single moment I wasn’t thinking about you. There never has been, and there never will be. No matter how hard I try, no matter how much space I put between us, I just can’t shake you.” He said, the pads of his thumbs smoothing along the backs of your hands.

You blinked at him in disbelief, eyes widened as you stared at him in shock. You always thought there had been mutual feelings there. The way he acted with you in the past versus the other girls in the village confirmed that. Which was why the sudden rejection of your company and his absence in your life had pained you so much. You not only lost your bestfriend, but the man you hadn’t gotten the chance to love.

“I know, I know. It’s a lot,” He sighed, gnawing at his lip as your apprehension began to mirror onto him. “And I know, I was an asshole-“

“Are an asshole.” You corrected, watching him immediately nod in agreement.

“Alright, I’m an asshole. It was stupid to distance myself from you, and I regret it more than you know, I swear of it. I just didn’t know how to sort through my feelings, and I let everyone get in my head and tell me you’d be better off and… I guess I agreed with them? But I knew there was no way you would listen, so I tried my hardest to make you hate me.” He spoke cautiously, nearly wincing at how bad it sounded now that he was saying it out loud.

Your hand came up before you could control it, palm landing across his cheek and the force of it making his head turn to the side. You glared at him with a tense jaw, the tears pricking your waterline indicating something other than anger.

Lo’ak nodded to himself, licking his bottom lip and grazing his fingers over the sting your hand had left on his cheek. “Yeah, I deserved that.” He breathed out a humorous laugh.

You waited forever to have a moment like this with him, and now that you finally had, it wasn’t anything like what you expected it to be. Confessions bringing up stifled emotions and painful memories you thought you buried ages ago. And now the only thing you could think about was all the time that had been wasted due to miscommunication.

“So let me get this straight, you genuinely thought that destroying the bond we had was better than just letting me love you? Couldn’t you have given me a choice, to decide what I thought was best for me? I loved you, Lo’ak. And you broke my heart.” The rise of your chest stuttered and made your voice crack, the sound of it making his eyes soften with remorse.

“Loved?” He parroted, amber eyes searching yours for any remnants of the feeling he hoped remained.

You snatched your hands away, not even realizing what you had said until he repeated it back to you. “It doesn’t matter anymore.” You muttered.

“The hell it doesn’t! Why didn’t you ever tell me?”

You rubbed your forehead in annoyance, feeling a headache coming on and his response only made it worse. “Do you even listen to your mom when she talks to you? Have you not noticed how they put us together in almost every situation possible?” You gesticulated your hands angrily. “They’ve been asking us why we don’t speak anymore, and this trip was a way to make that happen.”

He cursed himself under his breath, because you were right. He doesn’t listen to his mom when she talks— most of the time he’s tuning her out in case it’s just the usual scolding because he did something stupid.

“You don’t get to ask the questions, Lo’ak. I’ve been sitting here for months, trying to talk to you and all you did was push me away, like I was contagious with a fucking disease. How could you?” Your hands balled into fists. You couldn’t fathom how he had found it in his heart to treat you this way.

And you were— contagious, in a way. No matter how hard he tried to push the feelings down, to rid his body of the fluttering sensation you gave him, being around you would only bring it back even stronger than it was before it left. The truth was, Lo’ak had never been as happy as he was with you and it scared him. Scared him so much that he let others make him believe he wasn’t deserving of it. Wasn’t deserving of you.

“You wouldn’t even look at me, not once! I went to our spot everyday, hoping you would show up and you never did. So I gave up.” You said, voice growing smaller with each word and wavering. He raised his hand to wipe the tears you hadn’t realized rolled down your cheeks, his expression so contrite when you leaned away from his touch that it hurt you to watch.

“Don’t say that, please don’t say that.” He pleaded in a whisper, both hands coming up now to cup your flushed face in his hands. “Please don’t give up on us when I’ve just figured it out. I know it took a while and I know I’m an idiot for it, but please don’t tell me that I’m too late.”

You wanted so badly to say yes. Your heart ached to throw yourself into his arms and forget about the way he had treated you, but you couldn’t. The damage had been done, and you were terrified. Terrified that if you let him in again, the past would repeat itself and you knew you couldn’t handle getting your heart stomped on for a second time.

Your hands found their way to his wrists, hiccuping at the thought of pulling them away. You shook your head, eyes locking on his to give him your final answer. “I’m sorry, Lo’ak. I can’t.”

You decided to end your trip early.

You couldn’t bare to be around Lo’ak anymore. Wanting to be with him just as much as he did you, but the doubts in your mind overwrote your heart any time you so much of thought about giving him a chance.

It was a constant battle and it was taking more of a toll on you than you expected. The feeling of his eyes burning into your back was unbearable, his jaw tensing because you just wouldn’t meet his eyes.

He was in agreement. He had finally been confident enough to challenge what the others swore would happen and came to terms with his feelings, but he was too late. The fact that you were so close that he could reach out and touch you was torturous, the only thing stopping him was the wedge he had plunged between you. He wanted to scream. To go back in time and yell in the face of his past self, to tell him that this was the stupidest decision he would ever make if he went through with it. He’d never forgive himself.

As soon as you were out the forest, you went your separate ways with no words spoken. Leaving Lo’ak alone where he stood, his arm moving to reach out to you but missing your fingers just by a mere inch. He prayed you would turn around, ‘come on, come on, turn around’ aimlessly repeating the words to himself. You didn’t.

He threw his bow to the ground, balling his fists up in frustration and bringing his arms up and over his head. “Fuck!” He growled, kicking at the ground and bringing up a cloud of dirt in the process.

You sat on the floor of your hut across from your mother, poking the steamed meat and vegetables around in your bowl with a lack of interest. Your elbow against the table and your chin propped into the palm of your hand, you couldn’t find it in you to take a bite. You had no appetite and feeding yourself was the last thing on your mind right now.

“Maite?” Your mother’s voice tore you from your endless rumination, and you looked up to see her expression as one of concern.

You hummed a mindless response. "Hm?"

“You’ve barely touched your food at all. You love when I make sturmbeest for you…” Her eyes motioned down to where your finger had been poking and prodding. “Is something wrong?” She asked.

You knew your mom, and she knew you. Chances are when she was asking you a question, there was no point in lying because she already had the answer. She just wanted to see what you’d say first. Nevertheless, you decided to try anyway.

You shook your head, pushing a small chunk of food into your mouth as to not be wasteful. “Just thinking.” You mumbled.

“Mm,” She nodded, her eyes never leaving where they were pinned on you. “Why don’t you go talk to him? Sitting here playing with your food won’t change anything.”

Her question nearly had you choking on your food, coughing a bit and forcing yourself to swallow with flared eyes. “H-huh? How did you…” You gulped, your rapid blinking and now straightened posture confirming her inference.

“Well you haven’t said one word of how the trip went since you got back. Not to mention, you came home early. And you haven’t been very present at dinner time lately, so I can only assume that something happened. Yes?” She quirked a brow at you.

You sighed, nodding and pushing your bowl out in front of you. There was no use in lying, you had to tell your mom the truth. You wanted to. “Yes he… He told me how he feels, finally. But I just don’t know what to do, and I don’t know if I can trust him again. I just don’t think it’s meant to be us, mom.” Shoulders drooping at your own revelation, you wanted nothing more than it to be him.

She tsked and shook her head at you, almost annoyed at your inability to see what was right in front of you. “Eywa does not make mistakes, my child. Since the two of you were little, there were signs. You should give him a chance to redeem himself. I am certain you won’t regret it.”

You trusted your mother more than anything. Her advice had never once led you astray, and you felt something wriggle it’s way through the cracks in your wall of uncertainty. Hope.

“You think so?” You asked quietly, fingers twiddling in anticipation. You felt newfound giddiness crawling up your spine and couldn’t find it in yourself to push it back down.

“I know so. The boy has been in love with you since the day you carved your first bows together.” She laughed and your hand shot up to cover an incoming smile. “Now go, find him and tell him how you feel. Don’t make him wait any longer.” She shooed, hastily waving her hands to bring you out of your lovesick trance.

You were up and out of your hut in seconds, bidding your mother a ‘see you later’ while your legs carried you faster than you could handle. You bundled your way past greeting villagers, responding quickly so you wouldn’t have to pause your trekking. They stared at you curiously, wondering where you were off to in such a hurry, away from your home and into the forest.

The heavy padding of your steps left illuminated patches of moss in your wake. The forest coming alive around you and the beating of your heart increasing with every duck under a leaf and leap over a log, knowing you were nearing your destination.

You eventually made your way uphill and onto a clearing, scenting him before you saw him. Poking your head around a low hanging branch, you felt nervousness pool in the pit of your stomach at the sight of Lo’ak’s slightly hunched form seated on the cliff. You stared at the back of his head, trying to gain the courage to approach him and preparing yourself for the conversation to come.

It wasn’t long before he caught a whiff of your scent as well, his ears unconsciously perking up. He could never mistake the intoxicating aroma of episoth petals and healing rose, a sigh escaping him when he remembered how lovely it had been to be around you those short two days. How being close to you after months apart scratched the itch he could never reach.

You walked over, slowly lowering yourself to sit next to him. Mimicking his position and draping your legs over the cliffside. “I thought you didn’t come here anymore.” Your gentle voice broke the silence, eyes focused on the stars gleaming in the distance.

“I never stopped, I was always here when you were. Even your Uniltaron, I was there. And I wanted to talk to you, to tell you I was sorry for the way I was acting. I just didn’t know how.” He said, voice low as if he were afraid to speak. Scared that he’d make another mistake.

You turned to look at him, taking in his glum state and drooped posture. A frown forming on your lips at his confession. You spent months upset with him, trying to hate him. Thinking he discarded your friendship to the side with malice, only to find out he had suffered just as much as you did. Blaming himself for a mistake he didn’t know how to undo. You cast your gaze down at your hands, taking a breath in before your fingers went to overlap his. His head snapped in your direction, his demeanor suddenly hopeful just at the mere touch.

“Lo’ak,” you started, weakly. “I’m scared.” Your eyes stapled shut, and he quickly grabbed your hand and pulled it close to him.

His features solemn, he silently begged you to open your eyes, holding your hand in both of his. “Why?” He whispered.

You sighed shakily, swallowing around nothing. “If I give myself to you, you can’t-“ Your voice shuddered and Lo’ak lifted your hand up, rubbing his cheek against the back of it as encouragement for you to continue. “Please don’t break me again.”

“Had I known I had your heart, I would’ve never done it. I want nothing more than to be loved by you, [Y/n]. To have the privilege to love you, to call you my own. If you’ll have me.” He voiced, bringing your knuckles to his lips and placing a light kiss upon them, golden irises never leaving the ones that were starting to water in front of him. “I love you too much to put you through that again.”

You had never seen Lo’ak so vulnerable, the look in his eyes one of such sincerity that your own emotions quickly overtook you. Ridding your mind of any reluctancy as you threw yourself into his arms. He exhaled heavily, taking not another moment to wrap his arms around you and bury his face into the space where your neck met your shoulder. Inhaling the scent he missed so much. He sighed in relief, hands splayed across your back to hold you as close to him as possible.

You pulled away, to his surprise as he instantly searched your face for any indication of something wrong. You held his face in your hands, barely able to tear your focus from his parted lips as you spoke. “I love you too, ma Lo’ak.” You whispered, his eyes softening at the term of endearment. You melted into his embrace when he closed the gap between you, pressing your lips together without a regard for air. Breathing him in would just have to be enough.

Your head tilted as you deepened the kiss. He chased your lips and followed suit, not wanting to be apart from you even for a second if he could help it. The kiss was desperate and delicate, hasty and lacking of grace as the both of you quenched the thirst water would not quell.

He broke away from you unwillingly, the need for air trumping his intense desire to continue. “You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to do that.” He grinned, voice breathless and fangs peeking out while his warm hands travelled up and down the small of your back. Allowing a swarm of butterflies to take home in your belly.

You giggled and clambered your way into his lap, his immediate acceptance revealed in the way his hands dropped down to hold your hips without a second thought. You draped your arms over his shoulders before you pressed your forehead to his, your fingers grazing along the skin of his back to leave goosebumps in your wake. “Just shut up and kiss me again.” You cooed, watching him lick his lips.

You didn’t have to tell him twice.

He gladly leaned in, but not completely— his top lip just faintly brushing against yours. Languidly lingering there with his mouth slightly agape as he relished in the feeling of your warmth, breathing in your air. “Lo’ak…” Your gaze settled on his half-lidded one for a moment and you almost whimpered at the tease. Your hand finding the back of his neck and pulling him into you, eager to pick up right where you left off.

His lips pressed to yours and they moved gently but fervently. The feeling of your weight in his lap making him hum into your mouth as his arms pressed your body flush against his. The desire that remained from all the months apart bled through his soft touches and washed onto you, hands traveling desperately over his heated, striped skin as if you would run out of time.

This was something you could get used to.

Reblogs + Likes + Comments are much appreciated! 💗

#loak x reader #loak x y/n #loak x you #loak fanfiction #loak fic #avatar loak #loak fluff #lo’ak #lo’ak sully #lo’ak x reader #lo’ak x y/n #lo’ak x you #lo’ak fanfiction #avatar way of water #avatar twow #avatar fanfiction #avatar 2

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writing-makes-me-human · 1 year

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🌊Love And Guests: Part 4🌊

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Pairing: Aonung x Reader

PART ONE: HERE, PART TWO: HERE, PART THREE: HERE, PART FIVE: HERE

Summary: Your sleep after the sealing of your bond with Aonung is intruded on by his mother and causes all sorts of drama. After some major conflict a group of Sully’s arrive and one of them starts to stir up some feelings in you that you aren’t sure you want there

Warnings: Angst but mostly fluff, the first chapter that’s SFW so let’s keep that up. No others.

Word Count: 4.1 k

A/N: Everyone is 19 or 18. Listen I know what you’re thinking, “why is there a slight hint of Neteyam x reader in my Aonung x reader?” and to that I say: The plot thickens mwahaha. If ya’ll want me to steer it back away from him that’s fine but this is gonna lead to some jealousy trope.

┕━»•» 🌺 «•«━━━━━┙

The feeling of Aonung's body nestling up to you was so soothing that it comforted your aching body right to sleep. His breath was gently fanning against your neck as his leg threw itself over your waist and brought you snugly against his chest, the whole experience was godly and you thanked Eywa that this is what having a mate felt like.

You two had moved around slightly in the night to get comfortable after your evening of physical activities. You both were so exhausted that you had gone to sleep with your braids still intact to one another, sleeping as one being with your heart rates and breaths synchronized in rhythm.

The sleep was unlike anything you've ever experienced. The consummation of your mating created a sleep so peaceful that neither of you stirred as the flap to your pod was torn open. The intruder stared down at your intertwined bodies, then at the braids that lay between you, connecting for your mortal lives.

Aonung awoke first, his breath catching in a yawn as he sat up to see where the sound of a voice was coming from. He sat up and looked over your body, still naked and very much asleep, as your body begrudgingly let go of it's grasp on him.

He tried to look around for a blanket or covering to put over you, but that was when his eyes locked on the invader that was standing in the corner. Her arms crossed over her chest while her eyes twitched with anger.

It was his mother.

"Cover that girl and leave her, you and I need to talk", she wasted no time in shaming her son while he was left dumbstruck at her presence.

He quickly reached over to his loincloth and replaced it, cursing his mother as he removed his braid from yours and let his senses drift back to their standard rate. He tried not to awaken you as he looked around again for a covering, but the breaking of the bond had woken you. With a grumble, you sat up, your tender eyes not noticing Ronal at first.

"What are you doing ma Aonung?" You managed to grunt as you took the blanket he had given you and threw it over yourself with no care taken to ensure your privates were hidden from view. He wanted nothing more than to kick his mother out and join you back on the floor but the chase from his warden was over.

Your eyes finally adjusted to the light, and your brow creased as you saw his downturned ears and ashamed expression.

"I am sorry y/n, I didn't know she would be here", he apologised, and your eyes suddenly flew around to see who he was talking about.

You yelped when your eyes crossed the dark gaze of Ronal. You quickly tucked the blanket around you like a robe to hide your figure from her wandering eyes that were filled with distaste.

"Aonung you disappoint me, you have no regard for our traditions, and you mate with this

woman without consulting Eywa? Without consulting me? Come here", she raced over to her boy that was about half a foot taller than her and grabbed his ear, causing him to hiss and cry out.

The scene would have made you laugh if it hadn't been for the fact Ronal was also angered at you. She dragged her son away from you, and the pain of desertion ripped through you as the freshness of your achieved alignment with Aonung called out for his touch.

"Tsahik, please wait", you called out as you stumbled around clumsily, trying to grab your clothes and fit them on as you chased after them outside into the early morning light.

"Mother!", he yelped like a teenager who had been caught doing something they weren't supposed to be doing while trying to pull himself away from her grip, but her fingers were latched onto his ears and did not let go as he tried to move back towards you.

"You two have dis-hounred Eywa, I will speak to my son about what must be done, and you shall not interfere", she spat at you, not even bothering to turn her head as she charged through the pods to her own family's home that lay the furthest from the seaside and was the most isolated from neighbours.

Nobody was around outside, thank goodness, to judge and stare, but you knew if anyone was awake, they could undoubtedly hear your trio as you quickly passed each abode.

"It was my fault, I pressured him, Tsahik, please do not punish Aonung for something I did!" You tried to catch up with them as you called to her, resisting the urge to grab onto her arm, for you knew that would only make matters worse.

"No it isn't, she's lying, it was my fault, I rushed her into things without seeking your permission, mother, leave her out of this", he turned to you with a glare before gesturing for you to go back and leave him to deal with his mother. You entertained his silent plea for 30 seconds but you couldn't let him suffer the wrath of his parents on his own when you were half the issue.

"Quiet! The both of you are to blame, now get inside before I drown you both", she shoved her son by the back of his neck into the open flap of her home and then turned to you, but you needed no convincing as you sheepishly ran to join him in the middle of the pod.

Tsireya sat quietly enjoying her breakfast as she looked up at the commotion. It didn't take much for her to piece together what had happened as her eyes went from her mother's infuriated face to her brother's agitated one and then to your embarrassed downtrodden look.She grinned like a madman as she jumped up and congratulated you both, her arms swaddling you in a warm hug as she welcomed you to her family.

"Oh great, mother! I am so happy for you, y/n! We are family now, so if you ever need help with anything, like taking care of babies or--" She was quickly cut off by her brother pulling her off you. She looked at him with an offended frown as she questioned him, but Aonung nodded toward their mother behind them, who was only getting more worked up by the encounter."She is not family, and there will be no children", Ronal hissed out before demanding her daughter leave.

Tsireya unwillingly rolled her eyes and walked over to the door, patting your arm silently as she spoke out in support of you.

Her mother watched her leave before Ronal unrolled the wrapped-up sail that acted as the door to her families fortress and tied it twice to ensure nobody would walk in on her following speech.

The silence in the room was soul-crushing as you stood close to Aonung, waiting for Ronal to look up from the ground and start berating you both.

"Never in my days of Tsahik have I seen such blatant delinquency", her voice wasn't quite shouting, but you could see she was holding back from smacking you both upside the head.

"To walk in on my son laying with a woman who is not even a healer, both bonded for life with a mate tattoo on his leg as if this union has been blessed by anyone at all!" This time she did shout, and it made you jump a bit.

Aonung's hand came down to your lower back and pressed against you in comfort, he looked down at your face, and his other hand clenched at his side as he saw you looking ashamedly down at the floor.

"We are mated before Eywa, it doesn't matter what you think, I am not ashamed, and I do not regret being with y/n", his voice was soft, but his body language only showed courage and conviction with every word he spoke.

His mother scoffed before she began pacing around you two in a circle. She inspected all of your features, and it took a lot of strength not to smack yourself in embarrassment when you remembered she had seen too much of you already for your comfort.

"And you think she is fit to be Tsahik? That she will be able to heal our people?" Her question was rhetorical as she flicked your tail between her hands, watching as you pulled it away.

"She is good enough for me", his eyes had turned to slits as he watched his mother walk around you both once more for a final lap.

The hate and anger radiating off Aonung was enough to heat up the room. You slipped your hand behind your back and grabbed his hand to communicate that you were okay and could handle the criticism being handed to you.

"I am not a healer or a good leader", you admitted, trying to stop your voice from shaking and your heart from putting you on the ground.

"But I am willing to learn for Aonung", you turned your eyes up and stared at Ronal, daring to squeeze Aonung's hand tightly in your own, and he clenched back as reinforcement.She scoffed and shook her head, resuming her place in front of you two to stare you down with eyes that had softened from pure venom to partial contemplation.

"You love my son?" She asked you, and a smile grew on your face as you nodded eagerly, hoping she would tell you that she could work with that.

"Then you will leave him and let him find a woman suitable to be Tsahik because you are not sufficient for my son", she didn't do anything to soften the blow, and the words hit you deep in your heart.

"Enough!", Aonung yelled loudly, and his voice frightened you, but Ronal only switched her evil glare from you to her son.

"Do not speak to me this way! You have chosen wrong, Eywa does not bless this union, and you have dug yourself into this mess, so you will have to suffer the consequences!" Ronal was furious.

You knew that she probably wouldn't have been pleased with finding out about your mating after it happened, but you had no idea she hated you so much.

"There are no consequences! I chose right! She is strong and creative, perfect to me, why can you not see that?" His voice hadn't changed from its defensive tone, but it made room for a resounding sadness that leaked from his words.

"She will be the death of our clan if she is Tsahik", she hissed out the prophecy, and if your heart hadn't been broken before, now it was in ruins.

"I am sorry that I am not who you hoped for", you muttered as you let go of Aonung's hand with a heavy mass in your stomach, making you feel ill.

You tried to take a step forward so you could leave, but Aonung sharply tugged you back to his side. He brought you into his chest with one arm laying across your collarbones while the other pointed to his mother. The warm hold made you gasp and his connection instantly healed the pain of being rejected by your mate's mother.

"You do not get to decide this for me, you interpret Eywa, not my feelings", he had listened to many rants about his behaviour before, but now Ronal's motherly tone was completely gone.

"I do not care how you feel for her, you are responsible for the safety of our people, and as Olo'eyktan, that means choosing the best Tsahik, instead you have chosen the first girl who offered herself to you. It was an irresponsible decision!" She was not speaking to him as his mother; she was commanding him as his Tsahik. But he still wouldn't submit and he chose to defend you again.

"She will be a better Tsahik than you", his eyes glared at his mother while her face turned to murderous rage.

She hissed loudly at her son, her teeth baring at you two while her eyes burned through your skin and prosecuted your soul.

Aonung didn't hesitate and hissed back with his canines protruding to threaten her in turn, making your back freeze as you felt the instinct to stand with your mate in solidarity and hiss at her pop into your mind.

The mated relationship was fresh, and you could feel your body and mind calling out for you to support your mate without examining the context of the moment, which left you torn in places, trying to get the new urges under control.

You were sure they were about to pounce on one another and start throwing physical attacks, but a rustling of the flap made them both turn to see who was intruding on what was about to become a death match.

Tonowari ducked his head into the tent as he cursed at the double knot that had made it arduous to open his front door. After a few seconds of fixing the flap, he finally settled his eyes on the scene in front of him.

He did a once over of the room and sighed as he gazed upon his mate and son, who looked nearly ready to slaughter one another and then at you, who looked rather pitiful being squashed against his son in a protective hold while the others were in the middle of the fight.

"What is it?" Ronal demanded, taking her eyes off her eldest son to question the chief's attitude.

"Jakesully's children have returned, our daughter is greeting them as we speak", he spoke as diplomatically as he could, trying to keep his tone even to avoid his opinion about the conflict that was currently unfolding being heard and interpreted.

Yes, of course, Tonowari cared for his children's future. Still, he knew it was a futile mission to try and control his eldest son because he had been Aonung's age once and even if Ronal didn't care to think back on it, their own mating process hadn't precisely been done by the books.

Ronal's face fell, and she immediately straightened herself. She had duties to take care of, and you knew that she would put the strange arrival of the Sullys above anything that involved you.

"We must go then, you two, do not go anywhere", she pointed an accusatory finger at you both before she stalked out of the room and into the hot light of morning.

Tonowari turned again before he left and watched as his son let you go and apologized for his mother's behavior.

The whole picture reminded him of Ronal and himself when they were young, and that caused a soft smile on his face.

He figured that was probably the reason why his wife had been speaking from her mind rather than from Eywa when she had talked of the mystery girl their son had been seeing to Tonowari a few days ago.

Ronal was afraid that it would be a repetition of her own relationship, which was very beautiful and sacred to her but had caused others many heartbreaks during their younger years of courtship.

She was an amazing Tsahik and an even better mother, nobody saw the side of her the chief did and he knew that deep down everything she did was out of fear for the people close to her.

He raised his fingers to his head in a respectful goodbye to you, then he turned and followed his mate down the beach to see what could be done about the guests.

After a few minutes of assuring Aonung you were truthfully okay and that you could take the hard words his mother had spoken, he quickly pulled you in and sat his head on top of yours while his arms wrapped around your shoulders tightly.

"I am so sorry ma y/n", he could feel the guilt bubbling up his throat as he pictured the way you had dropped his hand to leave at the command of his mother, and it made every fiber of his being called out in agony at the idea of you leaving him.

"It is not your fault Aonung", you held him in a tight embrace in exchange, lacing your hands around his middle and allowing your head to lay on his chest.

You knew Ronal would be back before long, but in honesty, you also wanted to go and see the Sullys. Ronal scared you deeply, but Aonung's carefree attitude was starting to rub off on you, and he was acting far more concerned about you than whatever his mother thought, so you decided to let her slip from your thoughts for a few minutes until she came back.

Neteyam had been your closest friend when you were both teenagers, and the whole time he and his family had spent learning the ways from your clan had created a unique companionship. You were his confidant when he had to let complaints about his family off his chest, and he was your jester when you felt down about your place in the tribe.

The thought of missing out on seeing him made your soul fall a little, but you knew you couldn't directly disobey Ronal and run down to see them. You had been ordered to stay here. But it seemed Aonung had read your mind.

"You want to go see them?" Aonung was never one to let a moment grow dull, and while he still felt terrible he had let his mother drag you into his family matters, he knew that seeing a few familiar friends would put you back in a good mood.

"We can't your mother will skin us", you shook your head, Aonung only rolled his eyes playfully and grabbed your hand, making his way to the exit as you gave a half attempt at dragging him back to the room.

"My mother is already going to skin us, come on, before she comes back", his mood from not even ten minutes ago that was snarling and yelling was nowhere in sight now that he was left alone with you.

It was honestly impressive how swiftly he changed his tune to try and cheer you up.You gave in quickly to his idea and let him haul you down to the beach with the wind in your face and the woven pathways digging into your feet.

It felt so wrong yet righteous to disobey direct orders from the Tsahik in an act of vengeance, and Aonung's chuckle let you know he felt the same way.

You ran down to the sandy terrain and nearly jumped out of your skin as you saw Lo'ak, Kiri and Neteyam all grown up in the near distance.

They had flown to the small island on their ikran that were now resting behind them, and by the smiles, on their faces, you were  relieved to see they hadn't come back to seek refuge again.

You wanted to run down and jump into their arms and hug them all, but you froze when you saw Ronal and Tonowari already down there, talking to them with voices dripping in questions.

"Come on, she doesn't bite", Aonung followed your eyes and held back a groan as he tried to pull you to the edges of the crowd that was forming around the new arrival of young adults, but you resisted with a roll of your eyes.

"Oh yeah, as she was yelling at me, I was thinking about how peaceful and level-headed your mother is", you bit back as you looked down at the group with your bottom lip caught between your teeth in thought.

"You're being silly", he grumbled before letting his hand slip further up your arm to gently guide you to the front of the witnesses.

He pushed ahead of you and separated the clan in his efforts to get to the front, and he allowed his hand to slip into yours once again as you neared the opening where everyone was standing in an awkward standoff.

The conversation had ended as soon as you managed to push through everyone. As the members of the clan all returned to the work they had been doing previously to the entrance of the warrior children, you could only grin as you saw the items they had brought with them that suggested they would be staying for a while.

Once you reached the front, you caught Ronal's eyes, and if looks could kill, you would be long gone, and with the great mother now, but you pressed on, feeling a spark of confidence push you forward as you thought back to Aonung's kind words he had used to praise you in front of his foaming mother.

Lo'ak was the first to spot you, and he laughed merrily as he opened his arms. You dropped Aonung to run into a warm embrace with the youngest son, and you laughed back, delighting in a quick spin he did with you in his arms that made a nostalgic rush hit you.

You pulled back and held onto his forearms as you took him all in with a grin from ear to ear that plastered your face.

He looked good. His hair had grown out long, and it seemed he had adapted the look his brother had last left with, as all of his hair was separated into small braids with different twists of yarn and beads hanging from each one. His front sections were tied back to allow his face room to see, and you were happy to report that he looked refreshed. He seemed more youthful than when he had left, and it made you happy.

Your name was called out to you from Lo'ak's left, and you turned to see Kiri's cherry face. You enveloped her in a bear hug as you clung onto her as if that would somehow make up for the last four or more years you had been out of touch.

"You look good", she whispered as you pulled away from her.

You looked her over and nodded as you saw that she looked much the same as she had done when she was fourteen, apart from her hair which had gotten shaggier, and her limbs which had reached longer down to her waist.

"You don't look to bad yourself", you laughed, not allowing yourself the time to think as you leaped forward and grabbed a piece of her hair that was dangling from her head to roll in between your fingers. She was more beautiful than ever.

She snatched back the hair with a playful grin on her face. It seemed even her time abroad hadn't cured her sassiness, and she rolled her eyes as she fought the twitch in her mouth to throw a million questions to you.

Before you could further interrogate either of the siblings about their sudden appearance at your home, a hand was placed on your back. You turned, half expecting Aonung to be there, greeting them over your shoulder by the way the hand felt so familiar.

You choked on your breath when you saw that it was an older Neteyam. Not just older but also much more attractive Neteyam.

He had indeed grown up from the rule stickler he had been when he was smaller, and you hated how his smile sent your heart into a strange flutter of peculiar feelings.

Oh, no no no.

Neteyam's build had changed over the years, and it looked like he had been fed a steady diet as his abdominal muscles stared back at you with biceps that shook with laughter as he stared down at your dumbfounded face.

His hair was in loose, thick, black, plain locs that hung down to his chest, with two pieces behind each ear decorated with beads. You took a second to look at his face and felt endearment tickle your heart when you saw that each of the two locs with decoration had a few beads of your own making strung on them to help fill up the space.

His laugh turned to a smile, and all you could do to communicate your joy at seeing him was jump into his arms as he awkwardly caught you and held you tightly, letting his smile point itself into your scalp as he subtly took in your scent again after so many years.

He couldn't help how his tail flicked behind him in a blur as he realized you smelt different now. You smelt like something he couldn't quite remember, but the scent only became more robust as he took deeper breaths.

He looked up to see Aonung staring at him with a questioning look at the tight grip he had on you that lasted far longer than your hug with either Lo'ak or Kiri.

You felt a presence behind you that you immediately identified as your mate, and you quickly withdrew from Neteyam's stronghold.

You laughed as you stood back, seeing that the two young men were now the same towering height that slightly bested you.

Aonung didn't smile but continued staring at Neteyam with his questioning gaze while Neteyam greeted him and then shook his hand, letting the touch of their hands express his happiness at seeing the boy.

This was not going to end well.

:𝗧𝗮𝗴𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁:

@luvlykrispy @shootingstarforever-blog1 @neteyams-tsqhik, @azaleaniath, @ripneteyam, @lovergirl-3000, @lixiesbrowniess, @minkyungseokie @yeosxxx

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ethereal-navi · 1 year

Text

Wounded Feelings

Pairing: Neteyam x Navi! Omatikaya! Reader

Summary: You tend to Neteyam’s wounds after the war party returns.

Content Warning: Nothing besides some minor swearing.

A/N: Hii So this is my first Avatar piece and I’ve been eager to write ever since I saw the new movie. Shit really brought back my avatar phase 😭

“Y/N, don’t forget to have everything prepared for when they return.”

“Yes ma’am.” You moved from your spot and carefully set up all the supplies necessary for healing around the Tsahik’s tent.

Training under Mo’at was no easy task and on days like this you were always on edge. Whenever the war party was out you had to pray to the Great Mother that everyone would come back in one piece and your healing wasn’t needed.

This time around two of your favorite people happened to be close to the battlefield. Neteyam and Lo’ak were tasked with air support today and hopefully if they followed their father’s instructions they shouldn’t be in any danger.

Mo’at could sense your distraction as she watched you mess up the placement of supplies.

“They’ll be fine, Y/N. You need to focus.”

Shaken out of your thoughts and brought back to reality. You quickly fixed your mistake before mentally kicking yourself.

“Yes of course. I’m sorry.”

Suddenly the sound of war cries rang through the cave and Tuk ran into the tent.

“They’re back! Y/N come on, come on!!” She ran out as quickly as she entered. Leaving you to look at Mo’at for approval.

“Go. But be back soon.”

You nodded with a thankful smile on your face. After leaving the tent you quickly met up with Tuk, Kiri and Spider. The four of you eagerly waited as the Ikrans landed near the cliffs.

As the warriors dismounted their Ikrans the four of you ran up to greet them. Tuk immediately running up to her mother while you and Kiri checked on the boys.

A gash on Neteyam’s chest distracted you from the scolding they were currently receiving.

“Oh Great Mother, what have you gotten into this time?” Your fingers lightly danced around the wound causing him to wince.

“Y/N, go help Mo’at with the wounded.” You turned to look at the Oletykan.

“Neteyam is wounded.” Your statement made Tuk look over her other brother in worry.

“It’s fine.” Neteyam bowed his head in submission towards his father. Clearly he thought this scolding was more important.

Jake exhaled roughly.

“Y/N, Kiri, Tuk, go now.”

The three of you sighed and made your way to the tent.

“It’s my fault sir-“

“You’re right, cause you’re the big brother and you gotta act like it.” Jake shook his head in disappointment and Neytiri stood behind her child.

“Ma Jake, your son is actually bleeding.”

“I’m fine, mom.”

Jake sighed and looked at the boy.

“Go get patched up. Dismissed.”

Lo’ak was then left to deal with Jake’s wrath alone. Not before getting a warning look from his mother.

Once the two of them entered the tent you immediately sat him down as Mo’at worked on paste for his wound.

“Skxawng. The hell were you thinking?? You and your brother, always getting into trouble.” You lightly hit the back of his head causing him to hiss.

“I know I know. We just bit off more than we could chew, that’s all.”

You sighed looking at him. If only he knew how much you worry about him while he’s out there.

“You’re lucky it wasn’t worse.” You accepted the bowl Mo’at handed you and began placing the paste on his wound, which caused him to yelp out in pain.

“Aww does the baby need a kiss on the boo boo?” Spider said as stood behind him, taunting him as Lo’ak finally came to join the group.

“I would use yamna bark.” Kiri interjected.

“Oh you would? And who is Tsahik?” Mo’at said while smiling at her granddaughter.

“You are grandmother-move.” She nudged her younger brother out of the way. “You are grandmother. But it stings less.”

You scoffed at her comment.

“I think he should remember this sting for when he wants to do something reckless.” The tent laughed as you continued to apply the medicine.

After things had settled down you sat yourself on the edge of the cave, looking out into the night. It didn’t take long for Neteyam to join on the edge. His thighs touching yours while his eyes scanned your face.

“What’s on your mind, yawntu?”

Your cheeks flush at the nickname. After all this time you still couldn’t get used to it.

“You could have gotten really hurt today Nete, Lo’ak too. Or worse-“

His hand moved to the back of your neck, making you turn to him.

“Hey, I’m okay. With the help of you and my grandmother’s painful remedy.” The two of you chuckled.

“You don’t need to worry. I’ll stay out of trouble, I wouldn’t want this pretty face to be stained with tears.” His thumb moved to gently stroke your cheek, making you smile.

Times like these you really thought he reciprocated your feelings. But he was just being nice, right?

Translations

Yawntu- loved one

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miyuhpapayuh · 1 year

Text

six.

“Welcome to Mimosa Grill, did you have a reservation?” The receptionist asks Leon, his sister and mother.

“Yes, it's under Hunt.”

“Oh, the table full of beauties, yes! And they're adding three more!” She claps, making them laugh as she leads them towards the middle of the restaurant.

Zora stands once they make it to the table, smiling softly as the introductions start.

“Hello, ladies.” Leon greets with a smile that sends them all swooning.

“Hey, Leon,” they sing in unison, making Zora playfully roll her eyes as he laughs.

“This is my sister Eryn and my mama Tara.” He introduces, as they wave.

“And these are my sisters Neoma and Lovita, and my mama Pam,” Zora introduces, turning her attention to his mom, “I'm Zora, it's so nice to meet you.”

Pulling away from their mom's side to shake her sisters’ hands, she and Zora do the same. A warm handshake and smile eases Zora's nerves.

“It's a pleasure to meet you, Zora. You are breathtaking. You all are!”

“Thank you!” Pam proudly says, standing to shake her hand, as well as Leon’s.

“A firm hand! I like you, already.” Pam says, earning another smile from him.

“The pressure's on,” he says. “A pleasure to finally meet you.”

“Likewise, dear. I've heard great things! And you,” she turns to Eryn, “aren't you just adorable!”

“Been getting that my whole life,” her twang makes Zora giggle, “thank you! It's nice to meet such beautiful people!”

Once they're all acquainted, they sit and fall into conversation.

“So, tell me Leon. What do you do for a living?” Pam asks.

“I work at a warehouse in Midland. We outsource from many retail outlets, it's pretty much like Amazon but a little wider in range.”

“Oh, okay! Keeps you busy?”

“Yes ma'am,” he chuckles. “It can be trying and tiring like any job, but I get my work done.”

“And Zora, what about you dear?” Tara asks.

“I work at a restaurant in Matthews. It's a quaint, family owned business. Delicious food, terrible customers… the usual.” She laughs, making them do the same.

“Working in food service can definitely be trying. I worked as a line cook for about five years, so I understand.” She says.

“Really? Oof, they put me back there for a day and I'm ready to burn the place down.” Zora shakes her head.

“That was the first thought on my brain for five years, honey.” She agrees, making Zora laugh again.

Leon smiles at the sight.

“She's also got a friend like the one that used to hang around you, ma.” He speaks.

“Oh— oh, you got a lil weasel followin’ you around?” She asks, making her mama look over at her as well.

“Zora, that boy's still bothering you?”

“I told you to let me kick his ass,” Lovita adds.

“Yeah, he still thinks he's being charming,” she snorts, “but man is he a pain in my side. And put your guns down, sis. Leon gave him the glare of a lifetime, so he's been keeping his distance as of late. Not sure how long it'll last but..”

“A non-verbal threat is new for you.” Eryn laughs, patting her brother's shoulder.

“Turning over new leaves, Eryn.” He responds. “Plus, as long as he keeps his distance, we have no issue. I wouldn't jeopardize Zora's job, either.”

“See? Blazing guns aren't always the answer.” Zora looks at her sisters, who just wave her off.

“Leon might be turning over a new leaf, but you're my littlest sister. I carry and he better relax.”

“She's a spitfire, too! I love it!” Tara smiles. “And, it's commendable that you've taken this off this pretty girl's hands, cause she shouldn't have to worry about some fool tryna push up on her at work.”

“Leon's a sweetheart. Plus he wouldn't let it go until I said he could choke him if need be.” Zora giggles, making both of their mothers shake their heads.

“Kids, am I right?” Pam looks at Tara, who nods wholeheartedly.

“This is why I'm graying, now.”

Good food and even better conversation continued, as the two got to share stories of childhood, family and everything in between.

Zora learned that Leon played baseball for a brief period in high school, until he started getting into fights and eventually got kicked off the team.

Leon had learned that Zora's artwork used to be posted on the walls and in the library of her elementary, middle and high school. She was somewhat of a celebrity.

“So, where did writing start for you?” Zora asks Leon.

“Well, I had gotten thrown out of most social clubs, due to my smart mouth and my mama suggested that I find other ways to get my feelings out, cause she was tired of getting calls from the school.” He looks over at her, catching her stare and choking.

“Gray, baby. Gray.”

“Anyway,” he shakes his head and turns back to Zora. “Eryn bought me a journal with her allowance because she wanted me to do better. I stalled for a while, because what was I supposed to write about? My angry teenager self wasn't with it, at all. But, I eventually came back to it with an open mind, and it's been like a dear friend to me ever since.”

Zora, as well as her sisters and mama, were chin-in-palm, listening to his every word.

“Wow…Tell me you paid Eryn back.” Neoma speaks, making Eryn giggle.

“He sure did! He's not the only ass kicker around here.” She innocently smiles.

✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿ ... ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿ ... ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿

The next week and a half was filled with more sharing from Zora and more earnest listening from Leon, a few more dates and a sorta surprise visit to her job.

They'd started sharing their work schedules, due to Leon falling in love with the food like Zora told him he would, as well as Zora feeling herself become safe in his presence.

Like he said he would be, he came strolling through the restaurant’s doors with an extra dip in his walk, making Zora’s mouth twist up, fighting off her smirk.

The flowers in his hand definitely made her jaw drop, her hand not being fast enough to catch it.

Leon being the teaser he is, he decides to poke a little fun once he makes his way to her.

“I thought you said brown girls don't blush! You look a lil red, baby.”

“Shut up,” she laughs, her eyes dropping to the orange poppies in his hand. The slight pout that forms on her glossed lips letting him know he'd chosen right between those and yellow lillies.

“For you,” he holds them out for her, leaning on the counter so she wouldn't have to look up at him too much. Plus he was crowding her space like she secretly wanted him to.

“They're beautiful!” She all but squeals, welcoming the flowers and kiss he placed on her lips. “Thank you.”

“My pleasure. That was cute, you were tryna hide your face.” He laughs, sneaking another kiss.

“Stop it,” she playfully mushes him away. “I was shocked to see you with flowers. I'm so used to us picking them out together when we hit the shoppe, I wasn't expecting this.”

“Expecting the unexpected is something you're gonna get used to. Don't worry.” He assures her with a wink, making her turn away from him as her face continues to burn.

“Go away,” she drags out her words, earning a deep chuckle in return. His hand latches onto her free one, linking their fingers.

“I like your hair, like always.” He compliments the high, wild ponytail she was sporting today, pulling her gaze back to his.

“Thank you. It took me way too long to get it up like this, it better be cute.” She huffs, sitting the flowers on the counter behind her.

“Put your guns down, it's cute.” He jokes, earning an eye-roll.

“You're a little early. I've got about five minutes left.”

“I know. They let us out a bit earlier than usual, so I thought I'd come on this way to see you, since this was the plan anyway.”

“Makes sense. Was today any better?” She asks, referring to him and his coworker.

“A little. We spoke briefly, which is a start.” He shrugs, leaning up from the counter. “I'm gonna head to the bathroom right quick.”

“Okay,” she gives a soft smile, which he returns before walking down and around the corner.

Zora's expression quickly sours as Cory slides into Leon's place, leaning on the counter at the same time she moves away from it.

“Come on. Why we gotta be like this?” He asks, eyeing the flowers behind her.

“It's like you think I'm joking or something. Staying away from me didn't last long, like it knew it wouldn't.” She says, shaking her head.

“Who bought you those beauties?” He asks, ignoring her.

“Someone that's actually worth my time, Cory. No more questions.” She firms, shooing him away but of course his persistence keeps him planted.

“Damn, I'm not worth your time?”

“What did I just say??” She throws her hands up.

“For real, Zora?”

“Dude! I've spent the better part of my time here, warding you off like you're a demon. You're unbelievable.” She laughs.

“You know you can't resist this, baby.”

“See? It's like there's a blockage in your brain.”

“Ain't nothing wrong with me, girl.”

“I'm not your girl.” She snaps.

“You could be, though.” He says without missing a beat.

“No thanks,” she says with a shake of her head, just as Leon reappears, catching Cory way too close to where he shouldn't be.

“Look who we got here,” he says, causing Cory to break his neck to look in his direction, his cockiness about to turn on him.

“Oh, the one with the staring problem. Wassup flower boy.” He points, glancing back at Zora, whose stare could turn him to stone, had this been Percy Jackson and friends.

“You got two seconds to remove yourself.” Leon calmly says, watching the smug smile grow on Cory's face as he looks back at him.

“Ain't nobo—” the rest of his sentence got jerked up, right along with his collar, as Leon stares him dead in the eyes, definitely putting fear in his heart.

“I'm bein’ real nice. You don't want that ass whoopin’, I promise you.” He warns, keeping his collar in his tight grip.

Zora's eyes widen at the sight, and she's able to get her hand over her mouth to catch the laugh that threatens to kill their intense stare down.

“Leave Zora alone or it's gonna be way worse than this.” Leon's unwavering stare definitely did damage to Cory's self esteem, but he kept up the facade.

“Aight.” He holds hands up in surrender, that usual smug smile being replaced with a mean mug, little did he know it made him look just as pathetic.

“Apologize.”

Cory turns his head toward Zora, offering an equally pathetic apology, to which she nods in response.

Releasing his collar just as roughly as he yanked it up, Leon pushes him back towards the other side of the bar, away from them altogether.

“Go do your job.” He points, watching him disappear around the corner before he looks over at a very amused Zora.

“That boy relentless ain't he?” He laughs, back to leaning on the counter.

“Yeah! You bout pulled that boy out his shoes!” She lets her giggles run free.

“He was where he shouldn't have been. Had to come do damage control and save you from that fool.” He chuckles.

“My hero,” she hums, punching her number in the computer, finally clocking out for the day.

“Told you I got you.”

“You did. So whose place tonight?”

“Mine?” He suggests, and she agrees.

She lifts the counter’s side flap up, grabs her flowers and heads into the side room, grabs her bag off the hanger, and moves back in front of him.

“Alright, we can go now.”

✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿ ... ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿ ... ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿

“When's the last time someone bought you flowers?” Leon asks, sitting his takeout container on his coffee table.

“Are we counting the ones Cory has bought me?” She asks.

“No.” He answers quickly, making her laugh.

“It's been a couple years, then.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, besides the few dates I'd been on after I left my ex. And the last date I'd been on til you came along was… about two years ago, yeah.” She laughs, again.

“Wow. That makes no sense.”

“Well, in my defense, I am always walking around with my own flowers.” She jokes.

“You got me there,” he laughs, “but someone can always add to those, right?”

“You're right. It's a really sweet gesture.” She smiles, reaching for a fortune cookie.

“I'm glad you liked them. I wasn't sure what to get, but they jumped out at me. Plus, orange looks really good on you.”

“Thank you, and you did good. Orange's my favorite color.”

The amused expression spreads across his handsome face, making her laugh for the umpteenth time.

“I won't pat myself on the back, but..” he jokes, sliding a little closer to her, “you can't say I don't pay attention.”

“You're right, again. And now I kinda feel bad, cause I don't think I've got your favorite color right in my head… did that make sense?”

“It did,” he nods, “what do you think it is?”

“Green.”

“Correct.” He smiles.

“Really?” She asks.

“Yeah, I'm a hunter green kinda guy.”

“I knew it!” She smiles, pulling the plastic away from the cookie to crack it open. “Green looks really good on you.”

“Thank you, beautiful.”

She nods, looking down at the small piece of paper, softly shaking her head at what it says, folding it up.

“The love of your life will appear in front of you unexpectedly!”

Yeah, I sure hope so.

“What does it say?” He asks.

“You're not supposed to share what it says,” she says, popping half of the cookie into her mouth.

“There's rules?”

She nods, covering her mouth as she chews. “You're also supposed to burn it so it can come true.”

“Wow, you learn something new every day.” He chuckles.

“You're welcome!” She cheerily says, earning another laugh out of him as they settle back against the couch to watch another movie.

A couple chick-flicks later, Leon was reluctantly standing up to walk a sleepy Zora out to her car.

“If I didn't have to work in the morning, I'd crash on your couch,” she snorts, fumbling inside her bag for her keys.

“Hey, you still can. I could take you to work before I go in, you can come back and get your car after work. You get off at the same time tomorrow?” He asks.

“Yeah, I do. But I don't have any extra clothes.”

“You can borrow something of mine. What you need, a t-shirt? Shorts? I got you.”

“You really want me to stay, huh?”

“Hell yeah,” he answers enthusiastically, making her giggle. “I love your company.”

“Yeah, you're growing on me too.” She smirks, following him right back inside his apartment.

Ch 7

@blackerthings @sheabuttahwrites @soufcakmistress @twistedcharismaaa @unfriendlyblkhotti3 @awerkofart @abeautifulmindexposed @blowmymbackout @ghostfacekill-monger @nahimjustfeelingit-writes @thegifstories

#mochaff #zora x leon #poc writers #blackwriters #miyuhpapayuh #black romance #yahya abdul mateen ii imagine #yahya abdul mateen ii fan fiction

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footprintsinthesxnd · 5 months

Text

Country Roads

So I’m going to prewarn you all now that this fic is very angsty, mentions character death, grief, dying, lots of crying but in a way that is a sort of happyish ending. If not a happy ending then one of acceptance. This is also my first Skip Muck fic so I hope you all enjoy as much as you can.

Skip’s footfall was heavy against the dirt track, as he kicked up the dust allowing the familiar path home. His class A uniform hung to his body as the sun beat down on his back, causing the sweat to tickle uncontrollably between his shoulder blades. He huffed, slinging his bag onto his other shoulder. The local red postal van trundled past him, apparently oblivious to his presence.

“Hey, watch where you’re going!” He shouted, waving his hand in annoyance as the dust swirled up around him and he brushed down his uniform. “Goddam dust everywhere,” he grumbled as he continued.

The postal van was parked outside his family home and he watched excitedly as his mother came out of the front door to receive the letter. “Hey Ma!” He called, waving his arms frantically. It was the first time he’d seen his mother in two years, but it felt like only yesterday that he’d left for Toccoa.

His mother called out to someone and Faye quickly appeared next to her, her signature beaming smile on her lips, until his mother spoke to her. Faye’s face fell and even from where Skip stood he could visibly see the tears trailing down her cheeks. His mother and Faye embraced, falling to their knees on the decking and Skip found himself breaking out into a run, throwing his kit bag on the verge and sprinting up the driveway.

“MA! Ma, what’s wrong? Faye? Faye, talk to me, sweetheart.” Skip skidded to a halt, bending down beside them and throwing his arms around the sobbing women but no one moved. No one reacted.

“Faye?” Skip placed his hand under her chin but she didn’t look at him, too consumed with grief of the news. “Faye? Ma? What’s going on?” Skip stood up, waving his arms in front of the woman. “Faye, my sweet, why are you crying? I’m home. Faye, listen to me.”

“She can’t hear you Skip, neither of them can.” Skip spun around to see Alex Penkala, also dressed in his class A uniform watching the unusual reunion.

“What do you mean?” Skip looked back at his family before facing his friend again. “What are you doing here, Penk?”

“It’s your time to go Skip. It’s both our time to go.” Alex moved closer, placing a hand on Skip’s shoulder but he shrugged him off.

“Go where? Penk, I just got home. What’s going on?” Skip searched his friend's eyes for any answer but Alex just continued to watch him sympathetically, his hand still raised to support him should he need it.

“You need to come with me now,” Alex leant forward, taking Skip’s hand in his. “I’ll explain everything.”

Skip watched his friend in confusion. “Skip, I’m so sorry. You’ve not come home. You’ve come to say goodbye. Some of us don’t get to go home, Skip. Some of us didn’t make it out of Bastogne.” Alex admitted, his own eyes welling with tears now.

Skip stepped away from Alex, his hands shaking and his vision blurred with tears. This couldn’t be true. He couldn’t be gone. He was only twenty-three, and he had so many plans, so much he wanted to do. Then again Alex was only twenty-one, just a boy really.

“Skip, are you okay?”

“What about them? What about my family?” Skip turned to see his father joining his mother and Faye, falling to his knees beside them. Skip just wanted to hold them, to tell them he wasn’t scared, that he was alright.

“It’s not their time, Skip. They can’t come with us,” Alex’s voice was soft and calm. Skip wasn’t sure how he’d accepted their death so quickly. How was he okay with this?

“Hey guys, what took you so long?” Hoobler called, waving at them as he hurried down the driveway.

“Hoob? What are you doing here?” Skip asked, embracing the bubbly Corporal, who hugged him tightly.

“Come on Skip. Let’s go and see the others,” Hoobler grabbed Skip and Alex’s hands, dragging them after him as he followed the path away from the house.

“The others? What do you mean?” Skip asked, stopping Hoobler in his tracks.

“The others. Well, there’s Miller, Meehan, Evans, Julian, Bloser, Harris, Dukeman and all the others. The gang’s back together.” Hoobler spoke enthusiastically and Skip found himself feeling less fearful at the prospect of leaving his family and the world of the living.

Skip glanced back at his family one last time, watching as his father led his mother and Faye inside. “Goodbye Faye. I love you. I wish I could have married you.”

Skip turned back down the dusty path that had once led him home and now travelled in the opposite direction, and as he followed Penkala and Hoobler he couldn’t help but turn and give his family home one last look. The familiar white shutters, the green front door with child-sized fingerprint smears of the paint from when he was young, the post outside that marked the child’s height as he grew into a young man. A house so full of fond memories of a young life well lived. He only hoped that his family would share many more memories in that house and hoped they would think of him often and fondly when they did.

Tags: @georgieluz @iceman-kazansky @yeahcurrahhe-e @msmercury84 @blvestxr @dustyjumpwjngs @theflyingfin @jump-wings @kafka-ohdear @kmc1989 @mads-weasley @docroesmorphine @liptonsbabe @ronald-speirs @sweetxvanixlla @hesbuckcompton-baby @ronsparky @allthingsimagines @whollyjoly @bucky32557038ww2 @panzershrike-pretz @malarkgirlypop @hanniewinnix @inglourious-imagines @l13bg0tt

#skip muck #alex penkala #warren skip muck #band of brothers #band of brothers fanfic

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orion-s-things · 7 months

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Alright so part two of my explaining BSD french authors:

Arthur Rimbaud !

This is the boy. Looks young, right ? That's cause he's seventeen in this. (Funnily enough, he's exactly the same age as Verlaine's wife. Verlaine, though, is 27 at the time they meet. Yeah, I wasn't kidding when I said he was a piece of shit.)

Rimbaud is kind of THE poet of teenage rebellion. He was born in 1854, under Napoleon III to place him back in his historical context. He wrote quite a bit in opposition to Napoleon, actually.

His father is absent at first, and then not here at all later. He has... A complex and complicated relationship with his mother. He gave her a disrespectful nickname, she was seen hitting him several times (although at the time that's hardly surprising...), but at the same time when he asked her to go see him in London (at a time where the trip was very expensive, and she'd never left France in her life before that) she came, and his sister described him then as "the happiest I'd ever seen him". She's often seen as the source of his inner anger and rebellion.

What he hates for sure, though, was living in his house, with his family, and especially in his hometown, Charleville, which he despises.

He's especially known for having fled his house a lot, as in several times a year, for several days every time, walking during the day and sleeping on the road during the night. His most famous poem, "Ma bohème" (unstranslatable title because "bohème" is a french concept, but it basically means living your life day after day, in communion with nature and/or your dreams, often with an artistic dimension and no money whatsoever - also has travel connotations because it derives from "bohemian"), actually talks solely about that.

He wrote from his fifteenth to his nineteenth birthday, and was - still is - seen as a genius, being one of the most influential french poets ever despite having written for only four years. He was famous for being uncontrollable, and it translates back to his style : he took extremely traditional forms and changed their rules. (Which weirdly enough actually kinda fits with Rimbaud's ability ??)

If we ever have a Baudelaire in BSD, know that his character will probably look up to him, seeing as Rimbaud is usually seen as continuing Baudelaire's legacy of completely revolutionising french poetry. His two most famous books are "A Season in Hell" and "Illuminations", his last one. His literary movement is symbolism, invented by Baudelaire, characterized by melancholy and an attraction to the ethereal and mysterious. Rimbaud himself thinks that "the poet must search and describe the unknown" and, well, too bad if he sacrifices his sanity. He's also one of the first after Baudelaire to write prose poems.

He stopped writing, forever, at twenty, after the Verlaine fiasco. Actually, he wrote "Illuminations" directly after, then gave it to Verlaine so that he could get it published instead of doing it himself.

That's where his life gets really weird. He tries to learn seven different skills and languages while traveling everywhere, fails, his sister dies and he shaves his head for her funeral, is forced into the military to fight in Java, then deserts, gets hired on a boat on his way back and becomes a sailor, then tries to get hired in the American Navy, doesn't get any answer, goes in a circus then a factory, and all of that while traveling everywhere in the world in the space of about three years.

Nobody knows where he was for the nine months after that - and during all of this, everyone who knows him is hoping that he gets back to writing poetry - and then he goes home to help his brother with his farm before leaving, AGAIN. He walks from France to Italy, then gets in a boat to Alexandria, where he works in a construction project to manage the workers. This keeps going for about eleven more years, so I can't list everything this guy did : we'd need a whole ass novel.

He stays in Northern Africa for almost the rest of his life, although he travels quite a lot in that region and never stops moving. In France, he's still as famous as he was at 17, and several eulogies are written for him without his knowledge. We can also note that he does weapon trafficking, for a very short period, at some point. He writes to his family that he's "bored", of all things. He's described by the people he meets then as "smart, sarcastic, not very talkative, never talking about his past".

He then dies in Marseille, in his thirties, from cancer in his leg.

I'm gonna be honest : I don't like his BSD characterization. Rimbaud's a wild card, a chaotic teenager, as an author. I also ! Hate ! That he's Verlaine's mentor. But that'll be the next part, where I'll talk of IRL Rimbaud and Verlaine.

Previous and future parts are in the #IrlBSDFr tag.

#IrlBSDFr #arthur rimbaud #bsd rimbaud #bsd rimlaine #bungou stray dogs #bsd verlaine #bungo stray dogs #bsd spoilers

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sunflowerdroplet · 3 months

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Paging Doctor Duck Ch. 2

“GET…BACK…HERE…YOU!!”

“Ah-ha-ha-ha-ha-HA!”

Dr. Donald’s legs and lungs burned as he chased after the troublesome, tiny turtle through the hospital halls. Hospital staff and guests hurried out of the way with indignant shrieks and shouts as doctor and child patient continued their sudden game of cat and mouse. Shelby the Turtle had been one of the patients that he had swapped with Roxanne along with the child’s mother, Mrs. Turtle. Donald had been a little hesitant accepting these particular pair of patients, his temper and bratty children not being a good mix, but the younger doctor had insisted that Baby Shelby was an absolute angel, and his mother was one of the nicest people you could ever meet. Against his better judgment, Donald had agreed.

‘And boy, am I regretting it now…’ the male mallard thought miserably as he continued after the tot, who used his tiny size to easily maneuver through wheelchairs, medical equipment, and between people’s legs, laughing obnoxiously along the way while Donald tripped, stumbled, and struggled over gurneys, Goofy’s mop bucket, and even his own two feet. ‘At this rate I’ll never catch him!’ he thought before he was struck with an idea. Doubling back, he dashed into a side hallway and ducked (heh) behind a corner, hoping to cut the turtle off. A few seconds later, Shelby’s laughter could be heard, and Donald readied himself to strike.

“Three…two…one…”

“Ah-ha-ha-WAH?!”

“Gotcha!”

Donald laughed triumphantly as he held on tight to the baby menace. Shelby began to struggle, but Donald quickly pulled out a strawberry flavored lollipop from his coat pocket, waving it enticingly in his face. “Hey Shelby, want some candy?” Immediately, Shelby stopped his struggling, clearly mesmerized by the offered treat and made grabby-hands for it. The doctor smiled and let him have it, and while the baby was distracted, he pulled out a needle out of his other coat pocket and jabbed him with it before he could react. Donald braced himself and waited for the crying to start, as it usually did when any of his patients, child or adult, but thankfully the sucker did its job and kept the child pacified.

“Phew…” Donald breathed a sigh of relief.

“Nice work, Dr. D!”

“Ay caramba! Such mastery, such skill!”

Donald turned around to see Roxanne pushing Panchito in a wheelchair. Señor Martinez followed behind, happily swishing his tail back and forth when he spotted Donald and greeted him with a sloppy, wet kiss. Much to the duck’s chagrin.

“See? I knew you could handle him!” Roxanne said with a smile.

“Yeah, well it helps when you’ve got experience from raising one’s nephews,” Donald replied, unconsciously wiping off the horse slobber from his face. He gave the Mexican rooster a questioning glance. “What are you guys up to?”

“I’m finally being discharged, amigo! I cannot wait to get home and eat my mama’s cooking! No offense, but the hospital food is a little…”

“…It’s not…that bad…?” Roxanne started, a sheepish grin on her face as she tried to delicately critique the food. “…But it could be better.”

“It’s terrible,” Donald stated point-blank. “Director Mickey claims he’s gonna get better cooks, but he’s too nice to get rid of the old ones! That’s why I bring my lunch from home.”

Shelby blew a raspberry, shaking his tiny head in disgust at the thought of the hospital’s food. This caused Donald to smile, for once they were in agreement with each other about something.

“HEY DUCK!!”

Both doctors and patient jumped at the angry sounding voice before turning around to see a female turtle stomping her way towards them. Donald trembled at the sight of her, his ears still ringing from her earlier beratement. He smiled nervously, hoping she was in a better mood than before. “Y-Yes, Mrs. Turtle?”

“Have you finished giving my precious baby Shelby his shot?! I told you we have a meeting at the Daycare, AND WE NEED TO LEAVE NOW SO WE’RE NOT LATE!!”

“Yes, ma’am! Of course, ma’am! Shelby is all ready to go!” the mallard said as he held out the baby to his overbearing mother.

Almost instantly, the angry scowl melted from the older’s turtle’s face as she retrieved her baby. “Oh thank you, Doctor Duck! Why, it doesn’t look like he cried at all! Were you good for the doctor, Shelby?” The tiny turtle eagerly nodded his head while the waterfowl bit his tongue to stop himself from saying the contrary. “And thank you, Doctor Roxanne for recommending Doctor Donald! He really is great with children!”

“I told you~.”

“Si, si! Donal’ really is amazing!”

With a final wave, both mother and baby turtle went on their way, leaving Donald, Roxanne, and Panchito to sigh in relief.

“Yowza! Mamá Tortuga sure is loud and aggressive!”

“She may seem a bit much at first, but she can be really sweet once you get to know her!” the female doctor explained.

“That sounds a lot like Donal’.”

“Hey!”

~*OoO*~

“I can’t believe I’m doing this…” muttered Donald as he pulled up in front of large ranch with horses and cattle milling about.

Today was supposed to be the doctor’s long awaited day off, but of course, as he was leaving work the night before he happened to overhear a conversation between Roxanne and her boyfriend, Max, who worked on the custodial staff part-time.

“Are you sure you can’t make it tomorrow?” asked Max, pleadingly.

“I’m sorry, Max, but something came up, and I’ll be swamped all day. We’ll have to reschedule our date to a later time…”

Donald had wanted to keep walking, that was life working at a hospital; you could be called in to work at any given moment and that was something the younger doctor had deal with, just like everyone else. Unfortunately, his traitorous legs pulled him to a stop and made him turn around and walk back to the young couple.

“…I can take over for your shift…” Donald said when the pair noticed his presence.

“Huh?”

“What? Really?”

“Yeah, really,” the older doctor said with a wry smile. As much as Donald wanted to enjoy his day off, he knew what overworking did to couples. He’d been dumped by his girlfriend, Daisy, thanks to his chaotic work schedule, among other things. And that was the last thing he wanted for Max and Roxanne. “Go on and enjoy your date tomorrow.”

“Oh, thank you, Dr. D!” exclaimed the redhead as she threw her arms around him in a tight hug. “But are you sure?” she asked cautiously, eyes holding guilt “ …I was supposed to pay a house-call to Mr. Panchito …”

“…urk…”

“…And Mr. José…”

The duck swallowed hard at the news, fighting to keep his face neutral while Roxanne and Max watched on worriedly, like they knew how much he was regretting his decision. “I…I meant what I said, and I said what I meant! Now, hurry up and go before I change my mind! Go on, get!”

Max grabbed Roxanne’s hand and together they ran for the exit. “Thanks, Dr. D!” they chorused.

“Me and my big , stupid, bleeding heart…” he mumbled as he got out of car, grabbed his medical bag and made his way towards the house. As Donald drew closer, he could hear the sound of music being strummed on guitar and someone singing. As he reached the front porch, he gasped in horror when he saw not one, but two familiar faces sitting there.

“Hey! It’s Doctor Donal’!”

“Really?!Doutor Donaldo is here to take care of us?!”

Donald balked, slowly backing away to get back into his car. It was one thing to deal with the southern birds individually, but together?! No thank you! Unfortunately for Donald, it was at this time that Señor Martinez made his presence known by snatching him up off the ground, dropping him upon his saddle before galloping towards the porch where Panchito and José were eagerly waiting.

“Welcome to my humble hogar, Donal’!” the rooster greeted cheerfully when the horse deposited the duck onto the porch. He made a move to get out of his seat, but a quick glare from the duck had him easing back down.

“Not that we’re not super happy to see you, but what happened to Doutor Roxanne? I thought she was supposed to be here?” asked José.

“I decided to take over for her shift so she could have more time off…” the duck muttered, wishing for the tenth time today that he’d just kept walking.

“How incredibly nice of you, Donaldo!”

“He is a wonderful person, is he not?” exclaimed Panchito, slapping the duck hard on the back.

The unexpected praise from his patients caused the temperamental mallard to blush despite the stinging in his back. He cleared his throat and asked, “So uh, why are you two here together, I wasn’t aware you guys knew each other.”

“Oh yes, me and Panchito met at the hospital where we bonded over the less-than-appetizing food and our favorite doutor!” said the green parrot.

Donald nodded along absently as he pulled his medical supplies from his bag. “Yep, yep, Roxanne is an incredible doctor,” he said in agreement. The younger medical professional was the ‘Employee of the Month’ for the third time in a row after all.

The parrot and rooster shared a confused look with each other. “Uh Donaldo, we were referring to you!”

“Huh?”

Panchito slapped Donald on the back again. “Don’t get us wrong, amigo. Roxana is a wonderful doctor, but you’ve been taking good care of us for so long!

“Yeah! I doubt we’d be in such great shape if it was not for your, as you Americans say, ‘tough love’!”

Donald was becoming increasingly flustered with all the compliments being thrown his way. He would receive the odd compliment here and there at work, but never to this magnitude. A small smile soon found its way onto his reddening face. “Uh…t-thank you. That…that means a lot…” He then cleared his throat to get back into his medical mindset. “A-Anyway, let’s start the check-up! Do you want to be seen privately, or are you both okay with being checked-up together?”

“I don’t mind José sitting in. He already knows about my leg injury!”

“And Panchito knows about my blackened lungs and head injury!”

“Gotcha,” Donald replied, moving to start his medical exam, beginning with Panchito. “Have you been taking care of that leg like I asked? Making sure to stay off your injured leg and avoiding strenuous activities?”

“O si, si, I have! You can even ask José, I’ve been sitting here and taking it easy, just like you’ve prescribed!”

The duck inspected the rooster’s elevated leg, nodding in satisfaction when it didn’t appear to be swollen and seemed to be healing nicely. The rest of the exam went along smoothy, and Donald was glad to give his patient the positive results. “I’m impressed, Panchito! Your recovery is coming along nicely. Then again, you’ve always been incredibly sturdy.”

“Gracias, amigo! I have you to thank for my continued health!”

Donald flushed again before turning to his other patient. “And you, Mr. Carioca, have you’ve avoided smoking these last few days?” the white-feathered male asked while checking José’s heartbeat with his stethoscope. “…And flirting with the ladies with possessive boyfriends?”

“Indeed, I have, my friend! Check it out! Haaaaa!”

“Ack!” Donald hadn’t been prepared for José to breathe directly in his face but was relieved that it smelled minty fresh instead of old cigars.

“And you can even ask Panchito, I’ve been a good boy and followed your orders to the letter!” the Brazilian bird exclaimed with a bright smile. “So, so, are you proud of us?”

Donald blinked in surprise at the question and the hopeful look in the southern birds were leveling him with, like they were eager for his approval. “Uh…yeah, yeah I guess I am. Good job, you two,” the doctor said with a small, genuine smile.

The rest of José’s check-up went well, and doctor was pleased to give his patient a positive review. Job now done, he began packing up his things to leave, now feeling grateful that Panchito and José had been together, so he only had to make one trip.

“Aw, do you have to leave so soon?” asked the reddish-brown rooster.

“Yeah! Stay a little longer, Donaldo! Panchito is a really talented guitar player!”

“And José is sings very well!”

Well, that explained the music he heard earlier. “As fun as that sounds, I promised my nephews I would take them to the movies after I was done here.”

“I understand. It is no surprise that you would be good tio, who takes care of his little ones! But wait, maybe you can come visit the club I work at! You both should come! We’ll have a great time!”

“I don’t---”

“That sounds like a great idea!” shouted Panchito excitedly. “And you both should come to one of my rodeo shows, after I have fully recovered, of course! You can even bring your nephews along, Donal’. It’ll be a lot of fun!”

Donald felt off balance at anyone, much less his patients, wanting to spend more time with him than necessary. “Uhhh…I’m not sure if that’s…”

The green parrot grabbed the duck’s arm before he could back away from them. “I go back to work soon, Donaldo…don’t you want to make sure I don’t get hurt or strain myself?”

“…Are you using your health to blackmail me into going…?”

“Is it working?” asked Panchito.

Seeing that his two patients weren’t going to take ‘no’ for an answer, Donald sighed and gave in. “…Fine. I’ll see if I can make time for a visit…” As the southern birds and even the horse started to celebrate his acquiesce, Donald could only hope he wouldn’t regret his decision.

‘Boy, what did I get myself into…?’

TO BE CONTINUED…

#donald duck #donald x panchito x jose #the three caballeros #fanfic #three gay caballeros #panchito pistoles #jose carioca #disney

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theflowerofthecommonwealth · 1 year

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Power Armor Punch Part Sixty Two

Masterlist

TW for implied rape, sexual assault and abuse of a child.

Nick: *looks down at the pooch immediately* Dogmeat? What is it boy? What's happened? Show me. *already ready to follow wherever the dog leads*

Dogmeat: (Barks while he dashes back inside, leading the old detective and Pirate up the two flights of stairs to the attic. He trots right up to Lucille and puts his paw on her leg, wagging his tail)

Teshteal: *smiles at the friendly gesture and holds Joyce close for maximum comfort*

Joyce: (Enjoys the group hug for a couple of peaceful minutes, then suddenly gasps and looks up to her brother) “You have to eat!”

Donovan: (Quietly laughs) “You sound like Ma.”

Joyce: (Gently pushes him back) “But it’s true! You’ve been working all day! Go! Go! Go! Before it gets too late!” (Jabs her finger at the table)

Donovan: (Holds up his hands) “Alright, alright. I’ll go eat.” (Walks over to the oven to take out his plate, sitting down at the table. He wonders if he should take up a bowl for Ma so she can eat with one hand if she can’t put Jas down)

Lucille: *swiftly removed her leg from under his paw*

Nick: Lucille? What about her?

Lucille: Nothing. I'm fine.

Nick: Obviously not if Dogmeat's running to me. What's going on?

Lucille: Nick, please just leave me alone. I'm not Jasmine. I don't need to be looked after.

Nick: In your state, yeah you do.

Lucille: Nick-

Nick: Now tell me what's going on.

Lucille: *clutches her side with her good arm* Jasmine's right.

Teshteal: *rests his head on the shoulder of his Girlfriend. His arms are under hers, holding her close* Yeah, go eat. You need your strength.

Joyce: (Leans her head back a little to press it against his, then remembers that she has a bowlful of dessert on the table) “Ack! It’s gonna melt!” (Grabs Teshteals hands as she moves forwards to grab her bowl, quickly spooning ice cream in her mouth)

Donovan: (Watches the two with a slight smirk as he eats, wondering how they ended up together)

Joyce: (Beams brightly at her treat, taking a bite from a cookie) “I’m gonna want seconds!” (Eyeing the freezer already)

Teshteal: *giggles and goes to his own dessert, polishing it off*

Nick: Right about what-?

Lucille: Don't play dumb, Nick. You know what. She's right about everything she signed back there. I'm a terrible person...

Nick: No you're not. Would ya stop with the pity parties?

Lucille: *goes quiet*

Jasmine: (Sniffles and shuffles in Ma’s arms as she snoozes away, feeling a heavy weight start to grow in her chest)

Ma: (Rubs the girls stomach and sides as she frowns, thinking about all the cuts she made on herself there and on other delicate parts of her body)

Joyce: (Finishes her bowl of ice cream, rushing off to serve herself another one. She scoops up three giant spoonfuls, taking another two cookies from the very large tray that still has plenty in stock for the others to have)

Donovan: (Eating his dinner slowly as he gets into deep thought about Jas and her current situation. He’s had over 200 years to grieve and process the death of his prewar family and friends, but how long did Jazzy have? She was struggling enough with her mothers, then surely it was put on hold when she was in that awful vault. She probably found out about her siblings death recently, and now she finds out why they had died. Then everyone else in their town were also gone… That’s a lot to process, especially when she has other traumatic experiences on her mind)

Nick: This isn't like you. All this self hatred... where's it coming from?

Lucille: It's always kind of been there. Just... I had bigger things to worry about. Then Jasmine blew up and only confirmed my worst fears...

Nick: She's just one person, doll.

Lucille: That doesn't mean she's not right! What right do I have to meddle in her life? Or anyone else's? I've done nothing but cause trouble... why should I get special treatment...?

Nick: You're not getting special treatment. And most of the time you were looking after her. You had some right pry.

Teshteal: *concerned for the amount of icecream Joyce is eating*

Joyce: (Eyes glow as she nibbles on the little bits of real strawberry that had been put in the strawberry flavored part of the Neapolitan ice cream)

Donovan: (Too lost in his train of thoughts to pay attention to his little sister who gets carried away with eating things she loves, especially when she’s stressed or anxious as delicious food has a calming effect)

Joyce: (Is aware on the amount she’s eating, but today she wants to treat herself with just a little extra)

Donovan: (Partly worrying about his mama as well, wondering if he should take her up a bowl of food now)

Ma: (Thinking of ways they can help Jas get through her self harm tendencies, starting with getting to the root on why exactly she does it, and from there they can expand on calming and distraction techniques)

Jasmine: (Whimpers in fear at the dark, looming shadows towering over her small frame in her dreams, biting down on her thumb slightly)

Ma: (Automatically starts shushing her while patting her lower back in rhythm with her hushes to make a soothing pattern, still rubbing her stomach in slow circles) “Sh, sh, sh, sh…” (She’s done this sort of things hundreds of times, it’s second nature now and she can do it on autopilot while continuing to ponder other things)

Lucille: ... Even so, my suffering nothing compared to hers. I'm never going to understand everything she went through.

Nick: You really think it's fair to compare yourself to others like that? Like it or not each of us goes through this hellish world differently.

Lucille: *goes quiet again*

Teshteal: *smiles at her taking joy in the smallest of things*

Joyce: (Walks over to the radio, popping out the holotape that was set on remix and switches it out for a different one, gently swaying to the next tune that plays as she nibbles on a cookie)

Donovan: (Continues to eat his meal without looking up, picking up his pace so that he can return to Ma and Jas upstairs)

Jasmine: (Cuddles up closer to Ma, desperately whining while her free hand tugs on Ma’s dress and her face presses even more to her skin. She tries to focus on her heartbeat, but its getting muffled under the endless ringing in her ears)

Ma: (Wishes she could just shoo away all nightmares that come to attack the girl, give her the sweetest and gentlest dreams instead. She begins singing another lullaby she knows was sung to the girl by her mother) “A dormir, mi niña. A dormir, mi amor. A dormir, mi niña. Que te canto yo….”

Nick: Now, I don't know exactly what Jasmine said, but considering all the shxt we've been through I think it's safe to say you have a fair amount of trauma.

Lucille: Everyone has it out here. I'm not special.

Nick: Maybe not, but that doesn't mean what you've gone through is meaningless.

Lucille: You're right. It just means I'm a mass murderer who selfishly killed hundreds of people or ruined their lives. I'm blind to other people's problems. I'm no better than the raiders I've killed or driven off.

Nick: *sighs tiredly* You've saved lives, too. Acadia, the Nucleus, and Far Harbor are all still standing. Settlers wouldn't have places to call home. Need I remind you that the Institute would still be terrorizing everyone and hunting down escaped Synths if you hadn't destroyed it?

Lucille: That's not as big a victory as you think. The entire gen 3 population is endangered because of that. They'll go extinct. And I did that.

Nick: I'm sure someone will figure out a way to make more... maybe this time with less slavery.

Lucille: If there is a next time. *shakes her head*

Teshteal: *admiring this lovely angel, swaying to the rhythm of the music while eating a cookie*

Joyce: (Turns around to face Teshteal again with a soft smile when the song comes to an end)

Donovan: (Rises from his seat at the table to take up Ma’s dinner to her, moving swiftly to transfer the food from her plate into a bowl so it's easier to eat) "Jojo, I will be back in a bit to check up on ya." (Fills a water bottle as well)

Joyce: (Without taking her adoring eyes off her boyfriend) "Okay!"

Donovan: (Heads up the stairs and back into the guest room, frowning when he hears Jas quietly whimpering while Ma sings) "Oh, what’s wrong?" (Can’t tell if Jasmine is asleep or awake from where he’s at)

Ma: (Pauses her singing, still patting and massaging the girl) "Nightmares I believe. Poor child is probably constantly plagued with them." (Dabs the back of her neck and shoulders with the rag again)

Jasmine: (Feels her chest compressing in her sleep, her throat closing while she struggles to breath normally)

Donovan: (Solemnly nods as he places the bowl and water bottle on the table by Ma so she may eat when she can find the time)

Nick: There will be. I know it. Especially with you sounding that evacuation alarm at the Institute.

Lucille: I don't t know- that seems like another version of it waiting to happen.

Nick: Not if you beat them to it.

Lucille: *eyes snap open. She turns to him in shock* Are you suggesting I use human remains to make gen 3s?

Nick: Who said it had to be human? *shrugs* No, I'm just giving you a project to think about instead. One you can't do yet but will keep you away from your self doubt... at least until you can get some professional help.

Lucille: *well now she is thinking about making a Gen 3 factory using animal bones. Might have to get her wife involved. Could get pretty messy. He's right about it shutting up her self doubt- she's not even thinking about what Jas said to her at the moment. Just building something big and ambitious she's never done before. Wonders where she can even get the plans*

Teshteal: *strolls up to her, cookie crumbs on his face* May I have this dance...?

Joyce: (Eyes widen a little bit, her smile blooming brighter) “Yes you may! But just a fair warning, I have two left feet…” (Grabs a napkin and wipes the crumbs off his face with it)

Ma: “I think Detective Valentine will be staying out until morning. A good thing as he most likely hasn’t gotten much of a breather.” (Looks down at Jazzy with worry at how she’s taking jagged breaths) “I’ll stay here with her for the night.”

Donovan: (Also looks at the teen with concern, thinking for a moment) “I’ll stay too, I can use one of the spare beds.”

Ma: (Shakes her head) “No, love. You need to rest in your own bed tonight in order to get a full nights sleep. You’ve been overworking yourself for the past few days.”

Donovan: (Narrows his good eye) “What about you? You have as well. The entire house is almost up and running again because of that, appliances and all.”

Ma: “I don’t do as much outdoor or physical labor as you. If I need a rest throughout the day, I’ll have a better chance at finding time.”

Jasmine: (Gasps and tenses in her sleep, coughing on a breath while she shuffles with a cry)

Donovan: “What if you need help with something?”

Ma: (Rubs Jas’s back in a deep circle motion) “Honey, I was able to manage eight troubled kids at once. I think I can handle one girl who’s currently incapacitated on my own. Besides, I can have Pirate fetch me things or ask one of the others for help if necessary.”

Donovan: “But-…”

Ma: (Holds up one hand to her son) “No more arguments, especially with Rosie right here.” (Turns her attention back to the teen) “Breathe Rosalinda. Relax your muscles.” (Starts up the lullaby from where she left off) Si esta niña, niña. Que tengo yo aquí. Si esta niña, niña. Quisiera dormir.”

Nick: Now, let's get your arm fixed. It looks like you've put strain on that nerve connector-

Lucille: Actually, Dad and I are going to work on that tomorrow.

Nick: Oh. *Shrugs* Well would you like me to stay with you at least? Keep you company?

Lucille: What about your real daughter?

Nick: Only about as real to me as you are. Besides. I never finished telling you about that one case I worked with the three insane witnesses and the guy who had one hell of a power complex.

Lucille: *not a second after* You mean Macbeth?

Nick: *rolls his eyes and sits on the ground next to her bed* Oh, just kill the fun why don't ya? *starts telling his own noir style story of the classic Shakespeare play*

Teshteal: Not a problem, sweet angel. We'll barely move our feet. *wraps his arms around her waist and shoulder and starts to slowly move with her in a very VERY slow dance. They're just swaying slightly and stepping around each other's feet to turn in a small circle*

Joyce: (Wraps her arms around her boyfriend as well, resting her head on his shoulder with a sweet sigh. She softly hums along with the radio that’s playing, “That’s how Strong My Love is” by Ovid as they gently sway throughout the kitchen)

Ma: “Para que se duerma. Canto un poquitín. Para que se duerma. Como un serafín.”

Jasmine: (Steadily starts relaxing again as the soft words reach her, still trembling under the looming figures that are in her dreams)

Ma: (Glances back up to Donny who’s drooping because of the lullaby) “You should go get ready for bed now.”

Donovan: (Leans up against the wall) “I’ll stay here for a bit longer. It’s still kinda early.”

Ma: (Gives him a knowing look) “Hm, with the way you’re drooping your head, I’ll say that you will fall asleep standing up.” (Gestures to the door) “Go on, we’ll be fine here.”

Donovan: (Sighs tiredly, giving in. He walks over to give his mother and Jas a hug and a kiss on the head) “Goodnight then…”

Jasmine: (Sniffles in her sleep, her nose scrunching cutely as she snuggles up in the sheet)

Donovan: (Pets Jas’s soft curls affectionally) “Heh, did you switch out kids while I was gone? Look at how adorable and precious she is…” (Stares down at the girl somberly, then starts leaving the room) “Call me if something happens…”

Ma: (Nods) “I will dear, sleep well.”

Teshteal: *nuzzles into her neck and shoulder, closing his eyes as he lets her guide him around the room in their dance as an act of trust*

Gardio: *sitting in front of the fire, watching the flames dance. Sometimes he swears they're moving to the song playing over the radio*

Joyce: (Being very careful with her motions and sways, moving her hand to lovingly caress Teshteals cheek and hair)

Ma: “Esta niña linda. Se ha dormido ya. Y un dulce angelito. Un beso le da.” (She thinks would’ve been smart for her to eat and change into pajamas before she took the girl into her arms. She stands, tenderly leaning down to place Jas on the mattress)

Jasmine: (Immediately shrieks and clutches the motherly woman tighter)

Ma: (Sits back down on the chair. Oh well, she suppose it’s alright)

Jasmine: (Tries to curl up into an even smaller ball, shaking more as her heart pounds faster and her breathing picks back up)

Ma: (Can feel this change and frowns, rocking more in the chair as she hums the next lines of the lullaby) “Mm-mm, mm-mm, mm-mm….”

Donovan: (Heads into his room and quickly changes, forgetting about dessert and checking up on his sister as he dumps himself on his mattress with a heavy sigh, completely tuckered out)

Lucille: *managed to pass out thanks to Nick distracting her from the pain she's in*

Nick: *smirks when he realizes this. Decides to slip into sleep mode for a bit to give his system a break*

Teshteal: *makes a soft and comfortable chirping noise in response. He idly and slightly rubs her sides*

Joyce: (Comes to a stop when the song ends, higging her boyfriend tightly as she sways them both side to side and kisses his head)

Jasmine: (Not having a pleasant time, her nightmare warping into something much more sinister. It’s making her tense up)

Ma: “Shhh, baby girl. You’re alright, you’re safe…” (Trying to get her to calm back down by continuing to sing) “A dormir, mi niña. A dormir, mi amor. A dormir, mi niña. Que te canto yo.”

Jasmine: (Shifts in her dream, opening her eyes to find herself on the floor of a dark and horrifyingly familiar room. She chokes on a gasp, curling into a ball with fear as one of the hulking figures that has been looming over her approaches)

Guard Leader: (Crouches besides her shivering form, amusement plastered across his face) (Mockingly) “Having fun yet, babydoll?”

Jasmine: (Growls lowly when she hears that roll off his tongue and it sparks a raging fire in her soul. Only Nick could ever call her babydoll and get away with it!)

Lucille: *luckily doesn't dream often- if she does she barely remembers most of them. Before she knows it she's up again most times. This is one of those cases*

Teshteal: *smiles lovingly into Joyces shoulder then kisses just under her jaw* You're irresistible, angel...

Joyce: (Giggles warmly, rubbing his shoulders as she quietly yawns and rests her head on his) “Am I now?”

Guard Leader: (Forcefully when Jas doesn’t answer him right away) “I asked if you were having fun yet, babydoll?”

Jasmine: (Snarls and lifts her head as she shoots daggers the man’s way, sitting up with kitten fury) “Go fuck yourself!” (Stands up on her own two feet) “And you do not get to call me that! Only my Daddy can call me that so keep it out of your filthy mouth!” (Hates this man with every fiber of her being. He was always the ringleader with the abuse that happened to her) “I will kill you!”

Guard Leader: (Tuts at the small girl, reaching down to yank her hair and force her back to the ground. He’s so much bigger than her, about 6’6 or so and his boots add to his height. There’s a reason he was chosen to be the leader, he strikes fear into the prisoners with his brutality and build) “You still don’t know when to quit, do ya little lamb?”

Gardio: *passing out in the chair. Hadn't realized how tired he was until now*

Teshteal: Incredibly. *peppers her jaw with kisses then goes back to staring up at her with wide adoring eyes*

Joyce: “Aww, you’re so sweet.” (Holds him closer, then pulls back slightly) “We should go get ready for bed now, no telling what tomorrow will hold.”

Jasmine: (Hits the ground with a low groan, scrambling to sit upright and put her back against the wall. She tries to remind herself that this is only a dream, he’s not actually here) “Go to hell and piss on yourself!! You are not even real, none of this is!” (Shakes her head) “You just keep torturing me even when you are dead!”

Guard Leader: (Crosses his arms) “What’s not real? Me or your little freak show that you call a family upstairs?” (Approaches Jas and grabs her chin, forcing her to look up at him as his nails dig into her soft skin) “A girl like you can never be loved and cared about. It’s foolish that you believe otherwise.” (Taps her cheek) “They just pity your cute face and sob story.”

Jasmine: (Spits on his face) “Bullshit!! None of them are that shallow!”

Teshteal: *looks at the kitchen and dining room table* We should probably clean up first. *looks back to her, smiling kindly* Wouldn't want to leave this place a mess for Ma to find. Then we can get to bed and cuddle. *almost wants to say "or more" but he feels that would be too forward. Instead he just studies her face and what he can see of her shoulders and collar area almost hinting at that phrase*

Joyce: (Already looking to the table, not noticing the look he’s giving her) “Ah, you’re probably right… Mama does enough work and I haven’t exactly been helpful the last week before today.” (Rushes to start putting away the food into containers and into the fridge)

Guard Leader: (Takes ahold of the girl by the neck and lifts her off the ground, making her choke and gasp for air) “DON’T, forget what you are for one second, girl! You’re toying with them, because that’s what little wenches like you do. You plant yourself in like a parasite that slowly drains them of what you want as you destroy them from the inside out.”

Jasmine: (Struggles to breathe and swat his hands off her, but she can’t seem to summon enough strength to do damage. Alarm bells start going off in her head, terror bubbling in her chest) (Weakly) “No…!”

Guard Leader: (Pulls her face in even closer) “Don’t pretend that you haven’t been doing that all this time, it’s what you’re made for. It’s in your nature. What else are you good for? Go on and tell me.”

Jasmine: (Coughs as she tries to get some breaths in, unable to respond)

Teshteal: *helps her put up the food. Assumes she didn't see the glance because of the mess and sets the thought aside while he cleans up. He starts doing dishes shortly after. His tail makes a good third hand while his actual ones scrub the hell out of the dish and cook ware at rapid speed before setting them off to the side to dry*

Joyce: (Wipes down the countertops and table with a rag, humming along with the next song that’s playing on the tape)

Guard Leader: (Tosses the teen to the ground like she’s a mere rag doll)

Jasmine: (Cries out as she smacks forcefully into the floor, her heart roaring in her ears because she knows what he’s gearing up for)

Guard Leader: (Kneels over her with each of his legs on either side of her, his hands planted by her head) “So pathetic… Good thing you’re pretty too.”

Jasmine: (Crosses her arms and legs to protect her delicate areas from the corrupted monster looming over her) (Softly pleading) “Daddy, help me please…”

Guard Leader: (Raises an eyebrow from his dominant position above her) “Now why would he help the worthless masquerader who’s caused and brought nothing but more pain and trouble to the table?”

Teshteal: *soon done with the dishes and sink, hanging the rag over the sink head to dry. He quickly goes to his girlfriend and wraps her up in his arms to give her a quick peck on the cheek then whispers* You've done much more for her and Donovan than you realize... *smiles and kisses her cheek again, distracting her from whiping down the table*

Joyce: (Laughs as she tosses aside the rag, turning to Teshteal with a bright smile) “Naw, you don’t know the full story here yet. They’ve done more for me than I can thank them for.” (Leans in to kiss his nose, then gestures to the stairs) “I’m going to go take a quick shower and change, then I have to freshen up my room, alright? Can you finish up here and wait for me to finish?”

Jasmine: (Shakily) “He loves me despite all that. I am his daughter…” (Remembers how he aided her tenderly in getting cleaned up in the bath, then how he held her as she cuddled him in the vault a few days ago. No way in hell can all that be faked…)

Guard Leader: (Simply) “No, you’re his pet project. His own good conscience won’t let him toss a “helpless” and pitiful looking little girl out with the rest of the garbage, hence why he hasn’t told you to scram yet. He feels sorry that the original Nick couldn’t save his fiancé and that he took his identity, so you’re the compensation as his pseudo daughter.”

Jasmine: (Winces at his words that cut into her heart, then snarls and raises her hand to strike him out of anger)

Ma: (Getting worried about how tense Jazzy is and how fast she’s breathing. She carefully turns the teens lower waist so she can rub her stomach better while keeping her face buried against her chest as that seems to be helping some)

Teshteal: *blushes a little at the mention of her taking a shower and the request for him to wait for her then confidently nods it away. It shouldn't take too long to whipe down the table and mop up the kitchen* Of course, Joyce. *pecks her on the lips and lets her go*

Joyce: (Smiles at him cutely and starts walking to the stairs, passing by the living room where she stops at the sight of Jas’s bear on the floor. She picks it up, then looks at Gardio who’s dozing off on the chair. She goes back to the kitchen with Winnie in her hands) “Should we wake him up so he doesn’t have a crick in his neck in the morning…?”

Guard Leader: (Catches her wrist easily with matched strength, twisting her arm painfully) “I’m just stating the hard to swallow truth! You’re on what, week one of your mental crisis after almost decade and a half of build up and he’s already has had his fill of you?”

Jasmine: (Screams out in pain at her arm being twisted into an unatural angle despite this happening so many times to the point she had gotten used to it)

Guard Leader: (Keeps attacking the girl with her deepest insecurities) “He’s snapped and has left on multiple occasions, you don't even know where he is at the moment. It’s likely he abandoned you, and why wouldn’t he? All you have done is disappoint him over and over again as you spiral further down your rabbit hole that will never end. What’s he gonna do once he sees that his project will span several months, even years before you can be truly useful to him?”

Jasmine: (Breaks her gaze with the brutal man, looking away with misty eyes)

Teshteal: Yeah we should. *scampers over to the gargoyle asleep in the chair and starts poking his face* Dio, wakey wakey!

Gardio: *midsleep uncoherent mumbles as he sits like a father passed out while the kids watched a movie*

Teshteal: *shakes his friend abruptly and surprisingly easily despite their difference in size*

Gardio: *snaps awake with wide eyes* Huh- what-?! *realizes it's Teshteal* Ah... fell asleep, huh?

Teshteal: Mhm. Might want to go to bed before you get your neck all stiff, yeah?

Gardio: *smiles* Yeah. Thanks. *gets up. Notices Joyce holding Winnie* I'll take that to Jasmine when I head up there. *smiles gently and holds his hand out to the young woman*

Teshteal: *goes back to cleaning the kitchen*

Joyce: (Hands the stuffed bear off to the old ghoul with a gentle smile in return) “Thanks, I think she’ll need this after today…” (Turns around and goes up to her room to grab her stuff for the shower, careful not to let the two puppies out so they don’t start clinging to her or Ma while they are busy)

Guard Leader: “Give him a little more time with your exasperating nonsense, he’ll soon see that Charlotte and your aunt made the right call and follow suit.” (Leans down, tugging on the roots of her hair) “And will you blame him for that?”

Jasmine: (Shakes her head, tears dripping down her cheeks) “No I will not..…”

Guard Leader: “Correct. Because it’s the call he should’ve made from the start, right?”

Jasmine: (Nods her head, her bottom lip trembling)

Guard Leader: (Pats her head condescendingly) “Good girl. Remember your place in this world, nowhere. There will never be no matter how much you try to fit in, you’ll only drag them down with you.”

Ma: (Thinking about giving Jas a massage on her chest to help her breath as she keeps halting her breathing altogether or breathing too quickly. She can’t give her a diaphragm massage as there are too many wounds on her stomach for deeper rubbing so it may be her only option other than waking her up)

Gardio: *opens the door very gently and walks in. He carefully sets the bear on the table next to Ma and heads to bed, not saying a word*

Teshteal: *wraps up cleaning and patiently waits for her, humming to the radio to keep his mind occupied*

Joyce: (Comes back downstairs and heads into the lighthouse to shower, getting to work washing herself in the tub with the shower on)

Ma: (To Gardio as she turns to him) “Thank you dear… I’m afraid the little one is having a nightmare that’s making her breathing irregular.” (Looks back at Jas) “I’ll try to help her breathe with a massage, but if it doesn’t work I’ll go find her father…” (Carefully turns the girl so she’s facing upwards)

Jasmine: (Cries out when she can’t feel the warmth anymore, her chest rising and falling rapidly as she claws in the air)

Ma: (Takes off the sheet off both of them, adjusting the neckline of her house dress) “Hush Rosa-Marie. You’re still safe but you’re breathing too quickly.” (Gently strokes her hair, casting Gardio a doleful look)

Guard Leader: (Still battering Jasmine in her nightmare, hitting every sore spot that she has) “If you truly cared about them, you would’ve pulled that trigger to keep your poison from creeping in. First one to go will be that woman you call your sister- in fact you have almost got her there. One little push and she's out of the picture, and she can join Lilac and Jie in the grave.”

Jasmine: (Hisses aggressively when he mentions her sisters, getting some spark back in her soul and she starts trying to swat at him)

Guard Leader: (Pins her entire face down on the hard floor with one hand) “Her father will probably die of grief soon after, not that he matters as you hardly know the man but hey- two birds with one stone. As for Teshteal, you know what you will do to him eventually no matter how close you two get. He fears you, he knows the horror shows you're capable of putting on.”

Jasmine: (Eyes widen as tears stream down her cheeks, feeling that he’s right on everything that he said)

Teshteal: *wonders if he should take a bath, too. He probably stinks pretty badly. He decides to let Joyce know by knocking on the door of the bathroom she's in* Joyce? I'm going to go take a bath!

Joyce: (Calling out) “Alright! I’ll be waiting if you not out before me!” (Starts rinsing out her blonde hair in the water, lathering in a peach vanilla shampoo)

Gardio: *nods sadly* If Lucille's asleep, try not to wake her...? I'm sure it took a lot of effort to convince herself to rest... *looks to Jasmine and frowns, remembering last time she screamed and woke up her supposed sister up.* That might mean leaving her here. I'll watch her as best as I can.

Ma: (Nods at the other ghoul) “Let’s hope this works then…” (To Jasmine, stroking her hair some more) “Rosie, baby? I’m going to touch you so I can help you relax, alright?” (Rests her hand on her collarbone, waiting to see her reaction)

Jasmine: (Whines in her sleep, not trying to swat away Ma as she reaches to cling back to her for comfort)

Ma: (Very gently used three fingers to massage the girls sternum and collarbone to help her chest muscles relax, avoiding her breasts to her best ability) “Breathe, sweetheart. I’m not going to hurt you…”

Jasmine: (Whimpers and takes in a sharp breath, the tension melting away slightly as the nightmare she’s in continues)

Guard Leader: (Pins her down by the neck, squeezing the breath out of her as his knee presses down on her stomach and pelvis) “You deserve this you know, it was never once unfair in your part. Just for those whose blood got spilled by your hands, they are the real victims here. Not you.” (Hands start trailing to unbutton her top and fondle her chest, then slip down to her trousers)

Jasmine: (Closes her eyes, ready to accept her deserved fate when she suddenly remembers her fathers reaction when he heard about this kind of horrible assault happening to her, followed by the thought on what this sick man had done to her and her baby right before the war. She hisses and screams with raging kitten fire, grabbing the man by the shirt and throwing him across the room to get him off her with all her strength) “YOU STAY THE FUCK AWAY FROM ME YOU SICK SON OF A BITCH!!!!”

Teshteal: *happily skips away to the bedroom to get his pajamas. He stops and moves slowly in case Jasmine's sleeping. He quickly and wordlessly slinks in and grabs his clothes then back to the bathroom where he sets up his soak*

Gardio: *doesn't say a word to him as he does this. Linus tended to be very easily distracted before the war. He's probably even more so now... he thinks.*

Ma: (Keeps up the gentle massage, wincing when Jas’s bandages move slightly and she can briefly see the words she made on her skin, and the scars she has over her heart) “Oh, mi vida…”

Guard Leader: (Smacks against the wall with a loud snapping sound, groaning as he clutches his side)

Jasmine: (Wastes no time in running over and kicking his face, beating him into a pulp just like he has done so many times to her)

Guard Leader: (Covers his face to try and protect himself from receiving what he is so deserving of) “THIS DOESN’T CHANGE ANYTHING! YOU’RE STILL A BLOOD THIRSTY KILLER AND KILLING ME WONT FIX THAT!!”

Jasmine: (Through her tears) “SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP!” (She doesn’t want him to be right, although he is. But that doesn’t mean shit to her right now as she keeps beating him, making it as painful as possible so maybe he can feel a mere fraction of her pain)

@lucilleandherrobots

#fallout #fallout 4 #fo4 #fallout original character #fallout oc #fallout roleplay #fallout rp

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n0-way-0ut · 2 years

Text

- MINE ⋆☆ 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐲𝐥 𝐝𝐢𝐱𝐨𝐧

PAIRINGS— pre-apocalypse!daryl dixon x fem!reader / prison era!daryl dixon x fem!reader

SUMMARY— after saying goodbye to daryl dixon you’d hoped to see him again in the near future. . .

WARNINGS— blood/gore, swearing

MORE CHAPTERS— chapter one | chapter two | chapter three

you knew this day would come sooner or later and you couldn’t exactly be made at daryl for leaving. their family property was being turned over to the government leaving them with almost nothing. when daryl first told you, you instinctively offered your home until they could figure something out but it could never work considering your mother took the only other room in the house. she was close to dying, the doctors were already shocked she had made it this far but you had morned for you mother a long time ago, it was now just a matter of her actual dying although she hadn’t been able to talk, eat or breath properly for the past year and a half.

today daryl and merle were leaving. they had all their things packed up into duffle bags which had been thrown into the back seat of merle poor excuse for a car. merle was parked a few meters away as you stood on your porch saying your goodbyes to daryl. you were close to each other, daryl resting his forehead against yours as his hands were planted on your waist.

“why don’t yer come with us?” daryl asked, trying to hold himself back from letting any sign of sadness slip through.

“you know i can’t leave ma.” you whispered, a tear trickling down your cheek as your arms rested on his shoulder while your hands gently played with the ends of his hair at the base of his neck. “why don’t you stay here? let merle run off.” you suggested, as daryl lifted one of his hands to cup your cheek as he wiped away your tears.

both you and daryl knew your pleas weren’t serious. you had always known daryl would never willingly seperate from his brother. his heart was broken seeing you like this. he had only ever see you cry on a few occasions and this was one of the more heart breaking. he quietly shushed you before pulling you into his embrace, his hand holding the small of your back as your hands tightly wrapped around his torso. you wished you could stay like this forever but you were unfortunately interrupted by merle’s hand banging on the side of the car.

“come on little brother!” merle called out, his finger tapping in the rusting door as he waited for daryl to come over.

“i’ve gotta go.” daryl whispered, your arms wrapping around him tighter before slowly letting him go.

merle had only been back a few days. after their father died he got released from the interstate prison, coming straight back to pick up daryl and move their things out if the family home that was due to be sold or demolished in the coming weeks. together you and daryl walked over to the car, parting ways as he went to sit in the passenger seat while you stood by merles window peering into the car.

“watcha cryin’ for sweetheart?” merle asked noticing your red puffy cheeks and damp eyelashes.

“‘cause of you assholes.” you laughed weakly, earning a belly laugh from merle. “don’t be strangers okay? you can call me if ya need anything.” you spoke a little more seriously.

merle sternly nodded. “will do.” he mumbled, switching on the car engine before turning back to you. “sure yer don’t wanna come? you look like a lost little puppy without my little brother.” he teased.

you could feel more tears building in your eyes as you shook your head. “maybe i’ll meet ya somewhere.” you suggested. “just need to wait for ma.” you smiled sadly.

“alright.” merle shrugged before putting the car into gear.

“see you boys later.” you smiled, taking a few steps away from the car as merle began to pull away.

dirt began to rise as the car picked up speed, driving down the long driveway before turning out onto the highway. you felt like your knees could’ve given way as the car disappeared around the corner.

your entire body spun around at the smallest noise, your knife held up in defence with the blade facing away from you half expecting it to just be another one of the undead. but as you spun around you saw another human, their face frozen in horror as their foot lifted from the twig. they threw their hands up into the air, but you knew them and they knew exactly who you were. in the blink of an eye the stranger made a run for it, but you quickly followed after them running through the forest avoiding any obstacles that came into your path.

with one final push you managed to launch yourself at the stranger, tackling them to the ground. as they hit the ground they let out a grunt of pain but you remained focused, pushing all your body weight down as you flipped them around so your knees could restrain their arms as you held the knife up to the flesh of their neck.

“hey!” you spat, trying to keep them still as they wriggled beneath you. “what are you doin’ out here?” you asked.

“what makes you think i’d fuckin’ tell ya?” they spat causing you to let out a groan annoyance. “he’ll find where your hiding.” the person laughed, seemingly unafraid of the blade held up to their neck.

“that asshole couldn’t even find my tracks after i left that hell-hole.” you muttered angrily, now pressing the blade against their skin. “i told you fuckin’ idiots to stay clear of this area, so what the fuck are you doin’ back ‘ere?” you asked, deepening your voice to sound more threatening.

“he wants you dead, ‘nd he will find you make sure you turn into a biter and then he’ll put you in the cage with all his other fuck ups.”

fed up with the strangers attitude and most likely rehearsed answers you put the blade on your knife between you teeth using both your hands to grab the strangers arm, holding it flat against the ground with one hand while the other grabbed your knife.

“tell that asshole i’m done playin’ this games.” you spat, pushing the knife into the strangers flesh. letting out a shriek of pain, the stranger watched you as you pushed the knife further down until you were use it was the entire way through. “n’if he keeps tryin’ to find me, i will come back and kill every single one of you dickheads that follow him.” you grunted, beginning to drag the knife up the arm.

the stranger continued to let out cries of pain as you dragged the small knife down their arm until it hit the bone of their elbow. as you pulled out the knife blood continued to spew from the wound. the stranger began to get worked up, their breathing becoming erratic and irregular as all colour drained from their face. you quickly stripped the stranger of all their weapons before standing up, watching them as they scurried away to try stop the bleeding. you watched the stranger run away back in the direction he came from, undeniably proud of yourself as you managed to keep your ground.

as you spun around, planning on heading back to your camp you noticed a squirrel, slowly climbing up the tree trunk. you quickly wiped the blood left on your blade from the strangers arm and wiped it into your plants making sure it was clean. then you lined up your shot, holding onto the end of the blade before throwing it to hit the squirrel, the knife landing right in the middle of its stomach. walking over to the tree, you placed one hand on the squirrel before pulling the knife from its torso. sliding your knife back into your thigh holster, you made your way back to your camp.

by the time you made it back to your camp the sun was beginning to set. you had been away from your camp for a few days now, having had a relatively successful hunting trip. a string of squirrels hung off your belt, bumping into your leg every time you took a step. you had considered yourself lucky to have stumbled across the atlanta state prison when you did, the grounds were littered with the walking dead but you were able to secure a guard tower. any time someone stumbled upon the prison, they often turned right around not confident enough they could take on that many of the dead. but as the prison came i to view you noticed a soft fiery glow coming from the centre of the yard, and all of the dead had been killed.

as you got closer you noticed about six or seven people crowded around the small fire with two more further back standing on one of the prison busses. with ease you had managed to get inside the gates undetected, the harsh shadows being casted offering you some form of camouflage. as you grew closer you noticed they had a kid with them, probably no more then ten years old causing you to change your approach.

“hands up. all of you!” you grunted, one again holding your knife up with the blade facing away from you.

the group all turned in your direction, slowly following your instructions. it was an off group you thought. you walked a little closer, your face not quite visible as you stood in just beyond the light of the fire.

“we don’t mean any harm.” an older man spoke as his hands rose into the air.

“get the girl to get all your weapons and give ‘em here.” you demanded motioning your head towards a younger looking blonde girl who looked timid and afraid. they all sat still before looking over to the girl where one of the men gave her an approving nod. “lets hurry it up.” you spat as you watched her slowly collect the few hand guns they had.

“why are you doin’ this?” she has she parted from the group before placing all the guns by your feet.

“we’ve all got things we need kid.” you mumbled.

“hey!” a gruff mans voice spat from further behind the group, holding a weapon up to his eye level. at the sudden voice you grabbed the blonde girls hand and pulled her back towards you, using her body as a shield as you brought your knife up to her neck. “let ‘er go!” he demanded.

“drop it!” you retorted as the crossbow came into view, his face still hidden by dark shadows. “i said drop the crossbow!” you snapped.

“daryl.” one of the men hissed.

your entire body stiffened at the name, your grip tightening on the blonde girl as you waited for his face to become visible. as the crossbow dropped by his side, the man stepped into the light. you edged yourself further into the light, your face now visible to daryl as he stood opposite to you. it was you, you had found him. almost instantly you let go of the girl and lunged towards daryl, his hands immediately dropping his crossbow to wrap around your torso. you buried your head into the crook of his neck as he continued to hold you tightly.

“is anyone else confused?” someone asked, the group of people now surrounding you, watching on with shock and confusion as you and daryl embraced each other.

“she’s good.” he mumbled. “she’s family.” daryl added, finally pulling away from the hug to look around at his group.

“i’ve been stayin’ up in the guard tower for a few months now. i was just a little shocked to find you folks ‘ere.” you apologised, looking around the group to find a mixture of emotions.

“but you didn’t take down the walkers.” one of the older girls asked.

“they’ve kept most people away.” you laughed weakly.

by the time daryl’s group had fallen asleep you took daryl up to the guard tower you had called home for the past few months. you both stood in the centre of the small space, daryl had his back turned to you as he looked around the space at all the trinkets you had littered over the desk.

“how come you never called?” you asked quietly, causing daryl to freeze. daryl stayed silent, knowing he should apologise but didn’t know how to put it into comforting words. “i missed you so god damn much.” you spat, not necessarily angry at daryl but angry that you didn’t have the heart to go after him once your mother had died, afraid he had moved on.

“i missed ya too.” he whispered quietly, still not having the heart to even look at you, knowing you be hurting.

you paused for a moment, thinking about all the ways you could approach the situation. you could lash out or break down but instead your arms snuck around his waist, the side of your head resting on his shoulder. daryl hung his head low before his hands connected with yours.

“never stopped thinkin’ about yer.” he added, your head slightly lifting. “n’i ain’t ever losin’ you again.” daryl promised, his hands tightening around yours.

you briefly lifted your head from his back before planting a soft kiss on the back of his neck. you didn’t realised how much you missed him until this very moment as you held you in your arms.

“ditto.” you whispered, a smile creeping onto your lips.

tags: @creepzeyecandy

#norman reedus #daryl dixon #twd daryl #twd #the walking dead #daryl dixon x original female character #daryl fanfiction #daryl dixon prison era #the walking dead season 3 #ao3 #ao3fic #fanfic #fanficton

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msweebyness · 9 months

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Class of Villainy- His Boogey Baby Sister

Hey ya’ll, this is a cute little thing Sparky and I did a while back, for the boogey siblings! I wanted to share it with you! It’s kind of based off the ‘Prince Kiran’ short by Artzy, so thanks to them for that! As always, thanks to @imsparky2002 and @artzychic27! Enjoy!

Some years before the present time, in a house on the outskirts of HalloweenTown, inhabited by a family that only a brief time ago grew from three to four, a young boogey of about eight years old stood with his arms resting on the rails of a crib, smiling down at the sight below him. This boy was none other than the terrifying Ivan Oogie, before some of his greatest evils were committed.

In the crib that he stood beside was his baby sister, Sasha, already a year-and-a-half old. Her hollow eyes were wide and she giggled with malevolent glee as she crushed the skull of a small mouse that had wandered into her reach. Watching this made her elder brother’s smile grow. A mere baby and she already had a love for causing pain and suffering. The perfect little sister, if you asked him.

Ivan would admit, when he learned his mother was pregnant, he had been…on the fence. He didn’t necessarily want competition, or someone for his parents to compare him to incessantly. But the second he laid eyes on the infant Sasha…his cold heart was hers and he knew he would protect her life with his own.

A dark frown crossed his face as he thought of how his parents tried to keep them separated. How they thought he was a ‘bad influence’ on her. They had been talking about it earlier, in fact, unaware that their son was listening from the shadows.

“I just don’ understand. How did we go so wrong twice?”, his mother had said, her face buried in her cloth hands.

“It’s Ivan.”, his father had responded, his tone bitter, “He’s twistin’ our little girl up to be jus’ like him!”

The young boogey scoffed. What a load of hooey! He had seen it the second he looked into his baby sister’s eyes. The same wicked spirit that dwelled within him, it was in her too!

At that moment, Sasha looked up and spotted him, a bright smile that melted his heart a little crossing her face.

“Bubba!”, she gurgled happily (her way of saying ‘Big Brother’), as she held up the dead mouse to show him, proud of her work. Laughing softly, Ivan reached down and ruffled her short, dark hair.

“Nice job, li’l terror.”, he praised, making her smile even bigger and bounce up and down as she sat in her crib.

Ivan retracted his hand and spied his mother watching the two of them from the kitchen door. He gave her a spiteful sneer, before turning back to his little sister, who now had her fingers in her mouth.

“Ma and Pa are real lame, ain’t they?”, he asked her, laughing again when she blew a raspberry in response to the question. He could see how much she hated it, when she would be watching Ivan torture and terrify a victim, all the joy in the world on her face…only for their parents to snatch her away and place her back in this crib. They just HAD to ruin everything! Getting an idea, he spoke to his little sister again.

“Wouldn’ it be great if we got rid of ‘em?”, he asked her, smirking when Sasha’s little face lit up.

“Die, die, die!”, the little boogey girl squealed, clapping her tiny hands, filling her big brother with pride.

“Tha's right, Sassy.”, he nodded, ruffling her hair again, “I'm plenty big ‘nuff to take care’a you on mah own. We don' need them, do we?”

Sasha rapidly shook her head in response. Ivan swore, despite her young age, she understood him better than anyone else.

“Well, then soon enough, we'll kill 'em!”, Ivan promised, “I'll teach ya how to be scary as me, and we'll rule this dumb town!”, and he grinned at the thought of no one ever standing in their way again.

His smile turned soft as Sasha giggled, reaching up and grabbing one of his fingers in her small, delicate hand. He grasped it in his own for a moment, before reaching into the crib and scooping her up. She squealed with joy as her big brother spun her around.

After he rocked her back and forth for a minute or two, Sasha drifted off to sleep in Ivan’s arms. He gave her a soft kiss on the head, before gently laying her back in the crib.

“Yer gonna be a real fright, baby sis. I love you.”, he told her softly, watching her sleep for a moment before he left the room.

And there you have it, folks! Even villains have their soft spots! Leave your thoughts in the comments and reblogs!

#miraculous ladybug #class of villainy #disney au #ivan bruel #sasha bruel #Ivan Oogie #Sasha oogie #ml au #sibling fluff #nightmare before Christmas

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usernoneexistent · 1 year

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Juniper spends her summer holiday with friends from Hogwarts as well revisiting an old one that she hasn't seen in a while.

Warnings: mention of substance abuse, mild bad language, emotional neglect.

The summer before Juniper's second year was one that she actually looked forward to. Despite looking through the little archived newspapers of Jacob's expulsion and disappearance, she couldn't progress much further thanks to her mother and herself, who threw away most of the news articles. But she enjoyed her correspondents with Rowan and Ben that they had.

They promised to write regularly to each other and have a sleepover at each other's homes. Rowan was first; the Khannas welcomed Juniper with open arms. Ben arrived a little later. Mr Khanna offered Ben's parents that he could pick up and drop off Ben. Despite having worries about all sorts of issues, they reluctantly agreed. Mr and Mrs Khanna made it very clear since the two girls were alone with a boy that, Ben had to sleep in Rowan's older brother's room and that if the three were alone, they must keep the doors open at all times.

Rowan gave a tour of the tree farm, explaining in excruciating detail from the type of tree down to its grains before her brother jokingly told her off and that she should relax. She bathed in the refreshing smell of sawdust and country air. Juniper chuckled out that this is what Rowan finds relaxing. He mostly kept himself but helped out whenever Rowan needed him. Juniper had to be careful not to watch them closely for too long. She was happy for Rowan that she got along so well with her brother, but the green-eyed monster peaked at his ugly head. Jealous of Rowan's functional family unit while hers was in tatters.

She ignored that feeling as best as she could and focused on the fun. Mrs Khanna made butter chicken for them. It was Juniper's first time trying, but despite the spiciness, it was delectable. She had more laughs than envy moments, causing the little jealous monster to retreat to its slumber.

Juniper had to take the train at Ben's turn to host the sleepover. Due to Ben's parents' house not being connected to the floo network and Juniper living in Scotland, she had to navigate from St Andrews to Edinburgh and then down to Birmingham. Ben's father picked her up and took her into a suburban neighbourhood in his silver muggle transport. Juniper had seen cars before, but it was her first time riding in one, though she felt queasy throughout the journey. Her hair was colovera to black to make the Coppers more comfortable. Rowan was already there as she lived closer. Ben had his father's hair but his mother's brown eyes. His parents seem old, with flakes of white in their hair.

"Um, the door has to be left open. My parents are just excited that I actually have some friends over." Ben mentioned as Juniper looked around the room. It was plain, the walls were pale blue, and the walls looked sparse.

"Your parents are like mines." Rowan chimed in.

"Ma pa is like this too." Juniper added. "Actually no. He would kill you."

"Kill me! I don't want to be killed by your dad!" Ben exclaimed, frightened.

"Oh, don't worry. He'll kill me after you for bringing a boy home." Juniper said in a serious tone. Ben's eyes grew wide like saucers before Juniper laughed. "It's a joke. Don't worry. Ma Pa is far away from England."

Ben awkwardly chuckled, but Rowan distracted them by asking about all the usual muggle games. There was the snake and ladders, the game Ben had introduced when they started regularly hanging out. She browsed through his books, constantly asking one query after another. Ben patiently answered all their questions before informing them of their trip to the cinema. Ben had written to them about the muggle's own moving pictures. They use theirs to tell stories rather than take photographs.

When they finally arrived, Rowan and Juniper were in awe of the place. Ben's father also bought them popcorn which was corn burned with butter. As the muggles called it -the film- was about a girl from Kansas with a small dog. Ben gave a brief synopsis of the prequel story where she ends up in this magical place and an emerald city with small people and magic. There was a scarecrow, a lion and a tinman. In this film, there was also a princess and a pumpkinhead.

When he came to collect them, Rowan and Juniper talked nonstop about the cinema and the moving pictures. It went on and on at dinner too. They had pizza; Rowan and Juniper knew what it was but never had, so the excitement of new and exciting muggle things returned late to the night. However, they had to sleep in the guest bedroom, but Juniper convinced Ben to sneak in the middle of the night so they could chat all night long. They snacked on sweets that Juniper smuggled in and played card games.

Ben seemed relieved that the girls had a fun time before leaving, and his parents looked less anxious, especially his mum chewed on her nails less. They couldn't wait until their third one.

The rest of July came and went as her letter for the second year arrived. During that time, she practised spell casting, looking through Jacob's old school notes to see if she could perform more advanced spells.

July was always the hardest on her mother. The reminder that Jacob had been missing for another year caused her mother to become more irascible and spend more time with her bed. The glass potion bottles would increase in her room. Juniper went shopping again, but when she returned, her mother told her off grumpily for not considering the dangers of being alone before crying about how sorry she was for not being there for Juniper.

One day, an owl brought the Daily Prophet and dropped it on the table, almost landing her cereal. Typically, she would scan through it and tear out any pages she knew would trigger her mum into an episode. However, this particular headline caught her eye.

Curses of the Moss coming back sooner than later?

Written, of course, by Rita Skeeter. That journalist made the most scandalous and shocking headlines throughout Jacob's expulsion and subsequent disappearance. She hid every one of her articles in a box, but none ever had any substance.

Jacob Moss' disappearance felt like it just happened yesterday when he endangered Hogwarts when it was supposed to be a place of sanctuary. Now five years later, his younger sister has seemingly continued on his delusional quest of the fabled cursed vaults-

Juniper stopped reading on at this point. She knew better than to fall for the vindictive lies of Rita Skeeter and start looking at more credible sources. She recalled that her neighbour, Gedeon Doughlas, had collected newspaper clippings about almost everything during the fiasco. Gedeon had always been there for her and her mum. He was Jacob's prefect, so he also watched out for her brother. Well, their families have been friends since the 1800s when his great, great grandfather and her three times great grandfather founded and co-owned their infamous pub, the Naughty Cliffs. Though in hard times, her grandfather had built up a lot of debt, and her mother wasn't fit to work; thus, it ended with Jimmy, Gedeon's father running the place as of late.

She crept quietly past her mother's bedroom down the hall and grabbed her bright red raincoat before heading out into the forest of Tentsmuir. The Doughlas house was a five-minute walk, a stone structure similar to her home.

Her wet knuckles rapped on the dark wooden door. A few minutes passed before Juniper determined it was a stupid idea anyway. Besides, she was also getting soaked in the drizzle.

"Junie?" Behind her, the door was outstretched, and a tall, blonde man leaned against the door frame.

"Ged!" She excitedly ran up to him and almost knocked the wind out of him.

"Well, look at how you've grown, Tern." He hugged her properly and spun her right around before putting her down. A wet stain was marked on his shirt where the raincoat touched. "It's been almost a year right?"

"Aye, we keep missing each other." Juniper remarked. Gedeon invited her in and placed her soaked raincoat by the fire while he made some tea. Uncle Jimmy was away at work, leaving the two alone.

"What brought you over here anyway?" Gedeon leaned against the countertops with his cup of tea in hand.

"I wanted tae look over the old articles when Jacob went missing. You still have all the articles?" Juniper warmed her hands against the puffin-covered mug.

"Aye, I do. I think I have them in my room. Wait one second till I find them." Gedeon left Juniper alone for what felt like a while. She heard his heavy footsteps running around the room.

Before long, her tea was gone, and Gedeon's went cold. He came back and plopped down a massive stack.

"Whoa! I did nae expect you have this much." The girl commented. Her fingers carefully flicked through, scanning each headline to see if it was a grabber or if it contained genuine information.

"Why'd you want tae read this anyway?" Gedeon queried, helping Juniper sort through. "Wait, you're searching for the cursed vaults, aren't ya?"

"Aye..." Juniper felt herself go quiet. She had forgotten that Gedeon was also an adult, yet most always stopped her from finding Jacob, but Gedeon was her side. When her brother disappeared, he looked after her and her mum. Besides, he would know what Jacob was doing for at least three years.

"Are you gonna tell ma?"

She put on her best puppy eyes at Gedeon, and he just laughed at her plea attempt.

"Aye, no worries. I'm no going tae tell your ma, I promise." He winked at Juniper.

"How is it going anyway?" Gedeon inquired, growing more interested in Juniper's adventure. She updated him on everything that had happened for the past school year, including her strange visions.

Gedeon seemed supportive and even offered his help where he could. Well, he first allowed Juniper to take the article clippings that appeared to hold the most information and put it into her evidence notebook. Keeping everything in one place was handy instead of relying on Rowan's incredible memory archive.

He charmed the bits of newspaper articles with a waterproof charm to protect them from the rain before she said her thanks and goodbyes to him, forgetting all about her mother tossing in bed.

***

Finally, when it was Juniper's turn, it was the complete opposite of her mum. Julia didn't mind that the doors were shut and if the tweens wanted some privacy. She trusted Juniper would be responsible enough, as always. Her mum really went the extra mile for Juniper, helping her set up a tent charmed to be rainproof as the summer rain ceased to end, and with sleeping bags, they found lying about the house.

"What else do we need?" Juniper asked.

"I think I have some games somewhere for you guys," Julia stated. "Wait here, I'll get it."

Over fifteen minutes passed as Juniper grew more concerned. She had finished putting up the fairy lights. The girl rushed inside and up the stairs to the attic; she peaked her head over to find her mother weeping quietly.

"Ma?"

"Oh, Junie," Julia quickly wiped her tears. "I was just getting ludo."

Juniper wrapped her arms around her. "You don't have to say anything. Don't we need the sweets too?"

"You're right, Juno. I'll go make up a bowl." Julia thinly smiled, using her daughter's distraction.

Juniper took the magically modified ludo board. Jacob had tinkered about with it after finding the board game in a muggle market.

Mr Khanna brought Rowan and Ben outside their stone cottage. He asked if Rowan had everything she needed, but she knew that Rowan would be over-prepared.

"You're finally both here!" Juniper squished them both in a bear hug. "Come, I have so much to show you. Me and Ma set up the tent for us to sleep."

"That's so cool!"

"It looks small," Ben commented.

"It's bigger on the inside." Rowan and Juniper said simultaneously. Ben didn't look as surprised. A year at Hogwarts would make anyone ready for the unexpected.

Ben was amazed at the change in size perception. There were three camping beds with sleeping bags and a separate bathroom that her father had enchanted. Now that Juniper thinks about it more, her father did most of the transfiguration and put all this effort into it. Yet, they only camped once together, which ended in an absolute disaster from the patchy memories.

"I was thinking we could down tae the beach first, how does that sound?"

"That sounds like a wonderful idea," Rowan said.

"Wait here, I need tae ask Ma tae colovera ma hair since muggles are there," Juniper excused and rushed to the kitchen. The bowl was there, but her mum wasn't. She quickly looked into her mum's bedroom.

Crap.

That was her mum out cold for a whole day. Juniper went outside, grabbing her tulip hat and a bobble before she squished her hair up inside the stripey hat.

Juniper peaked her hair around in the tent and forced a smile. "Mum is quickly out shopping so I could nae get my hair colovera but we can still go tae the beach."

Rowan raised her eyebrows in suspicion but left it.

"Okay, lets go then."

Juniper guided through the forest and onto the trails where the muggles tend to trek. Down to the sandy beach, many muggles dotted about with their kids. Juniper kicked off her shoes.

"This place is so nice," Rowan remarked, looking comfortable for once. "I wish I could live in a place like this. It must be nice being able to go the beach whenever you want."

"Not to mention the terriying creatures that lurk at night in the forest." Ben added

"I can assure you the most terrifying thing here are the seagulls." Juniper chuckled, pointing up at the seagulls encircling.

To prove her point, one of the seagulls daringly swooped down and snatched a family's chips as they ran shrieking. The man tried to whack the seagull with a rolled-up newspaper, only to trip over the bags.

The seagull laughed in its victory, eating away at the chip. Juniper saw the look of horror on Ben's face. She tried her hardest to stifle her laughter but to no avail. Rowan quickly followed suit.

"It's not funny!" Ben stomped.

"I'm sorry, Ben," Rowan wiped away a tear before clutching her stomach.

"I was nae expecting that," Juniper howled with laughter. "I'm sorry, Ben but I swear I did nae plan this. This is just too perfect."

Ben moped around briefly, but he started to enjoy the day. The trio at first kept to themselves the rest of the day but somehow managed to play with the muggle kids. Juniper had a few close calls with her hat flying off, but they walked back home soaking, sandy and weary in the best way possible.

Juniper checked on her mum, still out like a light, so she had to get creative. She made grilled cheese sandwiches and brought the sweetie bowl. She claimed that her mum went to bed early. Technically not a lie.

They stayed up all night, maybe getting hyper from the sweets or the excitement from that day, but at some point, they somehow fell asleep. Julia was still so knocked when Juniper checked in again.

Two days and one night were all that Juniper asked for.

The girl calmly assured her friends that her mum was just tired and made them breakfast. They grew concerned, but Juniper plastered a smile, repeating that everything was alright.

Juniper was forced to put on an apologetic smile while asking Mrs Khanna if she could disapparate Ben back to his parents. Mrs Khanna raised concerns over her mother's lack of presence. Still, Juniper immediately shot her down, saying she was fine and could handle it alone.

Once the goodbyes were over and she shut the front door, the floodgates of anger opened. She heard a creak from her mother's bedroom, and her mum's head popped out, blue tuffs sticking out where she had lain.

"Where are Rowan and Ben? Did I miss them?"

"Aye, Ma! They just left right there." She snapped. Her mum physically reacted as her face showed deep hurt. Juniper wanted so badly to run and comfort her mum, but another part felt deeply pained that she couldn't just have woken up. Just the days of sleepovers, that's all she wanted. How hard was it for her mum not to take sleeping draughts and sleep in? Just simply be there and give her the sense that everything was alright.

"Auch, what a shame. I wanted to chat to Mrs Khanna for a wee minute." Her mum grimaced before returning to bed.

Juniper wanted to scream at her mum for being careless but stayed calm. Screaming would just induce a panic attack and make her mum cry that she was a lousy mother, and if things got worse...Juniper didn't want to think about that.

She left the cliff cottage and walked through the wood. Before she knew it, her hand punched a tree, and every pent-up frustration was released on the bark before she screamed that her small frame could muster.

"Poor tree. What did he deserve tae get such treatment?" Juniper turned around and saw a blonde man bearing a crooked grin.

"Oh, hey Gedeon" She covered her bruises, hands behind her back. "Nothing much."

"You sure?" He slowly approached her, getting his wand out. "Let me see, Tern."

Juniper, ashamed, put out her hands as Gedeon healed the bloody and bruised knuckles.

"There, all better now." He said softly. "Do you wanna talk about it?"

Juniper shook her head. She knew she could confide in Gedeon, but she didn't want to say.

"Wanna come bird watching with me?"

"Beats being here."

Juniper took his offer. She needed to escape from here and be secluded in nature's life. She took his arm and disapparated to the Isle of May. It was a small, rocky island off the coast of Fife.

They apparated inside the abandoned light tower. Gedeon quickly checked that no muggles heard or saw anything, but it seemed good of people that day. Maybe the rain driving most tourists off, or they're on the boat.

"Tie your hair up, Junie."

"Why?" Juniper asked as she obediently followed his instructions, twirling it into a messy bun.

"Just in case any muggles pass by. Don't want tae to make them jealous cause of your amazing hair." He joked. Her hair was causing trouble, as per usual.

"Aye, so the usual then," Juniper said. Gedeon placed his fish hat on her head, almost swallowing Juniper whole. "Are we going to see the puffins first?"

"Aye, you always loved the puffins." Gedeon laughed.

"What's so wrong about that?" Juniper huffed and pouted, which seemed to make Gedeon laugh more.

"Aye, nothing." He pulled her out of the lighthouse. "Lets go."

When they got out, the wind wasn't as bad as Juniper had expected though she had to hold on tight to the hat. He took her to the rocky side and crawled down onto their stomachs at a safe distance.

Gedeon pulled out a pair of binoculars and observed the flock of puffins either idling by at the rocks or flying about.

"Look at that one!" Juniper pointed towards the bird, swooping down on its prey. "He's got a big fish!"

"I think that's actually a she." Gedeon corrected.

"How'd you ken?" She asked.

"I ken cause the bill is small and her overall size." Gedeon explained.

"Obviosuly, I can't see very well from here." Juniper commented snarkily. They could get closer, but Gedeon didn't want them to disturb their habitat.

Gedeon sighed and passed his binoculars on to her. "Here, use this and tell me what you see."

The rock was filled with loud squawks and little chirps as Juniper scanned with her binoculars. There were a lot of puffins feeding their chicks.

"Lots of baby puffins," Juniper watched a mother puffin feed her chick a fish. She watched the birds in a fit of strange jealousy, and the mother birds were more of a mother than her own.

"Do you want tae talk about your ma?"

Juniper sighed, "I asked ma if she can no take sleeping draughts when ma friends come over. I don't want them to see her all moody and depressed."

"I get that," Gedeon sympathised. "I was embarrassed to bring my friends over when I was your age."

"Really?"

"Aye, but don't forget that yer Ma is dealing with a lot at this time."

Juniper sighed as Gedeon was right. Her mum was trying hard not to think about Jacob, but a part of her couldn't help but feel overlooked. She looked through the binoculars.

"A whole lotta puffins...Wait." Juniper scrunched her eyes to look closer at the foreign bird. "There's another, white except for the head and the beak is orange."

"Pass that back," Juniper gave back the binoculars, observing Gedeon. His eyebrows knitting as he focused on the other bird. "Look it's an artic tern. Also known as sterna paradisaea in Latin. They're common around here."

"You ken Latin?" Juniper sounded surprised at this new knowledge.

"Only for birds," he quietly laughed. "It helps knowing if they're part of the same family."

"Oh? But why do you keep calling me tern? I don't think I'm anything like them."

"On the contrary, Junie, you are exactly like them."

"How so?"

"They are tenacious and hopeful creatures. They migrate the longest distance and they continue to persist despite the dangerous weather conditions leading to hope."

"That's pretty cool," Juniper said, smiling to herself.

Juniper determined right then that terns were her new favourite birds, and she would be an arctic tern pursuing the cursed vaults.

Previous chapter: chapter 10

Next chapter: chapter 12

#the ice knight #hogwarts mystery #lily’s writing #juniper moss #rowan khanna #ben copper #gedeon doughlas #julia moss

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moony-moon-blogs · 2 years

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Flash Fiction: The Waiting Room

Luca Barlowe did not like forks. Three-pronged weapons paraded around like innocent utensils. On a list of things Luca disliked most, forks ranked around third or fourth, which was considered high based on the absolute pandemonium that the world was.

Other than his severe dislike for forks, Luca was as normal as normal could get. He studied in school, played football afterward, and lived a perfectly ordinary existence. And he preferred it that way. A normal existence meant predictability, certainty. An exact routine that served to be formulaic, it was a way to guarantee the way events panned out.

“Barlowe!” A grizzly voice called out moments before Luca was accosted by the 6’5’ beast he called his best friend. In lieu of a greeting, he merely raises a brow breezily. “Let’s go, nerd. We need to get to practice.” Marcus said, rolling his eyes affectionately.

He reached over and slung an arm over Luca’s shoulders, moving only when Luca flinched and shoved him carefully away. “Damn. You still injured from that last practice dude? You take so long to heal, your immune system hates you for being a football player.” Marcus said with an ironic grimace, before smiling and walking ahead.

Following his friend, he practically zoned out for the entirety of practice. Floating on adrenaline and the conformity of a good routine, practice was over before Luca could blink. Skipping on a shower with two dozen pubescent boys with freezing water and disease-covered floors was an easy decision in comparison to the steaming, scorching hot shower he could take at home.

Heading home quickly, Luca knocked on the front door first out of respect for his mother’s insistence on manners and etiquette before entering. Routinely, he took off his shoes and set them on the mat, taking off his backpack and jacket, and setting them in their respective places on their hooks. Heading towards the kitchen, with a smile on his face and the thought of his mother’s meal in his mouth.

“Hey Ma, I’m home.” Luca drawled, wordlessly going on to set the table.

“Hey, baby.” She turned, grinning at him with an expression filled with absolute love and adoration. “I w-”

Mrs. Barlowe was abruptly interrupted by the ringing of her telephone, smiling apologetically at Luca, she shifted to answer. Frowning, she said, “Yes, this is she.” in response to whatever question was asked on the other end. Whatever she hears next causes a tremble on her lips to manifest, turning her face a ghastly shade of grey.

Tears drip steadily down her face as Mrs.Barlowe nods jerkily with the phone in a death grip against her ear. Turning off the phone and gasping jerkily, she turns to Luca, “Your father’s been in an accident. He’s in the hospital.” She manages to get out before dissolving into full sobs.

Rushing over to comfort his mother, Luca wraps his arms around her and guides her to the car, driving to the hospital. Moving in a daze, he focuses on helping his mother. She’s upset, and Luca loves her, but this is not predictable and he feels himself begin to spiral. This is fine. This is okay.

Arriving, finally, they race to the reception area for any source of information. With directions from the receptionist, Mrs. Barlowe and Luca go on with a dark cloud following their trail.

“Hello. My name is Doctor Shmidt.” The doctor says with a sombre tone and a sympathetic grimace. “Unfortunately, our recent scans have shown that Mr. Barlowe retains no bodily functions. His official diagnosis is locked-in syndrome, a neurological disorder that causes the paralysis of all voluntary muscles except for the ones that control retinal inclinations. Essentially, without all the doctor mambo-jumbo, he is completely paralyzed and always will be. Regrettably, your options right now consist only of deciding whether or not to keep him on life support.”

“Is there paperwork?” Luca croaks out when Mrs. Barlowe sniffles again, clutching her tissue tightly like a drowning victim clutches a life vest.

Doctor Shmidt nods empathetically. “I’ll let you say your goodbyes.” He turns to grab a nurse, whether to get to another patient or to find the documents is unknown. Mrs. Barlowe collapses against one of the chairs in the waiting room nearby making a hand gesture to Luca that tells him to go on.

Luca walks silently and opens the door to be greeted by his father’s prone form. He looks rather wretched; small and frail with tubes flowing in and out of every inch of his body. Luca approaches the bed and stares at his father’s eyes which move around rapidly. So he’s awake. Hmm.

“Ma should be signing the paperwork now. I don’t think she can stomach seeing you like this, knowing what’s about to happen. Everyone agrees it’s humane to put you out of your misery instead of making you live the next 40 years as a vegetable. What do you think Pops?” Luca chuckles sardonically.

He thumbs the scar on the back of his hand. Four dots in a line. Leaning in to stare at his father’s eyes that gawk back, Luca whispers audibly “I guess life finally gave you something you couldn’t beat, huh?”

Maybe unpredictability wasn’t so bad. Luca quite liked this surprise.

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suicideourstory · 2 years

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Suicide; Our Story

authored by Joseph M.

Chapter 7: Schoolyards and Courtyards

“The good-for-nothing reprobates and wretches your father allowed to smuggle and sell under his charities’ funding and protection from the public’s eye, kept loyal, and that partially contributed to the gala incident,” said my mother. “They were particularly in it for the funds.”

“So when I killed my father,” I said. “The bosses couldn’t live without him, so they searched for new sources of funding.”

“Bingo,” she grumbled. “The mob bosses couldn’t keep up with the changing economy without the protection of his charities, so they took control of galas, parades, and festivals; anything government-hosted had to go. They senselessly rioted against expensive events in a last-ditch effort to short-circuit the economy, (government officials would be at those events, and they were government hosted,) including one where talking wolves, an army of vampires and elves, three superheroes, and a mafia, according to media rumors, cost the government hundreds of billions of dollars in repair, and you inadvertently caused the biggest crisis in the history of the U.S.”

I asked, “But that’s not why I’m here, is it, ma?”

“Why I abandoned you is complicated,” my mother said, sipping her margarita. “Your father’s charities were becoming less and less profitable with the growing number of mobs relying on his business, and the charges were piling up.”

“So my parents are scumbags,” I muttered. “While I had the gun against my chest, the blade slitting my wrist, the rope hanging from the ceiling, my father left me to practice adultery with other women and get arrested for money scams; my mother left because of his finances; both of my parents are frivolous maggots. Jasper was wrong thinking you’re repentant. You’re both dirtbags.”lp

She rose from the hospital bed, clouted me with her walking cane, collapsed to her knees, and said, “I understand why he belted you, and I would have done worse, because you’re dumber than a mutt, and you’re only here to be stepped on, like the trampled worm, or the ravenous snake.”

I slapped her across her left cheek and said, “You left because of his money problems, but are you any better than he was, and are you any more than he ever was?”

“The nursing home was no place for her; maybe it’s sixty thousand leagues in Hell,” I said, throwing my duffle bag at the doorstep. “She told me I should be lashed worse than I’ve already been; maybe I forgave her, but she never apologized to me.”

“When I met you two years ago, you first told me, ‘I feel hatred and jealousy, and bitter,’ and I felt so terribly bad, I comforted you the whole night,” said Jasper. “When you told me you were jealous, I asked you to forgive, not to pardon those whom you hate; not to grant absolution to those whom you are jealous of; not to seek revenge, but instead forgive them for the emotions they stirred inside of you. Your mother apologizing is not a part of your path to your healing; while it is crucial, forgiving her is doing your part; now she needs to do her part, and if she doesn’t, don’t let that affect you.”

“You know?” I muttered, nodding my head, looking over at the messy duffle bag. “That was kind of wise.”

He said, approaching the steaming, bubbling tea kettle, “Yeah, yeah it was. But that’s not the point, is it?” He poured the smoking tea into a reindeer-themed mug. “The school bullies are challenging you to a fight this week, on the basketball court on the courtyard, tomorrow. Classic school bullies.”

Contemplated, then I replied, “Tell them Justin Garrett Williams will meet them tomorrow, Friday the thirteenth, first thing in the morning, basketball court, on the courtyard, classic school boy v school boy fight.”

The schoolyard was crowded with inattentive students, flocking to their classes before the bell could beat them to it, running in and out of the main building, playing soccer and basketball on the busy courtyard, while classic schoolyard chatter and gossip, he was with her, she was cheating on him with someone else, and he had other affairs, spread across the school, and the bullies, Fred Jenkins, Tony Miller, Betty Hampton, and Simon Miller, Tony’s brother, were standing on the other end of the basketball court. Suddenly, the gossip turned against me, what’s he doing, why’s he approaching them, he’s gonna start a fight, et cetera. “How’s your day been?” I questioned awkwardly, and I knew I wasn’t prepared for this.

“What do you want, punk?” asked Betty, her stature vastly diminishing mine.

I said confidently, “I want a fight.” The gossipers piped back up again, no way he’s gonna fight her, don’t go yet I want to see what’s happening; where’s my phone, I need to record this.

“You’re a loser,” mumbled Simon, popping his knuckles. “You’re asking for it.” He socked me in the chest, knocking me to the ground, but not unconscious. Fred and Tony were saying, you wanna fight, you’re asking for a fight, you’re getting a fight, taunting me, et cetera.

I said, “You’re too physically strong to be mentally strong.”

I got to my feet and smacked him across the jaw, dislocating his molars; he could taste the blood. Betty rammed her fist into my shoulder, I blocked, and she said things like, you’re too weak, you can’t take us all, you’re not good enough for anyone, and Fred said to me, things like, hope your father lashes you more, hope you run onto the streets, hope a car swerves onto the sidewalk, and the schoolyard was chanting, fight, fight, fight, and Simon said, “Your only friends are dumb.”

That ticked me off; nobody messes with my friends, so I said, “Talk ‘bout my friends again like that,” I jabbed Tony in the gut, his stomach curling, then assaulted Fred with the butt of my right shoulder, putting him down, then took a confident boxing-ring stance; Betty approached. “It’s just you and me.”

Betty raised her fists, and grunted, “You’re just a suicidal boy from Florida; nobody’s going to love you in the end; not your bullies, not your enemies, not your friends, not your family, not you.” The words echoed: not you, not you, not you, not you.

“My father and mother are dead,” I said. “But I don’t need family, or friends, or bullies to feel love.” I punched the bridge of her nose, sending her away, wailing, and it was admittedly corny but I said, “Because I’m gonna find love for myself.”

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mypoisonedvine · 4 years

Text

The Wrong Idea | Lee Bodecker x reader

summary: you weren’t exactly a rebel in the eyes of the law, but that didn’t mean you cared for the corrupt, alcoholic town sheriff. and that certainly didn’t mean you would care at all for him marrying your mother. if only you’d known how much worse it could get...

word count: 4.5k

warnings: smut!! (heavy dubcon/noncon), age gap (reader is 19), stepcest, loss of virginity, pain kink, creampie kink, infidelity, degradation, oral (m and f receiving), spanking, choking, slapping, daddy kink, authority kink, subtle ddlg themes?, reader’s mom being toxic af

You’d never cared for the Sheriff. Even you, being generally a well-behaved young woman, thought he was a little too intense and a little too corrupt. Up until now, you’d assumed your mother agreed with you on that, because she never protested to your complaints about Sheriff Bodecker and his ‘fascist reign of terror’ as you called it. Apparently that was a poor assumption, though.

“You… what?!”

“I never told you we were seein’ each other because I knew you had your childish rebellion against him and his police force,” your mother explained with a demeaning eyeroll. “But now that we’re engaged, I can’t hide it anymore.”

“How long has this been going on?” you asked quietly, still in shock at what you were hearing— and unable to take your eyes off of the sparkling diamond wrapped around her finger.

“Oh, I’d say… about two months now,” she decided.

“Two—” you stopped and started over, so bewildered that you couldn’t finish your original sentence. “You’re engaged after two months?”

“Don’t make that face at me, you look so ugly when you scowl like that,” she frowned. Of course, she could never miss an opportunity to nag you. “He’s a respectable man, and he treats me well. The wedding is in three weeks— and he’s generous enough to let you live with us after that. Says there’s a spare bedroom for you in his house.”

“His… his house…” you slurred, suddenly feeling light-headed. “I’m… we’re moving…?”

“Yes, honey, and with your work ethic it’ll take you the whole three weeks to pack up, so you should start now,” she informed you with that cruel, fake smile of hers.

She walked away as you sat down on the couch, staring off into space, trying to comprehend what you just heard. It’s not like you thought your mother was flawless or anything, or that you and her had a perfect relationship, but you thought she would’ve been a little more… gentle about all this. She could do better than him anyways! But she didn’t care about that, only money and status. You could almost laugh at her small-mindedness to think the Sheriff of a nothing-town like Knockemstiff was actually plentiful in either of those things, but right now you couldn’t laugh. You couldn’t even cry as you packed your things and said goodbye to the home you’d known your whole life. You were just numb.

You couldn’t look him in the eye when you arrived at his house, duffel bags in hand and shoes stained with the dry red dirt of summer. It was nicer than your old place, and if it were anyone else’s you’d say it had charm, but everything was tainted because you knew it was his. You could sort of tell that this had been his bachelor pad for a while, but it had a half-assed attempt at hominess with the rug in the living room and a centerpiece on the kitchen table. He even had a TV, presumably funded by bribes and all his other nefarious dealings— meaning you wouldn’t be able to bring yourself to watch it.

“Nice to meet ya, properly,” Lee greeted, though his monotone didn’t come across as particularly impassioned.

“Thank you, Sheriff,” you mumbled quickly, hoping to get this conversation over with.

“You don’t have to call me Sheriff anymore, you know. Not in the house, at least.”

You nodded but said nothing, following him as he motioned for you and moved into the hallway. You trailed behind him, noticing the eerie lack of any personal effects on the walls (no family photos, apparently, and not much of a family to photograph in the first place from what you’d heard), and stopped when he reached the door at the end.

“This is your room,” Lee informed you stiffly. Opening the door, you were horrified by the assault on your eyes of pink. Pink everything: pink wallpaper, a pink fuzzy quilt, pink bedframe. There were even assorted stuffed animals on the bed, disturbingly enough.

“When my mother told you she had a daughter, did she not mention that I was grown?”

“You may be nineteen, honey, but you’re nowhere near grown,” he scowled. “She didn’t tell me she had a daughter until two days before the weddin’. This is what I managed to... improvise, since then.”

You almost had sympathy for him, just in that you two were both victims of your mother’s eccentricity. Almost.

“Must’ve inherited your expensive taste from your ma,” he frowned. “Sorry, princess—” the nickname made his lips curl like the word itself tasted sour— “but this’ll have to do.”

“Oh, I’m nothing like her,” you sneered back, “cause I wouldn’t touch you with a ten foot pole.”

“What are you two chatting about?” your mother’s voice called from the kitchen.

Both of you answered at the same time: “Nothing!”

With a grimace, you dragged your bag into the room and shut the door in his face. It was those little acts of rebellion that had to tide you over. You weren’t audacious enough to do anything actually cruel, or illegal, but you weren’t going to make this any easier for him.

At first it was just refusing to leave your room. That worked for a week, until you realized you were going to starve to death. So then the only times you saw him were at the dinner table, which you made into a protest by pretending he didn’t exist and refusing to answer his questions. You occasionally relented when he asked you to pass something from your side of the table, but you never looked at him while you did it.

He didn’t seem angry or sad about your determination to avoid him, if anything it seemed like he was happy to pretend you weren’t there either. And that should’ve made it easier, but for some reason it bothered you even more. You realized that maybe his attention did matter to you, even though it was negative attention that you were hoping to inspire, but you knew that was ridiculous and you tried to fight it. Still, for all your plans to never see him, you sure did think about him a lot. You thought about where he might be, so you could be somewhere else. You thought about what he must be doing at work, and how he was probably continuing to be a nasty mean drunk as frequently as possible. You wondered if he and your mother were making love just across the house, although you were lucky enough to never hear anything. Just knowing that could be happening made you feel sick, even though you realized it was none of your business.

You sometimes found yourself listening for it at night, just in case.

Your mother had decided to spend her new husband’s money on a trip, but the man himself couldn’t tag along— too much work to do, apparently. The prospect of being left alone with him was nightmare fuel, but you didn’t even try to ask her to stay… you knew she wouldn’t listen. She’d been totally absorbed in her own world since the wedding, seeming to be very fulfilled by the social role of ‘Sheriff’s wife’ to the point that she had lost all interest in her former position as ‘your mom’.

There was a balance to the silence with her gone, though. You avoided him, he avoided you; it was a tense truce, but a survivable one. At least without her, nobody was going to try to make you two get along. Friday night was different, though. This time when he came home from work, you knew you were stuck with him until Monday morning. That thought made you realize that you needed to get out and you didn’t care if you weren’t dressed for it. It was hot, and it was just a walk so nobody was going to see you in this miniskirt anyway, right?

Too bad Lee was sitting on the couch, still in his uniform, not giving you any mind but likely to harass you before you could make it outside. You figured if you just walked casually enough, he wouldn’t even notice, so you made your way towards the door.

“You’re not going out like that,” he announced suddenly, seemingly without even looking up from his newspaper.

“Says who?” you deflected quickly with a raised brow. It wasn’t that you wanted to pick a fight, but you just couldn’t understand why he would even care what you were wearing.

“Says the guy who doesn’t want you to give all the neighborhood boys the wrong idea.”

“What idea?!” you asked, crossing your arms. He shot you a look, quickly raking in your body and outfit which made you feel more observed than you cared for.

“The idea that you’re a slut,” he explained coldly.

You gulped at his words but tried to keep a poker face. You didn’t let it get this far just to give up. You were so sick of his shit; what made him think he could boss you around when he’d never even tried to get to know you?

“What makes you assume that’s the wrong idea?” you shot back, fighting the nervousness in your voice.

You hadn’t expected him to stand up instantly, the coffee table wobbling a bit when his knee bumped into it.

“The fuck did you say?” he hissed.

With his teeth bared at you he looked like a predator, and you felt like small, helpless prey. You tried to muster some of your former confidence, but everything came out shaky and weak. “I— I said that maybe it’s not the wrong ide—”

He pounced, crossing the room and slamming you back against the wall, a hand at each shoulder; you instantly cowered, shrinking back and turning your face away from him as far as you could. You never thought he’d put his hands on you like this. Your heart was pounding so loudly that you were surprised you could hear his hoarse whisper.

“Watch your tone with me. I’m not kidding around.”

“I’m an adult,” you weakly fought back, “I can do what I want.”

“Not in my fuckin’ house you can’t!” he bellowed.

For some reason, it all hit you at once. All the emotions you’d been suppressing since your mother had gotten engaged— all the anger and fear and betrayal and indignation, they came bubbling up before you could stop them.

“I don’t even want to be in your ugly fucking house!” you cried in response. “I don’t wanna be anywhere near you! You’re a fascist and a tyrant and a pig!”

You expected him to get more aggressive but he suddenly stilled. It was the scariest anger, that outwardly-calm type that made your blood go cold.

“Go to your room.”

You didn’t question it, turning to walk away (any excuse to get away from him, right?), but you didn’t expect him to follow you in and shut the door behind the both of you.

You were paralyzed with fear as he stepped past you and sat on your bed. It was sort of strange as you realized you’d never seen him in your room before. He stood out against the somewhat childish decorations, but you were in no mood to appreciate the humor of the situation as he patted his knee.

“Lay across my lap. Don’t make me tell you twice.”

He couldn’t possibly be doing what I think he’s doing, could he? you wondered to yourself, but did as he asked. You realized you’d never been so close to him before, the warmth of his body radiating through his clothes. He smelled like cologne and booze, although you didn’t think he’d actually had much to drink yet today— at least compared to his normal habits. It was almost worse to think that he wasn’t acting on drunkenness now.

“It’s prob’ly too late for it, but you are in serious need of discipline, young lady.”

You had no idea what he was talking about, but your body reacted to it differently than you expected.

His fingers slipped between the top of your skirt and your skin, having to pull pretty hard to get it down due to how tight it was. You bit your lip and hoped he wouldn’t notice your arousal, but as your pussy was exposed, you could feel the breeze from the ceiling fan and you knew you were undeniably wet. You didn’t know why, but you were.

“Count them for me,” he instructed coldly and before you could ask what you were counting, he brought his hand down firmly. You felt his wedding ring in the slap and it made you feel a little sick.

“O-one,” you stammered.

He delivered four more, alternating cheeks, and you tried not to react with visible pain. But as the intensity increased, you realized that not reacting might’ve actually been making it worse. Either way, you couldn’t stop yourself from crying out when the eighth made your whole body lurch forward from the force.

“Eight!” you squealed, but both of you noticed the way you pushed your hips forward. Unintentional as it may have been, you were trying to rub yourself on his thigh, desperate to be touched where it felt like all the energy of your body had focused. You were sure you’d never been so horny before, and now your clit was nearly throbbing. What the fuck is wrong with me?!

He quickly delivered the final two slaps before grabbing your neck, hoisting you up until you were on your knees before him. He examined your face closely and you tried to keep your lip from shaking.

“You’re worse than I thought,” he hissed. “You are in dire need of a punishment. You should thank me for going so easy on you so far.”

You realized when his grip on your jaw tightened that he was being literal. “Thank you, for going easy on me…”

“Where’d that fire go, huh? Guess you’re all talk,” he laughed.

He roughly shoved his fingers into your mouth, moaning lowly as your tongue rubbed against the pads of his fingers. “This fuckin’ mouth. You just don’t know when to keep it shut, do you? Come on baby, open up. I’ve got a better use for it than your fuckin’ disrespectful attitude.”

He used his free hand to work on his belt right in front of your face, and your eyes went wide.

“Don’t act so surprised sweetheart,” he said with a hint of irritation, “this is exactly what you’re asking for.”

You gasped a bit when his cock was freed from his trousers, springing up and already red at the tip. You’d never seen one this close before and it was intimidating in every way.

“Like what you see? You’re so wet for it,” he purred. You tried to speak but words abandoned you.

It was all a blur as he held your mouth open and shoved his cock inside— it tasted like skin and salt, and the size made your chapped lips crack until you worried they would bleed. His moans were deep and gravelly, making your skin break out into goosebumps as he pumped smoothly into your pliant mouth. He slapped your face a few times, not quite hard but plenty strong enough to make it sting. You winced with each impact, the tears which had welled from your gagging finally falling down and dripping from your chin.

“Suck on it, princess, like a popsicle… fuck yeah, like that,” he groaned, and your mind resisted obeying him but your body was completely at his mercy. “Aw baby, ya look so good chokin’ on my cock. Is that what you were gonna go do in this slutty little outfit you’ve got on?”

You tried to shake your head but he was holding you down, not even giving you a chance to breathe. His protruding stomach rubbed against your forehead when his cock was this deep in your throat, and the disgust and fear somehow made your arousal stronger.

He let you go, finally, and you pulled back with a gasp and a cough. You weren’t given much reprieve, though, as he started to tug at your blouse as well.

“No, wait,” you whimpered, weakly trying to bat his hands away.

“Wait? I think I’ve been waiting long enough,” he growled. “Your ma’s a fuckin’ tease, hasn’t touched me since I got her that ugly fuckin’ ring. Let’s hope you learn from her mistakes.”

Your blouse was torn open and tossed aside, leaving you only in the pulled-up skirt and your bra. Reaching up to cover yourself, you were discouraged by the shockingly-gentle brush of his hands.

“Don’t cover yourself, sweetheart, you’re gorgeous,” he murmured. His gaze made you feel hot all over, and it wasn’t just because of the summer weather outside. “Nobody ever looked at ya before?”

You shook your head, looking down at the floor. A finger under your chin guided you to look up at him.

“Nobody ever touched ya before?” he pressed, his stare boring into you. You shook your head again. “Fuck,” he whispered, but then he started to smile proudly. “Knew you were a good girl, princess, you just didn’t wanna act like one for some reason. You gonna be good for me now?”

You nodded weakly, swallowing as you tried to comprehend what was happening.

“Then I’ll be good to you, too,” he promised darkly, a shimmer in his eyes that made you throb between your thighs. “Come get on the bed, pretty girl.”

You almost resisted, but it was your need driving you now, not your mind. You had been waiting too long to let a boy touch you, and now that a man had touched you, you felt all kinds of wrong and yet craved more. Before you had even finished sitting down beside him, he was slipping off your bra and pushing you back onto the quilt.

“Sheriff!” you yelped instinctively, a little disoriented as he started to climb on top of you.

He chuckled, clearly amused by your unexpected appeal to authority. “Wanna know a secret, sweetheart? Wanna know the real reason I said you didn’t have to call me that anymore?” He leaned down, his breath hot and moist against your neck when he spoke: “Because it made me so fuckin’ hard when you said it.”

He pressed his cock, still wet with your spit, against your thigh; maybe just for emphasis, a reminder that he was still hard and wasn’t anywhere near done with you.

“What are you gonna do to me…?” you asked weakly, your voice so wavering and broken that you cringed just hearing it.

“Just gonna make you feel good, princess,” he smiled, and before you could ask what that would entail, he was groping your tits in his large, calloused hands. A low groan echoed in his chest, and you tried not to squirm as he teased your nipples between his fingers. They were already hardening from the moment he’d touched you, but somehow it was getting even worse when he played with them, watching your face and surely seeing the shame you wore there.

His hands trailed lower, rubbing your waist, your thighs… you found yourself anticipating that he’d remove your panties, so much so that when he did, you quickly lifted your hips to help him slide them off. You couldn’t believe how easily you were letting him do this to you.

“I can tell how much you want it,” he taunted lowly as the fabric slid down your legs and was tossed to the floor. “I can smell how much you want it.” He growled a little before diving in, licking a thick stripe through your folds and taking a moment right at the end to tickle your clit with his tongue. “So fuckin’ sweet, princess; I knew you would be,” he praised. You were forced to wonder how long he’d been thinking about this.

The noises were beyond obscene and you felt your face burning— but there was a burning in your gut, too, and shooting down your legs. You’d never felt like this before (being a very good girl who never even touched herself), but you knew that if he didn’t stop, you would come. And you really, really wanted to come.

Everytime he put pressure on your clit, your leg quivered involuntarily. It was nearly too much, the sensation so powerful it almost hurt, but he pushed you right to the edge without knocking you off.

“Please,” you found yourself begging before you could stop it, “please, Sheriff—”

“I’m not your Sheriff anymore, sweetheart,” he informed you gruffly, popping up from between your legs with the entire bottom half of his face covered in your arousal, “I’m your daddy now. Go on and beg your daddy to fuck you.”

Eyes shot wide open, you stared back at him in bewilderment. Rage flashed in his eyes, and he snarled as his hand suddenly wrapped around your neck, tightening and choking you.

“You heard me,” he groaned through his teeth. “Beg me. To fuck you.”

“Daddy,” you stammered, hoarsely fighting to speak through the pressure on your throat, “fuck me, please.”

He slammed his cock into you and you nearly screamed. It burned and you instinctively tried to crawl away but, of course, his weight on top of you made it impossible.

“Fuck, you’re so tight,” he groaned. He laid down on top of you entirely then, slipping his arms under your torso and holding you tightly.

Each thrust made you feel like you had reached your limits, as if you couldn’t be stretched further which was probably true. And yet, in spite of it (or worse, because of it), you found yourself moaning and writhing under him, even arching your back to make his movements smoother. He laughed a little as he bit at the shell of your ear.

“You love it, baby,” he moaned, “you love my cock.”

You couldn’t respond, just sob as you clutched at the shirt still on his back, your jaw tight as you tried to bear the pain.

“It’s not always gonna hurt like this,” he promised between heavy breaths, “s’gonna feel good soon. Gonna make you feel so fuckin’ good, pretty girl.”

Truthfully, you weren’t sure if that meant that this would happen again or not. At the moment, you were incapable of thinking that far ahead, too focused on the way the sting of the stretch was melting away and morphing into such powerful pleasure that you couldn’t even see straight.

He kissed you, and only then did the weight of it hit you. Who he was, what he was doing, what you were doing… it had been distant and vague before, but something about his tongue inside your mouth made you remember that the metal digging into your back was his ring; that the lips on yours were sworn to somebody else— and at that, the one exact person that made this so fundamentally wrong.

Tears welled in your eyes, gentle sobs shaking your chest.

“Don’t cry, baby,” he whispered, pulling back and kissing your tears away, “feels good, don’t it? Feels good when daddy fucks you?”

You knew speaking would only make you cry more, so you only nodded your head shamefully.

“That’s my good girl,” he moaned as he fucked you deeper, harder, rougher. Your fingers held onto the back of his neck, running through his hair and pulling him closer. He kept mumbling praises but they fell on deaf ears, pleasure clouding your mind and making every hair on your body stand upright. He didn’t stop as he reached down between your bodies and laid his hand over your stomach, growling with satisfaction at what he found there.

“I can feel me inside ya,” he grinned. “Feel that, sweetheart? Feel how deep I am in your wet little cunt?”

When you didn’t answer, you got a quick slap to the face. “Yes,” you replied quickly, “yes, I— I feel it.”

He buried his face into the crook of your neck, biting you there until you nearly screamed. You couldn’t figure out why something so objectively painful only pushed you closer to your peak, making every spot inside you more sensitive, but somehow it did.

“Gonna come, pretty girl? Want daddy to fill you up?” he groaned against your ear, pushing down on your stomach even harder.

“Yes, daddy!” you sobbed. “Please!”

“Fuck, you’re squeezin’ me,” he hissed, “don’t fuckin’ stop. Keep milkin’ my cock and m’gonna fill ya up so good, princess…”

You couldn’t stop even if you tried— your orgasm hit you in powerful waves, your head falling back as your walls clenched involuntarily (as did your fingers and toes, so hard that your nail tore the sheets a little bit, which you wouldn’t notice until the next day). He grunted as he came, pumping into you with each thrust until you felt more full than you ever had before, in a way you could never describe.

The two of you stayed like that for a moment, him catching his breath and you losing yours as his weight threatened to crush you. “Fuck,” he groaned as he sat up and pulled out. He grabbed your legs and held them up for you, staring at your abused pussy and making you feel uncomfortably observed.

“Push it out for me, wanna see my come leak outta ya,” he purred, moaning a little when you did as he asked. It felt even hotter as it gushed out of you, and you mindlessly bit your lip. He tucked his softening cock back into his trousers, rezipping them and buckling his belt. “We’d better get ya cleaned up, huh princess?”

The bathroom wasn’t far, so he carried you, setting you down to stand on your own as he started to draw a bath. You watched him, although you weren’t really watching him so much as staring into the void of space that happened to be in his general direction. You were so out of it that you didn’t even register when he turned around and smiled at you with an air of pride.

“You look so good like this.”

It pulled you out of your trance, though you had to ask him to repeat himself with a mumbled “huh?”

“I said you look good like this,” he explained, stepping closer. “Fucked out, braindead, just my empty-headed fucktoy.”

“I… I don’t…” you began to disagree.

He used your jaw to turn your face to the mirror, and you gasped when you saw yourself: your hair was a mess; your whole face was red, especially your eyes and nose from crying, but plenty on your cheeks where he’d slapped you; your lips were swollen and slick; bruises were already forming on your arms where he’d grabbed you, and along your neck and shoulders where he had bitten you.

His form dwarfed yours as he stood behind you, looking at your reflection with a smile.

“Look at us,” he announced wistfully, “one big happy family, huh?”

#lee bodecker x reader #dark!lee bodecker x reader #lee bodecker smut #lee bodecker x you #lee bodecker x y/n #dark fic

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